In this work about the book Roots by Alex HALEY the author will show that the
book Roots is not non-fictional, like it is said on the cover of the book (chapter
3). The analysis of dialogues and characteristics of persons in the book will
prove it. For the task was to prove the fictionality of the book in comparison to
the representation of the characters in the film, these two means of style of
fictionality were chosen: dialogue and representation of characters. The author
did actually not compare with the film because it was not clearly visible if the
directors of the film were black or white, and so the analysis could have led in a
wrong way. About the importance of the race will be said more in the analysis.
One important point for proving the fictionality comes from Alex HALEY himself in
chapter 120: "In the years of the writing, I have also spoken before many
audiences of how Roots came to be, naturally now and then someone asks,
'How much of Roots is fact and how much is fiction?' To the best of my
knowledge and of my effort, every lineage statement within Roots is from either
my African or my American families carefully preserved oral history, much of
which I have been conventionally to corroborate with documents.(...) Since I
wasn't yet around when most of the story occurred, by far most of the dialogue
and most of the incidents are of necessity a novelized amalgam of what I know
took place together with what my researching led me to plausibly feel took
place."1
Further on, the work will tell about Alex HALEY himself (chapter 1). For this part
the Microsoft Encarta of the year 1996 was used.
Further, the "Einführung in die Anglistik" from Sammlung Metzler2, the
"Arbeitsbuch Literaturwissenschaft" from UTB3 and the "Einführung in die
Literaturinterpretation" 4 build the scientific basis for this work.
1 HALEY, A.: Roots. Dell Publishing, New York 1974. p.726-727.
2 KORTE, B./ K. P. MÜLLER/ J. SCHMIED: Einführung in die Anglistik. Verlag J. B. Metzler,
Stuttgart/Weimar 1997.
3 EICHER, T./ V. WIEMANN (Hrsg.): Arbeitsbuch: Literaturwissenschaft. UTB Paderborn/ München/
Wien/ Zürich 1997.
4 SCHUTTE, Jürgen: Einführung in die Literaturinterpretation. Verlag J. B. Metzler, Stuttgart/Weimar, 3.
Auflage 1993.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Alex Haley - Short Information about the Author Himself
- Fictionality in Dialogues and Characters of the Book Roots
- Summary
- Index of Literature
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this work is to demonstrate that Alex Haley's Roots, despite claims on its cover, is not purely non-fiction. This is achieved through an analysis of the book's dialogues and character portrayals. The author initially intended to compare the book's depiction of characters with the film adaptation but abandoned this approach due to ambiguities surrounding the filmmakers' racial backgrounds.
- The fictionality of Roots
- Analysis of dialogues in Roots
- Character representation in Roots
- Alex Haley's biography and its influence on Roots
- The role of imagination in historical storytelling.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the main argument of the work: that Alex Haley's Roots, while based on genealogical research and oral history, employs fictional techniques in its narrative construction. The author outlines the methodology, focusing on the analysis of dialogues and character representations to prove the book's fictionality. It also highlights the author's decision to forgo a direct comparison with the film adaptation due to uncertainties about the filmmakers' racial identities, acknowledging the importance of considering race in the interpretation of the work. The chapter cites Haley's own admission regarding the novelization of events within the narrative, foreshadowing the subsequent analysis of fictional elements.
Alex Haley – Short Information about the Author Himself: This chapter provides a concise biographical overview of Alex Haley (1921-1992), highlighting his career path and emphasizing his significant contribution to the popularization of Black history and promotion of racial understanding in American literature. It details Haley's journey from his early years in the Coast Guard, where he honed his writing skills, to his eventual success with interviews for Playboy magazine that led to his collaboration on The Autobiography of Malcolm X and his crowning achievement, Roots. The chapter underscores the immense popularity and impact of Roots, including its widespread readership, translation into multiple languages, and the television adaptation's cultural significance, positioning Haley as a pivotal figure in African-American literature and social discourse.
Fictionality in Dialogues and Characters of the Book Roots: This chapter delves into the analysis of the fictionality within Roots by focusing on specific dialogues. The author explains the concept of fictionality used in their analysis, emphasizing that even works referencing reality involve creative imagination. The author notes that Roots employs relatively few dialogues compared to other narrative techniques, such as internal monologues describing character emotions and intentions. Three key dialogues – the slave dialogue, the Kizzy dialogue, and the Lea dialogue – are selected for closer examination, representing important characteristics and information crucial to the reader's understanding of the narrative. This selective approach aims to demonstrate how these dialogues, alongside character representations, contribute to the overall fictionality of the book, rather than provide an exhaustive analysis of every conversation within Roots.
Keywords
Alex Haley, Roots, fictionality, dialogue analysis, character representation, historical novel, African-American history, oral history, genealogy, racial understanding, novelistic techniques, narrative construction.
Roots: A Comprehensive FAQ
What is the main argument of this academic preview?
The preview argues that Alex Haley's Roots, despite its presentation as non-fiction, utilizes fictional techniques in its narrative construction. This is demonstrated through an analysis of the book's dialogues and character portrayals.
What are the key themes explored in the preview?
The key themes include the fictionality of Roots, analysis of dialogues within the book, character representation in Roots, Alex Haley's biography and its influence on his work, and the role of imagination in historical storytelling.
What methodology is used to analyze the fictionality of Roots?
The analysis focuses on specific dialogues and character representations within the novel to highlight the presence of fictional elements. A direct comparison with the film adaptation was initially planned but abandoned due to uncertainties regarding the filmmakers' racial backgrounds.
Which chapters are summarized in the preview?
The preview provides summaries of the Introduction, a chapter on Alex Haley's biography, and the chapter analyzing the fictionality in the dialogues and characters of Roots. It also mentions the inclusion of a summary, a table of contents, and an index of literature in the complete work.
What is the significance of Alex Haley's biography in understanding Roots?
The preview highlights Haley's career, emphasizing his role in popularizing Black history and promoting racial understanding. His journey, from the Coast Guard to his work on The Autobiography of Malcolm X and Roots, is contextualized to show his influence on the book's creation and reception.
How are dialogues analyzed to demonstrate the fictionality of Roots?
The analysis focuses on three key dialogues (the slave dialogue, the Kizzy dialogue, and the Lea dialogue) as representative examples. The preview explains that even works based on reality utilize creative imagination, and these dialogues showcase how fictional elements contribute to the narrative.
What is the scope of the dialogue analysis in the preview?
The analysis is selective, focusing on key dialogues to illustrate the point about fictionality, rather than providing an exhaustive account of every conversation in Roots.
What keywords are associated with this analysis of Roots?
The keywords include Alex Haley, Roots, fictionality, dialogue analysis, character representation, historical novel, African-American history, oral history, genealogy, racial understanding, novelistic techniques, and narrative construction.
What is the overall objective of the work previewed here?
The primary objective is to demonstrate that Roots, while grounded in genealogical research and oral history, incorporates fictional elements in its narrative structure, challenging its purely non-fiction claim.
- Quote paper
- Juliane Weuffen (Author), 2000, Roots by Alex Haley, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/30389
