This study aims at carrying out a stylistic analysis of selected short stories from Achebe’s Girls at War and other stories. Stylistics, a combination of style and literature is a discipline which has been approached in different ways by different scholars both in linguistic studies and literary studies; it is a borderline discipline between linguistics and literature thus its definition varies based on the theory adopted. For better understanding, there is the need to explain what style is before defining the term stylistics.
Style is got from the Latin word “Stilus” which means “a pointed instrument for writing on waxed tablets and has, in modern times, been associated with a way or manner of writing or speaking” (Otagburuagu et al 35). Style has also been defined as the description and analysis of the variability forms of linguistic items in actual language use. It is the manner or mode of expressing one’s thought in language. A creative artist expresses his feeling, thought, ideas and vision through language and his unique way of using language to convey his feelings is what is called style (E.J. Otagburuagu et al 2014:35). Leech and Michael in E.J. Otagburuagu et al 2014 define style as “the linguistic characteristics of a particular text”. According to Otagburuagu et al, Katie in her book, A Dictionary of Stylistics (1989) classifies style into the following: style as personal idiosyncrasy, style as a technique of expression and style as the highest achievement of literature.
Stylistics has been defined as a study of the different styles that are present in either a given utterance or a written text or document. Stylistics is derived from the word style and it concerns itself with the study of the techniques and manner in which people express their thought both in speech and writing. Stylistics deals with a wide range of language varieties and styles that that are possible in creating different texts, whether spoken or written, monologue or dialogue, formal or informal, scientific or religious etc. Stylistics unlike pragmatics that focuses on the “what” of a text, concerns itself with the “how” and “why” of a text. Leech, in line with this, defined stylistics as “a linguistic approach to literature; explaining the relation between language and artistic functions with motivating questions such as why and how more than what.”
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Statement of Problem
- Objective of the Study
- Methodology
- Conceptual Framework
- Textual Analysis
- A Comparative Analysis of the Stylistic Features
- Summary and Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This study aims to conduct a stylistic analysis of selected short stories from Chinua Achebe's "Girls at War and Other Stories," focusing on the author's language use and narrative techniques. The research will comparatively analyze the stylistic features in three stories: "The Madman," "Civil Peace," and "Girls at War," to identify the dominant style and explore its connection to Achebe's authorial identity ("style as the man").
- Stylistic analysis of Achebe's language and narrative techniques.
- Comparative analysis of stylistic features across three selected short stories.
- Identification of the dominant stylistic features in Achebe's work.
- Exploration of the relationship between style and authorial identity.
- Contribution to existing scholarship on Achebe's "Girls at War and Other Stories."
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the field of stylistics, defining style and stylistics based on various scholarly perspectives. It clarifies the distinction between stylistics and pragmatics, emphasizing stylistics' focus on the "how" and "why" of a text rather than just the "what." The chapter sets the stage for the study by outlining the research's objective: a stylistic analysis of three short stories from Achebe's "Girls at War and Other Stories," namely "The Madman," "Civil Peace," and "Girls at War," focusing on the author's language and narrative techniques to determine the dominant stylistic features and their relation to the author's identity.
Statement of Problem: This section reviews existing scholarship on Achebe's work and stylistics, highlighting a gap in research. While some studies have analyzed the broader themes in "Girls at War and Other Stories," and others have explored stylistic aspects of different texts, limited work specifically focuses on a comparative stylistic analysis of the selected three short stories ("The Madman," "Civil Peace," and "Girls at War"). This research aims to fill this gap by undertaking a comparative study of the stylistic features, particularly the author's use of figures of speech and narrative techniques, to establish a dominant style reflecting Achebe's authorial identity.
Keywords
Stylistics, narrative techniques, Chinua Achebe, Girls at War and Other Stories, comparative analysis, authorial style, language use, figures of speech, literary analysis, African literature.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Stylistic Analysis of Chinua Achebe's "Girls at War and Other Stories"
What is the main focus of this study?
This study conducts a stylistic analysis of three short stories from Chinua Achebe's "Girls at War and Other Stories"— "The Madman," "Civil Peace," and "Girls at War"— focusing on the author's language use and narrative techniques to identify the dominant style and its connection to Achebe's authorial identity.
What are the key objectives of this research?
The research aims to analyze Achebe's language and narrative techniques, comparatively analyze stylistic features across the three stories, identify dominant stylistic features, explore the relationship between style and authorial identity, and contribute to existing scholarship on Achebe's work.
What methodology is used in this study?
The methodology involves a comparative stylistic analysis of the three selected short stories. It examines the author's use of figures of speech and narrative techniques to determine a dominant style reflective of Achebe's authorial identity. The specific techniques are not detailed in this preview.
What is the structure of the study?
The study includes an introduction defining stylistics and outlining the research objective; a statement of the problem highlighting the research gap; a detailed methodology section (not fully shown here); a conceptual framework (not fully shown here); a textual analysis; a comparative analysis of stylistic features; and a summary and conclusion.
What are the key themes explored in this study?
Key themes include stylistic analysis, narrative techniques, comparative analysis, authorial style, and the relationship between an author's style and their identity. The study uses Achebe's work as a case study to explore these themes.
What is the significance of this research?
This research fills a gap in existing scholarship by providing a focused comparative stylistic analysis of three specific short stories from "Girls at War and Other Stories," contributing new insights into Achebe's stylistic choices and their connection to his authorial identity.
What keywords are associated with this study?
Keywords include: Stylistics, narrative techniques, Chinua Achebe, Girls at War and Other Stories, comparative analysis, authorial style, language use, figures of speech, literary analysis, African literature.
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- Chidinma Dike (Autor:in), 2020, A Stylistic Analysis of Selected Stories in Achebe’s "Girls At War And Other Stories", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/520483
