The authors I want to concentrate on in this paper, Charles Mungoshi and Dambudzo Marechera, are both African writers who belong to the so called second generation of Zimbabwean writers which means that they were born between 1940 and 1959 and published in the 1960s and 70s.1They speak for the “lost generation”2which grew up after World War Second in a country reign by a white minority government and shattered by a guerrilla war against that government, and have somehow lost their identity. However although they were born in the same period of time in the same country and were influenced by the same political and cultural circumstances, on which I will put a closer focus later, their lives were very different. Mungoshi grew up in a rural area and stayed in Zimbabwe during the time of war, whereas Marechera was a township child who left Zimbabwe and lived in the exile in England during the time of the war. As a result, their writings, which were heavily influenced by their autobiographies, mirror these differences in their ways of life.
In this paper I will first look at the historical background in which both authors grew up, at political, cultural, social and educational circumstances. Secondly I am going to depict what their lives looked like and which were the differences and Gemeinsamkeiten in their ways of life. After that I will analyse how those differences and also the Gemeinsamkeiten in their ways of life influenced their writing, made them develop their special own styles and are mirrored in the themes of their narratives. As an example I will have a closer look at two of their most important writings, which are Dambudzo Marechera’s short story collection “The House of Hunger”, published in 19 and Charles Mungoshi’s novel “Waiting for the rain”, published in19.., by analysing them concerning the form and the content, and also by searching for autobiographical traces in both works. In the end I will try to compare both writings and depict the most important differences and gemeinsamkeiten.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Second Generation
- Historical Background
- Zimbabwean Literature of the Second Generation
- Autobiographical Background
- Dambudzo Marechera's "House of Hunger"
- Discourse
- Content
- Autobiographical Traces in "The House of Hunger"
- Charles Mungoshi's "Waiting for the Rain"
- Discourse
- Content
- Autobiographical Traces in "Waiting for the Rain"
- Comparing "House of Hunger" and "Waiting for the Rain"
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to compare and contrast the works of two prominent Zimbabwean authors, Dambudzo Marechera and Charles Mungoshi, both belonging to the second generation of Zimbabwean writers. The analysis will explore how their unique life experiences, shaped by the socio-political landscape of colonial and post-colonial Zimbabwe, influenced their writing styles and thematic concerns. The comparison will focus on their most significant works, Marechera's "House of Hunger" and Mungoshi's "Waiting for the Rain."
- The historical and political context of Zimbabwe during the second generation of writers.
- The influence of autobiographical experiences on the writing styles of Marechera and Mungoshi.
- A comparative analysis of the narrative techniques and thematic concerns in "House of Hunger" and "Waiting for the Rain."
- The representation of rural versus urban life in Zimbabwean literature of this period.
- The impact of colonialism and the struggle for independence on the identity and experiences of Zimbabwean writers.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for a comparative analysis of Dambudzo Marechera and Charles Mungoshi, two significant Zimbabwean writers of the second generation. It highlights the shared historical context of their lives, marked by the white minority rule and the subsequent guerrilla war, yet emphasizes the contrasting experiences of Marechera's urban upbringing and exile in England versus Mungoshi's rural background and continued residence in Zimbabwe. The introduction outlines the paper's structure, promising an examination of the historical background, biographical details, and a comparative analysis of their writing styles and thematic concerns, using "House of Hunger" and "Waiting for the Rain" as primary case studies. This sets the foundation for a deeper understanding of how their divergent life paths shaped their literary expressions and perspectives on Zimbabwean society.
The Second Generation: Historical Background: This section provides crucial context by outlining the three generations of Zimbabwean writers and situates Marechera and Mungoshi within the second generation (born between 1940 and 1959). It explains the significance of this generational division, emphasizing the evolving literary styles that reflect the changing political, social, and educational landscapes of Zimbabwe. The chapter details the oppressive white minority rule under Ian Smith, the subsequent guerrilla war for independence, and the eventual transition to black majority rule in 1980. It also highlights the impact of industrialization on education, noting the increased access to secondary and tertiary education for many second-generation writers compared to their predecessors.
The Second Generation: Zimbabwean Literature of the Second Generation: This chapter delves into the unique characteristics of Zimbabwean literature produced by the second generation of writers. It explores the impact of political realities, such as censorship and the experiences of both "outer" and "inner" exile, on the creative process. The chapter distinguishes Zimbabwean literature from that of other African nations, emphasizing Zimbabwe's unique historical trajectory and the interwoven experiences of both rural and urban populations, who suffered under white minority rule and yearned for freedom. This section argues that the literary output of this generation reflects this distinct blend of socio-political experiences, highlighting a blend of post-colonial disillusionment and residual cultural nationalism.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Zimbabwean literature, second generation writers, Dambudzo Marechera, Charles Mungoshi, House of Hunger, Waiting for the Rain, post-colonial literature, autobiographical writing, colonialism, Zimbabwean history, political oppression, identity, exile, rural and urban life.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Dambudzo Marechera and Charles Mungoshi
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper provides a comparative analysis of the works of Dambudzo Marechera and Charles Mungoshi, two prominent Zimbabwean authors from the second generation of Zimbabwean writers. It examines how their unique life experiences, shaped by the socio-political landscape of colonial and post-colonial Zimbabwe, influenced their writing styles and thematic concerns, focusing on Marechera's "House of Hunger" and Mungoshi's "Waiting for the Rain."
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including the historical and political context of Zimbabwe during the second generation of writers; the influence of autobiographical experiences on the writing styles of Marechera and Mungoshi; a comparative analysis of narrative techniques and thematic concerns in "House of Hunger" and "Waiting for the Rain"; the representation of rural versus urban life in Zimbabwean literature of this period; and the impact of colonialism and the struggle for independence on the identity and experiences of Zimbabwean writers.
What is the historical context discussed in the paper?
The paper details the historical context of Zimbabwe, focusing on the oppressive white minority rule under Ian Smith, the subsequent guerrilla war for independence, and the eventual transition to black majority rule in 1980. It also highlights the impact of industrialization on education and the evolving literary styles reflecting the changing political, social, and educational landscapes of Zimbabwe. The three generations of Zimbabwean writers are outlined, placing Marechera and Mungoshi within the second generation.
How does the paper compare Marechera and Mungoshi?
The paper compares and contrasts Marechera and Mungoshi by analyzing their respective literary styles, thematic concerns, and narrative techniques within the context of their unique biographical experiences. It specifically contrasts Marechera's urban upbringing and exile in England with Mungoshi's rural background and continued residence in Zimbabwe, showing how these contrasting backgrounds shaped their literary perspectives.
What are the key works analyzed in the paper?
The primary focus of the analysis is on Dambudzo Marechera's "House of Hunger" and Charles Mungoshi's "Waiting for the Rain." The paper examines the discourse, content, and autobiographical traces within each novel to draw comparisons and contrasts between the two authors.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured with an introduction setting the stage for the comparison, followed by sections covering the historical background of the second generation of Zimbabwean writers, a discussion of the characteristics of this generation's literature, in-depth analyses of "House of Hunger" and "Waiting for the Rain," and a concluding section comparing the two works. The paper also includes a detailed table of contents and keywords.
What are the key differences between Marechera's and Mungoshi's writing?
While a detailed comparison is presented in the full paper, the preview suggests that the differences stem largely from their contrasting life experiences. Marechera's urban upbringing and exile influenced his style, while Mungoshi's rural background and continued residence in Zimbabwe shaped his perspectives. The differences will be explored through an analysis of their narrative techniques, thematic concerns, and use of autobiographical elements.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
The keywords associated with this paper include: Zimbabwean literature, second generation writers, Dambudzo Marechera, Charles Mungoshi, House of Hunger, Waiting for the Rain, post-colonial literature, autobiographical writing, colonialism, Zimbabwean history, political oppression, identity, exile, rural and urban life.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Katharina Helmer (Autor:in), 2006, Comparison of dambudzo marechera's "house of hunger" and charles mungoshi's "waiting for the rain", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/69064
