THE CREATIVE AND RELEVANCE THEORETIC READING OF ACHEBE’S THINGS FALL APART AND ADICHIE’S HALF OF A YELLOW SUN

THE CREATIVE AND RELEVANT THEORETIC READING OF ACHEBE’S THINGS FALL APART AND ADICHIE’S HALF OF A YELLOW SUN

ABSTRACT

This study is a creative and relevant theoretical reading of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun. Language as a complex phenomenon allows for a measure of innovation and creativity, and that is why even with its limited resources, man can create limitless words and sequences of words to represent the ideas, thoughts, imaginations, and relationships he intends. There have been many studies on the two works touching on different areas, published and unpublished, but very little has been done the study their creative import and their relevance in projecting the African impulse. The study aimed to examine how the old and new generations of African writers use the English language to express their African sensibilities without compromising the communicative competence required for the effective projection of the intended message. The work provides a pragmatic platform for understanding the culture, traditions, and reasons accounting for the linguistic manipulation as encountered in the texts and also examines how linguistic creativity has been employed by Achebe in Things Fall Apart and Adichie in Half of a Yellow Sun as a design to achieve special contextual strengthening of the events and characterizations using the Relevance-Theoretic Model. The study adopted a descriptive research design to analyze the language used by the writers. In the analysis, issues of context, implicature, and relevance were applied. Furthermore, the study shows that pragmatics and socio-linguistics are important concepts for the understanding of messages as intended by the writer. The research shows that there are words, circumstances, and situations a reader might not fully connect with or understand unless he shares the same environment with the writer. It concludes that Achebe and Adichie have produced works that will continue to be relevant in literature for a long time 

  

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” are two seminal works in African literature that have garnered significant attention and acclaim for their exploration of themes such as cultural identity, colonialism, and the impact of historical events on individuals and communities.

“Things Fall Apart,” published in 1958 by Chinua Achebe, is widely regarded as a groundbreaking novel that challenged prevailing Western narratives about Africa. Set in pre-colonial Nigeria, the novel tells the story of Okonkwo, a respected warrior and leader of the Igbo community, as he grapples with the arrival of European colonial forces and the subsequent disintegration of his traditional society. Achebe’s novel illuminates the complex dynamics between the Igbo people and the colonizers, exploring themes of cultural clash, identity, and the consequences of imperialism.

Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun,” published in 2006, delves into the Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s, also known as the Biafran War. The novel offers a multi-perspective narrative that follows the lives of several characters, portraying their experiences and challenges during this tumultuous period in Nigerian history. Adichie skillfully weaves together personal stories with political and historical events, shedding light on the devastating impact of war on individuals and communities, as well as the complexities of post-colonialism and nation-building.

These novels have had a profound impact on the literary landscape, both within Africa and globally, and have been widely studied and analyzed by scholars. They have been recognized for their compelling storytelling, nuanced character portrayals, and their ability to provide insights into the socio-cultural and historical contexts in which they are set.

 

Scholars have examined Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” from various angles, highlighting its significance in countering stereotypes about Africa and its exploration of African identity. For example, in her book ” Rose Ure Mezu Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Other Works: The Case for Revisionism and Black Cultural Nationalism” Rose Ure Mezu discusses how Achebe’s novel challenges the colonial representation of Africa as a primitive and inferior society. Mezu argues that Achebe’s portrayal of the Igbo culture and its complexities offers a counter-narrative that disrupts Western hegemonic perspectives (Mezu, 2004).

Similarly, Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” has been widely praised for its historical accuracy, compelling storytelling, and its exploration of themes related to war, nationalism, and the post-colonial experience in Nigeria. In his article “War, Memory, and the Ethics of Storytelling in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun,” Simon Lewis discusses how Adichie skillfully navigates the ethical challenges of representing the Biafran War, emphasizing the importance of memory and storytelling in preserving historical narratives (Lewis, 2012).

The significance of this study lies in its exploration of these novels through the lens of a creative and relevance-theoretic reading. By applying the concepts and principles of Relevance Theory to the analysis of Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun,” this research aims to provide a fresh perspective and deepen our understanding of the literary techniques, cultural nuances, and thematic layers present in these works.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The creative and relevance-theoretic reading of Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” presents a unique approach to understanding these literary works. However, despite the critical acclaim and extensive scholarly attention these novels have received, there is still a gap in the literature regarding the application of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach to these specific texts. However, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis and exploration of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach about Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun.” This gap hinders a deeper understanding of the literary techniques, cultural nuances, and thematic layers present in these novels, ultimately limiting the broader implications and contributions of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach to the study of these works.

Therefore, it is essential to address this gap in the literature by conducting a thorough analysis of Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” using the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach. By doing so, we can enhance our understanding of these texts and contribute to the existing body of knowledge on African literature, cultural identity, and the impact of historical events on literary works.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to employ the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach to Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” to enhance our understanding of these texts, compare their application of this theoretical framework, and explore their broader implications within the field of African literature. Firstly, it aims to apply the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach to Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” to deepen our understanding of these literary works. By examining these novels through the lens of Relevance Theory, which focuses on the communication of meaning and the cognitive processes involved in interpretation, we can gain new insights into the authors’ creative choices, narrative techniques, and the relevance of the texts to their socio-cultural and historical contexts. This analysis will provide a fresh perspective on these celebrated works and shed light on their thematic depth and literary significance.

Secondly, this study seeks to explore the similarities and differences in the application of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach to Achebe’s and Adichie’s novels. By conducting a comparative analysis, we can identify commonalities in the authors’ use of literary devices and themes, as well as variations in their approaches to storytelling and representation. This examination will contribute to our understanding of the authors’ unique perspectives and writing styles, enriching our appreciation of their contributions to African literature.

Lastly, the purpose of this study is to highlight the broader implications of the analysis for understanding these works within the broader literary context. By demonstrating the value of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach in the interpretation of Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun,” we can expand the toolkit of literary analysis methods available to scholars and readers. This research will contribute to the ongoing discourse on African literature, cultural identity, and post-colonial narratives, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances present in these works and their relevance to wider literary and cultural discussions.

1.3       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is focused specifically on the application of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach to two seminal works of African literature: Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun.” The analysis will primarily examine these novels about their literary techniques, cultural nuances, and thematic layers, with an emphasis on the relevance of the texts to their socio-cultural and historical contexts.

The study will involve a close reading of the selected texts, analyzing the narrative structures, character development, use of language, and other literary devices employed by the authors. The application of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach will guide the analysis, focusing on the communication of meaning, the cognitive processes involved in interpretation, and the relevance of the texts to the readers’ knowledge and expectations.

While the study will provide a comprehensive analysis of the selected novels using the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach, it is important to note that it will not delve into other theoretical frameworks or approaches to literary analysis. The scope is specifically limited to the application and exploration of Relevance Theory in these two works.

1.5 RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY

 

The relevance of this study lies in its contribution to the field of literary analysis, particularly in the context of African literature and post-colonial narratives. By applying the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach to Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun,” this research expands the analytical toolkit available to scholars and readers, offering a fresh perspective on these celebrated works. The application of Relevance Theory allows us to delve deeper into the authors’ creative choices, narrative techniques, and the relevance of the texts to their socio-cultural and historical contexts. This analysis not only enriches our understanding of these specific novels but also enhances our appreciation of African literature as a whole.

Furthermore, this study’s comparative analysis of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach of both novels provides insights into the similarities and differences in the authors’ literary techniques and thematic explorations. By exploring these variations, we gain a nuanced understanding of the unique perspectives and writing styles of Achebe and Adichie, contributing to a deeper appreciation of their contributions to African literature and cultural identity.

 

The broader implications of this study extend beyond the analysis of these specific novels. By demonstrating the value of the creative and relevance-theoretic reading approach, this research encourages scholars and readers to consider alternative interpretive frameworks that go beyond traditional literary analysis methods. Additionally, this study contributes to ongoing discussions on post-colonial narratives, cultural identity, and the impact of historical events, showcasing the relevance and significance of these works within broader literary and cultural contexts. Ultimately, this research fosters a deeper understanding of African literature, highlights its contributions to global literary traditions, and encourages further exploration and analysis in this field.

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