Myth and Symbolism in Chinua Achebe's Arrow Of
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research University Mohamed Boudiaf, M’sila Faculty of Letters and Foreign Languages Department of English Language and Literature Myth and Symbolism in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God Dissertation Submitted in Conformity with the Requirement of the Master Degree of English Language, Literature, and Civilization Submitted by: Supervisor TOURKI Amal Mrs. LAOUIDJI Karima Academic Year 2019/ 2020 People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research University Mohamed Boudiaf, M’sila Faculty of Letters and Foreign Languages Department of English Language and Literature Myth and Symbolism in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God Dissertation Submitted in Conformity with the Requirement of the Master Degree of English Language, Literature, and Civilization Submitted by: TOURKI Amal Panel of Examiners University of M'sila President Mrs. LAOUIDJI Karima University of M'sila Supervisor University of M'sila Examiner Academic Year 2019/ 2020 Acknowledgment: In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. All thanks to Allah who has helped us to fulfill This works. Our Sincere and honest gratitude is addressed to our respectful supervisor Mrs Laouiji Karima, for her Patience her endless and ultimate efforts and encouragements. She wisely conducted us to all the way to increase our potential and satisfy our thirst for Knowledge. Also, we would like to thank examiners for accepting to analyze and Cultivate this work. As well as all teachers in English department at M'sila University. Our sincere and heart full gratitude also to parents for their Constant support and everything they have. Dedication: I dedicate this Simple work to: My dear and respected parents: BelKassem and Nouara. My beloved Husband: youness My Soulmates Sisters and brothers Zineb, Sara, Miloud, Hodjira, Hichem and Amina My best friends: yassmin, Karima, and the dearest One Hassiba special thank, to all who they have Contributed to this work. … Amal Abstract Chinua Achebe's third novel namely Arrow of God. One of the most famous Nigerian publication in 1964. It is considered part of the African trilogy, sharing the same settings and themes. The presence of symbolism and myth in Achebe's Arrow of God plays a great role in refining African culture as well as attaching the Eurocentric histographies. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate myth and symbolism use in African Achebe's Arrow of God, it also examines the significance of both of them in reflecting the African culture and highlight how Achebe refines his indigenous culture through the use of mythic themes and symbolic meanings. In order to achieve these goals, the approach that is used is the archetypal approach to literary criticism, which considered the suitable approach that Achebe used in his novel. It is worth to mention that this novel attracted the eye of readers and got interested in reading it due to its different cultures and historical events. This dissertation will reach the point that Achebe's novel Arrow of God is full of symbolic meanings and mythical items. Key words: African literature, Chinua Achebe, myth, symbolism. Archetype. Table of Contents Acknowledgment Dedication Abstract Table of Content General Introduction ......................................................................................................01 Chapter one Theoretical and Socio-historical Background Introduction .......................................................................................................................06 1. Biography .....................................................................................................................06 1.1. About the Author ...................................................................................................06 1.2. About the Novel ....................................................................................................08 2. Archetypal criticism (Mythology) .................................................................................10 3. Definition of Symbolism / symbol ................................................................................12 4. Symbolism use in African literature ..............................................................................14 5. Myth definition ..............................................................................................................17 6. Myth in the African literature and society ....................................................................19 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................23 Chapter two The practical study of Arrow of God in relation to its Symbols and Myths Introduction .......................................................................................................................24 1. Power of meaning in Arrow of God ..............................................................................25 2. Myth and superstitions in Arrow of God ......................................................................27 3. Symbolism in Arrow of God .........................................................................................30 3.1. Yam leaves as symbol ...........................................................................................30 3.2. Church bells as symbol .........................................................................................33 3.3. Ezulu as symbol .....................................................................................................37 4. The Dawnfull of the Taregic hero EZULU in Achebe’s novel Arrow of God .............39 5. Colonialism impact on the African identity in Arrow of God ......................................42 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................47 General Conclusion ........................................................................................................48 Selected Bibliography .....................................................................................................50 Introduction Introduction “African Literature” term, is used by Americans and Europeans, which they meant through this expression a poetry, play, stories, that written by African writers in different languages like English, French, and other languages. Africa is endless Continent, Containing more than fifty Countries and few hundred languages and ethnic groups. Twenty years After the terms of African literature has changed due to the various developments such as increasing numbers of women writers, the growth of awareness of Written and oral production –in local and national languages which helped and participates in producing general improvements. Later, African Writers struggled to redress wrong pictures, and is rewrite fictionally and wonderfully the history of precolonial and Colonial Africa, and to African themes, Culture, perspectives...etc. (Gulien p. 297). The African novelist and writer Chinua Achebe, is one among African Writers who his works take place in African as well as European literature and societies. his masterworks Writings which characters with the use of mix themes, stories, myths, Symbols. Moreover, myth and symbols are reflections and background to understand than human mind. Retelling myth, able people to recover meanings and knowing their self-scope. Achebe highlights myths in this novel, writings, … etc as a rope to Connect pre and present events together. Nevertheless, different themes, pictures proverbs, characters are mythologies that distinct each Culture and Country from the other as Carl Jung the psychologist Calls Archetypes. The Archetype approach, have an energetic perspective, they can be thought as boundless of psychic vitality that impact while human kind throughout get it and respond toward life, 1 Introduction and Create thought processes, standards and individual truths. It emerge into Consciousness, where they express themselves within the frame of images themes, pictures, .. (Fontana, p10). while Symbolism is a literary movement appeared by the end of mine tenth century, it focuses on the use of symbols, signs and images to get the meaning, and it used besides to myth in literature: pons, prose, stories, novels by many writers like Ernest Hemingway, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Chinua Achebe..etc. Chinua Achebe's third novel “Arrow of God”, is one of the celebrate novels in the African literature. the story written by true story and published in 1964, at the Nigerian Society, taking place in Igbo Village “Arrow of God” it is a tragedy of a hero, it could be more up to date one. which tests with the possibility of accommodation. The novel tells the story of “EZulu” the Chief Priest of the Umuaro trip, he is an exemplification. portion of his issue stems from the mystery of this modern wonders within the society, wish to oblige beneath One roof the Conventional religion which he does not acknowledge, but to which he sends his child to fulfill the white man, Captain Winter- button and advantage, from the unused framework presented by the unused strengths, he brings about the fury of his individuals driving to his downfall (Ugwanyi, p. 259). Moreover, Achebe through “Arrow of God” tries to depict the social situation of the Nigerian society and transmits the inner purge of their culture, beliefs ...etc. highlight the Colonization and the