African Literature

African American literature is an extremely dense and rich form of literature that contains many types of similar tropes. These tropes can be seen throughout many of African American works of literature. ... Double-Consciousness Double-consciousness is a major theme that courses through many African American literature works. ... Dubois and is defined in the focus of African American literature and the African American experience as "an individual whose identity is divided into several facets.... This idea of double-consciousness comes through in almost any African American work of lite...

• Word Count: 3543
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Introduction What constitutes African literature? Is it literature written by Africans, literature that depicts the African experience? Does African literature have to be written in African languages? ... In his article 1, Obi Wali challenges that "any true African literature has to be written in an African language and that "uncritical acceptance of English and French as the inevitable medium for educated African writing, is misdirected and has no chance of advancing African literature"2. ... Chinua Achebe openly and strongly supports the use of the imposed language in African literature ...

• Word Count: 2193
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

African American Literature is a composite of many different life stories and experiences African Americans have had to endure throughout a lifetime. ... As of now there is Pre-20th African American Literature, which would include authors like Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. ... The second of the two time periods assigned to African American literature is 20th century, and that would include authors such as Sterling A. ... Most of the earliest works done by African American's in literature dealt with African Heritage, Enslavement, Abolitionism, Reconstruction and the Civil Wa...

• Word Count: 2200
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This is a reminder that African literature may really be best described as lit/orature, an interlock between two coexisting traditions. ... "African Literature, oral and written, was produced on the African continent. Africa has a long literary tradition, although very little of this literature was written down until the 20th century. In the absence of widespread literacy, African literature was primarily oral and passed down from one generation to the next through memorization and recitation." ... In any culture that does not have literature, proverbs provide a great deal of values and kn...

• Word Count: 2075
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

Africans in America Many people believe that the first inhabitants of America were the pilgrims, but they are wrong. Indians and Africans were here long before pilgrims. African culture has bled through society. ... Elements of rap can be seen in early African songs such as James Weldon Johnson's Lift Every Voice and Sing. Through the readings so far in the book African American Literature I have learned that African slaves would tell stories to keep hope of becoming free someday. ...

• Word Count: 457
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Stacy Adams ENGL233.001 Herbert Martin's speech "The African American Oral Tradition" is about how African American writers imply oral forms in their literary works. African American literatures use several different types of genres to form its basis about slavery. ... Martin speaks of the two elements that are essential to African American Literature, the spiritual and the sermon. ... African American literature was formed through the use of all these various genres. ... The audience is therefore able to get a real sense of reality, place, time and tone from each piece of lit...

• Word Count: 703
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Stacy Adams ENGL233.001 Herbert Martin's speech "The African American Oral Tradition" is about how African American writers imply oral forms in their literary works. African American literatures use several different types of genres to form its basis about slavery. ... Martin speaks of the two elements that are essential to African American Literature, the spiritual and the sermon. ... African American literature was formed through the use of all these various genres. ... The audience is therefore able to get a real sense of reality, place, time and tone from each piece of lit...

• Word Count: 703
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

He is the man that wrote Things Fall Apart, the novel that is being taught at schools all over the world and the man that is called father of African literature. ... The enormous variety of native languages throughout Africa creates an immense diversity of cultures, and therefore literature. We need to treasure those different cultures and types of literature in order to distinguish ourselves from everyone else. ... Question Why is colonization and decolonization such a major topic in African Literature? ... For this reason, the injustice that has been done to our people is a decisive topic ...

• Word Count: 972
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The Oral Traditions of African American Literature is a subject frequently debated and dicussed by literary subjects. ... African Americans were forced to find other ways to express themselves and pass on there heritage and traditions. ... The reactions of Phillis Wheatly and some of the slave narrators to oral slave literature would most likely be negative. The Literature of Slavery and Freedom 1746-1865, included the following passage: "Typically the antebellum slave narrative carried a black message inside a white envelope." ... Washington & Frederick Douglass who both were models of educa...

• Word Count: 1215
• Approx Pages: 5