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ENG281 Arts 3 Units intermediate

The African Novel

This course introduces students to the African novel, exploring its origins, development, and evolution from oral traditions to contemporary forms. It examines the socio-cultural and political experiences that have shaped various themes within African novels, distinguishing them from Western literature. The course covers major blocs of African novels, including Francophone, Anglophone, and Lusophone works, and analyzes thematic concerns of modern writers, focusing on style, language, and structure. Students will develop critical interpretation skills.

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150h
Study Time
13
Weeks
12h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
African NovelThemesFrancophoneAnglophoneLusophone

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Origin of African Novel

2

Themes in African Novel

3

Francophone Novels

4

Anglophone Novels

5

Lusophone Novels

6

Contemporary African Novels

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Literary Critic

Apply your skills in this growing field

Editor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Lecturer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Writer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Cultural Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

PublishingEducationJournalismCultural ResearchCreative Writing

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: The Rise of the African Novel

6h

Unit 1: The African Novel: Polemics of a Definition

3 study hours
  • • Understand the polemics surrounding the definition of the African novel.
  • • Examine the various ideological dispositions that have shaped its identity.
  • • Discuss the challenges in categorizing African fiction.

Unit 2: Beginning of the Novel in Africa 1: Orality

3 study hours
  • • Identify the oral traditions that influenced the beginning of the African novel.
  • • Explore the role of orality in shaping early African literature.
  • • Discuss the relationship between African oral narrative forms and the written novel.
Week
2

Module 1: The Rise of the African Novel

9h

Unit 3: Beginning of the Novel in Africa 2: Pamphleteering

3 study hours
  • • Examine the role of pamphleteering in the development of African fiction.
  • • Discuss the characteristics of market literature, including Onitsha and Kano Market Literatures.
  • • Explain how pamphlets transitioned into novels.

Unit 4: The Rise of Formal Novels

3 study hours
  • • Explore the emergence of formal novels in Africa.
  • • Understand the distinctions between urban, rural, and classless novels.
  • • Discuss the role of early African novels in the fight for independence.

Unit 5: The African Milieu and the African Novel

3 study hours
  • • Analyze the relationship between the African milieu and the African novel.
  • • Discuss the portrayal of African society, culture, and personality in African novels.
  • • Explain the role of the African novel as a custodian of tradition.
Week
3

Module 2: Major Themes & Threads in African Novel

12h

Unit 1: Politics of Land

4 study hours
  • • Examine the theme of land possession and dispossession in East African novels.
  • • Discuss the politics of land in Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novels.
  • • Understand the impact of colonialism on land ownership in East Africa.

Unit 2: Politics of Apartheid

4 study hours
  • • Understand the meaning and origin of apartheid.
  • • Discuss the portrayal of apartheid in South African novels.
  • • Analyze the impact of apartheid on South African society and individuals.

Unit 3: Independent Africa

4 study hours
  • • Explore the theme of independence in African novels.
  • • Discuss the different views of novelists on post-colonial Africa.
  • • Understand the shift in focus from colonial experience to pure African experience.
Week
4

Module 2: Major Themes & Threads in African Novel

8h

Unit 4: Politics of Corruption

4 study hours
  • • Examine the theme of corruption in African novels.
  • • Discuss the portrayal of corruption in Achebe's and Armah's works.
  • • Understand the impact of corruption on African societies.

Unit 5: Politics of Militarism

4 study hours
  • • Explore the theme of militarism in African novels.
  • • Discuss the portrayal of military rule in Achebe's and other authors' works.
  • • Understand the impact of militarism on African societies.
Week
5

Module 3: Varieties of the African Novels

10h

Unit 1: Anti-Colonial African Novel

5 study hours
  • • Understand the reasons for anti-colonial themes in African novels.
  • • Discuss anti-colonial subject matters in African novels.
  • • Realize that African literature is often a reaction to history and experiences.

Unit 2: African Novel and Marxism

5 study hours
  • • Understand what Marxism is and how African writers have responded to it.
  • • Appreciate African novels with Marxist themes.
  • • Assess Marxist tendencies in African novels.
Week
6

Module 3: Varieties of the African Novels

6h

Unit 3: Novel of Social Realities

6 study hours
  • • Understand that African novels are products of African social environment.
  • • Explain why the African novelists project social mores.
  • • Relate the form of African novels to African experiences.
Week
7

Module 3: Varieties of the African Novels

6h

Unit 4: Gender & Class in African Novel

6 study hours
  • • Understand what gender issues are in the African novel.
  • • Appreciate African novels with gender themes.
  • • Recognize gender themes in African novels.
Week
8

Module 3: Varieties of the African Novels

6h

Unit 5: War Fiction

6 study hours
  • • Understand the reasons for military politics in Africa.
  • • Assess the extent of military damage in African politics.
  • • Appreciate the use of militarism as theme in African fiction.
Week
9

Module 4: Major Blocs of African Novels

12h

Unit 1: The Francophone Africa Fiction

6 study hours
  • • Identify novels that centre on independent African experiences.
  • • See the different views of novelists in post-colonial Africa.
  • • Discuss the shift in focus from colonial experience to pure African experience.

Unit 2: North African Novels

6 study hours
  • • Understand the reasons for anti-colonial themes in African novels.
  • • Appreciate African novels with anti-colonial themes.
  • • Discuss anti-colonial subject matters in African novels.
Week
10

Module 4: Major Blocs of African Novels

6h

Unit 3: The Lusophonic African Fiction

6 study hours
  • • Understand what gender issues are in the African novel.
  • • Appreciate African novels with gender themes.
  • • Recognize gender themes in African novels.
Week
11

Module 4: Major Blocs of African Novels

6h

Unit 4: Central African Blocs

6 study hours
  • • Understand the reasons for military politics in Africa.
  • • Assess the extent of military damage in African politics.
  • • Appreciate the use of militarism as theme in African fiction.
Week
12

Module 4: Major Blocs of African Novels

6h

Unit 5: Ethnic Novels in West Africa

6 study hours
  • • Understand the reasons for anti-colonial themes in African novels.
  • • Appreciate African novels with anti-colonial themes.
  • • Discuss anti-colonial subject matters in African novels.
Week
13

Module 5: Contemporary African Novels/Themes

12h

Unit 1: The New Writers in Africa

6 study hours
  • • Categorize African writers as new writers and other generation writers.
  • • Appreciate the novel of new writers in thematic content.
  • • Differentiate the new writers from other generations.

Unit 2: The Diaspora Novelists

6 study hours
  • • Distinguish between diaspora Africa writers and African American writers.
  • • Appreciate the thematic patterns in diaspora novels.
  • • Compare the treatment of Africa and African values in diaspora novels with those of the writers in Africa.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key events in the development of the African novel.

2

Develop a comparative chart of themes across different African blocs.

3

Prepare summaries of major authors and their works.

4

Practice analyzing excerpts from African novels.

5

Review all assignments and tutor feedback to identify areas for improvement.