Master of Arts in Literature

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/810

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    The Depiction of Women in Contemporary Femrite Short Story Anthologies
    (2024-04-19) Fortunate Kansiime
    Gender representation in female-authored literary texts has hitherto been characterised as a positive representation of women contrary to the former subjective misrepresentation and underrepresentation of women by male authors. The study sought to broaden the understanding of women's depiction in contemporary female-authored FEMRITE short story anthologies. It investigated the depiction of women's character traits, assigned roles, and gender-related themes in female-authored short story anthologies published by FEMRITE Publications Limited, Uganda. The study analysed fifteen short stories, selecting five from each of the three FEMRITE-published short story anthologies selected for the study. These were: Pumpkin Seeds and Other Gifts (2009) edited by Hellen Moffet and Violet Barungi, Summoning the Rains (2012) edited by Hilda Twongyeirwe and Ellen Banda-Aaku, and Nothing to See Here (2015) edited by Hilda Twongyeirwe). The short story anthologies used for the study consisted of short narratives compiled in the FEMRITE Annual Residency for African Women Writers. Feminism is a theory that premises itself on the importance of gender equality that develops an account, identify the causes and effects of women’s subordination and prescribes the strategies for women’s liberation. This theory was employed in the study to ascertain the representation of women and their struggles to gain equality and fair treatment from the point of view of female authors. Gender theory, which describes gender roles, was also used in the study to examine the roles assigned to female characters and roles of female authors in the struggle to gain equality in female-authored texts. The study employed a qualitative approach based on the collection of textual material, analysis, and interpretation of the texts. Data were presented, analysed, interpreted, and discussed using a textual checklist based on the feminist and gender literary theories. The findings of this research indicate that the study achieved its purpose/objectives and successfully answered its research questions. The research recommends that works of female authors should be made available and accessible to the public since they create a positive representation of women. It further recommended that the publication of more female-authored literature be used to sensitize the population about issues of gender equality, and human rights support and writing more reviews about the FEMRITE short story anthologies that have not received much scholarly attention.
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    A Comparative Study on the Trials of Dedan Kimathi by Ngugi Wa Thiongo and Micere Mugo and A man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt
    (2024-04-08) Gift Katusiime
    This study analyzed the setting, character portrayal and style in two plays. The first one by two African writers Ngugi wa Thiongo and Micere Mugo, The Trials of Dedan Kimathi and the second by a Western writer, Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons. The research was library-based, enhanced by the textual data and electronic sources to establish materials related to the two selected plays, and it was conducted using qualitative analysis to examine the data from the two selected plays. The study employed two theories; Formalism theory, that is concerned with literature as a tool for social transformation, not only for entertainment, but also for teaching, criticizing, correcting and transforming society for the better and Sociological theory that advocates for purposive choice of words and use of figurative language for the analysis and interpretation of data. The two plays are concerned with the battle of conscience of the characters, and are about true historical events that happened in two different countries with a period difference of over 400 years. The plots of the two texts are rooted in the historical events leading to the deaths of the two heroes. These are: Sir Thomas More, the 16th Century Lord Chancellor of England and Dedan Kimathi, the leader of the Mau Mau Liberation Movement that occurred in the mid-20th century in Kenya. The two heroes are versatile, resilient and responsive to change throughout the course of the two selected plays, despite all the trials and temptations that are set before them. They remain true to their consciences and beliefs. Therefore, the study found out that the two plays have a similar thread, they are both tragic and tense, and the characters go through trials and die a tragic death for reasons that are beyond them. Hence, they are symbolic characters because they stand for a greater cause. The setting of the two countries is mainly characterized by rebellion, frustration with the status quo, indignation toward authority, lack of approval of a law, and refusal to comply with the oppressor. Hence tense and rebellious relations.
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    Events and Generation of Oral Literature: The Murder and Burial of Bishop James Hannington as a Case Study
    (2015-05-10) Wankuma Abel Kibbedi
    This study focuses on two events, namely the death and burial of Bishop Hannington, in order to help us understand the generation and development of oral narratives. It follows the path that has been cleared by scholars in African Literature like Hofmeyr who combine multiple approaches to the study of Oral Literature, that is, History, Anthropology, and Sociology. It proves that much oral literature can be produced from a single event. The study looks at the generation of oral literature from the death and burial of Bishop James Hannington the first Anglican bishop of the Equatorial Province. The researcher visited the sites of the murder and a place where the bishop’s body was kept for a while before the first burial. He interviewed several informants from whom very insightful information was got. The conclusion is that much oral literature can be generated from an event as here reported and documented in this dissertation.
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    Oralture Around Rituals Concerning Twins in Jopadhola Culture
    (School of Education - Uganda Christian University, 2012) Naula, Mary
    The purpose of this study was to identify and critically analyse the oralture products associated with the rituals concerning twins among the Jopadhola. The study was guided by the following objectives: to establish the successive stages in the life of twins among the Jopadhola and the rituals which accompany them; establish the nature or categories and functions of the oralture produced around these rituals; and establish the content and the literary features of these oralture products. This research used mostly qualitative approach, thus descriptive or verbal rather than numeric or statistical approach. It involved mostly verbal interviews with twenty seven respondents. The researcher listened to them as they sung the songs in response to the designed interview schedule. The findings reveal that oralture around rituals concerning twins among the Jopadholas are rich in literary features like imagery, kenning, personification, metaphors, symbols, satire, hyperbole, repetition, similes and structure with numerous functions, categories and features that pertain to them. Songs proved to be more utilised than all other literary products and the least used are the sayings and folktales. The researcher recommends that the Jopadhola writers begin to write literature on the performance of rituals concerning twins with the oralture products reflected. More research is needed on the songs that different clans sing whenever twin rituals are performed. The information obtained should then be stored in form of written texts or electronically. This would help in preserving the original rituals concerning twins and the literariness therein.