Thesis Abstract

Literary creativity usually conforms to the tradition of the era in which it is created. That is why creative styles have changed from the classical, to the Medieval, through to the Elizabethan Age, the Restoration Age, the Augustan Age, and the Victorian Age when Realist literature thrived and so on. The question however is that with the passage of every successive age does it mean such literary tradition is gone forever? This is what motivated the researcher into research using Half of a Yellow Sun and Sunset in Biafra for the investigation of Realism. Realism as we know is a 19th century theory. The question therefore was, could this theory still be applicable to these modern literary works of art? Despite the fact that Half of a Yellow and Sunset in Biafra are 21st and 20th century novels respectively, both novels show glaringly features of realism through themes, settings, characterisations, use of language and other literary devices, despite the time difference. This shows that, despite the fact that realism is no longer trending, writers need not ceased to present literary works in realist mode, as these two authors have done. This injunction is applicable not only to novels but to all literary genres.

Thesis Overview