Theorizing Literature: Style and Themes in Selected Texts by African Authors

Abstract

This paper investigates some major thematic preoccupations and stylistic trends prevalent in African literature; the paper examines the works of some African writers from different generations and how they use their creative works to unravel postcolonial realities in Africa. The paper brings to our notice the various literary theories adopted in reveling the numerous stylistic trends and themes in modern African literature, not excluding Gay theory which is relatively new in contemporary African fiction. This paper concludes that contrary to popular research findings, writers have more to do in correcting numerous societal ills prevalent in Africa.

Keywords: African, writers, literary, theme, theory, style