The educational role of narrative fiction - A particular focus on African postcolonial literature

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to emphasize the worldwide power of narrative fiction in the way it can speak to the entire world and overcome geographical and cultural borders. Its educational role in terms of what readers can learn through narrative fiction will also be analysed. In particular, African postcolonial literature will be the main focus because of its recent widespread diffusion through the emergence of new African authors. The risk is that their works would almost become commodified and part of a cultural industry. On the contrary, the role of African authors should be reckoned to promote their creativity and to give Africa a voice. This thesis is divided as follows: chapter one will present some considerations on the functions of literature and its importance in life and education. Then it will also deal with technical aspects of narrative fiction, and with Western representations of Africa in terms of effectiveness of literature and its reliability. Chapter two will focus on the postcolonial literary industry and the recent phenomenon of Afropolitanism will be presented. The chapter will also deal with African postcolonial literature, in particular in English language delineating its history, controversies and limits of expression. Chapter three will tackle the employment of African postcolonial literature in educational practices, with a particular focus on the role of the teacher. Lastly, chapter four will present some examples of narrative fiction in English language whose educational role and its relationship with the Western societies, can be taken as starting point to encourage children in becoming adults in a globalized world. In the conclusion, final considerations on the topic will be delineated.