Lahore College for Women University

Department of English
BS English (Language & Literature)

Course Title: African Literature Semester: VII

Course Code: EC/Eng-411 Credit Hours: 3(3+0)

Course Description:
This course will introduce students to African Literature which is the most dynamic and
productive literature of 20th and 21st centuries. Students will study a variety of literary text
including poetry, prose and fiction by selected authors from Africa. This course will
introduce students to the history and culture of Africa by way of literature to demonstrate to
them how literature can help create an understanding socio-cultural, economic and political
issues that define life and existence in the countries of the African continent. This course is
meant to present teaching, researching, understanding and analysis of Africa from African
centered perspective instead of dominant Euro centered and western perspectives.

Course Objectives:
The course aims to enable students:
● to understand basic issues discussed in African Literature
● to understand the context of the production of African Literature
● to analyze an informational text about African cultural and political experiences
● to use African Literature to understand the geography and the unique cultures of
Africa
● to explore African postcolonial and contemporary literature
● to develop critical and analytical skills

Course Contents:
▪ Background of African Literature
▪ Discussion on Chinua Achebe as Father of African Literature and his contribution
▪ Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo
▪ The Question of Power by Bessie Head
▪ Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee
▪ Death and King’s Horsemen by Wole Soyinka
▪ Selected short stories by Nadine Gordimer: “Jump”, “Ultimate Safari”, “Spoils”,
“Safe Houses” and “Keeping Fit”.
▪ Selected poems by Derek Walcott: “A Far Cry from Africa”, “Ruins of a Great
House”, “Sea Grapes”, “The Sea is History” and “A City’s Death by Fire”
 Lahore College for Women University
Department of English
BS English (Language & Literature)
Weekly Plan

Mid Term

Weeks Syllabus Plan

Week 1 Introduction to the course and its outline.

An overview of African Geography, its popular countries and

notable geographical landscapes. (View an African map for this.)

Discuss the back ground of African Literature, its different genres,

major writers, their works and salient features of writing style.

A very comprehensive discussion on the biography and writing

style of the writers (novelist, playwrights, poets and short story
writers) selected for the course.

Week 2 Introduction to Chinua Achebe. Detailed discussion on Chinua

Achebe as Father of African Literature and his contribution to
different genres (Poetry, Fiction, Prose). Discuss in detail the salient
features of writing style of Chinua Achebe.

Week 3 Discuss in detail biography of Ama Ata Aidoo. Discuss the

plot/story of her novel Our Sister Killjoy. Discuss the significance
of the title, characters and various themes in the novel. Discuss the
politics of race and gender in her work(s).

Week 4 Continue thematic discussion of Our Sister Killjoy. Continue

discussion on various types of politics especially politics of exile in
the novel. Discuss in detail post colonialism in the novel.

Week 5 Introduction to Bessie Head and discuss her biography in detail to

trace, later, semi autobiographical features in the novel. Discuss the
significance of the title and plot of the novel A Question of Power.

Week 6 Discussion on Head’s women character and their weaknesses and

strengths. Discuss themes and post colonialism in the novel.

Introduction to J. M. Coetzee, his biography and writing style.

Discuss the title, setting, plot and characters in the novel Waiting
for the Barbarians.

Week 7 Continue discussion on various themes and other aspects of the

novel Waiting for the Barbarians. Discuss in detail the post
 colonialism in the novel.

Week 8 REVISION WEEK

Group discussion in the class where students are encouraged to talk
about African Literature and its salient features.

Revision/recap of all the contents covered in the previous 7 weeks

through Quizzes/Tests/Presentations.

Mid Term Examination

FINAL TERM

Weeks Syllabus Plan

Week 9 Introduction to African Drama and its aesthetics. Discussion on

Wole Soyinka, his biography and writing style. Detailed discussion
on plot of the play Death and the King’s Horsemen, its
background, its characters and title.

Week 10 Continue discussion on themes and post colonialism in the play.

Emphasis will be upon Soyinka’s craft of Portraying characters and
situation. Critically evaluate the play to discuss various aspects
important for examination.

Week 11 Introducing a Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer and her selected

short stories. Discuss her writing style to know how she investigates
race in racially segregated setting. Critical evaluation of the short
story “Jump” to discuss its title, message and characters.

Class discussion

(Topics will be assigned to the students for Multimedia

Presentations to be presented in week 16)

Week 12 Discuss Gordimer’s short stories “Ultimate Safari” and “Spoils”.

Discuss themes especially theme of race, character portrayal and
significance of titles. Discussion on various aspects/questions from
examination point of view.
Week 13 Discuss Gordimer’s short stories “Safe Houses” and

“Keeping Fit”. Discuss themes especially theme of race, character

portrayal and significance of titles. Discussion on important
aspects/questions for examination point of view.

Week 14 Introduce Derek Walcott, his biography and works. Discuss the
salient features of his writing style with reference to his poems.
Critical appreciation of the poem “A Far Cry from Africa” and
“Ruins of a Great House”. Discuss themes and effects of
colonialism in these poems.

Week 15 Discuss Walcott’s poems “Sea Grapes”, “The Sea is History” and
“A City’s Death by Fire”. Discuss Walcott’s writing style and
themes. Critical analyze these poems to trace history and the effects
of colonialism in these poems.

Week 16 Revision Week

Revision/recap of all the contents covered in the previous 7 weeks.

Final Term Examination