Deep and Surface Structures of Akan Folktales
Themes, Characters, Structures and Literary Devices
Books on Akan Folktales are not easy to come by.
So, this book comes to fill part of a void and also project Akan Folktales as literature; it is based on the analysis of fifty Akan folktales from Ghana.
The deep structure is the ethics, revealed in the themes and characters.
The themes encompass both vices and virtues prevalent in the Akan society.
The characters are human and non-human, all playing roles of human beings.
The surface structure deals with aesthetics inherent in the story and the narrative structures.
The story structure reveals a concepto-mathematical model comprising three societal elements and four character functions.
The narrative structure shows an interplay of voice, mood and time.
There is prolific use of literary and rhetorical devices.Delightful and instructive, this book should be useful to everybody, especially university students and academics, who are interested in literature and related subjects such as anthropology and culture.
Readers of this book are encouraged to also read the author’s other book entitled: “50 Akan Folktales from Ghana: English and Akan Versions”, since it is the source material for the analysis made in this book.
Mrs Patricia Beatrice Mireku-Gyimah, PhD: Studied English at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.
Head, Centre for Communication and Enterpreneurship Skills (CENCES) at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana.
Fiche technique
- Auteur
- PATRICIA BEATRICE MIREKU-GYIMAH
- Langue
- Français
- Éditeur
- LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing
- Pays
- Ghana
Deep Structure Indeed
This analysis, gives a wide variety of information on the subject matter. I was particularly interested in the mathematical structure. Mathematical it is not, but it gives not only problematical description on the Vladimir Prop methodology on writing the folktales ( 9 points of criticism ). Actually it gives a better version, if not a complete work out on the subject matter.<br /> <br /> It is by no surprise that this edition have so many translations. <br /> <br /> The other noteworthy interest of mine is actually the place and framework of this exact piece in the Continental Context of Africa ( Different Voices, different speakers, resulting in the overall notion ).<br /> <br /> P.S. Honestly, I guess I didn`t expected, the Cold War conflict ( St. Thompson - Vl. Prop ), but rather different style ( Truly unique ). Mybe it has to do with the weights of oral versus written folktales and tradition.<br /> <br /> The aim clearly was to make a definitive edition. It Happend.<br /> <br /> Best Regards,<br /> <br /> Mr. Teodor N. Kutsarov<br /> <br /> Peace <br />