Toward
a Multicultural, Postcolonial British Literature
For too long British
literature as been taught as an isolated national tradition. Yet,
British literature can also be perceived as a dynamic
dialogue between the traditions, history, language, and culture
of the world's most influential imperial power and the enormous diversity
of its colonial possessions around the world. This page provides a
sampling of postcolonial texts and theoretical
background for teachers beginning to explore a truly multicultural,
postcolonial approach to teaching British literature.
English
Works to Pair with Texts from the British Empire |TOP|
Utopia
(1516) by Thomas Moore is based on accounts of the New World from
the Vespucci expeditions. A fascinating imaginative work to compare
with both European and Native American societies, inspires debate
and interesting creative projects. (Dover
Thrift $1.50.)
The Tempest
(1611) by William Shakespeare is at the center of a rich discussion
about colonialism and cultural encounter. Drawing on early accounts
of the Virginia colonies, Prospero and Caliban have come to be regarded
as emblematic figures of European and native relations. (See my article
"A Multicultural Tempest," English Journal, April
1993).
Compare to: Chapter One A People¹s History of the United
States by Howard Zinn; "Of Cannibals" essay by Montaigne,
read by Shakespeare; and, the Strachey Letter, the letter
from the Virginia colonies on which the play was based.
Oroonoko
(1688) the first novel written in English--and written by a woman.
Drawing on her voyage to the Caribbean Aphra Behn tells the story
of an African prince taken into slavery who rebels against his masters.
Robinson Crusoe
(1719) by Daniel Defoe is one of the most popular classics, read,
it is said, by every young man that ever went into service in the
British empire. Interesting study of an Englishman bringing order
and civilization to the "savages" and the "untamed"
New World. (Dover Thrift
$2.00). Compare
to: Foe by TM Coetze (1986) experimental fiction by South
African writer, author of Waiting for the Barbarians.
Olahdah Equiano
(1789) is an amazing slave narrative that is a work of English literature
(published in England by an English citizen). Would make a rich comparison
with The Tempest, Oronoko, Robinson Crusoe,
etc. (Dover Thrift $2.00)
"A
Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift is set in England¹s oldest
colony, Ireland, and is a ritique of English absentee landlords.
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte has a fascinating colonial connection through
Rochester¹s Caribbean plantations and wife, Bertha Mason. Many
other 19th Century novels have similar interesting colonial connections,
consider Magwitch in Great Expectations, Mr. Micawber in
David Cooperfield, Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights
or even the Bertran estate funded by Antigua plantations in Mansfield
Park.Compare to: Wide Sargasso Sea Jean Rhys; Abeng,
Michelle Cliff.
Heart of Darkness
(1899) by Joseph Conrad is most meaningful when read in the context
of European colonialism (Dover
Thrift $1.00). Many other works by Conrad explore colonial themes.
Compare to: "Racism in Heart of Darkness" by Chinua Achebe
(see Norton Edition); Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe,
and many other postcolonial texts.
Passage to
India by E.M. Forster treats the arrogance of British colonialism
in India. Students may find the film more approachable than the novel.
Kim (1901)
by Rudyard Kipling addresses the "Great Game" of British
and Russian struggle for control over India. Many other works by Kipling
would fit perfectly into such a course, including "Plain Tales
of the Hills," "Gunga Din and Other Poems" (Dover
Thrift $1.00), Man Who Would Be King (Dover
Thrift $1.50).
"Shooting
an Elephant" by George Orwell is set in the British colony of
Burma is an excellent essay on the role of the English as colonial
administrators.
Lord of the
Flies by William Golding can also be seen as a work in the colonial
tradition and makes an interesting comparison with Robinson Crusoe
and Heart of Darkness. Compare to: Jonsilver, a
truly disturbing colonial version of Lord of the Flies with
girls instead of boys; Coral Island, a British adventure
story mentioned in and critiqued by Lord of the Flies; The
Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells, a colonial story and could
be read along with several of the classic British works (Dover
Thrift $1.50).
Sampling
of Postcolonial Works |TOP|
Achebe, Chinua.
Things Fall Apart, (1959) No Longer At Ease, (1963),
A Man of the People, Arrow of God, Anthills
of the Savannah (Nigeria).
Armah, Ayi Kwei.
The Beautiful Ones are Not Yet Born (1969) (Ghana).
Brutus, Dennis.
A Simple Lust collected poetry (1973) (South Africa).
Cliff, Michelle.
No Telephone To Heaven. (1987) (Jamaica).
Dangerembga, Tsitsi.
Nervous Conditions (1989) (Zimbabwe).
Desai, Anita.
Bye, Bye Blackbird. (Indians in England).
Emecheta, Bucchi.
Joys of Motherhood (Nigeria), Second Class Citizen,
In the Ditch (Nigerians in London).
Equiano, Olaudah.
Equiano's Travels (1789) Slave narrative (Africa, England).
Gordimer, Nadine.
Short stories (South Africa).
Harris, Wilson.
Palace of the Peacock. (British Guiana .
Kane, Cheikh Hamidou.
Ambiguous Adventure (1972) (Senegal) trans. from French.
Laye, Camara.
Black Child trans. from French.
Maran, Rene. Batouala
(1921) trans. from French.
Markadaya, Kamala.
Nectar in a Sieve (India)
Mathabane, Mark. Kafir
Boy (1986).
Narayan, R.K.
The Guide, The Painter of Signs, The Man-Eater
of Malgudi, etc (India).
Ngugi wa Thiong'o.
Weep Not, Child (1964) (Kenya).
Nwapa,
Flora. Efuru (1966) (Nigeria).
Ondatje, Michael.
Running in the Family. (1982) (Ceylon).
Patan, Alan. Cry
the Beloved Country (1949) (South Africa).
Rushdie, Salman.
"Chekov and Zulu." (1993) (Indian Community in England).
Salih, Tayeb.
Season of Migration to the North (1970) (Sudan).
Sembene, Ousmane.
God¹s Bits of Wood (1961), Xala, Tribal
Scars and Other Stories (Senegal) trans. from French.
Recommended
Background Reading For Teachers |TOP|
Wretched of
the Earth, Frantz Fanon (1961).
Decolonizing
the Mind (1986), Writers in Politics (1981), by Ngugi
wa Thiong'o.
The Empire
Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Postcolonial Literatures.
Ashcroft, Griffiths, Tiffin (1990).
Culture and
Imperialism, Edward Said (1993).
Colonial Encounters:
Europe and the Native Caribbean 1492-1797, Peter Hulme.
Crusoe's Footprints:
Cultural Studies in Britain and America, Patrick Brantlinger,
1990.
