A stylistic analysis of the novels of K P D Maphalla

Abstract

The main object of this study was to try and analyze the style K.P.D. Maphalla has employed in his novels. Maphalia's artistic skills have earned him favourable comments from prominent scholars. His style of writing enlivens the stories and intensifies interest in the reader. In an attempt to reveal his art and techniques, we have confined ourselves to three of his novels, namely, Tshiu tseo, Kabelwamanong, and Nna ke mang? However, this does not mean that these are the only novels he has produced. Nowhere in Sesotho literary studies has a stylistic analysis of Maphalla's novels been done yet. This study will then heighten the readers appreciation of the novels and sharpen their ability to evaluate better other literary works. This in turn could make possible contribution towards further improvement in the quality of the genre prose in Sesotho and hopefully, in other African languages as well. To our knowledge no one has done this work before, especially in the manner we have approached it. The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one takes the form of an introduction and provides the background to our study. In the second chapter we tried to develop a stylistic framework whose purpose was to inform the analysis of Maphalla's novels. In chapter three we concentrated on the actual analysis of the three novels. We looked into the use of figurative language including repetition techniques and other syntactical devices. Chapter four showed how the writer employs titles, songs, and letters as a means of communicating his ideas. In the last chapter we looked at how the writer has used poetry in the form of songs and poems in his work and a conclusion which also include a pointer to possible future research. We hope through our study to add to the much-needed tools of literary criticism for the proper analysis of novels.