English Language and Literature Blog

After leaving Newcastle train station on 14 th  July, I arrived at Manchester Piccadilly train station just after lunch time. Upon arrival, I made my way to the agreed pick up location where I met up with Keith who I was staying with for a week. As he was already there, I didn’t have to wait which made my travels that much easier. After around a 45-minute drive I arrived at his house where I settled in whilst he made me a quick bite to eat. At around 6:30 pm his wife Mary, who is currently the lady captain at the golf club I used to be a member of, arrived home and was happy to see me. The next day the Mary took me to the golf club where I met up with the Keith for lunch and I was able to take a couple of golf clubs so that I could go on the practice areas whilst I was waiting for Keith to finish his competition round which he started at 9 am that morning. When we met up, I went into the clubhouse with him and we had some food and a drink before going to the shops and then going b...

After arriving at Manchester airport on the 1 st July, I found my way to Northumberland where I will be staying with some family friends for two weeks where I will be taking driving lessons to hopefully pass my driving test on the 11 th July so that I can get a UAE licence when I turn 18. Whilst I have been in Northumberland I will be spending the majority of my time completing the majority of my homework during the day so that I can have the afternoons free to relax outside with the friends I am staying with as well as watching movies and talking to friends who are all in different countries. Being in a place I have only been once before, which was a few months ago, is quite hard for me because I don’t know anyone except for the family friends, so I can’t go out with anyone different or go anywhere without them because I don’t know where anything is. Having been driving around, I am getting to know the area around me, although I have mainly been driving in an area called Blythe...

The content and theme of Ngugi’s extract can be used to show a deeper appreciation of Things Fall Apart. In what ways does this text influence your understanding of Achebe’s use of language and stylistic choices in Things Fall Apart? This text has increased my knowledge of Things Fall Apart due to the multiple similarities shared between it and the latter. In this extract, Ngugi presents to the readers a descriptive account of the language and its harmony that thrived within his community including its destruction shortly after the start of the colonization. This further illustrates the destruction of Igbo society following the missionaries’ arrival and Ngugi's viewpoint is like that of Achebe's. Both Ngugi and Achebe both built authentic perspectives based on their personal knowledge and experiences, further developing the readers understanding on the Igbo culture which allows a reader a more intimate insight into the culture in discussion. Ngugi intensel...

Prompt – The personal history   of an author can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his/her writing. Comment on specific instances of such influence in Things Fall Apart Thesis Statement: The personal history within Chinua Achebe is a key factor that plays an important role in his novel ‘Things Fall Apart.’ His background as an author influences his or her perception on the world, therefore creating an indirect portrayal of the world through the selection of characters and the development of the plot. Topic Sentence #1: Being raised in a family of Christian converts, Achebe was surrounded by both the Christian and Igbo religions from a young age, gaining precious knowledge which allowed him to see two different perspectives of the world. Topic Sentence #2: A second aspect is the historic context. During Achebe’s childhood, he experienced the undergoing of colonization which influenced his perception of the world. Topic Sentenc...

Chinua Achebe chose to characterize, one of the main characters, Okonkwo by using the tragic hero archetype. Chinua Achebe integrated the tragic hero archetype by creating a character who generally made a judgment error that lead to his own destruction. This archetype is commonly associated with the Igbo culture collapsing which ultimately is a result of Okonkwo's downfall. Throughout the novel, Achebe effectively included indirect characterization in which third narration was demonstrated. As readers work their way through the novel, traits of Okonkwo’s personality seeps through, showing his true colours. Okonkwo, although seen as a tragic heroic, stands stubbornly for the beliefs and tradition of the Igbo culture, by constantly being on the prowl to find new opportunities of achievement. Throughout many sections of the text, Okonkwo shows how much of a conflicted character he is, which was clearly seen when he indirectly tells the reader he doesn’t recognize duality although it ...