FUNERARY SYMBOLS USAGE IN MASUJI IBUSE`S BLACK RAIN

FUNERARY SYMBOLS USAGE IN MASUJI IBUSE'S BLACK RAIN (1970)
AND OE KENZABURO'S TIlE SILENT CRY (1967)
By
NDERITU JAMES MAINA
B.A (EDUCATION)
_
CSO/CE/14396/2009
A Project Proposal Submitted to the Literature
University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
Masters of Arts
2014
\,
Department,
Kenyatta
for Award of Degree of
DECLARATION
I declare that this proposal is my own original work and that it has not been presented to any
other university for an award
Student:
Signature
Nderitu James Maina
C50lCEI14396/2009
This proposal has been submitted for the review with our approval as Kenyatta University
Supervisors:
Signature
Literature Department
Signature
Date
Dr. John Mugubi
Literature Department
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Abstract
This research work will concentrate on Masuji Ibuse's Black Rain (1970) and Oe Kenzaburo's
The Silent Cry (1967) attempts to find out on how the funerary symbols appear, how they are
employed and their significance in the two selected novels. The research will also look at the
effect that funerary symbols have on plot, characterization and themes in the texts. There is a
reason that drives a writer into using one form of communication over another in his or her work.
An interrogation ofthe works by Japanese writers indicates that the area covered by this research
is limited. It is hoped that this study and its findings will contribute in filling the vacuum. This
study will be conducted within the guidelines of two theoretical frameworks: semiotics Literary
theory and psychoanalysis theory. Semiotics literary approach will be instrumental when it
comes to analyzing the communication modes embraced by the two authors. Psychoanalysis
theory will be useful in analyzing the funerary symbols employed by the selected authors. The
research design to be used in this study will be a descriptive one. Since this will be a library
based research, the primary texts will be read alongside other critical works that will be deemed
relevant for the findings of the research. The results will then be analyzed before the final
findings are written down.
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