The Formalist approach to selected Sesotho novels: Mosikong wa lerato, Mosali a nkhola and Lehlaba la lephako

Abstract

This research examines the applicability of Russian formalism in selected Sesotho novels. The selected text that are subject of analysis are Mosikong wa lerato – T. Mafata; Mosali a nkhola – M. Khaketla; and Lehlaba la lephako – TWD Mohapi. Chapter one introduces the aims of research questions and objectives, as well as the theoretical framework, which forms the basis on which the study is analysed. The notions of literariness, defamiliarisation, fabula and sjuzet are discussed within the theoretical framework of Russian Formalism, and the focus is placed on narratology. Chapter two looks into the literature review of scholarly articles of the past and present researchers who have contributed to African literature, elements of a novel are discussed, as they will underpin the novels that will be analysed and interpreted. The concepts of setting, character and characterisation are also placed under spotlight the aim being to determine whether they are congruent with the novels that are subjects of the study. Chapter three discusses the theoretical framework that underpins the research work. The advocates of Russian Formalism are discussed at length and the four aspects that are the crux on which the research is based are described and interpreted. It is found that the author is dead in Russian Formalism as his/her contribution in the text may influence the interpretation of the text in the negative or positive way. Therefore the contribution of the author is left out ant of importance is the content of the text. Chapter four deals with the actual interpretation of the texts, namely, Mosikong wa lerato by T Mafata, Mosali a nkhola by M Khaketla as well as Lehlaba le Lephako by TWD Mohapi. The concepts of literariness, defamiliarisation, fabula and sjuzet are used to determine as to whether they are congruent with the three texts or not. The discussion reveals that characters are affected by the political, psychological and socio-economic factors in their endeavour to survive in their environment Chapter five concludes the research work and findings reveal that though Russian Formalism is a theory that emerged from Europe, it has the capacity to analyse and interpret literary texts that originates from the African soil.