ABSTRACT
Children writers project various messages to their target readers through their works, the theme of friendship is one dominant thrust present in Akachi Adimora – Ezeigbo’s children’s literary texts; Whisker the Brave Cat and Tales of Iroko Trees. Other themes explored in this texts are; courage, loyalty, love, poor discipline/poor parenting. The framework used for the study is psychoanalytic theory with selected texts designed to inculcate in children the virtues of loyalty, courage, love, friendliness and discipline. Akachi Ezeigbo in her novels uses child characters; Whisker, Leona, Isima, Imaden to analyse “Friendship” through their interaction with other children and adults in the society. The author explore aspects of styles such as language, motif, storytelling method and use of poetry.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – i
Certification – – – – – – – ii
Dedication – – – – – – – – iii
Acknowledgments – – – – – – iv
Abstract – – – – – – – v
Table of Contents – – – – – – – vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study – – – – – 1
1.2 Aims and Objectives of the Study – – – 2
1.3 Methodology – – – – – – 3
1.4 Scope of the Study – – – – – 3
1.5 Significance of Study – – – – – 4
1.6 Theoretical framework – – – – – 4
1.7 Background of the Author – – – – 9
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF SCHOLARSHIP
2.1 Whisker the brave cat and Tales of Iroko tree – 11
CHAPTER THREE: THE THEME OF FRIENDSHIP IN WHISKER THE BRAVE CAT AND TALES OF IROKO TREE
3.1 Comparative Analysis of Whisker the Brave Cat and
Tales of Iroko Tree – – – – – 26
3.2 Major themes in Whisker the Brave Cat and Tales of
Iroko Tree – – – – – – – 27
3.2.1 Theme of friendship – – – – – 27
3.2.2 The theme of courage – – – – – 31
3.2.3 Theme of Loyalty – – – – – – 32
3.2.4 Theme of love – – – – – – 33
3.2.5 Theme of poor discipline/poor parenting – – 34
CHAPTER FOUR: ASPECTS OF STYLES IN WHISKER THE BRAVE CAT AND TALES OF IROKO TREE
4.1 Use of language – – – – – – 39
4.2 Journey motif – – – – – – 43
4.3 The story telling method – – – – – 45
4.4 The use of poetry – – – – – – 46
4.5 Plot and conflict situation – – – – 48
4.6 The picture illustration in Whisker the Brave Cat and
Tales of Iroko Tree – – – – – 49
4.7 The setting in Whisker the Brave Cat and Tales of
Iroko Tree – – – – – – – 50
4.8 Point of view in Whisker the Brave Cat and Tales of
Iroko Tree – – – – – – – 51
4.9 The use of oral tradition in Whisker the Brave Cat and
Tales of Iroko Tree – – – – – 52
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – 54
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – 57
Works cited
