The Mimicking of Oral Traditions in African American Literature

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Lauren Johnson (Creator)
Institution
East Carolina University (ECU )
Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/
Advisor
Seodial F. H. (Seodial Frank Hubert) 1956- Deena

Abstract: The authors Zora Neale Hurston Toni Morrison and Randall Kenan create a authentic listener experience through the use of literary features that mimic oral tradition in African American culture. The "authentic listener experience" is the purposeful drawing of the reader into the shoes of an African American rural twentieth-century active participant listener regardless of where the reader stands. In essence instead of reading the reader is invited to eavesdrop on various stories being told within these novels. This is done by using techniques such as the re-creation and verbal illustration of the porch scene in the African American novel the use of songs multiple versions of stories rumors the supernatural and interruptions. 

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Date: 2012
Keywords
American literature, African American studies, African, American, Language, Orality, Tradition
Subjects
American literature--African American authors
Oral communication in literature
Hurston, Zora Neale--Criticism and interpretation
Morrison, Toni--Criticism and interpretation
Kenan, Randall--Criticism and interpretation

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TitleLocation & LinkType of Relationship
The Mimicking of Oral Traditions in African American Literaturehttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/3983The described resource references, cites, or otherwise points to the related resource.