Postcolonial literary analysis
General questions for a postcolonial literary analysis:
1. As a part of the character analysis, does the identity of the characters grow or
degenerate? What are the causes of this development?
2. How are the colonized people presented? Are they described as stereotypes? Are they
seen as e.g. savage, dirty, violent, irrational, immature etc.?
3. How are the colonialists and their supporters presented in the text? Are they tolerant,
oppressive, violent, charitable, cute, white, brave, religious, hypocritical etc.?
4. Are there intellectual, sensible characters in the text? Who are they and whom do they
serve? What is their class and orientation?
5. What pairs of opposites (binary oppositions) can you find in the text (for instance:
us-them, good-bad, white-black, positive-negative, benevolent-evil, educated-ignorant,
centre-periphery, English-native languages, etc.)? What is the function of
these oppositions?
6. All in all, what cultural elements are being examined, and from whose point of view?
7. Do the form and the language of the text in question somehow reflect a colonial or
postcolonial perspective?
8. What are the main themes or messages on e.g. power, race and culture?
9. Is the tone of the text apologetic, angry or accusatory? Do you find it satirical
or ironical?
10. Is the text biased or balanced? Why?
11. Read the four general assumptions of postcolonialism in Africa Unfold p. 170.
Can you recognize these attitudes in the text? Substantiate your points.
