Name- Nisha Dhiman A. Sem-4 Roll No- 19Sub- The African Literature Topic- Critically overview in A Grain of wheat Guided by- Heena mam Submitter to- Department of English Maharaja Krishnakumar sinhji Bhavnagar university

Ngugiwa Thiong'o Ngugiwa Thiong'o was

born 5 January 1938writer, is formerly working in English and now working in Gikuyu. His father was a tenant

farmer who had four wives and twenty eight children.

His work includes novels, plays, short stories, and essays, ranging from literary and social criticism to children's literature.

His first novel for over twenty years was published in Gikuyu in 2004.

Ngugiwa Thiong'o said,

“I am a writer some have even called me areligious writer. I write about my people. am

interested in their hidden lives and

hates

A Grain of Wheat A Grain of Wheat is one

of the great novel written by Kenyan writer namely Ngugi Wa Thiong’o.

This novel published in 1967.

Story about events and relationships leading up to a country’s struggle for independence, or focus on the quite Mugo.

Summary A Grain of Wheat is

made up of one main plot and two subplots

which are presented in the form of flashbacks. It is an allegorical

story of one man’s mistaken heroism and a search for the better

of a Mau Mau leader. In the novel A Grain of

Wheat there are many characters in the

novels,

but Mugo is a central character of the novel or other character like- Mugo, Gikonyo, Mumbi, Karanja and Kihika plays very vital role in the novel.

The whole story of ‘A Grain of Wheat’ is basis on Kenyan independence or Uhuru. It is a African word. Ngugi, then, depicts the effects of British colonialism on rural village life and the sacrifices made by the Gikuyu peasant.

Ngugi, then, depicts the effects of British colonialism on rural village life and the sacrifices made by the Gikuyu peasant communities- Women or Man

It is precisely in the act of recalling and reflecting of the past that A Grain of Wheat constructed narration of the nation.

Failure of the rebellion- British policy of divided and rule.

Mugo

Gikonyo

Mumbi Karanja

Kihika

Characters

Mugo

Mugo is the main protagonist of the novel and they become hero after leading a hunger strike.

He is the different personality and they also respected from women.

He was beaten several times for not talking the oath and suffering for his development to the freedom movement.

Mugo is the last of the possible heroic characters and stronger than Britishers.

Gikonyo Gikonyo is the ambitious carpenter

and business man.

He married to a girl named Mumbi.

Gikonyo stood firm as a normative hero, never wavering from his loyalty to kenya and remaining of the white man opportunity.

Mumbi

Mumbi is the central female character of the novel.

He is the wife of Gikonyo and the sister of Kihika. Mumbi has baby with another man namely Karanja.

She thinks that she will protect her husband when the officers will come to arrest him, but she does not.

“Her eyes were soft and submissive and

defiant”

Karanja

Karanja was appointed as village chief by the colonial power.

The White men don’t have respect for him and black people hate karanja He is young man and a friend of

Kihika. Kihika was also in love with Mumbi.

.

When Mumbi marries to Gikonyo he feels that he became alone in the village and there everything has been ended without Mumbi.

Kihika

He is more religious person and he compares the struggle in Kenya to the Jews in Egypt and wants to be free.

He believes in sacrifice and unity.

He eventually becomes a martyr for Kenyan freedom.

Heroism in “A Grain of wheat”

What is Heroism

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge

to surpass all others at

whatever cost.

‘Heroism’ is a central theme in most literature, especially Western literature such as Beowulf.

Heroism and sacrifice has been shown to the readers with the help of Kihika’s character and the courageous guerilla leader full of messianic spirit.

Mugo is a heroic character seems nonexistence and just be better than all the rest.