10 Questions
What is the primary focus of postcolonial literature?
The political and cultural independence of formerly subjugated people
What is the primary difference between migrant literature and postcolonial literature?
One is focused on migration, while the other is focused on colonialism
What is the significance of the prefix 'post-' in 'postcolonial'?
It is a matter of contention among scholars and historians
What is the primary issue of debate among scholars regarding postcolonial theory and migration literature?
The extent to which postcolonial theory speaks to migration literature in non-colonial settings
What is the primary distinction between postcolonial nations and nations established through settler colonialism?
Historians have expressed differing opinions on the postcolonial status of nations established through settler colonialism
What is a primary concern in defining postcolonial literature?
The subversion of Euro-American ideologies and representations
Why did postcolonial critics reject the term 'commonwealth literature'?
It separated non-British writing from British literature
What is a limitation of terms like 'Australian or Canadian literature'?
They do not capture the dynamic nature of postcolonial literature
Why have terms like 'English Literature Other than British and American' been dismissed?
They are too vague
What is a challenge in determining postcolonial status?
The persistence of colonialism's effects after direct rule
Study Notes
Postcolonial Literature
- Postcolonial literature originates from formerly colonized countries, except Antarctica, and addresses the problems and consequences of decolonization.
- It explores themes such as racialism, colonialism, political and cultural independence, and the role of literature in perpetuating and challenging cultural imperialism.
Characteristics
- Postcolonial literature often overlaps with migrant literature, but not all migration takes place in a colonial setting, and not all postcolonial literature deals with migration.
- The prefix "post-" in "postcolonial" is a matter of contention among scholars and historians, with no unified consensus on when colonialism began and when it ended.
History of Colonialism
- European colonization of the Americas began in the 15th century and lasted until the 19th century.
- The colonisation of Africa and Asia reached their peak in the 19th century.
- By the 20th century, most non-European regions were under European colonial rule, until anti-colonial independence movements led to decolonization after World War II.
Defining Postcolonial Literature
- Pramod Nayar defines postcolonial literature as "that which negotiates with, contests, and subverts Euro-American ideologies and representations".
- The term "postcolonial literature" gained currency among scholars, replacing "commonwealth literature" which was used to refer to writing in English from British colonies or nations.
Evolution of the Term
- Scholars of commonwealth literature advocated for its inclusion in literary curricula, but the succeeding generation of postcolonial critics took issue with the label for separating non-British writing from "English" language literature written in Britain.
- Other terms used for English-language literature from former British colonies include national corpus designations, "English Literature Other than British and American", "New Literatures in English", "International Literature in English", and "World Literatures", but these have been dismissed as too vague or inaccurate.
Explore the characteristics and themes of postcolonial literature, including racialism, colonialism, and cultural independence. Learn how literature addresses decolonization and cultural imperialism.
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