The African World-view in Soyinkas Death and the Kings Horseman Essay

The African world-view in Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman In his play, Death and the King's Horseman, Wole Soyinka uses certain literary forms and devices to intermix Yoruba culture and a predominantly European dramatic form to create a play easily understood by the audience, but that allows the introduction of a foreign influence. These devices include the use of a songlike quality in dialogue and the telling of stories, the use of personification and metaphor to give an exotic quality to the play, and the use of certain elements to provide the reader with a sense of the mystic traditions that are Africa. These Yoruban elements are best explained by the character Jane with "You talk! Your people with your long-winded, round-about way of making conversation" (1171), and the character Pilkings with "What is she saying now? Christ! Must your people forever speak in riddles?" (1176). The use of rhythm and a songlike quality in the dialogue and the telling of stories is used by Soyinka to transport the reader to another place. In the following excerpt, the... The African World-view in Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman Essay The African world-view in Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman In his play, Death and the King's Horseman, Wole Soyinka uses certain literary forms and devices to intermix Yoruba culture and a predominantly European dramatic form to create a play easily understood by the audience, but that allows the introduction of a foreign influence. These devices include the use of a songlike quality in dialogue and the telling of stories, the use of personification and metaphor to give an exotic quality to the play, and the use of certain elements to provide the reader with a sense of the mystic traditions that are Africa. These Yoruban elements are best explained by the character Jane with "You talk! Your people with your long-winded, round-about way of making conversation" (1171), and the character Pilkings with "What is she saying now? Christ! Must your people forever speak in riddles?" (1176). The use of rhythm and a songlike quality in the dialogue and the telling of stories is used by Soyinka to transport the reader to another place. In the following excerpt, the...