Edward, Chijioke and Nwanze, Nzubechukwu Violet and Ugwu, Ruth Adaeze (2025) STYLISTIC MARKERS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA: A COMPARATIVE STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF OKWIRI ODUOR’S “MY FATHER’S HEAD” AND MARY WATSON’S “JUNGFRAU”. Global Research Journal of Humanities and Public Administration, 1 (2). pp. 1-12. ISSN 2811-1788
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STYLISTIC-MARKERS-OF-PSYCHOLOGICAL-TRAUMA_-A-COMPARATIVE-STYLISTIC-ANALYSIS-OF-OKWIRI-ODUORS-MY-FATHERS-HEAD-AND-MARY-WATSONS-JUNGFRAU-GRJHPA-AMSSRN.docx-2 (1).pdf Download (2MB) |
Abstract
This paper offers a stylistic and trauma theoretical analysis of two contemporary African short stories, Okwiri Oduor’s “My Father’s Head” and Mary Watson’s “Jungfrau”, to explore how psychological trauma is encoded in language and narrative form. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Cathy Caruth, Judith Herman, and Paul Simpson, alongside African feminist criticism, the study investigates how trauma manifests not merely as a thematic concern but as a structural force that distorts syntax, disrupts temporality, and fragments narrative voice. In “My Father’s Head,” Oduor uses surreal imagery, temporal disjunction, and syntactic fragmentation to portray a protagonist caught in the throes of mourning and memory denial. Conversely, Watson’s “Jungfrau” employs semantic ellipsis, narrative restraint, and emotional minimalism to mirror the repressive environment of apartheid era South Africa and the protagonist’s internalized silence. The comparative analysis reveals that both stories reflect gendered and sociocultural dimensions
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | P Language and Literature > PR English literature |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education |
| Depositing User: | Uchenna Eneogwe |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jan 2026 14:14 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jan 2026 14:14 |
| URI: | http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5591 |
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