Usimulizi Katika Riwaya Ya Dharau Ya Ini

ABSTRACT

The study investigated narration in the Kiswahili novel, Dharau ya Ini (2007) by Kyalo Wamitila. The research aimed at identifying various narrative voices and narrative levels used in the selected novel; manifesting the role of narrative time in narration and to demonstrate how presentation of speech and thoughts of characters has been used in structuring of the narrative. The research was guided by the theory of narratology as expounded by Gennette (1980). The theory was used in investigating the characteristics of narrative structure by dissecting it into various elements and then attempted to determine their functions and relationships. The tenets of the theory have been used to examine the text by interrogating it to reveal the narrative techniques used in structuring of the narrative. The study was carried out in the library. Literary materials related to the topic of research were read for purposes of reviewing literature. The research used purposive sampling procedure in data collection that was obtained through reading of the selected Kiswahili novel. Sentences reflecting the usage of various narrative voices and levels, narrative time and presentations of speech and thoughts of the characters were extracted from the text. Data was analyzed and results presented in form of an informed discourse guided by the objectives of the study. The research findings manifested the presence of a homodiegetic narrator who is a participant in the story he is narrating and in some instances there is a heterodiegetic narrator telling a story without participating in the events. The text employs both analepsis and prolepsis order in presentation of events. It is evident that the presentation of speech and thoughts of characters is an important way of interchanging different modes of narration in structuring of the narrative. This study will benefit other researchers in employing different forms of narrative techniques in the analysis of the novel by applying the theory of Narratology. Recommendations for further research in the analysis of narrative techniques in other written literature has been made in order to enrich written literature.