Realism and the Contemporary Shona Novel

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Periodical article

Title:	Realism and the Contemporary Shona Novel
Author:	Kahari, G.P.
Year:	1982
Periodical:	Zambezia
Volume:	10
Issue:	2
Pages:	85-110
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Zimbabwe
Subjects:	Shona novels Literature, Mass Media and the Press Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External link:	https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA03790622_205
Abstract:	'Realism' (or 'realistic') is a problematic literary term. It is used both descriptively and in an evaluative sense and is not exclusively aesthetic in its application. In literature the most ordinary definition is in terms of an ordinary, contemporary, everyday reality as opposed to traditionally heroic, romantic, mythic or legendary subjects. The traditional folktale whose structure has greatly influenced the contemporary novelist has both realistic and fantastic elements, a fact which explains the presence of the fantastic in modern writing despite the modern author's efforts to move quickly towards Western-type realism. Realism is thus a struggle against idealization and supernaturalism in writing. New techniques, flashbacks and the introduction of first-person narrative are developed to cope with the new kind of social reality. Out of this new situation is born the kind of novel which creates and judges the quality of an entire way of life in terms of value judgements of the persons in the community. The author examines the contemporary Shona novel in this context. Notes.