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Themes and Styles in J.P. Clark a Decade of Tongues

Awodeyi, Budunde PhD, Cyprian Orlunma Hannah

Abstract

"A Decade of Tongues" by J.P. Clark stands as a testament to the poet's mastery of language, form and thematic depths. The abstract offers a comprehensive exploration of the prominent themes and stylistic features found within Clark's seminal work. Through an examination of key themes such as identity, cultural heritage, political commentary and existentialism, these abstract illuminates the profound depth and complexity of Clark's poetry. Additionally, it delves into the stylistic elements employed by Clark, including imagery, symbolism, metre and structure, to convey his messages effectively. By analyzing select poems such as "Abiku", "The Casualties", and Ibadan," this abstract highlights how Clark intertwines themes and styles to create a cohesive and impactful body of work. Ultimately, this abstract seeks to deepen our understanding of J.P Clark's "A Decade of Tongues" and its enduring significance in the realm of African Literature. To this end, this research presents the themes and styles used in the selected poems of J. P. Clark citing reference from other poems in comparison with poems related to achieve the aim of this research; however, different theoretical approach are used to analyze the selected poems for further clarification, and to enhance the result of a targeted aim of this research. This paper provides the insight view of the underlying message and subject matter of the selected poems in J. P. Clark's A Decade of Tongues and the stylistic exploration of J. P. Clark's poetry and producing aesthetic effect of his poems.

Keywords

J.P. Clark A Decade of Tongues Themes Styles Identity Cultural Heritage Political Commentary Existentialism Imagery Symbolism

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