Two Visions of Africa

After reading Things Fall Apart & Heart of Darkness, you have explored two visions of Africa which differ in numerous aspects including geography, narrative style, time period, commentary on colonialism/ specific colonizers, and others. Choose ONE of these aspects as the basis for an essay in which you compare and contrast the two novels. Use your close reading skills to analyze specific sections of text from each novel AND use your research skills to include at least TWO Secondary Sources which clarify, illuminate, or otherwise expand the claims that you are making in regards to your chosen focus for the essay. In the course of your analysis and counterargument, you should also address Achebe’s declaration from the previous essay. How do these novels avoid the “dehumanizing” accounts which Achebe claims are fundamental to the narrative in Heart of Darkness? In your conclusion, explain what these two novels might share which distinguishes them from Heart of Darkness.