Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Flora Nwapa's Efuru occupies a significant place in the Nigerian literary canon, and continues to attract critical attention for the richness of its language and thematic concerns.

Existing criticism of Efuru tends to focus on its broader thematic concerns, with magical realism as a stylistic device in service of tradition versus modernity receiving comparatively less sustained attention.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Flora Nwapa's Efuru is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its magical realism functions specifically in relation to tradition versus modernity. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of magical realism in Flora Nwapa's Efuru.
2. To analyze how magical realism contributes to the portrayal of tradition versus modernity.
3. To assess the effectiveness of magical realism as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text.
4. To situate the findings within the broader context of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How is magical realism used in Flora Nwapa's Efuru?
2. In what ways does magical realism contribute to the portrayal of tradition versus modernity?
3. How effective is magical realism as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text?
4. How does this reading relate to the broader body of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to students and teachers of english language / literary studies, offering a close reading of Flora Nwapa's Efuru that can support classroom discussion and further critical work. It also contributes to the broader body of scholarship on Nigerian literary and linguistic studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to a close textual analysis of magical realism within Efuru, reflecting a clearly defined scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.