Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Ben Okri'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 allegory as a stylistic device in service of colonial legacy receiving comparatively less sustained attention.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Ben Okri's Efuru is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its allegory functions specifically in relation to colonial legacy. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of allegory in Ben Okri's Efuru.
2. To analyze how allegory contributes to the portrayal of colonial legacy.
3. To assess the effectiveness of allegory 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 allegory used in Ben Okri's Efuru?
2. In what ways does allegory contribute to the portrayal of colonial legacy?
3. How effective is allegory 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 Ben Okri'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 allegory within Efuru, reflecting a MSc-level scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.