Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Ben Enwonwu's Anyanwu 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 Anyanwu tends to focus on its broader thematic concerns, with use of line and form as a stylistic device in service of spirituality and ritual receiving comparatively less sustained attention.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Ben Enwonwu's Anyanwu is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its use of line and form functions specifically in relation to spirituality and ritual. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of use of line and form in Ben Enwonwu's Anyanwu.
2. To analyze how use of line and form contributes to the portrayal of spirituality and ritual.
3. To assess the effectiveness of use of line and form 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 use of line and form used in Ben Enwonwu's Anyanwu?
2. In what ways does use of line and form contribute to the portrayal of spirituality and ritual?
3. How effective is use of line and form 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 fine and applied arts, offering a close reading of Ben Enwonwu's Anyanwu 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 use of line and form within Anyanwu, reflecting a clearly defined scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.