Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Scholarly interest in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Concubine has remained strong, reflecting its continued relevance to discussions of Nigerian and African literary identity.

Existing criticism of The Concubine tends to focus on its broader thematic concerns, with imagery as a stylistic device in service of cultural conflict receiving comparatively less sustained attention.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Concubine is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its imagery functions specifically in relation to cultural conflict. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of imagery in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Concubine.
2. To analyze how imagery contributes to the portrayal of cultural conflict.
3. To assess the effectiveness of imagery 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 imagery used in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Concubine?
2. In what ways does imagery contribute to the portrayal of cultural conflict?
3. How effective is imagery 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 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Concubine 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 imagery within The Concubine, reflecting a MSc-level scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.