Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Femi Osofisan's Death and the King's Horseman occupies a significant place in the Nigerian literary canon, and continues to attract critical attention for the richness of its language and thematic concerns.

Despite the volume of criticism devoted to Death and the King's Horseman, its use of satire in relation to cultural identity has not been exhaustively examined, leaving room for closer textual analysis.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Femi Osofisan's Death and the King's Horseman is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its satire functions specifically in relation to cultural identity. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of satire in Femi Osofisan's Death and the King's Horseman.
2. To analyze how satire contributes to the portrayal of cultural identity.
3. To assess the effectiveness of satire 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 satire used in Femi Osofisan's Death and the King's Horseman?
2. In what ways does satire contribute to the portrayal of cultural identity?
3. How effective is satire 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 theatre arts, offering a close reading of Femi Osofisan's Death and the King's Horseman 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 satire within Death and the King's Horseman, reflecting a MSc-level scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.