Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Scholarly interest in Femi Osofisan's Hard Ground has remained strong, reflecting its continued relevance to discussions of Nigerian and African literary identity.

Existing criticism of Hard Ground tends to focus on its broader thematic concerns, with satire as a stylistic device in service of gender roles receiving comparatively less sustained attention.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Femi Osofisan's Hard Ground is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its satire functions specifically in relation to gender roles. 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 Hard Ground.
2. To analyze how satire contributes to the portrayal of gender roles.
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 Hard Ground?
2. In what ways does satire contribute to the portrayal of gender roles?
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 Hard Ground 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 Hard Ground, reflecting a MSc-level scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.