Here i share my presentation is a part of my academic work at Department of English MKUB, submitted to Pro,Dr, Dilip Barad.

1. Welcome

2. Presenter: Nagla Drashti P.
Class: M.A. Sem -4
Paper no: 14
Paper name: African Literature
Topic: Critique of the novel Grain of Wheat
Batch no: 2016-2018
E-mail id: nagladrashti38@gmail.com
Submitted to: S.B.Gardi Department of English,
Maharaja Krishnakumarsinghji Bhavnagar
University.

3. About the Author: Ngugi Wa Thiong’o
Ngugi Wa Thiong’o was born on 5, January 1938.
 He was a Kenyan writer, working on English language and new
working on Gikuyu language.
 He was the founder and Editor of the Gikuyu- language and wrote
his first journal named- ‘Mutiri’.
 His debut novel, ‘ Weep Not, Child’ was published in May, 1964,
Becoming the first novel in English to be published by a writer from
East Africa.
 Ngugi’s 1967 novel, ‘ A Grain of Wheat ‘ marked his embrace of
fanonist Marxism.
 His remarkable works are:
1. Weep Not, Child (1964)
2. The River Between (1965)
3. A Grain of Wheat (1967-1992)
4. Petals of Blood (1977)

4. Ngugi Wa Thiong’o Author
of the novel, A Grain of
Wheat.

5. About the novel: A Grain of Wheat
A Grain of Wheat is a novel by Kenyan novelist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and
his third novel. and first published as part of the influential
Heinemann African Writers Series. First published in 1967 by
Heinemann. This novel “A Grain of Wheat” has been written as a part
of the African history and it was written when the author himself was
studying in Leeds University.
The year of 1950’s and Mau Mau Emergency in “A Grain of Wheat”
(1987) presented for first time from an African
perspectives. That fight was against British colonialism and also in
other countries. We can see the overpowered Britishers in the map of
the world. In other words, this book has covered up that portion of
the state of Emergence as well as Uhuru kind of events in the African
states. He is writer who wrote for his own people and nation. He
himself said.

6. Continue...
Ngugi Wa Thiong'o himself remarked :
“I am a writer some have been called me a religious writer. I
write about my people. I am interested in their hidden lives and
hates and how the very tension in their hearts affects their daily
contact with other men. How in other words, the emotions
stream of the man within interacts with the real type”.
– This book is divided into the three parts. The novel starts in the
village Thabai, just a few days before Kenyan independence of
the village and has been selected as a day in December, 1963
(Uhuru Day).

7. Title of the novel:
The title of the novel A Grain of Wheat means. Ngugi chooses a
Christian myth and a religious framework to depict the violent
freedom movement movement in Kenya. .It is taken from the New
Testament, and refers to a passage from Paul’s first letter to
Corinthians which is placed as an epigraph at the very beginning in
Kenya. The title of the novel is itself from the Bible:
Ngugi applies this Christian epigraph to the gory nationalist struggle
against colonialism. Referring to the martyrdom of Waiyalu during
the early phase of this struggle, the novelist observes Waiyakis
blood contained within it a seed, a grain, which gave birth to a
movement whose main strength thereafter sprang from a bond
with the soil & quote Waiyaki sacrifices his life. But he rises again
phoenix-like% the form of a potential and formidable movement.

8. This movement is organically linked to the soil of the people so
as to provide succor, strength and inspiration to them in
designing and building a new nation corresponding to their
aspirations. Emphasizing the need for sacrifice by one and all for
a national cause, Kihika says:
I die for you, you die for me, we become a sacrifice for one
another. So I can say that you, Karanja, are Christ. I am Christ.
Everybody who takes the Oath of Unity to change things in
Kenya is a Christ. Christ then is not one person. All those who
take up the cross of liberating Kenya are the true Christ for us
Kenyan people .

9.  Mugo: Central character of the novel.
 Gikonyo: Loyal member of Mau Mau party, and
husband of Mumbi.
 Mumbi : Beautiful sister of Kihika and wife of Gikonyo.
 Kihika : Brother of Mumbi and freedom fighter of Mau
Mau Movement.
 Warui : A wise elder of the village. Who encourage
Mugo to speak.
Characters of the novel:

10.  Waitherero: Mugo's cruel and drunken aunt with
whom he lives.
 Wambui : A woman in the village who looks older than
she is. She carried secrets from villages during the
Emergency.
 General R. : A military man (he served in WWII) whose
goals are to get Mugo to speak at Uhuru and to punish
Kihika's betrayer.
 Karanja : An old friend of Kihika's who unsuccessfully
tried to woo Mumbi when they were young.
Other characters ...

11. Themes of the novel:
Colonialism
Forgiveness
Violence
Betrayal
Love
Unity
Land
Freedom
Role of Women
Corruption
Patriotism
Anti colonial Struggle

12. Symbols and Motifs of the novel:
Christ as a Symbol Grain of Wheat as a Symbol

13. Rain as a motif in the novel: