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Senegalese Novel, African Voice: Examining the French Educational System through Aminata Sow Fall’s L'appel des arènes and Cheikh Hamidou Kane’s L'aventure ambiguë

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis examines representations of the French educational system in Senegal as presented in L'aventure ambiguë and L'appel des arènes. Each unfolding respectively within a colonial and postcolonial Senegalese context, the novels problematize the French school system by incorporating representations of its failures. As this thesis will argue, analyzing each author's educational discourse will unmask a Senegalese perspective on a French institution, showcase various ways that Senegalese students internalized their educational experience and provide representations of the ways in which French education could be, and was, utilized by its pupils. Using two African novels in French to interpret historical experience will facilitate understanding of the French educational system from a Senegalese perspective. The first chapters create a foundation for analysis: Chapter two explains French goals and objectives when implementing a formal educational system in West Africa, while chapter three explores the form and function of the African novel in order to present it as a useful historical tool. Having defined the African novel in French as a viable means to interpret historical experience, chapter four focuses analysis on revealing how a system that was meant to procure French dominance, was ultimately transformed into a tool for Senegalese advantage.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
History
Department dc:contributor.department
History
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2005

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Locraft, Lauren Kimberly
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Gueye, Medoune
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Johnson, Sharon P.
  • Schmitthenner, Peter L.

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-05242005-112024
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33182

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Locraft, Lauren Kimberly. Senegalese Novel, African Voice: Examining the French Educational System through Aminata Sow Fall’s L'appel des arènes and Cheikh Hamidou Kane’s L'aventure ambiguë. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33182