| Abstract: |
The interpretation and meaning of symbols in a work of art can be challenging due to their complex nature. In Ama Ata Aidoo?s play Anowa, the intricate web of symbols extends the audience's imagination beyond the usual scope and description of ordinary codes. There appears to be a paucity of studies in this area, which motivated this paper. Using St?phane Mallarm?'s concept of French symbolism (1897), the study conducts a close textual analysis of the symbols and their meanings. The paper establishes that the playwright primarily employs conventional symbols, which contribute to the work's unique character. The interpretation of symbolic elements? including the symbolic characters and concepts such as the old man and the old woman, the mouth that eats salt and pepper, the thunder and lightning, the road, the houses in Yebi and Aguaa, the horn symbol, and the funeral music?enhances the audience's comprehensive understanding of the central message and meaning in the text. The investigation concludes that Aidoo mainly uses conventional symbols to convey her perspective in Anowa. |
EBONYI JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE
