1. Analysis Skills/Evaluation Skills
Purple Hibiscus
Analysis Skills/Evaluation Skills
Making inferences
Commenting on the effects of language and structure
Commenting on events in the context of the wider novel
Understanding and interpreting a character’s thoughts and emotions
Linking events across the text
Key Vocabulary
Definitions
Victory
Defeating an enemy or opponent
Faithful
Loyalty and belief in someone or an idea
Fundamentalist
Belief in the strict literal implementation of a religion
Colonialism
Control of a people and their country
Igbo
A person from south east Nigeria
Secretive
Keeping things to oneself
Persona
The aspect of a character that is revealed to others
Dictatorial
A ruler who commands complete power and control
Abusive
Extremely offensive or insulting
Fanaticism
Excessive zeal or love for an idea to the exclusion of rational thought
Freedom
Being able to do as you like – having no restrictions
Oppression
Being kept down by a regime
Duality
Having two sides to a person
Respect
Feeling of deep admiration
Resilience
Keeping going despite difficult circumstances
Conscious
Something you are aware of
Unconscious
Something that you are unaware of knowing
internal conflict
Conflict emotionally within yourself
Transformative
To change or develop or grow
Terminology
Definitions
Foreshadowing
A hint or suggestion that
Symbolism
Using symbols to represent other ideas
Flashback
A recollection of events that have happened previously
Narrative
A spoken or written account of connected events; a story
Religious connotations
Religious references that have implied range of meanings
Allusions
Making a casual or indirect reference to something
Dialogue
Speech between characters
Description
Using a range of techniques to describe what is happening in the story
First Person Narrative
Narrator tells the story using I – from their perspective
Bias
A prejudiced viewpoint
Exposition
The opening or setting of the scene in the novel
Rising action
An introduction to a problem in the narrative
Climax
A high point in the action
Resolution
The ending – can be left with questions in the mind
Pathetic fallacy
Weather creates a mood or atmosphere
Emotive language
Words or phrases used to create particular emotions
Allegorical
Using the story to identify a wider or deeper political meaning
Context
Political unrest in Nigeria: military leader in the novel is based on Ibrahim Babangida, who took power through a military coup in His regime was one of the most corrupt in Nigerian history, and included many human rights abuses present in the novel. 
Religious fundamentalism – Catholicism in contrast to old gods. Conflict between colonial religion and historic Nigerian religion.
The character Ade Coker is modelled on Dele Giwa, a journalist & critic of the Nigerian government. Giwa was killed by a mail bomb in his home in Adichie echoes real political activism and events.
Colonialisation in Nigeria was the British rule of the country and included: politics, religion, economic, social and educational. Foreign rule on foreign soil.
Tentative Phrases
Adiche may use (terminology) to create …
Kimbili is perhaps used to demonstrate
Adiche, in her novel could be highlighting
Symbolically, Adiche’s use of __________ might suggest….
Adiche’s foreshadowing may portray…
Suggested Questions
How does Adiche explore family relationships?
Explore Adiche’s presentation of religious fundamentalism?
What contrasts are evident in the public and the private persona of the character…?
How are themes relating to ___________ presented in the novel?