PRIORITISING AS A CRITICAL STYLISTIC TOOL IN HELON HABILA’S OIL ON WATER

Abstract

This research looks at the use of prioritisation as a critical stylistic tool in Helon Habila’s Oil on Water. The research aims to analyse how specific elements within the text are prioritised by Habila to strengthen the ideological dimensions of his narrative, heighten emotional impact, and strengthen topical ideas. The research is qualitative in nature, using Lesley Jefferies (2010) Critical Stylistics Models but focussing only on prioritisation. Ten (10) extracts were selected from the text to demonstrate how this critical stylistic tool has been put into use in the text. The findings show that Habila’s stylistic choices strongly influence the narrative structure and thematic concerns, offering a nuanced understanding of character development and plot dynamics. The study further reveals that prioritisation in Oil on Water sets out to foreground key events and character experiences, create urgency, and examine the differences between expected and actual outcomes. The data analysis shows that Habila employs prioritisation to emphasise notable narrative moments. This technique by Habila also focusses on the emotional and physical states of characters. The study contributes to the broader field of literary criticism by demonstrating how prioritisation functions as a key stylistic tool in contemporary African fiction.