Postcolonial identity
A thematic and critical concern in literature by and about formerly colonised peoples. Postcolonial identity addresses questions of cultural authenticity, hybridity, displacement, and the psychological and social legacies of colonialism.
Real World
Chinua Achebe wrote *Things Fall Apart* partly as a direct rebuttal to Conrad's *Heart of Darkness*, reclaiming Nigerian cultural identity and challenging the colonial narrative that had defined Africa in Western literature.
Exam Focus
Avoid summarising postcolonial history; instead analyse how the writer uses language or structure to resist or reclaim identity within the text.
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