Read the following excerpt from Chinua Achebe's *No Longer at Ease*:

"Obi's thoughts drifted back to the night he first heard his mother's voice on the radio, a voice that seemed to come from a distance, as if she were speaking from another room while he sat alone in his cramped flat."

Identify the narrative technique employed in this passage and discuss its effect on the reader's perception of Obi's inner conflict.

Question

Read the following excerpt from Chinua Achebe's *No Longer at Ease*:

"Obi's thoughts drifted back to the night he first heard his mother's voice on the radio, a voice that seemed to come from a distance, as if she were speaking from another room while he sat alone in his cramped flat."

Identify the narrative technique employed in this passage and discuss its effect on the reader's perception of Obi's inner conflict.

Accepted Answer

The passage uses a flashback presented through a stream‑of‑consciousness interior narration. This technique lets the reader experience Obi's memory and isolation directly, intensifying the perception of his inner conflict between personal longing and his present circumstances.

Neco 2021 Literature In English Question 23

Answer Options

About This Question

Master the Exam!