1) What is generally meant by the expression "oppositional nature" of postcolonialism?
By the expression "oppositional nature" of postcolonialism the innovative view of postcolonialism in front of colonialism: from a subjected position to an independent one it is generally meant, where nobody is better than the other.
2) What does postcolonial literature mainly focus on?
Postcolonial literature focuses on the themes that came out when colonialism ended: freedom, independence and the distances between colonists and people subjected by them, the discovery of identity and the acquisition of power.
3) What does the quotation below mean?
"the need, in nations, or groups which have been victims of imperialism
to achieve an identity uncontaminated by universalist or Eurocentric concepts images"
The quotation underlines the need of an uncontaminated identity for every state, in particular for an ex-colony: colonists tried to delete previous culture to extend their civilization, but in that way they caught out the basis of the cultural identity of the other lands.
4) Explain the following statement:
"the term postcolonialism is used both as a literal description of formerly colonial societies
and as a description of global conditions after a periodof colonialism"(Bahri)
Postcolonialism is an expression used to refer to the period after colonialism but it also refers to a literary description: postcolonialism isn't a literary genre or a philosophy but it's the name to express the way of thinking widespread in the lands that han been colonized and the reactions oat the end of that process.
5) Do you agree with "Wisker has noted in her book that it is even simplistic to theorize that all postcolonial writing is resistance writing"?
I agree with the quotation because I think postcolonialism is more than resistance writing and it is quite different from that: resistance is a way to react to an opposite ideal while postcolonialism is a way to denounce colonists and their behaviour.
6) Why is Orientalism (in 1978) by Edward W. Said considered a seminal text?
Orientalism is considered a seminal text because with this text the main themes of postcolonialism where made explicit for the first time.
7) Why are "power", "resistance" and "identity" considered key words in postcolonial studies?
Power, resistance and identity are considered key words in postcolonial studies because they are words that were unknown during the colonialist period, so postcolonialism focuses its attention on such problems.
8) Postcolonialism forms a composite but powerful intellectual and critical movement which renews the perception and understanding of modern history, cultural studies, literary criticism, and political economy. Discuss.
When a point of view obliges you to think in a close way, in time the horizon becomes open and thoughts focus in a deeper way on things and other people that were generally considered not important. That process allows a new point of view so a different approaches to life, story, studies, literacture and economy become possible.
9) When did colonialism become a cornerstone of the discourse of resistance?
/
10) In which way/s can Foe considered a postcolonial novel?
Foe can be considered a postcolonial novel because analyzing the role and the character of Friday, his silence denounces the colonialist behaviour..