The flash-back and the flash-forward techniques in Ndebele novels

Abstract

This article examines how Ndebele fiction employs the flash-back and flashforward techniques. It observes that use of letters, old pictures and unplanned meeting of old friends are the common tools of flash-back while dreams, omens and superstitions are used for flash-forward. It also evaluates the effectiveness of these techniques by examining a number of Ndebele novels and concludes by stating that it is important for the reader to have knowledge of Ndebele culture in order to gain access to the meaning of the various incidents communicated through those techniques. It is generally accepted that the effectiveness of a novel in communicating its author’s subject matter and theme depends on the literary techniques that the author uses. Writers select their literary techniques with the hope that the techniques will help to give life to their subject matter and communicate their theme to their readers effectively. This article examines the literary techniques of flash-back and flash-forward as they manifest themselves in selected siNdebele novels. It discusses the various forms these techniques take in siNdebele literature and evaluates their effectiveness in communicating their author’s subject matter and themes. The flash-back and flash-forward techniques have been discussed extensively by many critics and it will suffice here to refer to two definitions of these techniques in order to place the subsequent discussion in its proper perspective. The intention is not to elaborate on these techniques and make new discoveries, but rather it is to focus on how these techniques are used by siNdebele writers. The article will also evaluate the extent of the effectiveness of these techniques in their application in siNdebele literature. We can define flash-back as “an interruption in the continuity of a story by presentation of some earlier episode”. Outside literature, “flashback” may refer to a vivid memory of some past incident. The flash-back technique in novels is based on this idea of a vivid memory. The technique further enables the writer to provide the reader or audience with background information that appears not to be part of the story that is being told, but is considered essential by the writer for the understanding of the meaning of the story. 190 FLASH-BACK AND FLASH-FORWARD TECHNIQUES IN NDEBELE NOVELS According to Richard Taylor, If an episode from a distant and seemingly unrelated past is introduced as though it were happening in a present time (a time machine or flashback so called), it is to give some relevant information as to character formation or motive on the one hand or to focus attention towards a resulting pattern of ideas on the other hand.1 Thus, the flash-back technique is used for specific purposes in narratives, one of which is to help readers appreciate events in the unfolding story in a more enlightened way because they have been supplied with the relevant background information. Flash-forward, on the other hand, casts the readers’ eyes into the future and provides brief glimpses into what is going to happen. Flashforward is, thus, the opposite of flash-back and can be defined as an interruption in the continuity of a story by presentation of some future episodes. As a literary technique, flash-forward, like flash-back, is introduced to provide subtle hints to the reader on the outcome of either the whole story or of an episode as a way of enhancing the reader’s curiosity and the story’s suspense. The two techniques will now be examined with respect to their use by Ndebele novelists.