Thematic Reinforcement in Poetry: An Analysis on the use of Biblical Allusion as Stylistic Device in Oloruntoba-Oju’s Losses

Abstract

This study explores the thematic issues raised in Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju’s poetry collection Losses. A total of nine data were selected from the poems Another Parable, Apata, the Rock; The new Commandments; Down the Throat of Pieter Botha and, Tell Them Mandela which were purposively selected from the poetry collection. These selected data from the poetry collection were analysed using Stylistics as the model for analysis. Specifically, Biblical allusion, as a stylistic device, is used for analysis. The Biblical allusions are elicited from the selected data. The aim of this study is achieved by exploring how the selected Biblical allusions reinforce the various themes in Losses. This study has revealed through the analysis that the use of Biblical allusions by the poet is not just a show of the poet’s linguistic or stylistic dexterity but also as a potent tool to reinforce his message through the themes. The analysis has shown that the poet through Biblical allusion explores basically the themes of oppression, hardship, poverty and revolution. This study is unique in that apart from exploring the stylistic prowess of the poet through his use of Biblical allusions, it further explores how the allusions are important in the thematic construction of the poems. This study concludes that Oloruntoba-Oju is an ace stylistician who through stylistic devices is able to aptly communicate his message to readers. Keywords: Stylistics, Style, Allusion, Poetry and Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju.