38 pages • 1 hour read
Ambiguous Adventure
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Ambiguous Adventure is a 1961 novel by author Cheikh Hamidou Kane. The plot of this novel mirrors much of Kane’s life, including his birth in Senegal and studies in Paris. The version used for this guide is the 2012 edition from Melville House Publishing.
Ambiguous Adventure discusses the duality of man within the context of colonial and postcolonial societies. The novel splits the colonized and the colonizer into two distinct and opposing cultures: The former (the Diallobé) is traditional, religious, and death-focused, while the latter (the French) is modern, secular, scientific, and life-focused. The exact historical setting of the novel is unclear; however, based on references to the League of Nations, Adolf Hitler, and different modes of technology, readers can infer that it takes place in the mid-20th century.
The novel is structured as vignettes that oscillate between the settings of the Diallobé community, the city of L. in Senegal, and Paris, France. The narration style involves both subjective and objective third-person narrative. Each vignette incorporates philosophical discussion, usually consisting of a traditional Unlock all 38 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
