Thesis Statement For The Lonely Londoners

1. Essay Topic/Thesis Statement

Essay topic #7: Write an essay examining how The Lonely Londoners documents the process of disillusionment for the migrants.

Thesis: This paper will examine how The Lonely Londoners documents the dillusionment felt by the migrants as they struggle with prejudices in mid-1950s London. I will argue that throughout The Lonely Londoners, West Indian immigrants often used optimism to cope with emptiness caused by alienation, homelessness and conflict. This paper will also contextualize how Sam Selvon's novel works in terms of postcolonial writing, as well as the prevalent trends regarding British writing during the period.

2. Background and Context of Research

3. Explanation of theory/articles and justification of its use 1. Anna Grmelová

Londoners’ indifference

1. Stereotyping

2. Busyness B. Caused by racism

1. Hustling women

2. “Colour-Bar”

II. Homelessness A. Fiscal Need B. Foreignness

III. Conflict A. Women B. Aimlessness

5. Annotated Bibliography

Bentley, Nick. Form and Language in Sam Selvon's The Lonely Londoners. 3rd ed. Vol. 36. U of Calgary: Department of English, 2005. Print.

Grmelová, Anna. “From Loneliness To Encounter: London In the Windrush Generation Novels Of Sam Selvon And Andrea Levy.” Litteraria Pragensia 20.40 (2010): 70-84. Humanities International Complete. Web. 5 Sept. 2012.

Nero, Shondel. “Language, Identity, And Education of Caribbean English Speakers.” World Englishes 25.3/4 (2006): 501-511. Humanities International Complete. Web. 2 Sept. 2012

O’Brien, George. ”The Lonely Londoners.” Masterplots II: African American Literature, Revised Edition (2008): 1-4. Literary Reference Center. Web. 13 Sept. 2012

Ramchand, Kenneth, Edward Bargh, and Michel Fabre. Critical Perspectives on Sam Selvon. Comp. Susheila Nasta. Washington, D.C.: Three Continents. 1988. Print.

Selvon, Samuel. The Lonely Londoners. London: Longman Drumbeat, 1984.