M.A. / This study is a critical assessment and analysis of Xhosa poetry that addresses social and political concerns with particular reference to the poetry of Qangule (1970), Mtuze (1982, 1990) and Xozwa (1994 ). Chapter one introduces the study by presenting its aim, scope, method of research, theory, definition of concepts and significance of the study. Chapter 2 focuses on the theoretical framework of the study. It discusses the theory of Marxism, which is used as a basis of this study, by explaining the concept of Marxism, its historical background, assumptions, methodology and Marxism and poetry. Chapter 3 deals with social concerns that are addressed by Mtuze (1982 and 1990) and Xozwa (1994 ). These social concerns are divorce and alcohol usage. The discussion in this chapter focuses on how divorce affects members of the family concerned, especially children of divorced parents. It also looks at how alcohol is used in society. While the discussion in this chapter acknowledges moderate use of alcohol, it focuses more on how this substance may also be abused. It looks at how alcohol abuse affects individuals and society economically and how dangerous it is to the health and lives of people. Chapter 4 focuses on political concerns as addressed by Qangule (1970) and Mtuze (1982). It assesses and analyses poems that address the oppression of black people during the apartheid regime in South Africa. Concerns like citizenship and deprivation of freedom, labour conditions and language are discussed in this chapter. Chapter 5 is a concluding statement which gives a summary of the study, evaluation of Xhosa poetry with regard to addressing the concerns discussed in the study and recommendations regarding future research.

Text in Xhosa. / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines representations of women in four Xhosa drama books, thus aiming at highlighting the interplay between culture and women's social space. A comparative approach is used to review the ways in which the Xhosa dramatists under study characterise women.Some of these representations suggest that women have the capability to achieve personal transedence rather than accept the immanence imposed by stereotyped gender relationships. In these works, it is evident that writers can change the image of women by centralising them as active people who fight for their rights. THE ASSIGNMENT IS ARRANGED AS FOllOWS: CHAPTER 1 Introduces the aim, the scope, the theories and the methods of the study. CHAPTER 2 Deals with the development of plot and attention is paid to episodes in the four dramas. These episodes depict the different phases of the dramas. The dramas under study are evaluated critically by motivating their positive and negative aspects. CHAPTER3 Deals with woman as character in Xhosa dramas under study. A critical detailed analysis of the main woman character in each drama is undertaken. CHAPTER4 Presents depiction of Xhosa culture in the Xhosa dramas. CHAPTERS Summarises the findings of the study which is the representation of women in Xhosa drama books. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek voorstellings van vroue in vier Xhosa dramas met die doelom die interaksie te ontleed tussen kultuurverskynsels in die vrou se sosiale ruimte. 'n Vergelykende benadering word gevolg om 'n analise te doen van hoe die dramaturge wie se werke bestudeer word vroue karakteriseer. Sommige representasies van hierdie karakterisering dui aan dat vroue die vermoë het tot persoonlike transendensie, eerder as om die onmiddellikheid te aanvaar van gestereotipeerde genderverhoudings. In die dramas wat ondersoek is, blyk dit dat die skrywers in staat is om die beeld van vroue te verander deur hulle te sentraliseer as aktiewe mense wat veg vir hulle regte. Die werkstuk word as volg georganiseer: Hoofstuk Een gee 'n uiteensetting van die doelstelling, omvang, teoretiese raamwerk en metodes van die studie. Hoofstuk Twee ondersoek die ontwikkeling van intrige en 'n analise word gedoen van die episodes in die vier dramas. Hierdie episodes beeld die verskillende fases van die onderskeie dramas uit. Die dramas word krities ge-evalueer en hulle positiewe en negatiewe aspekte word behandel. Hoofstuk Drie ondersoek die vrou as karakter in die Xhosa dramas. 'n Gedetaileerde kritiese analise word onderneem van die hoof vroue karakter in elke drama. Hoofstuk Vier ondersoek die uitbeelding van kultuur in die onderskeie Xhosa dramas. Hoofstuk Vyf gee 'n opsomming van die hoofaspekte van ondersoek en die bevindinge van die studie.