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English Literature   >   Butler: Parable of the Sower

Octavia Butler

 
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Butler: Parable of the Sower

In this course Professor Nicole Pohl (Oxford Brookes University) explores Octavia E. Butler’s 1993 novel, Parable of the Sower. In the first lecture, we provide an introduction to Octavia E. Butler herself. After that, in the second lecture, we think about the various literary genres to which Parable of the Sower might be said to belong. Is it science fiction or speculative fiction? What is the difference? In the third lecture we provide an introduction to the concept of Afrofuturism, before turning in the fourth lecture to consider Butler’s historical context as she was writing this novel. Finally, in the fifth lecture, we think about a few other themes that the novel engages with, not least the theme of religion.

Octavia Butler

In this lecture we provide an introduction to Octavia Butler herself, focus in particular on: (i) her success and prestige as a writer of science fiction; (ii) her family background and early life, including her experience of racial segregation; (iii) the inspiration for her 1979 novel, Kindred, including the impact of historical slavery on the lives of African Americans in 1970s California; and (iv) some of the key issues at stake in her 1993 novel, Parable of the Sower, including both historical and modern slavery and global warming.

Cite this Lecture

APA style

Pohl, N. (2025, January 27). Butler: Parable of the Sower - Octavia Butler [Video]. MASSOLIT. https://massolit.io/courses/butler-parable-of-the-sower

MLA style

Pohl, N. "Butler: Parable of the Sower – Octavia Butler." MASSOLIT, uploaded by MASSOLIT, 27 Jan 2025, https://massolit.io/courses/butler-parable-of-the-sower

Lecturer

Prof. Nicole Pohl

Prof. Nicole Pohl

Oxford Brookes University