What are the narrative techniques in Girls at war and other stories

The narration of all of the stories in the collection is spoken in the Queen's English. Indeed, the tenor of this narration reflects a British colonization. The words are precise and understated, and consequently the narratives progress with the sensation of an outsider's explanation. There is a definite disconnect between the dialogue spoken in scenes from the text and the narration that frames this dialogue. In this regard, the reader becomes a traveler who is receiving calm explanation of the events.

The dialogue, too, can have the air of colonialism to it, in cases such as Michael Obi or Mr. and Mrs. Emenike who have taken on the role of dominance. On the other side of the coin are the uneducated classes, and Achebe makes these characters apparent in the broken mix of native tongue and English that they speak. For instance, the thieves in Civil Peace warn Jonathan, "We no bad tief. We no like for make trouble. Trouble done finish. War done finish and all the katakata wey de for inside" (pg. 87.)

In this wide chasm between the narration and much of the dialogue, Achebe accomplishes two things. Firstly, he delineates the class system, brought over from Europe and entrenched in Nigeria. This stratified society makes the have-nots apparent from the second they open their mouths. Moreover, the dialogue dramatizes the interplay of Europe and Africa that Nigeria is. The reader understands how one culture imprinted itself indelibly on another and never faded completely.