So Long a Letter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Download PDF

Access Full Guide

Introduction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

Introduction

Teacher Introduction

So Long a Letter

Genre: Fiction; epistolary novel
Originally Published: 1979 (published in English in 1981)
Reading Level/Interest: College/adult
Structure/Length: Epistolary format; 27 chapters; approximately 96 pages
Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel is composed of a letter written by Ramatoulaye, a Senegalese woman, to her close friend Aissatou. The letter chronicles Ramatoulaye’s emotional journey as she copes with the recent death of her husband and her reflections on their shared experiences as wives in a traditional society. The central conflict revolves around Ramatoulaye’s struggle to reconcile her personal desires and societal expectations while navigating her changing roles as a widow, mother, and woman.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of loss; death of loved one; gender roles and societal expectations

Mariama Bâ, Author

Bio: Born 1929, deceased 1981; Senegalese author and feminist; known for her contributions to African literature and her exploration of gender roles, women’s rights, and cultural dynamics in her works; So Long a Letter is her most famous work and is considered a seminal piece of African literature; advocated for social change and women’s empowerment through her writing; legacy continues to inspire discussions about feminism and African identity
Other Works: Scarlet Song (1981)

Get access to this full Teaching Guide and much more!