Chinua achebe believes that "[l]iterature, whether handed down by word of mouth or in print, gives us a second handle on reality." using the story "civil peace" as evidence, defend or refute (argue against) achebe's opinion.

In the work, “What Has Literature Got To Do With It” Chinua Achebe emphasizes his belief that literature is much more than just a creative form of expression, arguing that it is a necessary and vital contribution to everyday life. Achebe explains how “Literature, whether handed down by word of mouth or in print; gives us a second handle on reality”(117). It does so by providing the essential building blocks toward development, or as he calls it, “modernization.” In other words, Achebe argues that, in order for African nations to prosper and become successful, their first “goal” should be to understand literature.

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