Final answer:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie initially wrote characters reflecting British books she read, showing literature's influence on self-perception. After discovering African writers, she found representation that resonated with her identity, shaping her authentic cultural voice in literature and challenging the 'single story' narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's initial mirroring of her characters after British books reflects the profound influence literature has on shaping our perceptions of the world and ourselves, particularly when encountered at a young age. Her childhood reading experience was largely dominated by stories and characters that did not reflect her own cultural and physical reality. This shaped her early understanding of what literature was supposed to entail. However, upon discovering African writers like Chinua Achebe and Camara Laye, Adichie experienced a paradigm shift. Realizing that characters like herself could indeed exist within the pages of a book, she tapped into her own authentic cultural voice. This transition highlights the importance of diverse representation in literature and its impact on a reader's ability to identify with the characters and the narrative. In her works, Adichie ensures to weave the complexities of multiple cultures, stories, and identities, challenging the 'single story' narrative and contributing to a more nuanced understanding of literature and its potential diversity.