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TOPIC 3: READING LITERARY
WORKS
The
term literature has many definitions depending on the intention of the person
defining it. Literature can be defined as a work of art which uses words or
language creatively to express and reflect human realities. Literature can be
defined as a mirror to social reality.
ORIGIN OF LITERATURE
Literature cannot be isolated with the origin of man through labour process
associated with the making and using tools. Human beings had to use language to communicate different issues related to
labour differentiation. Primarily, literature was in oral forms such as songs
(labour songs) myths, fork tales aimed at warning, encouraging hardworking,
criticising evil, and maintaining social value or ethics.
Relationship
between language and literature:
Literature and language are indistinguishable
/inseparable because:
1. Literature is created through language. It is
called so when language is used creatively to reflect human realities. Language
is the medium or tool of communication in literature, no language, no
literature .It can also be argued that language develops through the four
language skills which are listening, speaking, writing and reading.
2. Therefore, literature as a work of art is
different from other work of art such as pottery, sculpture, painting, carving,
weaving, because it uses language creatively to describe or express human
experiences and realities.
Generally, there
are two Types or genres of Literature, namely:
- Oral/old literature
-
Written/ modern literature
ORAL/OLD LITERATURE
This is the type of literature which is presented through word of mouth
from one generation to another. It is a primary source of literature because it
started before written literature. It was practiced through verbal expressions
from one generation to another. Oral literature originated with human being as
human started to use it in a form of verbal songs, myths, folk tales, epics,
etc. Therefore, oral literature is a foundation of literature even which we use
today i.e. Written literature.
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| Oral Literature |
WRITTEN/MODERN LITERATURE
This is the type/genre of literature which is expressed in a form of
writings. It started with the invention of writings. It is also called a Secondary
source of literature because it started after oral literature and is a
property of literate and semi-literates.
Written literature has three genres, these are:
-
Novels and short stories
- Poetry
- Drama/play
Novel
This is a long narrative prose in which characters and actions represents
real life and are portrayed in a complex plot. Examples of novel books are such
as “Passed Like a Shadow” written by B. Mapalala, “Spared” written by S.N
Ndunguru, Weep Not Child written by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, “House boy” written by
Ferdinand Oyono, “A Wreath for Father Mayer” written by S.N. Ndunguru.
Short Stories
This is a fiction prose narrative which is shorter than a normal novel and
restricted in characterisation and situation. It normally deals with a single
major event. Examples of short stories are from the book titled “Encounters
from Africa” by Macmillan Ltd. The book contains two stories, which are; ‘The Voter’ and ‘The Smile of
Fortune’.
Drama/Plays
Drama is a literary work written to be performed /acted by actors on a
stage before an audience. The word “drama” means ‘to do’ or ‘to act’. It is a
story which involves characters who acts before the audience which gets the
message intended by the playwright. In order to be complete and effective drama
needs actors or players, audience, language (diction), plot, setting, scenes,
actions, etc.
Normally, plays belong to a different genre because they are border than
other genre due to the economical use of woeds by tge playwright. Examples of
play;‘ This Time Tomorrow’ written by Ngugi wa Thiong’o ‘An Enemy of the People
written by Henrik Ibsen “The Black Hermit,” Kivuli Kinaishi and ‘The Lion and
The Jewel’ by Wole Soyinka
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| Written Literature |
ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
Literature has two important elements which includes form and content.
1. FORM
This refers to how work or art is structured (how something is arranged or said).
form includes plot, style/techniques, setting, characterisation, and language
use (diction)
Plot
This refers to how events are arranged in a novel /play. It shows how
events are arranged in an artistic way through conflict which can be moral or
personal or physical conflict.
Style/ Technique
This refers to the way the work of art is made/composed. Style can be
narrative where by an author accounts a story . It can also be part of the oral
tradition which story is told in traditional styles such as a long a time
ago……….., for many years ago……….. Style can also be straight forward where by
events are narrated from what happened or takes place at the beginning to an
end of the novel. We also have flashback techniques whereby an author may
narrate events by moving back then forward through time. Example of a book in
which the author employed a flashback technique is ‘Betrayal in the City ‘by
Frances Imbuga.
Under technique style we also have a point of view,
this refer to how events are observed. Depending on who sees the action and who
tells the story. A story can be told from an omniscient point of view whereby
the narrator is not known and has access to characters' thoughts feelings and
all events. Third person point of view is used when the author describes
his/her characters depending on what he sees, hears or thinks and the first
person point of view uses 'I" and the author describes only what can be
seen, heard or thought by a single character.
Setting
This refers to environment or the
immediate world in which the events in a story takes place. It includes time,
culture and place where events take place. Setting can be physical real or
imagery setting. For example setting of this play ‘’ This Time Tomorrow’’ is
Kenya after independence and the setting of a book 'Betrayal in the City' is
the Kafira state in Africa hence imagery since we have no such state in Africa.
Characterisation
Is the description of characters in a story. Characterisation refers to the
creation of an imaginary person to exist as a lifelike human for the readers. A
good writer always strives to create believable characters. We know a character
by examining what she/he thinks, says/does and what other character say about
him or her life in general. Character can be main/major /central character;
that appears mostly in every page of the book or narrative and plays a big role
to the portrayal of the intended message by the author. Character can also be
minor. These appear few times or very scarcely in a work of art. They assist
the main character in accomplishing some message to the reader(s).
Language,
diction
Refers to the choice and arrangement of words in a
literary work .We examine whether the language used is simple , complex, mixed,
grammatical, or ungrammatical , normal ,or figurative language.
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| Drama |
2. CONTENT
Refers to the main subject of a literary work presented in a written or
spoken form. It also refers to what is being conveyed in a speech, an article
or a certain program. Content includes the following elements: Themes, message,
conflicts, climax, crisis and philosophy.
Theme
This refers to the major idea or subject contained in a work of art. It is
represented through persons, actions, or concepts in a literary work. It may
also refer to the major topic obscured and reflected or describe in the book.
In Africa literature the main themes are such as corruption, position and role
of women, irresponsibility, betrayal and African traditional, belief, poverty.
Other minor themes can be alienation, protest, oppression, and humiliation,
sacrifice, class struggle.
Message
This refers to the lesson we get after reading a work of art. . Example; is
the play ‘This Time Tomorrow’ we learn that, unity and solidarity is important
for the liberation of the oppressed and humiliated society.
Conflict
This refers to the clash or opposition between one idea, thought or feeling
and another, one person and another or conflict within an individual person.
Conflict can be because of economic conflict, social conflict, political,
personal or philosophical conflict between one idea and feelings and another.
Climax
This is a stage in which conflict reaches the higher point where resolution
is inevitable or necessary.
Crisis
This is a point where conflict rises and causes some problems to the person
or people involved and therefore, resolution is necessary. There may be
different crisis each proceed the climax.
Philosophy
Refers to the belief or outlook of the author which he/she expresses in the
a book/story.
IDENTIFY THEMES
Literature
is not written in a vacuum, it emanates from a society to reflect its social,
political, economic, as well as cultural aspects. Therefore, literature has a
direct connection to human life and thus, it can not be separated from human
beings.
The following
are some of the important roles and functions of literature:
1.
Literature criticises societies, the authors of a literary work criticise
society by revealing corruption, oppression, and humiliation, and inequality.
2.
Literature expresses people’s culture. This includes norms, values,
traditional, and, practices so that people can follow them. It can also makes
people abandon some bad cultural practiced such as female genital mutilation
(FGM) for positive changes.
3.
Literature educates people: it educates people about day to day happenings or
events in their society. It widens their mind and thinking capacity.
4.
Literature entertains people; people enjoy by watching and reading different
works which appeal to their state of mind.
5.
Literature is a tool of liberation. It makes people know the presence of
exploitation, irresponsibility, it direct people to struggle for mental and
physical liberation against these problems.
6.
Literature develops language because language is a tool or medium of
communication in literature.
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| Singing |
INTERPRETING
POEMS
Poetry
is a genre of literature which expresses the feelings, ideas, and emotions of
the reader(s) or hearer(s). The language used in poetry is characterised by
imagery and rhythmical sounds.
Terms related to
Poetry
Poem:
This is a piece of writing in a verse form which expresses the deep feelings
using artistic language.
Persona: This
refers to a character in a poem.
Poet/poetess: This
refer to a man or woman who composes an oral or written poem.
Verse:
This is a simple line in a poem.
Stanza: Is
a combination or collection of verses to make a complete idea of a poem.
The
genre of poetry differs from other genres of literature like prose in the
following aspects:
1.
Poetry uses much imagery which appeals to the sense of touch, hearing, small
and taste in a more concentrated way than prose.
2.
Poetry is arranged in verse which forms stanzas to make a poem as whole while
prose is written in sentences and paragraphs.
3.
Poetry employs the use of much musical features such as rhyme and rhythm unlike
to novels and Short stories which words are intended to be read silently not
loud or sung or recited.
4.
Poetry employs language economy. Few words convey such information. This is
because even single word in poetry may hear a number of messages.
6.
The character in a poem is called persona but in novel and play are character
does not posses a name.
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| Books with poems |
LITERATURE ANALYSIS FOR ORDINARY LEVEL
To read the analysis of Novels, Plays and Poems, click here
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