Analysis of the Relationship Between Folklore and Written Literature
Various forms of folkloric materials have been incorporated into written literature. Thus, your understanding of written literature will partly depend on your knowledge of these materials. In this chapter, you will learn about material culture, social folk customs, and performing folk arts.
You will also identify and appreciate folkloric materials embedded in written texts and examine the relationship between folklore and written literature. The competencies developed will enable you to identify and analyse genres and sub-genres of folklore as well as the relationship between folklore and written literature.
The purpose of transferring oral literature across generations within an ethnic group.
Material Culture
Activity 1
a) Read various online or library materials. Then, explain the following concepts:
- Artefact
- Folk costume
- Folk cookery
- Folk architecture
- Folk crafts
- Folk painting
- Folk sculpture
- Folk textiles
b) In your own words, describe the concept of material culture.
Takeaways
Material Culture
Material culture refers to physical objects, resources, and places that define a culture, reflecting its members’ behaviours and perceptions. It is manifested in artefacts, crafts, folk architecture, folk costumes, and folk cuisine, representing a community’s beliefs, values, thoughts, and expectations.
Artefacts
Artefacts are objects shaped by humans, including decorative arts like textiles, paintings and sculptures. They are associated with traditions marking historical and cultural contexts.
Crafts
Crafts are skilled activities such as pottery and landscaping that reveal community cultural practices.
Architecture
Architecture reflects cultural preferences in building appearance, techniques, and sites, showcasing distinct styles among ethnic communities and cultural groups.
Folk Costumes
Folk costumes are attires worn by specific communities. They vary in style, materials, and decoration, thus signifying identity, social status, and historical influences.
Folk Cookery
Folk cookery comprises recipes and cooking customs passed down through generations, rooted in local ingredients and methods.
Understanding material culture aids in recognising cultural identities and dynamics, tracing historical changes, and analysing social relationships within communities. One gains a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of culture, identity, and history by examining physical objects and practices.
As a young aspiring literary critic and upcoming author, it is important to know that authors borrow a lot from material culture to compose their texts. The references to material culture in the literature provide insight into culinary heritage, cultural diversity, and character traits which reflect characters’ values, backgrounds, and societal norms.
Social Folk Customs
Activity 2
a) Read various online or library materials and, with examples, explain the following concepts:
- Folk celebration
- Folk festival
- Folk recreation
- Folk games
- Folk medicine
- Folk religion
b) In your own words, describe the concept of social folk customs.
Takeaways
Social Folk Customs
Social folk customs are patterns of behaviour accepted by society, rooted in communal interactions and meaningful group activities. These customs include festivals, recreation and games, folk medicine, and folk religion, each playing a significant role in cultural expression and community cohesion.
Festivals
Festivals are social gatherings marking culturally significant events or commemorating historical figures or ancestors.
Recreation and Games
Recreation and games are activities pursued for enjoyment, varying among social groups and geographic locations. A good example of traditional game in Tanzania is bao.
Folk Medicine
Folk medicine encompasses traditional healing practices based on folk beliefs, involving natural or herbal remedies and magical religious rituals.
Folk Religion
Folk religion consists of unique religious practices specific to ethnic or cultural groups, passed down orally and encompassing cosmology, customs, and symbolism. While Western influences have impacted traditional African beliefs, folk religion remains vital to cultural identity.
Literary texts can employ folk religion to develop characters, themes, and settings. Folk medicine adds depth and authenticity to narratives, weaving culture, spirituality, and healing traditions into the story. Even so, social folk customs serve as symbolic markers of culture and tradition, driving plot and character development in literature while expressing community spirit and belonging.
Performing Folk Arts
Activity 3
a) Read various online or library materials and with examples explain the following concepts:
- Folk drama
- Folk music
- Folk dance
b) In your own words, describe the concept of performing folk arts.
Takeaways
Performing Folk Arts
Performing folk arts are culturally meaningful presentations by individuals or groups. When people perform folk arts, they essentially showcase cultural symbols and expressions of a community, highlighting human creativity within cultural heritage. These arts encompass various forms like folk drama, music and dances, which enrich cultural identity and tradition.
Usually, one performs folk arts based on local traditions and history, featuring characters with unique costumes, such as wearing masks to portray animals or humans. Therefore, performing folk arts is the intense manifestation of culture, tradition, and identity. Some literary authors incorporate folk art in their works to enrich their art of storytelling, depict cultural experiences and deepen readers’ understanding of characters, civilizations, and cultures beyond mere amusement.
Functions and Preservation of Folklore
Activity 4
Read online or library materials on folklore and then:
- Summarise the functions of folklore.
- Explain ways of preserving folklore.
Takeaways
Functions of Folklore
There are various functions of folklore, including entertainment, cultural validation, education, and cultural stabilisation. This means that folklore offers both entertainment and educational value. It breaks the monotony of daily life and explains cultural rituals, traditions, and social structures. Stories like ogre tales, lullabies, and fables pass down knowledge, values, and manners to younger generations. By preserving customs and norms, folklore helps to maintain cultural stability and encourages adherence to established traditions.
Folklore Preservation
Preserving folklore is crucial in the face of its commodification, which threatens its longevity and authenticity. Folklorists employ various preservation strategies, recognizing the multifaceted nature of the task to ensure folklore’s validity and survival.
One approach involves documenting folklore through written records, audio recordings, videos, and digital archives to ensure its preservation for future generations. Fostering intergenerational transmission within communities through storytelling, music, and dance workshops promotes continuity and cultural vitality.
Government support is morally and materially essential for local cultural initiatives, festivals, and educational programs to raise awareness and appreciation of folklore. Scholarly research, artistic interpretation, and revitalisation efforts further contribute to preservation. All these efforts require ongoing commitments and collaborations.
Literary artists play a significant role in folklore preservation by incorporating folkloric materials into their original texts. Written texts thus serve as repositories for these rich traditions and grant them permanence through literature.
Folklore in the Community
Activity 5
- Discuss the various forms of social folk customs in your community.
- Provide an example for each form of social folk custom in the community.
- How do social folk customs differ from one ethnic community to another?
Activity 6
- Discuss the various forms of performing folk art available in your ethnic community.
- Provide an example of each folk art form performed in your ethnic community.
- Explain the meaning attached to each form of performing folk art.
Activity 7
- Discuss the various forms of material culture available in your ethnic community.
- Provide an example of each form of material culture available in your ethnic community.
- Explain the meaning attached to each form of material culture.
Folklore in Written Literature
Activity 8
Read a literary text and answer the following questions:
- Identify folkloric materials included in the text.
- Explain how folkloric materials affect the delivery of the text’s central idea.
- Sort out all the forms of folklore and write them under their correct headings in the following table:
| Material Culture | Social Folk Customs | Performing Folk Arts |
|---|---|---|
Takeaways
Folklore and Written Literature Relationship
Folklore and written literature share a lively connection. They influence each other in meaningful ways. Folklore is deeply rooted in society’s wisdom and traditions. It inspires written literature, and shapes cultural norms and identity. Written literature incorporates folkloric elements, adding depth and cultural richness.
While folk literature is passed down orally and reflects communal knowledge, written literature is crafted by individuals mirrors cultural contexts. Authors draw from communal wisdom to infuse their work with myths, proverbs, and folk tales and enrich them with cultural significance.
When themes and motifs from folklore are included in written literature, they preserve cultural heritage and make folklore timeless. Written texts also serve as a repository for folkloric materials. They allow diverse audiences to experience the culture of other communities.
Moreover, written literature preserves and evolves oral traditions and maintains their essence. This symbiotic relationship ensures the continuity and relevance of folklore in written works.
Written literature showcases cultural diversity and human experiences, blending folkloric elements with creative expression to represent culture, identity, and society. In Things Fall Apart, for example, Achebe incorporates folk tales, folk costumes, wrestling, and music for these purposes.
Assessment Questions
Assessment Questions
- With examples, differentiate the following concepts:
- a) Herbal from magical religious medicines
- b) Folk music from folk dance
- c) Initiation from wedding ceremonies
- d) Pottery from monument
- With examples from written literary text read in class, examine the author’s manipulation of folkloric materials in delivering the intended message.
- Drawing examples of one literary text, discuss the way written literature serves as a warehouse of folklore.
- Discuss the ways in which authors use folkloric materials to support characterisation. Use any literary text to support your discussion.
- With examples from a literary text read in class, examine how material culture serves as a symbolic feature in expressing cultural experiences.
- Examine the link between drama and folk performance using a play of your choice.
- Use the knowledge of social folk customs to examine the way cultural context determines the identity of the people.
- Use any literary text read in class to examine how folklore materials are employed as tools for entertainment.
- Use any literary text to evaluate the way folkloric materials included in the text expose or judge characters’ moral traits.
- Using any literary text read in class, discuss how authors employ folkloric materials to evoke the cultural setting in which the events and actions occur.
Examples of Folkloric Materials in Literature
| Folklore Type | Examples in Literature | Purpose/Function |
|---|---|---|
| Proverbs | Chinua Achebe’s use of Igbo proverbs in Things Fall Apart | Convey wisdom, cultural values, and character traits |
| Folk Tales | Tortoise stories in African literature | Teach moral lessons and entertain |
| Folk Songs | Work songs in Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s works | Express collective experiences and emotions |
| Rituals | Wedding ceremonies in various African novels | Establish cultural authenticity and social norms |
| Traditional Costumes | Descriptions of cultural attire in literature | Signify identity, status, and cultural pride |
Exercise: Folklore Analysis
Select a literary text from your syllabus and complete the following tasks:
- Identify at least five different folkloric elements in the text.
- Classify each element as material culture, social folk custom, or performing folk art.
- Analyze how each folkloric element contributes to:
- Character development
- Theme exploration
- Cultural representation
- Plot advancement
- Discuss how the inclusion of folklore enhances the literary value of the text.
- Suggest how the text would be different without these folkloric elements.