ORAL LITERATURE

ORAL LITERATURE

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Explanations and Definitions of Common Literary Terms, NECTA QUESTIONS NECTA QUESTIONS: Are you looking for Form Four NECTA Past Papers? RESPONDING TO LITERATURE QUESTIONS It is very important to understand the skills for answering literature questions because, more often than not, students fail to respond to literature questions not because they don’t have the right answers for those questions but chiefly because they fail to interpret the questions appropriately and respond accordingly. Therefore, to successfully respond to literature questions, the following things should be taken into consideration at least as the first step to start with: a)Read the question carefully. It is advised to read the question more than once as it helps you to understand it. Re-reading the question twice or thrice may help you to gain some additional insights on the requirements of the question b)Paraphrase the question. At this point try to re-state the question in your own words. This helps you among other things to see if you have understood what you are asked to do. E.g. “With reference to two plays that you have read in class compare two female characters one from each play and show how they differ”. PARAPHRASE: The question requires me to pick two female characters and show their similarities and differences c)Pay attention to key words in the question. Questions have key words that tell you what you are required to do. When you are reading the question note whether it requires you to;- discuss, list, mention, compare and contrast, verify, describe, comment, criticize, interpret, justify.etc.Buy bestselling books online d)Write an outline of your answer. At this juncture try to frame how your essay will look like and what you are going to put in the introduction, the main body and conclusion. i.e. in the introduction you may show (i). The key words to be defined, (ii) the books you are going to use. In the main body you may jot down the points you are going to use from each reading. In the conclusion you may show how you are going to conclude. THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR ESSAY INTRODUCTION. Remember that introduction is the key to your essay. It gives an impression on whether the reader should continue reading your essay or not. Here you are supposed to do the following. 1. Define key terms. For example in our question above; you may need to define: Character(s) this helps your reader to understand your working definition. E.g. Characters are animate or inanimate beings that play different roles in a literary work.Buy bestselling books online 2. Sometimes there are no key words to be defined. In such a case give some background information on the subject in question. E.g. “Women occupy different roles in literary works. By using two readings you have studied in class show the roles of women in your society”. Here you may need to agree with the statement and show that women do really occupy different roles in different societies. 3. List the readings you are going to use. Of course you will have outlined them somewhere, but this is the right place to include them in your essay. A good choice of readings is also very important as it shows whether you are going to respond to the question correctly or wrongly. E.g. To prove the above statement my discussion will be centred on Juliette of Three Suitors One Husband by O. Mbia and Wanjiro of This Time Tomorrow by Ngugi wa Thiong’o. or In this essay references will be made to Juliette of Three Suitors One Husband by O Mbia and Wanjiro of This Time Tomorrow by Ngugi wa Thiong’o. 4. Show the readings you are going to start with. In case of the questions that need each reading to be treated separately. E.gBuy bestselling books online In this essay references will be made to Juliette of Three Suitors One Husband by O Mbia and Wanjiro of This Time Tomorrow by Ngugi wa Thiong’o. To start with Three suitors one husband; MAIN BODY. Here you need to be careful because it is this part that answers your question. Organization. You should organize your essay in paragraphs whereby each paragraph carries one point. That is to say the number of points is determined by the number of paragraphs and vice versa. Each paragraph must contain a topic sentence. A topic sentence is the one containing the argument you are making. E.g. in our question you could begin each sentence by saying “Both Juliette and Wanjiro are…” Provide supporting details. These are evidences from a literary work plus supporting examples. Example if you say… “Both Juliette and Wanjiro are denied to marry men of their choices. Juliette is denied by her family to marry Oko since he is still a schoolboy and has no money compared to the other suitors like Mbia. Similarly, Wanjiro is denied by her mother to marry Asinjo on the ground that he is a man from another tribe, he is poor and has no job.” Citation Your citation will largely depend on the nature of the question you are attempting. Different questions call for different responses. Questions on themes for instance have issues cutting across two or more readings. If that is the case it is possible to refer to two readings in one paragraph. However this approach is used when the point is the same. For example, “Literature is the product of the society. It is used by artists to reflect social realities within their societies. Use two novels you have read to verify the above statement”. In such a case you may discuss a theme like HIV/AIDS which appears in both “Passed Like a Shadow” and “The Interview”. Your citation will be; One of the social realities portrayed is the plight of HIV/AIDS pandemic. In “Passed like a Shadow” people like Adyeri, Amoti, Vicky, David and others die of AIDS due to ignorance of the ways it spreads and beliefs in superstition. Similarly, in “The Interview” people like Georgina and the pastor die of AIDS or kill themselves due to Ignorance without even taking blood test to confirm whether they are infected. If the readings contain different points it is advisable that you deal with one reading at a time and then move to another.Buy bestselling books online If the question requires you to compare and contrast two aspects in two readings you make references to both readings at the same time using words like; whereas, while, on the other hand, by contrast, or comparing by using words like also, similarly, likewise. NOTE: Answering a question is not the same as narrating a story. You should avoid narrating what is taking place in the story but rather analyze and make arguments. CONCLUSION. This is the final part of your essay. You are expected to write your position. Don’t conclude by saying; What I have said/written above are/is…………… The above points are………. It is advised that you conclude your essay with expressions like; Ø In conclusion….., Ø To conclude……., Ø In summary….., Ø By the way of conclusion……., Ø To sum up ……, Ø Generally it can be said that…., Ø To capitulate…….. etc E.g. “Generally it can be concluded that, different characters from different readings may be alike or different depending on the experiences they face in the societies they live. If the experiences are the same the characters are likely to behave the same way and vice versa.” NECTA 2010 1. How can literature help us in fighting against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania? 2. An artist can best use his pen and not rifle to teach and warn the society. Validate this statement using your life experience. 3. Write brief notes on the following literary concepts. (a) Written literature. (b) Setting. (c) Proverbs. (d) Narrator. NECTA 2011 1.(a). Briefly comment on what the following literary concepts are. (I) Short stories. (II) Figurative language. (iii) Characterization. (iv) Setting. (b) What is oral literature? State any five characteristics of oral literature. 2.Using your own life experience, show how literature and language can not be separated. 3.Writting literature in local languages is the only way to make sure that it reaches every individual in the society. Use eight (8) points to argue for or against this statement. NECTA 2012 1. Compare and contrast between the following pairs of literary terminologies (a) Ballad and Epic. (b) Irony and Satire. (c) Conflict and denouement. (d) Round character and flat character. (e) Form and content. 2. What do you understand by the term ‘technique ‘ in a work of art? Explain briefly on seven techniques which can be used in a literary piece of work. 3. Does oral literature still exist in the Tanzanian society today? Discuss basing your arguments on the nature and transmission of oral literature. NECTA 2013 1.How does the language of literature differ from ordinary writing and speech? 2.(a). Define the following terms as used in works of literature. (i) Rehearsal. (ii) Imagery. (iii) Tone. (iv) Point of view. (v) Plot. (vi) Symbolism. (vii) Fable. (Viii) Persona. (ix) Character. (x) Stanza. (b)Give five reasons as to why literature should be taught as a subject to all secondary school students. 3.(a) What are the differences in each of the following terms? (i) Litotes and understatement. (ii) Straight forward narration and flashback. (iii) Metaphorical and literal language. (iv) Onomatopoeia and metonymy. (v) Metaphor and simile. (b) With examples, give a brief explanation of the genres of literature. NECTA 2014 1.’The subject of literature differs from other subjects taught in school’. What are the differences between literature and other subjects in the secondary school curriculum? 2.Briefly compare and contrast the following pairs of literary terms: (a) Symbolism and imagery. (b) Fable and folktale. (c) Antagonist and protagonist. (d) Play and Drama. (e) Alliteration and Assonance. 3.Support the view that ‘the society makes Literature and Literature holds the society ‘. NECTA 2015 1.(a) Define the following literary terms: (i) Satire. (ii) Allusion. (iii) Alliteration. (iv) Conflict. (v) Simile. (b) Show how literature is a reflection of life by giving five points. 2.(a) Briefly explain how the difference between a novel and a poem lies in their form giving three points for each. (b) Why is it important to put plays in action? (c) With examples briefly explain the following literary devices: (i) Hyperbole. (ii) Irony. (iii) Litotes. (iv) Metaphor. (v) Contrast. 3.(a) Briefly explain the following: (i) Oral literature. (ii) Written literature. (b) Mention the three basic genres of literature. (c) It is argued that, the definition of the term literature is not complete unless it involves three elements namely art, language and society. Briefly support this view showing how these elements are part of literature. NECTA 2016 1.Analyse eight elements which makes drama look different from other works of literature. 2.Giving eight points, explain the importance of studying literature. 3.Analyse four key elements of Form and four of Content in a piece of literary writing. NECTA QUESTIONS on Literature in English (Form 3 & 4) NECTA QUESTIONS on English in Literature ORAL LITERATURE THEORIES OF LITERATURE STUDY QUESTIONS ON ENGLISH IN LITERATURE SELECTED POEMS FROM TANZANIA INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION (ANALYSIS) INTERPRETING LITERARY WORKS WRITTEN LITERATURE AFRICAN LITERATURE ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE NECTA 2017 1.Write brief explanations on each of the following literary terms. (a) Fiction. (b) Film. (c) Stage direction. (d) Episode. (e) Figures of speech. (f) Setting. (g) Tragic comedy. (h) Verse. (I) Scene. (j) Play within play. 2.(a) What are the four major difficulties that students face when appreciating a poem? (b) Distinguish between the following literary terms: (i) Poem and poet. (ii) Verse and stanza. (iii) Rhyme and Rhythm. (iv) Narrative poem and Deductive poem. (v) Theme and Message. 3.Account for features of play /drama which make it different from other genres of literature. NECTA 2018 1. Write brief explanations on the following literary concepts: (I) Conflict. (ii) Myth. (iii) Stage direction. (iv) Dramatic monologue. (v) Modern poetry. (vi) Diction. (vii) Climax. (viii) Euphemism. (ix) Character. (x) Symbol. 2. Using your own life experience, show how literature and language cannot be separated. 3.(a) What is drama? (b) Outline six features of drama. (c) Differentiate the following dramatic terms: (i) Act and scene. (ii) Comedy and tragedy, LITERATURE IN ENGLISH FULL NOTES, LITERATURE IN ENGLISH BOOKS ANALYSIS (INTERPRETING LITERARY WORKS), WRITTEN LITERATURE, ORAL LITERATURE, ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE - CONTENTS, ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE, LITERARY DEVICES, LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, FORMS OF LITERATURE, CONTEXT IN WHICH LITERATURE IS APPLIED, FUNCTIONS OF LITERATURE, LITERATURE AS AN ART, Introduction to Literature
   

ORAL LITERATURE

MEANING OF ORAL LITERATURE

Oral literature is a type of literature that is handed down or presented orally through the words of mouth from one generation to another.

Historically, oral literature was practiced much before the invention of writings. Until today oral literature is still dominant in various societies. Sometimes, in literature, oral literature is called folklore because the former has more and inclusive meaning than the later one.

Folklore; by definition refers to the collection of traditional stories, customs, beliefs and culture of a particular society or country. It is any of the beliefs, customs and traditions that people pass on from one generation to the next.

FORMS OF ORAL LITERATURE

Oral literature is still dominant in various societies due to the existence of different forms or types of folklores in the societies as follows;

a) Folktales

These are the traditional stories about animals or human beings that are usually passed down from one generation to another in a particular society. Most of these tales are not set in any particular time or place and they begin and end in a certain way.

For example, they begin with expressions like “once upon a time…” and end with “they live happily ever after”. The story of SINDERELLA is one of the examples of folklores.

b) Fables

These are animal stories that try to teach people how to behave. They are a particular type  of  narrative  in  which  animals,  plants  or  similar  characters  are

anthropomorphized or made to seem as if they were human. Fables are sometimes called beast stories.

Fables often deliver a moral lesson which may or may not be explicitly stated at the end. The best known collection of fables is Aesop’s fables. Examples of fables are “The Hare and the Tortoise”, “The Lion and the Mouse and others.

c) Fairy tales

These are fictional stories that usually involve magic and mythical creatures such as witches and fairies which posses supernatural powers. Fairy itself is an imaginary creature.

Fairy tales have magic powers to perform good and bad deeds and are set in imaginary land, long time ago and far away. They also contain imaginary creatures like evils, goblins and troll. They also feature fantastical elements and they have a happily ever after ending.

The famous fairy tales are CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE, THE SEVEN DWARVES and SLEEPING BEAUTY. Fairy tales are meant for entertainment.

d) Trickster tales

These are folktales in which a trickster is a hero. Most tricksters are animals which act like human being by playing tricks to other animals and human beings as well. Trickster tales are ones of the most popular folktales because they are found in every culture. Every culture has its own trickster hero or character. In Africa, tricksters include tortoise, the hare, and Anansi the spider.

In east Africa the hare (kalulu in Kiswahili) is the most famous trickster hero. The book “Kalulu the Hare” by Frank Worthington has a lot of wonderful stories about the clever and cunning hare.

e) Parables

These are religious stories that teach a basic truth, a moral lesson or religious principle. They usually involve ordinary people who are faced with a moral dilemma or who make a moral decision and then deal with the effects of that decision. Examples of parables include “The Man and His Two Wives and all biblical stories.

f) Legends

These are old and well-known stories that tell about brave people, adventure or magical events. Legends are told from one generation to another as though they were true. They are set in a real world and in relatively recent times.

Many legends tell about human beings how meet supernatural creatures such as fairies, ghosts, vampires and witches. They are also associated with the famous people who have died.

Examples of legends include:-

  • Paul Bunyan who as a child, he could clap hands and breaks the windows in his house.
  • Davy Crockett who is said that he was the frontiersman and he killed his first bear when he was just three years old.

g) Myths

These are traditional stories usually religious stories that explain how the world and humanity developed into the present form. Many myths describe the creation of the

earth and they are different from other types of folk stories because they are considered to be true among the people who develop them.

Myth itself by definition is an idea or story that many people believe but which is not true. A number of myths describe the creation of human race and the origin of death. Every society has its own myth. Examples of myths are “African myths about Anansi the Spider” by Abbey Baker.

h) Anecdotes

These are short, amusing and interesting stories about real incidents or people’s life. It is used to illustrate a point. Anecdotes are short stories that are told but that are not always published or given out.

For example, parables from the bible like THE GOD SAMARITAN could be called an anecdote because it is presented and based on a real incident involving actual persons whether famous or not but usually in an identifiable place.

Like parables, anecdotes are often used by philosophers and teachers of schools and religions to point out truths about real life. For instance, in the daily life you may tell others about yourself but you can give them an anecdote when you were suddenly caught by your mother stealing a piece of bread.

i) Epics

These are long narrative poems, books, or films that tell a long story about brave actions and exciting events done by the hero. The epic hero is usually a man of high

social status and who have a great historical and legendary importance. Epics often involve supernatural events, long time journeys, distant journeys and life and death struggle between good and evils.

In Africa, the most common epic is that of SUNDIATE (an African epic about an old Mali Empire).

j) Tall tales

A tall tale is folklore about a larger-than-life hero who solves an over-the-top problem in a humorous or outrageous way. Tall tales are typically feature highly exaggerated, improbable details and were created by several culture including the ancient Greeks, Romans and Celts.

American folk heroes like Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett, Pecos Bill and John Henry are also regarded as tall tale heroes.

k) Ballads

These are short stories in form of poems or songs in which there are two or more people speaking in turn. It is a dramatic type of poem as it presented like drama. The purpose of a ballad is to tell a story, so all elements of a story are included that is plot, character, narrator, dialogue, setting, drama and so on. Examples of ballads include BALLAD OF THE LANDLORD by Langston Hughes and BALLAD OF JOHN HENRY.

l) Riddles

These are puzzling questions; statements especially ones intended to test the cleverness of those who wishing to solve them. They are very confusing and have

humorous or clever testing ingenuity in divining its answer or meaning and every culture has its riddles which were passed down orally from one generation to another. A successful riddle often fancifully describes an inanimate object as if it were a living thing.

Examples of riddles and their answers

  • I have three hands, but just one face. I will link arms with you as I run my race… THE WRISTWATCH
  • I wear my jacket all the I stand with my back to you, showing my spine…A BOOK.
  • I am all over the place, but I know where I am at. My life goes in circles, but I never feel flat… that is GLOBE
  • I have the voice of a dog and the pages of a I have the chest of an elephant and you will find me if you look… that is A TREE.
  • I will take you to the top; I will wear my hair in But if you cannot stop I will burn you and after, leave you flat…that is CLIMBING ROPE.
  • What has to be broken before you can use ..? AN EGG
  • It goes up but never comes down…AGE
  • It gets wet while drying… TOWEL
  • I shave every day, but my beard stays the same…A BARBER
  • I have branches but no fruits, trunk or leaves… A BANK
  • It cannot talk but will reply when spoken to…AN ECHO
  • The more of this there is, the less you see…DARKNESS
  • David’s parents have three sons; Snap, Crackle and what is the name of the third son? … DAVID
  • I follow you all the time and copy your every move, but you cannot touch me or catch me. What I am? … SHADOW
  • What has many keys but cannot open a single lock? …PIANO
  • What is black when it is clean and white when it is dirty? … CHALKBOARD
  • It gets bigger when more is taken away… A HOLE
  • I am light as a father, yet the strongest person cannot hold me for five What I am? … I AM A BREATH
  • If you have got me, you want to share me; if you share me, you have not kept me. What I am? … I AM A SECRET
  • What has one eye but cannot see? … A NEEDLE
  • What has lots of eyes but cannot see …A POTATO
  • What has hands but cannot clap? … A CLOCK
  • What has many needles but does not sew? … CHRISTMAS TREE
  • What has legs but does not walk? … A TABLE
  • What has one head, one foot, and four legs? … A BED
  • What kind of band never plays music? … A RUBBER BAND
  • What has many teeth but cannot bite? … A COMB
  • What has a head and a tail but no body? … A COIN
  • What has thumb and four fingers but has not a hand? … A GLOVE
  • It stalks the countryside with ears that cannot here… CORN

m) Sayings

These are well-known short statements that express ideas that most people believe are true and wise. In other words, sayings include proverbs and idioms.

n) Proverbs

These are phrases which contain above all wisdoms, truth, morals, experience, lessons and advice concerning life and which has been handed down from generation to generation.

Proverbs are also defined as short well-known sayings that state a general truth or give advice and they can be orally transmitted or put in written forms. They can help you perfect your conversational English skills and deepen your understanding as they often come up in conversation.

Some common examples of proverbs

  • You cannot judge a book by its cover
  • Do not run before you can walk
  • Do not teach an old dog a knew trick
  • As you saw, so you shall reap
  • Beggars cannot be choosers
  • A short cut is often a wrong cut
  • Rome was not built in one day
  • Keep your mouth shut and ears open

o) Idioms

An idiom is defined as a group of words that has a special meaning that is different from the ordinary meaning of each separate word.

It is also defined as a phrase or sentence that is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt by heart as a whole unit. Therefore, the meaning of a whole unit of idiom is not clear, that is its expression has a meaning other than its literal meaning.

Some common examples of idioms

  • Kick the bucket: DIE
  • Under the weather: BEING ILL/HEALTH UNFIT
  • On the fence: UNDECIDED/DILEMMA
  • Hold your horses: BE PERTIENT
  • Give the cold shoulder: IGNORE ONE’S PRESENCE
  • Bite your tongue: AVOID TALKING
  • Blue moon: A RARE EVENT
  • Do not like a fish: DRINK HEAVILY
  • Tie the knot: GET MARRIED
  • Till the cows come home: A LONG TIME

p) Tongue twister

These are words, phrase or sentences that are difficult to articulate because of a succession of similar consonantal sounds. They are great way to practice and improve pronunciation and fluency to children.

Some examples of tongue twisters

  • Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
  • Betty Bother bought some bitter
  • How much wood would a wood luck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
  • She sells seashells by the seashore
  • How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?
  • I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream
  • I saw Susie sitting in a shoeshine shop
  • If a dog chews shoes, whose shoes does he choose

FEATURES OF ORAL LITERATURE

  • Oral literature is passed through a word of
  • It involves life performance such as dancing, clapping hands and
  • It involves both the performer and audience as both the narrator and listener come together during presentation.
  • It takes place in an actual setting for instance during evening, the folktales can be handed at home after work.
  • It is owned by the whole society as all society members (literate and illiterate) individual have chance to access it.
  • It is dynamic such that it adopts changes depending on time and

ADVANTAGES OF ORAL LITERATURE

    • Oral literature entertains people through music (sacred/folksongs), riddles and proverbs.
    • It promotes cultural identity in the
    • It identifies the society it dwells
    • It broadens people’s thinking in the
    • It preserves and transmits peoples’
    • It educates people through its
    • It creates employment to

THE IMPACTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON ORAL

Oral literature has encountered many challenges in the course of development from time it immerged. Some of the challenges include the following;

  • It becomes expensive if preserved or stored in modern storage devices like DVD, tapes recorders, computers etc.
  • There is no face to face interaction between the artist and the audience since it preserved in modern devices.
  • There is a delay in feedback. It is very difficult for the artist to get feedback from the audience.
  • It changes the medium of presentation because there is the absence of performance effect and actions are not heard.
  • Due to copyright issues, it is no longer belonging to the whole
  • It does not involve the all members of the community due to science and
  • The vulnerability of storage devices like CD, DVD, and VCD may undergo serious damage endangering the intactness of oral literature.

Quiz 1: Does oral literature still exist in the Tanzania society today? Discuss Your arguments basing on nature and transmission.

Quiz 2: what are the positive impacts of science and technology on oral Literature? Give at least five (5) points.

Related Posts:

  1. Introduction to Literature
  2. FORMS OF LITERATURE
  3. LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
  4. LITERARY DEVICES (LANGUAGE DEVICES)
  5. ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE – FORM
  6. ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE – CONTENTS
  7. WRITTEN LITERATURE

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