The perception of african oral literature 29 nineteenthcentury approaches and collections. Introduction to oral literature question papers 10438. The book is available as a free pdf and ebook download thanks to the generous support of interested readers and organisations, who made donations using the crowdfunding. An introduction the research is intended to 1 inventory the types of oral literature in existence. Unlike written literary genres, oral literature is conveyed or passed down to future generations by word of mouth, typically through memorization and recitation. During that period different communities developed distinct oral. Oral literature or folk literature corresponds in the sphere of the spoken oral word to literature as literature operates in the domain of the written word. Eng124 introduction to oral literature 2 units this course carries out a descriptive survey of major poetic, dramatic and narrative genres of traditional african oral verbal forms. Literary genres and subgenres fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry video and worksheet duration. The ter m, oral literature, has been variously referred to as folklore, folk literature, oral narrative, oral tradition, traditional literature and orature. The are encouraged to add this information to their notes. Africa in precolonial times was divided into various ethnic groups. Think the iliad, the odyssey, beowulf, the poetic or elder eddas, and poems from ancient india written in sanskrit about which i know very litt.
Legends and myths are prime examples of oral literature, crossing the line between fact and fiction, yet strengthened by constant retelling. Click download or read online button to get malawian oral literature book now. An introduction to storytelling, myths and legends. It includes a new introduction, additional images and an updated bibliography, as well as its original chapters on poetry, prose, drum language and drama, and an overview of the social. Introduction to literature in english linkedin slideshare. Introduction to oral literature number of units edo university. This book brings together in one volume two earlier books by the authors, now revised to meet the callenges of 21st century scholarship in african performance and cultural studies. Traditional oral literature of africa may be in the form of prose, verse or proverb. Lyrics, myths, legends, folktales, epics, proverbs, praise poetry and ritual dramatic forms will be studied. Epics have often been passed on orally and may have anonymous authors. His critical essays have appeared in journals around the world. Kinds of literature contd examples of fictional literature include plays, poems, short stories, novels, oral literature, and songs examples of nonfictional literature.
The are encouraged to add this information to their notes using any type of shorthand that they are comfortable with. Literature reflects an authors own class or analysis of class relations, 2282011 intro. Introduction to literatureintroduction to literature. It is highly valued in africa in general and in igbo in particular mainly because of its didactic nature. The introduction usually starts by providing some background information to your particular topic, so the reader understands the key problem being addressed and why it is an issue worth writing about. Oral literature is a broad term which may include ritual texts, curative chants, epic poems, musical genres, folk tales, creation tales, songs. The study of green grass is popular among agrostologists. It includes a new introduction, additional images and an updated bibliography, as well as its original chapters on poetry, prose, drum language and drama, and an overview of the social, linguistic and historical background of oral literature in africa. Evaluate the truth of this claim in relation to four main functions of oral literature. Explain the factors that affected the development of african oral literature during the colonial period.
Grand in length and scope, an epic provides a portrait of legends, beliefs, valves, laws, arts, and ways of life of a people. This paper grapples with the question of choice of theory in the study of african oral literature. Literature, most generically, is any body or collection of written works. Another important difference between traditional african oral art and modern african literature involves the identity and social standing of their respective practitioners. For societies in which traditions are conveyed more through speech than through writing, oral literature. Oral literature in the digital age introduction open book.
The book is available as a free pdf and ebook download thanks to the generous support of interested readers and organisations, who made donations using the crowdfunding website. Also, as in oral literature, masculinity should be redefined to express sensitivity to the female gender and the promotion of those virtues that make a man a sensitive and compassionate. At the end of our discussion, i share the slide with the characteristics of oral literature. Oral literature in the digital age introduction open. Malawian oral literature download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The social, linguistic, and literary background 51. Collecting, protecting and connecting oral literature this volume is an essential guide and handbook for ethnographers, field linguists, community activists, curators, archivists, librarians, and all who connect with indigenous communities in order to document and preserve oral traditions. More restrictively, literature refers to writing considered to be an art form or any single writing deemed to have artistic or intellectual value, and sometimes deploys language in ways that differ from ordinary usage. The study or appreciation of literature is very interesting and helpful to learners for many reasons. Oral literature is an aspect of literature preserved not in written form but in oral form. B usiness leadership has been described as the ability to influence, motivate and enable others to contribute to the effectiveness and success of the organisations of which. To some people, oral literature is only but a mirage. The students are introduced to various literary terms whose knowledge will be useful for them in their courses of british and american literature.
This literature through narrative, poetry, song, dance, myths and fables, and texts for religious rituals provides a portrait of the meaning of life as experienced by the society at its. Next, i share the slide with the different literary genres derived from oral literature. A grammar of thangmi with an ethnolinguistic introduction to the speakers and their. Literature is the product of the economic and ideological determinants of a specific era. Oral literature, which is almost always oral poetry, has claim to the great poems in literary history. Think the iliad, the odyssey, beowulf, the poetic or elder eddas, and poems from ancient india. Malawian oral literature download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. The oral artists agenda joseph muleka 87 p a g e the oral text naturally text is a crucial component in communicating messages.
Eng124 introduction to oral literature 2 units covenant university. During that period different communities developed distinct oral literature of their own. As with all open book publications, this entire book can be read for free online. Interactions and intersections edited by daniela merolla leiden university, the netherlands introduction the studies of oral literature are countless, and the educational function of storytelling is certainly one of recurring topics. The term oral literature is also used to describe the tradition in written civilizations in which certain. Another important difference between traditional african oral art and modern african literature involves the identity and social standing of their. Introduction to media studies is designed for students who have grown up in a rapidly changing global multimedia environment and want to become more literate and critical consumers and. An introduction to oral interpretation reflects changes in the performance of literature since the first edition was published in 1991. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The publication offers a communicationoriented definition of oral interpretation, a basic rudimentary statement of oral interpretation essentials and a link. At present, nigerian literature in english is the one which attracts greater attention and has the greater influence nationally and internationally.
Oral literature in africa is part of the world oral literature series published in conjunction with the world oral literature project. Oral literature in africa pdf open book publishers. Literature in english involves the reading and analysis of written materials of different kinds including fiction and nonfiction written works in english. The students are introduced to various literary terms. Ruth finnegans oral literature in africa was first published in 1970, and since then has been widely praised as one of the most important books in its field.
Using clear illustrations, discuss the relationship between oral. The paper argues that while it is easy and desirable to choose a facilitative theory in the. Oral literature is a broad term which may include ritual texts, curative chants, epic poems, musical genres, folk tales, creation tales, songs, myths, spells, legends, proverbs, riddles, tonguetwisters, word games, recitations, life histories or historical narratives. Introduction to literature in english ppt authorstream.
Ong argue that it is a contradiction in terms since the conservative view is that literature should. African oral genres tales, proverbs, riddles, and lullabies. Recent trends in african studies and the revival of interest in oral literature. Interactions and intersections edited by daniela merolla leiden university, the netherlands introduction the studies of oral literature are countless. The term oral literature is also used to describe the tradition in written civilizations in which certain genres are transmitted by word of mouth or are confined to the socalled folk i. It means spoken literature, or literature by word of mouth, which makes it a controversial term. Literature in english involves the reading and analysis of. An introduction to oral interpretation reflects changes in. In an attempt to preserve this oral literature, several individual authors have collected tales, proverbs, riddles and published them in books. Click download or read online button to get malawian oral literature. Seventh grade lesson introduction to oral literature. However, it is important that this is brief and that you only include information that is directly relevant to the topic. Read the oral poem below then answer the questions that follow.
Oral traditional poetics, a mythic episode, and arming scenes in the iliad 4. The book is available as a free pdf and ebook download thanks to the generous support of interested readers and organisations, who made donations using the crowdfunding website unglue. This course carries out a descriptive survey of major poetic, dramatic and narrative genres of traditional african. Ect 315 topic 4 teaching oral literature page 1 of 3 topic 4 teaching of oral literature topic objectives by the end of this topic you should be able to.
Stanislav kola r the course deals with literary theory with respect to british and american literature. Introduction to oral literature question papers 10437. An epic is a long story often told in verse involving heroes and gods. Only when it is clear how the text stands to the performance and the other to the tradition can an analysis of the contents of the message begin, vansina, 1985. In this first lecture, professor paul fry explores the courses title in three parts. There is no standard definition as folklorists have varying descriptions for oral literature or folk literature but a broad conceptualization refers to it as literature characterized by oral transmission and the absence of any fixed form. While you may be asked to write on a series of potential topics, there are similarities in all of the possible subjects. Introduction to african oral literature and performance.
Challenges and prospects article pdf available march 2018 with,503 reads how we measure reads. The oral nature of african unwritten literature the significance of performance in actualization, transmission, and composition. More restrictively, literature refers to writing considered to be an art form or any single writing deemed to have artistic or. Oral literature, the standard forms or genres of literature found in societies without writing. Using clear illustrations, discuss the relationship between oral literature and society. Introduction one of the features that probably characterize african cultural lore is the richness of oral genres variously known as oral literature or orature.
762 882 1083 74 1073 63 379 446 672 187 880 528 1122 1291 408 1175 868 27 848 1379 1378 564 1315 1123 249 548 1366 1548 1212 211 270 23 1340 709 286 1348 443 669 772 1159 139 1411