LITERATURE

Literature is a multi-dimensional concept which can be defined in various ways. But, it can be defined as a work of art expressed in words, using language creatively to express human realities. Or

Is a work of art which is transmitted in spoken or written form.

ELEMENTS OF LITERATURES

1.      FORM                                                                                                   2. CONTENT

Through these elements we get other smaller parts such as;

i.                    In form.

v  It contains:

     i)        Language                    ii) Plot            iii) Setting    iv) Style               v) Characterization.

ii.                  Content

v  It Contains:

i) Themes          ii) Messages       iii) Philosophy (direction)           iv) Conflicts.

THE NATURE OF LITERATURE

The origin of literature is tied up with the origin of man, the historical stage of his emergency which was accomplished through the labour process revolving upon the making and use of tools. Originally, man`s language was spoken, so his verbal arts was oral. Various forms of oral literature emerged examples labour songs, folk tales, myths etc.

TYPRS OF LITERATURE

There are two types of literature

1.    ORAL                                   2. WRITTEN

ORAL LITERATURE

Is a literature presented through oral expression. This was practiced before the invention of writing.

TYPES OF ORAL LITERATURE

1. The Folk Tale; Is a short narrative handed down through oral tradition. It is a popular story passed on in spoken form from one generation to the next.
2. The Legend: Is a story handed down from the past, especially one that may not be true. 
3. Myths: These are stories originated in ancient times, especially one which is dealing with ideas or beliefs about the early history of a race or giving explanations of natural events such as reasons.
4. Fables: Are short stories not based on fact, often with animals as characters that convey a moral message.
5. Anecdote: It is a short, interesting or amusing story about a real person or event.
6. Epics. Are long an extended narratives poems telling of a hero`s deeds.
7.  Ballade: Is a form of verse to be sung or recited and characterized by it`s presentation of a dramatic.
8. Riddles: Puzzling questions, statements or description especially ones intended to test the cleverness of those wishes to solve them.
9. Sayings: These include proverbs and idioms.
10. Proverbs: are short, well known saying that state a general truth or give advice.
11. Idioms: are phrases or sentences whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of it`s individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit.

WRITTEN LITERATURE

Written literature is that which is expressed in written form.  It has tree genres:

            i) Novels.                      ii) Poetry                     iii) Drama (Play)

1.      Novel: is an extended fiction prose narrative of considerable length in which characters and actions are representatives of real life are portrayed in a plot of more or less complexity.  Examples;

Passed like a shadow written by Ndunguru, S.N.

Weep Not, child written by Ngungi wa Thiong`o.

2.      Poetry; Is a way of expressing the feelings, emotions or ideas using language characterized by imaginary and rhythmical sound.

COMMON TERMS USED IN POETRY

a)      A POET – A person who composes a poem.

b)       A POEM – A piece of writing in averse form, especially expressing deep feelings in an artistic language.

c)      A VERSE - A single line in a poem.

d)     STANZA - Arrangement of verse in a poem. Several verses comprising complete ideas.

CHARACTERISTICS/FEATURES OF POETRY

 i. Poetry is imaginative.

ii. Poetry is rhythmical- is arranged in a partten of verses which form a stanzas.

iii. Poetry reflects experience (ideas) of people.

iv. Poetry arouses emotions.

v. Poetry is rich in figures of speech (images).

CHARACTERISTICS OF POET

•      He/she must have enough knowledge about human nature.

•      He/she must know the problems of his/her society.

•      He/she must have ideas concerning poetry

TYPES OF POETRY

a)      Narrative poetry     

b)       Reflective poetry

c)      Descriptive poetry   

d)     Sonnet poetry (14 verses)

e) Ballade poetry 

All these forms can be divided into two categories:

i.             Close form and

ii.            Open form

Closed form/ traditional poetry

It is a type of poetry which strictly observes the rules of writing poems such as; Rhyme partten, equal number of syllables in each verse, the length of verses, the number of verses in each stanza, etc.

Open form/ free verse/ modern poetry

It Is a kind of poetry which does not observe the old rules of writing poems.

 The following books are examples of poetry collection:

i) “Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol” written by Okot  P`Bitek.

ii) “Songs of Malaya and prisoner” written by Okot P`Bitek.

iii) “Malenga Wapya” written by Institute of Kiswahili, and Foreign languages Zanzibar.

DRAMA (PLAY)

The word Drama is derived from Greek words which mean to do or to act. Therefore, Drama is a literary composition of any length, which is written to be performed by actors in a theater, on television or radio. Importance things in drama are actors or players, actions, the audience, plot, setting, language (diction) etc.

CHARACTERISTICS/ FEATURES OF DRAMA/PLAY.

i) It has strong visual elements in a story of human nature. We see pictures and image on stage, events on a play cannot be easily forgotten.

ii) It is easily understood.

      ii)            Themes, plot, characters, etc. take place swiftly from the beginning to the end of the play.

    iii)            The dramatist writes on events of his own time no matter what century the play is set.

    iv)            It can be perfumed anywhere and anytime.

      v)            It tends to entertain.

    vi)            It is like other genres of literature can teach or instruct, criticize, enlighten or inspire.

THE DIFFERENCE OF PLAY FROM OTHER GENRES

a) Drama is broader than other genres.

b) The plot is printed in form of dialogue, monologue, songs, or mime (communicating without speaking).

c) Play uses 1^st person pronoun more frequently then other persons.

d) It has an extensive use of stage directions.

e) It has strong influence than other gentries.

f) It is primarily made up of dialogue.

g)  It uses a short time.

viii. It involves imitation of real life events and hence more meaningful.

TYPES OF DRAMA

i)                    TRAGEDY.  It is a type of drama which shows serious actions and always hero endangers himself. He finds himself being faced by death, isolation, etc. Example;

“The Black Hermit”, “Kivuli Kinaish” etc.

ii)                   COMEDY: It is a type of drama which is humorous/funny because it always makes the audience laugh.  Example;

“ Mfalme juha”” Aliyeonja Pepo”, “Batrayal in the City”, etc.

iii)                TRAGIC- COMEDY: It is a kind of drama which combines the elements of tragedy and comedy, but the hero does not end in death or danger.

iv)                HISTORICAL DRAMA: It is the type of drama which expresses the history of a certain society. Example

“Trial of Dedan Kimathi”.

v)                  MELO-DRAMA: It is a type of drama for entertainment. Example;

“Three Suitors One Husband”  written by Oyono Mbia.

“This Time Tomorrow” , written by Ngugi wa Thiong`o

“Kivuli Kinaishi” by Saidi A. Mohamed.

ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE

   Any work of literature has two elements namely;

    (a) FORM                                                                                    (b) CONTENTS

a)      FORM.  This refers to superstructure of a literary work.   It consists of:

   (i) Plot                                (ii) Style                          (iii) Setting

   (iv) Language (Diction) and                                   (v) Characterization.

A)  STYLE. Refers to the way/ technique in which  the work is made.

i.        Oral Traditional style: Retelling a story. It resemble to the traditional way of storytelling, such as once upon a time, a long time ago.., many years…..etc

j.        Straight forward narration: In this technique the narration takes place from the beginning to the end.

k.       Flashback: It is an interruption of the chronological sequences of an event. It is a technique that allows a writer to present past events during current events.

B)  Plot. It is the arrangement (organization) of events in a narrative or play.

C)  setting: It is the environment of its story events, which includes time (historical) and place (area where events take place).  

D)    Characterization: A character is a person in a story.

How do we determine character?

From what he/she says, what he/she thinks what he/she does and motivation or what other says about him/her.

TYPES OF CHARACTERS

i)                    Expository character. A character described or discussed either by the author or by another character.

ii)                  Dramatic character. It is a character in action. From his /her behavior, speech, and recorded thought.

iii)                Round character. Is any character who has a complex personality (Changing their personality)

iv)                Flat character. It is the opposite of round character. It is a character whose personality is notable.

v)                  Static character. The one who is unchanging throughout the action.

vi)                Developing character. The one who changes in the personality or grows to a new awareness of life.

vii)              The principle figure/ protagonist/hero. This is the main character in the story.

viii)            Antagonist. This is a character or force that opposes the protagonist.

LANGUAGE (DICTION)

Refers to the chose and  arrangement of words in a literary work.

  Conceder the following questions;

1. Is language simple or complex?
2. How does the complicity/simplicity of the language affect the message?
3. What effect does the language have?
4. Does the author mix language?

TYPES OF LANGUAGE USED

(a) Simple       

(b) Complex          

(c) Mixed              

(d) Figurative    

(e) Grammatical       

(f) Ungrammatical

2. SAYING USED

(a) Idioms  

(b)  Proverbs   

(c) Slang

3. IMAGERY/ IMAGES

Refers to the use of figurative language to produce pictures in the mind of the readers or hears.

4. SYMBOLISM

Means a sign or something stand or suggest something else.  It is a person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well. For example: bright sunshine symbolizes goodness and water is a symbolic cleanser.      

5. FIGURE OF SPEECH

i.                    Simile (TASHBIHA). It is a comparison between two distinctly different thing, indicated by the word “as, like, ”etc.

   E.g. His sister was like an angle.

ii. Metaphor (SITIARI): is a comparison that does not use conjunctions, such as “like, as”

   E.g.. She is an angle. 

iii. Personification (TASHHISI): A figure that gives animals, ideas, abstractions, and inanimate objects human form, character, or sensibility.

      E.g. The Mountain rose majestically.

iv. Hyperbole (MUBALAGHA): A figure of speech in which extreme exaggeration is used without the intent of literal persuasion.

E.g. I have invited billions of people to my party.

V. Alliteration: Repartition of identical consonant sounds at the beginning of a word or of stressed syllable within a word in verse.

•      E.g. Farmers family felt free.

vi. Assonance: Repetition of similar vowel sounds in stressed syllable that end with different consonant sound.

      E.g. Lake and fate, side, write and wide, clean and cream.

vii. Onomatopoeic (ANAMATOPOEA): Formation of words by the imitation of sounds resembling. It is the use of words that by their sounds suggest their meaning.   E.g. hiss, buzz.

viii. Euphemism (TASIFIDA): A figure of speech in which offensive expressions replace pleasant. E.g.

     At liberty- instead of out of work,

    Senior citizen – instead of old people,

    In the family way – instead of pregnant.

6. TONE/VOICE

This refers to altitude towards the subject and the audience implied in a literary work.

(a)    Irony (KEJELI): It is a figure of speech which expresses words in opposite meaning. Example;

 You are the cleaver student in class. You scored 5% in Kiswahili subject.

b. Satire (TASHTITI): A literary manner that blends a critical altitude with humour and wit for the purpose of improving human institution or humanity.

c. Sarcasm (KIJEMBE): Bitterness or touching reproach fullness. It may not be ironic, but it is always cutting bitter or ill natured. It aims at inflicting pain.

d. Humorous: It is something funny and amusing.

CONTENT

Refers to what is being said (conveyed). It includes the following parts;

i.                    Theme         

ii.                  Message     

iii.                Philosophy   

iv.                Climax     

v.                  Crises            

vi.                Prologue

THEME

Is a central or dominant idea in a literary work. The main themes in African literatures include;

i.                    Betrayal     

ii.                  African traditions 

iii.                Position of women in the society as well as  

iv.                Corruption

v.                  Death                                                          

vi.                Racial segregation/ discrimination    

vii.              Colonialism       

viii.            Classes  

ix.                Torture                        

x.                  Friendship          

xi.                Unemployment

xii.              Oppression         

xiii.            Protest   

xiv.            Alienation (isolation)    

xv.              Violence 

xvi.            Unity                  

xvii.          Poverty

xviii.        Self awareness (consciousness)    

xix.            Sacrifice            

xx.              Love Affair

MESSAGE

This refers to what we learn from a literary work. Examples;

v   Colonialism is a bad thing and should be uprooted through violence.

v  Unity is an essential thing to any revolution.

v  Political consciousness has vital role for any political development.

v  We must sacrifice in order to eliminate oppression.

CONFLICT

TYPES OF CONFLICTS IN A LITERARY WORK.

i. Economic conflict, i.e. Rich people vs poor people.

ii. Social conflict, i.e. family conflict, tribal, racial, etc

iii. Personal conflicts, i.e.. Internal feelings, ideas, thoughts.

iv. Political conflict. i.e. Ruling party vs. opposition party.

v. Philosophical conflict. i.e. Ideas vs. ideas, feeling vs. feeling etc.

CLIMAX.  The moment when the crises of the play or narrative reaches the highest points.

CRISES. A time when a conflict rises to a point where resolution is necessarily.

FUNCTIONS OF LITERATURE

1)      Literature educate people

2)      Express people`s culture 

3)      Entertain people.

4)      Influence people in the society.

5)      Develop language.

6)      Liberate people (physical and mentally).

7)      Criticize society