Simply put, the term oral tradition refers to a process by which any information about a culture, such as literature, history, medicine, etc. The are encouraged to add this information to their notes using any type of shorthand that they are comfortable with. One aspect is the beliefs on the spirits of dead ancestors found in many traditional societies. Oral literature in africa world oral literature by ruth finnegan is a comprehensive study guide with a wellresearched look into the history of oral folklore and. This work refutes this idea in its entirety by presenting 22 chapters, which firmly place the study of oral literature within contemporary african existence. 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 particular time and place with its unique existential challenges.
Oral tradition benefits transmission of cultural values and firsthand historical events in a way that makes listeners more active participants in receiving information. Feel free to use the past paper as you prepare for your upcoming examinations. The importance of song in africa oral literature aucccom. This helps people retain what they learn and generates individuals who are capable of continuing these oral traditions. Introduction to oral literature number of units edo university. Legends and myths are prime examples of oral literature, crossing the line between fact and fiction, yet strengthened by constant retelling. Songs oral narratives oral poetryriddlestongue twisters 3. She intends to give us a comprehensive view of the range and styles of african oral literature, and, second, she introduces us to methods. 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.
Literature is the product of the economic and ideological determinants of a specific era. The authors of this issue of the nordic journal of. Introduction to literatureintroduction to literature. At the end of our discussion, i share the slide with the characteristics of oral literature. Themes in the literary traditions of contemporary africa are worked out frequently within the strictures laid down by the imported religions christianity and islam and within the struggle between traditional and modern, between rural and newly urban, between genders, and between generations.
A song is piece of music with words you can sing to communicate thoughts, feelings and attitudes towards life. After decades of outstanding research, for which she was awarded an order of the british empire, oral literature in africa remains the. The two met at the university of iowa in the late 1930s, and by 1940 had begun writing the 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 unglue. Historical and theoretical perspectives of literature. Oral literature is an aspect of literature preserved not in written form but in oral form. Recent trends in african studies and the revival of interest in oral literature. Oral literature in africa is part of the world oral literature series published in conjunction with the world oral literature project. African oral genres tales, proverbs, riddles, and lullabies. Oct 30, 2005 among his books are ogonis agonies, almajiri, and the peoples poet. The perception of african oral literature 29 nineteenthcentury approaches and collections. With the invention of writing, people began to record. Seventh grade lesson introduction to oral literature.
Find kenyatta university theory and methods in oral literature previous year question paper. In an attempt to preserve this oral literature, several individual authors have collected tales, proverbs, riddles and published them in books. On 01 june 2012, professor rukmini bhaya nair gave a lecture on the material culture of oral narratives in india. It is highly valued in africa in general and in igbo in particular mainly because of its didactic nature. May 27, 2019 the primary element of oral literature is speech. Read the oral poem below then answer the questions that follow. Eng124 introduction to oral literature 2 units covenant university. It strives for comparative and interdisciplinary consideration of the emergence, passing on and interpretation of all forms of expression in the oral tradition. 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. Oral literature theories makerere university courses. Using clear illustrations, discuss the relationship between oral literature and society. African literature african literature the influence of oral traditions on modern writers. These clips, together with original photographs taken during her research, will be an invaluable resource to scholars of african literature and culture.
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. Before humans developed writing, we passed down stories in the form of oral literature. Hussein faculty of education, alemaya university abstract every african society south of the sahara has a long history of transmitting knowledge and human experience through the medium of. Theory and methods in oral literature unit description. The ter m, oral literature, has been variously referred to as folklore, folk literature, oral narrative, oral tradition, traditional literature and orature. Among his books are ogonis agonies, almajiri, and the peoples poet. Historical and theoretical perspectives of literature anders pettersson department of scandinavian languages and comparative literature, umea university, sweden keywords. The oral nature of african unwritten literature the significance of performance in actualization, transmission, and composition.
Literary genres and subgenres fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry video and worksheet duration. Oral interpretation focuses on literature in performance. Oral literature is a performed art which in most cases uses words as a medium of communication. The theories will then be applied in the analysis of oral literature material. Oral literature, in creative writing, transcription and translation, oral literature and contemporary reality, and research methodology in oral literature. The oral tradition journal, established in 1986, publishes articles on oral traditions and oral literature as well as related research.
This course carries out a descriptive survey of major poetic, dramatic and narrative genres of traditional african. Evaluate the truth of this claim in relation to four main functions of oral literature. Songsoral narrativesoral poetryriddlestongue twisters 3. Oral interpretation, or the study of literature through its performance, can be defined as a demonstration of analysis, performance and communication skills.
Literature in english involves the reading and analysis of written materials of different kinds including fiction and nonfiction written works in english. Introduction to oral literature question papers 10438. 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. How have oral literature and traditions influenced written.
The paper argues that while it is easy and desirable to choose a facilitative theory in the analysis of a written work of literature, such a process poses challenges when it comes to the oral type of african literature. The perception of african oral literature nineteenthcentury approaches and collections. Yet, despite the existence of these books on oral literature, the young generation in africa that has grown under the western school system somehow feels estranged with respect to this oral literature. Oral literature in africa pdf open book publishers. 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. Because people did not read, storytellers had to rely on memory to transmit important stories, and listeners also. Lore is seen in societies with vigorous oral conveyance practices to be a general term inclusive of both oral literature and any written literature, including sophisticated writings, as well, potentially, as visual and performance arts which may interact with these forms, extend their expression, or offer additional expressive media.
To some people, oral literature is only but a mirage. Oral literature in africa world oral literature by ruth finnegan is an interesting perspective and study on the tradition of oral storytelling, especially in african countries. Explain the factors that affected the development of african oral literature during the colonial period. 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. Song such lullabies, dirge, praise song, war song, love song, work song, play song and song of victory are creative literature works because the words are. A collaborative workshop to map endangered oral cultures was held on 2930 june. Oral literature in english the term oral literature is sometimes used interchangeably with folklore, but it usually has a broader focus.
The oral artists agenda joseph muleka 87 p a g e the oral text naturally text is a crucial component in communicating messages. The studies of oral literature are countless, and the educational function of storytelling is certainly one of recurring topics. Book launch for ruth finnegans oral literature in africa was held at heffers bookshop, cambridge on 15 oct 2012. Apr 06, 2016 though africa oral literature has several parts, this essay will focus on song. Literature reflects an authors own class or analysis of class relations, 2282011 intro. Though africa oral literature has several parts, this essay will focus on song. Introduction to literature in english ppt authorstream. Next, i share the slide with the different literary genres derived from oral literature. African literature the influence of oral traditions on. 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. The study or appreciation of literature is very interesting and helpful to learners for many reasons. Oral literature, the standard forms or genres of literature found in societies without writing. How does oral literature affect written literature.
Amongst the topics covered are translation problems, understanding proverbs, oral narrative as discourse, the use of audio visual aids in teaching, general and the politics of control, images of women in african oral literature, the relationship with material culture, and oral literature as. This paper grapples with the question of choice of theory in the study of african oral literature. The social, linguistic, and literary background 51. Oral traditional poetics, a mythic episode, and arming scenes in the iliad 4.
Theory and methods in oral literature question papers 2155. It deals with the role of theory in the study of oral literature. Theory of literature is a book on literary scholarship by rene wellek, of the structuralist prague school, and austin warren, a selfdescribed old new critic. Unlike written literary genres, oral literature is conveyed or passed down to future generations by word of mouth, typically through memorization and recitation. His critical essays have appeared in journals around the world. The death and burial of bishop james hannington as a case study. The studies of oral literature are countless, and the educational function of. Jan 01, 2000 amongst the topics covered are translation problems, understanding proverbs, oral narrative as discourse, the use of audio visual aids in teaching, general and the politics of control, images of women in african oral literature, the relationship with material culture, and oral literature as part of oral traditions. Oral literature flourished in cultures where literacy was uncommon or nonexistent. Thesis pdf available august 2006 with 198 reads how we measure reads. Introduction to oral literature question papers 10437. 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. After speech, important elements include storytelling, plot, protagonists, antagonists, culture, moralslessons, preservation of history andor lore, legitimization and praise of rulers, rhetoric. Throughout africa, oral literature is flourishing, though it is perceived by some as anachronistic to the modern world.
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