The Concept, Functions, and Forms of Literature
This introductory module lays the theoretical and aesthetic foundation for Literature in English at Ordinary Secondary level. Learners explore the definition and essential qualities of literature as creative art that uses language to reflect and critique human experiences. Students distinguish between oral and written literature, categorize traditional oral genres (folktales, songs, riddles, proverbs, fables, and idioms) within the Tanzanian socio-cultural environment, and begin reflecting on character actions, attitudes, and emotional experiences in introductory African novels.
🎯 Syllabus Competencies & Learning Objectives
Key Competencies
- Main Competence: 1.0 Develop awareness of and empathy with national and global literary works
- Specific Competence: 1.1 Demonstrate empathy for other people's experiences nationally and globally
Specific Learning Objectives
- Explain the concept of literature as an artistic medium and evaluate its cognitive, moral, historical, and aesthetic functions in society.
- Distinguish between oral literature (orature) and written literature in terms of transmission, performance, preservation, and dynamism.
- Collect and analyze Tanzanian oral literary forms including folktales, proverbs, riddles, work songs, and fables reflecting community values.
- Reflect on character personalities, actions, decisions, and struggles in selected African novels to build empathy for diverse human experiences.
- Categorize oral and written literary texts into their respective genres and sub-genres.
📖 Comprehensive Study Notes Summary
**Allocated Periods: 8**
#### 1. Concept and Nature of Literature
- **Definition**: Literature is an art form that uses language creatively, aesthetically, and imaginatively to mirror, interpret, and reflect human life, societal struggles, dreams, and values.
- **Etymology**: Derived from the Latin word *litera* (letter of the alphabet), reflecting written letters, but broadly encompassing both spoken and written verbal art.
- **The Dual Pillars of Literature**:
1. *Form (Style & Structure)*: The artistic vessel (language, imagery, plot, point of view, meter, dialogue) used to express ideas.
2. *Content (Message & Meaning)*: The subject matter, themes, moral philosophy, and socio-political critique embedded in the work.
#### 2. Functions of Literature in Society
1. **Didactic / Educational Function**: Instructs the audience on moral principles, social responsibilities, historical truths, and philosophical insights.
2. **Aesthetic / Entertainment Function**: Provides delight, emotional catharsis, and intellectual satisfaction through beautiful language and compelling storytelling.
3. **Social Criticism & Reform**: Unmasks corruption, oppression, inequality, hypocrisy, and injustice, acting as the conscience of society.
4. **Cultural Preservation & Transmission**: Keeps ancestral memories, values, folklore, indigenous knowledge, and national languages alive across generations.
5. **Psychological & Empathetic Development**: Fosters deep empathy by transporting readers into the minds, suffering, and triumphs of people from different genders, social classes, and backgrounds.
#### 3. Oral Literature (Orature) vs. Written Literature
| Feature | Oral Literature (Orature) | Written Literature |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Medium** | Spoken voice, performance, memory, gestures | Written words, print, digital texts |
| **Transmission** | Word of mouth from generation to generation | Books, manuscripts, digital e-readers |
| **Performance** | Inseparable from audience participation, tonality, facial expressions, and live musical accompaniment | Solitary reading experience; text is static once published |
| **Authorship** | Often communal, folk-owned, anonymous | Individual author with recognized copyright |
| **Flexibility** | Dynamic and adaptable to current audience and setting | Permanent and unyielding until revised editions |
#### 4. Genres of Oral Literature in the Tanzanian Context
1. **Folktales (Myths, Legends, and Fables)**:
- *Fables*: Animal narratives conveying moral lessons (e.g., Hare the trickster representing cunning survival versus Hyena representing greed).
- *Myths*: Sacred narratives explaining cosmic origins, natural phenomena, or supernatural deities (e.g., origin of Mount Kilimanjaro or Lake Victoria).
- *Legends*: Traditional tales about heroic historical figures believed to have lived (e.g., Kinjikitile Ngwale, Chief Mkwawa of the Hehe).
2. **Short Forms (Formulaic Orature)**:
- *Proverbs*: Concise, metaphorical traditional sayings embodying collective wisdom (e.g., *"Haba na haba hujaza kibaba"*, *"Unity is strength, division is weakness"*).
- *Riddles*: Enigmatic questions requiring wit and quick deduction, testing cognitive agility in children.
- *Idioms & Tongue Twisters*: Expressive figures of speech and phonological challenges training oral fluency and memory.
3. **Oral Poetry and Songs**:
- Work songs (*Nyimbo za kilimo*), lullabies (*Nyimbo za kubembeleza watoto*), heroic praise poetry, wedding chants, and funeral dirges.
#### 5. Introductory Character Reflection in African Prose
- Reading characters through multiple analytical lenses:
* *Social Status & Gender*: How gender norms and social class shape characters' opportunities and limitations.
* *Motivations & Desires*: What drives their choices—survival, love, ambition, duty, or peer pressure?
* *Ethical Consequences*: How personal decisions impact the wider community in novels such as *Passed Like a Shadow* or *Unanswered Cries*.
- Developing Empathy: Encouraging students not just to judge characters, but to comprehend the structural and environmental pressures influencing their behaviour.
💡 Key Concepts & FAQs (Exam Questions)
Q: What is Literature?
Answer: An art form that uses language creatively and aesthetically to interpret, reflect, and critique human experiences and societal realities.
Q: What are the two foundational components of any literary work?
Answer: Form (the stylistic structure and language devices) and Content (the themes, messages, and social commentary).
Q: Name four primary genres of oral literature.
Answer: Folktales (myths, legends, fables), short formulaic forms (proverbs, riddles, tongue twisters), oral songs/chants, and recitations/epics.
Q: How does orature differ from written literature regarding performance?
Answer: Orature is dynamic, relying on live voice, audience interaction, gesture, and improvisation, whereas written literature is fixed in text for solitary reading.