UNIT 3: LITERATURE

Learning Outcome: By the end of this unit, learners should be able to demonstrate knowledge and appreciation of literature, identify literary forms, genres, elements, devices, and interpret unseen texts.

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Unit 3.1: General Knowledge of Literature

Module 3.1.1: Meaning and Purpose of Literature

1. Definition of Literature

• Literature refers to written or spoken works that express ideas, emotions, or stories, often with aesthetic or artistic value.

• It includes imaginative, creative, and intellectual works that reflect human experience and culture.

Key Points:

• Literature is not only for entertainment but also for education, moral guidance, and cultural preservation.

• It can be oral (spoken) or written.

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2. Oral and Written Traditions

Oral Tradition:

• Literature passed down by word of mouth, often before writing systems existed.

• Includes folk tales, myths, legends, proverbs, riddles, and epic songs.

• Common in African culture, where storytelling preserves history and moral values.

Example:

• Ananse stories from Ghana teach wisdom and moral lessons.

• The Epic of Sundiata from Mali tells the history of the founding of the Mali Empire.

Written Tradition:

• Literature recorded in books, manuscripts, or digital form.

• Preserves ideas and stories for future generations.

Example:

• Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (English literature).

• Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (African literature).

Key Differences:

Feature	Oral Tradition	Written Tradition
Medium	Spoken word	Written text
Transmission	Memory, storytelling	Printed/digital form
Flexibility	Can change over time	Fixed once recorded
Audience	Community	Individuals or groups

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3. African and English Literature Overview

African Literature:

• Often reflects community, oral culture, tradition, and values.

• Themes: morality, ancestry, colonialism, identity.

• Forms: folktales, proverbs, poetry, drama, novels.

• Example: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (novel); Songs of Sorrow by Kofi Awoonor (poetry).

English Literature:

• Originates from England, spans centuries from Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon) to modern novels and poetry.

• Themes: human nature, society, love, tragedy, humor.

• Forms: drama, poetry, prose (novels, essays, short stories).

• Example: Macbeth by William Shakespeare (drama); Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (novel).

Learning Outcome:

• Students can explain what literature is, distinguish oral from written traditions, and describe the scope of African and English literature.

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Unit 3.2: Forms and Genres of Literature

Module 3.2.1: Literary Genres

1. Prose

• Prose is ordinary written or spoken language without structured meter or rhyme.

• Used in novels, short stories, essays.

• Key features: paragraphs, complete sentences, narrative style.

Example:

• Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (novel)

• Edgar Allan Poe, The Tell-Tale Heart (short story)

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2. Poetry

• Poetry is literature using rhythmic and figurative language to evoke emotion or imagery.

• Features include rhyme, rhythm, metaphor, and symbolism.

Example:

• William Wordsworth, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

• Kofi Awoonor, Songs of Sorrow

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3. Drama

• Drama is literature written to be performed on stage.

• Includes dialogue, stage directions, and character actions.

• Often divided into acts and scenes.

Example:

• Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

• Ama Ata Aidoo, The Dilemma of a Ghost

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Module 3.2.2: Sub-genres

1. Novel

• Long fictional prose narrative with complex characters and plots.

• Explores themes such as society, morality, love, and conflict.

Example:

• Things Fall Apart – explores colonialism and Igbo traditions.

2. Short Story

• Brief narrative focused on a single incident or character.

• Often contains a moral or lesson.

Example:

• The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

3. Lyric Poetry

• Poetry expressing personal emotions or thoughts.

• Usually short, melodic, and rhythmic.

Example:

• William Wordsworth, Daffodils

4. Tragedy and Comedy

• Tragedy: Serious play with a sad or disastrous ending.

  • Example: Macbeth – ambition leads to downfall.

• Comedy: Play intended to amuse or entertain, often ending happily.

  • Example: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Learning Outcome:

• Students can identify forms and genres of literature and distinguish sub-genres.

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Unit 3.3: Elements of Literature

Module 3.3.1: Prose Elements

1. Plot

• The sequence of events in a story:

  • Introduction → Rising action → Climax → Falling action → Resolution

• Example: Things Fall Apart – Okonkwo rises to prominence → conflict with colonial forces → tragic downfall.

2. Character

• Individuals in the story, can be:

  • Protagonist (main character)

  • Antagonist (opposing force)

  • Dynamic (changes) or Static (unchanged)

3. Setting

• Time and place of the story.

• Example: Things Fall Apart – 1890s, Igbo village in Nigeria.

4. Theme

• Central message or idea.

• Example: Conflict between tradition and change (Things Fall Apart).

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Module 3.3.2: Poetry Elements

1. Rhyme

• Repetition of similar sounds at the end of lines.

• Example:

  • “I wandered lonely as a cloud
    That floats on high o’er vales and hills”

2. Rhythm

• Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

• Example: Iambic pentameter in Shakespeare.

3. Imagery

• Descriptive language appealing to the senses.

• Example: “Golden daffodils fluttering in the breeze” – visual imagery.

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Module 3.3.3: Drama Elements

1. Dialogue

• Conversations between characters.

• Reveals personality, conflict, and plot development.

2. Stage Directions

• Instructions for actors, e.g., movement, tone, emotion.

• Example: [Exeunt left] or [angrily]

3. Acts and Scenes

• Division of play for organization and pacing.

• Act = major part; Scene = smaller unit within an act.

Learning Outcome:

• Identify elements of prose, poetry, and drama for analysis and discussion.

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Unit 3.4: Literary Devices and Appreciation

Module 3.4.1: Literary Devices

1. Simile

• Comparison using “like” or “as”.

• Example: “He was as brave as a lion.”

2. Metaphor

• Direct comparison without “like” or “as”.

• Example: “Time is a thief.”

3. Personification

• Giving human qualities to non-human things.

• Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”

4. Irony

• Contrast between expectation and reality.

• Example: Saying “What a pleasant day!” during a storm.

5. Symbolism

• Using objects, characters, or actions to represent abstract ideas.

• Example: In Things Fall Apart, fire symbolizes destruction and change.

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Module 3.4.2: Unseen Prose and Poetry

1. Interpretation

• Understanding meaning, themes, and messages of unseen texts.

• Identify characters, plot, setting, tone, and moral lessons.

2. Appreciation Questions

• Analyze literary style, devices, and effectiveness.

• Example:

  • Question: What imagery is used to describe the setting?

  • Answer: The author uses visual imagery like “golden daffodils” to create a peaceful atmosphere.

Learning Outcome:

• Identify literary devices.

• Appreciate and analyze unseen prose and poetry using literary terms.

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