Literature notes| Ordinary level notes| play, novels and poetry

Literature| novel| play| poetry | form three and form four literature notes| Ordinary level notes of English | Advanced level notes of English

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LITERATURE NOTES

Do you know the meaning of literature?

There is no single definition that suits the meaning of literature. As a result, there have been various attempts to define the term literature. Some of these attempts are;

Literature is the work of art that uses the language creatively to portray the message to the intended audience.

Literature is a work of art that uses the language creatively to express human realities to the society.

Literature is an imaginative work of art that uses language to reflect social realities.

Literature is divided into two major categories

(i) Oral literature

(ii) Written literature

Oral literature

This is a type of literature that presents the message through words of mouth. This is the oldest type of literature since it was practised before the invention of writings. Its forms include; Folk tale, tall tale, legends, myths, fables, anecdote, ballads, epics, riddles, sayings (proverbs and idioms). Let us discuss some of them in details.

Written literature

This is a type of literature that presents the message through/ in written form. This began with the invention of writings. This has two major forms. Fiction and non-fiction

 Why is important to study literature?

 Since literature does not develop from a vacuum, but from the society in which it emanates, it has got different roles to play in the society. The following are some of the most important functions of literature in the society.

i.       Literature educates people in the society. Literary works are used to impart knowledge to the members of the society. It creates awareness on different social political and economic matters taking place in their societies. It educates the young people on how they are expected to behave in accordance with the demands of their societies and the roles they are required to fulfil.

ii.    Literature expresses people’s culture. Since literature develops from the society, it automatically expresses the culture of its people. All cultural aspects like traditions, beliefs, customs, norms etc are expressed so that the society may cherish the good ones and carry them over to the next generations, and modify or discard the outdated ones.

iii. Literature is used to entertain people. Most literary works appeal to the emotions. By reading, listening and watching literary works, we get entertained. Poems and dramas create an enjoyment to the audience different from one we get when we are eating food. Literary enjoyment is called aesthetic pleasure. E.g. comedies and melodrama. 

iv. Literature is used to influence people in the society. More often than not people who are interested in watching, listening and reading literary works are tempted to act like those characters in the respective literary work. During the struggle for independence for example literary works were used to instil revolutionary ideas to the oppressed to take up arms against the oppressor. Consider the poem “Your Pain” by Armando Guebuza.

v.    Literature is used to develop language. By reading, listening and watching literary works, people improve their language skills such as listening, speaking, reading and writing. People may also improve their vocabulary stock since they will not only come across a number of new words but also know how they are used in real contexts. Authors do also come with new words, phrases, idioms, figures of speech, that help to develop the language.

vi. Literature is used to liberate people mentally and physically. Literary works present the message that helps to liberate the society mentally as a result they liberate themselves physically. It conscitizes the society about the existence of oppressive systems and suggest ways to get rid of those systems. E.g. United we stand, divided we fall.

vii.    Literature is used to criticize the society. 

Literature may be used to criticise the society in a sense that it points out the burning issues and requests the society to resolve them. More often than not literary artists point out the evils done by the traditional society e.g.  Perpetuating the outdated customs like FGM, Widow Inheritance, forced marriages etc. and ask the society to discard them. They may also point the wrongs done by the ruling class and suggest the ways to get rid of these leaders.