Understanding the Richness of Oral Literature Literature English Grammar JSS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 4
Literature in English JSS 1 First Term Lesson Notes
Subject: Literature in English
Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 10-12 years
Topic: Features of Oral Literature
Duration: 40 Minutes
Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify the nature and kinds of oral literature.
- Differentiate between various genres of oral literature such as epics, ballads, prose tales, ritual, and lyric songs.
- Understand the significance of oral literature in traditional and modern societies.
Keywords:
- Oral literature
- Epic
- Ballad
- Prose tale
- Ritual song
- Lyric song
Set Induction:
Ask students to share any folktales, songs, or stories they have heard from their parents, grandparents, or elders. Explain that these are examples of oral literature.
Entry Behaviour:
Students have knowledge of traditional stories and songs shared in their communities, but need guidance to understand the different forms and features of oral literature.
Learning Resources and Materials:
- Recommended prose text
- Audio clips of traditional songs or tales
- Pictures of traditional storytellers
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:
Students have experience listening to and telling folktales, songs, and traditional stories in their cultural settings.
Embedded Core Skills:
- Listening skills
- Creative thinking
- Critical analysis
- Understanding cultural heritage
Reference Books:
- Lagos State Scheme of Work
- Recommended prose text for JSS 1 Literature in English
- English Literature textbooks
Instructional Materials:
- Prose text
- Audio recordings of oral literature genres
- Visual aids showing different types of oral literature
Content:
Oral Literature
Oral literature refers to the stories, songs, poems, and other forms of artistic expression that are passed down orally from one generation to another.
Nature of Oral Literature:
- Oral transmission: Oral literature is not written but passed through storytelling, singing, and performance.
- Cultural heritage: It reflects the customs, beliefs, and values of a community.
- Performance-based: Oral literature is often accompanied by gestures, music, and dance.
Kinds of Oral Literature (Genres):
- Epic:
- An epic is a long, narrative poem or story that tells the heroic deeds of a hero or a group of people.
- Example: “Sundiata” (the story of the founder of the Mali Empire).
- Ballad:
- A ballad is a type of narrative poem that is meant to be sung. It usually tells a story of adventure or romance.
- Example: “The Ballad of Mulan.”
- Prose Tale:
- A prose tale is a simple, fictional story, often involving animals or humans, passed down through generations.
- Example: African folktales like “Anansi the Spider.”
- Ritual Song:
- Ritual songs are songs used in religious or cultural ceremonies. They often accompany rites of passage or seasonal celebrations.
- Example: Songs sung during traditional wedding or funeral ceremonies.
- Lyric Song:
- Lyric songs express personal feelings or emotions. They are usually shorter than other forms of oral literature and can be sung at any occasion.
- Example: Love songs or lullabies.
15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions:
- Oral literature is passed down __________.
a) In books
b) Orally
c) By email
d) Through the internet - An epic is a __________ story of a hero’s deeds.
a) Short
b) Long
c) Boring
d) Untrue - Ballads are meant to be __________.
a) Sung
b) Written
c) Danced
d) Ignored - A prose tale is usually a __________ story.
a) Non-fiction
b) Historical
c) Simple
d) Complicated - Ritual songs are often used in __________.
a) Funerals only
b) Ceremonies
c) Stories
d) Classrooms - Lyric songs express __________.
a) Emotions
b) Instructions
c) Facts
d) History - The story of “Sundiata” is an example of an __________.
a) Epic
b) Ballad
c) Lyric song
d) Prose tale - A ballad usually tells a story of __________.
a) Cooking
b) Adventure
c) Mathematics
d) Science - Prose tales are passed down through __________.
a) Writing
b) Books
c) Oral tradition
d) Libraries - Lyric songs can be __________ at any occasion.
a) Sung
b) Written
c) Performed
d) Forgotten - Oral literature is part of our __________ heritage.
a) Cultural
b) Modern
c) Personal
d) Technical - The main character in an epic is usually a __________.
a) Villain
b) Hero
c) Child
d) Teacher - Ballads are usually __________ in nature.
a) Romantic or adventurous
b) Boring
c) Mathematical
d) Scientific - Ritual songs are used in __________ occasions.
a) Everyday
b) Traditional
c) Casual
d) Non-traditional - Lyric songs are __________ and express feelings.
a) Short
b) Long
c) Complicated
d) Funny
Oral Literature
The Nature and Kinds of Oral Literature
Epics, ballads, prose tales, ritual and lyric songs, as genres, existed orally before writing was invented. We do not have a special word to designate them before they were manifested in writing, so we are left with the paradox of”oral literature.” But if literature can be defined as “carefully constructed verbal expression,” carefully structured oral verbal expression can surely qualify as literature. This is common sense. People did not wait until there was writing before they told stories and sang songs.
Moreover, when these genres first appeared in writing, their metric base, their poetic and compositional devices, were already fully developed and none of them could have been invented by any one person at any one time. They are too complicated for that.
Oral literature, then, consists of thesongs and stories, and other sayings, that people have heard and listened to, sung and told, without any intervention of writing. The creator or transmitter did not write the song or the story but sang or told it; the receiver did not read the song or story but heard it. These stories and songs are, therefore, not only oral but also aural; they are not only told, they are also heard.
Class Activity Discussion
- What is oral literature?
Oral literature is the collection of stories, songs, and other cultural expressions passed down orally. - What are epics in oral literature?
Epics are long stories that tell the adventures of a hero. - What are ballads?
Ballads are songs that tell stories, often of love or adventure. - What is a prose tale?
A prose tale is a simple story, often fictional, passed down orally. - What is a ritual song?
Ritual songs are used in ceremonies or religious activities. - What is a lyric song?
Lyric songs express personal emotions and are often sung. - How is oral literature passed down?
Oral literature is passed down by word of mouth, from one generation to another. - Can oral literature be written down?
Yes, oral literature can be recorded in written form, but it traditionally exists in spoken form. - What are some examples of epics?
Examples include “Sundiata” and “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” - What is the role of oral literature in society?
Oral literature preserves cultural traditions, values, and history. - How is a ballad different from an epic?
Ballads are usually shorter and are meant to be sung, while epics are long stories about heroes. - Can prose tales have moral lessons?
Yes, many prose tales teach moral lessons or values. - What makes ritual songs unique?
They are tied to specific ceremonies or rites of passage. - What emotions are expressed in lyric songs?
Emotions like love, sadness, or joy are commonly expressed in lyric songs. - How can students learn more about oral literature?
Students can listen to traditional stories, songs, and attend cultural events.
Presentation:
Step 1: Introduce the concept of oral literature and its importance in preserving culture.
Step 2: Explain the different types of oral literature: epics, ballads, prose tales, ritual songs, and lyric songs.
Step 3: Use examples from the recommended text to illustrate each genre.
Teacher’s Activities:
- Discuss the features and types of oral literature.
- Provide examples of each genre using the recommended prose text and cultural stories.
- Guide students in identifying the types of oral literature in the stories they know.
Learners’ Activities:
- Participate in discussions about oral literature.
- Identify and differentiate between epics, ballads, prose tales, ritual, and lyric songs.
- Share personal experiences with oral literature from their own culture.
Assessment:
- Ask students to categorize various stories or songs into the correct genre of oral literature.
- Review their understanding of the features of oral literature.
Ten Evaluation Questions:
- What is oral literature?
- Name the different kinds of oral literature.
- What is an epic?
- Give an example of a ballad.
- How are prose tales passed down?
- What are ritual songs used for?
- What do lyric songs express?
- Why is oral literature important to culture?
- How do ballads differ from epics?
- What can students learn from listening to oral literature?
Conclusion:
The teacher moves around to mark the students’ work, provides feedback, and answers any further questions related to oral literature.