Literature in English JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 8

Subject: Literature in English

Class: JSS 2

Term: First Term

Week: 8

Age: 12 years

Topic: Differentiating Between a Novella and a Novel / Figures of Speech – Onomatopoeia and Personification

Behavioural Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Differentiate between a novella and a novel.
2. Define and provide examples of onomatopoeia and personification.
3. Identify onomatopoeia and personification in sentences.

Keywords

• Novella
• Novel
• Onomatopoeia
• Personification
• Figurative language

Set Induction

Ask students if they have read any books recently. Then, discuss whether those books were short or long and use this to introduce the concepts of a novella and a novel.

Entry Behaviour

Students should have basic knowledge of literary terms and figures of speech from previous lessons.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Examples of novels and novellas
• Worksheets on figures of speech
• Whiteboard and markers
• Audio clips to demonstrate onomatopoeia

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

Review students’ understanding of literary forms such as prose and drama, linking this to the length and structure of different types of stories.

Embedded Core Skills

• Critical thinking
• Listening and speaking skills
• Analytical skills

Content

1. Differentiating Between a Novella and a Novel

• Novella:
  • A novella is a work of fiction that is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story.
  • It typically focuses on a single event or character and is usually between 20,000 to 50,000 words.
  • Example: “Animal Farm” by George Orwell is often considered a novella.
• Novel:
  • A novel is a long narrative work of fiction, usually more than 50,000 words.
  • It often includes multiple characters, events, and subplots.
  • Example: “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is a novel.
• Difference:
  • The primary difference between a novella and a novel is length and complexity. Novellas are shorter and focus on fewer characters and events, while novels are longer and more complex.

2. Figures of Speech: Onomatopoeia and Personification

• Onomatopoeia:
  • Definition: Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech where words imitate the sound they represent.
  • Examples: “buzz” (sound of a bee), “bang” (sound of an explosion), “splash” (sound of water).
  • Sentences:
    • The clock ticked loudly in the silent room.
    • I heard the roar of the lion from a distance.
• Personification:
  • Definition: Personification is a figure of speech where human qualities are given to animals, objects, or ideas.
  • Examples: “The wind whispered through the trees”, “The leaves danced in the breeze”.
  • Sentences:
    • The sun smiled down on us during the picnic.
    • The old house groaned as the wind howled around it.

Evaluation

1. A novella is _____ than a short story but shorter than a novel.
   • a) longer
   • b) shorter
   • c) the same length
2. A novel usually has multiple _____ and subplots.
   • a) characters
   • b) words
   • c) themes
3. “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is an example of a _____.
   • a) novella
   • b) short story
   • c) novel
4. A novella typically focuses on a single event or _____.
   • a) setting
   • b) character
   • c) conflict
5. The word “buzz” is an example of _____.
   • a) alliteration
   • b) onomatopoeia
   • c) simile
6. “The leaves danced in the breeze” is an example of _____.
   • a) personification
   • b) metaphor
   • c) hyperbole
7. Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech where words _____ the sound they represent.
   • a) describe
   • b) imitate
   • c) replace
8. In personification, non-human things are given _____ qualities.
   • a) human
   • b) animal
   • c) simple
9. A novel is usually more than _____ words long.
   • a) 20,000
   • b) 50,000
   • c) 5,000
10. “The clock ticked loudly” is an example of _____.
    • a) onomatopoeia
    • b) personification
    • c) metaphor
11. A novella is often between _____ words in length.
    • a) 10,000 to 20,000
    • b) 20,000 to 50,000
    • c) 50,000 to 100,000
12. “The trees whispered in the wind” is an example of _____.
    • a) simile
    • b) onomatopoeia
    • c) personification
13. A novel usually has multiple _____, while a novella focuses on a few.
    • a) characters and subplots
    • b) settings and themes
    • c) figures of speech
14. “The car honked loudly as it passed by” is an example of _____.
    • a) alliteration
    • b) personification
    • c) onomatopoeia
15. “The moon gazed down on the travelers” is an example of _____.
    • a) simile
    • b) onomatopoeia
    • c) personification

Class Activity Discussion

1. What is a novella?
   A novella is a work of fiction that is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story.
2. What is the difference between a novella and a novel?
   A novella is shorter and usually focuses on fewer events and characters, while a novel is longer and more complex.
3. Can you give an example of a novella?
   Yes, “Animal Farm” by George Orwell is considered a novella.
4. What is a novel?
   A novel is a long narrative work of fiction that typically exceeds 50,000 words.
5. What is onomatopoeia?
   Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech where a word imitates the sound it represents.
6. Can you give an example of onomatopoeia?
   Yes, words like “buzz” (bee) and “splash” (water) are examples of onomatopoeia.
7. What is personification?
   Personification is a figure of speech where human qualities are given to non-human things.
8. Can you give an example of personification?
   Yes, “The wind whispered through the trees” is an example of personification.
9. How long is a typical novella?
   A novella is usually between 20,000 to 50,000 words.
10. What is the main feature of a novel?
    A novel typically includes multiple characters, events, and subplots.
11. Can onomatopoeia be used in poetry?

Yes, onomatopoeia is often used in poetry to create sound effects and bring a scene to life.

12. What is an example of onomatopoeia in a sentence?
    “The bee buzzed around the flower.”
13. Why is personification used in literature?
    Personification is used to make descriptions more vivid and relatable by giving human characteristics to objects or ideas.
14. Can a novella have subplots?
    While it’s possible, a novella typically has fewer subplots than a novel due to its shorter length.
15. What’s a key feature that differentiates novels from novellas?
    The length and complexity—novels are generally longer with more characters and detailed plotlines.

Presentation (Steps 1-3)

Step 1:

Teacher revises the previous lesson on prose and figures of speech, checking the students’ understanding of literary forms.

Step 2:

The teacher introduces the new topic on the difference between a novella and a novel and explains onomatopoeia and personification with examples.

Step 3:

Teacher asks the students to provide examples of novels, novellas, onomatopoeia, and personification from stories or sentences they know. The teacher corrects and discusses contributions.

Teacher’s Activities

• Explain the definitions of a novella and a novel.
• Give examples of novellas and novels for better understanding.
• Discuss onomatopoeia and personification, providing sentences to illustrate their usage.
• Ask students to identify figures of speech in passages or sentences.

Learners’ Activities

• Listen attentively to the explanations.
• Provide examples of novellas, novels, onomatopoeia, and personification.
• Complete exercises on differentiating between a novella and a novel.
• Participate in identifying figures of speech in given sentences.

Assessment

• Differentiate between a novella and a novel in your own words.
• Identify onomatopoeia and personification in the following sentences:
  1. The wind howled loudly.
  2. The car honked as it passed by.
  3. The moon smiled down on the river.
  4. I heard the door creak open.

Evaluation Questions

1. What is a novella?
2. How does a novella differ from a novel?
3. Give an example of a novel and a novella.
4. Define onomatopoeia.
5. What is personification?
6. Provide an example of onomatopoeia in a sentence.
7. Provide an example of personification in a sentence.
8. What is the typical length of a novella?
9. Why are novellas less complex than novels?
10. Give an example of personification from a poem or story.

Conclusion

The teacher goes around the class to check students’ answers and provides feedback, emphasizing the differences between a novella and a novel, as well as how onomatopoeia and personification are used in literature.

Understanding Novellas, Novels, and Figures of Speech: Onomatopoeia and Personification