STUDY OR LEARN ENGLISH LNGUAGE
Topic 3: READING LITERARY WORKS
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
Literature – is the artistic expression of people’s ideas which reflect social realities done through the use of language either in written or spoken.
OR
Is a product of human imagination employing language creativity to reflect human realities.
The key terms in defining literature includes;
. Creativeness
. Imagination
. Language
TYPES OF LITERATURE
. Oral literature
. Written literature
ORAL LITERATURE
It is normally handled from one generation to the other through narrations, songs, poems, stories.
TYPES OF ORAL LITERATURE
LEGEND (Stories of historical truth) -They deal with accounts of personally and events that are considered to be so memorable and deserved to be talked again and again.
MYTHS -These are viewed as religious stories because they explain the organ of people, customs and tradition example gods, GCD.
FABLES -These are short stories based on incurable lessons and main characters are animals. E.g.: hares, rat, elephant, bears etc.
RIDDLES -These puzzling questions, statements or description intended to make the audience use their brain/mind.They require two people or two groups to be operated.
PROVERBS -These are short well known saying that states a general truth or give advice.They are most widely respected genres of African oral literature.
WRITTEN LITERATURE
Is a type of literature through writings.
Types of written literature
i. Novels ii. Plays and short stories iii. Poetry
NOVEL
Is a book written under serious imagination of a certain issue reflecting social realities.The writer creates imagination through characters, themes, symbols etc.
PLAY
Is the literary work which is written in form of conversation or dialogue.The play writer uses actors and actress to convey messages.
POETRY
Poetry refers to the imaginative expression of strong feelings about a certain issue/ topic underconsideration.eg. The wonderful surgeon.
FUNCTIONS OF LITERATURE
-To educate the society
-To entertain the society
-May improve the language
PARTS OF LITERATURE
FORM
- Character
- Setting
- Plot
- Style/Technique
- Language
- Figures of speech
CONTENT
- Theme
- Message
- Conflicts
- Philosophy
- Relevance
1. FORM
A. FIGURES OF SPEECH
These are devices used in literary works in order to add creativity in the history by using language.
They are meant to entertain, educate and make good presentation of the work of literature.
Figures of speech includes;-
- Similes
- Metaphors
- Hyperbole
- Personification
- Proverbs
- Repetition
SIMILES
Is a device which compares two things using conjunctions like “as” or “like”
E.g. Like father like son, as black as coal, he is like a lion in battle.
METAPHOR
Is a literary device which compares two things without using conjunctions.
E.g. She is a lioness, among her people he has a heart of stone,you are a lazy rat, she looked flower beautiful with a snow white dress.
HYPERBOLE
This is a language device which is used to exaggerate facts beyond their realities.
E.g. He called you a thousand of times, she cried an ocean of tears
PERSONIFICATION
Literary device which gives ability to the inanimate.
E.g. Cats made a plan of taking over the world
REPETITION
Is a language device which uses the repetition of words or sentences for making emphasis on a particular point.
E.g. they attended a harsh meeting I took large gulps of water.
PROVERBS (Refer to types of literature)
B. SETTING
Refers to geographical location of the story time period or daily lifestyle of the characters.
Types of settings
- Geographical
- Historical
- Social
Geographical setting
It can be in a specific country town place
Historical setting
Refers to time when the story was made includes background in a particular time about something the author wants to explain about e.g. century you etc
Social setting
Includes social activities or customs and traditions e.g. marriage
C. PLOT
-This is the serial arrangement of events or ideas. It is the arrangement of all events in the story.
-Plot must have the beginning middle and end.
-Plot of dramas is divided into “acts” and “scenes”.
D. STYLE AND TECHNIQUE
Includes the following;-
Point of view
This is when a writer tells a story
- First person pronoun point of view
This indicates that the main character is telling a story.
-Third personal pronoun point of view
This directs that the narrator is telling the story.
E. CHARACTERIZATION
-This is the method of conveying information about characters.
-Character is a person or sometime animals who take part in the story.
Types of characters
-Main character is the person who plays a large part in the story.
-Minor character is the person who helps a main character to develop the story.
. Protagonist is the main character.
. Antagonist is the minor character that opposes the main character.
Foreshadowing
Is a style or technique which explains about what will happen later in the story. This encourages the reader to go on and find out more about the event that is being foreshadowed.
Flashback
Is a style which explains about what happened before in the story.
2. CONTENT
A. THEME -A Theme refers to the central topic/topics which are meant to be known and taken as subjects of learning presented by the writer to the audience.
-Themes can reflect life, reality experience and society as a whole.
B. CONFLICTS
These are misunderstandings among characters in the story.
Types of conflicts
. Internal conflicts
. External conflicts
Internal conflicts
This is the conflict within a person (character).
External conflicts
Refers to misunderstanding between or among characters. Misunderstanding between characters can be;
-Between two characters
-Group against group
-Group against person
C. MESSAGES
-These are lessons and teachings we get in the story.
-These lessons are mostly obtained from themes.
ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL
TITLE: UN ANSWERED CRIES
AUTHOR: OSMAN CONTEH
SETTING: SIERRA LEONE
TIME: 2002, place of publications: Macmillan writers prize for Africa
INTRODUCTION
"Unanswered cries" is a modern novel where by the author presenting a moving story of Olabisi who is under pressure to be, circumcised in order to realize the reality as a woman
As we reflect the message delivered to us by the author, substantial questions before us are:
a) What exactly before us are?
b) Is the process safe?
c) What are the effects to those who undergo the experience of the knife?
d) What are the struggles against the art?
COVER OF THE BOOK
Question: Is the cover relevant to the story?
Answer: Yes, the cover is relevant to the story. It portrays the cultural dressing of the women in Sierra Leone and Africa as whole. It also shows how the girl discussed in the book is feeling by showing a fare of oppression, sadness and loss of hope.
TITLE OF THE BOOK
The title of the book is DIRECT
It makes a person want to know more about a story of the girl who is seen on the cover, why does she look so sad, oppressed and hopeless. These are questions that would be ringing in a person’s head and can only be answered by flipping open the cover and read what is within the book.
STYLES AND TECHNIQUES USED
The style used by the author includes the following
i) point of view
This is when a writer tells a story in the novel “ Unanswered cries’’ the writers used the third person point of view to narrate the story about characters.
Example: Chapter one (page 5)
" She caught hold of the hem of her films/ skirt".
" she sat up listening like a dog sensing an intrudes".
ii) Flashback style
. Chapter 8, when Dr.Keroma explained about what happened when her daughter underwent circumcision (Pg 72)
. Chapter 9, the dialogue between Makalay and Oyah reminded Makalay about her past life (Pg 83,84)
. Chapter 1 Olabisi remembered about circumcision of the baby boy Durusemi,’’ (Pg 13)
iii) Foreshadowing
When Olabisi imagined about what will happen in the court
"It was as if she was trying to read the future" Chapter 7 (Pg 51 -52)
iv) Conversation style
- Conversation between Oyah and Olabisi (Pg 35),Salaam Sesay and Olabisi (Pg 56),Salaam Sesay and Dr. Koroma (Pg 71) and the conversation between Oyah and Yah Posseh (Pg 76) etc
Arrangement of events
The writer arranged events into chapters 1 – 9 whereby each chapter contains a picture which gives information about what is in that chapter
CHARACTERIZATION
1. OLABISI
- Is the main character in the novel.
- She is against bad cultural practices (circumcision)
- She is courageous
- She is Eddy’s girlfriend
2. MAKALAY
- Mother of Olabisi
- She is conservative she wants Olabisi to be circumcised
- She is a primary school teacher
- She is Dauda’s wife
- She has negative attitudes to her husband
- She is humble and caring
3. ADE JONES
- He is Olabisi’s father and Oyah’s husband
- He is against Female Genital Mutilation
- He loves Olabisi
- He is Caring
4. YAH POSSEH
- Is the Digba Sowey the head of female circumcision
- She is a witch (she believes in superstitions) -She has two daughters
- Has two daughter (Salay and Rugiatu)
- Feared by people
5. EDWARD COLE
- He is Olabisi’s boyfriend.
- He betrayed Olabisi.
- He taught Olabisi how to protect herself.
6. DAUDA
- Makalay’s husband.
- Olabisi’s step father.
- He was strict in his house.
7. Dr. Asiatu Koroma
- She is professionally a doctor
- She is against female genital mutilation
- She is responsible in her job
8. LANSANA KANU
- Is a judge.
- Is a fair and courageous.
- Is responsible.
- Is strict in his job.
9. PAH AMADU
- Hunter
- A corrupt person
10. SALAAM SESAY
- Makalay’s lawyer
- Supports female genital mutilation
- Not civilized.
THEMES
MAIN THEMES
Female Genital Mutilation. This is the process of cutting a clitoris part of a woman due to tribal beliefs and for the reason of reducing sexual appetite of a woman.In the novel, Olabisi was under pressure of being circumcised by the Bondo women and Makalay (her mother) in order to prove that she becomes a woman but Olabisi was strong and courageous to go against bad practice because it is an illegal and unsafe activity. Other characters who undergone the process includes Oyah (the lawyer), Dr Asiatu Koroma, Makalay,Yah Posseh, Rugiatu and Salay.
OTHER THEMES
1. RESPONSIBILITIES
This signifies the situation of being accountable in life. In the novel, the following characters was very accountable in the seminal delivering. Oyah (lawyer) was very responsible to help Olabisi not as her step daughter.
Also Lansana Karme (the judge) took full responsibility to judge the case. Apart from these two, also Dr Asiatu Koroma took full responsibility as a doctor to explain the effects of female genital mutilation.
2. LOVE
Love is a strong feeling about somebody or anything in the reflection of respect, tolerance, trust and acceptance. In the novel, we see love emanating in different ways.We can see the love of daughter to mother (Olabisi and Makalay), the love of father and daughter (Olabisis and Ade), also the love of husband and wife (Oyah and Ade Jones).
3. POVERTY
This is the state of being unable to obtain basic needs or inability of someone to meet the basic demands like food, clothes and shelter. In the novel, Makalay’s kitchen in the village was made of rusty corrugated iron sheets which could almost fall by the blow of the wind.This can also be portrayed when Salay and Rugiatu were walking bare footed from the well.
4. MORAL DECAY
This is the desolation of good morals and people in the society.In the novel, moral decay is shown when Olabisi involved herself in early sexual relationships while she was just fourteen years of age. Also when Olabisi replied back Makalay (her mother) as it was a peer.
5. BETRAYAL
This is the act of being disloyal to someone who trusts you.in the novel, the situation is experienced by Makalay when she was betrayed by Pah Amadu and he did not being Olabisi back to Makalay, instead he helped Olabisi to reach the town. Also the betrayal of Edward Cole to Olabisi by disclosing the secret that he had sex with her.
6. CONFLICTS
Conflict means misunderstanding between two people. The following conflicts are found in novel :-
Conflict between Olabisi and Makalay. The source of the conflict was female genital mutilation that is when Makalay forced her daughters to be circumcised but the solution of this conflict was the court whereby Olabisi won the case and she was not circumcised.
Conflict between Olabisi and Eddy. The same of this conflict was the betrayal when Eddy betrayed Olabisi by disclosing the secret that he had sex with Olabisi the solution was when Olabisi decided to break up the relationship.
Conflict between Oyah and Ade Jones. The source of this conflict was unfaithfulness of Ade Jones and the solution was forgiveness and marriage
Conflict between Makalay and Ade. This conflict based on who is supposed to make decision to Olabisi about whether she is supposed to be circumcised or not. The solution to this conflict was the court whereby Olabisi was not circumcised.
Conflict between Olabisi, Rugiatu and Salay: The source of the conflict was when Olabisi called"agborka"The solution to this was Makalay and Yah Posseh decision to Olabisi that she was supposed to be circumcised.
Conflict between Bondo women Vs Olabisi, Oyah and Dr. Asiah
The source was female genital mutilation but the solution was court and Olabisi won the case.
7. ILLITERACY
In the novel, Yah posseh and most of the Bondo women were blind about the effects of women circumcision so as to become a real woman
8. LAZINESS
This is the situation of being unwilling to work.Olabisi was very lazy,she has many dirty clothes like pants, jeans and a tops but she was just keeping them in her bag instead of washing them.
9. SUPERSTITION
Yah posseh and all Bondo women believed in superstition on beliefs like goats and ancestors, that is why female circumcision to them is compulsory.Example, Yah posseh told Makalay that her daughter Olabisi offended the spirits of their ancestors and gods of their tradition and because of that she was supposed to be circumcised.Also when Yah Posseh told Makalay that if she will obey spirits will make things difficult for her during children (chapter 2 Pg 22).
FIGURES OF SPEECH
1. PERSONIFICATIONS
- The wind her news of an approaching group of singer (Pg 5)
- Her hand disappeared into the bag up to the elbow fingers searching for camera (chapter 1 Pg 7)
- The mosquitoes were having a party on you and the noise woke me up (Pg 40).
The darkness became jumping, threatening to take over the room again if the lamp went out (Pg 32).
The moon came out with a smile, shading soft light around her (Pg 31).
2. REPETITION
- I……. I was just…… (Pg 28)
- Ye………. yes sir (Pg 56)
- "Gborika" – said by Makalay many times to Olabisi for the emphasis of circumcision (Pg 11)
- Confess was also repeated to show the emphasis that Ade wanted to know the truth that he was the father of Olabisi or not (Pg 49)
- She is your mother……….she will always be your mother.This emphasizing Olabisi that Makalay was her mother no matter what (Pg 47)
3. METAPHORS
- Eddy the dog and he was making his way towards her (pg 63)
- The Bondo tradition is mama Africa (pg 74)
- "Death is the enemy who has no respect for people and this privacy" said Yah posseh (Pg 79)
4. HYPERBOLES
-Each pot was big enough to boil a cow without breaking its legs (pg 43)
-The girls folded their arms across their chests and tried to cook as if they eat rocks everyday (pg 35)
5. PROVERBS
-" let the traitor come close for this "(Pg 35) -" Never laugh with your enemy otherwise you might end up friends" (pg 75) -"Do as I say but learn from me" (pg 66)
6. SIMILES
- " She sat up listening like dog sensing an intruder" (Pg 5)
- "She scramble across the bed on all fours like a giant crab" (pg 8)
- " Students ran in panic, scattering from brutal police like cock roaches at the flash of the light" (pg 12).
-"The rift – ray boys will be after you for sexual fun like dodgers" (pg 12)
- "Salary was short and stocky like a well fed big while Rugiatu was tall, skinny and hungry looking like a shaved bird.
- "She was black as midnight, with flat eyes like a snake (pg 21)
- "Olabisi began to feel like a mouse watching a cat (pg 21)
- "The girl thrashed about like a snake caught in a farm trap (Pg 30)
- "Rugiatu attached like a mad dog (Pg 36)
- "From where she stood it locked as small as a handkerchief (Pg 54)
- "Large man, as huge as truck was sitting…. (pg 54)
