THE THEORY OF LITERATURE
Meaning of Literature
T
|
here 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.
Why
is literature said to be an art?
a. Language use. The language of literature is different from the language of everyday
use (normal language). Literature uses figures of speech and words are assigned
an extra meaning than what they ordinarily imply. Some words carry literal
meaning and others have symbolic meaning. It is therefore advised not to take
words for granted in literature. You need to dig a bit deeper before you settle
and say this is what it means.
b. Characters and characterisation. Literature uses real
people or other characters that represent real people in the outside world.
Inanimate beings may be personified in a way that they represent human
qualities and act accordingly. This adds artistic effect to the literary work. (more details are given in subsequent
chapters)
c. Choice and presentation of incidents. Literature is not just
a collection of facts and stories to be reported. Incidents in literature are
presented in artistic way that makes the audience think that they are actually
happening. There is the use of skilful narrative technique like point of view,
flashbacks, foreshadowing, suspense, etc all these help the readers to
visualise the events as though they are just unfolding before their eyes. (more details are given in subsequent
chapters)
Why
is literature said to reflect social realities?
Social
realities are the things that human beings experience in their daily lives. It
is not mandatory that all the incidents discussed in one literary work should
be found in one society all the time. Some issues become relevant and exist
across time and space and later become obsolete. So the themes that were once
relevant in one society may be irrelevant in the same society as time passes
by.
Likewise, the themes that are relevant in one
part of the world may be irrelevant at another part of the world. However,
there are issues like corruption, classes, humiliation, betrayal, FGM,
HIV/AIDS, conflicts, position of women in the society, oppression,
exploitation, identity and awareness, effects of European culture on African
culture, etc which are common in African
literature.
TYPES OF LITERATURE
There are two major
types of literature namely oral and written literature.
ORAL LITERATURE.
Anecdote –is a brief story about an interesting, amusing or strange event.
Writers tell anecdote or include them in a larger work, to entertain the readers
or to make a point.
Epic
–is a long narrative
poem, about the adventures of a hero, whose actions reflect the ideals and
values of a nation or a group. Epics address universal concerns such as good
and evil, life and death, and other serious subjects. One of the famous epics in African
literature is “The Epic of Sundiata”
Fable- is a brief story or poem usually with animal characters that teaches a
lesson or a moral about life. Or is a very brief story in prose or verse that
teaches a moral, or a practical lesson about how to get along in life. The
moral is usually stated at the end of the fable. E.g. what goes around comes
around’ or ‘do unto others what you would have them do unto you.’
Folk tale – is a story composed orally and then passed from
person to person by word of mouth. Or it is a simple story that has been passed
down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Folk tales are usually
about ordinary people, animals, or occurrences in nature and are usually set in
time long past. They originated from people who could neither read nor write.
These people entertained one another by telling stories aloud – often dealing
with heroes, adventure, magic, or romance. E.g. “why monkeys live in Trees”
Legend – is a widely told story about the past – one that
may or may not have a foundation in fact. Or is a story that is handled down
from the past and may tell about something that really happened, or someone who
really lived. Legends usually mix facts and fictions. Every culture has its own
legends that mean its familiar traditional stories.
Myths – is a fictional tale that explains the actions of gods, or heroes, or
the cause of natural phenomena (i.e. the origin of elements of nature). Or it
is a traditional story about the origins or workings of the world. Some myths
explain how certain things came into being; others explain elements of nature
or social customs. Myths that explain the origin of earthly life are known as origin myths. They are composed orally
and then passed from generation to generation through word of mouth. Because
myths have been handled down from generation to generation for a long time
their original authors are usually unknown. The characters in myths are usually
supernatural beings. Every ancient culture has its own mythology.
Parables - a short story that teaches a moral or spiritual
lesson, especially one of those told by Jesus as recorded in the Bible. E.g.
the ‘Prodigal son’, ‘the sower’, ‘The Rich man and Lazarus’ etc.
Ballad – is a song-like narrative poem that tells a story,
often one dealing with adventure and romance. Most ballads are written in four
– six – line stanzas and have regular rhythms and rhyme scheme. A ballad often
features a refrain – a regularly repeated line or group of lines at the end of
each stanza as in “A freedom Song by M. O Macgoye”. Originally ballads were not written down. They were composed
orally and then sung. As these early folk ballads passed from singer to singer
they often changed dramatically. Even today modern ballads do not necessarily
have four – six – line stanzas and regular rhythms and rhyme scheme. As in The Ballad of the Landlord by Lungston
Hughes. A person who sings or writes ballads is called a balladeer
Tall tale -this is an exaggerated far-fetched story that is
obviously untrue but is told as though it should be believed. Most tall tells are humorous. As
tales are passed on, they often get taller and taller – more and more
exaggerated.
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
FICTION AND NON-FICTION
NON-FICTION
LITERATURE.
This is a kind of literature that deals with factual materials or
events. The people written about in non-fictions are real. Literary non
fictions are written to be read just the same way as fictions. These include;
Autobiography. This is an account of someone’s life and experiences written by
himself/herself. The person may choose to tell about an important event from
his/her life or tell the whole life story up to the time when it is written.
Forms of autobiography are; personal narratives, journals, memoirs, diaries,
letters etc. Autobiographies are almost always written in the first person I.
Example; “Gifted Hands” by Ben Carson and “The Narrative of Frederick Douglas:
An American Slave. Written by himself.
Biography. This is a story of someone’s life and experiences written by another
person. In biographies the author may choose to interview the biographical
subject and also gather information from other sources. The subjects of
Biographies are often famous people. E.g. Lincoln: A Photo biography. A
biographer is one who writes, composes or produces a biography.
Essay. This is a short piece of writing in which the writer shares his/her
point of view about a certain subject. Or is a short work of non-fiction that
usually deals with a single subject. Essays can be classified as formal and
informal, personal or impersonal. A formal essay is highly organised,
thoroughly researched, and serious in tone. An informal essay is lighter in
tone and usually reflects the writer’s feelings and personality.
Informational
articles. These are articles that present factual materials
about a specific subject. They appear in newspapers, magazines, and in
reference books like Encyclopaedias, almanacs, and atlases.
FORMS OF NON-FICTION.
Nonfiction is broken down into four kinds of writing.
Ø Exposition. This is a writing that explains something or gives information about a
topic.
Ø Persuasion or
argumentation. This is a writing that attempts to
convince you of something by showing you that the statement is true or false.
Ø Description. Is a writing that helps you to form a clear mental picture of
something. Writers use specific details such as shapes, tastes, sounds and
textures to help you form the picture.
Ø Narration. A writing that tells a story of an event or series of events.
ORGANISATION OF
NON-FICTION
There are three parts to most nonfiction writing.
i.
Introduction. It tells you the main
ideas of what the piece is about. It may also give background material or state
a problem.
ii.
The body. It develops the main idea through
the details that support the main idea.
iii.
Conclusion. It shows that the work
is ended. The conclusion may restate or summarize the author’s main ideas, it
may answer the question raised in the work or it may urge the reader to future
actions.
FICTION
It is a kind of literature that deals with non factual
materials or events. Characters, setting and events are the product of
imaginations from the author. It can be inspired by the actual events or
completely made up.
GENRES OF FICTION
LITERATURE.
PROSE
FICTION.
A prose is any kind of writing that is not poetry or
that is not presented in verse form or stanza. It is a specifically imaginative
work that includes short stories, novella and novels.
SHORT STORY
This is a story usually about imaginative characters
and events that is short enough to be read from the beginning to the end
without stopping. It is also a brief work of fiction that can generally be read
in one sitting. It usually focuses on one or two main characters that face a
single problem or conflict. E.g. The
voter by C. Achebe, Ajaiyi and the Witchdoctor by A. Tutuola, Mabala the Farmer
by R. Mabala. Etc.
ELEMENTS
OF A SHORT STORY.
There are four basic elements of a short story. These
are; Setting, plot, characters and theme. Short stories differ from the novel
in its treatment of these four elements. The main difference is partly dictated
by length. In short stories characters are usually not fully developed and
usually centre on one idea. Other minor elements include conflict, point of view,
symbolism, flashbacks, fictitious quality etc.
NOVELLA. This is a
fiction work that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. It is
longer than a short story but the characters are not fully developed as in
novels. EXAMPLE. Samuel Beckett’s novella First Love. In this episode the unnamed narrator, who
spends most of the time lying prostrate on a park bench, begins to feel his
privacy threatened by the visitations of a woman to the same bench.
NOVEL
is a work of fiction that is longer and more complex
than a short story. Or it is a fictional prose usually consisting of more than
fifty thousand words. (Probst, et al, 2000).
In novels, setting, plot characters and theme are fully developed in
great details. Like a short story the novel has four main elements, setting,
plot characters and theme. A person who writes novels is called a novelist E.g.
Passed like a shadow by B. Mapalala. The
Interview, by P. Ngugi, etc.
DRAMA/PLAY
Is a literary genre that tells a story through actions
and dialogue and is written to be performed on stage by actors. Drama has the
same elements as those in novels and short stories. i.e. setting, plot
characters, theme, climax, conflict, symbolism, etc. An element that is unique
to drama is DRAMATIC
TECHNIQUE. This includes:
Ø Dialogue. These are the words that the characters speak in a play. It is a
conversation between characters. It is the dialogue that reveals the
character’s qualities, personality traits, and reactions to other characters.
Ø Soliloquy/monologue. This is a speech made by a character when he/she is alone on stage. Or
it is a speech in which a character alone on stage, expresses her thoughts and
feelings aloud for the benefit of the audience, often in a revealing way.
Ø Aside. This is a direct address of the audience by a character. The other
characters do not hear what is being said.
Ø Stage direction. These are the instructions/notes included in a play/drama which
describe how the work is to be performed or staged. They indicate areas of the
stage in which actors sit, stand, move, speak, exit, enter, and so on,
lighting, music, sound effect, costumes, emotional state, etc.
These are typed in italics and enclosed in the
parentheses or brackets.
TYPES OF DRAMA
Tragedy
It is a serious drama/play with a sad ending especially one in which the
main character dies. The events in a tragic plot are set in motion by a
decision that is often an error in judgment. Succeeding events are linked in a
cause-and-effect relationship and lead inevitably to a disastrous conclusion,
usually death. E.g. Oedipus the King, by
Sophocles. Julius Caesar by W.
Shakespeare, Mfalme Juha by F Topan etc.
A person who writes tragedies for the theatre or an actor in a tragedy
is called a tragedian. E.g.
Sophocles, Shakespeare, etc
Comedy
It is a dramatic work that is intended to be funny, humorous and usually
ends happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict. To achieve a
comic effect sometimes the playwrights use Mistaken identity. Sometimes certain
characters are mistaken about their surroundings. They say or do things that would be
appropriate in a different social situation but are inappropriate in their
surroundings. The resulting confusion results to a silly series of events. The
confusion of characters causes a ridiculous conflict. The climax arrives when
the characters learn the truth. E.g. Juliette
and Oko or Atangana and Abessolo in Three Suitors One Husband. Other
examples of comedies are The trials of
Brother Jero and The Lion and the Jewel both by W. Soyinka
An entertainer who makes people laugh by telling jokes and funny stories
is called a comedian/comedienne.
Tragic comedy
It is a dramatic work that combines the elements of tragedy and comedy
but here the hero/heroine does not end in danger or death. A comic relief is a
technique used to achieve this effect. This is a humorous scene that is
inserted into a serious work of drama to provide relief from the seriousness
felt by the audience.
Melodrama
A play that is full of exciting events and in which the characters and
emotions seem too exaggerated to be true/real. It is accompanied with a melody
–hence melody drama (melodrama)
Historical drama
This is a type of drama that expresses the history of a particular
society but usually contains some elements of tragedy and comedy. E.g. Dedan Kimathi by Ngugi, Kinjeketile by
E.Hussein
Other important terms in
drama.
v Act. This is a major unit/part of action in a drama or play.
v Scene. This is a smaller section or a subdivision of one act. So a scene is a
section presenting events that occur in one place at one time.
v Costume. The clothes worn by actors in a play or film/movie or worn by somebody
to make them look like somebody or something else. E.g. a student, a housemaid,
a judge, etc.
v Prop. A small object used by actors, during the performance of a play or in
a film/movie
v Audience. Is a group of people sitting in a room, auditorium or in the theatre
listening to and watching a performance.
v Theatre. This is a special building or an outdoor area where plays/movies/films
and other entertainments are performed.
ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE.
Three
are two major types of Elements of Literature namely; Form and Content.
CONTENT
This has the following elements:
THEME
This is a writer’s central idea, concern, or purpose in a literary work.
A theme can usually be expressed as a generalization or a general statement
about human beings or about life. Although a theme may be directly stated in
the text, it is more often presented indirectly. When the theme is presented
indirectly the reader must figure out what the theme is by looking carefully at
what the work reveals about people or about life. Common themes in literature
include classes, poverty, unemployment, oppression, exploitation, corruption,
marginalization, hypocrisy, love, identity, betrayal, racial segregation / discrimination,
effects of colonialism / neo-colonialism, humiliation position of women in the
society. Etc
MESSAGE/MORAL
This refers to the lesson taught by a literary work. A poem, novel,
short story or play often suggests a lesson/moral that is not directly stated.
The lesson must be drawn by the reader based on the other elements of the work.
e.g.
Ø United we stand, divided we fall.
Ø What goes around comes around.
Ø Do unto others what you would have them do to you
Ø Children should be given the right to education
CONFLICT
A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. A conflict is one of the most important
elements of stories, novels and plays because it causes the actions. There are
two kinds of conflict:
Ø Internal conflict. This takes place within the mind of a character. The character
struggles to make decision, take action, or overcome a feeling. For example
THONI in “The black hermit” has this kind of conflict that later forces her to
commit suicide.
Ø External conflict. This is the one in which the character struggles against some outside
forces, such as another person. In this category we can get further
subdivisions of conflicts such as, economic conflict (rich vs. poor), political
conflict (leaders vs. Citizens), family conflict (among family members), social
conflict (one social group vs. Another), cultural conflicts (modernism vs.
Traditionalism) etc
RELEVANCE
v This is the applicability of a literary work in contemporary societies.
We assess whether or not the author has been successful in addressing the
issues that are relevant to our lives currently. That is why we believe that
literary works do not develop in a vacuum but they usually address issues in
societies they evolve.
v It is interesting however to note that a literary work may not
necessarily be relevant across time and across space. In one case, a literary
work might be relevant in one society but may be irrelevant in another. In
another case, a literary work that was once relevant in one society might be
irrelevant in the same society as time passes by. E.g. most literary works that
were about struggle for independence in Africa have now fallen out of favour.
FORM
This
refers to the structure of a literary work. It has the following elements.
CHARACTERS/CHARACTERIZATION
Characterization
is the act of creating and developing a character. It is the way the writer
reveals the personality of a character. A Character - Is a person or an animal
that takes part in the action of a literary work.
Authors
use two major methods of characterization; Direct and Indirect.
Ø Direct Characterization. When using the direct characterization a writer tells the characters’
traits or characteristics. E.g. brave, corrupt, weak etc.
Ø Indirect
Characterization. When using indirect
characterization a writer depends on the reader to draw conclusions /judgments
about the characters’ traits by using the evidence the writer gives:
·
Through the words of the
character.
·
Through the description
of the character’s look and clothing.
·
Through the description
of the character’s feelings and thoughts.
·
Through comments made
about him by another character in the story.
·
Through the characters
behaviour.
CLASSIFICATION OF
CHARACTERS.
There are different ways of classifying the characters.
Major/main
character and minor character
The main or major character is the one that is the most important in the
story, poem or play. Usually the main character appears from the beginning to
the end of the story. E.g. Juliette. While a minor character is the one that
takes part in the action of a story but is not the focus of attention. These
help the main character to accomplish the mission.
Flat
character and round character.
Flat character is usually one-sided and often stereotypical. These
characters are not well developed. They are introduced more to shed light on
the character of the major figure. While
round character on the other hand is fully developed with complete personality and
exhibits many traits, - often both faults and virtues. (strengths and
weaknesses)
Dynamic
character and static character.
Dynamic character is the one who changes or grows in the course of the story
this one is complex and multifaceted like a real person. E.g. Remi in “The
Black Hermit”. While a static character is the one who does not change. This
one is one-dimensional. Like Mbarga in Three Suitors One Husband.
Protagonist
and antagonist.
A protagonist is the main character in a literary work. Often a
protagonist is a person but sometimes it can be an animal. An antagonist is a
character or a force that is in conflict with the main character or
protagonist.
Foil character
This is a character that provides a contrast to another character. A
writer uses a foil to accentuate and clarify the distinct qualities of two
characters. The word foil is also used
for a thin sheet of shiny metal that is placed beneath a gem to intensify its
brilliance. A character who is a foil,
like the metal behind the gem, sets off or intensifies the qualities of another
character.
SETTING
The setting of a literary work is the place and time of the action.
Stories can be set in the present, past or future. What happens in the story
and how characters look and act often depends on the time when the event took
place. It may include the year, time of the day, even weather. The place may be
a specific country, state, region, community, neighbourhood, building,
institution, or at home. Details such as dialects, clothing, customs, and modes
of transportation are often used to establish the setting. The setting can be
real as in “Passed like a shadow” or imaginary as in Kusadikika.
STYLE
This is the way the writer uses the language. It is also understood as
the individual way in which a writer has used the language to express his or
her ideas. Style results from diction (word choice), sentence structure and
tone. One writer may choose to use many figures of speech another may prefer to
use straightforward language with few figures of speech.
POINT OF VIEW
We also look at the point of view. This is the perspective or the
vantage point from which the story is told. It is either the narrator outside
the story or a character inside the story. Three commonly used points of view
are first person, omniscient third person and limited third person.
Ø In the first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the
story and refers to himself or herself with the first person pronoun “I”.
Ø In omniscient third-person point of view, the narrator knows and
tells about what each character feels and thinks.
Ø In limited third-person point of view the narrator relates the
inner thoughts and feelings of only one character and everything is viewed from
this character’s perspective.
PLOT
This is a sequence/arrangement of events in a literary
work. In most novels, dramas, short stories and narrative poems the plot
involves both the characters and a central conflict. Plot may be chronological
or flashback.
A
chronological plot is one that the incidents are arranged in the order they
occur. The plot usually begins with EXPOSITION that introduces the
setting, the characters and the basic situation. This is followed by the
introduction of the central conflict. The conflict increases during the RISING ACTION until it reaches the highest point of interest or suspense, THE CLIMAX. The climax is followed by the FALLING ACTION
or the end of the conflict. These are events that during the falling action
make up the RESOLUTION
or Denouement.
CLIMAX
RESOLUTION
EXPOSITION conflict
Introduced
The plot can also employ a flashback. This is an interruption of the current action of a plot
to show events that happened at an earlier time. It breaks the normal forward
movement of a narrative. Although flashbacks often appear in the middle of the
story it can also be placed at the beginning. They give background information
the audience needs to understand in order to understand the present action.
Foreshadowing can also be used. This is the use of clues/hints to
suggest events that will occur later in the plot. Foreshadowing is used to build
suspense or anxiety in the reader or viewer. E.g. the character prepares his
gun and hides it somewhere; this may foretell violence later in the story.
LANGUAGE USE/DICTION
This refers
to the writer’s or speaker’s choice of words. People use different types of
words depending on the audience they are addressing, the subject they are
discussing and the effect they are trying to produce. Diction is an essential
element of a writer’s style and has a major effect on the tone of the piece of writing.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
This is
writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally. One has to dig
deeper and uncover the underlying meaning. The many types of figurative
language are known as figures of speech.
FIGURES OF SPEECH
Definition:
· Figure of Speech is a word or group of words that describes one thing in
terms of another and is not meant to be understood as literally true.
· A figure of speech is a word or phrase that departs from everyday
literal language for the sake of comparison, emphasis, clarity, or freshness.
· Also known as, rhetorical figure, metaphorical language/
literary devices
Used
well, figures of speech greatly
enhance your fiction, and can be a very economical way of getting an image or a
point across, but used incorrectly, they will confuse the reader. The special emphasis is typically accomplished by the user's conscious
deviation from the strict literal sense of a word, or from the more commonly
used form of word order or sentence construction. From ancient times to the
present, such figurative locutions have been extensively employed by orators
and writers to strengthen and embellish their styles of speech and composition.
A number of the more widely used figures of speech, some of which are also
called tropes, follow.
1) Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike
things without using the words “like or as”. A metaphor suggests that one thing
is another thing, or is equal to another thing. It uses a word or phrase
denoting one kind of idea or object in place of another word or phrase for the
purpose of suggesting a likeness between the two. Metaphors create vivid descriptions
with few words, as the subject of the comparison takes on the qualities of the
thing with which it is compared.
Ø 'He was a
lion in the fight'.
In the biblical Book of Psalms, the writer speaks of God's law as
Ø “A light to his feet and
a lamp to his path.”
Ø “The LORD is my
shepherd”
2) A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things
and uses the words "like," "as," "than" or
"resembles". Or Simile is specific comparison by
means of the words “like” or “as” between two kinds of ideas or objects. Similes make descriptions vivid by comparing
their subjects with known events or things. Effective similes help readers
visualize what is being described. Examples,
Ø As cool as a
cucumber',
Ø 'As white as
snow',
Ø “Christianity shone like
a beacon in the black night of paganism”
3) Irony: It
is the expression of ideas which are exactly opposite to the implied meaning.
Or Irony is a disagreement or incongruity between what is said and what is
understood, or what is expected and what actually occurs. Irony can be used
intentionally or can happen unintentionally. Authors can use irony to make
their audience stop and think about what has just been said, or to emphasize a
central idea. The audience's role in realizing the difference between what is
said and what is normal or expected is essential to the successful use of
irony.
Ø 'A student
of psychology going insane',
Ø 'A bank
lends you money provided you show that it's not needed'
There are three
scenarios in which irony occurs.
a. Verbal irony is when the intended meaning of the statement or work is different
(often the opposite of) what the statement or work literary says. For Example,
Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People is ironically used since Dr.
Stockman who is declared an enemy, is in really sense, and is a friend
of the people.
b. Situational Irony occurs when what happens is contrary to what is expected; or the actual
outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected. For example
Ø The son of the English
teacher fails the English Exam.
Ø The daughter of a rich
merchant is expelled from school for lack of school fees of 20,000/=.
c. Dramatic Irony occurs when events or facts not known to the character on stage in a
fictional work, are known to another character and the audience or reader. E.g.
Oedipus the King.
4) Personification: It is a representation
of abstract ideas or inanimate objects as having human attributes or qualities.
Or Personification is the representation of inanimate objects or
abstract ideas as living beings. Personification connects readers with the
object that is personified. Personification can make descriptions of non-human
entities more vivid, or can help readers understand, sympathize with, or react
emotionally to non-human characters.
“Necessity is the mother
of invention
“the mountains cried,
the valleys wept, and the hills wailed all mourning the death of Nyerere.
5) Apostrophe: It is a direct address
to the dead or an inanimate object creating an emotional surge. In Apostrophe, an actor turns
from the audience, or a writer from readers, to address a person who usually is
either absent or deceased, an inanimate object, or an abstract idea. As in John
Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud”
Ø 'Caesar, only if you
were alive'
6) Rhetorical
question is the act of asking questions not to gain
information but just for emphasis. No answer, in fact, is expected by the
speaker. The device is illustrated in the following series of sentences:
“Did you help me when I needed
help? Did you once offer to intercede in my behalf? Did you do anything to
lessen my load?”
7) Hyperbole/overstatement is a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or
for humorous effect. In exaggeration a person or thing is depicted as being
better or worse, or larger or smaller, than is actually the case. It is, used often to ridicule, create humour or any drastic
emotional appeal.
Ø 'The waves
rose as high as the mountains,'
Ø 'I am so
hungry that I can eat a whole cow'
Ø 'She wept
and wept until there was a sea of tears'.
8) Litotes/ understatement: It is an understated expression when the actual idea to
be expressed is quite significant. It is like downplaying an idea when it seems
to be the best possible course of action or description. Statements such as,
Ø 'I was not feeling unhappy”. Meaning
I was feeling happy
Ø “The English poet Thomas
Gray showed no inconsiderable powers as a prose writer, “meaning that Gray was in fact a very good prose writer
Ø I am not unmindful- meaning I mind
9) Euphemism, this is the substitution of an offensive/unpleasant
term or phrase by the one that has pleasant associations, as in the use of
“lavatory” or “rest room” for “toilet,” and “pass away” for “die.”
10)
Metonymy is
a figure of speech that associates the name of one thing with that of something
else. This is a word that substitutes for an object, the name of an attribute
or concept associated to that object. The use of ‘crown’ for ‘king’ or for the government ruled by a king is an
example of a metonym.
a. “We waited hopelessly for two sunsets”
“Sunsets” here implies two days,
b. “He has a good name in our society.” Or,
“They spoilt his name.” “Name” refers to reputation
c. “A press conference by the “Statehouse”. Here, statehouse
refers to the officials of the Statehouse who will be holding the press
conference.
A metonym is not necessarily one word. As in a hotel -“Room
44 needs a bottle of champagne”
“Room 44” here refers to the customer who is in that room.
d. “The hostess kept a good table,”
when “good food” is implied.
11)
Synecdoche: is a figure of speech in which the whole is
represented by a part or a part by the whole is called as synecdoche. Example
'He has several mouths to feed'. Here mouths represent
people.
“50 head of cattle; “head” is used to mean whole animals,
“The president's administration contained the best “brains” in the country; “brains” is used for intellectually
brilliant persons.
12) Onomatopoeia, imitation of natural sounds by words. Examples in English are the
italicized words in the phrases
“The humming bee,”
“The cackling hen,”
“The whizzing arrow,”
“The buzzing saw.”
The Hissing snake,
The Splashing water,
The Bang of
a door.
13)
Oxymoron: This is a figure of speech which includes words or
ideas opposite in meaning placed one after the other. Oxymoron combines two
seemingly contradictory or incongruous words.
o 'True lies',
o 'Open
secret',
o 'Pretty ugly
face',
o
'Feeling alone in a
crowd’,
o
Living deaths,
o
Dear wounds,
o
Fair storms,
o
Silent noise
o
Freezing fires
o
Pain for pleasure
o
Clearly confused
o
Cruel kindness
o
Deafening silence
o
Only choice
o
Random order
o
Alone together
o
Awfully good
o
Dark light
o
Light darkness
o
Appear invisible
o
Goodbye reception.
o
Growing smaller
o
True myth
o
Unpopular celebrity
o
Worthless gold
o
Sad joy
o
Sweet agony
o
Daydream in the night
14)
Paradox, this is a figure of speech which includes a statement or sentiment that appears contradictory to common sense yet
is true in fact. Simply put it is a statement that seems to contradict itself
but is, nevertheless, true. These
statements or assertions, according to logic, cannot be true, yet the figure
links them in a way that creates a new meaning, one that defies logic but works
on situation. Example of paradox is found in Martin Luther’s speech “I
Have a Dream”
“..The Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and
finds himself an exile in his own land”
In the above sentence, logically speaking, one cannot be in exile while
he is still in his own land, as the true meaning of the word exile is. But the
situation described, is the one that makes us see as if the Negros are in exile,
since they have nothing to enjoy in their own land.
15) Climax,
It is the arrangement of ideas in an
increasing order of their importance. It emphasizes the meaning in a clear and
effective way. Or it is
the arrangement
of words, clauses, or sentences in the order of their importance, the least
forcible coming first and the others rising in power until the last, as in the
following sentences:
Ø “It is an outrage to bind a Roman
citizen; it is a crime to scourge him; it is almost parricide to kill him; but
to crucify him—what shall I say of this?”
Ø 'He came, he
saw, he conquered, 'her village, her state, her nation were her pride',
Ø 'Eat, drink
and sleep' and so on.
16)
Anticlimax
is a sequence of ideas that abruptly diminish in dignity or importance at the
end of a sentence or passage, generally for satirical effect. The following
sentence contains an illustration of anticlimax:
“Among the great achievements of Benito Mussolini's regime were the
revival of a strong national consciousness, the expansion of the Italian
Empire, and the running of the trains on time.”
17)
Antithesis
is a juxtaposition of two words, phrases, clauses, or sentences contrasted or
opposed in meaning in such a way as to give emphasis to contrasting ideas. An
example of antithesis is the following line by the English poet Alexander Pope:
“To err is human, to forgive divine.”
“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
18)
Conceit,
it is an elaborate, extended and sometimes surprising comparison between things
that, at first sight, do not have much in common. It is also defined as an
elaborate, often extravagant metaphor or simile making an analogy between
totally dissimilar things. The term originally meant “concept” or “idea.” The
use of conceits is especially characteristic of 17th-century English
metaphysical poetry. An example occurs in the poem “A Valediction: Forbidding
Mourning,” by the English poet John Donne, in which two lovers' souls are
compared to the legs of drawing compasses.
19)
Allusion is a literary device in which the
writer or speaker refers either directly or indirectly to a famous person,
event, place or thing in history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, science
or to a work of art or literature. Allusion connects the content of a text with
the larger world. Allusion calls to mind the ideas and emotions associated with
a well-known event or published work. Those ideas and emotions then contribute
to what the author conveys. As in Martin Luther’s speech
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this
continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal."
20)
Parallel structure /parallelism /
Parallel construction is a repetition
of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show
that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. Parallel structure
helps to organize ideas, making a text or speech easier to understand. Parallel
structure can also create a satisfying rhythm in the language an author uses. In this literary
device, the idea to be stated is repeated in some other form to emphasize the
articulation.
'She cried, she wept but he was unmoved',
'Show me your strength, your stamina, your energy only
where it is needed'
21) Anaphora Also called epanaphora, the repetition of a word or expression at the
beginning of successive phrases for rhetorical or poetic effect, as in
Lincoln's
"We cannot dedicate-
We cannot consecrate-
We cannot hallow this ground"
I am a true Acoli
I am not a half-caste
I am not a slave girl
22) Imagery This is a figure of speech which creates mental pictures that appeal to
readers, five senses. Writers use
sensory details to make readers imagine how things look, feel, smell, sound and
taste. There are different types of images depending on the five senses.
o
Visual image- this is an image of
sight e.g.
ü Greater than the Rift-Valley;
ü Camera film to light, coils of
the greatest python
ü Stronger than the blows of the sea
ü When the hurricane is at its
height.
o
Organic image -this is an image of
feeling
ü Dying in agony
ü More painful than the yell
o
Audio image – this is an image of
sound
ü The yell of a woman
ü I plead the cry of the nation
ü The screams of a man
o
Kinetic image -this is an image of
motion.
ü Is faster than camera film
ü But as slow as tropism
ü I declare running Better than walking
o
Tactile image - this is an image of
touch
ü As it falls on the seemingly soft
soil
ü Standing hard and ready..
o
Olfactory image – this is an image of
smell.
ü a stinking room
o
Gustatory image. This is an Image of
taste
ü In search of sweetness
o
Thermal image this is an image of
heat.
23)
Anadiplosis; the repetition in which the last expression of one statement becomes the
first expression in the following statement. As in the poem “Africa” by David
Diop
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
The slavery of your children
24)
Symbolism is a literary device that uses one object to stand for something else or to mean something else.
Actions can also be symbolic, such as washing hands to indicate
non-involvement. Some symbols are
universal, with generally accepted meanings, such as a crown to mean
superiority or the colour red to mean danger. Symbols, especially specific
ones, often mean more than one thing.
Sunrise symbolizes the beginning of the struggle and sunset symbolizes the end of the struggle in the poem “Sunrise”
25)
Pun - It is a humorous
play on two or more meanings of the same word or on two different words with
the same sound. It is also understood as a play on the multiple meanings of the
word or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings.
It uses words that have similar or identical sounds but very different
meanings. Quite often it is used to pass a witty
remark or bring about a sarcastic effect. Examples are,
"It is better to have loved a short person and lost, than never to
have loved A TALL."
'I KNEAD the dough so that I can eat',
Another good pun is found in the last but one line of Shakespeare’s
“When My Love Swears That She Is Made of Truth.” He says;
‘Therefore, I LIE with her and she with me’ Shakespeare Sonnet 138
26)
Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a
narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself.
The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance,
and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or envy.
Thus an allegory is a story with
two levels of meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. A more modern example
of allegory is George Orwell’s Animal Farm, which on the surface
level is about a group of animals who take over their farm but on the deeper
level is an allegory of the Russian Revolution and the shortcomings of the
Communism.
27)
Anastrophe: Also known as inversion, it is a sentence or a
poetic expression which reverses or changes the order of words for greater
emphasis. The following are examples of anastrophe.
'Ten
thousand saw I at a glance' instead of “I saw ten thousand at a glance”
‘Forward they go” which
is not a normal English structure of SVA. ‘They go forward’
‘And away they go’
instead of ‘and they go away’
‘While your hive they
plunder’ instead of ‘while they plunder your hive’.
28)
Satire: is a literary technique which principally ridicules its subject which
includes individuals, organization or states often as an intended means of
provoking or preventing changes. Satire is any piece of writing that uses
devices such as irony. It is a text or performance that uses irony, derision or
wit to expose or attack human vice, foolishness or stupidity.
ROLES
/FUNCTIONS OF 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.
nice write up
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