Literature SHS 1 Semester 1 Week 3: Comparing Oral and Written Genres (NaCCA Aligned) | Literature SHS 1 SEM 1 WEEK 3 (WASSCE & NaCCA Aligned)
NaCCA Aligned: SHS 1, Semester 1, Week 3
Strand 1: Exploring Literature – Comparing Oral and Written Genres
Welcome to Week 3 of SHS 1 Literature. This week, we move beyond simply identifying literary types (oral versus written) and focus on the fundamental structures that categorize creative expression: the literary genre. Understanding genre is crucial because it gives us a roadmap for how we should approach, read, and interpret a text. Different stories require different frameworks.
Period 1: Defining the Three Major Genres
A literary genre is essentially a category of literature defined by its style, content, and form. While texts can be incredibly varied, most literary works fall into three main categories:
1. Prose
Prose is the most common form of written language. It is characterized by ordinary, grammatical structure, forming complete sentences and paragraphs. It flows naturally, without rhythmic structure. Prose can be fictional (e.g., novels, short stories) or non-fictional (e.g., biographies, essays, news reports).
- Example of Written Prose (Fiction): The Dilemma of a Ghost by Ama Ata Aidoo (although primarily a play, the descriptive passages are prose).
- Example of Written Prose (Non-Fiction): A biography of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
2. Poetry
Poetry relies on structure, rhythm, and concentrated language to evoke feeling and imagery. Unlike the free flow of prose, poetry uses lines, stanzas, and often rhythmic devices (like alliteration or rhyme). The focus is often on sound, emotion, and condensed meaning.
3. Drama (Plays)
Drama is literature written primarily to be performed. Its defining characteristics are dialogue and stage directions. The story unfolds through the characters speaking to one another, making it immediate and action-driven.
- Key Feature: Dialogue.
- Key Feature: Absence of a strong, consistent narrator like in a novel.
Period 2: Comparing Oral and Written Genres
The essential question this week is: How does the same type of story change when it moves from being performed orally to being fixed in a written format? We explore the relationship between the two.
Prose: The Folktale vs. The Short Story
The folktale (or Anansesem in the Akan tradition) is the oral equivalent of the written short story or novelette. Both share core structural similarities:
- Plot: A clear sequence of events.
- Characters: Heroes, villains, and tricksters (like Ananse).
- Setting: A defined place and time.
However, the differences stem from the medium of transmission:
| Feature | Oral Folktale (e.g., Anansesem) | Written Short Story |
|---|---|---|
| Performer/Narrator | Dynamic storyteller; uses voice, song, and audience interaction. | Fixed text; the narrator’s voice is stable and immutable. |
| Text Flexibility | Highly flexible; the storyteller can improvise, add details, or tailor the story to the specific audience. | Fixed; the text remains exactly as the author wrote it. |
| Context | Communal; often performed at night, strengthening social bonds. | Individual; often read alone and silently. |
Poetry: The Dirge/Chant vs. The Written Elegy
A dirge, often sung at funerals across Ghana (especially among the Ewes or Ashantis), is an oral poem expressing deep sorrow, grief, and often a celebration of the life lost. Its written equivalent is the elegy or a modern poem of loss.
The power of the oral dirge lies in its performance. It uses music, weeping, and communal rhythm to process grief. The emotion is immediate and raw. The written elegy, such as some of the powerful verses in ‘Lament of the Drums,’ must rely entirely on imagery, word choice, and metre to convey that same intensity on a static page. While the theme (grief, loss, memory) is the same, the method of emotional transfer is drastically different.
Period 3: Analysing Written Poetry – Allegory in ‘The Weaver Bird’
To deepen our understanding of genre, we will analyze Kofi Awoonor’s poem, “The Weaver Bird,” a profound example of written poetry that uses powerful imagery and allegory—a story where characters and events are symbolic representations of deeper moral or political meaning.
“The weaver bird built in our house
and laid its eggs on our only bed.”
On the surface, this is about a bird building a nest. But through guided discussion, we identify the allegory:
- The Weaver Bird: This symbolizes the European colonizer or the missionary who arrived peacefully but took over and imposed their ways.
- “Our House”: This represents Africa, specifically Ghana, and the indigenous culture and traditions.
- “Our only bed”: This is the most intimate space, symbolizing the core of the people’s existence and sovereignty. The bird taking the bed signifies cultural and political usurpation.
- “defiled old shrines”: This directly references the destruction of traditional African religion and custom by external forces, a crucial theme in post-colonial Ghanaian literature.
The poetic genre allows Awoonor to encapsulate decades of cultural conflict in a few short, powerful stanzas. This concise power is the essence of poetry, distinct from the expansive detail found in prose.
Period 4: Synthesis and Performance Assessment
The final step in understanding genre is bringing it to life. Whether you are reciting “The Weaver Bird” or recounting a traditional Ghanaian folktale, the genre dictates how you perform. To assess your grasp of these concepts, you must demonstrate clarity, confidence, and appropriate expression.
Key Assessment Focus: Performance and Genre Interpretation
If you perform a folktale (Prose), you must utilize voice modulation, character differentiation, and audience interaction—mirroring the dynamics of oral literature. If you perform a poem (Poetry), you must pay close attention to the rhythm, line breaks, and imagery, using tone to convey the specific emotions, such as the tension and sorrow in Awoonor’s work.
Remember that literature is not merely about identifying definitions; it is about recognizing how the author (or storyteller) uses generic rules to communicate powerful messages about life, culture, and society in Ghana and the world. By comparing the fixed structure of a short story to the fluid nature of an Anansesem, we appreciate the ingenuity embedded in both oral and written traditions.
The ability to compare the form (genre) and the medium (oral/written) helps you make meaningful connections between classic African epics and modern Ghanaian novels, proving that foundational stories remain relevant regardless of the medium.
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