The Meaning, History, and Functions of Literature JSS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note

Subject: Literature in English
Class: JSS 1
Duration: 40 minutes
Topic: The Meaning, History, and Functions of Literature

LESSON OBJECTIVES

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

1. Explain what literature means in their own words
2. Mention at least three functions of literature
3. Describe how literature started and developed over time

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE

Students have been reading stories, listening to folktales, and watching movies. They already know some Nigerian stories like tortoise tales and Anansi the spider stories.

TEACHING AIDS

• Chart showing different types of books
• Sample storybooks and poetry collections
• Pictures of famous Nigerian writers

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)

The teacher asks students:

• Who has read a storybook before?
• Can anyone tell us a folktale their grandmother or grandfather told them?
• Why do people tell stories?

The teacher listens to their answers and uses them to introduce the topic.

LESSON DEVELOPMENT

STEP 1: What is Literature? (10 minutes)

Literature is simply the art of writing and reading stories, poems, plays, and other creative works. When you read a novel, listen to a poem, or watch a play, you are experiencing literature.

Think of literature as a special way people share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through writing. Just like how a musician uses songs to express emotions, a writer uses words to create literature.

Examples of literature include:

• Storybooks and novels (like “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe)
• Poems and verses
• Plays and dramas
• Folktales and legends

Class Activity: The teacher asks students to mention any story or book they have read or heard about.

STEP 2: The History of Literature (12 minutes)

Literature has been around for thousands of years. Long before people learned how to write, they told stories by speaking. Grandparents told stories to their children, and those children told the same stories to their own children. This is called oral literature.

In ancient times: In places like ancient Egypt and Greece, people started writing down their stories on papyrus and stone tablets. They wrote about their gods, heroes, and important events.

In Africa and Nigeria: Our ancestors passed down stories through talking. They told tales about Sango, Anansi the spider, the cunning tortoise, and brave hunters. These stories taught children lessons about life. Later, when writing came to Africa, people began to write down these stories so they would not be forgotten.

Modern times: Today, we have many Nigerian writers who write in English and our local languages. Writers like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie, and many others have made Nigerian literature famous around the world.

Class Discussion: The teacher asks: “Can anyone share a folktale they know? Who told you this story?”

STEP 3: Functions of Literature (10 minutes)

Literature serves many important purposes in our lives:

1. Entertainment Literature makes us happy and helps us relax. When you read an interesting story or watch a play, you feel entertained. It takes your mind away from worries and boredom.
2. Education Through literature, we learn new things. Stories teach us about different places, people, and cultures. We learn new words and improve our language skills. Many stories also teach us moral lessons.
3. Preserving Culture Literature helps us remember our history and culture. When we read or hear traditional stories, we learn about our ancestors and their way of life. Literature keeps our traditions alive for future generations.
4. Social Commentary Writers use literature to talk about problems in society. They write about issues like poverty, corruption, injustice, and other challenges. This helps people think about these problems and find solutions.
5. Emotional Expression Literature allows people to express their feelings. Through poems and stories, writers share their joy, sadness, anger, love, and other emotions. When we read their work, we connect with these feelings.
6. Building Imagination Reading literature helps our minds become more creative. We imagine the places, people, and events in the stories. This imagination helps us become better thinkers and problem solvers.

Class Activity: Students work in pairs to discuss which function of literature they find most interesting and why.

EVALUATION (3 minutes)

1. What is literature?
2. Mention two ways people shared stories in ancient times.
3. Give three functions of literature.
4. Name one Nigerian writer you know.
5. Why is literature important in our lives?

CONCLUSION

The teacher summarizes that literature is the art of creative writing that has existed for thousands of years. It serves many purposes including entertainment, education, and preserving our culture. Literature continues to be very important in modern society.

ASSIGNMENT

1. Write down one folktale you know and explain what lesson it teaches.
2. Visit your school library and write down the titles of three storybooks you find there.
3. Ask your parents or grandparents to tell you a traditional story and be ready to share it with the class next week.