Types of Literature (Oral and Written Literature) – JSS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note (First Term)

Literature exists in two main forms: oral and written. Oral literature is spoken or performed and passed from person to person by talking, such as folktales, proverbs, riddles and songs. Written literature is put down in writing on paper or typed, such as novels, plays, poems and essays, and it stays the same once published.

Subject: Literature in English
Class: JSS 1
Duration: 40 minutes
Topic: Types of Literature (Oral and Written Literature)

Behavioural objectives

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

1. Identify the two main types of literature
2. Explain what oral literature means with examples
3. Explain what written literature means with examples
4. State the differences between oral and written literature

Previous knowledge

Students have learned about the meaning and functions of literature. They know that people have been telling and writing stories for many years.

Teaching aids

• Chart showing types of literature
• Audio recording of a folktale
• Sample books and magazines
• Pictures showing storytelling sessions

Introduction (5 minutes)

The teacher tells students a very short story without using any book or paper, then asks:

• Did I read this story from a book?
• How did you hear the story?
• Have you ever heard stories told without books?

The teacher explains that today they will learn about the two main ways literature exists.

What are the two types of literature?

Time: 5 minutes

Literature exists in two main forms:

1. Oral literature: stories and poems passed from mouth to mouth
2. Written literature: stories and poems written down in books and papers

Sometimes, oral literature later becomes written literature when someone writes it down.

Why are both types important?

Oral literature connects us to our ancestors and traditions. Written literature allows us to preserve stories for a very long time and share them with people far away. Many of our greatest stories exist in both forms today.

What is oral literature?

Time: 15 minutes

Oral literature is the type of literature that people speak or perform. Nobody writes it down. People pass these stories, songs and poems from one person to another by talking. Your grandmother telling you a story about the tortoise is oral literature. A praise singer performing at a ceremony is also sharing oral literature.

Before writing became common in Africa, this was how our people kept their history and culture alive. Children sat around their parents and grandparents in the evening to listen to stories and learn important lessons.

Forms of oral literature

1. Folktales and stories: These are traditional stories passed down through generations. Examples include:
   • Tortoise and the birds
   • Why the bat flies at night
   • How mosquito came to buzz in people’s ears
   • Anansi the spider tales
2. Proverbs: These are wise sayings that teach lessons. For example:
   • “A child who says his mother will not sleep, he too will not sleep”
   • “When the music changes, the dance steps must also change”
3. Riddles: These are questions that make you think hard to find answers. For example:
   • “I have a house with no door, what am I?” (An egg)
   • “What has teeth but cannot eat?” (A comb)
4. Songs and chants: Work songs, lullabies, war songs and praise songs all belong here. Farmers sing while working on the farm. Mothers sing to put babies to sleep.
5. Myths and legends: These are stories about gods, heroes and how things came to be. Stories about Sango, Ogun and other deities are examples.
6. Tongue twisters: These are phrases that are difficult to say quickly. Example: “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

Characteristics of oral literature

• Performed live in front of people
• Passed from person to person by speaking
• The storyteller can change parts of the story
• Uses voice, gestures and facial expressions
• Often includes audience participation
• No fixed or permanent form
• Easy to forget if not repeated regularly

Class activity

The teacher asks three students to come forward and tell a short folktale they know. Other students listen and participate.

What is written literature?

Time: 12 minutes

Written literature is any form of literature that someone has written down on paper, carved on stone or typed on a computer. Once a story is written, it stays the same way. Anyone who reads it will see the exact same words. The person who wrote it may not even be alive any more, but the work remains.

Written literature started when people learned how to write. In Nigeria, written literature in English became popular after the colonial period when more people learned to read and write in English.

Forms of written literature

1. Novels: These are long stories written in a book. Examples:
   • “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
   • “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2. Short stories: These are brief stories that you can read in one sitting. Many magazines and newspapers publish short stories.
3. Poetry: These are poems written down with careful attention to words, rhythm and meaning. We have collections of poems in books called anthologies.
4. Drama and plays: These are stories written in the form of dialogue, meant to be performed on stage. However, people can also read them as books. An example is “The Lion and the Jewel” by Wole Soyinka.
5. Essays: These are written pieces that explain ideas or argue about topics.
6. Biographies and autobiographies: These are written stories about people’s lives. A biography is written by someone else, while an autobiography is when you write about your own life.

Characteristics of written literature

• Permanent and does not change
• Can be read many years after it was written
• Reaches many people across different places
• The author cannot change it once published
• Requires literacy (ability to read and write)
• Can be translated into other languages
• Preserved in libraries and schools

Class discussion

The teacher asks students to mention any storybook they have read or seen in their library.

What are the differences between oral and written literature?

Time: 3 minutes

Students should note that many written stories today started as oral stories that someone later wrote down.

Evaluation (3 minutes)

1. What are the two main types of literature?
2. Give three examples of oral literature.
3. Mention two characteristics of written literature.
4. What is the main difference between oral and written literature?
5. Can you name one Nigerian novel?

Assignment

1. Ask an elderly person in your family to tell you one proverb and explain what it means. Write it down in your notebook.
2. Go to your library and copy the title and author of one novel you find there.
3. Write down one riddle you know and bring it to class next week.
4. In your own words, explain why oral literature is important in Nigerian culture.