ORAL LITERATURE ANSWERS/ SHORT NOTES FORM 4P AND 4R (2

ORAL LITERATURE ANSWERS/ SHORT NOTES FORM 4P AND 4R (2nd Task)

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FORM 4P AND 4R ORAL LITERATURE ANSWERS (2nd Task)

1. Define the term oral literature. Spoken, acted and performed art whose transmission/

presentation/media is by word of mouth.

2. Identify three main genres/ categories/forms/types/ kinds/ classes of oral

literature.

Oral narratives

Short forms

Oral songs/ poems

3. State eight (8) types/ sub-genres/ sub-categories/ sub-classes of oral narratives.

Legends

Myths

Dilemma

Aetiological/ Explanatory/ Why stories (tales)

Trickster narratives/ tales/ stories

Ogre/ monster narratives

Fables

Parables

4. State all short forms:

Proverbs

Riddles

Tongue twisters.

Puns

Jokes

Idioms

5. State at least 5 key characteristics of the 8 sub-genres/ sub-categories of oral

narratives.

a) Legends:

They are historical.

Based on community hero/ heroine.

Hero/ heroine have supernatural powers/ abilities.

True in nature.

Hero/ heroine usually sacrifices a lot on behalf of the community.

Have a moral lesson.

b) Myths:

Are sacred/ religious.

Tell about origin of a community; certain beliefs and customs.

There is reference to superhuman being/ Involve superhuman being.

Based on history of a community.

c) Dilemma tales/ narratives:

Protagonist has to make a tough choice.

None of the choice is easy to make.

Protagonist usually regrets the choice made.

Always ends with a question.


d) Aetiological/ Explanatory narratives:

Explain the origin of natural phenomena/ occurrences.


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Explain why things are the way they are.

Deal with the question: Why?

Heavily rely on the cultural background of the community.


e) Trickster narratives/ tales/ stories

Involve treachery/ deceit/ cunning; trickster tricks another, dupe is tricked.

Involve small versus big animals.

Small animals are usually intelligent and cunning.

Big animals are usually mighty but gullible and foolish.

Test brain (intelligence) versus brawn (strength/ power)

Small animals always trick the big animals.

Have moral lesson.

f) Ogre/ monster narratives

Involve interaction between ogres/ monsters and human beings.

Involve creatures from human imagination and fantasy (unreality).

Creatures have the ability turn themselves into human forms.

Creatures always take advantage of the vulnerable/ weak in the society.

Monsters/ ogres are pursued/ hunted by heroes/ heroines.

Teach a moral lesson.

g) Fables

Involve animal characters.

The animal characters give human qualities and attributes (traits) –

personified.

Derived from particular backgrounds.

Politely teach social norms/ standards/ rules.

Teach a moral lesson.

h) Parables

Have a religious allusion/ reference.

Used to teach a moral lesson.

Are a form of education.

Use human characters.

6. State the appropriate steps/ stages in a riddling process/ cycle.

Invitation – Challenger draws the attention of audience using an opening

formula, for instance: ‘Have a riddle.’

Acceptance- Respondent responds or accepts to take the challenge, for

instance: ‘Throw it.’

Challenge/Riddle – Challenger poses/ gives the challenge (riddle) itself.

Guesses or answers- Respondents try to answer; provide guesses.

Prize – Challenger asks for a prize in order to provide a solution in cases

where respondents fail to answer it correctly. The prize is given, challenger

finally accepts it.

Solution – Challenger gives the right answer.

7. Highlight reasons why we study oral literature.

A form of education.

To understand our culture.

To understand our history.


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As a form of entertainment.

For recreation; leisure.

National integration.

8. Body languages:

Nodding

Smiling

Sitting posture (upright or leaning forward)

Dancing

Clapping/ applauding

Laughing

Frowning

Waving

Stamping feet.

9. Verbal skills/ devices/ cues:

Voice projection; in order to audible.

Tonal variation; to break monotony & create interest.

Stress; to emphasize on certain issue/ point.

Intonation; to express different feelings/ moods and meanings.

Proper articulation (pronunciation)

10. Non-verbal cues/ devices/ para-linguistic; extra-linguistic features:

Use of gestures (gesticulation); stretching hands, waving, swinging, pointing,

clapping, thumbing, raising hand, spreading hands, shaking hands etc

Facial expression; smiling, nodding, frowning, blinking, widening eyes, eye

contact, winking etc

Body movement; bending, stretching one’s body, enlarging stomach, curtsying

,bowing, shaking one’s body etc

Dramatization/ dramatic aspects; acting out scenes like jumping etc

Pregnant pauses; significant/ meaningful pauses (breaks) - to achieve certain

effects such as suspense.

Mimicry; imitation of sounds specific certain animals or beings during

narration.

11. Body languages that show alertness on the part of audience:

Nodding

Smiling

Clapping

Applauding

Laughing

Sitting upright

Leaning forward

12. Ways in which the audience can contribute towards a successful delivery of a

narrative:

Joining in choral parts (singing).

Clapping/ applauding.

Cheering.


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Telling parts of the story.

Nodding in agreement.

13. Conventional ways of attracting attention:

Telling a relevant proverb

Giving an appropriate, summarizing riddle.

Using an appropriate opening phrase/ introductory statement: “I have a story/

take a story/ story story”

Challenging them with a tongue-twister.

Posing/ asking a surprising question.

Ringing a bell or drum

Whistling

Clearing throat

Clapping

14. State at least 4 factors/ cues/ oral devices that make a story interesting/ thrilling/

captivating.

Use of facial expressions; smiling, frowning, nodding, blinking, eye contact etc

Use of gestures; waving, pointing, clapping, swinging hands, greeting, etc

Use of mimicry; imitation – Imitating the sounds typical to different characters

in order to play their role in the performance.

Vary tone/ tonal variation; raising and lowering voice/pitch to express different

moods/ atmosphere (lower voice for love and expressive situations; and high

for anger and surprising/exciting/happy and joyous situations).

Voice projection - Say a word or line in a sharp, sudden and loud voice in

order to reach the audience audibly and clearly as possible.

Dramatization/ dramatic aspects – Enacting/ acting out scenes as if they are

real ones. Performing scenes to make them appear real, memorable and

exciting. For instance, jumping.

Singing – Chanting/ singing in the course of narration in order to break the

monotony of narration, enrich/ supplement the narration with certain

information that would have otherwise been absent, allow audience

participation in narration, capture the attention of the audience, allow smooth

transition from one scene to another, help build audience-narrator rapport, sets

the mood of the narrative and comic relief.

15. State story telling devices that would enliven the narrative; if employed.

Use of facial expressions.

Use of gestures.

Use of mimicry.

Change of tone/ tonal variation.

Dramatization/ enactment of scenes.

Singing.

16. State qualities of a good storyteller/ narrator: He/ should have;

Good memory; must have good retention of the narrative.

Recreates the story afresh/ anew every time it is narrated.

Confident, courageous and determined; composed.

Creative; original and imaginative – should think artistically and creatively.


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Should be able to use mimicry; imitate the speech and actions.

Should know his/ her (their) audience in terms of age, motivational level and

preferences.

Observant; should be a good observer of what is happening in the immediate

environment; should master elements in the community and use/ apply them

appropriately and easily during narration.

Knowledgeable in terms of culture; should have interest in culture.

Open-minded

Employs dramatization and other para-linguistic features to enhance

performance.

17. State typical features of narratives and songs/ poems.

Timelessness: The exact time when narrative took place is not mentioned.

It is indicated by the presence of opening and closing formula.

Elements of fantasy: They have elements/ aspects of imagination; things

beyond the experience of a normal human being; for instance animals or

inanimate objects talking.

The presence of ogres.

Moral lessons: Narratives have teachings (virtues/morals) drawn from them.

They should be given positively. For instance, we should be honest.

Direct Address/ direct speech: Speaker talks directly to another person,

animal or inanimate object (apostrophe).

Beginning/ opening formula:

Long ago….

Once upon a time….

There lived….

In older days….

Functions of opening formula:

It announces the start of the narrative.

It attracts the attention of the audience.

It identifies the narrator.

It takes the audience to the world of fantasy.

Closing/ ending formula:

That is the end of my story.

And that is my story.

Thereafter and they lived happily.

My story ends there.

Functions of closing formula:

It announces the end of the narrative.

It releases the audience from concentration.

It paves way for the next narrative.

It brings back the audience to the world of reality.

Ideophones: Repetition of actual natural sounds in which the words are not

found in the dictionary. For instance, krrrr…Ouch! Hahaha…, tap tap tap….

Dialogue: Conversation between characters is evident in narratives.

This is to make it live, real and captivating.


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Personification: Human qualities/ attributes are given to animals or inanimate

objects. For instance, stone talking or hare laughing.

Repetition/ Refrain/ Chorus// Repetition of action: Aspects of repetition of

words, phrases, clauses or sentences are evident in order to:

Emphasize on certain point(s), concept(s), issue(s), topic(s) or idea(s).

It also creates rhythm in the narrative.

It gives mood to the narrative.

Use of local/ ethnic words: Use of vernacular language i.e Wat, ‘Mikai,

Misumba, chik, dak’ in order;

Give the narrative a local flavour/ beauty.

Provide setting; place where the story was set.

Mimicry: Imitation of words or sounds of other characters.

Use of proverbs: This is in order to precisely/ briefly capture the moral lesson

of the narrative.

Use of songs: This is in order to;

Allows the audience to participate in singing.

Creates rapport between the audience and the singer.

Breaks the monotony of narration.

It acts as a code/ system of communication between characters.

It allows as a comic relief; makes audiences laugh hence relieving

tension.

Sets the mood of the narrative.

Allows smooth transition between scenes.

Lack geographical specificity: Narratives lack exact mention of particular

places where the story is set. It just uses words such as:

Far far away.

In a distant place.

18. Highlight general features of songs.

Involves aspects of poetry and chants (singing and jumping).

Community property.

Have lots of traditional elements.

Dynamic; keep on absorbing new themes.

Reflect real experiences in contemporary society.

Use images and symbols from the immediate environment.

Have refrain/ chorus to allow audience participation.

Are in verse form (group of lines that form a single unit).

Use lots of repetition.

Have rhetorical questions, similes, metaphors, rhyme and rhythm.

19. State features of an oral song/poem.

Repetition

Transliteration/ direct translation

Direct address/ Apostrophe

Short stanzas/ lines

Parallelism; uniformity in structure

Simple vocabulary.


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Figurative language.

20. Describe the poetic language/structure evident in songs.

Repetition/ refrain

Rhetorical/ rhetoric questions

Similes

Metaphors

Rhythm

Rhyme

Verse form

21. Explain the aspects of integration that exist between oral songs and oral poetry:

Sound pattern; rhyme – creates rhythm leading to musicality and memorability.

Repetition/ refrain. – creates emphasis and musicality and aid in memorability.

Figures of speech/ figurative language; simile, metaphors, personification etc.

Rhetorical questions

22. Highlight key themes typical to legends:

Prophecy and supernatural powers.

Important service to the community.

Major struggles.

Betrayal.

Victory and defeat.

23. Identify types of oral/ poems songs with their respective alternative names if

applicable:

Work songs

Love songs

Political songs

Religious/ sacred songs

Wedding songs

Topical songs.

Initiation/ circumcision songs

Funeral songs/ dirges

War songs

Teasing/ satirical songs

Praise/ panegyric songs.

Lullaby songs

Children’s play songs/ singing games

Chain songs

Child naming songs

24. Highlight typical, key and specific features and functions of every type of song:

Love songs;

Express love for the opposite sex; woo them.

They can express sorrow at being rejected.

Either performed by a group or individual.

They are romantic in nature.

They can involve dialogue between lovers.


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Wedding songs;

They are sung by the bride and/ or her companions.

They are characterized by pomp/ show and celebration.

They are usually accompanied by drums, shakers, jingles etc

Praise the pride and groom and their family.

Express the role of the bride and that of the groom.

Express sorrow of leaving home and parting with friends.

Warn of the challenges likely to be faced at groom’s place.

Enhance happy mood during the wedding time.

War songs: They are sung in preparation for, during and after war by warriors.

They are highly repetitive.

Express fighter’s prowess/ heroism and courage.

Are exaggerated.

May scorn/ condemn opponent.

Praise political leaders.

Sung with lots of gusto/ enthusiasm/ passion/ enjoyment/ delight/ pleasure/

zest.

Sacred songs:

They have stanzas and a chorus.

They are structurally repetitive.

They are slow and solemn.

They have steady rhythm.

They address a supreme being and emphasize people’s helplessness.

Work songs:

They are hardly accompanied except with sounds of work tools.

They are fast so as to create rhythm for work.

They are repeated over to last the duration of the job at hand.

They may extol/ praise hardwork and denounce/ condemn laziness.

They may ridicule/ condemn/ deride a known miser or lazy person in the

community.

Initiation/ Circumcision songs:

They are sung by initiates and elders.

They have elaborate accompaniments like shakers, horns, drums etc

They encourage the initiates to be brave.

They mock cowardice.

They emphasize the new roles of the initiates as men and women the

community.

They appreciate forefathers of the community for upholding and bequeathing/

living this tradition for them.

They raise the bravery of the initiates.

Dirges/ Funeral songs:

They are sung by mourners.

They are somber/ sad/ melancholic.

They are repetitive.

They may be fast or slow.


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They are accompanied with a lot of drumming and dancing to cheer up the

bereaved.

They express sorrow and disbelief at the loss of loved one.

They praise the achievement and virtues of the dead.

Lullabies:

They are sung softly.

Are repetitive.

Have slow rocking rhythm.

Have soothing words that even lying to the child. Some lie that mother has

gone away to bring the child a tantalizing/ enticing/alluring gift.

Singing games:

They are short and quick-changing from song to song to avoid children getting

bored.

They are repetitive.

They are characterized with mockery/ ridicule.

Are highly playful.

Are rhythmic.

25. Compare and contrast myths and legends:

Similarities;

They are stories- they have plot and characters.

Based on oral tradition.

They are mostly transmitted orally.

Usually specific to a group of people.

Involve things from the immediate environment; forests, lakes etc

Involve gods and supernatural world.

They are believed to be true.

They tell about someone or events in the past.

Differences:

Legends are solely based on exploits/ achievements of human characters while

myths sometimes only involve gods and animals.

Some legends are attributed to historical characters, like Lwanda Magere

while myths are purely fictional/ imaginary.

Legends revolve around historical characters, events, their struggles and

achievements while myths revolve around the origin/ creation of people and

other things (customs, taboos etc), and events in their environment such as

death.

Myths are religious (sacred) while legends historical.

Legends Myths

1. Involve exploits/ achievements of

human characters.

Involve gods and animals.

2. Involve historical characters like

Lwanda Magere

Involve fictional/ imaginary

characters.

3. They explain events, struggles and

achievements of real, human

characters.

They explain the origin/ creation of

people and other things (customs,


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taboos, death and other natural

occurrences)

4. They are religious (sacred). They are historical.

26. Briefly describe the term didactic function in literature: They refer to educative

function.

27. State the main features of panegyric (praise) songs:

They use extensive metaphors; comparing people to animals to promote certain

admirable/ valuable qualities.

They glorify people especially good leaders with admirable qualities.

28. Similarities between tongue twisters and proverbs.

They both use mnemonics, sound patterns, alliteration and assonance.

They are brief.

They are fixed.

They are communally accepted.

29. Highlight the key features of short forms; proverbs, riddles, tongue-twisters, puns

and jokes:

Proverbs:

Precise/ short

Metaphorical; have hidden meanings

Have fixed wordings.

Express community’s wisdom and philosophy (principle)

Serious statement in nature.

Based on facts.

They can have two parts; proposition and completion.

Riddles:

Short/ brief

Metaphorical; have word puzzle that require solution.

Require two people to complete

Informal

In question-answer format.

Symmetrical (show balance and trimness in structure)

Has opening formula

Performed by children

Tongue twisters:

Are brief statements.

Are alliterative

May or may not make sense

May be formed at any time as they are not hard and fast.

30. Describe the key aspects of plot commonly evident in narratives.

Exposition – The beginning

Rising action

Climax - The middle

Falling action (denouement)

Resolution – The end.


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31. Identify the things lost when a tongue-twister is translated:

Authenticity; accuracy, originality

Local flavour; beauty.

Connotative meaning.

Sound pattern; alliteration/rhythm/ musicality.

32. Define the term translation and transcription in oral literature.

Translation: changing oral literature material from original language to a language of

study – for instance, English.

Transcription: writing down oral literature material from a tape without altering

anything.

33. Explain the term respondent in two different contexts:

a) A person who accepts/ reacts to a challenge given by challenger in riddling

process.

b) A person who answers the informant upon questioning during the interview.

34. Explain the importance of opening and closing formula:

a) Opening formula;

Marks the start of the narrative.

Takes the audience to the world of fantasy (imagination).

b) Closing formula;

Marks the end of narrative.

Brings the audience back to the world of reality.

Invites another narrator to take his/ her turn.

35. State and explain 4 classification of proverbs:

Advisory proverbs; advise/ counsel.

Cautionary proverbs; warn/ caution.

Normative proverbs; reinforce/ strengthen what the society considers desirable/

valuable: ‘All that glitters is not gold.’

Summative proverbs; summarize words of wisdom to give moral lesson.

36. State 6 aspects of performance:

Use of costume

Intonation

Sound track; recorded music accompanying performance.

Gestures

Movements

Props/ décor; anything movable/ portable on stage.

37. State 5 ways of beginning a story in order to attract the attention of the audience:

Telling a relevant proverb

Giving an appropriate, summarizing riddle.

Using an appropriate opening phrase/ introductory statement: “I have a story/

take a story/ story story”

Challenging them with a tongue-twister.

Ringing a bell or drum

Whistling

Clearing throat

Clapping


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38. Outline the social functions of all short forms:

Proverbs:

Entertainment

Recording history

Cultural transmission

For education purposes

A measure of wisdom

Promotion of morality/ social norms

Enrich language

To console

To praise

To compare situations and things

To caution/ warn.

Riddles:

Entertainment

Recording history.

A commentary on human life.

Linguistic training

A form of education

To sharpen critical thinking/ wits.

Tongue twisters:

Entertainment.

A pastime activity.

39. Identify some social/ socio-cultural, socio-economic and economic activities

evident in some narratives:

Farming

Fishing

Animal husbandry/ pastoralism

Hunting

Bee keeping

Brewing

Cattle raiding; social activity. etc

40. State the importance of a song during narration:

Allows the audience to participate in singing.

Creates rapport between the audience and the singer.

Breaks the monotony of narration.

It acts as a code/ system of communication between characters.

It allows as a comic relief; makes audiences laugh hence relieving tension.

Sets the mood of the narrative.

Allows smooth transition between scenes.

ORAL LITERATURE ANSWERS/ SHORT NOTES FORM 4P AND 4R (2

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