ORAL LITERATURE NOTES AND MODELQUESTION PAPERS CHAPTERONE ABRIEFINTRODUCTION ----- Oralliteratureisone of theareastestedinLiterature inEnglishoftheKenya Certificateof SecondaryEducationExaminations.TheotherareasinthispaperincludeTheNovel, Drama,PoetryandtheShortStory . WhatisOralliterature? Haveyou ever imagined what lifewaslike inthe days ofour great great grandfathers?Howdidtheyspendtheirleisuretime?Certainlytheydidnotspend theirfree time reading the worksoftheirgreatwriters.Thisissimplybecause they could notread.The civilization ofreading andwriting was stillatits rudimentarystagesandin somepartsoftheworldthiscivilizationwasunheard of.Booksasweknowthemtodayareamuchrecentinvention. Butarewesuggestingthatsimplybecausetherewereno novelsorshortstories asweknow themtoday,therewerenostoriesorpoemsorotherartisticforms?Far from it!From timeimmemorial,man has always told stories.He has always recitedpoems.Thesestoriesandpoemsareareflectionofhumanityatvarious stages on development.Itis through stories and poems thatpeople define themselves:whotheyare;whattheybelievein;whattheyvalue;theiroccupations; whattheyeatetc. Sincetheartofwritingwasnotaswidespreadasitistoday,howwerethese stories, poemsand songspreservedand transmitted?They werepreserved inpeoples memoryand transmittedbywordofmouth.InadditionAfricansocietiesforinstance,theextended familywouldgatheratthehearth(fireplace)intheeveningaftersupperandspend timetellingstoriesandposingriddles. Childrenwould memoriesthesestories andriddlesandwouldsoonstartretelling them andwhentheygrewup,theywouldhandthem down totheirchildrenandthe cyclewouldcontinue. Thissituationstill obtains inmanysocieties today.This especially thecaseinmanyruralareaswhereoneislikelytofindcommunitiesthose arelargelyhomogenous.Inthesecommunitiesoralliteratureisverymuchalive A mentioned above,oralliterature is transmitted byword ofmouth.Forthis reasonitiscalledoral. As you revise oralliterature,therefore,you should bear in mind that Oral Literatureis spoken,generallyperformedand oftendramatizedby a skilled performer.That meansthatifyouarereadinganarrativeforinstance,youhavetobearinmind thatthenarrativewasactuallyperformedtoaliveaudienceasopposedtoanovelor a shortstorywhoseoriginalformatwasthewritten form.Youshould alsoco nsiderthatthetargetaudienceforaparticularpieceoforalsharesacommonsocial, culturalandhistoricalbackground.Theycould,forinstancebemembersofa particularethniccommunityorevenmembersofthesamevillageorclan. Oralliterature:Amisnomer? Much oftheconfusion surrounding thestudyoforalliteraturestemsfrom the verynatureofthenameofthesubject:Oralliterature.OxfordAdvancedLearner sDictionarydefinesthewordoralasspoken;notwritten:an oralexamination, ----- storiespassedon by oraltradition (i.e.from one generation to the nextwithout beingwritten) The same dictionary defines the wordliteratureaswritingsthatarevaluedas worksofartespeciallyfiction,drama,andpoetry. From thetwodefinitionsabovewearequicktonotethattheterm oralliterature generatesanobviouscontradiction.Thatwhichisoralcannotalsobewritten atthesame time.Itis becauseofthe contradiction by this term that many scholarshavesuggested alternativetermsto describethesubject.Theseinclude verbalart,orature,performedartetc.Ifyouwereaskedtosuggestamoresuitable termtorefertothesamesubject,whatwouldyouuse? FeaturesoforalLiterature These are features thatdistinguishoralliterature from otherforms ofliterature suchastheNovelandtheShortStory. Thespokenword AsopposedtotheNovel,andtheShortStorywhoserawmaterialsisthewritten word, OralLiteraturereliesonthespokenword. Narrativesand songsarepassed down from onegeneration tothenextthrough the spokenwordpreserved inin peoplesmemoryasopposedtothewrittenword preservedin books.Itis onlyaftertheinventionofwriting thatmostoftheoral literaturepieceshavebeenwrittendownsothattheycanbereadilyavailableto peopleforstudyandanalysis. Occasion As opposedto the writtenformsofliterature,someoftheoralliterature pieces callfor Specificoccasionsto beperformed.Forinstancetherewillbesongsperformed during marriageceremonies,funerals,whilesoothingthebaby tosleep,whenworking, beforegoing towaretc.Inotherformsliteratureforinstancethenovel,theshortstoryordrama, theaspectofoccasionisnotimportant.Forinstanceonecanreadanovelanytime. Performance Oralliterature livesinperformanceOne cannotforinstance, fullyappreciate a weddingsongunlessitisperformedinordertounderstandandenjoy.Whenoral literaturepiecesarewrittendown,theaspectsofperformancearelost. Reasonsforstudyingoralliteratureinschool/importanceoforalliterature Oralliteratureformsan importantpartofinformaleducation byteaching people to improvetheirSelfexpression, Powersofobservationandmemory.Italsosharpenstheir ----- WitsandImagination,Itteaches peopleSocialvaluesBehaviourandHowtorelateto theworldandtoothersItalsoinformspeopleontheircollectivehistoryandculture, It isalsoarichsourceofentertainment, Ithelpsusappreciatethecultureofotherco mmunities in our country leading toabetterunderstanding ofthese cultures, whichcouldleadto socialcohesion(unityindiversity). Someformsoforalliteraturecould beused to mobilizethemassestoward a certain goal.ThefightagainstHIV/AIDShasbeenlargelyconductedthroughsongs. Typesoforalliterature Thesearealso calledgenres orformsorevenclassificationsoforalliterature.They include: 1.Oralnarratives 2.Songs/oralpoetry 3.TheShortForms. )a)Proverbs b)Tonguetwisters c)Riddles CHAPTER TWO ORALNARRATIVES Thesearefurthercategorized/classified a.Myths b.Legends c.Etiological/explanatorynarratives d.Tricksternarratives e.Monsternarratives F Humannarratives MYTHS a.Amythisastorythatattempttoexplaintheoriginsofaparticularphenomenon. b.Itcouldaccountfortheoriginsofacommunity,orothernaturalphenomena. A mythinvolvesgodsandothersupernaturalbeingsintheirstructure. Communitiestreasurethem becauseoftheirreligiousvalueandastheirofficial accounthowtheycameintobeing. ExampleofaMyth THEORIGINOFDEATH(Kalenjin) AccordingtotheKalenjin,thenumberofhuntersintheirland hadincreasedsomuch thatthe wildanimalsWere beenwipedout.These huntersdecided tohuntallthe animalsoftheplain.Onedayoneofthehuntersstoppedtodrinkfrom apool.Ashe wasdrinkingfrom thepool,henoticedareflectioninthewater.Thereflectionwasver ybeautiful.Itwasabirdthatlookedlikeacock.Thefeatherswereverybeautifulbut ----- insteadofhavingtwo legs thisbird had four.Theheadwaslargeandhadablue comb. Thehunterwonderedwhatthisbirdwas.Hehadneverseensuchacreaturein allhislife.Hethoughthewasdreaming.Hefinished drinking waterand rosetogo, butthenherealizedthatthecreaturewasareality.Thecreaturemovedandwatched thehunter.Thehunter in turnwatchedthecreature.Certainly the creature was strange.The hunter decided to aim an arrow atit.Perhapsthemeatofthe unknowncreaturewasverysweet,hethoughtashereleasedthearrow. Afterthestrangecreaturefelldead,therefollowedrainthatwasheavierthathadever beenknownbefore.Therainwasfullofthunderandlightning.Nobodyknowswhere thehunterwent.Allthatisknown isthatheneverreturned tohisfamily.Andfrom thatdayofheavyrain,peoplebegantosleepforever. AstheKalenjinsay,thundergotveryangryattheshootingofhisinnocentson, and so he sentheavyrainanddeathas punishmentto people.Beforetheheavy rain,peoplehadsleptandwokenupasusual.Thusthelongsleepknownasdeathwas causedbythehunterscuriousity. Note Thisstoryattemptsto explaintheoriginofdeath,animportantphenomenon.It isdeliveredinaserioustoneandinvolvespowerfulsupernaturalbeing,thunder. LEGENDS Thesearenarrativesaboutmemorablehistoricaleventsandpeople.Eventshere may includeinterethnicwars,famines,migrationofpeopleand soon.Some of the historically significantpeople who feature in legends include warriors andgreat chiefssuchasLwandaMagere(Luo),WangombeWaihura(Gikuyu),Gor Mahia (LUO)etc. Intheprocessofbeingpassedonfrom onegenerationtoanother,legendmay acquire elements offantasy as exaggerations are added, perhaps as a way ofemp hasizingthe mightofthesubjectofthelegend.Agoodexampleoftheseelementsoffantasyisto befoundinthestoryofLwandaMagerewhoissaidtohavehadabodysohardthat spearsbouncedoffhisbody! Exampleoflegend THEARINKON(Maasai) Therewereonceapeopleknownastheilarinkonwho wereownersoftheland thatthe Maasaioccupied aftertheirascentfrom the Kerio escarpment.These peoplehad a leaderwho wasamightygiant.Sincehewasverymuch feared,it wasdeemed wisetoavoid him forfearthatuponthe slightestprovocation;he mightdecidetowipeoutthewholeMaasaipopulation.ButtheArinkonremained resentfulof the Maasaioccupation,spreading over their land.They sent messagestellingthemtoleave. ButtheMaasaiwereunwilling to leavetherichlyendowed country,having just ----- recoveredfromtheformidableascentoftheescarpment.Atthesametime,they were reluctantto fightpeoplewhose mightthey were unsure of,especially havingobservedsignsofgreatphysicalmightintheirleader.Theyinsteadplayed tricksonthem.Theystartedbybribingthem withgiftsofcattle,sheepandvarious otheritems,with the hope ofbeing permitted to stay on.Butthese people developedahabitofpesteringtheMaasaiwiththeintentionofgettingthem fed up,hopingtomakethemleave,eithertowherevertheyhadcomefromorelsewhere. Oneday,theArinkonchiefsentamessagetotheMaasaisaying,Wewillletyo ustayifyoubringwarmfrothingmilk. TheMaasaisaid:Verywell,giveuseightdaysandwewillbringit,Sincethe Maasailivedalongwayoff,themilkwouldwithoutdoubthavecooledbeforethey gottotheArinkon chief.Assoonastheygothome,theMaasaicalled a meeting. Closebythemeetingplace,therewasalittleboywhowasherdingcalves.Heheard whattheelderswerediscussingandsaidtothem:Fathers,donotworryyourselves,go anddriveawaythatcowwhosecalveisdeadandwhentheenemieshaveassemb led,milkquicklyandtakethemilkwhileitisstillfrothing. The Maasaiwaited untilthe enemy had assembled,waiting to killthem, not expecting them toproducethemilk.Theymilked thecow and quicklytookthe milk. The Arinkon were staggeredwithshock.Theyimmediately knew thatthey musthavebeentricked.Therulersaid:Verywell,theyhavebeatenusonthisone. Hethentoldthem togoandreturnonacertainday.Onthearrangedday,they returnedtotheArinkon. WhentheMaasaireturnedtheArinkonrulersaidtothem,Inow wantyoutobring measandalwithhaironbothsides. TheMaasaiwereinafix,forwhohadeverseenahidewhichishairyonboth sides?Asthe n sayinggoes,Abilitiesanddeterminationarenoequal.TheMaasaisaid, Verywell. Backatthesamemeetingplace,theyoungboywasbriefedonwhathadtransp ired.Hesaidquickly:Itisasimplematter,goandfindadonkeyandcutoffoneear, makeasandalandtakeittohim. The elders replied:He has spoken the truth.The Arinkon rulerreceived the sandalwithgreatconsternationforhehadnotexpectedtheMaasaitoobtainitatall. TherulersaidtotheMaasai,YoumaynowgobackandwhenIneedsomethingelse Ishallsendforyou. AssoonastheMaasaidepartedtheArinkonheldcounseltofigureoutthemost difficultitem torequesttheMaasai,sothatfailureto procureitwould lead to a fight.WhentheArinkonchiefnextsentfortheMaasai,hesaidtothem:Goandfill upaguardandbringthemtomewhentheyarestillhoppingabout. Theelders wentback to the cleverboy,who had,by then been nicknamed `cleveroneandinformedhim ofwhattheyhadbeentold.Whenheheardit,hesaid: Oh!Fathers,thisisdifficult,but itiseasyatthesame time,butdo notworry yourselvesforwewillfindthem fleas.Takeholdofadonkeyandcutoffsomehair sfrom themaneandcrushinabuffalohorncontainerandputthem inagourd. When you hand the Arinkon the gourd you must make sure you face thewindwardside. ----- Theeldersdidastheyweredirected andsoondeliveredthe`fleas.As theywere handingoverthegourd,theytilteditsothatthehairswereblownaboutbythewind, creatinganimpressionthatthefleasweredashingabout.Theregetholdofthem! theArinkonshouted.Butcouldtheygetholdofthemwhentheyhadalreadydispersed? TheArinkonhadneverbeforebeensoflabbergasted!Anotherdaypassed, and still theArinkondidnotknow whattodo withapeoplethatwereprovingtoosmart forthem.Theyagainheld counselandwhentheynextsummonedtheMalaysia,their leadersaidtothem:Iwantyoutobringmeonlytwomorethings.Bringme ametaltoothbrushand find meawaythatleadsto heaven.TheMaasaidrewtheir handsto theirmouthsin amazement.They requested him to give them three months to find those items.When theyreturned home,theyheldameetingthat lastedthewholeday.Whenthecleverboywasinformedofwhathadbeenrequested, he said:Go and bringmea clubandIwillshow youhow tomakeametal toothbrush.Theywentinsearchofit. Severalclubsweretakentotheboy,buteachtimehetriedtouseoneitwouldbreak. Manyclubsgotbroken.Eventually,he said to the elders:Go to a place called Oletukatandgetmeaclubfromtheologol-timtree,whosestemhadbeenbittenoff bytherhinocerosandthewaterhasgonedown to the roots.Afteralong search, thetree was found,uprootedand taken totheboy.Whenhe tried it,itdid not break.Hesaid.Now letusgototheArinkonwhereIwilltellyouofthemetal toothbrush. Atthefirstflickerofdawn,thepeoplestartedofftotheenemycountry.Theboy wasamong therestwith his club tucked underhis armpit. Theyfound the Ar inkonhavinggatheredto receivewhatwasbrought.Themeetingwasopenedwith theexchangeofnews.Whattheboywasgoingtodowasbynow obvioustothe Maasai.Thefatherofthecleverboystoodup andsaid:Thereheis inacrouching positionwiththenotoriousone**whoseshaftisblackand whose organsofsight detectus.Ifyouarefortheaffirmativeconfirm so wecanfoldtheknee***and approach abovetheorgansthatisbent****so thatthebrain maypop outthro ughthenostrils.Ifyouareforthenegativeconfirmsothatwebeataretreat. The Arinkon did not understand what was said, and started asking themselves:Whatarethesepeoplesaying?Theelderanswered:Wehavesimply said thatwehavebroughtthemetaltoothbrushtheboystood upasthough hewasgoingtohandoverthetoothbrush.HehittheArinkonchiefandtheeyes poppedoutandthebrainoozedoutthroughthenostrils.Whiletheywerebeing beaten, theArinkonwerebeingtoldArinkon,here,havewhatyouhavealwayssought. ThatwaswhentheArinkonracehasalwayssoughtoriginated. **Thespear***Oneoftenhalfkneelsdowninpreparationtospearanobject.****Theear. EXPLANATORY/AETIOLOGICALNARRATIVES These are narratives thatattemptto trace the originsofphysicaland cultural traits.They dealwithlessseriousthemesthanmyths. ----- Examplesofthesenarrativesinclude: 1.Howthezebraacquireditsstripes. 2.Whyhensscratchtheground. 3.Whytheostrichsneckislong Asopposedtomyths -Aetiologicalnarrativesdonotinvolvegodsandthesupernaturalworld. -Theydealwithlessimportantissues. -Aregenerallytoldtochildreninanefforttoquenchtheircuriousity. Examplesofexplanatorynarratives Whycatsliketostaybythefireplace(Bukusu) The catwasformallyawildanimalandlivedin the forest.Theforestwastoo dangerousforthecatso,seeking protection,itattached itselfto an elephant (whom itthoughtwasthemostpowerfulanimal).A lion camealong and killed theelephant.Thecatthethoughtthatthelionwasafterall,themostpowerful animal.Foritsdefence,ithadtomakefriendswiththelion. Thenthehuntercamealongwithhisbow andarrowsandspear.Hekilledthe lion,which hadattempted to attackhim.On his wayhome the hunterwas fo llowed followedbythecat.Whileatthehuntershomethecatremained hidinguntilanopportunityshowedupthecatsdesireforthehuntersfriendship. Oneevening,aratwhichwasdiscoveredeatingthehuntersmeatwaschasedpast wherethecatwashiding.Thecat,havinganaturalhatredforrats,joinedthechase andkilledit.Thehunterhadnochoicebuttopersuadethecattoremaininhis houseandkillrats,whichwereathreattohisfood.Thisisnottheendofthestory.One coldevening,thehunterwentroundtoafireplacewhosemanagerwashiswife. Alltheordersatthefireplaceweregivenbythehunterswifeandthehunterhad toobey.Thecat,watchingthisrelationship,wasquicktonoticethatthehunters wife was stronger than thehunter himself:she orderedhim about.Sothecat decided to stayaround thefireplaceundertheprotectionofthehunterswife.And uptothisday,catsliketostaybythefireplace. THEVULTUREANDTHEHEN Long ago the hen and thevulture used to live on excellentterms,helping each otheratanytimetheyneededahandtoprocuretheirdomesticnecessities. Oneday,thehenthoughtofborrowingarazorfrom thevultureto shavetheir little ones.Theshaving was already much overdue,butitcouldntbe helped, because she had no razor. Andwas depending on the kindness of her neighbours.Sothehenwenttoseevultureandsaid, Dearvulture,Ishould liketo borrow yourrazor;minewaslostmonthsago.My little ones arelookingvery ugly,andalso veryuntidy,withtheirlong,unkempt,o vergrownhair. Thevulturelistenedtothehenwithgreatconcern,afterashortsilence,said,Dear henIcannotrefuseyouthisfavour.Tomorrow perhapsImightneedyourhelp aswell,andwemusthelpeachother.However,youmustrememberonething. Youknow whattherazormeanstome.Ihavenoother incomeexcepttherent ofthatrazor;thatistosaytherazorismyfield,whence ----- Igetmydailyfood.IdonotintendtoaskyouanyfeeasIdowithothers;butplease becarefultoreturnittomeassoonasyouarefinishedwithyourshaving. Thankyou,brothervulture,Iquiteunderstandswhatyou say,and Iam very gratefultoyou.Illbringitbacktoyou. The hen was very gad ofthe favourand as soonas shearrived home,made arrangements to beshaved by another woman.The following morning she shavedherlittleones,sothatthewholefamilywasnowshininglikethemoon.The workover,sheputitinaleatherpurse,whichwashanginginacornerofthehut. Thedayspassedand passedawaylikethewaterunderabridge,butthenhen neverthoughtagain ofreturningtherazortothe vulture.Sheforgotitcompletely. Thevulturegrew impatient,and deeplyresented in hishearttheunkindness,nay theingratitudeofthehen.Pressedbynecessity,hedecidedtopersonallygotothe henanddemandhisrazor. Ohdearvulture,saidthenhenwithconfusionandgreatregret,Forgiveme;Iamso sorryformynegligencereallyintendto returnyourrazorverysoon,butIputit myleatherpurse andforgotaboutitcompletely.Letmegoand bringit;youw3ill haveitinaminute. Yes,Iknow youareaforgetfulcreature;butlookatthedamageyouhaveme. You havedeprived meofmysustenanceformanydays.Mindyou,ifyou have lostit,youwillpayforitandverydearly,saidthevulture.Thehenrushedintothe housetofetchtherazor.Sheplungedherhand into the leatherbag,butalas!It wasempty;therewasnorazorinit.Shewasveryshockedattheunpleasantdisco very.Shestartedsearchingonthefloortosee ifbyanychanceithaddroppedfrom thebag,buttherewasnofindingit.Shelookedunderthechildrensbed,rearthefir e-stones,inthestore;buttherewasnosignofit.Have mercyonme!Iwillsearch better;Iam readytodemolishmyhutaltogether,andarchforitdiligentlyuntilI finditandreturnittoyou. Itoldyoutobecareful,andIrepeatitagain;Iwantmyrazorback!Butmindyou, IwanttheveryrazorIgaveyou,andsosubstitute. Thepoor henspentalldaysearchingandsearching,butnothingcameto.She demolished herhut,andstartedsearchingin the roofgrass,among therubble of thewalls,betweenthepoles,intheashesandevenintherubbishpit;butnothingwas found. The following day the vulture came to see the results ofthe searching.He foundthehenstillscratchingthegroundamongtheheapofdrygrassandox dung;butno razorwas yetdiscovered.Iam verysorrydearhen,said the vulture,butnow Icannotwaitanylongerwithoutcompensationformyrazor.For todayyoumustgivemeachick.TomorrowIwillreturnandseewhathashappenedin themeantime. So thevultureflewawaywith achickgripped within itstalonsunderitsbreast. The followingdayhe returned to the hen.She wasstillscratching the ground; butshecouldntseetherazor. Anotherchickwentawaywith thevulture.And thesamething happened in the followingdaysuntiltoday.Thatis the reason whythe hen is always scratching the ground,and the vultureswoopingon chicks even inourdays.Thehen is alwayssearchingfortherazor,andthevulturecompensatinghimselfforitsloss. ----- TRICKSTERNARRATIVES 1.Thesearenarrativesthatusuallyfeatureacharacter(animalorhuman)that practicesdeceitonothers. 2.Thesestoriesoreoftenthannotareaimedatprovingthatbrainismightierthan brawn. 3.Thisisbecausetheweakercharacter(forinstancethehare)managestotricka biggeranimal(forinstancetheelephant)andget5soutoftrouble. Exampleofatricksternarrative Themonkeyandthecrocodile(Meruversion) Onceupon atimethemonkeyand thecrocodileweregoodfriends.Thecrocodile usedtocometotheriverwhilethemonkeysatonthebranchesoftreesonthebanks oftheriver,andtherethetwofriendswouldspendthewholedaychatting.Thecroco dilewouldtakelonghourstellingthemonkeyinterestingstoriesabouttheworldof water,andtheanimalsthatlivedin theriver.Themonkeywould in turntellthecroco dilestoriesabouttheanimalsthatlivedonthedryland.Thefriendshipcontinuedfora longtime.However,onedaytheostrichwarnedthemonkeythatthecrocodilewasa cunning,dangerousanimal.Youwaitandsee.Itwillnotbelongbeforethecrocodile wantstoeatyou,theostrichtoldthe monkeyashewentonhisway.Thoughthe monkeybegantobe carefulwiththecrocodiletheirfriendshipcontinued.Soon after the crocodile told hisfriend thathiswife had a new born baby.And the cro codilewentontotellthe monkey:Mywife and Iwouldbe veryhappyifyou would visitusandseeournew-bornbaby.Themonkeywithoutasecondthought, agreedto visitthecrocodileandhiswifethenextday.Itwas arrangedthatthe crocodile would meetthemonkeythenextafternoon,andcarryhim onhisbackto theislandonwhichthecrocodileshomewas.Onthenextdaythemonkey,fullof excitement,wentto meethisfriend.Andhefoundthecrocodilewaitingforhim atthe bankofthe river.Afterexchanging greetingsthe monkeyjumped onthe crocodilesbackandthecrocodilebegantoswim ontothedeepwaters.Theywerein the middle of the river when the crocodile began to laugh loudly: Haahaaa..haaa...The monkey was surprised forhe could notunderstand whyhisfriendwaslaughing.Whyareyoulaughing?heasked. Inawarningvoicethecrocodilesaid,AtlastIhavecaughtyou!FormonthsIhave longedtotasteyourheartandIwilldosotoday. Themonkeywasworried andhebegantothinkhow hewouldescape.Aftera shortwhile themonkey toldthe crocodile:Why didntyou tellme thatyou wantedtoeatmyheart?Iwouldhavegivenittoyou,butyouareunfortunate becausemyheartisathome.Andthemonkeywentontoexplaintothecroco dilethatwhen monkeysgo on ajourneytheyleavetheirheartswith theirgrand mothers so thatgrandmothers spice and flavourthe hearts.The monkey persuadedthecrocodilethatifhereallywantedtoeathisheart,heshouldtake him backtotheshoresoftheriver.Takemebacktothebanksoftheriverand Iwillask my grandmothertogiveyou my heart...Themonkeypleadedwiththe crocodile.Thecrocodile,withoutthinking,headed backto thebanksoftheriver. Heswam fastforhebelievedthatthemonkeywouldgivehim hisheart.Withinno ----- timetheywereatthebankoftheriver.Themonkeyjumpedfrom thecrocodilesback ontoatreeandhe begantojump from onetree to the other.When the monkey waswellseatedonabranchonabigtree,hespatatthecrocodileandcursed, Mayyouandyourwifeandchildrenperish!Andasformyheart,youwillnever taste it.And so saying the monkey threw a dead branch atthe crocodile, whichswam backintothedeepwaters.Andthatishowtheirfriendshipended. DILEMMANARRATIVE These are stories which showa characterorgroup faced with two ormore choices, usuallyofmoralnature,noneofwhichiseasierto make.Suchastoryismeant to initiatecriticaljudgmentanddebateamongtheaudience. A classicexamplein Africa isthestoryofa greatdroughtupon which theo racle ordainshumansacrificebemade.Thevictim isusuallythemostbeautifulgirlinthe village.Herfamilyistornbetweenheedingtheoracleswordanddeclining,which would mean thatthesocietyperishes.Thereisaconflictbetween theloveof the parentsfortheirdaughterandloyaltytothesociety. MONSTER/OGRENARRATIVES Thesearestoriesthatfeaturemafantastic,grotesquecreaturethatisusually representativeofevil.Monstersusuallymasqueradeasbeautifulwomenorhandso me men and use theirphysicalattractivenesstoluretheirunsuspectingpreysinto marriage. Their preys sofullofthemselvesarenotabletoseethroughtheogresattractive faade. Usuallyitaperson looked down uponbythecommunitythatmanagestonoticethe evil natureoftheogre.Theogreisusuallykilledandallthepeopleandpropertythat ithad consumedrecovered.Mostogre narratives teach the audience notto underestimate the abilitiesofthosewethink lessendowedthanweare.Theyteach ustolookbeyondtheapparent;notallthatglittersisgold. Exampleofamonsternarrative THEGIRLANDHERMOTHER NarratedbyWambuiwaWaambugu Alongtimeago,therewasagirlandhermother.Themotherofthisgirlhadbeensick foralongtime.Whentheoldmenwenttoadivinerto getadiagnosis,theywouldco mebackandsaythattheyhadbeentoldto haveagoatslaughtered.Theywould slaughterthegoat,eatitbutthemotherwouldnothaveherwoundhealed.They would go,again and return to reportthatthegoatshould beslaughtered.They wouldslaughterthegoat,eatitbutthemotherwouldnotgetherwoundhealed. Onetime,thegirlfollowedthem andhidherself.She,thereforeheardthather ----- motherwouldonlybehealed bythewoolthatisfound between ogres,i.e,their woolthatgetsblownbythewind. Now,shesaidIwillgo.Ihad betterdieand have mymotherhealed.Thegirl thentraveledandtraveledandclimbedupamugumotree.Whensheclimbedthe mugumo tree,sheclimbedhigherandhigheruntilshegotto thetopmostpart.She thengotthewoolthatwasontheogresmugumotree. Whenshegotit,theogreheardthegirlclimbingdownthetree.Hetoldher:I willcutyoungwengweandcutyouagainngwengwe.Itistheogrenowtellingthe girl.Andthegirlstarted singingasfollows:Kamau,ourKamau,meetme,meetme.I amcomingfromgettingthewool,yesthewoolBetweentheogres,betweentheogres Andthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindmeHesayshewillbiteme. Nowthegirlinonlyracing.Andthesmallogrecalledmono-eyedwasbehindhersaying: Iwillcutyoungwengwe Andcutyoungwengwe Theogrewouldthem throw hisknife. Theknifewouldcutofftreebranchesbecausethegirlis stillracing.Thegirlwouldthensing. Kamau,ourKamaumeetme,meetme Iamcomingfromgettingthewool,yesthewool Betweentheogres,betweentheogres Andthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindme Hesayshewillbiteme. Thegirlisstillrunningandsmallogreisstillfollowinghersaying: Iwillcutyoungwengwe Andagaincutyoungwengwe. Nowitwouldthrowtheknife.Theknifewouldcutoffbranchesfrom atree.Theogre wantedtoslashthegirl.Andthegirlwouldsing: Kamau,ourKamaumeetmeetme,meetme Iamcomingfrom gettingthewool,betweentheogres Andthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindme Hesayshewillbiteme. Theogrewouldthensing: Iwillcutyoungwengwe Andagaincutyoungwengwe Thegirlran.Shegotnearherhome,Kamaubeganhearingechoes: Kamau,ourKamau,meet,meetme,andmeetme Iamcomingfromgettingthewool,yesthewool Betweentheogres,betweentheogres Andthemono-eyedogreisstillbehindme Hesayshewillbiteme. Theogrewouldthensing: Iwillcut,cutyoungwengwe Andcutyouagainngwengwe WhenKamauheard,heranandclimbedup atree.Now whentheogrerunning afterthegirlpassedthrough,Kamauspeareditfrom upthetree.Theogrewouldpu llthespearoutandthrowitaway.Thegirlsbrotherwouldgetholdofthespearand ----- speartheogreagain.Whentheogrewasspearedand slashedwith asworditdied. Thegirlwenthomeandfoundhermother.Sheputwoolin thefire.Themother gained herconsciousnessand asked forwatertodrink.Thegirlthen putsome ofthewoolinthewoundandithealed.Sothemotherrecoveredandtheogredied. Thegirlstayedwithhermother.Themotherdidnotdieandthegirldidnotdietoo. CHAPTERTHREE SONGS/ORALPOETRY InAfricansocietiesalmostallcommunalactivities areaccompanied bysong and dance.Inmostsocietiesthere aresongsforeeverystage andoccasion ofaper sons life,from thecradle tothegrave.There are songs atbirth,naming cer emonies,songs,and lullabies,singing games,songsin stories,initiation songs, marriage songs,work songs,warsongs,praise songs,worship ordivination songs,andlastlyfuneralsongs. As opposedto narratives,which areprose,songand recitation are verse.They demand thatthecomposershould arrange his words in such a waythatthey should sound perfectespeciallyintermsofrhythm and melody.Thesetogether withthemeaningofthewordsenablethepoetorthesingertoexpresshisfeelings withthestrongestimpactpossible. We distinguish between recitation and song mainly on the basis ofmusical complexity. Normally,musicalfeatureswillbemorepronouncedinsongthaninrecitation. CLASSIFICATIONOFSONGS/POETRY Theclassificationusedinthishandbookisbasedonthefunctionsservedbysongs inquestion RELIGIOUSPOETRY Thesearesongsandpoemsperformedduringreligiousoccasionorforspiritual purposes(prayer,incantations,andinvocations.) Example PrayerbyaMulembwewomanafterachildsbirth,recordedinCongo Godalmightycreator, GodMbuuwaMukunguaKinyama, Createdtrees,createdpeople,createdallcountries, CreatedtheBeenEkiiyeofKalanda,createdtheBeenaandBaaMilembe, Createdthewhitewithwhitish, CreatedtheLomami,createdtheLuambaKasseya(tworivers), Createdthelandwherethesunrises, CreatedthefishatMaengye, Createdtheeldestandtheyoungestofthetwin, Createdthequidewholeads(childthatopensthewomb), Createdtheeatableandtheuneatableants. God,thouarttheLord, ----- Whocomethintheroarofthewhirlwind, Outofyourdwellingplacefromwherethesunrises. Godcreator,thouartfatherandthoughartmother. OhGodIshouldntoffendyouasifyouwereman; ThereisnogratitudeforwhatGodbestowsuponthee Althoughhegivesyouawifewhogrindsmaize,awomanisabasket (I.e.sheleavesherfamilyinmarriage), Amanisarefuge,whenrain fallsImay enter(i.e.amanremainsinthe villageand may beaconsolationforhisparents). Godifhehasntgivenyougift,Hellrememberwhenyoupraisehim, HonourHimandyouarriveatMusengyeoftheMulobwe. Everyoneisntawelcomeguest,onlyachildisastrangerwhocomesquitenew in our midst. Oheldestandyoungestofatwin,onlyachildiswelcomeasastranger. Friendgoodday,friendgoodday! DIRGES These are songs sung during funeralceremonies.They are sung during the actualburialandduring remembrances orotherpost-burialceremonies.Dirges revealthe communitys attitudetowards death.They also serve to console the bereaved,sing praises to the deceased and as alamentationtowardsdeathfor takingawaylovedones. Example1 Prayerbeforethedeadbody Thegatesoftheunderworldareclosed. Closedarethegates. Thespiritsofthedeadarethrongingtogether Likeswarmingmosquitoesintheevening, Likeswarmingmosquitoes. Likeswarmsofmosquitoesdancingintheevening, Whenthenighthasturnedblack,entirelyblack, Whenthesunhassunk,hassunkbelow, Whenthenighthasturnedblack Themosquitoesareswarming Likewhirlingleaves Deadleavesinthewind. Deadleavesinthewind, Theywaitforhimwhowillcome Forhimwhowillcomeandwillsay: Cometotheoneandgototheother AndGodwillbewithhischildren. AndGodwillbewithhischildren. (Namibia) ----- (Source: UlliBeier(Ed). Africapoetry ,Universitypress:Cambridge,1966) Thereisnoneedlewithoutpiecingpoint. Thereisnorazorwithouttrenchantblade. Deathcomestousinmanyforms. Withourfeetwewalkthegoatsearth. WithourhandswetouchGodssky. Somefuturedayintheheatofnoon, Ishallbecarriedshoulderhigh. Throughthevillageofthedead, WhenIdie,dontburryunderforesttrees, Ifearthorns. Burymeunderthegreatshadetreeinthemarket, Iwanttohearthedrumsbeating Iwanttofeelthedancersfeet. (Anonymous) (Source:UlliBeirer(Ed),AfricanPoetry,Universitypress:Cambridge,1966). WARPOETRY Therearepoemsperformedbywarriorsduringawarevent.Thiscouldbesung asa preparationtowar,inordertoboostthemoraleofthewarriors.Theycouldalsobe sungafterabattleasthewarriorscomebackhomevictorious.Warsongscould also be sung in theabsence ofwarinorderto reinforcethemilitary mightofa particularcommunity.Warpoemsalsoexpressthegeneralvaluesrelatingtowar. Example: Fightnow!Comeandfightnow! Slaythem!Wellbrandishspears! Straightforthdothspeedyourarrow Tremble!Yes!Theytremble! Whenwedrawnear, Andfartheyllfleeasweapproachthem! Sharpenkeenyoyoarrows! Braveheadsupraisedandshouting Loudlyyourdefiance Alltheyopposeus. Quicklyourspears Shallpiercetheirbreasts.Theywillbescattered WORKPOETRY There are poems thataccompany rhythmic work.This would include chores suchas ----- paddling.Threshing,diggingorhauling.Inrecenttimesworkpoemshavealso beeo bserved amongroadworkers,minersandboulders. Example: Poundingsong AtKitilisthereareherdsmen,bothboysandgirls, Therearegoatsandlambsandcattle: Mwesya,doInotcallyouinmypoverty? Ihavenofamily,Ihavenomother, Ihavenorelativestocallupon. Death,Iwillnotgivehim foodorwater Seeinghehasdeniedmemyfatherandmyfamily. E!Grinding! Musyoka, Ihavenofamily,Ihavenomother, ThemotherofmysisterVika,LonzaandLinda; HowforlornIam!DidIcallyou? IdonotsharethesleepingmatwithLonza. HowforlornIam,Ihavenothingofmyown! (source:Jack MapanjeandLandeg White.Oralpoetry from Africa,Longman:New York,1983.) LOVEPOETRY Thesearepoemsaddressedtoabeloved manorwomaninthe hopeofmarriage. Theycould alsobepoemsonfrustratedlove,orsongsinpraiseofalovedone. Example Whencouldthypraisesbesung,Oloiltibili? Forthisscorchingsummerheatpreventsit They7cannotbesunga5tmidday Forthesunweakensthecattle. Theycannotbesungatsunset O,whenthesungetstothatpoint (Pointingtothepotionofthesunabout9a.m) Praisesofhewiththescarletonewillbesung. Idevelopedadmirationforhim Notatthedrinkinghall. Ihavestoredtheloveofmylove SinceIwasjustalittlegirl. Ihavestoreditatthegallbladder Tonurtureitdaybyday. Idarednotstorethispreciousloveofmylove ----- Atthehead,forthemindaboundswithchanges. Ithasedgedbetweenthefingersandthepalm Aswellasthespleenandtheliver. Theloveofmylovehasgonedown Towheretheinfantslie. Istoreitwheretheinfantsarecarried Tokeepitgrowingdaybydaybyday. Hethatdetestsmylovingthewarriors Findonetoughloathingtodo. Scrapetheroadwithyourbuttocks UntilyouhavereachedNairobi. Putthehyenaatthesheeppen Aswellastheslimbeast(cheetah) Ifbymorningthesheeparesafe IwillgiveupthebrotherofTalash Thenyoucanbleedthewhitenosedone(donkey) Topurgemefromthelonghairedone. (Kenya) (Source:Naomi Kupury,Oral literature of the Maasai,EastAfrican Education Publishers:Nairobi,1983) LULLABIES Thesearesongssungprincipallytoputthebabytosleep .Theyaresunginthesofttune Thatenhances theirsoporific effect.They employ simple language;one that childrencan easily identify with.Lullabies may also employ onomatopoeicwordsespecially designedat ensuringrhythm.Attime nurses may sing lullabies expressing theirattitude towardsto themotherofthechildrentheyhavebeen leftinchargeof(seeexample below) Bunyorolullaby Ha!Thatmotherwhotakesherfoodalone Ha!Thatmotherbeforeshehaseaten Ha!Thatmothershesays,Lullthebabyforme. Ha!Thatmother,whenshehasfinishedeating, Ha!Thatmothershesays,Givethechildtome! HUNTINGPOETRY Thesearesongssungbyhuntersontheirwaytoorfrom hunting.Theycouldalsobe sungto express disappointment at having failed to catch any game .Below is an exampleofa huntingsongperformedafterahippopotamushasbeenkilled: ----- Chopit,chopit, Dotakeitandchopit; Dotakeitandchopityourself. Chipishya,bringtheboat. Haveyoukilledithunter? Chishyabringtheboat, Chipishyabringtheboat, Haveyoukilledithunter? CHAIN SONGS Inchainsongseverysuccessivelineisderivedfromtheformer. Example Oharcher OhArcher,OhArcher, Letsshootateachother,letsshootateachother Andifyoushootmeandifyoushootme; Iwillhaveagoatslaughteredforyou.Iwillhaveagoatslaughteredforyou. Andthemeatandthemeat, Willbegiventotheblacksmith,willbegiventotheblacksmith, Andtheblacksmithandtheblacksmith, Willhavekniveswillhaveknives. Andtheknivesandtheknives, Willpiercetheheavenswillpiercetheheavens. Andtheheavenandtheheavens, Willsenddownrainwillsenddownrains. Andtherainsandtherains, Willmakethegrassgrowwillmakethegrassgrow. Andthegrassandthegrass. Willfattentheheiferwillfattentheheifer, Andtheheiferandtheheifer, Willbuyawifewillbuyawife, Andthewifeandthewife, Willpreparegruelwillpreparegruel Andthegruelandthegruel, Wewillgulpitwewillgulpit WEDDINGSONGS Though manywedding songscapturethejoyassociated with wedding ceremo nies,manysongsexpresssorrow atthethoughtofleaving thefamiliarhome foranuncertainfuture. Otherweddingsongssingpraisestothebride,thegroomandtheirparents. Example Weddingsong(from ----- IisukaofwesternKenya) Itishard, Aloo, Itshardtoleaveyourhome Togotoanother. Itshardtocallanother Yourmother. Fatherwaseducated,atKorotis Andisaclerk Ihaveseentheclerk. Ihaveseentheclerk, MamawaseducatedatChipyesi)(GBS:GirlsBoardingSchool) Andisanurse, MamawantedMamawantedherchildtobea Nurse Weedthegardenoffruits Weedmamasgardenoffruits Thattheycontinuetoyield. Aloo! Haa!Haa! CHILDRENSPLAYSONGS Thesearesongsperformed by childrenatplay.Thefollowing songis sungbytwo groupsof children(markedA andB respectively)inturns.Thechildrenjointheirhandsto form the circleandswingtheirhandsastheysing. A:Watatawatiririourhouseisexcellent B:Watatawatiririitcannotbetbetterthanours A:WatatawaTiririWhatisyoursmadeof? B:Watatawatiririoursismadeofstone AWatatawatiririoursismadeoftimber B:Watatawatiririgiveusoneperson A:Watatawatiririwhomdoyouliketohave? B:WatatawatiririwewouldlikeKariuki A:WatatawatiririKariukiwhydontyougo? Atthispointtheboynamed Kariukimovesfrom hisgroup and joinstheother grouptheotherteam beginsthesongagainandbytheendofthesessionthe twogroupswouldhaveexchangedmanyoftheirmembers. SATIRICALSONGS Thesearesongsthatcriticizehumanfolly.Theyaim atcastigatingthosewhodonot liveup totheexpectationsofthesocietyandalsotodiscouragetherestfrom engaging in similaractivities orbehaviour. In mostcases such songs make use of ----- hyperboleaimedatemphasizingonthewrongdone. Example1 Me-mrundeeehshestole Shestoleahen,shereallystoleeeh. Refrain Shestoleasheep,nodoubtshestole Shestoleawalkingstick,nodoubtshestole Shestoleapot,nodoubtshestole. Me-mrundeeeh,shereallystoleeeh Shestoleclothes,shereallystoleeeh. Refrain Me-mrunde,shereallystoleeeh. Shestoleacat,shereallystoleeeh. Example2 THELAZYMAN Whenthecockcrows, Thelazymansmackshislipsandsays: Soitisdaylightagain,isit? Andbeforeheevenstretcheshimself, Beforeheevenyawns Thefarmershasreachedthefarm, Thewatercarriershavearrivedattheriver, Thespinnersarespinningtheircotton, Theweaverworksonhiscloth Andthefireblazesintheblacksmithshut Thelazyoneknowswherethesoupissweet Hegoesfromhousetohouse. Ifthereisnosacrificetoday, Hisbreastbonewillstickout! Butwhenheseestheyam, Hestartstounbuttonhisshirt, Hemovesclosetothecelebrant. Yethistroublesarenotfew. Whenhiswivesreachpuberty, Richmenwillhelphim marrythem. (Nigeria)(Source:UlliBeier(ed).Africanpoetry,CambridgeUniversityPress,1966) INITIATION/CIRCUMCISIONSONGS Thesearesungduringcircumcisionorotherritesofpassage. Example ----- AKipsigisinitiationsong Wetellyouwearegoing, Wemendontmockuswomen. Wetellyoucircumcisionispainful Butyoucantdie. Wetellyousteponthegrass Whileitfallsdown. Sowetellyouchildren ThosegoforcircumcisionlikeEuropeans Whogotothe3irweddingcalmlyprepared. Wetellyou Stayfirmlikeastone Weshallbehappyafteryourcircumcision Eventhosewho,arepassing,even Brothers. Wetellyou Isaythanksuntilwemeet. Seeyoufather,seeyoumotherand Relative Tillwemeet. PANEGYRICPOETRY Thesearealso referredtom aspraisesongs/poetry.They are sungto0praise a personaclan,oracommunity.Praise poetry makes use ofimagery such as similes,metaphors,andsymbolism.Hyperboleisalsooftenemployed. Example Theboastofthegoodfarmer IhaveploughedandIhavesweated, AndnowIamenjoyingmycrops,myfriends, Likethebushbuckwhichusesitstailtopushrice-plantsintoitsmouth Asasignofitscontentment. Godfarmingwinsrespect,myfriends. WhereIdrinkbeernow Idrinktomyheartscontent: WhenIeatmyfood Ieatwithasettledhearts, Likeourlittlefriendthefish Thismakeswhitesoupforus, Whichplaysinitspoolallday Withoutanythingtotroubleitsheart. Afarmerisaking: Eventhewizardpayshomagetoyou. Farmingbringshonourmyfriends: Youneednottoilyourfeettobegatthehomesofjuniormen. Youseemeinmyprosperitytoday ----- BecauseduringtherainsIamthefriendofthemud: Rather,Iattackthesoilwithmyspecialfriend,thehoe. Fancynotcultivating! Fancynothoeing! Fancynotcultivating! Takethelittlehoeandbreakthesoil! ThedaywhenIkilledthepartridge, Whenthechildsmotherhadgonetothefield, Theporridgeranintomymouthlikelightning, Takethelittlehoe,weedthesoil! (Zimbabwe)(Source:Jack Mapanje and Landeg White,OralPoetry from Africa, Longman:New York,1983) POLITICALSONGS Oralliteratureplaysasignificant6roleinraisingpoliticalawarenessofpeople.It also actsasavehicleforsocialprotest.Thisisdoneespeciallythrough songs. Politicalsongscanbedividedinto: (a)Songsofsocialprotest. (b)Songsforcreatingpoliticalawareness Songsforcreatingpoliticalconformity. Example SerikaliyaNyanyo Niyamaendeleo FuataNyayomwenzangu, Hatutakimatata Kamawewewataka KuletamatataKenya, TafutaKenyayako Hatutakiporojo Raisamesema Atawalindawatoto, Jiungenasiiwenzangu Hatutakiporojo! CHAPTERFOUR SHORTFORMS These are genres oforalliteraturecharacterized by theirbrevity and theirco mpactness.The areuttered in one breath as opposed to narratives,songs or recitation,whichmaytakeseveralminutestoperform. Shortformsinclude: (a)Proverbs (b)riddles Tonguetwisters Characteristicsoftheshortforms ----- These are characteristicsthatdistinguish shortformsfrom oralliterature.They includethefollowing: (a) Invariability:Theyappear inthefixedpatternandthereisverylittlescopefor improvisation. (b)Compactness:Theyarebriefandcompressed. (c) Word play;they heavily depend on word arrangement and word play, includinguseoffigurativelanguageincludingmetaphors,similespersonificationand otherimages. (d)Informality:unlikenarrativesand songs,whichcallforparticularformalsetting fortheirrealization, the short forms (except riddles) are most frequently incorporatedinto ordinaryconversationandperformedinintimateandinformalsituations. PROVERBS Whatisaproverb? Aproverbcanbedefinedasaterse,pitystatementcontainingfolkwisdom Proverbsareconsideredtobethemarkofadultwisdom andexperienceitisno wonder thatthemost profound discussions and pieces of advice in many communitiesareconductedanddeliveredinproverbs. In mosttraditionalsocieties,disputes and judicialdecisions were carried outin proverbs. Proverbs areaproductoftheexperiences ofthe people,experiences some of which have beenlearned the hard way.Proverbs therefore revealwhatpeople adore,andwhattheydespise.Astudyoftheproverbsofacertaincommunitywill thereforehelpusappreciatethecommunitysbeliefs,attitudesandpointsofview. Characteristicsofproverbs (a)Proverbsareshortandtothepoint (b)Proverbsrevealapeopleswisdom,andphilosophyof life.Proverbscallour attentiontothegeneralrealityaroundus.Themessageorwisdom oftheproverb isthecollective propertyofthesocietyinwhichitisused.Itisraretoknow themakerofa particularproverb.Proverbsonlymakesensewhentheydirectlyappliedtospecific situationsorproblems.Thevalueofaproverbthereforeliesinitsapplicabilityto a concrete situation,howitassesses itand possiblysuggests a solution to it. Often we findproverbs thatca beappliedto differentsituations with different interpretations.Thismayexplain theexistenceofproverbswhichatfirst,appearto contradicteachother. E.g.Bellshouldbemanytomakeasound&Ahoardofratsdoesnotdigitselfahole. Proverbsshould therefore be interpreted incontext.A scholarwho deals with proverbsoutofcontextshould always try as a partofhis interpretation,to r ----- econstructthesituation inwhichtheproverbwouldbeapplied.A proverb isakind ofconversation shorthand.The meaning ofa proverb is usuallyHiddenand alwayshastobeworkedout. (c)Proverbsappearinfixedpatternsnearlyallthetimeandthereislimitedscope onthepartoftheperformer. (d)Proverbsaresayingsthathavebeenacceptedbyandthereforepartofthesociety. (e)Proverbs draw theirmaterialand images from a particularenvironmentor society.Henceproverbsfrom themaasaiforexample,willdifferintheiruseof imagesfrom thoseoftheLuhyaeventhoughthemaybecommunicatingthesame message. Classificationofproverbs Proverbsmaybeclassifiedintothefollowingcategories: Proverbsonfate. Cautionaryproverbs Proverbsongreedandselfishness Proverbswarningonprideandarrogance Proverbsoncommunallife Proverbsasembellishmenttospeech/communication Proverbsonauthority Proverbsoncooperation Narrativeproverbs:thosethatthatservetoreinforcewhatthethecommunity considerstobedesirablepatternofbehaviour. Reflectiveproverbs:thosethatmirrorthecommunitysattitudes,thought processesandworld-view. Summativeproverbs:thosethatarelongerdrawanalogiesbetweenphenomena andconsistoftwoparts. FUNCTIONSOFPROVERBS Achebein ThingsfallApartsaysProverbsarethepalm winewithwhichwordsareeaten.The Yorubahave ametaphorto the effectthat proverbs are the horses of communication.Thesetwosayingspointoutthoseproverbsarefacilitatorsofver balcommunication.Proverbsserveseveralsocialfunctions.Theseinclude: Reflectiveproverbs Theseareproverbsthatexpresstestedtruths.Thesetruthshavebeenarrived at through reflectionsofmansthoughts. Dherariembawuongonyiedhotangiyooko(Luo) Thecustodianofaloanedcow milksitwhilelookingout. Eiuoltunganiosuujnaaolanya(Maasai) Amanssonmaybeacowardbutheisstillhisson. ----- Ogwangthonewadgi(luo) Amongoosediesinsteadofhisbrother. Achiefislikedustheapwhereeveryonecomeswithrubbish. Wealthisdew.Heisripeinsidelikeawatermelon. Caution Thingociimatu (Gikuyu) Wallshaveears Vutulevumanyimwamidave (Luhya) Slipperinessknowsnoking Ahuruokkoudheiro (Luo) Thedoveisneverbackbitteninsmoke. Mpandangaziushuka (Kiswahili) Hewhogoesuptheladdereventuallycomesdown. Counsel Ifyouarepatientyouwillseetheeyesofthesnail. Eitomisimisiiropetailoweni (Maasai) Corruptgiftsdarkenthehandsofthewise. Ngirepelakwarotwakechengjiket (Nandi) Ifyoutakeaknifefromachild,givehimaspieceofstickinstead. Kipodinepikikiyanynyang! Donotabusethecrocodilewhileyouarestillinwater. Warning Muginimutaare Heiswisewhohaslistenedtoadvice(neversayyouwerenotwarned). Asiyefunzwanamamayeufunzwanaulimwengu Hewhodoesnotheedhismotherscounselwillbetaughtbytheworld(thehardway) Onewhoexcretesontheroadwillfindflieswhenhecomesback.(Everyactio nhas consequences) Consolation Guturimuthenyaukiaganaungi Nodaydawnswithanother;everydayhasitsjoysandpains. Baadadhikifaraja Aftersorrowthereisjoy. Normativeproverbs Theseareproverbsthatprescribethemodeofbehaviourexpectedofaperson ----- inaparticularsociety. -Thesatisfiedchildhasburnedthegranary. -Kinshipiskinship. Summativeproverbs Theseareproverbsthatareusedto summarizeasituation.Whilegivingadvice, insteadof tellingapersonthatifhecontinuesinhisbelligerencehemightendupbeing hurt.Onecan simplyusetheproverb: Astrongmansheadisfullofscars.Tosummarizethelesson. Proverbsusedasembellishmenttospeech Oftentimesproverbsareusedtomaketheartofconversationmorebeautiful. STYLEINPROVERBS Proverbslikeotherformsoforalliteraturecanbeanalysedintermsofstyle. Alliteration Jaberjaulo Allthatglittersisnotgold. Hasirahasara Angerbringsloss Liandikwalondiloliwalo Whatiswrittencannotbechanged. Chemachajiuza,kibayachajitembeza . Goodqualitygoodsneednoadvertising,badmerchandisedoes. Assonance Kurriukuuutatumwatawanyungu Therearethingslikeearthenpotwhichifbrokencannotberepaired. Alidhaniyeamesimamaaangalieasianguke Hewhothinksishighupshouldbecarefullesthefallsover. Idiophone Bandubanduhuishagogo Chipchip!Finishesthelog. Churururu-sindo!ndo!ndo! Agushisnotthesameasadrip. Repetition Watenwat Kinshipiskinship Harakakarakahainabaraka Hurryhurryhasnoblessings. Chovyachovyayamalizabuyulaasali ----- Constantdippingwillemptyagourdofhoney. Allusion Ciakorewacumugunda (ThefoodfoundWacuinthegarden. TheproverballudestoastoryattributedtotheoraltraditionoftheAgikuyuinwhich wefind acharactercalled Wacu.Wac.,isdespised by herhusband .Once,sheis senttotheshambasothatthehusbandcouldholdafeastforhisfavouredwifeat home.Thechoicemeatbeingroastedbythehusbandissnatchedbyahawk.The hawkcoincidentalydropsthemeatinWacusgrden.Wacubenefitsfrom whatwas deniedher.Thisproverbisusedtoencouragehardwork. The meat didnotfind her athomebut in the shamba.It alsowarnsagainst mistreatingothersasgodhasawayoftakingcareofthem. Metaphor Wealthisdew. Kukamwonikura Tobepraisedistobelost.(Onemightallow thepraisestogetintohisheadandmight eventually turnoutworse) MugeniniRuwi Aguestisariver.(Weshouldbehospitabletoguestssincetheywillbewithusforonly awhile). Simile Heisripeinsidelikeawatermelon.(A water-melonlooksraw from theoutside butripefrom theinside.Attimesjustlikewater-melon,itisdifficultto tellwhatisinthemindofa person. Afoolislikeabeehive.(Potentialfordanger) Personification Kanuaweiire! Mouthyouateyourself! TheworminthecattleKraalsays:Iamanox. Themouththatatethegrainisthesameonethatasks,Whatshallweeat? Enekethebirdsays,Sincemenhavelearnedtoshootwithoutmissingtheirtarget, Ihave learnedtoflywithoutperchingonatwig Hyperbole -Youwillnotseetheelephantmovingon yourownheadonlythelousemoving on anothers. -Hewhowaitstoseeacrabblinkwillwaitlongalongtheshore.(Yoruba) -Ifyouarepatientyouwillseetheeyesofasnail. Humour ----- UthuriwaGitongandununganga -Thefartofarichmandoesnotstink. Nyathimioroemachiethneduong . -Itisthechildthatrunserrandsthathasbiggerexcrement. -Apersonwhoneversawthemotherinheryouthmightsay the fatherwastedhis dowry. Examplesofproverbs Luoproverbs 1.Theharemightbesmallbutitbegetstwins 2.Itiswithalightbasketthattheownerelidestherain.(Youaretoblamefor selfimposedburdens). 3.Thedrum isheavieronthereturnjourney. 4.Nowyouareoil-shinny;mayyouonedaybedry! 5.EvenFulusendTilapia.(Fuluisatypeoffishsmallerthantilapia.Theproverb stressesthenecessityofco-existencebetweenthemightyandthelessmighty). 6.Amightymanisnevergreeted.(Hemayunderstandthegreetingtobeaninvasion) 7.itsonlyamadmanwhoshaveshisownhair. 8.Thedetractorhas holesinthebuttocks.(Thereference to buttockshereisnot literal.Ratheritreferstotrousers.Thedetractorsspendlonghourssittingtodefame hisvictims.Thisoversettingleavesitsmarksonthebuttocksandthetrousers.) 9.Thebeautifulonesgardenissmall. 10.Themediatorhastwomouths. 11.Thegossipneverages. 12.Donotabusethecrocodilewhilestillinwater. 13Theelephantisbackbittenonceithasturneditsback. 14Theflythatlovesyouistheonethatperchesonyou. 15Itishewhoeatswithablindmanthatknowsthedelicacyofthefat 16.Hewhohasachilddoesnotsleepinthewilderness. 17.Sleepissostrongthatitevenovercomesthelunatic. 18Tyhesatisfiedchildhasburnedthegranary. 19.Thesameplateyouhaveservedinisthesameplatethatwillbeusedtoserveyou. 20.Thebeastsstaysinthesugarplantationbutdoesnotknowthesweetnessofthe sugarcane 21.Eventhoughtheantistinyitcannotberobbedofitstermites. Gikuyuproverbs 1.Amanispoornotbecausehescornspossessionsbutbecausehepossessesno thing 2. Eatingtoomuchleavesyouwithaswollenstomach. 3. Aslaughterhouseisnotwithoutalittleblood. 4. Onthewaytoonesbelovedtherearenohills. ----- 5. Aparentdoesnotmindherchildsmucous 6. Thescentofroastedmeatbrokethehyenasleg. 7. Hewhostealswithaboywillliveinfearuntiltheboyiscircumcised. 8. Hewhostealswithawomanwillliveinfearuntilthewomandies. 9. Thewomanwhohasasoredancesontheoutskirts. 10. Bothhethatchasesandhethatischasedbecometired. 11. Youdonotseekinformationfromahungryman. 12. Anothermansornamenttirestheneck. 13. Fromthesamewombcomeathiefandawitch. 14. Onewhocannotjumpclaimsthatthefieldisstony 15. Thetoothlaughsatthesightofaspear. 16. Onewhonevertravelsthinksthatitisonlyhismotherwhoisagoodcook. 17. Thereisnodifferencebetweengrowingoldandliving. 18. Thepottermayusepiecesofapotforhercooking. 19. Therestlessmongoosemissestheslaughteringceremony 20. Afoolsstaffisusedbythewisemantosupporthisownwalk. 21.Thewarriormaybetrippedbyamaizecomb. 22.Adisunitedbattalionisbeatenwithoneclub. 23.Heiscleverwhohaslistenedtoadvice. 24.Toomuchsharpnesscutsthesharpener. 25. Nobarbershaveshimself . Yorubaproverbs 1.Onewhowantstodrinkporridgewillplaywiththechildwhosemotherispreparing it. 2.Thestrongmansheadisfullofscars. 3.Letmetaste,letmetastefinishestheseeds. 4.Notalleggslaidinthedryseasonhatchesout. 5.Themonkeylaughsatthelongtailoftheoneinfrontofit. ----- 6.Thesweetnessofstolenthingsshouts. 7.Hewhocomeslastdrinksmuddywater. 8.Hewhohasdiarrheaknowsthedirectionofthedoorwithoutbeingtold. 9.Bystumblingonit,thestumphaspushedforwardtherunner. 10.Aratbitesandsoothsyouatthesametime. Kalenjinproverbs 1.Whilewaitingtoeattheheadofabull,wecontinueeatingtheheadofagrasshopper . 2.Wedonotlookafteroutcropsuntiltheyhavebeeneatenbymonkeys. 3.Ahyenacannotsmellitsownstench. 4.Anelephantisbigyetitdoesnotgivebirthtotwins 5.Weblindfoldacowwhenmilkingit. 6.Acowshornsdonotkillitcalf. 7.Wedonotannoythemidwiveswhenwearestillbearingchildren. 8.Nobodycanuseanothersteethtosmile. Luhyiaproverbs 1.Whereyouareguest,breakfastisnotright. 2.Whateveratethedogsatethebelltoo. 3.Whateveryoudenyandoldmanhemaywellhaveeatenitbefore. 4.Whateveryoudenyachildhemaygrowtoeatit. 5.Whatyouhide,youmayeatwithrats. 6.Apersonwhoisfeelingcolddoesnotneedtobeshownthefire. 7.Thatwhichrunsaloneclaimstobeagoodrunner. 8.Thehenthatscratchesthegroundmayfindsomethingtoeat. 9.Ifyoueatmushrooms,youaresureto,eatmaggots. 10.Whenacleanpersonbreaksthewind,peopleoftenblamethedirtyperson. Intheir midst. 11.Hewhowaitsforhisdishtocoolsharesitwithvisitors. 12.Abrideseyespretendnottohaveseen. 13.Thepersonwhocannotclimbatreeeatstherawfruitsnearertheground. Additionalproverbs 1.Wealthisdew. 2.Kingshipisdew. 3.Tomarryistoputasnakeintooneshandbag. 4.Familynamesarelikeflowers:theyblossominclusters. 5.A wifeislikeablanket;whenyoucoveryourselfwithit;itirritatesyou,when youcast n itasideyoufeelcold. 6.Heisripeinsidelikeawatermelon.(Describesapersonwhohascometoa resolutionwithoutmakingitpublic). 7.Theworminthekraalsays,Iam anox. 8.Noflycatchesforanother. 9.Themakerofasongdoesnotspoilit. ----- 10.Metalthatisalreadyweldedtogether,howonecanunweldit. 11.Themanwiththedeepesteyescannotseethemoonuntilitisfifteendaysold. 12.Heatefoodanditkilledhim. 13.Thewontbeoldmanseesbythebloodstain. 14.You willnottheelephant movingonyourhead, onlythe lousemoving on anothers. 15.Thewantforworktodomakesamangetupearlytosalutetheenemy. 16.LittlerbylittlethetortoisearrivedattheIndianOcean. 17.Onewhoexcretesontheroadwillfindflieswhenhecomesback. 18.Nooneteachestheleopardscubshowtospring. 19.Theeyecrossesabigriver. RIDDLES A riddleisashortsayingintendedtomakeoneusehiswitsinunravelingthe hiddenmeaning InAriddle,thelistenerisfacedwithaquestionoranallusivesentencereferring to somethingelsewhichtheymusttrytofigureout.Riddlesaretoldasapreludeto thetellingofstories.Theycanalsobetoldinbetweenstories. Riddlesarealsoused inconversationstoissueveiled threats,conveysecreteinfor mationandasavehicleofhumour. Performanceofriddles Differentcommunitiesdifferentwaysofperformingriddles. Kikamba: Challenge:Kwatandai(takeariddle) Acceptance: (A)Nakwata(Itakeit) Riddle: Kavetikaninikanaa nesakwimwenyu(Asmallonewhocooksbetterthan yourmother) Solution: Ninzuki(Itsbees) Kiswahili Kitendawili (ariddle) A;tega(poseit) R:Kaahukunikaekuletumvuenguomshenzi.(Stayonthissideandmeontheother sidesothatwecanstripthisfool). Guesses:Bythecompetitortodeciphertheriddle.Ifheissuccessfulhewins;ifnot,he proceedswithnextstep. Prize: tothechallenger(mjioritija)whosolvesorrevealstheriddleinthenextstep. Solution:Nihindi.(Itsamaizecob). FUNCTIONSOFRIDDLES (A)Environmentaleducation Riddlesstem from observationandcomprehensionoftheenvironment.Eachco mmunityusestheobjectswithinitsenvironmentinitsart. ----- 1.Mycamelistheshortestbutiteatsthetreeatthetop - Bird. 2.WhenIslaughtermycow Idontthrow awayanything.Ieateverythinginclud ingthebones.-coconut. 3.Myhousehasnodoor.-egg 4.Littlethingsthatdefeatus.mosquitoes. 5.Waterstandingup.sugarcane. (a)LanguageTraining 1.Howmanywheelsdoesacarhave?Five 2.AquestionyoucannotansweryesAreyouasleep 3.Thetwo-leggedsittingonthefourleggedwaitingforthefourlegged.-A birdona cow waitingforatick. (a)Culturalnorms (b)1.Ihaveawifeeverybodyshehasabeard.-Themaizeplant . (c)2.ThedirtyFatuma.-Broom (d)3.Mydaughterwholeaveshungryandreturnfull.-Thewaterpot. (e)4.Mydaughterhasineyeonthehead -theneedle 5.ThecolourfulAgnes.Thechameleon (d)Entertainment 1.Thebaldheadedmanhasentered.Ugali 2.Thewhiteladyisintheofficethejigger 3.Myfatherslittlehillwhichiseasilydestroyed-porridge 4.MagiregedewalksasifhewereproudWagon 5.Shiligilishigi. thewind. (e)Recordofchange Theseareriddlestherecordthechangesthathavetakenplaceinthesociety. 1.Mytrainisrunninginthefiled.thecentipede. 2.OnarrivalatthestationIwasshoutedat-train. 3.Alittlechapwhoplaysthetype-writer.thetongue . CLASSIFICATIONOFRIDDLES 1.Riddlesonpeople Thewhiteladyisintheoffice-jigger IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerequarrelling-Weaverbirds 2.Culturalobjects Asmallgourdfullofblood-atick. WhenIbeatmychildpeopledance-drum. 3.Naturalphenomena Whattreehasonlyonethorn? -sisal. Ameetingunderarock - Thebeard 4.Domesticanimals Whyhavetheytakenafew forgrazingandleftsomanyresting? -becausethey ----- the sheepsdroppingsMywhitemouthedcowissharedbyall -toothbrush 5.Partsofthebody Asmallbushinhabitedbyanimals -thehead. GoroundonesideofthemountainwhileIgoroundtheotherbutweshallnever meet .theears. 6.Plants Whattreehasonlyonethorn? -sisal IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerepregnant. -Milletheads. 7. Modern Techno logy The saloo n car carrying whites only. Charcoaliron. 8.Howmanywheelsdoesacarhave?-five Birds  IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerequarrelling. weaverbirds.  Mycamelistheshortestbutiteatsthetreeatthetop. abird. 9. Wasteproducts  Icutatreeandlef6titsteaming. humanwaste. Itsteamsbutitisnotlit.  freshcowdung 10.Interrogativeriddles :Theseareriddlesthatareintheformofquestions. Whattreehaswhyhavetheytakenafew forgrazingandleftsomanyresting? Becausetheyaresheepsdroppings. 11.Declarativeriddles: Theseareriddlesintheform ofastatement.Mostoftheriddles givenbelowaredeclarativeriddles 12.Epigramaticriddles :Theseareriddlesthatarepresentedinaseriesofpuzzles. Ohthseones ripebananas .Ohthoseotherones.Waterinacave. 13.Idiophonicriddles :Theseareriddlesbasedonsounds. Ciandci.Cindanoaneedle(inreferencetothesoundmadewhenaneedleisgo ing inandoutofagarment). Magiregedewalksasthoughheisproud.wagon. Examplesofriddles 1.Njorogethecarpenter. Abeetle. ----- 2.YouholdIhold.  Cuttingofmeatintopieces. 3.Ciandci.(Quietnoisemadebyaneedlepassingthroughcloth).  Aneedle 4.Itcamefrom Kambalandinatie. Thecrow,  5.Onesideofthegourdiswhite. Chickendroppings. 6.Ihavegoneroundtheforestwitharedmotorcycle. Rainbow. 7.Itwenthungryandcamebackfull. Thesmallbagforgreens(vegetables.) 8.Awinnowingtrayintheplain. Anelephantsfootprint. 9.Itisupsidedownbutitdoesnotleak. Acowsudder. 10.Theyfaceupasthoughtheyareabouttoleadasong. Thehornsofcattle. 11.Ihaveapersonwholivesbetweentwoswordsbuttheynevergetcut. Thetongue. 12.Icutatreeandleftitsmoking. Humanexcreta. 13.Ihaveahomewhereonlywomendwell. Abananaplantation. 14.Myhousehasonlyonepole. Themushroom 15.Thosethingsinthecavehaveonehundredeyes Honeycombs. 16.Anelephantwithoneear Acup. 17.Abundoisbusy,Abundoisharvesting. Thelouse. 18.Adundodancesandsheisrewarded. Fire. 19.IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerequarrelling. Weaverbirds. 20.IpassedwhenMumiaswiveswerepregnant . Milletheads 21.Iwalk,runandrunperpetually. Water 22.Theratfamilysgun. Matchsticks. 23.Ameetingunderarock. Thebeard. Theoldmanwhocroaksatnight ----- . Afrog 24.Theoldmanwhocannotclimbahill. Thehippo. 25.Theoldmanwhoneverleavesbehindtheovercoat. Thetortoise. 26.Thesalooncarcarryingwhitesonly. Thecharcoaliron. 27. Themaidenwhomdiesaftergivingbirthonlyonce. Thebananatree. 28. Mydaughterwhoworkswithoutresting. Theheart 29. Thetwoleggedsittingonthefour-leggedwaitingfortheeight-legged. Abirdsittingonacowwaitingforatick 30. Itsteamsbutitisnotlit.Freshcowdung 31. Whyhaveyoutakenafew forgrazingandleftbehindsomanyresting? Becausetheyaresheepsdroppings. 32. Mywhite-mouthedcowissharedbyall. Thetoothbrush. 33. GoroundinsideofthemountainandIgoroundtheotherside,butweshall nevermeet.Theears. 34. Thereisabareplacewherenooneeversettlesifonedidsotherewouldbe crying.Theeyes. 35. Whattreehasonlyonethorn? 36. Sisal. 36. Therockyonewitheightholes .Theheadofanelephant 37. WhenIbeatmychildpeopledance. Adrum. 38. Myhouseissmallbutithasmanyholes. Afishtrap. 39. Atreehasfallenfarawaybutitsbrancheshavebreachedhere. Newsofdeath. 40. Itcanneitherbeheldnorcaught. Smoke. 41. Ialwayshearbutcannotseehim. Wind. 42. Hereisarockandthereisarock. Thegrave. 43. Littlethingsthatdefeatus. Mosquitoes 44.Waterstandingup. Sugarcane. 44. Thehouseinwhichonedoesnotturnaround. Thegrave 45. Thelittlechapwhoplaysthetypewriter. Thetongue. ----- SimilaritiesbetweenProverbs 1.Theyarebrief. 2.Theyemployfigurativelanguage. 3.Theyappearinfixedform. 4.Theyexpresssomeobservationofphenomena. Differences 1.Riddlesareperformedinaformalstructureandpatternwithatleasttwoparties, where one is a challengerand the otherone the respondent.Proverbs on the other handare infusedinspeech. 2.Thebasicfunctionofriddlesissocializationandentertainment.Proverbs,on theotherhandexpresscommunityswisdomandworldview. 3.Dueto thefunctionsmentioned in(2) above,riddlesarecommon among childrenwhile proverbsareusedmainlybyadults. Tonguetwisters Tongue twisters are intended to testthe speakers fluency.They require the speaker to utterwithout hesitation or faltering,a sequence of words with particularproblemsofarticulation. Thesewordsthemselvesusuallyhavebasicmeaningusuallyofajocularnature, and partoffunofperformingtongue twisters consists in thelikelihoodthat distortion ofutterance, duetoarticulationproblem willresult indistortion or confusionofmeaning. Tonguetwistersteaseourearsandourbrains.Onehastobeaverygoodlistener inordertogetthesoundsofatonguetwister correctly.Onemustalsohavea good memory to repeat itaccurately.Tongue twisters also requirealot of concentration.Thisis becauseone ofthe mainproblems in performing them is thatwhattheysayneednotmakesimple,logicalsense.Theemphasisismainlyo ntherattleofsounds. Tonguetwistershingemainlyonbothalliterationandassonance.Somehowever, maybebasedontonalvariations. FunctionsofTongueTwisters 1.Languagetraining Theyhelp in training childrentobe fluentinlanguage.Theyalsohelpin language therapyforchildrenwithspeechimpairment. 2.Entertainment Tonguetwistersofferentertainmentasperformersstruggleto articulatethesyllable correctly. 3.Education Tonguetwistershelpinenhancinglisteningandmemoryskillsinchildren.Some tongue ----- twistersalsomakereferencetopeople,animalsorobjectsfoundintheenvironment. Thishelpsinenvironmentalconservation. ExamplesofTongueTwisters. 1.Akawalaakaawakaawakuawaakaawakawa? (Luganda) ThegirlswhogaveKaawabitercoffee;whereisshefrom? 2.Walewatuwaliwaliwalawaliwaliwaliwao.(Kiswahili) Thoseverypeopleoftheheadmaneatthericeoftheheadman. 3.KanakaNikorokonakoramakokorakonakanakanikorakora. (Gikuyu) Nicholaschild fled afterspotting a tadpole.Thetadpolealso fled afterspotting Nicholschild. 4.Ugokagututugutatugututhirari? (Gikuyu)Whenwillyoucometohelpusslash? 5.Kanakaakokiakalukikookiakakikaakookakuukwakunakokokakoke kakaku?(Kikamba)Koki,kalokischild,doyoufearthissmallflythathas cometoyourplacewithverydirtyhands? 6.ShirikalarelilaRwanda.(Kiswahili) RwandaRailwayCorporation. 7.Peterpleasepauseforproperapplause. 8.Theredlorryrolledalongthelimururoad. 9.Shesellssea-shellsatthesea-shore 10.Theshortsoldiershotthetallsoldierontheshoulder. CHAPTERFIVE FIELDWORKINORALLITERATURE Everystudentoforalliteraturemustrememberthatoralliteratureisactualizedin Performance.This means thatallthe songs,riddles.Proverbs,tongue twisters narrativesetcstudied in oralliteraturecoursemusthavebeen collected from a specific communityperhaps atspecifictimese.g.afuneral,weddingafamilygettogetherorevenintheeveningas partofrecreation.Ifno scholarorresearcher everwentouttocollectoralliteraturematerialsthenwewouldnothaveapool ofinformationonwhichtobaseourstudies.Westudydifferentgenresoforal literaturebecausesomeonewentoutintothecommunityandcollectedanarrative, a song,orariddle.Thisprocessofgoing outinto thecommunitytocollectoral literature materialsand relatedinformationforstudyandanalysisisreferredtoas fieldwork IMPORTANCEOFFIELDWORK 1.Wehavenotedabovethatoralliteraturelivesinperformance.Whenitis writtendownvariousaspectsarelost.Letustakeasongforinstance.Whenyou watchalifeperformanceofasongyouenjoyandappreciatethesongmore becauseapartfromthewordsofthesong,yougettohearthemelodyofthesong, thesingersbeautyofvoiceandmusicalaccompanimentse.g.drums.Youalso gettoseethecostumeswornbythesingers,themovementsthatgowiththe musicandtheinteractionbetweenthesingersandtheaudience.Oneisalsoable ----- toassestherelevanceofthesongtotheoccasion.Whenthesamesongisput downinwriting,onecananalyzethewords.Allotheraspectsarelost. Fieldworkenablesonetocapturetheaspects. 2.Inorderforsomeonetofullyappreciatetheoralliteratureofaparticular community,heorshehastogetintouchwiththatcommunityandobservetheir culture.Thisisbecausesomeoftheirculturalaspectscouldexplainthe natureoftheformsoforalliteratureofvariouscommunities. Forinstanceone could appreciate whythe Maasaioralliterature draws heavily from the pastoralworldbyobservingthecloseconnectionthatexistsbetweentheMaasai andtheiranimals. 3.Formsoforalliteraturehavebeenpassedonfrom onegenerationto thenext throughthewordofmouth.Thiswasespeciallysointhepast(especiallyin traditionalcommunities)whenoralliteraturewasmuchmorealive.Withchanges inlifestylesofpeopleandwiththeadventofurbanizationandtheemergenceof cosmopolitancommunities,thereisneedtorecordoralliteraturefrom past generationsforposterity.Thiscanonlybeachievedthroughfieldwork. 4.Throughfieldworknew areasinoralliteraturearediscovered. Onemaysetoutto collectmaterialsonacertaingenreandendupdiscovering new areasorsomenatureofacertaingenreoforalliteraturehithertounknown. 5.Fieldworkfacilitatesthecreationofwideinformationbaseformsafoundation foramoreextensivecomparativestudyoforalliteratureofcertaincommunities. Bycomparingtheformsoforalliteratureofdifferentcommunitiesweareableto betterappreciatetheculturaldiversityofourcountryandlearnfromoneanother. 6.Fieldworkinoralliteratureequipsthestudentwithskillsthatwillbeusefulin othersubjectslikegeography. Stagesinfieldwork Preparationstage: Thisistheinitialstagebeforegoingouttothefield. Thisstageinvolves: 1.StatingthepurposeandscopeofresearchwhendeterminingthePurposeand scopeoffieldwork,the followingquestionsshouldbeconsidered:Whatis to be collected?(Allorsomeoftheformsoforalliterature?)andwhyismaterialbeing collected?(For comparativeanalysisorforclassdiscussion?) 2.Identifyingthelocationoffieldwork.Isitandurbanorruralarea? Isiteasilyaccessiblebymeansoftransportreadilyavailabletothestudent? 3.Findingoutandfamiliarizingoneselfwithwhateverearlier researchthathasbeencarriedoutonthesamesubjectfrom the samecommunity. ----- 4.Specifyingthetime(season)whentocarryouttheresearch. 5.Establishingcontactwithusefulpeopleintheintended communityofresearchinorderto beableto accessinformants andartistes,andalsoforlogisticalarrangements.Thusrequires thatthestudentvisitstheareatotalktoprospectiveassistantsand informantsandgaugetheirexpectations,competenceandattitude beforedecidingonwhomtorelyonforassistance. 6.Decidingonthekeymethodstobeusedincarryingoutthe fieldwork.Themethodchosenwilldeterminetheprior arrangementshavetobemade.Forinstance,ifaquestionnairehas tobeused,therewillbeneedtopreparealistofquestions,type themoutandmakeenoughcopies. 7.Securingofficialadministrativepermissiontoconductresearchin thechosenareafrom therelevantofficials,e.g.DistrictOfficer andChief. 8.Budgetingforthefieldworkto indicateexpectedexpenditureon transport,accommodation,recordingmaterialsetc. 9.Acquiringandgettingreadyrecordingmaterialse.g.penand paper,taperecorder,cameraorvideoequipmentasnecessary. 2.Materialcollection This is done systematically using specific techniques such as observation, questionnaires, interviewsandparticipation. 3Recordinginformation Thisisdonebywriting,tapingorfilming. 4.Processing This is the scrutiny of information collected in preparation forinterpretation, documentationanddissemination.Processing includes transcription (putting down the recorded materialin writingword forword)and translation (writing the materialoutinthelanguageinwhichitwillbesharedoutandofferingthenear estequivalenceofmeaningandsense,usingtheidiom oflanguageoftranslation. 5.Analysisandinterpretation Thisinvolves. 1.Classifyingthecollectedmaterialintogenresandsub-genresusingspecificcriteria. 2.Identifyingthemes,stylisticdevices,functionsetc. 3.Interpretingtheinformation. 4.Drawingconclusions. KEYMETHODSOFCOLLECTINGORALLITERATUREMATERIALS Itisimportantthatwe distinguish the difference between collecting and recor ding.Collectingreferstothemethodsusedbytheresearchertoelicitinformationfrom the informantsorartisteswhile recording refers to the measures taken by the researcherinensuringthatthematerialcollectedispreservedforfuturereference. Someofthemethodsusedincollectingoralliteraturematerialsinclude: ThequestionnaireThisrefers to alistofquestions thatwillleadto gathering impo rtantpiecesofinformationfromvarioussources.Thequestionnaireisusefulin,for ----- instance,ingetting theinformantsbiographicalbackground.Itcanbeadministered ineitheroftwoways: -Theinformantfillsitoutpersonally. -Thestudentfillsitinashe/sheinterviewstheinformant. Thequestionnaireisusefulingatheringinformationongenresthatdonotcall forspecificoccasions to be performed.These include proverbs and tongue twisters.The onlydisadvantagewiththequestionnaire isthatitcannotbeusedto collectsongssinceitcannotcapturethevisualandaudioeffectsofsongs. Theinterview Thisinvolvesmeetingthesourceofthe informationfaceto faceandverbally seekingtherequiredinformation.Aninterview canfollow astructuredpattern(the studentmovingsystematicallythrougha listofquestions)orbeunstructuredand info rmal (the studentconductsageneralconversation to probeforspecific informationwhilerecordingtheinformationontapeorbywriting.) Interviews are important especially if one wants to seek details about the personallife ofanartisteorincollectingproverbsand riddlesonecouldalso use interview tocollectnarratives. Participation Taking part in the performance is much favoured method of collecting information because itgivesthestudentachancetoexperiencethespiritofthe actualperformance.Italsoenhancestherapportbetweenthestudentandthecommu nity.By joiningtheperformance,thestudentbridgesrelationalgaps and finds it easiertoseekand getinformationinafreer atmosphere.Butthestudentmust ensure thatparticipation does distracthim/her from making a recording of material. Observation Unlikeparticipation,observationisamethodbywhichthestudentstandsaloof and recordswhatisgoing on in theperformanceand in thecommunityin at large.Itisnecessarytoreinforcethismethodbyconductingfollow upinterviews onobservationsmadetodeepeninsightsandclarifyissues. KEYMETHODSIN RECORDINGORALLITERATUREMATERIALS Thereareavarietyofmethodsfor recordingyematerialcollected.Thechoice ofmethoddependson a numberoffactorsincluding the purpose ofresearch, time availableto the studentandtotheinformants,fundsavailable, students technicalcompetence,etc. Themostcommonoftheserecordingmethodsare: Writingthenmaterialdownasitcomes fromtheperformersandinformants. Recordinginformationonaudio,tape. Filmingorvideorecordingtheperformanceandinterviews Memorizingthematerial. ----- Problemsencounteredduringfieldwork 1.Communicationbarrier.Thishappenswhenthestudentdesnotsharethesame language withhis/herinformants.Thisproblem couldbesolvedbygettingsomeonewho understandsthelocallanguagetoaccompanyyouduringfieldwork. 2.Transportproblems.Thisisespeciallycommoninruralareaswheremeanso ftransportarenotreadilyavailableorarenotregular.Poorweathercouldalsoinhibit movement.Apriorvisitto the place in orderto familiarize oneselfwith the transportsystem and thestate ofthe road willhelp the researcherto take appropriatemeasurestocountertheproblem. 3.Suspicionbymembersofthepublicespeciallyinareaswherepeoplearenot usedtohostingresearchers.Thisproblem could besolvedbygetting oneofthelo calsespecially arespectable memberofthecommunitytoaccompany you.This will inspire confidence inyouandalsoreduceriskofsuspicion. 4.Informantsdemandingcashormaterialrewardsfromtheresearcher.Oneshould explain before handthatthisisanacademic exercise.Andthattherewillbe nomaterial benefits thatwillaccruefromvolunteeringinformation. 5.Lossofrecordingmaterialthroughtheftorotherwise.Youcouldasksomeo neto accompanyyou.Thispersonwillactasyoursecuritydetail. 6.Lack of credible informants.To solve this problem one oughtto have informantson standby in case the one you chose disappoints you.This can be organized duringthe preparationstageofthefieldwork. 7.Diseaseofdiscomfortcaused bychangeofclimate.Oneshould beready forthis.Heshouldcarrywithhim thenecessarypreventiveorcurativemedicine andappropriate clothingtosuittheclimaticconditionsoftheresearcharea. 8.Theadministrationmaydenytheresearcherpermissiontoundertakefieldwork ina certainarea.Onecouldalwaystryanotherareathatwouldproducethedesiredeffects. CHAPTERSIX COMMONLYASKEDQUESTIONSINORALLITERATURE CharacterAnalysis (a)DiscussthecharacterofMBott-the-road.Supportyouranswerwith illustrationsfromthestory) (b)DescribethecharacterofChameleon ----- (c)From youOralLiteraturefieldworkgivenamesofthreeanimalcharactersthat youhavecomeacrossandmentionthemaincharactertraitsofeachanimal. (d)Whydoyouthinkanimalcharactersaregivenhumancharacteristics? (e)Compareandcontrastthetwocharactersinthisnarrative (f)Describethecharacterofthethirdwifeand showhowitaffectstheeventsofthe story. (g)Identifyanytwocharactertraitsofthegirlinthisstory.Illustrateyouranswer. (h)WhatdoyoulearnaboutShakascharacterfromthisPoem? (I)IdentifyandillustratethreecharactertraitsofKaria. Whenansweringquestionsoncharacterization,youmustalwaysprovide TRAITSandILLUSTRATIONS. Ordinarilyyoushould expectasetofoneofthetraitandaccompanying illustrationstoearnyoumarks.Thisisnotalwaysthecasehenceyouneedto giveasmanytraitsasyoucanget.Whenthenumberoftraitsyouaresupposed to givehasbeen specified forinstancein(g)above,youshouldsticktothenumber oftraitsgiven. NB Alwaysgiveatleasttwoillustrationsforeachtraitthatyougive. Describeeach traiton itsown.Do notlump them togethere.g.Chameleon is patient, wiseandgenerous.Youshouldinsteadstartwiththetraitpatientandthem o ffer illustrationsforIt,then move ontoWiseand do the same thing and then generous,againfollowingthesameprocess.Writefullsentences. Useshortparagraphs;onetraitshould occupyoneparagraph.Thismakesiteasy forthe person markingyourworktofollow yourargument.Itisadvisableto underlinethe trait. Thisagainassiststhepersonmarkingtoquicklypointouttheimportantpartsof your answer.Usethepresenttense.ChameleoniswisenotChameleonwaswise Itisadvisable(Perhapsevenlogical)tostartbygivingthetraitandnottheillustrations. Featuresoforalnarratives/poetry (a)Identifyandcommentonanythreeoralfeaturesofthistale (b)Whatfeaturesoforalnarrativesareevidentinthisstory? (c)Identifyfourfeaturesinthisstorythatarecharacteristicoforalnarratives (d)Identifyanythreecharacteristicsoforalnarrativesinthisstory. (e)Identifyandillustrateanythree literarydeviceswhich makethis narrativeanoral poem. (f)Whatfeaturesofthisstoryshowthatitisatraditionaloralnarrative? (g)Identifyandillustratetheoralfeaturesofthispoem. (h)Whatevidence is there thatthis is an oralpoem?Identifyandillustrateany ----- twosuchfeatures. Thefollowingarethecommonfeaturesoforalnarratives: TheopeningFormulae:A longtimeago,onceuponatime,Longago,etc.The openingformulaeiseffective -Arrestingtheattentionoftheaudience -Introducingtheaudiencetotheworldofmakebelief -Identifyingthenarrator -Introducingthenarrative. Theclosingformulae -Markstheendofthenarrative -Releasestheaudiencefromtheworldofmakebelief -Givesachancetothenextnarrator. The useofanimalcharacters(youmustmention which animalcharacters have been used) -Mostcharactersrepresentcertainmembersofsociety.Theelephantmay representthemighty;theharemayrepresentthesmall/insignificant membersofsocietywhosurvivebyusingtheircunning. -Itiseasiertopassthemessageto theaudiencewithoutoffendingthem bypresentinganimalsinsteadofhumancharacters. Peoplecaneasilyidentifywithanimalssinceanimalsarereadily availabletothem.(Theycoexistwithanimals.) Theuse ofsong.Song is saidtobe a multi-purposeaspectof style inoral narratives. Thisisbecauseit. -Linksepisodesinanarrative -Revealsthecharactertraitsofthesingersorthosementionedinsongs. -Involvestheaudienceinthestory. -Helpstorelievetheaudienceofthetensionaccumulatedduringthe narration. -Attimescouldbeusedtocreatesuspensebyheighteningtheintensityof certainpartsofthenarrative. -Breaksthemonotonyofthenarration. Elementsoffantasy/Useofthesupernatural -Innarrativestheremaybecertainthingsthatthecharactersmaydothatappear to beintherealm offantasy.Forinstanceasnakemaybeseencrying,ora stonetalkingtopeople.Onemayravenfindtreesintheforestsinging.Inoralliteratur e,anythingispossible. Presenceofmorallesson -Ineverystoryyouwillfindalessonthattheaudiencearesupposedto learnfrom it.Thelessoncouldbedirectlygivenorimpliedinthestory. Seethenextsectionforthepresentationofthelesson. ----- Thefollowingarethecommonfeaturesoforalpoetry. Repetition -Inoralpoetrycertainpartsofthepoem arerepeatedtoform thechorusorto emphasizetheirimportance.Repetitioncouldalsobeusedtoensurerhythm in thepoem. Hyperbole. -Someaspectsfoundinoralpoetrymayappearexaggeratedorevenfantastic.For instanceinpraisingapersonimagessuchasheisthunderorthelionofthe villagemaybeused.Insatiricalsongssomeonemaycastintheextreme. Directaddress -Onemayencounterphrasesthatimplythepresenceofalivingaudience.E.g. KamausonofWambuiwerewenottogetheratManyani(detention)? Morallesson. -Likeoralnarrativesoralpoetryusuallycontainamorallesson. Someofthemaremarkedanonymousastheyarenotproductofanindividualbutthe collectivepropertyofthecommunity. Freetranslation -SomepoemsmaycontainphrasesorwordsthatareinStandardEnglish.Thisis becausewhiletranslatingthepiecesinquestionfrom the sourcelanguageinto English,anartistmaychoosetotranslatewordforwordresultinginphrasesthat maynotbereadilyaccessibletoEnglishe.g.whenthesunstoodinthemiddle ofthevillagei.e.atnoonorshewasmeasuredadressatChogoria Referencetolocalplacesandnamesofpeople. -Mostoralpoemsweremeantforaparticularaudience.Thiscouldforinstance bemembersofthesamevillageorpeopleofthesameagegroup.Forthisreason onemayencounternamesofpeopleandplacesthathemaynotbefamiliar. Morallessons (a)Mentiontwolessonsthatwelearnfromthistale. (b)Withillustrations,identifythreelessonsthatcanbelearntfromthisnarrative. Innotmorethatfivesentences,statewhatthemainmessageofthestoryyouheard was. (d)Whatmorallessondoyoulearnfromthisstory? (e)Stateandillustratetwomorallessonsyoucanlearnfrom thisoralpoem. (f)Mentionanytwomorallessonslearnedfromthisoralstory. (g)Stateonethemeofthisnarrative. Whenaskedtostatethemorallessons,youshouldaskyourselfthefollowingquestions: WhatistheaudiencesupposedtolearnfromthisstoryOR Whydidthenarratorchoosethisstory? You may useaproverbto summarisethe lesson oruseaplain statementto present ----- it. Afterthatyouaresupposedtosupportthelessonstatedwith ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THETEXT. DoNotstatelessonsthataretoospecificasnottobeuniversal,E.g. -Weshouldbeobedientsoasnottobepunishedbyourparents. -Weshouldnotstealbecauseifwearecaughtwewillbekilled. -WeshouldobeyGodbecauseifwedonot,thenGodwillpunishus. Intheexamplesabove:itdoesnotfollow thateverytimeweobeyourparents weare punishedoreverytimesomeoneiscaughtstealingheiskilled. Examplesoflessonslearntinclude: -WeshouldrespectGod --Weshouldbedutiful --Oneshouldnotcryoverspiltmilk -Wisdomisstrength -Youreapwhatyousow -Weshouldbegrateful Whenillustratingthelessons,youshouldfollowthreesteps: -Statethelesson -Statewhodidnotactaccordingtothelessonlearned. -Explaintherepercussionsofnotactingaccordingtothelessonlearnt. ForExample: From thestorywelearnthatweshouldbegrateful.Inthisstory,theanimals showedingratitudetotheirgodCheptailelbynotgiving partoftheirharvestasa sign ofgratitude.Becauseoftheir ingratitudetheywerepunishedwithasevere drought . Citingproverbsthatsummarisethelessonslearned (a)Give one proverb from you fieldwork and explain how itapplies in any lessonyouhaveidentifiedin(c)above (b)StateandexplainaproverbthatcouldbeusedtowarnthepeopleofRanisi. (c)Giveoneproverbthataccuratelysummarisesthistheme. Whenaskedtosummarisethelessonlearntusingaproverb,youhaveto: -Statethelessoninplainlanguage. -Satetheproverb -Explainthemeaningoftheproverb. -Explainhowitcouldbeusedtosummarizethemessagethatyouhaveidentified. Forexample -Thelessonlearntinthis narrative is thatthosewho havecertain weaknesses shouldnot castigateotherswhoseem tohavethesameweakness.A proverbthatcouldbe ----- usedto summarize this lesson is Those who live in glass houses should notthrow stones.In this narrative,we see the hyena castigating the hare forhis greed. He even wantshim killed.Lateronweseethehyenabeingvilifiedforbeinggreedy.Thehyenacanthus be comparedtoapersonintheproverbwholivesinaglass-houseandisbusythro wing stones.Hewillonlysucceedinharminghimself. -You mustalways explain how the proverb summarizes the message learnt evenwhenyouhavenotbeenasksto. Aspectsofperformance (a)Withreferencetoaperformanceofanarratoryouhavewatched,statewaysin whichsheor hemadehisorhernarrativelively. (b)Try to picture yourselfas the story-tellercharged with the responsibility of narratingthis particularstory.Whatstorytellingdeviceswouldyouemploy? (c)Ifyouwereto doasolo performanceofthisoralpoem,what wouldyou emphasise? Someaspectsofperformanceinclude -Changeofvoicetoimitatethedifferentcharacters(mimicry) -Useoffacialexpressionstocapturedifferentemotions -Dramatizationoruseofgesturestocapturetheactioninthestory -Useoftonalvariationtocapturedifferentmoodsinnthenarrative. -Involvementoftheaudiencethroughaskingofquestionsorinvitingthem tojoin inthesinging(ifthereisasonginthenarrative) -When giving thesetypesofaspectsofperformance,youmustpointoutexactly whichpartsofthetexttheaspectswould beemployed in.Ifyou failtodo this, thenyouwontgetanymarks. -ForexampleonecansayIwouldusemyhandsandlegstodramatizetheogre runningaftertheboy.Iwould usemyhandsto enactthekilling oftheogrebythe warrior.Iwouldalsovarytoneofmyvoicetocapturethepanicoftheboyashe wasbeingchasedbytheogre.Iwouldusefacialexpressionstoexpressthejoy thattheboyfeltathavingbeingrescuedfrom theogre CLASSIFICATIONOFORALLITERATURE (a)Whattypeoforalnarrativeisthis?Givereasonforyouranswer. (b)Explainwhythisnarrativecouldbeclassifiedaslegend (c)Whatdoyouunderstandbythewordgenreinoralliterature? (d)Identifytwotypesoforalnarratives. ----- (e)Giveanexampleandashortexplanationofeachtypeyouhaveidentified. (f)Whattypeoforalpoemdoyouthinkthisis?Giveareasonforyouranswer. (g)Whatkindoforalpoemisthis? -Youareexpectedtodemonstrateamasteryofthevariousclassesthatarethereino ralliterature -Apart from merely stating them;you should also be able to give reasons justifyingyouchoiceofclassification. Economicactivities (a)Listtheeconomicactivitiesofthecommunitydepictedinthisoralnarrative. (b)Describetheeconomicactivitiesofthecommunityinthisstory. (c)Identifytwosocio-economicactivitiesofthecommunityinthisnarrative. -When asked to statetheeconomicactivitiesofthecommunityfrom which a narrativeorpoem istakenyouaresupposedtogothroughthepoem ornarrative andlookforpointers. Forinstance,ifcowsarementionedinthenarrative,thentheeconomicactivity could belivestockkeeping.Ifmaizeismentioned,then perhapsthiscommunity practicesarable farming. -You mustshow how you arrived atyourconclusions aboutthe economic activitiesevenwhen you havenotbeen asked to.Mostcandidateslosemarks foreassumingthattheexaminerhasreadthenarrativeandthereforemustknowhow theyarrivedattheanswer. -You havetoassume thattheexaminerhas notreadthenarrativeand issolely relyingontheinformationthatyouaregivinghim. Theaudience (a)Whatkindofaudiencewouldthisnarrativebesuitedforandwhy? -Whenanswering thisquestionyouhaveto askyourselfthefollowingquestion: Whatclassofpeopleinsocietywouldbenefitfrom thelessonslearntinthis narrativeorpoem? ORgiventhelanguageused,whichmembersofsocietyare likelytodrawmostbenefitsfromthetext? -Thenarrativeorpoem couldbesuitableforchildren,theyouth,elders,girls, boys,youngmenorwomenetc. -The mostimportantthing here is thatyou are able to identify the correct group andsupportyourchoiceofaudiencewithevidencefrom thetext.Most candidateslosemarksfromerelystatingthegroupthattheythinkwouldbest benefitfrom thetextwithoutgivingthereasonswhy.Thisistreatedasmere speculation. Reasonsforstudyingoralliterature (a)Statetworeasonswhyyouthinkitisimportanttostudyoralliteratureinschool. -teachingaboutculture -makingusgainsconfidenceinourculture ----- -Teachculturalvaluesormorals -Teachinggoodneighbourliness -Provideheroesforustoemulate -Teachesabouthistoryofthepast -Teachesusabouttheworldofourancestors -Teachesusaboutourselves -Entertains -Sharpenswit/speech/creativity/listeningandlanguageskills. -Afterstatinganyofthepointsabove,youshouldofferashortexplanationforthe pointssated. -Forinstance: -Oralliteratureteachesusaboutourculture.Bylisteningtonarrativeswe gettoknow thedifferenteconomicactivitiespracticedbythecommunity. Someoftheculturalpracticesforinstanceweddingceremoniesandsome ofthevaluesthatthecommunitiesapprovedof.Alltheseareimportant aspectsofculturethatgetstousviathestudyoforalliterature. Generaladvicetocandidates 1.Please be neat.Neatworks gives a good impression.Untidy work may easilyputofftheexaminer.Rememberyoursisnottheonlyscriptbeingmar ked. 2.Planyouranswersbeforewritingthem down.Thisensuresthatyouarelo gicalandthatyouwriteexactlywhatyouintendtosay.Donotbeinahurryto finish.Usuallytherewillbeenoughtimeto finishthepaperatacomfortable pace. 3.Where possible underline the importantpoints in you answer.This will helpindrawingtheattentionoftheexaminertotheanswerandmaysimplify hiswork. 4.IfyoudonotimmediatelygettheanswerstoacertainquestionDONT PANIC! Youarenottheonlyonein theroom faced bytheproblem.Instead of panickingTHINKthrough theproblem itisbyfarthemostprofitablewayof goingabouttheproblem. 5.Rememberthatinliterature,markslieinILLUSTRATION!Shouldyouforget everythingelseinthehandbook,keepthispointinmind. ORALLITERATUREMODELPAPERS EXERCISEONE Readthefollowingnarrativeandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow. THEFALLOFTHEDOG Inthebeginning,thedogusedtobeoneofGod'sfavouritecreatures.Hewasnotcalled ----- dogasheiscallednow,butwascalledLenanu,forhewasverymuchpampered. Andsinceheavenandearthwerenotasfarapartastheynoware,Lenanuusedtopay frequentvisitstoMan,afterwhichhewouldreturntoheavenwhereheresided. Oneday,GodcalledLenanutohim andsaid,"Myfavouriteone,youmaytalktoManas youplease,butdon'tyouevertellhim ofthegentle-one,forIdonotwanttopartwith her."Lenanusaid:"Verywell,Iwillnevertellhim."Butassoonashewasinthecompany ofhisfriend,Man,LenanucouldnotkeepGod'ssecret.Hesaidtohim,"Man,shallItell yousomething?Godhasonethingthathedidnotgiveyou,andwhichhecallsthe gentle-one.Thiscreatureisveryfatandhumblebutifeveryoumanagetoprocure it,allyourproblemswillgoaway.Goandaskforit,forHewillnotdeny ThereuponManwenttorequestGodforthegentle-one."OhGod,"hepleaded,"Ihave cometoaskyoutogivemethegentle-one."Godwasstartledbythisrequestandasked Man,"Whotoldyouofthatgentlecreature?" "ItisLenanuwhotoldme,"Mananswered.GodthensentMantogoandcallLenanu, andhespoketohim thus:"Lenanu,youhaveindeedletoutthesecretofmygentle-one whichIbidyounevertotell!"Lenanukeptmum outofshame asthough he wasnot theonewhowasbeingspokento."Becauseofwhatyouhavedone,"God continued,"Iwillmakeyouadog.From thisverydayyouwillnotresideinmyhome,but youwillgotoearthandbe aservantto Man,and foryourfood youwillfeedon excrement."Onhearingthis,Lenanuregrettedhisactionsverymuch,butwasitnottoo late? LenanuthensaidtoGod,"Ohfather,now thatyouhaveindeedcursedme,Ihave fourthingstorequestofyou,sothatIcan atleastsurvive.Grantmeanosethatcan withstandthedistastefulsmellofexcrementnowthatyoufateittobe myfoodgrant meanosethatcandetectthescentoffoodfrom longdistances,sothatIdonotdie from starvationgrantme,too,hairsthatfaceone directionso thatifIam delayedat thehuntIcanmaneuver throughthethornfenceswithoutmyhairsgettingcaughtbetweenthorns,for,asyou know,noonewishestoletservantsinatnight.AndthelastthingthatIshallaskofyou isan agileandlightbodythatcangoacrosswatersandsqueezethroughnarrowspacesnow thatyouhavedisownedme." Godthensaidtodog,"Ihavegrantedyouallthatyouhaveaskedfor,butblamenoone, foryouhaveremovedyourselffrom ahousethatwasalreadybuilt."Thatwashow Lenanafell outoffavourwithGodandearnedthename'dog',andwasthrowndown toearthtoserveMan."Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlackofsound advice,itisbecauseheatethedeafear."ThiswasalsothetimewhenManprocuredthe gentle-one,whichhelaterrenamed'sheep'. Questions 1.HowwastherelationshipbetweenGodandMan,andbetweenGod?andLenanu? 2.Whatstylisticdevicehastheauthorused? 3.Howhasthewriterusedpersonification? 4.HowwouldyoudescribeLeannescharacter? 5.Whatdoyouthinkthewritermeantwhenheusedthefollowing ----- Sentences: (i) "Youremovedyourselffromahousethatwasalreadybuilt' (ii) "Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlack ofsoundadvice,itis becauseheatethedeafear"Thefollowingsentencesinthenarrativeareindirect speech.Changethemintoindirectspeech. a) Mansaid,"Ihavecometoaskyoutogivemethegentle-one' b)"Lenana,youhaveindeedletoutthesecretofmygentle-onewhichIbidyouneverto tell!"Godsaid. c)"Becauseofwhatyouhavedone,"Godcontinued,"Iwillmakeyouadog.-" d) Lenanusaid,"Nowthatyouhaveindeedcursedme,Ihavefourthingstorequestof you,sothatIcanatleastsurvive." c) Goddeclared,"From thisverydayyouwillnotresideinmyhome,butyouwillgoto earthandbeservanttoman." Givethemeaningofthefollowingwordsandphrasesasusedinthe narrative'pampered keptmum bid renamed reside manoeuvre procure agilestartled felloutof favour 1.TherelationshipbetweenGodandmanwasnotveryfirm becausethereisasecret Goddidnotwantmantoknow ButtherelationshipbetweenGodandLenanuwas intimateforLenanuwasGod'sfavouritecreaturetowhomHetoldeverything. 2.Thefollowingareexamplesofstylisticdevicesusedbythewriter Useofdirectspeech,e.g.,"Verywell,Iwillnevertellhim." Useoffigurativelanguage,e.g.,"...ahousethatwasalreadybuilt." "...heatethedeafear". Useofpersonification,e.g.,Thedogpaysvisitsandtalkslikeaman Useoffantasy,e.g.,Lenanupaysvisittomanonearthandreturnsto heaven. 3Thewriterhasusedpersonificationbygivingthedoghumanqualities.e.g.,Thedog cantalktomanandGod. 4.-Lenanuwasfriendly;heusedtovisitmanfrequently -Hewasaliar,hecheatedGodthathewouldkeeptheirsecret. -Hewasunfaithful;herevealedGod'ssecretdespitethepromisehehadmadenottodo so. -Hewasremorseful/repentant;heregrettedandwasashamedofhisactions -Hewaspolite;hepleadedwithGodandrequestedHimtogrant himafewthingsinordertosurvive. 5."Youhaveremovedyourselffrom ahousethatwasalreadybuilt.".Thissentenceis usedtoshowLenanuhis foolishactionforheusedtoliveincomfortinGod'shousewherehewasthefavourite creature.Hisactions havecausedhimproblemsforhewould,fromthenon,fendforhimselfandserveman. ----- "Thereasonwhythedogateexcrementisnotforlackofsoundadvice,itisbecausehe atethedeafear." ThissentencemeansthatthedogsufferedforhedidnotheedGod'sadvice. 6.a)MansaidthathehadgonetoaskHimtogivehim(man)thegentle-one. b)GodtoldLenanuthathehadindeedletoutthesecretofHisgentle-onewhichHebid nevertotell. c)Godcontinuedandsaidthatbecauseofwhathe(Lenanu)haddone,Hewouldmake himadog. d)LenanusaidthatnowHe(God)hadindeedcursedhim,he(Lenanu)hadfourthingsto requestofHimsothathecouldatleastsurvive. e)Goddeclaredthatfromthatveryday,he(Lenanu)wouldnotreside inHishomebuthewouldgotoearthandbeservanttoman. 7.pampered- overprotected/spoiltbycuddling reside - live procure - obtain/acquire startled - surprised reprimanded rebukedsharply Keptmum keptquiet Withstand resist Maneuver moveskilfully agile nimble/active/quick felloutoffavour nolongertreatedwithpartiality/nolonger friends. EXERCISE2 Lookatthefollowingproverbsfromvariouslanguagecommunities andwritedowntheirapplication. Forexample: 1.Guthimbalikuura(Gikuyu) Havingcloudsisnotthesameashavingrain Application: Thisproverbisusedtowarnpeopleagainst makingmajorplansforthingsthathavenothappened.TheEnglishequivalentofthis proverbis"Don'tcountyourchickensbeforetheyhatch. 2. Wekseiurwomboket(Nandi) Whatyoudotometodaymightbedonetoyoutomorrow. Application:Thisproverbisusedto advisepeopletotreatotherswell.ABiblicalequivalentofthisproverbis"Dountoothers asyou ----- wouldwantthemtodountoyou" 3 MurnerataOlaiyioniootamenve.(Maasai) Aboyisneverreallycircumcisedwhilehisfatherisstillalive. 4 Meetaemotonyinerneiroekenyua.(Maasai) Thereisnobirdthatdoesnottalkatdawn. 5. Medung'unoyuen'uditioitoi.(Maasai) Onedoesnotmakeawalkingstickwhileontheway. 6.Unyinyinotaunmu(Gikuyu) Youthislikefoolishness. 7Hatirikiegakiurnagahega.(Gikuyu) Nothinggoodcomeseasily. 8. Rurigirwetagiririamukwa.(Gikuyu) Astringcoulddowhileyouwaitfortherope 9.Bintombiamochikare.(Gusii) Thingsareforthosewholive long. 10.Mwanaabandemaniriamakendu.(Gusii) Anotherperson'schildis coldmucus. 11.Nyumbanjemasimlango.(Kiswahili) Agoodhousecannotbejudgedbyitsdoor. 12.UmqjaniNguvu.(Kiswahili) Unityisstrength. 13.Chemachajiuza,kibayachajitembeza.(Kiswahili) Agoodthingsellsitself,abadthingpersuadespeopletobuyit 14.Nandaulilakalikushilaekombe.(Luhya) Onewhodoesnotlistenwillhavehisearsopenedintheafterworld. 15.Nandakaywayatsianakoebukhwe.(Luhya) Hewhocannotbeadvisedwillgovisitinghisin-lawsinamess. 16.Nzuyukhaneyayiaameno.(Luhya) Hewhohurriesup.getshisteethburned. 17.Kwamwikathiikuyaangunguni.(Kamba) Youcannotmissliceinthehouseofabraggart. 8.Ndukatumiemwanautemusyaengoi.(Kamba) Donotmakeababy-carrierbeforethebabyisborn. 19.Syalisyaitinaitileaunywamuluu(Kamba) Thelastonesareboundtodrinkthemuddywater. 20.Choseitanyagobokelyenang'wan.(Nandi) Toerrishuman. 21.Makibelchindoskorokonaeng.(Nandi) Noonecanservetwomastersatatime. 22.Kirigikirinjagagitiagagagiakwooga.(Meru) Aropelyingoutsidemaybeuseful. 23.Nzorukaremazwanipebeze.(Giriama) Anelephantalwayscarriesitstusks. 24.MviIwanjenaoniomonimfwanya.(Taita) ----- Theoneyouarebornwithistheoneyoudiewith. 25.Lookingataking'smouth,onewouldthinkheneversuckedathis 'mother'sbreast.(Ibo) 26. Thosewhosepalm-kernelswerecracked/orthem byabenevolentspiritshouldnot forgettobe humble.(Ibo) 27.Abirdinhandisworthtwointhebush.(English) 28.Astitchintimesavesnine. (English) c) Lookfortenmoreproverbsfrom variouslanguagecommunities.Givetheirdirect translationintoEnglishandtheirapplications Answers 1.Thisproverbisusedtoemphasizetheauthorityoftheeldersinthecommunity.It alsowarnsagainstconflictbetweenoldpeopleandtheyouth.. 2.Thisproverbcautionspeoplewhospeaktoomuchbutinactualfactsaynothing worthwhile.Itisusedtodiscourageidletalk. 3.Properarrangementsforatripshouldbemadebeforeonestartsoffbutnotonthe way.Theproverbisusedtoencouragepeopletoplanthingsbeforedoingthem. 4.Thisproverbisusedtoshow thelittlewisdom theyouthhaveintheeyes ofthe elders.Mostofthethingsthattheyouthdoaredonefrom lackof wisdom.You thereforecannotpunishapersonfordoingsomethingoutoffoolishness/ignorance. 5.Thisproverbadvisespeopletoworkhardforunlessoneisreadytoworkhardand dirtyhishands,hewillnotacquirewhathedesiresinlife. 6. Thisproverbmeansthatyoushouldutilizethelittlehelpthatyougetand;thatyou shouldnotrejecthelpevenwhenitseemstobeinsignificant. 7.Thisproverbisusedtoemphasizeandencouragethequalityofpatience.Peoplewith patiencealwaysbenefitintheend. 8.Thisproverbisusedtoshowthatyoucannottreatanotherperson'schildexactlyas yourown.Itremindspeople n thatitisnaturaltoconsiderone'schildfirst. 9.Thisproverbisusedtowarnpeoplenottojudgeothersorthingsmerelybytheir outwardappearance.Whatmightlookgoodorattractiveontheoutsidemightnotbethe sameontheinside. 10.This proverb is used toadvise people to be united in orderto overcome problems.Whenpeopleareunited,itbecomesdifficulttodestroythem. 11.Thisproverbcautionspeopleagainsttalkingtoomuchaboutthemselves.Agood personwillbejudgedfromhisorhergoodactionsandbehaviour. 12.Inthisproverb,oneisadvisedtolistentoadviceorelseitwillbeveryembarrassing whenhefindshimselfinasituationthatrequireshimtobehaveinaspecialway. 13.Thisproverbtoowarnsapersonagainstdisobedience.Ifonedoes notlistento advice,hewilldiscoverthetruthwhenheisinatotalmess. 14.Thisproverbcautionsonetodothingsslowlybutcarefullyinordertodothem well.. Workdoneinahurryendsupbeingshoddy. 15.Theproverbisusedtocautionpeopleagainstpraisingthemselvesfortheyhave ----- weaknesseswhichtheydonotpointout. 16.Theproverbcautionspeopleaboutmakingtooelaboratepreparationsinregardto ananticipatedhappening.Thisistoavoidembarrassmentincasethereisfailure. 17.Thisproverb isusedtocautionpeopleagainstarrivinglate atafunctionor appointment.Suchpeopleshouldnotcomplainiftheymissthefunctionoriftheyget thedregs/leftovers. 18.Thisproverbmaybeusedtoconsolesomeonewhohasdonesomethingwrong unintentionally.Itmayalsobeusedtocautionthosewholaughatothers'mistakes. 19.Theproverbisusedtoadvisepeopletodoonethingatatimeinordertosucceed. 20.Peopleusethisproverbtoadvisepeoplenottodiscardthingsthattheyarenotusing forsuch thingsmaybehandyinfuture.Italsoemphasizestheimportanceofeach memberofthefamilyregardlessofhisage,sexorsize. 21.The proverb is used to encourage others to acceptwhatmay happen to them.Itis also used to m encouragepeopletodotheirworkwellnomatterhow hardthejobmightbe 22.Thisproverbisusedtoremindpeoplethatpeoplewithbloodrelationsarecloseand willalwayssidewitheachotherAnEnglishequivalentofthisproverbis,"Bloodisthicker thanwater". 23.Thisproverbisusedtoencouragepeopletoworkhardinordertorisefrom poverty. Thisproverbisusedinasocietywhereeveryindividualisgivenachancetobecome importantthroughhardwork 24 Thisproverbcautionsthosethatareluckyandhavebecomerichnottolookdown uponthepoorpeople.Thepoorpeoplearejustunfortunate 25 Thisproverb isusedtoadvisepeopletomakeuseofwhattheyhave,nomatter howlittle,andnottostayidlewaitingforbetterthingsthatmightnevercomeatall. 26.Theproverbis usedtocautionpeopleagainstleavingthingsundone:itadvises peopletocorrecterrorswhentheyhappen.Thisisbecauseifworkisleftundonefor long,itwillbedifficulttodo.Again,ifanerrorisnotcorrectedwhenithappens,itwill growoutofhandtherebymakingitmoredifficulttocorrect. EXERCISE3 Readthenarrativebelowandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow. KONYEKIANDHISFATHER Onceuponatimetherewasanogrewhousedtoturnhimselfintoahandsomeyoung man.Onedayheattendedatraditionaldanceinaneighbouringvillage.Hewassmartly dressedandhedancedsowellthathebecamethecentreofattractionformostof the girls present.One girlwas soattracted tohim thatshedancedwith him throughout.Sheevenbecame furiousifheapproachedanothergirlforadance.When theyweredancingthelastdance,he requested herto accompany him to his houseto seehishouseand greethismother,with apromisethathewouldtake herbackhomeafterthevisit.Theogrewassocourteousthatthegirlbelievedhim. Apartfromthis,hewassoattractivethathehadconqueredherheart. Afterthe lastdance,they setofftowards the ogre's home.They walked and walkedpa...pa...pa...kilometreafterkilometre,acrossrivers,hillsandvalleys.The girlwasgettingtiredandshestoppedandaskedhim howfarhishousewasfrom whereshestood.Hetold herthathishomewasashortdistanceaway.Itwastrue ----- becauseafterashortdistance,shesaw alonelyhouseinthemiddleofaforest.He pointedatthehouseandtoldherthatthatwashishome.Thehousewaslockedfrom theoutsideandtherewasnosignoflife.Hesaidthathismotherhadlockedthehouse andgonetothefarm.Heaskedhertowaitoutsideandexcusedhimself.Hewentinto thehouse,sayingthathewasgoingto warm thehouseforher.Shewaitedoutside andatthetimeshebegantoshiver.Somethinginsidehertoldherallwasnotwelland shebecamesuspiciousoftheyoungman.Hecameoutofthehouseandinvitedherin side.Whenshewassettled,heexcusedhimselftogooutformorefirewoodforthe room wasstillcold.Hemadesurehelockedthehousefrom outside.Afterheleft, thegirlgot curious and started looking around.To herhorror,shefoundhuman skullsand limbs tuckedunderthebed.She became so scared thatshe fainted.When she cameto,shefoundherselfonabed.Theogrehadremovedtheartificialhairhe hadputonduringthedance,therebyexposinghisothermouthatthebackofhishead. Shestartedcryingandsayingtoherselfthatshewishedshehadheededhermother's adviceandthatallthatglittersisnotgold.Itwastoolatenowandtherewasnopoint cryingoversplitmilk. Shestoppedcryingandpleadedwiththeogrenottoharm herandtolethergohome. Theogretoldhertosavehertearsforshewashiswifefrom then on.Shecouldnot leavebecausehethreatened tokillherandherfamilyifsheranawayfrom him She dreadedherstaytheredaybydaybutshehadnoalternativebuttostay. Shestayed in theogre'shouseand aftersometime,shegavebirth to a baby boywhom shecalledKonyekiWhenKonyekigrew up,hetookafterthefather.He had hisfather'scharacteristicsbutwasmuchmoreinquisitiveandgreedy.Heand hisfatherusedtogototheforesttohuntforallsortsofcreatureswhichtheyusedto bringhomeforthem othertocook.Themotherdetestedthethingstheyateandshe never tasted any ofthem Sheusedtocookherownfood m Oneday,Konyeki's maternalauntcametovisithersisterafteralongsearchforherShemetKonyeki's motheroutsidethehousedrying someanimalskins.When theymet,theycried on each other's shoulderswith happiness. After exchanging greetings and enquiring aboutthe othermembers ofthe family,Konyeki'smothertoldherhow shecam etotheogre'shouseandhowshehadanotheryoungerogre,worsethanthe father. TheystayedhappilytogetheruntillateafternoonwhenKonyeki'smothertoldhersistert oleavefortheogreswereabouttoreturnhome.Shetoldthesistertoresthalf-waythe journeyonathicktreeandwaitthereuntiltheogreshadpassed.Shetoldherthat sometimesthey used torestunderthe tree.In case theydid,shewasnotto maketheslightest noiseunderanycircumstancesheaskedherwhetherthatwasclearandthesister nodded herhead in agreement.She then lefthersister,Konyeki'smother,with tearsinhereyes. Whenshereached thethicktree,shedecidedtorestasshewasaskedto do byher sister.Sheclimbed thetreeandmade herselfcomfortable bysitting on a thick branch.Thetree'sthickfoliageconcealedherpresence. WhenKonyekiandhisfathercame,theydecidedtorestabitunderthetreewhen thewomansaw theiruglyfacialfeaturesandespeciallytheirmouths,shestarted ----- urinatingandtheurinefellonKonyeki'shead.Hewonderedwhetherithadstarted raininghotrainandhelookedupthetree.Hesaw alegdanglingupthetree. Hisfatherhadastiffneckand hetherefore wasnotinterested in looking up.He feltexcruciating pain anytime he moved itKonyeki. Ignoring his father's indifferenceclimbed thetree,aslow,shysmilecreepingaroundthecornersofhis mouth.Thewomanheld tightly onto thetreetrunkbutKonyekiwascunning.He whisperedthatifshelethim eatherfingersonly,hewouldleaveheraloneandnottell thefatheraboutherpresencethere.Thewomangaveinandwhenherfingerswere eaten,shecouldnotholdontothetreeanylonger.Shewaspulleddownstillscreaming. Herstomachwasopenedand theyfoundtwinbabies.They wereboth boys and Konyekitookthem hometohismothertocookthem forhim.Whenhismother sawthetwobabies,sherealizedwhathadhappenedtohersister.Shetookthebabies, wrappedthem upandtookcareofthem.Inplaceofthem,shecaughttwomoles,cut offtheirtailsandcookedthem forKonyeki.Konyekiatethem althoughhe complainedthathiskidneys(ashecalledthem)seemedtohaveshrivelledandthat they werenottasty.His motherretortedthatshewouldnevereatthestrangethings thattheyate.Herhusbandtrustedherandstopped Konyekifrom accusing his mother.Konyekiwasnotsatisfiedwiththeexplanationbuthekeptquiet. Days,months andyearspassedandthe boys grewtallerand stronger.Theywere wellhiddenatnightbuttheywereallowedtogooutduringthedaywhentheogreswent outhunting.Onedayonarainyday, Konyekireturnedintheeveningfrom theirusualhuntingtripsandhefoundmanysmall footprintsnearthedoorofthehouse.Hebecamesuspicious andasked his mother whohadmadesomanyfootprints.Hismothertoldhim thatthemarksweremade byherasshewentouttogetwater,firewood,foodandwhenshedidotherhousehold chores.Hesaidthefootprintsweretoosmalltobehers.Themotherthensaid they mustbehisfortherewasnootherchild in their home.Thefatherdidnotdoubt his wife and told Konyekithefootprintswere his (Konyeki's).The children had beenwarned nevertomake noise andtheyobeyed.Theyalsonevercried.When Konyeki'smotherthoughttheboyswerebigenough,shecalledthem outonemorning andtoldthem abouttheirmother;whoshewas,andthatherlife and theirswerein danger.Iftheythoughtofescaping,thentheyhad to practise how to fightso that theycould killthe ogres.Theyagreed with theirauntand sheboughtthem swords,spears,bowsand arrows.Theyspentmostoftheirtimetraining how to fighttheogres. Aftertheyweresureofthemselves,andconfidentthattheycouldkillthem,theyasked theiraunttoallowthemtogoaheadandkilltheogres. OnedaywhenKonyekiandhisfatherreturnedhomeexhausted,they wentstraightto sleepandafterafewminutestheyweresoundasleepandsnoringloudlyasusual.The twinscameoutoftheirhidingplaceandattacked the ogres.Konyekiwas the first oneto wakeup and defend himself.Ashewasfighting back,heshoutedathis father,blaminghim forignoringhiswarningwhen hereportedhe hadseen other footsteps.Hishead was hacked offand hedied instantly.His fatherwokeup with a startand he too gotafatalblowbeforehecoulddefendhimself.Thetwins andtheiraunttookallthattheycouldcarry,burntdownthehouse inwhichthedeadogreswereandlefttheplacetogobacktotheirhome. ----- Questions 1. Whatisthethemeofthestory? 2. Whydoyouthinkthetwinsarenecessarytotheplot? 3. WhatqualitiesarebroughtoutinthesestoriesthatmakeKonyekiandhisfather objectsoffear? 4. Whatmoralteachingdoyougetfromtheproverb,"Alltheglittersisnotgold?" 5. Identityanidiophoneinthisnarrativeandsaywhyitisused. 6. Whatdoyouunderstandbytheproverb,"Don'tcryoversplitmilk" 7. Whattypeofstoryisthis? Answers 1.Thethemeofthestoryis greedandruthlessness oftheogresthat destroythemintheend. 2.Twinsarenecessarytotheplotbecauseitisthroughtheiractionsthat thestoryends;theykilltheogresand,togetherwiththeirauntgoback totheotherhumanbeings. 3.QualitiesbroughtoutinthisnarrativethatmakeKonyekiandhisfather objectsoffearare: -theycanchangeintohumanbeingsandtrickrealhumanbeings; -theykillandeathumanbeings; -theyaregreedyandferocious; -theyareneitherhumansnoranimals; -theyarecunning 4. Themoralteachingfromtheproverb"Allthatglittersisnotgold"isthatweshould notjudgepeoplebytheir looksThegirlwentwith anogrethinking thatitwasanattractiveyoungman. Thisbroughtherproblems later. 5. Theidiophoneispa..papaitisusedtoshowthesoundmadebythe feetastheywalked. 6. Thisproverbmeansthatoneshouldnotblamehimself/herselfoveranaction thathappenswhenone knowsthat he/shecannotreversethe action.Alloneshoulddoistrytodo somethingbetternexttime 7. Thisisanogreormonsterstory. EXERCISE 4 READ THEORALNARRATIVEBELOW AND ANSWER THEQUESTIONSTHAT FOLLOW. HAWKANDHEN A long timeago Hen and herfriend Hawk.Thetwo friendsweregoodfriends andlivedneareachother.Theysharedwhatevertheypossessedandthechildren ----- tooweregoodfriends.Everymorningaftertheplantingseason,onecalleduponthe othertogoouttothewoodsandtorubbishDumpstolookforwormsandothertypes offood.Oneday,astheypreparedthemselvestogoouttolookforfood,Hare calledonthem and told them,Myfriends,asyouknowafriendinneedisafriendindeed,Ivecalledyou this morningto invite you to my daughters wedding.Icannotforget,she continued,how you,especiallyyouHen,fedmychildrenwhenIwassickandbed -ridden.Please,comeandenjoywithus,sheconcluded.Hen andHawklooked at eachother andnoddedtheirheads.TheypromisedHaretheywouldgo tothe ceremony.Haretthankedthemandranofftowardsherhome. AfterHarehad left,theylooked ateach otherand burstoutin laughterAsfar astheywereconcerned,theydidnotconsiderHarearealfriendbutjustoneof them.Theyhowever,decidedtoattendtheweddingpartyoutofcuriosityHawks sonhadmarriedaverybeautifulgirlthepreviousyearandtherewasalotof eatinganddrinking.HawkcouldremembervividlyhowHyenadrankanddrank beeruntilhisfourlegscouldnotcarryhim.Hehadtobetakenhomecompletely unaware of what was happening. Could Hare's party match hers? Hawk wondered.Shebecamecuriousandwantedtofindout. On the wedding day,Hen and Hawkdressed themselvesin theirbestparty costumes.Theywarnedtheirchildrennottoleavetheirhomecompoundsduringt heirmothers'absenceTheythen lefthomeandwalkedhappilytowardsHare's compoundHaresawthem :nadistance andhurriedtomeetthem "Oh!Howare youmyfriends?Welcomehome.Thepartyisgoingtostartinanhourstime'They wenthomewhileHare washoldingHen's hand.Hawknotedthis withdispleasure butshesaidnothing. Whentheyreachedhome,Haresaid:"Sitdownandhaveadrinkwhile Iprepare myself Sheaskedoneheryoungsonstoservethem withdrinks.Whenthedrinkswere brought,againHawknotedthatHenwasservedthedrinkinaglasshutHawkwas servedinacupwithcrackededges.ThiskilledHawk'sspirits.Shemaynothave been as beautiful as Hen but that was no reason whyshe should be discriminatedagainst.Afterall,hadn'tshegoneoutofherwaytodressinherbest clothes,justforthepartyHawkthoughtbitterly. Afteranhour,Hareemerged from aninner room, dressed magnificentlywith matchingshoesandnecklace.Theyallproceededtotheparty.Harem ade sure she satnextto Hen butHawksata little bit fartheraway.Shewondered whatwashappeningHenseemedveryhappyduringthepartyandshelaughedall thetimewithHare,ignoringHawk'spresence.Hawkbecam emoodyanddecidednot totalktoanyofthem fromthenon. Afterthe party asover,Harebidthetwogoodbyeandtheyleftforhome. Itwasgettingdarkastheywalkedhome.HentriedtoinvolveHawkinconversation "Howdid youfindthepartyIthinkitwaswonderfulHawkdid notanswerHenand shewonderedwhyHawkwasbehavinginthatmannerHenwantedtodiscussthe matterbutHawksaidshewasnotinterestedtheywenthomewithouttalkingtoeach otheruntiltheyreachedtheir respectivecompounds.Hen,asusualinherhigh spiritsbidHawkgoodbyebutHawklookedathersneeringly,swungherhipsmore ----- thanusualandshuthergatewithoutaword.Henclosedhergatetooandwenttocookf orherchildren.VeryearlythefollowingmorningHawkschildknockedatHens doorandafterHenopenedthedoor,shesaid,Mummysentmetoyoutotellyoutogive backallthethingsthatbelongtous.Hereareallyourthingsthatwereinourhouse. Henwasdumbfounded.ShecouldnotimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.They hadbeenfriendsforsuchalongtime.Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthat werenotherstotaketohermother.Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned. "Mummytoldmeyoudidnotgiveherallthethings.Sheneedsourhoeandpanga whichyouborrowedlastweektocultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedstherazorwhich youborrowedyesterdaytoshaveyourchildren."Henwentbacktothehouseandcame outwiththe pangaandthehoebutwithouttherazor.Shecouldnotfindtherazoratall.Shetold Hawk'schild, "GoandtellyourmotherthatIhavesearchedfortherazorbladeeverywherebutI cannotgetit.TellherIshalllookforitlateronandIwillsendoneofmy childrenwithit."Hencalledoutallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeand theyscratchedallaroundtheircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensent oneofherchildrentoreportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit. Hen'schildknockedatHawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledin byHawkandkilled.Hawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshe sworetoeatallHen'schildrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,Hawkand herchildrenhoveredoverHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen's children.Hencluckedloudly cluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedandfranticallycallingher childrentocometoherforprotection.Theyallran Henwasdumbfounded.Shecould notimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.Theyhadbeenfriendsforsuchalongtime. Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthatwerenotherstotaketohermother. Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned."Mummytoldmeyoudidnotgiveher allthethings.Sheneedsourhoe andpangawhichyouborrowedlastweektocultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedsthe razorwhichyouborrowedyesterdaytoshaveyourchildren."Henwentbacktothe houseandcameoutwiththepangaandthehoebutwithouttherazor.Shecouldnot findtherazoratall.ShetoldHawk'schild"GoandtellyourmotherthatIhavesearched fortherazorbladeeverywherebutIcannotgetit.TellherIshalllookforitlateronandI willsendoneofmychildrenwithit." Hencalledoutallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeandtheyscratchedall aroundtheircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensentoneofherchildren toreportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit. Hen'schildknockedatHawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledin byHawkandkilled.Hawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshe sworetoeatallHen'schildrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,Hawkand herchildrenhoveredoverHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen's children.Hencluckedloudly cluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedand franticallycallingherchildrentocometoherforprotection.TheyallranHenwas dumbfounded.ShecouldnotimagineendingthefriendshipwithHawk.Theyhadbeen ----- friendsforsuchalongtime.Nevertheless,shegavethechildallthethingsthatwerenot herstotaketohermother.Thechildleftbutafterashortwhileshereturned."Mummy toldmeyoudidnotgiveherallthethings.Sheneedsourhoeandpangawhichyou borrowedlastweekto cultivateyourfarm.Shealsoneedstherazorwhichyouborrowedyesterdaytoshave yourchildren."Henwentbacktothehouseandcameoutwiththepangaandthehoe butwithouttherazor.Shecouldnotfindtherazoratall.ShetoldHawk'schild,"Goand tellyourmotherthatIhavesearchedfortherazorbladeeverywherebutIcannotgetit. TellherIshalllookforitlateronandIwillsendoneofmychildrenwithit."Hencalled outallherchildrentolookforthemissingrazorbladeandtheyscratchedallaround theircompoundwithoutanysuccess.Thatevening,Hensentoneofherchildrento reportthattherazorbladewaslostandtheycouldnotgetit.Hen'schildknockedat Hawk'sdoorandwhenthedoorwasopened,shewaspulledinbyHawkandkilled. HawkinsistedthatshehadtohavebackherrazorbladeandshesworetoeatallHen's childrenunlessshegotitback.'Thefollowingmorning,Hawkandherchildrenhovered overHen'scompoundtryingtogetachancetosnatchoneofHen'schildren.Hen cluckedloudly cluck...cluck...runningalloverhercompoundfrightenedandfranticallycallingher childrentocometoherforprotection.Theyallrantoherandsheprotectedthem,and Hawkfled awaydisappointed.From thattimeuntiltoday,hensgetfrightenedandhidetheir childrenanytimetheyseeHawknearby.Hawkontheotherhandisstillangryandshe looksforHen'schildrentokill.Shesaidshewillneverstopuntilshegetsherrazorblade back.HenstilllooksfortherazorbladeeverywhereandthatiswhyHensarealways seenscratchinghereandtherelookingforHawk'srazorblade.Theywonderwhether theywilleverrestorepeacewithHawkandfamily. QUESTIONS 1.-Whatisthemainoccupationofthecharactersinthisnarrative?Supportyouranswer withtwodifferentphrases fromthenarrative. 2.Whatdoyouunderstandbytheproverb:"Afriendinneedisafriendindeed'? 3.HowdoyouthinkHenhidherchildrenfromHawk? 4.Narrativesusuallyhavethreemainparts:abeginning,amiddleandan ending.Writeoutthethreesentencesthatsignalthebeginningofeach sectioninthisnarrative. 5.WhatincidentsforcedHawktobreakherfriendshipwithHen? 6. Thewriterusesanidiophoneinthisnarrative.Identifyit. 7. Identifyfivewordsthatshowthatthestorywasnarratedinamodern setting. 8.WhatHawk'scharacteraspectscanyouidentifyinthisnarrative? 9. Inonesentence,summarizetheconflictinthisnarrative. 10.Whatmainfeaturesandstyleoforalliteraturehasthewriterused? 11.Thestoryendsinacertainmood.Whatmoodisthis? 12.Whatdoyoucallthistypeofnarrative? ----- ANSWERS 1.Thecharactersinthisnarrativearefarmers.Theevidencefrom thenarrativeis:our hoeandpanga-tocultivateyour farm-aftertheplantingseason. 2."Afriendinneedisafriendindeed"-Yourrealfriendistheonewhocomestoyour aidwhenyouneeditmost. 3.HenhidherchildrenfromHawkbycoveringthemwithherwings. 4.Thethreemainpartsinthisnarrativearesignaledbythefollowingthreesentences. Beginning-"Alongtimeago,therelivedHenandherfriendHawk" Middle -"Veryearlythenextmorning,Hawk'schildknockedatHen'sdoor..." Ending-"Fromthattimeuntiltoday,Kensgetfrightenedandhidetheirchildren any timetheyseehawksnearby." 5. HawkbrokeherfriendshipwithHenbecauseshebecamejealouswhen: -HareheldHen'shandtowelcomethemtoherhouseandnotHawk'shand. -HawkwasservedadrinkinacupwithroughedgeswhileHenwasservedthedrinkina glass. -Intheparty,HareandHenignoredHawkandleftheroutoftheirconversation..They evensatneareachotherwhile Hawksatabitfarther. 6.Theideophonethatthewriterusesis'cluck-cluck-cluck'todescribethe sound Hen made. 7.Fivewordsthatshowthatthestorywasnarratedinamodernsettingare:cut,glass, party,dress,shoes,panga. 8.Hawk'scharacteraspectsinthenarrativeare; jealous revengeful insistent adamant moody....... observant curious untrustworthy Heartless/ ruthless 9.TheconflictinthenarrativeisbetweenHenandHawkwhoneedsbackherrazor bladewhichHenhaslost. 10.Thewriterhasuseddialogue,narrativeisgivenbythe thirdperson,animals havebeengivenhuman characteristicsandthewriterhasusedsuspense. 11.Themoodthestoryendsinisthatoffear,anger,vengeance,desperationand hopelessness. 12.Thistypeofnarrativeiscalledexplanatoryoraetiological. ----- EXERCISE5 Readthefollowingoralnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow. LWANDAMAGERE Magerewaslikeamystery,forhewasimmenselystrongandinarmedcombatquite invincible.Thushewasaheroamonghispeople.OftenundercoverofnighttheLang'o madecattleraidsintoLuoterritory;butwheneverMagereappeared,theysufferedheavy lossesandthoseabletoescapealivesoonshowedacleanpairofheels. Then,after Magerehadwoncountlessbattlesagainstthem,theLang'oeldersassembledto discusswaysofendingthegloriouscareer ofthisall-'conqueringhero."How bestcanwedestroyhim?"theyaskedthemselves "HowisitthatMagereseemstohaveabodyofstonewhen,liketherestofus,hehasa wifeandchildren?Surelyhehasbloodsomewhere."Theydebatedtheproblematlength, untiltheydecidedtogiveMagereaLang'ogirlwhomightdiscoverthesecretofhis strength.AndsowordwentoutthatthemostbeautifulgirlknownamongtheLang'o shouldbefoundandsenttotheelders'assembly.Agirlwasfound,alovelymaidenas brownasaripeosayefruit:noothergirlcouldmatchherforgraceandbeauty.They senthertoMagereandhefellinlovewithheratonce.WhenMagere'smikayi,orfirst wife,sawthathewasabouttomarryastranger,sheupbraidedhim."Husband,"shesaid, "Idon'tlikeyoumarryingthisdaughteroftheLang'o.Why didn'tyoufindabeautifulLuogirlinsteadofthisjambetrewhohasbeensenttospyon you?"Magererefusedtolisten.Women,hethought,arethesametheworldover:spiteful andfullof-jealousy.Magerelivedhappilywithhisnewwife.Timewentbyandthough shewenttoreporttoherpeoplemoonaftermoon,shehadnonewsforthem..Oneday, however,Magerefellillwhilehisfirstwifewasoutworkinginhergarden.Itwas customarythenforthefirstwifetodothefarmingoratleasttosowtheseedsforthe harvest.ThusthejuniorwifenursedMagere.Nextdayhisillnesswasworseandinthe latemorning,whenthesunreacheditsheightandpeople inthegardenshadtoleavetheirworktoshelterfrom itsheat,Mageretoldhisyoung wifetobringabladecuthisbodywithit,andthenrubsomepotentashintothe wounds.Themedicinewasmadefmm burntherbswhichhehadstuffedintodried sealedreeds.Hehadstoreditinaskinbaginhisownduol awayfrom theeyesofhiswives.Magereaskedhisyoungwiretomaketheincisions. Shereplied,"Husband.whydoyoudemandthe im possible'Athin blade cannotcutthroughrockandyou'reallrock"ThenMagerepointedtohisshadow. "Cutthere,'heordered.Now.she wenthalf-heartedlytoMagere'sshadow,andwith thebladecutthepanofhisshadowcastbyhisforehead.Inthe samewayshe madeanotherthreecutsonthe cheeksandthenappliedthemedicine.Asshe watchedthebladesinkintotheshadowitseemedtohertimeitwassinkingintot heearth.Shewasastonished,therefore,tolookupandseebloodtricklingfromt he 'rock'Thedeeperthe blade sank,the moretorrentiallythe blood flowed.SheknewnowthatMagere'sstrengthlayinhisshadow,andnotinhisbody. Hertreacherousheartwaswarmedbyitall.Besidesnursing Magere,she had to fetchvegetablesfrom the fieldsandwaterfrom theriver.So,shortlyafterher discovery,shetoldMageretositintheshadowofhisduolwhileshewenttoperform these ----- tasks.Meanwhile,ofcourse,shewenttoherhouse,packedherbelongings,andfledto herpeople.WhenMikayiarrivedfrom thefields,sheaskedhowMagerewasfeelingHe saidhisillnesshadadvancedsofarthathehad asked hisLang'owife to cuthim andapplysomemedicine."Oh,my husband,"shecried,'"you'vesteppedonhotash! You'vesteppedonhotash w ith both feet!Whereisthis girl?"Shesearched everywherebutw ithout success.Awareofwhatthediscoverymeant,shenow beggedherhusbandnottogotowaragain. ButMagerereplied,"IwasbornaheroandI'lldieahero!I'llneverhesitateto defendmypeople!"Theyoung wifesoonarrivedin the lang'o heartland.Word quicklyspreadtoallpartsofthecountrythatshehadreturnedwithexcitingnewsfrom Luoland.Theleadersgatheredatonce.Some,whohaddoubtedthewisdom oftheplan asked,"Hasshereallycomeback?"andthereply,"Yes!!"wasgivensofirmlythatit piercedtheinnermostdepthoftheirears. Peoplepouredinfrom thecountryside.Questionandanswerwereconstantlyrepeated amongswellingcrowds.Soon,withthe home tightlypacked,thegirlrosetospeak, andtoldthestoryofMagere'ssickness."Ifyouwanttokillhim,"sheannounced,"look forhisshadowandaim atitwithwhateverweapon you'recarrying.Shootnowhere else,fortheuprightpartsofhisbodyare solidrockthatwillblunt,curl,orbreakall yourspearsandarrows."Herwordssankintotheirears.Theyroseandreturnedtotheir homes.Theelders,however,nowplannedaseries ofbattlesagainstLuo,battlesthatwouldbeginatnightandlastuntilwellafterdawnon themorrow. Afewdayslater,therefore,theylaunchedafiercenightattackontheLuoandthebattle continueduntilwellintothe following day with many lives loston both sides. Seeing thatthe struggle was dragging onunnecessarily,thesickMagere,who normallyenteredthefieldonlywhenhisjuniorwarriorsseemedespeciallyhardpressed, nowcalmlyhandedhistobaccopipetohismisumba."Preparemyarms!"heordered. Norwouldhelistentohiswife,whobeggedhim ceaselesslynottojointhebattle."I'm goingtodefendmypeople.Onedead herodoesnotpreventtheworldfrom bearingmore."Soherushedintothefield,andall afternoonvictoryhunginthebalance.Withhisclubsandspears,withhisbows,arrows, andshield, Magere hurled himself againstthefoe,takingthem unawaresand slaughteringcountlessnumbersofthem.Thelightlyinjuredfled;thegravelywounded lay bleedingbeneaththesun.Stillclingingtolifetheysweatedintheheatwithoutwaterto quenchtheirthirst.Theysaw deathapproachinglikeanarrowshotfrom thebow,wingingitswaytohittheeyeofits target? TheLang'oresistedstubbornly.Theystrovetostem Magere'sattack,buthedispersed thehardcoreoftheirtroopsanddrovethem intothehills.Racingalonginpursuit,he slaughteredeveryonewithinreach.Then,feelingweary,he decidedtobreakoffabattlethatwaswonalready.HeaskedhispeopletolettheLang'o escape.Cowards,theysay,areheroesonceawarisover,perpetuallyboastingoftheir scars.TheLang'owhoescapednodoubtboastedoftheirwounds, andtheLuo, victorious,wouldretellahundredtimes the storyoftheirbrilliantstrategy.Theglory duetoasingleherowouldbesharedbyall. ----- Andnow,returningfrom battle,theLuochantedwarsongs.Warriorspraisedtheir fellows,slam orliving,andtheairwasfilledwiththeblaringofhorns,theboomingof drums,andtheclangingofspearsandgain. AfterhishardfightMagere wasweakandhecamedownslowlyfrom themountains wherehehaddriven theLang'o. It waslateevening,when thelong shadows announcedthatsoonthesun.mustfallbehindthemountains.Magere,unabletoam, waspickinghiswayalongthehomewardpath.Andatthistime,too,a Lang'owarrior rememberedtheadviceofthegirl.Heupbraidedhiscomrades,'"Arewegoingtolet this manescape,"heasked,"'afterkillingsomanyofourbrothers andsonsCome., let's findhim.Today hemustdie."With the cunning ofwinch his people were famous,theLang'owarriorsetofftosearchforMagere.Likeasnake,heslidfrom, bushtobush,carefullyconcealedfromtheeyesofthereturningLuoWhen,finally,he caughtupwithMagere,hedodgedabout,this wayandthat;andthenwithamighty thrust,hedrovehisspeardeepintoMagere'sshadow.Thelastgreathero oftheLuo crasheddeadtotheearth.Lang'owarriorswhosawhimfallshriekedatthetopoftheir voices.Agreatsigalagalawentup. "Theirheroisdead!Theirheroisdead!"But,wonderofwonders,whenMagerefellbefore theLang'o,hebecameamightyrockand,awe-stuckbyhismysteriousdisappearance, theLang'otrembledwithfear,thinkingthattheLuoherohadassumedanotherbodyand wasabouttoriseagainandslaythem.Now,unlikethe Lang'o,whowereashappyas swallowscatching worms,orfliesblown far,theKanopeople(Luo)wentweeping homewards.Forthosewhoknew thatmightywarrior,thiswasthesaddestdayof theirlives.This andmany days thatfollowed weregrey and gloomy.To make matters worse,theLang'o,stilldoubtfulwhethertheyhadkilled Magere,launched threemoreheavyattacksontheLuotomakesure.TheysweptthroughLuovillages, wreakingslaughteronevenside.Butnomanlike Magereappearedandtheywenthomeconvincedhewasdead.From thatdaytothis,all whosharpentheirweaponsonMagere'srockbeforesettingofftogohuntingneverfail tokillorcapturetheirquarry.Evenwhentheirspearonlylightlyscratchesthebeast, itsinksto thegroundin itsdeaththroes.TohonourMagereasagreatdefenderof hispeople,hismemoryisenshrinedforeverinoneofourmostpopularsayings.When amanexceedsanotherincrueltyheisasked,proverbially."AreyouLwandaMagerethat can'tbetrifledwith''ThoughMagerehasnow beenlongdead,theLuohavenever forgottenhim:heispartandparceloftheirhistoryWhen theylove someone dearly. theLuocomposesongsofpraiseabouthim,and thisthey havedoneforLwanda Magere. QUESTIONS I Whattypeoforalnarrativeisthis'? 2. Quoteonephrasethatshowsthatthenarrativeistoldinamodernsetting j.Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowingproverbasitisusedinthenarrative: "Cowardsareheroesonceawaris over,perpetuallyboastingoftheirscars.? Explainyouranswerwithanexamplefrom thenarrative. 4. WhatfourcharacteraspectsofLwandaMagerecanyougetfromthisnarrative? 5. WhattypeofcommunitiesweretheLuoandtheLang'ointhisnarrative? ----- 6. Identifythreesentenceswheresimileisused. ANSWERS 1 Thisoralnarrativeisa'legend', 2.Thefollowingphraseshowsthatthenarrativeistoldinamodem setting:'the gloriouscareerofthisallconqueringhero'. 3 Theproverbmeansthatpeoplewhohavenotachievedmuchkeeponboastingwith thelittletheyhavedone.Forexample,LwandaMagerewhowasaherodidnotboastof allthebattleshehadwonunliketheotherwarriorswhokeptonre-tellingoftheir victories. 4. AnyofthefollowingcharacteristicaspectsofLwandaMagerecanbegiven:hewas brave,humble,patriotic,tootrusting/unsuspecting,adamant,stubborn,commanding. 5. Theywerewarringcommunities. 6. a)Magerewaslikeamystery. b)Theysawdeathapproachinglikeanarrow. c) ...whowereashappyasswallows. EXERCISE6 Readthefollowingoralnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow WHYTHE DOGISTHEFRIENDOFMAN Long,longagothejackalandthedogwerebrothersandlivedtogetherinthewildbush. Eachdaytheywouldgohuntingtogether,andwheneveningfelltheywouldreturnto thevalleywhichwastheironlyhome,andsharetheirfood. Onenighttheybothcameback empty-handed andravenouslyhungry,and to makemattersworse,acoldwindwasblowingacrossthebushandtheanimals couldnotfindanyprotectionfrom thegale,"Alas'"said the dog."Itisavery badthingtofeelhungry,hutmuchworsetofeelhungryandcoldatmesameti me." "Liedownandgotosleep,"suggestedthejackal"Thenwhenthemorningcomes wecangohuntingagainandperhapscatchthatyoungdeerwesonearly caughttoday."'"Jackal'"heexclaimed."Whatisthatlightoverthere'?""'That'savilla ge,andtheredisaman'sfire,"explainedthejackal."Fire iswarm,"'saidthedog longingly"Wontyou goandfetchmesomefire,Jackal.YouarebraverthanI." "Certainlynot!"growledthejackal,"Youfetchityourselfifyouwantit.Itwasyouridea." Butthedogwasafraidofmanandhecurledupevensmalleronthebaregroundtotry tokeephimselfwarm.Ashelaythere,hethoughtthatperhapsthepeopleinthevillage wereeating and hewonderedwhethertheymightleavesomebones lying on the ground aftertheirmeal,which he could creep in and steal.The thoughtmade him hungrierandhungrier,sothatpresentlyheforgothisfearandsaidboldlytothe jackal:"Ican'tstayhereinthecoldanylonger.Iam goingtothevillageandwilltrytoget somefire.PerhapsImayevenbringbacksomebonesforyoutoo.IfIdon'tgetback soon,callme,incaseIcannotfindmywaytoyou."Sooffranthedogtowardsthered glowinthevillage,andwhenhewasnearlytherehesloweddownandcreptinonhis stomach,hopingthatnoonewouldhearhim.Nearerandnearerhegottothefire, sniffingeagerlyashesmelttheodourofapastmealstilllingeringintheair.Justashe ----- reachedthedyingembersofthefireoutsidethedoorofahut,somefowlsroostingina nearbytreegavethealarm.Amanrushedoutandcaughthim,liftinghighhisspearand saying:"Whatareyoudoinginmycompound?""Oh,pleasedon'tkillme,"beggedthe dog."Ihavenotcometo harm anybodyhere,butonlyto getalittlewarmthfrom yourdyingfire.Ibegyou,letmeliedownhereandrestandwarm myself,andlaterIwill gobacktothebushandnevertroubleyouagain." Thedoglookedsocoldandmiserablethattheman,whowaskindatheart,feltsorryfor him.Heputdownhisspearandsaid:"Verywell.Ifyoupromisenottoharm anyonein thisvillageyoumayliedownbythefire.Butwhenyouarewarm,youmustgobackto thebushagain." Thedogthankedhim profuselyandlaydownbesidethefire,onwhichthemanpiled somemoresticksandblewthem intoablaze.Nowthedogwashappyindeed,forunder hisverynoselayabone,whichsomeonehadthrowndownattheendoftheirmeal.He gnawedawayhappilyforsometime,whiletheheatfrom thefirewarmedhisshivering limbs.Neverhadhebeensocontentedorsocomfortable.Suddenlythemancalledfrom insidehishut:"Aren'tyouwarm yet?""Notquite,"answeredthedog,whohadjustseen anotherbonenearbythathewantedtochew."Well,I'llgiveyoualittlelonger,"saidthe man,andallwasquietagain exceptforthecrackingofbonesunderthedog'sstrong teeth."Aren'tyou warm yet?"asked the man presently.Butthe dog thought unhappilyofthecoldwindblowingacrossthebush,andcreepingevenclosertothe firehebegged:"Letmestayalittlelonger'Itwassometimebeforethemancalledout again,forbothheandthedogathisdoorhadbeenfastasleep 'Youmusthavefinishedwarningyourselfbynow,"saidtheman,risingtohisfeet andcomingoutofhishut.Thedog,decidingthathonestywasthebestpolicy,looked intotheman'seyesandpleaded:'YesIamwarm,butIdonotwanttogobackto thebushwhereIamsooftencoldandhungrywillyounotletmestayinthehouse withyou''Iwillhelpyouhuntthe birdsthatflyintheforest.Iwillteachyou the cunningwaysofthewildanimalssothatyoucankillthem forfoodandIpromiseyou thatunlikemybrotherthejackalIwillneverrobyouofourgoatsandchickens.AllI askinreturnisaplacebyyourfireandtheremainsofyourmeals. Themannowlookedcloselyintothedog'seyesandsawthathewasspeakingthetruth. "Verywell,"hereplied."IfyoupromisetoserveandobeymeIwillgiveyouwarmthand food." Eversincethatday,thedoghaslivedwithman.Butwhenatnightyouhearthejackal calling' Bo-aa!'from thebushyouwillknowthatheiscallingforhisbrotherthedogtoreturnto himwiththefireandthebonesthathewenttofetch. Butthedogneveranswersthecallandthejackalwandersthebushes alone Questions 1.Theplotofthenarrativehasthethreemainpartsofanarrative.Statewhatthese threepartsareandgiveasentence fromthenarrativethatstartseachpart. 2. Throughwhatactionsdoesthedogtrytosolvehisproblem? ----- 3. Whydidthedogdeserthisbrotherthejackal? 4. Statethreecharacteraspectsofthedogaspresentedinthenarrative. 5. Givethethemeofthisnarrative6. Whattypeofstoryisthis?Explainbriefly. 7.Thewriteruses directspeechinthis narrative.Changethefollowing conversation betweenthejackalandthe dogfromdirectspeechtoreportedspeech. Fireiswarm,saidthedoglongingly.Wontyougoandfetchmesomefirejackal?You arebraverthan I. Certainly!growledthejackal.Youfetchityourselfifyouwantit.Itwasyouidea. ANSWERS 1.Thethreemainpartsofthenarrativeareabeginning,amiddleandanending. - abeginning:"Long,longagothejackalandthedogwerebrothersandlivedtogether inthewildbush." Middle:"Sooffranthedogtowardstheredglowinthevillage,andwhenhewas nearlytherehe sloweddownandcreptinonhisstomach,hopingthatnoonewouldhearhim. - Andending:"Eversincethatday,thedoghaslivedwithMan." 2. Thedogtriedtosolvehisproblemsby: - goingtoMan'scompoundtowarmhimself - requestingMantolethimstayawhiletowarmhimself - eatingtheleftoverbonesthatManhadthrownaway prolonginghisstaybythefiresidebysayingthathewasnotyetwarm - requestingMantolethimstayforgoodtoservehim 3. Thedogdesertedhisbrotherthejackalbecauseitwastoocoldintheforestandhe foundwarmthand satisfactionbystayingwithManinthevillage. 4. Thefollowingarecharacteraspectsofthedogthatonecanchoose Thedogisgreedy,acoward,unreliable,determined,polite,cunning,andselfish. 5. Thethemeofthenarrativeisthedog'sselfishnessandhisdesertionofhisbrother thejackal. 6. Thisisanaetiologicalorexplanatorynarrative.Itexplainswhythedogbecamea domesticanimal. 7.- Thedogsaidthatfirewaswarm andrequestedJackaltogethim somebecause Jackalwasbraverthan him. - Growlingly,Jackalsaidhecertainlycouldnotandaskedthedogtofetchithimselfif hewanteditbecauseit washisidea. ----- EXERCISE7 Readthefollowingoralsongandanswerthequestionsthatfollow. I myhusbandrejectsme Becausehesays ThatIamamerepagan AndIbelieveinthedevil. Hesays Idonotknow Therulesofhealth, AndImixup Mattersofhealthandsuperstition Ocoltroublesmyhead. 10 Hetalkstoomuch Andheheapsinsultsonme Aswellasmyrelatives. Butmostofhiswordsaresenseless, Theyarelikethesongs. 15 Ofchildren'splays. Andhetreatshisclansmen Asiftheyareenemies. Ocolbehaves Asifheisawitch! 20 IV Itistrue Whiteman'smedicinesarestrong, ButAcolimedicines Arealsostrong. V Thesickgetcured Becausehistimehasnotyetcome: Butwhenthedayhasdawned ForthejourneytoPagak Noonecanstopyou Whiteman'smedicines 30 Acolimedicines Crucifixes,rosaries, Toesofediblerats, Thehornoftherhinoceros Noneofthemcanblockthepath35 ThatgoestoPagak! VI Whendeathcomes Tofetchyou Shecomesunannounced, Shecomessuddenly 40 Likethevomitofdogs, Andwhenshecomes Thewindkeepsblowing ----- Thebirdsgoonsinging Andtheflowers 45 Donothangtheirheads Theagoyabirdissilent Theagoyacomesafterwards, Hesingstotell, Thatdeathhasbeenthatway!50 VIIWhenMotherDeathcomes Shewhispers Come, Andyoustandup AndfollowYougetupimmediately, Andyoustartwalking Withoutbrushingthedust Onyourbuttocks. 68 VIIIYoumaybebehind 60 Anewbuffalo-hideshield, Andatthemock-fight Orinbattle Youmaybematchless IX Youmaybehiding Inthehole Ofthesmallestblackinsect, Orinthedarkestplace Whereratsbreast-feedtheirpuppies, OrbehindtheAgorohills. OkothPBitek Questions 1. WhydoesOcolrejectLawino?Giveexamples. 2. GivereasonswhyLawinoblamesOcol. 3. Whatdoyouunderstandbythisline:"ForthejourneytoPagak"? (line28) 4. Whatthingsdopeopleusetowardoffdeath?Arethesethingseffective? 5. Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowinglines: "Thewindkeepsblowing Thebirdsgoonsinging Andtheflowers Donothangtheirheads."? (lines43to46) 6. Thewriterstartswithonethemewhichleadstoanother.Whatarethe twothemes? 7 . ----- Intwosentences,statewhatthewritersaysaboutdeath. ANSWERS 1.OcolrejectsLawino becausehesaysthat sheissuperstitious For example,inhisopinion,sheisa pagan,andsheisnotclean. 2. LawinoblamesOcolbecause:hetalkstoomuchheabusesLawino andherrelativeshemistreatshisclansmenhebehaveslikea witch 3.Pagakmeansthelandofnoreturn.Therefore,thelinesmeanwhenonedies. 4. Peopleusemodernandtraditionalmedicines,crucifixes,rosaries,toesofedible ratsandthehornofthe rhinocerosascharmstowardoffdeath.Noneofthesethingsiseffective. 5. Thelinesmeanthatevenwhendeathcomestosome,lifestillgoeson. 6. Thetwothemesare: superstitiousbeliefsdeath 7. Thewritersaysthatwhendeathstrikes,thereisnothingonecandoaboutit. Nomatterwhereyou hideorthemedicinesyoutakeorthecharmsyouuse,deathwillstillcome. EXERCISE8 Readthefollowingnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow. ORIGINOFTHEAGIKUYU Atthe beginningofcreation,MweneNyaga,Ngai,the creatorand providerforall mankind,calledonhisservantGikuyu.Hesaidtohim,"MysonGikuyu,Iam going togiveyouyourshareofland.ThelandIam goingtogiveyouisfoilofravines,rivers, valleys,forestsandplentyofgameforyoutohuntforyourfood.Thelandisfertileand yourchildrenandyourchildren'schildrenwillnevergohungryifyoutillitwell."Gikuyu stoodstillwithdisbeliefMweneNyagasaw Gikuyu'shesitation.Hetookhim tohis residenceontopofthemountainofmystery,"Kirinyaga",whereHeresided.From here, Hecommanded agoodviewofallHislands.HethereforewantedGikuyutoseefor himselfallthelandhehadbeengiven.Heshowedhim allthelandanditsbeauty.He said,"Myson,allthisisyours."ThenHesatbackandwatchedGikuyu'shappinessashe movedfrom place to place,trying to locatethe boundaries to his land.Butno matterhow hard he looked,his landseemed to rollformiles andmiles.Having inspectedthepanoramaofhisland,hequicklycomposedhimself andrantoMweneNyaga'sfeetandcriedwithhappinessthankingHim forthegreatgift. Hewassurethathewouldbehappyeverafter.Butthen,hefeltakindoflonelinessand hishappinesssubsided.Whatwouldhedowithallthatlandallbyhimself?Mwene Nyagaknew whatwasgoingoninGikuyu'smind.Ashewasleaving,MweneNyaga ----- calledhim backandpointedtohim aspotfaroffinthemiddleofthecountry,wherea figtree,Mnkuyu,grew.He ordered Gikuyu to settle there and callthis place "MukurwewaNyagathanga."WheneverGikuyuwasinneedofMweneNyaga'shelpin whateverway,heshouldofferasacrificetoHim atthefigtree.Heshould raise his hands towards Kirinyaga,Mwene Nyaga's residence,and stateallhis problems. MweneNyagawoulddefinitelyseehimandcometohisrescue.HealsotoldhimthatHe hadgivenhim apresent,themostpreciouspresentinhislife,andthathewouldgetthe presentonhisarrivalathisnewhome.Gikuyu thanked Mwene Nyaga and,being unable to contain his curiosity any longer,he hurried straighttoMukurwewa Nyagathanga.Tohissurprise,seatedtherewasayoungbeautifulwomanwhom he calledMumbi(moulderorcreator).Theylivedtogetherasmanandwifeandwere blessedwithninedaughters butno sons.Thedaughterswere Wachera,Wanjiku, Wairimu,Wambui,Wangari,Wanjiru,Wangui,Mwithaga and Waithera.Gikuyu n neededanheir,and nothavingason disturbedhim.HethenrememberedMwene Nyaga'sadvice,"I'llcometo yourrescue."oHeorganizedasacrificeattheMukuyutree.Heslaughteredaram and akidfrom hisflockandpoured theirbloodand faton thetrunkofthesacredtree. He wentto hishouse and called Mumbiand theirdaughters.Theyroastedsome meatandofferedittoMweneNyaga.TheyraisedtheirhandstowardsKirinyagaand prayed,"ThaaithathaiyaNgaithaai,.".Helater leftandwenthome. Mwene Nyaga quickly answered Gikuyu's prayers.On the following morning, Gikuyuwenttothesacredtreeandhecouldn'tbelievehiseyeswhenhefound,seated nearthetree,ninestrongyoungmen.Hewasovercomewithjoyandhelookeduptothe mountainandthankedMweneNyaga,hisbenefactor.Hewelcomedthenineyoungmen andtookthem tohishomewhereheintroducedthem tohiswifeanddaughters.Food wascookedforthemandafterbathingandeating,theywenttosleep.Thenextmorning, theninemenwokeupearlyinthemorning,havinghadagoodnight'ssleep.Afterthe morningmeal,Gikuyucalledthem outsidetodiscussmarriage.Hetoldthem theywould marryhisdaughtersononecondition;theyhadtolivewiththem onhisland.Bythis time,themenhadalreadymadetheir choices.Theywere so fascinated by the daughters'beauty and the father's kindness thatthey agreed to his proposal. GikuyuandMumbiwereoverjoyedfortheynowhadsonstoinherittheirvastlands.The daughtersontheotherhandhadalreadystartedtoshowtheirpreferenceofthe men. Theywerealso happywhenthemen agreedtotheirfather'swishfortheyknewthey nowhadmentoprotectthem andgivethem company.Gikuyudidnotwaitlongbefore makingarrangementsforhisdaughters'weddingsaccordingtotheGikuyucustomary laws.Hedidnotaskforbridewealthfrom theyoungmenforheknewtheydidnothave anyandinactualfacttheywereablessingtohim.Thedaughtersgotmarriedtothe youngmenandtheystartedninedifferentfamilies.Theywere,however,unitedunder onename,'MbariyaMumbi',whichmeans'Mumbi'sfamilygroup'.Thiswasinhonourof theirmotherMumbi.GikuyuandMumbiweretheheadsof'MbariyaMumbi'andthe ninefamiliesremainedunderthem.TheyarethemotherandfatheroftheGikuyupeop le.As theyearspassed,Gikuyu andMumbibecame olderandolderandeventually theydied.Beforetheydied,Gikuyucalledhisdaughtersandtheirhusbands.Hetold them,"Mychildren,asyoucanseeyourmotherandIareabouttoleaveyoubutbefore wego,wewouldliketoleaveyouwiththesewords.Allthelandandwhateverelsewe ----- possessisyours.Divideitequallyamongyourselves.Rememberthatonefingercannot killalouse." Withthesewords,GikuyuandMumbibreathedtheirlastbreath.Theninefamilies continuedtolivetogetherandthenumberoftheirchildrenandgrandchildrenwas increasing.They became somanythat itwasimpossibleforthefamiliestolive togetheranymore.Theycalledameeting wheretheyresolvedthateach familyshouldtake allitschildren and grandchildren andlivetogetherasoneclan,Muhiriga.Theclansweretobecalledafterthenine daughtersofGikuyuandMumbi.ThisdecisionisthebasisofthenineprincipalGikuyu clans.TheyareAcheera,Agachiko,Airimo(orAgathigia),Ambui,Angari,Anjiru,Angui, EthagaandAitherando.ThenineclanslivedinGikuyu'slandandoccupieddifferent partsofit. Questions 1. Whatdoyoucallthistypeofstory? 2. ThecreatorwantedGikuyutotakeupakindofoccupation.Whatisit?Supportyour answerwithasentence fromthenarrative. 3. WhyisthefigtreesignificantinGikuyu'slife? 4. Whatdoyouunderstandbythefollowingproverb:"Onefingercannotkillalouse."? GiveoneEnglishproverb equivalenttothisone. 5. BrieflyexplainhowthenineGikuyuclanswerestarted. 6. Whodoyouthinkaretoldthistypeofstoryandwhy ANSWERS 1. Thistypeofstoryiscalledamyth. 2. ThecreatorwantedGikuyutobeafarmer/hunter. Thelandisfertile"(farmer) "Yourchildren'schildrenwillnevergohungryifyoutillitwell."(farmer)"Plentyofgame foryoutohuntfor yourfood."(hunter) 3.ItisunderthefigtreethatGikuyupraystoGodandofferssacrifices,itisunderthe sametreethathisprayers areanswered.E.g.,Mumbiandthenineyoungmenwerefoundatthefigtree.' 4. "Onefingercannotkillalouse"meansthatyouneedcooperationfrom otherpeople foryoutoperformcertain taskssuccessfully. "Unityisstrength." 5.ThenineGikuyuclanswerestartedaftertheninefamiliesincreasedinnumberina waythattheycouldnot livetogetherunderoneroofanymore.Thefamiliesdividedandeachfamilytookthe nameofthemotherof thefamilytostartaclan. 6.Thistypeofstoryistoldtotheyoungpeopletoteachthem abouttheoriginoftheir ethnicgroup.Italso servestoperpetuatethecultureofaparticulargroupofpeople. ----- EXERCISE9 Readthefollowingnarrativeandanswerthequestionsthatfollow. HAREANDANTELOPE ThereoncelivedaHarewho,oneday,asshewassaunteringabout inthebush,foundanarrowwhichshepickedup.Onherwaybackhome,she cameuponagroupofhunterswhowereskinningananimaltheyhadkilled,andshe saidtothem:"Ifyougivemeafatpieceofmeat,Iwillgiveyousomethingnicein exchange."Thehuntersasked:"Andwhatcouldthatbe?" Harereplied:"Itisanarrowheadgiventomebygod."Harewasgivenafatpieceofmeat inexchangeforthearrowhead.Shebidthehuntersgoodbyeandwentonherway. Nextshecameuponwarriorswhowereapplyingochretotheirbodies,andrealising theyhadnofat,shesaidtothem:"Heyyouwarriors,ifyougivemeanecklace,Iwillgive youafatpieceofmeatthatyoucoulduseasfat."Thewarriorsconsentedandgaveher anecklace inexchangeforthefatpieceofmeat.Whentheexchangewasfinalised, Haretookleaveofthewarriorsandcontinuedonherway.NextshecameuponAntelope towhom shesaid:"Lookatmynecklace."Onenquiringwhereshehadgotit,Hare replied:"Itismyfriendsthewarriorswhogaveittome,thewarriorstowhom Igavemy meat,themeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,my arrowwhichmygodgaveme."AntelopelookedatHare'snecklaceadmiringly,andsaid toher:"MayIpleasetryiton?" OnwearingthenecklaceAntelopesoughttheopinionofherfriendbyasking:"Doesit suitme?"TothisHareinnocentlyreplied."Itsuits youperfectlywell."Thereupon Anteloperanasfastasherlegscouldcarryher,runningawaywithHare'sbeads.After tryingtopursueAntelope,Haresoonrealisedthatshewouldnevercatchupwithher, andsogaveupthechase. Walkingawaysorrowfully,Haresooncameuponanothergroupofhuntersandsaidto them:"Heyyouhunters,pleaseshootthatantelopeforme."Tothisthe huntersasked: "Whatissheguiltyof?"Harereplied:"Shetookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthe warriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgave me,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrow thatmygodgaveme."After hearingofHare'scomplaint,thehuntersdeclinedtoshootAntelope.Takingleaveofthe hunters,Hare cameacrossa burning fire,to whom shesaid:"Heyyou fire,could youpleaseeatthosehunters?" Fireasked,"Whathave theydone?"Harereplied."Theyrefused toshootAntelope, Antelopewhotookmynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorsto whom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igave myarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."Again,onhearingHare'scomplaint,Firetoo said:"Iwillnoteatthehunters." HarenextcameuponWaterandsaidtoit:"Heyyouwater,couldyoupleaseputoutthat fire?"Waterasked,"WhathasFiredone"HarerepeatedtoWaterallthatshehadtoldFire. Wateronlisteningto Hare'scomplaintdeclinedtodoasshewasbid.HareleftWater,feelingdisappointed. Soonshefoundaherdofelephants,towhom shespokethus:"Heyyouelephants,could youpleasedrinkthatwater."OnenquiringwhyWaterhadtobedrunk,Harereplied: ----- "WaterrefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthat declinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthe warriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgave me,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."Onhearing Hare'sstorytheelephants,too,declinedtocarryoutHare'srequestasalltheothershad done. Undauntedbyherinabilitytoconvinceanyonetotakeactiononherbehalfsofar,Hare movedon,nextcomingupontreestowhom shespokesaying:"Heyyoutrees,couldyou pleasefallonthoseelephants?Onenquiringthe wrongcommittedbytheelephants, Harereplied:"TheyrefusedtodrinkWater,WaterthatrefusedtoputoutFire,Firethat refusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewho tookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom I gavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhomIgavemyarrow, myarrowthatmygodgaveme."WhenthetreeshadheardHare'sstory,theytoosaid, "Wewillnotfallontheelephants/'Harethenleftthetreesandcameupontermites whom sheaskedtofellthetrees.Thetermitesdemandedtoknowthewrongcommitted bythetrees.Haretoldtermitesofhowthetreeshadrefusedtofallontheelephantsand wentonenumeratingwhateveryoneelsehaddoneorrefusedtodointhesamewayshe hadtoldtheothers.Therefusalby b termitestofellthetreesupsetHare,butshewasby nomeansdaunted.Movingonwithpersistence,Haresooncameuponsomedonkeys whom she askedtotrampleonthetermites.Onhearingwhatthetermiteshaddone, thedonkeystoodeclinedtotrampleonthem. BythistimeHarewasbeginningtofeelexasperatedandweary,havingwalkedallday withno success.Itwasnotlongbeforeshecameuponagroupofhyenas,towhom shesaid: "Heyyou hyenas,couldyoupleaseeatthosedonkeys?"Thehyenasasked:"Whathavethe donkeysdone?"Harereplied,"Theyrefusedtotrampleonthetermites,thetermites whichrefusedtofellthetrees,thetreesthatrefusedtofallontheelephants,elephants whorefusedtodrinkWater,WaterwhorefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeat thehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymy necklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat, mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthat mygodgaveme." AgreeingtocarryoutHare'srequest,thehyenassaid:"Verywell,wewilleatthe donkeys."Ontherealisationthattheywereabouttobeeaten,thedonkeyssaid:"Wewill trampleonthetermites.Thetermitessaid:"Wewillfellthetrees."Thetreessaid:"Wewill fallontheelephants."Theelephantssaid:"WewilldrinkWater."Watersaid:"Iwillputout Fire."Firesaid:"Iwilleatthehunters."Thehunterssaid:WewillshootAntelope." Antelopesaid:"IwillreturnHare'snecklace."SoHarewasgivenbackhernecklaceand shewasveryhappy. Questions 1. Givetwoexamplesofpersonificationusedbythenarrator. ----- 2."TothisHareinnocentlyreplied."Whydoesthenarratorusetheword innocentlyhere! 3. Whatisthemoodinthisnarrative? 4. Give,withillustrations,threecharacteraspectsofHare. 5. 'Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeinindispensable."Brieflystatehow" trueor falsethis statementis. 6.Whatmajornarrativetechniquedoesthenarratoruseinthisstory?Whateffectdoes thishaveonthe developmentofthestory? 7. Whattypeofnarrativeisthis?Supportyouranswer. 74 75 ANSWERS 1. Examplesofpersonificationare: - Hareisreferredtoas"she"/"her". - "Antelope""Hare""Fire""Water"beginwithcapitallettersasiftheyarepersonalnouns. Theyalsotalklikehumans. - Antelopewearsanecklacelikeahumanbeing. - Fireisreferredtoas"whom",arelativepronounthatisusedwith humansonly. 2. Thenarratorusestheword"innocently"becauseHaredidnotknowthatAntelope admiredhernecklaceandshewouldrunawaywithitafterbeingtoldbyHarethatit suited herwell. 3. Themoodinthisnarrativeisoneofdisappointment,sadnessandanger. 4.ExamplesofHare'scharacterare: - Sheispolite(sheusestheword'please'). - Sheispersistent(shedoesn'tgiveupeasilyevenafterbeingturneddown). - Sheisoptimistic(shehopestogetsomejustice). Sheispersuasive(sherepeatsthechainofeventsthatleadtothelossofher necklace).She requeststobegotbackhernecklace.!- Sheisvengeful(shewantsthosewhorefuse tohelptobe punished). 5.Itistruethat"Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeisindispensable"becauseheisthe onlyonewhoacceptstohelp Haretherebyseeingjusticeattained. 6. Thenarratorusesrepetitionasamajornarrativetechniquetocreateachainof eventswhichmakesthe narratinginteresting. 7.Thisisatricksterstory.AntelopetricksHaretobegivenHare'snecklacetotryon, whichshelater runsawaywith. ----- EXERCISE12 Readthefollowingoralnarrativeandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow. THEWICKEDCHIEF Thereoncelivedawickedchief.Nobodylikedhim becauseofhiswickedness.Hewas wickedtooldmenandwomen.Bypretendingtobekind,hetriedtobepopularwithall theyoungmenwholivedinthatcountry.Whenthechiefwonovertheyoungmen,they alllikedhim.Oneday,thechiefcalledalltheyoungmenandtoldthem:"Myfriends, don'tyousee?"Theyasked,"What?""Youshouldkillallofthem.Everybodyshould killhis father"Ah!(Thatthey should killtheirfathers!)As a result,everybody whosefatherwasoldbroughthim tobekilled.Thisonewentandbroughthim tobe killed,theotherwentandbroughthisfathertobekilled.Theykilledalltheoldmen, leavingonlyone.Hewasthefatherofamanwhosaid"No.Whyshouldthechief killalltheoldmenandwhyshouldIsendmyoldfathertobekilled?"Hegotdownand wentanddugalargeholeandconcealeditnicely.Hesenthis fatherthere,wherehe haddug.He fetchedwoodandputitacrossandcovereditwithsoil,makingasmall holeforairtopassthrough.Atthattime,theyhadfinishedkillingalltheoldmen.When the chieffinishedexecutingthem,he thencalled allthe youngmen."Myfriends,we have nowfinishedkillingallouroldmen.ThisisacowIam givingtoyou.Iam sohappywe havegotridofallouroldmen,sogoandkillthecow.Whenyouhavekilledthecow,cut thebestpartofitsmeatandbringittome.Ifyoudon'tbringit,youyourselvesarenot safe."(Thatisallright!)Eh!Theyoungmenrushedoutandslaughteredthecow.Which isthebestpartofthemeatofacow?Theywereworried.Theywentandcuttheliverand sentittohim.Heaskedwhetherornotthatwasthebestpartofthemeat.They answered"yes".Theyaddedpartofthebile.Hesaidthatwasn'tthebestpartofthemeat andthattheyshouldgoandfinditquickly. Thepeoplebecamemoreworried.Everynighttheyoungmansecretlytookfoodtohis father.Onedayhetookfoodtohisfather,whoaskedaboutthenewsofthetown.He said:"Myfather,nowwearesuffering.Whenwekilledalltheoldmen,thechiefgaveusa cowtogoandkill.Whenwekilledthecow,hesaidwemustfindboththesweetestand bitterestpartofthemeatandbringthem tohim.Theifwedonotbringthem,wearenot safeourselves.Thisiswhatisworryingus."Theoldmanlaughed,butagainaskedifhe didnotknowthesweetestpartofthemeat.Hesaid,"No".Heagainaskedifhedidnot knowthebitterestpart.Hesaid"No"."Thenthesweetestandbitterestpartisthetongue. Whenyougo,cutthetongueandsendittohim andsaythatthesweetestpartofthe meatisalsothebitterest." Theman rushed homewhileallthepeoplesatdown,undecided aboutwhatto do.If somethinghadnothappenedtheymighthavethrownthewholemeatawayand run away.Whentheboyarrived,he said:"Myfriends,takethetongueofthecowin." Theycutthetongueforhim,and he took itto the chiefs palace.He wentand threw itdown and said,"Chief,see thesweetestpartofthemeatandthebitterest partalso." Thechiefsatdownquietlyandfinallysaid:"Youdidnotkillyourfather.Speakthetruth. Youhavenotkilledyourfather."Hesaid:"Itisthetruth,Ididn'tkillhim.Whenallthe ----- otheryoungmenwerekillingtheirfathersIwentandhidmine."Thechiefsaid:"Youare thesonofawiseoldman.ThesweetestandbitterestpartofmeatisthetongueAsfor that,alltheseyoungmenarebigfools.Whyshouldsomeonesendhisfathertobekilled? Butifyouwantthesweetestpartofthemeat,findthetongue.Wereitnotforthetongue, youwouldnothaveanenemy;anditisalsobecauseofyourtonguethatyouwillnot havea friend." Questions 1. Whattypeofstoryisthis?Supportyouranswer 2. Howwouldyoudescribetheyoungmanwhodidnotkillhisfather? 3. Statethreecharacteraspectsofthechief 4. Whatmorallessondoyoulearnfromthisnarrative? 5. Nametwothingsthatarecharacteristictooralnarrativesthatappearin-this narrative. 6. Explainwhatyouunderstandbythefollowingstatement."Thesweetestand bitterestpartofthemeatis thetongue." ANSWERS 1. Thisisatricksterstory.Theyoungmenaretrickedbythechieftokilltheirfathers andtheydoit. 2. Theyoungmanissensible,cunningandoutspoken. 3. Anyofthefollowingcharacteristicsofthechiefareacceptable: - Pretender - Persuasive - Wicked/ruthless - Clever/wise 4. Peopleshouldthinktwicebeforetheymakemajordecisions.Theyshouldalsonot doanythingthey aretoldwithoutquestions,especiallyifsuchactsaffectthempersonally. 5.Anyofthefollowingcharacteristicsoforalnarrativesarecorrect. - Thebeginningofthestorye.g.,"Therelived..." - Useofpastsimple. Repetitionofsentencesorphrases. - Useofthethirdperson. 6.Thetongueiscapableofpleasingbyutteringpraisesandisalsocapableofcausing angerbyutteringabuses andcurses. EXERCISE15 HAREANDANTELOPE ThereoncelivedaHarewho,oneday,asshewassaunteringaboutinthebush,found anarrow whichshepickedup.Onherwaybackhome,shecameuponagroupof hunterswhowereskinningananimaltheyhadkilled,andshesaidtothem:"Ifyougive meafatpieceofmeat,Iwillgiveyousomethingniceinexchange."Thehuntersasked: "Andwhatcouldthatbe?"Harereplied:"Itisanarrowheadgiventomebygod."Hare ----- wasgivenafatpieceofmeatinexchangeforthearrow head.Shebidthehunters goodbyeandwentonherway.Nextshecameuponwarriorswhowereapplyingochre totheirbodies,andrealisingtheyhadnofat,shesaidtothem:"Heyyouwarriors,ifyou givemeanecklace,Iwillgiveyouafatpieceofmeatthatyoucoulduseasfat."The warriorsconsentedandgaveheranecklaceinexchangeforthefatpieceofmeat.When theexchangewasfinalised,Haretookleaveofthewarriorsandcontinuedonherway. NextshecameuponAntelopetowhom shesaid:"Lookatmynecklace."Onenquiring whereshehadgotit,Harereplied:"Itismyfriendsthewarriorswhogaveittome,the warriorstowhom Igavemymeat,themeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehuntersto whom Igavemyarrow,myarrowwhich mygodgaveme."AntelopelookedatHare's necklaceadmiringly,andsaidtoher:"MayIpleasetryiton?"Onwearingthenecklace Antelopesoughttheopinionofherfriendbyasking:"Doesitsuitme?"TothisHare innocentlyreplied:"Itsuitsyouperfectlywell."ThereuponAnteloperanasfastasher legscouldcarryher,runningawaywithHare'sbeads.AftertryingtopursueAntelope, Haresoonrealisedthatshewouldnevercatchupwithher,andsogaveupthechase. Walkingawaysorrowfully,Haresooncameuponanothergroupofhuntersandsaid to them:"Heyyouhunters,pleaseshootthatantelopeforme."Tothis the hunters asked:"What is she guilty of?"Harereplied:"Shetookaway mynecklace,my necklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhomIgavemymeat,mymeatthat thehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthatmygodgave me."AfterhearingofHare'scomplaint,thehuntersdeclinedtoshootAntelope.Taking leave ofthehunters,Harecameacrossaburning fire,to whom shesaid:"Heyyou fire, couldyoupleaseeatthosehunters?" Fireasked,"Whathavetheydone"Harereplied:"TheyrefusedtoshootAntelope, Antelopewhotookmynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorsto whom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igave myarrow,myarrowthatmygodgaveme."Again,onhearingHare'scomplaint,Firetoo said:"Iwillnoteatthehunters." HarenextcameuponWaterandsaidtoit:"Heyyouwater,couldyoupleaseputoutthat fire?"Waterasked,"WhathasFiredone"HarerepeatedtoWaterallthatshehadtoldFire. -WateronlisteningtoHare'scomplaintdeclinedtodoasshewasbid.HareleftWater, feelingdisappointed.Soonshefoundaherdofelephants,towhom shespokethus:"Hey youelephants,couldyoupleasedrinkthatwater."Onenquiring whyWaterhadtobedrunk,Harereplied:"WaterrefusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefused toeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookaway mynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemy meat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,my arrow thatmygodgaveme."OnhearingHare'sstorytheelephants,too,declinedto carryoutHare'srequestasalltheothershaddone.Undauntedbyherinabilityto convinceanyonetotakeactiononherbehalfsofar,Haremovedon,nextcomingupon treestowhom shespokesaying:"Heyyoutrees,couldyoupleasefallonthose elephants?"Onenquiringthewrongcommittedbytheelephants,Harereplied:"They refusedtodrinkWater,WaterthatrefusedtoputoutFire,Firethatrefusedtoeatthe hunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedtoshootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymy necklace,mynecklacethatthewarriorsgaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat, ----- mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme,thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrowthat mygodgaveme."Whenthetreeshad m heardHare'sstory,theytoosaid,Wewillnotfall ontheelephants."Harethenleftthetreesandcameupontermiteswhom sheaskedto fellthetrees.Thetermitesdemandedtoknowthewrongcommittedbythetrees.Hare toldtermitesofhow thetreeshadrefusedtofallontheelephantsandwenton enumeratingwhateveryoneelsehaddoneorrefusedtodointhesamewayshehad toldtheothers.Therefusalbytermitestofellthe treesupsetHare,butshewasbynomeansdaunted. Movingonwithpersistence,Haresooncameuponsomedonkeyswhom sheaskedto trampleonthetermites.Onhearingwhatthetermiteshaddone,thedonkeystoo declinedtotrampleonthem. BythistimeHarewasbeginningtofeelexasperatedandweary,havingwalkedallday withnosuccess.Itwas notlongbeforeshecameuponagroupofhyenas,towhom shesaid:"Heyyouhyenas,couldyoupleaseeatthosedonkeys?"Thehyenasasked: "Whathavethedonkeysdone?"Harereplied,"Theyrefusedto trampleonthetermites,thetermiteswhichrefusedtofellthetrees,thetreesthat refusedtofallontheelephants,elephantswhorefusedtodrinkWater,Waterwho refusedtoputoutFire,Firewhorefusedtoeatthehunters,thehuntersthatdeclinedto shootAntelope,Antelopewhotookawaymynecklace,mynecklacethatthewarriors gaveme,thewarriorstowhom Igavemymeat,mymeatthatthehuntersgaveme, thehunterstowhom Igavemyarrow,myarrow thatmygodgaveme."Agreeingto carryoutHare'srequest,thehyenassaid:"Verywell,wewilleatthedonkeys."Onthe realisationthattheywereabouttobeeaten,thedonkeys said:"Wewilltrampleonthetermites."Thetermitessaid:"Wewillfellthetrees."The treessaid:"Wewillfallontheelephants."Theelephantssaid:"WewilldrinkWater." Watersaid:"IwillputoutFire."Firesaid:"Iwilleatthehunters."Thehunterssaid:Wewill shootAntelope."Antelopesaid:"IwillreturnHare'snecklace."SoHarewasgivenback hernecklaceandshewasveryhappy. Questions 1. Givetwoexamplesofpersonificationusedbythenarrator. 2."TothisHareinnocentlyreplied."Whydoesthenarratorusetheword innocently here? 3.Whatisthemoodinthisnarrative? 4. Give,withillustrations,threecharacteraspectsofHare. 5. 'Hyena'spresenceinthisnarrativeinindispensable."Brieflystatehowtrueorfalse thisstatementis. 6.Whatmajornarrativetechniquedoesthenarratoruseinthisstory?Whateffectdoes thishaveonthe developmentofthestory? 7.Whattypeofnarrativeisthis?Supportyouranswer. ANSWERS 1.Examplesofpersonificationare: - Hareisreferredtoas"she"/"her" ----- "Antelope""Hare""Fire""Water"beginwithcapitallettersasiftheyarepersonalnouns. Theyalsotalklikehumans. - Antelopewearsanecklacelikeahumanbeing. - Fireisreferredtoas"whom",arelativepronounthatisusedwith humansonly. 2. Thenarratorusestheword"innocently"becauseHaredidnotknowthatAntelope admiredher necklaceandshewouldrunawaywithitafterbeingtoldbyHarethatitsuitedherwell. 3.Themoodinthisnarrativeisoneofdisappointment,sadnessandanger 4.ExamplesofHarescharacterare: - Sheispolite(sheusesthewordplease). - Sheispersistent(shedoesn'tgiveupeasilyevenafterbeingturneddown). - Sheisoptimistic(shehopestogetsomejustice). Sheispersuasive(sherepeatsthechainofeventsthatleadtothelossofher necklace).She requeststobegotbackhernecklace. - Sheisvengeful(shewantsthosewhorefusetohelptobepunished). 5.Itistruethat"Hyena' spresenceinthisnarrativeisindispensable"becauseheistheonlyonewhoacceptsto helpHare therebyseeingjusticeattained. 6. Thenarratorusesrepetitionasamajornarrativetechniquetocreateachainof eventswhichmakesthe narratinginteresting. 7. Thisisatricksterstory.AntelopetricksHaretobegivenHare'snecklace totryon,whichshelaterrunsawaywith. EXERCISE16 ReadthefollowingOralsongandanswerthequestionswhich follow. Sleep,sleep Sweet,gentleonesleep Yourmotheriscoming,sleep Sleep,sleep,gentleonesleep. Sleep,sleep Sweetgentleonesleep Yourguardiscomingsleep Sleep,sleepgentleonesleep Sleep,sleep Sweet,gentleonesleep Yourheartiscoming,sleep Sleep,sleepgentleonesleep Sleep,sleep Sweet,gentleonesleep Theselfishoneiscomingsleep Sleep,gentleonesleep. ----- Questions a)Usingthreeillustrationsfromthesongclassifyitb)Whatisthesinger'sattitudetowardsthesubjectofthesong" c)Comparethetoneinthefirstthreestanzasandtheonein thelaststanzaoftheso ng d)Whattwoaspectsofstylearecommonlyusedinthissong e)Whatisthecharactertraitofthepersonbeingdescribedinthesong f)Whatistherelationshipbetweenthesingerandthepersonbeingdescribed Whatisthemorallessoninthissong? SAMPLEANSWER a)Thisisalullaby,dueto i)Repetitionofwardslike'sleep,sleep" ii)Mentionofmotheriscoming iii)Mentionofguard;scoming. b)Thesingeriscontemptuousofthebaby'smothershesays:"Theselfishoneis coming" c)Thetoneishappyatfirstthenchangestoabitterone.nthelaststanza."Youris coming/Theselfishoneiscoming. d)Theaspectsofstyleusedinthesongare: i)Repetition-sleep/sleep ii)Satire-thebaby'smotherarrivalissatirized.Thespeakerknowsherarrivalisofno usetoher-shesays,"theselfishoneiscoming iii)Irony-thearrivalofthebabyisablessingtothespeaker e)Thepersonbeingdescribedisselfish. f)Thesingerisa nurse whilethepersonbeingdescribedisamother.Thebaby's motherisselfishtothesingerandthatiswhythesingerexpressesthisinaso ng. Theselfishoneiscoming. g)Themorallessonisthatnursesneedtobetreatedfairly in orderforthem tonursebabies withdevotionandwithout fear. -----