VICTORY MODEL SCHOOL, OBOSI.

LITERATURE-IN-ENGLISH (SS1 LITERATURE)

BY
Agagwu Chisom Gift. (LL.B in-view)

SCHEME OF WORK

Section Topics Sub-Topics

1. Literary Appreciation a.​ Introduction

b.​ Functions/Advantages
c.​ Forms of Literature
d.​ The Genres of Literature

2. Genres Branches a.​ Prose : Types, Feature/Elements

b.​ Drama : Types, Feature/Elements
c.​ Poetry : Types, Feature/Elements

3. Forms of Prose a.​ Fiction & Non-fiction

b.​ Literary Techniques & Styles
c.​ Narrative Technique (Point of view &
Kinds)

4. Figurative Expressions a.​ Figure of Comparison and Sound

b.​ Figure of Emphasis & Symbols
c.​ Figures of Association & Contrast

5. Glossary of Literary a.​ Literary Terms in Prose

Terms b.​ Literary Terms in Drama
c.​ Literary Terms in Poetry

6. Unseen Prose and Poetry a.​ Definition on Unseen Prose

b.​ Illustrated Examples
c.​ Emphasis on Symbols, Imagery
d.​ More on Glossary

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 1.​ LITERARY APPRECIATION

1.1.0 Introduction to Literature

Literature is the artistic expression of human experiences through language.
It reflects the way people live, their struggles, joys, beliefs, and traditions.
In West Africa, literature is studied both in oral form (folktales, proverbs, riddles, songs, myths)
and written form (poetry, prose, drama).

“Literature is the mirror of society. It presents life through imagination and

creativity.”

1.2.0 Functions / Advantages of Literature

1. Education – It teaches lessons about life, morals, and culture.
Example: Achebe’s Things Fall Apart teaches about colonialism and Igbo traditions.
2. Entertainment – It amuses and provides pleasure.
Example: Folktales told by moonlight are entertaining.
3. Cultural Preservation – It passes traditions and customs from one generation to another.
Example: Oral literature like proverbs and riddles preserve African wisdom.
4. Moral Development – It corrects vices and promotes good behavior.
Example: Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again satirizes political corruption.
5. Language Development – Reading literature improves grammar, vocabulary, and expression.
6. Critical Thinking – Literature trains the mind to reason, analyze, and interpret.
7. Social Commentary / Change – Writers use literature to expose ills and advocate change.
Example: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s works highlight issues of oppression and injustice.

1.3.0 Genres of Literature

A. Prose
Written in ordinary language, arranged in paragraphs.
Deals with real or imagined events.

Types of Prose:
1. Fiction (novel, short story)
2. Non-fiction (biography, autobiography, essays)

Features Of Prose:
Plot, Setting, Characters, Theme, Point of View.
Example: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

B. Poetry
Expression of feelings and ideas in verse form.

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Usually arranged in lines and stanzas.
Makes use of imagery, rhythm, rhyme, and figures of speech.

Types of Poetry:
1. Lyric (expresses emotions)
2. Narrative (tells a story)
3. Dramatic (meant to be performed)

Features Of Poem:
Stanza, Verse, Rhythm, Rhyme, Imagery, Symbolism.
Example: "The Casualties" by J. P. Clark.

C. Drama
Literature written to be performed before an audience.
Uses dialogue and action instead of narration.

Types of Drama:
1. Tragedy (serious play with a sad ending)
2. Comedy (amusing play with a happy ending)
3. Tragicomedy (a mixture of tragedy and comedy)

Features Of Drama:
Acts, Scenes, Characters, Dialogue, Stage Directions.
Example: The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka.

1.4.0 Summary
Literature is the artistic use of language to reflect life.
It entertains, educates, preserves culture, and promotes moral values.
Three main genres: Prose, Poetry, Drama.

1.5.0 Evaluation Assignment Questions (WASSCE/JAMB Style)

1. Define Literature and state two of its functions
2. List and explain the three main genres of Literature.
3. With one example each, distinguish between Prose and Drama.
4. Mention three features of poetry.
5. “Literature is a mirror of society.” Discuss this statement with examples.

2.​GENRES BRANCHES

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Literature is broadly divided into three main genres: Prose, Drama, and Poetry. Each genre has
its own style, structure, and purpose.

2.1.0 PROSE
Prose is a form of literature written in ordinary language and arranged in paragraphs. It deals
with real or imagined events, telling stories through characters, setting, and plot.

Types of Prose
1. Fiction – imaginative works created from the writer’s imagination.
●​ Novel (long story, e.g., Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe)
●​ Short Story (brief fictional story, e.g., Ngugi’s “A Meeting in the Dark”)
●​ Novella (short novel, e.g., Animal Farm by George Orwell)

2. Non-Fiction – factual writing.

●​ Biography (life story of another person)
●​ Autobiography (life story of the author)
●​ Essays (formal or informal writing on a subject)
●​ Memoirs, Journals, Diaries

Features of Prose
●​ Written in sentences and paragraphs (not verses or stanzas)
●​ Uses ordinary language (everyday grammar and vocabulary)
●​ May be factual (non-fiction) or imaginative (fiction)
●​ Focuses on storytelling

Elements of Prose
1. Plot – the arrangement of events in the story.
2. Characters – people or beings in the story.
3. Setting – time and place of the story.
4. Theme – the central message or idea.
5. Point of View – the perspective from which the story is told (first person, third person).
6. Style – the author’s choice of language and expression.

2.2.0 DRAMA
Drama is literature written to be performed on stage before an audience. It expresses human
actions and emotions through dialogue and action.

Types of Drama
1. Tragedy – serious play with a sorrowful or disastrous ending.
Example: Macbeth by Shakespeare.
2. Comedy – amusing play with a happy ending.
Example: The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka.
3. Tragicomedy – combines elements of tragedy and comedy.
4. Farce – exaggerated comedy meant to provoke laughter.

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5. Melodrama – sensational drama with exaggerated characters and emotions.

Features of Drama
●​ Written in dialogue form
●​ Divided into acts and scenes
●​ Meant for performance before an audience
●​ Uses stage directions to guide actors
●​ Characters are revealed through action and dialogue

Elements of Drama
1. Characters – actors who perform roles.
2. Plot – sequence of actions in the play.
3. Conflict – the struggle or clash of interests (driving force of drama).
4. Climax – the point of greatest tension.
5. Resolution (Denouement) – how the conflict is settled.
6. Dialogue – spoken words between characters.
7. Stage Directions – instructions about movement, setting, and action.
8. Theme – underlying message of the play.

2.3.0 POETRY
Poetry is a highly imaginative form of literature written in lines and stanzas. It uses rhythm,
sound, and figures of speech to express thoughts and emotions.

Types of Poetry
1. Lyric Poetry – expresses emotions and personal feelings.
Example: love poems, elegies.
2. Narrative Poetry – tells a story.
Example: epics and ballads.
3. Dramatic Poetry – written in dialogue, meant to be performed.
4. Didactic Poetry – teaches lessons or morals.
Example: Oswald Mtshali’s poems.
5. Satirical Poetry – ridicules vices in society.

Features of Poetry
●​ Written in lines and stanzas (not paragraphs)
●​ Uses imagery and figurative language
●​ Relies on sound devices (rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, assonance)
●​ Often short and condensed compared to prose
●​ Expresses deep feelings in a musical way

Elements of Poetry
1. Verse – a single line of poetry.
2. Stanza – a group of lines forming a unit.
3. Rhyme – repetition of similar sounds at line endings.

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4. Rhythm – musical beat of the poem.
5. Imagery – use of words that appeal to the senses.
6. Diction – choice of words.
7. Tone – the poet’s attitude (serious, playful, sad).
8. Theme – central idea of the poem.

2.4.0 Summary
●​ Prose → ordinary language, in paragraphs (elements: plot, character, setting, theme).
●​ Drama → written for performance (elements: character, conflict, climax, dialogue).
●​ Poetry → written in verse/stanzas, uses imagery and rhythm (elements: stanza, rhyme,
imagery, tone).

5.0 Evaluation Assignment Questions (WASSCE/JAMB Style)

1. Define Prose and list two of its types.
2. Mention four features of Drama.
3. What are the main elements of Prose?
4. Distinguish between Lyric and Narrative poetry with examples.
5. State three differences between Prose and Poetry.
6. “Conflict is the soul of drama.” Discuss with examples.

3.​FORMS OF PROSE
3.1.0 Fiction
Definition: Fiction is imaginative writing that is not based on factual events but created from the
author’s imagination. It entertains, educates, and reflects life through invented characters and
situations.

Examples:
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Types of Fiction:
1. Novel – long, detailed story with complex plot and characters.
2. Novella – shorter than a novel but longer than a short story.
Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell.
3. Short Story – brief narrative with few characters and a single incident.
Example: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s “A Meeting in the Dark.”

3.2.0 Non-Fiction
Definition: Non-fiction is factual prose that deals with real people, events, or ideas. It is not
imagined but based on reality.

Examples:

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Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (Long Walk to Freedom)
Speeches, Memoirs, Travelogues, Essays

Types of Non-Fiction:
1. Biography – life story of someone, written by another person.
2. Autobiography – life story of the writer, written by himself/herself.
3. Memoirs – recollections of personal experiences.
4. Essays – short writings on a subject (formal or informal).
5. Travelogue – accounts of journeys.

3.3.0 Literary Techniques and Styles in Prose

●​ Literary Techniques are devices writers use to make stories effective and interesting.
●​ Flashback – recalling past events in the middle of a story.
●​ Foreshadowing – hinting at events that will happen later.
●​ Dialogue – conversations between characters.
●​ Suspense – creating tension about what will happen next.
●​ Satire – using humor/irony to criticize society.
●​ Irony – saying the opposite of what is meant.
●​ Style in Prose – the writer’s way of expressing ideas:
●​ Simple style – plain and easy to read.
●​ Ornate style – flowery and elaborate.
●​ Conversational style – informal and friendly.
●​ Descriptive style – rich in imagery, appealing to the senses.

3.4.0 Narrative Technique

Narrative technique refers to the method the author uses to tell the story, including the
perspective (point of view) from which events are presented.

Kinds of Point of View (POV)

1. First Person Point of View
The narrator is a character in the story, using “I” or “we.”
Example: The Life of Olaudah Equiano (autobiography).
2. Third Person Point of View (Omniscient)
The narrator is outside the story, knows everything about characters and events.
Example: Things Fall Apart.
3. Third Person Limited
The narrator knows the thoughts/feelings of only one character.
4. Objective Point of View
The narrator reports only actions and dialogue, without inner thoughts.
Like a camera recording events.
5. Stream of Consciousness
The narrator presents characters’ thoughts and feelings as a continuous flow, often without clear
structure.
Example: James Joyce’s Ulysses.

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3.5.0 Summary
Fiction = imaginative (novel, novella, short story).
Non-Fiction = factual (biography, essay, memoir).
Techniques = flashback, suspense, irony, satire.
Styles = simple, ornate, conversational, descriptive.
POV = first person, third person (omniscient/limited), objective, stream of consciousness.

3.6.0 Evaluation Assignment Questions (WASSCE/JAMB Style)

1. Define fiction and state two of its types.
2. Differentiate between fiction and non-fiction with one example each.
3. Mention four literary techniques used in prose narrative.
4. Explain the difference between third person omniscient and third person limited point of view.
5. With examples, define stream of consciousness as a narrative technique.

4.​ FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS

Figurative expressions are ways of using language beyond their ordinary, literal meaning.
Writers use them to beautify their works, create vivid pictures in the mind of readers, and
express emotions or ideas in a powerful way. They appear in poetry, prose, and drama and are
very important in the study of Literature in English.

4.1.0 Figures of Comparison and Sound

(a) Figures of Comparison
●​ Simile: A direct comparison between two things using words such as like or as.
Example: “Her smile is like the sun.”
●​ Metaphor: An indirect comparison that says one thing is another.
Example: “Time is a thief.”
●​ Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Example: “The trees danced in the wind.”
●​ Hyperbole (Exaggeration): Overstatement used to create emphasis or humour.
Example: “I’ve told you a thousand times.”
(b) Figures of Sound
●​ Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
●​ Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words.
Example: “The rain in Spain falls mainly in the plain.”
●​ Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.
Example: “The lumpy, bumpy road.”
●​ Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate natural sounds.
Example: “Buzz,” “clang,” “hiss.”

4.2.0 Figures of Emphasis and Symbols

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(a) Figures of Emphasis
●​ Repetition: The repeated use of words or phrases for emphasis.
●​ Anaphora: Repetition at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.
Example: “We shall fight… We shall win… We shall overcome.”
●​ Epiphora (Epistrophe): Repetition at the end of successive lines.
●​ Parallelism: Using similar sentence structures to create rhythm and balance.
●​ Rhetorical Question: A question asked to make a point, not to get an answer.
Example: “Can we continue like this?”
(b) Figures of Symbols
●​ Symbolism: The use of an object, character, or event to stand for a deeper meaning.
Examples: Dove = peace; Road = journey of life; Fire = destruction or purification.
In African literature, symbols such as drums, kola nuts, and masquerades are commonly used
to represent tradition, unity, or spirituality.

4.3.0 Figures of Association and Contrast

(a) Figures of Association
●​ Metonymy: A figure where the name of something is replaced with something closely
related to it.
Example: “The crown will decide” (crown = king/authority).
●​ Synecdoche: A figure where a part represents the whole, or the whole represents a part.
Example: “All hands on deck” (hands = sailors/workers).
●​ Euphemism: A polite or mild way of saying something unpleasant.
Example: “He passed away” instead of “He died.”
(b) Figures of Contrast
●​ Irony: Saying the opposite of what is meant, often humorously or sharply.
Example: A police station being robbed.
●​ Sarcasm: A harsh, mocking form of irony, usually meant to hurt or criticise.
●​ Oxymoron: The combination of two opposite or contradictory terms.
Example: “Deafening silence,” “Bitter-sweet.”
●​ Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory but actually expresses a truth.
Example: “The more you know, the less you understand.”

4.4.0 Summary
1. Figures of Comparison and Sound – These include simile, metaphor, personification, and
hyperbole, which compare things directly or indirectly. Figures of sound such as alliteration,
assonance, consonance, and onomatopoeia add music, rhythm, and sound effects to language.
2. Figures of Emphasis and Symbols – Writers use repetition, anaphora, epiphora, parallelism,
and rhetorical questions to stress important points and create rhythm. Symbols are also used,
where objects, characters, or actions stand for deeper meanings—for example, a dove for
peace or a drum for tradition.
3. Figures of Association and Contrast – These include metonymy (using something related to
stand for another), synecdoche (a part for the whole), and euphemism (polite expressions for

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harsh realities). In contrast, we have irony, sarcasm, oxymoron, and paradox, which show
opposites, contradictions, or hidden meanings.

4.5.0 Evaluation Assignment Questions

1. Define metaphor and give two original examples.
2. What is the difference between anaphora and epiphora? Provide one example each.
3. Give one example of symbolism in African literature and explain its meaning.
4. Differentiate between metonymy and synecdoche with examples.

5.​GLOSSARY OF LITERARY TERMS

Literature is a wide field, and each genre has its own terms and techniques. To study Literature
successfully for WASSCE and JAMB UTME, students must understand these terms. This
lecture note introduces the important literary terms in Prose, Drama, and Poetry, with definitions,
examples, and their use in texts.

A. Glossary of Literary Terms in Prose

1. Prose – Ordinary written or spoken language without meter or rhyme. Examples: Things Fall
Apart by Chinua Achebe, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
2. Narrator – The voice that tells the story. Can be first-person (“I”) or third-person
(“he/she/they”).
3. Point of View – The angle from which a story is told:
●​ First person: narrator participates.
●​ Third person omniscient: narrator knows everything.
●​ Third person limited: narrator knows only one character’s mind.
4. Theme – The central idea of a story. Example: Colonialism in Things Fall Apart.
5. Characterisation – The way a writer develops characters through actions, speech, and
description.
6. Plot – The arrangement of events: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
7. Setting – The time and place of a story. Example: Umuofia village in Things Fall Apart.
8. Conflict – Struggle between opposing forces. Example: Man vs tradition in No Longer at Ease
by Achebe.
9. Mood – The emotional atmosphere created. Example: Suspenseful mood in detective novels.
10. Style – The writer’s choice of language, diction, and tone.

B. Glossary of Literary Terms in Drama

1. Drama – A play written to be performed on stage. Example: The Lion and the Jewel by Wole
Soyinka.
2. Playwright – The author of a play.
3. Dialogue – Conversation between characters.
4. Monologue – A long speech by one character to others.
5. Soliloquy – A character speaking his/her thoughts aloud, usually alone. Example: Hamlet’s
“To be or not to be” soliloquy.
6. Aside – A short remark directed to the audience, not heard by other characters.

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7. Act – A major division of a play.
8. Scene – A subdivision of an act, often changing with setting or time.
9. Tragedy – A play in which the main character suffers downfall. Example: Oedipus Rex by
Sophocles.
10. Comedy – A play that entertains and ends happily. Example: The Lion and the Jewel.
11. Dramatic Irony – When the audience knows something the character does not.
12. Stage Directions – Instructions in a play for actors’ movement, speech, or action.

C. Glossary of Literary Terms in Poetry

1. Poetry – A form of writing in verse, often with rhythm, imagery, and sound devices.
2. Verse – A single line of poetry.
3. Stanza – A group of lines forming a section of a poem.
4. Rhyme – Repetition of similar sounds at the ends of words. Example: time/rhyme.
5. Rhythm – The beat or flow of a poem created by stressed and unstressed syllables.
6. Meter – The regular pattern of syllables (e.g., iambic pentameter).
7. Imagery – Descriptive language appealing to senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell).
8. Tone – The poet’s attitude towards the subject. Example: Sorrowful tone in an elegy.
9. Mood – The feeling the poem creates in the reader.
10. Allusion – A reference to another text, event, or person. Example: Biblical allusions in T.S.
Eliot’s poems.
11. Persona – The voice or speaker in the poem (not necessarily the poet).
12. Enjambment – Continuation of a sentence beyond a line without punctuation.
13. Couplet – Two successive rhyming lines.
14. Quatrain – A stanza of four lines.
15. Ode – A lyrical poem that praises.
16. Elegy – A poem that mourns the dead.
17. Sonnet – A 14-line poem with a fixed rhyme scheme. Example: Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Examples for Clarity

●​ In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the theme of clash between tradition and colonialism is
central.
●​ In Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel, dramatic irony appears when Lakunle’s “modern”
ideas clash with Sidi’s traditional pride.
●​ In Thomas Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, the mood is reflective and
mournful

Evaluation Assignment Questions

1. Define plot and outline its stages.
2. Differentiate between mood and tone.
3. What is the difference between a scene and an act in drama?
4. Give two examples of African plays that are comedies.
5. Define persona in poetry.

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 6.​Unseen Prose and Poetry

Definition
Unseen Prose: A passage (usually narrative, descriptive, or expository) given to students
without prior study. The task is to analyze its content, structure, style, and underlying meaning.

Unseen Poetry: A poem presented for analysis that has not been previously taught or
explained. It tests the ability to interpret symbols, imagery, tone, mood, and poetic techniques
spontaneously.

The aim of unseen texts is to evaluate students’ critical thinking, interpretation skills, and ability
to apply literary knowledge without rote memorization.

Illustrated Examples

Unseen Prose Example

"The sun had long disappeared behind the thick forest trees, leaving the path in partial
darkness. Tunde quickened his steps, the rustle of unseen animals in the undergrowth
heightening his fear. He wondered if courage was not simply the ability to hide one’s trembling."

Analysis:
●​ Theme: Courage in the face of fear.
●​ Imagery: Darkness, rustling animals, trembling.

Symbolism:
●​ Darkness → fear, uncertainty.
●​ Rustle of animals → hidden dangers in life.
●​ Courage as trembling → human weakness masked by bravery.

Unseen Poetry Example

"A candle flickers in the storm,
Its light a whisper, frail yet warm.
Around it shadows dance and play,
But still the flame will find its way."

Analysis:
●​ Theme: Resilience and hope.
●​ Imagery: Candle, storm, shadows, flame.

Symbolism:
●​ Candle → fragile human spirit.
●​ Storm → life’s struggles.
●​ Flame finding its way → endurance and survival.

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Emphasis on Symbols and Imagery
●​ Symbols are objects, characters, or actions that carry deeper meaning (e.g., candle =
hope, darkness = fear).
●​ Imagery appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) to create vivid pictures
in the mind.
●​ In unseen texts, paying attention to symbols and imagery helps uncover hidden
meanings and themes.

More on Glossary
●​ Tone: The writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject (e.g., hopeful, sad, ironic).
●​ Mood: The feeling created in the reader (e.g., fear, joy, suspense).
●​ Diction: Choice of words that reflects style and mood.
●​ Theme: The central message or idea of a text.
●​ Imagery: Use of descriptive language appealing to the senses.
●​ Symbol: An object or image representing an abstract idea.
●​ Allusion: Reference to another work, event, or person.
●​ Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human objects.
●​ Simile: Comparison using “like” or “as.”
●​ Metaphor: Direct comparison without “like” or “as.”

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