TYPES OF LITERATURE

TYPES OF LITERATURE

Originally, there are two types of Literature, namely;

1. Oral Literature

2. Written Literature

ORAL LITERATURE CLASSIFICATION This is a Literature presented through oral expressions. It was mostly used before the invention of writings.

Elements of oral literature

i.                    The Folk Tale: This is a short narrative handed down through oral tradition, passed down from one generation to the next (human as characters).

ii.                  The Legend: It is a story handed down from the past, especially one that may not be true but it has historical derivation/historical background.

iii.                Myths: These are stories that originated in ancient times especially one dealing with ideas or beliefs about the origin of race, things or events.

iv.                Fable: Are short stories (tales) often with animals as characters which convey a moral message.

v.                  Anecdote: Most refers to the narrated incident in the life of an important person and should lay claim to an element of truth.

vi.                Epics: These are long narrative poems in an elevated style/presenting characters of high position (or a hero) in adventures through their relation to a central heroic figure and their development of episodes.

vii.              vii. Ballads: Is a form of verse to be sung or recited and characterized by its presentation of dramatic in simple narrative form.

viii.            Riddles: Are puzzling questions, statements or description especially ones intended to test the cleverness of those wishing to solve them. E.g.: It walks in four legs in the morning, two legs in the noon and three legs in the evening Human being.

ix.                Proverbs: Short well-known sayings that state a general truth or give advice. Or Are compact fixed statements which imply question and answer.

x.                  Idioms: A phrase/statement whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a unit.