CLASS: SENIOR ONE
COURSE CONTENTS
UNIT I: INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY GENRES: FICTION AND NON-FICTION
UNIT II: INTRODUCTION TO PROSE: PLOT, SETTING & CHARACTERS
UNIT III: INTRODUCTION TO POETRY
UNIT IV: THEMES AND MESSAGES IN POETRY
UNIT V: LANGUAGE USE IN POETRY
UNIT VI: INTRODUCTION TO DRAMA
UNIT VII: KEY ASPECTS OF DRAMA
UNIT III. INTRODUCTION TO POETRY
III.1 DEFINITION OF POETRY.
Poetry is the expression of a writer’s feelings in rhythmic form. It is also a kind of literature that is written in verses and which uses condensed language to express strong feelings.
Poetry is different from prose as it (poetry) uses its own unique structure.
Ex: Dreamsby Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Just like music, poetry uses carefully arranged sounds and words, and it also expresses strong emotions. It is also condensed since it uses few words by comparing to other genres.
In poetry, it is where we find songs and poems. A poem is a work of literature in which words are arranged to sound pleasant to the ear and to express ideas, emotions and thoughts. The writer of a poem is called a poet.
Poetry relies on careful choice of words to relay the best possible meaning. Poetry is the best and most precise way of saying something and a good poet select, arranges and rearranges words until they are able to say what he wants them to say as effectively as possible.
Characteristics of poetry
Listen, Papa by Gachanja Kiai
Listen to me Papa
I tried as hard as I could
I wanted to be top in class
I tried to be top in class
Others were better than me
They calculated faster than I could
They spelt better than I could
Listen Papa, I tried.
Poetry uses language in an economical way (few words)
Poetry expresses strong feelings and emotional expressions.
Poetry is arranged in stanzas rather than in paragraphs.
Poetry is musical.
Because part of a poem’s meaning is contained in its sound, it is advisable to read it aloud in order to enjoy its full meaning. Poems should be read several times in order to get their real meaning.
III.2. TRADITIONAL POETRY IN RWANDA.
Our African societies have their own poetry which is not written in textbooks. Traditional poetry (poems,songs) is the one that is passed down from one generation to the other. Wedding songs and lullabies are also a part of traditional poetry.
Folk songs
Folk songs are songs of the inhabitants of a land about their culture, tradition or history.
Ex: Among them there is Ruti that aligns corpses
There is Rugurira in Minwi of Mugemanyi
The rooster of Mugenzi of Ngongo
Which was called while being anger-prone
And suddenly there was a commotion everywhere.
Wedding songs
They are songs that are sung for the bride and bridegroom. They are usually sung loudly in weddings with many people joining and singing together.
Ex: Go our dear
Love is good
The beautiful woman is taken away
The well-brought up young woman
You’ve done your parents credit
The beautiful woman is taken away
Oh she is taken away
The beautiful woman is taken away
She goes to her lover’s home
The beautiful woman is taken away
May you have children
May be loved by the one you have loved
The beautiful woman is taken away
A home is the one that is visited
We will all visit you
The beautiful woman is taken away
Oh she is taken away
The beautiful woman is taken away
She goes to her lover’s home
The beautiful woman is taken away.
Lullabies
Lullabies are soft gentle songs sung to make a child go to sleep.
Ex1: Stop crying my child -Stop crying
Stop crying for I love you- Stop crying
Don’t cry yourself hoarse- Stop crying
Stop crying you immaculate- Stop crying
Stop crying, my cowry- Stop crying
Stop crying, listen to this lullaby- Stop crying.
Ex2: Stop crying
For your father is keeping you company
Stop crying
For your brother is keeping you company
Stop crying
For your sister is keeping you company
Stop crying
For your cousins are keeping you company
Stop crying -Stop.
III.3 MAIN FEATURES OF POEMS
Rhyme
Rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words. Rhyme occurs when two or more words sound similarly at their ends. A rhyme is a tool that uses repeating patterns to create rhythm or musicality in poems. A rhyme is used for a specific purpose of giving a pleasing effect to a poem, which makes its recital an enjoyable experience.
Usually, rhyme occurs at the end of lines in a poem, but it can also occur in the middle. If it occurs in the middle, it is called internal rhyme.
Ex1: Mama; don’t worry
Your son’s in no hurry
We will not rush to marry
And there make you sorry.
Ex2: The gaze of the beauty
When I look at Rwanda
I can’t help it wonder
How like a phoenix, from ashes this nation is rising
When I look at Rwanda, I can’t help it but start praising.
Ex3: The choice to believe in power of togetherness
The choice to walk hand in hand even through the darkness
The choice to trust the good in others
And the choice to work heart to heart with others
Because we are a summation, one nation
And never shall we betray the foundation.
Rhythm
Rhythm refers to a strong regular repeated pattern of sound in poetry. It is also the variation of the length and accentuation of a series of sounds or other events. It is what we dance to in a song. It is the regular beat that defines the song. Rhythm that can be measured is called meter.
In writing poetry, rhythm acts as a beat in music. Rhythm is used to captivate the readers by giving musical effect to a literary piece.
Rhythm is created by: -repetition
-sound patterns (repetition of certain sounds in a poem).
-length of lines- if of the same length.
Line length
A line is a division of a poem. Specifically, a group of words arranged into a row that end for a reason. The lines (verses) are arranged to have a certain number of syllables, stresses, or metrical feet. The line length is determined by the rhythm which the poet wants to achieve. This means that lines can be short or long.
III.4. NURSERY RHYMES
A nursery rhyme is a simple song for children to sing. They are usually short, simple and repetitive. They are enjoyable to sing as they are full of funny and rhyming words. Nursery rhymes also heavily rely on word play which creates a playful effect, hence giving an opportunity to young children to learn something new in a playful and enjoyable manner.
Ex1: Baa, baa black sheep
Baa, baa black sheep
Have you any wool,
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.
One for my master.
One for my dame.
But none for the little boy,
Who lives down the lane.
Ex2: Old MacDonald had a farm
Old MACDONALD had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a cow
E-I-E-I-O
With a moo moo here
And a moo moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
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