AFL - Module Overview
Introduction
From the dry, sand-spackled desert to the thick, leafy rainforest, every region in Africa has a unique people group and story regarding the past that created the Africa of today. Through the ups and downs of corruption, segregation, and racism, much of African literature has voiced the hardships that plagued the countries over the years. Nonetheless, many strong leaders arose to lead Africa into more peaceful times when all hope seemed lost. African literature not only voices the pain and suffering of the people, but the various genres also broadcast hope for independence.
Essential Questions
- What is the oral tradition?
- What are the effects of imperialism?
- What are common themes throughout African literature?
- How does corruption permeate and destroy people and countries?
- How has tradition shaped the people of Africa and their literature?
Key Terms
Oral Tradition
: stories passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth
Trickster Tale: story where a weaker character survives against a stronger character
Praise Poem: written verse delivering high praise to a person or thing
Narrative Epic: long poem that tells a story
Ritual Verse: religious or ceremonial poem
Epithet: an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.
Ethos: convincing by the character of the author
Pathos: persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions
Logos: persuading by the use of reasoning or proof
Rhetoric: the art of speaking or writing effectively, or persuasively
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