CONCEPT OF LITERATURE (PART IV)

(A)       WRITTEN LITERATURE

This is kind of literature which is presented in written form such as, play, novel and poetry.

The written literature was existed immediately after invention of writing machines, and replaced the oral literature. Here, is where the literacy began to design their works and put them into writings which led us to have the written works such as novels, plays, poems and other prose. The existed of written literature, makes people to be interested more on it than oral literature in which now days is seen as the wastage of time to listen the story telling from them instead they decide to buy the written literature for reading in their own time. Therefore, the existed of written literature causes the oral literature to lose its qualities to people since no one is longer interested on it especially to youths.  

TYPES OF WRITTEN LITERATURE

The written literature is divided into three categories

(i)                  Plays/drama

(ii)                 Novels

(iii)                Poetry

(I)                PLAY (DRAMA)

Drama is theoretical dialogue performed on the stage; whereas, play refers to theoretical dialogue that written so as to be performed by actors on the television or radio, and in the theater.

The word drama comes from the Greek word “dran” which means to door to act. “As literature in action” drama brings a story to life before our eyes. Unlike most work of fiction that rely heavily on narration, the story of the play or drama is told through dialogue and action and is integrated with setting that the audience observes largely from scenery and props, knowing about these elements can help you appreciate and discus plays that you see and reads.

                  TYPES OF DRAMA

Drama consists of five types namely;

(i)                 Tragedy

Tragedy is a story of the major character that faces bad luck. Tragedy deals with a serious action in which the consequences are the great magnitude to the characters involved.

This genre tells the story through action instead of through narrative. It often deals with profound problems that are universal to the human experience. The tragic hero protagonist of the drama often has one tragic flow the causes of his undoing, usually hubris or too much pride. The protagonist realizes the severity of the flaw too late, which leads to inevitable down fall. A tragedy’s action is meant to fill the audience with fear and pity while the action takes the place, however at the conclusion of the action the audience is meant to leave the theater uplifted and enlightened about the drama’s unfolded events. Tragedy elements of horrors and struggle usually conclude with the death or isolation of a person.  Examples of tragic plays are, the black hermit, kinjekitile, trial of dedan kimath, three suitors one husbandetc.

(ii)                Comedy

Comedy refers to the main character overcomes the conflicts and over all look of the comedy is full of laughter and the issues are handled very tightly. These elements use in comedy are; romanticism, exaggeration, surprises and comic view of life. The pain or the pity projected by a tragedy is replaced with absurdity and mass intellect in comedy. Characters behave in comic and absurd ways serving as a mirror for society that encourages corrective behaviors Example of comic plays are; Mfalme Juha, Betrayal in the city, and the Test of heaven

(iii)              Tragic-comedy

This is play that begins with serious mode, but has happy ending. Action characters and plot are not absolute, but non-judgmental. A character changes his mind and acts out of character, and the plot end unpredictably.

Tragic comedies are meant to show complex dynamics of human relationships and that society is in a constantly changing flux. As the name suggests, these plays present a thorough mix of tragedy and comedy. An example of the play of tragic-comedy is; the Trial of Dedan kimathi.

(iv)              Melodrama

This is drama for entertainment. Melodrama comes from two nouns “melody” and “drama”; it is musical play most popular by 1840. In a melodrama the tragedy or problems is caused by external forces outside of the protagonists’ control. It sets itself apart from tragedy because the protagonist does not take responsibility for the action, nor does she feel guilty. In fact, the protagonist is often the victim of circumstance. The melodrama clearly distinguished good and evil characters. These play with a strict moral judgment that rewards the good and punishes evil in a fitting way. Examples melodrama are; Three Suitors One Husband, Ngoswe penzi Kitovu Chauzembe and Kivuli kinaishi.

(v)                Historical drama

This is the type of drama which expresses the history of a certain society, but always the reader will find some elements of tragedy and comedy. For example, the play of the Trial of Dedan Kimathi

ELEMENTS OF DRAMA/PLAY

There are various elements of drama namely

(a)        Characters

Characters are the people in the play’s plot. Most plays have round, major, and flat. The main characters are more important to a work and usually have bigger part to play.

(b)       Dialogue

The word uttered by characters in a play forms a dialogue. The dialogue reveals the plot and the characters of the play. What is spoken must be suitable to the situation and role of the character. Things that are said on the stage may take on greater worth or typical   qualities than the same thing said in every day speech. Good dramatic speech involves a proper construction of the words spoken in appropriate context. It also involves saying what is not uninviting or what is obvious straight away. Good dialogue sheds light on the character speaking and the ones spoken about and aids in the furtherance of the plot. 

        (c)  Plot

This is event that occurs in a story sequentially. Normally the introduction of the characters in the beginning of the play gives the audience an idea about what the plot may be. This information will enlighten the audience as to why characters behave the way they do and an incident may be expected to face that will create a problem for main character.

DO NOT MISS THE NEXT PART (PART V)

BY SIR LAWRENCE EDWARD 

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