Literature in English Lesson Note for First Term SS2 Scheme of Work
WEEK 1 INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
WEEK 2 ARMS AND THE MAN
WEEK 3 IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF ARMS AND THE MAN
WEEK 4 BOYS ON A SWING (OSWALD MTSHALI)
WEEK 5 THE FENCE BY LENRIE PETERS
WEEK 6 POETIC DEVICES AND THEMES USED IN “THE FENCE”
WEEK 7 MYOPIA (SLY CHENCY COKAR)
WEEK 8 INTRODUCTION TO NON AFRICAN POEM (DAFFODILS)
Lesson note on Literature in English for SS2 First Term
Below are the 2022 Literature in English lesson notes for SS 2 First term
Week 1
Topic: Introduction To Literature
Contents
- Introduction to literature
- Types of literature
- Sources of literature
- Purpose of literature
Introduction to Literature
Literature can be defined as printed and unprinted material that informs, instruct entertain and educate people. Literature is given from the word literate- which means the ability to read and write
Types of Literature
- Fiction: Fiction is a story invented by someone by someone, it is not real, it is a story that centres on imaginary people and events. E.g The beautiful ones are not yet born
- Non-fiction: It is a different type of literature of fiction, plays, poem and articles that centre on real facts of events which are not created or imaginary. E.g Julius Caeser To learn more, Click here
Week 2
Topic: Arms and the man
Themes
The scenario of a soldier escaping from a dreadful battle after three days of being under intense exhaustion, starving and being pursued is heart- rendering. It is also the lot of a real soldier, but Bernard Shaw douses this tension with comic dialogue of sativage the romantic notions about war which exact the horrific business. Late in the play, Shaw throws a gruesome report on the death of the man who told Blundschilis secrets about staying in Raina’s bedroom there is nothing comic or heroic about being shot in the hip and then burn to death. Shaw further ridicules the heroic concept of war by overrating a soldier who prefers food to cartridges in his belt.
- Unrealistic notions of war lead to distress
- Romantic notions of love and marriage could lead to unhappy marriages
- Class relationship and discrimination
- Idealism verses Realism. To learn more, Click here
Week 3
Topic:
Indepth Analysis of Arms and the man
Act 1
A lady’s bed chamber in Bulgaria, in a small town near the dragoman passage in8, November in the year 1885. Through an open window with a little balcony, a peak of the Balkans, wonderfully white and beautiful in the starlit snow, seems quit chose and hand, though,it is really miles away. It tells us about Raina sent Catherine away because she wanted to be alone, Raina explained to Catherine that there has been a battle at slinnitza , and it was won by Sergives, She informed her that Segives is the hero of the day, she informed her that the Bulgarians are destroying the serbs and their Austarian officer like chaff
Bulgaria, in a small town near the Drag on an pass; shaw sets the action of the play in the North West corner of Bulgaria and near the pass through which the Serbian army had moved towards the capital.To learn more, Click here
WEEK 4
Boys on a swing (Oslwald Mtshali)
Background of the poet
Oswald Mtshadi was born in South Africa. He studied at Columbia University. He has written poems and has consistently spoken against oppression and marginalization especially the kind witnessed in south Africa.
BOY ON A SWING
Slowly he moves
to and fro, to and fro,
then faster and faster
he swishes up and down.
His blue shirt
billows in the breeze
like a tattered kite. To learn more, Click here
Week 5
The Fence by Lenrie Peters
Background of the poet
Lenrie Peters is a 76 years old Gambian medical doctor. He was born in Gambia in 1932. His poem is a reflection of the condition in his country. He was once the chairman of the West African Examination Council (WAEC)
Background of the poem
“the fence” is a reflective poem that uses a proverbial “fence-sitting” as a yard stick to say that the poet is unable to cross the fence or take initial decision, the poet is in a state of dilemma and confusion because he sits on the fence
Structure of the poem
There are seven stanzas in the poem. In all, there are 25 lines , the lines are arranged in a way that shows the broken and confused thoughts of person. The title of the poem is suggestive to sit on the fence means not to take side in an issue or conflict.
This is the person’s dilemma reflected in the constant use of opposites ageing body and active mind,truth and trust, forward as backward, good and bad, past and future, several image is used to illustrate the person’s indecision an the effects of his inaction. To learn more, Click here
Week 6
Poetic device and themes used in “The Fence”
THE FENCE (BY LENRIE PETERS)
There where the dim past and future mingle
their nebulous hopes and aspirations
there I lie.
There where truth and untruth struggle
in endless and bloody combat,
there I lie.
There where time moves forwards and backwards
with not one moment’s pause for sighing,
there I lie. To learn more, Click here
WEEK 7
Myopia (Sly Chency Cokar)
Biography of the poet
Sly is a sierra leone and born in Freetown in 1945. He had his early education there and later studied at the University of Oregon California. He lived in excite under the regime of president Siaka Steven. He is the author of the following poems; the road to Jamaica, concert for an exile (1973), the graveyard also has teeth (1980), Blood in the desert
Background of the poem
The poem is particular about the disappointment the leaders bring into the life of the people while the suffering of masses are dying gradually because of malnutrition and lack of accommodation, African leaders are only caring for the comfort and welfare of themselves “Myopia” is preoccupied with the need for violent change to overthrown the oppressive and indifferent political system operating in African, To learn more, Click here
Week 8
Topic: Introduction to non-African Poem (Daffodils)
Background of the poet
William Wordsworth was born in Cumberland England in 1770. He was educated both in Cumberland and Cambridge, most of his poem varies around nature and its beauty . He is one of the founders of English Romanticism. He died peacefully in his shop in Isso at Rydal at the age of 80
Background of the poem
The poem is a romantic and metaphysical one because it is beyond the physical and talks about the beauty of nation , such poets are find comfort amidst dead leaves , flowers, stars, moon, waters and ghost than in the regular world where men and women lived
Analysis of the poem
It is poets admiration of nature in line with the dictates of Romantic poetry. The poem describes the beauty which the poet once behold but which he now recalls while he is in a lovely mood.
Notes: Student should read the book for proper understanding. To learn more, Click here
