Performance of Oral Literature
17 Grade 10 Literature in English questions on Performance of Oral Literature, with worked marking schemes. 17 questions are available on this topic in full.
Question 1
4 marksExplain two non-verbal features a performer can use to make the performance of an oral song effective.
(4 marks)
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1 markLearners are reviewing a classmate's narration of an oral narrative. Which of the following observations identifies a weakness in her performance?
A. She paused before revealing the twist
B. She looked at the audience throughout
C. She mimicked the old man's slow walk
D. She read the story from her notebook
(1 mark)
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8 marksRead the following work song sung by farmers in Murang'a while digging, then answer the questions that follow. Leader: Lift the jembe, sons of the soil, All: Hiyo! Hiyo! Leader: The sun is high but we will not tire, All: Hiyo! Hiyo! Leader: Our granary waits for the harvest home, All: Hiyo! Hiyo!
(a) Identify the pattern in which this song is performed and describe how it works. (2 marks)
(b) Explain two ways in which the performance of this song suits the activity of digging. (4 marks)
(c) Suggest two ways in which a group of learners could make a classroom performance of this song more effective. (2 marks)
(8 marks)
Marking scheme
(a) (2 marks) - Solo and chorus / call and response pattern (1 mark) - A leader sings each line and the whole group answers with the refrain "Hiyo! Hiyo!" (1 mark) (b) Any two, 2 marks each (1 mark for the point, 1 mark for explanation) (4 marks): - The regular rhythm of the refrain matches the rise and fall of the jembe, so the diggers work in step - The short, repeated response is easy to shout while working, so everyone can join in without stopping - Singing together creates unity and team spirit, so the group works as one - The encouraging words ("we will not tire") motivate the diggers and reduce the feeling of tiredness and boredom - The leader can set and change the pace of work through the pace of the song - Mention of the granary and harvest reminds the workers of the reward, which keeps them going (c) Any two, 1 mark each (2 marks): - Act out digging movements in time with the refrain - Carry a jembe or another farming tool as a prop - Wear simple farming attire such as a kikoi or headscarf - Choose a confident leader with a strong voice and let the chorus respond loudly and together - Add clapping, stamping or a drum to strengthen the rhythm - Vary the volume and tempo to show the heat of the sun and the hope of the harvest - Invite the audience to join in the refrain
Question 4
6 marks"The way an oral piece is performed shapes what the audience takes from it." Explain three ways in which performance affects the subject matter in oral literature.
(6 marks)
Marking scheme
Any three of the following, 2 marks each (1 mark for the point, 1 mark for explanation or illustration) (6 marks): - It sets the mood: tempo, tone and volume suit the subject, e.g. a slow, low-voiced dirge deepens the feeling of loss - It emphasises the message or moral: repetition, pauses and stress draw attention to the lesson - It shows what characters are like: voice changes and mimicry show a character as cunning, greedy or brave, which makes the theme clear - It makes abstract ideas concrete: gestures, props and dramatisation help the audience picture events and ideas - It allows adaptation: the performer adjusts details to the audience and occasion, so the same story can stress different issues - It invites audience involvement: when listeners respond or sing along, they accept and remember the message more readily - It adds humour or satire: exaggerated actions can make fun of a vice and so criticise it - Poor performance (monotone, no eye contact) can hide or distort the message and leave the audience bored Accept other valid points with suitable illustration.
Question 5
1 markWhile narrating to a group of young children in Kakamega, a storyteller notices them fidgeting during a long description of a forest. She cuts the description short and leads them in a lively song. Which quality of a good storyteller does she show?
A. Ability to adapt to the audience
B. Ability to use rich vocabulary
C. Ability to articulate words clearly
D. Ability to recall every detail
(1 mark)
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6 marksDuring a class performance, Atieno recites a praise poem in honour of a community hero. She stands still with her hands at her sides, speaks in a flat voice that does not rise or fall, looks at the floor throughout, and rushes through the poem in under a minute.
(a) Identify three weaknesses in Atieno's performance. (3 marks)
(b) Recommend one improvement for each weakness you have identified in (a). (3 marks)
(6 marks)
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3 marksState three ways in which a narrator can involve the audience during the performance of an oral narrative.
(3 marks)
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4 marksYour class is reviewing each other's performances of oral narratives for creativity and correctness. Outline four criteria you would use to give your classmate honest and constructive feedback.
(4 marks)
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6 marksExplain three qualities of a good storyteller.
(6 marks)
Marking scheme
Any three of the following, 2 marks each (1 mark for the quality, 1 mark for the explanation) (6 marks): - Good memory: recalls the plot, songs and characters in the right order without notes, so the narration flows - Audience awareness: reads listeners' reactions and adjusts length, pace or content to keep them interested - Fluency and command of language: uses rich, clear language suited to the audience's age and culture - Expressive voice: changes pitch, volume and tone to suit characters and moods - Confidence: performs without fear, keeps eye contact and holds the audience's attention - Creativity and imagination: adds songs, humour, ideophones or new details to freshen a familiar story - Knowledge of the community's culture: understands the customs and values behind the story and explains them correctly - Dramatic skill: uses gestures, facial expressions and mimicry to bring characters to life - Ability to involve the audience: invites responses, chorus singing and questions - Good timing: uses pauses well to build suspense and to deliver humour Accept any other relevant quality that is properly explained.
Question 10
1 markA narrator in Kilifi says: "The heavy stone slipped from Kazungu's hands and fell into the river, tumbu!" The word "tumbu" in this performance is
A. an ideophone
B. an opening formula
C. a refrain
D. a digression
(1 mark)
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4 marksOutline four verbal features that make the performance of an oral narrative effective.
(4 marks)
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1 markAt a funeral in Siaya, mourners perform a dirge slowly, in low voices, while swaying gently from side to side. The slow tempo of this performance mainly helps to
A. reinforce the sombre mood of loss
B. make the dirge easier to memorise
C. shorten the length of the ceremony
D. invite listeners to laugh along
(1 mark)
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8 marksRead the following extract from a performance of an oral narrative and then answer the questions that follow. The words in square brackets describe what the narrator does. Narrator: Are you ready for a story? Audience: We are ready! Narrator: Long ago, in a village at the foot of Mount Elgon, there lived a boy called Wekesa who never shared his food. [rubs his belly and smacks his lips] One evening, as he sat alone eating roasted maize, a tiny bird landed on the fence. [raises his voice to a thin whistle] "Wekesa, Wekesa, give me just one grain!" [changes to a deep, rough voice] "Go away, little beggar!" The bird flew off, singing: Tweet-tweet, the greedy one eats alone, Tweet-tweet, tomorrow he will cry alone. [signals with both hands; the audience repeats the song and claps] That very night the rains came, dum! dum! dum!, and washed away every maize plant in Wekesa's shamba. [shakes his head slowly]
(a) Identify two performance techniques used by the narrator and give evidence from the extract for each. (4 marks)
(b) Explain how the bird's song helps the narrator to hold the audience's attention. (2 marks)
(c) Explain how the narrator's actions reinforce the theme of selfishness in the story. (2 marks)
(8 marks)
Marking scheme
(a) Any two techniques, 1 mark for the technique and 1 mark for correct evidence (2 x 2 = 4 marks): - Voice modulation: thin whistle for the bird and deep, rough voice for Wekesa - Audience participation: the opening call and response ("Are you ready for a story?" / "We are ready!"); the audience repeats the song and claps - Gestures / body movement: rubs his belly and smacks his lips; signals with both hands; shakes his head slowly - Use of song: the bird's song "Tweet-tweet, the greedy one eats alone ..." - Use of ideophones: "dum! dum! dum!" for the falling rain; "Tweet-tweet" for the bird - Opening formula / direct address: "Are you ready for a story?" - Dialogue / direct speech: "Wekesa, Wekesa, give me just one grain!" The two techniques must be supported by different pieces of evidence; do not credit the same quotation or action twice. (b) Any two points, 1 mark each (2 marks): - It breaks the narration and gives the audience a chance to take part by singing and clapping - Its rhythm and repetition ("Tweet-tweet ... alone") make it catchy and easy to join in - It creates suspense and foreshadows Wekesa's punishment ("tomorrow he will cry alone") - It adds variety and entertainment, so listeners stay lively (c) Any two points, 1 mark each (2 marks): - Rubbing his belly and smacking his lips shows Wekesa's greedy enjoyment of food he will not share - The deep, rough voice makes Wekesa sound harsh and unkind when he refuses the bird - Shaking his head slowly at the end shows disapproval and sorrow, signalling that selfishness brings loss - Leading the audience to sing "the greedy one eats alone" makes them judge Wekesa's selfishness together
Question 14
4 marksExplain two ways in which costume and props contribute to the performance of a traditional song.
(4 marks)
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1 markA Swahili narrator begins by calling out "Paukwa!" and the audience replies "Pakawa!" before the story starts. The main function of this exchange in the performance is to
A. introduce the main character's name
B. signal that the story has ended
C. summarise the moral of the story
D. capture the audience's attention
(1 mark)
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1 markDuring a narration about Chura the frog, the narrator crouches low, puffs out his cheeks and hops across the classroom each time the frog moves. Which performance technique is the narrator using?
A. Use of an opening formula
B. Digression from the plot
C. Repetition of a refrain
D. Mimicry of the character
(1 mark)
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2 marksState two ways in which the occasion on which an oral song is performed influences the way it is performed.
(2 marks)
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