Practical Criticism and Oral Interpretation: Kibanzaanga Moses, Gabodhe Lovisa, Nakibuka Sumaya, Chepkwemoi Lenny and Mwanja Azidah

The Uganda National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) gives the following socio-economic justifications for the teaching of Literature. Instill and promote national unity and an understanding of social and civic responsibilities, strong love and care for others and respect for public property as well as an appreciation of international relations and beneficial international cooperation. Promote an appreciation and understanding of the cultural heritage of Uganda including its languages. Impart and promote a sense of self-discipline, ethical and spiritual values and personal collective responsibility and initiative. Enable individuals to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of the emerging needs of society and economy. Enable individuals to develop personal skills of problem solving, information gathering and interpretation, independent reading and writing, self-improvement through learning and development of social, physical and leadership skills such as obtained through games, sports, societies and clubs. Lay a foundation for further education and careers. The ordinary level syllabus section B (2011-2014) has the following set books that meet the criterion of the above mentioned objectives; “The River Between” by Ngugi Wa Thiongo and “The Old Man and the Sea”, “The Cowrie of Hope” by Binwell Sinyangwe. A review of the novels on syllabus is given below; The novel, “The River Between” is a 1965 novel by Ngugi Wa Thiongo. It tells a story of the fierce differences between two neighboring villages of Kameno and Makuyu. The introduction and spread of Christianity is met with outright opposition because of the potential danger it poses to the indigenous African beliefs and values. The novel presents the reader with the genesis of the erosion of the African way of life by the advent of the white colonialists and missionaries. The novel is thus commendable because it depicts life under one of the most crucial historical periods in Africa. The “Cowrie of Hope” by Binwell Sinyangwe tells a story of Nasula and her daughter Sula. Having been treated like dirt by her husband and his relatives, the only thing Nasula craves for is proper education for her daughter. She believes education would give Sula freedom, emancipation and independence from men. Nasula never gives up her dreams despite of the difficulties around her. Nansula is forced by cultural obligation to marry her husband's brother. However, she vehemently objects to the arrangement. The book exposes the reader to the deeply rooted African traditions such as widow inheritance, naming of children. The name Nasula is given to a woman whose husband's love grows cold because she has bore only one child. The book emphasizes the merits of western education as portrayed through Nasula's struggles to see her daughter through school. Meanwhile it exposes the unfairness of some of the African traditional customs and practices. Therefore the book makes a passionate call for an enlightened practice of culture in our modern world. The novel “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingwaj is an epic struggle of an aged fisherman called Santiago on the sea. After eighty four days of vain catch of fish on the sea, he decides to move deeper into the waters than is usual. Indeed his adventure is well paid off by a catch of the biggest fish any man before him ever had chance to catch. He struggles with the fish and successful kills it. However, on his return from the sea, he is chased by sharks that eat the fish leaving him with only a skeleton. The man returns with the bones of the giant fish which was greatly admired by all the people. The old man is admired by all for his perseverance and unrelenting spirit despite of his bad luck on the sea. The novel imparts the values of perseverance and fortitude into the readers through its exaltation of the undying spirit of the old man who despite of vain attempts at sea never gives up until he makes the greatest catch ever seen. The following four novels are suggested for inclusion into the Ordinary level syllabus. They include “Upon This Mountain”, “Things Fall Apart”, “Animal Farm”, “Oliver Twist” and “Houseboy”. The novel “Upon This Mountain” by Timothy Wangusa is set around Mountain Elgon in Eastern Uganda. It centers on the troubled transitions to manhood in Bugisu land. A young man, Wabwire evades the knife and he is forced to forfeit his manhood. The protagonist, Mwambu is fascinated with the immenseness of the Elgon Mountain and the cultural richness of the people around it. However, Mwambu is afraid of the cultural ritual of circumcision and rather secretly goes for surgical circumcision in the hospital. This is considered a cowardly act by his kinsmen on discovery. The novel presents the reader with a variety of thematic concerns, such as culture versus modernity. This is accomplished through a distinctive style that combines African Folklore, song, chants, proverbs and Biblical allusions to explore traditional marriage, superstition, religious hypocrisy, clash of cultures and promiscuity. The dramatic portrayal of the cultural centrality of the ritual of circumcision is captivating hence creating a lasting impression on the reader. “Things Fall Apart” by the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. The novel has received international acclaim because of its vivid portrayal of the earliest European encounter with the native African way of life. The first part of the novel depicts the typical African traditional way of life characterized by a strong patriarchal system and strong kinship bonds. The second part of the novel exposes the reader to the native response to the European settlement which is characterized by both cooperation and opposition from the native settlers. The novel ends with a staggering blow to the cultural fiber of native culture with the suicidal death of the protagonist Okonkwo. The novel is commendable because it gives the learner rich insights into the traditional depth and width of the African heritage. The novel employs African orature characterized by folktales, proverbs, songs among others. This gives the reader an opportunity to get an insight into the rich oral literature of the Africans through the written word. “Animal Farm” by George Orwell qualifies for consideration on the Ordinary level syllabus. The novel is an allegorical portrayal of the failure of the Russian Revolution of 1917. The novel uses animal characters, prominent among them are Napoleon and Snowball to satirisethe socialist revolution that ended up creating classes instead of abolishing the autocratic rule of the many by a few powerful individuals. In the novel the pigs led by Napoleon overturn the gains of the revolution against the tyranny of man. The novel is suitable for the ordinary level students because it employs metaphorical language to give the reader an insight into the complex of human motives and aspirations. George Orwell employs a simple style that is attractive to both beginners and advanced users of the English language. A number of thematic concerns such as dictatorship, favoritism, exploitation, capitalism, religious hypocrisy among others are given exclusive coverage by the simple story of the animals in the novel. “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens would also be a suitable set book on syllabus. The novel tells a story of a young orphaned boy named Oliver who is taken up by the work house (owned by the Church). He is overworked and exploited as ha is denied access to education. This forces him to run into the hands of a gang and his eventual discovery of his relatives the end after long suffering. The novel is appropriate because it captures the reader's imagination through a vivid description of the struggles for survival of an orphan who finds an enviable fortune at the end. The book discusses a number of character attributes which are vital for moral development and maturity. “Houseboy” by Ferdinand Oyono is another commendable novel for consideration on the Ordinary level syllabus. The novel narrates the ordeal of a naive African boy whose imagination is fascinated by the Whiteman’s world of refinement and extraordinary accomplishments. Toundi serves as a house boy to father Gilbert who treats him more a household pet subject to the whims of his superior instruction. After the sudden demise of father Gilbert, Toundi is recommended to the employ of the commandant. The commandant subjects Toundi to inhuman treatment that climaxes into his imprisonment and torturous death. The book suits the ordinary level syllabus because it analyzes the issues of identity in the face of what is considered a superior civilization. Toundi grapples with the internal conflict of self-realization in the midst of the deadening experience of colonization that aims at eroding one's individuality and customary uniqueness. In conclusion, the teaching of Literature subject at the Ordinary level is aimed at serving a functional purpose of moral instruction and aesthetic appreciation as demonstrated by the selected texts on the syllabus and the novels that have been suggested for consideration on the syllabus.