Sharing Tradition: Frank LaPena

 Short Summary

 

 

Frank LaPena talks about the importance of oral tradition in this essay. Oral tradition refers to a form of art of human communication where knowledge, art, ideas, and cultural wisdom is received, preserved, and transmitted orally from one generation to another generation. This transmission is made through speech, song, folktales, ballads, chants, prose, verses, etc. Oral tradition helps to maintain and preserve the values of a culture. The task of sharing tradition through an oral medium is a tough task to convert into practice.  Both elders and young people play a vital role in the preservation and passing on of oral tradition. The task of preserving and transmitting the oral tradition is done by the elders first and then by the young people. However, the elders should take responsibility for this task of preservation and transmission of oral tradition. Oral tradition must pass from the older to the newer generation.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. According to LaPena, what is the importance of the oral tradition? To what extent do you agree with his opinions and why?

According to LaPena, the importance of the oral tradition is to preserve and maintain the tradition and cultural values from generation to generation by word of mouth.

I agree with the author to a great extent that unless the tradition and cultural values are preserved and maintained, the people would lose meaning and cultural significance in life. Culture plays a remarkable role in shaping the values and attitudes of people.

b. Who preserve and pass on the oral tradition?

Elders and young people play a vital role in the preservation and passing on of oral tradition. The task of preserving and transmitting the oral tradition is done by the elders first and then by the young people. However, the elders should take responsibility for this task of preservation and transmission of oral tradition. An oral tradition is an art form that is passed from the older to the newer generation.

c. What is the danger of not passing on information from generation to generation?

The danger of not passing on information from generation to generation results in the extinction of tradition and cultural values.

d. What is the difference between oral tradition and literary tradition?

There are basic differences between oral tradition and literary tradition. An oral tradition refers to a form of art in which information relating to culture and values are transmitted from generation to generation orally. Thus, mistakes in oral tradition are corrected spontaneously as and when necessary. On the other hand, the literary tradition refers to both the written and the printed tradition in which information is transmitted through written means. Hence, unlike oral tradition, mistakes in literary tradition can't be changed or corrected.

e. How does LaPena establish a relationship between art and the oral tradition?

LaPena establishes a relationship between art and oral tradition through his authoritative writing stating that handing down tradition by the older generation to the newer generation orally is an art where speakers ( old generation) and listeners ( new generation ) both play a significant role. This art form is carried over from one generation to another sustaining and preserving tradition and cultural values. Knowledge of tradition is communicated in artwork like oral speech, folk tales, ballads, songs, prose, verses, etc. Tradition and cultural values are preserved and upheld through oral tradition.

 Reference to the context

a. LaPena states that the oral tradition helps maintain the values of a culture. If you believe that the oral tradition is important, how would you maintain it?

Certainly, oral tradition helps maintain the values of a culture. I firmly believe that oral tradition mirrors the cultural values and practices of a community.  I would maintain oral tradition undertaking the following activities:

Actively contribute to sharing knowledge of tradition and cultural values by word of mouth.

Actively work in enlightening and making people aware of the importance of oral tradition in our lives.

Sincerely work to organize social initiatives to support and promote oral tradition.

Honestly encourage elders to transmit authoritative information of oral tradition and cultural values to young generation to sustain and preserve it.


b. “Not everyone is capable of fulfilling the roles of the elders.” Explain this statement with reference to the essay.

Not everyone is capable of fulfilling the roles of the elders. They constitute the base or the foundation of a community. They are the store-house of the traditional practices, ideas, and values of life. They have a deep insight into the ritual practices and socio-cultural values that shape and reinforce our knowledge of the glorious past. They are competent to handover the wisdom cultivated by forefathers to the new generation to give continuity to the oral tradition. They command vital positions in the social hierarchy and exercise tremendous religious and socio-cultural influences on the people. Their knowledge of the ritual and rites associated with culture and tradition is superb and hence is able to share insight on various practices that have been observed from time immemorial like ritual ceremonies, dance, religious practices, etc. They have built a niche of traditional wisdom which must pass on to the younger people else the community will lose their knowledge of them. Because of their vital roles, their death creates a void in the community because their presence alone guides the community in traditional cultural practices.


c. What is the controlling idea or thesis of this essay?

The controlling idea or thesis of an essay is its essence. The present essay is concerned in its subject matter the sharing of traditions by oral methods which are the most practical and time-tested practice observed in the socialization of the younger generation by the older generation. The essay speaks of the importance of sharing tradition for a community to sustain, promote and preserve tradition and cultural values. The task of sharing tradition by oral means, according to the essayist, is a form of art where both the elders and youth play equally significant and responsible roles and responsibilities. The elders should encourage the youth to learn the wisdom of the past and the youth should be open and acknowledging the authoritative insight on a tradition from the elders. Tradition and cultural values sustain and preserve in the cordiality of both generations. However, the gap of communication in the two generations will be a devastating experience for the younger people as they will lack their root missing wisdom of the past.

d. How do topic sentences guide the reader through the essay? What would be lost without them?

The topic sentence refers to the main idea in a given paragraph. The topic sentences in paragraphs are organized in a logical and coherent way to give flow to the thesis statement which is the importance of oral practice in transmitting tradition and cultural values to the younger generation from the elders. The idea that runs an undercurrent in the essay is the essence of preference and continuity of tradition in a community. The various topic sentences that may be identified in the paragraphs of the essay are hereunder:

Understanding the idea or the concept of oral tradition.

Oral tradition and its importance in a community.

The role of the older and the younger generation in transmitting and continuing tradition.

 

The various problems faced by people in the modern time in preservation and conservation of oral traditions. 

The various recommendations that may be observed in maintaining oral tradition.


e. What are the four major problems developed by LaPena with regard to maintaining the oral tradition. How are they used to structure the essay?

The four major problems developed by La Pena with regard to maintaining the oral tradition are:

Difficulty in filling the niche built by elders because of problems in sharing traditions through verbal means.

The influence of technology in the life of a modern man.

Impacts of the modern education system.

The communication gap in reorganizing and sharing information.

 Reference beyond the text

a. Write a paragraph or two explaining your attitude toward the oral tradition of passing along information.

The importance of oral tradition in sustaining and preserving the cultural values of a community can't be denied. Sharing and helping transmit traditional wisdom to the new generation is a form of art that has to be practiced sincerely by both the elders and the younger people. Both of them occupy remarkable places and play a responsible role in giving a community connection with the rich glorious past which is the store-house of time-tested practical knowledge about life and the world. The rich past is recreated among the new through the intervention of the elders who share it with the young and preserve the cultural identity of a community. The practice survives all through if both are open and cordial. The elders should be eager to share the wisdom of the past and the young also should be open and acknowledging authoritative and authentic insight from the elders.

b. Our culture is our identity. Write a few paragraphs explaining how you intend to preserve your culture, values and norms.

Every single person has his/her own unique identity and culture. An 'identity' is the image that one projects out into the rest of the world and 'culture' is the image that one has of themselves. Culture plays a huge role in shaping your identity. A person's beliefs and morals are made up by culture and remain throughout our entire life. Culture is what makes you the person you are today and determines who or what you choose to associate yourself with. Your background and upbringing is what sets you apart from everyone else because no one has been raised the same way.


I intend to preserve my culture, values and norms with active association undertaking the following activities:

Taking an active interest in celebrating cultural and religious ceremonies sincerely.

Taking an active role in sharing insight of the wisdom of the past with the family, friends, and acquaintances.

Making people aware of the significance of cultural values, norms, and practices that give identity to a community.

Forming socio-cultural groups that would take initiative in preserving and conserving cultural practices.