English Literature And Theory: 2010

Summary and Critical Interpretation of "Paper(Catherine Lim)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Critical Thinking , Intrepretation , Literature , Story , Summary | Posted on 4:38 PM

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Paper is written by famous Singaporean woman Catherin Lim. Catherine explores the greed towards easy money making and how it leads city people to the tragic result.

Tay Soon and Yee Lian are main characters of the story. They belong to middle class family and they have strong ambition to buy a well managed building with all perfection. They dreamt of beautiful house having marble floors, oval shaped sitting rooms and fantastic swimming pool. They both share their plan to all the family members including Yee Yeng, Yee Lian's sister but mother of Tay Soon didn't pay any attention or concern to them. She was engaged in her traditional profession, i.e, vegetable business. She was completely contained and happy. She also suggested them not to keep such dream but for Tay Soon. it was not only dream. He thought it could be fulfilled if he handled the money appropriately because he had saved 40,000 in bank.

In that period, Tay was attracted to share market because share price was rising. So, he invested his 30,000 at risk in share market. Fortunately, he was able to make $100,000 within short period of time. At that time, he proudly told his mother that he was able to buy 50 houses like mother's. He further was excited towards the share and invested more money. But unfortunately, the value of share began to fall rapidly. There was no any device to control the declining. He invested all amount of money. Few remaining money was also invested in last attempt but it was also in despair. His hope of building modern house was broken into pieces. He himself broke physically. He left eating and started beating his wife and children. His condition was worse and worse and he was admitted in hospital. At last, it was mother who ordered a beautiful paper house somewhere in the market to satisfy his son. At last, Tay Soon was dead and paper house was put on his dead body and they both were burnt together and turned into ashes.

This story is giving satire on the ambition of young generation in Singapore who are crazy for material gratification. The structure of story is divided into three parts - opening, climax, and anti-climax. In opening, we can see Tay Soon and his strong aspiration to have modern house. In the climax, we can observe his excessive greed towards money hoarding. The anti-climax is a total ruin of Tay Soon due to the greed for paper in this story. "Paper" stands for many things such as plain paper, money, etc. The growth of the value of paper means their success in matter. In this story, "Paper" denotes bank, cash, share, certificate, prosperity, game, etc. And on the other hand, it also indicates Tay Soon's ambition, effort, sleeplessness, broken and deserted. And lastly "Paper" also stands for material success and failure both. "Generation Gap" between young and old is also shown in the story. The feeling of Tay Soon is taken lightly by his mother and feeling of mother is taken lightly by son.

Summary With Interpretation of "An Episode of War (Stephen Crane) "

Posted by anjila | Posted in Intrepretation , Literature , Story , Summary | Posted on 12:41 AM

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"An Episode of War" is a story written by Stephen Crane, an American writer. In this story, he presents a very inhuman picture of war in the battle field or in the barracks or at the hospital. Here we find the scene of seriously wounded soldier who makes tremendous effort to live a normal life.

Theme of the text:

The writer wants to convey that war doesn't do good to anyone; it is always inhuman and destructive in nature; it is everywhere in the world.

Summary

The Lieutenant is the main character of the story but his name is not mentioned. Once, he was distributing the coffee powder in the barracks. Corporals and other representatives of each squad (groups) were in queue. The Lieutenant was very busy in his duty. Suddenly, he cried out because he was shot. The other soldiers also cried out after seeing the blood in Lieutenant's sleeves. He fell dangerously on the ground and straightens his body. He looked towards the forest and found puffs of smoke appeared after the fire. The Lieutenant tried to continue his work but he failed because his wounded hand did not support him. At the same time, a sergeant appeared forward and kept the sword in his scabbard. Then, the Lieutenant left the place holding his right wrist and set out for the hospital.

While passing through the line of battle, he could see many new things. He was always there but did not know some people. He noticed a general in black horse come to the field as soon as he reached there., a bodyguard appeared and saluted him. The guard also handed him a piece of paper which indicated a historical painting. Everything around the officer was in motion. He heard the thud of hoofs and the cries of some soldiers. The Lieutenant looked at the troops until they disappeared. The battle was continued. The scene was tragic and devastating. He saw the smoke rolling upward and some people moved to different place. Some soldiers followed the Lieutenant and showed him the way to hospital.

The Lieutenant saw another scene at the road side. A brigade was making coffee for the passers by He also halted different staffs for some time and noticed that several officers came to the brigade and asked about the unknown thing or tricks but he resumed his journey to hospital. After sometime he reached he hospital compound and saw the low tents in the hospital. Two ambulances were covered with deep mud and a crowd of bandaged men were moving around. Others were sitting under trees caring about their wounds. Even at the hospital, he heard continuous cries in wailing.

At the hospital a surgeon greeted him with a friendly smile. Later on his face turned serious after seeing the wound in the Lieutenant's hand. He examined the wound with hatred and brought the Lieutenant to the operation theatre. At this point, the Lieutenant was very much worried about his arm, He doubted that it might be cut off. His doubt came true. Thus, his hand was amputated His family cried after seeing this tragic scene. And the Lieutenant felt ashamed and said that the hand was not as important as anything else - that is duty towards the nation; name and fame in the world.

Summary With Critical Analysis of "When Icicles Hang by the Wall (William Shakespeare)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Critical Appreciation , Critical Thinking , Intrepretation , Poetry , Summary | Posted on 11:01 PM

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The poem, "When Icicles Hang by the Wall " is taken from Shakespeare's play "Love's Labour Lost". It is a song to criticize the winter season but poem doesn't present the direct and strong criticism. Poet is able to manage modest criticism to select the objective words. In the poem, the poet very cleverly to shows his dislikeness towards winter season.

According to the poem, when winter comes it brings several influences, the walls are covered with ice, everything including human's life get influenced by the cold and due to extreme cold, each phenomena come to freeze. To prevent excessive cold, Dick blows his nail and Tom Carries fire logs into the house. Milk freezes as soon as it is poured into the pail. The blood of living creatures comes to freeze. The snow has covered the way and made it muddy. The staring owl sings at night while Joan is keeling kitchen pots. Priests is unable to deliver his preaching due to his old age and coldness. Birds sit for brooding into their nests to skip away from the cold and due to heavy cold Marian's nose becomes red and raw. These all are the symptoms of winter season mentioned in the poem that shows the arrival of winter season. All people used to sit around the fire-place and the sounds of the roasted crabs could be heard. They ate and drank to prevent the coldness of winter season. Through all these images, we can notice winter is not pleasant in England.

Rhetorical Strategies in "The Qualities of the Prince (Nicollo Machiavelli)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Aphorism , Literature , Literature Theory , Rhetorical Strategy | Posted on 7:32 PM

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"The Qualities of the Prince" is an extract from "The Prince (1513)" written by a 16th century political scientist, writer, historian and military expert Nicollo Machiavelli. The extract is a practical guide for ruling. This is equally influential today as it was in Machiavelli's time. Like it's message(advice), the text is brilliant in use of rhetorical strategies. Machiavelli, a powerful writer was three rhetorical strategies which I will contend to discuss in following paragraphs.

The first and the most beautiful strategy of Machiavelli is "Announcement of his primary point". In this writing, he usually refers to the historical account to support his idea; then he explains why his idea is the best one by appealing to both common sense and historical experience. For an instance: Machiavelli claims that a prince or any other men expert at military matters can win the state and the state authority. To support this idea, he refers to Francesco Sforza, who became Duke of Milan for being expert in military affairs. Similarly Machiavelli says that the man who busies himself during peace time in physical training and mental gymnastic is likely to win wars. To support this Machiavelli presents historical evidences that Alexander-The Great, Caesar and Scipio were successful in different wars by mind during peace time. In some cases, in which Machiavelli suspects that reader will not share his views whole-heartedly. He suggests an alternate argument and explains why it is wrong. This is a very forceful way of Machiavelli in presenting his ideas. He gives an a presenting his ideas. He gives an appearance of fairness and thoroughness in his presentation.

Another notable rhetorical device Machiavelli applies in his writing is discussion of opposites including both sides of an issue. From the very beginning, he makes number of oppositions, the art of a war and the art of life, generosity and miserliness, liberty and stinginess, the fox and the lion and so on. This method is very simple in itself but is forceful and important because it employs one of the basic techniques of rhetoric- the topic of comparison.

One of the three rhetorical devices Machiavelli uses in " The Qualities of the Prince " is aphorism. The aphorism is a saying which has been accepted as truth. Machiavelli tells us to be feared is much safer than to be loved; any men who tries to do good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Such definite statement has several important qualities. One is that they are pithy- they seem to say a great message in a few words. Another quality is that they appear to contain great deal of wisdom. Machiavelli makes ample use of such statements with certainty and spontaneity that help the audience be convinced in his principles. His statements are so powerful that we accept them readily without being skeptical in his idea.

In a nutshell, Machiavelli's use of language has appearance of truth that is most likely to be accepted by readers because of expert fusion of afore stated three rhetorical devices- Announcement of Primary Point, Discussion of Opposites and The Use of Aphorisms. These rhetorical devices make Machiavelli's expression lucid (clear), plain and spontaneous and convincing as well as reliable and effective.

Rhetorical Strategies in "The Origin of Civil Society (Jean Jacques Rousseau)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature , Literature Theory , Rhetorical Strategy | Posted on 1:18 AM

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"The Origin of Civil Society" is an extract from "The Social Contract (1762)". This extract is as significant in rhetorical strategies as in its message. Rousseau, a man of letters uses wide range of rhetorical devices to make his argument influential and persuasive. Of rhetorical devices analogy, analysis, topic of testimony, interrogation and paradox are most significant.

The most impressive technique Rousseau has used in it's master piece "The Origin of Civil Society" is that of "analogy". Analogy is a comparison between two objects and ideas having similar characteristics and nature. His comparison of family with the state is most remarkable in which Rousseau looks for the similarities between two - such as the children as the people and father as the head of the state. Such analogy is enlightening and easily convincing to the readers.

In addition to that, another key rhetorical device Rousseau has used in the essay is "analysis". Rousseau's analysis is forcible and convincing because it is very much logical. He proposes a statement which seems, on the surface to reassemble: then he analyzes part by part until he proves to the reader that either it is to be accepted or rejected. He is meticulous in the application of logic. In his section "Of Slavery" he proves that slavery is not justifiable and legitimate on any ground, including the widely held ground are the prisoners of war legitimately made into slave because they owe their lives to the winner. Use of such analysis makes Rousseau's argument irrefutable.

In the essay, while Rousseau provide analysis he occasionally stops to provide "definition." He defines the terms and circumstances or the concepts in the simplest possible way so that his intention of expression is easy to catch (understand). It is usually during the process of definition that Rousseau clarifies his point so that truth can be easily identified. This technique is not only simple and effective but also significant and powerful to us (readers) to examine his point of argument.

Another effective and powerful rhetorical device Rousseau brings into use in "The Origin of Civil Society" is the reference to other authorities. In the domain of writing the reference to the other is called "the topic of testimony". In order to present his argument convincingly, Rousseau refers to a few authorities specifically Hugo Grotius who was the Dutch legal authority and thomas Hobbes who was English social philosopher. They are most prominent in the selection and they provide basic points that are indispensable for the argument. The rhetorical device is easy for us to use and highly affective for arguing prepositions.

Similarly, Rousseau's writing is masked with clarity due to the use of "interrogation". In the very first paragraph, he first presents a thesis statement and then puts a question. e.g Man s born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Many a men believes himself to be masters of others who is no less than they, a slave. How did this change take place? I do not know what can make it legitimate? This technique of putting services question and then trying to answer them is quite effective because the clarity of question and answer structure is immediately apparent to readers. Rousseau has a very lawful balance of questions and answer which helps us to understand his point without any confusion but with the highest degree of accuracy and clarity.

The next significant rhetorical device that Rousseau has applied in the text is "paradox". paradox is a rhetorical device that is designed to draw the attentions of readers and to promote serious thought. Rousseau's skill n applying paradox is unique in itself and makes his argument strong. It is so strong that we can not help complaining with Rousseau's seriousness in finding out the reasons. Besides application of paradox is most compelling and appealing for attention as well as reason of readers which sustains considerable degree of attention to the author's argument. This technique help Rousseau make his writing not only effective but also appealing.

Wrapping up, Rousseau most thoughtful and thought provoking essay, "The Origin of Civil Society" is probably one of the best written texts regarding the application of variety of rhetorical tools. The tools are easily noticeable in his writing and has been used so carefully that make the text beautiful in expression and strong in argument. Rousseau can be said a master of rhetorical device who is unrivaled, unequaled by writers of his time.

Sir James Frazer's The Human Scapegoat In Ancient Greece

Posted by anjila | Posted in Culture , Summary | Posted on 6:17 AM

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The Human Scapegoat in Ancient Greece is an extract from "From The Golden Bough(1890)" written by Sir James Frazer(!884-1941). Below is a thorough summary of the text.

Custom of sacrificing scapegoat seem to be originated as precaution of possible calamity, crisis and danger but the scapegoat was likely to come from the poorer class. Modes of sacrificing scapegoat differs from culture to culture. But the underline objective/purpose of sacrificing in every culture is same i.e purification of sin. Other objectives of scapegoating were to prevent calamity, disasters, starvation, suffering, tragedy and so on.

It was believed that scapegoating helped regain the fertility of the soil and vegetation(crops) yielded as expected by husbandsmen. Similarly practitioners of scapegoating believed that their offering of scapegoat would herald (to bring something surprisingly) good fortunes and happiness. Besides, tradition of human scapegoating was widely practiced in different parts of ancient Greece with an aim of averting evil spirit and malignant force. Though rational behind offspring scapegoat cannot be justified, it is deeply rooted in various cultures as an essential part of culture.

Sir Frazer concludes that through scapegoating, it practised with specific mission, ultimately it is nothing but search of power or search of support of super power. He also concludes that tradition of scapegoating shows that there is abundant use of power. It is the fact that the one who is made a scapegoat come from socially outcast group or from powerful class of people. At the same time it is noticeable that powerful ones offered powerless as scapegoat with an expectation of having good fortune and success.

Critical Appreciation - "Dover Beach (Matthew Arnold)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Critical Appreciation , Literature , Poetry | Posted on 11:12 PM

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"Dover Beach" is one of the representative poem of Arnold. He tries to show the lack of faith and certitude in a world which is materially expanding wide. It begins with an objective description of the ebb and flow of the wave in the sea. He recalls Sophocles who used to hear same kind of song tuned into human misery. He comes to the present and says that human misery due to lack of faith has not decreased but increased many-fold.

In the past, the sea of faith had encircled the earth and there was no melancholy, no sadness and no misery. But there is no more sea of faith now. Therefore, the world has become more like dream world and their is neither love nor joy, nor light, nor certitude etc. Everywhere there is confusion, struggles and fights among each other. Man is like a soldier fighting with an unknown enemy in the darkness, without any purpose of fighting. The only compensation in such a situation is "love". So he request his lover to be true to one another.

The poem can be divided into two parts. On the first part he talks of the resounding of waves on the pebbled beach. It is just the background which later leads to real consequence. In the later part he expresses his deep feeling about the real situation in the world that is changing rapidly with the growth of science and technology. The world has changed to be strangely unreal. It has many varieties in it, it has become more beautiful and fresher but it lacks all positive virtues like love, faith, peace, certitude etc.

Critical Appreciation - Lady Clare (Alfred Lord Tennyson)

Posted by anjila | Posted in Critical Appreciation , Literature , Poetry | Posted on 10:16 PM

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"Lady Clare" is a narrative poem that deals with the theme of love. It embodies a dramatic way of precaution where action unfolds through dialogue and characters are recognized through what they say. The dramatic presentation is concerned with the theme of pure and unselfish love. It shows how lovers can rise above social and economic status and are able to remain faithful and honest to each other.

Lord Ronald love Lady Clare and she also love him equally. They were about to get married. She believed that he loved her true worth rather than her birth or land. In the mean time she was informed by an old nurse named Alice that she was not Lady Clare but her own daughter. After the death of the daughter of an old Earl, she placed her daughter in her place. Lady Clare was now sure that Lord Ronald would not marry her. In spite of nurse's advice, she went to Ronald in a dress of typical village girl and told her everything about her origin that she knew from Alice. After Ronald came to know the reality about his beloved, he declared that he would marry her even if she was not his cousin and she was poor.

This poem thus presents face of real love irrespective of social and economic status. Love is something different which has nothing to do with the birth or origin and social status of either partner. It is holy thing that binds two souls in such a way that it is impossible to unbind them.

It is a ballad written in simple language. the dramatic structure of the poem is appropriate to unfold the truth mostly through the dialogue of the characters and their action.

Critical Appreciation of "She Was A Phantom Of Delight (William Wordsworth)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Critical Appreciation , Literature , Poetry | Posted on 9:18 PM

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"She was a Phantom of Delight" is a portrait of William Wordsworth's wife, Mary Hutchinson. He shows how the perception goes on changing from first sight to marriage. It presents a very clear picture of changing perception in different situation and different times. In the first sight he finds her exceptionally beautiful just sent from heaven to delight him. Her presence is monetary but remains in his mind in such a way that he can not help remembering her. In her absence also he is haunted, startled and waylaid by her angelic and delightful image.

The relationship grows stronger and they become nearer to each other and he studies her household motions and every step in family life. She is a perfect woman in family life with the countenance full of sweet promises. She is a moderate woman for the transient sorrows, love, kisses and tears. She is neither too good nor too bad, rather she is practical woman, pleasant companion and a perfect housewife.

Finally she is very intellectual and moral being who is capable of guiding him. She is very conscious in every step of life with the firm reason, temperate will, endurance, foresight. strength and skill. Her quality is like that of the angel of god, all virtuous, to direct and guide him to move forward.

Thus, beginning with a distant view that offers an illusion, he closes up to a more realistic and spiritual view of life. The linear movement from the first sight to her encouraging and inspiring quality shows that he is a perfect woman created by the creator with grand design.

Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer Day (William Shakespeare) - Critical Appreciation

Posted by anjila | Posted in Poetry | Posted on 8:15 AM

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"Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day" is a Shakespearean sonnet that develops one dominant idea. Shakespeare compares a lady with a beautiful summer day in this poem. He finds her beautiful and immortal like his own sonnet. This poem has three quatrains and a couplet. It follows the rhyming pattern abab, cdcd, efef, gg. The poet develops the ideas in the three quatrains and the conclusion of the poem is embedded in a couplet.

The poet compares a lady, probably his beloved, to a summer's day which is all pleasant. The summer's day is lovely and pleasant but she is more than that. The poet also accepts the transience of pleasure and beauty of the natural things and season. The buds of May are not free of wind's touch. Similarly summer's lease is very short.

The sun is sometimes very hot and its golden complexion becomes dim. The beauty of every beautiful thing decreases and is ultimately spoiled naturally or accidentally. But the external summer's beauty he finds in her beauty will never disappear nor will she lose the beauty she has. The death will not be proud of taking her because she has been immortalized in the lines of his verse. She may die physically, but her beauty will remain alive in the lines of verse.

As long as the human race remain on earth and people can read lines of the poems, she will be remembered and will be immortal. Thus, the main concern of the poem is immortalizing beauty through the work of art, especially poem.

To The Moon (P.B. Shelly)

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature , Poetry | Posted on 7:52 AM

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"To The Moon" is very short and interesting poem. It is a one sentenced poem that describes the moon in detail. The moon is the symbol of mother Goddess and it is believed that she imparts the peace and prosperity to the people of the world. But the poet evaluates the moon from different angles. He finds the moon joyless that does not find anything constant on the earth. The moon has her own course and she is always in motion. She is alone in the sky amongst the stars which are not the moons. The moon is changing like the joyless eyes that finds no constant object. Everything in this universe is inconstant and is separate entity. Everyone, though among friends, is alone and wandering here and there and of course is in quest of constancy.

The moon is personified in the poem. He finds that the moon is not energetic but pale due to weariness of climbing up the heaven and looking down the earth continuously. The journey of the moon is endless and it is certain that it is a repetitive journey and there is no progress or forward movement. On the other hand the moon has the pang of being changed continuously. The moon is alone in the sky because the stars are of low origin, nobility and birth. Nothing equals to the moon on the sky. She is noble and elegantly born but she is also not perfect. She is in quest of constancy.

So, presenting the problem of the moon, the poet is telling us that nothing is constant and perfect in itself but is always in process of becoming something different

Summary Of "The Hunter Gracchus (Franz Kafka)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature , Story , Summary | Posted on 6:46 AM

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In the harbour people are busy playing, drinking and selling fruits, etc. A death ship sailed to that place. The boatman anchored that ship with a rope. There was a corpse covered with the colorful silk cloth. No one was interested in that dead body. The boatman showed a great two-storied house on the left of the sea and they took the corpse to the door of that house. A small boy opened the door and they all entered. The door was shut. Flock of doves was delighted to fly around the house as if their food was inside. A woman on the boat gave some grains and the doves ate happily.

A gentleman came to the harbour and looked around gloomily. He knocked at the door. The boys opened the door and they welcomed him warmly. The boatman came there and led him to the first floor. The bearers were setting the candles on the head of the dead body. They lighted the candles but it did not give more light. The corpse looked like a hunter. The gentleman went near the corpse and put his hand on his forehead. he knelt down and started praying. All the bearers were sent out. The dead body opened the eyes suddenly and asked him who he was. The gentleman said that he was Burgomaster of Riva. The dead body said that he was hunter Gracchus. He had fallen down in the Black Forest of Germany long ago when he was hunting there. He had been dead since then. The ship missed the way and they were there. He struggled to climb the steps up to go to the heaven but all in vain. When he reached the door of the other world, he was awakened by the light and found himself on the boat. The wife of the boatman offered him the same wine. He stayed there on the wooden bed covered with a dirty shroud. His beard and hair were tied together. He heard the water hitting his ship.

The terrible fete came after his death. he was brought to a wrong place. He had performed his duty of hunter responsively before his death. It was not a fault, not a sin. No one helped him. The thought of helping him became a kind of illness that had to be cured by taking to bed. Therefore he did not ask for help in the end. Burgomaster asked him how he would stay with them in Riva. He answered that he knew nothing. The ship had last rudder and it was driven by the wind that blew in the undermost region of death.

Summary- "The Use Of Force (William Carlos Williams)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature , Story , Summary | Posted on 6:17 AM

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There was no patient to doctor except Olson, who had asked him to visit his sick daughter to treat her. When he reached the patient's house, the sick child's mother welcomed him to the kitchen where the sick child was on the lap of her father. The father tried to get up to greet the doctor, who let him sit down comfortably. The doctor took of his overcoat and looked around. The parents looked at him distrustfully.

The sick child looked at the doctor with her eyes wide open to show her protest but did not move at all. She was an attractive and strong child. Now she was breathing rapidly. The doctor knew that she had high fever for three days. There were many sick persons around. The doctor asked if she had a sore throat. The parents replied together that she had not. There were many students suffering from diphtheria in her school. He called her to open her mouth to inspect her but she did not obey him. The mother assured that he would not hurt her. The doctor however, did not like the mother's expression. The sick child nearly clawed the doctor's eyes. His glasses dropped to the kitchen floor, Mathilda's parents were ashamed. They spoke the words of apology. The mother shook the sick child by her arm. The doctor now broke in. He said that he was to examine her throat anyway. Therefore, either the child had to open her mouth or he would have to open it for her.

She did not move at all. She began to breathe faster. Then the fight began. The doctor said that if the parents took the responsibility, he would not examine her throat. The father then tried his best to open her mouth but could not do it. The doctor told her to put her in his lap and hold her wrists. Then the child began to scream. She said that they were killing her. The doctor grasped the child's head with his left hand and pressed the instrument between her teeth. He tried his best to examine the throat but he could not. The child broke his instrument instead. The doctor then asked for some kind of spoon to open her mouth, which was already bleeding. Her tongue was cut so she shrieked hysterically. The doctor was also furious. He could have torn the child apart. but he had social duty to perform. He had to protect that child. Therefore, he finally used his force to examine the throat. He discovered that she had a sore throat for three days and struggling hard to keep her secret. Now she was truly furious and began to attack. She had only been defensive before. She tried to get off her father's lap and fly at the doctor while her eyes were full of tears of defeat.

Summary- "To Bobolink, For Her Spirit(William Inge)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature , Story , Summary | Posted on 5:36 AM

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To Bobolink , for Her Spirit presents the real picture of the deeds and dedication of the autograph seekers in American city, New York. In America and abroad also young people especially the fan of movie stars have set a tradition. They spend a lot of time waiting for their favourite movie stars outside the club, restaurant or pub house etc. They gather at the clubs and discuss about the individuals life and career of the movie stars. This play focuses on how some young people spend their time waiting on the movie stars. How do they undergo the extreme hardship watching and waiting at entrances of clubs and restaurants.

The play is about the group of old and young admirer of film stars. Bobolink and Nellie are experienced and senior autograph collectors. Other two boys Renaldo and Frits, and a pairs of girls Gretchen and Annemarie are quite young and inexperienced. They are waiting for Perry Como outside the gate of 21 clubs. The play presents their futile attempt of autograph hunters.

Bobolink and Nellie have collected a good deal of autographs while others are just learning the art. Young group cannot distinguish the film stars from common people and just go asking for their autograph. They have classified the autograph seekers into two categories, stuck up and not stuck up. They have the opinion that the great actors and actresses like Lana Turner, Tyrone Power etc. etc. are not stuck up. Renaldo and Frits approached two couples suspecting them to be the same movie stars but Bobolink and Nellie maintained their dignity. Bobolink declared that she had no time to waste for anybody who might be famous in future. Till the end of the play they are waiting for their celebrity.

Appropriate references to people and places in the dialogue and stage directions serve to create the atmosphere of glamour which fascinates the young people. In spite of the domination of the senior, the junior's hope and enthusiasms are irrepressible. They remind us that we should have devotion and belief in our work. Every person in every society has the object of admiration. An athelete, a guru, a leader, etc may provoke our intense admiration. Identifying ourselves with him enables us to fulfill our wish through a kind of day dream. The only difference is that some people are able to give due importance to our responsibilities despite such vain dreams.

John Milton

Posted by anjila | Posted in Biography , Literature | Posted on 1:30 AM

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John Milton is ranked very high in the history of English literature. He was man of having pure life. He is the second great poet after Shakespeare. He was a great learned man. He was also a heavy reader. Due to his heavy study, he his eye sight completely. To prove this, one of his note books contains pieces of writing taken from 80 famous writers- Greek, Latin, English, French, Italian, etc. At the same time, he was studying music.

Milton's work are basically divided into three parts. Firstly, he wrote his short poems such as L'Allegro (the happy man), IL Penseroso (the thoughtful man) . They are his political autobiography and other beautiful poems are Comus, Arcades, Lycidas(long pastoral elegy on death of a college friend). Secondly, he wrote mainly prose. Milton's prose works are bascically concerned with church's affairs, divorce and freedom. So they are not so interesting. Areopagitica is one such prose works of Milton. It is a speech for liberty of unlicensed printing (page 55). It deals with Milton's sincere belief in the importance of freedom of writing and the speech.

Lastly he wrote great poems: Paradise Lost, an epic in 12 books on the fall of man. It is great book of his life. It can be compared with almost all great epics of the classical and post classical. It contains hundreds of remarkable thoughts put into musical verse. Paradise Lost covers the whole universe including heaven and hell.

His another poem is Paradise Regained. It is a miniature epic in four books on the redemption(freedom) through Christ and his Samson Agonistes is a tragedy on the Greek model on the biblical episode. It describes Sampson's soul. In this way John Milton contributed too much in the field of literature. He is unique and great literary figure. He completely dedicated his life to encrich English literature by producing great works.

Literal Comprehension Of The Brave Little Parrot (Martin)

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literal Comprehension , Story | Posted on 1:43 AM

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Once upon a time the lord Buddha was born as a little parrot. Unfortunately, the forest , in which he used to live was caught by a horrifying fire, Creatures of that forest found their lives in danger. They were trapped in the burning fire. But the little Parrot escaped from the forest and went to the direction of a river. As the matter of fact he was very sympathetic with the fellow creatures that were unable to escape. All of a sudden he thought of going to river and bringing water to put out the blazing fire. After all he constantly kept on going to the river and bringing about some drops of water on his wings. In course of time, he himself got injured. However, his attempt was constant. At that time, some of the devas (gods) were floating overhead in their clouds place of ivory and gold. They happened to look down. And they saw the little Parrot flying among the flames. They started laughing at the meaningless efforts of the little Parrot. But one of those gods turned into a golden eagle and went to the little Parrot. He suggested him not to make such insignificant attempts because his own life could be lost. The Parrot grew angry and replied that he didn't need suggestion rather he wanted some sort of corporation. The golden eagle got ready to help him so he began to weep. Stream after stream of sparkling tears poured from his eyes. Wave upon wave, they washed down like cooling rain upon the fire, upon the forest, upon the animals and upon the little parrot himself. Finally the lives of those suffered animals and birds were restored and peace and happiness was established. All of them rejoiced and the Parrot got the colorful feathers.

Literal Comprehension Of If Not Higher (I.L Peretz)

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literal Comprehension | Posted on 1:12 AM

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During the penitential prayers, the Rabbi, a religious mentor, disappears from the public sight. All the Jews guess that he might have gone up in the heaven. When he is noticed with the other gurus during the holy prayers, he seems very busy with the arrangements for good care and food for all those attending prayers.

Once, during the holy prayers, one of the Litvaks laughs away the existing opinions on the cause of the Rabbi missing away in public and declares that the Rabbi is not be able to ascend the heaven before his death. One day, as being very curious about the Rabbi's whereabouts, the Litvak tries to track down the places where Rabbi stays on the Friday morning. The Litvak walk quietly into the Rabbi's room and hides himself under the bed. The Litvak passes the night sleepless and keeps awake till the next morning. As soon as it is morning, he hears the Rabbi complaining for an hour about the Israelite's sorrows and miseries. Kept unseen from the notice of the Rabbi, the Litvak sees the latter leaving the house with an axe held in hand and leading to jungle. There, the Rabbi is seen cutting down a tree and making a bundle of the logs. With the bundle of wood, the Rabbi moves into the house of a sick old woman of the Jewish race and tries to persuade her to buy logs. As the poor lady denies to buy the logs for having no money with her, the Rabbi assures her of God's help and urges her to buy the wood on credit. When the woman agrees to follow his words, the Rabbi senses out her actual situation and does the job himself in the shabby and ill-furnished room of the woman. The Litvak is deeply impressed by the Rabbi's commitment to help out the poor woman and decide to be his true follower. After all the Litvak declares that it is not other but the Rabbi, himself, who deserves to attain a secure place if not higher than the heaven.

Learning Other's Culture Through Literature

Posted by anjila | Posted in Culture , Literature | Posted on 6:11 PM

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Literature can help learners to develop their understanding of other cultures, awareness of 'difference' and to develop the tolerance and understanding. At the same time literary texts can deal with universal themes such as love, war and loss that are not always covered in the sanitized world of coursebooks.

Exposure to multicultural literature can help all of us to understand that there are many different ways to live and many different views on what is important on our lives. While reading about characters from a culture other than our own, we learn that often cultures have more similarities than differences. They are exposed to human themes such as honesty, justice, and love for family that go beyond culture. Such exposure can contribute to greater understanding of our own culture as well as the cultures of others in our country and around the world. Literature is the mirror of the society. It studies human nature. We see human nature through tragedy and romance, joy and sorrow, in acceptance and denial, and in moments of heroism and in moment of fear.

Next literature from other cultures offers teachers and students a powerful resource for learning. Although it can be difficult to locate foreign literature, the benefits of using these books are significant. Foreign literature can open up the world to native readers, creating new understanding and appreciation for other cultures. This literature is also a natural way to teach across curriculum, connecting good literature to history, geography, politics, or science. Moreover, foreign literature is often demanding to read, appealing to other adolescents for whom much of literature may not be challenging enough. The field of literature is enriched by works from other countries.

The Different Kinds Of Poetry

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory , Poetry | Posted on 12:31 AM

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Pastoral: This kind of poetry deals with anything that concerns the life of shepherds, herdsmen, and husbandmen. Such poems are usually in the form of a dialogue or a monologue. e.g Spenser's Shepherd's Calender (A.D. 1552-1599)
Descriptive: This kind of poetry describes the seasons of the year, scenes of historical interest, cities, places, countries, etc., and gives expression to the thoughts suggested by the various scenes and objects as they arise. Descriptive poetry doesn't usually narrate events. If narrative is sometimes introduced, this is done by way of episode or for the sake of variety. e.g.Goldsmith's Traveler and Deserted Village(1563-1631)
Narrative: In this(as the name implies) narrative is the chief aim, and the description is merely subsidiary. Poems of this character may be roughly classified under three headings.
- Epic or Heroic: dealing with one great complex action, in lofty style, and in fullness of detail. e.g. Paradise Lost by Milton(1608-1674)
- Romance, Legend or Tale: a lighter and shorter kind of narrative poetry than the Epic. e.g. Coleridge's Ancient Mariner ( 1772-1834)
- Ballads: This is the lightest and shortest form of narrative poetry. It deals with short anecdotes, local legends, etc., and tells them in the simplest language and in a light metre. e.g. Wordsworth's Lyrical Ballads(1770-1850)
Reflective: Poems of this character may be roughly classified into two headings.
- Longer Poem: e.g Young's Night Thoughts(1684-1765)
- Elegiac poems: always of a serious, and frequently of a plaintive character. e.g Shelly's Adonais(1792-1822)
Dramatic: the poetry of the stage. Under the head of dramatic we must include poems which have been written in form of drama, but were not intended to be acted. e.g. Shakespeare's Plays, subdivided into Tragedies, Comedies, and Histories(1564-1616)
Lyrical: Short poems written in a rapid and irregular metre, fit to be sung or recited. Such poems are often called odes. They are of much higher order than "ballads," and may be either descriptive or narrative. E.g. Gray's The Bard
Didactic: Instructions given in verse. e.g. Somerville's Chace (1692-1742)
Satire: Censures the faults of individual or communities. The style may be jocose or serious. Butler's Hubidras(1612-1680)

Subject Reader Response Theory

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 1:55 AM

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This theory argues that there is no literary text beyond the meanings created by the reader's interpretation. To put in other words, the text which the critic analyzes is not the literary work but the written response of the readers. To understand how there is no literary text beyond the meanings created by readers' interpretations; we need to understand the concept of David Bleich and how he defines the literary text. Like many other reader- response critics, he differentiates between real objects and symbolic objects.

Real objects are physical objects such as tables, chairs, cars, books and the like.

The experience created when someone reads the printed passage of the text like language itself is symbolic object as it occurs not in physical world but in the conceptual world(in the mind of readers). This is why Bleich calls reading - the feelings, associations, and memories that occur as we react subjectively to the printed words on the page i.e. symbolization. Our perception and reading experience create a symbolic world in our mind as we read, so, when we interpret the meaning of the text, we are actually interpreting the meaning of our symbolization. If we are interpreting the meaning of our own conceptual experience, it is an act of interpretation of re-symbolization. Re-symbolization occurs when our experience of the text produces in us a desire for explanation. Our evaluation of the text's quality is also an act of re-symbolization. Actually, we don't like or dislike a text; rather we like or dislike our symbolization of it. Hence, the text we talk about is not really a text on the page: it is the text in our mind.

The Method Of Deconstructionism In A Text

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 1:16 AM

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Deconstructionism a text is similar to breaking a house to see what mistakes were made in its building. When a reader deconstructs a text he is examining it for prejudice and bias that the author might have used for purpose of control. For example, a deconstructionist reading the declaration of Independence would note that the phrase "all men are created equal" excludes women, and while it talks of freedom, it was written by a white male slave- owner. Sexism and slavery contradict the language of liberty. The Deconstructionists look for deception or bad faith, which might be consciously or unconsciously (the Freudian element) motivating a particular author/artist/politician. Note also, that what is absent (gender or ethnic group) from a text may appear large in a deconstructionist interpretation of a text. They refer to this as "the presence of absence"

The task of Deconstructionists, therefore, is to discover contradictions, to show the hidden and suppressed meanings that inhere in a text, whether it is a literary work, or a social institution. Since the official meaning of a discourse is determined by those "in power," Postmodern critics "deconstruct those meanings" to discover what is hidden or suppressed in a text, thereby dishonoring the establishment which stands behind the text and gaining the "right" to overthrow its authority.

The ultimate aim of an interpretation is to construct a meaning that accounts for one's own experience or that of a group. For example, a revisionist historian might write a history of Columbus' discovery of the New World which might benefit those who were oppressed by the white Europeans. Just as we have "spin doctors" in politics and the news media, we have "spin scholarship."

Structuralism And Literature

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 12:33 AM

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In literary theory, structuralism is an approach to analyzing the narrative material by examining the underlying invariant structure, which is based on linguistic sign system of Ferdinand de Saussure. The structuralists claim that there must be a structure in every text, which explains why it is easier for experienced readers than for non-experienced readers to interpret a text. Hence, they say that everything that is written seems to be governed by specific rules, a "grammar of literature", that one learns in educational institutions and that are to be revealed. For example, a literary critic applying a structuralist literary theory might say that the authors of West Side Story did not write anything "really" new, because their work has the same structure as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In both texts a girl and a boy fall in love(a "formula" with a symbolic operator between them would be "Boy + Girl") despite the fact that they belong to two groups tat hate each other ("Boy's Group - Girl's Group" or "Opposing forces") and conflict is resolved by their death.

The versatility of structuralism is such that a literary critic could make the same claim about a story of two friendly families (""Boy's Family + Girl's Family) that arrange a marriage between their children despite the fact that the children hate each other ("Boy - Girl") and then the children commit suicide to escape the arranged marriage; the justification is that the second story's structure is an 'inversion' of the first story's structure: the relationship between the values of love and the two pairs of parties involved have reversed.

Structuralist literary criticism argues that the "novelty (new) value of a literary text" can lie only in new structure, rather than in the specifics of character development and voice in which that structure is expressed. One branch of literary structuralism, like Freudianism, Marxism, and transformational grammar, posits both deep and surface structure. In Freudianism and Marxism the deep structure is a story, in Freud's case the battle, ultimately, between the life and death instincts, and in Marx, the conflict between classes that are rooted in the economic base.

Queer Theory

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 11:54 PM

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The word "queer" in queer theory has some of these connotations, particularly its alignments with ideas about homosexuality. Queer Theory is brand new branch of study or theoretical speculation; it has only been named as an area since about 1991. Queer Theory emerges from gay/lesbian' studies attention to the social construction of categories of normative and sexual behavior. But while gay/ lesbian studies, as the name implies, focused largely on questions of homosexuality, queer theory expands its realm of investigation. Queer theory looks at, and studies, and has a political critique of, anything that falls into normative and deviant categories, particularly sexual activities and identities. The word "queer", as it appears in the dictionary, has a primary meaning of "odd", "peculiar", "out of ordinary."

Queer Theory concerns itself with any and all forms of sexuality that are "queer" in this sense- and then, by extension, with the normative behaviors and identities which define what is "queer"(by being their binary opposites). Thus queer theory expands the scope of it's analysis to all kinds of behaviors, including those which are gender-bending as well as those which involve "queer" non-formative forms of sexuality. Queer theory insists that all sexual behaviours, all concepts linking sexual behaviours to sexual identities, and all categories of normative and deviant sexualities, are social constructs sets of signifier which create certain type of social meaning. Queer theory follows feminist theory and gay/lesbian studies in the idea that sexuality is an essentialist category , something determined by biology or judged by eternal standards of morality and truth. For queer theorists, sexuality is a complex group of social codes and forces, forms of individual activity and institutional power, which interact to shape the ideas of what is normative and what is deviant at any particular moment, and which then operate under the rubric of what is "natural", "essential", "biological", or"god-given".

Figurative Language

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 11:24 PM

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There are for types of Figurative Language. They are:

Image:
Image is a word or words that refer to an object perceived by the senses such as color, shape, sound, taste, smell, texture, etc. When it is seen by the eye(usually) it is called an image.
e.g. Red flag is an image of anger.

There is always a literal and emotive meaning behind an image.
e.g. Cloud(image): It's literal meaning illustrates that it is a cloudy day whereas it's emotive meaning expresses that sadness is approaching.
Symbol:
Where image comes repeatedly in a text it becomes a symbol. Just like image, even symbols have literal and emotive meaning.
e.g. Spring and Autumn: Literal Meaning- Seasons
Emotive Meaning- Spring reflects birth or rebirth.
Autumn reflects process of dying.
Symbol is similar to abstract idea it stands for. Sometimes symbol can be private. In such case only author understands what symbol he/she is using. However, Symbol should match with theme. While analyzing a text we should see if the formal elements enhance the theme no matter even if its a private symbol. Authorial intention is not a concern in this matter.
Metaphor:
Unlike image and symbol, metaphor only has figurative meaning. Metaphor is direct comparison between two dissimilar objects.
e.g. My love is a rose.
Literal meaning: I am deeply is love with a flower.
Emotive/ Figurative Meaning: My love share some qualities with rose.
Simile:
Simile is a comparison of two dissimilar objects using words such as "like"and "as"
e.g. My love is as beautiful as a rose.
My brother is like a gem

Note: Simile is rather softer than metaphor because in metaphor comparison is direct whereas in simile, the comparison is done by using words like "like" and "as".

Four Linguistic Devices

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 10:44 PM

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The four types of linguistic devices are:

Paradox:
It is a self contradictory statement whose underlying meaning is revealed by careful scrutiny (deep analysis). It seems absurd surfacially but makes good sense.
For e.g
- One must lose one's life to go to heaven.
  It's meaning is: By giving up materialistic life you will gain something better. After losing materialistic life we will gain actual spiritual life.
- You don't know what you've got till it's gone(everyday language)
  It's meaning is: The value of things is only realized only when we lose it
New Critics noticed that paradox is highly used to define spiritual and psychological realities of life which are paradoxical in nature itself. So they are responsible in bringing complexity which is portrait in literature.
Irony:
In this linguistic device, real intent is concealed or contradicted by literal meaning of words or situations. It reveals flaws indirectly which is usually tragic in nature unlike satires which is humorous even though it point out the flaws. Irony hides the actual case not in order to deceive but to achieve special artistic affects. There are two types of irony

a) Verbal Irony:
Verbal Irony is the statement in which the meaning that the speaker implies differs shortly from the meaning that is expressed. It arises from an awareness of contrast between "what is" and "what ought to be."

b) Dramatic Irony:
Dramatic Irony involves in a play which the audience or reader share the awareness of fate store for the characters they do not suspect. The result if Irony is a complexity of meaning.
Ambiguity:
Ambiguity is the us of single word or expression to signify two or more diverse attitude or feelings. It is produced when a word image or event generates two or more different meanings.
e.g. In Toni Morrison's "Beloved" there is an image of tree produced by a scar on Sethe's back refer to suffering, endurance and renewal.

In scientific and everyday language, ambiguity is considered to be a flaw/ error/ mistake. But in literary language, ambiguity is source of richness, depth and complexity that enhance the value of the text.
Tension:
Tension is a device that creates complexity where opposites like concrete and abstract are linked to bring forth specific images.
e.g
Abstract: Peace
Concrete: White flag, Dove
Such concrete universals where images and characters are meaningful both at physical and symbolic level are forms of tension. Interplay between paradox, irony and ambiguity bring forth tension.

Creativity In Language

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 7:25 PM

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Recent experiments with chimpanzees suggests that certain animals cannot only learn individual symbols(in this case manual rather than vocal signs), but can also learn to combine them in ways reminiscent of sentences like Give me key. However, as far as we know, they cannot do certain things that all human beings can- they do not appear to be able to learn sign language without specific instruction, they cannot, on the basis of small number of elements and relations between them, create an infinite number of messages.

When linguists speak of the"creativity" of human language they are usually referring to these two characteristics. Anyone who knows a language is able, without specific instruction, to produce and understand utterances which have been heard before but which are possible within the system. You are using this ability wight now to read this blog, and you rely on it nearly every time you talk. Certainly, language does not include some fixed routines like greetings, farewells, and a wide variety of other relatively fixed utterances which function in society as gestures of group solidarity somewhat like mutual grooming of monkeys. But obviously human beings are not limited to such routines. The number of sentences possible in a human language is infinite in principle, for there is no limit on how long a sentence can be.

The creativity of language consists in this fact: The number of rules and elements in the system is finite, while the number and length of utterances the system can produce is infinite. In this respect, linguistic systems are somewhat like the number system. Given any number, one can always construct a larger number by addition or multiplication. In practice we are limited, of course, by space, time, memory, interest and many different factors, so that no actual sentence will ever be infinitely long. But what is important is that system has this potential.

Symbols In Language

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 6:47 PM

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We know that language is symbolic. What exactly does it mean? First of all, it means that language involves sign. In language, the signs are sequences of sound, though these can be transferred to visual signs, as in writing or the gestural sign language of the deaf. According to one theory,the relationship between and object, whether real or imaginary, and the sign which stands for it can be of three types. If two are associated by a physical resemblance, like an object or photograph of it, the sign is called an icon. If the relation is one of the physical proximity, as between smoke and fire, thunder and lightening, spots and measles, then the sign(smoke, thunder, spots) is called an index. If the relationship is one of convention, that is, one has to be learned as part of the culture, like the relationship between black armband and mourning, then the sign is called a symbol.

No one knows how the symbolic linguistic code of humans came into being. Some have argued that the origin of language lies in onomatopoeia, that the people began talking by creating iconic signs to imitate the sounds heard around them in nature. This theory, sometimes called the bow-bow theory, is unlikely to be right, because language in fact makes very little use of iconic words.(Bow-wow itself is conventional. In French, dogs bark with oua-oua, pronounced "wa-wa.") Another theory is that language was originally indexical, arising out of cries of fear, pleasure, and so forth. This theory leaves signs came to be. We do not know that at this point in our biological history our ability to use symbols and learn language is genetically built in, an innate capacity of the human brain. But we know practically nothing about language over ten millennium ago, and very little indeed about language over five millennium ago. That is a tiny fraction of the biological history of man, and until we know far more about the neurophysiological aspects of language, we can only speculate about the origins of signs as symbols.

Literal Comprehension Of 'The Library Card(Richard Wright)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literal Comprehension | Posted on 6:52 PM

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Richard Wright was only nineteen years old. One day in the bank lobby while he was standing beside a desk, he saw a White man was badly criticized in a magazine. He was called a "fool". Wright wondered why this White man, H.L Mencken, was badly scorned by another white man. Curiosity drove him to read about Mencken and his writings. According to him, Negroes were allowed to use only the parks and playgrounds, but never a public library. As a matter of fact, an idea led him to take help from Mr. Falk, an Irish Catholic, often condemned for being his less biased about the Blacks. When he contacted, Mr.Falk advised the speaker to keep his aim secret from other Whites. Thus he secured a card. He wrote a note and made false signature. He went to the library. He overcame the librarian's suspicion. She gave him two books which inspired him to read further other books. He kept on reading one after another. Every book developed his thinking power about the life of the Negroes in the land of the White, He was immensely in agony. He say prejudices prevalent against the Negroes in the North America. He was able to tolerate the hunger but the vice against the black people was intolerable. Since the number of the Negroes was too thin in the South, he thought that it was not possible to organize Blacks ti struggle against the Whites. Open fighting would be equal to committing a suicide. He believed that in no ground educated Negro could be less competent than any White for his black color. Ultimately he decided he would live there and write against injustice, inhumanity, cruelty, prejudices, apartheid and much other social discrimination.

Critical Thinking on "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!(Feynman & Leighton)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Critical Thinking | Posted on 2:44 AM

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Though the title seems funny, there is a serious message to give to the reader that in spite of confronting so many odds at Princeton, he learned a great deal about interrelated subjects of pure science. While detailing the episodes of the ways he was embarrassed by the management of the school, he feels as if he were joking not with others but with himself. Despite doing so many types scientific researches, he showed no interest in verifying even some of the tests of spiritual belief while at the school.

Like Salman Rushdie, Mr. Feynman too does not show any direct concern with the conventional philosophy of religion persuading man kind to be divided into different sects, races and nationalities. To Feynman, education is ever good if its result or purpose serves the needs of broad humanity, as done by their contributions to make man capable of showing his potential to benefit mankind and safeguard humanity against any natural calamity. Maybe, if a scientist or learned man is tagged with a bias of sex, religion or nationality, his vision is restricted and would not do any service to broad human race. Since the passage is from scientific pen, it has given space for many technical terms used in physics, biology and biochemistry. So unless the student taps the Internet, latest encyclopedias, dictionaries and concerned experts, he would find the discourse very difficult to understand.
And man can never be sure about what happens to him in a fraction of a money. In many cases, people makes gains from things they have never hoped and face losses from things they have long expected. Studying science alone is not enough to understand the miracles of life. It should be coupled with the study of spiritualism.

Interpretation Of "A 1996 Commencement Speech(Salman Rushdie)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Intrepretation | Posted on 2:14 AM

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The content of the talk sparks from Salman's ideas evoked by his experiences with most of Cambridge managerial staffs, working system, arrangement for graduation ceremony and flaws in the sexual conduct and revengeful acts of the deities and his sense of great wonder at finding his name in a paper as a substitute for Miss Piggy for the 1996 commencement speech to the graduates of Southampton University on Long Island. It was only on the speakers' desire, his first American friend, the former editor for Alfred Knopf- a New York Publishing House, founded by Alfred A. Knopf in 1915, informed him that Kermit the Frog was not but Miss Piggy or even Pig, the author of "Guide to Life", a popular preacher of the philosophy of twentieth century American life. Miss Figgy, Kermit the Frog was popular American author and also a character in Mr. Jim Henson's The Muppet or Puppet TV presentation.

Before Mr. Salman joined the Cambridge University, he did not now even the least of the official procedures of its graduation ceremony. Further, at the hint of an American friend, he is reminded of the episode of how a past university batch was to go on a sit- in at the gate for a protest against Jeanne Kilpatrick, a democrat turned republican, nominated to give a Graduation address. The speaker's graduation speech reveals that he has no respect for conventional wisdom and practice of offering the degree to the graduate only when he falls on his knees before the Vice-chancellor. Though he did so, he felt too humiliated to bow down before the VC to acquire what he earned on his own efforts. He is depressed here for his inability to fight against the infringement of his individual right by the university authorities. He is so sick of the system that takes the university management as a means of control over human liberty. He is also the believer in organized religion as Feynman or Palacio is.

Salman expresses deep reverence for any person who has done the best in service to broad humanity and appreciates all those men and women who have made this world a beautiful place to live amidst mutual affinity. Also, he honors human strength to make and condemns the network of power, the type which compelled him to pay the fine as the scapegoat for the fault of the re decorator to receive the degree from the VC seated in the ceremonial chair quite high above him.

Critical Thinking On "A 1996 Commencement Speech(Salman Rushdie)"

Posted by anjila | Posted in Critical Thinking | Posted on 1:27 AM

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There are few contradictions in between what young Salmon thought about preservation of his liberty and the manner he compromised with the disgusting Cambridge principles while obtaining the degree with his body down at the knees below the Vice-Chancellor who seemed very likely to drop direct over him from the high placed chair. In a sense, he did right by following all of the University principles as the price for making himself eligible to be conferred with a degree. Otherwise, no value system of higher education could be substantiated unless the individuals resigns himself to the established principles handed down as the legacy from the long past in a way of giving credit to those who paved the course for the development of educated culture.

Though Salman surrendered his individual liberty in receiving the degree, he regrets later and feels very sorrowful for being forced to do so and compromise with repulsive Cambridge traditions and show passivity before gods and the university authorities. In this light, any type of defiance is a counter to the established value system followed as a legacy for ages to achieve the educational goal. So, if no respect is shown for academic formalities established ion the past, that would prove to be a great weakness and result merely in causing social chaos and endangering base of human culture honoring the seniors and being safeguarded by seniors and authorities.

Salman reacts negatively even about the things he did to serve his purpose but addresses the audience not to and says nothing about the duties to be fulfilled by the degree earners. He should fully know that no human right can be ensured or practiced without fulfilling the corresponding duties in a way as expressing "thanks" to those who show favour to the other. Of course, this practice doesn't prevail among the beasts always centred for the fulfillment of personal needs. And we know education flourishes only through the practice of mutual care and respect. Keeping the same in mind, the teachers teach and the scholars guide those who come to be guided or instructed.

Salman details largely about pros and cons of Cambridge University from where he graduated but ignores almost to highlight the academic greatness of Southampton University. He simply shows his indebtedness to the University for honoring him with an opportunity to give 96th Commencement Speech and extends gratitude to the President of the Bard, who offered him a position of teaching in the Department of English even during the crucial moments of his life.

To the rationalists and the scientific men, religion is moral code of conduct. They want it to be applied by all men and women for mutual welfare,, trust, and happiness. So, they are against the purpose of 'organized religion' characterized these days by blind faith and as means for the power mongers to exploit the ignorant and exert the power over those who are powerless for the fulfillment of their false-ego. Maybe holding for similar ideas , Salman was declared as an atheist and condemned to death by Mullahs as Thomas Becket and Martin Luther King for their fair attempt to stand up against religious repression. So, as the educationists with free mind, Mr. Feynman, Riva Palatino or Rushdie would not show regard for distorted conventional wisdom and for 'organized religion' characterized now by blind faith, irrational beliefs, power grabs, ulterior motives of greedy ministers, a lack of love and no personal respect.

Intrepretation Of "The Good Example" by Riva Palacio

Posted by anjila | Posted in Intrepretation | Posted on 12:28 AM

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Text's Name: The Good Example

Author: Riva Palacio

The message of the author is justified by the title, itself. The setting of the story is pure nature and the details of environment effectively reflects the taste of Don possessed with a virtues of good teacher. All that Don holds is expected in every teacher if dedicated to his hob. His nature becomes so hospitable that even the students and the pets follow a the parrot does in the story. For his noble qualities and full commitment to his regular duties, Don was quoted far and wide in the village. In the villager's eye, Don Lucas was a true follower of the course of action, who cares nothing as the return from the students from his efforts to teach them. So, Don was quoted as a good model of teaching community and as veritable martyr.

Don as a good example of teaching cared for the student's needs as he did for his own. So he encouraged Perico, the parrot to share with his regular refreshment. Similarly, the parrot should be appreciated for acquiring the good qualities of good company or of all those around. Even babbling with Don Lucas as a friend and listening to the pupils singing in chorus at the school, the parrot learned alphabets, words syllables exactly as pronounced by the school children. The tale shows that a teacher is a best source for the pupils to learn the best about the good principles and conduct of life. This is shown in the industry by passion of the parrot for imitating and paving the path of Don to teach his neighbours as taught to himself to chant Ba, Da, ...Ge, Je, etc even in far distance from the master.

Despite all these, the story is tilted towards throwing a satire on education system based on memory that of Mexico in the 19th century. The writer is much convinced if the learning process is as such then the school can be opened and run by the other creatures as well. To exemplify the very statement, he has intentionally brought about the case of Perico pet tamed by Don Lucas. To mug up something is terrible monotonous and boring. Repetition of something to set in our mind indeed kills our creative power and intuition. education is not something we should gain out of memorizing. Rather it should be assimilated and implemented into our practical affairs by understanding. It is a satire in the sense that education system of Mexico in 19th century was not inclined towards encouraging students towards comprehension and promoting their creative aspect. Rather it was forcible and tiring process which the writer did not prefer. That is why he attacked it in a mild and literary way.

Literary Comprehension of Yudhisthira's Wisdom

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literal Comprehension | Posted on 11:37 PM

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One dry day, the Pandava brothers walked off miles from their shed in search of a deer. After walking miles, every of the five brothers grew tired and too thirsty. But there was no trace of water near by. Shahadeva, the youngest brother, went away for water on the command of the eldest brother, but Shahadeva did not return on expected time. Yudhisthira sent Nakula to bring report of cause of Shahadeva's delay to return with water. But he too did not come back sooner as expected. Neither did Bhima and Arjun respectively, as they left the eldest brother on his will to fetch out the two brothers already delayed to return. Finding none of his brothers as back as yet, Yudhisthira grew impatient and moved-off tracking their footsteps. After walking away some distance, he reached a lake by an open, green field. But suddenly while discovering four of his younger brother's lying all cold, either as unconscious or dead near the lake, he was shock-stricken.

As Yudhisthira did not know what to do with, he simply began to sob bitterly for long on the bank later, for being much thirstier, as he dragged himself to the edge of the water with head down for a drink, he happened to hear Yaksha's voice warning him to drink water only after showing his full ability to answer the question, Yushisthira said even the earth is not more respectful than the mother for an individual. Again, one should give up his self pride to be respected by the following beings. Further he added that only the person who loses desires can really be rich. Similarly having all his questions answered correctly Yaksha got satisfied with Yudhisthira and as a reward he wanted to restore the life of any one of Yudhisthira's brothers. Instantly Yudhisthira wished to have Nakula's life back. Yaksha was greatly surprised and asked him the reason for his unexpected wish to have Nakula's life restored instead of his own brothers. He justified the cause saying it would be morally unjust for Nakula and Shahadeva were the brothers from Madri's line. So if their lives were not restored, her lineage would come to end. Hence Yaksha was very pleased. As the conversation was going on in between, there appeared Yama, Yaksha's own heavenly brother who declared that sonce he had come down to help the Pandavas, he would restore the lives of all four younger brothers. More over, Yama assured them of his full protection during the rest of his exile.

Theory Of Time- Plato

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 11:09 PM

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The view of "Plato" is called "Theory Of Time". It includes

True Knowledge
Immortal Soul
Ideal-state
Myth of cave(allegory)

True Knowledge

Plato believed that everything we see around us in world is changeable. So, we can never gain true knowledge from something that changes constantly rather we can only have knowledge of things that can be understood with our reason.

Immortal Soul

Reality is divided into two reasons

World of senses

World of ideas

The world of ideas can provide true knowledge because here we use our reason. And based on this idea, Plato has claimed a man to be a duel creature having a body that is realted with senses and an immortal where the reasons lie.

Myth of Cave(Allegory)

Through myth of cave Plato refers to the journey of philosopher from darkness to light(knowledge). This myth leads to the idea of ideal state or (Utopian State) as elaborated by Plato in "The Republic".

Ideal State

The ideal state of Plato is clearly defined in his work "The Republic" which is somewhat like old Hindu caste systen where everyone is prescibed certain role and function to be performed in the society for the development of whole community like rulers and warriors are not allowed to have family life or private property in Plato's ideal state, rearing children should be responsibility of the state and so on.

It is worth noting that in Plato's ideal state, women could govern just as effectively as men. Since rulers govern by virtue of their reasons and women has exactly the same power of reasoning if they had provided similar traing. Plato, therefore had positive view of women considering the time he lived in.

Literary Language And Organic Unity

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 5:05 AM

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Literary Language is such language which is used by any literary text. It is different from scientific language and everyday language. Scientific Language depends upon denotation(direct meaning) and it doesn't try to be beautiful.

e.g: "father" denote "male parent(dad)",

On the other hand, literary language depends upon connotation, implication, association, suggestion and indirect meaning. It tries to bring out aesthetic beauty through words.

e.g: "father"connotation is authority, power, protection, responsibility.

Everyday language is expressive, connotative which have practical use but Literary Language chooses specific words and arranges it in an order to bring complexity(aesthetic beauty) and thus to create aesthetic experience and world of it's own. The form of literary language consists of specific word choice and arrangement to create aesthetic expression which cannot be separated from the content and meaning (theme) of the text.

Organic Unity is the form and meaning of literary work which is developed together. When a text has an organic unity all the formal elements work together to generate theme/meaning of the whole work. In organic Unity of a work all parts do job together to make an inseparable whole. It is criteria by which New Critics judge the quality of a literary work because when text has an organic unity then all it's general elements work together to bring out its theme or meaning of the work. Organic Unity brings "complexity" that a literary work must have along with "order " that human being seek. Complexity is produced by four linguistic devices- Paradox, Irony, Ambiguity, and Tension.

New Criticism

Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory | Posted on 5:52 PM

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New criticism subjugated literary studies from 1940s to 1960s. Before the birth of New Criticism, Pre-Critical theory was the major tool to examine a literary work. At that time aesthetic beauty and biographical-historical background were considered important to interpret a text which was not enough but as New Criticism emerged text was considered as important factor to be criticized. Previously writer were given more priority but in New Criticism text bore significance.

Some characteristics of New Criticism are:

It governed literary study from 1940 to 1960.
It is not practiced any longer.
It provides a framework for how to handle the text. It teaches about the tools and how to apply it.It is universal to every text.
New Criticism is still important as it provides theoretical framework. It tells us about the devices, metaphor, irony, ambiguity.
It helps us understand other theories that emerged as a reaction against New Criticism (Structuralism, Deconstruction, etc)
New Criticism focused on "text". It searches the evidences in the text through reading.

Definition of text according to New Criticism

In New Criticism, a literary work, text is timeless as it is written only once and can never be changed.
Literary text is autonomous(self-sufficient). When text is written, we can not add or reduce the text after completing it.
Literary text is verbal because when science technology hadn't developed printing system, literature was taken as verbal object.
New Criticism focused mainly on the complex meaning(aesthetic beauty) which is generated from formal elements. Words placed out in a specific order gives out a complex meaning.
New Criticism also focused on poetry. It believes we can't use paraphrasing/translation to establish meaning of the text. To understand a poetry stanza we paraphrase or summarize it but it cannot generate the true meaning of the poem. The complete meaning of the poem can only be explained when we use the formal elements that could generate the actual and true meaning of any text or poem.

English Literature And Theory This blog contains the explanation of various critical theories that provide a new insight to view literature and interpretation of various literary texts.

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