1st Solved Assignment 1426-aiou autumn 2020
Ans:
English as International Language:
English holds an eminent place in most of the Asian countries owing to the traditional relationship maintained with the English-speaking world There are extensive commercial, cultural and other interdependent activities with the United Kingdom and die United States. These results in a favorable attitude towards the language and therefore people Learn it. Tins status has recently been enhanced by die rapid growth of science and technology.
Of all the languages in the world today English deserves to, be regarded as a world language. It is the first language of the United Kingdom, The United States of America, Canada and Australia In addition it is spoken, and^ead by many millions of Europeans, Africans, Chinese, Indians, Japanese South Americans as a second language. It is widely known m India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Ceylon In almost every’ country of the world it is the common means of communication between the people of different nations. One person out of every four on earth can be reached through English Randolph Quirk points out, " There she now like 250 millions of people for whom English is the mother tongue or first language". If we add to this the number of people who have a working knowledge of English as a second language (Many Indians, Africans, Frenchmen, Russians^etc.) the figure becomes 350nulhon.
If we look at the media we find that over 50% of the world's newspapers, over 50% of the world's scientific and technological periodicals and more than 60% of the world's radio stations use English as medium of communication
From die above factor can be easily concluded that English is an international language. English is^intemational language in the sense that it helps in inter linking the people in other countries of the world.
Because of rapier spread of industrial development, science and technology, mteniational trade and commerce and the close interdependence of nations, English has become a world language.
It has already been pointed out that English is one of the major languages of the world The UNO has given English the status of being an official language. hTflie words of F.G. French, "No language ancient or Modem can be compared with English in number of geographical distribution of the homes, factories and offices in which the language is spoken, written or read".
These days every country needs other countries' help in political, social, economical and cultural matters. Therefore English language is die medium for such communication. It would not make sense to shut ourselves from the importance of the English language, which keeps us m constant contact with latest happenmgs in Europe, connected to its culture and other relevant fields. In short we can say that English is the means of global communication.
English is being learnt and used all over the world not out of any imposition but through the realization that it has certain inherent advantages. Today the compulsion of learning English is no longer merely political but scientific and technological. And no longer is English the language of Great Britain only, it is die language required by the world for greater understanding.
Q: 2 What are Poetic devices? Explain in detail any two with referencepoem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost given in your textbook.
Sumamry of the poem:
Robert frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" was first published in 1916. It is one of Frost's most well-know
poems. ’’The Road Not Taken" is set in a rural environment which encourages the speaker toward introspection or self examination.
"The Road Not Taken" is lyrical poem. What is a lyrical poem? Well, it is usually a short poem expressing personal thoughts and feelings. It is meditative. It is spoken by a single speaker who expresses his or her feelings for a person, object, event or idea. Frost is primarily a lyrical poet.
Let us now discuss the literary, poetic devices or figures of speech used the poem. There are plenty of literary devices in this poem to discovered. Frost chooses his sounds, words, structure, and rhyme to represent a more conversational tone. His poem certainly appeals to common man, someone who has to make an important decision at soi point in his life.
MetaphorThe poem has a "metaphor” and that metaphor is the journey through life which is compared to a journey on a road. The speaker of the poem must choose one path instead of another. Although both the paths look equally attractive, the speaker has to decide which one to choose one and his choice may lead to a significant influence on his future.
Imagery:
The poet has also used imagery as a literary device. "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood” (from the first stanza), and ”And both that morning equally lay/in leaves no step had trodden black” create a picture ir the reader's mind.
Q: 3 Read the poem "Metaphor" by Sylvia Plath and discuss the main theme. Is itpossible to have
more than one theme in a poem? Explain.
Ans: Sylvia Plath's "Metaphors" cleverly explains the feelings of a pregnant woman. This poem was written during the year that Plath had her first child. The theme of the poem offers an ironic approach to pregnancy when a woman loses control of her body. The poet questions the entire experience of preparing to become a mother.
Sylvia Plath's You're is all about the mother addressing her unborn child. The whole poem is dedicated to pregnancy - even the title is a contraction of you are - and the form of the poem, two 9 line stanzas, reflects the gestation time of 9 months, despite the fact that the word baby or foetus is never mentioned.
The metaphor begins by giving a hint at the subject of the poem. The nine syllables represent the months that the woman houses her precious cargo. Yet, that is not the message that the poet expresses. Since she is a riddle, the rest of the poem will give hints for the reader to solve the puzzle.
I'm a riddle in nine syllables, an elephant, a ponderous house,
A melon strolling on two tendrils. O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!
Q: 4 The structure of a novel broadly consists of 3 parts. Discuss the Middle, what
is included in its scope and how important is it for the story?
Ans: Structure of a Novel:
Novel is an extended fictional narrative, usually written in prose and is governed by its own rules. The only obligation of the writer or novelist is to make the story interesting. The measure of success of a fiction or novel is how well or poorly the author has unified the story. A novel needs to be a comprehensive unifiel ' the elements of fiction are knitted
story in which all together, one
at a time and if each scene is well
crafted, it will draw the reader to the next. If scenes are unified, each leading logically to the next, and each rev ling a little more about the characters, and each essing toward a satisfactory answer to the story question, the novel will take shape naturally and involve the readers.
The structure of a novel consists of three parts; Beginning, Middle, and End. So let us now try and make you understand what goes into each of these
three parts.
1 - The Beginning:
The beginning:
1-Introduces the characters.
2-Establishes the situation or stroyline.
3-States the conflict.
2) The Middle:
The middle is where most of the action takes place. It is in the middle that the story develops through a series of complications and obstacles. Iljghher words, as the story progresses, there is a rising and falling of tension and an overall rising tension leads to the climax. It should contain the following:
1-Progression of the main storyline of the novel involving the characters who change as a result of these events.
2-Characters continue to develop. Each event must more about the characters, ots of suspense and unexpected twists and turns.
The End:
The end is where the loose ends of the story are finally tied. Tension rapidly dissolves because it is nearly impossible to sustain a reader's interest very long after the climaz. The most exciting events is the climax, which shows the outcomes of the story's conflicts. After the climax, the story usually wraps up quickly It should contain the following:
1-The climax.
2-resolution of all the conflicts.
Q: 5 What is the 'setting of a story'? Discuss the setting of "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte given in your text book.
Ans: Setting:
The setting of a story is the time and location in which
the story takes place. The setting can have an effect on the characters, the actions, and the mood of the story. Sometimes a story unfolds in more than one place within the general setting, such as in two different houses or at home and at school, etc. Setting is the physical description of the place in which the story occurs. Setting includes all of the physical aspects of the story, such as: the time of day the time of year
the geographical location
the climate and weather the historical period
lifestyle, which refers to the daily life of the characters the immediate surroundings of the characters, the characters* clothing, the characters' homes, offices, favourite places, etc.
Setting is just what the place looks like, helping the reader picture where the action takes place. The time period in which a story takes place dictates how the characters act; talk, react to each other, travel during that time period or age, kinds of clothes worn at that time, etc. Writers can bring the setting to life with lots of details and descriptions.
Three Elements of Setting
(i) Place:
Where does the story take place? Place includes
information about the surroundings or environment such as city, country, house, forest, etc.
2-Time:
When does the story take place? Time includes the time of the day; afternoon, evening, the future, century, etc.
3-Environment:
What kind of atmospher were there?
To figure out the setting , you have to read carefully in and descriptions the author gives. For example, historical fiction takes place in a iod in the past. The experiences of the character can help readers understand what it was like to live long ago. Many science fiction and
fantasy novels, on the other hand, take place in
settings that never have really existed. •
Let us tell you an interesting fact. Sometimes a
fictitious setting can be so convincing and realistic that
we-believe it is a real place, an authentic setting and it actually exists. One such example is the setting of Sherlock Holmes stories.
Remember we have told you earlier that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a series of 60 Sherlock Holmes stories published between 1887 and 1927 which made his central character Sherlock Holmes world famous
He created Sherlock Holmes, a fictional character of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in such a wathat it is no more considered as a fictional character
rather a real living character. The writer also created a fictional setting; 221 B Baker Street, London which
has also become a real, authentic setting or place. 22IB Baker Street was the London residence of the famous literary detective between 1881-1904. He lived upper-story flat with his good friend, Dr .atson. The residence was maintained by his landlady, Mrs Hudson. The famous 1st floor study overlooking Baker Street is still faithfully maintained as it was kept in Victorian times.
Q: 6 Write the sketch of your favourite character from literature. Also give reasons for your selection.
Ans: Hamlet:
1) The revenge tragedy drama "Hamlet” has fascinated audiences and readers for centuries "Hamlet” is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. Hamlet-The Prince of Denmark, the title character, and the protagonist of the play is portrayed as a very emotional soul, a daring, brave character who has a bad and violent temper.. ...
About thirty years old at the start of the play, Hamlet is the son of Queen Gertrude and the late King Hamlet, and the nephew of the present king, Clau is father's death was a shock for him and
he could not get over it.
(2) Hamlet is an emotional young man, deeply disillusioned by his mother's marriage to his uncle and full of grief at his father's sudden death. He is so disappointed with life and views it with disgust and displeasure, saying that the world is "weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable... an unweeded garden".
(3) The disclosure by his father's ghost that he was murdered by Claudius worsens Hamlet's distress. The ghost's demand to "revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" and to not let "the royal bed of Denmark become a couch for luxury" thrusts upon
I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape,
And bid me hold my peace."
Hamlet wants to speak to the ghost, even though it might be
a devil instead of his father's spirit.
(4)
Another significant incident that brings out Hamlet's daring character is when he arranges for the players to perform "The Murder of Gonzago"to find out whether
or not the King is guilty of his father s murder. Hamlet's plan is,
"...The play's the thing/Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." _ /
He decides to use the play to test the King's conscience and if the King seems nervous or behaves strangely he will know the truth and will do what the ghost told et revenge. .
amlet also has a bad and violent temper. This is expressed when the meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia goes sour:
"...You jig, you amble, and you lisp; you nickname God's creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance. Go to, I'll no more on't! It hath made me mad."
Here he is upset with Ophelia and insults her and tells her that she names things according to her own fancy and then acts as if she is ignorant. He says that he has had enough of it and this has made him angry. Another
scene where he expresses his anger is immediately after killing Polonius and shouts at his mother:
"Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear, Blasting his wholesome brother.
Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave »fed,
And batten on this moor?
Ha! have you eyes?"
He is telling Gertrude that her new husband is nothing like Hamlet's biological father. How could she leave him after his death and marry Claudius? Can't she see what she is doing?
(5) The real problem with Hamlet is that he has been given .task that is essentially foreign to his nature. He in reason and moderation and therefore, he he has been thrown into an emotional situation that demands a decision against which his morals revolt. Raised a Christian, he believes in forgiveness rather that in revenge; therefore, the responsibility for avenging his father's death completely transforms h^\ and he pretends to be mad in order to fulfill the dreaded task. In fact, he is so worried about the act of vengeance that at many points in the play he often seems to be really mad; but Hamlet is in control of his craziness and acts normally when he wishes to do so. In truth, the madness provides Hamlet with a means to
hide his own indecision while his mind struggles to reach a decision. He even reflects on the futility of life and contemplates suicide in the famous line,
"To be, or not to be, that is the question."
(6) Finally, as the tragedy becomes more stable and resolute, resigning himself to God’s will.
His great weaknesses are that he simply does not know how to do the thing he must do and, therefore, delays until it is too late. In the end, his humanity destroys everyone he loves.
He also proves he is an intellectual aristocrat, a scholar and a thinker. Hamlet often reveals the high quality of his mind, pondering many weighty matters. Hamlet is a noble, sensitive, a tragic hero, and victim. His fatal flaw is his obsession for taking revenge of his father's death. Although he finally achieves revenge and justice, it is at a terrible cost, because every major character is killed with Hamlet committing suicide.
Q: 7 What is the Theme of a book? What are the general elements that comprise
a books theme? Give appropriate examples from your textbook.
Ans. Theme:
Theme is the main idea of a literary work.
All works of literature have a theme. Novels contain a theme, or an important idea about life. In literature, a theme is a message the author conveys in a story. Theme is the central idea of a literary work. Because novels are longer, they may contain several themes, they may be major or minor. A major theme is an idea the author returns to again and again. It becomes one of the most important ideas in the story. Minor themes are ideas that may appear from time to time.
The theme of the book differs from the plot, although many people think plot and theme are one and the rence between the two in same. Let us explain in simple terms:
(1) Plot is a sequence of events.
(2) Theme is the lesson or moral underlying the plot. The theme of a book is a message that describes an opinion about life, human nature or elements of society, general themes in literature are as follows: ood versus evil
(3) - jealousy/revenge
(4) relationships (friendship, family, love/marriage, etc.)
(5) conflicts with nature or God
(6) conflicts with society or rules
(7 ) mystery
Here are some ways to uncover the theme in a story or the ways in which an author can express themes: Through title. The title can often suggest the focus or emphasis of the work
Through characters. The main character usually illustrates the most important theme of the story. Themes are presented in thoughts,, feelings and conversations of the main character.
Through actions or events. Characters express ideas and feelings through their actions and these actions and.events clarify the theme.
Through time, place, and other details of setting. through conflicts, resolution of the conflicts and climax.
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