AD's English Literature

    “ As You Like It is a light-hearted comedy which appeals to the readers at all stages and all in lighter moods. It pleases some by its idyllic romance, others by its optimistic philosophy of simple goodness, and yet others by its cynical ironies. Indeed you can take this as you like it.” G. B. Harrison {ed. Shakespeare : The Complete Works. New York: Harcourt, 1952 (Page 776).} It is always seen that the titles of the plays of William   Shakespeare are less significant than the plays themselves. However, while analyzing the title of As You Like It , it can be said that Shakespeare uses this title in a spirit of playfulness. On the other hand, he seems to be saying in a lighthearted vein to his audiences, “here is something to your own taste.” Indeed title promises entertainments and heartiest delight and solicits the approval of the audiences. Most interestingly, the title suggests not merely the theme of the play but also the attitude towards the...

Languages , which show some common features and some shared properties, are said to belong to one family. It is assumed that such systematic similarities cannot be accidental; these similarities are there because the concerned languages have ‘descended’ from a common ‘parent’. That is, at some point of time, there was a language spoken all over a given geographical area which over a period of time broke up, fragmented, into a number of ‘sibling’ varieties. With the passage of time these varieties become sufficiently different from each other to be considered as separate languages.  As far as English is concerned, it perhaps started as a speech of some Germanic tribes in Europe and through a series of changes brought about by migrations, invasions, conversions, settlement and colonization assumed its present avatars.  The Germanic speech group consist a branch of the Indo-European family of languages and in the sub-branches of Germanic branch; English is placed in the s...

Macbeth By William Shakespeare Significance of ‘Porter Scene’ in Macbeth Act II, SCENE III. Court of Macbeth's castle.(porter Scene) Knocking within. Enter a Porter Porter Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. Knocking within Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on the expectation of plenty: come in time; have napkins enow about you; here you'll sweat for't. Knocking within Knock, knock! Who's there, in the other devil's name? Faith, here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale; who committed treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: O, come in, equivocator. Knocking within

1.         Generally all the monosyllabic words are unaccented; but in metrical composition such words are often accented. The monosyllabic words having a diphthong such as “power”, “flower”, “our”, “shower”, are always accented. 2.         In metrical composition, monosyllabic ‘content’ words are almost always accented. On the other hand, the ‘structural’ words almost always remain unaccented. 3.         Each and every disyllabic word must have only one accent, on either the first or the second syllable. 4.         But the disyllabic words like “any”, “many”, and “very” sometimes may remain unaccented, whereas the monosyllabic words like “yet”, “still” and “all” are accented very often. 5.         In a long polysyllabic word, we may have one or more accents. In general case, either the first or the second sy...

  S yllabification is the process of dividing words into syllables. Understanding the rules of syllabification can help with pronunciation, reading fluency, and understanding the structure of words. Here are some key principles to remember: 1. In matters of syllabifying, there are no concrete rules, no invariable guidelines or no supreme authorities. So, it is often seen that a word can be syllabified in two ways. But the number of syllables is always the same in a word, in spite of its different kinds of syllabification . Examples follow – * Even = e–ven / ev – en: * Passive= pass-ive / pas-sive: * Familiar = fa-mi-liar / fam-I-liar [In each case, both the ways of syllabification are valid.] 2. As the vowel sound is the heart of a syllable, we, whenever to syllabify a word, must be guided by pronunciation, by the sound of the word but never by etymology or the letters or the spelling of the word. Examples follow- * Peruse = pe-ruse (but ‘per-use’ not acceptable); * Running = ru...

"It is now six and thirty years since I took my seat at the desk in Mincing-lane. For the first day or two I felt stunned, overwhelmed. I could only apprehend my felicity; I was too confused to taste it sincerely. I wandered about, thinking I was happy, and knowing that I was not." --- The Superannuated Man Charles Lamb in “The Superannuated Man” has given the profound emotional and psychological changes that accompany retirement-- an account of his feeling before and after his retirement. Lamb served as a clerk  at the East India House  for long thirty-six years and then retired. Lamb’s life as a clerk was tedious and boring. Despite its mundanity, provided a sense of purpose and routine. He describes his pre-retirement life as a "comfortable prison," where the familiar tasks and social interactions offered a comforting sense of stability. He, however, had a respite from work on a Sunday every week.

(The Devotional Element--- Sensuousness and Religiousness --  The Religious and Spiritual Characteristics )   Nineteenth-century English poet and priest Gerard Manley Hopkins is admired for the highly original use of rhythm in his poetry, a quality that can be seen in the following poems, “The Windhover,” “Pied Beauty,” and “ Hurrahing in Harvest. ” A windhover, also known as a kestrel, is a small type of falcon. These three poems express Hopkins’s devotion to the Catholic faith, as well as his fascination with the natural world. Like most of Hopkins’s poetry , the poems were first published in 1918, nearly 20 years after his death.  In a note on the religious life of Hopkins (1840-1889) Humphrey House expresses the view that Hopkins was not a mystic and that there is nothing in the poem of Hopkins to show that he feels the immediate and personal presence of God. It is impossible to agree with Humphrey House in this matter, because reverse seems to be the case. ...

   T. S. Eliot's J. Alfred  Prufrock is an embodiment of split personality – a separation of head and heart, a paralysis of the will and too much worry regarding a love proposal. The poem marks a complete break of the modern civilization with all its ugliness – the never ending streets, smoking chimneys, yellow fog, dirty drains and smell of female bodies. It is urban in its theme and setting. In a series of paragraphs the lover analysis the reason for a resolution and indecision and tries to justify his cowardice and lack of nerves. Behind this, mental state is a disease of modern routine – the aimless life of the city dwellers and the monotonous sound of social parties.                 Prufrock is one of the victims of modern civilization. He is between the two sites of his personality, which thereby highlights the nervousness and neurosis. His neurotic nature, his inability to face the pr...

  The origin of language is one of the most enduring mysteries of human history.   No one knows exactly how language originated. And because of this, there is no dearth of speculations about the origins of human speech. Language is a ‘System of sounds, words, patterns, etc. used by humans to communicate thoughts and feelings’. (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 1989).No one, however, knows exactly how language originated. And because of this, there is no dearth of speculations about the origins of human speech. Let us briefly consider some of these:   The Divine Source Theory: According to one view, God created Adam and “whatsoever Adam called every living creature that was the name thereof” (Genesis, 2:19). According to Hindu tradition, language came from goddess Saraswati ( goddess of knowledge and enlightenment). Read More Philology In most religions, there appears to be a divine source that provided humans with language. Generally, every s...

Welcome to a linguistic adventure! This exploration will drag you towords the fascinating origins of 50 more words, tracing their journeys through time and cultures. Through philological analysis, we will uncover the etymologies of these words, revealing the fascinating stories behind their creation and evolution. From ancient languages to modern borrowings, each word has a unique tale to tell. Join us as we uncover the secrets hidden within the words we use every day. Let's embark on this philological journey together!   ADVICE - This word is an example of French loan word. The middle English 'avis' got this form  French . Due to renaissance influence 'ad' Latin 'advisum' was added as original prefix to 'avis' and we have the English word advice . Read More Philology                                                           ...

1. Is it a Laughing Comedy in protest of Sentimental Comedy? Ans:When the play was first produced, it was discussed as an example of the revival of laughing comedy over the sentimental comedy . Truly speaking it is a comic laughing comedy in celebration of fun, frolic and humour .The affectation of sentimentalism and moralization is altogether omitted here.                                          2 .How is She Stoops to Conquer a Comedy of Manners? Ans:The play can also be seen as a comedy of manners , where, set in a polite society, the comedy arises from the gap between the characters' attempts to preserve standards of polite behaviour that contrasts to their true behaviour. 3.How is She Stoops to Conquer A Romantic Comedy ? Ans:It also seen by some critics as a romantic comedy , which depicts how seriously young people take love, and how foolishly it mak...

1. What do you trace ‘Myth making faculty’ in Shelley and Keats?  Substantiate your answer. 2. How do you know that Shelley’s Skylark is not a creature of ‘flesh and blood’? 3.   What does the bird specially know in Hardy’s poem? 4.   What was the last thought that was not in vain for the lover in The Last Ride Together? 5.       Why ‘the listeners’ in the Mare’s poem do not react? 6.       How do you explain the title strange Meeting? 7.       What historical period do you find as hints in The Lagoon? 8.       Why did Mrs. Thurlow remain unsympathetic towards her  husband? 9.       Ulysses provides an interesting study in contrast along with another poem of Tennyson’s The Lotos Eaters – discuss. 10.    “Drive my dead thoughts over the Universe like withered leaves to quicken a new birth” – explain the line with critical comment. 11....

Timeline of English Literature: The Revival of Learning (1450–1550) The period known as The Revival of Learning (1450–1550) marks the transition from the Middle Ages to the early modern period in English literature. This era, also referred to as the English Renaissance or the Humanist Period , is characterized by a renewed interest in classical learning and the works of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as the beginnings of the Reformation and the rise of English as a literary language. The cultural and intellectual revival that began in Italy during the 14th century spread to England during this time, significantly influencing English writers, scholars, and the development of English literature. Key Historical and Cultural Context The Printing Press (1476): William Caxton introduced the printing press to England in 1476, revolutionizing the spread of literature and learning. The availability of printed books increased literacy rates and facilitated the dissemination of new ideas and...

A Timeline of English Literature: The Inter-War Years (1918-1939) The interwar period, between World War I and World War II, was a time of immense social, political, and economic upheaval. English literature reflected these turbulent times, exploring themes of disillusionment, loss, and the search for meaning in a changing world. Key Events and Literary Movements: 1918: World War I ends. 1920s: The Jazz Age begins, characterized by economic prosperity, social change, and cultural experimentation. 1922: T.S. Eliot's groundbreaking poem "The Waste Land" is published, heralding the arrival of Modernism . 1925: Virginia Woolf's novel "Mrs. Dalloway" is published, exploring the inner lives of characters and the fragmentation of experience. 1929: The Great Depression begins, leading to widespread economic hardship and social unrest. 1930s: The stream-of-consciousness technique becomes increasingly popular, exemplified by James Joyce's novel ...