AD's English Literature

Young Mortimer is the second important character of Christopher Marlowe’s, Edward II (1592?), which was one of the earliest successful English historical dramas and a model for Shakespeare's Richard II and Richard III. He is portrayed with great spirit and power. To A. E. Boas, “the lines of his character , are of course , toned down to suit the altered environment, but there is the same note of lawlessly aspiring  ambition." Boas has presented the bird’s eye view of Mortimer’s character. In fact,  Marlowe’s   Mortimer  is portrayed as a key figure in the political and personal conflicts that unfold throughout the story.  In the play Roger de Mortimer is a somewhat imbued with dual- personality. He is a strange combination of strait forward bluntness and Machiavellian tactics. His character undergoes a change in the play. Since time is foreshortened and events develop rapidly in the change in Mortimer’s character comes a bit too suddenly. The few months during...

Exploring the Theme of Education through David Herbert Lawrence's "The Rainbow": Ten Fascinating Insights T eachers and Literature:  Critiquing Education, Shakespeare to Lawrence Holofernes in Love's Labour's Lost and Sir Hugh Evans in The Merry wives of Windsor are two characters whose profession to teaching are mere caricature , and Shakespeare so presents them that they are more ridiculed than admired. Shakespeare 's own experience at school said to have been anything but happy and his own attitude to his teachers perhaps finds expression in the portrayal of Holofernes and Evans, neither of whom evokes our sense of respect. Thewackhun and Squire are two tutors in Tom Jones , and they also give an indecent account of themselves. The former is cruel and selfish, hypocrisy being his central passion. He quotes from the scriptures to conceal his selfishness, the latter passes for a philosophy, while the only philosophy of life he follows is the gratification ...

Distancing of the Author from the Text and a Scrambling up of the Narrative in terms of Chronology Joseph Conrad's   Heart of Darkness  is a masterpiece of modernist literature, renowned for its powerful narrative technique. The novel employs a complex structure that intertwines multiple layers of storytelling, creating a rich and immersive reading experience. In fact, the final years of 19 th century saw a change not only in theme but also in the technique of narration. The change in the narrative technique was two fold – the distancing of the author from the text and a scrambling up of the narrative in terms of chronology.  Heart of Darkness , utilizes both these techniques and its narrative technique is in perfect harmony with the theme of psychological degeneration depicted in the book In other to prevent Kurtz’s moral fall from lapsing into obtrusive judgement of the author, Conrad presented Kurtz through the eye of at least one other character whom we can...

The Comparative Use of Symbolism in T.S. Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan" Introduction T.S. Coleridge, a prominent figure in the Romantic era, captivated readers with his imaginative and symbolic poetry. Two of his most famous works, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan," showcase his adeptness at employing symbolism to convey deeper meanings. In this critical essay, we will explore the comparative use of symbolism in these two poems, examining how Coleridge employs various symbols to enhance the thematic significance of the narratives. Symbolism in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" The Albatross: The albatross in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" serves as a powerful symbol throughout the narrative. Initially, it represents the beauty and grace of nature, as the mariner describes it as a "bird of good omen." The bird's arrival is seen as a favorable sign, and the cr...

F.M-50                                                     Fiction                                              TIME- 2hr. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man By James Joyce 1. Answer any Two:-   10*2= 20  a. Briefly analyze the three main principles of the theory of aesthetics put together by Stephen in A portrait…….? What is known as Thomism?  b. Define the role of epiphany in A Portrait. Does the epiphany add any special             ...

Introduction Sailing to Byzantium , one of  W. B. Yeats’ masterpieces is organized round the dichotomy of flesh and spirit, nature and art where the sea symbolizes the energetic vitality of the former. As Yeats advanced into old age he continued to be troubled by the passions. The voyage in this poem is thus an inner voyage of spiritual awakening. To wards wisdom and freedom from the enslavement to nature. Quite apart from the special meaning that Byzantium has in Yeats’ system, historically it was the meeting point of the Pagan and Christian civilization. The poem carries a symbolic pattern and a mystic philosophic notion is derided. It takes readers on a metaphorical journey, symbolizing the voyage of the inner spiritual essence towards wisdom and freedom. Through vivid imagery and poignant language, Yeats explores the themes of mortality, art, and the longing for transcendence. A Journey and the Byzantium There has been a multiple interpretation of Yeats’ symbols and imageries. ...

Exploring the Depths: Themes and Crafting of Joseph Conrad's 'The Lagoon' The Interwoven Tapestry of Themes in Conrad's 'The Lagoon' The soul of the short story is brevity, and critics would aver unity, too. Joseph Conrad who is usually famous for his novellas, uses a relatively shorter from in " The Lagoon ," but detractors would claim that there is paraphernalia of themes marring the strict unity of effect. Although the short story rarely has the scope for anything more than a bore incident, Conrad ’s short story is unique in its portrayal of an almost entire life. It is a sage of life that involves four diverse themes death, love, courage and guilt to select one among the four as the focal theme would appear an impossibility since Conrad ’s mastery of the art makes the four themes interanimate each other.  The theme of "The Lagoon" by Joseph Conrad revolves around the concepts of Love, Isolation, Fear, and the Unpredictable Nature of Huma...

Heroic Couplet Two line of rhymed iambic pentameter is known as heroic couplet. It is  often used in epic and narrative poetry. Each line typically contains ten syllables and follows the rhyme scheme AA, BB, CC, and so on.  The term heroic is applied to it in the late 17th century when the frequent use of such couplets formed the heroic poems or epical poems and heroic dramas.  In English Chaucer is the innovator whose The Legend of Good Women and must of The Canterbury Tales are written in the rhyme style. The other masters are William Shakespeare, Alexander Pope, Dryden, and Samuel Johnson etc. Example:  “No Then thyself presume no God to Scan;  The proper study of mankind is man”       The Essay on Man       ---   Pope Example: "So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee." William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18

G.B. Shaw's "Arms and The Man": Exploring the Character of Bluntschli The Dual Nature of Captain Bluntschli: A Balanced Hero in G.B. Shaw's Arms and The Man The son of a rich hotel-keeper and a professional soldier serving in the Serbian Army, Captain Bluntschli is the hero of G.B. Shaw’s plays  " Arms and The Man " . A perfect man with a charming personality, Captain Bluntschli strikes a balance between two opposite elements in human nature. On the one hand he is prosaic, matter of fact, cool and calculating with a practical common sense and never-failing presence of mind, having a quick and almost mechanical capacity for action. On the other hand he is reckless adventurous and sentimental with an incurably romantic disposition. But these two elements, though they are contradictory to each other, are found in him combined in a perfect poise. Instead of being contradictory they have rather become complementary to each other. Nevertheless, he has come weak ...