BANKURA UNIVERSITY//B.A. WITH ENGLISH MAJOR//COMPLETE NOTE LINKS// NEP// 2023-24// A Message, Note Cluster, Major Course,SEMESTER – I

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B.A. WITH ENGLISH MAJOR OR ENGLISH AS A MINOR SUBJECT OR A MULTIDISCIPLINARY OPTIONAL IN THE FOUR YEAR UNDERGRADUATE

PROGRAMME DESIGNED AS PER NEP, BANKURA UNIVERSITY, 2023-24

SEMESTER – I

Course Title (Discipline Specific Core Course): Introduction to Literary Studies

Course Code: A/ENG/101/MJC-1

Credit: 04 Contact Hours/week: 04

Maximum Marks: 50 (ESE-40; IA-10) Examination Duration: 2 Hours

Course Objectives:

• To inihate undergraduate students to a basic understanding of the domain of literature and its different genres

• To equip them to appreciate and interpret a given text with crihcal insight

• To enable students to situate a text as mirror and provocator of its socio-historical context

• To introduce them to foundahonal concepts and methods of crihque as applied to different literary texts

Course Outcomes:

• On successful complehon of the course, students will be able to recognise, classify and engage with the different genres of literature.

• They would be able to apply diverse literary tools and concepts to crihcally engage with different types of literary texts.

• It would introduce them to processes of crihcal-creahve thinking in relahon to literature as a field of reflection and applicahon.

• The foundational course would serve as a prerequisite for higher level coursework in diverse domains of English Studies.

Course Content:

Unit 1: Reading Poetry

a) Poetry – Elements of Poetry e.g. lexical, visual/metaphorical and rhythmic dimensions, and the various forms of poetry; e.g. Ode, Lyric, Sonnet and other forms (Klarer, Mario. “Major Genres in Textual Studies”, An Introduction to Literary Studies, Chapter 2 sec. 2, pp. 27-43, and Brooks, Cleanth, and Robert Penn Warren. “Poetry as a Way ofSaying”, Understanding Poetry, 4th ed., pp. 1-16.)

b) Illustrative texts: Shakespeare’s “Sonnet no. 29”, John Donne’s “Ecstasy”, John Keats’s “Ode to a Nightingale”, “The Terror of Death”, Jayanta Mahapatra’s “Grass”

(Illustrative Notes:

a) Poetry – 

• Key Points from "Understanding Poetry" by Brooks and Warren/ Chapter-Poetry as a Way of Saying
• Key Points from the Text on Major Genres in Textual Studies from AN INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDIES (Second edition) by Mario Klarer/ 2 MAJOR GENRES IN TEXTUAL STUDIES/ 2 Poetry pp 27 to 43
• Literary Terms //Poetic Terms: A Brief Overview

b) Illustrative texts:

Shakespeare’s “Sonnet no. 29”

• Short Question Answer from Shakespeare's "Sonnet No. 29" (2 marks)
• Critical Appreciation of Shakespeare's "Sonnet No. 29" (10 marks)
• Who is W.H.? How is he a subject in Sonnet no 29? Answer it with textual references.(10 marks)
• What is called a sonnet sequence? How does Shakespeare’s “Sonnet No. 29” represent a part of the sequence? (10 marks)
• Examine the use of allusion and personification in Shakespeare’s “Sonnet No. 29.” How do these literary devices contribute to the emotional depth of the sonnet? (10 marks)
• Discuss the use of rhythm and meter in Shakespeare’s “Sonnet No. 29.” How do rhythm and meter contribute to the overall impact of the sonnet? (10 marks)
• Discuss the elements of a sonnet with reference to Shakespeare's "Sonnet No. 29."/ What are the defining features of a sonnet, and how do they manifest in this particular sonnet?
• Shakespeare's "Sonnet No. 29": Textual Analysis
• Shakespearean Sonnets: An Overview

John Donne’s “Ecstasy”

• Define "Ecstasy" in the context of John Donne's poem "The Ecstasy." Critical Analysis of Title of John Donne's "The Ecstasy" (10 marks)
• Explore the theme of mutuality in "The Ecstasy." How does Donne depict the lovers as equal partners in a shared spiritual experience?
• Short Question Answer (2 marks) from John Donne’s “Ecstasy”
• What is a Metaphysical Conceit? Write a Critical Appreciation of John Donne’s “The Ecstasy”.(10 marks)
• Analyze the structure and form of "The Ecstasy." How does the poem's structure reflect its themes, particularly the balance between physical and spiritual love?(10 marks)
• How does Donne employ "Platonic Love" in "The Ecstasy"? Analyzing John Donne's "The Ecstasy": A Love Philosophy (10 marks)
• What is paradox in metaphysical poem? Discuss the concept of paradox in John Donne’s “Ecstasy.”/ How does Donne use paradoxes to explore the relationship between the physical and spiritual realms? (10 marks)
• What is called metaphysical conceit? Examine the theme of spiritual love in John Donne’s “Ecstasy.”/In what ways does Donne explore the connection between physical and spiritual love in the poem? (10 marks)
• WHAT IS CALLED IMAGERY? Analyze the use of visual and metaphorical imagery in John Donne’s “Ecstasy.” How does Donne employ imagery to convey the themes of the poem? (10 marks
• John Donne’s “The Ecstasy”: Footnotes, Paraphrase with Stanza Breakdown, Title, Theme Analysis, Overall Message, Literary Devices, Historical Context & Comparison to Other Donne Poems

 John Keats’s “Ode to a Nightingale”

• Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale"// Short Questions
• What is called Romantic Poem? What are the ingredi...
• “He hath awakened from the dream of life— 'Tis w...
• Analyze the use of imagery and symbolism in John K...
• What are the key characteristics of an ode? Illust...
• Compare and contrast the themes of nature and mort...
• Critically examine the theme of mortality in John ...
• John Keats’s "Ode to a Nightingale": Paraphrase an...

 John Keats’s “The Terror of Death”

• Keats'"The Terror of Death"// Short Answer Questions (2 Marks Each)
• Compare "The Terror of Death" to other Romantic poems. How does Keats' treatment of themes like nature, mortality, and the imagination compare to other Romantic poets? 10 marks
• Examine the role of the speaker in conveying the poem's message (in John Keats's sonnet "When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be"). How does the poet's persona contribute to the emotional impact of the work? 10 marks
• Discuss the significance of the natural world in John Keats's sonnet "When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be". How does the imagery of nature reflect the poet's emotional state and the broader themes of the work? 10 marks
• Compare and contrast the themes of love and fame in John Keats's sonnet "When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be". How do these themes intersect and contribute to the overall message? 10 marks
• Keats' Personal Fears and Artistic Aspirations in John Keats's sonnet "When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be"(10 marks)
• Examine the tension between mortality and immortality as presented in the poem. How does Keats explore the fear of death and the desire for a lasting legacy?/ Mortality vs. Immortality (Transcience Vs Permanence) in "The Terror of Death" in reference to his other poems. 10 marks
• Discuss the significance of the sonnet form in John Keats's sonnet "When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be" in expressing the poet's emotional state. How does the structure and rhyme scheme of the sonnet enhance the poem's impact?

 Jayanta Mahapatra’s “Grass”

• Jayanta Mahapatra’s “Grass”//Short Answer (2 marks)
• Analyze the theme of mortality in John Keats’s "Ode to a Nightingale" and Jayanta Mahapatra’s "Grass." How do these poets approach the subject differently?-10 marks
• Discuss how Jayanta Mahapatra employs the motif of decay in “Grass” to explore the concepts of memory and time. How does the motif contribute to the poem’s overall exploration of human existence? -10 marks
• Analyze Jayanta Mahapatra's poem "Grass"’s closing lines, particularly the references to “familiar tormentors” and “scabs of my dark dread.” What do these symbols reveal about the speaker’s confrontation with their own fears and past experiences?-include textual lines in your answer-10 marks
• In Jayanta Mahapatra's “Grass,” how does the poet’s use of imagery and symbolism reflect the relationship between the speaker and their environment? Discuss how the natural elements in the poem mirror the speaker’s internal experiences.-include textual lines in your answer-10 marks
• Explore the thematic significance of the “tolerant soil” and “childlike submissiveness” in Jayanta Mahapatra's poem “Grass.” How do these themes relate to the speaker’s personal struggles and reflections?-include textual lines in your answer-10 marks
• How does Mahapatra use sensory details to create a vivid depiction of the natural world in “Grass”? Analyze how these sensory elements contribute to the emotional depth and thematic complexity of the poem.---include textual lines in your answer-10 marks
• Discuss the imagery related to the act of scything the grass in Mahapatra’s poem. How does this imagery serve as a metaphor for broader themes of life, death, and transformation?-include textual lines in your answer-10 marks
• Evaluate the role of memory and history in “Grass.” How does Mahapatra use symbolism to reflect on the impact of personal and collective history on the speaker’s present state of mind? (10 marks)
• Examine the use of personification in the poem “Grass.” How does Mahapatra’s portrayal of the grass as a mirror and other anthropomorphic elements contribute to the overall mood and themes of the poem? (10 marks)
• Analyze the imagery of “cracked earth” and “ancestral smell of rot” in Mahapatra’s “Grass.” How do these images enhance the reader’s understanding of the speaker’s emotional and psychological state? (10 marks)
• Discuss the significance of the grass as a central symbol in Jayanta Mahapatra’s poem “Grass.” How does this symbol contribute to the themes of grief and the passage of time? (10 marks)
• Analyze the use of imagery and symbolism in Jayanta Mahapatra’s “Grass.” What images and symbols does Mahapatra use, and how do they contribute to the poem’s themes? (10 marks)
• Jayanta Mahapatra’s “Grass”//Identify the Theme and Tone//Analyze the Imagery and Symbolism//Examine the Speaker's Perspective//Consider the Poem's Structure and Language//Interpret the Overall Meaning

Unit 2: Understanding Fiction

a) Fiction – Types of Fiction and Elements of Fiction such as Plot, Narrator, Character, Point of View, newness and the novel. (Klarer, Mario. “Major Genres in Textual Studies”, An Introduction to Literary Studies, Chapter 2 Sec. 1, pp. 9-27, and Kaul, A.N. “A New Province of Wrihng”, The Domain of the Novel: Reflections on Some Historical Definitions, pp. 20-36.)

b) Illustrahve texts: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein/Ruskin Bond’s The Room on the Roof, short stories e.g. James Joyce’s “Araby”, O Henry’s “The Last Leaf”, Mahasweta Devi’s “The Hunt”

Unit 3: Engaging with Drama

a) Drama - Types of Drama and Elements of Drama (Mayes, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature, pp. 1178 – 1186, and Klarer, Mario. “Major Genres in Textual Studies”, An Introduction to Literary Studies, Chapter 2 Sec 3, pp. 43-55.)

b) Illustrative texts: J.M. Synge’s Riders to the Sea/Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq

Marks Division:

The course will have an Internal Assessment Test of 10 marks.

Question Pattern for End Semester Examination: Total 40 marks

• 1 long question worth 10 marks out of 2 questions to be attempted from each of Units 1 and 3: 2x10=20
• 1 long question worth 10 marks out of 3 questions to be attempted from Unit 2: 1x10=10
• 5 short questions worth 2 marks each out of 10 questions to be attempted from Units 1, 2 and 3: 5x2=10