The use of wit and irony in the novel Pride and Prejudice.

  MEG – 03: BRITISH NOVEL

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

2. Comment on the use of wit and irony in the novel Pride and Prejudice. 

 

Ans. Jane Austen is basically a humorist. She finds zest in this world through laughter.

Her laughter arises out of human folly which is so common in our life e.gDarcy says,

"the wisest and the best of men-nay, the wisest and best of their actions may be rendered ridiculous

by a person whose first object is a joke." In reply Elizabeth says, "follies and nonsense whims

and inconsistencies, do divert me. I laughed at them whenever I can."

We know that Elizabeth is the mouthpiece of Jane Austen in all her novels.

Pride and Prejudice makes us laugh the most. It's full of the atmosphere of sunshine and hilarity.

 

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The significance of the Man of the Hill episode in the novel Tom Jones.

                                               MEG – 03: BRITISH NOVEL

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

1. Comment on the significance of the Man of the Hill episode in the novel Tom Jones.

Ans. Opinions greatly differ in the matter ofFielding's plot construction in Tom Jones. According to one view, Tom Jones is all plot. In other words, it means that Fielding has given much attention to plot construction in Tom Jones. According to the other view, Tom Jones, being a Picaresque novel, is full of incidents, but it has not been executed according to a well-thought out plan. The second view seems to be irrelevant in spite of the fact that there are a good number of digressions in the novel, the glaring example being the story of the Man of the Hill. Moreover, the author's own too frequent views concerning various literary and artistic theories and addresses to the reader, even if they have their own value, reflect on the cohesion of the plot.

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Murder in the Cathedral as a poetic drama.

 MEG – 02: BRITISH DRAMA

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

7. Discuss Murder in the Cathedral as a poetic drama. 

Ans. Since Eliot began his career as a writer during the second decade of this century, there has been just a single shift in his mental focus and his turn over to the Poetic Stage is connected with this positional displacement. This focal shift in his approach does not involve any fundamental twist in his outlook. The original stand he took was one of repulsion to the bourgeois liberalism civilisation with its stress on realism, skepticism- 'the dry-rock, waste-land symbolism' and from this he was logically led on to the subsequent position, that of deep respect for tradition and an understanding of faith in theology and ecclesiastical authority.

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Eliza in Pygmalion as feminist.

  MEG – 02: BRITISH DRAMA

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

5. Can Eliza in Pygmalion be termed as feminist? Elaborate.

Ans.

The relationship between men and women and how they interact, is often the basis of many novels and plays. Struggle and conflict between them is very evident, yet the meaning and reason for the conflict are sometimes deeper than what is on the outside.

Bernard Shaw uses the play Pygmalion to also comment upon the conflict which exists between the sexes. This conflict is most clearly brought out through the relationship between Eliza and Henry Higgins. Higgins is a polished teacher of phonetics and is introduced as a person who is of the energetic, scientific type, heartily, even violently interested in everything that can be studied as a scientific subject and careless about himself and other people, including their feelings. 

These traits of character are bound to lead to conflict with Eliza Doolittle, a common flower girl who, by a contrivance of plot, brings her to learn to speak like a lady in a flower shop from Henry Higgins. Eliza has ambition and dignity and resents being bullied by Higgins, a social superior.

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The Alchemist as a satire.

 MEG – 02: BRITISH DRAMA

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

4. Can The Alchemist be understood as a satire? Give suitable examples.

Ans.

Ans. Comedy holds the mirror up to nature and reflects things as they are, to the point that society may recognize the extent of its shortcomings and the folly of its ways and set about its improvement. Jonson's greatest plays- Vol,one (1606), Epicoene (1609), The A/chemist (1 610), Bartholomew Falr(1614)--offer a richly detailed contemporary account of the follies and vices that are always with us. The setting (apart from Volpone) is Jonson's own London, and the characters are the ingenious or the devious or the grotesque products of the hunan wish to get ahead in the world. 

The conduct of a Jonsonian comic plot is in the hands of a clever manipulator who is out to make reality conform to his own desires. Sometimes he succeeds, as in the case of the clever young gentleman who gains his uncle's inheritance in Epicoene or the one who gains the rich Puritan widow for his wife in Bartholomew Fair. In Volpone and The A/chemist, the schemes eventually fail, but this is the fault of the manipulators, who will never stop when they are ahead, and not at all due to any insight on the part of the victims. The victims are almost embarrassingly eager to be victimized. Each has his ruling passion, his humour-and it serves to set him more or less mechanically in the path that he will undeviatingly pursue, to his own discomfiture.

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To what extent does Hamlet correspond to classical or medieval notions of tragedy?

MEG – 02: BRITISH DRAMA

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

3. To what extent does Hamlet correspond to classical or medieval notions of tragedy? 

Ans. Hamlet as a Tragedy: Shakespeare's play Hamlet is a very dramatic play, involving many conniving people, murder,and an overall atmosphere of suspense. It is therefore referred to as a tragedy. There are many aspects in Hamlet that make it one of Shakespeare's best tragedies. There are numerous murders including the untimely death of the innocent and pure Ophelia,and the murder of two loving fathers: King Hamlet and Polonius. 

There are also numerous revenge plots including those of Laertes, Hamletand Fortinbras. As the play progresses, hatred becomes evident between many characters of the play. After a deeper study of the play however, it becomes evident that two characters are more responsible for it being a tragedy, Hamletand Claudius. Hence, Hamlet rises above the revenge play and answers to subtler demands of a great tragedy. In the end Hamlet turns out to be a great tragedy rather than a mere revenge play.

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The play within the play in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

                                               MEG – 02: BRITISH DRAMA

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

2. Discuss the play within the play in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

 

Ans. The Play-within-the Play: This play within a play is therefore used by Shakespeare to make

a subtle point about theatre, namely the fact that it is only acting. The Mechanicals like to perform a play at Theseus' wedding. Theseus is an enlightened ruler, notable for his wise judgement but there is a limit to his abilities: the problem Egeus gives him seems incapable of solution, so he tries to buy time and work on Egeus and Demetrius. But there seems little hope that the "harsh Athenian law"

will produce a solution acceptable to all parties. 

In this play the apparently anarchic tendencies of the young lovers, of the mechanicals-as-actors, and of Puck are restrained by the "Sharp Athenian Law" and the law of the Palace Wood, by Theseus and Oberon, and their respective consorts. This tension within the world of the play is matched in its construction: in performance it can at times seem riotous and out of control, and yet the structure of the play shows a clear interest in symmetry and patterning.

exploring tensions between art and ordinary life and demonstrating how, through an imaginative alchemy, the raw materials of life can be formed into something enduring. In "Sailing to Byzantium," the speaker transforms himself into a work of art, and, in so doing, obscures the distinction between form and content and the artist and his work. "Sailing to Byzantium" is widely admired for its inventive, evocative imagery and masterfully interwoven phrases. Literary critic Frank Kermode calls the poem "a marvellously contrived emblem of what Yeats took the work of art to be.

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The opposition of art and life and youth and old age in 'Sailing to Byzantium'.

 MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

4. Comment on the opposition of art and life and youth and old age in 'Sailing to Byzantium'.

 

Ans. "Sailing to Byzantium, " first published in 1928 as part ofYeats's collection, The Tower, contains

only four stanzas and yet is considered to be one of the most effective expressions of Yeats's arcane poetic "system," exploring tensions between art and ordinary life and demonstrating how, through an imaginative alchemy, the raw materials of life can be formed into something enduring. In "Sailing to Byzantium," the speaker transforms himself into a work of art, and, in so doing, obscures the distinction between form and content and the artist and his work. "Sailing to Byzantium" is widely admired for its inventive, evocative imagery and masterfully interwoven phrases. Literary critic Frank Kermode calls the poem "a marvellously contrived emblem of what Yeats took the work of art to be.

For the complete answer and also the full set of answers of 1st and 2nd year MEG  assignments/study notes call or WhatsApp me : +91 99 471 471 85)

The themes of death and suicide in the poetry of Sylvia Plath.

  MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

5. Comment on the themes of death and suicide in the poetry of Sylvia Plath.

 

Ans. One thing which has been noticed about the confessional poets is that when these poets go on to speak about their personal failures and breakdowns they go more into sorrow and despair. And this feeling often gets extended to the sense of self-destruction. This makes the theme of suicide and death central to their poems. Many confessional poets, including Sylvia Plath were suicidal in their real life. In her poems like Lady Lazarus she goes on to expresses her suicidal tendency beyond any limitations.

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Herbert as a religious poet.

  MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

3. Consider Herbert as a religious poet.

Ans. Herbert's Distinguishing Traits

Certain features can be noted in Herbert's poetry which distinguishes his poetry from the other poets of his time.

His poems are simple and lucid which suggests of an excellent technical skill. Herbert was able to manipulate his

verses in order to reflect thematic patterns, a skill which can also be seen in Milton. His choice of words which appears to be simple, expand outwards in accordance with the given context of the poem. For example, let us consider his poem The Pulley. This poem talks about God bestowing al I the gifts to man except one. And that would be peace so that it acts like a pulley to draw man back to the divine grace.

 

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A critical note on Chancer's art of portraiture in The General Prologue.

 MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

2. Write a critical note on Chancer's art of portraiture in The General Prologue.

Ans. The Portraits: It is the General Prologue that serves to establish firmly the framework for the entire

story-collection: the pilgrimage that risks being turned into a tale-telling competition. The title "General Prologue" is a modern invention, although a few manuscripts call it prologues. There are very few major textual differences between the various manuscripts. The structure of the General Prologue is a simple one. After an elaborate introduction in lines 1-34, the narrator begins the series of portraits (limes 35-719). These are followed by a report of the Host's suggestion of a tale-telling contest and its acceptance (lines 720-821). On the following morning the pilgrims assemble and it is decided that the Knight shall tell the first tale (lines 822-858).

 

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Weep no more, woful shepherds, weep no more, For Lycidas your sorrow is not dead, Sunk though he be beneath the watery floor. So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed, And yet anon repairs his drooping head, And tricks his beams and with new spangled ore, Flames in the forehead of the morning sky: So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high, Through the dear might of him that walk'd the waves.

  MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

(C) Weep no more, woful shepherds, weep no more, For Lycidas your sorrow is not dead, Sunk though he be beneath the watery floor. So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed, And yet anon repairs his drooping head, And tricks his beams and with new spangled ore, Flames in the forehead of the morning sky: So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high, Through the dear might of him that walk'd the waves.

Ans. 

Context: These lines are taken from Lycidas by John Milton.

Explanation: Milton concludes with praise for Lycidas, including the well-known phrase "Look homeward Angel." The speaker bids "woeful Shepherds weep no more," one of many phrases loaded with alliteration.

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Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

                                                  MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2021 - 2022

                                                                                                               Max. Marks: 100

(a) Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

Answer :

Explanation: Kubla Khan heard the voices of his ancestors, predicting that war would come. The shadow of Kubla Khan's pleasure palace was reflected by the waves, and you could hear the sound of the geyser mingling with that of the water rushing through the caves. This was truly a miraculous place: Khan's pleasure palace was both sunny and had icy caves. If could recreate with in myself the sound of her instrument and her song, it would bring me so much joy that I would build Kubla Khan's pleasure palace in the sky above me: that sun-filled dome, those caves full of ice!

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The play within the play in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

  MEG – 02: BRITISH DRAMA

ASSIGNMENT 2020 - 2021

                                                                                                               Max. Marks: 100

1. Discuss the play within the play in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

Answer.: The Play-within-the Play: This play within a play is therefore used by Shakespeare to make a subtle point about theatre, namely the fact that it is only acting. The Mechanicals like to perform a play at Theseus’ wedding. Theseus is an enlightened ruler, notable for his wise judgement but there is a limit to his abilities: the problem Egeus gives him seems incapable of solution, so he tries to buy time and work on Egeus and Demetrius. But there seems little hope that the “harsh Athenian law” will produce a solution acceptable to all parties.

In this play the apparently anarchic tendencies of the young lovers, of the mechanicals-as-actors, and of Puck are restrained by the “Sharp Athenian Law” and the law of the Palace Wood, by Theseus and Oberon, and their respective consorts. This tension within the world of the play is matched in its construction: in performance it can at times seem riotous and out of control, and yet the structure of the play shows a clear interest in symmetry and patterning. 

(For the complete answer and also the full set of answers of 1st and 2nd year MEG  assignments/study notes call or WhatsApp me : +91 99 471 471 85)

Pre- Raphaelites & critical appreciation of this age/movement and the characteristics of the movement

  MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2020 - 2021

                                                                                                               Max. Marks: 100

5. Who were the Pre- Raphaelites? Critically appreciate any one poem of this age/movement and highlight the characteristics of the movement

Answer.: The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (later known as the Pre-Raphaelites) was a group of English painters, poets, and art critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti, James Collinson, Frederic George Stephens and Thomas Woolner who formed a seven-member "Brotherhood" modelled in part on the Nazarene movement. The Brotherhood was only ever a loose association and their principles were shared by other artists of the time, including Ford Madox Brown, Arthur Hughes and Marie Spartali Stillman. Later followers of the principles of the Brotherhood included Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris and John William Waterhouse..

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Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience as precursors of the Romantic Age

  MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2020 - 2021

                                                                                                               Max. Marks: 100

4. Critically examine Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience as precursors of the Romantic Age.

Answer.: Songs of Innocence and of Experience is a collection of illustrated poems by William Blake. It appeared in two phases: a few first copies were printed and illuminated by Blake himself in 1789; five years later he bound these poems with a set of new poems in a volume titled Songs of Innocence and of Experience Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul. Blake was also a painter before the creation of Songs of Innocence and Experience and had painted such subjects as Oberon, Titania, and Puck dancing with fairies.

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Poem by Donne or Herbert or Marvel as an example of metaphysical poetry

 MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2020 - 2021

                                                                                                               Max. Marks: 100

3. Examine any one poem by Donne or Herbert or Marvel as an example of metaphysical poetry

Answer.: The term metaphysical poets was coined by the critic Samuel Johnson to describe a loose group of 17th-century English poets whose work was characterized by the inventive use of conceits, and by a greater emphasis on the spoken rather than lyrical quality of their verse. These poets were not formally affiliated and few were highly regarded until 20th century attention established their importance. Given the lack of coherence as a movement, and the diversity of style between poets, it has been suggested that calling them Baroque poets after their era might be more useful. Once the Metaphysical style was established, however, it was occasionally adopted by other and especially younger poets to fit appropriate circumstances.

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Spenser’s Prothalamion as an example of both renaissance writing as well as a nuptial song

 MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2020 - 2021

                                                                                                               Max. Marks: 100

2. What do you understand by the term renaissance? Examine Spenser’s Prothalamion as an example of both renaissance writing as well as a nuptial song.

Answer.: The was a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to Modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It occurred after the Crisis of the Late Middle Ages and was associated with great social change. In addition to the standard periodization, proponents of a long Renaissance put its beginning in the 14th century and its end in the 17th century. The traditional view focuses more on the early modern aspects of the Renaissance and argues that it was a break from the past, but many historians today focus more on its medieval aspects and argue that it was an extension of the Middle Ages.

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Chaucer’s Prologue to the Canterbury Tales within his vast writing career, as a social commentary of the age.

 MEG – 01: BRITISH POETRY

ASSIGNMENT 2020 - 2021

                                                                                                               Max. Marks: 100

1. Locate Chaucer’s Prologue to the Canterbury Tales within his vast writing career, as a social commentary of the age. 

Answer.: The age of Chaucer covers the period from 1340 to 1400. Chaucer is the true representative of his age as Pope is of the eighteenth century and Tennyson is of the Victorian era. His works breathe the political, social, economic and religious tendencies of his time. The middle of the fourteenth century was the transitional period in which Chaucer was born. The elements of Renaissance were breeding. “He stands on the threshold of the new age, but still hedged in a backward gazing world.” The fourteenth century in England was the most important of the mediaeval centuries. It covered the period of the Black Death and the Peasant’s Revolt, the Hundred Years War with France and the great economic and social changes which we associate with the decay of villeinage.

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