Geoffrey Chaucer

                    Thinking activity      

              This blog is in response to the thinking activity on the Age of Chaucer to Elizabeth, assigned by Baradsir. 

 Geoffrey Chaucer:-  

                 –The father of English poetry 

            Geoffrey Chaucer was an English poet, author, and civil servant, best known for The Canterbury Tales. He belongs to the middle English period and also called as "The morning star of the Renaissance". Chaucer was the largest literary figure of that time and that's why The whole age from 1350-1450 is considered as The age of Chaucer.

★Life:-

            While looking towards the life of Geoffrey Chaucer, we come to know that his date of birth is uncertain, but it is now generally accepted as being 1340, in London, England. He was born in a wealthy family and son of a merchant Vintner - a wine merchant.

            Chaucer's boyhood was spent in London, on Thames street, near the river, where the world's commerce was continually coming and going. We know nothing about his education accept that he was a great reader. But we also get knowledge that he enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education. 

            He lived under three monarchs;

1. He was Born during the reign of Edward III
2. Succession of Richard II in 1377 and revolution of 1399, disposition of Richard II who was the founder of Lancastrian dynasty
3. He died in 1400- one year after the Ascension of Henry IV

                    Rule of these three monarch had lasting and important impact to build life and literature of Chaucer. His father was a wine merchant, purveyor to the royal household and, from this accidental relation between trade and royalty may becomes a cause  of the fact that at the age of 17, he got his first court appointment to made page to the princess Elizabeth, who was the wife of the Duck of Charence, who is Edward III's son. It can be considered as the beginning of his connection with the brilliant court, which in the next 40 years under 3 kings.

  

                  At the age of 19 he went with the king on one of the many expeditions of the Hundred years' war. During that time in 1359, with the English army in France, taken as prisoner but he was soon ransomed by the money, 16 pounds, out of the royal purse. After returning he became the personal attendant and confident of the king. Soon after he married a maid of honor to the queen, who was probably Philippa Roet, sister of the wife of John of Gaunt, the famous Duke of Lancaster. 

                     We can observe many Ups and Downs in the life of chaucer. He had two diplomatic visits to Italy and by that he got influenced by the Italian culture in early Renaissance. He may have a kind of influence of Patrick and Boccaccio in his literary works. In 1386, he was elected member of parliament from Kent and, the distinctly English period of his life and work begins. Though he was very busy in public affairs, his heart was always with books. He was also a recipient of many royal favours, even sat in the parliament as a Knight of the Shire of Kent. 

                   Chaucer naturally adhered to the party of John of Gaunt, and his fortunes rose or fell with leaders of that party. He had many ups and downs on the political ladder, today with money and good prospects, tomorrow in poverty and neglect. Chaucer's patron John of Gaunt banished from court and he almost fell into poverty. But after accession of Henry IV (John of Gaunt's son), he got grant of a royal pension. For that he wrote "Complaints to His Empty Purs", in which he called the king's attention to the poets' need and by that they increased his pension. But he was able to enjoy his pension and outcome of his unusual complaints only for few months as he died next year, in 1400. 

     

                  He died on 25th October, 1400, in London, United Kingdom. He was the first poet to be buried in Westminster Abbey, a very prestigious place, which is now known as poets' corner.

"The life so brief, the art so long in the learning, the attempt so hard, the conquest so sharp, the fearful joy that ever slips away so quickly - by all this I mean love, which so sorely astounds my feeling with its wondrous operation, that when I think upon it, I scarce know whether I wake or sleep."

              – Geoffrey Chaucer 

         

★ Works of Chaucer:-

             The works of Chaucer are divided into 3 classes, corresponding to the three periods of his life. But at the same time we would find that fix or exact dates of most of his works is impossible to find out. 

1. French period
2. Italian period
3. English period

1. First period:-

  

          At the time of Geoffrey Chaucer, French was the language of courtiers, and so that he was also influenced by French language and literature. The well known poem of the first period is the "Romaunt of the Rise", a translation from the French "Roman De La Rose", an allegory of the whole course of love. Chaucer translated this universal favourite putting in some original English touches but of the present Romaunt only the first seventeen hundred lines are believed to be Chaucer's own work. 

              

           The best poem of this period is the "Dethe Blanche the Duchesse", which was known as the "Boke of Duchhesse". This poem is of considerable dramatic and emotional power written after the death of Blanche, wife of Chaucer's patron, John of Gaunt.

              Other poems of this period are, "Compleynte to Pite, a grace ful love poem; the "A B C", a prayer to the Virgin which was translated from the French of a Cistercian monk. It's verses beginning with the successive letters of the alphabets. 

2. Second period:-

                  In the second period his works mainly influenced by Italy, as he had two visits to Italy.  The chief work of the second or Italian period is "Troilus and Criseyde", which contains 8000 lines. the poem was later adapted by William Shakespeare in his work "Troilus and Cressida". The source of this poem is Boccaccio's Il Filostrato, the love Smitten one. But in his poem, he uses his material freely, to reflect the ideals of his own age and society. At the same time he gives the whole story a dramatic force and beauty which it had never known before.

                   "The Hous of Fame" is one of his unfinished poem. It has the rare combination of lofty thoughts and simple, homely language, showing the influence of the great Italian master. For this, W. J. Longs states in his History of English literature,

"For many of his ideas Chaucer is indebted to Dante, Ovid and Virgil; but the unusual conception and the splendid workmanship are all his own."

                    The third poem of this period is the "Legende of Goode Wimmen", third longest poem of him after Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde. In this work he wrote nine legends, among which "Thisbe" is the best.  As he was planning for Canterbury Tales, abandoned the task in the middle of his 9th legend. The prologue of this 9th legend is more interesting than any of the legends.

3. Third period:-

             Masterpiece of Chaucer is the Canterbury Tales, one the most famous work in all literature. It fills the third or English period of his life. This great work was never finished but he succeeded in his purpose so well that in Canterbury Tales, he has given us a picture of contemporary English life, it's work and play, it's deeds and dreams, it's fun and sympathy and hearty joy of living l, such as no other single work of literature has ever equaled.

★Canterbury Tales:–

 

              The Canterbury Tale is a collection of twenty-four stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer, between 1387 and 1400.It is widely regarded as Chaucer's Magnum opus.

 

              The framing device for the collection of stories is a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury, Kent. The 30 pilgrims who undertake the journey gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, across the Thames from London. At supper to jovial host of the Tabard In suggests that to enliven the journey, each of the company shall tell four tales, two going and two coming, on whatever subject shall suit him best. The host will travel with them as a master of ceremonies, and whoever tells the best story shall be given fine supper when they all come back again. They agree to engage in a storytelling contest as they travel, and Harry Bailly, host of the Tabard, serves as master of ceremonies for the contest. Most of the pilgrims are introduced by vivid brief sketches in the “General Prologue.”

              Tabard Inn of Southwark is not only famous by the Canterbury Tales, but also by the first playhouses were Shakespeare had his training.

               

The Canterbury Tales consists,

• The General Prologue, 
• The Knight’s Tale, 
• The Miller’s Tale,
• The Reeve’s Tale, 
• The Cook’s Tale,
• The Man of Law’s Tale, 
• The Wife of Bath’s Tale, 
• The Friar’s Tale, The Summoner’s Tale, 
• The Clerk’s Tale, 
• The Merchant’s Tale, 
• The Squire’s Tale, 
• The Franklin’s Tale, 
• The Second Nun’s Tale, 
• The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale, 
• The Physician’s Tale, 
• The Pardoner’s Tale, 
• The Shipman’s Tale, 
• The Prioress’s Tale, 
• The Tale of Sir Thopas, 
• The Tale of Melibeus (in prose), 
• The Monk’s Tale, 
• The Nun’s Priest’s Tale, 
• The Manciple’s Tale, and 
• The Parson’s Tale (in prose),
• It ends with “Chaucer’s Retraction.” 

                Not all the tales are complete; several contain their own prologues or epilogues.

   

               All these tales of the Canterbury Tales, includes stories of love and Chivalry, of saints and legends, travels, adventures, animal fables, allegory, satires, and the coarse humor of the common people. Two tales The Tale of Melibeus and The Parson’s Tale are written in verse. Chaucer is to be regarded as our first short story teller as well as our first modern poet.

                 

Features of Chaucer's poetry:-

1. The unique position :–

   

               He is the first, with no competitor for hundreds of years to challyhis position.

2. His observation :– 

               Among his literary virtues, his acute faculty of observation is very prominent. He was man of the world, mixing freely with all types of mankind, he used his opportunities to observe the Little peculiarities of human nature. He had the seeing eyes, the retentive memory.

3. His descriptions:– 

                 Success of descriptive passage depends on ivacity and skill in presentation, and also on judgement shown on the selection of details. Chaucer's best descriptions, of men, manners and places are of first rank in their beauty, impressiveness and humour. Even in common examples like, conventional spring mornings and dowery gardens, he presents unique descriptions. For example,

The bisy larke, messager of day , 

Salueth in her song the morwe gay, 

And firy Phoebus riseth up so brighte 

That all the orient laugheth with the lighte.

               – The Knight's Tale

      

4. His humour and pathos:–

                      In literature during that time few poets have perception of the fun or humour. The humour of Chaucer is very delightful and poetry has great variety. The prevailing feature of his humour is its urbanity: the man of the world's kindly tolerance of the weaknesses of his erring fellow mortals. 

                  He gave less emphasis to pathos but it is also not overlooked. In his poetry sentiment is humane and unforced. An excellent example of the use of pathos we can see in his works like, Prioress, in The Legend of the Good Women, and the House of Fame 

5. His Narrative power:–

                   As a story teller Chaucer had sometimes tortuous methods, but his narrative possesses a curious stealthy speech. His stories viewed strictly as stories, and have most of the weaknesses of his generation: fondness for long speeches on subjects like dreams and ethical problems, long explanation when none are necessary. For instance,

• Troilus and Criseyde, long speeches which is an example of his prolixity.
• The Knight's Tale , baffling complexity and over abundant narrative passages, which reveals his haphazard and dawdling methods 

6. His metrical Skill:–

                  In terms of poetical technique, English literature owes much to Chaucer.

• He imported decasyllabic lines from France, whic had been employed hardly in all England previously. He used it in both Stanzaic and couplet forms. 
• The seven lined stanza ababbcc has become known as the Chaucerian or rime royale. 

Chaucer is not great Lyrical poet but in some of his short poems - roundels and ballads, he shows a skill that is as good as the very best apparent in contemporary poems.

My video on Geoffrey Chaucer:-

Conclusion:-

                 To sum up, we can say that he is the earliest of the great moderns, and the great literary figure of that time, that the entire age is now known as the age of Chaucer, which shows his command of his works in hearts of people.

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The Neo classical age

Thinking activity 

               This blog is based on thinking activity given by Kavisha ma'am regarding Neo classical age. 

Introduction:-

           New classicism was a movement interested in reviving Greek and Roman literature, art, architecture, philosophy and theatre in the 18th century.

           Literary Noe classicismin English literature is noted for attempts to imitate the style of the Romans and Greeks literature. Writing from this period is noted for its accuracy and order, as well as its direct and clear structure. New classical period literature lasted from 1660 to 1798. This time period can be divided into three parts;

1. Restoration period (1660-1700)
2. The Augustan period (1700-1750)
3. The age of Johnson (1750-1798)

               So we can say that all three period have their reasons, why particular period in literature of Neo classical age has different name. 

• The Restoration period:- There was Restoration of king Charles I to English throne and monarchy was restored to order.
• The Augustan period:- Writers of this age was imitating the Greek and Roman traditions in their writings and adopting similar genres, as such as epic or pastoral. Alexander Pope's 1711 long poem, "An essay on criticism" is a great example of it. 
• The age of Johnson:- This is the last stage of the Neo classical age in literature. The age was dominated in writing by Samuel Johnson and that's why this period is named as age of Johnson. Few years after his death, Neo classical age ends with publication of "Lyrical Ballads" by Wordsworth.

                  The Neo classical age is also known by various names. Like,

1. The Neo-classical age
2. The Augustan age
3. Age of Pope
4. Age of Enlightenment
5. Age of prose and reasons
6. Age of Transition
7. Age of satire

             All these are known for particular aspect of the age.

Similarities and differences between the contemporary political sphere of India and the new classical age of England.

1. Political background of the Neo classical age; condition of women:-

                  New classicism movement is reaction against Puritanism. In 1660 monarchy was restored and Charles II become king. Charles return it to England from France and brought with him many things an ideas. In The reign of Charles II, the terms Whig and Tory first become current: by the year 1700 they were in everybody is mouth. By the revolution of 1688 Charles second and William of orange come to thrown. It marks and of the long struggle for political freedom in England. There after the English man spent his tremendous energy which is four bears had largely spent in fighting for freedom in endless political discussions and enough for to improve his government. 

                  If we compare The Neo classical age with present Indian politics, we would find mane similarities. 

• In Neo classical age,there was two parties Whig and Tory. Whigs party stood for the pre-eminence of personal freedom and the Tory views of royal divine right. Alike we have BJP and Congress. But here one thing is different and that is both parties are talking about one thing and that is "Vikas" (development).

• Both parties are constantly fighting with each other. And the heated arguments are about opposite party has done nothing fruitful in terms of development. But we can see both are one and alike.

• According to William J. Long,

"In the midst of heated argument it needed only a word or a poem of victory to tell a patriotic people that under there many differences they were all alike Englishman."

             In Indian context, we are also getting a kind of assurance by our political leaders that under very much differences we all are alike, we all are indians. 

• Political writings were essential part of the Neo classical period that we can also see in modern political sphere. 

              Nearly every writer of the first half of the century in new classical age was used and rewarded by Whigs and Tories for satirising and for advancing the special political interest.

              

            In current Indian scenario we can see that political parties are praising the writers and the people who are supporting them or opposing other parties and it is the harsh reality That who ever tries to go against particular party is completely destroyed or defamed by them, doesn't matter which kind of work they are doing. One party is very harshly criticizing other parties in every possible way. For example, 

In these newspaper cut, Zuber is accused for finding out truth behind viral news. So this we can compare with Neo classical age and it's political writing.

• There was rise of education and so that people started to apply reason for particular thing. But that education was somewhat limited to aristocratic and upper class. In India we are now getting education but because of lack of knowledge, people are unable to find a correct path or choice. Nowadays, GST is applied to even food, but we are still unable to think of it. So many newspaper and media are highlighting all these things. So many news are getting published, people are also circulating messages of it. For example,

               

               So, we are now free in physical form, but still we are not free mentally. Now we all are getting basic education, which is far better than Neo classical age. There was limited education to upper class. So literary works and write ups were not reaching to common people.

          So these differences I could find between Neo classical and contemporary political sphere.

             If we look at it in women's context, we come to know that during Neo classical era, there were complete marginalization of women, it can be in term of literature or human rights in male dominated society. In India we are have reservations for women in every field. They are getting equality. But in a limited way. We are always told our rights as the society wants from us. Liberty in a narrow sense. We are still suffering from patriarchy. 

                I want to take recent example of our new president Draupadi Murmu, she is a woman. In India, as we have patriarchal society, we translated president to "Rastrapati". 

             In this news we can see that she is addressed as "Rashtrapatni", there arises a chaotic situation. It shows the patriarchal mindsets of India.

        If we look at it in terms of literature, we may find that there was complete marginalization of women writers. Their works were not getting that much acknowledgement compare to male writers. The 18th century is also known for the emergence of Feminism. From that time, we are still on the way to get culmination for women's right, right for equality. 

                 

         But by the time women are becoming more and more conscious about their personal liberty, they are still having a kind of struggle to establish their identity. So it is not that much easy to establish equality in male dominant mindset.

2. Note on 18th century women writers.

 

                  Women have made significant contributions to literature since the earliest written texts. In 7th century, Sappho, a Greek poet started to write her lyrical poetry. But in English literature till 17th century we have only a few women writers, but after 17th century women writer comes for front in literature. Aphra Behn, Mary Wollstonecraft, Sarah Fielding, Elizabeth Griffith, Charlotte Lennox, Jane Barker, Mrs. Ann Radcliffe and many other women started to write including in professional way. But female professionalism was not encouraged to much.

                  But at the same time we can see consistent marginalization of women writers in literary canon. That time many women's were writing but their contribution was not acknowledged that much. Even in history books there are very few references of women's writing and their contribution in literature. Only three references I could find from Edward Albert's "The History of English literature" and that is about Lady Mary Wortley Montagu as a minor prose writer (203), Lady Winchilsea as a poet(216) and Mrs, Ann Radcliffe as a novelist (264). It shows that womens writings were not acknowledged by the people and writers of The 18th century.

 

                     Many women writers emerged to legitimizing of women's voice. Aphra Behn is the best example of it as she always had to defend their choice of theme. The tradition of women writing has been much ignored and even destroyed her literary career due to the inferior position women have held in male-dominated societies. The best example of it is Eliza Haywood, because savage attacks by pope against her in Dunciad in 1728, almost destroyed her career, as a result of it Haywood wrote very little after 1728. By the example we can understand situation of women. writers. There is lots of examples of gender bias in women's writing.

           

                  There were the rise of virtuous professional women writers after 1740 by Katherine Philip, Penelope Aubin, Elizabeth Rowe which are  much praised by Johnson. After the half of the 18th century there was increased acceptance, respectability and readership of women writers. First we will have a look at the starting point of English women writing.

Aphra Behn:- 

            Aphra Behn was an English playwright, poet, prose writer and translator from the Restoration era. As one of the first English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barriers and served as a literary role model for later generations of women authors. Virginia Woolf, declared that,

"All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn."

Her major works include,

• The Forc’d Marriage (1670)
• The Amorous Prince(1671)
• Abdelazer (1676)
• The Rover (two parts published in 1677 and 1681)
• Emperor of the Moon (1687)
• epistolary novel Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister (1684–87)
• The Fair Jilt (1688)
• The Lover in Fashion (1688)

              She was first successful women writer. She always defend their choice of theme. We can also see cheapness in her works written in comedy of Manner.

Here are some examples of The Neo classical women writers.

Mary Wollstonecraft:-

                 She was an English writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. She got married to P. B. Shelley, so She was later known as Mary Shelly. She outlined her beliefs in "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792), considered a classic of feminism.  

Her two major works  are,

★"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman", The work pressed for educational reforms and had a last thing impact on future women thinkers and writers.

★"Maria, or the wrongs of women"- assetted that women had strong sexual desires and it was degrading and immoral to pretend otherwise.

★Frankenstein (1818)

   

               She also worked as a translator with Joseph Johnson, a publisher of radical texts. Her translations are,

• Thoughts on the education of daughters (1787)
• Regular contributor to analytical review 1788

             The life of Wollstonecraft has been the subject of several biographies, beginning with her husband’s "Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman".

Eliza Haywood:-

                 She was an English writer, actress and publisher. An increase in interest and recognition of Haywood's literary works began in the 1980s. Described as "prolific even by the standards of a prolific age", Haywood wrote and published over 70 works in her lifetime, including fiction, drama, translations, poetry, conduct literature and periodicals.[1] Haywood today is studied primarily as one of the 18th-century founders of the novel in English.

              She is known for her prolific output Love in Excess (1719) which four additions she wrote in 4 years. You also wrote 10 novels in a year 1725.

Jane Barker:-

     

                Jane Barker (1652–1732) was a popular English fiction writer, poet, and a staunch Jacobite. She went into self-imposed exile when James II fled England during the Glorious Revolution in 1688. 

Works:-

• The Amours of Bosvil and Galesia
• Love Intrigues (1713) 
• Exilius or The Banish'd Roman (1715)
• A Patchwork Screen for the Ladies (1723)
• The Lining of the Patchwork Screen for the Ladies (1726)
• A Collection of Poems Referring to the Times" (1701)

               So, by 18th century onwards, women writers acknowledged by the literary scholars as well as readers.

 

                     

{Words:- 1970}

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Welcome function, batch 2022-24

 

               On 24 july 2022, we all freshers of the department of English, MK Bhavnagar University got welcome party by our seniors. The whole function was hosted by Jheel barad and Dhruvita Dhameliya.

                The programme begane by University song and prayer -" Teri hai Zami". Initially one student from sem -1, Drashti, presented dance.

              Though we were attending lectures since 10 days, we all were not aware about various activities. So in very first part of the function, we all get not only a glimpse but the whole idea about how all kinds of activities are going on by our seniors. To handle these activities, there is one particular committee. Each committee has two leaders and other members to moderate it in a smooth way. Currently, 12 committees are working for various purposes. It includes,

1. Daily assembly committee
2. Gardening committee
3. Sports and recreation committee
4. ICT committee
5. Celebration committee
6. Bulletin board committee
7. Library committee
8. Art and creative committee
9. Movie screening committee
10. Financial committee
11. Mass media committee
12. Documentation committee

              I feel that all these communities give us a way to handle particular event. To be a leader is always tough task. So it provides us a kind of knowledge to handle upcoming responsibilities. It can be social, educational or professional. So the structure of all these communities have attracted me a lot.

               In between, there was a game presented by one  of my senior Himanshi. There was a wheel, on which name of sem 1 students and on other wheel was particular activity, that  choosen fellow had. I liked game the most, because by this we got a chance to present something at the moment and also was very informative.

         Two of my fellow, Akshat and Prabhat sang song. Particularly Akshat sang a Bollywood song "Tu hi meri shab hai" and Prabhat sang Duha-Chhand, and made the environment very enthusiastic.

                 There was another event presented by seniors was dance on the idea of "Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett", how we lives between fate and absurdity. It was presented by Emisha Ravani, Divya sheta and Mayuri.  It was very informative and also well prepared by them.

                Further, kavisha ma'am, Yesha ma'am and Vaidehi ma'am talk d about their days at the department. They gave us message to be enthusiastic in whatever things we do. Message of learn, unlearn and relearn.

                Finally Baradsir gave very brief introduction of literary sensibility and importance of Digital skills. Also put importance of learning through multimedia.

               After completing formal function, we had light meal. And then we had dance and Garba. 

             The whole function was nicely organised by our seniors.

            The record of this function is available on YouTube. 

Click here to watch the video

Thank you for visiting...

              

Aristotle's poetics

Thinking activity

Worksheet: Aristotle's poetics

Introduction:- 

             This blog is in response to the bridge course assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir. This blog contains critical evaluation of Aristotle's poetics. It deals with 5 questions regarding Aristotle's poetics and concept of tragedy. 

      Q-1  How far do you agree with plato's objection to freedom of expression and artistic Liberty enjoyed by creative writer. ( Name the texts, novels, plays, poems, movies, TV soaps, etc  which can be rightfully objected and banned with Plato's objections.)

             A Greek philosopher Plato levied objections on poetry are creative work. He says that poetry is imitational,  not rational or moral, it is inspirational and argues that it leads to the arousal of emotions which is inappropriate or harmful. Poetry is normally harmful depiction of Greek Gods. 

           To rectify misconception of Plato, his disciple Aristotle makes counter arguments. In his work poetics, he defences the term Mimesis and presents that poetry mimetic, which means 'to make' not 'to copy'. Poetry doesn't represent what is or what was, but what ought to be.

          In some points of Plato, I do not agree with him and his objection to freedom of expression and artistic Liberty enjoyed by creative writer. It is true that poetry is inspirational but at the same time we can't tell it neither irrational nor inappropriate nor harmful nor dangerous to the soul. Creative writers are not liars. They present their views, emotions and suggestions through their work of art. It has not direct message of morality but in depth it also depicts how to make world better. They give an idea of what should be. 

         At some point I will be agree with Plato that they are enjoying freedom of expressions and artistic Liberty. Sometimes they presents the things which has no meaning at all, we can call it useless and which not even presents any kind of aesthetics delight. So in that sense Plato is right with is objections on creative writers.

           For example, some movies like Kabir Singh, Robot, ek villain, Murder, me tera hero, etc. do not present any sense. It is not so that creative works should teach or have moral values but at least it should have a single idea of Aristotle says - what ought to be. We can not say that there is a single idea behind these movies by which writer wants to presents what ought to be as Aristotle argues about creative works. There are lots of movies which were banned for this artistic Liberty. The movie Padmavat is the best example of it.

                The same thing which can be seen in Advertisement like, Sab ud gaya fog nahi - where  after cyclone everything got destroyed but a girl says that everything has gone but not the smell of Fogg. Centerfruit chewingum- where a boy to make an impression chew Centerfruit and girl is also impressed and kaisi jibh labalabai, pears soap - Teri ek jhalak dikh Jaye to din ban jaye - where kids are waiting for one kid's mother to make their day special as she takes bath of  pears soap. 

All these advertisement don't make any sense at all. It has no connection with even reality.

      

Q-2 With reference to the literary texts you have studied during B.A. programme. Write brief note on the texts which followed Aristotalian literary tradition (tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia)

                There are four literary texts which we have studied in B. A. Programme and which contains Aristotalian literary tradition. Which are...

1. All my sons
2. Othello
3. Tughlaq
4. Ghashiram kotwal

    

1. All my sons:-

             "All my sons", a play by Arthur Miller is in some ways can be fitted in the frame of the concept of Aristotle's tragedy.

Tragic hero:- Joe Keller. He neither belong from category of Saint nor from sinner, he is a normal human being, normal businessman.

Hubrics:- The trick Joe Keller has excessive Pride or ambition to be wealthy, as he was shipping from his factory defective aircraft engine cylinder heads for Curtiss P-40 fighters during World war II and it causes the death of his elder son Larry Keller and 20 other person, and thus he commits suicide at the end.

Hamartia:- Joe Keller was knowingly supplying defective aircraft engine cylinder head in terms of ignorance and careless view, which takes 21 lives including his son Larry.

Catharsis:- Catharsis according to Aristotle, is a release of emotions, especially pity and fear, at the end of the play. In All my Sons, the audience does develop a sense of pity for the characters and their hardships as well as fear for their futures, but there is no clear catharsis. After Joe dies, Chris is left with a sense of guilt for his father's death and the mother is left grieving for both her dead son and now her dead husband. The audience does not get the satisfaction of releasing their emotions, but is rather left with tension and curiosity.

2. Othello:-

             "Othello" is a very well known domestic tragedy of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's play, “Othello, the Moor of Venice,” is a powerful example of a tragedy and it’s main character, 

Tragic hero:-  Though it is a Shakespearean tragedy, Othello, is an excellent illustration of what Aristotle constitutes as a tragic hero. The play imitates life through basic human emotions such as jealousy and rage. In addition, Othello is far from being a perfect character - another quality that meets Aristotle's requirements..

Hamartia:- Othello was a powerful leader who deeply loved his faithful wife. He was tricked into believing his wife had cheated on him. His suspicion then overpowered him and he murdered his wife in a jealous rage, never even giving her a chance to defend herself.

              In this case, Othello's hamartia, or internal tragic flaw, is his extreme jealousy. It is this jealousy that enables him to be tricked and allows him to create his own destruction.

  Catharsis:- Othello catharsis is he realises that Iago led him astray, and that it was his own trust, naivete, and jealousy that led him to kill Desdemona.

               Othello’s catharsis results in his suicide, and the audience feels his betrayal– realising that trusting a friend blindly can have severe consequences. The audience thus never needs to experience the feeling of betrayal in reality, as Othello’s catharsis has taught them to be more aware.

3. Tughlaq:-

               Thughlaq is a play by Indian playwright Girish Karnad. The play more or less has an element of Aristotle's tragedy.

Tragic hero:- Muhammad Tughlaq is the protagonist in the play 'Tughlaq'. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must be highly placed individual. Tughlaq appears a fit tragic hero from this perspective. He is a highly prominent person who has some great qualities of head and heart.

         

Hubrics:-  Tughlaq was a great king who had an excessive Pride and ambitions regarding equality between Hindu and Muslim. In this path he commits many crimes and becomes cause of suffering of other people of the kindom.

Hamartia:- Thughlaq's hamartia is his idealism. Like he treats Hindu and Muslim alike, make five time prayer compulsory, introduces Copper currency equal to silver currency and shifting his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. All of his actions led him to his tragic end, and it led him alone.

Catharsis:- Tughlaq is play which doesn't end with the death of hero or the protagonist but with so much calamities and at the end of the play Sultan becomes lonely as he killed his courtiers and sentenced his step mother to death for her act to kill his fellow. At the end of the play, audiences sinks in pity towards Sultan and people of his kingdom. 

Q-3 With reference to the literary texts you have studied during B.A. programme, write brief note on the texts which did NOT follow Aristotelian literary tradition. (i.e. his concept of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia etc.)

                     There were two literary texts which doesn't follow Aristotalian literary tradition. Which are,

1. Ghashiram kotwal
2. The hairy ape

1. Ghashiram kotwal:- 

             This play is written by an Indian dramatist Vijay Tendulkar. The play presents Ghashiram kotwal as a result of socio-political result. This play doesn't follow Aristotalian literary tradition.

                Downfall of the protagonist is not his own faults but socio-political aspects makes him cruel to kill innocent people of Puna. He becomes blood thirsty as he was humiliated by Puna Brahmins and exchanges Kotwali of Puna with his daughter Gauri to Nana Phadanvis. At the end of the play Ghashiram is sentenced to death by Nana because Ghashiram is of no use to him as Gauri is no more which was the center of lust for Nana.

                 Yes, the play has an element called Catharsis of Aristotle's literary tradition. At the end audience feel pity for Ghashiram for his struggle to earn livelihood in Puna city and after getting humiliation from Puna Brahmins he goes on the way to take revenge in exchange of his daughter to lustful Nana. The end of Ghashiram is very pitiful when Ghashiram admits that,.. "hit me, bit me, cut off my hands, i gave my lovely daughter to lustful Nana to due."  

               Last words of Ghashiram makes everyone emotional and there is an element of purgation feeled by audience.

2. The Hairy ape:- 

                 The Hairy Ape is a penetrating and concentrating tragedy on human predicament in the modern age. The subtitle 'A Comedy of Ancient and Modern Life' is  ironical. It points the satirical intent of the playwright.

              The Hairy Ape is a tragedy of modern times, having no conventional hero of the classical or Aristotelian tradition. The play presents an antihero, possessing no extraordinary quality or tragic flaw. The protagonist, Yank - Bob Smith is not a man of high position. He is from lower or middle class.

                  He is a humble stoker in a ship whose duty is to shove fuel into the furnace of ship's engine. He works long hours in the ship’s low roofed stokehole and  dominating figure among the stokers by virtue of his superior physical power. Aristotalian concept of tragedy is not found in our hero Yank, who doesn't have his own fault. But rather he is conflicted with his environment. He struggled hard against the forces but he could not win. Mildred Douglas's reaction to Yank, which makes Yank come to know about class awareness. Yank is especially affected by Mildred because she presents a world and class which he cannot belong to.  

                 Yank's downfall is his search for identity. All these aspects are causes of finding indentity and at the end to the death.

 Q-4 Have you studied any tragedies during B.A. programme? Who was/were the tragic protagonist/s in those tragedies? What was their ‘hamartia’?

                Yes, I have studied tragadies during B. A. And it has tragic protagonist and all the heroes has their own hamartia for their downfall.

Nails - Thinking Activity

Thinking activity

             This blog is based on an activity given by Yesha ma'am. It is about the subject 'Nails'- how can we present a topic in very different way.

                

          While thinking weirdness of nails, the sudden example that my mind has captured is an example of a ancient female character of RAMAYAN, Surpankha, who is considered as a monster. She had long nails. So whenever someone has long nails, they are exemplified by the character of surpanakha. They say it in typical Gujarati in sarcastic way, સુરપંખાની ભત્રીજી.  So this is the funniest metaphor which we may heard from various angles, especially our elders tell us so.

          The another thing took place in my mind is that, because of anxiety, we start chewing our nails unconsciously. The logic may be funny that we chew our nails like in old Bollywood movies, where a person used to throw out poison of snake by their mouth from other person's body- especially their beloved. In the same way it can try has a logic that we are throwing out our anxiety with our nails. I also use to cut my nails with the help of another hands is nails due to anxiety and excitement unconsciously. 

           Nails are also a weapon to protect ourselves on one hand. Long nails are good but when it harm other person, it's too bad, because when I was in 10th standard, one of my friends had long nails and while playing Kabaddi, unintentionally she harmed me by her nails. And from that point I decided to cut my nails very often. It sounds very funny, but was also very painful for me at that time. There was i who got injered and didn't break friendship, otherwise nails can break your relation also, in a very ridiculous way☺️.

           You can sustain your shaped nails until you don't come into contact with water very often. Washing utensils and clothes- both are most dangerous and disastrous for nail artists or nail lovers. So there is one funniest saying in Hindi,

बर्तन धोने से डर नहीं लगता साहब... 

नाखून टूटने से लगता है।

                And I personally advise all those nail lovers in Hindi,

ना नाखून बढ़ाने चाहिए और

ना रिश्ते बढाने चाहिए

दोनों के आधे टूटने से

तकलीफ खुद को ही होती है।

                   There is one saying,

Your life is not perfect but your nails can be.

        For them it is like what our well known Indian female singer LataJi used to say about her voice that "my voice is my identity". This quotation can be true to nail lovers but in a different way,

My nails are my identity.

मेरे नाखून ही मेरी पहचान है।

           Many women have very beautiful and attractive nails for that someone says romantically,

तेरी हर एक बात हमें भाती है,

लोग तो तेरे चेहरे पर फिदा होते हैं,

 हम तो तेरे नाखून पर ही दिल लुटा बैठे ।

            I have written some lines on the important of nails,

No need to say anything,

Let your nails to say.

Chewing nails can express your anxiety and thrilling feeling,

Let your nails to say.

Someone has superpower of knowledge and expressions

Some may have about nail painting,

Let your nails to say.

Buying happiness doesn't mean to work hard to earn money

Happiness can also get by nail painting,

Let your nails to say.

When someone wants to be fit and don't want to do exercise or something,

So fitness and shape you can gain in your nails without that much endeavour

Let your nails to say.

It is called sometimes monsterous and sometimes civilized

From which category do you belong?

Let your nails to say.

I don't want to say anything.

Because my nails speak louder than voice

So like me let your nails to say.

Thanks for visiting.