Macbeth- Thinking Activity

 

Hello, 

This blog is based upon Thinking Task assigned by Dilip Sir. 

For backgrond reading and questions you can press below highlighted button and check out worksheet.

Background

How faithful is the play performance to the original play?

It is faithful play performance. Play was excetely like real one, however, in the last act some of the scenes and dialogues were missing. 

How has watching the play influenced your perception of the characters, situations, or themes?

Watching paly in the Glob theatre was lively experience. The story was already known to us so some of the scenes like #Macbeth's coronation, #Murder scene of King Duncan, #sleepwalking of Lady Macbeth reflected so well. Theme of Guilt reflects so many time by behaviour of Macbeth like constant shivering of his hand.

Did you experience aesthetic delight while watching the play? When and why ? 

It was hard to understand the language and that's why we hardly connect with the characters. However, previous mentioned scenes are providing aesthetic delight. 

1. Witches Scene: This scene was provided musical effect and that's why it is intresting to watch it. 

2. Macbeth's Coronation 

3. Macbeth's Hallucinations

4. Lady Macbeth's Sleepwalking 

 Did you experience catharsis while or after watching the play? When and why?

English play and in the second language is hard to interpret. Even there was not high impact of music and atmosphere that is why we are not able to feel catharsis. Though, scene of Lady Macbeth's Sleepwalking and her soliloquy and Macbeth's hallucinations and his murder, this all scenes had catharsis. 

How did the screening of the play enhance your understanding of the play compared to reading the text?

Movie or play is alway better medium to understand text. Same with this paly, it enhanced our understanding and it provides lively imagination to our text. Now whenever we will read the text this play provide us background. 

Is there a particular scene or moment in the play that will stay with you? 

Lady Macbeth's washing hands during sleep and her repentance scene was extremely deep. It will stay with me.

 If you were the director, what changes would you consider making in a screening of play performance adaptation of Macbeth? 

If I am director then I do below changes,

1. It is hard to change the background of the scenes in theatre, but I will use technology for lively effect. 

2. For scene of Birnam wood jungl walking I use VFX. 

3. In the scene of Prophecy by witches and language game by them I do changes. In the play only witches change the character for better impact upon audience I use for prophecy, small child and other characters. 

4. In the scene of last conversation of Macduff and Malcom I do changes. In the play it is going dull but for making it interesting I use modern English so that my audience get connected. 

5. In the scenes of witches I use beard male so that it can connect with the real text and they look like witches. 

Symbolism of the scenes involving the witches in relation to Macbeth’ ambitious actions and the plot of the play. 

Yes there is significant role of witches in the play. Though, Macbeth is ambitious but without prophecy he is not going to do the action. Witches giving shot to Macbeth's action and they make him to be doer of his action. In the first scene they pushed him for being a king and in the another scene by prophecy they provoke him. He has been too much over-confidence about his life and this leads him to downfall of his. 

MCQ: 

1. What is the genre of Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" ?

#  Tragedy

2. Which of the following best describes Macbeth's tragic flaw ? 

#Ambition

3. The witches' prophecies play a significant role in Macbeth's downfall. What is the primary theme associated with these prophecies ? 

# Power

4. Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene is a turning point in the play. What emotion is she struggling with during this scene ? 

# Guilt 

Describe the symbolic significance of the opening scenes in Act I & IV involving the three witches in the play "Macbeth".

"Macbeth," the opening scenes of Act I and Act IV involving the three witches hold important symbolic meanings. In Act I, the witches symbolize the presence of supernatural forces and the idea that things aren't always as they seem. Their eerie predictions set the tone for the play's themes of ambition, fate, and the consequences of unchecked desire.

In Act IV, the witches represent chaos and the unraveling of order. Their prophecies create a sense of uncertainty and foreshadow the tragic events that follow. The witches also emphasize the theme of deception, as their predictions lead Macbeth to make destructive choices based on false promises.

Overall, these opening scenes with the witches use symbolism to highlight the play's themes and show how external influences can impact human actions in both subtle and profound ways.

How does Macbeth's ambition lead to his moral deterioration throughout the play? Provide examples from the play to support your answer.

Macbeth's ambition drives his moral decline in "Macbeth." At first, he's hesitant about killing King Duncan, but his desire for power overpowers his morals. He murders Duncan and spirals further by ordering deaths of Banquo and Macduff's family. His ambition blinds him, making him disregard guilt and commit atrocities. He even becomes paranoid and hallucinates due to guilt. Lady Macbeth's ambition initially influences him, but later, he's consumed by his own ambitions. This deterioration shows how unchecked ambition can corrupt, leading to tragic consequences.

In what ways does the motif of ‘blood’ serve as a symbol in "Macbeth"? Explain its significance in relation to guilt and violence. (‘Blood’ is mentioned around 40 times in the play) 

The motif of 'blood' in "Macbeth" is a powerful symbol. It represents guilt and violence. As characters commit crimes, they feel guilt, and this guilt is likened to bloodstains that can't be washed away. For instance, after Macbeth murders Duncan, he says, "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" Here, blood represents the unshakable guilt he feels. Additionally, Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene shows her obsessively trying to wash imaginary bloodstains, revealing her guilt and mental anguish. Overall, 'blood' symbolizes the inescapable consequences of violence and the haunting nature of guilt throughout the play.

Discuss the impact of the supernatural elements, such as the witches and prophecies, on the plot and characters of "Macbeth."

The supernatural elements in "Macbeth," like the witches and their prophecies, have a big impact on the story and characters. The witches predict Macbeth's rise to power, planting ambition in his mind. This makes him think about doing bad things to become king. The prophecies affect his decisions, leading to murder and chaos. Lady Macbeth is also influenced by the supernatural, asking spirits to make her more ruthless. These elements add tension and uncertainty, showing how external forces can shape human actions. The witches' appearances and prophecies create a sense of mystery and fate, making "Macbeth" a spooky and complex tale.

Compare and contrast the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. How do their personalities and motivations contribute to the unfolding of the tragedy? 

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are different but important in the tragedy. Macbeth starts off good, but his ambition makes him do bad things. He's hesitant at first, but his wife pushes him to kill. Lady Macbeth is strong-willed and urges Macbeth to act. But later, guilt makes her lose her mind. Their personalities affect the tragedy. Macbeth's ambition leads to his downfall, while Lady Macbeth's guilt drives her to madness. Their actions based on ambition and guilt bring about the tragic events in the play.

Thank you.

Work Cited: 

Barad, Dilip. Worksheet

- Screening Shakespeare’s Macbeth. 2023. ResearchGate,https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.35351.55207.

Thinking Task of Neo-classical Age

 

Hello readers, 

This blog is based upon Thinking Task of Neo-classical Age assigned by Vaidehi Mam. 

Q - Compare the general characteristics of the Elizabethan age and Neo-classical age.

In the Elizabeth age as well as in Neo-classical age we can find #new classicism. If we look at Elizabethan classicism, the new spark of literature has just been started. They are using it as building the literature of that time. On the other hand in neo- classical period they are quite frigid and limited about rules, moderate opinions,and technique. That's why it known as pseudo-classical age. 

 Abundance of output, as we have pointed out, people started taking interest in literature so that it leads to production of it in Elizabethn age. In neo-classical age #New publishing house emerged due to political rising. First and greatest epoch called romanticism happened in Elizabethn era. On next side in Neo-classical age political background leads to #new morality, because of largely reaction against extreme Puritanism. 

The Drama started rising in Elizabethn age. University wits provide background to Shakespeare to take dive into the realm of drama. Such as Thomas Kyds work The Spanish Tragedy inspire Shakespeare and Marlowe became backbone of Drama. Neo-classical age is also known as "Age of Satire". Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, and Daniel Defoe focused upon it and their works make remarks for satire. 

In addition, during Elizabethan realm writers and even poets like Spenser focused upon Kings and queens. Apparently, Prominent writers wrote upon life and incidents of kings and queens like Fairy Queen and Shakespeare's whole series upon Kings. When we take look at neo-classical age writers believed in realism and common man's lives. Even trivial incidents become centre in this era like The Rape of the Lock,  Robinson Crusoe, and Gulliver's Travel etc.  

Moreover, in Elizabethn time heroic themes were associated with works,in the very next age writers focus upon common themes such as outer beauty, religious corruption etc. Queen Elizabeth gave importance to religious tolerance. It leads to serene in this period. On the other hand, Political partis,  Whig and Tory created chaos among the people. So the peace of previous period lost in this age. 

Middle class emerged during the Elizabethan age and it reached at its height in the next age. Queen Elizabeth provides freedom to the writer, but writers most of the time done flattery to her. However, during age of Pope writers openly wrote against authority. With the help of political and periodical writing, they spread wave of rebelion in the air. 

In morden time we see coffee house with different angle. While neo-classical Age it becomes centre for discussing ideas and ideology of that time. We can't see this type of feature in Elizabethn age. 

In sum up, both age has similarities and differences. It can be appear when we compare each other. This comparison provides facts and results of the action. So we can say that If Elizabethn age is the ranaissance of the English literature, neo-classical age is high pick of English literature. 

 

Q: Who is your favorite writer and favorite text from the Neo-Classical Age? How is she or he different from writers of the Elizabethan and Romantic Ages?

Alexander Pope is my favourite writer and his Rape of the Lock is my favourite text. Whole age is named after his name, and this is one reason of choosing him. He is different from Elizabethn writers, because he focuses upon common people,  believing in realism that's why he wrote all realistic things in it. He chooses to write against the religion and politics. This leads him to be different from others. 

In addition, Romantic writers focused upon nature. On the other hand Pope refused the importance of nature. Despite of his time period, he indulges into satirical writing. Constant satire upon elit class and their values makes him favorite figure of this age. 

Q: Describe any one thing about this age that you look up to.

The prevalence of satire is feature that I look up to. For criticising authority, people, and idea we can use it. Now a days it becomes very common. But it was the Neo-Classical age and it's writers along with literature embarked the spark of it. Periodicals and Clubs like Kit-Kat club, Spectator club became seeds for full growing tree of satire. 

PPT :

 

Alexander Pope.pptx from Dhatri Parmar

Work Cited: 

Albert, Edward. A History of English Literature; a Practical Text-Book by Edwardalbert. T.Y. Crowell Co., 1924.

Aristotle's Poetics

 

Hello everyone, 

This blog is based on task given by Dilip Sir. Let us discuss, 

1. The God of the small things: 

# Tragic Hero: 

In "The God of Small Things," the tragic protagonist is Ammu, who faces societal constraints, personal hardships, and tragic circumstances that lead to her downfall. Her love affair and the consequences highlight the tragic nature.

#Hamartia of Tragic Hero:

Ammu's hamartia in "The God of Small Things" is pursuit of forbidden love and her defiance of societal norms. Her passionate relationship with Velutha, a lower-caste man, goes against the strict caste system and cultural expectations of their society. This choice ultimately leads to tragic consequences for both her and Velutha, reflecting the tragic flaw or mistake that contributes to their downfall.

# Did it followed the rule of Aristotelian Tragedy? 

"The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy tells a story that's sad and complicated, but it doesn't follow all the rules of old-style tragic stories.

In the book, there's a character named Ammu. She's like the main character, and she goes through a lot of tough times. One of the big things in the story is her love for a man named Velutha. But there's a problem: Velutha is from a lower caste, and they're not supposed to be together because of the strict rules of their society.

Ammu's big mistake, her "hamartia," is that she chooses to love Velutha despite what society says. This choice breaks the rules and leads to a lot of trouble. It's like a tragic flaw because her love for Velutha is what eventually brings about her downfall and his too.

However, the story doesn't exactly fit the old "Aristotelian" rules of tragedy. In those old stories, there's a specific structure where the main character makes a big mistake, things get worse and worse, and then they finally realize their mistake and things either get better or they die. This is called a "catharsis."

In "The God of Small Things," the structure is a bit different. The book also talks about society, politics, and history, especially how the caste system and colonialism affect people's lives. It's not just about one person's downfall; it's about a whole family and the world they live in.

So, while Ammu's story has tragic in  elements and she does make a big mistake that leads to her downfall, the book doesn't strictly follow the old rules of tragic stories. It's more complex and doesn't neatly fit into a single genre like traditional tragedies do.

In sum up, "The God of Small Things" does have a tragic character like Ammu who makes a big mistake in loving Velutha, which leads to her downfall. However, the book goes beyond the traditional rules of tragic stories. It talks about bigger issues like society and history, making it a unique and complex narrative that doesn't fit neatly into a single genre.

2. Literary text of B.A. that followed Aristotelian Tragedy rules: 

Death of the Selsemam: 

Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller can be seen as an example of Aristotelian Tragedy, even though it's a modern play. Let us briefly discussed about it. 

Willy Loman, the main character, is just a regular guy, not a king or hero. But his strong desire for success, like the American Dream, becomes his tragic flaw. This flaw drives him to unrealistic beliefs and actions.

The story starts with Willy's struggles and his realization that he's not as successful as he thought. This realization becomes a turning point, where things start going downhill. 

As the play goes on, Willy faces the truth about himself and his family. He realizes that his dreams and actions have caused pain. This is his moment of recognition.

Willy's pride and unrealistic dreams are like his enemies. They lead him to make bad choices and ignore reality. The audience feels a mix of pity and fear as they see his downfall unfold.

The play's climax is when Willy takes his own life. In the end, even though "Death of a Salesman" has its own modern twists, it still shares many elements with Aristotelian Tragedy. It reminds us that personal flaws and choices can shape our lives in unexpected ways.

3. How far do you agree with plato's objection of freedom of expression enjoyed by creative writers ? 

Plato was worried about art's effects on society. He thought artists might twist the truth and cause problems. But I don't fully agree with him.

I believe that art is a way for individuals to express themselves and show their feelings and ideas and art can help us see the world from different angles and learn about various cultures. Even if art portrays strong emotions or challenging topics, it doesn't necessarily mean that people will act badly because of it.

In modern times, societies often believe in freedom of expression. Art can sometimes challenge our thoughts and beliefs, leading to important discussions. 

While Plato's worries were about art's influence, today's perspective leans more towards the belief that art is a powerful tool for sharing, learning, and growing as individuals and as a society.

# List of movies: 

"Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" (2006): This film explores complex relationships and infidelity, potentially challenging traditional moral values.

"Fashion" (2008): The movie delves into the fashion industry, potentially highlighting negative aspects of the industry and lifestyle.

"Rockstar" (2011): The film portrays the journey of a musician, including themes of self-destructive behavior and emotional turmoil.

"Delhi Belly" (2011): Known for its adult humor and content, the movie might align with concerns about art's influence on society.

Murder" (2004): This film deals with themes of infidelity, crime, and passion, which could evoke strong emotions.

"Jism" (2003): The movie explores themes of desire, lust, and manipulation, potentially challenging conventional morality.

"Gulaab Gang" (2014): The film deals with themes of female empowerment and vigilantism, potentially highlighting controversial methods.

"Aitraaz" (2004): This film explores themes of sexual harassment, manipulation, and power dynamics.

"Raaz" (2002): The movie is a horror-thriller that could evoke strong negative emotions, aligning with concerns about art's influence.

[ For the information of movies I used Chatgpt.]

Work Cited: 

O.P., Ezra Sullivan. “Objections and Responses to the Existence of Free Choice.” Nova et Vetera, The Catholic University of America Press, 9 Oct. 2019, muse.jhu.edu/article/735131. 

Trauma in Arundhati Roy’s the God of Small Things - Researchgate, www.researchgate.net/publication/342610704_Trauma_in_Arundhati_Roy%27s_The_God_of_Small_Things. 

Yiotak. “Death of a Salesman: An Aristotelian Tragedy.” Death of a Salesman: An Aristotelian Tragedy, 1 Jan. 1970, yiotakastritis.blogspot.com/2010/03/death-of-salesman-aristotelian-tragedy.html. 

Digital Poster

Greetings to everyone, welcome to my blog. I kindly request you all to touch upon the photo and view my hyperlinked Digital Poster of Neo-classical age.

" Imagination" - An Art of Seeing

 

Greetings to all,

A warm and hearty welcome to my blogspot. Each image carries a tale, much like this one. Within this frame, you can perceive the vibrant colours of students and teachers, a harmonious blend captured on the canvas of August 17, 2023.

Our esteemed guest in the realm of wildlife photography, Mr. Kaushik Ghelani, graced our Department with his presence. The ceremonial embrace, both floral and verbal, was bestowed upon sir by Riya and Avni. Dilip sir offered  overview, underscoring the significance of constructive critique—a facet as crucial to life as it is to photography. One must open their mind's sails and embrace the teachings, for photos serve as conduits of the everyday tale.

During the inaugural session, Kaushik sir urged us to converse, contemplate, and enact, exemplifying the evolution of a plant. Cultivating one's artistic sensibilities demands a unique perspective, as photography, like life itself, resists being taught conventionally. The chasm between capturing an image and serendipitously seizing a moment is vast, bridged only by the aesthetic essence that orchestrates a photograph's symphony.

The equipment, however, is must when you persuing such field, but your eyes can be your camera. 

• Rule of 3rd
• Golden point
• Central focus Rule 
• Symmetry 
• Geometrical Shapes
• Head leading room
• Depth of field 

 1. The Rule of Thirds: An image partitions into three segments—foreground, midground, and background. The subject, strategically, may be positioned on either side.

#The journey, akin to the skies, extends boundlessly.

Applying this technique to the photograph, I found myself guided by these principles. Yet, Kaushik sir's astute guidance highlighted the potential for intrigue. Averse to a negative backdrop, an engaging subject reigns supreme. Photography, indeed, fosters humility.

2. The Golden Point: The subject should seize the viewer's central focus.

#Within the sphere of domesticity, wildlife thrives.

This snapshot demanded my ardor, as the subject was initially reticent. Gradually, tranquility enveloped him. The harmonious coexistence of domesticated creatures and humanity breathes life into this tableau. Kaushik sir's discerning eye underscored the need to fill the negative space below.

3.Symmetry: Here, we encounter the mirrored visage of the subject.

#Water mirrors, though a blur.

Venturing onto the campus, I embarked on capturing symmetrical beauty. Geometric contours converged, etching an indelible impression.

4.Depth of Field: A playground for rule-breaking.

#A leap into freedom's embrace.

Guided by the sinuous branches, our gaze journeys towards the subject. Insights gleaned from such explorations enrich our craft.

In this perpetual quest for knowledge, wisdom becomes the compass. Embracing the mantle of a student remains indispensable, irrespective of the path chosen. Our sagacious mentor emphasized that true photographic odysseys unfurl only once our archives shed their vestiges.

Embarking on an inaugural escapade, we travelled the Department and campus. To our astonishment, diversity of fauna, insects, and trees wonders unfolded before us. We immersed ourselves in the symphony of nature, an orchestra composed of shutter clicks.

This session proved a trove of enlightenment. Profound gratitude extends to Kaushik sir, Vaidehi mam, and Dilip sir, who kindled this luminous voyage.

With heartfelt thanks.

Pictorial Journey of a Pandemic Poem 'Lockdown'

 

Hello everyone, 

This blog is based on Thinking Task given by Dilip Sir. 

Let us have brief introduction of the poem.

"Lockdown", first published in The Guardian on 21 March 2020, is a response to the coronavirus pandemic, and references the Derbyshire "plague village" of Eyam, which self-isolated in 1665 to limit the spread of the Great Plague of London, and the Sanskrit poem "Meghadūta" by Kālidāsa, in which a cloud carries a message from an exile to his distant wife. The poem is written by Simon Armitage.

Poem :  

"And I couldn’t escape the waking dream

of infected fleas

in the warp and weft of soggy cloth

by the tailor’s hearth in ye olde Eyam.

Then couldn’t un-see the Boundary Stone,

that cock-eyed dice with its six dark holes,

thimbles brimming with vinegar wine

purging the plagued coins.

Which brought to mind the sorry story

of Emmott Syddall and Rowland Torre,

star-crossed lovers on either side

of the quarantine line whose wordless courtship spanned the river till she came no longer.

But slept again,

and dreamt this time of the exiled yaksha sending word to his lost wife on a passing cloud,

a cloud that followed an earthly map of camel trails and cattle tracks,

streams like necklaces,

fan-tailed peacocks, painted elephants,

embroidered bedspreads

of meadows and hedges,

bamboo forests and snow-hatted peaks,

waterfalls, creeks,

the hieroglyphs of wide-winged cranes

and the glistening lotus flower after rain,

the air hypnotically see-through, rare,

the journey a ponderous one at times, long and slow but necessarily so."

Simon Armitage has written a poem to address the coronavirus and a lockdown. The poem, Lockdown, moves back to the bubonic plague in Eyam in the 17th century, when fleas carrying the plague to the Derbyshire village. Then came at the epic poem Meghadūta by the Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa.He references Eyam’s boundary stone, which contained holes that the quarantined villagers would put their money in to pay for provisions from outside, and then fill with vinegar in the hope it would cleanse the coins. It also depicts  romance between a girl who lived in Eyam and a boy outside the village who talked to her from a distance, until she stopped coming.

Moreover, the poem was also influenced by a scene in Meghadūta in which an exile sends reassuring words to his wife in the Himalayas via a passing cloud.He thought there was a message to be learned “about taking things easy and being patient and trusting the Earth and maybe having to come through this slightly slower, and wiser, at the other end – given that one thing that’s accelerated the problem is our hectic lives and our proximities and the frantic ways we go about things”.

Poetry is “by definition consoling” because “it often asks us just to focus and think and be contemplative”, said Armitage.“Poetry is often about detail, even to the point where there’s just something sacramental in the ordinary descriptions of everyday life,” he said. “It’s unlikely that there’s going to be a book of poems that are consolation against catastrophe, but just in poetry’s nature, in the way it asks us to be considerate of language, it also asks us to be considerate of each other and the world. In the relationship with thoughtful language, something more thoughtful occurs.”

1. What is your first reaction to this poem? Are you able to connect your Lockdown experience with this poem?

This poem is connecting two different geographical area with different references. By the glass painting of the plague we can surely connect it with lockdown time. The numbers of death was not real that we know and by that boundry stone is much more like iron sheets which were putting outside the affected house. The idea of meghdutam like the narrator is the cloud which is describing everything during epidemic we had lots of examples, how animals feel free and polution level was decreased. So in a way, nature also observed such scenery during epidemic. With the example of star-cross lover and river between them we had boundaries in our house like whosoever affected at that time we had imaginary river between us. 

2.If you are Chinese or African, would you be happy with the concluding message which the speaker is deriving or interpreting from this poem? 

"The air

hypnotically see-through, rare,

the journey a ponderous one at times, long and slow

but necessarily so."

If I am Chinese or African or Japanese, When I look at the concluding part of the poem there is a single messege of the "Vasudhev Kutumbkam". With the reference of Rudyard Kipling's "The Ballad of East and West" let us take example. When this poem is discussed people only focus upon first line,"Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." In the very next line we can find contrast of first line,"But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth! "

In addition, Kipling said that there is no boundaries between the world. We can look it through two ways. First if we took last stanza in literary sense, then it is universal and I am happy with its ending. On the other hand if I belongs to other countries like above mentioned I felt that if any literature has rich test than and than it will be used as references. 

For example, Indian Sanskrit literature and English literature have great value. But what about our own literature, as African or any other European we also have our own litretute and falktales. As in if I am Japanese even we had Kanto earthquake in 1923 and we have stories of star-cross lovers Vega and Altair. 

However, most of the time commonwealth countries are being marginalized and ignored by such kind of poet laureate. Their literature is not taken as references of poem though universality is everywhere.  There is Existence of North and South. Equally they are part of the world, they contribute in literature too. 

But as the last line is, "the journey a ponderous one at times, long and slow,but necessarily so. This journey is slow of accepting other European countries as a part of the world apart from wealthy countries. Though concluding messege is effectively reflecting universality and humanity spirit. 

Thank you.

Reference: 

https://ed.ted.com/on/nvZdQQLH/discussions/if-you-are-chinese-or-african-would-you-be-happy-with-the-concluding-message-which-the-speaker-is-deriving-or-interpreting-from-this-poem

http://www.japan-suite.com/blog/2014/7/6/tanabata-story-of-two-star-crossed-lovers

https://www.jstor.org/stable/132645

https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poem/poems_eastwest.htm

https://trushali84.blogspot.com/2022/09/lockdown.html?m=1

Second Generation of Romantic poet

 

This blog is based on thinking activity task assigned by Megha ma'am on Romantic age. 

Introduction: 

The term "Second Generation Romantic Poets" refers to a group of poets who followed the first generation of Romantic poets, which included figures like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Lord Byron. The second generation poets emerged in the early 19th century and continued to explore themes of nature, emotion, and individualism, but often in a more introspective and self-aware manner.

1. John Keats:

Life :

John Keats (1795–1821) was an English Romantic poet known for his vivid and sensual poetry. He was born in London, and his parents died when he was only twenty-five years old.all his works published in three years, from 1817 to 1820. He trained as a surgeon but pursued poetry instead. He had novel idea that, 

" Poetry exists for its own sake, and suffers loss by being devoted to philosophy or politics or indeed, to any cause. "

Poetry : 

• The Eve of Saint Mark(unfinished)
• Lamia (1819) [ source: Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy]
• The Fall of Hyperion ( unfinished)
• Hyperion
• The Eve of St. Agnes

Endymion : It's a narrative poem that tells the story of Endymion, a young shepherd who falls in love with the moon goddess Cynthia (Selene). Endymion seeks to win Cynthia's love and embarks on a quest filled with adventures and mythical encounters. The poem explores themes of love, beauty, nature, and the pursuit of the ideal.

Heider- an Indian Hamlet

Hello everyone, 

This blog is based on the thinking activity assigned by Dilip Sir. Haider" is a 2014 Indian crime drama film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, and it's an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play  "Hamlet".

The film starts with the present. The narrator's father was a doctor, and he was treating one patient without caring about his nationality. You can find many films in which the background of the storyline is the Conflict of Kashmir.

The character of Haider, portrayed by Shahid Kapoor in the movie "Haider," is the central protagonist of the film. "Haider" is a modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," set against the backdrop of the conflict in Kashmir. Haider is a young man who undergoes intense emotional turmoil. He experiences a range of emotions, including grief, anger, confusion, and revenge, following his father's disappearance and his mother's involvement with his uncle.

Haider was a PhD student; however, he had faced lots of struggles for his identity. The iconic dialogue of Hamlet, "To be or not to be," is replaced here as his monologue.

"Shaq pe hai yaqeen to , yaqeen pe hai shaq mujhe.

Kiska jhoot jhoot hai, kiske sach mein sach nahi.

Hai ki hai nahi, bas yahi ek sawaal hai.

Aur sawaal ka jawaab bhi sawaal hai.

Dil ki gar sunu to hai, dimaag ki to hai nahi.

Jaan loon ki jaan doon, main rahoon ki main nahi."

Furthermore, Haider's public speech showcases the identity struggle of Kashmiri people, who faced an identity crisis. They belong neither to India nor to Pakistan. They are constantly asking for their freedom. Haider's psyche is represented in the wedding of his mother too. However,he seeks revenge, but in the end, he forgives murders.

Tabu is Ghazala, who is modelled on Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. She's in love with her missing husband's brother and also a mother, whose relationship with her son is crackling with taboo-flavoured intensity. She was a teacher and, of course, the wife of a doctor, who is not at all interested in her, and her loneliness leads her to have an extramarital affair. As in the first Photograph, she tried to emotionally blackmail his son for staying away from the military. In the second photo, her affair was captured by her son.

In the very third photo, we can see the contrast of how she is happy for her lover's victory in the election, though she is a widow. In the last photo, we can see the realisation that she was breaking the rules of her relationship and came there to save her son's life. She will not be ready for another sacrifice. In a way, from the beginning, her character was rising, but she herself became the reason for her downfall.

Moreover, if we compare it with Hamlet, both characters experience emotional turmoil due to their husbands' deaths and subsequently remarry their husbands' brothers. However, there are also differences, as Haider's mother struggles with political and personal conflicts amidst a backdrop of conflict in Kashmir, while Hamlet's mother grapples with issues of loyalty and betrayal in the royal court of Denmark.

The character of Arshia is Haider's beloved and plays a significant role in the film. Arshia's character serves as a connection to Haider's humanity, providing a counterpoint to his intense emotions and actions. Throughout the movie, Arshia's relationship with Haider showcases themes of love, hope, and the impact of political turmoil on personal lives. She was a journalist in the movie and also became a bridge for Haider and Roohdar. At the end, she had failed due to her inability to accept her father's death. The red scarf represents personal connection with Haider and comfort and warmth in their relationship.

Ophelia in "Hamlet" is characterised as more passive and obedient. She is often manipulated by those around her, particularly her father and brother, which leads to her tragic downfall. Her character serves as a symbol of innocence and purity, contrasting with the corruption and deception in the Danish court. While both Arshia and Ophelia serve as love interests, their personalities, roles in the stories, and the thematic contexts they exist within greatly differ.

In the movie, Roohdar is portrayed as a mysterious figure who guides the protagonist, Haider, on his quest for revenge. Roohdar is shown to have a connection to the supernatural and is instrumental in shaping Haider's decisions throughout the story. The character adds an element of complexity and ambiguity to the narrative, reflecting the themes of tragedy and manipulation found in Shakespeare's original play. In a way, in the 21st century, it's hard to believe that a ghost can inspire someone to take revenge. So that the director alternates ghosts with this character, Haider's father was with him, and he revealed the dark reality of a criminal torcher.

" Talashi ki itni adat ho gayi hai ki jab Tak koi tatol na le apne Ghar me nahi ghuste." 

This dialogue of Roohdar is reflecting how people became habituated to this torcher. This bullying was so deeply rooted in their unconscious mind that their behavioural patterns changed due to it.

In addition, Salman works as a spy in the story. They add humour to it as well as reveal things about Roohdar. Other characters contributed to developing the plot. Ultimately, Haider's quest for revenge comes at a great cost. The end is tragic, as several key characters meet their demise, including Haider himself. The movie explores themes of political unrest, personal conflict, and the impact of violence on individuals and society.

The conclusion of "Haider" resonates with the tragic ending of Shakespeare's "Hamlet," where many characters meet their fates in a series of unfortunate events. It's a reflection on the destructive nature of revenge and the far-reaching consequences of decisions made in the heat of passion.

For comparative reading of Hamlet and Haider you can click here : 

Detailed Reading

Thank you for the visit.

Words: 1007

Reference: 

1.“Hamlet.” Wikipedia, 26 July 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet. 

2 “Haider (Film).” Wikipedia, 6 Aug. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haider_%28film%29. 

3. Srivastava, Nishant. “All Hit Dialogues of Haider 2014 Film.” Filmy Keeday, 25 Aug. 2018, filmykeeday.com/dialogues-of-haider/. 

 

Janamtip [life imprisonment] by Ishwar Petlikar

 Hello everyone,

  In this blog you can find interpretation of Gujarati novel "Janamtip". It can be add in the area of feminist literature.

The setting of the novel is rural villages. Central characters are Chanda and Bhimo. 

This novel starts with chapter named "ધણીપણુ" owner, the title itself is reflecting petriarchal norms. First their newly married life described in vivid way. The struggle of farmer's life and their lifestyle depicted in it. Chanda will come with lunch but she gets late and in the reaction of this Bhima beats her with stick. By this action we can clearly see dominance nature of him. Without getting affected by his action Chanda rebelliously replys" તારા જેવાથી બીજું થવાનુંય શું હતું? "  For Chanda writer says that," બ્રહ્મહાએ ખોળિયું તો પૂરેપૂરું સ્ત્રીનું ઘડિયું હતું, પણ જીવ ભૂલભુલમાં અંદર આદમી નો મુકાય ગયો હતો. "

       Writer satires on schools and teachers of villages. Parents sends children the school because they have fear of punishment. He also criticised upper officers for not regularly visiting the schools. They only come to check that teacher takes the test or not. (Just for amble) " એકમાત્ર માસ્તર સાહેબ અહીં રહેવા પૂરતો જ પગાર મળે છે બાકી શિક્ષણ આપવાની પોતાની ફરજ માનતા નહિ. "  Teachers decided to become famous by not punishing the students, doesn't matter they come or not. Not only that students must have to sit for longer time when officers visit the school but also sit with empty womb. 

      In addition, malnutrition and lack of food which is basic need of people still unfulfilled by the government. લોકો કહેતા એ બધું સરકાર માટે ખરીદાય છે, પૈસા ઉપજતા પણ ખાલી નોટોમાં જ.  Widening disparity between elite class and poor class reflects here. Discription of protagonist's caste was similar to uncivilized and half savage people. Chanda was virago in nature that's why no one is ready to fight against her. 

         Moreover, Chanda is famous for tide the bull.(સાંઢ) Not a single man of the village has courage to tide it, but Chanda with her wit successfully tide him. However,  after this she has faced trouble in finding a man to marry because of her this action. She chooses Bhimo. The novel shifts to from past to present simultaneously. In the present she was harassed by Punja. 

       In addition, childhood innocence, child labour, educational corruption reflect in it. Mindset of criminal plays vital role in doing criminal acts. War, inflation, weekness of Government to reach everywhere provide background for the story. " આ તો ગાયને દોહીને કૂતરાને પાવાનું છે. "  Misbehaviour of officer with even responsible person with reference of Deva depicted in it then what about poor people? 

       Regional literature is full of discription of day to day life struggle in this you can also find same thing. Self-realization of Chanda and deeply rooted patriarchal mindset even in women reflects in women character. They are not able to accept their own freedom. Their conditioning plays vital role that they think they are mede to beaten by male. "આખલાને નાથ્યો એ રાંડ ધણી ના કહ્યા માં રે?"  If we look at regional literature, moustache is connected with reputation. 

    "વધતો વિજય દયાને ગળી ગયો, બંધનમાં પડ્યા પછી વિરત્વ  શું કામનું? " Like incident of binding bullock, humanity dies. Power and Caste based discrimination unfold in many scenes of police and constable with common people. Fatherly love of Chanda's father made him accept all her misbehavioural and unacceptable things. Even mythical reference of Manthra provided here. 

By beating, a man eventually becomes like a cow and after that there is no feeling, no soul. In the later part of novel Chada took all the responsibility of the house and farming. However, as a single mother and solely handle the family in it. While her husband and father-in-law were in prison. 

In the conclusion, it can be put into a feminist literature. Character building of Chanda greatly depicted here. From egoistic young girl to slef-depended and responsible daughter in law, she learnt to survive as a woman, while working as man. Like the title of the book Janmtip- she accepted lifetime improvement of fulfilling family responsibilities as mother,  daughter-in-law, Sister-in-law, and as a ruler of the house. 

Thank you for the visit. 

Welcome Function 2023

 

Hello everyone, 

       Today, August 2, 2023, we had a welcome function at the Department of English at MKBU. It was organised by our seniors, who put immense effort and lots of creativity into welcoming us. It was devided in two sessions. The first session was formal, in which we had our chief guest with us, J.P. Mehta, sir. Our function started at 12:15.

The anchors of the day were Trushali and Hetal, who vocally and interactively managed the whole function. As per our tradition, we started our function with prayer and the university song. After that, Dilip, sir, briefly introduced the chief guest J.P. Mehta sir, Head of the Chemistry Department.

The objective of our Department is to enhance academic skills, multitasking, critical thinking, and risk-taking abilities among the students. Avni orally welcomed us with references to Adam and Eve, Derida, Absurdity, deconstruction theory, and many more. She also told us to be ready to handle our sentiments, along with waking up the whole night to complete the tasks.

Moreover, in the first session, we were introduced to various committees of the Department, which work enthusiastically to maintain the whole year. Let us have an introduction to the committees of the Department.

1. Daily Assembly Committee

2. Art and Creativity Committee

3. Bulletin Board Committee

4. ICT Committee

5. Movie Screening Committee

6. Library Committee

7. Celebration Committee

8. Gardening Committee

9. Sports and Recreation Committee

10. Mass Media Committee

11. Finance Management Committee

12. Documentation Committee

The committee leader introduced the work and objectives of each committee with an appropriate presentation that included the previous year's pictures, gifs, and graphics. They told us to also join the committee as members and bring new ideas for the future. At the end of the first session, our guest has a speech and a vision for the future. He appreciated the work of the department and the way it's working.

Furthermore, we have had snacks. The second session was interesting. Reshma sang a song. Our seniors thoroughly prepared games for us. The first one was Fishpond, in which they tested our observation skills with a motivational message for the journey. Parthiv Bhai also organised one game. Rajeshvri Ba prepared a game of picker wheel. Drashti came up with the idea that we choose nicknames for our seniors.

In addition, I performed a dance to the song "Tere Raang." The meaning of "Dhun of Murli" can be connected to hearing the voice of literature.

"Tumse Tum Ko Pana

Tan Man Tum Tan Man Tum

Tumse Man Ko Jana

Uljhan Gum Uljhan Gum."

With the help of literature, we have new insight into how to look at the world like tum se tum ko pana. When we read literature, all our queries about life are gone; however, we will have new queries about the world.

Jay had done stand-up comedy. Gopi had played guitar.Vaidehi ma'am, Megha ma'am, and Prakruti ma'am orally welcomed us at the end as well as appreciated our seniors for their commendable work. With that, we ended our session. We observed how the Department is working and how students play a crucial role in it. 

Thank you.