eFDP for MKBU

eFDP for MKBU Teachers

                        Group Activities

Date - 15 to 21 June 2020

How Literature moulded me?

How Literature moulded me?

Literature is a deep ocean and an individual has to engulf some drops of the oceans if he/she jumps into the field of literature. As R.J Rees comments about literature that 

 

“Literature is writing which expresses and communicates thoughts, feelings and attitudes towards life”

Here, I am going to convey my viewpoints about literature. When I selected literature at that time I was not knowing anything about literature or I was not able to define even literature or I was not aware about its limitlessness but I was only knowing its spelling. When I was in the first year I was very much confused that I was not able to understand what my Professors were telling or what they were discussing as they were speaking in English. I tried to read All My Sons the play by Arthur Miller but it was very difficult for me to understand an American play as there was not a single text of Indian writing in English which we had in our syllabus of the first year. During my graduation Othello was my one of the favourite texts and I tried to read it one to make the story clear but those very tough and heap of words were hammering on my mind and the story of the play became clear after watching the movie as it was available on line. Another novel The namesake of which I made attempts to read but it  was too much lengthy and complex so I was not able to understand the summary of the book but later on the story became clear in my mind when I saw the movie. Moreover whichever stories or books I studied and I read because of getting good marks or to get passed but I haven’t concentrated what R J Rees says in his book that a person reads literature to make herself/himself cultivated, to be better human beings or just for the sake of  getting an entertainment. But after having been there in the deep whirl of the ocean of literature, I came to know that what R J Rees says about literature proves absolutely right as I became cognizant and conscious about various theories, concepts and different perspectives in my post-graduation.

When I studied Hamlet I thought that it would be the same book as Othello but when Barad sir taught the book in the classroom then i became aware that one play contains so many angles or theories which a student is supposed to apply on a single textbook. Various books of literature made me a person of different and rational thinker as Hamlet taught me not to make delay while making decision when thinking goes on. Dr. Faustus also taught me how a person suffers if he is in wanting of excessive knowledge. The purpose taught me to think about marginalization of the Character of Eklavya in Mahabharata. One Night @ the call Center taught me to be confident not to worry about miseries of life as everybody has. Frankenstein taught me about horror scientific fiction. Hence, I became aware about vastness of literature when I was having my post-graduation. Literature is not just a word but it is like torch-bearer. Ultimately, it has made me better, utilitarian, critical, rational, modest and free thinker.

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

              The Sense of an Ending is a novella by British author Julian Barnes. This novel was released on 4th August 2011 in the United Kingdom. This novel won MAN BOOKER PRIZE AWARD on 18 October 2011. The story based on four friends Tony Webster (Narrator), Colin, Alex and Adrian. And life of Tony Webster.

             Blood money is also the important part of the novel. We can say that blood money here means the money earned by killing the innocent people. ‘Blood Money’ suggests veronica mother given 500 pounds to Tony. It was the money that Sarah gave it to Tony there is something hidden intention was there. Veronica’s point of view that she may be thinks that her Mother Sarah is responsible for Adrian’s suicide as he might have felt guilty for his seen of having relation with his own girlfriend's mother and made her Pregnant. So we can say that Veronica thinks that Sarah and Tony both are responsible for Adrian’s suicide.

Q)  How do you decipher the equation: b = s – v x/+ a1 or a2 + v + a1 X s = b?

• b = s – v x/+ a1

b = Baby  

s = Sarah Ford

v = Veronica

a 1= Adrian

         Sarah reducing her relation with Veronica, her daughter and making fruit full or happy with Adrian but out of this deform bay produce.

•  a2 + v + a1 X s = b?

a2= Tony (Anthony)

v= Veronica

a 1 = Adrian

s= Sarah Ford

b= Baby

         Antony had relation with Veronica but letter break up and Adrian’s date started with Veronica. Adrian went to Sarah, Veronica’s mother who gave just a small piece, baby.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by  Robert Louis Stevenson

        

        "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" is a novella written by  Robert Louis Stevenson that was first published in 1886. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was an immediate success and is one of Stevenson's best-selling works. This book is one of the most gripping and fascinating book. 

        

         This is a very well written book, with descriptive and powerful language. The characters and their feelings are described beautifully, for example, Mr. Utterson "spent his words as rarely as gold". There are two main ideas in the story. Firstly, the battle of good versus evil. 

              We see this in the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and how he struggles to keep balance between both sides of himself. Secondly, it is about taking science too far and if we can control scientific research.

Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Da Vinci Code

               Dan Brown was American author of thriller fiction. Who is the best known for the 2003 bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code.  Brown’s novel features the recurring themes of cryptography, Keys, Symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories. The Da Vinci code connects with Jesus ‘relationship with Mary Magdalene and fathered her child. According to the book it is Mary Magdalene who is the Holy Grail and whom Da Vinci painted in his work the Last Supper. In 2006 Director   Ron Howard made a film on Da Vinci Code.

1)

           According to Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code is not Anti-religion or Anti-Christian book. But here in this novel Brown put all things which include as conspiracy Christian fiction. It is about Christianity of revealing the contrarian truth or not may be truth that Jesus Christ was not virgin and he had child also, He revealed this thing not based on myth or interpretation but he has also some strong evidence. He includes a historical thing that is battle between Opus Dei and Priory of Sion over the possibility of Jesus having been married to Mary Magdalene. Dan Brown uses history of Christianity to forward the story of the novel. This book The Da Vinci Code is simply an entertaining story that promotes spiritual discussion and debate that he imagined one story that made only for entertainment.

2)

                The protagonist of a story is the main character who traditionally undergoes some sort of change. In the novel we can see that Sophie and Langdon are both the protagonists of the plot. They work together to uncover the clues about the Grail and Sophie’s family. The antagonist of the novel is Leigh Teabing or the Teacher. Robert Langdon is a professor of symbology and a writer of several books. If we do an Atheist reading than Leigh Teabing can be consider as a protagonist. As he is interested in studying history of Christianity, because his character deals an idea which is also center of the novel.

             Robert Langdon is a follower of Christianity when at the end Langdon uncover the mystery behind the Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail also called Sangreal. We can say that Langdon is a hero or traditional protagonist. If we can see Atheist reading point of view Sir Leigh Teabing become hero.

3)

               Narration of studied Paradise Lost and The Da Vinci Code, In Paradise Lost Milton wrote on Eve and Adam. Eve is responsible for fall of Adam. Paradise Lost tries to show rationally with given Eve some space. But it also decline women. We can say about ‘The Da Vinci Code’ breaks human faith with showing history of Christianity. Here Brown’s novel Da Vinci Code has all historical issues and reference strong evidence. Mary Magdalene’s role in the Bible is very short but her role in ‘ The  Da Vinci Code’ is rather long and important one. Brown is trying to prove that Mary Magdalene was the favorite of all the Disciples of Christ.

               So we can say that Dan Brown’s conception of the ancient world and transition to the modern has been shifted towards gender.

Comparison between The Swamp Dwellers and Waiting for Godot

Comparison between The Swamp Dwellers and Waiting for Godot.

• Urban and rural life in Swamp Dwellers
• The play open and end in this hut.
• Unity of Time and Action is also Followed Waiting for Godot evening time, country road, a tree.
• Unity of Time, Place  action is not followed.

Hopelessness

• The play revolves around Vladimir and Estragon and their pitiful wait for hope to arrive.

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• They are waiting without hope for a deliverance from a being in whom they do not really believe.
• For Acheson, Waiting for Godot is an invective against Christian hope since the modern man, like Didi and Gogo wait endlessly for Godot who does not come.
• The similarity in terms of setting, characterization, and themes among all others are quite evident in the two plays.
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•  The central issue in both plays is on the question of salvation.
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• The play end in sadness as the lure of the city and the betrayal of traditional virtues rob the aged Alu and Makuri of their two sons.
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• There is not physical death of any character but there are several death metaphorical deaths.
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• The Swamp Dwellers articulates a sense of the disorder of human life.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter

• Speculative fiction

               Speculative fiction deals with science fiction, fantasy and horror, typically feature fictional beings, such as mythical creatures and supernatural, and technologies that do not exist in real life. Fantasy these Includes elements of human cultural imagination, such as mythical creatures’ magic and magical elements, witchcraft etc for example movie The Lord of the Rings. Speculative fiction is any fiction in which the “laws” of that world are different than ours.

      The use "speculative fiction" in the sense of express traditional to establishment science fiction in new way. In Harry Porter ….Magic itself prominent example of it. The kind of world is imagined is example of it. For example wand, invisible cloak etc.

Centers on superhero means a hero with extraordinary abilities or power and their fight against evil forces such as super villains

• Children’s Literature and Harry Potter

                   As a mystery story, the plotting of the novel is highly skilful. Rowling maintains a perfect balance between providing clues for her readers and maintaining the secret of the novel. In novel wit, humour, and imagination are unrivalled in children’s literature. When Harry’s Uncle Vernon reminds Harry that there is no post on Sunday, something came than down the kitchen chimney as he spoke, and caught him sharply on the back of the head. Next moment, thirty or forty letters came, some more we can deals with Children literature like,

•          Simple narration
•         Action
•         Adventures
•          Magical elements
•         Characters (Three friends Harry, Ron and Hermione. Strange Creatures Dobby etc..)
•          Good v/s Evil
•         J. K. Rowling’s create “New World” of imagination school Howard etc

It is children’s literature but it is not only so.

•          Feminist reading
•          Master Race
•          The discourse of Power and Politics
•        Speculative literature

These are the points its show that this novel is not a Children Literature it is about adult literature  

• Feminist reading of Harmione’s character in Harry Potter

          Feminism is a range of political movements, ideologies and social movements that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve equal political, economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women.

           Hermione is that character that is smart, and she is able to figure out most of the secrets that no one else can. Her knowledge and brains save her and her friends throughout the series multiple times

         Hermione is the perfect example when examining the feminist principles in the novels. Throughout the series she has many strengths and weaknesses, but she is mostly criticized about her weaknesses as a character.

       Hermione Granger is a good example of the many parts a character might represent because she is a friend and a student, and she is portrayed in many different lights throughout the Novels.

•          As an ability to take quick decision as an ability to take quick decision
•          Thinker of plans
•          Intelligent that Harry and Ron
•          Power to take quick decision
•          Fight
•          Clever