Lit.Guruji

Epic Epic is a long tale written in the form of a verse. In Greek Iliad and Odyssey are two great epics of Homer. In Epic mighty warriors and princes are the leading figure. They have endowed with superhuman qualities. ·        Supernatural and magical elements are present. ·        The language is exalted and noble. Conventions of the epic A) The epic starts with an invocation (prayer) to God. The theme of the poem is stated at the beginning (proposition). ·        Eg. Milton’s Paradise Lost ·        Virgil’s Aeneid ·        Homer’s Iliad. B) The Epic employs certain poetic devices like Homeric Epithet and Homeric Simile. 1.      Homeric Epithet – a term or phrase quite lengthy applied to a person repeatedly. Eg. In Tennyson’s Morte D’ Arthur   “faint Homeric echoes” occurs. 2.      Homeric Simile – comparison between two similar objects. Eg. In Arnold’s Sohrab and Rustum, Rustum is unaware his own son lying in a deadly state. This is compared to an eagle unaware abo

Elegy Elegy is a mourning poem lamenting for the dead. Death became a predominant theme for an Elegy. It was written in the elegiac measure, a couplet composed of a dactylic hexameter followed by dactylic pentameter. Poem written in this metre is ranked as elegy. At modern times theme is given utmost importance and not metre. Elegiac measure is not followed in English verse. The theme of elegy is mournful and sad. Elegy is less spontaneous than the lyric. Dr. Johnson remarked “Where there is leisure for fiction there is little grief”. Examples for Elegy Milton’s Lycidas – mourns at the death of Edward King. Tennyson’s In Memoriam – laments at the death of Arthur Henry Hallam. Shelley’s Adonias – death of Keats The Pastoral Elegy A new kind of elegy was introduced in English poetry. In this kind the poet represented himself as a Shepherd bewailing the loss of a companion. Milton’s Lycidas and Mathew Arnold’s Thyrisis are pastoral elegies. Theocritus poems I

Sonnet The word Sonnet is derived from the Italian word Sonnetto which means little sound or music. It is a fourteen lined poem expressing a single thought or feeling. Italian Sonnet The Italian Sonnet is also known as Petrarchan Sonnet. It is named after the Italian poet Petrarca. This Sonnet consists of Octave (8lines) and Sestet (6lines) . The rhyme scheme is abba abba, cde cde or cdc dcd. 1.     The octave may be divided into two stanzas called quatrains. 2.     The sestet may be divided into two of three lines each called tercets. 3.     At the end of octave there is a pause or caesura. 4.     Caesura is followed by volta , a turn in thought. The English Sonnet English Sonnet was introduced by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey during the 16 th century. English Sonnet is named after Shakespeare.        English sonnets have three quatrains with the rhyming scheme ab ab, cd cd, ef ef, gg. As it in a quatrain form there is no caesur

                         Summer Wood " Summer Wood " is a poem written by Sarojini Naidu. This poem is an extract  from her book “The Broken Wings”. She is a naturalist. She communicates her aversion for the artificiality of human life in the modern society. The poet has become tired about luxury and comfort. She no longer desire  to exist under the “ painted roofs ” and " soft and silken floor ".  She craves for  "summer-houses with over-hanging canopies of bright-red Gulmohars" .  The poet is tired of honour, fame and conflict and she aspires to "fly where cassia-woods are breaking into flame". She desires to enter the forest along with her lover to rest in peace.  “O let us fling all care away, and lie alone and dream".  Both of them are lying under the tangled boughs of tamarind, molsari and neem. The poet wishes  to play on carved flutes to awaken the slumbering serpents among the thick banyan roots. She longs to walk wit

                                   Ode   Ode is of Greek origin. It is a serious and calm composition. Ode is longer than a lyric. it is in the form of an address. It is also used to commemorate an important public ocassion. The subject matter for a ode is highly exalted and elevated in tone. The poet is serious about the choice of his subject. For example Ode on the intimation of Immortality written by William Wordsworth.  Odes expression is expected to be deep, elaborate and impressive. Ode is addressed directly to the object.  Eg : Shelley's addresses west wind as " O Wild west wind" in his "Ode to the West Wind". Keats addresses the Grecian Urn as " Thou still unravished bride of quietness". Ode commemerates the death of a distinguished person as in Tennyson's " Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington". Types of Ode The Dorian or Pindaric Ode The Greek Ode Dorian is named after the district and dialect. The term Pi

                                    Lyric Lyric or melic is a short poem sung with the help of a lyre. The term "Lyric" originated from the greek word "Iyre". Lyre is a musical instrument. The two main characteristics of a lyric are,                   I) Expresses a single emotion of the poet.                   II) It is a musical composition. A lyric is the expression of the the poets personal  feelings or thoughts. It is a subjective poem. Lyric is brief but the emotion is intense.  Edgar Allan Poe declared that " a long lyric is not possible". There are few long lyric like,                      Ode to the West Wind                     The Raven  Lyric is the purest form of poetry. It appeals more to our heart than to our intellect. Great writers of lyrical poems are Edgar Allan Poe, William Wordsworth, Shakespeare and Robert Frost. Lyric poem is divided into three parts corresponding to the three moods. I)The first part states the emotion.

                         Once upon a time                                     - Gabriel Okara Once upon a time is a poem written by Gabriel Okara. He is a Nigerian poet and novelist. In this poem the poet compares the mentality of the Africans before and after colonialism. In this poem a father expresses his nostalgic feeling for the past to his son. He desires to live in the past because their was love, care, hospitality and compassion. But in the present world people lack those things.             Once upon a time, son            they used to laugh with their hearts                ..............................             but now they only laugh with their teeth At modern times people greet eachother without warmth. They shake hands while their  " ice - block cold eyes" search behind his financial status. The poet describes their eyes using a metaphor "ice - block cold eyes" inorder to show how modern people fail to understand and respect human heart

              Ceremonies and Respects                                         - Francis Bacon. Francis Bacon is a British poet, essayist and a philosopher. He is known as “the Father of English Essays”. His essay Ceremonies and Respects was published in the "Essays of Counsels, Civil and Moral” in 1597. In this essay Bacon talks about the greatness of possessing great virtue. Bacon commences the essay stating "a real man should possess great virtue". He compares greatness with stone which needs polish to glow. Similarly a man should shape himself to become more virtuous.   He further  quotes, “ light gains make heavy purses” . The small virtues possessed by a man is highly commendable and praiseworthy.  But great virtues are occasional as festivals celebrated with ceremonies. The reputation gained for little virtue is like perpetual letters of commendatory to have good forms of behaviour ( Queen Isabella says). To achieve great virtue one must not igno