Lit.Guruji

                   Vanishing Animals                                  - Gerald Durrell Gerald Durrell (1925 - 1995) was a naturalist, Zookeeper, author and television presenter. He was born at Jamshedpur in India. "Vanishing Animals" is an interesting piece of writing which introduces us to problems of the animals facing the threat of extinction.  Gerald begins the essay calling the Pere David Deer as "refugees" in England. A French Missionary, Father David  discovered the existence of this deer in China. In 1865 the father heard about the existence of a  strange herd of deer in the Imperial Hunting Park, China. This park was guarded by Tartar Soldiers.  Father David managed to enter this park. He was delighted to see a new species which he had never seen in his past. He realized that the deer were strictly protected. He desired to send few of these species to Europe, but the Chinese authorities would not allow him to transport them to Europe. So he unla

            Duchess of Newcastle                                     - Virginia Woolf Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673) was a royalist, philosopher, duchess, and a writer. She was a poet, essayist and a pioneer of science fiction. She published her works under her original name, which was rarity during her period.Virginia Woolf described her as “a giant cucumber…noble and Quixotic and high-spirited, as well as crack-brained and bird-witted.” Cavendish’s enemies called her “ Mad Meg.” “I do not like her at all,”  said Samuel Pepys.  Margaret Lucas was born at St. John’s Abbey. She is the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Lucas. Among the eight children of Thomas, Margaret is the youngest one. She belonged to a royal family. She lost her father at the age of two. She was educated at home. She learned the art of dance, music, and needlework. She had an interest in writing at her young age.  The civil war broke out in England during the year 1640. The members of Margaret's fa

                       Soliloquy and Aside  Soliloquy is a secret thought uttered aloud on the stage to acquaint the audience of what is passing in his mind. It is spoken when no other actor is present.This device was long an accepted dramatic convention, especially in the theatre of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The main purpose of a soliloquy is to tell you how they are feeling. For example, in Shakespeare's King Lear, his soliloquy demonstrates to the audience he's going crazy. The Aside is a passing thought uttered aloud by an actor infront of other characters on the stage, who are not supposed to hear it. It is the shortest form of soliloquy. It is as unnatural as the soliloquy.  The soliloquy is used in farce and melodrama till  and end of 19th century. Later both Aside and soliloquy have vanished during the modern drama. The soliloquy has a honoured place in literature. Some of the noblest passages in Shakespeare are cast in that form. Eg: Hamlet'

                     Dramatic Irony Types of Irony Dramatic Irony is a form of contrast. It is a situation in which the audience or reader has a better understanding of events than the characters in a story do.  Verbal irony occurs when the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean.  Example: In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night the conversation taking place  between the Duke and Viola, disguised  as a page, illustrates the use of verbal irony. Similarly in  As You Like It Rosalind disguised as shepherd, speaks to Orlando her lover, in the Forest of Arden. Disguise is a source of verbal irony.  Irony of situation in which circumstances covey opposite meanings to the characters on the one hand and audience on the other.  An example of situational irony is Macbeth's castle, were Duncan finds pleasure, but the audience is aware about his death. The greatest example of situational irony in the play is  Oedipus tryin

                                      Character is Destiny                                     _ Dr. Radhakrishnan  Dr. Radhakrishnan is a well known philosopher and educationalist. In his essay Character is Destiny he talks about the importance of character in shaping the destiny of a nation. He wishes to develop our nation. Radhakrishnan states that the universities should produce scientists, doctors, engineer etc. At the same instance a country should aspire for great scientists, doctors, engineers with a lot of humanism. Technological development alone cannot uplift a country.  Some scientifically developed countries are torn by strife and they are unable to bring peace, safety and security to their people. This is because of the lack of education preached about humanity in the universities. So the universities should impart education on humanism. "Everyman is God" is the teaching of Upanishads. The Buddhists declare that each individual has a divine spark i

                                    Masque   Saintsbury defines Masque as "a dramatic entertainment in which plot, character and even to a great extent dialogue are subordinated on the one hand the spectacular illustration, and on the other to musical composition". It was a medley of music, and dancing woven around fairy tale, allegory or myth.  Masque was of Italian origin. Later it reached England during 16th century. The English masque occurs in Hall's Chronicle for the year 1512. It was performed at the Kings court. Features of Masque 1.   The characters are deities of classical mythology, nymphs etc. 2. The number of characters is restricted to six. 3. The scenery and costumes are very eleborate. 4. A comic interlude is introduced called the anti-masque. It's Decline  Masque is a expensive form of entertainment. It is presented at court or during festive occasions. The marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda in Shakespeare's Tempest is a Masque. More

                                 Farce   Farce is an exaggerated form of comedy. Its aim is to provoke hearty  laughter. It belongs to the realm of nonsense, in which the characters a were free from everyday cares and restraints.  Farce comes from a Latin word meaning "to stuff".  The farces were inserted into the main play. Shakespeare's Midnight Summer's Dream and Merry Wives of Windsor has farcial elements. As a separate form of entertainment farce came into a vogue towards the close of 17th century. During 18th century there was a rise in  sentimental comedy  and anti-sentimental comedy. The popularity of farce during this period was not to the peak. Two successful farce during Victorian age are The Private Secretary by Charles Hautry and Charley's Aunt by Brandon. On the modern stage a good farce is to bring fortune for the author.  Eg: George Bernard Shaw, Arms and the Man.  Farce is not a high form of dramatic art but needs inventiveness and c

                        Tragi-Comedy Tragi-Comedy is half tragedy and half comedy. Both comedy and tragedy are intermingled harmoniously. Thus Tragi-Comedy became a genre of play that mixed tragic elements into drama that was mainly comic.  A comedy with tragic background is more effective comedy. The wrong done by chief character is corrected at the end. Eg. As You Like It and Much Ado about Nothin g.  Tragic comedy is a complete tragedy at a complication part that is the beginning part and complete comedy at the denouement.  The Rising Action - Tragedy The Falling Action - Comedy The tragicomedy dates back to the Roman dramatist, Plautus. In his Amphitruo, he called his play a " tragico-comoedia". The English form arose in the reign of James I under Italian and Spanish influences. Shakespeare handled the form at the end of his career. Tragic- comedy argument:  Addison claims "one of the most monstrous invention that ever entered into poet's thoughts&qu

                           Comedy Comedy deals with the light side of life. It evokes laughter. In a comedy the end is a happy one. The atmosphere of comedy is mirthful and light. Shakespeare's comedy "begin unhappily and end happily".   The comic actor wore a light shoe called the sock to show his lower status. They belonged to a lower class.In later literature there were comedies of high society. Falstaff and Sir Toby Belch were Shakespeare's  comedians belonging to higher status.  The purpose of comedy was to correct manners. It purifies the conduct of the audience spiritually and morally. Comedy served to explore the common errors of life. Shakespeare's comedies were written in blank verse.  Eg.  As You Like It. Types of Comedy I)Classical Comedy II)Romantic Comedy  Classical comedy In this type the author follows certain classical rules of ancient Greek and Roman writers. Some classical rules are  The Three Unities of Time, Place and Action. Sepa