Lit.Guruji

Surfacing -          Margaret Atwood Margaret Atwood is a Canadian writer. She is a poetess, novelist and short story writer. She is eco-centric writer and a feminist. Her best novel surfacing (1972) focuses the relationship between nature and human. In Surfacing Atwood explores how women and nature are victimized by the patriarchy. She is the first Canadian Eco-feminist writer. Her themes are based on the status of women and environmental issues In Surfacing the unnamed narrator returns home after nine years to Northern Quebec after World war II. She comes in search of her father. She realizes the transformation of the place. She discovers that the Americans and Canadians were the main cause for environmental degradation. In the past children ran through the snow with their barefoot and enjoyed nature. But in the present nature is fragile. She claims that “White birches are dying; the disease is spreading up from the south”. The protagonist stumbles to discover the alien land

  Hayavadana -           Girish Karnad Girish Karnad was an Indian playwright, an actor, a film director and a scholar who worked for South Asian Cinema in Bolly wood.   He composed plays in Kannada and translated it into English. His plays revolve around history and mythology. He received MA Sri and Padma Bhushan. The play Hayavadana commences with a pooja to Lord Ganesha. The protagonist of this play is Devadatta, the son of a Brahman. He is a man of wisdom and knowledge. The second significant character in this play is Kapila, the son of an ironsmith. He is physically strong and has got a wonderful physique.   In this play Devadatta, and Kapila are intimate friends. As the play begins there is an uproar of fear. An actor comes running onstage shrieking at announcing a creature’s entry with a horse's head, man's body and voice of a human. Bhagavata does not believe the creature and he try to pull off the mask from the head. But soon he realizes the creature to be a r

  Daffodils -         William Wordsworth Daffodils is a reputed nature poem written by William Wordsworth in the year 1804. He was a romantic poet who was influenced by nature. His poems basically focus on the scenic beauty and the English country side. He saw a number of daffodils when he was walking along the field. The scenic beauty of the flower made him to write this poem.                 Once the poet was travelling unaccompanied and he was able to explore a patch of cloud floating over the valley and hills. He was able to view a huge number of golden daffodils, beside the lake, underneath the trees flapping and dancing in the gust.             The daffodils resembled like stars that shine and twinkle at night on the galaxy. The poet perceives the boundless line along the boundary of lake or shore. The poet is able to see ten – thousands of daffodils at a glance. These daffodils are dancing merrily and are moving their heads with joy and cheer. Along with the daffodils

  Solitary Reaper -         William Wordsworth           Solitary Reaper is a Lyrical Ballad written by William Shakespeare. The poem was published in the year 1807.   The trip which Wordsworth made along with his sister Dorothy Wordsworth to Scotland in the year 1803 is the main source of his inspiration to write this poem.      Solitary Reaper is a poem of music. This poem talks about a Scottish girl who sings a plaintive song as she cuts hay with a sickle. The poet keenly listens to the song of the reaper but he is not able to comprehend the tone and language of the song. But he explores the melancholic strain in the poem. The poet glorifies the song of the Highland girl. He compares her song to that of a Nightingale and the Cuckoo bird.             Wordsworth is curious to know about the song of the Solitary Reaper. He desires to explore the interior meaning of this poem. He guesses the song is about sorrow or loss or about unhappy thing. He doubts whether the song depicts

                          Lochinvar -         Sir Walter Scott Lochinvar is a lovely and wonderful ballad written by Sir Walter.   The poem is set in between the border of Scotland and England. It is a ballad and at the same time it’s a love poem too.   In this ballad many characters are searching for Ellen. Lochinvar was a young Scottish Lord who loved the fair Ellen of the Netherby clan. Ellen also loved Lochinvar. Lochinvar asks her father for his desire to marry Ellen. But Ellen’s father rejects for the marriage. Lochinvar hears about the bethoral of Ellen to another man. He rode nonstop to stop the marriage. He rode continuously without stopping to take a break or even to take time to cross the fordless Eske River. When Lochinvar entered, the bride had already consented to the wedding. Lochinvar said his intention to the bride’s father that he had come in peace to drink wine and dance at the wedding. He convinced the family members claiming that he has come only to enjoy

  Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening                           - Robert Frost The Poem “Stopping by Woods” was written in the year 1912 by the famous writer Robert Frost. He is an American poet. His poetry deals with nature and in few of his poems he talks about human Psyche.   In this poem the seasons are often used for the relationship between life and death.        The poet was travelling through a lovely, dark and deep wood. The scenic beauty tempts him to stop there and admire the beauty of nature. He wonders by seeing the beauty of nature. He realizes that the owner of these woods lives in a town of a nearby village. The little horse feels strange to cease in the middle of the forest. The horse shakes his harness bell pretending to be impatient. The horse realizes that there is some mistake in stopping there. The entire atmosphere was dark and gloomy with snow laden trees. In three words we can sum up this poem stating “life goes on”. Feelings and emotions are high th

  Road not Taken -         Robert Frost. Road not Taken is a famous poem written by the American poet Robert Frost . In this poem the narrator describes himself as a traveler while traveling on the road of life. In this poem the poet is traveling through the woods. He looks at the grassy road diverging in yellow wood. He finds that the second path is little better than the first road.   He claims that it may be better to go on the one who has not used much travelled. Both of the paths equally lay there without having been walked on so far. He says no step had trodden them black so no step had made them dark with footsteps and mud and being pressed down like leaves pressed into the mud so both paths are untaken this morning anyway. He kept the first road for another day. He comes to a point where the road splits into two parts. These two parts indicate the choices that come in one's life. one of them is the easiest option whereas the other option is comparatively difficul

  Addison as an essayist   Addison is well known for his prose style, grace and elegance along with Richard Steele. He published his Spectator along with Steele in the year 1711. Addison wrote 214 essays out of 554. The purpose of writing this essay is to teach morality with wit. He sought not only to educate his audience but to regulate their passions and promote self – discipline, tolerance and moderation. His essays were instrumental in spreading wisdom. He tried to refine his readers. So, he brings out the little vanities and all the big vices of his time with gentle humor and kind ridicule. Thus, the aim of spectator is to “enliven morality with wit and to temper wit with morality”. Addison’s essays serve as a vehicle for the formation of “common sense views” . In fact, he was the most genius person to teach wisdom to the people of his age.   Johnson regards Addison “as a describer of life and manners, he must be allowed the first of the first rank…”. Addison stands remark

    The Spouse: Truth about Marriage by Shobha De BOOK REVIEW  Sobhaa de an eminent feminist writer in The Spouse explores the truth about marriages. She ventures ample wisdom for the spouses to distinguish the tricks in marriage. This book highlights the modern Indian marriage. She depicts the plight of both the sexes after marriage. She talks about the past marriages were gender inequality persisted and marriages did not terminate in divorce. She decries the advent of modernity and equality among the couple but the divorce rate has augmented. She makes a contrast between past and present Indian marriages. Being a feminist writer in this novel explores the men in the contemporary society who are facing critical situations under the roof of a woman. She exhibits great concern for men.  She implies the flaws seen among both the sexes in the current scenario. In this book she makes us to realize the moral fact that to go through a happy married life both men and women should feel free

  In the Depth -           Dal Stivens In the Depths is a tragic story of a fisher community. A bright young mullet was talking to its friend (another mullet) in a giant cave on the sea bed. A large green fish entered the cave and swam up and down. It peered inside, while his tail fanned the sand on the sea bed. On the advice of the other mullet both of the them got into a servile quickly. In the crevice the bright young mullet complained in a bad-tempered way that it was intolerable to  skulk like this. They decided to put up a show of strength. At the same time, they thought they must  have a rehearsal. The large green fish was a vegetarian and was merely inquisitive. After he had peeked into the cave for a few more minutes he left the place shuffling up the sand with the flukes of his tail. Stirred by the words of the bright young mullet they formed themselves into the frame of a giant fish. They were practising fearsome grunts in unison. At that time the large green fish

                                                                                       Ode to Skylark is a poem written by Shelley. The poet compares the bird Skylark to the " High born maiden ". The high-born maiden is a young wealthy girl or a young princess living in a tower. She is grief stricken because of her love and sings to console her mind. The song sung by the young princess is filled with love.

  The Postmaster -          Tagore The Postmaster is one of Tagore’s famous short stories. This story explores the love of a village girl for a city bred young man. The young postmaster took up his duties at the village at Ulapur. He felt like a fish out of water in that rural area. He was not good in mingling with others. Among strangers he appeared strangers he appeared proud or Ill at ease. He had only few friends. The postmaster’s salary was small. He had to look his own meals. He used to share with Ratan, an Orphan girl in the village. She did odd jobs for him. She was a only companion with whom he used to chat. Once the Postmaster asked Ratan whether she remembered anything about the parents.   She replied that her father had been fond of her mother. She also called to mind a little brother whom she used to play with. The Postmaster recalls her memories of his family member aloud in the presence of the simple little girl. She had a complete picture of each one of them

  Sweeney Among the Nightingale -         T.S. Eliot T. S. Eliot’s Sweeney among the Nightingale talks about the evil overcoming human society. In this poem the contemporary world is portrayed in a state of moral decay. In Aeschylus, Agamemnon cries out “Alas I have been struck deep with a mortal blow after his wife Clytemnestra murders him in his bath. Sweeney represents a modern figure caught in the grips of the evil. He is among the Nightingales (world). T.S. Eliot gives a double meaning for the term Nightingale. These birds are also associated with sorrow. This bird also suggests the story of philomel. The poet uses certain animal images to describe the Sweeney. He is called Ape Neck and in his face the appearance of Zebra and Giraffe is also observed. In the first stanza Sweeney is unaware about the danger and enjoys himself as a mere observer. The second stanza emphasizes the danger threatening Sweeney’s life. He employs certain signs in the sky as omens of approaching

  Women in Love -         D. H. Lawrence Women in Love is concerned with Lawrence’s philosophy of love. This novel depicts the story of two sisters who struggle with their own feelings, attitude and desires. This novel narrates the tragic involvement of four characters, Rupert Birkin, Urusula Bragwen, Gudrun Bragwen and Gerald Crich. Both of these sisters are educated and intellectual, but of contrasted nature. Their contrary character is brought out as the novel opens. Gudrun says bitterly on marriage. She doesn’t have any thought for bearing children. But Urusula seemed different in thought. The Bragwen sisters experienced boredom with the wedding of Gerald’s sister. Rupert’s involvement with a domineering aristocratic woman ceases as he becomes increasingly attached to Urusula. In turn, Gerald pursues and captures the artist Gudrun, and the four decides to vacation together in the Alps. Birkin disliked Ursula’s womanly feelings, her beauty or intimacy, Urusula is naturally puz

                              Death -         John Donne Death is a sonnet written by John Donne . In this poem the death is personified. The author tells death, not to be proud because some people call it mighty and terrible. Death may think that it could kill anyone including the poet. The people who are supposed to be killed by death are living forever. Death is nothing but a long sleep where people get immense pleasure. Some good people get immense pleasure. Some good people might have been dead, but they were not at all worried about their death: instead they have got a long rest and so they are happy. According to the poet, death is slave to fate. War and sickness, opium and other charms have got the power to make us sleep well and it is far better than the blow given by sleep. So, death should not boast itself that it is more powerful. After death people have eternal life in this world by their good deeds. Since people are able to have an everlasting life, death has no

  The Second Coming -          W.B. Yeats The second Coming is a visionary poem written by W.B. Yeats in the year 1920. The poem was inspired by the wide – spread murder and blood shed in Ireland and the great war of 1914 – 1919. The title of this poem suggests the second coming of Christ. During the 20 th century people believed in the destruction of the universe and the second coming. In the first stanza Yeats uses a gyre image to show how civilizations come and go. The image of the falcon and the falconer show how man has lost control over immoral passions. The spirit and mind can no longer control the flesh. The forces of this order and anarchy do not obey the voice of the falconer. The anarchy that is loosed upon the world causes are innocent life to be drowned in a blood – dimmed tide. The center can no longer hold its power over the course of civilization. All these are the signs of second coming. The terrible events marked by great violence anticipate the birth of a ne

  Anthem for Doomed Youth -        Wilfred Owen Anthem for Doomed Youth was one of Owen’s most famous poem written in 1917. This poem addresses million dead and people who are about to die. It is written in a sonnet form. This poem is a lamentation for Youngman illustrated as “cattle in the war”.                  This poem is in the form of questions and answers. What buried ceremonies are appropriate for those who die in the war. The answer is that the sands of battle are the appropriate form of mourning. They function as the worthless lament. The brutality of war seems to deny Christian ritual – the pastor “Hasty Orisons” of church prayers are a greater mockery of the sacrifice the soldier makes than the sound of the guns.             Thus, each musical part of a funeral or memorial service is replaced by booming guns, for bells, repeated rifle shots of mechanically uttered prayers, wailing shells for choirs. But there is a lamentation in the fact that they are buried far fr

  The Last Leaf -        O Henry The Last Leaf is a short story written by O.Henry. This story depicts the life of an uncouth artisan who saved the life of an artist, at peril to himself, making a masterpiece. Sue and Johnsy were artists and both lived in a colony in the old Greenwich Village. They started a Joint Studio at the top of a squatty three storey brick building. There was an outbreak of pneumonia in November. Scores of artists fell victims to its icy fingers. Soon Johnsy was affected by Pneumonia. She lay tired peeping through the small window panes at the blank sides of the next brick house. One morning the doctor told Sue that there was no chance for Johnsy to live. He felt that she might be longing for something. Sue told that Johnsy had no other desire except to paint. The doctor said she might be counting the days for her death. When Sue entered the room Johnsy was counting backwards seriously looking through the window. She explained that for the past three day

  The Snake -           D.H Lawrence The Snake is one of the finest poems written by D.H Lawrence. He records in his poems the creative meeting between poet and phenomena. The poem showcases the struggle between the two selves of the speaker. The voice of education, the voice of civilization mocks at the voice of the spontaneous self. The poem has several levels of meaning.           The poet celebrates the distinctive otherness of a creature so very different from man. As a separate self, as a different creation the snake is worthy of admiration and respect. The poet penetrates into the being of the snake to bring out its beauty. He shows the opposition between the speaker’s manhood his real 'I' other voices the 'spring from his educated self'. A snake comes to have a drink at the water trough on a hot Sicilian day. The speaker also needs a drink and comes down the steps with his pitcher since the snake has arrived there before him. The speaker respects the ri

  Shark -E.J. Pratt The ‘Shark’ is a poem written by the Canadian Poet E.J.Pratt. He is a confederation poet. E.J Pratt claims that ‘a poem can be written only by someone who knows how to write'. His poem is filled with images and history. The poem ‘Shark’ gives us a vivid picture of the shark. In this poem a shark swims leisurely, without stirring a bubble. This killer fish seems to know the  harbor as he is familiar with the sea. The poet compares its fin to a piece of sheet; iron which is three   cornered and sharp-edged like a knife. The shape of the shark is too strange, and the body is tubular and tapered. The color of the shark is smoke blue. When he passed the landing stage, he turns and snaps at a dead flat fish which is floating on the water. When it opens its mouth, the poet sees the white throat and a double row of white teeth. This fish has metallic grey eyes which are narrow, hard and slit. After having its prey, it swims out of the harbor in the same way as h