Lit.Guruji

Life Between the Two World Wars (1919–1939) World War I was the largest and most destructive war the world had seen until then. Millions of people were killed or seriously injured. Many European countries were left economically and socially damaged. The war ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. People welcomed the end of the war and hoped for lasting peace Britain was not invaded, but its economy became weak. The USA became the world's leading economic power, replacing Britain. Britain had borrowed a lot of money from the USA during the war and had to repay it. Representation of the People's Act (1918) Almost all men over 21 and women over 25 got the right to vote. Women earned this right because of their important work during the war. Economic Problems 1. After the war, many soldiers returned home and became unemployed. 2. The cost of living remained high.  3. Employers wanted to reduce wages because profits were low. 4. Coal mining and railways declined due to:   ...

                               Metaphor   A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying one thing is another. It helps readers understand ideas better by showing hidden similarities and creating vivid images. Example : Time is a thief. (It means time steals moments from our lives, not that time is really a thief.) Uses of Metaphors 1. Metaphors create strong mental images. 2. They explain abstract ideas clearly. 3. They build deeper emotional connections. 4. They compare two unrelated things. 5. They reveal hidden similarities. 6. They make language vivid and interesting.  Example: "Juliet is the sun" means Juliet is radiant, warm, and the center of Romeo's world—not literally the sun. Parts of a Metaphor Tenor – the thing being described. Vehicle – the thing it is compared to. Example : "Love is a battlefield." Tenor: Love Vehicle : Battlefield Types of Metaphors 1....

                               Simile  A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.”  Common Examples: He is as brave as a lion. Her smile was like sunshine. She slept like a log. They fought like cats and dogs. The term originates from the Latin word similis, meaning "similar" or "like." Similes are prevalent in literature, including poetry and prose, and even in film, where they enhance visual storytelling. Do's 1.Use simple and clear comparisons. 2. Compare things that are related. 3. Use fresh and original similes. Don'ts 1.Don't use similes for obvious ideas. 2. Don't use unrealistic or exaggerated comparisons. 3. Don't repeat the same simile again and again. Purpose of a Simile 1. Creates clear mental images. 2. Makes writing more expressive and interesting. 3. Helps readers understand feelings, qualities, or actions through comparison. Structu...

Hungry Stone by Rabindranath Tagore  Hungry Stones is a Bengali short story written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1895. The story explores mystery, fear, love, and the supernatural. A traveler and his cousin meet a very knowledgeable man named Srijut on a train. While waiting for another train, Srijut tells them a strange story from his past. Srijut once worked as a collector of cotton duties at Barich, where he lived alone in an old marble palace. The palace had been built about 250 years earlier by Emperor Mahmud Shah II as a luxurious pleasure palace filled with fountains, music, and beautiful Persian women. Now it was deserted and believed to be haunted. An old clerk, Karim Khan, warned him never to stay there at night, but Srijut ignored the warning. At first, Srijut felt lonely in the palace. Soon, however, the palace began to cast a strange spell over him. One evening, he heard the laughter and footsteps of invisible women bathing in the river. Although he could not see them cle...

  Summary of The Unknown Citizen by W. H. Auden The Unknown Citizen, written by W. H. Auden in 1939, is a satirical poem. It criticizes a society that judges people only by government records, statistics, and official reports. The poem describes the life of an ordinary man using information from government offices, his employer, and other organizations. Although his public life is fully recorded, no one knows his real feelings, dreams, or whether he was truly happy. The Citizen's Identity  The poem begins with a monument for a man called only "JS/07 M 378." He is identified by a number, not by his name. Unlike monuments built for famous heroes, this one shows that modern society sees people as numbers and official records instead of unique human beings. A Perfect Citizen According to the State The government says that no one ever complained about the citizen. According to official reports, he was an ideal citizen who always obeyed the rules. He worked in a factory, was lo...

Summary of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe is a psychological horror story about an unnamed narrator who murders an old man out of an obsession with his pale, "vulture-like" blue eye. After dismembering the body and hiding it beneath the floorboards, the narrator’s mounting guilt manifests as an imagined, deafening heartbeat, driving him to confess. The story  An unnamed narrator insists that he is not mad, but rather suffers from nerves that have sharpened his senses, especially his hearing. He begins to recount the events that led to a murder. The narrator claims to have loved an old man he lived with, but became obsessed with the old man's "vulture eye," which was pale blue with a film over it. This "Evil Eye" so terrified and enraged the narrator that he decided to kill the old man to close the eye forever. The narrator describes his extreme caution and calculation. For seven nights at ex...

Summary of A Reverie (Dream Children: A Reverie) by Charles Lamb Charles Lamb's A Reverie is a touching essay in which the narrator imagines telling stories to his two dream children, John and Alice. He tells them about their great-grandmother, Mrs. Field, who was a kind, religious, and respected woman. She looked after a large old mansion in Norfolk, though she was not its owner. She loved the house and took care of it as if it were her own. The mansion was famous for its beautiful wood carvings that told the story of the Children in the Wood. Mrs. Field was brave and believed that the ghosts of two children appeared in the house, but she was never afraid of them. The narrator also describes how beautiful, graceful, and cheerful Mrs. Field was in her youth. Although she later suffered from cancer, she remained courageous and never lost her faith or good spirit. When she died, many poor people and neighbours attended her funeral because they loved and respected her. As the story co...

The Apple Tree (1917).  by John Galsworthy  John Galsworthy 's The Apple Tree is a tragic tale of class and innocence. This story is entitled " The Apple - tree, the singing and the gold". This story is              " most finely crafted, most symbolic,                      and most poetic tales".   The story begins on the silver-wedding anniversary of Frank Ashurst and his wife Stella. They are traveling by car through the beautiful countryside on their way to Torquay, where they first met many years ago.  This journey becomes more than a celebration. It brings back forgotten memories from Ashursts past.  Ashurst recollects his past life. He introduces his former University friend Robert Garton. When they were travelling to Chagford, Ashurst had a knee pain. Unable to travel they search for a place to stay. They meet Megan David who invites them to her aunts farm. H...

My Last Duchess by Robert Browning My Last Duchess is a dramatic monologue in which the Duke of Ferrara speaks to the servant of a Count who has come to arrange the Duke's next marriage. As they walk through the Duke's palace, he stops before a portrait of his late wife, the Duchess. The Duke proudly shows the painting and explains that it was painted by the artist Fra Pandolf. He says that only he draws the curtain covering the portrait, so only he can decide who is allowed to see it. As he talks about the Duchess, the Duke reveals that she was a kind, cheerful, and innocent woman. She smiled easily and appreciated simple pleasures such as sunsets, flowers, gifts, and acts of kindness. She treated everyone with the same warmth and gratitude, whether they were ordinary people or her husband, the powerful Duke. The Duke disliked this behaviour because he wanted the Duchess to value him above everyone else. He believed that his noble family name, which had existed for "nine-...

  “ Tithonus” by Alfred Lord Tennyson  "Tithonus" is Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem. Tithonus is a dramatic monologue based on a Greek myth. Tithonus, a mortal prince, was loved by the dawn goddess Aurora (Eos). At his request, Aurora granted him immortality, but she forgot to ask for eternal youth. As a result, Tithonus lives forever while growing older and weaker every day. Tennyson first drafted the poem in 1833, shortly after the death of his close friend Arthur Henry Hallam. He published a substantially revised version of the poem in the February 1860 edition of the Cornhill Magazine, and later collected it in his 1864 book Enoch Arden. The poem begins with Tithonus observing that everything in nature follows the natural cycle of birth, growth, and death. Trees decay, people work and die, and even beautiful swans eventually perish. He realizes that only he has been denied the peace of death because of his "cruel immortality." Living in Aurora's heavenly wo...

 Essay on Sir Roger at Church  Introduction   Sir Roger at Church is a famous essay written by Joseph Addison. It is one of the essays in The Spectator . This essay describes Sir Roger's behaviour in church and shows his kind and respectable nature. Sir Roger's Importance in the Village Sir Roger is a wealthy landowner who is loved and respected by everyone in his village. He is not proud of his wealth or position. Instead, he treats his servants and tenants with kindness and care. The villagers admire him because he is honest, generous, and always ready to help others. Every Sunday, Sir Roger goes to church with his servants and tenants. His arrival at the church is impressive, and everyone greets him with respect. He behaves with dignity and encourages others to do the same. His Interest in the Church Sir Roger takes a special interest in the church. He has repaired the church building at his own expense and has donated many useful things for its maintenance. He gives ...

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou  The poem Still I Rise is written by Maya Angelou, an African - American writer. She explores the oppression of white towards blackin terms of criticism, sexism, and other personal obstacles. As a writer she had faced the white oppressors with dignity, courage and self-confidence. The poetess depicts the hardships she had to overcome, just like an African - American writer.  The poem is written in the first person, where the speaker directly addresses those who try to put her down. She says that people may spread lies about her, insult her, and treat her unfairly, but they can never defeat her spirit. Like dust that rises from the ground, she will always rise above difficulties and challenges. Throughout the poem, the speaker shows great confidence. She asks whether her success, pride, and happiness upset others. She compares herself to a person who owns oil wells, gold mines, and diamonds. These images symbolize wealth, success, and self-worth. T...

The Princess and the God (Savitri and Satyavan) by Aaron Shepherd  The story of Savitri and Satyavan is a famous tale from the epic Mahabharata. It tells us about true love, devotion, and intelligence. Savitri was a brave and wise princess who brought her husband back from Yama through her courage and cleverness. Once, there was a king who had no children. He prayed for many years, and finally, he was blessed with a daughter named Savitri. She grew up to be very beautiful, intelligent, and strong-minded. When it was time for her marriage, no prince came forward, so her father asked her to choose her own husband. Savitri travelled and found a noble young man named Satyavan living in a forest. Though he was poor, he was kind and virtuous. Savitri decided to marry him. However, the sage Narada warned that Satyavan would die within one year. Even after knowing this, Savitri remained firm in her decision and married him. Savitri lived happily with Satyavan in the forest. As the predicte...

                       The Giant’s Wife                                    by William Carleton    Introduction :            The Giant’s Wife by William Carleton is an Irish folktale and a “tall tale” with exaggerated, humorous, and mythical elements. Fin MacCool and the Causeway : Fin MacCool, a giant in Ireland, built the Giant’s Causeway—a path of rocks across the sea to Scotland. Fin’s Fear of Cuhullin: Fin becomes afraid when he hears that the powerful giant Cuhullin, who has a magic finger giving him strength, is coming to challenge him. Oona’s Plan : Fin seeks help from his intelligent wife Oona. She plans to trick Cuhullin into thinking Fin is stronger. Oona’s Tricks : Oona disguises Fin as a baby and deceives Cuhullin with clever tricks (like hard bread and showing strength), making him ...

Kabuliwala                   Rabindranath Tagore  Rabindranath Tagore was a renowned Bengali poet and playwright. He won Nobel Prize for literature in the year 1913 for his work Gitanjali. Kabuliwala is a short story which narrates the story of a 5 year old young girl named Mini and Kabul - based sweet vendor. The story depicts the theme of love, seperation and cultural barrier.  Mini is a five - year old girl who is curious, talkative and full of life. His real name is Rahman, an Afgan merchant who travels to Kolkata to sell dry fruits. The friendship between Mini and the Kabuliwala is the essence of the story.  The Kabuliwala sees his own daughter Parvathi in the face of Mini. For Mini Kabuliwala is a source of happiness and joy. The two had their own special jokes. He gave her plenty of nuts and raisins. The man would tease Mini asking her when she was going to her father-in-law's house which also meant prison. This the...

Taxi Driver              - K.S. Duggal Taxi Driver is a short story written by an Indian author K.S. Duggal. This story depict the life of a taxi driver named Dittu. He is a Pakistani and his real name is Hardit Singh. After partition he came to India and became a taxi-driver.  One day Dittu finds a wallet in his car seat. He understands that a passenger has left the wallet. He feels shocked and suprised as he is unable to restore the wallet. He claims  that rich people are so careless with their belongings. He reaches home with his wallet.  Dittu narrates his past experience in Pakistan. Once when he was travelling in a bicycle he found a parcel lying in the street. He picks up the bundle and was curious to know about the content.  He tries to open the parcel and finds layers of packing papers. He realises that it has been done by shop keepers to test the honesty of citizens. He feels ashamed about this act.  Dittu and his wif...

The Chinese Cinderella                             -  Adeline Yen Mah Adeline Yen Mah's The Chinese Cinderella is an autobiography. It narrates the life of Adeline Yen Mah. She was born in Hongkong. She grew up in a wealthy family. She suffered rejection and abuse from her family. At the age of 14, she left Hongkong for England.  The extract begins with Adeline playing Monopoly at the boarding school. Her father's chauffer arrives to take her home. This makes Yen feel dread. She feels fearful for going home to her family. She had a complex relationship with her family.  Adeline was taken to her parents new home for the first time. She arrived to her new home and discovered the absence of her step-mother and her children were gone out. Adeline saw her father who was sitting at his desk reading newspaper.  Yen mah calls his fathers room "the Holy of Holies". She is wary of her father. She sits ...

William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice". William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" is a play. In this play Portia makes a famous speech "The Quality of Mercy". Portia disguised as a lawyer makes this speech. She makes an appeal to Skylock the Jew, who has demanded a pound of flesh from Antonio, on his failure to repay debt.  Portia begs Skylock for showing mercy on Antonio. She tells that mercy is not forced on anyone. It should flow naturally like a rain. The person showing mercy is blessed and the person receiving mercy is also blessed. Therefore mercy is twice blessed.  " It blesseth him that gives and him that takes" A King is mighty because of his earthly power. But when mercy is enthroned in his heart he becomes more mightier.  Mercy is a divine quality. The heart of a king is the seat of mercy. Mercy is far higher than earthly power. A man gets the status of a God when he softens justice with mercy. Portia begs Skylock ...

On Personal Mastery - Robin Sharma Robin Sharma is a Canadian writer. On Personal Mastery is one of his motivational essay. In this essay he stresses on the need to make a commitment and dedication to change our live. He begins the essay by stating the two Beautiful Words: Personal Mastery. This word creates inspiration, hope, challenges and provoke us for higher possibilities. Life is a gift with great responsibilites. It is not always fair. We have to face struggle and hardship. We feel lonely and isolated. At the same time life offers us with plenty of opportunities to shine and achieve personal mastery. To achieve personal mastery: Commitment and dedication are necessary. Think about your own thoughts. Know your real value and aim in life. Get to know your fears. Concentrate on your personal genius and potential. Get out of Emotional Baggages. Refuse to tolerate negativity. Read and learn more. Become good at your craft. Be friendly, nic...

Essay on “Of Truth” by Francis Bacon Francis Bacon’s essay “Of Truth” is a profound philosophical reflection on the nature, value, and importance of truth in human life. Written in a concise and aphoristic style, the essay examines why people often avoid truth, how falsehood attracts the human mind, and why truth ultimately brings peace and stability. Bacon begins the essay with the famous question, “What is truth?”, quoting Pontius Pilate, who asked the question but did not wait for an answer. Through this reference, Bacon suggests that many people question truth not to understand it but to avoid its demands. He observes that humans have a natural inclination toward falsehood because lies provide pleasure, imagination, and temporary comfort. Truth, on the other hand, is plain and serious, lacking the glamour that falsehood often possesses. The essay compares truth to daylight, which reveals things clearly and honestly, while lies are compared to candlelight, which distorts rea...

Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou – Summary “Still I Rise” is one of Maya Angelou’s most powerful and inspiring poems. It celebrates resilience, confidence, and the unbreakable spirit of Black women — and oppressed people in general — who rise above discrimination, prejudice, and hardship. Summary : The speaker addresses those who try to put her down through lies, oppression, and hatred. Despite the negativity and attempts to crush her spirit, she declares that she will always rise — like dust, like air, like the moon and the sun — with dignity and pride. She responds to oppression with self-assurance and defiance, showing that no matter how many times people try to humiliate or silence her, she will keep rising stronger. The poem’s tone shifts from personal resistance to a collective empowerment, representing the strength of the Black community and women through history. In the final stanzas, Angelou celebrates her ancestral heritage, rising from a history of slavery and pain into ho...

Robin Sharma on Listening – Summary Listening is the foundation of leadership and growth. Robin Sharma believes that true leaders listen more than they speak. Deep listening allows you to understand others ideas, earn trust, and inspire loyalty. Listening builds strong relationships.  When you truly listen, others feel respected, valued, and understood. Silence is strength. Sharma encourages developing the discipline of silence — stepping away from constant talking, noise, and digital distractions. In silence, you hear your inner voice and intuition. Listen with your heart, not just your ears. He teaches that powerful communication isn’t about replying fast; it’s about empathy. Listening with compassion allows you to connect deeply and respond wisely. Self-listening is equally important. In books like The 5 AM Club, Sharma emphasizes listening to your inner self — through journaling, meditation, and solitude — to align your life with your values and purpose. Listening is a daily...

In the Grove" Story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa Ryūnosuke Akutagawa’s “ In a Grove” (1922) is one of the most famous works of modern Japanese literature.  Summary The story is structured as a series of testimonies given to the High Police Commissioner about the murder of a samurai named Takehiko and the rape of his wife, Masago, in a forest grove near Kyoto.  The Woodcutter’s Testimony The Wood Cutter found the body of the samurai in the grove. The man had been stabbed once in the chest and appeared to have died instantly. However, the woodcutter claims he saw no weapon nearby. The Priest’s Testimony The priest had seen the samurai and his wife traveling the previous day. He describes them as noble and calm. He also testifies that a suspicious-looking man, later identified as Tajōmaru, followed them. The Policeman’s Testimony The policeman reports that he has captured Tajōmaru, who was found injured and in possession of the samurai’s horse and belongings. Tajōmaru’s Confessio...

The Blue Ghost of Banff Springs Hotel – Summary: The Banff Springs Hotel, located in Alberta, Canada, is one of the most famous haunted places in the country. Among its many ghostly legends, the most well-known is that of the “Blue Ghost” or the “Ghost Bride.” According to the legend, sometime in the 1920s, a young woman was preparing for her wedding at the grand hotel. Dressed in her beautiful white gown, she began descending the grand staircase to meet her groom. Tragically, she tripped on her long dress — or, as some versions claim, her gown caught fire from nearby candles — and she fell down the stairs, dying instantly. Since that fateful day, guests and hotel staff have reported seeing her ghostly figure wandering the halls and staircases of the Banff Springs Hotel. She is often described as wearing her wedding gown with a faint blue glow, hence the name “Blue Ghost.” Some claim to have seen her dancing alone in the hotel ballroom, while others have felt sudden cold sp...

The Screaming Tunnel” is a famous Canadian ghost story set near Niagara Falls, Ontario. It’s one of the region’s most chilling legends, blending tragedy, mystery, and the supernatural. 🌉 Setting The tunnel is a small, arched stone passage under the railway tracks between Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. It was originally built in the early 1900s for water drainage and as a safe path for farmers and locals. 👻 The Legend According to the legend, many years ago, a young girl lived nearby in a farmhouse. One night, her home caught fire — or in some versions, she was escaping from an abusive father or a farmer who tried to harm her. The terrified girl ran into the tunnel seeking safety, but her clothes caught fire from the flames she carried, and she died screaming inside the tunnel. 🔥 The Haunting Locals say that if you stand in the middle of the tunnel at midnight and strike a match, it will: Instantly blow out, and You’ll hear a horrifying scream echo through the tunnel —...

The Ghost of Bell Island – Summary The legend of The Ghost of Bell Island comes from Bell Island, Newfoundland, Canada, and is one of the region’s most famous ghost stories. It blends mystery, local folklore, and supernatural elements tied to the island’s mining past. According to the legend, Bell Island was once home to a thriving iron ore mining community. In the early 20th century, strange and frightening events began to occur. Residents reported seeing a glowing, ghostly figure roaming near the abandoned mines and cliffs—sometimes described as a woman dressed in white, other times as a misty human-shaped light. Many believed the ghost was the restless spirit of someone who had died tragically during the island’s mining days. One popular version says she was the wife or daughter of a miner who was killed in an underground explosion or accident. Her spirit is said to wander the island searching for her lost loved one. Others claim the ghost protects the island, warning pe...

The Grey Lady of the Plains of Abraham – Detailed Summary The story of The Grey Lady is one of the most enduring ghost legends from Quebec City, Canada, centered around the Plains of Abraham, the site of a historic and bloody battle fought in 1759 between the British and French forces during the Seven Years’ War. According to the legend, the Grey Lady is a ghostly apparition seen wandering the open fields of the Plains, dressed in a long grey gown or cloak, her figure often shrouded in mist. Her face is pale, sad, and sometimes partially veiled, as though she is in eternal mourning. There are several versions of who she might have been in life: The Mourning Lover Version In the most romantic version of the tale, the Grey Lady was a young woman engaged to a French soldier stationed in Quebec. When the Battle of the Plains of Abraham erupted in 1759, her fiancé went to fight and never returned. The woman, heartbroken, searched the battlefield after the fighting ended, moving ...

The Dungarvon Whooper – Summary “The Dungarvon Whooper” is a famous Canadian ghost story from New Brunswick, often told as part of local folklore. It takes place in the late 19th century near the Dungarvon River, where a young cook was employed at a lumber camp. The story goes that the cook, a hard-working young man, joined a logging crew in the Dungarvon woods. He carried all his savings in a money belt around his waist. One day, when the other woodsmen went out to work, only the cook and the foreman stayed behind at camp. When the crew returned, they found the cook dead under mysterious circumstances—his money belt missing. The foreman claimed the cook had died suddenly, and the men buried him hastily in the forest. That night, terrifying whooping and wailing cries echoed through the woods—so chilling that the men fled the camp, believing the cook’s ghost was crying for justice. The unearthly sounds continued to be heard in the area for years, especially near the Dungarvo...

The Headless Brakeman” is a classic North American (especially Canadian) ghost story often included in folklore collections about haunted railways. Here’s a summary: Summary “The Headless Brakeman” tells the eerie tale of a railway worker—a brakeman—who met a tragic death while working on the trains. Long ago, during a stormy night, the brakeman was performing his duty of coupling cars together when a sudden jolt caused by a miscommunication on the line led to his decapitation by the moving train. His head was never found. After his death, strange occurrences began to trouble that stretch of railway track. Train engineers and passengers reported seeing a headless figure carrying a lantern, walking along the tracks or climbing onto freight cars. The ghost seemed to be searching for something—presumably his lost head. The apparition would often appear before accidents or mishaps, leading many to believe he was warning the living about danger. Over time, the story of the Head...

“The Winter Ghosts” by Kate Mosse — Summary The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse is a haunting historical novel that blends themes of loss, love, and redemption with supernatural mystery. Summary The story is set in the 1920s, a few years after World War I. The protagonist, Freddie Watson, is a young Englishman deeply scarred by the war and by the death of his elder brother George, who was killed in battle. Freddie suffers from grief, depression, and survivor’s guilt. Seeking peace and solitude, he decides to travel through the French Pyrenees, a remote and snowy region. During his journey, a snowstorm forces Freddie off the road. His car crashes, and he finds himself stranded in a small mountain village called Nérac. There, he’s welcomed by the locals and invited to a festival held in memory of a tragic event from centuries ago. At the festival, Freddie meets a mysterious young woman named Fabrissa, who shares stories of her own sorrow and loss. As they talk through the night, ...

A Trick of the Light” is a mystery novel by Louise Penny , first published in 2011. It is the seventh book in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, set in the fictional Quebec village of Three Pines. 🕵️‍♂️ Summary The story opens with Clara Morrow, an artist who has finally achieved success—her work is being celebrated at a solo exhibition in Montréal. After the big event, she and her husband Peter host a party at their home in Three Pines. The celebration, however, turns dark the next morning when the body of a woman is found in their garden. The victim is revealed to be Lillian Dyson, a former friend of Clara’s whom she hasn’t seen in years. Lillian was once part of the art world but became known for her cruel, cutting reviews that ruined many reputations—including Clara’s. Her sudden reappearance and mysterious death lead Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team, including Jean-Guy Beauvoir, to investigate. As the detectives dig deeper, they uncover the complex ...