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The Silver Box by John Galsworthy – Complete Study Material

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The Silver Box by John Galsworthy – Complete Study Material The Silver Box – John Galsworthy The Silver Box is a three-act play by the English novelist and dramatist John Galsworthy (1867–1933) . It was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 1906 and was Galsworthy's first play. The drama is an important example of social realism , dealing with class inequality, poverty, justice and the hypocrisy of the privileged classes. ( Project Gutenberg ) The complete text is available free through Project Gutenberg, which identifies the work as a Comedy in Three Acts . ( Project Gutenberg ) 1. About John Galsworthy John Galsworthy was an important English novelist, playwright and social critic. He is particularly known for his concern with: Social injustice Class divisions Poverty Legal inequality The problems of the working class Moral responsibility Hypocrisy in respectable society His writing often examines the conflict between social ideals and actual human behaviour . ...

Volpone by Ben Jonson – Complete Study Material

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📚 Volpone by Ben Jonson – Complete Study Material Volpone; or, The Fox is one of the most important comedies of Ben Jonson , first performed around 1606 and published in 1607 . It is a powerful satirical comedy that exposes greed, deception, corruption and the excessive desire for wealth. ( GradeSaver ) Note for your blog: The 1607 title-page image above is from Wikimedia Commons and is a digitization of an early edition. It is a public-domain historical image; you can use the Commons file according to its stated licensing information. 1. About the Author – Ben Jonson Ben Jonson (1572–1637) was one of the major dramatists of the English Renaissance and the Jacobean period. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and is particularly famous for his comedies of satire . His important works include: Volpone The Alchemist Bartholomew Fair Every Man in His Humour Every Man Out of His Humour Jonson was strongly influenced by classical Greek and Roman literature . His dramatic works...

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – Complete Study Material

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Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – Complete Study Material Author: Jane Austen Published: 1811 Genre: Novel of manners / Romantic fiction Major Characters: Elinor Dashwood, Marianne Dashwood, Edward Ferrars, Colonel Brandon, John Willoughby, Mrs. Dashwood, Lucy Steele Major Themes: Sense and sensibility, love and marriage, money and social class, women and society, self-control, appearance and reality Introduction Sense and Sensibility is the first published novel of Jane Austen . It was published anonymously in 1811. The novel tells the story of the Dashwood family, particularly two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood . The two sisters represent contrasting qualities. Elinor is practical, calm and self-controlled, while Marianne is emotional, passionate and romantic. Through their experiences in love and society, Austen examines the importance of balancing reason and emotion . The novel is both a love story and a social criticism. Austen humorously presents the...

Yayati by Girish Karnad – Complete Study Material

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Yayati by Girish Karnad – Complete Study Material Introduction Yayati is one of the earliest and most important plays written by Girish Karnad , one of India's major modern dramatists. The play was first written in Kannada in 1961 and is based on an episode from the Mahabharata . Karnad takes an ancient myth and gives it a modern psychological and philosophical interpretation. The central question of the play is: Can a person escape the consequences of his own desires by transferring them to someone else? The play explores desire, responsibility, sacrifice, youth, old age, selfishness, guilt, duty and the consequences of human actions . Although the story comes from an ancient Indian epic, Karnad presents it in a way that makes it relevant to modern life. 1. About Girish Karnad Girish Karnad (1938–2019) was an Indian playwright, actor, director and intellectual. He wrote mainly in Kannada, and many of his plays became important works of modern Indian drama. Some of his famous p...

Nagamandala by Girish Karnad – Complete Study Material

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Nagamandala by Girish Karnad – Complete Study Material Introduction Nagamandala: Play with a Cobra is a famous play written by the Indian playwright Girish Karnad . It was first performed in the late 1980s and is based on Kannada folk traditions, legends, and oral storytelling. The play combines folklore, fantasy, mythology, romance, humour, and social criticism . At the centre of the story is Rani , a young woman trapped in an unhappy marriage with her husband Appanna . Her lonely life changes when a Naga (cobra) falls in love with her and takes the form of her husband. Through this unusual story, Karnad explores important themes such as love, marriage, patriarchy, female identity, loneliness, sexuality, social expectations, and the power of storytelling . About Girish Karnad Girish Karnad (1938–2019) was one of India's most important modern playwrights, actors, directors, and intellectuals. He wrote many plays based on Indian history, mythology, legends, and folk t...