I YEAR II SEMESTER ENGLISH ( DEC-2016 TO MARCH-2017)
II Semester -Prose
1. THE SCIENTIFIC POINT OF VIEW
----J.
B. S. Haldane
Q. How is the scientist superior to
God according to J. B. S. Haldane?
In the essay ‘The Scientific Point of
View’, J. B. S. Haldane opposes superstition and supports rational
thinking. He says that science affects
us in two ways. We are benefited by its appreciations in one way and it affects
our opinions in the other way. Haldane
says that the scientist is superior to God. The scientist works out the results
of many actions. In the eyes of the bacteriologist, polluting public water
supply is as dangerous as blasting an atom bomb in the public street.
The average man dwells on the emotional
and ethical side of the issue. He ignores the facts which interest the
scientist. Haldane gives two examples, the problem of the American Negro and
the problem of disease. The American Negro is accustomed to the hot climate of
the cotton estates in the southern states. His population increases there. If
he is made to live in luxury, he loses his stamina and even dies. So the
scientist prefers the Negro to live a life of hardship.
Haldane says that the modern medicine
cures many diseases. Diabetes can be controlled by injecting insulin. Typhoid
can be cured by drinking boiled water. But many people are unscientific. Even
cancer can be cured but people do not follow the doctor’s advice. He says that
the world is misruled by ignorance and unscientific thinking.
(Prose)
2. ON SHAKING
HANDS -A.G. Gardiner
Q.
What are A.G. Gardiner’s views on the custom of Shaking Hands?
A.G.
Gardiner is a popular essayist. He used to write the essays under the pen name
“Alpha of the Plough”. His essays are humorous and thoughtful.
In his essay “On Shaking hands” he
comments on the western practice of shaking hands. It is a social custom. Generally we shake hands when we meet or
part. It is a symbol of courtesy. People
in the world have their own forms of greetings.
The Japanese bows, the Chinese moves the hand, the Russian hugs and the
Indian Salaams. The Arab touches breast
with the tips of fingers. But the disorderly kissing of the English seems to be
indecent.
There is heartiness in shaking hands. If you greet a person without shaking hands,
it is not at all a greeting. It is like
a bond without a seal. It is like a type written letter with typewritten
signature. There are certain hands which we don’t like to shake. We should not shake sticky, soft and bony
hands. There is one kind of person. If you lend your hand to him, he will crush.
Another type of person puts his hand in your palm affectionately. He holds your
hand until you feel tempted to throw it out. We must continue this habit of
shaking hands until it is proved that it is not healthy.
---TRIOPALS
II Semester - Poetry
1. ODE TO
AUTUMN --John Keats
Q.
What are the special features of the autumn season according to John Keats?
John Keats is a great poet of
Romantic period. In his poem” Ode to Autumn” he describes the special qualities
of the season like abundant fruitfulness, different activities of the farmers
and music of the autumn season.
The Poet says that the autumn
season is full of mists and mellow fruitfulness. It is a close friend of the Sun. It conspires with the Sun to bless and load
the trees with fruits. It fills the fruits with juice. The grapes, the apples,
the gourds and hazel nuts are perfectly ripened in this season. It is also
season for later flowers. They attract
bees. The bees think that it is still
summer because they gather much honey from the later flowers. Their hives are over flowed with honey.
The autumn is personified as a
busy farmer. He is seen sitting
carelessly on the granary floor and whose hair is lifted by the winnowing
wind. Next he is seen as a reaper
overcome by the strong smell of poppies and dozes in the field. He is also seen as a gleaner carrying sheaves
of corn on his head and crossing a brook carefully. Finally he is seen sitting beside a
cider-press and watching patiently the oozing out of the juice.
The autumn season has its own
music. The small gnats make sorrowful
sounds. The full-grown lambs bleat from
distant hills. The hedge crickets sing
and the red breast whistles from the garden.
The swallows twitter in the Sky, as they are ready for migration. Thus
the poet describes the features of the autumn season.
(Poetry)
2.
I AM NOT THAT WOMAN ----Kishwar
Naheed
Q. Explain the views of Kishwar Naheed on the
exploitation of the women.
Kishwar Naheed was a great poet of Pakistan.
Her poem” I am not that Woman” presented the picture of a woman who was
exploited by society. It could be her father, her brother or even her mother-
in- law who suppressed her. She was confined to the four walls of the house.
Her activities were restricted only to the domestic work. Nobody paid any
attention to her voice. She was crushed in the name of meaningless customs and
traditions. She was bought and sold in the name of chastity. She was treated
worse than an animal. Even the parents considered her a burden which resulted
in early marriage.
The speaker was very
conscious of her exploitation. She did not want to identify herself with the
man on the poster who was selling socks and shoes. She was against the concept
of woman being treated as a commodity in the male dominated society. She was aware
that the oppressor roamed free as the breeze, but she was crushed by the weight
of customs and traditions. She said that light could not be hidden in darkness.
She angrily said that chains could not stop her fragrance. The society treated
her as a commodity.
She was married off to get rid of a burden.
She stated that the nation of captive minds couldn’t be free. She wanted to
prove her own identity and existence. Thus the poem revealed the rebellion
spirit of the speaker.
II
Semester -Short Stories 1.
HALF
A RUPEE WORTH - R.K.Narayan
Q. How did Subbiah meet his tragic end in the
story “Half a rupee worth”
R.K.Narayan’s stories have south- Indian
setting. His story ‘Half a rupee worth’
describes the rise to prosperity of a rice dealer who dies under his own rice
bag.
Subbiah was a rice merchant in Malgudi. He
took over the business when his father died. Business prospered. He owned thirty acres of land, a dozen houses
and unlimited quantity of jewels. He also lent money to the needy people at
high rate of interest. In short, he was swollen with money. His money minting
went on till war came and food control was brought by the government. He sold
rice for very high rate. He sold in small quantities and always took money in
advance.
One evening when he had just closed his
shop, a person came and requested him to give at least half-a-rupee worth of
rice as his children were very hungry. Subbiah agreed to give only half a seer
of rice and asked him to wait in the street corner. Taking the half- a- rupee
coin he went to one of his secret godowns. The man waited for a long time and
then went to subbiah’s house and informed his wife. Early next morning the
godown was opened, they found Subbiah’s body crushed under rice bag. There was
by his body, half a rupee coin. His death was caused by accidental fall of rice
bags. Thus Subbiah’s life turned into a tragic end.
(Short Stories) 2. THE BOY
WHO BROKE THE BANK - Ruskin Bond
Q. Bring out the humour in Ruskin Bond’s story “The boy who
broke the bank”
“The boy who broke the bank” is a very
interesting story written by Ruskin Bond. The story relates to the murmuring of
a sweeper boy, Nathu about irregular payment of his salary. It takes the shape
of a rumour and results into the collapse of a bank. In the end of the story, Nathu, who is
responsible for the whole episode, wonders innocently about the incident.
Seth Govind Ram owns a bank at Pipalnagar
town. The bank is financially very sound and has won the trust of the
depositors. Nathu is a sweeper in the bank. One day, while sweeping the steps
of the bank, he grumbles about the irregular payment of his salary by the bank
authorities. Sitaram, the washer man’s son learns about Nathu’s complaints. In
his loose talk with Mrs. Srivastava, Sitaram says that bank could not pay its
employees. Mrs. Srivastava misunderstands Sitaram’s statement. She believes
that the Piplanagar bank is about to collapse. The rumour spreads like a wild
fire in the entire town.
The customers in shock demand their money
back. They start stoning the bank building and break the glasses. The next day
when Nathu goes to the bank for his duty, he finds a lot of broken glasses and
stones. He wonders how it happened. He murmurs angrily that the bank
authorities are not paying him regularly on one hand and are also increasing
his work. For him the event is a
mystery.
( (One Act Play) THE PROPOSAL -Anton Chekov
1. Q. Bring out the humour in the play “The Proposal” (or)
The play “The Proposal” is almost a
comedy of manners – explain (or)
Discuss the theme of the play “The
Proposal”
The Play “The Proposal” by Anton Chekov
is humorous and witty. It deals with the
quarrel between Lomov and Natalya over small issues. Lomov comes to the house
of Chubukov, a land owner. Natalya is the daughter of Chubukov. She is aged about 25. Lomov wants to marry
her. He is aged about more than 35. Yet
he wants to propose to her without respecting the feelings of Natalya and her
father. Meanwhile Natalya and Lomov exchange heated arguments for the ownership
of the Volovyi Meadows and the greatness of their dogs Tyer and Flyer.
Lomov belongs to a rich family. He boasts
of his wealth and claims that Volovyi Meadows are his own. He says that his dog
Tyer is better than Natalya’s dog Flyer. On the one hand, he behaves like a
peculiar person, who suffers from hypochondria. On the other hand, he proposes
to marry Natalya. Thus he seems to be foolish. It reminds us of a sentimental
and humorous comedy.
The
play “The Proposal” is full of farce too. Farce is type of comedy that provokes
the audience belly laughs in the theatre. Here Chekov uses a highly exaggerated
character like Lomov- caricatured character type. He puts Lomov and Natalya
into humorous situations. Two argumentative and opposite people come
together. At last Natalya agrees to
marry Lomov, in spite of their long dispute over the Meadows and their dogs.
2. Q. Sketch the character of Lomov in the play “The
Proposal”
Lomov is the central character of the play “The Proposal”. He is argumentative by nature. He belongs to a rich family. He boasts of his
wealth and claims that Volovyi Meadows are his own. He suffers from a
psychological disease called hypochondria. It is a state of mental depression
due to unnecessary anxiety about one’s health.
Lomov is thus a person of poor health.
Lomov is the neighbour of Chubukov. One
day he comes to the house of Chubukov, a land owner. Chubukov has a daughter
aged about 25. Her name is Natalya. Lomov wants to marry her. He is aged about more than 35. Yet he wants
to propose to her without respecting the feelings of Natalya and her father.
Meanwhile Natalya and Lomov exchange heated arguments for the ownership of the
Meadows and the greatness of their dogs Tyer and Flyer.
Lomov tells Natala that he has health
problems. He feels that he is dying. He falls into a chair and faints. Natalya thinks that he is dead. She starts
weeping and requests her father to call a doctor. Chubukov finds himself in a terrible situation. Meanwhile Lomov comes to senses. He sees mist
before his eyes. Chubukov does not want
to take any more chance to leave Lomov alone. He at once speaks out that his
daughter is willing to marry Lomov. He thrusts Lomov’s hand to his daughter’s
hand and gives them his blessings.
---TRIOPALS
