II SEMESTER ENGLISH 2016

II SEMESTER ENGLISH  2016

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.     

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)                                           3.  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 Nataliya. 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 Natalyia. 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 Natalia 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          

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