Thinking activity : The sense of an Ending

Hello readers,

This blog is a part of my thinking activity given by professor Dr.Dilip Barad. In this blog,we have to write our views regarding below given questions. To see the blog and the questions click here.

“How often do we tell our own life story? How often do we adjust, embellish, make sly cuts? And the longer life goes on, the fewer are those around to challenge our account, to remind us that our life is not our life, merely the story we have told about our life. Told to others, but—mainly—to ourselves.”
― Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending

The sense of an ending is novel written by Julian Burns. Tony  Webster is an protagonist of Novel who is in his 60s. He is on that time off life that now he get something to know about his past life events then he is not able to do anything.  The same thing happen with him that due to some reason he has to look at his past then he realized that whatever is in his memory is not true. And the actual truth is different than his memory.  All the truth of his actual life came to him  and at the end he got shocked with some of his own doing. For that he write that Who has done this I am not that Tony. 

It's a book about history and how we recall events.” Robin Leggett

When we read the Novel The Sense Of An Ending sat that time we see that this is a book about the once personal history. We all have our own history of life with which we live. we see this book we are that this book is about the some events happened with Tony and how he recall history. When he got the truth that time he didn't able to believe that in his life he has do e some things like this also.

we see that this bool is about the personal history. we all have our own history. so, we can say that it is a book about history & how we recall events.

“The book’s plot reads like that of a thriller paperback: full of vengeful ex-girlfriends, youth suicide, and illicit sex.” Explain. (Geoff Mak)

When we read the original text, it that time you may feel this. When Tony Webster who is protagonist character of the novel, listen that his childhood friend committed suicide and he comes to know about the Adrain’s dairy. Veronica’s mother sends him money and will. At that time, we have to think Why does Veronica’s mother have Adrian’s diary? And why did she want Tony, of all people, to have it? Tony suddenly finds himself mining his memory to find answers surrounding Adrian’s enigmatic suicide. His search lyrically reveals the weakness of memory as corroboration. These moments, rather than the book’s muscular plot, are where Barnes’ prose is strongest. So the plot reads like that of a thriller paperback.

     “The point is not about the ‘ugliness of letter’ which causes ‘damage’; it is rather about what he ‘thinks’ about it and how he ‘memorizes’ it”. Explain with reference to your reading of ‘The Sense of an Ending’.

       In this Novel we  see that Tony has talked about the letter he wrote to the Adrian and Veronica when he come to know about the their affair. When in the first part when he himself describing the the letter he say that in reply to Adrian's letter I told them I don't have any problem that of you both are looking for each other or going out. But when in second part we got the original letter we realized that whatever he said in the first part is  his memory not truth. When he got the original letter he wrote then we found that he has word very bed this to both Veronica and Adrian. Even he call bitch to Veronica. But the actual point is about the destroyed memory. We see that whatever he has written in letter he doesn't remember. And actually what he has remembered is completely opposite of it. That shows that whatever we have remembered in life is not actually we have witnessed.

 ‘It is not about what we ‘do’, it is about how we ‘remember’ what we have done?’. Illustrate with reference to the novel ‘The Sense of an Ending’.

The whole story talk's about the memory of Tony Webster. The story is not of what he has done during his youth. But actually how that things are in his memory. He has done something bed but his memory tells completely different story. It shows that when we do something wrong and we don't want to feel guilty at that time our memory distort that thing. And set according to our convince. We treat our memory in way that we wanted to remember. And also. The same thing we can see in a case of the Tony Webster.

Hansa Bhaliya's assignment on Different types of Appeals: In Advertisement

Name : Hansa Bhaliya G.
Sem : 4
Roll no. : 6
Paper:- mass media
Submitted to : Department of English MKBU
Topic : Different types of Appeals 

Enrollment no :  206910862090004

Email Id :hansabhaliya20@gmail.com

Different types of Appeals:

The most common types of appeals are,

1) Emotional Appeal:

Related to an individual’s psychological and social needs for purchasing certain products and services. Many consumers are emotionally motivated or driven to make certain purchases. Emotional appeal includes personal and social aspects.

  Personal Appeal
  Social Appeal
  Fear Appeal
  Humor Appeal

1) Personal Appeal:

Some personal emotions that can drive individuals to purchase products include safety, fear, love, humor, joy, happiness, sentiment, stimulation, pride, self esteem, pleasure, comfort, ambition, nostalgia etc.

2)  Social Appeal:

Social factors cause people to make purchases and include such aspects as recognition, respect, involvement, affiliation, rejection, acceptance, status and approval. Advertisers often include social and peer pressure in their appeals. Presenting a brand or product in a social setting is a common technique. Fashion and technology companies also use social influence to promote their products, suggesting their products are hip, trendy or "in." Pimple and blemish cream ads often point out the social ramifications of going to school with pimples and facial blemishes.

3) Fear Appeal:




Fear is also an important factor that can have an incredible influence on individuals. Fear is often used in marketing campaigns of beauty and health products and also insurance. The company tries to shown the negative consequences, if the customer fails to use their products. This creates fear in their minds and persuades them to buy. The Life Insurance of India advertisement says- ‘because things can go wrong anytime, anywhere.’ and shows the mother having a pleasant time with her child, which may turn into a hospital scene.

  4) Humor Appeal:

Humor is an element that is used in around 30% of the advertisements. Humor can be an excellent tool to catch the viewer’s attention and help in achieving instant recall which can work well for the sale of the product. Humor can be used effectively when it is related to some benefit that the customer can derive without which the joke might overpower the message. It is used in many advertisements. It is an excellent tool to catch the viewers attention and help in achieving instant recall which can work well for the sale of the product. The Idea advertisement of walk and talk, includes a strong element of humour.

Humor Emotional Appeal Humor appeal causes consumer to watch advertisement, laugh on it, and most important is to remember advertisement and also the product connected with humor.

 For example:- Happydent - Happydent White Ad - Won Cannes Award for Action,

                                 Kit Kat - Dancing Babies Commercial,
                                 Feviquick - Ad India vs Pakistan-Todo Nahi Jodo-Slow Motion

Positive Emotional Appeal - Positive emotions like- humour, love, care, pride, or joy are shown in advertisements to appeal audience to buy that product.

For example:- Jonson and Jonson baby products.
Negative Emotional Appeal - This includes fear, guilt, and shame to get people to do things they should or stop.

For example:- Tobacco kills

2)  Rational Appeal:
Rational appeals as the name suggests aims to focus on the individual’s functional, utilitarian or practical needs for particular products and services. Such appeals emphasize the characteristics and features of the product and the service and how it would be beneficial to own or use the particular brand. Print media is particularly well suited for rational appeals and is often used with good success. It is also suited for business to business advertisers and for products that are complex and that need high degree of attention and involvement.

The Horlicks advertisement below shows the necessity of a child to consume it in order to grow tall, strong and sharp.

 Colgate – "It cleans your breath while it cleans your       teeth”
 Kya aapke toothpaste mein namak hai ?

Types of Rational Appeal :

Feature Appeal - Advertisements based on such appeal are highly informative, provides information of product attributes or features that can be used as the basis for rational purchase decision. Technical and high involvement products often uses this appeal.

Competitive Advantage Appeal - Such appeal is used to compare the product with the competitor's product directly or indirectly and advertiser try to present his product superior than competitor's product on one or more attributes. • Favorable Price Appeal - Here price offer is considered as the dominant point of the message. Jo

 News Appeal - Some type of news or announcements about product or company dominates the advertisement.

Product Popularity Appeal - Product popularity is considered as the dominant point of advertisement by highlighting the increasing number of users of brand or the number who have switched to it.

3)  Direct and Indirect Appeals:

Direct Appeal: Direct appeals clearly communicate with the consumers about a given need. These extol the advertised brand as a product which satisfies that need.

Indirect Appeals: Indirect appeals do not emphasize a human need, but allude to a need.

4)  Moral Appeals:

Moral appeals are directed to the consumes’ sense of what is right and proper. These are often used to exhort people to support social and ethical causes.

Types of moral Appeal:
         Social awakening and justice
         Cleaner and safe environment
         Equal rights for women
         Prohibition of drugs and intoxication
         Adult literacy
         Anti-smuggling and hoarding
         Protection of consumer rights and awakening

 Other types Of Appeals:

1)  Sex Appeal:
Sex and nudity have always sold well. Sexuality, sexual suggestiveness, over sexuality or sensuality raises curiosity of the audience and can result in strong feelings about the advertisement. It can also result in the product appearing interesting. However use of sex in types of advertising appeals can have a boomerang effect if it is not used carefully. It can interfere with the actual message of the advertisement and purpose of the product and can also cause low brand recall. If this is used then it should be an integral part of the product and should not seem vulgar. The shift should be towards sensuality.

2)   Music Appeal:
Music can be used as types of advertising appeals as it has a certain intrinsic value and can help in increasing the persuasiveness of the advertisement. It can also help capture attention and increase customer recall.

The Idea- ‘Honey Bunny’ jingle is in a very funny voice and well rhymed. It is equal to a song, and because of that customers register it easily.

3)   Romance Appeal:


These advertisements display the attraction between the sexes.  The appeal is used to signify that buying certain products will have a positive impact on the opposite sex and improve your romantic or love life. Fragrances, automobiles and other products use these types of advertising appeals. Sensitivity Appeal These advertisements are used to drive at and influence the sensitivities of consumers. These advertisements display attraction between opposite genders. The appeal is used to signify that buying certain products will have a positive impact on the opposite gender. Here, the customers are shown that for a soft and smooth skin Nivea is the best option, as that may bring them closer to their partners.

4)   Bandwagon Appeal:



This type of advertising appeal is meant to signify that since everybody is doing something you should be a part of the crowd as well.  It appeals towards the popularity aspect or coolness aspect of a( person using a particular product or service.  Here McDonald appeals to its customers that they have served millions and billions of customers. This encourages the customers to try out McDonald product. 

5)   Youth Appeal:


Advertisements that reflect youth giving aspects or ingredients of products use these types of appeals. Cosmetic products in particular make use of these appeals. In the advertisements below, the product is shown used by some young celebrities of the country. The products are advertised in such a way that the young customers feel that it connects to them.

6)   Less than Perfect Appeal:




Advertisements often try to influence people to make certain purchases by pointing out their inadequacies or making them feel less perfect and more dissatisfied with their present condition. These types of advertising appeals are used in cosmetic and health industries.

7)   Scarcity Appeal:
Scarcity appeals are based on limited supplies or limited time period for purchase of products and are often used while employing promotional tools including sweepstakes, contests etc.

8)   Masculine Feminine Appeal:
Used  in cosmetic or beauty products.This type of appeal aims at creating the impression of the perfect person. The message is that the product will infuse the perfection or the stated qualities in you.

9)   Adventure Appeal:
This appeal is directed towards giving the impression that purchasing a product will change the individual’s life radically and fill it with fun, adventure and action.

Conclusion:
The purposes of advertising Appeals are to inform, remind, convince and persuade consumers about the value and merits of specific brands. Advertisers use a number of specific appeals to tap into target consumers' psychological, emotional and social biases, solidifying brand images and creating loyal customer bases. Different consumers respond differently to different advertising appeals. Understanding advertising appeals and their application to target marketing can boost your marketing effectiveness.

ril 2019Assignment of The New Literature : Themes in One Night at the call center

Paper : 13:  The New Literature

Prepared by : Hansa Bhaliya G.

Roll No : 6

Assignment  Topic :  Themes in One Night at the call center 

M.A (English) : Semester  -4

Enrolment No: 

Batch : 

Email  ID: hansabhaliya20@gmail.com

Submitted to : Smt .S. B Gardi , Department of English, MK Bhavnagar University.

Themes in One Night at the call center:

•Introduction :

One night at the call center is novel written by Chetan Bhagat. He is the most popular writer in India. He wrote the novel about the problems of Youth. Youth is at the center in his all the novels. This can be seen as a reason behind his popularity among the youth.

His Works:

1. Five point some one
2.  The 3 mistakes of my life
3.  2 states
4.  One Night @ the Call Center
5.  Revolution 2020
6.  What young India Wants
7.  Half girlfriend

One Night at The Call Center is a novel  which focuses on  the lives of six call center employees working for Connections a call center located in the Gurgaon. In the beginning of the story the readers are presented with a frame story describing a train journey during which the author meets a girl who desires to tell him a story. However she put  one condition that he had to write a book on it if he wanted to hear the story. This condition stated that he had to base his second book on the story.

                     The novel talks about how the employees receive a phone call from God during their work timings in the call center. The characters in this novel  Radhika, Esha, Shyam, Priyanka, Varun, and Military Uncle. These six characters are deeply disturbed in the events taking place in their own lives and choose to focus on their problems rather than trying to find a way out of them.

                      In this book, chetan Bhagat trying to throw the light on the lives of the individuals in present day India.who are consist in the metro cities. The language utilized by the author is simple and contains witty remarks on civil culture and relationships. The author makes use of words that are combine with that region in the country thereby increasing the readability of this book.

Major Themes in One Night at the call center:

1) God’s Call :

                     

The call from  God is one of the major theme  in the novel. In this novel writer has presented God as a friendly figure rather than a boss. God is presented in a modern way and shown as freely figure  rather than the stereo‐typical pure English or the Latin that one commonly encounter.

The call from the God can be considered as plot mover.In the novel each characters  frustrated  from their personal problems. when they are in difficult situation they get phone call from God. When they all go outside from call center at the night go get fresh air.  After that when  they are coming back to the call center at that time their car Qualis crashes into a construction site hanging over a mesh of iron construction road.

 They are unable to phone call for anyone because there is no mobile network at that place. At that time suddenly  shyam’s mobile phone starts up ringing. All are Surprised at that time because  The phone call is from God. God talks with everyone and listen their problems and gives them suggestions to improve in their life. The conversation with God motivates all  the characters to such an extent that they get ready to face their problems with almost determination and motivation. The story takes a dramatic and critical turn through a deux ex machina when the characters receive a phone call from God.

2) Deux ex machina :

                                    

Deux ex machina is claque from Greek meaning “God from the machina”

It  is the term which has evolved to mean a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and all of sudden resolved by the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new subject, ability, characters and event . It can be intended to move the story forward when the writer has “painted himself into a corner” and sees no other way out to surprise the audience.

Chetan Bhagat also use God as plot mover. It can be considered as plot resolveance.  Deus Ex Machina is used in this novel by Chetan Bhagat when all characters met an accident and no any source are there to save their lives. So at that time God’s phone call become the plot mover.  The call from the God changed the life of all six people. The  God call save them with many messages for life. After that they all restart their lives from God's advice of living life happily and They all tried a lot of solve their problems from their lives. So the happy ending is here from God’s call. Chetan Bhagat used call of God when  characters are in trouble situation at that time he uses a call from God to resolve a plot.

3) Nationalism :

Nationalism involves national identity, by contrast with the related construct of patriotism, which involves the social conditioning and personal behaviours that support a state’s decisions and actions”(Nationalism)

One night at the call center is also about Nationalism. The character of Vroom is Anti – American. He always criticise Americans. In the Novel Vroom insulted by Americans. He is anti -American. He says ,

“Americans suck the life blood out of our country’s most productive generation”

There is motif behind to  give jobs to Young people because Young people Waste their life to give information or solve the problems of Americans. It destroying the future of Individual. 

‘‘That I should not have taken up a job just for money. Call centers pay

more, but only because the exchange rate is in the favor of Americans. They

toss their loose change at us. It seems like a lot in rupees. But jobs that pay

less could be better. There could be jobs that define me, make me learn of

help my country. I justified it by saying money is progress. But it is not true.

Progress is building something lasting for the future.”

This lines spoken by Vroom during the conversation with God. He says that he wants to help country. He has not join call center for money. For him,  Progress is not all about money but it’s like building which is lasting for the future.

“A  thirty-five-year-old

American’s brain and IQ is the same as a ten-years-old Indian  brain.”

Vroom said this lines about Americans. They invented new things but many of are not able to know how to use that things. They need the help of Indians. In India this all inventions are not coming in use though they able to guide Americans. So from that Vroom says that thirty five year old American IQ is same as ten year old child in India. India is smarter in compare to America.

4) Globalization :

"Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology” (Globalization)

The effect of Globalization  also describe in the novel through  the struggle of each  character‘s life. The Globalization is an  economical movement. The title of the novel itself tells about the effect of globalization in call center. Thee Novel is based on the working people in Call Centre.

In the call center every workers name are changed Varun Malhotra called as Victor  , Shayam Mehra as Sam Mercy , Radhika as Ragima Jones, Esha Singh as Eliza.  These people have to change their names for American.

Through this  Bhagat wants to give message to the Indians that who working in call center they just get good salary but it not give the  opportunity to do something else or show  their skills and creativity into their work.  In the novel due to slack in software industry the call center wanted to cut down the number of employees. Its effects on the people who are working in the call center it brings all the people under burden. literally this novel  talks about the anxieties, fears, and stress of call center employees. So in the novel shows the positive and negative effects of Globalization on people’s life.

5)Modernization :

The Novel deals with the issues of young people. It is  including questions about career, inadequacy, marriage, family conflicts in a changing India. It talks about the  relationship of the young Indian middle class to both executive and ordinary clients whom they serve in the US.

In this novel chetan Bhagat’s main aim is to convey a message to the people of India through situation of the characters like the the situation of women in India. Esha  wants to become a model for that she forced to slept with forty years old designer and it represents the dark side of the India.The situation of working girl Radhika who always struggle for her identity. She is trying to justify her duty. She is faithful wife but later on betrayed by her husband who has affair with another girl. Also she is struggling with her Mother In law who never understands her. It shows the situation of Married working girl.

   In the novel Chetan Bhagat portrayed young people who drinks and smoke when they felt anxiety, suffering in their life. In the novel Chetan portrayed Women freely drinks wines and roaming outside at the night.

6) Marriage and Love :

 Marriage and love are important theme of the novel. The novel is all about young people and their sufferings. Like this Marriage and love plays vital role in changing the relationship of the character. The idea of marriage is highly criticised through the charter of Radhika. She faces many struggle in her marriage life . She manages everything her marriage life and professional life but somehow she fails into keep balance between this. Her husband has affair with another girl. It show the condition of married women struggling for her identify and love.

Chetan Bhagat portrayed the real situation of Young people. He shows the complexity in the relationship of Shyam and Priyanka and Vroom and Esha. He shows the break up of the relationship of young people. It shows the lack of understanding in the relationship which becomes the reason of broken relationship. Military uncle also loves his grandson but somehow the lack of understanding happens between Military uncle and his Son.

Conclusion :

Thus novel shows the different themes . It  shows the  different problems of the youth and gives the ideas  their solutions. Here Chetan Bhagat shows the reality of India. It shows the current problems of youth and Nation.  Through the characters it shows the problems in the relationship , Globalisation and it’s effect on the Nation , Condition of women in India. So it highlights the problems and trying to give the solution at the end of the novel.

Works Cited

http://parmarjinal161315.blogspot.com/2015/03/one-night-call-center.html?m=1

Female Characters in ‘Swamp Dwellers’

• Name: Bhaliya Hamsa G

• Roll No: 6

• Assignment Topic: Female Characters in ‘Swamp Dwellers’

• Paper no: 14 African Literature

• Class: Semester 04

• Enrollment no.: 

• Batch :

• Submitted to Department of English 

 MK Bhaavnagar University.

Female characters in Swamp Dwellers:

Probably to me the greatest singer, female voice, is Billie Holiday. And one of the most moving for me, I don't know why - maybe it's nostalgia, maybe because my life is one of constant partying, whatever.

- Wole Soyinka (Brainy Quote)

Wole Soyinka is the first African writer who is awarded with Nobel Prize in 1986. He is basically Nigerian play writer and poet. Soyinka was basically born into Yoruba community and here also he try to depict the norms and regulations of his community. In this play he focuses on the problems of the youth of his time. Even today and during his time we can see the influence of the first world countries on the third world countries. He tries to bring those issues in his writing. The young people wanted to leave the village and the community and wanted start a ‘New’ life in the city. His one of the notable work is ‘Swamp Dwellers’, in which he discuss this issue at length.

Even the title of this play is very significant one. And as Derrida use to say that each and every word has free play of the words. Here also we will find the different free play of the words or particularly the word ‘Swamp’. Swamp means where nothing can grow. Here ‘Nothing can grow’ is also connected with the mental states, means new ideas. This shows the disturbed and fragmented mind set of the youth. The second meaning of the word swamp means the ‘City’. Where once someone goes never comes back. Swamp is a kind of muddy place where we cannot create a particular impression of a thing. Here Soyinka tries to give negative connotation to the word ‘City’.

We can compare this play with T.S.Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’ where nothing grows and which also tries to depict the disturbed and fragmented psyche of the youth. At some extend this play is also absurd play like ‘Waiting for Godot’ and ‘The Birthday Party’ because as audience we are not provided the full information of the past of the characters. What next happened to the characters is also not much clear in the play. Throughout the play we can see the struggle between the tradition and the modernity because village and city these both are the opposite pillars and each represents one. But apart from this we can also see many other conflicts like the generation gap, fragmented mind set, and the suppression of the female in the male dominated world. Black are always considered as the inferior to the white people. Soyinka himself face many problems while writing and that is why it is said that when a black is writing he will never bring the change into the society rather he will try to change the mind set of colonizers with aggressive mood.

When black are writing their voice becomes the voice from the margin and white people are at the centre. And here also if we apply the theory of Derrida then we have to change the margin and periphery. White people at periphery and black people at margin. The same way women at the centre and the men at periphery.

Makuri says “There wasn’t a woman anywhere more faithful than you.”

Alu: “I never had a moment of worry in the whole of my life.”

These are some lines taken from the play ‘Swamp Dwellers’. Alu and Makuri are the husband and wife and they have twin sons named Igwezu and Awuchike. Apart from there is also another important character named as Desala. She is the wife of Igwezu. As above mentioned that this play is much like ‘Waiting for Godot’ and ‘The Birthday Party’ and that is why the past of the characters are not much clear in front of us. We come to know only as the play moves forward.

Alu:

 Alu is the wife of Makuri. She is the mother of Igwezu and Awuchike. She is aged about sixty. She believes in the custom of the swamps. (Sites) . If we study the character of Alu then we come to know that she is the suppressed woman by his own husband. His husband Makuri always tries to feel inferior to Alu. Alu is like other female characters ordinary woman who lost her one child in the swamp means in the city and now she don’t want to lose his other child in the city. She always tries to fulfil every wishes of his husband as well as his sons. Sometime she also fight against her husband for his sons. So here we can compare the character of Alu with Mrs Ramsay in ‘To the Lighthouse’. She is faithful to her husband and to her duty. And that is how she emerges as the perfect woman in front of reader’s eye.

As already said that the one of the main theme of the play is the conflict between the tradition and the modernity. The play writer has depicted this conflict through the characters also because here Alu stands for the traditional mode of the time. She is against the current changes of the society. Because she was not in favour to send his sons to the city. We can say that she was denying may be because of her motherly love towards her sons.

Throughout the play Awuchike never comes on the stage but he remain present through the talk of the family. Alu use to remember him a lot. Because when he went there, in the city he was the different person and now he is the different person. From the talk of the Igwezu we can assume that he is now the successful person there and not intended to come back to his village. But as above mentioned that we can’t say anything about any character of the play.

Igwezu: “Awuchike is dead to you and to this house. Let us not raise his ghost in this house.”

Whenever his mother used to remember Awuchike, Igwezu used to speak this lines. From this lines we can also see the rivalry between this twin brothers. There are glimpse of everything not a single thing is clearly said by the writer. This lines also suggests the success of Awuchike over there in the city.

Desala:

Throughout the play she never appears on the stage like Awuchike. She married to Igwezu and went with him to the city but unlike him she never return to the village. This again indicated the modernity. As I above mentioned that play writer showed the modernity and traditional way of living the life through the characters also. Here Desala stands for the modern way of living the life. Again from the given fragmented information we can assume that Desala went there with Igwezu but there she married to Awuchike. May be because he is more successful than Igwezu there. Or there are other possibilities like Igwezu leaves all alone there in the city. The things are not much clear. But the chances of her marrying to Awuchike is more because whenever Alu heard about this she is not ready to accept the reality that Awuchike kicked his own brother. At some extent Desala becomes the reason for the rivalry between both the brothers.

But on the other hand we also can’t blame Desala because as a young girl when she married to Igwezu she also must be having some young dreams for her life and when she tried to fulfil all her dreams she is also not wrong. When Kadiye asks Igwezu about his wife Desala he becomes a bit angry upon Kadiye which shows that now he doesn’t care about Desala. From this point we come to know about Desala and Igwezu that may be something went wrong between this husband and wife.

The story is not unfolding ordinary in front of our eyes. The things are also not much clear about anything and which also shows the mental state of the characters. And because the things are not much clear in front of our eyes we have to relay much on the language used by the play writer. It is said that whenever from the margin, from the periphery the voice comes it is always harsh and aggressive here also the voice of Alu and Desala is much harsh and aggressive but unheard by the society.

Conclusion:

We can say that Soyinka is the bitter critic of his own time and culture. He depicted his culture as it is. He also present the negative side of his culture. Directly or indirectly through the character of Desala we compare the twin brothers that who is powerful?

And the relationship between Makuri and Alu is also broken one. Which also shows that females are the victim in the marriage system. Sometimes it also happened that Alu becomes so aggressive when Alu says that ‘Catch me if you can’ which again shows the power of the females. Alu emerges as both the way strong enough as well as weak enough that she don’t want to lose his second child. And Desala also emerges as both the way modern enough and independent enough to take her own decisions. And here we can say that no one can help each-other because at different level each characters are victim, and one victim can’t help the other victim. 

Works Cited

Brainy Quote. 2001. 18 3 2016. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/wole_soyinka.html>.

Sites, Google. One Heart. 21 03 2016. <https://sites.google.com/site/theswampdwellers/home>.

Sunday reading: Holika Dahan

Here on my blog . This blog is related to the Holika Dahan.

We can see the    Dilip Barad sir  post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/533772471/posts/10159381704207472/?substory_index=2

Some questions  are: 

《1》 How many countries celebrate Bonfire ? Why? (If you can find reasons  ….are there common reasons?)

Answer : what is bonfire ? : Click here

Holi is not only celebrated in India, but in other parts of the world as well.Click here It is celebrated with much fanfare in countriesOutside India and Nepal, Holi is observed by the minority Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan as well in countries with large Indian subcontinent diaspora populations such as Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Mauritius, and Fiji. The Holi rituals and customs outside South Asia also vary with local adaptations.

☆ Holi in different parts of India: 

■ Assam:

Holi is known as PhakuWa/Doul or Doul Jatra in Assam. Here, the festivities span over two days. On the first day, the Assamese people burn clay huts to symbolise Holika Dahan and, on the next day, play with colours. 

■Odisha:

In Odisha, Holi is referred to as Dola. On this day, devotees worship Lord Jagannath and apply abira (gulal) on each other.

■West Bengal: 

In West Bengal, Holi is celebrated on the Purnima Tithi and is known as Dol Purnima or Dol Jatra. People greet each other with abeer (gulal) and enjoy the festival while getting drenched in the colours of joy.

■Uttar Pradesh: 

The Braj Bhoomi (a place associated with Shri Krishna) is in Uttar Pradesh. Here, in the towns of Barsana and Nandagaon, people celebrate Lathmar Holi. Women from Barsana would hold bamboo or wooden sticks to beat men from Nandgaon, as they would use a shield to guard themselves. The natives follow the tradition that has been in practice since the times of Shri Krishna and Radha. In some parts of Uttar Pradesh, people also use flowers to celebrate Holi.

 

■Uttarakhand: 

Holi in this state is known as Baithaki Holi, Khari Holi or Mahila Holi. Men and women dressed in their traditional attire sing songs and take part in folk dance. And they also make use of natural colours to play Holi.

■ Bihar : 

Holi is known as Phaguwa in Bhojpuri. Here, on the first day (Purnima Tithi, people light the bonfire, and on the next day, celebrate Holi with colours.

Holi is celebrated with the same zest and enthusiasm in the other parts of Northern and Western India. The Indian states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh Chattisgarh and the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir also celebrate the festival of colours.

《2》 What is the ritual  around  such celebrations ?

Answer:  

Holi rituals include  Holika Dahan. Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlada, however, disagreed. He was and remained devoted to Vishnu.This infuriated Hiranyakashipu. He subjected Prahlada to cruel punishments, none of which affected the boy or his resolve to do what he thought was right. Finally, Holika, Prahlada's evil aunt, tricked him into sitting on a pyre with her. Holika was wearing a cloak that made her immune to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire roared, the cloak flew from Holika and encased Prahlada,survived while Holika burned. Vishnu, the god who appears as an avatar to restore Dharma in Hindu beliefs, took the form of Narasimha.

The Holika bonfire and Holi signifies the celebration of the symbolic victory of good over evil, of Prahlada overHiranyakashipu, and of the fire that burned Holika.

Festival of Colors.Religion, bonfires and an abundance of colored chalk.India's Holi Festival could just be one of the world's most beautiful celebrations. Holi is an ancient Hindu festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is celebrated predominantly in India, but has also spread to other areas of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent. Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring", the "festival of colours", or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season.

Rituals of Holi: Holi Puja, Holika Sthapana and Puja Procedure.

Rituals of the ancient festival of Holi are religiously followed every year with great enthusiasm and Safety. The Holi festival is an ancient Hindu festival with its cultural rituals. Apart from playing colors; Holika puja is a major attraction of Holi. Here complete details of Holika Sthapana and Puja Procedure.

 

《3》 Is there any story or myth around  those celebrations?  Write  about various  myths  around  bonfire.  Watch the video  linked here under  to know  about  the myths believed in by  vaishnavites and shaivites in India.  In which  myth do you  believe  more than the other  one.

Answer: I believe in legend. "Holika Dahan. "

Click here and watch this video

The word Holi derives its name from Holika. According to Hindu mythology, Holika was the sister of demon King Hiranyakashyapu.As per the legend, Prahlad, a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, Prahlad was born to Hiranyakashyapu. Prahlad’s devotion to lord Vishnu did not go down well with his father. As a result of this, Hiranyakashyapu tried to kill his son several times, but the Vishnu devotee escaped unhurt every time, frustrating the demon king.After numerous unsuccessful attempts, the demon king thought of taking help from his sister, Holika, who had a boon by Lord Brahma which said she would not be burnt in a fire.As per the myth, Holika had a shawl which would protect her from the flames of a fire. The demon king asked her sister to take Prahlad on her lap and set the two on fire. Prahlad kept chanting the name of Lord Vishnu and as the fire got intense, a gust of wind removed the shawl from Holika and went on to cover Prahlad, killing the enchantress in the flames.

Another myth says that Kansa, uncle of lord Krishna, feared that according to a prophecy, the evil king would be killed by his sister’s son Krishna. In order to protect himself from Krishna, Kansa sent Putna to kill his nephew, who was an infant. The plan was to poison him under the guise of breast-feeding. But what transpired was shocking for Putna. Krishna not only sucked her poisonous milk, but her blood too. Fearing for her life, she ran but burst into flames. 

Sunday Reading: Arundhati Subramanian "When God Is a Traveller"

Hello readers!

Here on my blog.  This blog related to  Sunday Reading: Arundhati  Subramanian "When God Is a Traveller"

 ☆ INTRODUCTION  OF ARUNDHATI SUBRAMANIAN: 

  Arundhathi Subramaniam is an Indian poet, writer, critic, curator, translator, Journalist, writing in English.

 Arundhati Subramaniam won the award for her poetry collection ‘When God is a Traveller’ in English. Poet Arundhathi Subramaniam is among the 20 writers to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2020, reported PTI. The National Academy of Letters announced the names on Friday at its annual ‘’Festival of Letters’’ event.

Khushwant Singh Memorial Prize for Poetry: On 25 January 2015, Arundhathi won the first Khushwant Singh Memorial Prize for Poetry for her work When God is a Traveller. The prize was announced as part of ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival.

Apart from Subramaniam, the others who received the award in poetry include Harish Meenakshi (Gujarati), Anamika (Hindi), RS Bhaskar (Konkani), Irungbam Deven (Manipuri), Rupchand Hansda (Santali), and Nikhileswar (Telugu).

☆ "When God Is a Traveller"

Arundhati Subramaniam

 (wondering about Kartikeya/ Muruga/ Subramania, my namesake)

 Trust the god back from his travels, his voice wholegrain (and chamomile), 

his wisdom neem, his peacock, sweaty-plumed, drowsing in the shadows.

 Trust him who sits wordless on park benches listening to the cries of children fading into the dusk, 

his gaze emptied of vagrancy, his heart of ownership.

Trust him who has seen enough— revolutions, promises, the desperate light of shopping malls, hospital rooms, manifestos, theologies, the iron taste of blood, the great craters in the middle of love. 

Trust him who no longer begrudges his brother his prize, his parents their partisanship. 

Trust him whose race is run, whose journey remains, who stands fluid-stemmed knowing he is the tree that bears fruit, festive with sun.

 

Trust him who recognizes you— auspicious, abundant, battle-scarred, alive— and knows from where you come. 

Trust the god ready to circle the world all over again this time for no reason at all other than to see it through your eyes.

I should say that I understood it without properly understanding. Some level of complex texture is involved in her works which I feel is the one which makes a good poetry.A love for language and a knack for fusing disparate realities is evident in Arundhathi Subramaniam's new collection of poems.

These are poems of wonder and precarious elation, about learning to embrace the seemingly disparate landscapes of hermitage and court, the seemingly diverse addresses of mystery and clarity, disruption and stillness - all the roadblocks and rewards on the long dangerous route to recovering what it is to be alive and human.Wandering, digging, falling, coming to terms with unsettlement and uncertainty, finiteness and fallibility, exploring intersections between the sacred and the sensual, searching for ways to step in and out of stories, cycles and frames - these are some of the recurrent themes.

These poems explore various ambivalences - around human intimacy with its bottlenecks and surprises, life in a Third World megapolis, myth, the politics of culture and gender, and the persistent trope of the existential journey.

Arundhathi Subramaniam's previous book from Bloodaxe, Where I Live: Selected Poems (2009), drew on her first two books published in India plus a whole new collection. When God Is a Traveller is her fourth collection of poetry.

‘A sense of wonder and striking contrasts pervade the Indian poet’s fourth collection. The sacred meets the everyday, cerebral wordplay delivers full-blooded emotion, and ancient Hindu myths run alongside contemporary urban life. Breathtaking in scope, taking in religious faith, friendships, love affairs and existential themes.

In 'When God is a Traveller', Subramaniam weaves metaphors, metaphors that are distinctly hers, into language that is simultaneously fluid and simple. Everydayness is woven as a metaphor rife with allusions to the deeper meanings of life.The allusions of Hinduism do leave scope for criticism.

And she has just come out with an anthology of Bhakti Poetry (Penguin) oddly entitled Eating God. (My advice: eat veggies, don't eat gods). She also has a wallet-sized book on the Buddha.The Hindu ‘… a strong personality and an individual voice; her poems feel as if they are meant to be read aloud as well as on the page.’ Bruce King, Journal of Postcolonial Literature ‘Few poets capture contradictory impulses so convincingly

These are poems of wonder and precarious elation, and all the roadblocks and rewards on the long dangerous route to recovering what it is to be alive and human.

note

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PuDL0gJb8KY_a5GYKsn1qHepKA85i4BHt9IC6okHqwQ/edit?usp=drivesdk

Harry potter :- Web-quest Activity

Web-quest is a part of thinking activity. To know more about this activity Click Here.

Joanne Rowling better known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author, film producer, television producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist. She is best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series, which has won multiple awards and sold more than 500 million copies, becoming the best - selling book series in history.

(1) Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone

(2) Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets

(3) Harry Potter and the prisoners of Azkaban

(4 ) Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire

(5) Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix

(6) Harry Potter and the Half - Blood prince

(7) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

* Mini Review Click Herehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1LkMLleKiM74KZtU6UJ-EMV-ntTcq_s3cKJP_vgN2Hdg/edit?usp=drivesdk

* Web - qust Activity https://docs.google.com/document/d/18ZXn_IT4DTRq8-8Kb55GpggZt4jRQDoTJ5lXfQWIp94/edit?usp=drivesdk

*Rubric and Evaluation Click Heyrehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1kJc6_f9KBdFfR7gsCRQulAgBqroX3Tkh6WFaCSMXjQ8/edit?usp=drivesdk

(1) Feminist reading of Harmione’s character in Harry Potter: How do the character portrayal of Harmione and other female characters support feminist discourse?

=>  In Harry Potter, Harry is main protagonist. And Ron and Hermione is best friends of Harry. Harry get some task in all the series. Hermione and Ron helps him. And other chracters also helps Harry. so In the Harry Potter Hermione's chracter is powerful. Ans she loves reading. And she also destroys one Horkruks. but in some way her chracter becomes weak. At the end harry completes all the tasks. that's why harry becomes center in the text.

(2) Discourse on the purity of Blood and Harry Potter: How do the novels play with the thesis of pure blood (Master Race) giving an anti-thesis by belonging protagonists to half-blood / Mud-blood? What sort of synthesis is sought in this discourse in Harry Potter series?

=> In Haeey potter there is a discourse of Purity and mud blood is there. Mud blood also get admission in the Hogward. And that's why Volemort does not like Mud Blood. he is aggainst mud bloood. So in harrypotter mud blood suffers. and hermione also suffeers. Bellatrix tortures on her. 

3)      Confronting reality by reading fantasy: How does reading Harry Potter make us confront the reality of our everyday existence?

=>  In  Harry potter fantasy and imagination is there. But In this reality is also there. In all the parts chracters struggles like, real life people also suffers and struggle.Ans in the harry potter series also gives some lesson about life. So it is a mixure of fantacy and reality.

(12) What is your opinion on this:

=> Harry potter series is interesting. peple likes all the parts of harry potter. And movies also ceteted very well. That's why people also takes interest in reading. And whole series becomes famous. Hu

The Monkey's Paw - w.w. Jacobs

The Monkey's Paw

About Author :-

     William Wymark Jocobs was an English Author of short stories and novel. During his career he was best known for his farcical comedy involving dockside and rural Essex characters. The Monkey's Paw is a most famous shot story.


        "The Monkey's Paw" is the supernatural and powerful short story. The first published in England. In the collection  'The lady of the Barge' in 1902.

There are three major character

  - Herbert white
  - Mrs. White
  - Mr. White
 
          The whole paly took place in the living room of white family. Their home is quite old fashion but comfortable for living. The story started with  Mr. White and his son Herbert are playing chess. And his wife doing some household works. Her wife watching that enjoying movement. We can see they live a happy life.

       One day a heavy wind and that heavy wind bring a Strom in Mr. White family. An old friend of Mr. White’s comes to visit them.  He come to them for a social meeting. He share some experience about some Indian Fakirs. Who  put his all power in Monkey's paw. So that paw become powerful it can fulfill three persons three wishes. Herbert laughed on and ask 

    You have had your three wishes?
      
         Jacobs uses foreshadowing, imagery and symbolism in this story to explore the consequences of tempting fate. Sargent said yes and warn them that might this monkey's paw fulfilled wishes but it also goes in negative effects also. He share experiences that the 1st owner of the Monkey's Paw had his three wishes were granted. But his last wish is death. Second owner is Sargent major himself. He also get his wishes but his experience is terrible. 

Sargent major throw that 

Mysterious monkey's paw in fire at that time Mr. White saved it and he and his son are convince to try it once. They want to find real mater and experience it. They wish is 

'I wish for two hundred pounds'

     The paw is twisted in his arm. Her mother tried to stop them. Herbert not believe in that type of superstition things. He say relax about it. Herbert went to his job. In the next morning one person came with a well-  dressed or introduce as a Mr. Sampson  from the electronic works. Sometimes happens in last night Herbert was laughing and wasn't notice and machine caught him. He was crushed by machine and he was dead.  Mr. Sampson was there for give them compensation he said 

" In consideration of your son's services company wish to parent you with a certain same as compensation. It was two hundred pounds."


      The Monkey's paw complete their condition. It fulfilled wishes but take something from you . Rules of given and taken. After a few days Mrs. White  remember that they have two wishes still left.  She request to her husband to give a wishes. He was a helpless about it and so he wishes 

' I  wish my son alive again'

     After some time there was knocked on the door in the middle of the night. They are sure it is Herbert. He remembers that Herbert was mangled beyond recognition in the accident and he knows the corpse has been rotting for 10 days.  He is sure that the knocking is coming from Herbert’s corpse, and not from a Herbert who has been brought back to life as he was before the accident. We don't know what is the third wish of them. Mrs. White took on the monkey's paw   and frantically breathed his third and last wish. The knocking stopped suddenly, though it still echoed in the house.Mr. White wished for his son to return to the dead and that the consequence of his wish was that Herbert did. The happy family turned into a tragic death.

     Human emotions are also well described in this play. All human beings have a some lust about different things. It is a natural of all human and it is a handful to ourselves. So this is a moral of the story. Any shortcuts are harmful. 

    

A prayer for My daughter

A prayer for my daughter by W.B yeats

Willam butler yeats was an illustration Irish Irish poet writer and playwright. he was a staunch irish nationalist who continued to espouse this cause  all his life this poem was written by its when Anne was a tender  infant. He express his love and concern for anne. The first world war head just drawn to close leaving earth trail of death and destruction on Europe. Inside Ireland there was a large waves of Irish nationalism and capitalism life was hard in Ireland at that time went , unrest and discontent make life hard for ordinary citizens. There was of frustration against and fear. Yeat did not escape this air if despondency. In this backdrop . This poem for a little baby whom he love so much as he symbolised Ireland as a baby. And England as a nationalist perspective and also he satirised modern civilization.


     The poem start with the description of his daughter as she is sleeping in cradle.  The cradle is symbol for the protection. And Strom symbolised as difficult time. The tone is gloomy, precarious, and frightening, as well as didactic  The poem line is

“ Once more the Strom is howling and half hid under this cardlehood and coverlid my child sleeps on.”

       In this line poet shows worry about his daughter. And he gives advice to her that she faced difficulties in life. There are follow a skilful description of the kind of beauty. It’s not a exclusive beauty. He knows too much beauty in a woman will lead her in danger. He knows fabulous beauty goes with an empty mind. The poet wish and prayers that his daughter maybe granted moderate beauty. The other wish that   his daughter grown up like a laurel tree.

     The poet continues on to comment on his hopes for her beauty: “May she be granted beauty and yet not.” His vacillation is that beauty in women sometimes brings disasters. For example, some such people have a difficult time choosing the right person as a life partner, and neither they can “find a friend.” The speaker lays emphasis on the need for feminine innocence. The poet advances his argument in the next stanzas by citing examples of beautiful women such as Helen of Troy, whose beauty was said to be the cause of the Trojan War. By the end, the poet wants his daughter to be courteous, as love cannot come unconditionally and freely. She must earn love with good efforts and kind-heartedness, and she cannot win it by merely physical beauty because “Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned.” Summing up his theme, the poet wishes his daughter to possess such qualities that could help her face the future years confidently and independently.

A prayer for My daughter

The Imagination : I. A. Richards

The Imagination : I. A. Richards

The imagination I. A. Richard

       Literary criticism has found itself as an important and independent branch in established New horizon. Number of scholar have emerged as a critiques and interpreted literature in order to help a common considerate as 'the father of new criticism'. I.A.richard has contributed in the development of literary criticism by his destination essay like his practical criticism four type of meaning imagination and many other. At present we want concerned with his view on the imagination.

Six sense of imagination

     According I.A. Richards we can define third term imagination at least in six distinct senses. Hi discuss various meaning and concept of the same term and then considered a particular concept the most important. I.A. Richards, it is  convenient to. separate then before passing on to consider the work which is most important.
- Production of image
- The use of figurative language
- The narrower sence
- Inventiveness imagination
- Scientific imagination
- The sense of musical delight

Production of imagination

     In the first concept of imagination is a very common and that is the production of various image usually visual image. The production of various image and visual image are the most commonest and the most interesting thing which is reflected by imagination.

The use of figurative language

   Another concept of imagination is the use of figurative language. People who naturally employee metaphor and simile especially when it is of an unusual kind are same to have imagination. It should not be overloaded that metaphor and simile are the Two which may be considerate together. They have great variety of function of speech. This is the most common scientific use of metaphor full stop it is in imagenative language and in poetry. An example 
       Shelly’s “dome of many coloured glass”

  It is only example which spread to mind. some attitude of speaker to his subject or to his audience is using the metaphor as a tool of expression. Gibbon said..

‘ the freedom of waiting has indeed Proval a strict tribe but as I was safe from the stings I was soon accustomed to the buzzing of the honest.’

There a review metaphors whose effect can be traced to the logic reaction. Metaphor is a method by which the great variety of element can be brought into the experience.

The narrower sense

    A narrower sense is that in which sympathetic reproduction of other people's state of mind. Particularly there emotional state of mind is imagination can be found in plays. The dramatist say that the critique things that is a person behave unfortunately.

“ you haven’t enough imagination”.

This kind of imagination is plainly a necessity for communication bed play to be successful require it as much as good plays.

Inventiveness imagination

   It is an another important science stop it bring the element together which are not connected according to this 'Edison' is said to have imagination and any fantastic romance will show it in 'Excelsis'. Crazy people will beat any of us at combine odd Idea.

The scientific imagination

    Fifth concept according to I.A. Richards is the scientific imagination. This is an order of experience in definite experience in   definite ways and for purpose not necessarily deliberated and conscious. But limited to a given field. The technical victory of the art are the examples of this kind of imagination.

The sense of musical delight ( Coleridge)

    Finally we come to the sense of imagination with which we are here most concerned. It is a closely connected with the Coleridge's concept of imagination. It is Coleridge's  great contribution to critical theory . In his words imagination means..

‘ the sympathetic and magical power to while we have exclusively appreciate the name is imagination'
  It is a sense of novelty and freshness with old and familiar object a more than usual state of emotion with more that usual order. The sense of musical delight and modified a series of thought by someone pre- dominant thought or feeling these are gifts of imagination.

The Quality : short story by John Galsworthy

The Quality

The Quality is a short story written by John Galsworthy. The story is narrated as a first person narrative techniques. This story is about a shoe makers life. The name of shoe makers is gessler brothers. This story also shows the effect of industrialism on small business and his struggle.

   The Gessler brothers are German shoe makers and they lived in London. They have a small shop of shoes. Both are making a shoes with good quality on order. The story narrator is a regular customer of that shop.

    Gessler brothers shoes quality are really best and comfortable for customer. The one thing is that after one order one has not to visit it again for long time.

   Narrator visit a that shop and every time he ordered shoes.Once narrator says to Mr. Gessler that the shoe has a crack at that time Mr. Gessler asks to bring it back he will fix it and if he can not than he will return the money. Once when narrator visits the shop the elder brother has died and younger Mr. Gessler was at the shop. After that narrator has ordered many pairs of shoes. After receiving the order he does not need to visit the shop for some period of time. Next time when he goes he again order many pairs of shoes. After receiving the order once he was passing by that road and decided to visit Mr. Gessler and to tell him that shoes were very nice. But when he reaches there he see some other English man, who informs narrator that Mr. Gessler has died because of starvation. All money he earned was gone in buying row materials for shoes and in paying rent.


    At the end gessler brothers has tried to maintain quality of shoes. Not focused on another things. There are talk between narrator and Mr. Gessler that how big business and company affect on his business. How it's harmful for their business.

Gessler brothers have pointed that those big company do not provide quality they just have quality and different designs. That design attract the audience but that is a complaining about a quality. People only focused on  design more than quality. That type of company was harmful Mr . Gessler brother's small business.

Thank you