LOYOLA COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), CHENNAI – 600 034 M.A. DEGREE EXAMINATION – ENGLISH LITERATURE LO 48 SECOND SEMESTER – APRIL 2007 EL 2953 - BIOGRAPHY & TRAVELOGUE Date & Time: 26/04/2007 / 1:00 - 4:00 Dept. No. Max. : 100 Marks SECTION A Attempt any four of the following in about 100 to 150 words each (5x4=20 marks) 1. Travelogue as a historical document 2. The importance of personal experiences in a travelogue 3. Travelogues as cultural documents 4. The different types of autobiography 5. The challenges you experienced in writing a biographical sketch 6. The importance of interpretation in writing a biography. SECTION B Attempt the following in about 200 to 300 words each (2x10=20 marks) 7. What was the highlight of your trip to Kerala? Do you agree such trips are essential to promote peace and harmony in our country? 8. What were your experiences on meeting the person on whom you were writing a biographical sketch? Elaborate on some of the highpoints of that meeting. SECTION C Attempt the following in about 300 to 400 words each 9. (3x20=60 marks) What techniques of biography writing does Sylvia Nazar put to use to portray John Nash as “the most remarkable mathematician of the second half of the century?” or Do you think Malcolm Muggeridge is objective in his assessment of Mother Theresa? 10. What aspects of his personality and career does the writer highlight in his autobiography “My Experiments with Truth.” or “The Long Road To Freedom by Nelson Mandela is the confession of a great freedom fighter. Examine the book as an auto-biography. 11. What began as a population and development study became an authentic journey of unveiling India to the reader. Comment. or How does Naipaul’s interpretation help to understand the complexities of contemporary India? ****** 1