ASSIGNMENT
DRIVE SPRING 2014
PROGRAM BAJM
SEMESTER 2
SUBJECT CODE & NAME - BJ0038 – ENGLISH LITERATURE II
BK ID B1085 CREDIT 4 MARKS 60
Q.No 1 Discuss the meaning and definition of sonnets. 10 marks
Answer:
The term „sonnet‟ has been derived from the Italian word „sonneto‟, which means a „little
sound‟ or „little thing.‟ M.H. Abrams defines a sonnet as “a lyric poem consisting of a single
stanza of fourteen iambic pentameter lines linked by an intricate rhyme scheme.” Sunil Kumar
Sarker observes that “apart from being a fourteen line poem the sonnet is a lyric poem with
musicality and song-like rhythm and it revolves round a single core emotion.” After reading the
above descriptions we understand that:
Let us examine them one by one.
Fourteen lines: The most important quality of a sonnet is that it is a poem of fourteen lines. It
is only a general rule, and as all rules go, this rule has also been broken by many writers.
Lyrical Quality: A lyric is a short poem of song-like quality. A sonnet is essentially a song.
Therefore, in the early ages the sonnets were sung to the accompaniment of musical instruments
like the flute.
Iambic pentameter: The iambic foot is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
Pentameter means there are five such feet in one line. Iambic Pentameter, therefore, means a
line of ten syllables, which alternates unstressed and stressed syllables according to the iambic
rhythm. Iambic pentameter shows the proper way to „read‟ a sonnet.
Rhyme Scheme: The correspondence in the sounds of two or more words is called rhyme. The
rhyme scheme of a sonnet refers to the sound pattern formed by the rhyming words at the end
of each line. Each end-rhyme is assigned a letter, and the fourteen letters assigned to the sonnet
describe the rhyme scheme. Different kinds of sonnets have different rhyme schemes.
Division of the structure of a sonnet: The Petrarchan sonnet consists of 14 lines that are
divided into two parts of eight lines and six lines each. The first part consisting of eight lines is
called the octave and the second part consisting of six lines is called the sestet.
A single idea and a single emotion: A sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines with a single
theme, mood or emotion. The most common subject for sonneteers was love. A sonnet
expressed only one emotion.
2 Discuss the characteristics of Odes.
(There are 5, worth 2 marks each) 2 +2 +2 +2 +2 = 10 marks
Answer:
Characteristics of Odes:
Lyric: Generally, lyrics refer to the words of songs. In the modern sense a lyric is a poem
uttered by a single speaker who expresses a state of mind or a process of perception, thought
and feelings. In other words, lyrics have no narrative element but they tend to express a mood,
emotion or thought process. It is often written in the first person (I).
Style: Style refers to the manner of linguistic expression – as how poets say whatever it is that
they say. For instance, ballads have a simple style as the main purpose of the ballad is to tell a
story. But epics and odes use a grand style or high style. Roman scholar Cicero spoke of the high,
middle and low style of writing.
Long and stanzaic: Odes are long poems. The stanzas in most of the odes are also long. In
comparison to other forms of poetry odes have long stanzas. Therefore, the odes are called
stanzaic in nature.
Subject matter or theme: Both Charles Barber and Abrams define the subject or theme of an
ode as „serious.‟ In this respect the ode is again similar to the epic. Odes have both personal and
public themes. The themes of odes were love, death, Nature, religion, domestic, social or
political issues.
Address: Most odes are addressed to somebody (something) who seems to transcend the
problems of life and stands as a symbol of perfection. The person or object of address is
principally a device; an attractive symbol that enables the poet to write about the gap between
the ideal and how life really is. For example, the Ode on a Grecian Urn begins with an address to
the urn (see example below). In Ode on a Grecian Urn the urn stands for the permanence of art
and the poet uses this ideal of eternity to compare it with the transience of human life.
3 Discuss the characteristics of Metaphysical Poetry
(There are 5 characteristics of 2 marks each).
Answer:
Salient features of metaphysical poets:
Intellectual quality and use of reasoning: Most metaphysical poets (17th Century) were
men of learning or scholarship. Hence, they gave utmost importance to thought or intellect. Dr.
Samuel Johnson remarked that metaphysical poets were “men of learning and to show their
learning was their whole endeavor.” Sir Walter Scott, the historical novelist, remarks that “they
(metaphysical poets) played with thoughts as the Elizabethans had played with words.” For this
reason, metaphysical poems, appeal to the mind first and then touch the heart. In addition to
their stress on scholarship or thought, the metaphysical poets used reasoning, logic or
arguments to develop their poems. Metaphysical poetry has been defined as poetry in which
„passion is interwoven with reason.‟
Abrupt beginning: Most metaphysical poems have an abrupt or sudden beginning. Abrams
observes that the beginnings of metaphysical poems use a „shock tactic.‟ It creates a dramatic
situation. Very often the poem begins with a direct and sudden form of address.
Religious and amorous themes: The theme of love and the theme of religion are the two
most important themes in metaphysical poetry. Nature is also utilized as a theme by some of the
metaphysical poets but it is subordinate to the theme of love or religion. Metaphysical poems
deal with two kinds of love - love for women and love for God. Hence they are called secular love
(women) and divine love (God).
Wit and Paradox: Wit and Paradox are important characteristics of metaphysical poetry. Wit
means the ability to discover brilliant, surprising and new figures of speech. It is a kind of verbal
expression, which is meant to intentionally produce shock or comic surprise. The surprise is
usually because of unforeseen connection between words or ideas, which we would never have
thought of before.
Paradox is a statement apparently absurd or self contradictory but which has a basis of truth.
The paradox is used by all poets, but it is the central device in metaphysical poets, both in
secular and religious poems. Donne‟s poem “Canonization” is a poem full of paradoxes. In the
poem he tells that sexual lovers are saints. In one of his love poems he tells God that he will
never be chaste „unless you ravish me‟ – that is to say unless he is raped by divine love.
Metaphysical Conceit: A metaphor describes one thing in terms of another. A conceit is a
far-fetched metaphor in which an unlikely connection between two things is established. It is a
comparison in which we are conscious of the likeness as well as unlikeness of the things
compared. Conceit is a fanciful image, an extended metaphor, an extended comparison, which
seems farfetched and startles us. Conceit sees similarity in dissimilar things or unforeseen
connection between words and concepts.
4 Write a long note on Theme, as an Element of Drama. 10 marks
Answer: The Oxford English Dictionary defines themes as „the main idea that the author is
trying to convey in a piece of writing.‟ M.H. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms describes
theme as „a general concept or doctrine.‟ For instance, Shakespeare’s Macbeth deals with the
theme of unbridled ambition, Julius Caesar deals with the theme of individual freedom, Othello
deals with the theme of suspicion, Hamlet deals with the theme of procrastination, Romeo and
Juliet deals with the theme of tragic love, Comedy of Errors deals with the theme of mistaken
identity. Thus, we can see innumerable themes love, friendship, hate, jealousy, patriotism, class
divisions, family, political events, relationship between God and man etc.
The common point about most plays in terms of theme is that the central characters are always
caught up in some sort of crisis, dilemma, confusion or problem. In Greek and Medieval drama
(miracle and morality plays), the crisis or problem that the characters faced always involved
man’s relationship with God or Gods. From the sixteenth century to the Modern plays the
emphasis shifts from God to society and politics. Our starting point for discussing a play has to
be an awareness of the particular problem or issue the play is concerned with. Generally
speaking we can say that most plays are about a certain order that man has created in society.
He is aware that such a social order is fragile and that some disruptive forces can destroy the
order at any moment. If we start with this broad idea that plays are concerned with the order of
society and the disorder that threatens it, we can easily analyze the theme of the play. The
pattern of order-disorder is very clearly found in the two dominant modes of drama – the
comedy and the tragedy. In comedy, disorder threatens the characters‟ lives but the social
discord is overcome and most comedies end either with a marriage or a dance, the traditional
signs of harmony and order in society. In tragedy on the other hand, what we witness is the
falling apart of all signs of order as we are confronted by the most shocking form of disorder,
death itself. So when you read a play look for the broad framework of order-disorder in the play
and then try to apply this framework to the theme of the play that you are studying
5 Write a long note on ‘Miracle plays’. 10 Marks
Answer: The whole Biblical stories from the birth of Christ to his crucifixion/resurrection were
enacted in a cycle of plays called the „miracle plays‟ or the „mystery plays.‟ The terms miracle
and mystery plays are used interchangeably by some people. But there is a distinction between
the two. Miracles denote plays dealing with the life of Christ and the mysteries deal with the
lives of Saints. The complete cycle of plays lasted several days. Guilds or trade unions played
their part in staging these plays. Each guild or trade union of the town made itself responsible
for the production of the play appropriate to it. For example, the play of the flood would be
assigned to the guild of shipwrights and the play of the adoration of the magi, who presented the
infant Christ with gold and jewelry was assigned to the guild of goldsmiths and so on. Four of
the most important cycles of the miracle plays were the York, Chester, Coventry and Wakefield
cycle named after the towns where they were performed. Unlike the 12th Century, these plays
were written by unknown authors. The plays had scenes of both extreme pathos and extreme
humour. A good example of the pathetic play is Abraham and Isaac in which Abraham offers to
sacrifice his son to God. There is another farcical comedy. Mak steals a sheep belonging to the
shepherds who are going to visit Infant Jesus. A search party reaches the house of Mak. Mak‟s
clever wife pretends to have just delivered a child. One of the shepherds in the search party then
proceeds to offer a present to the baby who is discovered to be none other than the stolen sheep
in the cradle! So the miracle plays were the first stage in the development of the English Drama.
In the stage of morality plays the theme was religious, the stage was a moveable platform, the
authors were unknown and there was no strict dramatic form.
6 Critically analyse ‘The Silver Box’ using the elements of drama. 10 marks
Answer: Stage: A drama is first a thing of the „stage‟ and then of the „page.‟ At the end of
Scene one of Act one, Jones goes out of the dining room after taking the silver box and the
purse. It is past midnight and the light needs to be switched off to signal the end of the scene.
See how Galsworthy manages to do this. Read the stage instructions given in parenthesis
carefully: [He gives a little snarling laugh and lurches to the door. His shoulder rubs against
the switch; the light goes out.] If Jones had switched off the light it would not have been
credible as he was fully drunk. By making Jones rub his shoulder accidentally against the switch
Galsworthy has brought a credible and convincing end to the scene.
Acts and Scenes: Modern plays are divided into three acts. This play has three acts, which is
customary of modern dramas. Act one has three scenes, act two has two scenes and the third act
has just one scene. One of the most productive ways of reading a play is concentrating on one
scene.
Theme: The Silver Box has depicted social injustices with incisive clarity. The play depicts a
society where law is not the same for the rich and the poor. Jack and Jones are both offenders
who have to be punished for their offence. But by the adroit maneuvering of the solicitors, the
theft of the purse by Jack is overlooked and the magistrate proceeds with the case as one of
assault only. Double standards of justice and unemployment are the two major themes of The
Silver Box.
Characters: If theme is the heart of a play then characters are its soul. Marlow, Mrs. Wheeler,
Mrs. Seddon, the landlady, the detective Mr. Snow, Roper, the Magistrate, the Livens children &
their father and the unknown lady are the minor characters in the play. The major characters of
the play are Jones, Jack, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Barthwick and Mrs. Barthwick. Mr. Barthwick is a
hypocrite who talks about principles but when it comes to filial bonds, he will sacrifice all his
principles. Mrs. Barthwick is portrayed in the play mostly as a dumb-witted lady who has a
deep-rooted contempt for the poor class. At the same time as a mother, she has pampered and
spoilt her son. Jack is a spoilt brat. Jones has been regarded by many as the protagonist of the
play. Jones is a drunkard and an unemployed person.
Plot: Plot refers to the arrangement of the action in the play. The plot deals with two families –
the Barthwick family and the Jones family. The central events of the play are Jack‟s stealing of
the purse from the lady and Jones‟ stealing of the purse and the silver box from Mr.
Barthwick‟s house. The whole plot is arranged in a legal framework.
Dramatic Structure: The first act in this play is the exposition. It introduces the major
character and their major actions, namely the thefts of Jack and Jones. The second act is the
complication as the thefts and their consequences widen up in the second act. The third act is
the resolution; as in this act there is the verdict where Jones is punished and Jack is let scotfree. Thus, in terms of the dramatic structure, this play is in keeping with the tradition of
Modern three act plays.
Dialogue: Dialogue, is the language of a play. Galsworthy uses the day-to-day English
language.. Probably the most significant non-verbal mode of communication in this play is the
silver box itself. The silver box becomes a metaphor of wealth and affluence.