B.A. English

Guest of Honour  

The Story of my Sanskrit

Thaneer Thaneer

Still Bleeding from the Wound

 On Doing Nothing – J.B.Priestley Introduction: Priestley describes his experiences of being on the moor in the essay ‘On Doing Nothing.’ He derives a certain peace of mind there in the company of nature. The pleasure one derives from it is indescribable. Priestley visits the place with his friend. He finds some meaning in the art of doing nothing. The moor helps him in this regard In the following paragraphs we can see how the moor is of help to him. Ideas from the Moor: Priestley and his friend stayed on the moor one afternoon in the midst of nature’s glory. It is two thousand feet above sea level. It is a clean bare antechamber to heaven. The velvety patches on its surface, the ideal weather, remoteness, permanence to heavenliness indifference to man and his acts provide a kind of rest and happiness to man. There is complete freedom to do anything one likes. The mountain springs provide cool water. The humans need not do anything They keep quiet and enjoy the natural scen...

 BEAT! BEAT! DRUMS – WALT WHITMAN Introduction: In the poem, Beat! Beat! Drums! the poet expresses the spontaneous reaction of the people in the early years of the Civil War. The poem shows the steady development of the theme of civil war. The poet feels the cause of war was justified by the events of that period. The drums, he says, should be able even “to shake the dead.” But then no one can deny that war means disruption of normal activity in a person’s life. Beating of human heart: In “Beat! Beat! Drums!” Whitman shows his view of what he thinks will the coming war will bring. His poem describes a noise played by drums being extremely loud. The noise being played represents the importance of the coming war. He says “Leave not the for bridegroom quiet-no happiness must he have now with his bride, nor the peaceful farmer any peace ploughing his field.” He says the music should play so loud that it should not be quiet anywhere. He also says that the war will be the main fo...

Phonetics

On Interpretation

The Shadow King

 AFRICA – DAVID DIOP Africa my Africa Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs Africa of whom my grandmother sings On the banks of the distant river I have never known you But your blood flows in my veins Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields The blood of your sweat The sweat of your work The work of your slavery Africa, tell me Africa Is this your back that is unbent This back that never breaks under the weight of humilation This back trembling with red scars And saying no to the whip under the midday sun But a grave voice answers me Impetuous child that tree, young and strong That tree over there Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers That is your Africa springing up anew Springing up patiently, obstinately Whose fruit bit by bit acquires The bitter taste of liberty.

 THE CASUALTIES BY JOHN PEPPER CLARK Introduction: John Pepper Clark’s poem The Casualties is about the causes and effects of war. It is said that he wrote this poem as an elegy to Chinua Achebe, inorder to mourn and show respect for the people who lost their lives unfairly during the civil war that took place in Nigeria. The war started when Biafra wanted to leave the Nigerian Federation and become a country of its own. However the situation may be, what Clark says is applicable to every war that had ever took place in history. The effects of war: It is foolish to measure the effects of war in terms of ‘ the number of lives lost. The worst casualty is that people are seized with death wish. This idea is conveyed in ‘ the first stanza itself. The people who get slain in a war are to be envied, not pitied. For, death puts an end to their sufferings. The people-who get wounded in a war are not in any way fortunate. Because they move towards death by painfully in prolonged s...

 The Madman – Chinua Achebe Introduction: In The Madman by Chinua Achebe we have the theme of struggle, determination, identity, conflict, appearance and perception. The story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Achebe may be exploring the theme of struggle to be recognised. Concept of validation: Despite it being a struggle and a two day journey to Eke the Nwibe is dedicated when it comes to traveling to the market. He overcomes the obstacles of the lorry drivers on the road who frown upon him walking in the middle of the road. Also the young children who shout at him as he makes his way to the market. Nwibe ignores them and remains determined to reach the market. If anything Achebe may be suggesting that the Nwibe is not only prepared to incur difficulty in order to reach the market but he remains determined regardless of what may happen. Though ironically at the end of the story what happens h...