English Literature Notes

                        THREE QUESTIONS                                                   L eo Tolstoy 1. What is the theme of the story 'Three Questions'? Or Justify the title of Tolstoy's story 'Three Questions'. Or What were the three questions? What did the Tsar do to find their answers?  Leo Tolstoy's short story presents three questions which are sometimes encountered by people. In this story a Tsar seeks answers to three questions. What is the most productive time to start any work? Who are the most important people? And what are the essential duties? The moment these three questions began to torment him, he announces that those who will be able to answer will be rewarded. But the Tsar is not satisfied with any scholar's answer as different scholars answer differently of that questions. At las...

                THE POETRY OF EARTH                                         John Keats  1. Discuss the significance of the title of the poem 'The Poetry of the Earth'. The poem ,' The Poetry of the Earth'  is addressing the beauty of the Earth through the lyrics of Grasshopper and the Cricket's song. Here the Grasshopper behaves like a summer poet and sings the summer song.The grasshopper sings when the birds get tired and take shelter in the cool shade of the trees.  "And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run     From hedge to hedge about the new-mown mead;     That is the Grasshopper’s—he takes the lead  In summer luxury," In winter, when the frost blankets the earth, the crickets are responsible for carrying nature's song along with shrill voice. "On a lone winter evening, when the frost  ...

MEETING AT NIGHT         Robert Browning   1. What is the central idea of the poem "Meeting at Night". Robert Browning believes that love is a power, a strong emotion that can conquer all adversities in life. The poem describes how a man secretly travels to meet his beloved and thinks nothing of the obstacles that may come his way. He is determined to achieve his goal. Every line of the poem expresses the intense emotions of the poet. The poem vividly describes the lover's desperation to reach his destination for which he finally defies all problems and obstacles. Browning proved that love can conquer all. Browning's optimistic philosophy of life proves that love is the guiding light of life that makes humanity proud.  2. Discuss about the significance of the title of the poem "Meeting at Night". Robert Browning's 'Meeting at Night' is a poem about a meeting of lovers at night. The title of the poem emphasizes the mystery present in the poem. ...

                  THANK YOU MA'AM                                          J.M.Langston Hughes 1. What happened to Mrs Jones when she was coming home? What did she do immediately? Do you think she was right in doing that? Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones was returning home from the hotel's beauty shop around eleven o'clock at night. A weak, naughty-looking boy was chasing her and trying to snatch her bag. Unfortunately, he lost his balance and fell to the ground.  Mrs. Jones kicked him, told him to pick up the bag and grabbed the front of his shirt tightly. She then dragged him home and fed him. Mrs. Jones' initial behavior was highly emotional. Any woman would do that if she was robbed of her hard earned money. Jones later proved to be a loving mother. Roger thanked her. So her behavior could be considered sympathetic. 2. Discuss t...

  Composed Upon Westminster Bridge                -----------William Wordsworth  1. Comment on Wordsworth's treatment of nature with reference to 'Composed Upon Westminster Bridge'.  Nature has always emerged as a living entity to Wordsworth. On his way to Paris very early in the morning, the poet had the opportunity to appear in front of the thrilling beauty of the city of London. The beauty of the city of London from Westminster Bridge fascinates him. So the poet exclaims______ "Earth has not anything to show more fair" To the poet, the city seemed to be clothed a garment of morning beauty. The whole environment is calm, soothing and the air is smoke free. " A sight so touching in its majesty: ThisCity now doth, like a garment, wear The beauty of the morning; silent, bare," So all the sights and sounds of nature have an undisturbed appeal of beauty. The   sun has spread the beauty of its radiance over the valley ,mountains an...

                              DAYBREAK                        H.W Longfellow 1) How is the wind personified in H.W.Longfellow's 'Daybreak'? Or How does the wind inspire different objects to welcome the daybreak? Or Discuss about the different activities of the wind in the poem Daybreak. In the poem Daybreak, H.W Longfellow has attributed personality to the wind. He presents the wind as a living entity here. It is the messenger of the morning and the guide of responsibility and accountability. Here the wind rises from the sea and tells the fog to make room for it. The wind calls on the forest to open its dormant leaves. It touches the wings of the birds of the forest and inspires them to sing. It whispers to the field and requests to accept the new one.  So we can conclude that  everything in nature seems to be greeted by the wind on its way to ...

                      STRONG ROOTS                                       Dr. APJ. ABDUL KALAM 1. "I would say mine was a very secure childhood"- Why does Kalam consider his childhood to be materially and emotionally secure? In his autobiographical excerpt, ' Strong Roots' Abdul Kalam illustrates his birth and genealogy. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was the fifth of seven children of Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma. Although his parents were tall and handsome, Kalam was a very ordinary looking boy. His mother's ancestor was awarded the title of 'Bahadur' by the British.They lived in a pucca house on Mosque Street in Rameshwaram. His father kept himself away from comforts.Yet he did not compromise with his children on food, clothing and medicine. Kalam's mother was very careful about his diet and served rice, sambar, pickles, chutney etc.  Thus, we ...