Saturday, November 12, 2022

Assignments of batch - 2022 - 2024, Sem - 1

TOPIC OF THIS BLOG:-

In this blog you can find Assignments of all students of MKBU MA English, Sem 1 students, batch - 2022 - 2024. 

PAPER 101:- LITERATURE OF THE ELIZABETHAN AND RESTORATION PERIODS 

PAPER 102: LITERATURE OF THE NEO-CLASSICAL PERIOD

PAPER 103: LITERATURE OF THE ROMANTICS

PAPER 104: LITERATURE OF THE VICTORIANS

PAPER 105A: HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE – FROM 1350 TO 1900 

NOTE:- If you find any problem or question or suggestions please let me know.

- 2 comments:

Monday, November 7, 2022

Assignment - 3 - Ode and Keats

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 103 - Litrature of The Romantics, Sem - 1, 2022.


ODE AND KEATS

TABLE OF THE CONTENTS:-

  • Personal Information
  • Assignment Details
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction
  • John Keats
  • What is an Ode?
  • The Pindaric Ode
  • The Horatian Ode
  • Common Characteristics of Ode
  • Odes by John Keats
  • Morden Thoughts on Ode
  • Works Cited

PERSONAL INFORMATION:-

Name:- Pooja Anilbhai Bhuva

Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2022-2024)

Enrollment Number:- 4069206420220005

E-mail Address:- poojabhuva2002@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 17

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS:-

Topic:- Ode and Keats

Paper & subject code:- 103 - Literature of the Romantics & 22394

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar 

Date of Submission:- 7th November, 2022

About Assignment:- In this assignment I try to explore how Keats related to Ode, Types of Ode and How many he wrote and Influenced by it.  

ABSTRACT:-

'A lyric poem typically of elaborate or irregular metrical form and expressive of exalted or enthusiastic emotion.'

- ('Ode on a Grecian Urn') John Keats

Odes written by other Poets and by John Keats had a notable difference. Not only with other Poets but his own works differentiated from each other. It's really interesting to see how his Sonnets and other forms of Poetry different when one compares with his Odes. 

KEYWORDS:-

Ode, Lyric, Horatian Ode, Pindaric Ode, Emotions, Romantic, Enthusiasm, 

INTRODUCTION:-

When one wants to know about Ode, they should start from the Poetry. Poetry is the musical utterance of man's emotional self. It expresses feelings or noble thoughts in the beautiful language. If one can see from the outer look, Poetry is divided into Subjective poetry and Objective poetry. The Subjective poetry is personal in character while The Objective poetry is impersonal. The subjective poetry is sub - divided into six types:-

  1. The Lyric 
  2. The Ode
  3. The Sonnet
  4. The Song
  5. The Elegy
  6. The Hymn

"The Ode lives upon the Ideal, The Epic upon the Grandiose, The Drama upon the Real."

- Victor Hugo 

Poetry, of course it's base of Ode but Ode is a more meaningful and thoughtful form of Poetry. John Keats, Alexander Pope, William Wordsworth, Allen Tate, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Thomas Gray, Percy Bysshe Shelley and many more Poets give a different meaning to Ode. But the most impactful Ode is by John Keats. 

JOHN KEATS:-

John Keats was born on 31 October, 1795 in London, England and died on 23 February 1821 in Rome, Italy. A great Poet of the Romantic period in the same era in which Percy Bysshe Shelly and George Gordon Byron developed. His is best known for his works like 'Endymion', 'Hyperion', 'Isabella', 'La Belle Dame sans merci', 'Lamia', 'Ode on Grecian Urn', Ode to Psyche', 'Ode to a Nightingale', 'On First Looking into Chapman's Homer', 'On Indolence', 'On Melancholy', ' Poems', 'Sleep and Poetry', 'The Eve of St. Agnes', 'The Fall of Hyperion', 'To Autumn', etc. (Hough)

His father's name is Thomas and his mother is Jennings Keats. He was the eldest of four children. Even though he lived a small life, he had the most remarkable career of any English Poet. Republic fifty-four poems. Although he is now seen as part of the British Romantic literary tradition, in his own lifetime Keats would not have been associated with other major Romantic poets. Although Keats had a liberal education in the boy’s academy at Enfield and trained at Guy’s Hospital to become a surgeon, he had no formal literary education. (John)

WHAT IS AN ODE?

The word 'Ode' has descended from the Greek word which means a 'song'. It was used by the Greeks for any kind of lyric verse, and any kind of song sung, with the musical instrument by the lyre or to the accompaniment of some sort of dance. The Ode is a special kind of lyric. It is more dignified, stately and elaborate than a simple lyric and originated in ancient Greece. The first Ode was written by the Greek poet Pindar. Later on the Ode was practiced with certain changes by the Roman poet, Horace. 

In English Literature, Ode may be defined as a lyric poem of elaborate metrical structure, solemn in tone and usually taking the form of address, very often to some abstraction or quality. 

'A strain of enthusiastic lyric verse, directed to fixed purpose and dealing progressively with one dignified theme.'

- Edmund Gosse

There are from the ancient times Two Kinds of Ode exist:-

  1. The Pindaric Ode
  2. The Horatian Ode 

THE PINDARIC ODE:-

This Ode was also called Choric Ode. Pindar was the greatest lyric poet of ancient Greece. He is considered as the father of the Pindaric or Choric Ode. It was written in the dialect of the district of Doria and that is why it is known as the Dorian Ode. Thomas Gray used this type of Ode in his Poems. It is a three stanza structure which is repeated throughout the poem like Strophe, Antistrophe - that is melodically harmonious - and Epode. It is a formal type of form. 

THE HORATIAN ODE:-

It is called Horatian Ode after the name of the great Latin poet Horace. This Ode also known as Lesbian Ode as it had florished in the Island of Lesbos. In the poems of Andrew Marvell he used the Horatian type of Ode. It is a two or four line Stanza that share the same Meter, Rhyme Scheme and Length. It traditionally explores intimate scenes of daily life. 

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF ODE:-

  • The Ode is in the form of an address, often to some abstraction. 
  • It is not written about but written to.
  • It has lyric enthusiasm and emotional intensity. 
  • It is a spontaneous overflow of the poet's emotions. 
  • Usually the theme of an Ode is dignified and exalted. 
  • It has high seriousness.
  • An Ode has an elevated style which covers its elaborate theme. 
  • The development of thought in an Ode is logical in clear.
  • Its metrical pattern may be irregular but it is always elaborate. 

But when we talk about particular characteristics or rules to write Poem, Song, Ode, Ballad or any other lyrical form every poet has Liberty to make change in any of it. So, in The English language Odes were written very freely and beautifully by famous Poets like Ben Johnson, John Milton, Thomas Gray, Spencer, Collins, John Keats, PB Shelley and Lord Alfred Tennyson. 

ODES BY JOHN KEATS:-

John Keats wrote his famous Odes in 1819 and these Odes also known as 1819's Odes by John Keats. These Odes include 'Ode on a Grecian Urn', 'Ode on Indolence', 'Ode on Melancholy', 'Ode to a Nightingale', 'Ode to Psyche' and 'To Autumn'. 

ODE ON A GRECIAN URN:-

Written:- 1819

Published:- 1820

This is his most famous work in his life and describes the beauty of an Urn. After looking at the pattern of the Urn he was really impressed by it and wrote a very beautiful Ode. It is a five stanza Ode and each Stanza has 10 lines. An urn is a work of art, and Greek Urn in its basis has been known for the outstanding pictures adorned on its sides. The first four stanzas of the poem consist mainly of the description of such things, and he defines the painted sides of imagined Urn. The first picture is about the boys chasing some girls naked. The second picture is about a man and woman lying under a tree, and the man is playing music. In the Urn, a man was singing a pipe song without being tired. At that time, he did not attend the song, but he felt the sensation and beauty of pipe music. In the last he described that the paintings of branches, maidens, and weeds will never get rotten because they have been frozen for eternity. 

ODE ON MELANCHOLY:-

Written:- 1819

Published:- 1820

The poem started with the lines in which Keats abandons to go towards the Lethe River even if you are sad. The Poisonous water of the Lethe River will not give you satisfaction even after erasing your memory. Further he says Your forehead might become pale of sickness and sadness but don’t allow the nightshade to overcome your body. Even if the wine of the underworld queen is looking attractive and you want to drink it, don’t allow yourself to show your weakness that you are miserable and depressed. The last lines of the poem is like Melancholy never forgets those who taste its low power. 

Through this poem he describes that nothing lasts forever, not beauty, not happiness, not sadness, not sorrow or any emotions and anything in this world, not even this world. 

MORDEN THOUGHTS ON ODE:-

Modern Literature or Modern thought is important in every aspect and in every planning. We consider modern time very important to literature because modern time means new ideas, new thoughts, new plans, unique writing, and so on. When one talks about modern literature or any topic of literature they imagine writers and poets like Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, James Joyce, Joseph Conrad, E.M. Forster, Marcel Proust, A.L. Huxley, Franz Kafka, William Faulkner, T.S. Eliot, Edith Sitwell, W.B. Years, Auden, Stephen Spender, etc. But apart from this famous writer, what other people thinks it's also interesting to know. 

'If an offer comes my way, I would love to sing in every Indian language. It will be like an Ode to my fans from every corner of the country.'

- Yo Yo Honey Singh 

He is a famous Indian singer who is famous for his rap style singing. He is a good example of popular culture. He considered Ode as an important emotion to express his feelings. Through this line one can say, it doesn't matter what type of song You sing or write, but Ode is important and common for all types. It's an emotion that can be expressed in every language and in every form. 

'No poet is required to write in stanzas, or indeed in regular forms at all. Coleridge's 'Dejection: an Ode' has a rhyme scheme and sequence of long and short lines that goes without regular pattern, following the mood and whim of the poet. Such a form is known as irregular Ode.'

- James Fanton

What this Poet told us I totally agree with. As William Wordsworth says, when we are full of feelings and there is spontaneous overflow we write from the heart and it gets the deepest meaning. The style of Irregular Ode followed by coleridge as he is a writer of fiction and spirituality.  

WORKS CITED:-

Hough, Graham Goulder. "John Keats". Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Keats. 

“John Keats.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/john-keats. 

(Words:- 1,830)

- No comments:

Assignment - 2 - Comparative Study of Neo-classical age and Romanticism

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-
This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 102 - Literature of the Neo-classical Period, Sem - 1, 2022.

 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF

NEO-CLASSICAL ERA 

AND ROMANTICISM 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:-

  • Personal Information
  • Assignment Details
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction
  • Neo Classical age
  • Pioneer Writers and Poets of Neo-classical age
  • Condition of women during the neo classical age and contemporary time
  • Romanticism
  • Difference between Neoclassicism and Romanticism
  • Common Aspects of Neoclassical age and Romanticism
  • Works Cited

PERSONAL INFORMATION:-

Name:- Pooja Anilbhai Bhuva

Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2022-2024)

Enrollment Number:- 4069206420220005

E-mail Address:- poojabhuva2002@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 17

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS:-

Topic:- Comparative Study of Neo-classical Era and Romanticism 

Paper & subject code:- 102 - Literature of the Neo-classical Period & 22393

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar 

Date of Submission:- 7th November, 2022

About Assignment:- In this assignment I try to Compare Neo-Classical Era and Romantic Era with their Features, Characteristics, Writes, etc. 

ABSTRACT:-

Neo Classical age was started just after the Classical age. In the Classical age all the Writers and Poets imitated ancient Greeks and Romans. And in the Neo Classical age people imitated Classical age ideas. But when Neo Classical age was on its peak of falling, the age of reasons became unreliable at some point, the imitation became more and more in most of the works and Neo Classical age started to end in meaning of trueness and originality. Next age as a Romantic age grows as a feeling full and emotional age. It has its originality, spirituality and mysteriousness. The Neo Classical age has so many names like The Age of Prose, The Age of Reason, The Age of Enlightenment, The Age of Agriculture Revolution, The age of reason, Transition period, The age of satire. Jane Austen, Jane Locke, Alexander Pope and many more Writers and Poets are famous in the Neo Classical age. There is an interesting aspect of Women's condition also. Romanticism is a remarkable age in English Literature. William Wordsworth, Samuel Tylor Coleridge, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Goerge Gordon Byron, William Blake, Robert Southey, Sir Walter Scott, and others are the Important Writers and Poets of the Romantic age. There are some similarities and Differences between these two ages. But both the ages are commonly Important in English Literature. 

KEYWORDS:-

Comparison, Similarities, Differences, Mystery, Spirituality, Reasons, Imitation, Classics, Movement

INTRODUCTION:-

Known with so many names The Neo Classical age has some important implications, Writers and Poets who made the Neo Classical age important in English literature and in History. 

Romanticism is also known as the romantic movement and the romantic era. This Era was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement.

'Romanticism is a beauty without bouncing the beautiful infinite.'

- Jean Paul

'I find the Romantic period extraordinarily interesting. My landscapes have connections with Romanticism: at times I feel a real desire for, an attraction to, this period, and some of my pictures are a homage to Caspar David Friedrich.'

-Gerhard Richter 

With these two points, we can clearly see how romanticism affects us. 

NEO CLASSICAL AGE:-

Neo-classical age, behind this name there were so many other name of this age like, The Augustan Age, The 18th Century Literature, The Age of Prose, The Age of Reason, The Age of Enlightenment, The Age of Agriculture Revolution, The age of reason, Transition period, The age of satire. According to English literature, the neo classical age is divided into three periods:-

  1. The Restoration Age (1660-1700), 
  2. The Augustan Age (1700-1750), 
  3. The Age of Johnson (1750-1798)

This age is totally opposite of the Romantic age, in the classical age writers used to write their works into classics, they normally followed the rules of Ancient Greek writers which they gave for writing the great work. 

For the classical age, Winckelmann said that,

'The one way for us to become great, perhaps inimitable, is by imitating the ancients.'

The Neo classical age followed the theory of writing that included own thinking writing, without any rules which were given by typically ancient Greek philosophers and writers. That's why it is called the Neo classical age.

'The best-laid plans of mice and men often go away.' 

(From the poem 'To a mouse' by Robert Burns in 1785)

PIONEER WRITERS AND POETS OF NEO-CLASSICAL AGE:-

Jane Austen:- She was born on December 16, 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, England and died on July 18, 1817 in Winchester, Hampshire. She was the one English writer who first gave the novel its distinctly modern character. Some of her notable works include 'Emma', 'Lady Susan', 'Mansfield Park', 'Northanger Abbey', 'Persuasion', 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Sense and Sensibility', etc. (Britannica)

John Locke:- He was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, Somerset, England and died on October 28, 1704 in High Laver, Essex. He was an English philosopher whose works lie at the foundation of modern philosophical empiricism and political liberalism. Here are some of his notable works include 'A Letter Concerning Toleration', 'An Essay Concerning Human Understanding', 'Essays on the Law of Nature', 'Some Thoughts Concerning Education', 'The Reasonableness of Christianity', 'Two Tracts on Government', 'Two Treatises of Government', etc. (Rogers)

Jonathan Swift:- His pseudonym is Isaac Bickerstaff. He was born on November 30, 1667 in Dublin, Ireland and died on October 19, 1745 in Dublin. He was an Anglo-Irish author, who was the foremost prose satirist in the English language. Here are some of his notable works include 'A Modest Proposal', 'A Tale of a Tub', 'Argument Against Abolishing Christianity', 'Drapier’s Letters', 'Gulliver’s Travels', 'Journal to Stella', 'The Conduct of the Allies', 'Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift', etc. (Britannica)

Alexander Pope:- He was born on May 21, 1688 in London, England and died on May 30, 1744 in Twickenham, near London. He was a poet and satirist of the English Augustan period. Here are some of his notable works include 'An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot', 'An Essay on Criticism', 'An Essay on Man', 'Eloisa to Abelard', 'Epistle to the Right Honourable Richard Earl of Burlington', 'Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus', 'The Dunciad', 'The New Dunciad', 'The Rape of the Lock', 'Windsor-Forest', etc. (Britannica)

Robert Burns:- He was born on January 25, 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland and died on July 21, 1796 in Dumfries, Dumfriesshire. He was the national poet of Scotland, who wrote lyrics and songs in Scots and in English. Here are some of his notable works include 'A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice', 'Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect', 'Tam o’Shanter', 'The Death and Dying Words of Poor Mailie', 'The Scots Musical Museum', etc. (Britannica)

CONDITION OF WOMEN DURING THE NEO CLASSICAL AGE AND CONTEMPORARY TIME:- 

The word women has so many meanings from every person's point of view and from every different society, cultures, and literature. In ancient times women were not used to writing or they had no right to write anything or even think of something about themselves. They just given some rules and some typical stereotype thoughts that women should stay in home cook for everyone and take care of their child, they should live in condition what society gave them.Until the ‘Reformation’ women theoretically had the option of continuing to live in a virginal state by entering the monastic life.

In the 17th century the professions like teacher, lawyer, doctor were closed to women. However some women had jobs. Some of them worked spinning cloth. Women were also tailors, milliners, dyers, shoemakers and embroiderers. There were also washerwomen. Some women worked in food preparation such as brewers, bakers or confectioners. Women also sold foodstuffs in the streets. A very common job for women was domestic servant. Other women were midwives and apothecaries.However most women were housewives and they were kept very busy.

Women’s roles within the family and local community allowed them to influence the political system. 

The eighteenth century brought the beginning of the British cultural revolution.The economic changes brought by the new middle class provided women with the opportunity to be more directly involved in commerce.Lower-to middle-class women often assisted their husbands in work outside the home. In France, Olympe de Gouges demanded equal rights for women in the new French Republic, and was eventually executed by guillotine in 1793.

In Now times women get the position that man have. They have right to write novels, poems and other works too. They also run the house by themselves. Now time we can say women has so many opportunities compare to 18th Century. Yes, 18th century was time when women started this revolution and in this time this revolution get in fire and every women are equal to men. 

ROMANTICISM:-

'Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. '

- Albert Einstein

As we normally know, the romantic era started with the publication of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and ST Coleridge. Now let's look at history.

Elizabethans belonged to romanticism as Shakespeare was the first who introduced the spirit of romanticism but he had no successors to carry on. Thereupon it came to the end of the 18th century. During the 18th century Thomson published 'The Seasons'. it implies return to nature, crying for the beautiful, love of men, God Sensuousness, lyricism etc. In short romanticism expresses a new delight in theme, feeling and expression. In this way the seed of romanticism was shown by Thomson and Grew, Cowper, Collins, Burns. They were considered the fore-runners of romantic poets. Letter on romanticism was revived fully with the publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1778 by William Wordsworth and ST Coleridge. The first generation of romantics was Coleridge and Wordsworth. Vote for the first time emphasized upon the aims and objects of the new poetry. They introduced a number of new meters and they rejected poetic diction of the 18th century. They favored simplicity of theme. 

The second generation of the romantics were Keats, Shelley and Byron. They could get fame after their death. Keats was considered as the worshiper of beauty. Shelly was an idealist and lyricist of the first order. Byron Was the most passionate poet. 

Here are some features of Romanticism:-

  • Break from the set rules
  • Interest in country life
  • Love of liberty and freedom
  • Interest in the middle age
  • Love for beauty
  • Predominance of imagination and emotion
  • Supernaturalism

These all features have their own identity. These features are the main reason romanticism is very well known, interesting and important in English Literature. Also the Writers and Poets of the Romantic Era made this movement more powerful.

Major Poets and Writers of Romantic Era or Romanticism are include William Wordsworth, Samuel Tylor Coleridge, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Goerge Gordon Byron, William Blake, Robert Southey, Sir Walter Scott, William Hazlitt, Jane Austen, etc. 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEOCLASSICISM AND ROMANTICISM:-

  • Neo Classical age existed from 1660 to 1798 and Romanticism or Romantic age existed from 1798 to around 1837. 
  • Neo Classical age is the age of Reason and Romantic age believes in following Heart and feelings. This is the major and main difference between this two age. It also called that age of prose while Romantic age is age of Poem and age of nature. 
  • The Neo Classical age was inspired by Greeks and Romans and the Romantic age was inspired by the medieval era.
  • Neo Classical age uses the style of calmness and rational thoughts while romantic age follows spontaneity. 
  • Neo Classical age focuses on political and unemotional aspects while Romantic age mysterious and natural aspects. 

COMMON ASPECTS OF NEOCLASSICAL AGE AND ROMANTICISM:- 

  • Even though these two ages or movements are totally opposite from each other, there were some similarities in it. 
  • First one is that some Writers and Poets existed in this era and wrote for both eras, and give justice to both ages. 
  • Jane Austen, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Goerge Gordon Byron, etc writers or Poets are topics of discussion were they more Neo Classical or belong to Romantic age. 
  • Second is even though these two ages are different from each other, they are antagonists of what art should be about. 
  • Most of the work of both ages is based on Renaissance ideas. 
  • As the Romantic age started just after the Neo Classical age, it's Normal to have some Neo Classical ideas and thoughts in it. 

WORKS CITED:-

(Words:- 2,140)

- No comments:

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Assignment - 5 - Renaissance or Elizabethan Era

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 105A - History of English Literature – From 1350 to 1900, Sem - 1, 2022.


 RENAISSANCE OR 

ELIZABETHAN ERA 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:-

  • Personal Information
  • Assignment Details
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction
  • Renaissance
  • Elizabethan Era
  • Combination and Influence of Renaissance and/on Elizabethan Era
  • Religion in Elizabethan Era
  • High Culture and Popular Culture in Elizabethan Era
  • Sonnet in Elizabethan Era
  • Major Themes of Elizabethan Sonnet
  • Reasons which brought the Renaissance in England

  • Works Cited

PERSONAL INFORMATION:-

Name:- Pooja Anilbhai Bhuva

Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2022-2024)

Enrollment Number:- 4069206420220005

E-mail Address:- poojabhuva2002@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 17

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS:-

Topic:- Renaissance or Elizabethan Era 

Paper & subject code:- 105A - History of English Literature – From 1350 to 1900 & 22396

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar 

Date of Submission:- 7th November, 2022

About Assignment:- In this assignment I try to describe that the Elizabethan Era was influenced by Renaissance and what type of changes come with Renaissance and other aspects of Elizabethan Era and Renaissance Period.

ABSTRACT:- 

The Rebirth or Revival can be a great thing and a big part of life and Literature too. How Renaissance and Elizabethan age connected with each other and how Queen Elizabeth made progress under watch of her. Petrarch was the biggest reason for the Renaissance and its progress. If the Elizabethan Era and Renaissance are attached with each other, at the same time they are different from each other and also have Influence on each other. Elizabethan Literature has so deeply stamped its authority on all future literate endeavors in developments, that we, almost half a millennium later, still study it and admire its exceptional beauty and greatness. 

KEYWORDS:-

Revival, Beauty, Voyage, Traveling, Sonnet, Printing, Nationalism, Religion, Rebirth. 

INTRODUCTION:-

The Elizabethan age is remembered as the time of a great wave of English nationalism. As well as the early modern period in which the arts flourished. The time of Shakespeare was also the time of Elizabeth first I, who is one of the more memorable monarchs. Several gists can be said to the whole European Renaissance together over the three centuries which spanned. The longest greatest innovation of the Renaissance era was the printing press, put into service around 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg. Rudimentary presses had lived for a long time, but Gutenberg's design maximized publishing effectiveness in a way that altered the world of creative pursuits, notes, and concepts forever. If one can look at the Renaissance period one can automatically have a glimpse of the Elizabethan Era along with it. 

RENAISSANCE:-

The word 'Renaissance' means 'Rebirth', 'Revival', or 'Reawakening'. It refers to a period in European civilization that was marked by a revival of Classical learning and wisdom. It is a period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages. The Renaissance saw many contributions to different fields, including new scientific laws, new forms of art and architecture, and new religious and political ideas. (Britannica)

The Renaissance was the revival of ancient classic mythology, literature and culture. It can also be considered the reawakening of the human mind after the long slumber of the dark middle ages. It was the age of wonder, the glory and the beauty of the human mind. It appeared as if mankind was awakened from the long sleep and looked at the glory of nature with astonishment. It was the revival of the cult of beauty - the beauty of women, nature, art and literature. 

The Renaissance period started in Italy in the 14th century with the works of Petrarch (in the side picture) and certain others. In 1453 it was simulated by the fall of Constantinople in the invention of the printing press in Germany. The great discoveries of scientists and navigators also boosted the arrival of the Renaissance.

Petrarch 

ELIZABETHAN ERA:-

The timeline of the Elizabethan Era is 1558 - 1603. And the Queen of this Era was Queen Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan age saw the flowering of poetry (the sonnet, the Spenserian stanza, dramatic blank verse), was a golden age of drama (especially for the plays of Shakespeare), and inspired a wide variety of splendid prose (from historical chronicles, versions of the Holy Scriptures, pamphlets, and literary criticism to the first English novels). (Britannica)

This era is considered to be the literary height of the English Renaissance. The period revolutionized many aspects of English life, most significantly literature. The age was very rich in Literature and art as it was the age of revival of classical learning. The period was also the period of peace and prosperity in England. The Victorian era and the early 20th century idealized the Elizabethan Era. The ages is most famous for theater, as William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke free of England's past style of theater. The Elizabethan age contrasts sharply with the previous and following reigns. 

Economically, the country began to benefit greatly from the new era of trans - Atlantic trade and persistent theft of Spanish treasure. Elizabethan England was not particularly successful in a military sense during the period, but it avoided major defeats and built up a powerful navy. The Elizabethan age was also an age of plots and conspiracies, frequently political in nature and often involving the highest levels of Elizabethan Society. 

COMBINATION AND INFLUENCE OF RENAISSANCE AND/ON ELIZABETHAN ERA:- 

The Elizabethan age is the epoch in the Tudor Period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Influence of Renaissance reached England during the last phase of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. 

'While Italy was a fire with the new sunrise, it was still for England 

merely a streak of light upon The horizon.'

Comption Rickett

The beginning of Renaissance what's the fall of Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Greek scholars went away to Italy with the valuable manuscripts. Thus the revival of classical studies began in Italy. Latin writers who were almost forgotten were rediscovered. Historians often depict Elizabethan age as the Golden age in English history. The Golden age represented the apogee of the English Renaissance and saw the flowering of poetry, music and literature. 

RELIGION IN ELIZABETHAN ERA:- 

Elizabeth managed to moderate the intense religious passions of the time. This was in significant contrast to previous and succeeding eras of marked religious violence. Elizabeth desired to moderate the religious persecutions of previous Tudor reigns - the persecution of catholics under Edward VI and of protestants under Mary I. 

HIGH CULTURE AND POPULAR CULTURE IN ELIZABETHAN ERA:- 

The high culture of the Elizabethan Renaissance was best expressed in its theater. Historical topics were especially popular, not to mention the usual comedies and tragedies. Traveling musicians were in great demand at court, in churches, at country houses, and at local festivals. Important composers included William Byrd, John Dowland, Thomas Campion and Robert Johnson. It became the fashion in the late 19th century to collect and sing the old songs. 

The annual summer fair and other seasonal fairs such as May Day were often bawdy affairs. Watching plays became popular during the Tudor period (1485 - 1603). Miracle plays were local re - enactments of stories from the Bible. There were many different types of Elizabethan sports and entertainment. Animal sports included Bear and Bull baiting, dog fighting and cock fighting. The rich enjoyed Tennis, fencing and jousting. Hunting was strictly limited to the upper class. Dice was your popular activity in all social classes. Cards appeared in Spain and Italy about 1370, but they probably came from Egypt. By the time of Elizabethan reign, gambling was a common sport. Upper and lower both classes are played cards. Popular card games included Maw, Once and Thirty and Bone -ace. Every month had its own holiday. 

SONNET IN ELIZABETHAN ERA:-

Sonnet, the dominant form of poetry of the Elizabethan age. Brought to England in the early 16th century by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey; They adapted the form to the English language. Sonnet is a lyric in 14 lines of Iambic pentameter. The birthplace of the Sonnet has not been definitely determined. Most of the critics believe that Sicily and Provence must have been the two possible sources. The two most commonly occurring types of sonnets are as following:-

PETRARCHAN SONNET - divided into two stanzas, Eight Lines and Six Lines. Petrarchan Sonnet is characterized by the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDECDE.  

SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET - divided into three - four line Stanzas and follows the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. 

Other less frequently used forms of the Sonnet exist. At the time, the writing of poetry was a part of the education of a gentleman. Sonnets were very popular among the upper classes in the collection of sonnets and lyrics were often published. William Shakespeare was one of these Poets, since his collection of Sonnets. One of the best lyrical Poets of the Elizabethan age was Edmund Spenser. Other famous Poets of the age include Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh and Christopher Marlowe. The main practitioners of the Elizabethan sonnet sequence were William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser and Sir Philip Sidney. 

MAJOR THEMES OF ELIZABETHAN SONNET:- 

Some of the most significant themes in the Elizabethan Sonnet sequences include love, time, the value of writing, and the perpetuation of beauty. Surrey gave it a rhyming meter and structural division. Their works were first published in Richard Tottel's Songs and Sonnets in 1557. One of the first English Sonnet sequences came from George Gascoigne, Poet and dramatist. However, the Sonnet sequences started from 1591 with Philip Sidney who wrote Astrophel and Stella. It contains more than 100 Sonnets. Many Sonnets of the Elizabethan Era wrote about the frustration of unreciprocated love. Some however, like Spenser, celebrate the feeling of successful love. Another major theme of the Elizabethan Sonnet sequence is Time. Shakespeare, in particular, focused on how time could destroy nature and other beautiful things. William Shakespeare wrote 154 Sonnets which were published late in 1609. The Elizabethan Era ended in the year 1603. In the later 17th century, Sonnets were hardly written. However, William Wordsworth brought it back to Literature, writing himself hundreds of Sonnets. Keats also wrote many Sonnets using formal and rhetorical patterns. Shelley created a unique rhyme scheme. Sonnets were continued to be written in and after the 19th century, modified and alerted. 

REASONS WHICH BROUGHT THE RENAISSANCE IN ENGLAND:- 

PRINTING PRESS:- The most significant event which marks the dawn of the Renaissance in England is the invention of printing. It was first started in Germany and then Caxton established the printing press in England. The books were soon published and It helped the development of education and spread of knowledge. 

VOYAGES:- The English were the great explorers. They went to the west Indies and down the coast of South America and returned with their ships loaded with silver, gold, pearls, emeralds, silk and spices. The people listened to the traveller's tales with awe and astonishment. Their imagination became flamed and everywhere this was a strange breath of wonder. We find the expression of this wonder even in Shakespeare who said, "What a piece of work is man!" and "O' brave new world." 

NATIONALISM:- After the defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English, the national spirit in England rose to a great height. There was a great upsurge of patriotic feelings among the people of the time. We can feel the feeling in Chaucer and its blossoming in Elizabethan Literature. 

INDIVIDUALISM AND WORLDLINESS:- The Renaissance gave birth to individualism and worldliness. Greek Literature focuses more on the present world than the future World. Under the influence of Greek Literature, individualism and a sense of democracy developed. The writers began to voice their feelings and ideas freely. They criticized the government or the kings in their works. 

ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES:- There were discoveries in the field of astronomy also. Copernicus also made discoveries in astronomy. The world was no longer a big place. New knowledge began to pour from all sides. All such discoveries made a great impact on the literature of the time. 

THE AGE OF SOCIAL CONTENTMENT:- During the age of Elizabeth, commerce made considerable progress. Thousands of people could get employment because of rapid increase in trade and commerce. Increasing trade brought enormous wealth to England. For the first time systematic care for the needy and the poor was attempted. There was improvement in the standard of life which brought about a new social content. 

ENTHUSIASM:- The Renaissance for the age of Elizabeth is an age of dreams, of adventure, of unbounded enthusiasm. The horizons were widened in all directions. Bacon said confidently, "I have taken all knowledge for my province." This enthusiasm is visible in Elizabeth and literature. 

With the combination of all these aspects one can clearly see that everything that happened means the Renaissance period came or age is revived all because every person of the age has liberty, freedom, chance, money and most important support of Kings and Queens. Elizabeth I too had some interest in Literature. He supports all the writers and poets. 

WORKS CITED:-

- No comments:

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Assignment - 4 - Obscureness in 'Jude The Obscure'

 TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 104 - Literature of Victorians, Sem - 1, 2022.


OBSCURENESS IN

'JUDE THE OBSCURE'

TABLE OF CONTENTS:-

  • Personal Information
  • Assignment Details
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction
  • Thomas Hardy
  • 'Jude The Obscure'
  • Characters
  • Main Characters
  • Minor Characters
  • What's 'Obscure' in the title?
  • Obscureness in Characters
  • Obscure Jude
  • Obscure Sue 'Susanna' Bridehead
  • Obscure Little Father Time
  • Obscure Arabella Donn
  • Richard Phillotson
  • Different Opinions on 'Jude The Obscure' 
  • Works Cited

PERSONAL INFORMATION:-

Name:- Pooja Anilbhai Bhuva

Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2022-2024)

Enrollment Number:- 4069206420220005

E-mail Address:- poojabhuva2002@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 17

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS:-

Topic:- Obscureness in 'Jude The Obscure'

Paper & subject code:- 104 - Literature of the Victorians & 22395 

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar 

Date of Submission:- 7th November, 2022

About Assignment:- In this assignment I try to define and find What and Which Obscurity is in this Novel, how Hardy reflects in his novel and what others think about 'Jude The Obscure'. 

ABSTRACT:-

'Jude The Obscure' it's not only the greatest novel by Hardy but it's a true reflection of society, problems in marriage, the mindset of the people, freedom of each person, rights of everyone, gender description and so on. And also at the same time it's a satire on all of this. It was written in the Victorian era but one can consider it a modern novel. Thomas Hardy can imagine beyond his age, and beyond the other writers of the Victorian era. Of course it's a fictional novel but one can find every character and every situation related to real life. Indeed it's a satire and true reflection in Dark side of society. Every character of this novel has some kind of Obscurity in them. Not only in the main characters but also in the minor characters influenced by Obscurity. Hardy finds every character from real life and real experience. And also try to describe how a person should be like mind thier on business. Freedom of the soul is very important, one can find the true meaning of it in this novel. 

KEYWORDS:-

Obscureness, Society, Satire, Lifestyle, Confusion, Jude, Freedom of Life

INTRODUCTION:-

'Jude the Obscure' novel by Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy. This novel includes bitter satire on Society, Education and People also. Courage to write this kind of satire very boldly and on the point one can see only in Thomas Hardy's work. Not only this novel but his other works too satire on various elements and features of human life. In this Assignment I try to describe Obscureness which I find in this Novel. Obscureness is a typical thought of mind which we all experience once in life. It is not a thing or feeling of embarrassment it's common in every human life. But in this Novel Hardy described the relationship between Characters and give every Character their own perfect point of view and liberty, can be a satire for those who are narrow minded people and can not accept anything about others. 

THOMAS HARDY:-

Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840 in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England and died on January 11, 1928 in Dorchester, Dorset. He was an excellent satirist, English Novelist and Poet. He was the eldest of four children and his father's name was also Thomas Hardy. His father was a stonemason and jobbing builder and his wife was Jemima. His early experience of rural life can be seen in his later writing.

His works includes 'A Changed Man', 'A Pair of Blue Eyes', 'Desperate Remedies', 'Far from the Madding Crowd', 'A Group of Noble Dames', 'Jude the Obscure', 'Life’s Little Ironies', 'Poems of the Past and the Present', 'Tess of the D’Urbervilles', 'The Dynasts', 'The Hand of Ethelberta', 'The Mayor of Casterbridge', 'The Poor Man and the Lady', 'The Return of the Native', 'The Well-Beloved', 'The Woodlanders', 'Under the Greenwood Tree', etc. (Millgate)

According to William J. Long, Hardy seems like Merideth. He belongs to the present more than the past. In style, Meredith is obscure and difficult, while Hardy is direct and simple, aiming at realism in all things. (Long)

If we look at this statement of William J. Long, Hardy is a person whose writing style is straightforward and satirical, While Merideth is Obscure Writer. But the work of Thomas Hardy named 'Jude The Obscure' seems to have very Obscure Characters. Life styles and thoughts make them confused to make their decisions. But what decisions the characters of the novel make are interesting to see. When we look at the freeness in characters, it seems like this novel was written in Modern Time. This kind of novel and the story with boldness it's not made for that era of Hardy. This element of Hardy makes him special in his era, in the modern era and will be in future too. He has no fear of society and failure but instead of showing positive sides of society he chooses to show the true, bitter and negative sides of the society. Differences between upper class - middle class, rich and poor he shows us on the point. 

'JUDE THE OBSCURE':-

Title:- Jude The Obscure

Genre:- Romance Novel

Published:- 1895

'Jude The Obscure' is the last fictional and greatest Novel of Thomas Hardy. This novel describes the Obscure Situations of the Characters. How they are confused in phrases of life and get lost as life progresses. Even though all the characters are closed and attached to each other with full love, none of the characters forces other characters to take the particular decision and give them freedom to live their life as they want. 

CHARACTERS:-

MAIN CHARACTERS:-

Jude Fawley:- Protagonist of the Novel 

Arabella Donn:- Wife of Jude

Sue 'Susanna' Bridehead:- Cousin and future Lover of Jude and Wife of Phillotson

Richard Phillotson:- Husband of Sue Bridehead and Schoolmaster of Jude Fawley 

Little Father Time (Little Jude):- Son of Jude and Arabella 

MINOR CHARACTERS:-

Aunt Drusilla (Drusilla Fawley):- A relative who raised Jude 

Mr. Donn:- Arabella's father

Cartlett:- Australian husband of Arabella Donn 

Anny and Sarah:- Friends of Sue Bridehead:-

Widow Edlin:- An old lady who took care of aunt Drusilla before she dies

Troutham:- A farmer who pays eleven-year-old Jude to scare the birds away from his fields

WHAT'S 'OBSCURE' IN THE TITLE?

According to Alexander Fischler in his article 'A Kinship with Job: Obscurity and Remembrance in Hardy's 'Jude The Obscure', Hardy tried several other titles before naming his last novel 'Jude The Obscure'. From the start he had conceived of it as a kind of allegory, the story of a young man on his quest for life, defeated by the overwhelming forces of dark. Not only aspects of story and characters derived from experience, but also themes which had obsessed him from the time of his earliest attempt at fiction, 'The Poor Man and the Lady' in 1868. (Fischler)

OBSCURENESS IN CHARACTERS:-

OBSCURE JUDE:- The character of Jude Fawley is quite obscure if one looks at only a glimpse of him. But if we dig deeper he never forces Arabella or Sue to marry him because of his affection or love. Even in the end of the novel when Sue wants to get back to Phillotson, after some tries he accepts her decision. In Early-stage of life he was clear that he wanted to be a professor but because of his class in society, the University didn't accept his admission. Even though he is good in French and other languages, the students who didn't understand a bit of French got admission because of their high class in society. He worked as a Stone - Mason and there he met Sue Bridehead, his cousin and fell in love with her. And from there the obscure life of Jude begins. His wife Arabella also ran and married a man in Australia. After sometime she returns, and that time Jude starts living with Sue, and Sue too married Phillotson. Now here again Arabella ran from Jude's life and when again she came she came with his child name Little Father Time. This child now starts to live with Sue and Jude and with his stepsister and stepbrother means Sue and Jude's children. Now till here the life of Jude is going Obscure but not that much hard. But after this when Jude and Sue lost their Job, the return to their town and here when they both came Jude showed the graduate students from the University which he was rejected and feels the difference between his now and what he wants to be. Now for some days, they have rented a home but the lady told them to empty the place because they belong to lower class and give permission to stay there for only a night. When they are talking about this stuff, little father time hears it and thinks that because there are so many his father and stepmother facing this problem. So, when Jude and Sue went to find a Job and came back they found their three children dead. This incident separates them and Sue decides to go back to Phillotson. Jude tries to console her but she doesn't want to stay with Jude now. After sometime Jude died because of Illness. In his whole life he suffers with Obscureness and gets nothing. 

OBSCURE SUE 'SUSANNA' BRIDEHEAD:- Susanna Bridehead, one can consider her as an Obscure Character. But she is the one who is straightforward in her life. She does what she wants to, she stays home which she wants to, she doesn't care about the society and surroundings. From the beginning of the novel she seems to have a very open mind. While every woman knows about jewelry, shopping and reputation Sue only cares about how she can enjoy her life. She smokes, she drinks with men, does weird things and leaves her life openly. In the era of Hardy one can't find women like this that's why he is called a modern thinker. Even in this modern time we can't accept a woman's picture with drinks. Her Obscure life too starts when she falls in love with Jude. She was married to Phillotson even though she is living with Jude. At some point she doesn't know what and how she feels and gets confused by fate. Death of her children forced her to believe in God. Normally people think that they can get rid of the Obscureness of life by praying and serving God.

In the article 'Reading Failure in(to) 'Jude The Obscure':- Hardy's Sue Bridehead and Lady Jeunes'd 'New Woman' essays, 1885-1900' by William A. David, Jr. Says in early lines, Thomas Hardy was it work on his last novel 'Jude The Obscure' went to of the best known novels of the 1890s Sarah Grand's 'The Heavenly Twins' and Gissing's 'The Odd Women', appeared in 1893. Hardy met Sarah Grand later in the spring and praised her his friend Florence Hanniker as a writer who had 'decided to offend her friends, and now that they are all alienated she can write boldly, and get listened to'. He wrote to Florence in January 1894 and reported that he had 'found out no more about Mrs. Clairmont', Sue Bridehead at the same time was still 'very nebulous'. Two years later, Hardy had found the author of Keynotes and his Novel. (Davis)

OBSCURE LITTLE FATHER TIME:- When we talk about the children, they are the most straightforward and playful human kind. But the children described in this novel by Hardy are the most mysterious children. He thinks like a mature person and most of the time he likes to keep quiet. He can see the dark view of the world around him. One can say he is an old man in a child's body. If we see his state of mind he seems obscure because of the way he thinks. He is more confused then Jude and Sue and even Hardy's other Characters from the all novels. This type of mindset one can see in Hardy's ownself. Through this child, there is a possibility that he might be describing his own childhood. What Hardy experiences in his real life can be reflected through Little Father Time. 

OBSCURE ARABELLA DONN:- She is a good example of a person who is obscure in his/her life but doesn't know about it. Arabella is one of them. She ran from her husband two or three times. She left her child Little Father Time on Jude and lived her life. She marries two or three times but doesn't know with whom she wants to live. And every time she came back to Jude and requested him to accept her. In a way she is a bit of a confused character in herself but everytime she does what she wants to do. 

RICHARD PHILLOTSON:- I found this Character The most straightforward fictional human being. He is a smart, supportive, intelligent, respectful and understanding person. Even though he is married to Sue, never forces her to live with him. He always supports Sue in her every decision. When Sue told him that she wants to live with Jude he agrees with it and never blames her or Jude. So, in my opinion he isn't Obscure, but of course there is always an exception in everything but the obscureness in Phillotson is minor.

BARRY N. SCHWARTZ ON 'JUDE THE OBSCURE':-

In the abstract of Article 'Jude The Obscure' in the Age of Anxiety, Barry N. Schwartz says, An analysis of 'Jude The Obscure' reveals Thomas Hardy's major intention as demonstrated throughout his career as a novelist. Hardy's wish was to portray 'an honest picture of human nature'. Further in the article Schwartz says, Hardy had a private and public self, and one can only suspect which self is revealed at a particular moment. Whatever was within him that gave him the dark cast to his mind, he kept it well hidden, expressing it only as a philosophical pessimism. (Schwartz)

WORKS CITED:-

  • Davis, William A. “Reading Failure in(to) ‘Jude the Obscure’: Hardy’s Sue Bridehead and Lady Jeune’s ‘New Woman’ Essays, 1885-1900.” Victorian Literature and Culture, vol. 26, no. 1, 1998, pp. 53–70. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25058403. 
  • Fischler, Alexander. “A Kinship with Job: Obscurity and Remembrance in Hardy’s ‘Jude the Obscure.’” The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, vol. 84, no. 4, 1985, pp. 515–33. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27709559.
  • Long, William J. “English Literature by William J. Long.” Project Gutenberg, 1 Jan. 2004, www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10609 
  • Millgate, Michael. "Thomas Hardy". Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Hardy.
  • Schwartz, Barry N. “Jude the Obscure in the Age of Anxiety.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 10, no. 4, 1970, pp. 793–804. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/449715. 


Words:- 2,474

Images:- 2

- No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)