Literature Questions and Answers
Literature
Overview and Significance of Mahesh Dattani's Play Tara
Tara by Mahesh Dattani explores themes of gender discrimination and societal expectations through the story of conjoined twins, Tara and Chandan. The play highlights the preference for male children...
Literature
Analyze The Marriage of Anansewa as a comedy.
The Marriage of Anansewa can be seen as a comedy because the play features disorder, absurdity, a case of mistaken identity, and satire.
Literature
What is the difference between theme and subject?
The subject of a literary work is what it is about, such as the plot or main events, whereas the theme is the underlying message or moral the author conveys. For example, in Great Expectations, the...
Literature
What is the significance of the title "The Empty Chest" in Indira Goswami's short story?
In Indira Goswami's "The Empty Chest," the title signifies both a literal and metaphorical emptiness. The chest is a casket, once housing the body of Saru Bopa, a man Toradoi loved. On a figurative...
Literature
What is the difference between a comedy and a tragedy?
The main difference between a comedy and a tragedy lies in their perspectives and outcomes. Tragedies focus on human suffering, isolation, and inevitable downfall, often ending in death and arousing...
Literature
Defining Characteristics of American Literature
American literature is characterized by themes of individualism, freedom, and the exploration of the American Dream. It often reflects the cultural diversity and historical context of the United...
Literature
What is the summary of Hayavadana by Girish Karnad?
Hayavadana by Girish Karnad tells the story of the title character, who is half human and half horse but becomes completely a horse. It also relates the tale of the love triangle of Devadatta,...
Literature
What is the difference between comedy of manner and sentimental comedy?
The difference between comedy of manners and sentimental comedy lies primarily in their thematic focus and emotional impact. Comedy of manners, often satirical, aims to amuse by critiquing the...
Literature
The difference between a short story and a poem
The primary difference between a short story and a poem lies in their structure and purpose. A short story is a brief narrative with a clear plot, characters, and a beginning, middle, and end. In...
Literature
Summarize "Do Something, Brother" by M. Gopalakrishna Adiga.
"Do Something, Brother" by M. Gopalakrishna Adiga satirizes mankind's compulsive need to prove themselves through destructive actions, without considering the consequences. Adiga criticizes...
Literature
Analyze the main theme of the novel Rajmohan's Wife by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay.
Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay's Rajmohan's Wife revolves around two major themes: the role of women in nineteenth-century India as they struggle against oppression, and the symbolic representation of...
Literature
Who is addressed as "love" in Rabindranath Tagore's “Gitanjali XVIII”? Comment on the poet's yearning.
In Rabindranath Tagore's “Gitanjali XVIII,” "love" refers to God. The poet yearns for God's presence, feeling abandoned and isolated, especially when alone. Despite the darkness and his intense...
Literature
What is the theme of Premchand's "Panch Parmeshwar or Holy Panchayat?"
The theme of Premchand's "Panch Parmeshwar or Holy Panchayat" revolves around justice, responsibility, and friendship. The main characters, Jumman Shaikh and Algu Chowdhry, experience a test of their...
Literature
Characteristics and definition of a romantic hero
A romantic hero is characterized by their rejection of established norms and conventions, a deep introspection, and a focus on individualism. They often possess a strong sense of personal honor, a...
Literature
What are the main characteristics of 18th-century English novels?
The main characteristics of the eighteenth-century English novel include realistic characters of different social classes, real-world settings, plots that center on real-life conflicts,...
Literature
What are the features of pre-Romantic poetry in the works of two transitional English poets?
Pre-Romantic poetry, exemplified by poets such as Thomas Gray and William Cowper, features a focus on themes like death, the self, and nature, anticipating the Romantic era's emphasis on...
Literature
Theme Of Little Red Riding Hood
There are several themes in the tale "Little Red Riding Hood," such as the importance of treating strangers with caution. We cannot know who has good intentions and who has bad, and so we must...
Literature
What does the proverb "You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep" mean?
The proverb "You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep" communicates that it's futile to try to force someone to acknowledge or engage with something they are consciously choosing to...
Literature
Comparing Victorian and Modernist Literature: Key Differences and Similarities of Issues
Victorian literature often focused on social issues, morality, and industrialization, while Modernist literature explored themes of alienation, fragmentation, and disillusionment. Both periods,...
Literature
What are the differences between traditional and modern literature?
Some general differences between traditional and modern literature are that the former is more likely to adhere to a set form and genre, to include archetypal characters, to invite the reader to...
Literature
What is an analysis of Gangu and Gomti in "The Child" by Munshi Premchand?
In Munshi Premchand's "The Child", Gangu is portrayed as a virtuous Brahmin servant who marries Gomti, a woman with two failed marriages. When Gomti disappears and returns with a child not Gangu's,...
Literature
Main ideas in Homi K. Bhabha's "Nation and Narration."
Homi K. Bhabha's "Nation and Narration" explores the concept of nationhood as a narrative construct, emphasizing that nations are not homogeneous but are formed through a process of cultural...
Literature
How is salt used as a metaphor for exploitation in Mahasweta Devi's "SALT"?
In Mahasweta Devi's "SALT", salt is employed as a metaphor for exploitation, particularly in the context of British colonial oppression. The British colonizers forbade Indians from producing their...
Literature
The differences between Russian Formalism and New Criticism
Russian Formalism focuses on the formal aspects of literature, such as structure, language, and technique, emphasizing the literariness of texts. New Criticism, while also concentrating on close...
Literature
What are the themes and issues in Girish Karnad's Tughlaq?
The themes and issues in Girish Karnad's Tughlaq include the gap between political aspirations and reality. Karnad portrays Tughlaq as a brilliant yet ultimately failed ruler whose idealistic...
Literature
Old Love Summary
The short story "Old Love" by Jeffrey Archer is called "a love story that transcends time" because it features universal themes of passionate rivalry turning into deep affection, which are relatable...
Literature
What is the theme of Temsüla Ao's "Jungle Major"?
Temsüla Ao’s short story “The Jungle Major” explores the theme of gender. Ao depicts the gender norms in Nagaland and uses Khatila and Punaba’s resistance to show how they can be quite restrictive.
Literature
What is the difference between a narrator and a focalizer?
The difference between a "narrator" and a "focalizer" lies in who tells the story versus the perspective from which it's told. The narrator is the one recounting the story, like Holden Caulfield in...
Literature
What is the theme of "Dawn at Puri" by Jayanta Mahapatra?
The theme of "Dawn at Puri" by Jayanta Mahapatra is traditions, particularly those related to death. The poem questions the purpose of these deeply rooted traditions, using ironic language to...
Literature
What theatrical techniques does Mahesh Dattani use in his play Tara?
Mahesh Dattani uses the division of stage space in Tara to differentiate between physical reality and characters' mental states. The upper level represents Chandan's London apartment, while the lower...
Literature
The significance and contribution of the University Wits to English literature
The University Wits significantly contributed to English literature by bridging the gap between medieval morality plays and the sophisticated drama of the Renaissance. This group of playwrights and...
Literature
What is the difference between British and American Romanticism?
The difference between British and American Romanticism stems from the distinct histories and cultural contexts of the two nations. British Romanticists, such as Blake and Wordsworth, sought a fresh...
Literature
What's a catchy title for a persuasive essay on homework causing stress?
A catchy title for a persuasive essay on homework causing stress could be "Anxious Over Assignments," "Allergic to Assignments," "Homework Hang-Ups," "The Horrors of Homework," or "Why Homework...
Literature
How is a text analyzed using feminist theory?
To analyze a text using feminist theory, examine the portrayal of gender roles and the power dynamics between men and women. Consider how characters conform to or challenge stereotypes, the...
Literature
Comparison of Structuralism and Deconstructionism
Structuralism and Deconstructionism are both critical approaches to literature. Structuralism focuses on understanding the underlying structures of a text, such as language and narrative conventions,...
Literature
What are the main arguments in "Keats’ Sylvan Historian: History Without Footnotes"?
In "Keats’s Sylvan Historian: History Without Footnotes," Cleanth Brooks argues that the greatness of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" lies in its contradictions and paradoxes, rather than a single...
Literature
What are the folk elements in Vijaydan Detha's short story "Compromise"?
The folk elements in Vijaydan Detha's "Compromise" can be identified through its poetic language, cultural contexts, and universal metaphors. The story uses poetic descriptions, such as those of the...
Literature
What is the theme of "Identity" by Julio Noboa Polanco?
The overriding theme of “Identity” by Julio Noboa Polanco is the importance of individuality. The speaker is all too aware that he's different from other people, but he's unapologetic about it. He is...
Literature
What is the theme of The Thousand Faces of Night by Githa Hariharan?
The theme of The Thousand Faces of Night is the struggle of Indian women between personal aspirations and societal expectations. The novel explores this conflict through the lives of Devi, Sita, and...
Literature
What are literary conventions? Can you provide examples?
Literary conventions are customary features that define specific literary genres, such as the chorus in Greek tragedy or a moral in a fable. These conventions, which include cliches, devices, or...
Literature
Analyze the form and content of the poem "Bread" by Kamau Braithwaite.
In "Bread" by Braithwaite the increasingly broken and disorienting form of the poem reflects the broken dreams of black people. Bread, a metaphor for dreams of life and abundance, begins to bake and...
Literature
What is the difference between drama and prose?
Prose and drama differ in form and function. Prose, which includes both fiction and nonfiction, is written or spoken language without a metrical structure, often used to express individual thoughts...
Literature
Who is the daughter of my mom and dad, but not my sister?
The daughter of your mom and dad, but not your sister, is you, the first-person narrator. This riddle plays on assumptions about narrative perspectives, similar to classic riddles that challenge...
Literature
Summarize the story "By Any Other Name" by Santha Rama Rau.
In summary, "By Any Other Name" by Santha Rama Rau is the story of the brief period in which two Indian children attend an Anglo-Indian day school. Our protagonist, Santha, finds the experience both...
Literature
What are the main themes of Shattered by Eric Walters?
The main themes of Shattered by Eric Walters include human privilege and homelessness. Ian, a privileged teenager, learns about the hardships of the homeless while working at a soup kitchen. His...
Literature
Why Do We Need To Study Literature
Studying literature enables one to better understand social situations, history, one's own emotions, and various cultural practices. It also makes one more empathetic.
Literature
In alterNatives by Drew Hayden Taylor, how do symbols and motifs develop the play's themes?
In alterNatives by Drew Hayden Taylor, symbols and motifs like food, drink, and books develop the themes of stereotypes, truth, and relationships. The moose roast represents cultural...
Literature
What are the similarities and differences between formalism, structuralism, and new criticism?
Formalists studied the nature of literary language, which they saw as different from everyday language. New Critics believed that literary analysis should be confined to the text itself and that...
Literature
What is the theme of the novel Coolie by Mulk Raj Anand?
The novel Coolie by Mulk Raj Anand primarily explores the exploitation and suffering of the socio-economically disadvantaged at the hands of the privileged in early 20th century India. It critiques...
Literature
How is humor used in Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's "Birthday"?
In Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's "Birthday," humor is used to challenge conventional ideas about birthdays. The protagonist's day, despite being his birthday, is no different from any other as he still...