English Literature

THE SATIRE Wide Range Satire can be in poetry or prose. It has no fixed form. A verse satire can be an ode, elegy, or . A novel can be more satire than a story. Some stories remain famous even when people forget their satire. Don Quixote and Gulliver’s Travels are good examples. Some plays mock the foolishness of their time. Even when the world changes, these plays stay funny. People enjoy them for their humor, even if they do not know what they originally mocked. Origin and Meaning Satire comes from ancient times. Greek playwright Aristophanes was a master of it. In Latin literature, Horace, Persius, and Juvenal were famous satirists. Writers all over Europe copied them during the Renaissance. The word "satire" means "unpolished verse." It makes fun of foolishness or bad behavior. It is light and humorous but can also be sharp. Dryden said, "The true purpose of satire is to correct vices." Some famous English verse satires are: Dryden’s Absalom and Achito...

6. THE EPIC The Epic Defined An Epic is a long poem that tells the story of great heroes. These heroes perform brave and noble deeds. The most famous examples in European literature are Iliad and Odyssey by Homer. These stories were passed down by word of mouth before Homer wrote them. Some parts of the Iliad are based on real history, like the Siege of Troy. However, the events and heroes are often exaggerated. The gods play an important role in every classical Epic. The language of an Epic is grand and noble. It does not sound like everyday speech. Conventions of the Epic (a) The theme of the Epic is stated in the first few lines, accompanied by a prayer to the Muse. Every Epic begins by stating its theme in the first few lines. This is called the "proposition." After this, the poet prays to a Muse for inspiration. This prayer is called the "invocation." Example from Milton’s Paradise Lost: Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, wh...

5. THE IDYLL Distinguishing Features An Idyll is a short poem.  The poem  paints a vivid picture, often of rural life. It does not have a fixed form; poets can choose any structure they like. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "a little picture," highlighting its focus on brief and descriptive imagery. The goal is to create clear visual scenes with words, sometimes illustrating abstract ideas through concrete images. For example, Milton's L'Allegro portrays a joyful life through a series of vivid scenes, while Wordsworth's "Lines Written in March" captures the essence of spring in England. Shakespeare's As You Like It includes pastoral scenes that depict country life. Tennyson and Browning also wrote works titled English Idylls and Dramatic Idylls, respectively. Style and Treatment An Idyll goes beyond simple description; it reflects the poet's personal view and imagination. It's not just about stating facts but adding poetic color to m...

The Elegy What is an Elegy? A long time ago in ancient Greece, people wrote poems called Elegies. These poems could be about many things, like love, war, politics, or even sad songs about someone who had died. Back then, what made it an Elegy wasn’t the topic but the way the poem was written. The Greeks used a special pattern called the elegiac measure. This pattern had one long line followed by a shorter one. If a poem followed this pattern, it was called an Elegy, no matter what it was about. What Does Elegy Mean Today? Today, we use the word Elegy differently. It is not about how the poem is written but about what it talks about. An Elegy is now a poem that talks about sad or serious things, like losing someone we love or feeling lonely. Most Elegies are about mourning someone who has passed away. Unlike other types of poems, an Elegy isn’t as quick or natural in its feelings. It is carefully written and often uses fancy words and images. However, a good Elegy always feels real and ...

The Sonnet  The Origin of the Sonnet W We don't know exactly where the Sonnet came from. Some people think it might have come from Sicily or Provence. But we do know that it was first seen in Italy in the 13th century. A great Italian poet named Petrarch used this form of poetry. Even before Petrarch, another great poet named Dante used this form. The Sonnet was originally a short poem that was recited with music. The word "sonnet" comes from the Italian word "sonetto," which means "a little sound." The Italian Sonnet The Italian Sonnet is also called the Petrarchan Sonnet. It's a short poem with 14 lines that expresses one thought or feeling. It's divided into two parts: the octave, which has eight lines, and the sestet, which has six lines. The octave has a special rhyme scheme. The sestet has a different rhyme scheme. Sometimes the octave is divided into two quatrains, or four-line stanzas. Sometimes the sestet is divided into two tercets, o...

The Ode  The Ode is a type of poem. Like the Lyric, it also came from ancient Greece. But the  ode is usually written in rhyme and is longer than a Lyric. From ancient times, people have sung odes  to celebrate important public events. Some of the important features or characteristic of ode are :  The Odes always have a serious subject. Its tone is always dignified. The poet chooses a serious subject and presents it in a serious way. The poet must show their best skills when writing an Ode. For example, Wordsworth's "Ode on the Intimations of Immortality" is very different from his other poems about simple country scenes. An Ode is longer than a Lyric because it develops the emotion more. An Ode does not try to seem spontaneous like a Lyric. An Ode's expression is more elaborate and impressive. Odes are often addressed directly to the person or thing they are about.The opening lines of an Ode sometimes contain an appeal, which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. ...

THE LYRIC Origin Greece is an ancient European country. The Lyrics came from Greece. In the ancient times, Greek people used to sing two types of songs- melic or lyric song. The lyric song was sung by a single person and the music was provided by a lyre. Choric song, however, was sung together with beautiful music and dance. The first song gave rise to the Lyric. The lyric still has two important features :  a) it shows a single emotion, and b) it is a musical composition. The Music in the Lyric In ancient times, people used a harp or lyre to produce music  for a lyric song . Sometimes though words were not perfect but the voice of the singer made the lyric sound truly musical  by matching the instrument's sound. What the song was about did not  matter much, as long as the singer's voice made it sound emotional. Later on, people realized that words themselves could produce music. The Elizabethans were experts at making words sound beautiful and musical. Their poems a...

* Brief Biodata of  Kamala Das* Kamala Das (1934-2009) was a renowned Indian poet, novelist, and short story writer. She was born in Kerala, India, and wrote in English and Malayalam. Das was known for her bold and candid portrayal of female desire, love, and relationships. She is considered one of the most important Indian poets of the 20th century. *Explanation of the Poem "Words"* Words can be unclear and hard to understand. They can also be hurtful and damaging. The speaker notes that words can be used to inflict pain and suffering.On the other hand, words can also be comforting and uplifting. They can be used to express love, kindness, and compassion.The speaker is both fascinated and frustrated by words. They know that words are important for communication, but they are  not perfect.The poem also explores the idea that words can be limiting. They cannot always express the full range of human emotions.Despite these limitations, the speaker recognizes the importance of wo...

Mending Wall By Robert Frost Robert Frost (born March 26, 1874, San Francisco, California, U.S.—died January 29, 1963, Boston, Massachusetts) was an American poet who was much admired for his depictions of the rural life of New England, his command of American colloquial speech, and his realistic verse portraying ordinary people in everyday situations. He was the most highly honored American poet of the 20th century, receiving the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times. Several of his poems yielded lines that became indelible in the American consciousness, among them “Good fences make good neighbors” (from “Mending Wall”), “And miles to go before I sleep” (from “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”), and “I took the one less traveled by” (from “The Road Not Taken”). Robert Frost (जन्म २६ मार्च १८७४, सॅन फ्रान्सिस्को, कॅलिफोर्निया, यूएस—मृत्यू २९ जानेवारी १९६३, बॉस्टन, Massachusetts) एक अमेरिकन कवी होते जे न्यू इंग्लंडच्या ग्रामीण जीवनाच्या त्यांच्या चित्रणांसाठी, अमेरिकन बोलचाल भाषेवरील...

About The Poet  Lord Alfred Tennyson was a British poet laureate born on August 6, 1809, in Somersby, Lincolnshire, England. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he developed his love of poetry. Tennyson succeeded William Wordsworth as poet laureate in 1850, a position he held until his death. His notable works include "In Memoriam A.H.H.", "The Charge of the Light Brigade", and "The Lady of Shalott". Tennyson married Emily Sellwood in 1850 and had two sons. He died on October 6, 1892, at the age of 83, and was buried in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner. लॉर्ड अल्फ्रेड टेनिसन हे एक ब्रिटिश कवी आणि राजकवी होते. त्यांचा जन्म ६ ऑगस्ट १८०९ रोजी इंग्लंडमधील लिंकनशायरमधील सोमरस्बी येथे झाला. त्यांनी केंब्रिजमधील ट्रिनिटी कॉलेजमध्ये शिक्षण घेतले, जिथे त्यांना कवितेची आवड निर्माण झाली. टेनिसन १८५० मध्ये विल्यम वर्डस्वर्थनंतर राजकवी बनले आणि त्यांच्या मृत्यूपर्यंत ते या पदावर होते. त्यांची उल्लेखनीय कामे "इन मेमोरियम ए.एच.एच....