English Literature

Mending Wall by Robert Frost  Summary & Analysis 1:   Introduction: “Mending Wall” is a poem by the American poet Robert Frost. It was published in 1914, as the first entry in Frost’s second book of poems, North of Boston. The poem is set in rural New England, where Frost lived at the time—and takes its impetus from the rhythms and rituals of life there. The poem describes how the speaker and a neighbor meet to rebuild a stone wall between their properties—a ritual repeated every spring. This ritual raises some important questions over the course of the poem, as the speaker considers the purpose of borders between people and the value of human work. Summary: There is some force that doesn’t like walls. It causes the frozen ground to swell underneath a wall, and the wall's upper stones then topple off in the warmth of the sun. This creates gaps in the wall so big that two people could walk through them side-by-side. And then there are the hunters who take apart the wall—t...

Q. Critically appreciate the poem Ulysses?  *Ulysses* Ulysses is unhappy with his life as king of Ithaca. He feels trapped on the rocky island. He thinks his people are stupid and uncivilized. They only care about wealth, sleep, and food. Ulysses wants to travel the world again. He wants to explore new places and meet new people. He wants to feel alive. He remembers his past adventures with joy. He enjoyed every moment, even the hard times. Ulysses is famous for his travels. He has seen many places and learned about different cultures. He was honored and respected wherever he went. He also enjoyed fighting in battles alongside his fellow soldiers. Ulysses feels that his experiences have changed him. He has learned and grown from every encounter. But he is not satisfied. He wants to see more of the world. He wants to explore new regions and discover new things. Ulysses thinks it is boring to stay in one place. He compares himself to a sword that is not being used. He fee...

Unit 4  Figures of Speech  1. Simile English Explanation: A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as." It helps create vivid imagery and makes descriptions more relatable. Similes are often used in poetry and literature to express emotions or clarify meanings. For example, "Her eyes were as bright as stars" compares the brightness of her eyes to stars, making the description more lively. Similes make writing more colorful and easier to understand. Example: He is as brave as a lion. Marathi Explanation: सिमिली ही अलंकारिक भाषाशैली आहे जी दोन वेगळ्या गोष्टींची तुलना "सारखी" किंवा "प्रमाणे" या शब्दांचा वापर करून करते. ही शैली वर्णन अधिक प्रभावी बनवते आणि भावना स्पष्ट करण्यास मदत करते. उदाहरणार्थ, "तिचे डोळे तारकांसारखे चमकत होते" हे वर्णन तिच्या डोळ्यांचे तेज तारकांच्या तेजाशी तुलना करून अधिक सुंदर बनवते. सिमिली लेखन अधिक रंगीबेरंगी आणि सोपे बनवते. उदाहरण: तो सिंह...

THE ROMANTIC REVIVAL The Revolt against the Classical School In the 18th century, English poetry followed fixed rules. Poets like Dryden and Pope made this style famous. They showed how to write poetry in a perfect way. But the poets who came after them only copied their style without using new ideas. This made poetry boring and lifeless. Pope himself joked that such poetry could make readers fall asleep. The need for a new style of poetry became clear. James Thomson started this change with his poem The Seasons in 1726. Later, in The Castle of Indolence, he used Spenser's old poetic style after nearly 200 years. Collins and Gray continued this new movement in their poems. Goldsmith and Burns wrote about the simple life of common people with humour and reality. Poets like Cowper, Crabbe, and Blake showed that the old style was dying and a new style was about to be born. The final break happened in 1798 when Wordsworth and Coleridge published Lyrical Ballads. This book became a turn...

2. The Classical Movement The time when this movement became popular is known by three names: The Classical Age: Because it followed high standards. The Augustan Age: It was like the time of Emperor Augustus, whose rule brought great literature. Dr. Johnson said Dryden improved English literature just like Augustus improved Rome. The Age of Reason and Good Sense: It focused on reason and clear thinking, based on Boileau's ideas in 1673. Factors Responsible for the Changed Outlook Around the middle of the 17th century, English poetry changed. The Metaphysical style had become confusing and less popular. Ben Jonson had warned about this and suggested a return to classical rules. Jonson preferred order and discipline over wild imagination. His ideas were ignored at first but became popular later. King Charles II stayed in France before becoming king. He brought French literary tastes to England, which were based on classical literature. This new style influenced all types of writing. ...

THE METAPHYSICAL SCHOOL OF POETS The Term Metaphysical The word "Metaphysical" was first used by Dr. Johnson, who took it from Dryden. Dryden had said about Donne, "He affects the metaphysics." It means these poets tried to express deep thoughts beyond the ordinary meaning of subjects. Originally, the word was used in a negative way, implying that these poets were unnatural and strange in their style. Dr. Johnson gave a famous description of the Metaphysical poets, though he was mostly critical of them. The Metaphysical Poets John Donne started the Metaphysical style in the early 17th century. Dryden criticized Donne for using philosophy in love poems. Dr. Johnson admired Donne but found his work difficult to understand. Donne influenced many poets like George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, Henry Vaughan, Abraham Cowley, Sir John Suckling, and John Cleveland. Among them, Dr. Johnson considered Cowley the best. However, Dryden and Pope thought Cowley was not a good writer...