SUGGESTION OF DSE1 2024 BANKURA UNIVERSITY ,BANKURA UNIVERSITY DSE1 SUGGESTION 2024 , British Literature: Post World War-II

 SUGGESTION OF DSE1 2024 BANKURA UNIVERSITY

BANKURA UNIVERSITY  DSE1 SUGGESTION 2024

British Literature: Post World War-II

AH-V/English-503/DSE-1

BY

 PKG SIR B.A ENG(HONS) M.A (1ST CLASS)

1. Answer any one of the following questions: 10×1=10

(a) How does John Fowles represent Sarah Woodruff in his novel, The French Lieutenant’s

Woman?

(b) What role do “fate” and “free will” play in Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman?****

c) Sarah Woodruff is the most interesting character in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Do

you think so? Discuss.******

d) Discuss the character of Charles Smithson in The French Lieutenant’s Woman.

e) Discuss The French Lieutenant’s Woman as a postmodern novel.(2023)

f) Comment on the role of the narrator in John Fowles’s novel, The French Lieutenant’s

Woman. (2023)

2. Answer any one of the following questions: 10×1=10

(a) Do you think that Philip Larkin’s “Church Going” is a study in ambivalences? Discuss.

(b) How does Ted Hughes project the violence in the hawk in his poem, “Hawk Roosting”?***

c) “Seamus Heaney’s ‘Digging’ is a poem of family heritage.” How far is this statement

justified?

d) How does Duffy’s language perform the speaker’s character in her poem ‘Stealing’?

e)Discuss Philip Larkin’s views on marriage as reflected in his poem, “Whitsun Weddings’.2023 

f) How does Ted Hughes subvert and challenge the established mythology in his poem

“Crow’s Fall”? Discuss.2023

 3. Answer any one of the following questions: 10×1=10

(a) Evaluate Hanif Kureishi’s My Beautiful Laundrette as an account of Pakistani immigrants in

London.

(b) How does Kureishi represent the protagonist, Omar Ali in his novel, My Beautiful Laundrette?

(c) Sketch the character of Hussein as represented in Hanif Kureishi’s My Beautiful

Launderette.

d) How do you think Kureishi explores the issues of race and class in the British society of his

time in My Beautiful Laundrette? Discuss. 

e)Discuss Hanif Kureishi’s My Beautiful Laundrette as a postcolonial text.2023

f)Comment on the relationship between Omar and Johnny in Hanif Kureishi’s My

Beautiful Laundrette.2023

 4. Answer any five of the following questions: 2×5=10

PART-A

 (a) What was Charles interested in? What was the major drawback in his character in pursing

that interest??*****

 (b) Why did Mrs. Poulteney employ Sarah Woodruff even after knowing the rumour about her?

 (c) Name any two long poems and their author quoted by Fowles in his novel.

(d) What are the other names by which Sarah is known to the people in Lyme Regis in The

French Lieutenant’s Woman??*****

 (e) What happens to the relationship between Charles and Ernestina in John Fowles’s novel??*****

 (f) Why does Larkin refer to marriage as “a happy funeral”?*****

 (g) “A serious house on serious earth it is.”—What does Larkin mean here?2023

 (h) Comment on the use of the word ‘roosting’ in the title of Ted Highes’s poem.

 (i) What does ‘digging’ symbolise in Seamus Heaney’s poem, “Digging”?2023

 (j) Why does Carol Anne Duffy compare her mobile to “an injured bird”?

PART -B

a) What is Lyme Regis? What is it famous for?2023

b) “Mrs. Poulteney had two obsessions.”—What were those?2023

c) What were ‘the two very simple reasons’ for Sarah to accept the job under Mrs.

Poulteney?***

d) What was Sarah’s ‘rare intelligence, according to the narrator??*****

e) What is meant by ‘Whitsun Weddings’?2023

f) What will happen to the churches and cathedrals in “Church Going”?

g) “There is no sophistry in my body.”— What does the hawk mean by this statement?2023

h) “Where white is black and black is white, I won.”— Briefly comment.

i) “Between my finger and my thumb/ The squat pen rests./ I’ll dig with it.”— What

will the poet ‘dig’?*****

j) What is the message of Carol Ann Duffy’s poem “Stealing”? *****

PART-C

a) What is Ernestina’s view of marriage?

b) What is referred to as “a happy funeral” by Larkin and why?

c) What does the narrator mean when he calls Charles a "born amateur"?

d) What does Hughes evoke by the “sun” in ‘Crow’s Fall’?*****

e) What were “the two very simple reasons” for Sarah to accept the job under Mrs Poulteney??*****

f) “. . . donate an Irish sixpence.” – What is the significance??*****

g) Name any two long poems and their poets quoted by Fowles in his novel.

h) What does the hawk "rehearse"? What is the significance of the word "rehearse"?

i) What was the “most unusual thing” stolen by the speaker in ‘Stealing’??*****

j) Briefly comment on the water imagery applied in the poem ‘Casualty’. 

PART-A

(a) What was Charles interested in? What was the major drawback in his character in pursuing that interest?

Charles was interested in paleontology. The major drawback in his character was his indecisiveness and tendency to be easily swayed by external influences, making it challenging for him to commit to decisions.

(b) Why did Mrs. Poulteney employ Sarah Woodruff even after knowing the rumor about her?

Mrs. Poulteney employed Sarah Woodruff because she believed that the disciplined and strict environment of her household would help cure Sarah of her supposed eccentricities and melancholy.

(c) Name any two long poems and their author quoted by Fowles in his novel.

Fowles quotes "The Excursion" by William Wordsworth and "The Deserted Village" by Oliver Goldsmith in his novel.

(d) What are the other names by which Sarah is known to the people in Lyme Regis in The French Lieutenant’s Woman?

Sarah Woodruff is also known as "Tragedy" and "The French Lieutenant's Woman" in Lyme Regis.

(e) What happens to the relationship between Charles and Ernestina in John Fowles’s novel?

The relationship between Charles and Ernestina becomes strained due to Charles's growing fascination with Sarah Woodruff, leading to their eventual separation.

(f) Why does Larkin refer to marriage as “a happy funeral”?

Larkin refers to marriage as a "happy funeral" to express the idea that while marriage may bring joy, it also marks the end of individual freedom and the beginning of responsibilities and societal expectations.

(g) “A serious house on serious earth it is.”—What does Larkin mean here?

Larkin's line suggests the solemnity and seriousness associated with a traditional, committed relationship or marriage.

(h) Comment on the use of the word ‘roosting’ in the title of Ted Hughes’s poem.

The use of the word "roosting" in Ted Hughes's poem title "The Hawk in the Rain" suggests a sense of perching or settling down, emphasizing the bird's predatory and dominating nature.

(i) What does ‘digging’ symbolize in Seamus Heaney’s poem, “Digging”?

In Heaney's poem "Digging," digging symbolizes both the physical act of manual labor and the metaphorical act of delving into one's heritage and tradition. It highlights the poet's choice of writing over traditional farming.

(j) Why does Carol Anne Duffy compare her mobile to “an injured bird”?

In Carol Ann Duffy's poem "War Photographer," comparing the mobile to an injured bird conveys a sense of vulnerability and fragility, drawing parallels between the photographer's experiences and the wounded bird.

PART-B

(a) What is Lyme Regis? What is it famous for?

Lyme Regis is a coastal town in Dorset, England, famous for its picturesque landscapes, historic Cobb harbor, and as a location for fossil hunting, particularly in the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

(b) “Mrs. Poulteney had two obsessions.”—What were those?

Mrs. Poulteney's two obsessions were religious piety and maintaining a strict and disciplined household.

(c) What were ‘the two very simple reasons’ for Sarah to accept the job under Mrs. Poulteney?

The two very simple reasons for Sarah to accept the job under Mrs. Poulteney were the need for financial support and a desire to escape the judgmental gaze of the community in Lyme Regis.

(d) What was Sarah’s ‘rare intelligence, according to the narrator?

According to the narrator, Sarah possessed a rare intelligence that set her apart from others. Her intelligence was reflected in her deep and unconventional thinking, making her intriguing to those around her.

(e) What is meant by ‘Whitsun Weddings’?

"Whitsun Weddings" refers to weddings that take place during the Whitsun, or Pentecost, holiday, which is a Christian festival celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter.

(f) What will happen to the churches and cathedrals in “Church Going”?

In Philip Larkin's poem "Church Going," the churches and cathedrals are described as enduring symbols that will likely continue to exist even as the poet contemplates the secularization of society and the potential decline of religious significance.

(g) “There is no sophistry in my body.”— What does the hawk mean by this statement?

In Ted Hughes's poem "Hawk Roosting," the hawk's statement suggests a direct and instinctual connection between its body and actions. The hawk sees itself as the embodiment of pure, uncompromising nature without the need for deceit or clever arguments.

(h) “Where white is black and black is white, I won.”— Briefly comment.

This line from Ted Hughes's poem "Crow's Fall" reflects the idea of overcoming dualities and contradictions. The speaker, often associated with the crow, claims victory in a realm where opposites lose their conventional meanings.

(i) “Between my finger and my thumb/ The squat pen rests./ I’ll dig with it.”— What will the poet ‘dig’?

In Seamus Heaney's poem "Digging," the poet uses the metaphor of digging to describe his writing process. He intends to dig into his cultural and familial roots with the pen, exploring and preserving his heritage through poetry.

(j) What is the message of Carol Ann Duffy’s poem “Stealing”?

In Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Stealing," the speaker reflects on the sense of alienation and the desire for attention and recognition. The act of stealing becomes a way for the speaker to assert their individuality and stand out, even though it is a destructive and isolating behavior. The poem explores themes of loneliness and the search for identity.

PART-C

(a) What is Ernestina’s view of marriage?

Ans: Ernestina holds a conventional and traditional view of marriage. She sees it as a social institution that involves commitment, stability, and adherence to societal norms. However, her perspective is in contrast to Charles's evolving views on marriage as the story progresses.

(b) What is referred to as “a happy funeral” by Larkin and why?

Ans:  Philip Larkin shows marriage as "a happy funeral" in his poem "Talking in Bed." The phrase conveys the paradoxical nature of marriage, where joy and happiness coexist with the inevitable end of personal freedom and individuality that comes with commitment.

(c) What does the narrator mean when he calls Charles a "born amateur"?

When the narrator describes Charles as a "born amateur" in John Fowles's "The French Lieutenant's Woman," it implies that Charles lacks a clear sense of purpose or direction in his pursuits. He tends to dabble in various interests without a deep commitment or expertise, making him somewhat indecisive and easily swayed.

(d) What does Hughes evoke by the “sun” in ‘Crow’s Fall’?

In Ted Hughes's poem "Crow's Fall," the "sun" is evoked as a symbol of life, vitality, and a powerful force in the natural world. It represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, as well as the enduring power of the natural forces that govern existence.

(e) What were “the two very simple reasons” for Sarah to accept the job under Mrs. Poulteney?

The two very simple reasons for Sarah to accept the job under Mrs. Poulteney were the need for financial support and a desire to escape the judgmental gaze of the community in Lyme Regis. The job provided a means of survival and a chance to distance herself from the rumors and scrutiny surrounding her.

(f) “. . . donate an Irish sixpence.” – What is the significance?

This line is from Seamus Heaney's poem "Digging." The mention of "donate an Irish sixpence" reflects the speaker's recognition of the cultural and familial heritage associated with his Irish roots. It underscores the significance of tradition and the value placed on the poet's cultural identity.

(g) Name any two long poems and their poets quoted by Fowles in his novel.

In "The French Lieutenant's Woman," John Fowles quotes "The Excursion" by William Wordsworth and "The Deserted Village" by Oliver Goldsmith.

(h) What does the hawk "rehearse"? What is the significance of the word "rehearse"?

In Ted Hughes's poem "Hawk Roosting," the hawk rehearses its power and dominance. The word "rehearse" emphasizes the deliberate and calculated nature of the hawk's actions, suggesting a readiness and preparation for its role as a predator in the natural order.

(i) What was the “most unusual thing” stolen by the speaker in ‘Stealing’?

In Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Stealing," the speaker mentions stealing a snowman, which is considered the "most unusual thing." This act serves as a metaphor for the speaker's desire for attention and recognition through unconventional and disruptive behavior.

(j) Briefly comment on the water imagery applied in the poem ‘Casualty’.

"Casualty" is a poem by Seamus Heaney that uses water imagery to convey both the beauty and danger associated with the river. The river symbolizes the complex and sometimes perilous nature of human relationships, and the water imagery reflects the ebb and flow of life, emotions, and the passage of time.