B.A 2ND SEMESTER ENGLISH MAJOR IMPORTANT BROAD QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2025

B.A 2ND SEMESTER ENGLISH MAJOR IMPORTANT BROAD QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2025

1. Sketch the Character of Karna

Karna, one of the most tragic and heroic figures in the Mahabharata, is a character of deep complexity, defined by contradictions and unwavering loyalty. He is born to Kunti and the sun god Surya before her marriage and is thus abandoned at birth. Raised by a charioteer, Karna grows up facing social rejection despite his noble birth.

Noble Birth and Humble Upbringing:

Karna’s dual identity is central to his character. Though he is of royal blood, he is brought up by Adhiratha, a charioteer. This creates a lifelong identity crisis and a deep yearning for respect and recognition. His exclusion from royal privileges causes bitterness and resentment, but also fuels his ambition.

Valour and Martial Skills:

Karna is one of the greatest warriors in the epic. He is brave, skilled, and unmatched in archery. Despite being denied the chance to learn from Dronacharya due to his caste, Karna seeks out Parashurama as a teacher. However, even this relationship ends in tragedy when Parashurama curses him, thinking he is a Brahmin.

Loyalty to Duryodhana:

Karna’s loyalty to Duryodhana is absolute. Duryodhana, recognizing Karna’s talent, makes him the king of Anga. This act earns Karna’s undying gratitude. Even when he learns of his true identity as Kunti’s son and thus a Pandava, Karna refuses to betray Duryodhana. His sense of duty and gratitude takes precedence over family ties.

Tragic Heroism:

Karna’s life is a series of moral dilemmas and unfortunate circumstances. He is cursed multiple times, faces constant discrimination, and ultimately dies in the Kurukshetra war due to a combination of fate and moral ambiguities. He dies knowing the truth of his birth but chooses to remain loyal to his friend.

Moral Complexity:

Though often siding with the Kauravas, Karna remains a figure of integrity and honor. He is generous to a fault and never refuses a request for alms. His adherence to dharma (duty) and loyalty make him admirable, yet his association with adharma (injustice) through Duryodhana complicates his morality.

Conclusion:

Karna embodies the tragic hero of Indian epic tradition—valiant, noble, yet doomed by fate and circumstances. His life is a poignant tale of unfulfilled potential, moral struggle, and the painful cost of loyalty and pride.

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2. Comment on the Character of Dushyanta

King Dushyanta, the male protagonist of Kalidasa’s Abhijnanasakuntalam, is portrayed as a noble, just, and sensitive ruler whose character undergoes significant development through the play. He is both a royal figure and a lover, embodying the ideals and flaws of a classical Sanskrit hero.

Royal Dignity and Virtue:

As a king, Dushyanta is shown to be just, brave, and dutiful. He upholds dharma in his kingdom and is respected by his subjects. His hunting expedition in the forest in the opening scene establishes his valor and royal responsibilities.

Romantic and Affectionate Lover:

Dushyanta falls deeply in love with Shakuntala during his stay at the hermitage. Their union through Gandharva marriage shows his genuine love and emotional intensity. He is captivated by her beauty, innocence, and virtue, revealing his romantic nature.

Failure of Memory and Responsibility:

After returning to his court, Dushyanta forgets Shakuntala due to the curse of Sage Durvasa. Though the curse absolves him of direct guilt, his inability to recognize her when she arrives pregnant at his court reflects a lapse in personal responsibility and sensitivity. His rejection causes great suffering to Shakuntala, showing a moral failing, albeit under supernatural influence.

Redemption and Recognition:

Eventually, the lost ring restores his memory, and Dushyanta is filled with remorse. His subsequent reunion with Shakuntala and his son Bharata in the celestial realm marks his redemption. He accepts his wife and child with joy and humility.

Ideal King and Father:

In the end, Dushyanta is not only a restored lover but also a devoted father to Bharata, who is destined to become a great emperor. His acceptance of both personal and royal duties restores his image as an ideal ruler.

Conclusion:

Dushyanta’s character reflects the complexities of love, duty, and human fallibility. While he errs due to external forces, his eventual repentance and transformation reaffirm the ideals of righteousness and the power of love.

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3. How is the Dicing Scene Central to the Plot of the Mahabharata?

The dicing scene, also known as the Sabha Parva, is one of the most pivotal and emotionally charged episodes in the Mahabharata. It not only sets the stage for the great war of Kurukshetra but also highlights themes of dharma, honor, deceit, and fate.

Turning Point in the Narrative:

Until the dicing scene, the relationship between the Kauravas and Pandavas, though tense, is not openly hostile. The deceitful dice game changes everything. It marks the moment when rivalry turns into enmity, and humiliation replaces mere competition.

Symbol of Deception and Injustice:

The game is manipulated by Shakuni, Duryodhana’s uncle, who plays on his behalf. Yudhishthira, bound by his adherence to dharma and the Kshatriya code, continues to wager and lose everything—his kingdom, his brothers, himself, and finally Draupadi. The entire episode reveals how dharma can be twisted and how honor can be used against the virtuous.

Draupadi’s Humiliation:

Perhaps the most shocking part of the scene is the attempted disrobing of Draupadi in the royal court. Her question—“Whom did you lose first, yourself or me?”—challenges the moral legitimacy of the game. This scene becomes a moral crisis for everyone present and reveals the deep flaws in the social and patriarchal order.

Loss and Exile:

As a result of the game, the Pandavas are sent into exile for thirteen years, the last in disguise. This exile is essential to the buildup of the war and gives them time for introspection, growth, and preparation.

Theme of Dharma and Kshatriya Honor:

Yudhishthira’s internal conflict—his addiction to gambling versus his commitment to truth—shows the fragility of dharma in a corrupt world. The dicing scene reveals the tension between personal ethics and public duty, a recurring theme throughout the epic.

Catalyst for War:

The injustice and humiliation suffered by the Pandavas, especially Draupadi, cannot be undone. It lays the moral groundwork for the Kurukshetra war. It is not just a battle for a kingdom but a war for justice, honor, and righteousness.

Conclusion:

The dicing scene is the emotional and moral core of the Mahabharata. It encapsulates the epic’s complex treatment of dharma and marks the irreversible descent into conflict. Through it, the epic explores how moral compromise, even when dressed in tradition, can lead to catastrophe.

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**4. Write a Note on the Role of Nature in Abhijnana Shakuntalam by Kalidasa

Nature plays a deeply symbolic and functional role in Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntalam. It is not just a backdrop to the events but an active presence that reflects and shapes the emotional and spiritual lives of the characters. Kalidasa, often called the poet of nature, uses the forest setting, seasons, flora, and fauna to enhance the dramatic and thematic richness of the play.

The Forest as a Space of Purity and Love:

The hermitage of Sage Kanva, where Shakuntala grows up, is portrayed as an idyllic, serene, and nurturing place. This forest space symbolizes innocence, harmony, and spiritual simplicity. It is here that Dushyanta and Shakuntala fall in love, suggesting that true emotions blossom in natural surroundings untouched by politics and urban life.

Personification of Nature:

Nature is often personified and made to interact with the characters. Trees, birds, and animals respond to Shakuntala’s presence and later grieve her departure. When she leaves for the palace, the plants droop and animals appear sorrowful. This emotional connection between Shakuntala and nature reflects her pure and spiritual essence.

Seasons and Symbolism:

Kalidasa uses seasons, particularly spring, to mirror human emotions. The blooming of flowers, the murmur of brooks, and the singing of birds create an atmosphere of romance and growth in the early acts. As the play moves into themes of separation and loss, the natural imagery becomes more subdued, aligning with the mood of the characters.

Contrast Between Forest and Court:

The play contrasts the peacefulness of the hermitage with the formality and coldness of the royal court. The court represents civilization but also suspicion, rigidity, and emotional distance. This contrast highlights the spiritual loss that comes with leaving nature.

Nature as a Moral Force:

Kalidasa subtly uses nature as a moral compass. When Shakuntala is cursed and rejected by Dushyanta, it is the forces of nature—the river, the trees, the animals—that continue to affirm her purity and truth. In this way, nature is aligned with dharma.

Conclusion:

In Abhijnana Shakuntalam, nature is not just scenery but a living, feeling entity. It reflects character emotions, symbolizes purity, and contrasts the corruption of the court. Kalidasa’s poetic vision merges human experience with the natural world, creating a timeless celebration of nature’s moral and emotional resonance.