The Scandinavian influence on the English language is an interesting study in terms of vocabulary, syntax and grammar. The impact was more widespread and intimate than later influences. This article is an in-depth study of various aspects that concern students of philology.
Germanic branch of Indo European family of languages has three special characteristics which are unique. This article explains these features in terms of Grimm's Law, Verner's Law, Stress Shift and regularization of tense system. A must-read for students of Philology
What is Indo-European family of language? How is it relevant to evolution of English language? This article explains about the features and different classifications of Indo-European family of languages which is essential for the students of philology.
Choosing the right dog breed is as important as raising one. One has to keep in mind that to raise a happy puppy one must choose the one according to their capabilities and limitations. This article is a personal record of how we ended up choosing a Shih Apso puppy and why this decision was made.
Eustacia Vye, a remarkable creation by Thomas Hardy, is the central force that drives the narrative of "The Return of the Native." This analysis focuses on her character, showing her inner conflicts, desires and negotiations with destiny, torn between the impulse to escape and the will to act.
"An Introduction” is a starting point to understand how Kamala Das negotiated with patriarchy, identity and poetic creativity. This article is a detailed analysis of the poem with special emphasis on why this poem is confessional and how this poem is both a personal revelation and a universal one.
Elizabeth Bennet, or Lizzy, is Jane Austen's celebrated heroine in "Pride and Prejudice". Her character is developed through psychological precision and powerful narrative. The novel is a journey of Lizzy from a realization of her innate pride and prejudice towards a harmonious reconciliation.
In his play "Look Back in Anger", Osborne draws the character of Alison Porter in unique shade. The article examines the character of Alison as a figure of passivity and resistance and analyses her relationship with Jimmy, her husband, as a means to understand her innate personality.
In "Pride and Prejudice," Austen uses both situational and verbal irony as a strategy to narrate one of the most popular stories of Victorian England, that of Elizabeth and Darcy. The article examines how irony becomes a potent device of such a narrative exploration of characters and society.
Synge names his play "Riders to the Sea" as a symbolic revelation of his play's central theme: duality of life and death. While the sea is the universal setting of mortality, the riders are the living beings who need to live out their existence only to eventually end their ride at sea.
Arnold's "Dover Beach" shows the conflicts and pathos of the Victorian poet, torn by the receding comfort of faith & an urge to redefine life in terms of private affection and melancholic meditation. This article attempts to understand this conflict through an in-depth analysis of images & symbols.
Caliban, the degenerate figure of malice and hatred, in "The Tempest" is a highly controversial Shakespearean character. While the original productions staged him as a monster, postcolonial critics have widely questioned such representation in terms of identity, indigenous voices and silences.
Oliver Twist is a remarkable creation of Charles Dickens. His character is a unique blend of goodness, curiosity and sensitivity. The article is about some of the special qualities of Oliver as the central character negotiating with malice and challenges of society emerging as a heroic figure.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone introduces the readers to the character of Harry and the magical universe of Hogwarts. This article explores how Harry's character is developed in the first book and how this first book becomes an introduction to Harry's future exploits and heroism.
A comprehensive introduction to four major Graveyard Poets, Parnell, Blair, Young and Gray, with excerpts from their famous poems, concluding with a more detailed account of Thomas Gray.
"But what are kings, when regiment is gone, but perfect shadows in a sunshine day?" What are rights without responsibilities? This article examines the tragic irony of kingship in Marlowe's "Edward II"
In Synge's "Riders to the Sea," the sea is an agent of both destruction and sustenance. The article analyzes Synge's sea as a literal and figurative backdrop, connected to the action of the play. Read on for my full analysis of sea-related symbolism in this play.
A critical essay on the symbols and images used by Synge, drawing from both classical and Biblical archetypes, in "The Riders to the Sea." If you're struggling to understand this text, look no further.
An introduction to the Sonnet as a poetic genre, focusing on the contribution of Wyatt, Sidney and Spenser as Elizabethan Sonneteers
This article is a detailed psychological study of the Boss's character in Katherine Mansfield's story "The Fly," in the context of the anxieties and despair of post-war England and its psychological implications.
A brief estimate of Nirad Chaudhuri's idea of nationalism, its various categories, and its practical implications as expounded in "The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian".
A clear elaboration of the most misunderstood poem "Kubla Khan", which shows how Coleridge's poem is neither a fragment nor incoherent, but a direct statement of his poetic theory.
A scholarly article analysing the intricate relations of power and knowledge as put forward by Michel Foucault in his books "Discipline and Punish" and "The History of Sexuality"
A study of Comedy, the sources of the comic and the devices used by comic playwrights to arouse laughter, referring to the theories by H.Bergson on the social and individual element of comedy.
An article on the comic devices used by playwrights to make their comedies have a universal appeal, with numerous examples from the classical plays, Shakespearean drama, and later English comedies.
This article is an analysis of Donne's famous poem "Goe and catch...", pointing out the central symbols, imagery, and theme which make it a representative metaphysical poem. Read on for my full analysis!
This article is an in-depth analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnet # 73, focusing on the tone, imagery, diction, and poetic merits of the beautiful poem "That Time of the Year..."
An introductory article on "Aristotle's Poetics", explaining the basic concepts in simple language using textual references from famous plays. Read more to get a clear picture of Aristotle's idea.
An article about R.K.Narayan's portrayal of the Indian society in his novel "The Guide", focussing on the different settings presented in the novel, exploring the Indianness of Narayan's fiction.
Love Shakespeare? Here's a list of five of the most memorable speeches by Shakespeare's women that have been evergreen for their universal appeal. Read on to more fully appreciate Shakespeare's women!
Why did Shakespeare call his play "The Tempest"? Is it just a casual reference to the storm raised in the beginning, or does it hint at far deeper connotations? Is the title justified? Let's find out.
This article is a comprehensive analysis of the character of Miranda in Shakespeare's "The Tempest." I argue that Miranda represents true innocence. Read on to learn why that matters.
An article addressing the question " Is Lady Macbeth the Fourth Witch in Macbeth?", pointing out how the question is wrong on multiple levels.
An in-depth article on the question regarding who is the hero of Milton's "Paradise Lost." The article takes into account multiple critical approaches to reach a final verdict.
A study of Shakespeare's portrayal of Viola in "Twelfth Night," focusing on the ingenuity, practical wisdom, and exceptional maturity that make her one of the most powerful female stage characters.
A Reading of T.S.Eliot's "Preludes" to understand Eliot's concept of poetry, focusing on the images and symbols.
An article examining the blend of Renaissance and Reformation elements in John Milton. Read on for my full historical analysis of "Paradise Lost."
This article contains an analysis of Shelley's imagery in "Ode to the West Wind" and " To a Skylark."
A poem on choices and masquerades, of Venus, Mars and Saturn, of yearning desire and fallen cherubs...
An analysis of Baldeo's character in "The Tiger In the Tunnel" by Ruskin Bond to understand the elements of heroism exhibited by a humble tribal watchman set against the indomitable forces of nature.
An introduction to some basic principles of Existentialism, focusing on the philosophical arguments by the prominent Existentialists including Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Sartre.
A satire on faces and masks we wear
A short poem about love, trust and deception
A short Commentary on "Waking Life"
A poem about quicksilver dreams of young love and disillusionment. Translated from Suddhasanta's Bengali poem "Abhrasamagra"
Poem of melancholy
Studying Indian poetry? Interested in women writers? Here's an introductory study of contemporary women poets of India that identifies dominant and recurrent traits which make these poets individualistic yet connected by a unique bond of creative sisterhood.
This is a rewriting of "Jimmy Valentine" (Short story by O Henry) as a short play or skit. The script is easy to perform as school/ college drama. Contains detailed character list and stage directions