Thinking activity of Waiting for Godot...

Thinking activity of Waiting for Godot.. 

1. What connection do you see in the setting (“A country road. A tree. Evening.”) of the play and these paintings?

~This  painting by Casper David Friedrich, suggest  the hope with the symbols of country road and tree evening.  Restlessness and Longing can be connected with waiting.
~The road and tree present the idea of barrenness. And the symbol of the country road indicates the absurdity, nothingness  there is all absurdity. This situation show hope to someone came and help us.

2. The tree is the only important ‘thing’ in the setting. What is the importance of tree in both acts? Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree - The tree has four or five leaves - ?

~ Act 1 barren tree suggest absurdity in life.  It also shows the impact of world war ll. Hear writer try to locate the hope of Godot will come. Also show nature is not effect by human happiness and sorrow.

3. In both Acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. How would you like to interpret this ‘coming of night and moon’ when actually they are waiting for Godot?

~ Night can be signifies as death and moon signifies as hope. In both act same sequence and repetition of  scene . Moon suggests night which is symbol of darkness and death. Night symbolize that day is gone and Godot not come so its means that nothing happens, they are keep waiting for Godot.

4. The director feels the setting with some debris. Can you read any meaning in the contours of debris in the setting of the play?

~This play is written around first world war so we see the effect of world war ll. here debris used show destruction how war destroy human life, emotions, happiness.

5. The play begins with the dialogue “Nothing to be done”. How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?

~ In this play we find two character Vladimir and Estragon they both are waiting for godot but during waiting for godot they have nothing to be done so by this two character we find very deep massage about life.

6. Do you agree: “The play (Waiting for Godot), we agreed, was a positive play, not negative, not pessimistic. As I saw it, with my blood and skin and eyes, the philosophy is: 'No matter what— atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, anything—life goes on. You can kill yourself, but you can't kill life." (E.G. Marshal who played Vladimir in original Broadway production 1950s)?

~ In this play we find both said positive and negative one side by this play is about the reality of human life. we see ourself in character of Vladimir and Estragon. Both represent to ordinary human life. It make us free from idea of God. The situation creat our own importance in our life more than God. Human can do anything without fear of God.
~ This play is also somehow effect on people's mind negative way. If person finds his life meaning less it leads his life towards depression.

7. How are the props like hat and boots used in the play? What is the symbolical significance of these?

~ Here boots represent as materialistic things. Estragon wears boots it represents materialistic things. It represents artificiality of life, Estragon not satisfied with his boots it hurts him. It shows unsatisfied nature of human.
~ Vladimir focuses on his hat. It shows his intellectual power in the play waiting for godot we find that he constantly think about godot.

9. Who according to you is Godot? God? An object of desire? Death? Goal? Success? or...

~ Hear Godot is a symbol of death. After doing all the things, we waiting for death. After all success and happiness , all desires in life nothing left. Then we waits for end, that is Godot that is death.
~ The act of waiting as essential and characteristics aspect of human life. Vladimir and Estragon not meet Godot but waits and do nothing. That shown by Beckett that Godot will never come and still we are waiting .

14. Vladimir and Estragon talks about ‘hanging’ themselves and commit suicide, but they do not do so. How do you read this idea of suicide in Existentialism?

~ In existentialism suicide is best art ever done. After happens everything, there is a need of national thinking, that is suicide. It is a favourite solution when feeling of absurdity came in life. Vladimir and Estragon ' s Waiting is significant of their steadfast hope and faith. They thought about suicide but not commit , because of hope of salvation that Godot will come.

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Thinking activity of The Birthday Party :

1) Why are two scenes of Lulu omitted from the movie?

~ In this movie i found two scenes of Lulu if omitted. To give the particular shape to the work also writer maybe prefer to include extra things and reduce something that burden the content part of the work.
~Another point, I think of Lulu's personality that has no such significance to carry out the flow further with some special effect.

2)  Is movie successful in giving us the effect of menace? Where you able to feel it while reading the text?

~ In this movie we can see the effect of menace in the movie, because while reading the play felt that Stanley's character shows a mysterious past which we are not informed about. I felt this while reading the long conversation between McCann, Stanley and Goldberg.

3)  Do you feel the effect of lurking danger while viewing the movie? Where you able to feel the same while reading the text.

~ Yes, I feel the suspense and lurking danger while viewing the movie. While reading the text when the party was going that scene particularly during that I feel lurking danger. I feel that now something will happen. At a time I also feel that this party is never going to end.

4) What do you read in 'newspaper' in the movie? Petey is reading newspaper to Meg, it torn into pieces by McCain, pieces are hidden by Petey in last scene.

~ In this movie we find various symbols like newspaper, the party, viewing angel of camera and many things. This symbols show various thing like: newspaper is symbol of connectivity between an individual and outer world. But here in this play it also gives the remembrance to Petey for his impotency by Meg’s insistence to him for repeatedly reading the incident regarding the fragility of a woman. And in last scene his affords has been hidden by Petey. He tries to hide the whole incident.

5) Camera is positioned over the head of McCain when he is playing Blind Man's Buff and is positioned at the top with a view of room like a cage (trap) when Stanley is playing it. What interpretations can you give to these positioning of camera?

~While seeing the film camera talks everything because the camera settings and it's position to creat the reality which we feel the concept of movie. When camera is positioned over the head of McCann when he is playing blind buff which demonstrates that McCann is at power position and is situated at the top with perspective of room like trap which symbolize that Stanley is trapped by stranger who were touching him.

8)    With which of the following observations you agree:
  “It probably wasn't possible to make a satisfactory film of "The Birthday Party."
  “It's impossible to imagine a better film of Pinter's play than this sensitive, disturbing version directed by William Friedkin”

~I agree that the movie shows very well: “Pinter restored theater to its basic elements: an enclosed space and unpredictable dialogue, where people are at the mercy of one another and pretense crumbles.” The whole film based on a single setting.

10)  Who would be your choice of actors to play the role of characters?

~ I like the character of Stanley, to show his character very well in movie.

Thinking Activity : To The Lighthouse

Thinking Activity : To The Lighthouse

2) Do you agree: "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay"? (Key: Take some clues from the painting of Mrs Ramsay drawn by Lily Briscoe and the article by Andre Viola and Glenn Pedersen. Can we read Mrs. R in context of the idea of Ideal Indian Woman - Karyeshu dasi, Karaneshu manthri; Bhojeshu mata, Shayaneshu rambha; Kshamayeshu dharithri, Roopeshu lakshmi; Satkarma yukta, Kuladharma pathni. )

Ans :-  Yes I agree that the novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay. Mrs. Ramsay is caring mother like any ordinary housewife. She always want to be perfect in her work. She likes to cook and she likes to feed to other. So we can say that Mrs. Ramsay is the perfect Ideal Woman.

4) In the article by Joseph Blotner, two myths are patterned together. Name the myths? How they are zeroed down to the symbols of 'Window' and 'Lighthouse'? How does the male phallic symbol represent feminine Mrs. Ramsay?

Ans :- We can find Oedipus myth and Pagan myth in To the Lighthouse ...

5) What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel?

Ans :- Kunstlerroman is German term. Kunstlerroman menas Struggle of artist. in this novel Lilly Briscoe shown as a struggle artist because the character of Lilly show against patriarchy and follow her passion. So we can say that To The Light House is Kunstlerroman novel.

10) Why did Virginia give such prominence to the tale of the “Fisherman’s Wife”? In particular, why did she weave such a misogynist tale into the fabric of a book which so eloquently challenges received patriarchal notions about the roles and capabilities of women?

Ans :- Novelist has used the tale of "Fisherman and his wife" which is told by Mrs.Ramsay to james. In which wife is too much demanding. But hear Mrs. Ramsay is followed patriarchy that he always care his husband's wealth and accept his all orders. In this way writer makes a satire on Mrs.Ramsay that how she grown up her child with such ideas.

Thank you... 

Modern Poems :

Modernist Poems

Modernism is a philosophical movement that, along with cultural trends and changes, arose from wide-scale and far-reaching transformations in Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Modernism is not term to which a single meaning can be ascribed. It may be applied both to the content and to the form of a work, or to either in isolation. The term modernism encompasses the activities and output of those who felt the 'traditional' form of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organization and daily life were becoming outdated in the new economic, social and political condition.

10 very short Modernist Poem :~

1) The Embankment by T.E Humble :

This poem deals with the theme of nostalgia and loneliness. The poet presented with contrast between past and present. Writer try to use some metaphors like :~ Old star-eaten blanket, a flash of gold heels. This metaphor shows the imagination of writer.

2) Darkness by Joseph Campbell :

These poem shows disintereste and nothingness of life. It gives image of meaninglessness life of modern man. People are doing things for sake of doing not for any meaning.
Writer use some words like :~ Darkness, boghole, silver ribbon. This words show mamy meaning which make the different views by different people.

3) Edward Storer's 'Image' :

In this poem described the spiritual drought of human life. Hear writer used some words chaste white moon, loneliness and drought symbol of modern times. This symbols shows spirituality and it's aspect.

4) Ezra Pound's In a station of the metro :

This poem also based on imagism. Hear writer used some word to create reality morality of people's life. This word like, apparition, Petal and wet, black bough...

5) The Pool by Hilda Doolittle :

In this poem each line contains a different type of imagery. Writer used to allow the engaged reader to create a mental image to make the human emotions, feelings, psychology and philosophy of their text appealing to the five senses of the reader. Here the poem appeals to touch, hearing and seeing.

6) Richard Aldington's Insouciance :

In this poem has many different images 'Dreary trenches' use as metaphor for the up and downs of life.

7) Morning at the Window by T.S Eliot :

In this poem writer tries to bring everyday life of people, experience and struggle in living in city life. Writer used some words like Basement, Trampled edges, Damp soul, Twisted faces.

8) William Carlos Williams The Red Wheelbarrow :

In this poem writer show various things like wheelbarrow means a smallcart in single wheel here poet present meaning barrow alone means an ancient burial.
Writer used some words to show his imagination.Red wheelbarrow, white chicken.

9) Anecdote of the Jar by Wallace Stevens :

This poem focuses on the Jar, some kind of object. Tennessee  is the state of America, poet tells us that the Jar was upon the hill but, then jar was round upon the ground. So he suggested that how one owned the place, It took dominion everywhere this line tells us that jar was dominion over there.

10) E.E Cumming's I :

It is very short poem, the first line
suggests the loneliness and solitude, it is
a separation from the world as the poet
uses the correctly metaphor of leaf
which is falls from its branch.

Thank you.... 

Online discussion of Shashi Tharoor's views on postcolonialism

Postcolonial view of Shashi Tharoor :~

Shashi Tharoor is an Indian politician, writer. Shashi Tharoor is member of parliament, he given postcolonial argument. He written a book on that 'An Era of Darkness'. He asserts that Britishers are not developers of any colonies. According to him real Thugs Of Hindustan are Britishers, in the name of free trade they are looting the Indians.
Many Indian words they take dictionary, in this way the word loot is a Hindi word and they taking the word in their dictionary. In this way he try so make a satire on British Empire.

Shashi Tharoor make claims that, when the Britishers were left in 1947 from India, 90% of the population living below the poverty line. Britishers imposed taxes on the import of Indian textile. In the real sense that they make fool of Indian. In the case of education they claim that we raised the education level but, the truth India developed Institute of Technology, colleges for engineering were established after independence.

Economic situation of the colonies were worst by the experience of british colonialism. They started exporting raw materials from India and shipping back manufactured cloth and the result was, the weavers in India become beggars.
Shashi Tharoor make a satire by giving this sentence, "The sun never sets of the British Empire because, even God couldn't trust the English in the dark".
African and Caribbean people's, psychological damage happen that has been done by British colonisers. Even today many of problems in these countries, like racial and religious tension were the effect of colonialism.

Thank you...

ORIENTALISM BY EDWARD SAID :

Edward Said is writre and talk about  the Orientalism. The term 'Orient' is derives from the latin word 'Orients' means 'East'. Study of orient it means study of orients. 

Balaji sir explained the unit Orientalism very well and provide some good information about India 's condition before independence and after independence. He said that orient helps to define yourself. He said that this is specific era of study in which people like to learn not material but want to be academic. He explained  A Tempest very shortly and provide basic information about it. He suggested to read original A Tempest.

He identify difference between The Tempest and A Tempest very interestingly.

Orientalism raise the question against our mentality that how we think about those who belong different culture, specially west consider middle - east as "Other" but treat them as enemies is not good. For example :- Muslim Community. In the context of demonization of Islam, Television represents Jihad in America, for militants Jihad is a holy war, and their main purpose is to establish an Islamic empire. Media reveling only worst side of Islam, at that time those people who are believers of Islam or who have influence of that, they can see only problems of that society. And as a result the human side of Islamic and Arabic world are rarely found.

Orientalism traise to explain that how we understand people,strangers, who look different to us by virtue of the color of their skin.

Said argued that orient and occident worked as oppositional terms, so that the orient was constructed as negative inversion of western culture.

The structure of orient is nothing more than a structure of lies or the myths which, were the truth about them to be told, would simply blow away.

Orientalism as a system of knowledge about orient an accepted grid for filtering thorough the orient into western consciousness, just as that same investment multiplied indeed made truly productive the statements profiling out from orientalism into the general culture. 

Thank you.... 

Sunday Reading : Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche

Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche is a Nigerian Novelist, short stories and writer of non fiction.

Her novels are :~
1]Purple Hibiscus  (2003),
2]Half of a yellow sun (2006), 3]Americanah  (2013)

Shorts stories :
1]The Thing around your neck
2]Book length essay
3]We should all be feminist (2014)

She is also a good speaker. Her three most popular talks.
1)  The Danger of a single story
2) We should all be feminist
3) Talk on importance of truth in post truth Era.

In his topic she talked about danger of a single story. She talk about her family, her childhood writing, her view about the literature.

She read and write only about British story and white characters.
First she simple immitate the things and reading about the thing actually she found around herself. As we found that she simply speak that the thinks she never found around her, to write about herself. This thing shows the denger of single reading that she wrote the things she never feel. It also shows the power of colonialism.

She wrote a novel about man who among all the things who beats his wife. One journalist advised her then she called herself a happy feminist. One academic Nigerian lady called her that feminist was not her culture or religion, it was an African culture.

She talk and write about patriarchy culture that people strongly believe woman always give respect man, it is our culture. Human beings make culture neither culture make human beings. So she concluded fact is not our culture but culture mean dancing and singing and etc.

Thank you ............