Transcendentalism

Thinking Activity : Transcendentalism

Hello Readers! 

           Today I'm going to write about Thinking Activity of Transcendentalism given by MS Vaidehi Hariyani Ma'am.

What is Transcendentalism? 

It’s all about spirituality. Transcendentalism is a philosophy that began in the mid-19th century and whose founding members included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. It centers around the belief that spirituality cannot be achieved through reason and rationalism, but instead through self-reflection and intuition. In other words, transcendentalists believe spirituality isn’t something you can explain; it’s something you feel. A transcendentalist would argue that going for a walk in a beautiful place would be a much more spiritual experience than reading a religious text.

The transcendentalism movement arose as a result of a reaction to Unitarianism as well as the Age of Reason. Both centered on reason as the main source of knowledge, but transcendentalists rejected that notion. Some of the transcendentalist beliefs are:

• Humans are inherently good
• Society and its institutions such as organized religion and politics are corrupting. Instead of being part of them, humans should strive to be independent and self-reliant
• Spirituality should come from the self, not organized religion
• Insight and experience are more important than logic
• Nature is beautiful, should be deeply appreciated, and shouldn’t be altered by humans

Major Transcendentalist Value 

The transcendentalist movement encompassed many beliefs, but these all fit into their three main values of individualism, idealism, and the divinity of nature.

Individualism

Perhaps the most important transcendentalist value was the importance of the individual. They saw the individual as pure, and they believed that society and its institutions corrupted this purity. Transcendentalists highly valued the concept of thinking for oneself and believed people were best when they were independent and could think for themselves. Only then could individuals come together and form ideal communities.

Idealism 

The focus on idealism comes from Romanticism, a slightly earlier movement. Instead of valuing logic and learned knowledge as many educated people at the time did, transcendentalists placed great importance on imagination, intuition and creativity. They saw the values of the Age of Reason as controlling and confining, and they wanted to bring back a more “ideal” and enjoyable way of living.

Divinity of Nature

Transcendentalists didn’t believe in organized religion, but they were very spiritual. Instead of believing in the divinity of religious figures, they saw nature as sacred and divine. They believed it was crucial for humans to have a close relationship with nature, the same way religious leaders preach about the importance of having a close relationship with God. Transcendentalists saw nature as perfect as it was; humans shouldn’t try to change or improve it.

Most Important Authors

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson began his adult life as a Unitarian minister. He completed his studies at Harvard. As a child, he was greatly influenced by his aunt who introduced him to concepts such as the ideas of Hinduism. Emerson brought ideas of science, mysticism, and Eastern religions into the transcendentalist movement. 

Emerson's background as a minister greatly helped spread the ideas of transcendentalism. He preached in many churches, so many people were inclined to believe him. Emerson travelled a lot which encouraged the spread of trascendental ideas. 

One of Emerson's most prominent works was "The American Scholar." In this famous essay, he encouraged Americans to be proud of themselves and to stop looking elsewhere for ideas and inspiration.

Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau placed great emphasis on the importance of nature in one's life. For two years of his life, Thoreau lived in a hut he built on Walden Pond. He later wrote a book called Walden which described his experiences while living amongst nature. He also wrote an essay called "Civil Disobedience." The main purpose of this essay was that one's own conscience should be held at a higher priority than the law. 

These authors, along with others, were part of The Transcendental Club. The group met in Boston at the home of George Ripley. They started a publication known as The Dial which was edited by Margaret Fuller. Fuller was a radical feminist at the time.

 Q.1  Transcendentalists talks about Individual’s relation with Nature. What is Nature for you? Share your views.

What do i think of nature? Ummm. Well, I am immersed in nature. I am in total awe of nature. I move and act and enjoy my being in nature. I also see ,in,of and through nature. We are part of it. After our ultimate demise we will feed it,therefore renewing nature through our sacrifice..Nature is one of that who gives me a reason to live happily,to live with enthusiasm.Our definition of nature is changing with times.Because when i was child for me nature is like tree,sea,sky,mountain and all these things.But slowly and steadily the definition is changing according to my maturity level.Sometimes i feel that nature for me is myself.

Q.2 Transcendentalism is an American Philosophy that influenced American Literature at length. Can you find any Indian/Regional literature or Philosophy came up with such similar thought?

Emerson and his fellow Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau became the first entry point for Hindu and Buddhist thought in the New World. By the time Swami Vivekananda arrived on America’s shores, both Emerson and Thoreau were dead. But Raja Rammohun Roy’s writings, as well as the Bhagavad Gita had a profound influence on them. Thoreau’s pantheism stemmed from his readings of Hindu philosophy, which did not separate the godhead from the human and natural world. While Thoreau indulged the flute, in reverence to Krishna, he was also a practising yogi.

Conclusion

Having explored transcendentalist trends in the poetry of Emerson and Pramod Pawar, it is evident that there is indeed a meeting point in the realm of American and Indian poetry. Although transcendentalism is a purely 19th century American literary movement, its tenets are very glaring in the 21st century publication by an Indian poet (Pramod Pawar) in his poetry entitled Ubiquity. Published in Africa by Nyaa Publishers further portrays the universality of transcendentalism as a literary movement and also the relevance of Ubiquityin the African literary and sociological context. The celebration of nature, the central place of religion in the transcendentalists’ thought, and the unflinching passion for independence are the tenets of transcendentalism that have been examined in the poems of both authors under study. It is the hope of this researcher that this paper will not only prompt more research on the works of an emerging Indian writer in the person of Pramod Pawar Ambadasrao, but will also draw the attention of literary critics across the world to the beauty of Indian and American Poetry.

Thank you....

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Existentialism: Flipped Learning

Existentialism :- Flipped Learning Ask Questions

Hello Readers

    

                              Here I am going to wrote about Existentialism. This is my Flipped Learning task. This was given by our professor Dilip barad sir from Department of English Bhavnagar University. 

Existentialism

Video-1  

             

First video is about what is existentialism in which many thinkers talked about the existentialism and Philosophical suicide meant nothingness in life and also a very good ideas about individuality, passion and freedom..

All know define the Existansalism by Je suis existentialism. Associated within is not conciderd to the face existanalist. Start with Kierkegaard. Apply to many a great thing.

Kierkegaard

Nietzsche

Dostoyevsky

Kafka

Keidegger

Shestov

Hesso

Sartre, Beauvoir.

This are the faithful companion. Believing and not believing in God that time we look at individuality, freedom and passion.

Women who committed adultery shall be stoned to death.

No sex before Marriage 

The universe is less than 6000 years 

This is the center of the universe.

Video-2

           

This video is about the philosophical suicide and the myth of sisyphus. The cause of the death is absurdity. Meaning of life is the most important camus individual act. He says relation of suicide act. Absurdity face in the question. Because of life is absurd. Try into common belief refusing to grant meaning to life. We know that this divorce between man and this life, The actor and his setting, is properly the feeling of absurdity. All healthy men having thought of their own suicide, it can be seen, without further explanation, that there is a direct connection between this feeling and the longing for detah.

An Absurd Reasoning Camus start desplay but braining on exist. He write,

"There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide." 

Video-3 

Feeling of the absurd philosophical suicide        

 

The Notion of Philosophical suicide. This video talked about the philosophical suicide and this problem come out from A total absence of hope, A continual rejection and conscious dissatisfaction. From this method people escaped from absurd life.

The feeling of the absurd is not, for all that, The notion of the absurd. It lays the foundations for it. People try to escape from this absurdity because other one can live in a physical suicide on a physical suicide, individual state of mind needs to stay her or himself pertinent state of individualine, Sudha question of God and it is stand in front of us that one can her rational and can free for the all kind of structures of society. 

Video-4 

Dadaism and Nihilism has nothing to do with each other, there is only one similarity that both are fed up with arbitrary values of life. they do not want such values invented by others.

In this video the very well know concept of dadaism and Nihilism denotes idea of life so that basic meaning of dadaism is a quest for change or creation is the primary goal of the Daizam and the IT arises. The absurd doesn't frightened me because, from a more elevated point of view, I consider everything in life to be absurd.

Video-5

Is Existentialism is gloomy philosophy? Every life is full of anxiety, despair and absurdity, but we are free to choose our own path of living. Every individual choose his/her way of life but when result is not good then they escape from this situation that is not fair practice. Existentialism is differ from Nihilism. After world war-2 People's life became miserable and full of despair. Everyone tried to find the meaning of life.

In this video we can see there exist racialisam is a very gloomy philosophy then an anxiety disappear absurdity can tack place and we never faced this argument in the arena of Existentialism. Existentialism is often accused of being a gloomy philosophy while there's a truth to this claim, we must look at the whole picture.

Video-6 

Much difference between Existentialism and Nihilism. Existentialism believe in subjectivity like individuality, nothingness, absurd life while Nihilism believe in objectivity like everything is illusion in life.

 In this video, I briefly explain why  Existentialism and nihilism are two distinct movements. Many people says Existentialism and Nihilism are the same thing, but actually not very meaning of Nihilism is that something which is loss of individuality. Nihilism is a concept of passively accept the life. Also give the new concept that responsibility to fight against suicide call rebellion. 

Video-7

Existentialism ask question of existence that why I am here? what is life? Divine perspective and human perspective. Human were not design by any supernatural power, existentialism see the life from religiously, scientifically and philosophically and raise question about human existence.

In this lacture we look at the history of Existentialism examine what for Existentialists is the key concern of philosophy, discuss the phrase existence precedes essence, and differentiate between Existentialism and Nihilism. 

Video-8 

Existentialism and Nietzsche: Nietzsche's Existentialism talked about that human being is everything, there is no need any supernatural power to govern life. Like God is dead so human being can make their own rules and be like superman or ubermensch.

The clear concept of Existentialism is that we do not need to believe in the constructions and rule we have own disciplines and ruled social constructions and already Seth rules don't it have the universal morality which leads that governs all of us. In this video I get know very interesting concept and I am very impressed with it that it is " ubermensche" which is connected with what's good and bad. 

Video-9 

Existentialism is a way of life and understand life deeply. Existentialism says about what I am. Eric Dodson said that it is honest and shows reality of life and accept your fault and your abilities.

This video is a fairly personal description of what attrects me to Existential thinking, and of waht I get out of it. This one is also something of a companion - piece to my recent video on Existentialism and human development. It is a kind of quest between good or bad for to be or not to be in a general sense we can say that it is a fight between mind and heart of a person. 

Video-10

 

I like the idea in this video is that only we can give reason to our choice or we can say that there is no reason for choice is just a choice. There is no meaning of life but meaning is given by us to our life.

The last video we can see this was a idea of Existentialism is that waht gives life meaning what is the meaning of life, what is the purpose of life. Existentialist every meaningful thing is a meaningless here we can find the concept of Nihilism, connected with the belief of ultimate meaningless of life. In this particular last video I like the concept of theory of theology. 

Answer-2 

I like the video-8 "Explain like I'm five: Existentialism and Nietzsche that human being have the power of everything it means human being can make their own rules and be a superman and he/she can do whatever they want. And also they win every time. They always keep that what they want.They have not any kind of pressure, rules and regulation also. That's why i like...

Answer-3 

Flipped learning is best to learn from anywhere, I like it most because it provides us content with appropriate pictures and signs so it would easy to understand the content. Flipped learning also very beneficial for four basic skill LSRW, through this learning we can improve our listening skill from native speaker and also we can improve our memory to remember the speakers words and note down. And also we can learn how to pronounce spells. At last, I can say that we can learn from anywhere in our time through flipped learning.

                                            

Thank you...

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

War Novels: Compare and Contrast between Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' & Ernest Hemingway's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'

Hello Readers

           Today I'm going to write about two literary works that are based on War. I have selected the novel by Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' & Ernest Hemingway's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'. 

Summary of the novels : 

1) War and Peace 

War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy, is a work of historical fiction written in 1860 about the Napoleonic Wars in Russia. This epic novel begins in July 1805. Russia and allies England, Austria, and Sweden are striving to prevent Napoleon’s expansion from France. The novel is broken up into four books, with two epilogues.

War and Peace broadly focuses on Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 and follows three of the most well-known characters in literature: Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count who is fighting for his inheritance and yearning for spiritual fulfillment; Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight in the war against Napoleon; and Natasha Rostov, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman who intrigues both men.

A s Napoleon’s army invades, Tolstoy brilliantly follows characters from diverse backgrounds—peasants and nobility, civilians and soldiers—as they struggle with the problems unique to their era, their history, and their culture. And as the novel progresses, these characters transcend their specificity, becoming some of the most moving—and human—figures in world literature.

2) For Whom the Bell Tolls 

For Whom the Bell Tolls, novel by Ernest Hemingway, published in 1940.The title is from a sermon by containing the famous words "No man is an island,entire  of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main...Any man's death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind. Any therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee".

The novel is set near Segovia, Spain, in 1937 and tells the story of American teacher Robert Jordan, who has joined the antifascist Loyalist army. Jordan has been sent to make contact with a guerrilla band and blow up a bridge to advance a Loyalist offensive. The action takes place during Jordan’s 72 hours at the guerrilla camp. During this period he falls in love with María, who has been raped by fascist soldiers, and befriends the shrewd but cowardly guerrilla leader Pablo and his courageous wife, Pilar. Jordan manages to destroy the bridge; Pablo, Pilar, María, and two other guerrillas escape, but Jordan is injured. Proclaiming his love to María once more, he awaits the fascist troops and certain death.

Narrative Technique  

1) War and Peace

That's basically how Tolstoy's narrator is acting here. Sure, he knows the ins and out of his characters – their thoughts, their feelings, their decision-making. But he keeps his own moralizing out the equation. This is a technique that's unique to War and Peace – just check out Anna Karenina to see the difference. (Tolstoy can put on the 19th-century moralist voice like nobody's business.) And so suddenly you find yourself looking at passages like this one:

The moment he heard the firing and the cry from behind, the general realized that something dreadful had happened to his regiment, and the thought that he, an exemplary officer of many years' service who had never been to blame, might be held responsible at headquarters for negligence or inefficiency so staggered him that, forgetting the recalcitrant cavalry colonel, his own dignity as a general, and above all quite forgetting the danger and all regard for self-preservation, he clutched the crupper of his saddle and, spurring his horse, galloped to the regiment under a hail of bullets which fell around, but fortunately missed him. His one desire was to know what was happening and at any cost correct, or remedy, the mistake if he had made one, so that he, an exemplary officer of twenty-two years' service, who had never been censured, should not be held to blame. 

2) For Whom Bell Tolls 

For Hemingway, point of view is important. 'For Whom Bell Tolls' present the narrative through an omniscient point of view that continually shifts back and forth between the characters. In this way, Hemingway can effectively chronicle the effect of the war on the men and women involved. The narrator shifts from Anselmo's struggles in the snow during his watch to Pilar's story about Pablo's execution of Fascists and EI Sordo's lonely to help readers more clearly visualize their experiences.

Characterisation : War and Peace 

- Anna Pavlovna Scherer

A wealthy St. Petersburg society hostess and matchmaker for the Kuragin family, whose party in 1805 opens the novel.

- Pierre Bezukhov

The large-bodied, ungainly, and socially awkward illegitimate son of an old Russian grandee. Pierre, educated abroad, returns to Russia as a misfit. His unexpected inheritance of a large fortune makes him socially desirable. Pierre is ensnared by the fortune-hunting Helene Kuragina, whose eventual deception leaves him depressed and confused, spurring a spiritual odyssey that spans the novel. Pierre eventually marries Natasha Rostova.

- Andrew Bolkonski

The intelligent, disciplined, and ambitious son of the retired military commander Prince Bolkonski. Andrew is coldly analytical and resistant to flights of emotion. Lonely after the death of his wife, Lise, he falls in love with Natasha, but is unable to forgive her momentary passion for Anatole.

- Lise Bolkonskaya

Andrew’s angelic wife, who dies in childbirth.

- Prince Bolkonski

Andrew’s father, a stodgy and old-fashioned recluse who lives in the country after his retirement from the army and subsequent retreat from social life. The old prince, cynical about modern life, is stern and sometimes cruel toward his daughter Mary. In the war with Napoleon, he returns to active military service, but dies as the French approach his estate.

- Mary Bolkonskaya

The lonely, plain, and long-suffering daughter of Prince Bolkonski. Princess Mary cares for her father, enduring his cruel treatment with Christian forgiveness. In the end, Nicholas Rostov weds Mary and saves her from an unhappy solitude.

- Mademoiselle Bourienne

The French companion of Princess Mary, who lives with her on the Bolkonski estate. Mademoiselle Bourienne becomes the object of the old prince’s affections shortly before his death.

- Julie Karagina

    Mary's friend and pen pal. Julie, anheiress, lives in Moscow and eventually marries Boris.

- Nicholas Rostov

The impetuous, eldest Rostov son, who joins the Russian forces in 1805 and spends much of the novel on the front. Nicholas accumulates gambling debts that become burdensome for his family. However, we see his commitment to his family upon his father’s death, when he supports his mother and cousin Sonya on his meager salary while continuing to pay off the family’s debts. Nicholas eventually marries the heiress Mary, saving his family from financial ruin.

- Sonya Rostova

The humble cousin of Natasha and Nicholas, who lives with the Rostovs as a ward. Sonya and Nicholas were childhood sweethearts, but as adults, Sonya generously gives up Nicholas so that he can marry a rich woman and save the Rostov finances.

Petya Rostov

The youngest Rostov son, who begs to join the Russian army. Petya, who is close to Natasha and beloved by his mother, is killed in partisan fighting after the French begin their withdrawal from Moscow.

- Vera Rostova

The eldest Rostov daughter. Vera is a somewhat cold, unpleasant young woman, and her only proposal of marriage comes from the officer Berg, who is candid about his need for her dowry.

- Vasili Kuragin

An artificial and untrustworthy Russian nobleman, and a special friend of Anna Pavlovna. Vasili continually tries to maneuver his children into lucrative marriages.

- Anatole Kuragin

Vasili’s roguish and spendthrift son, who is on the hunt for a rich wife. Anatole falls for Natasha Rostova at the opera, causing her rift with Andrew Bolkonski.

- Helene Kuragina

Vasili’s cold, imperious, and beautiful daughter, who seduces Pierre into marriage, only to take up with another man immediately. Helene, though known in social circles as a witty woman, is actually stupid and shallow.

Characterization of For Whom the Bell Tolls 

Robert Jordan An American college instructor of Spanish, fighting as a demolition expert with the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War.

Pablo Leader of the guerilla band whose aid Jordan enlists in the destruction of a bridge.

Pilar Pablo's mujer, who has kept the band together in spite of the fact that Pablo has "gone bad."

Maria A young girl whom the guerillas have rescued from enemy captivity and who falls in love with Jordan.

Anselmo An old man, one of the few members of Pablo's band whom Jordan trusts.

General Golz A Russian officer, one of the many military "observers" sent to aid the Spanish communists in the war, who is directing the forthcoming attack.

Kashkin Another Russian, Jordan's predecessor as demolition man with Pablo's band. He is dead when the book opens.

El Sordo The leader of another guerilla band which is hiding out in the vicinity of Pablo's cave.

Joaquin A young boy, member of El Sordo's band.

Eladio, Agustin, Andres, Primitivo, Fernando, and Rafael Members of Pablo's band.

Historical Context: 

1) War and Peace 

War and Peace is known for its realism, something Tolstoy achieved through intensive research. He visited battlefields, read history books on the Napoleonic Wars, and drew on real historical events to create a novel of living history. Tolstoy had originally planned to write a novel centring on the Decembrists, whose revolution in 1825 against the tsar attempted to end autocratic rule in Russia. The Decembrists failed, however, and those who were spared execution were sent to Siberia. Tolstoy wanted to depict a Decembrist, now old, returning from exile. As Tolstoy wrote and revised, however, the novel evolved into the War and Peace known today—a novel that takes place more than a decade before the Decembrist movement. The novel’s primary historical setting is the French invasion of Russia in 1812, which was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars and a period of patriotic significance to Russia. Some historians argue that this invasion was the event that metamorphosed into the Decembrist movement years later.

2) For Whom the Bell Tolls 

Each of the characters in For Whom the Bell Tolls loses his or her psychological or physical innocence to the war. Some endure tangible traumas: Joaquín loses both his parents and is forced to grow up quickly, while Maria loses her physical innocence when she is raped by a group of Fascist soldiers. On top of these tangible, physical costs of the war come many psychological costs. Robert Jordan initially came to Spain with idealism about the Republican cause and believed confidently that he was joining the good side. But after fighting in the war, Robert Jordan becomes cynical about the Republican cause and loses much of his initial idealism.

The victims of violence in the war are not the only ones to lose their innocence—the perpetrators lose their innocence too. The ruffians in Pablo’s hometown who participate in the massacre of the town Fascists have to face their inner brutality afterward. Anselmo has to suppress his aversion to killing human beings, and Lieutenant Berrendo has to quell his aversion to cutting heads off of corpses.

 Thank you...

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I.A.Richards

I.A.Richards : The Figurative language

Hello Readers 

              Today I'm going to write about the task which given by our professor Dilip Barad sir. He give to task for Thinking Activity of I.A.Richards Figurative Language. 

-I.A Richards as a critic of Figurative Language

In criticism if we remember some important and well-known critics then we must rememberI.A Richards, in full Ivor Armstrong Richards, who was born Feb. 26, 1893, Sandbach, Cheshire, Eng.—died Sept. 7, 1979, Cambridge, Cambridge shire), English critic, poet, and teacher who was highly influential in developing a new way of reading Poetry that led to the New criticism and that also influenced some forms of reader-response criticism.

Richards was educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and was a lecturer in English and moral sciences there from 1922 to 1929. In that period he wrote three of his most influential books: The Meaning of the Meaning (1923), a pioneer work on semantics; and Principles of Literary Criticism (1924) and Practical Criticism (1929), companion volumes that he used to develop his critical method.

                                     

The latter two were based on experimental pedagogy: Richards would give students poems in which the titles and authors’ names had been removed and then use their responses for further development of their “close reading” skills. Richards is best known for advancing the close reading of Literature and for articulating the theoretical principles upon which these skills lead to “practical criticism,” a method of increasing readers’ analytic powers.

During the 1930s, Richards spent much of his time developing Basic English, a system originated by Ogden that employed only 850 words; Richards believed a universally intelligible language would help to bring about international understanding. He took Basic English to China as a visiting professor at Tsing Hua University (1929–30) and as director of the Orthological Institute of China (1936–38).

                                  

 In 1942 he published a version of Plato’s Republic in Basic English. He became professor of English at Harvard University in 1939, working mainly in primary education, and emeritus professor there in 1963. His speculative and theoretical works include Science and Poetry (1926; revised as Poetries and Sciences, 1970),Mencius on the Mind (1932), Coleridge on Imagination (1934), The Philosophy of

Rhetoric(1936),SpeculativeInstruments (1955), Beyond (1974), Poetries (1974),and Complementarities (1976). His verse has been collected in Internal Colloquies(1971) and New and Selected Poems (1978).

● Introduction: 

I.A .Richards was a  poet, dramatist, speculative  philosopher, psychologist is among the first of the 20th century critics to bring to English criticism a pscientific precision and objectivity. He is often referred to as the ‘critical consciousness’ of the modern age.He is a pioneer of New criticism.  New Criticism and the whole of modern poetics derive their strength and inspiration from the seminal writings of Richards such as Principles of Literary Criticism, Practical Criticism, Coleridge on Imagination, The Foundation of Aesthetics and The Meaning of Meaning .

His path Breaking Works are : 

1) The meaning of meaning : 1923 

2) The principles of Literary Criticism : 1924 

3) The practical Criticism : 1929 

● Practical Criticism : 

Practical Criticism is like formal studies of English Literature. It began into 1920 with a series of experiments by the Cambridge Critic I.A.Richards. He gave poems to his students without any information about who wrote them , when they were written and what is the title of the poem .

In the practical criticism of 1929. He reported on and analysed the result of his experiments. The main objective of his work was to encourage students to concentrate on the words on the page rather than dependent on the preconceived or received belief about the text. It is for  responding to all the currents of emotion and meaning in the poems and passages of prose which they read the students were to achieve what Richards called an organised response. This meant that they would clarify the various currents of thought in the poem and achieve a corresponding clarification of their own emotions.

1) Four kinds of Meaning 

2) Two uses of Language 

3) Figurative language 

●  1) Four kinds of Meaning : 

Practical Criticism is first focus on The Meaning of Meaning and The Philosophy of Rhetoric. Richards advocates a close textual and verbal analysis of poetry. In this language is important Language is made up of words and the study of words is of the paramount importance in the understanding of a work of art. According to Richards the words communicate four kinds of meaning : Sense, Feeling, Tone and Intention. So the Poetry communicates through the interplay of these four types of meanings.The metaphorical meaning arises from the inter-relations.

1) sense :

 Sense is that which is communicated by the plain literal meanings of the words.

2) Feeling :

 Feeling refers to the feelings of the writer or speaker about these items, about the state of affairs he is referring to.Feeling refers to emotions. Emotional attitude, will, attitude, desire, pleasure, displeasure.

“The sound of a word has much to do with the feeling it evokes.”

He has an attitude towards it some special interest, some personal flavour or colouring of it  and he uses language to express these feelings. In poetry the sense and feeling have a mutual dependence. So In the poetry sense and feeling both have matual connection.

3) Tone : 

Tone means the attitude of the writer towards his readers. The writer or the speaker chooses and arranges the words differently as his audience depending on his relation to them.

4) Intention : 

Intention refers to the effect one tries to produce, which modifies one’s expression. It controls the emphasis and shapes the arrangement. So understanding of all these aspects is the part of meaning of poetry. 

Generally sense predominates in the scientific language and feeling in the poetic language. The figurative language used by poets conveys emotions effectively and forcefully. Words also acquire a rich associative value in different contexts. The meaning of words is also determined by rhythm and metre. 

● Two uses of Language : 

Richards in his “Principles of Literary Criticism” expounded a theory of language, and distinguished between the two uses of language:  

1) Scientific 

2)  emotive 

1) Scientific use of language : 

In the scientific statement may be used for the sake of reference, which may be verified as true or false.  This is the scientific use of language. But it may also be used for the sake of the effects in emotions and attitudes produced by the reference.

2) Emotive Use of language : 

In  the emotive or poetic use of language. The poet uses words emotively for the purpose of evoking emotions and attitudes considered valuable by him. For example the word ‘fire’ has only one definite scientific reference to a fact in the real world. But when poetry uses it in a phrase such as ‘heart on fire’ the word evokes an emotion that of excitement. 

So the science makes statements and the  poetry makes pseudo-statements that cannot be empirically tested and proved true or false. Poetry communicates feelings and emotions. poetic truth is different from scientific truth. It is a matter of emotional belief rather than intellectual belief. Poetry not give us knowledge. Poetry is not speaks to mind but it comes from inner voice or impulses. So poetry is on the experiences of poet.

● Mixed use of Metaphors : 

“A metaphor is a shift, a carrying over of a word from its normal use to a new use”.

1.Sense Metaphors

2. Emotive Metaphors

1) Sense Metaphors : 

In the  Sense Metaphor the shift is due to a similarity between the original object and the new one. 

2) Emotive Metaphors : 

In the Emotive metaphor the shift is due to a similarity between the feelings the new situation and the normal situation arouse.

●  Three objectives to write The Practical Criticism:

1.)To introduce a new kind of documentation to those who are interested in the contemporary state of culture as critics, philosophers, as teachers, as psychologists or merely as curious persons.

2 )To provide new technique for those who wish to discover for themselves what they think and feel about poetry and why they should like or dislike it.

3.)  To prepare the way for educational methods more efficient than those we use now in developing discrimination and the power to understand what we hear and read.

● Four misunderstanding of language : 

1. Misunderstanding of the sense of poetry: Careless, intuitive reading (rhyme or irregular syntax).

2. Over-literal reading – prosaic reading.

3. Defective scholarship.

4. Difference in meaning of words in poetry and prose.

So during the read text or poem  reader may fail to understand the sense of the poet because he is ignorant of poet’s sense. The more serious cause of misunderstanding is the failure to realise that the poetic use of words is different from an assumption about  the language that can be fatal to poetry. So the Literary is one serious obstacle in the way of a right understanding of the poetic words.so it creates the misunderstanding in the poetry.

• The Value of Figurative Language:

Sometimes it is possible that figurative language may create some misunderstanding in any literary work. Therefore it is necessary to identify the figures of speech. It is difficult to turn poetry into logical respectable prose. Is combining with recognition of the liberties which are proper for a poet, and the power and value of figurative language. There are various comments on the above piece of the hyperbole of the sea-harp. The only concrete simile in the octave is the likening of the sea to a harp- surely a little extravagant.

There is no doubt that the similarity between the sound of a harp and the sea but in poetry such things do happen. It is clear that the effect proposed by the poet is, an exhilarating awakening of wonder and a fusion of the sea,lightning and spring, those three most moving manifestations of Nature.

The poet is rather negligent in the choice of means he has employed to attain his end. The enjoyment and understanding of the best poetry require s sensitiveness and discrimination with words a nicety, imaginativeness and deftness in taking their sense which will prevent the poem in question, in its original form, from attentive readers.

The use of figurative language can create problems. It is difficult to turn poetry into logical respectable prose. So in the figurative language use for enjoyment and understanding of the best poetry. It  requires a sensitiveness and discrimination with words, a nicely, imaginativeness and deftness in taking their sense which will prevent the poem in question in its original form receiving the approval of the most attentive readers.

Conclusion :    

So  in the last in  a very simple words and language describe figurative language.we can say that it is based on the  close study of the words. It can be read as only text without any background, history, writer, but just as an individual text by  interpret in our own understanding. It can also  lead a reader to misunderstanding too but even it can never be wrong because not a single thing, single interpretation in poetry can be wrong because every poetry has numbers of interpretations because a work of art has numbers of interpretations. Interpretations are based on mind, mentality, background, brought up, and society of reader. It may be leads reader to misreading of poetry but then even can be original. It is not just only based on the assumptions but it is also  based on words, emotions, intention and scientific methods. 

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SR: Gujarati Short Stories by Mahendrasinh Parmar

Two short stories by Mahendrasinh Parmar : 

Hello Readers 

Today I'm going to write about the blog is a part of Sunday Reading task. So I write about my thought on two gujrati stories by Mahendrasinh Parmar that "ISI No Haath" and "Polytechnic" - a collection of short stories published in 2016.

Let's evolute the stories : 

1) ISI No Haath : 

In this story writer talk about the religious people who always wants money and also try to make money from the name of religion. That we can see religion effects on the people's mind. The name of religion people are ready for keep any work anything. In this story writer talk about such thing. And also talk about how religion become bed for people and we can say that religion ruined the life of common people.

In this ISI nither means a terrorist group nor one particular person. 

  

Here the word ISI means three person.

                                           I :- Ishvar Dabhi

                                          S :-  Sharad Joshi

                                          I :- Indrajit Dholakiya

 

There are three character in this story. The story tell us about People made temple for the name of Dharma and they earn lots of money from the name of Dharma and God. They haven't any kind of sense that they keep wrong and one day their karma was spoil their life in bed way. 

So we can easily understand that the writer write about the some people who keep bed things and the mistake of their spoiled the name of god and also a religion or good religion people. there are three Ishvar and Sharad who lost their business because of the temple and one professor, his university's land turned into temple, so he could't tolerated this kind of land mafia works. Furthermore, policeman's son also lost his job because of the temple. So, every characters have anger towards the temple.

These all are that persons who lost their business because of that Temple.

The son of inspector , who also lost his job only because of the temple.

 This story captures reality in a very unique way. The use of metaphors and dialect of Gujarati language is amazing.

So this story highly satirised the religion. It's highlight the blind faith. On the name Religious people ruined the life of others. Religion become business to make money nothing than that. This types of thing harmful for society. It is more harmful than wars. Because it attacks on people's faith. It shows the power of religion who controlled intellectualism.

I find that the ending of story is very interesting.Because it has not the usual ending. All three person are now works in that temple who had great hatred for it. And suddenly S.P. Shinge disappears and media tries to find him.so last we can say that this way postmoder write draw these kinds of social issues in literary work , With the use of Fegarative language, use of metaphors and the comic elements makes the story worth reading.

Many times people are think these are not important things to be discussed or talked. Postmodernist literature makes use of comedy, satire and irony to highlight the dark side of the society and social issues.

1. Temples

The writer tries to present the mindset of the rioters, who never thinks morally. They never left any place to destroy, even temples also. They follows no religion in destruction.

2. Portrayal of Police

The writer presents SP as an indifference Police who didn't care much about the incident and didn't treats the criminals as the way they are treated. Just because of his personal reason as he himself wants support their act of putting Bomb in temple. Temple ruins his son's career. Therefore all these three characters Ishvar, Sharad, Indrajeet  are not ill-treated in the remind room.

3. Importance of religious work over education

In this story, SP reminds his one and only son who left his masters in Engineering and went to America for the construction of temple. How religion puts its mark on the mind of intellectual, educated people, and how it blinds the people. As it is obvious that after the construction of temple, his son becomes unemployed and then only he  will realise the importance of his degree which he has left in middle.

4.Construction of Temple frustrates the intellectual mind

The Professor Indrajeet Dholakiya, get frustrated with the construction of temple in the area where all the shops, school are getting destroy. It ruins all the business which were going on in that place.

Therefore all these three characters decided to put Bomb in the place where the construction is going on. But caught by police and Bomb was not blasted, it get defused.

2)Intellectual Indubhai story:-

It's story of Indubhai. He was teacher. As teacher he was very honest and kind person. He doesn't allowed students to do cheating in exams. So he was  very honest and moral person. He was very intellectual person that's why he known as intellectual Indubhai. He has read many books. He was very knowledgeable person.

Double meaning of intellectual :

Here writer satires on the political leaders who has great intellectual power by speaking on any subject in four to five languages. So he satirise on the political leaders.Another meaning of intellectual is the person who have great knowledge of things. Indubhai has great knowledge of literature. He was not only intellectual but also emotional person.

  This story was also about suffering of intellectual people. It also highlight the Western thinkers like Nietzsche, Darwin, Milton, Karl Marx, Rilke and Louis Pasteur. Also it describes the Indian literature like Mahabharat , Ramayana etc. Indubhai also teach humanism to the students in his lectures. He talked about thoughts of Gandhiji and other great thinkers.

● Connection with Real life Incidents :

    This story also connected with real life incident post Gothra rights. In this story also talked about from British perspective.

                                       

Writer took examples while describe Majority and Minority crises as "April as cruellest month". In this people burn the houses and trains. Also the Holy books like Ramayana and Mahabharata ,  krishna nu jivan Sangeet, Astitvano Utsav and Satyana prayogo burned.

It can be interpret as loss of morality and humanity into people .  At the end Indubhai couldn't able to be normal because he was intellectual people , he has ability to see the things with deep understanding. He could see the things which others can't see. At the end his humanity , morality and intellectualism loss in front of the cruel society.  It can be seen his intellect become reason behind his sufferings.

    The writer has great ability to connect the real life situation and imaginative stories together. He wrote not only about the incidents but also minutely wrote about situation of people and effects of that incidents upon the mind of people.

Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot : 

Hello Readers

            Today I'm going to write about the task of "Thinking Activity" given by our professor Heenaba Zala. In this blog I'm going to give answer about some questions of the play 'Waiting for Godot'. So, let's try to know about the play.

Who written the play 'Waiting for Godot': 

Samuel Beckett : 

   Samuel Barclay Beckett (13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator. A resident of Paris for most of his adult life, he wrote in both French and English.More Information.

About the play : Waiting for Godot 

Waiting for Godot is remaining only two characters Vladimir and Estragon who waits someone named Godot. In this play no female character, Plot less play, no beginning no end.  This play also translation of his own original French language play “En attendant Godot”. Its Tragicomic play which divided into two acts.

Characters:

Vladimir (Didi)

Vladimir is most easily distinguished from Estragon by his somewhat more elevated perception and intellect. While Estragon laments his physical limitations, Vladimir can be found musing over the struggle in which he is trapped. He enjoys discourse about mental and emotional dilemmas, occasionally referring to his limited memories of the Bible in an attempt to make sense of his life. He is pragmatic and philosophical in regards to the troubles that plague he and Estragon. He exercises almost absolute control over Estragon and asserts his supremacy very subtly.

When Estragon is beaten for the second time and blames Vladimir for not saving him, Vladimir responds that if Estragon was beaten, it was because he had done something to deserve it. He further admits that if he had been around, he would have kept Estragon from doing that bad thing, and therefore saved him from his beating. In a sense, he takes responsibility for being Estragon's conscience. He is confident that without him, Estragon's existence is incomplete. Even in his position of limited superiority, Vladimir asserts his dependence on Estragon, saying "You're my only hope" and fearing that a suicide attempt would leave one of them alone.

Most of the aphorisms and sagacious sayings emanate from Vladimir. One such question is at the end of Act II, when Pozzo and Lucky are leaving - "Where do you go from here?" He is actually questioning the existence of Pozzo and Lucky and their approach to life, an inquiry at the heart of the play. He has pride, as exhibited when he is ashamed of Estragon for gnawing on Pozzo's discarded bones. He also suffers from guilt. He constantly interrogates and checks himself on his own shortcomings. "Was I sleeping, while the others suffered?" Assuming that he has done little or perhaps nothing to improve the miseries of others, he suffers from the stigma of shame and disgrace that he has turned blind to all the sufferings around him. He regrets that "tomorrow" when he "wakes" he will have nothing good and worthy to recollect from his today.

Apart from a stronger sense of moral judgment than the other characters, Vladimir is still bestowed with a sense of indecisiveness. His constant peering into the hat and his walking back and forth are indications of his restless spirit and a longing for stability. At one point he becomes so frustrated with his lack of action that he nearly despairs.

Vladimir is the most committed, the most constant. He reminds Estragon that they must wait for Godot. Perhaps this is simply because his memory is sharper; he remembers many things that Estragon seems to have forgotten. In a sense, Vladimir becomes the conscience of mankind, where his friend Estragon is the body.

Estragon (Gogo)

Estragon is a portrait of physical pain and need. He is first seen complaining of a sore foot. His hunger and thirst never seem to stop or end. He is physically beaten every night. His corporeal suffering seems unending and he is trapped in the moment, with no memory of yesterday and no hope for tomorrow. He is only kept going by the fact that Vladimir remembers yesterday and hopes for tomorrow.

If it is true that Vladimir represents the soul and Estragon, the body, then it is clear that the two men are truly inseparable. Hence they embrace warmly after their periods of separation. They must be inseparable for existence to be certain. One cannot live without the other in the ever-moving drama of life.

Pozzo

He is introduced in the play as a slave driver. As a rich man he is accustomed to materialistic ways of wealth and opulence. He commands total attention and feels proud to introduce himself - "I present myself: Pozzo." Any mistake regarding his identity is met with ferocious resentment. He prides upon declaring that the rest are humans like him, but considers himself superior to the rest. He asserts that he is forced to be a part of this society, because he has no society of his "likes".

His scorn and contempt for Lucky knows no bounds. The abuses that he hurts and heaps on him and the amount of control he has on him serve as an example of his exploiting nature. Lucky is reduced to an automaton with no voice of his own. In the first act, Pozzo makes himself comfortable at the expense of his slave. Pozzo shows some generosity in allowing Gogo to collect the leftover bones. However, he is particular about Lucky's right - "In theory the bones go to the carrier."

By Act II, the proud and sometimes cruel Pozzo has lost his sight and must necessarily be led around by his slave. His helplessness is seen when he falls down and cries for assistance to get up. From an arrogant and wealthy exploiter he changes to a pathetic helpless man.

It is impossible to consider Pozzo as a character independent of his slave, Lucky. In the first place, they are bound together by a rope. At no point are the two men separated. In the first act, the rope is long; the audience sees Lucky long before they see Pozzo. Pozzo presents himself with God-like pomp, which is probably the reason he is mistaken for Godot. In symbolic terms, the god- like character is bound to his inferior slave, but the distance between them is great. In the second act, however, the rope is shorter. At the same time, the god-like character has fallen into pathetic disarray. He is blind and weak. All the pomp and extravagance which once defined him is gone. In this act, his slave must care for him. His greatness is gone.

Lucky

Lucky is presented more like a clown than a person; he is a dog doing tricks for his master, stripped of dignity and autonomy. He is not only bound by rope to his master, he is put on display to think and dance at Pozzo's will. His very name mocks the misfortune that is his life. His constant carrying of baggage and never putting it down symbolizes the ample burden resting on his soul. He carries it willingly and wholeheartedly. Abuses like "hog", "pig" etc. have little effect on him. Like a dog, he carries the whip to his master, and takes his abuse unquestioningly. All these inhuman treatments meted out to him do not provoke in him any retaliation. Lucky does not like strangers, and is very much averse to their help and compassion. He is a humble slave to Pozzo, in total submission to his master's will and pleasure. The wound on his neck and the mistreatment do nothing to dilute his faithfulness.

Lucky is incomprehensible in Act I, mute in Act II. If Pozzo represents fallen greatness, Lucky must represent weakness and foolishness. He "thinks" but possesses no reason; he dances but possesses no grace. He is an animal, trained to react to his master. When Pozzo is incapacitated, Lucky leads him around, but it seems clear by the way they stumble off that the guidance is awkward and without ease.

1. What do you think about the characters of the play?

Waiting for Godot is a two-act play by Samuel Beckett, translated from Beckett’s own French script. First performed in English in 1953, it has been heralded as one of the most important plays of the 20th Century. It is a central work of absurdism, though it was not originally received with much acclaim. In fact, the play’s frank treatment of the body provoked some horror in its initial audiences. 

The play begins with two friends, Vladimir and Estragon, waiting outdoors. Estragon’s feet ache, and he struggles to remove his boot. Vladimir ponders Estragon’s complaints while Estragon tries to remember the previous night. They bicker and argue to no end; when Estragon announces that he is leaving, Vladimir reminds him that they are waiting for a man named Godot. However, they cannot agree on how they are to meet Godot other than to wait beside a tree.

Estragon falls asleep and is woken by Vladimir, who begins to tell a joke but cannot finish without urinating. Whenever he laughs, his kidneys hurt. Growing weary, Estragon asks Vladimir whether suicide should be an option. Estragon satiates his hunger by eating a carrot Vladimir offers him.

Lucky, a silent slave with a rope around his neck, is led onto the stage by Pozzo, his master. Pozzo is pleasant to Vladimir and Estragon, but he treats the obedient Lucky very badly. Pozzo eats an elaborate meal. Vladimir, after a period of silence, admonishes Pozzo for the way he treats Lucky. Pozzo does not care and plans to sell Lucky, who bursts into tears. As Estragon tries to comfort Lucky, the slave kicks him. Pozzo reminisces about the time he has spent with Lucky and offers Vladimir and Estragon compensation. Estragon wants money, but Pozzo instructs Lucky to entertain the men with an unimpressive dance and a dreary monologue. Pozzo and Lucky leave. Alone again, Vladimir and Estragon think about whether they have met Pozzo and Lucky on a previous occasion. A messenger arrives and tells them that Godot will not meet with them this evening but might see them tomorrow. Vladimir interrogates the messenger. Vladimir and Estragon decide to find shelter someplace else and spend the night there.

The next day, Vladimir sings a song about a dying dog but struggles to remember the lyrics. Estragon claims to have been beaten the previous day but has no discernable injury. The tree, previously bare, now has leaves. Both men struggle to remember yesterday. Vladimir points to Estragon’s wound, inflicted by Lucky, and they discover Estragon’s boots. Estragon, however, insists that they are not his, even though they fit him perfectly. Vladimir offers Estragon food, but Estragon declines. Vladimir begins to sing a lullaby before noticing Lucky’s hat. He wakes the sleeping Estragon and the two frantically ponder its meaning. They return to waiting for Godot, imitating Pozzo and Lucky in an attempt to entertain themselves.

Lucky reappears, now leading Pozzo by a short rope. Pozzo trips and both men collapse in a heap. Estragon wants to kick Lucky in revenge for his wound. Before he can, Pozzo reveals that he has lost his sight and that Lucky has lost his voice; both have lost their sense of time. Pozzo cannot remember meeting Vladimir and Estragon; he acknowledges that, by tomorrow, he will likely not remember this meeting. He leaves, ruminating on his despair. Estragon falls back to sleep.

A messenger—perhaps the same boy as from the day before or—appears. Vladimir realizes he is caught in a circular narrative, repeating his experiences. He predicts the boy’s message: Godot will not be arriving today. He chases the messenger away and demands that the boy remember him ahead of their next meeting. Estragon wakes up and removes his boots. Vladimir and Estragon consider killing themselves again and test Estragon’s belt to see whether it will bear their weight if they hang themselves. The belt breaks. Estragon’s trousers fall down. Vladimir and Estragon decide that they will bring a more suitable length of rope with them the next day. If Godot fails to come again, they will kill themselves. They decide to find somewhere to spend the night, but they do not move. 

2. What do you say about their activities and its significance?

Vladimir and Estragon also does many things like…

Estragon shoes:

     Estragon removes the shoe from his foot.  From that it can be said that he wants to remove the burden of life.  He wants to show that we are carrying a lot of weight in our lives.  We should remove it like this boot and throw it away.  Such an event is often seen within this play.  Therefore, it can be said that we should follow the ups and downs of life.  Such things happen in the lives of many people.  At first glance, it seems we are crazy.  But when we examine the reality behind them, we realize that such an event has taken place in their lives.  Which is why he is behaving like this.  Mentally, their condition is not good. Secondly, it can be said that they may be victims of unemployment.  So they have nothing to do but just this one thing.

Vladimir in hat

     Vladimir takes off his hat.  It means he is shirking his responsibility.  If we look at the hat as a metaphor here.  Responsibility on the head.  Here you can see the price he wants to take when he takes off his hat.  He is waiting for Godot, which means he seems to be waiting for his owndeath.  They are no longer interested in life.  And just wanting to sleep in a long nap itself might be it.

Tree Wait :

     The play also features a tree.  Perhaps this tree is shown because it represents time.  As the seasons change, so do the leaves on the tree.  Over time, the trees are destroyed.  That is how human life is destroyed.  This tree also seems to be a godsend.  It has been standing still in one place for a long time.  As if waiting for someone. He will also be waiting for God with these two persons to deliver me from this life now.

Draw with a rope

     Pozzo tries to keep his servant under his control by tying him to a rope.  Which makes him do different things.  As he dances, he is asked to bring something.  Which represents the matter of a servant.  How much the servant does for his master.  To please his boss, always be ready to help him.  In order to please his master, the servant can easily do things that he does not like. Pozzo himself is so ruthless that he gets the fruits of his deeds and finally he becomes blind.  But his servant does not forsake him and accompanies him even in his blindness.  That leads us to what humanity is still living.

Talking each other:

     In this paly we see two characters talking to each other a lot.  His words are vain and dull.  Yet their words are reasonable to keep each other company.  While Vladimir and Estragon both company each other.  Then they have a lot of discussions with each other.  When Estragon falls asleep Vladimir tells him that please don't sleep.  Because I feel lonely.  You talk to me  So that both of us pass the time.  I wouldn't like to be alone if you fell asleep.  From this we can say that this story is about supporting each other. The situation in which loneliness is not experienced is placed in it.

3. Is there any similarity between the situations in the play and the lockdown period of 2020?

Yes, I can see lots of similarity between the situation in the play and the lockdown period in this pendamic the Corona virus spread everywhere, and we have facing many trouble in this time.

        

 Many of laboures of factories are go back to their own village and walked many kilometers for rich their home. Many people died for this virus. Lots of families are lose their relatives. In this pendamic humans are be consumed in home like cage. Nobody have work even some of poor people don't have money also don't have things for eating, staying and drinking that they need. 

4.  Did you feel like existential crisis?

With existential crises, there's usually a turning point and moment of awareness that's often linked with worrying about death. This turning points causes people to think about and question the meaning in their lives. The students studying in the villages had to face many crises to study.  Because education was online and the Internet was unlikely to come to the villages.  Students living in villages also did not have enough Android mobiles.  Which I also had to face.

5. What did you do to pass time?

In this situation in similar way I spent my lockdown time at home with my whole family. We can face many difficulties because we cannot go out but also we enjoy life with family. In lockdown time we keep many activities for spent time.

 6. How was your psychological condition?

In this pendamic we really suffered lot both mentally and psychologically. Because of this lockdown many students disturb in study and I also disturb for that because when my B.A. last year exam was began and we waiting and preparing for exam but in that day my exam was postponed for the lockdown and our whole preparation gone useless. We can keep waiting for exam more months with lots of stress. 

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