Shakespeare's play Macbeth

This blog is a response to a task assigned by Dilip Barad sir. The blog is about Shakespeare's play Macbeth.

MCQs:

1)What is the genre of Shakespeare's play "Macbeth"? 

b) Tragedy

2)Which of the following best describes Macbeth's tragic flaw?

a) Ambition

3)The witches' prophecies play a significant role in Macbeth's downfall. What is the primary theme associated with these prophecies?

c) Justice

4)Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene is a turning point in the play. What emotion is she struggling with during this scene? 

c) Guilt

Question:

1. Describe the symbolic significance of the opening scenes in Act I & IV involving the three witches in the play "Macbeth.

Ans. The three witches in the opening scene suggest the superstitious beliefs at that time. And while cooking they add some body parts of different animals like eyes and tail,so it also shows how humans can use other animals or other people to do something good for his own sake. 

2. How does Macbeth's ambition lead to his moral deterioration throughout the play? Provide examples from the play to support your answer.

Ans. As one can notice in the play from the beginning of the play he is ambitious for power, for that he does so many morally wrong things. His first mistake is to kill Dunkan in his sleep. That he regrets a lo0t and after that both Mecbeth and Lady Macbeth are unable to sleep. Second, he believes in witchcraft. For instance if we look at the play, witches play a vital role in the downfall of Macbeth. The prediction of witches makes Macbeth more fearful of his destiny. Killing Mecduffs wife and child is also a big mistake he makes, that makes Macduff against him.

3. In what ways does the motif of ‘blood’ serve as a symbol in "Macbeth"? Explain its significance in relation to guilt and violence. (‘Blood’ is mentioned around 40 times in the play).

Ans. If we look at the whole play we never find Macbeth and Lady Macbeth spending time in peace because they suffer from the murder of the King Dunkan in his sleep. Here they make a sin as Shakespeare describes it because killing a guest who believes blindly in Macbeth and while sleeping that wou;ld be the worst thing someone would do as a sin. So because of this, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are not able to forgive themselves for doing such a terrible thing, and that thing one can see throughout the play. They try to wash the hands but blood is still there and they also discuss that even seven seas water can't wash this blood and scent from egypt can’t vanish its smell.

4.. Discuss the impact of the supernatural elements, such as the witches and prophecies, on the plot and characters of "Macbeth."

Ans. In the very first scene we find that witches are cooking something and they add different things in the bowl. And we find that destiny is more important in the play because whatever happens in the play it is related to the prophecies. Characters somehow go toward what have been told in the prophecies. If Macbeth does not believe in witchcraft and prophecies then he would not act in a certain way that is described in the play. So we find in "Mecbeth" supernatural elements play vital role as moving play further and as cause and effect rule.

5. Compare and contrast the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. How do their personalities and motivations contribute to the unfolding of the tragedy?

Ans. Macbeth starts as a loyal and brave warrior, but his ambition and inner turmoil lead him to commit immoral acts to attain power. His initial hasitation to murder Duncan shows his moral conflict, but his ambition and susceptibility to manipulation by the witches and Lady Macbeth drive him towards the path of darkness.

Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, is strong-willed and cunning, playing a pivotal role in Macbeth's descent into tyranny. She is initially the driving force behind the murder of Duncan, urging Macbeth to seize power. However, her guilt and deteriorating mental state showcase the toll their actions take on her conscience.

Transitional Poetry

What is Transitional poetry?

• Transitional poetry is a revolt against the old patterns of writing poetry.

• This movement was against the rational, intellectual, artificial, and unromantic poetry of the early 18th century.

• New poets believed that poetry should be spontaneous ,natural ,close to men's day-to-day lives, and natural.

• This poetic movement began with the publication of James Thomson's poem The Seasons in 1726.

• The Seasons is a poem that differs from other neoclassical poems of the time in both style and theme.

 

Historical Background:

(a) Decline of the Party Feud:

In the 18th century, there was a contest between two political parties: the Tories and the Whigs. But in 1760, with the help of George III Tories came into power.

(b) Commercial and imperial expansion:

The 18th century saw significant wealth and importance growth in the British Empire, fostering research and original work. The possession of India and America inspired new territories, and the clash of ideals led to a fresh literary effort. We can find it in Edmund Burke's works.

(c) The French Revolution:

The Revolution, a deeply diffused unrest, began long before its climax in 1789. Revolutionary ideas stirred literature to the depths; they also affected English literature.

 

The Age of Transition:

 

1. The double tendency:

 

The 18th century saw a period of transition, marked by two main tendencies.

the old order of classical writing style. It was led by Samuel Johnson.

The search for the new order of Romanticism: The New Romanticism featured a return to nature, a fresh interest in man's position in the world of nature, enlightened sympathy for the poor and oppressed, and a revolt against conventional literary techniques.

 

2. The New Romanticism:

 

Return to nature: New poets started writing poetry on natural elements, then spent time in nature and tried to put it into their poetry.

The poets developed a sympathy for the poor and oppressed; they started writing about the common man's life.

Revolt against classical writing styles like 'heroic couplets'. Instead, they wrote poetry with simplicity and sincerity.

Fresh treatment of romantic themes in such poems as 'The Lay of the Last Minstrel, The Ancient Mariner, and 'La Belle Dame sans Merci'. Writers turned to supernatural stories, legends, and the more colorful periods of history, especially the Middle Ages.

 

3. The New Learning: 

 

The 18th century saw a minor Renaissance in Europe, characterized by increased wealth, comfort, and a higher standard of human intellect. Leading English writers, such as Gibbon, Hume, and Sterne, visited Paris, the hub of European culture. This led to the revival of the Romantic movement in literature, resulting in research into archaic forms like ballads and new editions of older authors like Shakespeare and Chaucer. Bishop Percy's Reliaues (1765) is a landmark in the Romantic movement's history.

 

4. The new philosophy:

 

Voltaire's new thinking brought about a change in the mentality of people, with Scotland's philosopher Hume leading the way. The new spirit helped to demolish old beliefs, paving the way for fresher creations and a more optimistic Romantic ideal.

5. The Growth of Historical Research: 

History, a late literary form, gained importance in the 18th century, originating in France and Scotland. Gibbon played a vital role in it, being fluent in both French and English.

 

6. The New Realism:

 

At first, the spirit of inquiry suppressed romance, but it drew all mankind into literary endeavors, leading to the development of novels. That focused on human life, portraying themselves in detail. Romanticists, in sympathy and freshness of treatment, followed the new ideal.

 

7. The Decline of Political Writing:

 

The party spirit decayed, pamphleteering was over, and politicians were not in favor of poets and critics. On public demand, writers like Johnson and Goldsmith started publishing letters. But later in the century, the pamphlets took their place due to political bustle.

 

Transitional poets:

 

(1) Robert Burns (1759–1796)

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet endowed with an unrivalled gift of song. His poetry is marked by the strong democratic quality and revolutionary spirit of his age. He maintained utmost sincerity towards his surroundings while describing them. He gave vent to the his feelings of the peasants, their joys and sorrows, thoughts and feelings, humour and philosophy, their superstitions and beliefs through his poetry.

 

His famous poem "The Cotter's Saturday Night" is written in the Spenserian stanza. In the poem, Robert Burns contrasts homely life and the simple purity of the peasant and his family with wealth and luxury. He skillfully brought natural passion back into English poetry. Robert Burns is a mouthpiece of the growing faith of his time in liberty, equality, and fraternity.

 

(2) James Thomson (1700–48)

Though James Thomason was a contemporary of Alexander Pope, he broke away from the traditions of his school. He discarded the heroic couplet and expressed himself in blank verse and the Spenserian stanza. His famous "The Seasons" is more important for its accurate and sympathetic description of natural scenes. 

 

James Thomson is famous for his "Castle of Indolence," which is written in a Spenserian stanza and captures much of the imaginative colors of the Elizabethan poets.

 

(3)Oliver Goldsmith: (1728–74)

 

Goldsmith was an intimate friend of Dr. Samuel Johnson, but he showed romantic traits in his poems "The Deserted Village" and "The Traveller." His natural description, a peculiar note of sentiment and melancholy, and his humanitarian outlook for poor villagers bring him closer to the romantics of the 19th century.

 

(4) Thomas Gray (1716–71)

 

One of the most important precursors of romantic revival is Thomas Gray. His "Elegy Written in the Country Churchyard" has made him immortal. He started his career as a classical poet and ended as a real romantic.

 

As W. H. Hudson says, "His work is a kind of epitome of the changes that were coming over the literature of his time." His elegy is full of romantic spirit, a description of nature, a note of melancholy, love for common men, and the twilight.

 

(5) Thomas Chatterton (1752–70)

 

Thomas Chatterton came into prominence when he said that he had discovered the old poems of Thomas Rowley, the 15th-century monk. Chatterton had discovered them in a box lying in a Bristol church. Chatterton's work considerably influenced romantic poets.

 

(6) James Macpherson (1736–96)

James Macpherson also published some poems by a third-century poet named "Ossian". The poems are highly romantic, and they transport the reader to a new world of heroism and supernaturalism.

 

(7) William Collins (1721–59) 

William Collins is a fine combination of classical and romantic poems. His "Ode on the Popular Superstitions on the Highlands" and "To Liberty" influenced Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In his poems, there is purity of music and clarity of style.

 

(8) William Cowper - (1731-1800) 

William Cowper is a blend of the old and the new. His famous poem "The Task" is written in blank verse. William Cowper was not a student of poetry as an art; he composed poems just to give vent to his pent up feelings in his own fashion.

 

In his famous poem, "The Task" he breaks away from the traditions of classical poetry and pursues an independent course. "The Task" is teemed with the spirit of humanitarianism. The poem is pregnant with the poet's philosophy and his ideas of liberty.

 

The poem also attacks the practise of militarism and the slave trade. Cowper was also the revolutionist who was preaching the gospel of 'back to nature' and the simplification of life.

 

(9) William Blake (1757-1827)

William Blake started a revolt against all social, political, and literary conventions of the 18th century. He was even more romantic than the romantic poets of the 19th century. Blake is famous for his "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience". His passion for freedom was akin to that which moved Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Shelley in their earlier years. Blake's mysticism also makes him a romantic poet. a

 

(10) George Crabbe (1754-1832) 

 

George Crabbe expressed the penury, misery, and discontent of the poor through his poems, for he himself witnessed it closely. Realism is the keynote of Crabbe's poetry. He says, "I sing the cot as truth will paint it and as bard will not."

 

There is a fine blending of realism and romanticism in Crabbe. "The Parish Register", "The Village", "Tales in Verse", and "The Borough" are some famous poems by Crabbe. There is a fine, realistic description of country life and nature.

 

 

Resources: 

 

Book:

History of English Literature- Edward Albert

 

Websites:

www.studocu.com

www.litgalaxy2019.com

Neo-classical Age

This blog is a response to a task assigned by Vaidehi Ma'am. (Department of English MKBU) This blog contains three questions and answer and in the end one ppt is uploaded thay is about the life and the works of Oliver Goldsmith.

Q:1 Comparison of General Characteristics of Elizabethan age and Neo-classical age.

The Elizabethan Age, named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, spanned from roughly 1558 to 1603. Here are the characteristics of the Elizabethan Age.

(Queen Elizabeth I)

1. Literary Flourishing: 

The Elizabethan era is mostly known for its creative period of writing. Many major writers wrote their best works during this period of time, for example, William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Edmund Spenser.

2. Exploration and Expansion: 

Britain started making colonies all around the world, so new knowledge and literature were produced during that period of time.

3. Renaissance Influence: 

The Renaissance spirit also affected Britain, so writers were also affected by that, and it flourished in art, creativity, and curiosity.

4. Religious Changes: 

With the establishment of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth became the supreme governor.

5. Social Hierarchy:

There were three class divisions during that period of time: nobility, gentry, and commoners. These classes determine their place in society.

6. Theatre and Entertainment:

The opening of the Globe theatre and major playwrights like Shakespeare made this era of theatre and entertainment. People appreciated theatre a lot during this period of time.

7. Fashion and Clothing:

Clothing during Elizabethan age

Fashion was a symbol of status and wealth. Both men and women wore elaborate clothing, with ruffs, doublets, and intricate fabrics being common.

8. Development in Architecture: 

Architectural styles of the era can be seen in structures like Hampton Court Palace, which blended Gothic and Renaissance elements.

9. Innovation and Science: 

The era witnessed advancements in various fields, including navigation, cartography, and the beginnings of modern science.

10. Political Intrigue: 

The Elizabethan Age was marked by political intrigue and tensions, including challenges to Elizabeth I's rule and international conflicts like the Anglo-Spanish War.

The Neoclassical Era, often referred to as the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason, spanned roughly from the late 17th century to the late 18th century. This period was marked by a revival of interest in classical art, literature, and philosophy and a focus on reason, logic, and scientific inquiry. Here are the characteristics of Neo-classical era.

1. Reason and Rationality: 

The Neoclassical era emphasised logic and reason. Literary works are also written on the basis of reason and logic.

2. Essence of classicism: 

There was imitation in literary writing. Writers were mostly influenced by Greek and Roman styles of writing. In other arts and architecture, the same influence can be noticed.

3. Predominance of Prose: 

Neo-classical era, also known as the Era of Prose. In this era, most works were written on reason and reality, so one can find that prose writing dominates poetry.

4. Political Writing: 

Literary works were written on topics related to politics and contemporary situations in society. Pamphlets were also published at that time.

5. Clubs and coffee houses: 

The culture of going to clubs and coffee houses started during this period of time. Political periodicals and pamphlets were also distributed in the coffee houses.

6. Periodical writing: 

Periodicals and magazines also made their place during this period, and people liked that a lot. With newspapers, people also started reading periodicals and magazines.

7. The new morality: 

people's beliefs and ethical values changed. The writers established new morality in their writings.

8. Novel: 

The new form of writing is established as a novel. It was new during that time, so it is called a novel.

9. Prosaic poetry 

Prosaic Poetry is a style of writing that includes both prose and poetry. It is different from the traditional way of writing; it does not have rhyming words. This style is more natural.

10. New Publishing Houses: 

During the late 18th century, new publishing houses came into existence that gave speed to more writing styles and works published quickly.

In both eras, certain changes occurred that affected the age and made the era more productive at that time.

Q:2. Who is your favourite writer and your favourite text from the Neoclassical Age? How is he/she different from the writers of Elizabethan Age and Romantic Age?

Ans. My favourite writer is Oliver Goldsmith, and my favourite text from the Neoclassical age is the novel 'Vicar of the Wakefield' by Oliver Goldsmith.

In Oliver Goldsmith's writing, I found the essence of realism that gave me nostalgic feelings. He has a different writing style that differs from all other writers. He also plays a vital role as a transitional poet. His poetry also has that rural, pleasant scent.

Other major works like 'Good natur'd Man', 'She Stoops to Conquer, and 'Deserted Village' showcase his skill in writing plays and poems. In his novels, we find good characters and plots.

Q:3. Describe any one thing about this age which you look upto. 

The name of the age suggests Augustan age. It is a creative period like Augustus Caesar's time. So one thing I like about this age is that writers started experiencing new things with the traditional way of writing. That's why it is called the Neo-classical Age. Neo means new, and classical means traditional. So it has the collaboration of writing new and old ways together. Before the romantic era, this era provided the basis for new ideas to think and write differently, unlike traditional ways of writing.

Oliver Goldsmith.pptx from YashrajsinhSodha

Aristotle's Poetics

This blog is written as a response to the task given by Dilip Barad, sir. (Department of English, MKBU)

Que. Have you studied any tragedies during B.A. programme? Who was/were the tragic protagonist/s in those tragedies? What was their 'hamartia'?5. Did the 'Plot' of those tragedies follow necessary rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle? (Like chain of cause and effect, principle of probability and necessity, harmonious arrangement of incidents, complete, certain magnitude, unity of action etc)

Ans.

In B.A. Shakespeare's tragedy 'Othello' was there, so we have studied that tragedy. In this tragedy, Othello himself is the protagonist. If we find the cause of hamartia in the play Othello, it is jealousy and misjudgement. In the play, we find that Iago makes Othello feel insecure about his marriage with Desdemona, showing fake evidence that Desdemona has an affair with Cassio. Othello's inability to control his jealousy and his willingness to believe Iago's fake proofs about his wife, Desdemona, result in a series of tragic events, including the murder of Desdemona and his own eventual suicide. This tragic flaw of jealousy is central to the tragic end of the play.

We try to evaluate the plot of the play with the rules and regulations given by Aristotle.

1.Chain of cause and effect: One can find it clear in the play that each and every action has a trigger point where things move, so this rule is maintained in the play.

2.Principle of probability and necessity: That rule is also maintained in the play; one can find the new probability that can happen in the plot. The principle of necessity is also there because the main character, Othello, is bound by his own belief system, so he is supposed to act in a certain way.

3.Harmonious arrangement of the incidents: As we know, Shakespeare is really good at making arrangements of the incidents; here he also did the same as the plot moves forward in a creative way.

4. Completeness: It is a complete tragic event. At first, we find Othello's rise, and at the end, the sudden fall, so it also follows this principle.

5. Magnitude: The play is divided into five acts. Each act has its own significance. So it stays within the perfect definition of magnitude.

6. Unity of action: We find actions are well organised. With each and every step, we can see how the protagonist is going towards his own downfall. Iago, as the antagonist, also plays his role quite well as a man in action.

So, overall, we can find that mostly all the rules of tragedy are well maintained in the play 'Othello'.

Photography Workshop

There are many types of arts: writing, painting, music, and cinema. I knew about that all, but recently I got to know about a different art: photography. I always wondered how people are able to click such wonderful photographs, but now I know.

On August 17, the Department of English organised a photography workshop to introduce the new art form of photography. New art in the sense that it started to be considered an art in the late 19th century. Our department invited Kaushik Ghelani sir, to help enhance our photography skills. The workshop was divided into two parts. In the first part, we learned about the rules of clicking photographs, framing, and using the cameras. In the second part, we clicked photographs on our own, and then Kaushik sir discussed what mistakes one should avoid while clicking photographs.

(Kaushik Ghelani sir sharing his photos while explaining the art of photography.)

In the first part of the workshop, we learned many things. Before clicking the photograph, one should create a frame in mind about what type of photo one wants to click. And according to Kaushik sir, "it's not about the camera that you own; it's about the skill that you have that is going to decide whether you are a good photographer or not". Framing plays a vital role in photography; how one sees the world determines how one captures it. If we look around us, everyone has a smartphone. On smartphones, too, there are so many features that we are not aware of. One can click good pictures with the mobile camera too. Sometimes we don't know our equipment well. That's why we lack the skill of photography, according to Kaushik, sir. We don't have to take many courses to learn photography; it's a skill that can be developed through experience.

(This photo was clicked by Avani Jani, a third-semester student of the Department of English, as a task given by Kaushik sir.)

In addition, Kaushik Sir talked about the background story of the photo. One has to create a story that appeals to the viewers. For example, in the above photograph, one can see that the flowers are breaking their boundaries and trying to go beyond the limits, so when we click a photo, we should always consider the message behind the photograph. Moreover, Kaushik sir said that it's nothing like being a professional photographer. Everyone can be a photographer, but the condition is that one should know how to see the world.

As we see asthenic values in any other art form, it applies to photography as well. It has its own charm in terms of beauty, emotions, and background story. When we can feel the thrill in our hearts while looking at any art, then we can consider it a pure form of art. We also learned many technical things in photography, like foreground, midground, and background. One thing that is really important in photography is 'breathing space'. While clicking on any photograph, one should avoid extra zooming. For example, when we click on a photograph of a bird, one should add some space so the viewer can see where the bird is sitting or going. One should also avoid negative space; that means when in the frame there is nothing interesting, that place should be avoided from the frame. One should always know what to include and exclude from the frame.

There are also many composition rules in photography. For example, the Golden Ratio, the Rule of One Third, leading lines, patterns, and symmetry These are some basic rules that one should consider in the art of photography. There is another rule that was added by Kaushik sir, 'Breaking the Rule'. It is not always necessary to tie up to the rule; we can explore more in this art that is yet to be discovered. So through experience, we can learn more than what is predefined by someone else. Kaushik sir also talked about videography. The same rules apply to videography as well as to photography. He also mentioned that "a good videographer must have been a good photographer".

After the first session, Kaushik sir gave us the task of clicking photographs on our campus and selecting the best five images to share with him. For that, we have an hour. When we returned to the class, everyone shared their photographs. Then, we discussed what types of mistakes we have made in capturing photographs and what the good things about the photos are. Sir also gave three ranks to the students who clicked the best pictures. At last, all the winners got gifts, and some students shared their experiences related to the workshop.

 

(These are some photographs clicked by me for the task given by Kaushik sir)

It was a really good learning experience for us to have Kaushik sir with us. Now, when I see my old photographs that were clicked by me, I can identify the mistakes that I made, and I know how to avoid them in the future.