Saturday, February 25, 2023

Orlando

 How far do you feel that Orlando is influenced by Vita and Virginia’s love affair? Does it talk only about that or do you find anything else too?



Orlando, by Virginia Woolf, is a complex and multi-layered novel that explores a range of themes and ideas beyond the influence of Vita and Virginia's love affair. While it is true that Vita Sackville-West was a significant influence on the character of Orlando, the novel is not simply a retelling of their relationship. Rather, it is a work that delves into questions of gender identity, history, and the nature of artistic creation.

The character of Orlando is a fascinating exploration of gender and identity, as he transforms from a man to a woman over the course of the novel. This transformation is not simply a physical one but also reflects a profound shift in how Orlando understands and experiences the world around him/her. In this way, Woolf uses Orlando's story to challenge traditional notions of gender and to explore the fluidity of identity.

Moreover, the novel is also a meditation on the nature of history and the ways in which it shapes our understanding of the world. Through Orlando's experiences, Woolf shows how history is not a fixed and objective record of events but rather a subjective interpretation of the past that is constantly changing and evolving.

Finally, Orlando is also a reflection on the process of artistic creation and the relationship between the artist and their subject. Woolf uses Orlando's transformation and evolution as a metaphor for the process of artistic creation, suggesting that the artist must constantly adapt and evolve in order to capture the essence of their subject.

In conclusion, while Vita and Virginia's love affair undoubtedly had an influence on Orlando, the novel is a complex and multi-faceted work that explores a range of themes and ideas beyond their relationship. It is a meditation on gender identity, history, and the nature of artistic creation, and continues to be celebrated for its innovative and experimental approach to storytelling.


Who do you think is confused about their identity Vita or Virginia? Explain with illustrations


Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf were both writers who lived in the early 20th century and were part of the Bloomsbury Group, a collection of intellectuals and artists who were known for their unconventional lifestyles and ideas. Both women were known for their exploration of identity and sexuality in their works.

Vita Sackville-West, in particular, was known for her unconventional gender expression and relationships. She dressed in men's clothing and had affairs with both men and women, including Virginia Woolf. Her novel "Challenge," which was written in 1923, explores themes of gender identity and the fluidity of sexuality through the story of a woman who disguises herself as a man in order to pursue a romantic relationship with another woman.

Virginia Woolf, on the other hand, is known for her exploration of consciousness and the interior lives of her characters. Her novel "Orlando," which was published in 1928, is a fictional biography of a character who changes gender over the course of the novel. This transformation is used to explore themes of gender identity and the fluidity of selfhood.

Based on their works and personal lives, it could be argued that both Vita and Virginia were exploring questions of identity and sexuality in their writing. However, it is not accurate to say that either one of them was necessarily confused about their identity. Rather, they were using their writing as a means of exploring the complex and multifaceted nature of human identity and experience.

What is society’s thought about women and identity? Do you agree with them? If Yes then why? If no then why?

Throughout history, societal attitudes towards women and their identities have varied widely. In many cultures and time periods, women have been expected to conform to strict gender roles and expectations, often being defined primarily by their relationships to men as wives, mothers, or daughters. This has led to limited opportunities for women to explore and express their own unique identities, and has often resulted in them being marginalized and excluded from positions of power and influence.

However, in recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of women's identities and experiences, and a movement towards greater inclusivity and diversity in society. Women are increasingly being encouraged to explore and express their own unique identities, and to pursue their own goals and aspirations without being limited by gender stereotypes or societal expectations.

I believe that it is important for society to recognize and value the diverse identities and experiences of women, and to work towards greater equality and inclusivity for all individuals regardless of gender identity or expression. This involves challenging and dismantling systemic barriers that limit women's opportunities and choices, and promoting a culture of respect, understanding, and acceptance towards all individuals.

What are your views on Gender Identity? Will you like to give any message to society?

Gender identity refers to an individual's internal sense of their own gender. This can be different from the sex assigned at birth, and can vary along a spectrum that includes male, female, non-binary, and other gender identities. It is important to recognize that gender identity is a deeply personal and individual experience, and that each person's identity should be respected and affirmed.

Unfortunately, many individuals who identify outside of the traditional binary gender system may face discrimination and stigma in society, which can lead to significant harm to their mental health and well-being. It is important for society to work towards greater understanding and acceptance of diverse gender identities, and to promote a culture of inclusivity and respect towards all individuals.

My message to society would be to listen to and validate the experiences of individuals with diverse gender identities, and to work towards creating a world that is inclusive and affirming of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or expression. This involves challenging and dismantling harmful stereotypes and attitudes towards gender, and promoting a culture of respect, empathy, and understanding towards all individuals.

Write a note on the direction of the movie vita and virginia. Which symbols and space caught your attention while watching the moive?
"Vita and Virginia" is a 2018 British film directed by Chanya Button, based on the relationship between writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf. The direction of the movie is notable for its use of creative visual techniques, such as split-screen shots and stylized lighting, which contribute to the film's dreamlike and impressionistic atmosphere.

One symbol that caught my attention while watching the movie was the use of water, which is often associated with fluidity and change. Water appears in several scenes, including a sequence where Virginia Woolf is shown floating in a river, which can be interpreted as a representation of her mental state and her struggles with mental illness.

Another space that stood out to me was the garden at Sissinghurst Castle, which was the home of Vita Sackville-West and a frequent setting in the film. The garden is shown as a beautiful and tranquil space, but also as a place of tension and conflict between Vita and Virginia, as they struggle to navigate their complex relationship.

Overall, the direction of "Vita and Virginia" is notable for its use of creative visual and narrative techniques, which contribute to the film's exploration of themes of love, creativity, and the complex nature of human relationships. The symbols and spaces used in the film help to deepen the emotional impact of the story and provide a rich and immersive viewing experience.

Write your views on the movie Orlando. What differences and similarities have you noticed in the movie Vita and Virginia and Orlando?

"Orlando" is a 1992 British film directed by Sally Potter, based on the novel by Virginia Woolf. The film tells the story of a young nobleman who lives for centuries and undergoes a transformation from male to female. "Orlando" explores themes of gender identity, sexuality, and the passage of time.

"Vita and Virginia", on the other hand, is a 2018 British film directed by Chanya Button, which focuses on the romantic relationship between writers Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf. The film explores themes of creativity, love, and the challenges faced by women writers in the early 20th century.

While both films deal with themes of gender identity and explore the complexities of human relationships, they differ in their focus and approach. "Orlando" is more fantastical and surreal, while "Vita and Virginia" is more grounded in historical reality. "Orlando" is more focused on the transformation of its protagonist, while "Vita and Virginia" is more focused on the relationship between its two main characters.

Despite these differences, both films are notable for their exploration of complex and nuanced themes, and their innovative and creative approaches to storytelling. They both provide unique and thought-provoking perspectives on issues of gender, identity, and creativity.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

War poem

The combination of war poems and Bollywood or Hollywood movies, web series, and patriotic songs offer an interesting contrast. War poems often depict the horrors of conflict and the sacrifices of those involved, while Bollywood and Hollywood movies and web series tend to have more upbeat, celebratory tones. The combination can offer a unique perspective on the effect of war.

For example, some patriotic songs can be compared to war poems such as "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon" by Lata Mangeshkar. The song is a tribute to the soldiers who gave their lives in the India-Pakistan War of 1965. The song speaks of the pain and loss of those involved, and how their families are left with nothing but memories of their loved ones. This can be compared to war poems such as Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est" which also speaks of the horrible effects of war.

Web series like Band of Brothers, a dramatized series based on World War II, can also be compared to war poems. The series gives a realistic portrayal of the horrors of war, while also highlighting the courage and resilience of the soldiers involved. This can be compared to Wilfred Owen's "Anthem for Doomed Youth" which speaks of the futility of war and the tragedy of so many young lives lost.

Finally, Bollywood movies such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Lagaan depict the glory of war and its effects on those involved. While these movies are typically more light-hearted in tone, they still capture the emotions of those involved. This can be compared to war poems such as Siegfried Sassoon's "Everyone Sang" which speaks of a moment of joy and triumph in the midst of the war.

Overall, there are many different ways to compare war poems and Bollywood and Hollywood movies, web series, and patriotic songs. Through this comparison, we can gain a more nuanced understanding of war and the emotions of those involved.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Dystopia

 Any literary form leaves an impact on every person. Infect, literature is written to give a message to society, the message of love, revenge, resistance, and many more. Dystopian literature is a genre of fiction set in future or near future societies where life and social structures are in calamitous decline. 

This blog is in response to Prof . Dilip Barad


Q- Do you think dystopian and Orwellian stories or films can have an impact on how people think about politics and society? Why or why not?

A- In my opinion, Yes. dystopian and Orwellian stories or films can have an impact on how people think about politics and society. But when we talk about countries that have  Dictators,  the getup of Democracy will always suffer as a dystopian character. Whatever happens to the people, they will always be distracted by the Language and Lollipops. Recent time , and winning of Trump are an example of this kind of situation. such people believe in experiences. Literature will always remain a a form of Entertainment. To get affected by such as the highest form of literature like Dystopia, requires maturity, a sense of right and wrong things, and knowledge about the language of politics. But people would rarely like to read and like to get inspired by such qualitative literature as dystopian literature and Orwellian stories. People would rather prefer to become BHAKTA and get infected by the split of politicians. 


Dystopian and Orwellian stories or films can have an impact on how people think about politics and society but they won't get an infection until they experience the harsh reality of politics. I would really like to mention poem by Rabindranath Tagore "Ekla Chalo Re".

 

जब काली घटा छाए

ओरे ओरे ओ अँधेरा

सच को निगल जाए

जब दुनिया सारी डर के आगे

सर अपना झुकाए

तू शोला बन जा, वो शोला बन जा

जो खुद जल के जहां रोशन कर दे

ऐकला जौलो रे

जोदी तोर डाक शुने...


Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Robert Frost


Robert Frost is one of the most renowned poets in American Literature. His poems are known for their simplicity, nature themes, and rural landscapes. Two of his most famous works are "Birches" and "Mending Wall."

"Birches" is a contemplative poem that explores the speaker's desire to escape from the mundane reality of life. The speaker reflects on the sight of birch trees bending under the weight of snow and sees this as a symbol of his own weariness from the toils of life. He imagines himself swinging on the birches, rising higher and higher until he reaches a place of peace and rejuvenation.

The poem employs several figures of speech, including personification and metaphor. The birch trees are personified as graceful and resilient, and they serve as a metaphor for the speaker's own struggles and desires. The poem is also filled with imagery, such as the "easy wind" and the "icy brook" that evoke a sense of the rural landscape and the beauty of nature.

The theme of "Birches" is the desire for escape and the need to find a place of peace and rejuvenation. The poem is also about the transience of life and the inevitability of aging and death. The imagery of the birches bending and rising again serves as a metaphor for the cycle of life and the need to find a place of rest and renewal.

"Mending Wall" is a more complex poem that explores the idea of boundaries and the need for human connection. The speaker and his neighbor go about the annual task of repairing a stone wall that separates their properties, but the speaker reflects on the arbitrary nature of this barrier and wonders why it needs to be there in the first place.

The poem employs several figures of speech, including personification and metaphor. The wall is personified as having a "frost-broken down" and "sound" that separates the two properties, and it serves as a metaphor for the boundaries that exist between people. The poem is also filled with imagery, such as the "spring is the mischief" and "something there is that doesn't love a wall" that evoke a sense of nature and the human desire for connection.

The theme of "Mending Wall" is the idea of boundaries and the need for human connection. The speaker reflects on the arbitrary nature of the wall and wonders why it needs to be there, while also acknowledging the necessity of boundaries in human relationships. The poem is also about the fragility of human connections and the need to repair and maintain relationships in order to maintain a sense of unity.

In conclusion, Robert Frost's "Birches" and "Mending Wall" are two of his most famous poems that explore themes of escape, peace, boundaries, and human connections. These poems employ figures of speech and vivid imagery to convey these themes and offer a glimpse into the rural landscapes and the beauty of nature that were so important to Frost's work.

One-Eyed by Meena Kandasmay

                                              





 
  

                                               One-Eyed   

                                           -Meena Kandasmay

One-Eyed is a poem by Meena Kandasmay. And in this blog, I am going to discuss a few points through the Glass of I.A.Richards. 

the pot sees just another noisy child

the glass sees an eager and clumsy hand

the water sees a parched throat slaking thirst

but the teacher sees a girl breaking the rule

the doctor sees a medical emergency

the school sees a potential embarrassment

the press sees a headline and a photofeature

Dhanam sees a world torn in half.

her left eye, lid open but light slapped away,

the price for a taste of that touchable water.



Some points do not make much sense. Here are they:

1] The pot, Glass, water, school, press, and harm can not see. and Light can not be slapped away.

2] Drinking water can't be the reason for a Teacher to punish a student, even after punishment, one can never get such harsh punishment that led the student to a medical emergency. Breaking rules can not give embarrassment to the school.


            The one, who is not in touch with literature or with any kind of art form, must think the way I have mentioned above. But students of Literature can get all these metaphors from this poem very well. The poem sheds light on the harsh reality of the discrimination faced by Dalit women and the callous attitude of those in positions of power and authority toward their suffering. The use of inanimate objects such as a pot and water to symbolize compassion highlights the lack of empathy and humanity in society. The imagery of Dhanam losing her eye in her quest for water is a powerful metaphor for the sacrifices and injustices faced by Dalit women. The poem highlights the need for a more humane and equitable society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their caste or gender.


            The poem "One-Eyed" by Meena Kandasamy has been published in Ms. The poem is about Dhanam, a little girl who is thirsty and touches the pot,  drinking a glass of water from it.




            Pot with her "clumsy hand" to quench her thirst. The school's learned teacher slapped the little girl on the cheek specifically for breaking the rules. The concept of untouchability is primarily used against lower caste and lower section people. They are the most afflicted. They accept subjugation mutely because they lack the political and economic power to challenge the upper class's supremacy.They cannot express their circumstances and present themselves to the world. Even the inanimate objects surrounding her feel the pitied condition of the girl:




“the pot sees just another noisy child the glass sees an eager and clumsy hand the water sees a parched throat slaking thirst”




            Even the pot, glass, and water feel sorry for the girl. These inanimate objects care about her and offer to quench her thirst. In reality, Dalits are not permitted to interact with the general public and are not permitted to touch vessels or other items used by the upper caste. They must use separate vessels, pots, glasses, and so on. Dhanam is a submissive girl in the poem. She doesn't even react to the upper class's dominance. But she sees a world that is split in two. The poem is tragically concluded by the poet as follows:




“dhanam sees a world torn in half. her left eye, lid open but light slapped away, the price for a taste of that touchable water”




            Water is a natural resource that never gulps but rather sacrifices itself for all living things on the planet. However, some people divide water between the upper and lower castes. It is absurd to think deeply about the classification and caste system that still exists in some places. Meena Kandasamy has focused on the pessimistic image of her homeland, providing insight into rural India and mentioning atrocities committed on the Indian subcontinent. untouchables. Children from lower castes were denied the right to drink water with others; Dhanam was severely slapped when she drank. What is the cost of tasting that untainted water? It is nothing more than a slap, and as a result, one eye is damaged. She sees a shattered world but not its entirety. In her eyes, the world appears to be biased in favor of a particular group.


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This poem by Meena Kandasmay is mirror to the "most friendly" society of India.here are some news related to the exact incident that Meena Kandasmay has taken in her poem.

* Hate Watch: Dalit boy in MP dies by suicide as teacher allegedly made casteist remarks

* Vice-principal thrashes Dalit students for drinking water from common container in Karnataka's Kolar district

* UP Teacher Thrashes Class 7 Dalit Student for Drinking Water Out of Teacher's Pitcher


         If we search such a news on internet, we will get limitless lists of such news. there will be many news about castism and as always it won't affect us! and we will keep our mouth SHUT! The most tragic and ironic thing is that it is happening in SCHOOLS! One must say that no matter how much you will study and become educated, but humanity can never be taught. the same thing with Dalits were happening since the time of Guru Draunacharya. and it is still repeating!!

 Those who don't know the history are doomed to repeat it."
                                                            -    Edmund Bruke

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This is a worksheet to study a poem using I.A. Richards's method of
Practical Criticism:


               

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Interpretation Challenge

 


In this blog, I am going to give an interpretation of "Breath" an abstract video by Samuel Beckett. Samuel Beckett's play "Breath" is a brief and abstract work that has been interpreted in a variety of ways. It has been described as a minimalist work that investigates themes of existence, the human condition, and the passage of time. The play has a few stage directions and a performance time of less than a minute. Some see it as an absurdist commentary on the futility of human life and existence, while others see it as a meditation on the transience and ephemerality of all things. Finally, the meaning of "Breath" is open to interpretation, and its brevity and abstract nature lend themselves to multiple interpretations.

In this blog I will give an interpretation of this video, in mainly Two parts such as 1] Curtains up and, 2] Curtain Down



1] Curtain Up:
              
                    
1. Faint light on a stage littered with miscellaneous rubbish. Hold about five seconds.

2. Faint brief cry and immediately inspiration and slow increase of light together reaching maximum - together in about ten seconds. Silence and hold for about five seconds.

3. Expiration and slow decrease of light together reaching minimum (light as in 1) in about ten seconds and immediately cry as before. Silence and hold for about five seconds. 


2] Curtain Down:


    

If one attempts to interpret such a short play, one can say that it covers a lot of absurdity and meaninglessness. As we all know, Samuel Beckett is associated with the Theatre of the Absurd, and his other play, "Waiting for Godot," is also an absurdist work. The title of the play Breath is very significant. It refers to life. The script of the play contains miscellaneous rubbish. This suggests boredom and anxiety. The brief cry also signifies life but it also suggests disgust, anguished, stress, haphazard, pessimist, and gloomy thinking. The play is very short so, this also significantly suggests that life is very short. All we have to do is just breathe and cry. Crying for recognition, power, money, attachment, acceptance, and so on. As the light inspires and grows, the beginning of the script suggests birth. The final section suggests death as the light and sound fade away. However, the setup is very shoddy, implying that life is nothing but a shambles spread hither and thither. No matter how much we try to make life more beautiful, it will always be a shambles. This is also relevant to Albert Camus' Myth of Sisyphus.


Here I am attaching Two Videos that are prepared by me. I have made this video inspired by Samuel Beckett's "Breath". along with this video, I am attaching some responses of interpretation that I have got from Youtube comments and google responses also.



This video fulfills poz zo's philosophy, his way of looking at existentialism: 

“The tears of the world are a constant quantity. For each one who begins to weep somewhere else another stop."


The 2nd video: 




The Only Story

  Question 1 - Analyze the context of the following Quote :- " Why do you Cheat at Crosswords?''   A. Who is the speaker and to...