Blog Nazar Bazmi's Notes

April 1, 2017November 5, 2023

Critical analysis of “Casting And Gathering” by Seamus Heaney

Critical Analysis of Casting and Gathering by Seamus Heaney. It includes introduction, definition of title, political and didactic purposes and style.

Introduction

Poem is dedicated to Ted Hughes, who is a fisher man and friend of Seamus Heaney.

Definition of the title

Casting

Casting means throwing/ put a side. It also refers to right hand side political party “ The Capitalists”. Their motto was “individual is everything”.

Gathering

Gathering means to collect/ harvest. It also refers to left hand side political party “ The Socialists”. Their motto was “individual belong to society”.

Political purposes

This poem shows the conflict between two political parties. One is Capitalists and second is Socialists. The purpose of both the parties is same as the well being of humanity. Seamus Heaney used the words Hush and lush. It means fear of war and hope of progress. Due to the conflict between two parties people feel the fear of war and have the hope of progress. Seamus Heaney Writes that They can compromise on their action or to make their commitment better. They escape for the time being and makes new strategies.

April 1, 2017November 5, 2023

Critical analysis of “Personal Helicon” Written by “Seamus Heaney”

Critical Analysis of Personal Helicon by Seamus Heaney consist of introduction, definition of title, literal meaning of the poem, deeper meaning of the poem, use of imagery, use of symbols, use of Greek mythology and style.

Table of Contents

Introduction

This poem was first published in 1966 in the book “Death of Naturalist”. The poem is dedicated to Michael Longley who is a poet and friend of Seamus Heaney.

Definition of title

Personal:

Personal means the poet’s own life and experiences/Autobiographical elements.

Helicon:

Helicon is the name of a mountain in Greek mythology where nine muses live. The streams run down from this mountain gives the power to write poetry who drink from it, means poetic inspiration. Poet was inspired by this myth. So, the title suggest that “Personal Helicon ” means The poet’s own inspiration.

Literal meanings of the poem

In Ireland there were many wells with names of saints and poet was inspired by the wells. In his childhood he plays near the wells and watched the drawing of water with the help of bucket from wells. Wells as the way of personal reflection and understanding of natural world. Wells are doorways to underground world. Poet saw the reflection of sky in well and think it that sky trapped in a well. Now poet is older and wiser. His thirst for knowledge increases.

March 31, 2017November 5, 2023

Tess as a pure woman

Table of Contents

Tess as a Pure Woman according to Hardy

Thomas Hardy used the title of the novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles and A pure woman is the subtitle of the play. So, its means that Hardy himself consider Tess as a pure woman.

Pure in attention and soul, not physically

Tess is not pure physically as Hardy himself calls her “maiden no more” but the loss of virginity under the circumstances like rape does not loss the purity. She is pure in her attention and soul.

Tess’s association with Alec

Tess’s association with Alec shows her unwillingness at every point. When Alec seduced her she was in sleep. She becomes his mistress when her family out of shelter. Murder of Alec also shows her unwillingness of this association.

Tess’s irritation at Alec‘s progresses

When Alec tries to put strawberries into her mouth she tells him that she eat herself and also shows irritation from this type of behavior of Alec. Then on the way to Trantridge Alec tries to kiss her but she tries to avoid him she dropped the hat and came down and pass the remaining way by foot. As his employee she reserved her but Alec advances.

Seduction under situations

When Alec seduced her at that time she was physically tired, mentally drowsy due to clash with mates and In half sleep condition. Tess says to Alec when leaving Trantridge: “My eyes were dazed by you for little, and that was all. I didn’t understand your meaning till it was two late”.

March 31, 2017November 5, 2023

Use of Irony in “The King Lear”

Introduction : Use of irony in The King Lear by William Shakespeare. It includes explanation of irony and its purpose of use in the drama with examples from the King Lear.

Table of Contents

What does irony means?

“The contrast between appearance and reality is called irony“. There are many types of irony like irony of dialogue, irony of situation and irony of character etc. What a character says and what he actually means? is the irony of dialogue. And what a character thinks himself and what he actually is? What he desires but what actually occurs? are the irony of character. Then what a character believes and what the readers know? What we had expected and what actually happens? are the irony of situations.

Why irony is used in King Lear?

Why the writers used irony in the plays or other kinds of literature? Actually irony intense the effect of tragedy or comedy. In tragedy irony served to heighten the tragic effect and in comedy it served to heighten the comic effect. In this play “King Lear” it is used to intensify both the effects according to their situations. Some times it Heightens the tragic effect and some times heightens the comic effect.

Use of irony in the King Lear

Goneril and Regan’s words for King Lear

Goneril says her father that he is dearer to her “than eyesight, space and liberty”. Regan says that all joys in life are meaningless to her beside the joy which her love for him. After division of kingdom we find that these two daughters making the adverse comments for their father.

March 30, 2017November 5, 2023

Use of irony in “The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen”

Introduction : Use of irony in the Wild Duck includes explanation of irony and examples from Act I. II, III, IV and V.

Table of Contents

What is irony?

“The contrast between appearance and reality is called irony“. There are many types of irony like irony of dialogue, irony of situation and irony of character etc. First, what a character says and what he actually means? is the irony of dialogue. Second, what a character thinks himself and what he actually is? What he desires but what actually occurs? are the irony of character. Third, what a character believes and what the readers know? What we had expected and what actually happens? are the irony of situations.

Why the writers used irony in the plays or other kinds of literature?

Actually irony intense the effect of tragedy or comedy. In tragedy irony served to heighten the tragic effect and in comedy it served to heighten the comic effect. In this play “The Wild Duck” it is used to intensify both the effects according to their situations. Some times it Heightens the tragic effect and some times heightens the comic effect.

Use of irony in the drama the Wild Duck

Irony used in Act-I

Hjalmar says to Gregers that his wife is as good and capable as any man could ask for. But, Gregers knows reality and later in the play Halmar him self thinks it opposite.

Hjalmar says to Gregers that Mr Werle is kind and good hearted man. Who helped him in his distress but Gregers knows reality. And later he shows the real face of Mr werle to Hjalmar.

March 30, 2017November 5, 2023

Hello world!

These notes will teach you the basics of English literature. The critical study of different genres of English literature like novel, drama, poetry, prose, criticism and American literature. Here you can study history of English literature, study skills, linguistics, stylistics and many more. These notes are divided into various sections for convenience. Each of these sections contain related topics.