Literary Theory

Assignment

Name: Kunvarani Nidhi K

Paper: ‘Literary Theory and criticism.’ 

Topic: ‘Examples of ‘Deconstruction’.’      

 S. t. d:  M.A-(sem-2)

Roll. no:  11

Year:  2013

Allotted to:

Respected sir,Dr.Dilip Barad

                        Heenaba Zala

                          &

                ‘Department Of English’

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji University

Bhavnagar.  

 §  Examples of “Deconstruction”:

                                                                    

First of all for  the ourselves it is very necessary to know the term about “Deconstruction”. So, Let see What is the meaning of “Deconstruction”.

                                                         

Deconstruction, as applied in the criticism of literature, designates a theory and practice of reading which questions and claims to “subvert” or “undermine” the assumption that the system of language provides grounds that are adequate to establish the boundaries, the coherence or unity, and the determinate meanings of a Literary text, Typically, a deconstructive reading sets out to show that conflicting forces within the text itself serve to dissipate the seeming definiteness of its structure and meanings into an indefinite array of incompatible and undecidable possibilities.

   -Jacques Derrida

 (from ‘The structuralist controversy,

Ed.Richard machsey and Donato E Baltimore)

                                                   

Jacques Derrida, the French philosopher whose writings inspired the practice of decostructive  criticism from the late sixties, and  who first employed the word ‘deconstruction’ in his influential ‘De la Grammatologie(1967)’ helpful to note come dictionary meanings he wanted ‘Deconstruction’ to suggest ‘Deconstruction’ taken on its meanings from  its deployment in Derrida’s work rather than from the establishment of a-

“Primitive meaning or outside of any contextual strategy”

  -Derrida(1983)

    Page.3                           

Paul de man notes approvingly of ‘Deconstruction’ that ‘no other  word  states so economically the impossibility to evaluate positively or negatively, the inescapable evaluation it implies’ Barbara Johnson argues that-

“ ‘Deconstruction’ is not synonymous with ‘destruction’……It is fact much closer to the original meaning of the word ‘analysis’, which etymologically means ‘to de-construct’.The  de-construction of a text does not proceed by random doubt or arbitrary subversion, but by the careful teasing out of warring forces of  signification within the text itself.If anything is destroyed in a  deconstructive reading, it is not the  text, but the claim to unequivocal domination of one mode of signifying over  another.

  -Barbara Johnson

    (1980. page=5)

Here, Derrida gives the example of ‘Deconstruction’-

“All sentences of the type ‘deconstruction is  x’ or ‘deconstruction is not x’, a ‘priori’, miss the point… one of the principal things at the stake in what  is called in my texts’, ‘deconstruction’ is precisely the delimiting of ontology and above all of the third parson present  indicative: s is p”.

                                                       

 Derrida’s ‘ letter to a Japanese Friend’-

“A lucid point of entry in to what is a formidably difficult  corpus: ‘Deconstruction’ is not an analysis  in particular because the dismantling of a structure is not a  regression toward a

‘simple element’, towards an ‘in dissolution’.

Derrida‘s ‘Letter to a Japanese Friend’      (1983 a, page=4)

Another reason against the  understanding of deconstruction as a species of  post-structuralism  is that there are other contexts within which Derrida works the phenomenological tradition for  instance, especially the writings of Edmund Husseri. Derrida offers readings of Hegel, Heidegger, Husseri, Rousseau as well as the structuralist avatars Saussure and Levi-strauss.

‘Deconstruction’ is the process like this-

“If you write, Meaning is die”.

 -Plato

Because meaning is  in the context  not in the text. So, plato says that if you write then meaning is die. Because  meaning of each and every word is change with the context in in which the word is used.  Every word  puts comma not a full-point  in the end. Because if you found one meaning of the  word. Then ,that word  forced to toy to see the another meaning of the word. one meaning of the word ‘post-pones’ or ‘promises’ toward one another in this way the process of ‘Deconstruction’ is going on and on. Each one word de-construct to one another word.

The process of ‘deconstruction’ is like this. If majority  of the people accept anything then it’s became reality for the everyone. Even if it’s not so. For example-

1.) white-Black             

2.) Men-women

3.) Day –Night 

     We can see that all words like white, Men, Day comes in the category of the superiority  while Black, women, Night comes in the category of the inferiority or in the category of object. But, if many people accept Black,Women and Night as a superiority  then  the idea of superiority is changed. That is  the process of ‘Deconstruction’.

 We  are take  one another example of ‘Deconstruction’-

1.        Time flies like an arrow.

Most of us are familiar with this old saying, and we know it means that time passes quickly.

Time    flies  like an arrow. =Time passes

(Noun)(verb)(Adv, clause)       quickly.

If I asked you to suggest additional meanings, you might say that  the sentence could also mean that time moves in the one direction , or straight ahead, because that’s arrows fly. But, what would happen if we thought of the first word of the sentence as a verb in the imperative mode- telling us to do something-and the second word a if it represented a kind of insect? Then the sentence would be giving us an order.

Time flies like an arrow. =Time flies as         

(Noun) (Verb) (Object)     as fond of arrow.                                                                                                       

                                            

                             This exercise shows how, without changing a single word, a single sentence can have several meanings. It’s an example of ‘Deconstructed construction’.

Conclusion:

There are some examples of the ‘Deconstruction’ And, I think that, this answer is enough to  know about What is the meaning of ‘Deconstruction’? And, some example of the ‘Deconstruction’.                

'Cultural Studies'

                  Assignment

Name: Kunvarani Nidhi K

Paper: ‘Cultural Studies’

Topic: ‘Identity’

S. t. d:  M.A-(sem-2)

Roll.no:  11

Year:  2013

Allotted to:

Respected sir, Dr.Dilip Barad

                        Heenaba Zala

                          &

                ‘Department Of English’

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji University

Bhavnagar.                 

·    ‘Identity’

‘Identity’ is the part of methods in ‘cultural studies’. So, First of all for the ourselves to know the meaning of ‘identity’ is very much important. So, let see what is ‘Identity’.

1.The collective aspect of characteristics by which a thing is definitelty recognizable or known.

2.The set of  behavioral or personal characteristics by which an  individual is recognizable as a member of a group.

3.The quality or condition of being the same as something else.

4. The distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity; individuality.

5. Information such as an identification number used to establish or prove a person’s individuality, as in providing access to a credit account.

Above there some ‘Dictionary Meaning’ of ‘Identity’, In short, ‘Identity’ means any individual’s characteristics through the thing or person known that is the simple definition of ‘Identity’.

The Identity of a person is, for cultural studies, dependent upon the role played by  that person, the signs that designate that person. ‘Identity’ is constituted through experience, and representation is a significant part of experience. So, now let see that how ‘Identity’ is woven in the ‘cultural studies’.

We do not always understand that we are not in control of our lives, and that we are subject to ideological control. Person is always in shackled of society even then we believed that we are free but we are never ever free from the shackled.

The ‘Identity’ of gender  also played vital role in the ‘cultural studies.’ In society women or girl always remain as a part of minority. The culture’s values inculcate notions of ‘Femininity’ and ‘Masculinity’ in the children also.

Example:

1.           In childhood most of people bought ‘Doll’ for the girl child. And, prefer gun, car etc… for the boy child.

Why it is differ? It is question of feminist writers above this kind of thing. In to childhood elder people forced to girl child that you are girl and you have to behave like this and  that. But, no any kind of restriction for the boy childhood.

I want to give you one another example that shows the different ‘Identity’ of ‘men’ and ‘women’ how played vital role in the ‘cultural studies’.

In the novel of shobha de’s ‘socialite Evenings’. Here, heroine’s mother prefers the traditional way of wife:

“A woman cannot live alone. It is not safe. We are here today-but who knows about tomorrow? A woman needs a man’s protection. Society can be very cruel… a woman’s real place is in her husband ’s house-not in her parents’-Take your time but marry. And marry the right one – that is important …Before we die, we want to see you secure and at peace.”

    -shobha De’s “socialite Evenings”.”(p.275)

Above this quotation is the real image of the mindset of Indian women’.But,now we can see that this definition  became quotation for to became their ‘blood hot’. In the same novel we can see the  revolutionary answer or instead of above ’s definition. That’s the image of modern or revolutionary women of the India.

 Karuna question’s to her mother:

“But mother why does security  rest with a man? I feel confident now that i can look after myself.I am earning as much money as any man. I have a roof over my head.I don’t really have have any responsibilities. I am at peace with myself. I’m not answerable to anyone…I can’t make any “sacrifies”-not n

-Shobha De’s ‘socialite              

 Evenings.

 A Feminist study by                          

 M. k.Bhatnagar (Page: 136 )

It’s an example of ‘Identity’ with the view of any individual creates vast effect on ‘Identity’. The writer Taine gives his view about ‘Identity’-

1.)Race

2.)Millieu

3.)Moment

Above this three element also creates vast influenced on ‘cultural Identity’. And, any individual cannot live without this 3 things. ’Race’,  ’Milieu’ and  ‘Moment’.’Race’ as  a (religion, cast, male, female, gender), ’Milieu’ means surrounding and ‘Moment’ means’ time’ through this ‘Identity’ people live in the society.

For  cultural studies this is a key debate ,who determines  freedoms? what are the consequences of an individual’s actions in any culture?’Identity’ is most probably go with the superiority.e.g,

1.) white-Black

2.)Man-woman

3.)presence-Absence

4.)Day-Night

There are all opposite situation also representation of the ‘Identity’ as ’superiority’ and ‘Inferiority’ .white, man, presence, day etc… comes in the ‘Identity’ of ‘superiority’ while black, woman, absence and night comes in the category of ‘Inferiority’.

Conclusion:

So, above all those view and examples through we can got the clear cut idea about ‘Identity’.

'The victorian Literature'

Assignment

Name: Kunvarani Nidhi K

Paper: ‘The victorian   Literature’

Unit:  ‘Tennyson and Browning: A study of poets.’

Topic: Tennyson: A study of the poet

S. t. d:  M.A-(sem-2)

Roll.no:  11

Year:  2013

Allotted to:

Respected sir,Dr.Dilip Barad

                        Heenaba Zala

                          &

                ‘Department Of English’

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji University

Bhavnagar.                 

·     Tennyson: a study of the poet.

The period of 1820 to 1900 known as the age of ‘victoria’. During this period Queen Victoria developed the much literary forms. So , this age in English literature known  as the ‘victorian Age’

During that period  many great writers gave their best contribution to English age as a gift. , Browning, Dickens, Thackray, Meredith, Carlyle, Macaulay and Ruskin there are some great stars of the age.

Tennyson the great poet of the age. So, now let’s we discussing about Tennyson in detailed. Lord Alfred Tennyson was born in 1809.The son of a clergyman he was born at his father’s living at somersby in Lincolnshire. After some schooling at Louth, Which was not agreeable to him. He was taken  education from the Cambridge.  University, at the university he was a wholly conventional person.

The only mark he made was to win the chancellor’s medal for a poem on Timbuctoo. Then, He left Cambridge without taking a degree.

The history of family is interesting in itself ,but some knowledge of it is also essential for understanding of the themes of his poetry. Madness, Murder, Miserliness, social climbing there are some main themes of the work of Tennyson.

It was surprisable thing that he began writing poetry long before he was sent to school; as did most of his talented brothers and sisters. At the early age of 18 his first volume published ‘poems by two brothers (1827)’.

Most of Tennyson’s early education under his father’s direction. Even then he spent 4 unhappy years at the grammar school. His departure in 1827 to join his elder brothers at Trinity College Cambridge. He was extraordinary handsome intelligent, humorous and gifted as charming personality, he was at the center of an admiring group of young men knows that then he was interested in poetry and conversation.

He left Cambridge before he was published a volume of mediocre verse. During the next 20 years he was passed a tranquil existence.

During that time he met Arthur Henry Hallam.  This was the beginning of 4 years of warm friendship between Tennyson and Hallam.

In 1844 he lost his unlucky speculation, but in nick of the time he received Government pension .He was appointed poet Laureate (1850) in owner to Wordsworth married, and removed to freshwater. Then for the Tennyson ‘Isle of Wight’ became for the next 20 years.

Now let see the poetic career of the Tennyson. At the early age of 18 he collaborated with his elder brother Charles in ‘poems by Two Brothers got the prize.

1). ‘Timbuctoo’ (1829)

2). ‘poems, chiefly Lyricall’ (1830)

‘Isabel and Madeline’  the  pictorial work by Tennyson. His volume of ‘poems (1833)’, which is often referred to as ‘poems (1832)’.In this  collection there are some great poems-

1).’The Lady of shallot’

2). ‘Enone’                                         

3).’The Lotus-Eaters’

4).’The palace of Art’

This collection  through Tennyson got the renowned as a perfect poet. Then in 1842 he produced two another volume of poetry  that set him once and for all among the greater poets of his day. It’s open with ‘Morte’d Arthur’

 And contains ‘Ulysses,  Locksley hall.’ And several other poems through he became star of the age. Later he wrote very long poem. Like-

1).‘The princess’ (1847)

2). ‘In Memoriam’ (1850)

3). ‘Maud and other poems’ (1855)

4). ‘Idylls of the king’ (1859-89)

5).Enoch Arden (1864)

Some major features of his poetic work.1830 to 1842 works lyric and legendry narrative type. And 1842 volume based on ethical interest. His content of the works mirror of feelings and aspirations of his time. And, as a Laureate he produced the occasional poems like the news-paper of the time.

Skill and craftsmanship is also well done of the Tennyson. His method of producing poetry was slowly to evolve the lines in his mind. His poems are based on sound and sense both. And, Alliteration, vowel-music also we can found in the poems of Tennyson. His excellent craftsmanship is also apparent in his handling of English meters, in which he is a tieless experimenter.

As a pictorial poet, he follows the example of Keats. His all poem most probably based on imagery of nature and other natural elements. His description of each line built our-selves to see the magic of his art and surprisable deep and beautiful scene of the picture of the poem.

 Through his all poem he proved himself  as a best poet of the age. His lyrical quality is also best-one. Famous example are-

1). ‘The splendor Falls’

2). ‘Break, break, break’

3). ‘crossing the Bar’ etc…

Through his lyrics he touches the heart of the reader. Let see one example of his great work

“Break, break, break,

          On thy cold gray stones, o sea!

And I would that my tongue could utter

           The  thoughts that arise in me.”

  -‘Break, break,break’ by Tennyson                                                                                                     

Even he used Lyrical monologue, repetition, imagery, Alliteration there are some great elements of the work of Tennyson. He himself known as-

“The clamour of the cry.”

In 1884 he was created a baron, sat in the House of Lords, for a time took himself rather seriously as a politician. Then he died at Aldworth near Haslemere in surrey and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Really, through the study of poet we can say that he was ‘star poet’ of the age. He  was known as demigod of the age. His greatness and richness of his poems in very early age showed the intellectuality and scholarality in him. His high place in the temple of fame in assured. Tennyson was not only the great poet of the “victorian Age”. But, today also he known as in the category of the best homogenized poet.

'The Romantic Literature'

Assignment

Name: Kunvarani Nidhi K

Paper: ‘The Romantic  Literature’

Unit:  ‘Frankenstein: Mary Shelley’

Topic: ‘How ‘Repression’ and ‘Hysteria’ played           

              Vital role in the novel ‘Frankenstein’.

S. t. d:  M.A-(sem-2)

Roll.no:  11

Year:  2013

Allotted to:

Respected sir, Dr Dilip Barad

                        Heenaba Zala

                          &

                ‘Department Of English’

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji University

Bhavnagar.                

·      How ‘Repression’ and ‘Hysteria’ played vital role in the novel ‘Frankenstein’ by ‘Mary Shelley’?

‘Frankenstein’ the novel is written by very well-known female writer ‘Mary Shelley’ in 1818.

‘Frankenstein’ the title of this novel is based on the central character of the novel. ‘Victor Frankenstein’ the central figure of the novel.

The main themes of this novel is love, loneliness, Hunger for the knowledge, science and nature and ‘Repression’ and ‘Hysteria’ there are some main themes of this novel.

The writer of this novel Mary Shelley choose different kinds of themes for this novel. Through  this novel we can know about the intellectuality of the writer.  Romantic period (During the creation) was mainly based on industrial and politically revolution and during that era man’s hunger for the knowledge increased more and more. So, this novel also based on hunger for the knowledge and ‘Repression’ and ‘Hysteria’.

Oxford Dictionary defines that the meaning of ‘Repression’ is ‘tending to keep your feelings or desires hidden.’ And, the meaning of ‘Hysteria’ is ‘extreme’ or ‘uncontrollable emotion.

Here, in this novel Mary Shelley represents the character of victor as a multiplicity or mingling of gendered characteristics. Victor became ‘A life giving Mother’ for the monster. Because of his hunger for the knowledge made him a mother. Victor Frankenstein the mother and also father of the ‘Monster’.

Victor is a promethean usurper. So, that the other or sub-title of the novel is ‘Modern promethean’. He is-

“Engaged upon a rape of nature.”

                   - Mellor 1988

Shelley’s Frankenstein      

Cruxed  the definitions of gender by creating an androgynous figure.

Through this novel, Shelley provides us a locus for her critique of repressive artificial sexual roles and psychological disorder of the character victor Frankenstein. Here, Mary Shelley gives female malady to a male character.

Beret strong observes that 18^th century hysteria theory combined femininity and masculinity.

“Hysteria is located at the crossroads between masculine and feminine as they are culturally constructed.”

                  ‘Literature and psychology’

                                                 (1989)

While Elaine showalter’s work has illustrated that how Victorian doctors reduced the concepts of madness and hysteria to a specifically female complaint. Even then sensibilities of the 19^th century still remain as a symptom to men.

       

Hysteria is a nervous disorder it is related with the mode psychological unbalanced situation of the mind. The hysteric was treated through

“Management of the mind.”

   Here, in this novel this definition or view of Ferrier became very appropriate.

Because, in his novel ‘victor Frankenstein’  has a knowledge of many types. But, even if just for the shake of his desire to “controlled the world” or “Hunger for the knowledge” he lost many things and he lost himself also.

In this novel the character of victor of victor is just like the character of ’Doctor Faustus’ in the work by Christopher Marlowe ‘Doctor Faustus’s desire also to become ‘Man of god’ or his wish for to get the more knowledge.

In the same way. Here, ’Doctor Faustus’ an example is quite appropriate for the Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’.

In the beginning of the novel we can got the idea that Frankenstein disobey his father. His father denied him to create this work, even if victor  Frankenstein don’t obeyed to his father just because his repressed desire to became god of the world.

Here, in this novel repressed desire of Frankenstein  which is unspeakable desire we can listened through the mouth of Monster. Shelley observes that because of a social and psychological system categorizes strong emotion as feminine and common, the men who experience such emotion risk chaos-

“A redefinition of gender and class status.”

Here, in this novel Shelley deconstructed the idea that only women can gives  birth to child but the creation of Monster through she given the title of victor Frankenstein the mother of the Monster. Shelley illustrates this redefinition most  clearly in several episodes of  hysteria that she associates with victor and by attributing hysteria to a male character. Shelley shown cultural orthodoxy of masculinity, especially as represented in victor’s project. The representation of a male hysteric like victor in Shelley’s text collaborates her belief that, despite a culture’s artificial fragmentation of emotions by gender, the male body can, if need be then speak in a “Female” voice.

Because of ‘silence desire’ Frankenstein lost his ‘All Family members’-

“All  his near and dear one.”

Because of his this kind of desire his all family fall. He is himself responsible for the death of his family. Throughout this whole novel he himself not proved as a good-child, good-father, good -lover, good-brother and not as a good-friend also.

After the creation of Monster first of all he became happy. Because he thinks that he got the whole power of the world. But after creation he himself also afraid of Monster. And, He falls in fever.  be know the future of his family.

                        

After creating Monster he put him alone, Monster feel  loneliness and crave for the emotions and feelings that he neither got from his creator nor from the society. Then, Monster all those things learnt silently from the society. Then, he knows his creator and with this scene Monster became real Monster of the novel.

Then, he told victor that if you don’t want to accept me then create one another lady Monster for me. so,  create lady Monster but then he thinks that if I ‘m not destroyed this Monster then it is became harmful for the whole world. So that’s why he destroyed lady Monster but unfortunately this thing Monster also seeing that thing , victor don’t aware about this thing.

That is the beginning of the fall of family of Monster. Then, slowly and steadily he killed whole family member of the victor. Here, we can see the repressed desire of the Monster to get love, feelings and emotions.

The end of this novel end with the death of ‘victor Frankenstein’, his family and then he himself also committed suicide in the end.

Throughout the study of this whole novel we  can say that “Repression” and “Hysteria” played vital role in this novel “Frankenstein”.