Thursday 14 August 2008

Assignment topics for II BA English Litt., Students...:

Paper: A Practical Introduction to Literature
Points to Note before you start working on your Assignment:
The essays should be about 12 to 15 pages in length, proofed, and well thought-out. I see these assignments as a chance for you to explore more thoroughly some of the topics we have discussed / we will be discussing in class.
Also, when you write the essays, be sure to use examples from the text of the novel/short story concerned.

No further extension of the prescribed deadline is permissible under any circumstances. Creativity, Neatness and Originality will be rewarded suitably.

1. Ankita Harihar – Hemingway’s Vision of Heroism with reference to “The Old Man the Sea.”

2. Dolly Mary - To be a man is to behave with honor and dignity: to not succumb to suffering, to accept one's duty without complaint, and most importantly, to display a maximum of self-control. Discuss the above statement with reference to The Old Man and the Sea.

3. Hebzibah Nancy - 3. Discuss religious symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea. To what effect does Hemingway employ such images?

4. Nadhiya, N - Write a carefully planned paper in which you explore the meaning and the appropriateness of Hemingway's title. In doing this, you will need to examine carefully each word of the title and you will also need to consider other possible titles that Hemingway might have used.

5. Priya, P –A.) How much convincing evidence do you find for regarding the old man as a symbol of man in general? B.) How much convincing evidence do you find for regarding the fish as more than just a marlin? If the fish is a symbol, what does he symbolize?

6. Sheela, R - Comment on the major themes in the short stories of Oscar Wilde with spl reference to the prescribed short story, and also discuss Wilde’s achievements as a writer.

7. Shruthi, M.T - Analyze Santiago's inner conflict and introspection while at sea.

8. Sudha, M - What is the role of the sea and all its inhabitants? Does the sea, with all its elements of life and challenges, represent or symbolize the nature of society in general, and Santiago's fishing village in particular?

9. Supraja, P - Write a paper in which you comment fully and specifically on the significance for the entire book of Santiago's words, "A man can be destroyed but not defeated." (p. 103) To do this you will need to start with an exploration of possible meanings of the two words destroyed and defeated.

10. Ajit Daniel, C
Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each:
1. How long had it been since Santiago had caught a fish?
2. Santiago's eyes were not old- they were the colour of the ______, and______?
3. How did the other fishermen react to Santiago?
4. How did Santiago and Manolin meet in the morning? What did they eat for breakfast?
5. Did Santiago realize that he was going "far out"? (give page reference)
6. Did Santiago speak of the sea as feminine or masculine?
7. Comment on symbolism in the novel in about 150 words.

11. Arun Prashanth:
1. In what direction was the fish pulling?
2. What did Santiago hope the fish would do? Why ?
3. What woke him up?
4. How many times had the fish jumped?
5. What did Santiago eat for breakfast?
6. Write a note on Existentialism in The Old Man and the Sea in about 150 words.

12. Baskar, G -
1. When was Santiago going to say 100 Our Fathers and Hail Marys?
2. Who met him in the morning? What did he do when he saw the old man?
3. How big was the fish? Did the fish beat Santiago?
4. What was on the walls of Santiago's shack? What used to hang there?
5. How did Santiago get his dinner that night, and what was it?
6. What does Santiago say is "his alarm clock"?
7. In his dreams, how did the lions play?
8. Write a short note on the life and works of Ernest Hemingway in about 150 words.

13. Dayananth, J -
1. On day two, when did Santiago think he would catch 'the big one'? (give page reference)
2. What did Santiago use for bait?
3. When the man-of-war bird dove into the sea, what happened?
4. On day three, what added drag to the line, and pleased Santiago?
5. What did Santiago eat for breakfast?
6. Santiago considered the fish his _______?
7. Write a note on the life and works of Oscar Wilde in about 150 words.

14. Georgy Varghese:
1. (On the fourth day,) When was Santiago going to say 100 Our Fathers and Hail Marys?
2. What was the fish doing all this day?
3. What did Santiago kill the fish with? What time was it?
4. What is Manolin determined to do now?
5. Who did Santiago give the fish head to? Why?
6. Write a short essay in about 150 words on Hemingway’s attitude towards God and man.

15. Jaison Mathew –
1. Did Santiago speak of the sea as feminine or masculine?
2. When did Santiago think he would catch 'the big one'? (give page reference)
3. What did Santiago use for bait?
4. Can Hemingway be a source of inspiration to today’s youth. Why or why not? Authenticate your answer from his life and works, in about 250 words.

16. Karthick, J.R –
1. How did Santiago get his dinner that night, and what was it?
2. What does Santiago say is "his alarm clock"?
3. How did Santiago and Manolin meet in the morning? What did they eat for breakfast?
4. Did Santiago speak of the sea as feminine or masculine?
5. The lights of what city are visible on the horizon?
6. Comment on the maxim “Man can be destroyed but not defeated” in about 250 words with reference to the prescribed novella.

17. Madhavan, M -
1. What was the biggest fish that Santiago had ever caught? Was he alone those times?
2. What did Santiago promise to do if God allowed him to catch the fish?
3. What did Santiago kill the fish with? What time was it?
4. The entire novel is a single unit as written, but it is possible to divide the book logically into parts. How many parts are there and what happens in each section? Although there is no single right answer, your explanation should demonstrate the logic and accuracy of your divisions, in about 250 words.

18. Martin, T -
1. What did Santiago drink throughout this ordeal?
2. What attacked his fish enroute?
3. On day five, who met him in the morning? What did he do when he saw the old man?
4. Hemingway might have written The Old Man and the Sea as a much longer novel, taking Santiago from his early childhood to his final dreams of the lions. What would have been lost if he had done this? What gained?

19. Praburaj, D
1. Did Santiago like the Portuguese man of war? Why?
2. Did Santiago realize that he was going "far out"? (give page reference)
3. Who did Santiago give the fish head to? Why?
4. Comment on the maxim “Man can be destroyed but not defeated” in about 250 words with reference to the prescribed novella.

20. Roshan Joseph –
1. Did Santiago speak of the sea as feminine or masculine?
2. When did Santiago think he would catch 'the big one'? (give page reference)
3. What did Santiago use for bait?
4. Can Hemingway be a source of inspiration to today’s youth. Why or why not? Authenticate your answer from his life and works, in about 250 words.

21. Samuel Gnanaselvan –
1. Use one word to describe how Santiago 'works' his big fish.
2. The lights of what city are visible on the horizon?
3. Who did Santiago wish was with him?
4. Santiago considered the fish his _______?
5. Comment on the symbolism in The Old Man and the Sea, in about 250 words with references to the text, wherever possible.

22. Thirumoorthy, N –
1. What did Santiago hope the fish would do? Why ?
2. What was the biggest fish that Santiago had ever caught? Was he alone those times?
3. What did Santiago do to convince God to allow him to catch the fish?
4. The entire novel is a single unit as written, but it is possible to divide the book logically into parts. How many parts are there and what happens in each section? Although there is no single right answer, your explanation should demonstrate the logic and accuracy of your divisions, in about 250 words.

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