II CIA - Reg

Dear Students of I BSc Pbt/Zoo (Reg),

As announced earlier, you will be tested based on all the prescribed poems/essays with special focus on the novel Animal Farm. The Internal Test will be held at the same venue in which you wrote your I CIAs.

II BA English Literature students are expected to submit your assignments (as part of your I CIA) on or before Friday, 30 March 2012, failing which you will be forfeiting your marks for the same. All your assignments on Oratory should be in the form of MS Word, 1.5 spacing, Times New Roman, and sent to me as an email attachment at rufusonline@gmail.com. For an overview of the topics, kindly click on this link here

With all best wishes,

Rufus
Course teacher

Tackling the Question Paper [Semester I]

Tackling the Question Paper for Semester I:

Firstly, let us deal with the first three Essay questions that carry 20x3=60 marks each.

Spend between twenty and thirty minutes on each ESSAY question, which totally takes 1 hr and 30 mts of your time. 

For answering essay questions, give a neat, catchy introduction. Use textual quotations to authenticate your views. Do not write extensively about the author’s biography. It is not needed! And, please... do not write the story. The examiner does not expect you to write the story, which even a fourth grader can write down with extreme finesse. On the other hand, the examiner expects you to give a critical evaluation of the text that you have studied. A critical analysis involves a creative analysis.  And, always stick to one tense form. If you start with the present tense, continue in the same tense form till the end of your essay. Finally, while summing up your ESSAY, remember to make it memorable!

Blueprint for Semester I - Part II English

                                          Semester I

Question Paper blueprint for the End of Semester Examination - November 2011

Time: 3 Hrs                                                      Marks: 100

I. Answer any ONE of the following in about 500 words: [1x20=20]

Three questions from poetry.

II. Answer any ONE of the following in about 500 words: [1x20=20]

Three questions from prose.

III. Answer any ONE of the following in about 500 words: [1x20=20]

Three questions from Ibsen's "A Doll's House"

IV. Answer any ONE: [1x10=10]

Two questions on writing a Formal Letter.

E.g.: A formal letter to the Dean of Student Affairs requesting for leave of absence to attend a relative's wedding. OR .......

V. Answer any ONE: [1x10=10]

Two imaginary situations for Dialogue Writing.

E.g.: Two students discussing a movie they have seen. OR .........

VI. Write a critical appreciation of the following poem in about 150 words: [1x10=10]

The poem should not be one of the prescribed poems.

VII. Sentence correction exercises: [ 5x2=10 ]

No internal choice. Five incorrect sentences to be given. Students have to write out the corrected sentences.

                                                  ******

"A Doll's House" - Henrik Ibsen - Critical Analysis

Introduction:

Ibsen is called the father of realistic drama. He perfected the drama of conversation. He was the first man to show that high tragedy could be written about ordinary people and in ordinary everyday prose. His plays deal with the problems of contemporary everyday life situations. “A Doll’s House” is the best known and one of the most popular of Ibsen’s works. It is a play about women’s freedom, which deals with the liberation of the individual from the shackles and restraints of custom and convention.

Problem in Husband-Wife Relationship:

The play deals with the problem of marriage, of husband-wife relationship. It deals with the

"The Case for Short Words" - Richard Lederer - Lesson Summary

The Case for Short Words

Introduction:

“The Case for Short Words,” written by Richard Lederer, explains how short words get your point across much more efficiently than many long words might.  He says, “A lot of small words, more than you might think, can meet your needs with a strength, grace, and charm that large words do not have”. The essay is a heightened plea so users of the English language to go for short, crisp, swift words, instead of a long word.

The Wrong Notion about the Use of Short Words:

Students of the English language are often under a preconceived false notion  that by using a more complex vocabulary in writing and by using long words in conversation, others might consider them as being ‘well educated’, and perhaps even a little more ‘intelligent’. Richard

"My Visions for India" - Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam - Lesson Summary

Introduction:

“Sight is about what lies right in front of us.  Vision is what lies ahead” goes the old adage. India is an old civilization and an extremely complex society. Her glorious past, natural beauty, resources, vast size and above all her unique geographical location has always given her the pride of place in the world. With the ups and downs of history it has retained its vibrancy. Yet, due to callousness and lethargy on our part and due to the negative slant of the media here, we as a nation have not been able to attain the status of a developed nation thus far.

The People's President

In this famous speech delivered in IIT Hyderabad on 25 May 2011, Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam outlines his three visions for his motherland India and pleads for Indians to be involved in the nation-building process and to make India a developed nation.

Dr.Kalam’s First Vision: Freedom

In 3000 years of our history, people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our lands and conquered our minds. Yet, we have not conquered anyone. Because, we respect the freedom of others, and that is the reason for his first vision of Freedom. India got its first vision of this in the Indian Rebellion in the year 1857, when we started the war of Independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture and build on.

His Second Vision: Development

We have been a developing nation for fifty years, and so it is time we see ourselves as a developed nation. In terms of GDP, we are among the top five nations of the world. Our poverty levels are falling. Our achievements are being globally recognised today. Yet we lack the self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation.

“A Definition of a Gentleman” – Cardinal Newman - Critical Summary

Introduction:

John Henry Newman’s The Idea of a University is an attempt to define a liberal arts education.  In this book, he argues that the primary purpose of a university is to develop the mind, and not merely to dispense information.  He was strongly in favour of a ‘liberal education' which he contrasted with commercial or professional education. According to him, a student, after his studies at the University, must be able to cultivate a lifestyle according to what he or she has grasped and practised from the university way of living. The present essay, “A Definition of a Gentleman” is an excerpt from The Idea of a University, a series of lectures given in Ireland in the year 1852.

Who's a Gentleman?

One who never inflicts Pain:

Newman defines the gentleman as one who never inflicts pain. This, according to him, is the most refined as the most accurate definition of a gentleman. Outlining the qualities of a gentleman, Newman says that, a gentleman doesn't assert his nature, but instead makes others who are around him feel comfortable and at ease. He also helps others by making it easier for them to succeed.

Gentleman – Compared to an Easy Chair or a Good Fire:

A true gentleman is like an easy chair or a good fire that helps people to be warm and cozy. An easy chair does nothing really; it just provides a wonderful place to relax and make people feel at ease and at comfort. Moreover, we don't have to do anything to enjoy the easy chair; it is always there, always welcoming, and always comfortable. Similarly, the gentleman is not always in front of you, but still he is there... waiting with open arms to comfort you, helps make your life easier, and to support you when you need it most. The gentleman is also compared to a good fire, which helps dispel cold and fatigue. The gentleman in like manner, is a secure solace during times of sadness and weariness, and is a warm reassurance of solace during times of trouble.

"The Art of Living" – Samuel Smiles

by Samuel Smiles

Introduction:

Samuel Smiles is still well known today as a writer and moralist. His works have always reflected the spirit of his age. This essay, “The Art of Living” is an excerpt from Chapter XVI of his book Thrift (1875).Arguing for the importance of the seeing eye and the feeling heart which are an ingredient of good taste, the essay also celebrates the eminent household qualifications like Prudence, Punctuality and Perseverance, which eventually result in peace, comfort and domestic prosperity.

The Art of Living in Actual Life:

The Art of Living is the art of turning the means of living to the best account – in short, it is the art of making the best of everything. It is the art of extracting from life its highest enjoyment, and, thereby reaching its highest results.

Like poetry and painting, the art of living comes chiefly by nature; but everyone can cultivate and develop it. It can be encouraged and developed by parents and teachers, and perfected by self-culture. Without intelligence, it cannot exist.

I BSc Pbt/Zoo I CIA Marks - Reg.:

Dear Students of I BSc Pbt/Zoo(Reg),

Your I CIA Answer Sheets will be distributed to you personally, in the S-220 Classroom, at 8.30 am on Friday, 17 September 2010.

A copy of the same will also be displayed, on this, our academic blog on the same day.

Clarifications, if any, can be made to me, personally or by email on or before Friday, 24 September 2010.

Regards and all best wishes,

Rufus
A Note on Valuation Methodology Used:
I look for clarity of expression, presentation and development of your argument in a logical manner, and also for proper sentence structure.
Over-writing has been penalised, yet minimally.
Observation of Word limit criterion has also been looked into.
Grammatical accuracy has been given weightage.
Relevant illustrations, [examples] have been awarded generously.
[Accurate] Quotes and [precise] dates have been appreciated.
Coherence, which makes your sentences hold together, and clarity of thought [clear language]  have been fairly rewarded.
Neatness gives you an additional bonus of one mark.
Remember, symbols like '&' should be avoided at all costs in the examinations, as they can never substitute for the word they seem to represent.!
Last but not the least, numbering all your pages makes my work less complicated!

Well, A bird is known by his note, the man by his words and a student, by his performance.
And that's what i expect from you... dear students...!
Regards and all best wishes,
Rufus

The Case for Short Words

Guide for Reading the Essay "The Case for Short Words":

1. The title of the selection "The Case for Short Words" gives you a clue to the author's opinion about short words. Did this essay convince you to use short words in your writing? Why or why not?

2. Which of the two student essays did you like better? What did you like about it?

3. What do all the words in the first four paragraphs of the essay have in common?

4. What well-known authors does Lederer quote to make his case for short words?

5. When Lederer compares short words to specific objects - like sparks, the dawn, or a blade, - he is creating powerful images. How does this help make his point?

6. In the last paragraph, the suggestion to set up a sign is not meant literally. Why do you think the author makes the suggestion?

7. Do you think the effectiveness of your writing would increase if you used more short words? Why or why not?

Critical Thinking:

Inspired by his students, a best-selling author and a teacher, Richard Lederer explains that the idea for his essay "was inspired by real-life examples of the power of short words." These examples came from the many fine essays submitted to him by his students in response to an assignment on the topic of long and short words. In making his case for short words, Richard Lederer relies on three different kinds of sources: his own writing, quotations of well-known writers and literary works, and students' writing.

A VERY INDIAN POEM IN INDIAN ENGLISH - Critical Summary

Introduction:

Nissim Ezekiel is one of those Indian poets writing in English who creates an authentic flavor of India, by his use of Indian English - Pidgin English on Bazar English, as it is often called. In this poem, the Indian flavor has been created by stressing the various mistakes which Indians commit in their use of English, by bringing in the hopes and aspirations of free India, and also the attitudes of her two hostile neighbors, China and Pakistan.

Poetic Inspiration for the Poem:

It all started as a comment by a friend who said that you write in English no doubt and you write English well but you don't seem to even know or realise that thousands of Indians speak what can only be called Indian English, So from that time in all his train journeys from Mithibai College back home, he started to take some interest in the way English was being spoken on the train. Every time he heard an obvious Indian English phrase like, "I'm not knowing only." he would take it down. When he had about a thousand of these, he thought of creating this present poem.

The Indian Living Conditions:

Ezekiel presents that the new generation is going after 'fashion and foreign things.' He presents the typical Indian make - up. The Indian living conditions are sought to be portrayed. The India of yester years is no longer to be seen here, as modernization and industrialization have speeded up the process of change.

The regrettable thing in the modern world is the act of violence and anti – social tendencies proving to be a menace. Still the positive aspects like regeneration, remuneration and contraception could be thought of as a way out of the present muddle. One can certainly hope for the better and propagate the best that is thought as unique.

Ancient Indian Wisdom:

In the second stanza, the readers get a peep into things - Indians as Gandhi's heir, he would opt for peace and non - violence. He is puzzled why others are not following Gandhi's advice - while in this estimate, the ancient Indian wisdom is correct, contrastively the modern generation takes it to whatever is western and fashionable - like other Indians, he too has to improve his English language. The student interest and petty agitations make him feel sickening line Antony's appeal to the Roman mob, he will call upon the fellow citizens to think of the past masters.

Thus in the third stanza, he pronounces, In order to get away from that which is disgusting, he wants to have a cup of lassi which is very good for digestion. It can be taken as equivalent to the western wine if only a little salt is added to make it a lovely drink. The poet confesses that he is the total abstainer from drinks while it is taken by addicts to gunch themselves, he for his part would turn to simple drinks like lassi. Thus, the poet tries to receive the old Gandhian days.

The World Situation Today:

In the fourth stanza, the poet is able to think aloud and offer his comments on the world situation today. The present conditions all over the world speak of a bad trend that give an edge to the production of dangerous weapons and try to be superior to others. The countries of the world often tie with each other in keeping themselves ahead of others in this mad competitive world. This retrace often leads to conflicts resulting in loss of precious human lives. If only one considers the other as the brother; the trend could be changed.

Unity in Diversity:

India is a land where the principle of 'unity in Diversity' is practiced. Here many communities live together even though there are some problems. This ideal situation in which one Co-exists with the other is described as Ram Rajya by the poet. He gives the hand of friendliness to the visitor and expects him to come again. The poet is optimistic when he says that he enjoys every moment of good company. So, he ends the poem by saying that he does not feel the necessity of celebrating ceremonies.

Common Mistakes ‘highlighted’ in the Poem:

Substrate influence on grammar is quite common. It is often frowned upon as "wrong", but eventually becomes a regular part of the new language variant. "The Patriot" contains a number of Indian English examples: the reduplication of verbs in "fighting fighting", the lack of indefinite and definite articles in "threw stone at Indirabehn" and "all people of world", the use of one instead of the indefinite article a in "one glass lassi", the excessive use of the definite article the in "not that I am ever tasting the wine", the excessive use of the continuous tense (the -ing form) in "I am standing for peace and non-violence", the omission of an obligatory object pronoun in "modern generation is neglecting" (instead of "neglecting this") etc. Again, this is a satirical poem rather than a genuine example of Indian English, but the phenomena exemplified are genuine enough.

Conclusion:

Nissim Ezekiel occupies a unique position among Indo-Anglian poets of post-Independence era. Nissim opposed the idealism and romanticism of the earlier group of Indian writers in English, and tried to look at any typical Indian situation with an Indian attitude, with a novel and dynamic Indian insight. He cleverly manipulated Indian English to bring out the Indian worldview.

Thus Ezekiel uses 'Indian English,' or 'Babu Angrezi' in his poetry to depict the characteristics of Indian attitude. He used irony as a weapon to depict the characteristic features of Indian attitude.

I CIA Test - Portions for I BSc Pbt/Zoo Students..:

Dear Students of I BSc Pbt/Zoo (Reg),

You will be tested on the following three texts, for your I CIA which is to be held on 16 Aug at 11.30 am.
1) Ezekiel's "A Very Indian Poem in Indian English"
2) Kipling's "If"
3) Lederer's "The Case for Short Words".

Clarifications, can be made, (not when the exams are around, but much ahead) directly, between 1.30 and 2 pm on all working days, at the Dept of English, or through email at rufusonline@gmail.com
Regards and all best wishes,
Rufus

Tolerance

Introduction:

In his essay “Tolerance” E.M.Forster talks about the need for a sound state of mind, and a right psychology to reconstruct Europe. Architects, contractors, broadcasting corporations etc must be inspired by the proper spirit in the people for whom they are working. People today are indifferent to civic beauty, and they have no taste at all. According to Forster, until we are concerned and worried about our society, reconstruction of Europe would not become a possibility at all.

Love for Private Life – Tolerance for Public Life:

Most people, when asked what spiritual quality is needed to rebuild civilization, will reply ‘Love.’ But according to Forster, love is a great force in private life; it is indeed the greatest of all things: but love in public affairs does not work. The idea that nations should love one another, or that a man in Portugal should love a man in Peru of whom he has never heard – it is absurd, unreal, dangerous etc. In the rebuilding of civilization, something much less dramatic and emotional is needed, namely tolerance. Tolerance is indeed a negative virtue, but this is the sound state of mind which will enable different races and classes and interests to settle down together to the work of reconstruction.

Tolerance is Common Sense:

According to Forster, if you don’t like people, put up with them as well as you can. Don’t try to love them: you can’t, you’ll only strain yourself. But try to tolerate them. On the basis of that tolerance a civilized future may be built. There is no other foundation besides tolerance, for the post-war world.

Moreover, tolerance is very essential for the establishment of peace. It is also common sense, because in the post-war world we shall have to live with all kinds of people – from different races, languages, ethnicities etc.

Conclusion:

To conclude, Forster feels that tolerance is not a great eternally established divine principle, but just a makeshift, suitable and apt for an overcrowded and overheated planet. It carries on when love gives out, and love generally gives out as soon as we move away from our home and our friends. Tolerance is needed in the shop, among strangers, in the queue, in the telephone booth, in the street, in the office, at the factory and above all between classes, races, and nations. It is a dull virtue but still requires imagination, as it helps in empathizing with others, which is a very desirable spiritual exercise too.

Mending Wall – Robert Frost - Poem Summary

Introduction:

Mending Wall is one of the most widely quoted poems of Frost. It is a dramatic lyric or monologue. The speaker is a young man, presumably the poet himself, and the lyric is an expression of his views and attitudes. The other character is the poet’s neighbour. He does not speak even a single word, but we come to know of his views and attitudes, of his conservatism and orthodoxy, from what the speaker says about him.

Spring time Repairs: Attitude of the poet and the New England Farmer:

The speaker in the poem, the poet himself, and his neighbour get together every spring to repair the stone wall between their respective properties. The neighbour, an old England farmer, seems to have a deep-seated faith in the value of walls and fences. He declines to explain his belief and only reiterates his father’s saying, “Good fences make good neighbours.”

Enigmatic Attitude of the Speaker:

Yet, the speaker’s attitude is also enigmatic and in some respects primitive. He seems to be in sympathy with some elemental forces of nature which denies all boundaries. It is suggested that there is some supernatural power at work in Nature, that is against all fences and walls:
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That sends the frozen ground swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;

Points of View portrayed in the Poem:

The poem portrays a clash between two points of view, and it may, therefore seem that its meaning is the solution. The poem leads one to ask, which of the two is right, the speaker or his Yankee neighbour? Should man tear down the barriers which isolate individuals from one another, or should he recognize that distinctions and limits are necessary for human life? Frost does not really provide an answer. He pictures it with an incident from rural life, and in order to reveal its complex nature he develops it through the conflict of two opposed points of view.

Paradox in the Poem:

The real strength and effectiveness of the poem arises from the contradiction and clash of opposites. The strength of the poem rests upon the contradiction expressed in its two famous lines:
The poem maintains that: Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.
But it also insists that: Good fences make good neighbours.

The contradiction is logical, for the opposing statements are uttered by two different types of people and both are right. Man cannot live without walls, boundaries. Limits and particularly self-limitations; yet, he resents all bounds and is happy at the downfall of any barrier.

Conclusion:

The poem represents two opposing attitudes towards life – one is the surrender to the natural forces which draws human beings together, and the other, - the conservatism which persists in keeping up the distinctions separating them. The poem reveals the characteristic features of Frost’s style – colloquial and dramatic, in presentation.

*****

Phenomenal Woman - Maya Angelou - Poem Summary

Introduction:

In this poem, Maya Angelou celebrates femininity by playing upon the two possible meanings that could be attached to the poem's title - Phenomenal Woman. As a liberated woman, the speaker in the poem proudly proclaims her individuality; she is an extraordinary person, and therefore phenomenal.

Phenomenal - from Angelou's Perspective:

Maya Angelou asks the reader to probe deeper into the whole question of what makes a woman attractive, worthwhile and valued. The "Phenomenal" in the ordinary sense of the term relates to all data that can be perceived by the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. However, Maya Angelou takes the reader into the specific and much higher qualities that are attributes of "Phenomenal" - they are: intangible qualities like a soul, a mind, and a temperament.

Women have spent hours making over their appearances for centuries. But phenomenal woman, by her very naturalness, is more alive and more sensual than her doll-like sisters. Men, however, are bewildered by her power to attract because they have forgotten what a real woman is like. Phenomenal Woman is breezy in flaunting her mystery. Unlike conventional "mysteriousness" which men assign to woman, the Phenomenal Woman does not depend on glamour, coquetry, tantrums, or capriciousness to intrigue men. Her mystery is profound and real, especially since men and women do not understand her extraordinary, natural vitality.

The Attitude of Men towards Phenomenal Woman:

Phenomenal woman has men behaving in ways pretty woman can only dream of - they mill around her like bees around a honeycomb. Men are bowled over by her charm. Her conquests are effortless. She is cool - a black English word to describe someone who is perfect, proud and in-charge of herself. Phenomenal woman's physical charm expresses a wholly different female temperament. The fire in her eyes is a marker of passion, the flash of her teeth is a symbol of primitive and even savage energy. The swing of her waist and the motions of her feet suggest the celebrating notes of a jungle dance.

Characteristics of a Phenomenal Woman:

The last stanza addresses the world. Phenomenal woman remains unconquered. She is not "subject" to anyone. She does not need to be agitationist, attention-seeking, or polemical. Shouting, jumping and protesting loudly are entirely unnecessary for her. Phenomenal woman simply is. Phenomenal woman is in complete control of herself unlike insecure women who worry constantly about their appearance.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Angelou states that, above all, phenomenal woman is self-defining. The key-phrase upon which the entire poem revolves is the one which repeats itself in every stanza: "I say." Because she articulated herself, and does not allow others to define or describe her, she exists.

*****

On the Move - Thom Gunn - Poem Summary

Introduction:

This poem, from Gunn's second collection, is his most famous piece, and among the best-known of all post-war poems. In it, the aimless, but threatening movement of a motorcycle gang becomes a metaphor for modern man's sense of alienation and lack of purpose. In On the Move, Gunn uses a series of connected metaphors, all deriving from the key image of movement.

A Sociological "footnote of the fifties":

The poem is a sociological footnote of the fifties. The young black-jacketed motor cyclists of the west become fitting symbols of restless energy and violent movement. The subtitle of the poem, "Man, you gotta go" denotes the unwillingness and inability to stand still. It is the epigraph to the poem.

In the first stanza, Gunn briefly introduces the general premise of the poem, that is, always to be on the move. The bird of the crow family, the blue jay, with its gay plumage, with its confused movements, is also always on the move, following some hidden purpose.

The aimlessness of the motor-cycle gang:

The depiction of "the boys" in the second stanza seems sympathetic (they are seen very much as they wish to be seen, bikes, goggles, leather jackets) yet Gunn also views them critically. Gunn uses the analogy (parallel) of the actions of the motorcyclists to show how modern man in general (in the poem, referred to as "one") lacks a clear sense of purpose and thus follows others, even if their activity too, is ultimately purposeless. They are unable and unwilling to keep still. They have replaced language with noise, and pursue their hidden purpose forward.

The statement that men "manufacture both machine and soul" is developed in the reference, later, to the "self-defined" and the "created will". It examines the idea that modern man invents or chooses, as a deliberate act of will, definitions of lifestyle and personality, to supply what nature has omitted.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Gunn shows how the bikers' activity, because it is only a "part solution" leaves the central existential problem still open, whether there is a solution or only a "part solution" to man's lack of purpose. Thus, for Gunn, man's life is a struggle in which, through action, kind of victory is won in defeat. The poem can be understood in three ways: as an example for the poet's heroic stance; as a sociological footnote of the fifties, and as a beautifully finished piece of imaginative writing.

*****

The Importance of Being Earnest - Lesson Summary

Introduction:

The Importance of Being Earnest is a comic play by Oscar Wilde, set in England during the late Victorian era. The play's humour derives in part from characters maintaining fictitious identities to escape unwelcome social obligations. It is replete with witty dialogue and satirizes some of the foibles and hypocrisy of late Victorian society. It has proved to be Wilde's most enduringly popular play.

The major themes of this play are three: they are:
1). The triviality of the upper class. 2). The triviality of marriage and 3). The importance of wealth and leisure.

Jack visits London to meet Gwendolen:

Jack drops in unexpectedly on Algernon and announces that he intends to propose to Gwendolen. Algernon confronts him with the cigarette case and forces him to come clean, demanding to know who “Jack” and “Cecily” are. Jack confesses that his name isn’t really Ernest and that Cecily is his ward, a responsibility imposed on him by his adoptive father’s will. Jack also tells Algernon about his fictional brother.

Arrival of Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen:

Gwendolen and her mother, Lady Bracknell, arrive, which gives Jack an opportunity to propose to Gwendolen. Jack is delighted to discover that Gwendolen returns his affections, but he is alarmed to learn that Gwendolen is fixated on the name Ernest, which she says “inspires absolute confidence.” Gwendolen makes clear that she would not consider marrying a man who was not named Ernest.

Lady Bracknell Interviews Jack and subsequent Disapproval for their Marriage:

Lady Bracknell interviews Jack to determine his eligibility as a possible son-in-law, and during this interview she asks about his family background. When Jack explains that he has no idea who his parents were and that he was found, by the man who adopted him, in a handbag in the cloakroom at Victoria Station, Lady Bracknell is scandalized. She forbids the match between Jack and Gwendolen and sweeps out of the house.

Algernon visits Jack’s Country Estate to meet Cecily:

In Act II, Algernon shows up at Jack’s country estate posing as Jack’s brother Ernest. Meanwhile, Jack, having decided that Ernest has outlived his usefulness, arrives home in deep mourning, full of a story about Ernest having died suddenly in Paris. He is enraged to find Algernon there masquerading as Ernest but has to go along with the charade.

Algernon proposes to Cecily at Jack’s Country Estate:

While Jack changes out of his mourning clothes, Algernon, who has fallen hopelessly in love with Cecily, asks her to marry him. He is surprised to discover that Cecily already considers that they are engaged, and he is charmed when she reveals that her fascination with “Uncle Jack’s brother” led her to invent an elaborate romance between herself and him several months ago. Algernon is less enchanted to learn that part of Cecily’s interest in him derives from the name Ernest, which, unconsciously echoing Gwendolen, she says “inspires absolute confidence.”

Arrival of Gwendolen at Jack’s Country Estate: War between two girls:

Algernon goes off in search of Dr. Chasuble, the local rector, to see about getting himself christened Ernest. Meanwhile, Gwendolen arrives, having decided to pay Jack an unexpected visit. Cecily has no idea who Gwendolen is. Cecily explains that she is engaged to be married to Ernest Worthing. Gwendolen points out that this is impossible as she herself is engaged to Ernest Worthing. The tea party degenerates into a war of manners.

Jack and Algernon admit the truth:

The two women demand to know where Jack’s brother Ernest is, since both of them are engaged to be married to him. Jack is forced to admit that he has no brother and that Ernest is a complete fiction. Both women are shocked and furious, and they retire to the house arm in arm. However, when Jack and Algernon tell Gwendolen and Cecily that they have both made arrangements to be christened Ernest that afternoon, all is forgiven and the two pairs of lovers embrace. At this moment, Lady Bracknell’s arrival is announced.

Arrival of Lady Bracknell:

Lady Bracknell has followed Gwendolen from London, having bribed Gwendolen’s maid to reveal her destination. She demands to know what is going on. Gwendolen again informs Lady Bracknell of her engagement to Jack, and Lady Bracknell reiterates that a union between them is out of the question.

Jack informs Lady Bracknell that, as Cecily’s legal guardian, he refuses to give his consent to her union with Algernon. However, Lady Bracknell refuses to entertain the notion. She and Gwendolen are on the point of leaving when Dr. Chasuble arrives and happens to mention Cecily’s governess, Miss Prism. At this, Lady Bracknell starts and asks that Miss Prism be sent for.

Miss.Prism’s Confession: The Climax:

When the governess Miss.Prism arrives and catches sight of Lady Bracknell, she begins to look guilty and furtive. Lady Bracknell accuses her of having left her sister’s house twenty-eight years before with a baby and never returned. She demands to know where the baby is. Miss Prism confesses she doesn’t know, explaining that she lost the baby, having absentmindedly placed it in a handbag in which she had meant to place the manuscript for a novel she had written. Jack asks what happened to the bag, and Miss Prism says she left it in the cloakroom of a railway station. Jack presses her for further details and goes racing offstage, returning a few moments later with a large handbag. When Miss Prism confirms that the bag is hers, Jack’s identity is established. He is the legitimate child of Lady Bracknell’s sister and, therefore, Algernon’s older brother. Furthermore, Jack had been originally christened “Ernest John.” All these years Jack has unwittingly been telling the truth: Ernest is his name, as is Jack, and he does have an unprincipled younger brother—Algernon. Again the couples embrace, Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble follow suit, and Jack acknowledges that he now understands “the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”

Conclusion:

The mood of The Importance of Being Ernest is largely satirical. This is because Wilde is seeking to mock the triviality of the upper class society of London. Wilde’s satire is characterized by wit and is, throughout, lighthearted. Wilde is also writing from an aesthetic perspective, a movement in literature that celebrated art for art’s sake, and did not concern itself with the political issues of the outside world.

[With due acknowledgements and thanks to 'booknotes/wikipedia/sparknotes'.]

THE POSTMASTER - Rabindranath Tagore

For an interesting analysis of "The Postmaster" by one of our alumna @ MCC, (an ex-student) Samyuktha, CLICK on her blog HERE. Hope that solves your notes anxiety for Tagore's "The Postmaster" :-)