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Analyzing William Blake’s Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794)

“An honesty against which the whole world conspires because it is unpleasant.” -T. S. Eliot William Blake was hardly known in his life time though he was most original, strongly individualistic, and mostly a solitary figure. Dante Gabriel Rossetti, through his edition of Blake’s poems, brought him to public attention. In fact, Blake was a genius who distinguished himself in poetry, engraving and painting. He lived in London unlike many other poets who lived in the countryside. He had little formal education, but he taught himself. He was teepee in the Bible, Elizabethan literature and Milton. He knew many language including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French and Italian. Blake was a man of vision who saw ultimate truth at moments of great illumination. Vision is for him the great secret of life. His endive work poetry or panting is an attempt to develop this faculty of vision so that man seems to understand and thereby forgive and at righty.  William Blake’s Songs of Innoc

A TO Z Literary Principles from History of English Literature: Note 40

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A Set of 26 Objective Questions & Answers: The Rise and Journey of Periodical Essay 1. When did periodicals as we understand them today originate? The middle of the 17th century. 2. What is a little magazine? A periodical devoted to publishing specialized, avant-garde writing and criticism. 3. Why are little magazines generally short-lived? Due to limited circulation and marginal financial backing. 4. How have most periodicals historically differed from newspapers? In format, publication schedule, and content. 5. How have online magazines impacted the readers' reading habits? Online magazines have provided readers with convenient access to a wide range of content, allowing them to read and engage with publications anytime and anywhere, often on their mobile devices or computers. 6. Name some of the earliest periodicals in different countries. Erbauliche Monaths-Unterredungen (1663-1668) in Germany, Journal des Sçavans (1665) in France, and Philosophical Transactions (1665)

A TO Z Literary Principles from History of English Literature: Note 39

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Short notes on History of English Literature : Arcadia and Utopia A Set of 26 Objective Questions & Answers Short notes on History of English Literature:   Arcadia 1. Who wrote the prose romance Arcadia? Philip Sidney. 2. In what form was the work Arcadia written? Arcadia is a prose romance interspersed with verse. 3. What is Arcadia considered to be in terms of English literature? The first considerable work in English pastoral romance. 4. Where does the action of Arcadia take place? In the idealized setting of Arcadia. 5. What is the significance of Sidney's Arcadia? It was famous in its day as a pastoral romance. 6. Which historic event made a prayer from Arcadia deeply significant? When King Charles repeated it facing death on the scaffold in 1649. 7. What role does Arcadia play in the story of love and chivalry? It serves as the background for the story. 8. Who are Musidorus and Pyrocles in Arcadia? They are characters disguised as a peasant and a woman, respecti

A TO Z Literary Principles from History of English Literature: Note 38

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Short notes on:  Poetic Term /Rhetoric/ Figure of Speech A Set of 26 Objective Questions & Answers 1. Ballad   The Ballad has been defined in the Reader's companion to world Literature as “a narrative song - poem usually relating a single, dramatic incident, in a form suitable for singing or rhythmical chanting ". Ballads are of two kinds -- the folk ballads and the literary ballads. The authors of the former are unknown; the authors of latter are known literary figures. Ballads and more especially folk ballads are characterized by simplicity of language, terseness of expression, directness of narration, the use of archaic words and repletion of phrases and lines to achieve a cumulative effect. They are usually objective and impersonal, and devote little attention to character portraiture or setting. Bishop’s Reliques of English poetry contain some of the best ballads in English. 2. Blank Verse   Each line of Blank verse contains ten syllables. The pre - dominant b

Analysis of William Shakespeare's ‘Measure for Measure’ as a Problem Play

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Introduction E. K. Chambers remarks that in " Measure for Measure the evidence of Shakespeare ’s profound disillusionment and discouragement of spirit is plain enough that the searchlight of irony is thrown upon the paths of Providence itself”. It is written in 1604. it is Shakespeare’s last comedy, and it is considered by many to be the best-known and most controversial comedy of the author's tragic period. It contains many dark, somber elements more typical of the tragedies to come. Critically "Measure for Measure" is often categorized as a problem play by William Shakespeare. This genre refers to plays that do not fit neatly into the traditional categories of comedy or tragedy. Instead, they explore complex moral and social issues, presenting a mix of serious and comedic elements.  What are the Problems? George L. Geckle in "Shakespeare's Isabella" has critically evaluated the problems in the play. Critics widely consider "Measure for Mea

Four Great Tragedies of Shakespeare: –Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear

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In the third period of  Shakespearean world  (1600-1608), tragedy predominates. Starting with  Julius Cacsar  (1601) he raises to greater heights in the celebrated ‘The four Great Tragedies – Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear . The structure of  Julius Caesar  is unusual. It looks like two tragedies in one, first Ceasar’s and then Brutus’s. It is also a revenge tragedy when  Antony  becomes the avenger. For the playwright the shift from English history in the recently completed  Henry V  to roman history released a new confidence.     Hamlet ,   Probably  written in 1601,  is a tragedy of revenge. Hamlet is generally considered the foremost tragedy in English drama. Numerous commentaries have been written analyzing every aspect of the play, and interpretation of Hamlet’s character and motivation continue to be subjects of considerable interest.  It is so because the figure of Hamlet has so fascinated successive generations, the play has provoked more discussion, more performa

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