Questions for MA English (Part 1)

Paper 1 - Classical Poetry

1. Chaucer - “The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales”

i. Chaucer’s Humour / Satire / Ironyii. Chaucer’s art of Characterization

iii. Chaucer as a modern poet (humour, secularism etc.)iv. Chaucer’s ecclesiastical characters (Church’s hypocrisy, Comparison &

contrast between the characters)v. Chaucer’s female characters

2. Alexander Pope – “Rape of the Lock”

i. “Rape of the Lock” as social satireii. “Rape of the Lock” as comic epic / mock epic

iii. Use of machinery (Supernatural elements etc.)iv. Pope’s attitude towards women (Belinda’s character, Social satire)v. Moral of the “Rape of the Lock”

3. Milton – “Paradise Lost”

i. Milton’s grand styleii. Portrayal of Satan in “Paradise Lost”

iii. Who is the hero of Paradise Lost?iv. Character sketch of Adamv. Character sketch of Eve

4. Surrey & Wyatt

i. Surrey & Wyatt’s contribution of English Poetryii. Surrey & Wyatt as Sonnet writers (Comparison and Contrast)

iii. Critical appreciation of their Sonnets

Paper 2 – Drama

1. Sophocles – “Oedipus Rex”

i. Concept of Fate & Free will / Fate & Characterii. Oedipus as a tragic Hero / Oedipus’ Hamartia

iii. Irony in Oedipusiv. Role of Chorus

2. Marlow – “Dr. Faustus”

i. “Dr. Faustus” as a renaissance playii. “Dr. Faustus” as morality play

iii. “Dr. Faustus” as a modern tragedy / Spiritual Conflicts in the mind of Dr. Faustus

iv. Marlow’s contribution to English Dramav. “Dr. Faustus” Character sketch (as a typical Marlow’s hero, qualities

of Marlow’s hero)

3. Shakespeare – “Othello”

i. Othello’s character sketchii. Iago’s character sketch

iii. “Othello” as a social Tragedy (race & colour an important factor in Othello’s tragedy)

iv. Role of Chance & Misunderstanding (Chance Happening)

4. Oscar Wilde – “Importance of Being Earnest”

i. “Importance of Being Earnest” as a comedy (satire, style etc.)ii. “Importance of Being Earnest” as a social satire

iii. Use of wit & paradoxical statements (Irony)iv. Algernon’s Character sketchv. Jack’s Character sketch

Paper 3 - Novel

1. Jane Austin - "Pride and Prejudice"

i. Jane Austin as a novelist (it will be a general question on Jane Austin encompassing all her writing techniques e.g. Limited Range, Irony etc).

ii. Jane Austin's Limited Rangeiii. Jane Austin's Ironyiv. Themes of Marriage, Money and Manners.v. Character sketch of Elizabeth

vi. Lack of Passion in Jane Austin's novelsvii. Jane Austen’s art of Characterization

2. George Eliot - "Adam Bede"

i. George Eliot as a psychological / modern novelistii. Character sketch of Adam Bede

iii. Character sketch of Hetty Sorreliv. Character sketch of Dinnah Morrisv. Relationship between Adam and Dinnah

vi. Theme of Hardness (Adam doesn’t show politeness. He judges everyone according to morality so he can’t develop relationships)

3. Charles Dickens - "A Tale of Two Cities"

i. "A Tale of Two Cities" as an historical novelii. Dickens’ attitude towards French Revolution

iii. Symbolism in the noveliv. Theme of resurrection & renunciationv. How public events and private lives are interlinked in the novel?

4. Thomas Hardy - "Return of the Native"

i. Character sketch of Clymii. Character sketch of Eustacia

iii. Role of Egdon Heath / natureiv. Role of chance and coincidence / Role of fatev. Hardy as a pessimist

vi. Hardy as an ameliorist

Paper 4 – Prose

1. Francis Bacon - “Essays”

i. Bacon’s Style (proverbial style, aphorisms, pithy style etc.)ii. Bacon’s Worldly Wisdom

iii. Renaissance element in Bacon

2. Jonathan Swift – “Gulliver’s Travels”

i. Swift as a satiristii. Swift as a misanthrope

iii. Element of Utopia in “Gulliver’s Travels”iv. Irony in “Gulliver’s Travels”

3. Bertrand Russell – “Unpopular Essays”

i. Bertrand Russell as prose writer / Bertrand Russell’s styleii. A general note on his essays can be asked.

4. Seamus Heaney – “Redress of Poetry”

i. Heaney as a Prose Writer / Heaney’s Styleii. Heaney’s arguments in favour of poetry

Paper 5 – American Literature

A. Poetry

1. Sylvia Plath

i. Critical appreciation of poemsii. Psychological problems of Sylvia Plath

iii. Ambivalence in Sylvia Plathiv. General Question on American Psyche

2. John Ashbery

i. Critical appreciation of poems

3. Adrienne Rich

i. Critical appreciation of poems

4. Richard Wilbur

i. Critical appreciation of poems

B. Drama

1. Arthur Miller – “The Crucible”

i. Theme of individual & societyii. Character sketch of Proctor

iii. Character sketch of Abigaleiv. Puritanism in the play

2. Eugene O’Neil – “Mourning Becomes Electra”

i. O’Neil’s Tragic Visionii. Character sketch of Electra

C. Novel

1. Ernest Hemingway – “For Whom the Bell Tolls”

i. Robert Jordan as a Tragic Heroii. Is “For Whom the Bell Tolls” a political novel? (Answer: No)

iii. Hemingway as a novelist / Hemingway’s styleiv. Discuss Jordan - Maria Relationshipv. Concept of ritual & morality in the novel

vi. Motives behind Jordan’s Sacrifice