chaucer's Canterbury tales

➡️ Paper no. 105 History of English literature - From 1350 to 1900.

Assignment paper no. 105:

This blog is an assignment Paper no. 105 History of English literature - From 1350 to 1900 . In this assignment I am dealing with chaucer's Canterbury tales.

Name :  Gohel Dhruvika 

Paper no.105 : History of English literature - From 1350 to 1900.

Subject code:  22396

Topic name : chaucer's Canterbury tales

Batch : M.A sem 1

Roll no. 07

Enrollment no. 5108240012

E-mail address : dhruvikagohel252@gmail.com 

Submitted to : smt S.B gardi , department of English , MKBU.

💠 About author: 

Geoffrey chauser

                   ( Geoffrey chauser )

Geoffrey Chaucer, often referred to as the "Father of English Literature," was born around 1343 in London, England. He was a poet, philosopher, and civil servant, and he played a crucial role in the development of the English language and literature during the Middle Ages. Chaucer is best known for his work "The Canterbury Tales," a collection of stories that provides a vivid portrayal of medieval society through the voices of various characters.

Chaucer's literary career began with works like "The Book of the Duchess" and "The House of Fame," but it was "The Canterbury Tales" that solidified his reputation. The tales are notable for their rich character development, humor, and social commentary. Chaucer wrote in Middle English, making his works accessible to a broader audience at the time, and his use of iambic pentameter set a standard for English poetry.

💠 chaucer's Canterbury tales

Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" is a seminal work in English literature, written in the late 14th century by Geoffrey Chaucer. It consists of a collection of stories narrated by a diverse group of pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury. The tales are framed within a storytelling contest, where each pilgrim shares a story to entertain the group during their journey.

One of the key themes of "The Canterbury Tales" is the exploration of social class and the human experience. Chaucer presents a wide range of characters from different backgrounds, including the Knight, the Wife of Bath, the Miller, and the Pardoner, each representing various aspects of medieval society. Through their stories, Chaucer critiques social norms, moral values, and the hypocrisy often found within different classes.

Another significant theme is the complexity of love and relationships. Many tales delve into romantic entanglements, exploring the nature of love, fidelity, and the dynamics between men and women. Chaucer's use of humor and irony adds depth to these explorations, making the work both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Chaucer's innovative use of the vernacular language of the time, rather than Latin or French, helped to establish English as a literary language. His vivid characterizations and engaging storytelling have made "The Canterbury Tales" a timeless classic that continues to be studied and appreciated for its rich portrayal of human nature and society.

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of twenty-four stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. It is widely regarded as Chaucer's magnum opus. The tales (mostly written in verse, although some are in prose) are presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return.

The Canterbury Tales is generally thought to have been incomplete at the end of Chaucer's life. In the General Prologue, some 30 pilgrims are introduced. According to the Prologue, Chaucer's intention was to write four stories from the perspective of each pilgrim, two each on the way to and from their ultimate destination, St. Thomas Becket's shrine (making for a total of about 120 stories). It is revered as one of the most important works in English literature.

Main characters of Jude the obscure

➡️ Paper no.104  litrature of the Victorians:

Assignment paper no. 104

This blog is an assignment Paper no.104 litrature of the Victorians . In this assignment I am dealing with main character of Jude the obscure.

Name : Gohel Dhruvika 

Paper no104 : litrature of the Victorians

Subject code: 22395

Topic name : main character of Jude the obscure 

Batch : M.A sem 1

Roll no. : 07

Enrollment no : 5108240012

E-mail address : dhruvikagohel252@gmail.com 

Submitted to: smt, S.B gardi ,  department of English MKBU 

💠 About author: 

Thomas Hardy 

                     ( Thomas Hardy ) 

Introduction: 

Thomas Hardy, born on June 2, 1840, in Dorset, England, is a prominent novelist and poet known for his vivid depictions of rural life and his exploration of complex social issues. His works often reflect the struggles of individuals against the constraints of society and nature, showcasing a deep understanding of human emotions and relationships.

Hardy initially trained as an architect but eventually turned to writing, producing notable novels such as "Tess of the d'Urbervilles," "Jude the Obscure," and "Far from the Madding Crowd." His narratives frequently highlight themes of fate, love, and the impact of industrialization on traditional rural communities. Hardy's characters are often caught in the web of societal expectations and personal desires, leading to poignant and sometimes tragic outcomes.

💠 Main character of Jude the obscure: 

1. Jude Fawley

2. Sue Bridehead 

3. Arabella donn

4. Richard philloston

5. Little father time

🔷 Jude Fawley 

The novel’s protagonist, a poor orphan who is raised by his great-aunt after his parents divorced and died. Jude dreams of attending the university at Christminister, but he fails to be accepted because of his working class background. He is a skilled stonemason and a kindly soul who cannot hurt any living thing. Jude’s “fatal flaw” is his weakness regarding alcohol and women, and he allows his marriage to Arabella, even though it is unhappy, to distract himself from his dream. He shares a deep connection with his cousin Sue, but their relationship is doomed by their earlier marriages, society’s disapproval, and bad luck. Jude starts out pious and religious, but by the end of his life he has grown agnostic and bitter.

🔷 Sue Bridehead 

 

The novel’s other protagonist and Jude’s cousin. Sue’s parents were divorced and she was raised in London and Christminster. She is an extremely intelligent woman who rejects Christianity and flirts with paganism, despite working as a religious artist and then teacher. Sue is often described as “ethereal” and “bodiless” and she generally lacks sexual passion, especially compared to Jude. Sue marries Phillotson as a kind of rebuke to Jude for his own marriage to Arabella, and is then repulsed by Phillotson as a husband. She is portrayed as inconsistent and emotional, often changing her mind abruptly, but she develops a strong relationship and love with Jude. Though she starts out nonreligious, the death of her children drives Sue to a harsh, legalistic version of Christianity as she believes she is being punished for her earlier rebellion against Christianity, and she returns to Phillotson even though she never ceases to love Jude.

🔷 Arabella donn

Jude’s first wife, a vain, sensual woman who is the daughter of a pig farmer. She decides to marry Jude and so tricks him into marrying her by pretending to be pregnant. Arabella sees marriage as a kind of entrapment and as a source of financial security, and she uses whatever means necessary to get what she wants. After Jude fails to provide for her, Arabella goes to Australia and takes a new husband there. She is often contrasted with the pure, intellectual Sue, as Arabella is associated with alcohol and sexual pleasure. When she wants Jude back she gets him drunk and forces him to marry her, and when he dies (or even just before) she immediately starts seeking a new husband.

🔷 Richard philloston

Jude’s schoolmaster at Marygreen who moves to Christminster and fails to be accepted at the university there. Phillotson remains as a teacher, and he later hires Sue and falls in love with her. They marry, but Sue finds she cannot live with Phillotson as a husband. Though Phillotson is a conservative man, he finds that letting Sue leave him feels like the most moral decision, and he sticks by it even when he is punished by society for his disgrace and loses his job and respectability. Phillotson is a kindly, ethical man, but Sue’s lack of love for him causes him great torment.

🔷 Little father time

Jude’s son with Arabella, he was born in Australia and sent to England to live with Jude years later. The boy was never named or given love, and his nickname is “Little Father Time” because he seems old beyond his years. Jude and Sue christen him as “Jude,” but his old nickname sticks. Little Father Time is a world-weary, depressed child who lacks any curiosity or joy. He is portrayed as a result of the divorce, lovelessness, and bad luck in his life, and in this he acts as a symbol as well as a character. Little Father Time ultimately takes Sue’s depressed words to heart and kills himself and Sue’s two children in order to try to free Sue and Jude from their burdens.

💠 Conclusion: 

In conclusion, the characters in "Jude the Obscure" by Thomas Hardy are intricately developed and serve to illustrate the novel's central themes of ambition, societal constraints, and the quest for identity. Jude Fawley, the protagonist, embodies the struggle against the rigid social structures of Victorian society as he aspires to become an educated man and a scholar. His dreams are continually thwarted by external forces and personal failures, highlighting the harsh realities of class and gender expectations.

Themes of Frankenstein

➡️ Paper no. 103 : literature of the Romantic.

Assignment paper no. 103 

This blog is an assignment paper no. 103 literature of the Romantic . In this assignment I am dealing with the themes of Frankenstein.

Name :  Gohel Dhruvika 

Paper no. 103 : literature of the Romantic

Subject code :  22394 

Topic name : Themes of Frankenstein 

Batch : M.A sem 1

Roll no. 07

Enrollment no.:  5108240012

E-mail address: dhruvikagohel252@gmail.com 

Submitted to:  smt, S.B gardi, department of English, MKBU.

💠 About author:

Mary shelley: 

 

                         ( mary  Shelly ) 

Mary Shelley, born on August 30, 1797, is best known for her groundbreaking novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus." As the daughter of renowned feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and political philosopher William Godwin, Shelley was immersed in a rich intellectual environment from a young age. 

Her most famous work, "Frankenstein," published in 1818 when she was just 20 years old, explores themes of creation, responsibility, and the consequences of playing God. The novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a living being from dead matter, only to be horrified by his own creation. This story not only delves into the ethical implications of scientific advancement but also examines the nature of humanity and isolation.

Shelley's writing is characterized by its vivid imagery, emotional depth, and philosophical inquiries, making her a key figure in the Romantic literary movement. Her contributions extend beyond "Frankenstein," as she wrote several other novels, essays, and works of nonfiction. Mary Shelley's legacy endures, as her exploration of complex themes continues to resonate with readers and inspire adaptations in various media.

💠 Themes of Frankenstein:

1. Family , society , isolation 

2. Ambition and fallibility 

3. Romanticism and nature 

4. Revenge 

5. Prejudice 

6. Lost innocence 

🔷 Family , society , isolation:

Frankenstein claims to be a novel that gives a flattering depiction of "domestic affection." That seems a strange claim in a novel full of murder, tragedy, and despair. But, in fact, all that tragedy, murder, and despair occur because of a lack of connection to either family or society. Put another way, the true evil in Frankenstein is not Victor or the monster, but isolation. When Victor becomes lost in his studies he removes himself from human society, and therefore loses sight of his responsibilities and the consequences of his actions. The monster turns vengeful not because it's evil, but because its isolation fills it with overwhelming hate and anger. To make Victor as isolated as it. Add it all up, and it becomes clear that Frankenstein sees isolation from family and society as the worst imaginable fate, and the cause of hatred, violence, and revenge.

🔷 Ambition and fallibility 

Frankenstein portrays human beings as deeply ambitious, and yet also deeply flawed. Both Victor and Walton dream of transforming society and bringing glory to themselves through their scientific achievements. Yet their ambitions also make them fallible. Blinded by dreams of glory, they fail to consider the consequences of their actions. So while Victor turns himself into a god, a creator, by bringing his monster to life, this only highlights his fallibility when he is completely incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities that a creator has to its creation. Victor thinks he will be like a god, but ends up the father of a devil. Walton, at least, turns back from his quest to the North Pole before getting himself and his crew killed, but he does so with the angry conclusion that he has been robbed of glory. Neither Victor nor Walton ever escapes from their blinding ambitions, suggesting that all men, and particularly those who seek to raise themselves up in glory above the rest of society, are in fact rash and "unfashioned creatures" with "weak and faulty natures."

🔷 Romanticism and nature 

Romantic writers portrayed nature as the greatest and most perfect force in the universe. They used words like "sublime" (as Mary Shelley herself does in describing Mont Blanc in Frankenstein) to convey the unfathomable power and flawlessness of the natural world. In contrast, Victor describes people as "half made up." The implication is clear: human beings, weighed down by petty concerns and countless flaws such as vanity and prejudice, pale in comparison to nature's perfection.

It should come as no surprise, then, that crises and suffering result when, in Frankenstein, imperfect men disturb nature's perfection. Victor in his pride attempts to discover the "mysteries of creation," to "pioneer a new way" by penetrating the "citadel of nature." But just as a wave will take down even the strongest swimmer, nature prevails in the end and Victor is destroyed for his misguided attempt to manipulate its power.

🔷 Revenge

The monster begins its life with a warm, open heart. But after it is abandoned and mistreated first by Victor and then by the De Lacey family, the monster turns to revenge. The monster's actions are understandable: it has been hurt by the unfair rejection of a humanity that cannot see past its own prejudices, and in turn wants to hurt those who hurt it. As the monster says when Felix attacks it and flees with the rest of the De Lacey family, "...feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom...[and] I bent my mind towards injury and death." But in taking revenge, two things happen to the monster. First, it ensures that it will never be accepted in human society. Second, because by taking revenge the monster eliminates any hope of ever joining human society, which is what it really wants, revenge becomes the only thing it has. As the monster puts it, revenge became "dearer than light or food."

Revenge does not just consume the monster, however. It also consumes Victor, the victim of the monster's revenge. After the monster murders Victor's relatives, Victor vows a "great and signal revenge on [the monster's] cursed head." In a sense then, the very human desire for revenge transforms both Victor and the monster into true monsters that have no feelings or desires beyond destroying their foe.

🔷 Prejudice

Frankenstein explores one of mankind's most persistent and destructive flaws: prejudice. Nearly every human character in the novel assumes that the monster must be dangerous based on its outward appearance, when in truth the monster is (originally) warm and open-hearted. Again and again the monster finds himself assaulted and rejected by entire villages and families despite his attempts to convey his benevolent intentions. The violence and prejudice he encounters convinces him of the "barbarity of man." That the only character who accepts the monster is a blind man, De Lacy, suggests that the monster is right: mankind is barbaric, and blinded by its own prejudice.

🔷 Lost innocence 

Frankenstein presents many examples of the corruption of youthful innocence. The most obvious case of lost innocence involves Victor. A young man on the cusp of adulthood, Victor leaves for university with high hopes and lofty ambitions. He aims to explore "unknown powers" and enlighten all of humanity to the deepest "mysteries of creation," but his success and his pride brings an end to his innocence. He creates a monster that reflects back to him the many flaws inherent in his own species (an unquenchable thirst for love, a tendency toward violence, and a bloodthirsty need for justice and revenge) and in himself (prejudice based on appearance). And, in turn, Victor's cruel "un-innocent" behavior also destroys the monster's innocence.

Victor and the monster's losses of innocence ultimately lead to the deaths of William, Justine, Elizabeth, and Clerval, four characters whom the novel portrays as uniquely gentle, kind, and, above all, innocent. Through these murders, Shelley suggests that innocence is fleeting, and will always be either lost or destroyed by the harsh reality of human nature.

💠 Conclusion: 

In conclusion, "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley presents several profound themes that continue to resonate with readers today. The novel explores the dangers of unchecked ambition and the quest for knowledge, as Victor Frankenstein's desire to transcend natural boundaries leads to tragic consequences. 

Moreover, the novel delves into the conflict between creator and creation, raising questions about the ethical implications of scientific exploration and the moral obligations that come with it. Overall, "Frankenstein" serves as a cautionary tale about the potential repercussions of human hubris and the importance of empathy and understanding in a world driven by ambition and isolation.