Questions for MA English (Part 1)

Paper 1 - Classical Poetry

1. Chaucer - The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales i. ii. iii. iv. v. Chaucers Humour / Satire / Irony Chaucers art of Characterization Chaucer as a modern poet (humour, secularism etc.) Chaucers ecclesiastical characters (Churchs hypocrisy, Comparison & contrast between the characters) Chaucers female characters

2. Alexander Pope Rape of the Lock i. ii. iii. iv. v. Rape of the Lock as social satire Rape of the Lock as comic epic / mock epic Use of machinery (Supernatural elements etc.) Popes attitude towards women (Belindas character, Social satire) Moral of the Rape of the Lock

3. Milton Paradise Lost i. ii. iii. iv. v. Miltons grand style Portrayal of Satan in Paradise Lost Who is the hero of Paradise Lost? Character sketch of Adam Character sketch of Eve

4. Surrey & Wyatt i. ii. iii. Surrey & Wyatts contribution of English Poetry Surrey & Wyatt as Sonnet writers (Comparison and Contrast) Critical appreciation of their Sonnets

Paper 2 Drama
1. Sophocles Oedipus Rex i. ii. iii. iv. Concept of Fate & Free will / Fate & Character Oedipus as a tragic Hero / Oedipus Hamartia Irony in Oedipus Role of Chorus

2. Marlow Dr. Faustus i. ii. iii. iv. v. Dr. Faustus as a renaissance play Dr. Faustus as morality play Dr. Faustus as a modern tragedy / Spiritual Conflicts in the mind of Dr. Faustus Marlows contribution to English Drama Dr. Faustus Character sketch (as a typical Marlows hero, qualities of Marlows hero)

3. Shakespeare Othello i. ii. iii. iv. Othellos character sketch Iagos character sketch Othello as a social Tragedy (race & colour an important factor in Othellos tragedy) Role of Chance & Misunderstanding (Chance Happening)

4. Oscar Wilde Importance of Being Earnest i. ii. iii. iv. v. Importance of Being Earnest as a comedy (satire, style etc.) Importance of Being Earnest as a social satire Use of wit & paradoxical statements (Irony) Algernons Character sketch Jacks Character sketch

Paper 3 - Novel
1. Jane Austin - "Pride and Prejudice" i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. 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). Jane Austin's Limited Range Jane Austin's Irony Themes of Marriage, Money and Manners. Character sketch of Elizabeth Lack of Passion in Jane Austin's novels Jane Austens art of Characterization

2. George Eliot - "Adam Bede" i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. George Eliot as a psychological / modern novelist Character sketch of Adam Bede Character sketch of Hetty Sorrel Character sketch of Dinnah Morris Relationship between Adam and Dinnah Theme of Hardness (Adam doesnt show politeness. He judges everyone according to morality so he cant develop relationships)

3. Charles Dickens - "A Tale of Two Cities" i. ii. iii. iv. v. "A Tale of Two Cities" as an historical novel Dickens attitude towards French Revolution Symbolism in the novel Theme of resurrection & renunciation How public events and private lives are interlinked in the novel?

4. Thomas Hardy - "Return of the Native" i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. Character sketch of Clym Character sketch of Eustacia Role of Egdon Heath / nature Role of chance and coincidence / Role of fate Hardy as a pessimist Hardy as an ameliorist

Paper 4 Prose
1. Francis Bacon - Essays i. ii. iii. Bacons Style (proverbial style, aphorisms, pithy style etc.) Bacons Worldly Wisdom Renaissance element in Bacon

2. Jonathan Swift Gullivers Travels i. ii. iii. iv. Swift as a satirist Swift as a misanthrope Element of Utopia in Gullivers Travels Irony in Gullivers Travels

3. Bertrand Russell Unpopular Essays i. ii. Bertrand Russell as prose writer / Bertrand Russells style A general note on his essays can be asked.

4. Seamus Heaney Redress of Poetry i. ii. Heaney as a Prose Writer / Heaneys Style Heaneys arguments in favour of poetry

Paper 5 American Literature

A. Poetry
1. Sylvia Plath i. ii. iii. iv. Critical appreciation of poems Psychological problems of Sylvia Plath Ambivalence in Sylvia Plath 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. ii. iii. iv. Theme of individual & society Character sketch of Proctor Character sketch of Abigale Puritanism in the play

2. Eugene ONeil Mourning Becomes Electra i. ii. ONeils Tragic Vision Character sketch of Electra

C. Novel
1. Ernest Hemingway For Whom the Bell Tolls i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. Robert Jordan as a Tragic Hero Is For Whom the Bell Tolls a political novel? (Answer: No) Hemingway as a novelist / Hemingways style Discuss Jordan - Maria Relationship Concept of ritual & morality in the novel Motives behind Jordans Sacrifice