Of all the literary genres that one becomes familiar with as a student of Literature, it is the novel which is impactful because of its presence and dominance. One cannot diminish the importance of other modes of literary expression just because one fancies the Novel but the truth is that the novel has overwhelmed the…
On the question of reading a novel more than once, one of my Professors made me understand how wonderfully difficult it is, to read the novel ‘Ulysses’ to get a sense of the novel’s intricacy and extravagance. I feel it is a writer’s novel. It is not a novel for the reader as it cannot…
Having discussed the various aspects of fiction and what constitutes the art of writing, I have to dwell upon some books which have occupied a particular space in my thought and often foreground their importance when a discussion of fiction ensues. Largely due to fortuitous circumstances and also because cheap editions of them were available…
In our effort to understand the making (writing) if fiction, awareness of various strategies can enhance our understanding of one of the most difficult creative processes. Story, Narrative, plot, setting and dialogue have been discussed to some extent in my earlier posts. However one keeps coming across the word ‘structure’ in literary discussion, theory and…
Coming to the different forms of narrative, one has to look closely at an epic convention called ‘Medias res.’ In the Iliad Homer plunges directly into the action in the middle of the Trojan War. More famously in ‘Paradise Lost’ Milton takes us directly to Satan ruminating and wallowing in Hell with his comrades. The…
I remember a book by G.K.Chesterton that I had read in fragments. I couldn’t complete it because of the untidiness of the book and the small typeset that strained my eyes. I was extremely impressed by the small bits that I read. Chesterton describes his travels on horseback across the English country side. He is the most carefree traveler who lets place and time take care of all his needs.
I was deeply enchanted after reading Nelson Mandela’s ‘Long walk to Freedom.’ What I found most interesting was the question the author poses to himself; Should an individual live for his family or the society; a question obviously confronted by many great freedom fighters. Mandela’s life belongs to the category of saints and apostles for…
Validation is what is generic to all disciplines which have a claim to the status of a science.Generally it has been established in the following sequence of events: Experiment, observation and inference or interpretation in the context of sociology. Such an experiment which when replicated in different situations or contexts can be validated . Validity is when such laws and hypothesis give a proper and proven result. Reliability is the authenticity of a law , a philosophical truth or a doctrine to enable comprehension and interpretation in the sociological context.
Theory in the context of literary studies would mean the Canon of texts which constitute the body of criticism that has emerged over a period of time to address the study of literary texts.Theory cannot be wished away since the obliteration of theory also has to be theorised. Looking at the evolution of literary studies…
Each of his novels is great in its own way. But if I had to choose one for the sheer impact and scale of the story I would say Brothers Karamazov. It makes me wonder as to how the human mind can think of such scale of writing. It is a masterpiece which which has…