Literary criticism

Interests | Society & Ideas

What are some good books or novels to read in sociology?
Bykm-builder December 1, 2019September 21, 2026

Krishnamohan · Following MA in English (language), SV University (Graduated 1990)8y What are some of the good books or novels which can be read in the sociology genre, apart from books we read for sociology as an optional? “Sociology Themes and perspectives” by Haralombos, “ Sociology A guide to problems and Literature” by TB Bottomore are two eminently readable books. “ The Nagas in the nineteenth century” by Verrier Elwin, Haimendorf’s “The naked Nagas, The Raj Gonds of Adilabad “ are not just sociological texts, but deeply resonant works of art depicting with fascinating detail the empathetic study of a people from very close quarters.

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Education | Teaching

What Does It Take to Be an English Literature Teacher?
Bykm-builder November 1, 2019September 21, 2026

Passion for literature, continuous study and the ability to hold a classroom’s attention matter most; storytelling and performance can make the subject come alive.

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Interests

What is sociology? What is the scope and subject matter of sociology?
Bykm-builder October 1, 2019September 21, 2026

Sociology is the study of society and what constitutes it; the individual, interpersonal relations and social behavior, patterns of social evolution, social institutions, culture, social stratification and problems of society. A considerable part of the scope of sociology devolves around the methodology and ways of studying society. It may be fair to say that sociologists and thinkers have worked towards giving sociology the status of a scientific discipline given the general and abstract nature of the subject. Thinkers like Karl Marx, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Levi Strauss, Talcott Parsons, C Wright Mills and others from their revolutionary and momentous contributions have rendered to

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Literature

Villette
Bykm-builder August 1, 2019September 21, 2026

Completed reading Charlotte Bronte’s Villette. It is a magnificent work. I expected some flashes of brilliance or a craftily arranged plot. What amazed me is the denseness of her imagination and the maturity of her thought. Lucy Snowe the orphan heroine of the novel arrives in Villette searching for a vocation to establish herself and…

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Literature

How and why should one read “One Hundred years of solitude”?
Bykm-builder July 1, 2019September 21, 2026

Gabriel Marquez was an unknown writer for me in the year 1991. One of my friends casually mentioned that I should read this book and gave me One Hundred years of Solitude. I remember having read it in less than 72 hours and when my friend asked me about it, I had no words to…

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Literature

What is the difference between literature and non-literature in literary works?
Bykm-builder June 1, 2018September 21, 2026

Is there a distinction that one can make with certainty? Literature is generally what has stood the test of time and can appeal to a number of people because of its inherent greatness, that transcends region, language, culture or genre. The great epic poems of the world, the great tragedies of Shakespeare, the novels of…

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Literature

Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell
Bykm-builder May 1, 2018September 21, 2026

An enthralling and riveting work. It is a biography which does justice not just to Charlotte but also to the sisters, Haworth in Keighley, Bradford, and the rest of the West Yorkshire countryside. So much of the personal character; their behaviour, the world view of the Bronte sisters was shaped by the natural scene around…

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Education | Study Skills

How do I attempt questions in literature and answer long answers on John Donne, John Milton, Francis Bacon and Shakespeare? What all should I include in any answer pertaining to them?
Bykm-builder March 1, 2018September 21, 2026

I believe an examiner looks for evidence of first hand reading of the author or the text in question when you attempt long answers on such writers as you have mentioned. The next thing is to have your own point of view about the author or the text’s significance. A good background reading of the work and the literary criticism pertaining to that is required if your answer is for a PG or a higher level exam like UGC NET or UPSC ICS. Questions can differ, based on summative assessment of the text like Summarize Milton’s Heroic Argument in the Paradise Lost or critical assessment

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Literature

What can be good topics for a dissertation in English literature?
Bykm-builder March 1, 2018September 21, 2026

A dissertation in English Literature is no easy matter as it involves a dedicated study of at least 2 to 3 years. The theory part, the collection of material, the discussion with your guide and your writing skills will decide the quality and coherence of the dissertation. The first thing is to select a topic…

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Literature

How should I read a novel as a student of an English literature?
Bykm-builder January 1, 2018September 21, 2026

There is no great difference in reading a novel whether you read it as a general reader or as a student of Literature as long as you are reading it and enjoying the experience. But once you read it consciously, in the sense of reading from a literary point of view, then the reading part…

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