Browsing Category: English Literature

Introduction Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, is widely regarded as one of the most influential poems in English literature. This haunting ballad is celebrated for its vivid storytelling and profound themes. It explores ideas like sin, guilt, redemption, and the complex relationship between humans and nature. First published in 1798 as part of the landmark collection Lyrical Ballads, the poem has captivated readers for over two centuries. It has inspired...

Introduction Geoffrey Chaucer’s Prologue to The Canterbury Tales holds a pivotal place in English literature. It marks a new era in poetic narrative during the late fourteenth century. Written in Middle English, this opening section is more than an introduction. It offers a comprehensive survey of the diverse social classes of medieval England. Through vivid and nuanced character portraits, Chaucer provides critical insight into his society. He exposes both its virtues and...

Introduction Few literary treasures have travelled continents and centuries like Aesop’s Fables. These simple animal stories, born in ancient Greece, still echo through classrooms, boardrooms, and bedtime routines. Yet, in an era defined by digital noise, these tales quietly remind us: wisdom may be ancient, but its lessons are evergreen.​ As a literature educator, I’ve witnessed the stubborn power of a well-told fable to cut through cynicism and spark honest reflection. Whether...

INTRODUCTION EM Forster’s A Passage to India stands as one of the most compelling and enduring novels of the 20th century. It offers a profound exploration of colonial India, cultural divides, and the fragile possibility of friendship across boundaries. Published in 1924, the novel is set in the fictional town of Chandrapore. This place mirrors the complexities and contradictions of British India during the Raj. Forster’s own experiences in India—his visits in...

INTRODUCTION William Shakespeare’s As You Like It is a masterful pastoral comedy. It delicately weaves themes of love, identity, and transformation by contrasting two worlds—the city and the country, the court and the forest. Set at the dawn of the 17th century, the play explores how characters navigate social hierarchies, familial conflicts, and romantic entanglements. They find refuge in the liberating Forest of Arden, a symbolic “green world” where societal norms are suspended, and...

INTRODUCTION Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway stands as a towering pinnacle of modernist literature. This novel transcends traditional storytelling by venturing deeply into the intricate web of human consciousness. Published in 1925, it captures a single day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a London socialite preparing for an evening party. Yet beneath this seemingly ordinary day, Woolf masterfully unravels complex themes such as time, memory, identity, and mental health. Unlike the linear, cause-and-effect narratives...

INTRODUCTION Few literary works have captured the imagination and provoked profound questions about human nature, creativity, and ethics quite like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Since its first publication in 1818, Frankenstein has transcended its Gothic roots to become an enduring cultural and philosophical touchstone. Indeed, this novel is far more than a simple horror story about a monstrous creation; it is a rich exploration of ambition, responsibility, and the consequences of playing god. Moreover, the name...

INTRODUCTION HG Wells’ The Time Machine is a landmark literary work that invites readers to embark on an extraordinary voyage beyond ordinary existence into the mysterious dimension of time. Published in 1895, this novella not only pioneered the science fiction genre but also provided a sharp critique of Victorian society and humanity’s future possibilities. At its core is the adventurous journey of a Victorian scientist, known simply as the Time Traveller, who unveils...

Introduction Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse” stands as a landmark in modernist literature, blending innovative narrative style with deep philosophical inquiry. At first glance, the novel’s pace appears meditative, drifting through the rhythms of domestic life along the Isle of Skye. Beneath this calm, however, Woolf orchestrates an intense psychological study, using the ordinary moments to reveal life’s extraordinary depths.​ What makes “To the Lighthouse” especially resonant for Indian readers today is...