Languages And Comparative Literature - Mphil Thesis

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://kr.cup.edu.in/handle/32116/123

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The binding vine and the bluest eye: A comparative study from a feminist perspective
(Central University of Punjab, 2015) Pahuja, Poonam; Kaur, Zameerpal
Feminism in various forms and places has grappled with the question of gender, that is, of the power relationships among men and women. It is defined as cultural, economic and political movements that are focused towards establishing legal protection and complete equality for the women. It focuses on the gender politics, power relations and sexuality and gives voice to the problems of women. There are various authors all over the world who portray the sufferings of women in their creative works. The foremost objective of this research is to analyze the societal norms of gender, race, class, sexuality, and other social inequalities within the reference of the writings of Shashi Deshpande's The Binding Vine and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. Deshpande (Indian novelist) and Morrison (Afro-American novelist) are two significant women novelists who have made a bold attempt in raising voice against the frustrations and disappointments of women in the patriarchal world. Both Shashi Deshpande and Toni Morrison portray the concealed world of women in their fictional narratives. They depict that women either in India or in America or in any other part of the world, or belonging to any strata of the society suffer the same plight due to the patriarchal setup. A thematic approach from feminist perspective has been adopted for this study.
Comparative study of Shiv Kumar's birha tu sultan and Jaishankar Prasad's kamayani the perspectives of the theory of alamkara
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Kaur, Rajandeep; Kaur, Zameerpal
Unlike western critical theories, Indian Poetics focus more upon aesthetic aspects rather than didactic approach to literature. Among the most discussed critical theories of Indian Poetics Alamkara has a unique and extraordinary place . The word Alamkara consists of two words 'alam' and 'kar' which means the elements that add grace or aesthetic sense to the poetry. A number of scholars contribute in the development of this theory. Bhamha (6 th century A.D.) is considered as father of Alamkara theory, who explained Alamkaras in detail in his treatise Kavyalamkara. Alamkaras are not only used in modern literature, but their presence can be seen in Vedas , and Yaska's Nirukat and Mimansa . The focus of present study is to do the comparative analysis of Punjabi and Hindi poetry with reference to Shiv Kumar's Birha Tu Sultan and Jaishankar Prasad's Kamayani in context with the theory of Alamkara to extract different types of Alamkaras used in them. Alamkaras have been used very abundantly in the poetry of both Shiv and Prasad. It is the use of Alamkara which gives a literary touch to their poetry and makes it interesting for readers. They have mastery over the use of Alamkara . The writings of Shiv and Prasad mainly focus on the theme of love and separation, pain and agony of lovers, description of nature, beauty and sufferings of female, theme of lust, theology, patriotism etc. They use historical and mythological events in their writings.
Ecocentric vision in the works of J.M. Coetzee and AND Amitav Ghosh: A comparative study of life and times of MICHAEL K AND THE GLASS PALACE
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Singh, Jagmeet; Kaur, Zameerpal
Environmental destruction has been a burning issue from the last few decades. The ego-centric attitude and rational thinking of man has led to the imbalance of the entire environment and its surroundings. The novels selected for this study, highlight the environmental concerns and expose human actions, technological advancement and industrial development responsible for the degradation of environment. Besides environmental degradation being a major issue of the The Glass Palace, the novel also deals with themes such as war, migration, exile, history, and colonial exploitation. Focusing on British invasion in Burma, Ghosh raises the question about nature's exploitation by the colonisers and local people in the form of teak and rubber trade and depicts the conflict between humans and the environment. He also portrays animal exploitation and killing of birds by humans for their personal needs. Likewise, Coetzee in his novel Life and Times of Michael K deals with the impact of war on human life, suffering of animals, loss of basic rights of humans and animals, oppression and degradation of environment. Ghosh primarily focuses on the exploitation of natural resources in Burma for trade, whereas, Coetzee describes the environmental destruction, loss of animal rights, and man's relation with nature during the civil war in South Africa. Both these writers try to delineate the oppression of man by man, environment by man, and reject the cruelty of man over animals for their greed. They are conscious for the non-human "other" and speak for their equal rights and protection as human beings themselves possess.
An Ecocritical Study Of Gita Mehta's A River Sutra And Arundati Roy'S The God Of Small Things
(Central University of Punjab, 2014) Singh, Sapinder; Kaur, Zameerpal
Ecocriticism is one of the most recently emerged interdisciplinary field of literary criticism. It refers to a study of literary texts involving the physical environment. The novels, A River Sutra By Gita Mehta and The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, selected for this study, focus on the depiction of landscape, rivers, non human world etc. This study analyses the role of physical environment in the plot construction of both the novels. The novels deal with beautiful depiction of landscape. A River Sutra deals with Indian culture and mythology. Likewise, The God of Small Things deals with the themes of love, morality, fear and environmental destruction. The study discusses the functions of ecocriticism to trace the interconnectedness of all beings. Both the writers have focused on the impact of biosphere on the characters in their novels. The study reveals that the writers have indeed given primary importance to the place or bioregion in their novels. This study focuses on the burning issue of environmental degradation- a severe threat to human being as well the entire ecosystem, as depicted in the novels.
Filming of fiction: A comparative study of bapsi sidhwa's ice-candy-man and1947 earth
(Central University of Punjab, 2012) Singh, Barjinder; Kaur, Zameerpal
A visual adaptation of a literary text is a complex phenomenon, involving the basic paradox of word and image, so some sort of compression, omission is natural when the linguistic signs are converted into visual signs. The visual adaptation of a literary text may result into the reinterpretation, modulation, adaptation or reassessment of the meaning of earlier literary texts. The partition of the Indian subcontinent has got widespread resonance in literature but there has been a relative silence in serious cinema and academia about partition and its related issues. Bapsi Sidhwa's novel Ice-Candy-Man tries to reassess or reconstruct the history of Partition giving voice to the marginalised groups on the levels of gender, class, ethnicity and nationality. Sidhwa reviews the history of Partition from a more or less feminist and Pakistani perspective to displace or counter the discursive tendencies of historical thought in Europe or India. 1947: Earth, unlike the novel can be seen as part of the grand narratives of communal violence and human nature. The film adaptation of the novel closely adheres to the novel in terms of general plot or dialogues. But since cinema is entirely different medium having its own concerns of economics, authorship, production, distribution and reception, some of the issues in the novel are silenced while others are foregrounded. This dissertation studies the dynamics of the adaptation of Sidhwa's novel from this perspective.
Orientalising the Postcolonial Nation-State: A Study of The Inheritance of Loss and Half a Life
(Central University of Punjab, 2012) Kaur, Manpreet; Kaur, Zameerpal
In the postcolonial analysis, the term nation-state has been critiqued mainly because the postcolonial nation states experience multiple exclusions and unequal power distribution. This feeling of marginalisation and exclusion is voiced by many postcolonial writers who are concerned with the psychological effects of the political and economic-cultural structures of the postcolonial world. Both the novels selected for this study, disclose the effects of up-rootedness and displacement and ultimately the quest for a particular nation-state. Kiran Desai in her The Inheritance of Loss deals with the themes of cultural conflicts, migration, nostalgia, globalization, multiculturalism, political struggles and economic inequality. Likewise, V. S. Naipaul in his novel Half a Life traces the themes of alienation, migration, displacement, rootlessness, mockery and self-deception of the emigrants. Biju in The Inheritance of Loss and Willie Chandran in Half a Life expose the gamut of issues including the multiple exclusion and distribution faced by postcolonial nation-states, threats of migration, loss of identity, globalization, and economic disparity. The attempt was to analyse both the texts selected for the study to bring forth the underlining beliefs and ideologies. The focus was also on understanding the effects political movements and situations have on personal relations. Study of both the texts foregrounds the miserable conditions of the lives of subaltern people and their continuous struggle and hope of assimilation in the postcolonial nation-states.
Socio political protest : a comapartive study of selected plays (Har ik nu jion da haq chahidaye and savere di lo) of gursharan singh and selcted poems of sant ram udasi
(Central University of Punjab, 2013) Kaur, Kiranpal; Kaur, Zameerpal
The present research is based on the comparative study of two Punjabi writers Gursharan Singh and Sant Ram Udasi. If one is famous for his poetry the other is equally famous for his plays. There are similarities in the themes of both the writers. The theme of protest by the labour class especially women is shown in one and in other it is the farmer class which fights for its rights. The writers belong to Punjab and based their writing upon the socio-political conditions prevailing in this part of the country which led to the suppression of one class in the hands of another class. The compared writings belong to the field of political writing and the language and tone of both the authors is revolutionary. It deals with the problems of marginalised sections of society who have to suffer a lot in the capitalist world. The writers do not take any stand based on their religion rather their writing is for the people, to the people and by the people. The study would be across genre but the themes are the main focus. For this examples are given from the respective texts starting from the history of this kind of writing in Punjabi language before these writers came up.
Struggle for identity comparative study of cry, the peacock and home
(Central University of Punjab, 2013) Romana, Khushwinder Kaur; Kaur, Zameerpal
The present dissertation scrutinises the construction of female identity in Indian society in Anita Desai's novel Cry, The Peacock and Manju Kapur' novel Home. It has been divided in four chapters. The first chapter deals with the key-concepts of Feminism, in which background of western feminism, three waves of feminism, schools of feminist thought and Indian feminism is described. Second chapter analyse the multi-facetedness and constructedness in the identity of Maya in the novel Cry, The Peacock. Anita Desai depicts the protagonist of her novel to be deeply embroiled in the quest for her real self. She is trying to find it in her social, personal and intimate relations. Maya cannot repress her urge to define the completeness in her identity through creation of a new life. The urge constantly nags at her and makes her conceive of her identity as incomplete. Third chapter of the dissertation focuses on Nisha's protest to establish her identity in Manju Kapur's novel Home. In this chapter the key- models of barrenness, dowry system, incestuous abuse, women education and economic independence of women are illustrated. Nisha, the protagonist of the novel is quite modern who discards the traditional thoughts of the society. In the fourth chapter conclusion is discussed with the comparative aspects of Anita Desai's novel Cry, The Peacock and Manju Kapur's novel Home. The conclusion tries to set up a common ground on which Cry, The Peacock and Home are compared. It presents the picture of contemporary Indian society in which women are yearning to ascertain their autonomous selves. The present study presents the plight of Indian women who are caught in traditions and conservative thoughts. It depicts the desire of woman for her autonomous self. The present study in itself is not complete but it brings into focus some issues of women
A study of U.R Anantha murthy's novel samskara in the context of indian philosophy of charvaka
(Central University of Punjab, 2012) Yashpal; Kaur, Zameerpal
Indian philosophy broadly comprises of two traditions: Orthodox and Heterodox. Charvaka philosophy occupies a prominent position in the realm of heterodox philosophy. It has radically influenced Indian philosophical tradition. Its main contribution lies in the rejection of dogmatic religious fanaticism, asceticism, extreme spiritualism and casteism. Philosophy along with other approaches can be an important tool in the interpretation and illumination of a text. The analysis of the main tenets of Charvaka philosophy throws light on atheism, realism, naturalism, sensualism and skepticism. In the novel Samskara by U.R. Anantha Murthy, Naranappa, the main character of the novel is an adherent to the materialist philosophy of Charvaka. Naranappa is against all types of religion, custom, Brahmanism, spirituality and follows the pleasure principle. Contrary to him is the character of Praneshacharya who follows the path of spirituality and the precepts of Vedas, Puranas, dharma and God. In a way Anantha Murthy’s Samskara falls into the line of the great modernist novels that deal with the conflict of spirit and flesh. Anantha Murthy presenting a panoramic view of a typical south Indian village, including various topographical and flora - fauna details, represents a kind of reworking of the ancient Indian philosophy.