1

SUGGESTED TOPICS
M.A.FINAL YEAR EXAM 2004
PAPER 1:
CHAUCER
The Prologue:
(a) Art of characterization.
(b) Irony, wit and Humour.
(c) Anti-religious Attitude.
The Nun Priests Tale:
(a) Treatment of Dream.
(b) Mock-heroic poem.
(c) Use of Digression.
SHAKESPEARE
Measure for Measure:
(a) As a problem play / Dark comedy.
(b) Character of Isabella.
(c) Character of the Duke.
(d) Minor characters.
Hamlet:
(a) Role of Ghost/Supernatural element.
(b) Play within Play.
(c) Soliloquies.
(d) Hamlets Madness.
(e) Unconventional Revenge Play.
Othello:
(a) Role of Iago.
(b) Racism.
(c) Dramatic Significance of the Handkerchief.
(d) Desdemona /Female characters.
The Tempest:
(a) Prosperos Island.
(b) Ariel and Caliban.
(c) Three Unities.
(d) Dramatic function of Miranda-Ferdinand love story.

2
PAPER-||: Modern Poetry
YEATS: Selected Poems
(a) Symbolism.
(b) As a love poet.
(c) Romantic elements.
(d) Attitude to politics; History; Myths and Philosophy.
WHITMAN: Song Of Myself
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

View Of democracy.
Mysticism.
Attitude to Love Sex. (Cf. Soul; Self Body)
Poetic Techniques.

ELIOT: LOVE SONG THE WASTE LAND

(a) Atmosphere of Futility; Barrenness; Waste; Ennui and
Boredom (prufrock).
(b) The Title (Treatment of irony)
(c) Use of Myth in The Waste Land
(d) Disorder and decay of modern world in The Waste
Land.
FROST: Selected Poems
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Treatment of nature (+Man)

Local Colour (New England images) vs. Universal Appeal
Landscape in Frosts poetry
Human Relationship

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

As a modern poet
Treatment of love Friendship
Various themes
Social awareness

AUDEN:

DYLAN THOMAS:
(a) Use of imagery
(b) Critical analysis (I) After the Funeral, (ii) Fern Hill, (iii) The
Hunchback in the park.
(c) As a metrical Artist / Style.
(d) Various themes

PAPER III: MODERN DRAMA

SYNGE:Riders to the See
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Character of Maurya
Elements of Greek Tragedy
Fusion of the Local &the Universal
Treatment of Nature

SHAW:Man and Superman

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Life Force
As a Comedy and a Philosophy
Love, Sex and Marriage
Portrayal of three Female Characters

ONEILL:Desire Under the Elms

(a) Use of symbols
(b) Father- Son Relationship
(c) Art of Characterisation
(d) Use of Classical Myths
MILLER:Death of a Saleman
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

American Dream
Father- Son Relationship
Willy Loman (as a tragic hero)
Dramatic Purpose of the Requiem

BECKTT: Waiting for Godot

(a) Treatment of Time
(b) Function of Godot
(c) Use of imagery
(d) Structural Design
OSBORNE: Look Back in Anger
(a) Jimmy- Alison- Helena Relationship
(b) Themes of Anger & Protest/ Revolt
(c) Jimmy As an Anti- hero
(d) Flimsiness of structure

PAPER-IV
3

CONRAD:Heart of Darkness
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Theme of Imperialism/ Colonialism [cf. Evil, greed, Intrigue]

Meaning of Darkness
Last words of Kurtz (The horror! The horror!)
Pessimism

FORSTER: Apassage to India

(a) Use of Symbolism
(b) Relationship between Dr Aziz and Fielding
(c) Rony Heaslop, Mr. Fielding & Mrs. Represent
three different Attitudes to India
(d) Significance of three- part division of the novel
LAWRENCE:Son and Lovers

(a) Autobiographical Elements

(b) Pauls relationship with Mrs. Morel, Clara &
Miriam
(c) Walter Morel as a Tragic Hero
(d) Elements of Modern Psychology

HEMMINGWAY: A Farewell to Arms

(a) Love and War
(b) Character of Catherine Barkley
(c) Frederic Henry
(d) Code of Heroic Conduct
GOLDING: Lord of the

files
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

As a Moral/ Religious Allegory [Good & Evil]

Combination of Realism &Fantasy
Children as Characters
Use of Symbols

SAUL BELLO: Seize the Day

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Justification of the title

Problems of American Society
Tommy-Margaret relationship
Use of New York as setting

SHORT NOTES
1. The Accountant; The Intended; The Manager (Heart of Darkness)
2. The central Station; The Nellie (Heart of Darkness)
3.The Pilgrims (Heart of Darkness)
4. Chandrapore; The Marbar Caves (A Passage To India)
5.The Bridge Party (A Passage To India)
6.Adela Quested; Professor God bole; Hamidulla (A Passage To India)
7.Baxter Dawes; Clara; William (Sons & Lovers)
8.Hell Row/The Bottoms (Sons & Lovers)
9.Piggy and Peggys glasses (Lord of the Files)
10.Code of Heroic conduct; The Caporetto retreat (A Farewell to arms)
11.Rinaldi; The Priest; (A Farewell to arms)
12.Dr. Tamkin (Seize the Day)
13.Mother-Fixation/Oedipus Complex
14.Psychoanalysis
15.Symbolism