On His Blindness

 Introduction

"On His Blindness" is a well-known sonnet written by John Milton.  John Milton is a famous English poet. The poem expresses his thoughts and emotions after losing his eyesight (दृष्टी). It follows the Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet form, with a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA CDECDE. The poem explores themes of faith, patience, and acceptance.  Milton reflects on his inability to use his poetic talent and wonders how he can still serve  God.

Background

John Milton became completely blind around 1652, at the age of 44. As a poet and scholar, he had devoted his life to literature and felt that his blindness was a great loss. During this time, he struggled with feelings of helplessness and questioned his purpose. "On His Blindness" captures these emotions and his realization that God values patience as much as active work.

Summary

The poem begins with Milton lamenting (शोक प्रकट करणे) his blindness, as he feels that he can no longer use his poetic talent to serve God. He worries that God might expect work from him even though he has lost his sight. However, the poem takes a turn when Patience, personified as a guiding force, reassures him that God does not require great deeds from everyone. Instead, those who accept their situation and trust in God’s plan also serve Him. The poem ends with the famous line: "They also serve who only stand and wait." This means that even those who are unable to perform active duties can still fulfill their purpose through faith and patience.

Analysis

1. Theme of Faith and Acceptance – The poem highlights Milton’s spiritual journey from doubt to acceptance. He realizes that service to God is not limited to active work but also includes inner faith and patience.
2. The Role of Patience – By personifying Patience, Milton presents it as a voice of wisdom that helps him understand God’s will.
3. Human Limitations vs. Divine Will – Milton initially struggles with the idea that he can no longer contribute through his poetry, but he learns that God does not expect more than what one is capable of giving.
4. Personal Reflection – The poem is deeply personal, as it reflects Milton’s own struggles with blindness and his efforts to find meaning in his life despite this challenge.

Conclusion

"On His Blindness" is a powerful poem that teaches the importance of faith, patience, and inner strength. It conveys the idea that one’s worth is not determined by outward achievements but by trust in a higher purpose. The poem remains inspiring, as it encourages people to accept life’s difficulties with grace and confidence in divine wisdom.

"On His Blindness" ही इंग्रजीतील सुप्रसिद्ध कवी जॉन मिल्टन यांनी लिहिलेली साॅनेट प्रकारातील कविता आहे. ही कविता त्यांनी अंधत्व आल्यावर लिहिली असून, त्यामध्ये त्यांनी आपल्या आयुष्याविषयीची चिंता व ईश्वरावरील विश्वास यांचे प्रकटन केले आहे. हे इटालियन (पेट्रार्कन) शैलीतील साॅनेट आहे आणि यामध्ये ABBAABBA CDECDE ही यमक योजना (rhyme scheme) आहे.

जॉन मिल्टन यांना १६५२ साली, वयाच्या ४४व्या वर्षी अंधत्व आले. साहित्य आणि काव्य लेखन हे त्यांचे जीवन होते, त्यामुळे दृष्टी गमावल्यावर त्यांना अतिशय नैराश्य आले. त्यांनी स्वतःच्या कार्यक्षमतेविषयी शंका घेतली आणि ईश्वर त्यांच्याकडून काय अपेक्षा करतो याचा विचार करू लागले. ही कविता त्यांच्या या मनःस्थितीचे प्रतिबिंब आहे.

कवितेच्या सुरुवातीस मिल्टन त्याच्या अंधत्वाबद्दल दुःख व्यक्त करतात. त्यांना असे वाटते की आता ते त्यांच्या प्रतिभेचा उपयोग करून ईश्वराची सेवा करू शकणार नाहीत. त्यांना भीती वाटते की ईश्वर त्यांच्याकडून कामाची अपेक्षा करत असेल आणि जर ते काही करू शकले नाहीत, तर त्याला उत्तर द्यावे लागेल.

मात्र, जेव्हा "Patience" (सहनशीलता) कवीला उत्तर देऊन टाकते. सहनशीलता त्यांना समजावते की ईश्वर केवळ कर्तव्याची अपेक्षा करत नाही, तर श्रद्धा आणि सहनशीलताही महत्त्वाची आहे. शेवटी, कवी म्हणतो की ईश्वरावर श्रद्धा ठेवणे आणि संयमाने त्याच्या कृपादृष्टीची वाट पाहणे हेही महत्त्वाचे आहे. हीही एक प्रकारे ईश्वराची सेवा आहे.

"On His Blindness" ही केवळ अंधत्वाबद्दलची कविता नाही, तर ती श्रद्धा, सहनशीलता आणि ईश्वराच्या योजनेवर विश्वास ठेवण्याचा संदेश देते. मिल्टन यांना कळते की शारीरिक कार्य करण्यास असमर्थ असणारे लोकही ईश्वराची सेवा करू शकतात. ही कविता आजही प्रेरणादायी आहे आणि संकटांचा स्वीकार कसा करावा हे शिकवते.

Sonnet

(e-Content developed by Dr N A Jarandikar) 

Sonnet

Introduction:

A sonnet is a 14-line poem. It follows a specific rhyme pattern. It is one of the most popular forms of poetry in English literature.

Main Features of  Sonnet:

1. A sonnet always has 14 lines.
2. The pattern of rhyming words at the end of lines is specific. Different types of sonnets have different rhyme schemes.

Types of Sonnets:

There are two types of sonnets: 1. Shakespearean sonnet; 2. Petrarchan sonnet. 

Shakespearean sonnet is also known as the English sonnet. Petrarchan sonnet is also known as the Italian sonnet.

Shakespeare is an important English poet and dramatist. He belonged to England when Queen Elizabeth was ruling there. So, very often Shakespearean sonnet is also known as the Elizabethan sonnet. 

Petrarch was an Italian poet. He made the sonnet form very popular. The sonnet form came to England from Italy. 

The main features of Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnet are as follows:

1. Shakespearean (English) Sonnet

   • Shakespearean sonnet is divided into three stanzas with four lines each and followed by  final  two lines (couplet) (4+4+4+2).
   • In Shakespearean sonnet, the rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
   • Many of Shakespeare’s sonnets, like "My Mistress' Eyes" or “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” are examples of the Shakespearean sonnet.

2. Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet

   • Petrarchan sonnet is divided into two stanzas (8+6). Eight lined stanza is termed as octave and the six lined stanza is termed as sestet.
   • Rhyme scheme of Petrarchan sonnet is ABBAABBA (first 8 lines) and CDECDE or CDCDCD (last 6 lines).
   • Sonnets by the Italian poet Petrarch.

Themes of Sonnets of sonnets are as follows:

• Love and beauty
• Time and mortality
• Nature and emotions
• Philosophical ideas

Conclusion:

Sonnets are short but expressive poems that follow a strict structure. They have been written by famous poets like Shakespeare, John Milton, and William Wordsworth. Even today, sonnets remain a powerful way to express deep emotions in poetry.

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My Mistress’ Eyes

(e-Content developed by Dr N. A. Jarandikar)

 My Mistress’ Eyes 

शेक्सपियरचे "My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun" हीसॉनेट प्रकारातील कविता आहे.  ही कविता इतर पारंपरिक प्रेमकवितांपेक्षा वेगळी आहे. त्याकाळच्या कवींप्रमाणे आपल्या प्रेयसीचे सौंदर्य वाढवून सांगण्याऐवजी, शेक्सपियर तिचे प्रामाणिक शब्दांत वर्णन करतो.  

कवी म्हणतो की 

- त्याच्या प्रेयसीचे डोळे सूर्यासारखे तेजस्वी नाहीत. 

- ओठ पोवळ्यासारखे लाल नाहीत.  

- त्वचा बर्फासारखी शुभ्र नाही.  

- केस सोनेरी धाग्यांसारखे नाहीत, तर काळ्या तारेसारखे दिसतात.  

- गाल फुलांप्रमाणे लालसर नाहीत. 

- श्वास सुगंधीत नाही.  

- आवाज संगीतासारखा गोड नाही.  

हे सगळे वाचून असे वाटू शकते की कवी तिच्या सौंदर्यावर टीका करतो आहे. पण शेवटच्या दोन ओळींमध्ये तो खरा अर्थ सांगतो:  

"तरीही, मी तिला अत्यंत दुर्मिळ समजतो, कारण इतर स्त्रियांप्रमाणे जर तिची अशा खोट्या उपमांनी स्तुती केली असती, तर तो तिचा अपमान ठरला असता ."

अशा प्रकारे कवीच्या मते सौंदर्याच्या खोट्या कल्पनांपेक्षा खरी व्यक्ती जास्त महत्त्वाची असते.  तसेच खरे सौंदर्य हे प्रेम, स्वभाव आणि नातेसंबंध यावर अवलंबून असते.

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Introduction: 

‘My Mistress’ Eyes’ is a sonnet number 130 written by William Shakespeare. It is a unique love poem. Most of the love poems of his time were full of praise (प्रशंसा) for women with too much comparisons. But Shakespeare takes a different approach. He describes his mistress (प्रेयसी) in a very realistic and honest way, showing that true love does not need false praise (खोटी प्रशंसा).

The poem:

The poem begins with the speaker saying that his mistress’ eyes are “nothing like the sun”. It means that they do not shine brightly. He continues by saying:

• Her lips are not as red as coral (मौल्यवान पोवळे).

• Her breasts are not as white as snow.

• Her hair is like black wires, not golden strands.

• Her cheeks are not as rosy as flowers.

• Her breath does not smell like perfume.

• Her voice is not as sweet as music.

At first, it may seem that he is criticizing her. But in the last two lines, he reveals the true meaning of the poem. Here, he says his love is rare. It does not need any false comparisons. 

Analysis:

The poem is a sonnet. It is a Shakespearean sonnet. ‘Real Love is Honest’ is a central idea of the poem. The poet does not need to lie to express his love. Many poets compared women to unrealistic things, but Shakespeare makes fun of this tradition. According to Shakespeare, beauty is more than looks. Shakespeare uses simple, everyday language to describe his mistress honestly. 

Conclusion:

‘My Mistress’ Eyes’ is a beautiful poem about real love. Instead of using false praise, Shakespeare shows that love is not about external beauty. Love is about accepting and respecting someone who they truly are. This makes the poem more relatable and meaningful even today.

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Question Bank_Aristotle's Poetics

 

Aristotle’s Poetics

1) Aristotle's Poetics was an answer to -------.

a) Sidney's An Apology for Poetry                  b) Shelley's A Defense of Poetry

c) Plato's Republic                                         d) Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

2) The Poetics is mainly concerned with -------.

a) Comedy      b) Poetry         c) Epic             d) Tragedy

3) The common principle of all fine arts is that ------------.

a) they give us pleasure                                  b) they imitate something

c) they are useful to us                                    d) they are of no use

4) Tragedy is an imitation of ---------.

a) action         b) people                     c) life               d) world

5) The term ‘mimesis’ was first used by ---------.

a) Philip Sidney                                              b) P. B. Shelley

c) Plato                                                           d) Chaucer

6) What does Aristotle mean by the word 'magnitude'?

a) management                                    b) proper size or length of the plot

c) the function of tragedy                   d) the theme of tragedy

7) Discovery' means the change of fortunes in hero's life from -----------.

a) adversity to prosperity                    b) prosperity to adversity

c) ignorance to knowledge                d) poverty to wealth

8) According to Aristotle, a tragedy has ---------- formative elements.

a) six               b) five              c) many           d) nine

9) -------- is the very soul of tragedy.

a) character     b) dialogue      c) plot             d) catharsis

10) The word 'Catharsis' is used to denote -----------.

a) the action of tragedy                                               b) the list of characters

c) the function or emotional effect of tragedy        d) the definition of tragedy

11) The root meaning of hamartia is ------.

a) fixing the target                              b) missing the mark

c) finding fault                                    d) right choice

12) According to Bradley, hamartia is ---------.

a) tragic flaw             b) justice          c) fortune                    d) right decision

13) Butcher and Bywater believe that hamartia means --------.

a) a missing of mark                           b) misfortune of hero

c) an error of judgment                    d) all of these

14) Hamartia is not --------.

a) moral falling          b) ideal truth    c) universal truth         d) none of these

15) Aristotle used the word hamartia for ---------.

a) villain                      b) ideal tragic hero    d) heroine                    d) none of these

16) Aristotle defines tragedy in _____ of Poetics.

            a) Book I                     b) Book III                  c) Book IV                  d) Book VI

17) According to Aristotle, a tragedy should be in the form of _____.

            a) narration                  b) action                     c) description              d) prose

18) For a tragic hero, Aristotle gives an example of _____.

            a) Oedipus                  b) King Lear               c) Hamlet                    d) Macbeth

19) According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must be _____.

            a) shy              b) very poor                c) ethically good        d) selfish

 

 

B) Answer the following questions in one word/phrase/sentence.

1) Where did Plato use the term ‘mimesis’? (Republic)

2) Which Greek word is represented ‘imitation’ in English? (Mimesis)

3) What does Aristotle mean by "the action of tragedy must be complete'? (It must have a well beginning, a middle and an end.)

4) Which are the two kinds of plot, according to Aristotle? (simple and complex)

5) What is meant by peripety? (The change in fortunes of the hero)

6) How should be the language of tragedy, according to Aristotle? (dignified and elevated)

7) What does Aristotle mean by the plot in tragedy? (the arrangement of incidents)

8) What kind of emotions are given outlet through tragedy?  (pity and fear)

9) How should be the tragic hero, according to Aristotle? (He should be good, but not too good or perfect.)

10) What is the root meaning of hamartia? (“missing the mark”)

11) What is the meaning of hamartia according to Else and Martin Ostward? (The hero has a tendency to err, created by lack of knowledge)

12) What is the meaning of anagnorisis? (It is a sudden change, “from ignorance to knowledge”.)

13) Who believes that hamartia is not moral state; but an error of judgment which a man makes or commits? (Butcher, Bywater, and Rostangi)

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Three term labels (consonants)

 

Phoneme,Three-Term Labels:

1. /p/: Voiceless bilabial plosive 

2. /b/: Voiced bilabial plosive 

3. /t/: Voiceless alveolar plosive 

4. /d/: Voiced alveolar plosive 

5. /k/: Voiceless velar plosive 

6. /g/: Voiced velar plosive 

7. /f/: Voiceless labiodental fricative

8. /v/: Voiced labiodental fricative

 

9. /θ/: (as in thin),Voiceless dental fricative

10. /ð/:  (as in this),Voiced dental fricative

11. /s/: Voiceless alveolar fricative

12. /z/: Voiced alveolar fricative

13. /ʃ/: (as in she),Voiceless post-alveolar fricative

14. /ʒ/: (as in measure),Voiced post-alveolar fricative

15. /h/: Voiceless glottal fricative

16. /ʧ/ (as in chop),Voiceless post-alveolar affricate

17. /ʤ/: (as in jump),Voiced post-alveolar affricate

18. /m/: Voiced bilabial nasal

19. /n/: Voiced alveolar nasal

20. /ŋ/: (as in sing),Voiced velar nasal

21. /l/: Voiced alveolar lateral

22. /r/: Voiced alveolar approximant

23. /w/: Voiced bilabial approximant

24. /j/: (as in yes),Voiced palatal approximant

Syllabus_BA I_Semester II (June 2024 onwards)

 

BA I_SEMESTER II_ENGLISH (OPTIONAL)

Introduction to English Literature (Poetry)and Language (Morphology) -II

MODULE I: Introduction to Forms of Poetry

a) Sonnet

b) Song

c) Elegy

d) Ballad

MODULE II: Poems

a) My Mistresses’ Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun- William Shakespeare

b) On his Blindness- John Milton

c) Go and Catch a Falling Star- John Donne

d) She Walks in Beauty- Lord Byron

e) To a Butterfly- William Wordsworth

f) Annabel Lee- Edgar Allen Poe

g) My Last Duchess- Robert Browning

h) O My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose - Robert Burns

MODULE III: Poems

a) Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T. S.- Nissim Ezekiel

b) What Would You Do? – Omprakash Valmiki

c) Oh Earth , Wait for Me -Pablo Neruda

d) Elegy for My Son- Patrick Fernando

e) This is Photograph of me- Margaret Atwood

f) Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town- e. e. cummings

g) Telephone Conversation- Wole Soyinka

h) The Seven Stages – Meena Kandasamy

MODULE IV: Morphology

a) Concept of Morphology

b) Types of Morphemes

c) Morphological Processes /Word - Formation Processes

d) Morphological Analysis

 

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NATURE OF QUESTION PAPER AND SCHEME OF MARKING:

FOR FOUR CREDITS: Total Marks: 80 (Written)

Q.1 A) Multiple choice questions (On Module 1.2&3) (10 MCQ)                            (10 marks)

      B) Fill in the blanks 4 options to be given for each question (On Module 1.2&3)

     (10 questions)                                                                                                        (10 Marks)

Q. 2 Answer the following questions in about 250-300 words (A or B)

         (To be set on Module 2)                                                                                     (10 Marks)

Q.3 Answer the following questions in about 250-300 words (A or B)

        (to be set on Module 3)                                                                                       (10 Marks)

Q. 4 Write short notes in about 200 words (four out of six) (4 on Module 1and 2 on Module2

        &3)                                                                                                                      (20 Marks)

Q.5 A) Write short notes in about 200 words.(two out of four) (To be set on Module 4)

(10 Marks)

      B) I. Identify the word formation process used in the underlined words in the

         following sentences (5 sentences)                                                                     (05 Marks )

         II. Attempt morphological analysis of the following words (2 out of 4)           (05 Marks)

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Instruction for Internal Evaluation

Sem. II: Unit Test – 20 Marks

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Woaman on a Roof

 (e-content developed by Prof. (Dr) N A Jaranadikar

‘अ वूमन ऑन अ रुफ’ ही कथा डोरिस लेसिंग या लेखिकेने लिहिली आहे. स्त्रीकडे पाहण्याचा पुरुषी समाजाचा दृष्टीकोन यावर ही कथा भाष्य करते. ही कथा लंडन शहरामध्ये घडते. साधारणपणे सहा दिवसांचा काळ या कथेत मांडला आहे. स्टॅनले, टॉम आणि हॅरी ही कथेतील मुख्य पात्रे आहेत. हे तिघेही कामगार आहेत.  हॅरी हा ४५ वर्षांचा असून तिघांमध्ये सर्वात वयाने मोठा आहे. टॉम हा १७ वर्षांचा आहे. स्टॅनलेचे नुकतेच ३ महिन्यांपूर्वी लग्न झाले आहे. या कथेमध्ये जून महिन्यातील शेवटच्या आठवड्याचे वर्णन केले आहे. यावेळी लंडनमध्ये उष्णतेची लाट आली आहे, आणि हे तिघेही एका रुफवर (रुफ – छत) प्लंबिंग दुरुस्तीचे काम करत आहेत. प्रचंड उन्हामुळे हे काम करणे त्यांना कठीण जात आहे. याचवेळी त्यांना दुसऱ्या एका रुफवर एक मध्यमवयीन स्त्री तोकड्या कपड्यात उन्हात पुस्तक वाचत पडलेली दिसते. इथून सगळ्या नाट्याला सुरुवात होते. त्यांचे आपल्या कामावरून लक्ष हटते. तिच्याकडे पहात ते ओरडू लागतात. ती स्त्री यांच्याकडे फारसे लक्ष देत नाही. दुसऱ्या दिवशी हाच प्रकार घडतो. हळूहळू या तिघांची भीड चेपत जाते. ते स्त्रीच्या अगदी जवळ जाऊन शेरेबाजी करू लागतात. तरीही ती तिकडे दुर्लक्ष करते. पुढच्या दिवशी ती त्यांना रुफवर दिसत नाही. ते तिघेही अस्वस्थ होऊन आपले काम करत राहतात. संध्याकाळी त्यांच्या लक्षात येते की त्या स्त्रीने आपली जागा बदलली आहे आणि रुफच्या दुसऱ्या टोकाला जाऊन ती सूर्यप्रकाशात पहुडली आहे. पुन्हा एकदा शिट्ट्या मारणे, किंचाळणे असा प्रकार हे तिघे सुरु करतात. पण आताही ती स्त्री त्यांच्याकडे फारसे लक्ष देत नाही. इकडे प्रचंड उन्हामुळे या तिघांचे काम अपूर्णच राहते. ऊन असह्य झाल्यामुळे एके दिवशी स्टॅनले आणि  हॅरी लवकर घरी जातात आणि  टॉम धाडस करून समोरच्या रुफवर जातो. तो त्या स्त्रीला तुम्ही मला आवडत असल्याचे सांगतो. पण स्त्रीकडे चोरून पाहणे, तिच्याकडे पाहून शेरेबाजी करणे, तिच्या कपड्याबद्दल भाष्य करणे या तिघांच्या कृत्याचा त्या स्त्रीला प्रचंड राग आलेला असल्याने, ती टॉमला खडे बोल सुनावते आणि तिथून निघून जाण्यास सांगते.

दुसरे दिवशी हे तिघेही पुन्हा कामाला येतात. पण आता उष्णतेची लाट निघून गेलेली असल्याने आणि थोडाफार पाऊस पडायला सुरुवात झालेली असल्याने रुफवर त्यांना कोणीच दिसत नाही, अगदी ती स्त्रीदेखील नाही.

अशा प्रकारे समाजामध्ये स्त्रीने कसे वागावे, काय कपडे घालावेत, कसे बोलावे याचे स्वातंत्र्य तिला मिळाले पाहिजे या भूमिकेचा या कथेद्वारे लेखिकेने जोरदारपणे पुरस्कार केला आहे.

 

MCQ type questions:

1.      The story ‘Woman on a Roof’ is written by _____. (Doriss Lessing)

2.      The story takes place in the city of _____. (London)

3.      Stanley, Harry and Tom are on the roof _____. (to replace gutters)

4.      _____ is recently married. (Stanley)

5.      Stanley, Harry and Tom find it difficult to work on the rooftop because _____. (there is a heat wave in London)

6.      _____ is 17 years old. (Tom)

7.      To protect from sunlight, Harry brings _____ from a friendly woman living downstairs. (a blanket)

8.      Due to the heatwave, the temperature in London has risen up to _____ degrees Fahrenheit. (70-80)

9.        _____ suffers from sunstroke. (Stanley)

10.  _____ goes to meet the woman lying on a roof.  (Tom)