English Literature: December 2022

Wednesday 28 December 2022

Show how “A Tale of Two Cities” is a Tale of London and Paris.

The novel A Tale of Two Cities unfolds the incidents revolving around the two cities London and Paris - against the background of the French Revolution. Hence Dickens has given excellent descriptions of the two cities and of the countries of which they are the capitals.

Tuesday 27 December 2022

Discuss the Plot Construction of "A Tale of Two Cities".

A Tale of Two Cities is the best example of the fact that Dickens is one of the most successful story writers. Like other novels, A Tale of Two Cities also contains a realistic approach. What is most important about the story is that the readers eagerly wait for the next incident. The novel contains a well-constructed plot which does not suffer from any undue interruption or digressions.

Discuss Dickens's Art of Characterization in the Novel “A Tale of Two Cities”.

Charles Dickens, one of the greatest creators of characters in English fiction, is expert at the presentation of a large diversity of characters in his novels. Indeed, he aims at the portrayal of the infinite range and variety of mankind. He does not bother himself in analysing the individual. His genius was for the extensive, not the intensive vision. Despite this fact, this novel is remarkble because of individualized characters.

Wednesday 21 December 2022

Comment on Dickens's Use of Humour in “Great Expectations”.

Although Dickens is not a comic novelist, he is very apt in using humour. His novel Great Expectations is full of many humorous scenes. Dickens produces humour by describing some amusing scenes or characters which provoke laughter. Dickens's use of humour lightens the readers' mind of the dark side of the novel, making it more appealing to them.

Justify the Significance of the Title “Great Expectations”.

 Significance of the Title “Great Expectations”:

Charles Dickens's Great Expectations basically deals with the great expectations of money and gentility as defined by the Victorian society. Due to the Industrial revolution, English society changed radically. There were people who wanted to be gentleman by virtue of money only. However, Dickens shows that money alone cannot be the touchstone of gentility. Dickens shows how the expectations of the characters in the novel are crushed, as they are devoid of generosity and moral sense.

Discuss Dickens's Art of Characterisation in “Great Expectations”.

Characterisation is one of the interesting areas in Dickens's novels and this is also true for Great Expectations. Dickens here presents a vast gallery of characters with different propensities and desires. The success of Dickens lies in his ability to attach social and moral significance in the activities of each of these characters.

Dickens's “Great Expectations” is a Study of Moral and Psychological Development. Discuss.

Charles Dickens's Great Expectations deals with the story of an orphan's pursuit of money and gentility. At the same time, it upholds the moral and psychological development of Pip. Victorian concept of gentility comprised high social status, wealth, education and manners. But Dickens defines it in terms of moral qualities. Great Expectations teaches us to distinguish between social prestige and moral worth. Pip rises socially but declines morally, as he passes no sympathy to Joe and Biddy. Finally, Pip becomes a gentleman in true moral sense.

Bring Out the Sensational and Grotesque Elements in “Great Expectations”.

Great Expectations is a famous novel by Charles Dickens. This novel is full of sensational and grotesque elements. In the very opening chapter we find a very sensational incident in which fearful stranger seizes Pip by the chin as if he would cut his throat. He then takes Pip by both arms and tilting him back, asks him to get him some food and a file early next morning, failing which he will take out the boy's heart and liver.

Critically Analyse the Character of Miss Havisham.

Miss Havisham is a wonderful creation of Dickens in his novel Great Expectations. In her youth she was courted by Compeyson who ultimately deserted her extracting a lot of money from her. In all this trickery and deceit, her half-brother, Arthur, had played a leading part. Since that evil incident, Miss Havisham had remained confined to her own room and was leading a life of seclusion.

Comment on the Moral Development of Pip in “Great Expectations”.

Great Expectations is an account of Pip's moral education. The novel shows his progress from a vulnerable child to snobbish gentleman. Yet Pip is largely the victim of his circumstances. He retains his basic goodness amidst all odds.

What Picture of Victorian Society do You Get in “Great Expectations”.

In Great Expectations Dickens depicts a picture of Victorian society. He wrote with the purpose of stressing the social evils of his time. His novels expose many of the evils and abuses that were rampant in Victorian society. His view of Victorian society as embodied in this novel must have been highly unflattering to his contemporaries. We see here a society riddled by cruelty, greed and injustice.