Best Notes for English Honours under Calcutta University for 2023 Examination

Sunday, 18 April 2021

Critically evaluate Homer's Iliad as a primary epic - CU English Honours Notes

Iliad as a primary epic

An epic has been generally described as a long narrative poem, on a grand scale, about the deeds of warriors and heroes, kings and Gods. It is majestic both in theme and style. It is a polygonal heroic story incorporating myth, legend, folktale, religion, and historical events of national or universal significance, involving action of broad sweep and grandeur. Epics are mostly of national significance in the sense that they embody the history and aspirations of a nation in a lofty or grandiose manner. An epic is a cultural mirror with a fixed ideological stance, often reflecting the best and the noblest principles of a nation’s ethos.

“The Iliad” is an epic poem by the ancient Greek poet Homer, which recounts some of the significant events of the final weeks of the Trojan War and the Greek siege of the city of Troy. Written in the mid-8th Century BC, “The Iliad” is usually considered to be the earliest work in the whole Western literary tradition, and one of the best known and loved stories of all time. Through its portrayal of the epic subject matter of the Trojan War, the stirring scenes of bloody battle, the wrath of Achilles and the constant interventions of the gods, it explores themes of glory, wrath, homecoming and fate, and has provided subjects and stories for many other later Greek, Roman and Renaissance writings.

Epic poetry falls into two distinct categories: primary and secondary epic. The Iliad belongs to the former. A primary epic begins in medias res. In Medias Res is Latin for "it begins in the middle of things" and then has flashbacks to explain action leading up to that point. In The Iliad, for example, the story begins after the war between the combined forces of Greece and the forces of the walled city of Troy and their allies has been in progress for nearly ten years.

Like other primary epics, The Iliad also begins with an invocation to a god or gods. The poet, who in those days would have been reciting the epic to an audience, say, at a banquet, began by calling for a blessing--for a god or gods to attend this effort of his. They probably literally believed that the called upon god or muse came into them and, therefore, that it was not the poet who recited, but the god in the poet's body. Poet's, then, were considered very sacred, for they could call down a god and have the god in them, at least temporarily. We continue to have remnants of this belief, of course. We often think of poets or of any true artist as being different or touched by a special hand. In the case of the beginning of THE ILIAD, the poet says something like

"Sing, goddess of epic poetry, the story of the anger of Achilles."

In a primary epic the theme is usually stated at the beginning of the epic, because these poems are so long and so complex, although the basic stories would have been familiar to the audiences, the poet would begin with announcing what the recitation was to be about. The theme or central interest of The Iliad is the wrath of Achilles, which is stated at the beginning of the poem.

Homer Iliad Epic Features

A primary epic usually has many epithets. These epithets are re-namings of the characters, gods, or things by stock phrases. An example is the re-naming of Agamemnon and Menelaus as "Atreus' two sons" or "the twin eagles." It is important for us to notice these epithets, first, because they add description, and second, because we get confused about who is doing what if do not recognize the epithets as well as the names.

In a primary epic, there are catalogues of things and characters; there are many lists, both long and short. Just as the Old Testament has catalogues of genealogies--you remember all those begets--just so do ancient epics keep track of the lists of history. In one book of THE ILIAD, for example, there is a list of the ships that sailed from Greece to Troy.

There are long and formal speeches by many characters. You will not have any trouble spotting these. Sometimes they happen in the heat of battle and other seemingly inappropriate times, but more often they occur at various kinds of meetings, as in an assembly of the chieftains.

In a primary epic, Gods intervene in the affairs of human beings in these stories. For example, in Book I of THE ILIAD, Achilles, getting very angry at Agamemnon, starts to pull out his dagger to kill him. Suddenly, a goddess rushes to the side of Achilles to warn him not to be so hasty.

The setting of an epic is vast. The setting of The Iliad is also vast encompassing both the Greek and Trojan islands.  

Epics use the epic simile. An epic simile is a long comparison of two things that are in different classes. They make vivid an image and describe or clarify. An example can be found in the long comparison of Paris Alexander, a Trojan prince, to a fine horse that has been manger fed a long time in a stable. When released to pasture, it races out with quick, sure strides, neck arched, knees high, mane flowing, proud it its beauty and strength, to race to drink from a clear flowing stream. So Paris ran to battle.

The heroes embody the values of their civilization. The physical strength and stamina of Achilles, for example, is made much of. The lifting of the latch of the door of his stockade requires the strength of three soldiers, but Achilles lifts it with one hand. His spear, thrown so lightly, is eighteen feet long. He is a power machine. Today, we all know, a tiny female can have more killing power than Achilles ever dreamed of. We have created compensations--weapons.

Thus, we see that as an epic The Iliad fulfills almost all the requirements of a primary epic.

Saturday, 10 April 2021

C.U. English Honours Second Semester Question Paper 2019 [CC-4]

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This year Wise Notes brings the CU English Honours Question Paper 2019 CC -4 for Second Semester for the first time on the internet.

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Wise Notes has a collection of high quality and definite notes along with a wide range of answers to the questions usually asked in the Calcutta University English Honours examinations. Do scroll down to know more about the Wise Notes. 


   2019
 ENGLISH-HONOURS
Paper : CC - 4
Full Marks- 65

The figures in the margin indicate full marks.
 Candidates are required to give their answers in their own words as far as practicable.

Group-B
(Answer within 600 words)

1. Answer the following questions in complete sentences :                1x5

(a) "Vayne man, sayd she', who is the 'vayne man'?
(b) Which are the two rivers mentioned in the poem 'To His Coy Mistress'?
(c) "thou art more lovely and more temperate." What does Shakespeare mean by it?
(d) How many times does Banquo's ghost appear on stage?
Or, Name the two murderers in Edward II.
(e) What is the name of the jester in As You Like It?
Or, "If music be the food of love, play on," -- Who says this and to whom?

2. Answer any two of the following questions (within 600 words):              15x2

(a) The Wife of Bath is one of the first feminist characters in English Literature. would you agree? Discuss.
(b) Comment on Shakespeare's use of imagery with reference to any one of the sonnets in your syllabus.
(c) Consider Donne's 'The Good Morrow' as a metaphysical poem.


3. Answer any one the following questions (within 600 words) :                      15x1

(a) Discuss Edward II as a play on the irony of kingship.
(b) Critically consider Marlowe's portrayal of Isabella in Edward II.
(c) Examine the role of the witches in Macbeth.
(d) Consider Macbeth as a tragic hero.

4. Answer any one the following questions (within 600 words) :                      15x1

(a) Twelfth is a comedy built on the principle of contrast. discuss with suitable examples from the play.
(b) Comment on the appropriateness of the title of Twelfth Night.
(c) Compare and contrast the characters of Rosalind and Celia.
(d) Examine the significance of the woodland setting in As You Like It.

Now have a look at 2019 Second Semester CC -3. Click Here.

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The goal of your studies is to score better.
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Saturday, 3 April 2021

C.U. English Honours Second Semester Question Paper 2019 [CC-3]

For more than half a decade Wise Notes has been offering valuable help to the CU English Honours students with their studies. 

This year Wise Notes brings the CU English Honours Question Paper 2019 CC -3 for Second Semester for the first time on the internet.

Our team takes pride in collecting, creating & publishing quality study materials and notes for the students. We had created a highly influential and helpful range of premium English Honours notes designed for the Calcutta University English Honours students called 'Wise Notes'. 

Wise Notes has a collection of high quality and definite notes along with a wide range of answers to the questions usually asked in the Calcutta University English Honours examinations. Do scroll down to know more about the Wise Notes. 


   2019
 ENGLISH-HONOURS
Paper : CC - 3
Full Marks- 65

The figures in the margin indicate full marks.
 Candidates are required to give their answers in their own words as far as practicable.

Group-B
(Answer within 600 words)

1. Answer the following questions in complete sentences :                1x5

(a) "Thy eagle pinion is chained down at last"
       What does "eagle" symbolically refer to in the above line?
(b) What was the last wish of the narrator's ageing mother in "Dawn at Puri"?
(c) To which poet does Toru Dutt allude in 'Our Casuarina Tree'?
(d) What was the name of Mantangini's sister in Rajamohan's Wife?
(e) Who is called "the queen of thumri" in Mahesh Dattani's Bravely Fought the Queen?

2. Answer any two of the following questions (within 600 words):              15x2

(a) 'Our Casaurina Tree' brings out the spirit of romantic nostalgia. Discuss.
(b) 'An Introduction' is a search for an identity. Discuss.
(c) A. K. Ramanujan's 'A River' is about the kinds of relations between the present and the past. -- Elucidate. 
(d) Write a critical appreciation of the poem 'Enterprise'.

CU English Honours Second Semester 2019

3. Answer any one the following questions (within 600 words) :                      15x1

(a) Critically estimate the character of Mantangini in Rajamohan's Wife.
(b) Comment on Bankim's treatment of the theme of marriage in Rajamohan's Wife.

4. Answer any one the following questions (within 600 words) :                      15x1

(a) Comment on the significance of the title of Mahesh Dattani's play Bravely Fought the Queen.
(b) How does Dattani use symbols to enhance the dramatic impact of Bravely Fought the Queen?

Now have a look at 2019 First Semester CC -4. Click Here.

What You Can Do To Get An "Edge"
The goal of your studies is to score better.
You can only do it when your preparation is better.

Therefore we created Wise Notes.

Designed for CU English Honours students. 

It brings high-quality notes covering the complete syllabus for you.

Wise Notes is available for First and Second Semester student at highly affordable price.
Boost Your CU English Honours Preparation with Wise Notes
 
We also provide high quality C.U. English Honours notes with our exceptional collection called 'Wise Notes'. Buy it and boost your preparation for the upcoming examination. Wise Notes are available for First and Second Semester student at highly affordable price.


Eager to buy Wise Notes: Click Here.
Wish to know more about Wise Notes: Click Here.        
Get in touch with us for more information: Click Here.