Major 12

Name  : Jhankhanaba Gohil 

Course: T.Y B A ( English literature,sem-5)

Class Assignment

1 Question 

Discuss the contrast between Sense and Sensibility in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. How are Elinor and Marianne different from each other?

Answer

Introduction

Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility was published in 1811. The novel mainly tells the story of the Dashwood family and especially two sisters, Elinor Dashwood and Marianne Dashwood. Elinor and Marianne are sisters, but their personalities are very different. Elinor represents “sense”, which means reason, practical thinking and self-control. Marianne represents “sensibility”, which means emotion, romantic feelings and openness.

The main idea of the novel is not that sense is completely good and sensibility is completely bad. Austen shows that both reason and emotion are necessary in human life. Through the experiences of Elinor and Marianne, she shows how people can become mature by learning from love, disappointment and suffering.

Main Discussion

At the beginning of the novel, the Dashwood family has to leave Norland Park after the death of Mr. Dashwood. The family moves to Barton Cottage in Devon. This change in their financial and social position becomes important to the lives of the sisters.

Elinor Dashwood is the elder sister and represents sense. She is calm, practical and responsible. She thinks about her family before thinking about herself. Even when she is suffering, she usually does not show her feelings openly.

Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars. However, she later discovers that Edward is secretly engaged to Lucy Steele. This causes great pain to Elinor, but she does not create a public scene. She tries to control herself and continues to behave responsibly.

In contrast, Marianne Dashwood is emotional and romantic. She strongly believes in love and expresses her feelings openly. She loves poetry, music and nature. She quickly becomes attracted to John Willoughby, because she thinks that he shares her romantic ideas.

Marianne believes that true love should be completely emotional and sincere. She therefore trusts Willoughby deeply. However, Willoughby suddenly leaves her and later becomes engaged to another wealthy woman. Marianne is deeply hurt by this experience.

The difference between the sisters can be clearly seen in the way they deal with suffering. Elinor keeps her pain inside, while Marianne openly expresses her sadness. The Jane Austen Society also describes this contrast by noting that Elinor keeps her misery to herself while Marianne allows herself to experience her grief openly.

Marianne's experience with Willoughby teaches her an important lesson. She understands that strong feelings alone are not enough to judge a person's character. She slowly becomes more mature and learns the value of self-control.

Elinor also learns something. Although she is sensible and controlled, she suffers because she does not express her feelings easily. Therefore, Austen does not show Elinor as completely perfect. Both sisters have weaknesses as well as strengths.

Another important character is Colonel Brandon. He genuinely cares for Marianne and is patient with her. At first, Marianne does not appreciate him because he does not fit her romantic idea of an ideal lover. Later, she understands his good character and maturity.

The novel also deals with marriage and the position of women in society. The Dashwood sisters do not have complete financial independence, so marriage is connected with security and social position. Austen uses their relationships to show that a successful marriage should involve respect, understanding and good character, not only romantic attraction.

By the end of the novel, both sisters have changed. Marianne becomes more sensible and learns to control her emotions. Elinor continues to be sensible but is finally able to express her love and feelings more openly.

Sense and Sensibility

The title of the novel itself represents the two sisters. Elinor is mainly associated with sense, while Marianne is mainly associated with sensibility. Elinor thinks before acting, while Marianne often acts according to her feelings.

However, Austen finally suggests that a person should not live entirely by one quality. Too much emotion can lead to disappointment, but too much self-control can also cause suffering.

Conclusion

To conclude, Sense and Sensibility is a novel about the relationship between reason and emotion. Elinor and Marianne are different, but both learn important lessons through their experiences.

Marianne learns that emotions must be controlled by understanding and judgment. Elinor learns that feelings should not always be hidden. Therefore, Austen suggests that the best life is achieved through a balance between sense and sensibility.

The development of the two sisters makes the novel meaningful because they do not remain the same people they were at the beginning. Their experiences with love, disappointment and society help them become wiser and more mature.

Home Assignment 

Question 2

Discuss Nora’s character in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. How does Nora change from the beginning to the end of the play?

Answer

Introduction

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is a famous modern drama. The main character of the play is Nora Helmer, who is married to Torvald Helmer. At the beginning, Nora appears to be a happy wife and mother. She lives comfortably with Torvald and their children.

However, as the play develops, we discover that Nora has a secret. Years earlier, when Torvald was seriously ill, Nora borrowed money to take him to Italy for treatment. She secretly arranged the loan and forged her father’s signature. The person who knows about this secret is Nils Krogstad.

Nora at the Beginning

At the beginning of the play, Nora appears cheerful and almost childlike. Torvald uses affectionate but patronising names for her and controls aspects of her life, including money.

Nora seems to accept this behaviour. She plays the role of the obedient wife because that is what her society and marriage expect from her.

However, the audience soon discovers that Nora is much stronger and more capable than Torvald thinks.

Nora’s Secret

Nora borrowed money because Torvald had been seriously ill and needed to travel to Italy for his health. She secretly worked and saved money to repay the loan.

She is proud of this because she believes she made a sacrifice for her husband.

However, Krogstad discovers that Nora forged her father's signature on the loan document. When Torvald decides to dismiss Krogstad from the bank, Krogstad threatens Nora with exposing her secret.

This creates the main conflict of the play.

Nora and Krogstad

Nora tries to convince Torvald not to dismiss Krogstad, but Torvald refuses.

Krogstad eventually places a letter in Torvald's letterbox explaining Nora's secret. Nora becomes extremely frightened because she believes that once Torvald discovers the truth, he will protect her.

She expects Torvald to perform what she calls a kind of “miracle” and take responsibility for what she did.

The Tarantella Scene

The tarantella scene is one of the important scenes in the play. Nora is extremely nervous because Krogstad's letter is in the letterbox.

She asks Torvald to help her practise the tarantella for the costume party. She dances with great energy because she is trying to distract him from the letter.

The dance also reflects her inner mental condition. Outside, she is performing for Torvald; inside, she is frightened about what will happen.

Torvald Learns the Truth

After the party, Torvald finally reads Krogstad's letter.

Nora expects him to understand that she borrowed the money because she wanted to save his life. Instead, Torvald becomes angry. He is mainly concerned about his reputation and social position.

He calls Nora dishonest and says that she is unfit to raise their children.

This is the most important turning point in Nora's life.

She realizes that Torvald is not the man she thought he was. She had believed that he would sacrifice himself to protect her, but he is more concerned about himself.

Nora’s Awakening

After Torvald's reaction, Nora becomes calm and serious.

She tells Torvald that she has always been treated like a doll. First, her father treated her as his doll, and later Torvald treated her as his doll.

She realizes that she has spent her life obeying other people's expectations instead of discovering who she really is.

This is why the title A Doll’s House is important. The Helmer home looks comfortable, but Nora feels that she has been living like a doll inside it.

Nora Leaves

Krogstad later returns Nora's document, so Torvald is no longer in danger from the secret. Torvald immediately becomes happy again and says that he forgives Nora.

But Nora has already changed.

She understands that Torvald's reaction has shown her the truth about their marriage. She tells him that they have never truly understood one another.

Nora decides to leave the house. She wants to discover herself and become an independent person.

She leaves behind Torvald, her home and her children.

The original ending of the play is the famous closing of the door behind Nora. This is not an invented ending; it is the original ending of Ibsen's play.

Nora as a Symbol of Freedom

Nora's character represents the search for identity and independence.

At first, she is dependent on Torvald and follows the role expected of her. By the end, she makes her own decision.

Her decision is difficult because she leaves not only her husband but also her children. However, Nora believes that she first needs to understand herself before she can properly live as a wife or mother.

Conclusion

To conclude, Nora changes greatly during A Doll’s House. At the beginning she appears to be a cheerful and dependent wife. Later, her secret and Torvald's reaction make her understand the reality of her marriage.

The most important change is that Nora begins to think for herself. She realizes that she has been treated like a doll and decides to leave the house to discover her own identity.

Therefore, Nora's final decision represents her search for freedom, self-respect, equality and self-knowledge. The ending, with Nora leaving and the door closing behind her, makes her transformation complete.

Question 3

Discuss the theme of struggle and determination in Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. How does Santiago face difficulties and defeat?

Answer

Introduction

Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is a famous novella published in 1952. It tells the story of Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, and his struggle to catch a huge marlin.

At the beginning, Santiago has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish. People consider him unlucky. His young friend Manolin still respects him and cares for him, although the boy has been made to fish on another boat by his parents.

Santiago does not accept his bad luck as a permanent defeat. On the eighty-fifth day, he goes far into the sea.

Santiago’s Determination

Santiago's greatest quality is his determination.

Although he is old and has experienced many unsuccessful days, he continues to fish. He decides to go farther into the sea than usual.

This shows that Santiago refuses to allow failure to control his life.

His physical body is old, but his mind remains strong.

The Giant Marlin

Santiago finally catches a huge marlin.

The fish is extremely powerful and begins pulling Santiago's small boat through the sea. Santiago cannot immediately bring the fish into the boat.

For a long time, he holds the fishing line and struggles with the marlin.

He becomes tired and his hands are injured, but he does not give up.

The struggle between Santiago and the marlin becomes the central struggle of the novella.

Santiago Respects the Marlin

Santiago does not simply see the marlin as an enemy.

He respects its strength and beauty. He considers the fish a worthy opponent.

This is important because Santiago's relationship with nature is based on both struggle and respect.

He knows that the sea can provide life, but he also knows that nature can be dangerous.

Physical Pain and Suffering

Santiago suffers greatly during his struggle.

His hands are injured, his body becomes weak and he becomes exhausted.

He is also alone in the sea.

Even though he suffers physically, he continues fighting.

This shows that courage does not mean that a person never experiences pain. Santiago is courageous because he continues despite his pain.

Santiago Finally Kills the Marlin

After a long struggle, the marlin becomes tired and begins to circle the boat.

Santiago gathers his remaining strength and kills the fish with his harpoon.

The marlin is extremely large, and Santiago ties it to the side of his small boat.

For a moment, Santiago has achieved what he wanted.

However, his struggle is not finished.

The Sharks Attack

The blood of the marlin attracts sharks.

The first major shark attacks the marlin, and Santiago fights it with his harpoon. He kills the shark, but he loses his harpoon in the struggle.

More sharks arrive.

Santiago makes a weapon by attaching his knife to an oar and continues fighting. Later, he uses other things available in the boat to defend the marlin.

He kills several sharks, but there are too many.

Eventually, the sharks eat most of the marlin's flesh and leave only its skeleton, head and tail.

Physical Defeat and Spiritual Victory

At first, it may appear that Santiago has failed.

He worked extremely hard to catch the marlin, but the sharks destroy the valuable meat.

He returns to shore with only the skeleton.

But Santiago is not spiritually defeated.

He has proved his courage, patience and determination.

This is the central message of the novella: a person may suffer physical defeat without being defeated in spirit.

Manolin and Santiago

Manolin is very important in Santiago's life.

The boy respects the old fisherman and continues to care about him even when others think Santiago is unlucky.

When Santiago returns exhausted, Manolin becomes emotional and takes care of him.

The two agree that they will fish together again.

This ending shows that Santiago still has hope.

Santiago’s Dream

At the end, Santiago sleeps and dreams about lions on the beaches of Africa.

The dream is connected with his youth and strength.

It gives the ending a feeling of hope. Santiago may be physically exhausted, but his inner spirit remains alive.

Santiago as a Symbol

Santiago can be understood as a symbol of human courage.

His struggle represents the difficulties that people face in life.

Everyone experiences failure, pain and disappointment. Santiago teaches us that the important thing is not only whether we win or lose, but how we face the struggle.

He does not surrender even when the situation becomes almost impossible.

Conclusion

To conclude, The Old Man and the Sea is a powerful story of struggle, courage, patience and determination.

Santiago faces old age, loneliness, physical pain, the powerful marlin and finally the sharks. He loses most of the material reward of his great catch, but he does not lose his dignity.

Therefore, Santiago's story shows that physical defeat is not necessarily spiritual defeat.

His greatest victory is not simply catching the marlin. His greatest victory is that he continues to fight until he has no more strength left.

Through Santiago, Hemingway gives the message that human beings can face suffering and failure with courage, patience and dignity.antiago can be understood as a symbol of human courage.

His struggle represents the difficulties that people face in life.

Everyone experiences failure, pain and disappointment. Santiago teaches us that the important thing is not only whether we win or lose, but how we face the struggle.

He does not surrender even when the situation becomes almost impossible.

Conclusion

To conclude, The Old Man and the Sea is a powerful story of struggle, courage, patience and determination.

Santiago faces old age, loneliness, physical pain, the powerful marlin and finally the sharks. He loses most of the material reward of his great catch, but he does not lose his dignity.

Therefore, Santiago's story shows that physical defeat is not necessarily spiritual defeat.

His greatest victory is not simply catching the marlin. His greatest victory is that he continues to fight until he has no more strength left.

Through Santiago, Hemingway gives the message that human beings can face suffering and failure with courage, patience and dignity.