Indian English Literatures — DU B. A. (Hons) English Previous Year Question Papers

(b) Analyze the story "The Intrusion" as an Indian woman's quest/search for identity. 6. (a) Are women's possibilities in life curbed or controlled by the doings of men? Examine with close reference to the prescribed Mamang Dai poem. (b) Kolatkar's "The Bus" suggests the existence of at least two different possibilities for the journey we are on as a nation. What are these two destinations? Discuss with close reference to the poem. 7. (a) Does Indian English Literature engage with the issue of cultural alienation of the individual in the contemporary world? Elaborate with reference to any two texts. (b) How do the categories of class/ caste/ religion shape identity in India? Discuss with reference to any text studied in the syllabus. 2. This paper consists of two parts, Part A and Part B. Candidates have to answer all questions from Part A and any three questions from Part B. 4. Questions in Part A carry 10 marks each and questions in Part B carry 20 marks each. 1. (a) Does Vikram Seth consider Haresh a suitable boy for Lata or does he portray her decision to marry him as a compromise? (b) After the communal clash between the Ram Lila gathering and the Muharram procession Seth narrates how Eiroze is rescued and saved by Maan and Veena. Analyse the significance of the narrative of the rescue of Firoze. 2. (a) "Finally it was the shock in Thapa's eyes that raised Jago Antia from the stupor he had fallen into." Write a note on the role played by Thapa in the life of the protagonist Jago Antia. (b) Write a note on the title character in the story "The Courter." 3. (a) How is the grandmother's house a source of refuge and strength for the narrator in Kamala Das's poem? (b) Discuss the use of humour and Indian-English^ expressions in "Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.". How does Ezekiel use these elements to convey the personalities of the characters? 4. (a) How does Vikram Seth use the story of Rasheed and Kaccheru to show the difficulties in implementing the Zamindari Abolition Bill in a country that was structured on feudalism and caste? (b) Vikram Seth portrays several strong, independent women in the novel such as Begum Abida, Saceda Bai, Malati, and to some extent, Lata. Using some of these women as an example, write an essay on the significance of the portrayal of these strong women in the newly independent India of the 1950s. 5. (a) Mistry explores the theme of migration in his story "Swimming Lessons" with sensitivity and compassion. Do you agree? Discuss with textual examples.