Individual and Society — DU B. A. (Hons) English Previous Year Question Papers

3. Candidates have to answer ALL the questions in Part A and ANY THREE questions in Part B. Questions in Part A carry 10 marks each and questions in Part B carry 20 marks each. 1. (a) Discuss the irony that comprises the end of Premchand's "Deliverance". (b) Analyze the character of Kallu as a representation of marginalized childhood in Ismat Chughtai's story "Kallu". 2. (a) General, man is very useful, he can fly and he can kill but it has one defect: he can think. (i) Contextualize the lines stated above. (2) (i) What is the intention of the poet when he attributes certain activities to men? (4) (iii) Why is thinking labelled as a defect by the poet? (4) (b) Analyse The Dog of Tetwal by Manto as a critique of war and violence. 3. (a) In what ways does the shift in media attitude toward Tiwari's editorial reveal the nature of modem journalism in Sen's "Zero-Sum Game"? (b) Why do the immigrants in Divakaruni's poem "Indian Movie, New Jersey" still talk about their wish "to retire to India"? What does that reveal about them? (a) Discuss how Omprakash Valmiki's story "Joothan" exposes the internalization of caste oppression through everyday practices and language. Give relevant textual examples to support your argument. (b) Critically analyse how Hira Bansode's short poem "Bosom Friend" exposes the illusion of equality within friendship. Discuss how everyday gestures and interactions uncover these deep-rooted social hierarchies. 5. (a) Discuss the title of Edna St Vincent Millay's poem "Conscientious Objector". Compare it with Sassoon's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est". (b) In Sassoon's 'Return from the Somme', the movement of nature and man coincides with the contrast painted in terms of peace and war and makes it painful and aesthetic at the same time. Elaborate. 6. (a) Discuss the ethical concerns raised in "The Brand Expands" regarding corporate power. (b) With reference to "Colombe", evaluate how Brathwaite redefines the idea of 7. (a) Discuss the theme of alienation, memory and the search for belonging as represented in any two readings from your course. (b) Compare and contrast the juxtaposition of 'nature' and 'violence' by any two writers from your course.