IGNOU BEGC-110 - British Literature: 19th Century

Section A Q.I Explain the following lines with reference to context: (i) This is my son, mine own Telemachus, To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle,— Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil This labour, by slow prudence to make mild A rugged people, and thro' soft degrees Subdue them to the useful and the good. (ii) A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch And blue spurt of a lighted match, And a voice less loud, thro’ its joys and fears, Than the two hearts beating each to each! (iii) This said, he left them, and return'd no more.— But rumours hung about the country-side, That the lost Scholar long was seen to stray, Seen by rare glimpses, pensive and tongue-tied, In hat of antique shape, and cloak of grey, The same the gypsies wore. (iv) One may lead a horse to water, Twenty cannot make him drink. Though the goblins cuffed and caught her, Coaxed and fought her, Bullied and besought her, Scratched her, pinched her black as ink,’ Kicked and knocked her, Mauled and mocked her, Lizzie uttered not a word. Section B Q. II Answer the following questions in about 300 words each: 1. Attempt a character sketch of Lucie as seen in A Tale of Two Cities. 2. Write a short note on The Mayor of Casterbridge as a tragedy. 3. Attempt a critical analysis of the poem “Ulysses.” 4. Give the central idea of the poem “Dover Beach.” Section C Q. III Answer the following questions in about 500 words each: 1. Write a detailed note on how Dickens has represented the French revolution in A Tale of Two Cities. 2. What role does Fate or Chance play in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge? 3. Write a critical analysis of the poem “My Last Duchess.” 4. Write a detailed commentary on the deeper connotation of the poem “Goblin Market.”

Section A Q.I Explain with reference to context the following lines: (i) There she weaves by night and day A magic web with colours gay. She has heard a whisper say, A curse is on her if she stay To look down to Camelot (ii) She had a heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad, Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere. (iii) The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits; on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. (iv) Backwards up the mossy glen Turn'd and troop'd the goblin men, With their shrill repeated cry, "Come buy, come buy." Section B Q. II Answer the following questions in about 300 words each: 1. What role does Madame Defarge play in the novel A Tale of Two Cities? 2. Attempt a character sketch of Susan Henchard from the novel A Mayor of Casterbridge. 3. Critically analyse the passage from ‘The Lotos - Eaters’. 4. Attempt a critical analysis of the poem ‘Pied Beauty’. Section C Q. III Answer the following questions in about 600 words each: 1. Write a detailed note on Henchard’s decline and downfall in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge. 2. Write a detailed note on the revolutionaries in A Tale of Two Cities. 3. Attempt a critical summary of the poem ‘Prospice.’ 4. Discuss the surface as well as the deeper meaning of the poem ‘Goblin Market’.