Suggestion of MJC 12 2026 ,Bankura University,

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Suggestion of MJC 12 2026: British Literature Post World War II (A/ENG/504/MJC-12)

UNIT I: The Novel

1. Kazuo Ishiguro: The Remains of the Day

Long Questions (10 Marks)

  1. Discuss the theme of "dignity" as interpreted by Stevens. How does it lead to his self-deception?
  2. Analyze Stevens as an unreliable narrator. How does Ishiguro reveal the truth behind Stevens' narration?
  3. Examine the relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton. Why is their romance unfulfilled?
  4. Discuss the political backdrop of the novel, specifically Lord Darlington’s involvement in the appeasement of Nazi Germany.
  5. "The novel is a study of the decline of the British aristocracy." Discuss with reference to Darlington Hall.
  6. Comment on the significance of the title The Remains of the Day. What metaphorical meaning does it hold?

Short Questions (2 Marks)

  1. Who is the employer of Stevens at the beginning of the novel?
  2. What is the name of the book Stevens reads to understand "bantering"?
  3. Who is Mr. Lewis?
  4. Why does Stevens deny knowing Lord Darlington to the American guest?
  5. What happens to Stevens' father during the conference?
  6. Where does Miss Kenton move after leaving Darlington Hall?
  7. What car does Stevens drive on his road trip?
  8. Who are the "Jewish maids" mentioned in the text?
  9. What is the Hayes Society?
  10. What does Stevens consider the defining quality of a "great butler"?
  11. Who is Mr. Cardinal?
  12. In which year was the novel published?
  13. What is the significance of the "chinaman" ornament?
  14. Where do Stevens and Miss Kenton finally meet?
  15. How does the novel end?

2. Douglas Adams: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Long Questions (10 Marks)

  1. Discuss The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as a satire on bureaucracy and modern life.
  2. Analyze the character of Arthur Dent as the quintessential "everyman" in an absurd universe.
  3. "Science Fiction is used here for comedy, not prediction." Discuss Adams' use of sci-fi tropes.
  4. Comment on the theme of "The Meaning of Life" and the significance of the number 42.
  5. Compare and contrast the characters of Ford Prefect and Zaphod Beeblebrox.
  6. Discuss the role of the "Guide" itself as a narrative device and a character.

Short Questions (2 Marks)

  1. Why are the Vogons destroying Earth?
  2. What is the Babel Fish?
  3. Who is Slartibartfast?
  4. What is the "Heart of Gold"?
  5. What item does a hitchhiker always need to carry?
  6. Who is Marvin?
  7. What is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything?
  8. Who are the mice in the story?
  9. What is Vogon poetry known for?
  10. Who is Trillian?
  11. What is the Improbability Drive?
  12. From which planet does Ford Prefect actually come?
  13. What was the supercomputer Deep Thought built to do?
  14. How does Arthur Dent escape Earth?
  15. What happens to the whale that falls from the sky?

UNIT II: Poetry

3. Philip Larkin: "An Arundel Tomb" & "Aubade"

Long Questions (10 Marks)

  1. "What will survive of us is love." Discuss the irony and validity of this statement in "An Arundel Tomb".
  2. Analyze "An Arundel Tomb" as a meditation on time, art, and truth.
  3. Discuss the theme of the fear of death in Larkin's "Aubade".
  4. How does "Aubade" reject religion and philosophy as comforts against death?
  5. Compare the tone of "An Arundel Tomb" with "Aubade". Which is more pessimistic?
  6. Critically appreciate Larkin’s use of imagery in describing the earl and countess in "An Arundel Tomb".

Short Questions (2 Marks)

  1. Where is the Arundel Tomb located?
  2. What detail of the statues does the poet focus on at the end of "An Arundel Tomb"?
  3. What does "supine" mean in the context of the poem?
  4. In "Aubade", at what time does the poet wake up?
  5. What does the poet mean by "the anaesthetic from which none come round"?
  6. How does Larkin describe religion in "Aubade"?
  7. What is the "curtain-edge" signifying in "Aubade"?
  8. How long have the statues been lying there in "An Arundel Tomb"?
  9. What dogs are mentioned in "An Arundel Tomb"?
  10. What is the "unresting death" in "Aubade"?
  11. Does Larkin believe love is stronger than death?
  12. What is the rhyme scheme of "An Arundel Tomb"?
  13. What does "Aubade" mean literally?
  14. What is the "postman" like in "Aubade"?
  15. Which collection does "An Arundel Tomb" belong to?

4. Ted Hughes: "Hawk Roosting" & "The Thought Fox"

Long Questions (10 Marks)

  1. Discuss "Hawk Roosting" as a poem about absolute power and tyranny.
  2. "The hawk is a symbol of nature’s ruthlessness." Elucidate.
  3. Analyze the creative process as depicted in "The Thought Fox".
  4. Compare the animal imagery in "Hawk Roosting" and "The Thought Fox".
  5. Discuss the personification of the hawk. Does it represent a fascist dictator?
  6. How does the "fox" metaphorically enter the poet’s head in "The Thought Fox"?

Short Questions (2 Marks)

  1. What does the hawk do in his sleep?
  2. What does "rehearse perfect kills and eat" imply?
  3. Why does the hawk say "No arguments assert my right"?
  4. What is the "creation" mentioned in "Hawk Roosting"?
  5. In "The Thought Fox", what time of day is it?
  6. What is the "blank page" waiting for?
  7. How are the fox’s eyes described?
  8. What does the "clock's loneliness" mean?
  9. Who is the speaker in "Hawk Roosting"?
  10. What does the hawk hold in its foot?
  11. Does the hawk intend to change things?
  12. What scent is associated with the fox?
  13. How does "The Thought Fox" end?
  14. What collection is "The Thought Fox" from?
  15. Is the hawk civilized or savage?

5. Seamus Heaney: "Bogland" & "Punishment"

Long Questions (10 Marks)

  1. Discuss "Bogland" as a poem that defines the Irish landscape and memory.
  2. How does Heaney compare the Irish "Bogland" with the American "Prairie"?
  3. Analyze the theme of voyeurism and guilt in "Punishment".
  4. "I who have stood dumb." Discuss the poet's internal conflict regarding political violence in "Punishment".
  5. Examine the "Bog Body" motif in Heaney’s poetry with reference to these two poems.
  6. Critically appreciate the connection between the past and the present in Heaney's work.

Short Questions (2 Marks)

  1. What is the "Great Irish Elk"?
  2. What preserves the history in "Bogland"?
  3. Why does Heaney say "We have no prairies"?
  4. Who is the "Little adulteress" in "Punishment"?
  5. What was the girl's punishment in the poem?
  6. What does the poet mean by "artful voyeur"?
  7. How was the girl killed in "Punishment"?
  8. What does "connive in civilized outrage" mean?
  9. What is "butter" doing in the bog?
  10. What does the "cyclops' eye" refer to?
  11. Is the poet sympathetic to the tribal revenge?
  12. What color is the skeleton of the Elk?
  13. What is the "betraying sisters" reference?
  14. What does "bottomless" imply in "Bogland"?
  15. From which collection is "Punishment" taken?

6. Carol Ann Duffy: "Text" & "Originally"

Long Questions (10 Marks)

  1. Discuss the theme of modern communication and isolation in "Text".
  2. "Originally" is a poem about the trauma of migration and loss of identity. Discuss.
  3. Analyze the metaphor of the "red room" in "Originally".
  4. How does Duffy portray the fragility of relationships in the digital age in "Text"?
  5. Discuss the question of "Where do you come from?" in the context of "Originally".
  6. Compare the personal tone in "Text" with the autobiographical tone in "Originally".

Short Questions (2 Marks)

  1. What is the "red room" in "Originally"?
  2. What did the brothers swallow in "Originally"?
  3. What accent does the speaker lose in "Originally"?
  4. What is the "skelf of shame"?
  5. In "Text", what replaces face-to-face communication?
  6. What images of text messages does Duffy use (birds/flowers)?
  7. Why does the speaker say "I tend the mobile now like an injured bird"?
  8. Who is "Mrs. Midas" (if relevant to her style)? (Stick to text: Who is the "you" in Text?)
  9. What river is mentioned in "Originally"?
  10. What does "All childhood is an emigration" mean?
  11. Is the relationship in "Text" secure or insecure?
  12. What does the speaker check frequently in "Text"?
  13. How does the speaker feel about the move in "Originally"?
  14. What is the significance of the "codes" in "Text"?
  15. How does "Originally" end?

UNIT III: History of English Literature (Post 1950s)

7. Post-1950s Novelists (Carter, Swift, Fowles, Byatt, Burgess)

Long Questions (10 Marks)

  1. Discuss Angela Carter’s contribution to magic realism and feminist literature.
  2. Analyze the significance of history and storytelling in Graham Swift’s Waterland.
  3. Evaluate John Fowles as a postmodern novelist with reference to The French Lieutenant's Woman.
  4. Discuss A.S. Byatt’s neo-Victorian style and her contribution to the novel form.
  5. Critically examine the dystopian vision in Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange.
  6. Discuss the "Campus Novel" tradition with reference to Malcolm Bradbury.

Short Questions (2 Marks)

  1. Name one famous novel by Angela Carter.
  2. What is the setting of Graham Swift’s Waterland?
  3. Who wrote Possession?
  4. What is "Nadsat" language in A Clockwork Orange?
  5. Who is the protagonist of The French Lieutenant's Woman?
  6. Name a "Campus Novel" by Malcolm Bradbury.
  7. What genre is Angela Carter best known for?
  8. In which year was Waterland published?
  9. Who wrote The Magus?
  10. What is the central theme of A Clockwork Orange?
  11. Who is Tom Crick in Waterland?
  12. Name the Booker Prize-winning novel by A.S. Byatt.
  13. What is "Historiographic Metafiction"?
  14. Who wrote The Bloody Chamber?
  15. What is the "History Man"?

8. Features of Post-1950s British Poetry

Long Questions (10 Marks)

  1. Discuss the main features of "The Movement" poets with special reference to Philip Larkin.
  2. Analyze the shift from modernism to postmodernism in British poetry after 1950.
  3. Discuss the influence of violence and nature in the poetry of Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney.
  4. Write a critical essay on the rise of female voices in Post-War British poetry (Duffy, Adcock, etc.).
  5. Discuss the reaction against the "New Apocalypse" poets by the Movement.
  6. Examine the theme of domesticity and realism in Post-1950s British poetry.

Short Questions (2 Marks)

  1. Name two poets associated with "The Movement".
  2. What was the anthology New Lines?
  3. Who edited New Lines?
  4. Who was the Poet Laureate after John Betjeman?
  5. Define "Kitchen Sink Realism" in the context of the era.
  6. Who wrote The Whitsun Weddings?
  7. What is "Martian Poetry"?
  8. Name a contemporary of Seamus Heaney.
  9. What is the "Group" in post-war poetry?
  10. Who wrote Crow?
  11. Name one female Poet Laureate of the UK.
  12. What is the main characteristic of Larkin's poetry style?
  13. Who wrote Station Island?
  14. What decade is associated with the rise of "The Movement"?
  15. Who wrote High Windows?
PKG SIR'S NOTE:

History of English Literature: Post 1950s British Literature

Key Writers & Figures of the Age

This era is defined by the shift from Modernism to Postmodernism, the "Angry Young Men" movement, and the rise of multicultural voices. Based on your syllabus, here are the key figures you must know:

  • The Novelists (Syllabus Focus):
    • Angela Carter: Known for Magic Realism and Feminist re-writing of fairy tales (The Bloody Chamber, Nights at the Circus).
    • Graham Swift: Known for Historiographic Metafiction (Waterland, Last Orders).
    • John Fowles: A major Postmodernist (The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Magus).
    • A.S. Byatt: Known for Neo-Victorian styles and intertextuality (Possession).
    • Anthony Burgess: Known for Dystopian fiction and linguistic experimentation (A Clockwork Orange).
    • Malcolm Bradbury: Known for the "Campus Novel" genre (The History Man).
  • The Poets (The Movement & After):
    • Philip Larkin: The leading figure of "The Movement" (Anti-romantic, realistic).
    • Ted Hughes: Nature, violence, and animal imagery.
    • Seamus Heaney: Bog poems, Irish identity, and memory.
  • The Dramatists (Contextual):
    • Samuel Beckett: Theatre of the Absurd (Waiting for Godot).
    • John Osborne: "Angry Young Men" movement (Look Back in Anger).
    • Harold Pinter: Comedy of Menace (The Birthday Party).

Important Long Questions (10 Marks)

Topic 1: Post-War British Novel & Novelists

  1. Angela Carter & Magic Realism: "Angela Carter’s fiction deconstructs traditional myths to empower women." Discuss her contribution to the feminist novel with reference to Magic Realism.
  2. John Fowles & Postmodernism: Evaluate John Fowles as a postmodern novelist. How does he break the illusion of reality in works like The French Lieutenant's Woman?
  3. Graham Swift & History: "History is a yarn." Discuss the treatment of history and memory in the novels of Graham Swift, with special reference to Waterland.
  4. A.S. Byatt & Neo-Victorianism: Discuss A.S. Byatt’s contribution to the contemporary British novel, focusing on her use of Victorian themes and scholarship (Neo-Victorian fiction).
  5. Anthony Burgess & Dystopia: Analyze Anthony Burgess’s vision of the future. How does he address the issues of free will and state control in A Clockwork Orange?
  6. Malcolm Bradbury & The Campus Novel: Write a critical note on the "Campus Novel" as a satiric genre in post-war literature, with reference to Malcolm Bradbury.
  7. The Angry Young Men: Discuss the significance of the "Angry Young Men" movement in the 1950s British novel (referencing Kingsley Amis or Alan Sillitoe).

Topic 2: Post-1950s Poetry Trends

  1. The Movement: "The Movement was a reaction against the excesses of Modernism and Dylan Thomas." Discuss the main characteristics of The Movement poetry (Rationalism, Realism, Irony).
  2. Ted Hughes vs. Philip Larkin: Compare and contrast the poetic vision of Ted Hughes (Nature/Violence) with that of Philip Larkin (Urban/Pessimism).
  3. Seamus Heaney: Discuss Seamus Heaney as a poet of the "soil" and Irish history. How does he excavate the past in his poetry?
  4. Post-War British Poetry: Write an essay on the diversity of voices in British poetry after 1950, touching upon "The Movement," "The Group," and "Martian Poetry."

Topic 3: Drama (If included in History Section)

  1. Kitchen Sink Realism: Discuss the rise of "Kitchen Sink Realism" in post-war British drama.
  2. Theatre of the Absurd: Evaluate the impact of Samuel Beckett and the "Theatre of the Absurd" on British playwrights like Harold Pinter.
BY PKG SIR

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