Summary of literary texts and key concepts of literature

  ‘Natural Selection and Sexual Selection’ in The Descent of   Man by Charles Darwin   About the Author: Charles Robert Darwin, FRS FRGS FLS FZS (born February 12, 1809, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England—died April 19, 1882, Downe, Kent),   was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, famous for his contributions to the theory of evolution by natural selection. The English naturalist’s scientific theory of evolution by natural selection became the foundation of modern evolutionary studies. His proposition that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors is now widely accepted, and considered a foundational concept in science Summary of the Introduction of ‘Natural Selection and Sexual Selection’ in The Descent of   Man   Charles Darwin observed the distribution of the inhabitants of South America to scrutinize the geographical relations of the past and present inhabitants of the continent. To study the origin of those species, he accumulated da

  In Samuel Richardson’s novels, a moral intention has been glaringly evident, where his imaginary characters frequently escaped strict schemata. His novels speak volumes of complacent and calculating middle class morality. In his notable work, Pamela or Virtue Rewarded, the protagonist reaps the dividends of her virtuous nature by marrying an affluent nobleman.   In Christianity, virtue is fundamental to Christian ethics. There are seven types of virtues, consisting of the four “natural” virtues, those inculcated in the old pagan world that spring from the common endowment of humanity, and the three “theological” virtues,   specifically prescribed in the Christianity   emblem of special gifts from God. Virtue is defined as “conformity of life and conduct with the principles of morality.” The virtues are the positive attitudes and habits adopted in obedience to moral principles. They are conventionally seven in number, each as a counterpart to the seven deadly sins. In Pamela,

About the poet: Henry Louis Vivian Derozio  (18 April 1809 – 26 December 1831) was an Indian  teacher  and assistant headmaster of Hindu College, situated in Kolkata,  a radical thinker who played crucial role in the Renaissance of Bengal and one of the first Indian educators to introduce Western learning and science among the young men of  Bengal . He was witnessing the tyranny of slavery, prevailing in the colonial India, part of which he adroitly reflected in the poem. About the poem: In this poem, the poet-persona expresses his notion of the true value of freedom to a slave. Only when human beings are free from the shackles of slavery, they can perceive the aesthetic aspects of life and human existence. To a slave, freedom is the feeling of being treated with the dignity that a man truly deserves. The poet persona imagines how the slave will feel, when he will be informed that he is no longer a slave. Receiving the news of his newly acquired freedom, his heart beats proudl

About the poet: William Shakespeare   (1564 -1616)   was an English poet, playwright and actor,considered the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist.   He is often called the national poet of England  , mostly known as the "Bard of Avon".   His oeuvre, including   collaborative projects , consist of nearly   39 plays ,154 sonnets   , two long   narrative poems , and a few other verses, some of dubious authorship. His plays have been translated into almost every major language. . About the Poem: " The quality of mercy " is a quote by     Portia   in  Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice ,  occurs during Act 4, Scene 1, set in a Venetian Court of Justice. It is the famous speech where Portia begs   Shylock   for having mercy on the Merchant. The speech is regarded as one of the greatest speeches in Shakespeare’s entire   literary works. Summary: Th e speaker (Portia) justifies the fact that the quality of mercy i

  In India, the Bhakti and Sufi Movement started to spread during the medieval age. Needless to say,  they involved and utilized a diverse range of expression. Both movements dissociate themselves from the shackles of organized religious, rigid traditions and strike a note of protest against the hypocrisy and orthodoxy of Brahman pundits and Moulvis in their poetry and songs. “Unity of being” and unconditional love between God and the worshiper were the key concepts in the movements. The fundamental equality of all human beings irrespective of the racial or gender discrimination made these movements truly revolutionary for their times. The movement was against the Brahmanic authority, against temples and priests and scholars and fossilized customs. Mahadeviyakka, the poetess and saint, who was born in Sivamogga in the twelfth century expressed her strong desire to release herself from all earthly bonds and exerted to reveal the ambiguity of her complicated relationship with the w

The short story How Much Land Does a Man Need? begins with the conversation of two sisters on the advantages of the life of town. The elder sister who is married to an affluent tradesman and enjoys the luxuries and diversions of the city life came to pay a visit to her sister who is married to a peasant in the village. When they are having tea, the elder sister starts to brag about her comfortable life. She brags about the expensive attires she and her children wear, the delicacies they have in their meal and how thrilled she is to have diversions like theatres and promenades. Being piqued, the younger sister defends the blissful life of a peasant. She affirms that she would never exchange the way of her life with her for anything .Disparaging the life of a tradesman, she argued that they may live a life full of hardship, but they are free from anxiety. Her sister may live an opulent life now, but gain and loss are the two sides of the same coin. Therefore, if they lose all their w

About the poet: William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), the national poet of the Republic of Ireland, was one of the finest poets of the twentieth century. He was a lyric poet, a mystic, a mythologist all at the same time. He was a poet with a distinctive form of prophetic vision and a unique political ideology. Born in Dublin, Ireland, the poet was immensely influenced by the Irish heritage, contemporary politics and nationalism. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923.   The poem, The Wild Swans at Coole , is an ideal expression of the serene beauty of Coole Park accompanied with a drastic undercurrent nostalgia .It explores the relation between man and nature. The themes of decay and mortality have been juxtaposed with the images of tranquility, beauty and the unvarying circle of the flying swans. The swans symbolize eternal youth, love and permanence in the world of decay and dejection. Summary of the poem: The foliage of the deciduous trees is having the utmost