Name: Varun English Guide Literary Movements 2 For MA 2nd Semester Paper 1 Panjab University Chandigarh
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Varun English Guide: Literary Movements 2 for M.A. 2nd Semester, Paper 1 (Panjab University, Chandigarh) by Dr. S. Nautiyal is an indispensable academic resource meticulously designed to align with the prescribed syllabus. Published by Varun Enterprises, this guide serves as a comprehensive companion for postgraduate students navigating the complex terrain of modern and contemporary literary theory. It provides a structured, in-depth, and critical exploration of the major shifts in European and British literature from realism to the contemporary debates on periodization.

This guide is strategically organized into five core units, each focusing on a pivotal literary movement: Realism, Modernism, Postmodernism, Postcolonialism, and the critical debate on periodization in literary history. The book’s primary objective is to bridge the gap between the student and the often-dense theoretical texts prescribed by Panjab University. It offers clear explanations, critical summaries, and analytical frameworks that are essential for both understanding the core concepts and excelling in examinations.

Unit I: Realism delves into the foundations of the novel as a form. The guide provides a detailed analysis of Ian Watt's seminal argument in "Realism and the Novel Form," which links the rise of the novel to the philosophical and social ethos of the middle class. Furthermore, it offers a critical commentary on Chapter 17 of George Eliot's Adam Bede, a quintessential example of realist fiction where Eliot herself articulates her aesthetic philosophy of representing ordinary life with fidelity and compassion.

Unit II: Modernism is unpacked through two key texts. The guide simplifies the comprehensive overview provided by Malcolm Bradbury and James McFarlane in their "Name and Nature of Modernism," helping students grasp the cultural, historical, and aesthetic ruptures that defined this movement. It also provides a line-by-line explanation of Ezra Pound's "A Few Don’ts by an Imagiste," a manifesto that crystallized the principles of Imagist poetry and, by extension, key aspects of Modernist poetics.

Unit III: Postmodernism tackles its inherently complex and theoretical nature. The guide demystifies Linda Hutcheon's concept of a "poetics of postmodernism" and her ideas on historiographic metafiction. It equally clarifies Ihab Hassan's seminal attempt to define the postmodern by contrasting it with modernism. To ground these theories in practice, a thorough analysis of Jorge Luis Borges' "The Library of Babel" is included, illustrating postmodern themes of infinite regression, paradox, and the unreliability of knowledge.

Unit IV: Postcolonialism focuses on the crucial debates surrounding literature and empire. The guide offers a concise summary and analysis of the foundational introduction from The Empire Writes Back by Ashcroft, Griffiths, and Tiffin, which established the scope and concerns of postcolonial studies. It also provides a critical engagement with Ngugi wa Thiong’o's powerful polemic, "The Language of African Literature," which argues for linguistic decolonization as a central project for African writers.

Unit V: Debating Periodization in History addresses a meta-critical concern in literary studies. This section helps students comprehend Ted Underwood's historical analysis of why periodization became a disciplinary norm and Eric Hayot's contemporary challenge to this very practice. The guide explains these complex arguments about "institutional time" and their implications for how we categorize literary history, a topic of high relevance in current academic discourse.

Have Doubts Regarding This Product ? Ask Your Question

Q1

Does this guide include the full text of the prescribed chapters and essays, like the one from Ian Watt's "The Rise of the Novel"?

A1

No, this is a critical guide and analysis. It provides detailed summaries, explanations, and commentary on the prescribed texts, but it does not reproduce the full, copyrighted texts themselves. You will need to access the original texts separately.
Q2

How does this guide help with the unit on "Debating Periodization," which seems very theoretical?

A2

The guide breaks down the complex arguments of Underwood and Hayot into digestible concepts, explaining the historical context of periodization and the contemporary criticisms against it, making this challenging unit more accessible for exam preparation.
Q3

Is the analysis of Borges' "The Library of Babel" connected to the theoretical texts by Hutcheon and Hassan in the Postmodernism unit?

A3

Yes, the guide explicitly links the themes in Borges' story—such as infinite play, paradox, and the structure of knowledge—to the broader theoretical frameworks of postmodernism outlined by Hutcheon and Hassan, providing a practical application of the theory.
Q4

Is this guide updated for the current academic year's syllabus at Panjab University?

A4

This guide is specifically crafted for the M.A. 2nd Semester, Paper 1 syllabus as prescribed by Panjab University, Chandigarh. It is always recommended to cross-check with the latest university syllabus bulletin.
Q5

How does the guide approach George Eliot's Adam Bede, as it only prescribes one chapter?

A5

The guide provides a detailed analysis of Chapter 17, where Eliot outlines her realist manifesto, and also gives essential context about the novel's plot and characters to help you understand how the chapter fits into the whole work.
Q6

Does it cover the "Suggested Readings" mentioned in the university syllabus?

A6

The guide focuses exclusively on the prescribed texts from all five units to provide deep, concentrated knowledge. The "Suggested Readings" are not covered, as per the university's directive that no questions will be set from them.
Q7

Is the language used in the guide suitable for students who find literary theory difficult?

A7

Absolutely. A key feature of this guide is its clear and student-friendly language, designed to demystify complex theoretical concepts and make them understandable for all levels of learners.
Q8

How does the guide help in understanding Ezra Pound's "A Few Don'ts," which is a poetic manifesto?

A8

The guide translates Pound's aphoristic and directive language into clear, explanatory prose, breaking down his advice for poets into key takeaways about Imagist and Modernist principles.
Q9

Is the postcolonial unit explained with a focus on both theory and application?

A9

Yes, the guide explains the theoretical framework of "The Empire Writes Back" and then shows how Ngugi wa Thiong’o's essay is a practical and political application of similar decolonizing principles.
Q10

Does the book include a summary of key points or keywords at the end of each unit for quick revision?

A10

The guide is structured to facilitate revision, with clear section headings and focused commentary that allows students to quickly recap the essential arguments and concepts from each theorist and text.

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UNIT 1 - Realism

1. Ian Watt: Realism and the Novel Form (The Rise of the Novel)

2. George Eliot, Adam Bede

UNIT 2 - Modernism

1. Malcolm Bradbury and James McFarlane: Introduction to Modernism: A Guide to European Literature (1890-1930)

2. Ezra Pound: A Few Don’ts by an Imagiste

UNIT 3 - Postmodernism

1. Linda Hutcheon: Theorizing the Postmodern: Toward a Poetics

2. Ihab Hassan: Toward a Concept of Postmodernism

3. Borges, Jorge Luis: The Library of Babel

UNIT 4 - Postcolonialism

1. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, Helen Tiffin: The Empire Writes Back

2. Ngugi wa Thiong’o: The Language of African Literature (Decolonizing the Mind)

UNIT 5 - Debating Periodization in History

1. Ted Underwood: The Disciplinary Rationale for Periodization and a Forgotten Challenge to It

2. Eric Hayot: Against Periodization or On Institutional Time

Latest Syllabus of English Guide Literary Movements 2 For MA 2nd Semester Paper 1 Panjab University (PU) Chandigarh

Semester II

Compulsory Papers:

Paper V

Literary Movements – II

Many distinct literary movements mark the journey of writing from ancient times to the very contemporary. The paper identifies some of the major literary movements.

that form the essential frame of reference for a critical engagement with the vast corpus of literature. Movements such as classicism, romanticism, or realism constitute the primer of critical vocabulary, and therefore a basic understanding of these movements is necessary for a nuanced understanding of varieties of literary

articulation. Each movement has its own specific set of aesthetic, cultural, and ethical values and preferences. The writers and writings that fall within a movement, despite their heterogeneity and particularities, do converge in terms of fostering an identifiable literary taste and trend. Though these movements do occur in the literature of the world and across languages, the focus of this course is primarily on European literature, with special emphasis on the British. The course is divided into five units. Each unit consists of general introductory essays on the specific movement and some primary texts that belong to the movement. The emphasis of the paper is on the historical and conceptual understanding of various literary movements. The students are expected to study the prescribed texts closely. The students are also expected to study books and articles mentioned in the suggested readings to enhance their understanding of the primary texts, but there will be no question on the suggested readings. The paper shall consist of five compulsory questions—one each from a unit. Each question shall, however, have an internal choice. The paper shall carry a total of 80 marks.

Unit I Realism

1. Ian Watt, “Realism and the Novel Form,” The Rise of the Novel, (University of California Press, 2001) 11-36

2. George Eliot, Chapter 17, Adam Bede, Volume 3 (William Blackwood and Sons, 1859) 223-244.

Unit II: Modernism

1. Malcolm Bradbury and James McFarlane, “The Name and Nature of Modernism” from Modernism: A Guide to European Literature 1890-1930, ed. By Malcolm Bradbury and James McFarlane (Penguin, 1976), 19-35

2. Ezra Pound, “A Few Don’ts by an Imagiste,” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/articles/58900/a-fewdonts-by-an-imagiste

Unit III Postmodernism

1. Linda Hutcheon, “Theorizing the Postmodern: Toward a Poetics,” A Poetics of Postmodernism: History, Theory, Fiction (Routledge, London & New York, 1988) 3 - 21.

2. Ihab Hassan, “Toward a Concept of Postmodernism,” The Postmodern Turn (Ohio: Ohio State University Press, 1987) 1-10.

3. Borges, Jorge Luis. "The Library of Babel," Collected Fictions. Trans. Andrew Hurley (New York: Penguin, 1998) 112-118.

Unit IV: Postcolonialism

1. Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, Helen Tiffin, eds. “Introduction” to The Empire Writes Back (Routledge: London & New York, 1991) 2002, 2nd ed., 1-13.

2. Ngugi wa Thiong’o, “The Language of African Literature,” Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature (Harare: Zimbabwe Publishing House, 1987) 1994 rpt. 3-33.

Unit V Debating ‘Periodization’ in History

1. Ted Underwood, “The Disciplinary Rationale for Periodization and a Forgotten Challenge to It (1886–1949),” Why Literary Periods Mattered: Historical Contrast and the Prestige of English Studies (Stanford & California: Stanford University Press, 2013) 114-135.

2. Eric Hayot, “Against Periodization; or, On Institutional Time,” New Literary History, Vol. 42, No. 4, (Autumn 2011), 739-754.