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50
Virginia Woolf – An Introduction
By Asad Imran
February 18, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Virginia Woolf changed the novelistic
landscape from a chronology to a
psychological interconnection.
She was born in the Victorian Era in 1882.
Leslie Stephen was her father while Julia
Jackson was her mother.
Her father was a literary person and he was a
fast friend of Thomas Hardy.
Woolf was physically and mentally weak and
when her family died when she was just
thirteen, she began to suffer mental
breakdowns.
As her final mental breakdown went so severe
that she proclaimed that she would not
recover from it and committed suicide in
1941.
She formed her own group known as
Bloomsbury Group of Cambridge graduates.
She was married to Leonard Woolf in 1912. He
was an aspirant in the Civil Services Academy
but he was a simply educated person who
helped Virginia write her novelistic genius.
They found their own publishing house named
The Hogarth Press by Leonard in 1917. The
main goal of this publishing house was to
publish Virginia’s novels and the novels of
those who were young artists. Her first novels
were also rejected by the publishers so her
husband founded one for his wife and the
young novelists who strived for a
recognization of their works.
Prominent Features of Virginia’s Novels
Most of her novels take place in the city of
London.
She depicts the complex mental battles of the
city people.
Her philosophy is hard to understand by a
common rustic people. However, the city
people can easily get a hold of her
philosophy.
Most of her knowledge was derived from
books, not from the contacts of people.
It was only two years of her happy married life
and the First World War broke out. It destroyed
her mental peace and routine of London. The
war shattered all the good values and brought
about devastation of ideas.
Her last novel The Years was published in
1937 and it proved a fatal failure. Some
researchers argue that this might be the cause
behind her final mental breakdown. Some
suggest more reasons. But her last letter to
her husband suggests that the reason behind
her suicide was the acute relapse from “which
she could not recover anymore”.
Source
Lecture of Sir Faisal

Stream of Consciousness
By Asad Imran
February 22, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel

Stream of Consciousness is an unbroken

Stream of Consciousness is also known as
interior monologue. Interior monologue is a
character’s flow of thoughts without the
author’s interruption.
William James, a psychologist, invented this
term in his book The Principles of Psychology
in 1920.
flow of thoughts and feelings in the waking
mind.
A way of narration that attempts to give
writers equivalent to the reader’s mind, in a
loose interior monologue.
In this process, sense mingles with
conscious memory, feelings and random
thoughts.

James Joyce first experimented with this

technique in his novel Ulysses that appeared
Examples
in 1922. Then Virginia Woolf followed suit as
1. Portrait of Artist as a Young Man by James
Mrs. Dalloway.
Joyce
2. To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Georgians perceived men as complex
3. Molloy by Samuel Beckett
psychological beings. Their influence
4. Jazz by Toni Morrison
indirectly helped to forge the very concept.

Definitions Salient Features

 1. Marked by Incoherent Thoughts
2. Occasional Sudden Rise Of Thoughts
3. Lack of Punctuations
4. Used by 20th Century Novelists and Short
Story Writers
Character Analysis of Mrs. Ramsay in To The
Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
By Asad Imran
March 18, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Mrs. Ramsay?
Mrs. Ramsay is the uniting force in the first
phase of the novel. She is not only beautiful
but a kind-hearted lady, for she helps the
family and the guests anchor under one ocean
of social uniformity. She is charitable. But she
is the mother of eight children. But she is
given her due importance in the novel by
Virginia Woolf as she is not only the central
figure of it but is liked by almost every
character.
A Unifying Anchor
The most striking quality of Mrs. Ramsay is
her actions of uniting people. The novel is
repeated with a variety of people who exhibit a
variety of thoughts and instructions. This
Source
Lecture of Sir Faisal
difference is equally present in the husband,
wife, children and guests. Making a get
together like the dinner scene does need an
extra level of courage and understanding of
the people and their psyche to establish an
unbreakable link. We find her establishing a
link between her children, especially James
and their emotionally weak father for he
rebukes them almost daily. We also see her
uniting the scattered guests in the dinner
scene, especially when Mr. Tansley taunts Lily
Biscoe in particular and women in general.
A Match-Maker
It is evident that Mrs. Ramsay likes uniting
people in different ways. One of them is her
positively negative approach to marriage and
marital life. She wants all men and women to
be married but she notices shortcomings in
her own marriage. She works her best to dilute
her husband’s stern words and she becomes
embarrassed in public when Mr. Ramsay
reads out some lines of poetry loudly.
Returning to the subject of marriage, she
wants to see Lily marrying Mr. Banks after
seeing them walking together. But later, she
even approves the idea of Lily to marry
Charles Tansley. But the real case of her
matchmaking occurs when she attempts a
successful match-making between Paul and
Minta. She is overjoyed and proud of doing so
but this match making of her does not end
well. In fact, Paul comes back to Mrs. Ramsay
complaining to her about her unsuccessful
union of them. But Mrs. Ramsay likes making
a match for she wants people to live in
harmony and peace.
Her Urbane Manners
Mrs. Ramsay shares the blood of an Italian
family who is scattered in English families.
This Italian family is known of having well-
polished and urbane manners as compared to
the sluggish English families. The family was
reputed to spread its charm in the drawing-
room through the psychological wit. Mrs.
Ramsay is seen showcasing the very trait of
her ancestors of throwing a grand gathering of
guests and her family in the summer.
Her Kind and Sympathetic
Nature
Kind-heartedness is the major quality of Mrs.
Ramsay that sets her apart from the rest of
the characters. She feels sympathetic towards
the poor and the needy. For instance, she knits
a pair of socks for the son of a poor keeper at
the lighthouse. She knows that the keeper
leads a life of loneliness and this present
would add a moment of delight to him.
Her kind nature is equally bestowed upon her
small children, Cam and James who are
verbally slammed by their father. When James
longs for a visit to the lighthouse, he is sternly
prohibited from visiting it as “the weather
would not be fine” that day. When James is
psychologically mistreated by his father, it is
only his mother that comforts him and
promises him that they will go to the
lighthouse.
Although Mr. Ramsay is a stern person, he still
longs for sympathy that is duly helped out by
his wife. As he stretches his arms, as a
gesture to show his need of sympathy, these
arms are grabbed by Mrs. Ramsay in order to
fulfil his sympathetic needs.
Her Charming Figure
Mrs. Ramsay comes as one of the most
charming figures of the novel. Thus shaping
herself as a dominant and propelling
personality.
Indeed, she had the whole of other
sex under her protection. Towards
her, their attitude was trustful and
reverential.
The novel is filled up with many references to Joan Bennett concludes appropriately as
her beauty. One thinks that how does a mother below,
of eight children can retain her beauty. But her
physical charm might be used as a symbol for Mrs. Ramsay, Mrs. Dalloway,
her good nature. Eleanor Pargiter, each of the main
personalities in Between the Acts ,
Her Everlasting Personality and many others from her books,
inhabit the mind of the reader and
Mrs. Ramsay dies in Part II but her personality
finds its way into the hearts of the living
enlarge the capacity for sympathy. It
people. Lily Biscoe is profoundly influenced by is sympathy rather than judgement
Mrs. Ramsay. In Part III, Lily is “haunted” by that she invokes, her personages
the everlasting personality of Mrs. Ramsay are apprehended rather than
and she misses her a great deal. In fact, she comprehended.
cries for the deceased lady by calling her while
painting “Mrs. Ramsay, Mrs. Ramsay”. Lily Sources and Suggested
imagines her sitting on the table.
Readings
Conclusion 1. http://myenglish62.blogspot.com/2016/12/
sketch-of-mrs-ramsay-to.html
Although Mrs. Ramsay comes as a knitting
2. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
thread for her family and the guests in the
guides/literature/to-the-lighthouse/mrs-
novel but Virginia Woolf portrays her not
ramsay
without the faults of women. For example, she
3. KM Critical Studies of To The Lighthouse –
could be easily flattered. The reason behind
Page 192
this might be her desire to be praised for the
4. Lectures of Sir Faisal
good deeds she accomplishes. Overall, Mrs.
Ramsay marks herself as a central character
due to her sympathetic and kind nature and
her unique qualities. E. M. Frosters comments

She could seldom so portray a

character that it was remembered
afterwards on its own account, as
Emma is remembered.
Character Analysis of Mr. Ramsay in To the
Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
By Asad Imran
March 19, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Mr. Ramsay?
Mr. Ramsay is the head of, well, his whole
Ramsay family. His character has been a
source of dispute among many critics. Some
even call him a villain of this great novel. In
fact, the initial angry remarks of Lily Biscoe
also betray us of the true character of Mr.
Ramsay,
That man, she thought, her anger
rising in her, never gave; that man
took.
But before discussing in length about his
character, first, we have to get a little glimpse
of his personality. He is an intellectual figure in
England, made a significant name in the field
of literature and philosophy. But he lacks
emotions. His acute obsession with reality
makes him a stern head for his family.
Dearth of Accomplishments
Mr. Ramsay has acquired a big name in
England due to his contribution to literature
and metaphysical philosophy. But he still
wants to achieve more; to become as
successful as Shakespeare. But his last and
toilsome contribution to philosophy does not
attain the level of success and recognition
among his contemporaries that he expected.
Therefore, an anxious sense of failure comes
over him,
Mr. Ramsay is dogged by a sense of
failure. He has a feeling that ‘he had
not done the thing he might have
done.
He thinks that the immortal success lies in the
letter Z while he is only stuck at the alphabet
Q. This makes him sad but he relieves himself
by gesturing that he has rendered an honest
contribution with hard work in his cherished
field.
In Need of Sympathy
His immense sense of failure becomes a
major cause behind his immense hunger for
sympathy. Virginia Woolf occasionally refers
to his need from the mouthpiece of different
characters. But, sometimes, his want of
sympathy shapes his character in a ludicrous
and pathetic manner. In fact, Tansley’s great
admiration does not satisfy his crave for
assurance. He desperately wants sympathy
from his wife that she must assure him that
his work shall not be forgotten in the clutches
of time. And Mrs. Ramsay does fulfil her
‘duties’ to satisfy his need for sympathy. But
the bay widens when Mrs. Ramsay passes
away. He, then, looks at Lily and Cam to get
back the lost wealth of sympathies but in
return, it only makes him a pathetic character.
A Hard Realist
Mr. Ramsay is a pure realist and he wants to
see the same in his children. He does not
entertain any illusions and myths about life.
His stern realism is immediately shown when
he asserts straight to his little son James that
the weather will not be fine and suitable for
them to make their voyage to the lighthouse. A
child is not expected to get him introduced to
the harsh realities of life but rather a life of
illusions and magic. Or at least, Mr. Ramsay
could have refused differently and
accordingly. When Mrs. Ramsay tries to
comfort James with pleasant, childlike myths,
Mr. Ramsay is annoyed by this and behaves
rudely with her. But what is his rhetoric behind
his firm belief in realism? The answer is
simple. He wants to make his children
acquainted with the hard truths of life at an
age that is not appropriate for the purpose of
taking them out of their childlike myths.
Manifestly, Mr. Ramsay “pursue truth with
such an astonishing lack of consideration for
other people’s feelings.”
Egoistic and Tyrant
Ego is one of the chief traits in Mr. Ramsay. It
is abruptly portrayed when he rebukes James
for not harbouring any false hopes of visiting
the lighthouse. His ego is also shown when
Mr. Carmichael asks for the soup again in the
dinner scene. His ego, then transforms into a
tyrannical dictator towards his children. He
wants them exactly like him. In response, his
kids grow a silent but violent hatred of their
father. For instance, James is so annoyed by
Mr. Ramsay’s commanding behaviour that he
develops an Oedipus Complex against his
father to stab him with a knife or a poker.
James even recalls him as a “sarcastic brute”.
But he, then, adds,
He is intolerably egotistical.
Mr. Ramsay’s emotional weakness is the only
reason that has created a lack of
understanding between their father and
themselves. But it is somewhat corrected in
the deciding visit to the lighthouse.
Some Positive Traits of His
Character
Mr. Ramsay is not entirely a character of bad
qualities. He is, at heart, a human. But in the
end, he is changed entirely. He speaks
realistically because he wants his children to
be powerful enough to stand against the
biting challenges of life with courageously. He
is sympathetic by heart but he does not have
enough power to express it directly. For
example, when his wife is alone reflecting on
something,
It saddened him, and her
remoteness pained him, and he felt,
as he passed, that he could not
protect her. He could do nothing to
help her.
And later, his desire to protect also helps him
win back Cam when they are rowing towards
the lighthouse. He even praises his son whole-
heartedly for steering of the boat like a “born
sailor”. Thus burying a long hatchet (hatred)
between father and son.
Conclusion
The character of Mr. Ramsay is a complex
blend. On one end, he seems an intellectual
Treatment of Time in To the Lighthouse by
Virginia Woolf
By Asad Imran
March 20, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introductory
tyrant who is profoundly affected by his sense
of failure and of losing his readers and who is
fiercely obsessed with pure truth. But on other
end, we can trace out his human heart who
wants to establish a good connection with his
children. Conclusively, the portrayal of Mr.
Ramsay is drawn with both blacks and
whites.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12
characters-in-to-the-lighthouse/
2. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/to-the-lighthouse/mr-
ramsay
3. KM Critical Studies of To The Lighthouse –
Page 192
4. Lectures of Sir Faisal
To the lighthouse is one of the flagship novels
written by Virginia Woolf. This book hit the
shelves in 1927. The novel revolves around
the psychological complexities of modern
times. Just like many modern novelists,
Virginia Woolf deals with time differently. In
this novel, time is not moved forward straight
like the movement of a clock. But Woolf
moves it with the modes of her characters of
the novel. For instance, in the first and last
parts of the novel, time is slowed significantly
in accordance with the needs of the
characters. But in part 2, ten years are skipped
with the blink of an eye or more specifically, on
twelve pages. Moreover, time is perceived
differently through the eyes and thoughts of
different characters.
Mrs. Ramsay, The Sea and
Time
The sea and its ongoing waves are used as a
symbol of the tyrannical and unstoppable
movement of time. Mrs. Ramsay does seem
dependent on the movement of time in
general. She looks at time as a source of
emotional stability in the present time and a
hope of retaining the same level of stability in
future. A critic highlights,
Woolf suggests that a concentrated
focus on commonplace objects
releases a series of memories and
ideas with important psychic
resonance.
The above-mentioned phenomenon is
consistently practised by Mrs. Ramsay as a
dutiful supporter of her family. That is why,
she feels concerned about the future of her
children and how the uncontrollable force of
time will mould them in future. She wants her
children “never to grow up”. Because she fears
that her children shall suffer without an
escape from such a suffering of time. That
explains why Mrs. Ramsay wants to stay in
the present moment of time.
Mr. Ramsay and Time
Mr. Ramsay has a different approach towards
time as compared to Mrs. Ramsay. He does
not seem to care of the present moment, but
he looks concerned about his future as a
philosopher. It is obvious through his gestures
that he wants to break the chains of time but
he is afraid after the failure that comes as an
unsuccessful publishing of his book. But he
still has a notion in his mind,
It is permissible even for a dying
hero to think before he dies how
men will speak of him hereafter.
Thus, showcasing Mr. Ramsay’s long
viewpoint of time and his desire to be
remembered well after his death through his
contribution to philosophy. The character of
Mr. Ramsay exhibits Woolf’s consciousness of
time “also within the life of the body, moving
from moment to moment towards that final
obliteration of consciousness which is
death.”.
Independent Outlook on Time
A critic demonstrates Woolf’s independent
outlook of time as thus,
The notion of time as a linear and
Conclusively, Virginia Woolf treats time in a
modern manner by going out of the
chronological aspect of it to the psychological
recollections that are independently called
upon by the characters individually. A critic
beautifully sums up,

diachronic entity of homogenous

As a novelist centrally concerned
and measurable quality, as
with how to represent
instanced by clock and calendar
consciousness and subjectivity, was
time, comes under severe scrutiny.
intensely aware of time, both as an
In simple words, Virginia Woolf configures the impersonal force and as a personal
rate of time in accordance to the minds of experience.
characters in the novel. Each character clearly
shows the concept of time, not measured by Sources and Suggested
the passing seconds or through a specific
Readings
unit, but by the achievements and failures of a
particular owner . The moments of great
1. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
achievements are felt at a considerable
guides/literature/to-the-
amount of time and pages while the moments
lighthouse/themes/time
of insignificance are passed within the blink of
2. https://www.enotes.com/homework-
an eye. For instance, Lily’s achievement of
help/examine-concept-time-virgina-wolfs-
completing her long attempted painting is felt
light-house-375874?__cf_chl_jschl_tk
in a deeper length of time by Lily. Thus,
3. https://jenniferhamiltonblog.wordpress.com
shaping this novel as an experiment of
concept-of-time-in-to-the-lighthouse/
independence from the traditional
4. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/to-the-
chronological timeline of the novels before
lighthouse/themes/time
Virginia Woolf.

Conclusion

Themes of Love, Identity and Victory in To the

Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
By Asad Imran
March 21, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introductory
Woolf’s To the Lighthouse is about the
psychological and intellectual gap between
the Ramsay family. First appeared in 1927, it
marked Woolf’s shift from showcasing the
historical account of a person’s life to his
internal and psychological side of it. To the
Lighthouse is a story of rebuked desires,
unsatisfying accomplishments and last but
not the least, psychological victory. The story
is vividly presented through the themes of
love, identity and reality. Let’s crack them one
by one.
Love
Love is presented in variety of different
characters. The love between Mrs. Ramsay
and James is familial; based on lust between
Paul and Minta and between Mr. Ramsay and
Mrs. Ramsay in accordance to the martial
needs. Almost every character deals with love
and loss differently. Most of them miss the
opportunity to express their love for each
other. But it remains present in the conscious
stream of a character.
A prime example can be cited from Chapter
19 of The Window in which Mr. Ramsay
desires from his wife to say “I love you. ” direct
and straight. But Mrs. Ramsay lacks the
courage to express her love bluntly and
directly, instead, she impresses her love for
her husband by agreeing to his statement that
the weather won’t be fine that day. That is not
what Mr. Ramsay demands at that time but
her ‘love’ remains present in her conscious
mind.
Identity and Internal Life
The theme of identity and internal life go hand
in hand in this novel. But since this novel is
also based on the stream of consciousness
technique, the plot shapes itself in the minds
of the characters, not through external
actions. External actions have hardly
occurred. This phenomenon can be easily
traced in the character of Mrs. Ramsay whose
internal and external life. Not only she is
conscious of her identity, she is seen musing
about her inner character. When people are
around her, she becomes a different one. And
that external difference is mostly known as a
devoted mother, caring neighbour and
sympathetic wife. But when she is alone, her
true internal identity is revealed that is brim-
full with complications and psychological
battles. For instance, when she is preparing
for the famous dinner party scene, she feels
internally disconnected from it. She questions
herself about what she has done with her life.
Another character that appears in this list is
Mr. Ramsay. He is internally insecure about his
accomplishments and he consistently wants
surety from the people around him. He is
internally dissatisfied. He fears that his limited
intellect will make him and his contribution
mortal. That is why, his outward identity is
stiff and coarse.
Victory
Victory or more specifically, psychological
victory is scattered in different segments of
the novel. Initially, it is depicted over life but
after some careful tracing, we can easily
notice victory over people. The first prime
example of this victory is claimed by Mrs.
Ramsay, who says “I love you” without saying
“I love you”. In simple terms, she shows her
love in a victorious manner by not actually
proclaiming it. But by agreeing with her
husband.
Lily and James are both seen struggling hard
for their goal of completing the painting and
visiting the lighthouse respectively. The
former is not satisfied by her art while the
D. H. Lawrence – An Introduction
By Asad Imran
March 29, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
latter is psychologically prohibited by his
father. Both of them score a victory in the end
when James has not only reached the
lighthouse but also by psychologically
connecting with his father. While Lily stands
victorious by drawing a line in the centre to
create a balanced painting.
Conclusion
To conclude, To the Lighthouse by Virginia
Woolf is a beautiful blend of external
unfulfillments and internal conflicts,
beautifully marked with the themes of love,
internal life and victory over some conflicts of
life.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/to-the-lighthouse/themes
https://www.coursehero.com/lit/To-the-
Lighthouse/themes/
Basics
D. H. Lawrence is a renowned essayist,
novelist and short-story writer of the 20th
century
Birth
D H Lawrence was born at Nottinghamshire
on 11 September 1885. He was a son of a
coal miner named Arthur Lawrence while his
mother, Lydia was a school teacher. Lawrence
died in 1930 due to TB.
Family Life
Lawrence’s mother was in love with a man of
letters but he died. She was from a wealthy
family but she married a coal miner out of her
adventurous nature but their marriage life was
devoid of any affection. She looked for her
lost affection towards her elder son but he
died. Then she shifted her desire to D. H.
Lawrence. In return, Lawrence could not
maintain his balance of relationship with his
mother and his beloved, Jessy when he left
school in 1901. Both of them had some
hidden literary sparks to shine but after the
death of his mother due to cancer, Lawrence
could maintain his relationship with Jessy and
she provoked him to write.
His Writing Career
Early, he joined a medicine manufacturing
company but then, he became a teacher. But
Jessy encouraged Lawrence to write. His first
span of writing begins from 1909 and ends in
1913. During that phase, he published his first
novel known as The White Peacock that
appeared in 1909.
After even the death of his mother, her
influence remained persistent upon him and
he left Jessy Chambers as soon as he left
school.
Marriage Life
After saying Goodbye to Jessy, D. H. Lawrence
eloped with Frieda but soon, he was captured
by the police and she had to disclose her
elopement with D. H. Lawrence with her father
to get him out of the jail. Both of them were
married on 19 July 1914. Their marriage life
was both a happy experience as well as was
marked with quarrels. He wrote a poem for his
wife that was titled as “Look, We Made it
Through”.
In 1913, Lawrence published one of the most
renowned novels, Sons and Lovers. One
special thing about this novel is that both
Jessy Chambers and Frieda contributed their
share in the novel.
Then began the First World War in 1914 and
his second phase of writing,
Rainbow: Published in 1915, this novel was
confiscated and was met with severe charges
of sexual obscenities as the British Public was
not ready to accept this novel out of their
stern Victorian morality.
Women in Love
In the third phase of his writing career, both
Lawrence and Frieda travelled in different
countries and they settled in New Mexico. The
third phase began on 1920 and ended in
1925.
Oedipus Complex in Sons and Lovers by D. H.
Lawrence
By Asad Imran
March 30, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introductory
Sons and Lovers is one of the controversial
novels by D. H. Lawrence that hit the shelves
in 1913, the very time when Sigmund Frieud
was experimenting with his new theory
Oedipus Complex. The very novel is based
upon the concept of the Oedipus Complex.
But before jumping to a lengthy discussion of
the Oedipus Complex in Sons and Lovers, first,
we have to make ourselves acquainted with
the story and the term itself.
The story of Sons and Lovers revolves around
a lady named Gertrude who is enchanted by
the hard-working caricaturing of a coal miner
known as Walter Morel. Their marriage is
marked by a psychological turmoil and she
detests her husband because of his bad
tongue and excessive drinking. She tries hard
The final phase was a fatal one. Despite his ill
health, Lawrence kept on writing. Lady
Chatterley’s Lovers was his last novel and he
breathed his last on March 2nd, 1930.
to find love in her elder son, William but he
dies. She, then, shifts her attention to her
other son, Paul but the consequence of this
relationship comes at the cost of Paul, not
mixing with the girls of his age.
Oedipus Complex
Oedipus Complex is a psychological theory
presented by Sigmund Freud. The theory is
based upon a classical Greek tragedy on a
Theban king known as Oedipus who
unknowingly kills his father, marries his
mother and gets children from her. But Freud
uses this myth to illustrate the subconscious
desire of having an un-natural relationship
with the opposite sex of one’s parents. This
psychological complex can be defined as thus,
Oedipus Complex is a state in which
a person shows excessive affection
 for the parent opposite in sex to him
or herself, and a corresponding
distaste for his or her other parent.
In simple terms, Oedipus Complex is an un-
natural relationship of love between a son and
his mother while detesting his father or vice
versa. Let’s explore about the same complex
in Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence.
Autobiographical Complex
Lawrence’s life was itself a complex matter of
psychosocial limitations. His mother, Lydia
was in love with a school teacher but she
could not continue her relationship with him.
Later, she found Arthur Lawrence, a coal miner
and was married to him. But their marriage life
proved to be a glaring failure. Lydia could not
receive the amount of love that she expected
from Arthur, that is why she turned her
affections to her elder son but he kicked the
bucket. Then she turned to D. H. Lawrence
and he was enthusiastically attracted to his
mother so that so he rejected Jessy’s
proposal, the one who helped Lawrence
emerge as a writer.
Sons and Lovers is the most accurate
representation of Lawrence’s autobiographical
complications and the characters of the novel
do seem to parallel each other. Thus it is
evident that Lawrence had developed an
Oedipus Complex towards his mother and
against his father. That is clearly visible in this
novel.
Relationship between Paul
and Mrs. Morel
The relationship between Paul and Mrs. Morel
was not like a natural bond that naturally
exists between a mother and her son. But their
relationship was more than an ordinary
relationship. Gertrude was seeing Paul as a
substitute to her husband. Who had failed in
providing her her sexual as well as
psychological needs. The relationship
between the two grew stronger when Paul
was attacked by pneumonia and she nursed
him with “great” care just because she did not
want to lose her other son.
The incidents showcasing their un-natural love
shock us but it was one of Gertrude’s weapon
to show her hatred towards her husband
through Oedipus Complex. For instance, in
Chapter VIII, Mrs. Morel expresses her lack of
control on her husband to Paul as thus,
And I’ve never__ you know,
Paul___I’ve never had a
husband___not really___
To comfort his mother, Paul comes ahead and
strokes her hair and kisses on her throat like a
lover. She, in return, kisses him long but is
watched by Walter who scolds Paul,
At your mischief again?
In another incident, both of them are depicted
walking in Mrs. Leiver’s Farm, Paul sticking a
flower in her coat also can be regarded as his
gesture of Oedipus Complex. He, infact, is not
happy in having his old mother as his
“sweetheart”. Says he,
Why can’t a man have a young
mother? What is the old for?
Well, she scarcely help it.
And why wasn’t I the oldest son?
Look… they say that the young ones
have the advantage… but look, they
had the young mother. You should
have had me as your oldest son.
This example clearly shows Paul as a
character exhibiting Oedipus Complex. But
such an influence of his mother over him
creates different stunning blocks for him to
find his true life partner.
unable to satisfy. He, indeed, loved both but he
was not in the mode of marrying them. He
explained his reason to his mother aa thus,
I never shall meet the right woman
while you live.
This quote vividly demonstrates how well he is
glued to his mother due to his Oedipus
Complex.
Conclusion
Freud gave his theory of the Oedipus Complex
in 1912, thus making Sons and Lovers the first
novel to showcase Oedipus Complex in
action. But it must be noted that Freud’s
theory did not motivate Lawrence to align his
story to the very theory but he had
experienced the very phenomenon in his own
life.

Sources and Suggested

Paul’s Relationship with
Readings
Miriam and Clara Daves
1. Sons and Lovers – Study Guide by Famous
Paul is unable to maintain the balance
Products – Page 114
between his beloved(s) out of the strong
2. Lectures of Sir Faisal
influence of his mother over him. As for
3. https://englishhonshelp.wordpress.com/20
Miriam, she was a religious-minded girl but as
complex-in-sons-and-lovers/
she would try to kiss his hand, he would
withdraw it back abruptly. As for Clara Daves,
she is hungry for having sex that Paul is
Character Sketch of Walter Morel in Sons and
Lovers by DH Lawrence
By Asad Imran
March 31, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Walter Morel?
Walter Morel is one of the complex characters
of the novel. But it is Walter’s auto-
biographical counterpart who makes him a
special character in the novel? Which auto-
biographical counterpart you may ask? Of
course, it is D. H. Lawrence’s own father,
Arthur Lawrence of whom the character is
based and shares quite similar traits.
Walter Morel is a coal miner with some decent
looks but “loud” manners that sow a seed of
hatred in his wife’s heart. But he is not entirely
an evil character or a noble-hearted one but
his character is a complex blend of both
primary qualities. Lawrence detested his
father but when his father breathed his last,
Lawrence realized that he was mistaken. He,
later, confessed that if he ever wrote this novel
again, he would have been kind in portraying
Walter’s character.
His Physical Charm
Walter Morel was twenty-seven years old and
Gertrude only twenty-three when they first saw
each other in the party. Gertrude fell in love
with Walter on the first sight due to his
appropriate and tempting posture. Lawrence
introduces us to the physical beauty of Walter
Morel as thus,
He was well set-up, erect and very
smart. He had wavey black hair that
shone again and a vigorous black
beard that had never been shaved.
His cheeks were ruddy and his red,
moist mouth was noticeable
because he laughed so often and so
heartily.
He is not only physically beautiful but
aesthetically captivating. He dances as if it
were natural and joyous in him to dance. Thus
exhibiting a glamorous show of his lively
heart. Although she rejects his proposal of
dance in the Christmas party but she is deeply
enamoured of his humour and his specific but
typical dialect of speaking things.
Unsuccessful Marriage Life
Gertrude and Walter get married but the spell
of physical beauty is broken immediately. In
the romantic heat of their ‘love’, they do not
realize the difference of their personalities.
Gertrude is an intellectual lady who likes to
question religion, politics and other social
matters philosophically to an educated person
but these concepts hardly get into the mind of
the coal miner. Walter, sometimes, listens to
her talks eagerly without understanding the
subject matter of her talks.
Their marriage grows really unhappy when
Gertrude learns that her husband has not paid
the bills of the furniture and the house in
which he lives does not belong to him. She
begins despising him for keeping her in ‘the
dark’ through such lies. But what she djd not
realize was the fact that he did not want to
disclose about his poverty to her since he
belonged to the middle class. As days went by,
Gertrude grew more indifferent to Walter and
it affected their children’s life very badly.
Strangeness
When children are begotten, the significance
of Walter Morel seems to shrink a great deal.
The indifferent Gertrude finds solace in
William and later, Paul. Such level of
indifference shown by his wife enrages Walter
and he is again tempted to drink before he
(temporarily) quit for the sake of his wife. He
becomes ill-tempered and scolds his children
too often. Therefore, his children grow
Oedipus Complex against him. But in reality,
he is a miserable creature.
For instance, one day, he returns home hungry.
But Gertrude has already eaten her meals. He
says that she, being his wife, had to wait on
him but her cold reply enrages and saddens
him. Says she,
Never, milord, I’d wait on a dog at
the door first.
After hearing such revolting remarks, he flings
a drawer at her, wounding her brow. But he
quickly puts a bandage on the wound. Later, it
is depicted that he lies miserably on the bed
for the whole day,
Walter Morel lay in bed next day
until nearly dinner time. He lay and
suffered like a sulking dog.
But that was not enough. Gertrude sowed
seeds of hatred in the heads of her children.
For instance, once Paul won a prize and he
showed it only to his mother, not to his father.
Some Noble Traits
Despite Lawrence stern caricaturing of
Walter’s character, he portrays Walter with
some positive qualities. First noble quality of
Mr. Morel is that he feels for both his wife and
his children. For example, when Gertrude is on
her death bed, he feels very anxious about her
but his weeping before Gertrude’s relatives is
his pretension. But his love for his deceased
son and Paul is genuine. He does not come on
the way to where William’s grave is situated or
the office in which he worked. He remains
worried about Paul when he gets pneumonia.
He inquires after his health but he does only Conclusion
get a cold indifference in return.
Conclusively, D. H. Lawrence has successfully
Another noble quality present in Walter’s
created a character who exhibits one of the
character is his love for self-work. He does not complex sides of the human psyche through
like to rely on others other than his own the simple and basic instinctions of Walter
hands. In fact, the happiest moments of his Morel who suffers indifference from his family
life occur when he works through his own members for being poor.
hands. Since he is a coal miner, so working
through his own hands makes sense.
Sources
Laat but not the least, he is a simple person
1. Sons and Lovers – Study Guide by Famous
living his life instinctively. His actions are not
Products – Page 91
pre-planned or well thought. But rather simple
2. Lecture of Sir Faisal
and direct in his approach. In simple terms, he
is an unaltered person.

Character Sketch of Gertrude Morel in Sons

and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
By Asad Imran
April 6, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel

one can easily guess her shortcomings when

Who is Gertrude Morel? the story of love progresses further. She is
dissatisfied from her husband; tries to find
Gertrude Morel is the central character of the love in her sons and pretty much destroys
novel Sons and Lovers. She wife of Walter them. But her character is made of both good
Morel and the mother of Paul and William and bad qualities.
Morel. But D. H. Lawrence draws her character
after his own mother, Lydia, so there is a
strong autobiographical connection that is
seen throughout the novel. Although Lawrence
mostly portrays her as a positive figure but
Her Physical Appearance and Her Disillusionment of the
her Hollowed Middle-Class Marriage
Values
Gertrude Morel exhibits a decent physical
appearance. She is short-statured. Her hair is
as bright as copper and gold. Her eyes are
clear and defiant blue.
Mrs. Morel comes from a noble middle-class
family known as Coppards. Her father is an
engineer. After Gertrude marries a coal miner,
she does not consider it a noble value to mix
up with a ‘poor’ person who can barely get
enough income to pay a house rent. She feels
pride in her own middle-class values. She lives
in a house that is situated in the end of a
street, while not hesitating to pay a higher
rent. Her snobbish attitude is not limited to
herself but she tries to transfer her thinking to
her children by isolating them from mining.
She feels contented on giving them a job with
white collar.
Her Romantic Nature
Gertrude is moved by John Field when she is
in her nineties but he rejects her in favour of a
wealthy landlady. But this leaves an
everlasting scar in her mind. When she is 23,
she sees Walter Morel in a Christmas party.
He is in his 27 and she likes his way of
speaking and his unintellectual simplicity. In
next Christmas, they are married.
We are introduced to Gertrude when she is 31.
She has been leading a disillusioned martial
life because has not claimed the romantic
bliss that she initially thought of. In fact, they
could only enjoy the first three months of a
happy married life.
Her romantic bliss is transformed into
disillusioned agony when she discovers that
the house does not belong to Walter and the
bills if the furniture have not been paid. She is
also dismayed by his excessive drinking. But
she is annoyed most when she is unable to
exchange her philosophical, religious as well
as political views with him because he is a
simple person. Although he listens to her
conversation but he cannot answer her
because he cannot understand.
Her Responsibility in
Destroying their Marriage
It becomes clear in the novel that it is she who
is responsible for the destruction of her
marital life. Before, she chooses Walter
because he is unlike her but later, she abhors
him as he is unlike her. It is simple that she did
not adapt herself to the new situation that
would appear in her marriage life. She should
have changed herself according to thr time
but she tried to change her husband and it
brought a significant ruin to her life,
 The pity was, she was too much his
opposite.
The result came in fierce quarrels between the
couple. Walter used to bully her and even beat
her. But his beastly man was awakened by her
provoking nagging. For instance, he once,
walked twelve miles with Jerry Purdy and
when Gertrude knew about this incident, she
made a storm out of it. In another occasion,
when Walter returns home hungry and
demands food from his wife, she replies coldly
that she had better wait for a street dog. On
hearing such remarks, he flings drawer at her,
thus wounding her eyebrows. But, later, he
deeply feels sorry for his misconduct and
does not sleep for days. In simple words,
Walter wants to lead a happy life with his wife
but it is she who enrages him again that
destroys their martial peace.
Her role in Making Husband-
substitutes of her Sons
As soon as her children grow up, she gradually
casts off her husband to a side and shifts all
her attentions to her sons. In their childhood,
their relationship is healthy. She feels as proud
as a queen when William beings a prize for the
first time. She even get them jobs in co-
operate office for William and goes with Paul
in Nottinghamshire for his interview at
Jordon’s.
It is when her sons reach adulthood when
their relationship grows unhealthy. For
instance, she says to Paul that she did not
have any husband. Thus, making her sons a
substitute for her husband. But it ruined their
emotional lives. William died in Hospital
jumping back and forth between Jim and his
mother. And Paul could not get away from the
influence of his mother even after her death.
He was neither able to get the hand of Clara,
nor Miriam.
Some Positive Traits
Despite the huge havoc that she brought upon
her husband and her sons’ emotional life, she
had influenced their domestic lives in a
positive manner. Firstly, she brought decent
job opportunities to her sons. Secondly, she
managed to stabilize the financial condition of
their house. But in the end, it all ended on her
tragic death that came silently. She kept her
cancer a secret but her death was an intense
suffering caused by cancer. Paul was so
disheartened by her final scene that he gave
her morphia to hasten her death. Indeed, her
life ended on her tragic death.
Conclusion
The character of Gertrude Morel is something
that highlights how emotional distances can
lead to an utter destruction. She had some
obvious shortcomings but at heart, she was a
devoted mother who suffered throughout her
entire life.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
Character Sketch of Paul Morel in Sons and
Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
By Asad Imran
April 7, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Paul Morel?
Paul Morel is the most important character of
the novel, Sons and Lovers. The character of
Paul is highly autobiographical because he
mirrors D. H. Lawrence himself. Lawrence
himself had an Oedipal relationship with his
mother, Lydia Lawrence. He rejected Jessie
Chambers out of the strong influence of his
mother. Paul suffers the very complexes that
Lawrence himself suffered. Let’s explore in
detail about Paul.
His Sickly Posture
Paul is the third child. He is born in the midst
of harsh quarrels between Gertrude and
Walter. Gertrude even thinks that she does not
want any children anymore. When the child
1. Sons and Lovers – Study Guide by Famous
Products – Page 94
2. Lecture of Sir Faisal
(Paul) is born, his knitted and heavy eyes may
signal the concept of ‘pain’. His mother is
extremely moved by his facial expression and
she resolutes that “with all her force, with all
her soul, she would make up to it for having
brought it into the world involved”.
Paul Morel was a lean and delicate child in his
childhood. When he grew up a bit, he waa
transitioned into “a rather finely boy, with dark
brown hair and light blue eyes” that last its
brightness and animation throughout his life.
Unhealthy Domestic
Atmosphere and its Adverse
Effects in Paul’s Life
As Paul grows on in years, he is greeted by the
frequent quarrels between his father and his
mother. This leaves a significant mark in
Paul’s childhood. He is forced to side with his
mother. He remains afraid throughout the day
and night, thinking and praying about the
safety of his mother. In his upstairs lodgings,
he remains anxious about the business
downstairs. He even prays that his father
should stop drinking. The unhealthy domestic
atmosphere affects him in three ways,
Firstly, he gets depressed for no obvious
reasons and begins crying bitterly. His mother
tries her best to console him but it does not
help him either. When his father threatens
Paul that he will beat him if he does not stop
crying. It hurts Paul more.
because of the vulgar language of the
workers. Similarly, when he is climbing stairs
in the Jordan’s to appear in the interview,
Lawrence depicts Paul’s internal agony as
thus,
Charles 1 mounted his scaffold with
a lighter heart than did Paul Morel
as he followed his mother up to the
dirty steps to the dirty door.
A Budding Artist
Paul is a skilled painter. This is the only art

Secondly, Paul grows an uncontrollable hatred that makes both of his parents proud. It is to
be noted that one of his paintings get featured
for his father. He cannot even bear the sight of
in Nottingham Castle Exhibition and is sold
his father. When he wins a prize for the first
out in return of a handsome amount. Paul is
time, his mother asks him to show it to his
fond of painting. He is solemnly absorbed in
father but he replies that he would rather hide
painting and does not even know what is
it.
happening in his surroundings. He talks
Thirdly, this situation creates an unhealthy endlessly of his sketches to Miriam.
dependence of Paul upon his mother that
Paul is not only well versed in the art of
creates a significant rift between his
painting, but also he is good at French and
emotional life when he is pursuing Miriam and
Algebra. He teaches Algebra to Miriam and
Clara Daves.
they both discussed about the books they
read.
Self-Conscious

From his childhood to his adulthood, Paul Paul and Gertrude

remains occupied in his own self. That is
Paul’s relationship with his mother can be
because he is allergic of the world outside him
and he does not feel compatible with his divided into two major periods. Of his
childhood and his adulthood. In Paul’s
society. Resultantly, his first day at school is a
childhood, his relationship with his mother
nightmare for him. His experience of
was based upon healthy intentions. He was
collecting wages in the pit is not good
lonely so he got an outlet for his inner
conflicts in the form of his mother and in
return, his mother used to transfer her
attention away from her husband to her son.
They used to visit forests and exhibition
centres. But as Paul grew up into his
adulthood, the mother-son relationship grew
unnatural. Gertrude used her son as her
husband’s substitute. She once said that she
never had a husband and in return, to console
his mother, Paul put his face on her throat and
she gave him a long kiss. Similarly, when Paul
was born, Gertrude thought that the navel
string had not been broken that connected her
body with his frail organs. Such a relationship
adversely affected Paul’s ability to mix up with
the girls of his age.
Paul and Miriam
The friendship between Paul and Miriam is
established when they are quite young. The
friendship is initially based upon Paul’s need
for criticism of his paintings. Miriam is
religious and romantic but not sexually
attractive. Paul mostly brings his paintings to
Miriam for criticism and she eagerly waits for
him to learn something new about life. But
Paul is unsuccessful in arousing her sexual
instructions out of the strong influence of his
mother. For instance, when both of them are in
bed, Paul feels extremely dissatisfied with her
and he leaves her.
Paul and Clara
Paul Clara relationship is quite an opposite of
Paul Miriam connection. Clara is hungry for
sex. Her body is an invitation card for having
sex. Paul is immediately charmed by her
swelling breasts and plump arms. For a short
period of time, Paul believes that he has
attained an absolute bliss but he cannot get
his intellectual demands fulfilled from Clara
and she returns to her husband as Paul
cannot satisfy her sexual hunger while her
husband can.
Conclusion
After the death of his mother, Paul is left alone
and broken. He has no one to share his
feelings and ideas. He has left Miriam and
Clara leaves him. Although he tries in vain to
go back to the village and start painting. But
he has lost the courage to do so. He is
left”with a drift towards death”, as Lawrence
puts the final ending of the hero.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. Sons and Lovers – Study Guide by Famous
Products – Page 97
2. Lecture of Sir Faisal
Paul Miriam Relationship – Sons and Lovers –
D. H. Lawrence
By Asad Imran
April 11, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introduction
Paul Miriam relationship is considered to be
the core of the novel. Why, because it is one of
the favourite topics of Lawrence to talk about
complexities of relationships between men
and women. He has discussed the very
subject in a number of his novels. So, Sons
and Lovers is no exception. We find four knots
of relationships in this novel.
For instance, Walter Gertrude Relationship
that is initially based upon romantic ideas of
Gertrude and upon their unfulfillment, it
transforms into a heating mess of quarrels
and of misunderstandings. Then, there is
Gertrude William (and then Paul) relationship
that is totally based upon making sons as
husband substitutes which wreaks havoc in
the emotional upbringing of her sons and their
relationship with the girls of their age
eventually fails. Then we have Paul Miriam
Relationship which is to be discussed at
length in this article and then Paul Clara
relationship that was established temporarily
to extinguish the sensual desires of Clara but
it also ends in vain.
Paul Miriam Relationship, on the other hand, is
based upon Miriam’s spiritual ideals that Paul
seems to detest. But Paul learns from the
crirical remarks of Miriam on his paintings and
he teaches her Algebra and French. Thus, he
has an outlet for his intellectual thoughts to
get distributed through Miriam. But their
relationship does not go well on good terms
as time goes by.
The First Meet-Up
The first meeting between Paul and Miriam
takes place when Paul, with his mother, goes
to the Leiver’s Family at the Willey Farm. Paul
Morel is deeply enchanted by the broad
landscapes and beauty of Nature. At first, Paul
mostly spends his time with the brothers of
Miriam but later, he gradually starts taking
interest in Miriam.
Miriam’s Romantic Nature and
Her Spiritual Constraints
It is difficult to deny that Miriam has a
romantic nature and she often considers
herself a “Walter Scott Heroin”, in simple
terms, sensitive and over-refined. Miriam
detests vulgarity that is found in her brothers.
She finds Paul a different man. Different in a
sense that he has a different taste, an
intellectual one like his interest in algebra,
painting, poetry and French and “a man who
had death in his family”.
Miriam draws her spirituality from the
metaphysical outlook of her mother. But her
over-turned spirituality becomes a stout hurdle
in continuing her relationship with Paul. As
mentioned before, Miriam has developed
hatred for sex and its implications. This
makes her different from the girls of her age.
But Paul thinks Miriam like a common girl. He
needs her for his sexual gratification but
Miriam resists his sexual advancements, thus
making Paul annoyed by her spiritual
stubbornness. For instance, Miriam folds her
arms around her five-year-old brother and
sways him. This agitates Paul and he bitterly
questions,
Why do you make such a fuss for?
Paul wants to say that when Miriam can show
her affections towards her brother, why not
Paul?
First Phase of Relationship
Owing to Miriam’s overtly religious outlook,
the Paul Miriam Relationship grows on an
abstract plane but its growth is slightly visible.
This is the phase when both of them realize
their worth for each other. Paul learns the
critical significance of his paintings while
Miriam uses Paul as a means to give vent to
her inner-most emotions. In fact, it is Paul that
makes a flower sink into the soul of Miriam,
Only he could make it her own.
One day, there is an Orange Moon situated at
the top of the sky and such a romantic scene
boils the blood of Paul’s chest. He wanted to
crush Miriam upon his chest but non of them
even tried to kiss each other.
Second Phase
The second phase of the Paul Miriam
Relationship becomes a litmus test for Miriam
and her controlled love for Paul. Paul is
determined to get Miriam introduced to the
sexual life of a normal girl in love. Miriam too
decides to submit to Paul’s sexual desires. But
it does not come as Paul plans to. Whenever
Paul tries to have sex with her, she
immediately recoils. When Miriam lives with
her grandparents, Paul gets a chance to do
whatever he likes but her immolating
response disappoints Paul and he wishes he
were sexless or dead. Thus, her indifference to
sex gradually makes Paul bade a goodbye to
Miriam.
Final Rejection
After such a cold spiritual connection, then
come the death of Paul’s mother and her
death by cancer leaves a significant effect on
him. Miriam has grown into a stiff woman with
her youthful bloom gone. She thinks that Paul
is wasting his life and offers her proposal of
marriage. But Paul immediately rejects her
proposal. He says that she loves him so much
that she wants to put him in her pocket. She
could only sacrifice herself to him every day.
Her sacrifice was unacceptable to him so Paul
bade a cold farewell to Miriam.
Who is Responsible for the
Failure of Relationship?
Miriam stubbornly clings to her rigid spiritual
ideas. That collectively brings about their
separation.
Conclusion
Conclusively, Paul Miriam Relationship
demonstrates physical as well as spiritual lack
of understanding. It is something that is hard
to achieve but it surely depicts how much
damage it may cause if natural desires are
dealt with unnatural ways.

This question, as difficult as it may sound, has

been debated by critics to a great degree. Sources and Suggested
Some argue Gertrude is responsible for the Readings
spilt between the two while others point their
fingers at Miriam’s rigid spirituality. Mike 1. https://www.literaturewise.in/mdl/mod/pag
Sprika puts the burden of the spilt upon id=218
Miriam’s shoulders, 2. Sons and Lovers – Study Guide by Famous
Products – Page 120
Miriam’s frigidity is rooted in her 3. Lectures of Sir Faisal
own nature, and not in the mere
ignorance of sex. Her purity is
nullity rather than innocence; she
lacks real warmth, and Paul in his
youthful inexperience is unable to
rouse in her.

So, the person equally puts the responsibility

of the spilt on both Paul and Miriam. But there
is an equal share of Gertrude also in bringing
about the separation. Gertrude Morel has
tightened her emotional grip upon Paul and
she is unable to realize how much havoc she
has wrecked in Paul’s youthful life. He fails to
get the nerves of Miriam’s limitations and
Modern Novel – Short Questions and Their
Answers (From Sargodha University Past
Papers) MA English Literature Part 2
By Asad Imran
August 26, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel, Short Questions
2021
Q1: What is the symbolic significance of the
lighthouse in the novel To the Lighthouse?
The lighthouse serves as a symbol of human
desires that can only be fulfilled at an
appropriate time.
Q2: Comment on the economic condition of
Mr. Morel at the time of his marriage.
Being a coal miner, the financial condition of
Walter Morel was not good during the time of
his marriage. He was under debt and the rent
of the furniture had not been paid.
Q3: What is the symbolic significance of the
Congo river in Heart of Darkness?
The Congo River signifies as a symbol of a
channel that connects a civilization with
‘primitiveness’. However, the river also
doubles as a driving force that strives its best
to send the civilized Europeans away from the
darkness.
Q4: How are Africans and the Europeans
presented in Hean of Darkness?
The Africans are presented as the ones who
lack language, culture and thoughtfulness.
Whereas, the European (imperialists) are
portrayed as manipulative and exploitative.
Q5: What are the reasons for Nwoye’s
conversion to Christianity?
Nwoye concerts to Christianity to atone for his
father’s unjust butchery of his adopted son,
Ikemefuna.
Q6: Who rescues the boys from the island in
Lord of the Flies?
It is a naval officer who rescues the lost boys
from the lost and unknown island.
Q7: Who is Ezinma in Things Fall Apart?

Ezimna is the daughter from Okonkwo’s
second wife, Ekwefi. Ezimna is greatly
favoured by Okonkwo because of her ‘menlike’
nature.
Q8: Who was Simon in Lord of the Flies?
Simon was the voice of reason and rationality
in Lord of the Flies. It was he who identified
the boar’s skull as the lord of the flies during
his hallucination.
Q9: Who is Gertrude Morel in Sons and
Lovers?
Gertrude Morel is the wife of Walter Morel.
She belongs to the noble middle class. She is
the driving force in the establishment of the
Oedipus complex in her sons.
Q10: List the names of three sections of To
the Lighthouse.
Already answered
2020
Q1: Give a brief character sketch of Lily
Brisco as presented in the novel To the
Lighthouse.
Lilly Brisco is one of the guests in To the
Lighthouse. She is a painter. From the
beginning of the novel till the end, Lily
preoccupies herself with painting. View
Source
Q2: Why is Mr. Morel despised by his
wife?
Paul Morel is hated by Gertrude on
account of his excessive drinking, his
being poor and his unurbane language.
Q3: What was the reality of the beast in
Lord of the Flies?
The reality of the beast in Lord of the Flies
was Simons who was confused for the
beast by the pack of Jack. He is killed.
Another mistaken instance of the beast is
observed when the boys consider the
dead body of the piolet, a beast. View
Source
Q4: State the dominant traits of Jack in
Lord of the Flies?
Jack, the opponent to Ralph, is a
determined, jealous and power-seeking
boy. He is violent by temperament and
knows the art of taming small boys for his
own purposes. View Source
Q5: What are some of the major themes
in the literary works of D.H. Lawrence?
The major themes in the novels written by
D. H. Lawrence are issues related to
emotional as well as mental health,
relationships and sexuality. Source
Q6: Why was Ikemefuna killed in the
novel Things Fall Apart?
Ikemefuna is killed because his killing was
part of a promise and treaty. Also,
Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna in order to prove
his manhood before his tribe.
Q7: Define stream of consciousness.
Stream of Consciousness is a literary
technique in which the events are narrated
as they appear in one’s mind without any
chronological sequence.
Q8: How is Nwoye different from his
father in Things Fall Apart?
Novoye is entirely different from his father
because he inherits his traits from his
grandfather Unoka. He is usually a weak-
hearted person but when Okonkwo kills
Ikemefuna, Novoye is utterly dismayed by
his father and joins missionaries to show
his vengeance. Source
Q9: What were the last words of Kurtz?
What do they mean?
The last words of Kurtz were “Horror!
Horror! ” Kurtz basically accepted his
demonic endeavours in the dark continent
of Africa and accepted the horrors
associated with it.
Q10: Who is the narrator in Heart of
Darkness?
We do not know much about the un-
named narrator who opens the novel but
the second narrator who tells us about his
adventures in Congo and in the Sea. He is
Marlow and he is said to be the voice of
Conrad.
2019
Q1: How did Marlow manage to get a job
with the Belgian company?
Marlow managed to get the job as a
captain in the Belgian company through
the influence of his aunt.
Q2: What is the name of the ship in the
Thames where Marlow tells his story?
The name of the ship is The
Nellie. Source
Q3: What is the reason of the inhibited
relationship between Mr. and Mrs.
Morel?
Already answered
Q4: How would you describe the
relationship between Paul and Miriam?
Paul Miriam relationship is a complex
affair. On one side, we see Miriam
showing her desire to learn and be
educated through Paul. While Paul is
agitated by her aggressive “chastity”.
Q5: Who is Ikemefuna in Things Fall
Apart?
Ikemefuna is a fifteen years old boy who
is given to the Umofia tribe as a sacrifice
for killing a woman from Umofia. Source
Q6: How is Mrs. Ramsay’s outlook
towards life different from that of her
husband in To the lighthouse?
Mrs. Ramsay’s outlook for life is much
different and even opposite to what we
observe through Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Ramsay
is utterly realistic and does not want any
mingling of *hopeful” lie in it. While Mrs.
Ramsay can consider adding a hopeful lie
to console someone.
Q7: Give a brief character sketch of Mr.
Tansley.
Charles Tansley is the student of Mr.
Ramsay who is invited as a guest. He
remains insecure of his humble
background. Although Mrs. Ramsay do
not like him, still her magic works on him
and he begins to like her. Source
Q8: Who are the Littluns in Lord of the
Flies?
Littluns are a group of small kids. They
represent helpless members of a society.
They are used to gain more authoritative
power. Source
Q9: Give some traits of the character of
Ralph in Lord of the Flies.
Ralph is the voice of wisdom, order and
authority. He is elected as the leader of
the boys in the beginning. He is sensible,
caring, wise and authoritative. Source
Q10: Why does Okonkwo kill himself in
Things Fall Apart?
Okonkwo kills himself because of the
grief of betrayal from the members of his
tribe who refused to fight against the
Englishmen. Out of his stern values of
manhood, Okonkwo commits suicide.
2018
Q1: Describe the picture painted by Kurtz
in Africa.
Kurtz painted a picture at the front of a
house that depicted a lady carrying a
torch. Here, the torch has been used as a
symbol of spreading the light of
civilization by Kurtz. Source
Q2: What do the two ladies Marlow met at
Brussels symbolize?
Two knitting women whom Marlow saw in
Brussels were knitting through a black
thread. The two women symbolize for the
Fates in Greek mythology, spinning their
thread of life and cut it at their own
will. Source
Q3: What is ‘The Bottoms’ in ‘Sons and
Lovers’ by D. H. Lawrence?
The Bottoms is a neighbouring place of
Bestwood. This place is particularly
known for the residence of the Morel
family. Source
Q4: Describe the setting of the novel
‘Sons and Lovers’ by D. H. Lawrence.
The novel mostly revolves around
Bestwood, the mining area and the Willy
Farms in which Paul, for the first time,
eye-witnesses his beloved for the first
time.
Q5: What is the age of Lily Briscoe when
the novel opens?
Lily is 34 years old when the novel opens.
Q6: How did Prue Ramsay die?
Prue Ramsay died during a disease while
giving birth to her child.
Q7: When and why was the Feast of the
New Yam held?
The Feast of the New Yam was held
before harvest to honour the goddess of
the earth. Source
Q8: What advice was given to Okonkwo
by Ezeudu?
Ezeudu, a village elder gave advice to
Okonkwo to abstain from killing
Ikemefuna because the boy regarded
Okonkwo as his father. Source
Q9: What is the role of Simon in ‘Lord of
the Flies’?
The role of Simon in Lord of the Flies is to
depict the religious saintness of truth and
light.
Q10: When and where was William
Golding born?
William Golding was born in Newquay,
United Kingdom in 1911.
2017
Q1: What is the symbolic significance of
the voyage of Marlow into the heart of
Africa?
According to some critical estimates, the
journey of Marlow into the darkness of
Congo can be considered as a symbol of
the redemption of evil or sin through the
light of goodness (mainly for
Kurtz). Source
Q2: How does Marlow dispose of the
African helmsman’s body?
Marlow disposes the dead body of the
helmsman to the side of a ship. His action
results in the morning of the cannibals for
the loss of meal. Source
Q3: How did Mrs. Morel die?
Gertrude Morel was given a medicine by
her children that ended her life because
her children, especially her son could not
see her in pain.
Q4: Why does Paul waver in his feelings
toward Miriam?
Paul puts a halt to his feelings towards
Miriam due to his close association with
his mother and Miriam’s inability to fulfil
his sexual needs.
Q5: Who is William Bankes in To The
Lighthouse?
William Bankes is a friend of Mr. Ramsay
who knows about Mr. Ramsay from his
childhood. He has no children and is a
widower. He befriends Lily Briscoe while
inwardly, he ‘adores’ Mrs. Ramsay. View
Source
Q6: Write the title of the three sections in
to The Lighthouse.
The sections in To the Lighthouse are
written below:
The Window
Time Passes
To the Lighthouse
Q7: What was the most significant trait of
Mr. Brown in Things Fall Apart?
Mr. Brown was the first white Englishman
who began Christianity missions in
Umophia. He was a kind person who paid
respect to the religious customs of the
Umophian people than the new
missionary leader. Source
Q8: What does Okonkwo think about his
son Novoye?
Okonkwo thinks that his son lacks the
traits of masculinity.
Q9: What is the use of Conch for the boys
is Lord of the Flies?
Conch has been used as an indication for
the call of assembling the lost boys and
children in the lost island. The Conch shell
also symbolizes for power and authority.
Q10: Who killed Simon?
The pack of Jack killed Simon by taking
him for the ‘concerned’ terrifying beast.
2016
Q1: Why was Marlow’s aunt triumphant?
Marlowe’s aunt was triumphant on the
colonization of the Congo. She believed
that the savages were being made
civilized through the colonial power of
Europe. Source
Q2: What was Marlow referring to when
he said that there was a touch of insanity
in the proceeding?
Marlowe was referring to the captivating
madness of the African jungle which lured
the colonizing powers to lose their minds
and their plung into “the horror”. Source
Q3: What advice did Okonkwo give to
Ezinma when they were in Mbanta?
Okonkwo advised his daughter not to
follow the footsteps of Novoye by
changing the religion. He also asked her
not to marry until they return
Umophia. Source
Q4: What were the name given to the first
two children, Okonkwo got in Mbanta?
The first child was given the name of
Nneka which meant “Mother is Supreme”
while the second child was named Nwofia
which translated as “Born in the
Wilderness”.
Q5: Who were the important intellectuals
included in the Bloomsbury group?
The important intellectuals who were
included in the Bloomsbury group were
Virginia Woolf, her husband Leonard
Woolf, a biographer Lytton Strachey,
Virginia’s sister Vanessa Bell.
Q6: After Mrs. Ramsay’s death, who
seemed to be the uniting force in “To The
Lighthouse”?
It was Lily Briscoe who seemed to be a
uniting force after the death of Mrs.
Ramsay because she rather kept the
presence of Mrs. Ramsay through her
painting.
Q7: What was Ralph’s father?
According to Ralph, his father was a
commander in the navy. He thought that
his father would come there and rescue
them as he took a leave from his
job. Source
Q8: What was the significance of the
shell according to Piggy?
According to Piggy, the conch shell can
serve as a tool to ‘call an assembly’ of the
lost boys. Piggy sees the Conch as a tool
of democratic gathering.
Q9: What did Mrs. Morel discover about
her husband after marriage?
After marriage, Gertrude Morel discovered
that her husband had not paid rent of the
house and did not clear the bill of the Q5: List the name of three sections of To
furniture. She also learned that her the Lighthouse.
husband was badly in debt and he was See Q6 in 2017.
not a wealthy person. Q6: How did the Children feel about Mr.
Q10: How did Mrs. Morel die? Tansley?
Already answered Children felt as if Mr. Tansley was in a
miserable condition or a “sarcastic brut”.
2015 Children used to mock Mr. Tansley
because of his funny appearance. Source
Q1: Why does the Russian nurse Kurtz Q7: Concisely describe the argument of
through two illnesses in Heart of boys regarding beast in Lord of the
Darkness? Flies?
The Russian harlequin nurses Kurtz during Kindly refer to Q3 in 2020
his illness because he is a great admirer Q8: Why is Simon the only one to doubt
of Kurtz. According to him, Kurtz is the existence of the beast?
civilizing the African Natives. Therefore, Simon is the only one in the pack who
he does not want to let Kurtz die. uses his ‘thinking hat’ for the critical
Q2: Why does Kurtz give Marlow papers evaluation of certain situations. Therefore,
before he dies? he is quick to think of the doubt because
Kurtz gives Marlow some confidential he does not deem its presence
papers to be kept safe because Kurtz logical. Source
does not want his leftovers to be Q9: Why doesn’t Okonkwo have any
occupied by the manager. More Short patience with his father in Things Fall
Questions Apart?
Q3: What first job did William get? Okonkwo does not show any patience for
William got appointment as a clerk in his father due to his excessive drinking
London at first. Source and lack of masculine traits.
Q4: Why doesn’t Mrs. Morel get any help Q10: Evaluate Okonkwo’s reputation in
from her in-laws? the nine villages of Umuofia.
Gertrude Morel does not seek financial aid Okonkwo is known as a powerful person
from her in-laws because of their dismal who is good at wrestling. He once threw a
financial conditions as her in-laws already seven year champion Amalinze the Cat
think that Morels are leading a good which further increased his reputation as
financial life. Source a strong wrestler. Source

Character Sketch of Kurtz in Heart of

Darkness
By Asad Imran
October 11, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Kurtz?
Kurtz is the protagonist of importance in
Heart of Darkness. He works as an agent to
collect ivory from the dark heart of Africa,
Congo. Mr. Kurtz is known for his sheer
strength of ambition (of collecting ivory
obviously) as well as his refined eloquence.
He is overly greedy in his shade of ambitions.
His character is important in this novel
because it is his character, which is used to
display the inner darkness of the human soul.
Let us discuss in detail about Mr. Kurtz.
His Reputation
Kurtz’ reputation is mostly positive but it
differs from character to character. The
accountant considers Mr. Kurtz as a “first-
class agent” as well as a “very remarkable
man”. According to the manager of the trading
company, Mr. Kurtz is the best agent of the
company. The Brick-Maker ranks Kurtz as a
wonderful man. He asserts that Kurtz is a
representative of pity, of science, of progress,
and “devil knows of what else”. The narrator of
the story (Marlow), at first, is annoyed by the
constant mentions of the importance of Kurtz
for the company and for the natives, but, later,
he grows his own interest to see and know
about Mr. Kurtz. But the narration of Marlow
reveals that Mr. Kurtz is “hollow at the core”.
In the next heading, we shall try to gauge why
Mr. Kurtz is hollow at the core.
His Sense of Ownership
We are told by the manager that Kurtz is highly
possessive. He is heard many times saying,
My ivory, my intended, my station,
my river, …
From this dialogue of Kurtz, it becomes
obvious that he is deeply trapped in his dark
sense of ownership of almost everything at
his disposal. And he can go to every length to
protect what he “owns”. Another thing to note
is that Kurtz mentions the ownership of ivory
before his intended. Thus, showing his
immense passion to collect ivory as much as
he wants. But it is much more than what Mr.
Kurtz owns. He owns the souls of the natives.
For instance, the skulls hanging in front of his
cottage are of those people who went against
his wishes or revolted against him. The
hanging skulls are his symbol of his godly
power over people and their property. Marlow
wonders when everything of the jungle
belongs to him, to whom Mr. Kurtz belongs to?
See the fourth heading for the answer.
His Pathetic Physique
Kurtz physical inflation is revealed when he is
being shifted to the steamer Marlow is the
captain of. His physical condition is quite
contradictory to his stouter reputation and
influence. He is even unable to walk. When he
rises up a little from his stretcher to disperse
the crowd, he looks like a ghost in a shroud.
From his raised hands, the bones are clearly
visible like ivory. Thus, all his might crumble
under his pathetic physique, signalling at his
fatal illness.
His Acclamation of Darkness
(in him)
Kurtz last words before dying are “Horror!
Horror!” and these words are of great
significance. His last words clearly hint at
something terrible and dark witnessed by Mr.
Kurtz during his last minutes of life. His final
words are the declaration of his dark and
devilish adventures his soul had gone through.
Such a profound level of possession over
people and property; his uncontrolled passion
for ivory and his lusty adventures during the
Marlow as a Narrator of Heart of Darkness
By Asad Imran
October 12, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Marlow?
“unspeakable rites* had made him a demonic
figure. Perhaps every aim of his life was
fulfilled, including his ivory, his river and his
station. What remained unfulfilled was his
marriage with his intended. Manifestly
speaking, his last words signify his affirmation
of his evil and primitive endeavours in the dark
continent of Africa.
Conclusion
The character of Kurtz is truly a complex one
who is evil both inwardly and outwardly yet his
soul cleans itself from its evil endeavours by
just uttering two words.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. Critical Studies of Heart of Darkness –
Famous Products – Page 233
2. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/heart-of-darkness/mr-
kurtz
It is through the narration of Marlow we come
across the story of Heart of Darkness. He is
the second narrator of the novella after the
unnamed one who introduces Marlow to the
readers. Marlow is a seaman and takes a
fancy to wander into the depths of the seas.
His passion leads him to Africa to take the
ailing Kurtz away from Congo. He narrates his
experience, problems and challenges which
were being faced by him during his voyage to
the dark continent of Africa. His narration is
considered to be the mouthpiece of Joseph
Conrad, the author of this novella.
A Mouthpiece of Conrad
Heart of Darkness is based upon the
experience of Joseph Conrad during his own
voyage to the African continent. Although the
story of the darkness is told by Marlow, it is
Conrad who is speaking in the guise of
Marlow. That is why, Marlow is referred to as
the mouthpiece of Conrad. But it must be
noted that there are certain differences
between Marlow and Conrad. Therefore,
Marlow should not be considered as a
complete replication of Conrad.
He Brings Kurtz to Life
The character and narration of Marlow is more
important than the unnamed narrator because
he is the one who brings the character of
Kurtz to life as the character of Kurtz is
important to highlight the meaning of the
novella. At first, he is rather annoyed by the
consistent mentions of Kurtz importance in
the field of collecting ivory. But as he learns
more about Kurtz, his interest in him grows.
When he first sees Kurtz, he sees him as the
“only white man” among the black Africans.
This remark comes out as Marlow’s
admiration for Kurtz. But it should be noted
that Marlow does not “idolize” Kurtz like the
Russian and does not hesitate to find faults in
Kurtz.
Marlow bluntly gives a sneak peek at the
horrible deeds done by Kurtz in exploiting the
natives and their property, not to mention the
“unspeakable rites”. Yet Marlow appears as a
controlling force for Kurtz when Marlow drags
him back to his tent and he is “not much
heavier than a child”. It is difficult to assess
that whether Marlow admires Kurtz or not
because his judgement of Kurtz continue to
change as he comes by another trait of Kurtz.
But Marlow’s judgement of Kurtz’ last words is
significant because according to him,
Kurtz was a remarkable man,”
Marlow says, because he “had
something to say” and simply “said
it”.
Thus, Marlow not only gives the readers a
chance to look into the life of Kurtz but also
into his character.
His Experiences in African
Congo
Marlow not only gives us a picture of Kurtz but
of his experiences in Africa as well. His
narration gives an ample amount of life and
challenges at work in the African Congo. He
vividly describes how Nature exists there and
how natives lead their lives remaining
uncivilized. Marlow describes the beauty of
African Nature as thus,
The edge of a colossal jungle, so
dark-green as to be almost black,
fringed with white surf, ran straight,
like a ruled line.
Marlow’s accounts of his confrontation with
the natives is also important because it shows
the natives’ devotion (or fear? ) for Kurtz. For
instance, when his steamer arrives and when
he is about to take Kurtz away, his boat is
attacked by the natives (through arrows).
Therefore, Marlow is not only a narrator, but
also moves the plot of the novella with his
actions.
As a Philosopher and
Psychologist
Another notable trait in the character of
Marlow is his philosophical and psychological
caricaturing of the people he met during his
voyage. Marlow’s ability to use his
psychological and philosophical analysis
enables him to see what exactly is in the
Significance of the Title in Heart of Darkness
minds of the characters he meets and to
speculate about the inner truth respectively.
For instance, when Marlow is knowing about
Mr. Kurtz through the brick-maker, he remarks
that through the remarks of the brick-maker,
he is unable to visualize the true picture of Mr.
Kurtz and his personality looks like a dream to
him. But, on a philosophical level, Marlow
asserts that it is impossible to sense the
essence of life at a given moment.
Conclusion
The character of Marlow is marked by his vivid
narration about his experiences in Africa, his
description of Kurtz’ character and his
philosophical and psychological analysis of
the people he saw. Therefore, it is safe to say
that without the narration of Marlow, there
would have been no Kurtz.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. Critical Studies of Heart of Darkness –
Famous Products – Page 246
2. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/heart-of-
darkness/charlie-marlow
By Asad Imran
October 14, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introduction
Heart of Darkness is a flagship novella written
by Joseph Conrad. It hit the shelves in 1899.
The novel basically narrates the story of
Belgian Imperialism upon the African natives.
The author has subtly utilized the title of the
novel which is multi-dimensional. Apparently,
the title of the novel hints at the darkest heart
of African Congo (which is the centre of
Africa). But the title is also used as a
metaphor of the destructive force of the evil.
Evil here means a number of things, like the
evil of imperialism, the evil of passion, the evil
of greediness. Moreover, Kurtz’ last words are
also important as they are directly interlinked
with the title.
Appearant Meaning
The literal meaning of the title of this novel
points at the continent of Africa and especially
its territory of Congo. The name of the dark
continent was first used by Henry Morton
Stanley. He is the man who voyaged through
the dark bushes in Africa. Due to his
contribution, the word “dark” was widely used
to refer to the continent of Africa. Although
Conrad had himself voyaged to the dark
continent in 1890. Yet he kept the dark name
despite more discoveries of the places in the
African continent. Therefore, on account of
Stanley’s contribution, Conrad named Heart of
Darkness to literally signify the dark Congo
and the dark people living in it.
Metaphorical or Symbolical
Interpretation
The second layer of the title rests in its
symbolic or metaphorical interpretation and
there are many of them. As mentioned in the
introductory paragraph of this question, the
metaphorical meaning of the title is the
destructive nature of the dark forces of the
evil. Which leads us to another rabbit-hole of
symbolic interpretation.
Firstly, it symbolizes for the evil force of
imperialism. It is obvious from the novella that
Conrad condemns imperialism. It was due to
imperialism the natives and their property was
exploited and they were kept in the dark about
it. Secondly, the title can be used as a symbol
of the evil of passion which destroys the soul.
It is vividly portrayed through Kurtz’
uncontrollable lust to collect ivory. The third
implication of the title lies in the greediness of
the Western colonizers who, in their greed to
extort as many resources as possible, destroy
the freedom of the people who are ruled by
them.
Kurtz’ Dying Words
Kurtz’ dying words allude to the corruption of
the human soul after an excessive exercise of
passion. This is exactly what the title of the
novella is referring to. It is to be noted that
heart and soul are often interlinked. Kurtz was
all after ivory and he could go to any length to
extort as much ivory as he liked, even at the
expense of the lives of the people. It must be
noted that before the arrival of Kurtz in Africa,
he was a man of fine manners. But after
stepping Into Africa, he lost every civilized part
of him for the sake of fulfilling his passion and
his primitive desires. The truth dawns upon
him as soon as the angel of death approaches
him. Therefore, his last words are of
considerable importance in the context of the
title of this novella.
Heart of Darkness as a Condemnation of
Imperialism
By Asad Imran
October 15, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introduction
Heart of Darkness is a defining work of
Joseph Conrad which appeared in 1899. After
the publishing of this novella, it has received a
fair share of admiration from the literary
Conclusion
The title of the concerned novella
appropriately conveys both its literal
significance to the dark heart of Africa
(Congo) as well as its symbolic adherence to
the darkness of the soul during its stay in the
human flesh.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-
subjects/group-v/english-literature/10184-
heart-darkness-significance-title.html
2. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/heart-of-
darkness/analysis/title
giants like T. S. Eliot and Ernest Hemingway.
The novella is famous for its distinctive
treatment of colonialism and imperialism of
Belgium over the dark continent of Africa. On
one side, the novella is praised for the
condemnation of Imperialism while the
opponents find this novella favouring the
European Imperialism. Before discussing at
length about the particular problem in the
novella, first, we have to make it clear that
what imperialism actually is. In simple terms,
imperialism is the utilization of the resources
(both people and their property) of the weak
nation by the strong and developed nation. A
common example of imperialism is the British
colonization of the Indian Subcontinent.
Examples against
Imperialism
The very first example of Conrad’s
condemnation of Imperialism is the title of the
novella. He indirectly considers imperialism as
a heart of darkness. It is a heart of darkness
because it ultimately leaves both the
colonizers and the colonized in the deepest pit
of the darkness of failure and problems. For
instance, the Britishers came to the Indian
Subcontinent as traders and reformers but
when they left, they left with an egg on their
face and the rushed division lead to a mass
massacre that history seems unable to forget.
And there have been three major wars
between the two who were once one.
Turning back to the novella, it condemns
colonization of the African people and the
Belgian exploitation of their ivory and the
people. The Belgian trade masters arrived at
the African continent to ‘civilize’ the natives
but they themselves became the victims of
primitive desires. Conrad condemns their
merciless killing of the natives and extortion
of ivory for their own luxury.
Examples in Favour of
Imperialism
The other side of this novella is rather
controversial as it displays Conrad favouring
imperialism. Kurtz’ dying words are a great
contribution to it as Marlow, the narrator of the
novel suggests that his dying words denote to
the purgation of his soul. The very idea of the
purgation of Kurtz’ soul from his evil doings
gives a slightly stouter affirmation of Marlow
(or Conrad) favouring imperialism. Another
instance comes in the form of the painting on
Kurtz’ cottage painted by himself. The painting
shows a woman holding a torch. This painting
is a direct symbol of the spreading the light of
civilization to the ones who are not cultured. It
is one of the prime motives behind
imperialism and the painting of Kurtz openly
supports it. Due to the very examples from the
text, this novella is regarded as a piece of
work that favours imperialism.
Conrad’s own Experience of
Imperialism
Conrad grew up in Russian Imperialism on
Poland. His parents were an active members
of the movement of freedom. Therefore, he
and his family were exiled to Siberia. Such
banishment must have left a lasting hatred for
imperialism. Therefore, he chose the
profession to voyage on the sea because he
found openness and freedom in it. He
voyaged to Africa in 1890 at a time when it
was ruled by many colonial powers but his
cannon of critique was pointed at Leopold, a
ruthless Belgian ruler who used the Central
African portion as his personal property. Upon
seeing the plight of the natives and having
himself experienced the cold banishment, the
writing of this novella is surely an outcome of
his detest of imperialism to a greater extent.
Conclusion
Symbols of Knitting, River and Fog in Heart of
Darkness
By Asad Imran
October 16, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introduction
Heart of Darkness is a novella that features
the primitive darkness of the African tribes
during the 1890s under the Shadow of
darkness in England in “yesterday”. The
novella carries a number of symbols to
highlight the themes of imperialism and
greediness. Before tracing out symbols in
Heart of Darkness, we have to discover first
that what is a symbol exactly. A symbol is a
It is difficult to reach to a definitive conclusion
that Heart of Darkness favours imperialism or
is against it. But it surely portrays the sombre
picture of the colonized natives.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. Critical Studies of Heart of Darkness –
Famous Products – Page 264
2. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1995
trouble-with-heart-of-darkness
literary device that uses common things to
denote to someone or something. Like rose is
a symbol of love. Here are different symbols
are hidden in this novella to be traced.
Women
The women of significance in the novella are
Kurtz’ intended and the African woman. Both
of them have been used as the symbol of the
blank canvas on which their culture and
wealth is displayed.
Knitting
Two women knitting through black threads in
the office of the Company at Brussels have
been utilized as the symbol of the upcoming
darkness in the novella. The women are
depicted knitting the shrouds, thus suggesting
the ultimate darkness is death. While their
indifference towards Marlow hints at the
indifference of the colonizers with the
colonized and death.
Fog
The season of fog is just a month away. When
fog envelops everything on its way, it is
difficult to find a way out. But unlike darkness,
it gives slight information on where to
navigate. Fog, in this novella, is a symbol of a
mild obstruction, signalling at the movement
but does not tell what exactly lies ahead. For
instance, Marlow’s steamer is caught in the
fog and he is unable to see whether the sea is
before him or something else.
River
The symbol of the river hints directly at the
Congo River which connects Europe with the
middle of Africa without having them to cross
the sea. The river streams upwards, thus
making sailing from Europe to Africa, a
difficult task. Thus, trying to keep the
European intruders away and to send them
back to the “civilization”. But its upward flow is
also a symbol of Kurtz’ inability to understand
the gravity of his wrong-doings. Thus, keeping
him in the dark until his soul surrogates itself
from “the horrors” practised by its human
flesh.
Darkness
Darkness not only lies in the title of this
novella but also in its core protagonist (Kurtz).
The character of Kurtz has been used as a
symbol of the darkness of the ruthless
colonizers. But it lies in the heart of Kurtz as
well who is unable to realize his ill-doings in
the guise of his uncontrollable passion for
collecting ivory. Thus, the symbol of darkness
has multiple interpretations.
Drums
The “weird, appealing, suggestive, wild” sound
of the drumbeats symbolize the celebration or
a signal of the arrival of something or the
signal of the war. It is difficult to get the exact
meaning of the drumbeats being pounded in
the novella but they vaguely denote to “war,
peace, or prayer”
Ivory
The dark continent of Africa had a great
appeal for the extortors of ivory. In this
novella, ivory has been utilized as a symbol of
the greed of the Western colonizers. It is
suggested that the wild passion for the
collection of ivory is the primary reason
behind the evil-doings of Kurtz. Therefore, the
lust for ivory has been used as an indirect
symbol of the motive behind imperialism.
Conclusion
Conrad has appropriately utilized the symbols
of knitting, river, ivory and darkness which
nicely extends the scope of the interpretation
of Heart of Darkness.
Character Sketch of Ralph in Lord of the Flies
By Asad Imran
October 17, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Ralph?
Ralph is a protagonist of great significance in
Golfing’s novel, Lord of the Flies. He is a boy of
twelve years who is selected as a leader of the
other boys who were cast upon the unknown
island. He is wise, brave and somewhat
authoritative. As far as his physical traits are
concerned, he has ‘fair hair’ and is physically
‘attractive’. His character has been used as a
symbol of law and order in the civilized world.
A Fine Leader
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Heart-of-
Darkness/symbols/
2. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/heart-of-
darkness/symbols/
Ralph emerges as a fine leader of the boys
when the leadership is thrust upon him (due to
his good looks?). As he himself thinks, his
concept of leadership goes like this:
if you a chief, you to think, you to be
wise you to grab at a decision.
Under his leadership, Ralph strives to unite
every boy under his umbrella. As soon as he
gets the charge, he orders to build a shelter to
protect the kids, to light up the fire at the top
of the hill so that they might be rescued. He
uses a conch shell to summon up other boys
for a meeting. He befriends Piggy to seek
intellectual guidance when it is needed. Thus,
Ralph proves to be a fine leader but his
leadership is constantly challenged by his
antagonist, Jack.
A Courageous Child
Ralph is quite courageous when it is
demanded by the occasion. His courage is
shown by his authoritative confidence when
the signal fire goes off and he chides the ones
who are responsible for it. But he is a child
with a mild temperament and he wants a
peaceful community because peace is
necessary for them to come out of the trouble
of being separated. But his peaceful order is
consistently challenged by the pack of Jack
and consequently, Ralph is left alone because
his mates are fond of primitive rituals.
A Savage from the Inside
Ralph, the apostle of civilization has some
serious shortcomings. When time goes by,
Ralph himself launches into the primitive
mindsets when he is left alone. It is worth
noting that when the boys were left scattered
in the unknown island, Ralph was quite happy
to find himself free to do “anything” but he
was caged in the responsibilities of being a
leader. But when he is free from the burden of
the leadership, the first thing he accomplishes
is to undress himself naked,
He became conscious of the weight
of clothes, kicked his shoes off
fiercely and ripped off each
stocking with its elastic garter in a
single movement. Then he leapt
back on the terrace, pulled off his
shirt, and stood there among the
skull-like coconuts with green
shadows from the palms and forest
sliding over his skin. He undid the
snake-clasp of his belt, lugged off
his shorts and pants, and stood
there naked, looking at the dazzling
beach and the water.
Ralph’s tearing of his wardrobes is the first
step in savagery. But when Ralph’s body is
stained by the blood in the process of hunting,
he finds pleasure in hunting.
Hunting was good after all.
The beast inside him lives in the full swing
when he, along with the pack of Jack “hunts”
Simon. After being acutely ashamed of his
savagery, Ralph becomes aware of the fallen
and primitive nature of the whole mankind and
he thinks only the naval officer has the ability
to rescue him and the other boys who are
surrounded by the “Lord of the Flies”.
Conclusion
Despite his serious flaws, Ralph is still an
important personage who denotes the
Kurtzian as well as Marlowian trait of
humanity.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgfcxsg/revision/2
Character Sketch of Jack in Lord of the Flies
By Asad Imran
October 18, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Jack?
The complete name of Jack is Jack Merridew.
Jack emerges as the antagonist of Golding’s
novel, Lord of the Flies who strives to fail
every constrictive task of Ralph. As far as his
physical features are concerned, he has red
hair, blue eyes and he is the tallest of all the
boys lost in the unknown island not to
mention his bony posture. He is “iron-willed”
and authoritative. Before being lost on the
island, Jack is the head boy of his school.
Therefore, he does not want his authority to be
challenged by Ralph. The character of Jack
has been used as a symbol of savagery and
lust for power.
An Apostle of Evil
Jack is the voice of the primitive desires and
the evil associated with it. His spree of evil
2. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/lord-of-the-flies/ralph
3. https://lotf.fandom.com/wiki/Ralph
begins when he is not chosen as the head of
the English boys. Although he seems to be a
civilized kid when he, himself asserts that,
We’ve got to have rules and obey
them. After all, we’re not savages.
We’re English, and the English are
best at everything.
This is a problematic statement as it puts
Jack among the civilized people who follow
law and order. But the problem is solved in
“English are the best at everything”, indirectly
saying that he was worthy of the power
because he was good at singing “C sharp”. In
order to claim the power, he utilizes horse-
trading and other uncivilized tactics like
painting himself. Jack’s evil nature is further
amplified due to his red hair (a symbol of evil)
and angry, and vengeful eyes. But is Jack
thoroughly evil? Perhaps he played a game
which went wrong,
 He laid the conch with great care in his order. Ralph carries everyone along with

the grass at his feet. The him while Jack carries his own desires with
others. But their difference ends Ralph tears
humiliating tears were running from
his clothes apart and paints himself like Jack.
the corner of each eye.
Both of them try to extend the limit of
“I’m not going to play any longer. savagery. Therefore, Jack’s influence of
Not with you.” savagery is much stronger as it holds a child
of reason, Ralph.
Perhaps Jack is shameful of things getting
out of control from his hands.
Conclusion
His Ruthless Ruling For the most part, Jack lacks the innocence of
a child which turns him into a savage beast.
Jack gains power over Ralph by hook and
But, in the end, he shows his childish mildness
crook. But he proves to be a ruthless ruler who
when he announces to end the “game” which
can do everything for blood. He keeps a knife
went out of his hands.
with him. At first, he feels hesitant to kill the
pig. Yet he gathers the courage to pierce his
Sources and Suggested
knife into it. It is his love for blood that attracts
more boys because the other ones are Readings
profoundly drawn by the slogan,
1. https://lotf.fandom.com/wiki/Jack_Merridew
2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgfc
Kill the pig, cut his throat, spil his
3. https://www.eng-
blood.
literature.com/2021/01/jack-lord-of-the-
flies.html
He is rather intoxicated in his power and
4. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
primitive desires. He sits like an “idol”. And he
guides/literature/lord-of-the-flies/jack
is unable to realize the gravity of the feast of
killing which leads to the murder of Simon.

An Antithesis of Ralph

Jack is quite an antithesis of Ralph. Where

Ralph stands as the voice of civilization and
reason, Jack emerges as a symbol of evil and
not-so-urban nature. Ralph uses Conch to
unite his boys, Jack uses his knife to impose
Significance of the Title in Lord of the Flies
By Asad Imran
October 19, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
General Introduction
Lord of the Flies is a notable work of a British
novelist, William Golding. The book hit the
shelves in 1954. Golding won Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1983 on the basis of the very
novel. The title of the novel has a multi-
dimensional significance. The first title of this
novel was Strangers from Within. Later, it was
changed with Lord of the Flies. Although Lord
of the Flies is used as a literal translation of a
devil Beelzebub, who is also known as Lord of
the Dirt, the novel derives its title from the
molested skull of a pig that is surrounded by
the flies. After breaking the title apart, we
come to know that the word ‘Lord’ is
associated with power while flies are often
used as a symbol of decay and death. Thus,
the collective and literal meaning of the title is
decay and death with competition for power.
Thematic Significance
The title of the novel plays a central role in
explaining the theme of the novel. The central
theme of the novel is the evil associated with
power and authority. This theme is further
made clear by Jack who is depicted adoring
Satan. He is hungry for power and authority,
and can go to any length to claim his order.
Perhaps he is like the Satan in Paradise Lost
who wages a battle against God. But this time,
God can be taken for civilization. His attempt
to claim power is made successful by his
brutal lust of blood which attracts more boys
and even Ralph. The theme of the conflict
between evil and good is transitioned into
rescuing of evil through the feast of evil when
a naval officer comes for them to rescue.
Allegorical Significance
The title is allegorical in the sense of
illustrating evil as a primary driving force of
humanity. It must be noted that Golding wrote
this novel at a critical time when the whole
world had barely come out from the
tremendous damage caused by the humans to
the humans and their properties, and the cold
war between Russia and the US was in its
action. The two tribes may allegorically signify
the conflict between the Capitalists and the
Socialists through Ralph’s ‘civilized’ rule and
Jack’s uncivilized rule respectively. The boys
allegorically stand for the whole of humanity
and the island as the whole world.
Simon’s “Realization”
The realization of Simon plays a key role in
explaining the nature of the title of this novel.
In his hallucination, Lord of the Flies orders
him not to stay there and join the hunting
party because Simon belongs to them. Simon,
who can be considered as the inner voice of
civilization, later emerges as the inner voice of
the evil, spanning over the whole of mankind.
You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of
you?
Just after the realization of “Simon”, a pack of
the boys misunderstand him as the breast and
kill him in the most uncivilized and animalistic
ways possible. His murder signifies that the
values of civilization end when the evil
becomes an inherent part of humanity.
Naval Officer’s Limitations
At the end of the novel, a naval officer
happens to rescue them through the smoke
when the whole jungle is set on fire. He is
flared up to witness the savagery of the “most
civilized nation”. He scolds all the boys for
forgetting the civilized ways of leading their
Lord of the Flies as an Allegory
lives. He fails to get the wind of the terrible
experience the boys had gone through. He
even fails to recognize the evil lingering inside
him because he is a soldier who fights wars
and war is the ultimate showdown of the evil
living inside humans. Because,
Wars don’t decide who will win. It
only decides who is left.
Conclusion
The title of this novel is so important that
without the title, it is difficult to understand the
central idea of the novel that is the
development of the evil inside the flesh of
humanity.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/lord-of-the-
flies/analysis/title
2. http://pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeyn
3. http://yazdaliterature.com/lord-of-flies-by-
william-golding-meaning-of-the-title-
allegorical-novel-title-significance-and-
themes/
4. https://www.literaturexpres.com/justify-
the-title-of-the-novel-lord-of-the-flies/
By Asad Imran
October 20, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introductory
Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a novel
that is known by the stinky flies as well as the
allegory it keeps. An allegory is a story within
a story. Which means it contains different
layers of stories and meanings into it.
Apparently, Lord of the Flies looks like a gorey
adventure of the little boys who were just
“playing games”. But on a deep and allegorical
level, Lord of the Flies connects itself to the
inheritance of the evil in all of mankind, an
actual tussle between different governments
around the world and lastly, with a
mythological touch to it. Let us explore the
Allegorical realm of Lord of the Flies below:
Surface Allegory
As mentioned before, an allegory carries
different layers of meanings and/or stories
inside the outward mask of the actual story.
On the surface and symbolic level, Lord of the
Flies stands as the growth of evil and anarchy
among all human beings. The naked boys
carrying spears represent the whole of
humanity. The unknown island allegorically
stands for the whole world. While the “pig-
hunting” can be termed as a general allegory
of wars and the evil associated with it.
Political Allegory
The second peculiar layer of allegory in
Golding’s novel is rather political. Golding
wrote this novel at a time when the whole
world was struggling to recover from the fatal
wounds of the Second World War and the cold
war began to pierce its lethal paws around the
globe. The war was basically between the
Capitalist United States of America and
Communist Russia. Political allegory in this
novel is made evident through the consistent
fight between the league of Jack and Ralph.
Ralph and his team (Piggy and Simon)
showcase the rule of civilization and
democracy. Whereas the league of Jack (and
Roger) politically allegorizes for a totalitarian
regime where the ruler decides what is best
for the public. From the very analysis of the
political allegory hidden inside the novel, it
becomes clear that the league of Ralph stands
for the democratic ruling of the USA while the
violent league of Jack may stand for the
communist rule of Russia.
Mythological Allegory
The third and rather inobvious layer of allegory
in this novel relates to the mythological
interpretation of the novel. As mentioned in
the Significance of the Title in Lord of the
Flies, the title refers to Beelzebub whose name
translates to Lord of the Flies. But the conduct
of Jack amplifies the significance of
mythological allegory as he directly adores
Satan who went against the decree of God
and attempted to enflame a battlefield against
Him. Thereby, Satan is considered a direct
symbol of evil and the Good wins against the
evil. But the allegorical difference is further
made clear by the victory of evil through the
means of evil as Ralph falls a victim to the
web of savagery Jack knitted for him and the
other boys to amplify his power and authority.
Conclusion
Conclusively asserting, Lord of the Flies is an
exceptional allegory which not only highlights
Character Sketch of Okonkwo in Things Fall
Apart
By Asad Imran
October 21, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Who is Okonkwo?
Okonkwo is the sole protagonist of
importance in Achebe’s novel, Things Fall
Apart. Okonkwo is a fierce warrior with three
skulls hanging on his belt. He is the son of a
person known as Unoka who used to borrow
and spend money without much
consideration. Okonkwo earns his name in
the darkness of the evil hidden inside human
beings, but also demoting to the political crisis
of the time when this novel was published.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Lord-of-
the-Flies/context/
2. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/flies/mini-
essays/
3. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/lord-of-the-
flies/analysis/symbolism-imagery-allegory
Umophia and Mabanta on the basis of hard
work and his strong powers. He gives
unnecessary importance to the values of
manhood. As far as his physical features are
concerned, he is tall, strong and looks exactly
like a person always in anger. Okonkwo is so
bad-tempered that he uses his fists before he
talks. Let’s explore his character in detail:
Made by Himself through
Action
Okonkwo is a person who is known for his
own efforts. He, by any means, did not like to
be an exact disciple of his father who was a
lazy person and he was fond of drinking.
Okonkwo, on the other hand, is quite opposite
to the lazy image of his father. He believes in
the values of manhood which are courage and
bravery like the lion, in the battlefield, marrying
as many wives as possible, acquiring a high
status in society. It must be noted that
Okonkwo’s father was not a respected
personality among Umofians and he had won
no titles. Therefore, to climb the social ladder,
Okonkwo had to start from scratch to build up
his reputation in the Umofian community.
The first important milestone in rising to high
orders came in the form of Okonkwo throwing
a seven-year champion, Amalinze the Cat, out
of the wrestling ring. Such a victory alone
awarded him with a distinct title of “Roaring
Flames”. Okonkwo, then, emerged as a
wealthy farmer of yams and then, a
messenger to Mbaino, Okonkwo not only
“won” a boy known as Ikemefuna, but also a
beautiful virgin who became his third wife. It is
baffling to see how his father was ignored by
the Umofian tribes but Okonkwo not only got
himself noticed, but also climbed the social
leader with such a great success that
Okonkwo was chosen to be one of the
egwugwu.
A Consistent Hard Worker
Okonkwo utilizes his physical might to turn
him into a wealthy person. Okonkwo does not
inherit any piece of land from his father. He
gets one based on his own image. He works
tirelessly from dawn to dusk on his farms and
considers it a kind of worship. His first
attempt to attain a hefty crop of yams is
marred by long droughts. While his second
attempt is swept by fierce rains which compel
a farmer to hang himself but Okonkwo is not
demotivated by it,
Since I survived that year, I shall
survive anything.
And his hard work is finally paid off in a
handsome amount of money.
His Stern Belief in the Values
of Manhood – His Tragic Flaw
Okonkwo gets what he desires for, wives,
children, social status, health and wealth. But
his social influence slowly adds pride in him.
But still this does not contribute as a tragic
flaw in him. His actual tragic flaw is his stern
adherence to his own values of manhood. For
instance, Okonkwo is consistently advised by
Ezeudu not to kill Ikemefuna,
That boy calls you father…. Bear no
hand in his death.
But Okonkwo murders his son only to prove himself assuming he is the only man left in the
his “manhood”. village who can do nothing.

In order to make his son Novoye, as good a Conclusion

‘man’ as Okonkwo is, Okonkwo treats his
family strictly. If someone goes against his Okonkwo wins the hearts of the readers
wishes, he does not even hesitate from through his unparalleled hard work but he also
beating, even his own wife. Due to Okonkwo’s disappoints them with his lack of compassion
hostile behaviour, Novoye gradually turns for his family, only to show his love for the
against his father and when he learns that values of manhood.
Okonkwo is the murderer of his brother friend,
Ikemefuna, he converts to Christianity. Sources and Suggested
Okonkwo’s tragic finale occurs when he, along
Readings
with other reverend people of the Umofian
tribe are arrested, beaten and released.
1. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
Okonkwo motivates his people to fight a final
guides/literature/things-fall-
war against the English missionaries for
apart/okonkwo
molesting their gods and for arresting, and
2. https://www.eng-
beating the respectable members of the
literature.com/2019/04/okonkwo-as-
Umofian clan. But in return, his own people
tragic-hero-in-chinua-achebe-things-fall-
back himself out. He is saddened to see the
apart-character.html
“feministic” traits in his ‘men’ and he hangs

Symbols and Themes in Achebe’s Things Fall

Apart
By Asad Imran
October 22, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel

Things Fall Apart is one of the defining works

General Introduction of an African author, Chinua Achebe. The
novel hit the shelves in 1958. The novel
showcases life in Africa before English
colonization as well as how English colonizers
occupied and destroyed the Igbo culture. The
book became a tremendous success and
received a positive appraisal around the globe.
A contributing factor behind the success of
the book lies in the skilful use of symbols to
highlight different themes in Things Fall
Apart.
Symbols
Fire
Fire is one of the important symbols of the
novel as this symbol is directly linked to
Okonkwo. It must be noted that one of
Okonkwo’s titles is “Roaring Flames”.
Therefore, the symbol of fire signifies
Okonkwo’s rage and his physical vigour. When
Okonkwo is short on words to show off his
wrath, he does not hesitate from using his
fists first. Okonkwo also terms his son,
Novoye, an ash that has come out of the fierce
fire, thus hinting at Okonkwo’s disregard for
his own son.
Locusts
The arrival of locusts plays an important role
in highlighting the arrival of English
missionaries. Thus, locusts have been used as
a symbol for the arrival of the English people.
Just like locusts cover the sunlight and bring
darkness in broad daylight, Englishmen bring
despair and decision to the Igbo culture. But it
must be noted that the natives are fond of
enjoying locusts as a snack which can signify
the establishment of schools for the natives.
Yams
Yams are difficult and challenging to grow and
to make a profit from. Yam is utilized as a
symbol of manly-vigour and respect. Okonkwo
sows the seeds of yams, hoping to climb the
social ladder from it. But two attempts are
brutally quashed by droughts and heavy rains
respectively. But on his third attempt, he
becomes successful in scoring a handsome
amount of yams, which enables him to climb
the social ladder.
Themes
Cultural Change
It depends on the reader of the novel whether
Things Fall Apart denotes to the cultural
change or cultural destruction. However, the
title of the novel denotes to the destruction of
the Igbo culture through colonial powers and it
is the main theme of this novel. The Umophian
clan has a distinct culture to observe like the
harvest festival, their distinctive system of
justice via Egwugwus, their dance, proverbs,
music and folklore. But when English
missionaries arrive, the outcasts convert to
Christianity. But it takes no time for reverend
people of the Umofian clan to embrace
Christianity and Christians don’t hesitate to
unmask an egwugwu which is quite a criminal
act in Igbo culture. But no one resists.
Betrayal
Betrayal is another notable theme of this
novel. Continuing the evaluation of the
previous paragraph, the most prominent
betrayal comes in the form of cancelling the
resistance against the Englishmen who
disrespected their gods by unmasking one
egwugwu. This betrayal results in the suicide
of Okonkwo as he is utterly dismayed by the
inaction from the reverend members of his
clans. But Okonkwo himself commits the
serious crime of betrayal by killing Ikemefuna
who called him his father even when Okonkwo
was killing him. But his own son betrays him
for murdering Ikemefuna by abandoning the
Igbo religion and converting to Christianity.
Fate vs. Free Will
This novel also sets the stage between the
battle between fate and free will. In the
religious beliefs of Igbo culture, it is believed
that a person’s fate is determined and
controlled by a personal god, formally known
as chi. Okonkwo dares to go against his chi by
Things Fall Apart as a Social Document of
Igbo Culture
By Asad Imran
working hard and through his free will, he
acquires respect, wealth and a higher social
status. However, on Ezedu’s death, Okonkwo
accidentally shoots his son and is expelled
from Umofia. Okonkwo curses his chi for
ruining his good life. This thought of his
haunts him when he is arrested and released.
Thus, Okonkwo rises through his own will, but
his downfall is concocted by his chi or fate.
Conclusion
The meanings of Things Fall Apart are made
alive through the symbol of fire which
highlights the theme of Okonkwo’s free will to
climb up in his social circle as well as with the
symbol of locusts to illustrate the theme of
the destruction of culture.
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Things_Fall_A
2. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Things-
Fall-Apart/symbols/
3. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Things-
Fall-Apart/themes/
October 23, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introduction
Africa and African people have been a
tempting subject of the extorting and
analytical eyes of the high people in Europe.
The ones with authority were attracted by the
abundance of material resources to quench
their uncontrollable thirst of luxury and the
ones with pen in their hand stood against their
own imperialism over Africa, but they painted
African people as mere savages who were
devoid of any trait of civilization.
But Things Fall Apart, which is written by a
native African writer presents African people
and their society like any other human society
on the planet earth. They have a different sets
of traditions and customs to celebrate. They
worship their own gods. They have their own
system of justice and government. They have
families to support. All of this looks quite
opposite to what is shown in Heart of
Darkness. Things Fall Apart depicts the
customs and traditions of the Igbo people.
The novel paints both the good as well as the
bad sides of the Igbo culture but also how it is
shattered by the English missionaries.
Individuals and Families
Although almost every African Clan or Tribe is
divided into different sub-tribes and villages,
yet a family system is observed so that more
children are produced. The concept of school
education is unknown before the arrival of
English missionaries. A male individual can
become a fierce warrior, a wrestler and a
farmer. Through the rise of Okonkwo, it is
revealed that everyone can climb up the social
ladder. But in order to acquire a good name as
a man, he must marry more than two wives;
he must throw a known and powerful wrestler
(also determines the number of wives) and
lastly, he should successfully harvest the crop
yams.
Speaking of harvest, the Umofian people are
fond of festivals and one of them is the
Harvest Festival. This festival is celebrated in
honour of their earth goddess and for the
successful cultivation of the crops of yam.
The festival is also characterized by the
wrestling matches it holds as well as the
marriages taking place in it.
Status of Women
It is difficult to estimate the comprehensive
status of women in Umofian Society because
of the prevailing contradictions. But for the
most part, the status of women is not good.
For the men of Umofia, the very term, ‘woman’
or ‘Agbala’ is the symbol of weakness and
manly disgrace. A male person who is referred
to as Agbala is considered as a person of
lower significance. But it must be noted that
women in Umofia are treated as the property
of men than the women. They can be
purchased through (bride money), they can be
won by soldiers or Messengers (just like
Okonkwo won a virgin when he was sent as a
great messenger to Mbaino). A Umofian
woman has to fulfil the basic duties of
cooking the meal, taking care of her husband
but the third one is quite interesting, to search
for another wife for her husband. If there are
two or more wives living in the same house,
they live with mutual co-operation. Harming
women is strictly prohibited during the Peace
Week. That is why, Okonkwo is punished by
the priest for beating his wife.
While women are reverend and adored in
Umofia as well. Their grand goddess of earth
and fertility is a woman as well. Thus, the
status of women varies from the creature to
the “benevolent”.
Importance of Religion
Religion plays an important role in
establishing the course of action for men. In
simple words, Umofians believe that their
actions are already determined by their chi or
their personal god. But sacrificial of children is
rather a dismal trait of their religion. As
mentioned before, the Umofian people pay
tribute to the earth goddess during the
Harvest Festival. Their justice is put into
motion through egwugwus, the masked spirits
(basically, they are the highly respected people
of the village).
Crumbling of Umofian
Society
The novel not only showcases the climax of
Umofian traditions, but also their downfall.
Umofian society crumbles under the influence
of white missionaries. People gradually
convert to Christianity when missionaries
remain unhurt during their one month stay in
the Evil Forest. The Englishmen slowly and
gradually divide the Umofian people and
Novoye gets separated from Okonkwo as a
result of converting to Christianity. The
mission transitions into government. Mr.
Smith, a dogmatic believer of Christianity
commits the most “unforgivable” crime of
blasphemy by unmasking one of the
egwugwus. The natives are arrested and
beaten up by kotmas for taking action against
the blasphemy. The rule of the English is so
strong and influential that the respected
people of Umofia back out of Okonkwo’s call
of war. Okonkwo’s friend Obierika
appropriately asserts,
He has put a knife on the things that
held us together and we have fallen
apart.
Conclusion
In documenting a realistic caricaturing of the
social life of Igbo people, the novel helps
achieve a more human approach towards the
perception of the life of African people which
was stained by the spot of primitiveness and
savagery, especially levelled by Heart of
Darkness
Sources and Suggested
Readings
1. https://www.diva-
portal.org/smash/record.jsf?
pid=diva2%3A648320&dswid=-8470
2. http://askliterature.com/novel/significance-
of-things-fall-apart-as-a-social-document-
traditional-igbo-life/

Comparison of Things Fall Apart with Heart of

Darkness
By Asad Imran
October 24, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel

against the African land by calling it a heart of

Introduction darkness and evil.

Both Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness

present the outcome of the evil of colonialism
Things Fall Apart, on the other hand, is written
in Africa. But there is a critical difference
to heal the reputation and identity of the
between the two as Things Fall Apart is
African people which is wounded by the
written in response to Conrad’s Heart of
narratives of European authors. The Igbo
Darkness. Achebe, the author of Things Fall
people not only have a distinct culture, religion
Apart, accuses Conrad to be “bloody racist” in
and role of men and women, but they also
his Heart of Darkness. It is, no doubt, a grand
lead their lives like normal human beings. But
claim. But upon a closer inspection of
the focus of attention in Things Fall Apart is,
Conrad’s novel, it is revealed on the readers
well, demoting to the imperialistic influences
that despite condemning Belgian imperialism,
which shattered their culture and life apart.
Heart of Darkness shows the African nation
Let’s explore the nature of both of these works
reduced from their human stature to the
in detail:
savages and companions of the evil. Even the
title of this novel possesses colonial bias
Cultural Exposure
As far as Heart of Darkness is concerned,
there is little to nothing portrayed regarding
the natives of Congo that may highlight the
culture of the people living in Congo other
than their “unspeakable rites”. The novella is
notorious for its racist treatment of the
natives by indirectly referring to them as being
primitive and savages. Also, their language
remains in the shadows of the dark as only
two words are spoken by the natives which
are “Mistah Kurtz – He dead. ” and “Catch im
Eat im” (uttered by a Cannibal). Thus, in Heart
of Darkness, the Africans are portrayed devoid
of expression, intelligence and vigour.
Things Fall Apart gives a much clearer and
detailed picture of the life of African people,
especially of the ones associated with the
Igbo clan. Instead of aimlessly following
orders, the African people follow the oracle of
their gods. Their system of justice is operated
by egwugwus. They have a special festival
known as The Harvest Festival which is
followed by wrestling matches, marriages,
worship of their goddess of earth and
cultivation. Wives live in harmony and children
help their parents in completing their day-to-
day tasks. Thus, this novel presents the
African nation as human beings not as
primitive creatures.
Kurtz vs. Okonkwo
Both of the protagonists are excessively
contradictory to each other. But both of them
help in explaining the meaning of the two
novels. Kurtz is an agent of ivory at the central
station. His uncontrollable passion of ivory
makes him a voice of imperialism. He abuses
his passion and exploits the native people and
their property. Kurtz is highly possessive of his
ivory, his intended and his river. This turns him
into a demonic figure and Marlow does not
hesitate to declare him “hollow at the core”.
Okonkwo, the protagonist of Things Fall Apart,
emerges as a true hero of the novel but not
without serious flaws. Unlike Kurtz, Okonkwo
is the voice of freedom as he does not
hesitate to challenge his chi or his personal
god. In the beginning, Okonkwo holds nothing
but he earns his name, title, respect, wealth,
wives and children through his own struggle.
But his flaw is his stern adherence to values of
manhood which is responsible for the ruthless
murder of Ikemefuna. Okonkwo’s biggest grief
is the lack of vigour among his people to
retaliate against the English missionaries and
he takes his life out of the very grief. Thus,
Okonkwo stands as a representative of
African culture while Kurtz stands as the
representative of European colonial powers.
Colonial and Post-Colonial
Literature
Another difference between the two novels is
the difference of the treatment of colonialism.
Heart of Darkness was published at a time
(1899) when Africa was suffering from the
colonialism of different powers of Europe. The
novella exclusively portrays the physical
exploitation of the African people during the
colonial era. They were chained mercilessly
for the work of their master. Therefore,
because of the colonial era, Heart of Darkness
showcases a dismal picture of the natives.
Things Fall Apart, on the contrary, was
published in 1958 at a time when Africa was
being made free from its colonial destruction.
The novel treats African culture as a
distinguishing point between “us and them”. It
also emphasizes how their culture was
shattered apart by the colonial powers. Due to
the above-mentioned traits, Things Fall Apart
carries a Post-Colonial treatment of the
African tragedy of colonialism.
Conclusion
Things Fall Apart compares to be a defining
novel against Heart of Darkness to wash out
the blot of primitiveness and savagery from
African people.

Themes and Ideas of Modern Novels Included

in the Syllabus of MA English Literature
Sargodha University
By Asad Imran
October 25, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel

Oedipus complex and showcases Modernist

What is a Modern Novel? themes like war, isolation, psychological and
sexual complexity etc.
A modern novel is a kind of narrative that is
built upon new standards of writing. Modern
Novel is different from Classical Novel.
Classical Novel is known for stern adherence Heart of Darkness
to plot (in some quite opposite), adventurous
flow as well as psychological analysis (mostly First appeared in 1899, Heart of Darkness sets

in the novels of Later Victorian Period). As far the stage to showcase the evil of (Belgian)
as Modern Novel is concerned, it uses modern Imperialism. The novella attempts to
techniques like Stream of Consciousness by condemn colonialism by comparing it to the
utilizing new psychological theories like darkness of the African people and their
jungle which corrupt the heart of the ones who
come to make them civilized. The novella
cites the example of the character of Kurtz
who attempts to make people civilize through
his eloquent speeches. But ends up trapped in
the greedy passion to extort as much ivory as
his might permits. His passion compels him
to emerge as a demonic figure who is both
admired and abhorred by the second narrator
of the novella, Marlow. The final message of
the novella is conveyed through the dying
words of the dying Kurtz, “The Horror! The
Horror!” implying that the realization of the evil
in one’s self can purigate a person’s soul.
Things Fall Apart
Achebe is the author who rejects the ideas
presented in Heart of Darkness through his
novel Things Fall Apart. Heart of Darkness
blames Africa for the inner darkness.
However, Things Fall Apart suggests that
European colonial rule is responsible for
shattering the African culture apart. The novel
presents a happy life of African people,
minding their usual business until they are
both physically and mentally disturbed by the
English missionaries. The hold of the
Englishmen on the minds of the Igbo people is
so strong that they lose the capability to resist
against the English invasion of the mind.
Sons and Lovers
Sons and Lovers is one of the true modern
novels. Written by D. H. Lawrence, the novel
showcases the problem of communication in
family members stained by the Oedipus
complex. The familial problem is mostly
created by Gertrude Morel as she verbally
fights with her husband Walter Morel, who in
return treats her violently. Gertrude is not
happy of her martial life and attempts to find a
husband substitute in her children, William
and Paul Morel. Resultantly, her sons suffer
from intense mental conflict whether to love
their mother or to love the people of their age.
William loses his life while Paul roams
clueless. Thus, Lawrence conveys that
influencing the lives of sons in the wrong way
can lead to devasting results in their own life.
To the Lighthouse
Virginia Woolf’s masterpiece, To the
Lighthouse, is a novel that attempts to
showcase the consequences of familial
distancing and how it is eliminated through
love and trust. The novel utilizes the technique
of Stream of Consciousness. The
consequences of familial distancing are
shown through James’ hatred for his father
for not allowing him to see the gleaming
lighthouse closely. But the novel also
demonstrates how women play a key role in
uniting the family. For instance, Mrs. Ramsay
not only tries to console James that the
weather will be fine the next day, but she also
catches the arms of Mr. Ramsay, begging for
sympathy. James is truely reunited with his
father when Mr. Ramsay shows admiration
and trust in James’ sailing to the Lighthouse.
Thus, the idea of love and trust as a force of
reunification is delightfully conveyed through
the novel.
Lord of the Flies
Narrated through the creative facility of
William Golding, Lord of the Flies attempts to
convey the nourishment of evil through the
forces of evil. The novel basically stands as an
allegory of the fight against Capitalism and
Communism through two groups of boys on a
lost island. One group is characterized by the
democratic outlook through the unity of the
conch while the second group is dominated by
the personal interest of the group leader and it
is to,
Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Spill his
blood!
To the Lighthouse as a Feminist Novel
By Asad Imran
October 26, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel
Introduction
To the Lighthouse is a masterpiece and
defining work of Virginia Woolf. The novel
appeared in 1927, at a time when the world
was not ready to accept full-blown feminist
thoughts. Women had barely scored rights for
voting. Woolf’s attempt in explaining domestic
But the devilish lust of the blood is
overpowered when Ralph takes part in killing
Simon, though unknowingly, mistaking him for
the beast. The novel forecasts the idea that
the evil beast lies in all of the humanity, just
waiting for itself to get overwhelmed by the
plenty of freedom.
Conclusion
Judging from the ideas and themes of the
modern novels included in the syllabus of
Sargodha University, each novel appropriately
conveys its modern theme and idea through
the characters and narrations that make
sense accordingly.
life in To the Lighthouse was severely met by
criticism for being a feminist novel. Before
tracing out the feministic traits in To the
Lighthouse, first, we have to get a clear idea
that what is feminism. Feminism is a social
and political doctrine that aims at the
liberation of women from the clutches of
conventional confinement (to home) and
establishing a sense of equality among
women and men.
As far as To the Lighthouse is concerned, it
displays a varying role of women through two
distinct characters of Mrs. Ramsay as well as
Lily Briscoe. Let’s explore them in detail:
Role of Mrs. Ramsay
The character of Mrs. Ramsay showcases the
conventional role of women. For starters, Mrs.
Ramsay is a housewife. At the very beginning
of the novel, Mrs. Ramsay also appears as a
kind mother, ensuring and consoling her son,
James that the weather will be fine tomorrow
for a visit to the Lighthouse. Another role of
Mrs. Ramsay is that of a match-maker. She
finds it interesting to make martial pairs of the
ones who visit them in the summer holidays.
Lastly, her role is demonstrated as a uniting
force of her family and the guests.
From the role of Mrs. Ramsay, it is clear that
she abides by the conventional order of the
confinement of women to their house only.
Not only that, Mrs. Ramsay is consistently in
search of making others engaged in this
confinement of marriage. The confinement of
Mrs. Ramsay is justifiable and
understandable. She is left with no other
option but to fulfil her duties as a kind mother
to her children, as a faithful wife to her
husband and as an intelligent manager cum
multi-tasker to facilitate and fulfil the desires
of her guests.
Role of Lily Briscoe
Lily Briscoe is a delightful character whose
role in the novel is characterized by the
freedom of an artist. Like many other
conventional men, Lily is mentally tormented
by Charles Tansley’s remarks that “Women
can’t write. Women can’t paint”. Due to his
corrosive remarks, she hates men and the
institution of marriage. Lily leads her life,
serving for the art, trying to strike a balance in
her painting.
From the character of Lily Briscoe, it is
obvious that Lily is an outcome of feministic
doctrine. But it must be noted that her
adherence to feministic doctrine is propelled
by Charles Tansley and for the rest of her life
in the novel, she strives to prove herself to be
a painter. Lily is often considered as the
mouthpiece of Virginia Woolf. Through Lilly
Woolf attempts to prove that “Women can
write ”. Thus, the character of Lily Briscoe
conveys the feministic thoughts in the novel
for remaining unmarried and serving for her
passion.
Feministic Traits in the Novel
It is difficult to decide whether To the
Lighthouse is thoroughly feministic or non-
feministic. On one side, we witness thoroughly
conventional Mrs. Ramsay who devotes her
life to her family. On the other side, the
independent character of Lily Briscoe and her Sources and Suggested
dedication to arts demonstrates feministic
Readings
freedom. But Lily is the admirant of Mrs.
Ramsay and anxiously longs for her presence.
1. http://devangibagohil.blogspot.com/2016/1
On the other hand, the anti-feministic
in-to-lighthouse-paper-no-9.html
characters leave the world as soon as their
2. https://writingbros.com/essay-
purpose in the novel is served like Mrs.
examples/feminism-in-to-the-lighthouse-
Ramsay and Prue Ramsay, one dies naturally
by-virginia-woolf/
and one dies in child-birth. Such a symbol of
3. http://bhattlajja031314.blogspot.com/2014
death demonstrates that non-feministic
in-novel-to-light-house.html
values will soon die.

Conclusion

To the Lighthouse is a semi-feministic novel

with a greater emphasis on the feministic
freedom of women.

Elements of Stream of Consciousness in To

the Lighthouse
By Asad Imran
October 29, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel

stream of consciousness actually is. Stream

Introduction
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf is
recognized by its utilization of the stream of
consciousness technique in expanding the
narration of the novel. Before attempting to
trace out the stream of consciousness in To
the Lighthouse, first, we have to clarify what
of Consciousness, also known as interior
monologue, is a term first coined by William
James which means an unbroken flow of
thoughts and feelings in the waking mind.
This technique in the novel was first used by
James Joyce in his Ulysses. Woolf
experimented with the technique in Mrs.
Dalloway and then in To the Lighthouse. In this
novel, the stream of consciousness technique
helps in the internal development of the
characters through their internal flow of
thoughts and feelings, mingled with their
outward actions and utterances.
The following elements have been utilized to
make characters alive through Stream of
Consciousness.
Direct Interior Monologue
Direct Interior Monologue is an inner
realization and revelation of conscious and
unconscious development of thoughts
through the minds of characters. Woolf has
beautifully utilized this technique to introduce
us to the inner turmoil of Mrs. Ramsay of
being bruised by the past during the dinner
scene in The Window. Then the omniscient
narrator shifts towards the perspective of Lily
Briscoe on how she weighs Mrs. Ramsay’s old
age and worn-out condition. Similarly, in Time
Passes, the death of Mrs. Ramsay is
announced through the direct interior
monologue whereas, The Lighthouse (third
part) opens up Lily’s inner thoughts of the
feeling of completeness, harmony and
triumph through direct interior monologue
when Lily finally completes her painting.
Associative Thoughts
Associative thoughts is rather a Freudian
analysis of the association of a certain thing,
person or incident in recollection of other
things, person or incident. In To the
Lighthouse, this association is shown by
different persons at different parts of the
novel. For instance, in The Window, Charles
Tansley performs a comparison between
Queen Victoria and Mrs. Ramsay. In the
second part, Mrs. M’cNab remembers the
Ramsay family while cleaning up the house
during the lethal season of war. In The
Lighthouse section, Lily Briscoe remembers
Charles Tansley, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay, and
children freely while painting.
Repetition in Thoughts
Reoccurring thoughts, images and memories
play a key role in the uninterrupted flow of the
stream of consciousness. To the Lighthouse
is no exemption. In the first part, Mrs. Ramsay
is consistently presented as a pivoting force
who keeps her family and guests united and
connected. In the second part, the repetition
of the imagery of deaths and darkness helps
reinforce the announcement of the deaths of
Mrs. Ramsay, Andrew and Prue Ramsay in the
span of ten years. In the section of The
Lighthouse, the idea of harmony and
accomplishment assists in the illustration of
completing the journey towards the lighthouse
as well as the completion of Lily’s long and
ambitious quest to create a painting that
depicts balance and harmony.
Conclusion
Conclusively asserting, Virginia Woolf Sources and Suggested
appropriately and beautifully incorporates
Readings
stream of consciousness and its elements
that helps in getting into the minds of
1. https://www.msmsol.com/2021/02/stream
characters. Rowland aptly puts in,
of-consciousness-in-to.html
2. https://owlcation.com/humanities/Stream-
By blending people’s inward feelings
of-Consciousness-in-Virginia-Woolfs-To-
and keeping dialogue to a minimum, the-Lighthouse
Woolf develops her many-
dimensioned characters uniquely
and memorably.

List of Important Long Questions of Modern

Novel in 2022 for MA English Literature Part 2
– Sargodha University
By Asad Imran
December 8, 2021
Categories: Modern Novel

2. Character Analysis of Okonkwo

Heart of Darkness 3. As a Tragedy
4. Comparison with Heart of Darkness
1. Significance of the Title 5. Themes and Symbols
2. Condemnation of Imperialism
3. Character of Kurtz and Marlow (Their Lord of the Flies
Dependence on Each Other)
4. Symbols 1. As an Allegory
5. As an Auto-biographical Novel 2. Major Themes
3. Characters of Ralph and Jack
Things Fall Apart 4. Significance of the Title

1. As a Social Document Sons and Lovers

1. Paul’s Relationship with Clara and Miriam 2. Character of Mrs. Ramsay
2. Significance of the Title 3. Major Themes
3. Character of Gertrude Morel 4. Stream of Consciousness
4. Oedipus Complex
5. Autobiographical Novel Other Topics

To the Lighthouse Themes in Modern Novels Included in the

Syllabus
1. Feminist Perspective

Modern Novel – Past Papers – MA English

Literature – Part 2 – Sargodha University
By Asad Imran
January 5, 2022
Categories: Modern Novel

5. Who was Simon in Lord of the Flies

Time Allowed: 3 Hours 6. Who the boys from the island in Lord of the
Total Marks: 100 Flies?
Passing Marks: 40 (As of 2020) 7. what is the symbolic significance of Congo
Note: Objective part is compulsory. Attempt river in Heart of Darkness?
any four questions from the subjective part.
8. How are Africans and the Europeans
presented in Heart of Darkness?
2021 9. Who is Ezinma in Things Fall Apart’
10. what are the reasons for Nwoye’s
Short Questions conversion to Christianity?

1. What is the symbolic significance or

Long Questions
lighthouse in the novel To the Lighthouse?
2. List the names of three sections of To the 1. Write a comprehensive note on the
Lighthouse. different themes in the novel Lord of the
3. Comment on the economic condition of Flies.
Mr. Morel at the time of his marriage 2. Justify the title Sons and Lovers.
4. Who is Gertrude Morel in Sons and Lovers
 3. To the Lighthouse presents the conflict
between masculine and feminine
principles. Elaborate
4. Discuss Heart of Darkness as a tale of
deception and exploitation.
5. “Nwoye knew that it was right to be
masculine and to be violent, but somehow
he still preferred the
6. stories that his mother used to tell.”
Compare the character traits of Nwoye and
Okonkwo.
7. Write brief notes on the following topics:
i. Character of Kurtz
ii. Reality of the beast in Lord of the Flies
2020
Short Questions
1. Give a brief character sketch of Lily Brisco
as presented in the novel To the
Lighthouse.
2. Why is Mr. Morel despised by his wife?
3. What was the reality of the beast in Lord of
the Flies?
4. State the dominant traits of Jack in Lord of
the Flies?
5. What are some of the major themes in the
literary works of D.H. Lawrence?
6. Why was Ikemefuna killed in the novel
Things Fall Apart?
7. Define stream of consciousness?
8. How is Nwoye different from his father in
Things Fall Apart?
9. What were the last words of Kurtz? What
do they mean?
10. Who is the narrator in Heart of Darkness
Long Questions
1. Discuss Lord of the Flies as an allegory.
2. Critically evaluate the relationship of Paul
Morel with Miriam and Clara.
3. The title Heart of Darkness be analysed on
different levels of meaning. Discuss.
4. Discuss the feminist perspective of
Virginia Woolf in To the Lighthouse
5. How is Igbo culture explored in the novel
7hings Fall Apart.
6. What are some major themes and ideas
explored in modern novel. Explain with
examples from the novels included in your
syllabus.
2019
Short Questions
1. How did Marlow manage to get a job with
the Belgian company
2. What is the name of the ship in the
Thames where Marlow tells his story?
3. What is the reason of the inhibited
relationship between Mr. and Mrs. More!?
4. How would you describe the relationship
between Paul and Miriam?
5. Who is Ikemefuna in Things Fall Apart?
6. Why does Okonkwo kill himself in Things
Fall Apart?
7. How is Mrs. Ramsay’s outlook towards life
different from that of her husband in To the
Lighthouse?
8. Give a brief character sketch of Mr.
Tansley.
 9. Who are the Littluns in Lord of the Flies?
10. Give some traits of the character of Ralph
in Lord of the Flies
Long Questions
1. Heart of Darkness offers a powerful
condemnation of the hypocritical face of
imperialism. Elaborate.
2. Critically evaluate the title Sons and Lovers
and comment if you think it is an apt title
for this novel by Lawrence.
3. The novel 7To the Lighthouse makes use
of modern literary techniques to highlight
women experiences. Elaborate.
4. How does the novel Things Fall Apart,
employs Okonkwo’s character and life to
convey a deeper, more comprehensive
understanding of the cultural values of
African tribes?
5. What are the major themes discussed in
the novel The Lord of the Flies.
6. Critically evaluate the following from the
novel Heart of DarknesS
“This is the reason why I affirm that Kurtz
was a remarkable man. He had something
to say. He said it… He had summed up-he
had judged. “The horror!’ He was a
remarkable man.”
2018
Short Questions
1. Describe the picture painted by Kurtz in
Africa.
2. What do the two ladies Marlow met at
Brussels symbolize?
3. What is The Bottoms in ‘Sons and Lovers’
by D. H. Lawrence?
4. Describe the setting of the novel “Sons and
Lovers by D. H. Lawrence.
5. What is the age of LIly Briscoe when the
novel opens?
6. How did Prue Ramsay die?
7. When and why was the Feast of the New
Yam held?
8. What advice was given to Okonkwo by
Ezeudu?
9. What Is the role of Simon in ‘Lord of the
Flies?
10. When and where was William Golding
born?
Long Questions
1. Discuss symbolism in ‘Heart of Darkness’
by Joseph Conrad.
2. Discuss the main theme of ‘Heart of
Darkness by Joseph Conrad.
3. Discuss the character of Gertrude Morel in
“Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence.
4. Write down a note on the character of Mrs.
Ramsay in To the Lighthouse’
5. Throw light on the culture of the Igbo as
depicted in Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua
Achebe.
6.
7. Compare and contrast the characters of
Ralph and lack in ‘Lord of The Flies by
William Golding.
2017
Short Questions
1. What is the symbolic significance of the
voyage of Marlow into the heart of Arfica?
2. How does Marlow dispose of the Arfican
helmsman’s body?
3. How did Mrs. Morel die?
4. Why does Paul waver in his feelings toward
Miriam?
5. Who is William Bankes in To The
Lighthouse?
6. Write the title of the three sections in to
The Lighthouse.
7. What was the most significant train of Mr.
Brown is Things Fall Apart?
8. What does Okonkwo think about his son
Nwoye?
9. What is the use of Conch for the boys is
Lord of the Flies?
10. Who killed Simon?
Long Questions
1. Who is the main character in Heart of
Darkness, Marlow or Kurtz? Develop an
argument showing how one cannot exist
without the other.
2. Write a comprehensive note on the
relevance of the title Heart of Darkness
with reverence to the theme of the novel.
3. Describe the causes and effects of
Gertrude’s estrangement from her husband
walter Morel in the novel Sons and Lowers.
4. What are the major themes of Virginia
Woolf’s To the Lighthouse?
5. How far do you think is Okonkwo
responsible for his own tragedy?
6. Discuss the Lord of the Flies as an
allegory.
2016
Short Questions
1. Why was Marlow’s aunt triumphant?
2. What was Marlow referring to when he said
that there was a touch of insanity in the
proceeding?
3. What advice did Okonkwo give to Ezinma
when they were in Mbanta?
4. What were the name given to the first two
children, Okonkwo got in Mbanta?
5. Who were the important intellectuals
included in the Bloombury group?
6. After Mrs. Ramsay’s death, who seemed to
be the uniting force in “To The Lighthouse?
7. What was Ralph’s father?
8. What was the significance of the shell
according to Piggy?
9. What did Mrs. Morel discover about her
husband after marriage?
10. How did Mrs. Morel die?
Long Questions
1. Walter Allen remarks that Marlow, sea-
captain and man of vast experience of the
exotic, is admittedly a person of Conrad
himself. Discuss.
2. Things Fall Apart throws light on various
conflicts in the lbo clan. Elaborate.
3. Discuss the use of the stream of
Consciousness Technique in To the
lighthoused by Virginia Woolf.
4. Lord of the Flies’ throws light on the fact
that evil is present within man. Elaborate.
5. The growing point of book is the
psychological adventurousness, the
resolute beginning of an exploration into
the tangled relations between men and
woman. Discuss in the light of Sons and
Lover’s by D.H Lawrence.
6. Compare and contrast Things Fall Apart
and Heart of Darkness.
2015
Short Questions
1. Why does the Russian nurse Kurtz through
two illnesses in Heart of Darkness?
2. Why does Kurtz give Marlow papers before
the dies?
3. What first job did William get?
4. Why doesn’t Mrs. Morel get any help from
her in-laws?
5. List the name of three sections of To the
Lighthouse.
6. How did Children feel about Mr. Tansley?
7. Concisely describe the argument of boys
regarding beast in Lord of the Flies?
8. Why is Simon the only one to doubt the
existence of beast?
9. Why doesn’t Okonkwo have any patience
with his father in Things Fall Apart?
10. Evaluate Okonkwo’s reputation in the nine
villages of Umuofia.
Long Questions
1. Chinua Achebe criticized Heart of
Darkness as aracist work? Do you agree or
not? Justify with Textual support.
2. What is Kurtz passing judgment upon
when he voice his famous last words: “The
horror! The horror!”? What’s so horrible?
3. Discuss Sons and Lovers as an
autobiographical novel.
4. Compare and contrast characters of Ralph
and Jack.
5. How can “To the Lighthouse” be called a
feminist work? Discuss in detail.
6. How did Mr. Brown check the wrath of the
Igbo natives against Christinity?