Continuous Internal Assessment I

May-2024
Programme : BA
Semester: VI Max. Marks:40
Subject : World Literature in English and in Time:1.5 Hours
Translation
________________________________________________________________________________

SECTION A: NOVEL
I. Answer any TWO of the following: 10*2=20

1. How does Siddhartha’s life with the Samanas condition him for his process of self-
recognition?
 Teaches detachment from worldly pleasures.
 Involves severe self-denial and discipline.
 Realizes the futility of extremes.
 Prepares for realization that true enlightenment is internal.

2. What is the function of the river and of Vasudeva in this novel?

 River symbolizes life’s flow and unity.
 Represents timelessness and interconnectedness.
 Vasudeva as a spiritual guide.
 Teaches Siddhartha to listen to and learn from the river.
 Helps Siddhartha achieve self-recognition through the river's lessons.

3.Discuss the father-son theme.

 Explores generational relationships and individuality.
 Siddhartha’s rebellion against his father to find his own path.
 Siddhartha’s experience as a father mirrors his own departure.
 Emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and personal experience.

4. The Role of Kamala in the novel

 Represents sensual pleasures and material wealth.
 Teaches Siddhartha about love and desire.
 Introduces him to the material world.
 Highlights the transitory nature of material and sensual pleasures.
 Integral in Siddhartha’s understanding of life experiences.
 Gives birth to Siddhartha's son, deepening his understanding of human relationships.

II. Write a short note on any ONE of the following: 5*1=5

Page 1 of 2
1. What realization strikes Siddhartha when he leaves the Buddha?
 Realizes that enlightenment cannot be taught.
 Understands he must find his own path to self-discovery.
 Recognizes the importance of personal experience over following others’ teachings.

2. How did Siddhartha change himself to win Kamala’s friendship and support?
 Adopts a more worldly and presentable appearance.
 Learns the art of love and poetry.
 Gains wealth and success as a merchant.
 Masters the skills of a courtesan’s lover.

SECTION B: SHORT STORIES

I. Answer any THREE of the following: 5*3=15

1. Analyse the character Mathilde Loisel.

 Mathilde is dissatisfied with her modest life and yearns for luxury and social status.
 She is vain, materialistic, and often dreams of wealth and glamour.
 Her dissatisfaction leads to her borrowing a necklace to appear wealthy at a ball.
 Experiences significant growth after losing the necklace and facing hardship.
 Ultimately, she becomes humble and hardworking, accepting her new reality.

2. How did Mr and Mrs. Loisel arrange and pay off their debt?
 They replace the lost necklace by borrowing money.
 Live a life of poverty and hard work for ten years.
 Mr. Loisel takes on extra jobs and Mrs. Loisel does housework.
 They sacrifice their comfort and leisure to repay the debt.

3. Discuss the theme of identity and its fragmentation in “War” by Luigi Pirandello.
 Characters struggle with their roles as parents versus their individual identities.
 Their nationalistic and personal identities conflict amid the trauma of war.
 Fragmentation occurs as they grapple with their public persona and private grief.
 The father’s breakdown reveals the vulnerability and fragmentation of self.

4. Analyse the theme of mortality and its existential implications in “War”

 The story confronts the inevitability of death and the loss caused by war.
 Characters cope with mortality differently, showcasing existential dread.
 The parents’ rationalizations fail to mitigate their grief and sense of loss.
 Mortality is shown as a universal, leveling force that spurs existential reflection.
 The father’s final outburst underscores the profound impact of losing a child and the harsh
reality of human fragility.

Page 2 of 2