THE RISE OF ESSAY

Q NO. 1 Note on what does zadie smith say about the rise of essay. ?
ANS : Zadie Smith, a famous writer, talks about why many novelists are starting to write essays. Even
though readers aren’t specifically asking for more essays and bookstores aren’t sure where to put them,
authors like Jonathan Safran Foer, Margaret Drabble, Chinua Achebe, and Michael Chabon are trying
their hand at this type of writing. Smith wonders if "essay" means the same thing to all these writers and
what it really stands for in today’s literary world.

She brings up David Shields' book "Reality Hunger: A Manifesto," which claims that the messy and
unpolished nature of essays is more real than the carefully crafted world of novels. Shields thinks that
novels are too fake to deal with our overly artificial world, while essays show things as they are,
imperfections and all.

Smith also talks about the ongoing debate between fiction (made-up stories) and non-fiction (real
stories) that Shields has fueled. Shields prefers non-fiction and criticizes fiction, suggesting that novels
don’t hold as much value. Smith disagrees with this, saying that good stories still exist in novels. She
thinks that Shields' harsh words about fiction come more from his personal disappointment with novels
rather than any general truth.

Despite not agreeing with Shields, Smith recognizes that both novels and essays have their own worth.
She thinks that novels, even though they can be inconsistent and quirky, offer a type of expression that
essays can’t. On the flip side, essays can reach a level of perfection and clarity that novels often don’t
achieve.

In the end, Smith feels lucky as a reader because we don’t have to pick one form of writing over the
other. Both novels and essays provide unique and important experiences. Novels give us a rich,
expressive journey, while essays offer precision and insight. Together, they make our reading world
complete and diverse.

Q NO. 2 Distinction Between Novels and Essays According to Zadie Smith ?

ANS : Zadie Smith, a renowned British novelist, essayist, and short-story writer, provides a unique
perspective on the distinction between novels and essays. Here's a detailed explanation of her viewpoint:

Novels vs. Essays

Smith suggests that novelists might be attracted to essays due to their potential for perfection and
purity. Essays, she argues, can be polished until every atom of their surface shines, offering a sense of
completion and perfection that is often elusive in novels.

On the other hand, novels are idiosyncratic, uneven, and frequently induce a sense of nausea, especially
for the author. They are filled with the complexities of plot, character, and setting, which can be
challenging to manage and perfect.

The Value of Both Forms

Despite the challenges of novel writing, Smith argues that novels offer something unique that essays
cannot. Novels provide a "convincing imitation of multiple consciousnesses", otherwise known as "other
people". This ability to delve into different minds and perspectives is a distinct feature of novels.

Essays, however, offer a different kind of value. They allow for a deep exploration of a single idea or
theme, often from the author's perspective. They can be a form of self-reflection and introspection,
offering insights into the author's thoughts and experiences.

The Role of Imagination

Smith also discusses the role of imagination in both forms of writing. She suggests that while essays can
be highly imaginative, they often focus on the self. Novels, on the other hand, require the author to
imagine and convincingly portray other people and their experiences.

Despite the differences between the two forms, Smith argues that both have their place and value. She
suggests that readers do not have to choose between the two, as both offer different and equally
valuable experiences of writing.

Examples of Novelists Zadie Smith herself is a notable example of a novelist. She has written several
acclaimed novels, including "White Teeth" and "On Beauty". Other examples of novelists include J.K.
Rowling, known for the "Harry Potter" series, and George R.R. Martin, known for "A Song of Ice and Fire"
series. These authors, like Smith, have used the novel form to explore a wide range of characters,
settings, and themes.

Q NO. 3 How smith explores the concept of novel nausea ?

ANS : Zadie Smith talks about "novel nausea," which is the dissatisfaction some writers and readers feel
with traditional novels. Many authors, including J.M. Coetzee, feel frustrated with the usual way novels
are written, with their focus on plot and characters. These authors prefer writing that explores thoughts
and ideas.

Smith also experienced this "novel nausea." She felt stuck and unable to write novels, so she turned to
writing essays. She found essays freeing because they are shorter and focus more on ideas rather than
stories. Writing essays helped her appreciate novels again, especially for their ability to show different
people's thoughts and provide a deep experience with fictional worlds.
In short, Smith's thoughts show a growing trend in literature where essays are valued for being real and
flexible. However, novels are still seen as important because they offer something unique, even if they
are challenging to write

Natural and Artificial Intelligence" by Robert Sokolowski

Q NO. 1 What does he tell us about natural and artificial intelligence and how does he
distinguish between different types of artificial intelligence. ?
ANS : Robert Sokolowski, in his essay "Natural and Artificial Intelligence," provides a detailed discussion
on the distinctions between natural and artificial intelligence and the different types of artificial
intelligence (AI).
Natural intelligence refers to human cognitive abilities, such as thinking, reasoning, and understanding.
These capabilities are inherently complex and deeply connected with human experiences and emotions.
Natural intelligence involves activities like making distinctions, quoting others, and forming desires,
which are integral to human cognition.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is created by humans through engineering and programming. The term
"artificial" can have two meanings: something that merely appears to be what it is not, like artificial
flowers, and something that genuinely performs its intended function, like artificial light. AI falls into the
latter category, as it is designed to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as
problem-solving and pattern recognition.

* Types of Artificial Intelligence

Symbolic AI: This type of AI, also known as "good old-fashioned AI" (GOFAI), relies on explicitly
programmed rules and symbols to process information and make decisions. It mimics logical reasoning
but lacks the ability to understand or adapt beyond its pre-defined parameters.
Connectionist AI: Also known as neural networks, this form of AI attempts to simulate the way the
human brain processes information. It uses large datasets to "learn" and make decisions. Unlike symbolic
AI, it can adapt and improve over time with more data.
Expert Systems: These are designed to replicate the decision-making ability of a human expert in
specific fields. They use a set of rules to analyze information and provide solutions or advice based on
pre-defined expertise.
Sokolowski stresses that while AI can mimic certain aspects of human thinking, it cannot fully replicate
natural intelligence's depth and breadth. AI's capabilities are inherently limited to the data and rules it
has been given or has learned. It does not possess self-awareness, emotional understanding, or the
ability to engage in abstract thought. AI's "intelligence" is a product of human programming and lacks
the genuine cognitive processes that characterize natural intelligence.

Q NO. 2 The kind of thinking that artificial intelligence is able to: three things, quotation, making
distinctions and desire ?
ANS : Robert Sokolowski discusses three types of thinking that artificial intelligence (AI) aims to emulate:
quotation, making distinctions, and desire. Here's a simplified explanation of each
1. Quotation : Quotation in natural intelligence means understanding and showing how things look to
others. It's more than just repeating words; it's about seeing different perspectives. For example, when
we quote someone, we show how they view the world. For AI to do this, it needs to understand different
contexts and viewpoints.
2. Making Distinctions : Making distinctions means seeing and understanding differences between
things. Humans notice small differences in situations and ideas that aren't always obvious. For example,
telling apart something dangerous from something good in a tricky situation is a special human skill. For
AI to do this, it needs to recognize these differences on its own, without being told exactly what to look
for each time.
3. Desire : includes the motivation to learn and achieve goals. It covers curiosity and the drive to
understand more deeply. Human thinking is often motivated by desires, such as the wish to learn or
achieve something. AI needs to not only follow preset goals but also adapt to new desires and
motivations as humans do.
mother tongue
Q NO. 1 How tan explores the limitations of language by highlighting her complex relationship with her
mother's broken English and her standard English?
ANS ; Amy Tan explores the limitations of language by reflecting on her experiences with her mother's
broken English and her own standard English. Through personal anecdotes and thoughtful observations,
she delves into how these different forms of English have shaped her life and relationships.

Tan begins by describing how she uses various forms of English in different settings. For example, she
uses formal, grammatically correct English when giving public talks, but she switches to a simpler, less
structured English when speaking with her mother. This contrast became especially clear to her during a
talk where her mother was in the audience. Tan realized that her mother's presence made her standard
English sound strange and unfamiliar, highlighting the different Englishes she navigates.

She shares a vivid example of her mother's English through a story her mother told about a gangster in
Shanghai. Her mother's English, though not perfect, is rich in imagery and meaning. Tan's friends often
find it hard to understand her mother's speech, but to Tan, it is perfectly clear and natural. This reveals
how language can be both a barrier and a bridge, depending on one's perspective and familiarity.

Tan also discusses the social implications of her mother's broken English. She recounts how people in
public spaces often treated her mother poorly because they perceived her English as a sign of limited
intelligence or competence. This societal bias made Tan feel ashamed of her mother's English when she
was younger, wrongly equating her mother's language skills with her worth.

Furthermore, Tan describes how her mother's English affected her own academic performance. Despite
being strong in math and science, Tan struggled with standardized English tests, which she attributes
partly to the influence of her mother's language. The tests often required a rigid, literal understanding of
English that did not align with the imaginative and flexible way she had learned to think and
communicate at home.

Despite these challenges, Tan chose to embrace her unique linguistic background. She became an
English major and pursued writing, determined to prove that her mother's English, and by extension her
own, had value. She started writing stories that included the various forms of English she grew up with,
aiming to capture the essence and emotion of her mother's speech.
In the end, Tan's success as a writer and her mother's approval of her work—"So easy to read"—validate
her journey. Tan's exploration of language limitations underscores that while language can divide, it also
has the power to convey deep meaning and connect people in profound ways. Through her essay, she
celebrates the richness of her mother's English and challenges the narrow views that label non-standard
English as broken or inferior.

Q NO. Tan,s mother faced prejudiced beacuse of her broken english ?

ANS : Amy Tan shares several experiences where her mother faced prejudice because of her broken
English. These stories highlight how people often judge others based on their language skills, leading to
unfair treatment and misunderstandings.

One of the key experiences Tan recounts is when her mother went to a department store to return a
purchase. The store employees ignored her and pretended not to understand her because of her
imperfect English. They treated her as if she were not intelligent or worthy of their time. This kind of
dismissive behavior was common whenever her mother needed customer service or assistance in public
places.

Tan also describes an incident at the hospital. Her mother had a serious health concern—a benign brain
tumor—and needed information about her diagnosis. Despite her best efforts to speak clearly, the
hospital staff were unhelpful and unsympathetic. They lost her CAT scan results and didn't apologize or
show any urgency in addressing the situation. It wasn't until Tan, speaking in perfect English, intervened
that the hospital staff took the issue seriously, apologized, and promised to resolve it quickly. This
experience showed how people often disregard those who don't speak standard English fluently,
regardless of the seriousness of their needs.

Another example is when Tan's mother had issues with her stockbroker. She had to rely on Tan to make
phone calls on her behalf, pretending to be her mother, because she knew she wouldn't be taken
seriously otherwise. Tan, speaking in flawless English, was able to get results that her mother couldn't
achieve on her own. This reliance on Tan to mediate important conversations highlights the everyday
struggles her mother faced due to her broken English.

These experiences illustrate the prejudice against people who speak broken or non-standard English.
They are often viewed as less capable or less intelligent, leading to unfair treatment and discrimination.
Tan's mother, despite her sharp mind and deep understanding of complex topics like finance and
politics, was frequently underestimated and disrespected because of how she spoke. This societal bias
not only affected her mother but also shaped Tan's own perceptions and experiences growing up.
Through these stories, Tan emphasizes the need to recognize and respect the value of all forms of
English. She challenges the notion that broken English reflects broken intelligence or character,
advocating for a more inclusive and understanding view of language diversity

Q NO. 3 amy believes that broken English has one feature it properly the passion and
imagery discuss ?
ANS : Amy Tan believes that broken English, despite its grammatical imperfections, possesses a unique
expressiveness filled with passion and vivid imagery. She argues that this form of English can convey
emotions and ideas more colorfully and effectively than standard English. As a Chinese American
storyteller, Tan synthesizes different forms of English to capture the full depth of her experiences and
cultural heritage.

In her essay "Mother Tongue," Tan illustrates how her mother's broken English, although not technically
correct, is rich with imagery and emotion. For instance, when her mother describes a gangster in
Shanghai, her language is vivid and filled with detailed observations. To outsiders, her mother's English
might seem fragmented, but to Tan, it is clear, powerful, and deeply meaningful.

Tan contrasts this with standard English, which often lacks the same level of emotional depth and
vividness. While standard English is precise and grammatically correct, it can sometimes feel detached
and less expressive. Tan sees value in the way her mother’s English can evoke strong images and
emotions, capturing nuances that might be lost in more formal language.
As a writer, Tan blends these different Englishes in her storytelling. She uses standard English to ensure
clarity and accessibility for a broad audience, but she also incorporates the expressive qualities of her
mother's English to add richness and authenticity to her narratives. This synthesis allows her to convey a
more complete and nuanced picture of her characters and their experiences.

Tan's approach highlights the idea that language is not just a tool for communication but also a means
of expressing identity and emotion. By embracing the different forms of English she grew up with, she
honors her cultural heritage and the unique way her mother sees the world. This blend of languages
enriches her storytelling, making it more relatable and engaging for readers from diverse backgrounds.

In summary, Amy Tan believes that broken English, with its passion and imagery, is highly expressive and
valuable. As a Chinese American storyteller, she synthesizes different forms of English to create stories
that are both clear and emotionally resonant, reflecting the full spectrum of her linguistic and cultural
experiences.