2017

English

Subject code: 241103

Twentieth Century Poetry

Time: 4 hours                                                                                                              Marks-80

Part – A

1.   Answer any ten questions:                                                                                     1´10 = 10

a) In which year did the historical ‘Easter Rising’ take place?

Ans:

b) What is ‘Spiritus Mundi’?

      Ans : 'Spiritus Mundi' was a term used by W.B. Yeats to describe the collective soul of the universe containing the memories of all time. From 'Spiritus Mundi,' Yeats believed, came all poets' inspiration.

c) What is the significance of 'gyre’ in the poem ‘The Second Coming?

Ans:

d) Whose rivalry do you find in the poem ‘The Rival’?

Ans:

e) What are the threefold meanings of the voice of Thunder ‘Da’?

Ans: The voices of Thunder i.e. “Da, Da, Da” mean to give (Datta), to sympathies (Dayadhvam) and to control (Damyata).

f) What does ‘Byzantium’ Symbolize in the poem "Sailing to Byzantium”.

      Ans : In Yeats’ poem 'Sailing to Byzantium', Byzantium symbolizes an ideal country for art, culture and philosophy.                                                                                                                                                

g) What is the significance of the subtitle 'The Fire Sermon’?

      Ans : The significance of the subtitle 'The Fire Sermon' is that it refers to Lord Buddha’s great sermon to his disciples against the fire of anger, lust, and malice etc. that consume human heart. It also alludes to St. Augustine’s sentiment on unholy passions.

h) What does the word ‘rose’ mean in the sentence “And I rose in rainy autumn”?

      Ans : The word 'rose' in the sentence "And I rose in rainy autumn" means ‘woke’ or ‘left bed and went outside’.

i) How does the "Waste Land” end?

      Ans: The poem 'The Waste Land' ends with the utterance of “Shntih” or “peace” three times like the formal ending to an Upanishad

j) Why does the poet want to go to the Lake of Innisfree?

      Ans : The poet wants to go to the Lake of Innisfree to escape from the fever and fret of his life.

k) What are the major themes of the poem "The Waste Land”.

Ans:

l) Which city is called “unreal city”?

      Ans : By ‘unreal city’, Eliot means the modern city of London that is cut off from both natural and spiritual sources of life.

Part – B

Answer any five questions:                                                                                          4 ´ 5 = 20

2. Trace different imageries used in “Poem in October”.

3. How is the battle of sexes reflected in the poem “The Rival”?

4. Comment on the inner conflict of Prufrock.

5. Discuss the symbolic significance of the poem “The Second Coming ”?

6. Justify the title of Eliot’s poem “The Waste Land".

7. Trace Yeats’ changing attitude to contemporary Irish revolutionaries.

8. How many sections are there in the poem ‘The Waste Land’? Write their names in proper order.

9. Explain the following line:

“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons”.

Part – C

Answer any five questions:                                                                                        10 ´ 5 = 50

10. Write a note on the symbols used by Yeats with references to the poem you have read.

11. How does Eliot express the conflict of modern man in the poem “The love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”?

12. Critically appreciate the poem “Poem in October.”

13. Comment on the male-female relationship in Sylvia Plath’s poetry.

14. How does Eliot make a link between the past and the present in “The Waste Land”?

15. Trace the romantic elements in Yeats’ poetry.

16. What are the recurrent themes in Sylvia Plath’s poetry?

17. Write a note on the theme of salvation in the poem “The Waste Land”.