BA I Year: English Literature- Major I

Hareshwar Roy,
(Syllabus- Session 2025-26 onward)
BA I Year: English Literature (Major I)
Course Title: Literature and Language Studies (Paper I)
Course Type: Major- I
Credit Value: 6
CCE: 30 Marks; Written Examination: 70
Max Marks- 100 Min. Passing Marks- 35
Content of the Course:
UNIT- I
(A) Fundamentals of Indian Poetics: Alamkar, Riti, Dhvani, Vakrokti, Auchitya, Mahakavya (From Dr. Kapil Kapoor’s Literary Theory, Indian Conceptual Framework, p. 15-40).
(B) Introduction to Panini as a Pioneer Grammarian
Keywords: Appropriateness, Indian Grammatical System, Figures of Speech
Activities: Rasa Analysis of a Poem, Identify and explain the dominant Rasa (emotion) present in the selected poem, Discuss how Alamkar (figures of speech), Dhvani (suggestion), and Vakrokti (indirect expression) contribute to the poem’s impact.
UNIT- II
Indian Poetry (Bhakti Movement)
(i) Characteristics of Bhakti Poetry
(ii) Mirabai- I am Mad With Love
(iii) Songs of Kabir (Song 1-5) translated by R. N. Tagore
Keywords: Bhakti, Nirguna, Embodied Divine, Mysticism, Sufi Influence, Vernacular Poetry.
Activities: Bhakti Poetry Recital & Reflection, Select a Bhakti poem from Mirabai or Kabir, Recite it with appropriate tone and expression.
Write a short personal reflection:
(i) How does the poem inspire devotion?
(ii) What emotions does it evoke?
Compare it with a modern devotional or spiritual song.
UNIT- III
One Act Plays
(i) Norman McKinnel: The Bishop’s Candlesticks
(ii) J. M. Synge: Riders to the Sea
Keywords: Tragedy, Symbolism, Realism, Fate, Catharsis
Activities: Dramatic Reading & Role Play- Divide students into groups and assign characters from Riders to the Sea or The Bishop’s Candlesticks, Perform a dramatic reading or a short role-play, Discuss themes such as tragedy, sacrifice, and redemption, Encourage students to explore how staging, tone, and body language enhance meaning.
UNIT- IV
Introduction to Language
(i) Definition of Language
(ii) Characteristics of Language
(iii) Functions of Language
Keywords: Communication, Symbolic representation, Cognitive behaviour, Arbitrariness, Referential
Activities: Language Observation Journal- Observe and document language use for a week in different settings: Conversations, Social media, Advertisements. Then, identify functions of language (e.g., informative, persuasive, expressive) and present findings in a group discussion or short essay.
UNIT- V
Introduction to Linguistics
(i) Definition of Linguistics
(ii) Study of Branches of Linguistics: Phonetics and Phonology
Keywords: Language structure, Synchronic vs. diachronic, Phone, Phoneme, Allophone, Minimal pairs, IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), Phonological rules.
Activities: Pronunciation Practice, Make a list of oft-mispronounced popular words in English
*****
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Currently Dr. Roy is working as Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. He is the author of the following books: (1) Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji (2) A Study of M.G. Vassanji 's Novels (3) Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji & Rohinton Mistry (4)Diaspora & Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study (5) Short Notes of English Literature - I (6) Short Notes of English Literature - II (7) हमार पहचान ह भोजपुरी - भोजपुरी कविता संकलन (8) हमरा प्यार हो गइल - भोजपुरी गज़ल संकलन (9) भोजपुरी कविताएँ

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