Tuesday 29 May 2012

summary of Boman Desai's Between the Mosque and the Temple


Introduction
Boman Desai is a famous Indian writer.  He has written many novels and stories.  The story Between the Mosque and the Temple is about a problem between Hindus and Muslims about placing a dustbin.

Banu’s Morning
The story opens with Banu waking up in the morning.  Banu is the chairman of Sanitation Committee.  She finds Pemmy, the servant, cleaning the house.  Banu gets up and she dresses herself in plain clothes.  She wears a plain shoe.  She does not wear any jewel.  She offers a special prayer because she is going to attend to a problem between the Hindus and Muslims.

The parade
            Banu comes out of her house and meets two members of the committee.  She decides to walk with them than using the car.  She says that the spot is not far away.  She feels happy at the two members because they would support her.  On the way, Banu meets a few students.  The students call her as Banubai.  They ask where is going.  She remembers the salt march of Gandhi.  She calls the students to go along with her.  The students are a mixture of Muslims and Hindus.  On the way, the students asked others to join them in their walk.  When Banu reaches the spot there is a big crows behind her.

The solution
            There is a leader for Hindu and Muslim along with their followers.  The Hindu leader is surprised to see Banu, because she is a woman.  He does not know what to do.  Banu says that she would walk from the mosque to the temple and they should count her steps. The dustbin would be placed exactly at the centre place.  She walks and the Hindu leader counts the steps aloud.  The students join the count.  There are 232 steps between the mosque and  the temple.  Banu orders to place the dustbin at the 116th step.  The Hindu leader feels happy.  The Muslim leader nods his head. 

Conclusion
            Banu thinks that the solution is simple but it worked out because of three reasons:
  1. The crowd behind her.
  2. She is not a Muslim or Hindu.
  3. She is a woman.

Sunday 15 April 2012

Summary of Sarojini Naidu's "Bangle-Sellers"



Introduction
            Sarojini Naidu is a famous Indian poet.  She has written many poems in English.  She is called the nightingale of India.  “Bangle-Sellers” talk about different bangles that Indian women wear.

The Bangle-Sellers
            The bangle-sellers take bangles to temple fairs.  They sell it in the temple fair.  The bangles are colourful.  They are circle in shape.  They make the women happy.  The bangles attract the poet because of its colour.  Women love to wear bangles.  The poet describes the different colours of bangles used by different women, according to their ages.

Bangles for Maidens
            The poet says that maidens wish to wear silver and blue colour bangles.  They also choose reddish colour bangles.  Some maidens choose green colour bangles.  The green colour is like the colour of newborn leaves.

Bangles for Bride
            Brides choose corn coloured bangles.  They choose bangles of fire colour.  The fire coloured bangles are like the colour of the fire during their marriage.

Bangles for Mothers
            Mothers, who have experienced life, choose purple and gold-flecked grey colour bangles.  Those women would have passed half of their life.  They would have given birth to children.  They wear such bangles and pray to God, by sitting with their husbands.

Summary of A. D. Hope's "Australia"



Introduction:
A.D. Hope is an Australian poet. Australian poets write about aborigins (native Australians) and about their identity in their poems. The poem Australia talks about the present condition of Australia.

The present condition of Australia:
            Australia was once a land of trees, but today it is full of war and soldiers. The lands are now covered by the military uniforms – green and grey. Its hills are dark and broken like the broken lion statues of Egypt.
            People call Australia as an young country. The poet does not agree with them because Australia has a long history. It has its own songs, arts and history. It may look young but it has a long history to tell.
            The aborigins are enslaven by the alien countries. The aborigins does not live but they are said to ‘survive’. The five major cities of Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Canberra and Adelaide) are colonised. The aborigins are chased out by the alien rulers. The original citizens are no more given equal rights.

Conclusion:
            The poet is hopeful. He ends the poem with a positive note. He says that some prophet would emerge or come from the Australian ground, who would claim freedom and rights to liberate the aborigins and Australian culture from the colonisers.

Thursday 23 February 2012

summary of R. K. Narayan's "An Astrologer’s Day"



Introduction
An Astrologer’s Day is a short story by R. K. Narayan.  It is in third person narration.  R. K. Narayan is a famous English novelist.  An Astrologer’s Day is about an astrologer, who overcomes a difficulty from a stranger.  The astrologer is a person with many characters.

The Astrologer as a cheat
The author opens the story by explaining the physical appearance of the astrologer.  He is a man with sacred ash and vermillion in his forehead.  He has a turban around his head.  This costume of the astrologer attracts people towards him.  He does not know anything about astrology.  He does not even know what would happen to him in the next 10 minutes, but he cheats his customers.  He acts as if he knows all about astrology.  He cheats many people by pleasing them and by saying astonishing things.

The criss-cross light around him helps him to cheat those people because they cannot see his face clearly, as he lies.  He is a liar even to his own wife.  He hides the secret of his past life.  Even at the end he says only a little of his past guilt of drinking, gambling and stabbing Guru Nayak.  This shocks his wife and the readers.

The Astrologer as a Stingy Person
The astrologer is a miser.  He does not have a light on his own.  He depends upon the light rays from the shops that are around him.   During nights, he uses the dim green light.  He closes his business when the nuts vendor moves.  This stingy nature is an advantage for him.  He feels happy with the criss-cross light.

The Astrologer as a Brilliant Person
The astrologer, though he is a cheat, is admired for his brilliance.  He faces his customers in an astonishing way.  He tackles all his customers and sends them satisfied.  This quality he has got from his experience.  He says things that 9 out of 10 people would agree.  In case of Guru Nayak, the astrologer is extremely brilliant.  He identifies him with a small light from the match and says all about him in a safe way.  He escapes from him vey easily.  He is very brilliant.

The Astrologer as Cheated
            When the story ends, we see the astrologer as a cheated person.  From the beginning, he cheats others but at the end, he stands cheated.  Guru Nayak instead of giving one rupee gives just 12 and half annas.  The astrologer worries about this.

summary of Anton Chekhov's "A work of Art"

Introduction
Anton Chekhov is a Russian writer.  He is a doctor.  He has written many short stories and dramas.  A work of Art, a short story, is about a statue, a work of art, which is disliked by many persons for its appearance.

Sasha Smirnov
Sasha Smirnov is a small boy.  He is the only son for his mother.  When the story opens runs in the streets with an object wrapped in a newspaper.  He goes to Dr. Koshelkov and unwrap the statue.  He presents the statue (candelabrum) to the doctor, as a thanking note for saving his life from a dangerous disease.  The doctor, at first, does not accept the idea of gifting by saying that he did his work and nothing extraordinary.

Dr. Koshelkov’s Reaction
Sasha compels the doctor to have the candelabrum with him.  The statue is made of bronze.  It has a couple of girls dressed like Eve.  The doctor admires the beauty of the candelabrum but he refuses to accept it.  He says that the candelabrum is not meant for public display.  The statue is obscene.  He also says that he is a family man and his children and many women visit him.  Sasha turns a deaf ear for all these reasons of the doctor.  Finally, the doctor is compelled to accept the gift.

The lawyer’s reaction
Sasha leaves the place happily by advising the doctor to see the statue just a work of art and not as a piece of obscenity.  He decides to give it to the lawyer, Ukhov, his friend, who never gets money for the legal services he does for the doctor.  He goes to lawyer and presents him thinking that he will not object the statue because he is a bachelor.  Ukhov says that his mother, his clients would come often and his servants may laugh at him.  Unmindful of his miserable cries the doctor leaves the candelabrum and goes off.

Shashkin’s reaction
The lawyer, in turn, bestows the candelabrum upon his friend Shashkin, a stage comedian. He gives the candelabrum when the comedian is in the sets. Everybody laughs at the comedian.  He closes the door and stays alone with the statue to avoid being ridiculed.  He is unwilling to talk with the visitors.  The wigmaker advises the comedian to sell the statue at an antique shop, run by an old woman.  Shashkin agrees to the advice and he sells the candelabrum at the shop.

Conclusion
Sasha and his mother run the antique shop.  The next day Sasha runs to the doctor carrying the candelabrum.  He goes to the doctor and presents it to him saying that the statue has a pair and thereby no one would think badly of the doctor.  The doctor’s jaw drops on hearing this.

Sunday 8 January 2012

A Tea Party - Ruth Prawar Jhabvala Summary





Introduction
Ruth Prawar Jhabvala was born on Germany.  She has written many novels and short stories.  A Tea Party is about Prem, a college lecturer, who goes to a tea party with his wife.

Indu’s Dressing
Prem works as a lecturer in Khanna Private College.  Mr. and Mrs. Khanna invites all the teachers for a tea party.  Prem asks his wife Indu to come along with him.  Indu takes more time in dressing.  She wears her best saree.  She wears more jewels.  She looks different from her normal look.  Prem looks at her with surprise.

Prem’s Instruction
They both go out of the house.  They talk less while walking.  Indu asks Prem about the way she should behave in the party.  Prem asks her to talk with people in a decent way.  This is new for Indu.  Indu is uneducated. 

Dishes at the Tea Party
Mr. and Mrs. Khanna receive them happily.  They both enter and take their seat.  Varieties of dishes are served in the party.  The women pass the dishes to men.  The men ask them take it.  All women start eating.  Indu likes the sweets very much.  She eats the dish and forgets about others around her.

Prem’s Embarrassment
            Mr. Chadda is also a lecturer in the college.  He stands up and thanks Mr. and Mrs. Khanna for the party.  He says that such parties would help them build a good relationship.  Everyone agrees with him.  During his talk, Prem sees Indu eating lots.  This embarrasses Prem.  Indu does not care for him and she eats a lot.  He feels bad about her behaviour.

Conclusion
            By the end of Chadda’s speech, everyone starts moving home.  Prem feels sad that he did not speak.  He  does not wish to scold Indu for her behaviour.

A Talk on Advertising - Herman Wouk Summary



 

Introduction
Herman Wouk in his essay A Talk on Advertising talks about the negative features of advertising.  He considers advertising job as cheating people and earning more money.

Marquis’ Invitation
The author goes to Marquis’ office on his invitation.  In his office, Herman Wouk finds different things used by an advertiser.  The office was filled with many pictures, captions, models, etc.  The author takes this invitation as a chance to assault advertisement.

The Evil of advertisement
Herman Wouk opens the essay by asking many questions about the basic needs of human beings.  He asks why people eat.  He answers that people eat because they feel hungry.  They pay money and get their food.  The shopkeeper gets money and serves food.  But people today are not satisfied with ordinary food.  They drink wine, smoke, and eat unhealthy food.  The author blames advertisement for making people to eat all these.

Abuse of Language and Arts
Herman then talks on how advertisers abuse language.  He takes a product named “Aurora Dawn”.  The word aurora mean early morning.  The word dawn mean early morning.  Herman scolds the advertisers for unnecessarily repeating the words with same meaning.  Herman then takes a shampoo named “double-bubble”.  Shakespeare first used the word double-bubble.  The advertisers abuses Shakespeare by using his words for a cheap product like a shampoo.

Abuse of nature
The author then talks about the real-estate businessmen who consider the lands to be their own and not as god given.  They daringly use the caption “come buy” for the lands given by god.

Dismal Pilgrimage
He then talks about a serious problem.  He calls the youths going towards cities with the aim of joining advertisement field as dismal pilgrimage.  He says that not all the youths become a success and many lose their lives.

Conclusion
The author concludes he essay by apologizing for assaulting advertising.  He also wishes that at least two persons would leave the advertisement job on reading his essay.

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