Summary of Philip Larkin's Born Yesterday

Introduction

            Philip Larkin is a famous English poet.  He has written many poems in English.  “Born Yesterday” is poem that wishes a newborn girl in a different way.

The newborn baby

            The poet describes a newborn girl as tightly folded bud.  He is willing to wish the baby.  The poet says that he would not wish the baby as all others do.  He says that he is going to be normal in wishing the baby.  Normally people wish the baby to be beautiful and have a pleasant life throughout its lifetime.  This is not practical and true, according to the poet.

The Poet’s Wish

            The poet wishes the girl child to have ordinary talents like all other women.  He does not wish the baby to be good looking or ugly looking.  He wishes the baby to be normal like any other human being.  He does not wish the baby to have any particular talent, which would destroy other talents of the baby.  He wishes the baby to be dull, which would bring in more happiness than being possessed with some special talents.

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.

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 116^th 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.

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.