(DEG 01) M.A. (Previous) DEGREE EXAMINATION, MAY 2008. First Year English Paper I HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Time : Three hours Maximum : 100 marks Questions in Unit I are compulsory. Answer TWO questions from Unit II and TWO from Unit III. All questions carry equal marks. UNIT I (20 marks) 1. Correct FIVE of the following sentences and identify the unacceptable features : (5 2 = 10) (a) She owes me five hundreds. (b) Let us discuss about the project. (c) I am not knowing him. (d) I have passed the exam in 2002. (e) She used to stay here for twenty years. (f) They agreed with my proposal. (g) I have four a brother-in-laws. (h) He is senior than me. 2. Distinguish between the following pairs of words : (5 2 = 10) (a) Compliment (b) Sensitive (c) Mean (d) Right (e) Sell Complement Sensible Moan Riot Cell UNIT II (2 20 = 40 marks)
3. Distinguish between Norman French and Central French influence in the Middle English Period. 4. Write an essay on the Scandinavian influence on English language. 5. Write an essay on the features of the Old English. 6. Write a critical essay on the efforts of Dean Swift and Dr. Johnson in refining the language in the 18th century. 7. Write short notes on TWO of the following : (a) Grim's law (b) Verner's law (c) Standard English (d) Greek influence on English language. UNIT III (2 20 = 40 marks) 8. Explain briefly any THREE of the following process of word formation : (a) Compounding (b) Abbreviation (c) Derivation (d) False Etymology (e) Affixes (f) Portmanteau words. 9. Write short notes on any THREE of the following processes of semantic changes : (a) Extension of meaning (b) Elevation (c) Specialization of meaning (d) Euphemism (e) Association of ideas (f) Prudery. 10. Write a note on the characteristic features of American English and how it differs from British English. 11. Comment on the contribution of any one of the poets to the English language.
12. Write short notes on any TWO of the following : (a) Basic English (b) The Bible's contribution to English language (c) Jargon (d) Slang (e) Homonyms.
(DEG 02) M.A. (Previous) DEGREE EXAMINATION, MAY 2008. First Year English Paper II SHAKESPEARE Time : Three hours Maximum : 100 marks Question No. 1 in Unit I is compulsory. Answer any TWO questions from Unit II and TWO questions from Unit III All questions carry equal marks. UNIT I 1. Annotate any FOUR of the following : (4 5 = 20) (a) A son, who is the theme of honour s tongue; Amongst a grove, the very straightest plant, Who is sweet fortune s minion and her pride. (b) Why what a wasp-tongued and impatient fool Art thou, to break into this woman s mood, Trying thine ear to no tongue but thine own? (c) Didst thou never see Titan kiss a dish of butter, pitiful-hearted Titan, that melted at the sweet tale of the sun? (d) What is honour? A word. What is that word honour? Air. A trim reckoning. (e) Frailty, thy name is woman! A little month; or be those shoes were old With which she followed my poor Father s body. (f) This above all; to thine own self be true! And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. (g) The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. The king is a thing (h) I lov d Ophelia; forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum. UNIT II 2. Examine the view that Hotspur is a spiritual descendent of the knights errant of medieval romance.
3. Critically evaluate the dramatic function of the character of Falstaff. 4. Comment on the play within the play in Hamlet. 5. Explain the theme of revenge in the play Hamlet. 6. Examine William Shakepeare as a historical playwright. UNIT III 7. Give an account of the themes of the sonnets of Shakespeare. 8. Critically examine the view that with reference of Malvolio, Twelfth Night is a comedy of humours. 9. Discuss the character of prospers in The Tempest as the Shakespearean superman. 10. Write short notes on any FOUR of the following : (a) John of Lancaster (b) Significance of the title Twelfth Night (c) Character of Prince Hal (d) Structure of a Shakespearean sonnet (e) Three classical unities in The Tempest (f) Polonius (g) The grave-digger s scene (h) Caliban.
(DEG 03) M.A. (Previous) DEGREE EXAMINATION, MAY 2008. First Year English Paper III MODERN LITERATURE I (1550-1700) Time : Three hours Maximum : 100 marks Question No. 1 in Unit I is compulsorily. Answer TWO questions from Unit II and TWO from Unit III. All questions carry equal marks. UNIT I 1. Annotate any FOUR of the following : (4 5 = 20) (a) Now that I have obtained what I desire, I ll live in speculation of this art, Till Mephistophilis return again. (b) Now, Mephistophilis, the restless course That time doth run with calm and silent foot, Shortening my days and thread of vital life. (c) The Second, dissimulation in the negative; When a man lets fall signs and arguments, that he is not that he is. (d) Men fear death, as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other. (e) If our two loves be one, or thou and I Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die. (f) We are tapers too, and at our own cost die, And we in us find the Eagle and the Dove. (g) Fallen cherub, to be weak in miserable Doing or suffering: but of this be sure,
To do aught good never will be our task, But ever to do ill our sole delight. (h) All her original brightness, nor appeared Less than archangel ruined, and the excess of glory obscured. UNIT II 2. Critically examine the use of epic similes in Paradise Lost Book I. 3. Discuss Donne s treatment of the theme of love in his poetry. 4. Evaluate Dr. Faustus as a play tracing the moral disintegration of an ardent but erring spirit. 5. Examine the salient features of the Baconian essay. 6. Write a note on the Marlowian mighty line. UNIT III 7. Consider The Spanish Tragedy as a prototype of a revenge tragedy. 8. Consider The White Devil as a play evoking a sense of passion, pride and death. 9. Comment on Sidney s views on poetry. 10. Discuss The Way of the World as a satire on the sophistication and shallowness of Restoration society. 11. Examine the realistic elements in Everyman in His Humour. 12. Consider Absalom and Achitophel, as a political allegory. 13. Comment on Milton s use of Adam and Eve in Paradise Lost, Book IX. 14. Write short notes on FOUR of the following : (a) Character of Gavestone in Edward II. (b) Aphorisitc style of Bacon. (c) Play within the play in The Spanish Tragedy. (d) Character of Satan Paradise Lost Book I. (e) Structure of the play, The White Devil. (f) The Chorus in Doctor Faustus. (g) The Way of the World as a restoration comedy. (h) Dryden s dramatic style.
(DEG 04) M.A. (Previous) DEGREE EXAMINATION, MAY 2008. First Year English Paper IV MODERN LITERATURE II (1700 1850) Time : Three hours Maximum : 100 marks Question No. 1 is compulsory. Answer any TWO questions from Unit II and TWO questions from Unit III. All questions carry equal marks. UNIT I (20 marks) 1. Annotate any FOUR of the following : (4 5 = 20) (a) What is made pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbres? What wild ecstasy? (b) Darkling I listen ; and, for many a time I have been half in love with easeful Death, Called him soft names in many a mused rhyme. (c) Sometimes it befell desire In these night wanderings, that a strong Overpowered my better reason. (d) It was an act of stealth And troubled pleasure, not without the voice Of mountain echoes did my boat move on. (e) A quibble is to Shakespeare, what luminous vapours are to the traveller ; he follows it at all adventures. (f) Thus, if there arises a fragrancy of smells or perfumes, they lighten the pleasures of the imagination.
(g) But the point we would request of you is, that you will promise to forget this fellow to illiterate him, I say, quite from your memory. (h) O, there is nothing to be hoped for from her! She is as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of Nile. UNIT II (2 20 = 40 marks) 2. Examine John Keats as a romantic poet. 3. The Prelude is much more than an autobiography : it is a story of universal significance. Discuss. 4. Critically comment on the merits and demerits of Dr. Johnson as a literary critic from your study of Preface to Shakespeare. 5. Discuss The Rivals as a drama of intrigues. 6. Explain the elements of Romanticism. UNIT III (2 20 = 40 marks) 7. Discuss the theme of Pope s The Rape of the Lock. 8. Rime of the Ancient Mariner is Coleridge s one great complete work, the one really finished thing, in a life of many beginnings. Explain. 9. Dreamer of dreams as he was, Shelley yet conceived it to be part of his poetic mission to become the inspirer and guide of men. Justify. 10. Bring out the autobiographical element in Lamb s essays. 11. Write an essay on the theme of marriage in Jane Austen s Emma. 12. Comment on the art of characterization in She Stoops to Conquer. 13. Write short notes on any FOUR of the following : (a) Nature in Wordsworth. (b) Ancient Mariner as a lyrical ballad. (c) Self-revelation in Lamb s essays. (d) The prose style of Dr. Johnson. (e) Farcical comedy. (f) Mock heroic element in The Rape of the Lock. (g) Shelley s lyrical genius. (h) Goldsmith s plot construction.
(DEG 05) M.A. (Previous) DEGREE EXAMINATION, MAY 2008. First Year English Paper V MODERN LITERATURE III (1850 1950) Time : Three hours Maximum : 100 marks 1. Annotate FOUR of the following : Question No. 1 in Unit I is compulsory. Answer any TWO question from Unit II and TWO question from Unit III. All questions carry equal marks. UNIT I (a) Death closes all : but something are the end, Some work of noble role, may yet be done. (b) Behod Madonna! - I am bold to say I can do with my pencil what I know (c) In the fountain basin where I sailed my ship Slept at night in a dog Kennel But nobody chained him up. (d) Men manufacture both machine and soul, (e) And use what they imperfectly control To dare a future from the taken routes. If you see dear Mrs. Equitone, Tell her I bring the horoscope myself: One must be so careful these days. (f) This is the purpose and nature of miracles. They may seem very wonderful to the people who witness them, and very simple to, those who perform them. (g) Different classes of persons, at different times, make, of course, very various demands upon literature (h) Most easily illustrated by theological literature, this quality lends to profane writers a kind of religious influence.
UNIT II 2. Bring out the poetic merits of Tennyson's Ulysses. 3. Robert Browning possesses the vitality of a poet but seldom exhibits the grass. Elaborate. 4. Examine the poetic qualities of Sylan Thomas or Robert Graves or Ted Hughes with reference to the prescribed poems. 5. Write an essay on the structural integrity of The Waste Land. 6. Joan's murder is a Judicial murder, a pious murder, a murder that is not committed by murderers. Explain. 7. Explain Pater's views on literature from your study of his essay Style. UNIT III 8. Discuss Yeats's use of myth and symbol in his poetry. 9. Comment on the characterization of Farfrae in The Mayor of Casterbridge 10. Examine the significance of the title Sons and Lovers. 11. Critically comment on the use of the stream of consciousness technique in To The Lighthouse. 12. Bring out the chief features of poetic drama in The Cocktail Party. 13. Consider Waiting for Godot as having elements of absurdity. 14. Write short notes on FOUR of the following : (a) The metaphysical tradition in Dylan Thomas (b) The character of Cauchon in St. Joan. (c) Italian renaissance in Browning. (d) Religions note in The Waste Land. (e) Hardy as a pessimist. (f) Myth in Tennyson. (g) Cone and Gyre in Yeats. (h) Significance of the title-waiting for Godot.