Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Monday, July 28, 2025
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
The Mahabharata 106-169 Theme
The selected excerpt from the Mahabharata (lines 106-169), titled "The Lists of Contents" (pages 25-29), provides a narrative through Sanjaya’s recounting of events that progressively erode his hope of victory for the Kauravas against the Pandavas. This segment, rich with emotional depth and moral complexity, offers a critical lens to analyze several interwoven themes: the inevitability of fate, the interplay of dharma and adharma, the role of divine intervention, the cost of war, and the psychological toll on its witnesses.
1.Inevitability of Fate
The repetitive structure of Sanjaya’s lament—“When I heard… then, Sanjaya, I lost hope of victory”—serves as a rhythmic acknowledgment of an inescapable destiny. Events such as Arjuna’s abduction of Subhadra, the humiliation of Draupadi, and the eventual deaths of Karna and Duryodhana are portrayed as predetermined turning points. This inevitability is reinforced by divine actions (e.g., Arjuna’s Pasupata missile, Krishna’s guidance), suggesting that the war’s outcome transcends human agency. Critically, this theme raises questions about free will—whether the characters’ choices (e.g., Sakuni’s dice game) are mere catalysts for a divinely ordained end, reflecting a fatalistic worldview that challenges modern notions of personal responsibility.
The text’s focus on Arjuna’s divine favor and the Kauravas’ repeated setbacks (e.g., capture by Gandharvas) underscores a narrative arc where fate favors the Pandavas.
2.Interplay of Dharma and Adharma
Dharma, or righteousness, is a central pillar, with the Pandavas embodying it through Yudhishthira’s leadership and Arjuna’s divine alliances, contrasted against the Kauravas’ adharma (e.g., Draupadi’s public shaming, Duryodhana’s cowardice). However, the text complicates this binary—Asvatthaman’s killing of an unborn child with the Aisika weapon and the massacre of the Pancalas introduce moral ambiguity, suggesting that even dharma’s victory is tainted. This duality invites a critical examination of whether the war’s justification (restoring dharma) justifies its atrocities, a debate resonant with contemporary ethical discussions on the means versus ends.
Yudhishthira’s forest exile with Snataka Brahmins versus Sakuni’s deceitful victory in the dice game highlights this tension.
3.Role of Divine Intervention
Divine figures—Krishna (as VÄsudeva, Narayana), Indra, Shiva—actively shape the war, with Arjuna’s divine weapons and Krishna’s strategic maneuvers tipping the scales. This intervention elevates the conflict to a cosmic level, suggesting a divine endorsement of the Pandavas’ cause. However, the text’s portrayal of Krishna cursing Drona’s son or the earth splitting raises critical questions about the ethics of divine manipulation does it absolve human actors of accountability, or does it reflect a higher justice? This theme aligns with mythological narratives but contrasts with modern secular perspectives that prioritize human agency.
Arjuna’s learning of missiles from Indra and the splitting of the earth during Bhishma’s fall illustrate divine influence.
Cost of War
The excerpt vividly captures war’s devastating cost—Draupadi’s humiliation, the deaths of Karna, Duryodhana, and Bhishma, and the mourning of wives and grandsons. Dhritarashtra’s lament and Sanjaya’s despair underscore a collective trauma that transcends victory, suggesting that war, even for a righteous cause, leaves a legacy of loss. Critically, this theme challenges the glorification of war, presenting it as a pyrrhic victory where dharma’s triumph is overshadowed by human suffering, a perspective that resonates with post-war reflections.
The massacre of the Pancalas and Asvatthaman’s infamy with the Aisika weapon highlight this toll.
5.Psychological Toll on Witnesses
Sanjaya’s role as a witness amplifies the psychological burden of the war. His repeated loss of hope mirrors Dhritarashtra’s torment, reflecting the emotional exhaustion of observing loved ones’ downfall (e.g., Karna’s death, Duryodhana’s slaying). This theme critiques the bystander’s perspective, suggesting that even those not directly fighting bear a heavy moral and emotional load. It invites a modern psychological lens, where post-traumatic stress among observers is recognized, adding depth to the epic’s human dimension.
Dhritarashtra’s faint and plea to Sanjaya to give up hope encapsulate this toll.
Critical Evaluation
The excerpt (106-169) is a microcosm of the Mahabharata’s broader narrative, blending heroic feats with tragic inevitability. The theme of fate aligns with ancient Indian cosmology but may feel deterministic to contemporary readers valuing agency. The dharma-adharma interplay offers a nuanced moral landscape, though the war’s excesses (e.g., unborn child’s death) challenge its sanctity, echoing modern debates on just war theory. Divine intervention enhances the epic’s grandeur but risks undermining human effort, a tension relevant in today’s spiritual-secular divide. The cost of war and psychological toll provide a humanistic critique, making the text timeless as it grapples with the universal cost of conflict.
In conclusion, the selected lines critically explore the paradox of a righteous war, where divine will and dharma prevail, yet at an immense human cost, offering a rich tapestry for analyzing fate, morality, and resilience, pertinent to both ancient and modern.
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
TRAVEL WRITING Unit I MCQs II MA
MANNAR THIRUMALAI NAICKER COLLEGE
PASUMALAI, MADURAI
TRAVEL WRITING
II MA., ENGLISH MCQs
UNIT - I
1. What genre is the primary focus of Carl Thompson's writing?
A. Science Fiction
B. Biography
C. Travel Writing
D. Historical Fiction
Answer: C. Travel Writing
2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a contemporary travel writer?
A. Michael Palin
B. Bill Bryson
C. Paul Theroux
D. J.K. Rowling
Answer: D. J.K. Rowling
3. What role has the journal Granta played in travel writing?
A. It banned travel writing.
B. It made travel writing part of the school curriculum.
C. It helped establish travel writing as a popular literary form.
D. It replaced travel writing with fiction.
Answer: C. It helped establish travel writing as a popular literary form.
4. Why has travel writing gained new relevance in the modern era?
A. Due to lack of fiction books
B. Because of globalisation and cross-cultural contact
C. Because people stopped reading novels
D. Due to scientific discoveries
Answer: B. Because of globalisation and cross-cultural contact
5. What is one major academic context in which travel writing is studied?
A. Postmodernism
B. Existentialism
C. Postcolonialism
D. Romanticism
Answer: C. Postcolonialism
6. What consequence of European imperialism does travel writing help us understand?
A. Scientific progress
B. Cross-cultural art
C. Economic theories
D. Inequalities between developed and less developed regions
Answer: D. Inequalities between developed and less developed regions
7. How did travel writing contribute to European imperial expansion?
A. It provided food recipes from colonies.
B. It gave moral lessons.
C. It offered insights into activities and ideologies behind expansion.
D. It promoted peace treaties.
Answer: C. It offered insights into activities and ideologies behind expansion.
8. Which field is NOT mentioned as one influenced by travel writing in the social sciences?
A. Geography
B. Sociology
C. Psychology
D. Anthropology
Answer: C. Psychology
9. What aspect of women's travel writing has gained recent attention?
A. Their contribution to the genre
B. Their lack of involvement
C. Their criticism of men
D. Their poetry
Answer: A. Their contribution to the genre
10. How do critics view the ideological effects of travel writing?
A. As neutral
B. As scientifically valuable
C. As conservative and stereotypical
D. As revolutionary
Answer: C. As conservative and stereotypical
11. What is meant by "hyphenated" identity in the context of travel writing?
A. People with dual nationalities or mixed cultural backgrounds
B. People who write using hyphens
C. Writers with nicknames
D. Tourists using GPS
Answer: A. People with dual nationalities or mixed cultural backgrounds
12. What kind of message does travel writing often deliver to its Western readers?
A. A message of rebellion
B. A self-congratulatory message
C. A religious message
D. A universal truth
Answer: B. A self-congratulatory message
13. What is a common scholarly method of studying travelogues?
A. Celebrating all narratives
B. Ignoring ideology
C. Reading them against the grain
D. Translating them into Latin
Answer: C. Reading them against the grain
14. What role did travel writing historically play in racism and imperialism?
A. It promoted equality
B. It contributed to racist ideologies and cultural supremacism
C. It discouraged colonialism
D. It had no influence
Answer: B. It contributed to racist ideologies and cultural supremacism
15. What does Mark Cocker argue about travel and travel writing?
A. They are outdated
B. Travel is a form of escapism
C. Travel is a doorway to human freedom
D. Travel should be banned
Answer: C. Travel is a doorway to human freedom
16. According to Jim Philip, what is one benefit of recent travel writing?
A. It supports nationalism
B. It encourages isolationism
C. It fosters internationalism and global community
D. It reduces travel costs
Answer: C. It fosters internationalism and global community
17. What critical perspective do Holland and Huggan add to the debate on travel writing?
A. Complete rejection of the genre
B. Praise for its use in war reporting
C. Acknowledgement of its 'defamiliarizing capacities'
D. Analysis of its grammatical errors
Answer: C. Acknowledgement of its 'defamiliarizing capacities'
18. Which publishing series are mentioned as having reissued travel books?
A. Penguin Modern Classics
B. Random House's Vintage Departures and Picador's Travel Classics
C. Harper Voyager and Bloomsbury's Odyssey Series
D. Oxford World's Writings
Answer: B. Random House's Vintage Departures and Picador's Travel Classics
19. What types of people have authored travelogues, according to the text?
A. Only historians
B. Mainly novelists
C. A wide range including pilgrims, comedians, and backpackers
D. Just academics
Answer: C. A wide range including pilgrims, comedians, and backpackers
20. What paradox is noted about the academic response to travel writing’s popularity?
A. Scholars dislike popular books
B. Academics read travel writing for leisure
C. The genre is commercially successful but critically approached
D. Writers are not considered artists
Answer: C. The genre is commercially successful but critically approached
1. How is travel defined in the text?
A. As a physical activity with no deeper meaning
B. As a form of national duty
C. As a journey involving encounters with difference and otherness
D. As a means of entertainment only
Answer: C. As a journey involving encounters with difference and otherness
2. What is a key dual aspect of travel writing?
A. Scientific analysis and political commentary
B. Storytelling and myth creation
C. A report on the world and a reflection of the writer’s values
D. Humour and sarcasm
Answer: C. A report on the world and a reflection of the writer’s values
3. Why is travel writing difficult to define strictly?
A. It is written only in ancient languages
B. It is limited to guidebooks
C. It blends into other genres and has diverse forms
D. It always lacks factual content
Answer: C. It blends into other genres and has diverse forms
4. What type of debate surrounds the classification of travel writing?
A. Budget and funding
B. Length and formatting
C. Taxonomic and definitional debates
D. Sales and marketing strategies
Answer: C. Taxonomic and definitional debates
5. What is one main question raised by travel writing?
A. Why travelers write in code
B. How long a journey should be
C. Whether all travel-related texts should be considered travel writing
D. If only fiction should be published
Answer: C. Whether all travel-related texts should be considered travel writing
6. What term does Paul Fussell use to describe classic travel writing?
A. Traveler’s guide
B. Nonfiction anthology
C. Travel book
D. World memoir
Answer: C. Travel book
7. How does Paul Fussell distinguish travel books from guidebooks?
A. Travel books are fictional, guidebooks are not
B. Travel books are primarily narrative; guidebooks are practical
C. Guidebooks are longer
D. Travel books are cheaper
Answer: B. Travel books are primarily narrative; guidebooks are practical
8. Which quality is common in modern travel books?
A. Strict factual documentation
B. Dramatic structure and aesthetic pleasure
C. Daily expense tracking
D. Alphabetical entries
Answer: B. Dramatic structure and aesthetic pleasure
9. What did the term ‘voyages and travels’ refer to before 1900?
A. Fictional sea stories
B. A narrow form of travel memoirs
C. A wide variety of travel-related texts
D. Novels about pirates
Answer: C. A wide variety of travel-related texts
10. What does Jan Borm distinguish between?
A. Real and fake writers
B. Travel books and travel writing
C. Travel films and travel blogs
D. Classic and modern guides
Answer: B. Travel books and travel writing
11. What is one reason travel writing is considered ambiguous in factual terms?
A. It never includes maps
B. Writers must mix reportage and storytelling
C. All travelogues are fictional
D. It is only written in verse
Answer: B. Writers must mix reportage and storytelling
12. What are “sins of omission” in travel writing?
A. Editing errors in publication
B. Leaving out details to create a better narrative
C. Misuse of punctuation
D. Not finishing a journey
Answer: B. Leaving out details to create a better narrative
13. Which modern travel writer is known for postmodern techniques and trickster figures?
A. Jan Morris
B. Paul Fussell
C. Bruce Chatwin
D. Mark Twain
Answer: C. Bruce Chatwin
14. What does Patrick Holland and Graham Huggan say about travel writing?
A. It has no academic value
B. It is pure fiction
C. It is ‘fiction of factual representation’
D. It only appeals to tourists
Answer: C. It is ‘fiction of factual representation’
15. What does the text say about the genre's current cultural status?
A. It is ranked above the novel
B. It is often dismissed and sits below more esteemed genres
C. It is the most popular genre in academia
D. It is limited to television
Answer: B. It is often dismissed and sits below more esteemed genres
16. What is one reason eighteenth-century readers valued travel writing more than we do today?
A. They had no novels
B. They used it as religious scripture
C. They didn’t distinguish strongly between fact and fiction
D. They believed all travel was dangerous
Answer: C. They didn’t distinguish strongly between fact and fiction
17. How does the travel writer’s role often shift in the narrative?
A. From editor to poet
B. From scholar to activist
C. From observer to trickster
D. From tourist to philosopher
Answer: C. From observer to trickster
18. What kind of structure is most common in travel books according to Fussell?
A. Interactive digital maps
B. Alphabetical listings
C. Retrospective, first-person narratives
D. Dialogue-only scripts
Answer: C. Retrospective, first-person narratives
19. Why is it important to prefix "modern" to Fussell's idea of a travel book?
A. To separate it from science fiction
B. To show its difference from earlier, more inclusive traditions
C. To indicate it is written on computers
D. To reduce its academic weight
Answer: B. To show its difference from earlier, more inclusive traditions
20. How is travel writing best described, according to Carl Thompson?
A. A fixed and narrow literary form
B. A disrespected genre with no relevance
C. A diverse and loosely defined genre with overlapping boundaries
D. An academic-only pursuit
Answer: C. A diverse and loosely defined genre with overlapping boundaries
1. Who is considered to have written the earliest detailed account of a voyage?
A. Marco Polo
B. Homer
C. Wenamon
D. Herodotus
Answer: C. Wenamon
2. Which of the following texts is NOT mentioned as an early written treatment of the travel theme?
A. The Epic of Gilgamesh
B. The Odyssey
C. Beowulf
D. Genesis
Answer: C. Beowulf
3. What did ancient navigational texts such as periploi and navigationes offer?
A. Philosophical reflections
B. Detailed maps of cities
C. Directions for sea travel
D. War strategies
Answer: C. Directions for sea travel
4. What distinguishes Horace's 'A Journey to Brundisium'?
A. It was a fictive account
B. It offered practical pilgrim advice
C. It was an early personal travel narrative
D. It described voyages to India
Answer: C. It was an early personal travel narrative
5. What is unique about the Pilgrimage of Egeria?
A. It includes scientific observations
B. It is a fictitious story
C. It emphasizes the self and the journey
D. It focuses on trade and commerce
Answer: C. It emphasizes the self and the journey
6. Which medieval work vividly depicts a religious pilgrimage?
A. True History
B. The Histories
C. The Canterbury Tales
D. Robinson Crusoe
Answer: C. The Canterbury Tales
7. Who authored the most influential travel narrative of the late Middle Ages?
A. Chaucer
B. Marco Polo
C. Egeria
D. Christopher Columbus
Answer: B. Marco Polo
8. What shift occurred with Columbus's voyages?
A. Return to fictional travel accounts
B. Rise in pilgrimage narratives
C. Emphasis on eyewitnessing and inquiry
D. Decline of European exploration
Answer: C. Emphasis on eyewitnessing and inquiry
9. The Treaty of Tordesillas divided new lands between which countries?
A. Britain and France
B. Spain and Portugal
C. Italy and Germany
D. Netherlands and Denmark
Answer: B. Spain and Portugal
10. What did the printing press enable in the context of travel writing?
A. Fewer travel books to be published
B. Control over all publications
C. Wider circulation of maps and reports
D. Destruction of manuscripts
Answer: C. Wider circulation of maps and reports
11. What characterized Thomas Coryat’s 'Crudities'?
A. A romantic fiction
B. A female travelogue
C. A scientific manual
D. A literary travel account
Answer: D. A literary travel account
12. What was the Grand Tour mainly associated with?
A. Scientific research
B. Religious conversion
C. Visiting Roman antiquity
D. Escaping war
Answer: C. Visiting Roman antiquity
13. Which poet’s work inspired aesthetic appreciation of landscapes?
A. Chaucer
B. Linnaeus
C. Ossian
D. Tennyson
Answer: C. Ossian
14. Who introduced the concept of package holidays in the 1840s?
A. Francis Bacon
B. Thomas Cook
C. Captain Cook
D. James Cook
Answer: B. Thomas Cook
15. Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative is titled:
A. A Journey to Brundisium
B. The Sovereignty and Goodness of God
C. The Seven Pillars of Wisdom
D. The Snow Leopard
Answer: B. The Sovereignty and Goodness of God
16. Which novel satirized idealistic travel narratives?
A. Utopia
B. Odyssey
C. Mundus Naturae
D. Gulliver’s Travels
Answer: A. Utopia
17. Which century saw the emergence of the ‘tourist’ as a new traveler type?
A. 15th century
B. 17th century
C. 18th century
D. 20th century
Answer: C. 18th century
18. Who is considered a patron of British exploratory efforts in the 18th century?
A. Captain Cook
B. Sir Francis Bacon
C. Sir Joseph Banks
D. John Locke
Answer: C. Sir Joseph Banks
19. Who was among the notable female travel writers in the Victorian era?
A. Rebecca West
B. Harriet Beecher Stowe
C. Mary Rowlandson
D. Aphra Behn
Answer: B. Harriet Beecher Stowe
20. What has the internet contributed to modern travel writing?
A. Limitation of access
B. Decline of travel books
C. Rise of travel blogs
D. End of the genre
Answer: C. Rise of travel blogs
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