Literary Druid
A Peer-Reviewed International Journal of English Language and Literature
Volume- 6, Issue- 1, January-2024
1. The Subversive Dionysian Modernity in the Absurd Plays of Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco
Abhinaba Chatterjee, Research Scholar, Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, India.
Prof. Mukesh Ranjan Verma, Prof (Retd) Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, India.
Abstract
The plays that Martin Esslin so famously classified as belonging to ‘Theatre of the Absurd’ depict a subversive modernity that can be considered as Dionysian in essence, to an audience which is essentially Apollonian. This paper argues that the sense of senselessness and the inadequacy of rationality, which form the hallmark of the ‘Absurd’ theatre, is the Dionysian aspect of the action. This paper will argue that the plays of the ‘Theatre of the Absurd’ are essentially based on Nietzsche’s concept of ‘Amor fati’ and that they project an alternative modernity. In his famous book, ‘The Birth of Tragedy’, Nietzsche argued that the completeness of the Greek tragedy lay in its appropriate synthesis of the Apollonian and the Dionysian aspects, which has subsequently been lost. By extending the Nietzschean concept of the conflict between the Apollonian and the Dionysian, this paper will analyse select plays of Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco as depicting the absurd as a cultural experience, very different from the Apollonian rationality to which the audience has been accustomed to, thereby imbibing a profound sense of disappointment and not only the failure of philosophy to justify moral principles. The notion of the absurd, this paper will argue, arises from the questioning of the very basic values, objectivity and rationality that we associate with our lives. In doing so, this paper will argue for the celebration of the diversity that is so much a characteristic feature of postmodernism, against the dominant notion of the pessimism associated with the studies of these plays.
Kerwords: Absurd Theatre, Apollonian, Dionysian, Amor fati, Modernity, Postmodernism.
2. An Analysis of Cyber Terminologies in William Gibson’s Neuromancer
Mr. P. Balamuthukumaran, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University College, Govindaperi, Cheranmahadevi, Tirunelveli – 627414.
Abstract
In a language, Letters, Words and Sentences form a complete language. Apart from spoken and written, some other types of communication are also considered as a language. A novel a play or a movie can be conveyed through language only. The presence of language has a heavy influence on creative work. For e.g. Film directors communicate with the audience through movies. It is not only about the dialogue but the form of visual language and storytelling. This is how the global audience can understand the perfect plot of a great movie without any subtitles. This shows the power of a language but in the form of storytelling. Under structuralism, this subject is addressed as ‘Narratology’. “Narratology is a branch of structuralism, but it has achieved a certain independence from its parent, and this justifies it being given a chapter of its own.” (Barry p.214). This technique is applied in various genres of fiction and movies to keep the readers and audience focused. Unlike the ordinary structure such as a Hero, Doer and Villain, authors of science fiction have to concentrate a lot on their narrative techniques. William Gibson published a novel Neuromancer in 1984 that was way ahead of the time. William Gibson’s Neuromancer was a pioneer novel in cyberpunk. Gibson was the first one who introduce the term ‘cyberspace’ through this fiction. Unlike other fiction, if a novel is written on an unknown timeline, the author should focus on the language and lifestyle of the time such as new terminologies never used in the present era. This paper is about to analyze the applications and the derivation of cybernetic terminologies and jargon handled by the author.
Keywords: Cyber Technology, William Gibson, Neuromancer.
3. Language Skills of Teacher Trainees and its Effect on Teaching-Learning Process - Ideal Vs Reality
Dr. P. Padmini, Associate Professor of English, Ethiraj College for Women (Autonomous), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
The language skills of teacher trainees play a crucial role in the effectiveness of the teaching-learning process. This study aims to explore the gap between ideal and reality in terms of language skills possessed by teacher trainees and how it impacts their teaching abilities. A review of the literature was conducted to examine existing research on this topic. The findings suggest that while teacher trainees are expected to have strong language skills to effectively communicate with students, there is often a discrepancy between the ideal proficiency levels and the actual abilities of trainees. This gap can lead to challenges in delivering instruction, providing feedback, and fostering student engagement. The apt recommendations for bridging this gap and improving language skills training for teacher trainees are discussed. It also provides objectives, content, methodology and evaluation criteria to induce the strength of the syllabus to gain student's interest and understanding. Hence, the article fosters to study of the syllabus based on the Tamil Nadu syllabus and teacher-student needs and orientation methods.
Keywords: Language Skills, Teacher Trainees, Teaching-Learning Process, Ideal Vs Reality.
4. An Analysis of Resisting Familial Trauma and Resilient Stimulation in the Select Novels of Kathleen Glasgow
Ms. S. Sarandhini, Full-Time Scholar, Department of English, Dr NGP Arts and Science College,
Coimbatore – 48, Tamil Nadu, India.
Dr. M. Marimuthu, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Dr NGP Arts and Science College,
Coimbatore – 48, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
The article focuses on family resilience, the bond among the family members and the attachment within the family as accentuated in the writings of Kathleen Glasgow. The concept of family resilience can be defined as the capacity of the family to empower and rebound from adversity and denotes the effective functioning of individuals after potential traumatic experiences including the care of its members. The effective communication, emotional support, time together and their strength make up a whole family. The key components of the theory are highlighted tenacity, attachment, grief, loss and self–discovery. The proposed study intends to investigate family attachment from the light of resilient stimulations, which teach individuals to trust others in general and to share both happy and terrible moments. The approach also expresses an individual's fight to overcome adversity and remain strong. Having in-depth knowledge and vast experience in familial settings, Kathleen Glasgow a well-known American writer, explicates familial bonds, attachments, the importance of relationships, grief, sorrow and the process of healing in her writing. The novels “How to Make Friends with the Dark” and “You’d Be Home Now” by Kathleen Glasgow discuss the value of human connection in the face of tragedy and explore not only the immediate aftermath of death but also how predicament may shape and modify a person's identity. Glasgow depicts a variety of feelings that come with sorrow, from rage and anguish to unexpected humour and hope. For instance, the protagonist in the novel overcomes and finds comfort in memories of her mother's past and starts to comprehend the complexities, she gets ready to begin a new chapter in her life so that she pays tribute to her mother while also letting her accept her unique identity and discover her place in the world. The present article attempts to decipher Glasgow’s projection of attachment, love, pain, confusion and loneliness in the light of the resilience approach.
Keywords: Resilience, Attachment, Relationship, Predicament, Overcome, Self-discovery.
5. The Voyage of Theatre to Drama and the Intermingling of Transitional and Experimental Phases in Tripura's Pre-Independence Drama Literature from 1900-1950
Tirthankar Laskar, Former PG Student (2018-2020 Batch) and Independent Scholar,
Department of English, Tripura University, Tripura.
Abstract
The history of theatre in Tripura dates back 150 years, with the royal family's close connection to Manipur and Manipuri society, influencing their culture through the popular Manipuri 'Giti-Natya' ballads and Radha Krishna's Rasa Lila. In the 18th century, the 'Kaliya Daman' Jatrapalawas performed in Udaipur under the patronage of Maharaja Ratna Manikya II. Meanwhile, the theatrical company "Ujjayanta Natya Samaj" had originally been established in Tripura in 1897 A.D. by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya, along with the Prince and other royal officials. Later, Ranbir Karta and Suren Karta's theatre company sparked the emergence of several theatre groups in Agartala, but none lasted more than two to four years. However, the young students formed new theatre troupes, including the Umakant Academy Student Drama Society, Edward Memorial Medical Institute Theatre, Sreepat's Tarun Sangh, the Students Association's Drama Branch, and the Belonia Student Drama Society. It was seen after some years that Tripuresh Majumdar, a prominent figure in Tripura's theatre practice, exemplifies the palace-centric style of theatre that extended to the common arena. Later, in the post-independence phase, the dramatists took inspiration from their predecessors and contributed to the field of theatre and drama with the ideology of deliverance and upliftment of the state’s ancient artistic heritage.
Keywords: History, Pre-Independence Phase, Manipuri culture, Theatre, Drama.