'A Far Cry from Africa' by Derek Walcott.  This is an African literature piece of literature that definitely carries the flavour of Africa. In fact, African literature is more post-normal as compared to any other literature with this theme. The title is "A Far Cry From Africa" , it's a cry that is not close, that is not near, it is far away. It's powerful as well, in another sense, because it's coming from Africa. That means oppression is there and because of that oppression, the cry is coming up. The cry can also be taken in two senses. One may be a cry of pain, another may be a cry of protest. In both ways, the point can be seen to be A Far Cry From Africa. Derek Walcott is a very famous post-colonial writer and is known not only as a teacher but also as a playwright. Dream and Monkey Mountain is one of the plays written by him, and in that drama as well, he portrays similar skills as he shows in his poems. This is why he is a post-non-writer. He is a ...

Summary of the Ghost of Firozsha Baag  The Tales of the Feroze Baag (1987, Penguin ), Rohinton Mistry's first book, is a collection of stories about the residents of a Parsi-majority apartment complex in Mumbai called Feroze Baag . Ghost of Feroz Shah Baag ; A story full of humour is part of this collection. This is the story of a Christian woman from Goan who works as an Ayah for a Parsi family living in Feroze Baag Her name is Jacqueline , but her employer's family, who have been working for her for decades, called her Jaakaylee . A simple pronunciation of their own. You can also check:  A Critical Explanation of “The Ghost of Firozsha Baag” by Rohinton Mistry The plot of the story begins with Jaykaylee seeing a ghost coming down the stairs when she returns to her employer's house in the early hours of Christmas morning , after a midnight gathering. Both the master and the lady of the house, Seth and Bai , rejected the ghost story of  Ayah, and even neighbours made f...

 A Basic Understanding of Ferdinand de Saussure's Semiotics Language is a complex system of signs that enables the expression of ideas and can be likened to other sign systems such as writing, the alphabet of deaf mutes, symbolic rituals, polite expressions, military signals, and more. However, it holds a paramount position among these systems. One can conceive a scientific study that delves into the existence and functioning of signs within society. This study would fall within the realm of social psychology and, consequently, general psychology. I shall name this field "semiology," derived from the Greek word sēmeîon, meaning "sign." Semiology would explore the nature of signs and the laws that govern them. According to Saussure, signs consist of two fundamental components: 1) A sound image or signifier, which is the perceptible form of the sign. 2) A concept or signified, which is the mental representation produced by the signifier. It is crucial to recognize...

Exam question: Structuralism — what is structuralism, how did it develop from Saussure’s linguistics, and how do structuralists analyse literature? Ferdinand de Saussure (1857–1913). Portrait in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons .   The Summary of Structuralism 💬 Structuralism is one of the approaches in literary criticism.  STRUCTURALISM A method used by sociologists, anthropologists and linguists or other people to show how all aspects of culture are based upon some underlying structure. In the 1960s, structuralism is an approach to literary analysis grounded in structural linguistics, the science of language. For the linguistic background, see Structural linguistics / Structuralism . By using the techniques, methodologies, and vocabulary of linguistics, structuralism offers a scientific view of how we achieve meaning not only in literary works but also in all forms of communication and social behaviour.   HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT Pre-Saussurean Linguistics ...

On Auden's 'The Unknown Citizen' CONTENT W.H. Auden, a renowned and truly free-spirited poet of the 20th century, his works encompassed a wide and varied range of themes, including society, politics, history, and the philosophy of life, all of which established him as an almost unrivalled figure in English literature. Time has a profound effect on the poet's life, and the effects of war, struggle, class, economic crisis, unemployment, despair, and social injustice have all deeply touched the mind of WH Auden. In the first half of the twentieth century, during the chaos of the two world wars, Auden's poetry played a truly significant role in capturing the societal aspects of Europe, this raised horror debates and earned him the incredible accolade of having 'the greatest mind of the twentieth century,' as was expressed by Joseph Brodsky. The Unknown Citizen is undoubtedly one of Auden's most important poems. It tackles the recurring theme of the dilemma a...

Nathaniel Hawthorne, born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, grew up in a relatively isolated environment due to the early death of his father. His family had a connection to the Salem Witch Trials through his great-great-grandfather, who was a significant judge during that time. This association with the tragic events led the family to feel as though they were "cursed." Additionally, Hawthorne's family had been influential and prosperous during the Puritan era, which bestowed certain privileges upon him. However, this connection also fueled a sense of shame and guilt in him as a young man, due to the wrongdoings associated with Puritanism. Hawthorne faced financial struggles as a writer and consequently held various government-related jobs to support himself. Despite his dislike for living in Salem, as expressed in his statement, "I detest this town so much that I hate to go out into the streets or to have people see me," he was compelled to venture into public i...