English Language, Literature and Creative Writing Blog

1. What does the Chorus reveal about Faustus in the Prologue? In the Prologue of Doctor Faustus, the Chorus functions like the narrator and sets the stage for the audience by giving a brief overview of Faustus’s background and character. We are told that Faustus was born to humble parents in Germany and grew up in the town of Rhodes. He studied at the University of Wittenberg, where his brilliance made him famous as a scholar. Faustus mastered many subjects—logic, medicine, law, and theology. The Chorus highlights that Faustus’s rise was due to his intelligence and ambition, but also foreshadows that this ambition will lead to his downfall. Unlike traditional tragedies that speak of kings, warriors, or great battles, this play focuses on the downfall of a scholar whose “waxen wings did mount above his reach,” an allusion to the myth of Icarus. Just like Icarus who flew too close to the sun, Faustus also aspires beyond human limits and faces destruction. Thus, the Chorus sets the mor...

The Neo-Classical Age in English literature, spanning roughly from the late 1600s through the early 1700s, emerged in the wake of the Restoration of Charles II and solidified its outlook during the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the Act of Union of 1707. In these decades of political restoration and consolidation, writers embraced the ideals of ancient Greece and Rome—reason, balance, and order—as antidotes to the chaos of civil war and religious conflict. This reverence for classical antiquity shaped a cultural moment that valued harmony in thought and expression, and it set the tone for literature that both reflected and sought to improve the society around it. Coffeehouses, private salons, and the newly founded Royal Society became crucibles for intellectual exchange, turning London into a vibrant public sphere. An emerging literate middle class—eager for reading that combined amusement with instruction—found in essays, drama, and poetry the perfect vehicles for polite discourse...

The Restoration Age in England, spanning roughly from 1660 to 1700, marks the return of the monarchy after a period of Puritan rule. When King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, it signaled a dramatic shift in political and cultural life. The earlier Puritan regime under Oliver Cromwell had imposed strict moral codes, banning public celebrations, theater, and even colorful clothing. In contrast, Charles II’s court embraced elegance, wit, and pleasure, ushering in a more liberal and indulgent atmosphere. While the monarchy was restored, Parliament retained significant influence, leading to ongoing tensions—especially around religious succession. Key political events like the Exclusion Crisis and the Glorious Revolution (1688) reflected these struggles, ultimately steering England toward a constitutional monarchy. In literature, the Restoration Age was a renaissance of satire, wit, and theatrical innovation. The reopening of theaters after years of suppression led to the...

John Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel transforms a biblical revolt into a sharp commentary on Restoration politics. By casting real historical figures as Old Testament characters, Dryden exposes the ambitions and follies of his contemporaries. Historical Context King Charles II ruled England after the turmoil of civil war and the Protectorate. Fearing a Catholic succession, the Whig party—led by the Earl of Shaftesbury—sought to undermine the king’s decision to name his brother James as heir. In response, Dryden, as Poet Laureate and a Tory loyalist, penned Absalom and Achitophel in 1681 to defend the crown. Dryden borrowed the story of Absalom’s revolt against King David and the scheming politician Achitophel to mirror the Monmouth rebellion and Shaftesbury’s intrigues. By framing current events as an epic allegory, he elevated a partisan pamphlet into a work of enduring literary power. Dryden’s satire operates on two levels: - A direct allegory where Absalom represents the...

Christopher Marlowe was born in 1564—the same year as William Shakespeare—and quickly made his mark as one of the so-called “University Wits,” a group of Cambridge-educated playwrights who transformed Elizabethan theatre. Marlowe’s fierce intelligence and bold style helped pioneer blank verse drama, often called the “Mighty Line” for its unrhymed iambic pentameter that gave his characters an almost musical force. His major plays—Tamburlaine the Great, The Jew of Malta, Edward II, and above all Doctor Faustus—explore ambition, power, and the darker side of human desire. Marlowe’s life was as dramatic as his works: he died at just twenty-nine in a tavern brawl, leaving behind a legacy of restless energy and poetic innovation. The story of Doctor Faustus itself sprang from German folklore about a man named Johann Faust, a charismatic astrologer, magician, and alchemist who supposedly sold his soul to the devil in exchange for supernatural powers. In 1587, a popular chapbook called ...

Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus takes us into the world of late sixteenth-century England, when new ideas about human potential and knowledge were shaking up old religious certainties. At its heart is Dr John Faustus, a scholar dissatisfied with the limits of traditional learning. Seeking more power, he turns to magic and makes a pact with the devil, trading his soul for twenty-four years of service from the demon Mephistopheles. This dramatic premise grew out of the familiar “morality play” tradition, but Marlowe pushed it onto a grander stage, exploring ambition, doubt, and the price of forbidden knowledge. Christopher Marlowe himself was a brilliant and controversial figure. Born around 1564, he attended Cambridge University and then wrote for the bustling theatres of London. He died young at twenty-nine, under mysterious circumstances, but not before revolutionizing English drama with bold characters and the first sustained use of blank verse. His style gave his heroes a ma...

A heroic couplet is a pair of lines written in iambic pentameter (five beats per line), where both lines rhyme with each other. This form became popular in English poetry during the 17th and 18th centuries, especially in epic and satirical poems. The term “heroic” comes from its use in serious, elevated subjects—like heroism, politics, or moral reflection. In other words, a heroic couplet is like poetry’s version of a well-crafted argument—structured, rhythmic, and elegantly rhymed. Each line in a heroic couplet follows a da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM rhythm (iambic pentameter), and the two lines rhyme at the end. For example, in Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel : In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, Before polygamy was made a sin. Here, “begin” rhymes with “sin,” and both lines have ten syllables with a steady beat. The couplet often expresses a complete thought, making it easy to quote and remember. This structure helps poets deliver sharp, wit...

After years of civil war and Puritan rule under Oliver Cromwell, the monarchy was restored in 1660 with Charles II as king. This period, known as the Restoration, brought back royal authority, but also deep divisions. Many feared a return to Catholicism, especially since Charles’s brother, James, Duke of York, was openly Catholic. These fears led to the Exclusion Crisis (1679–1681), where Parliament tried to prevent James from inheriting the throne. Dryden’s poem responds directly to this crisis, defending the monarchy against rebellious factions. In 1678, a man named Titus Oates falsely claimed there was a Catholic plot to kill Charles II. This lie, known as the Popish Plot, caused widespread panic and led to the execution of innocent people. Anti-Catholic sentiment grew stronger, fueling support for the Exclusion Bill. Dryden saw these events as dangerous and misleading, and in Absalom and Achitophel, he uses satire to expose how political ambition and public fear can distort...

In the first 269 lines of the General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales , Chaucer opens with the famous image of “Aprill with his shoures soote,” linking the fresh spring weather to a renewed longing for pilgrimage. He then brings readers to the Tabard Inn, where a colourful band of twenty-nine pilgrims—ranging from a noble Knight and his young Squire to a worldly Merchant and a devoted Clerk—gathers to journey together to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury. Through clear, vivid details and a gentle touch of humour, Chaucer presents each traveller as a portrait of medieval society. This introduction not only welcomes the readers into their world but also lays the groundwork for the tales and themes—faith, class, morality, and human nature—that will unfold on their shared voyage. Significance of the Opening Lines (1-18) The Prologue begins in April, when soft rains renew the earth, awakening life after winter’s dormancy. This season of rebirth mirrors the spiritual re...

Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne in swich licóur, Of which vertú engendred is the flour Paraphrase: When April’s sweet showers have pierced the dryness of March down to the roots and nourished every vein of plants with moisture, bringing forth flowers… (This sets the scene of springtime renewal — symbolic of pilgrimage and spiritual rebirth.) Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; And specially, from every shires ende Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende, The hooly blisful martir for to seke... Paraphrase: Then people desire to go on pilgrimages, and travelers set out to distant shores, to visit holy shrines known in many lands. Especially, from all over England, they go to Canterbury to seek the holy blessed martyr (Thomas Becket) who has helped them in times of illness or trouble. A Knyght ther was, and ...

1. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” (Rabindranath Tagore) This urges karma yoga—acting in the world rather than remaining a passive observer, reflecting the Vedantic ideal of self-effort aligned with dharma. 2. “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” (R.K. Narayan) An invitation to cultivate śraddhā (attentive wonder), mirroring the rasa theory’s emphasis on sharpening our emotional perception to experience beauty. 3. “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” (Arundhati Roy) Embodies dhvani (suggestion) through a whispered hope that transformation is imminent, resonating with the Nāṭyaśāstra’s idea of subtle emotional undercurrents. 4. “All things are inconstant except for the truth.” (Vikram Seth) Captures Advaita Vedanta’s non-dualist core: the world of flux (māyā) veils the underlying, unchanging satya (truth). ...

 1. Reading Foundation  Establishing disciplined reading habits is crucial for keeping pace with your syllabus. Aim to engage with primary texts actively rather than passively absorbing them. Consistent, focused reading will transform dense material into manageable insights. Create a weekly reading schedule that balances set texts with supplementary articles. Annotate margins with questions, thematic notes, and reactions. Summarize each chapter or poem in a sentence to reinforce comprehension. Join friends or form reading club to compare interpretations. 2.  Understanding Key Literary Periods Mapping major movements and historical contexts illuminates the evolution of style, form, and themes. A clear timeline not only enriches your lectures but also equips you with the vocabulary to situate texts within broader literary conversations. Era     Approximate Dates      Dominant Genres      Representative Authors Medieval  ...

 1. Immerse yourself in texts from different periods, genres, and cultures to build a broad literary foundation. Include poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction to understand how form and context interact. 2. Engage with each text by annotating margins, underlining key passages, and jotting down questions. Pause after every chapter or section to summarize themes and motifs in your own words. 3. Maintain a Reading Journal; Create two sections in your journal: Notes & Observations: Record quotes, unfamiliar terms, and personal reflections. Thematic Threads: Track recurring symbols, character arcs, and historical references across multiple works. 4. Before diving into a primary text, read introductory essays, author biographies, and historical overviews. This background knowledge helps you interpret subtleties and socio-cultural allusions. 5. Set aside dedicated time slots each week solely for background reading. Consistency prevents last-minute cramming and allows fo...