English Literature & Theology

 Group discussion is when a group of people comes together to discuss a certain topic that involves  sharing ideas or activities. Group Discussion is a combination of two words 'Group' and 'Discussion.'  Group A group means many people are working together to achieve some targets. The performance of a group depends on the collaborative work of the individuals. The team of three or more than three people is considered as a group. Discussion Discussion means exchanging ideas between two or more than two people, which is generally a face-to-face interaction. It is a process of talking between people to reach a specific decision. It is also defined as a conversation about a specific topic. The result or end product of group discussion can be a particular decision, enhanced knowledge, actions, an argument, doubt-clearing, disagreement, etc. Types of Group discussions are:  Factual Group Discussions Opinion-Based Group Discussion Group conversations based on case studies A...

 When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer  BY WALT WHITMAN When I heard the learn’d astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars. Short summary and analysis  * When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" in 1865 in his poetry collection Drum-Taps. In the poem, Whitman conveys his belief in the limits of using science to understand nature. Rather, Whitman suggests, one needs to experience nature for true understanding, instead of measuring it. * In the poem  the speaker attends an astronomer’s public lecture on the stars. While the audience enjoys the astronomer’s scientific explanation...

 Goodbye Party For Miss Pushpa T.S. Friends, our dear sister is departing for foreign in two three days, and we are meeting today to wish her bon voyage. You are all knowing, friends, What sweetness is in Miss Pushpa. I don't mean only external sweetness but internal sweetness. Miss Pushpa is smiling and smiling even for no reason but simply because she is feeling. Miss Pushpa is coming from very high family. Her father was renowned advocate in Bulsar or Surat, I am not remembering now which place. Surat? Ah, yes, once only I stayed in Surat with family members of my uncle's very old friend- his wife was cooking nicely… that was long time ago. Coming back to Miss Pushpa she is most popular lady with men also and ladies also. Whenever I asked her to do anything, she was saying, 'Just now only I will do it.' That is showing good spirit. I am always appreciating the good spirit. Pushpa Miss is never saying no. Whatever I or anybody is asking she is always saying yes, and t...

 No Men Are Foreign James Falconer Kirkup Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie. They, too, aware of sun and air and water, Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d. Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read A labour not different from our own. Remember they have eyes like ours that wake Or sleep, and strength that can be won By love. In every land is common life That all can recognise and understand. Let us remember, whenever we are told To hate our brothers, it is ourselves  That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn. Remember, we who take arms against each other It is the human earth that we defile. Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence Of airthat is everywhere our own,  Remember,no men are foreign, and no countries strange. Short summary and analysis  * The title- ‘No men are Foreign’...

Characters of the novel  Nataraj - a printing press owner. Poet - friend of Nataraj Sen - A journalist, friend of Nataraj. Sastri - employee and friend of Nataraj. Vasu - a taxidermist, the antagonist of the novel. Muthu - a tea shop owner. Kumar - an elephant which was brought from Mempi Hills by Nataraj, for medical treatment. Rangi - a temple dancer and a prostitute. Joshi - doctor who treats Kumar (the elephant) Major Characters.  Rangi   Rangi and protagonist Nataraj's wife are two major female characters in the novel, The Man-Eater of Malgudi. Padma and the adjournment lawyer's wife are minor ones who appear for a short time in the narrative.    Rangi belongs to a family of temple dancing women who are accorded a low and disreputable position in the traditional, caste-regimented social hierarchical order in the Indian society. She lives in Abu Lane. Her mother, Padma, is attached to the temple of Krishna as a dancer who dances before the idols of the gods....

  Business Etiquette Business etiquette is an agreed-upon list of rules for communication that help create a healthy work environment; one that fosters respect for colleagues, vendors, and customers. A thorough understanding of business etiquette, and how to institute organizational changes, can help build trust among employees in your organization, as well as promote their professional growth.   An essential element of good etiquette is recognizing and respecting these differences and adapting accordingly. Active listening skills are key to learning what is expected of you and your team in different geographical and cultural contexts. Proper etiquette in business is about more than merely acting “proper.” It involves honing your emotional intelligence to be more aware and respectful of the people around you.   Maintaining proper business communication etiquette does the following:   Fosters employee loyalty and overall positive brand perception. Impr...

  Probing questions Probing questions are the questions which force the respondent to think more deeply about   the information of which they recall for their answer in corporate sector. A probing question gives deep thought and   detailed responses. By asking   a probing    question, you encourage the receiver to explore their   personal feelings and   ideas about a   specific topic. And also , one should concentrate on what is being said.   Use of probing questions.   Probing questions   will   be   asked not only to clarify information but also to check   on   the receiver’s understanding. Anytime we can ask probing question to get more detailed information about what someone thinks. At workplace   we should never make assumptions about prospects   but some information about   them will help us to work out a questioning strategy for the most effective use of our time.   ...

      Dealing with language differences   Language barrier in the workplace is a common issue . It’s possible if we choose right approach and      language to overcome from miscommunication.   Usage of simple language: Using simple and clear language helps to the employers to understand the business proceedings easily. Usage of simple language helps to avoid cultural misunderstanding.   Giving cross-cultural Language Training: Now a day’s corporate sector becomes increasingly globalized. Giving cross-cultural language training to the employees can enhance skills and knowledge to communicate and collaborate with global   representatives.   Discuss Cultural Differences : In workplace small issues may create major misunderstanding or conflict between the people. Conduct seminar or workshop to the employees to discuss about cultural differences.   Hire a Translator or an Interpreter : Hiring a professiona...

      Cross-cultural communication What is Cross-cultural communication ?   ·         Cross-cultural communication can be defined as a dialogue or any kind of interaction (both verbal and non-verbal) between people of different nationalities.   ·         Applied to a business-oriented context, cross-cultural communication refers to how well people from different cultures interact in a business environment. And how well they adapt their communication style to their co-worker’s culture.   ·         In a multicultural environment, developing solid cross-cultural communication skills is vital. This will enable you to create a positive work culture, bringing out the best in all team members.   ·         Diversity is an asset and a core value that all companies should hold.   ·      ...

  USE OF AUDIO VISUAL AIDS IN PRESENTATION   The purpose of a visual aid is to engage the audience, boost their understanding of your content, ignite an emotional response, and help you convey important messaging—but it is never a substitute for preparation. 1. Presentation visuals grab an audience’s attention—and keep it Human beings are naturally curious creatures but we have a short attention span—and it’s gotten worse in our current era of information overload and non-stop scrolling. When listening to a speech or presentation, audience interest peaks around the 10-minute mark and then drops precipitously depending on the content and communication style of the speaker.   2. Presentation visuals make complex ideas easier to understand Not everyone computes information at the same speed. Infographics make data-heavy presentations more digestible—breaking statistics and other figures or timelines into bite-sized chunks. They’re also more persuasive.  ...

Speeches :   Introduction , vote of thanks , occational speech .   Introduction   The introduction gives the audience a reason to listen to the remainder of the speech. A good introduction needs to get the audience’s attention, state the topic, make the topic relatable, establish credibility, and preview the main points. Introductions should be the last part of the speech written, as they set expectations and need to match the content.   Attention getters : The first few sentences of a speech are designed to catch and maintain the audience’s attention. Attention getters give the audience a reason to listen to the rest of the speech. Your attention getter helps the audience understand and reflect on your topic.   ·         Startle the audience ·         Rhetorical question ·         Quote ·         Story ...

 The Darkling Thrush" by Thomas Hardy  I leant upon a coppice gate  When Frost was spectre- grey,  And Winter’s dregs made desolate The weakening eye of day.  The tangled bine- stems scored the sky Like strings of broken lyres,  And all mankind that haunted nigh  Had sought their household fires. The land’s sharp features seemed to be The Century’s corpse outleant,  His crypt the cloudy canopy,  The wind his death-lament.  The ancient pulse of germ and birth  Was shrunken hard and dry,  And every spirit upon earth Seemed fervourless as I. At once a voice arose among  The bleak twigs overhead In a full-hearted evensong Of joy illimited;  An aged thrush, frail, gaunt and small,  In blast-beruffled plume,  Had chosen thus to fling his soul Upon the growing gloom. So little cause for carolings  Of such ecstatic sound  Was written on terrestrial things  Afar or nigh around,  That I could think...

  Bertolt Brecht THE BREAD OF THE PEOPLE Justice is the bread of the people Sometimes is plentiful, sometimes it is scarce Sometimes it tastes good, sometimes it tastes bad. When the bread is scarce, there is hunger. When the bread is bad, there is discontent. Throw away the bad justice Baked without love, kneaded without knowledge! Justice without flavour, with a grey crust The stale justice which comes too late! If the bread is good and plentiful The rest of the meal can be excused. One cannot have plenty of everything all at once. Nourished by the bread of justice The work can be achieved From which plenty comes. As daily bread is necessary So is daily justice. It is even necessary several times a day. From morning till night, at work, enjoying oneself. At work which is an enjoyment. In hard times and in happy times The people requires the plentiful, wholesome Daily bread of justice. Since the bread of justice, then, is so important Who, friends, shall bake it? Who bakes the oth...

  My Last Duchess  BY ROBERT BROWNING FERRARA That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf’s hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said “Fra Pandolf” by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I) And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, How such a glance came there; so, not the first Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not Her husband’s presence only, called that spot Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek; perhaps Fra Pandolf chanced to say, “Her mantle laps Over my lady’s wrist too much,” or “Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat.” Such stuff Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough For calling up that spot of joy. She had A heart—how shall I sa...