English Literature & Theology

  Active listening is a communication technique that requires the listener to be fully present, concentrate on, and understand what the speaker is saying, and then respond to show that the message has been both received and comprehended. It goes beyond simply hearing words by focusing on the speaker's meaning, intent, and emotions, using both verbal and non-verbal signals. ​The signs of active listening fall into two main categories: ​Non-Verbal Signs of Active Listening ​Non-verbal signs use body language and physical behavior to show engagement and interest. ​ Eye Contact: Maintaining appropriate, but not fixed or intimidating, eye contact with the speaker to show you are focused on them. ​ Posture: Leaning slightly toward the speaker (an "open" posture), avoiding crossed arms or legs, which can signal defensiveness or disinterest. ​ Nodding: Occasional, gentle nodding to acknowledge and affirm that you are following the speaker's points. ​ Facial Expr...

  Homer (Probably between 12th and 8th centuries BC) Homer (Ancient Greek Poet): An ancient Greek poet credited as the author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey, which are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. He is traditionally portrayed as a blind, wandering bard, though little is definitively known about his life, and the sole authorship of the poems is debated by scholars.  Homer is best known as the author of Iliad and Odyssey.  He was believed by the ancient Greek to have been the first and greatest of all the epic poets.  Author of the first known literature of Europe, he is central to the Western Canon.  The importance of Homer to the ancient Greeks is described in Plato’s Republic which portrays him as “first teacher” of tragedies and “Leader of Greek culture”.  The satirist Lucian in his “True History” describes him as Babylonian called Tigranos, who assumed the name Homer when taken “Hostage”. Notable works of Homer 1-Odysey  The poem mainly ...

  Virgil (70 – 19 BC)  Publius Vergilius Maro usually called Virgil or Vergil in English, was an ancient Roman Poet of the Augustan period.  He is known for three major works of Latin Literature, The Eclogues, The Georges and the epic Aeneid.  A minor number of poems are collected in the Appendix Virgiliana, are sometimes attributed to him.  His “Aeneid” has been considered the national epic of Ancient Rome from the time of its composition to the present day.  It is modeled after Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.  Virgil’s work has had wide and deep influence on western literature most notably on Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, in which Virgil appears as Dante’s guide through hell and purgatory.  After considering briefly, a career in Rhetoric and Law, the young Virgil turned his talents to poetry.  He was nicknamed “Parlhenias” or “Maiden” because of his social aloofness.  The Augustan poet Ovid parodies the opening lines of “Aeneid in Amores” and his summary of The Aeneid story in b...

  Pindar      (522 – 443 BC)  Pindar was an ancient Greek lyric poet from Thebes.  He was the first Greek poet to reflect on the nature of poetry and on the poet’s role.  His poetry illustrates the beliefs and values of Archaic Greece at the dawn of classical period.  About ten days before he died, the goddess Persephone appeared to him and complained that she was the only divinity to whom he never composed a rhyme.  He died around 440 BC while attending a festival at Argos.  Scholars at the Library of Alexandria collected his compositions in 17 books organized according to genre.  One book of humnoi “Hymns”,  one book of Paines “Paeans” ,  two books of dithuramboi “Dithyrambs”, 2 books of Prosadia “Processionals”,  3 books of parthenia “Song for Light Dance” ,  1 book of threnoi “Laments”,  4 books of epinikia “Victory odes” – above all Epinikia Odes written to commemorate athletic victories, survive in complete form.  His victory...

  Ovid (43 BC – AD 17)  He wrote witty and sophisticated love poems.  His full name was Publius Ovidius Naso known as Ovid in English speaking world.  He was a Roman Poet who lived during the reign of Augustus.  He was a contemporary of Virgil and Horace.  He is best known for Metamorphoses (AD 8), a 15 book continuous Mythological narrative written in the meter of Epic and for collections of love poetry in Elegiac Couplets, especially the Amores (Love Affairs)and Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love).  The Metamorphoses remains one of the most important sources of classical mythology.  He was the first major Roman poet to begin his career during the reign of Augustus.  The Fasti (Books of Days) is a six book Latin poem remained incomplete with Calendar structure. “Tristia” and “Epistulae Ci Ponto” are two collection of elegies in the form of complaining letters from his exile.  His shorter works include Remedia Amoris (Cure for Love), the Curse poem Ibis and an advice poem On...

                                    Socrates (470 – 399 BC)  Socrates was a classical Greek Philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western Philosophy.  He is an enigmatic figure chiefly known through the accounts of classical writers especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes.  Socrates has become renowned for his contribution to the field of Ethics and it is this Platonic Socrateswho lends his name to the concept of Socratic Irony and the Socratic Method. Socrates also made important and lasting contributions to the field of Epistemology.  Socrates never individually wrote anything that remains extant. As a result, all first-hand information about him and his philosophies depend upon secondary sources. This issue is known as Socratic Problem orSocratic Question.  To understand Socrates one must turn primarily to the wor...

  Euripides (480 – 406 BC)  Euripides was a tragedian of classical Athens.  According to Suda, out of 92 plays by him, 18 or 19 have survived more or less complete.  In the Hellenistic Age, he became Cornerstone of Ancient Literary education along with Homer, Demosthenes and Menander.  He also became “The most tragic of poets”. Notable Works 1- Alcestis (438 BC) 2- Medea (431 BC) 3- Heracleidae (430 BC) 4- The Bacchae (405 BC) 5- The Trojan Women (415 BC) 6- Hippolytus (428 BC) 7- Helen (412 BC) 8- Andromache (525 BC) 9- Hecuba (424 BC) 10- The Suppliants (423 BC) 11- Electra (420 BC) 12- Heracles (416 BC) 13- Phoenician Women (410 BC) 14- Orestes (408 BC) 15- Iphigenia at Aulis (405 BC)

  Sophocles (497 – 406 BC)  Sophocles is one of the ancient Greek Tragedians whose plays are survived.  Sophocles wrote 123 plays during the course of his life but only seven have survived in complete form, They are: 1. Ajax 2. Antigone 3. The Women of Trachis 4. Oedipus the King 5. Electra 6. Philoctetes and 7. Oedipus at Colonus  The most famous tragedies of Sophocles feature Oedipus (means- swollen foot) and also “Antigone”. They are generally known as the “Theban Plays”. Although each play was actually a part of a different tetralogy, the other members of which are now lost.  He also developed his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwrights such as Aeschylus.  Only two of seven surviving plays can be dated securely i.e. “Philoctetes” (409 BC) and “Oedipus at Colonus” (401 BC). Theban Plays: It consists of three plays: “Oedipus the King (also called Oedipus Tyrannus or by its Latin title Oedipus Rex), “Oedipus at Colonus” and “Antigone”. All the three pl...

  Aeschylus (523 – 456 BC)  Aeschylus was an ancient Greek Tragedian.  He is also the first whose plays still survive; the others such are Sophocles and Euripides.  He is often described as “The Father of Tragedy”.  According to Aristotle, he expanded the number of characters in the plays to allow conflict among them,whereas characters previously had interacted along with the chorus.  Only seven of his estimated 70-90 plays survived and there is a longstanding debate regarding one of hisplays “Prometheus Bound”, which some believe to be written by his son Euphorion.  He was probably the first dramatist to present plays as a trilogy. His Oresteia is the only ancient example of this form that survives.  The Persians is the only surviving classical Greek tragedy concerned with contemporary events and useful source of information about its period.  Oresteia is acclaimed by today’s literary academics.  The inscription on his graveyard signifies the primary importance of “Belo...

  REFERENCING SKILLS -BIBLIOGRAPHY (MLA format) Reference skills refer to the abilities students need to locate, evaluate, and effectively use information from various sources. These skills go beyond simply reading a text-they involve using tools like the table of contents, index, or headings to find specific details.  For instance, skimming an encyclopedia for historical facts or selecting the correct dictionary meaning based on context are everyday applications of referencing, Such skills also include citing sources correctly, which is essential in academic writing. A bibliography is a list of sources-such as books, articles, and websites-that a writer has consulted, read, or cited while preparing academic or research work.  Usually placed at the end of a document, it serves multiple purposes: it gives credit to the original authors, demonstrates the depth of the writer's research, and guides readers who may want to explore the topic further.  The format of a bibli...

The core message of Jesse Owens's essay, "My Greatest Olympic Prize," is that human connection and genuine sportsmanship are more valuable than athletic achievement or political ideology. It is an autobiographical account focusing specifically on the long jump event at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Details of the Long Jump Trials The event took place on August 4, 1936, just one day after Owens won his first gold medal in the 100-meter dash.   The Qualifying Hurdle: To advance to the long jump final, competitors were required to jump a minimum distance of 7.15 meters (about 23 feet, 5 inches) within three attempts. Owens was the world record holder, having jumped an astonishing 8.13\text{ m} (26 feet, 8 inches) the previous year, so qualification was normally a formality.   The First Foul: Owens, distracted by the tense, politically charged atmosphere and perhaps still fatigued from his previous event, had a chaotic start. In his essay, he explains that he was "angry...

 The primary characters in H. G. Wells's short story, "The Stolen Bacillus," are largely referred to by their roles or titles, rather than full names, emphasizing their function in the narrative. The major characters are: 1. The Bacteriologist    The protagonist and a scientist working in a London laboratory.  He is presented as somewhat eccentric, absent-minded, and easily flattered. His vanity leads him to boast to his visitor, which is the catalyst for the entire plot. He is a master of his scientific field but appears careless about the practical danger of his work, which serves as a subtle critique of detached Victorian science.  He is the source of the comedic resolution. In his eagerness to impress the visitor, he falsely claims the stolen tube contains a deadly cholera germ (Vibrio cholerae), when it actually contains a harmless new species of bacterium that only causes blue patches on monkeys. 2. The Anarchist (The Visitor / The Pale Man)   The ant...

  Chapter XVII, "Passive Resistance," is arguably the philosophical core of Hind Swaraj, where Mahatma Gandhi presents his revolutionary concept of Satyagraha (Truth-Force). In this chapter, presented in the form of a dialogue between the "Editor" (Gandhi) and the "Reader," Gandhi argues that passive resistance is the superior and only truly just method for securing rights and achieving Swaraj (self-rule). Detailed explanation   1. The Fundamental Distinction: Soul-Force vs. Body-Force Gandhi establishes the complete moral and spiritual separation between his method and all forms of violence:   - Body-Force (Brute Force): This is the use of arms, physical violence, or even punitive laws to coerce an opponent into submitting to one's will. Gandhi condemns it because it is contrary to the very spirit of peace and love, and, crucially, because it assumes the resistor is absolutely right and the opponent is absolutely wrong. Since no human can claim absolu...

  The short story "The Cop and the Anthem" by O. Henry features one main named character and several other unnamed characters who are essential to the plot. The main characters and groups of characters include:   Soapy : The protagonist of the story. He is a homeless man in New York City whose main goal is to get arrested so he can spend the winter in a warm jail cell on Blackwell's Island.   The Police/The Cop: Soapy interacts with several police officers throughout the story. They consistently fail to arrest him for his deliberate misdeeds. "The Cop" in the title typically refers to the final, unnamed officer who arrests Soapy for loitering, just after Soapy has resolved to change his life.   The Waiters: Soapy encounters waiters at two different restaurants. The waiters in the less-expensive restaurant forcefully throw Soapy out when he cannot pay his bill, refusing to call the police.   The Window Shopper: A woman Soapy attempts to harass on the street in ...

1) Descriptive writing  1. Describe a college fest or cultural event you attended recently . The recent "Synergy" annual college fest was a vibrant, two-day cultural explosion that successfully blended tradition with modern artistry.  The central quad was transformed into a bustling hub of activity, kicking off with a fierce inter-college debate competition followed by a captivating classical music recital. The main event was the "Nukkad Natak" (street play) contest, where teams addressed pressing social issues with raw emotion and sharp wit, drawing massive crowds.  Evenings were dominated by the high-energy "War of the Bands," featuring seven diverse rock and pop groups. Beyond the stage, students showcased handicrafts, regional cuisine, and live painting installations, giving the event a truly inclusive feel.  Cooperation wasn't just about entertainment; it fostered a strong sense of community and provided a crucial platform for students to display ...

1) Informative Presentation on "The Impact of Social Media on Student Life." Concise Presentation: The Impact of Social Media on Student Life 📱 Slide 1: Title Slide Title: The Impact of Social Media on Student Life: Key Issues Focus: Navigating the Digital World Image: Slide 2:  Introduction & Core Conflict Introduction: Social media is an integrated part of student life, presenting a dual challenge to both academics and well-being. Core Conflict: Connectivity & Resource Access \leftrightarrow Distraction & Mental Health Risk. Key Issues: Time management, academic focus, mental health, and the formation of a sustainable digital identity. Slide 3:  Major Positive Impacts Social Media as an Asset:  * Learning & Collaboration: Facilitates peer support, group project organization, and access to expert tutorials and global academic content.  * Networking & Advocacy: Crucial for career networking, staying informed on current events, and engaging in soc...

  This speech, often delivered to students or young professionals, emphasizes that true success is built on a foundation of humility, relentless hard work, and a commitment to learning from failure.  Rahul Dravid uses personal anecdotes to illustrate that life involves far more failure than success, and the ability to maintain composure, perseverance, and integrity ("The Wall" mentality) is what truly defines character.  The core message is to focus on your internal growth and dedication, like the long, unseen process of growing the roots of the Chinese bamboo, rather than seeking instant gratification or external validation. A. Two-Sentence Answers.  1. What does Rahul Dravid say about success and failure?    Rahul Dravid states that cricket, and life, is a game where one experiences failure much more than success, making him qualified to speak about failure. He emphasizes that failures are vital because they humble you, provide essential lessons, and keep...

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is a powerful call for racial justice and equality.  King begins by asserting that the promises of freedom outlined in America's founding documents—comparing them to a "promissory note" on which the nation has defaulted—have yet to be honored for its Black citizens. He emphasizes the urgent need to end segregation and discrimination through disciplined, non-violent protest. The speech famously shifts into an impassioned vision, where King outlines his "dream" for a future America: a nation where people are judged by their character, not their skin color, and where the descendants of slaves and slave owners can live together as equals.  He concludes with an uplifting demand for "freedom to ring" across the country, expressing an unshakeable faith that justice will ultimately prevail...

  Brief Summary of the play by act and scene Act I     Scene 1: Rome. A street.     The play opens with Flavius and Murellus, two tribunes, encountering commoners celebrating Julius Caesar's triumphant return after defeating Pompey's sons.     The tribunes scold the citizens for their fickle loyalty, reminding them of their former support for Pompey, and order them to disperse and remove all decorations from Caesar's statues. They fear Caesar's growing power.   Scene 2: A public place.     Caesar enters with his entourage, including Antony, Brutus, Cassius, and a Soothsayer.     The Soothsayer warns Caesar to "Beware the Ides of March" (March 15th), but Caesar dismisses him as a dreamer. Cassius begins to subtly manipulate Brutus, planting seeds of doubt about Caesar's ambition and suggesting that Brutus is as worthy of power as Caesar.     They hear shouts from the crowd and learn from Casca that Anto...