Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University Prof. G. Ram Reddy Marg, Road No.

46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033

Department of English 13 October 2011 To The Director Student Services Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University Jubilee Hills Hyderabad. Through Proper Channel Madam, Sub: M.A. English 2011-2012 Assignments - Reg. This is to inform you that we are sending you a letter, which contains instructions on answering assignments for the students in the PG programme in English and one set of assignments (two per course i.e. ten assignments) for the academic year 2011 2012. The same are also provided in a soft copy on CD. We would appreciate if the assignments for each course are printed on a single sheet and sent to the students as early as possible.

Sincerely,

(A. KISHORE KUMAR REDDY)

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University Prof. G. Ram Reddy Marg, Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033

Instructions to the students of the PG programme in English (2011-2012) Dear Student, Welcome to the MA English programme. We are glad you have taken a decision to join this programme. Studying on your own through the distance mode can be very challenging. You must prepare for it by setting aside some time for reading the prescribed books and the course material on a regular basis everyday. As a student of literature, you ought to read the original works of great writers (primary texts) in addition to the course material prescribed for study in order to make the most of this programme. As you know, assignments are a compulsory component of this programme and working through them will give you practice in writing answers as well as motivate you to study further. This note includes the assignments you have to submit for this academic year. 1. Given below are ten assignments (two for each of the courses) of the MA programme in English for the academic year 2011-2012. The assignments are compulsory and carry a weightage of 30% marks in your final assessment. You have to answer two assignments per course of 15 marks each and submit them to the head of the study centre for evaluation. You have to submit the assignments on or before the schedule, which is mentioned below. Each assignment carries 15 marks. You are required to secure a minimum pass mark of 6 out of 15 marks (i.e. 40%) in each of the assignments in order to become eligible for award of the degree. If you fail to secure a minimum pass mark of 12 out of 30 marks in both the assignments put together for each course, you will have to re-submit the assignments before the year-end examination. If, for some unavoidable reason, you are unable to submit an assignment or do not get pass marks in it, you are allowed to re-submit the assignment. You will be allowed to re-submit the assignments only once in an academic year. If you again fail to secure the required minimum marks in the re-submitted assignments, you have to attempt the assignments of the fresh batch of the next academic year and submit them. Your final results will not be declared until you fulfil the requirements of assignment submission and secure a pass in all the papers of the year-end examination.

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While answering the assignments you are required to follow the instructions given below: Use A-4 size paper. Leave wide margins on both sides for the comments of evaluators. Write your name, admission number, name of the study centre, programme code, course title and number, and assignment number, clearly on page one at the top right hand corner. Answer the assignments in your own handwriting. Typed, photocopied, computer-printed answers shall not be accepted. Copying or resorting to malpractice shall attract penal measures up to debarring you from writing the year-end examination. Retain a photocopy of your assignments for your personal record with the date of submission entered on it. Dont copy answers from the course material. Answer in your own words and refer to standard journals and texts for supporting and illustrating your points of description. Dont submit printed articles as your answer to the assignments. Write each assignment in about 500 words.

The schedules for submission of assignments for all the five courses are as follows: 1st assignment on or before 2nd assignment on or before You must strictly adhere to the schedules for submission of assignments. No special permission for extension of submission deadlines will be entertained. Please feel free to contact the Department of English for any further clarification regarding the programme. Good luck Dept. of English Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University Hyderabad 500 033 040 23680423, 23680497

Prof. G. Ram Reddy Marg, Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033 Faculty of Arts M. A. (English) (P) 2011-2012 Course I: Survey of British Literature ASSIGNMENT 1

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A 1) 2) Write a note on the major characters of King Lear. Write a short note on a) Renaissance Movement and Drama b) Bacon s style, giving illustrations from the text you have studied. Section B 3) What are features of Metaphysical Poetry? How does John Donne deal with the theme of love in the poem, The Good-morrow. Is the term Comedy of Manners appropriate to The Way of the World

4)

ASSIGNMENT 2

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A

1)

Critically evaluate William Wordsworth and P. B. Shelley as Romantic poets?

2)

Write a short note on a) the representation of Utilitarianism in Hard Times b) Tennysons In Memoriam

Section B

3)

What are the important aspects of Modernism in 20th Century Literature?

4)

Write a short note on a) Sons and Lovers as an autobiographical novel b) structure of The Hallow Men

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University

Prof. G. Ram Reddy Marg, Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033 Faculty of Arts M. A. (English) (P) 2011-2012 Course II: American Literature

ASSIGNMENT 1

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A 1) Discuss the major themes of Native American Literature.

2)

Examine the themes and theories of Edgar Allan Poe in relation to his Tales

Section B

3)

Write a short note on a) the aspect of struggle between good and evil in Faulkners Light in August. b) the theme of Hemingways The Sun Also Rises Discuss Death as a recurring theme in Walt Whitmans Poetry.

4)

ASSIGNMENT 2

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A

1)

Discuss Emily Dickinsons treatment of nature in her poetry.

2)

Explain the color symbolism in Wallace Stevens Poetry?

Section B

3)

Write a brief note on a) Black Arts Movement. b) African American Drama.

4)

Consider Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman as a critique of American values and culture.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University

Prof. G. Ram Reddy Marg, Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033 Faculty of Arts M. A. (English) (P) 2011-2012 Course III: English in India

ASSIGNMENT 1

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A 1) Give a critical analysis of Macaulays Minute and its impact on Indian Education.

2)

Discuss the main recommendations of the Woods Despatch.

Section B

3)

What are the recommendations of the Hunter Committee?

4)

What is the role of Educated Class in the Indian Nationalist Movement?

ASSIGNMENT 2

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A

1)

Discuss the major recommendations of the University Commission appointed under the chairmanship of Dr. Radhakrishnan.

2)

Outline the major recommendations of the Kothari Commission with reference to English in India.

Section B

3)

What are the roles assigned to English in contemporary India?

4)

What is the connection between English and Information Technology?

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University

Prof. G. Ram Reddy Marg, Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033 Faculty of Arts M. A. (English) (P) 2011-2012 Course IV: The Growth and Structure of English

ASSIGNMENT 1

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A

1)

Examine the validity of the major theories about the origin of language.

2)

Describe the major changes that have taken place in the English language from Old English period to the Modern English period with regard to Spelling, Pronunciation and grammar.

Section B

3)

Write a short note on: a) the major Organs of Speech b) the differences between oral and nasal sounds in terms of production What are the three criteria needed in order to describe the vowel sounds of any language.

4)

ASSIGNMENT 2

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A

1)

Write a short note on: a) the functions of a falling tone b) morphemes

2)

Define and illustrate the following terms a) Doublets b) Synonyms/Antonyms c) Denotation and Connotation d) Collocation

Section B

3)

Represent the structure of the following sentences using tree diagrams a) Spectators had not seen them. b) They might have expected more people.

4)

Assign a functional label to each of the underlined phrases in the following sentences: i) The students had lunch at the cafeteria ii) The train stopped near the station. iii) Bitter experiences turned him into a cynic. iv) In autumn the leaves turn yellow. v) The building was demolished last week.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University

Prof. G. Ram Reddy Marg, Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033 Faculty of Arts M. A. (English) (P) 2011-2012 Course V: Literary Criticism

ASSIGNMENT 1

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A

1)

How does Aristotle compare and contrast Epic and Tragedy.

2)

Assess the contribution of S. T. Coleridge to the Romantic criticism.

Section B

3)

Critically comment on T. S. Eliots Concept of Tradition.

4)

What are the views of I. A. Richards on the Four Kinds of Meaning.

ASSIGNMENT 2

Answer any two questions selecting one from each section

Marks: 15 Section A

1)

Discuss the merits and demerits of formalistic criticism.

2)

Critically discuss the importance of New Criticism as a critical approach to literature.

Section B

3)

What is a Sign? Explain the relation between Signified and Signifier.

4)

Write a short note on: a) Novel, its basic features elements b) Short Story, its basic features and elements.