Grammarian's Funeral is set in 14th century Italy, during Renaissance. The Renaissance was marked by a revival of interest in Greek and Latin learning, including the languages. ‘The Grammarian’ of the poem would have been a scholar of the classical languages, instrumental in the recovery of ancient texts (remember the brown manuscripts from ‘Bishop’?).
Julius Caesar (Tales from Shakespeare by Charles & Mary Lamb) Introduction The plot of Julius Caesar begins with a conspiracy against Caesar, followed by development of conspiracy. These are followed by Caesar’s murder and the defeat of the conspirators. It…
Polo – The king of Games Introduction Polo is often called as the ‘king of games’ and the game of kings. It is one of the oldest sports in the world that combines the skills of the rider with the…
Frederick Forsyth's lesson "Black Aeroplane" explores how fantasising allows one's judgement to be biassed and how this leads to problems. The narrator of this chapter is a pilot who is so excited to see his family and have a nice breakfast that he takes the risk of facing the storm rather than doing the right thing. He miraculously manages to flee with the assistance of a mysterious aeroplane.
The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet was written in the days of the Franco - Prussian War in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismark. The French district of Alsace and Lorraine passed into Prussian hands. It showcases the fact that the oppressor wants not only territory but also dominates over the language and culture of a particular country thus, taking away even the identity of the subjugated people.
The Rattrap – Selma Lagerlof ABOUT THE AUTHOR Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf was a Swedish author and teacher who lived from 1858 to 1940. At the age of 33, she published her first novel, Gösta Berling’s Saga. In 1909, she…
We Are Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together Notes The story ‘We’re Not afraid to Die-if We Can All Be Together’ is a first-person account of the narrator, Gordon Cook. It is a story of extreme courage…
A Roadside Stand by Robert Frost Paraphrase In this poem, the poet contrasts the lives of poor and deprived countryside people who struggle to live, with the thoughtless city people who don’t even bother to notice the roadside stand that…
The voice of the rain By Walt Whitman Introduction: “The Voice of the Rain” is a short poem by the famous American poet Walt Whitman. This short free verse poem was originally published in Outing in 1885 and was later…
The story 'The Rattrap' gives a psychological insight into human nature. The world around us is rampant with traps and dungeons waiting for our one slip. The author points out how greed for material things is trapping human beings. The short story upholds the belief that the inherent goodness of a human being can be awakened by love and understanding. It brings to the focus the notion that the universe is a rattrap. Riches, joys, shelter and food are all lucrative bait traps.
