Literary Analysis of Classic and Modern Works
Q.1. Where Was Alice at the Beginning of the Story and What Was She Doing?
At the beginning of the story “Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll, Alice was sitting in her home, bored and daydreaming on a cold winter afternoon. She was sitting by the fireplace, staring at the looking-glass (a mirror) above the fireplace, and wishing she could enter the fantastical world she saw reflected in it.
Alice’s sister was reading a book nearby, but Alice was not interested in joining her. Instead, she got up and walked over to the looking-glass, where she began to wonder about the world on the other side of the reflection. This curiosity eventually led her to step through the looking-glass and enter the fantastical world beyond.
Q.2. Why Did Some of the Daisies Turn White?
In the story “Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll, some of the daisies in the garden turned white because Alice accidentally stepped on them while she was playing croquet with the Queen of Hearts.
In this fantastical world, the daisies were alive and could change color depending on their mood or circumstances. When Alice stepped on them, they turned white with fear or shock. This whimsical detail adds to the story’s playful and imaginative atmosphere.
Q.3. Describe Very Briefly Alice’s Relationship with Kitty.
Alice’s relationship with Kitty is one of fondness and playfulness. Kitty is Alice’s beloved cat, and Alice often confides in and talks to Kitty, treating her like a friend or confidante. Alice also uses Kitty as a sounding board for her thoughts and imagination, showcasing their close bond.
Q.4. Who Killed Roger Ackroyd and Why?
Roger Ackroyd was killed by Dr. Sheppard, the narrator of the novel “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” by Agatha Christie.
Ralph Paton, Ackroyd’s stepson, was initially suspected. Ralph was deeply in debt, stood to inherit from Ackroyd’s estate, and wanted to prevent Ackroyd from marrying Flora Ackroyd, Ralph’s own love interest.
The novel’s famous twist ending reveals Dr. Sheppard as the killer. His motives were similar to Ralph’s, as he stood to gain from Ackroyd’s death and wanted to protect his reputation.
Q.5. Why Did Dr. Sheppard Hide Ralph?
Dr. Sheppard hid Ralph to conceal his own guilt, as he was the actual killer in Agatha Christie’s novel “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”. By hiding Ralph, Dr. Sheppard aimed to shift suspicion away from himself and maintain his own innocence.
Q.6. How Is the Village Khairlanji Described in Bhimayana?
In the graphic novel “Bhimayana” by Srividya Natarajan and S. Anand, Village Khairlanji is described as a small, rural village in Maharashtra, India, where the caste system is deeply entrenched. The village is portrayed as:
- A place of stark social hierarchies, where Dalits (like B.R. Ambedkar’s family) face discrimination and oppression.
- A site of violence and trauma, where Dalits are subjected to physical and emotional abuse.
- A symbol of entrenched caste-based power dynamics, where upper-caste individuals hold sway and Dalits are marginalized.
The depiction of Khairlanji serves as a backdrop to the story of Ambedkar’s struggles and his fight against caste-based discrimination.
Q.7. Who Was Ghatge? Why Was He Murdered?
Ghatge was a wealthy landlord and a strong supporter of the upper-caste dominance in Khairlanji. He was murdered, allegedly by Dalit activists, in retaliation for his role in the oppression and violence against Dalits in the village.
Ghatge’s murder was a catalyst for the Khairlanji massacre, in which upper-caste individuals brutally killed four members of a Dalit family, including two women, in September 2006. The massacre was a horrific act of revenge and a manifestation of the deep-seated caste-based violence and hatred that persists in some parts of India.
Q.8. Which Event in Dalit Movement Is Known as the ‘Declaration of Independence’ and Why?
The “Declaration of Independence” in the Dalit movement refers to the Mahad Satyagraha, which took place on March 20, 1927. On this day, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his followers publicly burned the Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu text that perpetuated caste-based discrimination and oppression.
This act was seen as a declaration of independence from the shackles of caste-based oppression and a rejection of the oppressive Hindu social order. It was a powerful symbol of resistance and a declaration of Dalits’ rights to equality, justice, and human dignity.
The Mahad Satyagraha was a watershed moment in the Dalit movement, marking a shift from seeking reform within the existing social order to demanding a complete overhaul of the caste system and the establishment of a new social order based on equality and justice.
Q.9. What Is Manusmriti? Why Did Ambedkar and His Followers Put a Copy of It on Fire?
Manusmriti is an ancient Hindu legal text that dates back to around 200 CE. It is attributed to the sage Manu and is considered one of the most important texts of Hindu law. However, it also contains provisions that justify and perpetuate social hierarchies, gender inequality, and caste-based discrimination.
Dr. Ambedkar and his followers burned a copy of the Manusmriti on March 20, 1927, as a symbol of protest against the text’s oppressive provisions and the caste system it upheld. By burning the Manusmriti, they rejected the hierarchical and discriminatory values it embodied and sought to challenge the dominant Hindu social order.
For Ambedkar and his followers, the Manusmriti represented the oppressive forces that had perpetuated caste-based discrimination and social inequality for centuries. By burning it, they were making a powerful statement against caste-based oppression and asserting their rights to equality, justice, and human dignity.
Q.10. Why Did Ambedkar Resign from the Nehru Cabinet?
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar resigned from the Nehru Cabinet in 1951 due to differences with the government on issues like the Hindu Code Bill, which aimed to reform Hindu law, and the government’s handling of caste-based discrimination and social inequality. He felt that the government was not doing enough to address the issues of Dalits and other marginalized communities.
inalized communities.