South Asian and African Literature Suggestion 2019-20

NU Masters Final Suggestion for South Asian and African Literature

Broad Questions

Tree Without Roots

1. Discuss Syed Waliullah’s use of existentialism in tree without roots
2. Justify the title of the novel “Tree Without Roots”.
3. What social picture of rural Bengal do you get in Syed Walliullah’s “Tree Without Roots”?
4. Discuss the character of Rahima.
5. Evil sides of Majid’s character

The God of Small Things

• What picture of Indian society do you notice in “The God of Small Things”?
• Analyze the character of Velutha. / Would you consider Valthan a tragic hero?
• Problem of the untouchable

Kazi Nazrul Islam

• In the poem ‘Man’ man is above everything else. Discuss the significance of the statement.
• Kazi Nazrul Islam is a great poet of interfaith harmony- Elucidate.
• Discuss the social and political background of the poem “Beware My Captain”
• Use of mythology in “The Revel”.

Things Fall Apart

• Justify the title of the novel Things Fall Apart.
• Who is the protagonist of the tragic novel “Things fall Apart”?
• Okonokwo’s life was dominated by fear and the fear of failure and weakness- elucidate. 

Petals of Blood

1. Discuss the character of Wanja.
2. How has the writer depicted the adverse effects of capitalism in ‘Petals of Blood”?/
3. Write in your own words about the treatment of women in African society. 

Short Questions

Tree Without Roots

1. Discuss Majeed as a modern hero?
2. Comment on the role of Nature in Tree Without Roots.
3. How does Jamila act as a threat to Majeed?

The God of Small Things

• What picture of police atrocities do you find in The God of Small Things?
• What does Arundhuti Roy mean by ‘small things’?

Kazi Nazrul Islam

• What is Nazrul’s contribution to the liberation war of Bangladesh?
• How does Nazrul express his non-communal ideas in his poetry of Samyabadi??
• What is the theme of the poem “Of Equality and that Happy Land”?
• What is the central message of the poem, “The Rebel?

Things Fall Apart

1. Summarize the philosophy of Nneka as found in Things Fall Apart.
2. How was Ikemefuna killed?

Petals of Blood

1. What happened to the people of Ilmorog due to the bad weather condition?
2. What is the significance of Munira’s phrase “A new earth another world”?
3. How did Abdulla become the hero of the journey?