"The Loaded Dog" - Short story - Henry Lawson

“The Loaded Dog” – Short Story – Henry Lawson

“The Loaded Dog” is a story written by Australian writer Henry Lawson. This is a humorous story about a foolish dog Tommy.

Dave Regan, Jim Bently, and Andy Page are gold miners.  They are sinking a shaft at Stony Creek. They have a young retriever dog named Tommy. It is "an overgrown pup... a big foolish, four-footed mate." Andy and Dave are fishing enthusiasts. They try to catch fish using explosives. The dog Tommy picks up an explosive cartridge in its mouth. It runs the fuse through the campfire. Out of fear, the three men start running. Tommy, thinking it a game, playfully chases them. The three men try to escape the cartridge. Jim tries to climb a tree. Andy hides behind a log. Dave seeks refuge in the local pub. The dog Tommy also runs into the pub. The Bushmen who are inside the pub come out.

Then, suddenly Tommy comes across a vicious yellow mongrel cattle-dog. The yellow dog  takes the cartridge for himself. A crowd of dogs gather around the cartridge. The cartridge explodes. The explosion blows apart the yellow cattle-dog and injures numerous others. For half an hour, the Bushmen who witness the spectacle laugh hysterically. Tommy the retriever runs home after Dave, satisfied for the fun he had. 

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College, 

Alamuru, E.G.Dist., 

Andhra Pradesh, India.

noojillasrinivas@gmail.com 

M: 7981862200 

The Night of the Scorpion - poem - Nissim Ezekiel

Night of the Scorpion

----Nissim Ezekiel

summary:

            “The Night of the Scorpion” is a poem. It is written by Nissim Ezekiel.  This poem shows the close relationship shared between a family and the village community.

            On a rainy day, a scorpion entered the speaker’s house at night. It stung his mother.  The innocent villagers surrounded her. They offered prayers.  Some say that her previous sins are removed by the bite of the scorpion.  Some others say that her spirit is purified by the poison. 

The speaker’s father is a rationalist. He does not believe in the superstitions of the village peasants.  So, he makes all his efforts to rescue her. He applies some powders, medicinal herbs and other mixtures.

After twenty hours, the mother is cured. She thanks the God for the reason that the scorpion picked on her but spared her children. 

This shows the mother’s love towards her children.  Thus, the poem is a celebration of a mother’s love for her children.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College, 

Alamuru, E.G.Dist., 

Andhra Pradesh, India.

noojillasrinivas@gmail.com 

M: 7981862200 

The Merchant of Venice - Court Scene (Act 4 Scene I)

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene I

Summary:

“The Merchant of Venice” is a play written by William Shakespeare. In the Act 4, Scene – I, the court scene appears. The important characters are – Antonio, Bassanio, Portia, and Shylock. Antonio is a merchant. Antonio and Bassanio are good friends. Portia is wife of Bassanio. She is very intelligent. Shylock is a cruel Money lender. He is a Jew. Antonio takes money from Shylock. But Antonio fails to pay the money in time. The agreement says that if Antonio fails to repay the money in time, Shylock can take one pound of flesh from the body of Antonio.

In the Court scene, Shylock brings Antonio to the Duke’s court and demands justice. He says that he will not accept repayment but wants Antonio's flesh. Bassanio offers to give more money. But, Shylock’s evil mind does not change. He demands only for a pound of flesh from the body of Antonio. This means the death of Antonio.

At that time, Portia enters the court dressed as a Doctor of law, Bellario (Lawyer). She asks Shylock to show mercy upon Antonio. She says that mercy is a quality of the God.  But, Shylock does not want to show mercy. He still demands for Antonio’s flesh. At the last minute, Portia tells Shylock that he may have the flesh, but he cannot draw even a drop of blood as it is not written into the bond. Shylock realizes that he cannot take flesh without drawing blood. So, he wants to take money. But Portia tells him that he is liable to be punished. She says that he faces the death penalty. Half of Shylock’s wealth goes to the Duke and the other half to the victim. Duke spares Shylock's life.  Antonio his share to Shylock's daughter.

Antonio and Bassanio do not know that the lawyer is Portia. She takes Antonio's gloves and Bessanio's ring as gifts. Thus she saves the life of Antonio by showing her intelligence.

Characters:

Note:  In the examination, highlight the character you are writing about in the introduction:

Example: (Portia): “The Merchant of Venice” is a play written by William Shakespeare. In the Act 4, Scene – I, the court scene appears. Portia is the heroine of the Play. She plays very important role in the Court Scene. She saves the life of Antonio by showing her intelligence.

Example: (Antonio): “The Merchant of Venice” is a play written by William Shakespeare. In the Act 4, Scene – I, the court scene appears. Antonio is the merchant of venice. His life falls in danger in the hands of Shylock. Then he is saved by Portia’s intelligent argument in the court.

Example: (Bassanio): “The Merchant of Venice” is a play written by William Shakespeare. In the Act 4, Scene – I, the court scene appears. Bassanio is one of the important characters in the play. He loves and marries Portia. His friend Antonio’s life is in danger. The cruel merchant Shylock demands flesh from the body of Antonio. Then Bassanio’s wife Portia appears in the dress of a lawyer and saves the life of Antonio.

Example: (Shylock): “The Merchant of Venice” is a play written by William Shakespeare. In the Act 4, Scene – I, the court scene appears. Shylock is the villain in the play. He is a money lender. He is a Jew. He gives money to Antonio. When Antonio fails to repay the money, he demands for one pound of flesh from the body of Antonio. Then, Portia comes in the dress of a lawyer and saves the life of Antonio. Finally Shylock is punished. He loses all his property.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College, 

Alamuru, E.G.Dist., 

Andhra Pradesh, India.

noojillasrinivas@gmail.com 

M: 7981862200 

The Solitary Reaper - William Wordsworth

The Solitary Reaper - Poem

(William Wordsworth)

Poem- Text:

Behold her, single in the field,  

Yon solitary Highland Lass!  

Reaping and singing by herself;  

Stop here, or gently pass!  

Alone she cuts and binds the grain,

And sings a melancholy strain;  

O listen! for the Vale profound  

Is overflowing with the sound.  

No Nightingale did ever chaunt  

More welcome notes to weary bands

Of travellers in some shady haunt,  

Among Arabian sands:  

A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard  

In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,  

Breaking the silence of the seas

Among the farthest Hebrides.  

Will no one tell me what she sings?—  

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow  

For old, unhappy, far-off things,  

And battles long ago:

Or is it some more humble lay,  

Familiar matter of to-day?  

Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,  

That has been, and may be again?  

Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending;  

I saw her singing at her work,  

And o’er the sickle bending;—  

I listen’d, motionless and still;  

And, as I mounted up the hill,

The music in my heart I bore,  

Long after it was heard no more.

***

SUMMARY:

‘The Solitary Reaper’ is a fine lyric written by Wordsworth. In this poem, he describes a highland girl working alone in the field.

The girl is reaping and singing by herself.  The whole valley is filled with her melancholic voice.  The poet compares the girl’s song with that of a nightingale and a cuckoo bird. He says that the girl’s song is more melancholic than that of the nightingale singing in Arabian deserts. He further says that the girl’s voice is sweeter than that of the cuckoo birds singing in the highlands of Hebrides.

The poet does not understand the language and theme of the song. But, it appears to him that she might be singing about some old unhappy incident or present-day sorrow.  Whatever the theme of her song, the girl is singing as if there is no end. The poet carries the song in his heart long after he left the place. Such is the impression of the girl’s song on the poet.

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English,

Govt. Degree College - Alamuru

M: 7981862200

email: noojillasrinivas@gmail.com 

The Sun Rising - John Donne

THE SUN RISING – By JOHN DONNE

Poem- Text:

Busy old fool, unruly sun,

Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers' seasons run?
Saucy pedantic wretch, go chide
Late school boys and sour prentices,
Go tell court huntsmen that the king will ride,
Call country ants to harvest offices,
Love, all alike, no season knows nor clime,
Nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.

Thy beams, so reverend and strong
Why shouldst thou think?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink,
But that I would not lose her sight so long;
If her eyes have not blinded thine,
Look, and tomorrow late, tell me,
Whether both th' Indias of spice and mine
Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with me.
Ask for those kings whom thou saw'st yesterday,
And thou shalt hear, All here in one bed lay.

She's all states, and all princes, I,
Nothing else is.
Princes do but play us; compared to this,
All honor's mimic, all wealth alchemy.
Thou, sun, art half as happy as we,
In that the world's contracted thus.
Thine age asks ease, and since thy duties be
To warm the world, that's done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;
This bed thy center is, these walls, thy sphere.

*** 

Summary:

‘The Sun Rising’ is a poem written by John Donne. This is an emotional lyric in the form of a dramatic monologue.

In the first stanza, the poet rebukes the Sun for disturbing the lovers. He says that the lovers’ seasons are not controlled by the Sun. The Sun should take care of late school boys, ill-tempered trainees, farm labourers and courtiers. Like others, lovers do not have any seasonal or climatic limitations.

In the second stanza, the poet asks the Sun not to think that his rays are very strong. If the poet wishes, he can stop the rays by closing his eyes. But, he would not do so, as he would miss the sight of his mistress. The poet says that both Indias of spices and mine are present in his room. He says that all the kings of the world lay in his bed.

In the third stanza, the poet says that all the states are in his mistress and all the princes are in himself.  Except the lovers, everything else is unreal for the poet.  Their love is the only true honour and wealth.  In their contracted world, the Sun is only half as happy as they are. The poet says that the sun can perform his duty by giving light and warmth to the lovers.  The poet says that his bed is the centre of the universe and his room is the sphere of the Sun. 

*** 

NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English,

Govt. Degree College - Alamuru

M: 7981862200

email: noojillasrinivas@gmail.com 

Not Just Oranges - Isai Tobolsky

Summary:

“Not Just Oranges” is a story written by Isai Tobolsky. The story presents different emotions of human beings such as love, innocence, arrogance, and repentance.

In the story, a woman lives alone with her little daughter. She loves her daughter very much. She works as a charwoman in a hospital and her income is very small. But she feeds and nourishes her daughter very well.

Once, the little girl asks her mother to buy a blue ball. When her mother gets her a ball, she plays with it very happily. But one day the ball bounces into the window of their neighbours, the Malachovs. It breaks an expensive vase on the window sill. The old lady Mrs. Malachov becomes very angry.  The little girl and her mother go to Malachovs’ house and promise to pay for the broken vase. But the Malachovs ridicule them about their poverty. Hurt by this, the girl and the mother return their home leaving their ball at Malachovs’ house. The girl cries for a long time and sleeps. 

After some time, the old lady Malachova comes to their house and returns the ball. She also informs that they need not pay for the vase. Then the charwoman presents her two oranges. Moved by their innocence, the old lady leaves the oranges for the girl. She gave them not just oranges but her love and repentance. 

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Noojilla Srinivs

Lecturer in English

Govt. Degree College, Alamuru

Res: Rajahmundry

M: 7981862200

noojillasrinivas@gmail.com 

The Lost Child by Mulk Raj Anand

THE LOST CHILD

(By Mulk Raj Anand)

About the Author:

Mulk Raj Anand – was an Indian writer in English. He was notable for his depiction of the lives of the suppressed and deprived sections in the traditional Indian society.

Date of Birth: 12 December 1905 

Date of Death: 28 September 2004

Anand was one of the pioneers of Indo-Anglian fiction. He, together with R. K. Narayan and Raja Rao, was one of the Trio of Indian English Novelists. Anand’s novels and short stories are noted for their perceptive insight into the lives of the oppressed classes.

He received Padma Bhushan.  

His famous works include:

Novels: Untouchable; Coolie; Two leaves and a Bud; The Village; Across the Black Waters; The Sword and the Sickle; The Big Heart; The Lost Child; The Private life of an Indian Prince; The Road

Autobiographies: Seven Summers; Morning Face; Conversations in Bloomsbury; Pilpali Sahab.

Summary:

“The Lost Child” is a short story written by Mulk Raj Anand, an eminent Indian English writer. Anand is one of the famous Trio of Indian English Novelists. This story depicts children’s psychology. The story is set in a rural village with all its charm, pomp and gaiety during the spring festival season.

A small child goes to a fare along with his parents, during a spring season. The child is filled with joy and happiness on seeing the fun, pomp, and gaiety around him. There were many stalls selling a variety of things such as toys, sweetmeats, flowers, balloons, etc. There were snake charmers and merry-go-round and many other attractions.

Attracted by the colourful items in the stalls, the child stops at every stall to enjoy watching them. But as the parents find the child lagging behind, they keep shouting at him and ask him to move fast along with them. He has to keep moving lest he is lost in the crowd. The child pesters his parents to buy the toys, sweetmeats, flowers, balloons, etc. but in vain. The child also knows that his parents would refuse his request and strictly say ‘No’ to his request.

At the merry-go-round, the child stops. He is determined to request his parents for a round. But he finds his parents nowhere near. The child is overpowered by the fear and starts crying frantically. He searches for his parents by running here and there. But, he could not find them anywhere. He only utters the words ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ in a loud and frantic voice.  

The child reaches a temple and searches for his parents there. He is almost trampled in the rush of the people there. Then, a stranger saves him from the crowd. He tries to pacify the child by taking the child to the stalls and offering the toys, sweets, flowers, and colourful balloons. But the child does not show any interest in them and cries in a loud voice that he wants only his mother and father. 

Interestingly, all the things which had appealed so much to the child are no longer attractive. The story ends at this point without telling whether the child got his parents back or not. Thus, the story portrays child psychology very effectively. 

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NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English,

Govt. Degree College,

Alamuru, EG Dist., Andhra Pradesh, India

M: 9440836041; Whatsapp: 7981862200