The Study of Novel. Assignment
Maharani Shree Nandkuverba Mahila Arts And Commerce College
Name: Dangar Dhara Kalubhai
Year: T.Y B.A Main English
( Semester - 5 )
Paper Name: The Study of Novel ( Assignmet )
Assignment Topics:
Home Assignment:
Sense and sensibility by jane Austen: summary and Theme
Class Assignment:
Sense and sensibility by jane Austen: characters and symbols
Essay Assignment:
The old Man and the sea By Ernest Hemingway: summary , Theme and symbols
Home Assignment:
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
👩 About the Author: Jane Austen
Jane Austen (1775–1817) was one of the greatest English novelists. Born in Steventon, England, she lived in a close-knit family and wrote about domestic life, love, manners, and morality. Her works criticize the limited roles available to women in her time.
Famous novels: Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey.
Style: irony, wit, realism, and social commentary.
Legacy: Her novels remain timeless for their balance of romance and keen observation of society.
📘 Introduction to the Novel
Published in 1811, Sense and Sensibility was Austen’s first published novel.
Originally written as an epistolary novel (letters), later revised.
It reflects the lives of the Dashwood sisters as they navigate love, heartbreak, and societal expectations.
The title itself reflects the two approaches to life: sense (reason, restraint) and sensibility (emotion, passion).
📖 Summary
The Dashwood family is left financially insecure after Mr. Dashwood’s death. His daughters – Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret – along with their mother, move to a small cottage.
Elinor (sense): falls in love with Edward Ferrars. However, she hides her emotions when she learns of his secret engagement.
Marianne (sensibility): falls passionately for John Willoughby. But he abandons her for wealthier marriage, leaving her heartbroken.
Meanwhile, Colonel Brandon, a kind and steady man, loves Marianne quietly.
Eventually, Edward’s engagement breaks off, and he proposes to Elinor. Marianne recovers from her heartbreak and marries Colonel Brandon, realizing stability is more valuable than reckless passion.
🎭 Themes
1. Sense vs. Sensibility – Balance of logic and emotion in human life.
2. Love and Marriage – Not just romance but also social security and duty.
3. Wealth and Class – Women’s dependency on marriage due to inheritance laws.
4. Family Bonds – Strong ties help characters survive emotional struggles.
Class Assignment:
👥 Characters
Elinor Dashwood – Represents sense, rational and composed.
Marianne Dashwood – Represents sensibility, emotional and impulsive.
Edward Ferrars – Elinor’s love interest, honorable but restrained by family.
Colonel Brandon – Loyal, mature, and stable; loves Marianne.
John Willoughby – Charming but selfish; breaks Marianne’s heart.
Mrs. Dashwood & Margaret – Supportive family members.
🔮 Symbols
Sense and Sensibility: Rational control vs. emotional excess.
Marianne’s illness: Symbolizes how unchecked passion can lead to self-destruction.
Cottages and Estates: Represent security, social status, and stability.
📝 Conclusion
Sense and Sensibility is not only a romantic novel but also a moral lesson. Jane Austen teaches that happiness comes when sense and sensibility work together. Elinor and Marianne’s journey shows the importance of maturity, balance, and self-awareness in love and life.
Essay Assignment:
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
👨 About the Author: Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist.
Famous works: A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Sun Also Rises.
Style: simple, direct, and powerful prose known as the “Iceberg Theory” (where deeper meanings lie beneath the surface).
Awards: Pulitzer Prize (1953) for The Old Man and the Sea and Nobel Prize in Literature (1954).
His works often focus on courage, loss, endurance, and human dignity.
📘 Introduction to the Novel
Published in 1952.
Short novel (novella), considered Hemingway’s masterpiece.
Story of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, who engages in a heroic struggle with a giant marlin.
Reflects Hemingway’s themes of perseverance, isolation, and the dignity of struggle.
📖 Summary
Santiago has gone 84 days without catching a fish. People consider him unlucky.
On the 85th day, he sails farther than ever before and hooks a giant marlin.
A long, painful battle follows. Santiago respects the fish’s strength and beauty, calling it his “brother.”
After three days, Santiago finally kills the marlin and ties it to his boat.
On his way home, sharks attack the marlin. Santiago fights bravely, but by the time he returns, only the skeleton remains.
Though he is physically defeated, Santiago gains spiritual victory through his courage and endurance.
🎭 Themes
1. Man vs. Nature – Santiago respects nature even while struggling against it.
2. Perseverance and Heroism – Success is in the struggle, not just the result.
3. Pride and Dignity – Santiago’s pride keeps him going; he never gives up.
4. Isolation and Companionship – Santiago is alone at sea, but he feels connected to the fish, the sea, and his apprentice Manolin.
🔮 Symbols
The Marlin – Represents Santiago’s greatest challenge and ultimate respect for nature.
The Sharks – Symbolize destructive forces that take away material reward but cannot destroy dignity.
The Sea – Nature itself: beautiful, powerful, and uncontrollable.
The Lions in Santiago’s Dreams – Symbol of youth, strength, and hope.
📝 Conclusion
The Old Man and the Sea is a story of resilience and courage. Hemingway shows that true victory is not measured by material success but by the dignity of struggle. Santiago may lose the marlin to sharks, but his spirit remains undefeated, proving the famous line: “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”
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