Discuss “The Importance of Being Earnest” as a Farcical, Trivial, and artificial comedy.

Q. 1.  Discuss “The Importance of Being Earnest” as 

a Farcical, Trivial, and artificial comedy.

 Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, commonly known as Oscar Wilde was an Irish poet, story writer and playwright. He enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most popular playwrights in London during 1890s. ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ is considered his master piece. The play is considered the best example of farcical plays. It represented late-Victorian society. The actor, Allan Aynesworth (who played Algernon) Said: "In my fifty-three years of acting, I never remember a greater triumph than the first night."

 A comedy is a fictional work of art in which the subject matter is selected and arranged to entertain the audience. The action is trivial, trifling, non serious and, sometimes, ridiculous. The fame of The Importance of Being Earnest mostly depends on absurd situations skillfully created by the writer. The characters lack insight which causes them to react to these situations in a funny, farcical, artificial, absurd and trivial ways. 

 The Importance of Being Earnest is universally considered the best example of a farcical, trivial and artificial comedy. It aims at light-hearted entertainment with the help of exaggerated characters, absurd situations and dandy dialogue. The application of puns and paradoxes has made the play even more admirable. For example, when Algernon asks Jack about his aunt being ‘little’, Jack replies: 

“My dear fellow, what on earth is there in that? Some aunts are tall, 

some aunts are not tall. That is a matter that surely an aunt 

may be allowed to decide for herself.”

In another dialogue, Algernon addresses Jack, 

“You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you to everyone 

as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest person I ever saw in my life. …”

 The very title of the play is a fine example of pun. ‘Pun’ is a literary device that is the humorous use of a word which leads to another word of the same sound. ‘Earnest’ and ‘Ernest’ are apt and appropriate example of pun. 

The ‘bunburying’ (the maintenance of alternative or double identities in the town and country) of the two protagonists is fantastically farcical. They do so to escape from the Victorian social traditions. In a way, it is a satire on the society of that period in which the elite not only adopted double standards in their dealings but also assumed double identities. However, the play has some message for the serious people as well. Wilde called it a “trivial comedy for serious people”. He himself explains his saying in the following words:

“We should treat all the trivial things of life seriously, and all the 

serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality.”

 Thus, we can rightly conclude that ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ is a farcical, amusing, and trivial comedy that entertains the audience with its witty statements, absurd behavior of characters, and amusing dialogues. The play enjoys universal appeal with its evergreen entertainment and innocent humor and hilarity. (Words:500)

He Came to Know Himself (Sachal Sarmast) Critical Summary, Explanation

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 He Came to Know Himself   

Sachal Sarmast (Abdul Wahab Farooqi) 1739-1827

He was a Prominent and legendry Sindhi Sufi Poet from Sindh. He was born in 1152 H. (A.D. 1739) in Daraza, near Ranipur.

 

Theme: This poem deals with the significance of the existence of man in the universe. He discusses man’s love for Allah Almighty. The poem also has the reference of great personalities who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Allah’s love. The poet emphasizes the need of realizing the bare truth of the transience of man’s life on the Earth. The poet has discussed these subjects as the basic realities of the world in a symbolic but very straight forward manner. This poem also describes the relation of man with Allah Almighty and the spiritual significance of this relationship.

Explanation with Reference to the Context

He came to know himslef…………………..enmeshed in love.

Reference: These lines have been taken from the poem ‘He Came to Know Himself’ originally written by a saint poet Sachal Sarmast (Abdul Wahab Farooqi) and later on translated into English language.

Context: This poem discusses a variety of the basic realities of the universe in a very thought provoking and simple style.  The poet has emphasized the need of self-realization and temporary stay of man on the Earth.  

Explanation:

In these lines the poet says that when a man succeeds in discovering himself or his real self, he knows nothing except Allah Almighty. To enable himself to understand the real importance of this discovery, he involves himself in the love of Allah. The knowledge of self-realization leads to God’s love. A person forgets everything when he loves God.

He alighted form…………….head cut off.

Explanation:

In these lines the poet tells us that the purpose of man’s life becomes to love God and to spread His love and glory to other. He actually is born to pour love on earth. He knows nothing except God’s love. He even becomes Mansur who sacrificed himself in the way of God. He does not care for his life. In such state of affairs every other thing becomes useless and like Mansur, he feels pleased and is willing to be hanged on the gallows to get his head’ cut off only for the Love of His beloved, God. A person becomes ignorant to all other things when he loves God. The main purpose of his life is just to obey and please God. He even does not care for his life. He develops a pure love for Allah Almighty.

He treaded the…………….on Earth.

Explanation:

In these lines the poet tells that a person becomes ignorant to all other things when he loves God. The main purpose of his life is just to obey and please God. He even does not care for his life. He is ready to be sold as a slave. He walks in the bazaars of Egypt. Here the poet gives a reference of Hazrat Yousaf (AS), who was sold in the bazars of Egypt. He becomes a God's lover in true meanings. The poet says that wherever he stays on earth for a short period, he preaches God's love and glory. God's love is the only truth on earth. One who knows himself and also that he is a wonderful creature created by the Creator, God, cannot have a view of anything else except God Almighty. The poet says that man’s stay on the Earth is temporary; he should make himself ready for the life hereafter. The only secret of this preparation is self-realization.  

By Muhammad Islam 

Marvel of an Insect by Alan Devoe (Critical Summary, Analysis)

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         The Marvel of An Insect
(Alan Devoe)
A Brief Analysis of the essay

 

General Introduction

“The Marvel of An Insect” is a contribution by Allan Devoe to “ A Collection of Memorable Articles” in The Reader’s Digest. In this essay he has keenly described the insects and the marvels related to their habits, power and structure. He gives references of the researches carried on by entomologists.

 

Main Idea Of The Story (Theme)

Devoe expresses the reality that our earth is teemed with the complex little creatures. These creatures are called insects. These are numerous in size and kind. The entomologists predict that all the insects may be in millions. The writes describes the power and achievement of insects. The insects are a great creation of Allah Almighty. Allah has granted wonderful power of hearing, seeing and touching. They do miraculous things with their tiny structure.

Summary

1.     Varieties of insects

 

Our earth teems with complex little creatures that no one can count them. Nearly seven hundred and fifty thousand species have been classified. About four thousand new varieties are found every year. The insects have countless shapes and habits. They can cope with life under almost any circumstances. There is a beetle that thrives on red pepper. There are many tiny insects that lives on the tongues of the horse flies.

There are other insects which have neither mouths nor stomachs and they never eat at all. Insects are the wonderful creatures of God. These have delicate shapes. Some have beautifully patterned wings and some have horrible shapes. These have their living conditions.

 

2.     Structure of Insects / Common things in Insects

The insects have a lot of common aspects as far as their structure is concerned.

Boneless:

An insect had no bones. It has an external Skelton. It is build inside out and upside down. Its heart is on top near its back. Its legs are just like tubes. The legs are the strongest supporting device on an insect. Its legs have immense power.

Flying Power:

The insects have an immense capacity to fly. They fly over long distances regularly. For example, Monarch Butterflies make flights of three thousand miles and more. They are very tiny creature but they do this difficult task easily. Fainted Lady Butterflies are found to make a journey from North Africa to Iceland. They face rain and storm. Sometime they reach their destination with their wings broken on the way.

 

Outside Skelton:

The insects have common outside skeleton. Its external structure is a protective plate for muscles, nerves and soft tissues.

Circulation of Blood:

The insect’s blood is not confined by any system of veins. Blood circulates in the body of an insect through a single artery.

Respiratory System:

As Insects have marvelous structure. Same is the case with their respiratory system. It quite easy and wonderful. It has no lungs. There are very small holes along its sides. It gets oxygen through these holes.

Wings:

The insects have powerful and patterned wings. They have great striking power. A dragon Fly has thing wings but it can fly at a speed of forty hours per hour. A tiny mosquito can fly easily with its tiny wings.

Sensory Power:

The insects have wonderful sensory power. They listen with delicate hair sensitive to sound waves or tympanic membrane like our ear drums.

Visionary Power:

The insects have small eyes called Ocelli on top of their heads. Without compound eyes an insect see a world of extra ordinary colours. The eye of a dragon fly can see twenty five thousand scenes at a times.

Tate Organs:

An insect has its taste organs in its mouths but it can also taste by other parts of the body.

 

Wonders of Insects

 

1.     A mosquito filled with blood can performs the extra ordinary aerodynamics feat flying off carrying a load twice than its own weight.

2.     A mosquito can beat its wings more than three hundred times a second.

3.     The midge’s wings which are tiny and invisible beat more than a thousand times a second.

4.     A flea can hop hundred times than its own weight.

5.     Insects may look fragile but they have immense strength. The little insects can survive even when the air and moisture has been sucked. Whereas the giant elephant cannot stand such type of experiment.

6.      Insects have rudimentary brains. They have lavish sensory gifts. These have extra ordinary sensory power. Acute human hearing seldom ranges above twenty thousand vibrations per second. Whereas Bush crickets can hear forty five thousand. These have supersonic hearing power.

7.     Insects can hear sounds outside the human range.

8.     The insects have their own communication system.

9.     They have invisible eyes or light sense.

10.                         In its capacities to taste and smell, an insect achieves perhaps the most remarkable sensitivity of all.

11.                          The insects have extra ordinary scent and taste power. Human taste can detect sweetness in the solution having one part of sugar to about two hundred parts of water. Whereas some moths and butterflies can detect the presence of sugar when it is one part in three hundred thousand.

Conclusion

The writer has beautifully described the wondrous structure of insects. He has concluded with keen observation that the insects are having a unique structure and immense power along with extra sensitive organs. All these characteristics enable the insects to cope with their environment. The scientific approach and detail study has revealed marvel of insects. The essay shows that comprehensive and objective approach of the author to the subject matter.                                                        

By;

Muhammad Islam 

Love-An Essence of All Religions (Jalaluddin Rumi) First Year English Poems

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Love – An Essence of All Religions Jalaluddin Rumi

Jalaluddin Rumi was a famous poet, scholar and theologian of 13th century. He is considered one of the greatest Persian poets of the times.

Born: September 30, 1207   Died: December 17, 1273

Main Idea: The poet is of the view that love is the real spirit of all religions. Love changes thorns into roses. It is love that changes punishment into reward. Love makes life successful and worth living. This poem suggests that love can solve problems and change adversities into pleasures.

 

Stanza no; 1                        Through love ……..becomes good fortune.

Reference: These lines have been taken from the poem “Love – An Essence of All Religions” written by a Persian poet Jalaluddin Rumi and translated by Dr. Nicholson.

Context: The poet is of the view that love is the soul and spirit of all religions. Love makes life pleasant and worth living. Love has magical power. It can make us a good human being.

Explanation: Love is the great force of life. It causes change for better. Love can change pain into delight. Love has also a purifying effect. Love can purify the base passions. Love makes people brave. With the passion of love, one can fight against heavy odds.

Stanza no: 2                        Through love ………….lions become harmless.

Explanation: Love has a moderating effect it can change burning fire of passion into gentle and everlasting feelings. Love can soften stone hearted people. And make them gentle and caring. Likewise, in tragic moments one is naturally grieved. With the passage and time and the effect of love these tragic moments pass into sweet memories. Love has also a taming effect. It can tame the lions. So, love has a pleasant and healthy effect.

Stanza no: 3                        Through love sickness……………….becomes a slave.

Explanation: Love has a healing effect. It keeps whatever is good and rejects whatever is evil. Love can cure any disease whether it is physical, mental or spiritual. Love can bring change of heart. Love has also an inspiring effect. Love infuses life into depressed souls. It has a civilizing effect. It can change the mind of a proud king and make him humble slave.

Direct Indirect Narration (Rules with Examples)

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DIRECT INDIRECT NARRATION

We may report the words of a speaker in two ways:

i.                    We may quote his actual words. This is called DIRECT SPEECH

ii.                  We may report what he said without quoting his exact words. This is called INDIRECT SPEECH / REPORTED SPEECH.

Ali said, “I am very busy now.”     DIRECT SPEECH

Ali said that he was busy then.     INDIRECT SPEECH

In Direct speech we use inverted commas to mark off the exact words of the speaker. In INDIRECT SPEECH we don’t use inverted commas. We can say:

 

DIRECT SPEECH:                                 SAME WORDS                            SAME IDEA

 

INDIRECT NARRATION:                      DIFFERENT WORDS               SAME IDEA

In Direct Narration a sentence has two parts.

Ali        said   ,       “ I     am    busy.”

                                                                  Reporting Speech         Reported Speech

RULES FOR CHANGING DIRECT SPEECH INTO INDIRECT SPEECH

Here are some of the general changes which take place while changing Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.

i.                    Change of Pronoun

ii.                  Change of Tense

iii.                Change of Particular words

Change of Pronoun

Reported Speech	Reporting Speech
1st Person Pronoun I  /  My  /  Me We  /  Our  / Us	Subject
2nd Person Pronoun You  /  Your  /  You	Object
3rd Person Pronoun He  /  His  /  Him She  / Her  /  Her They  / Their / Them Any Singular Name	No Change

                                                KEY

Reported	Reporting
1	S
2	O
3	N

 CHANGE OF TENSE

REPORTED SPEECH	REPORTING SPEECH	CHANGE
Past Indefinite (2nd form of Verb)  Said	Present i.                     1st form ii.                   Is / am / are iii.                  Has / have	Past i.                     2nd form ii.                   Was / were iii.                  Had
Past Indefinite (2nd form of Verb)  Said	Past i.                     2nd form ii.                   Was / were iii.                  Had iv.                 Had been	i.                     Had  + 3rd form ii.                   Had been iii.                  No change iv.                 No change
Past Indefinite (2nd form of Verb)  Said	Future i.                     Will / Shall	i.                     Would
Past Indefinite (2nd form of Verb)  Said	i.                     May ii.                   Can	i.                     Might ii.                   Could
PRESENT (1ST Form of Verb)  Say	Any Tense	No Change
FUTURE (Will / Shall)	Any Tense	No Change

KEY:

REPORTED SPEECH	REPORTING SPEECH	CHANGE
Verb (1st Form)	Any Form of the verb	No change
Shall / Will	Any Form of the verb	No change
Verb (2nd form)	Verb (1st form)	Verb (2nd form)
Verb (2nd form)	Verb (2nd form)	Had + Verb (3rd form)

 

CHANGE OF SPECIFIC WORDS

Direct Narration	Indirect Narration
This	That
These	Those
Now	Then
Here	There
Thus	So
Age	Before
Today	That day
Yesterday	Previous day
Tomorrow	The next day
Last night	The previous night
Next week	The following week

There are different changes which take place according to the nature of the sentence.

 

There are five kinds of sentences.

i. Assertive Sentences                       

ii. Interrogative Sentences               

iii. Imperative Sentences

iv. Optative Sentences                       

v. Exclamatory Sentences

Assertive Sentences:

These are the simple sentences.  e.g. He said , “I go to the college.”

Said to                                                  told

Inverted commas                               that

Other changes take place according to the general rules.

Examples:

                                        DIRECT                                                        INDIRECT

i.                    She said, “I like clouds in the sky.”                       She told that she liked clouds in the sky.

ii.                  He said, “I am unwell.”                                         He told that he was unwell.

iii.                He says to her, “I live in this building.”                He says her that he lives in that building.

iv.                 He said, “They are not doing their duty.”            He told that they were not doing their duty.

v.                   He said to me, “You are not running very fast.”  He told me that I was not running very fast.

vi.                 The teacher said, “Honesty is the best policy.”    The teacher told that honesty is the best policy.

NOTE       If the reported Speech is UNIVERSAL TRUTH then no tense change takes place.

Interrogative Sentences

In these sentences, question is asked. These sentences have the question mark (?) at the end. There are two kinds of questions.

i.                    Are you going to Islamabad?

ii.                  What are you doing?

Said to.........is replaced by placing asked. 

Inverted commas               

If the sentence is in interrogative form carrying a helping verb then inverted commas are replaced with if / whether. If the question is of WH family then inverted commas are emitted without placing a word.

    NOTE     After emitting the inverted commas the sentence is made positive. Other changes will take  place as in Assertive Sentences. Question mark is removed.

 

Examples:

i.                     He said, “Will you listen to me.”                                

              He asked if I would listen to him.

ii.                   They said, “Have you ever visited Murree Hills?      

              They asked if I had ever visited Murree Hills. 

iii.                  Raza said, “Where are you going?”                

               Raza asked where I was going.

iv.                 Ali said, “Does he work hard?”                                                           

              Ali asked if he worked hard.

Imperative Sentences

In these sentences some order, request or advice is given.

Said to (if request is there)                           requested

(if order is there)                               ordered

(if advice is there)                             advised

(if negation is there)                         forbade (the reported speech will be made positive)

Inverted commas are replaced with “to”.

There is no tense change in Imperative sentences. As after “to” always 1^st form of the verb is used. Mostly in imperative sentences the reported speech starts with a verb.

Examples:

i.                     He said , “Sit down.”                                               He ordered to sit down.

ii.                   They said , “Speak the truth.”                             They advised to speak the truth.

iii.                  The mother said, “Obey your elders.”            The mother advised to obey my elders.

iv.                 She said, “Please help me.”                                 She requested to help her.

v.                   He said , “Do not tease me.”                               He forbade to tease him.

Optative Sentences

Some wish, prayer or curse is expressed in such sentences.

Said to                                                                         prayed / wished / cursed

Inverted commas                                                           that

Examples:

i. She said to her father , “May you live long!”   She prayed for her father that he might live long.

ii. She said , “Would that my father were alive!”                She wished that her father had been alive.

 

Exclamatory Sentences

These sentences express some sudden joy, feeling or expression. Exclamatory words are often used in these sentences. e.g. Hurrrah , Alas , Bravo etc.

Said to (Hurrah)                                                                               exclaimed with joy

              (Alas)                                                                                      exclaimed with sorrow

                 (Oh / Wow) / Bravo                                                       exclaimed with wonder / applauded

Examples:  

i. He said, “Hurrah , I have qualified!”                    He exclaimed with joy that he had qualified.

ii. He said, “Alas , they are ruined!”                        He exclaimed with sorrow that they were ruined.

iii. She said, “How clever I am!”                                She exclaimed that she was very clever.