Transcendentalism

                                                 Thinking Activity

            Transcendentalism

       Hello! Here , in this blog,  I am going to write a  blog. This blog is assigned by Megha Ma’am, visiting Lecturer - Department of English,  MK  Bhavnagar University. This blog is also a part of our thinking activity. In this particular  blog I am going to share my views on What is Transcendentalism? And regarded the movie , “Eat, Pray and Love”.  

                              What is Transcendentalism?

                            

                        

      Transcendentalism is a philosophy that emphasizes the a priori conditions of knowledge and experience or the unknowable character of ultimate reality or that emphasizes the transcendent as the fundamental reality. It started in the early 19th century. It promotes intuitive, spiritual thinking instead of scientific thinking based on material things. 

         Transcendentalism is a very formal word that describes a very simple idea. People, men and women equally, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that "transcends" or goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel.

            Ralph Waldo Emerson  was a writer, thinker and philosopher. He was a Father of Transcendentalism. He became the leading proponent of Transcendentalism.

          Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the United States during the early 19th century. It was primarily a reaction against the rationalism and materialism that had dominated American culture at the time, and it emphasized individualism, intuition, and the spiritual connection between humans and nature.

 

Transcendentalism has three major values is given below:

• Idealism 

• The Divinity of Nature

• Individualism

                            

    “Eat ,Pray and Love”

                    

          "Eat, Pray and Love" is a 2010 American biographical romantic drama film starring Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert, based on Gilbert's 2006 memoir of the same name. This Movie directed by Ryan Murphy , based on Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir of the same name. The movie follows the protagonist, Liz, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, leaving behind her old life and traveling to Italy, India, and Bali.

                       

         Transcendentalism emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth and self-awareness. In the movie, Liz seeks to find inner peace and enlightenment through her travels and experiences. She explores different spiritual practices, including meditation and yoga, and seeks guidance from spiritual leaders and teachers. Through this process, she gains a deeper understanding of herself and her place in the world, finding the inner strength and resilience to face life's challenges.

                         

    In This movie, We can be seen as embodying some transcendentalist ideas, particularly the emphasis on the individual's search for meaning and purpose. Throughout the film, Liz searches for fulfilment and happiness, seeking to transcend the limitations of her old life and find deeper connections to herself, others, and the world around her.

                      

    Another aspect of transcendentalism is the belief in the interconnectedness of all things. In the movie, Liz comes to understand the interconnectedness of all things as she travels the world and meets new people. She learns to appreciate the beauty and complexity of different cultures and traditions, recognizing that we are all connected by a shared humanity.     

  

                                              

             

   In this movie "Eat Pray Love," we can see elements of transcendentalism in the way the main character, Liz Gilbert, seeks to find meaning and purpose in her life by reconnecting with herself, exploring the world around her, and seeking spiritual enlightenment. It emphasized the inherent goodness of both people and nature and encouraged individuals to trust their inner selves and intuition.

Thank You … .

   Thinking Activity

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

    Hello! Here I am going to write down another blog on the views on  'Vita and Virginia’ and ‘Orlando’ movie. The task is given by Megha Ma’am , department of English, MK ,Bhavnagar University. This blog is a part of our thinking activity.

     “Vita and Virginia” and “Orlando” are two movies that are based on the works of Virginia Woolf, a renowned British writer from the early 20th century. While both films are inspired by Woolf's writing, they have different approaches and themes.

            In comparison , both films are notable for their strong female characters and their exploration of unconventional relationships and identities. "Vita and Virginia" focuses on a specific real-life relationship and its impact on the writers' work.

"Orlando" is a more abstract and fantastical exploration of gender and creativity. Both films are visually and emotionally captivating, but they offer different perspectives on Woolf's ideas and legacy.

        "Vita and Virginia" is a more straightforward biographical drama, and this movie focuses on a romantic relationship between two women.  while "Orlando" is a more experimental and fantastical film and  explores gender and identity in a more abstract and complex way.

                                 Vita and Virginia

                 

Directed by : Chanya Button

Based on : The upper-crust British socialite and popular writer Vita Sackville-West relentlessly pursued with the mentally unstable Bloomsbury writer Virginia Woolf

        This movie is directed by Chanya Button and stars Gemma Arterton as Vita Sackville-West and Elizabeth Debicki as Virginia Woolf. This movie is set in the 1920s and 1930s and follows the two women as they navigate their complex relationship while also dealing with their own personal and professional struggles. The two actresses deliver powerful performances that capture the intensity and vulnerability of their characters.

      In this movie , we can see that features are beautiful ,cinematography and music that evoke the atmosphere of the time period. We want to see what Virginia sees in Vita, but what we see isn't pretty, a fickle, disloyal, selfish, insensitive heartbreaker, not the best partner for someone suffering from debilitating mental illness. 

             The movie emphasized the hypocrisy of an upper crust that condoned "marriages of convenience" as long as they didn't ruin great families' reputations. Because of its complicated human relations and literary backdrop, this movie will probably appeal only to older teens. Adults smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. Language includes "damn," "ass," and "penis." A woman has spells of emotional disability that her loved ones fear will lead to dangerous self harm. 

      The film is based on a play that relied on the real-life correspondence between the title characters. The two are seen having sex, with kissing and briefly exposed breasts. Greater society looked down on such scandals but their socially enlightened circle accepted their and other same-sex relationships, at the same time as keeping them hidden. 

                                             Orlando

                                     

                                     

Directed by : Sally Potter

Based on : The Virginia Woolf novel about an immortal youth who sees the world from both sexes through the course of four centuries of change

            "Orlando" is a period drama that is based on Woolf's 1928 novel of the same name. The film follows the story of Orlando, who was a young nobleman who lives through several centuries, changing genders from male to female along the way. Orlando experiences life as both a man and a woman, the movie explores themes of gender identity, societal norms, and the fluidity of time. Orlando meets a variety of historical figures, including Queen Elizabeth I and the poet Alexander Pope.

           "Orlando" was directed by Sally Potter and stars Tilda Swinton in the title role. Swinton delivers a remarkable performance that captures the playful and enigmatic spirit of the character. The film also features stunning costumes, sets, and music that transport the viewer to different historical periods and moods. The film explores themes of gender, identity, and self-discovery, and is known for its beautiful cinematography and costumes. 

        When we watch movies, we can see the theme of gender identity, sexuality, and artistic expression, and it is known for its surreal and imaginative visual style.  Orlando, the story of a man who becomes a woman and lives immortally, with a fictionalized Vita as the man-like woman.

After a series of events, Orlando inexplicably begins to age very slowly, and over the course of several centuries, he transforms from a man into a woman while still maintaining his youthful appearance.

Thank You… .

For Whom the Bell Tolls

                         Thinking Activity

         For Whom the Bell Tolls

                                                           By 

                                           Ernest Hemingway

           

        Hello Readers ! The blog is  written as a part of  Thinking Activity based on the novel For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway. This Task is assigned by Yesha Ma’am , Dept. of English , MK Bhavnagar University.  In this particular blog , I am going to discuss what is the attitude of Robert Jordan Towards the war. 

                        

About the Author : 

                                   

            

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.”

 

            Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American novelist ,  short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style, which included his iceberg theory. The Iceberg Theory had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his adventurous lifestyle and public image brought him admiration from later generations. Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899 and died in 1961,  in Oak Park, Illinois. He started his career as a writer in a newspaper office in Kansas City at the age of seventeen.

          Ernest's first important work, The Sun Also Rises (1926). Equally successful was A Farewell to Arms (1929), the study of an American ambulance officer’s disillusionment in the war and his role as a deserter. Hemingway used his experiences as a reporter during the civil war in Spain as the background for his most ambitious novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940). Among his later works, the most outstanding is the short novel, The Old Man and the Sea (1952), the story of an old fisherman’s journey, his long and lonely struggle with a fish and the sea, and his victory in defeat.

For Whom The Bell Tolls :

       For Whom the Bell Tolls is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan. He was a young American volunteer attached to a Republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. As a dynamiter, he is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack on the city of Segovia.

       Robert Jordan was assigned to compete for a mission to blow up a bridge. He was an American who taught Spanish at a University in the middle of the country. He was also part of the International Brigades, a group of communist volunteers who helped Spain gain its independence. The Spanish Civil War was a battle between democracy and fascism. Ultimately, fascism won and General Francisco Franco ruled Spain for the next thirty-six years.

       Robert Jordan is attached to a guerrilla squad and is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack on the city of Segovia, Spain. The squad is composed of a variety of personalities, including Maria , who has had her life shattered by the Fascist troops. The two fall in love and Robert begins to doubt the wisdom of the battle to come. 

         Robert and his group manage to blow up the bridge even though they have lost the detonator and some of the dynamite, so they have to be closer to the explosion than is safe. Many of the men are killed, but Robert and Maria, with a few more people escape.

         Robert's horse is shot by a sniper and falls on him, breaking his leg. He tells them to go on without him and asks Augustin to take care of Maria. Then, the story ends with him waiting to ambush the coming fascist troops and buy more time for his squad departure.

          “For Whom the Bell Tolls" opens with an epigraph by John Donne. The quotation is a poem titled, "No Man is an Island". Donne says that when we hear a funeral bell ring, not to just ask who is dead, but to realize it rings for us all.

•   What is the attitude of Robert Jordan towards the War?

          Robert Jordan is a  protagonist in this novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Jordan is a young American who has volunteered to fight on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. In this novel, Jordan's attitude towards the war is complex, reflecting Hemingway's own ambivalence towards armed conflict.

          Robert Jordan sees the war as a struggle for freedom and democracy against fascism and oppression  and is willing to risk his own life to fight for what he believes in. 

       Jordan is also deeply moved by the suffering of the Spanish people, and is particularly affected by the plight of the guerilla fighters he encounters in the mountains. Robert Jordan is deeply committed to the Republican cause and believes in the ideals of the revolution.

        At the same time, Jordan is haunted by memories of his experiences in World War I and fears that he will be unable to escape the psychological damage inflicted by the violence he witnesses in Spain. He also struggles with the knowledge that his actions may lead to the deaths of others, including innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

    Jordan's attitude towards the war is one of resignation and acceptance. He knows that the struggle he has been fighting for is unlikely to succeed, but Jordan continues to fight nonetheless. He Was driven by a sense of duty and a desire to protect the people he has come to care for.

Thank You… .

           

Robert Frost and Bob Dylan

             Thinking Activity

 Robert Frost and Bob Dylan

Hello! Here I am going to write down another blog on 'Mending Wall' By Robert Frost. The task is given by Megha Ma’am , department of English, MK ,Bhavnagar University. This blog is a part of our thinking activity.

Mending wall By Robert Frost    -   Original Poem 

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,

That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,

And spills the upper boulders in the sun;

And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.

The work of hunters is another thing:

I have come after them and made repair

Where they have left not one stone on a stone,

But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,

To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,

No one has seen them made or heard them made,

But at spring mending-time we find them there.

I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;

And on a day we meet to walk the line

And set the wall between us once again.

We keep the wall between us as we go.

To each the boulders that have fallen to each.

And some are loaves and some so nearly balls

We have to use a spell to make them balance:

‘Stay where you are until our backs are turned!’

We wear our fingers rough with handling them.

Oh, just another kind of out-door game,

One on a side. It comes to little more:

There where it is we do not need the wall:

He is all pine and I am apple orchard.

My apple trees will never get across

And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.

He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.’

Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder

If I could put a notion in his head:

‘Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it

Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.

Before I built a wall I'd ask to know

What I was walling in or walling out,

And to whom I was like to give offense.

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,

That wants it down.’ I could say ‘Elves’ to him,

But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather

He said it for himself. I see him there

Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top

In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.

He moves in darkness as it seems to me,

Not of woods only and the shade of trees.

He will not go behind his father's saying,

And he likes having thought of it so well

He says again, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.’

Explain the poem:

   "Mending Wall" is a poem by the twentieth-century American poet Robert Frost. It opens Robert's second collection of poetry, North of Boston. The poem was  published in 1914. "Mending Wall" is a poem about two neighbors who come together each year to repair a stone wall that divides their properties. The speaker questions the necessity of the wall, his neighbors insists that it is important to maintain the tradition of wall mending.

          Robert Frost explores themes of tradition, community, and the boundaries between people. The poem is about borders, the work it takes to maintain them and the way they shape human interactions. The speaker and the speaker's neighbors spend much of the poem rebuilding a wall that divides their properties.

 Analyses Of the Poem: 

      The poem starts with the famous line, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," which immediately sets up the conflict between the speaker and his neighbors. This tension between individuality and community is central to the poem. The idea is that the wall represents a boundary between people.

               The poet said that the natural world, represented by the trees, does not require boundaries in the same way that humans do. The poet describes that awareness of the complexity of human relationships and the need for careful consideration of the boundaries we create. 

     The speaker sees no reason for the wall to be kept there are no cows to be contained, just apple and pine trees. He does not believe in walls for the sake of walls. 

          The end of the poem , the poet said ,“Good fences make good neighbors.” The poet  remains unconvinced and mischievously presses the neighbors to look beyond the old-fashioned folly of such reasoning. His neighbors will not be swayed. The poet envisions his neighbors as a holdover from a justifiably outmoded era, a living example of a dark-age mentality. But the neighbors simply repeats the adage.

   

  Theme:

      

            The title "Mending Wall" suggests the theme of repairing a wall. The poem is not just about the physical act of fixing a wall, but also explores deeper themes of tradition, boundaries, and human connection.

•  Boundaries

• Tradition and change

• Human connection

• Image and Language

Figure of speech: 

Repetition:  "Good fences make good neighbors".

Metaphor:  "Something there is that doesn't love a wall".

Personification: "He moves in darkness as it seems to me, / Not of woods only and the shade of trees".

Form and Structure of the Poem: 

            "Mending Wall" is written in blank verse. There is no regular rhyme scheme. The poem is divided into 11 stanzas, each containing varying numbers of lines. This irregular structure reflects the theme of the poem, which is the tension between individuality and tradition. The use of enjambment.

Thank You… .