For those interested, here is the letter from the UGC according recognition to The EFLU's distance-mode programmes. Those who would like a pdf copy by e-mail, please drop me a line at this ID: lavanya@efluniversity.ac.in
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Friday, June 1, 2012
Online Resources for Literary Texts
Hello everyone!
Most of you would've received the course materials by now. So I hope you've started reading. But first, read the letter and the Handbook sent to you along with the course materials.
For the two literature courses in Part I of the programme, you must try to get hold of the prescribed texts and read them before you start reading the material. That is, before you start reading a Unit, see what texts the Unit discusses, get hold of them, read them, and keep them alongside while reading the course materials. You fill find that the study material will make a lot of sense this way!
Most of these texts are readily and freely available online, and anyone who can do a google search should be able to find reliable versions. In any case, here are some good web sites where you can can search for and download these texts, whether poems, plays, or novels:
Even otherwise, these prescribed texts are well-known canonical texts and should be available in any good library. So do visit a library in a university or college in your town/city. You should certainly be able to photocopy individual poems and plays.
So get cracking!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Getting Started
Yesterday I dashed off a mail to all participants of the MA programme (2012-13 batch) about this blog and website. The immediate response from many of you has been heartening, nay overwhelming! Thank you everyone who wrote back expressing enthusiasm about this blog and the web site, and for leaving comments on the first post. I hope that your enthusiasm will not wane.
In this post I just want to address one question/issue that many of you have posed/mentioned.
Most of you have received thus far a set of five books from us. These are critical editions of some of the prescribed texts that you will study in the two literature courses: British Literature I and II. Of these, Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels are prescribed for study in British Literature I, and Wuthering Heights and Emma are prescribed for study in British Literature II. It is advisable that you read these novels before you read the course materials on these novels; that's why they've been sent to you in advance, so that you can start reading them while you wait for the course material to arrive. (The book English Poetry 1660-1780 includes some poems that are prescribed for study in British Literature I.) Of course, there are other texts prescribed for study in these two literature courses. You must try and procure them by yourself.
[We are working on bringing out more critical editions of these other prescribed texts as well, but it will take time.]
The actual course materials are being dispatched and will reach you in a few days. (Participants within AP might already have received the course materials.)
Along with this course material you will receive a detailed letter telling you about the assignment schedules and when you are expected to submit the assignments. You will also receive a Handbook which will give you an overall idea of the entire programme, the different courses in it, and suggestions on how to use the course material, how to pace your study, how to plan your study hours, how to do the assignments, etc. So please wait till you get this letter and Handbook; most of your queries will be answered. After you receive them and read them, if you still have any further queries, you can write to me.
Maidul, Francis Anthony, I'm sorry you felt there wasn't enough communication from us. It's just that the printing of the course materials got delayed due to internal administrative snags, and since the prescribed texts were with us, we sent them first. There's a long letter and detailed Handbook accompanying the course materials; you will find all the information and advice that you want in them.
I wish all of you all the very best as you embark on this programme. I hope you will enjoy reading the course materials, and doing the assignments.
Once again, please wait for the course materials, letter and Handbook. After you read them, you can get back to me with queries, if any.
In this post I just want to address one question/issue that many of you have posed/mentioned.
Most of you have received thus far a set of five books from us. These are critical editions of some of the prescribed texts that you will study in the two literature courses: British Literature I and II. Of these, Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels are prescribed for study in British Literature I, and Wuthering Heights and Emma are prescribed for study in British Literature II. It is advisable that you read these novels before you read the course materials on these novels; that's why they've been sent to you in advance, so that you can start reading them while you wait for the course material to arrive. (The book English Poetry 1660-1780 includes some poems that are prescribed for study in British Literature I.) Of course, there are other texts prescribed for study in these two literature courses. You must try and procure them by yourself.
[We are working on bringing out more critical editions of these other prescribed texts as well, but it will take time.]
The actual course materials are being dispatched and will reach you in a few days. (Participants within AP might already have received the course materials.)
Along with this course material you will receive a detailed letter telling you about the assignment schedules and when you are expected to submit the assignments. You will also receive a Handbook which will give you an overall idea of the entire programme, the different courses in it, and suggestions on how to use the course material, how to pace your study, how to plan your study hours, how to do the assignments, etc. So please wait till you get this letter and Handbook; most of your queries will be answered. After you receive them and read them, if you still have any further queries, you can write to me.
Maidul, Francis Anthony, I'm sorry you felt there wasn't enough communication from us. It's just that the printing of the course materials got delayed due to internal administrative snags, and since the prescribed texts were with us, we sent them first. There's a long letter and detailed Handbook accompanying the course materials; you will find all the information and advice that you want in them.
I wish all of you all the very best as you embark on this programme. I hope you will enjoy reading the course materials, and doing the assignments.
Once again, please wait for the course materials, letter and Handbook. After you read them, you can get back to me with queries, if any.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
What's the use of an M.A. in English?
The question sounds rather condescending and dismissive, but that's not my intention. (Or maybe it is!) The immediate trigger for this question is this comment from someone interested in our distance-mode MA (English) programme. The person wants to know how existing M.A. (English) programmes in the country are of any use in professions such as teaching (of English). To which my immediate response is: should that be the only purpose of an M.A. in English?
Why does anyone do an M.A. in English in this country? In most universities the M.A. (English) programme is basically a study of British literature in English down the ages, unabashedly colonial and Macaulay-ian in character and purpose. Little has changed over the years, although courses in postcolonial, Indian, 'commonwealth' and American literatures have found their way into these programmes. Some of the 'Ivy League' universities do offer alternative M.A.'s but there's no denying the stranglehold that canonized British literature has on M.A. English programmes in this country. (The nature/requirements of the UGC NET/JRF exam is probably the major reason for this?)
But the question is: why would you do an M.A. in English?
To learn English (the language)?
To become a writer/poet/critic?
To become a teacher of English?
Or merely because you love literature?
This question is all the more pertinent and complicated in distance-mode courses, where there is no qualifying exam (unlike in face-to-face programmes where you have to pass an entrance exam to qualify for the course) and huge numbers of people from different disciplines and backgrounds enroll for an M.A. (English). What is their purpose? What do they hope to get from the course?
Any answers anyone?
Why does anyone do an M.A. in English in this country? In most universities the M.A. (English) programme is basically a study of British literature in English down the ages, unabashedly colonial and Macaulay-ian in character and purpose. Little has changed over the years, although courses in postcolonial, Indian, 'commonwealth' and American literatures have found their way into these programmes. Some of the 'Ivy League' universities do offer alternative M.A.'s but there's no denying the stranglehold that canonized British literature has on M.A. English programmes in this country. (The nature/requirements of the UGC NET/JRF exam is probably the major reason for this?)
But the question is: why would you do an M.A. in English?
To learn English (the language)?
To become a writer/poet/critic?
To become a teacher of English?
Or merely because you love literature?
This question is all the more pertinent and complicated in distance-mode courses, where there is no qualifying exam (unlike in face-to-face programmes where you have to pass an entrance exam to qualify for the course) and huge numbers of people from different disciplines and backgrounds enroll for an M.A. (English). What is their purpose? What do they hope to get from the course?
Any answers anyone?
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