UG - Syllabus Novel

UG - Syllabus Novel

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm is a remarkable anti-utopian satire penned by George Orwell in 1945. The book is a political fable that draws parallels between the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and the treacherous conduct of Joseph Stalin. The story revolves around a group of farm animals who rise up against their cruel and exploitative human masters and establish a society based on equality. However, as the story progresses, the intelligent and power-hungry pigs seize control of the revolution, leading to a new form of oppression. The famous phrase "all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" highlights the hypocrisy of the pigs, who transform into cruel dictators. They go on to create a society even more brutal and heartless than that of their previous human oppressors.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Moby Dick, written by Herman Melville, was first published as The Whale in London in October 1851, and a month later in New York City as Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. The book is dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne and is widely considered to be Melville's greatest work and one of the most important American novels of all time.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison's debut novel, was published in 1970 and went on to win the Nobel Prize. The story takes place in Lorain, Ohio, Morrison's hometown, during 1940-41, and centers around Pecola Breedlove, an African American girl from a troubled home. Pecola, who is just eleven years old, believes that being beautiful and accepted by society means having white skin and "the bluest eye." The novel explores her tragic journey. Despite being largely ignored upon its initial release, The Bluest Eye is now recognized as an American classic and a crucial portrayal of the African American experience following the Great Depression.

The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neil

Eugene O'Neill's drama, The Hairy Ape, premiered in 1922 and is considered a hallmark of Expressionism in theatre. The play consists of eight scenes.

The story revolves around Yank Smith, a brutish stoker working on a transatlantic liner. Yank has a disdainful attitude towards everyone and considers himself superior. When a wealthy man's daughter rejects him due to his uncivilized nature, he becomes devastated and decides to seek revenge. In New York, Yank attempts to destroy the millionaire's factory, but his plans are thwarted. Feeling disconnected from humanity, Yank visits a zoo and develops an affinity towards an ape. Eventually, the ape kills him. The play portrays the tragedy of a man who is unable to find his place in society and the consequences of his isolation.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Jhumpa Lahiri's debut novel, The Namesake (2003), was first published in The New Yorker before being expanded into a full-length book. It shares similar emotional and cultural themes with Lahiri's Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies. The novel follows the lives of characters in Calcutta, Boston, and New York City, exploring the complexities of living between two distinct cultures with differing religious, social, and ideological values. The narrative delves into the intricacies of navigating conflicting identities and the struggles of finding a sense of belonging.

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