Sem III English Fluency II

Department of Distance and Continuing Education
University of Delhi
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B.A. (Programme) / B.Com. (Programme)

Semester-III/IV
Course Credits - 4
Generic Elective (Language)
ENGLISH FLUENCY - II
As per the UGCF - 2022 and National Education Policy 2020
English Fluency - II
Editorial Board
Nalini Prabhakar
Content Writers
P. K. Satapathy, Nalini Prabhakar
Aisha Qadry, Dr. Neeta Gupta
Deb Dulal Halder, Dr. Seema Suri
Content Reviewer from DDCE/COL/SOL
Dr. Archana Mathur
Academic Coordinator
Deekshant Awasthi
© Department of Distance and Continuing Education

ISBN: 978-81-19417-58-2
Ist edition: 2023
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Published by:
Department of Distance and Continuing Education
Campus of Open Learning / School of Open Learning,
University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Printed by:
School of Open Learning, University of Delhi
© Department of Distance & Continuing Education, Campus of Open Learning,

B.A. (Programme)/B.Com. (Programme)
This Study Material is duly recommended and approved in Academic Council

meeting held on 11/08/2023 Vide item no. 1015 and subsequently Executive
Council Meeting held on 25/08/2023 vide item no. 1267.
• The present study material is an edited version of an earlier study material,

from the Choice Based Credit System.
• Corrections/Modifications/Suggestions proposed by Statutory Body,
DU/Stakeholder/s in the Self Learning Material (SLM) will be incorporated in
the next edition. However, these corrections/modifications/suggestions will be
uploaded on the website https://sol.du.ac.in. Any feedback or suggestions may
be sent at the email- [email protected]
Printed at : ....................................................................... ....................... (...............Copies)

Table of Contents
Sl. No. Title Prepared by Page
Unit-1 In The State

1. Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Bernard P.K. Satapathy 01
Sendak
2. Right to Information 09
3. First Information Report (FIR) 11
4. Consumer Complaint and Complaint about 13
Cutting of Trees
Unit-2 Interface with Technology
5. Breakdown and review of ‘Where the Wild Nalini Prabhakar 23
Things Are’, Elizabeth Kennedy
6. Angels and Demons, Dan Brown Aisha Qadry 27
7. Book Review and Movie Review: Angels and 38
Demons (2000), Dan Brown
Unit-3 Self-Representation
8. “To Jyotiba, from Savitribai Phule: These aren’t Dr. Neeta Gupta 42
Love Letters, but Tell You What Love is All
About”
9. Squiggle Takes a Walk: All About Punctuation, Deb Dulal Halder 51
Natasha Sharma
Nalini Prabhakar 55
10. The Transformation of Silence into Language
and Action, Audre Lorde
Dr. Seema Suri 63
11. Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Salman Rushdie

Unit-1
IN THE STATE
1. Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Bernard Sendak
P.K. Satapathy
1.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After going through this lesson you will be able to;

i. Understand the importance of picture books
ii. Read picture books and unravel their hidden meanings
iii. Understand how Max comes to terms with his anger and emotional problems
iv. Understand how values are instilled in children through stories
1.2 INTRODUCTION
This is a picture book meant for children. The author of this picture book is Maurice Bernard
Sendak, an American of Polish /Jewish descent. He started off as an illustrator of story books
before becoming a writer himself. This book won many awards for its author and has become
one of the most popular children’s books in USA. Picture books, especially for children, are
found in most societies. India is no different and you can find a large number of picture books
for children on a variety of subjects in the market. We must remember that picture books are
not just illustrated stories. They play a very important role, wherever they are used, in the
development of children.
1.2.1 Picture Books
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I am sure most of you would be familiar with picture books. We have alarge variety of
picture books in India for children of various age groups. Picture books tell stories but these
stories often have hidden lessons for us. They are not only used for entertainment but also to
teach values to children. The story is primarily narrated through colourful illustrations and the
text gives us the context. So the writers of picture books give a lot of importance to the
illustrations. Since picture books narrate stories they have characters. Hence the illustrators
pay special attention to the expressions and emotional state of the characters so that the
readers are able to understand the situation better. To be effective, picture books must have a
simple storyline, adequate number of characters, excellent illustration and a clear message.
1.2.2 What makes Picture Books important? : Picture books are useful in many ways.
They help children in developing comprehension skills in a significant way. Picture books are
mostly read with either parents or teachers or just the peer group. Thus they become much
more interactive and keep the children involved in the reading process. The story teller or
reader questions and constantly talks about the story and the entire session becomes a kind of
performance. It helps the children develop a story sense, understand causal sequence,
understand age appropriate issues and possible conflict resolution ideas. The illustrations in
the book help in understanding complex ideas.
Check Your Progress 1

1. How does picture books help in the development of children?
2. What is the Story About

This story is about one evening in the life of a boy named Max. One fine evening Max
decides to wear his wolf suit and creates all kinds of mischief. He even chases the family dog
with a fork in the manner of a hunter.
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His mother is very annoyed with his behaviour and calls him a “wild thing”. Since Max is
dressed as a wolf he continues playing the wolf and says, “I`LL EAT YOU UP!”. The mother
decides not to tolerate Max`s wild ways and to teach him a lesson, she sends him to bed on an
empty stomach.
Max is definitely unhappy and perhaps angry at being denied food. Max falls asleep and in
his dreams his room turns into a thick forest, and ,as if by magic, an ocean appears. There is a
private boat as well for Max. Max sails off in the boat to find the “wild things” and in his
dream he sails,in what appears to him, for over a year.
He finally reaches the place where the “wild things” are. But they are not happy to see him.
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They roar and gnash their teeth, roll their eyes and display their claws to scare Max away.
But Max doesn’t get scared. He tames them by telling them to be still and by staring into their
eyes without blinking. On the other hand, the “wild things” are now scared of Max and they
call him the ‘most wild thing of all’ and make him the king.
As the new king, he orders them to start the ‘rumpus’(wild and noisy activities)
After a while Max is tired and, and just like his mother, orders the ‘wild things’ to go to bed
without food. And now he begins to feel lonely.
He wants to get back to home where he is loved. He also smells the aroma of good food
coming from far away. The temptation of love and good food is too much to resist. So Max
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decides to give up being the king and return back home. But the ‘wild things’ are not happy.
They say they love Max and at the same time threaten to eat him up. But Max says ‘no’ to the
‘wild things’. The ‘wild things’, once again, roar, bare their teeth and roll their eyes, but Max
steps into his private boat and sails away.
Once again, he sails for over a year through weeks and days and nights and comes back home
to his own room. On reaching home, he finds his food waiting for him and it is still hot. He is
happy.
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1. Why is Max punished?
2. How does Max tame the ‘wild things’?
3. Why does Max come back home?
1.3 A THREE PART STORY
Now, if you pay some attention, you will notice that the story has three parts. Well, all most
all stories will have a beginning, a middle, and an end and this story is no different. However,
this story follows a fairy tale pattern where an initial calm and happy atmospehere is
disturbed by some evil character and something valuable is either lost or taken away. This is
followed by a quest or search ( by the hero of the story) for whatever is lost. The hero
recovers the lost item with the help of some magic ( a magic sword for instance). And ,
finally, the initial situation of calm returns in a modified form that is better than what it was
in the beginning. Does this sound familiar? I am sure it does. Now lets see how Max`s story
is organised.
1.3.1 The first part of the story begins with Max wearing his wolf suit and making mischief.
Obviously, before wearing the wolf suit he wasn’t making any mischief and was a
‘good boy’. So wearing the wolf suit transforms him from a good boy to a ‘wild
thing’. You might ask why wolf suit and why not a dog suit? The answer to that
question is simple. Wolf is considered as a wily and wicked creature. The wolf is also
considered a voracious eater or a greedy eater. In the western world, where the story
is located, the wolf is also considered wily and wicked. Think of the story Little Red
Riding Hood and you will understand what I am referring to here.Thus, the moment
Max wears the wolf suit he starts behaving like a wicked wolf. This disturbs the
mother and Max is punished. He is ordered to go to bed on an empty stomach. Max is
angry, unhappy and yet obeys his mother because the mother has the “authority”. But
does he accept this authority? Perhaps not.
1.3.2 The second part of the story begins with an imaginary journey. As you would know, a
journey has two dimensions. One is an outward, physical journey and the other is an
inward journey or a jouney of discovery. While the physical journey takes you to a
new place the inward journey takes you to a new mental state.
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Max is angry and hungry. He falls asleep. And in his sleep, he sees a wild forest grow
within his room. This indicates that the wild forest has invaded his home. The wild
forest reflects his mental state. He nows goes on a journey to find wild things. And, as
it happens in a fairy tale, the wild things live far away from human civilization. He
has to sail for more than a year to come to the forest where ‘wild things’live. And
what does he find there?
He finds scary looking creatures and these creatures are clearly unhappy to see him. It
seems like they don’t have a king or in other words an authority figure. But Max is
not scared. He has the magic words, “Be Still” and the magic trick, “of staring into
their yellow eyes without blinking once”, to tame them and to make them obey him.
So, with the help of magic he tames the wild things and becomes their king. For Max,
there is a role reversal here in the forest. At home, he was the wild thing and he has to
obey his mother who has the authority. In the jungle, he has the authority and the
‘wild things’ hav to obey him.
1.3.3 This role reversal is important because it is here that Max will learn some valuable
lessons. These lessons will help him to come to terms with his anger and emotional
issues. He orders the ‘wild things’ to create rumpus, something that he was denied at
home. So, Max is able to, at least at the level of imagination, challenge the authority
of the mother by doing exactly what he is not allowed to do at home. But he grows
tired of the rumpus very soon. He also starts feeling lonely. He is able to make the
‘wild thing’ obey but he cant make them love him. Though he dislikes his mothers
discipline, he starts missing her love and warmth. Now that he realises that to enjoy
something one needs a little discipline and along with it one needs love, he is ready
for reconciliation with his mother and he is ready to come to terms with his anger as
well. Now the stage is set for his return.
1.3.4 Max, once again, sets sail for home. The wild things try to stop him by saying they
love him too. They also try to scare hin into staying. But his mind is made up. Once
he is ready for reconciliation, the pull of home becomes strong and he starts smelling
the aroma of food coming from far away. He sails for years and days and nights and
reaches home. He wakes up and finds warm food waiting for him. The fact that the
food is warm suggests two things; a) that he wasn’t asleep for very long, and b) that
his mother loves him. The cycle is now complete and the story ends on a happy note.
The angry and unhappy Max of the beginning is transformed at the end.
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1. What are the three parts in the story?
2. Describe Max`s first meeting with the ‘wild things’?
3. What is the role reversal that happens in the forest?
4. Do you think the story has a satisfactory resolution at the end?
1.4 SUMMING UP
Lets go over the lesson once again and see what we have learnt so far;
I. Picture books play a very important role in the development of children. They teach
values through stories.
II. They help children in developing comprehension skills ,develop a story sense,
understand causal sequence, understand age appropriate issues and possible conflict
resolution ideas. The illustrations in the book help in understanding complex ideas.
III. This story, “Where the Wild Things Are” is a story about Max who is punished by his
mother for creating mischief. He learns how to come to terms with his anger and other
emotional issues through an imaginary journey to a far away forest where ‘wild
things’live.
IV. The story has a fairy tale structure and has important lessons about the need for
discipline and the importance of love in our lives. It also tells us that we can resolve
our conflicts and our problems through our imagination and stories.
1.5 GLOSSARY
Adequate:satisfactory or acceptable in Lessons:a period of learning or teaching.

quality or quantity Modified:make partial or minor changes to
Aroma:a distinctive, typically pleasant smell. (something).
Causal:relating to or acting as a cause Peer group:a group of people of
Complex:consisting of many different and approximately the same age, status, and
interests.
connected parts
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Comprehension:the ability to understand Quest:a long or arduous search for

something. something.
Context:the circumstances that form the Reconciliation:the restoration of friendly
setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in relations.
terms of which it can be fully understood Rumpus:a noisy disturbance
Descent:the origin or background of a person Scary:frightening; causing fear.
in terms of family or nationality
Tame:domesticate (an animal).
Dimensions:an aspect or feature of a
situation. Text:a book or other written or printed work
Emphasis:stress given to a word or words Unravel:investigate and solve or explain

when speaking to indicate particular Values:principles or standards of behaviour;
importance. one’s judgement of what is important in life.
Gnash:grind (one’s teeth) together as a sign Voracious:wanting or devouring great
of anger quantities of food.
Illustrator:a person who draws or creates Wicked:evil or morally wrong.
pictures for magazines, books, advertising,
Wily:skilled at gaining an advantage,
etc.
especially deceitfully.
Instil:gradually but firmly establish (an idea
or attitude) in a person’s mind.
Interactive:(of two people or things)
influencing each other.
Invade:(of an armed force) enter (a country
or region) so as to subjugate or occupy it.
2. RIGHT TO INFORMATION
2.1 Right To Information (RTI) is an act of the Parliament of India promulgated in the
year 2005.Any person who is a citizen of India can seek information from a public authority
(a body of Government or instrumentality of State) by filing an application under this act.
Requested information should be specific and clearly defined.
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2.2 Write an RTI to MCD of your area asking for information on the funds provided under
various heads to the school in your area for the financial year 2018-19. (See the sample given
below)
To
The Public Information Officer
MCD Karol Bagh
Delhi
PIN: 110005
Sir,
Subject: Request for Information under Right to Information Act 2005.
I , Ms. Bharti, Daughter of Shri Satish verma, resident of Karol Bagh, Delhi, mobile
no. 6666777754, wish to seek information as under:
1. What is the amount of funds granted to the MCD School located at Tank Road,
Prasad Nagar, Karol Bagh, under various heads for the Financial year 2018-19?
2. How much of the fund allocated under Mid-Day meal scheme was spent?
I hereby inform that following formalities have been completed by me:
1. That I have deposited the requisite fee of Rs. 10/- by way of (Cash/ Draft / Postal
Order/ others) favoring MCD Karol Bagh dated 30/01/2020.
Yours sincerely,
Signature
Name: Bharti
Postal Address:
House No. 128
Gali no. 13
Prasad Nagar
Karol Bagh
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3. FIRST INFORMATION REPORT (FIR)
FIR is the first information recorded by a police officer on duty about any offence or crime.
The person filing the FIR is expected to mention the date, time, basic facts and details of the
offence and also the accused (if known). This is the first step in all civil and criminal
prosecutions.
An FIR must include the following items:
Police Station…………….
District .........................
1. Personal details of the Complainant :
(a) Name
(b) Father’s / Husband’s Name
(c) Address
(d) Phone number
2. Place of Occurrence:
(a) Distance from the police station
(b) Direction from the police station
3. Date and Hour of Occurrence:
4. Offence:
a) Nature of the offence (e.g. murder, theft, rape, etc.)
b) Particulars of the property (in case one has got stolen):
5. Description of the accused:
6. Details of witnesses (if any)
7. Complaint: Briefly lay down the facts regarding the incident reported in an accurate
way.
Note: You should make 2 copies of the Application.(1 copy for police station record, 1 copy
for your own record)
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3.1 Your purse has been snatched when walking to the market in your locality. File an FIR
at the local police station.
(Use the format given below)
Sample FIR
Applicant’s Name
Father’s/Husband’s Name
Contact address
Contact number
Date…………
To,
The Police Officer In charge
Address (Name of Local Police station)
Sub. : (mention subject e.g. your lost document/phone name and Number)
Respected Sir,
I would like to bring the following facts to your kind notice:
(Include details, 1-7 as given in 7.2 above)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………..………………………………………..………
………………………………..………………………………………..………………
I seek your help and request you to kindly register my F.I.R in the subject matter.
For your ready reference I enclose herewith (a) Copy of my I.D. proof.
Hope you will do the needful favourably at the earliest.
Thanks and regards

Yours Sincerely
____________ (Signature)
____________ ( Name)
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4. CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT ABOUT

CUTTING OF TREES
4.1 Interests of the consumers are protected by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which
replaced the erstwhile Consumer Protection Act, 1986. A consumer can file a complaint on
the following grounds:
• Sale of defective goods or deficiency of services provided to the consumer
• Charging excess prices for the goods or services
• If the merchant adopts unfair trade practices
4.2 Where can a consumer complaint be filed?
The Consumer Protection Act provides that depending on the amount of dispute, a case can
be filed before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (upto₹50 lakhs), State
Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (₹50 lakhs to ₹2 crores) and National Consumer
Disputes Redressal Commission (more than ₹2 crores).
4.3 How to file a consumer complaint?
i. The aggrieved person may send a notice to the merchant or the service provider
informing them of the defective good or deficient service provided by them. A notice
can also be used to settle the dispute before approaching the consumer commissions.
ii. If the dispute is not capable of resolution, draft the complaint. Unlike other court
pleadings, a consumer complaint can be drafted even without a lawyer.
iii. The following information should be specified in the consumer complaint:
a. Details of the parties such as name, age, and contact details
b. Reason for filing the complaint (also called cause of action)
c. Date, time, and location where the good or service was purchased.
d. The relief prayed for by the affected party.
iv. Attach relevant documents such as bills, payment receipts, evidence regarding the
defective goods etc.
v. Once the complaint is prepared, determine which consumer commission to approach
depending on the amount of money involved.
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vi. Alternatively, a consumer complaint can also be filed online at

https://consumerhelpline.gov.in/ by registering on the website and submitting the
form as per the website’s instructions.
4.4 FORMAT OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT

[Compliant under Section – 47, Consumer Protection Act 2019]
OR
BEFORE THE HON’BLE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL
COMMISSION, [STATE]
[Compliant under Section – 35, Consumer Protection Act 2019]
Details of the Complainant
A. Full name:
B. Full Address:
C. Mobile No:
D. E-Mail:
If there is more than one complainant, then provide information of all complainants for Sr.
No. (A to D) above.
V/s.
Details of the respondent
A. Full Name:
B. Full Address:
C. Phone /Mobile No.:
D. E-Mail Address:
If there is more than one respondent, then provide information for all Sr. No. (A to D) above.
I/We, the complainant(s) humbly request the Hon’ble State Commission/District Commission
that,
1. Submit all the details of the Complaint i.e. how; when and where the cause of action
arised (The events that took place should be mentioned in chronological order, with
the details of documents.)
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A. If the complaint is regarding the defect of goods /Items, or about the deficiency of
service then provide details of deficiency/ type of services and date/year of
purchase of goods/ service received.
B. Details of the items/goods (provide information about defect/supplying of less
quantity of goods/items.)
C. Details of amount paid (The Xerox copies of Bill, Voucher, receipt, etc. be
attached)
D. If any guarantee/ warranty is there, then provide the detailed information with
Xerox copy.
2. If the complaint is about to Unfair Trade Practice –
A. Show the type of unfair trade practice
B. Details of the damage suffered by the complainant. (Attach the Xerox copy of the
bill/voucher/receipt etc.)
3. State the details of the complainant’s efforts to resolve his compliant with the
opponent.
A. Verbal effort
B. Written correspondence/notice
C. For E-Commerce related matter, Token number given by the E- commerce
platform.
D. What was the result of the efforts for solution? Provide documentary evidence.
4. The District/State Commission has the power to file complaint, because of,
A. Cause of action/residence of the complainant/place of business of the other side-
opponent/residence is under the jurisdiction of the District/State Commission.
B. The claim amount is up to 1 Crore/ more than Rs. 1 Crore and up to Rs. 10 Crore.
(Strike out whichever is not applicable)
5. Statement of the complainant that he/she has not filed any complaint in any other
Court/Tribunal/Commission regarding this complaint. And if filed, what was the
result? If the documentary evidence is there, state the details.
6. Any other details that consumer want to submit.
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7. This complaint is filed within the limitation under Section 69 of Consumer Protection
Act, 2019.
OR
• As appeal is time barred, the Delay Condonation application for delay of _______
days is attached with this application. (Strike out whichever is not applicable).
8. Prayer of the Complainant: If the complainant wants to get one of the following or
any other prayer, then mention it.
A. To get the refund of the price or charges paid.
B. To replace the goods with new goods.
C. To remove the defects in goods.
D. To get compensation for deficiency in service/negligence of the opponent.
E. To get the amount for mental torture and cost of complaint.
F. To get the unpaid/less paid insurance claim amount with interest thereon.
G. Details of other prayer, if any.
(If there is case of complainant to get compensation then provide the calculation
regarding the compensation sought for)
9. Details of fees paid at the time of filing the complaint
Claim amount Rs.
Demand Draft No.
RTGS/NEFT
Fees Rs.
Date
10. If the complaint is to be lodged through an authorized Representative/ Advocate/ A
voluntary Consumer Association registered under law then provide following details.
Name:
Full Address (with PIN code Number):
Mobile No.: E-Mail:
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11. I _________, hereby declare that the, above mentioned information is true and correct
to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Place: Sign of Complainant:
Encl.
1. Proof of amount deposited.
2. List of documentary evidences.
3. Vakalatnama if Advocate is engaged.
4.5 COMPLAINT ABOUT CUTTING OF TREES

• As per the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 and Guidelines for Pruning of Trees,
2019, trimming or cutting of trees in Delhi can only be done after obtaining permission
from the Delhi Forest Department.
• If someone comes across pruning or cutting of trees, they can ask the persons cutting the
trees to show if they have a copy of the requisite permission. Note that a permission for
pruning of trees is only valid for 30 days.
• If the persons cutting tree do not have a valid permission or the permission has expired,
the person so concerned may either approach the police (by calling 100) or the forest
authorities (by calling 2337 8600).
• If the issue is not resolved and trees continue to be cut/pruned, the concerned person may
also approach the National Green Tribunal seeking effective relief and remedy.
• Alternatively, if you desire to get trees cut on your own property or on public property
which may be causing nuisance to you, you can do so by filing a complaint with the
Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
• Upon visiting the link, clicking on the option to ‘Submit Complaint’, the following
window will appear:
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• Please enter the relevant information in the above link along the parameters as displayed
in the screenshot.
• In the section titled ‘complaint subject’, you may enter the following:
o Insert your particulars
o Describe the grievance faces by you due to the unchecked growth/tree etc. This
could include reasons such as overgrown trees, rotten trees, etc.
o Please describe the solutions that you expect
o Mention your contact details
Exercises:
• Active and Passive Voice ( From- Wren and Martin English Grammar and
Composition)
Active Voice – A verb is in the Active Voice when its form shows (as in sentence 1) that the
person or thing denoted by the Subject does something; or, in other words, is the doer of the
action.
The Active Voice is so called because the person denoted by the Subject acts.
Passive Voice- A Verb is in the Passive Voice when its form shows (as in sentence 2) that
something is done to the person or thing denoted by the Subject.
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The Passive Voice is so called because the person or thing denoted by the Subject is not
active but passive, that is, suffers or receives some action.
Note the change from the Active Voice to the Passive Voice in the following sentences:–
Active Voice Passive Voice
1. Sita loves Savitri. 1. Savitri is loved by Sita.
2. The mason is building the wall. 2. The wall is being built by the mason.
3. The Peon opened the gate. 3. The gate was opened by the peon.
4. Some boys were helping the 4. The wounded man was being helped by
wounded man. some boys.
5. He will finish the work in a 5. The work will be finished by him in a
fortnight. fortnight.
6. Who did this? 6. By whom was this done?
7. Why did your brother write such a 7. Why was such a letter written by your
letter? brother?
It will be noticed that when the Verb is changed from the Active Voice to the Passive Voice,
the Object of the Transitive Verb in the Active Voice becomes the Subject of the Verb in the
Passive Voice.
[Thus in sentence 1, Savitri which is the object of loves in the Active Voice, becomes the
Subject of is loved in the Passive Voice.]
Since the Object of a verb in the active voice becomes the Subject of the passive form, it
follows that only Transitive Verbs can be used in the Passive Voice, because an Intransitive
Verb has no Object.
196. The passive voice is formed with the suitable tense of the verb be followed by the
past participle. Study this table:
Tense (or Modal + base) Active Voice Passive Voice

Sample present take am taken
takes are taken
Present continuous am takking Am being taken
is taking is being taken
are taking are being taken
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Present perfect has taken has been taken

have taken have been taken
Simple past took was taken
were taken
Past continuous was taking was being taken
were taking were being taken
Past perfect had taken had been taken
Simple future will take will be taken
shall take shall be taken
Can/may/ must, etc. + base can take can be taken
must take must be taken
My pen has been stolen. (Somebody has stolen my pen.)

I was asked my name. (They asked me my name.)
English is spoken all over the world. (People speak English all over the world.)
I have been invited to the party. (Someone has invited me to the party.)
We will execute all orders promptly. (All orders will be executed promptly.)
In such cases the agent with by is usually avoided.
Note, however, that, as in the examples given earlier, the by-phrase cannot be avoided
where the agent has some importance and is necessary to complete the sense.
Activity: Write sentences with the Verbs in the Active Voice, and rewrite them with the
Verbs in the Passive Voice. You can use any standard book on Grammar for the same.
• Idioms (From- Wren and Martin English Grammar and Composition)
Idioms may be defined as expressions peculiar to a language. They play an important part in
all languages. Examples:
At least on the question of child-marriage we are at one (of the same opinion).
It was he who put a spoke in my wheel (thwarted me in the execution of my design).
There’s no love lost between them (i.e., they are not on good terms, they dislike each
other).
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He is accused of sitting on the fence (halting between two opinions, hesitating which side
to join).
You have hit the nail on the head (said or done exactly the right thing).
Today he is in high spirits (cheerful, joyful).
How is that? You seem out of spirits (gloomy, sad).
He is not a great lawyer but he has the gift of the gab (a talent for speaking).
• Formal Letter Format:
Return Address (Line 1)
Return Address (Line 2)
Date : (Month/Day/Year).
Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr. (Full name of the recipient)
Title/Position of the Recipient.
Company Name
Address (Line 1).
Address (Line 2).
Dear Ms./Mr./Mrs. (Last Name);
Subject:
Main Text (Paragraph 1) ………………….………………………………………
…………...…………………………………………………………...........................
.......…...………………………………………………………………………………
Main Text (Paragraph 2)……………………......……………………………….......
………………………………...………………………………………………….......
.......…...………………………………………………………………………………
Closing (Yours sincerely),
Signature
Your Name
Your Title
Encl:
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References:
Sendak, Maurice. Where Wild Things Are. Harper Collins Publishers, 1963.
Wren and Martin. High School English Grammar and Composition. S.Chand and Company,
2004.
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Unit-2
INTERFACE WITH TECHNOLOGY
5. BREAKDOWN AND REVIEW OF ‘WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE’
Elizabeth Kennedy
Nalini Prabhakar
After reading this unit you will be able to:

• Identify a review as a specific kind of writing
• Understand the various features of a review
• Be able to write a small review on your own
5.2 INTRODUCTION
In the previous unit we have tried to understand and analyse WHERE THE WILD THINGS
ARE, a picture book meant for children. A review of the book by Elizabeth Kennedy is
prescribed for your study, to enable you to understand what goes into writing a good review.
Reviews of books and movies are a regular feature in most of the newspapers. Good reviews
help readers to decide whether they should read/watch, the book/movie under consideration.
Important features of a review:
• Information about the author and publication details.
• A brief summary of the book
• A critical evaluation of the book
• Assessment of the book- whether it is interesting, different, boring etc giving reasons
for the same.
5.3 READ THE REVIEW GIVEN BELOW

BREAKDOWN AND REVIEW OF ‘WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE’
Elizabeth Kennedy
“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak has become a classic. Winner of the
1964 Caldecott Medal as the “Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year,” it was first
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published by HarperCollins in 1963. When Sendak wrote the book, the theme of dealing with
dark emotions was rare in children’s literature, especially in picture book format.
Story Summary
After more than 50 years, what keeps the book popular is not the impact of the book on the
field of children’s literature, it is the impact of the story and the illustrations on young
readers. The plot of the book is based on the fantasy (and real) consequences of a little boy’s
mischief.
One night Max dresses up in his wolf suit and does all kinds of things he shouldn’t,
like chasing the dog with a fork. His mother scolds him and calls him a “WILD THING!”
Max is so mad he shouts back, “I’LL EAT YOU UP!” As a result, his mother sends him to
his bedroom without any supper.
Max’s imagination transforms his bedroom into an extraordinary setting, with a forest
and an ocean and a little boat that Max sails in until he comes to a land full of “wild things.”
Although they look and sound very fierce, Max is able to tame them with a single glance.
They all realize Max is “...the most wild thing of all” and make him their king. Max
and the wild things have a fine time creating a rumpus until Max begins to want to be
“…where someone loved him best of all.” Max’s fantasy ends when he smells his dinner.
Despite the wild things’ protests, Max sails back to his own room where he finds his supper
waiting for him.
The Book’s Appeal
This is a particularly appealing story because Max is in conflict with both his mother and his
own anger. Despite the fact that he is still angry when he is sent to his room, Max does not
continue his mischief. Instead, he gives free rein to his angry emotions through his fantasy,
and then, comes to a decision that he will no longer let his anger separate him from those
whom he loves and who love him.
Max is an engaging character. His actions, from chasing the dog to talking back to his
mother are realistic. His emotions are also realistic. It’s quite common for children to get
angry and fantasize about what they could do if they ruled the world and then calm down and
consider the consequences. Max is a child with whom most 3- to 6-year-olds readily identify.
Summing Up the Impact of the Book
“Where the Wild Things Are” is an excellent book. What makes it so extraordinary is the
creative imagination of both Maurice Sendak the writer and Maurice Sendak the artist. The
text and the artwork complement one another, moving the story along seamlessly.
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The transformation of Max’s bedroom into a forest is a visual delight. Sendak’s colored pen
and ink illustrations in muted colors are both humorous and sometimes a little scary,
reflecting both Max’s imagination and his anger. The theme, conflict, and characters are ones
with which readers of all ages can identify, and is a book that children will enjoy hearing
again and again.
Publisher: HarperCollins, ISBN: 0060254920
(Kennedy, Elizabeth. “Breakdown and Review of ‘Where the Wild Things Are’.”
ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/where-the-wild-things-are-maurice-sendak-
626391).
5.4. The first part of the review introduces you to the author and the book. The second part
gives you a brief summary of the story. The third part discusses why children find this book
appealing. The fourth part tells you what makes the book extra-ordinary, and why everyone
should read it, children and adults alike.
Check your progress:
1. Based on your reading of the story in unit-1, and its review in this unit, write a short
review of your own.
2. Write a review of any other book that you have read recently.
5.4 CREATING A SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE
‘Social media’ can broadly be defined as a combination of technologies that allows people /
users to interact and create/share ideas, comments, and exchange information and content
with each other. Popular social media services are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr,
LinkedIn etc. However, due to an ever increasing number of social media services, products,
websites, and applications, pinning down an accurate definition of ‘social media’ is difficult.
Generally, the following elements are common across all platforms:
• The social media services can be accessed through the internet on computers or
mobile applications.
• Users can create their own profiles / virtual identities on the respective social media
platforms.
• They can share content generated by them or other users and form networks /
associations with like-minded individuals / users.
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While the exact steps differ from one platform / service to another, the following particulars
need to be kept in mind:
1. Choose a username / handle by which you will be identified on the platform
a. This may be your given name, nickname, or any alias
b. Other users on the platform will be able to search and interact with your
profile by looking up the username chosen by you
c. Some social media platforms do not provide an option to change your
username after you have created the profile. Keep an eye out for such policies
and choose your username carefully.
2. Choose a profile photo:
a. A profile photo is an image which will appear next to your name on the
platform
b. This photo will allow other users to identify your profile with you
c. Most platforms allow you to periodically change your profile photo. This will
allow you to cycle through different photographs.
d. You can choose to put your own photograph as a profile picture, or a group
photograph with your loved ones, or any other image which you want to
showcase in your profile.
3. Information about yourself / bio:
a. It is often the next step after choosing your profile name and profile picture.
b. A bio is a short paragraph about you and it allows other users to understand
you better
c. Most platforms (such as Twitter and Instagram) specify a character limit for
the bio which can make the process a little tricky but it also allows the users to
be more creative and imaginative in writing a bio.
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6. Angels and Demons

Dan Brown
Aisha Qadry
6.1 INTRODUCTION
Angels and Demons is a bestselling novel written by Dan Brown. Published in 2000, the
novel marks the literary debut of the celebrated character of Robert Langdon, professor of
history of art and symbology at Harvard University. The book is followed by equally
successful installments in the Robert Langdon series: The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost
Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013), and Origin (2017). In Angels and Demons, we follow Robert
Langdon as he investigates the plot laid by the ancient society of the Illuminati to overthrow
the Papal Enclave’s events, exact revenge on the Church, and destroy the Vatican City.
Langdon finds his intellectual companion in physicist Vittoria Vetra, who has worked on the
discovery of the powerfully destructive substance called antimatter. They come together to
solve the mystery of the resurgence of an ancient cult and discover the ancient trail laid down
by Galileo Galilei, the Path of Illumination. Themes of religion, science, and faith are
prominently discussed in Angels and Demons.
The book was adapted into a movie in 2009, with superstar Tom Hanks starring in the
role of Robert Langdon. Hanks is joined by stalwarts like Ewan McGregor and Israeli actress
Ayelet Zurer in roles of Camerlengo and Vittoria Vetra.

After going through this unit you will be able to:
● Summarize the novel Angels and Demons
● Highlight the key differences between the text and the movie
● Understand how a book review is written
● Understand how a movie review is written
6.3 SUMMARY OF ANGELS AND DEMONS

The novel begins with a thrilling premise: a physician has been found murdered and a
canister of antimatter has been stolen at the fortified research institute, CERN, home to the
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world’s largest hadron collider. The stolen canister, if not recovered, will explode when the
canister’s battery runs out in 24 hours, causing the deaths of thousands around it.
Maximilian Kohler, a discrete particle physicist, contacts Robert Langdon, a
symbolist and art history expert and professor at Harvard University, in the early hours of the
morning. A disgruntled Langdon dismisses Kohler’s pleas as those of a crazed religious
zealot, going back to sleep, unaware of the urgency and bizarre situation that awaits him in
the morning. The next day, as the professor comfortably sits in his study, he is alerted by the
ringing of the fax machine. Langdon’s confusion as to who is trying to reach him, soon
transforms into an uncomfortable puzzlement on receiving the fax, as his eyes register the
photograph of a naked corpse, with its head turned completely backward, branded with an
ambigram of the word Illuminati— a word that leaves him completely befuddled. The fax is
followed by a ringing phone, which is picked up with trembling hands as Langdon hears the
now familiar voice. This time Kohler fills Langdon with the details of the gruesome murder
at his centre, requesting the professor’s presence and experience with symbolism in the grave
matter to which he resignedly agrees. In the meantime, we are told that a stolen canister has
reached its intended destination, as Langdon anxiously boards a plane to Geneva,
Switzerland.
When Robert Langdon arrives in Switzerland, CERN’s director general, Maximilian
Kohler, welcomes him, gives him a tour of the organization, and finally introduces him to
physicist Leonardo Vetra, who now lies murdered, and branded, in his dining room. Kohler
and Langdon enter the room which has now become an icy-cold chamber because of the
Freon cooling systems used to preserve the dead body. There, quivering with chill, Langdon
explains the significance of the brand on Vetra’s chest. He throws light on the origins of the
Illuminati: in 1500, a group of men in Rome opposed the ideals of the Church. These young
men were physicians, mathematicians, and astronomers who gathered in clandestine meetings
to voice their disapproval of the scientific inaccuracies advanced by the Catholic Church. The
men believed that the Church’s position of authority put truth at risk; as a result, they
recognized the need to establish “the world’s first scientific think tank” in order to set things
straight. But eventually, they were relentlessly pursued and prosecuted. Galileo Galilei, their
valued member, accused of being a heretic was put under house arrest. Following that, four
Illuminati members were apprehended and branded alive with the symbol of a cross on their
chests. Later, they were executed, and as a warning to those who wanted to join the
Illuminati, their bodies were disposed of all across the state of Rome. The group disbanded,
gaining new members, adopting a revolutionary stance, and making a promise to rise once
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more to exact revenge on the Catholic Church. Langdon ends by telling Kohler that Mr. Vetra
has been branded by “the world’s oldest and most powerful satanic cult.”
The late physicist’s adopted daughter, Ms. Vittoria Vetra, arrives home from her
research trip. She is aghast to learn that Kohler hasn’t informed anyone at CERN about her
father’s murder. The director explains the complex situation at hand and invites her to join
him and Langdon in their quest for answers. Soon, we learn that the physicist father and
daughter duo were working on a covert scientific project. While Vittoria continues to educate
Langdon of the huge Hadron Collider at CERN, a security detail is alerted when a
surveillance camera in the Vatican transmits a strange picture of a canister flickering in the
dark.
Vittoria shares that she and her father were working on creating antimatter, a powerful
form of matter. Soon, Ms. Vetra learns that in addition to her father’s murder the canister
holding a full quarter of a gram of antimatter, that has almost five kilotons of energy,
sufficient to annihilate everything within a half-mile radius has now been stolen from their
lab. Kohler ruefully informs Vittoria that her father was not just murdered, but killed by a
satanic sect, which furthers Vittoria’s frustration. In the meantime, Kohler receives a
troubling call from Vatican City. As Kohler has to be taken under care due to his failing
health, he sends Langdon and Vittoria to the Leonardo Da Vinci airport, believing that the
stolen canister of anti-matter might be in Vatican City.
Check Your Progress

1. What prompted Robert Langdon to travel to Geneva, Switzerland?
2. Elaborate on the organization that referred to it as “the world’s first scientific
think tank”.
3. What were Leonardo and Vittoria Vetra working on?
When Vittoria and Langdon arrive in Vatican City, they are met by thousands of devotees
waiting outside the Vatican to witness the election of the new pope. Inside the Vatican, the
papal conclave is underway, and Cardinals from around the world have assembled to be a
part of this significant occasion. Cardinal Saverio Mortati, the senior cardinal in charge of the
conclave, wants it to be done as soon as possible, but he is troubled by the fact that the four
cardinals—the Perfetti, or “chosen four”—are missing. He soon discovers that the other
cardinals have also started to notice the preferiti’s disappearance, which further adds to his
discomfort.
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Vittoria and Langdon receive a stern response and a reluctant welcome from the
Swiss Guards. They decline the opportunity to assist them in the search for the stolen canister
and in making any attempts to comprehend the magnitude of the problem because of the
ongoing papal conclave. The commandant of the Swiss Guard, Signore Olivetti, ignores their
requests to meet the Camerlengo, Carlo Ventresca, who is currently serving as the chief
executive office during the ongoing conclave. However, with Vittoria’s quick-thinking they
are finally able to meet the Camerlengo and apprise him of the situation. While Robert and
Vittoria are strategizing the situation with the Camerlengo at his office, they receive a call
from the assassin who introduces himself as the “messenger of an ancient brotherhood”. He
informs them that the Illuminati have been patiently waiting for an opportunity to destroy the
Catholic city for nearly 400 years. Starting at eight, he declares, each of the chosen four will
be executed in front of the entire city in churches across Rome.
Langdon, with the permission and help of Camerlengo Ventresca, rushes towards the
Secret Vatican Archives in search of the ancient trail of the Path of Illumination. Aside from
that, the narrative establishes Camerlengo’s tragic upbringing of joining the church after
losing both his parents. We are told that a young Camerlengo enlisted in the army to learn
about evil, and although being upset by the bombing and the loss of life, he enjoyed being a
pilot.
After going over numerous ancient artifacts in the archives, Langdon and Vittoria
finally find a clue in Galileo’s Diagramma— a footnote, The path of light is laid, the sacred
test.
The next clue is Miltonic poem that will direct them to their first location on the Path
to Illumination:
From Santi’s earthly tomb with demon’s hole,
‘Cross Rome the mystic elements unfold.
The path of light is laid, the sacred test,
Let angels guide you on your lofty quest.
As Langdon reads the poem, he believes that the first church on the path is the Pantheon, but
on reaching there, he realizes that he has misinterpreted the poem, because the first church is
Chigi Chapel in the church Santa Maria del Popolo. The Chigi Chapel, also known as Capella
della Terra, translates to Chapel of the Earth. Costing the team valuable time, Langdon,
Vittoria, and the security team reach the chapel, to find the cardinal, Cardinal Ebner dead,
suffocated with dirt, and brandished by the symbol, Earth. Unable to save the first cardinal,
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they quickly get on to solving the next clue. In the meantime, the papal conclave votes for the
first time, and as no consensus is reached because every cardinal votes for himself, the first
round is declared to be unsuccessful.
After determining the location of the next church on the Path to Illumination,
Langdon, Vittoria, and the security team proceed to Bernini’s West Ponente, an elliptical
block in St. Peter’s Square. There amidst the crowd, they meet the second cardinal, Cardinal
Lamassé who is branded with the word Air. Langdon and Vittoria attempts to save the
cardinal are rendered futile as they soon find out that the assassin has punctured both his
lungs. While trying to save the cardinal, Langdon notices that they are being followed by a
woman with a camera. The woman, Chinita Macri from the BBC, a colleague of Gunther
Glick, is aware that she might have struck media gold after filming Cardinal Lamassé’s
unfortunate passing in St. Peter’s Square.
Back in the office of the Pope, Langdon, Vittoria, and the Swiss Guard sit together,
assessing the worsening situation. Camerlengo, who now seems more agitated than before, is
briefed about the cardinals’ deaths. As we read that Langdon is escorted back to the archives
to find the next clue, Vittoria on the other hand is asked to stay in the office by the
commander. The party in Camerlengo’s office seems distraught after learning that the
murders of the cardinal have become international news. The Camerlengo decides to address
the people, but his idea is thwarted by Olivetti on account that it will only validate the
existence of the Illuminati. The Camerlengo, not paying heed to Olivetti’s reproach, also
suggests that the College of Cardinals has to be evacuated. The tension in the room is further
heightened by news reports announcing that the Illuminati have taken responsibility for the
death of the late pope. The BBC broadcast that the pope died due to poisoning by a drug
called Heparin rather than a stroke, as the Vatican earlier reported. Angry and shaken,
Camerlengo issues orders to the security to resume the search for the canister, find the next
church, and bring him the BBC reporter, Gunther Glick, who reported the news of the Pope’s
poisoning. In a suspicious turn of events, the Camerlengo requests a few guards and Vittoria
to assist him with some crucial business. In the meantime, another round of voting happens in
the conclave, and again, no consensus is reached.
Later, Camerlengo leads Vittoria to the crypts to examine the veracity of the news of
the poisoning. On their way, Camerlengo reveals to Vittoria that he was a child adopted by
the Pope. The late pope’s tomb is unceremoniously opened and the claim that the pope was in
fact poisoned gets confirmed. Meanwhile, in the archives, Langdon tirelessly works out the
clues to the next church, but as he prepares to leave, he finds himself trapped inside the
archives as the power shuts down suspiciously. After a harrowing period of time, Langdon is
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able to escape the archives in time to save his life. He right away gets on the walkie-talkie to
inform Vittoria that someone has tried to murder him, but Olivetti orders him to keep quiet
instead of giving him an assurance from the Camerlengo.
Olivetti, accompanies Langdon and Vittoria to the next church, when Vittoria gets a
call from Kohler telling her that her father, Leonardo Vetra did in fact tell someone about
antimatter. In the next church of illumination, Santa Maria della Vittoria, they are welcomed
by the grotesque sight of the naked, old cardinal Guidera, branded on the chest, mounted on
cables above a fire that is slowly burning from below. As the cardinal looks at them for help,
Langdon rushes to save him. Vittoria, on the other hand, finds Commander Olivetti dead, and
the killer abducts her. Langdon’s valiant attempts to save the Cardinal prove unsuccessful.
In order to make his announcement to the cardinals, the Camerlengo breaks into the
papal conclave. Much to the shock of Mortati, the Camerlengo accompanied by two news
reporters addresses the world in a moving monologue on the tussle between science and
religion. At the end of his announcement, he invites everyone to pray with him. As a result,
he wins people’s hearts and becomes a heroic figure.
Once rescued from the fire at Santa Maria della Vittoria, Langdon locates the final
piece of the puzzle: the Fountain of the Four Rivers, St. Agnes in Agony. As Langdon waits
by the fountain, he and the assassin engage in combat, leaving the assassin hurt and the
cardinal dead. After the assassin has left, Langdon, who pretended to drown himself, returns,
and resumes his search for Vittoria and the assassin by going to the Illuminati lair, Castel
Sant’Angelo. He is just in time to save Vittoria from being dishonoured. Although the
assassin and Langdon engage in one final battle that results in the assassin’s demise, Langdon
finds that there is still one more branding to take place, and perhaps another death.
Check Your Progress

think tank”.
Maximilian Kohler arrives in Rome to meet with the Caremenglo. Vittoria and Robert race
towards the Vatican, convinced that Kohler has arrived to assassinate the Camerlengo. They
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reach in time to find Kohler standing with a gun in hand and Camerlengo lying down on the
ground with a brand on his chest. The security guard opens fire on Kohler at that very
moment. As Langdon recollects himself, a dying Kohler gives him a camcorder. Later in the
night, a frenzied Camerlengo beseeches the heavens to send help, in front of all the news
cameras that he knows the precise location of the anti-matter. In a dramatic turn of events, the
cameras follow the Camerlengo to find the canister to be quietly resting in the Necropolis,
below Saint Peter’s Basilica. Langdon and Camerlengo take the canister of antimatter with
them as they fly in the chopper, and soon Langdon realizes that it might be a one-way ride.
At twelve o’clock, as the bells chime, people in the Vatican witness an inexplicable
explosion in the sky, but they all fall on their knees in prayer at the martyred men, Langdon
and Camerlengo. In a moment of illusionary surprise, the crowd notices that their
Camerlengo is standing in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. Robert Langdon finds himself in the
hospital with the last copy of Galileo’s Diagramma destroyed and a broken camcorder. As an
injured Langdon distractedly listens to the recording on the camcorder, he is completely taken
aback by what he hears. He hoists himself from the gurney and asks the doctors to be
escorted to the Vatican.
At the Vatican, he finds a glum Vittoria, thinking he is dead. After a passionate
embrace, Langdon takes Vittoria to the College of Cardinals, where the assembly is waiting
for Camerlengo’s arrival after his brave, albeit mystical, feat. Langdon plays the video of the
Camerlengo confessing to the murder of Leonardo Vetra and conspiring against him and the
Vatican. The shocked cardinals watch in horror as the Camerlengo brands himself with the
final Illuminati diamond: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
Unaware of the video, Camerlengo’s confidence and spirit waned as he could not see
the validation he imagined in the eyes of the Cardinals. In a final turn of events, Moriatti
reveals himself to be the Devil’s Advocate and therefore privy to the knowledge of the late
son fathering a child, the Camerlengo himself, with the help of science—through artificial
insemination. This leaves everyone in the room and Camerlengo in shock. Later that night,
the Camerlengo reappears in St. Peter’s Basilica, but this time he has to immolate himself and
transcend a world of his own sins in front of the same cameras that viewed him as a martyr
and a saviour. Mortati encases Camerlengo’s ashes in a golden urn and lays them in the late
Pope’s sarcophagus, declaring: “There is no love greater than that of a father for his son.”
As the narrative draws to a close we see Vittoria and Langdon getting together for a
romantic night.
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Check Your Progress

think tank”.
6.4 GLOSSARY
anagram: a word or phrase that can be formed by rearranging the letters.

ambigram: a word or image that keeps its meaning when viewed from a different angle.
antimatter: antimatter is a substance made up of subatomic particles that resemble the
electrons, protons, and neutrons found in the regular matter in terms of mass, electric charge,
and magnetic moment but have the opposite signs for all three properties.
Camerlengo: the Holy Roman Church’s cardinal who holds the specialized roles of
administrator and treasurer during the interim period between the death of one pope and the
selection of his successor.
CERN: Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire or European Council for Nuclear
Research. Located in Geneva and established in 1954, CERN is a top-tier facility for particle
physics. In addition to being the birthplace of the World Wide Web, it is home to the Large
Hadron Collider.
Devil’s advocate: in the Roman Catholic context, a devil’s advocate is a person who
examines the life of a candidate who is proposed to be beatified or canonized.
Galileo Galilei: Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de’ Galilei, frequently referred to as a
polymath, was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer who lived from February 15,
1564, to January 8, 1642. Galileo’s endorsement of Copernican heliocentrism—the idea that
besides revolving around the sun annually, Earth rotates on its own axis daily—was heavily
condemned by the Catholic Church. The Roman Inquisition probed into the issue in 1615 and
came to the conclusion that heliocentrism was wrong, ridiculous, and heretical as it went
against Holy Scripture, which preached that the sun revolves around the Earth.
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Large Hadron Collider (LHC): The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and
most powerful particle accelerator. Located at CERN, the LHC is a 27-kilometre ring of
superconducting magnets.
illuminati: a term used in the 15th century that has been used to refer to secret groups of
people who assert themselves to be enlightened.
preferiti: the select few considered to succeed the Pope in case of his death.
particle physicists: scientists who investigate the fundamental particles and interactions that
make up the cosmos
Swiss Guards: a regiment of Swiss soldiers in charge of the Pope’s security They are often
referred to as “the world’s smallest army,” and they act as personal escorts to the Pope as
well as watchmen for Vatican City.
Vatican City: the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, Vatican City is a city-state bordered by
Rome, Italy. Home to the Pope, it is famous for its wealth of famous artwork and buildings.
The Vatican conclave: an assembly of the College of Cardinals for the purpose of electing the
Roman bishop, or pope.
6.5 CHARACTERS
Robert Langdon is the novel’s protagonist. An art history professor and a symbologist at
Harvard University, Langdon is also known as “the Dolphin” for his exceptional diving
skills. He suffers from claustrophobia and is famously known to wear a Mickey Mouse
watch, which was a gift to him from his parents.
Vittoria Vetra is a bio-entanglement physicist studying the interconnectedness of
biological systems. Known to be a strict vegetarian, she is also CERN’s Hatha yoga guru.
Leonardo Vetra adopted her around the age of nine from a Catholic orphanage in Florence.
Later, she relocated to CERN with her father. Vittoria collaborated with her father on their
secret research, developing unique storage systems for antimatter inspired by the Portuguese
man-of-war trap fish.
Leonardo Vetra: fashioning himself as a theo-physicist, Vetra tried to bring together
religion and particle physics in his research, thereby creating a new discipline called New
Physics. He worked alongside his adopted daughter, Vittoria, to create antimatter. Leonardo
was found brutally murdered and branded by a member of the secret cult of the Illuminati.
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Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: the antagonist of the novel, is a strikingly handsome priest who
murders the pope, his biological father. He uses the moniker Janus in his interactions with the
assassin.
Cardinal Saverio Mortati is the most senior cardinal who is appointed to oversee the
proceedings of the Vatican conclave. He was also the devil’s advocate for the late pope.
Cardinal Ebner: One of the chosen four, Cardinal Ebner, is from Frankfurt, Germany. He is
killed by suffocation as dirt and soil are shoved into his mouth.
Cardinal Lamassé: One of the chosen four, Cardinal Lamassé, is from Paris, France. He died
due to the punctures in his lung, bleeding to death.
Cardinal Guidera: One of the chosen four, Cardinal Guidera, is from Barcelona, Spain. The
assassin sets him on fire.
Cardinal Baggia: One of the chosen four, Cardinal Baggia from Milan, Italy, was deemed to
be a favourite of many and the next successor to the pope. He dies by drowning.
Gunther Glick and Chinita Macri: are BBC journalists who are contacted by the assassin to
broadcast the news of the killings of the cardinals.
Hassassin: he is a lusty, cold-blooded killer who is hired by Janus (Camerlengo) to carry out
lethal tasks, including the murder of the physicist Leonardo Vetra.
Maximilian Kohler is the CERN director. He is feared at CERN. His wheelchair is equipped
with modern technology, including a computer, phone, pager, video camera, and rifle. To
assist him in locating the killer of his buddy Leonardo Vetra, he approaches Langdon. Since
his deeply religious parents refused to get him medical attention when he was a child, he
accuses the church of causing his disability and turns to science as a method to resist.
6.6 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NOVEL AND FILM
● The character of CERN Director Maximillian Kohler has been completely omitted in
the film.
● We do not see Langdon visiting CERN in the film.
● The character Leonardo Vetra is named Silvano Bentivoglio in the film. He is not
related to Vittoria and is merely shown to be a colleague.
● We don’t see an elaborate death scene or discussion of Leonardo Vetra in the movie.
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● The Italian Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca is changed to Patrick McKenna.

● Commander Olivetti is the leader of the Swiss Guard in the novel, while Captain Elias
Rocher is his second in command, but in the film, Rocher is changed to Richter, who
is shown to be the head of the Swiss Guard.
● In the novel, Vittoria and Langdon secretly remove Galileo’s Diagramma from the
archives, but in the movie, Vittoria tears the page from the book containing the clue.
● The assassin contacts members of the BBC in the novel in order to influence how they
present the account of his operations, but this does not occur in the film.
● Through Silvano Bentivoglio’s journals, Carmenlego and others learn about the
poisoning of the pope, and instead of the drug heparin, in the movie the drug that is
used to poison the pope is tinzaparin.
● In the novel Camerlengo, Carlo Ventresca is revealed to be the late pope’s biological
son, while in the film he is his adoptive son.
● In the movie, the design of the last brand is changed to suit the narrative requirements;
instead of an ambigram of all four elements, it is the inverted papal seal. The seal
becomes the final clue in the movie to reveal the location of the canister.
● In the novel, the assassin abducts Vittoria and plans to ravish her after completing his
tasks, but in the movie, she is seen with Langdon or at the Vatican.
● Unlike in the novel, where Langdon has to find the Illumination lair himself, in the
movie it is Cardinal Baggia who reveals the location to the assassin.
● In the book, all the cardinals die, but in the movie, Cardinal Baggia is saved from
drowning and is elected as the new pope.
● In the book, the assassin dies from falling off the balcony of Castle Sant’Angelo,
whereas in the movie he dies from a car bomb.
● In the book, Langdon gets on the helicopter with the Camerlengo to dispose of the
canister, but in the movie, it is only the Camerlengo who takes the ride.
● In the book’s closing scenes, a Swiss Guard hands Langdon the fifth brand, the
Illuminati diamond, an ambigram of all four elements, as a gift. In the film, the new
Camerlengo gives Galileo’s Diagramma to Langdon, which is to be used for his
research.
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Check Your Progress

1. Who were the preferiti, and how did they die?
2. What distinctions do we notice in Vittoria’s character between the novel and
the film?
3. List some occasions where the film deviates from the book’s narrative.
7.1 BOOK REVIEW
Angels and Demons (2000)

Dan Brown
An absolutely unputdownable book by author Dan Brown, Angels and Demons is the prequel
to the wildly successful hit thriller The Da Vinci Code. In his signature style, Brown
masterfully combines historical facts with fiction, taking us on an eventful journey through
the annals of history with the famed art history professor and symbologist Robert Langdon.
The novel begins with Langdon being summoned by the Vatican City under
suspicious circumstances involving the recent death of the Pope, the inexplicable murder of a
CERN physicist, and the apparent reappearance of a long-thought-extinct society known as
the Illuminati. Camerlengo, the pope’s closest counsellor, summons Robert Langdon, a
Harvard University symbology professor, to the Vatican to assist with the investigation.
Langdon soon discovers that the Illuminati have kidnapped four cardinals and are planning to
execute them one by one, in a gruesome manner, at each of the four altars of the “Path of
Illumination” around Rome.
The novel offers an action-packed narrative as we follow Langdon and scientist
Vittoria Vetri on their journey through Rome and Vatican City. The twists and turns will keep
you hooked, and each page adds just the right amount of excitement to keep you reading until
the end of the book.
The novel is set in the span of 24 hours and takes the reader on a fast-paced, high-
stakes adventure as Langdon, along with Vittoria Vetra, a scientist who worked with the
murdered physicist, races against time to solve the clues left behind by the Illuminati and
save the kidnapped cardinals.
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Dan Brown’s writing is very descriptive, and he does an excellent job of portraying
the Vatican and Rome as a whole. He gives readers a detailed insight into the architecture and
art of the Vatican, along with its rich history and symbolism. His writing also reflects the
research and effort he put into writing the book, as he goes into great detail on topics such as
the Illuminati, antimatter, and the Vatican’s Conclave.
The novel is a well-plotted thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats
until the very end. The pacing is excellent, with the tension and suspense constantly building
as Langdon and Vittoria race against the clock. The characters are also well-developed, with
Langdon being portrayed as a highly intelligent and resourceful protagonist, and Vittoria
being a strong, independent character who holds her own against Langdon. The antagonist,
Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca, will invite your awe as you turn the pages of the book. All the
other characters are also meticulously crafted, each with a detailed trajectory that gives the
reader a complete picture of the story at hand.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. One of the most significant criticisms of
the book is its treatment of the Catholic Church. Brown’s portrayal of the Church as a corrupt
and secretive organization that is more concerned with its own power and influence than the
well-being of its followers has been met with controversy and criticism. Many have accused
Brown of being anti-Catholic and perpetuating negative stereotypes about the Church.
Another criticism of the book is the portrayal of science as the ultimate solution to all
problems. While the book does a good job of explaining complex scientific concepts, it also
paints science as the only way to solve problems, ignoring the role that faith and spirituality
can play in people’s lives.
So, what are you waiting for?
A fast-moving plot with engaging twists and turns, complex characters, and a
masterful display of symbolism by Brown come together in this masterpiece. Highly
recommended to fans of thrillers and mysteries if you pick it up, as it won’t let you sleep a
wink till you read it cover to cover.
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7.2 MOVIE REVIEW
Angels and Demons (2009)

Director- Ron Howard
The film Angels and Demons is based on Dan Brown’s novel of the same name. Released in
2009, the film follows the same premise as the book, bringing viewers on a thrilling
adventure across Rome as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is summoned
to the Vatican to assist foil a diabolical plot against the Catholic Church.
Ron Howard returns to the Langdon universe after having directed the first movie in
the series, The Da Vinci Code, in 2006. The film, like the novel, is set in a 24-hour period,
and the pacing is great, with tension and suspense steadily mounting as Langdon and Vittoria
Vetra (Ayelet Zurer), a bio-entanglement scientist, race against time to prevent the Illuminati
from carrying out their plan.
Tom Hanks portrays Langdon flawlessly, bringing to life his knowledge, ingenuity,
and wit. He is a believable protagonist, and the audience can’t help but root for him as he
solves the clues and tries to save the kidnapped cardinals. Ayelet Zurer also excels as
Vittoria, a strong and independent character who can solve the riddles just as well as the
professor himself. Ewan McGregor essays the role of the Camerlengo Patrick McKenna,
effortlessly.
The movie’s visuals are stunning, with Ron Howard’s direction capturing the beauty
of Rome, especially the Vatican. The camera work is excellent, and the movie does an
incredible job of bringing the architecture and art of the Vatican to life. The soundtrack,
composed by Hans Zimmer, is also noteworthy, consistently adding to the suspense and
tension of the movie.
One of the film’s merits is its ability to keep the audience interested even if they have
read the book. The film closely follows the plot of the book and does an amazing job of
bringing the characters and narrative to life. It captures the essence of the work, making it a
terrific adaptation that will appeal to fans of the novel. However, like the book, the movie’s
treatment of the Catholic Church has been met with controversy and criticism. Also, book
lovers may find that the plot of the movie meanders a little bit.
Despite these flaws, Angels and Demons is an engaging and thrilling movie that will
appeal to fans of the thriller genre. It captures the essence of the book and brings it to life
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with excellent direction, acting, and visuals. It’s a movie that will keep you on the edge of
your seat until the very end, with a satisfying conclusion.
All in all, Angels and Demons is an excellent adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel, with
excellent direction, acting, and visuals. It’s a movie that will keep you engaged and
entertained from beginning to end. So, if you’re searching for an enjoyable thriller to watch
this weekend, grab a bowl of buttered popcorn and hit the play button to embark on an epic
journey of history and adventure!
Exercises:
1. Write a review of a novel you have read recently.
2. Write a review of a film you have watched.
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Unit -3
SELF -REPRESENTATION
8. “To Jyotiba, from Savitribai Phule: These aren’t Love Letters, but Tell
You What Love is All About”
Dr. Neeta Gupta
After going through this Unit you will be able to

• Understand what is Epistolary writing by taking a close look at the letters prescribed
for your reading
• Understand the format of an Informal letter
• Know the points to be kept in mind for writing a good, interesting and effective
informal letter
• Write an Informal letter
8.2 EPISTOLARY WRITING
The name ‘epistolary’ comes from ‘epistle’ which means a letter. In epistolary writing these
letters are personal and are written in an informal style and when a series of such letters are
put together they create a single literary work which may be a novel like Richardson’s
Pamela or Alice Walker’s The Colour Purple, or a play like A R Gurney’s Love Letters
which was later recreated by Javed Siddiqui as Tumhari Amrita in Hindi for the Indian
audience/readers. In today’s modern times epistolary writing has come to include other
means of communication such as e-mails, chats, blogs, diary entries, journal entries
newspaper articles etc. Whenever a story is told using all or some of these documents it is
known as epistolary writing. But originally it meant writing that contains a series of letters.
The content of these letters carries all the ideas the feelings and concerns of the letter writer.
The prescribed readings for this Unit are the three letters of Savitribai Phule to her husband
Jyotirao Phule. They give us a glimpse into the life of this radical and fiercely reformist
couple from Pune in the nineteenth century. You can see how these personal letters become a
powerful means of connection between people and also a vehicle for propagation of ideas that
they hold close to their heart.
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8.3 LETTERS FROM SAVITRIBAI PHULE TO HER HUSBAND

JYOTIBA PHULE
Savitribai Phule is known as the first woman teacher and a pioneer of women’s education in
India. She along with her husband Jyotiba Phule worked tirelessly for the upliftment and
emancipation of the economically deprived and socially outcast segments of the Indian
society. The couple’s dream was to have a society that would be free from all prejudices and
where people would live in harmony with one another, where there would be no
discrimination based on caste and no one would go hungry. It would be a society where there
would be no bonded labour and everyone would live with dignity.
Savitribai Phule’s collection of letters to her husband give us a glimpse into the life of
this radically reformist couple. These letters were written to Jyotirao Phule also known as
Jyotiba, over a timespan of twenty years. They were originally written in Marathi but have
been translated into English. Three of her letters have been selected as Suggested Reading
and they together give us a fair idea of the closeness that the couple shared. They were bound
together not just by marriage but were committed to the same cause. This comes through very
clearly in these letters.
I shall summarize these letters for you but you can read these letter on the net by
using the link given below:
https://scroll.in/article/801848/to-jyotiba-from-savitribai-phule-these-arent-love-letters-but-
tell-you-what-love-is-all-about.
8.3.3 The First Letter
The first letter was written in October of the year 1856. Savitribai addresses her husband
lovingly as “My lord Jyotiba” and calls him “The Embodiment of Truth” (Savitribai Phule.
Letter to Jyotiba Phule. October, 1856). She then salutes him and begins her letter. The first
paragraph is all about family. First and foremost she informs her husband that she has
recovered from her illness and for that she gives credit to her brother who worked tirelessly to
restore her health. She promises to be back in Pune soon and asks Jyotiba not to worry about
her.
In rest of the letter Savitribai describes an exchange that she had with her brother. She
writes how he opposes her work with the untouchables and wants her and Jyotiba to stop it.
Savitri writes that her brother wants them both to follow the customs of their caste i.e. live as
the Brahmins want them to (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. October, 1856).
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Without getting angry with her brother Savitribai is able to explain to him what a
great work her husband is doing. She calls Jyotiba a “god-like man” who thinks that the
“Untouchables must learn and attain freedom. He confronts the Brahmans and fights with
them to ensure Teaching and Learning for the Untouchables because he believes that they are
human beings like other and they should live as dignified humans. For this they must be
educated,” (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. October, 1856). She further clarifies that
she also teaches them for the same reason.
Savitribai’s letter reinforces her commitment to a shared cause and brings out the love
and reverence that she has for her husband. Recalling how Jyotiba had been honoured for his
work by the British Government and how much resentment it had caused for those who
opposed him, Savitribai reminds her brother that “[her] husband doesn’t merely invoke God’s
name or go on pilgrimages like others.” According to her he is “doing God’s work” in the
real sense and she emphasizes how much pride and joy she gets out of assisting him
(Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. October, 1856).
In the last paragraph Savitribai writes how her brother finally comes around and
repents for forgiveness. She ends her letter by boosting the morale of her husband and writes
“We shall overcome and success will be ours in the future. The future belongs to us”
(Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule, October, 1856).
She ends the letter by sending her “humble regards” and signs off as “Yours Savitri.”
8.3.2 The Second Letter
The second letter is dated 29 August 1868 and is written from Satara. It begins with the same
salutation as the previous one. It is about something that was considered taboo in those times
- an affair between a Brahmin boy and a girl from the Untouchable Mahar Community. The
girl is pregnant when the relationship is exposed. The village people get to know about the
affair. They are enraged and parade the couple through the village “threatening to bump them
off” (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule, August, 1868).).
Savitribai writes that this is when she had to step in and save the couple by pointing
out to the villagers the British law against such killings. The people back off and the grateful
couple falls at Savitribai’s feet. However, the villagers insist that the boy and the girl leave
the village. Savitribai ends the letter by telling Jyotiba that she is sending the couple to him
for safety. This time she signs off by just writing “Yours Savitri”.
In both letters summarized above you can see that the content tells us a lot about the
writer. They are not merely about mundane and routine matters. In both letters Savitribai is
writing about the cause that is close to her heart and that she shares with her husband. We get
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to know about their reformist work, people’s objection and opposition to it and also the
persuasive and skillful manner in which Savitri argues and convinces her brother. Both letters
take up the issue of the upliftment of the downtrodden, the untouchables the socially outcast.
The first letter’s emphasis is on making education accessible to all and doing away with the
Brahmin’s monopoly of the same. They believe that only education can help these people live
with dignity. In the second letter Savitri bravely takes up the cudgels to help the unfortunate
inter-caste lovers who are facing the wrath of the community. Through these letters we get a
glimpse into the person Savitri. She is brave, she is intelligent, she is committed and she is
devoted to her husband. We also get to know the social situation that prevailed in the times in
which she was writing. Thus we can see how even a personal letter can convey a great deal of
information.
8.3.3 The Third Letter
The third letter is about a devastating famine and the work done by Savitribai and the
Satyashodhak volunteers.
The letter is well organized and carries a lot of details. In her introductory paragraph
Savitribai describes how the famine is affecting people. She writes about how people and
animals are dying because there is no food or fodder. She writes about how their hunger is
driving some of them to even selling their children. She then moves on to write about the
people who have come forward to help and names some of them. She includes bits of
dialogue and conversation wherever necessary and this is put within inverted commas.
The letter conveys the misery of the affected people as well as the frustration of those
who are trying to help them. She writes about how the moneylenders are exploiting the
situation and even the volunteers are being arrested on false charges. Savitri assures Jyotiba
of her support but wishes more people would come forward to help. In one line she is able to
convey how disturbed she is when she ends the letter by saying “I do not want to write
more”. (Savitribai Phule. Letter to Jyotiba Phule. 20 April 1877).
The letter is given below for ready reference. Savitribai writes:
20 April, 1877
Otur, Junner
The Embodiment of Truth, My Lord Jyotiba,
Savitri salutes you!
The year 1876 has gone, but the famine has not – it stays in most horrendous forms
here. The people are dying. The animals are dying, falling on the ground. There is
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severe scarcity of food. No fodder for animals. The people are forced to leave their
villages. Some are selling their children, their young girls, and leaving the villages.
Rivers, brooks and tanks have completely dried up – no water to drink. Trees are
dying – no leaves on trees. Barren land is cracked everywhere. The sun is scorching –
blistering. The people crying for food and water are falling on the ground to die.
Some are eating poisonous fruits, and drinking their own urine to quench their thirst.
They cry for food and drink, and then they die.
Our Satyashodhak volunteers have formed committees to provide food and other life-
saving material to the people in need. They have formed relief squads.
Brother Kondaj and his wife Umabai are taking good care of me. Otur’s Shastri,
Ganapati Sakharan, Dumbare Patil, and others are planning to visit you. It would be
better if you come from Satara to Otur and then go to Ahmednagar.
You may remember RB Krishnaji Pant and Laxman Shastri. They travelled with me to
the affected area and gave some monetary help to the victims.
The moneylenders are viciously exploiting the situation. Bad things are taking place
as a result of this famine. Riots are breaking out. The Collector heard of this and
came to ease the situation. He deployed the white police officers, and tried to bring
the situation under control. Fifty Satyasholdhaks were rounded up. The Collector
invited me for a talk. I asked the Collector why the good volunteers had been framed
with false charges and arrested without any rhyme or reason. I asked him to release
them immediately. The Collector was quite decent and unbiased. He shouted at the
white soldiers, “Do the Patil farmers rob? Set them free.” The Collector was moved
by the people’s plights. He immediately sent four bullock cartloads of (jowar) food.
You have started the benevolent and welfare work for the poor and the needy. I also
want to carry my share of the responsibility. I assure you I will always help you. I
wish the godly work will be helped by more people.
I do not want to write more.
Yours,
Savitri
[https://scroll.in/article/801848/to-jyotiba-from-savitribai-phule-these-arent-love-letters-but-
tell-you-what-love-is-all-about.]
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You can see that the above letter is written in the format of an informal letter as explained
above. It is written in the first person, gives the date and the senders address and it has a
salutation and a subscription with the entire matter kept towards the left margin. As we have
seen with the previous two letters a good letter is not just about the format. It is about the
content and style too. Savitribai’s letter brings out the pain and suffering of the people
affected by the ongoing famine and at the same time it talks about the volunteer work being
undertaken and the difficulties being faced by the volunteers.
You can see how a letter can be descriptive and emotional depending on the subject
matter. It can also be reformist either directly or by implication as we have seen in the
previous two letters. Thus the topic on which you are writing will determine your content and
to write effectively you need to organize that content, have clarity of thought and present it in
simple language.
8.4 POINTS TO REMEMBER
Letters between two people are very personal and carry within them the mark of the person
writing them which is evident in the writing style, the tone, the content. Some people can
write very long letters while some say it in a few words but every good letter has some
features in common.
• When we want to write letters to one another, the first thing we should do is to write in a
clear manner and have something definite to say. That is to say, if we are not able to
convey to others what we wish to say then we are wasting our opportunity and another
person’s time.
• When writing a personal letter we should imagine ourselves talking to the person. It is
like having a one way conversation.
• A letter should be written in a simple, straightforward and conversational style.
• Simplicity of style should go hand in hand with the ability to think clearly. If one’s
thoughts are confused or vague, language by itself cannot make them clear or precise.
• Since a letter is not just any piece of writing, it is a message from one person to another, it
should be personal in nature. The tone of the letter should be personal It should bear the
special touch of the writer and should not just convey some information.
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8.5 THE FRAME
Like in any piece of good writing content is very important so it is important here too. It
should be interesting, well organized, easily understandable and readable. In epistolary
writing however the frame for that content is equally important. The format of the letter
provides that frame which is governed by a few principles of letter writing as explained
below:
8.5.1 Informal or Friendly/Personal Letter
Informal and personal letters can be written to friends and relations. The tone of such letters
is friendly/intimate and the style is casual and conversational. It may read almost as though
you are talking to the person you are writing to. Such letters can touch on a variety of
subjects, but you should always be careful about your spellings, punctuation and grammar.
Remember also that letters should be written out neatly on a clean sheet of paper.
Given below are the basic rules for writing an informal letter.
i. Your address: You begin by writing your address to which a reply to your letter can
be sent. This is written on the right hand side of the page. Write only your street
address in the first line and then the city, state and code in the second line. As
mentioned above, the most popular format of writing informal letters begins on the
right hand side of the page and then moves towards the left. These days however
beginning on the left hand side and keeping the entire letter towards the left margin is
also followed.
ii. Date: After writing your address, leave a line blank and then write the date on which
the letter was written. You may follow the format of writing the month first followed
by the date and then the year, for example, January, 15, 2020. The other format is 15
January 2020.
iii. Greeting/Salutation: Between the date and the salutation you need to leave a line
blank. Then begin your salutation or greeting by addressing the person you are writing
to. Address the person as Dear (the name of the person), My dear…… Put a comma
after the salutation, for example, Dear Amrita, . If you have begun your letter by
writing your address in the right hand corner then salutation should be written towards
the left side of the page and rest of the letter will also keep towards the left margin.
iv. Main text: This is the main body of the letter and begins in the next line just after the
salutation. The main text should be divided into short paragraphs with a blank line
between each paragraph.
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v. Subscription/Closing: This indicates that the letter has ended. It comes in the line
just after the main text is over and usually ends with Sincerely, Sincerely yours,
Affectionately yours, Thank you etc. Only the first letter of the closing begins with a
capital letter.
vi. Signature: Your signature will come in the next line right after ‘Sincerely yours.’
After having written out the letter, the format for it would look somewhat like the
samples provided below. In the first sample we have followed the block format in
which all of the writing is towards the left margin. In sample 2 we have followed the
second format in which we begin the letter on the right hand side then move left and
then write the closing again towards the right.
Sample 1 : Block format (all the writing towards the left margin)
Your Address (Line 1)
Date.
Dear _______,
Main Text Paragraph 1 ...……………………….......……………........…………....
…………………………………………….............………………………………….....
.................……………………....……….....................…………………………………
Main text paragraph 2 .….....………………....…......…………………………......

……………………………………....……………………………………………..........
............……………………....…………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Main text paragraph 3 …………………….......………………………………….....

....…………………………………....……………………………………………..........
............……………....……………………………………………………..……………
Closing (Sincerely),
Signature.
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Sample 2 : Begins on the right hand side then moves left and then closes on the right.
Date.
Dear __________,
Main text paragraph 1 ……………………………..................……….......………
………………………………………....……………………….........................................
....……………………………………………………....…………………………
Main text paragraph 2 …….…………………..................……………………...........

………………………………………………………....………………………….............
.......…………………………………………………....………………………….
Main text paragraph 3 ………………………….................……………………........

………………………………………………....………………………………….............
.......………………………………………....……………………………………..
Closing (Sincerely),
Signature.
In friendly or informal letters the format shown in Sample 2 is followed more often than
usual, you may, however, use any of the two formats shown above.
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9. Squiggle Takes a Walk: All About Punctuation

Natasha Sharma
Deb Dulal Halder
9.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVE
• This lesson will enable you to use punctuation marks effectively
9.2 INTRODUCTION
Natasha Sharma’s Book Squiggle Takes a Walk: All About Punctuation deals with
punctuation from a very interesting comic perspective. Read the book and enjoy how
Squiggle finds out about Punctuation marks.
9.3 PUNCTUATION
You already know about the punctuation marks and have been using them in your writing
from your childhood. It is not that you are not aware of the punctuation marks, this section is
to just make you go through the uses of punctuation marks in details once again so that you
are conscious of them while writing and use then with much sharper focus when you write
the next time.
For sake of convenience we will take one punctuation mark at a time and then discuss
its uses in point form to keep them for ready reckoning.
• Full Stop: What is called “Full stop” in British English is termed as a “Period” in
American English which is symbolized by a (.) and is usually used at the end of a
sentence expressing a statement.
For example: I was playing a new game in my Xbox console (.)
The sentence is a statement and this at the end of the sentence a full stop is used.
Full stop is also used in Abbreviations.
Examples: Mr. , Mrs. , Corp. , Ltd. , Etc.
• Comma (,): Comma is where there is a small pause while speaking a sentence. Some
of the uses of comma are –
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(a) when we are giving a list in writing, we usually use comma, such as “milk, bread,
jam and butter”
(b) In direct speech, before the dialogue, for example, Meena said, “Let’s go for a
movie.”
(c) Often to mark out additional information comma is used, for example, “William
Wordsworth, a Romantic poet and a poet laureate, was a lover of nature.”
• Semicolon (;): Semicolon is used in the following circumstances –
(a) Separate two related sentences where there is no conjunction (such as “and” or
“but”), and where using only a comma would be ungrammatical. Example: She is
a good singer; she has released many music albums.
(b) Organizes syntax thought where many commas are used Example: We bought
stationery items such as pen, pencils, erasers; medicines like Saridon and Rantac.
• Colon (:): Colon is used in the following cases –
(a) To Separate statements which are in dramatic opposition, such “Man proposes:
God disposes.”
(b) To starts list: Example, Store: (a) Pens, (b) Pencils (c) Notebooks.
(c) To Separate characters forming a dialogue, for example, “Ram: “How do go to
College?”
• Quotations (“...”): Quotation marks are used to quote someone or some speech or
writing. For Example: Jadu said, “I will be in the mall before noon.”
• Dashes and brackets/parentheses ( — ( ) ): Dashes are used in writing to separate a
comment (i.e. a parenthetical remark) from the rest of the sentence. For example,
“One week later — who knows why — she made a decision to join the office.”
• The apostrophe (‘): Apostrophes are used in genitive forms, contracted forms,
abbreviations and plurals of abbreviations, For example, the workers’ complaints, We
landed at Delhi Int’l Airport or the CEO’s of the two companies.
• Capital letters: Capital letters are used in the following circumstances:
(a) at the beginning of sentences and quotations
(b) for names of people, places, works of literature, the days of the week, the months,
nationalities, and all the planets except the earth (but not for the sun, the moon or
the seasons)
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• The hyphen ( - ): Hyphens are used in a number of cases such as

a. Compound nouns - example, a passer-by (plural passers-by)
b. Compound adjectives - example a ten-kilometer journey, a two-minute silence
c. Coordination compounds- example staff-student ratio
d. Numerals and fractions- example twenty-two, two-thirds
e. Prefixes- example anti-terrorist, anti-colonial, etc.
• The Exclamation Mark (!): Exclamation marks are used when we are too happy or
sad about something which is done to suggest and signal emotions such as surprise,
anger, interest, fear etc. For example, “That’s great!”, “Be careful!”, “You idiot!”
• The Question mark (?): The question mark indicates a question, such as, “Where do
you stay?”, “What’s your name?”, etc.
• The slash (/): The slash (/) is used as a punctuation to indicate a series of alternatives
(equivalent to either/or and and/or), in contrast to the use of the hyphen to signal
coordination. for example, The actor /actress.
• The triple dot (suspension point — dot dot dot) (…): Often while reading research
papers and other significant documents you will notice that three dots (…) are used
within quotation marks or at the end of sentences. This is done for two purposes –
(a) Within quotation marks, it is used to suggest that some words are missing within
the quotation. For example, “Life is a tale told by an idiot …. Signifying nothing.”
(b) The three dots (…) can come at the end of the sentence to suggest that the
sentience was incomplete.
Now that you have learnt about the various punctuation marks that are commonly used in
English language to punctuate the writing (both formal and informal) you should practice
more and more to understand the ways in which you can use them properly in your writing.
Merely theoretical knowledge will not help in making yourself better in this business.
Exercises
Here is a list of sentences without any punctuation marks, punctuate them and rewrite:
(a) shyam is going to school by bus though he loves to go by car
(b) wow thats a nice jacket
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(c) the more you eat the more you become healthy
(d) he said bring me an umbrella it will rain soon
(e) the sound of rain the smell of drops of rain on parched mud and the cool wind on the
faces of the kids playing in the ground after a harsh summer was a sight to be enjoyed
Answer key
a. Shyam is going to school by bus, though he loves to go by car.
b. Wow! That’s a nice jacket!
c. The more you eat, the more you become healthy.
d. He said, “Bring me an umbrella; it will rain soon.”
e. The sound of rain, the smell of drops of rain on parched mud and the cool wind on the
faces of the kids playing in the ground after a harsh summer, was a sight to be enjoyed.
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10. The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action

Audre Lorde
Nalini Prabhakar
10.1 INTRODUCTION
You must have understood by now that writing, especially serious writing, requires a lot of
hard work. Writing is a process which involves:
1. Prewriting- deciding on a topic and collecting information related to the topic
2. Writing- organizing and presenting ideas /information in a logical and coherent manner,
neatly divided into paragraphs
3. Revising and Editing- re-reading your draft to see if the topic is stated correctly in the
introduction and the paragraphs progress logically. You will also correct grammatical
and syntactical errors and see if all the sources you have used are properly
acknowledged in the citations.
In this Unit, we intend to familiarize you with some important facets of writing which can
sharpen and hone your writing skills.
In this Unit, you will learn about:

• The basic structure of an essay with the help of the essay prescribed for your
study
• Dialogue writing
• Paragraph writing
10.3 BASIC STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY
Every good essay consists of three parts: introduction, body and conclusion. The
introduction, introduces the topic and provides the necessary background information which
will enable the reader to place the topic in a context. The main body of the essay will be made
up of several paragraphs, wherein arguments are developed in support of the topic. It is here
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that you will make use of details, facts and information that you have gathered from various
sources. The conclusion basically brings together all that has been done in the essay.
Audre Lorde’s paper The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action is
prescribed for your reading, to help you understand how an essay should be organized. This
paper was presented by her at Modern Language Association’s ‘Lesbian and Literature Panel’
in 1977. It is a deeply personal and reflective paper on the need for women to have a voice
and agency.
Lorde, in the introduction launches into the topic straightaway by positioning herself
as a black, a woman, a lesbian, and a poet and the necessity of speaking even at the risk of
being “bruised and misunderstood.” She also provides the context for this. She was diagnosed
with breast tumor and the intervening period between the diagnosis and surgery was one of
fear and also introspection. This incident made her realize that silence was not an option and
she must transform silence into language and action.
In the body of the essay, she tries to convince others why silence should not be an
option. She writes that in the face of mortality, her greatest regret was her ‘silence’. She did
not speak of what she believed in, because of fear of the consequences. Having come face to
face with death- the eternal silence, put her “fear into a perspective” which gave her strength.
Her illness proved two things:1. She was not only a ‘casualty’ but also a warrior 2. All her
silences did not protect her from possible death.
People, especially women, do not speak even in the face of extreme violence and
discrimination, because of fear of contempt , censure or annihilation. Being a black woman in
America makes Lorde visible and this visibility also makes her vulnerable. Silence will not
protect her neither will it take away the fear. It is this perspective which made her abandon
her silence and reorganize her priorities.
She next analyses the importance of language. She writes that one must recognize the
power of language and should reclaim it. Language is not simply a tool for communication, it
has structures of power built into it, which are used by oppressors to keep the others
submissive and silent. She proposes that one must start by questioning the ‘truth’ of the
language in which we speak. To do this, one should speak to expose and destroy all those
power structures in language that make discrimination normal and acceptable.
She is fully aware that questioning the dominant structures of power might bring
about pain and death but nonetheless is willing to challenge the same because by being silent
in the face of tyranny she would suffer much pain and die many deaths. Women, blacks, and
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people who do not conform to heterosexual norm according to her have been conditioned “to
respect fear more than the need to respect language and self- definition”.
In the body of the essay Lorde has addressed the following issues:
1. How she put her fear of speaking out, in perspective.
2. The reason why people especially women remain silent and put up with violence and
oppression
3. Why women must reclaim language and use it to break the chains of patriarchal
tyranny
4. The inevitable consequences of questioning power structures
5. The need to respect language and self-definition rather than fear
In the conclusion we can see Lorde the poet at work. She reaffirms the topic of her
presentation with a powerful image, “While we wait in silence for that final luxury of
fearlessness, the weight of the silence will choke us.”
EXERCISES:
1. Write the introductory and the concluding paragraph, in about 50 words each, to
the passages given below:
(a) Indian audience need to broaden its interest to include other traditional sports such as
kabbadi and hockey. Too much focus on cricket has made both money and energy
going into one sport so much so that other sports have got completely neglected.
This is disheartening for those athletes who pursue them.
(b) The Finance Minister proposed that no person will accept from any person any
loan/deposit/advance, in relation to transfer of an immovable property, in cash for
Rs 20,000 or more. Also, it is proposed that no person will repay any
loan/deposit/advance, in relation to transfer of an immovable property, in cash for
Rs 20,000 or more. This will help curb generation of black money.
2. Write the body paragraph(s), in about 100 words, to the paragraphs given below:
Introduction: From the time that man became an agriculturist and husbandman, thereby
enabling himself to overcome the natural constraints that had kept the numbers of his
predecessor – the hunter and forager – within the environmental capacity, man’s impact on
his environment has been largely disastrous.
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Conclusion: As examples, one could consider the Cradle of Civilization, West Asia, now
largely arid, as a monument to man’s misuse of the land. A number of ancient civilizations
seem to have culminated in deserts in the same way – Egypt, the kingdom of West Asia,
Carthage and the Indus Valley Civilization.
10.4 DIALOGUE AND PARAGRAPH WRITING
Deb Dulal Halder

1. Writing Dialogues:
• In any conversation, a person does not speak for a long time; but speaks for a short
while and then gives the other people a chance to speak. So, it is to be kept in mind to
write short sentences. Dialogue writing should be similar to the way you speak.
• Dialogues must have three distinct parts - Welcoming – Main conversation - saying
Goodbye. Keep that in mind while writing dialogues.
• Dialogues should be conversational in tone, therefore should follow the characteristics
of oral communication. While writing dialogues keep in mind that you are speaking
and not writing.
• Always remember the context or the setting in which the dialogue is happening. The
setting of the dialogue matters as two people conversing in a formal atmosphere
would converse in a very different way than in a casual meeting. So, the setting would
decide what kind of a conversation it would be. It is better to write in brief the setting
of the dialogue before writing the conversation.
Example:
Dialogue between two friends about decision to go for a movie
(Two friends, Mayur and Anmol, meet in college canteen.)
Mayur: Hi Anmol. Through with your classes?
Anmol: No, yaar. One more class after a gap of two periods.
Mayur: I am thinking of going for a movie.
Anmol: I would have loved to join you, but you know I don’t want to miss my
classes.
(Anmol’s Phone beeps and he takes out his phone to see the msg.)
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Good news dear, our class got cancelled as the teacher is on leave. Let us go
for the movie.
Which movie you wanna watch?
Mayur: You decide.
(Anmol opens Bookmyshow app in his mobile and starts looking at it.)
Mayur: Why not go for Bahubali 2?
Anmol: Let me see if tickets are available.
(Anmol looks intently at his mobile trying to book tickets. Mayur too fixes his
eyes on Anmol’s mobile.)
Tickets are available, but they are in the second row from front. What do you
say? Should I book?
Mayur: Do it yaar, it doesn’t matter.
(Anmol books the tickets)
Anmol: Done. Now let us go and grab a quick bite and proceed towards Metro.
Mayur: Chal, yaar.
(They both proceed towards the Canteen Food counter)
10.5 PARAGRAPH WRITING
A paragraph can be defined as a group of sentences that expresses a single idea, supported by
facts, evidences, examples, anecdotes, quotations, etc. Paragraphs primarily indicate the
beginning and end of a new idea to the readers. Thus, it helps the readers in assimilating the
contents in an organized manner without much difficulty. In paragraph writing, therefore the
writer can develop just one idea. When one is writing something longer like an essay or a
report, each paragraph explains or demonstrates a key point or thought of the central idea,
usually to inform or persuade. Writing good paragraph is essential for two reasons:
• It helps one as a writer as one remains focused while writing.
• It makes the writing more readable as the reader can easily figure out that a new idea
has been introduced and elaborated.
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Topic Sentence
The first sentence in a paragraph is usually known as the Topic Sentence and it introduces
the main idea of the paragraph. In other words, it is a sentence in which the main idea of a
paragraph is summarized so that the readers can figure out what they can expect in the rest of
the paragraph. Though this may not always be true, as the Topic Sentence can also be
elsewhere in the paragraph, depending upon the demand of the writing. One should keep in
mind here that the topic sentence should relate to the thesis statement and in some way should
uphold the thesis.
The following points should be kept in mind while writing the topic sentence –
• The topic sentence is not about just stating a fact; but it is about a point of view. A
point of view that the writer is about to develop in the rest of the paragraph.
• Every sentence in the paragraph should support the topic sentence.
Supporting Sentences
Supporting sentences are sentences which support or uphold the topic sentence and make the
body of a paragraph. The supporting sentences support by providing facts, details and
examples to logically present the argument.
One should keep in mind to provide specific details to show how the ideas are valid.
• While stating facts, examples, studies, experts’ opinions, etc. be specific.
• Use the experts’ names and other details.
• Examples should also be specific in terms of their names, places, dates, etc.
• Use specific numbers and dates.
• In case of scientific studies, explain in short how the study was done.
• Use vivid descriptions to provide details.
• One should make sure that all the details provided in the supporting sentences are
relevant; otherwise, the reader may lose interest and focus with unnecessary
digressions.
• Try to explain things in detail so that the readers do not have to think too hard to
figure out the significance.
• Supporting sentences should not be used to merely repeat your topic sentences in
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other words, but they should be the explanations, justifications, interpretations and
analyses of the topic sentence.
• One should also make sure that all the supporting sentences are in a logical order.
Concluding Sentence
The last sentence of the paragraph is termed as the concluding sentence which is usually a
review of the paragraph. It should emphasize on the main point or the topic sentence. It is
advisable not to end the paragraph therefore with a quotation, but to end with your own
words and idea.
Some Examples of Paragraph Writing
“No Man is an Island”
Human beings are social animals who cannot live in isolation. As we are social creatures
therefore, we need to communicate with other fellow human beings for the sake of our
survival. It is only through communication with others that we form relationships and these
relationships become our identity to a large extent. You are a friend only when you have a
bonding of friendship with someone. You are a lover as you love someone. Building human
relationships is such a basic need of the people that all the time we are longing to enhance our
associations with the world. It is usually said that food, clothes, house are necessities of
human beings. But once these necessities are fulfilled, we all think in terms of building
associations with other beings as that is our natural temperament. Thus, it can be easily
concluded that “no man is an island”
Effective Communication is the Key to Success
Communication plays a vital role in all walks of life whether it is academics, business,
professional or in building relationships, whether personal or political or financial. Effective
communication is the core of any business as it is in effective communication with your
employees or subordinates or seniors or your workers that one can think of building up a
team which can then drive itself towards better results. Every organization needs to develop a
sound communication strategy to come to its desired results. Therefore, all good
organizations follow a communication network which will facilitate its objectives. It can be
said that success of a business organization or that of a person depends on the kind of
communication that a person or an organization develops. Therefore, we see that managers
always need good communication skills to manage the organization. A good administrator
needs also similarly good communication skills for success. Success, thus, of any individual
depends on how well the person organizes his or her communication with others, it is
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essential that one masters effective communication skills to bring success to oneself and to
the organization in which one is working.
Exercises:
Using the topic sentence given, write a paragraph of about 100 words
• Burning solid waste should be immediately banned to reduce pollution
• LED lights can help reduce the carbon-footprint of a household.
• Advertisement is for wooing potential customers.
• Corruption is the primary evil.
• Role of Cricketers in Advertisements
• Role of Computers in Education
• Though it is argued that examinations cause stress and tension in students, they
are important for evaluating the students’ knowledge.
10.6 LET’S SUM UP
In this Unit, you have learnt that

• Writing is a process and you must follow the process to develop and strengthen your
writing.
• Essays have a basic structure – introduction, body and conclusion.
• At the centre of all writing is the paragraph, and how to write effective paragraphs.
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11. Haroun and the Sea of Stories

Salman Rushdie
Dr. Seema Suri
11.1 INTRODUCTION
This unit is an extract from Salman Rushdie’s novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories about a
twelve-year old boy Haroun and his quest to restore his father’s lost gift of storytelling.
The extract is from the beginning of the novel, from the chapter titled `Shah of Blah’.
It is a brilliant illustration of Rushdie’s ability to create a magical world through his rich,
innovative language. Rushdie wrote this novel after a long gap when his ten year old son
Zafar complained to him that he never wrote anything for children. Rushdie had written
The Satanic Verses in 1988, which was banned in many countries, including India, for its
irreverent depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. Copies of the book were burnt and many
people lost their lives in the violent protests following its publication. Ayatollah Khomeini,
Supreme Leader of Iran, issued a death warrant or fatwa against him. As Rushdie was a
British citizen, the British government provided Rushdie protection and he remained
underground for nearly ten years.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories, in 1990, was the first book that he published after
going into hiding and it is dedicated to his son, Zafar. It is written in the fairy tale tradition,
like The Arabian Nights, Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz but there are
autobiographical elements in the troubled relationship between Rashid and Soraya, the love
between father and son, and the writer’s/ storyteller’s predicament when faced with the loss
of his freedom to tell stories. Many readers have noticed the similarity of the names Rashid
and Rushdie.
Read the extract carefully, paying special attention to Rushdie’s brilliant use of
language. His ability to use words in unexpected and unique ways is the hallmark of his style.
This part of your study material aims to

• familiarize you with the background to the extract from the novel Haroun
and the Sea of Stories,
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• draw your attention to Salman Rushdie’s literary style and his brilliant
imaginative power, and
• help you understand the underlying theme of this story.
This unit includes a summary of the plot of Haroun and the Sea of Stories, a critical
commentary, glossary, some self-check question, answers to those questions (3.7) and a
key to the exercises in your text-book (3.8).
11.3 SUMMARY OF THE PLOT
Haroun is the only child of the famous storyteller Rashid Khalifa, the Ocean of Notions or
the Shah of Blah and Soraya. Rashid, busy with his storytelling and travelling, begins to
neglect Soraya. One day she elopes with their neighbour Mr. Sengupta, a dull clerk who
convinces her that she will be happier with him. This leaves Rashid heartbroken, and he
loses his gift of storytelling. When he opens his mouth all that comes out is a barking
sound ‘Ark, Ark, Ark’. Haroun feels he started the problem, by asking his father ‘What’s
the point of telling stories that aren’t even true?’, when his mother left him so he must
fix it and help his father. Soon, however, Haroun discovers that Rashid has already
cancelled his subscription to the magical story waters of Kahani, which give all storytellers
their imagination and in order to reverse the cancellation Haroun must go to Kahani, a
hidden moon of the earth.
Thus Haroun embarks on a magical journey to Kahani, meaning ‘story’ in Urdu,
in a quest to restore his father’s powers. Kahani is divided into two sections, divided by a
twilight zone. There is the land of Gup where it is always daylight and stories are everywhere
and the city of Chup, ruled by the evil villain Khattam-Shud, whose name means `The End,’
or `completely finished’. He is attempting to poison the Sea of Stories and render Kahani
silent. His followers in the land of Chup are working round the clock to manufacture a giant
Plug to stop the source of the stories under the sea. He has also started a war with Gup,
the central city where stories are made, by kidnapping the king’s daughter, Princess
Batcheat and angering her fiancé Prince Bolo.
Haroun, along with various interesting characters such as Iff the water-genie, Butt, the
mechanical hoopoe, the eggheads at the P2C2E (Processes Too Complicated To Explain)
House, Mali the floating gardener, the Walrus and a pair of rhyming fish; Goopy and Bagha,
set out to stop Khattam-Shud, thus saving Rashid, Batcheat, Kahani, and the stories of the
world. They have many magical adventures and, in the end, Khattam-Shud is killed by a
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piece of his own ice-statue. Rashid regains his powers, Soraya returns home and Haroun’s
family is together again. The sad city remembers its name and cheerfulness returns to the city.
11.4 CRITICAL COMMENTARY
Page 12-13 : the `sad city’ and the `cheerful storyteller’

Read the first two paragraphs carefully. Notice how Rushdie creates the overpowering image
of the sad city in Alifbay. He uses a cluster of closely related adjectives, metaphors and
similes to create an overpowering atmosphere of dull despair.
the ‘sad city’ is `ruinously sad’, `the saddest of cities’, `stood by a mournful
sea’ it has `sadness factories’ whose smoke was `like bad news’
the sea has `glumfish’ that made people ‘belch with melancholy’
its ruined buildings ‘looked like broken hearts’
Against this sad backdrop the cheery storyteller Rashid Khalifa stands out by
contrast. Rashid is famously known as the Ocean of Notions and the Shah of Blah. Don’t
miss the brilliant use of rhyme to create these titles for Rashid. His son Haroun is `a
happy young fellow’ and his wife sings sweetly. Rashid is ‘stuffed with cheery stories’ and
into this picture of the happy family Rushdie introduces a sense of impending trouble.
Suddenly Haroun’s mother stops singing. It is a sign that something is wrong but no one
knows exactly what.
i. Describe the city in Alifbay?
ii. What is the difference between Rashid’s two nicknames, ‘ Ocean of
Notions’ and ‘Shah of Blah’?
Pages 13-14 : Haroun and Rashid
Haroun travelled frequently with his father, who was a very busy man and in great demand.
When he started telling his winding tales, even animals and birds would listen. The
charismatic Rashid tells stories like a ‘juggler’ and ‘magician’; weaving fascinating elements
together. Not only are his stories full of interesting characters and plots, they have catchy
tunes accompanying them.
With a child’s natural curiosity Haroun pesters his father with questions about the
source of his stories. Every time he asks he gets the same reply: `From the Great Sea
Story…’. Rashid tells his son that he drinks the hot water from an invisible tap installed by a
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Water-Genie. He is a subscriber to the Great Sea Story which is located on Kahani (Hindi
word for story), a hidden moon of the earth. Haroun does not believe him and when he
becomes too inquisitive Rashid asks him to be content with the stories and enjoy them.
Towards the end of each section Rushdie builds up the reader’s sense of anticipation
by hinting at tragedy around the corner:
Except that one day Haroun asked one question too many and then all
hell broke loose.
There are clear hints that Rashid Khalifa, busy with his storytelling, rehearsals and
public events, does not notice the change in his wife’s demeanour but trouble is slowly
building up.
i. What effect did Rashid’s stories have on the listeners ?
ii. What metaphors does Rushdie use to indicate Soraya’s growing resentment ?
iii. Mention the different characters that made up Rashid’s stories ?
Pages 14-15 : Haroun’s house and the Senguptas
Don’t miss the rather unusual simile of a cake to describe Haroun’s colourful house.
Rushdie knows how to create a fantasy world that will fascinate children. There is the
description of the city, with its poor and rich inhabitants. The atmosphere of impending
tragedy becomes more and more explicit,
So the truth is that Haroun was lucky: but luck has a way of running out
without the slightest warning. One minute you’ve got a lucky star
watching over you and the next instant it’s done a bunk.
Haroun is a typical child, constantly pestering his parents with questions. He wants to know
why they did not have any more children. His mother sadly expresses their failure but Rashid,
as usual gives a more colourful answer.
At this point the Senguptas, Haroun’s neighbours, are introduced. Mr. Sengupta is
a clerk and his wife Oneeta is fond of Haroun as they do not have children of their own. The
dull Mr. Sengupta is the exact opposite of Rashid the storyteller; practical, unimaginative,
cold and lacking a sense of humour. He is described as ‘the man who hated stories and
storytellers.’ Whereas his wife is fond of Haroun and gives him gifts and hugs him all the
time, Mr. Sengupta is indifferent towards him.
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Mr. Sengupta spends a lot of time chatting with Soraya and Haroun frequently
overhears him talk ill of his father, but one sentence sticks to his mind and troubles him:
‘What’s the use of stories that aren’t even true?’
This question is significant as it is indicative of an unimaginative attitude to life,
without the fun, laughter and creativity that Rashid Khalifa represents. Haroun, with a
child’s instinct, perhaps, senses Mr. Sengupta’s dishonourable intentions and dislikes him. It
is clear that the lonely Soraya, neglected by Rashid and full of resentment, is getting
influenced by her neighbour.
You must remember that Rashid and Mr. Sengupta represent two opposing
attitudes to life. Not only are they different temperament-wise but their physical appearance
is also contrasting. Rashid is plump and `stuffed with cheery stories’, symbolizing the
abundant joy that he shares with everyone in the form of stories whereas the peevish Mr.
Sengupta looks mean and
‘sticky-thin.’ Even his voice is ‘whiny.’
i. How is Haroun’s house different from the others in the neighbourhood ?
ii. What does Mr. Sengupta do ?
iii. Why does Oneeta pamper Haroun ?
iv. Compare Rashid Khalifa and Mr.Sengupta.
Pages 16-18: Soraya’s elopement and the aftermath
One day Haroun returns home to find his father crying and he learns the terrible news; his
mother has run away with Mr. Sengupta. In a fit of rage Rashid has broken all the clocks in
the house and the clocks stop at exactly eleven o’clock. Soraya has left a note that blames
Rashid, saying that his brain is `full of make-belief’. She apologizes to Haroun for going
away. Traumatized by being abandoned by his mother Haroun shouts at his father:
‘What’s the use of stories that aren’t even true?’
It is the same question that Mr. Sengupta asked Soraya and which Haroun overheard.
Without realizing it Haroun echoes the question. The result is catastrophic because, soon after
this, ‘the Unthinkable Thing’ happened. Rashid loses his storytelling powers. It is indeed a
tragic consequence because Rashid is famous for his storytelling and it is the only work
that he has the talent for. As soon as Haroun says the words he wishes he could undo the
damage.
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i. Describe the weather on the day Soraya ran away?

ii. What did Soraya write in the letter for Rashid?
iii. What was the effect of Haroun’s question on Rashid?
11.5 SUMMARY
Rushdie succeeds in creating a fantasy world for young readers. There is an imaginary city
where sadness is manufactured, an ocean of stories, water-genies, and a loving father with
magical powers. It is in the classic fairy tale tradition, where a young hero travels to a
magical land, is helped by supernatural creatures to defeat the villain and succeeds in his
mission. On one hand there is the `cheery’ Rashid, busy entertaining people, full of
gripping tales, and a man who never gives a straight answer. His immense popularity is clear
from the fact that all types of politicians woo him and even animals pause to listen to him.
Against him is the sad city which has forgotten its name and the unimaginative clerk Mr.
Sengupta, who is obviously jealous of Rashid. Mr. Sengupta wins a temporary victory by
running away with Rashid’s wife but in the end of the novel, in true fairy tale tradition,
Soraya comes back to her family and Haroun gets his father’s storytelling powers back.
Salman Rushdie wanted to write a story that celebrates the triumph of the imagination
and freedom of expression against fundamentalism and powers that seek to curb and stifle the
writer’s voice. Rushdie spent many years underground and in isolation, experiencing first-
hand what it meant to be the target of forces that sought to repress his voice.
The novel is an assertion of the importance and value of stories/ literature in our lives.
In the novel when Haroun finally confronts the evil Khattam-shud, who is the ‘Arch-Enemy
of stories and the Prince of Silence’, he asks him, ‘But why do you hate stories so much?
Stories are so much fun.’ He replies that stories constitute a world that he cannot rule or
control.
However, even without being aware of the autobiographical elements and the deeper
meaning underlying the story the plot of the novel is entertaining. In the extract in your text-
book, although Khattam-Shud does not appear it is Mr. Sengupta who embodies the
mechanical, dull approach to life. Rashid and Mr. Sengupta represent two opposing attitudes
to life.
What you need to pay attention to is Rushdie’s literary talent; using innovative
language and creating an imaginary world where the young Haroun sets out on a thrilling
adventure. If you have enjoyed reading this unit you could read the complete novel.
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11.6 GLOSSARY
Alifbay : an imaginary country. Its name comes from the Hindustani

word for alphabet.
glumfish : Rushdie’s own coinage. It means sad fish.
Haroun and Rashid : Haroun and Rashid are both named after the legendary Haroun-
al- Rashid, Caliph of Baghdad, who features in many Arabian
Nights tales. The surname Khalifa actually means Caliph.
Ocean of Notions : this nickname of Rashid’s would mean full of
ideas Shah of Blah : another name for Rashid, means the king of
nonsense raggedy : torn, frayed clothes
alley : a narrow back-lane
saga : a long, detailed story
wobbly stomach : shaking because of the layers of fat
witchy : here it would mean magical
great Story Sea : in the book from which this extract in taken the magical story
waters are on Kahani, a hidden moon of the earth
Water Genie : there is a water-genie in the novel and he is called Iff.
mingy : mean, stingy
politico : politician or a person who is interested in politics
panjandrum : mock title for an important person
11.7 KEY TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS QUESTIONS
Page 12-13: the sad city and the cheerful storyteller

i. The sad city in Alifbay has forgotten its name. The sea, the fish in it and the people
who ate the fish were all very sad. There was so much sadness in this city that it was
manufactured, packaged and sent to other countries.
ii. The two nicknames of Rashid Khalifa are Ocean of Notions and Shah of Blah.
People who admire his cheerful stories call him the Ocean of Notions, which is a
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metaphor for his abundant store of stories. Those who are jealous of his popularity
call him the Shah of Blah, or the king of nonsense.
Page 13-14: Haroun and Rashid
i. Rashid was a professional storyteller and whenever he started to tell his tales
everyone, including cows and monkeys, would stop to listen to him. It was as if he
had magical powers and cast a spell on his listeners.
ii. Rashid’s stories were full of all types of colourful characters that he made up. He
knew the art of entertaining people and his tales were full of heroes, villains,
princesses and gangsters. The stories were set in faraway lands, had exciting plots
and even included some music.
Page 14-15: Haroun’s house and the Senguptas
i. Haroun’s house had a very cheerful appearance- pink walls, lime-green windows
and blue- painted balconies. Haroun thought that it looked like a cake. The poor
people of the sad city lived in shacks that were made of cardboard boxes and
plastic sheets whereas the super-poor did not have homes and slept on the
pavements or doorways of shops.
ii. Mr. Sengupta, Haroun’s neighbour worked as a clerk at the Office of the City
Corporation.
He was an extremely thin, mean and with a voice that sounded as if he was
complaining.
iii. Mr. Sengupta’s wife, Oneeta was always pampering Haroun. The Sengupta’s
were childless and maybe that is why she paid so much attention to Haroun.
iv. Rashid and Mr. Sengupta represent two opposing attitudes to life. Not only are
they different temperament-wise but their physical appearance is also contrasting.
Rashid is plump and ‘stuffed with cheery stories’, symbolizing the abundant joy
that he shares with everyone in the form of stories whereas the peevish Mr.
Sengupta looks mean and ‘sticky-thin.’ Even his voice is ‘whiny.’ He is the man
who ‘hates stories and storytellers.’ Whereas Rashid has a store of endless tales.
Mr. Sengupta, as Soraya writes in her letter, has no imagination at all. Even his job
is dull and boring.
Page 16-18: Soraya’s elopement and the aftermath
i. It was the first rain of the season on the day Soraya ran away with Mr. Sengupta.
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The air was cool and clean as the rain had washed away the smoke. For a
change, even the sea was full of pomfret, instead of glumfish.
ii. Soraya’s letter echoed the words that Mr. Sengupta spoke against Rashid. She
wrote that he did not take life seriously, was only interested in pleasure and that
his head was full of make-belief. Soraya told Rashid to tell Haroun that she loved
him.
iii. When Rashid discovered that Soraya had run away he broke all the clocks in the
house in a fit of anger. The time was exactly eleven o’clock at that moment.
iv. Haroun was upset that his mother had run away and he shouted the exact words
that he had heard Mr. Sengupta use against Rashid. Soon after this something
terrible happened- Rashid lost his storytelling powers.
11.8 VOCABULARY
• Below is a list of uncommon words used by Rushdie.

Commonplace combinations Unusual combinations
sweet voice witchy fingers
loving husband mournful sea
bad news sad city
ruined buildings sadness factories
hummable tunes raggedy children
huge audience super-poor
pink walls child-stuff
delicious pomfret sticky-thin
huge audience wobbly-fat
nasty things whiny-voiced
serious business squiggly metal-railings
• The nicknames for Rashid, Ocean of Notions and Shah of Blah rhyme very well
and have an equal number of syllables.
• ‘Iffing’ and ‘Butting’ are not Standard English words. Such words are coined by
people who use them in their everyday language and then others follow and they
become common. One such word that has become very popular these days is
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‘selfie’ referring to one’s own photograph taken with a mobile phone camera.
11.9 EXERCISES
1. Introducing oneself, dialogues

You meet new people almost every day; in class, while waiting for the bus, at a friend’s
birthday party or standing in line to pay for your groceries. We chat with people and even
joke with total strangers without asking their names or introducing ourselves. But when you
know that you will be interacting with people on a regular basis in the future; such as
classmates, neighbours or teachers, you must introduce yourself and get to know them. An
introduction is a way to establish a relationship with a new person.
What do you say when meeting people for the first time in an informal situation? I
will start with a very simple example. You are waiting at the metro station for your train and
you recognize a girl from your college, standing next to you. You would like to be friends
with her. This is how you could begin:
Ritika : Hi! I’m Ritika, first year BA student. I have seen you in the college canteen.
Chitra : Of course, you have. Hi! I’m Chitra and I’m in the first year of BCom.
This is just one example of how to begin an informal, casual conversation with
someone your own age. However, you sometimes need to introduce yourself to people who
are older than you or your seniors at the work place. In such situations you will have to
change your tone. You will not introduce yourself to your friend’s grandfather or your
teacher in the same way you will introduce yourself to your sister’s friend.
Let us say your friend, Sarvesh, has come to meet you, Alok. Now imagine you have
to introduce Sarvesh to your mother. How will you do it? There are certain social
convections, also known as etiquette, to be followed in such situations. The basic protocol of
introductions requires that,
− younger people be introduced to older,
− men to women, and
− junior to senior.
So, in this case, you will first introduce your friend to your mother.
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Alok : Mom, I want you to meet Sarvesh. He is in my class in college. Sarvesh, meet
my mom.
Mother : Hello, Sarvesh. How are you? I have heard a lot about you from Alok. He
told me you are from Jaipur.
Sarvesh : Yes, aunty. My family lives there and I am in the college hostel.
Mother : It must be difficult living away from your family. You can come and have
lunch with us sometime.
Sarvesh : I would really like that. I miss my mother’s cooking so much.
In our country younger people address almost all those who are older than them as ‘uncle’ or
‘aunty’, even if they are not their relatives. People usually don’t address older people by
name or surname. You would not call your friend’s father, Mr. Pandey. It could be
considered rude! But in formal situations you will always say the full name, irrespective of
the age. If you are introducing a new colleague to the managing director to your company,
you will introduce with the full name and the position held.
You : Sir, I would like you to meet Ms. Archana Pandit, the new architect in
our company. Ms. Pandit, this is Mr. Rajan Nambiar, our Managing
Director.
Mr. Nambiar : Pleased to met you, Ms. Pandit. I hope you are enjoying working with
us.
Ms. Pandit : Yes, sir. This is my first job and I am very excited to be working here.
As you must have observed, in such formal situations, the full name with a Mr./Ms. is used
whereas in informal situations just the first name is enough. It would be very amusing if Ms.
Pandit called the Managing Director of her company ‘uncle’.
After the introductions are over you can continue the conversation. Most people get
nervous when they talk to new people. This lack of confidence is mainly due to a lack of
fluency in English. But with a bit of practice it can be learnt. Just keep a few basic rules in
mind.
− Keep your tone friendly and maintain eye contact. Nobody likes talking to a
person who is looking somewhere else.
− Be mindful of the situation and choose your words carefully. Avoid personal
questions.
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− Don’t say too much. At the same time, don’t answer questions with a simple
‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
− Speak slowly so that the other person can follow your words.
− Pay attention to what the other person is saying and take an interest in them.
− Do remember to say, ‘Nice to have met you’ or ‘I enjoyed talking to you’, after
the conversation is over.
Talk about neutral, general topics that will help others feel comfortable. This is known as
‘small talk’. Here are some common topics that you could talk about in informal
conversations.
Where do you live?
Living Is it far away?
Do you travel by the Metro?
Where are you from?
Do you like living in Delhi?
What is your favourite subject?
Studies Have you been to the college library?
Are you attending any coaching classes?
Have you completed your Economics assignment?
How are you preparing for the exams?
What does your mother/father do?
Family How many brothers/sisters do you have?
Are they younger than you?
Do you live with your parents?
What do you do for work?
Work How long have you been working here?
What are your future plans?
Are you happy working here?
Is the food in the office canteen good?
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Do you watch Tik Tok videos?

Entertainment Have you seen the latest episode of Bigg Boss?
Who is your favourite actor?
Are you fond of travelling?
Are there any good eating joints around here?
These days there is hardly any conversation between two people where the topic of social
media doesn’t come up. I am sure you discuss these things with your friends.
Are you on Facebook? or Twitter?
Social Media Do you Instagram?
Can I add you to my WhatsApp group?
It is natural for human beings to be curious about each other but remember that there are
some questions that should be avoided in conversations with people you have just met, don’t
know too well or in formal situations.
 How old are you?
 What is your salary?
 Why are you wearing a red shirt?
 Are those shoes expensive? How much did you pay for them?
 Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?
In many cultures it is not considered polite at all to ask a person’s age, income or relationship
status in the first meeting. However, in our country, such unwritten rules are rarely followed.
People sitting next to you on the train or in the waiting room of the dentist’s clinic will ask
you all sorts of questions; not only that, they will happily volunteer information about their
families, distant relatives, health problems, and political beliefs. Each society has its own,
peculiar culture and it is not necessary to follow rules observed in foreign countries. At the
same time such topics are best avoided until you get to know people well.
Now let us come back to the girls on the platform of the Metro station. After they
have introduced themselves, the conversation would be something like this:
Ritika : Hi! I’m Ritika, first year B.A. student. I think I have seen you in the college
canteen.
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Chitra : Of course, you have. Hi! I’m Chitra and I’m in the first year of B.Com.
Ritika : Nice to meet you, Chitra. Where do you live?
Chitra : I live in Noida. What about you?
Ritika : I live in Kirti Nagar. So, will you also change trains at Rajiv Chowk?
Chitra : Yes. I am glad I met you. We can talk on the way. Otherwise, it is boring to
travel alone.
Ritika : Which school are you from? I was at the Government School in Ramesh
Nagar.
Chitra : I went to Somerville in Noida. Are you having fun in college?
Ritika : Yeah. There are many girls from my school in this college. I like it here.
Chitra : Could I have your mobile number? Is it o.k. if I call you sometime?
Ritika : Sure. It’s 98xxxxxx87. Give me a missed call and I’ll add you to my
contacts.
As you will agree, it is not difficult to write down an imaginary conversation between two
friends or people of the same age group. But sometimes you need to talk to people who are
older than you; teachers, employers, elderly neighbours. Your words should convey respect.
Suppose your neighbor, Mr. Jha has come over to your house:
Mr. Jha : Hi! Shankar, could you do me a favour, please.
Shankar : Of course, sir. Tell me how I can help you.
Mr. Jha : I am expecting a delivery from Amazon today but I have to go the bank. Are
you at home today?
Shankar : Yes, I am. There are no classes in college today. I can collect it on your
behalf.
Mr. Jha : You are so helpful, Shankar. Don’t worry about the payment. It’s taken care
of.
Shankar : I will bring the packet over to your house in the evening. Have a good day,
sir.
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It is not only your school or college teachers who should be addressed as sir/madam. People
who are much older than you can also be addressed as sir/madam, although these days it is
becoming fashionable to avoid these terms.
Activity 1.1
Write a dialogue between two friends, who have studied together in school,
and are meeting each other after many years. Each speaker should have ten
sentences.
2. Preparing a CV
What is a CV?
CV is short for the Latin phrase ‘Curriculum Vitae’, meaning ‘course of life’. A CV is a
two- or three-page long document that summarizes your educational qualifications, work
experience and other achievements. It is attached to applications for jobs, internships or
scholarships and submitted to the administrative head of the organization/institution. In our
country the word resumé is also used to describe such a document; the only difference
between them is that of length. Whereas a resumé is one or, at the most, two pages long a CV
can be much longer because it includes more detailed information.
What should you include in a CV?
Personal information : Name, age, contact details
Educational : School, college, professional courses
Special Skills : Typing, knowledge of computers, languages known
Achievements : Awards, scholarships, fellowships
Work Experience : Details of past and present positions
Extra-Curricular : Special hobbies, talents, prizes won in competitions
Let us look at a sample of a CV. Pay attention to the font size and layout.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
Laxmi Gowda
43/12, Anna Nagar (East)
Chennai-600106
Phone : + 919xxxxx82
e-mail : [email protected]
Career Objective
To find a position as a primary school teacher in a progressive school that allows teachers to
be creative with the syllabus.
Educational
Course College/University/Board Year Marks
B.Ed Indira Gandhi National Open University 2018 63%
BA(H) Hindi Kirori Mal College, Delhi University 2016 60%
XII St. Marks School, Delhi 2013 85%
Work Experience
• Taught at St. Mary’s School, Delhi Cantt. from July to December 2019. I taught Hindi
to classes I- V.
• Taught at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Janakpuri, from October 2018 to June 2019.
Achievements
• Got second position in BA(H) Hindi in Delhi University, 2016
• Acted in plays produced by the theatre group of my college ‘Drishti’.
Personal
Date of birth : 2 July, 1995
Gender : Female
Marital status : Single
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Nationality : Indian
Languages known : Tamil, Hindi, English
Extra-Curricular
• Acting is my hobby and I can teach it to the students, if required.
• Fond of travelling and writing.
References
1. Professor Rita Sharma 2. Dr Pradeep Kumar
Department of Hindi Principal
University of Delhi Central School, Janakpuri
Delhi-110007 New Delhi 110058
988xxxxxx7 | [email protected] 88xxxxxx49 | [email protected]
Here are some important guidelines to follow while preparing a CV.

− Always follow the reverse chronological order when writing about your educational
qualifications or work experience. For instance, your most recent degree must come
first, and so on.
− When you write about your achievements, list specific ones. Avoid statements like
‘I love to read’ or ‘I am very hard working’.
− Always mention dates (both beginning and ending) and exact duration of previous
jobs, internships, etc.
− Don’t use abbreviations. For instance, write Delhi University, not DU.
− Mention only those awards that are five years old. You don’t need to mention prizes
you won when you were in junior school.
There is no fixed format for a CV. What is important is that all the relevant, professional
information about yourself should be presented in a clear way and nothing important should
be left out. You can think of a CV as a kind of comprehensive introduction you are giving to
someone who might employ you. This is the CV of a student who is applying for an
internship as an accountant. You will notice that, in the next CV, there are no References, nor
are the marks scored in the school/ college exams mentioned. It is because a student is
applying for an internship and in such cases, he/she would not have any work experience.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
Vikas Rastogi
+ 91880XXXXX00 | [email protected]
56/ 43, Chanakya Place
Uttam Nagar-110059
New Delhi
Career Goal
To work in a reputed organization and gain experience in book keeping and managing
financial data.
Academic Qualifications
B.Com, School of Open Learning, Delhi University, 2018.
XII, Central School, Vikas Puri, 2015.
Technical Skills
Familiar with Tally, ERP, Quickbooks.
Experience
Worked as an intern with Luthra & Associates from May to August 2017
Personal
Date of Birth : 1997
Gender : Male
Nationality : Indian
Languages known : Hindi, English
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Department of Distance and Continuing Education

B.A. (Programme) / B.Com. (Programme)

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• The present study material is an edited version of an earlier study material,

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Sl. No. Title Prepared by Page

Unit-1 In The State

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1.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After going through this lesson you will be able to;

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Check Your Progress 1

2. What is the Story About

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Check Your Progress 2

1.3 A THREE PART STORY

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Check Your Progress 3

Adequate:satisfactory or acceptable in Lessons:a period of learning or teaching.

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Comprehension:the ability to understand Quest:a long or arduous search for

Emphasis:stress given to a word or words Unravel:investigate and solve or explain

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3. FIRST INFORMATION REPORT (FIR)

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Thanks and regards

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4. CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT ABOUT

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vi. Alternatively, a consumer complaint can also be filed online at

4.4 FORMAT OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT

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4.5 COMPLAINT ABOUT CUTTING OF TREES

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Tense (or Modal + base) Active Voice Passive Voice

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Present perfect has taken has been taken

My pen has been stolen. (Somebody has stolen my pen.)

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5.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this unit you will be able to:

5.3 READ THE REVIEW GIVEN BELOW

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5.4 CREATING A SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE

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