The French scholar, Roland Barthes says the readers are born at the cost of the death of the authors. In his book of literary criticism titled “The Death of the Author (1967)”, Barthes consciously considers a writer a “death” once he or she has published the raw copy of the manuscript, which has been copied as raw as the scribbles of any other writer. When the writers remain dead, the readers (alive) provide light and lives to the author’s work by interpreting and re-interpreting the meanings from the texts through the lens of various theories of literary criticism.
In literature, the term “Criticism” is understood as an “evaluation” rather than considering it a “mechanism of censorship.” This is why the readers reconstruct the lives of the authors through their interpretations (writerly texts) of their works (readerly texts). It is obvious that the readers turn the houses into homes, built by the writers.
This book has been written carefully by interpreting the selected articles through the lens of various appropriate theories of literary criticism. The text is much simplified and understandable which would help exemplify the analysis of the texts through the readers’ interpretations. The author expects that this book would be essentially useful to a range of readers (both college students and researchers in literature) in their academic endeavors.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Separation
- Transitional or Liminal Phase
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze Praneshacharya's journey in U. R. Ananthamurthy's Samskara as a rite of passage, comparing it to Arnold Van Gennep's model. The analysis focuses on how Praneshacharya's experiences of separation, transition, and incorporation lead to self-realization and challenge the orthodox Brahmin society.
- Rite de Passage in Samskara
- Comparison with Van Gennep's model of rites of passage
- Critique of orthodox Brahmin society
- Praneshacharya's spiritual and personal transformation
- The interplay between tradition and modernity
Chapter Summaries
Abstract: This abstract introduces the paper's intention to analyze Praneshacharya's initiation experience as an ironic rite of passage, examining his journey through separation, transition, and incorporation, comparing it to Van Gennep's model.
Introduction: The introduction sets the context of the novel Samskara, highlighting its allegorical nature and critique of Brahminical hypocrisy. It establishes the central theme of Praneshacharya's journey through various phases of rite de passage to achieve self-realization and the tension between tradition and modernity. The introduction also defines Samskara as a rite of initiation and the protagonist's search for identity amidst conflicting traditions.
Separation: This section details Praneshacharya's initial portrayal as a virtuous, orthodox Brahmin, his adherence to rituals, and his eventual confrontation with an external conflict – the death of Naranappa and the ensuing dilemma of his funeral rites. His encounter with Chandri represents a significant “slip” that catalyzes his spiritual crisis and his psychological separation from the Agrahara community. The author discusses Praneshacharya’s sense of falling from grace and explores his subsequent questioning of his life's meaning and the hollowness of Brahminical rituals. The summary highlights the significance of Praneshacharya's "fall" as a crucial step in his self-discovery and transformation. The summary draws parallels to Van Gennep's model by highlighting how this separation represents a symbolic detachment from his former self.
Transitional or Liminal Phase: This section examines Praneshacharya's journey into the transitional stage, characterized by limbo and crisis. His exposure to the world outside the Brahmin community leads to self-discovery and questioning of orthodox Brahminical norms. His encounters with Putta and the festival of Melige expose him to new experiences, enabling him to question his previous beliefs and understanding of life. This section concludes by emphasizing this liminal phase as crucial for self-discovery and the subsequent re-integration into society, albeit with a changed perspective. The transformative nature of the experience, moving him from the known to the unknown, is central to this section.
Keywords
Rite de passage, rites of initiation, Samskara, U. R. Ananthamurthy, Arnold Van Gennep, Brahmin society, tradition, modernity, self-realization, spiritual crisis, transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Praneshacharya's Journey in U.R. Ananthamurthy's *Samskara*
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes Praneshacharya's journey in U.R. Ananthamurthy's novel *Samskara* as a rite of passage, comparing it to Arnold Van Gennep's model. It examines how his experiences of separation, transition, and incorporation lead to self-realization and challenge orthodox Brahmin society.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of *Samskara*?
The key themes include the concept of rite de passage in *Samskara*, a comparison with Van Gennep's model of rites of passage, a critique of orthodox Brahmin society, Praneshacharya's spiritual and personal transformation, and the interplay between tradition and modernity.
How does the paper structure its analysis of Praneshacharya's journey?
The analysis is structured around the three phases of a rite of passage: Separation, Transitional or Liminal Phase, and Incorporation (implied). Each phase is examined in detail, tracing Praneshacharya's experiences and their impact on his spiritual and personal transformation.
What happens in the "Separation" phase of Praneshacharya's journey?
This phase details Praneshacharya's initial adherence to orthodox Brahmin rituals and his subsequent confrontation with the death of Naranappa and the ensuing dilemma regarding funeral rites. His encounter with Chandri represents a significant turning point, leading to a spiritual crisis and psychological separation from the Agrahara community. This "fall" is highlighted as crucial for his self-discovery.
What characterizes the "Transitional or Liminal Phase" of Praneshacharya's journey?
This phase examines Praneshacharya's journey into a state of limbo and crisis. Exposure to experiences outside the Brahmin community leads to self-discovery and questioning of orthodox norms. Encounters with Putta and the festival of Melige expose him to new experiences, prompting him to question his beliefs and understanding of life.
How does the paper relate Praneshacharya's journey to Van Gennep's model?
The paper uses Van Gennep's model of rites of passage as a framework to analyze Praneshacharya's journey. The three phases of separation, transition, and incorporation are directly compared to Van Gennep's stages, illustrating how Praneshacharya's experiences fit within this theoretical model.
What is the significance of the interplay between tradition and modernity in the analysis?
The analysis highlights the tension between tradition and modernity in Praneshacharya's experience. His journey represents a challenge to the rigid orthodox Brahmin society, reflecting a broader conflict between traditional values and the forces of change in the novel's context.
What are the key takeaways from the analysis of *Samskara*?
The paper ultimately illustrates how Praneshacharya's experience serves as an ironic rite of passage, leading to self-realization and a critique of societal norms. His journey demonstrates the potential for transformation and the importance of questioning traditional beliefs in the face of conflicting values and societal pressures.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Rite de passage, rites of initiation, Samskara, U. R. Ananthamurthy, Arnold Van Gennep, Brahmin society, tradition, modernity, self-realization, spiritual crisis, transformation.
- Quote paper
- Tashi Gyeltshen (Author), 2021, Analysis of selected texts through a flower of literary criticism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1066562
