Curs practic de limba i literatura englez sesiunea: var 2017

Conversie englez, anul al II-lea

Nume i prenume: STEFAN ANDREI

1. In no more than 200 words, analyse the following fragment through the lens of
archetypal criticism:
I am the firebirds nest.
Something loosens within the American as she sees Miss Maharaj burn, some shackle
is broken, some limit of possibility passed. Unleashed, she crashes upon Mr Maharaj
like a wave, and the angry dancers pour behind her, seething, irresistible. They feel the
frontiers of their bodies burst and the waters pour out, the immense crushing weight of
their rain, drowning the firebird and its nest, flowing over the drought-hardened land
that no longer knows how to absorb the flood which bears away the old dotard and his
murderous fellows, cleansing the region of its horrors, of its archaic tragedies, of its
men.
The flood waters ebb, like anger. The women become themselves again, and the
universe too resumes its familiar shape. The women huddle patiently under the old stone
arch, listening for helicopters, waiting to be rescued from the deluge of themselves,
freed from fear. As for the American, her own shape will continue to change. Mr
Maharajs child will be born, not here but in her own country, to which she will soon
return. Increasing, she caresses her swelling womb. The new life growing within her
will be both fire and rain.
(The Firebirds Nest by S. Rushdie)

2. Identify the symbolic values of light and darkness and the roles played by them in
foregrounding meaning in Virginia Woolfs A Haunted House. (max. 200 words)
Curs practic de limba i literatura englez sesiunea: var 2017

1. The given excerpt from the Firebirds Nest portrays Rushdies philosophy for whom
the myths and the cultural diversity of India have played a crucial role. In this short
story Rushdie resurrects the abstract connotations of India and the Indian ethos and
turns them into a myriad tale. In this tale Rushdie uses Phoenix or the firebird, as the
main character symbolization.. According to Greek mythology, Phoenix is a sacred
firebird and has a typical way of embracing death. After many years of life, the
Phoenix suddenly decides to build a nest and burn itself along with its nestUntil a
new born phoenix evolves from the ashes. Rushdie uses this mythological Phoenix as
an ardent villain the lives of a prince and his village. He shapes his story by exploring
the social, political, economic and historic genre of contemporary lifestyle, by using
the dichotomy of fire and water.
Another important aspect that is worth bringing into discussion has to do with the
myth of the bird. The story of the firebird, which killed the wives of the villagers were
actually to signals the atrocities and superstition like Satidaha where women burnt
themselves for their husband. All brides in these parts are brought from far a field,
and once the men have spent their dowries, then the firebird comes. Rushdie puts
forward the religious dogmas in the form of a tale of a prince and his jealous love,
where he metamorphosed into a firebird; he burnt his wife and himself in mistrust and
disgust and was said to kill the wives of the villagers after the men had finished their

dowry.
2. A Haunted House" is a short short story in the fantasy genre about a ghost couple and
a living couple occupying the same dwelling. The contrast between light and dark is
used throughout the text as a recurrent motif. The light can symnolize the womans
revelation about the treasure for instance when she says The light in the heart. Tthe
contrast between light and dark highlights the main characters alternation between
moments of certainty and uncertainty. Whats more dark can also be connected to
death and ghost since for the male ghost the death of his love was equivalent to the
death of light itself.