- Understand the playwright's use of imagery in the play.
- Analyze the transition from monologue to dialogic form.
- Examine the celebrity's posture in front of the camera versus off-screen.
- Discuss the implications of bilingualism in contemporary literature.
- Evaluate the personal and academic values presented in the play.
Broken Images
Learning Objectives
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Revision Notes & Summary
TopNotes on 'Broken Images' by Girish Karnad
Overview
- Author: Girish Karnad (Born 1938)
- Awards: Padma Shri (1974), Padma Bhushan (1992), Jnanpith Award (1998)
- Themes: Bilingualism, personal and academic values, the politics of language in Indian literature.
Key Characters
- Manjula Nayak: A Kannada writer who gains fame by writing a novel in English.
- Malini: Manjula's physically challenged sister, central to the emotional narrative.
Major Themes
- Bilingualism: The tension between writing in one's mother tongue versus a global language like English.
- Identity and Betrayal: The conflict of being perceived as a traitor to one's mother tongue by writing in English.
- Family Dynamics: The relationship between Manjula and her sister Malini, highlighting themes of love, sacrifice, and guilt.
Structure of the Play
- Setting: A television studio with a plasma screen and various television sets.
- Format: A monologue that turns dialogic, involving an image of Manjula that interacts with her.
Important Quotes
- “A heap of broken images, where the sun beats, and the dead tree gives no shelter.” - T. S. Eliot
- “If there was betrayal, it was not a matter of conscious choice.”
Discussion Questions
- Why does the playwright use the technique of the image in the play?
- How does the play address the issue of bilingualism in contemporary Indian literature?
- What is the significance of Manjula's relationship with her sister Malini?
Suggested Reading
- Two Monologues: Flowers, Broken Images by Girish Karnad
- The Dreams of Tipu Sultan by Girish Karnad
Conclusion
- The play explores complex themes of identity, language, and familial bonds, making it a significant work in contemporary Indian literature.
Practice Test – MCQs, True/False
TopMultiple Choice Questions
A.
He was unable to get leave from work.
B.
He was not interested in the event.
C.
He was in a different country.
D.
He did not know about the event.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Pramod sent an email apologizing that he couldn't get leave to attend the event.
A.
Malini was intellectually inferior to Manjula.
B.
Malini was intellectually equal to Manjula.
C.
Malini was more intelligent and vivacious than Manjula.
D.
Malini was not interested in intellectual pursuits.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Manjula describes Malini as more intelligent and vivacious than herself.
A.
The superficiality of fame.
B.
The politics of language in Indian literary culture.
C.
The challenges of bilingualism.
D.
The decline of traditional values.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
The play addresses the debate over writing in English versus native languages, highlighting the politics of language in Indian literary culture.
A.
She agreed and decided to stop writing in English.
B.
She argued that her novel naturally came out in English.
C.
She believed that writing in English was a mistake.
D.
She felt guilty and decided to write only in Kannada.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Manjula explained that her novel naturally came out in English and it was not a conscious choice to betray her mother tongue.
A.
They were supportive
B.
They were indifferent
C.
They were upset
D.
They were confused
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Manjula's intellectual peers were upset by her decision to write in English, feeling it was a betrayal of Kannada.
A.
She was eager to start a new project.
B.
She felt one novel was enough.
C.
She planned to write in Kannada next.
D.
She was undecided about her next steps.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Manjula expressed that one novel was more than enough and did not see the need to write another.
A.
They were distant and rarely communicated.
B.
They were very close, and Malini was the only character in her novel drawn from life.
C.
Manjula was jealous of Malini's achievements.
D.
They had a competitive relationship.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Manjula expressed that she loved her sister deeply and that Malini was the only character in her novel drawn from life.
A.
She wanted to reach a wider international audience.
B.
She found that her thoughts were naturally forming in English.
C.
She was pressured by her publishers to write in English.
D.
She believed English was a more prestigious language.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Manjula explains that the novel 'burst out' in English, surprising even herself, indicating that her thoughts were naturally forming in English.
A.
It was poorly translated back into Kannada.
B.
It was perfectly translated back into Kannada by the Director.
C.
It was never intended to be translated into Kannada.
D.
It lost its essence when translated into Kannada.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Manjula expresses satisfaction that the Kannada reality she conceived in English was translated back into Kannada to perfection by the Director.
A.
She wanted to reach a wider audience.
B.
She believed English was more lucrative.
C.
The novel naturally came to her in English.
D.
Her publishers insisted on English.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Manjula explains that the novel 'burst out in English' and it surprised even her, indicating that the choice of language was not premeditated but rather a natural occurrence.
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Broken Images
Step 2: Master Boss Exam
Locked • Full Phase AssessmentStep 3: Redemption Arena
Locked • AI Weakness TrackerTrue or False
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
According to the excerpt, Manjula's husband moved to Los Angeles last year and is in demand as a software wizard.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The excerpt states that the launch of Manjula's novel was a major media event in the US and it had already been a super hit in Britain.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The excerpt discusses the criticism Manjula faced for writing in English, with some claiming that a novel in English cannot express the truth about India.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Manjula mentioned that her husband, Pramod, is living in Los Angeles and is in demand as a software wizard.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
The excerpt describes Malini as being physically challenged due to meningomyelocele, which confined her to a wheelchair.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Manjula was accused of writing for foreign readers and betraying Kannada.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
The novel 'The River Has No Memories' was written in English, not Kannada.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Manjula acknowledged the support she received from her husband, Pramod, while writing her novel.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Manjula's novel became a bestseller all over the world.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Manjula mentioned that she doubted Pramod would even hear of her speech, as he was in the US.
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