rssenglishworld, The English Literature and Grammar Digest

  Detailed Summary of Atithi Atithi is a poignant psychological short story that explores the tension between freedom and social responsibility, restlessness and domestic stability, and the individual’s inner calling versus societal expectations. Arrival of Tarapada The story revolves around a young orphan boy named Tarapada, who is discovered wandering aimlessly by Motilal Babu, a kind and affluent zamindar. Struck by the boy’s gentle manners, intelligence, and musical talent, Motilal Babu brings him home and treats him not as a servant but as an honoured guest—an atithi. Tarapada quickly becomes beloved by everyone in the household. His ability to sing, play the flute, and his calm, thoughtful nature charm both the family and the villagers. However, beneath this surface calm lies a deeply restless spirit. Tarapada’s Nature and Inner Conflict Though Tarapada enjoys affection and comfort, he is fundamentally a wanderer. He feels suffocated by routine, attachment, and permanence. Hi...

Small Towns and the River   by Mamang Dai Line-by-line Paraphrase (Please keep a copy of the poem from your textbook before you to read line by line paraphrase. Poem cannot be published due to copyright reasons) 1. Small towns make the poet think constantly of death. 2. Her hometown is quiet and peaceful, surrounded by trees. 3. The town never changes. 4. The sameness continues in every season. 5. Dust is always present, filling the air. 6. Strong winds blow noisily through the deep valley. 7. Recently, a person passed away in the town. 8. People cried quietly in a heavy, fearful silence. 9. They gazed at funeral flowers symbolizing grief and death. 10. Life and death keep occurring repeatedly. 11. Only traditional customs continue unchanged, even as people die. 12. The river is alive and spiritual. 13. During summer, the river forcefully flows through the land cutting it. 14. Its movement resembles overwhelming sorrow like flood. At certain moments, 15. Occasionally, the poet...

Detailed Summary of  “The Girl Who Can” by Ama Ata Aidoo The story is narrated by Adjoa, a perceptive and intelligent seven-year-old girl from a Ghanaian village, Hasodzi. Although young, Adjoa is observant and thoughtful, often reflecting on the expectations placed on women in her community. From the beginning, she explains that she was born with exceptionally thin legs, a physical trait that sparks constant discussion among the adults around her—especially among the two powerful women in her life: her grandmother, Nana, and her mother, Maami. The conflict over Adjoa’s legs In their Akan culture, a woman is valued for her ability to bear children and work efficiently on the farm. Nana believes that strong, thick legs are essential for a woman to perform these responsibilities. She therefore criticizes Adjoa’s legs as “too thin to carry a pot” or to bear children in the future. Maami, though less vocal, is caught between her mother’s traditional expectations and her desire to suppo...

The Power of Music  by Sukumar Ray Line by Line Paraphrase (Please keep a copy of the poem from your book before reading the poem) 1.In summer, we begin to hear the humming sound of Bhisma Lochan Sharma’s singing. 2. His singing can be heard everywhere—on hills, plains, from Delhi all the way to Burma. 3. He sings with extreme intensity, as if his life depends on it, as if he's determined to sing no matter what. 4. People get confused and shocked by his singing, and move away—even though they know he means no harm. 5. People run away in panic, some getting hurt, or they become pale and weak. 6.They beg him, saying, “Please stop singing! We cannot take it anymore—we may die!” 7. His terrible singing causes bullock-carts to topple over and horses to collapse on the road. 8. But Bhisma Lochan does not care—he continues to sing loudly and powerfully. 9. Animals hate the loud noise as soon as they hear it. 10. They cry, fall over with their feet up, or look around in utter confusion. 11...