Human Interest: A Service of Love by O Henry

 

O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter, an American short story writer born on September 11, 1862, and who passed away on June 5, 1910. He is renowned for his wit, wordplay, and clever twist endings in his short stories. O. Henry's stories often feature ordinary people in everyday situations, and he was known for his ability to capture the essence of life in New York City during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Some of his well-known works include "The Gift of the Magi," "The Ransom of Red Chief," and, as mentioned earlier, "A Service of Love." His writing style is characterized by a combination of humor, irony, and sympathy for his characters. O. Henry's stories have enduring popularity due to their engaging plots and surprise endings, making him a significant figure in American literature.

A Service of Love" by O. Henry is a short story that explores themes of sacrifice and unexpected twists in relationships. The story revolves around Delia Caruthers and Joe Larrabee, where Delia, a struggling artist and singer, falls in love with Joe, a painter. Both get married and start living together. Joe is unaware of Delia's feelings. Delia, determined to help Joe, takes on the duty of a private tutor and provides music lessons to Celementina, a daughter of General A. B. Pinkney. Joe, in turn, is also trying to earn money by selling paintings.

The story takes an unexpected turn when each person sacrifices their most prized possession, their hobbies, to provide happiness for each other. Their acts of love are poignant, showcasing the theme of selflessness. O. Henry's signature twist ending is revealed when they come to know about their hidden work profession as they both work in laundry, leading to a bittersweet conclusion.

 

Overall, "A Service of Love" is a tale that highlights the complexities of love, sacrifice, and the unpredictability of life. O. Henry's storytelling skill is evident in the way he weaves together the characters' lives and emotions, leaving readers with a memorable and thought-provoking narrative.

Task : 

1. Discuss how O Henry employs the theme of sacrifice and love throughout the story 'A Service of Love'.

2. What is the significance of the title of the story? Discuss.

3. What title would you choose if you were asked to do so? 

4. Translate the song "Monta Re" into English without the help of Google Sources and then cross-check. (Lootera is a Bollywood movie adapted from the short story Last Leaf by O. Henry.) Upload the translation photo to your blog.

'How Sleep the Brave' by William Collins

            The poem 'How Sleep the Brave' was written by the 18th century English writer William Collins. 

      This patriotic poem is about war and soldier. Where soldiers selflessly dies to free their countries from the enemies. The main focus is on the funeral procession of a soldier, because his pyre is now ready for the burial.  

           How sleep the brave who sink to rest
              By all their country’s wishes blest!
           When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
         Returns the deck their hallow’d mould,
           She there shall dress a sweeter sod
               Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod.

This whole poetry is in the ode form, with two stanzas, each containing of six lines.  In the first stanza,  poet praises the soldier who has been died for the country.  And for that, they are blessed by the country's people. Here poet pays homage to the soldiers by honoring them. As poem progresses, poet compares it with the spring,  as spring symbolizes the 'rise',  same way this holy soldiers are like a spring,  moreover poet considers them as a holy person who has sacrificed his life for the betterment of the country. As per our imagination power we can interpret that,  now poet talks about the cemetery, which  is more delightful than the feet of a fancy.

                 By fair hands their knell is rung,
            By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
            There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey,
           To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
                 And freedom shall a while repair
               To dwell a weeping hermit there. 

      
            In the second stanza, our imagination about the funeral pyre becomes more stronger as poet tells that the sound of the bell will be ring as never before, and that's also accompanied by the mournful song. In addition, poet seems inspiring others to be brave by saying that these soldiers, as they have got this honor, they are now more famous, and pilgrimages will come to their grey to pay their homage.  At the end, poet becomes more emotional by saying that, this freedom will repair the sorrow of the hermit.  

         By concluding the poem,  we can say that this poem is an elegy,  where poet laments for the soldier. In modern context,  it can be possible that, ultimately poet is not happy with the freedom which he got at the cost of his friend, who had been serving to the country.  

        

Review of the film ; Rang De Basanti

           


        On the 71st Independence Day, I attended the Flag Hoisting Ceremony at the main administrative building of MKBU. Dr. Zala, who has hoisted the flag, gave information about our freedom fighters and also remembered our soldiers who are on the border for our safety.

After this ceremony, I attended the screening of the thrilling movie Rang de Basanti. Which was arranged at the English Department. I just became mesmerized after watching this film. First, I would like to introduce the whole team for the movie.

          

Director :Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Writer :Prasoon Joshi

Release Date: 26 January 2006

Language:Hindi ,Punjabi,English

Amir Khan is a DJ, and Chandrashekhar Azad is an actor.

Siddharth, Karan, Bhagatsingh

Sharman Joshi, Sukhi, Rajguru

Soha Ali Khan, Sonia, and Durga Vohra

Kunal Kapoor, Aslam, Ashfaqullah Khan

R Madhavan- Flight Lieutenant Ajay Rathod

Ramprasad Bismil, Atul Kulkarni, Laxman Pandey

Mckinley, Alice Patten - Sue

 

                                  trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U5gGXvJxO8

                           

 

 

 

First, I would like to tell you about the meaning of the film's title, Rang de Basanti: Color of Sacrifice. Another meaning is 'Rang de Mohe'.

 

The movie starts with a British lady named Sue coming to India to find actors who can act in her documentary film. The documentary, or we can say diary, is of her grandfather, who was the jailer of the jail where Bhagatsingh, Sukhdev,Sukhdev and many more were imprisoned. The main theme of the film is the independence movement of that time and how today's youth are concerned with the sacrifice of freedom fighters.

Sue stays with Sonia at college. There she takes the auditions of the students, but no one can feets in the character. After passing some time by chance, she finds all those courageous freedom fighter images in Sonia's friends (DJs Karan, Sukhi, and Aslam) . So she meets all these friends, and they are all busy dancing, drinking, racing,Racing and other unproductive activities. She goes to a party with them. While they are all enjoying the party at that time, Laxman Pandey comes with his party's members and tells them to stop doing this all-western activity. They all fight against each other, and at that time, the police come and try to catch them all, but DJ gives money to the police, and the police leave. Another thing about the film is that there is a story in the story. Initially, we see friends who are not at all familiar with the sacrifice of the freedom fighter. May be they know about them, but they don't want to live that life, or they have just not at all mind about the situation in the country. But while doing that, their souls start changing, and they start living a life like freedom fighters. The other story stratifies in the story. Lt. Ajay Rathod dies because of the defective parts of the plane. He is a friend of theirs and a fiancé of Sonia. They all come to know that behind all this, the defense minister and a businessman are involved in this crime. The interesting thing is that a businessman is the father of Karan.

 

At the end of the film, they go to India Gate with the candle march for the justice of their friend. But they are all beat by police. Finally, they all become violent as they all act in the story of Bhagatsingh, Rajguru,and Chandrashekhar Azad. They planned to kill the defense minister. They become successful in the plan. But they don't want to run away, and they themselves go to Radio Akashvani and accept that they have killed the defense minister. After that announcement, we learned that Karan also killed his father, and they were all encountered by Black Cat Commando. Yet we see them all happy while they are dying, as mentioned above, as freedom fighters.

 

 

       

Main points of the film:

     

The narrative technique of the movie is story within story.

Youth of India.

       Courageous mother.

Women also join in the movement.

       Corruption.

An outsider comes and teaches us.

Outsiders were mesmerized after seeing the style of corruption, which is normal for us.

Police of the country.

Mythical use of character (Bhagatsingh, Chandrashekhar Azad, etc.)

Politicians and businessmen have a relationship.

Use of true events.

For them, kranti means violence.

Hindu-Muslim relation.

to fit the defective part. (all my sons).

use of public places for showing feelings. (In today's time, social media)

 

                                       

 

So we can say that there is still corruption. One more thing is that people are beat by their own protectors. It is a very good idea for a director to portray the history of our freedom fighters, today's youth's evils, or the relation between politicians and the corporate world. Patriotism is also there. One more thing about the film is that it was controversial because, as we know, the famous proverb 'Truth is always bitter'. In that sense, MiG, the defense field, politicians, and political parties were the obstacles to releasing the film, but yet it was released and got a very good response. So I can say it was worth to watch.It is also very informative.

                                                                                                                                Thankyou....