English Literature Made Easy for Students

  The Language, the Narrative Style and the Literary Merits’ of Kanthapura   Kanthapura is a successful novel even if it is judged through its narrative style and techniques used by Raja Rao. It was a big challenge for the writer to achieve his goal by writing this novel in English. He had to make some innovations in his narrative style to suit the Indian atmosphere.   Let’s study this novel in the light of the use of ‘language, the narrative style and the literary merits’ of Kanthapura.   As we know, it was not an easy task for the writer to narrate a tale of an imaginary village, named Kanthapura, where people had different mindsets and where most of the people were illiterate, following different myths and superstitions. They were the people who were divided on the basis of caste and religion. The writer was to portray them as living beings, clashing with one another to safeguard their personal interests and then to elevate them to unite for the bigger cause...

                 Questions & Anwers. Chapter 1: Kanthapura Q21. How was the Kanthapurishwari temple erected? Ans. One day, while going through the narrator’s backyard, Moorthy, Narsamma’s son, found a half-sunk-linga there. Then he had an idea to unearth, wash and consecrate (sanctify/make holy) it. The holidays were going on and, so, with the help of the boys, a structure as a temple there was erected. Bhatta duly performed the consecration ceremony. Q22. Describe how Sanskara Vijaya is held in the village? Ans. The postmaster Suryanarayan proposed the reading of ‘Sankara-Vijaya’ It was accepted by all. It was read by Old Ramakrishnayya every day for the whole month. Dinner for each day of the month would be arranged by them turn by turn. On the days when there would be no one to offer dinner, in that case, Rangamma would do it. Thus the ‘Sankara-Jayanthi’ was started that very day. After the dinne...

                 Questions & Answers. Chapter 1: Kanthapura Q11. How is the ‘puja’ to Goddess Kenchamma performed? Ans. the people of Kanthapura offer clothes and gold to the deity to please her. They also offer a little portion of their first produce like rice and fruit. They offer saris and bodice साडी पर पहनने वाला वस्त्र clothes on every birth and marriage. They keep vigil at night thinking of her and sleep prostrating themselves before her. Throughout the harvest night, they dance, sing and clap their hands around the fire. Q12. Describe the Brahmins’ quarter. Ans. In the Brahmin quarter, there are twenty-four houses in all. Postmaster Suryanarayan has a double-storeyed house. Patwari Nanjundia has a verandah with two rooms built on to the old house. He has also put glass panes on the windows. The widow, Rangamma has also a big house. Waterfall Venkamma feels jealous of her and keeps on ...

  Questions & Answers (1 to 10) Chapter 1: Kanthapura Answer in about 30 words each: Q1. Comment on the opening of the novel Kanthapura. Ans. We come to know that Kanthapura is an imaginary name given to a village. It is quite a hilly area, where the people grow crops like coffee, cardamom, rice, and sugar. The people believe in castes. The people worship their deities (gods and goddesses) and arrange functions to please them. Q2. Who is the narrator of the novel ‘Kanthapura’? Ans. The narrator of the novel ‘Kanthapura’ is Achakka, the old grandmother of the village. She remembers the incidents long after they had taken place in the past. She narrates them in the first person as ‘tales’ are told to grandchildren of an Indian household. Q3. Who is the local deity that people worship in the village Kanthapura? Ans. The local deity of the village Kanthapura is ‘Kenchamma’.. She has saved the people from a demon. They feel safe and sound under the blessings of the god...