The Essential Literary Terms

I would like to take an opportunity to share my own perceptions of M Arshad Ali who is one of my favourite authors. Ever since I read his Essential Literary Terms a couple of months ago, my impression has been that the author is consciously introducing essential literary terms to the students of the departments of English for helping them understand literature. On the other hand, M Arshad Ali has a different profile to show. He is a visionary but not a recluse. He is geared to the stark practical realities of day to day life. He has seen life and talks with knowledge and confidence. There is a theory of literary criticism that advises us to attack the text, not the author. That means, the consideration should be confined to the work and should not extravasate to the personal life of the writer, in which case it will be a 'fight from the masterpiece.' But I tend think with Addison that the writer is also a function of his work in the mathematical sense, which means to say that the interpretation of a product is greatly aided and enriched by a look at the producer. To quote Addison: "I have observed that a Reader seldom pursues a book with pleasure, until he knows whether the writer of it be black or a fair man, of a mild or choleric disposition, married or a bachelor, with other particulars of the like nature, that conduce very much to the right understanding of an author" (Spectator No. 1). Hence as pertinent case M Arshad Ali's personal life and personality needs to be known as preparatory to his literary utterances. He is well-educated, well-travelled, and has a long length of service with PhD research experiences in English literature. His position has schooled him in human nature. It must have pained him every now and then to find high dignitaries betray their trust for venal considerations. What is remarkable is that even being surrounded in the vicious circle, he has not bartered his feelings for his people, for his country, for humanity.

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