Literary History and Appreciation: Authors, Periods, Critical Terms
Literary history and appreciation questions ask you to place authors, forms, and movements, and to use critical terms accurately. Learn a small map rather than isolated dates.
Map
- Early Urdu: Deccan and Wali Dakani; later Delhi and Lucknow as centres.
- Eighteenth century: Mir, Sauda, Dard - ghazal, masnavi, marsiya.
- Nineteenth century: Ghalib, Zauq, Hali, Sir Syed - reform, prose, tanqeed.
- Twentieth century: Iqbal, Premchand, Krishan Chander, the Progressive Writers, Halqa-e Arbab-e Zauq. Forms: ghazal, nazm, qasida, marsiya, masnavi, rubai, afsana, drama, khaka. Terms: tashreeh, tanqeed, radif, qafiya, beher, maqta, matla.
Appreciation
Do not just label a feature; explain how it creates meaning.
Worked example
A short poem has one continuous argument and no radif. Classify it as a nazm, not a ghazal. Reasoning: a ghazal requires radif and qafiya and independent shers; a sustained single argument without repeated end-rhyme is a nazm. If it also has a maqta with a takhallus, reassess carefully.
Traps that cost marks
Inventing dates; attributing a work to the wrong author; using 'tanqeed' for a simple summary; calling every poem a ghazal; memorising names without forms or movements.