UPMSP High School Bengali key terms

A literary form written in flowing, unrhymed sentences rather than fixed metre, used for essays, short stories and novels; in this syllabus it covers the prescribed prose pieces studied for theme, character and author context.

The narrative thread of a prose text: the sequence of events and the way a writer arranges them to hold a reader's attention. Questions often ask for a short summary of the আখ্যান or its turning point.

The art of building fictional persons through action, speech and description. Examiners ask how a particular character is drawn, what traits are shown, and how the portrayal supports the story's central idea.

The central message or leading idea a prose piece or poem conveys, distinct from its plot. Answers should state it in one clear sentence and then support it with evidence from the text.

Composition in measured lines with rhythm, and usually rhyme, as opposed to prose. The syllabus's prescribed poems are read for central idea, emotion, imagery and the poet's craft.

The aesthetic pleasure or emotional flavour a reader relishes in a literary work, classified in Bengali poetics into kinds such as করুণ, বীর, শৃঙ্গার and হাস্য. Identifying the dominant রস and its cause is a standard poetry question.

The underlying feeling or mood that gives rise to a রস, such as grief, courage or longing. In answers, name the ভাব expressed in a stanza and quote the words that create it.

A figure of speech that ornaments language, divided into শব্দালংকার (sound-based, e.g. অনুপ্রাস) and অর্থালংকার (sense-based, e.g. উপমা, রূপক). Candidates must both name the figure and justify it from the quoted line.

A comparison in which one thing is likened to another of a different class using words such as মতো, ন্যায় or সম, with the two sharing an explicit common quality. Naming all four parts strengthens the answer.

A figure in which the compared object is not merely likened to another but identified with it, so that no words like মতো appear. The reader must infer the resemblance from the image itself.

A sound figure in which the same consonant is repeated in close succession within a line or stanza, producing musical effect. To score, quote the repeated letters and explain the echo they create.

The metrical system governing syllable count, pause and stress in Bengali verse, with named patterns such as অক্ষরবৃত্ত, মাত্রাবৃত্ত and স্বরবৃত্ত. Questions may ask which ছন্দ a prescribed poem follows.

A literary work written to be performed, built from dialogue, stage directions and acts or scenes. Study covers plot structure, conflict, character relationships and the techniques a dramatist uses to create tension.

The spoken exchange between characters that carries most of a play's meaning and reveals personality. Answers should analyse what a given speech shows about the speaker's motive, tone and relationship with the listener.

The setting or stage picture implied by the dramatist's directions and dialogue, including place, time and atmosphere. Its function is to frame action and mood, and questions ask how it does so.

The author of a play, whose craft lies in arranging scenes, distributing dialogue and shaping conflict rather than narrating directly. Candidates should know the prescribed dramatist's period and other works.

The joining of two adjacent sounds, usually at the end of one word and the beginning of the next, with a resulting change or coalescence. Bengali grammar distinguishes স্বরসন্ধি, ব্যঞ্জনসন্ধি and বিসর্গসন্ধি.

The compounding of two or more words into a single unit, classified by relationship as দ্বন্দ্ব, কর্মধারয়, তৎপুরুষ, বহুব্রীহি, দ্বিগু and অব্যয়ীভাব. Splitting a compound into its components is a routine grammar task.

The grammatical relation a noun or pronoun bears to the verb of its sentence, such as কর্তা, কর্ম, করণ, সম্প্রদান, অপাদান, অধিকরণ and সম্বন্ধ. Bengali marks these through suffixes like -কে, -তে, -রা and through word order.

The case-ending attached to a noun or pronoun to signal its কারক relation, numbered in Bengali grammar from প্রথমা to সপ্তমী plus সম্বোধন. Identifying the বিভক্তি and its case is a common objective question.

The voice of a sentence, showing whether the subject performs or receives the action. Bengali recognises কর্তৃবাচ্য, কর্মবাচ্য and ভাববাচ্য, and transformation between them is a standard exercise.

Changing a sentence's form without altering its meaning, for example between assertive, interrogative, negative and exclamatory patterns, or between direct and indirect speech. Answers must preserve sense exactly.

The composition section of the paper, requiring organised original writing such as an essay, a letter or an applied piece. Marks depend on relevant content, clear paragraphing, correct grammar and appropriate register.

A structured essay with an introduction, developed body paragraphs and a conclusion, all serving one controlling idea. A good answer stays on topic, gives examples, and links paragraphs with clear connectives.

Letter writing, either informal (ব্যক্তিগত) to relatives and friends or formal (আবেদনপত্র, চাকরির আবেদন) to officials and institutions. Format, salutation, body and closing must follow the expected conventions.

A prose passage not from the prescribed texts, followed by comprehension questions on meaning, inference and vocabulary. Answers must be drawn from the passage itself, not from memorised material.

An unseen poem set for comprehension and appreciation, testing whether a candidate can state its theme, identify its mood and figures of speech, and explain difficult lines without prior study.

The historical study of Bengali literature, its periods, movements and major authors. Candidates should be able to place a prescribed writer in the right age and name representative contemporaries.

The conventional division of Bengali literary history into ages, commonly প্রাচীন or চর্যাযুগ, মধ্যযুগ and আধুনিক যুগ, each with distinctive language, forms and themes. Dates and hallmarks are frequently examined.

The earliest known collection of Bengali mystical verses, composed by Buddhist সিদ্ধাচার্য poets and rediscovered by হরপ্রসাদ শাস্ত্রী in 1907. It marks the beginning of Bengali literary history.

A class of medieval narrative poems praising deities such as মনসা, চণ্ডী and ধর্ম, composed in the মধ্যযুগ. They blend myth, folk belief and social life, and questions often ask for a poet or a deity's cycle.

An author whose life, period, works and style may be asked about. For each prescribed writer, note dates, major works, literary movement and any award or honour associated with them.

The origin of Bengali as a daughter of প্রাকৃত within the Indo-Aryan family, developing through অবহট্‌ঠ into early Bengali. Questions may ask about its linguistic ancestry or its regional dialects.

The shared folk culture of Bengal, including songs, riddles, proverbs, fairs, festivals and folk deities, preserved orally rather than in written texts. It is studied for its reflection of rural life and belief.

A short, self-contained piece of writing on one topic, used in applied composition tasks. It needs a topic sentence, supporting detail and a closing line, all within a tight word limit.

A factual report on an event or situation, written in impersonal, orderly prose with a heading, date, place and details. It is one of the applied writing tasks that may appear in the composition section.

A condensed restatement of a passage's essential points in the writer's own words, omitting illustration and repetition. It tests both comprehension and control of concise expression.

An idiom whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as হাত পাকা or চোখের মণি. Candidates are asked to use such phrases in sentences or explain them in context.