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For Wednesday: Kipling, The Jungle Book

For Wednesday, read the following 3 stories for class: "Servants of the Queen," "How the Fear Came," and "The Miracle of Purun Bhagat." There are no questions, but we will have an in-class response based on some idea from the stories. 

Also, I assigned Paper #3 in class which is due the Friday after next. The assignment sheet is pasted below: 
Paper #3: Metaphors of Empire

Think, in this batter’d Caravanserai
Whose Doorways are alternate Night and Day,
    How Sultan after Sultan with his Pomp
Abode his Hour or two, and went his way (XVI, The Rubaiyat)

In the mid to late 19th century, England was at the height of its power. At this time, it could truly be said that “the sun never sets on the British empire.” However, many writers found their relationship with British colonialism an uneasy one, since it took a profound amount of arrogance, ignorance, and sheer racist belief to maintain England’s superiority over the Eastern world. Our two writers from class, Fitzgerald and Kipling, use Eastern ideas and imagery to challenge our idea of England itself. Instead of criticizing England, they bring England to the Orient, disguising her ideas and values amidst exotic jungles and palaces.

For your Third Paper, I want you to examine how both authors use the Orient as a metaphor to examine England and English values. While we can read Fitzgerald’s poetry as merely Epicurean, and Kipling’s stories and charming animal fables, each one probes deeper, disguising a critique of society within its Eastern imagery. Where can we find these messages, and how does each author give clues to unlock their secrets? Which animals help us see English problems in a new light—the Bandar-log? The seals? The elephants? Though man is the king of the jungle, what are his limitations? What can only a creature of both worlds see and understand about the British world? Similarly, how can Fitzgerald ‘translate’ age-old poetry to reveal hidden truths about English nature? What advice does Omar Khayaam (a mask for Fitzgerald himself) offer to the Victorian colonialist who thinks he/she is the pinnacle of creation? Can the English empire ever die? Will it follow other empires who have long since vanished into dust?

Requirements
  • At least 4-5 pages, double spaced
  • Use examples from The Rubaiyat and a few of Kipling’s poems or stories
  • Outside sources optional for this paper: focus on a careful close reading of the poems and stories
  • DUE Friday, April 15th by 5pm


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