Literary NECTAR for Competitive Examinations in English

An Acquaintance with Major Works
of Major Authors

for PGT, TGT, NET and similiar Examinations


by

Sudhir K. Arora

Also available at amazon.in

SECOND Revised Edition

ISBN 978-81-7977-671-1
Price: Rs. 435.00
pp. : 360 + xxiv , Size: 6.5 inches X 10 inches (untrimmed)

Review of First Edition by Abnish Singh Chauhan on Facebook

Excerpt from the PREFACE to the First Edition

Competition is competition—competition with your own self to make yourself better day by day, and competition with others to prove yourself better in the competitive field for making your claim for success. 

     The aspirants face the derogatory comments of the people but remain silent as they have not yet tasted success. People criticize, particularly when the aspirant is near the goal. The moment he gets success, they congratulate him. They make him believe that they are the well wishers. People will say what they have to say. No one can stop them. Only success will silence them. So every aspirant should make their comments his or her weapons to fight and conquer.  

     I have used HISTORICAL PRESENT in writing authors’ works and capsule summaries to create an immediate intuitive awareness so that the aspirants may feel at ease and grasp the matter easily. The table on “Shakespeare’s Plays” that contains genre, setting, popular lines and sources will become a guide for the aspirants for ready reference. A table, titled, “Authors at Glance” having name, birth, place of birth, death, father, mother, wife, beloved, popular works, awards and the critical books will prove to be a vade mecum for them.  

     The aspirants should always remember that those who continue to attempt with confidence and determination get success despite having faced failures many times. What I suggest to the aspirants is smart preparation with focussed labour. 

      Dear aspirants, don’t be discouraged. Break the fetters of negativity. You become what you think. Hence think positively and act smartly. Explore the power of your mind. You are near your goal. Your hundred percent efforts will take you towards success.  

       The only mantra is: study, reflect, revise, score and succeed.

      Here is Literary Nectar in your hand. Drink it to the last drop. Give it to your friends and make them hopeful for success. I am sure that this Literary Nectar will energize you and give you a new hope. 

List of CONTENTS

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Dates of Shakespeare’s Works

Shakespeare’s Plays: Genre, Setting, 

Popular Lines and Sources

TITUS ANDRONICUS; KING HENRY VI PART I; KING HENRY VI PART II; KING HENRY VI PART III; LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST; THE COMEDY OF ERRORS; TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA; THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING RICHARD III; THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING RICHARD II; KING JOHN; ROMEO AND JULIET; A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; HENRY IV PART I; HENRY IV PART II; MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR; MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING; AS YOU LIKE IT; KING HENRY V; TWELFTH NIGHT (What You Will); THE TAMING OF THE SHREW; JULIUS CAESAR; HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK; TROILUS AND CRESSIDA; ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL; MEASURE FOR MEASURE; OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE; KING LEAR; MACBETH; ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA; TIMON OF ATHENS; CORIOLANUS; PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE; CYMBELINE; THE WINTER’S TALE; THE TEMPEST; HENRY VIII (UNFINISHED) 

SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS; VENUS AND ADONIS; THE RAPE OF LUCRECE; A LOVER’S COMPLAINT; THE PASSIONATE PILGRIM; THE PHOENIX AND THE TURTLE

CRITICAL WORKS ON WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR MORE THAN ONCE

COMIC RELIEF/COMIC CHARACTERS IN SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS

MARRIAGES/BELOVEDS

SHAKESPEARE’S WELL-KNOWN VILLAINS

POPULAR SCENES

TRAGIC FLAWS IN SHAKESPEARE’S CHARACTERS

SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS WITH PROLOGUE

SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS WITH EPILOGUE

SHAKESPEARE’S HISTORY PLAYS: TIME OF ACTION

ROLES PLAYED BY SHAKESPEARE HIMSELF 

THE LONGEST AND THE SHORTEST PLAY

SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS WITH MASQUES

SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS WITH CHORUS

SHAKESPEARE’S CHARACTERS KNOWN FOR.

WHAT CRITICS SAY ABOUT SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS AND CHARACTERS

WHAT CRITICS SAY ABOUT SHAKESPEARE 

AUTHORS AT A GLANCE

POETRY

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

LYRICAL BALLADS, WITH A FEW OTHER POEMS; THE RECLUSE; THE PRLEUDE; THE EXCURSION; TINTERN ABBEY; ODE: INTIMATION OF IMMORTALITY; ODE TO DUTY; THE SOLITARY REAPER; MICHAEL; FRENCH REVOLUTION; RESOLUTION AND INDEPENDENCE; PEELE CASTLE; STRANGE FITS OF PASSION HAVE I KNOWN; I TRAVELLED AMONG UNKNOWN MEN; SHE DWELT AMONG THE UNTRODDEN WAYS; THREE YEARS SHE GREW IN SUN AND SHOWER; A SLUMBER DID MY SPIRIT SEAL; LUCY GRAY; IT IS A BEAUTEOUS EVENING CALM AND FREE; THE THORN; SHE WAS A PHANTOM OF DELIGHT; LONDON 1802 (TO MILTON); COMPOSED UPON WESTMINSTER BRIDGE; RUTH; TO THE CUCKOO; LAODAMEIA; TO A SKYLARK; THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH WITH US; SCORN NOT SONNET; I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD; PETER BELL; MY HEART LEAPS UP; WE ARE SEVEN; SIMON LEE, THE OLD HUNTSMAN; THE TABLES TURNED

JOHN KEATS

ENDYMION; ISABELLA; HYPERION: A FRAGMENT; THE FALL OF HYPERION: A DREAM; THE EVE OF ST. AGNES; LAMIA; LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI; ODE TO INDOLENCE; ODE TO PSYCHE; ODE TO AUTUMN; ODE TO MELANCHOLY; ODE TO A GRECIAN URN; ODE TO NIGHTINGALE; ODE TO FANCY; ODE TO POETS; TO MAIA, A FRAGMENT; ON FIRST LOOKING INTO CHAPMAN’S HOMER; BRIGHT STAR; 

P. B. SHELLEY

THE MASQUE OF ANARCHY; QUEEN MAB: A PHILOSOPHICAL POEM WITH NOTES; ALASTOR; THE WITCH OF ATLAS; THE TRIUMPH OF LIFE; ODE TO THE WEST WIND; TO A SKYLARK; THE INDIAN SERENADE ; TO WORDSWORTH; JULIAN AND MADDALO; THE REVOLT OF ISLAM; EPIPSHYCHIDIAN; ADONAIS; ONE WORD IS TOO OFTEN PROFANED; PETER BELL, THE THIRD; OZYMANDIAS; HYMN TO INTELECTUAL BEAUTY; THE CLOUD; STANZAS WRITTEN IN DEJECTION NEAR NAPLES; A LAMENT; LOVE’S PHILOSOPHY; THE POET’S DREAM; I FEAR THY KISSES, GENTLE MAIDEN

MATTHEW ARNOLD

THYRSIS; THE SCHOLAR GIPSY; RUGBY CHAPEL; DOVER BEACH; THE FORSAKEN MERMAN; SHAKESPEARE; A SUMMER NIGHT; MEMORIAL VERSES; SOHRAB AND RUSTUM: AN EPISODE; STANZAS FROM THE GRANDE CHARTREUSE; ISOLATION: TO MARGUERITE; TO MARGUERITE—CONTINUED; 

ALFRED LORD TENNYSON

TIMBUCTOO; THE PRINCESS; MAUD; IN MEMORIAM; ENOCH ARDEN; THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE; DEFENCE OF LUCKNOW; IDYLLS OF THE KING; THE LADY OF SHALOTT; THE LOTOS EATERS; ULYSSES; TEARS, IDLE TEARS; BREAK, BREAK, BREAK; CROSSING THE BAR; SIR GALAHAD; TITHONUS

THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT

THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK; FOUR QUARTETS; SWEENY AMONG THE NIGHTINGALES; THE HOLLOW MEN; PORTRAIT OF A LADY; PRELUDES; GERONTION; RHAPSODY ON A WINDY NIGHT; THE WASTE LAND; ASH WEDNESDAY

KAMALA DAS

SUMMER IN CALCUTTA; THE DESCENDANTS; THE OLD PLAYHOUSE AND OTHER POEMS; ONLY THE SOUL KNOWS HOW TO SING; TONIGHT THIS SAVAGE RITE; AN INTRODUCTION; THE LOOKING GLASS; THE OLD PLAYHOUSE

NISSIM EZEKIEL

A TIME TO CHANGE; SIXTY POEMS; THE THIRD; THE UNFINISHED MAN; THE EXACT NAME; HYMN IN DARKNESS; LATTER DAY PSALMS; ENTERPRISE; MARRIAGE; PHILOSOPHY; NIGHT OF THE SCROPION; BACKGROUND, CASUALLY

ROBERT LEE FROST

MOWING; MENDING WALL; THE ROAD NOT TAKEN; BIRCHES; FIRE AND ICE; STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING; TWO TRAMPS IN MUD TIME; THE GIFT OUTRIGHT; THE DEATH OF THE HIRED MAN; HOME BURIAL; THE MOUNTAIN; AFTER APPLE PICKING; THE PASTURE; PROVIDE , PROVIDE; WEST RUNNING BROOK; 

WALT WHITMAN

LEAVES OF GRASS; SONG OF MYSELF; I CELEBRATE MYSELF; GRASS; WALT WHITMAN ; ANIMALS; SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD; CROSSING BROOKLYN FERRY; OUT OF THE CRADLE ENDLESSLY ROCKING; I HEAR AMERICA SINGING; I HEAR IT WAS CHARGED AGAINST ME; PIONEERS! O PIONEERS!; ONE’S SELF I SING; POETS TO COME; THE WOUND DRESSER; THE SLEEPERS; CHANTING THE SQUARE DEIFIC; FACES; ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT; A GLIMPSE; SCENTED HERBAGE OF MY BREAST; WHEN LILACS LAST IN THE DOORYARD BLOOM’D; O CAPTAIN ! MY CAPTAIN!; PASSAGE TO INDIA; PRAYERS OF COLUMBUS

JOHN MILTON

L’ ALLEGRO; IL PENSEROSO; LYCIDAS; PARADISE LOST; PARADISE REGAINED; ODE ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST’S NATIVITY; MILTON’S SONNETS; ON SHAKESPEARE

FICTION

P. B. SHELLEY

ST. IRVYNE; ZASTROZZI: A ROMANCE

CHARLES LAMB

A TALE OF ROSAMUND GRAY

CHARLES DICKENS

THE PICKWICK PAPERS; OLIVER TWIST; NICHOLAS NICKLEBY; THE OLD CURIOSTIY SHOP; BARNABY RUDGE; THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT; DOMBEY AND SON; DAVID COPPERFIELD; BLEAK HOUSE; HARD TIMES; LITTLE DORRIT; A TALE OF TWO CITIES; GREAT EXPECTATIONS; OUR MUTUAL FRIEND; THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

THOMAS HARDY (1840-1928)

DESPERATE REMEDIES; UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE; FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD; A PAIR OF BLUE EYES; THE HAND OF ETHELBERTA; THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE; THE TRUMPET MAJOR; A LAODICEAN; TWO ON A TOWER; THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE; THE WOODLANDERS; TESS OF THE D’ URBERVILLES; THE WELL BELOVED; JUDE, THE OBSCURE

KAMALA DAS

THE ALPHABET OF LUST; A DOLL FOR THE CHILD PROSTITUTE

MULK RAJ ANAND

UNTOUCHABLE; COOLIE; TWO LEAVES AND A BUD; THE VILLAGE; ACROSS THE BLACK WATERS ; THE SWORD AND THE SICKLE; THE BIG HEART; LAMENT ON THE DEATH OF MASTER OF ARTS; THE OLD WOMAN AND THE COW; THE PRIVATE LIFE OF AN INDIAN PRINCE; THE ROAD; THE DEATH OF A HERO; MORNING FACE ; SEVEN SUMMERS; CONFESSION OF A LOVER

ERNEST MILLER HEMINGWAY

THE SUN ALSO RISES; TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT; FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS; A FAREWELL TO ARMS; THE GARDEN OF EDEN; THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

WILLIAM FAULKNER

THE SOUND AND THE FURY; A FABLE; SOLDIERS’ PAY; AS I LAY DYING; SANCTUARY; LIGHT IN AUGUST; THE HAMLET; THE REIVERS; ABSALOM, ABSALOM!

JOHN GALSWORTHY

THE FORSYTE SAGA

DRAMA

WILLIAM WORDSWORH

THE BORDERERS 

JOHN KEATS

OTHO, THE GREAT; KING STEPHEN 

CHARLES LAMB

JOHN WOODVIL

P. B. SHELLEY

HELLAS; THE CENCI; PROMETHEUS UNBOUND

MATTHEW ARNOLD

EMPEDOCLES ON ETNA

ALFRED LORD TENNYSON

THE DEVIL AND THE LADY; THE FALCON; THE CUP; QUEEN MARY, HAROLD AND BECKET; THE FORESTERS; THE PROMISE OF MAY

THOMAS HARDY

THE DYNASTS

THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT

SWEENY AGONISTES; THE ROCK; MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL; THE FAMILY REUNION; THE COCKTAIL PARTY; THE CONFIDENTIAL CLERK; THE ELDER STATESMAN

JOHN MILTON

COMUS; THE ARCADES; SAMSON AGONISTES

JOHN GALSWORTHY

THE SKIN GAME; JOY; THE SILVER BOX; JUSTICE; STRIFE ; LOYALTIES; A FAMILY MAN; THE MOB; THE PIGEON; A BIT O’ LOVE; WINDOWS; THE FUGITIVE

OTHER GENRES

CHARLES LAMB

ESSAYS OF ELIA; LAST ESSAYS OF ELIA; TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE

P. B. SHELLEY

A DEFENCE OF POETRY

MATTHEW ARNOLD (1822-1888)

CULTURE AND ANARCHY

KAMALA DAS (1934-2009)

MY STORY

JOHN MILTON

AREOPAGITICA; THE TENURE OF KINGS AND MAGISTRATES; HISTORY OF BRITAIN

POPULAR QUOTES

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH 

JOHN KEATS

CHARLES LAMB

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY 

CHARLES DICKENS 

MATTHEW ARNOLD 

ALFRED LORD TENNYSON 

THOMAS HARDY 

THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT 

KAMALA DAS 

MULK RAJ ANAND 

NISSIM EZEKIEL 

ROBERT LEE FROST 

WALT WHITMAN 

ERNEST HEMINGWAY 

WILLIAM FAULKNER 

JOHN MILTON 

JOHN GALSWORTHY

CRITICS ON MAJOR AUTHORS AND THEIR WORKS

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH 

JOHN KEATS 

CHARLES LAMB 

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY 

CHARLES DICKENS 

MATTHEW ARNOLD 

ALFRED LORD TENNYSON 

THOMAS HARDY 

THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT 

KAMALA DAS 

MULK RAJ ANAND 

NISSIM EZEKIEL 

ROBERT LEE FROST

WALT WHITMAN 

ERNEST HEMINGWAY 

WILLIAM FAULKNER 

JOHN MILTON 

JOHN GALSWORTHY 

KNOWN FOR...

KNOWN AS...  (Pen names)

KNOW THESE POPULAR WORKS 

ENGLISH LITERATURE : SOME BASIC FACTS

History of English Literature:  A Screenshot of Ages

Periods of English Literature

Authors in History of English Literature: Ages / Century / Period Wise

Events: Important Years at a Glance 

Popular Authors and their Works (with Years)

Some Other Works and their Authors 

Popular Commonwealth Writers 

Popular Post-colonial Writers

Some British Dramatists (1955 onward...)

Popular British Dramatists and their Dramas (1945-1990)

Some British Poets (1955 onwards...)

Some Irish Poets 

Some Scottish Poets

Popular Contemporary Poets 

Popular English Poets (1945-1990)

Some Popular Post-war Novelists

Popular Contemporary Novelists 

Popular Contemporary British Novelists since 1980 

Popular British Novels of Twenty First Century 

Popular Recent Novels 

Novelists from Other Literatures: Around 1990

LITERARY AWARDS AND WINNERS

NOBEL PRIZE

THE BOOKER PRIZE 

THE SAHITYA AKADEMI PRIZE 

POET LAUREATE 

THE PULITZER PRIZE