Hi! I am Arnav, and this is my IB English Literature Portfolio.
My Portfolio
Reflection on Lessons
Documentation of lessons that I could relate to and understand the most, and a reflection on what each of these lessons meant to me.
Response to texts
My response to and analysis of some texts that I have encountered or that our class has covered over the course of the IB curriculum. These do not necessarily have to poetry or prose, they can be other materials such as videos or paintings too.
Response to authors
My response to authors that I could understand and empathize with. Discussion of the ways in which their texts have impacted me and the overall idea they present through their texts.
About Me
I am a student of The Doon School, and my main interests include science (physics and chemistry), mathematics, computers and literature. While literature might seem “discordant” with my other interests, this portfolio is primarily about my adventures in the field.
I love reading and literature because they fill the creative void of my mind – sciences are, by nature, very definitive and hence have a binarical quality to them. Literature, on the other hand, helps stimulate the “right side” of my brain and enables me to reflect on fundamental issues such as Identity, Worth and Value.
I hope that with this portfolio, I can make my opinions on such issues more accessible and show my progress as a literature student through the course of my Diploma Program.
Featured Pieces
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Theory before ‘theory’ – Liberal Humanism
Introduction The first chapter of ‘Beginning Theory’ by Peter Barry concerns liberal humanism – the form of study that preceded criticism. It is referred to as “the traditional approach to English studies” in the book. Initially, it describes a short history of the development of English studies (shown in the timeline above) and then moves… Read more
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Decolonizing the Mind – The Language of African Literature
“African countries … came to define themselves in terms of the languages of [the colonizers].” -Ngugi wa Thiong’o (“Decolonizing the Mind”) In his book “Decolonizing the Mind”, Ngugi wa Thiong’o – much like Chimamanda Adichie in her talk “Danger of a Single Story” – talks about the power of language and its role in setting… Read more
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Hemingway and the ‘Lion Moment’
It suggests that a small kernel of eternal truth burns inside us all. Tea Obreht on Hemingway’s use of the lion moment In his book “The Old Man and the Sea” Ernest Hemingway used an unconventional ending that forces the reflect on their inexplicably random and unforgettable memories. The protagonist, Santiago, dreams about lions in… Read more
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The Chocolate
I hid behind the door and ensured that she couldn’t see me. I placed my right ear near the keyhole so I could hear everything clearly. “Are you sure?” she said. “Yes. You have to come right now” replied a deep but calm voice. “Okay”she said. I heard her footsteps getting louder, she was approaching… Read more
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Manufacturing Consent
“Manufacturing Consent” is a concept introduced by Naom Chomsky in his book “Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media” where he argues that mass media is inherently imperialist and undemocratic due to way it is structured. Chomsky suggests that there are five “filters” that lead to editorial bias: Profit Motivation, Advertising, Dependence on… Read more
Arnav Agrawal