A GLIMPSE OF REALISM IN THE POETRY OF NISSIM EZEKIEL

Author Name: Dr. Raushan Kumar

Volume: 01 &  Issue:

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: http://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/10.2020-54968116/

Affiliation:

1. L.N.Mithila University,Darbhanga, Bihar, India

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to study and analyze the realistic elements in the poetry of Nissim Ezekiel, who lived between 1924 and 2004. For purpose of study, the poems ‘Night of the Scorpion’, ‘The Island’, ‘Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.’ and ‘The Professor’ have been considered. Ezekiel’s poetry is marked by simplicity and a conversational tone reflecting on the vagaries in Indian society. Reality meets poetry and a delightful confluence emerges. The poems reflect belief in superstitions, mother’s love, importance given to religion, sense of isolation in a big city and Indian English, along with other quintessential Indian traits and qualities. Conferred with the SahityaAkademi Award in 1983 for his work, ‘Latter Day Psalms’, Nissim Ezekiel was also honored with Padma Shri, in 1988 for his contribution to Indian English literature. Besides poetry, he also wrote plays, was an art critic and the editor of the Indian branch of PEN International. An Indian Jewish poet of the twentieth century, he enriched the literary scene and is considered as the father of post colonial Indian English poetry. He taught English at Mithibai College, Bombay and University of Bombay. He was a visiting faculty at several universities in the world, including National University of Singapore, University of Leeds, and University of Chicago.

Key words: Conversational, Realistic, Traits, Religion, Qualities