Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature
The Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature (JTREL) (ISSN 0975-8828), established in July 2009, is an international, double-blind peer-reviewed, open-access journal committed to fostering scholarly exchange among educators and researchers in the field of English literature. The journal publishes high-quality, original contributions including research articles, critical reviews, interviews with authors, poetry and short stories. JTREL welcomes submissions from both established scholars and emerging researchers, encouraging diverse academic perspectives. The journal is published online on a quarterly basis by the English Language Teachers’ Association of India (ELTAI). The journal levies no submission, processing, or publication fees, ensuring unrestricted access for both authors and readers. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, and all manuscripts must be submitted via the journal’s website. Submissions sent via email are no longer accepted.
English language Teachers’ Association of India (ELTAI)
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature
Ecological Consciousness and Ethical Awakening in The Motorcycle Diaries
The devastation of the environment for so-called development endangered the very existence of human beings in the modern age. Natural disasters are one of the outcomes of excess exploitation of natural resources creating the divide not only between nature and human beings but also among the people who control the system and are powerful and those who are powerless, the common masses. Guevara, in his travelogue memoir portrays the picture of the conflict and tries to warn us against the corruption and malpractices that have been undertaken without any concern for the environment. The present paper investigates the multifaceted dimensions of ecology and ethical consciousness of the narrator in his seminal work The Motorcycle Diaries. It also discloses the character of Guevara as an ecologist, which was not explored in the earlier research on Guevara and his works.
The Transformative Power of Children’s Literature: An Intersectional Analysis of Narratives Conflict, Caste and Gender
The Israeli invasion of Palestine is the most recent instance of how war and displacement, including those caused by causes other than war, are witnessed and experienced by children. 9/11, 26/11, 7/7 and other events have altered our perceptions of the world and ourselves by negatively impacting the planet. The stories/poems about conflict, religion, race, gender, and caste that are interwoven within children’s literature offer opportunities for comprehension and introspection. These tales do more than just amuse children; they educate them about the complexity of social structures and human lives. As children navigate stories of war, they come into contact with the harsh realities of war, not only as distant historical events but also as catalysts for empathy and resilience. Through the lens of gender, they examine the fluidity and spectrum of identity, challenging traditional norms, and celebrate diversity. Meanwhile, narratives of caste expose the ingrained biases and inequalities that persist in society, urging them to question and confront societal injustices. Together, these themes foster critical thinking and compassion, creating a generation that is not only aware of the complexities of the world but also inspired to contribute to a just and inclusive society. This research paper is an intersectional analysis of the aforementioned themes in the text A Clear Blue Sky: Stories and Poems on Conflict and Hope, authored by writers from Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, including Bulbul Sharma, Elmo Jayawardena, Manjula Padmanabhan, Poile Sengupta, Komail Aijazuddin, and Gulzar, discussing myriad problems plaguing our contemporary society.
Orality and Historiography: A Perspective on the Changing Contours of African History
In this article, the methodological role of Orality in African historiography will be re-evaluated to ascertain how colonial conceptualisations of historical legitimacy (ontological truth) were grounded in the existence of written documentation. As such, African oral traditions have often been relegated to myth, folklore, or some other form of non-historical knowledge. By utilising the works of Jan Vansina, Paul Thompson and Walter Ong, this article tracks the development of oral tradition from a contested source to an accepted form of historical methodology. The paper claims that oral narration does not only fill gaps in archival sources, but also fundamentally challenge the textual biases that are embedded in existing historical practices. The paper also argues that through an emphasis of community memory, performative action and interpretive fluidity, orality has redefined the boundaries of African historical knowledge. The combination of oral and written forms of historical knowledge provides a more inclusive historiographical framework through which to challenge the colonial epistemologies of history and broaden the overall global discourse on history.
Literary Reflections on Social Hierarchy: A Comparative Study of Anand and Kalam
This study explores how prejudices owing to social class and discrimination are depicted in two short texts, a short story, “A Pair of Mustachios” by Mulk Raj Anand, and an extract from “My Childhood” from APJ Abdul Kalam’s autobiography, prescribed by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in English textbooks for schools. The study compares how both writers present issues of social class and prejudice, widely prevalent in Indian society. While Anand uses humour in his fiction to expose feudal pride, Kalam shares his personal experiences of being subjected to caste and religious discrimination. Both stories help students understand social divisions and how people respond to them. The research adopts a qualitative-comparative method to analyse the texts. The paper discusses how NCERT incorporates such texts in the curriculum to sensitise students on concepts like equality and justice, while underscoring the imperative for social change. Through an analysis of characters, symbols, and authorial tone, the paper explains how both writers dwell on the topic of social injustice, to encourage new thinking. The study supports the idea that literature can create awareness and inspire positive change in society.
Narrative Disruptions and Fluid Identities in Geetanjali Shree’s Tomb of Sand (2022)
Borders are defined as lines that divide and demarcate areas - physical and abstract - but occasionally borders merge to create a canvas of overlapping memories. Geetanjali Shree’s novel Tomb of Sand (2022), translated into English from Ret Samadhi (2018), became the first Indian novel translated into English to win The Booker Prize in 2022. It is a richly layered narrative that challenges conventional storytelling by embracing fragmentation, multiplicity, and linguistic play. This paper offers a narrative analysis of the novel through the lens of Jean-François Lyotard’s petit récits (small narratives), exploring how the text subverts the grand narratives of history, identity, and nationhood. The story revolves around an eighty-year-old protagonist who navigates her way into her past after the death of her husband. Through linguistic play and its refusal of neat resolutions, the novel offers a postmodern critique of rigid demarcations, urging a rethinking of binaries that define gender, memory, and nationhood as fluid and process-based. In doing so, it positions itself as a literary intervention in contemporary South Asian fiction. This paper argues that Tomb of Sand exemplifies a postmodern literary paradigm in which the act of storytelling becomes an act of defiance, embracing multiplicity and fluidity over fixed ideological constructs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature
Dalit Subjugation and Intersectionality in Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things (1997)
Discrimination and deprivation is a recurring theme of significance in Dalit narratives and Dalit. Notably, studies on Dalit novels have primarily concentrated on exploring the diverse aspects of the darker side of the experience, emphasizing the social and economic hardships, misery, and psychological and physical exploitation faced by the community. This study examines Dalit victimhood through a critical reading of Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things (1997), focusing on intersectionality as a site of oppression. The novel depicts the inscriptional nature of subjugation and intersectionality of oppression to maintain the hierarchical system in society. In the process, it sheds insights on forms of construction of social identities such as caste, class, and gender that frame Dalit life experiences.
Heterotopology of Home and Homelessness: Space, Identity and Yearning in Daisy Hasan’s The To-Let House (2010)
This paper analyses the depiction of space in Daisy Hasan’s The To-Let House (2010) in light of Foucault’s notion of heterotopias. Heterotopias are alternate spaces that serve as counter-sites that challenge established notions and discourses. They are real-world spaces that perform a unique function or possess a symbolic meaning within society. It is argued that the physical spaces within the domestic environment described in the novel The To-Let House act as heterotopias on multiple levels. How the crafting of space is used as a means to convey the psycho-social states of the characters are discussed. Literary cartography, pioneered by Robert Tally, is used in addition to the concept of heterotopia to understand how the spaces serving as counter sites reveal an understated layer of storytelling. This analysis attempts to understand how physical space functions as a reflection of the emotional struggles and yearnings of the characters and the intricacies between space and identity.
Interwoven Realities: Posthumanism and the Blurring of Boundaries in Select Literary Narratives
Posthumanism challenges traditional humanist perspectives by examining the relationships and boundaries between the human, nonhuman, and technological worlds. In literature, it explores how these intersections reshape identity, agency, and ethics in contemporary society. This paper investigates posthumanism in literary texts, focusing on its deconstruction of anthropocentric views and its emphasis on the interconnectedness of all entities. It draws on the works of theorists like N. Katherine Hayles and Rosi Braidotti, who provide a framework for understanding how literature can destabilize traditional dichotomies of nature/culture, human/machine, and self/other. The study analyzes key texts, including Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005) and Octavia Butler’s Dawn (1987) in the Lilith’s Brood trilogy, highlighting their portrayal of cyborgs, genetic engineering, and hybrid beings. These narratives illustrate how posthumanism redefines identity, ethics, and humanity’s future. The final section explores the ethical implications of posthumanism in literature, advocating for a more inclusive approach to existence that values all forms of life and technology. The paper argues that posthuman literature not only reflects contemporary anxieties about technology and ecological crises but also offers a critical lens for envisioning futures that embrace diversity and interconnectedness. Through this exploration, the paper reflects on the discourse on posthumanism, which influences both literary studies and broader cultural understandings.
Exploring Ecological Harmony: A Leopoldian Analysis of Nature in Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer (2000)
Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Prodigal Summer (2000) is set in the Appalachian Mountains, and weaves the themes of human-animal relationships, biodiversity, ecological dynamics and ecological consciousness. This article explores Kingsolver’s portrayal of nature in Prodigal Summer through the lens of Aldo Leopold’s seminal work A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There (1949), focusing in particular on Leopold’s concepts of integrity, stability, and beauty of nature. Through this investigation, the article analyses how Kingsolver’s characters navigate ecological integrity, and address environmental ethics and the conservation of the natural world. It uses literary analysis to demonstrate how the novel embodies Leopold’s idea of a land ethic based on respect for the natural processes, the integrity of ecosystems, and the inherent beauty of the natural world. In the process, this paper uses the novel’s depiction of ecological themes to frame modern environmental discussions for a better perspective on how humans connect to the environment.
The Poisoned Legacy: A Post-Colonial Reading of S.K. Pottekatt's Vishakanyaka
Ethnic communities are often compelled to integrate into the ‘mainstream’ culture in the postcolonial context. As Pramod K. Nayar (2008) points out, “Troubled by the trauma of a homogenising national culture, local cultures begin to have the same fears as the colony did under the Westerner” (87). The emergence of hegemonic cultures significantly alters the structure of peripheral communities. S. K. Pottekatt’s Vishakanyaka is frequently portrayed as the narrative of settlers in the Malabar region of Kerala, who transformed an uninhabited forest into a thriving agrarian paradise through back-breaking toil. This paper tries to elucidate the ‘calibanization’ of the land’s original inhabitants employing New Historicism, as advocated by Stephen Greenblatt. The paper also examines how the novel, despite its progressive inclinations, occasionally disseminates dominant ideologies by aestheticising or sentimentalising the suffering of women and indigenous communities. Drawing on insights from Spivak, Bhabha’s concept of mimicry, and Greenblatt’s New Historicism, the study locates Vishakanyaka within the socio-political transformations of postcolonial Kerala, which led to the migration of Syrian Christians to Malabar.
Copyright (c) 2018 Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature
Developing Sensitivity to Literature through The Merchant of Venice
Enduring Relevance of Much Ado About Nothing
Folklore: Fabricating Womanhood in the Works of Vijaydan Detha
Folktales are an important part of cultural legacy and serve as a realistic reflection of that society. These tales are considered as a treasure trove of a community’s collective memory and passed down through generations by word of mouth. Folktales portray the customs that are typical of a certain society. Vijaydan Detha is one of the regional writers who present a panorama of mediaeval Rajasthani culture by providing insights into the social, political and economic practices of the past which continue to influence contemporary culture, shaping cultural heritage and fostering a sense of shared identity among communities. His folk stories have universal as well as regional qualities as his Batan ri Phulwari (A Garden of Stories) which was published between the years 1960 and 1975 in a total of fourteen volumes, emerges with some specific themes related to feminism and the paper throws light on the dreams and dilemmas of women. In a societal structure that is hierarchical, men are in charge of establishing the rules and laws that govern society. In his several collections of short tales, Vijaydan Detha explores the hopes and predicaments that her female protagonists face.
Copyright (c) 2019 Journal of Teaching and Research in English Literature
Navigating Post-Truth in Communication: Rethinking Models for Indian Students
The post-truth era, where emotions and personal beliefs often overshadow facts, has significantly changed communication practices worldwide. In India, with its rich cultural, social, and linguistic diversity, the challenges of post-truth communication are particularly complex. This paper focuses on how Indian students perceive, understand, and share information in a time when facts and opinions frequently mix. Indian students are often taught through communication models that stress memorization over critical thinking, making them more vulnerable to misinformation and biased messages. This paper examines the limitations of these traditional models in promoting media literacy and analytical skills. It draws on cross-cultural communication theories and considers the influence of India’s diverse media environment to propose new communication models that suit the Indian context. These models emphasize engaging with different media sources, evaluating information critically, and developing the ability to identify underlying biases. The paper also looks at how these new models can help students better navigate the post-truth landscape, enabling them to distinguish between fact and opinion, truth and propaganda. In doing so, it aims to bridge the gap between traditional educational methods and the changing needs of digital communication. This study adds to the ongoing discussion on post-truth communication by offering practical strategies for educators, policymakers, and students. The proposed models aim to empower Indian students, helping them become thoughtful communicators capable of thriving in today’s information-rich yet often misleading world.
Shakespearean Splendour: Mastering the Art of Timeless Drama
The greatest popular playwright in the English language is most likely the playwright and poet William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's early years are also poorly documented, leaving historians with limited knowledge of this period of his existence. Shakespeare was born in England's Stratford. Shakespeare was a gifted child who was the third of eighth children. He enrolled himself to a grammar school, but left at the age of sixteen. Shakespeare was not widely acknowledged to the public between 1585 and 1593. Shakespeare's career did not take off until 1593. Shakespeare endured difficulties in his career, but despite this, he is regarded as one of the best playwrights in mankind since. Even in his early 20s, he was well-known across London, never gave up when things seemed hopeless, and continued keeping audiences delighted and demanding even more. First of all, in the early seventeenth century, William Shakespeare rose to fame. He was for all stages of life, not just one. Shakespeare was an author and playwright who spoke to all people. In his theatrical endeavours, he crafted the most compelling protagonists. His plays have a wide variety of personalities. Shakespeare was a brilliant playwright of his generation, and in my opinion, nearly all of the pieces he wrote are his finest works.
The Ritual of Kuthiyottam in Kerala: A Study on the Cultural and Archetypal Aspects of ‘Sacrifice’
Traditional art forms, such as Kuthiyottam, play a significant role in preserving the cultural heritage of Kerala. These art forms have been passed down from generation to generation and continue to be an integral part of the state's cultural identity. Kuthiyottam is a traditional ritualistic art form that originated in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is a highly revered art form performed during the annual temple festivals, mainly in Kerala's central and southern regions. It is a dance form performed by young boys between the ages of 8 and 14. It is believed to have originated in the early 17th century and has been passed down through generations. This dance form is a symbol of devotion, discipline, and sacrifice, and it is considered a privilege, an honour, and a mark of respect to be chosen to perform it. It is a ritualistic symbolic representation of human ‘Bali’ (homicide). Folklore exponents see this art form, with enchanting, well-structured choreography and songs, as one of the rare ‘Adi Dravida’ folklore traditions still preserved and practised in Central Kerala by the true tradition and environment. The relevance of studying the cultural and archetypal aspects of Kuthiyottam brings into understanding it in the varied perspectives of both as a ritual and as an art form.
Analysis of the Criminal Justice System in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
The American justice system in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird focuses on the 1930’s legal system which did not always give the morally right verdict. This American novel discusses the serious issues in American society, including injustice, racial segregation, racial discrimination, crime and violence. It was first published in 1960. In the story, the court issues a decision guided by prejudice and does not follow the ordinance that justice is to be served equally regardless of race or social circumstances. The novel is analyzed based on the historical approach to understand Harper Lee’s background and how it influenced her writing.
Stone Walls Do Not A Prison Make, Nor Iron Bars A Cage
This article examines the works of three poets who, despite physical incarceration, expressed profound themes of resilience, freedom, and human dignity. The first is Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor of India, who composed deeply reflective poems during his exile in British-controlled Rangoon. Zafar’s poetry encapsulates his sorrow, nostalgia for his homeland, and resistance to oppression, all while exploring mortality. Next, the article delves into Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a renowned Urdu poet whose prison poems capture the anguish of confinement alongside the enduring hope for justice. His emotive language resonates with the struggles of the oppressed and serves as a powerful critique of political tyranny. Lastly, the article introduces Vasyl Stus, a Ukrainian poet and dissident who wrote during his imprisonment in Soviet labor camps. His poetry conveys a profound understanding of human suffering, freedom, and the resilience of the spirit against systemic oppression. By exploring these three poets’ experiences and their translations, the article highlights the transcendence of art over physical captivity, emphasizing the enduring strength of human expression across cultural and historical boundaries.
The Interweaving of Ecofeminism and Trauma in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye
Toni Morrison, the first black woman who was awarded Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, in her novel The Bluest Eye, delineates how class, race and gender prejudices victimize the protagonist, an eleven-year-old black girl, Pecola Breedlove. The doomed protagonist internalizes the destructive obsession with the white standards of beauty and nurtures a fatal fascination for a pair of blue eyes, characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon race. The novel is a poignant portrayal of the cruelty the black heroine witnesses and experiences in society and her own home, along with the devastating effects of the Western notion of beauty. Through an ecofeminist lens, the present paper analyses the injustice unleashed against women and Nature, and their subservient role in this biosphere. It also studies the traumatic experiences undergone by the heroine, highlighting the emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse that the child protagonist experienced in her short life span and how these experiences led her to insanity. The novel demonstrates how trauma transcends personal suffering, affecting entire communities and generations. It critiques a society that dehumanizes black women and makes an urgent call to dismantle the systemic inequalities that continue to victimize marginalized individuals and Nature alike.
When the East Meets the West: Negotiating Upheavals Physical and Psychological in The Inscrutable Americans
“Oh, East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet,” said Rudyard Kipling. Anurag Mathur’s The Inscrutable Americans not just chronicles such a meeting but prophesies happy tidings for the future in form of more such meetings of true minds. The saga of Gopal’s visit to the United States of America is a saga of India, for long caught up in the diffidence typical of a former colony, gradually emerging out of the cocoon and after a lot of uncertain baby steps, step into confident strides in its engagement with the global superpower. The language in which the novel is scripted effortlessly captures Gopal’s predicament in the USA, his coming to terms with it and his growth in awareness of myriad kinds. The novel therefore offers a kaleidoscopic view of the early 1990’s India. With the help of a rib-tickling narrative, Mathur captures the Indian psyche of those times by tracing the roller coaster ride that characterised one year in the life of the country bumpkin –Gopal, in America. The paper thus traces the trajectory of Gopal’s growth and how it mirrors the story of his native land.
Examining Missionary Writings: Promoting or Subverting Imperialism
Postcolonial studies have focused much of their attention on critiquing imperialism and its repercussions. In this process charges have been levelled not only against the imperialists, who are the primary agents in establishing this colossal exploitative enterprise, but also on informal agents like missionaries who were also present at the scene during that period. This study aims to analyse the persistent debate over the part played by the missionaries in the consolidation of the empire by analysing select missionary writings to prove whether these incriminate them or stand antithetical to colonialism as a digressive mechanism. For this purpose, the paper closely scrutinizes Social Christianity in the Orient: The Story of a Man, a Mission and a Movement, the autobiography of John Everett Clough an American Baptist Missionary, to investigate whether or not missionary writings extend as imperialist discourses. The surfacing of multiple conflicting impulses in these writings, problematise a simplistic categorisation of it as a pure imperialistic discourse.