rssenglishworld, The English Literature and Grammar Digest

Abhisar, The Tryst / Upagupta  by Rabindranath Tagore Upagupta, the disciple of Buddha, lay asleep on the dust by the city wall of Mathura. Lamps were all out, doors were all shut, and stars were all hidden by the murky sky of August. Whose feet were those tinkling with anklets, touching his breast of a sudden? He woke up startled, and the light from a woman’s lamp struck his forgiving eyes. It was Vasavadatta the dancing girl, starred with jewels, clouded with a pale-blue mantle, drunk with the wine of her youth. She lowered her lamp and saw the young face, austerely beautiful. “Forgive me, young ascetic,” said the woman; “graciously come to my house. The dusty earth is not a fit bed for you.” The young ascetic answered, “Woman, go on your way; when the time is ripe I will come to you.” Suddenly the black night showed its teeth in a flash of lightning. The storm growled from the corner of the sky, and the woman trembled in fear. A Year had not yet passed. It was evening of a day i...

Summary of  “The Girl Who Can” by Ama Ata Aidoo The story is narrated by Adjoa, a perceptive and intelligent seven-year-old girl from a Ghanaian village, Hasodzi. Although young, Adjoa is observant and thoughtful, often reflecting on the expectations placed on women in her community. From the beginning, she explains that she was born with exceptionally thin legs, a physical trait that sparks constant discussion among the adults around her—especially among the two powerful women in her life: her grandmother, Nana, and her mother, Maami. The conflict over Adjoa’s legs In their Akan culture, a woman is valued for her ability to bear children and work efficiently on the farm. Nana believes that strong, thick legs are essential for a woman to perform these responsibilities. She therefore criticizes Adjoa’s legs as “too thin to carry a pot” or to bear children in the future. Maami, though less vocal, is caught between her mother’s traditional expectations and her desire to support her da...