1) How can you explain that 'what' Virginia Woolf wanted to say (for example, the complexity of human relationship, the everyday battles that people are at in their relationship with near and dear ones, the struggle of a female artist against the values of middle/upper class society etc) can only be said in the way she has said?
Ans. Stream of consciousness is very well used in this novel by Virginia Woolf. BY using this technique, she explains that how our relationships are so complicated. At some extent the novel says about Virginia Woolf’s own experience in her real life. The technique is used that how we think and how we make simple and formal feelings multifarious. she said in her novel that human relations is more important, because when Mr. Ramsay and his family go out to lighthouse that time all lighthouse member play cricket and other game and also busy in own work and interested work do. The technique of stream of consciousness especially with description of consciousness. So it is all characters can be vividly seen by reader were then author has no need to describe anything.
2) Do you agree: "The novel is both the tribute and critique of Mrs. Ramsay"? (Key: Take some clues from the painting of Mrs Ramsay drawn by Lily Briscoe and the article by Andre Viola and Glenn Pedersen. Can we read Mrs. R in context of the idea of Ideal Indian Woman - Karyeshu dasi, Karaneshu manthri; Bhojeshu mata, Shayaneshu rambha; Kshamayeshu dharithri, Roopeshu lakshmi; Satkarma yukta, Kuladharma pathni. )
Ans. The technique of stream of consciousness especially with description of consciousness. So it is all characters can be vividly seen by reader were then author has no need to describe anything. Mrs.Ramsay does all things for family members; she lives for others’ she does so many sacrifices for the sake of others and so many things which is already decided by patriarchal society. Mrs.Ramsay is alive in mind of others because of her services and compassion to each. She has something to give all characters. Mrs.Ramsay is also known as ' Angle of the House'. And Lilly Briscoe is totally opposite from the Mrs.Ramsay. Lilly tries to break wrong idea that “the women can’t paint can’t write”. She does that and prove women’s identity as intellectuals as men. I think Virginia Woolf is more interested to Lilly Briscoe's character rather than Mrs. Ramsay. Both are remarkable characters in novel because Mrs. Ramsay is alive because of her Womanhood only and Lilly Briscoe for her art.
3) Considering symbolically, does the Lighthouse stand for Mrs. Ramsay or the narrator (Virginia Woolf herself who is categorically represented by Lily)?
Ans. Yes, I agree for Mrs., Ramsay's character .In Mrs. Ramsay is both thing are there Critique and tribute. Because she has tribute for her family is first like and care and some are they. Lighthouse stands for Mrs Ramsay because she is harbor for her family member and very much spiritual guidance. She takes care of her family members and her husband. She manages ego of her husband and if we talk about considering symbolically through presentation we can say that symbol of Mrs.Ramsay as we read in the novel she always indicates as an emotional guide for other characters. So we say that she is a central character in the novel. One thing that here we cannot forget that between husband and wife writer creates some distance between them and also their children. Here we can take one example of Mr.Ramsay and his son James. If we talk about writer and her biographical context, we can say that writer’s character is more presented in Lily Briscoe’s characters.
4) In the article by Joseph Blotner, two myths are patterned together. Name the myths? How they are zeroed down to the symbols of 'Window' and 'Lighthouse'? How does the male phallic symbol represent feminine Mrs. Ramsay? (Key: The strokes of light-beams. . . )
Ans. There were two myths Oedipus myth and Pagan myth. As window works as bring new air in our house. We can interpret it as window brings freshness in our mind. Lighthouse shows the way to the people and it helps to take the right decision. So as compare to society it stands positive thing. 'To The Lighthouse' is based on Greek myth. In this novel Virginia Woolf use various myth. Joseph blotner has also use the famous myth like the pagan myth or Oedipus myth. The myth of kronos and Rhea is relation between father and mother. Kronos has eating children. But they are so innocent. Here, Rhea is represented as a mother. The myth of Homeric Hymns it is the praise of divinity or God. In this reference we find that how metaphor became reality. Use in the Homeric Hymns metaphor is more important, literature is full of metaphor.
5) What do you understand by the German term 'Künstlerroman'? How can you justify that 'To The Lighthouse' is 'Künstlerroman' novel?
Ans.'Kunstlerroman' novel means novel about the growth of an artist. In the novel we can find that Lily's character makes it 'kunstlerroman', in the end of the novel, when Lily finished her painting it describes the growth of her mind.
6) "... the wages of obedience is death, and the daughter that reproduces mothering to perfection, including child-bearing, already has on her cheeks the pallor of death. One reminded here of various texts by Lucy Irigaray, in which she attacks mothers for being, however unwillingly, accomplices in the patriarchal system of oppression." (Viola). In light of this remark, explain briefly Lily's dilemma in 'To The Lighthouse'.
Ans.Lily rejects the patriarchal beliefs and criticized whom, who believed in who sacrifice to patriarchal world.
7) You have compared the 'beginning' and the 'ending' of the novel and the film adaptation of the novel directed by Colin Gregg (you can see it again in the embedded video below this). Do you think that the novel is more poignant than the movie? If yes, do you ascribe the fact that the power of words is much greater than that of the screen / visuals?
Ans.Novel starts with dialogue of James and Mrs. Ramsay, and it ends with Lily's completed painting. "Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision." It is said that in the novel and it described visual effects of sound and light, which gives more charm.
8) How do you interpret the last line of the novel (It was done; it was finished.
Ans. Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision.) with reference to the ending of the film (After the final stroke on the canvass with finishing touch, Lily walks inside the house. As she goes ante-chamber, the light and dark shade makes his face play hide-and-seek. She climbs stairs, puts her brush aside, walks through the dark and light to enter her room. Gently closes the door - speaks: "Closed doors, open windows" - lies on the bed and with some sort of satisfaction utters: "Dearest Briscoe, you are a fool".)
Ans.We can interpret that Lily have her vision, it also symbolises Virginia's vision that she wanted to prove her self and she wanted to say that she can write and paint, she described it through the character of Lily Brisco."Closed doors, open window", the last of the film is also significant.
9) What does the catalogue named as 'Army and Navy' signify? What does cutting of 'Refrigerator' signify?
Ans.Refrigerator symbolised as preserving something and it suggests the character of Mrs. Ramsay, who is preserver of culture. It presents the technology and human thoughts. Her approach to her son and to daughter is different, and it suggestion to James from Mrs. Ramsay to cut refrigerator from the catalogue of army and navy.
10) Why did Virginia give such prominence to the tale of the “Fisherman’s Wife”? In particular, why did she weave such a misogynist tale into the fabric of a book which so eloquently challenges received patriarchal notions about the roles and capabilities of women?
Ans.Virginia creates a satire through the tale of 'Fisherman and his wife'. It is German fairytale, the Grim brothers collected this story. It is a misogynistic kind of a story, and tells that never listen of women. The story represents the female as a weak and too much demanding. Here it's kind of satire on Mrs. Ramsay, who shaped her child with such kind of ideas.
11) How is India represented in 'To The Lighthouse'?
Ans.Augustus Carmichael refers India as a land of desire and Mrs. Ramsay presented as purely Indian woman who constantly pampers male ego.
