This presentation is based on the R. K. Narayan and comic vision of his works.

1. Comic Vision of R. K.
Narayan's Works

2. Personal Details
● Name :- Payal Bambhaniya
● Paper no. :- 201
● Paper Name :- Indian English Literature - Pre -
Independence
● Roll no. :- 14
● Enrollment no. :- 4069206420220002
● Submitted to :- SMT S. B. Gardi Department of
English, MKBU.
● Batch:- M. A. Sem. 3 (2022-2024 )

3. Points to Ponder
● Introduction of Writer
● Comic vision in R. K. Narayan's Works
● The Vendor of Sweet
● The Guide
● Possibilities and limitations
● Conclusion

4. Introduction of R. K. Narayan
● R. K. Narayan’s full name is Rashipuram
Krishnanswami Iyer Narayanaswami.
● He was born in 1906 and died in 2001.
● He was an Indian writer and novelist
known for his work set in the fictional
South Indian town of Malgudi.
● He was a leading authour of early Indian
Literature in English literature in English
along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao.

5. Notable Works
● Swami and Friends
● Malgudi Days
● The Guide
● The Dark Room
● The Financial Expert
● The Vendor of Sweet
● Notable Awards:- Padma Vibhushan
Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
Bensol Medal
● Narayan highlights the social context and everyday life of
his characters. He has been compared to William
Faulkner who created a similar fictional town and
likewise explored with humour and compassion the
energy of ordinary life.

6. The Vendor of Sweet
● The Vendor of Sweets ( 1967 ) is the biography of
fictional character named Jagan.
● Jagan is the Sweet Vendor of the Indian town
Malgudi.
● Jagan is the father of Mali. The novel is based on
the relationship between father and son.
● The major theme of this novel is the generation
gap.
● Jagan’s wife died when their son was a young
boy - constantly tries to with his son, but fails due
to his communication.
● Jagan, Mali, and The Cousin are the major
charectors of the novel.

7. ● In the novel Jagan is the presented comically as an
astute businessman and a Gandhist who is simple
and frugal in his habits.
● His habits like - such as taking only twenty drops of
honey per day instead of sugar, or using margosa
twings for brushing his teeth.
● These habits provides ample scope for comic
portrayal.
● Narayan shows us the comic art through the
character of Jagan.

8. The Guide
● The Guide (1958) is a novel, which is widely
discussed of Narayan’s works.
● The novel is based on Malgudi, the fictional
town in South India.
● The novel describes the transformation of
the protagonist Raju, from a tour guide to a
spiritual guide and then one of the greatest
holy men of India.
● Raju is a tourist guide with no
extraordinary qualities.
● Rosio is a dancer and female character of
the novel.

9. ● In the Beginning of the novel Raju potrayed as a
comic character.
● At the end of the novel - the growth of self. -
knowledge and maturity in Raju’s charecter.
● It comes mainly through Rosie.
● Though his time in jail might have contributed it's
share to the maturity of the railway guide into a
Swami.
● At the end of the novel, Raju become a kind of Saint.
● Narayan achieved this remarkable change in the
characters because of characters development.
● By developement of the characters we can see the
comic vision as well as tragic.

10. Possibilities Limitations
Possibilities and limitations of comic vision in R. K. Narayan's
works:
● Portrayal of unique,
memorable characters.
● Use of irony and wit for
comedic effect
● Reflection of small town
India's quirks
● Exploration of everyday
life in comic manner
● Limited depth in
characters
development
● Not suitable for
addressing all serious
issues.
● Balancing between
humour and serious
themes

11. Conclusion:-
● Comic Vision is a creative perspective.
● In essence, comic vision uses humour as
a means of both entertainment and
conveying insights into the complexities
of the human experience.

12. References
● “Srinath, C. N. “R. K. Narayan’s Comic Vision: Possibilities and Limitations.” World Literature
Today, vol. 55, no. 3, 1981, pp. 416–19. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/40136551.
Accessed 14 Oct. 2023.

13. ● Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "R.K. Narayan". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Oct. 2023,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/R-K-Narayan. Accessed 16 October 2023.

14. Thank You