https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/10 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 09:44:57 GMT 2026-06-27T09:44:57Z https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/1258 Bonobibi: an autoethnographic study of eco-theology and devotional practice Kakon, Lamia Sultana This study examines the religious and ecological significance of Bonobibi within the Sundarbans, a tidal mangrove region shaped by environmental instability, predatory threats, and human dependence on nature. Moving beyond conventional scholarly classifications of Bonobibi as merely a figure of myth, folklore, or syncretism, the research argues that she functions as a living divine protector whose authority informs moral conduct, ecological responsibility, and communal identity among forest-dependent communities. The chapter establishes the conceptual foundation of the thesis by exploring the environmental and cultural conditions of the Sundarbans, reviewing existing scholarship, identifying gaps in current academic discourse, and introducing the framework of vernacular eco-theology. Through this approach, the study emphasizes how theological meaning emerges from lived ecological experience rather than abstract religious categorization. The research further demonstrates that the precarious landscape of the Sundarbans—marked by shifting tides, dangerous terrain, and encounters with Bengal tigers—shapes both the spiritual worldview and survival practices of local inhabitants. Ultimately, the thesis proposes that Bonobibi worship represents a dynamic interaction between ecology, spirituality, and social life in the Sundarbans. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/1258 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/1257 Enhancing English writing proficiency in university EFI learners through Quillbot: an analysis of reformulation, clarity, and lexical advancement Akter, Sumaiya Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education has reshaped approaches to language learning and writing development. This study investigates the role of AI tools, specifically QuillBot, in enhancing writing skills of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) university students. The research focuses on three core dimensions of writing improvement: Reformulation Proficiency, Clarity Optimization, and Lexical Advancement. A quasi-experimental design was employed with two groups: an experimental group that received AI-assisted writing support and a control group that engaged in traditional writing practices. Pretests and posttests were conducted to measure progress, and learners’ perceptions were gathered through surveys categorized into six response scales. The study found statistically significant improvements in the experimental group across all three measured dimensions. An ANOVA analysis confirmed a strong interaction effect between group and time, indicating that students using QuillBot showed a superior ability to effectively reformulate sentences, enhance clarity in writing, and broaden their vocabulary compared to the control group. Furthermore, survey data revealed a generally positive reception among learners, with the highest approval ratings for reformulation proficiency, clarity optimization, and lexical Advancement. The findings from this research suggest that AI-driven writing tools are a valuable resource for EFL learners. By offering immediate feedback and opportunities for vocabulary enrichment, these tools effectively supplement traditional pedagogical approaches. The study’s results point to the substantial pedagogical benefits of integrating AI into academic writing courses, though it also stresses the importance of maintaining a balance between tool reliance and the cultivation of critical thinking and creative expression. Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/1257 2025-05-01T00:00:00Z https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/1256 Women in gothic fiction and their critics Islam, Prathama Shuddha Gothic novels have developed a reputation of featuring a certain stereotype of women to the extent that the "damsel in distress" is considered a Gothic trope. In this paper, I re-assess the fairness of that analysis by examining two Gothic classic- Emily Bronte's Wuthering heights and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and one that satirizes and comments on gothic fiction and its audience Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. By discrediting women in classic gothic fiction, critics of gothic fiction also undermine the women who have written these pieces. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/1256 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/1249 Upward mobility and the naturalization of household norms in Vivek Shanbhag’s Ghachar Oishee, Nurjahan This thesis examines the relationship between economic transformation, class mobility, and ideological change in Vivek Shanbhag’s Ghochar through a Marxist theoretical framework. The study explores how the family’s transition from poverty to prosperity reshapes authority, morality, identity, and interpersonal relationships within the household. Drawing on Marx’s concepts of base and superstructure and alienation, along with Louis Althusser’s theory of ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA), the research argues that economic advancement in the novella produces not only material comfort but also profound psychological and ideological consequences. Through qualitative textual analysis and close reading, the study demonstrates how the success of the family business restructures domestic power relations, normalizes obedience, and transforms family rituals into mechanisms of ideological control. The narrator’s purposelessness, silence, and emotional detachment are interpreted as forms of alienation resulting from insulation from meaningful labor. Furthermore, the study analyzes how the family naturalizes authority and suppresses dissent through everyday practices, particularly in its treatment of Anita, whose resistance exposes the ideological foundations of the household. Ultimately, the thesis argues that Ghochar presents upward mobility as an ideological transformation that redefines moral values, social roles, and emotional ties under conditions of modern capitalism and neoliberal social change. This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Literature (EL), 2025. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://ar.iub.edu.bd/handle/11348/1249 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z