Essay 2021 Essay Paper 125 marks 1200 words Critically analyse
Q7
History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.
हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
इतिहास स्वयं को दोहराता है, पहली बार एक त्रासदी के रूप में, दूसरी बार एक प्रहसन के रूप में ।
Directive word: Critically analyse
This question asks you to critically analyse. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.
See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.
How this answer will be evaluated
Approach
Critically analyse demands examining the validity of Marx's aphorism by weighing evidence for and against cyclical historical patterns. Structure as: introduction contextualising the quote and stating your nuanced thesis; body exploring multiple dimensions (political, economic, social) with concrete historical parallels; conclusion synthesising whether the pattern holds and what it means for contemporary India.
Key points expected
- Interpretation of Marx's original context (18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte) and distinction between 'tragedy' (genuine revolutionary sacrifice) versus 'farce' (degraded repetition)
- Examination of economic cycles: 1929 Great Depression versus 2008 financial crisis, or colonial extraction patterns repeated in neo-colonial resource grabs
- Political parallels: Weimar Republic's collapse and rise of fascism compared to contemporary authoritarian populisms globally and in India
- Assessment of counter-arguments: linear progress theories, technological disruption breaking cycles, or Indian exceptionalism claims
- Contemporary Indian relevance: Emergency (1975-77) as tragedy versus subsequent democratic backsliding as potential farce; or farmers' movements repeating patterns
- Synthesis on whether history truly repeats or merely rhymes, and implications for policy-making and citizen vigilance
Evaluation rubric
| Dimension | Weight | Max marks | Excellent | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis clarity | 20% | 25 | Establishes a nuanced, contestable thesis within first 150 words—neither uncritical acceptance nor outright rejection of Marx, but qualified position (e.g., 'repetition occurs in institutional forms rather than substance' or 'farce precedes tragedy in digital age') | Thesis present but generic ('history sometimes repeats') or binary ('Marx was right/wrong') without qualification; emerges late in introduction | No discernible thesis, or mere restatement of the quote without interpretation; thesis contradicts body content |
| Multi-dimensional coverage | 20% | 25 | Covers minimum three dimensions (political, economic, socio-cultural) with explicit interconnection; addresses both 'tragedy' and 'farce' phases with theoretical grounding (Marx, Hegel, Toynbee, or Indian thinkers like Kosambi) | Two dimensions covered adequately but third absent or superficial; dimensions treated in isolation without showing how economic repetition enables political farce | Single-dimension treatment (only political or only economic); or laundry list of events without analytical framework |
| Examples & evidence | 20% | 25 | Specific, accurate historical pairs: French Revolution/Napoleon III compared to India's 1971 liberation of Bangladesh versus contemporary neighbourhood policy; or colonial famine policy (1943 Bengal) versus post-independence food distribution failures; quantitative evidence where relevant | Examples present but imprecise ('many wars happened') or only one well-developed pair with others mentioned without elaboration; some anachronisms | No concrete examples, or factually incorrect pairings; relies on hypothetical scenarios ('imagine if...') rather than documented history |
| Language & flow | 20% | 25 | Sophisticated vocabulary appropriate to philosophical-historical discourse; seamless transitions between tragedy/farce phases; effective use of irony and rhetorical devices matching the quote's tone; disciplined 1200-word structure | Clear but unremarkable prose; some abrupt transitions; occasional colloquialisms; minor deviations from word limit | Grammatical errors disrupting comprehension; fragmented paragraphs; excessive quoting without integration; significantly over/under word limit |
| Conclusion & forward look | 20% | 25 | Returns to thesis with synthesis; offers specific contemporary application—e.g., warning against treating Aadhaar-enabled welfare as 'farce' repetition of colonial surveillance, or identifying how climate negotiations repeat 1992 Rio tragedy; closes with actionable insight for civil services | Restates main points without synthesis; generic forward look ('we must learn from history'); no specific contemporary relevance | Introduces new arguments in conclusion; mere summary; or abrupt ending; no forward-looking element |
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