Thomas Eliot Essays (1185 words) - Christian Poetry, Chapbooks

Thomas Eliot T.S. Eliot was a very influential pessimist, always and constantly thriving on his hatred of little things and his love life. Eliot was born in St. Louis Missouri - 1888 ad. His parents were both writers and loved the arts, most effectively passing on the genes to their son. While growing up he learned many things, his parents were extremely social and intellectual and they pushed him to achieve the highest of statuses. He went to college at Harvard University and then moved to London to go to Oxford. He then became a citizen of England in 1915. While in England Eliot held many jobs to keep the payments on his 5th floor English apartment and his college tuition. Eliot quickly became popular with Britain and was known as a great poet and a literal critic. Eliot is best known for two of his works: The Waste Land (1922) and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915). Actually the Love song is the beginning of the Waste Land. The Waste Land is in 5 parts, so it is more of a story in poetical form. In the Love Song, Eliot actually sounds a bit like a optimist, quite frankly though his own ?waste land?steps in half way through. This is his only poetic work I like. But it will never be at the top of any of my lists. In this ?song? , JAP (J. Alfred Prufrock) is writing a letter to his honey, the girl he is in love with. In this poem Eliot uses a lot of visual imagery, he is very good with his adjectives and brings such a happy correlation of thought into a grim reality he would call his ?Waste Land?. He talks of how : In the room the women come and go Talking of Michelangelo. - TLSJAP stanza 13 and 14 It has been my thought that this may signify his ?type?. Eliot, again was an intellectual and then so he would most likely hang out where the smart people were and get away from: Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels And sawdust restaurant with oyster-shells: Streets that follow like a tedious argument Of insidious intent. - stanzas 6-9 He actually gives the evidence to where he found his women, and how he likes to stroll through the outdoors and ending up in places of eloquence, and ?High Society?. Even though he had a medium amount of money. He was still accepted in places for lower pay because of his high intelligence and the intelligence of his women. People enjoyed his company. He goes on talking about how there will always be time for us referring to the love that which he shares for her, and that there will always be time for things, but letting each other look at the joy as present and the escape from his ?Waste Land?. He goes on in stanza 37 - 48 telling how they would grow old together, while still with the people that surround them that they love so dearly. He then tells of how he ?knows? things and how life always goes (evidence of realism) in stanzas 49 - 54. Now here you can start to sense his pessimistic side shed a bit, talking of the: To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways, And how should I presume? Stanza 60 & 61 Of course I guess you could take that as a repentance line but, I don't think so, lets go on. From stanzas 70 - 86 it shows what I think is his deep side and talking as if he were actually a Realist which he probably was, at least to me. He humbles himself a great deal , which is good , but talks of how things slowly fade , referring a lot to his baldness and how age takes a toll on relationships. This is my favorite part of the poem, because he brings you into his soul, not just letting you taste the action . I feel that this is how he lived life. Always leaving people to taste the good stuff around him but behind his eyes ly his brain and behind his brain his heart and when his company least expected it, ?I could see him waving his hands and saying?, ?Come all! Come! Come!...come and feel my pain...come and pity me...come and think I am humble.....even though I don't care much of any of you.? That is the picture I

Sir James Clark Ross and Sir John Ross essays

Sir James Clark Ross and Sir John Ross essays Explorers Sir John Ross and Sir James Clark Ross Two notorious explorers from the 1800s are Sir John Ross and Sir James Clark Ross. These two explorers are known for their expeditions in the Arctic. Sir John Ross, a Scottish explorer, was born on June 24, 1777. He is recognized as the first explorer to reach the Earth's magnetic north pole. Age of nine, he joined the Royal Navy and served in the Napoleonic wars. His Arctic career were made up of two naval expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and one unsuccessful attempt to find the lost explorer Sir John Franklin expedition to discover the North West Passage. His first expedition in search of the Northwest Passage in 1818 was unsuccessful. Between 1829 and 1833 he went along the East Side of the Boothia Peninsula and recorded the coast as far as Kull Island. In the west, they explored the coasts of King William Island between Cape Norton and Victory Point, finding and naming Cape Jane Franklin and Franklin Point. He also traveled along the coasts of Matty Island and recorded the West Coast of the Boothia Peninsula between Cape Porter and Cape Nicholas. In 1833, his ship hit an iceberg and was rescued. On his map of the Boothia Peninsula, Ross had drawn an isthmus "closing" Rae Strait between King William Island and Boothia. This has led some people to believe that this error may have led to the disastrous outcome of explorer John Franklin's voyage in 1846. Ross final voyage to the Arctic to find Sir John Franklin was in 1850-51. Later on Sir John Ross wrote two books describing his search for the Northwest Passage. Sir John Ross served as British consul in Stockholm, London from 1839 to1846. He died in London in 1856. Sir James Clark Ross, nephew of Sir John Ross, was born on April 15, 1800. He was a British explorer and naval officer who went on missions to both the Arctic and the co...

Major Events in the Trojan War

Major Events in the Trojan War The ancient Greeks traced their history to mythological events and their genealogy to the gods and goddesses. Perhaps the most pivotal event in the early history of ancient Greece was the Trojan War. This is that most famous of ancient wars that the Greeks ended with an insidious gift. We call it the Trojan Horse. We know about the Trojan War primarily from the works of the poet Homer (the Iliad and the Odyssey), as well as stories told in other ancient literature, known as the Epic Cycle. ​Goddesses Set the Trojan War in Motion According to ancient, non-eye-witness reports, a conflict among the goddesses started the Trojan War. This conflict led to the famous story of Paris (known as The Judgment of Paris) awarding a golden apple to the goddess, Aphrodite. In return for Paris judgment, Aphrodite promised Paris the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen. This world-class Greek beauty is known as Helen of Troy and called the face that launched a thousand ships. Perhaps it didnt matter to the godsespecially the goddess of lovewhether Helen was already taken, but for mere mortals it did. Unfortunately, Helen was already married. She was the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. Paris Abducts Helen Discussed in more detail in connection with Odysseuswho was one of the leaders of the Greek (Achaean) side of the Trojan Waris the importance of hospitality in the ancient world. While Odysseus was away, suitors abused the hospitality of Odysseus wife and household. Odysseus, however, relied on the hospitality of strangers to survive his 10-year odyssey home. Without certain standards of expected behavior on the part of host and visitor, anything could happen, as, indeed, it did when the Trojan prince Paris, a guest of Menelaus, stole from his host. Now, Menelaus had been aware of the possibility that his wife, Helen, would be snatched from him. Helen had been snatched before their marriage, by Theseus, and she had been courted by almost all the Achaean leaders. When Menelaus finally won the hand of Helen, he (and Helens father) extracted a promise from all the other suitors that they would come to his aid should Helen be taken away again. It was on the basis of this promise that Agamemnonacting on brother Menelaus behalfwas able to coerce the Achaeans to join forces with him and his brother and sail against the Asian city-state of Troy to win back Helen. Trojan War Draft Dodgers Agamemnon had trouble rounding up the men. Odysseus feigned madness. Achilles tried to pretend he was a woman. But Agamemnon saw through Odysseus ruse and Odysseus tricked Achilles into revealing himself, and so, all the leaders who had promised to join did so. Each leader brought his own troops, weapons, and ships and stood, poised to sail, at Aulis. Agamemnon and His Family Agamemnon was from the  House of Atreus, that cursed family that stemmed from Tantalus, a son of Zeus. Tantalus had spitefully served the gods a feast with an awful main course, the cooked body of his own son Pelops. Demeter was upset at the time because her daughter, Persephone, had disappeared. This left her distracted, so unlike all the other gods and goddesses, she failed to recognize the meat dish as human flesh. As a result, Demeter ate some of the stew.  Afterward, the gods put Pelops back together again, but there was, of course, a missing part. Demeter had eaten one of Pelops shoulders, so she replaced it with a piece of ivory. Tantalus did not get off unscathed. His well-suited punishment helped inform the Christian vision of Hell. Tantalus  familys behavior remained unimproved through the generations. Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus (Helens husband) were among his descendants. Raising the ire of the gods seems to have come very naturally to all the descendants of Tantalus. The Greek troops heading for Troy, under the lead of Agamemnon, waited at Aulis for  a wind  that just wouldnt come.  Eventually, a seer named Calchas deduced the problem: The virgin huntress and goddess, Artemis, had been offended by a boast Agamemnon had made about his own hunting skills. To appease Artemis, Agamemnon had to sacrifice his own daughter Iphigenia. Only then would the winds come to fill their sails and let them set off from Aulis to Troy. To put his daughter Iphigenia to the sacrificial knife was hard for Agamemnon the father, but not for Agamemnon the military leader. He sent word to his wife that Iphigenia was to marry Achilles at Aulis (Achilles was left out of the loop). Clytemnestra and their daughter  Iphigenia  went happily to Aulis for a wedding to the great Greek warrior. But there, instead of a marriage, Agamemnon performed the deadly ritual. Clytemnestra would never forgive her husband. The goddess Artemis  appeased, favorable winds filled the sails of Achaean ships so they could sail to Troy. The Action of the Iliad Begins in the Tenth Year Well-matched forces dragged the Trojan War on and on. It was in its tenth year when the climactic and most dramatic events finally took place. First, a sacrilegious Agamemnon, leader of all the Achaeans (Greeks), captured a priestess of Apollo. When the Greek leader refused to return the priestess to her father,  a plague  struck the Achaeans. This plague may have been  bubonic since it was connected with the  mouse-aspect  of Apollo. Calchas, the seer, summoned once again, augured that health would be restored only when the priestess was returned. Agamemnon agreed, but only if he could have a substitute war prize: Briseis, Achilles concubine. When Agamemnon took Briseis from Achilles, the hero was outraged and refused to fight. Thetis, Achilles immortal mother, prevailed upon Zeus to punish Agamemnon by making the Trojans stymy the Achaeansat least for a while. Patroclus Fights as Achilles Achilles had a dear friend and companion at Troy named Patroclus. In the movie  Troy, he is Achilles cousin. While thats a possibility, many consider the two not so much cousins, in the sense of son of ones uncle, as lovers. Patroclus tried to persuade Achilles to fight because Achilles was so capable a warrior that he could turn the tide of battle. Nothing had changed for Achilles, so he refused. Patroclus presented an alternative. He asked Achilles to let him lead Achilles troops, the Myrmidons. Achilles  agreed and even  lent  Patroclus his armor. Dressed like Achilles and accompanied by the Myrmidons, Patroclus went into battle. He acquitted himself well, killing a number of Trojans. But then the greatest of the Trojan heroes, Hector, mistaking  Patroclus  for Achilles, killed him. Now the situation was different for Achilles. Agamemnon was an annoyance, but the Trojans were, once again, the enemy. Achilles was so grieved by the death of his dear Patroclus that he reconciled with Agamemnon (who returned Briseis), and entered the battle. A Madman Kills and Disgraces Hector Achilles met Hector in single combat and killed him. Then, in his madness and grief over Patroclus, Achilles dishonored the Trojan heros body by dragging it  around  the ground tied to his chariot by a belt. This belt had been given Hector by the Achaean hero Ajax in exchange for a sword. Days later, Priam, Hectors aged father and  the king of Troy, persuaded Achilles to stop abusing the body and return it for proper burial. The Achilles Heel Soon after, Achilles was killed, wounded in the one spot  where  legend tells us he was not immortalhis heel. When Achilles was born, his mother, the nymph Thetis, had dipped him into the river Styx to confer immortality, but the spot where she held him, his heel, remained dry.  Paris  is said to have hit that one spot with his arrow, but Paris wasnt that good a marksman. He could only have hit it with divine guidancein this case, with the help of Apollo. The Next Greatest Hero The Achaeans and Trojans valued the armor of fallen soldiers. They triumphed in capturing the helmets, weapons, and armor of the enemy, but also prized that of their own dead. The Achaeans wanted to award the armor of Achilles to the Achaean hero they thought came next in stature to Achilles. Odysseus won. Ajax, who thought the armor should have been his, went mad with rage, tried to kill his fellow countrymen, and killed himself with the sword which he had received from his belt-exchange with Hector. Aphrodite Continues to Help Paris What had Paris been up to all this time? Besides his dalliance with Helen of Troy and slaying of Achilles, Paris had shot and killed a number of Achaeans. He had even fought one-on-one with Menelaus. When Paris was in danger of being killed, his divine protector, Aphrodite, broke the strap of the helmet, which Menelaus was clutching. Aphrodite then shrouded Paris in a mist so that he could escape back to  Helen of Troy. The Arrows of Hercules After the death of Achilles, Calchas uttered yet another prophecy. He told the Achaeans they needed the bow and arrows of Hercules (Herakles) to defeat the Trojans and end the war. Philoctetes, who had been left wounded on  the island of Lemnos, had said bow and poisoned arrows. So an embassy was sent to bring Philoctetes to the battlefront. Before he joined the Greek battle line, one of the sons of Asclepius healed him. Philoctetes then shot one of  Hercules  arrows  at  Paris. There was barely a scratch. But ironically, like the  wound  Paris had inflicted on Achilles one weak spot, that scratch was enough to kill the Trojan prince. The Return of Odysseus Odysseus  soon devised a way to end the Trojan Warthe erection of a giant wooden horse filled with Achaean (Greek) men to be left at the gates of Troy. The Trojans had noticed Achaean ships sailing away earlier that day and thought the giant horse was a peace (or sacrificial) offering from the Achaeans. Rejoicing, they opened the gates and led the horse into their city. Then, after 10 years of privations for the sake of the war, the Trojans brought out their equivalent of champagne. They feasted, drank hard, and fell asleep. During the night, the Achaeans stationed inside the horse opened the trap door, crept down, opened the gates, and let in their countrymen who had only pretended to slip away. The Achaeans then torched Troy, killing the men and taking the women prisoner. Helen, now  middle-aged but still a  beauty,  was reunited with her husband Menelaus. So ended the Trojan War and so began the Achaean leaders torturous and mostly deadly trips home, some of which are told in the sequel to The Iliad, The Odyssey, which is also attributed to Homer. Agamemnon  got his comeuppance at the hand of his wife Clytemnestra and her lover, Agamemnons cousin Aegisthus. Patroclus, Hector, Achilles, Ajax, Paris, and countless others were dead, but the Trojan War dragged on.

Understanding Sense of Belongingness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Understanding Sense of Belongingness - Essay Example Using this article, I will be discussing the author’s structure of the source and his project as well as the contents of the article regarding belongingness. Firstly, the author tries to make a relationship with his readers through his writing approach. Strayhorn sounds professional which he maintains throughout the article but he also made his tone very personal so as to communicate well with his readers. This is reflected not only with the choice of the words used but also in the manner the statements are crafted. For instance, the writer refers to studies of various researchers such as Baumeister and Leary. This shows how objective the writer is regarding his topic. However, there are also times when the author refers to his own research that he uses the personal pronoun â€Å"I† as he tries to relate with his audience but he still maintains a serious tone. To make his discussion more interesting, Strayhorn presents his argument in an organized manner, letting the readers well-guided as they continue with their reading. Strayhorn’s project aims at using the present literature to explain â€Å"sense of belonging†. This means that the author uses earlier published studies as references in attempting to explain what the topic really means. From this foundation, the writer wants to show the importance of the topic, approaching it with the use of examples and referencing other studies. Lastly, he intends to go over the implication of the study, especially in education. Therefore, this study is focused more on the students and how they are able to relate to their environment. As promised, the author first defines the term â€Å"sense of belongingness†. For example, he quotes Anant’s definition saying, â€Å"Sense of belonging characterizes a person’s perceived belief of indispensability within a system†.

Impacts of Globalization on Development Notions Essay

Impacts of Globalization on Development Notions - Essay Example Globalization enhances the prosperity of the economies and leads to efficient resource allocation. Prosperous economies and proper allocation of resources result in increased employment opportunities, high outputs, lowered prices of goods, and high standards of living. Due to increased trade, direct foreign investments, flexibility of countries to operate across borders, and enhanced communications, there is an easy access to information, and easier delivery of goods and services. Realizing this situation, the people in various countries get fast access to goods and services saving time and concentrating to develop their economies. When more investors come to an area, the people get employment opportunities leading to increased income thus boosts their living standards. Similarly, better access to information allows the people to realize the global market price of goods and services to avoid unnecessary expenses. However, critics of globalization emphasize that the concept fosters of fshoring and outsourcing, which leads to the destruction of the manufacturing sector of the developing nations. Globalization stimulates reforms in institutions and supports financial developments. The conception of economic globalization in relation to capital accounts and trade elevates the quality of the financial institutions. Further, these institutions create and uphold robust property rights, better financial guidelines, and sound legal systems that are critical in the promotion of financial development.

Intermarriage - opposition Essay Example for Free

Intermarriage opposition Essay Marshall Sklare was able to articulate the fears of many older Jews and he wrote: Intermarriage (and its sociodemographic consequences) can no longer be treated as marginal when it is the result of a deep-rooted sociopolitical ideology and value structure and a function of lifestyle, residential pattern and educational and occupational structure The intermarriage issue has become central to the internal struggles of American Jewry (1982, p. 37). Aside from the fact that the older generation seemed to be in a perpetual survival mode of existence, keeping to themselves to continue Jewish values and traditions, there is a deeper reason why many are opposed to the idea of exogamy. Steven Bayme explains that the rise of intermarriage is a threat because it can only mean the, â€Å" decline of Jewish commitment, a weakness in Jewish identity, a failure of Jewish education and the Jewish family to bring about the commitment to Jewish continuity † (2002, p. 226). If this is true then it will just reveal the error of their ways. This is because suppressing the symptoms will not make the sickness go away. If the symptom for impiety and the shortcomings of a flawed educational system is the high rate of intermarriage then opposing exogamy will not change the fact that there is problem with Judaism. Traditionalists made their opinions known; that they do not agree to intermarriages but this seems to be an idea suited for past generations who cannot see the possibility of compromise in the land of the heathen. A popular 1950s joke regarding this matter was an accurate depiction of how parents felt about their children marrying non-Jews. The following dialog is between a young Jewish soldier coming home from the Korean War and his mother. Before the young man left Korea he calls his mother to inform her about the good news (Shapiro, year, p. 233). Son: I have survived the war without being wounded. Mother: That is good. Son: I am bringing home a Korean wife Mother: That is also good. Son: We dont have a place to live. Mother: Thats okay. You can stay in my apartment. Son: But you live in a one-bedroom apartment. Mother: Thats no problem. After I put the phone down I am going to jump out of the window, and you will have the entire apartment to yourself. According to Bayme, when it dawned upon the Jewish community that intermarriage is snowballing into something that can overwhelm them, the reaction was radical and aimed at the jugular to forcibly stop the perceived madness and he adds: When the first news of the growth of intermarriage occurred, communal leaders responded with agony and handwriting. Virtually all Jewish organizations passed resolutions and statements signaling opposition to intermarriage. Conferences were held about what we can do in the face of this tidal wave (2002, p. 226). Calvin Goldsheider pointed out that even as late as the 20th century the reaction was fairly dramatic. Opposition to the marriage was made plain by, â€Å" Jewish mourning rituals of sitting shiva or reciting kaddish † (2004, p. 29). It must have been a disconcerting sight for a son to see his parents lamenting his decision to take a bride not from his people. Rising Tide But it seems that no matter what type of measures was put in place to discourage interfaith marriages; more and more Jews chose to be joined with a non-Jew. It is therefore understandable that others may conclude rebellion to the norms and traditions of Judaism as the number one culprit. But more and more studies claim the contrary. In fact Shapiro remarked the traditional scape goat for the high rate of intermarriage no longer applies. Marshall Sklare, a noted sociologist on American Jewry, warned that, â€Å" attributing intermarriage among Jews to self-hatred, cowardice in the face of anti-Semitism, or social climbing misread its etiology because marriages with Gentiles increased while anti-Semitism was dwindling and many of the social traditional status distinctions were being swept away† (as qtd. in Shapiro, 1992, p. 235). Bayme supports the finding of Shapiro and Sklare and was very practical in his approach for he said that differences in religion are not a significant consideration to young couples of today. Bayme also added that American society values romantic love more than it values differences in religious beliefs. And to top all that Jews are contending with an unexpected external force, â€Å" 87 percent of Americans welcome marriage to a Jew † a rather surprising revelation considering what the Jews had to endure for centuries (2002, 226). Now if the reasons for the rising rate of interfaith marriages can be explained in terms of love, openness, acceptance and the realization that every human being is created equal in the sight of God then what kind of community will dare go against universally accepted principles? More so, what kind of community will have the resolve to continually fight for exogamy in the face of a â€Å"love† assault? Surely, only a few can resist the advances of a determined lover and that may well be the number one reason why this crisis – at least in the eyes of Jewish elders – could not be contained. Resolution Marshall Sklare minced no words in asserting that there are only two definitive actions that can be used to settle the issue: 1. Change the social structure and value orientation of the American Jewish community; or 2.accommodate and accept the intermarried (1982, p. 37). Since option no. 1 is clearly unacceptable then the Jewish people are only left with one choice and it is to go out and welcome the non-Jew spouse into Jewish life. This is a view espoused by Calvin Goldscheider who believes that it is a blessing in disguise and contrary to antiquated and popular opinion the high rate of intermarriage will ensure the survival of the Jewish race both in numbers and in cultural distinctiveness. A seemingly incompatible set of ideas considering the nature of Jewish life. Goldscheider summarizes his argument into the following statements: The key indicators of an ethnic communitys strength, however, are not who marries whom, but the activities that their grandchildren engage in. A groups continuity depends on the ethnic and religious commitments of the family. Focusing on families and the ethnic commitments of the young redirects questions about assimilation away from biology and marriage and toward economic activities, cultural obligations and how parents pass on traditions to their children. In this regard, the American Jewish community is surviving, maybe even thriving† (2003, p. 282). Goldscheider arrived at the aforementioned conclusion as a consequence of the following research findings: ? The decline of the American Jewish community is a product of exaggeration and sensationalization of the facts; ? Interfaith marriages were assumed to result in complete and immediate conversion of the Jewish partner into non-Jewish religion, practices, and customs;? the terms used to define modern day Jews were biased towards the already assumed conclusion that there is a significant decline in their numbers; ? The numbers did not add up considering that there is a significant number of non-Jewish spouses who convert to Judaism, or informally integrate into the community and follow Jewish customs and traditions; and ? previous studies did not account the fact that in many intermarriages the intermarried couples decided that their children will grow up as Jews or at least encourage them to practice Jewish customs and traditions.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Essays -- Science Genetics Papers embryo

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Embryonic stem cell research is a controversial topic nationwide, because of its clash of ethical and moral values. Many people, including those suffering from diseases that this research is seeking to cure, do not believe in killing a living embryo in order to advance research and science. â€Å"Even though having Parkinson’s Disease is something I’d rather not go through, I cannot find it in me to support embryonic stem cell research at this time in my life, simply because my improvement or being cured shouldn’t depend on the killing of an innocent life,† said Wilbanice Ayala, 22, of Hudson, New Hampshire. President George W. Bush is one who also does not believe in the â€Å"killing of an innocent life† for research that could potentially lead to the cure of many diseases. In 2001, Bush announced that federal funds would only be distributed for research on the 60 stem cell lines already in existence. This address brought an outcry from those afflicted with diseases that could possibly be cured by stem cells and by those who strongly support the research for the betterment of the society. With so many different groups of researchers wanting to explore this topic, 60 stem cell lines simply cannot be stretched for everyone’s use. In addition to that, the lines have been used so much that many of them are starting to show chromosomal abnormalities. There are, however, alternatives to embryonic stem cell research. For those not familiar with the study of embryonic stem cells, it is derived from the cells that make up the inner cell mass of the embryo, blastocyst. What is unique about these cells is that they are capable of generating any and all cells in the body. Some alternatives to this study incl... ... the day Proposition 71 was passed was an important day for all patients, researchers, and people who depend on medical research for treatment and cures. Harvard will no longer be alone in the search for cures using stem cell research. California’s passing of Proposal 71 offers a lot of promise to the field of science and its advancements. Is this just another example of â€Å"lazy research,† or is this the only option left that can provide treatments to many people suffering from different diseases? The bottom line is that this new wave is rapidly growing in popularity and alternatives to embryonic stem cell research are fading, to some seeming virtually non-existent. â€Å"At some point there was excitement that adult stem cells could be changed into cells from another tissue, but this has now been unequivocally been put aside as experimental artifacts,† said Kadereit.

Charles Martin’s “Taken Up” Essay

Charles Martins Taken Up is a poem that could illustrate two possible scenarios. This poem can be interpreted as viewing a group of people waiting on, meeting, and leaving with extraterrestrial beings. It could also be a personified colony of aspen trees that are awaiting the sun on a spring day. It is written in free verse that does not have a specific amount of syllables per line. The poem consists of seven terza rima rhyming verse stanzas, which displays the authors control over the free verse form. These stanzas are constructed simply by using the rhyme scheme a a a, b b b, and so on. This poem is written in the third person narrative and describes the interaction between humans and aliens. It could also describe the scene of a colony of aspen trees waiting on a spring morning. The poem uses descriptive language so that one may easily construct a visual scene with their mind. The poem presents the use of literary devices—imagery, alliteration, metaphors, and personificatio n are most common. The poem was written in 1978 by the American poet Charles Martin, and could possibly capture the ideals of the American popular culture at the time. The Roswell incident of 1947 gave rise to a multitude of thoughts regarding the possibilities of extraterrestrials coming to earth. On the other hand, the poem could simply be about beauty and life as seen in nature. The opening lines of the poem possibly illustrate the extraterrestrial idea as well as a colony of aspen trees waiting for the sunrise on a spring morning. It begins:Tired of earth, they dwindled on their hill,Watching and waiting in the moonlight untilThe aspens leaves quite suddenly grew still,If we assume the poet is referring to people in this poem, these lines would illustrate a group of people dwindled, or sitting, on a hill watching upwards towards outer space. Line three, â€Å"The aspens leaves quite suddenly grew still† could possibly refer to the silence before something big happens. This type of silence can be compared to the silence a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? receives before knowing if he/she correctly answered the question. But if we were to assume that the poet is referring to a colony of aspen trees, then it could be read much differently. Because trees need sunlight to grow through photosynthesis, they might be personified in the sense that they dwindle in the moonlight while they are watching and waiting for the night to be over and the sun to rise. The third line illustrates the  calmness of a spring morning. Aspen leaves by nature easily catch the slightest breeze so this illustrates a deadening silence or calmness. The next three lines continue to illustrate both ideas of extraterrestrials as well as the aspen tree colony:No longer quaking as the disc descended,That glowing wheel of lights whose coming endedAll waiting and watching. When it landedThe first line reinforces the idea of silence or calmness because the quaking refers to the leaves of an aspen tree quaking, or rocking, back and forth. The disc descended could refer to a flying saucer, which was an idea of the American popular culture of what an alien space craft might look like. It might also be the moon going down in anticipation of the sun rising, which brings the life giving rays of light. Line two might illustrate the coming of the sun, glowing wheel of lights, and the closure of night, whose coming ended. It could also be compared with a wheel of lights, or a UFO. The third line, All waiting and watching. When it landed could refer to people waiting and watching this UFO land. On the other hand, it could mean that this aspen colony is personified in the sense that it is waiting and watching for the rays of sunlight when it landed giving the possibility of life to the saplings in the colony. The third stanza again carries dualism in its lines:The ones within it one by one came forth,Stalking out awkwardly upon the earth,And those who watched them were confirmed in faith:The first line could illustrate the extraterrestrials one by one getting off the UFO. The first line is followed by a descriptive line as people see them as stalking out awkwardly because it would be awkward to see something new from outer space that might have been proportionally dissimilar to a human. This first encounter with extraterrestrials would cause these people to be confirmed in faith. Their beliefs have now been confirmed; there are extraterrestrials in the universe. The other take on these lines illustrates a view of saplings, which came forth, or sprouted one by one growing awkwardly upon the earth in all the different directions that branches grow. These new trees were growing and the rest colony was confirmed in faith by their growth. They were ensured that a new generation of life was gro wing among the colony. In stanzas four and five it seems as if the extraterrestrial idea is clearly what the poet is referring to, but it could very well be another reference to the aspen tree colony. One must think abstractly to pull out dual meanings in the following lines:Mysterious voyagers from outer space,Attenuated, golden—shreds of laceSpun into seeds of the sunflowers spinning faceLight was their speech, spanning mind to mind:We come here not believing what we find—Can it be your desire to leave behindThe mysterious voyagers are extraterrestrials from outer space who are attenuated, or made slim, but have a huge face like that of a sunflowers spinning face. These lines help to paint a picture of what an extraterrestrial might look like. At the time, in American popular culture the thinning or attenuated physique of the alien with a huge sunflower like face was commonly used as the symbol for extraterrestrials. The golden may be descriptive of a really bright light that one may associ ate with extraterrestrials. Then in the next line the extraterrestrials speech was light, or low tone, which may reassure that no harm would come to those encountering this. The next two lines of the fifth stanza are written so that one may think an alien was talking about finding people whom they are not believing would want to desire to leave behind the earth. Or, it could be that the mysterious voyagers are the rays of light beaming on the earth from outer space where the sun is. The golden—shreds of lace is descriptive of the golden rays of life giving light that the sun produces. The rays are golden in color and as beautiful as lace. The rays of light allow the seeds to grow into the saplings of the aspen colony. The suns light that was spanning from mind to mind could illustrate personification in that the light was spanning from sapling to sapling, or seed to seed, giving each the necessary fuel for growth. The last two lines are lines of questioning. Do the saplings really want to leave behind the earth from where they began? The next stanza again questions both the colony of aspens as well as the people desiring to leave with the extraterrestrials:The earth, which those called angels bless,Exchaning amplitude for emptiness?And in a single voice they answered Yes,The line exchanging amplitude for emptiness could suggest the question of why would these humans leave this earth full of everything they need for life for a life in the emptiness of outer space? Likewise, these lines could be asking a question to the aspen saplings. Do the saplings really want to  leave the amplitude of the earthly body for the emptiness of the air above ground? Both parties answered Yes states that the people want to leave earth as well as the saplings wanting to grow from the earth and in a sense leave it as well. It is almost as sustenance is being taken from both people and the colony. People do not survive well for long in an environment without oxygen, such as outer space. Likewise, aspen trees only live for a short amount of time above ground (40-150 years); while there root system in the earth can survive for far longer (up to 80,000 years). (Wikipedia)The final stanza of this poem finishes off the dualism seen throughout the poem:Discord of human melodies all blentTo the unearthly strain of their assent. Come then, the Strangers said, and those that were taken, went. The first line refers to a discord, or disagreement among human beings whether or not to make the decision to take the assent into space. The extraterrestrials tell those who decide to go to come then and those who did not disagree with them went. On the other hand, the saplings are in strain of their assent meaning that gravity is working against the samplings that are stalking out awkwardly causing strain on their assent higher and higher into the emptiness of the air. The saplings want to continue this growth and the strangers can be compared to the sunlight that allow for growth to happen. The strangers supplied the saplings with the sunlight needed to be taken into the air. This poem can definitely been seen as a parallel between a human existence, and a non-human existence such as an aspen colony. How would a sapling or tree react to the sun flooding its life giving rays of light upon the earth each day? How would a person react to a UFO filled with extraterrestrials wanting to take you take you with them to outer space? Are such reactions natural on both parts? Does a sapling decide whether to become a tree and leave the ground from which it was once buried and only a seed? Likewise, does the human decide whether to leave its earthly home in search of the exploration of extraterrestrial life? These questions cannot be answered by the poem, but they do give rise to the idea of decision making. Sometimes in  life you are presented with issues that require decisions, and sometimes the decisions have already been made for you. The important thing is that once a decision is made, whether by you, or someone else, that you represent your decision personally, and learn from it if the results do not turn out the way you expected. References Mason, David. Western Wind. New York: Mcgraw-Hill, 2006. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen Retrieved on 10-07-2007. Last modified 10-04-2007.

Oxford and tourism

Oxford is a small city located in the south East of England with a population of 135 000 people. It is the home to the oldest English university, Oxford University. This is made up by 40 colleges that house 30 000 students. In addition, five park and rides run to the city centre. These are situated at pear tree, Water Eaton, Thornhill, Redbridge and Seacourt. Oxford's main source of income is in the tourist industry. Oxford is an all year round tourist attraction with over 2 million tourists visiting each year. There are a number of tourist attractions many belonging to the university and colleges. Bodleian library and the Radcliffe camera. In addition, oxford contains many museums and gallerias for instance Britain's oldest museum the Ashmolean and the museum of modern art. Lastly, tourists can enjoy punting on the river Thames that is called the river Isis in Oxford. The definition of a tourist is â€Å"A traveller who visits places, for more than one day, for pleasure, work or visiting friends or family†. However, this can cause many disadvantages to the local residents. A disadvantage means something that makes a situation worse, This could be stuff such as crowding and crime. Nevertheless, tourism may bring benefits to the local community. The definition for benefit is â€Å"something that has a good effect†, This could be stuff such as jobs and money. The purpose of the investigation is: â€Å"Does tourism bring more benefits or disadvantages to Oxford?† To answer the question I will look at three main areas. The social benefits are: Tourism provides many job opportunities such as jobs in hotels and city tours. The disadvantage is, these types of jobs are low paid and provide few career opportunities. Tourism has given Oxford world-renowned fame and as a result, Oxford has been used as a location in many films including: three of the Harry Potters and The Oxford Murders. However, this has meant streets and buildings have to close down during filming. The second area that I will look at is the economic industry. The benefit is tourists spend a lot of money. Nevertheless, locals believe there are too many tourist shops for instance Covered Market is targeted at tourists. I know this because there have been complainants to the local council. The effect of this is increased tension between tourists and residents. The third area that I will look at is the environment. The environmental advantage is the city council gets a lot of parking revenue to subsidise the transport industry, but the buses and tourist coaches create a lot of pollution. I will investigate other social, economic and environmental issues to answer the research question: â€Å"Does tourism bring more benefits or disadvantages to oxford?† This is the list of things I did on the field trip and the order I did them in to answer the research questions was: 1. Residents answered questionnaires 2. Tourists answered questionnaires 3. Did a bi-polar pedestrian count 4. Did a pedestrian density survey 5. Collected oxford city tourism leaflets P.B. Graphs Graph 1: How long have you lived in Oxford? This graph shows me that 80% of the residents that completed the questionnaire have lived in Oxford for more than five years. This implies that I will have more trust in the data because the residents have experience with tourists; therefore, I can rely on this data. In addition, it shows that 16% have lived in Oxford for 2-5 years and 4% have lived less than a year. This data is not as reliable as the residents who have lived for over five years but it may be useful to have a fresher opinion. Graph 2: How often do you come into Oxford city centre? Graph 2 shows me how often people go into the city centre. This question was asked so we can have more trust in the data because the investigation is predominately set in the city centre. It states that 33% of the residents interviewed go into town at least once a week. This implies they will have even greater experience with tourists of which 12% go everyday. Therefore, we can trust the data even more. However, it also shows 32% only go into town every two weeks. Further more 35% go less often than two weeks. This means the residents interviewed would have had few encounters with tourists. This suggests 67% have little experience with tourist. Therefore, I must be careful when writing my evaluation and conclusion. Graph 3: At which time of the year do you think there are more tourists? * Winter * Spring *Summer *Autumn * Always busy This graph shows at what time tourism is at is peak according to the residents surveyed. Firstly only 12 residents thought tourism was at is peak in the spring autumn and winter months. 51% reckon tourism is at is peak during summer. However, 37% feel tourism is high all year round. This could be because Oxford does not rely on seasons like a seaside town for tourism; Oxford is an all year tourist attraction. Graph 4: Have you ever experienced problems with tourists? This question was asked to see if tourists cause any trouble to local residents. The graph shows only 7% of residents have experienced problems with tourists. However, six of the seven people who had problems with tourists were whilst they were at work. Further more 81% of the residents that were interviewed have never encountered problems with tourists. This suggests tourists are well behaved and respect the local community. In addition, tourism does not create any social disadvantages for residents. Graph 5: Do you come into direct contact with tourists? IE at work This question was asked to see how many people come into contact with tourists so they may have better and more accurate answers to the questions. However, only eight people come into direct contact with tourists. However, as graph 1 shows 80% of the residents interviewed have lived in Oxford for five years or more, this balances out the lack of regular contact or direct with tourists. Graph 6: What do you think are the benefits of tourism in Oxford? This is one of the most important questions because it directly answers part of the research question. The graph shows that 66% of the residents asked believe that the biggest benefit is the money brought in by tourists. This suggests tourists are improving the economy of Oxford because they are spending their money in Oxford. However work is only 19%. This could mean very few jobs are being created by tourism. This could be because the only jobs that involve tourists are a city tour jobs or shop work. In addition only 15% reckon reputation of Oxford is increasing therefore the city may stop appealing to tourists. Graph 7: What do you think are the disadvantages of tourism in Oxford? This shows me that residents believe tourists cause a variety of problems. The biggest problem residents belie is road congestion. This is a state of overcrowding in a street or on the road, making movement slow or difficult. The second biggest is litter with 29%. This suggests residents think tourists are making Oxford dirty by throwing waste packaging. Thirdly noise pollution with 22%. This usually happens when their is a group of tourists talking. Lastly 14% of residents believe pollution is big problem. This could be due extra buses needed and tourist coaches. However only 2% thought crime was occurred so this implies tourists do not behave badly or cause problem to the community. Graph 8: Do you think there is enough for tourists to do in Oxford? This graph shows whether residents believe tourists have enough to do in Oxford. It shows that 77 people believe there is plenty for tourists to do in Oxford. However 23 people do not believe there is enough for tourists to do. This could be because they don't go to the city centre regularly or it is there general opinion. Graph 9: Do you think the number of tourists is†¦? This graph shows that many people have a negative attitude to tourism because 62% believe their are too many tourists. In contrast only 4% think the amount of tourists is to few. Further more 34% reckon the number of tourists is just about right. But with the likely hood of an increases in tourists their view will be quickly changed too. This implies the residents would like tourist sizes to decrease. Graph 10: Do you think tourism contributes to city centre pollution? This graph shows whether residents believe tourism causes city centre pollution. This graph shows that 89% of the residents interviewed believe tourism does contribute to city centre pollution. This pollution could be fumes from tourist coaches and buses or litter and noise pollution.

Canadian Embassy and Consulates in the U.S.

Canadian Embassy and Consulates in the U.S. Residents of the United States with valid passports dont need a visa to enter or travel through Canada. Likewise, most Canadian citizens dont require any visa to enter the United States, whether they are coming from Canada or another country. Some situations require visas, though, such as governmental or other officials relocating, and having the contact information of the nearest embassy or consulate handy is helpful when it comes time to renew or review these documents​ or consult officials on matters regarding Canada. The embassy and consulates are spread throughout the country and each covers a designated section of the United States. Each office can provide passport assistance  and emergency services, as well as notarial services to Canadian citizens. Consular services such as courier  delivery of voting ballots to Canada and transferring funds from Canada are available at both the embassy and the consulates. The embassy in Washington, D.C., also has a free art gallery that is open to the public. Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.501 Pennsylvania Ave. NWWashington, D.C.20001Tel: (202) 682-1740Fax: (202) 682-7726Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta1175 Peachtree St. NE100 Colony Square, Suite 1700Atlanta, Georgia30361Tel: (404) 532-2000Fax: (404) 532-2050Canadian Consulate General in Boston3 Copley Place, Suite 400Boston, Massachusetts02116Tel: (617) 247-5100Fax: (617) 247-5190Canadian Consulate General in ChicagoTwo Prudential Plaza180 North Stetson Avenue, Suite 2400Chicago, Illinois60601Tel: (312) 616-1860Fax: (312) 616-1877Canadian Consulate General in Dallas500 N. Akard St.Suite 2900Dallas, Texas75201Tel: (214) 922-9806Fax: (214) 922-9815Canadian Consulate General in Denver1625 Broadway, Suite 2600Denver, Colorado80202Tel: (303) 626-0640Fax: (303) 572-1158Canadian Consulate General in Detroit600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1100Detroit, Michigan48243Tel: (313) 567-2340Fax: (313) 567-2164Canadian Consulate General in Los Angeles550 South Hope St., 9th FloorLos Angeles, Cal ifornia90071Tel: (213) 346-2700Fax: (213) 346- 2797 Canadian Consulate General in Miami200 South Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1600Miami, Florida33131Tel: (305) 579-1600Fax: (305) 346-2767Canadian Consulate General in Minneapolis701 Fourth Ave. S., Suite 900Minneapolis, Minnesota55415Tel: (612) 333-4641Fax: (612) 332-4061Canadian Consulate General in New York City1251 Avenue of the AmericasConcourse LevelNew York, New York10020Tel: (212) 596-1628Fax: (212) 596-1790Canadian Consulate General - San Francisco580 California St., 14th floorSan Francisco, California94104Tel: (415) 834-3180Fax: (415) 834-3189Canadian Consulate General - Seattle1501 4th Ave., Suite 600Seattle, Washington98101Tel: (206) 443-1777Fax: (206) 443-9662

An Analysis of the Blind Optimism in Something Wicked This Way Comes, a Novel by Ray Bradbury

An Analysis of the Blind Optimism in Something Wicked This Way Comes, a Novel by Ray Bradbury While reading this book, I first struggled with the question of how it pertained directly to the class material. It seems almost as if the book is written as one long poem. While I was typing my exam, I began to take notice of similarities between the characters in the book and the over arching theme of optimism that I stressed in my paper. The first fifteen, or so, chapters describes one single day where we get to know the characters. In this section of the book we meet Will and Jim, two 13 year old boys. Jim is the more adventurous of the two boys and will is more reserved. It seems like he always follows Jim at a distance, but either way Jim can persuade him to do almost anything. We also meet Charles Halloway in this first part of the novel. He is Will’s father and works in the town library. In this early part of the novel I can relate to the attitudes that were present in America after the first World War. Jim represents America’s blind optimism in regards to creat ing in a utopia. Jim is all of the wall street speculators who believed there was no end to the rising stock prices. Will can be related to America’s more reserved side, he is equally ambitious but. Like I said, follows Jim at a distance. He lets Jim make mistakes but is always there to help him. Will plays a similar role to the presidents during the early half of the 1920’s. He doesn’t over regulate Jim but is always there to support him. Will’s father Charles Halloway is the lessons that we don’t learn from history. His demeanor in the first part of the novel is that of sadness. There is a sense that he knows how the world really works and despite this he is still secretly intrigued by the arriving carnival. This is where Will gets his reserved side , similar to how presidents are always studiers of history. Will learns from the mistakes of his father. When the carnival finally arrives at town, members of the community such as the boys’ teacher Miss Foley, Mr. Cougar and the lightning rod salesman are all enticed and seduced by the carnival and the tattoo ed man that runs it. Mr. Dark has the ability to fulfill their desires but as a result these people will lose themselves to the carnival. This is similar to the theme of selling ones sole to the devil. The role Mr. Dark Plays is in our history textbooks is that of money. The members of the community are so blinded by the spectacle of the carnival(the stock market in 1921-1928) that all they see is an optimistic future ahead. Jim is one of these people enticed by the carnival. He also follows blindly. As the evil nature of the carnival is revealed, one can relate it to the stock market crash in 1929. As a result of people being over optimistic, they face negative consequences. Towards the end of the novel while Will and his father attempt to save Jim and end the carnival, they play a role similar to that of Presidents, Hoover and FDR, who attempt to restore America through their economic and social plans after the 1929 crash. At the end of the novel Jim(the optimism of the American people) has ended up confused and close to death. Will and Charles halloway save Jim by dancing and laughing. Jim’s revival symbolizes the countrys return to normalcy through the industry that happens during WWII. This brings us into the current day where the people of Green Town and people in modern day America still have the same opportunities to make mistakes or succeed through optimism. As far as a review go’s I did not enjoy the book that much. The writing was a little too poetic for my taste. I am more of a non fiction fan. I was reading it looking for it’s historical significance. The book serves the purpose of an allegorical reference to the optimist ic and foolish hopes of Americans.

Sociology Dissertation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8500 words

Sociology Dissertation - Essay Example This research study proposes to examine the rising incidence of obesity within a social and environmental context by applying sociological theories. Where obesity is concerned, the media has been attributed a significant proportion of the blame, because it propagates a sedentary lifestyle which contributes to obesity. In addition, unhealthy foods are advertised on TV, as a result of which children are influenced into unhealthy eating patterns from childhood, which in turn lead to obesity. Since obese children are likely to grow into obese adults, this research study will focus on the impact of the mass media in contributing to obesity in children and influencing their body image. The Dissertation will be divided into four chapters. The first chapter will provide a general introduction to the study, the methods used and limitations. The literature review till comprise the second chapter. The third chapter will describe the methodology used and the fourth and concluding chapter will present the results that are obtained. Broadly, the subjects to be covered in this study include the causal factors in obesity and suggestions that have been made by researchers to deal with the problem. Sociological theories will be assessed and the most relevant ones will be applied to the problem of obesity. Media theories will also be examined in the literature review, to the extent that they may be relevant in the context of obesity. Research carried out by other researchers into the impact of the media and its influence on eating habits, especially on children will also form a part of the literature review. Examining the impact of social and environmental factors on obesity is a broad ranging issue, which may not lend itself to adequate coverage within the scope of this limited study. Therefore, it is proposed to narrow down the scope of the study to obese children and