...The Vagueness of Words: The Plight of the “Grotesque” Winesburg, Ohio, a short story cycle written by the American author Sherwood Anderson depicts a rather interesting portrait of an American Midwestern small town at the beginning of the twentieth century. Within this citizenry, Anderson draws attention to the distortion of each character in the book as a result of norms and traditions that led them into becoming “grotesques” as described in the prologue (The Book of the Grotesque). Among the exemplary stories written by Anderson, “Hands” and “Mother” are great at fulfilling the intention to reveal the inability of words to capture, express and explain the kinds of truth in life - underlying the main problem within human society. In “Hands”, Anderson begins by describing explicitly Wing Biddlebaum as “a fat little old man”, which clearly captured the essence of being a grotesque. Grotesque as defined by the Oxford Dictionaries (2013) means that the object is odd and unnatural in shape, appearance or character. His grotesqueness is then amplified by the illustration of a group of youths and maidens coming home from work and one of the girls bully him by sarcastically commenting on his hair even though he was bald (9). His unconscious gesture of nervously fiddling his bare white forehead as mentioned by Anderson just shows how absurd he was in the eyes of society. This action in the beginning of the story proves that Wing Biddlebaum is an outlier, someone who is “forever frightened...
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...“The River” By Flannery O’Conner Analysis The Bible has and always will have the uncanny ability to express meanings and truths in personal and powerful ways. Magnificent stories that carry themes and lessons that are seen by some, but lost to others. In the short story “The River” by Mary Flannery O’Conner a similar approach was used. O’Conner uses the powerful symbolism and brilliant metaphor of The River to craft a story that dives deeply into the themes of Faith and Salvation that express her personal convictions on the secular and Christian world views. This is especially true in Harry’s baptism scene as well as the final scene that take place at the river. In the story “The River” Harry’s Parents seem to show little or no interest in him. Their life is consumed with entertainment and the social life. Harry is either left alone to fend for himself or stuck with baby sitters for long periods of time. On one particular occasion Harry ends up going to a religious gathering at a river with one of his babysitters Mrs. Connin. There he is taken into the water and baptized by bevel the preacher. He is told how much he “Counts” and is loved in the eyes of God. Upon returning home, Harry finds that his parents are having another party. Disappointed, he realizes that living with his parent’s is hopeless and he never will matter to them. Harry then decides to take matters into his own hands. He reflects on how wonderful it was at the river the day before. He leaves the...
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...Level of Development and Level of Detail came into play with the advancement of computers and BIM technology. As the AEC industry began move towards using computer renditions for design and analysis, it became necessary to define the certainty with which drawings could be trusted. The detailing of elements changes throughout the duration of a project, so it is important for the team to be able to recognize what level of detail is provided and how trustworthy it is. For this reason, different levels of development were created to allow for a standardized system of analyzing drawings and details. Level of Development vs. Level of Detail The level of Development (LOD) enables construction teams to specify and distinguish the content and reliability of Building Information Models at various stages of the design and construction process with high levels of clarity and reliability. The LOD describes the minimum dimensional, spatial, quantitative, and qualitative data included in a Model Element to support the authorized uses associated with such LOD. Since each Model Element develops at a different rate, the Level of Development (LOD) framework allows the project team to understand the progression of a Model Element from conceptual idea to precise final definition and description. The LOD of a given Model Element informs other Project Participants how developed the information is expected to be. This allows participants to extent to decipher which that information can be relied...
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...VOCABULABY New words | Part of speech | Definition | Making sentences | Intervention | n | The act of becoming involved in an argument, fight, or other difficult situation in order to change what happens | The intervention of Union helps to prevent the conflict between Pakistan and Iran | Dubious | adj | Feeling doubt or not feeling certain | I'm dubious about his promises to change his ways. | Inextricably | adv | If two or more things are inextricably linked etc, they are very closely related and affect each other | His name was inextricably linked with the environmental movement. | Assiduous | adj | Showing hard work, care and attention to detail | The Government has been assiduous in the fight against inflation. | Augment | v | To increase the size or value of something by adding something to it | He would have to find work to augment his income. | Inferior | adj | Not good, or not as good as someone or something else | These products are inferior to those we bought last year. | Relegate | v | To put something into a lower or less important rank or position | She resigned when she was relegated to a desk job. | Debilitate | v | To make someone or something physically weak | Progress has been debilitated by a refusal to share ideas. | Prescribe | v | To say what medical treatment someone should have | The drug is often prescribed for ulcers. | Taint | v | To spoil something, especially food or blood, by adding a harmful substance, or...
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...Detailed Job Description Job title: (insert job title) Reporting to: (insert supervisor’s title) Salary: (insert salary per hour, per annum or total package including base salary, superannuation, commissions or benefits) Hours: (insert average number of hours per week or type of employment such as casual, full-time) Location: (insert the location of the position and any travel required) Purpose of the position (Insert a short paragraph which describes the overall purpose of this position and how it contributes to the goals or function of the business. Include the authority level, for example, “manager” or “support staff”) Responsibilities & duties Responsibility 1 – (insert responsibility or duty of the position including frequency or duration of work, effort and skill required, complexity of tasks and equipment required) Work standard: (insert what aspect of the responsibility will be reviewed to determine if the job is being done correctly, for example, time frame, or number of completed tasks per week) Responsibility 2 – for example, “to manage the daily operations of the office including organising mail, couriers, catering and travel. Staff need to be able to use MS EXCEL confidently, to arrange global travel and to work on their own.” Work standard – for example, “at the end of each working week, all catering events for the following week must be finalised.” Responsibility 3 – (insert additional items as needed) Work standard – (insert additional items as...
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...that you follow your supervisors direction at all times. The only exception to this would be if you were directed to perform a task that was unethical, illegal, or unsafe. In the future if you fail to follow any company policy you will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including possible termination. Sincerely, Robert R. Smith Supervisor John E. Adams Employee My signature does not necessarily indicate that I am in agreement with the above statements; however, it does indicate that I was informed of the contents of this letter. Sample Employee Conduct Policy Every individual is expected to execute their assigned duties as directed during on duty time. Insuring quality in everything we do requires attention to detail and working quickly or carelessly has a negative impact on every aspect of our business. It is also critical to our success that every individual will respect and cooperate with other staff members, customers, and supervisors when performing their assigned duties. In the event there is ever a conflict it is the responsibility of everyone to bring that to the attention of their supervisor for resolution and will not engage with any...
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...Poe uses the life-like characteristics of an otherwise decaying house as a device for giving the house a supernatural atmosphere. Usher feels that it is the form and substance of his family mansion that affects his morale. The narrator observes the house “upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows— upon a few rank sedges—and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees—with an utter depression of soul” (Poe 4). He believes that, as a result of the arrangement of the stones, the house has taken on life. When entering the house, the narrator becomes increasingly convinced that the house has some supernatural effect on those living there after observing the odd behavior and personalities of its inhabitants. Throughout the story, Poe's imagery of the house and the inanimate objects inside serve to give a supernatural atmosphere to the story. By giving inanimate objects almost life-like characteristics, he is giving the house a supernatural quality. Poe presents the possibility of a complete split between mind and body in the twin siblings of Roderick and Madeline. The siblings are an external representation of the philosophical relationship between mind and body, but become overly identified with their respective halves of the equation. Roderick projects his own morbid self-absorption onto the figure of his dying sibling, in effect turning his twin into an external mirror image of his deteriorating mental state. One might say that Madeline is the reflection of Roderick's...
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...In Oate's horror narrative “Where Is Here?” she begins by introducing an unknown stranger, who decides to take a visit to was once his home. The stranger would like to recapture the vibe, as well as feelings, that he once had while living there. Typically, Gothic literature mentions the use of “a sense of impending doom,” (324) which can make the reader feel uncomfortable, or even make them feel disturbed. Out of all the Gothic narratives described, the most used is a “bleak or remote setting” as some others are often grand (291). Not all horror literature pertain grand setting nor details; but rather “violent or tormented happenings” (324). As the story comes about, an unknown stranger is described to come visit on a November evening, around dinner time. Most households are settling down trying to enjoy themselves. But the strange man decides to stopover at this time of day? It seems very odd and unusual; while some visits are during the day time (325). A factor from the Gothic elements reference “character in physical torment” (291) play a huge role as Oate's states a few times too many in the story, probably trying to show it plays an important role toward the stranger. She states that he has a limp while he walks (326). Maybe while younger, he fell down the basement steps? Or there was physical abuse done by family. While making his way through the home he spots the basement door, staring at while making his decision on whether to go down or not(327). He then goes on through...
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...“The Fall of the House of Usher” possesses the key features needed in order to create a Gothic tale: a spooky house, a dull landscape, and a mysterious illness. The narrator, in Poe’s eerie short story, upon looking at the Usher house describes it as “an utter depression of soul which I can compare to no earthly sensation” (702). This depression the narrator speaks of is the same type of depression the owner, Roderick Usher, has felt his entire life while living in the house. The romantic element of nature that covers the house has affected Roderick psychologically and physically. The narrator portrays the house with vivid details of imagery: “…bleak walls…,” “…vacant eye-like windows…,” and “…a few rank sedges…” (702). Anyone living in such...
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...The Fall of the House of Usher is a short story by Edgar Allen Poe that details the remainder of Roderick Usher’s life with his mental disorder alongside the narrator and how his mental disorder affects him and those around him. The short story is a literal tale of Rodericks decent into insanity which is paralleled by the fleeting conditions of the house as well as causes supernatural occurrences at the end of the story as well as, the fall of the house of usher in two ways. In the beginning of the short story the reader finds out that the narrator and Usher were childhood friends and that the narrator was on his way to be with Usher upon his request. The narrator proceeds to describe the house detailing its macabre exterior as a “remodelled...
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...I prefer reading tales of horror and Mystery. I however did not enjoy Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher.” I found most of the first few paragraphs lengthy with descriptions of the castle. This made it really hard for me to immerse myself in the story. The vocabulary was complicated at times and I found myself pausing to look up their meanings. This interruption furthered my confusion. I had to write the definitions in my text book and then re-read the passages. Once I did, I was able to grasp what Poe was actual trying to convey. The story is set in a gloomy deserted country side. The outside of the house was dark, and gloomy. As I read further I wanted to take refuge inside the home of Roderick. I was quick to find that...
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...The Fall of the House of Usher “In the Fall of the House of Usher, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit.”(Poe). This story is Gothic Literature using grotesque characters, bizarre situations, and violent events. The narrator describes the grotesque or Roderick Usher Madeline Usher, the strange sounds, and the crashing of the house and the violent event of Madeline being buried alive. Inside the House of Usher there are two grotesque characters. Roderick Usher is a man with a corpse-like appearance. He has pale skin, thin lips, and bright eyes. He suffered from sensitive skin to certain textures, odors to flowers, his eyes were sensitive to light, only certain sounds sooth him and insipid foods. Madeline, Roderick’s sister...
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...There are several examples in the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton that illustrate that Ponyboy is out of touch with reality. One example is one page 150 where Ponyboy says “ He isn’t dead…… I convince myself he isn’t dead.” This quote refers to Ponyboy being delusional because he believes in his mind that Johnny is still alive, but as the readers we know that he died in the hospital as a result of his injuries from the fire in the church. Another example is on page 151. Here it’s stated, from Ponyboy’s point of view, that “ I might have stumbled around all night.” This proves that even though Ponyboy had grown up in that same town all his life the death of Johnny really knocked something out of him. A sign that someone is not in their...
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...The Fall of the house of Usher The Gothic style found in the majority of Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories is obvious to the average reader. The grotesque, the desolate, the horrible, the mysterious, the ghostly, and, ultimately, the intense fear are all the primary aspects of the stories which are emphasized. Edgar Allen Poe's autobiographical short story is the quintessential haunted house story featuring dreary scenes, mysterious sicknesses and untimely deaths. The vagueness of the story is the main part of its terror with its unidentifiable Gothic elements. It is not clear to the reader when or where the story takes place. Poe instead describes dark barren landscapes and inclement weather to set the mood. All the reader knows and understands is they are alone with the unnamed author and neither knows why. The unnamed author describes his mind and personality as he rides toward the somber house. He meets his own insanity, superstitions, and horror when he describes his boyhood friend Roderick Usher. Poe asks the reader to question Roderick's decision in contacting the unnamed narrator in his time of need as well as the unnamed narrator's response. Poe contrasts the standard form of the gothic tale, with a plot of inexplicable, unexpected interruptions. The short story begins without a reason for the narrator's arrival at the house and this uncertainty drives this short story's plot, which blurs into the real and fantastic. Roderick Usher shows his sanity slipping when he...
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... The Blind Owl is a book like no other I’ve read; it was full of twists and turns and murder, and for the most part a lot of confusion on my end. The main character, who’s name we never learn, is full of thoughts and even does some horrible things in order to mask these thoughts.The book opens with the narrator talking to the shadow on his wall and through this dialogue we come to understand his situation. Of course the book starts with death; a beautiful lady dies in the narrator's room and he proceeds to paint because she was so beautiful and he is an artists but he struggles to do so but then he cuts up her body, stuffs her in a suitcase and proceeds to dump her body by a tree. As we progress we learn of his current situation with his wife or as he lovingly refers to her as “the bitch” and their lack of a relationship; he does end up murdering her but this does not really solve his problems. As he felt with the death of the other women he ends with a heavy weight on his chest. Since this was written by Sadeqh Hadeyat during the reign of Reza Shah many people see the issues that Iran was going through in this book, however, I struggled to find these similarities. There were parts throughout the book and even characters I felt could have been Reza or even actions he took but I believe they may have been more of a stretch than they really are. We see these beautiful women both the one at the beginning and his wife as things he could never have, he wanted his wife but she didn't...
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