...------------------------------------------------- Literature Literature (from Latin litterae (plural); letter) is the art of written work and can, in some circumstances, refer exclusively to published sources. The word literature literally means "things made from letters" and the pars pro toto term "letters" is sometimes used to signify "literature," as in the figures of speech "arts and letters" and "man of letters." Literature is commonly classified as having two major forms—fiction and non-fiction—and two major techniques—poetry and prose. Literature may consist of texts based on factual information (journalistic or non-fiction), as well as on original imagination, such as polemical works as well as autobiography, and reflective essays as well as belles-lettres. Literature can be classified according to historical periods, genres, and political influences. The concept of genre, which earlier was limited, has broadened over the centuries. A genre consists of artistic works which fall within a certain central theme, and examples of genre include romance, mystery, crime, fantasy, erotica, and adventure, among others. Important historical periods in English literature include Old English, Middle English, theRenaissance, the 17th Century Shakespearean and Elizabethan times, the 18th CenturyRestoration, 19th Century Victorian, and 20th Century Modernism. Important political movements that have influenced literature include feminism, post-colonialism, psychoanalysis, post-structuralism...
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...result of the devastation and misfortune that World War II brought, literature displayed a drastic change in content and tone. Hitler’s reign brought Britain to “ruins” and the country itself was “torn apart by years of bombardment” (Modern/Post Modern Period of Literature, np). Writers in this era, such a Graham Greene conveyed the country’s “broken lives and spirits” through their pessimistic voices (np). Also, anti-imperalistic views were portrayed through focusing on the “war-blitzed West African colony” (np). Not only Greene, but many writers expressed the “[haunting]” of the “wounded world” that was produced in the European colonies in Africa (np). The war had a very desolate effect on the writing of this period, as the whole country was flustered with great grief and hardship. The war plastered the country into “a landscape that provided a metaphor for the broken lives and spirits” (np). Although war was one of the most crucial impacts on postmodernism, technology also played a key role on literature during this era. Advancements in technology brought on a whole new meaning of literature; “People no longer believed in literary works bearing one unique meaning, they derived their own meanings from pieces of literature” (Oak np). Computers and televisions gave media a broader span in the nature of the literary world also, by highlighting what the country’s citizens should focus their attention on (np). Literature lost its innocence and value after technology got ahold of it....
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...Date: 06/17/2016 Essay #2: Is Gender Bias Noticeable in Literature? In this essay I would be investigating if there are any gender biases in the short stories and the movie Gone Girl. By definition gender bias is, “Inclination towards or prejudice against one gender” (Collins). Although gender bias is mostly thought of being against women there has been a subtler bias against men most recently in movies. Therefore, in this essay I would be considering gender biases of both men and women. In the short story “The Short Happy life of Francis Macomber” the author Ernest Hemmingway treats both genders equally. Both Wilson and Mrs. Macomber are portrayed as opportunists. He has no compunction in accepting the silly advances of Macomber’s wife. She marries Macomber for his money and social position. They both have a cruel streak. He (illegally) beats his helpers, knowing that they would rather take the beating than lose money (fines). She is cruel to her husband, openly despising his weaknesses, and deliberately flaunting her infidelities. In contrast, “I Want a Wife” the author Judy Brady has gender bias. The woman portrayed in the composition is resentful of the quality of life experienced by women in general, who, as wives, have to cater to their husband’s every need and whim. Husbands are portrayed as lazy, selfish and inconsiderate, not even pulling their weight as fathers of their children. Moreover, in the short story “Shiloh” the author Bobby Ann Mason has gender bias...
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...McDonald's and Fox's Diner Student Sample: Comparison/Contrast, Divided Pattern McDonald's and Fox's Diner are two of the restaurants in Lake City, Tennessee. But even though they both sell hamburgers in the same town, they don't have anything else in common. They cater to different types of customers, there is a noticeable difference in service speed, and every facet of doing business is handled differently. Even the atmosphere of these two places is in contrast. These two restaurants do not compete for the same customers. McDonald's is located just off the interstate, so many of their patrons are not local residents. Another reason is that they are universally known. Fox's is further away from the interstate. Aside from the over-the-road truck drivers who know the area, most of the Diner's customers are local residents. As well as targeting different customers from Fox's Diner, McDonald's also places more emphasis on speed. McDonald's makes job specialization an integral part of their operation. They crank meals out on an assembly line. They use computers to take orders, automatic timers to assist in cooking, and radio headsets to communicate. Even the color scheme used by McDonald's promotes speed. Studies show that loud colors like red and yellow increase customer turnover. With the exception of handling money, tasks are shared by the staff at the diner and there isn't anything high-tech about the operation. Fox's Diner is a world away from the bland, impersonal...
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...The Struggle between Genders in The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka The play – The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka may not be sexist as some critics have charged but it certainly concerned with gender issues. Masculinity is highly marginalized in comparison to feminism. The comparison between Baroka and Lakunle exemplifies the idea of supreme masculinity. Baroka is termed as an masculine in the Ilunjinle society for his success, many wives and authority while Lakunle is declassed as a masculine for his modernized, divergent way of acting and thinking. Feminism, on the other hand, is labeled as weakness and social exclusion, with Sidi, Sadiku and the favorite wife as examples. The play implements that masculines (males) are above all. The culture of Ilunjinle has beliefs that are termed ‘ideal masculinity.’ Men who are wealthy, strong, sexually potent and successful are considered to be ideal men. Baroka, for example, is considered an ideal man. He is the chief of Ilunjinle which exposes him to a lot of authority. Subjected to the fact that he is 62 and has 63 children with his many wives, he still wants more. He is an exceptional wrestler and is well known in his village. While Lakunle is modernized and is nothing in comparison to Baroka because Baroka has the females subjected to him whereas Lakunle has the females downgrading him and mocking him. He dwells on a modernized way of life and is considered stupid. He thinks the customs...
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...Three Losers A loser is a person who fails frequently or is generally unsuccessful in life. In Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poems, three men are classified as losers in three different situations. The three protagonists of the poems are Miniver Cheevy, Richard Cory, and Mr. Flood. These three men, unable to cope with their problems or improve their situations, drown in a life of misery, sadness, and loneliness. They live an unhappy life but do nothing to make it or themselves better. In Robinson’s poem, Miniver Cheevy, a man is unhappy with the era he is living in. He wishes he lived in the time of warriors, swords, and medieval iron clothing. He thought he was born in the wrong time and called it fate. He describes his times as boring, where nothing adventurous happens, like in the old times. Unfortunately, Miniver Cheevy did nothing to improve his life and only kept dreaming of a fantasy life. He becomes a loser that only keeps dreaming, drinking, thinking and thinking but cared less about making his life worth living. He got drunk everyday only to keep imagining a fantasy life that would never become reality and weeping that he was ever born. But not everybody copes with the problems the same way. On another one of Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poems, a story of a wealthy, envied man is described. Richard Cory is the main character of the poem. He is extremely rich, educated, and gracious. His life seems perfect. Men envy him and women want to be with him. A greeting from...
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...Critical Thinking Essay #3 When the question arises why teachers are giving tests in classrooms and online and if they are really effective, opinions are most certainly different. Testing is created to find out what the student has learned so far and to figure out the student’s weakness and strength. It is designed to measure the students’ knowledge which can qualify them for scholarships and other awards. Tests are created to find out what the student has learned in the course and if the student has been doing the assigned work. Teachers put tests together that will allow them to check on progress and also to score course average scores, state average scores and country averages. Testing and the test scores give schools and districts the opportunity to evaluate the material taught and learned. Another reason for testing is that it will show the student’s weaknesses and his/her strength in particular subjects. The teacher will be able to give the student advice on what to put more focus on or praise their good work to give the student continuous confidence in their achievements . To find a student’s weakness is just as important as finding his/her strength because they both help developing a student’s learning. Teachers are trying to prepare students for the future and constantly need to check up on progress in the classroom. In today’s society great point averages, testing scores and course grades are very important. Students who test high and keep a certain grade...
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...June 8, 2012 American Literature Essay Anne Bradstreet was a British-American poet, born in Northampton, England. She was a daughter of Thomas Dudley, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She married Simon Bradstreet when she was eighteen- years- old. Two years later, in 1630, they came to the New World. They lived in Salem, Boston, Cambridge, and Ipswich before they finally settled on a farm in North Andover, Massachusetts, in 1644. Simon Bradstreet became a judge, legislator, royal councilor, and twice a governor of the colony while Anne Bradstreet became a devoted wife and mother. Bradstreet wrote many of her poems while rearing eight children. She was a wife and mother, but she was also the first important poet in the American colonies. Her poems were published in 1650 as The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, which is generally considered the first book of original poetry written in colonial America. Through it she asserted the right of women to learning and expression of thought. Although some of Bradstreet's verse is conventional, much of it is direct and shows sensitivity to beauty. Although the young couple could anticipate a comfortable life materially, they chose to leave much of their wealth in England and move to America to serve their God. Anne’s father, Thomas Dudley, and her husband Simon were active in the governmental affairs of Massachusetts Bay Colony; both served several terms as governor of the colony. Anne's household was to be an influential...
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...April 29, 2012 Karen Caston American Literature Katie DeLaney Synthesis Essay (Final) INEBRIATION AND ADDICTION Inebriation and addiction are often noted in the writing and poetry of some postmodern authors. In the poetry of Allen Ginsberg “Howl”, short stories by James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues” and Raymond Carver, “Cathedral” talk of alcohol and addiction exist. Reading the poetry of Ginsberg and the story by Baldwin, obvious references are made to inebriation and addiction, more subtle notations are described in the work by Carver. In the story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver the narrator drinks too much and seems unable to effectively communicate with his wife. Drinking and smoking marijuana goes on throughout the story telling. The short story “Cathedral” portrays individuals isolated from each other for various reasons. It appears that the maladies suffered by the narrator and wife provide reasons for inebriation and addiction. For example,” So when the time rolled around, my wife went to the depot to pick him up. With nothing to do but wait—sure, I blamed him for that—I was having a drink and watching the TV when I heard the car pull into the drive. I got up from the sofa with my drink and went to the window to have a look”. The narrator begins to drink while waiting for his wife and the blind man to arrive from the train station. In this quote the first indication of drinking start. As the story progresses drinking and marijuana smoking...
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...Ancient Literature Essay Ancient literature includes many themes that are relevant today. Many of these stories include a hero, villain, and epic battle or journey that leads to a resolve. Often, you can see similar characteristics among these ancient writings. These ancient peoples were not much different than we are today, and that is depicted by the themes that continue to be relevant in the Common Era. An analysis of the two ancient writings The Aeneid and Agamemnon show many similar themes and blatant differences apparent in each story. By examining these two stories in detail, a greater understanding and appreciation of ancient literature can be acquired. Since man first began engaging in religious practices, stories with religious elements and themes have resulted. These two stories are no exception. Ancient Greek and Roman religious themes are present in both The Aeneid and Agamemnon. Both stories revolve around the philosophy that what we do with our lives is controlled by the Gods and to disrespect and dishonor the Gods is blasphemy, which will automatically lead to punishment. Both stories are similar in that the Gods are the beholders of the ultimate supreme power and the deciders of our hero’s fates. In other words, if it is not written by the Gods, then it is not the will of the Gods, and is therefore not to be done. It is also apparent in both stories that pleasing the Gods is everything to the characters and ultimately a deciding factor in their roles...
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...BABS1201 Essay On Peer Reviewed Article This essay will serve the purpose of examining a primary, peer reviewed research paper on a personal level. It will cover a brief description and reflection of my attempts to understand the purpose behind the article. I have chosen a research paper titled “Assessing the Plausibility Of Life on Other Worlds”. I have always been extremely intrigued by the possibility of life on other planets and humanity’s’ quest to discover our place in the universe. Previously I believed that these ideas belonged under the disciplines of Astrophysics, Space Exploration or Astronomy but was surprised to find there is a very specific discipline of science called Astrobiology in which this article falls under. Astrobiology is distinct from other space disciplines as it focuses on the actual biology and presence of life and is entirely devoted to studying the origin, distribution, evolution and future of life within our universe. The article is from the peer reviewed journal “Astrobiology” published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc. and has a global audience spanning over 170 countries since 2001. It is published in a monthly style releasing 12 issues annually and targeting an audience consisting of Microbiologists, chemists, astronomers etc. In terms of what ultimately goes into an issue, Astrobiology is under the editorial leadership of Editor-in-Chief Sherry L. Cady (PhD in Geology) who has the final responsibility for all operations and policies but also employs...
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...Writing Essays 1. Getting started The worst part about writing an essay can be starting the process. Before you rush into doing a pile of reading, you need to be very clear what your essay is about and what you are actually being asked to do. Typical essay questions: a) How do organizations typically manage stress? Critically evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of stress management. b) Critically assess the extent to which a Conceptual Framework may guide the accounting standard-setting process. c) Identify and analyse significant developments in technology impacting on IMC. Discuss how such developments might affect international marketers and notions of the audience. The important thing to do when you approach an essay is carefully unpacking the essay question. For example, in question (a) above, you are being asked to do two things. First, to describe how organizations manage stress, and then to examine the evidence regarding the effectiveness of stress management. The first part of the essay, therefore, will be fairly descriptive, and you will be looking to read books and journal articles that discuss the ways that organizations manage stress. Don’t rely too heavily on one book or one particular journal article. Try to read as widely possible and make notes as you do so (see handout on reading and note-taking). The second part of the essay is rather more difficult, and it is here that many students fall down and lose marks. The key...
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...for Writing about Literature Deena Michael World Literature LIT/210 July 13, 2012 Cynthia Dagnal-Myron Methods for Writing about Literature Many methods can be used to write about literature. Keeping a literary journal is one method I plan on using to write about literature. Not only can this journal help me stay organized, but it is a daily account of my thoughts, feelings, reactions, and reflections of the pieces of work I have read. Plus, it may help when the time come to write an essay on these works. Another suggestion from our text book for methods of writing about literature is asking questions. This is a method I already use, but I plan on continuing to use it. This method works for writing about literature, or anything else for that matter, because some of the best ideas for essays begin with a simple question. (Abcarian & Klotz, 2007) I found this out for myself when I wrote an essay for my Composition class a few months ago. If an essay is going to be written, it may be a good idea to develop a working thesis, which is also a method I will be using for writing about literature. A working thesis states the topic of the essay, as well as the point the essay writer wants to prove about the topic. (Abcarian & Klotz, 2007) Although a working thesis may eventually change, it helps to keep the essay manageable throughout the writing process. (Abcarian & Klotz, 2007) These are just a few of many methods for writing about literature. Works Cited ...
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...Christopher Cox Patricia Huhn English 121 20 February 2012 Education and Language Education and its effects on the individual is the primary focus of the essays by Richard Rodriguez, Leslie Silko, Firoozeh Dumas, and Gloria Anzaldua. Rodriquez’s “Achievement of Desire” illustrates how education can take the place of one’s cultural tradition in pursuit of knowledge. The loss of language is the focus of Silko’s speech, “Language and Literature from a Pueblo Indian Perspective”. “The F Word” by Firoozeh Dumas shows how profound words in one language can be funny in another, as well as hurtful. In “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua, she talks about how the education system tried to remove her culture by taking away her language. The two authors take opposite views on education and how it directly affected their lives. While embracing education by becoming a scholarship boy, Rodriquez shows how his desire for knowledge overcame his families’ desire for cultural tradition. Anzaldua expresses her feelings about how education continually tried to forcefully remove her Spanish heritage. The term “scholarship boy” came from Richard Hoggart’s The Uses of Literacy and means that the student must move between two culturally extreme environments during their progression of education. In Rodriquez’s account of his early educational experiences, he demonstrates Hoggart’s core definition of being a scholarship boy to the tee. While finishing his dissertation...
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...Essay writing Writing skills are particularly important for management students. Once statements are made in writing, they are much more difficult to retract or change so the meanings of sentences need to be concise and clear. It is therefore vitally important to develop your skills in this more formalised and rigorous form of communication. The following suggestions should help in preparing your essay: Planning: Before you start writing it is important that you know enough about the topic to form an argument in response to the question set. Make sure you have read enough – not just textbooks or lecture notes. Planning your essay is very important. Another key step before you put pen to paper, or finger the keyboard, is to work out a structure for your essay. Making the structure explicit will help you be clear about your overall line of argument. Equally, being clear about your line of argument will help shape your sense of structure. For these reasons IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DECIDE THE THEME AND ARGUMENT OF YOUR ESSAY BEFORE YOU START TO WRITE. However many of you will also find it useful to try writing parts of the essay in order to work out your structure and plan your argument. Writing a structure plan does NOT mean writing a list of everything you want to include in the essay – the ‘shopping list’ approach. Rather you need to think through the logical steps of the argument. What information or points do you need to make before you can argue a certain line...
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