Paganism and Christianity in Beowulf Essay examples

Beowulf is an epic poem that centers around the hero Beowulf, a Geat from Sweden who crosses the sea to Denmark in a heroic quest to save King Hrothgar, king of the Danes and the builder of Herot, and his men from the demonic monster Grendel who kills and feasts on Hrothgar’s warriors. Beowulf’s adventure does not end when he defeats Grendel though, he must also kill Grendel’s mother because she seeks revenge for her son’s death. Once Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother, he goes home and soon becomes the king. However, his last adventure in old age leads him to his death. He fights and slays a vicious dragon with the help of a Geat warrior named Wiglaf. Beowulf pays a heavy toll for his last victory since he dies from the great wounds that the†¦show more content†¦Beowulf believes in fate and â€Å"knew the sea, would point the prow straight to that distant Danish shore† (3 123-124). When Beowulf arrives at Herot, he boasts about himself and brags by saying, â€Å"’the days of my youth have been filled with glory’† (4 142-143). Beowulf describes all of the monsters that he killed and explains that â€Å"’death was my errand and the fate they had earned’† (4 158-159). Beowulf requests to fight Grendel alone and promises to do it without any weapons because he wants all the glory to himself and wants to prove that he is the strongest man on earth. He also seems to know that he will win and says, â€Å"’Fate will unwind as it must’† (4 189). Beowulf is concerned with how people view and perceive him. This shows that Beowulf is concerned about glory and fame rather than morality and right and wrong. If Beowulf was truly a Christian, he would only be concerned with God’s view of him. Unferth, one of Hrothgar’s courtiers, is extremely â€Å"vexed by Beowulf’s adventure, by their visitor’s courage, and angry that anyone in Denmark o r anywhere on earth had ever acquired glory and fame greater than his own† (6 235-239). He challenges Beowulf by saying that Beowulf is foolish and has too much pride and that Beowulf owes his victories in battles to luck. Beowulf replies simply by saying that Unferth’s accusations are false and that â€Å"’No man swims in the sea as IShow MoreRelatedChristianity And Paganism In Beowulf1005 Words   |  5 Pageshero named Beowulf. Beowulf is an epic poem about good versus evil written by an anonymous Christian monk. Paganism was the Geats first religion, and once Christianity became introduced, the religion slowly shifted from paganism to Christianity. Beowulf has successfully exhibited the transition from paganism to Christianity. The epic poem has a shift from Christianity to paganism throughout the poem. There are many symbolic examples that successfully display the transition from paganism to ChristianityRead MoreChristianity And Paganism In Beowulf775 Wor ds   |  4 Pages In Beowulf the differences between Heorot and Grendel’s swamp are personified through setting descriptions, religious context and Beowulf’s heroic traits compared with Grendel’s anathematic characteristics by highlighting the major conflicts between Christianity and Paganism, emphasizing the contrast of man against monster. Christian ideas are ingrained in different characters, the glorious and brave Beowulf exemplifies good Christian values, while Grendel personifies evil in a devil-like characterRead More Beowulf, Christianity, and Paganism Essay963 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf, Christianity, and Paganism The poem Beowulf is a renowned story that displays many different surroundings and religious beliefs. Some may believe the story of Beowulf portrays pagan beliefs or customs and others believe that the poem is more in agreement with Christian ethnicity. The author of Beowulf uses both Christian and pagan elements in the poem to define the heroic warrior, Beowulf, and the evil dragons. After reading Beowulf the author clearly shows how Beowulf is a man whoRead MoreEssay on Beowulf (Christianity vs. Paganism)689 Words   |  3 PagesChristianity vs. Paganism In the story of Beowulf, there is a noticeable struggle between Christianity and Paganism, and the characters personal battle between the two. Throughout the story the characters display actions that lead towards Paganism and Christianity. Contrary to Pagan belief Beowulf is seen as the epitome of good and beneficent to all of mankind. In Beowulf, the people showed their faith and love in God, however due to horrific events, paranoia caused them to look for a quickRead MoreEssay about Beowulf (Christianity vs. Paganism)664 Words   |  3 Pages Christianity vs. Paganism nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the story of Beowulf, there is a noticeable struggle between Christianity and Paganism, and the characters personal battle between the two. Throughout the story the characters display actions that lead towards Paganism and Christianity. Contrary to Pagan belief Beowulf is seen as the epitome of good and beneficent to all of mankind. In Beowulf, the people showed their faith and love in God, however due to horrific events, paranoia causedRead More Christianity and Paganism in the Epic of Beowulf Essay1800 Words   |  8 PagesChristianity and Paganism in Beowulf The story of Beowulf shows the effect of the spread of Christianity in the early Danish paganistic society that values heroic deeds and bravery above all else. The mythical creatures that Beowulf kills with his supernatural strength make the story into an epic celebrating the life of a great hero. However, blending in among Beowulfs triumphs against the three key creatures, we also see Christian virtues being instilled upon the listeners. The goodRead MoreHow Christianity and Paganism Coexisted in Beowulf Essay634 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf is a great example of how Christian beliefs and pagan views could coexists so well in a poem. The poem Beowulf written by an unknown Christian monk around A.D. 700 compares the beliefs of many to the new beliefs that are beginning to form around the world. The poem shows how the people of the time thought about their world and how the things around them happened and they think that the devil controls these things.In Beowulf, we explore bo th Christian and pagan beliefs, and how they were ableRead MoreTheme Of Christian And Pagan Elements In Beowulf978 Words   |  4 Pageselements Beowulf was written during the time that society was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. Early Christianity developed in the Roman Empire, where many religions were practiced and formed into paganism. Paganism is commonly used to refer to various, largely unconnected religions and beliefs from that time period. Beowulf was written in England between the 8th and 11th century. The name of the author is unknown, but referred to as the Beowulf Poet. Beowulf is consideredRead MoreThe Dream Of The Rood And Beowulf1488 Words   |  6 Pagespieces â€Å"The Dream of the Rood† and Beowulf there are two powerful kings being represented that are set in overlapping values that benefit their true courageous deeds. Both are considered good, but do they mean the same thing in Christianity and paganism contexts? Specifically, the two pieces both fuse together Christian and pagan ideals to show their two powerful kings represented in two completely different manners. In the literary work Beowulf the character Beowulf is known as the king along withRead MorePaganism In Beowulf953 Words   |  4 PagesThe Impact of Christianity and Paganism in Beowulf Beowulf was composed when England was transitioning from a pagan to a Christian culture. In chapter 3 of A Little History of Literature, it is said that Beowulf was likely written by a Christian monk who inserted Christian themes into the story. This is why Beowulf reflects both Christian and pagan views. These two religions and their elements affect the story in different ways. There are pagan views of fate and fame in Beowulf, but there are

Rape A Common Form Of Violence Against Women - 1871 Words

Khoi Nguyen C02332607 Sociology G100 Nina Chapman Rape In almost every part of history, women have been fighting for their rights to be recognized, including the ownership of their own bodies. For the past centuries, it was believed that after a marriage of a woman, she would be owned by her husband, by another words, she gave her husband the authority over her, including her entire body. Therefore, raping his wife for any reason was not considered to be wrong thing to do because upon marriage, the wife had given irrevocable consent. In marriage, rape is a serious and a common form of violence against women. Rape can be defined as intercourse or penetration (vaginally, anally, or orally) forced with violence, threat of force or when the wife is unable to give the consent. In fact, rape can be seen to be more prevalent in patriarchal societies with the rapidly increased of sexism from it. Patriarchy is often defined as a system of male dominance. According to Merriam and Webster, patriarchy is defined as a family, group or government cont rolled by a man or a group of men. In addition, in such societies, men dominate women through the control of female sexuality. Men are kings, they conquer so seize land and treasures, in such, women, will be their property and men have their right to rape women. These could be understood that marital rape is far less violent than acquaintance or stranger rape, as believed are not illegally sexual threatening another person until the 1970s.Show MoreRelatedGender Based Violence Against Women1238 Words   |  5 PagesGENDER BASED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: A CLOSER LOOK AT INDIA’S RAPE PROBLEM Background When the sex of a girl or a woman drives the infliction of violence towards them, it is regarded as a form of gender based violence (Heise et al., 2002). Violence against women, regardless of the form, can occur in various stages of the woman’s life (Murthy and Smith, 2010), and refers not only to physical and sexual acts of violence, but also encompasses verbal abuse, emotional torture, economic deprivation, andRead MoreThe Effects of Violence on Women Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effects of Violence on Women Violence affects the lives of millions of women worldwide, in developing, as well as in developed countries. It cuts across cultural and religious barriers, restricting women from fully participating in society. Violence against women has many forms in which it comes in, from domestic abuse and rape to child marriages and female circumcision. All are violations of the most fundamentalRead MoreViolence Against Women s Violence872 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Violence against women unfortunately is a very prevalent and critical issue in our society. It is a worldwide but still hidden problem. Freedom from the threat of harassment, battering, and sexual assault is a concept that most of us have a hard time imagining because violence is such a deep part of our cultures and our lives. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), it is estimated that 84,376 forcible rapes were reported to law enforcement in 2012, estimated at 52Read MoreDomestic Violence : South Africa1709 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic Violence in South Africa Love is looked upon as a beautiful thing but within beauty lies darkness in South Africa. There is an unspoken violence against women going on within the communities of south Africa that is now coming to light; domestic violence. Husbands, not strangers or men with guns, are now the biggest threat to women in post-conflict South Africa, according to a report by the International Rescue Committee. Attacked beaten, abused, killed these are sometimes words to describeRead MoreViolence Against Women s Violence1553 Words   |  7 Pages Violence Against Women by Ines Alvarez Mrs. Madrell English 4, Honors, Period 6 Miami Coral Park Senior High School March 18,2016 Mrs. Madrell English 4, Honors, Period 6 Miami Coral Park Senior High School March 18,2016 Violence Against Women Women have been and continue to be victims of violence in all of its faces. The purpose of this research is to explore the many ways in which women are abused and mistreated, focusing on the effects that violence causes to the victimsRead MoreThe Women s Rights Movement Essay1561 Words   |  7 Pagestowards the elimination of violence against women under the United Nations Crime Prevention and Justice Program. As it pertains to Canada, Lakeman (2006) affords that The Vancouver Rape Relief Center shelters over 100 rape domestic abuse victims each year. However, in spite of the great, motivating, and inspiring strides that have over the years been made towards the realization of gender parity and women’s empowerment (Human Rights Watch, 2006), a large number of women around the world are traffickedRead MoreViolence Against Women Within The Family1252 Words   |  6 PagesViolence against women within the family is an ongoing issue. Marital rape is a very serious form of intimate violence. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the definition for marital rape is defined as, â€Å"sexual intercourse forced on a women by her husband, knowingly against her will.† (Oxford University Press). However, the legal definition varies from state to next; marital rape is commonly defined as unwanted penetration or intercourse (oral, anal, or vaginal) taken by force and/or threatRead MoreMEDIA VIOLENCE Essay1374 Words   |  6 Pagestrapped! And the worst part of this scenario is that we’re addicted to it. Violence is everywhere and we all have an addiction for it. We’re exposed to it in everyday and we love to watch violence on television. There are many different representations of violence evident in movies and Television. Media violence can best be described in the words of Gerbner and Signorelli: â€Å"Most research studies have defined media violence as the depiction of overt physical action that hurts or kills or threatensRead MoreEssay on Sexual Abuse on Women1250 Words   |  5 PagesSexual abuse, also known as sexual assault, is any sort of sexual activity that one doesn’t agree to which includes, inappropriate touching, vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, sexual intercourse that one says no to, rape, attempted rape, as well as child molestation. Sexual abuse is usually verbal or visual. It can also be anything that forces a person to be in unwanted sexual contact. There are many examples of sexual abuse like voyeurism, exhibitionism, incest, and sexual harassment. VoyeurismRead MoreMarriage Is The Most Neglect Form Of Abuse Against Women1384 Words   |  6 PagesJessica Cenatus ANT 2301 Professor Cervone 15 April 2015 Marital Rape Marriage is rape is the most neglect form of abuse against women. It has been stated that marital is motivated by laws,the reportings, and gender inequality . History: Marital rape and the foundation of exemption has dated back to the 1700’s, where the first documented legal statement of marital rape occurred in 1736. Sir Matthew Hale, who at the time was the chief justice of England published a statement stating that a

Government by the People for Politics & Relations - MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theGovernment by the Peoplefor Politics International Relations. Answer: Over 150 years ago, the government by the people term| came along as the then President Abraham Lincoln addressed an audience of over 15000 citizens. The term just meant that the primary government interest was to safeguard all the interests and demands of their citizens. This concept meant that citizens, elected government officials that would represent all their issues and guarantee their ultimate survival. Government by the people was founded under the principles of democracy where each citizen had a right, responsibility and their problems were the main agenda as they were the government because there would be no government without the citizens (Nun, 2009, p. 56). The concept of government being owned by the people revolves about handing the power to the subject individuals and citizens. Peoples power is significantly exercised through the electoral system where they elect their representatives to present them and their demands on all levels of administration. Social, political and economic issues affecting the citizens are taken by these representative leaders or agents and addressed at the policy making level. Democracy falls under two descriptions, namely direct and representative, where direct democracies are where people ideas, suggestions, complaints and demands are represented by non-elected individuals who all sit together to solve the issues at hand. The modern representative way is provided for in most of the world constitutions where citizens have elected intermediaries who represent them. Direct systems have faded as a result of new complexities of society both in populations and issues. Thus representatives are the only way. The representative formation is expected to carry out the demands of the people as they are elected by the electorates and given the power to make legislation, administration and political decision for the betterment of their societies (Bulley, Sokhi-Bulley, 2014). Peoples government is deeply explained for in the constitutions as it provides them with their rights and responsibilities. The powers and the responsibility of the government toward their citizens are clearly stipulated in the same document. Complex aspects of the laws simply explain how the majority have their rulings while minority rights are safeguarded by laws. People majority rule is visible during electoral processes such as referendums and political position elections. Numbers and percentage of the people voting particular direction will determine the results thus proving that the citizens have the power. Minority and vulnerable sections of the citizens are well protected by the constitution thus meaning that they are protected against discrimination on the basis of their statuses or condition (Petriwskyj, Cuthill, 2017). Law experts have extensively explained that the government by the people phenomena can only be accomplished through the above ways where the governments powers are significantly limited and reduced while the peoples rights and powers are promoted. Regardless of the land or country if the Constitution is based and followed on the principles of we the people and there is control of government powers, then the Abraham Lincoln ideology would prevail. Peoples freedom and government control is not limited to individual rights but also extend to legal groups and organizations that are protected by the constitution. While a government is making a decision, it is likely to consider this organizations as they are part of the people who elected them and are well protected for in the constitution. The main difference between peoples government and a totalitarian government is based on freedom and political understanding that people should be given the right to control their lives, as totalitarian culture promotes obedience and apathy (Qvortrup 2002, p. 67). Civilization was the mother of democracy; however, civilisation would not be accomplished if people are ignorant. Education is a fundamental principle of ensuring that people are taught about their rights and powers toward the government. Dictatorship seeks to develop acceptance attitudes and limit citizens questioning by suppressing information and education systems that would enlighten the masses. The government is the peoples servant; however, this will all be in vain if people are not empowered to ask questions to their leaders. In this 21st century, most of the governments in the world are based on democratic principles and foundations that hand over the power to those respective principles and its subject. Several questions have been asked whether this power to the people is just a saying or implemented ideology along all departments and levels of the government. When the foundations of these principles were formed, the complexities of our societies was not as it is today. Environmental regulations were not there because the population was not huge as it is, slavery was still legal, labour transgressions were not present, food and water security were a nonissue. However, this has changed due to the massive increase in populations while civilization has reached every corner of the globe. Economic concepts are beginning to be more dynamic and complicated thus raising of new laws that may conflict with fundamental values of people's government and freedom. These complexities were obviously not present during the days of the familiar Gettysburg Address. Social freedoms such as sexualities free will were not critical issues to be addressed then ,since the social culture had not evolved as now (Nu'uhiwa 2013, p. 78). Modern governments around the world have promised their citizens a government run by their wills and not of the few intrest and thoughts. United Kingdom citizens were given a chance to vote whether to remain or exit the European Union in a referendum. This act in itself shows that the government recognizes that their citizens are the primary and core stakeholders of their government. However, democracy and will of the people are contradicted when several reports and experts say that the citizens of this country were given contradictory and misleading information about the referendum repucurssions. The leaders have been given a role in educating and presenting all credible material facts to their citizens so as to inform them on decisions that they are about to make and their consequences. Such a case present a conflict because wrong or misleading information may have influenced the decision making of the voters thus limiting free will values. (Pretorius 2006, p. 78). Several countries in the world are practicing nuclear and war malpractices, but many would ask if these leaders are apparently representing the will of the people or theirs. Government overthrows and coups are happening at an alarming rate in Africa and Asia where leaders elected by the masses are ousted by military powers. These states rise under these foundations are usually questioned about their loyalties, whether it lies in their interest or to their citizens .The ideology of people's government is almost insignificant in some republics as there have been reported cases all over the world where leaders are voted out by people but refuse to hand over their offices. Economic crisis all over the world due to corrupt and exploiting leaders is becoming usual and rampant. People are forced to go on demonstrations to have their demands heard and dealt with as their systems of administrations are not working for their betterment. Chaos, protest, and complaints of ordinary citizens all over the world have raised many questions whether their governments still remember that their the utmost priority is their electorates. Epstein (2011) has argued that modern USA systems are not based on democracy and the will of United States citizens. He has stated that conflict of people's will and the government will have been relevant in the voting systems where referendum process are limiting people's power to control and check their states. Epstein has stated that contrary to the basic understanding of government run by citizens, now citizens are accorded individual rights and protection other than being treated as a group. He has argued that we the people term has been restrained of its power by the courts so as to promote the powers of the arms of government thus limiting peoples voice. Epstein is indicating that the modern governments are using strategic legal moves such as referendums so as to limit the power handed over to the people. Referendum creates a dilemma where voters rights are exercised, but for democracy to take place these rights has to be limited so as to limit the laws that reduce the power o f the people for the sake of the government. A perfect example of how judiciary as an arm of government limited peoples power was in 2008. California state constituents had overwhelmingly passed the vote to legalize gay couples, but judges there disagreed with the case because the state attorney general could not explain and defend the decision made by the California state citizens. This was a clear indication that the ideas and beliefs of Abraham Lincoln about people having the final say were at risk from the government administration system. Founders of democracy stressed out that people were to given power to dictate both their economic, social and political independence and freedom. The freedom in question would only be achieved if the people were given the right to vote and elect political leaders, who would present their ideas and issues by forming administration arms that would run affairs of the country (Tierney, 2015). The leaders were also given the legal power to formulate and amend laws governing the citizens, but this has proved inefficient as these leaders are occasionally seen passing legislation that explicitly undermines people will. The developed administration arms of the government posed a significant threat to will and the power of the people thus raising the need to form ways to control and check the powers of these arms to safeguard the majority interest. Democracies go deeper than giving citizens the right to vote leaders and referendums. There are unexplained entanglements in laws and freedoms that average ordinary citizens are not aware, this gives them a right to vote but limits their powers as they have been robbed of the right to understand and information about what they are voting for or against (Spicker, 2008). The percentage of Americans turning out for election is becoming less, as tight social-economic constraints force them to forego the political process for other personal activities, thus influencing electoral outcomes that will affect their lives. Technical reduction of peoples power has been seen through electoral and legal processes, where referendums are the perfect example where people rights are limited without their knowing. Truth and trust between the people and the government are most important components in the developed democracies. A lot of political leaders believe that common citizens cannot be trusted with serious issues and truths that affect them; hence putting peoples government at risk (White, 2008). It is essential for the citizens to understand that democratic processes such as referendum will not solve all the issues and may be the primary threat to democracy in itself. Abraham Lincoln regime is popular for giving power to the people rather than taking it away from them, and this would need to happen in modern systems for democracy to prevail. List of References Bulley, D, Sokhi-Bulley, B 2014, 'Big Society as Big Government: Cameron's Governmentality Agenda', British Journal Of Politics International Relations, 16, 3, pp. 452-470, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2017. Epstein, RA 2011, 'Direct Democracy: Government Of The People, By The People, And For The People?', Harvard Journal Of Law Public Policy, 34, 4, pp. 819-826, Business Source Premier. Nun, J. (2000). Democracy: government of the people or government of the politicians? Lanham, Md, Rowman Littlefield. Nu'uhiwa, BS 2013, 'Government of the People, by the People, for the People: Cultural Sovereignty, Civil Rights, and Good Native Hawaiian Governance', Asian-Pacific Law Policy Journal, 14, 3, pp. 57-106, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2017. Petriwskyj, Cuthill, M 2017, 'Barriers to older peoples participation in local governance: The impact of diversity', Educational Gerontology, 43, 5, pp. 259-275. Pretorius, L 2006, 'Government by or over the People? The African National Congress's Conception of Democracy', Social Identities, 12, 6, pp. 745-769, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2017. Qvortrup, M 2002, A comparative study of referendums: government by the people. Manchester [u.a.], Manchester Univ. Press. Spicker, P 2008, 'Government for the people: the substantive elements of democracy', International Journal Of Social Welfare, 17, 3, pp. 251-259, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2017 Tierney, S 2015, 'Direct Democracy: A Comparative Study of the Theory and Practice of Government by the People', Political Studies Review, 13, 3, pp. 408-409, Academic Search Premier. White. R 2008, Government for the people: reflections of a White House counsel to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Lanham, Md, Hamilton Books.

Effects of Bullying free essay sample

The victim is perceived by the bullies to be weak and unable to defend his or her self. The victim feels as if he or she cannot retaliate to the aggressive behaviors and senses the bullies to be more powerful. There are many reasons why children bully other children. Typically it starts at home. In Jenney Cheevers article online she states, Children who lack adult supervision or who are abused at home are more likely to become bullies. If a child comes from an unaffectionate or inefficiently supervised home, he or she is more likely to become a ully. Children whom have been abused or neglected are also more likely to push others around. Other reasons for bullying include having low self-esteem/self- confidence, or having a need to feel dominant and powerful. There are four main types of bullying on school-aged children. The first is physical, which includes physical violence and destruction of property. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of bullying or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Next is verbal, this is the most common type of bullying, which includes any type of verbal harassment like name-calling, insults, sexual, homophobic, or racial remarks, or abusive language. An online database for bullying states Verbal bullying is the most frequent from of bullying, and can involve negative language that is sexual in nature Sometimes, refers to another persons actual or perceived sexual orientation (Teenage Bullying). The third form of bullying is cyber bullying, which is becoming more common now that the majority of school-aged kids use cell phones and the internet. Last, but definitely not least, there is emotional bullying. This includes taunting and rumor spreading. All of these types of bullying can have long-term lasting effects on children. No one type is less serious or less harmful than another. There are many different effects that bullying can have on children. Social isolation is a major problem in kids today. If children are bullied for any period of time, it can make them feel small and insecure in themselves, which can have a negative effect on the way they interact socially. Dr. Mark Dombeck states in his article at Mental Help Bullying is an attempt to instill fear and self-loathing Being the repetitive target of bullying damages your ability to view yourself as a desirable, capable and effective individual (Dombeck). Bullying can set children up for life-long helplessness and depression by making them feel like they are not good enough, and that they cannot defend themselves. Bullying may also lead to suicide in teenagers who fall into deep depression and feel like they have no friend in the world. Bullying is a form of abuse, and is also a narcissistic act. Dombeck states

How We Kept Mother’s Day free essay sample

The text under analysis is entitled â€Å"How we kept Mother’s Day†. It is written by Stephen Leacock, a famous Canadian writer of the 20th century. This is the first story of this author I have read. The story describes one day of author’s family life. The subject of the story is the celebration of Mother’s Day. The passage deals with problems of family life. It is the author’s narration. The story is told from the point of view of one of the characters. The text can be divided into several parts. All of them are logically connected. The first part of the text introduces the main characters and gives some details concerning their lives. There are 6 main characters: mother, father, the narrator, his sister Anne, his sister Mary and his brother Will. The author mentioned that father works in office, Ann and the narrator are study in college, Mary and Will study in High School. We will write a custom essay sample on How We Kept Mother’s Day or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The story opens with a description of planning the celebration of Mother’s Day. The plan was to express the entire gratitude to mother and to make a great holiday like Xmas. All the members of the family decided to stay at home that day, decorate the house with different stuff, buy new hat for girls and silk ties for boys, and as a surprise to hire a motor car and take mother for a beautiful drive away into the country, so that she could have a rest from her housework. From this paragraph we understand how thoughtful of mother her family is. The next part is devoted just to that day from the every morning. The author adds some information about the realization of their great plans. First of all, father suggested making a purpose of their drive, e. g. fishing, because fortunately he had just bought a new rod the day before. Further on the author goes on to say that in the car they had rented hardly seemed as much room as they had supposed. So they thought of the best way out of  the  situation – to leave mother at home to cook dinner, all the same she wasn’t fond of fishing. The last part tells us about the returning the whole family home late in the evening. The narrator describes how mother takes carry of all the family and of each of them. She prepared the grandest kind of dinner like on Xmas Day, and in addition she kept it hot for them guessing they would be late; she cleaned father and his clothes to put on because he got messed up with fishing. After the long dinner she washed the dishes herself and her children didn’t prevent her from it as they thought she really enjoyed it. Before going to bed mother said it had been the most wonderful day in her life and shed a tear. So the author comes to the conclusion that they could feel themselves awfully repaid for all that they had done. The story is written in informal functional style. We can find numerous words and phases proving it: all that kind of thing, awfully becoming, a little bit, have a big day, get messed up, the dinner†¦ was great fun, etc. Also there is the interjection well introducing some of the passages, the omission of the conjunction that and the syntax imitating that of oral communication by its free and careless structures. The story presents an interesting example of the indirect method of characterization. The author does not say directly that the members of the family were selfish, callous and hard-hearted people, but makes them act and lets the reader draw his own conclusion. The tone and colouring of the story How We Kept Mothers Day is emotional,humorous and ironic. The author is an expert in humour of situation. He makes the readers laugh at certain funny or absurd facts, Ð µ. g. the members of the family buying presents for themselves on Mothers Day, but buying nothing for their mother. There is also humour of words when the reader does not laugh at what is happening in the story but at how it is put by the author. E. g. But of course we all felt that it would never do to let Father stay at home, especially as we knew he would make trouble if he did. The author’s manner of writting is very vivid and colourful. I do enjoy reading it. The text is fairly interesting. It is a broad panorama of contemporary life written with brilliance and power. The text portrays typical family life as it is. Apparently the author describes the situation from his own life. The story is full of irony and amusing situations. It is sure to evoke an emotional response in readers.

Aquarium Set Up Essays - Fishkeeping, Aquarium, Filter, Heater

Aquarium Set Up Essays - Fishkeeping, Aquarium, Filter, Heater Aquarium Set Up Setting up an aquarium This is a step-bystep instruction for setting up an aquarium. We will discuss pertinent topics such as location, purpose, and setup. There are a several items you will need for your aquarium. I recommend at least a 20-gallon aquarium to start, but the size is up to you. You will need an undergravel filter, gravel (1.5 pounds per gallon). One to two powerheads depending on the size of your aquarium, a heater, stand, and an aquarium hood with light. The first thing you must think about is location. Find a spot that will make the aquarium stand out in the room. Try to keep your aquarium away from windows that receive a lot of sunlight. Too much sunlight throughout the day may create an over abundance of algae in the aquarium. Once you find the right location set up the stand and make sure it is level. You also need to decide what purpose the aquarium is going to serve. Will it be for entertainment? Do you want it to be a living picture? Is it for educational purposes? You will need to know this for the type of fish and filtration system you will need. Before you start to set-up the aquarium or do anything else, you must wash out the aquarium, gravel, and all other equipment being used in the aquarium with regular tap water. After washing place the aquarium on the stand and assemble the undergravel filter. If you look on the box that it came in, it will tell you how to put the filter together. Place the filter on the bottom of the tank and insert the enclosed lift tubes. Once that is done you are ready to start putting in the gravel. Try not to pour all of it in at once, take your time. After all the gravel is put in, smooth it out so that you can have a level surface to put decorations on later. The power heads will go in next. They will be used to direct the water flow in the aquarium by circulating the water through the gravel. Place the powerheads on top of the lift tubes. Make sure you put the suction cups on the powerheads and secure them to the glass on the side of the aquarium. Once all of this is done it is time to add the heater. The heater should be placed in an area where the water will be circulating the most. I always place them in a corner; this is where most currents are the best. The temperature should be around 78-83o F for most fish. Ask your pet store what is the best temperature for the type of fish you will be buying. Do not plug in your heater for about an hour after you have filled up your aquarium with water. Doing so may cause the heater to shatter since the glass is not at the same temperature as the water. Your set-up is almost complete. Now you may start adding water. Place a bowl on the gravel and pour the water into the bowl. This will stop the rock from being pushed around during fill up. Fill up your aquarium till the water level is around two inches from the top. The reason for stopping two inches short is if you add a large rock as a hiding place for the fish, it will take up a lot of the space. Too much space displaced will push the water level up over the sides. Now is the time you want to add any decorations. Now that the aquarium is full of water, plug in your powerheads and add some dechlorinating solution in the water. The rule for dechlorinating solution is one teaspoon for every 10 gallons of water. It is probably still not time to plug in your heater. The last thing you will do is place the aquarium hood on the aquarium. Now you may add your fish. Do not go out and buy a dozen fish and throw them all in at once. Start off with two or three fish of a compatible type or same type of inexpensive fish. For now we must seed the aquarium

Soil machines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Soil machines - Essay Example The terrain of the ground can be described as flat since there was no any steepness was observed. On the east side of the site, walkway was present while buildings were not within the vicinity of the site as shown on the map. Before the excavation of trial pit the top soil was removed. The next step was to place all the layers of soil according to their extraction order. This was very important as the characteristics of the soil at different depth would be established. Tests such as Moisture Probe test, the Mackintosh test, shear vane test and the permeability test were conducted to establish the properties of various strata. The results of these tests revealed that; This test is aimed at measuring the ability of the soil to sustain structural load. This test is essence for the purpose of putting up a building in the site. The test first measure the un-drained shear strength by planting a shear vane into the ground and measures the level of pressure at the point where the soil shears as shown on table 3. We settled for the mackintosh probe because it is portable due to the fact that it is hand operated in addition it produces vivid and reliable results. The test used a 5Kg hammer to drive a number of connected 120cm-long steel rods into the ground at intervals of 100mm. The depth of the result was as in table 4. Reading from the table, it can be inferred that there is a distinct intensification in the quantity of blows between 400 and 500mm. The result affirm that the soil gets denser as the ones penetrates to the ground. Permeability (k) is the ease with which water passes through the soil. It is measured in ms-1.cylinders of 100mm in diameter and 150mm in height are planted into the ground and filled with water. Measurements are then taken every minute of the water level as it decreases with time (flow rate). On the matters of reliability the test is questionable as there might be some

To what extent are cuts to the public sector likely to affect employee Essay

To what extent are cuts to the public sector likely to affect employee motivation Restrict your answer to an analysis by Kehr's - Essay Example 479). Prior to Kehr’s model (2004a), conceptions of work motivation largely ignore the role of implicit motives and how these are distinguished from explicit motives (2004a, p. 479). In this work, Kehr’s model of compensatory work motivation and volition is reviewed for its possible relevance given budget cuts in government. A key concept of Kehr’s compensatory model is that implicit/explicit motive discrepancy gives rise to decreases in volitional strength (Kehr 2004b, p. 315). In discussing the future of motivation theory, Steer et al. (2004, p. 385) acknowledged that Kehr’s model synthesized several lines of research on motivation covering implicit and explicit motive as well as helped answer several intriguing as well as previously unanswered problem s concerning goal attainment. This is significant as the International Research Centre on Organizations has emphasized that motivating people is not an easy task (2007, p. 1). Kehr’s model is highly relevant given the a CATO Liberty news report by Mitchell (2010) indicated that United Kingdom Prime Minister Cameron is poised to implement savage government budget cuts in the United Kingdom. II. Kehr’s compensatory model of work motivation and volition As described by Kehr (2004a, p. ... 482). In Kehr’s example (2004a, p. 482), a manager high in affiliation implicit motive may enjoy a companionship with his unproductive subordinate but will still defer to the demands of his or her supervisor to increase productivity by dismissing the subordinate (Kehr 2004a, p. 482). The supervisor demands constitute an extrinsic factor. In Kehr’s (2004, p. 482) analogy, implicit motives â€Å"push† while explicit motives â€Å"pull† the individual. This means that implicit motives come from within the individual while explicit motives reinforce, moderate, or even suppress the â€Å"push† coming from the implicit motives. In Kehr’s analogy of a senior personnel and an unproductive subordinate, Kehr suggested that extrinsic factors and explicit motives could override intrinsic factors and intrinsic motives. Citing the work of McClelland (1995), Kehr (2004a, p. 480) identified that the three major implicit motives are power, achievement, and af filiation. Implicit motive are not consciously accessible but â€Å"they are assessed by operant, fantasy arousing, picture-story tests, such as the Thematic Apperceptation Test or TAT (Kehr 2004a, p. 480). The implicit motive for power pertains to the need to dominate, control, or influence (Kehr 2004a, p. 480). The implicit motive for achievement refers to the need to meet or exceed personal standards (Kehr 2004a, p. 480). Finally, the implicit motive for affiliation revolves on the need to establish and deepen social relationships (Kehr 2004a, p. 480). Implicit motives determine long-term behavioural trends while explicit motives or values produced by extrinsic factors result to cognitive choices or goals (Kehr 2004a, p. 482). In Kehr’s example (2004a, p. 482), people with explicit power motive may aim for positions of

Day in the ife of counselor, psychologist & social worker Essay

Day in the ife of counselor, psychologist & social worker - Essay Example The paper will also study the educational qualifications, licensure requirements, skills and techniques that professionals in these fields regularly incorporate into their practice. A counselor is a human service professional that assists people get more out of life by overcoming challenges and difficulty. A counselor is a trained and accredited professional who renders developmental, emotive and mental support to clients. Counselors build a healthy relationship with clients and formulate problem-solving approaches to resolve the problem facing a client. The counseling field is diverse with counselors specializing in rehabilitation, career assistance, mental health, or marriage (Price, 2015). Counselors can work privately, under the government, in academic circles or in medical facilities. A counselor has to fulfill a prerequisite for an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts major. After completion of the Bachelor’s degree, the counselor pursues a Master’s degree in a counseling module. A counselor can undertake an advanced degree such as a doctorate in a specialty subject. A Bachelor’s degree is an essential requirement for basic counseling and life coaching. The Bachelor’s degree introduces the counselor to a wide range of counseling fields from which they can choose a field that suits their career objectives. Advanced counseling fields such as psychoanalysis require a doctorate or PhD qualification. A degree in psychology is a beneficial addition to the educational qualifications of a counselor (Gladding, 2012). Counselors will also undergo specialty training in the organizations that provide counseling services. Counseling training programs held in developing counseling skills and offers mentoring for more experienced counselors. Counselors undertake practicums that equip them with knowledge about treatment modalities (Price, 2015). During the training, the

The Issue Of Compulsive Lying Philosophy Essay

The Issue Of Compulsive Lying Philosophy Essay Compulsive lying is a common disorder frequently acquired by low self-esteem and a demand for attention. To begin, it may help to apprehend the difference between pathological and compulsive lying. A pathological liar will lie relentlessly to gain satisfaction of their needs. This person has very little courtesy or consideration for the feelings of others. Pathological lying is generally observed as a way to cope and is usually developed in early childhood. Being manipulative, insidious, and egocentric are all characteristics that come along with pathological liars. On the other hand, compulsive liars are more modest. The trouble with these liars is that they are addicted to being dishonest. Lying is a habit and it is in their nature to lie about things, great and small, regardless of the situation. It is a way of life to consistently bend the truth. To make matters worse, compulsive lying is often just a symptom of an even greater personality disorder, which makes it harder for the problem to be resolved. There are various types of lies that people take to their advantage. The white lie is the polite, well intentioned lie. It is used to exaggerate, or embellish gossip. A common example is the giving of a false compliment, not to hurt the feelings of someone making the request. Another type of lie is the bold-face lie. This is the obvious, far-fetched lie, commonly used in telling stories and tall tales. Lying by omission is also another example. Most criminal frauds or businesses use this technique by leaving out certain information, manipulation of prices, or by taking an advanced fee without delivering services or goods. Whether it is to destroy a persons reputation, to avoid the admission of guilt, to bypass consequences, or to escape rejection, people lie endlessly. Detecting a Lie The cruelest lies are often told in silence. Robert Louis Stevenson Body language is difficult to control, which leads us to believe that nonverbal cues would be easy to conceive. But despite the common belief, there are no rational, nonverbal signals that affiliate with lying. Lying is difficult to conceal because emotions give away a persons identity. It takes much more mental effort to lie, than it does to tell the truth. Lying also causes more anxiety and stress. There are many general behaviors that relate to lying. Physical characteristics will be limited and stiff, noticeable speech errors, shorter responses, fidgeting, and blinking are all examples. Another popular belief tells that a liar will break eye contact. But on the contrary, many liars will try to keep the eye contact, making it seem as if they are not lying. The timing and duration of emotional gestures are off normal pace. When receiving an unwanted gift, for example, a person will tell how much they love the gift and then smile, rather than at the same time the statement was made. Many expressions will be controlled and clearly false. Liars often avoid silence in a conversation; they will add unnecessary details to support their lie. Unfortunately for some people, lying becomes effortless. Research shows that lying is very common in relationships, and many people are talented at it. It is normal for kids to lie at an early age, whether it is to get out of trouble, or to mislead parents. Parents have trouble detecting lies in their children, especially when they are at such young age. Most children have difficulty learning how to protect others feelings by lying. In some cases, the truth can be abhorrent and severe. There is no precise way to tell if someone is being honest or not, which makes it easier for people to lie. Not everyone experiences guilt, and by getting away with lying, they will begin to think it is acceptable. When Lovers Lie Ask me no questions and Ill tell you no lies.Oliver Goldsmith It is not eccentric for lovers to lie to each other. As a matter of a fact, this issue occurs frequently, especially among lovers. Spouses tend to worry and become inquisitive, exceedingly asking questions. Partners may tend to ask many provoking questions, such as; who you with were, what you were doing, the truth of the matter, and why you took so long. After being interrogated, the spouse feels as if their sense of solitude has been revealed. Asking questions is always good, but too much of a good thing can become bothersome. As a form of defense, lying becomes the key in this situation. Another influence in lying to a lover is the beliefs and practices of intimacy. There are several types of attachment styles and deception. First, truth tellers in a relationship are usually very secure. They feel comfortable with themselves and their lover. Second, most individuals who lie to please their partners are often apprehensive. Fear of rejection causes them to be more susceptible to lyi ng. These people are needy, and ask a lot of invasive questions. Ultimately, spouses will try and keep a good distance between one another by lying. A spouse can only get so close if they dont know the truth. There are many topics that lovers lie to each other about. The first topic is relational issues. Past relations, time spent together, feelings, and commitment are all examples of this. For instance, lovers lie about their friendships with other people. They may be on the phone, texting, and e-mailing others of the opposite gender, while their spouse has no idea about it. They often hide the time spent with other friends or co-workers. Another issue deals with their sexuality. Several examples are sexual history, masturbation, and sexual fantasies. Negative thoughts and behaviors are commonly lied about as well. Lovers will lie about liking their spouses appearance, hair, weight, age, or clothing. Finally, financial issues, as far as spending problems, debts, and income can be l ied about. The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe. H. L. Mencken pros and cons of lying There may be certain reasons to lie, that seem acceptable in some cases. The expression, truth hurts is generally accurate. The truth can be the most painful thing to hear, especially if it is not what you are expecting. Relationships are based up the truth and that occasional lie. I sometimes think about someone else during sex, or I often wonder why we are together are both very hurtful truths that would be told in a relationship. Lovers often hide the truth, because they do not want to hurt their partner. But in opposition, when we really want to hurt somebody, we often say what we think. The truth will come out fierce and impetuously once the relationship is falling apart, and one or the other partners no longer see a future with each other. While telling the truth in a relationship can lead to much pain, lying is almost a necessity. Avoiding conflicts is one way that lying can be an advantage. Lies that built are better than truths that destroy. Senegalese Proverb Couples do not always see eye-to-eye on certain issues, and conflicts will spark up. They argue about many different topics, such as; annoying habits, how to raise kids, how they spend time and money, and household chores. It varies between relationships because many people do not like to argue. An easy way to avoid conflicts is deception. Deception safely divides the lovers negative thoughts toward each other. It also helps share lives with each other while avoiding difficult issues that are not always easily discussed. It can be simpler to tell the partner what they want to hear, rather than arguing over the topic. Deception also helps to protect privacy. People cherish their rights to make decisions for themselves and having freedom without a partner constantly acting as a road block. No one wants to be controlled or taken from their independence. This allows us to control and maintain boundaries. There are also many disadvantages of lying. In a relationship, love and trust are on e in the same. Without trust, it is almost impossible to have a stable relationship. Many couples break up with each other once one gets caught lying or cheating. It is very difficult to regain trust with someone who has already broken it. But if the couples truly want to work it out, they will make an effort to do so. Lying can also be used to limit choice and take away a persons control. Lying is actually a form of stealing. When you lie to someone, you are stealing their right to make a decision based on the reality of the situation. The person does not know the truth of the matter, so they are unable to act for themselves. If a man is sufficiently unimaginative to produce evidence in support of a lie, he might just as well speak the truth at once. Oscar Wilde Once a lie is told, it must be repeated. When people embellish in a story, they often tell it so many times that they start to believe their own lie. To keep accuracy, the lie would have to be continual. Once lies are started, they are difficult to maintain. Whether it is to avoid conflict, exercise freedom, or to protect harsh feelings, lying must have a balance. How to Tell A Lie Lying is a lot easier than people think. Lies often go undetected. It is very important to keep track of the lies being told. People think they can tell when a lover is lying by watching their nonverbal behavior. Again, the truth is much further. People also play close attention on their verbal responses and body language, which does not work. Although partners use the wrong methods of detecting a lie, it is helpful to know what activates a partners suspicion when lying. So, while attempting to lie, make sure to limit all suspicious behavior. First, do no drag out or exaggerate a lie. Keep it short and go straight to the point. Providing too many details will make the lie sound suspicious. For example, while coming home late one night, you decide to lie about where you were. Instead of telling the truth about being at a friends house, you lie about a line of traffic that you were stuck in. You should have seen the traffic delay. People were backed up for miles. Once we finally began to move, we moved at a crawl. It took forever to get out of there! Essentially, your spouse might question why there are so many unnecessary details to that story. To make it much easier and more believable, you could have said, Sorry, traffic was terrible tonight. This sounds much more honest and much less desperate. Second, while trying to lie, do not make up something far-fetched. It is better to keep the lie plausible. Stick with logical and reasonable excuses. Third, always stay calm. Do not show signs of anxiety or stress, considering this will give away the lie. If basic questions are asked, it is a good thing. Make sure to answer them with reasonable thought and be at peace. Finally, realize your partners level of attachment and use it to your advantage. If your partner is comfortable with intimacy and closeness, it helps to demonstrate them while lying. For example, using nicknames, standing closer, or holding them in your arms would all be convincing signs. But on the cont rary, if your partner is uncomfortable with showing intimacy, do not use this technique. This could make it even more suspicious and leave them wondering why you are acting different. Always tell the truth. That way, you dont have to remember what you said Mark Twain Telling the truth Once a lie is told, it is extremely difficult to go back and confess the truth. Sometimes it pays to come clean, but it can also lead to more problems. It can be hard to discuss your opinions with others, which makes confessing such a difficult decision to make. Eventually, in time, the truth will come out. The best way to discover the truth is to hear it from the person who told the lie. Many times, people slip up and hear the truth by other means, for example, third party information, surveillance, or accidental discovery. This will make it more difficult to regain trust. Not only have you done something wrong and lied about it, but you also made that extra effort to hide it. Regardless if you confess before the person hears about what has happened, there will still be many problems. It is critical to have trust when trying to work through problems. Often, people will come clean after a guilt trip plays a toll on them. Once you admit something you have done wrong, it can change the way someone sees you. It may create hostility and resentment. Although having everything out in the open can lead to more conflict in a relationship, lying and being guilty of doing so will lead to more conflicts. Trying to relieve guilt is not the wisest thing to do. People tend to experience the most guilt when they believe that they are going to get caught in their lie. As time goes by, the feelings of guilt will most likely fade away. But being able to trust your instincts will help in deciding whether or not it is a good idea to confess. If you believe that telling the truth will set you free and make your relationship grow through experience, then perhaps it is the best thing to do. Getting even or having the ambition to hurt a partner is often driven by telling the truth. Having good intentions will not always bring an honorable outcome, but negative intentions frequently bring adverse conclusions. Before the truth comes out, make sure you know what you want to accomplish by confessing. There are many factors to consider before telling the truth. First, time and setting will definitely make a huge difference in the reaction of the truth. For better results, look at the situation from your partners point of view. Make sure when confessing, it is at a time when they are able to reach out for support. Do it in a private place, where every thing is tranquil and at ease. The person may need time to cope with the suddenly given information. Second, prepare the person before breaking the news. Let them know that something needs to be talked about, and it may be difficult for them to conceive. Ask them to listen are react calmly to what you have to say. Third, try to be descriptive with your words and explanations. Describe what you have done, and why you chose to make those decisions. Take all responsibility for your actions. Never blame anyone but yourself for the lies you have told. Even when the other person may be partially to blame for the action, do not blame them, for it was your choice to lie about it. Fourth, always expect the worst. You can never be sure of how someone will react, but make sure to prepare for something heavy. Finally, do not fight back or try to defend yourself. The truth can be bearing to hear, and when someone is hurt or in a lot of pain, they tend to take it out on the person they believe responsible for it. The best way to deal with this situation is to avoid contention. Instead, stay calm and understand how they feel in the situation. Be aware of the decisions or changes your partner may want to make after hearing the truth. The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe. H. L. Mencken Self Deception Often without realizing it, people lie to themselves on a daily basis. It is usually in order to maintain a sense of control. Many issues go on in the world that so many people do not even realize or take the time to understand. Our attention is focused mainly on what we care about or what we believe. Have you ever met someone at a party that you have never seen in your life before that? Then suddenly, after the party, you are seeing them every where you go. This is because we do not notice all of the people around us, unless we know who they are, or are interested in knowing them. But they have always been there; the difference is that we had been seeing them unconsciously. There are several advantages in self-deception. It is very beneficial because it allows people to disregard everyday errors, imperfections, and downfalls. Seeing the best in people, is apparent, even when the best may not be there. People are able to cultivate a positive self-control, cope with many of lifes prob lems, and have healthier romantic relationships. It is plain to see that people who do not engage in self deception will have a difficult time to maintain close relationships. Such individuals will abide in issues and have a hard time focusing on the good things in life. There are also disadvantages when it comes to self-deception. People will have trouble trying to work out hard times and dealing with the serious issues. If they are overlooking all of the bad, it can cause them to have even more emotional, physical, or mental problems. Too much optimism is disastrous, which is why you need a level of balance. Conclusion Compulsive lying goes much deeper than self-esteem issues, and there is more to it that you would even imagine. It is now clear that detecting a lie is not always as simple as it seems. There are many types of lies, and many ways to catch someone in the act of lying. People lie day to day, and sometimes they do not even realize it. Telling the truth is often just as hard as successfully telling a lie. Lying can serve as an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the situation. While trust is an ongoing process to build, it is constantly being broken back down by lies. Compulsive lying can be dealt with through counseling or therapy. But since it is an addictive habit, getting someone to admit the problem is the most difficult part. Resources Compulsive Lying Overview http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=153 Detecting a Lie http://mama.essortment.com/liesdetecting_rarm.htm How to Detect a Lie http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies.php Truth about Deception http://www.truthaboutdeception.com Deception Detection http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20040731/bob8.asp How to Read People http://www.lifetrainingonline.com/blog/how-to-detect-lies.htm Foot Notes The cruelest lies are often told in silence. Robert Louis Stevenson Ask me no questions and Ill tell you no lies. Oliver Goldsmith The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe. H. L. Mencken Lies that built are better than truths that destroy. Senegalese Proverb If a man is sufficiently unimaginative to produce evidence in support of a lie, he might just as well speak the truth at once. Oscar Wilde Always tell the truth. That way, you dont have to remember what you said. Mark Twain The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe. H. L. Mencken

New England colonies :: essays research papers

The people who settled in the New England Colonies were the Separatist Puritans called Pilgrims and the New Englanders would come to prosper through their hard work, thrift, and the quality of their commitment to God and each other. The settlement pattern in New England Colonies during 1600 to first half of 1700 was designed in clustered housing and small agricultural fields. The king will give out land and the settlement set up will include a meeting house, a village commons, large open lots which is very large and it contains kitchens and places where animals are kept and agricultural highland. The highlands were beautiful fields divided into segments and planting and harvesting were done together as a family. Land preparation for farming and animal rearing was done using a method called girdling – tree killing. They will cut around each tree to stop nutrient from getting to the tree and the leaves will later felled down. They will now come back and cut the branches of the trees and burn the underbrush. Farmer starts plowing as the trees stumps decays and stones will be removed from the fields. Fields for farming are always small because of labor and there are boundaries between fields and the neighbors. The house or the farm was viewed as the workplace. And land given out to each family will be fenced to stop cattle from wandering off going into the farm areas. The land allocated to each family will show the family social status within the community. The towns developed individually and community involvement was given a great significant although the community was close knit. The society during the New England colonies comprises of different three social classes. The lowest in the social order is the slaves and were for the most part domestic servants, and they usually received mild and humane treatment, were instructed in religion and morals, and were not infrequently admitted to the family circle. The next class is the social ladder is the most numerous of all, comprised the traders, shop-keepers, and small farmers. Most people in this class were moderately educated, religious, comfortable and wealthy. The uppermost class comprises of the ruling class, which in New England includes the clergy, magistrates, college professors, and other professional men. The government in New England is divided into three bodies: The governor, the council and the Assembly. The Governor was appointed by the Crown - The governor represented the Crown directly.

Buddhism in the United States

It has almost become part of a regular routine. Like a habit. Practitioners enter this type of monastery to chant and meditate using Tibetan mantras while sitting cross-legged on mats, simultaneously being led by a lama. Their surroundings – bright Tibetan paintings – depict of a scene quite unfamiliar from their own. Indeed this picture can portray an Asian vista, but it is not in Asia.This is private in the Rime Center, located just off Interstate 35 in Kansas City, identified as one of approximately 1,000 Buddhist centers in the United States (Browning, 2007). In 2006, National Geographic magazine accounted that Buddhism has become one of United States’ religion with an increasing number of supporters, given an estimated 1. 5% of the country’s total population (Jan Hai, 2006). This is strongly held up by an established 2,000 Buddhist societies and associations of various sizes found in the United States (Jan Hai, 2006).To further highlight the prevalenc e of Buddhism in the West, Dalai Lama, the Tibetan leader, has done several visits to cities of the United States for public talks and other forms of assemblies with young peacemakers, scientists, the academe, business executives and to all other budding faithful Americans (Lampman, 2006). According to the 2006 edition of the Christian Science Monitor, â€Å"Dalai Lama’s visits spotlights the fact that with 1. 5 million adherents, Buddhism is America’s fourth largest religion. †Buddhism is steadily growing in the region and is incessantly spreading as American-born leaders present this traditionally ancient belief structured into the Western perspective and conditions (Lampman, 2006). America, with its diverse environment and cultures for Buddhism, lays out a unique history on how this religion laid its foundation and further distinguished itself towards a continuing process of development in the nation (Wikipedia, 2007). Buddhism making History in the United St ates Buddhism originated as a progeny of Hinduism in India (Zukeran, 1994). Founded by Siddharta Gautama (the Enlightened One) in the 6th century B.C. , Buddhism’s central focus is to sought the answer of the existence of pain and suffering in this world (Browning, 2007). The basic teachings of Buddhism – the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path – aim to address these. It is only through the total self-annihilation of desires made by following these teachings is one able to attain the eternal state of being called, Nirvana (Zukeran, 1994). This belief was carried on to various parts of Asia, with almost every denomination represented: Southeast Asian, Vietnamese, Tibetan, Korean, Chinese and Japanese varieties of ancient Buddhism (Gross, 2005).Buddhism endlessly spread across Asia. James Browning, an English Pastor of Englewood Baptist Church noted that Buddhism came to the United States in the 20th century due to three factors: (1) large number of Asian Bu ddhist immigrants, and the contact of Westerners with Asia during and after the World War II; (2) diaspora of Buddhist leaders from Tibet, China and Southeast Asia instigated by the Marxist Revolutions; and (3) the various missionary activities of Buddhist teachers in the United States (Browning, 2007).With the Asian immigrants spreading across the United States with their teachings in Buddhism, American intellectuals were starting to become involved and took interest to this religion or belief. (Wikipedia, 2007). To name a few, Englishmen William Jones and Charles Wilkins initiated translation works from Sanskrit to English to comprehend the ancient religion. Even Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson took the extra mile in understanding the Buddhist philosophy and published later the first English version of the Lotus Sutra.Henry Steel Olcott was the first popular American to publicly convert himself to the religion. And the most remarkable event in the history of Buddhism i n America was when the World Parliament of Religions was held in Chicago in 1893 to pave way for a public forum wherein Buddhists can freely communicate with the rest of the Western public (Wikipedia, 2007). Types of Buddhism in the United States With the successful emergence of Buddhism in the United States, even to date, both immigrants and native-born continue to practice Buddhism in diverse forms (Browning, 2007).According to some scholars such as Charles Prebish, three broad types of Buddhism in America are predominantly being carried out (Wikipedia, 2007). The oldest and largest is the â€Å"immigrant† or what is called â€Å"ethnic Buddhism†. The next oldest and what is accorded to be the most evident is the â€Å"import Buddhism†, which is also sometimes called as â€Å"elite Buddhism†. Finally, the newest sect of Buddhism actively purported in America from various backgrounds is the â€Å"export† or â€Å"evangelical Buddhism† (Wiki pedia, 2007).The differences and distinctions of these three types will be elaborated further below. Immigrant Buddhism is largely the Buddhist tradition brought about by the early Asian Buddhist settlers in the United States. This is home to the Buddhists from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and from nearly all other Buddhist country in the world over (Wikipedia, 2007). The largest national immigrant Buddhism in the United States is the Buddhist Churches of America or the BCA. Japanese immigrants founded this organization and are linked with the Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) branch of Buddhism.Its model has incorporated certain devotional practices with the likes of American Protestantism (Browning, 2007). Import Buddhism on the one hand, has its nature as its definition. As American intellectuals seek the truth and pursue a quest from a variety of countries in Asia, three trends of Import Buddhism have emerged, as follows: Zen, Tibetan Buddhism and Vipassana (caused b y Theravada Buddhism). (Wikipedia, 2007). Several Zen centers are already situated in the United States with emphasis on sitting meditation (zazen), and are being taught by a master (roshi).Zen is able to attract individuals due to its minimalism, its center of attention on both spontaneity and discipline, its mystique, its appeal with the arts (examples of its respective poetry includes haiku, gardening, ink landscape paintings, and No Theater) and its likeness towards martial arts (Browning, 2007). Tibetan Buddhism stems from its ancestors’ teachings with the most prominent Buddhist teacher in the world as their current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. He has attracted a number of celebrities in the Hollywood arena and ahs established a series of meditation centers, also called as Dharmadhatu (Wikipedia, 2007).Currently there are four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism in the West: the Gelug, the Kagyu, the Nyingma, and the Sakya (Wikipedia, 2007). The last trend of Import Buddhis m is Vipassana which is rooted from Theravada teachings. With a rough translation of â€Å"insight meditation†, Vipassana’s ancient meditative practices aim to simplify ritual and other ceremonial activities in order to achieve a more effective and available-to-all type of meditation. This sect is more open to lay involvement which sets Theravada differently amongst other teachings (Wikipedia, 2007).Import Buddhism was earlier noted as an â€Å"elite Buddhism†, reason being is the nature of its origins. The elite American society with its keen interest to know more of the religion tends to go overseas in various Asian regions to pursue their explorations. Lastly, Export Buddhism focused on recruiting converts from the public, one of which is Soka Gakkai’s Nichiren Buddhism. Nicheren Shoshu of America or NSA’s goal is world peace and harmony which can be achieved by the total transformation of lives. Their central focus in their meditation centers a re on the Buddhist sculpture, the Lotus Sutra. (Browning, 2007).NSA actively promotes its chanting of mantra expressing its allegiance to the Lotus Sutra. The most distinct feature that sets Soka Gakkai apart is its meditative technique solely articulated through chanting. Over the years, Buddhism in the United States has developed and made itself suitable to its environment. With the numerous sects branching out from Buddhism, it is not unlikely that another trend has developed in the West: socially engaged Buddhism. With the notion of quietism and passive approach to the society, this new trend sets to bring forth Buddhism in a different angle – moving it outside its norms.Engaged Buddhism is simply to apply its values and teachings to a wider and more involved spectrum in the society. This may concern the environment, political issues and community welfare. (Wikipedia, 2007). Role of Buddhism in Revolutionizing the West With all these sectors of Buddhism prevalent in the U nited States, another question boils down, regardless which sect you are involved into: What is it in Buddhism that has created an enormous appeal, interest and following in the Western way of living?Perhaps what is drawing people is Buddhism’s non-missionizing approach that suits the American’s search for more meaningful spiritual ways (Lampman, 2006). According to Lama Surya Das, a highly-trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition, â€Å"they are not building big temples, but offering wisdom, and ways of reconciliation and peacemaking, which are so much needed. † (Lampman, 2006). Westerners are in search of meaning of their traditional spiritual practices, and they have found answers in the transformative practices of meditation.Though this may suggest Buddhism as being able to serve as one of the answers being sought after by the faithful Americans, it should also be noted that the entry of Buddhism in the United States, particularly in North America was not as natural. Americanization of Buddhism: Its Limitations Americanization of Buddhism has emerged due to the convert Buddhists whose concerns are primarily different from those of traditionally Buddhist populations (Gross, 2005). Convert Buddhists find the Asian culture forms encase Buddhism in an uncomfortable manner (Gross, 2005).They have therefore developed approaches to Buddhist teachings that suits best their new religious identity in the Western point of view. In addition to the controversial topic of â€Å"Americanization† of Buddhism, the role of women was also tapped as another concern in the United States. It can be observed that in almost all major world religions, it is always male-dominated, similar to that of Buddhism. With Japan as an exception, another feature to note is that all traditional Buddhist societies or associations are empowered by lay-monastic dichotomy.Male denouncers for their religion are often labeled with prestige and honor, yet it is the other way around for women. Finally a deeper complication surfaced. The very teachings of Buddhism, when extrapolated, can be seen as depicting mostly lineage ancestors of men (Gross, 2005). Nevertheless, this did not hinder American women from participating in American Buddhism. It is apparent that women had taken the task in meditation centers and other Buddhist forums.Based on some observers, they claim that this is the most noticeable difference between Asian and American Buddhist centers (Gross, 2005). This seemingly key concern of women involvement in American Buddhism can be highly attributed to the second wave of feminism simultaneously occurring when the Asian Buddhist immigrants arrived in the United States. They say that if it were not for this coincidence, the face of American Buddhism will have changed forever (Gross, 2005). Buddhism Side by Side ChristianityAmerican Buddhism clearly made its mark in the region being the fourth-largest religion, after Christianity, Juda ism and Islam (Lampman, 2006). According to Dr. Seager, a professor of religious studies in Hamilton College, immigrants from Asia may have accounted for 67% of the total and the converts around one-third. Christianity being the number one religion practiced in the United States can be set in a comparative study between Buddhism to further illustrate what sets the two apart and how the two are so different (Zukeran, 1994). Here is a brief review of these two religions.As much of the Buddhist scriptures, Lotus Sutra for instance, were written hundreds of years after the death of Gautama, the factor of accuracy is questioned. In Christianity, however, the Bible is made of human testaments, of eyewitnesses surrounding the life of Jesus and the events taking place then (Zukeran, 1994). The concept of â€Å"God† also differs between the two religions. Buddhists claims that the Absolute does not play a vital role in their everyday living, unlike for Christians, where God is the cen tral of the universe – omnipotent and omniscient.The Christian God is a personal god (Zukeran, 1994). It was also made clear that Buddha is not deity. Jesus, on the other hand, claimed to be God, the Saviour of mankind. Although various sects in general sees Buddha as having a status of god, Buddha clearly and solely sees himself as the way-shower of Nirvana (Zukeran, 1994). The final distinction that can be illustrated further here is the concept of the final destination – where does one religion aim to go to? Buddhism does not aim for salvation or life after death as with Christianity.After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christians no longer fear death as they themselves have witnessed that their God did conquered the grave. Buddhists hope to enter the state of Nirvana, despite its unclear description of what it really is (Zukeran, 1994). Intensification of Buddhism in the United States Finally, Buddhism has definitely proven its firm foundation in the Western cul ture when the variety of Buddhist groups started establishing institutions of higher learning in America. (Wikipedia, 2007). Naropa University was the first four-year Buddhist College in the U.S, founded by Chogyam Trungpa. It is a fully accredited institution which offers degrees not necessarily or not directly related to Buddhism. His Lai University is also another Buddhist university. There is also the Dharma Realm Buddhist University which is a four-year college university offering mainly subjects into Buddhism, but also including generalized ones. BCA runs its own Institute of Buddhist Studies in California which offers a seminary-type of Buddhist Studies (Wikipedia, 2007). The contemplative practice of Buddhism infiltrated successfully that of the United States.The Buddhist experience continuously challenges its practitioners and adherents to cope with the cultural demands and social implications, at the same time, to reap and share the merits of this religion. It goes on furt her, as the sphere of influence of Buddhism in the United States is still in-progress. References James Browning. (2007). Buddhism in the United States. Retrieved from www. ethicsdaily. com Jan Hai. (2006). Spread of Buddhism. Retrieved from www. bjreview. com Jane Lampman. (2006). American Buddhism on the Rise. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from www. csmonitor.com Pat Zukeran. (1994). Buddhism. Retrieved from www. leaderu. com Rita M. Gross. (2005). How American Women Are Changing Buddhism. Retrieved from www. shambhalasun. com Ven. Mahinda Deegalle. (2004). Buddhist Experience in North America. Retrieved from www. uri. org Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2007). Buddhism in the United States. Retrieved from www. wikipedia. org Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2006). Buddhism in the United States. Retrieved from www. wikipedia. org Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2006). Timeline of Buddhism. Retrieved from www. wikipedia. org

Courtly love essays

Courtly love essays The idea of courtly love, as we understand it, began during the Romantic revival of the nineteenth century, when there was a period of general mythologizing about the Middle Ages (Jordan 134). According to the Romantics, courtly love describes an ideal of adulterous love between medieval aristocratic men and women, and relationships of this nature being more genuine than the common arranged marriage. Scholars believed this idea of love was characteristic of aristocratic culture in the Middle Ages because a great many texts of the period expressed a longing for finamors. Finamors, according to William Chester Jordan, is the closest medieval term to courtly love and means something like unblemished love love which, because it cannot or should not be fulfilled, achieves a certain purity and poignancy (Jordan 134). The doctrine of courtly love was designed to teach courtiers how to be lovely, charming and delightful. Its basic premise was that being in love would teach you how to be loveable and pleasing; so love taught courtesy. This kind of love is a social phenomenon, designed for communal living at a wealthy court where people had plentiful leisure and desired to entertain and be entertained delightfully. When properly applied, courtly love refers to an extravagantly artificial and stylized relationship a forbidden affair that was characterized by five main attributes () being: Courtly love began in the late eleventh century with William IX of Aquitaine. William was a well-known troubadour in southern France, and his influence on granddaughter Eleanor (and in turn, her influence on her daughter, Marie) led to the Courts of Love. The Courts of Love were presided over by Marie de Champagne and Eleanor DAquitaine. With many scholars and theologians present, t ...

Free Essays on Changes in the Family

MAIN FINDINGS Out of Australia's 4.6 million children aged under eighteen, 1.1 million children live with only one of their natural parents, usually as a result of relationship or marriage breakdown. 18 per cent of children were in one-parent families and 8 per cent were in step or blended families. The vast majority of children, who had a natural parent living elsewhere, were in the sole care of the parent with whom they lived, while 3 per cent of children had parents who shared care more evenly between them. Younger children were likely to visit the parent they did not live with more frequently than older children. 42 per cent of families (199,200 one-parent families and 53,700 step and blended families) received cash child support from the other parent . A further 16 per cent of families received support such as clothing, pocket money and assistance with school fees. 41 per cent of families received no child support from the other parent. Around one-third of all families receiving cash child support received, on average, $100 or less per month per child. For one-parent families, the median income for families receiving child support was $18,200, while for those not receiving child support it was $16,900. For step and blended couple families, the median income for families receiving child support was $45,140, while for those not receiving child support it was $37,440. Preface The 1997 Family Characteristics Survey examined exchanges between children and parents who live apart, most often as a consequence of marriage or relationship breakdown. While administrative records of child support arrangements are maintained by the Child Support Agency, this was the first time that the ABS conducted a national survey of child support and visiting arrangements. Information includes frequency and duration of contact between chil... Free Essays on Changes in the Family Free Essays on Changes in the Family MAIN FINDINGS Out of Australia's 4.6 million children aged under eighteen, 1.1 million children live with only one of their natural parents, usually as a result of relationship or marriage breakdown. 18 per cent of children were in one-parent families and 8 per cent were in step or blended families. The vast majority of children, who had a natural parent living elsewhere, were in the sole care of the parent with whom they lived, while 3 per cent of children had parents who shared care more evenly between them. Younger children were likely to visit the parent they did not live with more frequently than older children. 42 per cent of families (199,200 one-parent families and 53,700 step and blended families) received cash child support from the other parent . A further 16 per cent of families received support such as clothing, pocket money and assistance with school fees. 41 per cent of families received no child support from the other parent. Around one-third of all families receiving cash child support received, on average, $100 or less per month per child. For one-parent families, the median income for families receiving child support was $18,200, while for those not receiving child support it was $16,900. For step and blended couple families, the median income for families receiving child support was $45,140, while for those not receiving child support it was $37,440. Preface The 1997 Family Characteristics Survey examined exchanges between children and parents who live apart, most often as a consequence of marriage or relationship breakdown. While administrative records of child support arrangements are maintained by the Child Support Agency, this was the first time that the ABS conducted a national survey of child support and visiting arrangements. Information includes frequency and duration of contact between chil...

Role of Nature and Nurture in Perceptions about Sensory Information Assignment

Role of Nature and Nurture in Perceptions about Sensory Information - Assignment Example The present assignment has identified that animals have the ability to distinguish objects, which becomes possible from their reactions to applications of stimuli. However, the nature of such perceptions relates to only surmising. Difficulties faced in examining animals relate to whether they fail to respond because of the need to perceive or because of the reluctance to do so. Recent research has clearly indicated that the great apes have similar language abilities as human beings, in terms of perceptions relative to sensory information. In fact, considerable controversy has been created by suggestions that there is a similarity in the language ability of apes and human beings (Terrace et al, 1979). The accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information is determined by the distinction between sensations and perceptions and to what extent they vary in relation to how the different terms are defined. A second factor that determines the extent of accuracy in this regard is that perceptions are dependent upon the impact of learning through taste, touch, smell, and hearing. Thirdly, vision is the most important factor that is considered to impact sensory information. Researchers have been focusing upon the constituent components of visual perception and the need to analyze organized wholes because humans are prone to relate to patterns. Moreover, visual objects have the tendency to remain stable in spite of constantly altering stimulus characteristics such as contrast of figure arrangements, perspectives, and ambient light. This allows observers to relate perceptions of objects with objects as they are understood to be existent. In this regard, perceptions are known to be impacted by values, ideas, needs, expectations and conflicts (Baddeley, 2005). Sensory memory is believed to be the shortest-term component of memory because it retains pictures of sensory information following the ending of the initial stimuli. Sensory memory is also a virtual buffer for stimuli and comes from the five senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and vision that are absorbed accurately, although for a brief time. For instance, the accuracy of sensory information is evident from the fact that when we look at something, we remember what it looked like, even if it is observed for a single second. This is an example of sensory memory (Baddeley, 2005). There are a number of factors that contribute to the accuracy of sensory data. Just as it happens in any measurement system, sensory evaluation is also prone to being a source of error. There are factors that impact the accuracy and precision of sensory data and thus lessen its reliability. Psychological factors arise in view of using human subjects as tools of measurement. Despite instructions being issued and training being given by organizers to panelists, a great deal of confusion arises in regard to the details of the instructions and the choice of sensory scales. Thus, there is all likelihood that individual panelist s could have different interpretations of sensory characteristics and intensity levels. Moreover, the decision-making process could also change within the same study, thus creating uncertainties. Different panel members may have different focus levels whereby some could be distracted or experience fatigue, which impacts sensory abilities. A large number of experimental designs can strongly impact the reliability and accuracy of data. This is because it is crucial for samples to be presented, which also requires that they have to be standardized in the context of nonassociative coding, lighting conditions, temperature, and form.  

Fractal Geometry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fractal Geometry - Essay Example In colloquial speech fractal is a shape which is self-similar or recursively constructed. It means that such shape is similar at all levels of magnification and therefore it is sometimes called "infinitely complex". In the sphere of mathematic the word "fractal" means geometric object "that satisfies a specific technical condition, namely having a Hausdoff dimension greater than its topological dimension". (26) The simplest fractal is known to be Cantor Bar Set which was called after German famous mathematician. It is necessary to admit that fractals refer not only to the realm of geometry and mathematics. They can be found everywhere in natural world. Self-similarity (recursive nature) means that fractals are constructed by iteration and they are made up of the smaller parts (copies) of themselves. The examples of self-similarity are Sierpinski Gasket, the Mandelbrot Set, Self-affine fractals, etc. it must be admitted that fractals are not all self-similar objects. Scientists found out three main types of self-similarity: Exact self-similarity means that fractals are completely identical at all levels of magnification. It is the strongest type of self-similarity, because fractals bear exact and complete self-similarity. Quasi-self similarity is a loose form of self-similarity. It means that fractals are approximately identical, but not completely.

Tsar Alexander I Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tsar Alexander I - Research Paper Example Alexander was made the Emperor after the murder of his father Paul 1 and ruled Russia during one of its most unstable periods. A liberal at heart, Alexander tried to bring about social reforms. Family and Personality There is a strong relationship between the personality of Alexander and his early childhood. The struggle for power between Alexander’s father Paul and his mother had a deep rooted impact on his personality. From a very early age he learned the art of distancing himself from his family and developed a strong conscious of his own power. During his rule as emperor of Russia this side of his personality was evident. He was always a person who could change is ideology and impression according to his target audience. Thus Alexander was able to master different cultures and skills. He was equally apt at art as he was at military strategy. He could advocate the Rousseau’s humanitarian ideologies and preach the traditions of Russian aristocracy at the same time. Th us it is widely believed that Alexander proclaimed that he loved humanity but in reality hated it which is shown from his various decisions in power. This is also shown by the dual decisions taken by him in both foreign and domestic policy. Succession At the age of fifteen years Tsar 1 was married to Louise of Baden. She was later named as Elisabeth Alexeievna. Catherine wanted to appoint Alexander the King due to her differences with Alexander’s father Paul 1. However before she could take on this task she died in 1976. This created a power vacuum and there was only Paul 1 who could fill this vacuum. Thus instead of Alexander, his father became the king. Paul 1 as compared to Alexander was more intent on bringing about social reforms in Russia. This saw a massive opposition from the court and other power sources. These social reforms were resulting in a direct decrease in their power therefore it was inevitable that there would be opposition against Paul 1. The opposition fi nally resulted in his death as he was murdered in 1801. There is still much confusion on Alexander’s actual role in his father’s murder. It is however believed that in either case Alexander knew about the plot and was willing to take the throne. Reforms The early year of rule of Alexander 1 saw many efforts at bring about a change in the stagnant governing system of Russia. Russia in the era worked through a centralized system of governance consisting of Collegias. These Collegias were abolished in Alexander’s rule and new ministries were set up in their place. A big hindrance in this process was the old allies who has propelled him into power by killing his father. Tsar 1 systematically replaced them with young and enthusiastic friends from his own company. The ultimate aim of Alexander was to form a constitutional monarchy which would not reduce his power and bring about social reforms at the same time. Most of Alexander’s reforms were constitutional su ch as the creation of a new law and committee of representatives. These reforms did not change life of the common man during his time but had a long lasting effect on Russia. A very simple example is the abolishing of serfdom by his nephew many decades later. Although Alexander 1 could not achieve this goal during his rule, the changes brought about in law (allowing serfs to own land) enabled later generations to bring about reforms. Wars The most remarkable thing about the rule of Alexander was his wars with Napoleon. Initially the young Tsar had a very good

Language education Essay Example for Free

Language education Essay It is not a secret that teaching has a great role in our life. In our constantly changing world we have to get knowledge from everything: from people and things surrounding us, from different technologies, from our experience. But nothing of these can take the place of a teacher, who plays a great role in life of every person. During rather long period of time a teacher was an integral part of children’s life. He does not only impart the knowledge of the world, prepares children for everyday life but also influences their souls, teaches them to be honest, to be patient, to help each other, to  respect each other. But who is a teacher? We usually think that a teacher especially if we speak of a female is a nervous persistent creature. And if we speak of a male, we are sure he is odd, absent- minded and very often not strongly built and healthy. But in the broadest sense, a teacher can be defined as someone who not only teaches or imparts knowledge, but also someone responsible for shaping the minds and hearts of all those whom they teach. Foreign language teachers have a lot of common qualities with the teachers of other subjects. Moreover such â€Å"ideal† teacher would posses personal qualities, technical abilities and professional understanding. One must admit that the future of any student depends on the qualities and dedication of a teacher of foreign language or any other subject. That is why it is necessary to be a good teacher who will create an interest in students to achieve the aims they set for themselves. But what qualities, features do make a teacher a good teacher? Speaking about it first of all we should touch teacher’s personal and professional qualities. The most important feature for both foreign language teacher and teacher of other subjects is to enjoy his profession and love children. If a teacher loves his profession and his students he is ready to devote themselves to such a hard work as being a teacher. A teacher who is full of love for his work is motivated, energized, and creative; he comes to place of work in high spirits, he is open and can share his positive emotions with the students. The next most important concern is teacher’s eternal patience. A foreign language teacher must be patient. He must never be annoyed with students because they dont understand something. Not all children learn at the same pace and inevitably some will require special attention. However, giving up on these children is a mistake as they can usually succeed with encouragement and hard work. It is a well-known fact that a good teacher must possess leadership qualities. He must have great confidence and strong will power to obtain the best results from his students. A good sense of humour is another great tool that helps a teacher to simplify his task. I  think that a good sense of humor can create a pleasant atmosphere where everyone knows they can ask questions, make mistakes or try out new ideas. One more qualities of a good teacher which is necessary to mention is respect. It is very important to respect the students, their opinions, ideas, style of living, and attitude towards something. Having that respect for others gets you the respect back from others. Endurance, tolerance, optimism, enthusiasm, objectiveness, amiable disposition are also in the first ranks of qualities of a good teacher. I think that all these characteristics are some kind of challenge for a person because it is not so easy to combine all of them. But as the future teachers we must make every effort in order to develop them because we are the future examples for younger generation. Besides, a good foreign language teacher should possess certain professional knowledge. First of all he must know psychology of his children. It will help a teacher to have a certain way with the students, to involve them, to make the lessons more interesting and effective. Without any doubt a good foreign language teacher must be knowledgeable in his subject, because he is an example for the pupils. He must know all the peculiarities of the language, its grammar, lexical structure perfectly well. The pronunciation of a good foreign language teacher must also be on a high level. In other words he must be a professional, a master of his skills. Besides, a good teacher also must have the ability to analyze his work in order to see his mistakes, to find more effective and productive way of teaching. But on the other hand, their social position of officially respected but badly paid specialists doesn’t allow them to occupy the desirable step on the social ladder. Unfortunately very often teachers don’t have an easy access to necessary scientific literature to improve their professional skills. One more negative aspect of this profession is that they almost have no weekends, as their Monday is more likely to begin on Sunday, because some important preparations should be done. And young teachers are often not ready for the emotional impact and the amount of work  coming down on the teacher. To draw the conclusion, one can say that future teachers must remember that being a teacher is a great responsibility, because teachers are charged with children’s young souls. They must improve themselves in order to become good teachers, to acquire the qualities which will help to open children’s hearts, to become friends for them, to become examples for them to follow, to stay in their minds and hearts forever. One cannot deny that the experience the teachers get at school make a great influence on their attitudes to life and people.