Romantic Contradiction in the Poetry of John Donne Essay -- Poetry Poe

Romantic Contradiction in the Poetry of John Donne John Donne's poem "Elegy 19: To His Mistress Going to Bed" is closely related to "The Sun Rising" in its treatment of love, lust, and togetherness. Both discuss and argue different stances on the same topics, but are united by their language and development. The structure of "Elegy 19" and use of poetic techniques relate it directly and indirectly to "The Sun Rising". In "Elegy 19", there are forty-eight lines of adoration of the mistress of the title; this poem is full of reverence, veneration, and respect for the female form. In passages such as Your gown going off, such beauteous state reveals As when from flowery meads th' hill's shadow steals or perhaps Full nakedness! All joys are due to thee. As souls unbodied unclothed must be, To taste whole joys. Gems which you women use Are like Atalanta's balls, cast in men's views Donne clearly has a high and lofty image of the human female form. Yet this deification is undermined by the lusty, bawdy qualities of the poem. For example, when Donne reaches the conclusion of the poem he does not summarize his mistress' physical beauty, but instead promises sexual adventure. This is seen in the final three lines, Here is no penance, much less innocence. To teach thee, I am naked first; why then What need'st thou have more covering than a man? which clearly negates (or at least portrays negatively) the earlier, more romantic aspects of the poem. Other words have double meanings, which furthers the bawdy aspects of the poem, making seemingly innocuous passages into ribald declarations. Examples of double usage of words include "labor", which means both ‘get to work s... ...mplies sexual activity. Indeed, despite its romantic qualities, invoking the bed the lovers share as the center of the sun's orbits has a clear sensual tinge; it is as if the sexual activity of the lovers is the center of the world, for what else is a bed the symbol of, if not consummation of love? So in these two Donne poems, "Elegy 19" and "The Sun Rising", various poetic structures are used to create a split atmosphere of both romantic love and sexual love, which coexist within the fabric of the poetry. Donne skillfully uses such forms as direct address, indirect address, both stanzaic forms conventional and unconventional, and adept language manipulation to convey two messages simultaneously, and in doing so he paints an accurate portrait of the reality of love: that there is always a mix of romantic and sexual sentiments in the relationships between lovers.

Poetry and Dwarf Essay

  The thought-provoking poem, Assisi, written by Norman MacCaig is based on when MacCaig went to Assisi to visit the beautiful church built in St Francis’ name. The main character we read about, a dwarf sitting outside the church, is described in a way which evokes great sympathy for him. The writer achieves this by forming a vivid description of the dwarf and using different techniques helping him create sympathy for the dwarf from the reader. The first four lines of the poem create an image of the dwarf which is not very pleasant. â€Å"The dwarf with his hands on backwards/ Sat, slumped like a half-filled sack/  On tiny twisted legs from which/ Sawdust might run† The very first line of the poem is a very direct, blunt opening statement. The idea of the dwarfs hands being on ‘backwards’ is so disturbing that at once the reader starts to pity the dwarf. Using alliteration in the second line ‘sat slumped’ makes it seem that the dwarf sees no point in living anymore. The poet uses a simile to describe the way the dwarf was sitting, depicting him as a ‘half filled sack’ showing that the dwarf had been dehumanized by everyone surrounding him, making the writer annoyed that nobody is noticing the dwarf. MacCaig uses a metaphor on the third and fourth lines of the poem, ‘tiny twisted legs from which saw dust might run’ giving an idea of how small and weak the dwarf really is, not being able to move very far, therefore living a miserable life in the same place. MacCaig refers back to the dwarf nearer the end of the poem, evoking even greater sympathy for him. â€Å"The ruined temple outside, whose eyes/ Wept pus, whose back was higher/ Than his head, whose lopsided mouth/ Said grazie in a voice as sweet/ As a child’s when she spoke to her mother/ Or a bird when it spoke/ To St Francis. †The poet uses the phrase ‘ruined temple’ to show that the dwarf’s appearance is made in God’s image and even though his appearance may be destroyed, inside he is still just a normal man, like everyone else. MacCaig using the words ‘wept pus’ creates a very unpleasant picture with the idea of pus coming out of the dwarfs eyes but also a very sad picture with the idea that the dwarf was crying. ‘Whose back was higher than his head, whose lopsided mouth’, the writer says this to, again, accentuate the disturbing appearance of the dwarf, implying that the dwarf has a hunchback. At the end of the stanza, the poet surprises the reader when he uses the simile ‘as sweet as a child’ as coming from a man with such a bad physical appearance, the reader does not expect the dwarfs’ voice to be sweet. Throughout the poem, the dwarf is compared to different people and the church. In the first stanza MacCaig uses juxtaposition between the dwarf and the extraordinary building of the church, at the beginning he introduces the dwarf, and he then describes the church. He shows the comparison of how elaborate and wonderful the church at Assisi is, and how there is a dwarf, with a very miserable life, sitting outside. There is also a sense or irony in that, even though St Francis strived to help poor people, so much so that he got a church built in his name, there is still a very poor man sitting outside the church and nobody tries to help him. The second stanza concentrates on the priest, a man who is supposed to understand and share the meaning of God’s word. â€Å"A priest explained/ How clever it was of Giotto/ To make his frescoes tell stories/ That would reveal to the illiterate the goodness/ Of god and the suffering/ Of his son. I understand/ The explanation and/ The cleverness. † The word ‘a’ is used by MacCaig to introduce the priest. This indefinite article makes it seem like the priest is one of many, perhaps in criticism of the church itself, yet when he addresses the dwarf, the poet uses the word ‘the’ which suggests that the poet saw the dwarf as an individual, not like the priest who is just one of many. In this stanza the priest is showing the tourists around the church, showing them the frescoes that Giotto produced, explaining the word of god in pictures so that the illiterate could understand God’s word. The priest uses a very condescending tone when he speaks to the tourists, using a tone that suggests that he wanted to show off his church and his frescoes because he wanted the tourists to think that the he was very important. At the start of the final stanza, in reference to the second stanza, the writer describes how the tourists were acting. â€Å"A rush of tourists, clucking contentedly,/ Fluttered after him as he scattered/ The grain of the Word. It was they who had passed. † Here, the tourists are compared to hens who are clucking, chasing their master trying to get some grain, in this case God’s word. This refers to the parable ‘the sewer and the seed’. They represent the seeds that could not grow, who got caught in the thorns or thrown on the path, not understanding God’s word and therefore not growing into a healthy crop. The Priest would represent the farmer, sharing God’s word amongst the tourists. There are many themes in this poem but one of the main themes is the hypocrisy of the church. We see the church as an organisation that we expect to do good and help people less fortunate than themselves, and yet in the poem, Assisi, the priest, a representative of the church completely ignores the dwarf, an example of a poor man who the church should be helping, walking straight past him, not even acknowledging the dwarfs existence. This suggests that the church and also the priest don’t understand the meaning of what they are meant to be sharing, the true meaning of God, to help others. In conclusion, MacCaig manages to evoke a lot of sympathy for the dwarf. He does this by using detailed descriptions and comparisons between the dwarf and the church and priest. This makes for an interesting, thought provoking poem.

Radical Policies of President Franklin D Roosevelt

President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the New Deal program to attack the Great Depression that was plummeting the nation into a financial crisis; his plan can be said to have been a radical departure from Roosevelt†s predecessors. Roosevelt was brought to power with the expectation that he would initiate a major shift in the nature of government, and his actions following his campaign can rightfully be dubbed Roosevelt†s predecessors can be said to have been more conservatives than radicals. President Coolidge†s objective was to reduce the significance of the presidency and to limit the powers of the overnment. He was content to let all of the nation†s problems work themselves out. He twice vetoed the McNary-Haugen bill, which would have drastically helped farmers by buying crop surpluses. President Hoover believed that the role of the gov†t. was not to solve the problems, but to help the problems disappear. He stated that â€Å"if gov†t solved society†s problems directly, people would give up their freedom and gov†t. would become the problem. † From public pressure, however, Hoover began to promote more direct fed. volvement, initiating such programs as the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Agric. Marketing Act, which helped farmers by buying their crop surpluses. His actions had little effect on the economy, but FDR made sure that his actions did. Roosevelt took a much larger step in using fed. involvement, more then any other President had done before. Roosevelt†s philosophy differed in that he promoted direct relief for the â€Å"forgotten man† in financial trouble. He saw nothing wrong with gov†t. activism, and he chose to use the fed. gov†t. to try to regenerate economic growth. Some programs, including the Agric. Adjustment Act and the National Reconstruction Administration, even allowed gov†t to become too involved, resulting in Supreme Court legislation declaring them illegal and unconstitutional. His instituted loan and price-support programs which farmers became dependent upon, the Wagner Act as the overseer of labor-management relations, and a program to regulate the banking system and financial systems. In other words, he significantly changed the role of gov†t in the ecomony and in society by granting gov†t more control over them. After the New Deal and the Second Hundred Days were over, society held the expectation that the Pres. and the gov†t. were responsible for correcting any or all problems that they had. Even so, Roosevelt†s radical actions had stabilized the economy and prevented economic collapse. Conservatives argue that Roosevelt undermined individualism and free enterprise, but really he simply saved the nation with his ideas and reforms. Roosevelt may have used the fed. gov†t. intensely in society, but he saved thousands of unemployed workers and helped his fellow man.

Free Essays on Viglante Justice

Viglante Justice Vigilantism is viewed sign frustration with the system. This sends the messege to people that the police and courts have failed to provide security and justice. This is the reason certain people in society choose vigilantism over what is thought to be right for the people. But, these are often the same people who are in favour of democracy and try to achieve equality among all. Stopping vigilante is not easy, but i believe that films and film makers are doing little to provoke the growing popluarity by giving the idea that revenge killing is acceptable, instead of encouraging society to trust the judicial system. for Example Movies involving violent crime often position the viewer to sympathise with the victim who enacts the revenge by killing, hove the messege of it being acceptable .A Time To Kill, Sleepers and Eye For An Eye all confront the issue of revenge killing, which makes society to question the legal system and place justice solely on the individual. If we did not live in a society with other people, laws would not be needed. We would do as we want, with no respect to others. But since individuals began to live with other people laws have been the back bone of society. In Canada we have many laws effecting all aspects in life, laws in business ensure that people keep their promises and laws against criminal conduct help to protect our property and our lives. Even in a well-ordered society, people have disagreements, the law must provide a way to resolve the confrentations peacefully. Some Dictatorship governments have cruel laws, enforced by police forces free to arrest and punish people without trial. This may provide a great deal of order, but is looked upon as inhunmain form of control. The Canadian legal system respects individual rights while, at the same time, ensuring that society operates in an orderly manner. In Canada, there is the Rule of Law, which means that the law applies to ever... Free Essays on Viglante Justice Free Essays on Viglante Justice Viglante Justice Vigilantism is viewed sign frustration with the system. This sends the messege to people that the police and courts have failed to provide security and justice. This is the reason certain people in society choose vigilantism over what is thought to be right for the people. But, these are often the same people who are in favour of democracy and try to achieve equality among all. Stopping vigilante is not easy, but i believe that films and film makers are doing little to provoke the growing popluarity by giving the idea that revenge killing is acceptable, instead of encouraging society to trust the judicial system. for Example Movies involving violent crime often position the viewer to sympathise with the victim who enacts the revenge by killing, hove the messege of it being acceptable .A Time To Kill, Sleepers and Eye For An Eye all confront the issue of revenge killing, which makes society to question the legal system and place justice solely on the individual. If we did not live in a society with other people, laws would not be needed. We would do as we want, with no respect to others. But since individuals began to live with other people laws have been the back bone of society. In Canada we have many laws effecting all aspects in life, laws in business ensure that people keep their promises and laws against criminal conduct help to protect our property and our lives. Even in a well-ordered society, people have disagreements, the law must provide a way to resolve the confrentations peacefully. Some Dictatorship governments have cruel laws, enforced by police forces free to arrest and punish people without trial. This may provide a great deal of order, but is looked upon as inhunmain form of control. The Canadian legal system respects individual rights while, at the same time, ensuring that society operates in an orderly manner. In Canada, there is the Rule of Law, which means that the law applies to ever...

A Glossary of Weather Words for German Learners

A Glossary of Weather Words for German Learners Whether you plan to travel to Germany or simply want to better understand the language, learning the German words for weather conditions can be helpful. Discussing the weather is a way to make small talk with strangers. Learning German weather words can also help planning your travels easier. Youll know to avoid rainy days and other bad weather conditions.   This English-German glossary of weather terms can get you started. Once youve reviewed the terms, consider making flashcards featuring the words (and their English counterparts) to better retain them.   A air  e Luft air pressure  r LuftdruckNote:  In Europe and most of the world outside the U.S., barometric pressure is measured in hectopascals (hPa), formerly millibars, not in inches of mercury. In the International System (SI) of measurements, the unit of pressure is the Pascal, named after Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), the French scientist and philosopher who made important discoveries about air pressure. Normal air pressure at  sea level  (MSL, NN) is 1013.25 hPa or 29.92 inches of mercury. To convert between inches of mercury and hectopascals/millibars, one millibar (hPa) is equal to 0.02953 inches of mercury. aloft  hoch droben anemometer  r Windmesser atmosphere  e Atmosphre aurora borealis  s Nordlicht, (nà ¶rdliches)  Polarlicht autumn, fall  r Herbst B balmy  sanft,  lindbalmy breezes  sanfte Brisen,  linde Là ¼fte barometer  r Barometer barometric pressure  r Luftdruck black ice  s Glatteis breeze  e Brise  (-n) breezy  windig,  luftig bright  heiter C ceiling  e Wolkenhà ¶he Celsius   changeable, variable  vernderlich,  wechselhaft chilly  kà ¼hl,  frostigI feel chilly.  Mir ist kà ¼hl. chinook wind  r Fà ¶hn  (-e) der Fà ¶hn:  This warm, dry, alpine wind issimilar to a chinook wind. The wordFà ¶hn  can also refer to an electricblow-dryer for hair.More wind: See  tradewind/r Passatand  sirocco/r Scirocco. clear  heiter,  klar,  wolkenlos climatology  e Klimatologie cloud  e Wolke  (-n)cumulus cloud  e Kumuluswolke cloudburst  r Platzregen  (-)sudden downpour  r Platzregen cloudy  bewà ¶lkt,  wolkig cold  adj.  kaltvery cold  sehr kaltcold, coldness  n.  e Klte cool(er)  kà ¼hl  (-er)somewhat cooler  etwas kà ¼hler cumulonimbus (cloud)  r Kumulonimbus cumulus (cloud)  r Kumulus cyclone  r Zyklon  (-en) D damp  feucht  (-n) degree  r Grad10 degrees Celsius  10 Grad Celsius  (50F) dew point  r Taupunkt  (-e) downpour  r Platzregen  (-)cloudburst  r Platzregen drizzle  n.  r Nieselregen,  r Sprà ¼hregendrizzle  v.  nieseln  (-se) drizzly  Niesel-drizzly weather  s Nieselwetter drought  e Dà ¼rre,  e Dà ¼rrekatastrophe  (-n) dry  adj.  trocken dryness  e Trockenheit dry spell  e Trockenperiode dull, gloomy  dà ¼ster,  trà ¼b dust  r Staub dust devil  kleiner Wirbelsturm  (-stà ¼rme) dusty  staubig E east  r Ost(en)in the east  im Osten easterly  adj.  Ost-,  Ãƒ ¶stlichan easterly wind  ein Ostwind easterly  n.  r Ostwindeasterlies  die Ostwinde eye  n.  s Auge  (-n)eye of the hurricane  s Auge des Orkans F Fahrenheit   fair  adj.  heiter,  schà ¶n fall, autumn  r Herbst flood  n.  e Flut,  s Hochwasser,  e ÃÅ"berschwemmungflood  v.  Ãƒ ¼berschwemmen flooding  e ÃÅ"berschwemmung fog  r Nebel foggy  neblig,  nebelig forecast  n.  e Voraussage  (-n),  e Vorhersage  (-n),  e Prognose  (-n)a short-range forecast  eine Kurzfristvorhersage forecast  v.  voraussagen,  vorhersagen forecaster  r Meteorloge  (-n),  e Meteorlogin  (-nen) freeze  v.  frieren freezing  unter null freezing point  r Gefrierpunkt freezing rain  r gefrorene Regen,  r Graupel  (sleet) fresh  frisch front  r Frontcold front  e Kaltfront frost (hoarfrost), rime  r Reif,  r Raureif,  r Frost frosty  frostigcovered with frost  von Raureif bedeckt G gale  r Sturm  (wind)gale force winds  orkanartige Windegale warnings  e Sturmwarnung gloomy, dull  dà ¼ster,  trà ¼b gradual(ly)  allmhlich greenhouse effect  r Treibhausekkekt gust, squall  e Bà ¶e  (-n)gusts up to 40 mph  Bà ¶en bis zu 60 h/km  (Stundenkilometer) H hail  n.  r Hagel,  r Graupel  (soft hail)hail  v.  hageln,  graupelnIts hailing.  Es hagelt.hail damage  r Hagelschadenhailstone  r Hagelkorn  (-kà ¶rner)hailstorm  r Hagelsturm  (-stà ¼rme) halo (around moon/sun)  r Halo,  r Hof haze  n.  r Dunsthazy  dunstig hectopascal (hPa)  s Hektopascal  (-)Unit of measure for barometric pressure. See note under  air pressure  above and the Wetterlexikon. high (pressure)  s Hoch,  r Hochdruckbarometric pressure over 1015 hPa  Luftdruck von mehr als 1015 hPa high (temperature)  e Hà ¶chsttemperatur  (-en)daytime highs  die Tagestemperaturen hot  heiß humid  feucht,  schwà ¼l  (muggy) humidity  e Luftfeuchte,  e Luftfeuchtigkeit hurricane  r Hurrikan  (-e),  r Orkan  (-e) I ice  n.  s Eisblack ice  s Glatteis ice-cold  adj.  eiskalt icy  adj.  eisig,  frostig inversion  e Inversion,  e Temperaturumkehr isobar  e Isobare J jet stream  der Jetstream K kilobar (kb)   s Kilobar  (metric unit of pressure) knot   r Knoten  (wind speed) L lingering  adj.  Ã‚  zurà ¼ckbleibend lightning   r Blitz  Ã‚   Theres lightning.  Es blitzt. low (pressure)   s Tief,  r Tiefdruck  Ã‚   barometric pressure under 1015 hPa  Luftdruck von weniger als 1015 hPa low-temperature  e Tiefsttemperatur  (-en) M mercury   s Quecksilber meteorologist   r Meteorloge,  e Meteorlogin meteorology   e Meteorlogie,  e Wetterkunde mild   mild,  leicht,  sanft millibar   s Millibar milliliter   r Milliliter millimeter   r Millimetter  (precipitation)  Ã‚   Berlin: Niederschlagsmengen - die Jahressumme betrgt 590 mm. (Berlin: Precipitation - the annual total amounts to 590 mm.) In Hamburg fallen im Jahresdurchschnitt 715 mm Niederschlag. (About 715 mm of average annual precipitation falls in Hamburg.) - 100 mm 3.97 in. monsoon   r Monsun  Ã‚   monsoon rains   r Monsunregen moon   r Mond N nice   schà ¶n north   r Nord(en)  Ã‚   in the north   im Norden  Ã‚   northerly   Nord-,  nà ¶rdlich  Ã‚   northerly wind   r Nordwind O occasional (showers, etc.)   gelegentlich,  ab und zu oppressive (heat)   drà ¼ckend,  schwà ¼l ozone   s Ozon  Ã‚   ozone layer   e Ozonschicht P parched (land)   verdorrt,  ausgetrocknet partly cloudy   teilweise bewà ¶lkt,  wolkig patchy fog   stellenweise Nebel permafrost   r Dauerfrostboden pour  v.  Ã‚  giessen,  schà ¼tten  Ã‚   downpour   r Platzregen  (-)  Ã‚   Its pouring down rain.  Es regnet in Strà ¶men. precipitation   r Niederschlag  Ã‚   20 inches of precipitation a year   508 mm Niederschlag pro Jahr probability   e Wahrscheinlichkeit  (-en)  Ã‚   probability of rain  e Niederschlagswahrscheinlichkeit prognosis, forecast   e Voraussage  (-n),  e Vorhersage  (-n),  e Prognose  (-n) R radar   s Radar radar image   s Radarbild radiation   e Strahlung radiant energy   e Strahlungsenergie rain  n.  Ã‚  r Regenrain  v.  Ã‚  regnen  Ã‚   Its raining cats and dogs.  Es regnet in Strà ¶men. rainbow   r Regenbogen raindrop   r Regentropfen rainfall   r Niederschlag rain gauge   r Regenmesser  (measured in millimeters) rainy   regnerisch rainy season   e Regenzeit S satellite view   s Satellitenbild  (-er) scorching  adj.  Ã‚  sehr heiß sea level  s Normalnull  (NN),  r Meeresspiegel  Ã‚   above sea level  Ãƒ ¼ber dem Meeresspiegel,  Ãƒ ¼ber NN severe (winds, storms)   rau,  schwer,  stark sheet lightning   s Wetterleuchten  Ã‚   lightning  r Blitz shine   scheinen shower   r Schauer  (-) showery   regnerisch sirocco   r Scirocco/r Schirokko  (a warm, gusty Mediterranean wind) sky   r Himmel sleet  r Graupel smog   r Smog snow   r Schnee snowfall   r Schneefall snowflake   e Scgneeflocke  (-n) snowy   verschneit sprinkle   nieseln squall, gust   Ã‚  e Bà ¶e  (-n),  r Schwall sticky (humid)   schwà ¼l storm   s Unwetterstorm   r Sturm  (high winds) stormy   stà ¼rmisch sun   e Sonne sunny   sonnig sunshine   r Sonnenschein T terrible  adj.  Ã‚  furchtbar  Ã‚   terrible weather   furchtbares Wetter thunder  n.  Ã‚  r Donner thunderstorm   s Gewitter tide(s)   e Gezeiten  pl. tornado   r Wirbelsturm,  r Tornado trade wind   r Passat travel weather, travel forecast   s Reisewetter trough (low pressure)   r Trog,  pl.  Trà ¶ge typhoon   r Taifun U UV index   r UV-Index V variable (winds light and variable)   wechselhaft visibility   e Sichtweite W warm   warm weather   s Wetter,  e Wetterlageweather balloon   r Wetterballon  (-e)weather forecast/report   r Wetterbericht  (-e)weather map   e Wetterkarte  (-n)weather vane   e Wetterfahne  (-n),  r Wetterhahn wet   nass wind   r Wind windchill temperature   e Windchill-Temperatur wind current   e Luftstrà ¶mung  (-en) windy   windig

Things Fall Apart Study Guide and Discussion Questions

'Things Fall Apart' Study Guide and Discussion Questions Things Fall Apart is a famous novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Its considered an important work in world literature, albeit a controversial one. The book has been banned in some places for its negative portrayal  of European colonialism. The book is split into three parts showing the reader the negative effects of colonization on the main characters tribe. It also shows how Christian missionaries work to convert the African population helped to forever alter their culture. The book was written in 1958 and became one of the first books from Africa to become world renowned. It is seen as an archetype for the modern African novel. This is a recommended book to read in a book club because of the depth of the work. Plot Summary Protagonist Okonkwo becomes a successful farmer and earns titles and respect in his community, even though his father, Unoka, was seen as lazy, making him a disrespected laughingstock. His father is a source of shame for Okonkwo, whos strived to be everything his father has not. Hes domineering over his family as a result, and his overarching desire to always seem manly leads to his downfall. He takes in a ward, given to him to care for as a peace offering to avoid war with the neighboring Mbaino community. An oracle says the boy must be killed, but Okonkwo is advised not to do it. He does it anyway. But its after the accidental killing of a leader in his community that he and his family are exiled for seven years. When they return, they find that much has changed in their community because of white missionaries coming to town. Theyve set up a prison, a European-style court of law, a church, school, and hospital. Okonkwo doesnt understand why the people havent revolted against these oppressors. Then, the benevolent Mr. Brown is replaced by a strict reverend who isnt interested in the peoples existing culture. Violence eventually ensues, and the local leaders are eventually taken down by the colonizers. Okonkwo cannot cope and ends his own life. Main Characters These are the main characters in the novel: Okonkwo: protagonist whose fatal flaw is his inability to adapt to change and his reverence for needing to appear tough and manlyIkemefuna: clever, resourceful boy, ward of Okonkwo, whom he kills to not appear weak; given to Okonkwo to avoid warNwoye: son of Okonkwo, who becomes a Christian, a sensitive boyEzinma: daughter of Okonkwo, bold, her fathers favorite; the only surviving child of EkwefiEkwefi: Okonkwos second wifeUnoka: Okonkwos father, whom Okonkwo strives to be the opposite of; Unoka is lazy and enjoys music and conversation; is gentle, cowardly, and not ambitious; thus, he doesnt have the respect of the townsfolk.Obierika: best friend of OkonkwoOgbuefi Ezeudu: the elder of UmuofiaMr. Brown: missionary to Umuofia and Mbanta; patient, kind, respectful, open-minded person who builds a school and hospital in Umofia and encourages people to become literate to keep up with the rest of the world; represents colonizationthe Rev. James Smith: missionary who contrasts with Mr. Bro wn in that Smith is strict and doesnt compromise; has no interest in the native peoples culture; also represents colonization Major Themes In addition to the themes of the effect of colonization on African society and how cultures clash, there are personal themes as well. Readers can also examine how peoples character leads to their outcomes, such as in the case of how adaptable they are to change or inflexible (character is destiny). An examination of the book can look at human emotions and find commonalities and universals (people are people). The destiny theme can also be examined on a societal level. Achebe illustrates the complexity of the Igbo society and how it functions- unlike the authoritarian encroachers- without a strong central government. Is it destiny for the people to have been conquered, then? You can also examine how the community and people interact to find balance and function as a society. Historical Impact Things Fall Apart has become one of the most important books in African literature, as it was among the first major works to bring the African perspective to a worldwide audience and launched the continents modern literature. It even made Western anthropologists realize theyd been getting the story wrong and led them to a reexamine their methods and scholarship on Africas history and peoples. Though controversial to write a novel in the colonizers language, the book was able to reach more people that way, and Achebe was able to work untranslatable Ibo words into the telling so that people would be able to understand them through context as they read, rather than have a translator not achieve adequate subtleties of meaning. The book awakened pride in history and community for people in Africa and led them to realize that they could tell their own stories and that they were valid. Discussion Questions What is important about the title: Things Fall Apart? Is there a reference in the novel that explains the title?What are the conflicts in Things Fall Apart? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) are present?How does Chinua Achebe reveal character in Things Fall Apart?How do the storys themes relate to the plot and characters?What are some symbols in Things Fall Apart? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Are the characters consistent in their actions? Are they fully developed characters? Are some characters more fully developed than others? How? Why?Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?  Do you think the novel is meant to be political? What point was the author trying to make? Did he succeed?Why is the novel so controversial? Do you think the book should be censored or banned? Should it be taught in schools ? How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?What is the role of family and community in this novel? How does it change with the arrival of Europeans? How does it change when the missionaries arrive?Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why? What point do you think the author was making with the conclusion of the novel? Does your perspective change knowing there is a sequel?Would you recommend this novel to a friend?How is religion portrayed in this novel? Do you think the Christian missionaries had a positive or negative impact on the characters?Whats important about the time period the novel is set in?Why do you think the authors decision to write the novel in English  rather than his native language caused controversy?What point is the author trying to make about the African identity? What problems  does the author outline? Does he offer solutions?

Latino Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Latino Culture - Research Paper Example Further, Latinos have considerably different histories, cultural approaches and contemporary social problems (Suarez-Orozco & Paez, 2008). â€Å"Latinos are not a simple racial or ethnic group, but they are the product of a distinctive civil society† (Hayes-Bautista, 2005, p.5). Latinos are generally described by governmental policy models as: a racial group, a language group, a group with strong affilitation to their traditional culture, a dysfunctional minority group, or an urban underclass. However, the core element of Latinos is the continued presence of a Latino civil society, which provides Latino children with their initial experiences in the social world, teaches them right and wrong, duty, early concepts of civic responsibility, and first notions of personal identity. There is a great heterogeneity among the different groups of Latinos, their experiences depending on various factors such as â€Å"race, color, gender, socio-economic status, language, immigrant status, and mode of incorporation into the United States† (Suarez-Orozco & Paez, 2008, p.4). The social practices and cultural models of multiculturalism contribute to the experiences, perceptions and the range of behaviors of both immigrant and native-born Latinos in ways unprecedented during earlier large-scale immigration. The racial and ethnic categorization of Latinos has high stakes political and economic implications such as civil rights, equal opportunities, and affirmative action. Mainland Puerto Ricans and immigrant Dominicans indicate a high level of transnationalism, evident in the economic, political and cultural strategies adopted by diasporic people. They lead double lives with double loyalties, living alternately between their island and the mainland; remitting large sums of money to their homeland, continue to participate in political processes there, and periodically visit their homeland to maintain their social and cultural ties. Transnational behavior, and alternately