The Chimney Sweeper and the Road Not Taken free essay sample

Also, Tom Dacre dreamed of â€Å"thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, and Jack, were all of them lock’d up in coffins of black† (Blake, 1789/2007). â€Å"Though his [the speaker] few years seniority have given him a protective sense of responsibility, they have robbed him of little of his innocence† (Harrison, 1978). The speaker retells Tom’s dreams sincerely and reports on certain lines as if he believes them completely. †Tom may weep more readily; Tom may dream of liberating angels more readily; but the speaker reports Tom’s visions as Tom told it to him, wholly without irony† (Harrison, 1978). The Road Not Taken can also be interpreted as telling about a loss of innocence although; it is more about how the choices made shape lives. Those choices, however, can lead to a loss of innocence. The choices not only affect the person that made the choice but also the people close to them including their spouse, children, parents, and siblings. We will write a custom essay sample on The Chimney Sweeper and the Road Not Taken or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page †[Because,] in the poems stated intimation of the truth about human existence, as stated by Frost, is the idea of rut [the track carved out by wheels from the surface over which they travel] in its relationship to the ego† (Cervo, 1989). Each choice a person makes leads them down a different path and the effect of that choice could be a loss of innocence. â€Å"The poem’s persona is no â€Å"spiritual drifter†; the persona is an individual has opposed to a â€Å"loner’† courageous and self-reliant, searching for his destiny† (Bassett, 1981). It is in this way that the interpretations of both The Chimney Sweeper and The Road Not Taken are similar. The Road Not Taken is about the choices each of us makes in life and the direction each of those choices takes us. Each choice a person makes shapes who that person is and who they will become. Each path in The Road Not Taken represents a choice. Most people want to be individual and hope to make different choices from everyone else. The difficult thing about that is â€Å" both that morning equally lay and leaves no step had trodden black† (Frost, 1915/2007) meaning, all paths or choices have been taken before. Each choice changes lives and leads to more choices. The Chimney Sweeper tells about the loss of innocence that happens to everyone. Normally, it happens slowly, over many years as a person grows to an adult. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and sometimes, circumstances or events cause the process to be sped up or slowed down. This seems to be the case in The Chimney Sweeper. The speaker seems to have experienced events that caused an early loss of innocence whereas; with Tom the process seems to be about normal. â€Å"There’s little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head, that curled like a lamb’s back, was shaved† (Blake, 1789/2007). Both the speaker and Tom are children that have been made to work as chimney sweepers. Each poet has different life experiences and those experiences shaped their writings. Surely, William Blake’s experiences shaped his writing of The Chimney Sweeper as well as, Robert Frost’s shaped his writing of The Road Not Traveled. From an early age, William Blake is said to have spoken of having visions. † At four he saw God† put his head to the window†; around the age nine, while walking three the countryside, he saw a tree filled with angels† (Academy of American Poets, 2012). When his brother, Robert, passed away from an illness in the winter of 1787, Blake was said to have seen his brother’s spirit rise up through the ceiling. He believed that Robert’s spirit visited him throughout his life and claimed that through a dream Robert taught him the printing method he used in Songs of Innocence. Similarly, Robert Frost’s life and the events of it affected his writings, although in different ways. † Frost drifted through a string of occupations after leaving school, working as a teacher, cobbler, and editor of the Lawrence Sentinel† (Academy of American Poets, 2012). He spent most of his youth in New England, where The Road Not Traveled seems to be set but, during his adult life also lived in several other places. Each of the different places he lived and visited, as well as the people he met, had some type of impact on his life. Everything around a writer has some impact or influence on their writing. The meanings and thoughts behind The Chimney Sweeper and The Road Not Traveled may never be truly known but there are several possibilities behind William Blake’s writing of The Chimney Sweeper and Robert Frost’s writing of The Road Not Taken. It is believed by many experts and people that knew him, that Blake had a mental illness. Many types of mental illnesses can change the way a person thinks and perceives the world around them. It is also known that William Blake did research on mental disorders and it is thought that many of his theories were incorporated into his writings. †[However,] William Blake theorized about cognitive dysfunction like no other poet of his time and his ideas challenged the prevailing Zeitgeist of opinion† (Ryan, 2011). Similarly, there are several possibilities behind Robert Frost’s writing The Road Not Taken. It has been noted by many critics that Frost was a loner that preferred living in the country (Bassett, 1981). It is also thought that he felt purposeless, uncertain, and possibly depressed. These would be understandable feelings considering the losses during his life. His father, mother, younger sister, wife, Elinor, and four of his children preceded him in death, most at young ages. With all of these things going on in their real life, death, loneliness, and mental disorders, it is no wonder that William Blake and Robert Frost wrote about choices and the loss of innocence within The Chimney Sweeper and The Road Not Taken. It is difficult to know exactly what the writer was thinking while creating each different piece because each person has different experiences that help them create their works. A person’s experiences never end, and each new experience changes that person, just a little. Each person that reads a written work uses their own life experiences and knowledge in order to interpret that work. This creates an innumerable amount of different interpretations, none of which are necessarily right or wrong, just different. What they were thinking that prompted them to write these works and as they were writing will never be known, so all that can be done is speculate upon their intended meaning. Bibliography Academy of American Poets. (2012). Robert Frost.

Narnia Symbolism

Narnia Symbolism Free Online Research Papers The symbolism in the novel/film â€Å"The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe† written by C.S. Lewis resembles the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the beginning of the story there are four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy who later on are introduced to more characters. The White Witch symbolizes the Devil and the evil she has put over Narnia is symbolized in the cold snowy weather. When the children enter Narnia, Edmund betrays his brother and sisters by going to the White Witch telling her that he has brought them to Narnia. He did this because the White Witch promised him Turkish delight and power, but she lied and took him captive. Edmund represents all mankind who has betrayed Christ from birth and who Jesus died for on the cross. Man is led away by the enticements of this world and becomes selfish and fallen from the standards of Christ. Because of his betrayal, he is also been compared to Judas of the New Testament and Adam in the Garden of Eden. When Peter, Susan, and Lucy follow the beavers to safety from the White Witch, they learn about the returning of Aslan, the lion. Aslan is the one that will rise against the evil of the White Witch and bring peace and love back into Narnia. Aslan represents Jesus Christ, the savior. As Aslan returns to Narnia, the snow covering all of Narnia begins to melt and spring returns, which indicates that evil is diminishing and the spirit of Christ is spreading. Later in the story, Edmund is rescued from the White Witch and brought back to a camp to be with his brother and sisters. This camp is where the forces of good in Narnia are preparing for a war against the forces of evil lead by the White Witch. At the camp Aslan talks to Edmund alone and tells him that his si ns are forgiven and forgotten. When the White Witch orders a meeting with Aslan, she demands Edmund be given back to her due to the laws of Traitors. Instead of returning Edmund back to the White Witch, Aslan makes a deal with the White Witch to offer his life in return for Edmund’s freedom. On the night of Aslan’s sacrifice, Susan and Lucy accompany him. After Aslan is killed by the White Witch, Susan and Lucy stay with his body. Susan and Lucy symbolize the women who stayed with Jesus through his crucifixion and death. The returning of Aslan signifies the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since Aslan was not there to lead the forces of good into battle, Peter was given that responsibility. Peter leading the good forces into battle symbolizes the Apostle Peter who becomes the leader of the Christian church after Jesus Christ’s ascension. After the forces of evil are defeated and the children are crowned as Kings and Queens of Narnia, Aslan leaves. The leaving of Aslan symbolizes the Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven only to return later. To a greater extent, C.S. Lewis’s novel, â€Å"The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe†, reinforces the Christian ideal that through Jesus Christ’s love and guidance man will ultimately triumph over evil. Research Papers on Narnia SymbolismThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsThe Spring and AutumnWhere Wild and West MeetBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Hockey GameCapital PunishmentQuebec and Canada

The Stoic and the Epicurean Philosophies

The Stoic and the Epicurean Philosophies Which lifestyle, Epicurean or Stoic, achieves the greatest amount of happiness? In his book Stoics, Epicureans and Skeptics, Classicist R.W. Sharples sets out to answer this question. He  introduces readers to the fundamental ways in which happiness is created within the two philosophical perspectives, by juxtaposing the schools of thought to highlight criticisms and commonality between the two. He describes the characteristics deemed necessary to achieve happiness from each perspective, concluding that both Epicureanism and Stoicism agree with the Aristotelian belief that the sort of person one is and the lifestyle one adopts will indeed have an immediate bearing on the actions one performs. The Epicurean Road to Happiness Sharples suggests that Epicureans embrace Aristotles conception of self-love because the goal of Epicureanism is defined as  pleasure achieved through the removal of physical pain and mental anxiety. The Epicureans foundation of belief rests within three categories of desires, including  the natural and necessary,  the natural but not necessary, and  the unnatural desires. Those who follow an Epicurean worldview eliminate all non-natural desires, such as ambition to attain political power or fame because both of these desires foster anxiety. Epicureans rely on the desires that free the body from pain by providing shelter and abolishing hunger through the supply of food and water, noting that simple foods provide the same pleasure as luxurious meals because the goal of eating is to gain nourishment. Fundamentally, Epicureans believe people value the natural delights derived from sex, companionship, acceptance, and love. In practicing frugality, Epicureans possess an  awarene ss of their desires and have the capability to appreciate occasional luxuries to the fullest. Epicureans argue that  the path to securing happiness comes by withdrawing from public life and residing with close, like-minded friends. Sharples cites Plutarchs criticism of Epicureanism, which suggests that achieving happiness through withdrawal from public life neglects the desire of the human spirit to help mankind, embrace religion, and take on leadership roles and responsibility. The Stoics on Achieving Happiness Unlike the Epicureans who hold pleasure paramount,  the Stoics grant the highest importance to self-preservation, by believing that virtue and wisdom are the necessary abilities to achieve satisfaction. Stoics believe reason leads us to pursue specific things while avoiding others, in accordance with what will serve us well in the future. The Stoics declare the necessity of four beliefs in order to achieve happiness, placing the utmost importance on virtue derived from reason alone. Wealth obtained during ones lifetime utilized to perform virtuous actions and the fitness level of ones body, which determines ones natural ability to reason, both represent core beliefs of the Stoics. Lastly, regardless of the consequences, one must always perform his/her virtuous duties. By exhibiting self-control, the Stoic follower lives according to the virtues of wisdom, bravery, justice, and moderation. In contradiction to the Stoic perspective, Sharples notes Aristotles argument that virtue alon e will not create the happiest possible life, and is achieved only through the combination of virtue and external goods. Aristotles Blended View of Happiness Whereas the Stoics conception of fulfillment resides solely in virtues ability to provide contentment, the Epicurean notion of happiness is rooted in the obtainment of external goods, which vanquish hunger and bring the satisfaction of food, shelter, and companionship. By providing detailed descriptions of both Epicureanism and Stoicism, Sharples leaves the reader to conclude that the most comprehensive conception of attaining happiness combines both schools of thought; thereby, representing Aristotles belief that  happiness is obtained through a combination of virtue and external goods. Sources Stoics, Epicureans (The Hellenistic Ethics)D. Sedley and A. Longs, The Hellenistic Philosophers, Vol. I (Cambridge, 1987)J. Annas-J. Barnes, The Modes of Scepticism, Cambridge, 1985L. Groacke, Greek Scepticism, McGill Queens Univ. Press, 1990R. J. Hankinson, The Sceptics, Routledge, 1998B. Inwood, Hellenistic Philosophers, Hackett, 1988 [CYA]B.Mates, The Sceptic Way, Oxford, 1996R. Sharples, Stoics, Epicureans and Sceptics, Routledge, 1998 (How can I be happy?, 82-116) [CYA]

Social learning theory and style of learning Essay

Social learning theory and style of learning - Essay Example It is based on the supposition that people use several channels of perceiving information. Visual, auditory and kinaesthetic are the major sensory modalities used by humans. All the small children use kinaesthetic channel to explore the world. Later we develop the visual modality and finally master the auditory one. One should strive for developing all three modalities. However, most of people use one of the systems as the major to check the information. Visuals prefer to see information (they need to see a text, or charts and diagrams). Visual learners may be linguistic and spatial. Linguistic learners would remember a lecture if they watch slides with text, while spatial learners do better with charts, videos, demonstrations, and other visual materials. Those with dominant kinaesthetic modality need to touch and perform to master new skills. People with dominant auditory channel prefer to listen to information. Most of people are visuals. There are also many people with leading kin aesthetic modality. Dominant auditory modality is the less spread one (Adler 1997, Clark 2000). As Don Clark (2000) explains, the three learning styles are forced upon us through life like this: up to the third grade new information is mostly presented kinaesthetically, in grades 4-8 visual presentation prevails, while starting with the high school information is usually presented auditory by lectures. My dominant modality is visual spatial. I prefer to get information through pictures, maps, charts, movies and videos. It is easier for me to retain information in mental images than in audio and kinaesthetic format. To remember things I need to make schematic notes. However, I’ve got also a well developed kinaesthetic modality, so that in many cases I learn well through hands-on approach. Another useful instrument to be remembered is social learning theory, which provides glimpses at how most of us acquire our knowledge and

GETTING FINANCING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

GETTING FINANCING - Essay Example As the name suggests, debt financing is borrowing money from some financial institutions, usually a bank, which you will have to repay after a certain period with interest. Entrepreneurs may borrow money for short term, which means for less than a year. Usually short-term loans are for financing working capital requirements, operational activities, filling the gaps in accounts receivables and inventory (Horne & Wachowicz, 2008). On the other hand, long-term loans, which are for more than one year, are usually the ones that entrepreneurs usually look for to finance their assets, capital, land, buildings, machinery and other costs of starting a business venture. Clearly, debt financing has certain advantages. Firstly, the interest that is paid on these loans is tax deductible thus providing a tax advantage (Bygrave & Zacharakis, 2010). Secondly, as we will see that equity financing provides a part of ownership in the business to its financers, however, the same is not the case with debt financing. Lenders, unlike shareholders, do not get any ownership in the business and thus the entrepreneur retains the sole control of the business (Shim & Siegel, 2008). Thirdly, the entrepreneur usually will get many options with regard to the maturity time and the amount of interest payable per month or per year. Lastly, compared with equity financing, debt financing is less hassle and less time consuming, whereas it may take months for someone to appear on a stock exchange list and getting enough shareholders (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2008). However, the disadvantages of debt financing are significant as well. Firstly, unexpected changes in interest rates due to economic downturns, at times, create a disaster for borrowers (Horne & Wachowicz, 2008). Moreover, even if these economic downturns of macro environment events fail to alter the revenue and

Tim OBrien’s The Things They Carried Paper Essay Example for Free

Tim OBrien’s The Things They Carried Paper Essay Introduction The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien is replete with several themes in the story but this paper will tackle the particular â€Å"things† that O’Brien’s characters carry, whether literal or figurative. As one reads through the novel, the reader sees the different emotional load that each of the character carries and which become hindrances to the way they behave in battle and even after they go back to their own homes. Theme In particular, this paper looks into the theme of mental luggage that each man brings into the war, whether they are objects or beliefs, which basically hinder them from functioning effectively in battle. III. Characters’ Burdens and Anxieties   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Starting off with Henry Dobbins, who may be just a minor character who even exhibits a kind and gentle spirit, yet is found to be superstitious as he carries his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck. This can be funny as one reads it first, but there is this firm belief on his part that this practice will protect him wherever he goes. The pantyhose, thus, becomes a thing that literally is carried by Dobbins all throughout the novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One main character that ends up tragically because of the emotional burdens that he carries is Norman Bowker. He is portrayed as a quiet soldier, keeping things to himself, aggravated when Kiowa dies, prompting him to return to his hometown aloof and restless. He puts up a front, as if nothing is wrong with him, but this is where he succumbs in the end. His only alternative to unburden himself is when he is able to tell his story, even asking Tim to write his story for him the travails of his life at war. Yet, when the story ends up unsuccessful, Bowker finds no meaning in life at all and eventually kills himself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another character who carries a burden is Jimmy Cross. This time is starts with a mental burden of thinking about Martha, a girl he loves deeply back in New Jersey. Martha does not return this love at all, yet Cross carries this to war and because of the distraction that this entails, he is not able to save a man who died. Thinking that it was because his mind was preoccupied with the thought of Martha, Cross never forgives himself because of this incident and how irresponsible he is to his men. He tries to come to terms with Ted Lavender’s death and seemed forever burdened with this even if he was no longer fighting in the war. He also literally carries compasses and maps during the war. Effect of Emotional Burdens   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The author demonstrates how silently carrying one’s burdens like painful memories can hinder one from enjoying life to the fullest. Cross’ character is shown to even suspect that the â€Å"Love† signed at the end of Martha’s letters is just a figure of speech. Lavender’s death is imprinted in Cross’ mind and heart and this is aggravated again by the fact that Cross discovers that in reality, Martha never really cared for him at all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even Ted Lavender carries his anxieties with him in war as he smokes marijuana and takes tranquilizers. In fact, the men in this war carry their anxieties and fear with them, just repressing them because they are in battle. But the preoccupations of their minds and hearts are sometimes even bigger than the battle at hand. In sum, these soldiers have a difficult time in telling their experiences and the repression of their experiences are carried long after the war has been fought. The tragedies and horrors of the war are carried back to their own homes, leaving them distraught all the more. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Indeed, the story emphasizes the havoc that war brings after they go into battle. These men â€Å"carry† emotional burdens that continue long after they go back to their own homes after the war. The conflicts in their minds continuously eat away on their victims’ minds for the rest of their lives. Work Cited OBrien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990

A Comparison of Andrew Marvells To His Coy Mistress and John Donnes T

A Comparison of Andrew Marvell's To His Coy Mistress and John Donne's The Sunne Rising Both poems "To His Coy Mistress" and "The Sunne Rising" were written by metaphysical poets, this is one of many similarities in the poems. However, there are also a number of differences between them. In both poems, there is an obvious link to the theme of "Carpe Diem" which simply means "seize the day". The poems relate to time and that of how it's running out. They seem to be in a rush. The content of the poem is Marvell writing a poem to his love partner. They are truly in love with each other and their love is very passionate for one another. However, there is something missing in their relationship and that is the sexual side. They haven't had sexual intercourse and the poem is about Marvell trying to persuade his partner into making love to him. He feels that time is running out and that they should "seize the moment". The life expectancy was at a lower rate in the times of the poem, and he doesn't want to leave things too late. There were many types of diseases in those days, with health services very limited. Today, our life expectancy is on average 77, however, in those days anyone who reached the age of 40 was considered as an older-aged person. He obviously feels that his partner needs a slight push into making love; he shows this by calling her his "Coy Mistress", which means his shy or reluctant woman. The poem is split into three paragraphs, which is unusual for poems. These three paragraphs state the three stages of argument. The first part is trying o say that if they had all the time in the world, then he wouldn't need to wr... ... can make you feel happy, but love is more important in life. Money can be liked but never loved like true beauty. I believe it's imperative that we look at the poems from a different perspective. Both compliment the women mentioned but both have different messages. "To His Coy Mistress" is a persuasive poem which contains flattery to try and convince the woman to take their relationship to the next level. In "The Sunne Rising", the message is that love is more important than wealth. The main themes are time and love and both are conveyed very cleverly with both wit and deception. I enjoyed both poems as they both showed sound comparisons and true feelings. I preferred the poem by Andrew Marvell as it had a sense of urgency and it was rhythmic to which I found exciting as I never knew what to expect next in the poem.