Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Stock Market efficiency & Company valuation Essay

Stock Market efficiency & Company valuation - Essay Example A fundamental feature of this analysis is the assessments on Majestic Wine plc, which is the foremost mixed case wine retailer in the UK. The company is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange, which aims to assist companies that are operating on a smaller scale in meeting their requirements of capital for the purposes of expansion (London Stock Exchange 2013a). The categories of analysis for Majestic Wine plc are based on a range of distinct evaluations, which shall assess the share price movements and information flows to the market for the company and also conduct a comprehensive appraisal of the market price of the company’s shares, in accordance with the value assessments methods that are understood to be standard procedures in company valuation. The Significance of the Efficient-Market Hypothesis (EMH) According to Buckle and Thompson (2004, p174) the practical significance of the hypothesis regarding efficient markets is a notion w hich cannot be ignored. The application of this hypothesis postulates that the stock market’s agreement with its observations can lead to a situation where predicting changes in share prices are no longer considered to be viable as the market prices are an exact representation of each and every data or information that is present (Buckle and Thompson, 2004, p174). The classifications of features that can assist in the development of a well-informed discussion regarding stock market efficiency are based on the categories of return predictability, event studies and private information. Buckle and Thompson (2004, p175) understand that assessing these concepts with respect to the London Stock Exchange can uncover whether its functioning is efficient or not. Theoretical Implications of EMH and the Random Walk Model Barnes (2012, p46) highlights the theoretical implications of stock market efficiency which is essentially a system where an informational efficient market is said to b e the cause of allocative efficiency. Accordingly, the basis of this efficiency is examined on three forms that were developed by Eugene Fama and were termed as weak, semi-strong and strong (Barnes 2012, p46). According to Barnes (2012, p46) the weak form is described as a situation in which any new information regarding a company is represented by movements in the new price on an immediate basis, henceforth; this notion follows the ideology which states that new share movements cannot be determined through movements in old share prices. Analysts term this phenomenon as the ‘random walk’. While, several examinations on UK Stock market have aimed to establish its efficiency, numerous competing literatures have uncovered evidences which invalidate these claims. Dimson and Mussavian (1998, p92; 2000, p9) understand that the findings of numerous studies which report the presence of anomalies is indicative of features which oppose the principal of market efficiency. Research es which have pointed towards the occurrences of such characteristics that are largely inconsistent with economic ideologies aim to comprehend the trends in pricing efficiency within stock markets. A piece of empirical evidence which represents the phenomenon of the ‘random walk’ and the presence of its corresponding concept which is known as the ‘weak-form efficiency’ with respect to t

Monday, October 28, 2019

Water Pollution Essay Example for Free

Water Pollution Essay Water pollution refers to the contamination of water sources with harmful materials such as sediments, organic wastes, minerals, thermal pollutants, nutrients, toxic chemicals as well as other hazardous compounds. Water pollution makes water not to be safe for cooking, drinking, farming and fishing (Sharma, 2009). 2. Where does this pollution come from? The primary sources of water pollution include agricultural, municipal and industrial wastes. The municipalities, industries and agricultural sectors increasingly discharge harmful compounds into water sources thus contributing to water pollution. These toxic compounds end up in lakes and deprive aquatic organisms of the oxygen which is critical for their survival. Human activities such as mining also contribute to water pollution. Mineral elements such as chromium, copper, iron, nickel, platinum, tin and zinc are released into water sources during mining (Sharma, 2009). 3. What impacts can it have on wildlife and overall water quality? Since the organic wastes need oxygen for decomposition, the aquatic wildlife is endangered. The phytoplankton population which forms the primary sources of food for aquatic animals is greatly deprived of oxygen which they use in photosynthesis. The decreased levels of phytoplankton will imply a reduced number of wildlife in water. Excessive amounts of elements released into water sources during mining such as platinum and chromium inhibit sunlight penetration that also reduces the photosynthetic capacity of phytoplankton. The important quality of water such as the allowance of light penetration is therefore reduced significantly with pollution (Sharma, 2009). 4. What impacts can it have on human health? Water pollution impacts human health by causing diseases such as bilharzias, cholera and dysentery because dirty water hosts the water pathogens causing these diseases. The mineral elements deposited to water sources especially the heavy metals such mercury can have serious health impact among developing children. The cognitive development process is delayed with mercury poisoning. Other water pollutants such as chlorinated dioxins and furans are highly carcinogenic (Sharma, 2009). 5. What are ways to decrease the amount or impact? Water pollution can be reduced through encouraging individuals to be responsible while handling water and treating sewage. Water pollution regulations such as common-law principles, federal and state statutes and administrative rules are some of the ways in which the impact of water pollution can be reduces. The offenders who go against the law should be prosecuted and this will reduce the incidences of water pollution (Sharma, 2009). Reference: Sharma, P. D (2009). Fundamentals of our environment, its problems and control measures. Retrieved July 20, 2010 from http://knol. google. com/k/fundamentals-of-our- environmentalpollutions#%2828%29E%2829%29_Water_pollution_and_its_prev ention_and_control%283A%29

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) :: essays research papers

Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) is the integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators and electronics on a common silicon substrate using microfabrication techniques. MEMS are a hot area of research because they integrate sensing, analyzing and responding on the same silicon substrate hence promising realization of complete systems-on-a-chip. As MEMS are manufactured using batch fabrication techniques similar to IC technology, MEMS are expected to deliver high functionality at low prices. Current systems are limited by the capability of sensors and actuators, as these are bulkier and less reliable than the microelectronic circuit. In a MEM system the sensors act as the ‘eyes’ and gather data about the environment. The microelectronic circuit, which is the ‘brain’, processes the data and accordingly controls the mechanical systems, the ‘arms’ of the MEMS, to modify the environment suitably. The electronics on the MEMS are manufactured using IC techniques while micro machining techniques are used to produce the mechanical and electromechanical parts. MEMS Fabrication: There are number of methods to fabricate MEMS like silicon surface micromachining, silicon bulk machining, electro discharge machining, LIGA (in German, Lithographie, Galvanoformung(Electro Plating), Abformung(Injection Moulding)) .Only silicon surface micromachining is discussed here. Silicon Surface Micromachining Silicon surface micromachining uses the same equipment and processes as the electronics semiconductor industry. There are three basic building blocks in this technology, which are the ability to deposit thin films of material on a substrate, to apply a patterned mask on top of the films by photolithographic imaging, and to etch the films selectively to the mask. A MEMS process is usually a structured sequence of these operations to form actual devices. 1. Deposition Processes: One of the basic building blocks in MEMS processing is the ability to deposit thin films of material. This is achieved either through the processes like PVD or CVD. 2. Lithography: Lithography in the MEMS context is typically the transfer of a pattern to a photosensitive material by selective exposure to a radiation source such as light. In lithography for micromachining, the photosensitive material used is typically a photoresist. When resist is exposed to a radiation source of a specific a wavelength, the chemical resistance of the resist to developer solution changes. 3. Etching: If the resist is placed in a developer solution after selective exposure to a light source, it will etch away one of the two regions (exposed or unexposed). Then another layer of material is deposited and the first layer selectively etched away as shown in the figure resulting in the required MEMS.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Wizard Who Flew Through Biology

___24. In which population is the frequency of the allele for brown feathers highest? a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E ____25. In which population would it be least likely that an accident would significantly alter the frequency of the brown allele? a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E ____26. The probability of a mutation at a particular gene locus is ____, and the probability of a mutation in the genome of a particular individual is ____. a. high; low b. low; high c. low; low d. high; high e. moderate; moderate ____27. Which factor is the most important in producing the variability that occurs in each generation of humans? a. mutation b. sexual recombination c. genetic drift d. nonrandom mating e. natural selection ____28. In a large, sexually reproducing population, the frequency of an allele changes from 0. 6 to 0. 2. From this change, one can most logically assume that, in this environment, a. the allele is neutral. b. the allele mutates readily. c. random processes have changed allelic frequencies. d. there is no sexual selection. e. the allele reduces fitness. ____29. You are maintaining a small population of fruit flies in the laboratory by transferring the flies to a new culture bottle after each generation. After several generations, you notice that the viability of the flies has decreased greatly. Recognizing that small population size is likely to be linked to decreased viability, the best way to reverse this trend is to a. cross your flies with flies from another lab. b. reduce the number of flies that you transfer at each generation. c. transfer only the largest flies. d. change the temperature at which you rear the flies. e. hock the flies with a brief treatment of heat or cold to make them more hardy. ____30. If the frequency of a particular allele that is present in a small, isolated population of alpine plants should change due to a landslide that leaves an even smaller remnant of surviving plants, then what has occurred? a. a bottleneck b. genetic drift c. microevolution d. A and B only e. A, B, and C ____31. Through time, the movement of people on Earth has steadily increased. This has altered the course of human evolution by increasing a. nonrandom reproduction. b. geographic isolation. c. enetic drift. d. mutations. e. gene flow. ____32. Gene flow is a concept best used to describe an exchange between a. species. b. males and females. c. populations. d. individuals. e. chromosomes. Use the information below to answer the following questions. In the year 2500, five male space colonists and five female space colonists (all unrelated to each other) settle on an uninhabited Earthlike planet in the Andromeda galaxy. The colonists and their offspring randomly mate for generations. All ten of the original colonists had free earlobes, and two were heterozygous for that trait. The allele for free earlobes is dominant to the allele for attached earlobes. ____33. If four of the original colonists died before they produced offspring, the ratios of genotypes could be quite different in the subsequent generations. This is an example of a. diploidy. b. gene flow. c. genetic drift. d. disruptive selection. e. stabilizing selection. ____34. The higher the proportion of loci that are â€Å"fixed† in a population, the lower is that population's a. nucleotide variability. b. genetic polymorphism. c. average heterozygosity. d. A, B, and C e. A and B only Choose among these options to answer the following questions. Each option may be used once, more than once, or not at all. A. random selection B. directional selection C. stabilizing selection D. disruptive selection E. sexual selection ____35. A certain species of land snail exists as either a cream color or a solid brown color. Intermediate individuals are relatively rare. a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E ____36. Pathogenic bacteria found in many hospitals are antibiotic resistant. a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E ____37. Heterozygote advantage should be most closely linked to which of the following? . sexual selection b. stabilizing selection c. random selection d. directional selection e. disruptive selection In a very large population, a quantitative trait has the following distribution pattern: ____38. If the curve shifts to the left or to the right, there is no gene flow, and the population size consequently increases over successive generations, then which of these is (are) probably occurrin g? 1. immigration or emigration 2. directional selection 3. adaptation 4. genetic drift 5. disruptive selection a. 1 only b. 4 only c. 2 and 3 d. 4 and 5 e. 1, 2, and 3 ____39. Male satin bowerbirds adorn structures that they build, called â€Å"bowers,† with parrot feathers, flowers, and other bizarre ornaments in order to attract females. Females inspect the bowers and, if suitably impressed, allow males to mate with them, after which they go off to nest by themselves. The evolution of this behavior is best described as due to a. survival of the fittest. b. artificial selection. c. sexual selection. d. natural selection. e. disruptive selection. ____40. In many animal species, mature males are much larger than mature females. This size difference can be attributed to a. ale hormones having a more positive effect on body size than female hormones do. b. the operation of intrasexual selection. c. females preferentially selecting larger males as mates. d. A and B only e. A, B, and C ____41. Adult male vervet monkeys have red penises and blue scrotums. Males use their colorful genitalia in dominance displays wherein they compete with each other for acc ess to females. The coloration of the male genitalia is best explained as the result of ____, and specifically of ____. a. natural selection; stabilizing selection b. disruptive selection; intrasexual selection . sexual selection; intrasexual selection d. natural selection; intersexual selection e. sexual selection; disruptive selection ____42. When imbalances occur in the sex ratio of sexual species that have two sexes (i. e. , other than a 50:50 ratio), the members of the minority sex often receive a greater proportion of care and resources from parents than do the offspring of the majority sex. This is most clearly an example of a. sexual selection. b. disruptive selection. c. balancing selection. d. stabilizing selection. e. frequency-dependent selection. ____43. Which of the following statements about species, as defined by the biological species concept, is (are) correct? I. Biological species are defined by reproductive isolation. II. Biological species are the model used for grouping extinct forms of life. III. The biological species is the largest unit of population in which successful reproduction is possible. a. I only b. II only c. I and III d. II and III e. I, II, and III ____44. Which of the following is not considered an intrinsic isolating mechanism? a. sterile offspring b. ecological isolation c. geographic isolation . gametic incompatibility e. timing of courtship display ____45. Dog breeders maintain the purity of breeds by keeping dogs of different breeds apart when they are fertile. This kind of isolation is most similar to which of the following reproductive isolating mechanisms? a. reduced hybrid fertility b. hybrid breakdown c. mechanical isolation d. habitat isolation e. gametic isolation ____46. Two species of frogs belo nging to the same genus occasionally mate, but the offspring do not complete development. What is the mechanism for keeping the two frog species separate? a. he postzygotic barrier called hybrid inviability b. the postzygotic barrier called hybrid breakdown c. the prezygotic barrier called hybrid sterility d. gametic isolation e. adaptation ____47. A defining characteristic of allopatric speciation is a. the appearance of new species in the midst of old ones. b. asexually reproducing populations. c. geographic isolation. d. artificial selection. e. large populations. ____48. According to the concept of punctuated equilibrium, the â€Å"sudden† appearance of a new species in the fossil record means that a. the species is now extinct. b. peciation occurred instantaneously. c. speciation occurred in one generation. d. speciation occurred rapidly in geologic time. e. the species will consequently have a relatively short existence, compared with other species. ____49. Which of the following would be a position held by an adherent of the punctuated equilibrium theory? a. A new species forms most of its unique features as it comes into existence and then changes little for the duration of its existence. b. One should expect to find many transitional fossils left by organisms in the process of forming new species. . Given enough time, most existing species will gradually evolve into new species. d. Natural selection is unimportant as a mechanism of evolution. e. Most speciation is anagenetic. ____50. Which of the following statements about speciation is correct? a. The goal of natural selection is speciation. b. When reunited, two allopatric populations will not interbreed. c. Natural selection chooses the reproductive barriers for populations. d. Prezygotic reproductive barriers usually evolve before postzygotic barriers. e. Speciation is included within the concept of macroevolution.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Consider the theme of loneliness Essay

Steinbeck employs character are restrained by the â€Å"rules† of society and through them, to convey the characteristics of American society in the 1920s:a society based on physical strength and individualism. The unusual pair, Lennie and George, seemed incongruous in their situations and by comparing and contrasting their relationship to the others, the reader is given a further understanding to the theme. The entire novel is full of references to this theme. In Soledad, also the Spanish word for loneliness, situates the ranch where the majority of the story is set. It is an ordinary ranch with ordinary people doing monotonous, meanual work such as â€Å"bucking barley†. The nature of this work suggests the kind of lifestyle the characters on the ranch lead. The ranch also represents a microcosm of the outside world. Here in this close community, a range of characters, each identify by their own personality, are required to work closely together inorder to achieve their own, individual dreams. When George and Lennie first enters the ranch, they are greeted by â€Å"an old swamper† by the name Candy. A fragile old man with only one hand, he is used by Steinbeck to demonstrate the cruelty of society towards elderly and the disabled. In a society that emphasis physical strength, Candy is clearly at a disadvantage. However, he does not attempt this disadvantage but rather expose the more feminine and sensitive side of him to others to reinforce this weakness. His domestic role in the bunkhouse and part as the gossiper again is an expansion of his at5/9/00titude towards the rest of the male in the ranch. Candy separates himself from the rest of â€Å"guys† and has only the company of a â€Å"dragged-footed sheep-dog†. When Carlson demands the killing of this dog, although disapproves of it, does not retaliate but instead â€Å"looked hopelessly at Slim† and asks for his assistance. His reaction to Carlson’s demand is passive in the way that he only â€Å"watched uneasily† and tries to delay the killing by suggesting â€Å"may be to-morra†. His deep-rooted relationship with the dog is shown in this intensely emotional part that explicitly dissects his sensitivity. At the sound of the shot, he appears lost and all he manages to do is to â€Å"stare into the ceiling† blankly. Similar to this, at the end of the story, George too has to face with the death of his love ones. The difference however lies in the reason behind the killing. George justifies the killing and does it out of his concern for Lennie and not out of pressure from others. Curley is the second character appearing on the scene. â€Å"A thin young man† wearing â€Å"high-heeled boots†, he is clearly no ordinary labouring man. He is the boss’ son and is determine to show his status and authority using this kind of symbolism. However, by doing so, he achieves exactly the opposite. The other men do not acknowledge his authority and even Candy thinks of him as a â€Å"scrappy little guy†. His method of trying to gain respects by false image works against him and isolates him from the others. Curley also has a wife who is the only female in the ranch. This arrangement and character of his wife can only encourage the insecurity he feels anyway. Although he has a wife, she appears more a possession to show off rather than a company. Their relationship is equivocal since they appear to spend all day looking for each other. His stature also becomes a great encumbrance to him. With a personality that is completely obsess with self-image, Curley is deeply disturb by his height and to resolve this, he translates his anger towards himself onto others. To him, Lennie’s physique is a challenge of authority and because of this, he wants by prove himself by defeating Lennie. This transference accounts for his cynical nature and isolates him from everyone else. Although desperate to participate, his character and fear for judgement are essential ingredients for his desolation. Curley’s wife is too refereed to as a destitute character. Even before her appearance, the reader is given a pre-conceived image of a † lousy tart† by the introduction from Candy. Her dramatic entrance and physical appearance appears to fit the image: â€Å"full rouged lips and heavily made-up†, clearly she is not a simple country girl by any mean. From her â€Å"playful† action and â€Å"twitchy† body language, George immediately recognize her as the â€Å"femme fatale† and warned Lennie not to talk to her. This warning is a pre-echo to the trouble Lennie will get in for her later on in the story, a build up to the final tragedy at the end. Even at first sight she gave the reputation of a â€Å"tramp† and â€Å"jail-bait†. At a primary level, her action can be explained by boredom and experiment. She is the only in the ranch and clearly has no one to relate. However, from her past experience, Steinbeck implies that Curley’s wife dream about being in the movies all day. By flirting and making sexual suggestive message to others, she attempts to achieve the glamorous and danger feel of affair that she imagined they do in the movies. An alternative explanation to her action would be that she is another victim of loneliness, desperate to establish relationship with others. She dislike Curley for when Curley crushed his hand she even suggested to Lennie that she would have liked to done it herself. When she eventually discovers that Lennie is a good â€Å"listener†, she unburdens herself with â€Å"words in a passion of communication, as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away†. She is a highly ambivalent character because although the reader feels sympathetic towards her for her past â€Å"cast- couch† experience, her seduction that lead to the murder at the end is almost entirely her fault. One may argue that she had no knowledge of Lennie’s past and receives the punishment harsher than she deserves. More over, the price for her â€Å"innocent mistake† is on the destruction of the hope of three blameless people: George, Lennie and Candy. Similarly, George and Lennie have a dream, the American dream of â€Å"living off the fatta the lan’ â€Å". This phrase followed by a description of their future house is a leimotif representing the birth and rebirth of their hope. This hope is the source of energy and once shattered, unlike Curley’s wife who was then able to found a less satisfying alternative: George can find no other replacement like Lennie. Crooks the Negro stable buck is presented as another victim of loneliness. Due to his colour and disability, he is separated with the rest of the male community in everyway. This is shown in the examples that â€Å"the boss gives him hell† whenever he is mad and only in special occasion such as X’mas is he allow into the bunkhouse. In this highly racist period, Crook’s role as the â€Å"nigger stable buck† meant he is at the bottom of the hierarchy and therefore ostracized by the rest of the community. Due to this inferiority, Crooks feels even stronger about protecting himself in territorial terms and by isolation. Nonetheless, he does not enjoy this solitude but instead, quite prefer the opposite. This is best shown when Candy and Lennie enter his room, which no one but Slim had done before, Crooks â€Å"finds it difficult to conceal his pleasure in anger†. Although he would rather play card in the bunkhouse with others, since he â€Å"stink† and â€Å"ain’t wanted there†, instead, he has to â€Å"sit out here and read books†. This shows that he has adapted to loneliness using other means but although he knows nothing can replace a real company. In the scene which he unburdens himself to Lennie, the situation becomes parallel to that of Lennie and Curley’s wife. Not only are they both absurd and have difficulty in relating to others on the ranch due to society boundary based on racism and sexism, they both confide in Lennie because he would not â€Å"go on blabbin† to others. With Lennie they do not feel under threat and therefore do not have to protect themselves with masks of imagery. In comparison, George and Lennie are alway s at ease at the company of each other. Apart from Slim, they appear to be the only â€Å"guys† on the ranch to manage this. Slim the jekline skinner is the touch stone character in the novel used to reflect morally and decency. Although with a common appearance, every movement and air of his is described with â€Å"royalty† and â€Å"achieved only by master craftsmen†. However, his title as â€Å"the price of the ranch† is not self-given†. His authority is acknowledge by the other males on the ranch and so great the â€Å"his word was taken on any object†. His power appears to go beyond the system at the time. Even in this image-ridden macho culture, Slim does not needs to prove his position by creating illusion using force, yet with quite the opposite: gentleness and sense; elements of human quality that are most required in this imbalance situation. Apart from Lennie, Slim appears to be the only one who George is willing to confide. During the talk, they touch on the subject of loneliness, a sensation that grins a normal, respectable person to nothing but â€Å"a mean guy who wants to fight all the time†. In this part of the novel, George explains his relationship with Lennie and why they had traveled together. In a deeper sense, the phrase â€Å"got kinda used to each other† implies a long-term relationship which neither of the can live without now. Other minor characters in the novel such as Carlson and Whitney represent transaline people who best demonstrate the majority of the society at the time. They â€Å"ain’t got no people† so they move around the country as Crook states: â€Å"they come, an’ they quit an’go†. Their life style is monotonous and â€Å"they ain’t have no fun†. Their few entertainments include the horseshoe game and cards, which again are reference to competition and individualism. Nonetheless, it is only in these games they make allowance for their guard and relax into the company of each other. In conclusion, Steinbeck presentation of the theme of loneliness is reflected in the actions of his character. Although desperate to make contact, their concern for reputation and nature of the machismo culture in society isolate them from one another. The end tragedy then attracts sympathy from the reader by shattering the hope of few exceptions that appeared to have survived.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Justice in the Media essays

Justice in the Media essays Peace and justice issues are often difficult to illustrate in the media and even harder to become informed on. One must make sure to research properly and critique greatly the sources from which he receives the information. Analysis of sources is a key factor in forming an opinion on anything especially when mass media is involved. The speakers involved in the class lecturing all agree that understanding where and from whom information comes is tremendously important. All three referred to gathering knowledge from the news media as interpreting the media. The term interpreting proves personally interesting due to the fact that understanding the news the public is presented with day-in and day-out is truly a challenge task just as is interpreting something from another language. Bill Plante showed the importance of critical thinking and questioning when learning something from the media, especially when from a biased source. One must understand that some businesses or networks have preset political or other such views that affect the spin on the story. The public must take into account that they are possibly not getting the full story or at least that in just the way news is presented their opinion will be slanted. Viewers must also be wary of polls and statistics being altered or misrepresented. Most importantly viewers must use their minds first and foremost to question and analyze, and not be too quick to believe what they hear. Leslie Ramyk also posed an interesting take on interpreting news in the media. Her first hand account of what it is like to be in the media proved extremely helpful in the comprehension of how biases affect information presented in the news. Important points she made were that of posing questions, and just getting things said. Her program Concerning Chicago dealt w ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage

13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage 13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage 13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage By Mark Nichol The rich vocabulary of the theatrical world has inspired use of various terms of the art in other realms of human endeavor. Many of them are also employed in (or to refer to) politics which, we note with various emotions, has always been an activity akin to theater. Here’s a list of such words and phrases. 1. Backstage This term for the area behind and to either side of a stage where actors and technicians, unseen, perform tasks or await entrances and make exits now also denotes behind-the-scenes activities, especially ones that are secretive because of their unsavory nature. 2. Break a Leg The origin of this traditional theater slang for â€Å"Good luck† is disputed: The prevailing theory is that theatrical folk, being superstitious, pretend to wish others bad luck before a performance so that doing the opposite will not provoke supernatural retribution. An alternate notion is that it refers to the act of bowing (which previously involved the bending, or â€Å"breaking,† of one’s legs) and is meant to convey a hope that one will be enthusiastically applauded for one’s performance. 3. Bow The genuflection of a performer to acknowledge applause probably stems from when performances were presented to royalty. To take a bow, in common usage, is to figuratively do the same, to respond to positive attention received for some accomplishment. 4. Cue A cue is a signal, as for an actor to go onstage or undertake some audible activity offstage that is part of the script, or for a technician to perform a task, such as activating a light source. In general usage, the word refers to responding to some stimulus or hint. 5. Curtain Call When audience applause persists past the point at which the performance’s cast has taken a bow (or two or three), the principal performer may stride out onto the lip of the stage, in front of the curtain, which has fallen to the stage for the final time, to humbly incline one’s head and upper body in acknowledgment of adulation (or, in the case of a woman, to curtsy that word, by the way, is a corruption of courtesy). The term also refers to any such final gesture in any arena. 6. Dress Rehearsal The final run-through of a performance before presentation in front of a full audience is called a dress rehearsal because it is traditionally the first time that the production is presented in costume. In general usage, it can refer to practice for any presentation or activity. 7. Green Room The green room refers to one or more areas backstage where actors can remain when they are not performing or about to go onstage. Supposedly, the term originated when a green material was attached to the walls of such a chamber to prevent costumes from being soiled by dirty surfaces and/or to muffle sound. It now refers as well to any staging area where one awaits relocation before a performance or activity. 8. House The house, in entertainment parlance, is the auditorium or the audience within it. The word persists in this sense in the phrase â€Å"full house† and the expressions â€Å"brought down the house† (meaning â€Å"to produce an eruption of applause†) and â€Å"there wasn’t a dry eye in the house,† meaning that a performance was so affecting that everyone in the audience was brought to tears. (The word in the phrase â€Å"on the house† is similar but refers to a complimentary offering by an eating or drinking establishment.) 9. Limelight Before the age of electricity, stage lighting was often produced by directing flame at a piece of calcium oxide, or quicklime. The illumination so produced was called limelight. Even though this method is obsolete, the term limelight persists in the phrase â€Å"in the limelight† to refer to one who is a center of attention. 10. Prop A property, also known as a prop, is any handheld item actually used by an actor, as opposed to something that could conceivably be handled (such as a drinking glass or a candleholder) but, because the script does not call for it, is not. A prop is, by extension, also anything so used to obtain a reaction, such as when a public speaker brandishes a photograph of a person or object to evoke an emotional response in the audience. To prop up oneself or another person, or an object, and to give props (meaning â€Å"respect, recognition†), stem from different meanings. 11. Staging This verb was originally used (and still is) to refer the mounting of a theatrical production, or, more specifically, the manner in which it is presented. By extension, when events are planned in such a way to derive a certain effect, we say that they are staged. The stage manager of an entertainment, in contrast to the director, who is responsible for the creative process during preparation for a production, is the coordinator of all backstage activities during the actual performance. From this term has derived the verb phrase â€Å"stage managing† to refer to behind-the-scenes manipulation of events. 12. Upstage In noun form, this word refers to the area toward the back of the stage. The term and downstage are relics of a time when some stages were raked, or tilted, for better audience visibility; later, the audience area was often raked instead. As a verb, upstage refers to an actor moving upstage so that the audience’s attention is on him or her instead of a performer who is supposed to be the focus of the scene. One actor may also upstage another by otherwise calling attention to himself or herself. Either action, when deliberately done counter to the director’s instructions during rehearsal, is considered highly inappropriate and unprofessional. In popular usage, the verb upstage is used in reference to anyone who calls attention to himself or herself at the expense of another person. 13. Wings The wings are the areas to each side of the stage, generally not visible to the audience, where actors stand by before going onstage or where set pieces or props are kept ready to be brought onstage by technicians between scenes or actors during scenes. The phrase â€Å"waiting in the wings,† in general usage, refers to someone prepared to be available, either to take over for someone else or to come to their assistance. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Regarding Re:50 Latin Phrases You Should KnowList of Prefixes and Suffixes and their Meanings

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Murder of Somer Thompson and Capture of Her Killer

The Murder of Somer Thompson and Capture of Her Killer On October 18, 2009, 7-year-old Somer Thompson was walking home from her Orange Park, Florida school with her twin brother and 10-year-old sister when she disappeared. Her body was found two days later 50 miles away in a landfill in Georgia. Florida Searches for Somer Thompson Somer Thompson was a mere 4-foot, 5-inches tall and weighed 65 pounds on the day that she went missing. Her hair was in a ponytail, tied with a red bow and she was carrying her favorite purple Hannah Montana backpack and a lunchbox. She was walking with her siblings and friends, but then when some in the group got into an argument, she separated from them and walked ahead by herself. It would be the last time Somer Thompson was seen alive. Investigator immediately suspected foul play and issued an Amber Alert. Police interviewed more than 160 registered sex offenders who lived within a five-mile radius of where Somer disappeared.   Clay County Sheriff Sgt. Dan Mahla called the investigation an all-out search. Working all night, the search included canine units, mounted police, dive teams, and helicopters with heat-sensing technology, Mahla said. Somer Thompsons Body Is Found On October 21, 2009, a childs body was found in a landfill in Folkston, Georgia, just across the Florida state line near where Somer Thompson vanished. Searchers found the body of a young white child at the landfill after sorting through more than 100 tons of garbage. They were not acting on a tip. They followed garbage trucks working Thompsons neighborhood to the site. Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said it was a standard operating procedure in a missing person case for police to begin following garbage trucks and search nearby landfills. Pornographer Arrested in Somer Thompson Case A Florida man, who was being held on child pornography charges in Mississippi, was charged with the murder of Somer Thompson. Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24, faced multiple charges in connection with the murder. Harrell has been in custody in Mississippi since February 11 and was extradited to Florida. Harrell faced a possible death sentence for charges of premeditated murder, sexual battery of a child under 12 and lewd and lascivious battery, according to court records. But Harrell was arrested in Meridian, Mississippi on a Florida warrant on more than 50 charges related to the sexual assault of another girl which he allegedly videotaped. He entered a not guilty plea to the charges. Press reports said at the time of Somers disappearance, Harrell was living with his parents in a house that was on her route to and from school. Harrell ultimately faced three trials: one for the molestation of the 3-year-old, one for the murder of Somer Thompson and another for child pornography.   Somer Thompsons Killer Gets Plea Deal Harrell avoided the death penalty by accepting a plea deal. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole after agreeing to drop his right to appeal the sentence later. Somers family members agreed to the plea deal, prosecutors said. After entering his guilty plea, Harrell listened to several victim impact statements, including one from Somers twin brother Samuel. You know you did this, and now youre going to jail, Samuel Thompson told Harrell. Somers mother, Diena Thompson, who attended every court hearing in the case, told Harrell he would never find peace. No Peace in the Afterlife Your punishment does absolutely not fit your crime, she said. Remember now, there is no safe place for you. You do not have an impenetrable cell. There will be no peace in the afterlife. Court papers show that on Oct. 19, 2009, Harrell lured Somer into the Orange Park, Florida house where he was living with his mother on the route on which she walked from school. There he sexually assaulted her, killed her and put her body in the garbage. Harrell pleaded to first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery in the Somer Thompson case. But he also pleaded to possession of child pornography and several other sexual-related charges in connection with an unrelated case involving a 3-year-old. The child was a relative of Harrells, according to court records. House Where Somer Died Is Destroyed On Feb. 12, 2015, Orange Park firefighters burned to the ground the house where Somer Thompson was killed. The Somer Thompson Foundation purchased the property and it was used for a live training exercise after the purchase. Burn, baby, burn, said Somers mother, Diena Thompson, after she tossed a flare inside the brick home while several hundred bystanders looked on. The home, owned by Harrells mother, became vacant after his arrest and ended up in foreclosure when the foundation bought it and offered it to the Orange Park Fire Department for a training exercise. Thompson said burning the house brought her family relief. I get to burn their house down, Thompson said. Im the big bad wolf this time knocking down your door, not the other way around. Its really nice to know that Im not ever going to have to drive in this neighborhood again and see this piece of trash. She said she hoped the property will be turned into something positive for the community one day.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Reccommendation memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reccommendation memo - Essay Example As far as financing is concerned, Wal-Mart once again showed its supremacy by making financing of at least $8 million every year. The other competitors however hardly managed to obtain $4 million on yearly basis. In terms of earning profits, Wal-Mart has performed substantially well and increased its earnings from $12 million to around $16 million in five years time. None of the other companies managed to cross even $4 million in any of the five years. Operating outflows of Wal-Mart are also quite unmatchable due to the larger size such that it remained between $10 million and $16 million in five year times. Target, another industry competitor, achieved a level of $4 million thrice in five years. However, other competitors remained far behind and hardly managed to reach $2 million in any of the five years. Wal-Mart also remained successful in reflecting the best Return on equity as compared to its competitors such that its average ROE remained around 21.5%. However, the other four co mpetitors barely managed to earn ROE of around 17% on average basis. Lastly, except the yearly sales of Wal-Mart which remained around $400 million on average basis, the other four industry participants did not even reach to the sales level of around $100 million in any of the year. It is recommended that the performance of Wal-Mart has remained substantially well as compared to other four companies. The other four companies however have remained similar in their performance in the last five

Friday, October 18, 2019

An Introduction to Entrepreneurship Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

An Introduction to Entrepreneurship - Coursework Example Understanding the different aspects which are a part of the entrepreneurial behaviors and expectations defines the associations and roles that pertain to business with the individual. Skills, Abilities and Behaviors The generalized concept of being an entrepreneur is based on working independently while moving into business endeavors. However, the business ventures which are created differ from other forms of business. The first difference is noted with an enterprise, which is created through a board of directors or sector of leaders with a hierarchical expectation that is established. While this particular venture may have been established by an entrepreneur, it is expected that the team collaboration and hierarchy separates the individual behaviors from the group modifications which take place. The intrapreneur is another form of leadership which many attribute to the same concept. While there are several similar skills in terms of leadership, this differs because the position is u sually based on management as opposed to starting a new venture without the use of a corporation or other entity. The entrepreneur is then defined as one which differs because of the independent nature and the characteristics of leadership used for innovation and creativity outside of other types of business ventures (Ucbasaran, Westhead, Wright, 2009: p. 99). The main difference in character with entrepreneurs is what leads to the different skills, abilities and behaviors among these business leaders. There are five known personal characteristics which create a difference between entrepreneurs and other types of leaders. This includes being open to experience, being conscious and aware of surroundings, being flexible, being agreeable and carrying a vision based on these determinants. The concept that is associated with these skills is reflective of the psychological expectations that lead to leadership skills, innovation and the ability to create and portray different ideologies in relation to the surrounding environment (Zhao, Seibert, 2006: p. 259). These psychological behaviors then lead to expectations of skills and abilities. Creativity, capability to find opportunities and performing several tasks are some of the skills expected. Entrepreneurs are known for switching skills easily while a business grows while moving in between positions and working with initiatives while creating the necessary ventures (Silva, 2007: p. 118). Creative Thinking The ability to work with leadership skills, behaviors that initiate new ventures and skills that are able to move between various positions then leads to the concepts of creative thinking which are developed by entrepreneurs. The structure that is developed with entrepreneurs is based on the intention of an individual first. This is what initiates the endeavor and allows the entrepreneur to grow, either in response to the environment or because of a vision that is related to the entrepreneur. This is combined with creative thinking to lead to the initiative of the new idea and to find ways to construct the idea into a reality. The creative thinking is furthered by evaluating the business idea to define the probability of success as well as looking into solutions that will help to launch the business into a successful endeavor. The personality of the

Sales and Distribution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 27

Sales and Distribution - Essay Example The customer creation process also reveals how the SAP system handles the creation of unique customer IDs for new customers. The deep integration of customer data becomes evident as one goes through the process. For instance, the processing of a sales order from a customer involves linking back to a customer quotation that also includes discount data. Entering the quotation number in the system results in the quotation data populating the fields in the sales order screen. It thus becomes apparent that the entire order to cash cycle builds step to step as one proceeds through it. This gives the user an intuitive feel too for how the data is built at the back, and how the data is then re-used and made the basis for subsequent steps. It then also becomes apparent that getting the data right at every step of the process is crucial, because subsequent steps, in this case, the creation of a sales order, relies on accurate data from the quotation step in SAP that preceded it. Moreover, the process also involves integration with the inventory database and this is understood in the following step involving checking the status of the stock. This gives the user an idea of the level of integration of the data on inventories, production and other aspects of the supply chain further up and away from the perspective of processing an order. The cash to order process steps relies on the successful completion of previous steps, moreover, and the SAP system tracks successful completion. The successful delivery then is a prerequisite to the instigation of a successful billing procedure all the way to the creation of the invoice. Moreover, the integration of the data sets is evident in the way a user can track the accounting implications of an order after the creation of an invoice, and the posting of the receipt of payment.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Forecasting the Future of the US Economy Over the Next Year Research Paper

Forecasting the Future of the US Economy Over the Next Year - Research Paper Example However, the recovery of the U.S. has been expected to carry on, albeit at the sluggish pace (Elwell, 21). This paper is aimed at providing forecasts on the future of the US economic variables. Effects on economic variables: The level of inflation has been very high since 2007. This high level of inflation is now considered as the biggest problem in the country by the Fed. Due to this high level of inflation, consumers are not getting capable of purchasing costliest goods and services and hence business organisations which are engaged in production of these goods and services are leaving the industry. Again this is reducing the level of income in the country and hence the level of demand for necessary goods and service. The Fed is expecting to have a subdued in the next few years because of weaker level of real economic activities prevailing in the country. But the Fed is expecting to have a lower level of inflation rate in 2013 which is expected to increase the volume of economic ac tivities in the country. The Fed is expecting that the current rate of change in overall prices is expected to fall to 1% to 2% from its current level of 3% within five years. But the Fed is expecting that the rate of inflation will remain unresponsive in newt few years due to the fact the American economy is still under the curse of financial and economic crises situations (Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, 1). The Federal Reserve or Fed, in short, holds a very positive view regarding the current economic activities and the current condition of the financial market of the country. The chairman of the Fed, Dr. Ben S. Bernanke, has argued that after the global financial crisis of 2007-08, the American economy is experiencing greater volume of economic activities (Bernanke, 1). The IMF predicts the value of real GDP in the US to rise at 1.5% in 2011 (which is lower by1.0 percentage points than that of in June 2011 prediction) and at 1.8% in 2012 (which is lower by 1.1% tha n the June 2011 prediction) (Elwell, 21). The Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve predicts the real GDP in the year 2012 to exist in the range of between 2.3% and 3.5% (the growth prediction for the year 2012 almost about 0.5 percentage points lower than that has been made in the June 2011). Also according to the Fed predictions the rate of unemployment is estimated to be in the range between 8.1% and 8.9% in the year 2013 (Fiscal Year 2013: Analytical Perspective: Budget of the U.S. Government, 19). Global Insight, which is a renowned economic forecasting private company, has recently predicted that the real GDP in the US will advance 1.4% by the end of 2012 (lower by 1.3 percentage points compared to its June 2011 estimation). The rate of unemployment in the country has been estimated to be around 9.3% in the year 2012 and 2013 (Elwell, 21). The level of FDI in the country is not expected to grow at much rapid speed compared to the past. In the global increasing in the am ount of FDI inflow to $1.4–$1.6 trillion in the year 2013, the US inflow of FDI is predicted to move in the range of $245 to $255 billion in 2013 (GLOBAL INVESTMENT TRENDS, 17). Again, it is expected by the researchers that the rate of interest will remain comparatively low as well as stable in the next year following the rapid growth of developing countries. This increasing growth of countries such as India and China will increase the volume of trade in favor of USA. Also the corporate bonds and

Self-Directed Well-Being Assessment And Enhancement Program Essay

Self-Directed Well-Being Assessment And Enhancement Program - Essay Example I ask my parents, friends and teachers to describe me and my actions when am at work or when pursuing my personal career. My parents reported that I love my work but I usually find time to interact with them. My friend said that I enjoyed working and find happiness in doing the same. The colleagues at work indicated that I work without any form of supervision and that I found time to interact with the rest despite my busy schedules. My strength at home is that am in a position to manage my time effectively and balance the time I spend at work and time I spend with families and friends. Additionally, I have the talent to sing and tell stories an aspect that makes my work enjoyable and fulfilling. This is due to the fact that I can easily teach the children various songs in addition to telling them amusing stories. Therefore, doing what I like doing have greatly helped in improving my career wellbeing. Moreover, to the fact that I do relate well with fellow teachers, am in a position to learn from them and apply the same in my work as a teacher. Some teachers have better skills than I do but I usually try to emulate them so that I can improve on my skills too. The school has partnership programs whereby teachers from the neighboring attend (Rath and Harter 123). These programs aim at ensuring that teachers share skills and learn from each other in addition to sharing problems that affect them in the course of performing their duties. My social wellbeing is always impacted by individuals who are close to me. These include friends, relatives and colleague at work. The parents have been a source of motivation, an aspect that has made me to achieve my goals in life. Additionally, friends have been a source of inspiration to lead a healthy life and ensure that I am positive about life. Higher level of social being therefore had assisted me to be in a position to establish

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Forecasting the Future of the US Economy Over the Next Year Research Paper

Forecasting the Future of the US Economy Over the Next Year - Research Paper Example However, the recovery of the U.S. has been expected to carry on, albeit at the sluggish pace (Elwell, 21). This paper is aimed at providing forecasts on the future of the US economic variables. Effects on economic variables: The level of inflation has been very high since 2007. This high level of inflation is now considered as the biggest problem in the country by the Fed. Due to this high level of inflation, consumers are not getting capable of purchasing costliest goods and services and hence business organisations which are engaged in production of these goods and services are leaving the industry. Again this is reducing the level of income in the country and hence the level of demand for necessary goods and service. The Fed is expecting to have a subdued in the next few years because of weaker level of real economic activities prevailing in the country. But the Fed is expecting to have a lower level of inflation rate in 2013 which is expected to increase the volume of economic ac tivities in the country. The Fed is expecting that the current rate of change in overall prices is expected to fall to 1% to 2% from its current level of 3% within five years. But the Fed is expecting that the rate of inflation will remain unresponsive in newt few years due to the fact the American economy is still under the curse of financial and economic crises situations (Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, 1). The Federal Reserve or Fed, in short, holds a very positive view regarding the current economic activities and the current condition of the financial market of the country. The chairman of the Fed, Dr. Ben S. Bernanke, has argued that after the global financial crisis of 2007-08, the American economy is experiencing greater volume of economic activities (Bernanke, 1). The IMF predicts the value of real GDP in the US to rise at 1.5% in 2011 (which is lower by1.0 percentage points than that of in June 2011 prediction) and at 1.8% in 2012 (which is lower by 1.1% tha n the June 2011 prediction) (Elwell, 21). The Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve predicts the real GDP in the year 2012 to exist in the range of between 2.3% and 3.5% (the growth prediction for the year 2012 almost about 0.5 percentage points lower than that has been made in the June 2011). Also according to the Fed predictions the rate of unemployment is estimated to be in the range between 8.1% and 8.9% in the year 2013 (Fiscal Year 2013: Analytical Perspective: Budget of the U.S. Government, 19). Global Insight, which is a renowned economic forecasting private company, has recently predicted that the real GDP in the US will advance 1.4% by the end of 2012 (lower by 1.3 percentage points compared to its June 2011 estimation). The rate of unemployment in the country has been estimated to be around 9.3% in the year 2012 and 2013 (Elwell, 21). The level of FDI in the country is not expected to grow at much rapid speed compared to the past. In the global increasing in the am ount of FDI inflow to $1.4–$1.6 trillion in the year 2013, the US inflow of FDI is predicted to move in the range of $245 to $255 billion in 2013 (GLOBAL INVESTMENT TRENDS, 17). Again, it is expected by the researchers that the rate of interest will remain comparatively low as well as stable in the next year following the rapid growth of developing countries. This increasing growth of countries such as India and China will increase the volume of trade in favor of USA. Also the corporate bonds and

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Business Plan Paper On Grocery Delivery (only 2 sections of the Research

Business Plan On Grocery Delivery (only 2 sections of the overall ) - Research Paper Example It is an effective online marketplace facilitating simple buying as well as selling of groceries. Cornunopia Grocery Store aims to tap the growing Frisco, TX areas consumer goods market. Cornunopia Grocery Store mission is to provide an online stand where people can shop for groceries all along with door step delivery. It taps the unattended desires of the people who does not get traditional trading suitable due to many inescapable reasons. Cornunopia Grocery Store foremost mission is to grant convenience to the clients followed by best cost for money backed by excellence and pleasure. Cornunopia Grocery Store is a common stage where the distributors, retailers, as well as wholesalers, can provide their supplies to the needs of the home customers. It also enables a greater market arrive at the suppliers as well as convenience to the clients. Furthermore, it gives an online platform for household clients to choose from an extensive variety of products planned by the suppliers who are: distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. It as well permits the suppliers to enlist their goods to ramp up their retailing by raising their reach. This doorway also acts intermediately involving the distributor with wholesalers or retailer to deliver goods that are out of stock locally (Tanskanen & Holmstrà ¶m, 2015). This is meant for only the household clients. This model revolves around providing ease, quality as well as the best value for cash to the end consumer. The clients can browse through the catalogs as well as see the diverse items programmed by the suppliers. The buyer or client orders the select items and the company deliver the product or good on their doorsteps. This is their main focus, and it concentrates all of its initial capital at this. This model is destined for the wholesalers as well as retailers who need a number of goods which are not accessible in the local marketplace. This is for mass shipments and the store can

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Wedding Banquet, 1993 Dir. Ang Lee Essay Example for Free

The Wedding Banquet, 1993 Dir. Ang Lee Essay Winston Chao and Mitchell Lichtenstein portray Wai-tung and Simon respectively, a Manhattan gay couple whose blissful relationship start to get upside down when Wai-tung Taiwanese parents fly in ( The Wedding Banquet 2004).   Wai-tung’s parents, unaware of their sons’ sexuality, are pressuring him to settle down and give them a grandchild. To please his parents, Wai-Tung, with Simon’s consent, opts to marry Wei (portrayed by May Chin,) their tenant who badly needs a green card to stay in the US (2004).   Wai-tung’s folks fly over to have the wedding banquet, which leads to complications such as Wei getting pregnant by Wai-tung, severing his relationship with Simon and Wai-tung’s parents finally finding out the truth behind their son’s sexuality and how they deal with it (2004). In the end, Wei has the baby, Wai-tung’s parents return to Taiwan, with   his mother still despising Simon but feels a connection with Wei, his father,   accepting Simon and dismisses Wei, and Simon, Wai-Tung and Wei are left together to raise the baby.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The film depicts interracial sexuality the way interracial sexuality is commonly viewed by society- like a fish living in a fish bowl, with so much scrutiny and interest. Gay relationships, whether we admit it or not, are still viewed by others as obscene. What more with an interracial gay relationship? That will have the self-righteous raise their eyebrows. For an interracial sexuality does not just deal with sexuality per se but must also confront the consequences brought on by norms and culture. Asian culture in general is more traditional than North American culture. And that is illustrated in the film. Wai-tung’s mother, for instance, after finding out that her son in gay, still does not warm to her son’s White lover.   What is interesting is how Wai-tung’s father dealt with the situation.   He did not just accept Simon as his â€Å"other son†, he also gave him the Hanabao, to symbolize his acceptance. Work Cited The Wedding Banquet. Dir. Ang Lee. Perf. Winston Chao, Mitchell Lichtenstein,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   May Chin, Jeanne Kuo Chang. 1993. DVD. MGM, 2004.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Positive Psychology Theory And Core Concepts Psychology Essay

Positive Psychology Theory And Core Concepts Psychology Essay School bullying is a growing public concern as it can have detrimental effect on subjective well-being of children and adolescents worldwide. Bullying can be defined and refered to as intentional , oppresive behavior against another person that causes pysical and/psychological harm and can be classified into four categories: Physical bullying such as; hitting, pushing, kicking, spiting and punching. Verbal bullying such as; name-calling, teasing, insultting and verbal threats. Social exclusion behaviors behaviors such as; ignoring victims, spreading rumours about victims, exclusing from social groups by indirect threats to friends of victims. Acts of extortion such as; asking for money or other material objects. (Olweus, 1994). Bullying can have a negative effect on victims, bullies and bystanders and impact psychosocial and physical health as well as academic aspiration(Hui, Tsang Law, 2011).Several research studies show that students with poor interpersonal relationships to family, peers and teachers are more prone to be involved in peer victimization(Wong et al., 2008). Many of the victims of bullying suffer negative affects such as; anger,anxiety,decreased self-esteem or depression(Ng Tsang,. 2008; Fung Wong,. 2007). Some victims of bullying may as a result turn into bullies themselves(Lam Liu,. 2007) and contribute to the comlex social interactions that involve schools, homes, parents, peers, adults, victims and bullies(Vreeman Carroll,. 2007). Many of the most common types of classroom and/or school antibullying interventions target three key areas; training social skills, changing group norms and increasing self-efficacy((Hui, Tsang Law, 2011). .Egan Todorov (2009) found that implementing inte rventions across entire schools lead to higher rates of succes and implementing it into the regular curriculum would be most effective(Misha, 2008). Smith collegues(2004) found that several factors that affected the school climate such as interpersonal relationships and the quality of communication were not usually implemented in the school-wide interventions. The social context play a key role in promoting bullying behavior (Espelage Swearer,. 2003) and in creating a negative school climate. Implementing a positive psychology intervention might prove usefull as a positive school climate promote positive development in children and adolescents and reduce aggression.(MIshna,. 2008;Smith et al,. 2004; Whitted Dupper,. 2005; Orpinas Horne,. 2006) Positive Psychology Theory and Core Concepts should be applied to facilitate long-term well-being in School bullying Positive psychology is the scientific study to understand , test, discover and promote factors (e.g strengths and virtues) (Sheldon et. al. ,2000) that enable individuals and environments such as institutions and communities to thrive and flourish(Seligman Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). To Flourish means to live with an optimal range of human functioning which is characterized by four key components; Goodness, Generativity, Growth and Resilience(Frederickson Losada,. 2005). Studies supports the adaptive effects of positive affects(for a review, see Lyubomirsky, King, Diener, in press) such as having a positive affect on attention(Frederickson Branigan,. 2005; Rowe , Hirsch Anderson,. 2005), increased intuition(Bolte, Goschkey, Kuhl ,.2003), creativity and broaden behavioral repertoires(Frederickson Branigan,. 2005). Fredericksons (Frederickson, 2004). Positive emotions is a key component in intervention. The Broaden-and-build theory describes how positive emotions can broaden an individuals thought action patterns, and that although feeling good is a temporary experience, it can lead to a build up of enduring personal resources (social, intellectual, psychological and physical over time and this can produce an upward spiral towards increased subjective well-being(Frederikson, 2004). Hefferson Boniwell(2011) found that positive emotions not only mark or signal health and well-being, but also produce health and well-being this notion implies that th e positive emotions transform individuals for the better and can make them more knowledgeable, effective, resilient and socially integrated()Frederickson, 2004). Isens (1990, p. 89) research also supports the broaden-and-build theory that positive emotions produces broad , flexible cognitive organization and ability to integrate diverse material. Negative emotions such as anxiety and depression can lead to a more narrow attention(Frederickson, 2004). An important question that arises when implementing the broaden-and-build theory is, how much positivity is needed to flourish(Frederickson, 2004). Negative emotions have always been the focus of traditional psychology and Baumeister, et al(2001) concluded that Bad is stronger than good and to be able to overcome the overwhelming effect of negative emotions, Fredericks needed to found out how much positivity was enough to make a difference. With the help of Losada (1999) and other researchers (Losada Heaphy, 2004) Frederickson found t he positivity ratio, stating that three positive emotions or more would negate one negative. This positivity ratio also has an upper limit where the effect decreases.It can be difficult to cultivate positivity as an individual, but there are several methods that Fredrickson Kurtz suggest might help, such as changing ones outlook from being positive to being open, appreciative.., curious and kind(2011. p. 44) but also that creating high quality relationships can prove valuable to increasing positive emotions. An evidence based intervention plan tailored to case. The first part of my intervention(Gratitude Intervention) will focus on positive emotions in the PERMA model of well-being and the intervention method used will be to make the students keep a journal to count blessings for 2 weeks time. Froh, Sefick Emmons(2008) found that making students count blessings were associated with higher levels of optimism, life-satisfaction and lowered negative emotions. The second part of my intervention will focus on building positive relationships by using the VIA-test from www.Viacharacter.org. VIA stands for values in action and is a self-report test that consist of 240 questions that will help individuals to identify their top character strengths out of the 24 strenghts in the VIA Classification. They will then form groups of in class based on the indentified strengths.Character strengths can then be implemented in a positive psychology intervention where the students are asked to apply one of their top character strengths in a new way, every day for one week. This is also congruent with the three pillars of positive psychology wich consist of positive experiences, strength based character and positive institutions. The PERMA model is a model of well-being and consist of five important elements: positive emotions, engagement, meaning, accomplishment and positive relationships. The 24 character strengths underpin all 5 elements in the PERMA mode l of well-being and using your highest strengths can lead to more postive emotions, more engagement, more accomplishment and to better relationships(Seligman, 2011 ; Hefferson Boniwell, 2011). The character strengths are divided up into 6 virtues. Wisdom and Knowledge: creativity,curiosity,open-mindedness,love of learning,perspective, innovation Courage: bravery,persistence, integrity,vitality Humanity:love,kindness, social intelligence Justice: citizenship, fairness, leadership Temperance:forgivenessandmercy,humility,prudence,self control Transcendence:appreciation of beauty and excellence,gratitude,hope,humor,spirituality Critical reflections about your intervention plan: What might the pitfalls be? One of the main pitfalls of my intervention plan is positive psychology relies heavily on the notion that there are only negative or positive emotions, but Larsen et al.(2001,2004) concluded that this view is too simplistic as feelings are often mixed. Hefferon Boniwell (2011, p22-223) also argues that hope on one hand can be positive, but also lead to negative emotions like anxiety. Other researchers critize that positive psychology focuses to much on positivity and thus negating the potential of benifits of negative moods, such as bonding over negative complaints and events(Kowalski, 2002). Positive psychology interventions does not come with a one-size fits all as individuals, institutions and countries might have similar values or strengths but different ways of expressing them. Defensive pessimism might be another way of expressing this for certain individuals. The body of research being conducted on children and adolescents is growing. The interventions might also come of as b eing some kind of overt mind control when we try to make individuals focus on only the positive aspects of life.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Comparing the Symbology and Imagery in T. S. Eliot’s Poetry Essay

In the poems â€Å"The Love Song by J. Alfred Prufrock,† written in 1910, published in 1915, and â€Å"Rhapsody on a Windy Night,† written in 1917, both of which were written by poet and literary-critic T. S. Eliot, the symbolism and imagery of the women represented in mythological means, the locations and landscapes that both protagonists wander through or plan on going to, and the nature that is used in both poems are very similar, yet uniquely different. â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† is about a man with low self-confidence worrying about going to a party in the evening where he is sure that the women there with reject and ridicule him; â€Å"Rhapsody on a Windy Night† is about a man wandering his way back in the early hours of the morning to the place where he is staying. In â€Å"Rhapsody†¦,† the moon is featured as a forgiving woman, one who will not hold a grudge and gentles and watches over everything. She appears as a lonely woman, almost as one whose lover has left her holding and twisting a â€Å"paper rose that smells of dust and eau de Cologne† (Eliot 31). At the end of â€Å"The Love Song†¦,† the women are represented as mermaids, sea-girls. They put the men under a spell, for lack of a better word, â€Å"We have lingered in the chambers of the sea/ By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown/ Till human voices wake us, and we drown.† The last line makes them seem like Sirens. In both poems the women are featured in strong mythological terms. Mythology, legends, etc. have always appealed to the senses. They are timeless, and involve adventure, romance, magic, loyalty, betrayal, wars, and mystery, all of which are qualities that strongly appeal to our senses, while also being riddled with symbol s and hidden meanings (Melinda-Landa... ...Works Cited Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Avon , 1972. Print. Daly, Kathleen N., and Marian Rengel. "A-to-Z Entries." Greek and Roman Mythology A to Z. New York: Facts On File, 2004. Print Eliot, T. S., and Peter Washington. â€Å"Prufrock and Other Observations.† Eliot: Poems and Prose. New York: A. A. Knopf, 1998. 13-19, 29-32. Print. Hanegraaff, Wouter J. "The Nature of Reality." New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought. Albany, NY: State University of New York, 1998. 154. Print. Hard, Robin, and H. J. Rose. "The Younger Olympian Gods and Goddesses." The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's "Handbook of Greek Mythology" London: Routledge, 2004. 187. Print Homer. "Book Twelve." The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Eagles. London: Penguin Group, 1996. Print.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Relationship is an exploratory journey Essay

Janie grew up to find herself through each of her relationships. Her subdued lifestyle with her grandmother, her subdued and rather painful existence with her first husband Logan, her disillusionment after her initial enchantment with her second husband Jody, and her unfortunate killing of the husband she so loved, Tea Cake, all help her to recognize her for who she is and by the end of the novel, she is at peace with herself. This inner peace comes about by several twists and turns. She recognizes the various aspects of her own personality through her interactions in each of her relationships. She begins to understand that she might be more than a young girl whose responsibility has to be transferred from the matronly care of her grandmother to matrimonial bond to a unsympathetic husband during her first marriage. She realizes that she is more than an enchanted woman who wants be more than a socially acceptable companion to an ambitious and ruthless man during her second marriage. In her last marital relationship she begins to understand and appreciate her own need to be vivacious, lively and have good times with good company without the need to be apologetic or the need to be unaware of her partner’s shortcomings. In the death of her last husband Tea Cake at her own hand, she realizes that Life does not offer any linear solutions to the problems of relationships. Besides, she also understands that as a person she values her own individual survival is basic for her pursuit of happiness. Her confidence at having endured life’s trials and tests and having coming out not unscathed but with her individuality intact is mistaken for aloofness by her townsfolk. Finally, her revelations to her old friend Pheoby about her life finally give her a sense of fulfillment. Janie grows up in life through her relationships and that is why she has the confidence to tell her friend that â€Å"Ah been a delegate to de big’ssociation of life. Yessuh! De Grand Lodge, de big convention of livin’ is just where Ah been†(10) Janie started off in her childhood with a blind confidence that she was entitled to everything like everyone else. She did not realize she was colored till she saw herself in a photograph and could not recognize herself. When, the rest of the children and the people of the house pointed her out in the photograph, she exclaimed â€Å"Aw, aw! Ah’m colored! †(p. 13) She was taught by her nanny before she was married to Logan Killicks that â€Å"De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. †(p. 20) Her completely subjugated relationship with Logan who was far older than her made her realize that perhaps she wanted more out of life. She wanted to feel a wanting in her heart and her body for a man, a true companion. That is what drove her into the arms of Jody, an ambitious, would-be politician. He was enchanting and had a manner that befitted his yet-to-acquire status. What she did not realize was Jody wanted her to be performing a particular role in his life. There was no fun in Jody because he always looked at life as a mission to be accomplished. She had to tell Jody that he was no fun to be with â€Å"Everybody can’t be lak you, Jody. Somebody is bound tuh want tuh laugh and play†(p. 76) She was so offended by Jodie’s denying her right to be herself, which she began to realize slowly with growing years and experience, she did not even care to be polite to a dying man. In fact Jodie’s death filled her with a sense of relief. Her realization that any relationship can come to the end of its utility and can fill a person with an unmentionable need for it to end came with Jodie’s death. After this growing distancing from Jody and his loftiness, which prevented Janie from living the life as a tribute to all possibility of happiness, Tea Cake entered. â€Å"Janie looked down on him and felt a self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place† (p. 122) Though Tea Cake gave her a brief scare by running away from her with her money, he returned to confess and begin their new life. His vivaciousness and his love for life was something that Janie had always wanted. For her the sweet pain and the all encompassing love she experienced under a pear tree were realized in her years with Tea Cake. But as all good things it also had to come to an end. The fearsome hurricane that they fled, the rabid dog that bit Tea Cake and its ill-effects on his personality and character were all revelations of the uncertainties of life. Janie had to kill Tea Cake in self defense and was acquitted in a trial consisting of all-male, all-white jury – yet another affirmation that Life had its strange ways of indicating its endless possibilities. Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember, and remember everything they don’t want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly. †(3) The final place she comes back to is her hometown Eatonville. There, the act of sharing her life’s story with her friend fills her with a sense of completeness. Her relationship with her friend when she interacts very minimally with the townsfolk, allowing them to imagine all kinds of negative things about her, is a final revelation. The narration of the story was a necessity to herself as it was for Pheoby to know the facts. Her growth as a woman and a human being through her four major relationships in life is given a chance to be framed in perspective by her relationship with her friend –somebody with whom she shares no burden of expectation Works cited Hurston, Zora Neale and Jerry Pinkney Their eyes were watching God. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1991

Thursday, October 10, 2019

A Protest from a Bushman

201005894| ENG 373 ASSIGNMENT| BOIKANYO MAKAUSU| 1. A PROTEST FROM A BUSHMAN POEM THEME: SADNESS The theme of the poet A Protest From a Bushman is SADNESS. The poet is expressing disapproval or objection to something, thus how his fellowman treats them and undermine the tribe, culture & tradition. TONE MORAL INDIGNATION The tone of the poem is typically a reactive emotion to anger over perceived mistreatment, insult or malice. It is somehow a sense of injustice. The bushman is more concerned with how his fellow countryman treats their tribe.He now feels that his native land not good/ not enjoyable to them as they are now treated as slaves and are now seen filthy. They are seen as a nobody hence this is their native land rather they are not refugees. The tone is the same through the poem. STRUCTURE The poem has 11 stanzas with 111 lines in total. The first stanza has 10 lines followed with the second stanza with 13 lines. The third stanza has 5 lines, seven on the fourth stanza while 19 lines on the fifth. The sixth stanza with also seven lines 15 lines with the seventh stanza and followed by3 lines on the eighth stanza.Then four lines on the ninety stanza. The second last stanza has sixteen lines while the last one has 12 lines. POETIC DEVICES REPITITION From stanza four the poet use repetition of the words, â€Å"life is tremulous like a drop of water on a mophane leaf. † to emphasize that life is shaking or shivering with the bad talks about the bushman by the fellow countryman. The bushman uses repetition to truly show that these talks makes them nervous, that is they don’t feel free in their native land. PERSONIFICATIONLife is personified to a person as it is said to be shivering/shaking hence it is something that’s not human like. It cannot shiver nor shake. He shows his anger by showing the unfairness of life. 2. THE ORATION OF CHIEF JOHN MADAWO NSWAZWI VII THEME SADNESS The theme of the poem The oration of Chief John Madawo Nswazwi i s sadness. The poet is being sad and not happy about how people are being treated. He is using Chief John Madawo Nswazwi giving out a speech to his tribe or nation addressing them about the suffering they were treated with and promising them that it is now over.He shows his sadness by saying, â€Å"We have become slaves Worse than dogs and pigs† By this he clarified how cruel they were being treated as animals. He also explained how heartless they were treated in front of God’s presence thus being weeped showing the immoral signs they discovered. TONE PROTEST The tone of the poem is a formal and solemn declaration of objection. Chief Nswazwi VIII is objecting or protesting against mistreatments of human rights to his fellow beloved countryman and women. The slave suffering of the countryman had put anger on him they now do not enjoy fruits of the country.He uses the African slave trade where missionaries mistreated the blacks as animals to explain their suffering which he feels is against the will of the almighty. The chief is angry to chief Tshekedi’s law where villages are being destroyed and reduced to ashes by his tyrannical rule. By saying â€Å" I shall come back fiercer than the burning sun† The chief promises the fellow countryman & women that if it happens he dies and the slave trade continues he would come back from the dead and display an intensive aggression to help his tribe. STRUCTURE The poem has 10 stanzas with 99 lines in total.In stanza I the poet expresses the feelings of anger that they have been mistreated but that shall stop and that the war brought shall kill the enemies themselves by using the chief. He continues in stanza 2 & 3 that upon his rule suffering would be changed to freedom and stop war with all his strength. He continues from stanza stating the impropriety of other chiefs, how they overexcite power up until stanza 7. In the last stanza the chief promises people that although they have lived throug h obstacles they would live a happy, freely and not disturbed life. 3. GABORONEThe aim of the poem is to briefly describe how the city Gaborone appears to be. In other words what Gaborone is and what happens around the city. However he does this by mainly focusing on the negative aspects in describing the city. It is a clear and short description of the picture behind the city Gaborone. The theme is perfectly reviewed throughout the poem, and to begin with the poet describe the climatic conditions of Gaborone in the first two lines to mention that Gaborone characterizes of high temperature or sunny conditions (Irritating Heat) as well as polluted air or not fresh air (Stale Air).He then continues to describe what happens around Gaborone from the third line to mention the fast moving and growing cockroaches, then large number of poor people (Hungry Smiles). The Poet continues with his description by mentioning foreign investors without identity found in Gaborone and also misleaders w ho feel overly self important (Pompous Misleaders). And halfway of the poem the poet says that Gaborone characterizes of misleading politicians (Visionless Politicians), violated house-wives in this case women abuse and also very poor artists.And towards the end he mentions that in Gaborone one may find rude and strict landlords and relatively increasing number of dealers. In concluding the poem he says Gaborone with its belly about to explode as to say that now population is increasing rapidly, the city is now expanding and hence growing into a huge city. STRUCTURE The poem comprises of only one stanza containing 20 lines, and each line starts by the word Gaborone. TONE The tone of the poem is quite a tone of disappoint or rather I will say the poet if fed up with what the city has turned into.So he writes this with a depressive mood. POETIC DEVICDES However the poet used some poetic devices during his writing such as rhyme, repetition and Hyperbole. He uses rhyming schemes such as the double rhymes like Hawkers and Workers, Mongers and Lovers. And also the triple rhymes like Churchgoers, Investors and Misleaders. Throughout the poem, the poet use repetition device in which he begins each line by the word Gaborone and there is also a hyperbole where by an outrageous exaggeration is used for effect, for example Turbo-Charged Cockroaches. 4.Outside A Hotel in Gaborone THEME The Poem put its focus on the desire or chase for money that people have and on the other hand it shows the power, strength and control that money can posses. This theme is being illustrated throughout the poem, and to start with the poet is trying to show us the picture behind a person who has money. He writes ‘Splash of Strident Colours, Splash of Covetous Smiles' as to show craving for possession or desire for wealth. So this is how a rich person would appear. He then continues to the second stanza to mention â€Å"eyes that lust money† s to say Minds that have a desire for m oney. And then he continues to the third stanza until the last one to illustrate what money does or what one would achieve with his/her wealthy being. and by doing so he write ‘ Purr of sleek cars' as to say Slow, continuous murmuring sound produced by attractive shinny cars driven in a group or a flock in chase for quick money. So this is basically what the poet is illustrating towards the end of the poem TONE So during the in analyzing the poem, it has appeared that the poet wrote this poem in a sad tone or mood as to show how disappointed he is.He is being let down by the impact that money has toward people around his city, Gaborone. STRUCTURE The Structure of poem comprises of 4 stanzas, the first stanza until the third one having a tercent each and the fourth stanza with quintet. POETIC DEVICES The Poem also comprises of some poetic devises such as rhyme, imagery, metaphor, simileys and. Firstly the rhyme, the poet uses sight rhyme that is word that are quite similar in s pelling but rather differ in pronunciations. For examples words like Cars and Curs, Flesh and Flash.He then applies Imagery, which is a sentence that uses the human senses to describe a vivid mental picture. For example he wrote â€Å"eyes that lust money† as to illustrate the picture of someone who has desire for money. He then applied the metaphor and simileys as to compare objects that are not alike, for example ‘Purr of Sleek Cars' and ‘Like Curs on Heat†. Here he is comparing the sound made by cars to the sound made by cats and again he compares an Undesirable dog on heat to Cars, as they are being driven by their owners in search for money. 5. SEROWE REFLECTONS STRUCTUREIt is made up of seven stanzas. The title is relevant in the sense that Serowe that the Poet talks about is different from the one he knew, the one he grew up in therefore it creates or forms on image of the then Serowe. POETIC DEVICES Metaphor ‘There is a permanent roar of your g reat warriors’. TONE The tone is sad because the Poet seems not to appreciate the changes in Serowe. There is so much change that he cannot accommodate. Serowe has become some that he is not proud of. SUMMARY From the poem we can tell that at first Serowe was a place that the Poet liked and enjoyed as his village.It was rich in culture but now Serowe has turned into something else, people use dongas to relief themselves; it is no longer safe for people to walk as night as people are being killed for sacrifices which is believed to bring wealth. Even the Kgotla [main] of Serowe makes people to think deeply about it whether it still potray the meaning of the Kgotla. Serowe has heavily fallen, one may say on the broken back just like the Poet and he continues by asking what could have went wrong with Serowe, the question is posed in such a way that the Poet want to find a solution in restoring the old Serowe.

The Reality of Imagination

The Reality of the Imagination Rebecca Smarcz Poetry is a dichotomy of imagination and reality. It requires metaphors and abstract symbols as representatives of the poet’s imagination. These metaphors and symbols are depicted through concrete images in order to correlate with the reality that the reader and poet exist in. According to Roy Harvey Pearce’s essay Wallace Stevens: The Life of the Imagination, Stevens refers to himself as an â€Å"exponent of the imagination† and â€Å"As poet, he [Stevens] is†¦an ‘exponent of the imagination’†¦But, as human being, he finds that he must hold the imagination to concrete reality† (Pearce 117).Pearce, along with many other critics, believe that the diverging relationship between an imaginative world and reality is one of Stevens’ biggest concerns and struggles in his poetry. This battle between imagination and reality existed for Stevens in poetry as well as in his everyday life. In a letter to Ronald Lane Latimer in March 1937, Stevens wrote, â€Å"I have been trying to see the world about me both as I see it and as it is† (Beckett 117).This struggle between imagination and reality is extremely apparent in Stevens’ poetry, specifically in Evening Without Angels and A Fading of the Sun, both of which were published in the 1936 volume Ideas of Order. Stevens contrasts images of light and dark, sun and night, in Evening Without Angels and A Fading of the Sun in order to illustrate a dichotomy between imagination and reality as well as truth and individual perception.While Stevens establishes a strict opposing relationship in the beginnings of these specific poems, by the conclusion of each of the poems he recognizes that both imagination and truth are necessary components of art and life by the uniting imagination and reality as complements of each other, rather than divergent elements. He uses poetry as a medium to address the relationship between i magination and truth, and these poems are no exception. In the very beginning of A Fading of the Sun Stevens directly calls upon the audience to question the extremity between light and dark, and in turn, the conflict between imagination and reality.He begins with, â€Å"Who can think of the sun costuming clouds,† which directly asks the audience to imagine (Fading 1). The verb â€Å"to think,† while it can also convey an action dealing with factual knowledge, Stevens clearly uses it in this circumstance in an imaginative sense by the sun image he asks the audience to think of. The sun implies bright, openness, and light; therefore, it serves as a symbol for the imagination. With imagination there is room for interpretation and variations among individual imaginations.The double meaning of the verb â€Å"to think,† the factual versus the imaginative meaning, inherently adds to the struggle Stevens faces regarding imagination and reality when he writes poetry. Fu rthermore, Stevens establishes an opposing relationship between light and dark throughout the first three stanzas of A Fading of the Sun. In the first stanza Stevens calls upon the audience to imagine â€Å"the sun costuming clouds. † The image of the sun â€Å"costuming,† masking, or covering up the clouds is unrealistic and the reader can only rely on his imagination to picture this image (Fading 1).The sun can never cover up the clouds because of their location in the earth’s atmosphere; they are always in front of the sun. Furthermore, due to their density and chemical makeup the sun’s light will always be muffled when it tries to penetrate even the thinnest cloud. If the audience does go along with Stevens’ image of the sun masking the clouds, they imagine a scene in which they can only see the brightness of the sun with no shadows or darkness, just pure light, pure imagination.However, with this intense sunlight, â€Å"people are shaken† (Fading 2). Here, Stevens comments on the issue of poetry and life only having imagination, completely excluding truth and reality. People are uneasy with too much sunlight and imagination, with no reality to balance it out. In contrast to poetry and life having too much sunlight and imagination, Stevens also negatively remarks upon life and poetry being solely centered on darkness and reality. Darkness implies truth and definiteness because there is only one color with darkness: black.There is sureness in this color, there is no room for other interpretations, there is just black, just darkness, just reality and truth. Too much darkness causes people to â€Å"cry for help† and makes their bodies â€Å"grow[s] suddenly cold† (Fading 5, 7). People become lifeless and succumb to unhappiness when there is no imagination in their lives. With this opaque darkness â€Å"The tea is bad, bread sad,† ultimately, Stevens implies that imagination is like sustenance for the mind (Fading 8). Food gives energy to the body and is necessary for survival just as imagination is necessary for survival.Stevens tarnishes tea and bread in order to relate how the body becomes tarnished when it is only surrounded by reality and when humans exists without imagination. Without food â€Å"people die;† therefore, without imagination they cannot live their lives to the fullest (Fading 10). Moreover, Stevens affirms that it is impossible to be happy â€Å"without a book. † He states that it is a lie â€Å"If joy shall be without a book† (Fading 11). Here, Stevens uses the book as a symbol for art, poetry, and imagination. Life without art and imagination will be dark and unhappy; it is like a sky without sun.Imagination needs to be a part of poetry and life, but although this may be true for Stevens in these first stanzas, Stevens eventually settles upon the notion that reality must be a component in poetry and life as well. Stevens searches for a balance between light and dark, imagination and reality, in this poem and in life and he finds that balance in the last stanza. Stevens erases his prior negative outlook on the diverging relationship of imagination and reality by creating an image of the sun and night working together.The â€Å"pillars of the sun, / Supports of night† is a direct reference to Stevens’ realization of the harmonizing combination of imagination and truth (Fading 16-17). The sun symbolizes imagination while the night represents reality. With these sun pillars supporting the night people live a full life with tea and wine that are good and bread and meat that are sweet. Stevens creates this image of the sun and night transcending their opposing differences in order to establish the idea that imagination and reality are important parts to life and poetry.When Stevens combines the image of the sun, representing imagination, with the night, symbolizing reality, â€Å"The wine is good. The bread, / †¦ is sweet† (Fading 18-19). Although Stevens also refers to tea and meat as being edible and good with the unification of imagination of reality, he forces the reader to focus solely on the wine and bread images by placing the wine and bread in the same line of the poem. Stevens’ inclusion of the wine and bread images seems to be a clear religious reference to Jesus Christ in which Jesus offers his body and blood to his disciples in the form of bread and wine.When Jesus offered these gifts to his disciples his disciples needed faith and imagination to truly believe that these real, tangible items were indeed the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This idea that faith is needed in order to transcend the reality of these items correlates with the relationship between imagination and reality that Stevens addresses throughout this poem. Furthermore, with any religion, there is a necessary balance between faith, imagination, and belief, with reality, certainty, a nd truth. An individual must believe in his faith of the afterlife but he must also not ignore the reality of his life on earth.This last stanza supports Lucy Beckett’s claim of â€Å"Stevens’ constant devotion to reality, his belief that the phrase ‘the truth of the imagination’ has a meaning only with respect to the imagination’s relation with reality. † Although Stevens’ poetry is largely based in his imaginative world, Beckett notes that Stevens realizes his â€Å"responsibility† as a poet to balance imagination and reality (Beckett 42). Stevens’ even states in his essay ‘Effects of Analogy’ that when writing poetry The poet is constantly concerned with two theories.One relates to the imagination as a power within him not so much to destroy reality at will as to put it to his own uses†¦The second theory relates to the imagination as a power within him to have such insights into reality (Beckett 43). In A Fading of the Sun Stevens uses his power as a poet to combine reality with imagination and he faces the same task in Evening Without Angels. Stevens, once again, addresses the relationship between imagination and reality in his poem Evening Without Angels and immediately calls attention to the natural separation between imagination and reality in the beginning lines of the poem.He opens the poem with the question, â€Å"Why seraphim like lutanists arranged / Above the trees? † directly placing seraphim, or angels, on a separate level from the trees (Evening 1-2). Stevens immediately creates this image of separation between imaginative beings, seraphim, and the trees, which represent the earth and reality. He creates this separation between imagination and reality in this first stanza in order to set up the conflict between the two components throughout the poem, and then, just as he does in A Fading of the Sun, concludes the poem with the complementary combination of bot h imagination and reality.Furthermore, Stevens directly questions the audience in these opening lines in order to force the audience to wonder why there has to be a separation of imagination and reality in poetry and in life. In other words, Stevens sparks a wondering in the audience in the beginning of the poem and throughout the poem brings the audience on journey to discover the true balance of imagination and reality. Stevens continues to question the dichotomy between imagination and reality by issuing the question in the third stanza, â€Å"Was the sun concoct for angels or for men? (Evening 10). Here, the sun is representative of the imagined world, specifically heaven. Stevens questions whether the imagined world is only reserved for imagined things, like angels, or if men can be a part of the imagined world as well. Later on in the poem, Stevens declares that men, indeed, â€Å"are men of sun;† they are part of the imagined world (Evening 14). However, before Steven s comes to this realization he wants the audience to think about man’s place in the imagined world.After he questions whether the imagined world is for men or for angels he states, â€Å"Sad men made angels of the sun, and of / The moon they made their own attendant ghosts† (Evening 11-12). From this passage, Stevens seems to be affirming his pro-imagination stance. When men only place angels, or imagined things in their imagination, instead of incorporating imagination into their own human reality, they become unhappy. Again, Stevens utilizes the image of the moon in order to symbolize reality; therefore, when men do not have any sun or imagination in their lives, they become ghosts in their reality.Ghosts are translucent figures without any substance to them, so without imagination men exist in their reality without any substance; they are empty beings. Therefore, in order to have substance in poetry and in life imagination must be included. In a letter that Stevens wrote to Latimer in 1936 he states, â€Å"There is a point at which intelligence destroys poetry† (H. Stevens 20). Intelligence, fact, truth, and reality, according to Stevens, obstruct and hinder the imagination that exists in poetry. Stevens, when writing poetry consciously limited reality’s influence and focused on the art of imagination.However, while imagination is obviously important to Stevens, just as he does in A Fading of the Sun, he also stresses the importance of a balance between imagination and reality in the last few stanzas of Evening Without Angels. He discusses how â€Å"The motions of the mind† often times â€Å"Desire for rest† (Evening 21, 24). Stevens associates these â€Å"motions of the mind† with â€Å"Light† while the need for rest is associated with darkness, clearly implying that the imagination needs to be muffled by darkness, or reality (Evening 20-21).Here, Stevens clearly establishes his â€Å"devotion to rea lity† (Beckett 42). But, it is not until the last few lines of the poem that Stevens demonstrates the importance of a balance between imagination and reality. In the last lines of Evening Without Angels Stevens creates the image in which imagination becomes truth. Stevens writes, â€Å"Where the voice that is in us makes a true re- / sponse† (Evening 34-35). The voice is a symbol of the poetic voice inside the poet as well as the imaginative voice that lives inside of each individual.Through his poetry Stevens uses his poetic voice as a tool to unite imagination and reality. Finally, Stevens concludes the poem by creating the juxtaposition of the sun and moon: â€Å"Where the voice that is great within us rises up, / As we stand gazing at the rounded moon† (Evening 36-37). Again Stevens attributes sun-like qualities to the imagination by giving it the motion of rising up. Then, he combines the imaginative world and reality by placing the individual in a dark sett ing, staring at the moon, which is a symbol for reality.Stevens connects the imagination to the rising of the sun in order to make the audience aware that the sun and moon, although they are opposites, do indeed complement each other. Everyday the sun rises and then it sets, allowing night to start, indicating reliance upon one another. If the sun does not rise and set the moon will not be seen. Sister M. Bernetta Quinn explains in her essay, Metamorphosis in Wallace Stevens, that Stevens’ poetry â€Å"deals with the concrete, the particular; philosophy, with the abstract† (Quinn 69).Throughout his writing, Stevens stresses that imagination and reality are both necessary components of life and poetry. He is able to come to this conclusion by the act of poetry writing, in which he incorporates metaphors and symbols as representatives of his imagination. These metaphors and symbols are grounded in concrete images and reality in order for the audience to be able to unders tand and relate to Stevens’ imagination and create their own imaginative world through his writing. Work Cited Beckett, Lucy. Wallace Stevens. New York: Cambridge UP, 1974.Print. Pearce, Roy H. â€Å"Wallace Stevens: The Life of Imagination. †Ã‚  Wallace Stevens. Ed. Marie Borriff. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1963. N. pag. Print. Quinn, Sister M. Bernetta. â€Å"Metamorphosis in Wallace Stevens. † Wallace Stevens. Ed. Marie Borriff. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1963. N. pag. Print. Stevens, Holly. Souvenirs and Prophecies: The Young Wallace Stevens. N. p. : Alfred A. Knopf, 1977. Print. Stevens, Wallace. The Collected Poems of Wallace Stevens. New York: Vintage, 1990. A Fading of the Sun & Evening Without Angels. Print.