Friday, January 31, 2020

Honor and Duty- Rudyard Kipling Essay Essay Example for Free

Honor and Duty- Rudyard Kipling Essay Essay Three of Kipling’s poems, Young British Soldier, Tommy and Gunga Din were all components to a volume of poems entitled the Barack-Room Ballads. They were written in a Cockney dialect to gain support for the British military during the World Wars from the larger population of lower class people. They were used to convince the public that if they did not financially support the war efforts, they would be dishonorable. The duty of the people was to show support for the fighting. It was the only way they could show their loyalty to the cause and their country, and contribute to it. Kipling’s poems, in a way, were propaganda and the intent of the messages to the people were received. It convinced many to be eager to do their honor and duty to help the war effort by donating money and young men to join the army. Cash flow increased and soon the British ranks were filled with fresh soldiers from all classes. In addition to the effects on the citizens, the poems were also used to increase the feeling of honor and duty among the soldiers serving in the military. They became classic military fighting slogans that inspired courage and persistence through some of their harsh conditions. In Tommy, it was spoken about the poor treatment received when they entered local pubs or walked along the streets. The soldier of Kipling’s time defended the British Empire but was also picked at because of his low birth in the class system. A large portion of the soldiers who entered the military were just commoners. Gunga Din focuses more around race. The main character is an Indian water boy who carried water for British soldiers. He is treated as a lowly servant, yet is also seen as courageous when he is needed by a soldier on the battle-field. The poem is written through a soldier’s eyes and describes Gunga Din’s abuse from the others due to his dark skin tone. Kipling’s The Young British Soldier depicts a fighting soldier’s experience in the Afghan Wars. Twelve thousand British soldiers were killed and it was named Auckland’s Folly because it had been such a disaster to Britain. It explains how the young british soldier is expected to fight with duty and honor and contrarily describes the horrific experiences that soldiers would go through on the battlefield. Kipling’s poems impacted the British public greatly; it helped pull in money for the vast expenses of war while at the same time drawing in needed recruits for their military. For the soldiers who faced brutal deaths on the battlefields, the poems were chanted with pride and they helped lessen the painful reality.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Shakespeares Macbeth - Macbeth as Oxymoron :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

MacBeth: Oxymoron Act 1 Scene 1 Page 274 Line 12-13: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair: / Hover through the fog and filthy air." This quote is interesting to me because it is an oxymoron. Its impossible how fair can be foul when fair is equal or mild and foul is gross and rotten. Its significance is that the witches delight in the confusion of good and bad, beauty and ugliness. Act 1 Scene 2 Page 279 Line 40: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" This quote simply means that it's one of those days when fog is followed by sunshine, then a thunderstorm, some hail, and more sunshine. In other words nature is acting somewhat strange. Act 1 Scene 3 Page 282 Line 174-175: "My dull brain was wrought / With things forgotten" Macbeth makes the lying excuse that he was thinking about something so unimportant that he has already forgotten what it was. However, those things are far from forgotten. Act 1 Scene 4 Page 284 Line 13-47: "There's no art / To find the mind's construction in the face" I chose this quote because I thought it was pretty interesting how Duncan tells us not that you can't tell a book by its cover. From him saying this I compare it to Macbeth. Macbeth may look all innocent on the outside, but in the inside who knows what he has going on in his mind. Act 1 Scene 5 Page 286 Line 18-20: "Thou wouldst be great; / Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it" Lady Macbeth is like the witches, she also believes that foul is fair. Ambition "should" be accompanied by "illness." Yet she does not believe that Macbeth is really good. Act 2 Scene 1 Page 295 Line 5-6:"There's husbandry in heaven; / Their candles are all out"   Banquo means that heaven has gone to bed, and has put out its "candles" (the stars) for the night. Its significance is that the night stars will never be as bright again because nature will now be in a state of turmoil and confusion. Act 2 Scene 1 Page 296 Line 41-42: "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand?   At this point in time Macbeth thinks he sees a dagger floating in the air and its pointing to Duncan's room. In other words Macbeth is hallucinating. Act 2 Scene 1 Page 297 Line 69-70: "Whiles I threat, he lives: / Words to the Shakespeare's Macbeth - Macbeth as Oxymoron :: GCSE English Literature Coursework MacBeth: Oxymoron Act 1 Scene 1 Page 274 Line 12-13: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair: / Hover through the fog and filthy air." This quote is interesting to me because it is an oxymoron. Its impossible how fair can be foul when fair is equal or mild and foul is gross and rotten. Its significance is that the witches delight in the confusion of good and bad, beauty and ugliness. Act 1 Scene 2 Page 279 Line 40: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen" This quote simply means that it's one of those days when fog is followed by sunshine, then a thunderstorm, some hail, and more sunshine. In other words nature is acting somewhat strange. Act 1 Scene 3 Page 282 Line 174-175: "My dull brain was wrought / With things forgotten" Macbeth makes the lying excuse that he was thinking about something so unimportant that he has already forgotten what it was. However, those things are far from forgotten. Act 1 Scene 4 Page 284 Line 13-47: "There's no art / To find the mind's construction in the face" I chose this quote because I thought it was pretty interesting how Duncan tells us not that you can't tell a book by its cover. From him saying this I compare it to Macbeth. Macbeth may look all innocent on the outside, but in the inside who knows what he has going on in his mind. Act 1 Scene 5 Page 286 Line 18-20: "Thou wouldst be great; / Art not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it" Lady Macbeth is like the witches, she also believes that foul is fair. Ambition "should" be accompanied by "illness." Yet she does not believe that Macbeth is really good. Act 2 Scene 1 Page 295 Line 5-6:"There's husbandry in heaven; / Their candles are all out"   Banquo means that heaven has gone to bed, and has put out its "candles" (the stars) for the night. Its significance is that the night stars will never be as bright again because nature will now be in a state of turmoil and confusion. Act 2 Scene 1 Page 296 Line 41-42: "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand?   At this point in time Macbeth thinks he sees a dagger floating in the air and its pointing to Duncan's room. In other words Macbeth is hallucinating. Act 2 Scene 1 Page 297 Line 69-70: "Whiles I threat, he lives: / Words to the

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Stress in the life of young people today Essay

Stress can sometimes be good but if it lasts for a long time it can have negative effects on us, like lack of concentration, tiredness and headaches. The sources of stress are different for everyone but among young people, there are still some main causes that affect almost everyone. To begin with, one of the main sources of stress among adolescents is school. Not only homework, tests and exams cause stress but also the pressure of being successful and comparing themselves to other people make them feel insecure. In addition, parents can put a lot of pressure on their kids so they would get better grades. As a result, children may feel that however hard they try, they are still not good enough. Therefore, I believe it is important to take a break every once in a while and have fun (e.g. read, go to cinema, spend time with friends). Furthermore, thinking about future causes a lot of anxiety for youngsters. Most people want to be successful and have a bright future ahead of them so they are constantly worrying about how to make their dreams come true. I’ve come to the conclusion that everything will eventually work out, wether I worry or not. It is important to stay positive and do things today. To sum up, stress is an inseparable part of our lives and we need to learn how to cope with it. It is essential to relax and maintain a positive attitude. Stress can sometimes be good but if it lasts for a long time it can have negative effects on us, like lack of concentration, tiredness and headaches. The sources of stress are different for everyone but among young people, there are still some main causes that affect almost everyone. To begin with, one of the main sources of stress among adolescents is school. Not only homework, tests and exams cause stress but also the pressure of being successful and comparing themselves to other people make them feel insecure. In addition, parents can put a lot of pressure on their kids so they would get better grades. As a result, children may feel that however hard they try, they are still not good enough. Therefore, I believe it is important to take a break every once in a while and have fun (e.g. read, go to cinema, spend time with friends). Furthermore, thinking about future causes a lot of anxiety for youngsters. Most people want to be successful and have a bright future ahead of them so they are constantly worrying about how to make their dreams come true. I’ve come to the conclusion that everything will eventually work out, wether I  worry or not. It is important to stay positive and do things today. To sum up, stress is an inseparable part of our lives and we need to learn how to cope with it. It is essential to relax and maintain a positive attitude. Stress can sometimes be good but if it lasts for a long time it can have negative effects on us, like lack of concentration, tiredness and headaches. The sources of stress are different for everyone but among young people, there are still some main causes that affect almost everyone. To begin with, one of the main sources of stress among adolescents is school. Not only homework, tests and exams cause stress but also the pressure of being successful and comparing themselves to other people make them feel insecure. In addition, parents can put a lot of pressure on their kids so they would get better grades. As a result, children may feel that however hard they try, they are still not good enough. Therefore, I believe it is important to take a break every once in a while and have fun (e.g. read, go to cinema, spend time with friends). Furthermore, thinking about future causes a lot of anxiety for youngsters. Most people want to be successful and have a bright future ahead of them so they are constantly worrying about how to make their dreams come true. I’ve come to the conclusion that everything will eventually work out, wether I worry or not. It is important to stay positive and do things today. To sum up, stress is an inseparable part of our lives and we need to learn how to cope with it. It is essential to relax and maintain a positive attitude. Stress can sometimes be good but if it lasts for a long time it can have negative effects on us, like lack of concentration, tiredness and headaches. The sources of stress are different for everyone but among young people, there are still some main causes that affect almost everyone. To begin with, one of the main sources of stress among adolescents is school. Not only homework, tests and exams cause stress but also the pressure of being successful and comparing themselves to other people make them feel insecure. In addition, parents can put a lot of pressure on their kids so they would get better grades. As a result, children may feel that however hard they try, they are still no t good enough. Therefore, I believe it is important to take a break every once in a while and have fun (e.g. read, go to cinema, spend time with friends). Furthermore, thinking about future causes a lot of anxiety for youngsters. Most people want to be successful and have a bright future ahead of them so  they are constantly worrying about how to make their dreams come true. I’ve come to the conclusion that everything will eventually work out, wether I worry or not. It is important to stay positive and do things today. To sum up, stress is an inseparable part of our lives and we need to learn how to cope with it. It is essential to relax and maintain a positive attitude. Stress can sometimes be good but if it lasts for a long time it can have negative effects on us, like lack of concentration, tiredness and headaches. The sources of stress are different for everyone but among young people, there are still some main causes that affect almost everyone. To begin with, one of the main sources of stress among adolescents is school. Not only homework, tests and exams cause stress but also the pressure of being successful and comparing themselves to other people make them feel insecure. In addition, parents can put a lot of pressure on their kids so they would get better grades. As a result, children may feel that however hard they try, they are still not good enough. Therefore, I believe it is important to take a break every once in a while and have fun (e.g. read, go to cinema, spend time with friends). Furthermore, thinking about future causes a lot of anxiety for youngsters. Most people want to be successful and have a bright future ahead of them so they are constantly worrying about how to make their dreams come true. I’ve come to the conclusion that everything will eventually work out, wether I worry or not. It is important to stay positive and do things today. To sum up, stress is an inseparable part of our lives and we ne ed to learn how to cope with it. It is essential to relax and maintain a positive attitude.

Monday, January 6, 2020

The Quiet American, By Graham Greene - 1430 Words

Innocence is blindness. To be innocent is to be unaware of principal parts of a situation. When someone is innocent to a problematic situation or crisis, they do not have enough knowledge to form an opinion that could help find a solution. As a result, that person becomes problematic if they attempt to find a solution. People are always biased to the knowledge they have, whether it is true or false, a lot or a little. When innocent people look to solve a problem, they are biased to their innocence, which often causes more harm than good. In The Quiet American, by Graham Greene, Alden Pyle is an innocent, and therefore problematic, character. The novel is set in 1950s Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Pyle is representative of the American forces in the war as his primary goal is to stop communism, and he surmises that he knows the best way to do it. Because of this, he is an example of American exceptionalism, believing that he is most apt to solve the crisis in Vietnam, when in realit y he does not have enough knowledge of the situation at hand, causing more damage than repair. Pyle believes that the American way (his way) is the most effective way. He believes that it is America’s civic duty to assist the Vietnamese and succeed in ridding the nation of communist ideas. He is largely influenced by the ideas of a scholar named York Harding, who pushes for the idea of an uncorrupt â€Å"Third Force† to save Vietnam. Although neither Harding nor Pyle fully understand the conflictShow MoreRelatedThe Quiet American by Graham Greene1629 Words   |  7 PagesGraham Greenes novel, The Quiet American, is more than a political statement about whether or not America or any other country for that matter should become involved in the affairs of another country; Greene makes the question human and personal. The novel can be read as a political and moral reflection on the opening stages of the United States’ involvement in Southeast Asia. Therefore, Greene ’s novel becomes a commentary on the pointlessness of the United States’ later investment of men and materialRead MoreThe Quiet American By Graham Greene1272 Words   |  6 Pages The Quiet American was a book originally written in 1955 by Graham Greene, inspired by the first French Indochina war in Vietnam placed during 1951 - 1954. The author adds a love triangle in the mist of war’s chaos to deepen the reader’s interest. His decision to create a fictional love story during a turbulent time in our history proved to be successful, even though, Greene insists, This is a story and not a piece of history. Bushnell reflects Greene’s comment adding, Unfortunately, The QuietRead MoreEssay on The Quiet American by Graham Greene1400 Words   |  6 PagesThe Quiet American is written by Graham Greene. This novel is about the conflict between Alden Pyle and Thomas Fowler. The novel’s events have already taken place and Fowler is the narrator of t he story. Thomas Fowler, a man in his fifties, is a British journalist who has been covering the events taking place in the French War in Vietnam for over two years. He chooses to remain neutral between the sides of the battles he covers. He meets Alden Pyle, a young American who is well educated and secretlyRead MoreConflicts Involve a Clash of Ideas, Interests and Expectations.808 Words   |  4 Pagesmuch as life. Graham Greene proves this notion in his allegoric novel The Quiet American, as he draws upon political ideologies and represents these through the characters in the novel. Greene places the characters within the context of Indochina War, and presents relationships of the characters symbolically to represent the circumstances of the war. Alden Pyle’s idealism is motivated by interventionism in a Third World country’s affairs; this is a emblematic representation of what Greene himself hadRead MoreAn Interpretation of Graham Greenes The Quiet American1373 Wo rds   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Judging Pyle One of the central themes in Graham Greenes novel, The Quiet American, which functions more as the thesis of this work of literature, is loss of innocence. Most critics and readers of this book generally conclude that the loss of innocence is exemplified through the gradual debauchery of Alden Pyle, the American who comes to live in Vietnam with little first-hand experience or knowledge about the political situation or the people there. One of the principle problems with this commonlyRead MoreThe Quiet American - Taking Sides Is Human789 Words   |  4 PagesThe Quiet American, by Graham Greene, implements a number of techniques to persuade the reader to believe that taking sides is human. This is done mainly through character development, events, narrative and setting. Using these techniques, Graham Greene is able to successfully create invited readings which support his views. Important to this process, character development is the center of this novel, and a powerful force behind the beliefs and invited readings presented by the text. Using charactersRead MoreThe Lottery vs the Destructors Essay examples1046 Words   |  5 PagesThesis In Shirley Jackson’s, â€Å"The Lottery†, and Graham Greene’s â€Å"The Destructors†, the author creates a story filled with symbolism, irony, grim reality, and a ritualized tradition that masks evil, which ultimately showcases how people blindly follow tradition. Outline I. Introduction II. Setting B. Time Period III. Plot A. What messages are seen inRead More Graham Greens The Quiet American Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesGraham Greens The Quiet American The Quiet American by Graham Green is a story set during the Vietnam War before the United States became involved. The main character is Thomas Fowler, an English Reporter stationed in Vietnam. The story follows approximately six months of his life where he is faced with personal, professional, and ethical trials. The story also follows closely, the lives of two close friends, Pyle and Phuong. Each of the three main characters are from a different country, andRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness And The Quiet American1581 Words   |  7 PagesHeart of Darkness and The Quiet American, the treatment of women and victims of imperialism are almost indistinguishable. Joseph Conrad and Graham Greene were both aware of the constraints women in the 19th and 20th century faced for simply being rational and intelligent. Women were objectified and a straightjacket of propriety, during a time of greed and corruption. Although both works contain moments of this reoccurring supp ression, Heart of Darkness and The Quiet American do recognize the power womenRead MoreAn Imperialistic Love Triangle in The Quiet American1742 Words   |  7 Pagesa past of unscrupulous tyrannical power involving carnal pleasures and deviating from the restrictive morals of the â€Å"occidental.† The Orient displays feminine vulnerability with its progress and value judged as inferior to the West. Graham Greene’s The Quiet American presents the treatment of Phuong as a metaphor for how foreign occupying forces treat her native country of Vietnam, and her depiction as having no control in matters of her love life is a motif of the Orient being a feminized other