Research into motivations for mountain biking tourism

Research into motivations for mountain biking tourism The two types of survey taken into consideration were a mail survey and an e-survey. The former is reported to be the most effective method of surveying a membership organisation (Veal 1997). This delivery method was not undertaken though, due to the cost of printing 360 questionnaires and the accompanying letters, as well as purchase of envelopes and stamps. These expenses would increase substantially if reminders were to be sent. Therefore, it was decided that an e-survey would be employed. The advantages of an e-questionnaire included low cost of conducting the survey and the possibility of instant analysis of the collected data (Veal 1997). An additional benefit was the possibility of designing a visually attractive questionnaire. Furthermore, online surveys were selected as they are eco-friendly, owing to the non-use of paper (Survey Monkey 2007), an approach reflecting the basic principles of the Forestry Commission, the administrator of the locations which are a focus of this study. An e-survey is also more advantageous for the respondents as they are allowed to take their time to answer the questions. At the same time, completing a survey online is quicker in comparison with filling out a postal survey (Survey Monkey 2007). The biggest disadvantage can be the general perception of some e-surveys as part of the increasing volume of ‘junk e-mail’, which might play a role in response rates (Veal 1997). The spam and personal data protection concerns were addressed by selecting a legitimate and reputable organisation (IMBA U.K.) to distribute the e-questionnaire. Another disadvantage of a web-based survey, just like a postal one, is its limited administration, which can negatively affect the response rate (Survey Monkey 2007). Further drawbacks of using a web-based survey include technical faults and multiple submissions by the same respondent. Although it was impossible to prevent the former issue, the latter was solved by the use of a tool allowing only one response per computer. 2.3. Survey instrument A two-page, self-administered fully electronic questionnaire was designed using an online survey tool surveymonkey.com. The questionnaire design process offered by Veal (1997) was adopted in the present work. Firstly, literature review was conducted to identify conceptual problems and research questions. Secondly, a list of information required to address the issues as created. Thirdly, questionnaire was selected as a method which would meet the information requirements. The questionnaires used by Green (2003) in a survey on IMBA U.S. members, as well as a study by Cessford (1995) on New Zealand mountain bikers served as a blueprint in the questionnaire design process. The factors examined in the questionnaire can be divided into five groups corresponding to the research objectives: 1. mountain bikers general characteristics (type of mountain biking participated in, level of advancement, frequency of participation); 2. mountain bikers’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics (age, gender, household size, education, occupation and income); 3. the Forestry Commission locations used by mountain bikers (identification of the most popular mountain biking centres in Great Britain); 4. travel patterns of mountain bikers and trip-related factors in decision making (importance of promotional channels and of various destination features in destination choice, spend, means of transport and accommodation used, use of tour operators); 5. the importance of adventure components in mountain biking and the motivations of mountain bikers. The e-questionnaire consisted of 21 questions, 15 of which concerned the respondent’s mountain biking experience, while the remaining 6 their demographics (see Appendix 4). The demographics section was presented on the second page, as inserting all 21 questions on a lengthy single page might discourage respondents from completing the survey. 19 questions were closed, while only 2 open-ended. It was decided that pre-coded questions are a more reasonable option since the questionnaire was respondent-completed and, as reported by Veal (1997), open-ended questions are too time consuming, which can negatively affect response rate. As regards question techniques, 2 kinds of rating scales were employed, namely Likert scale with simple YES/ NO answers, as well as semantic differentials indicating the degree of importance of a particular feature using 5-point scale (1 – not important, 2 – quite important, 3 – important, 4 – very important, 5 – extreme ly important). These two scales were not only easy to construct and administer, but also respondent friendly. Several questions were checklist or multiple choice type, and only 2 were open-ended, though they did not require descriptive answers. The ordering format was based on Veal (1997), who suggested sequencing questions in the following order: easy, relevant and personal. The questions were kept compact and simplified wherever possible, and clarity of layout was assured by using the online survey tool. Introductory remarks specifying the purpose of the survey were included on top of the questionnaire, while confidentiality and anonymity were ensured in remarks preceding the demographic section of the questionnaire. In addition, a thank you page was created at the end of the questionnaire. These measures, coupled with the survey participation request posted on IMBA U.K. forum in advance, were employed to maximise response rate. In order to ensure validity of the questionnaire-based data, ‘dummy’ categories were included. In question 4, listing the Forestry Commission managed mountain biking centres, 3 non-existent locations were added – Mammoth (ENG), Gutter Valley (SCO) and Badger Trail (WAL). In question 8, the same feature was repeated twice under different wording (‘Strong mtb community/ culture’ and ‘Strong mountain biking community/ culture’). This approach is suggested by Veal (1997) as a tool of measuring the degree of error in r esponses. In the pre-testing stage of the questionnaire design, a 21-question draft was e-mailed to 10 members of IMBA UK forum who had earlier declared that they would be interested in completing it. The purpose of the pre-test was to determine whether the instructions and questions were interpreted in a manner which had been intended (Finn et al. 2000). Specifically, wording, sequencing and layout of the questionnaire were to be tested (Veal 1997). Most of those who replied described it as â€Å"easy to complete and not time consuming†. Nevertheless, problems in two questions were indicated. Firstly, extending the list of Scottish mountain biking sites in question 4 was suggested. Upon reviewing the Internet sources, a total of 8 sites were added to the list. Secondly, it was signalled that question 13 asking about an approximate spend per trip was not precise enough. This issue was addressed by specifying the areas of spending that the respondents should consider (travel, food, drink , accommodation).

The Rise And Development Of American Novel English Literature Essay

The Rise And Development Of American Novel English Literature Essay When we speak about American Literature, we are speaking about written works that were produced in America geographically or politically. Apart from English writers the American writers also proved their worth in creating literature such as is able to be recognized as one the best masterpieces of the English works. The genre of novel gave the novelists a medium to speak freely to the world seeking comfort and knowledge contrasted to the other genres of literature in which apart from creativity a writer has to seek many other techniques of writing which sometimes hurdle the writer to express his or her true meaning. The category is as wide as poetry: novels are long prose fictions, including every kind of Plot (tragic, comic), all styles and manners of dealing with their material (from the satiric to rhapsodic) and showing a capacity to cover every imaginative subject matter from all points of view. They range from the popular Thriller to the most esoteric literary artifice. The capacity of the form to absorb other literary styles, its freedom to develop in any direction and its flexibility, have made the novel the major modern literary form.(Gray, 198). There are many reasons which show the absence of cultural voices in the early American novel. First of all there was no authentic American language or medium of expression avaiable for literary purpose. Americans were in a process to coin new style of language that could be considered as the American language distinguished from the English style or Englsih writing style. There was also lack of cultural support for the Americans to create new ideas or creative efforts. America due to the impact of colonialism was not in a strong position to depict its utmost culture in its works of literature. American culture tended to be parochial and generally distrustful of any written expression that was not didactic. For example, clergy such as Janathan Edwards taught that reading novels was an indulgence leading to moral decline. Due to an unstable society, there could be no stable American genre of the novel. Cathy Davidson and others have argued that some novels tried to attain an ideological status (Revolution and the Word, 1986) which is a critique of the existing order, and that the more popular the genre became, the more those vested with cultural authority worried over their loss of dominance. This was especially true because novels, unlike sermons, required no intermediaries for interpretation. The early American novel, as a genre, tended to proclaim a society egalitarian message. It spoke forà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦orphans, beggar girls, factory girls, or other unfortunates, and it repeatedly advocated the general need for female education'. (Davidson,73). The genre of novel can be classified as sentimental, picaresque, gothic and the novels of nostalgia or reclamation which unifies the spirit of the nation for example James Fenimore Coopers novel The Spy (1821). Sentimental novel or novel of sensibility reflects the sentimentalism of the 18th century which is reflected in sentimental comedy and domestic tragedy. The term Sentimentalism bears two meanings, first the overindulgence in emotion especially for the pleasure that this feeling provides, secondly the optimistic overemphasis on the goodness of humanity (sensibility), signifying in part a reaction against Calvinism, which regarded human nature as depraved. Pamela was the beginning of the style; although Fieldings more realistic Tom Jones was written in protest. There are also examples of 18th century sentimental novel: Oliver Goldsmiths The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), Henry Mackenzies The Man of Feeling (1771), Laurence Sternes Tristram Shandy (1760-67). Sensibility is a term for reliance on feelings as guides to the truth and not on reasoning and law. The term is concerned with primitivism, sentimentalism, the nature movement, and other aspects of romanticism. The high value that the e ighteenth century put on sensibility was a feedback against the stoicism of the 17th century and the theories progressed by Hobbes and others that human beings were inspired primarily by self-interest. Picaresque began in sixteenth century as a counterpoise to the chivalric romance. It includes a gallery of human types drawn from all societal classes. It sorts lower class protagonists who survive by treachery and malleability. Hero is both a swindler and a victim. It also features a encounter between the heros craving to survive and his natural itches to side with truth and goodness. Picaresque novel uses subsidiary characters, like Sancho Panza, who assist the hero. This genre also emphasizes liberty and emission from limits of conservative society and lastly it also features panoramic scenes. The purpose of this genre is that it contains different types of discourse: philosophical reflection, travel essay, political disquisition, it also parodies other traditional literary forms, such as poetry and the romance. It is also suitable for observation on politics of republicanism. Its dimness is its uneven point of views-not a problem in Huck Finn, though. Hugh Henry Brackenridges Mod ern Chivalry (1792-1815), Tabitha Gilman Tenneys Female Quixotism: Exhibited in the Romantic Opinion and Extravagant Adventures of Dorcasina Sheldon (1801), Charlotte Lennoxs The Female Quixote (1752), and Royall Tylers The Algerine Captive (1797) are a few examples of picaresque novels. The conventions of Gothic are mad monks, castles, ruined abbeys-and also superstitions and delusion, hidden corruption and human anxieties, mazelike pathways, haunted minds masked by apparently normal outward lives. Gothic conventions became a form for expressing fears of the conflicting claims of authority and liberty in American society-self-made, self-improved, self-confident men abusing power or undermining the social order. Charles Brockden Browns Wieland (1798), Ormond (1789), and Edgar Huntly (1799) are the examples of Gothic genre. So far as American literature is concerned Captain John Smith is considered to be the first American author due to his work: A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Noate as Hath Happened in Virginiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(1608). This kinds of works are known as the colonial literature. Smiths other works are The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles (1624). Other colonial writers of this manner are Daniel Denton, Thomas Ashe, William Penn, George Percy, William Strachey, Daniel Coxe, Gabriel Thomas, and John Lawson. During 18th century the focus of all the phenomena were shifted from religion to the reasoning with the advent of era of science and inventions. All the happenings were observed with the laws of Physics as were given by Sir Isaac Newton and thus religion and the rules of clergy were demolished. There happened a great shift from the Holy Scriptures towards the human reasoning as to say. This era is known as the Enlightenment of 18th century which strongly impacted the authority of churchmen hence making the way for democratic principles. There also increase in population in the British colonies which helped account for the greater diversity of opinion in religion as well as political life which is seen in the literature of this time. The American post-independence era gave rise to many pieces of writing concerning American State, comprising notes on the State of Virginia by Thomas Jefferson and his many letters solidify his place as one of the most trained early American writers. So far as the first American novels are concerned, they were first published during late 18th and early 19th century. These works of fiction were too lengthy to be printed for pubic reading, but the publishers took the chance to public having hope that they would become steady sellers and hence need to be printed. Among the first American novels are Thomas Attwood Digges Adventures of Alonso, which was published in London in 1775, and William Hill Browns The Power of Sympathy published in 1791. Browns novel shows a tragic love story between siblings who fell in love without knowing that they were related. This epistolary novel is related to the Sentimental novel tradition. During the next decade many novels were published which were written by many female writers. Susanna Rowso is known very well for her novel, Charlotte Temple, which is a tale of seduction and written in third person warning against listening to the voice of passionate love and counsels resistance as well. Another female novelist, Hannah Forster wrote The Coquette: Or, the History of Eliza Wharton which was published in 1797 and it was also an extremely popular novel. This being told from Hannah Forsters point of view and secondly based on the life of Eliza Whitman, this another epistolary novel is concerned with a woman who is seduced and abandoned. Eliza is a coquette who is courted by two very very different men: a clergyman who is offering her the comfort and regularity of domestic life, and a noted and specified libertine. Both novels that is The Coquette and Charlotte are considered to be those novel which speak about the rights of women. In this way these novels can be rendered as the Feminist novels or works of American literature. These novels are also known as the democratic ones as they speak of equal rights of women. The novels are classified under the term as sentimental novels or sentimental genre, characterised by over indulgence in emotion. They are an open invitation to listen to the voice of reasoning against misleading passions and they are also an optimistic over-emphasis about the necessary goodness of humanity. Although these novels were very popular, yet the economic infrastructure of that time did not allow these writers to make their ways living easier. It was in 1809 when an American author, Washington Irving, was able to publish his work entitled A History of New-York from Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty and he became able to support himself from the income generated by his publications. Charles Brockden Brown is another American novelist who published Wieland in 1798, Ormond in 1799 and Edgar Huntlyin in 1799 which were of the Gothic genre. Hugh Henry Brackenridge published Modern Chivalry in 1792 which was of the picaresque genre. Tabitha Gilman Tenney wrote Female Quixotism, Charlotte Lennox wrote The Female Quixote in 1752. Royall Tyler, William Gillmore Simms, Lydia Maria Child, John Neal and Catherine Maira are the porminent figures of American novelists. Puritanism 17th Century: Puritanism is a movement created by extreme Calvinist Protestants who sought to purify religion and society. They believed God would cleanse their feelings through grace eliminating envy, vanity, and lust. Puritans valued plainness in all things including their writing. Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford, and speech Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards Classicism/ The Age of Reason 18th Century: The Age of Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, is an intellectual movement which began in Europe. Writers during this time believed the goals of rational individuals were knowledge, freedom, and happiness. The literary movement which coincided with the Age of Reason was Classicism, based on the study of and adherence to the ancient classic works of Greece and Rome. Classicists valued clarity, order, balance, and reason instead of imagination. They believed nature was like a machine with fixed, unchanging laws. The following works are examples: Poor Richards Almanack -Benjamin Franklin Speech in the Virginia Convention Patrick Henry The Crisis, Number 1 Thomas Paine The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth Phillis Wheatly Nationalism in Literature Late 18th Century to Early 19th Century: Nationalism developed from pride, patriotism, and the desire to be distinctly different from the Europeans. American writers tried to write stories and poems unlike European Romantic writers, but they largely failed in their efforts. Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving and The Deerslayer James Fennimore Cooper Romanticism 19th Century: Romanticism is the movement that rebelled against Classicism in favor of the imagination and emotions. Romantic writers favored intuition over reason and were more concerned with the individual than the whole society. They saw art as an imaginative expression of an individuals essence. Romantics viewed nature as a beautiful mystery, and source of moral and spiritual lessons, not a machine. Many American Romantic writers were also Nationalists who used American history and legends as their subject matter. Rip Van Winkle Washington Irving, The Deerslayer by James Fennimore Cooper, Masque of the Red Death and The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, Walden by Henry David Thoreau, and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne are the exemplary wroks. American Renaissance/ New England Renaissance Mid 19th Century: The American Renaissance is a flourishing of literature dominated by two groups: the Brahmins (based in Cambridge, Massachusetts) and the Transcendentalists (based primarily in Concord, Massachusetts). The Brahmins/Fireside Poets were Longfellow, Lowell, Whittier, and Holmes, Harvard professors who promoted a second attempt at creating a literature which, though based on European models, is distinctly American in character. The Transcendentalists, led by Emerson, were philosophers, social reformers, and writers. The Southerner Poe as well as the Anti-Transcendentalists, Hawthorne and Melville (more Massachusetts residents) are also frequently associated with this movement. Paul Reveres Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Old Ironsides by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walden or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne are a few works. Transcendentalism 19th Century: American Transcendentalism was created by Emerson who borrowed his ideas from German Transcendentalism and Indian religion to develop a new philosophy. Transcendentalists believe that the basic truths of the universe transcend the physical world and lie beyond the knowledge that can be obtained from the senses. They feel that every individual has the ability to experience God firsthand in his/her intuition. They value nature and believe in the spiritual unity of all life, stating God, humanity, and nature share a universal soul. They feel that nothing in nature is trivial or insignificant; all is symbolic and important. They also promoted the belief that every human being is born inherently good. Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walden by Henry David Thoreau and Woman in the Nineteenth Century by Margaret Fuller are prominent works. Anti-Transcendentalism 19th Century: Anti-Transcendentalism (like Transcendentalism) is a subsection of Romanticism. Hawthorne and Melville were far less optimistic than Emerson and his fellow philosophers. The Anti-Transcendentalists believed good and evil coexist in the world and that intuition could lead a person to evil just as easily as it could lead to good. The Scarlett Letter, The Birthmark, The Minsters Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Moby Dick by Herman Melville are few examples. Local Color and Regionalism Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century: Local color writers identify with a particular place or region of the country. They emphasized distinctive and colorful regional traits (speech patterns and dialects, local customs and folkways, character types, etc.). These writers promoted the objective observation of social facts as well as the sentimental treatment of human emotion and motivation.The White Heron by Sarah Orne Jewett and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain are the major works. Realism Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century: Realism, unlike Romanticism, places less emphasis on the imagination and more on observed fact. These writers viewed the world and human behavior scientifically, mirroring realities without softening or idealizing them. This movement is often considered a rebellion against Romanticism. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and My Antonia by Willa Cather show realism. Naturalism Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century: Naturalism was a significant offshoot of Realism. Many American authors were influenced by this movement. Naturalism demands that writers penetrate the surface of life and human character. It focuses on inherited traits and environmental conditions (nature and nurture). Naturalism usually explores the negative aspects of society. These authors did not judge their characters morality, but rather viewed them through a social Darwinist lens. Naturalists believed that chance exists but free will is rarely possible. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane and Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck are few examples of this era. Modernism First half of the 20th Century: Modernism is a self-conscious break from traditional literary forms and subject matter and a search for a distinctly contemporary mode of expression. It was heavily influenced by the horrors and disillusionment of World War One. These writers are also referred to as The Lost Generation. Their writing reflects isolation, alienation, and fragmentation. It places emphasis on individual perception, sensibility, and human consciousness. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber by Ernest Hemingway and The Crucible by Arthur Miller are the exemplary works. Imagism Early 20th Century: Imagism is a subsection of Modernism that attempted to free poetry from stale conventions and florid language. It emphasized direct concentration on the precise image, the use of precise words and the language of common speech, new rhythms and the use of free verse, as well as complete freedom in the choice of subject.This is Just to Say and The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams,The Garden by Ezra Pound and Heat by H. D. (Hilda Doolittle) are the best examples of imagism. Harlem Renaissance Primarily the 1920s: The Harlem Renaissance, also called the New Negro Movement, is a period of outstanding creativity among African American writers. Many of these works were sophisticated explorations of black life and culture that revealed and stimulated a new confidence and racial pride. The following are a few works of literature. The Invisible Man Ralph Ellison Lift Every voice and Sing James Weldon Johnson Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Jurston Harlem: A Dream Deferred Langston Hughes Southern Renaissance 1930s and 40s: The Southern Renaissance is heavily influenced by traditional Southern humor (stories, sketches, tall tales, and folklore) as well as by the Local Color movement. This time period marked a sudden explosion of excellent Southern writers who emphasized regional speech patterns and dialects, local customs and folkways, as well as character types. The following are a few works of literature. A Worn Path Eudora Welty The Sound and the Fury William Faulkner All the Kings Men Robert Penn Warren Beat Movement The 1950s: Centered in the bohemian or beatnik urban artists communities, the Beat movement defines itself in its alienation from the conventional and its adaptation of the seedy and hip, embracing jazz music, drugs, sex, and Buddhism. The following are a few works of literature. Howl Allen Ginsberg On the Road Jack Kerouac Pluralism 20th century: Pluralism is a movement defined by diversity. During the 20th century American literature was no longer predominantly male, white, and Christian. Men and women of many cultures, races, religions, and ethnic groups began to be published. Many of these authors chose to use the first person point of view rather than the, previously popular, their person. Various voices shared their stories while addressing universal themes. The following are a few works of literature. The Bell Jar Silvia Plath The color Purple Alice Walker The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Sherman Alexie Magical Realism The Second half of the 20th Century: Magical Realism was created in Latin America but it has influenced many writers of the United States as well. This movement juxtaposes the ordinary and the magical, incorporating fantastic elements into otherwise realistic fiction. The following are a few works of literature. Like Water for Chocolate Laura Esquival Beloved and Song of Soloman Toni Morrison Going After Cacciato Tim OBrien The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold Post Modernism The Second half of the 20th Century: Postmodernists believe that there is no single truth, but rather a variety of perspectives none of which is better or worse than another. This movement neither embraces nor resists the conventional. It accepts everything equally. Postmodern works are often eclectic, and anachronistic. Postmodernists make no distinction between high art and popular culture, can blur the boundary between fiction and nonfiction, and often sample other artists work freelyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(very freely). The following are a few works of literature. The Simpsons Matt Groening Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas Hunter S. Thompson Snow Falling on Cedar David Guterson Breakfast of Champions Kurt Vounnegut Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf Edward Albee The Secret Life of Bees Sue Munk Kidd

Of Mice and Men Essay examples -- Literary Analysis, John Steinbeck

â€Å"One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings† (QuoteGarden.com). This quote by Franklin Thomas is a great example of marginalization and mistreatment in the past, both issues that were made very evident in the books that were read during the summer. Throughout A Lesson Before Dying, Burned Alive, and Of Mice and Men, marginalization and maltreatment were immanent. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, some of the characters experience several examples of both mistreatment and marginalization. Throughout the book Curley’s wife is mistreated due to her female gender. The farm hands were always calling her a ‘tramp’ and George once said, â€Å"I seen ‘em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her† (Steinbeck, 32). When George says this, he is warning Lennie to stay away from Curley’s wife because he thinks that she is very effective at deceiving men to get what she wants. Lennie was also mistreated throughout the book, though not because of his gender but due to the fact that he was developmentally delayed. He was even neglected by his own friend, George, who would constantly be thinking of a life without Lennie. George continuously blamed Lennie for causing him to lose his jobs and having to move all around the country (Steinbeck, 11). Unlike Lennie, Crooks was discriminated against considering his race and color. One example from the book would be: â€Å"Where the hell is that God damn nigger† (Steinbeck, 29)? Just like in this example, throughout the book Curley would refer to Crooks as a ‘nigger’,... ...k had many ideal examples of various types of marginalization and mistreatment including those about gender, race, and the Handicapped. Where Of Mice and Men had diverse examples of maltreatment, Burned Alive by Souad was based on just one case of maltreatment: the mistreatment of women in a Middle-Eastern society. The marginalization and exploitation of African-Americans was also made very apparent in the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines through the treatment of Jefferson and his community. Many people throughout history have hoped for a better future free of marginalization and mistreatment, and one of those people was Martin Luther King Jr. He once said, â€Å"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character† (BrainyQuote.com). Of Mice and Men Essay examples -- Literary Analysis, John Steinbeck â€Å"One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings† (QuoteGarden.com). This quote by Franklin Thomas is a great example of marginalization and mistreatment in the past, both issues that were made very evident in the books that were read during the summer. Throughout A Lesson Before Dying, Burned Alive, and Of Mice and Men, marginalization and maltreatment were immanent. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, some of the characters experience several examples of both mistreatment and marginalization. Throughout the book Curley’s wife is mistreated due to her female gender. The farm hands were always calling her a ‘tramp’ and George once said, â€Å"I seen ‘em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her† (Steinbeck, 32). When George says this, he is warning Lennie to stay away from Curley’s wife because he thinks that she is very effective at deceiving men to get what she wants. Lennie was also mistreated throughout the book, though not because of his gender but due to the fact that he was developmentally delayed. He was even neglected by his own friend, George, who would constantly be thinking of a life without Lennie. George continuously blamed Lennie for causing him to lose his jobs and having to move all around the country (Steinbeck, 11). Unlike Lennie, Crooks was discriminated against considering his race and color. One example from the book would be: â€Å"Where the hell is that God damn nigger† (Steinbeck, 29)? Just like in this example, throughout the book Curley would refer to Crooks as a ‘nigger’,... ...k had many ideal examples of various types of marginalization and mistreatment including those about gender, race, and the Handicapped. Where Of Mice and Men had diverse examples of maltreatment, Burned Alive by Souad was based on just one case of maltreatment: the mistreatment of women in a Middle-Eastern society. The marginalization and exploitation of African-Americans was also made very apparent in the novel A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines through the treatment of Jefferson and his community. Many people throughout history have hoped for a better future free of marginalization and mistreatment, and one of those people was Martin Luther King Jr. He once said, â€Å"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character† (BrainyQuote.com).

Flannery O’Connor and Working-Class Literature :: Biography Biographies Essays

Flannery O’Connor and Working-Class Literature Although Flannery O’Connor could not herself technically be called a member of the working class, the majority of her characters exist as â€Å"good country people† or those who have been displaced from the city to the farm. Whatever the situation of the characters, rural, working-class life is nearly always the focus in her work. Just a few of the critical elements of the working-class genre that O’Connor offers in her pieces include: a show of the many differences between classes, chiefly the ideas that working-class people are happier in their station in life and also experience less loneliness than those of the upper classes, and a heavy focus on the authentic dialogue of the southern working classes. She employs these elements expertly in her work. O’Connor’s texts often address the differences between the working classes and the â€Å"owning† classes. In their article, "Toward a Theory of Working-Class Literature," Renny Christopher and Carolyn Whitson comment that â€Å"working-class culture does not celebrate individuality. It instead recognizes the interdependence of units of people: family, community, friends, unions† (76). O’Connor confirms the benefits of community that the working class offers by showing upper-class loneliness. In â€Å"Good Country People,† the farm owner’s well-educated daughter is very depressed and lonely but chooses to be so. When her mother and she walk the fields together, the daughter’s â€Å"remarks were usually so ugly and her face so glum.† She rigidly interacted with her mother, not showing any signs of family, community or solidarity with her at all. She informs her mother, â€Å"if you want me, here I am – LIKE I AM† (274). There is no willingness to commune. Loneliness is also shown among many other middle-class characters in O’Connor’s work – the farm owner in â€Å"The Displaced Person,† the teacher Rayber in â€Å"The Barber,† and Mrs. Turpin in â€Å"Revelation† are some additional examples. Christopher and Whitson claim that â€Å"working-class culture has its own exceptional people who do not choose to leave their culture.† O’Connor’s pieces support this idea. Often she paints the middle-class characters in her pieces as ridiculous or unhappy where the working-class is seemingly well-adjusted and satisfied with their place in life. Old Dudley, in the story â€Å"The Geranium,† finds himself living in â€Å"better† conditions in New York City, having left the poor country life as a boarder and fix-it man in Georgia.

The Three Facets of the Christian Walk :: Biblical Bible Christian Religious Essays

The Three Facets of the Christian Walk As I begin this essay, I pray that I might be able to "rightly divide the word of truth", so that I need not be ashamed (2 Tim 2:15). This being my goal, I hope that you the reader might learn something from this essay. Remember though, to be as the Christians in Thessalonica, and examine all teachings based on their faithfulness to the scriptures (Acts 17:11). As Christians, we are to go through life in a certain way. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus tells us that the proper path in life is narrow. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. What then is this path? Well, as Christians, we know that the path to Eternal Life is through Jesus. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. So we know that, as Christians, we have already turned to face the right direction. As all Christians certainly know, though, the story does not end with the Sinner's Prayer. After that day of salvation, we must go to sleep, and then rise again the next morning, again having to face a fallen world. In order to be the "Salt of the World", as we are told we are in Matthew 5:13, we must know how to walk. Certainly one that follows all of the dictates of the scriptures is doing right (all of the dictates, NOT just the rules of action). It is my belief that the Christian walk can be broken down into three inter-related Facets. The first of these facets is Worship. The word "worship" appears in the King James Version of the Bible 108 times. Under the classification of worship, one could include such things as praise, prayer, and thanksgiving. Worship, though, is more than these things. One can worship in all things, because to worship is to give glory to God (1 Peter 4:11). One can give glory to God by having a heart attitude of thanksgiving and praise when walking through a grocery store, through the woods, or down a street.

Book Report (Romeo and Juliet) Essay

Author and His/her Life: William Shakespeare (April 16, 1564-April 23, 1616) was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, The United Kingdom. He’s genre are Literature & Fiction, Poetry. He was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet and the â€Å"Bard of Avon† (or simply â€Å"The Bard†). His surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1590 and 1613. Overview: The undying love-story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is one of his greatest and astonishing works during his times which is still being studied in schools and told every generation. In this story, the two young lovers proved that they are going to love each other no matter what happens or should I say, till death makes them apart. Though everybody is against of their relationship, they did not stop loving each other though Romeo was banished by Juliet’s father and both families have a misunderstanding. I can say that their families wasted a lot of lives including the two young lovers’ lives because they let their egos rule before finding the appropriate solution for the problems of both parties. II. Body A. Characters: Romeo – Son of Montague who falls in love with Juliet. Juliet – A Capulet who falls in love with Romeo. Lord Capulet – Juliet’s father. Lady Montague – Romeo’s mother. Lord Montague – Romeo’s father. Count Paris – A friend of the Prince who wants to marry Juliet. Prince Escalus – Prince of Verona who provides for law and order. Friar Lawrence – The Priest in Verona. He marries Romeo and Juliet hoping it will unite both families. Friar John – Was supposed to deliver a letter to Romeo about Juliet and the Friar’s plan, but Romeo didn’t get it. The Nurse – Cared for Juliet during childhood. Mercutio – A good friend of Romeo. Balthasar – A servant and friend to Romeo. Benvolio – A friend of Romeo’s. Tybalt – Nephew of Lady Capulet. Samson – The Capulet servant. Gregory – He is a Capulet servant. Peter – Servant to Juliet’s Nurse. The Apothecary – A poor shopkeeper who illegally sells poison to Romeo. B. Setting The play is set in the thirteenth or fourteenth century in Italy in Verona and Mantua. Much of the action takes place in Juliet’s house. Two cities of Venice are also mentioned in the play. The Capulets and the Montagues, the main families of the play, are from noble lineage and wealth; they dress well, live in fancy surroundings, and are served by many attendants. The play’s basic setting, therefore, is rich and elegant. C. Plot For many years, an on-going feud between two families has caused much disruption in the city of Verona, Italy. The Capulets and the Montagues cannot seem to get along, and there have been many deaths among the two families because of it. Prince Escalus of Verona warns the two families that if the feud does not stop, the punishment will be death. The stage opens with servants of the Capulet and Montague families. They get into a minor argument. Romeo, a Montague, enters the stage. He has recently been denied the love of Rosaline. He is miserable over this. His friend and cousin, Benvolio, enters and decides that they will go to the Capulet feast, in disguises, so he can prove to Romeo that other pretty women exist. They all exit. At the feast, Romeo meets Juliet, the daughter of Capulet. Instantly, they fall in love. After the feast, Romeo sneaks into the Capulet orchard and visits Juliet. Here, they proclaim their love for each other. They decide to marry the next afternoon and they exit the stage. Romeo and his friend and confidant, Friar Laurence, enter. Romeo seeks the help of Friar Laurence, who agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet, in hopes that the marriage will end the feud between the two families. They exit. Later that afternoon, Tybalt, a nephew of Lady Capulet, enters. He meets Romeo and starts a fight with him, as he is angry that Romeo was at the Capulet feast. Mercutio, a friend of Romeo’s, is angered by Tybalt and challenges him to a duel. Tybalt kills Mercutio, and Romeo in response, kills Tybalt. He quickly flees the scene before he hears that the Prince has exiled him from Verona. All exit. Romeo and the friar enter. Hiding in Friar Laurence’s cell, Romeo tries to commit suicide. The friar will not allow Romeo to take his own life, and convinces him to go and see Juliet to say goodbye to her. Capulet enters and arranges for Juliet to marry Paris in three days. She refuses, but her father says he will disown her if she does not comply. They exit and Juliet enters in the friar’s cell. He gives her a potion that will make it appear as though she is dead. She exits. She reenters the stage (now at home) and agrees to marry Paris. Her father is so delighted with her obedience that he decides to move the wedding up one day, to the very next day (Wednesday). All exit. The next morning, Nurse enters and finds Juliet in her bed, apparently dead. The Capulets all enter with Paris and decide to have a funeral. All exit. Romeo, who is in Mantua, enters. His servant Balthasar enters and tells Romeo that Juliet is dead. Balthasar exits. Romeo doesn’t know that it is a fake death because he never gets the message from the friar. He buys a vial of poison from an apothecary and returns to Verona. Romeo enters at the Capulet tomb and sees Juliet (apparently) dead. Paris, who had entered previously, but had been hiding, recognizes Romeo as a Montague and challenges him. Romeo kills him, drinks the poison he bought, and dies. Just as Juliet wakes up from the potion the friar gave her, the friar enters the tomb. He hears noises and tries to persuade Juliet to leave with him. She refuses, sees Romeo dead next to her, stabs herself with Romeo’s sword, and dies. The Capulets, Montagues, and the Prince of Verona all enter the tomb and wonder what went on. Friar Laurence explains the story, and the Capulets and Montagues agree to end their family feud. D. Imagery and symbols Poison – Obviously it symbolizes how poison ended their love story even how much they wanted to fight for their love. E. Theme and Sub theme Forcefulness of love and Love as a cause of violence III. Conclusion A. Five lives, events/scene that attracted you. Why? 1. Romeo falls in love with Juliet at first sight. Juliet feels the same way about him. 2. Romeo confesses his love for Juliet. 3. Romeo makes arrangements with Friar Lawrence for his wedding to Juliet. 4. Romeo thought that Juliet is dead and then drinks poison. 5. Juliet wakes finding Romeo dead and kills herself and thrusts a sword thorough her body. I find these 5 scenes attracting because it prove how powerful love can be. The 5 lines and give the reason why you are attracted. 1. But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief? That thou her maid are far more fair than she. Romeo, seeing Juliet at her window. He compares her to the sun, light that brightens his dark world. He had previously compared Rosaline to the moon. His love for Juliet, the sun, has risen and killed the feelings he had for Rosaline. 2. My only love, sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me That I must love a loathed enemy. Juliet after the Nurse tells her that Romeo is a Montague. She has already fallen in love with him. The information has come too late to save them from this difficult situation. 3. These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume. Friar Lawrence, warning Romeo to cool down his passion. Moderate love is less likely to lead to disaster than violent love. His warnings prove to be founded. 4. What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet. Juliet lamenting fact that her love is a member of the family that is a bitter enemy of her own. He is not defined by his name. They would be able to express their love freely if he were called anything else. 5. These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume? Friar Lawrence, warning Romeo to cool down his passion. Moderate love is less likely to lead to disaster than violent love. His warnings prove to be founded. What do you think the novel contribute to you? In What way? It gave me an idea how love conquers all. It made me realize that nothing can stop love unless you, yourself decided to give up. I’ve learned that love builds, it also destroys. Is the novel worthwhile? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, it is worthwhile. I would definitely recommend it to others because people are very affected when they talked about love. This book will show how far you can go; how long you can be strong and how long will you fight in the name of love. What are the things you don’t like in the novel? If you were given a chance, what will you change to make it better? The part that I didn’t like the most is the ending. If I was William Shakespeare, I would make it a happy ending because they did everything to fight for their love. And obviously, people love happy endings. Over all generally what can you say to the novel? Short summary. In Romeo and Juliet, there are many different views of love shown. There is sexual love, romantic love, true love, spiritual love, unrequited love and love at first sight. The selflessness of Romeo and Juliet’s love – their willingness to die for each other, is in deep contrast to the hate between the Capulets and the Montagues. It’s about fighting their love to the fullest. They gave their best just to make their relationship right. They proved that nothing can stop you when you fall in love. It just shows that love is easy†¦ true love is not.

Qualitative Analysis Essay

Qualitative is where the results give a colour that you have to match up to a colour chart, or have you have done to see if it is positive or negative with a description of what a positive reaction should look like. This test is less reliable as some colour or positive reaction look similar to each other or the same but by adding different chemicals. An example of qualitative would be a pH test as the result gives you a colour and then you have to match it up to the pH scale to get you final result. Qualitative analysis is used to find out different ion in a given sample. This also analytical chemistry technique, this testing method uses many different tests to get a reaction that would link with different ions. Ions An Ion is an electrically charged particles that are formed when atoms are added or taken way. Metal atoms have positively charged ions and non-metal atoms have negatively charged ions. To work out how many ions a metal and non-metal should have is simple. Metals should have the same amount of charged ions as the group number they are in for example a metal in group 2 will have two positively charged ions. Non-metals should have the same amount of charged ions as the group number they are in but minus eight for example a non-metal in group 5 would have 3 negatively charged ions. Negative ions are called anions and positive ions are called cations. When testing for cations/metals you could use a flame test this is the simplest and quickest way of test for cations another way that you could test for cations is a sodium hydroxide test this test consist of adding sodium hydroxide to test compound when coloured precipitate is formed them stop adding the sodium hydroxide and see what the cation is by using the table below, this table show what colour the precipitate is and any further results.