The First Video Game :: essays research papers

While it is as far from the eventual commercial videogame systems that come later as a walk in the leafy vegetable is to a walk on the moon, a physicist trying to make the public tour of his lab a little more exciting to bored visitors designs what more or less consider as a precursor videogame system in 1958. Working at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a US nuclear research lab in Upton, New York, William A. Higinbotham notices that people attending the annual autumn open hoexercisings, which be held to show the public how safe the work going on there is, are bored with the displays of simple photographs and static equipment. Educated at Cornell University as a physics graduate, Higinbotham had come to BNL from Los Alamos and the Manhattan Project, and had actually been witness to the first detonation of the atomic bomb. A chain-smoking, fun-loving character and self-confessed pin clump player, he wants to develop an open digest exhibit at BNL that will entertain people as they learn. His idea is to use a comminuted analog computer in the lab to graph and display the trajectory of a moving ball on an oscilloscope, with which users can interact. rocket trajectory plotting is one of the specialties of computers at this time, the other being cryptography. In fact, the first electronic computer was developed to plot the trajectory of the thousands of bombs to be dropped in WWII. As head of Brookhavens Instrumentation Division, and being used to building such complicated electronic devices as radiation detectors, its no problem for Higinbotham, along with Technical specializer Robert V. Dvorak who actually assembles the device, to create in three weeks the game system they name Tennis for Two, and it debuts with other exhibits in the Brookhaven gymnasium at the next open house in October 1958. In the rudimentary side-view tennis game, the ball bounces off a long horizontal line at the bottom of the oscilloscope, and there is a small vertical line in the cent re to represent the net. Two boxes each with a dial and a button are the controllers...the dials affect the angle of the ball trajectory and the buttons "hit" the ball back to the other side of the screen. If the player doesnt curve the ball right it crashes into the net. A reset button is also on tap(predicate) to make the ball reappear on either side of the screen ready to be sent into play again.

Caffeine is a Psycoactive Drug Essay -- essays research papers fc

Have you ever been so tired that youve dozed off at work? Or try to s carousel yourself from falling asleep while youre driving or even worse got caught sleeping in class? These instances could have been prevented by doing what 90% of Ameri abides do every day by consuming CAFFEINE. If anyone here feels you cant make it though your day without a cup of coffee, you argon believably addicted to it (Ill discuss more on that later). Heres an interesting fact both al-Qurans caffeine and coffee are derived from the Arabic word QAHWEH. The origins of the words reflect the spread of the beverage into Europe through Arabia and Turkey from North-East Africa. Coffee began to be very popular in Europe in the 17th century and today its the most popular psychoactive drug in the world. Almost everyone in our society today uses caffeine regularly, in one form or another. According to Jennifer Warner of WebMD Medical News, nearly 90% of adults and 76% of children drink some kind of caffeinated beverage every day. More than fractional of all American adults imbibe more than 3 cups of coffee. Also, a 1994 survey by the Agriculture Department found that on average, 64 gallons of soda are consumed by children and teenagers every year. Researchers have found that soft drinks have surpassed tea as the second leading source of caffeine for adults while being the top source of caffeine for children. People are not only fatherting their caffeine from coffee, soda and tea, but from other sources such as energy beverages, caffeinated water, herb tea supplements and chocolate. You may not realize how much caffeine you are consuming on a daily basis because caffeine is not listed as an constituent on the food or drink label, and the Nutrition Facts label does not show how much caffeine is in the product. In addition, beverages marketed as high-energy drinks may contain more than one type of caffeine extract, and in herbal sources, caffeine may not be listed as an active ingredie nt. So you can see why half of American adults consume more than 300mg of caffeine per day. All you need to consume to get that amount are just 2 mugs of coffee and a couple of cookies. If you sit down and calculate your caffeine consumption during a typical day, you may be surprised. Many people consume a gram or more of caffeine every day and dont even realize it.     Now that the widespread u... ...nd the globe, is a crackers drug stimulant, has the potential to become addicting and gives people the opportunity to be social. The bottom line is that caffeine is the most widely accepted and legal way to get that all important energy boost. So, the next time you down that can of Red Bull or take that last sip of cappuccino from Starbucks, take allayer in the fact that youre getting your fix legallyWorks Cited      Bealer, Bonnie K., and Bennet A. Weinberg. The World of caffein The Science and Culture of the Worlds Most commonplace Drug. N ew York Routledge, 2002. 208-212.      Centre College. "Students get a Caffeine and Culture Boost." Yubanet.com 14 Feb. 2005. .     Gordon M. Wardlaw. Contemporary Nutrition Issues & Insights. New York McGraw-Hill, 2003. P 556.      HSW Media Network. How Caffeine Works. HowStuffWorks.com. 28 Dec. 2004. .     Jennifer Warner. Caffeine Sources Shifting CBSNEWS.com 28 Dec. 2004. WebMD Inc. .     T.R. Reid. "Caffeine." Nationalgeographic.com. June 2000. .

Technological Innovation Essay -- Technology Technological Papers

Technological InnovationWorks Cited Missing Technological innovation makes daily life more convenient and enjoyable for everyone. However, scientific breakthroughs also produce social and ethical consequences. Computers are no exception to this rule. These products of modern technology can store massive amounts of information which help us perform at our best. However, they also generate new ethical dilemmas regarding who is able to access that information and how they use it. Thus, the ethical issue of privacy comes to the fore as well as problems associated with privacy bid identity theft. The history of computing goes as far back as the 1600s. However, computing devices didnt start to look like the ones we know today until the late 1900s. At first, computers were too big and too expensive for personal use. They were only used by businesses and the elite part of society. However, computer manufacturers like Apple and IBM began to refine and upgrade computers until they became practical for personal use. Todays computers are much more advanced than their predecessors. Nowadays, we use computers for everything from grocery shop to doing homework. Tom Forester and Perry Morrison point out that Computers are the core technology of our times. They are the new paradigm, the new common sense. In the comparatively short length of forty years, computers have become central to the operations of industrial societies. Without computers and computer networks, much of manufacturing industry, commerce, transport and distribution, g all overnment, the military, health services, education, and research would simply grind to a halt. (1)Our society has become very dependent on this tech... ... They store massive amounts of information and make it easy for us to access. However, they also generate new ethical issues over who can gain access to this information while protecting our privacy. As we have seen, some people can il legally gain access to our clandestine information and steal our identities. Therefore, we need to pass stiffer legislation to severely punish these criminals and keep them away from computers. We need to establish a database code that all companies would be required to follow. There needs to be more security passwords and better firewalls to prevent future attempts to gain access to the computer. Lastly, all information on these computers should be thoroughly encrypted to give citizens more piece of mind and added assurance that their privacy is protected. Thus, the ethical issue of privacy would come to an end.

Symbolism of White and Green in The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

The Great Gatsby is full of symbolism, colors, for example. Throughout the book the author uses them to institute different themes of the novel. Some of these colors are white, yellow, grey, green, pink, red and blue. However, I picked white and green for my commentary because I think these colors have a exceptional meaning different from the others. White is mainly used to describe the characters innocence, fakeness, and corruption. While green repre directs Gatsbys hopes, ambitions, and dreams. In addition, sometimes green symbolizes the green-eyed monster of certain characters.The color white appeared many times throughout the book. It is used in the first chapter by Nick when he sees Daisy and Jordan in East Egg. They were some(prenominal) in white and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had fair(a) been blown back in after a short flight around the house. (Pg. 8) In this passage, white is used to describe Daisys and Jordans innocence and purity. However, in page 24 the real characteristics of Daisy are revealed, Our white girlhood was passed together at that place our beautiful white, this tells us that when Daisy was younger she was innocent, but now she has changed. In page 116, the author talks about Jordan Jordans fingers, powdered white all over their tan, rested for a moment in mine. This symbolizes fakeness, it tells us that Jordan is a superficial woman just like Daisy. They try to pretend to be something that they are not, just because they want to fit into the high society.Fitzgerald also refers to the steps to Gatsbys house as being white. Even the windows at Daisys house are white. The windows were open and gleaming white. (Pg.13) this tells us that Daisy and Gatsby look innocent from the outside but not from the inside, instead they are corrupted people. This thought is also expressed when Gatsby takes Nick for a ride in his car. When he is stopped by a policeman, Gatsby shows the officer a white card , which symbolizes corruption. When the commissioner sees this, he lets Gatsby go. Nick thought it was a Christmas card sent to him by the officer, but later on we learn that Gatsby had bribed the police officer.White might also be related to Tom, who is a racist man. He is very concerned about a book he read called The Rise of the Coloured Empire.

schizophrenia :: essays research papers

Hypocrites once said only from the champion spring our pleasures, our feeling of happiness, and of tearsy. Pleasure and pain come from the brain however with schizophrenia slightly batch experience not pleasure and pain, but paranoia, dementia, and can become cationic. Schizophrenia is a serious problem. This report bequeath go over what it is, how to get help, and how it is/was treated.Throughout history all societys have had cases of schizophrenia. Some kings, rulers, and emperors, such(prenominal) as King Saul, Nebucanezzer, Henry the IV and King George the III, all had a form of schizophrenia. schizophrenia technically did not exist until 100 years ago. Until then most people thought it was demons in the body. The Ancient Egyptians thought people with mental illness had physical illness. With the Greeks they did not hunch over what to think, so the killed or castrated the infected person. But with madness people have accomplished many things such as prophets and poets. How come all men distinguished in philosophy, statesmanship, poetry, or art are melancholics and some of them to such an extent that they are affected from the illness. History has almost always classified as one reference, but actually there are tetrad types. the four types of schizophrenia are dementia praecox, hebephrenic. first is catatonia, a movement disorder. the movements may be as little as a twitch some cases are more severe than others. people with schizophrenia are often very strange and shocking next it paranoia, as many people know paranoia is the fear of being followed with schizophrenia this fear is constant day and night. Most paranoid schizophrenic loose sleep and act out violently.Another type is hebephenia, hebephenia induces childlike acts, like whining, crying and constant giggling. With all types of schizophrenia there are many mental asylum, so the schizophrenics do not cause slander to others. Mental institutes started as caves away from towns, villages, and were used until religion started. After that the started thinking it was evil causing the madness. Holy wells were used in Rome, Greece, and small islands. In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, they built temples to house the mad. The cost of the temples were to high they used homes as asylums. As David H. Clark said Madness has been known to every society that has odd records. In 1839 In England first organized act was past to localize asylums. In mental asylums, new knowledge has been found.

Dorothea Lange :: essays research papers

Dorothea Lange was born in 1895 in Hoboken, New Jersey. Herfamily had come from Germany to the United States as immigrants. WhenDorothea was seven years old, she suffered from polio. In 1907, her giveleft her family. And soon, her mother became an alcoholic. Dorothea waslonely in high school until she began studying photography.At the age of twenty-three, Dorothea left home, and in 1918, began anaround the world trip. She taught Ron Partridge photography and peoplestarted calling him her &8220assistant. Ron Partridge recalls that she wasvery determined not to stop her work.Dorothea Lange is best known for her work during the GreatDepression. Other things she photographed were children, ships, theDepression, and many others. She also photographed Mormon communities.During her years in photography, she traveled to Asia, South America,Egypt, and India. She married Maynard Dixon in 1920. Her marriage lasted fifteenyears and in 1935 she divorced him. However, while on assignment in NewM exico, she remarried to Paul Taylor. In 1939, she began her first major project. Later, she worked for theFarm Security Administration. However, much conflict arose and in 1940she was dismissed for the last time.In the 1950&8217s and 60&8217s Dorotheas&8217s husband, Paul, spent six monthsphotographing developing countries and Asia. Dorothea began havingreoccurring ulcers. She was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. Whenshe was in the Near East she caught malaria.Ansel Adams described her as a difficult woman who wasopinionated, impatient, and willful. A woman who defied the social genderexpectations. Her last project was entitled, &8220Dorothea Lange Looks at theAmerican Country Woman. Dorothea can definitely be described as someone who stood up forwomen and knew that women could do anything anyone else could do.

Literature Summative Assesment

Rules of the Game Pre Reading A. Read the c fine artoon and answer the questions.1. What rural area do the buzz off and girl live in? They live in America.2. Was the receive born on that point? How do you tell a let on? No, she wasnt born in Ameri tramp. I know because in the cartoon the daughter asks the mystify if she means America and the bewilder says no where we are from original, our come country.3. wherefore is the mother angry? The mother is angry because the daughter doesnt know her and her mothers origins.4. Why is the daughter angry? The daughter is angry because her mother keeps nagging her.B. The mother and daughter in this cartoon do not understand individually other. In your opinion, which of the quest factors are to blame for this lack of understanding? Explain. The assorted in their . Language the mother was born and raised in another country so her English isnt as fluent as her daughters, who was probably born in the USA, this may cause a shortage in intercourse or embarrass the daughter. Culture the mother probably comes from a more handed-down civilization, which may cause a contest amid her and her daughter.C. Do you stand for the same types of contradict between parents and children are common in our country? Why or why not? I gestate that the same types of conflicts constitute in our country because it consists of polar ethnic groups and minorities. Every generation differs from the unity before it, especially when the parents are born and raised in other countries. For example, the Russian immigrants who maintain trouble get wording the Hebrew language and their children who adjust more easily.Basic perceptiveness mapping 1What lesson does the narrator learn from her mother? The narrator erudite from her mother that she can rent what she wants without nagging.What hopes does the narrators mother call for for her children? The narrators mother hopes for her children that when they grow up they impart l earn in a University.Is the family poor? Does narrator esteem so? The narrators family is poor because she lives above a bakeshop with deuce bedrooms flat, only the narrator doesnt have in caput that her family is poor because she says that her bowl was always full and that she ate quint meals a day.Do you think the narrators memories of her childhood are pleasant or unpleasant? All in all, I think the narrators memories of her childhood are pleasant. She fondly remembers her vivification in San Franciscos Chinatown, which were filled with bouncings in back alleyways, fragrance of Chinese food and the different shops in the area.Why do the children prefer the alley to the cropground? The children prefer the alley to the playground because its darkness gives a sense of mystery and adventures.Why is the narrator scared of the sanddabs? The narrator is scared of the sanddans because it reminds her base that her mother t antiquated her nearly a careless girl who ran into cr owded street and was crushed by a cab.What joke does the narrator play on the tourist? The tourist asked the narrator and her brother to pose for a picture in front of the scary restaurant, and after(prenominal)(prenominal) he took the picture, she told him to have dinner in the restaurant. The tourist asked what they served, and she shouted Guts and ducks and octopus gizzards and ran off.How did the narrator get her make up? What does this tell us or so her parents desire to adapt to their new culture? The narrator was named after the street that her family lived in, and it tells us thatWhat is the touch sensition of this passage? The t wiz of this passage is deductive and defensive , the mother explains the m more or less(prenominal) abilities Chinese stack have. wording practice Write a strong belief just about the story using each(prenominal) pair of words/ phrase.1. Invisible / strength Waverleys mother taught her the art of hidden strength.2. Strategy / arguments W averly larn from her mother the strategy for winning.3. Rise above / circumstances Waverlys mother wanted her family to rise above their circumstances.4. Two bedroom flat / Chinese bakery Waverly lived in a two bedroom flat that sat above a small Chinese bakery.5. Alley / playground the best playground for the Chinese children was the dark alleys.6. Playmates / adventures The playmates always find adventures in the dark alleys.7. Named after / official the narrator is named after an official name of a street.8. Wicked / Chinese torture the wicked people should be tortured in Chineseculture.Understanding the poem Answer the questions.1. Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. Whose point of view is rules of the game told from? The story is told by the narrators point of view.2. How did Waverly get her name? She was named after the street that her family lived in.3. Where does the story take place? Copy and complete the chart. The setting City San Francisco. Nei ghborhood China town. Home Jong family hearth4. What do we learn about Waverlys family? Waverlys family is a Chinese poor family that lives in Chinatown in San Francisco and in her headquarters there is one girl named Waverly and her two brothers.Basic Understanding Part 21. What do we learn about Chinese culture from this incident? we learn from this incident that Chinese people attribute great importance to substitute and humility. It was shameful for the mother that her son was disappointed with his chip empower.2. Is Waverly happy with her adorn? How do you know? Waverly was happy with her gift which is life savers candy because she says that she kept take them all the night because they were her favorites.3. Why does Mrs. Jong tell Vincent to throw the trickster set away? Mrs. Jong told Vincent to throw the chess set away because it was used before and he knows that because there are missing parts.4. What is it about chess that attracts Waverly? She sees that the chess board seems to elaborate secrets waiting to be untangled.5. How does Waverly convince her brother to let her play chess? She uses the Lifesavers (her gift from the Christmas party) as a bribe to be let into the game.6. Why do you think Mrs. Jong tells Waverly not to rely on other people to explain the rules? Because there is a sentence which says go against you take it, find out yourself. This means that its better to find the answer yourself because Waverly has to learn to go forward alone without any dish up.7. Why do Waverlys brothers lose interest in chess? Waverlys brothers lose interest in chess because they plump more interested in roaming the streets in their Hopalong Cassidy cowboy hats.Vocabulary practice A. Which word in each group has a different meaning from the other two?donated / given / receiveddecent / poor / fineroken / deficient / missinggraciously / impatiently / politelyextra / replacement / substitutetactic / strategy / foresighthide / reveal / examineadve rsary / partner / oppositenessB. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words from exerciseA. There may be more than one possible answer.1. The gifts at the Christmas party were given.2. It would have been a decent chess set- except that it was obviously used.3. S eeral of the chess pieces were missing, but Mrs. Jong accepted the gift politely.4. Vincent wouldnt let Waverly play until she offered her life savers as replacement for the chess pieces.5. Waverly studied the instruction book and learned some consequential strategies for winning at chess.6. She learned that chess is a game of secrets which she must never reveal.7. Soon, Waverly wasnt losing any games -but she lost her adversariesUnderstanding the story Answer the questions.1. Which gift does Waverly choose at the Christmas party? The gift that Waverly chose was heavy and compact one that was wrapped in shiny silver foil and a red satin ribbon.2. Who gets the chess set? Vincent, Waverlys brother gets the ches s set.3. What is defile with the chess set? The wrong thing about the chess set is that it was used before and there are missing parts.4. How is the enigma solved? The problem was solved by putting a buttons (Lifesavers) instead the missing parts.5. How does Waverly learn to play chess? She learns the rules of the game and goes on to continue playing chess. 6. How old is Waverly at this time? Waverly is six years old.Basic Understanding Part 31. Why is the man surprised by Waverlys question? 2. What are these the label of? These is the names of strategies in chess which Lau Po taught Waverly.3. What do we learn about Chinese culture from Mrs. Jong behavior? We learned about Chinese culture that it is built on modesty.4. What strategy does Waverly use to convince her mother to let her compete in the tournament? The strategy that Waverly used to convince her mother to compete in the tournaments is the art of invisible strength5. Why do you think the boy wrinkled his nose? Because h e is 15 years old and she is 9 years old and he thought that she is young to play chess.6. What does the wind represent in this passage? The wind represents the thinking power of Waverly.7. What does Waverly silence tell us about accepted codes of behavior in the Jong family? Its tells us about the respect and listening to elders and for what he says because he has more experience than us.8. How does Mrs. Jong justify Waverlys special treatment? Mrs. Jong confirm Waverlys special treatment by telling Vincent Waverly squeezes all her brains out for winning chess. You play, worth squeeze towel.9. How does Waverly behave at chess competitions? What does this tell us about her portion? It tells us that Waverly is very smart because she made for her opponent a good measure and that will make him think less because he is thinking that he is going to win and then Waverly will win.Vocabulary practice A1. Form as many phrases as you can by combining words the box. You may use words more th an once, but use each word at least once. *champion *game *regional *chess * idealistic master *smile *child *local *status *etiquette *national *tournament * array *prodigy *triumphantnational championchess national championlocal championlocal tournamentchess gamechild prodigyhess etiquetteexhibition gametriumphant smilegrand master statusregional tournamentA2. Complete the sentence with the words combinations you formed. You may use words more than once, but use each word at least once.Waverly learned the fine points of chess etiquette from Lau Po.After observation an exhibition game, a man suggested that Waverly should play in local tournament.Waverly said that she didnt want to play in the local champion, but she really did.After Waverly won an important national tournament, shop owners in the neighborhood decided to sponsor her in national champion.By her ninth birthday, Waverly was a national champion, but she was still 429 points away from grand master status.6Waverly had bec ome a child prodigy and her picture appeared in life magazine.At the end of a game, Waverly would flash her opponent a triumphant smile.B. harmonise the words from A and B to form verb phrases. Use each phrase in a sentence about the story. Make any necessary changes. A B1. Attend2. Want desperately3. Defeat an opponent4. Display trophies5. Do chores Understanding the story Answer the questions.Who helps Waverley become a better chess player? Lau Po, an old man helped Waverley to become a better chess player.Who watches Waverly exhibition games in the park? Some of Chinese people and tourists watch Waverlys exhibition games.Why does Waverly think her mother will not allow her to play in chess tournament? Waverly thinks that her mother will not allow her to play in chess tournament because she thinks that her mother will not let her play with strangers.What does Mrs. Jong give Waverly at her first tournament? Why? Mrs. Jong gave Waverly a small inkpad of red jade which the suns fir e to give her luck in the tournament.How do people in the neighborhood show their pride in Waverlys achievements? The Chinese bakery beneath their home displayed her growing collection of trophies in its window, a flower shop, headstone engraver, and funeral parlor offered to sponsor her.What concessions do her parents make to allow her practice? Her parents allowed her not to clean to allow her practice .At what age does Waverly become a national chess champion? Waverly became a national champion in age nine.How does Waverly get hold for competitions? Waverly wears a crisp pink and white dress with scratchy lace for the competitions.Basic Understanding Part 41. Why does Waverly find it difficult to practice at home? Waverly finds it difficult to practice at home because her mother who stands beside her era she is trying to plan her steps in the game.2. How do you think Waverlys brothers feel about her special treatment? I think that he feels so angry about that, because they do a ll the work in the home when she is practicing all the time.3. Why do you think Mrs. Jong insists that Waverly accompany her to the market? Mrs. Jong insists that Waverly accompany her to the market because she wants to boast and show that Waverly is her daughter.4. How does Waverly feel about her mothers boasting? Waverly feels embarrassed when her mother boasted her.5. What do you think Waverly wants to escape from? I think that Waverly wants to escape from her mothers nagging.6. How does Mrs. Jong react when Waverly finally arrives home? She says calmly we not concerning this girl. This girl not have concerning for us. 7. Who does Waverly see as her opponent? Waverly sees her mother as her opponent in the chess game.8. What do you think Waverlys daydream presents? The imaginary game could symbolize the transition from childhood to approaching adulthood.Vocabulary practice A1. Match the sentence beginnings in A to the endings in B.1. Mrs. Jong thought of herself as Waverlys prote ctive ally.2. She had a habit of standing over Waverly trance she practiced.3. Waverlys parents made many concessions to allow her practice.4. Waverly had to accompany her mother to the market on Saturday.5. Waverly thought her mother was using her to show off.6. She thought her mothers behavior was embarrassing.7. Waverly pulled away from her mother and knocked into an old woman.8. The womans bag of groceries spilled to the ground.9. Waverly fled from the market looking for escape routes.10. When she finally returned home the door was locked.11. Waverly stood there and waited for her punishment.B. Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words and phrases from the list. bring forward * alone * angry black slits * chessboard * disappear * fly out* grow light * rise up * scream * triumphant smile. Waverly lay on her bed. In her mind she saying a chessboard her opponent was opposite her two angry black slits on her face was a triumphant smile. As Waverlys oppo nent advance Waverlys pieces scream, retreated and fell off the board. Waverly felt herself grow light and she rise up into the air. She flies out of the window and over the city until everything downstairs disappear and she was alone. Understanding the story Answer the questions1. Why is it difficult for Waverly to concentrate at home? Waverly found it difficult to practice at home because her mother who stands beside her while she trying to plan her steps in the game.2. What further concessions do her parents make to allow her to practice? She doesnt have to eat all the food that her mother made for her, she doesnt have to wash the dishes, and she doesnt have to tidy her bed.3. What is Waverlys one obligation at home? The only thing that Waverly does at home is practicing chess.4. How does Mrs. Jong show that she is proud of her daughter? How does Waverly react? Mrs. Jong shows her daughter that she is proud of her by insisting that she accompanies her to the Saturday market day s walk with her proudly between the shops and saying this is my daughter wave-ly Jong to anyone who looked their way. adept day Waverly tells her mother that she wishes she wouldnt do that, and reproaches her mother that If she wants to show off, she should learn how to play chess.5. Describe the scene that Waverly imagines at the end of the story. Waverly imagines a chessboard and her mother standing in front of her as her opponent and Waverly sees her white pieces falling off the board one by one and her mothers pieces are approaching her. abridgment and interpretation A1. In this story the game of chess is used as a metaphor for life. Rules of the game refers not only to the rules of chess, but too to the rules of life. Do you think this is a good comparison? Why or why not? It is a wonderful comparison the rules of chess that Waverly learns are correspondent to the life skills for achieving success. This is the art of invisible strength. Examples1. Self control Bite back your tongue Vincent at first refused to let me play, but when I offered my Life Savers as replacements for the buttons that filled in for the missing pieces, he relented. .2. Hiding your desires strongest wind cannot be seen3. Withholding knowledge I also found out why I should never reveal why to others. A little Knowledge withheld is a great advantage one should store for future use. Its a game of secrets in which one must show and never tell. 4. Foresight see the endgame before the game begins It is essential in the endgame to have foresight, a mathematical understanding of all possible moves. .5. Planning the one who plays better has the clearest plans for both attacking and getting out of traps. A 2. Answer the following questions, keeping the chess life metaphor in mind.1. When Waverly is six years old, her mother teaches her an important rule of life The art of invisible strength. By this she means remaining silent, hiding her desire in order to get what she wants. How does this lesson help Waverly get what she wants from her mother? Give two examples from the story how does it later help her succeed at chess? Thus it is that Waverly, the protagonist and narrator of this short story, possesses a strange hybrid mix of value and lessons she has learned, some from her Chinese heritage taught to her by her mother, and some from her American heritage her birth country. The art of invisible strength, then, is part of Waverlys Chinese heritage I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and correcttually, though neither of us knew it at the time, chess games. This art of invisible strength is described by her mother as not confronting others openly. Instead, you must seem to go along with them whilst subtly leading them in the direction that you prefer.2. Waverly says of chess A little knowledge withheld is a great advantage one should store for future use. Do you think thi s is true in life as well? Explain. Yes, I think this quote is true in life as well as in chess. I think its true because the more knowledge we have, the more we can make use of it in the future knowledge can be a weapon for the future.3. At the end of the story, Waverly imagines a game of chess in which her mother is her opponent. Who is wining this game? How does Waverly react when she understands that she cannot defeat her mother? How does this imaginary game reflect what is happening in Waverlys life? In the game Waverly visions in her mind that her mother is her opponent and she is winning. When Waverly understands that she cannot win this game, she felt herself growing a light and suddenly flies out the window. This game reflects Waverlys life in the sense of the on-going conflict with her mother, in which she feels she cannot win, and prefers to run away.4. When Waverly says at the end of the story I closed my eyes and pondered my next move, do you think she is lecture only about chess? What else might she be referring to? What do you think her next move will be? I dont think that Waverly is talking only about chess I think she is also talking about her next move at home if to apologize to her family or to keep on not talking to them, but I think at the end she will apologize to her family because she is still young and she still needs her parents.B1. Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. One of the main themes of the story is the culture conflict between American- born Waverly and her Chinese- born mother. The chart below outlines some main differences between the two cultures. Read the chart and answer the questions that follow. Chinese people value American people value group cooperation Individualism and personal freedom maintaining face by showing respect and avoiding open confrontation or criticism Open discussion and self- expression, even if it means direct confrontation and criticism modesty, humility assertiveness A formal so cial society in which status is based on age, gender and family an informal society in which status is based on personal achievements, with equal opportunity for all Respect for elders obedience Self- determination independence Mystery and magic Rational thinking and logic1. What are some of the main differences between Chinese and American culture? The differences between Chinese culture and American cultures are The Chinese culture in built on modesty, humility, Reciprocity and understanding between each other and also to give respect to elders. The American culture everyone has to go in his own way and to be assertive, to do the maximum to get to his/her goal even to Run over people.2. Which aspect of each culture do you prefer? Explain. I prefer the American peoples values because their cultures and values are liberal and are corresponding to the values that I was brought up on.3. How is your own culture similar to / different from Chinese and American culture? My culture is si milar to the Chinese culture in the aspect of giving respect to the elders and to be modesty.B2. Which thinking skills did you use to answer the questions in B1? Explain. * Comparing and contrasting finding similarities and differences and drawing conclusions. I used the thinking skill Comparing and contrasting because I was asked to find similarities and differences between a different cultures and the best way to finds differences between two categories are Comparing and contrasting. C1. Now apply this thinking skill to the story. Copy and complete the diagram below with words from the list. How are Waverly and Mrs. Jong similar? How are they different? Support your answers with examples from the story. Waverly mischievous, competitive, Americanized, independent and selfish. Mrs. Jong modest, boastful, proud and superstitious. Both strong-willed, traditional, clever, stubborn, pertinacious, hard-working, confident, ambitious. ExamplesMrs. Jong is determined to teach Waverly the a rt of the invisible strength.Waverly is determined to learn how to play chess.Mrs. Jong is modest because when Waverly won her first game she said that its luck.C2. We often compare and contrast in our daily lives. Give one example of how you have used this thinking skill in the past few days. I used this thinking skill of compare and contrast that happened a checkmate of days ago between the choices of buying a new acoustic guitar or to continue practicing on my old guitar and when I will get better in playing the guitar I will buy a professional acoustic guitar.D 1. Imagine that a student from another country has conjugate your class recently. Although he seems bright, he doesnt pay attention in class, doesnt do his homework and doesnt interact with the other students. Which of the following might be connected to his behavior, in your opinion? Explain. He doesnt pay attention in class and he doesnt do his homework though he seems bright because he might have difficulties with th e language and with new students whom he didnt know.D 2. We can also use this thinking skill to gain a fuller understanding of people and events in literature. How is the characters behavior in this story connected to their heathen backgrounds? Discuss the following, keeping in mind what you have learned about Chinese and American culture. (Page 78)1. Mrs. Jong is showing her modesty by attributing Waverlys success in the chess game to luck rather than her excellent skill in playing chess.2. Lao Po teaches Waverly to be humble and not announce the end of the game with arrogance and pride because she may be mistaken, and her opponent may still make a move and win the game. This saying also reflects a belief in mystery and magic, rather than logical reasoning.3. Waverly cannot say anything to disagree with her mother, because in Chinese culture children show obedience and respect for their elders and do not contradict their parents.4. When Waverly tells her mother that she cant pract ice when her mother stands over her, she is expressing her own feelings and asserting herself. This is an example of how her behavior has become Americanized.5. Waverly is being impolite to her mother. She is showing her disrespect to her elders. This behavior contradicts the values of respect and obedience to the elders that is valued in the Chinese culture. Here Waverly shows the influence of the American cultural values of assertiveness and independence.D3. get under ones skin additional examples in the story of how the characters cultural backgrounds are reflected in their behavior. . One of the mothers at the Christmas party slaps her son because he did not show appreciation for her gift. His mother has to apologize to the crowd for his bad manners.2. Waverly talks back to her mother and criticize her. She expresses her opinions openly- a quality values by the American culture.3. Mrs. Jong gives Waverly a small tablet of red jade for luck before the chess tournament. This is a n example of the importance of magic and mystery in Chinese culture. D4. Tell your classmates about a time when you used the thinking skill of making Connections to help you to understand something better. Two weeks ago I saw a friend that Is walking and his leg is broken, I asked him what happened to him and he said nothing, two hours later other friend told me that they lost the football league game and his friend was quit the game after 30 min, then I understood that he was hurt in the game.E1. Because of the cultural differences between them, Waverly and her mother view things from different perspectives. Decide whether each of them would agree or disagree with the following statements. Explain your answer. 1. Mrs. Jong would probably agree. Waverly would probably disagree. Waverly would think that children need to adopt the values of the culture they live in.2. Waverly would probably agree. Mrs. Jong would probably disagree. Mrs. Jong would believe that cultural values should b e passed on from generation to generation.3. Mrs. Jong would probably agree. Waverly would probably disagree. Respect for parents and obedience is part of the Chinese culture. Waverly would think that children should express their own opinions openly and not have to behave as their parents wish.E2. Discuss the statements above with a partner. Whose perspective do you locate with- Waverlys or her mothers? My partner disagree with this statement because he think that if the children will obedience for everything which his parents says to him the boy will not be wrong and he will not learn from his mistakes.F. thinks back over the story. Answer the questions.1. How is the theme of cultural conflict reflected in the story? The theme of cultural conflict is reflected in the conflict between Chinese-born Mrs. Jong and American born Waverly. Waverly and her family live in Chinatown in San Francisco. They live above a Chinese bakery, shop in a traditional Chinese stores (like the medical h erb shop and fish market), go to the First Chinese Baptist Church and get presents from a Chinese Santa Clause. The Chinese immigrant parents want to preserve their traditional culture, whereas the children want to integrate in American society. Waverlys mother emphasizes traditional Chinese values of self-control and obedience, whereas Waverly wants to assert her independence. The young Chinese American fined them pushed away not only from American society but also from their Chinese parents and heritage.2. How is the theme of conflict between mothers and daughters reflected in the story? This story is really one titanic struggle about independence between Waverly and her mother. Waverly, as the story progresses, becomes more aware of her talent, shows embarrassment at the way her mother takes pride in her and wants to beg her gift and talent to bring attention to her My mother would proudly walk with me, visiting many shops, buying very little. This is my daughter Wave-ly Jong, she said to whoever looked her way. One day, after we left a shop I said under my breath, I wish you wouldnt do that, telling everybody Im your daughter. While the narrator enjoys the challenge of winning at chess for its own sake, clearly the mother enjoys the success of her daughter for the admiration it brings to her. At the end, the imaginary of the chess board in Waverlys dream is used to symbolize the conflict between Waverly and her mother, as each struggles for mastery over the other. The way that the story ends, with Waverly closing her eyes and pondering my next move, shows Waverlys desire to escape her mother and treats her conflict as a game of chess. Although Waverly has lost this round, she is considering how to ventually beat her mother and gain the independence she so desperately desires.3. in the beginning of the story, Waverly is more in touch with her Chinese culture. How has this changed by the end of the story? In the beginning of the story, Waverly is more in t ouch with her Chinese culture because she is younger and her mother has more control over her. She lives and plays in a Chinese neighborhood. By the end of the story, Waverly is older and has been more exposed to American culture. She has attended chess tournaments, each one further away from home. As a result she is less in touch with her Chinese culture.4. Mrs. Jong is upset because Waverly is becoming Americanized, but she herself adopts certain aspects of American culture. Find examples in the story. Mrs. Jong names Waverly after the street they live on. She takes her children to a Christmas party. She allows Waverly to play in the chess tournaments and she gives Waverly special privileges (according to the American rules).5. Waverly sometimes sees her mother as her opponent. are they playing by the same rules? Explain. How does this affect their relationship? Waverly learns the Chinese rules of behavior and uses them to get what she wants. For example she uses self-control and manipulation to get her mother to allow her to play in the local chess tournaments. However, as Waverly gets older, she and her mother dont always play by the same rules. Mrs. Jong plays by the Chinese rules of behavior, whereas Waverly has begun to reject these rules in favor of the American values of self expression and independence. This causes conflict in their relationship.6. Explain the ending of the story. What does Waverlys daydream symbolize? Do you think it could be metaphor for growing up? Explain. At the end of the story Waverly imagines a chess game with her mother as her opponent. Mrs. Jong sits opposite from her, winning the game of inner strength. The chess game is a metaphor for her struggle and rebellion against her mother, and therefore for growing up. In her imaginary game, Waverly breaks free from her mothers influence. She leaves the safety of her home and neighborhood and floats above the city. She is free but also alone with no one to guide her or tell her w hat to do. She must now make her own decisions. Waverly has to plan her next move at home concerning her relationship with her mother.The imaginary game could symbolize the transition from childhood to approaching adulthood. G. Like the United States, Israel is a country of many immigrants. Have you, or has anyone you know, ever experienced a cultural conflict similar to the one Waverly experiences in the story? Share an example of this with your classmates. I had a Jewish friend that his parents came to Israel from Russia, but he was born here and was raised up on the Israeli culture. His parents want him to be surgeon so he could make the Russian friendship proud but he wants to be musician so he had many fights with his parents until they give up. Bridging text and context A. Read the background randomness. To what extent is the information reflected in the story rules of the game? (Page 79)The two stories is very similar because the two stories are about the Chinese immigrants families. and both families has one girl and two boys, in both stories the girls have Arguments with their mothers and there are conflicts between the American culture and the Chinese culture. B. How does reading biographical information about Amy Tan add to or change your understanding of the story? The authors difficult relationship with her mother is reflected in Waverlys difficult relationship with her mother, whom she sees as her opponent in the imaginary game. The cultures conflict that Chinese Americans experience is another theme that is reflected in the story. Waverly does not entirely identify with the American mainstream or with her parents Chinese culture. C. Compare and contrast the fictional character of Waverly Jong with the author, Amy Tan. The character Waverly Jong is both similar and different from the author Amy Tan1. Both were the only daughters of Chinese immigrant parents and both had difficult relationship with their mothers.2. Amy Tan became a successful wr iter, while Waverly became a successful chess player.Reflection 1. Did you enjoy reading the story? Why or why not? I enjoyed reading the story because it reminds me of myself, even though I am not an immigrant, but still there are many things that happened to Waverly that happened to me also, and its good to see how people from different cultures react to similar situation, because if this kind of situations will return in the future, I will know how to deal with them.2 . What did you found interesting or memorable about the story? What I found interesting in the story are the conflicts between Waverly and her mother because it happens to everyone, not only them but its memorable because they have a different culture which will make them look differently from myself in a similar situation. What interest me is the comparison between their culture and my own.

Contents of a Dead Mans Packets

In the novel Contents of a Dead Mans Pocket written by Jack Finney, the master(prenominal) character named Tom goes through a near death experience causing him to corroborate that ambitions atomic number 18 not all that life is about, that his hire out is not more important than his wife, and that he is missing out on life because of his ambitions. The conflict in this story is a man versus self because Toms ambition clouded his judgement into believing that his job was more important than his life, so important that he risked his life for it. Additionally, a conflict that comes up is how the husband spends oo much sentence on his work, he is focused too much on his job that he ignores his life. This takes away time with wife, Clare, who goes out alone often because Tom claims he has to work. Clare says, You work too much, though, Tom, and too hard. But Tom thinks to himself it was not actually consecutive that he had to work tonight, though he very much wanted to this was h is own project and it could be postponed. This shows that he thinks more about his job that anything else, its his main ambition which gives him time for anything else.He is missing out on life and time with his wife while he can still spend time with her. After his near death experience of almost falling from an apartment twenty stories high, he realizes this and goes out to meet her at the movie. Also, he cannot get venture inside of his apartment after climbing out the window from his 20th floor apartment for the slip of paper that flew out the window that had all his observations and notes for a new grocery store display method because the window closed down on him and he also cannot reach the slip of paper he went after. He is able to et the slip of paper right before he is about to fall but regains his balance. As he slowly educates his way top along the ledge of the building towards the window, the window shuts closed on him when he reaches it. As he stands out in the col d he begins to think and realize things. He thought of all the evenings he had spent away from her, working, and he regretted them. He thought wonderingly of his fierce ambition and of the direction his life had interpreted he thought of the hours hed spent by himself, filling the yellow sheet that had brought him out here.Contents of the dead mans pockets, he thought with sudden fierce anger, a wasted life. Furthermore, he now understood that he wasted all that time on his work while really accomplishing zero point. He had wasted wanted moments that he could have spent with his wife that now he would not have a chance to do, it was too late. There would be nothing to guess him by, no accomplishments, no memories. After finally being able to get back into his apartment by breaking the window he knows what he has been missing out on, his thoughts are not clouded by his need to work anymore.He understands that life was not meant to be spent working to have a life, it was meant to be with ones you love. When he gets back into his apartment he proves that he is a changed man by going out to catch up with his wife to show the movie. And the fact that he laughs and ignors the paper flew back out the window when he opened the door to leave that he had just retrieved from outside is proof that his job is not his main thought anymore. Toms near death experience helped him to understand that work is not more important than his life, that he should make the most f of life because if he does not he will die one day and leave nothing behind. There will be nothing for his wife, no money and no memories, the world will forget him, he will have nothing to show for himself. He realizes that his wife is important, that he has forgotten about having a life, and that he he has been wasting it by working for nothing. He works too much and yet there is nothing to show for it. In the end he changes his ways and goes out to live his life, to enjoy life, and spend time with his w ife while he can.

Native Americans vs. African Americans Essay

In todays society there be many another(prenominal) people living in poverty. All across America there be different projects and reservations where the less fortunate reside. Statistics show that loosely minorities kick the bucket in these different locations. Native Americans and African Americans are ii of the more popular races living in these places. The group suffering the most in these situations is the youth.Although both(prenominal) Native American and African American children living on a reservation or in the projects experience a terrible community, conduct circumstantial to no faith, and a broken family structure, African American youth living in the projects have it worse than Native American children living on a reservation. First, genius of the most rough-cut living situations for less fortunate African Americans is in the projects. A project is a public living environment that is establishment owned. Although these buildings are government owned they are f ar from nice looking. Most of the buildings have no windows, are run down, dirty, and old.The governments main address is to maintain affordable housing not to make them the best looking homes in town. The projects arent a good environment for a child to be raised. Throughout these neighborhoods different gangs can be found. These gangs are built to defend the different domain of a functions in the projects. The gangs bring major force to the area and are one of the main causes of death. At a young historic period children join these gangs and are raised to be violent. Many of them decorate the buildings they are living in with graffiti expressing their gang colors, symbols, or motto.In contrast, while Native American youth also live in poor housing, the environment is safer than the projects. A reservation is an area set aside for a specific type of land use or activity, or for use by a particular group of people, mostly Native Americans. Similar to the projects, houses on a r eservation are old, beat down, and dirty. The houses on a reservation are government owned as well. Although these two locations are very similar they also differ. The reservation is a safer place then the projects. On the reservation there is a couple cases of mild violence but they arent as severe as the violence in the projects.Therefore, the reservations environment is a better environment than the projects. Secondly, many of the young people have no faith developing up in the projects. A lot of them commit their only way out of the projects is to become a basketball or football player or to become a top selling rap artist. At as young as sixteen years of age most African American males end up in jail, deceased, or selling drugs. A lot of them are also lead to believe that if they have ont do what every other man on the streets is doing, then they wont make it anywhere in life.On the reservation the kids believe their only way out is to become NBA players or powwowers. Powwow ers are traditional Native American cheerleaders or dancers. Much standardized the African Americans growing up in the projects, the life expectancy rate for those living on a reservation is in the mid forties. Considering that both of these locations are in the linked States mid forties is very young of age. Many of these people dont live very long because they dont have generous money to take care of themselves as well as their families. They also arent able to live a healthy lifestyle which shortens their days.Death is common in the two locations which leaves these two young groups wondering whats beyond the age forty. Lastly, family structure is very important in a household. In the projects many of the homes lack a very strong family structure. Children growing up in the projects nine quantify out of ten dont have both parents in the home. Most of them are drug dealers, alcoholics, prostitutes, or doing any and everything to try and provide for the child. Although these par ents are trying to provide for their children a lot of the time they are also on welfare.Moreover, these childrens parents arent ever around, they roundtimes go days without having anything to eat. Many of the young men follow after the footsteps of their father, older brother, or uncles which is why this cycle has continued for so long. Native Americans typically stick together as a unit. According to Sherman Alexie, an award winning author who grew up on a reservation, Native American children are taught to be suspicious of Caucasian people. Native Americans teach this to their children because there are many people in America that are against minorities and believe that just because they are the majority theyre better.A lot of the parents on a reservation go from barter to job not being able to keep one job for a long period of time. Many of these parents are also alcoholics. On the other hand, some of these families on these reservations are very family oriented unlike the Af rican American families in the projects. These Native American families have up to seventeen family members living in one house. They keep their families very close and are very supportive of one another rather then being against each other like African Americans.The parents watch over their children to make sure they dont go down the wrong path in life. Although these families are experiencing hard times they cheer each other up and manage to smile every once in a while. Therefore, the Native Americans family structure is stronger then African Americans. In conclusion, Native American youth living on a reservation have it better then African American youth living in the projects. Both of these minorities are going through some hardships. From alcoholic parents to not having anything to eat they both are suffering as young children.Native American families provide a safer living environment, work harder, and look after one another, where as African Americans are against one another, on the streets all day, and are strongly associated with violence. As the years go on these families are hoping that the government will separate people in the projects and those living on reservations and provide them both with a better living situation. If these environments are separated the United States will be one step closer to eliminating violence in America.

“Country Lovers” by Nadine Gordimer and “Veronica” by Adewale Maja Pearce Essay

Explore the ways in which affinitys are shaped and influenced by traditional cultural expectations in the short stories you hand studied.Relationships platonic and intimate are sometimes built from cultural expectations but to what extent are people willing to go to uphold those traditions? I will discuss two short stories Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer and Veronica by Adewale Maja Pearce, in which both focus on close relationships which are condemned from the dismount due to strict and uncompromising cultural expectations. Cultural influences are portrayed strongly by the non-British writers one is range in an unnamed African liquidation, and the a nonher(prenominal) Apartheid South Africa. Both stories tragically show the destructive effect on relationships, when a tenacious fixation with tradition causes them to be obeyed beyond the point of humaneness, and everyaffair else including turn in is disregarded.In Country Lovers the protagonists Paulus (heir to wealthy d eveloping business) and Thebedi (a black farm worker) form an inter-racial relationship in the period of Apartheid rule in South Africa. During Apartheid the divide amidst blacks and whites was immense. Skin colour determined every aspect of social life. Whilst the affluent whites had their own soundly-equipped facilities, living in large houses and having well-paid jobs, blacks had to manage with a much spurn standard of life. Apartheid laws prohibited most social cont defend surrounded by races (Microsoft Encarta 2006) and inter-racial sex and marriage were strongly opposed by law making it virtually unfeasible for a blossoming relationship such as Paulus and Thebedis to progress.They stood at two different sides of the track, whilst Paulus was son of a rich farmer, Thebedi worked on his farm. The contrast betwixt them is great and so their economic and social differences would be deeply frowned upon. An instance of the contrast, is the scene after Paulus and Thebedi met at the riverbed it evidences and each returned home with the dark she to her lets hut, he to the farmhouse. A hut in comparison to a house proves the extent of Apartheid and the blacks living conditions. Njabulo, also a slave labourer would exhaust lived here, and he had feelings for Thebedi.Njabulos relationship with Thebedi is also dictated by the expectations of a black man in that time, and also his limitations because of it. For example, Paulus returned from work, and brought Thebedi gifts, because he could afford to, although Njabulo said he wished he could have bought her a belt and earrings (line 35). He couldnt display his love for her, because he didnt have the means. When Njabulo made arrangements to marry her, he couldnt offer her parents the customary cow that should have been let onn in place of Thebedi. This also shows that the customs of the blacks could not be taken under consideration whilst segregation that was going on. Also, when the very light (line 114) cocker was being born it simply states Njabulo made no complaint.The preceding sentences had been very long and descriptive with many a(prenominal) clauses, but this contrasting short simple one gives it importance and could show that he didnt care, but could also show that he couldnt do anything about it and so just accepted it. Despite the fact that it had been proven that Thebedi had had an intercourse with a white man, Njabulo maybe couldnt ask her about it because he was a second-class citizen and couldnt do anything. Also, maybe he felt uncomfortable to question her in regards to the baby, because it wasnt uncommon for white men to pillage black women in those times. Cultural expectations forced Njabulo to keep quiet, and so it impacted negatively upon their relationship. There was no trust or forgiveness between them as he had no complaint when Thebedi had another mans child.Despite Thebedis marriage, the love between Paulus and Thebedi seemed very pure. In line 1 of the trading floor it sets the scene for what the square story is based upon The farm children play together when they are small but once the white children go out to school they soon go intot play together any more, compensate in the holidays. It immediately drags us into the harshness of living under Apartheid. The entire tang of the narrator is cool and unemotional, perhaps to show the thoughts and feelings of the time. Most white people didnt really care about the inequality during the Apartheid system, and so had no compassion towards the blacks or to what they were going through.The unemotional tone of the story could also reflect the harshness of the people that were for apartheid or unsympathetic towards the experiences of black people, as the writer Nadine Gordimer was a strong activist in the anti-apartheid movement. The opening line shows how there is no discrimination when the children are young, but as they get older they discover the divide, and so blacks begin to cal l whites missus and baasie and blacks drop further and further behind in schooling. The story uses country specific words to show that it is not set in England such as koppies small hill in South Africa.The story sharply contrasts the everyday relationships between whites and blacks as they get older to say The trouble was Paulus Esendyck did not seem to realise that Thebedi was now simply one of the crowd of farm children down at the kraal. He goes against the norm and continues to entertain their relationship, or else than just stop his feelings for her. The language used here such as the trouble shows that it was a problem that Paulus could not just forget Thebedi. Even when he grew up and out of childhood and experienced the things of adulthood, it did not discourage his love for her. Although it was expected of Paulus to like these white girls as it suggests in the story the sight of their fulgurous bellies and thighs in the sunlight had never made him feel what he felt now, The head girl of the sister school was said to have a crush on him he didnt particularly like her he had stronger feelings for Thebedi.In the story, Paulus and Thebedi both go on a walk but unsuspecting of each other but then meet whilst on the walk. This could symbolise that they each want to follow their own paths, but it leads back to one another, they had not arranged this, it was an urge each followed independently. They then go into deep conversation, and during this scene the writer uses lots of descriptive language and imagery to depict their surroundings, such as, twisted and tugged at the roots of white stinkwood and Cape willow trees that loped out of the eroded earth around them and old, and eaten trees held in place by vigorous ones, paradoxical asparagus brushing up between the trunks, and here and there prickly-pear cactus sunken-skinned and bristly.This technique may have been used prolong Paulus and Thebedis scene of triumph and contentment with each other she laughed a lotsharing her amusement with the cool shady earth. Another view is that nature is the only thing around them, it is not discriminatory and doesnt judge them allowing them to be happy. The turning point in the story is when Paulus and Thebedi have intercourse and it is a blissful time, it says they were not afraid of one anotherthis time it was so lovely, so lovely he was surprised.Although, due to the segregation of the time inter-racial relationships were forbidden (as they were illegal) and so their meetings had to be secret, for being found out would have incurred harsh punishments and being socially shunned. Paulus and Thebedi hide their love from others, specifically by making excuses for Thebedis gift she told her breed the missus had given these (gilt hoop earrings) as a reward for some work she had make, and by sneaking in and out of the farmhouse she had to get away before the house servants, who knew her, came in at dawn. They both lead double lives. Paulus s upplys for veterinary school and Thebedi marries Njabulo the lives they should be leading if they stuck to the cultural expectations.Once the baby is born everything changes. The writer constantly refers to childhood, during the key scene when Paulus searches for Thebedi and their baby, He drank a glass of fresh, still-warm milk in the childhood familiarity of his start outs kitchen and also For the root time since he was a boy he came right in the kraal. Children are usually associated with innocence and naivety, and so maybe this was used to contrast with the act of murder he will commit, or maybe to remind the readers of the relationship he had with Thebedi when he was younger. In lines 132-134, the long sentences used increase the suspense and tightness for the reader, as they are eager to find out what happens next, whilst the writer rambles on about non-essential information.There is a change in Paulus as he no longer enters into long conversations with Thebedi his languag e is short and clipped as he says I want to see. Show me. After Thebedi shows him his child, she uses an anecdote which corresponds to the situation, the gang of children had trodden down a crop in their games or transgressed in some other wayand he the white one among them must intercede with the farmer. This shows that the baby was the product of some transgression and the responsibility befell on him, Paulus to put it right. You can see that he felt some sorrow or regret as it says he struggled for a moment with a grimace of tears, anger and self-pity.The relationship between Paulus and Thebedi had been destroyed because of the cultural expectations, as it says she could not put her hand to him. Thebedi could not even console her young lover, as she had no idea how he would react, maybe in anger he could hurt her, and he was confused I dont know I feel like killing myself. This was now no longer an intimate relationship although they shared a close moment, a chance to reconcile their love Paulus walked out, because the traditions had made it impossible for them to try and rekindle their affection for one another For a moment there was the feeling between them that used to come when they were alone down at the riverbedOthers opinions and views of Paulus are that the prospect of being prosecuted outweighed his love for Thebedi and his child. He had to reassure that she had never been near the farm house, and willing her to take it away and finally did the only thing he could to make sure he was not found out. The last line summarises the whole story, even though they continued a relationship from childhood it was doomed from the beginning due to the pressures and harshness of living in a segregated society, It was a thing of our childhood, we dont see each other any more. Adewale Maja-Pearce depicts the tragic story Veronica in which two members of a rural African village born and raised together, begin to lead very different lives on the ground of hamperin g cultural expectations. The narrator Okeke recollects his experiences in the village, and his platonic relationship with a fatalistic childhood friend Veronica.Set in the middle of the last century, views of the roles of men and women were rigid and unyielding. The story shows how African women of the time were subjected to constant pressure and rise responsibilities which in turn leads to fatal consequences. In Afrcian society, men were traditional breadwinners and it was a womans role to do childrearing and house work.Veronica automatically adopt the responsibilities of her entire family as since she was the eldest childbringing up the other children had fallen on her. The adjective fallen does not show the responsibility in a good light, as it suggests that a heavy burden has been dropped onto her. It also describes her family situation as she had to take on tasks stereotypically associated with men- such as chopping firewood, as well as taking on maternal roles such as cateri ng for her siblings. Her father abuses her listening to her scream, and is described as a brute, and her mother described as weak. Maja-Pearce may have used the characters as allegory for the political views of the African country. Veronica is a symbol of the abused and maltreated citizens whilst her father symbolises the government and their indifference and apathy towards the citizens deprivation, and her mother could symbolise the weak bystanders that cant do anything due to their lack of means.This view also ties in with the fact that historically during this period a civil war would soon be in progress, and also that Maja-Pearce had written several stories that challenge the principles of African society.The relationship between Veronica and Okeke is told solely from Okekes point of view as he gives a background, until he talks of his leaving the village. The writer could have done this to show that Veronicas situation was probably much worse than Okeke knew about, and so the reader would imagine terrible things would happen to her whilst Okeke heard screams in the wickedness, and so empathise with her more. This technique could be seen as building tension and anticipation for when they meet, or to show that this crucial dialogue is a very authoritative part of the story.A turning point in the story when Okeke and Veronicas friendship is ended by Okekes plans to leave his home village and make a life for himself in the city, whilst Veronica refuses to abandon her family.The parting conversation shows just how much cultural tradition has been impressed on Veronica. When Okeke suggests that she leave the village, she replies Me. This could be vewed as mock indignance, because she feels that Okeke is telling her to forget her set role in society, or it could be seen as genuine surprise at him suggesting that she should give up everything near to her. Okeke then asks for her reasons for staying and she says I cant just leave my family.

Confucianism and Legalism

Confucianism and Legalism Confucianism and Legalism were two philosophies developed by scholars as solutions to a period of dis influence in mainland China. Confucianism and Legalism are corresponding in that both originated during the Chinese Classical Period however, they are different in government because Confucianism focuses on having an preparely, respectful, and successful ruler, while Legalism focuses on having an impetuous and omnipotent ruler.In addition, education is extremely important in Confucianism, as opposed to the Legalist belief that people should never gain much knowledge. Both Confucianism and Legalism were developed in China during the Classical Period as solutions to bring back peace and harmony to the area. After the decline of the Zhou dynasty, there was a breakdown of brotherly order (The Period of Warring States), so Chinese scholars and philosophers looked for ways to bring back a state of order and peace.Two different schools of thought, Confucianism and Legalism, developed as ways to plump China out of snake pit and help it return to stability. Another philosophy, Daoism, is similar to Confucianism and Legalism because it was also developed during the Classical Period in China as a solution to the swage. The styles of governing found in Confucianism and Legalism differ greatly because Confucian government focuses on leading by example, while Legalist government focuses on having an all-powerful government in order to make sure people do not disrupt society for their own gain.Confucians believe that a ruler mustiness be orderly, respectful, and successful in order for his subjects to observe him. This idea is due to their belief in The Five Relationships, one of which is between ruler and subject stating that subjects shall obey their ruler as long as the ruler respects the subjects. Legalist and Confucian beliefs are different on this matter because Legalists think that a ruler asshole do whatever he wishes regardless o f his subjects, while Confucians value respect and devotion throughout society.They believe that there must be an all-powerful and forceful government in place to control society. The reason they think this is because they believe that humans are narcissistic in nature and that their desires bring about chaos and disorder in society. The views of Confucianism and Legalism on education are very different in that education is very important in Confucianism, while Legalism tries to restrict breeding as much as possible. Confucianism deems education as the most important thing a person can have.This is because the Confucian social order differing from the Legalist social order that focused mainly on ancestry was not specifically based on birth, but on education as well the much educated a person was the higher their status could be. However, Legalists believed that anyone or anything that opposed the emperor must be controlled by censorship. Those who opposed the emperor were punis hed or killed, and works that expressed opposition were destroyed. The reason for these actions is that the powerful emperor did not want his reputation to be impaired by others selfish acts.Confucianism and Legalism are both similar in that they developed at the same time in China however, they are different in that in order to control society Confucians believe in governing by example, while Legalists believe in governing by force and power. Additionally, Confucianism and Legalism differ in that Confucianism set education to the highest degree, whereas Legalism tries to limit the knowledge of society. Both of these Classical Period philosophies were built up in order to pose as solutions to a period of disorder in China.

Superstition and Daily Life Dealings

What does the word fanaticism mean to you? We really find it difficult to define it. According to one simple definition, feelings or believes involving fear of some spiritual world forces is called superstition. For example, if a person believes that by wearing some miscellanea of c revile he will be protected from evil spirits and bad stack and without wearing It he will be under the mildew of some unseen forces and also he will have bad luck.This kind of feelings or believes which involve fear of unseen forces, which cant be proved, is called superstition and those people ho have such kind of believes are known as superstitious people. This kind of people believes in signs and numbers of good luck and bad luck and their whole live are greatly affected by these signs and numbers. How did Superstitions Begin? It is close infeasible to say that when people started believing in signs and numbers because there are many things all of us believe in that cant be proved.At accredite d(a) times In mans history, and even today, eitherone believed In certain things that now we regard as superstitions. At that time science was not as much create as today, so those things and events which wondered and righted people at that time. They started believing In them and became superstitious. For instance, when they went under the trees at night time, they felt uncomfortable breathing.As they didnt know any authentic intellectual behind this fact so they started beveling that to go under trees at night time Invites the anger of Ghost which makes their breathing uncomfortable in order to harm them. But, today we all know that trees absorb oxygen at night time and the deficiency of oxygen under trees at night makes our breathing uncomfortable Instead of Ghost. Similarly they believed that the shadow or reflection of a person is a part of soul. So, to break those things on which this shadow appeared was regarded as to harm the soul. So they considered it unlucky to break a mirror.Today If someone considers it unlucky to break mirror or believes that to go under the trees at night invites the anger of Ghost, we will definitely call him superstitious because today we no longer believe in these kind of foolish reasons which long time ago people believed. So superstition is actually a belief or practice that people cling to after new knowledge or facts have appeared to disprove them. Thats why it is impossible to say hen superstitions began. whatsoever Familiar Superstitions We can find superstitious people almost in every society, every country and In every religion although less in numbers than past.In past people TLD know about sun, stars, moon, and comets etc. So they made up explanations about their motion and followed certain practices to protect themselves from the influence of their motion on life. This is very common even today and become a commercial under the name of Horoscope. If a disconsolate cat crosses the way of a person, then that is considered as unlucky for that person. Another superstition which is very common in Europe and America Is Friday The 13th. When a Friday guests are expected.Some people wear stone made rings and believe that when bad luck is ahead , these stones change their color or they break down. Some people wear amulet and believe that this will protect from evil spirits. Some believe that if owls live in a sign then that house will be ruined. Many people have their lucky numbers and they believe in them. There are many other superstitions which seem to be Joyful and Joke for us but they change the entire lives of those who believe in them. How to avoid Superstition? Superstitious people live their lives under the influence of unseen forces and fear.They cannot live a normal life. They are extra-careful in their daily life dealings. To keep yourselves away from these kind of feelings and believe Just believe in God Almighty, Who decided the fortune of man before mans birth. So nothing can inf luence your lives. Superstitions are strictly denied in Islam. In any trouble, cover attentions towards Allah Almighty and seek His help. Find the genuine and scientific reasons behind the facts (instead of believing their influence or power as superstitious people do) and enjoy the life.