Thursday, January 23, 2020

Albert the frog :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Albert   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Albert lived in a can. He was a frog that lived in a large coffee can. You may say to yourself, coffee cans are rather minute, but you must know one thing to answer this pondering, Albert is simply a small frog that doesn’t need a large home. One day he stopped sleeping and realized that he was In a puddle of water. Albert doesn’t like water even though he is a frog. He screamed and yelled a lot. He then woke up and realized it was a dream but there was a cat standing above his can that was about to pounce. With a lightning fast thought, Albert grabbed his water jug and hopped as fast as he could into a thicket. Albert did not know what a thicket was or why he jumped into one but he started to walk like a frog, due to him being a frog. On his daily walk towards the little creek were he fills his water jug he saw a curious-looking spotted object and concluded that he should hop over to it so he did. Once he got closer he realized it was a 1 foot tall mushroom. Albert’s favorite kind too! The ones with orange spots and blue stems. Since Albert did not have time to eat some flies for breakfast due to the cat trying to kill him, he decided to treat himself to a mushroom pie. Albert did know how to make wonderful mushroom pies. He sat upon a log and started a small little campfire on which to cook the mushroom. He went and grabbed a huge chunk off of the mushroom and plopped it on the on the pan as he nibbled on a smaller chunk. Albert became upset when his mushroom pie melted instead of turning into bread, which mushrooms tend to do this time of year. Albert drank the soupy slime from the pan and was on his way. Due to Albert being tired from all of the excitement he sat atop of a huge bed he found in the forest. When he woke up it was dark out. Albert was very worried due to his need to fill his water jug so he continued looking for the creek. Even though his luck was down Albert was happy due to the fact that his favorite song was being played by the trees.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Managing human resources

Any person, who has a physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment or is regarded as having such impairment or is regarded as having such impairment. It involves heaving, mobility, visual impairment, chronic alcoholism, and chronic mental illness. From the article it is necessary to provide assistance to individuals with disabilities to lead a productive life. People with disabilities are of ten unable to obtain health care insurance that provides coverage of the services and supports to enable them to live independently and enter or rejoin the workforce. Personal assistance services such as attendant services, assistance with transportation to and from work, reader services, job coaches and related service may remove barriers between significant disability and work. A company should have a proper policy in dealing with employees with disabilities. They should be treated as equals at the workplace who also are able to deliver services like those ones without disabilities specialized training should be conducted by the company management to thoroughly equip those with disabilities in order to handle any type of job at the workplace. For individuals with disabilities the fear of losing health care and related services is one of the greatest barriers keeping individuals from maximizing their employment, earning potential and independence. On December 1999 President Clinton signed a law that encouraged states to adopt the option of allowing people with disabilities acquire medical coverage that is vital to enable such individuals to maintain employment. In short people with disabilities may have functional limitations that may create barriers in employment e.g. acquiring requisite education, experience and expertise to perform essential functions of a job but maybe unable to perform non-essential job like turning pages without assistance. Employers should assist qualified individuals with disabilities overcome particular barriers to their employment resulting from their functional limitations. Personal assistance services are form of assistance used by persons with disabilities to perform tasks that the person would perform for himself or herself if he/she did not have disability. Personal assistance services include assistance with services that include reading, communication and performing manual tasks e.g. assisting in bathing, eating personal hygiene and dressing. Job related assistance in the performance of such tasks as reading communication and performance of non-essential manual tasks; business related travel maybe considered reasonable accommodations. Many computer users with disabilities especially those with impairments have been left out in recent transition from traditional character based computing to the new graphical user interface (GUI). â€Å"The broad movement toward graphical applications using buttons that cannot be read aloud or translated into Braille has sparked widespread concern among the blind† writes David Wilson in the chronicle of higher education. Sears merchandise troop is establishing an example of act that provides a model for other organizations seeking to provide universal access to InfoTech for employees with disabilities. In 1992 it provided its staff with personal computers running applications in a local area network. Sears identified twelve associates with disabilities who needed accommodations to use the same standard computing resources. Sears goal was to provide universal access to the same technology and applications for all associates. Sears objectives were to allow associates with disabilities use the same G.UI environment and applications as their workgroups, enable adept manager plan and budget for addition of a qualified blind employee of dept of staff; all the company evaluate blind candidates for employment and advancement on equal footing with sighted candidates. The managerial function of staffing, according to G.A. Cole, management theory and practice, (1996) is defined as filling and keeping filled all the positions in the organization structure. This is done by identifying the workforce requirements, inventorying the people available and recruiting, selecting, placing, training and developing, promoting and compensating the job holders that they can accomplish their tasks efficiently and effectively staffing is therefore the process which starts with the human resources needs, recruiting new employees into the organization and continued through separation of employees in the organization and continued through separation of employees n the organization. Recruitment is a major staffing or procurement process. It deals with providing human inputs to the organization it makes it possible for organization to acquire the number and the type of the people necessary to ensure the continued operation of the organization. Recruitment is therefore the process of attracting potential job candidates to apply for vacant positions in the organization that is, it is a searching process. Sources of recruitments include; internal sources which involves recruiting from within the organization through promotion or deployment of qualified personnel. Interviews may also be conducted to select the candidates fro various types of jobs in the organization in the organization. Some of the advantages of sourcing from within the organization are that, it improves employees morale; the employer is in a better position to evaluate the presently employed than outside candidates promotes loyalty among employees for it gives them a sense of job security and opportunity for it gives them a sense of job security and opportunity for advancement, It is less, costly than going outside to recruit, also recruiting from within has little training needed by the employees who are currently serving in the organization, it also promotes a positive organizational culture for example organizational cohesiveness. Some of the disadvantages of recruiting from within are that it leads to in breeding that is organizational stagnation; there is possibility that internal sources may dry-up and may be difficult to find the required personnel from within. External sources of staffing refer to the supply of personnel manpower from sources outside the organization. The sources may include; new entrants to the labor markets for example fresh college graduates; retired experienced persons, presently employed persons from other organization or unemployed already in the labor market with a wide range of skills and ability. Some of the advantages of external sources of recruitment includes the fact that the external sources may provide personnel having skills, training or education required by the organization from external market sources an organization may acquire potential employees who are experienced, trained and does not require extra training for their job hence this may reduce the cost of training to the organization. Employee’s selection according to John Toye, Employment policy, (1975) is the process by which job candidates are assessed or screened to determine their suitability for a given job. The purpose of selection is to help employers secure for evaluating their suitability from the advertised positions. It involves a series of successive hurdles designed to eliminate unqualified applicant at any point in the process that is when facts come to light which may lead to the rejection of candidate. Not all selection process or steps, however, include many barriers. The complexity of any process usually increases with the level and responsibility of the position to be filled. Some of the steps involved in selection includes; preliminary   interviews; selection interviews; employment tests; assessment centers; medical examinations; reference checks and the final selection and the consequent approval by the top managers. According to G.A. Cole, managerial theory and practice (1996) job training can be defined as a short-term process by which skills and capabilities of non-managerial employees are improved, though a system and organized procedure so as to enable them to be more productive an their jobs. Thus, training is job centered or task oriented which is centered with importing specific skills to subordinate staffs. Job development is used with reference to training given to managers and executives in an organization; thus management or executive development is along-term educational growth process by which managerial person and gains and learns conceptual knowledge for general managerial or administrative purposes. The objectives of training and development are that; training improve technical capacity of an individual on job performance, improves health or safety of employees hence industrial, reduces sported work hence less scrap or material wastage. This reduces the cost of production, prepares personal for future jobs challenges an promotions, enables the employers adapt to a change to work method or procedures, enables two employers learn method of operating real machines and equipment ins talked by a organization example a computer. There are various methods of job training such as on-job training which entails looking what your colleague is doing. This is an internal training method commonest mode of training and the most appropriate method of training employees for the skills required for a specific job. This method is very cheap as the learner is in the wok place where he/she s expected to working in, the learner uses the equipment he is expected to use and also he/she is able to learn the rules, procedure under careful company eyes and is able and easier to size them up. Off the job training is done externally. It ensures that special training equipments are available and the training is of higher equipment are available and the training is of higher quality because it is offered by experts, specialists from outside, the trainee is able to learn in a planned stages using special exercise especially in difficult areas of the job. Off the job training is done lectures can be used where a large group is being trained for a short period of time. In order to improve the effectiveness of training, there must be specific objectives for training. An attempt should be made to determine the suitability of a trainee for potentiality and ability. The trainee must be assisted to see the need for the training. Attempts must be made to create organizational conditions that are good or conductive to learning. A good compensation to employees should be administered through wage and salary administration so as to improve the service delivery of employees. Salary and wage administration involves the direction of programs designed to implement payment of monetary/non monetary rewards to employees. The primary financial reward is pay in form of wages and salaries, sometimes referred to as compensation or remuneration. The objectives of employees compensations programs are designed to attract capable employees to the organization, to motivate them towards superior performance, retain their services over an extended period of time. Employee’s performance appraisal should be done to evaluate the performance and give the feedback on which performance adjustment can be made. REFERENCES 1. G. A. Cole Management Theory and Practice (1996) 2. John Toye Employment Policy, (1995) 3. www.annenberg.northwestern.edu/         

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The Aufbau Principleâ€Definition, Rules and Exceptions

The Aufbau principle, simply put, means electrons are added to orbitals as protons are added to an atom. The term comes from the German word aufbau, which means built up or construction. Lower electron orbitals fill before higher orbitals do, building up the electron shell. The end result is that the atom, ion, or molecule forms the most stable electron configuration. The Aufbau principle outlines the rules used to determine how electrons organize into shells and subshells around the atomic nucleus. Electrons go into the subshell having the lowest possible energy.An orbital can hold at most 2 electrons obeying the Pauli exclusion principle.Electrons obey Hunds rule, which states that electrons spread out before they pair up if there are two or more energetically equivalent orbitals (e.g., p, d). Aufbau Principle Exceptions Like most rules, there are exceptions.  Half-filled and completely filled d and f subshells add stability to atoms, so the d and f block elements dont always follow the principle. For example, the predicted Aufbau configuration for Cr is 4s23d4, but the observed configuration is actually 4s13d5. This actually reduces electron-electron repulsion in the atom, since each electron has its own seat in the subshell. Aufbau Rule Definition A related term is the Aufbau Rule, which states that the filling of different electron subshells is by order of increasing energy following the (n 1) rule. The nuclear shell model is a similar model that predicts the configuration of protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus.

Monday, December 30, 2019

Macbeths Tragic Downfall Portrayed in Shakespeares...

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is full of supernatural forces and events. These supernatural forces were a very big role in the creation of a suspenseful atmosphere as well as in the development of the character Macbeth. Additionally, they justified his changing personality, beliefs, and morals. The inclusion of prophetical witches, ghosts, apparitions and visions eventually led to Macbeth’s tragic downfall. The very first scene of the play introduces supernatural forces in the form of three witches, also known as The Weà ¯rd Sisters. These three witches met Macbeth and Banquo near Forres, where they then proceeded to tell them, mainly Macbeth, a prophesied fate; All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee,†¦show more content†¦By simply planting the idea into his head, the witches gained the ability to motivate Macbeth to do whatever was necessary to fulfill that fate. The bloody dagger was the next supernatural thing that pushed Macbeth towards his deadly fate. In this rather short scene, Macbeth saw a dagger â€Å"[a]nd on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood† (2.1.58) which led him to King Duncan, where he would, on his wife’s ring of the bell, kill him. Although some may argue that Macbeth was going to do this anyways, the bloody dagger was still a pivotal moment for the final decision he would make â€Å"[t]hat summons thee to heaven or to hell† (2.1.78). Without this vision, Macbeth may have faltered and missed his opportunity. This also removed the chance of second-guessing himself. This was the event that led Macbeth into killing King Duncan, and as a result, beginning his tragic downfall. Now that Macbeth had killed the king, he started to become very guilty and continued to wonder whether he actually could become king. The realization that he will never again be innocent and that he will not be able to brag of his previous accomplishments haunted him. If only he was satisfied with the honour he already earned and if his greed and hunger for power had not overwhelmed him, he would have been a much happier and well-off man. However, hindsight is twenty-twenty, and he knew it would just be pointless to turn back now. Nevertheless, heShow MoreRelatedDefining a Hero in Shakespeares Macbeth1308 Words   |  5 Pagesone typically defines a tragic hero, he or she may claim that it is a hero of high class that possesses unprecedented courage and exceedingly strength; thus, a hero who also suffers a calamity of their own downfall and ultimate death through their tragic flaw. Their downfall not only causes infliction on oneself, but also inflicts the society. This can be seen and heavily stressed through William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth. In his play, the reader comes across Macbeth, a noble and honorable heroRead More Macbeth is Not Well-intentioned Essay882 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth is Not Well-intentioned Macbeth is a well-intentioned character whose downfall is caused solely by the evil advice and influence of other characters. To what extent do you consider this statement to be true? In William Shakespeares, Macbeth, Macbeth is a character whose downfall is caused by a number of factors. Despite Macbeth being portrayed as a brave, masculine soldier, he is easily persuaded by his wife, Lady Macbeth and the witches who deliver prophecies to Macbeth.Read MoreMacbeth As A Tragic Hero893 Words   |  4 PagesAndreacchi February 13th 2017 ENG2D1-02 Macbeth as a Tragic Hero A tragic hero can be described as a character obtaining heroic qualities that is, at the same time, destined for their own downfall. Unfortunately, Macbeth is an example of a character that has this title. In Shakespeare’s time during the writing of the play was the reign of King James of England, and the play ‘Macbeth’ reflects on Shakespeare’s own relationship with this king. Someone of great honour, respectRead MoreMacbeth Character Analysis Essay776 Words   |  4 PagesWithin Shakespeare’s Macbeth, themes of inner disorder are woven frequently throughout the play. The audience is shown how powerful exterior influences can contribute heavily to said turmoil. During the plot of the play, Macbeth suffers a tragic deterioration of his sanity and life entirely. This downfall is credited to many factors, such as the guilt Macbeth suffers following his murders. However, Macbeth’s miseries are shown to be a result of his wife’s constant persistence. Within the chosen passageRead MoreThe Tragic Downfall of Lady Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay1202 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tragic Downfall of Lady Macbeth William Shakespeare’s play entitled Macbeth is a bloody tragedy about ambition, evil, guilt and moral corruption. The story emphasizes a lot on the consequences or aftermath of the bad deeds that Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth do and the growing impact it has on them in turn. Lady Macbeth a woman driven by her assertiveness, boldness, strength and ambition for her husband could not escape the guilt that eventually caught up to her and destroyed her.Read MoreMacbeth, By William Shakespeare1682 Words   |  7 PagesWhen we are first introduced to Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth he is illustrated as a loyal warrior hero to Scotland. Macbeth’s recognition on the battlefield helps gain him great honor from King Duncan who later announces him as Thane of Cawdor. However, throughout the play the audience is able to discover his human flaws. Ironically, his first characteristic of being a mighty powerful man actually changes to be a weak man who gets s tepped all over on. Through his soliloquies forRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth As A Butcher828 Words   |  4 PagesAt the end of the play, Malcolm describes Macbeth as a â€Å"butcher†. Do you think that Macbeth is merely portrayed as a â€Å"butcher†? Malcolm’s description of Macbeth as a â€Å"butcher† is appropriate at face value due to Shakespeare’s portrayal of excessive violence, it seems as though Macbeth possesses this â€Å"vaulting ambition† which allows him to endure the tendencies of a â€Å"butcher†. The connotations of a â€Å"butcher† implies a de-sensitised individual capable of slaughtering animals or in this case humansRead MoreMacbeth Critique1404 Words   |  6 Pagescharacter in William Shakespeares Macbeth. So foul and fair a day I have not seen. This is a famous quote by Macbeth, the antagonist in William Shakespeares classic work, The Tragedy of Macbeth. This one line takes place when Macbeth and Banquo are returning from their victory in battle over the Norwegians. Following this quote further it could be looked at in a broader spectrum of Macbeths triumphs and failures. He goes from a warrior hero to a murderer, and lastly, his tragic flaw brings him toRead MoreMa cbeth Historical Context796 Words   |  4 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s Macbeth the male characters Macbeth, Macduff, Banquo and Duncan really give you and insight in to the time the play was written. Shakespeare’s Macbeth was written in the Elizabethan era during King James’ reign as King over 400 years ago. King Duncan is introduced to the play in act 1 scene 2. King Duncan is seen as a great, noble, highly thought of King. He is in The Monarch which is the highest in the social order. â€Å"Go pronounce his present death, And with his formerRead MoreMacbeth As A Tyrant Essay1281 Words   |  6 PagesThe Downfall of a Tyrant Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in 1606, during the reign of James I, who was James IV of Scotland before he became the King of England. James I, was a sponsor of Shakespeare’s theatre, so it is clear that Shakespeare’s work was affected by James I’s sensitivities. Murder and intrigue was a part of the Scottish Reign when James was growing, and in fact, James’s father was murdered when he was just a baby. Macbeth tells the story of a Scottish general who, through prophecies received

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Positive Impact Of Christopher Columbus Discoveries

Positive Impact of Christopher Columbus’ Discoveries The world is a better place because of Christopher Columbus’ important discoveries in the New World. His explorations resulted in the vast expansion of property for Europe, the exchange of goods and cultures between countries and a change in the worldview of geography. Columbus’s explorations were the catalyst for unprecedented trade known as the Columbian Exchange, which started the exchange of goods and ideas that would last for centuries and change the world forever. His discoveries unearthed new perspectives and created a mix of diverse biology between Europe and the New World. These exchanges changed the world we live in today and will continue to fuel centuries of exploration and discoveries. The Columbian Exchange was the beginning of the expansion of trade between the New World and Europe. The Columbian Exchange started the flow of goods between continents that had not shared the same borders since Pangaea. McNeill stated â€Å"Columbus’ voyage, along with the many voyages that followed, disrupted much of the biological segregation brought about by continental drift. (McNeil, 1).† Journalist Charles Mann states in his research for his book, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created, on the Columbian Exchange that â€Å"No other person, changed the face of the Earth as radically as Columbus did. Columbus crossing of the Atlantic, Mann says, marked the start of a new age, not only for the Americas but alsoShow MoreRelatedPositive Impact Of Christopher Columbus s Discoveries1247 Words   |  5 Pages Positive Impact of Christopher Columbus’s Discoveries The world is a better place because of Christopher Columbus’ important discoveries in the New World. His explorations resulted in the vast expansion of property for Europe, the exchange of goods and cultures between countries and a change in the worldview of geography. Columbus’s explorations were the catalyst for unprecedented trade known as the Columbian Exchange, which started the exchange of goods and ideas that would last for centuriesRead MoreThe Discovery Of The New World903 Words   |  4 PagesAfter the discovery of the New World in 1492 many issues and uproars took place. Particularly, Christopher Columbus viewed America as an opportunity for mankind to begin again. While Bartolomeo de las Cases considered the New World a place of abuse for the Native Americans and took the initiative to save the Native people. In general, the Europeans felt that the America had benefits and major setbacks of coming to the new lands. The following documents â€Å"The Meani ng of America†, â€Å"Utilizing the NativeRead More a peoples history Essay example844 Words   |  4 PagesHoward Zinn takes a realistic viewpoint that is not seen in many textbooks, and that is exactly the point. Zinn writes about the dark sides of United States icons, which students are rarely taught about. Through historical examples, such as Christopher Columbus’ treatment of Native American Arawak Indians, Zinn supports his thesis. In Zinn’s book, he displays his displeasure with the way Americans are taught glorified history, as does another author, James Axtell, in his article, â€Å"Colonial AmericaRead MoreThe Impact Of Maritime Technology On The Age Of Exploration1264 Words   |  6 Pagesof Exploration The innovation of maritime technology has revolutionized travel throughout history. Prior to ships and sea travel, humans were separated by vast oceans and confined to their homeland for life. Because of these large boundaries, discoveries and inventions were only shared within land masses and trade as a whole was very limited. This uncharted, inaccessible territory caused a major separation of mankind. However, these oceans sparked curiosity and desire for explorers to venture beyondRead MoreThe Discovery Of The Americas By Christopher Columbus962 Words   |  4 PagesThe discovery of the Americas by the European explorer Christopher Columbus was a pivotal event during the 1450s that posed challenges to the way Europeans viewed the world. Columbus was born in Genoa Italy, and is hailed as one the greatest navigators during his time, inspiring an official American Holiday. However, Columbus’s voyage isn’t all that great of a thing, especially to the native peoples a nd environment of the Americas. Columbus’s deeds are soured by false motives, violence against theRead MorePositive Effects Of The Columbian Exchange837 Words   |  4 Pageseffects were a positive or negative impact on us. The exchange brought diseases and slavery, but it also brought new technologies and culture. Throughout history there have been conquerors and conquered, the Americas are no different. Though the impact on the natives was unpleasant, I believe the Columbian Exchange was a positive event for the New World because it brought technological advances, new ideas, and allowed both the New World and the Old World to progress. When Christopher Columbus first landedRead MoreInfluence Of Science And Religion1564 Words   |  7 Pages1. Q) Compare and contrast the influence of science and religion in the development of humanity. Discuss both the positive and the negative. A) The systematic testing of observations, and the belief of something larger than ourselves, have been part of the human experience since time began. Both science and religion have influenced human thought and civilization. When a question could not be answered by time and observation, people fell back on spiritual explanationsRead MoreEssay on Christopher Columbus1614 Words   |  7 PagesChristopher Columbus Although nearly every phase of any exploration had its good and bad outcomes the benefits of Columbus discovery of the New World far outweigh the negative results of that enterprise; because his discovery stimulated further development of both Europe and the New World. His voyage was an epochal and magnificent discovery in that it confirmed the roundness of the earth and gave new validity to science, expanded trade and opened new markets and led to the industrializationRead MoreEffects Of European Exploration On The World1252 Words   |  6 Pagesalong with the positive influences, came the negative aspects, which impacted cultures and civilizations around the world. European exploration changed travel, trade, health, religion, language, architecture, the economy, and humanity. It is this author’s position that the positive influences and contributions have had a greater impact on growth and development globally than the challenges presented. Historically, the Age of Expl oration shaped the world as we know it today. Many positive effects forRead MoreThe Importance Of Christopher Columbus2256 Words   |  10 Pagescultures. Another way explorers can impact the world is by sharing their experiences and stories through songs, poetry, journals, and books. Past explorations and discoveries have made us who we are today. They have changed our world for the better and for the worse, and will always influence how we explore in the future. Without the contributions of past explorers, our world would not be where we are today. One legendary explorer documented in history is Christopher Columbus. He is one of the most well-known

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Course notes Operations management Free Essays

A lot of things we do, activities such as analyzing, does not add value. Inventory Is a big non-value added activity, If you have two Items (toasters) where one has been there for long and the other Is fairly new. As a customer you want the new one. We will write a custom essay sample on Course notes Operations management or any similar topic only for you Order Now As a manager for the store, the old one costs more because you have to store it. Exercise: What is the input, what is the transformation and finally the output? Accountants: the transformation Is they are doing audits, financial statements etc. The Input Is raw data and the output is audited financial statements. Telecommunication companies: the transformation Is transmission of data, the Input is data and the output is data as well. System example: Restaurant Objectives: make money essentially, fast food or exclusive? Elements: tables, servers, waiters, wine experts, chefs etc. Input: customers Transformation: you feed the customers In an environment they find agreeable. Output: satisfied customers Feedback: Are we making money? They also use Customer satisfaction services. Restaurant Political, Legal: permits, alcohol permits, hourly wages, is tips Included? Economical: Price of food, price of dollar. Social: what type of food people eat. Technological: systems to communicate with the kitchen, ordering or reservations through internet. Ecological: recycling. Example: Strategic, tactical and operational decisions. Strategic: what type of cuisine? The limit, how many tables for which demand? Tactical decision: what type of employees should I recruit? Operational decisions: How to cite Course notes Operations management, Essays

Friday, December 6, 2019

Background to Poem Essay Example For Students

Background to Poem Essay Mending Wall is part of Robert Frosts second anthology of poems entitled North of Boston published in 1914 Having been a farmer, Frost is heavily influenced by nature, resulting in the natural settings and imagery used in many of his poems like the Wood Pile, After Apple Picking and Mending Wall On the surface, Mending Wall appears to be a poem where the speaker contemplates why he and his neighbour have to rebuild the wall demarcating their respective farmlands each spring. However, on a deeper level, the poem is less about the physical separation of the wall and more about the divergences in the modes of thought of two individuals and how the speaker tries to reconcile the mental differences that exist between him and his neighbour Structure of Commentary Given the use of enjambment and blank verse in Mending Wall, I shall adopt a linear analysis of the poem in order to trace the evolving mindset of the speaker as the poem progresses. However, I shall be focusing on three main points in this analysis: The portrayal of the speaker and his neighbour in the poem (1) The creation and use of irony (2) The changing meaning of the wall (3) General Observations The poem can be seen to be divided into two portions, each ending with the neighbours unchanging apothegm: Good fences make good neighbours. Each portion contains its own unique significance to the subject matter of the poem. From lines 1 to 26, the speaker presents his argument against the absurdity of building the wall, to which his neighbour rebuts his stoic addage. From lines 28 to 42, the speaker develops a contentiousness against his neighbour, elucidating the personal differences that exist between them, ironically revealing the need for both characters to reconcile and mend fences, or in this case, the wall. As the poem progresses, there is increasing tension between the speaker and his neighbour as the speaker becomes increasingly aware of the differences in mindset between them. It is the speakers very own contention against the unpragmatic existence of the wall that places him in opposition to his conservative neighbour, ironically confining the speaker himself inside of his own beliefs, rendering him just as inflexible and unchanging as his old stone savage neighbour. By the end of the poem, the wall has become a symbol for the barrier between human contact and understanding. It is erected by all that is primitive, fearful, irrational and hostile (i.e. The neighbour) and is opposed by a higher, more progressive something (i.e. The speaker, and arguably Frost himself) who have become allegorical figures representing opposing views of freedom and confinement, reason and rigidity, tolerance and violence, civilisation and savagery. Lines 0-4 The title of the poem is significant as it creates an arresting image in the mind of the reader of two men mending the wall. Immediately this contextualises the literal subject matter of the poem, aiding understanding on the readers part as the poem develops In the first four lines of the poem, Frost reveals the speaker to be of a causal, light-hearted sort. Although there is a sense of whimsy and mystery about that something that doesnt love a wall, the speaker introduces no complex subjects for the reader to consider. However, through his language and the rhythm of the lines, readers sense the underlying conflict in this poem From these few lines, readers also gain an idea of the speakers character. His discursive indirection, portrayed through the combination of the indefinite pronoun Something and the loose expletive construction there is, the speaker evokes a sense of ruminative vagueness and ambiguity even before the curious subject of walls is introduced. The use of informal, convoluted language provides a linguistic texture for the dramatic conflict, between the mindsets of the speaker and his neighbour, that develops later in the poem. The employment of anastrophe (inversion of grammatical syntax) serves to introduce the speaker as an unorthodox character with an unorthodox mindset (1) The speakers lively imagination is revealed (1) through his diction in describing the destruction of the wall. Something That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it And spills the upper boulder in the sun, And make gaps even two can pass abreast The speaker anthropomorphizes this mysterious, seemingly intelligent force that wrecks the wall from year to year. The three active verbs used in lines 2 to 4 (sendsspillsmake), create a sense of dynamism in the destruction of the wall, calling into question the need for the wall at all if nature herself opposes its existence. Frosts diction in line 2, frozen-ground-swell, seems to imply that winters frost is what undermines the stability of the wall. The concealed pun indicates that Frost himself is against the existence of walls. Lines 5-11 The work of hunters is another thing: The speaker digresses from his preoccupation with the mysterious force that doesnt love a wall into a discussion about hunters who actively tear down the wall in search of rabbits and the rebuilding that follows after, I have come after them and made repair where they have left not one stone on a stone. Again the speakers whimsy and casualness is shown (1) in yet another inversion of syntax (have left not, instead of have not left). The indulgently convoluted style of the speaker evinces his unorthodox character and unrestrained imagination. The speakers mention that the hunters would have the rabbit out of hiding, contains connotations of the exposure of vulnerabilities. The rabbit appears so defenseless against marauding hunters and dog, causing the reader to reconsider the necessity of the wall as it protects our vulnerable aspects from external forces. At this point, the speaker seems to be challenging the implications in his earlier statement, Something there is that doesnt love a wall, and his opposition towards the existence of the wall, showing presence of progressive thought in the speakers mind. 'Porphyria's Lover' and 'My Last Duchess' Essay Ironically, by attacking his neighbours lack of open-mindedness and social interaction, the speaker shows himself to be anti-social, pessimistic and morally-presumptuous. (2)Assuming the worse of his neighbour despite the latters express desire in being good neighbours. The initial irony in the speakers initiation of the spring mending-time, that showed him to be truly progressive and open-minded, unrestricted by his personal convictions, is negated and replaced with a different irony: by criticising his neighbour for taking part in an activity which he initiated, the speaker shows himself to be unfair and even hypocritical. (1) The irony also serves to heighten the undefined tension that exists between the speaker and his neighbour, reaching its climax when the neighbour utters, Good fences make good neighbours, a forceful line to which the speaker has no rebuttal. Frost presents the differences that exists between the two men even through the way they speak. The speaker, is wont to speak in an indulgently convoluted manner, fraught with syntax inversions, digressions and changes in rhythm while his neighbour is seen to be direct, simple and consistent in his speech (1), standing in salient opposition to the speakers rambling argument. Moreover, it is interesting to analyse how the respective aphorisms of the speaker and his neighbour differ. The speakers adage: Something there is that doesnt love a wall, sharply contrasts with the neighbours: Good fences make good neighbours. The speakers use of the word wall evokes a sense of fortification and fear while the neighbours use of the word fence connotes a less threatening image of the division that lies between the two men. The diction employed by the neighbour shows that he sees no sinister implications in the construction of the wall, and therefore does not question its necessity or desirability. The speaker on the other hand, through his criticisms of the wall and his neighbour, exposes his misjudgment as he reads too deeply into the implications of the wall, and only in his imagination does it start to take offense. In this first section of the poem, Frost presents to the reader the quizzical nature of the wall: Is it necessary/unnecessary? Is it desirable/undesirable? Is it threatening/non-descript? However, he does answer any of these questions, nor does he moralise the wall or the characters. He simply demonstrates a case in point, when a person reads too deeply into something, he ends up creating divisions between himself and others, possibly the reason for Frost depicting the speaker as the initiator of the wall, just as he is the initiator of the tension and division between the two men. Lines 28-35 The poem comes full circle when the speaker mentions, Spring is the mischief in me, referencing that mischevious force in the first line that doesnt love a wall. Again, he preoccupies himself with a thought that is to consume him. This time, he ponders over how he can challenge his neighbours point that Good fences make good neighbours. His need to attack his neighbours beliefs creates a barrier between the two, preventing either of them from understanding each other, giving new meaning to the idea of a wall (3). The speaker wonders, If I could put a notion in his head, and attempts to use reason to get his neighbour to question his own beliefsWhy do they make good neighbours? Isnt it where there are cows? But there are no cowsbut is ultimately incapable of challenging his neighbours adage. The theme of parallelism is shown here again, What I was walling in or walling out, indicating again that the speaker and his neighbour are on parallel paths, never to meet each other in consensus. This brings to mind the speakers earlier words, We keep the wall between us as we go (ll. 15) The wall continues to take on its metaphorical meaning of a barrier between two individuals as tension builds up between the two characters in the poem. The speaker becomes more contentious towards his neighbour saying, I could say Elves to him, but its not elves exactly, and Id rather he said it for himself. The speaker implies that his neighbour is stupid, thinking that he would be foolish enough to think that Elves were responsible for the walls destruction. While some readings interpret this as an example of the neighbours backwardness and old-stone savage as he is unable to appreciate the whimsy and light-heartedness of the notion, but it could simply be that the neighbour isnt curious about the reason behind the walls disrepair, and the speaker is simply addressing an uninterested audience. (check validity) Lines 37-43 In the concluding lines of the poem, the speaker finally decides to drop the issue about Something there is that doesnt love a wall, and focuses instead on his neighbour, presenting a vivid and imaginative caricature of him as a old-stone savage that moves in darkness. In doing so, the speaker frees himself from being confined to his pessimistic criticism and returns to his original role as a mere observer, leaving the poem inconclusive and the questions raised in the poem unanswered. The repetition of Good fences made good neighbours shows the perpetuity of the differences between the speaker and his neighbour, who, at this point, have become allegorical representations of diametrically opposed views and ideas, destined to be parallel with each other, never to coincide.