World war 1 poetry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

World war 1 poetry - Essay Example Historical context is a compelling factor in a poem. Two poetic works may be dealing with the same issue or subject but these may differ when it comes to handling because these are based on different historical context. This is a fact that is very obvious when the poems of the early years and those of the later period of World War I are compared. During the early stage, the poems were still filled with idealism, particularly one that centers on the necessity of the war. The early World War I poems did recognize the reality of death but it also handled this subject in a very positive manner. A clear example of such poem is Charles Sorley’s All the Hills and Vales Along which has lines that say â€Å"sow your gladness for earth’s reaping / sow you may be glad, through sleeping / strew your gladness on earth’s bed / so be merry, so be dead† (257). However, the poems written during the later years of the war no longer glorify death and sufferings as noble sacr ifices in a necessary and just war. Instead, what are highlighted in the said poems are the physical and emotional pains suffered by the combatants as they continue fighting a war they gradually came to misunderstand. Death is no longer portrayed in heroic terms but rather as a matter of fact in war. An example of this is The Leveller, which is written by Robert Graves. Those who write about wars best are the very people who are engaged in it. In this regard, it is the men fighting in the front who can describe most accurately the normal human reaction to combat actions. Being soldiers themselves, the poets took a more introspective approach to the war they are fighting. Those who wrote poems at the early period of World War I, when death and destruction were not yet worse focused on glorifying the war itself. The poems were most calls to action and justifications of their respective country’s participation in the war. The message of lines like â€Å"In our heart of hearts b elieving / Victory crowns the just, / And that braggarts must / Surely bite the dust, / Press we to the field ungrieving, / In our heart of hearts believing / Victory crowns the just† from the poem Men Who March Away (Hardy) were common. Apparently, the lines dealt with the issue of death but if this is not glorified as a heroic inevitability, it is associated with the fate of the enemy. However, as the bloody fighting lasted for years and as both sides started to realize that the war only brought about pain and suffering, the poems too began to focus on death and destruction and treating these in ways less than noble. However, while it may be true that the focus of the poems display the differences in perspectives regarding the justness and nobleness of the war as it developed, most of these points out to the inevitability of death and destruction. The poems written in the early years also pointed out that death is inevitable but these also presented death as a necessity. Fro m the perspectives of the Allies, from which side the poets belong, dying in the fight is heroic which accounts for the encouraging lines â€Å"So sing with joyful breath, / For why, you are going to death† (Sorley). At the early stage of the war, when the soldiers were themselves bombarded with exhortations to fight valiantly and the public awash with propaganda on the justness of participating in it, the poems too reflected the general sentiment. These also painted the war positively, making it noble

Idea of Progress Essay Example for Free

Idea of Progress Essay Im going to talk about the notion Idea of progress. To begin with, Id like to give a definition of progress. The idea of progress basically consists in believing that the world can become better in terms of art, science, technology, liberty, and quality of life. However, sometimes progress causes more problems than it solves . Consequently, we are going to weigh the positive and negatives aspects of progress, in science , in medicine and in new technologies. The idea of progress basically consists in believing that the world can become better in terms of art, science, technology, liberty and quality of life and has shaped most of Western civilisations vision of history . Progress implies change, some evolution from an old order with old traditions to a new order which is not necessarily embraced by all . Its at the heart oh a heated debate between those who approve of these changes and those who resist and criticize them in the name of tradition . As the rythm of progress seems to have accelerated these last few decades with an ever faster increase of major technological and scientific breakthroughs, the cult of novelty and progress is now being questioned . Indeed, a growing number of people voice their concern about the ethical, social and environmental consequences of such development and about the excesses of todays consumer society .

Essay -- Papers

Contrasts in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† is a famous romantic drama written by William Shakespeare containing many contrasts within it, portraying the eponymous lovers’ everlasting love for one another. The conflict between the two families; the Montagues and the Capulets makes it almost impossible for them to be together. The play consists of romance and humour building up to the climax of Romeo and Juliet’s death. In the play we are first introduced to the servants Sampson and Gregory, from the Montague household, who have a similar lifestyle to the servants in the Capulet household, who are trying to keep up the reputation of the families. The Capulet household are holding a party where the servants are busy getting food, drinks and decoration ready, whereas Lord and Lady Capulet live the life of luxury where they simply think about marriage, money and parties. In the film we see that the servants are dressed down in black tatty clothing while the upper class people; the masters are wearing bright elaborate clothing. In Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann’s interpretations of the play, they show this because they wanted to emphasise the status between higher and lower social people. The dark clothes also represent the darker days and shows that the servants are emotionally sad, but the masters are expressively happy. The language of the servants compared to the masters is very different. The servants are illiterate and not educated; however, the masters are highly educated and very posh, they can afford schooling, whereas the servants could not. Shakespeare shows this when the servant spea... ...her innocence, beauty and purity. Tybalt is a devil because he is likes to fight, he is evil, seeking trouble and devious. Paris is an astronaut who is rich, successful and out of this planet representing why he is the right person for Juliet to get married to. Lord and Lady Capulet are king and queen of Verona Beach and dress up as Marc Anthony/Julius Caesar and Cleopatra who also die in a similar way to Romeo and Juliet. This play is full of many opposites and contrasts: love and hate, peace and conflict, young and old. It is all mainly to do with historical, cultural and social context. The play sadly ended with the two star-crossed lovers having to give their life for their families to end their fighting. Romeo and Juliet end with these words: â€Å"For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo†.

Communism in Chinese Education

China has a long and rich cultural tradition in which education has played a major role. In 124 BC the first university was established for training prospective bureaucrats in Confucian learning and the Chinese classics. Only members of the upper class could attend school. Peasants and factory workers did not have the time to attend school; therefore as of 1949 only 20% of China was literate. The Communists who controlled China considered illiteracy a major stumbling block in their promotion of political programs. They then combined political propaganda with educational development. During the first few years (1949-51) of this push on education, over 60 million peasants enrolled in winter schools, or sessions, established to take advantage of the slack season for agricultural workers. Mao, the Communist leader of China, felt that the ultimate goal of education was to eliminate class distinction. After Mao†s death in 1976 a review of government policies concerning education was started. Out of this review came standardized testing and the reinstitution of entrance exams to get into schools and these exams were also used to get in the civil service. Chinese children entered school at age six and stayed for six years. They would study the Chinese language, math and other basic subjects. After going to an elementary school children would enter a middle school. The subjects the Chinese taught were particularly important for the advancement of the country. During the Ming dynasty Chinese novels became very popular. There were many poems and collections of short stories. The Ming also established free schools for the public hoping to expand education in china. Gifted students were selected for studying abroad especially in the United States. As these students finished their education and returned to China some of them teaching at Chinese Universities a major political unrest began to place. The recently educated youth of China challenged the Communist policies of their country. Many protest and rallies took place led by university students. This protest was because students did not want the government to have total power. Many of these protestors were killed or jailed and still are in jail today. The more educated the Chinese people became they realized that their present way of life was not as good as it should be.

Childhood Obesity Essay

Obesity can be defined as the condition in which the body is characterized with excess fat by a body mass index of 30+ (Snell, et al, 2007). It is often characterized to have a genetic link i. e. it is a hereditary disease (Carol Torgan, 2002). However, families have common dietary, physical exercise, attitude and other lifestyle habits, which normally are the contributing factors to obesity. These factors sometimes are not easily from the purely genetic factors through statistical or diagnostic task. Albeit obesity is the case of children was once considered as a rare occurrence, it ahs rapidly become an epidemic with medial implications in the United States, as well as other developed states. The number of these obese children is projected to rise even further if stringent measures are not taken to curb this problem. Thus, child obesity is an issue that poses one of the greatest health challenges in the contemporary American society. The effects it has on a child’s life are generally profound, coupled with the fact that other than having to contend with overweight issues, there are numerous health issues that a child is exposed to. This is in addition to both the social and emotional problems that it creates. Once the children become adults the overweight problem does not seize, it continues and even poses other greater risk to the child in form of such conditions like stroke and heart disease. One of the possible root causes of obesity still remains as over consumption of food. When children consume too many calories for their energy needs in most cases has resulted in many modern obesity cases. When the children get to eat too much high fat food or the refined sugary foods, research suggests that they always stand a high percentage of becoming obese. According to researchers there are many metabolic as well as digestive disorders that are brought about by over consumption of refined white carbohydrates together with little or no fiber intake (Vincent Iannelli, 2007). These eating patterns in children are known to interfere with the body metabolic rates thereby causing too much fat storage within their bodies. Some of the related disorders linked to obesity include; insulin resistance, diabetes of type 2 and obesity itself. The effects of all these diseases are still a major concern the world over. Although under these circumstances the diagnosis would reveal that a child has metabolic or even digestive disorder that might be easy to treat parents do have a role to play to ensure that their children are not obese. The level on number of kids suffering from obesity has reached one that is characterized as an epidemic. Fr instance experts estimate that about fifteen percent (15%) of children are suffering from overweight problems, while another 15% one said to be at high risk of becoming overweight (Vincent 2007). Eventually, about two thirds of these current overweight children would end up as obese adults. Fast food is another risk factor that is characterized as a major contributor to overweight in children. Due to its high calorie as well as its high fat ultra sized meals. The contribution that the fast foods make toward the excess fat content within the body of the child is enormous (Gary & Juliet, 2005). The excess fat accumulates within the body tissues as well as the high sugar content that would in effect affect the body’s metabolic and digestives rates. Nevertheless, the role played by parents cannot be down played. As much as the manufactures of the fast foods are to partially be blame for this growing problem, the parents too have their tasks cut out for them. For instance, if they have learned and at least are sensitive enough to know what the effects of the fast foods have on the health of their kids. Parents have the ability to monitor the kind of food that their kids eat. In addition, the kids do not have the money to purchase these fast foods, as well as sensitizing their children’s health (Summerfield, Liane M 2007). Equally, since the dietary habits are common in almost all families it must be that either a child who is getting hooked into the various fast foods could just be picking a habit from his/her parents or from the family. It is also very hard for young children to pick up eating habits or any dietary habits that his or her parents do not approve of least of all are not practiced with the family. Many children who suffer from obesity and other related health problems often are less active. This may be due to such issue like addiction to television as well as such other activities as video games. When kids stay up all day or all night and on a frequent basis, the chances of them become obese increases. This risk factor is another contributor to obesity. Due to the inactivity that characterizes sitting down watching TV and the video games. A lot of people including parents have tended to blame the media as a whole laying a blanket condemnation and particularly directed their anger at the people who design the TV and video games programs for the kids. Much as it is admissible that the designers of these programs have a crucial role to play both in ways to help bring down the addiction aspect of the children to their games, and also to help limit the number of children suffering from obesity but with links to video or TV games. The role played by the media would only be supplementary. The program editors should also at least try to put such warming messages that would forewarn children against the dangers of excessive indulgence and addiction to their games. Once the program editors and the designers of these games have done their part then parents too have the bigger role to play. Another cause of obesity is genetically factors. Obesity as a disease is hereditary and as such runs with the family. A child who has an obese parent or someone in his or her lineage stands high-risk chance of becoming over weight. The genes from the parents or the grand parents are carried down to the child. However, genetics alone does not cause obesity, this is a condition that is only made possible to affect a child if the child eats excess food. The genetic link only makes it highly likely for the child to become obese. Nevertheless, when the child engages in eating or dietary habits that would make his or her consume large amounts of calories that he or she is not able to expend of in her body system then she will definitely develop obesity. Dietary habits mostly children’s eating lifestyles have away from the traditional healthy foods that includes fruits, vegetables as well as whole grains to new an to a larger extent, much reliance on fast food, sugary drinks together with processed snack goods as well as many other foods that are high in fat content and sugar. Due to their high gat content and/or high calories while remaining low on fiber content. Eating patterns such as having a meal while listening to radio watching TV, watching video games as well as eating while doing homework have also been identified as risk factors for the causes of obesity. Another factor which is socio-economic status ahs also been cited as risk factors for the cause of obesity. Families with lower income and with parents who are non-working have been linked to greater calorie intake for activity level. This is because the poor families cannot be able to afford health and low on fat content foods. Laziness Often defined as physical inactivity. The growing popularity among children with computer, television, video games among other activities that are found in electronic media has transformed to a growing sedentary lifestyle for many of the children within the United States of America. It has been established through research that within the United States alone, children spend a minimum of 3 hours watching TV in a single day. This habit encourages laziness and ensures that the child expends very little of energy that he or she has consumer. Further this habit encourages others acts like snacking. Due its nature, it is high in calories and since the child would spend most of the time sited, fact is she or he will not find time to release the calories consumed Brian Wansink, 2006). It is estimated that less than half of the children within the united states have parents who do routine physical exercise, and that just one third of children within the united states can access physical education facilities at school on or daily basis. The () busy schedule by parents and constant fears about the safety of their children has made it almost impossibility for kids to engage in any sports or other programs of activity after school, as they have to rush home in time. If the parents can cut down on the number of hours that children watch TV, video games and play computer games then the risks associated with media would come down as the level of laziness would be eroded if not eradicated. When parents get involved in regular exercises most likely their children too may develop interest and thus burn off excess calories and keep physically fit. The parents should also ensure that their kids are enrolled in schools where they can access physical education facilities regularly as is designed in the curriculum. If the parents took their time and organized their schedules as well as ensuring safety for their kids so as to allow them ample time to have to engage themselves in after school sports activities. During infancy, parents too can help the cause of preventing obesity through the continued breast feeding of the baby and delaying of the introduction process. Older children can be helped by their parents to develop good dietary habits, by eating healthy, nutritious food while at the same time engaging in regular exercise. In view of all these factors, from the genetics, environment to the physical activity of the child there is no particular point when the parent does not have role to play to prevent the child from being obese. As such I do believe that all the parents are to be blamed for the problems that obese children have. Reference: 1. ^http://www. obesity. org/subs/childhood/prevalence. shtml 2.   http://www. ausport. gov. au/aasc/about_aasc/facts. asp 3.   Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think (2006), Brian Wansink New York: Bantam-Dell.

Adderall essays

Adderall essays The Wonder Drug? In todays society we believe in a quick fix in anything that ails us society. Most Americans want to be healed quickly; we want a quick fix for all our aches and pains. There is a fairly new drug on the market that is called Adderoll. Adderall, is a stimulant for children who suffer from attention deficit disorder. It is used to help the person taking Adderall concentrate on the task on hand. However, these people who suffer from A.D.D. depend on Adderall, they need it to make them more controllable, and pay attention better in class.Like most new drugs they are very effective and have changed many poor students into successful students. However, in todays society children, young adults, and adults will take advantage of a good thing. Adderall is being abused in college and high school campuses across the United States. We have to do something to limit the misuse of Adderall that is being distributed through prescription use. What exactly is ADD? Approximately two million children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADD (BainL.J.).Bain, an expert in dealing with ADD says, Its estimated that 3-5% of the student population have ADD(20). Dr. Jaksa, an expert in ADD and Adderall states ADD is a diagnosable, treatable, biologically based disorder which we understand now much better than we did even 10 to 15 years ago (12). The primary systems include some combinations of inattentiveness or distractibility, impulsivity, for some people physical restlessness or hyperactive behavior (Bain). ADD is one of the most common childhood disorders. The symptoms that are seen with ADD are having lots of difficult paying attention, difficulty listening, difficulty with organization, gets distracted easy, cants sit still and the examples go on and on (Bain). These examples are pretty severe and con...

Free Essays on Examining Gender Gaps in Heterosexuals Opions

EXAMINING GENDER GAPS IN HETEROSEXUAL’S OPINIONS ABOUT LESBIANS AND GAY MEN Abstract This study uses a focus group technique to examine gender differences in heterosexual attitudes towards homosexuality. The interactions and content of two focus groups, one all male and one all female, are compared. The female group is found to be supportive and in favour of adoption rights for same-sex couples, whereas the all male group express their distaste of homosexuality and agree no such rights should be afforded same-sex couples. Introduction Despite heterosexual society’s apparent acceptance of homosexuality, there is still widespread prejudice, misconceptions and stereotypical beliefs about gay people and same sex couples. Gregory M Herek (2002) found that heterosexual women were more supportive than men of adoption rights for gay people and less likely to hold stereotypical beliefs about gay people. Heterosexual men were generally found to have very negative attitudes towards gay men and were least supportive of adoption rights for gay men. This report looks at distinguishing attitudes towards lesbians and those focused on gay men, and also examines the differences in opinions between male and female heterosexuals. The qualitative method of collecting data was chosen because it was felt that the focus group would bring more honest views to the surface. The alternatives such as questionnaires or one-to-one interviews tend to produce answers that participants feel the interviewer wants to hear and also that give a favourable impression of themselves. Focus groups also allow the researcher to collect a greater amount of information in a very short time. Method Two focus groups were conducted, each with five participants, one of which consisted of all females and the second one all males. Participants were university students aged from 18 to 4* and were an opportunity sample. The participants were seated around a ... Free Essays on Examining Gender Gaps in Heterosexual's Opions Free Essays on Examining Gender Gaps in Heterosexual's Opions EXAMINING GENDER GAPS IN HETEROSEXUAL’S OPINIONS ABOUT LESBIANS AND GAY MEN Abstract This study uses a focus group technique to examine gender differences in heterosexual attitudes towards homosexuality. The interactions and content of two focus groups, one all male and one all female, are compared. The female group is found to be supportive and in favour of adoption rights for same-sex couples, whereas the all male group express their distaste of homosexuality and agree no such rights should be afforded same-sex couples. Introduction Despite heterosexual society’s apparent acceptance of homosexuality, there is still widespread prejudice, misconceptions and stereotypical beliefs about gay people and same sex couples. Gregory M Herek (2002) found that heterosexual women were more supportive than men of adoption rights for gay people and less likely to hold stereotypical beliefs about gay people. Heterosexual men were generally found to have very negative attitudes towards gay men and were least supportive of adoption rights for gay men. This report looks at distinguishing attitudes towards lesbians and those focused on gay men, and also examines the differences in opinions between male and female heterosexuals. The qualitative method of collecting data was chosen because it was felt that the focus group would bring more honest views to the surface. The alternatives such as questionnaires or one-to-one interviews tend to produce answers that participants feel the interviewer wants to hear and also that give a favourable impression of themselves. Focus groups also allow the researcher to collect a greater amount of information in a very short time. Method Two focus groups were conducted, each with five participants, one of which consisted of all females and the second one all males. Participants were university students aged from 18 to 4* and were an opportunity sample. The participants were seated around a ...