English essay

English

  • Word count: 446
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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Shakespeare(TM)s Satire of the Superiors

Shakespeare's Satire of the Superiors When regarding the upper-class of the Elizabethan era, many thoughts would come to mind, most of them would revolve around - sharp, deserving, and fair. However, if closely observed, one would find that this is not the case with all of them. In fact, some members of the higher class (which included the nobles, the royals and the church) were the opposite of the image they projected. Many were quite unintelligent, disloyal, over-confident and selfish. William Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights to date, quite often addresses this topic in many of his historical plays - including one of his most prominent - King Richard the III. Through his portrayal of the actions, thoughts and personality of King Edward, Lord Hastings, and the Duke of Buckingham, Shakespeare challenges the stereotype of upper class as being morally upright, intelligent and honorable. Throughout the play, King Edward is portrayed as an irresponsible king who lives only for "personal pleasures". He is seen as someone who cares little for the crown and his country and more for his mistresses, especially Jane Shore. Edward's actions and thoughts not only proved him a bad ruler but also created more opportunities for trouble, which results in a mutual hatred between the Woodvilles and his brother. King Edward has many traits not fit for a king - the most prominent

  • Word count: 1362
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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Romeo and Juliet Essay

Discuss the ideas developed by the author involving the riskiness of youth and the caution of age? In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare fully develops the idea of riskiness of age. The books main characters Romeo and Juliet, are constantly taking very dangerous risks, these instances highlight the two lovers tender ages. Throughout the book many young people are killed or harmed under the backdrop of immaturity and the lack of wisdom in youth. The books wiser characters such as the Nurse and Friar Lawrence also take risks but unlike the younger characters plan wisely and are cautious. The inexperience and lack of wisdom in early adolescent years causes adolescents to feel invincible which causes them to take unwise and foolish choices, however as one grows one feels more and more vulnerable and through life becomes wiser leading to sensible choices. William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story that leaves one moved and gives one much to ponder. Shakespeare's protagonist characters Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are from to very influential families which are engaged in a blood thirsty feud. When Romeo and Juliet first meet, very swiftly, they instantly fall head over heels in love without thought. When Juliet discovers Romeo is a Montague she at first expresses grief to the fact that he is her archenemies lonesome son but then through

  • Word count: 768
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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Pros and Cons of having only child

Most psychologists have perceived the only-child as socially deprived (Hall, 1987). They are socially maladjusted, and attention and dependence seeking (Jiao et al., 1986). Two 1972 U.S. public opinion polls found that approximately 78% of white Americans thought that only-children were disadvantaged (Blake, 1974), and that they were more unsociable and aggressive than non-only children. Although studies such as Chow & Zhao's (1996) report that only-children are high academic achievers due to greater parental attention and educational investment, it seems that there were negative stereotypes about them, particularly during the pre-industrial baby-boom era. In contemporary times, there appears to be a favorable change of heart toward the only-child (Poston & Falbo, 1990; Taffel, 1997). Raising an only child is a special experience shared by an increasing number of parents. Whereas biological conditions have always dictated that some couples would have just one child, various other, more conscious factors have now entered the picture as well. First and foremost, difficult economic times have caused many mothers and fathers to limit their family size. After all, raising even one child in today's world can be quite expensive. In addition many mothers and fathers are worried about the effects of over-population on the environment, deciding that one child is sufficient to continue

  • Word count: 1598
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart Character Response Jerry /1/2010 Nigeria, an African country of a befuddling history, is the chosen setting for Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. In the midst of the novel, readers find themselves audiences for a story of cultural collision. Many characters recoiled in sheer disgust and fright at the sudden outburst of British rule, while others embraced it wholeheartedly, yearning for release from their own ridiculous traditions. Achebe has outshone himself by establishing the proper sense of cultural rejection and one of appreciation, through the palpable description of numerous character personalities. In the far off village of Umoufia, lived a man of past grievances, a man of massive build and an insatiable hunger for revenge. This man was familiarly known as Okonkwo, the village's most horrid and terrible chap, haunted by the ghost of his past. His father, Unoka, had paved a way of shame and poverty for his son, which Okonkwo never ceased to attempt to erase. Caught in his most unnatural fascination, Okonkwo refused to accept the presence of foreigners in his land. Simply forgetting all traditions and falling victim to the British enforced regime revolted Okonkwo, and he merely brushed the entire notion off as one would do to an irksome fly. Abandoning trying to regain his son, Nwoye, who had clasped at the new religion with such force, Okonkwo

  • Word count: 1111
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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To Kill a Mocking Bird

Socialising is a very complicated process, for we often make unjustified assumptions that lead to misunderstandings or even worst, it might even cause the innocents to suffer. In "To Kill a Mocking Bird," it was demonstrated a number of times, both in court and in every day life, often caused by people's limited observations skills causing misjudgements; Jem and Scout made that mistake, thinking his dad is "old and feeble" and maybe useless but in reality he is actually a great shooter who doesn't like to boast about his talents. I truly admire the Atticus's personality, he was not thought highly by his town folks because he was humble and was not bind by the "fashion" in town. Harper Lee had uncovered the truth of human nature; because of Atticus's appearance and modesty, he was not justified fairly. Just like the old saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover", sadly, this is a philosophy that many cannot achieve. Inessential factors including bias, appearance racial hatred and so for always get in the way of justification, twisting the fact into the justifier's favor and that is when injustice happen. In To Kill a Mockingbird, this had happened a number of time, even children had inherited this bad vile trait, including the main characters- Jem and Scout. In chapter 10, it was demonstrated when they were justifying Atticus on p.98: "Our father didn't do anything. He

  • Word count: 908
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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To Kill A Mockingbird

Commentary writing on To Kill a Mocking Bird In the book "To Kill a Mocking Bird", the author depicts Scout as a brave, innocent, boyish and yet intelligent young girl. These characteristics of little Scout is demonstrated through her various speeches, her actions and her thoughts throughout the story. As a narrator of the whole novel, Scout reflects on every single happening in her life and shares her own opinions about the people and events around her with the readers. It is from these reflections and opinions of Scout, that the readers are able to conclude of Scout's true nature and personality. There are many examples shown in the book, where Scout is displayed as a young brave girl, compared to all the other kids at her age. One example is the scene where Scout bravely speaks up to the teacher to help the poor boy in her class who did not bring lunch with him. "I turned around and saw most of the town people and the entire bus delegation looking at me. Miss Caroline and I had conferred twice already, and they were looking at me in the innocent assurance that familiarity breeds understanding." Nobody in the classroom was brave enough to tell the teacher about Walt Cunningham's background, except Scout, to whom they all automatically glanced at for help. From this scene, it is clearly seen that Scout not only leaves a brave personality and impression in the minds of her

  • Word count: 971
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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The text under analysis is taken from the book Doctor in the House written by Richard Gordon.

“Doctor in the House” by R. Gordon The text under analysis is taken from the book “Doctor in the House” written by Richard Gordon. Richard Gordon is the pen name used by Gordon Ostlere, an English surgeon and anaesthetist. As Richard Gordon, Ostlere has written numerous novels, screenplays for film and television and accounts of popular history, mostly dealing with the practice of medicine. He is most famous for a long series of comic novels on a medical theme starting with Doctor in the House. Gordon worked as anaesthetist at St. Bartholomew's Hospital (where he was a medical student) and later as a ship's surgeon and as assistant editor of the British Medical Journal. In 1952, he left medical practice and took up writing full time[1]. The text is devoted to the final examinations at the medical institutions and tells us about the condition of students before, during and after exams. It begins with the comparison the final exams with death; this image presents the students’ attitude to the event. The author gives the description of preparation for the examinations. Then the narrator depicts the procedure of the exams which consists of two parts: written papers, after which one of the students gives a very specific theory of the way the tripos is marking at Cambridge; and the viva – the oral examination, before which he characterizes different types of

  • Word count: 1395
  • Level: International Baccalaureate
  • Subject: Languages
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