Rachel Carson, the author of "Obligation to Endure," claims that man isdestroying the earth by science, specifically by the use of chemicals

Rachel Carson, the author of "Obligation to Endure," claims that man is destroying the earth by science, specifically by the use of chemicals. Throughout Carson's essay, she points out "man's war against nature" (458); by using chemicals on, for example, crops to produce better agriculture, man has too much power and control over nature. Carson begins her claim by offering statements about how man has and is destroying the environment. She accuses man of "poisoning" nature through the use of chemicals. The chemicals are harmful, Carson says, "and pass mysteriously by underground streams until they emerge and, through the alchemy of air and sunlight, combine into new forms that kill vegetation, sicken cattle, and work unknown harm on those who drink from once pure wells" (457). Carson quotes Albert Schweitzer a physician who says, "man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation" (457). Carson gives the reader facts and details about these chemicals and how they eliminate not just the "bad" but also the "good" insects and plants for example, that may be effective in environmental growth. Carson believes that as man tries to eliminate unwanted insects and weeds, however he is actually causing more problems by polluting the environment with, for example, DDT and harming living things. Carson adds that the "intensification of

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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'The Birthday Party' by Harold Pinter is a study of power- where it comes from and how it is wielded.' Discuss with particular reference to Act One.

English Coursework Harold Pinter and Power By Jodie Gloster 'The Birthday Party' by Harold Pinter is a study of power- where it comes from and how it is wielded.' Discuss with particular reference to Act One. The Birthday Party is a play right written by Harold Pinter. The play is based on power. The dictionary definition of power is' The ability to act or produce an effect' or 'possession of control, authority, or influence over others' In the play there are several characters. These include Petey, a man in his sixties and his wife Meg, who is also in her sixties. Stanley is a man in his late thirties and a guest at Petey's and Meg's hotel. Goldberg and McCann then later become guests. Goldberg is a man in his fifties and McCann is a man of thirty. Lulu occasionally visits in the play; she is a young lady in her twenties. In the play right everyone seems to have power over everyone at some point apart from Meg and Lulu. From the start of Act One Petey pays no attention to Meg. He reads his newspaper and acts really disinterested towards her. An example of this is on page 10. Meg says "What does it say" and Petey simply replies "Nothing much." He makes her feel like she has to make conversation with her. This type of power is used without any effort. It is gained by silence towards the other person. You can imagine this one stage with Meg being very enthusiastic and

  • Word count: 1284
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - The audience, the Pentangle and the Green Sash

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: The audience, the Pentangle and the Green Sash Although some early manuscripts of the poem 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' still exist, nothing, beyond speculation, is known about the poet, which is a pity when considering its rich language and imagery. Believed to have been written between 1375 and 1400, and some 2500 lines long, the unknown poet blent a unique mixture of chivalry, the Beheading Game and the temptation of a knight called Sir Gawain into probably the best example of an Arthurian romance. In this essay, the alliterative language and style of this poem will be seen to reflect the period and place that it was written as well as the audience for whom it was intended. With reference to the 'Sir Gawain' text, the use of the pentangle and the green sash, representing truth and untruth will be studied. Together, they will be shown to fit within the major theme of the whole poem. Particular attention will be paid to how these emblems might have been interpreted by the court audience of that period. 'Sir Gawain' was written in local dialect and its language ...'contains many harsh-sounding words of Norse origin...' (Stone, 1974 p 10). Partly because of the characteristics of the dialectic text, it has been placed as having been written in the north-west midlands, probably Shropshire. The poet also shows knowledge of a particular

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"… since reportage, unlike literature, lifts the screen from reality, its lessons are - and ought to be - more telling; and since it reaches millions untouched by literature, it has an incalculably greater potential." Discuss.

ALAN RODEN MSc JOURNALISM MARK MEREDITH JOURNALISM 1 Assignment 1: "... since reportage, unlike literature, lifts the screen from reality, its lessons are - and ought to be - more telling; and since it reaches millions untouched by literature, it has an incalculably greater potential."1 John Carey, The Faber Book of Reportage. Discuss. Literature and reportage are very different ways of using words for different purposes and with very different effects. Carey differs between the two by describing imaginary literature as "a willing suspension of belief,"2 and by stating that reportage "lays claim directly to the power of the real."3 I shall further examine how the two concepts differ and discuss the author's argument that reportage delivers more potent lessons to a greater number of people. The difference between literature and reportage is fundamentally based on the separation of creativity from reality. Whilst works of fiction may be based in the real world or even based on real stories or real people, literature still remains aloof from actual history. Upon finishing a book, readers may detach themselves from its content in the knowledge that it was a creative story. In contrast, all understanding of the past, whether centuries or minutes old, is based on actual reportage, where the best journalism catches history on the hoof. In Crawford Gillian's editorial preface to

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"A heavily satirical portrait" Discuss with reference to the description of the Prioress in "The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales."

"A heavily satirical portrait" Discuss with reference to the description of the Prioress in "The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales." The Prioress is the first of Chaucer's female characters, as well as being the first pilgrim whose life should have been dedicated to the church. She paves the way for the Monk and the Friar, her portrait, like theirs, shows religious deviance, although hers is to a lesser extent. Chaucer beings the portrait with a compliment on her smile referring to it as "ful simple and coy." The adjective themselves lend an air of naivety to her description but nuns should not smile and the adjective most suiting her should have been solemn and sober. He then informs us that "hir greeteste oath was but by seint Loy." Another sin as far as nuns are concerned but this may have been overlooked in its ironic gesture, swearing by a saint who never swore himself. Chaucer gives the Prioress a name, "Egletine" and once again presents us with the antithetical nature of this nun. Egletine is not a the name of a saint1 but that of both a wild rose and the name of a heroine in a romance story. The name itself connotes the whimsical nature of the prioress as well as highlighting just how ill-suited she is to ecclesiastical life. Chaucer, in his apparently artless way, compliments her singing, "entuned in hir nose ful semely." The word "semely" has a double meaning

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Behind the Scenes at the museum" - Kate Atkinson Consider the effectiveness of the title. You may wish to consider the "behind the scenes" quality of the telling of the story and the notion of a "museum".

Coursework "Behind the Scenes at the museum" - Kate Atkinson Consider the effectiveness of the title. You may wish to consider the "behind the scenes" quality of the telling of the story and the notion of a "museum". "I exist!" So begins the novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum. Ruby Lennox has literally just been conceived and is already starting to narrate her life story. Although many of the chapters in the book are told from Ruby's perspective, commenting on the present, there are others that follow called footnotes. These depict stories from the past, explaining how and why certain things came to be, following various members of her family dating back to her great grandmother. At the beginning of the book, we are not quite sure how these footnotes are relevant, but realise after a short time that they are vital to the insight and understanding of many of the complicated characters in the book. The footnotes are spread throughout the entire course of the book, which means that the beautiful story unfurls gradually, leaping from past to present, fitting together magically in front of you, up until the very last chapter. To fully understand this book, you must first fully understand the title. The notion of a "museum" is interesting. Thinking about an actual museum, you can look at the exhibits, you can read the information on them, but you can never fully understand

  • Word count: 1208
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Charlotte's Web": A Place in the Heart.

"Charlotte's Web": A Place in the Heart No matter their age, once a reader begins E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" they are immediately immersed in the story and eager to embark on an adventure with Wilbur and Charlotte. It is not an easy task to write a novel that can be appreciated by so many. However, within the setting of the Zuckerman's farm E.B. White creates wonderfully diverse characters that the reader can become acquainted with. With these characters the reader learns and experiences situations they have or will encounter during their lives. Charlotte's Web is not simply a story about life on a farm; there is a much deeper level to the narrative. Throughout the pages of his story, E.B. White explores several topics that have significant universal resonance; the gratification of having a loyal friend, the reality of growing up, and the subject of death, something we all fear. The intention of this paper is to exhibit the relevance of these three themes to the story and their role in providing the reader with life lessons. Firstly, I will examine the relationship of Wilbur and Charlotte and how it provides an important message to the readers. Secondly, I will discuss the maturity of Fern and how it changes throughout the novel. And finally I will explore the topic of death and how it is dealt with throughout the text. Wilbur's first encounter with Charlotte comes at a

  • Word count: 1677
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Dracula"- sexual women

"Dracula"-sexual women Phyllis Roth believs dracular has remained so popular throughout the years as it involves a fantasy that is shared and understood by many, and this fantasy is strongly linked to the Oedipus complex. The fantasies of this novel change horror into pleasure. Dracula's hostility to female sexuality would have been appealing to both the victorians and 20th century reader and Carrol Fry compares the vimpiressess to the fallen women of 18th and 19th century novels. The division between the dark and the fair women and the fallen and idealised is clear. Roth states ; quote "Perhaps nowhere is the dichotomy of sensual and sexless women more dramatic than it is in Dracula and nowhere is the suddenly sexual woman more violently and self-righeously persecuted than in stoker's thriller". Vampirism and sexuality are closely related, and Freud observes "morbid dread always signifies repressed sexual wishes". Although the tone of morbid dread is evident throughout the novel, also is that of lustful anticipation; anticipation of killing dracular himself and anticipation of a sexual consummation. One instance of morbid dread mixed with sexual desire is when Harker meets Dracula's 3 vamire women; "All three had brilliant white teeth that shone like pearls against the ruby of their voluptuous lips. There was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Enduring Love" How appropriate is the title of the novel?

"Enduring Love" How appropriate is the title of the novel? At first glance, "Enduring Love" may seem a simple title for a novel, not one that invokes serious thought for the reader. Although we expect a story of love, we are presented with a much more complicated array of events revolving around three people, all with their own version of "Enduring Love". Ultimately the story revolves around the somewhat content relationship between Joe Rose, an accomplished and well-respected science writer and his partner Clarissa Mellon, a Keats scholar and university lecturer that is until the intrusion by Jed Parry. Brought together by a ballooning accident, Joe and Jed momentarily exchange words, but this moment is the catalyst for a fixation by the younger man, Jed Parry, for the protagonist of the story, Joe Rose. Clarissa also witnesses the accident but she, like Joe, misses the moment that spawns the obsession, which rips their lives apart and in due course, breaks apart their relationship. There are two types of love themes running through this novel, one of obsession and one of pure love. The one of obsession is obviously the love Jed feels for Joe and the pure love is that of Clarissa and Joe. As Jed becomes more and more fixated on Joe, Joes relationship with Clarissa increasingly dwindles until the point where they call it a day and end their relationship. Early on in the

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Enslaved": An Explicative Analysis.

Camille Y. Gomez @01117935 African-American Poetry "Enslaved" Revision 03/02/04 "Enslaved": An Explicative Analysis Claude McKay's "Enslaved" discusses exactly what the title suggests, slavery. In this poem, McKay utilizes repetition of various hard and soft consonant sounds to contribute to the general theme of oppressive white power over the despondent blacks. One of the most noticeable patterns in the poem is the constant hissing sound produced by the "s" in various words in each line. This hissing sound generates the image of a snake in the reader's mind. Oh when I think of my long-suffering race In this line, the poet uses the words "suffering" and "race" in their connotative meaning to emphasize the importance of this opening line. These two words now assume different qualities, those of a slithering snake. For weary centuries despised, oppressed, The poet is taking the reader on a journey; the snake is the tour guide. In this line the repetition of the hissing sound is heard in the words "centuries", "despised", and "oppressed". However, the poet also introduces contrast between soft sounds and hard sounds. The "d" sound in contrast with the "s" sound represents the contrast between the white oppressors and the enslaved blacks. Enslaved and lynched, denied a human place The contrast between hard and soft (blacks and whites) continues. The reader

  • Word count: 912
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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