Snow Falling On Cedars - Chapter 1 Essay: Plot, Setting And Character.

Snow Falling On Cedars Chapter 1 Essay: Plot, Setting And Character By Lauren Reading The novel Snow Falling On Cedars by David Guterson is set on the fictional small island of San Piedro. The first chapter opens in a court room in the islands only town of Amity Harbour at the murder trial of Carl Heine. In this chapter are given insight into the ways of the island and it's inhabitants including the three main characters- Kabuo, Ishmael and Hatsue. In this essay I will discuss how Guterson establishes plot, character and setting. The story opens with the accused man Kabuo. It is immediately obvious that he has a strong character: 'Kabuo showed nothing- not even a flicker of the eyes.' The stress of being accused of murder has not visibly affected him. This may be a sign of his confidence, he knows he has nothing to be guilty of. It may also be due to his high sense of pride- he doesn't like to show weakness and therefore remains detached. With the help of the narrator, however, the readers get a view into his thoughts. 'he realized now.' Through this use of focalisation the reader learns a little about his thoughts. 'furious wind-whipped flakes against the windows- struck him as infinitely beautiful.' This highlights that he can appreciate nature but there is also a slight indication at anger. The snow may also serve as a metaphor- the fact he cannot feel or touch this

  • Word count: 1158
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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A Voice of Internal Conflict.

A Voice of Internal Conflict The most insightful and interesting stanzas can be found in a lyric poem. In this type of poetry, the voice in the writing is essentially that of the poet. An accurate example of this is "A Far Cry from Africa" by Derek Walcott. The attitudes of the speaker in this poem represent the same sentiments and experiences of the author himself. Walcott is a man of African descent, raised in the Caribbean on the ex-British colony island of St. Lucia1. This history of growing up in an English environment, aware of an opposing descent, influenced the life and work of Walcott. In this poem, he expresses the theme through the speaker's attitude, perception of his environment, internal conflict, and the tone and mood that are created by these elements. The feelings of the speaker toward the subject of the poem are very clear. He openly criticizes the brutality between the Africans and the colonial settlers. The language of the poem demonstrates that the speaker is angry at the entire situation and judgmental of both parties involved. Phrases such as "Corpses are scattered through a paradise" (4) and "his wars dance.."(19) combine the presence of violence with positive concepts. The speaker is mocking the brutality by describing it using the words "paradise" and "dance", that are normally associated with celebration and bliss. He refuses to accept the motives

  • Word count: 997
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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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

  • Word count: 461
  • 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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'The new girl'.

'The new girl' Wow what a month it was. I barely know where to begin. Let's start by admitting that it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I would've preferred to be back at my old school, however, it was okay going to a school that had no boys at it. My first week was horrendous, though. I was the new girl and I was stared at and asked a hell of a lot of questions. All the girls were sussing me out to see if I had the potential to fit into their gangs, however, I don't think that I made a very good impression; nobody was rushing to sit next to me in class, or inviting me to join their groups at lunchtime. I spent every afternoon of my first week at Mary MacKillop College crying and complaining to mum about how much my new school sucked. Poor Mum, if only I had known that she was having a hard time herself fitting into her new work placement. However, in my usual style, when things are bad, I don't think about anyone else's feelings but my own. It wasn't until Dad told me that me how upset mum was that I realised how totally selfish I was being and how I should've been trying to help her, instead of making life hell for all of us. I decided to write off that first week and start fresh with the second week. I got up extra early on the Monday morning and as I was strolling to school, I kept thinking about what my sister had said to me. "You should think yourself

  • Word count: 851
  • 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

  • Word count: 2032
  • 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

  • Word count: 1324
  • 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

  • Word count: 704
  • 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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