Critical Discussion Of The Ryanair Strategy For Past 3-5...

Case Study on Ryan Air Critical Discussion of the Ryanair Strategy for past 3-5 years †¢ Summary of the Ryan Air The Ryan family founded Ryanair in 1985 by Tony Ryan, head of the family. The company was started to provide scheduled passenger airline services between Ireland and the UK, as an alternative to the then state monopoly carrier, Aer Lingus. In 1990s, Ryanair became the Europe’s first low-fares, no-frills carrier, built on the model of the highly successful Texas based operator South Western Airlines. Around this time Ryanair adopted also new management team, led by Michael O’Leary who was appointed by Tony Ryan. Ryanair was incorporated as a holding company in 1996 and floated on the Dublin and London stock exchanges and†¦show more content†¦Ryanair primarily advertises its services in national and regional newspapers and also making itself clear through controversial and topical advertising, press conferences and publicity stunts. Other marketing activities are distributing advertising and promotional material and making campaigns with other travel-related enti ties. Ryanair also contacts people that are in there database by sending them special offers by e-mail (Hernà ¡ndez, 2009, pg371). Furthermore, Ryanair offers good on-time flights, minimum of cancelled flights and a minimum of luggage losses. Also Ryanair has made a passenger charter with the following commitments: 1. Offer the lowest price at all time on all routes 2. No fuel surcharge guaranteed 3. Honour the agreed fare after payment 4. Notify passengers of known delays, cancellations and diversions 5. Minimize the numbers of passengers facing delays 6. Allow reservation changes 7. Respond quickly to passenger complaints and provide prompt refunds 8. Speed up check-in 9. Minimize involuntarily denied boarding. 10. Provide Passenger Information 11. Information to passengers at the time of booking †¢ Corporate Strategy of Ryan Air i. Strategic development The strategy of Ryanair is partly described in the summary of this report. In the following points it will become clearer how this strategy is built up by usingShow MoreRelatedRyanair Analyses44239 Words   |  177 PagesMaster’s thesis M.Sc. in EU Business Law An analysis of the European low fare airline industry - with focus on Ryanair Student: Thomas C. Sà ¸rensen Student number: 256487 Academic advisor: Philipp Schrà ¶der Aarhus School of Business September 13, 2005 1 Table of contents 1. Introduction 1.1. Preface 1.2. Research problem 1.3. Problem formulation 1.4. Delimitation 6 6 7 7 2. Science and methodology approach 2.1. Approaches to science 2.1.1. Ontology 2.1.1.1. Objectivism 2.1.1.2. ConstructivismRead MoreCase Study148348 Words   |  594 PagesInstructor’s Manual Exploring Strategy Ninth edition Gerry Johnson Richard Whittington Kevan Scholes Steve Pyle For further instructor material please visit: www.pearsoned.co.uk/mystrategylab ISBN: 978-0-273-73557-1 (printed) ISBN: 978-0-273-73552-6 (web) ï £ © Pearson Education Limited 2011 Lecturers adopting the main text are permitted to download and photocopy the manual as required. Pearson Education Limited Edinburgh Gate Harlow Essex CM20 2JE England and Associated CompaniesRead MoreCase Studies: Sas Airline Ryanair80169 Words   |  321 PagesHow did the deregulation of air transportation in Europe foster entrepreneurial behavior and innovation in the European airline industry over the last twenty years? Case studies: SAS Airline Ryanair Master Thesis in Entrepreneurship and Dynamic Business Contexts Spring 2007 Supervisor: Hà ¥kan Bohman Entrepreneurship Master Program Authors:
Gilles Helterlin and Nuno Ramalho
Acknowledgements We would like to express our gratitude to all who have contributed to the realization of this Read Morepestel1671 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿The Table of Content No. Topics Page No. 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 PESTEL Analyze 2 2.1 Political 2 2.2 Economic 3 2.3 Social 4 2.4 Legal 5 2.5 Environmental 6 Introduction The past of aviation has extended more than two thousand years from the earliest kites and attempts at tower jumping to supersonic, and hypersonic journey by powered, heavier-than-air jets. Now I want to talk about aviation industry information ,The airline industry providesRead MoreMba Capstone3321 Words   |  14 PagesMBA 755 (Monday: 18:05 – 21:25) SYLLABUS The Course Instructor Natasha Vijay Munshi, MCS, MBA, PhD Contact details: Office: 260G Rike Hall (Office hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. and by Appointment) Tel: 2720 Email: natasha.munshi@wright.edu Aims and Objectives Strategic Management is the theory and practice of making decisions that shape the future of the firm. This course looks at the content and process of strategic decision making from the perspectiveRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesidentiï ¬ ed in the case. There are also over 33 classic cases on the Companion Website. These are a selection of cases from recent editions of the book which remain relevant for teaching. The case studies are intended to serve as a basis for class discussion and not as an illustration of either good or bad management practice. They are not intended to be a comprehensive collection of teaching material. They have been chosen (or speciï ¬ cally written) to provide readers with a core of cases which, togetherRead Moreeasyjet Essay12067 Words   |  49 Pages............................................................................................. 16 2.2 Constraints .................................................................................................................................. 18 3. Resolutions ........................................................................................................................................ 22 3.1 Introduction ..............................................................................Read MoreStrategic Management in a Global Context8532 Words   |  35 PagesInternational Airport proclaims: The Birthplace of Scheduled Air Transportation. Since then the industry has faced dramatic growth. Especially in the post WWII period, with the rising of jet engine planes the number passengers raised from year to year. Among the first internationally operating airlines were Lufthansa, founded in1926 and Air France, founded in 1933. Other commercial Airlines were founded such as the famous Pan Am and disappeared again. Today, the world’s airline sector isRead MoreLast Min.Com Strategy Essay6977 Words   |  28 PagesEurope and International Business Strategy LIST OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION3 PART 1: CURRENT STRATEGIC ANALYSIS AND INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC EVALUATION4 1.GENERAL STRATEGY ORIENTATION4 2.COMPETITIVE POSITIONING4 OBJECTIVES AND INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIES6 1.OBJECTIVES6 2.INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIES6 ENTRY MODES7 1.WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES7 2.ACQUISITIONS7 3.JOINT VENTURES7 EVALUATION OF INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIES8 Advantages of lastminute.coms global strategy9 Disadvantages of lastminuteRead MoreAir Asia Strategic Analysis7334 Words   |  30 Pagesover are known to target Non-business passengers, leisure traffic and the price-conscious business passenger segment. The low cost model works best on short-haul point-to-point traffic with high frequencies. These airlines have aggressive marketing strategies and compete with all transportation carriers, including the road and railway networks. Most Western low cost airlines fly to secondary airports which are cheaper to land into. However, this is not yet an option available in India. Low Operating

The How Of Happiness By Sonja Lyubomirsky - 888 Words

Within the second chapter of The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky dissects the constituents of happiness and offers readers a thorough exposition of what the term happiness entails; what it is and what it is not, as well as its profound effects on our daily lives. The positive outcomes of being happy are immense, and hence, it would be beneficial for us to develop an extensive understanding of the inner workings of happiness. What then is happiness? Perhaps happiness is a basic and familiar concept, yet it may occur to be perplexing when one has to convey it through the medium of words. Lyubomirsky defines the term as â€Å"the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile† (Lyubomirsky 32). It is often subjective, personal, and can stem from a myriad of activities: some may experience similar feelings by engaging in sports, spending time with family and friends, others while reading or simply being in solitude. Due to the personal nature and subjectivity of happiness, a handful of myths pertaining to this concept has emerged. Three happiness myths were presented within the chapter: 1. Happiness must be found. 2. Happiness lies in changing our circumstances. 3. You either have it or you don’t. The first myth greatly piqued my interest, since I, too, have once externalized happiness and assumed that it would be found outside. Upon first glance, one may be tempted to believe that happiness mustShow MoreRelatedThe How Of Happiness : A New Approach For Getting The Life You Want By Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky865 Words   |  4 PagesThe How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is simultaneously an academic book and comprehensive guide about positive psychology and it’s applications in daily life. Dr. Lyubomirsky provides not only facts and figures to back up her science but also includes quizzes and exercises for the reader to learn more about himself or herself in context with the book. The book is broken down into 3 different sections: How to Attain Real and Lasting Happiness, HappinessRead MoreThe Role Of Happiness In Ernest HemingwaysThe Sun Also Rises1343 Words   |  6 Pagesraised about how this radical shift in interactions affects the means of achieving a happy life. Within academia, happiness is described as a sense of well-being and is generally asso ciated with a combination of one’s state of mind and genetics (Lyubomirsky). These genetic effects are culminated in the term â€Å"happiness set point†, a natural proclivity towards a certain level of happiness. Today, both common people and academics debate over the relative effect of social media on happiness. For exampleRead MoreThe Pursuit Of Happiness By Julia K. Boehm And Sonja Lyubomirsky1143 Words   |  5 PagesThe pursuit of happiness has existed in the world since the beginning of the human existences. Almost everybody around the world have been curious when it comes to the word happy. Many scientists have tried to conduct research to understand what makes certain people happier than another. Since many scientists have researched the topic of happiness; naturally there will be controversy about what makes people joyful. There are two main arguments that take place on the topic of happiness and they areRead MorePositive Psychology Influencing: The onset of a Positive Lifestyle and Positive Health982 Words   |  4 Pagesjournal article, Park, Peterson Seligman stated that character strengths that were most associated with positive life satisfaction, and thereby positive psychology attaining a positive lifestyle, were hope, zest, gratitude and love. This paper examines how a person through gaining a positive psychological outlook through treatment or otherwise can have short term benefits that lead into long term gains in creating a positive lifestyle and achieving positive health. The Influences of the Mind on the BodyRead More`` How Happy Are You And Why?1247 Words   |  5 PagesIn her article â€Å"How Happy Are You and Why?,† Sonja Lyubomirsky argues that people have control over their own happiness. Lyubomirsky supports her claims with her interviews with happy people and scientific studies. Her purpose is to consider steps that people can take in order to become happier. She establishes an informal relationship with her audience of unhappy people. Lyubomirsky focuses on social psychology and the â€Å"development of ‘sustainable’ happiness† (179). She brings the idea of geneticsRead MoreWho Is The Happy Warrior? Philosophy?2052 Words   |  9 Pagespleasured. In her article, she draws a restrictive line between pleasure and happiness. She introduces the viewpoints of many intellectuals who have spoken on the definition of happiness, and then offers her own opinions in regards to theirs. Her thoughts generally align with those of Aristotle, Plato, and the ancient Greek thinkers – the very ones she spent much of her higher education studying. Her main ideas, that happiness is too complex to be concretely defined and that pleasure is a feeling thatRead MorePersonal Statement : Practicing Happiness Activities1156 Words   |  5 Pagesthat practicing happiness activities would fit perfectly into this chaotic week and I am glad I did. Normally, I would practice physical activity, as I did for the past s ix years, but given that I just had a child, physical activity was out of option, so I had to choose an alternative method to increase my happiness. One of the activities was avoiding overthinking. I had a habit of ruminating, which made me miserable, especially since the time, my first child was born. I was thinking how to handle schoolRead MoreEmployee Engagement Is The Buzzword818 Words   |  4 PagesEmployee engagement is the buzzword in any organization. Several articles and studies have highlighted on how to measure and manage engagement. This is an essential area in an organization to draw on because it translates into an organizational success. However, engagement is two-way process: organizations must bring about a design to engage the employee, who in turn has a choice about the level of engagement to offer the employer. Each reinforces the other. An engaged employee comes across aRead MoreThree Steps to the Happy Life: Why this Approach Does Not Work1097 Words   |à ‚  5 Pageshave learned what I think are the most important things to work towards. Lyubomirsky’s happiness activities have also given me some ideas about what I find to be imperative to living a life pleasing to God. Now, I will not be describing a three step program to achieve the happy life. Something like that does not exist, as I have gathered from this course. But, I will be sharing some things that helped me realize how to switch my focus to a more optimistic outlook. Scripture and Theology I will be startingRead MoreA Reflection On My Room1690 Words   |  7 PagesEach bag was stuffed with tissue paper to look like a nice present, and I wrote an identical note on each one: â€Å"Appreciate the little things in life, and don’t forget to pay kindness forward.† I ended the note with a small smiley face for added happiness. It took days for me to work up the courage to pass them out. The thought of going into public and approaching strangers literally kept me up at night. I would begin to fall asleep and suddenly remember this responsibility, leading my heart to race

The Lost Symbol Chapter 33-36 Free Essays

string(79) " comment had been not only for the benefit of the guard but also to remind Dr\." CHAPTER 33 Systems security specialist Mark Zoubianis was sinking deeper into his futon and scowling at the information on his laptop screen. What the hell kind of address is this? His best hacking tools were entirely ineffective at breaking into the document or at unmasking Trish’s mysterious IP address. Ten minutes had passed, and Zoubianis’s program was still pounding away in vain at the network firewalls. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Symbol Chapter 33-36 or any similar topic only for you Order Now They showed little hope of penetration. No wonder they’re overpaying me. He was about to retool and try a different approach when his phone rang. Trish, for Christ’s sake, I said I’d call you. He muted the football game and answered. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Is this Mark Zoubianis?† a man asked. â€Å"At 357 Kingston Drive in Washington?† Zoubianis could hear other muffled conversations in the background. A telemarketer during the play-offs? Are they insane? â€Å"Let me guess, I won a week in Anguilla?† â€Å"No,† the voice replied with no trace of humor. â€Å"This is systems security for the Central Intelligence Agency. We would like to know why you are attempting to hack one of our classified databases?† Three stories above the Capitol Building’s subbasement, in the wide-open spaces of the visitor center, security guard Nunez locked the main entry doors as he did every night at this time. As he headed back across the expansive marble floors, he thought of the man in the army-surplus jacket with the tattoos. I let him in. Nunez wondered if he would have a job tomorrow. As he headed toward the escalator, a sudden pounding on the outside doors caused him to turn. He squinted back toward the main entrance and saw an elderly African American man outside, rapping on the glass with his open palm and motioning to be let in. Nunez shook his head and pointed to his watch. The man pounded again and stepped into the light. He was immaculately dressed in a blue suit and had close-cropped graying hair. Nunez’s pulse quickened. Holy shit. Even at a distance, Nunez now recognized who this man was. He hurried back to the entrance and unlocked the door. â€Å"I’m sorry, sir. Please, please come in.† Warren Bellamy–Architect of the Capitol–stepped across the threshold and thanked Nunez with a polite nod. Bellamy was lithe and slender, with an erect posture and piercing gaze that exuded the confidence of a man in full control of his surroundings. For the last twenty-five years, Bellamy had served as the supervisor of the U.S. Capitol. â€Å"May I help you, sir?† Nunez asked. â€Å"Thank you, yes.† Bellamy enunciated his words with crisp precision. As a northeastern Ivy League graduate, his diction was so exacting he sounded almost British. â€Å"I’ve just learned that you had an incident here this evening.† He looked deeply concerned. â€Å"Yes, sir. It was–â€Å" â€Å"Where’s Chief Anderson?† â€Å"Downstairs with Director Sato from the CIA’s Office of Security.† Bellamy’s eyes widened with concern. â€Å"The CIA is here?† â€Å"Yes, sir. Director Sato arrived almost immediately after the incident.† â€Å"Why?† Bellamy demanded. Nunez shrugged. As if I was going to ask? Bellamy strode directly toward the escalators. â€Å"Where are they?† â€Å"They just went to the lower levels.† Nunez hastened after him. Bellamy glanced back with a look of concern. â€Å"Downstairs? Why?† â€Å"I don’t really know–I just heard it on my radio.† Bellamy was moving faster now. â€Å"Take me to them right away.† â€Å"Yes, sir.† As the two men hurried across the open expanse, Nunez caught a glimpse of a large golden ring on Bellamy’s finger. Nunez pulled out his radio. â€Å"I’ll alert the chief that you’re coming down.† â€Å"No.† Bellamy’s eyes flashed dangerously. â€Å"I’d prefer to be unannounced.† Nunez had made some big mistakes tonight, but failing to alert Chief Anderson that the Architect was now in the building would be his last. â€Å"Sir?† he said, uneasy. â€Å"I think Chief Anderson would prefer–â€Å" â€Å"You are aware that I employ Mr. Anderson?† Bellamy said. Nunez nodded. â€Å"Then I think he would prefer you obey my wishes.† CHAPTER 34 Trish Dunne entered the SMSC lobby and looked up with surprise. The guest waiting here looked nothing like the usual bookish, flannel-clad doctors who entered this building–those of anthropology, oceanography, geology, and other scientific fields. Quite to the contrary, Dr. Abaddon looked almost aristocratic in his impeccably tailored suit. He was tall, with a broad torso, well-tanned face, and perfectly combed blond hair that gave Trish the impression he was more accustomed to luxuries than to laboratories. â€Å"Dr. Abaddon, I presume?† Trish said, extending her hand. The man looked uncertain, but he took Trish’s plump hand in his broad palm. â€Å"I’m sorry. And you are?† â€Å"Trish Dunne,† she replied. â€Å"I’m Katherine’s assistant. She asked me to escort you back to her lab.† â€Å"Oh, I see.† The man smiled now. â€Å"Very nice to meet you, Trish. My apologies if I seemed confused. I was under the impression Katherine was here alone this evening.† He motioned down the hall. â€Å"But I’m all yours. Lead the way.† Despite the man’s quick recovery, Trish had seen the flash of disappointment in his eyes. She now suspected the motive for Katherine’s secrecy earlier about Dr. Abaddon. A budding romance, maybe? Katherine never discussed her social life, but her visitor was attractive and well-groomed, and although younger than Katherine, he clearly came from her world of wealth and privilege. Nonetheless, whatever Dr. Abaddon had imagined tonight’s visit might entail, Trish’s presence did not seem to be part of his plan. At the lobby’s security checkpoint, a lone guard quickly pulled off his headphones, and Trish could hear the Redskins game blaring. The guard put Dr. Abaddon through the usual visitor routine of metal detectors and temporary security badges. â€Å"Who’s winning?† Dr. Abaddon said affably as he emptied his pockets of a cell phone, some keys, and a cigarette lighter. â€Å"Skins by three,† the guard said, sounding eager to get back. â€Å"Helluva game.† â€Å"Mr. Solomon will be arriving shortly,† Trish told the guard. â€Å"Would you please send him back to the lab once he arrives?† â€Å"Will do.† The guard gave an appreciative wink as they passed through. â€Å"Thanks for the heads- up. I’ll look busy.† Trish’s comment had been not only for the benefit of the guard but also to remind Dr. You read "The Lost Symbol Chapter 33-36" in category "Essay examples" Abaddon that Trish was not the only one intruding on his private evening here with Katherine. â€Å"So how do you know Katherine?† Trish asked, glancing up at the mysterious guest. Dr. Abaddon chuckled. â€Å"Oh, it’s a long story. We’ve been working on something together.† Understood, Trish thought. None of my business. â€Å"This is an amazing facility,† Abaddon said, glancing around as they moved down the massive corridor. â€Å"I’ve never actually been here.† His airy tone was becoming more genial with every step, and Trish noticed he was actively taking it all in. In the bright lights of the hallway, she also noticed that his face looked like he had a fake tan. Odd. Nonetheless, as they navigated the deserted corridors, Trish gave him a general synopsis of the SMSC’s purpose and function, including the various pods and their contents. The visitor looked impressed. â€Å"Sounds like this place has a treasure trove of priceless artifacts. I would have expected guards posted everywhere.† â€Å"No need,† Trish said, motioning to the row of fish-eye lenses lining the ceiling high above. â€Å"Security here is automated. Every inch of this corridor is recorded twenty-four/seven, and this corridor is the spine of the facility. It’s impossible to access any of the rooms off this corridor without a key card and PIN number.† â€Å"Efficient use of cameras.† â€Å"Knock on wood, we’ve never had a theft. Then again, this is not the kind of museum anyone would rob–there’s not much call on the black market for extinct flowers, Inuit kayaks, or giant squid carcasses.† Dr. Abaddon chuckled. â€Å"I suppose you’re right.† â€Å"Our biggest security threat is rodents and insects.† Trish explained how the building prevented insect infestations by freezing all SMSC refuse and also by an architectural feature called a â€Å"dead zone†Ã¢â‚¬â€œan inhospitable compartment between double walls, which surrounded the entire building like a sheath. â€Å"Incredible,† Abaddon said. â€Å"So, where is Katherine and Peter’s lab?† â€Å"Pod Five,† Trish said. â€Å"It’s all the way at the end of this hallway.† Abaddon halted suddenly, spinning to his right, toward a small window. â€Å"My word! Will you look at that!† Trish laughed. â€Å"Yeah, that’s Pod Three. They call it Wet Pod.† â€Å"Wet?† Abaddon said, face pressed to the glass. â€Å"There are over three thousand gallons of liquid ethanol in there. Remember the giant squid carcass I mentioned earlier?† â€Å"That’s the squid?!† Dr. Abaddon turned from the window momentarily, his eyes wide. â€Å"It’s huge!† â€Å"A female Architeuthis,† Trish said. â€Å"She’s over forty feet.† Dr. Abaddon, apparently enraptured by the sight of the squid, seemed unable to pull his eyes away from the glass. For a moment, the grown man reminded Trish of a little boy at a pet-store window, wishing he could go in and see a puppy. Five seconds later, he was still staring longingly through the window. â€Å"Okay, okay,† Trish finally said, laughing as she inserted her key card and typed her PIN number. â€Å"Come on. I’ll show you the squid.† As Mal’akh stepped into the dimly lit world of Pod 3, he scanned the walls for security cameras. Katherine’s pudgy little assistant began rattling on about the specimens in this room. Mal’akh tuned her out. He had no interest whatsoever in giant squids. His only interest was in using this dark, private space to solve an unexpected problem. CHAPTER 35 The wooden stairs descending to the Capitol’s subbasement were as steep and shallow as any stairs Langdon had ever traversed. His breathing was faster now, and his lungs felt tight. The air down here was cold and damp, and Langdon couldn’t help but flash on a similar set of stairs he had taken a few years back into the Vatican’s Necropolis. The City of the Dead. Ahead of him, Anderson led the way with his flashlight. Behind Langdon, Sato followed closely, her tiny hands occasionally pressing into Langdon’s back. I’m going as fast as I can. Langdon inhaled deeply, trying to ignore the cramped walls on either side of him. There was barely room for his shoulders on this staircase, and his daybag now scraped down the sidewall. â€Å"Maybe you should leave your bag above,† Sato offered behind him. â€Å"I’m fine,† Langdon replied, having no intention of letting it out of his sight. He pictured Peter’s little package and could not begin to imagine how it might relate to anything in the subbasement of the U.S. Capitol. â€Å"Just a few more steps,† Anderson said. â€Å"Almost there.† The group had descended into darkness, moving beyond the reach of the staircase’s lone lightbulb. When Langdon stepped off the final wooden tread, he could feel that the floor beneath his feet was dirt. Journey to the center of the Earth. Sato stepped down behind him. Anderson now raised his beam, examining their surroundings. The subbasement was less of a basement than it was an ultranarrow corridor that ran perpendicular to the stairs. Anderson shone his light left and then right, and Langdon could see the passage was only about fifty feet long and lined on both sides with small wooden doors. The doors abutted one another so closely that the rooms behind them could not have been more than ten feet wide. ACME Storage meets the Catacombs of Domatilla, Langdon thought as Anderson consulted the blueprint. The tiny section depicting the subbasement was marked with an X to show the location of SBB13. Langdon couldn’t help but notice that the layout was identical to a fourteen-tomb mausoleum–seven vaults facing seven vaults–with one removed to accommodate the stairs they had just descended. Thirteen in all. He suspected America’s â€Å"thirteen† conspiracy theorists would have a field day if they knew there were exactly thirteen storage rooms buried beneath the U.S. Capitol. Some found it suspicious that the Great Seal of the United States had thirteen stars, thirteen arrows, thirteen pyramid steps, thirteen shield stripes, thirteen olive leaves, thirteen olives, thirteen letters in annuit coeptis, thirteen letters in e pluribus unum, and on and on. â€Å"It does look abandoned,† Anderson said, shining the beam into the chamber directly in front of them. The heavy wooden door was wide open. The shaft of light illuminated a narrow stone chamber–about ten feet wide by some thirty feet deep–like a dead-end hallway to nowhere. The chamber contained nothing more than a couple of old collapsed wooden boxes and some crumpled packing paper. Anderson shone his light on a copper plate mounted on the door. The plate was covered with verdigris, but the old marking was legible: SBB IV â€Å"SBB Four,† Anderson said. â€Å"Which one is SBB Thirteen?† Sato asked, faint wisps of steam curling out of her mouth in the cold subterranean air. Anderson turned the beam toward the south end of the corridor. â€Å"Down there.† Langdon peered down the narrow passage and shivered, feeling a light sweat despite the cold. As they moved through the phalanx of doorways, all of the rooms looked the same, doors ajar, apparently abandoned long ago. When they reached the end of the line, Anderson turned to his right, raising the beam to peer into room SBB13. The flashlight beam, however, was impeded by a heavy wooden door. Unlike the others, the door to SBB13 was closed. This final door looked exactly like the others–heavy hinges, iron handle, and a copper number plate encrusted with green. The seven characters on the number plate were the same characters on Peter’s palm upstairs. SBB XIII Please tell me the door is locked, Langdon thought. Sato spoke without hesitation. â€Å"Try the door.† The police chief looked uneasy, but he reached out, grasped the heavy iron handle, and pushed down on it. The handle didn’t budge. He shone the light now, illuminating a heavy, old- fashioned lock plate and keyhole. â€Å"Try the master key,† Sato said. Anderson produced the main key from the entry door upstairs, but it was not even close to fitting. â€Å"Am I mistaken,† Sato said, her tone sarcastic, â€Å"or shouldn’t Security have access to every corner of a building in case of emergency?† Anderson exhaled and looked back at Sato. â€Å"Ma’am, my men are checking for a secondary key, but–â€Å" â€Å"Shoot the lock,† she said, nodding toward the key plate beneath the lever. Langdon’s pulse leaped. Anderson cleared his throat, sounding uneasy. â€Å"Ma’am, I’m waiting for news on a secondary key. I am not sure I’m comfortable blasting our way into–â€Å" â€Å"Perhaps you’d be more comfortable in prison for obstructing a CIA investigation?† Anderson looked incredulous. After a long beat, he reluctantly handed the light to Sato and unsnapped his holster. â€Å"Wait!† Langdon said, no longer able to stand idly by. â€Å"Think about it. Peter gave up his right hand rather than reveal whatever might be behind this door. Are you sure we want to do this? Unlocking this door is essentially complying with the demands of a terrorist.† â€Å"Do you want to get Peter Solomon back?† Sato asked. â€Å"Of course, but–â€Å" â€Å"Then I suggest you do exactly what his captor is requesting.† â€Å"Unlock an ancient portal? You think this is the portal?† Sato shone the light in Langdon’s face. â€Å"Professor, I have no idea what the hell this is. Whether it’s a storage unit or the secret entrance to an ancient pyramid, I intend to open it. Do I make myself clear?† Langdon squinted into the light and finally nodded. Sato lowered the beam and redirected it at the door’s antique key plate. â€Å"Chief? Go ahead.† Still looking averse to the plan, Anderson extracted his sidearm very, very slowly, gazing down at it with uncertainty. â€Å"Oh, for God’s sake!† Sato’s tiny hands shot out, and she grabbed the weapon from him. She stuffed the flashlight into his now empty palm. â€Å"Shine the damned light.† She handled the gun with the confidence of someone who had trained with weapons, wasting no time turning off the pistol’s safety, cocking the weapon, and aiming at the lock. â€Å"Wait!† Langdon yelled, but he was too late. The gun roared three times. Langdon’s eardrums felt like they had exploded. Is she insane?! The gunshots in the tiny space had been deafening. Anderson also looked shaken, his hand wavering a bit as he shone the flashlight on the bullet- riddled door. The lock mechanism was now in tatters, the wood surrounding it entirely pulverized. The lock had released, the door now having fallen ajar. Sato extended the pistol and pressed the tip of the barrel against the door, giving it a push. The door swung fully into the blackness beyond. Langdon peered in but could see nothing in the darkness. What in the world is that smell? An unusual, fetid odor wafted out of the darkness. Anderson stepped into the doorway and shone the light on the floor, tracing carefully down the length of the barren dirt floor. This room was like the others–a long, narrow space. The sidewalls were rugged stone, giving the room the feel of an ancient prison cell. But that smell . . . â€Å"There’s nothing here,† Anderson said, moving the beam farther down the chamber floor. Finally, as the beam reached the end of the floor, he raised it up to illuminate the chamber’s farthest wall. â€Å"My God . . . !† Anderson shouted. Everyone saw it and jumped back. Langdon stared in disbelief at the deepest recess of the chamber. To his horror, something was staring back. CHAPTER 36 â€Å"What in God’s name . . . ?† At the threshold of SBB13, Anderson fumbled with his light and retreated a step. Langdon also recoiled, as did Sato, who looked startled for the first time all night. Sato aimed the gun at the back wall and motioned for Anderson to shine the light again. Anderson raised the light. The beam was dim by the time it reached the far wall, but the light was enough to illuminate the shape of a pallid and ghostly face, staring back at them through lifeless sockets. A human skull. The skull sat atop a rickety wooden desk positioned against the rear wall of the chamber. Two human leg bones sat beside the skull, along with a collection of other items that were meticulously arranged on the desk in shrinelike fashion–an antique hourglass, a crystal flask, a candle, two saucers of pale powder, and a sheet of paper. Propped against the wall beside the desk stood the fearsome shape of a long scythe, its curved blade as familiar as that of the grim reaper. Sato stepped into the room. â€Å"Well, now . . . it appears Peter Solomon keeps more secrets than I imagined.† Anderson nodded, inching after her. â€Å"Talk about skeletons in your closet.† He raised the light and surveyed the rest of the empty chamber. â€Å"And that smell?† he added, crinkling his nose. â€Å"What is it?† â€Å"Sulfur,† Langdon replied evenly behind them. â€Å"There should be two saucers on the desk. The saucer on the right will contain salt. And the other sulfur.† Sato wheeled in disbelief. â€Å"How the hell would you know that?!† â€Å"Because, ma’am, there are rooms exactly like this all over the world.† One story above the subbasement, Capitol security guard Nunez escorted the Architect of the Capitol, Warren Bellamy, down the long hallway that ran the length of the eastern basement. Nunez could have sworn that he had just heard three gunshots down here, muffled and underground. There’s no way. â€Å"Subbasement door is open,† Bellamy said, squinting down the hallway at a door that stood ajar in the distance. Strange evening indeed, Nunez thought. Nobody goes down there. â€Å"I’ll be glad to find out what’s going on,† he said, reaching for his radio. â€Å"Go back to your duties,† Bellamy said. â€Å"I’m fine from here.† Nunez shifted uneasily. â€Å"You sure?† Warren Bellamy stopped, placing a firm hand on Nunez’s shoulder. â€Å"Son, I’ve worked here for twenty-five years. I think I can find my way.† How to cite The Lost Symbol Chapter 33-36, Essay examples

Dodgers free essay sample

Lexiss passion for reading became one of the most influential aspects of his life just as Dodgers baseball has become in mine. The same determination, strength, life lessons, morals and values that Alexei claims to have gained from reading, are ones have personally gained from my experience as a Dodger fan. In Lexiss Story he explains how his passion for books defined him as a person, while at the same time at the same time lead to his defiance of the norm. Alexei states, A smart Indian is a dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed by Indians and non-landings alike(29).According to the authors experience his people arena seen as intelligent as non-landings, but rather hey are expected to be because they are viewed as inferior. Most Indian children accepted and followed their predetermined rolls as Indian children who could remember how to sing a few dozen powwow songs(29), yet struggled with basic reading in Alexei wanted to be unique and he Banquets 2 accomplished that through reading. We will write a custom essay sample on Dodgers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Even when he was looked down upon for excelling past the expected norm he continued to indulge in his passion for reading.Alexei learned to read through the Superman comic which was the stepping stone to him finding adding hunger to defy standards and become successful writer. ; refused to fail. Was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky'(30). As someone who rarely shows emotion, one of the most emotional moments I my life was when I found myself tearing up after the Dodgers were eliminated from entering the playoffs. Within seconds I saw myself questioning why I displayed so much empathy towards this team and their misfortune when they show nothing in return.I then realized that had gained more from this team of strangers then my own friends. Sitting in the living room watching Dodger games with my felt like I was fighting a battle with the. The battles would happen daily through through every upside and low like when we lost against our rivals, the San Francisco Giants and just couldnt get over that lost. Bad days for me would be when the Dodgers lose, my mind telling me why am I so emotionally into this team. You couldnt get away with saying a negative thing about them if I was around, since Im a legit Dodger fan who knows close to all our past.The whole seasons frustration was let out that night, the night we werent headed towards the playoffs. I asked myself why do let this team make me like this? The Dodgers have come a part of my daily life and even though last season wasnt what I expected I found the positive as our next season we would make it all up. This year we will be headed towards the playoffs as the Dodgers are looking to go after the ring. Banquets 3 Alexei states that his father, who is one of the few Indians who went to Catholic school on purpose, was an avid reader(28). Like Lexiss father, my father was one in a few.He was one of the only Dodger fans in my community, and a passionate one at that. As a kid I always wondered why they were of such importance to him. As I grew up, finally understood; it was hen that I discovered their important to me. Alexei mentions, l look at the narrative above the picture. Cannot read the words and say, Superman is breaking down the door. Words, dialogue, also float out of Supermans Alexei taught himself how to read by looking at comic pictures, dialogue, and imputing his own dialogue based on what he saw in the pictures, while also learning the importance of self-confidence.I gained self- confidence all by being a Dodgers fan and watching their players play. There was one player in particular, my favorite: Matt Kemp. Kemp has always had all he talent in the world to become one of best ball players in the game, but didnt know how to put it all together to reach that status. As the famous athlete Tim Taboo says,Hard work beats talent when talent isnt working after all his hard work Kemp became one of the most feared ball players in the MIL. Like Kemp, Alexei worked hard to achieve his goal of being successful. He strives to continue to read and not be like most of the other Indian kids who struggled to read because they put their priorities. All those kids clearly had the potential to be better readers, but they werent as passionate about it as Alexei. By watching Kemp grow with the Dodgers as a player, saw myself grow as a person becoming more self-confident with what I am capable of achieving and maximizing my abilities with hard work.One of the abilities I gained was the ability to confront issues as they presented themselves Banquets 4 rather than avoiding them. Hard work has made me stronger as a person, just as its made Kemp one of the best, and Alexei a successful Indian author. Everyone has a passion that they carry with themselves. If its reading books, being a Dodger fan or even playing the guitar, having a passion is really worth t as it helps you through your difficulties and also gain determination, strength, life lessons, values and morals.

Plato LIFE Plato Was Born To An Aristocratic Family In Athens, Greece.

Plato LIFE Plato was born to an aristocratic family in Athens, Greece. When he was a child his father, Ariston, who was believed to be descended from the early kings of Athens died, and his mother, Perictione married Pyrilampes. As a young man Plato was always interested in political leadership and eventually became a disciple of Socrates. He followed his philosophy and his dialectical style, which is believed to be the search for truth through questions, answers, and additional questions. After witnessing the death of Socrates at the hands of the Athenian democracy in 399 B.C., Plato left Athens and continued to travel to Italy, Sicily, and Egypt. (Internet) In 387 B.C. Plato founded the Academy in Athens otherwise known as the first European university. The Academy provided a wide range of curriculum including subjects such as astronomy, biology, philosophy, political theory, and mathematics. Aristotle was the Academy's most outstanding student. (Internet) The internal affairs of the academy ruled the next 20 years of Plato's life and he wrote nothing. Many Greek youths were attracted to the new school. Plato then went to Syracuse to supervise the education of the ruling prince. Plato was not certain about the success of this adventure although he felt he could not refuse this opportunity of putting his ideas to a test. It did not work out for Plato and he returned to Athens in 360 B.C. He then devoted himself to teaching and lecturing at the Academy. He died at age 80 in Athens in 348 B.C. Before his death Plato completed the Sophist, the Politicus, the Philebus, the Timaeus and finally the Laws. (Internet) DIALOGUES The Symposium is the most widely read of Plato's dialogues with the exception of the Republic and it is with good reason. It's literary merit is outstanding with philosophical and psychological sources (Allen) ANAYA--2 THE EARLY DIALOGUES In the early dialogues Socrates always played the leading roll. In all of them, Plato was trying to keep the spirit of Socrates alive. There are also early dialogues that portray Socrates in whimsical moods but always with a serious purpose. (Allen) The Republic was the most revealing of all Plato's early writings. Plato believed that one could not seriously construct a political theory without a metaphysics. Therefore, we find an outline of human life as it should be lived according to nature. (Allen) THE LATER DIALOGUES In the later dialogues Soctates does not always play the leading role. He does not enter into the conversation of Laws. More interest was shown in the possibilities of politics. Law and legal government were stressed and it greatly influenced Aristotle. It is clear that in later years Plato became more aware of the difficulties in attempting to combine science with government. Plato's main interest at the end of his life was to guide human effort as indicated in his last dialogues, the Laws. (Allen) Many students of the Academy were reaching into positions of power in the Greek world. Plato planned a trilogy at the end of his life, the Timaeus, the Critias, and the Hermoncrates. (Allen) THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE Plato's theory of knowledge can be found in the myth of the cave. The myth describes people chained within a cave. The only images they see are the shadows of objects and animals held in front of a fire that is behind them that reflects on the cave walls in front of them. That is all they had ever seen so that is what they believe to be real. One day a man escaped the cave and went outside. With the sun he saw what was real in the world and realized all he ever saw were just shadows. He went back to the men in the cave and told them all this. He told them that they ANAYA--3 too could see the outside if they broke free of their chains but they didn't believe him. The environment of the cave to Plato symbolizes the physical world of appearances. Escaping into the sun-filled world means the transition into the real world that is full and perfect being the world of forms, which is the proper object of knowledge. (Hare p.39) NATURE OF FORMS

No Child Left Behind

No Child Left Behind Purpose Students with severe disabilities need special education to ensure that â€Å"No Child Left Behind† policy provisions are fulfilled. As a result, educators should use evidence-based instructional strategies to ensure that students with disabilities demonstrate educational progress during yearly assessment as provided in the NCLB educational provisions.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on No Child Left Behind specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The US educational policy requires schools to demonstrate that students in grade 3 through 8 make adequate yearly progress (AYP) towards proficiency in mathematics and literacy. However, demonstrating AYP and evaluating progress on academic content standards for students with disabilities is challenging. Browder and Cooper-Duffy (2003) argue that â€Å"although research is now emerging on states’ alternate assessment practices, many questions remain about how best to measure the progress of students with severe disabilities on state academic standards (p. 157). The purpose of this research is to determine evidence-based practices that educators can use to teach students with severe disabilities to enable them show adequate yearly progress (AYP) as well as progress in academic content standards. In addressing the research topic, the authors reviewed numerous literatures with information about the educational needs of students with disabilities. They conducted the study with the intention to identify evidence-based instructional support that students with disabilities need to demonstrate annual progress. Design Throughout the study, the researchers used secondary research strategy to address the research objectives. They evaluated the previous literatures that address various empirical research studies on evidence-based practices for students with severe disabilities in relation to NCLB provisions. To begin with, the authors evaluated and compared research on skills acquisition for students with disabilities. Second, the researchers evaluated the literature on instructional strategies that promote the students’ adequate annual progress. They discovered that numerous studies exist that demonstrate that students with disabilities can acquire skill through mastering technique (Horner, Carr, Halle, McGee, Odom, Wolery, 2005). Team planning was identified as another core aspect that promotes annual progress for students with disabilities. Finally, the researchers assessed the literature on evidence-based practices that would ensure that students with disabilities achieve learning objectives successfully (Browder Cooper-Duffy, 2003). The findings on evidence-based strategies for teaching students with disabilities were compiled, compared, and the conclusions were derived based on the empirical results.Advertising Looking for book review on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper w ith 15% OFF Learn More Findings and Conclusions The data from the studies indicated that educators can use evidence-based practices to promote skill acquisition and learning for students with disabilities. The use of instructional support for which scientific evidence has been obtained was found to play an important role in enhancing learning for students with disabilities (Odom, 2005). This study concentrated on two aspects of instructional support namely: how skills are defined and how skills are taught (Browder Cooper-Duffy, 2003). The researchers discovered that defining skills aligned with academic content standards required educators to employ the research foundation available for functional skills. This approach mainly targets skills mastery whereby the targeted skill can include a chained response, a pivotal response, or a single, discrete response. Furthermore, the authors discovered that the yearly process assessment for students with severe disabilities c an be attained by focusing on specific responses that are taught to mastery. In addition, it was found that students with disabilities need individualized instruction besides cooperative learning activities to cement their academic understanding, and enable them to meet expectations for yearly progress. The research provides that the use of assistive technology can enable students with disabilities expand their use of symbolic communication that is related to mathematics, science, and reading. The authors also found that the students’ yearly progress can be enhanced through augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) (Browder Cooper-Duffy, 2003). Lastly, the study discovered that the instructors can use time delays to teach students with severe disabilities how to arrange objects and match them to the pictures on a communication board for request generation. This was identified as an example of self-instructional strategy that students with disabilities could use to per form family routines without assistance (Odom, 2005). The article provides a snapshot of the evidence-based practices for students with severe disabilities in relation to NCLB requirements. The study did not show clearly how the states would define progress for students with severe cognitive disabilities relating to the state standards in academics. Therefore, the research leaves gaps that will need to be studied in the future. Critique This article provides evidence-based strategies for teaching students with disabilities from previous empirical studies. Although the strategies are discussed in depth, it would be better if the researchers conducted primary research to determine the teachers’ experiences and collect raw data for evaluation and analysis.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on No Child Left Behind specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the evidence-based practices provided in the article coul d be beneficial and provide a solid foundation for future research on evidence-based practices for students with severe disabilities in relation to NCLB provisions. The article provides that students with severe disabilities can acquire skills in a general educational class through cooperation, but it does not provide insight on evidence-based practices that could apply to students with multiple cognitive disabilities (Browder Cooper-Duffy, 2003). Through this article, educators can identify the evidence based practices they may employ in teaching students with severe disabilities and enhance their learning. I concur with the suggestions that the use of augmentative alternative communication, time delays activities, and assistive technologies are among the evidence-based educational strategies that can promote the instruction of students with severe disabilities. References Browder, M.D., Cooper-Duffy, K. (2003). Evidence-based practices for students with severe disabilities and t he requirement for accountability in â€Å"No Child Left Behind†. The Journal of Special Education, 7(3): 157-163. Horner, R. H., Carr, E.G., Halle, J., McGee, G., Odom, S., Wolery, M. (2005). The use of single-subject research to identify evidence-based practice in special education. Exceptional Children, 71(2), 165-179. Odom, S.L. (2005). Research in special education: Scientific methods and evidence-based practices. Exceptional Children, 71(2), 137-148.

Knowledge management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Knowledge management - Essay Example With the strategic partnership relationship both parties benefit as they work collectively to move both parties forward. DaimlerChrysler have several of these relationships. When technology renders training then the outside partner will provide an instructor to come facilitate training and introduce the employee to the new technology. To ensure the efficiency is accurate, the trainer will provide DaimlerChrysler with post workshop facilitator that on stand by for further assistance Even though DaimlerChrysler have strategic partner relationships, most of their business relationships could fit in the vendor/vendee category. With the vendor/vendee category, one party typically utilizes another business services for the advancement of their organization. This is typically the category DaimlerChrysler fits in. In the global economy, with the usage of technology, a corporation that utilize this service can now utilize a vendee in any location around the world. DaimlerChrysler is a competitive corporation and is competing in the fierce automotive market. Staff is trained when new technologies are used typically in workshops where information can be given and questions can be asked. The workshops are as needed and are thorough with itinerary is given to reference as needed. The workshops are directed by experts in the field and are rotated between employees that need to know the information. The training allows the employee to communicate, order and exchange information from local vendee and vendee abroad. In this new technological era, business relationships are no longer on a local scale. Business has taken their relationships abroad and now conduct business on international levels. DaimlerChrysler have strategic business relations as well as vendor/vendee relationships with other companies. When technology evolves and training must be given to employees, DaimlerChrysler have workshops and post-training instructors ready to

Criminal Law Writing Task Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Criminal Law Writing Task - Essay Example ly concerned with crimes that are committed against public authority and it often goes against the interests of the public at large the reason why the state would need to persecute such perpetrators of criminal offences. Many countries do have statutory regulations that allow the courts to try and sentence criminals upon conviction. In this regard, theft or property, felony as well as treason for instance fall under criminal law as well as other cases that endanger human life and the state as a whole. It can be noted that in every nation, the criminal law is specifically designed to deter the criminals from committing crimes that disrupt public order and security. A critical analysis of the case study shows that John violates the public interest in mainly two ways that can be categorised as criminal activities. Driving without a valid licence is a criminal offence as it endangers the lives of the general public and he deliberately steals from unsuspecting people. In many countries if not all, theft is classified as a criminal law. Theft can be loosely referred to as taking without permission or stealing other people’s property. Theft comes in many different forms that include fraud, larceny, and embezzlement among other different forms. This essay seeks to critically analyse some of the offences committed by John and their magnitude to warranty arrest and ultimately sentencing upon conviction. First and fore most, John fraudulently obtains his public service vehicle (PSV) licence after he failed the test. Fraud is a criminal case by any standard especially with the intent of misrepresenting yourself to gain unfair advantage of getting a job without proper requirements. Obtaining a fake licence by hook and crook is pure violation of the law which can not be taken lightly under whatever circumstance. Having failed the test, he decides to proceed and obtain a fake driver’s licence with full knowledge of the likely consequences hence it can be said that he is

Music of Schoenberg and Debussy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Music of Schoenberg and Debussy - Research Paper Example The third period was marked by his invention of â€Å"twelve-tone† method of composition. It is often claimed that musical pieces of this composer reflect the characteristics of Brahms and Wagner. On the one hand, the directions of musical developments of these two opposing composers cannot be compared, but on the other hand, Schoenberg succeeded in uniting them into one perfect conglomerate. A selected piece of music composed by Schoenberg is Op. 08, where he accelerates and escapes from traditional Wagnerian tones. A principle of linear time is reflected in a direct motion in music. The principles of tonality were very important for the musical pieces of 20th century and compositions of Schoenberg follow those tendencies as well. Historical context of this composition plays a very important role for further discussion. This piece of music is thought to be finished in 1909 and he completed it in 2 weeks. That period was a crisis for the composer and these feelings and emotion s are evidently reflected in his music. The record Erwartung 6 lieder Op. 08 is believed to be a new stage for musical development of the composer, when he exceeded the limits of Romanticism and German culture (Evans, 2001). This piece of music is distinguished by depth of expression, easy comprehension and distinction, though it was often argued by critics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The name of its piece of music is Erwartung or Expectation. It is a story about a woman, who is waiting for her lover, but then finds his body dead. The beginning and the end of the composition are calm ones, but in the middle of this piece of music are essential ascents. Therefore, these characteristics can be considered as belonging to non-conventional music. The composer’s personality was unconventional at that time as well, because Hitler did not like him because of his Jewish nationality. His musical pieces were full of subjectivity and unconscious. The implementation of atonal dissonance did not reflect the main characteristics of Romanticism. It was beyond harmony and it was something new and unique (McKay, 1987). Schoenberg was looking for the ways of new developments and he wanted a new field for his self-expression. A language of dodecaphony was invented by this composer. This language of music can be described in the following way: sounds, like words can be either expressed or not. They can become cultural symbols for expressions and reflections of a given individuality of a composer. This is the specific context of dodecaphonic musical expression. Lauro Machado Coelho claimed that Schoenberg managed to open new ways for musical aesthetics’ reflection. The composer did not intend to position his music as a revolutionary one. Schoenberg made an emphasis on creativity and imagination, that is why during 19071908 he refused from the concept of tonality and rushed into expressionism. This piece of music, â€Å"Erwartung† is a bright exampl e of this tendency. Nevertheless, there is a huge psychological impact exerted on it, because it was written during a period, when Mathilde, a wife of Schoenberg, left him and had an affair with Richard Gerstl, who killed himself after Mathilde’

The Tower Of London English Literature Essay

The Tower Of London English Literature Essay The Tower of London is known as one of Londons most haunted buildings. The tower was built to look over the Saxton and to be a strong building for defense (Wikiland). It was also used for prisoners of war (Wikiland). Many people believe that its haunted because there have been many deaths, and there have also been first hand experiences with ghosts. Some have also had scary encounters with something that wasnt even there (Paranormal Haze). The Tower of London is one of most haunted places in London, there are many experiences, and there have been very many deaths there as well. William the Conqueror built the Tower of London in the year 1708, it is known as Her Majestys Royal Palace and Fortress (Paranormal Haze). Certain parts of the tower date back to over 900 years ago (Real British Ghosts). The only reason certain parts date back so far is because the tower has gotten remodeled a few times. The tower has had many different uses, the kings and queens living there, and buildings being used for a prison, torture chambers, and place for execution (Real British Ghosts). Many people have lived in the tower, such as, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Catherine Howard. The tower has also been used to house animals, such as bears (Baird, C). There have also been many deaths/executions, such as Anne Boleyn. Anne was executed for one specific reason. Her husband King Henry VIII executed her for giving birth to a stillborn child and accused her of infidelity (Paranormal Haze). In 1483, Edward V and Richard the Duke of York were murdered (Paranormal Haze). In 1674, some workers found the remains of the princes in a chest (Paranormal Haze). Another death that occurred was The Countless of Salisbury. King Henry VIII executed the Countless due to a political reason (Paranormal Haze). But during her execution she refused to put her head down to get beheaded, and ran off (Paranormal Haze). Eventually she was found and axed to death (Paranormal Haze). King Henry VIII 5th wife, Catherine Howard, was sentenced to death for being adulterous (Paranormal Haze). Also, Sir Raleigh was imprisoned for 12 years, but upset King James VI and he was beheaded (Real British Ghosts). Whenever some tourists, guards, workers, warriors, etc. are at the Tower, they tend to get funny feelings. One claim has smelled a certain scent and even thrown up (Paranormal Haze)! Some people have seen ghosts walking or gliding down hallways. Some have also seen apparitions standing and waving, and even screaming for help. There are many claims of ghosts haunting the tower. One ghost Thomas Becket has been known to haunt the tower (Paranormal Haze). During reconstruction on the tower, it is said that he was shaking the walls and holding the cross making it crumble (Paranormal Haze). It is also said that Henry III had a chapel built and named after Thomas Becket (Paranormal Haze). Apparently, ever since the tower was built, it is said that Becker has stopped appearing and not been seen since (Paranormal Haze). A few years after Edward V and Richard of Duke were murdered, a few guards said that they saw two small figures gliding down the stairs wearing night shirts and disappeared down the stairs (Baird, C.). Some have claimed that they have also been seen holding hands (Real British Ghosts). The Tower of Londons most famous ghost, Anne Boleyn is said to haunt around the area where she was executed. Some people claim they have seen her walking around without her head (Paranormal Haze). People believe tha t she haunts because she wasnt able to produce an heir (Paranormal Haze). Anne is also spotted in the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula where she watches over her own grave under the altar (Your Ghost Story). Catherine on the other hand can be heard screaming behind the door of the room she was kept in before her execution (Your Ghost Story). After King VIII 5th wife, Catherine Howard was sentenced to death for being adulterous; many claim they have seen her running down the hallways and screaming for help (Paranormal Haze). Many believe she screams for help because she didnt want to die, and she feels like she was reliving her death. The white tower, the oldest part of the tower, is where it is said the white lady lives. The White Lady is apparently an apparition that will appear from time to time to those in the tower. (paranormal haze). One story says that she was standing at a window waving at a group of children who were in an opposite building. (Paranormal Haze) Theres also the smell of a cheap perfume that will hang around the entrance of St. Johns Chapel (Paranormal Haze) the smell of the perfume has caused some to vomit (Paranormal Haze). In October of 1817, a tubular, glowing apparition claimed to have been seen in the Jewel House by the Keeper of the Crown Jewels, Edmund Lenthal Swifte (Wikiland). He said that the apparition hovered over the shoulder of his wife, leading her to exclaim: Oh, Christ! It has seized me! (Wikiland). At one time, the tower housed animals. Apparently a guard saw a bear running towards him, but the bear went right through him and vanished (Paranormal Haze). Later on in the evening he was found on the floor unconscious (Paranormal Haze). Later on he died, many believe he died over fright of what he saw. (Paranormal haze). Another story comes from a Yeoman Warrior, who was in the salt tower, many people already feel scared enough in the salt tower (Paranormal Haze). The warrior reported, being choked by something that was not there. (Paranormal Haze). The Yeoman Warriors now refuse to enter the tower after sun down (Paranormal Haze). In the gallery where Henry VIII suit of armor is being displayed, some guards have said that there is a sensation of being descended upon and crushed, which only fades as they leave the room. (Paranormal Haze). One guard said, having a cloak put over his head and being choked from behind. (Paranormal Haze). But when the guard escaped, he found no one in the room (Paranormal Haze). But, he had marks on his neck that show he had been the victim of an attack. (Paranormal Haze). The Tower of London is was built to look over the Saxton, and was built for the Kings and Queens to live in during their reign. But over time the tower started to be used for many different purposes, other than just for the King and Queen. The tower started to be used as a torture chamber, prison, and a place of execution. Its haunted because there have been so many deaths there, and some of the people that have died there are angry or in sorrow. The tower was built over 900 years ago, and the queens and kings that lived here, put many people in harm. Especially the kings, one king had almost every wife executed. Many people teen to feel nocuous, dizzy, and some even throw up when they are in certain parts. There are many ghosts that haunt the tower. Many of the kings wives, such as Anne Boleyn haunt it. Anne haunts the tower because she was uneasy about her death, as were many others. The Tower of London is known as one of Londons top haunted places to visit. The tower has many spir its and ghosts that haunt there. Sources: Baird, C. (n.d.). The Amazing and Haunted Tower of London. The Amazing and Haunted Tower of London | Paranormal Haze. Retrieved from http://www.paranormalhaze.com/the- amazing-and-haunted-tower-of-london/ Tower of London Ghosts. (2010). Tower of London Ghosts. Retrieved from http://www.real-british-ghosts.com/tower-of-london-ghosts.htmlThe Tower of London. (n.d.). Tower of London. Retrieved from http://www.wikiand.com/wiki/Tower_of_London The Tower of London. (2012). Your Ghost Stories. Retrieved from http://www.yourghoststories.com/famous-ghost-stories/tower-london.php

Establishing a Therapeutic Alliance Essay -- Health Care, Treatment

Research has shown that a strong therapeutic alliance is necessary for establishing a beneficial contact between the therapist and the client. If the therapist does not encourage the creation of a reliable therapeutic alliance from the beginning of the treatment, it will be hard to develop a constructive relationship with the client later. Establishing the therapeutic alliance will increase the chances of achieving the goal of the treatment because the clients will be willing to cooperate if they trust and respect the therapist. Clients are not likely to cooperate with therapists who impose their authority aggressively. Instead of imposing their authority on the patient, therapists should develop work with their patients by building a mutual relationship based on trust, understanding, and respect for the client. According to Jeremy Safran and Christopher Muran (2000), psychiatric research shows that the quality of the therapeutic alliance is the most important factor in determining the therapist's success. â€Å"Some therapists are consistently more helpful than others; differences in therapist ability seem to be more important than therapeutic modality, and the more helpful therapists appear better able to facilitate the development of a therapeutic alliance† (Safran & Muran, 2000). However, the main problem is that it is difficult to teach the skills necessary for the creation of a therapeutic alliance. In fact, psychotherapy research stresses the importance of the development of human qualities in the therapist. According to Safran and Muran (2000), the therapist need to constantly develop themselves and become involved in personal growth through inner work. Without this feature, the therapists will not be able to devel... ...ate with their therapists. â€Å"A systematic relationship between the therapists' personal reactions to the patient and the quality of their communication, diagnostic impressions, and treatment plans† (Horvath & Greenberg, ). While positive attitudes from the therapists are more likely to result in a successful treatment, negative attitudes will not develop the necessary cooperation from the clients side to successfully reach the goal of the therapy. Regardless of the treatment method, the findings of scientific research stress the importance of a relationship-based treatment which operates on trust and openness. All researchers claim that developing a strong therapeutic alliance in the beginning influences the course of the treatment and its success. The early development of this kind of relationship with the patients will improve the therapists' chances of success.

The Female Function In Homer’s Iliad

In the story of Homer's Iliad, the roles of women are clearly drawn. The function, from mortal to immortal is to influence male characters. The main female roles also have the functions of mother, daughter, wives, goddesses, and prizes. Through out this poetic recount of war, telling of battles on the field, and in heaven, of all the varying roles of the female characters, each one can be pared down to influencer of a male, whether god, or mortal. One of the main figures of the Iliad is Helen of Troy. Her function is that of a prize.She is to be won, taken, and the group that has her is the one who wins. There are other instances in which females are used for the sole purpose of prizes, to be bargained or fought for. Towards the beginning of the Iliad, King Agamemnon is so upset that he has to give Chryseis back to her father, Chryses, in order to make Apollo stop attacking his country, that he takes Achillies' â€Å"prize†, Briseis. Later on in the story, when trying to make this up to Achillies to try and get him to save Agamemnon and the rest of the Danaans ships, the role of the woman is again to be used as a prize.King Agamemnon states' â€Å"I have three daughters†¦ let him take the one of his choice, freely and without gifts of wooing,† (Book 9). Even daughters are used as bargaining tools, or prizes by their own fathers. Daughters have different roles in the story, depending on if the daughter is mortal, or immortal. The daughters that are mortal have very little to say about who they are going to marry, or what will happen to them if their city gets â€Å"sacked† and they are to be divided among the fighters as loot.The daughters of the immortals, however, have a much more functioning role, as they are influencer to men and god alike. Minerva, in particular, has a way of getting what she wants from her father Jove. She influences his decisions, so that she can get her own way. Minerva also does as she's told to, and sends infl uential messages down to the men in battle more then once, being the good daughter that she is. Minerva is just one of the goddesses listed in the Iliad, and the functions of the goddesses vary, although, the roles are all influential to a male character in some way.Some of the roles of the goddesses are to be a messenger, like Minerva. Jove's wife, Juno, functions in much the same way as a mortal wife though, when the situation comes to Juno trying to argue a point with her husband, he ends up putting his foot down, and telling her to go sit down and be quiet. This is when they're discussion whether or not the city of Ilius is going to lose in battle. Even as the goddess with the most power over the other goddesses, she still sits down and does what she has been told.After finding out that Juno and Minerva were on their way down to earth to get into the battle, Jove makes the remark, â€Å"I am less surprised and angry with Juno, for whatever I say she always contradicts me,† (Book 8) Though, Homer does point out that just because Juno has done what Jove told to do, does not mean that she is happy about sitting down and being quiet about not wanting the city destroyed. Juno's character also serves in the role of the mother. In this role, she remains very protective over the men that she cares about, and influences them not to fight against each other.This role is shown from the very beginning of the work when she sends Minerva down to earth to stop Achillies and Agamemnon from fighting and killing each other, â€Å"because she cares for both of them so,† (Book 1). Immortal mothers are very protective of their mortal sons, but there is an example of a mortal mother not being so protective. During the battle, Hector runs to find his wife, who is looking down at the battle from the top of a wall, with her nursemaid carrying the baby.She pleads with him not to go back to the fight, stating that if he dies, she would have nothing left to live for. Bo ok 8) This would read that she would kill herself, because of his death, and therefore would not be there to raise her own child. Another female role in this epic is of sister. Juno is not only Jove's wife, but also his sister. The fact that they are related is brought up a few times in the story, when she is called Daughter of Saturn, and Jove being the Son of Saturn. Juno also plays the role of the trickster, as she gets Venus to help her, and Sleep to help her so that she can get Jove to fall asleep. This is detailed about the middle of Book 14.Juno gets Jove to want to have sex with her, and then he falls asleep while holding her. Juno uses her beauty and influence to get Jove to go to sleep. Another sisterly role is played by Althea, Meleager's mother, as the tale tells of her, â€Å"grieving for the death of her brother, prayed the gods,† (Book 9). Of all the influential roles that women play in the Iliad, the most influential would be that of messenger. Iris is depicte d in the role of messenger when she is sent down by Jove to deliver the message to Minerva and Juno that he forbids them to join in the battle.Another major influential messenger is Minerva herself. She is sent down more then once to deliver messages from Jove, and others immortals from heaven. Throughout the story, the functions of the female roles are varied, and are contemporary to their time, during which a man worshiped a female goddess, only to take a young girl from a far away land in order to have more wealth. Most of all, every role can be seen to show that females' influence over society at the time of Homer was great in some respects, yet even goddesses were subservient to the mighty male Jove.The role of the females concerning war was to influence the soldiers, and to be good wives, taking care of the children. And if the city in which the female lived gets â€Å"sacked†, it then becomes the females role to strictly be property. Though the male character that took her may or may not have feelings for her, she is still at best, loot. Daughters played very influential rules, especially the daughters of Jove, whether trying to get their way, or making Jove mad or happy, the role of his daughters was to influence him, and to have him decide what would come of the great battle.

10 Easy Ways for Students to Raise Their FICO Score

10 Easy Ways for Students to Raise Their FICO Score Why Students Need a Good FICO Score A FICO score is a type of credit score that is calculated with software from Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO).  Having a good FICO score is very important if you want to get approved for fair interest rates on private student loans, credit cards, and other sources of credit. FICO scores cant be improved overnight, but there are  10 easy steps that students can take to raise their FICO score Step 1: Establish New Accounts If you want to establish credit or raise your FICO score, you can get a credit card in your name and use it responsibly. This means charging regularly and paying the balances off regularly as well. If possible, get a card with a high limit and always keep the card balance below 25 percent. Step 2: Piggyback on Another Account If a parent or some other responsible individual is willing to add your name to their credit card account, it might help your credit and boost your FICO score. Every time this person charges and makes payments on the account it will look good for you. Read more about the legality of piggybacking. Step 3: Get Secured Debt If you are having difficulty getting approved for a regular credit card, try getting a secured credit card. These cards are perfect for those who have poor credit because they allow you to make charges that can be covered by money you have already applied to an account. There is no way for you to overcharge or miss payments. Eventually, use of the card will increase your FICO score. Step 4: Dont Apply for Too Much Credit If you have a flurry of credit inquiries on your credit history because you applied for 10 different credit cards and 5 different loans in a three-month period, it can lower your FICO score. If you can, try to limit yourself to two inquires each year. Step 5: Increase Your Current Card Limits The lower your balances are on your credit cards in comparison to the limit of your credit cards, the better your credit report will look and the higher your FICO score will be. If getting the balances paid down is proving to be a problem, or even if its not, contact your creditors and ask for a higher limit. Step 6: Pay Off Old Accounts If you have old, unpaid debts on your credit report, it can really drag your FICO score down. One of the best ways to undo the damage that has been done is to pay off old accounts and make arrangements with the creditors to have the judgments removed. Step 7: Dont Close Old Accounts Even if they are unused, old credit  accounts attribute to your length of credit history and affect your score. The longer you have an account, the better it looks. Closing old accounts can lower your FICO score even further. Step 8: Always Pay Bills On Time Not paying your bills on time is a sure-fire way to lower your FICO score. Each late payment can lower your score by as much as 20 points. In contrast, paying your bills on time consistently can raise your FICO score. Step 9: Lower Your Debt Having a significant amount of outstanding debt, such as student loans, cars loans, and other types of installment loans, can lower your debt-to-income ratio and in turn, your FICO score. If you can lower your debt; your FICO score will begin to rise at a fast pace. Step 10: Get Help If you are having a hard time managing your credit and raising your FICO score to an acceptable level, consider getting professional help through a low-cost or no-cost credit counseling service.

Health Curriculum and No Child Left Behind Act Research Paper Example

Health Curriculum and No Child Left Behind Act Research Paper Example Health Curriculum and No Child Left Behind Act Paper Health Curriculum and No Child Left Behind Act Paper The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is a program enacted by the Bush administration to answer necessities of implementing bipartisan solutions to fortify the foundation of the educational system in the United States. Concepts framing the NCLB involve granting accountability to the federal, state, and local governments as well as educational institutions regarding academic performance of students, implementing programs and utilizing facilities and resources that highly contribute to learning, providing funds to the grassroots level of educational administration, and empowering parents to become involved in their children’s education. (Bush, 2008) The government is expecting that the NCLB will result to improved educational quality and standards by providing comprehensive educational programs and opportunities to disadvantaged children, focusing on improving the field of teaching, incorporating programs that promote fluency in the English language. Informing parents of educational plans and choices suited for their children, structuring educational institutions to uphold safety and wellbeing of children, increased funding for granting educational aids and other forms of assistance to underprivileged, and granting accountability to stakeholders. (Bush, 2008) The NCLB is a major contributing factor in improving the current status of education in the country. For instance, health concerns perceived by educational institutions led to the development of curricula that are framed within the context of children’s health interests. Other concerns drafted under the framework of health curricula include self-management in terms of looking out for one’s health and wellbeing, promotion of healthy choices, and teaching a variety of concepts in health education. (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 1999) All these are directed towards establishing a healthy society for enhanced living and productivity. So how can these objectives be achieved, or how can educational institutions adapt the NCLB in order to enhance the teaching of a health curriculum to students? The answer lies in synthesizing concepts of the NCLB to health curricula to formulate content adhering to health education and promotion, while at the same time considering the needs of children in terms of health services in order to maximize learning opportunities. Initially, the NCLB may be applied in constructing a health curriculum. A health curriculum is sensitive of health issues such as literacy, promotion, and application of values and practices pertaining to health and well being. NCLB in the initial stages of drafting a health curriculum is able to materialize itself by considering physical, mental, and emotional aspects of student development. The objective of NCLB is to ensure that no one gets left behind in terms of education – meaning, that all students are able to acquire necessary education within their levels. With this in mind, initial considerations should include the background of the students. To fully realize the concept of NCLB under the context of health curriculum, the curriculum itself should be designed such that the students will be able to accomplish learning objectives under it. The health curriculum should be designed such that it is sensitive to the learning needs and individual differences of the students. In addressing this primary concern, programs and activities under the health curriculum will ensure that all students will be able to grasp specific concepts within their own learning skills and capabilities as learners. Generally, the preparedness of students is being identified in all three aspects – the physical, emotional, and mental learning needs.   Considering physical needs involve asking questions such as, â€Å"are students prepared to carry out physical activities demanded by the health curriculum?† This includes monitoring physical skills and abilities in order to structure attainable and realistic kinesthetic health activities. Emotional needs include the learners’ capacity to accept and give value to health concepts as they are revealed to them. One very sensitive issue when it comes to health literacy is the concept of puberty and gender differences. In this case, teachers should gauge whether learners are ready to confront these personal and perceptive issues during the learning process. Learning needs pertaining to mental capacity involves questioning the ability of students to comprehend health concepts. Teachers should ask themselves whether students are already able to give meaning and interpret health concepts as they are. (Lewallan, 2004) Aside from considering these learning needs, teachers should also address individual differences. The rate of growth and development for each learner differs. There are fast learners and late bloomers. Some learners might be skilled in physical activities but weak in mental exercises. To address these concerns, application of the NCLB in a health curriculum is needed in order to formulate a flexible curriculum that appropriate to the learning styles and individual differences of the learners. To prove contrast, if a health curriculum is strictly standardized, aiming at a singular learning objective through same levels of learning activities and programs, say for instance practical health examinations, only those skilled physically will be able to experience success and accomplish learning objectives. How about students who are not skilled in physical examinations but exhibit excellence in mental activities? Health curricula drafted under the NCLB should be flexible to individual differences, varying learning styles, and learning needs. (Lewallan, 2004) Bush, G. W. (2008). â€Å"Foreword by President George W. Bush.† Retrieved from The White House. 09 Sep 2008. whitehouse.gov/news/reports/no-child-left-behind.html Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (1999). â€Å"Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework – October 1999.† Retrieved September 9, 2008, from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Website: doe.mass.edu/frameworks/health/1999/core.html

Formalist Critism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Formalist Critism - Essay Example Tension refers to the fundamental cohesiveness of the work, and frequently involves irony and paradox. Intentional fallacy refers to the perception that the meaning of a work may be determined by the intent of the writer. Affective fallacy is the belief that the meaning or value of a work may be deduced from the manner in which it affects the reader. External form is the overlaying trappings of a work, such as rhyme, scheme, and meter, amongst others. Objective correlative refers to the collection of circumstances, objects and /or activities that evoke certain emotion immediately. This thesis does not limit and focus what the writer had intended to say regarding the object. This thesis is very unclear as it as the words fail to produce any cohesive meaning. The three key words are so unrelated within the context of the thesis to the extent that they fail provide any focus on object and subject of the short sentence. Secondly, the sentence does not seem to mirror the theme of the story. Perhaps the main theme is the story is love; however, while adjoining the journey to the key character obviously builds the theme, though it is unclear. The story is a narrative told as flashback by Jacob, and it begins to describe his life in the nursing home and the dilemma he runs into when someone claims that they gave water to the elephants, and so the book converts into a total flash back where Jacob narrates his life in the circus. In the book, the author applies varying language techniques such as broken English and everyday slang. For instance, the author paints a scene where Camel pleads with Blackie to free Jacob, â€Å"†¦ I’m tellin ya! †¦need no trouble, let I’m go! (Gruen, 193) This category of syntax provides a deep insight into the setting of the novel, although the storyline is set in first person, and the writer converses in a different

Act of vandalism - Graffiti Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Act of vandalism - Graffiti - Term Paper Example One reason why graffiti is often considered to have little artistic merit is that it is often done by young people who are still developing and practicing their artistic abilities. There is no guarantee that just because someone has the ability to graffiti that their work will necessarily be any good in the artistic sense however this is defined. Graffiti is connected with gangs who use tags to mark their territories, often to warn off other gangs as described by the web page Graffiti Art. In Northern Ireland large wall paintings, often on gable ends, serve as territorial markers between the different sectarian groups. In New York it appears on sub way cars. Sometimes graffiti, especially tags, which came into prominence in the1990’s, is used as a form of initiation, especially if in a hard to reach place. This gives it associations with both serious organized crime such drug dealing, as well as anti social behavior and what are seen as the more serious acts of vandalism such as smashing windows arson. Although some spectacular graffiti is done using spray cans, most is done on such places as toilet walls or back seats of buses, either by scratching into a surface using a sharp object (this type of graffiti is undoubtedly vandalism as it damages) or using a pen or pens. The aim of top graffiti artists such as Banksy in the United Kingdom, and is to create their own unique and recognizable style and to have their pieces in prominent places where they will attract attention.

The Case of the West Memphis 3 Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The of the West Memphis 3 - Case Study Example Such questions as to how they were able to feel confident in theory that they would have put together from those assumptions and have that become the case they would ultimately be able to form. For criminal prosecution, evidence based on factual findings is fear greater than that which would have been obtained through assuming something to be true or incorrect. In that not only were there assumptions made very soon after the crime was discovered to have been committed, but the police would have been approaching potential suspects based on such information with questionable validity and relevance. In the offset, the case against the resulting suspects would appear to be tenuous at best. As it stands, the events leading up to the arrest and prosecution of the three men in question for the heinous crimes committed against the three young boys, would lack the necessary means of just and righteous prosecution. To the citizens of West Memphis, it would have been a great relief to see the apprehension and subsequent prosecution occur. Based on the question of assumptions being made, the linkage of the three accused to the murders, in part by their alleged connection to a Satanica l group and also the behaviors of the groups themselves, would lead to further questions involving whether or not the young men did in fact belong to such a group and if those groups partook and sought to encourage such behavior on the part of its membership. The citizens of West Memphis were relieved that the monsters that had committed these heinous crimes had been apprehended and justice would be served. There was a great deal of anger in the community directed towards these three adolescents, supposedly involved in Satanic cults, who were accused of killing three innocent boys as part of a Satanic ritual. Rumors of Satanic groups had abounded in this dominantly Baptist community for decades. Details of their exploits were well known although there was never any proof of any murders actually having been performed in the past. (Steel, Ch. 1). With everything thus far, the case against the three youths appeared to lack strength. While the details were to have been known throughout the community at large, there would have been no proof whatsoever as to whether or not these groups would have taken part in ritualistic murders as part

The Lord of the Rings Essay Example for Free

The Lord of the Rings Essay To begin describing my unlikely hero’s we first have to ask ourselves what makes a hero. Is it always a big, strong alpha male with a square jaw and cocky attitude? I hardly think so. I feel that a hero is someone who puts others needs in front of their own to complete whatever task is set before them, even though they may have to give their life in the process, they keep going. Once in a while you come across a story where the hero not only does not fit into the stereotypical hero status but is as far away from what you expect as you can get. The unlikely hero†¦ The unlikely hero is a hero who never wanted to be a hero. The unlikely hero proves that anyone can make it as a hero. This diamond in the rough disguises his true potential until tough times call for his aid. He is greatly unsure of himself and often unsure on what to do. He just knows that something has to be done. The odds are usually greatly in favor of the villains and there is much to overcome, both mentally and psychically. My unlikely heroes are Frodo from the Lord of the Rings (Tolkien) and Pug from the Riftwar Saga. Both of these unlikely heroes must overcome great odds to complete quests that are thrust upon them. One, a small hobbit with little knowledge of the world outside of his home in the Shire, the other, a small orphan boy from the rustic town of castle Crydee. Neither is aware of the dangers that await them or that their lives are about to change forever. Frodo Baggins is a hobbit. Hobbits are short and stocky and do not go out very often. Life outside the Shire does not concern them too much and they are very content on staying on their own land doing what pleases them. Frodo lives with his uncle Bilbo in his hobbit hole Bags End, a house carved into the side of a hill. Frodo is usually quiet and reserved and does not like to cause a scene. (Tolkien) While living with his uncle Bilbo, Frodo is left in the Shire as heir to Bags End and all of the possessions. This included a magic ring. All Bilbo knew about the ring is that it turned the wearer invisible; the true nature of the ring had become lost to history. After keeping the ring hidden for 17 years the wizard Gandalf came to Frodo to tell him that it is The One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron and that his agents are searching for it. Gandalf informs Fordo he must take the ring to Rivendell, home of the house of Elrond, an elf lord in order to keep it out of the hands of the Nazgul, Sauron’s agents. (Tolkien) At the start of his journey Frodo is joined by his friend and gardener Samwise Gamgee, and his cousins Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. They leave the shire for Rivendell and almost instantly they are tracked by the Nazgul, barely escaping. They make it to an inn in the town of Bree where they are joined by Aragorn who helps them escape their next attack and guide them to Rivendell. Once in Rivendell there is a meeting on what to do about the ring. There are representatives from each race at the meeting. They come to the conclusion that the ring is to be destroyed but an argument ensues on who will take possession of it to destroy it. Then Frodo volunteers for the task and everyone else takes an oath to protect him on his journey to Mordor to destroy the ring in the fires of Mount Doom. (Tolkien) There are many things that Frodo must overcome in order to complete his task. The ring drives the humans around it mad and they will eventually try to kill Frodo for it. Frodo is also hunted at every turn by Orcs and every other being that Sauron has under his control. Frodo eventually has to leave all of his companions behind with the exception of Sam in order to protect the ring from those that wish to use the rings power. Frodo and Sam made their way through Emyn Muil, followed by the creature Gollum. As they finally reached Mount Doom, Gollum reappeared and attacked Frodo, who beat him back. He continued on while Sam fought with Gollum. Having finally reached the Sammath Naur, or Crack of Doom, however, Frodo lost the will to destroy the Ring, and instead put it on, claiming it for himself. Gollum got past Sam and attacked the invisible Frodo, biting off his finger, and finally regained his precious. As he danced around in elation, Gollum lost his balance and fell with the Ring into the lava. The Ring was thus destroyed, Saurons power lost and his realm ended. Frodo and Sam were rescued by Great Eagles as Mount Doom erupted. (Tolkien) Pug is the child of unknown parents, an orphan abandoned at a monastery near Crydee, a town on the north-west coast of the Kingdom of the Isles. As a boy, he is sent to Castle Crydee and is adopted by Megar, the castle keeps cook. He grows up there, becoming the closest friend of Megars son, Tomas, becoming almost a brother to him. While gathering shellfish at age 13, Pug is caught in a storm, his ankle is sprained, and he is charged by a wild boar. He is saved by a franklin named Meecham, who is in the service of the court Magician Kulgan. (Fiest) Kulgan discovers Pugs talent for magic and takes him as his apprentice on Choosing Day. Under Kulgans tutelage, Pug makes satisfactory progress in the theory of magic, but finds himself unable to cast spells in the traditional way. Pug appears to suffer some form of mental block. Kulgan decides that as a foil to Pugs very logical mind, Pug is to be taught equestrian skills. This leads to Pug being selected to accompany Princess Carline (daughter of the Duke of Crydee) into the countryside on a ride. During the course of this ride, they are attacked by two trolls; Pug manages to defend the princess demonstrating skill first with a sling and then with his unexpected success in casting a spell, his first of any power. The spell causes the trolls excruciating pain and they drown. Kulgan voices to Pug that this is a skill unheard of in Midkemian magic. Casting this particular spell without a device to focus the power was impossible. Casting the spell in the manner in which Pug did should have caused great pain to himself instead of the Trolls. Upon return to Crydee, Pug earns the gratitude of the Duke and the affection of Carline, Duke Borrics beautiful, but willful, daughter. As a reward for this feat, Pug is made a squire and was granted land, to be held by the crown until the age of majority. Then, mysteriously, the Tsurani invade Crydee. A bitter nine year war ensues at the start of which, Pug is captured while helping Kulgan get safely away from a skirmish and taken to Kelewan, kept at first as a swamp slave, cutting timber and pulp for the Tsurani. He is liberated from the swamps by Clan of Tsurani nobles, and instructed to tutor their sons in the ways of the Kingdom. Pug is respected but never allowed to forget that he is nothing but a slave. During this time Pug meets and falls for Katala, a slave girl of great beauty and wit, and Laurie, a former Troubador from the Kingdom, most recently a friend and confidant of Pug. However, one day Pugs former training is recognized by a Tsurani Great One. Pug is trained as a Greater Path Magician, and is remarkable in many ways. His outworld status (as well as his former status as slave, enemy and lesser path apprentice) makes him something of a celebrity. Pug is renamed Milamber. Fiest) Pug becomes instrumental in bringing the Riftwar to an end, by destroying the planetary rift between Kelewan and Midkemia, in an effort to stop the return of the enemy to Midkemia. When the Riftwar ends, Pug is rewarded with the title to the island of Stardock, previously gifted to him by Duke Borric for saving his daughter. It is also revealed that after he had been considered dead, the Duke gave him a name in memorial, adopting him into the ConDoin family, effectively making him an adopted member of the royal family. Fiest) Midkemia is very similar to Earth in climate, and its flora and fauna. It has three continents: Triagia, Novindus and Winet. It has two oceans, though there are various names for them depending on the continent or nation. The Endless Sea is west of Triagia and is east of Novindus where it is called the Blue Sea. The Sea of Tears is east of Triagia and west of Novindus where it is called the Green Sea. (Fiest) Tolkien prepared several maps of Middle-earth and the regions of Middle-earth in which his stories took place. Some were published in his lifetime, though some of the earliest maps were not published until after his death. The main maps were those published in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales. Most of the events of the First Age took place in the subcontinent Beleriand, which was later engulfed by the ocean at the end of the First Age; the Blue Mountains at the right edge of the map of Beleriand are the same Blue Mountains that appear on the extreme left of the map of Middle-earth described in the Second and Third Ages. Tolkiens map of Middle-earth, however, shows only a small part of the world; most of the vast lands of Rhun and Harad are not shown on the map, and there are also other continents. (Tolkien) The two unlikely heroes are a lot alike as well as being very different. Pug has many powers he can use later on in the books to help him do what needs to be done. Frodo just has his will and the help of Sam. No matter how hard things became, they both pressed on in order to save their world.