The Four Main Themes Of Beowulf - 1376 Words

Beowulf, the oldest of the great long poems written in English, may have been composed more than twelve hundred years ago, in the first half of the eighteenth century, although some scholars would place it as late as the tenth century. After reading Beowulf many times, I was able to get to know the characters, as well as gain some insight of the many themes portrayed throughout the poem. The story of Beowulf is not the easiest to understand, and is also extremely complex. But, with that said, this reading left me with many questions hanging over my head, more so concerning the many themes that are illuminated throughout the reading. My list of questions was extremely large to say the least, so rather than discuss every single question, I†¦show more content†¦Heorot was a clean representation of the unity of the warriors in their specific tribe and also represented brotherhood. Heorot is where we first learn about the protagonist, Beowulf. Beowulf hears about Grendel (which i s the creature that Beowulf fights) and without hesitation rounds up all his men and sails to the land of the Danes. Beowulf first shows up there with his men for none other than the normal Mead-Hall festivities, a feast and a party in front of a formal audience. While at the Heorot, Beowulf is invited to speak to the people of Hrothgar. Due to the setting of the Mead-Hall, this gives Beowulf the opportunity to speak to the people that are being bothered by Grendel. Beowulf’s speech mainly consists of him boasting about himself and his previous fights where he came out victorious. He then goes on to make his proposal to the people of Hrothgar, and says he plans to fight Grendel with no weapons, due to the fact that Grendel does not use any weapons at all. As one can see, the Mead-Hall plays a key role on the story of Beowulf. It is a place full of feasts and partying, where the King and his court may have a great time as well as show off their extremely lavish belongings. The Mead-hall also gives Beowulf the proper platform to propose to the people of Hrothgar and offer to defeat Grendel, so they may have peace of mind after dark. Which takes me to the next point of discussion. What are qualities of aShow MoreRelatedJohn Leyerle, Jane Chance, And J.r. R. Tolkien1422 Words   |  6 Pagesvaluable insight to their respective depictions of Beowulf’s structure. While Chance and Tolkien are accurate in terms of the representation of the monsters and historical references in Beowulf, Leyerle’s argument offers a more inclusive and whole depiction of Beowulf’s structure. Leyerle describes the structure of Beowulf as interlacing. Leyerle’s essay is more cogent than Chance’s and Tolkien’s through the definition of interlace, the significance of digressions, and historical allusions presented inRead MoreBeowulf as Epic823 Words   |  4 PagesWhat makes an epic? Is Beowulf an epic? ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · What is an epic poem, and how does it differ from other kinds of poetry or storytelling? How have epic poems traditionally been transmitted from generation to generation? How do tellers remember these long and complicated stories? According to Robert Harris’s Glossary of Literary Terms, he defines an epic as the following: Epic. An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style (withRead MoreEssay on Beowulf study guide1576 Words   |  7 Pages1) Describe how we find King Hrothgar and his response to learning that Beowulf has come to his kingdom. A. The king is sad and depressed that his kingdom has fallen into such a state of disrepair. He is overjoyed to learn that Beowulf, whom he knows from stories and his father, Ecgtheow, has come to fight Grendel. Hrothgar promises Beowulf treasure if he can defeat the monster. 2) In the beginning of â€Å"Beowulf,† King Hrothgar’s hall has been deserted for twelve years. In a short essay, tell whyRead MoreCompare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight761 Words   |  4 PagesAcross Medieval Culture In the literary works Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an admirable warrior and knight are depicted. Although Sir Gawain and Beowulf both possess such characteristics as bravery and strength, readers can observe differences in other traits that make them heroes of their own time that is attributable to the societal mindset in which the poems were written. The goal of this essay is to compare and contrast how Beowulf, which was written in the early eleventh centuryRead MoreBeowulf Is A Christian Allegory1310 Words   |  6 PagesIt is common opinion that Beowulf was written by a Christian poet. This was probably true because at the time when it was written, most of the few people who knew how to read and write were in the clergy. There are various references within the poem to elements of the Christian religion. However, the story is about Pagan people and certain aspects of their culture are even glorified. The ambiguity of Beowulf’s religious content has caused confusion as to what significance religion had inRead MoreThe Analysis and Comparison of the Themes of Beowulf, The Odyssey and Other Related Epics2553 Words   |  11 Pagesor historical hero. Epics like Beowulf and The Odyssey are perfect examples of this definition; they are each centered on the deeds and triumphs of their heroes, Beowulf and Odysseus. All epics are similar in a way that they are made up of elements. One major element of the epic is its themes. In all epics, the themes are what make and mold these narrative poems, they descriptively outline the story. Most epics, like Beowulf and The Odyssey, have themes like battles, homecoming, identityRead MoreBeowulf As An Epic Poem1940 Words   |  8 PagesBeowulf as an Epic Poem Beowulf is a legendary Old English poem believed to have been written in the eighth or ninth century. Though its origin is unclear and its author is unknown this poem has continued through time. Portions of the original transcript have been lost with the passing of time and many translations of the work have been made. Each version of the work one aspect has remained the same, its hero. In all versions of the poem the hero is characterized by his impressive strength, braveryRead MoreAn Analysis Of Beowulf And The Cowardly Cave, And The Dragon s Lair 2031 Words   |  9 PagesThemselves The outrageous characters in Beowulf have attracted an abundant amount of attention. The landscapes in which they live create the characters and make them complex. The location of the poem imitates the qualities which make them outrageous. To understand the prosperity of the characters it is beneficial to view the symbolic value of the setting and how the characters interact with one another throughout the story. There are four main plots in Beowulf that have significant value: Heorot, theRead MoreBurial and Grendel Beowulf2257 Words   |  10 PagesStory The main protagonist, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendels mother with a sword, which giants once used, that Beowulf found in Grendels mothers lair. Later in his life, Beowulf is himself king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrorised by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his hoard in a burial mound. He attacks theRead MoreHeroism as the Main Theme of Beowulf Essay2557 Words   |  11 PagesHeroism as the Main Theme of Beowulf The main theme of Beowulf is heroism. This involves far more than physical courage. It also means that the warrior must fulfil his obligations to the group of which he is a key member. There is a clear-cut network of social duties depicted in the poem. The king has an obligation to behave with generosity. He must reward his thanes with valuable gifts for their defense of the tribe and their success in battle. This is why King Hrothgar

Product Concept Definition - 1686 Words

The Product Concept PhaseAs discussed in Chapter 2, new ideas for new products and services are generated in many different ways in and outside the modern company in the market. Today a more open and collaborative process of accessing innovative ideas and problem solutions is available to companies on the Web in the form of wiki platforms. A wiki is a collaborative Website that can be directly edited by anyone with access to it. This virtual market for new product ideas that is generated by a wiki is called an ideagora, from the Greek word agora (marketplace). An ideagora is a global marketplace on the Web where insights and experiences are shared, debated, and refined. Companies get access to a global pool of talent through this system†¦show more content†¦The secret to faster, cheaper, and better new products is the management and scheduling of product development as a dynamic, interactive process. The estimates of task durations are made by the project manager using past project experience plus the insights of those who will do the work. The focus in this phase is starting dates,not task durations. This means, for instance, that the project value assessment (ID 3 in Table 4-1) is estimated to take five days based on past experience, but the task manager is expected to get it done as soon as possible. Durations are not seen as the authorized window for the work; they are seen as outside estimates. Setup for Project Review: Go or No-Go DecisionThe concept phase is important because these front-end activities of analysis and evaluation help to prepare for the go or no-go decision at the end of this phase in project review. Project setup increases the chance that if the product does not have potential, the company can stop the process of development in time to save valuable resources. At this stage, it is key that good data and insight are provided about the product or service under consideration. The way management commits to the project at this point depends on company policy and procedures, but it is recommended that top management sign off on the scope document and perhaps other outputs of this phase, and that they participate inShow MoreRelatedWhat Creativity Means to Me: An Opinion Essay649 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction Creativity does not have an assigned or universally accepted definition. Thus the true nature of creativity cannot be confined to a single definition. In this text, I discuss creativity. More specifically, I concern myself with what creativity means to me and to others. What Creativity Means to Me In my opinion, creativity has got to do with the ability to come up with new things or ideas. Over time, we have had individuals design, produce or even manufacture items which were notRead MoreMarketing Concepts1469 Words   |  6 PagesMARKETING CONCEPTS Following are the six concepts of marketing †¢ Production concept †¢ Product concept †¢ Selling concept †¢ Marketing concept †¢ Societal marketing concept †¢ Holistic marketing concept THE PRODUCTION CONCEPT: DEFINITION BY KOTLER: â€Å"It is the idea that customers will favor products that are available and highly affordable and that the organization should therefore focus on improving production and distribution efficiency.† EXPLANATION: This concept is theRead MoreMarketing Strategy Concepts, Methodology, And Theory1350 Words   |  6 PagesIn this part, related literatures about marketing strategy concepts, methodology, and theory, are reviewed. These concepts, theory and methodology are the foundations of research design of this work. 2.1 Marketing strategy The material world is objective while the people’s psychologies are very subjective. The same concepts from different people may mean different implications. The concepts of strategy tend to be used in many scenarios and embody different meanings. The marketing strategy alsoRead MoreGene Essay1559 Words   |  7 Pages The concept and definition of a gene, once considered concrete and established for decades, has recently come into question. Within approximately the past ten years, the research of numerous scientists has yielded results and observations inconsistent with what was considered a gene. Investigation of gene structure and function demonstrate that the concept of the gene needs reevaluation, particularly its qualification criteria (Marks and Lyles, 2005, cited in Portin 2009). Five major factsRead MoreThe Meaning of Marketing Strategy1470 Words   |  6 Pagescustomers and support the sale of their products. In a more pragmatic formulation, marketing is defi ned as follows: Marketing covers those activities that relate the organization to those parts of the outside world that use, buy, sell or influence the outputs it produces and the benefits and services it offers (OShaughnessy, 1995). The American Marketing Association probably the institution and source best capable to offer a definition of the concept of marketing expands the understanding ofRead MoreHow Marketing Is The Central Aspect Of Every Society1706 Words   |  7 Pageslower price of the new supplier? Will a new firm be consistently able to supply the quantity needed at this price? Will the new supplier deliver the product on time, in order to avoid any costly plant shutdowns that would result from an out of stock condition? An industrial buyer must carefully weigh many aspects of marketing in selecting the correct product and supplier. Finally, consider the consumer – you and me – trying to decide on a hair stylist. Should the aspects of the number of awards, servicesRead MoreThe Business Model ( Bm ) Essay939 Words   |  4 PagesCustomer segments identify the customer that the organization desires to reach and serve. Customer relationships are defined by the type of relationship the organization establishes with the customer segment. Value propositions specify the benefits (products and services) that an organization can provide a customer to meet a need or solve a problem. Key resources are the assets that enable the organization to offer value, reach the market, maintain relationships, and earn revenue. Key activities detailRead MoreA Critical Evaluation Of A Marketing Concept Versus Marketing1608 Words   |  7 Pagesevaluation of a marketing concept versus marketing practice and their effects, being positive or negative, on a company or organization. As we further move on from the previous dec ades, we are introduced to many new marketing concepts, practices and terminologies. In more recent times the various statements made about marketing concepts and its definition was always varied. In 1985 the American Marketing Association came up with this to be the definition of marketing concepts (Ferrell and Lucas, 1987)Read MoreThe Concept of Marketing and Its Application1258 Words   |  5 PagesThe Concept of Marketing and Its Application Phase 1 Marketing is an essential function for most commercial organizations: it is more than simply advertising to tell people about a product. There is on singular definition of marketing, to determine a personal definition, a reviewed of some existing approaches may be assessed. The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines marketing as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchangingRead MoreMarketing within Pizza Express P10173101111 Words   |  5 Pagesrestaurants companies with more than 400 restaurants in the Uk and 60 more internationally. (Who we are, 2013, www.pizzaexpress.co.uk) pag1 Shareholders decide how much or how Pizza Express need to invest the money. Affecting directly to the company products and services. The external factors in the company are: Competitors. Analysis and monitoring the competitors of Pizza Express is really important, if the company want to be better than the competitors. After the Pizza Hut decline our Leadership

The appreciation and feasibility of higher education Free Essays

As an emerging field of survey there are many challenges and inquiries that evoke when one declares higher instruction as a field of survey. Some people like Dennis Mileti ( 2003 ) could easy declare that since people talked about Emergency Management as a subject, â€Å" therefore it is. â€Å" Philips ( 2003:2 ) . We will write a custom essay sample on The appreciation and feasibility of higher education or any similar topic only for you Order Now In specifying higher instruction as a field of survey there are inquiries that will prosecute us for old ages to come as they have for the old ages ago. â€Å" Position documents will be written, perspective challenged, arguments entered in course of study commissions, turf conflicts waged in alumnus councils † Phillips ( 2003:2 ) . The argument is sometimes reduced to the inquiry of whose definition of ‘field of survey ‘ to be used. Philips ( 2003:2 ) suggests that we need to hesitate and analyze the yesteryear while contemplating the hereafter. How far we are with higher instruction as a field of survey and what way is it taking. We need to look back and state where we come from. harmonizing to Goodchild ( neodymium ) the survey of higher instruction has non yet reached adulthood but possesses many of the properties of scholarly field. He contests that programmes designed to fix individuals entry in higher instruction exist in profuseness. He besides states that there are about eight hundred professors who think of themselves as professors on higher instruction. This suggests that these professors would hold easy agreed with Mileti ( 2003 ) in that when people talk of something therefore it is. We need to look at what characterizes higher instruction and higher instruction as a field of survey in peculiar. Although in the past few decennaries there was really small literature sing higher instruction as a field of survey, new research suggests the antonym at the present. Hobbs and Francis ( 1973 ) and Francis and Hobbs ( 197 4 ) were able to that the theoretical research available in the disciplinary diaries was rare in the higher instruction. They besides found that there was small evident usage of periodical literature of the theoretical findings Kellems ( 1975 ( 3 ) , 135-154 ) . Goodchild ( neodymium ) suggests that there is a turning literature that deals with assorted parts of higher instruction sphere. So, this suggests that we are so traveling in a way. Let us utilize this definition of a ‘field of survey ‘ so that we can all be at par. This has no purpose to sabotage or pique anyone ‘s mind. Can we hold that as a field of survey, Higher Education is more embracing on the one manus, and does non hold its ain theoretical foundation, on the other? it relies on academic subjects such a societal scientific disciplines to explicate the educational procedure. Maybe it is because of this basic ground that we have seen less funding in the field of survey than in the academic Fieldss. Thingss have changed now, or they promising to alter or we need to alter things around. In the following subject I want us to look at the lively-hood and the sustainability of the field. Appropriateness and feasibleness of research within higher instruction. What can we look at and make up one’s mind that we can take higher instruction as a field of survey? The argument comes back once more. When we look at the clip line of higher instruction we recognise many alterations with clip before 1994 and the state of affairs after 1994. By 1994, there were in south Africa 36 higher instruction Institutions, which were structured along racial and cultural lines and characterised by a crisp differentiation between universities ( 21 ) and technikons ( 15 ) OECD, ( 2008 ) . New lines would be drawn or are being drawn off from those of the yesteryear. Universities are get downing to see the bigger image now. Where all establishments want to go Centres of excellence. Some have chosen to go entrepreneurial university and other practical universities. the inquiry remains, how we become specializers in higher instruction if there is no specialization in higher instruction as a field of survey. How are the lectors prepared to run into the organiza tional aims? Nzimande, ( 2009:3 ) negotiations about the cardinal characteristics of higher Education and Training System. â€Å" aˆÂ ¦the system of HET will be supported by an institutional base that is both diverse and differentiated every bit good as being conceptualized as an integrated and consistent whole in which meaningful acquisition tracts are developed across institutional and workplace instruction and preparation signifiers. † Nzimande ( 2009:3 ) the people responsible for the development of these acquisition tracts are the higher instruction practicians. This sets out a challenge to all talks at Higher Education Institutions to prosecute in research in order to turn to the challenges that the curate of higher instruction negotiations about in the subject policy development. Other subjects in higher instruction would include but non restricted to higher instruction direction and leading, plan planning and development, research, passage surveies ( workplace to larning topographic point and larning topographic point to workplace ) . I view the followers as possible countries of research in higher instruction. The green paper on Skills development ( 1997 ) aimed to develop an â€Å" incorporate accomplishments development system which promoters economic and employment growing and societal development through a focal point on the instruction preparation and employment services † . if no 1 is making research on higher instruction we may ne’er happen out what this means and hence higher instruction establishments may ne’er be able to supply the service as suggested by the authorities. To simplify the above, in 1997 the above was taken frontward in the accomplishments development act ( 97of 1999 ) which aimed to: Develop accomplishments of the south African workforceaˆÂ ¦ . Encourage employers to utilize the workplace as a acquisition site Increase the degrees of investing in instruction and trainingaˆÂ ¦ Ensure the quality of instruction and preparation in and for the workplace ; To me all of the above I the act am research chances for higher instruction practicians. Lecturer and other higher instruction staff need to understand and hold expertness in the accomplishments needed for the work force. The lone manner we know how to break get new cognition is through research. This would assist the higher instruction establishments in footings of support from the authorities and other stakeholders based on the turnaround or the results of the preparation and sort of instruction they provide. This brings me to the quality of instruction and preparation in and for the work force. We need more people in the readying of lectors for covering with the demands of the work force. Through invention and promotion in engineering we may non keep the old cognition and hope that it will be equal for more old ages to come. The curate besides mentioned ‘quality intercessions ‘ which include among other things the debut of formal makings for talk Sers Nzimande ( 2009: 5 ) formal makings now will non needfully be formal makings in the following 10 old ages to come. We have seen state of affairss where establishments, in their quest to be the tbest, stop up bring forthing one line of work force more than any othrer. For illustration the University of Zululand is bring forthing more instructors than any other making at the present. Does it of all time occur to the leaders that at one phase these instructors will see what many people call a bottle cervix state of affairs, where there will be more pedagogues than the schools really necessitate? The Education white paper 3, and the National program for Higher Education ( NPHE ) in their policy paperss, they articulate increased engagement as one of the ends of Higher Education Transformation in South Africa, which is the accomplishment of equity in the higher instruction system.OECD, 2008. The higher instruction practicians are expected to react to this call and I f they are non prepared through research they will non react suitably. By reacting suitably I mean that engagement would be increased, equity achieved, and the quality of instruction non compromised. Increasing engagement and accomplishing equity in footings of gender, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic position is easy because it is a statistical issue. Covering with big Numberss of pupils besides needs a research base reply. A addition it is the duty showing itself as an chance to higher instruction practicians to venture out ways and agencies of covering with big Numberss in limited resources, for illustration. The other issue here that needs to be addressed is that of background. To reason, I would wish to indicate out to other fellow talks and faculty members that there is a brighter hereafter in higher instruction as a field of survey, and there can be more subjects than what I mentioned here. How to cite The appreciation and feasibility of higher education, Essay examples

Role of Stereotype in Forming Prejudice

Question: Critically Explore the role of stereotyping in forming prejudice and critically explore the use of Implicit Association Tests (IAT) in detecting prejudice. Answer: Role of stereotype in forming prejudice The generalization about the individual or group of individual is called stereotype. It is generally formed when the required information about the person is unable to obtain. It is a kind of fill in the blank when there is absence of total picture. In our society there is unfair discrimination on stereotypes and it our society only who creates these stereotypes. Comics, movies, books, television are the various sources of stereotyped character (McGarty, Spears, Yzerbyt, 2002). Most of the movies displays African-American as being lazy, unintelligent and violence prone which has resulted into forming prejudice for African-American people. It is a kind of discrimination when a person or a group of judges on stereotypes and prejudice, they are likely to treated differently. Minority group people, women are often discriminated and victimized for education and employment. Women are excluded from high positions in business. Clubs provide restrictive membership based on caste and economic status. Criminal and civil justice is often not applied to everyone equally. The product of adaptive process is considered as prejudice and stereotyping. The people use their mental shortcuts while making decisions regarding these. There are few positives also attached with stereotypes and prejudice like maintaining the charter of women, preserving the culture of a particular society etc. but still harsh realities, biased decisions are attached with stereotype group of people (Cox, Abramson, Devine, Hollon, 2012). Implicit Association Test The implicit association test is used to measure the social psychology to detect the persons strength of association with mental representation of object in the mind. It was introduced by the Anthony Greenwald, Debbie McGhee, Joyce Sherry, and Jordan Schwartz in 1998. It is used in social psychology research and in cognitive, development psychology and clinical research. It is linked with peoples brain. This test has caught the attention of social psychologist as well as general public. It is developed to primarily understand the unconscious cognition and social cognition and measure the implicit group attitudes, stereotypes. (Nosek, Greenwald, Banaji, 2005). As a part of the process it includes attitudes, perception, stereotypes, and memory. Users are required to make judgment and reflect the attitude of people which they are not ready to revel publically. It helps in getting around the difficult problem and that is why it is extensively used to judge attitude of people. An importan t aspect of an effective Implicit Association Test is that it should be performed on people without telling them what the purpose of this procedure is. In stereotype IAT it measures the link between the thoughts that people hold for particular stereotypes, basically understanding the strength of stereotypes. For example- Gender-science IAT shows that people link women more with art and men with science. (Nosek, Hansen, 2008). IAT has also attracted its fair share of criticism at the same time. The most common and obvious criticism is that it is difficult to draw positive associations with things/people you are less familiar with. This is as simple as lack of knowledge on something and hence an ineffective conclusion. References McGarty, Craig; Spears, Russel; Yzerbyt, Vincent Y. (2002). "Conclusion: stereotypes are selective, variable and contested explanations".Stereotypes as explanations: The formation of meaningful beliefs about social groups. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp.186199. Cox, William T. L.; Abramson, Lyn Y.; Devine, Patricia G.; Hollon, Steven D. (2012)."Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Depression: The Integrated Perspective"(PDF).Perspectives on Psychological Science7(5): 427449. Nosek, B. A., Greenwald, A. G., Banaji, M. R. (2005). Understanding and using the Implicit Association Test: II. Method variables and construct validity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 166180. Nosek, B. A., Hansen, J. J. (2008). Personalizing the Implicit Association Test increases explicit evaluation of the target concepts. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 25, 226-236.

Charity Leaflet; Quaker Homeless Action Essay Example

Charity Leaflet; Quaker Homeless Action Essay Whatever has brought these men and women to our shelter, few that we meet have even the weakest hopes that life may get better. the greatest challenge for Friends is not material. It is to be part, by whatever means, of the process that restores and nourishes self-worth in those who have lost every last grain of it.Quaker Homeless Action (QHA) is a charitable organisation bringing services and friendship to homeless people (rough sleepers) in Britain. Almost all of QHAs income is donated by individuals and Quaker Meetings. In recent years donations have been around à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½30,000 each year. QHA does most of its work in London, but the council of QHA are continually seeking to assist like minded charity groups throughout Britain. All QHAs work is done by unpaid volunteers Quakers and non-Quakers except that in recent years an administrator has been employed temporarily each year to help run Quaker Open Christmas.Open ChristmasQuaker Open Christmas is still a main focus for QHA activity. It provides a welcome, food and shelter for homeless people in London over the holiday season. It also gives volunteers an opportunity to learn about the lives and problems of others, and to do something practical in response. QHA works closely with Crisis and with two drug rehabilitation groups, Equinox and Mainliners, which enables them to help house guests and direct them to drug rehabilitation programmes if they wish. This work goes on throughout the year as the other groups are aware of our guests. Some would say that that the QHA are serving the people no one else wants. This is because we do allow dogs and we do not turn someone away who is on drugs although usage at the shelter is forbidden.Tea RunAs an extension of the work traditionally carried out in the days of Toynbee Hall and the soup kitchen at Pott Street Church in the East End, volunteers started taking tea and sandwiches to people sleeping rough in the City and West End in the 1980s.This has continued eve ry Saturday since with volunteers from PMs around. London. QHA provides co-ordination and limited funding. The Tea Run enables Friends to make contact with people who are homeless, a contact which we hope is at least as valuable as the tea and sandwiches. It also carries on the work begun at the Open Christmas.Mobile LibraryAt Christmas, 1999, QHA launched a weekly mobile library serving central London. This enables the homeless people we are serving to have access to books. With no address, they are unable to borrow from local libraries. It is much appreciated. We have had requests for books on subjects ranging from childcare to plumbing, for dictionaries to help in learning English as a foreign language, for a Bible and the Koran, for books on learning about Quakers as well as the expected fiction especially science fiction and fantasy, thrillers and horror. Helping to feed the mind is just as valuable as feeding the stomach. We were fortunate to receive a grant to cover the purc hase and conversion of the van and the first years running costs. Following a letter in The Bookseller, books have been donated by publishers and literary agents as well as by many individuals. On-going help is always needed to process these books for use on the van as well as more volunteers, especially drivers for the runs.We are also carrying leaflets about schemes for poor or non-readers and those those suffering from dyslexia.CampaignsQHA supports the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC), which campaigns for Government policies which will help homeless people, and is represented on the Quaker Housing and Social Inclusion Group (HSIG).;Seed MoneyAlthough QHA started in London and most of its activities are still based there, homelessness is not confined to the capital. QHA has provided seed money as well as support and encouragement to help start up projects around the country. These have included support to several rent guarantee schemes, funding for starter packs for new ly housed homeless people to get the basic necessities for their flats, aid to a hostel in short term difficulty and other related projects. We have begun a project in conjunction with BIA Quaker Social Action to provide a guarantee against damage to the property for newly housed young people. Occasionally seed money is available for other projects for homeless people.VolunteersMore volunteers are always needed, to replace people who have had to move on, and to allow for services to be improved and extended. Volunteering is not an easy option. Working with homeless people can be challenging and, increasingly, volunteers are expected to understand, and observe Hygiene and Health and Safety regulations which (rightly) apply as much to a temporary soup kitchen as to the Ritz or a hospital. The rewards, however, can he considerable.New ChallengesIn recent years, in spite of a number of charitable and Government initiatives to combat homelessness, economic circumstances and changing legi slation have combined to make the threat of homelessness more real for many. This has been increased by cuts in Social Service budgets. Newly housed Council tenants, asylum seekers, ex-prisoners and unemployed single people are finding the safety net less supportive than in the past. In the last year, QHA has responded to requests for funding from rent guarantee schemes involving Friends away ftom London, and a shelter for vulnerable young people. We would like to do more, financially and in a practical way, but we are constrained by funding and also by the fact that many of our volunteers are already very stretched.OrganisationQHA is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. This allows us to accept Charities Aid Foundation vouchers. We are governed by a Council of about sixteen Friends and attenders who are guided by an Annual General Meeting. There are many exciting questions about how we can respond to growing needs, what new work we should take on and how Quakers may best contribute. We hope Friends will continue to offer their support and guidance.

Free Essays on Death In Venice

On the Discourse of Desire The progression in the discourse of desire in Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice depicts the shift between the intertwining discourses evident in the novella, beginning with the Apollian discourse to the fateful pathological desire that will evidently end Aschenbach’s life. Aschenbach sets out on his ill-fated journey to Venice, the city of intrigue and mystery, because he desired change, a breakage from his structured and prototypical will. Throughout his journey, Aschenbach encounters several disfigured men whom have been referred to as â€Å"gondolier figures.† These gondolier figures embody the concept of transportation of either spiritual or physical will that later becomes the underlining theme of Aschenbach’s transformation. Upon settling into his Venetian hotel, Aschenbach ventures into the hotel’s parlor where he first meets Tadzio. He is completely captivated by the boy’ beauty, â€Å"his face, pale and gracefully reserved†¦framed by honey-colored curls†¦lovely mouth†¦an expression of exquisite, divine solemnity† (21). Aschenbach’s admiration is from a purely artistic stance by mentally framing the boy’s face, â€Å"the temples and ears richly and rectangularly framed by soft dusky curls† (25). Aschenbach views Tadzio as a work of art, an inspiration for his distinguished writing to â€Å"work in the presence of Tadzio, to use the boy ’s physical frame as the model for his writing† (39). Aschenbach references of Tadzio to Narcissus, â€Å"it was the smile of Narcissus leaning over the mirroring water† (43) marks the beginning of Aschenbach’s new discourse of desire. Narcissus is a mythological character that was greatly admired and desired by the nymph Echo. When Narcissus rejected her, she died of grief leaving only her voice while Narcissus himself him withers away, by a pond. This reference becomes a foreshadowing of forthcoming events. Aschenbach’s desire intensifie... Free Essays on Death In Venice Free Essays on Death In Venice On the Discourse of Desire The progression in the discourse of desire in Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice depicts the shift between the intertwining discourses evident in the novella, beginning with the Apollian discourse to the fateful pathological desire that will evidently end Aschenbach’s life. Aschenbach sets out on his ill-fated journey to Venice, the city of intrigue and mystery, because he desired change, a breakage from his structured and prototypical will. Throughout his journey, Aschenbach encounters several disfigured men whom have been referred to as â€Å"gondolier figures.† These gondolier figures embody the concept of transportation of either spiritual or physical will that later becomes the underlining theme of Aschenbach’s transformation. Upon settling into his Venetian hotel, Aschenbach ventures into the hotel’s parlor where he first meets Tadzio. He is completely captivated by the boy’ beauty, â€Å"his face, pale and gracefully reserved†¦framed by honey-colored curls†¦lovely mouth†¦an expression of exquisite, divine solemnity† (21). Aschenbach’s admiration is from a purely artistic stance by mentally framing the boy’s face, â€Å"the temples and ears richly and rectangularly framed by soft dusky curls† (25). Aschenbach views Tadzio as a work of art, an inspiration for his distinguished writing to â€Å"work in the presence of Tadzio, to use the boy ’s physical frame as the model for his writing† (39). Aschenbach references of Tadzio to Narcissus, â€Å"it was the smile of Narcissus leaning over the mirroring water† (43) marks the beginning of Aschenbach’s new discourse of desire. Narcissus is a mythological character that was greatly admired and desired by the nymph Echo. When Narcissus rejected her, she died of grief leaving only her voice while Narcissus himself him withers away, by a pond. This reference becomes a foreshadowing of forthcoming events. Aschenbach’s desire intensifie...

Biography of Victoriano Huerta, President of Mexico

Biography of Victoriano Huerta, President of Mexico Victoriano Huerta (December 22, 1850–January 13, 1916) was a Mexican general who served as president and dictator of Mexico from February 1913 to July 1914. An important figure in the Mexican Revolution, he fought against Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, Fà ©lix Dà ­az and other rebels before and during his time in office. Fast Facts: Victoriano Huerta Known For: President and dictator of Mexico, February 1913–July 1914Born: December 22, 1850 in barrio of Agua Gorda within the municipality of Colotln, JaliscoParents: Jesà ºs Huerta Cà ³rdoba and Marà ­a Lzara del Refugio MrquezDied: January 13, 1916 in El Paso, TexasEducation: Military College of ChapultepecSpouse: Emilia guila Moya (m. November 21, 1880)Children: Nine A brutal, ruthless fighter, during his reign the alcoholic Huerta was widely feared and despised by his foes and supporters alike. Eventually driven from Mexico by a loose coalition of revolutionaries, he spent a year and a half in exile before dying of cirrhosis in a Texas prison. Early Life Victoriano Huerta was born Josà © Victoriano Huerta Mrquez on December 22, 1850, the only son and eldest of five children of peasant farmer Jesà ºs Huerta Cà ³rdoba and and his wife Marà ­a Lzara del Refugio Mrquez. They lived in the barrio of Agua Gorda within the municipality of Colotln, Jalisco. His parents were of Huichol (Wixritari) ethnicity, and although Jesà ºs Huerta was said to be partly of European descent (mestizo), Victoriano considered himself indigenous. Victoriano Huerta was taught to read and write by the village priest, and he was said to have been a good student. By the time he was a teenager, Huerta earned money as a bookkeeper in Colotln. He wanted to join the military, and sought admission to the Military College of Chapultepec. In 1871, General Donato Guerra, leader of the Mexican army at the time, led a garrison of troops into Colotln. Needing secretarial help, Guerra was introduced to Huerta who impressed him greatly. When Guerra left the city, he took Huerta with him, and at the age of 17, Huerta entered the military academy in January of 1872. There he took classes to become an artillery officer, specializing in mathematics, mountain gunnery, topography, and astronomy. He was an outstanding student, and made second lieutenant by December 1875. Early Military Career Huerra first saw military action while at the academy, when he participated in the Battle of Tecoac fought on November 16, 1876 between then-president Sebastin Lerdo de Tejada and Porfirio Diaz. As a member of the army, he fought for the president and was thus on the losing side, but the battle brought Porforio Diaz to power, the man who would he would serve for the next 35 years. When he graduated from the academy in 1877, Huerta was one of three men chosen to continuing his education in Germany, but his father died and he elected to stay in Mexico. He joined the engineering branch of the army and was given assignments for repairing military institutions in Veracruz and Puebla. By 1879 he was promoted to Captain, and acted as engineer and quartermaster. At the end of 1880, he was promoted to Major. While in Veracruz, Huerta had met Emilia guila Moya, and they married on November 21, 1880: they would eventually have nine children. In January 1881,Porfirio Dà ­az assigned Huerta special duty on the Geographic Survey Commission, headquartered in Jalapa, Veracruz. Huerta spent the next decade working with that commission, traveling all over the country on engineering assignments. In particular he was assigned to astronomical work, and one of the projects under his direct supervision was the observation of the Transit of Venus in December 1882. Huerta also supervised surveying work for the Mexican National Railway. A Military Force Huertas technological and intellectual uses in the army took on a more aggressive stance in the mid-1890s. In 1895, he was sent to Guerrero, where the military had risen against the governor. Diaz sent troops in, and among them was Victoriano Huerta, who there gained a reputation as an able field officer: but also as a man who gave no quarter, who continued to slaughter rebels after they had surrendered. Proving to be an effective leader of men and a ruthless fighter, he became a favorite of Porfirio Dà ­az. By the turn of the century, he rose to the rank of general. Dà ­az tasked him with the suppression of Indian uprisings, including a bloody campaign against the Maya in the Yucatan in which Huerta razed villages and destroyed crops. In 1901, he also fought the Yaquis in Sonora. Huerta was a heavy drinker who preferred brandy: according to Pancho Villa, Huerta would start drinking when he woke up and go all day. The Revolution Begins General Huerta was one of Dà ­az most trusted military leaders when hostilities broke out after the 1910 election. The opposition candidate, Francisco I. Madero, had been arrested and later fled into exile, proclaiming revolution from safety in the United States. Rebel leaders such as Pascual Orozco, Emiliano Zapata, and Pancho Villa heeded the call, capturing towns, destroying trains and attacking federal forces whenever and wherever they found them. Huerta was sent to reinforce the city of Cuernavaca, under attack by Zapata, but the old regime was under assault from all sides, and Dà ­az accepted Maderos offer to go into exile in May of 1911. Huerta escorted the old dictator to Veracruz, where a steamer was waiting to take Dà ­az into exile in Europe. Huerta and Madero Although Huerta was bitterly disappointed by the fall of Dà ­az, he signed up to serve under Madero. For a while in 1911–1912 things were relatively quiet as those around him took the measure of the new president. Things soon deteriorated, however, as Zapata and Orozco figured out that Madero was unlikely to keep certain promises he had made. Huerta was first sent south to deal with Zapata and then north to fight Orozco. Forced to work together against Orozco, Huerta and Pancho Villa found that they despised one another. To Villa, Huerta was a drunk and martinet with delusions of grandeur, and to Huerta, Villa was an illiterate, violent peasant who had no business leading an army. The Decena Trgica In late 1912 another player entered the scene: Fà ©lix Dà ­az, nephew of the deposed dictator, declared himself in Veracruz. He was quickly defeated and captured, but in secret, he entered into a conspiracy with Huerta and American ambassador Henry Lane Wilson to get rid of Madero. In February 1913 fighting broke out in Mexico City and Dà ­az was released from prison. This kicked off the Decena Trgica, or â€Å"tragic fortnight,† which saw horrible fighting in the streets of Mexico City as forces loyal to Dà ­az fought the federals. Madero holed up inside the national palace and foolishly accepted Huertas â€Å"protection† even when presented with evidence that Huerta would betray him. Huerta Rises to Power Huerta, who had been fighting with Madero, abruptly changed sides and arrested Madero on February 17. He made Madero and his vice president resign: the Mexican Constitution listed the Secretary of Foreign Relations as the next in succession. That man, Pedro Lasurain, took the reins, named Huerta as Minister of the Interior and then resigned, making Huerta Secretary of Foreign Relations. Madero and Vice-President Pino Suarez were killed on February 21, supposedly while â€Å"attempting to escape.† No one believed it: Huerta had obviously given the order and hadnt even gone to much trouble with his excuse. Once in power, Huerta disowned his fellow conspirators and attempted to make himself dictator in the mold of his old mentor, Porfirio Dà ­az. Carranza, Villa, Obregà ³n and Zapata Although Pascual Orozco quickly signed on, adding his forces to the federalists, the other revolutionary leaders were united in their hatred of Huerta. Two more revolutionaries appeared: Venustiano Carranza, governor of the State of Coahuila, and Alvaro Obregà ³n, an engineer who would become one of the revolutions best field generals. Carranza, Obregà ³n, Villa and Zapata could not agree on much, but they all despised Huerta. All of them opened fronts on the federalists: Zapata in Morelos, Carranza in Coahuila, Obregà ³n in Sonora and Villa in Chihuahua. Although they did not work together in the sense of coordinated attacks, they were still loosely united in their heartfelt desire that anyone but Huerta should rule Mexico. Even the United States got in on the action: sensing that Huerta was unstable, President Woodrow Wilson sent forces to occupy the important port of Veracruz. The Battle of Zacatecas In June 1914, Pancho Villa moved his massive force of 20,000 soldiers to attack the strategic city of Zacatecas. The Federals dug in on two hills overlooking the city. In a day of intense fighting, Villa captured both hills and the federal forces were forced to flee. What they didnt know was that Villa had stationed part of his army along the escape route. The fleeing federals were massacred. When the smoke had cleared, Pancho Villa had scored the most impressive military victory of his career and 6,000 federal soldiers were dead. Exile and Death Huerta knew his days were numbered after the crushing defeat at Zacatecas. When word of the battle spread, federal troops defected in droves to the rebels. On July 15, Huerta resigned and left for exile, leaving Francisco Carbajal in charge until Carranza and Villa could decide how to proceed with the government of Mexico. Huerta moved around while in exile, living in Spain, England, and the United States. He never gave up hope for a return to rule in Mexico, and when Carranza, Villa, Obregà ³n and Zapata turned their attention to one another, he thought he saw his chance. Reunited with Orozco in New Mexico in mid-1915, he began to plan his triumphant return to power. They were caught by US federal agents, however, and never even crossed the border. Orozco escaped only to be hunted down and shot by Texas rangers. Huerta was imprisoned for inciting rebellion. He died in prison at El Paso, Texas, on January 13, 1916, of cirrhosis, although there were rumors that the Americans had poisoned him.​ Legacy of Victoriano Huerta There is little to be said that is positive about Huerta. Even before the revolution, he was a widely despised figure for his ruthless repression of native populations all over Mexico. He consistently took the wrong side, defending the corrupt Porfirio Dà ­az regime before conspiring to bring down Madero, one of the few true visionaries of the revolution. He was an able commander, as his military victories prove, but his men did not like him and his enemies absolutely despised him. He did manage one thing that no one else ever did: he made Zapata, Villa, Obregà ³n and Carranza work together. These rebel commanders only ever agreed on one thing: Huerta should not be president. Once he was gone, they began fighting one another, leading to the worst years of the brutal revolution. Even today, Huerta is hated by Mexicans. The bloodshed of the revolution has been largely forgotten and the different commanders have taken on legendary status, much of it undeserved: Zapata is the ideological purist, Villa is the Robin Hood bandit, Carranza a quixotic chance for peace. Huerta, however, is still considered (accurately) to be a violent, drunk sociopath who needlessly lengthened the period of the revolution for his own ambition and is responsible for the death of thousands. Sources Coerver, Don M. Huerto, Victoriano (1845–1916). Mexico: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Culture and History. Eds. Coerver, Don M., Suzanne B. Pasztor and Robert Buffington. Santa Barbara, California: ABC Clio, 2004. 220–22. Print.Henderson, Peter V.N. Woodrow Wilson, Victoriano Huerta, and the Recognition Issue in Mexico. The Americas 41.2 (1984): 151–76. Print.Marley, David F. Huerta Marquez, Jose Victoriano (1850–1916). Mexico at War: From the Struggle for Independence to the 21st-Century Drug Wars. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 2014. 174–176.McLynn, Frank. Villa and Zapata: A History of the Mexican Revolution. New York: Basic Books, 2002.  Meyer, Michael C. Huerta: A Political Portrait. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press 1972.Rausch, George J. The Early Career of Victoriano Huerta. The Americas 21.2 (1964): 136-45. Print..Richmond, Douglas W. Victoriano Huerta in Encyclopedia of Mexico. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997. 655–658.