Listening And Instruction On Cognitive Abilities And Learning

The significance of listening to music has been acknowledged for decades due to the benefits it brings to human souls. In recent decades, endless studies conducted have further discovered the contributions that music listening and instruction have on cognitive abilities and learning. Music instruction has recently been studied under the umbrella of the Mozart effect to know the cognitive benefits of participation in musical activities. The Mozart effect originally suggested, â€Å"listening to a Mozart piano sonata produced significant short-term enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning.† (1 Rausher) The Mozart effect has also been studied under the avenues of music listening and instruction concerning its respective impact on cognitive†¦show more content†¦Moreover, the â€Å"effects of music instruction on cognitive abilities† is critical for the future, which â€Å"deserve further consideration.† (2 Rausher) Musical lessons boost performance for children between the ages of 12 and 14-years-old in their academics and cognitive ability tests. There is a close relationship between music lessons and academic achievement for children. Using music lessons to improve the IQ tests of children between the ages of 12 and 14-years-old is a reliable method in any learning environment. The study confirmed that IQ tests for the children, improved considerably when they participated frequently in musical lessons. The performance also extended to academic lessons that play a crucial role in the lives of young children. Dege, Wehrum, Stark Schwarzer measured the IQ and academic self-concepts for children from different backgrounds, with social-economic status and the gender of the children proving not to affect the way they responded to musical lessons. (Dege) The significant contribution of musical instruction among children between the ages of 12 and 14-years-old is critical, because it can be used to improve learning in academic settings. Dege, Wehrum, Stark Schwarzer argue that academic achievement varies with the personality of each child, due to their difference in orientations to music. The noteworthy association between musical

Predominate Symbols and Their Meanings Free Essays

Predominate Symbols and Their Meanings Defined Symbolism â€Å"is the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character. A symbol is an object, action, or idea that represents something other than itself, often of a more abstract nature. † (Wikipedia) Authors use symbolism to give their stories a deeper meaning. We will write a custom essay sample on Predominate Symbols and Their Meanings or any similar topic only for you Order Now Symbols make you look beyond the obvious and see the deeper meaning. † Symbols have emotional and intellectual power beyond their literal importance, and writers often use them to compact large ideas into simple words or phrases. (SPC Blackboard) Authors Shirley Jackson (The Lottery), Susan Glaspell (A Jury of Her Peers), and Katherine Ann Porte (The Jilting of Granny Weatherall) all effectively use symbolism is their stories to convey a deeper meaning, the symbolism in their stories help connect you on a different level. In Jackson’s The Lottery, there are many instances where symbolism is used to represent something else. The first symbol which is probably the most obvious is the title of the story. When you think of the word lottery you think of a prize of some sort, â€Å"In this story the lottery serves as an ironic symbol–something which begins in a harmless and sociable way but ends in tragedy. † (Enotes) Another symbolic reference in this story is the black box that is used to draw from. The box is dilapidated and in need of some major repair, yet it is still used year after year. ‘They base their attachment on nothing more than a story that claims that this black box was made from pieces of another, older black box. (SparkNotes) The black box symbolizes tradition; the people of the town are attached to the box just because it has been around so long they don’t know anything else. There is no reason the villagers should be so attached to the box, just as there is no reason they should continue to hold the Lottery but they do because of tradition. (SparkNotes) The third and most disturbing symbol from The Lottery is the actual stoning. â€Å"Ston ing is one of the oldest and most common forms of execution, but it is also one of the most symbolic. (Bright Hub Education) It is symbolic because in reference to the Bible stoning was the way to execute innocent people. It was also important the â€Å"winner† of the lottery be stoned so that there was not just one executioner. â€Å"This means that no single person has passed judgment or has to carry the guilt for taking a life alone†, the lottery was an institution of the society and not the individual. (Bright Hub Education) Jackson uses symbolism in this morbid story to reference the Bible and make you read between the lines, just like Glaspell does in A Jury of Her Peers. In A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell there is an abundance of symbolism. Basically every small detail in this story is symbolic of something else. The most significant symbols in this story are the bird and the birdcage. Mrs. Hale describes Minnie, before her marriage, as †real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and fluttery† (Learner) which can also describe a bird. The bird in its cage represents Minnie trapped in the relationship with John. She is also trapped because there is no lifeline or communication with the outside world, she is having the life drained from her. John figuratively strangles the life out of Minnie like he literally strangles the bird. When he kills the bird, he kills the last bit of Minnie’s spirit. Minnie â€Å"didn’t know what she was about† (Learner) anymore. Another symbolic reference is way Minnie killed her husband, Minnie strangled the life out of John like he strangled the life out of her bird. (Literature Essays) The setting in this story is also symbolic because like Minnie it was very isolated and â€Å"It had always been a lonesome-looking place. (Learner) Minnie reached a breaking point and took matters into her own hands. During this time period there was no divorce or separation, so the woman had either to suffer through it, die, or kill her husband. Her house is also very symbolic of her life, her kitchen was described as â€Å"being in disorder with unwashed pans under the sink, a dishtowel left on table, a loaf of bread outside the breadbox, and other disarray. † (Learner) Just li ke her kitchen, Minnie’s life was in complete disarray because of the abuse she endured. Like Glaspell, Katherine Ann Porte author of The Jilting of Granny Weatherall, uses symbolism to relate everyday events and objects to traumatic life events. The title itself is symbolic; to â€Å"Weather† means that someone has gone through a lot and experienced a lot of hardships during their life. Granny had â€Å"weathered† a lot during her life but had forced herself to rise above these situations. Even though she is a weak and dying she wants everyone to think she is fine and doesn’t need anyone’s help. Some f the symbolism that takes place in The Jilting of Granny Weatherall has to do with Granny’s denial. Granny Weatherall is in denial about most of the aspects of her life. She refuses to admit that she is dying, refuses to let anyone think she had her heart broken by the man who left her at the altar. Before she dies she wants to make sure everyone knows she lived a good life and did everything anyone else would do, married a good man, had kids, and lived a good life, even though her heart still pangs because she was jilted. The color blue is also symbolic throughout the story. There are many references to the color throughout the story and as Granny comes closer to dying the color slowly starts to fade. â€Å"At last, blue becomes the color of the light in Granny’s own mind, the light she snuffs out herself. ‘She stretched herself with a deep breath and blew out the light. ’ (EBookBrowse) It comes to symbolize the final stage of Granny’s life, when she is easing into death. † (SparkNotes) These symbols tug at your emotions and make you feel the pain Granny Weatherall has endured throughout her life. By using symbolism, these authors add layers to their stories. These layers make the stories more effective on an emotional level. They force you to read between the lines and force you to see the hidden importance in even the smallest of details. Works Cited Bright Hub Education. n. d. 27 October 2012. . EBookBrowse. n. d. 29 October 2012. . Enotes. n. d. 28 October 2012. . Learner. n. d. 28 October 2012. . Literature Essays. n. d. 28 October 2012. . SparkNotes. n. d. 28 October 2012. . SparkNotes. n. d. 29 October 2012. . SPC Blackboard. n. d. 27 October 2012. . Wikipedia. n. d. 26 October 2012. . How to cite Predominate Symbols and Their Meanings, Papers

The Culture and Healing of Traditional Chinese Medicine Essay Example

The Culture and Healing of Traditional Chinese Medicine Essay Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originated in ancient China for over two thousand years (Mercati), rooting back to the philosophy of Taoism. TCM views the body overall based on its anatomic functions instead of structures. Diagnosis of illnesses includes tracing symptoms to patterns of disharmony, deviations of eating and sleeping habits, and measuring pulse. The Chinese pharmacopoeia includes a large amount of herbal formulations that are used for the treatment of a wide variety of disease and illnesses.Healing comes in the form of acupuncture, massage (Tui na), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy. Current TCM practices is based on principles of Chinese philosophy, including holism, differentiation, yin and yang, and the five elements (Lao, et al). Maintaining a balance between these principles is the way the body achieves physical health, longevity, and qi (the vital force or energy for maintaining the activities of life) (Lao, et al), thus differentiating it as a naturalistic belief system. The Chinese medical theory views that disease does not suddenly occur.Disease is a journey from health where symptoms arise over a period of time, such as tiredness, nausea, and pain in specific areas. The disease may manifest physically, emotionally, mentally, or even spiritually. Deviating patterns and behaviors in the patient’s physical and emotional states in their living environments will indicate the type of imbalance and treatment required to heal their Qi. We will write a custom essay sample on The Culture and Healing of Traditional Chinese Medicine specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Culture and Healing of Traditional Chinese Medicine specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Culture and Healing of Traditional Chinese Medicine specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is different from the Western medical system in that Western medicine tends to look for an agent causing a disease, such as a virus or bacterium.The cause of the disease is usually not clear and treatment is based on the symptoms that show. Western medicine is solely based on sciences of anatomy and physiology, separate from the mind (Lao, et al). Whereas in Chinese medicine, the mind, body, and spirit are intertwined and interdependent, thus treatment is aimed to restore and maintain a state of health throughout, rather than curing only the disease causing component (Mercati 14). Being one of the world’s oldest medical systems, TCM features a series of theoretical systems and medical practices.Ancient Chinese ancestors based their medical experience through continuous practice. Tools used in the New Stone Age led to the invention of acupuncture (Jingfeng). They also discovered that the movements of the body and extremities are capable of fighting fatigue and even possess limited healing powers, thus leading to qigong. China is a land rich with a wide diversity of natural medicine, including herbal plants, animals, and minerals. Beginning as an agricultural period, ancestors gained rich experience in the application of these herbal drugs.They were able to invent compounds of mixtures of herbal remedies to produce its therapeutic effect, one of the important features of TCM (Jingfeng). Principles like yin and yang’ and five elements’ solidify the view that treatment is targeted at correcting underlying imbalance in the body (Kam, et al. ). Everything in the universe The main principle is the yin and yang polarity. It is believed that the body is built upon these two opposing aspect, which are interdependent and interrelated.The yin’ is negative, dark, cold, female, earthly, inner, [and] ghostly, whereas yang’ is positive, light, heat, male, heaven, outer, and godly (Lao, et al). More words that describe yin’ are sad, plain, vegetarian, solid (organs), empty, and wet. Yang’ can be furthered described as hot, happy, colored, non-vegetarian, hollow (organs), full, and dry. Most things that exist may be characterized as either yin or yang, often representing opposite, abstract properties. The main opposition of yin and yang is the hot-cold polarity.The foods categorized as hot are commonly those that are nutritious, concentration, meaty, fatty, oily, sticky, dry, and cooked for a long time. Foods that are said to be cold are usually fruits and vegetables, eaten raw or lightly cooked, and are relatively low in calories (Gould-Martin 39). The diseases considered as hot are fever, diarrhea, and rashes. Those that suffer from wasting, shivering, and apathy are associated with cold. To prevent suffering from any type of disease, balance between both hot and cold is ideal, but many people are either too hot or too cold.People that are too hot usually breathe rapidly, have bloody noses and vivid dreams, and are constipated. In contrast, people that are too cold are underweight, cold to the touch, apathetic, and listless. The balance of both is the core power of existence. Other oppositions of yin and yang include social occasions, clothing, and diet. Social occasions are grouped as sad (sang) or happy (hsi). Sad occasions include events like funerals and happy occasions include weddings, births, and engagements. Colors for clothing are also categorized as either su or hua.Su clothes are bland, somber, or neutral: blue, black, gray, saffron yellow, bronze, white, beige, tan, and brown (Gould-Martin 40). Su-colored clothing is mainly used commonly every day like school and military uniforms. Buddhists also wear them at all times and Taoists wear black for minor rituals performed. Brightly printed clothing, including red, orange, pink, yellow, purple, and mauve, are consider hua. These clothing are used for babies, young girls, and younger women in the period between engagement and marriage.Bridal dresses were traditionally all red, but now a white dress is worn for a part of the ceremony also. The Chinese believe that red is prophylactic: it protects against pollution and danger of death (Gould-Martin 40). Red is also used for the food, decorations, and envelopes of money sent out during hsi occasions. Foods are characterized between su and hun. Su diets are vegetarian that consist of fruits and vegetables, often cold or baked and boiled. Su diets avoid meat, fish, dairy products, onions, garlic, leeks, and intoxicating beverages.The hun diet includes these items. In the first writings of Chinese medicine written in 2300 B. C. , The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, it states, when one masters the mystery of the yin yang principle, one can even enjoy life as long as nature itself. Another important principle of TCM is the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The five-element theory describes the relationships between the human body and the external environment and the physiological and pathological interactions among the internal organs within the body (Lao 1999).Metal is associated with the color white and represents grief and sadness. The sense organ is the nose and the taste associated with metal is spicy. It represents autumn with a dry climate. Illnesses that accompany those who are at an imbalance with metal include frequent colds and flus, coughs that are dry, moist, and productive, dry mouth and throat, weight loss, breathlessness, phlegm, and hot sensations within the palms of hands and soles of feet . Earth is associated with the color yellow and represents sympathy. The sense organ is the mouth and it represents late summer with a damp climate.Fire represents the color red along with joy and love. The sense organ is the tongue that can taste bitterness. It represents summer with a hot climate. Fire is associated with the heart and small intestine. Illnesses associated with fire include tiredness, palpitations, cold extremities, sweating during the day and night, swelling in legs, anxiety, disturbed sleep, poor memory, dizziness, dry mouth and throat, and red tongue tissue. Water is associated with the color black and represents fear and phobias. The sense organ is the ear and the taste associated with it is salty.Black represents winter with a cold climate. Wood is associated with the color green and embodies the emotions of anger and irritability. The sense organs are the eyes and the taste associated with it is sour. Wood represents spring with a windy climate. Illnesses that represent imbalance in wood include problems where the liver channel passes through the body, problems in women’s breasts, the abdomen, genital area, and eyes, headache, irritability, numbness, and tremors (Benedict 56). Holism and differentiation are the other principles in TCM.The concept of holism considers the individual person as being comprised of and subject to the elements and forces of nature as a whole. Each individual is considered as an interconnected whole that embodies the mind, body, and soul as a unified piece. This will lead to TCM practitioners considering the physical, mental, and emotional state of the patient and their relativity to the environment. The principle of differentiation allows a practitioner to distinguish between signs and symptoms of specific illnesses. Different pathologic factors and their mechanisms are responsible for or contribute to disease formation.However, each illness may be unique to each individual, thus differentiation allows the practitioner to administer the appropriate treatment, be it herbs, acupuncture, dietary therapy, or massages. As a result, TCM diagnoses and treatments are much more individualized. If balanced in unity, these four principles come together to form the well being of an individual, leading to Qi. Qi is the term used to describe how human physiological functions are maintained. It is the basic unit of movement and heat in the body that is a matter without form, invisible, subtle, activating, warming, moving, and energizing (Benedict).This vital energy flows through the channels, or meridians, of the body and participates in the homeostatic regulation of bodily functions (Gould-Martin). Qi flows through 12 primary and eight additional meridians. Each 12 meridians (qing luo) are major channels that connect us to our immediate surroundings and promote the integrated function of all organ systems (Benedict 55). The extra eight channels allow for the overflow of abundant energy (Benedict 55). There are 360 points distributed along the meridians that serve as signs of both disorder and loci for acupuncture treatment (Lao et al).Qi can be accessed at any of these given points so that disturbances both within the channel and the associated internal organs can be treated; each pressure point is associated with a therapeutic action. When the normal flow of Qi through a meridian is obstructed along its pathway, symptoms occur and physiological health is put in jeopardy. In conclusion, Qi can be thought of as a circulatory system with no anatomical or physiological basis for the channels that conducts vital force throughout the body just like blood supplies oxygen and nutrients.If one is healthy, their qi pathways are not obstructed. If movement of Qi is slowed or blocked, yin or yang dominates the other. To heal obstructed pathways, acupuncture is used. Acupuncture is a form of therapy that has its origins for over 2000 years (Pearson). Whenever Qi is stuck, accumulation of heat occurs because Qi is naturally warm. Where the circulation of qi is blocked, fluids, blood, and waste can accumulate and produce swelling. The absence of qi produces the presence and dominance of yin. Acupuncture treatment aims to reopen the meridians and restore the flow of Qi.The method of acupuncture consists of inserting thin needles into one or multiple corresponding points along the meridians according to the illness. Each point along the channels corresponds to a therapeutic action. There are two purposes of acupuncture: to release tension and pressure of accumulating heat or alleviate swelling by energizing the cells to process the waste and thus get rid of it. If the individual is generally healthy overall, the insertion of acupuncture needles usually resolve symptoms quickly because the specific acupuncture points directly influence the healing of the affected organ(s).However, in some individuals, when organ systems are deprived of a strong, even flow of Qi over a long period of time, chronic health problems arise. Acupuncture therapy heals pain, nausea and vomiting, immune system response, hemodynamic functions, addiction and substance abuse, agitation and restlessness, and rheumatoid arthritis (Sutherland 41). The 12 main channels each correspond to a specific organ. The upper limb channels represented by yin include the lung, heart, and pericardium. The three represented by yang are the large intestine, small intestine, and san jiao (the thoracic and abdomino-pelvic cavities).In the lower limb, the three channels represented by yin are the spleen, liver, and kidney. The channels represented by yang are the stomach, urinary bladder, and gall bladder (Pearson). Another method of healing in TCM is by the use of medicinal herbs. Herbs are used to achieve an optimum balance of Qi. China’s first emperor, Huang Ti, and his cabinet members developed techniques to diagnose diseases at to use herbs in their treatment. Many herbal formulations, consisting of four to 12 individual herbs, have been recorded in Chinese medical literature from the earliest known Shen Nung Ben Tsao Jing (Lee 516).In another literature with an unknown author, The Herbal Classic of the Divine Plowman, contains three volumes describing 365 drugs – one for each day of the year. Among them, 252 are plant derived, 67 from animals, and 46 from minerals. The herbal components in a mixture can be ranked into four types. The first type is the imperial herb; it is the chief herb and main ingredient of a formula that serves the biggest function. The second is the ministerial herb, which augments and promotes the action of the imperial herb. The assistant herb reduces the side effects of the imperial herb and the servant herb is the last component.It harmonizes or coordinates the action of all the other herbs. The change in composition of one herb combination induces different pharmacological actions. Examples of common herbs include Echinacea, feverfew, garlic, gingko, ginseng, palmetto, and St. John’s wort. Figure 1. A traditional Chinese herbal shop in Hong Kong selling medicinal herbs. Aside from medicine, exercise is used to maintain a healthy and balanced Qi. Qigong is a form of exercise and health care practice that acts on bettering posture, breathing, and mental focus.Qigong can be categorized as martial, medical, and spiritual. Leading back into Taoist and Buddhist tradition, qigong was believed by ancient Chinese monks to be a way to bridge together the powers of the mind, body, and universe through body movements, meditation, and deep concentration. When Qi becomes blocked through emotional pain or physical illness (i. e. , stress, over-work, poor diet, lack of sleep, insufficient exercise, and excess sadness/joy/fear/anxiety/anger) qigong may heal though specific breathing patterns, movements, visualization, and meditation (Lin).The slow, rhythmic movements allow consistency and improve the vital energy life force. Tui na massage is a hands-on form of healing in TCM and has been in practice for more than four thousand years (Mercati 10). The term tui means to push and na means to grasp; together, this massage works to relieve not only muscles and joints but to penetrate each meridian that frees blocked and stagnant Qi (Mercati 10). Tui na involves active communication between the giver and the receiver. The receiver acts as the sick role, in informing the healer where to treat and the amount of pressure to use (Mercati 11).Together, this is another method in TCM of restoring Qi balance when emotional, physical, and external factors are out of balance. Acupressure is another way to balance the body’s qi by applying pressure to specific points along our body’s energy channels. However, the term pressure may be misleading because acupressure is usually given in a light touch. The effectiveness of the work does not depend on the amount of force put onto the therapy, rather the location of contact is the method of healing. A practitioner may use various tools to assess the strength of the 12 meridians.After pressing down on the point(s), a practitioner can sense a pulse caused by Qi flow. If there is no pulse, however, those are the areas that are though to have blocked meridians. There are different types of points along the channel that serve different functions. Comfort points, located along the bladder and gallbladder meridians, relieve tension, restlessness, and frustration because the gallbladder meridian is associated with relaxation. Alleviation points are on the foot and relate to the kidney and liver meridians.Jogging and walking help relax the body in that part because when those points are stimulated, it reduces pain, tension, and sleeplessness. Potent points are near the nail beds on fingers and toes. They are effective in healing weakness, fatigue, listless, and faintness because of affecting illnesses (Sutherland 41). The final way of healing in TCM is moxibustion – the application of heat on specific pressure points from the burning of a small bundle of tightly bound herbs. The herbs are bound together with a variety of dried leaves such as mugwort or wormwood plants that have been formed into a cigar-like cone, called a moxa.Direct moxibustion is burning the cone right on the acupuncture point of the skin. This method is less popular because it often produces pain and scarring. The more common method is the indirect method, which involves either burning moxa above the skin or on top of an acupuncture needle that has been left in place. Other practitioners place a layer of ginger, garlic, or salt on the patient’s skin with the burning moxa on top of it. The radiant heat produced is intended to penetrate the body, thus restoring the balance of flow of vital life energy.TCM is a naturalistic medical belief that diagnoses based on imbalance due to the environment. Ancient Chinese healing base health on the balance of Qi. Any deviation or imbalance can be cured by a variety of medical methods, diets, and exercise. ? Works Cited Au, Derrick Kit-Sing. 2011 Mix of Medicines. Visual Anthropology 24: 189-202 Benedict, Martha with Heller, Lyra. 1999 The Enduring Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Total Health 21(2): 54-57. Flesch, Hannah. 2013 A Foot in Both Worlds: Education and the Transformation of Chinese Medicine in the United States.Medical Anthropology: Cross Cultural Studies in Health and Illness 32(1): 8-24. Gould-Martin, Katherine. 1978 Hot Cold Clean Poison and Dirt: Chinese Folk Medicine Categories. Social Science and Medicine 12: 39-46. Hesketh, Therese with Zhu, Wei Xing. 1997 Health in China: Traditional Chinese Medicine: One Country, Two Systems. British Medical Journal 315(7100): 115-117. Huang, Kee C. 1999 The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs, Second Edition. Florida: CRC Press LLC. Jingfeng, Cai. A Historical Overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ancient Chinese Medical Ethics.China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Kam, P. C. A. with Liew, S. 2002 Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine and Anesthesia. Anaesthesia 57: 1083-1089. Lao, Lixing, Xu, Ling, Xu, Shifen. 2012 Traditional Chinese Medicine. Integrative Pediatric Oncology. Lee, Kuo-Hsiung. 2002 Research and Future Trends in the Pharmaceutical Development of Medicinal Herbs from Chinese Medicine. Public Health Nutrition 3(4A): 515-522. Louie, Allison. 2007 Qigong’ Takes the Test: The Science Behind Chinese Healing Arts. Science Spirit. Mercati, Maria. 997 The Handbook of Chinese Massage: Tui na Techniques to Awaken Body and Mind. Vermont: Healing Arts Press. Shinnick, Phillip. 2006 Qigong: Where Did it Come From? Where Does it Fit in Science? What Are the Advances? The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 12(4): 351-353. Sutherland, Judith A. 2000 Getting to the Point. The American Journal of Nursing 100(9): 40-45. American Cancer Society. Moxibustion. Accessed at http://www. cancer. org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/moxibustion on May 29, 2013.

Two Tramps In Mud Time Essays - British Poetry, Mud Time

Two Tramps In Mud Time Essays - British Poetry, Mud Time Two Tramps in Mud Time On the surface, "Two Tramps in Mud Time" seems to display Robert Frost's narrow individualism. The poem, upon first reading it, seems incongruent, with some of the ezzas having no apparent connection to the whole poem. The poem as a whole also does not appear to have a single definable theme. At one point, the narrator seems wholly narcissistic, and then turns to the power and beauty of nature. It is, however, in the final third of the poem where the narrator reveals his true thoughts to the reader, bringing resolution to the poem as a single entity, not merely a disharmonious collection of words. At the outset of the poem, the narrator gives a very superficial view of himself, almost seeming angered when one of the tramps interferes with his wood chopping: "one of them put me off my aim". This statement, along with many others, seems to focus on "me" or "my", indicating the apparrent selfishness and arrogance of the narrator: "The blows that a life of self-control/Spares to strike for the common good/That day, giving a loose to my soul,/I spent on the unimportant wood." The narrator refers to releasing his suppressed anger not upon evils that threaten "the common good", but upon the "unimportant wood". The appparent arrogance of the narrator is revealed as well by his reference to himself as a Herculean figure ezding not alongside nature, but over it: "The grip on earth of outspread feet,/The life of muscles rocking soft/And smooth and moist in vernal heat." Unexpectedly, the narrator then turns toward nature, apparently abandoning his initial train of thought. He reveals the unpredictability of nature, saying that even in the middle of spring, it can be "two months back in the middle of March." Even the fauna of the land is involved with this chicanery; the arrival of the bluebird would to most indicate the arrival of spring, yet "he wouldn't advise a thing to blossom." The narrator points to the conclusion that, while on the surface, things appear to be one thing, there is always something hidden below, much like "The lurking frost in the earth beneath..." In the final three ezzas of the poem, the "frost" within the narrator comes to the surface. The humility of the narrator comes to light, with the narrator saying that the tramps' right to chop wood for a living "was the better rightagreed." The narrator also says, "Except as a fellow handled an ax,/They had no way of knowing a fool," insomuch as admitting to his foolishness. On the surface, the poem seems to be two poems with diverging themes. However, Robert Frost guides there two apparently unrelated thoughts into one idea from the heart: "My object in living is to unite/My avocation and my vocation/As my two eyes make one in sight." Perhaps the narrator is the true Frost coming to the surface.

Online Public and Charter Schools for Illinois Students

Online Public and Charter Schools for Illinois Students Illinois offers resident students the opportunity to take online public school courses for free. Below is a list of no-cost online schools currently serving elementary and high school students in Illinois. To qualify for the list, schools must meet the following qualifications: classes must be available completely online, they must offer services to state residents, and they must be funded by the government. Virtual schools listed may be charter schools, state-wide public programs, or private programs that receive government funding. List of Illinois Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools Chicago Virtual Charter School About Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools Many states now offer tuition-free online schools for resident students under a certain age (often 21). Most virtual schools are charter schools; they receive government funding and are run by a private organization. Online charter schools are subject to fewer restrictions than traditional schools. However, they are reviewed regularly and must continue to meet state standards. Some states also offer their own online public schools. These virtual programs generally operate from a state office or a school district. State-wide public school programs vary. Some online public schools offer a limited number of remedial or advanced courses not available in brick-and-mortar public school campuses. Others offer full online diploma programs. A few states choose to fund â€Å"seats† for students in private online schools. The number of available seats may be limited, and students are usually asked to apply through their public school guidance counselor. Choosing an Illinois Online Public School When choosing an online public school, look for an established program that is  regionally accredited and has a track record of success. Be wary of new schools that are disorganized, are unaccredited, or have been the subject of public scrutiny.

Islamic Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Islamic Art history - Essay Example history would necessitate understanding the various dynasties and the time when various classes of artwork were presented as it signifies the intent of the artists and the nature of the social structure at the time the art was developed (Lapidus & Grabar, 2010). The early Islamic artwork was majorly used for the legitimization of themes in Islam especially those of religion and the need to have faith in one God. The Islamic calligraphy entailing sections of the Quran or inscriptions of the holy books in the Islamic religion are examples with which the use of artwork was employed in the legitimization of the theme of religion in the society. However, during the nineteenth century and the wake of colonialism, the artwork of Islam was used for opposite purposes. The artwork was developed to sensitize people against the evils of colonialism and violence among the Islamic communities. Islamic painting in the 19th century often portrayed colonialism as an evil act in the community thus calling upon people of the Islamic world to rise against the colonizers as a liberation effort for the Muslims. The shift in the nature Islamic artwork was used in the representation of themes in the society emanated from the change in the mood of the society following colonialism and the perceived erosion of the Islamic culture. Historically, the changes in the representation of the themes by the Islamic artwork was equally influenced by the interactions and influence the form of artwork acquired from other regions and civilizations of the world like the Chinese who at that period were advocating for the disbandment of dynasty rules, thus this forms of movements influenced the Islamic artwork (Schimmel & Rivolta, 2012). In a way that can be seen to be a reinforcement of the theme of religion, the Islamic art in the dynasty of Umayyad represents some of the outstanding pieces of artwork. During this dynasty (661-750), new concepts and new plans were put in place to reform the nature of

Phy 155 Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Phy 155 Assignment - Essay Example Another factor was the market monopoly for large computers held by IBM, which made the product only applicable to private computers. CISCO is a multinational corporation specializing in designing, manufacturing and selling network equipment. The company was started by a married couple, Sandy Lerner and Leonard Bosack , who both worked at Stanford University in computer operations (Schneider, 2010). The company managed to develop high standard routers although it faced lawsuits as some of their software were said to have been stolen from the university. The founding couple worked out of the company in 1990, when the company went public. The company went public and became the most valued companies at more than $500 billion. The company has extensively utilized acquisitions in achieving the tremendous growth it currently enjoys. Despite the acquisitions, the company captured the internet wave through production of modem access shelves and core GSR routers. Large capacity – fibre optics can transmit a large number of conversations simultaneously compared to other cables, fibre optics (up to 1million), coaxial cables (10,000 conversations, microwave radio (2000 conversations. There are approximately over 5 billion internet connection devices in the world today. The current world population is said to be about 7.2 billion people. The number of internet connection devices is expected to surpass the total world population as internet connections continue to increase. The effects of increased internet usage are expected to enhance communication and information transferring between the increased population. The increased usage and increased population is expected to increase the pressure on internet connections necessitating upgrades within short