Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar Essay

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar – the blessed month of fasting. It is the month that Allah (swt) (God) revealed the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (saw). It is also one of the five sacred pillars of Islam which help Muslims lead a religious life. The five pillars, including Ramadan are compulsory. The Arabic term for fasting is Sawm. It is a very special time for Muslims and its completion is celebrated by the wonderful day of Eid al-Fitr where gifts are exchanged between friends, relatives, families and neighbours. The basic aim of Ramadan is for Muslims to establish control during the month and be better Muslims, also, to remind Muslims of the less fortunate among us. The nights leading up to Ramadan are very exciting for everyone. This is when Muslims anxiously await the news if the new moon has been sighted by any Muslim in the world which signifies the beginning of the Ramadan. Upon hearing the news the Muslims will immediately email, phone and text message this good news to people they know. In the Islamic world this is announced on the radio or television, or the local town crier (muezzin) will inform everyone from the loudspeakers of the mosque. It is common to find people will gather at each others houses and the mosques will be full as the news breaks, congratulating each other that Allah (swt) has allowed them to witness another Ramadan and to gain its reward. Fasting is compulsory once a child reaches puberty. Those who are ill or on a journey are excused, as are women during their monthly period or if they are pregnant or nursing because they are very weak and need the food and energy more than most; missed days are made up for later in the year when one is more able. Muslims fast from daybreak to sunset. For example in Luton in late October this will be from 6.00am to around 5:45pm. That’s nearly 12 hours. This means no eating or drinking during these hours. Although each nation will have its own way of going about fasting during Ramadan, it is common that a light meal is eaten at dusk to break the fast (Iftar), followed by a slightly heavier meal, and finally a light breakfast just before dawn (Suhur). At Suhur, I will have a large bowl of breakfast cereal, a glass of orange juice or water (as one can get very thirsty during the day) and perhaps a few slices of toast in order to prepare myself for the long day ahead. When Iftar arrives I would start with a supplication to Allah (swt) (Dua) then eat a date and drink some milk or water. I would then perform my evening prayers before sitting with my family and have my dinner after which I will attend the local mosque for some evening prayers. Every night in Ramadan there are special, extra prayers called Salatul Taraweeh. These are performed in congregation at the mosque or at home. This schedule is taken from the example of our Prophet, Muhammad (saw). A typical day of fasting during Ramadan at about Christmas time in the UK is summarised below: 05:30am Suhur (light breakfast) 06:00am Fajr Salah (morning prayer) Qur’an recitation 01:30pm Dhuhr Salah (midday prayer) 02:45pm ‘Asr Salah (afternoon prayer) 05:50pm Iftar (break of fast) and Maghrib Salah (evening prayer) Dinner 08:00pm ‘Isha Salah (night prayer) and Taraweeh (extra prayers) Supper and an early night PART TWO (500 words) Fasting in Ramadan is the fourth ‘pillar’ of Islam, an act of worship of great importance. During this month Muslims should be more spiritual, more caring and considerate; they should control their temper and refrain from using bad language. This is to help them become a better Muslim. One can find that during this month people become more patient, polite to others as well as extremely generous with the wealth that they possess. A poor Muslim who donates his last penny will get as much reward as the wealthy businessman who donates thousands. This is called Zakat where 2.5% of the annual family income is donated to the poor. This is compulsory because the money that we have today is not actually ours it is a loan from Allah and a blessing, which we should repay to him through the poor. Ramadan is a sacred month wherein Allah (swt) is constantly testing people and giving people the opportunity to achieve huge rewards for the hereafter. It is a time of purification, reflection, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and striving hard with one’s life and wealth. It is a time for charity, to give to those less fortunate then yourselves and it’s a time when most people pay their annual alms to the poor (above). It was in the month of Ramadan that many of the battles took place such as the famous Islamic battles took place such as the Battle of Badr. Amongst what Muslims should abstain from are smoking, and sexual intercourse. People should focus on Allah and religion as opposed to other things. What the prayers seek to serve five times a day, fasting in the month of Ramadan does once a year. During this period from dawn to dusk we eat not a grain of food nor drink a drop of water, no matter how delicious the dish or how thirsty we feel. This month helps us strengthen our faith. Discipline during this month bring us face to face with the realities of life and help us make our life, during the rest of the year, a life of true subservience to Allah (swt). From another point of view fasting has an immense impact on our communities, for all the Muslims irrespective of their status must observe fast during the same month. This brings to prominence the essential equality of people and thus goes a long way towards creating in them sentiments of love and brotherhood. The unity that is created covers the whole planet where Muslims reside whether in Indonesia or Denmark. Each Muslim connects with his brother. This is called the Ummah (community) During Ramadan goodness comes to the forefront and the whole atmosphere is filled with piety and purity. It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, â€Å"When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.† Thus, the month of Ramadan is a special month unlike others. As an act of mercy by Allah (swt), the blessings that one can attain during this Holy Month have been increased many fold. Another point of significance is that the Qur’an was revealed during one of the last ten odd numbered nights of this blessed month. That night is known as Lailatul Qadr or the Night of Power. It is during this night that Allah (swt) has promised us great reward for our time spent in prayer and worship. Clearly there is a lesson in this for people. Ramadan indeed is a great incentive for all Muslims to increase their god consciousness (Taqwa) and to strengthen their faith. However, this effort should not be limited to the month of Ramadan but should extend for the rest of our lives. PART THREE (500 words) First and foremost fasting is an act of worship and Allah (swt) does not give a reason as why we fast in the Qur’an. However, we can observe the reality of fasting during the month of Ramadan and can conclude that many benefits are created for the one who fasts. I agree with part of the statement that fasting indeed has many advantages. As for these benefits, when one is in the state of fasting during the month of Ramadan he is constantly thinking of those things which please his creator, Allah (swt). That is to say he is in a constant state of god consciousness or what is referred to in the Arabic language as Taqwa. During this time he becomes a better person, he does not lie or cheat, he does not involve himself in arguments or name calling as one would find in the school playground. He is continuously contemplating and reflecting on the words of Allah (swt) which he would read in the Qur’an or he would hear at the local mosque. As a result one becomes a lot more patient, extremely disciplined and a lot more productive to himself and his environment. During this month the community spirit is ignited and the mosques are full. The economy is boosted as it is recommended to spend the wealth Allah (swt) has provided you within this month as much as possible to gain the rewards for the hereafter. Community Iftar’s are hosted in community centres within the local community creating an atmosphere of brotherhood and closeness as well as money sent off to the poor and destitute so they may also enjoy the blessings of this month. As for the disadvantages, I believe the benefits far outweigh the harms of fasting. A few points to I would like to mention however are is that when early on during the month when one is fasting during a long day, one tends to become very tired towards the end of the day due to the fact that normal regular meals have been missed, however as the month progresses the body adapts very quickly to this new regime softening these hardships. In addition, during the day, especially during the summer when the days are long and the heat is intense the lack of water consumption can make one extremely thirsty and somewhat dehydrated which can lead to a stale breath. However, the remedy to this is the saying of the Prophet who said â€Å"The smell of the mouth of a fasting person is to sweeter to Allah (swt) than the smell of musk†. Another potential problem is tendency to eat too much in the evenings and at the end of the month to pile on a few unwanted pounds. This is easily resolved by making sure you eat moderately and exercise to burn off excess calories. Also, there is the ounce of temptation present brough to us by Shaytan (Devil) and this makes it hard for us. Finally, one sad thing about Ramadan is that it only comes round once a year and lasts for around thirty days. If only we could have longer as there are not enough hours in the day. NOTE: (saw) – peace be upon him (swt) – praise be to Him, The Almighty Bibliography I obtained all the information for this essay from my own knowledge

Princess Stories and Marriage: The Effect on Young Minds Essay

It is no secret that in modern day America more than half of marriages end in divorce, yet many still fantasize their fairytale weddings and happy endings knowing that the chances of staying together for the rest of their lives are slim. These early concepts of happy endings develop in the minds of young girls during the period of time when gender roles start to be enforced. They are not only introduced to parenting but in the media as well. In past princess movies and stories, men have always been the people in power. They are the kings and prince charming that are supposed to sweep every princess off their feet and provide them a comfy lifestyle in the castle with a happily ever after. The princesses, on the other hand, are always shy, quiet, demure, poised, and need some kind of saving. The resolution of these stories always ends in the prince marrying the princess or beautiful maiden, thus completing his conquest and receiving his â€Å"award.† Young girls, as they are more marketable towards these stories, have adopted these elements into their own romantic life giving them false expectations of real-life relationships. 1 in 4 women will be victims of severe violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes. They are conditioned from a young age to want to have a perfect romance, but false expectations often lead them to be in relationships with the wrong people. Although these stories may seem harmless, they push an outdated agenda on to a society where most are trying to progress into an era where women are treated as equal individuals and as valued members in society, not just your average princess. In My Problem With Her Anger, by Eric Bartels, the husband and wife power dynamics in marriage is showcased in a different way than what is depicted in princess stories. Bartels starts off the piece. The wife, according to her husband, is condescending, never appreciates what he does, and fights with him constantly, which breaks the stereotypical traits of a princess and princely relationship. Charles Perrault’s Cinderella is one of the main princess fairy tales that will be showcased in my writing, as it includes many of the topics discussed, such as gender roles, power dynamics, which can be tied back to modern day domestic abuse. A question that may appear when researching a question like this may be, how exactly does the princess story influence children on certain topics. Today, we have tv, movies, books, and the internet. Children are getting more and more educated in the media as they are learning in school how to do so. They can easily access these stories through different outlets. Although I believe princess stories are harmless in intent. They carry old-fashioned values that children, mostly emulate during their play time. I too played princess as a child and have grown to know that’s not how life really is. In princess stories, The princess gets everything done for her, she has servants and she’s just there to wait around for the magical prince to come and make her life better. Many girls grow up thinking the same way until they’ve faced a hard reality, but if privileged enough are still able to think this way until the day they get married, and in marriage then realize itâ€℠¢s not what the princess stories had advertised. Women are told to â€Å"deal† with what their husband gives them in life. They’re supposed to take whatever comes at them, but still, manage to keep the image of a â€Å"good woman.† Someone who takes care of their husband, the children, someone who never seems sad, cooks, cleans, maintains a good body. These are unrealistic qualities that a woman should have to uphold. Princess stories further argue that. For example, we take Beauty and the Beast, a tale that is taken very lightly and is seen as a beautiful romance in the eyes of many, but in fact is in a way a promoter of abuse. The beast is manipulative and a horrible thing. It takes her father with no remorse. Belle deals with his temper and abusive and threatening behavior yet she still â€Å"falls in love† In real life, this would not work out. In this story, Belle believes she can change the monster from his abusive and threatening nature to someone prince-like and chivalrous, but in fact, you can’t really change someone that easily, but the movie says its possible. In real life, this would probably not cut it. Many girls go through their princess phase and wanting to have their prince, and it’s a little alarming to me how they already know what they want through just a story. To me, princess stories don’t promote diversity and keep up with the modern day which limits a child’s way of thought. Princess stories to this day have only been heterosexual relationships. We are changing as a society and love are possible in many different ways. If children aren’t taught to be more accepting of others, seeing only heterosexual relationships in media will make them close-minded and homophobic. I see this myself with my little sister. She’s never watched any gay princesses or princes, therefore the idea of that seems disgusting to her, even though I’ve never taught her to be that way.

HUMAN RESOURCES IN ACTION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

HUMAN RESOURCES IN ACTION - Essay Example None of them have simply listed the positions. After clicking on the links provided by the companies, it is possible to find details about the jobs. Marriot has summarized the job position alone (Marriot International 3). It has not given additional information about the skills or qualifications needed to do the job. One is expected to deduce that from the description. Conversely, Kimpton has taken the time to outline all the duties and responsibilities, skills as well as the experience required to perform the job (Kimpton Hotels 2). The company has also outlined some of the objectives against which the applicant will work towards. Marriot may have refrained from including this information because the job is of a lower skill and will only be done part time. Regardless of these circumstances, an applicant would still want to know what would make them stand apart. What the sites do well Marriott.com has done a good job of identifying the job location. It has placed a map beside the job description so as eliminate any ambiguities. The organization has also clearly outlined the typical routines required to take on the role of a guest service representative. On the other hand, Kimpton did exceptionally well in describing the work environment of the company as well as the duties and experience of the employee. The fact that it had headings in the job positing was quite helpful. Both sites were moderately easy to navigate. One had to type in the nature of job that one requires in a search box before one could get responses. This process may sometimes waste time. Recommendation Good job postings ought to have clear headings. Marriot International hotel called their room attendants guest service representatives. Job seekers may not understand this title; it would have been better to use the generic name. Both organizations did not clarify the amount of time that one would spend performing certain duties as some could have more weight than others. In the future, it would be better to rank these duties in terms of percentages. Kimpton clarified issues about benefits but Marriot did not, yet this could be a deal breaker. Future job descriptions for Marriot should be more than a list of responsibilities for the said persons. They should include more information about job priorities, the work environment and many more features. B) Selection Three different methods Based on the job description for the general assistant manager Poste Brasserie Restaurant in Washington DC, it is possible to use the following methods of recruitment: job advertisements in newspapers or the internet, a recruitment agency, or a personal recommendation. Personal recommendations may come from one’s colleagues or peers in the same industry. Usually, referrals work best for organizations that are trying to save money as they will not have to place expensive advertisements on newspapers or the like. Furthermore, they usually come from a trustworthy person who has knowledge and experience in the industry. Conversely, they may narrow down the candidate's job pool to simply one person. Organizations may miss out on highly talented and useful individuals who were not recommended by the concerned person. Alternatively, a referral may be biased towards the applicants, especially if the referee and referrer are related. Online and newspaper advertisements may also be another way of recruiting a general assistant restaurant manager. These could be slightly costly as the organization has to

Critique On chapter 5 based on hand out Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critique On chapter 5 based on hand out - Essay Example t did not take for granted very much technical knowledge, but there was frequent mention of commercial products and advertising from an American cultural context. This is fine for readers who are familiar with this culture, but it could pose problems for readers who cannot visualise a Taco Bell advertisement, and hear its sound. 2 There was not very much in the way of new ideas in this chapter, but there was a range of technical vocabulary such as haptic, and affordance. Reference to different branches of linguistics were too brief, and more could have been done to explain Saussure’s work and the discipline of semiotics. I am still not quite sure how this fits in with media studies work and so it is difficult to judge how relevant this topic is. The analogy of a horse walking, trotting and galloping was a very good way of explaining the difference between objects, representations and symbols, highlighting how they were in some ways similar, but in other ways very different. 3 I would like to have seen a separate section on the linguistics aspect of this subject. The text concentrated on the way humans process objects, representations and symbols but there must be a significant role played by language and it was not clear what this role is. 4 There is clearly a range of possibilities in the use of symbols, and we discussed in class the Apple Mac symbol. One of the interesting things about such common symbols is that they have many layers of meaning, from the connotations with fruit of the tree of knowledge, to the nutritional value, and the pleasure of eating it, and this is tied to the culture of the people making the symbol and those using it. This is something that could be a problem in marketing, as for example in the United States a pig can be a symbol of wealth, since children save coins in a piggy bank, but in Muslim countries the pig is unclean. This shows that symbols gather their effect from the beliefs of those who use them. 5 The chapter is very

Grammar Lesson Plan - Future Progressive Tense Assignment

Grammar Lesson Plan - Future Progressive Tense - Assignment Example New Material Pointer: First orally then written Singular Plural He/she/it will be sleeping. He/she/it will be eating. Xavier will go to the beach next month. They will be sleeping. They will be eating. They will go to the beach next month. IV. New Material Transportation: Change sentences from future tense to future progressive aspect, first as a group and then individually. Illustration; -Xavier will go to the beach next month (future tense) -Xavier will be going to the beach next month. (future progressive aspect) -Janet will go to the prom next month. (future tense) -Janet will be going to the prom next month. (future progressive aspect) V. Rule Formation: Elicit from students What kind of tense is in these sentences? - He slept. - He will be sleeping? What does the future progressive aspect indicate about the verb? How is the future progressive tense formed? VI. Authentic material containing samples of new rule. Teacher made dialogue Narrative by some of the students on what acti ons they intend to complete in the future. The rule should be noted as; modal verb will + present participle of the verb (with an -ing ending).

Nazis and how the final solution came to be Research Paper

Nazis and how the final solution came to be - Research Paper Example The following paper will discuss this process of refinement.   Gas vans employed the usage of poisonous cases to implement the ideology of mass murder of the Jews by the Germans. The initial slaughter of the Soviet Jews was carried out by shooting them individually. This method of slaughter or killing turned out to be inefficient and had certain negative outcomes. It not only proved as inefficient in murdering a large number of the Jews, but it also had devastating after-effects on the perpetrators. Problems such as alcoholism and psychological issues became common and widespread due to this method of murder. Himmler Heinrich, second in power to Adolf Hitler who led the breakthrough methods of employing â€Å"medicine† in the mass murder techniques and was also involved in the set up of the extermination camps, was himself a victim of the psychological after-effects caused by the shootings. He almost fainted at the sight of the 100 Jews being executed through shootings on th e Russian front in 1941 (Nicholls 80, 117-118). These reasons urged and motivated them to experiment with other methods which were more effectual and could be performed in a more â€Å"humane† way causing lesser effects on the perpetrators. ... The journey of the Jews was initiated from the train cars where they were crammed and transported first to Kolo and then to Powiercie. Trucks from the junction took the prisoners to Schlosslager. Prisoners took a bathe there and any valuable objects under their possession were taken by the Germans. Stripped groups of fifty to seventy men, women, and children were forcefully directed towards a ramp which led to deceptive signs â€Å"To the Washrooms.† From there, the prisoners were cramped into gas vans and even during or after the killings the vans drove to Waldlager. The dead bodies were buried in massive graves and the vans were then cleaned by Jewish prisoners specially appointed for this job. In spite of the effectual exhaust fumes that were used for the mass murders, the gas vans eventually reflected some short-comings. The vans were not spacious and the requirement for deaths in the East was increasing tremendously. Moreover, the burial pits used after the gas vans execu tion procedures did not fulfill the requirements for secrecy of the government. Better methods of getting rid of the corpses had to be formulated to carry out the mass execution of the Jews (Rubenstein and Roth 196-197). More than 150,000 Jews were executed using the carbon monoxide gas vans at Chelmno in 1942. After Chelmno, four other extermination camps were put up in 1942 at Sobibor, Treblinka, Belzec and by the end of 1942, Majdanek. The first three camps were successful in the mass murder of 600,000 Jews by using carbon monoxide gas as the killing agent (Nicholls 80). Operation Reinhard, which was the code-word for the secretive execution of the Polish Jews, was named after Reinhard Heydrich, one of the main

Conference and Banqueting Management Assignment - 3

Conference and Banqueting Management - Assignment Example This means that the demand of human resource is much greater than the expected human resource supply in this area. Therefore, a wide scope for people who want to pursue hospitality as a course. The business is also characterized by a wide range of employment opportunities that constitute the different sectors makeup the hospitality industry. The hotels in the United Kingdom are diversified into small, upcountry hotels which are much independent to five star hotels which are very much luxurious. There are about 48 000 hotels in the United Kingdom, and it is noted that they employ up to 17% of the total human resource as per the hospitality sector. This is about 250 000 people who have skills. The other category is the restaurants. This sector constitutes outlets that sell take away food products. This category also constitutes the coffee bars, dining services and ethnic restaurants. Estimated in the United Kingdom show that there are over 100 000 outlets employing about 500 000 people in totality. However, about 70% of the restaurants are operated by the owners. The other 30 % is owned by groups. An example of a group is the Whitbread. This relates to the various methods that a work is carried out. Technology has greatly affected how hospitality is carried out. This has resulted to efficiency in the sector causing an increased growth. A good example is the current changes in computer hardware and software options. The computer technology has seen quick adaptation which has seen the hospitality industry grow in a much faster rate. The recent changes in the law affect the hospitality industry. The eminent changes have seen the business grow faster. An example is the reduction in taxes as per the hospitality industry. Also, the enactments of laws to protect the business have also been numerous. For example, the law has set to reduce theft using electronic cards. Unhealthy competition can lead to the collapse

Self-Evaluation and Pay Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Self-Evaluation and Pay Discrimination - Essay Example However, the employer may be asked to make some modification in his self evaluation program incase it does not meet the general standards. The third step is that OFCCP reviews the documents that the contractor keeps to undertake the self-evaluation program. After the review of the documents, a technical team is employed by OFCCP to determine whether the contractor self-evaluation program complies with the general standards as speculated by the voluntary guidelines provided by OFCCP (Rosen 19). This is followed by treating the information provided by the contractor as confidential. This implies that the information cannot be released to the public as long as the contractor is in the business. To ensure that the contractors self-evaluation program is effective, OFCCP allows the contractor to certify the compliance of his program with 41 CFR 60-2.17(b) (3) in order to avoid legal disputes. However, this is undertaken when the contractor produces the results of the self evaluation progra m to OFCCP. To conduct an evaluation, our company must maintain documents that indicate justification of its decisions with respect to Similarly Situated Employee Groupings (SSEGs). Additionally, statistical data that depicts the results of the two years statistical analyses must be provided to OFCCP. In case of disparities, the company must retain the documents that were used in any follow-up investigation. Such documents must be retained for two years. For an effective self evaluation program, the company should form a SSEGs that involves 30 employees with extra 5 members representing non-minority/ minority or male or female. With an all inclusive employees groupings, Rosen 26 argues that an employer will effectively undertake a self evaluation program that will ensure adoption of motivation factors focused at improving the performance of the

On Becoming a Great Early Childhood Educator Essay Example for Free

On Becoming a Great Early Childhood Educator Essay One of the best professions that an individual could ever have is that of being an early childhood educator. The said profession goes far more than teaching theories and knowledge within the four walls of the classroom. It actually includes molding and shaping the future of the country through the youth. Many people are trying to become an educator of children in the community but only few of have the authentic qualifications that fulfill the requirements of becoming a great teacher. This is considered as a fact since many people view teaching as a mere process of transferring of knowledge to the students. Nevertheless, the role of a teacher is not actually bounded on these expectations. As William Arthur Ward puts it, â€Å"a mediocre teacher tells, a good teacher explains, a superior teacher demonstrates, but a great teacher inspires† (Thinkexist. com, 2010). Educators nowadays should not be limited to transferring knowledge to the students. They should serve as the catalysts of change and development of the students. The paper tackles my personal vision of myself as an early childhood educator. It discusses the factors that are considered to be essential in becoming a great teacher, which include the required training for the educator, the very definition of an early education, the model classroom, the materials and equipments for the classroom, and many others which are based on my personal point of view. On becoming a professional early childhood educator To become a professional early childhood educator is not an easy task since one needs to conform to the professional qualities that a great teacher should have. Among the professional qualities which are essential in becoming a great educator is the knowledge of the teacher regarding the subject matter that he or she will teach. It is not enough for a teacher to know his or her subject well. Rather, it is also important that he or she possesses the in-depth understanding of the discipline or lesson that he or she is teaching. Likewise, a teacher is to be considered great if he or she has the ability to relate and integrate other branches of knowledge to the lesson, subject or discipline that he or she is teaching. This means that the teacher should not be only limited to the topic that he or she is required to lecture during a particular day. For example, it is indeed advantageous to teach writing skills while at the same time teaching the values of preserving and conserving the environment. In this situation, the teacher is able to hit two birds with one shot. The teacher trains students on writing, which is one of the standards in the English subject, while he or she also integrates preserving the nature, which is a very good topic in Biology. Along with the mastery of the subject matter is the good facility of the teacher to lesson plan making. Since it is considered to be the backbone and soul of the class, the lesson plan is indeed important to assure that everything will go smoothly in the teaching and learning process. Hence, a teacher must always have a lesson plan in order to assure the success of the teaching-learning process. As equally important as the understanding of the teacher to the subject matter of the class, a great educator should also have the in-depth understanding to the most important factor in the teaching-learning paradigm – the learners. If a teacher does not have the full understanding on the growth and development of the learners, he or she will most likely fail in the teaching-learning process. For instance, to be able to become successful in educating the children, the teacher should know the different learning styles and habits of the students. Some students may learn easily with the use of visual aids; some may adapt quickly with the aid of real objects and models; and some may enjoy listening to sounds and music. It is important for the teacher to have the ability to classify the students according to their learning styles and habits since some of them maybe visual, realistic, auditory and the like. Furthermore, the teacher should have the needed knowledge regarding the different teaching methodologies and strategies to satisfy the unique needs of every learner in the classroom. Since different learning styles require different learning needs and strategies, a great teacher should have a full grasp of the different methodologies in teaching a lesson (Cole, 2008). For instance, visual learners learn best through the use of visual aid, realistic learners learn through the use of models and real objects, and auditory learners learn through the sense of hearing. In this case, the teacher should have the perfect timing and proper usage of the different methodologies and strategies on teaching the learners. A flash card, for example, is best for drill, mastery and memorization. Smartboard, on the other hand, is intended for interactive participation of the learners (Promethean, n. d. ). In relation, the Socratic Method is deemed best for initiating critical thinking among the students. Modeling, however, is ideal in assisting the students in the classroom activities like in the application and evaluation parts (Fathman Crowther, 2006). Indeed, there are a variety of methods that a teacher can use inside the classroom. The teacher should only have the knowledge on the proper use and timing of these methodologies to assure the success of the teaching-learning process (Killen, 2006). Aside from the mastery of the subject matter and the knowledge on the learning styles and teaching strategies, a teacher should also have his or her own educational philosophy in order for him or her to understand the whole educational paradigm. It is important for a teacher to know the guiding principles that make up his or her total personality. Based on the different educational philosophies, a teacher may be considered as a realist, idealist, existentialist, and the like. A realist teacher uses real objects to transfer knowledge to the students. An idealist teacher, on the other hand, uses thought-provoking questions to initiate critical thinking among the students. An existentialist or constructivist, moreover, believes that practical application is the very essence of learning (Steffe Gale, 1995). If a teacher has the knowledge regarding his or her own educational philosophy, he or she will be guided accordingly on his or her teaching methodologies and strategies while considering the learners’ various learning styles and habits. Lastly, to be able to become a great educator, a teacher must also be knowledgeable regarding the current events and advances that the modern world has to offer. Since education is described to be flexible, a teacher should know the latest trends that could help improve the teaching and learning system in the classroom. For instance, because of the technological advances that science has brought to us, most of the classrooms nowadays are using the Smartboard instead of the typical chalkboard or whiteboard. Since this technology brings comfort to the teacher and learners, it is advantageous if the teacher will use it as one of the teaching devices inside the classroom. Another example is the use of computer, LCD projector, PowerPoint and other media presentation, video, speech laboratory, Internet and many others. With the use of these technological advances, the classroom could serve as a comfort zone for both teacher and learners. Hence, on my perspectives, I need to possess the above professional qualifications in order for me to become a great early childhood educator. I must be trained on the mastery of particular subject matters, understand my students’ various learning styles and habits, understand the different teaching methodologies and strategies, know my personal educational philosophy, and discover the different technological advances in the field of education. My vision of what an early childhood education ought to be Aside from knowing the various students’ learning styles and habits and the different teaching methodologies and strategies, early childhood education for me also means knowing the very definition of Howard Gardner’s Theories on Multiple Intelligences (MI). Early childhood is considered to be the most critical stage in the life of every individual since it is said to be formative in nature. It is the stage where an individual learns everything in his or her life. Hence, it is very important that the teacher should know how to guide and assist the learners carefully and properly. It is not really enough that the teacher knows how to teach the learners to count, read, speak and write. The teacher must also know how to maximize the development of the learners into its fullest. One of the best ways to maximize the full development of every child in this generation is the consideration of the Theory of Multiple Intelligence. This theory states that every individual has his or her own intelligence based on their abilities and capacities. Based on this theory, learners may be categorized as visual-spatial, linguistics, bodily-kinesthetic, mathematical-logical, musical, naturalist, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Prior to the discovery of the MI theory, students’ intelligence is being measured by their mastery on reading and counting. Nevertheless, in the current educational set up of our country, intelligence is measured through the different dimensions of the skills and capacities of the students. For instance, a student who knows how to play a musical instrument skillfully may be considered as a genius in music. Likewise, a student who has an incomparable skill on word formation and sentence composition may be regarded as linguistically-gifted. Moreover, a student who draws or paints incredibly may be considered to be visually-intelligent. I do believe that this concept is indeed important in the early childhood education since it will help me in maximizing the skills and capacity of my students. As a great educator, I must let my students develop and progress all the aspects in their individuality in order for them to attain maximum early childhood education development. This practical application of the MI theory, furthermore, should be coupled with the different teaching strategies that will enhance each student’s intelligence. For instance, I could allow the linguistically-gifted students to play with word formation or word puzzle games in order to satisfy their needs as linguistics learners. More so, I could also let those who are mathematically-intelligent to solve problems and equations as part of their motivation or application and evaluation activities. The interpersonal-intelligent students, on the other hand, can have debates, group discussion and other activities which entail speaking and communication. Indeed, early childhood education is not an easy task in comparison to other levels of education. The teacher in this level, aside from serving as the â€Å"loco parentis† of the learners, should be intelligent, careful and wise in choosing the proper teaching methodologies to suit the various learning styles and multiple intelligences of the learners.

How Has Social Networking Affected Society Media Essay

How Has Social Networking Affected Society Media Essay The internet has revolutionized the way in which people communicate. The proliferation of this medium of communication and data transfer has made it difficult to believe that only a few decades back, people had to wait for days and sometimes weeks for a letter to reach them. Today communication is a very quick process and it is the internet that has made it possible. The latest byproduct of the internet is what is called social networking. There are numerous websites like Orkut, Facebook and MySpace that are used by individuals to find their friends and stay in contact with them. It is impossible to ignore the impact that social networking has had on human society. This paper will study the different ways by which social networking sites have influenced society. The positive and negative effects of this cyber phenomenon will also be delved upon. The popularity of the internet among the masses was made possible mainly due to email. People could send emails to any part of the world and could receive emails instantaneously. Subsequently there were websites that integrated audio and visual elements to make internet browsing a user friendly experience. Today, handheld devices utilize the internet for various purposes. This means that the internet and related applications can be made available to any person who knows how to use a compatible handheld device. For many people the internet has become an absolute necessity that they cannot do without in their daily lives. Even though in the beginning internet services were utilized by commercial establishments to further their business interests, technologically inclined entrepreneurs brought together Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), photo sharing, instant messaging, ecommerce, multiplayer gaming and so on and created websites that were aimed at bringing people together (Ishak, n.d ). This initiative led to the growth of the social networking revolution. People found out that they could use the internet to connect with other people. It was also possible to rekindle old relationships and stay in touch with long lost relatives or those who were living in other countries. Social networking sites today are the most highly valued internet companies. This is because almost anyone who uses the internet is a member on at least one of these sites. Some may also have memberships in various social networking sites like Orkut, Facebook and MySpace. This widespread adoption of social networking sites has definitely impacted the way human beings socialize. There are hundreds of social networking sites today that connect people across the world. Some target people who have common interests and some do not have any such criteria and are open to all (Ishak, n.d). Online social networks focus on building and reflecting social relationships among people who share interests and/or activities (Ishak, n.d). Social networks enable a person to have a profile where he/she is able to include information about him/her and also include friends. Personal experiences are shared by way of messages, photos, videos and other media. A few of the most popular social networking sites that have millions of members are Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Orkut etc. Socializing on the internet was not pioneered by these websites. Email and messengers like ICQ have always enabled people to do so nearly a decade ago. But these websites have made it possible to include a large number of people in groups and stay in touch with them effortlessly (Ishak, n.d). The social web and mobile technologies have accelerated the rate at which relationships develop, information is shared and influence takes hold (Benioff, 2012). Social technology is used to shape the events of the world. Websites like Facebook have given a new way to communicate and reach out with the help of groups and friends. Portable devices like tablets and smartphones have applications that help people access their friends regardless of their location. The impact of social media has been seen in peoples movements like the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement. People who are connected to each other with these means have managed to rally crowds and gather an audience that helped them in toppling political regimes (Benioff, 2012). Social networking has made it easier for people to meet other people. Not all people are outgoing enough to take the initiative and meet others. Conventional opportunities to make friends were during social gatherings when people had an opportunity to meet other people. Since some people are introverts they find it difficult to muster enough courage to meet someone and strike up a conversation. Social networking ensures that everybody has a level playing field. Even people who do not have an impressive personality per se can have hundreds of friends on their profile and also interacts with each other on a daily basis. Not all friends on a social networking profile need to be close friends. Some may be brief acquaintances but in due course of time a relationship could be developed (Parrack, 2012). People often spend a very long time on social networking sites. This is because of the sharing of experiences that takes place between people. People on a friends list tend to listen and respond to messages and even dispel any concerns that are voiced by other friends. Since modern lifestyle does not give people enough time to communicate, communication systems need to be extremely fast. Social networks are very fast and it is possible to send a message and get a reply to that within a matter of seconds. There is also a sense of equality despite the locations that people may be in and hence social networking sites have made the world a much smaller place. It is also possible for people with similar interests to interact. By sharing likes, dislikes, interests, hobbies etc, people tend to move closer to each other despite the physical distance between them (Parrack, 2012). Every individual will feel the need to maintain certain weak ties. These could be with people whom one meets during the course of the day. Asking for a phone number may not be possible due to the nature of the relationship. Potential benefits of keeping in touch with certain people might be for arranging play dates or discussing a hobby. These are interactions that do not require a very close relationship. Social networking is a very useful tool for such people. Interaction will be possible during that particular time and also in the future when it is necessary. Bonding with friends and family is different from associating oneself with the weak ties. Social networking sites allow individuals to manage a wider network of weak ties and thus increase bridging social capital (Ellison, Lampe, Steinfield, 2009). When a persons social network is improved it will help them to increase the information that is available to them and also to improve the opportunities that they have. In a study that was conducted among undergraduates it was found that merely using the internet did not increase the social capital. Only intensive use of websites like Facebook led to higher levels of social capital. Before the advent of these sites people used communication strategies like newsletters and gossip to discuss about their past and present acquaintances. Social networking sites have enabled status messages and regular updates that enable people to engage in lightweight social surveillance. It is true that most of the status messages are about seemingly trivial matters. A friend may have got a new dog, an old colleague may have changed his job and knowing about these may not make any change in ones life but it is the awareness of ones social network that provides a continuous link to the acquaintances (Elli son, Lampe, Steinfield, 2009). Social networking sites can assist in coordinating and mobilizing social action (Ellison, Lampe, Steinfield, 2009). There are several organizations that have managed to mobilize the society and influenced it. Political figures, organizations and advocacy groups can find supporters very easily with the help of such websites. For any network to have value it needs support from as many numbers of people as possible. Focused networking sites like for instance MyChurch.com unites Christian churches and the website Care2.com unites environmental activists. There is also a social networking site that unites activists called Change.org. This site has been used in the past to organize protests and boycotts in an efficient manner. This has only been made possible due to the number of members who follow such websites and the messages that are posted regularly (Ellison, Lampe, Steinfield, 2009). Social networking has also had several adverse effects on the society. According to Sherry Turkle, a clinical psychologist, a social network not only changes what an individual does but also changes the person that he/she is. People tend to befriend people on Facebook but tend to keep people in their lives at a distance. Today it is possible for a person to tweet a message to a thousand followers at the same time but the same person fails to pick up a telephone which is a much more efficient mode of communication and talk to someone. According to Turkle, the relationships that are forged in this way offer the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship (Strachan, 2012). In other words we are only getting used to a way of being alone together (Strachan, 2012). Social networking sites have also had an impact on the communication styles that are adopted by people. Writing has become more concise due to micro blogging sites like Twitter. Several abbreviations like LOL for laughing out loud, BRB for be right back, ROTLR for rolling on the floor laughing are being used. This is not considered to be a very good trend by people because it corrupts the English language. Apart from abbreviations words are also shortened as the necessity may be. Before becomes b4, to becomes 2and so on. The main problem with this is that it is the younger generation that is using this kind of communication before even becoming proficient with the language. Even if it is assumed that this is only a trend that will pass then those who use this kind of language will face problems when they grow up are expected to use formal English language (Sherman, 2010). While it is true that social networking sites enable us to organize our real world relationships it also adversely affects a persons ability to socialize. People nowadays are obsessed about composing a perfect tweet or a good Facebook status update that they forget to enjoy the important events in their lives. For instance in a survey that was conducted about this subject it was revealed that 24% of the respondents missed out on enjoying special moments because they were busy trying to document the occasion for their friends on social networking sites (Laird, 2012). People who are not mature about their real world relationships tend to vent out their relationship woes on social networking sites. This could have a disastrous consequence on their relationship itself (Kaiser, 2012). Americans in particular have become less participant-oriented. They prefer to remain only as audience members. In the past there used to be a propensity to join sports teams, and civic groups. Today people tend to live an isolated life. Such an existence will only lead to lesser empathy and fewer social skills. People are so used to dealing with people online that they cannot bring themselves to talk with their neighbors. It is the real life social networks that are being destroyed by virtual social networks. In the United States, suburban streets have started to look deserted. People no longer gather to communicate or just have a good time. Children are addicted to their computer screens and video games. Neighbors who might be burning up the social media pages inside their homes barely know each other outside (Robinson, 2011). According to a recent study, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are supposedly more addictive than cigarettes or alcohol. This addiction is due to the fact that checking updates on these sites is neither expensive nor does it have any adverse effects on ones health. Desires for media may be comparatively harder to resist because of their high availability and also because it feels like it does not cost much to engage in these activities, even though one wants to resist (Epstein, 2012). However there is a psychological explanation to this addiction. Receiving or answering a notification results in a hit of Dopamine which is a chemical neurotransmitter that is associated with reward responses in the human brain. Dopamine is also released while consuming drugs or indulging in sexual activity. This is why social networking can be addictive (Franceschi-Bicchierai, 2012). In an online poll that was conducted among a thousand teenagers, it was revealed that four out of five experienced negative side effects when they were not allowed to access their social networking accounts. Sites like Twitter and Facebook made them have negative feelings like depression, insecurity, panic and dependence (Dungan, 2012). Yet another problem that is seen on social networking site is bullying. The internet seems to give people a sense of anonymity that brings out the mean streak in them. According to a research study by the Pew Research Center, where 800 teenagers were surveyed, it was seen that incidents of mean and cruel behavior transcended all ages and backgrounds on social networks. (Kang, 2011). Bullying in schools and colleges is common but the ease of communication on the internet makes it possible for peers to join forces and gang up on an individual. Of those who had seen such cruelty online 21% joined in the harassment. Out of ten girls aged twelve to thirteen, three admitted to having experienced unkind treatment. Teenagers assumed a different personality online that was markedly different from that of their real personality. Some of them approached their online friends with more bravado than they had in real life conversations. Facebook is a website that requires its members to use real names to prevent anonymous bullying. But it has not stopped bullying altogether. The online peer groups become meaner when the child is of a younger age (Kang, 2011). Social networking encourages people to be more public about their lives. Intimate details of a persons personal life may be available to other people in the form of posts, status updates, photos and videos. These will stay in the public domain even after the accounts are deleted by the user. It is also possible that someone might have downloaded them to their computers. These can then be altered to malign the reputation of a person. For instance a picture of a person doing shots at a party may look absolutely fine to their friends. But when a prospective employer is doing a background check, the very same photo may land the person in trouble (Jung, 2012). This loss of privacy is a very serious issue that can affect people in a society. Social networking is a very influential mode of communication. Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace make it possible for member to communicate with ease with their friends and family. It has become easier to enter into relationships with such websites. Hand held devices like tablets and smartphones have applications that enable users to log in to the social network from their devices and stay in touch with their friends. However social networking also has its adverse effects on the society. People have started to get addicted to networking sites. This addiction to updating ones status on a networking site has made people incapable to engage in real life interactions with people. People are also developing a different identity online that makes then indulge in bullying. Social networking therefore has profound influences on human society that are both beneficial as well as detrimental.

Westernization of Japanese Culture

Westernization of Japanese Culture Daniel Gonzalez Is Japan Losing its Heritage? The Japanese people, have always been recognized for their rich cultural history. With rising concerns regarding population problems and pollution that culture may not be around for much longer. It is no secret that Japan is considered the technological Mecca of the modern world. With the race toward artificial intelligence, can too much of a good thing be a bad thing? How does one thing relate to another? With all the technological breakthroughs seen from Japan in recent years, one can only imagine that these advancements would benefit a society as diverse as the Japanese. With incredible pioneering advancements in robotics and technology such as Honda’s ASIMO, and the Lexus LFA, research and scholars believe that it may be losing its rich cultural history. One can follow Japanese culture back centuries. Having been influenced by its natives as well as foreigners has developed into one of the most diverse cultures in the world. When one thinks of Japan and may think of high-speed magnetically levitated trains, fast cars and vending machines with Wi-Fi. However, much of Japan is still stuck using old technology such as fax machines and computers from the late 1990s. It is not uncommon to see people who traveled to Japan return claiming that most of the technological advancements made in Japan are often enjoyed in the Western world more than they are in Japan. Perhaps this is a s ign of a culture realizing that it is advancing and morphing far too quickly. When one hears the words â€Å"population problem† overpopulation immediately comes to mind. However, Japan has the opposite problem. In 2013, Japan had 238,632 more deaths than births. Japan’s population decreased by over 210,000 compared to the previous census. As it stands Japan has a population of 127.3 million people, but studies suggest that this population may shrink to as little as 86 million in the next 50 years. Court’s cause of death in Japan is cancer at nearly 30% followed by heart disease and 15% and pneumonia at 10%. Japan’s unwillingness to accept its own technology may be its downfall, as many of these diseases are considered preventable, and many times treatable by Western medicine, given that many of the advancements in Western medicine, are a direct result of the contributions Japan has made to medical imaging and diagnostic machines. Another predominant issue affecting the decline of Japanese population is suicide. In 2013, suicide was singled out as the leading cause of death for the age group 15 – 29. It was also determined that twice as many men as women died in that age group. With only 1,029,800 births in 2013, researchers determined that this has been the fewest amount of live births on record since World War II. There has yet to be an increase in births since 1973, called â€Å"the second baby boom of Japan.† The most obvious cause for this decline in population is the total fertility rate. In 1947, at the end of World War II, there were nearly 4.5 children for every woman in Japan. As of 2013, the last official statistic, there were only 1.5 live births per woman. In order to keep the population steady, there needs to be at least 2.0 live births per woman. The number must be higher, however Japan hopes to see an increase in the coming years, rather than a decrease. The marriage rate has also seen a decline. 661,000 marriages were recorded in 2013. Again, a record low since World War II. It is evident that women are hesitating time married at a younger age and are delaying the process. In 1993, the average marriage age was 26 years old. In 2013, the average was nearly 30. Women are delaying having their first child as well, as the average age for the first child is now close to 31, instead of the age of 27 it was approximately 2 decades ago. Ironically, it is young Westerners were more open and susceptible to accepting Japanese culture than the Japanese themselves. Many believe that this is actually because Japan is westernizing its own culture. In the 15th century, Japan passed a law forbidding the Japanese to leave the country and severely limiting the negotiations that it could have countries outside of Asia. This is largely been attributed to have been done out of fear of westernization. Western countries began having relations with Japan once more as a result of the invention of the steam engine and advances in transportation. Early attempts were made by King William the Second of Holland to establish negotiations by sending a letter to the show gun of Japan in 1844 advising him that keeping this ban in place would affect the economic and cultural advancement of the country due to the astounding increase in agricultural, technological, and industrial advancements. While the implications of this letter was deliberate d among Japan’s highest ranking officials they decided to take no action. And it was not until 1853, when President Millard Fillmore sent Commodore Matthew Perry as an arbitrator in an attempt to begin negotiations and commercial relations with Japan. This prompted Japan and the United States to sign the treaty titled the â€Å"Treaty of Friendship†. Nearly 2 decades after the treaty was signed Japan began implementing more westernized styles of education and was recognized by many as â€Å"the first and most striking example of westernization in the non-Western world.† It was not until 1872, however, that Japan passed a formal law titled the â€Å"Fundamental Law of Education† Which set forth the standards for the Japanese education system. During the interim twenty-year period, there was much trial and error regarding the types of educational systems and at times Japan seem motivated to revert to its original Eastern – based educational system. T his trial and error was exacerbated by attempting to mimic the educational systems of many different countries including Holland and Germany. The foundation of the educational system finally found a compromise with predominantly French influences. In 1890, the â€Å"Rescript on Education† politicized and organized the 1872, law by appointing teachers as servants of the state. A system titled the Mombusho, devised by Japanese Statesman Mori Arinori, widely considered to be the father of the modern Japanese educational system, was established to dictate which textbooks and standardized tests would be part of Japanese curriculum, very much like the French and American education system. The negotiations of Commodore Perry in 1853 sparked a change in Japan that paved the way for the changes it still sees today. In 1872, the same year the educational legislation was passed, a regulation ordered that the court nobles wear westernized clothing. Japanese commoners began to take after the rulers of the nation as they changed their hairstyles from the traditional topknot to shorter hairstyles. Dental hygiene in women increased as well. By the 1890’s, it was uncommon to see women with diseased teeth. The rich began wearing wool coats and accessorizing with umbrellas and pocket watches, a practice that was considered taboo before the arrival of Commodore Perry, as the educational system before then taught that Japanese men and women should not preoccupy themselves with matters is trite as the time. The transformation, however, was not yet complete. Japanese officials were said to wear their Western clothing to work and then change into their kimonos and traditional Ja panese clothing after they went home, again, showing that Japanese culture was still somewhat resilient and resistant to change and in the early years it may have been purely for a political purpose. Japanese construction is an area that saw major change in the late 19th and early 20th century. Tatami, a Japanese advancement replaced dirt and wood floors. Kerosene lighting replaced traditional rapeseed lighting with its promise of convenience and portability. Before then, most Japanese homes only knew the kitchen stove as the central source of lighting. Sanitation practices from the Western world were being implemented as well as a result of the new, portable lighting. Concrete buildings became increasingly common and architects from other countries were commissioned to design important buildings such as the Bank of Japan and the Tokyo central station. In contrast with the issue of modernity, the integration of Westernization and modernization has a long history in Japan. In the article WITHOUT MODERNITY: Japans Challenging Modernization, Dana Buntrock mentions that â€Å"leaders accepted that industrialization and Westernization were reciprocal and that both were necessary for development.In addition to actively promoting telegraph, lighthouse, and railroad construction, for example, the government also used Western buildings and institutions to advance its modernization program. Japan employed Western engineers to build the nations infrastructure and Western architects to design offices, banks, universities, and schools; these specialists were collectively referred to asoyatoi. In more isolated areas, where Western architects were not present, indigenous carpenters attempted to reproduce the finishes and spatial characteristics of Western architecture, particularly in the construction of government offices and primary schools† These advancements in construction technology began to make Tokyo look more like industrialized Western cities such as San Francisco. The prefabricated style of construction more recently implemented in the United States is also influenced modern Japanese construction. In industrial Japanese areas, it is not uncommon to see b uildings erected in less than a week. Buildings are constructed in a piecewise fashion at an off-site factory and then trucked in to the construction site and put together by construction workers. This alleviates the many problems that come along with construction sites such as traffic jams, lower speed limits, noise levels, and inconvenience to residents of the area, given that traditional building construction can take anywhere from two to ten years depending on the architectural complexity of the building. The largest and most long-lasting change that Western influences brought to Japan is a culture that strives to advance technologically. As Akira Goto says in his study, Technology and Industrial Development in Japan: Building Capabilities by Learning, Innovation and Public Policy, â€Å"Japan was the first major non-Western nation to take on board the Western technological and organizational advances of the century after the first industrial revolution. It subsequently proved fully able to exploit and contribute to the broad, sustained technological advances that began in the 20th century, as science became harnessed to technology.†

Importance of the Forest in The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

Importance of the Forest in The Scarlet Letter "The path strangled onward into the mystery of the primeval forest"(179). This sentence displays just one of the multiple personalities that the forest symbolizes in The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorn. In the Scarlet Letter the forest symbolizes much more than one might imagine. Each character brings out a different side of the forest, however the forest also brings out a different side in each character. For some the forest may be a place of sinister thoughts and wrong doing, but for others it is a place of happiness and freedom. The first encounter with the forest we have symbolizes just some of the evil that lingers within the darkness of the forest. As Hester and Pearl are leaving governor Bellinghams estate they are confronted by mistress Hibbins who explains that the witches are meeting in the forest, and she then invites Hester to become more deeply involved with her evil ways. "Wilt thou go with us tonight"(113) asked mistress Hibbins, yet Hester refused to sign her name in the black mans book on that night. She explains that the only reason she does not sign is because Pearl is still in her life. At this time the forest itself is a open door to another world, a wicked world that would take her away from her present situation, but that is not the only door that the forest holds. The forest is an open door to love and freedom for both Hester and Dimmesdale. It is a place where the letter on their bodies can no longer have an effect on them if they choose. A world ruled by nature and governed by natural law as opposed to the artificial strict community with its man made puritan laws. Its as if the forest represents a key to the shackles the Hester and Dimmesdale have been forced to wear, all that they have to do is unlock it. Although if they choose not to unlock them, they begin to dwell on the things that they have done to deserve the shackles. In this the forest represents a thing of truth, weather it be good or bad. In pearls eyes the forest has a totally different concept.

An Interpretation of “Dulce et Decorum Est” Essay -- Literary Analysi

What would it feel like to be in the middle of the bloodiest war in history? Surrounded by death on all sides it seems impossible that anybody would write poetry about this very subject. Thanks to the poem â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est,† Wilfred Owen gives the reader a small window into the horrors that he witnessed firsthand in the carnage of battle. Faced with death at every turn, Owen takes the time to chronicle these terrible events that happened shortly before his own death. Owen uses rhythm, rhyme, and imagery to convey the message that people should be careful glorifying war because it is a very traumatic event that takes many innocent lives. When a reader tries to understand the rhythm of â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est† it becomes a bit tricky to find any type of rhythm. When reading shortly into the poem, one notices that there does seem to be a heartbeat to the poem when it states in line 3: â€Å"Till on the haunting flares we turned our back†. Owen uses iambic pentameter to achieve this pattern as almost all of the lines which have a rising meter and 5 feet. Having this underlying heartbeat to the poem speaks to the humanity and allows the reader to personalize with what is being said. Owen then contrasts the use of iambic pentameter in several lines including line 23 when he says, â€Å"Bitter as the cud†, as if to make that really stand out to the reader. Owen then further chops up the rhythm to make it seem as if he were telling a story to the reader. This is evident when an individual starts to encounter the heavy use of punctuation in when it says, â€Å"But limped on, blood-shood. All went l ame, all blind† (6). It also makes the poem more vivid throughout and makes the reader really stop and think about what is happening in the line. Owen a... ... that â€Å"someone was yelling out† (11), and that there was â€Å"blood† (22) â€Å"gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs† ( 23). With rich imagery being used throughout the poem, it becomes clear that Owen intended to use imagery to help the reader feel as if they were present in the situation along side of him. This allows the reader to personalize this situation and gain a better understanding of the message that is being sent. Through the use of rhythm, rhyme, and imagery Owen forces the reader to ponder about the thought that war isn’t an event that should be taken lightly. Many kind and brave soldiers have lost their lives over the history of humanity and that loss of life, while honorable, is extremely tragic. Thanks to Owen’s poetry people are able to look back at this time in history and hopefully learn valuable lessons about the value of human life.