How does the author create atmosphere in Zero Hour and Examination Day Essays

How does the author create atmosphere in Zero Hour and Examination Day Essays How does the author create atmosphere in Zero Hour and Examination Day Paper How does the author create atmosphere in Zero Hour and Examination Day Paper flying in circles, climbing trees, laughing. This creates a joyful atmosphere where the author uses pleasant and positive words to describe the opening scene. Ray also uses short sentences too make it more interesting and the reader can also visualize to what the children were doing ie. Climbing trees. He uses a lot of verbs to explain to what is going on this makes the story flowing and fascinating, as if he never used a lot it would be simple and boring. Later on, the setting slowly changes as it goes indoors inside Mrs. Morriss home. When it goes indoors the atmosphere becomes tense. This can be clearly seen Mink shows Mrs. Morris a yo-yo: Reaching the end- it vanished, See? said Mink. Ope! Dibbling her finger, she made the yo-yo reappear From this you can see strange events are happening as Mink first the yo-yo vanishes then reappears. This makes us think to what is going on. The writer uses a lot of punctuation to create atmosphere. The punctuation used is question marks, exclamation marks and commas all combine to create atmosphere. In this story the main character is the young girl called Mink. She is very passionate and is imaginative. She keeps mentioning the word invasion in the story and also has an imaginary friend called drill. This is obvious when the author writes: its real funny to hear Drill talk and Martians invading Earth From the two quotes above you can see Ray makes us imagine. The first quote tells the reader that Mink has strange humour. The second quote is quite unbelievable and the writer uses shocking tactics and exaggeration to create atmosphere. This story uses language to create atmosphere. This is emphasized by the use of question marks: Drill says youre dangerous. Know why? The sentence above shows when the writer uses question marks, by inserting the question mark he creates atmosphere. This is because he wants us to know why he is dangerous, the writer couldve not inserted the question mark and that could have been okay. Due to him inserting it makes us want to read on and see why he is so dangerous. Another example of question marks and short sentences can be seen when Mink says: Mom? A hesitation. Dad? A waiting, a silence. The quote above shows emotive words and clever speech to get the attention of the parents. It has question marks to make the atmosphere tense by calling their names out separately. Also uses short sentences to make it more exciting, Examination Day is set in a house and is also set on the main characters birthday, Dick who is going to become twelve. In this story the house is similar to Zero Hour full of suspense and is tense. This can be because it is very quite and both parents have one child, making them the main character and focus on them and create atmosphere. This story is tense all throughout just like an exam would be. This can be seen when the Dicks father mentions about exam: Its just a sort of Government intelligence test they give at the age of twelve. Youll be taking it next week. After the childs father has mentioned the exam the atmosphere of the story changes. This causes the boy to ask more questions and therefore increases the suspense in the story. This can be seen when he says: What exam? he asked. By the parents keeping it quiet and the child not knowing until his father asks, this causes the boy to ask questions. By asking these unusual questions atmosphere is created. The main focus point of the story is the examination room where the child will be tested. The author uses short sentences to increase tension. This can be clearly seen when he has the medication that was given: He sat in silence, feeling drowsy, while the man wrote busily on a piece of paper. This shows us that by using short sentences the suspense increases and a lot of movement is happening in the story. A lot of description is used by the author. He describes the building of the Government Educational Building in great detail. This can be clearly seen when he describes the building: They crossed the marble floors of the great, pillared lobby, passed beneath an archway This shows that it is a big building and is very futuristic as you would not have buildings like this in the 1950s, so its trying to make the readers imagine what it would be like. He does this to create atmosphere by making us think harder. There is also lots of description when writing about the woman working there: and a thin-lipped woman with cropped black hair was passing out sheets of paper. It is said if you have thin lips you are not talkative and to have cropped hair is said to be sharp. This creates atmosphere by describing the woman to be strict and can create tension. Similes and metaphors are also used. This can be seen when Henry writes: The room was as cold and as a official courtroom, This creates atmosphere by making us think of what the room would have looked like, and make us feel whether it was really cold. Before entering the Government Educational Building the boy is known as Dick. When he goes in the building he is called by a different name: Your names Richard Jordan? Yes sir. This shows us that the people in the building are very formal and take everything carefully. This can also create tension by calling him by a more formal way. By calling him formally it can be strange as they could be strangers and he does not know who they are. He is probably not use to being called by that name. The boy also asks a lot of questions in the story. This could be due to his intelligence. This can be seen when: How far is the sun away? This shows the boy is clever and asking questions leads to answers. As the father does not answer a few questions this creates atmosphere. After analyzing both stories I found both stories were well written. I found in Zero Hour .The atmosphere changes a lot ie. Being cool at the start and then changing it to becoming panicky, frightening to create atmosphere. In Examination Day it remains tense and is full of suspense and is very much like and exam day. Zero Hour and Examination Day both have a lot of language used ie. Question marks, exclamation marks, similes, metaphors and imagery. However I did not find any similes or metaphors in Zero Hour .Both stories have good endings. For Zero Hour it is left on a cliffhanger and the ending to Examination Day is very dramatic. After reading both stories I prefer Examination Day as it is easier to read and there is more language used.

The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King Essay Example

The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King Essay Example The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King Paper The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King Paper The Universal Lessons of Oedipus the King Oedipus the King is a dramatic tale of a great king brought down by â€Å"fate† and the destiny of the gods. It is a story of strife over events that were out of one’s control but mainly handled in a way that only caused further destruction and heartache. There are many universal lessons to be learned by Oedipus and his tragic story; lessons that every man today could benefit from, such as the downfalls of arrogance and selfishness, the grave mistakes in being judgmental and sanctimonious, and the repercussions of being quick to act without sufficient knowledge. Now, I am here. I will begin the search again, I will reveal the truth, expose everything, let it all be seen† (160-163). This line spoken by Oedipus toward the start of the play clearly demonstrates his tendencies toward arrogance and insolence. He boasts of his abilities above others previous and states how he will come to find the truth when they could not. He g oes on to reveal that he is doing so mostly for selfish reasons. â€Å"Justice and vengeance are what I want. [†¦] Family, friends- I won’t rid myself of this stain, this disease, for them- they’re far from here. I’ll do it for myself, for me† (165, 167-169). Oedipus allows his selfish ego to get in the way of him here. The people are in need of help and he claims to be the only one who can provide it. He takes matters into his own hands and decides that for his own glory he is going to discover the secrets of the past and lives before his arrival in Thebes. He then reveals that he is doing so mostly for his own benefit. I think he proves himself haughty in his claims to be able to uncover the truth and such actions and attitude prove to be met with unpleasant ends. After Oedipus makes these bold claims that he and he alone can uncover the culprit he seeks, he compiles his mistakes by being smug and quick to judge. He proclaims his unquestionable innocence and quickly denounces whosoever is the guilty party. â€Å"I know nothing about the murder, I was alone, how could I have tracked the killer, without a clue, I came to Thebes after the crime was done. [†¦] these words come from and innocent man. One of you knows who killed Laios (294-296, 298-299). After quickly announcing his own innocence, Oedipus goes on to condemn the guilty. My power is absolute in Thebes, my rule reaches everywhere, my words will drive the guilty man, the man who knows, out of this city, away from Thebes, forever. [†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦] Drive him from your homes. Let him have no home, nothing. No words, no food, shelter, warmth of hand, shared worship. Let him have nothing. Drive him out, let him die. He is our disease. [†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ] let my hatred burn out his life, hatred, always. Make him an ember of suffering. Make all his happiness ashes (313-315, 324-327, and 335-338). Oedipus publicly makes these statements, arrogantly exiling the culprit, all the while ignorantly condemning himself. Once he states his ability to be the only savior of Thebes and promises to weed out the â€Å"disease† of the city, Oedipus wraps himself too far up in his own boastful quest that he cannot even see when other are trying to turn him off his path of self destruction. Teiresias warns Oedipus that his pursuance of the past will only bring him sorrow but he ignores these warnings, forcing Teiresias to speak. â€Å"Stubborn old fool, you’d make a rock angry! Tell me what you know! Say it! † (449-450). Jocasta, his wife, even begs Oedipus to leave these pursuits once she learns the travesty of the truth and Oedipus ignores her as well. JOCASTA. Oedipus, you must stop. I beg you- stop! OEDIPUS. Nothing can stop me now. I must know everything. Everything! JOCASTA. I implore you, Oedipus. For your own good. OEDIPUS. Damn my own good! (1329-1334) Oedipus does exactly that. He damns his own good by being overtaken by his selfish arrogance, self-righteous judgment, and his quick action in ignorance. Oedipus turns out to be the murderer he seeks. He unknowingly is the â€Å"disease† he speaks of expelling from the city. All of these events come together to reinforce age-old life lessons. One should never bask in his own abilities and be boastful of his capabilities, but rather be humble and hardworking towards any success. One should not be quick to judge others when they are ignorant of the facts. This also reflects the saying, â€Å"people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. † Oedipus was unknowingly living in a giant glass house that inevitably came crashing down on him. He mocked the blind Teiresias, just to end up blind himself in the end. He slandered his own name by slandering that of a culprit he sought out. He condemned his own life by condemning another. He didn’t heed the advice of others but instead pushed on his own selfish path to what unknowingly led to his demise. The lessons of Oedipus are truly universal. What one wishes to receive, one should give. People should act with compassion and understanding and be sure to have all the facts before making judgments. Selfishness will only lead to loneliness and despair. In the end, though Oedipus’ tale is more dramatic than most modern day situations, one could end up exactly the same as he if they do not heed these lessons. Nothing, nothing is left of me now- no city with its high walls, no shining statues of the gods. I stripped all these things from myself- I, Oedipus, fallen lower than any man now, born nobler than the best. Born the king of Thebes! Cursed with my own curses, I commanded Thebes to drive out a killer. I banished the royal son of Laios, the man the gods revealed is stained with the awful stain. The secret stain that I myself revealed is my stain. And now, revealed at last, how could I ever look men in the eyes? Never. Never.

Analysis of Across the Universe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of Across the Universe - Essay Example The aesthetic regime can be seen in creating scenes that just seem to be there to add to the feeling of the film, without adding much or any information, and sometimes lacking in any dialog, such as the scenes of swimming, or the scenes of the carnival. They most likely are not even real, just there to imply drug trips. It is irrelevant to argue whether or not â€Å"Across the Universe† is art because it is a representation of reality, as Arnheim's perspective of cinema fits well with this movie because it is not an actual representation of reality at all. Big blue men dance at the carnival, imaginary joints produce real smoke, and giant creatures flail about. However, in adding elements such as those, one could argue that the character of certain objects are not strengthened but destroyed in a very informal manner. This is only done to further enhance our perceptions of certain aspects of the movie, such as raw feelings that have no actual, physical equivalent. While watching â€Å"Across the Universe†, it is easy to have more faith in Bergson's ideas of movements in cinema. Throughout the movie there seems to be this phenomenon of moving continuity, everything constantly flowing and changing, yet remaining the same. This perception of movement fits this particular movie more than the more concrete, or grounded view of Deleuze. The sensory-motor schema is frequently thrown out throughout the course of this, movie. Indeed, as quoted in the notes, the characters do seem to go off on a trip, to wonder about.

Need for Organizational Change Management at Kmart Assignment

Need for Organizational Change Management at Kmart - Assignment Example The annual sales thus achieved were in excess of $10 million. Even during periods of financial depressions and wars, this chain of retail stores stood out as a successful player by virtue of its ability to offer products at affordable prices. What is more, unlike other organizations it helped people sustain their families by offering them jobs. Despite the fact that prices have undergone numerous changes with the passing years, Kmart’s business philosophy remained the same – the company strongly believed that the best way to retain customers is by offering them â€Å"products they need at prices they can afford† (Sears Holdings Corporation-a, 2010). Over the decades Kmart has earned endless accolades that have augmented its position in the global retail sector, and during 1976 it created history â€Å"by opening 271 Kmart stores in one year, becoming the first-ever retailer to launch 17 million square feet of sales space in a single year† (Sears Holdings C orporation-a, 2010). However, the picture at Kmart has not been rosy all through. At the beginning of 2002, â€Å"the company filed for bankruptcy after its debt spiralled to more than $10 billion† (Kelly, 2004), and it has been reported that in the next two years the company had closed nearly 600 stores and laid off nearly 59000 employees. This incident helped Kmart make history yet again because the company had almost â€Å"$17.0 billion in assets at the time of their filing, making it the largest retailer the United States had ever seen declare bankruptcy† (Cole, 2002, p.2). In order to survive the financial plights, Kmart merged with Sears Roebuck in November 2004 following a deal worth $11 billion. Although the company is performing well and trying its best to â€Å"create long-term value in a deliberate and logical fashion, while remaining cognizant of the risks and challenges† (Sears Holdings Corporation-b, 2010), problems that still exist are pushing Kma rt to the back foot.  Ã‚  

The Meaning Of Family To The South Asian (Indian) Male Essay Example for Free

The Meaning Of Family To The South Asian (Indian) Male Essay The family is traditionally the core of all Asian societies. Decisions are often carried out while taking into consideration the immediate family, as well as the external family. But in the context of Asian society, the family â€Å"is not a particularly loving social unit.†[1] In most Asian societies, the family is used as a means of safeguarding property, continuing bloodlines and acquiring more wealth.[2] Indian society is one such example wherein this reality exists. Sons are granted preferential treatment over their sisters, because the former is expected to run the family business and continue the family name. In addition, customs such as the dowry system provide instant fortune to a groom’s family. The Indian male, therefore, views the family as a venue wherein he can exercise control and obtain material prosperity. This belief is not without cultural reinforcements. Friends and relatives exclaim congratulations whenever a baby boy is born to Indian parents. In Indian society, a son is regarded as insurance[3] – he will inherit his father’s property and will help support the family by getting a job. In sharp contrast, daughters are seen as additional expenses[4] – their only place is in the home. The bias against daughters is deeply ingrained in Indian culture that people in some parts of India use the expression â€Å"The servant of your household has been born†[5] when greeting a family with a newborn daughter. In the Indian family, the father is the provider and the dominant authority figure. He must treat his wife like a servant and be stern and aloof towards his children. The wife, on the other hand, must be loyal, obedient and subservient to her husband. She is supposed to tend to his needs like a faithful and devoted servant. Such a rigid and hierarchical family structure often leaves wives feeling neglected and abused. To get rid of these sentiments, they lavish all their attention to their sons.[6] In doing so, they become the provider and the dominant authority figures in their respective families.[7] The Indian mother gives her baby, especially if it is a boy, constant nurturing. The baby is constantly handled, overindulged and is responded to at every whimper. Growing up, male Indian children are made to believe that they deserve to be the center of attention simply because of their gender. Their mothers exempt them from chores, as the former regards housework as a girl’s job. Upon reaching adolescence, male Indians are encouraged to prove their masculinity by drinking, smoking, gambling and having sex with prostitutes. This societal expectation is not without support from the family – there are cases when fathers and uncles are the ones who bring their sons and nephews to the brothel for their first sexual experience. Because of its overemphasis on indulging sons, the aforementioned child-rearing technique produces very irresponsible males. Pampered from infancy, most Indian men end up as wastrels, misusing the resources first of their mothers and later of their wives. Worse, they marry women who were raised to tolerate the capriciousness of their husbands. The conjugal family, as a result, is transformed into an extension of the husband’s immediate family. The wife, meanwhile, becomes the husband’s replacement for his mother – a woman who will cater to his every whim and will overlook even his most serious transgressions The wife has no choice but to accept and live with this situation – society dictates that she shifts her loyalty to her conjugal family upon marriage. Not only is she to take care of her husband; she is also to look after her parents-in-law. Indian parents-in-law, especially mothers-in-law, take advantage of this societal obligation by ensuring that the marriage of their sons will provide their family with material benefits. The dowry system is one way of achieving this goal. Although it was already outlawed in India in 1961, the practice of paying and accepting dowry is still customary in the country. India’s illegal dowry system leaves women vulnerable to abuse and even murder. Every year, an estimated 25,000 women[8] in the country are maimed or killed over dowry disputes. Dowry-related crimes are often perpetuated by grooms and mothers-in-law who are not satisfied with the dowries that the bride’s family gave them. Victims of dowry murders are usually killed by being doused with kerosene and set aflame with a lighted match. The family of the groom will then say that the death was a â€Å"suicide† or a â€Å"kitchen accident.† Police are oftentimes bribed into corroborating the claim. Families who are able to afford very expensive dowries, on the other hand, are often left impoverished and with extremely heavy debts. In pre-colonial India, upper-caste families observed the dowry system in order to help defray marriage expenses and to enable the bride to live on her own should she leave an abusive marriage.[9] But the British introduced homogenized and codified laws into the country, resulting in male domination of the local economy.[10] Only men were allowed to own land and work outside the home. In the process, boys gained higher social worth than girls. These social, political and economic conditions led to the transformation of the dowry system from a wedding gift to a form of payment[11] to a man for marrying a woman. Because Indian women were no longer capable of owning land or working outside the home, parents wanted to do away with their daughters as early as possible. As a result, they lured potential husbands with expensive dowries. The families of these men, on the other hand, viewed the dowry system as an opportunity to pay off heavy land taxes that the British imposed on them.[12] Dowries took on a new form in the 20th century. During this period, families of prospective grooms demanded costly dowries in order to keep up with the consumerist lifestyle associated with capitalism.[13] To convince families of potential brides into paying, Indian men, particularly those from the upper classes, capitalize on their eligibility, social prowess and caste.[14] The higher the qualifications and the caste, the higher the dowry required. Indian families regard marriage to a higher caste as the fastest way to social advancement.[15]

Alleviating Illness Naturally :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Alleviating Illness Naturally Presently there is a general trend to treat mild illnesses naturally and to avoid strong allopathic medications. People are embracing herbal remedies which are less expensive, readily available, and have many less side effects. Echinacea, considered to have a remarkable immunostimulating activity, is one of the most widely used phytomedicinals for treatment of the common cold, flu, and other upper respiratory tract infections (1). It is readily available in liquid form, capsules, and in tea. You can purchase it over the counter at the drugstore, supermarket, and even at Kmart. I, like many others, have tried echinacea to treat the common cold and flu, but it never seemed to make me feel better. Am I the exception to benefiting from this common herbal remedy, or has the American public at large been conned into believing this plant will prevent them from getting sick? As of yet, there is no known medication proven to cure the common cold or flu. Both are upper respiratory tract infections caused by viruses and thus treatment in the form of antibiotics will not work. Medications referred by doctors, such as antihistamines, cough suppressants, and decongestants, treat the symptoms of the illness but not the underlying cause. Although echinacea is similar to other treatments in that it does not attempt to cure the illness, it distinguishes itself by directly stimulating the immune system. This novel approach for combating the cold or flu seems to work as well as the more common medical treatments (2). The herbal remedy echinacea is a family of nine flowering plants belonging to the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family and indigenous to North America. Three species, E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida, are used in medicinal supplements. Liquid extracts of the leaves and above ground parts of E. purpurea and E. angustifolia are the products most commonly available in the United States, while E. pallida is encountered in Europe (2). The study of how herbs affect the immune system is a current hot topic in pharmacological research. Do herbs, like the echinacea plant, really strengthen our resistance and help us lead healthier lives? There appears to be a contradiction between the wisdom of centuries of observation and the scrutiny of scientific laboratory research. Echinacea was among the most popular herbs used by Native American Indians. Its popularity in treating colds, coughs, and infections continued and in the late nineteenth century echinacea became the best selling medicinal tincture in America (1).

Effective Communication in the Workplace

As a baby, you learn that if you cry and fuss, Mom and Dad will rush over to comfort you; however, as you mature, you realize that there are better ways of communicating. I will present my message here today on â€Å"Effective communication in the work place. † Communication in the work place is essential because first, communication skills prepare you to perform specific duties in the work place making you a better employee. Second, communication skills in the work place prepare you to exercise flexibility. Last, communication skills form better relationships and understanding amongst other employees and managers. Body I. Communication skills prepare you to perform specific duties in the workplace making you a better employee A. Good communication passes information along and if you can effectively communicate, then people understand you much better, and information you are trying to tell or receive will get across without being misunderstood. 1. Marsha Ludden states in a book he had written that, â€Å"if you can communicate effectively what you need or want, you are more likely to be successful in getting it. An example will be a bigger salary. 2. Effective communication also helps you to convince others to agree with you in a persuasive setting. B. Good communication helps you to think better which are essential to make you perform well when performing duties in the workplace. 1. In order to communicate effectively, you have to think ahead and organize your thoughts. 2. When performing job duties this teaches you not only how to learn how to organize, but how to plan ahead. II. Communication skills in the work place prepare you to exercise flexibility A. Communication in the workplace reflects key personality traits, as well as key competencies for success. Show yourself, your staff or your employer you have the necessary intellectual, creative and behavioral flexibility to handle what each work day brings. 1. Studies show to suggest positive aspects of a challenging situation. Examine how a change in a supplier, for instance, can improve a product you manufacture or a service your company provides. Resist insisting that a change cannot work, advises the University of Bradford, Career Development Services office. 2. Have a scheduled time with each department in your company. Add to your skills set to enable you to better understand new issues that may arise in each department. B. Find the secret of effective, easy performance to get more equip with difference task including other workers. 1. Implement team problem-solving measures. Meet with key staff members when changes arise. 2. Get brief insight and solutions from your team if, for example, a valued client decides not to interact in certain situations. III. Communication skills form better relationships and understanding amongst other employees and managers A. Good communication passes information along and if you can effectively communicate, then other employees understand you much better, and information you are trying to tell them will get across without being misunderstood. 1. This prevents arguments, especially between co-workers, explain your thoughts and feelings, and then you won't misunderstand each other. 2. If you can effectively communicate, then you can get along better with other employers. Most arguments are caused by people not communicating effectively and not being able to negotiate with each other. B. Being respectful and using manners in the work place sets a great tone in the environment and forms better relationships with managers 1. Good listening skills are part of good communication; you need to understand what you’re manager is saying to you as well as to say what you want. 2. Communication often includes non-verbal clues such as tone of voice, facial expression, gestures, and body posture. Good communicati on includes being observant and focusing on the other person. Conclusion I. There is always room for improvement when it comes to communication skills. The more you practice by interacting with others, the better you will be. In addition, you will be better able to tell when you are getting your ideas across effectively, and how to improve if you are not. The better you are at communicating, the easier it will be to do your job and work with others- making the workplace more enjoyable, and making you a more successful employee. II. In the words of Tony Robbins, â€Å"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others. †