Write with Detailed Reference to at Least Three Stories and Show how Jane Gardam Reveals the Extraordinariness of Ordinary People Essay Example

Write with Detailed Reference to at Least Three Stories and Show how Jane Gardam Reveals the Extraordinariness of Ordinary People Essay Jane Gardam uses a variety of writing styles to give the characters and narrators a sense of extraordinariness. She does this, for example, through her choice of language that gives life to the characters. Three stories in this collection that show this are The First Adam, Stone Trees and An Unknown Child.One of the ways in which Jane Gardam explores the unusual features of every day people is the use of narrative voice, in first or third person. The First Adam, is a story of a man named Bull. After finding retirement boring, Bull returned to work in Drab. The analogy of the orang-outang is a symbol of Bulls lonely life, which also comes across through the use of monologue throughout the story. The audience are first introduced to Bulls extraordinary way of life when he uses the phrase My tender mistress to describe his work. This story is written using a first person narrator and so he expresses his own thoughts and feelings to the reader. This is useful for the reader as they are s eeing exactly the same as Bull and so gain an understanding of the way he views Drab, his work and his life.This is similar to the style chosen for Stone Trees which is about the narrator, her life and told using stream of consciousness. The story starts on a journey to the Isle of Wight where the reader realise that her husband has recently died. One of the most important points of this story is the narrator repeatedly telling the audience that she did not want children but she discovers that her husband already had a son. This is shown through the line so now that you are which suggests that she understands that her husband lives on in the boy. Throughout the story, the narrator often uses you/I to show her views about Anna, Tom, her husband and their situation through the stream of consciousness. Having a first-person narrator explaining the situation, as she perceives it, means that the reader can discover traits about Anna and Tom, the narrator and her husband and the reader ca n share in her moment of realisation towards the end of the story. The extraordinariness of ordinary people is shown in this story in the way that the narrator copes with the death of her husband and finding out that he had a son that she did not know about.In contrast to this, a story written in the third person such as An Unknown Child is about a woman who has had had a mis-carriage and about how her and her husband try to rebuild their lives. After an incident in a restaurant, Evelyn and Mick finally begin to grieve for the loss of their own child. The third person narrator lets us find out about the lives of a few different characters which have important roles in the story such as Evelyn, Mick and Elizabeth. This shows the extraordinariness of apparently regular people by giving the reader an image of the characters, showing their moments of self-realisation and their interactions with the other characters.A very important technique used by Jane Gardam in these three stories to reveal the extraordinary nature of the people is a central symbol or metaphor which is carried throughout the story. The most obvious of these is the symbol of children in An Unknown Child. For example, on the journey to Florence, A baby had watched them and the place where they were staying was opposite the Innocenti baby place. This is an important feature as it shows both their views towards babies after Evelyn had a miscarriage. Evelyn looks at all the children and symbols of children which suggests to the audience that she is being brave. It also shows Micks attitudes towards Evelyn and how much he cares for her. This is shown particularly as he apologises even though it is obvious that Evelyn had made the decision to stay there. In The First Adam, there is a constant symbol of his work as a woman and the reminder that he does not have time to appreciate his surroundings like Venetia does in The Last Adam.The image of his work, spread on the bed, suggests that he is extremely involved with it and sees Drab as a project rather than a beautiful place. This illustrates the extraordinariness of Bull, as he seems to have a very interesting perspective of work a sees it very differently to other people. This encourages the reader to believe that he has a stronger relationship with his work that his wife. This, again is shown by Bull calling his work his mistress. Lastly, in Stone Trees, there is a symbol of the solidarity of stone in comparison to the life of a tree. This shows the characters attitudes and impressions of their lives and surroundings in comparison to each other. For example, where as the narrator wants to freeze her love for her husband and does not feel that she can share her love with other people, similar to the stone petrifying tree, her husband has touched other peoples lives which is evident from his child who is like him in looks but also in personality. The narrators response to the child is important as it is the first time she feels c lose to a person other than her husband illustrated by the last line so now that you are which indicates that she feels close to her husband through the boy.In all three stories, Jane Gardam gives the impression of the characters being mainstream, unremarkable and average. Throughout the three stories, the characters relationships show the reader that they are special. In The First Adam, Bulls passion for his work is shown when he refers to it as his mistress. Jane Gardam also reveals the problems he has with having relationships with women. However, in An Unknown Child we see the relationship between Evelyn and her husband as being very different in comparison. It is shown to the reader at the beginning that the relationship between them is good and that even after the terrible event opening the story they are very close and support each other. This is not the case by the end of the story when Evelyn realises that she, never thought of him.We realise that Mick did not tell her how he was grieving and so just supported her decisions. Evelyn discovering this is a pivotal moment as she realises that she has not grieved for the loss of their child, which is shown as her, weeping at last. Therefore Evelyn is revealed as extraordinary despite the reader believing her to be a quite unremarkable woman throughout the story. This is similar to Stone Trees where the narrator has a moment of self-realisation when meeting her husbands child. It is revealed to the reader, however, as a pivotal moment when the boy, whose kindness surprises the narrator, begins her healing process Her lack of anger here, and her acceptance of the fact that he was having affairs, ironically kept them together. This shows her to be extraordinary as her love for her husband was so great that she felt it was the only way she could still be with him.Throughout all three stories, the characters opinions are portrayed as the most important feature. This is significant in showing the extraordinarine ss of ordinary people as it gives them very different personalities and lives within their own stories. This can easily be seen in Bull in The First Adam where he tells the audience exactly how he feels about his surroundings and how he sees Drab as a, bloody country. This is important as it demonstrates his opinions in contrast with his wifes who he says feels that she is intruding in his mans world when she goes to foreign countries to be with him. Similarly, in a story such as Stone Trees we are only given the opinion of the narrator and her thoughts of how Tom and Anna are feeling. In both cases, we can only assume that the narrators guesses are correct until she realises that she has misunderstood the situation. An Unknown Child, although written from a third person narrative position, concentrates on Evelyns point of view and it is only as she realises her husbands grief that the reader understands it too. In this story and in Stone Trees the reader shares, or only slightly an ticipates, the whole truth of the characters lives.Another feature that shows the extraordinariness of ordinary people is the twists that occur towards the end of the story. This makes sure that the reader sees that all the characters have more interesting lives than was originally thought. One of the most obvious of these occurs in An Unknown Child where Evelyns moment of self-realisation occurs and she sees that she, never thought of him. This illustrates a surprising fact about Evelyn to herself and to the audience that the family turning up late for dinner acted like a catalyst for them realising what they have lost. The main twist in The First Adam, however, is not so obvious. I, personally think that Bulls day of no work is the twist in this story as even though he was still bored in Drab, he is still in control of his life. In Stone Trees, the narrator is amazed at how kindly Peter is treating her, even though he is only seven. This evokes a moment of realisation when she see s the pink starfish and sees the, growing things that are there all the time, though only now and then seen.All these characters experience The Pangs of Love which shows them to be different and in some cases extraordinary. Jane Gardams use of writing styles, for example first and third person, monologue, stream of consciousness and use of metaphors of motifs teach the audience different features of the characters so that they are seen as individuals. The fact that the characters thoughts are all told to the reader helps them to empathise with the characters and see them as surprising for coping with their difficult situations in the ways that they do.

The Flute essays

The Flute essays The Flute is a high- pitched reedless woodwind instrument made up of a slender tube (usually metal) which is closed at one end with keys and finger holes on the side. Flute players hold the instrument to the mouth and produce sound by blowing across the mouthpiece, much like blowing across the top of a bottle. Its smaller cousin the piccolo, which sounds an octave higher than the standard flute, is so piercing that it can be heard over an entire orchestra playing at full volume. Between 1830 and 1850, Theobald Boehm developed the modern flute system of fingering for producing notes still known today as the Boehm system. I think that the flute itself adds a soft and yet personal touch to the orchestra and no orchestra is complete without it. ...

How would the likely discovery of aliens strike controversy among Research Paper

How would the likely discovery of aliens strike controversy among religions - Research Paper Example their existence, the fact that an alien visit may occur or human-alien encounter may be a possibility has led to panic from different quarters including religion. Movies and fictions films have continued to portray different picture of the events that may precede the invasion and how human and the aliens may relate during the process. Movies like the Independence Day and the visitors point at a negative image towards the encounter as the two forms of life may be keen to outdo each other on warfare and intelligence (Smith-Christopher 15). Apart from the war and intelligence impacts of alien strike, the impacts of such a possibility on religion has remained raw on theologizes and faithful alkies. According to the biblical teaching, man created human beings in his own likeness and no other forms of life are mention. This possibility could affect the faith of people in their religion and impact significantly to a shift especially in if the intelligence of the aliens is beyond that of human beings. In this paper, the impacts of an alien strike on religion across the globe will be examined. The paper will evaluate available theoretical discourse on the topic and how films and movies have depicted the reactions of Christians to alien invasion (Smith-Christopher 15). Within different religious groupings, the belief that a spiritual being out there is tasked with the role of ensuring our wellbeing has dominated since the history of man. The actions of religious leaders are believed to be under the command of the Supreme Being and this enable them to tell us the nature of the spirits and their impacts on life. The catholic church for, for example, has always expressed its zeal to impose monotheism in the world which is based on the trinity (Dunning 21). To achieve this, the church adopted a ruthless approach that suppressed the polytheists in Europe and the smaller kingdoms in the region. Among the Judeo-Christian, the possibility of the presence of a small but powerful

Paraphrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 19

Paraphrasing - Essay Example The plastics are bad for marine life and when other specie eat some of the marine life that ate this plastics, it would make them sick. The cycle begun until it reaches the higher up of the food chain which us and pay the price for polluting our oceans. 3. After reading the textbook, I chose the topic that compared the two religions which are Judaism and Christianity. Judaism and Christianity share the belief that there is God and have the same origin. In terms of teaching and practicing, they show different ways. To illustrate this I quote the sentence from textbook that would contrast from Christianity, Judaism is focused more on life and practice than on belief. In light of the environment worldview, environmental stewardship is a part of its ethics. In Judaism, the idea of the Sabbath introduces the necessary restraint into stewardship. Before reading the textbook about both of religious, I just thought that these two religious were different but realized through their origin and characteristic that they are based on one God and that the same God created all things. 4. I like the idea because it will lead to protect our environment. Companies should look for new ideas that may help our environment and not just think about profit because it is their responsibility too to protect the environment. I would love to hear in the next few days that some companies make a new ideas to protect our environment. Finally, I would like to say my thanks McDonalds 5. In the first video which is presented by EPS Group LLC, it gave me an idea on how to recycle Styrofoam. I know that Styrofoam was really light and disposable packages and the video showed interesting methods on how to recycle Styrofoam as well as the weight of the final stage. The weight of 21 kg shocked me but they provided good information that their machines has several settings depending on region and climate. Actually, I think Styrofoam is not good for the environment in

Definitions of HRM Essay Example for Free

Definitions of HRM Essay Introduction and Overview Definitions of HRM. The employment relationship. Commitment and control. Internal fit. Textbook: Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart and Wright (2012) Human Resource Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage. Chapter 1, pp. 2-68. Examples of exam questions: How and why has the role of the HR department been changing in Western firms since the 1980s? How far and for what reasons would you agree that the debate over the differences between HRM and personnel management is all hot air? Lecture 2 Analysis and Design of Work Job analysis; Job design; employee involvement; quality circles; team working Textbook: Competitive Advantage. Chapter 4, pp. 154-190. Examples of exam questions: Who benefits from employee involvement? Compare quality circles and team working with regards to their impact on the economic outcomes of a company. Lecture 3 Personnel Selection Selection criteria, Big-5 personality dimensions, selection methods, predictive validity, reliability Textbook: Competitive Advantage. Chapter 6, pp. 230-267. Examples of past exam questions: Critically discuss the use of interviews as a primary basis for selection decisions. What criteria should be considered in selecting new employees to support firm performance? How do interviews fare in evaluating these criteria? Lecture 4 Performance appraisal Competitive Advantage. Chapter 8, 338-393. Examples of past exam questions: Critically evaluate performance appraisal at work. What are the purposes of conducting performance appraisals? How might appraisals differ depending on the purpose? Lecture 5 Pay Systems Content of pay systems; selecting pay systems; pay and firm performance; pay outcomes for employees. Textbook: Competitive Advantage. Chapter 1 1, pp. 0-519. Examples of exam questions: Which factors should HR managers take into account in designing a fair pay system? Evaluate options for the design of pay systems for different employee groups. Lecture 6 Human Resource Planning, Flexibility and Turnover Human resource planning; the model of the flexible firm; contingent employment; temporary work; employee turnover Textbook: Competitive Advantage. Chapt er 5, pp. 191-211 and Chapter 10, pp. 440-478. Examples ot exam questions: Temporary agency workers are hired to protect the employment security of the core workforce. Discuss critically. Contingent workers facilitate the use of high commitment management systems. Discuss. Lecture 7 Strategic Human Resource Management: Best Practices vs. Best Fit Strategic HRM; models of HRM; best practice and business strategy models Textbook: Competitive Advantage. Chapter 2, pp. 70-105. Examples of exam questions: Evaluate the relationship between the business and the human resource management strategy of a firm. Contrast and evaluate the concepts of horizontal and vertical fit in human resource management. Lecture 8 Strategic HRM: The Resource- ased View and Stakeholder Models Continuation of lecture 7: strategic HRM; resource-based view; institutional / stakeholder perspectives on HRM Textbook: To what extent do managers have a strategic choice with regards to human resource management? Critically discuss the implications of the resource-based view of the firm for designing HRM strategies. Lecture 9 Equal Employment Opportunities Competitive Advantage. Chapter 3, pp. 106-153. Examples of past exam questions: Do women have equal opportunities at work? What actions might employers take to address any inequalities? Evaluate human capital theoretical explanations of the gender earnings gap. Lecture 10 Industrial Relations Introduction to industrial relations; purposes of collective organization; effects of unions; recent trends in industrial relations Textbook: Competitive Advantage. Chapter 14, pp. 598-647. Examples of exam questions: What are the consequences of a lack of effective worker representation, be it through trade unions or some other form of worker representation at the workplace? Why do workers Join trade unions and what are the effects of union activity? How has this changed in liberal market economies in recent years?

Loneliness and Isolation in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay -- Frank

Throughout time man has been isolated from people and places. One prime example of isolation is Adam, "the man [formed] from the dust of the ground [by the Lord God]" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 2.7). After committing the first sin he secludes "from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 3.23). This isolation strips Adam from his protection and wealth the garden provides and also the non-existence of sin. Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, is able to relate to the story of Adam and the first sin to help her character, the Creature, associate with Adam. The Creature is able to relate because "[l]ike Adam, [he is] apparently united by no link to any other being in existence" (Shelley 124). In other ways the creator of the creature, Victor Frankenstein, also identifies with the tale of the first human, but with a different character, God. "God created man in his own image" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 1.27) and unlike Frankens tein "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Teen Study Bible, Gen. 1.31). Frankenstein brought a life into the world but did not take the responsibility to lead and guide his creature to benefit himself or the created. Unlike God's creature who did in turn prosper. Instead of prosperity Frankenstein receives a life of loneliness and responsibility of many unnecessary deaths. The Creature, like his creator, lives his life in isolation from society. His only goal is to be loved and accepted by those around him. Through these circumstances the effects of isolation and loneliness are brought to life by the creature and the creator thought their pasts, social statuses, emotions, and dreams and fantasies. A pe... ...st occurrences, as Adam did. Each character leads the reader to believe he may not have reached his end if he were not in seclusion. Works Cited Abbey, Cherie D., ed. Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Vol. 14. Kansas City, MO: Gale Research, 1987. Draper, James P., ed. World Literature Criticism. Vol. 5. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Goldberg, M.A. "Moral and Myth in Mrs. Shelley's Frankenstein." Keats-Shelley Journal 7 (1958): 27-38. Schoene-Harwood, Berthold, ed. Columbia Critical Guides: Mary Shelley Frankenstein. New York: Columbia UP, 2000. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Signet, 1994. Teen Study Bible. Jean E. Syswerda, ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993. Telgen, Diane, ed. Novels for Students. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Wolf, Leonard. The Annotated Frankenstein. New York: Leonard Wolf, 1977.

Functionalism, Conflict, and Internationalism Essay

The three theories I plan to discuss are Functionalism, Conflict, and Internationalism with education. The need for these theories is what actually makes the system in education work, with the teachers, parents, school boards and committees the institution of education continues to function. The first theory is Functionalism and is about the study by Lawrence Kohlberg. It has been forty-three years since Lawrence Kohlberg published his doctoral dissertation characterizing six stages of moral development and fourteen years since his death. During this period, much has been written that has discredited stage theory and the overarching use of justice as a â€Å"first principle† of moral development. Yet Kohlberg’s evolving moral theory continues to be used as a theoretical basis for moral development research and to influence teacher education. While some educators have dismissed Kohlberg’s approach as wooden and â€Å"fossilized,† it continues to be central to what teachers know about, and how they think about, moral development. 2] Indeed, one author suggests that â€Å"every psychology textbook published in the last quarter-century touches upon Kohlberg’s work. â€Å"[3] This consistent message, coupled with continued public talk about character development and moral education in schools, makes it likely that Kohlberg’s stage theory continues to influence classroom practice, consciously and unconsciously, across the United States, Henry, (2001). By exposing the structural-functionalist roots of Kohlberg’s theory, this essay raises concerns about the application of Kohlberg’s ideas in the classroom. Fundamentally, Kohlberg focuses on individual development, a universal conception of justice, and universalizability do not translate well to the institutional-level application that he hoped his Just Community Schools would provide. What Kohlberg failed to realize was that a collection of individuals using a Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism in Education universal conception of justice in consistent ways across situations (morally mature individuals by Kohlberg’s standards) did not necessarily create a moral community. In a moral community, the degree to which individuals have grown along a continuum of moral development should not be of greater importance than the ability of community members to work together to detect and solve moral problems. Henry, (2001) Foundational to the Just Community model was Kohlberg’s belief that schools were important locations for the socialization of children into broader society. School was a child’s first formal introduction into society at large. By going to school â€Å"the child learns to fill the expected public roles of a member of his society† (LKA, 21). Part of the power of schooling was the teaching of lessons necessary for successful life outside of school. In particular, Kohlberg stressed that students needed to gain an increased awareness of themselves in categorical terms. [7] In other words, he and his colleagues claimed that students needed to learn the categorical expectations to which they would be held publicly accountable and that school had an important function to play in teaching these lessons: [T]he child has to learn to be one among a crowd of peers in a classroom that is run by a relative impersonal authority figure who gives orders a power to wield praise and blame. What the child learns about how to handle â€Å"the crowds, the praise, and the power† will, from this point of view, give shape to her public morality: her conception of how one ought to act to get along and even prosper in the public domain (LKA, 21). Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism in Education These statements make it clear that Kohlberg saw schools as important locations for gradually imbuing children with the expectations they would meet as adults, Henry, (2001). While Kohlberg was focused on the individual the theory of functionalism doesn’t work. It works as a whole at a much larger level, the macro level, the institution of the schools. These system need function to run and for student to learn. With this in place there would dis-function children would not be able to learn and through the learning they learn how to enter into society and act accordingly in their roles into adulthood. The theory of Conflict in regards to education they are there, but one that comes to mind is the quality of the education that is given to students today. All the students are not looked at the same, if they come from a poor family or a minority family they are not thought of as equal in intelligence as the white middle to higher class of student. According to Conflict Theory, society is: A struggle for dominance among competing social groups (classes, genders, races, religions, etc. ). When conflict theorists look at society, they see the social domination of subordinate groups through the power, authority, and coercion of dominant groups. In the conflict view, the most powerful members of dominant groups create the rules for success and opportunity in society, often denying subordinate groups such success and opportunities; this ensures that the powerful continue to monopolize power, privilege, and authority. You should note that most conflict theorists oppose this sort of coercion and favor a more equal social order. Some support a complete socioeconomic revolution to socialism (Marx), while others are more reformist, or perhaps do not see all social inequalities stemming from the capitalist system Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism in Educational (they believe we could solve racial, gender, and class inequality without turning to socialism). However, many conflict theorists focus on capitalism as the source of social inequalities. The primary cause of social problems, according to the conflict perspective, is the exploitation and oppression of subordinate groups by dominants. Conflict theorists generally view oppression and inequality as wrong, whereas Structural-Functionalists may see it as necessary for the smooth running and integration of society. Structural-Functionalism and Conflict Theory therefore have different value orientations but can lead to similar insights about inequality (e. g. , they both believe that stereotypes and discrimination benefit dominant groups, but conflict theorists say this should end and most structural-functionalists believe it makes perfect sense that subordinates should be discriminated against, since it serves positive social ends). Conflict theory sees social change as rapid, continuous, and inevitable as groups seek to replace each other in the social hierarchy, McLeod, (2004). In contrast to Structural-Functionalists, who argue that the most talented individuals occupy the highest positions, conflict theorists argue that dominant groups monopolize positions of power, maintaining power from generation to generation and keeping subordinate groups out. Also in contrast to Structural-Functionalists, who argue that the most important positions in society are the best rewarded, conflict theorists argue that dominant groups get inordinate power to define which positions are socially rewarded. Highly-paid positions are not necessarily most important for society, they argue, but keep power in the hands of the privileged and powerful, McLeod, (2004). If conflict theory really see social change coming than that may mean the educators of this country may be starting to focus on the student and their intelligence instead of their financial status or race. Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism in Education The last theory Interactionism theory views society as the product of individuals’ interaction with each other. Through the process of socialization, people learn values, attitudes, and actions that they deem to be correct. People are exposed to a set of reinforcements to maintain or change those views and actions. Learning theory helps explain why people view others in particular ways, such as who is good and who is bad. Our views may have little to do with objective reality. Learning theory may also explain the process in which people come to engage in behaviors that others find problematic, such as embezzling or prostitution. As Sutherland (1940) notes, people learn the motivations, beliefs, and actions to engage in behaviors that some may find problematic. Labeling theory explores how people socially construct reality. People in positions of power and authority have the ability to label an activity as problematic or acceptable; people in lower social positions are less likely to persuade others to stick with their definition of the situation. This is why elites are able to define a situation that benefits them as good, while others may regard it as troublesome. It also helps explain why people in lower classes are more likely to be perceived as the cause of problems, and why elites escape that definition. The reality of any social situation depends on how people define it. For example, when college students drink alcohol, is it partying, is it normal, is it binge drinking, is it alcohol abuse, are they a social drinker, a problem drinker, do they use it or abuse it? We may wish to determine how we will label the alcohol consumption based on when they drink, with whom they drink, how much they drink, what they drink, and what they do when they are drinking. Is the drinking a personal problem, a campus problem, or a social problem? These distinctions areFunctionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism in Education determined arbitrarily through the process of labeling. Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism underlying conditions probably existed for a long time before it was identified as an issue. The disagreement over whether something is a problem, how much of a problem it is, what and who caused it, and how it should be addressed is all a product of social construction created through the process of interaction, Vissing, (2011). I believe that between parents, teachers, students and the communities if they would allow each of themselves to be treated as people, students and human beings the educational process would be easier and more pleasurable experience and a happier and healthier environment. I know that is an impossibility but if were something even a few people would work at it may change the educational field a little bit at a time. To bring these three theories together to have a functional system, bring students in as one instead of the higher class and more social and control the groups of kids and the way they stand against each other there might be a chance to bring our education back on line and educate the students the way they should be educated and ready for the world after high school.