Wheel of Fortune and Invocation by Flack Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Wheel of Fortune and Invocation by Flack - Essay Example The essay "Wheel of Fortune and Invocation by Flack" analyzes the Flack's paintings, heel of Fortune and Invocation. Both pieces feature an unrealistic collage of still life items, including a realistic human skull. The items included in these still lifes are not unrealistic in their depiction, but rather in their placement. Wheel of Fortune, for instance, makes any underlying structure impossible to discern while Invocation presents an abstract, dimensionless background. The illusionistic depiction of items such as the human skull, hourglass and nearly burned down candle classify Wheel of Fortune as a vanitas painting while similar images, minus the hourglass, are used in Invocation. Flack employs a full range of hues to produce a trompe l’oeil effect in many of these images. The paintings do differ in the way in which they are compositionally composed. Both use the human skull as focal point. In Invocation, the skull is placed in the geographical center of the painting with all other objects arranged around it. It is given a trompe l’oeil frame over which a paint tube, sitting next to the neck of the skull, drips a steady stream of red paint, and a candle, lit near the left edge of the image, burns. The composition is asymmetric with balance achieved by inversing round forms such as the base of the candle holder and the blooms of the bouquet. Wheel of Fortune, while also asymmetric, achieves its balance through the duplication of the skull. The original skull is placed off to the right side.

Dance Injury - Hamstrings Essay Example for Free

Dance Injury Hamstrings Essay Dance is an art form. Professional dancers pride themselves for being able to express complicated emotions through the artistic interpretation of movements. Like athletics, dancers are very prone to physical injury, that is, their work requires intense physical training in which often result in mild or severe injuries. This essay will attempt to investigate and understand what is the hamstring strain or tear injury, how it occurs, and ways to prevent such injury. A dance piece is constituted with a variety of movements displayed by the human body. One of the primary functions of the skeletal system is to provide support and shape while the muscular system is to provide a range of movements by moving the different limbs of the body. Therefore, the kinesiology muscle of a dancer that directs the leg into amazing moves is complicated. The hamstring muscle group consist of three muscle; the Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, and the Semimembranosus. The hamstring muscle group is located at the back of the thigh. According to â€Å"The Anatomy of Exercise and Movement†, the Bicep Femoris is the largest and most lateral of the three hamstring muscles. It has ‘the long head’ and ‘the short head’ making it a bicep muscle. Its primary purpose is to contract, consequently helping in hip outward rotation. As for the other two hamstring muscles, the Semitendinosus and Semimembranosus are completely synergistic, doing the same actions together. Working at the hip, both muscles extend and are active in internal rotation (pg.144). All three muscles in the hamstring muscle group have the same origin, which is the Ischial Tuberosity, also known as the sitz bone, situated at the bottom of the pelvis bone. Even though the F asdf asdf asdf asdf asdf asdf asdf hamstring muscle group have same origins, each muscle has a different insertion, the Bicep Femoris; the head of Fibula (bone) and the lateral of Tibia (bone), Semitendinosus; proximal of Tibia, medial to Tebial Tuberosity, Semimembranosus; Tibia. The hamstring muscle group helps in extending the leg backwards and bending the knees. Hence, this specific group muscle helps in producing dance movements namely ‘plies’, ‘passe’, ‘attitude devant’, and ‘arabesque’. The hamstring strain or tear injury can be a pull, a partial tear or a complete tear of the muscle. The strain or tear is to be found at the peak of elongation velocity when producing movements. This injury occurs when the hamstring muscle group is ‘strain’ beyond its normal length whilst producing a certain eccentric contraction movement. A strain or tear can also happen when the muscles are challenged with a sudden load or work to produce a movement or several movements. â€Å"A common problem in dancers is imbalance or asymmetry that can result in hamstring injury. The imbalance could be muscular or structural.† (livestrong.com). An example of such imbalance is when a dancer is dancing with a tilted pelvis. This can result to an over emphasis on the quadriceps muscles and only stretching the hamstring group muscles. Livestrong.com continue to name a list of reason how the hamstring group muscle can be injured when a dancer overstretches and ‘overuse injur y’. Overstretching seems to be contradictory, as part of being a dancer is to be flexible. Most dancers have a similar mindset. If the leg extension is not long or high enough when performing movements such as a ‘battement’; he or she simply needs to stretch out the tightness. This action can result to severe muscle strain. Consequently, the ‘overuse injury’ can occur simply from working on a specific dance technique or dance movement for too long. Without proper strength in the hamstrings, and rest for the muscles, the hamstrings undergo continuous tension and this can result in tears and fatigue (livestrong.com). There are other factors which increase the likelihood of suffering a hamstring strain or tear injury. Age, flexibility of the hamstring muscle group, as well as tiredness and lack of fitness are namely some of the contributing factors to this injury. The hamstring strains or tear can be graded according to the severity of the injury. Grade 1 consists of minor tears within the muscle. A grade 2 is a partial tear in the muscle and grade 3 is a severe or complete rupture of the muscle (sportsinjuryclinic.net). The symptoms of a grade 1 hamstring strain are; the injured dancer may feel a slight pull or tightness and minimal swelling in the posterior thigh. Consequently, he or she will be aware of slight discomfort when walking. Following on, grade 2 hamstring strains or tears may be associated with occasional sudden twinges of pain when producing a movement. As a result, gait will be affected and limping may be present. Moreover, flexing and applying pressure to the knees may cause pain. Therefore, a dancer with grade 2 hamstring strain or tears might be unable to fully straighten the knees. Finally, walking will be severely impaired in a grade 3 hamstring tear resulting to the need of walking aids. A dancer will feel severe pain particularly when producing a knee flexion. In addition to all that is mention, a grade 2 and 3 hamstring strain or tear may indirectly affect one’s posture. This is a result of impulses transferred by the nervous system from the hamstring muscle group to the Central Nervous System (CNS). The CNS consists of the spinal cord and the brain, transmitting impulses from the spinal cord to the brain. There are 5 pairs of sacral plexus in the spinal cord, containing four sacral nerves, which branch out, supplying sensory to the muscles attached to the pelvis, buttocks, and part of the lower limbs. The sciatic nerve, which branches out from the sacral plexus, is the longest nerve of the body and is responsible for the pain associated with the hamstring group muscle. â€Å"The nerve supply becomes impeded by excess pressure or damage and pain, is experienced in the hips and buttocks down through the knee to the ankle.† (An Holistic Guide to Anatomy and Physiology, 2006, pg.213). It is vitally important that treatment for a pulled hamstring starts immediately. The most important phase for treatment is the first 48 hours post-injury. Treatment of hamstring strains or tears will vary depending on the type of injury, its severity, and the needs and expectations of the patient. However, treatment can be generally divided into two types; Non-Surgical treatment and Surgical Treatment. Most hamstring strains heal very well with simple non-surgical treatments methods such as R.I.C.E, an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. A dancer who is experiencing a hamstring strain should take rest, and avoid activities that strain the muscle group. In addition, he or she should apply cold packs several times a day on the straining area but not directly onto the skin. Also, the patient should wear an elastic band for compression to avoid more swelling and blood lost. To reduce swelling, he or she should recline, elevating the leg above the heart level. After R.I.C.E, dancers who wish to rehabilitate from a hamstring strain should get physical therapy treatments to restore the range of motion and strength. Surgical treatment is most often performed for tendon avulsion injuries, where the tendon has pulled completely away from the bone. Like treatments, the duration for a full recovery from a hamstring strain and tear injury vary depending on its severity. A grade 1 injury will probably take seven to ten days, a grade 2 injury will take four to six weeks however a grade 3 injury can take up to 4 or more months. â€Å"One of the most important methods of preventing a pulled hamstring is to warm-up correctly. This has been scientifically proven to reduce the risk of hamstring strain.†(sportsinjuryclinic.net). Warm-ups should gradually increase in intensity. Moreover, most dancers often fail to understand the importance of strengthening exercises. Dancers focus too much on stretching the muscle, lengthening but making it week and unable to support the range of motion when dancing. Boyd Bender, a physical therapist for the Pacific Northwest Ballet stated to strengthen the hamstring muscle group, dancers should also strengthen the quadriceps muscle group. This is because these muscle groups work in concert. If trained correctly, the strength ratio should be 60% of quadriceps muscle group and 40% of hamstring muscle group, with each muscle group supporting and complementing each other to prevent injuries. (findarticles.com). On top of dance technique classes, dancers should also add Pilates and Gyrotonic class for dynamics of stretch, strength, and movement for a well-rounded regimen. Dancers should also include stretching bands when practicing technique. With the use of stretching bands like Thera-Band, dancers not only refine their technique but also strengthen their muscle groups. The body is the instrument for a dancer. Every dancer should aim to achieve optimum capacity of his or her body through warm-ups, body conditioning, technique classes, stretching and cool-down. In conclusion, dancers should never work their body recklessly. Like all instruments, it should be refined and well taken care of.

The Battle of Mogadishu Essay -- somalian militias, delta force command

Introduction On October 4th, 1993, Task Force Ranger, the operational name for a joint Army force of rangers, Delta Force Commandos, and supporting helicopter crews faced the Somalian militias on what was later described as one of the bloodiest American fights in recent history. The conflict started on December 1992, after the United Nations asked the outgoing Bush administration to deliver food to thousands of people starving to death in Somalia, Africa, specifically the city of Mogadishu. The city of Mogadishu is located in the middle of the Southern half of the Somalian coastline, and serves as the nation’s capital. The shipments intended for the starving Somalis were ending in the hands of warlords throughout the â€Å"Horn of Africa,† which used the much needed aid as a source of power. The American response to this atrocity was to send 28,900 US troops who landed on the beaches of Somalia to start Operation Restore Hope and ensure the distribution of food to the needy. History To understand events leading up to the battle of Mogadishu, you must first understand what sparked Somalia into clan rebellion, fighting, famine, and utter chaos.1 In 1919, a man by the name of Mohamed Said Barre was born into an Italian Somaliland clan known as Daarood. By 1941, at the age of twenty-two Barre had joined the Somali police force and rose to the position of Chief inspector. In 1950 Barre left to the military academy in Italy, and later returned in 1960 only to transfer into the Somali national Army. In 1966, Barre held the rank of Major General in the Somalian national army. In 1969 Barre would stage a military coup and seize control of the Somalian government. He then imposed a dictatorship which would outlaw clan loyalties.2 He did t... ... force. For example, the request for AC130 Spectre gunship support was requested and denied due to the administration wanting to â€Å"decrease the US presence†. The provision of this backup along with armor plating for vehicles could have potentially saved the lives of many. In conclusion, the key lesson learned, is that you never go into a fight outgunned, outnumbered, or with your hands tied behind your back due to political reasons. Works Cited Allard, C. Kenneth. Somalia operations lessons learned. Washington, DC: National Defense University Press, 1995. Chun, Clayton K. S.. Gothic Serpent: Black Hawk Down, Mogadishu 1993. Oxford, UK: Osprey Pub., 2012. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Mohamed Siad Barre (president of Somalia)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/547169/Mohamed-Siad-Barre (accessed March 8, 2014).

Creative writing – A Christmas to remember

For the first time in her life, Catherine Benson faced the prospect of spending Christmas alone. With a mixture of fond thoughts of the past and the sadness, she recalled the Christmas's of her childhood happy times full of love, laughter and family togetherness. However, this year, her parents were spending Christmas with her brother, who was happily married and with a family of his own. He lived In Wales. Of course, ever since college there had been Anthony. But even thinking the name now bought pain of sadness and loneliness. Anthony and Catherine had been inseparable. They has so many plans for the future. They'd shared dreams and so she thought, they shared lives. But that had all crumbled to dust in the last few months. The love she thought would last forever had failed to stand the first major test of their relationship. Sighing, she draped the last piece of tinsel over the branches of her small tree and stepped back to cast a critical eye upon it. It barely seemed worth the effort just for herself. Some how the tree and the fireplace, served only to make her situation seem little more worthwhile. If only she could get Anthony McBride out of her mind as effectively as he had removed himself from her life. But he crept into her thoughts at the most weirdest times and though it had been several hard painful weeks since they had split up, she'd been unable to let go of her deep feelings for him, she couldn't ignore them. â€Å"We're having a couple of friends over for Christmas Eve. Catherine please say you'll come.† Louise Andrews enticed at work the next day. New friends and a new job had given her something to focus on after Anthony. But, unused to being single, and still nursing her broken heart, Catherine had shied away from taking up a social life again. â€Å"I don't know, Louise.† She said answered cautiously. â€Å"Come on.† Her friend replied joyfully. â€Å"It's Christmas-the last of the century! It'll only be a small gathering I promise.† Smiling, Catherine allowed herself to be persuaded. Perhaps Louise was right. With the millennium coming up, it was time to cast off the past and to look forward to the future with hope and new years resolutions. So on the night before Christmas, she found herself hovering anxiously outside the door of the flat that Louise shared with her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, Dominic. Very nervously she took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. â€Å"Catherine I'm so glad you decided to come.† Louise greeted her with a warm smile. â€Å"These are for you† Catherine handed over a bottle of wine and a big box of chocolates. â€Å"Sorry it's not very original.† â€Å"They're lovely! Let me take your coat and get you a drink, then I can introduce you to everyone.† Catherine hesitated in the doorway of the nicely decorated living room. Soft relaxing music played in the background, and half a dozen people stood in small groups, chatting and laughing. â€Å"You'll soon relax and find everyone really friendly. Dominic has invited a friend from the gym. He'll be feeling just as nervous as you, trying to get back into the swing of things as a single person after the break up of a long-term relationship.† â€Å"Now I hope you're not matchmaking.† Catherine protested with an anxious smile. â€Å"Maybe just a bit.† Louise teased. â€Å"Dominic says his friend is funny, generous and compassionate, and if he's half as good looking as I've been lead to believe, you'll be thanking me before the evening is over.† Catherine doubted it, but she held her tongue. Slipping her wine, she curbed the sudden instinct to run. She had to face some people some time. â€Å"I thought you'd ducked out on me.† Dominic greeted his guest when the door opened. â€Å"I did wonder about coming, but I knew if I didn't I would never hear the end of it. Sorry if I'm late.† â€Å"That's okay. It's only a buffet supper and we haven't started yet. Come and meet the others, what will you have to drink?† â€Å"Beer if you have it, thanks.† He replied. Stepping intensively inside the flat. Anthony asked himself for the hundredth time what he was doing here. Parties weren't his thing; he'd tended to shy away from social gatherings of any kind in the last few weeks, turning himself into work and sport instead. Following Dominic into the kitchen, he leaned on the counter and watched as his friend poured the drinks. â€Å"Louise has bought a friend from the bank I think you should meet.† Dominic said cautiously. Anthony's heart sank. â€Å"I don't want to meet anyone, not like that anyway.† â€Å"She's lovely Anthony, she's been hurt badly herself, so she knows how difficult it is to take the plunge and meet new people. Give her a chance; she's funny and intelligent. You'll like her.† Strongly wishing he hadn't come, but unable to walk away, Anthony followed his friend through to the other room. The sound of the lively conversation daunted on him for a moment, and he hesitated on the threshold. As soon as he entered the room, a tingle of awareness caught him by surprise. He scanned the room, and then he saw her. Catherine. His breath caught in his throat. Suddenly, it was as if the last painful, lonely weeks had been stripped away. She was here, in the same room, looking as lovely as ever, but unapproachable and out of his reach. Before he could retreat, Catherine turned and saw him. Shock registered on her face. His mouth tightened, just as she had been shutting him out in the last few weeks they'd been together. â€Å"Come and meet Carolyn† Dominic suggested. â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..I..† His friend brushed his protest aside. â€Å"She was very broken up over the split with her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. But she told Louise that he just never listened to her.† Dominic confided quietly. Catherine had said that? Stunned, Anthony didn't resist as Dominic steered him across the room. Catherine couldn't believe that Anthony was here. What a disaster. Just the sight of him had brought back all the pain and heartache and it had taken only a second to confirm her worst fears. Despite everything, she still loved him. â€Å"That's the friend of Dominic's I was telling you about.† Louise whispered, pushing her forward. They met in the middle of the room. If it hadn't have been so embarrassing it would have been funny. But she was too hurt, too shocked to laugh. And it was clear that Louise and Dominic had no idea what was happening. â€Å"We'll leave you to get to know each other.† Louise smiled. â€Å"You have so much in common.† Dominic said innocently. Louise and Dominic sneaked off quietly. â€Å"I didn't think I would ever see you again.† Catherine managed to say after a tense moment. â€Å"How have you been?† Anthony said awkwardly. â€Å"Not good.† She admitted. â€Å"You?† â€Å"The same.† Anthony absorbed everything about her, every single feature of her was the same, except the fact that she was thinner and her complexion had lost the happy healthy glow that it was had. â€Å"Did you really say that I never listened to you?† Dominic enquired. She nodded, her hands nervously fiddling in front of her. â€Å"Well you thought that I didn't need you anymore.† Catherine replied. â€Å"You shut me out!† â€Å"No I never, you weren't interested you were always so busy with work, you never had time for me. You never took time to really listen to me, not like used to.† Anthony took a step back, remembering all the silly quarrels that had taken their toll on their relationship. Catherine realized that neither of them had listened to each other. Everyone regrouped to enjoy the buffet supper. Neither of them ate anything, they were too busy thinking about what they had said to each other. And what now, did he still care for her as she cared for him? She met his gaze across the room. How could she loved him so much and not realize how he was feeling? Was there a chance they could get back together, could he forgive her? Anthony tried to mix with the other guests, but he couldn't stop thinking about Catherine. Could she forgive him for all the hurt and pain he had caused her? The weeks without her had been dreadful, and seeing her again had only made him realize how much he really needed her. Was it too late? At last the gathering broke up. Anthony said goodbye and left the flat, but instead of going straight home, he waited outside for Catherine to appear. â€Å"Thank you for this evening.† Catherine murmured. She slipped on her coat and left. As she was leaving the building she felt disappointed that Anthony had left and nothing happened between them. A figure emerged from the shadows as she left the building and stepped onto the pavement. â€Å"Oh.† She gasped. â€Å"I thought you had gone.† She said. Relieved with the fact the he had waited for her. â€Å"Can I walk you home?† Anthony asked. â€Å"Thank you I'd like that.† They walked side by side. Catherine felt nervous, uncertain what to say, but scared if she said nothing at all. Just being near her made him feel better. He didn't want this chance to slip, but could he find the right words to say? They began to walk slower and slower and gradually they came to a halt, where they turned to each other. â€Å"I'm sorry.† They said in harmony along with a nervous smile. Anthony reached out a tentative hand to take one of hers. â€Å"I've missed you, Catherine.† He whispered. â€Å"I've been so miserable without you.† She replied. Very slowly they drew together and hugged. â€Å"We haven't been very clever.† They agreed with each other. â€Å"Will you take me back, give me a second chance?† Anthony questioned. â€Å"Only if you will. Look it's snowing.† Across the road the church bell struck midnight. Christmas day. â€Å"Shall we go in?† Anthony asked. â€Å"Yes please, we have so much to give thanks for.† She agreed. Behind them another couple strolled slowly towards the church. â€Å"They'll be alright now.† Louise pronounced with satisfaction. â€Å"Shall we tell them we knew all along?† Dominic asked. â€Å"Maybe one day, but not just yet.† Squeezing her hand as they walked up the steps, Dominic knew he was equally lucky in the love that he had. â€Å"Happy Christmas, Louise†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ 

Compare the ways in which Larkin and Abse write about love Essay

Compare the ways in which Larkin and Abse write about Love, in your response you should write about at least two of Larkin’s poems Larkin’s general view on love and marriage is that both are a liability. This is seen throughout many poems including ‘Self’s the man’ where Larkin talks about a man being held back and worked to death by his wife. Abse’s views are somewhat contrary to Larkin’s. He has a much softer approach when talking about love and feels that it connects himself with his family, as seen in his poems ‘Postcard to his wife’ and ‘The Malham Bird’ where he expresses his love for his wife. Love as a theme is present in many of Larkin’s poems and ‘Self’s the man’ illustrates his stereotypical outlook on marriage and love. In the first stanza Larkin directly compares himself to his made up character of Arnold, who represents all the lower class men in a marriage. The first tw o lines ‘Oh, no one can deny/ That Arnold is less selfish than I’ have a humorous tone in with the use of a rhyming couplet, Larkin is patronising the reader. In the next line he writes how Arnold married a woman to ‘stop her getting away’. In comparison, the poem ‘The Malham Bird’ Abse writes of love in a different way ‘in love, you a Gentile’. His soft tone creates a slower pace to the poem which shows his love for his late wife. On the other hand Larkin doesn’t use the word love and he uses a faster matter-of-fact tone. Larkin is often viewed as sexist but here he could be seen as saying that women don’t get a chance to live their lives how they want to because men marry them ‘Now she’s there all day’. In the second stanza Larkin continues to paint women in a poor light ‘And the money he gets for wasting his life on work/ She takes as her perk’. The first line uses enjambment which makes the poem sound like a list of moans. She appears to be greedy by taking his money. Larkin displays an air of snobbery about the lower classes hard labour jobs. He describes the woman as interfering and domineering. Larkin then uses colloquial language to make fun of the lower classes and how they speak ‘To pay for the kiddies’ clobber and the drier/ and the electric fire’. He does not rate family life very highly. Larkin states that the roles have reversed in the third stanza. Arnold told his wife to marry him and she did and now she is telling him to work, to do the chores etc†¦ ‘Planning to have a read at the evening paper/ It’s Put a screw in this wall-‘. The fourth stanza uses colloquial language again and the fifth and uses a sarcastic and patronising tone. Larkin does not look upon  marriage favourably. Moving into the sixth stanza, the poet claims that Arnold, too, was just â€Å"out for his own ends† and â€Å"if it was such a mistake / He still did it for his own sake / Playing his own game.† He concludes that â€Å"he and I are the same† and both are selfish, but he is better â€Å"At knowing what I can stand / Without them sending a van†. The â€Å"van† is a mental institute’s mode of transportation, suggesting that Arnold is going mad in his situation. Much of this poem is unsympathetic towards Arnold’s situation. However at the end Larkin reveals an uncertainty. Suddenly the poet is faced with the reality of his own situation ‘But wait, not do fast/ Is there such a contrast?’ Has he realised the loneliness in his own life because he was too selfish to share. Another poem which presents love as a theme is ‘Talking in Bed’. In this poem Larkin describes a couple in a failing relationship because they are isolated and find it difficult to communicate. Themarital bed is used as a symbol for marriage; a haven for spouses to come together. The bed should be the place where a couple feel united, but in this poem, the bed makes the couple’s detachment from one another glaringly obvious. The word â€Å"lying† has an ambiguous meaning in this poem; on one hand it means that the couple in assuming a horizontal position together, and on the other hand, it appears there is some fabrication between them. â€Å"Goes back so far† also presents some ambiguity: first, the couple have been â€Å"lying together† in their bed for years which is an indication of a lengthy marriage; and second, they have been living a lie for many years. The couple are clearly unhappy with their marriage. This was a time when separation and divorce was frowned upon but couples stayed together unhappily because it was the right thing to do. There was a sense of accountability within the marriage contract and it was difficult for women in particular to walk away from their husbands. The second stanza describes the turmoil of their marriage metaphorically by using nature. The awful silence is deafening and an indication of the tense, nervous atmosphere between the two, worsening as they continue to remain silent. The â€Å"outside† is a reflection of the couple inside; the tension heightens between them, and is never relieved. The wind is turbulent, scattering the clouds across the sky. â€Å"Builds and disperses† could be a metaphor for an argument; the environment is fraught and situations cannot be resolved. â€Å"Clouds† have both a dark and threatening aspect, and can be difficult to see through. Metaphorically speaking, a clear sky would represent a marriage at peace, but in this case the clouds suggest a marriage at war with itself; these wars could potentially harm the marriage, so the clouds hide them, if you can’t see something then it doesn’t exist. â€Å"Dark towns† can be used to describe a number of different things: faults, disagreements, difficulties, isolation and pain. The contrast of their marriage to the tumultuous winds are a stark reminder of what their future holds. They have to try and work things out to arrive at an amicable solution. It is not understood why their marriage has failed; why at â€Å"this unique distance† (lying side-by-side) that they feel so isolated from each other. The husband cannot understand why communication between him and his wife have broken down. Words are not forthcoming and he is at a loss as to how the marriage appears to be irretrievable. Was he ever really in love with his wife? Did he ever feel a softness towards her? ‘It becomes more difficult to find/ Words at once true and kind’. He wonders if their marriage was based on a lie or was it inevitably going to fail. Dannie Abse’s approach to love is different in comparison to Larkin; Abse sees love as something to be treasured between him and his family. Where Larkin views love with a touch of cynicism, Abse’s poems demonstrate a purity and an equality. In The Malham Bird it did not matter that the couple are from different backgrounds ‘you a Gentile and I a Jew!’ Their relationship may have been unacceptable for the times but their love was all that mattered. The poem is littered with fond memories of when the couple first met ‘Dear wife, remember our first illicit/holiday, the rented room, the hidden beach’. Theirs was a romantic love. Abse’s couple are happy in contrast to the couples portrayed by Larkin in the above poems. Their shared history is full of warmth and mutual admiration. Where Larkin’s poems view love as a hindrance and something a man can do without, Abse firmly believes you need love above all else. In Postcard to his Wife, Abse’s portrayal is of a husband (himself) desperately missing his wife in her absence. He longs for them to spend the day together. He wishes she would ‘Make excuses’ so that she would be home with him. He loves her and enjoys her pre sence the opposite of Larkin’s idea of relationships. Abse feels there is a void in his life when his wife is not around and cannot bear the heartache. The contrast between Larkin and Abse’s views on love and relationships are polar opposites.

breast cancer paper project

breast cancer paper project breast cancer paper project Introduction What is Breast cancer? While breast cancer is the cancer that develops from breast tissue. Which in this case it is effecting the breast. This disease breast cancer was found in the 1990’s. Over 175,000 women a diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Emotional stage with breast cancer often experience a predictable, stressful period, and scared their going to die. Most of these women go through the same feelings because you can die from breast cancer. Cancer is a group of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, fluid coming from the nipple, or a red scaly patch of skin. In those with distant spread of the disease, there may be bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, or yellow skin. More than 80% of breast cancer cases are discovered when the woman feels a lump, about 1 in 1,000 pregnant women experience any sort of cancer. Breast cancer is a disease that affects each area of a woman’s life. Breast cancer and its treatment in reproductive age women can reduce fertility compromise family formation. Ages 26-45 at least one year post diagnosis. Thematic analysis revealed that all women, including one who chose to be child- free, valued fertility and motherhood. They reported experiencing varied fertility related care, from support for fertility concerns. Women’s needs were heterogeneous, but all wanted

DH Lawrences Mountain Lion and Snake Essays

DH Lawrences Mountain Lion and Snake Essays DH Lawrences Mountain Lion and Snake Paper DH Lawrences Mountain Lion and Snake Paper Essay Topic: Literature DH Lawrence (1885-1930) is one of the outstanding British authors of the early 20th century. It was obvious from an early age that Lawrence was a gifted child. Raised in a working class environment, he was the son of a Nottinghamshire miner. His mother, however, was from a middle class background. Due to the social contrast their marriage was not successful and Lawrence would often have to witness his father coming home drunk and beating his mother. Despite his background, Lawrence received a first class education by earning scholarships through high school and university. He attended Nottingham University, qualified as a teacher in 1908 and worked at a school in Croydon until 1912. He rejected society and society rejected him and his somewhat radical views. In the same year he eloped with Freiedra Weekley, the German wife of a professor at Nottingham University College, to travel the world. During his extensive travels Lawrence was able to refine his views and develop a better understanding of the world around him. Many of his poems were autobiographical, much like the poem Mountain Lion. While staying in Mexico, in the Lobo Valley, he wrote Mountain Lion which was based on his experience with the native Mexicans. The poem starts with a vivid description of the situation and scenery. This is very characteristic of Lawrences poems. He produces powerful but brief verses which set the scene for the reader. He does this by using a selection of main points such as colours and distinctive features in the landscape. After the scene is set there is immediate drama with the sudden entrance of two men. Men! Two men! Men! The only animal in the world to fear! From the quote above one can see a powerful technique that is common to many of Lawrences poems. He uses repetition for effect in conjunction with very short staccato phrases. There is tension, a feeling of panic and an uncertainty of who the men are, as they seem of a dangerous nature. It is also in this quotation that Lawrence reveals one of his key beliefs; his fear of man, a source of fear for the whole of creation. The drama in the poem has begun but Lawrence has still not declared the subject. One is left wondering from whose point of view the poem is. Linked with the title there is the distinct possibility that it could be from the mountain lions point of view, which would also link with the fear of man. There is then a moment of hesitation, a sense of drama, tension and uncertainty. Short sentences are used again with repetition for impact, heightening the sense of drama. They hesitate. We hesitate. They have a gun. We have no gun. The fear towards man is reinforced by the fact that they have guns. The situation could be dangerous, but theres an uncertainty about what to do. The use of bold statements is used to make the reality of the situation more apparent. They are unarmed, unlike the people approaching. There is then a moment of confrontation as they all advance to meet. The tension appears to subside as the strangers approach. A vague description of the approaching party is given, creating the impression that they are strangers trespassing on the inwardness of the Lobo Valley. The only true information given is that they are Mexicans, adding to the whole foreign feeling. Descriptive words such as emerge are used to make their approach out of the dark signify a sense of evil and wrong. There is then repeated questioning of why they are there, what they are doing and what they have. These questions show an uncertainty and suspicious nature towards the Mexicans. Lawrence then proceeds to ask the Mexicans in Spanish what they are holding. By speaking in Spanish he emphasizes the strangeness of the whole affair the use of the foreign language shows differences. The Mexican is carrying a lion and upon telling this to Lawrence smiles, foolishly indicating guilt. They are embarrassed that they have been caught doing wrong. Lawrence smiles back. There is tension. Neither party is sure what to do. Lawrence then studies the Mexicans faces. He is quite gentle and dark-faced. Although being a killer, the Mexican is just like everyone else. Lawrence then studies the lion, once again using a brief but vivid account shown in the following quotation: It is a mountain lion, A long, long, slim cat, yellow like a lioness. Dead. There is a feeling of shock and surprise that it is a mountain lion. The length of the sentence describing the mountain lion adds to the affect of how long the lion is, using repetition on the word long. Emphasis is then put on the single word dead. There is a strong feeling of sorrow towards the mountain lion. A great wrong has been done, an immoral injustice towards the mountain lion. The Mexicans are still embarrassed and smiling foolishly. The mountain lion is described in depth, a thing of beauty. There is a sense of brilliance about the mountain lion even though it is dead. A selection of strong descriptive words depict the lions finest features such as bright, frost, fine-fashioned, brilliant, beautiful. Many of the words are repeated throughout the description to get the point across. Lawrence genuinely finds the lion beautiful. There is a mixture of fierceness and splendour. The Mexicans seem friendly but are truly destructive like the rest of the human race. It was a heartless killing for no reason. There is a great deal of thoughtfulness in what Lawrence writes, and a sense of sadness that he is also human and therefore destructive too. As the Mexicans leave, Lawrence continues into the gloom of the Lobo Valley. By using that one word there is a feeling that the landscape has been spoilt by the Mexicans. The damage has been done. Lawrence discovers her lair and there is a sense of emptiness. Something is missing the lion. Once again, using a vivid description, he describes the situation of the lair. By using a number of clean-cut words and phrases, Lawrence conveys a real feel of the place. The blood-orange, brilliant rocks. There is a sense of mourning as Lawrence thinks about the times when the lion would have been alive. The use of alliteration and a long sentence, once again linking to the lions length, adds to the effect. He describes the lion as if it was the king of its environment, something to be admired. The whole feel of emptiness increases as he says: Her bright striped frost-face will never look out any more, He feels that this has been a great loss to the world. It is a shock to him, like a dream. He is sorry that the lion is gone, and that she will never be able to look out over the valley again. He regrets that he is the one looking out. He uses vivid description once again to describe the mountains, conveying a strong sense of foreign place and emptiness. The landscape may look perfect, but it is deprived of the lion. He uses all these descriptions to reveal what a true loss the lion is, and how the landscape will never be the same again. He looks across to the opposite steep and studies the scene, comparing it to a Christmas toy, a feeling of it being unspoilt on the other side. The death of the lion will make no difference to the rest of the world, life will go on as before. He believes that this was a needless death and a heartless killing. He conveys how needless the death was by saying And I think in this empty world there was room for me and a mountain lion. With a spur of the moment reaction he makes a bold statement, which many people find shocking and heartless on his part: And I think in the world beyond, how easily we might spare a million or two humans And never miss them. He does not truly mean this, he is merely trying to get his point across by putting the incident into perspective. One finds it shocking to hear him compare the death of a mountain lion to two million people, but proportionately the mountain lion is a much bigger loss. The last sentence is a final thought, which makes one realise the gap in the world from the death of a mountain lion. While on his travels, Lawrence also went to the island of Sicily where he wrote another similar themed poem Snake. This starts with drama as a snake drinks from Lawrences water-trough. The most apparent aspect of the first verse is the over-whelming heat for which Lawrence uses repetition to get the feeling across. This is emphasised by the fact that he is wearing pyjamas because of the heat. Although there is a snake at his drinking trough Lawrence does not appear to be too worried or shocked and studies the snake in awe. He appears to be in some sort of daze. One is given this impression because he does not appear to be shocked and the fact that it is so hot. As he walks down the steps he is able to capture the feel of the carob tree above him providing shade and a strange-scented smell. He does this by selecting a few key points about the tree. As he comes down the steps, he waits. There is emphasis on the word wait, using repetition. Lawrence is waiting for the snake to finish. He is acting towards the snake as if it were human, waiting his turn, which is the courteous thing to do. The snake then reaches down from the wall. Its movement is described as somewhat leisurely. The snake is an elegant creature in looks and in movement. And trailed his yellow-brown slackness soft-bellied down The overall impression of the snake is very relaxed and leisurely and is not the intimidating impression of snakes that we often associate with them. A similar technique is used in Snake as in Mountain Lion, that is the use of long sentences to reflect the length of the animal. The snake takes its time with all its actions as it is lazy like Lawrence on such a hot day. Softly drank through his straight gums, into his slack long body This reinforces the original impression of the snake. This is a characteristic common to both poems, repeating the same movements and view to reinforce them, ensuring that the reader sees it as Lawrence does. Then referring to the snake as someone, Lawrence is almost imagining the snake as human. He considers himself to be the second comer, waiting. The snake is aware of Lawrences presence but is not afraid. Instead, the snake gives Lawrence a vague acknowledgment by lifting its head and flickering its tongue in his general direction. Lawrence is not scared of the snake and compares it to that of drinking cattle. The snake is described in such a way that it appears to be one with the earth. Sicily is known for its volcano, Mount Etna, and the snake has many comparisons to it. The movement of the snake is slow and lazy, similar to that of flowing lava. The snake is described as earth-golden from the burning bowels of the earth. The sense of place is constantly reinforced by the need for water and the tremendous heat. It is then that Lawrence hears the voice of his education. There is a contrast between his attitude towards the snake and the voice of his education. His education is deceitful and self-righteous and pushes him on to kill the snake. All people would have the same approach towards snakes and Lawrence is not afraid to admit his true feelings. And voices in me said, If you were a man You would take a stick and break him now, and finish him off. Certain things are expected of him. He is confused over whether he should do the manly thing. It is now that his true feelings come out about the snake. But must I confess how I liked him, He likes the snake and feels as if it is a guest at his water-trough. He feels honoured that the snake would choose his water-trough. Once again the voice of his education steps in and he questio ns his feelings and motives. He is in awe of the snake but he wonders if this is merely because he is scared or humiliated that he feels so honoured. There is repetition of the questions, constantly asking himself why. He wonders whether he can trust the voices or not. Then he admits that he is truly afraid, and emphasises this by repeating it. He has a greater feeling of honour though that out-weighs the fear. He is honoured that a dignified creature has come out of its secretive home to drink from his trough. Lawrence examines the snake further using vivid description. The snake has a slow dignified movement as it lifts it head from the trough. It has drunk enough. It is an impressive creature with majestic qualities. Lawrence uses similes to make the true nature of the snake apparent. And looked around like a god. There is more concentration on the heat then there is the beauty of the snake. Lawrences statements seem somewhat over the top, and it makes one wonder whether this is due to the dream-like effect caused by the over-whelming heat or possibly due to the mystic hypnotic powers of the snake itself. This is the turning point of the poem. The snake retreats in its dignified manner, leisurely leaving the trough. Repetition is used throughout to emphasise the key words. The spell is broken and Lawrence changes his attitude towards the snake. As it puts its head back into the hole in the earth, Lawrence is horrified to see it leaving. The hole is portrayed as being dreadful. This is because he does not think this is where the snake belongs. There is an element of disappointment, but his emotions build and it turns into a personal matter, as if the snake is doing it deliberately to annoy him. He is overwhelmed by the heat and the experience, so turns back to the voices of his education and acts on them. I looked round, I put down my pitcher, I picked up a clumsy log And threw it at the water-trough with a clatter. He is unsure what to do, and wants to stop the snake, so acts on impulse and picks up the nearest thing to him. The log is described as clumsy to reflect the moment. The snake is now regarded as an enemy in the heat of the moment. As soon as the log has left his hands he regrets it. The snake convulsed back into its hole and lost the dignity that it had had before hand. The snakes poise has been spoilt. Staccato words and sentences are used to reflect the undignified action of the snake. Lawrence is then bewildered at what he has done and is in shock once again. He cannot believe how mean he has been. Referring to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner he compares the retreat of the snake to the albatross. He despises the forces that made him do it. He almost killed the snake for no reason and is left with his guilt. He thinks of the snake as a king who has been exiled to the underworld. He missed his opportunity with one of the lords. He wishes he could remove his extreme guilt from such a petty act. He realises how small-minded he has been. Both poems use very similar poetic techniques to convey Lawrences feelings. They also include similar themes kings of the animal world. It is clear that he feels that humans are inferior to such animals and regrets being part of such a destructive race. There is a strong sense of place in both poems, achieved by selective descriptive words that provide a vivid description. Repetition is used throughout both poems to emphasise the important words, as is alliteration. The poems both start with a dramatic incident, which is then followed later on in the poem by a change of direction. It is clear that there are many faults with human values and actions from the poems. The key difference between the poems is that Mountain Lion is about Lawrence mourning the death and loss of a magnificent creature, delving into the reality of what the world is like with the lion missing. Snake, on the other hand, is all about the guilt that Lawrence has to face, even though no animals died. Both show the same fault with our destructive human nature. Both poems are concerned with Lawrences experience of and reactions to specific animals in specific situations, utilising poetic techniques to convey to the reader his morals and feelings. When considering which poem is more effective, Mountain Lion has a much more hard-hitting story-line than Snake. There is dramatic emphasis on the death of the mountain lion to underline how precious it is, particularly when Lawrence compares its life to that of two million humans. It highlights Lawrences strong convictions and high regard for animal welfare and shows that he was ahead of his time in such thinking. Snake, on the other hand, is less compelling. It deals more with the guilt experienced after committing a petty act of cruelty, which in comparison is of far less significance. It is also difficult to determine the truth of what he says because the reader is constantly aware of the possible effects of the overwhelming heat, which may be inducing a dream-like state of mind. Mountain Lion also uses the poetic techniques discussed earlier more effectively. There is more opportunity to place emphasis because the situation is more dramatic. It also gives a more detailed description of the setting compared with Snake which relies on the reader to use his imagination in a more generally described hot climate. Thus, Mountain Lion is the more detailed and dramtatic of the two and has a more profound effect on the reader.