Characteristics of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance essays

Characteristics of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance essays The Middle Ages covers roughly a thousand years, from approximately 400 to 1500 and the term generally refers to the changes that the European society experienced during these years. Many agree that there was not just one medieval civilization, but many. These civilizations are related to each other in some ways, but they also have their own distinct characteristics that set them apart from each other. Historians generally agree that the Renaissance lasted approximately two centuries, beginning with the mid-1300s and lasting until the1600s. Each era has defining characteristics that that can be recognized through literature. The Middle Ages represents a variety of literature. Literature about kings flourished at this time. During this time, the heroic idea included an aristocratic king. Literature of this time reflects an interesting aspect, which is that by dying gloriously, one might achieve immortality. (Abrams 3) Beowulf is one epic that has survived through the centuries. Another great epic that has survived is Alexander the Great. The literature of the Middle Ages touched practically every aspect of life and thought. The Middle Ages, Barzun asserts, was not one, but many ages. They are generally divided into two different periods of literary historythe Old English and the Middle English. It is this variety that proved to inspire the Renaissance. (Lucas 156) An interesting aspect of the Middle Ages is the focus on courtly love. Courtly love is a "state of being like no other- -out of bounds in relation to society and yet in many ways conventional" (Barzun 233). This type of writing is called courtly because it revolves The Middle Ages also contributed a great variety of poetry. Abrams suggests that Christian ideals influenced how things were recorded and this might also explain why some secular literature did not survive. Abrams refers to Beowulf as the ...

How The Nursery Rhyme Eins, Zwei, Polizei Can Help You Learn German

How The Nursery Rhyme Eins, Zwei, Polizei Can Help You Learn German Learning German can a lot of fun if you use a simple rhyme. While Eins, Zwei, Polizei is a nursery rhyme for children, people of any age can use it as a game to expand their German vocabulary. This short rhyme is a traditional childrens song that can be sung or chanted to a beat. It includes very basic German words, teaches you how to count to ten or fifteen (or higher, if you like), and each phrase ends with a different word.   There are many versions of this popular and simple song and two of those are included below. However, dont stop with those. As you will see, you can make up your own verses and use this as a game to practice whatever vocabulary words you are learning at the moment. Eins, zwei, Polizei (One, Two, Police) This is the most traditional version of the popular German childrens song and  nursery rhyme. It is very easy to memorize and will help you remember numbers one through ten along with a few basic words. Both children and adults will find it to be a fun way to finish off your night with a little German practice.   This version of Eins, zwei, Polzei has been recorded by at least two German groups: Mo-Do (1994) and S.W.A.T. (2004). While the lyrics for the song by both groups are appropriate for children, the rest of the albums may not be. Parents should review the translations for themselves before playing the other songs for kids. Melodie: Mo-DoText: Traditional   Deutsch English Translation Eins, zwei, Polizeidrei, vier, Offizierfnf, sechs, alte Hexsieben, acht, gute Nacht!neun, zehn, auf Wiedersehen! One, two, policethree, four, officerfive, six, old witchseven, eight, good night!nine, ten, good-bye! Alt. verse:neun, zehn, schlafen gehn. Alt. verse:nine, ten, off to bed. Eins, zwei, Papagei (One, Two, Parrot) Another variation that follows the same tune and rhythm, Eins, zwei, Papagei demonstrates how you can change the last word of each line to fit the German words and phrases you are learning at the moment. As you can see, it doesnt have to make sense, either. In fact, the less sense it makes, the funnier it is. Deutsch English Translation Eins, zwei, Papageidrei, vier, Grenadierfnf, sechs, alte Hexsieben, acht, Kaffee gemachtneun, zehn, weiter gehnelf, zwlf, junge Wlfdreizehn, vierzehn, Haselnussfnfzehn, sechzehn, du bist duss. One, two, Parrotthree, four, Grenadier*five, six, old witchseven, eight, made coffeenine, ten, go furthereleven, twelve, young wolfthirteen, fourteen, Hazelnutfifteen, sixteen, youre dumb. * A  Grenadier  is similar to a private or infantryman in the military. It is understandable if you do not want to teach your children this last version (or at least the last line), which includes the words du bist duss because it translates to youre dumb. Its not very nice and many parents choose to avoid such words, particularly in nursery rhymes with younger children. Instead of avoiding this otherwise fun rhyme, consider replacing the last part of that line with one of these more positive phrases: Youre great - du bist tollYoure funny - du bist lustigYoure pretty - du bist hà ¼bschYoure handsome - du bist attraktivYoure smart - du bist shlauYoure special - du bist etwas  Besonderes How Eins, zwei... Can Expand Your Vocabulary Hopefully, these two examples of the rhyme will inspire you to use it throughout your studies of German. Repetition and rhythm are two useful techniques that will help you remember basic words and this is one of the easiest songs to do that with. Make a game out of this song, either on your own, with your study partner, or with your children. It is a fun and interactive way to learn. Alternate saying each line between two or more people.Complete each phrase with a new (and random) word from your most recent vocabulary list. It can be anything from food and plants to people and objects, whatever you think of. See if the other players know what that word means in English.Practice two- or three-word phrases on the last line.Count as high as you can and keep finishing off each line with a new word. See who can count the highest in German or who can say more  new words than everyone else.Try to create a theme throughout the song. Maybe your family is learning the German words for various fruits (Frà ¼chte). One line might finish with apple (Apfel), the next might end with pineapple (Ananas), then you might say strawberry (Erdbeere), and so on. This is one rhyme that has endless possibilities and it can really help you  learn the German language. Its hours (or minutes) of fun and can be played anywhere.

Health Problems among Teens and Young Adults Assignment

Health Problems among Teens and Young Adults - Assignment Example Consequently, family support is very vital as it allows the concerned persons to make appropriate decisions. Teenagers and young adults are strongly accustomed to social associations with their peers. In case their peers cannot make healthy decisions or indulge in activities that are against the law like drug abuse, they will also tend to develop risk-taking behaviors. Specific attention is directed to the wellbeing of teenagers brought up in single-parent families. It has been discovered that such children do not fare well compared to those coming from families with both parents (Amato &Fowler, 2002). Researches have always indicated that such teenagers and young adults tend to experience health or academic problems. These might change their mindset and make them think of unhealthy decisions like taking alcohol or drugs to reduce the levels of stress. Teenagers and young adults form and join groups for different reasons. For instance, some may decide to join the groups because they want to have a sense of family. They develop feelings that they are not receiving sufficient consideration at home. Moreover, children raised by single mothers might also search for a father figure from the groups (Sanchez-Jankowski, 2003). Negative behavior increases when the teens try to copy their peers in the group. For instance, when most of the members in the group are smokers, one would also be tempted to smoke in order to act in a similar manner. With time, this leads to addiction. Teenagers tend to get involved in gang violence, drug trade, drug abuse, and other unlawful activities due to the social and economic status of the marginal population in United States (Vigil, 2003). This becomes dangerous to the health. For instance, drug abuse or smoking always comes with serious health problems. Such teenagers will not afford and access quality health care. Other issues affecting minority groups that

History of Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

History of Immigration - Essay Example Obadina ( 2003 ) argues that â€Å" the total human loss to Africa over the four centuries of the transatlantic slave trade range from 30 million to 200 million†. When human trading was exported to America, the geographical and socioeconomic factor was fit to slavery. For one, during the beginning of the American colonial times, the colonies were small and in need of a higher population. To attract people in helping populate North American colonies, farmers would pay Europeans in need of work to come to America in exchange of labor service. People from Europe were looking towards in achieving the â€Å"American Dream† when they landed in America. At that time, there were many poor European immigrants who crossed the Atlantic just to risk a new life in America. Consequently, these workers were provided a home to live in and meals to eat. It was at first a mutual relationship as both gained something they needed. Labor terms lasted for years; usually between four to seven years. This was a common agreement that was not viewed as feudal at all. As for children, they would work for about nine years. Indentured servants, as they are called, came from Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, and other European countries. Some indentured servants were never bound by contract. Children were fooled into becoming servants by candy offerings. Some were drunks who were captured and taken to the ships to be sold off. Indentured servants were held tightly together within the ship without being allowed a breath of fresh air until they arrive to their destination in â€Å"the new world.†This was graphically portrayed by the award-winning movie â€Å"Amistad†. It is not uncommon for workers to be beaten or raped and many have committed suicide. Exported African slaves who were being shipped and sold to the colonies went under the same harsh conditions as the indentured servants. The only difference is indentured servants were put on contracts while the African slaves are

The Role of Humor in Kurt Vonneguts Cats Cradle :: Cats Cradle Essays

The Role of Humor in Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle "I've narrowed comedy down to two words: clown and farts. Because first it makes you laugh, and then it makes you think." Dave Attell's joke comes remarkably close to describing exactly what it is that Kurt Vonnegut is able to do with his writing. First, he makes his readers laugh, and then he forces them to think. By employing such humorous devices as irony and satire, Vonnegut is able to bring humor to a less-than-humorous subject. Cat's Cradle is Vonnegut's novel about the day the world ended. Why, then, is it so full of jokes? By making it so, Vonnegut makes it easier for himself to get his point across. Rather than making the book a crusade against science or religion, he instead creates a light-hearted look at people themselves. By seeing the characters in the book and laughing at them, he is forcing us also to laugh at ourselves. By openly criticizing one religion or another, Vonnegut feared he would have alienated a potential audience or created some discomfort. Rather than offend anyone, then - or perhaps rather to offend everyone equally - he instead created Bokononism, using aspects of all religions, and exaggerating them to the point of absurdity. Though we may laugh at the Bokononists, at the same time we realize that there are certain truths in the creed. In this manner, Vonnegut gets his audience to think about themselves and the follies of their own religions. Another important part of the book is the constant "tirade" against science. Jonah's writing makes it evident that he finds all scientists to be cruel, cold, and unfeeling. At the same time, Vonnegut paints the scientists in a humorous light by employing such techniques as Dr. Breed's scolding of Miss Faust, in which he proudly proclaims how long it's been since a fatal accident. The Role of Humor in Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle :: Cat's Cradle Essays The Role of Humor in Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle "I've narrowed comedy down to two words: clown and farts. Because first it makes you laugh, and then it makes you think." Dave Attell's joke comes remarkably close to describing exactly what it is that Kurt Vonnegut is able to do with his writing. First, he makes his readers laugh, and then he forces them to think. By employing such humorous devices as irony and satire, Vonnegut is able to bring humor to a less-than-humorous subject. Cat's Cradle is Vonnegut's novel about the day the world ended. Why, then, is it so full of jokes? By making it so, Vonnegut makes it easier for himself to get his point across. Rather than making the book a crusade against science or religion, he instead creates a light-hearted look at people themselves. By seeing the characters in the book and laughing at them, he is forcing us also to laugh at ourselves. By openly criticizing one religion or another, Vonnegut feared he would have alienated a potential audience or created some discomfort. Rather than offend anyone, then - or perhaps rather to offend everyone equally - he instead created Bokononism, using aspects of all religions, and exaggerating them to the point of absurdity. Though we may laugh at the Bokononists, at the same time we realize that there are certain truths in the creed. In this manner, Vonnegut gets his audience to think about themselves and the follies of their own religions. Another important part of the book is the constant "tirade" against science. Jonah's writing makes it evident that he finds all scientists to be cruel, cold, and unfeeling. At the same time, Vonnegut paints the scientists in a humorous light by employing such techniques as Dr. Breed's scolding of Miss Faust, in which he proudly proclaims how long it's been since a fatal accident.

Feminism in Poetry Essay

All women have a place. That is barefoot, pregnant, and chained to the stove. Ideas like this are what started the feminist movement. Women desired to be judged by their worth as a person rather than their physical appearance or biological factors. Women sought out social, economic, and political equality. Many women wanted to do their part to support the cause. Some of the most notable influences of the feminist movement were poets such as Sylvia Plath, Lucille Clifton and Anne Sexton. Through their poems, the truth was exposed. This encouraged women everywhere to demand justice and equality. Although there are many feminist themes poets can write about, Sylvia Plath writes of male domination. In her poetry, all men appear to be the opposing force that keeps women from living a happy life. For example, in her poem â€Å"Daddy†, Plath exploits her father as being a fascist Nazi. Much like the Nazi, a fascist is known for being controlling with the power to oppress societies. Plath felt like a â€Å"Jew† amongst her Nazi father (40). However, towards the end of the poem, the representation of Plath’s father and husband (or all men) go from Nazis to â€Å"Vampires† (72). It is clear that in this change of metaphor that Plath went from living the terrors of a male dominant society to living with the undead terrors of her memories. In the same way, Plath’s poem â€Å"Lady Lazarus† conveys the message of male dominance. For example, the speaker states that â€Å"I am your opus, I am your valuable† it seems the woman in the poem feels as if she is a possession to men. However, in the final stanza she informs â€Å"Herr God, Herr Lucifer† to â€Å"beware† because â€Å"Out of the ash I will rise and I eat men like air† (79-84). The woman rises from the ashes like a phoenix, stronger and with a new sense of empowerment. It is as if men mean nothing and hold no more significance in her life. Plath uses these powerful poems to make a clear position in the feminist movement against the social inequalities that women faced in their everyday lives. Next, the feminist movement was partially about being proud of being a woman. Lucille Clifton, a strong, blunt woman presents such feminist themes. Clifton asserts her feminist ideas in the form of a woman’s body. In her poem â€Å"Homage to My Hips†, a person’s first impression might be of a woman proud of her full figure. However, â€Å"hips† in this poem are a symbol of the strength and life that women possess. Therefore, when she says â€Å"hips†, she is speaking for all the women. For instance, Clifton points out that: â€Å"These hips are big hips; they need space to move around in. They don’t fit into petty places. These are free hips. † (1-6). Undoubtedly, Clifton believes that women should have the same opportunities as men. If they are limited by their actions, there is no room for them to thrive. In the same way, Clifton illustrates her feminist views through the woman’s body in her poem â€Å"Wishes for Sons†. The poem directed toward men, talks specifically about the biological factors of a woman. Clifton wishes men to experience menstruation, the cramps, hot flashes, and the blood clots. Clifton wishes â€Å"them one week early and wearing a white skirt† (5-6). Indeed, she wants men to experience the embarrassments and fears a woman faces. Equally important, she wishes for men to experience the arrogance of gynecologists, â€Å"not unlike themselves† (18). Truly, Clifton’s brusqueness brings a sense of truth. In this poem, Clifton asks the age old question, why are males considered the stronger ones? Women are strong and can endure great pain that a man would collapse under. Lucille Clifton is one of the most powerful feminist poets, because she is direct and not afraid to speak her mind. Through her poetry, she empowers women to stand up and be strong. Finally, Anne Sexton is known more for her confessional poetry. However, her support of the feminist movement is evident throughout her poems. In her poem â€Å"Little Girl, My String Bean, My Lovely Woman†, Sexton praises and gives her advice to her daughter. Before the feminist movement, having a daughter was not celebrated. This poem is evidence that Sexton stepped out of the social norm and took one step closer to liberation of all women. Sexton writes of â€Å"†¦old wives speaking of womanhood. I remember that I heard nothing myself. I was alone. I waited like a target. † (35-38) Again, this is referring to how no one ever talked about the challenges of womanhood. By making aware of these challenges, Sexton stood alone and took the criticisms of society. Furthermore, Sexton tells her daughter that her â€Å"bones are lovely† (52). Like many girls that are coming of age, they view themselves through the eyes of society or men. Sexton wanted to tell her â€Å"before they enter† (50). In the final stanza, Sexton tells her daughter that if she is â€Å"sure of yourself† she â€Å"will strike fire, that new thing† (95-98). To summarize, if her daughter stays true to herself as a woman, she will succeed in her new life. Because Sexton ties her intimate life in with her poetry, it makes the message of feminism even more meaningful. In conclusion, there are the many sides to feminism. Plath exposed a more daring approach. She wrote of the role of women in a male dominated society and the constant struggle of woman versus man. On the other hand, Clifton has a more passive but straightforward approach. She spoke of matters that women then were too embarrassed to speak of. This is why she might have felt she had to be the voice for all women. Her bold poetry made her one of the most popular poets of the feminist movement. Lastly, because she was a confessional poet, Sexton’s intertwined her feminist views with her personal life. This method made her feminist message more meaningful and passionate. Many women, along with these popular poets set out to change the course of history. They strived for equality and fought hard to obtain it. It would be in vain if women today did not take advantage of the rights that they struggled to achieve.

William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet - 1016 Words

Romeo and Juliet has been named one of the most famous romantic tragedies in literature. People around the world crave to have a love as intense like the one Romeo and Juliet had, but they never take into consideration that they literally died because of their â€Å"love†. They also forget the small detail that they were children at the time their love tragically ended their lives. Romeo and Juliet are what some might consider the perfect star crossed lovers, which causes many to forget about the other characters that are important to the play. Mercutio is an imperative and essential character for the play, his death singlehandedly was the driving force of action that set everything in motion. It’s safe to say that his death was the turning†¦show more content†¦One of the most pivotal deaths of the whole play was the death of Romeo’s dear friend Mercutio. One can only describe Mercutio as the friend everyone has had in their life at one point or another. He is loyal to a fault, even though he might be anticlimactic in some instances. At the beginning of the play Mercutio is there when Romeo is distraught over his love for Rosaline. He might not say the appropriate words Romeo might seek, but he does provide him with point of views that he might not get anywhere else. While Romeo seeks advice where they talk to him about everlasting and pure love, Mercutio believes that love is only shown through sex. For him sex is love and vice versa. The importance of Mercutio in the play is indisputable. He is the one who convinces Romeo to attend the ball in the first place. He knows that by attending the ball, Romeo will have the opportunity to see her dream girl Rosaline. What they didn’t expect was that by attending the ball, Romeo was going to meet his one and true love Juliet. That is an essential scene that sets things in motion. Once they meet, their devastating love commences. It’s a whirlwind of all consuming love that dr ives them to do things that they don’t even think through. Another instance where Mercutio’s character is essential is when he dies. This scene is where things turn to the worse and actually turns the play into a tragedy. Mercutio’s death, in all honesty, is what causes the ripple effect