“300” Compare/Contrast Essay Essay

In this essay, I am going to compare and contrast three significant events in the film of 300. First, I will discuss the events leading up to the historical battle at Thermopylae. Then, I will compare the movie version battles at Thermopylae with historical accounts. Finally, I will contrast events after Thermopylae between the movie and actual history. As I recall, when I saw the movie several months ago (it’s not available for reviewing again from Blockbuster until July 31, 2007), the most significant event before the great battle was the visit of the Persian diplomats to King Leonidas offering him and his family great wealth and position with no one getting killed in a needless war, if he would only submit to Xerxes as ruler of a new Persian-Grecian Empire. When Leonidas and his outspoken wife asked them about the preservation of the Greek way of life, that is, freedom and democracy, the offer quickly turned into a threat, the threat of total destruction for Greek culture and a life of slavery for any Greek survivors. When the diplomats scolded the wife of Leonidas for interrupting their â€Å"man-to-man† talk with her criticisms, Leonidas became so furious that these strangers came into a king’s home, insulted his queen, that he threw them down to their death in a large, very, very deep well. There is no historical account that this is the way it really happened. But I think is was probably a good guess by Hollywood how negotiations may have gone except for the killings. I believe that was Hollywood overkill. It is historical fact that the Spartan woman was the most highly respected, independent woman in all the Greek city-states, but diplomats do not usually get murdered over verbal disagreements. After all, they only carry the message. They do not make policy. If these messengers don’t come back alive, they won’t be sent. They were a very important means of communication between armies in those days. In most cases, just the presence of the Persian million-man army scared the invaded city or country into surrendering or face certain defeat from so many soldiers. The basic movie is about two opposing armies, the Persians against the Greeks (led by 300 Spartans), meeting at the pass at Thermopylae to determine whether Greece would survive as the only democracy on earth or be conquered by the great Persian Empire expanding into Europe. On the Persian side,  their army had hundreds of thousands of soldiers ready to fight. On the Greek side, they only had approximately 1500 to defend the pass but, only when Leonidas knew for sure that he would be surrounded and that defeat was likely, he sent them all back to safety except for himself and 300 of his best Spartan warriors to defend the pass and slow down the Persian invasion while other Greek armies were being organized. I believe that this movie is quite accurate according to the historical events that took place during the time of 480 B.C. However, I think some events in the movie are not accurate such as all of those mystical-looking creatures that supposedly existed back then and used in tim es of war. This was bordering more on fantasy to make the movie more appealing to a younger audience instead of just those who follow history. The part of the movie which I think is accurate is Sparta’s army being very strong and disciplined. The Spartans had a good strong leader in Leonidas, constant combat training since they were children, and had superior weapons that were a part of them. The Persians, on the other hand, had many soldiers but there weapons and lack of armor were lighter because of the long distances the Persians had to travel to get to Greece. The movie showed the Spartans to have superior weaponry such as longer spears to resist charges, shorter swords for quick strokes during close-in combat to cut through Persian wicker-type shields, larger metal shields to deflect sword and arrow attacks. This is very accurate, historically. The movie also showed the Spartans to be very muscular and in top physical shape. Again, this is true because the Spartan child (if he was not abandoned in the hillside for being physically defective at birth) would be taken from his home at the age of seven to lead a very hard, military lifestyle until he was tweny-one years old, at which time he would go into the army as a fully trained soldier ready to do battle for the glory of Sparta. I think the movie was pretty much basically over after the battle of Thermopylae was done but, historically, this battle, even though it was a loss, was only the beginning of the Greek victory over Persia. Once word got back to other Greek city-states, it so inspired them to unite as one Greek nation to defend their freedom and culture as the Spartans had defended it, to the death. The Athenian navy finished off the Persian navy at the   of Salamis and destroyed the only way the Persians could have supplied their army if Persia was to hold conquered territory. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_the_movie300 The movie, by Warner Bros.

Case Study Abnormal Psychology Essay

Abnormal behavior relates to the influence of psychological factors, biological factors as well as the social factors referring to inadequate relationships. In the face of diverse definition, abnormal behavior refers to the deviating from norm, which norm is the typical behavior or characteristic of the population. As such, Jim behavior is abnormal because it violates moral and conventional mores of the society (Violates societal standards), as such causing social discomfort to others. For instance, Jim fails to recognize the social cues in conversation thereby annoying other interlocutors. Jim is this case is behaving in a manner counterproductive to his own well being by abstaining from marrying and social relationships, which is maladaptive (Psychology facts, 2007). Jim behavior is statistically abnormal because he is notably poles apart from the society norm, his behavior has low score in the society distributed acceptable qualities DSM-IV refers to the â€Å"Diagnostic and statistical Manual of mental disorders. It defines mental disorder as a clinical considerable psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in individuals and link with the current distress like painful symptom or disability, such as impairment of substantial sphere of functioning or with a significant risk of enhanced of possibility of suffering loss of liberty, death, pain, and disability. The syndrome is not a merely a culturally and expectable sanctioned rejoinder to a specific event. It needs to be presently presuming a manifestation of biological, behavioral, or psychological dysfunction within an individual. Nevertheless, there is no adequate definition on the precise boundaries for the notion of mental disorder (French, 2004). The definition encompasses the concept of the maladptiveness because the mental suffering of the individuals embrace maladaptive behavior by withdrawing from the family and friends interactions as well as well as eating that results in death as outlined in the DSM-IV mental disorder definition. Another abnormal element captured in the definition is suffering, by mental disorders individuals are at risk of suffering loss of liberty, and pain clearly borrows from the elements of abnormal behavior. According to the DSM-IV definition and description of the mental disorder, Jim is suffering from the mental disorder, within the category of â€Å"Axis II, which is personality and mental retardation. † This DSM-IV axis describes the enduring problems that unnoticed in the axis I disorders. The personality disorders occasion’s significant troubles in the way individual relates to world encompassing â€Å"historic personality disorder and anti-social personality disorder. † (Salters-Pedneault, 2008). In particular, DSM-IV defines personality disorder as the long-term prototype of behavior and inner experience with the following criteria: deviates from the individual’s cultural expectations (abnormal behavior), in this case Jim misses the requisite social cues in conversation. He leads a solitary life at age of the 48-year when he supposed to have family within the cultural mores. Additionally, Jim shuns requisite interpersonal relationships a fact, which run counter to the cultural expectations on human beings as social beings. Further, DSM insist that the personality disorder has to be inflexible and pervasive that on aspects of individual life and is not modifiable according to the situation. In addition, this disorder has its genesis in adolescence or early maturity and steady over time. The case study clearly indicates that Jim has maintained the behavior for like 15 years, and presence of his parents and brothers do not make him change his behavior gives weight to the criteria of the personality disorder as outlined in the DSM-IV manual compilation. The DSM-IV contains an axis system, which each of the axis represent a different category of the mental illness or a manner in which a particular mental illness may influence (Purse, 2009). In exemplar, key mental illness like, bipolar disorder ranks within Axis 1. The episode of the Jim portrayed in the case falls in the dimension of Axis II. The present edition of DSM-IV published in 1994, offers virtually 400 disorders (Crowe, 2000). The advantage of this is that it enhances diagnostic impartiality by adding decision trees demarcating significant characteristics of disorders, which makes clinicians by collections of questions concerning the presence or the absence of the symptoms. The present DSM-IV manual comprises of extensive anthology of information organized into portions for easier reference (Purse, 2009). The first section encompasses instructions on the way to use the tools contained in the DSM-IV, while following section contains comprehensive classification systems catalog of the official codes for each single diagnosis. The fourth section comprises of the manual detailing the diagnostic criteria accompanied by a description for each disorder. Despite the advantages highlighted above, there are some disadvantages in the manual compilation. First, the DSM-IV compilation lacks the exactitude in diagnostic criterion to evidently, differentiate one diagnosis from the other as well as the distinguishing mental disorder, from the situation, such as mental distress. DSM is not visibly clear on how experiences and behaviors cited within the diagnostic criterion justifiably can consider as substantiation of mental disorder as distinctive from rejoinders to life events (Crowe, 2000).

An overview of the conflict resolution theory Essay

Conflict Resolution Theory In conflict resolution, preconceived notions, also called the natural cognitive sorting processes, are the stimuli that unwittingly foment war. By taking a look at individual and intergroup relations, one can better grasp conflict resolution as a way of mediation which may lessen the probabilities of the outbreak of political violence. This essay takes a close examination of the effect of individual-level models of change to inspire change at the social level. The scaling up the process from individual treatment to social has its strengths and weakness. Controlled communication, sensitivity training, Freud’s hydraulic model, complex mirroring and conscious raising psychotherapy are experimented means in conflict resolution to dissolve conflict at both individual and general levels. The natural cognitive sorting mechanism of dividing people into ‘us’ and ‘them’ engenders prejudice and in the long run, political violence. This perspective is typical to The Self and The Other concept in which people and groups are constructed to exclude the other or any entity that is perceived as foreign and to include the self or other entities affiliated to the self. â€Å"Protracted social conflicts typically involve an enduring set of antagonistic perceptions and interactions between communal groups†¦negative attributions of motivations and reciprocal negative images perpetuate the antagonisms and solidify the conflict† (Fisher 1997). This concept breeds the antagonization of groups which turns one group against the other, deepening rifts and sharpening rivalry. Since this type of social cognitive process emphasizes differences between ‘us’ and ‘them,’ an elitism can arise which advantages one group over the othe r and fosters an unhealthy intergroup competition and mutual exclusion. With mutual degradation and demonized motives, each group continues to not only drift apart but rub against each other in a frictional relationship to produce an aggression fire. At the national level, us and them dichotomy leads to jingoism which is a chauvinistic form of nationalism. This ideology promotes the suppression of one and the superiority of a people. Fanatical patriotism and the prejudiced belief propose that another party must suffer in the power imbalance. (Paris 2004) agrees that â€Å"exclusionary forms of nationalism also make enemies of excluded groups.† In other words, one nation categorizes, segregates and disadvantages another. As a consequence, the excluded party harbors resentment toward the opposing group. Resentment begets tension-filled relations, which beget mistrust. The polarizing effect of the ‘us’ and ‘them’ construct leads inevitably to suspicion and in a competitive environment, to perceived inequalities. Inequalities result in the categorization of an oppressed and an oppressor, the victimized and the victimizer. At a particular point, one group arrives at a breaking point, demanding the redr ess of wrongs whether real or perceived and an equalizing of the playing field. (Fisher 1997) also recognizes that some â€Å"conflicts arise when identity groups perceive that they are oppressed and victimized through a denial of recognition, security, equity and political participation.† Imbalances of power stimulate one group to react or even retaliate – hence hostilities erupt. It was a wave of nationalism which provokes WWII in which the Aryan Germans attempt to purge Germany of ‘unwanted elements’ for the sake of the country. Similarly, in the case of Rwanda and other countries, ethnic cleansing or genocide take place because of inequality and a false sense of nationalism. Sorting out the Natural Cognitive Processes To arrive at conflict resolution, one must broach the theme of altering intergroup perceptions. This method is an individual-to-social strategy in which with a third party intervention, both groups can mutually exchange opinions and feelings. John Burton pioneers and implements a â€Å"casework approach,† a term used in social work to explain the methods implemented to solve an in individual or group problem. Controlled communication signifies a way to forge effective communication habits. Burton asserts that the source of conflict is miscommunication and the source of miscommunication is distorted worldviews or perceptions of the other. In practicing controlled communication, groups can share their prejudices and biases in a setting that diffuses anger and sets a more amicable tone for talks would help improve relations. Also, Leonard Doob advocates sensitivity training which progresses the transition from individual-level change to collective change. He puts forward that a s mall representative group ventilates their perceptions, opinions, and concerns to create awareness and better grasping of group processes. The sensitivity training workshop is similar to a psychological therapy conducted by a third party. Ideas and feelings are shared to increase interpersonal effectiveness. (Toft 2010) declares that giving voice to former combatants is a mechanism in conflict resolution to craft negotiation settlements in which â€Å"renewed violence can be averted.† This rule follows the sensitivity training theory which enhances sympathy and increases chances at understanding and positive change. In Sigmund Freud’s group processes theory, he posits that the group’s way of thinking is spawned directly from the individual’s. In Freud’s hydraulic model, the principle is that just as it is dangerous to suppress feelings for fear of compounding them for a more violent eruption, so at the social level, it is risky to continually inhibit ill-feeling by conflict resolution (Strachey 1966); instead, venting would help diffuse tensions and instead of internalizing the resentment, the person finds relief in expression. In his work â€Å"Give War a Chance† (Luttwak 1999) examines the effect of peacekeeping which only temporarily resolves the issue by satisfying parties. However, he advocates war as the means of reaching a more definitive and longer lasting conflict resolution. Complex Mirroring Complex mirroring within the group setting is a way in which the individual change scalps up to the group level change. In remedying traumatized individuals, the victims join themselves to a group and begin to mirror one another’s feelings and experiences. A critic notices that â€Å"by listening to one another’s individual presentation of personal experiences, participants gain a new perspective†¦by listening to the series of such descriptions, they gained the experience of universality† (Herman 1997). As a result, the individual-level change dynamic transmutes into the group-level change. As one witness the effect of trauma, the support group experiences secondary trauma as wounded members relate their experiences and seek emotional support. The incidence of secondary trauma gives rise to empowerment and awareness. Kathie Sarachild formulated the conscious-raising psychotherapy structures specifically for the individual but which could be used â€Å"to ef fect social rather than individual change† (Herman 1997). This method was implemented for rape-victims who were silenced by the violence and trauma inflicted by another. In the scope of social change, political violence is a grave injustice inflicted by one and visited upon the other. A remedial path is a sensitization rather than retaining the silence over the injury. As the public’s consciousness heightens, a cure has to be suggested and taken. The beneficial result is that â€Å"changes at the individual level were being linked with policy processes at the macro level† (Fisher 1997). Conflict Resolution Strengths and Weaknesses In conflict resolution, a strength of the individual to group model application is that groups comprise a conglomerate body in which individual mirroring gradually filters into the group’s ethics. The reasoning is that a group is comprised of individuals and since a group is made up of individuals, then a method aimed at effecting change in an individual can also be applied to the group. However, this method does not factor in the wide diversity of the individuals belonging to a group. One rigid rule utilized for one individual cannot work for a group because this view only facilitates the one-size-fits-all theory which is not socially viable.    References: Fisher, R.J. (1997). Interactive Conflict Resolution, Syracuse University Press, New York. Herman, J.L. (1997). Trauma and Recovery. Basic Books Publishers, New York. Anonymous. (1996). Human Rights in Peace Negotiations, Human Rights Quarterly,18(2), 249- 258. Luttwak, E. (1999).   Give War a Chance, Journal of Foreign Affairs, 78 (4), 36-44 . Accessed 14 December 2011. Strachey, J. (1966). The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, The Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis, Vol. 22, Toft, M.D. (2010). Ending Civil Wars: A Case for Rebel Victory, Journal of International Security, 34 (2), 7-36. Paris, R. (2004). At War’s End: Building Peace after Civil Conflict. Cambridge University Press.

Molecular basis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase II activity Coursework

Molecular basis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase II activity - Coursework Example The RdRP activity has also been implicated in the replication of the RNA Genomes of HDV virus and plant viriods. 3) What is meant by HDV? Why would investigators want to study HDV? In your answer, tell me about HDV and why investigators would want to study HDV. What is the ANTIGENOME? Why is it important in the experimental design? HDV is Hepatitis Delta Virus. The investigators have taken HDV for the study as RdRP activity of Pol II has been established to be involved in the replication of the viral genome. Antigenome is the complementary positive RNA which serves as the template for the synthesis of the negative strand of the virus. To understand the physiological significance of the RdRP activity, the terminal segment of the HDV antigenome, which directs RNA synthesis and is sensitive to the Pol II inhibitor alpha- amanitin, was studied. 4) What is meant by â€Å"FAM-labeled RNA products were separated by denaturing gel electrophoresis†? DO NOT give me cookbook recipes, i.e. do not provide a ‘step-by-step how to’ that could be used to perform an experiment. Describe the method in general terms. FAM is 6 carboxy- flourescein label. Nucleotides labeled with such flourophores, have shown improved sensitivity, versatility and normalization when separated by denaturing gel electrophoresis. After purification of the nucleotides the fluorescein tag was attached by incubation with the 5’ terminal of the nucleotides. 5) DATA INTERPRETATION: Evaluate Figure 1. Break the analysis down. Strive to understand what each lane of the gel represents. Make note of the controls as well. Your focus for your response is the part of the figure labeled b, c, and d. Use part a in assisting you. Summarize what each part (b, c, and d) of the figure suggests. The RNA synthesized by the RdRP activity of Pol II is fluorescent labeled and separated by gel electrophoresis and viewed. Lane 1 in the gel shows only the reactant RNA.

Disabled People and the Rights to Social Citizenship Essay

Disabled People and the Rights to Social Citizenship - Essay Example The British government has proffered different definitions of a citizen as components of the various solutions proposed in respect of the extant social, economic and political problems and these solutions have affected the rights of individuals (Young, 1985). The Conservative government under John Major introduced a Citizen's Charter in order to subject public services to market forces. Accordingly, citizens obtained the right to choose. This development in conjunction with privatization was considered to be the panacea for the ills of the inefficient public services. Citizenship can be perceived either by the individualist approach in which the nature of citizenship is determined by individual choice or the structuralist approach in which the determining factors are social and economic in nature. Further, "Choice based theories are exemplified in their purest form by economics. In this world, individuals seek to maximize their utility by obtaining the highest return at the minimum cost from any course of action which they undertake" (Pattie, Seyd and Whiteley, 2004, pp 138-139). Consequently, "Citizenship is a status bestowed on those who are full members of a community. [and who] are equal with respect to the rights and duties with which the status is endowed" (Marshall, 1950, p. 28). These rights are of three kinds civil, political or social. The Civil rights are, "liberty of the person, freedom of speech, thought and faith, the right to own property and to conclude valid contracts, and the right to justice" (Marshall, 1950, p. 10). Political rights comprise of "the right to participate in the exercise of political power" and social rights are "the whole range from the right to a modicum of economic welfare and security to the right to share to the full in the social heritage and to live the life of a civilized being according to the standards prevailing in the society" (Marshall, 1950, p. 11). The absence of the disabled person's perspective in discussions involving citizenship is ubiquitous (Meekosha and Dowse, 1997, pp. 49-72). To achieve equality, disabled citizens need to possess freewill and involvement. Societal impediments rather than the disabling impairment, play havoc with the disabled person's endeavour to be full and equal citizen. Hence, civil society has been defined as "an arena of uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes and values" (Centre for Civil Society, 2004). In order to provide disabled persons with equal access a modicum of restriction has to be enjoined on the freedom of the non-disabled people. The enactment of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) on the 8th of November 1995 was the culmination of a protracted battle to enforce the rights of the disabled. This enactment led to several measures being adopted in order to prevent discrimination against disabled people and to grant them additional rights Vis - a - Vis employment, purchase and lease of real estate and access to goods, facilities and services. The DDA has empowered

Materiality in Auditing(Discuss these abstracts in the context of Essay

Materiality in Auditing(Discuss these abstracts in the context of academic research and recent developments in audit regulation and practice) - Essay Example 1647). These definitions point to its relevance today especially in the recent drive for transparency, ethics and responsibility in the auditing process, which will be explored, among other things, in relation to materiality in auditing. Audit pertains to a review of financial data by an independent third-party auditor. The outcome of the process involves his or her financial statements, including his or her opinion regarding the legitimacy of the data reviewed. Materiality becomes relevant in auditing when risk emerges. This risk usually stems from errors or omissions in financial reporting. The impact is based on the degree by which it affects the decision making of those who use the information from the financial statements. For instance, a small error or omission in a periodic procedure could lead to a cumulative risk that could greatly influence the financial information since there is the possibility that it occurs on periodic basis. The importance of materiality can be demonstrated in the process by which it is conducted (see Fig. 1). Ideally, all audit procedures should undergo materiality considerations from the very first stage. According to Bragg (2011), as early as the identification of the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedure, materiality should already be determined. Specifically, it should be undertaken in: 1) the design of audit procedures for mechanisms to detect misstatements; the pursuit of the elimination of audit risk; and, the assessment of the risk of material misstatement as the basis for the audit procedures (Bragg, pp.25). These variables underscore how materiality forms part of the foundation of sound audit procedures, one that is capable of addressing errors and risks. The defined object of audit underscores this as auditors are expected â€Å"to carry out procedures designed to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence†¦ [in order]

Stop the Bullying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Stop the Bullying - Essay Example Although there is no universal definition of bullying it is widely thought to be a negative behavior which reflects aggressiveness through which the person intends to harm and hurt the victim. Farrington (1993), an English criminologist, defined bullying as: â€Å"Repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful person.† This, however, is the definition of when the bully is an individual although it is very often seen that bullying is also done in groups. Thus, for that purpose a more fitted and revised definition could be: Bullying is repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful or group of persons (Rigby, 2007, p. 15). The bully keeps on acting that way and the victim is helpless in that that he cannot defend himself from the bully (Olweus, 1999). Concisely, bullying can be referred to as the â€Å"systematic abuse of power†. And here power does not necessarily refer to physica l strength, but it could also be emotional or mental. For instance, a bully may have a more powerful personality, might be mentally tougher, have ambition and be insensitive. Bullying may happen in several contexts, such as childhood as well as adulthood. Nevertheless, bullying has been, and still is, most associated with schools. Bullying could be conducted by a group or by one person alone. Normally it is supposed that bullying occurs between students; however, it is possible for there to be a teacher-pupil and pupil-teacher bullying too. The general idea of bullying is also that it involves beating and physical violence – the larger and older child hurting the weaker one – but again, there also exists verbal bullying, wherein the bully teases and hurls verbal abuses at his victim; indirect bullying in which the bully socially manipulates the victim and uses him for attacks within the class; and relational bullying which refers to disrupting peace between peers and h arming their relationship. This could be done by talking bad about others, spreading rumors, and socially excluding people. A more recent form has been cyberbullying – bullying others over the internet (Smith, 2013). It is about time that bullying is addressed and reduced. It is an intolerable behavior due to the way the powerless victim is physically, verbally or psychologically oppressed by the bully and for no rhyme or reason. Bullying among adults is not tolerated – we also raise voice against domestic abuse between a husband and his wife, and between the parents and their children. However, school bullying has not been addressed to the same extent (Rigby, 2007). How children become bullies â€Å"When you really take a close look at bullying, it's happening with kids who feel the need to be aggressive after being treated in an aggressive manner themselves†¦ They're the kids who may be suffering from abuse or from just not having their needs met at school or a t home† - Paul Quinlan (Hopson, 2002). According to Quinlan 2-16% of the below-18 age group bullies each other. Here a very important factor to probe into is how a child becomes a bully. That is the root cause of the problem and therefore it needs to be understood in order to solve the issue. More often than not, children dealing with difficult situations at home end up bullying others to regain the lost self-esteem and feel important and worthy. Such situations could be fights between their parents, financial problems, a drunkard parent who abuses them, and so on. Many times the bully

Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary - Assignment Example It had also adopted ‘active industrial policies’ that lured foreign investment in exchange of knowledge transfer. Another important element of its success has been its proximity to Hong Kong where inflow of capital and know how was easy. By focusing on backward areas that were near Hong Kong, it introduced reallocation of labor from agriculture to other activities. The local government and entrepreneurs were given incentives to introduce reforms. The reforms and industrial revolution was accompanied by high quality low waged human skill and infrastructure that was able to mass produce. China has not followed the traditional western culture of best practices but has concentrated on improved performance through incentive driven approach, especially during transition period of growth and development. Indeed, while China lacks in freedom, the billion plus population is high growth market for foreign investment. It has introduced fresh reforms to incorporate the concern regar ding environment concern, human rights and more conducive environment for foreign business. This is a way to declare that its growth is not merely a bubble with short life span. Reference Case study: Understanding a Development Miracle: China.

The Portable Thoreau Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Portable Thoreau - Personal Statement Example Drifting purposelessly seems an utter waste of the wonderful faculties that man is endowed with, and the stick itself may be symbolic of a man’s life that has to be shaped with the loving care and devotion that an artist gives to his creation. To me the story seems to be a parable espousing the virtues of single minded purpose in going about what one has set out to achieve. It tells of how everything else takes second place to the one goal one has set out for one’s self. It is a tale of devotion to the task in hand, completely disregarding everything else, without which perfection is not possible. If the intentions are right and the devotion to achieving them exists then the result must be great success. As Thoreau himself points out what he learned as the result of his experiment at Walden â€Å"if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.† (Thoreau, Walden) I agree with this theory. I think if one can identify one’s goal and pursue it without being distracted by other issues, the only outcome will be success. This has been proven by many great people in different fields whether they were scientists or sportsmen, freedom fighters or people born with physical disabilities, such people have overcome mighty odds by the strength of their determination.

Alternative Beverages Essay Example for Free

Alternative Beverages Essay Alternative beverages competed on the basis of differentiation from traditional drinks such as carbonated soft drinks or fruit juices. The market started out with low competition, however that is rapidly changing as many new product lines enter and profit margins will inevitably suffer from the price reduction. The rest of the beverage industry is faced with low profit margins because of high competition and little ability to differentiate products. The alternative beverage segment help companies to sustain volume growth in mature markets where consumers were reducing their consumption of carbonated soft drinks. Also the alternative beverage industry offered products that catered to different demographics. For example energy drinks were purchased more by teens and young adults while energy shots were bought by adults to get extra boosts of energy during the work day. In addition the vitamin-enhanced drinks and sports drinks went more toward athletes and people who exercised often. This differs from just the usual carbonated soft drinks that people were used to drinking. Now they had products that they could consume for different activities. Demand is expected to grow worldwide as consumer purchasing power is increased and alternative beverages offered profit margins much higher than those of other beverages. One key characteristic in the beverage market was introduction of the energy shots and they were an important growth factor in the industry; the 5 hour energy shot was introduced in 2004 and took the market by storm with its high containments of B6, B12 and caffeine. Competitor’s course introduced energy shots to the market but none have come close to the 5 hour energy shot, with it holding 85% of the market share in 2009.

Professional Development At Premier Inn Management Essay

Professional Development At Premier Inn Management Essay Award-winning Premier Inn is a subsidiary of Whitbread PLC and is considered as the UKs largest and fastest-growing hotel brand with 578 budget hotels and more than 40,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland at reasonable prices. In 2008 Premier Inn launched in Dubai and will be opening in India later this year. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the 2012 Olympics. As Premier Inn consists of huge number of employees, it has to manage all of them in better way since success of the company significantly depends on their people management efficiency along with their career success. As a proud team member of UKs largest and fastest-growing hotel brand, I would like to explain my career /professional development plan in detail by this report. 1.2 Premier Inn philosophy A cornerstone of the Premier Inn philosophy is all about widening employee career paths or access new roles; further, all open positions are advertised internally prior to searching for outside candidates and we will always look to promote members of the team where possible the development of employees is the key aspect, though we are all motivated by different aspirations. Moreover, Company share the same commitment to quality of work carried out by the employees as it has been recognized the fact that rewarding employees is a crucial factor in terms of motivating employees. 1.1.1. Premier Inn Values Genuine We really care about our customers Confident We strive to be the best at what we do Committed We work hard for each other 4 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Premier Inn Core Values 1.3 What is Personal Development Plan Personal Development Planning refers to the creation of an action plan based on a reflection of personal, career, and academic objectives. In addition to a PDP, these reflections are typically a portfolio containing evidence of the skills gathered over a particular timeframe. It is presumed in education that undertaking POP will assist in creating self-directed independent learners who are more likely to progress to higher levels of academic attainment. It is also used in Human resource management. Continuing Professional Development is just a method of ensuring that you attain the right abilities to do your job and maintain/enhance your skill. It embraces everything that you perform to get better your job performance and your lifelong employability. Many Professional organizations and Societies have a obligation for their members to stay a record of their professional updating and growth. It can also assist those who are, or will be undertaking nationwide Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in the UK. This is also high-quality practice for an association striving towards creature World Class, a Learning Organization. Most of these professional societies have a obligation that you demonstrate personal development and learning representing 3-5 days (25-35 hours) per year. Increasingly, your professional culture is asking to see evidence of continuous growth in order to maintain your registration/ expert status. If your professional corpse does not yet have an obligatory requirement for this the length of with a monitoring/ auditing system they soon will Have. 5 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1.4 Who is responsible for personal development To be successful it is fine practice to work in partnership with your employer. You be supposed to realize however that ownership of your CPD proof is yours and no one elses. The plan you set up will need to be flexible and change as your job requirements and aspirations change. It should also be realistic, not each one can become the Director of Nursing or Executive Director but everybody with forethought and some planning can discover challenge, diversity and interest in their job and vocation. Change is continuous in all aspects of life and efforts you put into keeping abreast of new knowledge and expanding your abilities will reap rewards when opportunities arise. It will have become obvious that a key feature of CPD is training but the significant difference between CPD and training is that CPD is prearranged to suit you and your career. 1.5 Job Profile I am working as the Hotel Manager and responsible for achieving optimal guest satisfaction and a good working environment to attain all set objectives. To achieve this, Im responsible for running the hotel in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures and Policies as set out by Premier Inn. Further, Im responsible for the Implementation of optimal and attractive products and services required to address the hotels target groups, based on pre-agreed marketing plans and budgets while ensuring the correct production and distribution of information and promotion materials as agreed to. Guard the efficiency/productivity and the company results: Draw up plans and budget concepts (revenues, costs, etc.); Safeguard the realization, tracing and adjustment of deviations; Developing improvement actions, carry out costs savings; Guard/ controlling of cost price Delivering of data and proposals for the budgets and investments. Safeguard quality of operations (internal external audits) Manage the various Department Heads Coordinate planning of Department Heads and Assistant Managers with regard to time-tables, work schedules, employment of employees within the different services; solving of bottle necks; Coordination of the execution of activities via instructions to the Heads of Departments/ Assistant Managers, supervision of the execution; Determination of the workforce, recruitment and hiring of new staff, supervision of sufficient introduction, execution of performance reviews and training of staff. Be accountable for responsibilities of department heads in their absence. 6 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Implement the Golden Tulip franchise formula optimally in the hotel and act as a flagship establishment for the Golden Tulip brand. Prepare a monthly financial reporting. Ensure an adequate administration, for the outgoing and incoming invoices, for the payment of invoices and for drawing up periodical management data. Justify deviations and differences. Other tasks; Handling complaints, in the last resort. Other reliable to the above mentioned, tasks in order of the executive; Handing over opinions and beliefs, decisions etc. to the executives; Leading various internal and external meetings; Supervise the fulfillment of the regulations of the employment legalization, Occupational Health Safety Act, HACCP, legionella, fire regulations and other legal requirements Correct use of Golden Tulips corporate identity. Maintain contacts with public authorities 7 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2 Task 2 2.1 Job Analysis A lot of people go blank when you ask them regarding their skills. Thus sometimes it is easier to exertion backwards from what you have done to work out and what you are good at. This is where a job analysis can assist. (Personal-skills-audit; 2010) Step One Take a divide sheet of paper for each of the jobs you have done and mark the job title at the top. Divide each piece into two columns. Use the first pillar to brainstorm all tasks each role involved. Include as much feature as you can. Dont just list the bureaucrat duties but include everything you turned your hand over to in that role. Avoid minor road terms similar to produced a monthly newsletter. Break it down into the stepladder concerned wrote articles, canvassed team for ideas, convinced pictures/photos, liaised with print room, etc. Dont be troubled about whether they are significant or Insignificant; just try to capture as much of what you did as probable. Observe out for any unenthusiastic self-talk here (well, it was only or I just did a little bit of ). The reason of brainstorming is to squeeze out as much information as possible. You can evaluate the activities later. Step Two The second step of your personal skills appraisal involves looking at these tasks to search what skills you contain developed. Make a list of the skills you needed to take out all these tasks. Were you showing an ability to deal with people? Were you using and analysing in sequence and data? Were you coming up with ideas and being original? Were you using sensible abilities such as repairing things? If you are not sure what skills you were using, take a look at the checklist of individual skills I have created. You will find that it also helps if you come up with a friend or your Career modifies Buddy two heads are always better than one. Step Three Dont discontinue with work. Do additional sheets for former unpaid roles you play in your life e.g. parent, sports club secretary, gardener, and the list could be fairly long! 8 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT A personal skills audit of what you have ended outside of work can be extremely revealing and help you to value the skills you have gained from all areas of your existence. You may find that there are skills you comprise developed here that you just dont give yourself recognition for. For example, you may be the trainer for a local football team using skills like management, motivation, encouragement, training etc.. If you really enjoy this, but do not hold a management or team leadership role at labour this might propose that this could be a new direction for you in your career. And you by now have many of the skills you require. Personal Skills Audit An optional strategy is just to sit yourself down and make a list of what you be acquainted with you are good at. This will come easier to a number of than to others. 2.2.1 Step One Just begin writing. You already know at smallest amount some of the things you are good at. Youll find there are some skills you feel very sure with and others where you think you can do them a bit. Dont be introvert this is not an exercise where you can be shy. Be proud to list what you be acquainted with you do well. Step Two You will come up with several skills without any prompting, but there will be many further. As I mentioned on top of, if you are the kind of someone that prefers working with a checklist, take seem at the list of personal skills I have shaped as a punctual. Another basis of ideas is job ads. Start scrutinizing newspapers for any kind of job and see what kinds of skills come up frequently. Recruiters know the importance of skills this is why they list the ones they need in their occupation ads. Step Three I already talk about brainstorming with your Career modify Buddy in the previous exercise. Dont stop there. Why not in a straight line ask some of your associates and colleagues what they think are your chief strengths and skills as they see them. Give them a bit of time to think concerning it and ask them to highlight what they think are your top 3 or 4 skills. It can be a genuine self-assurance booster to hear others reflect backs what they worth in you as a friend or colleague. 9 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT When you have done your individual skills audit, take a look at what I propose at the beginning of the personal skills checklist. A list is not sufficient. It is important that you speed your skills by level of ability and level of enjoyment Personal Development Learning Style Cognitive styles pass on to the preferred way an individual processes in order. Unlike individual differences in capabilities (e.g., Gardner, Guilford, Sternberg) which describe peak recital, styles describe a persons typical mode of thinking, remembering or trouble solving. Styles are regularly considered to be bipolar dimensions whereas abilities are unipolar (ranging from zero to a most value). Having extra of ability is usually considered beneficial while having a exacting cognitive method simply denotes a tendency to perform in a certain manner. Cognitive style is a usually described as a character dimension which influences attitudes, values, and social communication. A huge number of cognitive styles have been identified and studied in the history. Field self government versus field dependence is almost certainly the most well known style. It refers to a propensity to approach the environment in a logical, as opposed to global, fashion. At a perceptual level, field self-governing personalities are clever to distinguish figures as discrete from their backgrounds compared to field dependent persons who experience events in an undifferentiated way. In adding, field needy individuals have a greater social orientation relative to field self-regulating personalities. Studies have identified quantity connections between this cognitive style and learning. For example, meadow independent individuals are likely to learn more effectively beneath conditions of intrinsic motivation (e.g., self-study) and are influenced less by social reinforcement. Kolb and Lewin Model I would like to introduce this method to measure personal performance. Learning styles specifically transaction with characteristic styles of learning. Kolb (1984) suggests a theory of experiential learning that involves four major stages: tangible experiences, reflective observation, theoretical conceptualization, and vigorous experimentation. The CE/AC and AE/RO dimensions are glacial opposites as far as learning methods are concerned and Kolb postulates four types of beginners (divergers, assimilators, convergers, and accommodators) depending upon their location on these two dimensions. For example, an accommodator prefers tangible experiences and vigorous experimentation CAE,CE). An ordinary approach to viewing learning styles is linked to a learning series of experience, surveillance and mirror image, configuration and then testing of concepts. Although commonly referred to as the Kolb Learning Cycle this round was proposed by Kurt Lewin who got the idea from manage engineering. David Kolb (1984) popularized Lewins proposal (hence the common title). 10 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEARNING STYLE 2010 The four steps of the Experiential Learning Cycle are:- Concrete experience Observation and Reflection Abstract Conceptualization Testing concepts in new situations The cycle is a continuous course with the present concrete experience being the basis for observations and reflections, which allow the expansion of a theory, The theory is then tested in new situations to direct to more concrete experience. Kolb developed from the Lewin sculpt the idea that students have a overriding phase of the cycle during which they prefer to learn and therefore will contain preferred modes of learning. In order to identify the preferred learn and learning styles, Kolb developed a Learning Style record that identified students preference for the four modes corresponding to the stages in the learning series. 11 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3 Task 03 3.1 Personal Development Plan To obtain all goals and objective should have proper personal development plan. I have to be more relevant to the companys requirements. Especially should be practical member who is practicing and matching companys values and code of ethics while improving my personal skills. Therefore I have to use proper personal development planning model as follows; Developing a Personal Development Plan My Needs How Can I meet those needs? What are the Challenges in my job current that I need to meet? Where do I want to be in 2 years? Where do I want to be in 5 or 10 years? How does that fit in with what the practice wants? What adjustments will other people need to make for me to achieve what I want? What else should I consider? PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN: 2010 3.2 Personal Analysis (SWOT) A personal SWOT analysis is a powerful technique that can be used when seeking a career change in the Unilever. Linked to a strong and powerful goal, it can enable to take advantage of skills, talents and abilities to take career to the next level. Look at each area and consider the questions that follow and write down the answers that come into the mind. 12 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3.2.1 Strengths Personal strengths form an innate part of who are I and my characteristics. Consider my strengths as I see them and talk to your colleagues and friends for a further source of support. What are the skills and capabilities do I have? Leadership, teamwork, rational thinking In what areas do I excel? Leadership handling people and innovative thinking What qualifications, accreditations or experience make me unique? Marketing professional qualifications and marketing experience What would other people consider to be my strengths? Friendliness negotiation ability What qualities, values or beliefs make me stand out from others? Politeness, honest and self discipline Weaknesses Consider my personal weaknesses and how I may be seen by others. It is important to list any areas I feel may be holding me back. What are the gaps in your capabilities and what skills do I need to develop? Language skills In what areas could I improve? Speaking writing skills What would other people consider to be my weaknesses? Language skills What personal difficulties do I need to overcome to reach my goal? Practicing the language Opportunities Opportunities are normally external and may relate to changes in technology, people that may influence decisions, or training, development or support that may support my aspirations. What opportunities are available to me? Higher marketing post in the industry in Hospitality industry Recognition in the business field What external influences can help you to achieve success? Marketing environmental influences Pressure from customers Who could support you to help you achieve your goal? Professional trainers Professional courses 13 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3.2.4 Threats Threats are also normally external and are the things that get in the way of my success. What obstacles am I facing? Bad economical crisis market down turn What external influences may hinder my success? Unemployment competition for better jobs Who or what could get in the way of you achieving my goal? Organizational structure How Develop My Professional Success I have to be more relevant to the companys requirements. Specially should be practical member who is practicing and matching companys values and code of ethics while improving my personal skills. 3.3.1 Leadership Skills To maximise cooperation and increase productivity within the firm, a few issues should be considered to improve team leadership. Therefore i have to improve my leadership skills with taking support from the company. While the firm has development conversations in place, constructive feedback conversations that work as a two-way process can assist to increases self-awareness of individuals and offers options and encourages development. By taking the conversation to a more informal level and the consequently building of relationships encourages trust between team members. Specific and descriptive feedback on exemplary and not acceptable behaviour should be given to avoid conflict in an organisation and increase performance levels. By starting with a positive point, people are encouraged and using particular examples of behaviour will assist in bringing the point across. An effective feedback process is particularly important for the firm as it addresses the need to build relationships to not only increase the sharing of information, but also build loyalty and retention of people in the long term. Ø Be a leader in my area of responsibility, with a deep commitment to delivering leadership results. To have a clear vision of where we are going. Focus my resources to achieve leadership objectives and strategies. Develop the capability to deliver our strategies and eliminate organizational barriers 14 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3.3.2 Teamwork Skills To be a successful employee in the Premier Inn i have to improve m team work capabilities. To create a culture of teamwork will encourage collaboration, cooperation and sharing of information as well as empower individuals. Expectations as to teamwork need to be communicated; one of the benefits of introducing this culture is that leaders and managers model teamwork in their interaction with each other and the rest of the organisation. It can have a positive impact on work behaviour and ethics. A performance management system needs to emphasis teamwork and the impact on behaviours which will also need to be reflected by the rewards system. Collaboration through teamwork saves time and money as research efforts are not duplicated, issues can be resolved quicker and beneficial solutions and processes transferred which is a particular issue within the firm. Regular meetings to review project and progresses and to share work will assist in the implementation of the team work culture. Successes will need to be celebrated, by using communications channels such as the Premier Inn News for the firm. This will not only set a positive example for others but also make individuals feel valued and increase their motivation and loyalty. 3.3.3 Evaluation Analytical Skills Create a vision of where your area is going, together with supportive objectives and operational plans communicate regularly, making effective use of a range of different communication methods Develop a range of leadership styles and apply them to appropriate situations and people Give people in your area support and advice when they need it especially during periods of setback and change Encourage people to take a lead in their own areas of expertise and show willingness to follow this lead Ownership To accept personal accountability to meet our business needs, improve our systems and help others improve their effectiveness. Act like owners, treating the Companys assets as our own and behaving with the Companys long-term success in mind 15 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Passion for Winning Determined to be the best at doing what matters most Be a healthy dissatisfaction with the status quo. To have a compelling desire to improve and to win in the marketplace Trust Respect our Premier Inn colleagues, customers and consumers, and treat them as we want to be treated. To have confidence in each others capabilities and intentions. Believe that people work best when there is a foundation of trust. Integrity Always try to do the right thing. Be honest and straightforward with each other. Operate within the letter and spirit of the law. Uphold the values and principles of Premier Inn in every action and decision. Should data-based and intellectually honest in advocating proposals, including recognizing risks. 16 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, 2005

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, 2005 The 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie promotes a dark moral lesson of the gluttony, pride, greed and ignorance. The film has undertone of consequences of good and bad behaviour in children. The analogies are visibly projected in the film of how those who characterize the hideous vice to get their comeuppance, on the contrary, those who characterize loving and caring traits eventually meet their fortune. Music numbers were incorporated to emphasize their doomed punishment. This movie draw the audience into a beyond imaginative story that shows us love and passion could still be found in our society. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 2005 musical adventure film directed by Tim Burton. It is an adaption of the 1964 childrens book of the same name by Roald Dahl. Johnny Depp starred as Willy Wonka and Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket. The story if about a talented Willy Wonka, the eccentric owner of a chocolate factory, hid five golden tickets in his Wonka chocolate bars. The lucky finders of the golden ticket will be invited to visit the factory with one family member, and one of the five will then win a lifetime supply of chocolates and a special secret prize. All five children who win golden tickets present different personality traits and behaviour, as well as their family members. The chocolate factory is run by Oompa-Loompas, a tribe of little people from Loompaland, whom Wonka invited to work for him in return of Coca beans. Upon the journey inside the mysterious chocolate factory, the children, one by one, are eliminated accordingly to their misbehaviour. Only Charlie is spared and carries the day winning the special secret prize which turns out to be the inheritance of the factory. However, Charlie refuses because Wonka insist Charlie to leave his family behind. At last, Charlie assist Wonka to reconcile with his alienated father and Charlie, ultimately inherits the chocolate factory. Though there is not a specific time of history or place setting in the movie, the story is easily noticeable that it starts in cold snowy winter. Winter is a sign of hibernation and perseverance. But there is hidden renewed hope in the far-off distance as spring follows. Houses are lined up neatly with snow covering almost every corner of the town. Charlies old and shabby house outstands itself at the very edge of the city, and the mysterious chocolate factory at the very top center of the town. This is a symbolic imaginary of social class. Various social theories propose a hierarchy arrangement of people in society. Wonka being at the top is viewed as the elites with a great deal of power and intelligence. By contrast, Charlies family at the edge is clearly reinforced their struggle routines; with no power or worldly goods and just barely have enough to eat. About Prince Pondicherry and his Chocolate Palace Grandpa Joe later on in the movie tells Charlie about the Chocolate Palace story in order to further describe Willy Wonka. There is a scene where Willy Wonka builds a terrific palace made of only chocolate for a wealthy prince Pondicherry. Pondicherry despite Wonkas warning, insist to live in it. Soon after, on a very hot day, the palace melts and totally falls apart. Mr. Wonka indeed is a brilliant artist and he sure is someone who gives advices that should be taken seriously. This part of the movie plays a foreshadowing revelation of unpleasant consequences might follows if Wonkas advice is not taken seriously. In reality, although not too many considerable advices are deemed wise and righteous, but we should be able to differentiate from the good and evil with objective judgment. To be bent on having ones own way, one will be responsible for the consequences of their own. About the five Golden Ticket Winners There are five music numbers with stage exorbitantly choreographed sequence, set to each turning point in this movie. Danny Elfman is the composer of the music scores; he also performed the four, among the five, vocals of the songs that are sung by the Oompa-Loompas in the film. Each number with its scene returns a moral lesson of a corrupted aspect of society. They serve not only as a specially entertainment but also emphasize the storys key moments and lead the audience to the next stage of the movie. Physical appearances are believed to be an important factor in the development of social relations; however, the implications of ominous factor are often hidden in many superficial judgments. This is fully examined in the first music number played at the entrance of Wonkas factory. Mr. Wonka welcomes the five golden ticket holders and their family member to his humble factory with a cheerful mechanical welcoming show. The Wonkas Welcome Song was electronically performed by little plastic puppets with large round weighted eyes and peeled looking skin. The show is delightful, luminous and colourful. The music starts with various children laughter, and continues in jumping rhythm giving the visitors a warm cheerful welcoming; however, the show ends in small fire caused by the haywire spark of fireworks and the music ends with a hitch. The welcoming show is not pure entertainment, it implies though the chocolate factory seems bright and joyous, there are certain hidden consequential thre ats to be carefully discovered. A cursory glance and jumping to conclusion is actually as old as it is common in todays society. We are taught that objectivity is desirable, and this societal moral value is often controllable so long as conceit or negligence is not occupying too much of our ego. Otherwise, unknowable consequence might have been lining up next. This first musical number brings us into this exciting journey yet threatening chocolate factory; and shows how this prelude can form such a profound message. Apart from the first introducing number mentioned above, the later four numbers are performed by the Oompa-Loompas when each of the four repulsive children is eliminated from the contest. The songs are fetching and easy to remember, the lyrics are closely connected with each misbehaved children and summed up each lesson to be learned. The musical numbers play a recurrent motif protruding the childrens ill personality traits and at the same time demonstrating how their fatal action leads them meeting their doom. In Ausgustus Gloops character, we see gluttony. Gluttony is a disliked societal sign of greed and shows extreme voracious eating and drinking, this lack of self control leads to unpleasant consequences as we see in the film. Wonka leads the group through a long tunnel upon entering the wonderful Chocolate room, where he explains that everything in the room is edible. Here we also meet the most important performers, the Oompa-Loompas. The Oompa-Loompas are the little choco-covered people working for Wonka inside the factory. They love to sing and dance, although sometimes in a mischievous way. The Oompa-Loompas performs the second number in this room while Augustus neglect Wonkas warning, by eating himself into the chocolate river and being stuck in a tube of chocolate. The Oompa-Loompas dancing around and forms a large swimming circle sequence fitting the rhythms and music present in the song. The lyrics of the song convey Augustus character. the great, big, greedy nincompoop, August us Gloop, so big and vile. So greedy, foul and infantileà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Augustus Gloop is a representation of gluttony. His overeating is one of the main reasons of his obesity and of course also a perfect example of defiance and unbalanced behaviour. The Oompa-Loompas continue, This greedy brute, this louse ear is loved by people everywhere, for who could hate or bear a grudge against a luscious bit of fudge. Gluttony might in turns appear to be desirable but this lack of self control can also occur in many other forms such as drinking, smoking or drug use other than eating. The key term is too much which leads to further horrible outcome. In this case, we see how Augustus met his doom and got almost made into fudge Violet Beauregarde shows a characteristic of Pride. Pride allows too much ego built inside a person which first leads to incorrect decision making, and eventually failure. The third number was performed in the novel Inventing room when Wonkas 3-course dinner gum serves Violet her downfall. Violet, being the gum chewing champion, claims the new invention of Wonkas as her type of gum. Mr. Wonka warns Violet that the gum has not been perfected. Violet too, like Augustus, despite Wonkas warning and throws the gum into her mouth. She describes the wondrous 3-courses dinner she tastes as she starting to transform. The Oompa-Loompas sings and dance mocking violets disgusting gum chewing habit. By repeating the chorus emphasizing her all day long gum chewing and by ending by saying they will try to save Violet before it is too late, although they are not sure that they can. It is indeed not her gum chewing that got her into trouble but her presumptuous behavior. We can see the same traits in her mother, a poor mannered lady with her pride at being the best, who encourages Violet to keep her Eyes on the prize. This competitive quality is highly established in capitalist society today. We compete at any and all levels, regardless of who we step on. The prize of being the first and the most competitive should earn us some sort of reward. It is an arrogance that misleads us to believe that we are always better than others. Pride hardens the mind and refuses the ears to hear the advice of other, consequently a big fall. Accordingly, Violets self-conceit turned herself into a giant blueberry. Veruca Salt, the queen, is a perfect demonstration of capricious greed. Greed is the root of all evil Along with gluttony and pride, greed is also morally questionable. Like gluttony, greed is a strong desire for more possession and demand, etc. than a person need, which often leads to certain unwanted lesson. In this case, the shameful Veruca Salt who got badly spoilt by her parents fully demonstrates her little heart desires is the epitome of greed. Wonka takes the group into the nut room. He tells everyone about how the amazing squirrels are trained to shell walnuts and also discern a bad nut from a good one. Wonka warn off the group not to disturb the squirrel. Veruca strongly demand to have one of Wonkas trained squirrels but Wonka refuses. She then went under the gate and reaches to grab one by herself. All the squirrels suddenly pounce on Veruca and one of them knock her on her head, discern she is a bad nut after all and unload her to the garbage chute. The Oompa-Loompas onc e again come on the stage and perform a song for the misfortunate of Veruca. They dance again in circle sequence around the hold of the garbage chute in harmonized rhythm. The lyrics remind Mr. Salt that his daughters ill-personality is indeed a result of his action by spoiling her and pandering to her every need. This number not only accentuate Verucas punishment but also emphasize who else held responsible Mr. Salt, Verucas dad, who completely spoilt her by answering to all her wishes. Poor Veruca, in this case met her demise with garbage as her new found friends. Whos next? Meet Mike Teavee, representation a variety of wicked societal behaviours which we often heard everyday. He behaves as an incessant know-it-all who righteously rebukes others with angrily manner and being such a compulsive video game fanatic who completely misses out many other happiness of being a youngster. Wonka takes the rest of the group into a blindingly white room, the television room. Wonka excitedly explains that the room is for testing television chocolate, how it can transport chocolate to every home through television. After Wonka gives a cautionary note and does a demonstration, Mike bumptiously calls Wonka an idiot and jumps into the machine and had himself teleported inside the television. Mike is shrunken down into a pint sized terror because of his inability to listen. The number takes place while an Oompa-Loompas switching channels trying to find the shrunken Mike inside the TV. The number starting with rock music then as the channel switches to a Beatles knock-off and later more violent actions, serving as a symbolic background of how selected media are unsuitable for children. The lyrics of the song prompt society how children learns from responsive media and the consequences of excessive television and video games will rots their senses and alter childrens imaginations, creates people with one track minds and rather aggressive personalities. The music numbers are a mixture of cultural cult and fad in different times. For example, Augustus Gloop numbers brassy music is like what we often hear from a Bollywood production piece; Mike Teavee is a mixture of hard rock and techno music to emphasize his crazy devotion for video games. These last four musical numbers are inserted between the light and dark moments of each turning scene during the tour. Every different room appears to be fascinating and out of the ordinary to the visitors, then soon an unpleasant child is eliminated with a darker undertone of a cautionary tale against a corrupted aspect of society, tackling a fundamental moral question. The first number was representing a Trojan horse to foreshadow importance of Wonkas warning, which all of the above four children neglected. The chocolate factory is as wonderful as it may seems, but true intentions are hidden and those refused to listen are responsible for their hideous vice. There are several scores placed in the film. Each has a different rhythm and beat to introduce the motives and themes in the scene. For example, the score played during the chocolate river cruise carries a dramatic sense of unpredictable excitement, the feeling of tossing on top of the beat and it gets stronger when the speed of the boat increases. Another example would be the score inserted during Wonks flashback of his visit to Loompaland, where the music is replete with chanting of tribal beats, which fully characterized the adventurous island. In contrast, a softer kind of music was played at the end of the story, where the theme is more complacent. Interestingly, a score is accompanied with the end credits of the film, which is the combination of the numbers but in music-only versions. This serves like a recollection of the five major moral lessons carried out in the whole film. Whos left? Charlie Bucket Willy Wonka Charlie Bucket, one of the protagonists of the story, has a warm and caring family. They are not wealthy but the family get along very well and share a strong bond of love. Charlie is a role model of a loving, caring and obedient child. The other protagonist Willy Wonka, on the other hand, is a sarcastically isolated factory owner who is estranged from his father. His chocolate factory can be seen as a reflection of his mind; it is fascinating and full of imagination but filled with perilous tricks. Charlies respectable character is in contrast to the other children in the film, it is also the grounds for making him the victor. In the film, he refuses to leave his family behind for the reward of contest. Wonka was question because he does not understand the value of a family. Charlie then helps Wonka reconciled the relationship of Wonka and his father, and at the end, Wonka and the Buckets live happily together inside the chocolate factory. The movie brings out significance of good b ehaviour and urges us to understand the importance of having a loving family. Conclusion At the ending of the film, it reveals the narrator is actually an Oompa-Loompas. He spoke in the beginning of the film and at the closing of the story. This is an example of circularity. This film and the story itself, is stunningly educational. The combination of the plot, setting and music create a mood, convey emotions and communicate not only on a level of pure entertainment, but in depth of imagery with the use of undertones so specific, yet leaves room for audience to travels beyond imaginations.

Education And The World Citizen :: essays research papers

Education seems to be becoming more and more of a controversial subject not only among government, but also with school boards, teachers, parents, and even the students. Some of this controversy is attributed to the normal routine things such as starting times, funding for clubs and sports, and more recently the rise of violence in the schools, as well as outcries from the church for the return of religion in the schools. However, people of today’s society are even more confused by the recent additions of new subjects not only the college curriculum but also in the curriculum of grade schoolers as well. These additions include the study of non-western cultures, the study of women and ethnic minorities in the U.S., and finally the study of human sexuality. In addition, people are wondering what exactly education has to do with being a â€Å"world citizen†? Is the life experience enough to become a â€Å"world citizen†? According to Nussbaum, a world citizen can be understood in two ways, the first being the strict of the two is â€Å"the ideal of citizen whose primary loyalty is to human beings the world over, and whose nationality†¦are considered distinctly secondary† (1). An example that one could use to paint a picture of this type of world citizen could be Ghandi or Mother Teresa who both put others, no matter their race or gender, above themselves. The second way is much more relaxed and states that â€Å"however we order our varied loyalties, we should still be sure that we recognize the worth of human life wherever it occurs and see ourselves as bound by common human abilities and problems to people who lie at a great distance from us† (2). An example that fits this description could be Princess Di or the Reverend Jesse Jackson. But, how exactly does one become this so-called world citizen? In The Old Education and the Think-Academy, Nussbaum gives us three of the numerous steps needed in order to become a â€Å"good citizen†. Nussbaum tells us that there are three essential ingredients for becoming a world citizen, the first being the critical examination of ones self, which is simply examining your life, where you have been and where you are going. The second of these is to see oneself as not just a citizen but as a group. Nussbaum is simply telling us that to often we get so wrapped up in our labels that we tend to forget that we are all human beings, and that we are all connected to one another. Education And The World Citizen :: essays research papers Education seems to be becoming more and more of a controversial subject not only among government, but also with school boards, teachers, parents, and even the students. Some of this controversy is attributed to the normal routine things such as starting times, funding for clubs and sports, and more recently the rise of violence in the schools, as well as outcries from the church for the return of religion in the schools. However, people of today’s society are even more confused by the recent additions of new subjects not only the college curriculum but also in the curriculum of grade schoolers as well. These additions include the study of non-western cultures, the study of women and ethnic minorities in the U.S., and finally the study of human sexuality. In addition, people are wondering what exactly education has to do with being a â€Å"world citizen†? Is the life experience enough to become a â€Å"world citizen†? According to Nussbaum, a world citizen can be understood in two ways, the first being the strict of the two is â€Å"the ideal of citizen whose primary loyalty is to human beings the world over, and whose nationality†¦are considered distinctly secondary† (1). An example that one could use to paint a picture of this type of world citizen could be Ghandi or Mother Teresa who both put others, no matter their race or gender, above themselves. The second way is much more relaxed and states that â€Å"however we order our varied loyalties, we should still be sure that we recognize the worth of human life wherever it occurs and see ourselves as bound by common human abilities and problems to people who lie at a great distance from us† (2). An example that fits this description could be Princess Di or the Reverend Jesse Jackson. But, how exactly does one become this so-called world citizen? In The Old Education and the Think-Academy, Nussbaum gives us three of the numerous steps needed in order to become a â€Å"good citizen†. Nussbaum tells us that there are three essential ingredients for becoming a world citizen, the first being the critical examination of ones self, which is simply examining your life, where you have been and where you are going. The second of these is to see oneself as not just a citizen but as a group. Nussbaum is simply telling us that to often we get so wrapped up in our labels that we tend to forget that we are all human beings, and that we are all connected to one another.

Amish :: essays research papers

The Amish the â€Å"Plain People† My article is on the Amish Community and their vague and simplified way of life. Most of my essay will emphasize the culture and tradition of the Amish. According to the Pennsylvania, Dutch Country Welcome Center, â€Å" The Amish are a religious group who live in the settlements in 22 states and in Ontario Canada. The oldest groups of old order Amish, about 16- to 18,000 live in Landcaster County PA. These people stress humility, family and separation from the rest of the world. The Amish are best known for their cultural simplicity such as riding horses and buggies as opposed to forbidden automobiles. They also shun electricity, by using fire lit lanterns, radio and any other modern electronics that will jeopardize delicate lifestyle. In this effort, their lives are quiet, slower, and religious to the unseen and unspoken media and scenery to foreign culture. However, instead the Amish get their messages across by telegram, daily journals, by foot or bicycle as opposed to telephones. They have worship in their homes as well as church. Amish are trilingual, Pennsylvania Dutch, they pray in German and are taught Standard English in school. However, regarding the issue of school, The Amish do not believe in school past the eight grade. For, the parents of these children are fearful that a full education will give these youths a more modern insight and that will have some temptation to explore the unseen other world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The women and girls of this culture and religion will never have cut their hair, but wear it back in a bun. They wear plain fabric dresses reaching floor length, and wear a prayer in their hair indicating- white if married, black if single and no jewelry. As for the males and boys, dark colored suits, brim straw hats, long coats. They do not have mustaches and will grow beards after marriage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the Amish, religion, family, and community are empirical. The Amish start seeking out marital spouses by the age of 16 and most women are married by the age 20 or so. However, before a marriage can take its proper place, the couple must be joined in at a church, and must be baptized into the Amish faith at about age 17, having followed the written laws known as â€Å"ordnung.† When the couple has established marital plans, they must keep it a secret from their parents till the months of July or August.

Hacking is Stealing Essay

Hacking started in the ‘70s when a group of friends decided to tap into phone lines and make calls for free. Those people were called Phone Phreaks, a group of young men who twisted technology and used their technological know-how to create simpler solutions to complicated problems. What started as an intrinsically good past time slowly became a form of pranksterism. The Phone Phreaks soon held phone conferences from everywhere in the world. However, Telephone companies were less than delighted, and phone tapping became a crime. As more and more Phone Phreaks got persecuted for these crimes, the movement stopped, and the Phone Phreaks were almost of the extrinct race. However, the sensibilities of trying to one-up learned engineers and big corporations did not die down. A couple years passed and the same Phone Phreaks discovered a new form of technology to â€Å"play† with: the computer. And the exact same people who started and led Phone Phreak conferences were the people who started hacking computers, a new revolutionary product that everyone wanted to have. Back then, computers really did not have any practical purpose at home, but for a hacker, the simple joy of watching the screen light up, and looking at moving blobs of colors were enough. However, with the advent of the internet, everything changed. When the internet was first used, all the information was open for everyone to use and manipulate. However, with the internet slowly becoming a place of business and transactions, where a lot of personal and, supposedly, confidential information about people and companies are stored, hackers posed as a huge threat What started as a hobby of manipulating electronics to prank people and find easier solutions for common problems turned into something more serious. While Phone Phreaking in the 70s was encouraged as somewhat of an exercise of the mind, computer hacking was a far different story. Computer hackers did not stop at pranking people; they started to use information they gained from hacking government and corporate computers. Hacking became a crime. According to PCWorld. About. com, some people even rigged phone systems to win two Porsches and other prizes at a radio contest. This poses an ethical problem that has always been a problem in society since the beginning of time: stealing. No matter what mode they use, may it be as blatant as rigging telephone lines to win prizes, or as furtive as stealing an identity to escape prosecution by the law, it is still all considered stealing. Taking someone else’s property, and using the results of someone else’s hard work (without permission, and through deceit) to your advantage is very unethical, and is one of the most basic things society teaches us not to do, no matter how hard times may be. Somehow, hackers forget that what they do is stealing, because they are too focused on breaking down systems and trying to outsmart companies and electronics. Hackers are intelligent people, yet instead creating their own products and reap the fruits of their own labor, they do the opposite, and use their skills and abilities to take advantage of other people’s weaknesses.

In Act V, scene i of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the play is coming to a close as disorder has evolved into order

In Act V, scene i of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the play is coming to a close as disorder has evolved into order. Shakespeare concludes the play with words from Oberon, and then Puck. With his final words, Oberon enlightens the audience as to the will of the fairies- to bless the bridal beds of Theseus and Hypolyta, Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius. Through various literary devices, Shakespeare states the will of the fairies, proclaims their positive dominion, and concludes that this very dominion will allow the shift from disorder to order. Shakespeare proclaims the dominion of the fairies and emphasizes the positive nature of their will through sound value, imagery & diction. Oberon takes an authoritative stance at the very outset of his monologue as he begins with, â€Å"Now,† and immediately gives commands to his fairies. Such diction occurs once again when Oberon tells his fairies to â€Å"stray† through each house. That the fairies are able to enter into the house and â€Å"stray† about implies a certain authoritativeness about them. Also, in giving his commands to the fairies, many of Oberon's words have powerful, pounding sounds: break of day, best bride-bed, and blessed be. His repeated use of ‘b' sounds creates a commanding tone which tells the audience of the dominion that the fairies have. These very words also act as images of a new beginning- the â€Å"break of day† indicates the possibility of a fresh start. Such use of imagery re-occurs with the use of â€Å"bride-bed† which also denotes the optimistic opportunity of a new beginning, as marriage is often looked at as a reawakening experience. Oberon next instructs his fairies to â€Å"bless† these bride-beds and allow for â€Å"issue† to be â€Å"created. † The creation of issue, meaning children, is another example of a new beginning. Thus far, Oberon has established not only that the fairies have true dominion of what happens in the human world, but also the positive nature of this dominion as new beginnings are often looked at as positive and bright. As the monologue continues, through ailment diction, repetition and the personification of nature, Shakespeare elaborates on the outlook of the fairies' dominion and exemplifies the utter control that they have upon what will come to pass. Oberon personifies nature when he speaks of the â€Å"blots of Nature's hand,† suggesting that nature and the fairies are one and the same. If these two forces are at par with one another, it is implied that humans depend on the fairies as much as they do on nature. What Oberon refers to as the â€Å"blots of Nature's hand† is the fact that Nature (represented by the fairy world) is not perfect and the specific â€Å"blot† he has in mind is the fight between Oberon and Titania. Oberon says, however, that such blots â€Å"shall not in their issue stand,† meaning that the fairies do have control over such imperfections, and no negative effect will be bestowed upon the children. This is further expressed by the diction of ailments: â€Å"Never mole, harelip, nor scar. The fairies clearly have power over the â€Å"nativity† of the children which are to be conceived, and therefore have power over everything in the human world. This idea is emphasized furthermore by Oberon's repetition of the word â€Å"shall† as his ability to repeatedly declare what shall happen indicates the absolute dominion of the fairies. After having established the existence and positive nature of this dominion, Shakespeare concludes, through change in tone by sound value, religious diction and imagery, and the use of rhyme scheme, that it will bring about the shift from disorder to order. In order for there to be such a shift, much determination on the part of the fairies is required, which is established through religious diction and imagery. The word â€Å"consecrate,† as used by Oberon, refers to a religious dedication which the fairies have to the well-being of the humans. Oberon instructs each of his fairies to â€Å"take his gait† and â€Å"bless† the chambers of the humans. Such diction again implies a religious and dedicated protection that the fairies have over the humans which will enable them to bring order from disorder. Shakespeare asserts that it is indeed the fairies who will bring order to the human world by the use of the rhyme scheme which is apparent throughout the monologue. The monologue consists purely of rhyming couplets with 7 syllables. Such rhythm and structure implies that the positive dominion of the fairies has an orderly fashion to it, and ultimately expresses that the fairies will bring order from disorder. Finally, words with harsh sounds such as â€Å"trip,† â€Å"stay,† and â€Å"break of day† are used and Oberon ends his monologue in the same tone with which he begun- one of great authority. He calls upon his fairies to bring about order to the human world. By the end of the monologue, Shakespeare has enlightened the audience as to the absolute power that the fairy world has over the human world and has highlighted the dependence of the humans on the fairies. He has furthermore explained that this absolute power is of a positive nature and is the very reason a shift from disorder has occurred in Athens- the human world. While this could be a suitable conclusion to the play, Shakespeare concludes with words from Puck, who, being the protagonist leaves the audience with a choice- to walk away a realist, or to walk away a dreamer.

Poe’s Devices for Heightening the Effect of Terror and Horror in Short Stories Essay

Edgar Allan Poe, an American poet, critic and writer of the XIX-th century, is a world- recognised master of the horror genre. Poe’s Tales of Arabesque clearly demonstrate his talent for cultivation of mystery, terror, and macabre. The process of this horror cultivation is very subtle and complicated. Poe, like an artist of arabesque who intertwines and interlaces flowers into an elaborate pattern, weaves a net of mystery and horror and entangles the reader in it. Poe starts any work ‘with consideration of the effect’ it would have on the reader. All other stages of story creation and literary devices used for it depend on that main effect. Thus, the genre of Poe’s works, their plot structure, type of narration, word choice, and imagery are the devices, with the help of which Poe creates and heightens the effect of terror and horror. Such works as ‘The Cask of Amontillado’, ‘MS Found in a Bottle’, and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ serve as vivid examples of Poe’s sophisticated but very effective horror creating technique. The effect produced by the work on its reader largely depends on the genre of this work. It is no mere chance that Poe chooses the genre of a short story for his works of horror. On the one hand, a short story provides the writer with enough space to intrigue the reader, to rouse his interest in the plot. ‘MS Found in a Bottle’, for example, invites the reader to take part in a fantastic adventure in the midst of the stormy ocean. On the other hand, the plot unfolds very quickly, leaving no time for reasoning and meditation, keeping the senses heightened and sharp. Thus the perception of horror deepens and strengthens. Short forms of a short story bind the reader to pay closer attention to every word, to every comma and exclamation mark. Words used to create the atmosphere of terror and mystery become more colourful, more significant and profound: metaphors grow into symbols, symbols – to allegories. In ‘The Cask of Amontillado’, for example, the suspense of something terrible increases with every step Fortunato makes into the depth of the Montresors’ catacombs, with his every cough, with every proposal of Montresor to come back. But the effect of horror is heightened not only by length of a story, but also by its plot structure. A very short introduction or its complete absence and the disjunction placed at the very beginning of the story put the reader into the coarse of events at once. The events are mostly proleptic; being unaware of their meaning readers start experiencing nervousness and alarm, they feel that some dark, arcane mystery is about to uncover. The reversal in a short story comes to the end and it always comes unexpectedly. With the help of this device the writer shocks the reader, greatly intensifying his horror. Thus, terrified with the gloomy atmosphere of the Roderick’s castle and the constant sensation of trouble, the reader gets truly horrified at the sight of Roderick’s dead sister, lady Madeline, suddenly revived to life. The absence of a resolution prolongs the shock from the terrible mystery uncovered; or, as it is in ‘MS Found in a Bottle’, – the mystery that can never be resolved. The manner in which the story is narrated is no less important for heightening the effect of horror than its very plot. Though all the three stories proposed for this study are narrated in the first person, they are told in various types of the first person. These types differ by four main aspects. The first one is the part that the narrator plays in the story and his influence on the course of events. The narrator of the ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ is the central figure of the plot, moreover, he is its moving force. The reality of the story is revealed to us through Montresor’s eyes and is estimated by him. The reader is always with the narrator and as the narrator is a murderer the reader becomes his unwilling accomplice to murder. The horror of being a murderer is absolute. The narrator of ‘MS Found in a Bottle’ is also the central figure of the plot, all the events happen to him and are described by him. Being always together with the narrator, the reader embarks on a dangerous, perilous, hair-rising adventure, which ends as unexpectedly as it begins. Unlike the previous two stories, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ is not a story about the narrator. It is Roderick Usher who is in the centre of the plot, it is his mind and his life that we are interested in. But as we are with the narrator, who is an observer and estimator of events, we can only feel the dark mystery of the House of Usher, but can not penetrate into. There is no greater horror than that of mystery and no greater terror than that of the unknown. The second aspect in which the three first person narrations differ is the use of tenses. Poe intentionally tells ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ in the past and presents all the events in chronological order. This device helps the writer to show the mind and actions of an insane person, who carefully plans a murder and methodically carries it out. Because of such step- by-step development of the plot the feeling of horror progressively grows higher and sensations of terror deposit. In ‘MS Found in a Bottle’ the writer builds up the narration in a way to bring the story closer to the reality and to the reader. That’s why he makes use not only of the past tense, but also of the present and even the present continuous. By describing the mysterious ship in the present the writer transports the reader on its deck, makes him feel the tossing of the ship, inhale the salty air. The use of the present continuous in the very end of the story heightens the horror and despair of being ‘amid a roaring, and bellowing, and thundering of ocean and of tempest’. The syntactic structure of the final passage – short abrupt sentences separated by dashes – creates the effect of the stream of consciousness and makes the reader not only the witness, but a participant of the final scene. The three main tenses of ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’- past perfect, past, and future – expand the borders of the events narrated. The past tense helps the writer to describe Roderick Usher as a reserved, mysterious, gloomy, melancholic, and abnormally sensitive person. The flash back made into Roderick’s childhood with the help of the past perfect shows that he has always been that kind of person and all his ancestors were like him. The future shows that though the House of Usher fell the mystery of it will never be solved. Thus the sense of ‘insufferable gloom’ and FEAR, which Roderick and his house arouse in the reader, roots in the ancient past and prolongs itself into the future. The final aspect that makes each of the three stories unique is the structure of the narration. ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ is formed of a combination of dialog, monologue, and description. These are the dialogues here that are of particular interest to the study. Dialogues of ‘The Cask’ are short and abrupt. Answers given to the questions are brief and concrete ( ‘Nitre? ‘ he asked, at length. ‘Nitre,’ I replied. ). This device makes every single word symbolic. Dialogues here are the part of the imagery that helps to draw the picture of horror and expectation of threat. Dialogues of ‘The House of Usher’ differ from those of ‘The Cask’. They are long, descriptive, and complicated. Some dialogues between the narrator and his friend grow into the monologues of Roderick. The final monologue of Roderick composed of broken and disconnected sentences shows the shock of horror Roderick experienced when he felt that Madeline was back from her tomb. This shock extends to the narrator and to the reader. ‘MS Found in a Bottle’ consists of a single monologue. The changing speech of the narrator reflects his mood and influences the mood of the reader. But the main function of this monologue is to create the hostile, tense, and gloomy atmosphere of the confusing reality. The main thing that influences the way in which the story effects the reader is the setting. Poe uses various stylistic devices to create a sinister setting and thus heighten the effect of horror and terror in his short stories. Metaphor is one of the most important stylistic devices. It enables the writer to describe implicitly the thing or notion for which there is no name in the common language, or a feeling ‘which will admit to no analysis’. Thus, for example, the supernatural wild ocean is named ‘watery hell’ or ‘chaos of water’. Simile helps to describe the indescribable in a more explicit form. Such similes as ‘waters rear heads like demons of the deep’, or ‘crew glide like the ghosts of the buried centuries’ arouse associations with death, mystery, and myth. And the comparison of the windows of the house of Usher with blind eyes inspires us to take the house as a living creature, strange and dangerous. Another device, used to animate inanimate objects is personification. Whatever Poe personifies – the wind (‘breath of wind’), silence (‘obstinate silence’), tempest (‘bellow of the tempest’), or air (‘wild air’) -it becomes brighter and more profound. Epithets carry out a chief function in creating the main images of the stories and drawing their sinister and horrifying settings. Thus, the ocean in ‘MS Found in a Bottle’ is described as unfathomable, terrible and thundering; the ship is gigantic and supernatural; the house of Usher is melancholy and ancient, it has bleak walls, dark intricate passages, Gothic archways, vaulted ceilings, and it inspires a ‘sense of insufferable gloom’ and ‘unredeemed dreariness’; the vaults of the Montresors are dark, damp and sombre. Poe frequently uses epithets that show the extreme quality, power, or size of an object described. Such epithets as intolerably hot wind, extreme fury, immense pressure, terrific breakers, and colossal supports form the fantastic reality of Poe’s works. An immense impact on our senses and feelings is made by colour and light words. Poe paints his gloomy settings with four main colours: black, red, grey, and yellow. These colours, however, never repeat those that we are used to, they are always unique and special. Poe sees every subtle hue of the colour and observes the way it ‘behaves’. Red, for example, is presented in two main hues: dusky-red and blood-red; it glares, streams down, or gleams in encrimsoned light. Red is the colour of blood and is therefore associated with pain and murder. Black, ebony black, and deep dingy black are the colours of ‘eternal night’ and ‘pitchy darkness’. They symbolise death, burial, fear, horror, and misfortune. Grey and leaden-hued arouse associations with ghosts, shadows, something elusive, mysterious, and imperceptible. Yellow or sickly yellow is traditionally regarded as the colour of disease, sickness, and insanity. The light in the stories is never bright but is always indiscrete, feeble, sluggish, faintly discernible, ghastly and mystic. And the gloomy setting created with the help of these hues of light can arouse in the reader nothing but the sensation of growing fear. In the conclusion it would be necessary to mention, that Edgar Allan Poe is an unsurpassed master of the horror creating technique. He uses such devices as genre, structure of the plot, type and structure of narration, vivid imagery, settings, colour, and light to heighten the effect of terror and horror in his short stories. The contribution he made into the development of the horror genre can not be overestimated.