Canterbury Tales :: English Literature Essays

Canterbury Tales There is a great deal of useful information to be found on the Internet but sorting through it can often be a hassle. There are some sites that are useful and give a great deal of helpful information but there are also many sites that just don't meet up to those standards. Since anyone can put information on the web, it is often hard to tell a good site from a bad one. Today, I am going to go through a few sites relating to Geoffrey Chaucer and his book The Canterbury Tales and give examples of good and bad sites relating to them. One fantastic site that is on the web is The Litrix Reading Room at http://www.litrix.com. This site, which is edited by Sam Jones, gives free electronic distribution of books for use by readers. It gives a list of authors and the books that they have from them. This site has a great number of books and some of the choices are American, Horror, Misfits, Mr. Holmes, Mystery, Sci-fi and Westerns. This site is very helpful in the reading of The Canterbury Tales because it has an updated, translated version of the book that makes it easier to understand and follow the story line. I would recommend litrix.com greatly. One very good site, which relates to Geoffrey Chaucer is http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/chaucer.html. This site is large in depth with many features that will keep any Chaucer fan busy for hours or help students find whatever they may need. Some of the features include: different quotes from Chaucer, a paragraph summary of his life, links to many of his works, audio excerpts from The Canterbury Tales, discussion groups and links to other Chaucer pages. This site was created by Anniina Jokinen and it is clear that she did a very good job. Another fantastic site that relates to Chaucer is http://www.media.wright.edu/studorgs/english20403/chaucer.html. This site has all the links that a person may ever need for Chaucer. Some of the many links that are offered on this site is his biography, Chaucerian language, online reports, and online texts of The Canterbury Tales and medieval sites. Each main link has a few choices beneath it so a person can pick and choose between different sites and writing styles, which is always helpful. Getting different perspectives on different topics relating to Chaucer can only help a person in receiving a better grade and better understanding the material.

Discuss Wharton’s presentation of the character development of Newland Archer

The character of Newland Archer is presented in this passage through his meditations on a range of issues. The scene is set directly after an Archer family dinner with a friend, Sillerton Jackson. Archer's reflections give us a glimpse into the way he thinks and the sort of person he is. Initially we learn about Archer himself and his background, he is from a wealthy family, with ever â€Å"vigilant † servants, â€Å"bronze† statuettes and his own study. We can also see from the description of the study that he is cultured, intelligent and well read. The passage allows us to see a little of his history, especially of the tale of his romance with May Welland. Her â€Å"large photograph† has displaced all others on his table, signifying that she and no other is first in his affections. Archer's view of their impending marriage is initially that he will be her â€Å"soul's custodian†, showing that it will be a very traditional relationship, that she is naive compared to him, and that he must protect and enlighten her. He was taught that marriage to May would be like â€Å"safe anchorage† in life but he tells us his belief is changing, that he believes it may be like a â€Å"voyage on uncharted seas†. This clear nautical imagery lets us see how Archer is coming to doubt his previously unquestioned conventional beliefs – â€Å"old settled convictions† – and that it may be dangerous for him to go into this marriage so unprepared. He is moving on, intellectually, questioning what he once held firm. Archer's attitude to his relationship with May is inextricably linked to his basic conventional traditional mindset. He sees himself and May as key players in a courtship ritual that they possibly could become stereotypical examples of people â€Å"linked by ignorance on the one side and hypocrisy on the other†. In a way he believes this is inevitable due to the society they both belong to, but it is not what he wants from marriage. He desires â€Å"passionate and tender comradeship† with May in their marriage; he loves her â€Å"sincerely†. However her attitude to her character shows that he does not fully understand her. He sees her as partly as an † artificial product† produced by her family, her up bringing, making her innocent and frank. He feels this is wrong that she has somehow been denied the right to be a full person, as she has been denied the experience of life, social, cultural and sexual, that he has been allowed to explore. He feels what has been created in her personality is false, but somehow we get the impression that this is something that has been hard for him to come across. He sees her as less than him intellectually, as she is not educated as he has been, in the arts and literature, and therefore senses her comprehension is less, when really it may just be her lack of exposure to his amount of learning. Newland Archer's relationship with the women soon to be his cousin through his impending marriage to May, Ellen Olenska, is that this point in the novel, still slight. He knows her partially through acquaintance but mostly through gossip. The way he thinks of her as â€Å"Countess† shows the distance and formality between them and he does believe that she has done something reprehensible that requires â€Å"championship†. This shows that although he believes † Women should be free†, this will never really apply to New York standards and he resents the â€Å"coil of scandal† her arrival has placed him in. Her arrival and the talk surrounding it seems to have acted as a catalyst to his thought patterns, hinting of a deeper relationship to come. She is this woman with foreign ways who could be â€Å"free† as men are, and she makes Newland aware of the implications and reality of his betrothal. Newland Archer's character development is presented throughout the passage as a struggle between what he did believe in and what he is coming to doubt the validity of through new experiences and thoughts. His attitude to society is important as it stands for his old conventional self, and his reactions to its dictates, especially on the theme of marriage, show how he is maturing and thinking independently. The imagery he uses to describe New York society are important, â€Å"conventions that tied things together and bound people down† – this rope imagery suggests the constricting nature of tradition and how it hods all subject to it captive. The irony betrayed by Edith Wharton's' tone in the presentation of the conscious thoughts of Newland Archer shows the slightly ridiculous nature of New York society. The situation Archer is in regarding his own defence of Countess Olenska is ironic, as he would be forced to condemn May should she ever behave similarly to her cousin. Another irony in the passage is the description of the state of typical New York high society marriages as having an â€Å"enviable ideal† when frankly they are in a pitiable state. Lefferts is described as the â€Å"high priest of form† when really he has no substance or true beliefs and is truly hypocritical, especially in regard to his treatment of Beaufort's affairs. The behaviour of Mrs Welland's simulated reluctance at the announcement of the engagement when really she expected it is sarcastically commented on showing the double standards between what is said and what is expected throughout New York society. Edith Wharton uses conflicting ideas within Newland Archer's mind to effectively present a man who is changing and developing into a deeper way of thinking about his own life and society in general.

Which the Design Argument Provides Evidence for the God?

June 2011: Examine the ways in which the design argument provides evidence for the existence God? A famous philosopher Kant commented on the proof of the design argument which shows the existence of God stating â€Å"This proof always deserves to be mentioned with respect. It is the oldest, the clearest and most accordant with the common reason of mankind. This was mentioned in his book the Critique of Pure reason. The argument that I am going to put forward and the proofs I am going to provide is the teleological argument.The word teleological comes from the Greek word telos which means end or purpose and logical which means the study of therefore this is the study of the purpose. The teleological argument is an inductive argument therefore proofs are based on premises which means they are drawn from experience and the conclusion is not logically necessary. Aquinas is a very important philosopher in the design argument. In his famous work â€Å"summa theological† Aquinas had his five ways in which he is most remembered for. In the design argument we are most concerned with the final way which is that God is the divine designer of everything.Here Aquinas suggests that non intelligent material requires an intelligent being behind it to make it beneficial. Aquinas used the example of an arrow and a archer; he stated that for an arrow to reach its destination it must be directed by the archer which is the intelligent being therefore applying this to the universe for us to reach are destination and purpose in the universe there must be a higher intelligent being before us which is directing us. Aquinas stated natural bodies seem to act in a regular way to reach some sort of final purpose; this shows Aquinas using science to back up the views of God in the Bible.Also Aquinas argued for design qua regularity; he saw the overall regularity in the world as proof for a designer God. William Paley another famous philosopher mainly known for his Watch Analogy took Aquinas’s ideas further and formed his own version of the teleological argument. Paley compares the world to a machine and sees it made up of all intricate parts which work together for an end result. He saw all the small adaptations in the nature and for him these were proofs of a designing intelligence.An example of the small intricacies in the nature is the water cycle and how it all works together. The watch serves an analogy which demonstrates purpose and telos. All evidence would show that the watch had been designed for a purpose, design and designed with the necessary regularity to meet its purpose. He said every design requires a designer and that all designs have an end function. Paley claimed that in the same way as the watch and other machine’s the universe was full of small intricacies that could not have come about by chance.Paley used the example of the eye. The way the eye is so complexly designed there is no way it could have all come about by chance moreover science till date is unable to create a replica of the eye. Also Paley was fascinated by the solar system and the rotation of the planets. He saw the evidence of a divine hand at work in the universe. F. R. Tennant a philosopher of the 1930’s elaborated on the teleological arguments with his anthropic principle. This principle basically is saying that the world is revolving around human kind.Tennant believed the best evidence of design could be seen in the way the universe supports intelligent life. An example of this would be how the trees release oxygen which supports us humans to live and without oxygen we wouldn’t be alive. This is an astonishing proof of design and existence of God. Also another example of Tennant’s anthropic principle which shows that the world is designed around us human beings is that the sun is placed in the perfect distance. Tennant developed his anthropic principle to add the aesthetic argument in this Tennant argued against Darwin’s Theory of evolution.He said that the theory of evolution cannot explain why humans have feelings as they are not necessary for survival also natural selection cannot account for the existence for the feelings of appreciation etc. Tennant believed that the capacity for joy was putt in us by our designer which is God. Richard Swinburne accepts the anthropic principle. Swinburne believes that the earth is so finely tuned that there is no other explanation other than a designer God. He believes that science explains how the things in the world are so finely tuned in the world and that the Bible explains why.Swinburne believe that we should understand the existence of scientific laws in terms of a purpose which has been put in place for the. The purpose can be best explained by an omnipotent being. Due to the design argument being an a posteriori argument it strengthens the argument as we can see the complexities with our naked eye. However due to it being inductive meani ng based on experiences people interpret the experiences differently moreover it can negatively be argued that the designer or creator does not have to be God and that the jump to conclusion of god is too big†¦

Galley or Corridor Kitchen Layout

Galley or Corridor Kitchen Layout The galley or corridor kitchen layout is one of the standard kitchen layouts that decades of ergonomic research developed. This layout is the most efficient layout for a thin kitchen space. A galley kitchen consists of work space on two opposing walls. There is a single traffic lane between them. There is an opening on one or both ends. A galley kitchen can be as long as you want. You will just need to divide the kitchen into different work sites. The best width for a galley kitchen is 7 to 12 feet. Kitchens over 10 feet wide can utilize the U-shaped kitchen layout. Galley Kitchen Benefits Great for rectangular spaceEfficient for a small kitchen spaceCan adjust to any lengthCan easily divide the kitchen into multiple work sites Galley Kitchen Drawbacks Through traffic can cause congestionNot efficient for large kitchensNot good for multiple cooksDoes not work well for open floor plans Placing the Work Triangle The basic kitchen work triangle can be placed anywhere along the length of the galley kitchen provided you keep the elements grouped together. An equilateral triangle works best with two elements on one wall and the third centered between them on the opposite wall.

Omnivore Definition and Examples

Omnivore Definition and Examples An omnivore is an organism that eats both animals and plants. An animal with such a diet is said to be omnivorous. An omnivore that youre probably pretty familiar with are humans- most humans (other than those who dont get any nutrition from animal products because of medical or ethical reasons) are omnivores. The Term Omnivore The word omnivore comes from the Latin words omni- meaning all- and vorare- meaning devour, or swallow. Therefore, omnivore means devours all in Latin. This is pretty accurate, as omnivores can get their food from a variety of sources. Food sources can include algae, plants, fungi, and animals.  Animals may be omnivorous their entire lives or just at specific stages of life. Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Omnivore Omnivores have the advantage of being able to find food in a variety of places. Therefore, if one prey source diminishes, they can fairly easily switch to another one.  Some omnivores are also scavengers, meaning they feed on dead animals or plants, which further increases their food options. They do have to find their food- omnivores either wait for their food to pass by them or need to actively seek it out.  Since they have such a general diet, their means of getting food is not as specialized as carnivores or herbivores. For example, carnivores have sharp teeth for ripping and gripping prey and herbivores have flatter teeth adapted for grinding.  Omnivores may have a mix of both kinds of teeth- think of our molars and incisors as an example. A disadvantage for other marine life is that marine omnivores may be more likely to invade non-native habitats. This has cascading effects on native species, which may be preyed-upon or displaced by the invading omnivore. An example of this is the Asian shore crab which is native to countries in the Northwest Pacific Ocean but was transported to Europe and the U.S. where it is out-competing native species for food and habitat. Examples of Marine Omnivores Below are some examples of marine omnivores: Many crab species (including blue, ghost and Asian shore crabs)Horseshoe crabsLobsters (e.g. American lobster, spiny lobster)Some sea turtles- like Olive ridley and flatback turtles- are omnivores. Green turtles are herbivores as adults, but omnivores as hatchlings. Loggerhead turtles are carnivores as adults but omnivores as hatchlingsCommon perwinkle: These small snails feed mostly on algae but may also eat small animals (like barnacle larvae)Some types of zooplanktonSharks are generally carnivores, although the whale shark and basking shark may be considered omnivores, as they are filter feeders that eat plankton. As they mow through the ocean with their enormous mouths open, the plankton they consume may include both plants and animals. Using that line of reasoning, mussels and barnacles may be considered omnivores, since they filter small organisms (which may contain both phytoplankton and zooplankton) from the water Omnivores and Trophic Levels In the marine (and terrestrial) world, there are producers and consumers. Producers (or autotrophs) are organisms that make their own food. These organisms include plants, algae, and some types of bacteria. Producers are at the base of a food chain.  Consumers (heterotrophs) are organisms that need to consume other organisms to survive. All animals, including omnivores, are consumers.   In a food chain, there are trophic levels, which are the feeding levels of animals and plants. The first trophic level includes the producers, because they produce the food that fuels the rest of the food chain. The second trophic level includes the herbivores, which eat producers.  The third trophic level includes omnivores and carnivores. References and Further Information: Chiras, D.D. 1993. Biology: The Web of Life. West Publishing Company.Harper, D. Omnivorous. Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed September 29, 2015.National Geographic. Autotroph.  Accessed September 29, 2015.The Oceanic Society. What Do Sea Turtles Eat? SEETurtles.org. Accessed September 29, 2015.

Exploring the Link between Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Dissertation

Exploring the Link between Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Individual Performance in a Further Education College - Dissertation Example Results 6. Conclusion Recommendations Scope for Future Study Abstract Organizational learning is the study about an organizations learning process. It includes how the organization learns from its former mistakes, gain insight on various aspects of management from their past actions and how they implement certain changes for the future based on these lessons. The modern trends in today's business environment like globalization, technical dependence and extreme marketing activities affect every organizations culture and structure to a certain extent. Understanding about an organizations learning capacity as a whole in adapting to these new trends will determine how far organizational learning is important to gain competitive advantage over others. The link between organization learning, the performance of the employees and the knowledge gained about the process is not explored in detail in organizational learning literature. The project will focus on exploring this missing link and at tempt to underline how far organizational learning enhances the process knowledge of their employees on the whole. A Community College or a Further Education College in UK is selected as the point of research. ... Narrative analysis method is used to explore the data collected and draw conclusions. Our results state that organizational learning or organizational learning influences the staff working for the college to a substantial level. People who tend to fall back in following the authority’s procedure also heed to organizational learning when it comes to mission, trust level and participating in the big picture or goal of the company and accessing the various technologies used to implement the same. Introduction Organizational learning and organizational culture are usually interlinked. Every organization has to learn from its past actions, from its competitors, customers and the ever changing business environment both internal and external. This learning is important for them to adapt to the new changes and stay ahead of their competitors. Organizational learning or organizational learning refers to how collective learning is garnered in every company or institution. Various proces ses are concerned with it starting from reflection of the past actions to analyzing the future plans based on the knowledge gained from the previous decisions. For an organization to grow as a whole this knowledge should be passed on to the groups in general even though the idea or knowledge insight might have occurred to one single person (Argyris & Schon, 1978; Kezar, 2005). Business field is closely related to organizational learning as much of the research done in the area comes from analyzing various MNC's and their performances. Businesses keep evolving constantly paving way for continuous organizational learning both among the employees as well as the higher management. On the other hand, there are various other fields starting from government offices to educational

Comparative Analysis of suicide in Japan and UK Essay

Comparative Analysis of suicide in Japan and UK - Essay Example There has been a variation of these rates between different countries and regions (NEERAJA 2008, pg23). The variations of the suicide rates between different countries are mainly because of different economic and social conditions that exist in these countries. The Asian countries over the recent years have recorded higher numbers of suicide than their western counterparts. Although the data for these deaths seem inaccurate in the Asian countries, various indicators have shown that they rate higher, some reports rating it as high as 60% of the overall suicides in the world (NOCK 2013, pg31). Japan, for instance, has experienced a surge in its suicidal mortality rates since the 1990’s (NEERAJA 2008, pg53). This has brought much particular attention to the Government and its policy makers. Globally the suicidal rate indicates a higher suicide rates on males as compared to females. Comparing to their female counterparts in the same age groups, males from different age groups have been characterized by high suicide rate (BARKER 2004, pg24). Over the centuries, it has been important to consider this factor in order to be able to develop preventive measures. To develop proper mitigation strategies, it is important to study the variations especially with times and different regions. The causative factors should be reviewed on a broader perspective to help counter this menace. Failure or success of these strategies has failed to be measured on single aspects like that of mental illness and/or disorders. This is because of the multifaceted issue, and a lot of other factors have been known to contribute to it (OCARROLL & PARK 2007, pg22). The healthcare provisions relating to the suicide menace has been more comprehensive and fruitful in the UK when comparing it to Japan (NEERAJA 2008, pg81). According to most published reports, Japan has rated higher in the suicidal rates as compared to