grendelbeo Who is the Monster - Beowulf or Grendel? Essay -- Epic Beo

Who is the Monster - Beowulf or Grendel? My first impression of Beowulf was that of an enigmatic, somewhat esoteric work, a necessary evil on the way to reading the more important works. After a closer reading of the much-celebrated epic, I had a revelation. And what a revelation: Beowulf is wonderful! Perhaps it was the translation, or it might have been the basic substance of the work itself, but I found myself devouring the poem. I discovered two specific areas of appeal: 1) The fundamental attraction of the archetypical super-hero and 2) the more contemporary trend in modern culture to attempt to recapture the experience of this particular era via popular fiction and film.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The ideal of the hero is a concept so completely integrated into the human psyche as to be virtually built-in. From Homer's Ulysses to Nietzsche's Ubermensch, we as a race of beings are fixated on the individual who makes things happen, who gets things done, p referably with a healthy dose of bravado. Perhaps this is attributable to an innate sense of vulnerability in each of us, that unsettling little voice which whispers to us that, despite all our efforts, we have overlooked some crucial factor which will lead to our ultimate demise. The hero has no such insecurities: he is invincible!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is interesting to note that not only has the hero figure continued to thrive in the collective human consciousness, but, in our own western culture, the Beowulf-prototype has come full circle: there is a whole genre of fantasy novels which center on one form or another of the Anglo-Saxon warrior tradition, as well as a veritable plethora of movies. Fleet upon fleet of ring-prowed ships sail ever-onward on the seas of our imagination, on qu... ...pand the characters, making them more whole, more three-dimensional.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Looking at the two works side by side, a question arises: Who is the true monster? Beowulf fans will, no doubt, assert that their hero is the undisputed good guy, and that Grendel was a vicious bastard who got what he deserved. But the Gardner perspective offers an interesting twist: Beowulf was insane! An unbalanced, obsessive weirdo babbling bizarre gibberish into Grendel's ear as he rended the unfortunate creature's arm from his torso. This latter interpretation is not as far-fetched as one might think; the police departments of every major city in this country contain a certain number of these so-called "heroes," men so mired in violence that their perceptions become distorted, that they ultimately become the very thing they've fought so hard to defeat.

Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock : Representation of Modern Man Essay

Often called the first Modernist poem, â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† was published in the prestigious American journal Poetry in June 1915. About the Poem: The poem centers on the feelings and thoughts of the eponymous speaker (the somewhat neurotic Prufrock) as he walks through the streets of London route to meet a woman for tea. He is considering a question (perhaps, broadly, the meaning of life, or, more narrowly, a proposal of marriage). Far more than just the â€Å"love song† of a romantic, agonized young man, the poem explores the Modernist alienation of the individual in society. Thomas Stearns Eliot, 1888 – 1965 Born into a prosperous Midwestern family, Eliot attended Harvard and then went on to study at Oxford. Although born an American, Eliot married an Englishwoman, gave up his American citizenship, and lived most of his life in London. Eliot made his living as a teacher, a banker, and an influential literary critic. He popularized the modernist style of thinking and writing. In fiction, modernism was represented by the stark realism of such writers as Ernest Hemingway, but in poetry this new sensibility was quite different. The Imagists, including Eliot’s close friend and fellow poet, Ezra Pound, believed in the motto, â€Å"No ideas but in things,† in other words, the image is most important, the meaning secondary. Modernists embraced free verse (no regular rhyme scheme or meter) and freedom of thought (often their writing questioned accepted ideas and social norms). This anti-traditional and anti-romantic trend began before World War I; however the unprecedented loss of humanity during the war accelerated the popularization of modernism. The war caused many people to reexamine their previous beliefs in religion and the innate goods of humankind, and one radical branch of modernism, known as Dada, claimed that the only legitimate emotion left was disgust. â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,† An Overview The entire poem, â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† is an interior monologue based on the traditional dramatic monologue, a solo speech that often puts into words the speaker’s inner turmoil, as in Hamlet’s famous â€Å"To be or not to be† soliloquy. Prufrock often alludes to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but admits, â€Å"I am not Prince Hamlet.† He has no such grand illusions. His thoughts and feelings tend to be humble and full of self-doubt. He worries not about â€Å"outrageous fortune,† as Hamlet does, but about growing old and being rejected by a woman. Critically Analyzing the poem: Contrary to what the title implies, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, by T.S. Eliot, is anything but a love song. It is instead quite the opposite. Although the poem is open to several interpretations, after careful reading of the poem, the several underlying themes can be expressed by one central idea. In the poem, the narrator, J. Alfred Prufrock, portrays his disappointment with the society he lives in. By interpreting aspects of imagery, speaker and intended audience, one can easily assess Prufrock’s views of life. His interpretation of everyday life can be described as a vacant, bleak, and repetitive. Early on in the poem, Eliot creates a scene that does not seem very inviting. Prufrock describes his surrounding on an evening out with phrases that insinuate melancholy and depression. In line 6, Prufrock describes the night as â€Å"restless† and says that the streets are â€Å"tedious arguments of insidious intent†. From this the reader can infer a certai n discontentment that Prufrock has with his surroundings. He refers to his, and his companions’, destination as â€Å"one-night cheap hotels and sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells†. Even though these descriptions leave the reader only approximately 10 lines into the poem, we already have a feeling of restlessness and dissatisfaction from Prufrock about his life. As the poem continues, the reader is bombarded with even more imagery that conveys Prufrock’s discontentment with his surroundings. Prufrock talks of the â€Å"yellow fog† that â€Å"rubs its back upon the window-panes† and the â€Å"yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window panes†. He also mentions the â€Å"soot that falls from chimneys†. Later on in the poem, Prufrock refers to smoke again while describing the streets he is walking on. All this imagery leaves the reader feeling that the place Prufrock is at is dark and hazy and not at all welcoming. Among the feelings that Prufrock expresses in this poem, no feeling comes across more clearly than his feeling of restlessness and wasted time. We get the feeling that Prufrock, who is aging, would do things differently if given another chance. In lines 49-54, Prufrock asserts his overall boredom with life. He says he has â€Å"known them all already, known them all-have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons†. From this we can infer that Prufrock seems to feel as if his life is over and he has no more to offer. He makes statements similar to this throughout the poem. He proclaims to have known â€Å"the eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase† and the â€Å"arms that are bracleted and white and bare†. We get more of a sense of Prufrock’s disillusionment of life with his many references to time. In lines 24-34, he claims there is time to â€Å"meet faces†, â€Å"murder and create†, have a â€Å"hundred indecisions† and a â€Å"hundred visions and revisions†. It is not as though Prufrock is doing this in a hopeful manner, though. Instead we get the impression that he is reflecting on time as if it is plentiful only if you take advantage of it and perhaps he feels he did not Another aspect of this poem that is important is the interpretation of it is the speaker and the audience. Although the audience is never clearly identified, several assumptions can be made. It seems as though Prufrock is simply reflecting on life to himself. He makes several statements that would allow a reader to arrive at this conclusion. Throughout the poem, he asks several rhetorical questions of himself. In line 62, he asks â€Å"and how should I presume?†. He asks himself the same question again in line 68 and then follows with another â€Å"and how should I begin?†. These questions lead the reader to believe that the poem represents Prufrock’s inner-thoughts about life. This is important to consider because if the audience was anyone but Pr ufrock himself, the poem would more than likely take a very different course. Once you get past the initial misconceptions about the poem due to its misleading title, you can easily see that this is a poem about what happens if you do not make the most of your life. Prufrock is a character that we all can learn something from. Through an interpretation of this poem, one can assume that even though a person’s life may seem to be normal and in fact successful, sometimes that person may have a totally different view of their own life. From the poem we can conclude that Prufrock’s life was like many others during the time it was written. It talks of parties, drinking, and lovely ladies. This did not, however, bring his happiness. As he aged, Prufrock was left very disenchanted with his life. In the end, he discusses how he will behave in his old age and finally describes death as what can be interpreted as drowning in the sea. â€Å"The Love song of J. Alfred Prufrock,† by T.S. Eliot is about a man who is searching for something to break him for the dull life that he has been leading. In the beginning, the speaker invites us to go with Prufrock and come into his world with the statement â€Å"Let us go then, you and I.† Throughout the poem, the reader is following the speaker throughout an evening searching for the acceptance of a woman. Because of his lack of self-assurance, he fails to find the meaning and acceptance of his love. Prufrock is a timid man. He is extremely conscious of what others think of him and this has a great effect of his actions. He has problems with speaking what he feels and this is demonstrated when he â€Å"prepare(s) a face to meet the faces that (he) meet(s).† He also extremely self-conscious with his appearance and thinks that people talk about what he looks like and what he wears. Other’s opinion of Prufrock bothers him so much so that he does not want to â€Å"disturb the universe† by making an entrance into it. Finally, the last part of the poem, Prufrock show’s his final despair in life. He can not bring himself to tell the woman that he is in love with how he really feels. However, if he ever did decide to tell her, it would come out as a mess. He finds himself with no real role in life. He is no â€Å"Prince Hamlet, nor was he meant to be,† but rather an â€Å"attendant lord,† or sometimes â€Å"the Fool.† He hears the mermaids singing, but he thinks: â€Å"I do not think they will sing to me.† In the end, Prufrock feels left out of society, and can not find his own place in the universe. As an old man on the beach, looking out into the ocean, he questions if he did the right thing. But he missed everything, all because he was scared. He realizes that he has been living in an imaginary world. When this reality hits him, he drowns soul and all. This poem has always been a favorite of mine because the theme of can apply to the world as a whole. Each of us can sometime find ourselves searching for where we belong in the universe,but are afraid to act on our own desires because of the possible outcomes. In the end, we have to make our move, and not fear rejection so much so that we pass up an opportunity of a lifetime. Conclusion: The speaker of this ironic monologue is a modern man who, like many of his kind, feels isolated and incapable of decisive action. Irony is apparent from the title, for this is not a conventional love song. Prufrock would like to speak of love to a woman, but he does not have the nerve. The poem opens with a quoted passage from Dante’s INFERNO, â€Å"If I thought that my reply would be to one who would return to the world, this flame would stay without further movement; but since none has ever returned alive from depth, if what I hear is true, I answer you without fear of infamy.†, Meaning that Prufrock speaks only because he knows no one will pay attention to him and he won’t be heard. Purfrock repeats certain phrases to clue the reader in that they are part of the story. â€Å"You and I† in the first line, suggest that you must be with him to understand his story

The Plane – Creative Writing

Four pm Spanish time and we were in the Reus airport waiting to go home. We had really enjoyed ourselves in the sun, compared to wet and dreary Northern Ireland but we were really looking forward to getting home and seeing our family again. We had only been there about an hour when we were asked to go to the departure lounge. I thought this was great. We would be in the air promptly and I would see my friends before nightfall. We where flying with Monarch Airlines and we could see the plane over the horizon. As it was landing all that was in my mind were thoughts of home. The people were getting off the plane and they were rushing for the baggage reclaim. We could see our luggage being transported onto the plane and watched as it was being refuelled. As I took a look around I could see there were no engineers examining the plane. As we settled into our seats the Captain of the plane announced that we would be taking off within the next ten minutes. I was seated at the window, my sister next to me, my mum on the aisle and my dad in the next row. As the plane was powering up I became very nervous. The engines roared and it shot like a bullet along the runway and into the air. I looked out the window and watched. The airport became just a speck in the distance and I knew we were finally heading home. The cabin crew came along selling headphones for the televisions and I bought a pair and waited to see what was coming on. The TV sets came down but to my surprise they went back up, All the sets were doing this, up then down again and again. The cabin lights flickered and a cold mist came out of the ceiling, I thought this was very strange. We all knew by now something wasn't right. Then the Captain's speakers came on and he said in a frightful manner â€Å"could the cabin crew come to the cockpit for a briefing† I knew this was not normal. The speakers came on once more the captain saying, â€Å"I am sorry but we will have to return to Reus airport†. My heart started to pump faster. As he said that, the plane went over to the side. I looked out of the window and the ocean was like a magnet pulling the plane down. The Captain pulled back up again and the plane was going the opposite direction. I could see the airport that was just a spec and now was a safe-haven. The plane started its descent to the airport. As I peered out of the window the runway was getting closer. Then the right engine failed. I thought this was all right because we were almost on the ground. As I turned my head further round the window I saw fire engines and ambulances rushing down beside the plane. My hands gripped onto the arm of the chair like a vice on a piece of hard metal There were children crying but I couldn't, all I could do was watch the sky. The back wheels of the plane touched down and I held my breath for the final wheel touching the ground. As it did it was like Velcro sticking to the runway. The wheels screeched on the ground and the plane went off to the right and we came to an abrupt halt. Everyone on the plane was silent and all that could be heard were sirens. One man on the plane started demanding his baggage. Then the Captain announced that we had to go to the departure lounge. Anybody that was a smoker had started smoking on the plane. As we waited in the departure lounge all we were given was a free sandwich and a free drink. We were in the airport for two hours when a thunderstorm occurred. All I could think of was â€Å"it could only happen to me†. Then around an hour later the Captain came into the airport and announced that when we took off we had sprayed half our fuel supply over the runway. It was due to a burst fuel pipe and that was why we had such a bad landing. We were in the airport for a total of seven hours when we could hear a faint sound in the air. All the people came to the windows and looked out. In the distance we could see our new plane coming towards the airport through thunder and lightning. It looked like a superhero coming to our rescue as everybody cheered. As we got on the plane everyone was nervous. We went down the runway and into the air again. As this was happening you could almost hear everyone's heart beating. As we touched down in Belfast International Airport everyone cheered once more and the pilots wished us all a safe and happy onward journey.

How Do I See Myself 10 Years from Now?

The way I see myself ten years ahead of now is not something I often think about. To tell you the truth, it scares me a little to know that in one short decade I will be twenty six years old, and that my years of youth are coming to an end. One thing I’m certain of, is that if God gives me the opportunity to get to that age, I will make the most of my years and put all of my effort to become a successful, happy woman. Contemplating on the future doesn’t always come easy since no one really knows if it will ever go the way we think it would.As for me, I envision myself as a happy and most probably, simple individual who has finished most of the plans he has made and set as his life was slowly expended on each day that passed by. These plans would not only involve the actual completion of a series of courses I would really love to graduate from, namely, my current course, Medical Technology. And of course to become also a Registered one. At that age, I am already a full p ledge RMT. Working on a very nice hospital which pays relatively huge sums of money for some meager job I have to accomplish.I will also save my money. I will also travel to Paris with my family. I will let my parents feel and enjoy life through buying them plane tickets and go around the world. I will also help my relatives who ask helps from me. I will work hard so that I can buy anything I want. And experience the things I wanted to do when I was still a child. I will also help and support my younger brother in his studies. I wanted also to continue what I've started. What I'm trying to say is I will go and study at Medicine School. Because my parent want me to become a Doctor.I really wanted also to become one because, as what I mention earlier I want to earned huge sums of money. I want also to help people who doesn't afford to go to hospital. I want also to make my parents proud. At the age of 28 or 29, this is already the right time to experience going out with someone else. I mean it's boyfriend time. Hahaha! It's time to experience how to be love and how to love by special someone. So, I will do all my best to pursue all my dreams. I will follow and listen to my parents. I will also ask the help and guidance of the Lord.

Design a total rewards program based on the organization that you have Essay

Design a total rewards program based on the organization that you have studied thus far in the course - Essay Example ply goes to the scheme telling that organization wants to obtain productivity and outcome from its employees and in turn it will provide its employees valuable experience and reward. The following paper will represent the total reward program for the certain organization and will recommend changes to it. It will further assess and discuss the risks of implementing the program and the opportunities it can give to the organization. Certain metrics will be provided for evaluating the total rewards program. For the Sport & Health fitness center it is vital to provide the best services for its clients through excellent work of their employees. As it puts into practice different activities that are connected with the health improvement, it should take into an account professionalism in the execution of its employees’ duties. The organization offers affordable services and is aimed on people from all occupations and life styles and involves everyone from children to the elderly. Since modern life cause people to feel stress more often, for some individuals it is also the monotonous and inactive life and going in for various sport and fitness centers will be the way out that will provide them healthy life. These facts put fitness Centre in the forehand as one of the growing industries. However, the modern technologies and improvements in the recruitment spheres require deeper understanding of how such business should conduct its activities. Thus, Sport & Health fitness center experi ences currently certain financial problems, as the technology is advancing and it requires better acquisition of more modern equipment. It is also facing the challenge that is connected with the people’s understanding of fitness and its role in their lives. Along with it, the organization should revise its policy of providing service, as in the future it can face with the competition because health issue is obtaining more attention and thus more fitness establishments open its doors to

Information Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Information Management - Essay Example Evolution of Information Systems Over the decades, technology has evolved manifolds. The major enhancements pertaining to the technological developments involve the communication media. Transfer of information amongst the users has always been a critical issue embedded in the communication strategies. Business environments have imbibed the technology trends up to a great extent in order to enhance their functionality as a complete unit that integrated diverse areas of work (Govindaraj, 2001). The necessity to manage all the data and information related to the vendors, consumers, employees, work processes, business transactions, stakeholders and so on had to be addressed to the minutest details. This issue demanded for an evolution of a system that could store all the information generated at diverse fields of work and support the handling of information in a limpid manner. The system that provides the infrastructure to manage and maintain such task is known as â€Å"Information Systems Provision†. Implementation of Information Systems Information Systems is implemented on the type of the information, whose analysis is required to understand the processes and parameters linked to the data. This data may be acquired from various fields of the concerned business environment (Warboys, Kawalek, Robertson and Greenwood, 1999). Following are the requirements to implement an Information System for a marketing division. To model the dynamics of the processes those effect the production.

Health Care Professional Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health Care Professional - Research Paper Example Their certainly exists a demographic aspect to the physician shortage in America (Dranove, 2001). Though with the onset of recession and the dwindling of stock markets has made some old physicians to set aside their retirement plans. Still, with the economy gradually picking up with time, more and more old physicians could be expected to go for retirement. Rising practice prices is one other big reason that is contributing to the shortage of physicians in the nation (Dranove, 2001). These rising prices include augmenting wage costs, skyrocketing costs of supplies and associated telecommunication and digital infrastructure, booming rents, increasing costs of salary benefits including the health coverage (Dranove, 2001). Hence, rising practice costs is one big reason that is discouraging the physicians from continuing with their profession. The financial debacle that the physician practice management firms had to face with the dwindling economy has also contributed its share to the sca rcity of physicians in the country (Dranove, 2001). The collapse of many salient physician practice management firms has left many of the esteemed physician practice groups in the United States in doldrums. In contrast, the physicians working for the not-for-profit hospitals are also not doing better considering the massive losses accrued by these health care facilities. The shortage of nurses in the health care system is not a new phenomenon, but has been an aspect of health care that has been existent since the past couple of decades (Quinn, 2002). However, it has only been in the last few years that the problem of nursing shortage started to evince a significant impact on the American health care system (Quinn, 2002). Varied factors are responsible for the shortage of nurses. Going by the rising proportion of the women in the work force and the ample stress