Night World : Daughters of Darkness Chapter 13

Jade sat in the wing chair, holding Tiggy upsidedown on her lap, petting his stomach. He was purring but mad. She stared down into indignant, glowing green eyes. â€Å"The other goat,† Kestrel announced from the doorway, saying the word as if it were something not mentioned in polite society, â€Å"is just fine. So you can let the cat out.† Jade didn't think so. There was somebody crazy inBriar Creek, and she planned to keep Tiggy safe where she could see him. â€Å"We're not going to have to feed on the goat, are we?† Kestrel asked Rowan dangerously. â€Å"Of course not. Aunt Opal did because she was tooold to hunt.† Rowan looked preoccupied as she answered. â€Å"I like hunting,† Jade said. â€Å"It's even better thanI thought it would be.† But Rowan wasn't listening she was biting her lip and staring into the distance. â€Å"Rowan, what?† â€Å"I was thinking about the situation we're in. You and Mark, for one thing. I think we need to talk about that.† Jade felt reflexive alarm. Rowan was in one of herorganizing moods-which meant you could blink and find that she'd rearranged all your bedroom furnitureor that you were moving to Oregon. â€Å"Talk about what?† she said warily. â€Å"About what you two are going todo. Is he going to stay human?† â€Å"It's illegal to change him,† Kestrel put in pointedly. â€Å"Everything we've done this week is illegal,†Rowan said. â€Å"And if they exchange blood again well, it's only going to take a couple of times. Do you want him a vampire?† she asked Jade. Jade hadn't thought about it. She thought Mark was nice the way he was. But maybehe would wantto be one. â€Å"What are you going to do with yours?† she asked Ash, who was coming slowly downstairs. â€Å"My what?† He looked sleepy and irritable. â€Å"Your soulmate. Is Mary-Lynnette going to stayhuman?† â€Å"That's the other thing I've been worrying about,† Rowan said. â€Å"Have you thought at all, Ash?† â€Å"I can't think at this hour in the morning. I don'thave a brain yet.† â€Å"It's almost noon,† Kestrel said scornfully. â€Å"I don't care when it is. I'm still asleep.† He wandered toward the kitchen. â€Å"And you don't need to worry,† he added, looking back and sounding more awake. â€Å"Because I'm not doinganythingwith the girl and Jade's not doing anything with the brother. Because we're goinghome.†He disappeared. Jade's heart was beating hard. Ash might act frivolous, but she saw the ruthlessness underneath. She looked at Rowan. â€Å"Is Mary-Lynnettereally his soulmate?† Rowan leaned back, her brown hair spreading likea waterfall on the green brocade of the couch. â€Å"I'm afraid so.† â€Å"But then how can he want to leave?† â€Å"Well †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Rowan hesitated. â€Å"Soulmates don't always stay together. Sometimes it's too much-the fire and lightning and all that. Some people just can'tstand it.† Maybe Mark and I aren't really soulmates, Jade thought. And maybe that's good. It sounds painful. â€Å"Poor Mary-Lynnette,† she said. A dear voice sounded in her mind:Whydoesn'tanybody say â€Å"Poor Ash†? â€Å"Poor Mary-Lynnette,† Jade said again. Ash reappeared. â€Å"Look,† he said and sat down onone of the carved mahogany chairs. â€Å"We need to get things straight. It's not just a matter ofme wanting you to come home. I'm not the only one who knows you're here.† Jade stiffened. Kestrelsaid, almost pleasantly,†Youtold somebody?† â€Å"I was staying with somebody when the family called to say you were missing. And he was there when I realized where you must have gone. He also happens to be an extremely powerful telepath. So just consider yourself lucky I convinced him to let me try to get you back.† Jade stared at him. She did consider herself lucky. She also considered it strange that Ash would go to such trouble for her and Rowan and Kestrel-for any bodybesides Ash. Maybe she didn't know her brother as well as she thought. Rowan said, very soberly, â€Å"Who was it?† â€Å"Oh, nobody.† Ash leaned back and looked moodily at the ceiling. â€Å"Just Quinn.† Jade flinched. Quinn †¦ that snake .He had a heart like a glacier and he despised humans. He was the sort to take Night World law into his own hands if he didn't think it was being enforced properly. â€Å"He's coming back on Monday to see if I've takencare of the situation,† Ash said. â€Å"And if I haven't,we're all dead-you, me, and your little human buddies.† Rowan said, â€Å"So we've got until Monday to figuresomething out.† Kestrel said, â€Å"If he tries anything on us, he's in fora fight.† Jade squeezed Tiggy to make him growl. Mary-Lynnette had been sleeping like a stone-buta stone with unusually vivid dreams. She dreamed about stars brighter than she'd ever seen and starclouds shimmering in colors like the northern lights. She dreamed about sending an astronomical telegram to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to register her claim for discovering a new supernova. About being the firstto see it with her wonderful new eyes, eyes thatshe saw in a mirror-were all pupil, like an owl's or a cat's†¦. Then the dream changed and she was an owl, swooping down in a dizzying rush from a hollow Douglas fir. She seized a squirrel in her talons andfelt a surge of simple joy. Killing felt so natural. All she had to do was be the best owl she could be, and grab food with her feet. But then a shadow fell over her from somewhereabove. And in the dream she felt a terrible sick real ization-that even hunters could be hunted. And that something was after her†¦. She woke up disoriented-not as towhere shewas, but as to who she was. Mary-Lynnette or a hunter being chased by something with white teeth in themoonlight? And even when she went downstairs, she couldn't shake off the sick feeling from her dream. â€Å"Hi,† Mark said. â€Å"Is that breakfast or lunch?† â€Å"Both,† Mary-Lynnette said, sitting down on the family room couch with her two granola bars. Mark was watching her. â€Å"So,† he said, â€Å"have you been thinking about it, too?† Mary-Lynnette tore the wrapper off a granola bar with her teeth. â€Å"About what?† † Youknow.† Mary-Lynnette did know. She glanced around to make sure Claudine wasn't in earshot.† Don't think about it.† â€Å"Why not?† When she didn't answer, he said,†Don't tell me you haven't been wondering what it would be like. To see better, hear better, be telepathic†¦and live forever. I mean, we could see the year three thousand. You know, the robot wars, colonizing other planets†¦. Come on, don't tell me you'renot even a little curious.† All Mary-Lynnette could think of was a line from a Robert Service Poem: Andthe skies of nightw re alive with light, with a throbbing, thrilling flame†¦ . â€Å"I'm curious,† she said. ‘But there's no point in wondering. They do things we couldn't do-they kill† She put down her glass of milk as if she'd lost herappetite. She hadn't, though-and wasn't that the problem? She ought to be sick to her stomach at just the thought of killing, of drinking blood from a warm body. Instead, she was scared. Of what was out there inthe world-and of herself. â€Å"It'sdangerous,†she said aloud to Mark. â€Å"Don'tyousee? We've gotten mixed up in this Night World-and it's a place where bad things can happen. Not just bad like flunking a class. Bad like †¦Ã¢â‚¬  †¦ white teeth in the moonlight †¦ â€Å"Like getting lolleddead,† Mary-Lynnette said. â€Å"And that's serious, Mark. It's not like the movies.† Mark was staring at her. â€Å"Yeah, but we knew that already.† His tone said â€Å"What's the big deal?† And Mary-Lynnette couldn't explain. She stood up abruptly. â€Å"If we're going over there, we'd better get moving,† she said. â€Å"It's almost one o'clock.† The sisters and Ash were waiting at Burdock Farm. â€Å"You and Mark can sit in the front with me,† MaryLynnette told Jade, not looking at Ash. â€Å"But I don't think you'd better bring the cat.† â€Å"The cat goes,† Jade said firmly, getting in. â€Å"OrI don't.† Mary-Lynnette put the car in gear and pulled out. As they came in sight of the small duster of buildings on Main Street, Mark said, â€Å"And there it is, downtown Briar Creek in all its glory. A typical Friday afternoon, with absolutely nobody on the streets.† He didn't say it with his usual bitterness. MaryLynnette glanced at him and saw that it was Jade he was talking to. And Jade was looking around with genuine interest, despite the cat's claws embedded in her neck. â€Å"Somebody'son the streets,† she said cheerfully. â€Å"It's that. boy Vic. And that other one, Todd. And grown-ups.† Mary-Lynnette slowed as she passed the sheriff'soffice but didn't stop until she reached the gas station at the opposite corner. Then she got out and looked casually across the street. Todd Akers was there with his father, the sheriff and Vic Kimble was there with his father. Mr. Kimble had a farm east of town. They were all getting into the sheriff's car, and they all seemed very excited. Bunny Marten was standing on the sidewalk watching as they left. Mary-Lynnette felt a twinge of fear. This is what it's like when you have a terrible secret, she thought. You worry about everything that happens, and wonder if it's got something to do with you, if it's going to get you caught. â€Å"Hey, Bunnyl† she called. â€Å"What's going on?† Bunny looked back. â€Å"Oh, hi, Mare.† She walkedunhurriedly-Bunny never hurried-,acrossthe street. â€Å"How're you doing? They're just going to check out that horse thing.† â€Å"What horse thing?† â€Å"Oh. . .didn't you hear?† Bunny was looking behind Mary-Lynnette now, at Mark and the four strangers who were getting out of the station wagon. Suddenly her blue eyes got rounder and she reached up to fluff her soft blond hair. Now, I wonder who she's just seen, Mary-Lynnettethought ironically. Who could it be? â€Å"Hi† Ash said. â€Å"We didn't hear about the horse thing,† MaryLynnette said, gently prompting. â€Å"Oh†¦ um, one of Mr. Kimble's horses cut his throat on barbed wire last night. That's what everybody was sayingthis morning. But just now Mr.Kimble came into town and said that he didn't think it was barbed wire after all. He thinks †¦ somebody did it on purpose. Slashed its throat and left it todie.† She hunched her shoulders in a tiny shiver.. Theatrically, Mary-Lynnette thought. â€Å"You see?† Jade said. â€Å"That's why I'm keeping my eye on Tiggy.† Mary-Lynnette noticed Bunny eyeing Jade. â€Å"Thanks,Bun.† â€Å"I've got to get back to the store,† Bunny said,but she didn't move. Now she was looking at Kestreland Rowan. â€Å"I'll walk you there,† Ash said gallantly. Withwhat, Mary-Lynnette thought, must be his usual putting-the-moves-on manner. â€Å"After all, we don't know what could be lurking around here.† â€Å"It's broad daylight,† Kestrel said disgustedly, but Ash was already walking Bunny away. MaryLynnette decided she was glad to get rid of him. â€Å"Who was that girl?† Rowan asked, and something in her voice was odd. Mary-Lynnette glanced at her in surprise. â€Å"Bunny Marten. I know her from school.What's wrong?† â€Å"She was staring at us,† Rowan said softly. â€Å"She was staring at Ash. Oh, and probably youthree, too. You're new and you're pretty, so she's probably wondering which boys you'll take fromher.† â€Å"I see.†But Rowan still looked preoccupied. â€Å"Rowan, what is it?† â€Å"It's nothing. I'm sure it's nothing. It's just thatshe's gota lamia name.† † Bunny?† † Well.† Rowan smiled. â€Å"Lamia are traditionallynamed after natural things–gems andanimalsand flowers and trees. So Bunny' would be a lamianame-and isn't a marten a kind of weasel?† Something was tugging at the edges of Mary-Lynnette's consciousness again. Something about Bunny †¦ about Bunny and †¦ wood †¦ It was gone. She couldn't remember. To Rowan she said,†But-can you sense something suspiciousabout her or anything? I mean, does she seemlike one of you? Because otherwise I just can't see Bunny as a vampire. I'm sorry; I just can't.† Rowan smiled. â€Å"No, I don't sense anything. And I'm sure you'reright-humans can have names likeours, too. Sometimes it gets confusing.† For some bizarre reason Mary-Lynnette's mind wasstill on wood. â€Å"You know, I don't see why you name yourselves after trees. I thought wood was dangerous for you.† â€Å"It is-,and that makes it powerful. Tree names are supposed to be some of the most powerful nameswe have.† Ash was coming out of the general store. Immediately Mary-Lynnette turned around and looked for Jeremy. She didn't see him in the empty gas station, butshe heard something-something she realized she'dbeen hearing for several minutes. Hammering. â€Å"Come on, let's go around back,† she said, alreadywalking, not waiting for Ash to reach them. Kestreland Rowan went with her. Jeremy was around back. He was hammering a long board across a broken window. There wereshards of thick, greenish-tinted glass all over the ground. Light brown hair wasfalling in his eyes ashe struggled to hold the board steady. † What happened?† Mary-Lynnettesaid. She moved automatically to hold the right end of the board in place for him. He glanced up at her, making a grimace of reliefas he let go of the board. â€Å"Mary-Lynnette-thanks. Hang on a sec.† He reached into his pocket for nails and began driving them in with quick, sure blows of the hammer. Then he said, â€Å"I don't know what happened.Somebody broke it last night. Made a real mess.† â€Å"Last night seems to have been a busy night,† Kestrel said dryly. Jeremy glanced back at the voice. And then †¦ his hands went still, poised with the hammer and nail. He was looking at Kestrel, and at Rowan beside her,looking a long time. At last he turned to MaryLynnette and said slowly, â€Å"You need more gas already?† â€Å"Oh-no. No.† I should have siphoned some out,Mary-Lynnette thought. Nancy Drew would defi nitely have thought of that. â€Å"I justit's been knocking a lotthe engine-and I thought you could lookat it-under the hood-since you didn't last time.† Incoherent and pathetic, she decided in the silencethat followed. And Jeremy's dear brown eyes were still searching her face. â€Å"Sure, Mary-Lynnette,† he said-not sarcastically, but gently. â€Å"As soon as I get finished.† Oh, hecan't be a vampire. And so what am I doing here, lying to him, suspecting him, when he's only ever been nice to me? He's the type to help old ladies, not kill them. Sssssss. She started as the feral hiss tore through the silence. It came from behind her, and for one horrible instant she thought it was Kestrel. Then she saw thatJade and Mark had rounded the comer, and that Tiggy was fighting like a baby leopard in Jade's arms. The kitten was spitting and clawing, black fur standing on end. Before Jade could get a better grip, he climbed up her shoulder and leaped, hitting the ground running. † Tiggy! â€Å"Jade shrieked. She took off after him, silvery blond hair flying, agile as a kitten herself. Markfollowed, ricocheting off Ash who was just comingaround the comer himself. Ash was knocked into thegas station wall. â€Å"Well, that was fun,† Kestrel said. But Mary-Lynnette wasn't really listening. Jeremywas staring at Ash-and his expression gave Mary Lynnette coldchills. And Ash was staring back with eyes as green as glacier ice. Their gazes were locked in something like instantaneous, instinctive hatred. Mary-Lynnette felt a quiver of fear for Jeremy-but Jeremy didn't seem afraid for himself. His muscles were tight and he looked ready to defend himself. Then, deliberately, he turned away. Turned hisback on Ash. He readjusted the board-and MaryLynnette did what she should have done in the beginning. She looked at his hand. The ring on his index finger glinted gold, and she could just make out the black design on the seal. A tall duster of bell-shaped flowers. Not an iris,not a dahlia, not a rose. No-there was only one flower Rowan had mentioned that this could possiblybe. It grew wild around here and it was deadly poison. Foxglove. So now she knew. Mary-Lynnette felt hot and sick. Her hand began to tremble on the board she was holding. She didn't want to move, but she couldn't stay here. â€Å"I'm sorry-1 have to get something-† The words came out in a painful gasp. She knew everyone wasstaring at her. She didn't care. She let go of the board and almost ran away. She kept going until she was behind the boardedup windows of the Gold Creek Hotel. Then she leaned against the wall and stared at the place where town ended and the wilderness began. Motes of dust danced in the sunlight, bright against a dark background of Douglas fir. I'm so stupid. All the signs were there, right in front of my face. Why didn't I seebefore? I guess because I didn't want to †¦. â€Å"Mary-Lynnette.† Mary-Lynnette turned toward the soft voice. She resisted the impulse to throw herself into Rowan's arms and bawl. â€Å"I'll be okay in just a few minutes. Really. It's just a shock.† â€Å"Mary-Lynnette †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's just-it's just that I've known him so long.It's not easy to picture himyou know. But I guess it just goes to show you. People are never what they seem.† â€Å"Mary-Lynnette-† Rowan stopped and shook her head. â€Å"Just what are you talking about?† â€Å"Him.Jeremy. Of course.† Mary-Lynnette took abreath. The air felt hot and chokingly dusty. â€Å"He did it. He really did it.† â€Å"Why do you think so?† â€Å"Why?Because he's a werewolf. â€Å" There was a pause and Mary-Lynnette suddenly felt embarrassed. She looked around to make sure nobody was in earshot, and then said more quietly,†Isn't he?† Rowan was looking at her curiously. â€Å"How did you know?† â€Å"Well-you said black foxglove is for werewolves. And that's foxglove on his ring. How did you know?† â€Å"I just sensed it. Vampire powers are weaker insunlight, but Jeremy isn't trying to hide anything. He's right out there.† â€Å"He sure is,† Mary-Lynnette said bitterly. ‘ I should have sensed it. I mean †¦ he's the only person in town who was interested in the lunar eclipse. And the way he moves, and his eyes †¦ and he livesat Mad Dog Creek, for God's sake. I mean, that land's been in his family for generations.And' -Mary-Lynnette gave a sudden convulsive sniffle-â€Å"people say they've seen the Sasquatch around there. A big hairy monster, half person and half beast. Now, what does that sound like?† Rowan was standing quietly, her expression grave-but her lips were twitching. Mary-Lynnette's vision blurred and wetness spilled onto her cheeks. â€Å"I'm sorry.† Rowan put a hand on her arm. â€Å"I'mnot laughing.† â€Å"I thought he was a nice guy,† Mary-Lynnettesaid, turning away. â€Å"I still think he is,† Rowan said. â€Å"And actually, really, you know, it means he didn'tdo it.† â€Å"The fact that he's a nice guy?† â€Å"The fact that he's a werewolf.† Mary-Lynnette turned back.† What?† â€Å"You see,† Rowan said, â€Å"werewolves are different. They're not like vampires. They can't drink a little blood from people and then stop without doing anyreal harm. They kill every time they hunt-because they have to eat.†Mary-Lynnette gulped, but Rowanwent on serenely. â€Å"Sometimes they eat the whole animal,but they always eat the internal organs, theheart and liver. They have to do it, the same way that vampires need to drink blood.† â€Å"And that means †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He didn't kill Aunt Opal. Or the goat. They wereboth intact.† Rowan sighed. â€Å"Look. Werewolves and vampires traditionally hate each other. They've been . rivals forever, and lamia think of werewolves as sort of-lower class. But actually a lot of them are gentle.They only hunt to eat.† â€Å"Oh,† Mary-Lynnette said hollowly. Shouldn't shebe happier about this? â€Å"So the guy I thought was nice just has to eat the odd liver occasionally.† â€Å"Mary-Lynnette, you can't blame him. How can I explain? It's like this: Werewolves aren't people whosometimes turn into wolves. They're wolves who sometimes look like people.† â€Å"But they still kill,† Mary-Lynnette said flatly. â€Å"Yes, but onlyanimals.The law is very strict aboutthat. Otherwise humans catch on in no time. Vam pires can disguise their work by making it look like a cut throat, but werewolf kills are unmistakable.† â€Å"Okay. Great.† I should be more enthusiastic, Mary-Lynnette thought. But how could you ever re ally trust someone who was a wolf behind their eyes? You might admire them the way you admire a sleek and handsome predator, but trust them †¦no. â€Å"Before we go back-we may have a problem,†Rowan said. â€Å"If he realizes that you recognized his ring, he may know we've told you about you know.† She glanced around and lowered her voice. â€Å"The Night World.† Mary-Lynnette understood. â€Å"Oh, God.† â€Å"Yes. That means it's his duty to turn us all in. Or kill us himself.† â€Å"Oh, God† â€Å"The thing is, I don't think he will. He likes you, Mary-Lynnette. A lot. I don't think he could bring himself to turn you in.† Mary-Lynnette felt herself flushing. â€Å"But then, that would get him in trouble, too, wouldn't it?† â€Å"It could, if anybody ever finds out. We'd better go back and see what's going on. Maybe he doesn't realize you know. Maybe Kestrel and Ash have managed tobluff him.†

Conservative, Liberal and Marxist History

History has been understood differently by different people. While some have understood it as the study of the past events, others have defined it as a record of human actions which have occurred in the past. 1 However the variety of definitions, it should be pointed out that history does not constitute everything that happened in the past. Only those past activities which have had a bearing on the present are what may qualify to be worth history. 2 Just as there are many definitions of history, so are there many branches of history.This essay is meant to define and illustrate the importance of three of the braches of history. These include Conservative, Liberal and Marxist History. The essay is organized in two parts. The first part will provide in-depth understanding of the three terms, whereas the second part will show how important each of them is in the study of history. Conservative History is one historical interpretation of history which traces its foundation in the word â₠¬ËœConservatism’. Conservatism literary means preservation of what has always been tradition.It is an ideology which favours status quo and is very reluctant to accept change. Conservatives prefer having things continues as they have been in the past. Any drastic change to tradition is viewed with suspicion. According to this ideology, political and other human institutions have endured through ages because of tradition. For this reason, change should only be accepted very gradually. 3 Having looked at conservatism, it may now be imperative to define Conservative History as that branch of history whose writings are based on maintaining history as has always been written, without altering it.In this vein, this history favours tradition, as no perceptions or any other radical views are not emphasized. Conservative Historians may also write history not to preserve the past, but to remind society of the good olden tradition. The goal in this case, is to see societies revert back to the values of earlier times. Because of its emphasis on the value of tradition, Conservative History has always perpetuated inequalities, absolutist regimes and domination of the poor by the upper class. 4 Liberal History as the word ‘liberal’ suggests, comes from the Latin word ‘liber’ meaning ‘free’.The word therefore, has more to do with freedom or liberty. Liberalism advocates for equality of opportunity for all and allows maximum freedom to individuals while limiting the powers of government. The earliest form of Liberal History was a reaction to the conservative history, which was being considered as static. Liberal History advocated for the freedom of thought for historians as a way of ensuring the progress of humanity. Core to this branch of history is the belief that if historians are to write history which promotes progress, then historians should not be controlled in trying to seek historical truth.The past, present and future are seen as being interconnected and influencing one another. Therefore, it is not necessary to emphasize one when all the three (past, present and future) collectively shape history of humanity. According to liberal historians, it is possible to analyze history progressively rather than look at it as tradition. They totally differ with conservatives who may always want to maintain status quo in areas such as divine rights of kings and hereditary status among many others. They regard traditions as having no value other than hindering social progress.Further, they hold the view that traditions and other social practices should continually be adjusted for the benefit of humanity. In other words, Liberal History constitutes those historical accounts which are highly critical of certain traditions and cultures, referring to them as uncivilized, barbaric and primitive. 6 Marxist History’s origin may be traced to the works of Karl Marx (1818- 1853) who analyzed human history and concl uded that it was all about class struggles. 7 It is also called Radical History.Marx theorized that in every historical era, there is always a dominating class and an oppressed class, as well as a struggle between these classes. According to him, these struggles are perpetuated by the state and economic conditions such as capitalism which produces oppressed classes. He contended that capitalists will destroy engage in brutal competitive struggles with each other, thereby giving an opportunity to the exploited laboring classes to rise up against capitalism and overthrow it so that they replace it with communism.In communism, there would be no classes and economic benefits would be shared equitably. 8 Marxist History is therefore, that interpretation of history on the basis of not only social and political factors but also economic factors. Marxist historians asserted that poverty and diseases of the poor people are as a result of social classes and conditions under which peasants liv ed and worked. 9 The base of man’s problems was to be found in the division of society into classes. Therefore, in order building a society with no exploitation is only dependant on the forceful removal of the capitalist  system.At the centre of radical history is the argument that the historical analysis of man’s progress and development is meaningless unless that analysis puts into consideration the economic and social relations aspect. 10 This is unlike liberal history which only emphasizes the social and political factors in the analysis of man’s development. So far, it is clear that Marxist History differs considerably from the other two branches discussed. For example, whereas liberal history centres on man’s progress, Marxist history is more concerned with changing the world.Marxist historians advocate for a radical transformation of the economic and social conditions by removing capitalist relations. This would have to be done through a violent revolution. An example of radical historians is Paulo Freire who championed the cause of the oppressed in his book, ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’. 11 In this book, he campaigned for the liberation of the poor who had been oppressed by the dominant classes. Having discussed the three branches of history in detail, the essay will now focus on the importance of each of these branches in the study of history.Merely defining the concepts without illustrating their relevance can render futile the need to understand them (branches) in the study of history. It should be noted from the onset that while all the branches discussed may have their faults or inadequacies, they all are very relevant in the study of history. Many a time, historians align themselves with one of the many branches, and this reflects in their works. The importance of Conservative History can never be overemphasized. What is life without tradition?No society would be what it is today without the contribution of past values and traditions. Though arguable, it could be true to assert that the world has evolved into what it is today because of the good values of the past. It is for this reason that caution ought to be taken to ensure that societies and politics remain immune to temptations to change. Conservative history is premised on the old adage that ‘the devil you know is better than the angel you do not know’. The emphasis on maintaining the status quo will definitely result in continuity and stability of societies and institutions.Conservative history gives an impression that things were better in the past than they are now and that there is need to go back to the olden ways. This is especially true in the area of African education. Indigenous education was better compared to the current western education, which promotes nothing but social stratification and unemployment. The entire curriculum is so irrelevant, bookish, with very few practical subjects at selected level s of education12. However, looking into the past, it is vivid that traditional education which was offered ensured a rounded education and comprehensive preparation for real life.There was no such thing as unemployment! Owing to the fact the past was much better off than the present, conservative history plays an invaluable role in enlightening the present generations on the achievements of the past. Its stress on the need to return to the values of the earlier times has always been received positively. In Zambia for example, there are moves to ruralize the school curriculum so that it includes some of the traditional aspects which have direct relevance to societies.13 Further, tribute should be paid to conservative historians for their role in the re-writing of African History which had been greatly tarnished by some liberal historians. The first writers of African history portrayed it in a very negative way. The African ways of life were seen as heathen, barbaric, primitive, backw ard and uncivilized. 14 It had to take conservative African historians to try to erase the fabrications, omissions and stereotypes of colonial historians. By eulogizing the African past, conservative historians have made a huge contribution to the study of history.Like Conservative History, Liberal history plays an important role in the interpretation of history. The notion of the past as a continuation into the present and future is very true and important. It is very true in the sense that society is indeed dynamic. The conditions of the past may not be the same conditions now. Therefore, societies cannot afford to be static in a fast changing world. For example, in the 1970s, Zambia and many other countries were under socialist and dictatorship regimes. It worked so well that time. However, in the 1990s, a wind of change blew, and countries could not afford to remain static.Many socialist governments were toppled and replaced with more democratic and capitalist governments which espoused the principle of liberalization. The role of liberal history in promoting the progress of society cannot be overlooked. Besides, this is the only branch of history which makes it easy to analyze the past in order to understand the present and finally forecast the future. By supporting social progressivism, certain bad elements of tradition can be done away with. Such elements or practices include the divine rights of rulers, hereditary statusand other injustices. 15 In the study of history, this branch helps greatly in the understanding of present events as offshoots of past events. In addition, it is the goal of liberal history to be written from several view points as long as it has man’s freedoms at the centre. 16 This branch is very important because it allows for the different perspectives with people try to explain historical events. Without liberal history, there would only be one universal interpretation of historical facts. It concerns itself with the politi cal and social life of societies.These are very cardinal aspects of history which demand for interpretation. Marxist history has an immense contribution it makes in the study of history. As discussed earlier, this branch fills the void left by liberal history. The latter only addressed the social and political aspects leaving the economic aspect which also contributes to man’s progress in both political and social life. Though radical in nature, this branch provides a working interpretation or hypothesis of the existing social classes and consequent class struggles in man’s history.17 It is therefore, possible to understand the source of the frequent conflicts between workers and owners of the means of production. Conservative and liberal history may not answer the questions of about poverty and diseases from which poor people suffer. Yet, these are very important questions in any study of history. Radical or Marxist history hence, becomes imperative because it provide s answers to these questions. According to this branch, poverty and disease are as a result of the creation of classes based on economic factors.In other words, capitalism which is the main cause of division of societies is the base of man’s problems and exploitation. 18 Another important aspect of Marxist history in the study of history is its role in trying to change the world. This branch of history attempts to cleanse the world of the social ills and inequalities by bringing them out in the open. It therefore, advocates for a radical transformation and liberation of the poor’s economic and social conditions. Careful analysis of Marxist history offers a good explanation for the under-development of Africa.Colonialism which brought with it capitalism, is blamed for the exploitation of African human and material resources. This knowledge is important in the study of African history. It is necessary to learn how African peasants and workers were stripped of their resou rces by the greedy colonial capitalists. Throughout the colonial period (and even now), Africans did not benefit from their resources. 19 Rather, they have always been suppliers of cheap labour to the capitalists. In summary, this essay has defined three of the many branches of history, namely: Conservative Liberal and Marxist.Conservative history bases its writings on the preservation of what has been traditionally followed. It has no room for divergent and radical views other than the status quo. Liberal history on the other hand, emphasizes freedom of thought for historians as a way of promoting historical progress of humanity. It is a reaction to conservative history. Finally, Marxist history is a radical view of history which emphasizes the interpretation of history on the basis of both social and economic factors.The essay has further, illustrated the importance of each of the branches discussed. Conservative history is cardinal to the understanding and appreciation of the pas t traditions and cultures. Liberal history facilitates an understanding of present events and projection of the future through analysis of the past. Economic inequalities and problems in man’s history can be better explained by Marxist history. It is therefore, clear that historical accounts of all the three branches discussed are extremely relevant in the study of history.

U.S. government policies on economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

U.S. government policies on economy - Essay Example Student loans Student loans in America are a form of financial assistance that are supposed to be refunded, converse to other forms of financial assistance, for example, grants and loans. Student loans play an extremely significant role in the higher education of America. Approximately 20 million American citizens go to college every year. In America, a large part of higher education is financed by learners and their families and is perceived to be a venture instead of a basic human liberty. Consequently, students usually graduate with augmented debt levels. Also, student loans are divided into private student loans and federal loans (Wear Simmons, 2008). The Survey of Consumer Finances, 2010, indicates that 45% of all households have significant student-loan debts. This has a negative impact on the economy and productivity. Student loans have diminished the quality of my life. If I successfully meet the debt to income ratio, I may not have the capacity to reserve sufficient funds fo r a deposit. The Center for Responsible Lending estimates that average-income households take approximately 20 years to make sufficient savings for a 10% down payment. I may also take longer to save for a down payment due to additional financial requirements. There are a number of recommendations to address this issue. One is promote extensive adoption of the college scorecard by postsecondary-education institutes. Another recommendation is to establish a properly designed refunding program for students who borrow loans. It is also imperative to incorporate private student loans under bankruptcy protection. Free Trade Free trade is a policy by which the administration does not interfere with exports or discriminate against imports by enforcing subsidies to exports or tariffs to imports or quotas. In the view of comparative advantage, free trade policy allows trading partners equal advantages from trade of services and goods. Free trade has governed prices which are as a consequence of government intervention in the economy through supply restraints or price adjustments (Pugel, 2007). Free trade has improved the quality of my life. For instance, if tariffs on imported sugar are reduced in America, the American manufacturers will receive lower prices and profits while I and other consumers will spend less for an identical amount of sugar due to the similar decreased prices. It also avails numerous items with relative ease. Recommendations include developing additional programs, for example, the trade Adjustment Assistance program which assists those who lose their manufacturing positions due to foreign imports. Nations with dissimilar advantages should be permitted to capitalize on their differences and trade. Research and Development Industry finances two-thirds of America’s research and development. Nonetheless, significant researches are performed by research universities. The federal government developed the foundation for the Nation’s land gra nt institution through the Morrill Acts 4. The federal government support for research and development has developed into a changing and complex web. This has impacted the investment patterns, the economy, and productivity of America (National Science Board, 2008). Research and development has enhanced the quality of life. The fast change has helped me monitor and understand the position of the country in research and development competitiveness. It has also helped me to discover what essential information may be lacking that would give correct examination of the country’

Strategic Marketing Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Marketing Plan - Assignment Example Laura Ashley, the brand that originated from Welsh designer Laura Ashley, is a household name popularised by its colourful fabrics for clothes and home furnishings. Laura Ashley Plc. is a small family company with very specialised products spread in the Europe, UK and US. Started by the Ashleys in 1953 the company kept on embracing new products and companies and integrated vertically. The key for the significance and the competitive edge of the company was the design philosophy of Laura Ashley. Although the company faced a shock after the death of Laura Ashley but the company followed the line of Laura's designs. By 1985 the company established its own supply chain and kept on supplying the products at shops. The Company also implemented the Information system for effective communication with in the company Sales practice: The Company established the shops with the same design and undertaken research and development activities in order to analyse the consumer preferences regarding th e brand. As a result of the surveys conducted the company found the brand name as the major asset of the company, which could prove to be the main source of competitive advantage of the company. Using the Ansoff matrix which is a framework for identifying corporate growth opportunities with two dimensions determining the scope of options between products and markets, this study shall develop SMART strategic marketing objectives. It will identify four generic growth strategies: Market penetration of Laura Ashley means that the company need to aim selling its existing high-end products from accessories, beds, bedlinen and bedspreads, curtains, cushions and throws, fabric, furniture, lighting, mirrors, rugs, sofas and chairs, and wallpapers within the markets it is currently serving but in increasing numbers. Greater effort in sales and marketing to achieve higher product sales is needed for a bigger market share attained possibly through improved product quality or cost reductions. In this process, Laura Ashley must take the opportunity to capture high-end markets in emerging economies such as India and China. As LA's market has declined, more marketing efforts are needed. Market development means selling to new customers for existing products which could require market segmentation. New market in this instance could include previously un-served geographical areas, or another market segment which was not previously catered to. For Laura Ashley, considering its classic home furnishing and fabrics, new markets such as those seeking luxurious abode overseas could be a target. Age, for instance could also be factor for consideration in this process as it has been suggested by various studies that older age indicate diligent shoppers and pursue sedate lifestyle (Zeithaml, 1985 and Hisrich & Peters, 1974). LA could also go for full nesters indicative through movement in household as this group prefer consumer durables and are basically home-oriented (Shanginger and Danko, 1993) Product development through new designs of existing products capitalising on existing knowledge and skills for the market it once

Financial and accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial and accounting - Essay Example Second, in financial accounting, financial statements are deemed important while users of management accounting focus on accounting reports as the most important products (Stolowy & Lebas 2007). Third, in financial accounting, the IFRS or IAS determine what is supposed to be included in financial reports and statements while in management accounting, managers determine what they want captured in accounting reports. Fourth, financial accounting focuses on historical information whereas management accounting basically utilizes forecasts or focus on future information (Rajasekaran & Lalitha 2011). Fifth, while financial accounting put emphasis on data reliability and objectivity, management accounting emphasizes on relevancy of data. Sixth, financial accounting yields reports about the entire company while management accounting yields reports that suit the needs of the management. Seventh, financial data are usually subject to audit verification while management data are no subject to a uditing process (Rajasekaran & Lalitha 2011). Companies are required to prepare financial statement at the end of their trading periods to disclose information that is deemed crucial for various users of financial statements. 1) Potential investors: Potential investors require financial statements to help them assess financial viability of putting their investment in a company. Based on the information disclosed in the financial statement, for instance profits in profit and loss account, investors are able to forecast future dividends. Also, potential investors may use financial statement figures to gauge the risk associated with investing in a particular company (Gibson 2009). For instance, investors may use high fluctuation in the reported profits of a company as an indication of high risk. Consequently, financial statements assist prospective investors in making investment decisions. 2) Shareholders: Financial statements assist

Considering Definitions of Community Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Considering Definitions of Community - Essay Example In my experience, the need to be identified as part of a community because of where you are is at best aimed at preservation of the status quo, and at worst a means for people to tie you into controlling relationships, in which they can be sure that they remain in charge. The sharing of a common cultural or ethnic identity may not necessarily mean that people gravitate to the same places anymore, but the combination of these common characteristics and a closed, inescapable location, even if it is just in the mind, can be deadly. Little villages across the world force their inhabitants to think, to look like, to feel, even to believe the same as everyone else in the village. Cities are often identifiable by the apparently common behaviors of their inhabitants – New Yorkers are businesslike, driven, and high achievers, for example. And we go even further – the Italians are romantic and stylish, or the Canadians are parochial and eco-conscious. On the face of it, this idea of being in the same place seems to lend us a sense of security, and a way to identify with others. Just, for a moment, however, consider the full implications of thinking this way. â€Å"In this neighborhood, we take care of each other† – just another way to indicate that we are all similar here, hold the same values, and are very likely to persecute and eventually get rid of you if you are not exactly like we are. â€Å"Our community is a caring one and we will always reach out to others, to make their lives easier and better† – so, we are better than others morally, our lives are superior to those of others, and we will emphasize the fact that we have more materially than anyone around us. Someone cynical would argue that living in the same place exposes you to the danger of becoming the same as everyone else in that place: and that means taking on the good and the bad, the prejudices and the preconceptions; the loves and the hates. Perhaps this is wh at happened when Nazism engulfed Germany, or genocide destroyed Rwanda. So, I think that we are losing the idea that a common location is needed to define community, and not a moment too soon. Not that we have rid ourselves of the dangers of strictly identifying ourselves as part of a community, however. The community of right-wing white supremacists is now connected across the world, through the Internet. But so is the community of â€Å"green activists† focusing on the planet’s continued healthy existence. â€Å"Place† has been replaced by common ethics, points of view and, of course, prejudices, in forming a sense of community, thanks to globalization and the spread of communications technology. Communities now identify themselves in the same ways as they have throughout history. Individuals who share religious points of view define themselves by that religion no matter where they are in the world. A community of women, opposed to oppression by men exists int ernationally. A community of human rights activists is able to exert pressure in every corner of the globe, with support for causes independent of location. A central European, aware of human rights abuses in Tibet can make his or her voice heard to the government of China, even if it is just by signing one Internet petition. I can form my own community – and the OED supports this definition – by starting a blog, and finding that the people who read my blog in effect from a

Working conditions in Brooks Brothers Coursework

Working conditions in Brooks Brothers - Coursework Example Individual associates put our employees under a lot of pressure to make the required sales volumes during the period of economic recessions. An employee must make approximately 85% of all the net sales thus living no time for personal development. One has to work for a long number of hours with minimum overtime compensation. This is turning to be a problem because seem not to care about all the well being of the employees.  There is also no room for employees to develop professionally. Once employed in a creation sector of the business, either making the clothes or marketing or sales, a person is likely to stagnate in one position for a long time. Upper management does not offer the employees the required support. It is the dream of any employee in any work station to climb up the ladder in the job market. However, this seems not to be an issue in this organization. The amount of time given for breaks is very little. All we do is work and work the more. The healthcare provided is a lso limited. The employees are so busy such work is available even during holidays and all this work is done while one is standing up. Thus, it is very tiresome and the pay is just okay  Moreover, the management sometimes does not show up on time to open the retail stores. But when one is unable to make the required sales, then it proves to be a problem with the top management. Sometimes that required promotion from within is also very slow. One can be made to do something impromptu something that had not even been planned for.

Current Issue Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Current Issue Analysis - Essay Example And today, according to the official terminology, Indian women continue to belong to the so-called weak groups. In my opinion such misunderstanding of the role of feminism and the importance of the defending of women’s rights takes place because of the lack of support from men’s and boys’ side. Emma Watson, who after she grew up, became not just a â€Å"Harry Potter Girl† but also UN Women Goodwill Ambassador at the HeForShe Campaign 2014 paid attention that fighting for women’s rights too often comes synonymous to men hating. And this has to stop. It is a real problem that women are choosing not to identify themselves as feminists. It is right to make possible for women to make decisions about own body. Women should be afforded the same respect as men. But there is no country in the world, where women may be sure they would receive these rights (Watson, 2014). Some days ago the Dailymail has published some shocking videos of the women being gang raped. The most awful is that the men caught on camera were smiling while carrying out the alleged attacks. And now this movement called #shametherapistcampaign fights against repeated incidents of extreme sexual violence towards Indian women. Sunitha Krishnan through her organisation Prajwala India, a womens rights NGO based in Hyderabad, India released the videos and images of the alleged attackers and in such way her #shametherapistcampaign was born. She got those videos from a concerned man, who â€Å"forwarded her the videos after they were sent to him on the messaging service WhatsApp†. After the campaign was launched on Indian national television, somebody tried to intimidate Mrs Krishnan by throwing rocks into the window of her vehicle (Charlton, 2015). Thus the issue of defending women rights is particularly important for Indian women. They are discriminated from infancy or even earlier, and I can prove this statement with lots of examples. In

Sensory responses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sensory responses - Essay Example It is capable of detecting even the smallest visual and auditory changes. Seeing and hearing are senses which does not require physical contact, but tells us about distant objects with help of electromagnetic waves present in air. . If the sense of touch is considered, the brain could detect within no time, which part of the body was touched. Such is the response and reflex actions. The brain in turn, is composed of two hemispheres and shares the information sensed by the organs equally among the two parts For the complete sensation in visual and hearing, both halves are equally important. The visual and aural senses strongly depend upon the differences between its neighboring senses. Visual perception consists of perceiving the image of outside objects and then, processing them into an interpretation that can be understood by the brain. The human eye does this mechanism of converting light into electrical energy. Here, the sense of hearing is done by an excellent auditory system which perceives the sound produced rather than the source that produces it. The sound is received by the ear through the vibrations in air and transmits them to the brain. Just imagine a ball being thrown on a wall coming back to u again. That's what happens in our sensory system.

The Abolition of Slave Trade Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Abolition of Slave Trade - Research Paper Example The slaves were taken to farms growing cotton, tobacco among others. The Slave trade was very prevalent, and many of the American people contributed to the slave trade especially the settlers. A Slave trade is an important part of the history of America since its impact has affected America greatly. The descendants of slaves are still in America and form part of the American populations. They are American citizens. America was the heart of the slave trade where the slaves were brought from all sides of the continents under the British protectorate. Various other nationalities form part of the American society like the Asians. Most of the people were sold to the slave traders or forceful taken by the slave traders. The slaves contributed greatly to the world war though not of their free will. The abolition of the slave trade was to reduce and remove completely the injustices meted on the Africans who were brought to the shores of America through the Atlantic. They were not treated humanely and therefore were treated as animals. If a slave misbehaved, he or she was beaten like an animal and denied food. The harsh treatment led to a split between the American colonies. They had different interests especially the north did not condone slave trade while the south condoned. Even the passing of the law to abolish slave has halfhearted participation by the South. Slaves who had families were sometimes separately from their spouses especially where they were sold to other owners. The separation of families led to many problems especially with the children who could not be raised by both of their parents. The children were sometimes sold and hence taken away from their families. The slaves had not right to their freedom but belonged to their masters almost forever. The heartless handling of the slaves and the cruelty meted upon them led to an outcry by some congressional representatives. The slaves had no voice and therefore kept silent under while

America Needs Its Nerds Essay Example for Free

America Needs Its Nerds Essay The socially and physically inept, the outcasts, often associated with computers and books- these characteristics constitute the stereotype of the average geek. Students are afraid to reveal their identities in an environment among their peers because of the fear of being an outcast among the idolized jocks. In an excerpt from America Needs Its Nerds Harvard student and writer Leonid Fridman expresses his disgust for the unjust treatment of individuals who are essential to our country- the geeks. He addresses the American public with a call to action to put geeks into their deserved positions, giving them hope and motivation to express their own identities. Fridman utilizes irony when discussing how even Harvard students are being picked on, as well as the compare and contrast between Americas discouraging treatment of the nerd to East Asia and Chinas praising of them, to represent how the fear of social rejection has forced these mistreated intellects to hide their academic capabilities. Leonid Fridmen is disappointment with the fact that even at Harvard, one of the top Ivy League colleges, students are still picked on because of their levels of intellect. It is ironic that even at one of the top colleges in America where nerds and geeks dominate the realm of the school that anti-intellectualism is rampant. Social standing competes with intelligence even at the most academic institution, showing America that students are ashamed of their intellect because of the negative stereotypes society degraded them with. Fridman also employs irony when referring to get[ting] wasted at parties by describing how nerds avoid damaging their brain and bodies, but are punished socially for not  physically hurting themselves. Fridmans call to action addresses the American public as being erroneous in their actions of idolizing the nonintellectual while demeaning the studious intellectuals when he compares Americas academic values to those of East Asias. In America, athletes and celebrities are rewarded and more prevalent in society then those interested in pursuing academics. With these characteristics of our society, it is impossible to compete in the technology rate or be a leading political and cultural force with other countries who encourage academics rather than reject the individuals who excel in it. Fridmans belief of demeaning the intellectual is a continual paradigm in our society today. In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected to be the Governor of California; however, it was primarily for his name recognition as a body builder and film star, lacking any experience working in government. Although Schwarzenegger lacked the intellectual knowledge he needed, he was elected because the public idolized him. The public is more interested in the media and athletics and neglect to realize the important impact researchers and intellects have on our world. Colleges pay college athletic coaches more than the professors working at an institution. Americans pay more on professional sports then they do to fund cancer research or education. As USA Today wrote, You can get a Nobel Prize at your university and you wont get anywhere near that attention. And so I think between the public and the media, they are telling us what they value. The public is involved, and often times addicted, to athletes or social media and reject the academically motivated as outcasts from the ideal society. Unfortunately, this public is unaware of the capabilities of academic achievement and the progress it has brought us in our world.

My Inspirational Leader An Effective Leader Management Essay

My Inspirational Leader An Effective Leader Management Essay Whilst considering someone who is an effective leader I researched well-known historical individuals such as Churchill, Gandhi or Napoleon all of which had completely different personalities and attitudes. After careful consideration I then decided to focus my attention on Sir Winston Churchill (Churchill) his unique story of success provides an excellent example of someone who is an effective leader. During Churchills years in politics he developed his leadership skills and mental abilities and at the beginning of the Second World War these matched the requirements of the situation better than those of his political contemporaries. During the 1930s Churchill spoke out vigorously on the rise of the Nazi party. This ensured that when conflict between Britain and Germany unsurprisingly occurred, Churchill stood out as a statesman who had fought against the threat of Nazism for many years while other politicians had tried to appease Adolf Hitler. At this point in time Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of the time, lost the confidence of Parliament and resigned and new national support was given to Churchill the British public felt that he was a politician who understood the situation and someone who could be trusted to lead the country in a difficult time, it was clear at that point that Churchill had the skills and spirit to unite and lead the nation. Churchill used his personal skills and patriotism to motivate and inspire the British public to endure the hardships they faced with good humour, strength and resourcefulness. Churchill also used his extensive diplomacy and communication skills to forge alliances between nations with differing political and social philosophies, such as the communist Soviet Union and the capitalist United States. Churchill played a major role in the outcome of the Second World War, he had confidence in himself and was able to handle the crisis and he fully trusted his leadership abilities. He knew that would solve the problems, (Kotter, J. P., 1990), and so also will lead the people who trusted him. There is no doubt that his central leading style (Kotter, J. P, 1990) was nothing but excellent. One of the main properties Churchill had as a leader was the capability of inspiring people, regardless of the circumstances; he challenged people to make a unified effort.   Let us go forward together (Churchill 1940) this was his favourite slogan. Churchill had a skill of inspiring people to delivery and contribute above their limits, making them deliver more to a situation. Churchill constantly demonstrates enthusiasm, determination and optimism. Churchill used his personality to encourage individuals to work hard and excel in the jobs they were given. An effective leader accepts that challenge is a corporate asset and they have a legitimate responsibility to their followers (Howell and Shamir, 2005). When challenge is met with appropriate leader responsibilities the appropriate meaning leaders just need to get the job done, but in a way that encourages vision and considers cultural values (Kouzes-Posner, 2007). Winston Churchill was a man of immense  courage  and  creativity,  these and his other qualities shaped the war during Britains darkest hour without such a strong leader results could have been very different. Question 1b Forms of Leadership There are two forms of leadership:   Firstly, transformational leadership (Burns, J.M., 1978) that focuses on what a leader delivers rather than on their personal characteristics and their role within the team. Secondly, transactional leadership (Burns, J.M., 1978) demonstrated by leaders this involves directing followers motivating them motivating to appeal to their own self-interest. Transactional leaders often comes from formal responsibility in a company. The main goal of the follower is to carry out the instructions of the leader. Churchill encouraged people to find a way to win the world war and created an environment that persuaded thinking and instinct. He also emphasized methodical problem solving, rethinking, and gave careful reasoning rather than giving unsupported opinions (Kouzes-Posner, 2007). Churchill made a big change for Britain by saving the nation that almost had no chance to win the war against Germany. Transformational leaders are inspiring because they expect the best from team members as well as themselves. This approach to leadership often leads to high productivity and commitment from everyone in their team. The drawback of transformational leadership is that while the leaders enthusiasm is passed onto the group the leader needs to be supported by people as a result often transactional and transformational leadership styles are used. Transactional leaders ensure that routine work is carried out reliably, whereas transformational leaders look after initiatives that develop and add enhancements to a situation. Transformational leaders appeal to followers higher sense of morality, ethics and vision. Typically a Transformational leader must encourage the same motivational values they believe and allow followers to share similar beliefs. Churchill motivated followers to action by encouraging people to shared values and by satisfying their aspirations and expectations. Transactional leadership is based an exchange of something of value in which the leader possesses or controls in substitution for the followers return for their services, i.e. jobs for votes, subsidies for campaign contributions. The transactional style is typically what happens in a contracting scenario. In contrast, transactional leadership is a more conventional style in which work is exchanged for resources. A transactional leader influences subordinates by rewards in exchange for their efforts, follows workers closely and takes corrective actions when required. Transactional leaders ensure that routine work is done reliably, while transformational leaders look after initiatives that add new value to a situation. Word count: 910 My Progress as a Leader Question 2a Inquiries and Opportunities My inquiries to date have been focused around my part-time job in Tesco. Since TMA01 I have received feedback from my manager about my performance since joining the team and my efforts are being recognised and are helping me to progress further within the company. I have been working with Tesco for two months now and since starting I have been working for all of the different departments, this is now giving me the experience I need to achieve my goal as a Team Leader. Lots of my time has dealing directly with customers, often working very long hours and sometimes weekends. I am currently working with five people and I plan to apply for the team leader role within the next few months. My career goals of becoming a team leader will require strong management practices as well as strong leadership practices. My current activities and interests will help to educate myself and become a stronger leader. I will monitor the competition as well as the industry changes and if changes are made in the company I will understand why because I will have the knowledge of what is going on in the market sector. I will integrity inspire people with a shared vision of the future, set clear goals and motivate people towards them, manage delivery, communicate well w ith a teams (Kouzes-Posner, 2007).   If promoted I will continue to make decisions based on what is best for the company and customers. When making these decisions I will make sure they will coincide with our companys vision and values along with the companys strategy. When change is necessary I will ensure that I am proactive about making the change as well as positive about the change to minimise resistance. Question 2b Aspects of Leadership Leadership is ultimately about getting things done. It is the ability to influence, motivate and provide support others so that they can best contribute towards the successful attainment of the goals of their community or organisation. Productive inquiry is about taking action (Ramsey 2010). Recently I moved to another area within the company focusing on customer service, since moving I soon realised that there were many things that could be done much better. I quickly adapted to the environment, decided on taking corrective actions; helped developed operational goals and daily objectives to measure our success. The first item I noticed was that the morale was very low, people were pointing fingers and the productivity was awful, people were spending lots of time complaining rather than focusing on ways to improve the situation. Straightaway I implemented some changes after observing what was going on and after two weeks colleagues attitudes started to change and morale has become much better. I feel that by using all the practices of leadership and management described above I will excel in my current position as well as leverage myself into a better position within my company. Word count: 491

Report on manpower planning and barriers

Report on manpower planning and barriers This report aims to present the manpower planning which consisting estimating manpower, job analysis, recruitment, selection and training. Also, we will present barriers of implement of manpower planning and suggest solution to the barriers. Finally, we will structure a training session. Introduction Since the company not had consistency good finance results. All systems of the company are decided to upgrade, and each group company will have same package so the group can co0ordinate all the subsidiaries. We must improve the manpower planning 3.0 Manpower Planning The centrality of manpower in production process of corporate entities has long been acknowledged by organization managers and administrators. It is an on-going process (integrated approach), not a once and for all phenomenon. Its process involves interrelated activities and the plan must continue to be modified to meet prevailing circumstances. As a plan, it is embedded with implementation programmes designed to ensure availability of adequate qualified persons. Such implementation programmes include recruitment and selection (employment) of required skilled personnel to perform jobs that will allow the enterprise meet both the corporate and individual goals. The plan implementation programme also entails training and development of personnel and performance appraisal as well as other related personnel administration functions. The term Manpower Planning at organizational or corporate level is also known as micro-human resources planning and it has much to do with personnel management or personnel administration. The terms manpower, human resource, and personnel management or personnel administration refer to the same activities concerned with managing people at work. As such the terms can be used interchangeably. On this basis, Manpower Planning and Human Resources Planning are the same phenomenon. The main benefits or purposes of manpower planning are: (i)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To control labour costs and enhance efficiency by ensuring that only the most essential and required personnel are hired and retained (ii)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To increase productivity by matching people with jobs that truly exists and is adequate for them.   (iii)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To provide a lead time to recruit and train workers ahead of need.   Required skills are thus provided for in advance (iv)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To provide a basis for other plans, such as plans for facilities, desks and office accommodation, and assist in their formulation. (v)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To anticipate and overcome redundancies.   The information provided about future manpower surpluses and redundancies in particular area could be used by management to plan a retraining programme for those who would be rendered redundant by changes in technology and company reorganization.   Such people can then be made available for jobs in which they are needed. (vi)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To show the implications of retirements and promotion plans in terms of management development and succession planning. 4.0 Manpower Process Estimating manpower Employment or Manpower planning is the process of deciding what positions the company will have to fill, and how to fill them. Manpower planning covers all future positions from maintenance clerk to CEO. However, most companies call the process of deciding how to fill companys most important executive jobs succession planning. Employment planning should be an integral part of a firms strategic and HR planning processes. Plans to enter new businesses, build new plants, or reduce costs all influence the types of positions the firm will need to fill. That also meant they needed plans for who to hire, how to screen applicants, and when to put the plans into place. One big question is whether to fill projected openings from within or from outside the firm. In other words, should we plan to fill positions with current employees or by recruiting from outside? Each option produces its own set of HR plans. Current employees may require training, development, and coaching before theyre ready to fill new jobs. Going outside requires a decisions about what recruiting sources to use, among other things. Job analysis Job analysis is the fundamental process that forms the basis of all human resource activities. In its simplest terms, job analysis is a systematic process for gathering, documenting and analyzing data about the work required for a job. The data collected in a job analysis, and reflected through a job description, includes a description of the context and principal duties of the job, and information about the skills, responsibilities, mental models and techniques for job analysis. These include the Position Analysis, Questionnaires, which focuses on generalized human behavior and interviews, task inventories, fundamental job analysis and the job element method. Job analysis is the procedure for identifying those duties or behaviors that define a job. Aside from verifying the fairness of selection procedures, job analysis is the foundation of virtually every other area of industrial psychology, including performance appraisal training and human factors. Additionally, job analysis is the basis of job evaluation, the procedure for setting salary scales. Information about jobs can be collected in a number of ways such as potential sources: observation, individual interview, group interview, technical conference, questionnaire, diary, critical incidents, equipment design information, recording of job activities, or employee records. Possible agents to do the collecting are professional job analysis, supervisors, job incumbents, or even a camera in the work place. Recruitment Recruitment is the process of identifying the prospective employees, stimulating and encouraging them to apply for a particular job or jobs in an organization. It is a positive action as it involves inviting people to apply. The purpose is to have an inventory of eligible persons from amongst whom proper selection of the most suitable person can be made. Before you think of inviting people to apply for a job you have to decide what types of persons are to be invited and what their characteristics should be. This calls for fixing the job specifications which may also be called man specifications. Job specification will be different for each job. Physical Specifications: For certain jobs some special features may be required. For example, for assembly of a TV set or some other electronic equipment good vision is required, for a typing job you need finger dexterity, for a heavy job you need a strong, heavy and thick-set body. The particular physical abilities and skills necessary for a given job have to be specified. These may refer to height, weight, vision, finger dexterity, voice, poise, hand and foot coordination, etc. Mental Specifications: These include intelligence, memory, judgment, ability-plan, ability to estimate, to read, to write, to think and concentrate, scientific faculties, arithmetical abilities, etc. Emotional and Social Specifications: These include characteristics which will affect his working with others, like personal appearance, manners, emotional stability, aggressiveness, or submissiveness, leadership, cooperativeness, skill in dealing with others, social adaptability, etc. Behavioural Specifications: Certain management personnel at higher levels of management are expected to behave in a particular manner. These are not formally listed but have to be kept in mind during the process of recruitment, selection and placement. Besides, there are two categories of sources of supply of manpower-Internal and External. Internal Sources: These include personnel already on the pay-roll of the organization as also those who were once on the pay-roll of the company but who plan to return, or whom the company, would like to rehire. These include those who quit voluntarily or those on production lay-offs. External Sources: These sources lie outside the organization, like the new entrants to the labour force without experience. These include college students, the unemployed with a wider range of skills and abilities, the retired experienced persons, and others not in the labour force, like married women. Selection Selection is the process of examining the applicants with regard to their suitability for the given job or jobs and choosing the best from the suitable candidates and rejecting the others. Thus, you will notice that this process is negative in nature in the sense that rejection of candidates involved. It is the process of securing relevant information about an applicant to evaluate his qualification, experience and other qualities with the view of matching with the requirement of a job. It is the process of picking out the man or men best suited for the organizations requirement. The selection process involves rejection of unsuitable or less suitable applicants. This may be done at any of the successive hurdles which an applicant must cross. These hurdles act as screens designed to eliminate an unqualified applicant at any point in the process. Those who qualify a hurdle go to the next one; those who do not qualify are dropped out. The complexity of the process usually increases with the level and responsibility of the position to be filled. Initial Screening or Preliminary Interview: This is a sorting process in which prospective applicants are given the necessary information about the nature of the job and also, necessary information is elicited from the candidates about their education, experience, skill, salary expectation etc. If the candidate is found to be suitable, he is selected for further process and, if not he is eliminated. Application Scrutiny: Different types of application forms are used by the organization for different types of positions/posts. Some forms are simple, general and easily answerable, while others may require elaborate, complex and detailed information. Sometimes applications are asked in plain sheet. Application forms are designed to serve as a highly effective preliminary screening device, particularly when applications are received in direct response to an advertisement and without any preliminary interview. In our organization the applications are used in two ways: to find out on the basis of information contained there in as to the chances of success of the candidate in the job for which he is applying, and to provide a starting point for the interview. Training Systematic training and development of organization employee is the foundation of efficient and effective utilization and productivity of corporate personnel. To be effective in meeting organization goals of efficiency and increased productivity, cost-effective in operations, training must not be conducted in ad hoc and haphazard manner. It should be a deliberate policy instrument designed to meet training needs of individuals, organization and a technologically changing environment of production. The training progremmes should be appropriate and adequate to solve corporate training needs arising from the requirements of newcomers, shortfalls in employee performance, organizational change and the individual workers expressed or observed needs. Training is a learning process which aim at helping employee to acquire basic skills required for efficient execution of the functions for which employee are hired; while development deals with activities undertaken to expose employees to be able to perform additional duties of managerial and administrative nature in the near future. Training efforts are geared toward acquisition of manipulative skills, technical knowledge, problem solving ability and attitudes. While development is designed to prepare employee to assume position of responsibility of supervisory and leadership natures. The two techniques of learning are usually planned by the organization to improve competence level of employee. The third learning method is the education method. 5.0 Example of Manpower Planning A large supply company in UK wants to improve and control the unit cost. The company had designed and implemented a radical manpower change to reduce staff numbers by 20%. They using manpower forecasting methods and projecting productivity growth, they were able to reduce the number employed form 6500 to 4500 and increase productivity by the required amount. Key tools used Manpower predictive forecasting and rightsizing. Supportive training was also designed and provided. Another example is building a new business from scratch for an American company in the UK. The company is a construction company. The company post advertisements and recruitment statements which have new terms and conditions written specifically for the UK market in newspaper. 1,300 people were test, screed and interview. After consideration and selection by the company, a number of people were hired. Training courses were designed and carried for successful applicants. 6.0 Problems, Barriers and solutions to Manpower Planning Manpower development is the core element of a business that helps to shape and lead the future of any organization through the use of its people. Successful manpower development could result in high production and long-term future growth for business. However overcoming these challenges means understanding the vision of the business and how to best forecast future events in manpower planning. Planning helps management with the right number and the right kind of people at the right place in business. Hiring the Right Fit The approach to developing manpower should include hiring a person who not only has the acquired skills necessary to perform the job but also is a good fit for the organization. Organizational fits are very challenging because the individual not only has to be qualified but they must be able to adapt and adopt the culture of the organization. Accepting organizational culture is critical, because it is often a determining factor in an employee remaining with the organization. Maintaining effective manpower is equally as important to recruiting right person for the job. Employee Turnover Plan of Action Employee turnover happens for various reasons and is inevitable in manpower development. Some of the causes are controllable factors, while many of them are hard to foresee. It is harder to identify or forecast the death of an employee or an illness that leaves an employee in an incapacitated state, because it can happen at any time. Developing a plan of action in manpower development that negates these factors can be difficult. Ensuring that the employee turnover does not impact the manpower in the out years of business is the biggest dilemma. Continuing Education With constant changes in technology, business professionals need to keep up-to-date by taking courses designed to improve their technical skills and knowledge. Programs such as the Microsoft Certified Professional certification provide comprehensive training, practice and testing opportunities to business professionals seeking to further their careers. Flexible alternatives such as web-based training, coaching and mentoring or recorded multimedia sessions enable busy professionals to train for an advanced role or even a career change. Leave/ Work Schedules Offering work schedules that stay abreast of workforce trends is challenging, because it requires research and understanding of the workforce needs. If leave policies or work schedules are too lenient, it could impact the production of business in a negative way. Rising Costs Global organizations face rising costs and need to plan effectively so we can efficiently recruit and hire the best manpower, both permanent and temporary. Fewer management layers and less support staff make it more difficult to provide new employees with the personalized attention they typically need to get started. Self-paced training courses that provide details about how to use company tools, such as email or accounting systems, often replace instructor-led classroom sessions. Workers may not have an office at the same location as their manager and rely on web conferencing software instead spending the extra time and expense to travel to a common location for meetings. Employees need training and tips on how to use these alternatives effectively. Changing Priorities Companies typically set strategic goals on an annual basis. Training programs should be aligned with strategic plans. For example, if company executives want to see an increase in customer satisfaction, training professionals should focus on identifying problems in providing customer support proficiently. Then, we can design training courses and career development opportunities that help employees learn the best techniques for troubleshooting problems and handling customer complaints skillfully. Once operational metrics improve, the focus may change to other areas, such as reducing product defects or eliminating waste. 7.0   Training Session Plan TRAINING SESSION PLAN COURSE: Approaches to manpower planning in a property orientated business SESSION: 2 COURSE OBJECTIVE: Give theoretical and practical approach to manpower planning with the industry LEARNING OUTCOMES: Improvement the manpower planning of the company DURATION: 4 hours EQUIPMENT: Computer, Projector, White Board and Marker Pens TIME ITEM AID INTRODUCTION 9.00 Background Course objectives Session objectives W/B TOPIC 1 9.15 Manpower Planning Estimating manpower, job analysis, Recruitment, Selection System, Training 10.30 Examples of the manpower planning of other companies 11.00 Break TOPIC 2 11.30 Barriers and solutions to the manpower planning summary and close 12.30 Review Topics The Training course is about four hours. We wil separate the course into two part by a short break. The first part will introduce the manpower planning and introduce some example of the manpower planning. After the break, we will talk about the barriers and solution to the manpower planning. Finally, we will have a review and questioning session. 8.0 Conclusion The manpower planning must introduce to the company to improve the situation of the company. Good planning can bring the company raise the income and increase efficiency output.

Biliography of Edgar Allan Poe :: essays research papers

Biography of Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston Massachusetts on January 19,1809. He was the second child of Elizabeth and David Poe. Both of his parents were actors traveling to perform in theatres from Massachusetts to South Carolina. David Poe abandoned his family while Edgar was still an infant. His Mother died in December of 1811, at which time the orphaned Poe was taken in by a prosperous Virginian Merchant and his wife, John and Frances Allan. Edgar Allan Poe and his new family moved to England in 1815, where he attended boarding school until he was eleven. The Allan family returned to Richmond Virginia because his foster Father’s business failed. Poe attended the University of Virginia. He was very good in ancient and modern languages. His past time was gambling, which he did not do so well incurring a large debt. His father refused to help him pay off his gambling debt. This caused he and his father to fight. Poe left for Boston to avoid further conflict. In Boston, he published his first volume of poetry†Tamerlane and Other Poems†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ. He also joined the United States Army using the name Edgar A. Perry. Poes foster mother died in 1829, at which time he made up with his foster father. His foster father arranged for Poe to be nominated to West Point. Poe began his studies at West Point but was dismissed for disobeying orders in 1831. He Moved to New York where Poe tried to support himself by writing but had to rely on his grandmother, aunt and cousin for room and board. Early in 1835, he began to publish book reviews in a Richmond magazine called the Southern Literary Messenger. He was hired as a regular contri butor and as an editor of the journals review. He re established family ties in Richmond and married his cousin Virginia Clemson in 1836. Poe resigned from the Messenger in 1837 due to disagreements with the owner. Poe obtained another steady job in 1839 as editor of Barton’s Gentlemen’s Magazine, where he published â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† Poe was fired from Barton’s in 1840 and accepted a job as literary editor for Graham’s Magazine. Poe published â€Å"The Man of the Crowd† and his first detective stories in this magazine Virginia Poe became seriously ill in 1842 and almost died; Poe’s own health was also poor.

Understanding Thomas Weiskels The Romantic Sublime :: Essays Papers

Understanding Thomas Weiskel's The Romantic Sublime In order to understand Weiskel's argument on the sublime, it would be helpful to briefly review the influential treatises on the sublime by Longinus, Immanuel Kant and Edmund. Longinus understands the sublime as intrinsically related to linguistics, as being achieved mainly through language and literature. The "linguistic sublime" causes one to transcend oneself. When one perceives an experience as producing ecstasy, he asserts, that experience can be considered sublime. According to Longinus, this effect can be achieved through powerful rhetoric; he then examines the sublime nature of the rhetoric of many great writers, including Homer and Sappho. He also considers the sublime to exist in political oration, theorizing "those personages, presenting themselves to us and inflaming our ardor and as it were illumining our path, will carry our minds in a mysterious way to the high standards of subliminity which are within us" (84). Longinus cautions, however, that writers who strive to achieve sublimity often fail, instead creating "expressions . . . which are not sublime but high-flown" (77). He further elaborates that it is nearly impossible for the common writer to achieve sublimity through rhetoric, stating that, "While tumidity desires to transcend the limits of the sublime, the defect which is termed puerility is the direct antithesis of elevation." Writers easily fall prey to this error, Longinus explains: "[W]hile they aim at the uncommon and elaborate and most of all at the attractive, they drift unawares into the tawdry and affected" (77). Longinus' theory focuses mainly on a sublime that results from a thing or event that possesses some type of positive literary effect. For Longinus, one is "uplifted by the true sublime [ . . . ] filled with joy and vaunting, as though it had itself produced what it has heard" (78). Edmund Burke, alternatively, makes a distinction between what is beautiful (and pleasant) and the sublime, concluding that an experience that might be considered terrible may instead inspire a peculiar sense of pleasure, a delight derived from terror. It is Burke's opinion that human experience with a negative connotation tends to stimulate the sublime. Burke proposes that the sublime is "[w]hatever is fitted in any sort to excite the ideas of pain, and danger . . . any sort terrible, or is conversant about terrible objects, or operates in a manner analogous to terror" (36). Burke's sublime is achieved through a type of indirect or derived terror, in which one experiences pleasure in the face of pain or terror.

Social Issues in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye :: Toni Morrison The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye Social Issues With The Bluest Eye, Morrison has not only created a story, but also a series of painfully accurate impressions. As Dee puts it "to read the book...is to ache for remedy" (20). But Morrison raises painful issues while at the same time managing to reveal the hope and encouragement beneath the surface. A reader might easily conclude that the most prominent social issue presented in The Bluest Eye is that of racism, but more important issues lie beneath the surface. Pecola experiences damage from her abusive and negligent parents. The reader is told that even Pecola's mother thought she was ugly from the time of birth. Pecola's negativity may have initially been caused by her family's failure to provide her with identity, love, security, and socialization, ail which are essential for any child's development (Samuels 13). Pecola's parents are able only to give her a childhood of limited possibilities. She struggles to find herself in infertile soil, leading to the analysis of a life of sterility (13). Like the marigolds planted that year, Pecola never grew. The concept of physical appearance as a virtue is the center of the social problems portrayed in the novel. Thus the novel unfolds with the most logical responses to this overpowering impression of beauty: acceptance, adjustment, and rejection (Samuels 10). Through Pecola Breedlove, Morrison presents reactions to the worth of physical criteria. The beauty standard that Pecola feels she must live up to causes her to have an identity crisis. Society's standard has no place for Pecola, unlike her "high yellow dream child" classmate, Maureen Peals, who fits the mold (Morrison 62). Maureen's influence in the novel is important. "She enchanted the entire school... black girls stepped aside when she wanted to use the sink in the girl's toilet... She never had to search for anybody to eat with in the cafeteria--they flocked to the table of her choice" (62-63). In contrast, Pecola's classmates insult her black skin by chanting "Black e mo Black e mo Ya daddy sleeps nekked/ stch ta ta stch ta ta" (65). The most damaging interracial confrontation related to color involves Pecola and an adult, Geraldine (Samuels 12). When Pecola enters Geraldine's home at the invitation of her son, Geraldine forces her to leave with words that hurt deeply, saying "Get out... You nasty little black bitch. Get out of my house" (92).

With Reference to six poems, explain how attitudes to war changed over the course of World War One

World War One, or as most historians refer to it â€Å"The Great War,† was supposed to be the war to end all wars. From 1914 to 1918, young men were encouraged to sign up to fight for the British army against the might of the Germans. Because conscription wasn't introduced until 1916, recruitment songs, posters and poetry were needed to encourage men to sign up. These songs and poems were specially written using a wide variety of rhetorical devices so as to display the potential advantages that joining the army could bring. Most recruitment poems have subtle similarities as they are all written for the same purpose: to persuade. The main way they do this is through the use of rhetorical devices. In the poem ‘Who's for the game? ‘ the first three verses have rhetorical questions featuring heavily. For example, â€Å"Who'll grip and tackle the job unafraid† and â€Å"Who'll give his country a hand? † This also occurs in â€Å"Fall In† with the line, â€Å"Will you send a strangled cheer to the sky / and grin till your cheeks are red? † These words are examples of rhetorical devices. They make you question yourself after you have read it about whether or not you enlist. The titles of the two poems also set the tone of the different poems and make the reader aware of what they are about to read. Making sure that the title displays this is important, because you then know what some of what is about to happen before you have even started the first word. â€Å"Who's for the game† shows war as a fun, exciting prospect that men, if they signed up, would enjoy. Whereas â€Å"Fall In,† the other recruitment poem, has a military connotation. Fall in† is a marching term that is used a lot in the army, so before you have read a word of the actual poem, you know that the rest of the poem is going to have a military background, perhaps talking about how war is like from the military's point of view The structure of the poems are very similar, as they both have the same rhyming pattern with alternate lines rhyming – â€Å"played† and â€Å"unafraid† as well as â€Å"fright† and â€Å"tight† This makes the poems catchy and therefore easier to remember. This will then cause the poem to stick in people's heads, continuously persuading them to join the army. In the poem â€Å"Fall In,† the author relates personally to you with the lines â€Å"Is it football still and the picture show / the pub and the betting odds† These are all things that the people who the poems were read by would have done in their everyday life. This is mirrored in â€Å"Who's for the game? † where they mention â€Å"the red crashing game of a fight† this compares war to a game like football to make it more appealing to the readers of the poem. This targets the audience through their word choice. â€Å"Crashing†, is a positive adjective which makes the reader more accepting of war. This also makes the poem sound more appealing and attractive to the reader. Also in â€Å"Who's for the game? † they relate to you by appealing to men's sense of bravery and chivalry in the lines â€Å"Your country is up to her neck in a fight / and she's looking and calling for you† There are a number of appealing factors about that line, the first being the pronoun – â€Å"Your†; this makes it sound as if you own the country and it would be a shame to let it go. Then they refer to the country as a female in the words, â€Å"her neck† This makes them think that they are strong and brave and also personifies war as a beautiful woman that they need to go and rescue. This emphasises the point even further by saying that she's â€Å"looking and calling for you. † The writer has made it sound like they're talking about every single male that hasn't signed up yet. In the next section I will look at a different viewpoint of the same experience of war, from soldier poets. These poets fought in the trenches and wrote poems about what their experiences were like. The author of â€Å"Peace,† Rupert Brooke, was a neo-classical poet whose poems glorified war and made it sound like a glorious adventure, however he never experienced combat at first hand. He became famous because of his good looks. An Irish poet was quoted to have described him as â€Å"the handsomest young man in England! † Arthur Graeme West, however, isn't as famous as him. This is probably because he was known to write poems attacking young soldier-poets who were writing poems idealising war – like Rupert Brooke. His own personal gruesome experience was probably his motivation to write such a scathing poem about the young poets. In â€Å"Peace,† the main aim of the poem is to explain to people about how great the war is and how much of an adventure it would be when you sign up to join the army. Brooke has used the sonnet structure to his advantage. In the first eight lines, the octave, he is explaining about how war could liven up their lives in the line, â€Å"†¦ nd wakened us from sleeping,† and then in the last six lines, the sestet, he brings the poem to a close reassuring the reader about death, â€Å"Naught broken save this body, lost but breath;† This talks about how when you die your body is the only thing that is broken, and nothing is lost apart from breath, It hints at the fact that the soul of a person will live on after death. This makes the reader more accepting of death, because it says that after death you will live on. However, in â€Å"God! How I hate you,† West has also used the end of the poem to hammer home his point. In the first five lines he talks about why he is writing the poem. The title itself is from when he is addressing the poets who are glorifying war. The title continues into â€Å"†¦ you young cheerful men,† the men being the poets. In the last part he goes into a much more detailed version of war with strong adjectives like â€Å"warm grey brain,† and powerful similes like, â€Å"smashed like an eggshell† This is a good example as it likens a man's head to an eggshell which is very easy to smash. The choice of simile here suggests that human life is fragile Imagery plays a huge part in both poems. â€Å"Peace† is showing war in a positive way like in the line â€Å"†¦ we have found release there,† this meaning that war has cleansed them from the boring Edwardian society that they lived in before the war. â€Å"God! How I Hate You,† in contrast shows war in the opposite way, with the gruesome wording in the latter section. â€Å"Spattered all bloody,† is one of the strongest phrases in the poem and it is made all the more poignant with the last two lines. These lines are almost mocking the young-soldier poets, saying that even though that the war is so ghastly, â€Å"†¦ still God's in His Heaven† and all is right in the world. There are also hints at sarcasm, which is meant to make the soldier poets embarrassed about what they've written. The last poems I am going to look at are â€Å"Dulce et Decorum est† and â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth. † â€Å"Dulce et Decorum est† is a war poem written by Wilfred Owen in collaboration with Siegfriend Sassoon. Wilfred Owen was seen as one of the most important war-poets in World War One. He wrote poetry in the trenches and kept a diary. He experienced shell shock after a shell burst near him in 1917 and was sent to a military hospital in Scotland called Craiglockhart where he met Siegfried Sassoon. Whilst there, his poetry changed and became more explicit and more didactic in content. The poem is very negative about war. They mention a lot of the effects that war can bring on you like, â€Å"Drunk with fatigue,† which meant that the war was so tiring they were acting as if they were drunk from the effects. Also, â€Å"Deaf even to the hoots,† means that they were concentrating so hard on the war that they couldn't hear anything at all. The reason for all this negativity is that it was written in 1917, three years after war had broken out so they had had time to see how bad the war is and to construct a poem saying how startlingly horrific it is. Owen does very well at portraying a gas attack, the main event in the poem. The first of these very emotive stanzas is â€Å"vile, incurable sores. † The first word, â€Å"vile† immediately makes your repulsed and moved about the use of this foul language. Another one is â€Å"gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs. † I think this is the worst and most dreadful of the three stanzas because corrupted makes you think of how ruined and destroyed this young soldiers lungs must be after inhaling the gas. The last one is â€Å"watch the white eyes writing in his face. † The strongest word in this stanza is definitely writihing. These poetic techniques are really vivid because they make you really disgusted at what has happened to these poor soldiers during the war. All these really horrible descriptions of war really hit home the ideas about the ‘bogus' patriots, like Jessie Pope, whom the poem is addressed to. The reason for addressing the poem to her is that she stayed at home yet encouraged men to join the army and to go and fight in the war. As well as her it is also addressed to all the soldier poets like Rupert Brooke who glamorised war. This gave the poem more fame than others because most people saw the reception from the other well-known poets that it was aimed at. As well as using a lot of descriptions to describe war he uses continuous verbs like â€Å"†¦ uttering, choking, drowning. † This gives you the sense of the war never ending with no hope of going out as after you've read one word you're immediately pounded on with another one. This gives the poem more depth than the actual words written on the page. Also a lot of similes in the first paragraph including, â€Å"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,â₠¬  as well as â€Å"coughing like hags. † These also give you the idea that war is a really terrible place to be because things like hags and beggars aren't very nice things to be likened to. The soldiers have also not become human because of the war – they have aged and become dehumanised. I think that putting the title at the end of the poem rounds off the whole poem because you don't really read those last lines but it gives you time to digest the poem and focus on what you have actually read. In this poem, there is also use of sarcasm and an accusatory tone because of the people that the poet was directing it to – Jessie Pope and other poets just like her. â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth,† was written by Wilfred Owen in collaboration with Siegfried Sassoon when they met in Craiglockhart, a military hospital in 1917. They wrote it together relying on each other to adjust bits slightly using both poets' skills. The war was reaching its conclusion and poems were becoming more detailed as four years of war had given them lots to write about. Gruesome injuries, horrific detail and the soldier's own personal accounts affected how poets displayed their words to the reader. The grisly nature of the poem is displayed immediately in the first stanza with the description, â€Å"What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? † This likens deaths of soldiers to that of cattle. If someone dies like cattle it is not going to be a glorious death. The quote also states about how, after a soldier's death, no one will sound church bells in memoriam of them in the line, â€Å"What passing-bells†¦ † This makes the deaths sound unimportant and that nobody cares if a soldier dies. Instead of bells, the only sounds they were likely to get were â€Å"the monstrous anger of the guns†¦ † and, â€Å"the stuttering rifles rapid rattle. † This likens the typical funeral noises to that of war. There is also a use of alliteration with â€Å"rifles' rapid rattle† It shows how brutal and quick the rifles could fire. They use personification in the â€Å"choirs of wailing shells. † Instead of a choir of church boys singing the soldiers had the â€Å"wail† of an exploding shell. This creates a shocked and surprised mood to the comparison of shells to choir boys. With the line, â€Å"What candles may be held to speed them all? † It questions whether or not anyone cares about the amount of death that is happening. It says that boys won't care because they are the ones that possibly could go to war in the future. Girls will be the only ones feeling sorry for them and â€Å"girl's brows shall be their pall. â€Å"Palls† are the cloth used to cover coffins so it means that the girls will be the most caring people. Also at the end of the poem, to round the end off, they use a metaphor about death. â€Å"And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds† This likens death to the drawing-down of blinds, or in the soldier's context, their eyes closing. This makes the reader feel more accepting of death, it being likened to just drawing down of blinds – something that some people do every evening, and there is a sense of finality over this sombre and grave ending. In conclusion, my favourite poem was â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth,† because it had a very musical background, â€Å"no prayers nor bells† and â€Å"†¦ save the choirs. † The poem is a great poem, I think because two poets wrote it together. With two poets working on one poem, they can annotate each other's work and make additions to it and change some parts to suit both there own. With all the references to music there is a lot to focus on, however if you can get your head around the poem it is a very emotive and meaningful poem.