Free Essays on Chaucer

At present, sex is the mind’s preoccupation, and in the body we can only mentally fornicate. To-day, we’ve got no sex. We have only cerebral excitations. The mind will have to glut itself, and the ego will have to burst like the swollen frog, and then perhaps we shall know true sex, in ourselves. D.H. Lawrence from â€Å"Leave Sex Alone† Sex, Silence and other Pornographic Indiscretions When twentieth century writer D.H. Lawrence began publishing poetry about the beauty and love that he found within sex, he became one of the most despised and censored authors of his time. With his notion that â€Å"sex isn’t sin† he claimed that sex is a creative passion until the human mind deforms and dilutes it. Despite the prevalence of sex in literature, its appearance in all genres has been met with misunderstanding, condemnation and even blatant oblivion or ignorance of its significance. While poets like Lawrence have been blatant and undisguised in their socially contrasting ideas regarding sex, other poets have offered more subtle subversions on this topic. Geoffrey Chaucer, for example, incorporated a variety of sexual acts within his works The Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde. His medieval audience would have generally qualified sex in either one of two basic understandings- either as an element of romance or marriage that represented love and devotion or, as expostulated by St. Augustine and St. Jerome, as a sinful blemish that continually distorted the spirituality and faith in God of man. And, while Chaucer’s characters include prudish clergy as well as bawdy adulterers, his works support neither of these assertions. Evident in Chaucer’s fabliau’s, lays and even literary confessions is the suggestion that its very base, sex is neither an expression of love or sin, but rather a human preoccupation that completely lacks meaning and overall purpose. His characters discredit the significance of... Free Essays on Chaucer Free Essays on Chaucer At present, sex is the mind’s preoccupation, and in the body we can only mentally fornicate. To-day, we’ve got no sex. We have only cerebral excitations. The mind will have to glut itself, and the ego will have to burst like the swollen frog, and then perhaps we shall know true sex, in ourselves. D.H. Lawrence from â€Å"Leave Sex Alone† Sex, Silence and other Pornographic Indiscretions When twentieth century writer D.H. Lawrence began publishing poetry about the beauty and love that he found within sex, he became one of the most despised and censored authors of his time. With his notion that â€Å"sex isn’t sin† he claimed that sex is a creative passion until the human mind deforms and dilutes it. Despite the prevalence of sex in literature, its appearance in all genres has been met with misunderstanding, condemnation and even blatant oblivion or ignorance of its significance. While poets like Lawrence have been blatant and undisguised in their socially contrasting ideas regarding sex, other poets have offered more subtle subversions on this topic. Geoffrey Chaucer, for example, incorporated a variety of sexual acts within his works The Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde. His medieval audience would have generally qualified sex in either one of two basic understandings- either as an element of romance or marriage that represented love and devotion or, as expostulated by St. Augustine and St. Jerome, as a sinful blemish that continually distorted the spirituality and faith in God of man. And, while Chaucer’s characters include prudish clergy as well as bawdy adulterers, his works support neither of these assertions. Evident in Chaucer’s fabliau’s, lays and even literary confessions is the suggestion that its very base, sex is neither an expression of love or sin, but rather a human preoccupation that completely lacks meaning and overall purpose. His characters discredit the significance of...

A Guide to Elliptical Constructions

A Guide to Elliptical Constructions A Guide to Elliptical Constructions A Guide to Elliptical Constructions By Mark Nichol An elliptical construction is one in which a word or phrase implied by context is omitted from a sentence, usually because it is a repetition of a preceding word or phrase. The three principal types of elliptical construction, with the omitted text enclosed in brackets, follow: Noun ellipsis: â€Å"I went swimming, and John went [swimming], too.† Verb ellipsis: â€Å"She favors romantic comedies, and Jane [favors] musicals.† Verb-phrase ellipsis: â€Å"He went for a walk, but they didn’t [go for a walk].† In a sentence in which repeated elements recur in more than one clause, a comma marks the elision of these words or phrases, and the clauses are separated by semicolons: â€Å"Igneous rock is formed from the cooling and solidification of magma of lava; sedimentary, from sedimentation of surface and underwater material; and metamorphic, from heat or pressure action on igneous, sedimentary, or another metamorphic type of rock.† In simpler sentences, you may omit the comma if you also replace a semicolon with a conjunction: â€Å"Molten rock is called magma in its subterranean form and lava during and after eruption.† But if you retain the semicolon, retain the marker comma as well: â€Å"Molten rock is called magma in its subterranean form; lava, during and after eruption.† Elliptical construction is particularly useful when listing statistics: â€Å"In 2010, he hit fifty-five home runs; in 2009, thirty-seven; and in 2008, forty-six,† or â€Å"In the school election, Tom received 345 votes and Tina 322.† Proper ellipsis in sentences spoken by different people varies: When John says, â€Å"Mary graduated,† Jane can simply reply, â€Å"She did?† rather than echoing, â€Å"She did graduate?† or â€Å"Did she graduate?† But if John says, â€Å"Mary graduated with honors,† Jane can’t respond, â€Å"Jim with highest honors.† When a verb form is omitted in one of two instances, its repetition, not its original appearance, should be omitted: â€Å"My sister has never gone mountain climbing, and never will,† not â€Å"My sister has never and will never go mountain climbing.† (â€Å"My sister has never . . . go† is ungrammatical.) When using an elliptical construction that in its full form would employ the comparative terms as and than, do not omit the first instance of the terms before the conjunction: â€Å"Golden eagles are as large as and just as majestic as bald eagles,† not â€Å"Golden eagles are as large and just as majestic as bald eagles.† Similarly, do not omit than: â€Å"Coyotes are smaller than but just as impressive as wolves,† not â€Å"Coyotes are smaller but just as impressive as wolves.† To test for grammatical soundness, temporarily omit the phrase including the conjunction and the comparative up to the object: â€Å"Golden eagles are as large . . . bald eagles† and â€Å"Coyotes are smaller . . . wolves† are ungrammatical. Also, be sure to omit only the words not essential for clarity: â€Å"The bus doesn’t go to or return from the city,† not â€Å"The bus doesn’t go or return from the city.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)English Grammar 101: Verb MoodNarrative, Plot, and Story

African Islamic movement in the United States Essay

African Islamic movement in the United States - Essay Example Islam has deep origins in the African-American practice of religion, roots that can be traced back to the period of slavery and early 20th century black Sunni communities in the United States. Islam played a greatly encouraging and ideological role in the evolution of a distinct African-American identity This study will outline the spiritual, ideological and psychological way for tracing the course of Islamic expansion within the United States and how has the matter of race in the United States influenced the practices and the community experiences of black Sunni Muslims who conventionally see Islam as a color and race-blind religion.Malcolm X's Hajj in 1964 and Warith Deen Mohammed's transformation of the Nation of Islam into an orthodox community in 1975 are two of the more recent visible signs of the importance of mainstream Islam in the African-American experience (American Black Islam, 1989). African Americans comprise about 42% of the Muslim population in the United States, whi ch conservatively is somewhere between four to six million; and Sunni African-American Muslims are the predominant community in the United States today.Muslim slaves-involuntary settlers, who had been the urban-ruling elite in West Africa - comprised at least 15% of the slave populace in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their spiritual and racial roots could be tracked to ancient black Islamic monarchy in Ghana, Mali, and Sohghay. Some of these West African Muslim slaves brought the first mainstream Islamic beliefs and practices to America by keeping Islamic names, writing in Arabic, fasting during the month of Ramadan, praying five times a day, wearing Muslim clothing, and writing and reciting the Qur'an (McCloud, 1995). By the end of the Civil War, the old Islam of the West African Muslim slaves was for all realistic purposes obsolete, because these Muslims were not able to develop community establishment to maintain their faith. When they died, their version of Islam, which was African-American, personal, and with conventional and unorthodox practices disappeared. Early 20th-Century Mainstream Communities In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Pro-Africanist ideas of Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832-1912), which criticized Christianity for its racial discrimination and recommended Islam as a feasible alternative faith for African Americans, offered the political agenda for Islam's influence on black Americans. Furthermore, the global outlook of Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association and the Great relocation of more than one million black southerners to northern and Midwestern cities during the World War I era offered the social and political background for the emergence of African-American mainstream communities from the 1920s to the 1940s. The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, an unorthodox disciple community from India, set the foundation for conventional Islam in Black America, by imparting African Americans with their first Qur'an, significant Islamic literature and culture, and association to the mainstream world of Islam. Black Sunni Muslims can track their ancestry in the United States in the early 20th century to two multi-ethnic communities: the Islamic Mission of America, led by Shaykh Daoud Ahmed Faisal in New York City, and the First Mosque of Pittsburgh (Marsh, 1984). Shaykh Daoud, was born in Morocco and migrated to the United States from Grenada. He was greatly influenced by the Muslim migrant societies, by Muslim sailors from Yemen, Somalia, and Madagascar, and by the Ahmadi version of the Qur'an. He established the Islamic Mission of America, also known as the State Street Mosque, in New York City in 1924. This was the first African-American conventional muslim community in the United States. The president of the Muslim Ladies Cultural Society was none other than Shaykh Daoud' s wife, "Mother" Khadijah Faisal, who possessed Pakistani Muslim and black Caribbean ancestry. The Islamic

Sex In Our Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sex In Our Society - Essay Example 113). I agree with Joyce Garity that some of the adverts in teen fashion magazines are to blame for deteriorating morals in the society. The adverts are too suggestive that they end up brain washing the innocent children. An advertisement of Liz Claiborne fragrances showing a couple sprawled on their bed is a perfect example. After seeing this, the teenagers start fantasizing and would be tempted to think that their life is not complete if they are not practising the same. They end up trying this, and before they know it, the worst has happened and the consequences are with them. In addition, it is absurd to feature a naked girl in a teen magazine in the name of advertising cologne. Though the company sales will go up, it is not worth the harm it is causing the society. Above buying the cologne, the teenagers may be tempted to pose naked like the girl in the advert. In their minds, they are out to be famous among their peers. However, they may end up engaging in sexual activities that would ruin their young lives (Soble, 2008, P. 96). As Joyce Garity states, any teenager would be excited to see a young couple display affection publicly. In an advert, a young girl is laying on a luxurious bed in a dimly light room with her lover making her nails. If a suggestive picture like this has to appear in a magazine, it should not be a teenage magazine. Teenagers’ minds are easily washed away by anything they lay their eyes on. Within no time, they will go out experimenting on things that may ruin their lives. Teenagers’ world is full of sexual spontaneity and playfulness. They will take less or no time thinking about a responsible life. Instead, they admire musicians, actors, rock stars and other celebrities whose lives are full of sexual drama. These are their role models, and their talk is about which musician has slept with many women. The young adults rush to the

Learning journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Learning journal - Essay Example Personal goal(s) setting gives a sense of direction in academics and helps to avoid distractions as they help to motivate the student and also raise the confidence level of the student a notch higher. The goals set should be sharp and clearly defined, goals the student can use to assess forward progress; how much do you want to earn and by what stage? What are the means or ways of achieving this? These among others are the questions that such a student asks himself. Then the best alternative is picked and focused on; it is also helpful to look at the successful individual in the field and borrow a leaf of what led to their success. Financial analyst in this case need to be vigilant always, having information on their fingertips regarding the economic situation regarding macro-economy, information on specific companies, fundamental micro-economics as well as read a lot widely so as to viable in the market. Background Data from the Bereau of Labor Statistics indicates that financial an alysts positions are expected to grow by 23 % between 2010 and 2020, this means 54,200 positions will open up. However, completion for the positions is fierce especially for new analyst hence the need to be relevant so as to be absorbed readily in the market. This means establish a student needs to establish his strengths in the field and polish them to be the best he can be. Median annual earnings in 2011 for financial analyst were $75,650 with the lowest paid 10 % earning $46,300 and the highest- paid 10 % earning $ 145,580; on average the highest paid in the profession work is Bridgeport Conn., New York City and San Francisco. According to research done in Hollywood, it portrays input of long hours one in three put 50-70 hours a week hence need for dedication and readiness to deliver. Among the extra skills needed in the field includes time management since the field is demanding as well as the readiness to work for long hours to reach a target and ensure client’s satisfac tion. Skills Analysis According to Mayes and Shank (2010, p. 2), proficiency in the use of software applications relevant to the field is one of the basic requirements which offer a stepping stone for a start in the field. Technology chances with time hence the need to be aware of the new applications and how to put them to use in the field. This can only be known if one makes the effort to go out and seek the information through the internet or reading the latest journals relevant to the field e.g. The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The Economists as well as other also financial websites which contain the information. Mostly the successful analysts in the field have to incorporate simple computer skills that are important during presentations and analysis. The use of spreadsheets, databases, PowerPoint presentations and other software applications are simple but essential tools for a successful financial analyst in the field today. Not only does a financial analyst need to put long hours in the practice, it is also essential to develop interpersonal relationships with other successful financial analysts who have the ability to mentor him in the same field. Interpersonal relationships nay also include relationships with supervisors and other junior analyst who may play a role in the social life of such

Corporate Governance for Lebanese SMEs Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Corporate Governance for Lebanese SMEs - Thesis Example In the dialog box, I clicked Coding Criteria and defined my search using the Simple button. Using Query Options, I described the storage methodology for my query results (Stanford University 2012). Another feature that was vital during data analysis using Nvivo9 software was the selection of hierarchical nodes (codes) to help in furthering the classification of vital information. This procedure is very crucial since it involves the processes of merging, deleting, and adding relevant categories to the analysis. With the emergence of new and refined themes, the analysis narrows down to fields that can be interpreted by the reader of the information. Further filtering of the data involved the use of Matrix Query. This option allowed me to balance and show the emerging results in the matrix table. Each matrix cell has a newly created node for easy grouping of the needed information. Opening the newly created node explores all the elements stored in there (Stanford University 2012). Using different categories in the Matrix and Coding Query I developed my data interpretation ideas as per the emerging patterns, meanings and categories. I believe that I used the Nvivo9 software correctly in coming up with the stated

Comparative evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comparative evaluation - Essay Example Simply relying on the idea of watching horror movies does not in any way make all of us to be abnormal. In fact, I am aware of a good number of people who dislike watching horror movies. In my view, his generalizations give those with contrary opinion enough reasons to counter his argument. On the other hand, Shanker Vedantam is exploring the manner in which our brains process tragedy and empathy by considering the â€Å"telescope effect†. The main argument present in this text is that telescope effect in human brain is responsible for human behaviour where a person would care so much for the good of a few rather than the good of the many. The choice to use real life examples in countering possible counterarguments makes the claim that the author makes believable. Finally, Sheila McClain, in her article Fitness Culture: A growing Trend in America, is discussing how celebrity endorsements of fitness centres is gradually increasing but doing very little to maintain the motivation of those clients. The arguments she is presenting here is on how human minds can easily be manipulated. It is shocking people end up doing things simply because a celebrity has endorsed only to feel less motivated after a while. She handles counterarguments by presenting examples in real