Chaucers Canterbury Tales - Idealism in the Knights Tale Essay exampl

Idealism in the Knight's Tale      Ã‚   Despite its glorified accounts of the chivalrous lives of gentlemen, the Knight ¹s Tale proves to be more than a tragically romantic saga with a happy ending. For beneath this guise lies an exploration into the trifling world of the day ¹s aristocratic class. Here, where physical substance is superseded by appearance, reality gives way to disillusioned canon and emotion is sacrificed for honor. Naà ¯ve idealism emerges as the dominant characteristic of the seemingly flawless knight and we, as the reader, are asked to discern the effect of this fanciful quality on the story as a whole.    To further investigate this argument one basic premise must be established as the groundwork: Theseus is the character with whom the knight most closely associates himself. Upholding "trouthe and honour" in their conquests of battle and noble rule, both epitomize the sacred rite of "chivalrie". In the Knight ¹s Tale, nearly all the attributes with which he is praised in the Prologue are directly used in correlation with the duke. Thus, the language and actions of Theseus throughout the story can be superimposed onto the knight. These connections, along with the selective narration of the knight, allow the reader to observe the essence of their gallantry and the disparities that exist in this lifestyle. Undoubtedly Chaucer intended this to be a biting attack on the aristocracy, which to so many seemed impeccable.    Generalized and idyllic, the voice of the narrator offers the first clue into the puzzle of the knight. With well-chosen words, he tiptoes through the plot, careful never to pass any judgement on the characters and their actions. His high language all but excludes ... ...ered a gypon Al bismotered with his habergeon, For he was late ycome from his viage,    Works Cited and Consulted Elbow, Peter. "How Chaucer Transcends Oppositions in the Knight's Tale." Chaucer Review. Vol. 7. No. 2. Ed. Robert Frank. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University, 1972. Finalyson, John. "The Knight's Tale: The Dialogue Of Romance, Epic, And   Philosophy." Chaucer Review. Vol. 27. No. 2. Ed. Robert Frank. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University, 1992. Frost, William. "An Interpretation of Chaucer's Knight's Tale." Chaucer Criticism. Vol. 1. Ed. Richard Schoeck. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1960. Roney, Lois. Chaucer's Knight's Tale and Theories of Scholastic Psychology.  Ã‚   Tampa: University of South Florida Press, 1990. Spearing, A.C. The Knight's Tale. London: Cambridge University Press, 1966.   

Difficult Times Always Lead To Better Days

Every cloud has a silver lining means that you should never feel hopeless because difficult times always lead to better days. Difficult times are like dark clouds that pass overhead and block the sun but after some time the cloud shines much brighter than previous time. Life is full of challenges and the longer we live, the more we face new events or challenges in life. Some pass easily and others not.So there are two kinds of people in this world; one who works hard and overcome the situation and the other are those who gives up rapidly. The world we live in is not perfect, and we will never ever find a world which is perfect in itself. Every day there will be things that make us cry or feel sad about ourselves. People who will stand in front of the difficulties which they face, they will be able to improve themselves and let their dreams come true. They are known as brave people and the entire world respect them.In contrast, there are people who watch their steps carefully, they st udy their books and do what their bosses, parents, or teachers tell them to do. But if they, for example, could not solve a math problem they will close their books and stop studying. Furthermore, if there is a problem between a husband and a wife, and this husband or wife is one of those people who give up easily, they may get divorced from the first difficulty but if they stand against the problem and face that problem, it may possible that they will win the situation. Difficult Times Always Lead To Better Days Every cloud has a silver lining means that you should never feel hopeless because difficult times always lead to better days. Difficult times are like dark clouds that pass overhead and block the sun but after some time the cloud shines much brighter than previous time. Life is full of challenges and the longer we live, the more we face new events or challenges in life. Some pass easily and others not. So there are two kinds of people in this world; one who works hard and overcome the situation and the other are those who gives up rapidly.The world we live in is not perfect, and we will never ever find a world which is perfect in itself. Every day there will be things that make us cry or feel sad about ourselves. People who will stand in front of the difficulties which they face, they will be able to improve themselves and let their dreams come true. They are known as brave people and the entire world respect them. In contrast, there are people who watch their steps carefully, they s tudy their books and do what their bosses, parents, or teachers tell them to do.But if they, for example, could not solve a math problem they will close their books and stop studying. Furthermore, if there is a problem between a husband and a wife, and this husband or wife is one of those people who give up easily, they may get divorced from the first difficulty but if they stand against the problem and face that problem, it may possible that they will win the situation.

Technology- Good or Bad for our Future - 676 Words

Technology may be the key to improving humanity, but will it distort our society as we know it? In this short novel by the late author Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451, firemen are sent to burn books rather than halt fires due to the complete censorship of them. One day while coming home from his job, Guy Montag, a â€Å"fireman† meets Clarisse Mcclellan, an eccentric 16 year old girl who changes his life forever by simply talking to him at night- a time when the majority of people are staying in. Along his journey, Montag meets Faber, and old professor, and turns on his peers at the fire station, eventually escaping the city to join a group of nomadic professors. Through innovations in technology, the average person’s life has become faster paced, and less offensive, more ‘dumbed-down’ entertainment has become the standard; with all the media, people in general have stopped paying attention to what’s happening around them. As technology has advanced, life has become more sped up, losing a lot of details in translation. In the time after Montag has stolen a book, Beatty (Montag’s boss) comes to his house and gives him a lecture. A part of Beatty’s monologue is â€Å"‘Classics cut to fit fifteen-minute radio shows, then cut again to fill a two-minute book column, winding up at last a ten- or twelve-line dictionary rà ©sumà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (Bradbury 52). The way that Beatty delivers the aforementioned line is in a summarized manner, just as he describes the path of stories and texts. When shorteningShow MoreRelatedEssay about The History of Chemistry and Technology883 Words   |  4 Pagesand much much more What was society like before the discovery of your technology? Society was simplistic, as in people didnt have televisions, or other modern day uses we now have with new-fangelded technology we now have to our advantage and to really get us through life. Where so evolved that we Don’t really understand how different or not easily life was before chemistry. There are tons of pro’s and con’s to technology. Chemistry made life easier and put everything we need to live in thingsRead MoreDystopian Literature : The Dark Sides Of Our Dreams1456 Words   |  6 Pagesare the dark sides of our dreams. There are common themes and stylistic choices because all of the distorted mirrors that authors are holding up are trying to show us the same things. They are trying to give us the same warnings - what the world might look like if we take our quest for perfection too far.† Authors want us to be fearful of the future, so we do not have to go down the path of a dystopian future. Fear can be seen as a tool, and it can be used for good and for bad, in this case dystopianRead MoreGlobal Warming And Its Impact On The World1042 Words   |  5 Pageshistory, technology, and etc. Inthis research paper you will find most of the history of global warming, how it has had a impact on the world, how it impacts us and our daily lives, and e tc. Also I (Yarely Juarez) will be stating what are the planning or direction of this technology. Many 7t11 graders do not put as much interest on global warming and on how it affects us. Also this essay will contain the evolution of this topic,which is global warming, the development of he alternative technology. ItRead MorePros And Cons Of Technology1631 Words   |  7 Pageswonder if technology is affecting society for the better, or for the worse. I believe there are major issues on the rise with today’s trending technologies. However, like most thing’s, there are both pro’s and con’s to the way technology affects our society. It has a way of giving us new experiences, but in some situations technology can actually take away certain experiences. I’d like to explain my reasoning for those beliefs, and better explain that it’s not that technology is good or bad, it justRead MoreComparison Of Technology In Fahrenheit 4511151 Words   |  5 PagesTechnology is on the rise which has changed people’s lives. Today’s technolog y a positive improvement which has grown over the past years. Today everyone uses technology, from old to new. Both Ernest Cline and Ray Bradbury present worlds that are run by technology.The technology in ready player one and Fahrenheit 451 is both bad and good. Fahrenheit 451 is all about a fireman called Guy Montag who does the opposite of what fireman do, starting fires instead of putting them out. The society in FahrenheitRead MoreTechnology Is A Good Thing For Society1325 Words   |  6 Pages Technology Is an ever-evolving asset, that Society as we know has become very Dependent on. Technology is used for communication, transportation,Entertainment,Medicine, even for food. The question is however, is this Dependance good or bad? I personally can see it from both viewpoints of technology being both good and bad. I would however have to say that Technology is essentially a good thing for society. Technology for starters makes things easier, faster, and is inevitable. This worldRead MoreModern Technology: a Friend or a Foe?1572 Words   |  7 PagesModern Technology: A friend or a foe? Paolo A. Pantaleon 2-7 â€Å"Were changing the world with technology† (Gates). In this modern world, many people can’t survive without the aid of modern technology. Do you remember when people used to send messages through the use of the â€Å"pony express†? Or when people used to get up from their couch to change the channel of the television? I can’t imagine how people could live without modern technologies such as cell phones, internet, and many more. TechnologyRead MoreAnalysis of Two Articles: Is Technology Good or Bad?1214 Words   |  5 PagesTechnology At Its Finest: Is it Good or Bad? Over this past decade or so, people all around the globe have been granted with greater advancements in technology. From cellphones we can talk to, to 3-Dimensional televisions, we are able to pretty much do anything thanks to these high-tech products. But, should we really be grateful for these easy-to-use devices, or are they taking over the lives of millions? In the articles written by Michael Malone and Daniel Burrus, we receive an inside lookRead More The Impact of Modern Science and Technology Essay803 Words   |  4 PagesThe Impact of Modern Science and Technology The quest for scientific knowledge should be boundless. There should not be any type of barriers to prevent such an enrichment of knowledge, and that is exactly what science presents to us. Scientific knowledge can only help us in the long run and even perhaps save us from catastrophes that may occur naturally in the world. There could be an agreement that science has produced many dangerous and destructive things which have brought society many problemsRead MoreThe Fascinating Age Of Technology1272 Words   |  6 PagesFascinating Age of Technology The technology which is around almost everyone in the today’s and future society, affects both work and personal activities. Technology hold data that many would rather it didn’t have. It directs minds in great and horrible ways, and it allows people to learn information which they would otherwise not be able to learn. Even though a person doesn’t own a device or have a bank card, there is information in a system somewhere on the earth. The modern technology which is now

Essay on Introduction to Orientalism by Edward Said

In his introduction to the term â€Å"Orientalism,† Edward Said begins by paraphrasing the writing of a French journalist’s view of the present-day Orient in order to express the major common Western misconception about the East. This misconception exists in the Western mind, according to Said, as if it were irrelevant that the Orient itself was actually sociologically affected. He then goes on to describe the basis of Orientalism, as it is rooted in the Western consciousness. Said uses the phrase â€Å"The Other† to describe the Western fascination with the Orient. This is a reference to Jacques Lacan’s terminology, which describes the mirror stage of development. This is the stage in growth during which children supposedly learn their own†¦show more content†¦The second definition draws attention to this distinction and clarifies Orientalism, while also extending its breadth to all that is not considered West (The Middle East, India, Russia, etc.). Said notes that there has been a fair amount of interchange over the last few centuries over these two theoretical fields of coming to terms with the Orient. Said then proposes a third definition of Orientalism, using an analysis substantially more applicable in the historical context. Orientalism as the corporate institution for dealing with the Orient, as the Western authority has done. He professes to be motivated here by Foucault’s notion of a discourse. Michel Foucault’s theories that have come to bear on this discussion are his ideas of the critical relationship under which the ontology of subject and object come to be known and how these associations may come to constitute knowledge. According to Foucault, the problem is not isolating any empirical conditions that may bring about this subjectivity, but to determine what the subject is and to what conditions it is subject. Said’s application of this theory fits his third definition well, and provides a strong platform for the rest of his argument. The Orient has, for much of history, been the active object to the European missionary and scientist positions.1 He then listsShow MoreRelatedEssay Orientalism865 Words   |  4 PagesOrient. Edward Said’s â€Å"Introduction† to Orientalism aids readers in understanding the basis for Rhonda Vander Sluis’s companions – prejudice and stereotype – in her search for identity in Turkey. More than anything else, in his â€Å"Introduction† to Orientalism Edward Said attempts to educate his readers about the flaws he sees in the European notion of Orientalism. He identifies generalization as the root cause of differences and misunderstanding between Europe and the Orient. As Said sees itRead MoreButterfly : A Romantic Drama Directed By David Cronenberg1515 Words   |  7 PagesSong is a Communist agent that disguised by a male. There are varied themes that present in this film, which are stereotypes, ideology, Orientalism, imperialism and sexism in comparison to both East and West cultures. This paper will focus on different aspects of ideology between East and Western cultures; following up with more specific examine on how Orientalism plays in this film and how I interpreted this set of system. Cronenberg present variety stereotypes in this motion picture, whether inRead MorePacific Geopolitics During The 21st Century1788 Words   |  8 PagesCritical Review Critically discuss Edward Said’s key points/arguments (from Orientalism) and the extent to which these are relevant to the Pacific. Hayley Catlow Introduction Orientalism tries to answer the question of why, when we think of the Orient, we have a preconceived notion of what kind of people live there, what they believe, and how they act; even when we may have never been there or met anyone from there. Said argues that the way we acquire this knowledgeRead MoreThe Idea of Orientalism Portrayed in James Camerons Avatar3778 Words   |  16 PagesThe Idea of Orientalism Portrayed in James Cameron’s Avatar Abstract In brief, this study discusses about the representation of orientalism idea which is portrayed in the film Avatar. The film tells about the conflict between human and native people in Planet Pandora, where human exploits the land and oppresses the native. This study explores in what way the idea of orientalism is represented and how both narrative and non-narrative aspects of the film helped in delivering that representationRead MoreThe Representation of Colonized People in Rudyard Kipling’s Poem â€Å"the White Man’s Burden†: an Unrealistic Representation3227 Words   |  13 Pages1- Introduction In the modern world history, Western countries have mastered a vast part of the world. And this kind of control, based on domination and subordination, aroused mainly from colonialism and imperialism like the power of the British Empire over many colonized countries in the world. Thus, this imperial power had intensively engaged writers’ attention. Among those major writers is Rudyard Kipling. He is a British novelist and poet who was born in British India in 1865 and died inRead MoreA Critical Analysis of Homi K. Bhabhas How Newness Enters The World: Postmodern space, postcolonial times and the trials of cultural translation1610 Words   |  7 PagesDifference, Discrimination, and the Discourse of Colonialism, he stated, There is always, in Said, the suggestion that colonial power is possessed entirely by the colonizer which is a historical and theoretical simplification (200). He asserted that colonization is not just a conscious body of knowledge (Saids manifest Orient alism) but also the unconscious positivity of fantasy and desire (Bhabhas latent Orientalism) (Young, White Mythologies 181). Bhabha used that vantage point — of liminal spacesRead MoreOrientalism in Tayeb Salih’s Season of Migration to the North2758 Words   |  12 PagesWilliam Usdin ENGL 157 – Exam #1 8.15.12 Orientalism in Tayeb Salih’s Season of Migration to the North â€Å"Prospero, you are the master of illusion. Lying is your trademark. And you have lied so much to me (lied about the world, lied about me) that you have ended by imposing on me an image of myself. Underdeveloped, you brand me, inferior, that is the way you have forced me to see myself, I detest the image! What’s more, it’s a lie! But now I know you, you old cancer, and I know myself as well.† CalibanRead More Outside the Teaching Machine by Gayatri Spivak2753 Words   |  11 PagesIt is hardly debatable that Edward W. Said’s Orientalism (1978) has been the foundational text of what has come to be known as postcolonial studies. In the book, Said charts the Western world’s construction(s) of â€Å"an inferior East† by underscoring how the authorizing/ authoritative â€Å"Occident† continues to produce an objectified and negatively stereotyped â€Å"Orient;† Drawing on Foucault’s concept of â€Å"discourse† and Gramsci’s notion of â€Å"hegemony,† Said traces the evolution of European power/ knowledgeRead MoreLiterary Origins, Cultural Relevance, And Documentary Techniques2930 Words   |  12 Pagesperspective of the era from which the modern vampire emerged. Literary theorist Edward Said states, Taking the late eighteenth century as a very roughly defined starting point Orientalism can be discussed and analyzed as the corporate institution for dealing with the Orient - dealing with it by making statements about it, authorizing views of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, ruling over it: in short, Orientalism is a Western style for dominating, restructuring, and having authority overRead MoreA Post-Colonial Analysis of Mr. Know-All and Man-to-Man3054 Words   |  13 PagesEurocentrism is known as Orientalism, which is a specific form of othering defined and proposed by Edward Said. He sees the purpose of Orientalism as â€Å"to produce a positive national self -definition for Western nations by contrast with Eastern nations upon which the West projects all the negative characteristics... (Tyson 367)† Within this concept, Colonizers’ contrived separation of the â€Å"self† and the â€Å"†other† can easily find its counterpart. For Said notes, orientalism is a stereotype based upon

Negative Attitudes Toward The Homeless Essay - 1174 Words

With homelessness effecting 2.3-3.5 million people within any given year, negative attitudes towards homeless individuals and homelessness in general are increasing. Many people view the homeless as smelly criminals, who may have some sort of mental disability, and are aggressive, dangerous beggars. States like Georgia and California hold, what we would consider, the â€Å"meanest† laws in regard to homelessness. Some include: an individual may be arrested for sleeping on a beach, sidewalk, rooftop, or alleyway, and an individual can be arrested for panhandling, even when they are seeking refuge from a disaster. These assumptions led to higher negative stereotypes which pulls the focal attention away from the actual issues of homeless individuals. This study looks to answer whether or not the negative attitudes toward the homeless can be changed? Christina Wisehart, Mark Whatley, and Deborah Briihl decided to study this by conducting an experiment that was measured, at the end , by survey. The recruited ninety-seven students from two undergraduate psychology courses at Valdosta State University. Once they arrived at the experiments location, no other information was told except where to meet, they were each given a packet that was labeled with an even or odd number. Each packet contained a consent form, a demographic form, and Attitudes Toward Homeless Inventory, and a free Chik-Fil-A coupon. Even numbers were to report to Ballroom B and odd numbers to Ballroom C. After readingShow MoreRelatedStudent s Perceptions Of Homeless Persons Essay886 Words   |  4 Pages Student’s Perceptions of Homeless Persons Of Different Ethnic or Racial Heritage Kevin Knox Missouri State University Summer 2015 Submitted to: Dr. Michelle Day Dr. Joan McClennen â€Æ' The life experience students in the human services field bring with them may affect their ability to interact with certain populations. These life experiences form the basis of each individual’s perceptions of certain situations, populations, or individuals. These perceptions may be influenced by their politicalRead MoreEssay Homelessness in Canada1214 Words   |  5 Pagesissue and how it is causing the homeless to not receive the help that they need. This is an issue that needs to change, but due to NIMBYism, it is very difficult create such change. â€Å"One diverse population that has continued to increase over the quarter of a century is composed of people who are homeless† (Baggerly Zalaquett, 2006, p.155). Homelessness has become a growing problem in society because more and more people are finding themselves to be homeless and not knowing where to turn. ManyRead More`` Let Them Eat Code `` By Atossa Abrahamians871 Words   |  4 Pagesfocuses her discussion on technology entrepreneurs who approach alleviating homeless in a negative manner or exploit the homeless to benefit their businesses. Throughout her paper, Abrahamian examines numerous problematic instances in which technology moguls used the misfortune of homeless citizens as learning tool to develop innovations for their businesses. Abrahamian traces this exploitation to society’s tendency to view homeless individuals as â€Å"primordial† instead of human beings like the rest of humanityRead MoreThe Prevalence Of Mental Health976 Words   |  4 PagesThe physical and mental health of homeless individuals is considerably worse than that of the general population. The prevalence of mental health disorder is astronomically higher among the homeless population. The use of alcohol abuse is usually associated with one or two other psychological disorders. There are many people who have outside issues as well such as physical abuse, antisocial, and sexual abuse. Their motivation to get out of being homeless is usually poor because of poor motivationRead MoreHomeless People And The United States1648 Words   |  7 Pagesany major U.S. city poses an all too familiar challenge: avoid the gaze of the scores of homeless people begging on the sidewalks. While you might spare some change to a particularly disheveled looking woman, or a couple trying to buy food for their dog, it is customary to keep your head down in fear of interacting with one of the violent, homeless drunks that litter city streets. Conflict between homeless peo ple and the housed population is not a new phenomena in the United States. With one ofRead MoreThe Social Work Of A Social Worker1551 Words   |  7 Pagesembrace the principle of social justice and are committed to work toward achieving social change. In direct practice, social workers work with individuals living in poverty and subjected to all sorts of injustices. In social work, practitioners work in partnership with clients, when coming up with possible solutions to the presenting problems. It is important that in the process, social workers remain with a nonjudgmental attitude and look at how the person’s environment has been harmful to his orRead MoreResearch Development For Hope For Homeless1718 Words   |  7 PagesHigginbotham Marketing and Advertising 9 November 2015 Research Development for Hope for Homeless Introduction Background: â€Å"Life, liberty, and property.† The words of John Locke that influenced neglected colonist to revolt against their derelict rulers in a Pursuit of Happiness. Yet, the very nation once inspired by his writing has not committed to these ideas. With such a shockingly large homeless population one should assume these ideas have been abandoned by the society. Commonly homelessnessRead MoreHomelessness : Homeless People Are Dirty, Uneducated, And Dangerous1584 Words   |  7 PagesMany people throughout the world look at homeless people negatively, and that is some thing they do not deserve. People automatically assume homeless people are dirty, uneducated, and dangerous, but this is not always true. Many homeless people are war veterans and need help to get their life back on track, but they are too scared and hated to seek it. The stereotypes associated with homeless people make many people shy away from helping them and that is one of the reasons why they are really sufferingRead MoreHomelessness Is An Epidemic That Plagues Many People Across The United States1142 Words   |  5 PagesHomelessness is an epidemic that plagues many people across the United States for many different reasons. However, for young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, living homeless can become especially difficult. Young people of the LGBT community are being put out of their homes, rejected by their families, and shunned by their communities in which they live because of their sexual orientation, something that they themselves have no choice over. This is because of prejudicesRead MoreSociety s Current Structure Of Masculinity1206 Words   |  5 Pagesmasculinity, it physically and mentally demanding, and its ill effects extend far beyond the men it infuses itself in. Yet what would we do if we were given other options for masculinity, ones that allowed for unique blends of attitudes and perceptions? Looking in to the lives of homeless men we can see the forced strategies which create new masculine codes created for the adaption against patriarchal pressures. They are made out of survival need to circumnavigate the painful mental and physical reality

Reflective Discourse

Question: Discuss about theReflective Discourse. Answer: Introduction: It amazes me how capacity planning, location planning and scheduling is done almost every day in our lives. From a simple dinner party to a large scale industry producing a range of products or an IT company delivering wide variety of services production planning is the most commonly used management process. This is the main reason why this topic has caught my attention. Understanding the core of the topic is quite simple as we perform this form of planning continuously in our lives. However, implementing the same in an industrial environment can get quite complicated if the topic is oversimplified. I have worked with a small organization in the past years as an operations manager and have had the opportunity to have a closer look on how capacity planning based on demand forecast is done. As a part of my tenure there, I also had to research on whether a new location had to be added for smooth production. I worked on a production line where downsizing and expanding the capacity of the line was seasonal. The organization produced food products that were in huge demand around Christmas and New Years while the rest of the year the production capacity was quite steady. Every quarter a decision making team was set up to decide on the capacity of the production line for that quarter. These decisions involved an analysis on the demand that has been forecasted, the sales done in the past quarter and the expected clients in the new quarter. This meeting was the most important meeting for a quarter from an operations manager point of view. The decision made here effected the human resources required, the machinery that could be cut done, hours in which we would have to work and so on. I had the opportunity of working here in a high demand quarter when the company backed a client that required a high capacity production. I was quite shocked to see how the entire production line had been transformed to meet the unexpected demand of a specific client. We had to adopt a flexible capacity strategy were quick thinking was required. I had to talk to the HR team to recruit line workers on contract for a month and the facilities team to set up the machinery that was usually not used in this season. Also, the new recruits had to be trained to operate the machinery. To set the right tone, we had to prepare a schedule and make sure that the SLA given to the client was met. Aggregate production planning was done, were we recruited and trained the new line workers and at the same time informed and procured raw material from our vendors. This helped me understand that when a sudden demand arises it is not just the producing company that gets effected but also the vendor that supplies raw material. I had to create a material requirement list for procurement. It is here that I realized that missing a single product or ordering less than the required quantity would cause mayhem in the production. The scheduling was again based on the demand and deadlines forecasted. Capacity has been increased. It was crucial here that each stage of the production had to be done in time to ensure that the next stage was not bottlenecked. Thanks to prior planning the schedule was followed well and the demand was fulfilled. The standby machine maintenance team ensured that there were no surprises. I learnt here that capacity planning, demand forecast, material planning and production planning all go hand in hand and production cannot be complete even if one single aspect misses. After this demand I was asked by the company to study the production process of the company and suggest if a new production facility was required. I had to go through the current machinery the company uses, the revenue it generates, the labor it has, the demand it gets and so on. The fact that we could expand the current facility when a spike in demand was seen helped me determine that a new facility was not required as long as machinery backup was available. Labor was contract based and hence could be requested at any time. Also, investing in a facility would cost the company a huge part of its revenue and I have advised them to not do it as the company was relatively new. They could rather invest in better machinery. After going through the topic, I realized how production planning is not as simple as it looks. With the help of the academic knowledge I have gained and the new techniques I have learned I would be able to increase my capacity as an operations manager.

Norse Runes, Divination, and Jackson Square an Example of the Topic History Essays by

Norse Runes, Divination, and Jackson Square At first, it would seem that Norse runes would have nothing in common with Jackson Square. After all, Norse runes have their history as far back as the fourth century in Norway and Jackson Square is firmly rooted in modern day New Orleans. What connects the two is the aspect of pination. Runes, once their usefulness as a part of a written language ended, were useful for their magical properties. However, the Elder Futhark runes have undergone a dramatic transformation during that time, which I find interesting. In this essay, I will briefly explain the original form and purpose of the Elder and Younger Futhark runes, their evolution into modern pination tools, and the way that the psychic readers of Jackson Square use them. Need essay sample on "Norse Runes, Divination, and Jackson Square" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed A Brief History of Norse Runes According to the American Museum of Natural History, runes have no clearly traceable history. The museum website states that the name rune suggests this, given its meaning, mystery, which comes from the Gothic root runa (par. 1). The figures were originally carved into stone or wood, a task that was made easier by their straight lines (American Museum of Natural History [AMNH] par. 2). I believe that this connection with the natural world may have been seen as an aid to pination, given that the early readers assigned them names and powers that were associated with natural creatures and items, not manufactured items. During my research, I found a list of the Elder Futhark runes. This list included pictures, as well as their names, meanings, uses, and the Latin letters and elements that they corresponded with. I was interested to learn that some runes represented more than one letter, either independently or in combination. For example, a rune that resembles a lesser than caret, Kenaz, represents the letters K, C, or Q. It is up to the inpidual reading the text to decide the proper letter being associated with, if such a distinction existed. In addition, a rune that resembles a modified P, called Thurisaz, represents the letter combination th (Meanings 1).Runes were never intended to support or represent a spoken language; instead, they were used solely as a written language or as symbols on their own (AMNH pars. 2-3). The Elder Futhark set of runes consist of a common set of 24 runes had spread across northern Europe, based on Etruscan and possibly Greek and Latin origins (AMNH par. 1). These 24 runes had only one case and, like the horizontal words in word search puzzles, were not read in any set direction (AMNH par. 1). Runes were eventually replaced by the Latin alphabet as the Christian church broadened its reach across Europe. The Elder Futhark runes remain in use in New Age practices today (AMNH par. 4). Divination Todays New Age practices have precedent; as early rune casters used the runes to predict the future. They linked the runes to specific gods and meanings (AMNH par. 3), laying out the runes in certain patterns to foretell events. Paul Rhys Mountfort notes that: The Runes contain a blueprint or road map to the Northern Mysteries, and, above and beyond their fortune-telling role, a kind of initiation into a profound cultural tradition. By using the Runes, the reader can not only access this unique wisdom tradition but also participate in its contemporary revival. It is an interesting observation; however, I think it lacks validity, since so little is truly known about the original, traditional use of runes. Even Mountfort acknowledges that the origin of the Elder Futhark runes is unknown, although he theorizes on its origin being from the north of Italy and associated with the Germanic tribe that were in the region (19). Mountfort explains that the runes are each assigned one of several values: gods and other supernatural beings, nature, animals, and actions. He also theorizes that the magical characteristics of an earlier primitive Swedish script may have influence the development of the Elder Futhark (21). The use of runes in pination probably didnt take place until the age of the Vikings, although Mountfort expresses the opinion that pination may have been one purpose for their being created (57). Two things are certain, however. First, the runes are connected by names and meanings to the Norse myths. Second, the runes are connected to the natural world. And, according to Mountfort, the runes are relevant even in todays world. He states that by applying their meaning to the actual contours of our present-day lives, we ensure that not only the Runes but also these attendant tales take on a powerful, contemporary relevance (57). Nature and the natural world seem to be the farthest thing from the minds of todays piner, however. Although early rune casters certainly had rituals, ritual devoid of meaning seems to be part of learning about using the runes today. Paxson recommends rune groups that sound more like study groups than religious groups. Thee group members use the same book and also have a notebook in which to take notes on discussions, collect handouts, record the results of inpidual work [. . .] (Paxson 18). Diane Paxson then goes on to discuss scheduling and dress. She recommends dressing appropriately, which might help the rune caster shift into a Norse mode of consciousness (20). What this mode of consciousness is supposed to be, Paxson does not explain. However, she does go on to recommend her own book, called Germanic Costume, which contains illustrations of, and patterns for, such clothing. Although the Paxsons book soon moves into discussion of the runes themselves, the first part of the book seems to make rune casting into playacting, robbing the rituals of a lot of their legitimacy. Jackson Square The Tarot card readers and amateur psychics that once littered the majority of Jackson Square are largely gone now, first cleared out by a prominent member of the New Orleans City Council member, Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, and then by Hurricane Katrina. As the city rebuilds, the readers will filter back; as long as there are tourists to provide tips, artists, readers and street acts will be a part of that city. What I found most interesting about these alleged psychics was that, although the Jackson Square readers are considered something of an unsavory element by some, even they are pided on who should be permitted to set up in the Square. It is clear to me from Glynn Wilsons article that Clarkson has a personal mission to prevent certain people from using Jackson Square. The people of whom she approves appear to be artists and tourists. In addition, Clarkson at least tolerates the restaurateurs and shop owners, and perhaps even the tour guides, although all of these people do little more than lend a pedestrian air to the site. In the past, Clarkson passed ordinances that prevented the readers from setting up tables for their trade (Wilson par. 2) and replaced the old benches in the Square with new ones that had center armrests, intended to prevent people from stretching out on them (Wilson pars. 12-13). Clearly, Clarkson feels that the Jackson Square readers are charlatans. The readers on Jackson Square primarily read Tarot cards and palms; however, some of them use runes on request. The readers who use runes sometimes use the commercially available set of ceramic runes. Unlike the early rune casters, it is rare to find a hand-carved set among the Jackson Square readers. Interestingly, however, the runes have undergone yet another transformation. In many cases, rune readers use rune cards, which are Tarot-style cards with depictions of the runes inscribed on them. In these cases, the runes have been transformed from living stone or wood to either commercially processed and artificial stone or printed slips of cardboard coated with plastic. In neither case is these things particularly original, nor are they in tune with the universe, since they are identical to every other manufactured set. In addition to these limitations, the meaning behind the runes have changed. Modern meanings have been assigned to the traditional runes by todays neopagans, moving the runes even further from the world and from the stories that they are intended to represent. Personal Observations and Conclusion The Norse myths have always fascinated me, ever since I was able to read and even partly understand them. The myths explained the natural world, just as the Greek and Roman myths did, so that the early cultures were able to make sense of the things going on around them. Even though I understood that there were no eight-legged horses and that a sprig of mistletoe could not swear to do no harm to anyone, young, old, or otherwise. But the stories spoke to me, just as they must have to the original listeners. The Norse myths seem to have been forgotten in the practice of using runes in pination today. Even if a person accepts the idea of psychics having real talent for predicting the future, many of the readers in Jackson Square today are more successful in reading people than they are much else. They are, in fact, better at pining hints from the people at their tables than they are in pining the secrets of the runes. I think that it is disturbing that so many things in our world have changed from their original form. However, few things seem to have changed as much as the runes and their original meaning. Originally, the runes were part of these stories and part of the world; now, however, you can actually print rune cards at home using computer software. Far from being part of the natural world, todays runes reflect the artifice of the modern world. If pination were ever possible in the past, I think that even the ancient rune casters would agree that it would not be possible today, given the lack of connection with the myths that drive their meanings. Works Cited American Museum of Natural History. The History of Runes. 29 May 2007. Mountfort, Paul Rhys. Nordic Runes: Understanding, Casting, and Interpreting the Ancient Viking Oracle. Rochester, VT: Destiny, 2003. Paxson, Diana L. Taking Up The Runes: A Complete Guide To Using Runes In Spells, Rituals, pination, And Magic. York Beach, ME: Red Wheel-Weiser, LLC, 2005 Wilson, Glynn. Battle of New Orleans Pits Artists against Psychics. Dallas Morning News. 25 May 2003. http://www.southerner.net/fast/dntexlaquarter.html>.