Destiny and Henley Essay

â€Å"Invictus† was written by Henley when he was in the hospital with tuberculosis. While in his twenties he contracted a tubercular infection that led to his leg being amputated below the knee. Later he developed the same infection in his other leg and was told it would have to be removed as well. Henley refused to have it amputated and sought the help of a doctor who had developed antiseptic medicine. Twenty months later Henley had finally recovered and was able to leave the hospital. It was during this dark time in his life when he wrote â€Å"Invictus†. When you read the poem you can see how passionate he felt: â€Å"I thank whatever gods may be / For my unconquerable soul†(Henley). Instead of falling into despair, Henley was able to be thankful that, though his body was beaten, his soul wasn’t. Even in the highest of his horrible circumstances, Henley refused to let life defeat him, but instead he rose up and fought back: â€Å"In the fell clutch of circumstance / I have not winced nor cried aloud† (Henley). He did not waste his time despairing over what he had lost, but instead focused on getting better. You can also see how desperately determined he was: â€Å"I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul† (Henley). He refused to give into the idea that someone else was in control of his life. In the poem he cites â€Å"the bludgeonings of chance,† which shows he felt it was simply fate that this happened to him, and yet he went on to defiantly state that he was in control of his own destiny (Henley). By looking closely at â€Å"Invictus†, you can clearly see the struggles that Henley went through in his own life. The powerful tone in â€Å"Invictus† is gloomy and dark although Henley remains optimistic and with the help of the three types of figurative language the dark tone is constantly seen throughout the poem helping readers truly feel the misery the author is going through . Invictus could be taken as a hopeful poem for those suffering, constantly being reminded that you are the â€Å"Captain of your soul† and that it is you choosing to live in pain or be brave when facing a challenge. â€Å"Beyond this place of wrath and tears† refers that the writer has hope for the after life. Finds, and shall find, me unafraid† refers to the fearlessness of the writer â€Å"My head is bloody, but unbowed. † refers to his courage to fight. The use of imagery in â€Å"Invictus† provides readers with deeper sense of the poem and connects them to the author’s true feelings. Henley uses strong relevant adjectives to paint a picture of the horrors of misery he feels in the beginning and towards the end of the poem he allows readers to grasp that it was his bravery that helped him overcome the impossible. The theme of â€Å"Invictus†is one that appeals to most people. It is the idea that you control your fate more than anyone else ever will. In a world that cares nothing for us and often seems to be trying to destroy us, we can overcome all odds and be victorious because we, and we alone, are masters of our own fate. This is proven through the circumstances that the poem was written under. Instead of submitting to the original prognosis of the doctors and having his other leg removed, Henley chose to take charge of his life, find a new doctor, and ultimately change the course of his life (Invictus: A Study Guide). The theme is one of triumph and survival. Despite all odds, despite all expectations, Henley took control of his destiny and came out victorious. The fact that Henley wrote this during a dark time in his life added a wealth of emotion to the poem; he was writing from his heart and it was obvious. The overarching theme of the poem is relevant to everyone because when it comes down to it, we all want to feel like our life actually has meaning and is not just a sum of chance circumstances and happenings. The use of imagery in â€Å"Invictus† provides readers with deeper sense of the poem and connects them to the author’s true feelings. Henley uses strong relevant adjectives to paint a picture of the horrors of misery he feels in the beginning and towards the end of the poem he allows readers to grasp that it was his bravery that helped him overcome the impossible.

Demonstrated Interest - What It Is and Why It Matters

Demonstrated Interest - What It Is and Why It Matters Demonstrated Interest is one of those nebulous criteria in the college admissions process that can cause great confusion among applicants. Whereas SAT scores, ACT scores, GPA, and extracurricular involvement are measurable in concrete ways, interest can mean something very different to different institutions. Also, some students have a hard time drawing the line between demonstrating interest and harassing the admissions staff. Demonstrated Interest As the name suggests, demonstrated interest refers to the degree to which an applicant has made clear that he or she truly is eager to attend a college. Especially with the Common Application and free Cappex Application, its easy for students to apply to multiple schools with very little thought or effort. While this may be convenient for applicants, it presents a problem for colleges. How can a school know if an applicant is truly serious about attending? Thus, the need for demonstrated interest. There are many ways to demonstrate interest. When a student writes a supplemental essay that reveals a passion for a school and detailed knowledge of the schools opportunities, that student is likely to have an advantage over a student who writes a generic essay that could be describing any college. When a student visits a college, the expense and effort that goes into that visit reveal a degree of meaningful interest in the school. College interviews and college fairs are other forums in which an applicant can show interest in a school. Probably the strongest way an applicant can demonstrate interest is by applying through an early decision program. Early decision is binding, so a student who applies via early decision is committing to the school. Its a large reason why the early decision acceptance rates are often more than twice the acceptance rate of the regular applicant pool.   Colleges and Universities That Consider Demonstrated Interest   A study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that about half of all colleges and universities place either moderate or high importance on an applicants demonstrated interest in attending the school.   Many colleges will tell you that demonstrated interest is not a factor in the admissions equation. For example, Stanford University, Duke University, and Dartmouth College  explicitly state that they do  not take demonstrated interest into account when evaluating applications. Other schools such as Rhodes College, Baylor University, and Carnegie Mellon University explicitly state that they do consider an applicants interest during the admissions process. However, even when a school says it does not consider demonstrated interest, the admissions folks are usually just referring to specific types of demonstrated interest such as phone calls to the admissions office or visits to campus. Applying early to a selective university and writing supplemental essays that show you know the university well will certainly improve your chances of being admitted. So in this sense, demonstrated interest is important at nearly all selective colleges and universities.   How Colleges Value Demonstrated Interest Colleges have good reason for taking demonstrated interest into account as they make their admissions decisions. For obvious reasons, schools want to enroll students who are eager to attend. Such students are likely to have a positive attitude toward the college, and they are less likely to transfer to a different institution. As alumni, they might be more likely to make donations to the school. Also, colleges have a much easier time predicting their yield if they extend offers of admission to students who have high levels of interest. When the admissions staff can predict the yield fairly accurately, they are able to enroll in a class that is neither too big nor too small. They also have to rely far less on waitlists. These questions of yield, class size, and waitlists translate into significant logistical and financial issues for a college. Thus, it isnt surprising that many colleges and universities take a students demonstrated interest seriously. This also explains why schools like Stanford and Duke dont put much weight on demonstrated interest; the most elite colleges are almost guaranteed a high yield on their offers of admission, so they have less uncertainty in the admissions process.

The eNotes Blog Seven Wonderful Christmas Stories Listen, Love,Remember

Seven Wonderful Christmas Stories Listen, Love,Remember Looking for some great Christmas stories to listen to as you cook or wrap gifts?   Here are some of the best, both modern and traditional, to make your holiday tasks fly by! The Santaland Diaries made humorist David Sedaris famous in 1997.  The story recounts the exploits of a 30-something under-employed author who finds a temporary job at Macys department store, working as an elf  in Santas Village.  I wear green, velvet knickers, a forest green velvet smock and a perky little hat decorated with spangles. This is my work uniform, the story begins. Sedaris is deservedly famous both for his humor and his keen insight into human behavior. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote. Hear Capote himself  read this touching Christmas story as he remembers his childhood with his eccentric, child-like aunt, who made the young authors troubled childhood not only bearable but special.   The story invites us as ghostly guests to Imagine a morning in late November. A coming of winter morning more than twenty years ago. Consider the kitchen of a spreading old house in a country town. A great black stove is its main feature; but there is also a big round table and a fireplace with two rocking chairs placed in front of it. Just today the fireplace commenced its seasonal roar. Christmas Freud by David Rakoff. In 1996, New Yorks Barneys department store, famous for their elaborate and sometimes eccentric Christmas display windows, hired essayist David Rakoff to play Sigmund Freud to create a live performance art piece. Rakoff sat in the window. Various actors pretended to be his patients before a crowd of curious and often confused onlookers. Rakoff records his thoughts about his role in the farce as well as numerous funny, cynical observations about the crowd. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Listen to this classic tale read by Orson Welles in this 1938  version, recorded live  at the historic Mercury Theatre.  There is still time to mend your ways! The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen. Along with The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen is responsible for recording in print a good number of the folktales with which most of us are familiar.  In this sentimental story, written in 1845, a poor child lives out her hopes and dreams in her imagination, even as her life slips away. Twas the Night Before Christmas by  Clement Clarke Moore. Who doesnt know  Clement Clarke Moores famous opening lines? Twas the night before Christmas, / And all through the house, / Not a creature was stirring, / Not even a mouse. Listen to the poem in its entirety as you bake with your kids or wrap up those last minute gifts once theyre in bed! John Henry Faulks Christmas Story. A traditional favorite on NPR, storyteller and musician John Henry Faulks recollections of the holidays in his native Texas have been a staple of holiday listening for fans since 1974.  The  tale begins with Faulk as an adult. He recalls: The day after Christmas a number of years ago, I was driving down a country road in Texas. And it was a bitter cold, cold morning. Walking ahead of me on the gravel road was a little bare-footed boy with non-descript ragged overalls and a makeshift sleeved sweater tied around his little ears. I stopped and picked him up. Looked like he was about 12 years old and his little feet were blue with the cold. He was carrying an orange. That orange, who gave this impoverished child so much joy, makes Faulk, and his listeners, re-evaluate their priorities during the hectic holiday season.

Doctor Visit with Troubling Symptoms (ESL Dialogue)

Doctor Visit with Troubling Symptoms (ESL Dialogue) Some Troubling Symptoms Patient: Good afternoon. Doctor: Good afternoon. Have a seat. So, what have you come in for today?Patient: Thank you. Im feeling ill, Ive got quite a bad cough, but I dont seem to have a fever. Doctor: I see. How long have you had these symptoms?Patient: Oh, Ive had the cough for two weeks, but feeling ill just these past few days. Doctor: Are you having any other problems?Patient: Well, Ive got a headache. Ive also had a little bit of diarrhea. Doctor: Do you produce any phlegm when coughing?Patient: Sometimes, but its usually pretty dry. Doctor: Do you smoke?Patient: Yes, a few cigarettes a day. Certainly no more than a half a pack a day. Doctor: How about allergies? Do you have any allergies?Patient: Not that Im aware of. Doctor: Does your head feel stuffy?Patient: Yes, for the past few days. Doctor: OK. Now lets have a look. Could you please open your mouth and say ah? Key Vocabulary symptomsto feel illcoughfeverto have a coughheadachediarrheaphlegmto coughallergystuffyto feel stuffy More English for Medical Purposes Dialogues Troubling Symptoms - Doctor and PatientJoint Pain - Doctor and PatientA Physical Examination - Doctor and PatientPain that Comes and Goes - Doctor and PatientA Prescription - Doctor and PatientFeeling Queasy - Nurse and PatientHelping a Patient - Nurse and PatientPatient Details - Administration Staff and Patient More Dialogue Practice - Includes level and target structures / language functions for each dialogue.

Feasibility of the Iphone Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Feasibility of the Iphone - Case Study Example This study on the phone and its markets and marketing strategies, aims to understand just that. In order to understand the above, it is important to thoroughly understand the previous launch of iPhone in the US and how the marketing strategies there transformed into sales. It is then pertinent to answer the question on how the launch in UK affected the mobile phone market. Customer behaviour and levels of customer acceptance of the product are also researched and studied here. Finally the important concepts of marketing that have pushed or prevented sales of the iphone have been covered. The proposal concludes with suggestions. Market condition and customer behaviour: The mobile phone market in US is growing and in the third quarter of 2007, sales were seen to reach 38million units, an increase of 13% from the previous quarter. As per the NPD group, the increase of sales was noted at 47% as compared to last year. Among various smartphones, iPhone reportedly sold approximately 525,000 phones (BBC News, 2007) within the first week of sales as per the Los Angles times. Market reviews later revealed that while the phone lived up to its hyped image of providing many attractions in one package, it performed poorly in functioning as a basic phone. Dissatisfaction with other factors like battery life, camera performance and inability to play flash or Java were also reported. Competition: The market statistics as per NPD were for third quarter as under, Companies Selling brands Market share Motorola Motorola RAZR V3, Motorola RAZR V3m, Motorola MOTOKRZR K1m, Motorola V323i/V325i 31% LG LG VX8300, LG Chocolate VX8550/8500, LG VX5300 17% Samsung Samsung SGH-A707 16% Nokia 11% Sanyo Sanyo Katana II 4% Market condition and customer behaviour in UK: The iPhone was launched in Europe during the end of the year in a 3G version, supposedly after its poor performance in US markets as a phone. Statistics1 here reveal that 77% users do not use data services like picture and video messaging. Customer reviews for the iPhone have been both positive and negative. Competition: European markets are dominated by Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Sony. Apple and its Iphone As per Steve Jobs, iPhone has scope to become the third main business for Apple after its iPod and Mac computer. The organization states that by the end of 2008, Apple hopes to sell ten million phones, and grab one percent share of the mobile phone market (Jobs, 2007). The iPhone combines in it a mobile phone and an iPod. With a wide screen and virtual keyboard, it has a new user interface. The instrument thus allows users to enjoy multimedia applications, Internet and much more content through its interface. The quad band phone uses GSM standards and comes with international capabilities. Literature overview Buzz marketing or word of mouth is ten times more effective than print or TV2 and more important today than anytime in the past (Hughes, 2004). As per Regis McKenna, 'Word of mouth is probably the

Why are big projects often complete late and out of budget Essay

Why are big projects often complete late and out of budget - Essay Example uth Wales Labor Government ran an international competition for a design for a complex including 2 main halls, a restaurant and meeting rooms with 234 architects from 9 countries submitting designs. An extraordinarily ambitious design by Jorn Utzon was initially rejected by an assessment committee, however, respected Finnish architect Eero Saarinon convinced them to change their minds and Utzon was awarded the prize. Before The Opera House, Utzon had won 7 of eight competitions he had entered but not one of his designs was ever built. It was estimated that construction would take 5 years and would cost A$7 million. The â€Å"Opera House Lottery† was born in 1958 as an extra source of funding before construction had begun. The original completion date was set down for 26th January, 1963 (Australia Day) and it didnt reach completion until 1973, 10 years late and the costs had blown out to A$103 million, 14 times over budget. Because of the complexities of his design, Utzon, was aware that technical problems would arise and as advanced technology that was not yet available would be needed to address these problems. He pleaded that he had not yet fully completed the design for the structure and asked for more time to tackle these problems, however his request was denied with the government fearing that funding and public opinion would turn against them and construction began in 1959, two years ahead of Utzons schedule. The lack of preparation had immediate consequences and many structural issues remained unsolved. With unexpected difficulties such as bad weather and the inability to have a suitable avenue for rain water to be diverted along with the fact that appropriate construction drawings had not been drafted, work was already running 47 weeks behind schedule. The roof of the Opera House was to be formed with a series of precast concrete shells and covered with Swedish made white glazed tiles. It was discovered, after the monumental Grand Podium, with its

Madeleine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Madeleine - Essay Example The talks with the prostitutes in her neighborhood started altering Madeline morals. However, she moved to St. Louis to live with a friend while she was seventeen. She began to work in a factory but realized she was pregnant after working for a few months. She thus ran away from the friend’s house and moved into a brothel within Kansas since she could not support herself financially. To hide her identity, she invented the name Madeleine Blair. She later lost her baby and almost managed to avoid being engaged in sex trade when she migrated to Chicago. In Chicago, she started her life working in a department store. However, the salary is meager and she could not support herself. She ended up getting back to prostitution. Therefore, the major reason why Madeleine got into prostitution was the unplanned pregnancy. When she realized she was pregnant, she was ashamed of herself and left her friend’s house. Since she had no means to support herself she ended up getting into pr ostitution. Another reason that led Madeleine get into prostitution was her early exposure to talks regarding prostitution. She had lived in environments where prostitution was considered a lesser vice. Therefore, she easily got into the sex industry when she was compelled by her financial needs. Although she was aware of the existence of sex industry, she had tried to avoid being a prostitute by searching for a noble job since she wanted to retain her respect. However, the dire need for money and her condition of being pregnant drove her into the industry. Alter some time, her desire for money increased making it hard for her to leave the sex industry. She started migrating from brothel to brothel and ended up establishing her own brothel in Canada. 2) What does her story tell us about life during the late Gilded Age? How was she affected by industrialization, urbanization, rural decline, and the social problems associated with these transformations? In the Autobiography, Madeleine approves that the sex industry was of great economic benefit to the western countries. Madeleine considers prostitution as the only way that women could contribute to economic growth. Even the authorities and most people in Canada viewed sex industry as important in enhancing economic growth. Men considered brothels as crucial and would even go to nearby town in search of sex if there were no brothels in their locality. As industrialization progressed, men started earning better salaries. Most of them spent part of their salaries to pay for sex. This demonstrates that industrialization contributed to increase in prostitution. Madeleine describes her brothel as one that constituted an important social and economic component. It fulfilled the needs of the working class (Anonymous 180-184). To the girls who worked in the brothel, it was their source of income hence a form of employment. Moreover, the local municipal authorities greatly benefited from the bribes that Madeleine gave the m. The common people viewed prostitution as an important component of the local economy that was beneficial to all. Women could get employment, the authorities made profits, and men had some place to spend their leisure time. Therefore, people viewed brothels as institutions as important sector of the economy that enhanced exchange of money. With industrialization, there was increased number of women in urban centers. To them, prostitution was a noble way of earning