Narrative Technique of Sula Essay

Although Sula is arranged in chronological order, it does not construct a linear story with the causes of each new plot event clearly visible in the preceding chapter. Instead, Sula uses â€Å"juxtaposition,† the technique through which collages are put together. The effects of a collage on the viewer depend on unusual combinations of pictures, or on unusual arrangements such as overlapping. The pictures of a collage don’t fit smoothly together, yet they create a unified effect. The â€Å"pictures† of Sula’s collage are separate events or character sketches. Together, they show the friendship of Nel and Sula as part of the many complicated, overlapping relationships that make up the Bottom. Morrison presents the novel from the perspective of an omniscient narrator — one who knows all the characters’ thoughts and feelings. An omniscient narrator usually puts the reader in the position of someone viewing a conventional portrait or landscape rather than a collage. (In such situations, the viewer can perceive the unity of the whole work with only a glance.) To create the collage-like effect of Sula, the omniscient narrator never reveals the thoughts of all the characters at one time. Instead, from chapter to chapter, she chooses a different point-of-view character, so that a different person’s consciousness and experience dominate a particular incident or section. In addition, the narrator sometimes moves beyond the consciousness of single, individual characters, to reveal what groups in the community think and feel. On the rare occasions when it agrees unanimously, she presents the united community’s view. As in The Bluest Eye and Jazz, the comm unity has such a direct impact on individuals that it amounts to a character. In narrative technique for Sula, Morrison draws on a specifically modernist usage of juxtaposition. Modernism, discussed in Chapter 3, was the dominant literary movement during the first half of the twentieth century. Writers of this period abandoned the unifying, omniscient narrator of earlier literature to make literature more like life, in which each of us has to make our own sense of the world. Rather than passively receiving a smooth, connected story from an authoritative narrator, the reader is forced to piece together a coherent plot and meaning from more separated pieces of  information. Modernists experimented with many literary genres. For example, T. S. Eliot created his influential poem The Wasteland by juxtaposing quotations from other literary works and songs, interspersed with fragmentary narratives of original stories. Fiction uses an analogous technique of juxtaposition. Each successive chapter of William Faulkner novel As I Lay Dying, for instance, drops the reader into a different character’s consciousness without the direction or help of an omniscient narrator. To figure out the plot, the reader must work through the perceptions of characters who range from a seven-year-old boy to a madman. The abrupt, disturbing shifts from one consciousness to another are an intended part of the reader’s experience. As with all literary techniques, juxtaposition is used to communicate particular themes. In Cane, a work that defies our usual definitions of literary genres, Jean Toomer juxtaposed poetry and brief prose sketches. In this way, Cane establishes its thematic contrast of rural black culture in the South and urban black culture of the North. Morrison, who wrote her master’s thesis on two modernists, Faulkner and Virginia Woolf, uses juxtaposition as a structuring device in Sula. Though relatively short for a novel, Sula has an unusually large number of chapters, eleven. This division into small pieces creates an intended choppiness, the uncomfortable sense of frequently stopping and starting. The content of the chapters accentuates this choppy rhythm. Almost every chapter shifts the focus from the story of the preceding chapter by changing the point-of-view character or introducing sudden, shocking events and delaying discussion of the characters’ motives until later. In â€Å"1921,† for example, Eva douses her son Plum with kerosene and burns him to death. Although the reader knows that Plum has become a heroin addict, Eva’s reasoning is not revealed. When Hannah, naturally assuming that Eva doesn’t know of Plum’s danger, tells her that Plum is burning, the chapter ends with Eva’s almost nonchalant â€Å"Is? My baby? Burning?† (48). Not until midway through the next chapter, â€Å"1923,† does Hannah’s questioning allow the reader to understand Eva’s motivation. Juxtaposition thus heightens the reader’s sense of incompleteness. Instead of providing quick resolution, juxtaposition  introduces new and equally disturbing events. Paradoxically, when an occasional chapter does contain a single story apparently complete in itself, it too contributes to the novel’s overall choppy rhythm. In a novel using a simple, chronological mode of narration, each succeeding chapter would pick up where the last one left off, with the main characters now involved in a different incident, but in some clear way affected by their previous experience. In Sula, however, some characters figure prominently in one chapter and then fade entirely into the background. The first chapter centers on Shadrack, and although he appears twice more and has considerable psychic importance to Sula and symbolic importance to the novel, he is not an important actor again. In similar fashion, Helene Wright is the controlling presence of the third chapter, â€Å"1920,† but barely appears in the rest of the book. These shifts are more unsettling than if Shadrack and Helene were ancestors of the other characters, generations removed, because the reader would then expect them to disappear. Their initial prominence and later shadowy presence contribute to the reader’s feeling of disruption. The choppy narration of Sula expresses one of its major themes, the fragmentation of both individuals and the community. Sula. New York: Knopf, 1973. Rpt. New York: Penguin, 1982

The controversy of MLDA PowerPoint Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The controversy of MLDA - PowerPoint Presentation Example However, this paper presents the arguments and statistics put forward by the two sides of the controversy in supporting their claims. The Controversy of MLDA MLDA or the minimum legal age for drinking has been one controversial issue ever since its inception in the 1850s. This controversy arises from the proponents and opponents of either raising or lowering the MLDA. Before establishing the controversy, it is important to examine a brief history of the MLDA. After prohibition ended, many states restricted the access of alcohol by the youth by designating 21 years as the minimum legal age for drinking. However, between the years of 1970 and 1975, about 29 states reduced the MLDA to eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years, (AMA 1). This was a time when the lowest age for activities such as voting was also being reduced. At this time, scientists started studying the impacts of a reduced MLDA, by focusing on motor vehicle accidents, the leading cause death of teenagers. Several such studies indicated that accidents significantly increased among teens when MLDA was reduced. Armed with the facts that a lower age for drinking led to more traffic fatalities and injuries among the youth, citizen advocacy groups piled pressure on states to restore MLDA to 21 years. Indeed, between 1976 and 1983, 16 states increased their drinking age. This was met with resistance from other states amid rising concerns that minors would traverse across state lines in order to purchase and consume liquor. This prompted the federal government to pass the Uniform Drinking Act. Among alcohol policies, MLDA is the most studied, with studies mainly focusing on the effects of either a higher or lower MLDA, (AMA 1). Therefore, MLDA continues to elicit controversy even as all the 50 states have set the MLDA at 21 years, with exceptions existing in different states regarding consumption at home, medical necessity, and under adult supervision among others. So where does the controversy lie? Those who p ropose the reduction in the MLDA from 21 years argue that it has not put a stop to teenage drinking. Instead, it has transferred underage binge drinking into private and less restricted environments, and this has led to increased health and life-threatening behavior by teenagers. For example, while many believe that people who are under the age of 21 years are prohibited from alcohol consumption in the US, underage drinking is permitted in 29 states if it is done on private premises with parental consent, in 25 states if used for religious purposes, and in 7 states of it used for educational purposes. Those who oppose the lowering of the minimum age for drinking argue that teenagers have not yet attained an age where they are capable of responsibly handling alcohol, and hence have a higher likelihood of causing harm and even killing themselves or others by drinking prior to the age of 21. Their perception is that when the lowest age for drinking is increased, the number of traffic f atalities decrease. In fact, research findings tend to support the claims by the people who oppose the lowering of the MLDA. According to the American Medical Association (1), a higher drinking age is successful in curbing alcohol-related deaths and injuries among the youth. When the age is lowered, the death and injury rates increase. When the age is increased, the death and injury rates decrease. This also means that the number of motor vehicle accidents decrease with an increase in drinking age.

The Rise of Universities by Charles Homer Haskins Essay

The Rise of Universities by Charles Homer Haskins - Essay Example On the one hand, a university represented a traditional craft-type corporation (universitas), which brought together people of a specific occupation type.  At the same time, the internal organization of universities hold quite an unusual, for that sort of corporations, position - it was given the certain features of republicanism: all full-fledged â€Å"citizens† had the right to elect and be elected to various university positions. According to some researchers, the earliest university in Medieval Europe was the one in Salerno.  It was developing on the basis of the oldest medical school of Salerno, the first mention of which dates back to 197 A.D. The Hippocratic community (civitas Hippocratica), which existed there, preserved and developed the best of the ancient medical heritage.  Salerno medical school, as one of the largest educational centers, was known until 1812.  However, it did not become the university.  Mainly, because the school did not teach on the sam e high level (as medicine) all the remaining subjects.   The named above reason accounts for the fact that it’s considered that the most ancient European universities are the ones in Bologna, which was founded at the end of the 11th century, and Paris – the 12th century.  The named universities, although formed almost simultaneously, differed in their internal structure and epitomized the two main types of universities in Medieval Europe.  The first (Bologna) university developed as the major centre for study of Roman law in Western Europe.  According to contemporaries,  in the  early 13th century, more than  10  thousand people  from all over  Europe studied in  Bologna.   The famous Bolognese  professors  had so many  listeners  that had  to lecture  outside, in the streets.  Almost  all the languages  of Europe were  represented there.  The university became  known a global one.  It was Bologna, where  for the firs t time  appeared the  so-called fraternities. It grew up on the basis of urban secular schools (School of Glossators) and was the organization of students.  This means that the student guilds arrogated to themselves the right to manage the entire process of university life.  Teachers of the University of Bologna were denied the right to vote at university meetings; the entire training process took place under the strict supervision of students and professors could be fined for violations of academic activity. But especially famous in Medieval Europe was the University of Paris – Sinai of education.  Not without reason there was a common saying in those days - in Italy - the papacy, in Germany - the Emperor, in France – the University.  It had about seven thousand people, which included not only teachers and students, but operational staff as well (booksellers, scribes of manuscripts, makers of parchment, pens, ink powder, apothecaries, innkeepers and moneyl enders, who lend money to schoolmen and teachers).  Unlike the University of Bologna, it was controlled by associations of teachers, not schoolmen.  But those were not just teacher - students of senior faculties, who managed to complete the preparatory faculty (foundation studies).  They were both Masters of the seven Liberal Arts and students.  Naturally, they began to oppose themselves to other teachers, schoolies and townspeople, claiming to determine their status.  In 1215 ended the struggle for autonomy of the University of Paris against the bishop.  Paris masters received the support of the Pope, however, for that they were

Economic100 Article Analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Economic100 Analysis - Article Example The article sheds light on the increasing costs of business, implying that not only the apparent rise in coffee beans but also utilities, rent etc attribute to the hike in the prices. Keeping this in mind, the climate of business is not a favorable one, and this may have short term to middle term implications for other segments in the market as well. The objective of this analysis is to apply relevant economic concepts to this article and understand the fundamentals at work here. Economic Concepts There are a few key economic concepts which can be applied to explain the whole of things. Some of them include demand pull inflation, increase in aggregate demand, porter’s five forces etc. Particular focus will be laid on the implications of the existing context, given it persists and how it will hamper longer terms sales etc. Analysis The first economic concept which the article lays emphasis on is the fact that there has been an overall increase in the demand for coffee around th e world. We’ve seen that over the course of the last 3 decades, a lot of globalization has taken place, and in the process, there has been a lot of transference of good and services across borders. Coffee is one of those items which has found a market for itself wherever it has gone. Growing economies such as China and India have shown great promise in terms of demand for the products and this has only fueled the prices in an upward direction. When aggregate demand increases, it has to be followed by an increase in the aggregate supply in an equal magnitude otherwise the result is inflationary pressures in the economy. In the case of coffee, the demand has increased, but the supply has not been able to cope with the demand. Hence the result is demand pull inflation. As is seen in the diagram, increases in the aggregate demand will cause a movement along the curve, but if there are other variables altering, then this can trigger a shift of the curve all together. The inflation we refer to over here doesn’t imply that the whole economy is heating up, but rather just the coffee segment. However, inflation is something that cannot be sustained in this segment. The reason can be explained by Porter’s Five Force model. One of the key pillars of that model is the threat of a substitute. In the case of coffee, there are many substitutes readily available in the market. They can include tea, lattes, cappuccinos etc. The point is that price fluctuations are not sustainable in an industry such as this one. Moreover, the price sensitivity of this product is extremely high. Therefore, even the slightest fluctuations in price could trigger a decrease in supply for this product. Now the real debate starts here. The problem in prices arose due to an uncoordinated demand. However, what’s the trade-off between increasing prices and increasing consumer base? The answer to this question lies in the fact that no production line would like to see a decli ne in the demand for that particular good, however, it must be able to sustain the demand without increasing prices. If prices are pulled up due to these pressures, it implies that the demand cannot be sustained and eventually, the higher prices will lead to a decline in the demand and equilibrium will once again be attained on the previous level. When that happens, this cycle will repeat

Nursing experiential learning paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing experiential learning paper - Essay Example m a visit to the grammar school point to the effect that basic knowledge about communities is of paramount importance to community health agencies with regards to the provision of care which increases autonomy to the individuals, families and communities as well. In this particular case, gaining knowledge about the religious and cultural beliefs of a certain group of people would greatly help especially in demystifying the myth that traditional rites and prayers are effective remedies to illnesses than conventional health care. It would give the local people a sense of independence and self sufficiency in primary health care issues. For instance, immunization against killer diseases in infancy such as tetanus or diphtheria is the most effective remedy in the prevention of such diseases. This knowledge would enlighten the families especially on the essence of primary health care. On the other hand, this visit was also enlightening in that gathering information about communities made up of a diverse population would enable effective communication between client populations and other health care providers in the management of healthcare. This would also enable practises in established roles to provide cost effective, quality heath care in both structured and unstructured settings. This would be based on the notion that prevention is better than cure since it would be cost effective to prevent a disease at grassroots level before its outbreak. This visit was also effective in building a sense of personal and professional development as part of the life-long learning process in the nursing fraternity. Getting first hand information about aggregates and communities enables a health practitioner to be objective especially when dealing with a diverse population with diversified needs as well. The main objective would be the provision of quality health care regardless of creed or belief system. Another visit to the town health department also found that the population

Enquiry Topics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Enquiry Topics - Essay Example The debates in the state legislatures for ratification threw up serious concerns about the absence of protection of individual rights in the constitution which could lead to the government imposing tyrannical controls over its citizens. James Madison, the principal architect of the constitution, promised that the document would be amended to include individual rights. Several key states insisted on amendments and two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island refused to ratify the constitution without such amendments (Bill of Rights Institute1, 2010). This was the reason of urgency in introducing the legislation when the first congress met. The Bill of Rights is important because it guarantees what are termed the natural or inalienable rights of people. In the US Declaration of Independence, these rights include â€Å"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness†. The ten amendments to the constitution that make up the Bill of Rights describe elements of these natural rights and en sure that the government cannot enact any laws that contravene these rights of the people. (Bill of Rights Institute 2, 2010). Though most people would name the First Amendment that guarantees freedom of speech, religion, assembly as the most important, the Fourth Amendment which protects citizens against unreasonable search and seizure has greater importance in distinguishing the US from a totalitarian state. This amendment ensures that no search or seizure can occur without a warrant issued on the basis of probable cause. The warrant also needs to describe the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized (Archives.gov, n.d) 2) What test is used to determine whether a police officer’s conduct constituted a â€Å"show of legal authority†? What factors are relevant in applying this test? How does the court determine when a seizure occurred? Why is it often necessary for the courts to pinpoint the exact moment a seizure occurred? By case law, a police offi cer is permitted to stop, interrogate and frisk a person if he has reasonable suspicion of wrong doing or to prevent the possibility of a crime being committed. Such detention or seizure without a warrant is considered to represent a â€Å"show of legal authority†. The courts recognize that such police action is in violation of the provisions of the Fourth Amendment but have balanced this against the need to give the police some discretion for effective law enforcement. A police officer is permitted to approach an individual in a public place and ask if he will answer some questions. The individual may decline to do so and that cannot be the sole grounds for detaining that person. The person so stopped may be frisked for hidden weapons if the police officer believes there is danger to his person or to others from the individual. In stopping such an individual, there must be no excess display of force such as the police officer drawing a weapon or multiple officers surrounding the person (Gorton, 1970). In various cases, the Supreme Court has defined seizure of the person to occur when a reasonable person believes that he or she is no longer free to terminate the encounter with the police and leave. In the 1991 case California v. Holdari, D., the court has held that seizure occurs when an individual is subject to physical force or a show of authority and the person yields to such force or authority (Sullivan, 2010). It is important to pinpoint the exact moment when a seizure has occurred because the courts are required to exclude

Immigrant Parental Involvement in Education Research Paper

Immigrant Parental Involvement in Education - Research Paper Example All these among others are evidence of how school systems in Canada devalue immigrant parents. The culture held by Canadians in most cases tend to conflict with the culture of immigrant parents. In most cases, immigrant parents come in with different cultures which in most cases they greatly embrace and appear less reluctant parting with them. According to Brake (1997), acculturation theory supports the idea that immigrants tend to hold tightly unto the values of their cultures. On the other hand, the migrants avoid cross cultural contacts due to their ability to aggravate anxiety and uncertainty. This therefore plays a major role in creation of cultural incompetence which greatly limits parental involvement in contexts that are increasingly important to their children, including school and the expanding extra familial social world (Duncan, 2008). The study also portrayed that there were several barriers which limited immigrant parents from minority groups and those with less education to fully participate in their children's schooling. This is mainly due to the fact that they felt uncomfortable in an institutional setting and also held the notion that they were not very resourceful in their children's education. ... Additionally, immigrant parents with lower educational backgrounds and income were less likely to volunteer in school activities such as parent interviews. This played a role in creating a disconnection between the parents and their school children. Vickshard (1999) indicates that parent's socio economic status has a positive association with their involvement in school. On the other hand, parents with higher educational attainment are more likely to be involved in the school affairs of their children. The teachers were also more likely to stereotype minority immigrant parents based on their schooling experiences, history and culture. George (2000), states that, the teachers should not at any point discriminate any student or parent based on his or her culture, gender, status, religion or race. Therefore, Canadian teachers should change their negative perception towards immigrant parents and instead focus on embracing them despite their shortcomings. The study also indicated that lan guage barrier was also a major disadvantage and inhibitor to the parental involvement of immigrant parents. Most immigrant parents were not well placed in terms of communicating in English and therefore communication barrier grew out of it. As a result, it prompted less parental involvement in their children's schooling. According to Janice (1999), language is an important requirement which normally facilitates communication, as well as increasing one's confidence (Allan, 2005). For instance, if the immigrant parents in Canada were familiar with all the languages used in the country, it would therefore have been easier for them to communicate and thus uplifting their confidence. Consequently, their involvement in their children's schooling affairs would also increase.