Mark Twain Essay -- essays research papers

Mark Twain It is indisputable that, during his many years of writing, Mark Twain established himself as a literary genius. It is also indisputable that the primary reason for his success as an author was his quick wit and sense of humor. During this nation’s time of political and social division, Twain wrote about many of the simpler things in life while always showing his humorist side. His brilliant comedic mind was especially unusual for any popular writer around during this rough time period in the nation’s history. Mark Twain’s humorist views and writings truly solidify him as the forefather of American humor. Unlike many writers of his time, Samuel Clemens, better known as his pen name, Mark Twain never secluded himself or slaved over a piece of work. He enjoyed playing billiards or sitting on his porch, smoking a pipe. He lived with his wife and three daughters, and did most of writing in his billiards room or on his bed. He lived a simple, casual life, wh ich proved to encourage his laidback, humorist attitude. (Whipple, Sally) William Dean Howells once compared Twain’s lifestyle to the other famous writers of his time. â€Å"Emerson, Longfellow, Lowell, Holmes†¦ they were like one another and like other literary men; but Clemens was sole, incomparable.† (Twainweb) This being perhaps the best explanation for Twain’s unique humorist views, it is no doubt this lifestyle provided for his creative storytelling and successful career as an author. Mark Twain, a native of Missouri who lived most his childhood in poverty, began his career, surprisingly, as a steamboat pilot. This career path was soon to be interrupted by the Civil War, in which he served for the Confederate Army for two weeks before withdrawing. Already at this point in his life, Twain was showing his humorist side when he commented on this incident saying, â€Å"†¦it was my retirement from it that brought the crash. It left the Confederate s ide too weak.† (Ayers, 42) After the Civil War, Twain began his career as a journalist. He bounced from one city to another, including a stay at Virginia City, Nevada and San Francisco. While in San Francisco, Twain wrote The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, his first nationally acclaimed work. This tale of young boys and frog races combined the themes of youth and humor, a combination he would revisit frequently. (Budd, 32) Finally, in 1869, Twain’s f... ...k Twain in His Times) Jones 6 Unfortunately, this was Twain’s last popular, humorous story. He would leave Hartford due to debts he owed and live a hard life for the rest of his years. Before he died, Twain would see two of three daughters and his wife pass away before him. He spent the rest of his days trying to repay his dept and mourning over his lost family members, whom he was very close too. He died on April 21, 1910 in Redding, Conn. During his lifetime, Mark Twain went from a child of poverty to one of the most famous and unique writers of his time to a legendary American hero. Due to classics such as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, he has established himself as not only a famous writer but also a famous comedian. There was no comedy before Mark Twain, most men were obsessed with politics and the military. After Twain, comedy exploded. Charlie Chaplin is one man who is not only a famous comedic pioneer, but also a supporter of Twain. His career shows the influence of Mark Twain in many areas, often including his characters. Mark Twain’s stories truly solidify him as a legendary author, yet his humor was the unique quality which put him above the rest. Word Count: 1536

Introduction to Fiction Final Paper :: English Literature Essays

Introduction to Fiction Final Paper Introduction: I will try to show that Fenstad's mother is going through a change during this story. At first she is described as a strong independent woman very active social in control of things. She is not accepting things as they are she tries to change the things that seem wrong to her. However, gradually we are starting to see her as an old woman who hates her age. A woman, who has a hard time excepting her age and all the downsides of it, a woman whose physical condition is parallel to her mental and emotional state, who needs help doing things which young people do without any effort. It seems that during the story Fenstad and his mother change places. Once he was dependent on her and now gradually we see that she is more and more dependent of her son. Fenstad's mother is gradually going through the process of accepting her age and the changes she is going trough consequently. It is difficult for her at first however eventually she stops being preoccupied with the past and what she once was. She comes to terms with her life and learns to appreciate and enjoy the little (simple) pleasures of life, like music. The name of this fiction story is Fenstad's Mother, the word mother is written with a capital letter which sometimes can mean a woman in charge of some community. This description is suitable for her character as it is described at the beginning of the story. Clara Fenstad's going to her son's class, meeting the people that took this class, listening to them and being loved and appreciated by them helps her through this period. One of this people influenced her very much and was responsible for one of the various changes she went through. The fact that Fenstad's mother learned to accept him as he made them closer and happier. Fenstad's Mother: At the beginning of the story Fenstad's mother is shown like a strong and active woman. She is very much involved in the things that happen around her. She is progressive and social. "Fenstad's mother was a life long social progressive" (p.115). She is not taking seriously her sons churchgoing, "was amused by her son's churchgoing. She had spent her life in the company of rebels and deviationists, and she recognized all their styles." (p.115). She is very logical and attentive, "She glanced down at his trousers, damped with melted snow. "You've been skating" "(p.116) she is aware of her son's habits, but not necessary approves of them. She sneers her son's behavior and looking for slips in it.

The Road Not Taken Explication

The Road Not Taken Explication Stanzas 1 and 2: It is evident that the scene in the poem takes place during an autumn setting which is implied when line 1 it states, â€Å"TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood†. The â€Å"yellow wood† simply means that the leaves are changing colour; therefore, it is autumn. Frost also portrays the narrator as observant and cautious speaking with an almost regretful tone. This can be seen in line 2 where he says â€Å"And sorry I could not take both†, the narrator’s observant behaviour is also evident in line 3 and 4 when he says, â€Å"And looked down one as far as I could/To where it bent in the undergrowth;†.The road that branches off in two different ways gives the narrator a difficult time with choosing which way to go and this adds confusion and uncertainty in the atmosphere as well as a calm and reflective mood. In stanza 2, it describes the physical appearance of the two paths stating that neither best the oth er; â€Å"Then took the other, as just as fair,/†¦ Had worn them really about the same,†. The diction also amplifies the idea of equality within both roads; words include â€Å"fair† and â€Å"same†.The road is also describe to be well worn meaning that many people have passed by facing the same situation and seemed to have chosen the two paths equally as well. The path is likely to be a symbol of the different choices that a person must make and while both are equal and alike in many ways, it remains a concern to whoever the decision maker is due to the possibility of choosing the worse of the two. Stanzas 3 and 4: More information on the setting has been stated, it’s an autumn morning in a forest with a lot of yellow leaves on the ground.In line 13, â€Å"In leaves no step had trodden black. †, it means that the narrator is alone. The narrator later says that once he has picked his path, he can no longer go back. The roads have now become a symbol of pivotal moments in which the narrator has only one chance to make a decision. This adds tension to the atmosphere because, although there is no time frame, the narrator is still force, by his conscience, to pick a path which, in turn, takes away his ability to pick the other path.Lastly in stanza 4, the narrator decides to pick one road deeming it the different one because, even though both roads were the same, what makes them different is that one has been chosen by him to walk on. Overall, this poem shares mostly the emotion of regret due to the fact that regardless of how joyful the narrator is of picking one road, there is still â€Å"what if† hanging in the back of both the narrator and the readers mind.

Compare and contrast the poems by Wilfred Owen and Rupert Brooke

The scale of World War one was enormous resulting in 8556315 deaths across the whole world. It was the largest war in history. The conditions in the trenches was horrific, as all men had lice, were vulnerable to frequent gas attacks and could easily catch diseases such as, trench foot and gangrene. Rats infested the trenches, the men where covered in mud and they didn't have time to regularly wash. The men smoked to relax at night. It's not surprising that the life expectancy of a soldier in the trenches was Wilfred Owen was born on the 18th March 1893 in Owestry, Shropshire. He was educated at the Birkenhead institute and at Shrewsbury Technical School. Owens jobs consist of a lay assistant to the vicar of Dunsden and a pupil teacher. Prior to the outbreak of World War one he worked as a private tutor teaching English. In October 1915 he enlisted in the artists rifles where he trained for seven months. In January 1917 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant with the Manchester regiment. Owen began the war as a optimistic and cheerful man, but soon changed after many traumatic experiences. Owen was diagnosed with shellshock, it was when recovering in Craiglockhart hospital, Owen met Siegfried Sassoon. During a period in Scotland Owen wrote many of his poems. Owen died on November 4th 1918 at the age of twenty-five. In contrast Rupert Brooke, another famous War poet. He was best known for his idealistic, patriotic poetry during World War one, however Brooke never did experience first hand combat. Brooke was born in Rugby on the 3rd August 1887. Brooke was educated at Rugby School, Kings College and university of Cambridge. In 1913 Brooke suffered an emotional breakdown, believed to be because of jealousy and sexual confusion. Brooke was commissioned in the royal navy volunteer division as a sub lieutenant. Brooke developed sepsis from a mosquito bite, whilst travelling with the British Mediterranean Expeditionary force. He died on April 23rd 1915 off the island of Lemnos. â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est† is a poem by Wilfred Owen, which is said to be his most famous. The poem explains many ideas of war. The poem is about a small group of soldiers limping back from the front line. They're in a bad condition from the fighting they have endured and are in need of some respite. As they return they are attacked by a gas attack. The soldiers struggle in the chaos but successfully put on the gas marks. However in the struggle on man fails and is left behind. The poem tells how Owen becomes haunted by the image of the painful death of the man. The thought never left his mind. The poem gives the reader a full insight into the horror of the war. Another one of Wilfred Owens poems is â€Å"Disabled.† It shows the neglection of soldiers who have come back from war. The poem tells a story of a young man who was good looking and loved the glory on a football pitch. He decided to sign up for the war. His reasons? He got told he would look a God in uniform, to impress his girlfriend and he loved the idea of glory. However, in the war he lost his limbs. On his return to the country he did not get his hero welcome, but instead he was neglected. Even the nurses looking after him avoided him. On the other hand â€Å"The soldier,† one of Rupert Brooke's most famous poems, tries to depict the glory of the war. In contrast to Owens more realistic views of war, Brooke's is far more, noble and glorified. His attitude was to reassure the British and hide them form the actual truth. The poem â€Å"Dulce et Decorum est,† uses similes such as â€Å"bent double like beggars under sacks† this brings the image of the soldiers looking like beggars and almost being crippled under the weight of their bags. Owen uses alliteration throughout the poem, â€Å"knock – kneed.† The use of alliteration describes effectively and quickly the conditions of the soldiers, letting the reader create the image in their mind. The line â€Å"haunting flares,† is one of many powerful descriptions Owen uses. It describes the picture of shells exploding behind the men but having an almost ghostly effect on them. Into the poem Owen uses effective punctuation such as â€Å"Gas! Gas! Quick boys!† This line quickly increases the tempo of the poem and the seriousness. The use of one syllable words with an exclamation mark also makes you experience the adrenaline rush the soldiers would of experienced. AS the tempo of the poem is increased so too is the urgency, this can been seen with words used such as, â€Å"floundering,† â€Å"drowning,† â€Å"fumbling,† and â€Å"stumbling.† Because the words are ending in â€Å"ing† it adds to the sense of urgency and speeds up the poem. Owen likes to involve the reader into his poems, he does this by the use of word â€Å"you.† As Owens views are against patriotism and the glory of battle he involves the reader to show just how bad and horrific the war was, and to experience the pain and death surrounding you like a shell. â€Å"Disabled† by Wilfred Owen also involves the reader and attaches the reader emotionally to the soldier. The first stanza begins with, â€Å"he sat in a wheel chair waiting for dark, and shivered in his ghastly suit o f grey.† This quotation shows a soldier who is disabled but also by the phrase, â€Å"waiting for dark† shows the loneliness of the man and can be seen as he is being forced to stay in his lonely state. The poem fluctuates between present and past and it is clearly seen in the poem the man's present life is dull and depressing, this can be seen with the line â€Å"voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn, voices of play and pleasure after day.† The voices remind him of his lost youth and how the world carries on oblivious to his condition. In the second stanza, Owen goes into the man's past and expresses the liveliness of his old life. The line â€Å"now he will never feel again how slim girls' waists are,† shows he has lost the ability to be a normal man and is tormented by girls' affection. This can be seen clearer in the line † touch him like some queer disease,† this shows the feeling of rejection and torment and how they are now repulsed by him. In the first stanza it is stated he has lost his legs, â€Å"Legless† but the phrase â€Å"before he threw away his knees, â€Å"shows he is held responsible for the loss of his legs and almost mocks him for his carelessness. Before he signed up for the war he felt proud to sustain an injury while playing football, â€Å"one time he liked a blood-smear down his leg.† He loved the glory on a football pitch and celebrated like a hero for a small wound. After one of the football matches the man got drunk, â€Å"drunk as a peg† and decided to sign up for the war. The man's reasons for signing up for the war were, â€Å"someone said he'd look a God in kilts.† The use of the word â€Å"someone† shows that the man was easily persuaded to join the army and by someone of no importance to him. Also he signed up to show his masculinity to impress the ladies and his girlfriend. However his career in the army was short lived and he was â€Å"drafted out.† â€Å"Some cheered him home,† this line shows the man did not get all the praise and glory he signed up for especially after sacrificing his life, and ironically the cheers was bigger for him on a football pitch. This shows Owens strong thoughts against glory and patriotism that a man who sacrificed his life is not shown the praise he deserves and the lack of care for the man after the war. The poem ends with a question to the readers, â€Å"why don't they come?† This question shows the man is desperate for care and need of attention, and is shouting out for the help of the nurses, however it could be seen as the man is waiting for something maybe his death to end his suffering. Rupert Brooke's â€Å"The Soldier† has a completely different view to Wilfred Owens poems. Although both poets deal with the issue of war, Brooke's poems are different from Owens because Brooke believes it is brave, fitting and courageous to die for your country. The poem starts with an arrogant statement â€Å"If I should die only think this of me.† This statement seems to be directed to someone close to him. It is also written in the conditional tense as if he believes he will not die. In the next line Brooke's use of alliteration is shown with â€Å"foreign fields.† This emphasises the word foreign, stressing Brookes feeling of patriotism even if you were to die in a foreign country. In the third line Brooke the word England is introduced for the first time which is somewhat strange because of the patriotism views of Brooke. The word England is then repeated several times in the poem, reinforcing Brooke's intense love of his homeland. In the poem Brooke uses enjambment which gives the poem its measured, calm feel. Repetition is also used to influence the feeling of pride and glory. In the line â€Å"her flowers do love,† Brooke refers to nature as a calming contrast to the war that is taking place. Brooke uses personification when he refers to England as a person, â€Å"her sights her sounds dream happy as her day.† Brooke uses this personification as a way of saying fighting for your country is like repaying all the things England has done for you. The structure of â€Å"Dulce et Decorum est,† is very intreseting as throughout the poem the speed and intensity of the poem is forever changing. â€Å"Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!† This use of monosyllabic words quickens up the poem and the usage of the exclamation marks higher the intensity. The poem opens with â€Å"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge.† The heavy use of commas in the opening paints a picture of organised group of soldiers marching back from the front line. The rhyming scheme emphasises the sense of marching by using words such as, â€Å"sludge, trudge,† â€Å"boots, hoots,† and â€Å"blind, behind.† Also the rhyming scheme alternates in groups four. The poem â€Å"Disabled,† has a very unique structure as it includes some of your senses, touch, sound, sight and smell.†Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn.† The use of your senses helps the readers paint a clearer picture of how the man feels and is treated. Also as the poem changes between ten tenses the rhyming scheme is disguised. Rupert Brooke's poem â€Å"The Soldier† is a measured sonnet which has a break of eight and six. The use of the sonnet gives the poem its calm, controlled, measured and reassuring feel. Brooke use of heavy enjambment disguises the rhyming scheme which can be seen as there is no rhythm to the poem. However as the poem is a sonnet it clearly gets Brooke patriotic views across. In conclusion I found the total contrast between the poets very interesting and can clearly understand the message the poems give. I find Wilfred Owens poems more engaging tho because of the true realistic tales he tells.

Creative Writin Essay

The sun filters in through the leaves of the trees. The midday sun casts dancing shadows over the well-worn table-top. The tables are set for lunch guests – paper napkins, ashtray, salt and pepper shakers, and toothpicks all indicate that the table is ready for a guest. The floor is cleanly swept and all the furniture carefully arranged to create a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. Two new picture frames lean against the wall – one of a dancing woman and the other a blank wooden backing. Soon these new images will join the walls already decorated with art. A local artist uses the wall space to display his abstract paintings. The room is filled with blues, oranges, yellows, and reds. The colors seem to practically illuminate the room. Behind the computers are pictures from the sea – both pictures depicting dolphins and underwater diving adventures. The computers are ready for use. Three armed sentinels standing in a row. There is a motorcycle helmet next to one, with a set of keys. Next to the second is a half-empty water glass. The chairs are empty, and the screens are poised in the middle of email composition. The door to the office stands open, and the regular attendant sits in the chair. He is engrossed in something on the screen, probably a game that he’s been playing, probably not a newspaper article. The restaurant staff are all huddling around the hostess stand. Occasionally, one will venture out and wipe an empty table. There is very little noise today, and aside from one group sitting at two tables pushed together, there is no one else eating. The group looks like it is here for business, each person has a set of papers out before them and the discussion seems led. Everyone is calm and organized. The scent of pizza drifts into the air. The wood fire stove at the back has been fired up, and the scent of cheese and wood fills the air. Glasses clink together in the background as the dishwashers keep busy. THE UNFAMILIAR The place is silent. There are computers, but no sounds of keys being pushed. There is staff, but they are not chit-chatting or engaging in conversation. Even the large group talking in low tones, when talking at all. Ah, a distant clink of water glasses. Someone must be active in the kitchen. Despite the sun streaming through the windows, the place has an ethereal light. The walls are adorned with bizarre paintings – no forms can be discerned and the colors are garish. They are all done in primary colors and seem to be uncontrolled expressions of lines and colors with no coherent overall theme. The way the paintings are spaced along the walls adds to the social displacement. An empty picture frame along the wall begs to be filled, to become the link between the abstract art and underwater scenes adorning the walls. The computer terminals only hint at human existence. There is an abandoned motorcycle helmet, which cannot be too abandoned because there is a set of keys next to it, and an open email program. But there is no one to be seen. An empty water glass holds the seat next to the motorcycle helmet. Are these physical placeholders for non-existent people? There is a man in the office. He looks as though if people disappeared in front of his eyes, he wouldn’t even notice. He is so engrossed in his computer screen – is he playing a game? His eyes are not even blinking. This level of interest is the polar opposite of the interest shown by the staff. The staff remains huddled around the hostess stand, paying no attention to the one group inside, or to the missing people from the computer terminals. The tables suggest readiness for occupants, napkins, toothpicks, ashtrays, and salt and pepper are ready for use. They stand guard over the empty tables.

Nature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Nature - Essay Example On the contrary, natural food products are not defined by any criteria or federal laws. Moreover, they are not defined by federal or legal supervision. Consequently, food products that are labelled as natural are composed of less chemical additives and preservatives compared to other processed foods. To this end, examples of natural food products include eggs, nuts, fruits, dairy products, vegetables, beans, apples, green tea among many more. Green tea is classified as a natural food product because it undergoes minimal processing stages. Furthermore, it contains the most natural antioxidant polyphenols. The most evident polyphenols are epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) (The George Mateljan Foundation). Moreover, as a natural food product, it is consistent with an array of ingredients that can consequently be traced back to nature. Evidently, green tea is a herbal extract from green tea leaves also known by the scientific name as Camellia Sinensis. The Camellia Simensis tree contains distinct flower and herbal infusions known as tisanes. The tree can grow naturally in the wild and reach heights of up to 30 feet. However, on tree plantations it is maintained as a shrub with heights of about 3 feet through constant pruning. Evidently, the green tea leaves achieve more flavour in the event that they are grown at higher altitudes. The green tea plants produce rich foliage, a berry and, a flower similar to camellia. In terms of harvest, only the youngest and smallest tea leaves are picked for tea. Moreover, when engaging in discussion pertaining to the green tea ingredients, it is more in recognition to the nutritional value. Consequently, the ingredients of green tea mainly refer to the natural nutrients present within it. Evidently, polyphenols or catechins are nutritional ingredients in green tea (The George Mateljan Foundation). Polyphenols are vital antioxidant ingredients. Moreover, they are naturally occurring ingredients found within the green tea leaves. Mo reover, polyphenols are equally present in vegetables and fruits that grow naturally. The polyphenols are credited with protecting the body from free radical damage. In particular, the polyphenols present in green tea is known as quercetin that is also present in citrus fruits. To this end, the quercetin polyphenols is known to relieve people from asthma and allergies. Green tea also contains other ingredients such as caffeine, theophylline, flavonols or tannin,copper, essential oils, nickel, vitamin C, carotene, vitamins B1, A, B12, P and K, iron, calcium, magnesium, saponins, strontium, zinc, theobromine, wax and fat. Interestingly enough, the quantitative contents of the ingredients depend on cultivation area of the leaves. To this end, the contents are influenced by the climatic region and altitude of the cultivation area. Furthermore, the quantitative contents are equally influenced by the growth stage of the green tea leaves. . In terms of processing, the harvested tea leaves are briefly steamed. Thus making them soft, pliable, and protected them from color change or fermentation. The steaming process is soon followed by rolling the leaves out and spreading them out for drying with a pan fried in a wok or hot air. This process continues until the leaves are crisp and greenish-yellow tea colour is produced. The resulting flavour is very

Race and Class Responses Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Race and Class Responses - Article Example Most of them have related their answers to their professional background and principles that they have when it comes to the issue of racism. In the same respect, the ideas that have transpired from the interviews are also based on gender contexts since experiences vary between men and women. At the same time, advocacies and principles are present in the interview that really showcases the dedication of people in addressing the issue of racism in all possible aspects. Despite of the principled engagements and answers provided by the interviewees, there is still the problem that they try to resolve: how to really prevent racism from occurring? There have been instances that have cited the role of culture, especially on how it induces conflict and on how it comes along the process of resolving the problem. It is noticeable in the interviews that there is a degree of sensitivity with the issue of racism. It is noticeable that the interviews deal with the issue of racism with a certain degree of objectivity. If there is a noticeable bias, it is intended as a mechanism to uphold the need to eradicate the said detrimental practice. When it comes to the issue of racism, it is important to point out that it happens everywhere and anytime. What seems to be problematic is that there are still people who do not address these transgressions as pointed out Singh and Mizrahi. Rather, the occurrences of racial judgments are not reprimanded. However, there are efforts that I have seen to be engaging and critical about the issue. There are efforts to organize and to join advocacy groups to lessen the occurrence and eventually stop racism. Both of the interviews have been focusing on the efforts to regulate and address the issue of racism, which has been a long practice since Western domination has started. Both of the interviews share a common view about