Thursday, October 31, 2019

The rise and growing role of multinational enterprises from the Asia Essay

The rise and growing role of multinational enterprises from the Asia Pacific in the global economy - Essay Example has been a new industrialisation market and has emerged during the years and has ranked third and is expected to produce a large number of multinationals. The emerging multinationals no longer are interested in being perceived as Korean, Chinese, Japanese or Mexican companies because they tend o be global in each and every respect. They aspire to act global, operate globally, think globally, grow globally and also manage globally. Most of the emerging multinationals are owned by shareholders globally such as about 52% of Samsung is owned by international shareholders, 71% of CEMEX, 57% of Hon Hai and nearly 545 of Infosys and 50% for the multinationals as a group (Agtmael, 2007, p.26). This paper takes into consideration three emerging countries which include Japan, China and Korea. Japan The MNCs in China, Japan and Korea utilises its resources irrespective of its location against it competitors and for its customers. It is not only moving the production facilities to benefit but al so breaking down the internal barriers, in order to benefit from the economies of scope. Japanese consumer electronics companies like Sony and Panasonic announced that in order to grow globally, cultural diversity is a must in the top management. Sony was the first MNC in Japan to appoint a non Japanese director and aims to provide the top job to the managers (Horn & Faulkner, 2010, p. 162). The Japanese firms benefited from the home market as they were protected from the home market as they expanded internationally. The Japanese firms followed organic growth in the process of internationalisation as compared to other emerging multinationals which has adopted different option from strategic alliance to exporting. The Japanese companies had a strategy which was very much different from that... The rise and growing role of multinational enterprises from the Asia Pacific in the global economy The business world is changing and it is witnessing the beginning of the end of the old economic order which for over the years have dominated the economy such as US, UK and Japan. The most important change is the rise of the emerging market multinationals whereas the influence and share of multinationals from the developed countries is on the verge of declining trend. The growth in FDI is due to many various factors and one of the portions of money comes from the developed countries but the emerging countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China have also increased a huge number of FDIs (Capgemini, n.d, p.3). According to a research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, companies which are based on South are considered to put an impact on the global economy in the post recession. Firms from China, Korea India accounts for nearly half of the emerging and new multinationals among which China has produced the most number of new companies (PwC, 2010, p. 3). The following graph shows the emerging multinationals in the global economy. The company chosen for discussion is Toyota. The case deals with the globalization strategies of the Japan based Toyota Motors Corporation also known as Toyota which is one of the leading automobile companies globally. This case aims to examine the evolution from being Japan’s number one automobile maker to one of the topmost competitor in the global automobile market by 2003.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

San Francisco The Top Three Stops to Make Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

San Francisco The Top Three Stops to Make - Essay Example The Golden Gate Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge, at 1.7 miles (4,200 feet) long, for 27 years following its completion in 1937 with two towers that each stand taller than the Washington Monument. It crosses Golden Gate Strait, which is about 400 feet deep and serves as the gateway to the harbor city. It can be seen from a variety of locations throughout the city. One favorite is from the top of the Marin Headlands, which offers the fun of a hike and some exercise with a tremendous view of the harbor and city. Another favorite is from the top of the Coit Tower, which also affords a glimpse of the famously twisty Lombard Street and Alcatraz. Water tours are offered for just about any time of the day, leaving from the famous San Francisco piers that will take visitors under the bridge and around Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz itself offers a view of the bridge and visitors can also opt to see it by picnicking at Golden Gate Park or by biking, walking or driving over i t.  Alcatraz Island, from which one can get a nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge and that will also be visible from many approaches to the Golden Gate, is the home of the famous Alcatraz Prison, now closed and offered as a tourist attraction. Ferries run to the island every half hour during peak seasons and tours are offered once on the island. The tours will take visitors through the various cell blocks, demonstrating the living conditions of the prisoners there, offering information about various prison escape attempts and touring through Cell Block D, the home of the Birdman and showcasing other interesting pieces of information about the prison and the island on which it stands.  One other location that must be visited before leaving the city is San Francisco’s Chinatown.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Reflective Account: Ethical Dilemma Treating Cancer

Reflective Account: Ethical Dilemma Treating Cancer This reflective account will discuss an ethical dilemma which arose during a placement within a community setting. To assist the reflection process, the Gibbs (1988) Reflective Cycle which encompasses 6 stages; description, thoughts and feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan will be used which will improve and strengthen my nursing skills by continuously learning from both good and bad experiences, and develop my self confidence in relation to caring for others (Siviter 2008). To comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Code of Conduct (NMC) (2008) and maintain confidentiality all names have been changed and therefore for the purpose of this reflection the patient will be referred to as Bob. Bob is a forty four year old man who has been receiving aggressive and invasive treatment for several months in the form of chemotherapy in an attempt to cure his Hodgkinsons lymphoma cancer. Throughout the treatment Bob remained positive that he would be able to put the worries behind him and live a normal life with his partner and teenage daughter. However, Bob was unable to control his body temperature, which was a possible sign the chemotherapy had not been successful and was offered further investigations to establish his prognosis. Whilst my mentor who is a Community Matron, was talking to Bob, his partner Sue took me to one side and asked me if the investigations revealed bad news would it be possible to withhold this information from Bob because she felt he would not be able to deal with a poor prognosis and would give up hope. Prior to Bobs original admission the possibility of f the chemotherapy failing was discussed but he refused to consider this was an option and was convinced the condition could be treated successfully. I explained to Sue that this situation was outside of my area of expertise but with her permission would discuss it with my mentor and ask her to contact Sue at a mutually convenient time to discuss further. My mentor contacted Sue and advised her that she would discuss the situation with Bobs Consultant once they had received the results of his tests. However, my mentor diplomatically informed Sue that she has no legal right to insist that information be kept from Robert (Dimond 2005). As expected Bobs test results concluded the chemotherapy treatment was unsuccessful. Considering what he knew of Bob, the consultant agreed it would be advantageous to withhold the diagnosis from him. Therefore it was agreed to discuss Bobs test results with his partner. Thoughts and feelings In the first instance I felt that the Consultant was ethically wrong to withhold the results of the investigations from Bob and not necessarily acting in his best interests. I felt that in order to ensure Bobs rights were protected and to give him the opportunity to be involved in his own plan of care he should be informed of the outcome of the tests. Bob had the capacity to consent and as during my placement would be acting as an advocate for him. I felt that if I was in Bobs position, I would want to know what the outcome of any investigations were and it did not seen right that the diagnosis would be documented in his records and his family and possibly friends around him would be aware of his diagnosis whilst he was kept in the dark. I felt that if we were to visit on a regular basis that I would feel very uncomfortable knowing something that had been kept from him and possibly have to lie to him or avoid answering directly when asked difficult questions. I felt that I would be a ble to have a better relationship and understand the care he wanted if he was told the truth about his condition. I also felt that his family were taking denying him the right to autonomy and th right to make informed choices in his end of life care. Analysis The situation was complex in terms of ethical principles. It was not just a matter of clinical practices but providing the best holistic care to Bob during his forthcoming terminal illness. This situation gave rise to multi-disciplinary team discussions to assess whether the diagnosis should have been delivered to Bob. Standing back from the situation, I realize that my own feelings were perhaps judgmental and that I should have taken a more holistic approach rather than just clinical. It also made me aware of the importance of promoting advance directives to patients in situations where an illness may lead to terminal care Evaluation Today patient autonomy is a highly regarded principle that healthcare professionals promote at all times and is fundamental for all patient interactions of which telling the truth to a patient about their diagnosis and prognosis is part (Dimond 2005). Lo (2009) says to be totally autonomous competent patients have to be told the nature of their illness, recovery prospects, how their illness will develop, treatments available and the consequences of any such treatments to enable them to make an informed choice in order to grant consent to treatment of their choice or refuse treatment they do not want. However this has not always been the case, traditionally, paternalism, where the doctor alone would make a decision about whether or not to inform their patient of the diagnosis used to be the preferred method of treating and caring for patients (Lo B 2009). It is only over the past 20 years or so where it is the norm to share decision making with the patient to enable them to make informed choices in their preferred care and treatment (Boyle 1995). However not all patients want to know their prognosis or take part in their end of terminal treatment and care. A study which took place in 1995 concluded that some ethnic groups were less likely to approve of truth telling in respect of diagnosis than others (Blackwell 1995). The UK is culturally diverse and not all patients and families want or accept autonomy. When a person is sick in some cultures, the family prefers to take responsibility for the medical decisions and often wish to receive the diagnosis and nursing plan before the patient. Although this is often the case within Chinese and Japanese cultures, it does not automatically mean that the request to withhold diagnosis from the patient will be upheld. To add to this complex issue, there may be differences within these cultures, such as recent immigrants and older family members wishing to adhere to cultural traditions and younger family members wishing to practice autonomy (Lo B 2009). Advanced care directives definition are used to enable a person to have autonomy. These ethicalBarbosa da Silva (2002) defines an ethical dilemma as: A situation where a person experiences a conflict where he or she is obliged to perform two or more duties, but realizes that whoever action he or she chooses will be an ethically wrog one. Many experts agree healthcare professionals are faced with many ethical dilemmas when caring for terminally ill cancer patients. Communicating the diagnosis and subsequent prognosis is one of the most common (Kuupelomaki and Lauri 1998)(Roy and MacDonald 1998). It is not unusual for relatives to ask a Consultant to withhold information (Alexander et al 2006) which Kenworthy et al (2002) says family members request out of compassion and love. However, (2006) disagrees and suggests it is often the relatives who are unable to cope and have difficulty coming to terms with the impending prognosis. Dimond (2005) suggests withholding the truth can be harmful or lead to a conspiracy of silence but may be justifiable if it is in the patients best interest not to know. In agreement, Lo (2009) points out receiving bad news can have a negative and drastic effect on a patients view of their future. Nurses have a duty in accordance with their professional code of conduct to act as a patients advocate. Whatever their personal thoughts are in relation to withholding diagnosis from a patient, if the Consultant deems it in the best interest of the patient then a nurse has a duty to adhere to the Consultants decision (Dimond 2005).However Georges and Grypdonk 2002 suggest this can lead to nurses feeling powerless, frustrated and concern when involved in palliative care. Evidence suggests that if a Consultant establishes it is not advisable to inform the patient of the diagnosis or prognosis then it is right to give information to the family (Rumbold 2006). Dimond (2005) states patients have no legal rights to information and therefore if a Consultants believes it is in the best interest of the patient they can refuse to give a diagnosis to them. However, some would argue to withhold information would be considered paternalism (Lo B 2009). Paternalism is when an individual, in this case the Consultant, believes they are in a position to act in the best interest of another individual. Although Bobs welfare is key, the consultant has taken away his right to his autonomy to make future healthcare choices including important end of life decisions by making the decision not to inform him of his diagnosis (Sandman and Munthe 2010). Tingle and Cribb (2005) define this as hard paternalism as opposed to soft paternalism in which Bob would not have the capacity to make an informed decision regarding treatment and care following his diagnosis. The may be in beneficience to the patient but conflicts with autonomy. While considering the decision to not tell Bob the truth regarding his diagnosis, the consultant would have taken into account the ethical principles of beneficence (to do good) and non-malifience (to cause no harm) (Dimond 2005). In Rumbolds (2006) opinion it is wrong to not tell the truth or withhold information from a patient as it denies the patient autonomy and is in conflict with the ethical principles of beneficence and non-malificience. Research carried out by Sullivan (2001) suggests patients believe that Doctors should tell them the truth with a staggering ninety nine per cent of patients wanting to be informed of their diagnosis. However there is evidence to suggest the consultant was right to withhold diagnosis as it can initiate denial, and cause the patient psychological damage (Kenworthy et al 2002). Patients react differently to bad news and Elliott and Oliver (2007) suggests information should given slowly enabling the patient to have enough time to absorb the information given. Sadness, despair, anxiety and depression are feelings patients suffer when faced with life threatening illness. >believes that if healthcare professionals have an open and honest relationship with their patients it enables greater trust (Elliott and Oliver 2007). Bowers and Arnold (2010) agrees with this and adds that an open relationship based on trust enables healthcare professionals to support patients to be in control and make preferred choices with issues relating to their end of life care. However, Kenworthy, Snowley, Gilling (2002) are in disagreement with these statement say to force a patient into to face the trust regarding their diagnosis is both unethical wrong and damaging. Millard and Florin (2006) (nursingtimes) says that patients have different needs which can often be complex and it is important to recognise that some patients choose not be involved, that some individuals do not want to be part of their care but put their trust in health care professionals who are t rained in what they do. Elliott and Oliver (2007) states that a hope is fundamental to a terminally ill persons wellbeing and as such is something to be protected. She adds that hope of a cure whilst facing a terminal illness is an individuals right and helps them to face the final stages of life and points out that if hope is taken away it leaves a patient with only fear. Conclusion This experience has made me aware that good listening, hearing and communication skills are vital to gain a holistic view when dealing with patients and close ones in end of life care. It is also important to liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure that the best possible approach and care is delivered to the patient. It is important not to be judgemental but to incorporate all issues when taking a holistiv view in order to make the right decision. As this was my first experience of end of life care in the community, I was in unfamiliar surroundings and as such not experienced enough to make the right decision in Bobs case. The consultant was correct in determining that Bob was not in a position to accept a poor diagnosis and therefore withholding the information was the correct decision. Action Plan. My action plan is to promote advanced decision and power of attorney Assess holistically and taken into account I also feel than advance directives may have cleared some of this issues and will read about their importance in would have resolved some of this issues and read about their importance and promote their importance when the opportunity arises However, the circumstances surrounding this decision could only be applied to Bobs situation. I believe that as a Nurse I will be involved in ethical dilemmas again however I feel that now I my decisions will be based on each unique patient recognising their own individual needs and wants. Delegation This essay is a reflection of a situation I came across whilst on Community Placement. To assist with this process, Driscolls model of reflection will be used to focus my thought processes whilst learning. Driscolls is a straight forward model which encourages one to return to a situation to understand it better and improve future experiences (Driscoll 2000). To comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Code of Conduct (NMC) (2008) and protect the confidentiality of patients pseudonyms have been used throughout. As required by the first stage of Driscolls model I will describe the event s which took place whilst my mentor was on annual leave and I was assigned to Dianne, another district nurse within the community team. The reason I have decided to return to this situation is because registered nurses should ensure their practice does not compromise duty of care to individuals and at the time I felt that Dianne was delegating duties inappropriately and therefore may have been in breach of NMC requirements (NMC 2004). Whilst assigning the days work Dianne said that it would be a good opportunity for my personal development to go out unsupervised to visit patients within the area to carry out their care and treatment. I was asked to visit a 92 year old patient called Rose who the team visited on two or three times a week to treat a couple of problems. Firstly, she had ulcerated legs which the team were treating with four layer compression bandaging which evidence suggests is the best way to encourage venous return in order to maximise the healing process (OMeara et al 2009). Secondly she had a small sacrum sinus which was packed and redressed. Diannes request put me in an awkward position as I had visited Rose on a number of occasions with my mentor and with her supervision had been able to assess, treat and care for Roses problems appropriately with the exception of applying compression bandages as my mentor had explained to me were only to be applied by staff who had received appropriate training . I am keen to take advantage of any professional development opportunities and improve my clinical skills. However I felt that although I was able to manage most of the delivery of care to Rose as required by the NMC Code of Conduct (2008) applying the compression bandaging was outside my remit and would have been unsafe practice. My feelings were that Dianne was not doing this for my personal development but for her own personal reasons resulting in her abdicating her responsibilities. She did not ask me how I felt about attending patients without supervision or check I had the necessary clinical skills. With this in mind I agreed I would visit Rose, take down her dressings, assess and debride the wound, apply appropriate dressings and the first two layers of bandages. However I requested that Dianne called in after me to apply the compression bandages. Dianne did not appear to be very happy with my request but reluctantly agreed. When I arrived at Roses I introduced myself and explained the purpose of my visit and that Dianne would follow me to apply the compression bandages. I explained at each stage what I was doing, to put Rose at ease, remembering look up and face Rose, so that she could hear clearly what I was saying or read my lips and facial expression as she was partially deaf. As agreed with Dianne I took down the existing dressings, debrided and assessed the wound against the current wound care plan. The wound bed had reduced considerably and although an Inodine dressing had been applied previously, the wound had dried considerably and in my opinion did not require replacing. Therefore I telephone Dianne to let her know of my assessment and it was agreed to dress the wound with a simple NA dressing before bandaging. Whilst at Roses I took the opportunity to update the wound care plan and therefore documented the size of the wound, excudate, smell etc etc and documented all my findings and actions in the care plan. Whilst at Roses I also required to redress the sacral sinus in accordance with her care plan. When assessing the wound I noticed that although her skin was not broken, her sacrum was very red. I had also previously noticed that although she had a pressure cushion sitting on another chair I had never actually seen her sat on it. Therefore I took the opportunity to encourage her to become involved in promoting her own health and explained that her sacrum was very red and that as she sat for long periods of time, it was possibly that her skin would break down, which was why she had been issued with a pressure cushion. We discussed why she did not use the pressure cushion, she said that she did not find it very comfortable in her favourite chair, I explained the benefits of the pressure cushion and we agreed that she would sit in another chair with the pressure cushion in situ for a least part of the day and that we would discuss how she got on next time I visited. Before leaving Roses I documented my assessments, nursing interventions, evaluation and actions in her care plan. The second stage of Driscolls entitled now what will look at the chain of events which has led me to reflect on when it is appropriate to delegate care. Delegation involves entrusting and transferring a task or responsibility to another person who is able to accept responsibility for the task, typically one who is less senior than oneself (Sullivan and Decker 2005, Oxford dictionary 2011). However Wheeler (2004) argues that delegation and abdication amount to the same thing. On the other hand MacKenzie (1998) states that abdication is giving up either by abandonment or resignation and says that whilst delegation can offer potential benefits to both individuals and organisations, many nurses practice abdication which can be attributable to the current economic climate of underpaid and overstretched employees. Whilst I did appreciate that Dianne thought I was capable to deliver appropriate care to Rose I also suspected that she thought it she would have an easier day if she asked me to carry out the more routine and mundane tasks. The NMC standards of proficiency (2004) state whilst nurses should delegate care to others they should also accept responsibility and accountability for such delegation. As a registered nurse under the NMC Code of Conduct (2008) nurses have a duty of care to ensure that patients receive care in a safe and skilled manner. Dianne was not aware if I was competent or not to carry out compression bandaging as she had neither previously worked with me or questioned me about my clinical skills. In line with the NMC Code of Conduct (2008) I understand that I must work within the scope of my professional competence and it is for this reason I refused to apply the compression layer. It is important for organisations and individuations to delegate in order for them to develop and function resourcefully and successfully (Ellis and Hartley 2004). Effective Delegation requires skills in planning, analysis and self-confidence. The tasks to be delegated should be assessed, planned, communicated, implemented, monitored and evaluated (Royal College of Nursing 2006). In the UK, the rate of change is accelerating and the delivery of services are regularly restructured in an attempt to provide the most effective and efficient care to patients (Shepherd 2008). This environment has lead to the evolvement of work from junior doctors to nursing staff such as giving intravenous therapy and with the evolvement of nursing practitioners many agree that the role of the nurse is increasingly difficult to define as the boundaries are constantly changing (Shephard 2008, Spilbury and Meyer 2005, McKenna et al 2006). A study conducted by Ulster University condones that there is much ambiguity amongst the nursing role. It concluded that although nurses are happy with role extensions they have less patient contact as they would like. Some nurses like the role extension of technical jobs, however others see it at the menial tasks Doctors do not want to do (Allen 2002). However this was only a small survey of 26 nurses and therefore may not be a true representation of all RGNs (McKenna et al 2006). It can be assumed therefore that demands on nursing care at times are greater than RGNs can cope with, and therefore increasing expected to to delegate some tasks routinely, traditionally carried out by RGNs, such as personal care (Curtis and Nicholl 2004). Effective delegation can give RGNs more time for other activities which enables them to focus on doing fewer tasks well rather than many tasks poorly and offer HCAs the opportunity to become competent and improved confidence (Kourdi 1999). Shepherd (2008) articulates that it is important for these tasks to be defined and when devolved it should not be at the detriment to the patient. As a result health care assistant (HCA) roles have increased in both numbers and cope of activity undertaken and it is therefore important that all health care staff understand their roles and accountability in the delegation process. Health care staff need to work together in order for patients to receive safe and effective care from the most appropriate personnel (Pearcey 2007). However some nurses find it difficult to relinquish any part of their role and find it difficult to delegate (Wheeler 2004) Zimmerman (1996) suggests this might be because some nurses were trained before delegation skills were required. However Nicholl and Curtis (2004) state that delegation is not an art and but a nursing skill which can be learned and is becoming increasing important in changing times. Delegation also enables health care professionals to train in new skills and broaden their skill range. However Wheeler argues that some could abuse their power of delegation for example to provide themselves with extra breaks while their subordinates may have to forfeit theirs to complete additional tasks. Or one nurse could favour a subordinate resulting in some always receiving more appealing tasks than others. Delegation is a complex process and to successfully delegate consideration should be given to both existing workload and skill mix of staff should be known. Delegation of too many tasks may result in loss of control, but failing to delegate may lead to one member of staff being overwhelmed, overworked and can lead to incompletion of duties and de-motivated and un-cooperative team. Most HCAs give personal care due to the fact they are usually more available than RGNS. Many studies have indicated that RGNS favour the employment of HCAs (McKenna and Hansson 2002). However the MIDRIS (2001) study suggests that care provided by HCAS is task based and fragmented. There are many pros and cons for delegating tasks. Detailed Job Descriptions (JD) may result in staff being reluctant to take on new responsibilities that are not specified on their JD. Others will be reluctant and believe if you want a job done properly do it yourself. This can inhibit delegation leading to nurses being overworked stressed with little job satisfaction (Kourdi 1999). On the other hand Wheeler (2001) suggests effective delegation encourages staff to have a better understanding and be able to influence the way in which work is carried out. She also says that by participating in decision-making it will increase motivation, morale and ultimately job performance enabling the organisation to become more flexible and responsive to change. Effective delegation will enable a business to move forward as new ideas and viewpoints will be encourage and it will better prepare nurses to be able to cope when career opportunities arise (Wheeler 2001). Delegation frees up time to enable a nurse to carry out other duties which cannot be delegated. Although at first the time saved might me minimal once the HCA becomes proficient more time will become available. Fewer tasks are better than many that are inefficient (Kourdi 1999). In order to delegate effectively it important to decide which task to delegate , select the best person to carry out that task, assessing the task in detail and offer clearly the level of authority associated with it, , check the skills and experience of the delegates, follow the task process and assess and discuss the progress (Curtis and Nicholl 2004). Cohen suggests it is right to delegate in order to carry out an organisations needs as long as certain criteria is met such as right task, right circumstance, right person right communication and right supervision. The third stage, of the Driscolls reflection model requires what can be done differently in the future and what actions to be taken. Dianne was right to delegate the more junior tasks in order to ensure the fewer tasks she had were carried out more effectively. However should have verified my competence prior to delegating. If she had communicated with me effectively to assess my competence I would not have felt awkward having to point out that I did not have the skills to carry out compression bandaging and only practice within my capabilities (NMC 2008). In the future in such a situation I would not do anything differently as I believe I have a responsibility for practicing within my own capabilities in line with the NMC Code of Conduct (2008). Had I been a permanent member of staff I would have asked for compression training, however this would have been impractical as I was on placement for only a short period of time. When I qualify this situation I will be aware that I am ultimately responsible for the care of patients even when tasks are delegated to HCAs. I will also ensure that I do not delegate anything that involves critical thinking skills such as nursing assessments, planning and evaluation of patient care and nursing judgement. (take off 90 for references)

Friday, October 25, 2019

Use of Symbols and Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Lette

Use of Symbols in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚   In many stories, symbols included by the author add deeper meaning.   Nathaniel Hawthorne is one author who mastered the skill of using symbols effectively.   The Scarlet Letter is regarded as a "symbolic masterpiece" due to Hawthorne's exceptional use of the scarlet letter, the setting, and Pearl as symbols.    One of the main symbols of the novel is the basis for the title of the novel itself.   Hester Prynne's scarlet letter is attached to her dress, and appears "in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery with fantastic flourishes of gold thread" (Hawthorne 60).   The letter is said to have "the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself" (Hawthorne 61).   The letter seems to be the focal point of Hester's figure, and the townspeople obsess about the blazing red sign of her sin for a long time after Hester's ignominy.    Hester's fantastically embellished red letter takes on many meanings as a symbol.   The gold thread with which the letter is embroidered symbolizes Hester's mockery of the Puritan way of punishment. A female spectator in the market place remarks, "Why, gossips, what is it but to laugh in the faces of our godly magistrates, and make a pride out of what they ... meant for a punishment?" (Hawthorne 61).   The embellishment of the letter physically displays Hester's reaction to her punishment.   Her strong will not only accepts the challenge that the Puritan church has laid before her, but she also laughs in mockery at it. The scarlet letter also shows the triviality of the community's system of punishment.   Whenever Hester walks outside of her cottag... ...efers to her being a blessing to Hester.   Pearl gives Hester a reason to live, and helps to keep Hester's spirits strong.  Ã‚      Hawthorne's use of symbols clearly enhances The Scarlet Letter.   From the setting to the characters themselves, the novel is filled with symbols that work together to provide a deeper, allegorical meaning.   The symbolism contained in Hawthorne's works provokes much thought in the reader, through which the reader can enjoy the story much more.   For this reason, The Scarlet Letter can accurately be described as a "symbolic masterpiece."    Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel.   The Scarlet Letter.   New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1980.    Bradford, William.   "The Errand of the Early Puritans."   Class handout.   March 2002.    Winthrop, John.   "Life in Puritan New England."   Class handout.   March 2002.   

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Funeral Mask of King Tutankhamen

Perhaps one of the most amazing finds in Egyptian archeology is the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Howard Carter, the archaeologist whose subsequent death fueled speculation of the actuality of the mummy’s curse, discovered it in 1923 (â€Å"Tutankhamun,† par. 2). Most well known because it was largely intact at the time of its opening, the site gives modern viewers a rare insight into the life and death of a pharaoh. Today, the tomb remains shrouded in fascination as people all over the world visit displays of the artifacts retrieved from the crypt. According to the National Gallery of Art, archaeologists retrieved fifty-five items from the site, and among the items, King Tutankhamen’s Funeral Mask is possibly the most recognized (par. 1). It is also the most stunning example of Egyptian art recovered from the tomb. The mask of King Tutankhamen, better known as King Tut, is a large headpiece with the face of the young king, worn over the head and shoulders of the deceased. The entire mask is made of solid gold with inlaid blue glass and stones that create horizontal lines along the right and left sides of the head, down to the shoulders. This blue and gold striped headdress, also known as a â€Å"nemes,† which is a â€Å"royal head cloth† to be worn only by the ancient kings (â€Å"Death Mask,† cap. 1). On the forehead portion of the nemes are two small statuettes, one of a vulture and another of a cobra. According to experts, the â€Å"vulture, Nekhbet, and the cobra, Wadjet, protected the pharaoh† (â€Å"Death Mask,† par 1). On the back, the lines of the nemes converge at the bottom, in the center. The piece spares no detail, including the eyeliner worn by the ancient king. As a piece of Egyptian art, the Funeral Mask shows masterful use of the elements of design. The use of color is simply exquisite. Blue, gold, red and black, which comprise the piece, are still colors representative of royalty today. The use of line and space on the sides and collar create the illusion that the young king was large and imposing. In addition, the level of symmetry and balance in the piece is textbook. However, perhaps the most overtly powerful element in the piece is the use of symbols. Iconography and symbols are key to understanding the artists and the subject. The shape of this mask itself is reminiscent of the cobra, ostensibly representative of his power and fierceness. Also, the lines along the sides of the nemes seem to reflect the image of sunrays. In fact, it appears as if the rays of the sun were radiating from the king’s face. The sun god did play a large role in ancient Egyptian religion, but it is also possible that this represents the artists’ love of their young pharaoh. The most obvious symbols on the mask are of the cobra and vulture. Other than their use for King Tut’s protection, they may also represent his adherence to the old religions. According to Britannica Encyclopedia, â€Å"†¦serpent, vulture, and sphinx are all motif symbols tied up with such religious cults as the cult of the pharaohs and the gods and the cult of the dead† (par. 2). Considering the animals’ religious affiliation, and the fact that Tutankhamen spent his short reign reestablishing the various god religions of the past, one must speculate as to the   animals’ religious significance as well (â€Å"Tutankhamun,† par. 5). Perhaps these two particular animals were representatives of the gods that the pharaoh worshiped. Above all, these artists give the impression of adoration for King Tutankhamen in the medium chosen. The entire work is comprised of precious metals and stones that are historically synonymous with wealth and power. Goldsmiths spent a great deal of time refining and molding the metal, while small stones were cut and polished by hand to fit together almost seamlessly in the piece. Today, not only would the piece be expensive to recreate, it would also be somewhat laborious. Even with the use of modern tools, the work would be tedious at best. While it must have been somewhat difficult to achieve this level of work, without these elements the image of their king would have been somewhat dimmed. Although the Funeral Mask would have been exquisite even in clay, ancient craftsmen used materials fit for a pharaoh. Furthermore, ancient artisans obviously put a great deal of care into making their pharaoh’s mask a true representation of the ruler. It appears that their hope was to represent the king accurately and powerfully in the afterlife. Although their belief was that Tutankhamen would carry all the elements of his tomb into the underworld, they fitted him perfectly for presentation to an audience thousands of years later with all the riches one would expect to accompany such a powerful man as pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Even today, the Funeral Mask awes visitors with its royal visage. While some of the elements, such as facial features, seem crude on the surface and lacking realism, they are perfect in their simplicity. Thousands of years later, the artistry of the mask is virtually unmatched. Modern artists and goldsmiths would find the exact recreation of the mask difficult, if not improbable. When combined with the use of color, line, and symbols used by the ancient Egyptians, the mask is perfect. Twenty-first century artisans could not complete such an important task more appropriately. When given the commission of designing a similar piece, with the originality of this one, most artists would fail to find such a faultless balance of elements and design, which makes King Tutankhamen’s Funeral Mask the most superb piece of ancient Egyptian artwork found in the tomb, and perhaps even the world. Works Cited â€Å"Death Mask of King Tutankhamun†. King Tutankhamun by Wysinger. 27 March 2007. . â€Å"Jewelry.† Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 27   March 2007.   . â€Å"NGA – Treasures of Tutankhamun.† National Gallery of Art. 27 March 2007. . â€Å"Tutankhamun.† 27 March 2007. Wikipedia.com. 27 March 2007. .      

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Road Not Taken

The poem â€Å"Road Not Take;† by Robert Frost explores decision making as part of a complex nature of human race involving contradictory emotions of fear for unknown future, regret for the possible wrong choice and acceptance and pride in defining an individual. The lack of foresight and fear for choosing wrongly result the hesitance in making choices. The diverged roads symbolises choosing between two decisions. The inverted word order â€Å"long I stood† emphasizes the length of time Frost has taken to try and speculate about the features about each path.However, he fails to comprehend what lays beyond as the second path is â€Å"just as fair† as the first one, revealing the lack of insight contributing to the uncertainty in making decisions. Although the alliteration, â€Å"wanted wear†, hints the second road is not a popular choice, Frost has chosen it to be different, yet his insecurity about the future still makes him doubting his decision with the word choice of â€Å"perhaps†. Although eventually a choice is made, Frost is still unsure his decision and the regret for choosing possibly wrongly.In the title, â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the word â€Å"not† shows him wandering the result of choosing the well accepted road thus illustrate his regret in choosing the probable harder path. The emotional attachment with â€Å"knowing way leads on to way†, his acknowledges the impossibility to face the same decision again and regret the hardship faced in the unconventional path. The exclamation mark in â€Å"Oh, I kept the first for another day† expresses his desire to have an opportunity to re-choose.After experiencing the fear and regret in making decision, the tone of poem turns and accepted towards end of the poem. The phrase of road â€Å"less travelled by† illustrates his gratification to be different and accept his unique choosing. The enjambment of â€Å"I-/ I took the one less travell ed by† emphasises on â€Å"I†, which demonstrates a sense of pride in being who he is. The poem ends with â€Å"all the difference† reveals his recognition of his less accepted choice defining who he is as an individual.The complex nature of decision making is explored in â€Å"Road Not Taken† thoroughly with effective techniques. Lack of foresight results fear for choosing wrongly and ambivalent decisions. Regrets for making the less chosen road leaves one to wander the result of the widely accepted road. Making decision involves acceptance and pride also as it defines an individual separate from others. Decision making can happen uncountable times in a lifetime and determination and unique thoughts are required no matter which road one chooses. The Road Not Taken A. in pairs ,read the situation below, copy the headings below into your notebooks and make two lists to help you decide what you would do . Your friends are traveling abroad during the vacation and you really want to join them. However , you have been offered a fantastic summer job. You are afraid if you miss this opportunity ,you may not get another one Pros traveling abroad| Pros of taking the job| To have fun| To get money | To visit new places| To be successful| To have close relationship with our friends . | To be more responsible. | To break the routine. | To know new things . | B.What do you usually do when you have a problem or dilemma to solve? Do you follow the steps above? Explain Think of a problem you have solved and tell your partner. Were there any additional steps you used you reach your decision? No, I don't follow the steps, Because I have someone adult that I trust him and talk to him any thing and she will help me . Vocabulary practice:- A. Match the words in A t o their meanings in B. 1. traveler b. someone who goes to places far away 2. equally d. the same 3. doubt e. not sure about something 4. diverge a. divide 5. undergrowth c. plants and bushes . wanted wear g. needed to be walked on 7. wood I. forest 8. make a difference h. change something 9. claim f. demand B. complete the sentences with the words below. Make any necessary changes. 1. The speaker was sorry that he could not take both roads. 2. The traveler could not decide which road to choose. They both looked equally fair. 3. The speaker looked down the road to where it bend in the undergrowth. 4. One way always lead on to another, so the speaker doubt that he would ever come back. 5. In the future, the speaker will be telling about his experience with a fair. A.Describe or draw the scene that the poet describes. One person has a dilemma, he has to choose one road out of two, the choice was risky and adventurous , he choose the less traveled road and he made all differences . B. A nswer the questions. 1. A stanza is a group of lines which form a unit in a poem. Which stanza describes the main idea? Main idea| Stanza | 1. The speaker decides to take the less-traveled road. | 2| 2. The speaker describes his location. | 1| 3. The speaker's decision changed his life. | 4| 4. The speaker doesn't think he will ever try the other road. | 3| 2.What does the poet like about the second road considers? The speaker took the second road that was grassy and wanted wear. 3. Find the lines in the poem that have a similar meaning to each sentence below. a. I wished that I could walk down both road : lines 2. b. I chose the less-traveled road : line 18-19. c. I didn't think I would ever return to try the other road : line14-15. d. I will only know if I made the right decision in the future : lines 17. e. The choice I made affected my whole life: line 20 A. What is the setting of the poem? The place : in the forest( yellow wood) . The Time : Summer/In the morning B.You learned about the thinking skill of problem solving on page 19. What is the speaker's dilemma in the poem and how does he solve it? Complete the graphic organizer below . Use the thinking skill of problem solving to help you . Problem/Dilemma Option 1: The road bends and disappeared in the undergrowth. Option 2 : The road looks â€Å"grassy and wanted wear â€Å". Solution: The speaker choose option (2) because, it is less trodden on and less used. C. Writers often use metaphor, a comparison between two things. For example, â€Å"happiness is a smile†. In the road not taken, the writer describes a fork in the road with two different paths.What are the paths compared to? Explain. The two different paths in the wood are compared to the options we can choose. or ways we can travel ,in life. D. Answer the question. 1. What is the speaker's motive for choosing one way over the other. The speaker choose the road that grassy and wanted wear he choose the road that is less traveled because , he want to be different from others, and he want to have a special life. 2. What kind of person do you think the speaker is ? (For example :conventional, unconventional, spontaneous, deep thinking, boring, adventurous).I think the speaker have a special brain he want to hear life is the best from another people , he is a risky person (adventures). E. Answer the questions. 1. Why doesn't the speaker think he will ever have a chance to walk the other road? What does this tell us about our decisions? The speaker doesn't think that he will have a chance to back to choose the other road , He think that on way lead to another that on think lead to another and should never come back when we choose a decision we should know what to choose . 2. How does the speaker feel when he makes his choice? How do we know this?The speaker was not sure of this decision he was doubt if he should ever come back or not he was confused and we see that in the poem in (line 5). 3. The speaker does not yet kn ow how his choice has affected his life. He says he â€Å"shall be telling this with a sigh / somewhere ages and ages hence†. How does the speaker think he will feel about the choice he made? The speaker says that he will tell about his decision in future with a sigh and that sigh might with a relief for choosing the right decision or with a great to choosing the wrong decision if it was wrong or true , it make a change in his life . . Why do you think the writer called the poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† instead of â€Å"The road Taken†. I think that the writer called the poem â€Å"The road not taken† because, it might be the road that most people don't choose it and he want to different from others so he take the less traveled road. F. A device that poets often use to give structure to their poetry is rhyme, the repetition of sounds at the end of the line. Robert Frost used rhyme in this poem. Which words rhyme? Would,stood,could Both,undergrowth Fair,w here,there Claim,sameLay,day,way Black. back Sigh,I,by Hence,difference A. read the background information. Robert frost (1874-1963) was born in san Francisco , California, but spent most of his life in a rural area of New England in the northeastern part of the United states . the area is know for its hills , woods , farms , and small towns , which frost depicts in his poems Frost Claims that the poem , THE ROAD NOT TAKEN ,(published in 1916) was written about his friend Edward Thomas with whom he walked in the woods in London , where he lived from(1912-15).Frost said that while walking , they would come to different paths , and after choosing one, Thomas would worry ,wondering what they might have massed by not taking the other path. B. Robert Frost is often called a New England poet. How is this reflected in the poem The road Not Taken? Answer the questions. 1. Did you enjoy reading the poem? Why or why not? Yes I enjoy reading the poem if makes my think twice when I want to choo se a hard decision and never come back because one think in life leads to another . And I love the speaker because he have a good brain and A nice ideas and he want to be a best person in his life . . What did you learn from reading the poem ? I learned that taking a different road that people do not take is not bad because, we can discover new things, and make differences. 3. do you think that being aware of the stages of problem solving will help you make better decision and solve problems more easily in the future ? Yes, knowing the stages of solving problems can help me solve problems easily its clear the problem that I can suggest many solutions . The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the pa ssing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost