Nature and Love in the Poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym :: Poetry

Nature and Love in the Poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym Essay is 1550 words in length Dafydd ap Gwilym has been acclaimed as the greatest poet of the Welsh language. As Rachel Bromwhich commented, Dafydd’s life "coincided miraculously in both time and place with an unprecedented opportunity to mate the new with the old" (Brom 112). Perhaps "mate" is a more appropriate choice of words here than Rachel intended. As his poetry depicts, Dafydd tried to mate a great many things in his time; the man is immortalized as a ball of raging hormones. A self-proclaimed "Ovid’s man," Dafydd took pleasure in identifying himself with the authoritative source of courtly love, a fresh trend in Wales during his life (Summer 29). Love, specifically courtly love, was among the new themes Dafydd merged with the traditional themes like nature. Even the ancient topic of nature, under Dafydd’s molding, took on new forms. Dafydd personified elements of nature to be his trusted messengers in poems such as "The Seagull." In the "Holly Grove," nature is subtly described a s a fortress or protector of sorts. Variations of these elements of secret, protected, and secluded love mesh with images of nature throughout Dafydd’s poetry. However, nature seems to be much more than a confidant or mere factor in his search for love; Dafydd’s poems such as "Secret Love" suggest that nature is essential in this endeavor. Though Dafydd’s attempts at love are not limited to the natural realm, poems such as "Trouble in a Tavern" make it evident that only in the natural setting is Dafydd a successful lover. Elements in the poetry of courtly love express the need for a love affair to remain secret. The object of a poet’s love in these poems is typically a married woman, or unattainable by some other means. Andreas Capellanus’s The Rules of Courtly Love captures this element of forbidden love by saying, "marriage (was) no real excuse for not loving" (Cap 115-116). As Patrick Ford wisely pointed out, the need to maintain secrecy in a forbidden affair is not a new idea to modern readers. These elements of courtly love do not escape Dafydd’s poetry. His poem "Secret Love," among others, emphasizes the level of secrecy necessary in maintaining a love affair. Dafydd considers himself a learned lover, who found that "The best form of the words that work / Is to speak love in secrecy" (Sec 1-2).

Four Seasons Goes To Paris Essay

One of the worlds leading operator of luxury hotels in business for the last thirty years Four Seasons is successful due to exceptional personal customer service, adhering to standards, at the same time adopting to local customs and blending with the environment. While staying at Four Seasons guests can be assured they will get individual personal attention and exceptional service with no excuses whatsoever. At Four Seasons the hotel makes sure that the guest is comfortable and goes way out of the normal to do what the guest wants even if they have to bend the rules. The Four Seasons Hotel adheres firmly to its standards, according to the hotel management its standards are the foundations for all its properties, and every manager in the hotel has a clear perception of what the standards are, and they adhere to them, over a period of time these standards shape relationships between people and these relationships contribute in building a culture. The hotel has the policy that each individual property should blend with the environment, like if the property is in Chicago when a guest wakes up he should feel that he is Chicago, if the hotel is in Paris and the guest wakes up he should feel he is in Paris. In blending with the environment it still adheres to its standards of individual personal attention, prompt and exceptional service. Strong corporate culture with top management being in the firm for long time 25 + years, corporate and field managers thinking of themselves as part of a  family and treating each others as their own has been a big factor in the hotel’s success. The has a human resource Golden Rule which stipulates that â€Å"One should treat others the way they wanted to be treated themselves†. The firm believes in the fact that people make the strength of the company, the basic human needs stays the same all over the globe, people need respect, care, thoughtfulness. When the firm takes care of its employees as its own the employees takes care of the firm in return. An example of how this golden rule is implemented is the hotel provides the employee with several uniforms and there is nothing saying that they should change it once per day or at some specific time whenever they feel dirty they can change their uniforms, at the end it goes to their dignity almost no one feels comfortable in dirty clothes. Four Seasons has enough properties across the globe and has enough experience and expertise from different areas of this world with diverse cultures that its managers claim that they can go to any city or town and pull people who can follow its mission to provide the best luxury class environment for its guest. It says that even tough the culture and environment is really different but the process of opening a new property is exactly the same everywhere. With all these claim entering into business in France was a big challenge for the four seasons, they had to adhere to the American building code, adhere to the French laws for building and of the work force , modify the property to meet all these requirements and at the same time maintain the French George V look. The way four seasons entered the French market is one of the best ways to do business a business should adopt to the local cultures and blend in the environment, people are generally not that much in favor of a change and if  you blend with the local environment the local community will adapt to the new business in the area and things will go smooth. The hired a French interior designer whose policy was to make the guest rediscover the hotel and make them feel how much better the new redesigned place was. They had issues in adhering to the French labor laws. It’s a country with strong unions in short lots was different in what goes on in US so the firm had to change its way of working. In France they have an emotional way of doing things, the French did not take the company’s golden rule seriously they thought it was too American. They had an incredible pride in being French. The good thing about French is they can be very joyous and encouraging but at the same time French Temper also lashes out. It all ended up to how the four seasons came in to France was almost as important in what Four Seasons did. I would say they way they entered the French market was good but it required a great deal of tact and judgment. The way four seasons done business across the globe according to the policy of Diversity and Strength their belief in diversity and singularity should be a guide to any business entering the global market. Look at the case of McDonald its almost uniform and unique all over the world, now in its vision this mite be the good thing about it but people are generally not that easy to adopt to new tastes, if a community favors more spicy food then for starters they mite visit a McDonald restaurant for a change but in the long run they mite avoid it. Same goes if it sells food that is not consumed in that community no one is going to buy it.

20 Signs You Are a College Nerd

20 Signs You Are a College Nerd They say college can change your life and theyre not kidding. You might start college with the same mindset you had in high school but chances are youve done a full 180 (or three) by the time the first semester ends. Weve rounded up the Top 20 signs that your might be going down the path of Geek Chic †¦ or just plain Geek. 1. You set your alarm early for Back to School sales. Some people think the Friday after Thanksgiving is the most important shopping day of the year, but not you. No, you march to the beat of a different drum †¦ one that starts mid August with Back to School sales. Face it, you just cant pass up 10 for $10 deal on boxes of staples, oddly shaped push pins and novelty folders. 2. Texting, IMing or pinging your roommate is the norm. No matter if your roommate is off campus, at the game or just across the room – if you need to talk, you do it by device. 3. Arguments about Star Trek can change the course of your dorm life. If you can name all the movies, have a passionate opinion about best captain and crew or have ever requested to change rooms because your roommate was a â€Å"Picard Man† then youre deep within the College Nerd Quadrant. 4. Star Wars counts, too! Were you standing in line at midnight for the Collectors Edition Blu-Ray Bonus Digital Content release party? We thought so. 5. You skip classes to get a head start on the paper you know your professor will assign. After all, youve already read ahead seven chapters so why not get going on that paper you know will be due in five weeks? 6. You rotate the names for your WiFi. Usually you stick to the names of favorite alien races but sometimes you mix it up with your favorite Star Dates. 7. Everything runs off your PC. Youve set up your computer to control the lights, temperature and playlists so you never have to get up. 8. You have specific playlists for certain classes or projects. You cant crack a chemistry book without cuing up Weird Science and that Feminism paper isnt going to get done until youve made it through Aretha Franklins Greatest Hits. 9. Your friends ask you to audit their class just so they can have your notes. Between the pie charts, keyword breakdown and abstract you provide, what you get out of a lecture is better than the textbook. 10. You have textbook editors in your email address book. Looking for misspellings, outdated information and poorly constructed chapters is your favorite past time. Youre on a first name basis with editors though oddly enough they never thank you for your regular correction notes each semester. 11. You started offering to repair computers as a way to meet people. After a few weeks, however, you realized you preferred the company of the computers. 12. Class numbers can be an issue. Did you want to take Prehistoric Pottery until you found out the course number was even? Or did you only sign up for Modern Dance because that number was odd? College nerds put a lot of stock in lucky numbers. 13. Resolving arguments can be difficult. When you and your roommate or study group have a disagreement its usually resolved by Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock or Evens-Odds-Binary. 14. Your plans for a long weekend tend to be a bit different. While others might be planning for parties, bar crawls and concerts, youre packing your holiday weekend with LARPing, Star Trek RPG and a Harry Potter marathon. 15. If its worth doing, its worth tracking. Youve been following – and charting – your study to grade ratio since the first grade. 16. Your idea of a Care Package is slightly different. Other students may look forward to boxes of photos and cookies, but your family knows to send Anime DVDs and supplies for your next cosplay project. 17. Integration is everything. Youve made it your personal mission to work with every instructor you have to integrate Pinterest, Twitter, DropBox and 4Chan into the curriculum. Youre saving Flipboard, Seesmic and ProPublica for next semester. 18. Semantics are important. Theyre not dolls or action men, theyre collectible figures. Its not a waste of an entire weekend, its an Epic Dungeons and Dragons Campaign. 19. Your College criteria was highly specific. Some students check out concert venues, party spots or sports teams when considering college. You wanted to know how close the libraries were, how many bookstores there were and whether or not there was an active RGP/LARP/MMOG community. 20. Your friends can turn your room into a drinking game. Rules include one shot for every calculator and double shots for pamphlets or promotional materials for Starfleet Academy, Hogwarts and other not-technically-actual schools. If most the listed points above are true, congratulations one more college nerd is among us! To know for sure, you can also take the quiz to find out which type of student you are. Did we miss a giant red flag of college nerdom? Add your own nerd signals in the comments section below.

Tablets vs. Textbooks Essay Example

Tablets vs. Textbooks Essay Example Tablets vs. Textbooks Paper Tablets vs. Textbooks Paper Technology is advancing more and more everyday. From phones to Droids the things you can do is endless. These advances are making every day life easier and easier whether its doing your banking from home or keeping up with social media. Technology is becoming so advanced that kindergarten through twelfth grade students will soon be relieved of the burden of carrying books to and from school five days a week, which would be extremely beneficial. However, some people oppose this dea because, tablets are more expensive than print text books, they are dangerous to our kids health, and the tablets may be difficult to use for some students. First of all, those who oppose this idea believe that a tablet is more expensive than a print text book. Technology does not necessarily translate into more expensive though. According to a report from the Federal Communications Commission schools kindergarten through twelfth grade spend on average around eight billion dollars a year on text books. If these schools switched from text books to the ever popularizing E-book these schools can save anywhere from two hundred fifty to one thousand dollars per student per year. If you calculate this an average school has about five thousand to seven thousand students which translates to a 5 to 7 hundred thousand dollar savings that can go towards other things in the school. Most E-books cost about four hundred fifty dollars where as a textbook can cost upwards of six hundred dollars. So, this idea of tablets being more expensive is preposterous, and comes from the common idea of technology means more money which has no factual vidence to back it. Secondly, the opposition will say that tablets are dangerous to our kids health. Those who oppose tablet usage will use the argument that staring at the screen of the tablet will cause irreversible damage to the eyes, but this claim is only a half truth though. There is no permanent damage caused to the eye, but there is a slight strain that can be relieved from a good nights rest. This slight strain however, is nothing in comparison to what can happen to an individuals back from carry all those heavy books all day. Pediatrician and chiropractors recommend that only fifteen percent of ones total body weight should be held on the back, but the weight from all of a childs courses easily out weighs that fifteen percent mark. A report from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, during the 2011-2012 school year an estimated thirteen thousand seven kids aged from five to eighteen, were treated for some sort of back pack related injury. So where is the real danger to our kids health really at? Lastly, the individuals who oppose these tablets in school will say the tablets may be oo difficult to use for some students. The opposition will argue that with all these books and documents a student will have difficulty with opening any of them and thus make learning much harder for that child, this claim is extremely outlandish however. In the third world country of Ethiopia, the One Lap Top Per Child organization dropped off boxes full of tablets with educational applications loaded onto the device in two rural cities. These children had no prior education up to this point and were able to use the device properly within five days of opening it. Within two weeks these children were reciting the alphabet, and withing five months the children were able to get passed the security systems on the device and customize the background of the tablet. So, if these children who have never even seen the inside of a classroom can easily work the device within five days and become experts with it within five months, there is no telling what the children of modern day America would be able to do with such an educational device. Using a tablet in school over text books is Just so much more beneficial than it is unhelpful. The students of today will be much safer carrying around a one pound tablet everyday than a fifteen pound book. Using these tablets will also save our school districts so much more money as well. Also students today will be able to easily adjust and use these tablets for educational purposes which is Just much more beneficial towards their learning. Tablets are Just so beneficial why would we deprive our students of something so great. Tablets will revolutionize and increase learning ability so much, we can not Just turn our backs to this great opportunity technology has provided for us.

AP Spanish Literature and Culture LITERARY MOVEMENTS Essay Example

AP Spanish Literature and Culture LITERARY MOVEMENTS Essay Example AP Spanish Literature and Culture LITERARY MOVEMENTS Paper AP Spanish Literature and Culture LITERARY MOVEMENTS Paper and feminist literature vanguardismo avant-garde movements of literary experimentation; includes the surrealist movement (concerned with dreams and hallucinations); Pablo Neruda, Dragà ºn, Lorca teatro del absurdo with the belief that human existence has no meaning or purpose, these works are intentionally ridiculous, showing man in an illogical, incomprehensible world yet still carrying a meaningfull message; dialogue includes clichà ©s and word games; Dragà ºn Generacià ³n del 98 a group of novelists, poets, essayists, and philosophers active in Spain at the time of the Spanish-American War; criticism, ideals, creativity; included Miguel de Unamuno (religious themes), Antonio Machado (personal and universal themes) costumbrismo a literary interpretation of local everyday life and customs (19th century); romantic interest in extravagant expression + realistic, precise focus on a particular time and place; preceded (and led to) both Romanticism and Realism barroco a 17th-century cultural and artistic movement that was the evolution of ideas and themes formulated during the Spanish Renaissance; included culteranismo and conceptismo; Gà ³ngora and Quevedo in Spain + Sor Juana in Mexico romanticismo in response to neoclassicism, this movement focused on the beauty of imagination, the irregular nature of human spirit, and the natural world; Rima LIII (Bà ©cquer), En una tempestad (Heredia) Siglo de Oro period from 1942 (Christopher Columbus, end of Reconquista) to 1659 characterized by a flourishing in Spanish arts and literature that included romantecismo and barroco; Don Quijote, Garcilaso, Gà ³ngora, Quevedo neoclasicismo movement in which writers looked back to figures such as Garcilaso and Quevedo and were inspired by classical ideals; later prompted a negative reaction from romanticists, who were themselves criticized by realists

Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Cancer - Essay Example This often typically leads to a lump or a mass called a tumor, which are usually benign. Malignant cancers are capable of spreading to other organs as in the case of lymphoid vessels. In blood tissue, cells such as the erythrocytes or leucocytes get affected and cause leukemia. This is often characterized by an increase in the viscosity of blood. In this paper, I would like to discuss the commonly occurring types of cancers, causative factors, chemotherapy and radiation as treatment options, expenses and adverse effects associated with these treatment regimens, and the role of a healthy diet to minimize the occurrences of this disorder. Common types of cancers: As stated in the thesis outline, the most frequently observed sarcomas or cancers are those of the liver, breast, colon, prostate and lung, and has been the leading cause of death in the past five decades. Breast cancers are typically observed in post-menopausal women, and thus, it is extremely essential for periodic screening . Mammography is the technique used in this case and is usually recommended annually. Recent trends include biopsy of the breast tissue, followed by analysis for RNA content, as this biotechnology procedure sheds light on the expression of the gene responsible for cancer. A subtle marginal increase in these biological indicators, could suggest the initial phases of breast cancer. (1Popat and Smith, 2006) Prostate cancer, which is exclusive to men, is observed beyond the age of 50. Early detection is key, as the cancer could be prevented from metastasizing by surgical removal of the gland. Diagnostic procedures for liver, lung or pancreatic cancers usually entail a measurement of enzymatic levels in the body, by biochemical assays. For example, the presence of serum based prostate specific antigen (PSA) or Kallikrein indicates the possibility of prostate cancer in men or ovarian cancer in women. Or, elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein are typical in liver cancers due to cirrhosis. ( Ullah and Aatif, 2009) Thus, biomarkers are excellent tools in the early diagnosis of various types of cancers, which help the clinician in designing the appropriate treatment protocol. Chemotherapy and radiation: The management of cancers by the administration of cytotoxic chemical agents is termed as chemotherapy. There has been a surge in the discovery of various chemical classes of cytotoxic compounds in the past few decades. Recent methods of treatment for certain rare forms of cancers include administration of a novel category of biological drugs called monoclonal antibodies. In some conditions, chemotherapy alone cannot control rapidly growing tumors and cancers. In such cases, radiation therapy is often used, either standalone, or in combination with chemotherapy. (Verweij and de Jonge, 2000) Radiation, as the name suggests involves targeting the affected tissue with high-energy electromagnetic rays (beta or gamma rays), which, on account of their short wavelength, have high penetrating powers. The energy associated with this radiation kills cells on contact. A major drawback of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation is their non-selectivity. They cannot differentiate the cancerous from the healthy cells, which results in damage to viable cells, although precision techniques such as the gamma knife are employed. Other unpleasant effects such as hair

Discuss the British foreign policy under Tony Blair with respect to Essay

Discuss the British foreign policy under Tony Blair with respect to balancing the trans-Atlantic alliance and maintaining relations with the European Union - Essay Example ts of the United Kingdom after the events of September 11, who have openly expressed their strong resentment toward extended British participation in the U.S. intervention in Iraq, were stunned but later the events of 7/7 London bombings escorted Britain to think from a different point of view. The goal of the United Kingdom, and of Blair, has been to act as a bridge between the United States and Europe, fostering dialogue between the two power blocs in the hopes of preserving the Atlantic alliance that has survived for 60 years. (Janelle Osmann) As Blair is in a desperate need to prove himself as a world leader and establish himself as a peacemaker, he wants U.S instead of taking the matters emotionally, he must concentrate on the matter of pushing for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Blair hopes that his support in Iraq will make America to think several times before making an attempt and to think seriously on expedition of a lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Thus, by coordinating American efforts with E.U interests, Blair is aiming to narrow the trans-Atlantic lacuna and thrust himself back into the good graces of international diplomats. (Janelle Osmann) Blair, being conscious in maintaining the balance between transatlantic alliance and EU possesses the view that conflict is created on the basis of a misunderstanding. At times he has declared that the class struggle was over and that the formation of the Labor Party through a break with the Liberals was a mistake. But the conflict of interests between the US and Europe cannot be overcome so easily. Blair recognizes that the Europeans, however tentatively, are seeking to challenge US domination through the EU project. At one point, he asks â€Å"Europe is to become 25 nations, one Europe for the first time since Charlemagne, but will it be as a union of nation states or as a centralized superstate? (Chris Marsden) The Constitutional Treaty sets out to address the new