Abstract This paper takes a look at the melancholy poem "Acquainted with the Night" by Robert Frost. The writer also explores Robert Frost's personal life and how this influenced the writing style of the poem. Emotions examined are isolation, loneliness and depression.
From the Paper "The poem Acquainted with the Night was written by Robert Frost and first printed in a collection called West Running Brook published in 1928. Robert Frost's poetry painted a classic picture of life in America. We get glimpses of every day scenes featuring every day people. We also get a picture of the very troubled and depressed Frost himself. When reading Frost's poetry, it is important to consider the source of the melancholy tone and obsession with ghosts, death, loneliness and sorrow. Robert Frost had many losses in his personal life, business, and loved ones. He moved many times. It is a little known fact that Frost suffered from Tuberculosis. This disease was in epidemic proportions at the time. Tuberculosis not only effects your ability to breath, lowers your immune system, and steals your energy, it also causes sleeplessness, nervousness, and a deep sense of melancholy. [Lawrence, 1970]. "
Abstract This paper offers an explanation of what is meant by Frost when he says he is acquainted with the night. Also discussed is the structure of the poem and the use of tercet rhymes and iambic pentameter. Finally, this paper interprets the meaning of the symbols used in the poem.
From the Paper "On one level "Acquainted With The Night" seems deceptively simple and straightforward: observations of a solitary, late night walk in a city. Frost's use of language almost lulls the reader; the language is colloquial and accessible. Even the word "acquaint" seems reserved in the context of what the poet is trying to say. However, this simple, everyday language belies the complexity of this and many of Frost's poems, according to Robert Diyanni in Modern American Poets Their Voices and Visions. ? . . .though his poems are accessible to the general reader, they are not simple nor are they necessarily easy to understand . . . Frost avoids obscure language, preferring instead the familiar word and the idiomatic phrase."
Abstract This paper discusses the use of various poetry devices to improve the effectiveness of the theme of a poem. For this purpose Robert Frost's "Acquainted with the Night" is used.
Abstract This paper discusses how "Acquainted with the Night" describes the persona's confrontation with 'the long, dark night of the soul', in which he stands alone in a universe that is bereft of any overarching divine meaning or even a mundanely constructed order or morality. It discusses how, far from engendering a sense of hopelessness, the indifferent ambiguity of the universe motivates the narrator's exploration of his own nature, displaying the curiosity that is the birthright of humanity.
From the Paper "The opening stanza of the poem consists of three declarative sentences that describe the persona's ambiguous relationship with the night, as well as suggesting the commencement of a journey. By stating that "I have been one acquainted with the night" (Frost, l.1), the narrator immediately removes himself from objective time and begins to describe a relationship located in neither the past nor present, but rather a subjective temporality that is akin to the dream-state of semi-consciousness. The repetition of the personal pronoun 'I' emphasizes that he is alone in his wandering and that this is an exploration of the self and its relationship to the outer world. "
Abstract This paper provides a review of Robert Frost's poem, "Acquainted with the Night", focusing on its powerful spiritual and philosophical implications. The paper describes the stanzas in the poem and the aura of mystery that exists throughout the poem.
From the Paper "The first stanza of Frost's poem embraces a trinity, which has powerful spiritual and philosophical implications in all literature, especially in poetry. In this poem, Frost uses the number three to great advantage; in fact the noted poet employs three symbols that are important in every human's life. In the first line "night," arouses thoughts of darkness as juxtaposed to the preferred opposite, light. The second line offers "rain" - a pure form of water - which is of course vital to the survival of all forms of life. And in the third line the word "light," the opposite of darkness and in this context an important aspect of the poem."
This paper discusses "The Problems of Philosophy" by Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), widely regarded as one of the great philosophers of the 20th century.
Abstract This paper explains that Bertram Russell is considered the founder of analytic philosophy, the tradition dominating 20th century Anglo-American philosophy. He is know for his writings in the fields of epistemology, logic, the foundations of mathematics, ethics, political and social philosophy, the philosophy of science and antiwar. The author points out that Russell in Chapter V of "The Problems of Philosophy" emphasizes that the knowledge of things is comprised of two components: (1) "Knowledge of Acquaintance" wherein the person is knows directly through his or her acquaintance with the object, without the intermediary of any process of inference or any knowledge of truths and (2) "Knowledge by Description" wherein, similar to Plato's "Forms" analysis, the person knows a description and knows that there is just one object to which this description applies. The paper relates that Russell states that people process information in different ways, but everyone must use the same fundamental steps to arrive at an accurate perception of the world and to understand it.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Knowledge of Acquaintance Knowledge by Description
Evaluation and Critique of Russell's Position and Arguments
Conclusion
From the Paper "Russell was not trying to develop a comprehensive definition of his ideas about how and why people think about the world in the ways they do; rather, he was attempting - to borrow a phrase from the academicians - operationalize the terms involved in understanding. Certainly, in order to understand the subtle nuances of how people think about "things," "ideas," and "truths," there must be some solid basis for describing the components involved. For instance, Russell sums up Chapter V by pointing out that "We shall not at this stage attempt to answer all the objections which may be urged against this fundamental principle. For the present, we shall merely point out that, in some way or other, it must be possible to meet these objections, for it is scarcely conceivable that we can make a judgment or entertain a supposition without knowing what it is that we are judging or supposing about.""
Abstract This paper presents a discussion about the theme of alienation in two of Robert Frost's poems. The author of this paper takes us through "Acquainted With the Night" and "Mending Wall" to point out examples of how the theme of alienation is woven throughout the works.
Abstract Ethical decisions have always been a part of the practice of medicine. By setting itself as a guardian on the line between life and death, medicine necessarily sets itself up as an ethical guardian of what life means, of what life is worth, of when life is preferable (and when it is not) to death. This paper examines a possible ethical choice that is in fact very much a real one often faced by nurses, drawn in large measure from the experiences of the author's nursing acquaintance. After the acquaintance had received her LVN degree and was working to support herself through school, she often worked as a private-duty nurse in the homes of people who had chronically and severely sick children. A number of these children had Spina Bifida, and it is this condition that this paper examines more closely because it provides such difficult ethical issues to resolve. In conclusion, this paper looks at the ethical issues surrounding anencephaly, which ?- despite the horrific nature of this birth defect --is in fact an easier arena in which to make ethical decisions.
From the Paper "Of all birth defects, spina bifida is one of the most severe and brings with it a number of complications for the child who has it. The condition is caused by a defective closure of the vertebral column during prenatal development. The severity of this disorder varies from a mild type (spina bifida occulta), where there is almost no sign of abnormality, to extreme cases involving a completely open spine and severe neurological disability. Part of the spinal cord and its membranes may protrude within a fragile sac. Hydrocephalus (excess cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity) is frequently associated with the condition. In the U.S., spina bifida affects about 5 percent of the population. Surgical treatment is required for all but the mildest cases. If not surgically treated, affected infants die of infection or are severely disabled."
Abstract This essay will examine exactly what proxemic and tactile patterns are and then demonstrate how proxemic and tactile patterns are employed in North American culture when interacting with a child, a parent, a friend of the same sex and a friend of the opposite sex, an acquaintance of the same sex and an acquaintance of the opposite sex, and a stranger.
Abstract In this paper the author analyzes and examines Nathaniel Hawthorne; his life, career, contributions, and works. The author contends that the moral and psychological issues that Hawthorne examines, through the conflicts his characters experience, are often intricate and mysterious and furthermore, that Hawthorne skillfully creates an atmosphere of ambiguity and complexity that makes it difficult to reduce his writings to a simple view of life.
From the paper:
?Hawthorne then moved to Lennox, Massachusetts, where they lived for the following year. It was here that Hawthorne made the acquaintance of Herman Melville, who was writing his first novel, Moby Dick. Hawthorne greatly impacted Melville's writings, and the dedication of Moby Dick to Hawthorne is evidence of the magnitude of this impact.?
A comparison between Homer's epic novel the 'Odyssey' and the adapted screenplay version of the epic film,"O Brother Where Art Thou?", directed and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen .
Abstract The following paper draws parallels between Homer's "Odyssey" and the Coen Brother's "O Brother Where Art Thou?". In the year 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in a liberal way, changing scenes, settings and characters. The writer compares the original epic and the original screenplay and discusses dozens of small but meaningful comparisons. For instance, Odysseus and his men descend into Hades where they encounter several ghosts from Odysseus's past; in the film the boys meet a fellow inmate who they thought was dead. Odysseus from the original epic and Ulysses from the film (played by George Clooney) both have to prove to their wives that they are true: Ulysses must bring Penny the ring to redeem himself. In the Odyssey, Book 23, Penelope declares that ?there are tokens with which we two alone are acquainted,? (Butler trans.). Although it was written millennia ago in ancient Greece, the parables of the Odyssey remain extant for a reason: Its themes are universal and accessible and adaptable for all time. The Coen brothers' movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" exemplifies Homer's timelessness, as well as their own versatility.
From the Paper "Homer's Odyssey is more than an epic tale of a man ?who wandered far and wide,? across the sea; it is an archetypal journey with universal and enduring import. It is not difficult to find parallels between Odysseus's adventures and modern ones, for ultimately the Odyssey transcends its details. Homer erected a narrative structure that lends itself to adaptation and reconstruction. Most notable to modern reinterpretations of Homer's Odyssey is James Joyce's Ulysses, which focuses on and develops the relationship between father (Odysseus/Leopold Bloom) and son (Telemachus/Stephen Dedalus). In the year 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in an equally liberal way, changing scenes, settings, and characters. But whereas Joyce's version of the Odyssey is microcosmic, its journey more psychological than physical, the Coen brothers? O Brother Where Art Thou? rambles through a decidedly physical and farcical tale. At first glance the film resembles Homer's epic little: only certain elements are obvious like George Clooney's character's name (Ulysses) and the three sirens by the river. A deeper investigation of the film and the original text reveals numerous, if more subtle, references."
Abstract The paper examines the social intention of Henry James when he wrote the novel. It shows that his intention was to point out the rigidity and hypocrisy of 19th century American and European society in not recognizing the difference between innocence and courage and wanton behavior. This narrative is analyzed in the paper showing how Daisy's friends and acquaintances are both charmed and repelled by her behavior.
From the Paper "The first evidence of this is clearly evident in Winterbourne's very first encounter with Daisy where he hesitates to open a conversation with her given his schooling of "In Geneva"as a young man was not at liberty to speak to a young unmarried lady? (Part1. p2). Yet, he is encouraged by the opportunity presented in a place distant from his own home and by virtue of the fact that Miss Miller, herself, did not seem "in the least embarrassed herself" (part 1, p4). Winterbourne is also charmed by the fact that Daisy's reception of his presence was "singularly honest and fresh" (Part 1, p4)."
Tags: winterbourne, society, 19th, century, american, european, hypocrisy, innocence, miller
An examination of forcible rape and its effects, focusing on whether the rapist knows the victim or not (stranger, acquaintance, spouse), it tests hypotheses on use of weapon and reporting of crime, legal definition and changing laws and rape myths.
3,600 words (approx. 14.4 pages), 13 sources, 2000, $ 127.95
From the Paper "Offender-Victim Relationships in Rape
Abstract
This research examined the crime of forcible rape of women in the United States. The primary focus of this examination is the victim-offender relationship. Three hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis held that a woman is more likely to be raped by a close friend or family member than by a stranger. The second hypothesis held that most rapes will be committed without the use of a weapon. The third hypothesis held that a woman will be least likely to make a formal report of a rape when the person committing the rape is a close personal friend or family member. Each of the hypotheses was supported.
The conclusion drawn from the findings of this research is that males in..."
Tags: CRIMINAL JUSTICE: GENERAL, PSYCHOLOGY: GENERAL, LAW: GENERAL
A look at the legal and moral definitions of acquaintance rape including social myths and stereotypes, incidence, the typical rapist and victim, victim's reactions and the need for social and legal action. Outline.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 6 sources, 1991, $ 79.95
From the Paper "Date rape can generally be defined as occurring whenever a man forces his date to have sex with him against her will. Some people expand this definition to include forced sex by any acquaintance, whether it be in the context of a date or not. Despite these simple definitions, however, there is a great deal of controversy over the precise legal and moral implications of date rape or acquaintance rape. The legal definition for date rape is extremely limited and it tends to place the burden of proof on the victim. A date rape victim will have a difficult time in court if the defense attorney can show a lack of evidence or can imply that the woman is loose or immoral in any way. Thus, in prosecuting a date rape case, it helps if the victim has visible bruises and is a "woman of shining character," because otherwise "the strict constructionist definitions of rape will..."
Abstract This paper examines the novel "The Ravishing of Lol Stein" by Marguerite Duras and attempts to determine the turning points in the life of the protagonist, Lol Stein. It discusses how Lol is a character dispossessed of herself when she sees how the person she loves is falling in love with another woman which means that she, the main character, is suddenly is pushed into the background. It shows how the rest of her life is spent seeking the rush of achieving the status she lost and how her personality does not allow anyone beyond her zone of comfort. It discusses how the narrative is unique because of Lol's life, which is really a struggle against herself is told by Jacques one of her acquaintances and it can be construed as his story and not Lol's.
From the Paper "From the time of the ball to her marriage of Bedford and ten years in Uxbridge during which she had three children, an outsider looking in would see the neat and orderly home, the well-cared for husband and children would ascertain that everything was alright with Lol?in essence, the perfect housewife and mother who is happy in this role. The story, however, obviously embellished by Jacques, indicates that Lol's psychological profile is that of a loner who is deeply disturbed. She has always very effectively shut off everybody from her life. There is no emotional relationship with John (who married her under selfish circumstances) or the children."
