Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of an after-dinner speech by Julie Daggett entitled "The Horror of It All." The speech is analyzed according to Stephen Lucas' expectations of a good "After-Dinner Speech" in "The Art of Public Speaking".

From the Paper
"Julie Daggett's after-dinner speech "The Horror of It All" provides an account of her increasing fear of numerous everyday activities because of the impact of viewing horror films. From going into the basement at night, to being in a parked car alone, Daggett admits she is a hard-core chicken when it comes to the effect of horror movies on her emotions and behaviors. Daggett ultimately is able to overcome her fears and lead a normal life but she keeps a tongue-in-cheek attitude about..."

Tags:behavior, emotion, humor, argumentation, entertainment, theme, growing up, family, movies

Abstract
This paper reviews the life of Judy Chicago, born Judy Cohen in Chicago in 1939, and gained fame through her art, her writing, and her feminist activities. Her most famous piece of art is The Dinner Party, created in 1974 to 1979. (Lucie-Smith) According to the paper, it was created with the help of hundreds of volunteers. It is a most unusual work, comprising of a large triangular table, with ceramic plates representing thirty-nine feminist guests of honour. This paper discusses this piece arguing that - like most of Chicago's art - it weds Chicago's two greatest passions: art and feminism.

Tags:judy, chicago, art

Abstract
This paper examines the primarily dialogue-driven style of writing that Irish novelist and dramatist, Roddy Doyle uses in the short story "The Dinner". The paper explains that Doyle chooses to create and develop his characters, contrasting some (like Larry and Ben) and assimilating others (like Stephanie and her sisters) primarily through dialogue rather than through narration, description, action, or conflict. The paper points out that by giving some of them distinct voices and giving others similar voices, Doyle effectively and humorously emphasizes and aggravates the primary conflict at hand, and clearly expresses his theme, or thesis, about racial prejudice in a way that is resonant and memorable.

From the Paper
"While Larry displays his ignorance through dialogue with questions such as "What d'yis eat over in Nigeria, Ben?" (308), Ben is given a way of speaking that shows him to be diplomatic: "I have become used to these insults" (308). Moreover, Larry's constant use of contractions and slang also gives him an air of unsophistication: "D'yeh have spuds like them in Nigeria?" (308). Larry is also prone to swearing: "Get up yeh gobshite" (308). Contrastingly, Doyle carefully avoids using contractions, vulgarity or any form of slang when crafting Ben's dialogue. Rather, he chooses to give him a very formal tone: "I will not listen to this profanity. I find it most offensive" (309)."

Tags:slang, tone, profanity, offensive, development

Abstract
This paper takes a look at Anne Tyler's 1982 play, "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant", with particular focus on the growing pains of the character Cody. The paper discusses Cody's relationship with his mother and recently deceased father. It also examines the theme of pain and growth in relation to the other characters in the play. In the final analysis, the paper holds that only Cody appears to eventually find the peace of mind and personal growth he needs.

From the Paper
"Suffice it to say, Pearl's problem is that her introspection does not give way to a mind-set that allows her to "open up" before her children. Specifically, she not only fails to tell the children what has happened to their father, but she fails to come to terms with what has happened to her, not even giving into her emotions when she has a few minutes alone (Tyler, 18). As one might expect, the pressure of keeping everything inside frequently becomes so great that she explodes in bursts of anger, especially when the children present her with accidents or when they do something to irk one another and then noisily ask for their mother's intercession (Tyler, 19). To this psychologically damaging outlook must be added the fact Pearl is usually over-burdened with work (Tyler, 25). She is forced to shoulder the responsibilities of both a father and a mother. In the end, it is hardly revelatory that she is a mostly withdrawn woman."

Tags:coming, of, age, maturity, family, relationship

Abstract
This paper plans an imaginary dinner with Jeopardy mega winner, Ken Jennings, Vanna White from "Wheel of Fortune", Elizabeth Kinney who was Miss Oklahoma in 2005, and Dee Henderson who wrote the O'Malley series of fictional romance and mystery.

From the Paper
"All four of these quests have one thing in common and that is their ability to make their dreams come true. Planning dinner for Elizabeth Kinney, Ken Jennings, Vanna White, and Dee Henderson is quite a challenge, but it can be lots of fun. Why invite these four quests? They inspire and challenge a person to dream and make their dreams come true. Imagine winning over $2 million dollars on Jeopardy. Ken Jennings has to be intelligent. Think about all the different questions that was asked and how many right answers he had to give. "

Tags:dreams, creative, writing

Abstract
This paper provides a fairly critical review of Margaret Visser's "Much Depends on Dinner". The writer notes that this is a popular volume that discusses ingredients of a typical meal in North America, according to the origins of food stuffs and ephemera. The writer further points out that the concept of this volume is most interesting for a general readership, but that students will gain more from recent anthropology looking at food and technology in relation to cultures and cultural change.

From the Paper
"Margaret Visser's volume is written in an entertaining, anecdotal way. She accounts for ways in which particular foods enter the diets of sometimes diverse peoples and, in turn, become usual fare for consumption, and some of them, as global phenomena, all their own. Visser has obviously done a great deal of research, determined to find the origins, often more than one, of foods that are familiar to us, their particular merits, or what they may signify about the societies that used them earliest, or that use them most, towards some interesting reading."

Tags:visser, food, history

Abstract
This paper looks at the film production of the play "Dinner with Friends" and discusses the concept of friendship within the marital arena. Also looking at the relationships between the characters and how they relate to each other within the idea of divorce and their own feelings when this dark cloud looms.

Abstract
Pearl appears in many parts of "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant" as a typical older person, anxious, denying the loss of faculties, re-examining the past, assessing her children, and so on. This paper examines to what degree they were always part of Pearl's make-up, already evident in earlier periods of her life, in her youth, or single-motherhood stages. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.

From the Paper
"The debate over nature versus nurture has raged for many years, with the "nature" crowd arguing that people are born ready-made and the "nurture" advocates suggesting that people learn to become what they are. This debate is particularly appropriate in determining whether Pearl Tull had always been born the way she was, fully possessed of the qualities and traits that would later define her life. This analysis is assisted since the story is presented from a retrospective point of view from the outset, supplemented by insightful reflections and poignant vignettes from Pearl's past to reinforce her regrets."

Tags:pearl, tull, nature, nurture

Abstract
This paper describes and analyzes the character of Pearl Tull, the main character in Anne Tyler's novel, "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant". It looks at Tyler's depiction of Pearl Tull as a blind, spiteful and overbearing mother and the devastating effects these qualities have on her family.

From the Paper
"Like most novels, Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant 's characters are fully developed. Each has a distinct personality portrayed through the novel's plot. In Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Anne Tyler depicts Pearl Tull as a blind, spiteful, overbearing and miserable character who has low self esteem and is self centered."

Tags:children, single, mother, contact, society, cody, jen, interact, ezra

Abstract
This paper is a brief review of Anne Tyler's "Dinner at Homesick Restaurant". The paper explores the symbolism of Tyler's chapter titles and suggests that these titles are metaphors for the dislocation, alienation and disconnection that run rampant through the text. The paper also reveals that a major part of life is overcoming the anger and resentment of youth.

From the Paper
"Anne Tyler's Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant is a very moving story about a family coming together after too many years apart. It is also a story rife with symbolism. This paper will examine Tyler's text by looking at the meanings behind each of the text's ten chapter titles. As will soon become apparent, this is a book and a family story that operates on many different levels. To begin with, Chapter One is entitled, "Something you Should Know". What we know from this opening chapter is that Pearl Tull always wanted extra children; we also know that there is something hidden about her husband, Beck Tull (Tyler 8-9)."

Tags:tyler, family, symbolism