Abstract This paper discusses how there have been thousands of excellent book, journal and article sources that have examined and analyzed the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, for this was a profoundly important period in human history and has been the subject of extended study by scholars and historians for more than two-thousand years. This paper researches three especially impressive sources because they are considered by most historians and biblical scholars to be among the most definitive, illuminating, and comprehensive accounts of Jerusalem's fall and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people to Babylon.
Abstract In this paper, the author examines the use of symbolism in "The Fall of the House of Usher" and the themes that run throughout the story. The paper takes a look at the the duality of the house which comes to represent family and home.
From the Paper "The genre of Romanticism is essential to cultural and literary history; its popularity can be attributed to humanity's fascination with the dark and unknown and also its profound interest in the pain and downfall of others. Edgar Allan Poe was instrumental in establishing the foundation of Romanticism that is best known today; his works concern themselves primarily with the occult and the enigmas prevalent within the human psyche. His story "The Fall of the House of Usher" details the psychological and physical demise of the family Usher; Poe translates atmosphere and setting into the characters in the story, and also transfers human qualities into the actual house, which comes to function as a symbol of the Usher family. The title of the story also represents a duality; ultimately, the house is physically destroyed, as is the family. The house of Usher is clearly the personification of the Usher family; the house symbolizes the Usher family's decline into madness and the eventual demise of the family."
Abstract Based on the work of two eminent historians, this essay clearly defines the multiple causes for the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD.
From the Paper "Many scholars disagree on the exact length of this historical event, but Grant believes that A.D. 365 is when the downward process began. Until that date, he writes, Rome was still seemingly invincible and immensely powerful, having put the turmoil of the third century behind it. Grant concludes that the ultimate blame for the fall rests with the Romans themselves, not with the barbarians who surrounded the Empire. He identifies internal economic, religious, institutional, ideological, and military forces that weakened Roman society. These forces, or more precisely, the conflicts between the groups representative of each force, led to thirteen defects that displayed one unifying thread: disunity. Grant places no formal weighting on individual causes; he recognizes that multiple causes provide the best explanation for historical events. According to Grant, these thirteen defects tore the Romans apart and limited their capacity to meet external aggression. These flaws within Roman society finally became so irreconcilably violent that the entire foundation of Roman society was shaken. In the end, resistance to external threats was virtually impossible, and the damage proved fatal. Rome fell, not by attack from the outside, but from appalling internal splits within the Empire."
This is no ordinary book review. It is a very detailed and very comprehensive review of two Books, "A Man of the People" and "Things Fall Apart", by Chinua Achebe with application to the Caribbean's social and political characteristics, as well as Nigeria
Abstract This paper reviews two of the the works of Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe: "A Man of the People" and "Things Fall Apart". The review speaks in detail about the symbolic language used and what it all means for politics in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Political culture and behavior as well as the emotions brought out in the political aspects of life are analyzed in an applicable and comprehensive way allows one to understand exactly what the two books are essentially about. There are also predictions about how the books can be used to analyze contemporary Nigerian and Anglo-Caribbean societies and their socio-political culture and attitudes to politics. Other authors are also explored as to how they compare with Achebe's two books.
From the Paper "The Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe has no doubt written two illustrious books, being Things Fall Apart and A Man of The People, that not only give memorable, accurate and useful accounts of socio-political relations in Nigeria, but also accounts which are widely applicable to other societies. In the Caribbean for example, both books may be analysed in terms of gaining a greater and more sophisticated appreciation of power and authority relations, leadership qualities and personality traits, as well as the consequent impacts of such phenomena on systems governance. For purposes of the ensuing review of both novels, those sections of the book that reflect the political realities within these latter contexts, that are more often than not accompanied by or intertwined with socio-cultural and socio-historical conditions or circumstances will be particularly emphasized when examining the Anglophone Caribbean. In this respect therefore, the nature of certain aspects of political culture will be analysed in so far as the novels help to supply some fundamental insights and possible explanations of similar experiences distilled about Nigeria, by Achebe, as compared with the realities that are faced, especially within parts of the Anglophone Caribbean where special politico-cultural practices seem deeply ingrained. Things Fall Apart will first be examined and A Man of the People, second."
Abstract This paper outlines and analyzes the relationships of the characters in the movie, "Legends of the Fall". The writer shows how each individual character is connected to all the others and the changing of those relationship throughout the film. The relationships covered in this heavy drama include man and woman, man and brother, father and son, and more.
From the Paper "Set in the Rocky Mountains of Montana in the early 1900s, The Legends of the Fall is a tale of love, betrayal, and brotherhood. After being discharged, Colonel Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins) decides to raise his three sons in the wilds of Montana, where they can grow up away from the government and society he has learned to despise. There are several different relationships in the film and are each developed as the story progresses. I intend to separate them into several chronological groups, the first being the relationship of the boys growing up and their family life."
Abstract This paper discusses some of the important themes from Chinua Achebe's novel, "Things Fall Apart". It examines language as a theme on several levels and the complexity of the Igbo language. It also looks at the importance of not viewing Africa as one single culture as well as the theme of the struggle between masculinity and femininity.
From the Paper "A couple of important issues arise in the reading of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. The first is the question of language as an important signifier of cultural differences. Language is an important theme in Things Fall Apart ..."
Abstract This paper discusses the use and effect of the Nigerian setting in Chinua Achebe's novel, "Things Fall Apart." The paper also examines Achebe's decision to write the novel in English for Western audiences.
From the Paper "Setting of Achebe's "Things Fall Apart." In "Things Fall Apart" Chinua Achebe introduces his audience to a world completely different from the one in which they live. He writes the novel in English instead of his native Nigerian, thus it is apparent that he means this work to be witnessed by Western cultures rather than those whom he writes about."
Tags: chinua achebe, things fall apart, colonialism, setting
Abstract The paper provides a discussion of the use and effect of characterization in Chinua Achebe's novel, "Things Fall Apart." The paper explains how the author creates round and dynamic characters to support his themes.
From the Paper "In "Things Fall Apart" Chinua Achebe creates round dynamic characters in order to support the major themes and philosophical goals of the novel. Even though the characters exist in a world far removed from Achebe's intended audience, he has created them such that any audience can read the characters, understand their motivations and ultimately relate to them. This works especially well with the major characters that drive the story as they seem real to us and make real human mistakes."
Tags: chinua achebe, things fall apart, characters
Abstract This paper offers an analysis of Diane Ackerman's essay "Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall." The paper explains how Ackerman achieves a balance between scientific mechanism and poetic observation.
From the Paper "In her essay "Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall" Diane Ackerman maintains an interesting balance between purely scientific writing and more poetic spiritual observations of the natural world. It is truly a fascinating dynamic at work, as Ackerman is able to effectively explain the scientific mechanism behind the changing of the leaves while at the same time offer a thoughtful perspective on how this change mimics human nature and the lives of humans themselves."
Tags:fall, leaves, color, ackerman, scientific, life, metaphor, poetic, language
Abstract This six-page undergraduate paper is a comparison and contrast of the accounts of the fall of the Bastille by Taine and Michelet. One paragraph is a discussion of Godechot since he has the best account of the three.
Abstract On July 14th 1789, Parisian crowds initiated a new chapter in French history, when they successfully stormed the historic Bastille. France had been governed by a monarchy for centuries - what could have provoked such anger and courage? Was this just a mob of low-class people running amuck? This paper uses historical evidence to show that these were ordinary Parisians, many of them women, who were provoked by unbearable conditions into taking action to try and improve their lot.
From the Paper "The storming of the Bastille was an important and dramatic event in the unfolding of the French Revolution in the late 18th century. Because of this, it has attracted a lot of interest from historians and government officials. For centuries, these interested parties have believed that the people who stormed the Bastille were merely low criminals, not ordinary, respectable Parisian men and women, such as women who were wives and mothers, and also the primary marketers for their families. For example, records compiled in the 18th century by French police refer to the revolutionary crowds as "the scum of the people." "
Abstract The dissertation looks at the history of communism in Poland and its fall. The dissertation then looks at the economy of Poland, the main natural resources, the economy under Communism, the centrally planned economy, and the economy after the fall of Communism. The dissertation then moves on to looking at the processes of marketization and stabilization in Poland and the macroeconomic indicators for the crucial 1990-1991 period. The privatization process in Poland follows, and the subsequent structure of the economy is analyzed. The main markets supporting the economy, i.e., fuels and energy, industry, agriculture, fishing and forestry, banking and finance, and foreign trade are examined. Once the economic history of Poland has been discussed and analyzed, the dissertation then moves to looking at how Polish companies have reacted to ethical issues and changes in business standards since the fall of communism in 1989. This takes the form of looking, principally, at what constitutes ethical business in Poland, how ethical business is regulated and monitored in Poland, how changes have been made so far in business ethics in Poland since the fall of Communism, and how these changes relate to changes over the same period at an international level. A discussion of the merits of entering into the EU, in terms of business ethics, is also provided.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Poland's Economy Pre-Communism's Fall Section 1.1. Poland's Natural Resources
Section 1.1.1. Minerals and Fuels
Section 1.1.2. Agricultural Resources
Section 1.1.3. Labor Force
Section 1.2. The Polish Economy Under Communism
Section 1.2.1. System Structure
Section 1.2.2. Development Strategy
Section 1.3. The Centrally-Planned Economy
Section 1.3.1. Establishing the Planning Formula
Section 1.3.2. Retrenchment and Adjustment in the 1960s
Section 1.3.3. Reliance on Technology in the 1970s
Section 1.3.4. Reform Failure in the 1980s
Chapter 2: Poland's Economy After the Fall of Communism
Section 2.1. Poland After the Fall of Communism
Section 2.2. Fall of Communism
Section 2.3. Marketization and Stabilization
Section 2.3.1. Required Short-Term Changes
Section 2.3.2. The Shock Strategy
Section 2.3.3. Initial Results
Section 2.3.4. Long-Term Requirements
Section 2.4. Macroeconomic Indicators for 1990-91
Section 2.4.1. Price Increases
Section 2.4.2. Impact on Productivity and Wages
Section 2.4.3. Statistical Distortions
Section 2.4.4. Agricultural Imbalances
Section 2.4.5. Causes of Decline
Section 2.5.The Polish Post-Communism Privatization Process
Section 2.6. Structure of Poland's Economy: Post-Communism
Section 2.6.1. Fuels and Energy
Section 2.6.2. Coal
Section 2.6.3. Oil and Gas
Section 2.6.4. Power Generation
Section 2.6.5. Industry
Section 2.6.6. Light Industry
Section 2.6.7. Automotive Industry
Section 2.6.8. Construction Machinery
Section 2.6.9. Banking and Finance
Section 2.7. The State Banking System
Section 2.8. Banking Reform, 1990-92
Section 2.8.1. Insurance and Securities Reform
Section 2.8.2. New Financial Institutions
Section 2.8.3. Foreign Loans and Money Supply
Section 2.8.4. Foreign Trade
Section 2.8.5. The Foreign Trade Mechanism
Section 2.9. Post-communist Policy Adjustments
Section 2.10. The Role of Currency Exchange
Section 2.11. Foreign Investment
Chapter 3: Business Ethics in Poland
Section 3.1. Introduction
Section 3.2. What is Meant (and Understood) by the Term "Business Ethics" in Poland?
Section 3.3. Developing Standards of Business Ethics in Poland
Section 3.3.1. The Polish Transition
Section 3.3.2. Difficulties in Adjusting
Section 3.3.3. Identifying the Problem: Polish Chamber Survey Results
Section 3.3.4. Setting Ethical Standards
Section 3.3.5. Letting Market Forces Work
Section 3.3.6. The Highlights from the Polish Chamber's Sample Code of Ethics
Section 3.3.7. Western Aid In Fighting Corruption
Chapter 4: Conclusions
Bibliography
From the Paper "Poland's climate features moderate temperatures and adequate rainfall that enable cultivation of most temperate-zone crops, including all the major grains, several industrial crops, and several varieties of fruit (www.countrystudies.us/poland.htm). Crops are distributed according to the substantial regional variations in soil and length of growing season (www.countrystudies.us/poland.htm). The sandy soils of the central plains are most suitable for rye, the richer soil in the south favors wheat and barley, and the poorer soil of the north is used for oats (www.countrystudies.us/poland.htm). All parts of Poland favor potato cultivation; sugar beets, the most important industrial crop, grow mainly in the west and southeast (www.countrystudies.us/poland.htm)."
Abstract This paper compares the secular fall in the short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe and the divine fall within the epic theological poem "Paradise Lost" by John Milton. The paper reports that the theme of falling from grace is common to both, but in the first it is a secular fall whereas in the second it is a divine, spiritual fall.
From the Paper "However, Poe, while rendering the Biblical figures into a mortal, temporal context, seems to suggest that there is an inherently fallen quality that is irredeemable in some person's souls, like Roderick and Fanny Usher. "Poe mocks the transcendental beliefs, by allowing the characters Roderick Usher, Madeline Usher, the house and the atmosphere to travel in a downward motion into decay and death, rather than the upward transcendence into life and rebirth that the transcendentalists depict. The transcendence of the mind begins with Roderick Usher and is reflected in the characters and environment around him." (Nadeau, 2000) Thus view of the Ushers may be overly harsh--Poe's tone is often not mocking, but elegiac, sympathizing with the downward sinking of the home, and his inversion of the Adam and Eve creation myth, whereby the Usher's failure to procreate and look beyond their union results in the death of their home and line, is not necessarily paraodic, but a warning against self-absorption and narcissism. The fact that tragedy of fallen nature of the Ushers, and the darkness of the house also do not present a perfect parallel either with Milton's Adam and Eve or with the transcendentalist's sunny view of the soul aspiring upwards suggests that the Usher's narcissism deliberately recalls another Miltonic figure, one of arrogance rather than temptation. "
Tags: transcendence, usher, satan, eve, apple, adam
Abstract This paper briefly details the geomorphology of Hog's Back Falls. To begin with, the paper looks at the modern incarnation of the falls as most local citizens understand it. Going further, the paper subsequently looks at the prehistoric development of the falls' site and the odd creatures that made the location their home eons ago. The stratigraphy of the region is then explored and the paper concludes by pointing out how the features of the Hog's Back Falls site cannot be fully understood until it is placed within a broader geographical matrix that includes a large portion of eastern Ontario. In closing, the Hog's Back Falls is a good example of how the changes wrought by mankind often pale beside the changes wrought by nature.
From the Paper "In the crucial decades preceding this nation's official founding in 1867, the focus of attention was upon facilitating the commercial and mercantile growth of Upper Canada as much as possible. With this as the driving imperative, canal construction came to be seen as an excellent means of upgrading the province's infrastructure. Lt. Colonel John By took the lead in crafting the new artificial water-way system and the end result was not only a new canal, but also a new dam and a massive waste water weir capable of controlling the excess water of the Rideau River during its most swollen times in the spring ("Hog's Back Falls," para.1-4). Suffice it to say, this is what ordinary citizens of Ottawa think of when asked to describe the Hog's Back Falls."
