Who does Bennett present as a better teacher Hector or Irwin Essay Example

Who does Bennett present as a better teacher: Hector or Irwin? Essay In your response ensure that you: Use quotation and close analysis of dramatic technique to support your ideas. Show some awareness of biographical, cultural or historical context. The initial presentation of Irwin is clearly negative. In the opening scene of the play Bennett presents to us a clever but cynical historian, advising MPs how to sell a nasty bill that would restrict trial by jury. Utilising his experience as a TV historian, recommending an amused tolerance when faced with cameras. We learn further on in the play that Irwin was a school teacher, employed to aid students with their entrance exams to Oxbridge, and throughout the play Bennett conveys Irwin as a liar, maybe slightly manipulative, and questionable sexuality. Throughout the play, some of Irwins speech is comparable to the likes of certain revisionist TV historians, such as Andrew Roberts as the nineteen-eighties was the birth of TV historians: We will write a custom essay sample on Who does Bennett present as a better teacher: Hector or Irwin? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Who does Bennett present as a better teacher: Hector or Irwin? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Who does Bennett present as a better teacher: Hector or Irwin? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Life only comes alive when contemplating its toilet arrangements. This statement made by Irwin when he is recording his TV show. One could argue that revisionist historians should not be allowed to corrupt the mind of young children because they are assuming that history as it has been traditionally told may not be entirely accurate. During the introduction of the play Bennett states that the play is about two sorts of teaching-or two teachers anyway (characters always more important than themes). Evidently Irwin is one teacher and Hector is the other. Irwin is younger more energetic, possibly less wise, faulting the students (and their work) for being non-excitable and dull. He appears to be modern, or have modernistic ideas on how to produce work. Hector is an older, wiser man, encouraging the boys to think from the heart and quoting them aphoristic snippets of Auden or Hardy. Bennett states that there [is] a journalistic side to answering an examination question; that going for the wrong end of the stick [is] more attention-grabbing than a less conventional approach, however balanced. He tells us how this aspect of exam technique was neglected from his childhood by various teachers, due to sheer snobbery or the notion (here ascribed to Hector) that all such considerations were practically indecent. This sheer snobbery could refer to the current government in power, Thatchers Conservative Party. Primarily Bennett is referring to the work of revisionist historians, maybe conveying the style of media as manipulative but nevertheless an effective teaching method. Here Irwin is clearly perceived as a desired teacher by Bennett: A question is about what you know, not about what you dont know. A question about Rembrandt, for instance may prompt an answer about Francis Bacon. Here Bennett presents Irwin as a teacher he would have liked to have when he was growing up. Contrasting this are the connotations to Hector, showing his as being above this type of teaching. Further on Bennett discusses how once he had the fundamental basics of turning a question on its head technique he started enjoying writing even though he knew that it was [his] only hope. Bennett discusses various books he studied The uses of Literacy specifically Education and the working class. The book studies sixth form boys who had made it to university but had not done well there, the conclusion being that the effort of getting to university often took so much out of working class boys that once there they were exhausted. This relates to Posners story: All the effort went into getting there and then I had nothing left. I thought Id got somewhere, then I found I had to go on. Here, effectively we learn that Irwin overworked Posner. He tried to teach him so much, tried to change him and affect his life. Due to this Posner thought Irwin was preparing him for real life but when he finally reached Oxford it was just the same; teachers; exams etc. This effectively conveys Irwin as a teacher whose interests have been focused on only getting through exams. This could be perceived as a positive attribute; however it lacks the development of the boys social skills. Schools can be defined as educational institutions, but it could be argued that they are also used to allow pupils to gain sufficient knowledge (non-academic) to successfully integrate into society, when they grow up. Another fundamental idea is what other people say about Irwin and Hector. The headmaster describes Hectors results as unpredictable and unquantifiable. This directly notates to his teaching techniques not being effective. Although the headmaster is possibly correct about Hector in the sense of exams, he could be slightly naive as Hector contributes to the boys learning in other ways. For example, Hector has given the boys part of his personality. On numerous occasions the boys behave like Hector, and have the same tone as him. The headmasters only real focus is results. The headmaster talks to Irwin frankly explaining how he doesnt want him to fuck up. He does not talk about Irwin behind his back, this could be because he is a new addition to the school or because he feels no need to try and find out information about Irwin because he feels that Irwin is doing a good job. The play is set in the eighties, the land of the league tables, where good grades seemed to be the only thing wor th living for. As I have previously mentioned, Irwin begins the play conversing with MPs. In his speech Thatcher is perceived as anti-working class, anti-society and obsessed with money. In some ways the headmaster is similar to this. Mrs Lintotts role is interesting. Her first view of Irwin is a clever man; this soon develops when she discusses him with Rudge and questions whether she missed something. During the play she has a chance to look at both male teachers closely, and decide who the better teacher is. After she finds out about Hectors early retirement, brought about subsequently by his paedophilic habits with the boys, she refers to the headmaster as a twat and then a condescending cunt. She then goes on to explain how Hector could be compared to a myth at a previous post: Droves of the half-educated left school with the notion that art or some form or self-realisation was a viable option. She is perhaps describing Hector as a not very bright man because he does not realise the boys intellectual talent. He encourages them to learn quotes by heart which is perhaps a waste of their ability. This portrays him as a teacher who does not know his pupils as well as he should because he does not realise that the boys are far from needing self-realisation as an alternative option. The boys view on both teachers is important. The fact that the boys do not report Hector to the headmaster or their parents shows that they must like him. The fact that Hector has been at the school for longer than Irwin gives him the advantage of knowing the boys far better than Irwin. During his lessons the boys are talkative and constantly going off topic. Amos Bronson Alcott once stated: The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-distrust. He guides his eyes to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciple. The boys can be seen as Hectors disciples because they behave like him, and quote his gobbets. Hector has not really inspired the boys; he has encouraged them to be like him. Inspiring is urging on or filling with revolutionary ideas. This is where Irwin succeeds Hector; he tries to teach them how to take an idea and turn it on its head, how to be more unique rather than just stating the facts. Put simply Hector encourages the boys to copy him; Irwin encourages the boys to think for themselves and be original. To conclude I think Irwin is the better teacher. This is my opinion for numerous reasons. Firstly he is the most inspirational teacher out of the two. Dakin states that hes never wanted to please anybody the way [he does] Irwin. The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. This quote by William Arthur Ward describes Irwin perfectly in my opinion. Secondly Irwin teaches, he does not use the boys for any other purpose, even if he is homosexual he does not act out his desires with the boys, which shows a greater level of respect and decent behaviour to the boys. Finally even though it could be said that he was a liar, maybe even a cheat, he does manage to get all the boys to Oxbridge, proving that he is a good teacher and he gets results. I think part of his success of his views on exams. Hector feels they are the enemy of education, although Irwin sympathises with this opinion he accepts that they are a part of life and adapts to them.

Silence of the Lambs Climatic Chase Sequence Essays

Silence of the Lambs Climatic Chase Sequence Essays Silence of the Lambs Climatic Chase Sequence Essay Silence of the Lambs Climatic Chase Sequence Essay Story and production elements keep the audience on the edge of their seats during the climatic chase sequence of Silence of the Lambs (SOTL) which sees CS discover BB’s identity and pursue him into his underground lair. Inside JG house CS comes to the realisation that she is in the presence of the serial killer, BB, when the Death’s-head moth lands on the cotton reel. A CU reaction shot of CS expression shows the audience the moment of realisation. BB’s underground lair is a labyrinth of dishevelled rooms each realising something more about his psychosis. The first room that CS enters reveals the dressing room. Situated in the middle of the room under a spot light, reveals the ‘human suit’. Initially CS is shocked to see the subject, first hand, before quickly realising BB is still on the loose. As CS continues to track BB down through the lair, she is on a downward path to find BB. The lighting symbolically gets darker giving each room a particular feel of inhumanity and insanity. The pit in which houses Catherine down a well is singly lit above, creating dramatic shadows, as seen under the eyes of Catherine, the exaggerated effects expresses to audiences how long she has been stuck there for and how mistreated she has been. The medical room shows the extent to which he treats his victims with the green UV lighting highlights how he cuts up the victims limbs and stores them in the tank, after chopping them into pieces on the medical table under the blue light. CS then enters the bedroom in which BB turns of the light and follows her in the dark. Each time CS bursts through the door the camerawork formula shows an objective view from CS, the camera then is on the other side waiting, giving the impression BB is on the other side of the door allowing audiences to see CS’s expression and reaction. When the door opens, CS is holding the gun toward the camera (audiences), building up the suspense and making the audience feel very uncomfortable as if could represent BB point of view (POV)to find that that BB is not in the room. Another component that contributes to building up the suspense is the diegetic sounds. The heavy breathing that we can hear from CS allows us to feel her fear. The humming that comes from the air conditioning, gives an eerie feel, and solidifies that she is in an underground lair with an industrial feel. As the doors are slammed open in the silence, it makes audiences feel as though she is getting closer to BB, where she begins to hear the voice of Catherine, getting louder and louder as she enters ea ch room. These diegetic sounds create a layered, noisy landscape which adds to the audience’s tension. When BB cuts the power and the lights go out CS is observed through BB’s night vision goggles. He takes time to covet her as she struggles in the dark. The camera work switches between objective and subjective. The last thing CS sees is Mrs Littman in the bath. As BB gets slowly closer to BB, an objective view is given as you see more closely, her expressions and fear as she tramples through the darkness. Diegetic sounds are sometimes heightened (volume) then fall away, as each room is entered, its own diegetic sounds are revealed and initially intensified to build suspense. The closer he gets to CS, the louder the score is, highlighting the danger she is in as he is watching her every move. The camera work conveys the major theme of voyeurism and reminds the audience of BB’s desire for transformation. Sound elements aid in the camerawork in drawing out the scene into real time. As BB moves toward CS, the string instruments crescendo, as though CS is pulling the increase in loudness with BB getting closer to her, ultimately reinforcing the dangerous situation and she is virtually doomed. The gunshot exchange between CS and BB is the climatic point of the film. This exchange is very quick in terms of screen time; but packs a punch as it takes place momentarily in pitch black with gunshot flashes illuminating the screen. Once the window is shot out daylight streams into the basement revealing BB dying in the foreground while CS reloads her gun. It is only at this point that the audience can breathe a sigh of relief. The camera work during the gunshot exchange is a shot-reverse-shot as CS turns around in slow motion, in BB’s point of view and then turns to CS point of view as she shoots BB repeatedly, breaking a window and revealing daylight into the room, and allowing audiences to see BB fall to his death. Immediately after the climax the camera travels forward over BB’s face, then moves to the right to frame the Bill Skins Fifth newspaper headline on the wall and finally moves left across the room to rest under the butterfly mobile. This continuously camera sequence efficiently brings the main storyline to a close; BB is dead, he did not get to kill victim No. 6 and he did not complete his female suit transformation. Exterior shots of Catherine walking from the house holding Precious and CS under the arm of CR add to the resolution of the main storyline and also one lamb is saved, a character issue that CS suffers from. As CS is being comforted by CR this shows that she now has a father figure and a role model to look up to, something she hasn’t had in a very long time. CS also finds triumph in a man world as she finds success in solving the case and becoming an FBI agent. It also gives the audience time to think about the closing (denouement). CR congratulates CS and says â€Å"Your father would have been proud today†. HL calls CS to make her aware that he is still on the loose, however, he intends to not see CS again â€Å"I have no plans to call on you, the world’s more interesting with you in it† as he trusts her to not come hunting for him, â€Å"You know I can’t make that promise†, foreshadowing the next instalment and makes audiences believe that there could be a possible interaction between both characters in the following movie. He asks an important question; â€Å"Well Clarice, have the lambs stopped screaming?† the audience is left to ponder this question as a conclusive ‘yes’ cannot be confirmed. The film ends with a continuous crane shot of HL walking from out of the darkness into overcast and naturalistic lighting from the weather, into a crowd (Bahamas) in pursuit of Dr Chilton and revenge; â€Å"I’m having an old friend for dinner†. This crane shot effectively reminds the audience of HL’s freedom and draws their attention to the central character of the next instalment of the Thomas Harris trilogy; Hannibal.

Global Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words - 1

Global Marketing - Essay Example The brand awareness and the brand recollection for Dyson have been very high both in UK and Japan alike, and growing to a great extent in US as well. The company was started with an intension to find a solution for the issues faced by the owners of vacuum cleaners. Over the past 12 years the company has grown to become the world leader in innovative vacuum cleaners and the company believes the products to be ‘beautiful products that work in every case’. The company takes pride in what it does and the products that they produce. Each product of the company is innovative and has created a mark in the countries across the world. It is however essential to also explore other markets that the company can increase their marketing resources into. This is mainly to assist the company expand the business and to develop an equally good position in other markets as well. The company can concentrate on the South East Asian countries and work towards improving the marketing resources here in these countries. There are several reasons for this choice. However before entering into this it is essential to get a brief overview of an essential element that requires to be considered before taking any steps of marketing improvements. With the growing change of economies and the various technological developments, there has also been a clear change which has been required from the companies as well. The needs of humans change over time and taking the example of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, it is clear that there is a strong connection between the economic growth and the personal choice in the current economy. In the r ecent ages, with the use of the World Wide Web and the internet, there have been a few changes in terms of the desire for knowledge, which were earlier satisfied by the information economy which provided for answers to the cognitive

Community culture and change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Community culture and change - Essay Example It bothers much on the issue of the ethnical minority whereas Britain believes in enrichment of lives through cosmopolitan outlook of human existence via eco-social aspect of its perception. Behind the principle of social theories that every good society is ever changing, there erects the monument of the cross-question what about the recognition of the ethnical identity of the mainstream Britain. The opportunity of racial acceptance, religious tolerance, political understanding and economic support led Britain to face this serious question withering the belief that society that does not change gets extinction. Initiated and influenced by British initiative in the post and prior industrial revolution European White settlers almost colonized the one third of the world. The Second World War brought a drastic change in the imperialistic set up and colonial power had to honor the democratic rights of each commonwealth nations. This followed a great influx of immigrants in Britain in the p rocess of idealizing a multicultural British society. Still the question poses the righteousness of such historic liberality.The latest official figures surveyed in 2006 show net immigration to the UK of 591,000 immigrants and 400,000 emigrants Stephens, J. 2006 "Multiculturalism". Only one in six were from Eastern European countries. Immigrants from New Commonwealth countries outnumbered them. Immigration from the Indian subcontinent, mainly fuelled by family reunion, accounted for two-thirds of net immigration. By contrast, at least 5.5 million British-born people are living abroad. The threats born out of liberal public policies in Great Britain demand minute scrutiny over the facts of composite culture. No civilized man would appreciate the historic 7 July whatever be the ground of identity crisis if even one side the bombers and their influencing powers. The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of coordinated terrorist bomb blasts that hit London's public transport system during the morning rush hour. At 8:50 a.m., three bombs exploded within fifty seconds of each other on three London Underground trains. A fourth bomb exploded on a bus nearly an hour later at 9:47 a.m. in Tavistock Square. The bombings killed 52 commuters and the four suicide bombers, injured 700, and caused disruption of the city's transport system and the country's mobile telecommunications infrastructure, (News archive 'The Guardian' UK). Different world free thinkers forums were shocked to get the shocking news that mix origin British citizens carried the nasty terrorist's acts. Fun damental belief system inspired them, which has been a serious concern for the mainstream British today. HISTORIC CULMINATION OF CHANGES IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY Social changes that promoted multicultural consensus of human existence under the British clemency had its roots in literature, art, science, technology and every sort of humanistic social institutions. Their terrestrial expansion even propagated a classless and fearless free society where feminism,

Hygiene and Cleaning in Food Manufacturing

Hygiene and Cleaning in Food Manufacturing Karl Chamberlain Quality, Hygiene and Environmental Systems Contents Introduction Define the content of quality management systems and critically evaluate the business benefits of such systems What are the benefits to a food producing business of adhering to such a quality management system? The systems, procedures and records utilised by a company to control the quality of a food product The systems, procedures and records utilised by a company to control the safety of a food product The systems, procedures and records utilised by a company to control the legality of a food product Reference list The importance of cleaning programmes within food production areas in the meat industry It is vital to the success of any food manufacturing business to ensure that effective cleaning programmes are in place and are followed. The main purpose of cleaning within a manufacturing environment is to prevent any physical, chemical or microbiological contamination happening to the end product. Cleaning programmes are used to ensure that all areas of the factory and pieces of machinery are cleaned correctly and to a pre-determined frequency. Within the meat industry adequate cleaning is especially important as often raw and cooked meats will be cooked and used on the same site so contamination from raw product to cooked is a high possibility if equipment has not been cleaned properly. If cleaning programs are not in place or are not followed there could be heavy consequences for the manufacturer. Firstly this could lead to a food poisoning outbreak due to microbiological contamination. It could also lead to increased customer complaint due to physical or chemical contamination. Both of these could cause a product withdrawal which will have huge cost implications for the business. Product withdrawals and customer complaints could also lead to losing business, both from end users and from retailers. Losing business could potentially lead to the closure of the business. Hygiene Cleaning Procedure How an Environmental Management System can assist a food manufacturing business in meeting legislative requirements and reducing impacts on the environment Environmental management systems have been in the use for around twenty years and over this time schemes and standards have been created for such systems to follow. One such standard is the ISO 14001 standard, which was first created in 1996 . While the use of an environmental management system is voluntarily, increasingly retailers are requesting that there suppliers have a system in place and that this system is accredited by an external company. An environmental management system (EMS) should be used to manage a food manufacturing business’s environmental impact. This can include managing the company’s waste levels, material usage, emissions and energy usage and transport implications. There are numerous pieces of environmental legislation which a food manufacturer may need to adhere to. This can include legislation on air, water, energy, waste and chemicals. An EMS can be used to assist the food business in meeting these requirements as well as helping to reduce any impacts on the environment. Before an environmental management system can be set up firstly the management must pledge their commitment and an environmental policy should be created. This document should include the intentions of the company regarding environmental issues such as complying with environmental legislation and continuous improvement of environmental systems. Next an environmental review should be carried out, looking at all of the environmental issues that the company has. This will allow the company to find the strenghts and weaknesses of the organisations current operations. The next step is to to plan the environmental mangement system. All environemental issues affecting the company should have been identified previously and this will provide the starting points for the organisation. Environmntal regulations and legislation should be considered and planned to be built into the system. The organisation should also set targets for each part of the system and prograammes and system should be put into place to achieve these targets. Once the enivornmental management system is planned it should be implemented within the business. All staff members within the business should be briefed about the implmenetation of the system and howit will involve them. Responsibilies should be assignemned and training giveen to people who will be directly invloved with the system. Any environmental aspects covered by the system should be integrated into daily procedures within thhe company. The organisation should ensure that they have operational control over any processes which are known to have environmental issues. Contingency plans should be set up in the event that any part of the system fails or an accident happenes such as a chemical spillage and responsible people should be aware of these plans and know what to do should an issue occur. Once the environmental management system is fully implemented external accreditation should be sought. This will give the manufacturers customers confidence in their environmental system and will also help to identify any short comings in the system. The environmental system and the arges set for it shold be measured to ensure that these are being met. The system should also be regualrly audited against and any non conformances should be indetified, reported and rectified. Having an environemtal system allows the manufacturer to identify environmental issues and legislaion that must be met and provides policies and proceures which give guidance on exaactly how this should be done. An environmental system is also a good way to demonstrate compliance to legislation as it shows that an organisation has really commited to reducing its environmental impact and adhering to all relevant legislation. Conclusion Hygiene, cleaning and the procedures and programmes associated with this are a necessity to any food manufacturing company. There are a number of potential penalties and problems that can be caused by not having proper hygiene procedures in place and could ultimately lead to the manufacturer losing business or being shut down by environmental health. The importance of environmental polices and system are also vital for the success of a food manufacturing business however during the recession environmental issues and impacts seem to have taken a back seat to increasing efficiencies and cutting costs however as the economy begins to recover environmental issue may begin to be a major focus for food manufactures again. Reference List Buchanan, G. (1999). Cleaning, Sanitizing Pest Control in Food Processing [Online] Available from: http://seafood.oregonstate.edu/.pdf%20Links/Cleaning,%20Sanitizing,%20and%20Pest%20Control%20in%20Food%20Processing,%20Storage,%20and%20Service%20Areas.pdf Last accessed: 01/04/2014 Cook Safe. (2012). Food Safety Assurance System [Online] Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=1cad=rjauact=8ved=0CDEQFjAAurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmultimedia.food.gov.uk%2Fmultimedia%2Fpdfs%2Fcshrcleaning.pdfei=wexCU8u6I8nF7Aa18YG4CQusg=AFQjCNFZkCnzwokgHYqHLoev91PjjRm-0wsig2=kIZZraCA5clxeMG4OYQoXAbvm=bv.64125504,d.ZGU Last accessed: 04/04/2014 Hugh Crane Cleaning Equipment (HCCE). (2013). Product Information Sheet: Powerfoam VF4 [Online] Available from: htttp://www. hughcrane.co.uk/media/product/data-sheets/03HC2535.pdf‎ Last accessed: 03/04/2014 Johnson DIversey. (2004). Johnson Diversey Quadet Clear [Online] Available from: www.dbm-ltd.co.uk/hygiene/products//open/quatdet_clear_PIS.pdf‎ Last accessed: 04/04/2014 National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). (2003) ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard; Detailed guide [Online] Available from: http://www.nsai.ie/NSAI/files/6b/6b1d7f65-35c5-4b1e-a8e6-5431982da140.pdf Last accessed: 04/04/2014 Nothern Ireland Environemnt Agency (NIEA). (2009). Measuring the effectiveness of Environemntal Management Systems [Online] Available from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=1cad=rjauact=8ved=0CC8QFjAAurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doeni.gov.uk%2Fniea%2Fmeasuring_the_effectiveness_of_ems_phase_1-2.pdfei=T-tCU6fOOMeg7AbHtICAAgusg=AFQjCNGV95A7BvrcGD51TjkMstp9CUrWNwsig2=EnF7STqNfbgVQbzOsXZpjgbvm=bv.64125504,d.ZGU Last accessed : 04/04/2014 Strum, A. (1997). ISO 14001 Implementing an Environmental Management System [Online] Avalable from: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=1cad=rjauact=8ved=0CDwQFjAAurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ellipson.com%2Ffiles%2Febooks%2FISO14000.pdfei=eeVCU9WwOLPH7AamhYCgAwusg=AFQjCNE3xtTbKc8rCpwvzDXjyGN7pQL5-Qsig2=dgGtS7XJH5Z_2kfbg4wTywbvm=bv.64125504,d.ZGU Last accessed: 01/04/2014

Twelve Angry Men - Juror 3 Essay -- essays research papers

12 Angry Men - Juror#3   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a crowded jury room in downtown New York, opinions collide as discussion about the innocence of a young boy is decided. The dark and foreboding storm clouds that hang over the heads of the jurors are beginning to lift as time progresses and new facts are presented. One juror is not happy about this stay of execution and is holding fast his opinion of guilty. Juror three, the president of his business, refuses to alter his vote or opinion in any way. Still haunted by his own son, juror three verbally assaults the group with a forceful tone and a taciturn attitude. One of twelve, Reginald Rose created them all from the same pen and ink, and they could all be no more different.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Juror three is angry, bitter man who has spent his entire life forcing his opinions unto others, and has most likely succeeded in this endeavor. As head of his own company, he isn’t he used to the resistence he is getting from the group. To help his arguments, he uses the phrase â€Å"know what I mean† at the end of almost everything he says, putting any juror with an opposing argument in an awkward position. As the play wears on and his reliable witnesses were called into question, and more speculation was put upon the table, he begins to become more forceful in his arguments, raising his voice much more often than usual. He firmly believes in the guilt of the accused, no matter what the other jurors say or do. There are ...

Compare & Contrast “Mid Term break” by Seamus Heaney & “Treasure in the Heart” by Joolz Essay

Recently I have been studying two similarly themed poems both concentrated upon the chilling reality of death. In the following essay I will to analyse & compare the similarities & contrasts between â€Å"Mid term break† Written by Seamus Heaney & â€Å"Treasure in the Heart† written by Joolz. I will attempt to delve & explore the subconscious meanings behind the structure and wording of these poems. I will attempt to give a brief overview of relevant background information concerning Heaney & Joolz which had a substantial effect on the poems written by both poets. Seamus Heaney was born in April nineteen thirty nine, the first of a closely knit family what would eventually turn out to be nine siblings. This ment Seamus felt a lot of responsibility to his family from a young age. This is surely a contributing factor to why he wrote this poem as he would have surely blamed himself in part for his brother’s death. This is very similar to one of the reason why Joolz would have written her poem both were very close to these people and felt a lot of anguish at there passing. Both would have wanted to be able to pay there respects in a more memorable & effective way for themselves. Seamus family was a mixture of â€Å"old Ireland† his father being a second generation cattle. But his mother was a descendant of the â€Å"new Ireland† a family with many Irish industrial ties. This surely gave Seamus a unique and very diverse view when it came to his surroundings. When Seamus was only twelve years old he was awarded a scholarship to St.Columb College. This gave him a real opportunity to do what he could with his life. Evidently family was a very important subject in Heaney’s life & I am sure that is why he found it so important to write a poem about this event. From studying the title of his poem â€Å"Mid term Break† you would expect a happy poem with children playing having fun. You would not expect the opposite and that is exactly what this poem really represents. The poem is about death and the wave of misery & destruction that affects the concerned people. Another way you could look at the title of the poem is that he wanted to make his last memory of his brother a fond one. As he was also older when he wrote this final reflection it would have ment it would be a more mature & reflective title, this however would surely of been different had he wrote it at the time of the death the title would have probably been more an angry outburst of sadness & hatred upon his part. The word â€Å"angry† in the title could first of all represent a break in the routine of everyone’s life, as if once the terrible accident happened everything halted to a stop as people took time to mourn. This word break could also symbolize a time of great time of sadness & grief just like â€Å"bells knelling†. The start of the poem starts slowly rather ambiguously like a sick joke slowly revealing the punch line. He begins the poem with slow & cagey vocabulary it signifies a young boys nervous, clammy state of mind. You can identify with how he would feel when he says: â€Å"I sat all morning† From this you can feel the tension in the air like a tightly pulled string about to snap. When you think of having to wait some-where for a long time alone it conjures up memories of boring and sad times. This really sets the theme and tone for the rest of the poem just in this one line a very effective way to begin. He leaves it very mysterious at the start but you know what the general flavour of the poem is going to be from this one taste. The whole poem is set in first person. This gives it a more immediate impact as if you are living the occasion right now. This is more of an effective style when trying to show the reader the circumstances of the writers anguish. Rather than being set in third person it is more in your face and this gives you the sense of almost viewing the whole scene as a bi-stander. The use of wording in the second line is a very significant & begins to give you an inkling of what has happened when he says: â€Å"Bells knelling† The way knelling is slotted into the poem is a useful indicator of what has happened, as seen by the actual definition of knelling which is: (verb) 1. To ring a bell slowly & solemnly, especially for a funeral. So as shown by the very descriptive use of wording used at this stage the bells were a very significant part his memory of this saddest of times. The bells would have also have been very significant to him at the time as I am sure time was going so slowly for him. He would have felt sick, agitated but the bells would re-assure him of the fact that time was still going & that no matter how bad he felt life goes on. Then he moves on to an even more awkward situation you can feel the cold sadness in the air of this journey, the tears streaming down his face when he moves onto: â€Å"Two O’clock our neighbours drove me home† The inclusion of time is very significant, as it shows how slow time really would have been going for Heaney right then. The way he describes the drive home in general give you a chill down your spine after all he says is: â€Å"The neighbours† He makes the whole experience feel very in-personal & foreign as if he was being taken home by some complete stranger like a police officer after doing something horrific. The whole of the first verse runs on as is then the theme for the rest of the poem. You would tend to believe this is down to the face that when he wrote this poem it was along time after and the memory had all become one jumbled up mess. So this would lead you to think these certain scenes are imprinted into him like a scar deeply running into his darkest parts. As if the memory will be with him for life so he has to get it down on to paper to lighten some of the weight of his pain. Then he moves onto a scene that was at the time almost as scaring to his conscious being as his brothers death was: â€Å"I met my father crying† This would have been a very shocking & and uncomfortable situation for Seamus at the time. Surely this one scene would have driven home to him how he must stay strong for his family as they needed him to. The use of such a miserable revelation as a parent crying over there lost son also shows the reader the effect it had on everyone & how much of a horrific and un-natural situation it is and that no one should have to suffer. But then just to finish you off he drops in this one really tiny piece of info that really gets to you: â€Å"He had always taken funerals in his stride† Just as if you didn’t feel for him and his family how terrible this was. When a grown man cries it really shows you how terrifying a fact it is that this one simple act of carelessness can rip a grown man to shreds. Moving on next you get one character that you will normally find at funerals trying to consol everyone with cheap words. But all everyone really longs for are those precious ties to be relived with the little boy who they all loved but was taken away from them in one â€Å"break†. You then get the sharp but beautiful contrast of something so special it really gives you that glimmer of hope. When you are reminded in your glum, unforgiving state that life is still growing & that there are still more happy memories to be lived. But also it would feel ignorant & rude to laugh at a funeral, but it feels right when a baby laughs. This gives you a reminder of the innocence of the young and how life will poison this if you do not die young. Next you move onto a totally different scene: â€Å"Old men standing up† This shows the respect they have for this boy as if for today he was a man & with that comes the pain of life. Heaney uses this situation to his advantage however. Every man has suffered this some time he does not know what is going on or how these men are here or who they are. But there is one thing he does know he should be nervous & embarrassed after all they are here paying respects for this brother and he doesn’t even know who they are. But even under all this you feel the character of a boy now a man shine though. You can feel the bitterness conveyed when he says: â€Å"Tell me they were sorry for my trouble† He understands even then when he was just a young boy the hypocritical vibe he feels from them. I mean how can they even know his brother he was only four he had barely even seen the world so what makes these men so special? You then get the other end of the spectrum another stage in the routine of mourning. Anger of course she’s angry who wouldn’t be if there son was tragically knocked over in some freak accident? But you know you never get the real impact of death concerning a little child until you realise how bad the mother is feeling. That is what really makes this part so personal and gripping: â€Å"Coughed out angry tearless sighs† It hits you the reader how bad she must be feeling. So sad & angry she can’t even face releasing her eyes to gush out the tears she so richly deserves to let go. No instead she locks away herself to the world & just grips to her son like a young girl clutching her comforting teddy. But no he still won’t release himself to mourn he must stay strong for the family. Even hours after the death the true tole of what has happened still doesn’t truly hit then young man still counting the time like the clock of death ticking away A prominent theme though out the poem of course from that solemn tolling bell. But still it hasn’t hit him as now his brother has gone not even a person just: â€Å"The corpse, stanched & bandaged† The memories are as if they have no left the body all that is left is the empty meaningless shell. Even though is written in first person the description is so in-personal it’s almost cruel. But then the final nine lines are like one big jumbled description more like a final saying goodbye. He describes such a simple but beautiful just as he would want his brother to have the best. Not an empty corpse this time this is as if his brother is only sleeping for a long time. The scene is the most beautiful & ironically happiest part of them poem. â€Å"Snowdrops & candles soothed the bedside† This gives the impression of it being a very tranquil & comfortable scene where finally he can mourn & try to come to terms with his brother’s death. The use of snowdrops describes a very beautiful & pure room as if angels are watching over his brother from above. As he would want now his brother is with them. He the goes on to use an intriguing word to describe the bruise on his temple: â€Å"Wearing a poppy bruise† It’s almost as if it is not a bruise on his head but a sign of remembrance not just for him but it also signifies the wasteful way so many young men & women lose their lives. It not a bruise on his head really it’s an emblem an icon never to be forgotten neither shall is brother be forgotten as he continues to remain young: â€Å"A four foot box a foot for every year† Really that is when it hits you the use of this simile is just enough to make you think what really is the point when people are dieing so young. I think in the reality the last line is there to create a memorable finish that will stick in your mind forever. In final analysis of the poem I find the poem to start off slow with a sort of dull boring way for effect. But then in the second stanza the poem reads through very quickly this continues until the sixth stanza, I believe this is to display how much a blur the whole memory is. Until he comes to the most significant last two stanzas: â€Å"Snowdrops & candles soothed the bedside† This is a beautiful & calm analogy unlike the previous few stanzas it is a more calm & thoughtful description. Throughout the last two stanzas he uses a lot more punctuation like commas and full-stops for example. This is because it was probably the most memorable part of the whole experience after all it’s the last time he saw his baby brother. I find this poem to be a very beautiful & realistic poem. He uses good effects such as descriptive words & an ever changing pace to keep the reader glued and keeps them thinking. He uses some very good similes such as: â€Å"He lay in his four foot box as in his cot† This sad but beautiful simile is a great way to finish off any poem and in all I think it is a great poem. Also the most interesting aspect of the middle stanzas he takes you though different people & there contrasting ways of dealing with bereavement Now moving onto Joolz and the information behind her life and why she would put what she has in her poem. Joolz born in Colchester in 1955 actually once said herself: â€Å"I was a difficult child† Brought up in Cosham near Portsmouth she would often spend lots of time with her Nan as her mother worked for the electricity board & her father would spend long periods away with the army. This is probably the main reason behind why she was angry at the death of her grand mother and the setting of her funeral. Joolz was a troubled youth, she hated school everything except art. She could make herself ill on demand, a weapon she surely used more than once. She moved to Harrogate, Yorkshire in her childhood where she would be based for many years. As an adolescent she was difficult to look after and was put on tranquilisers. When she was only sixteen years old talented at poetry she went along to a folk club at the time she was the only girl. When only 19 she married a maintenance fitter & motorbike kid. After that for a while she stopped writing poetry but after five years they split up and she moved to Bradford. This show how will full she was and independent she must have truly believed in being herself & obviously it must have been very hard for her at her Nan’s funeral evidently. From the title of Joolz poem: â€Å"Treasure in the Heart† You can tell this is going to be a very loving & beautiful portrayal of some ones life. Obviously to reflect on a true treasure in Joolz heart. The use of these words is a very poetic way to start. The title of Joolz poem is more to the point & gives you an idea of what the poem is going to be about. Unlike Heaney’s title which is rather misleading & elusive. Both ways are effective but in different aspects, Heaney’s for shocking you after such a normal & uninspiring title. But then there is Joolz title which is just so beautiful & really gives you the sense of passion from the start. This really sets the tone for the whole poem & you know from then on there is going to be a lot of regret & passion blazed on these stanzas. Her passion is displayed by the strong words she uses like â€Å"shouted† the wording shows how much she cared. Just like in Heaney’s poem Joolz sets hers in first person. This as I said is significant as it gets the reader more immersed & just like Heaney’s poem it means the emotions from the poem can shine through. All through the first three lines she begins them with â€Å"I should†. This shows how angry she was at herself and evidently she wish she could make it up to her Nan. But even more important she wishes she could go back & change everything. But crucially I think she is writing this poem as some sort of minor reprisal for the way she let her Nan down, but also for her to vent her anger the only constructive way she knows how. Also she wants to immerse the reader and by opening with this repetitive start it intrigues the reader and compels them to read on. But she’s not just angry at herself just like she has lived her life she is angry at the system: â€Å"In that sickly, stupid, hideous place† This really shows the root of her furious tone. She knows that the chapel was never good enough not for her Nan not for no ones. She knows that nothing but the best would be good enough & you know from the way she reacts she just wanted it to be perfect. What she did not want it to be was fake, un-respectful & thoughtless but that’s all it really was: â€Å"Full of fake fabric flowers†¦ taped organ music† This she knows should have been a happier occasion after all her nana had a long life†¦she was lucky when you think of Heaney’s brother & the way he was taken she would have known her nana was lucky too. But why such a fake terrible service to remember her after all was her Nan not good enough for some real beautiful flowers at some gorgeous antique church? Even then more insults seemed to sprout from every where for instance all ten people who turned up, after all those years her Nan had lived did she not deserve for a at least a few more people to pay there respects? A far cry from the hundreds of people who were there for Heaney and his family after his brother’s death, what a difference a few people make. But then the biggest insult of them all, this really seemed to push Joolz to breaking point but at the same time drew the writer in: â€Å"this fat, untidy†¦woman rolls out sonorously†¦imbecile clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s† Even then she knows no matter how bad the ceremony was still a great person: â€Å"her terrible strength & sword sharp truthfulness† This is why Joolz loves her Nan & why someone would not have loved her would have probably bewildered her. But how even her Nan had fallen from that once great person who she will always love and cherish but now she is just: â€Å"Shell thin and faded silvery† This must really hurt Joolz to see her Nan the most motherly figure she probably had, turned into nothing more than skin & bones. Overall her Nan was ten times better than that fat untidy Christian woman could ever be and that is what she hates most. She hates how she was at her funeral this is evident all the way from lines twenty five- thirty! â€Å"Snotty nosed†¦still a child† This is very important as it shows through all the anger & her thoughts that she was still only a child & must understand how is was not really her fault. In fact Heaney was at a very similar age he neither knew what to do but they dealt with it the same at the end of the day but in there own little ways. I understand totally after all when you are only a teenager you are fully aware of death but it still remains some one else’s problem till it hits you. But even then she knew very well that her nana deserved more time than she got: â€Å"Nine minutes that stupid ceremony took† Time is important to her after all the years her nana spent looking after her all the opportunity she has to pay her respects is nine pitiful minutes. Of course this is going to make her angry everyone deserves the chance to mourn for longer than nine minutes no matter who you are: â€Å"Listen to me!† The line she has probably rehearsed in her head a thousand times but she lets it pass. She would have been fierce like her nana would have wanted. This is the passion she really wants to show on that fateful day, or just to say how disgusted she really was. Then she could have rallied her ceremony to make it that little bit more perfect: â€Å"She deserved more than this†¦in the end† She would have said everything she needed to say then and she would never have needed to write this poem. But then you would never of had this ending of such sad proportions: â€Å"But I said nothing†¦im really sorry† These are really important words as then finally say what she has all along been longing to bellow. The whole poem is set out more like one whole paragraph for the majority. More of speech than a poem, in truth the lines are simple sectioned into groups ranting about different topics. The poem flows well all of it relating into the next part as it is very well though out. I personally find the poem to be good but it is a more personal topic. I find it harder to relate to this poem rather than Heaney’s however the use of description & the whole poem is very impressive. Finally I found Heaney’s poem to be the better & most effective. The fact that the poem was about a year olds death compels me more than Joolz topic.