The Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals of Utah

Annotations in Reading, Research, and Linguistics

An annotation is a  note, comment, or  concise statement of the key ideas in a text or a portion of a text and is commonly used in reading instruction and in research. In corpus linguistics, an annotation is a coded note or comment that identifies specific linguistic features of a word or sentence. One of the most common uses of annotations is in essay composition, wherein a student might annotate a larger work he or she is referencing, pulling and compiling a list of quotes to form an argument. Long-form essays and term papers, as a result, often come with an annotated bibliography, which includes a list of references as well as brief summaries of the sources. There are many ways to annotate a given text, identifying key components of the material by underlining, writing in the margins, listing cause-effect relationships, and noting confusing ideas with question marks beside the statement in the text. Identifying Key Components of a Text When conducting research, the process of annotation is almost essential to retaining the knowledge necessary to understand a texts key points and features and can be achieved through a number of means. Jodi Patrick Holschuh  and Lori Price Aultman  describe a students goal for annotating text in Comprehension Development, wherein the students are responsible for pulling out not only the main points of the text but also the other key information (e.g., examples and details) that they will need to rehearse for exams. Holschuh and Aultman go on to describe the many ways a student may isolate key information from a given text, including writing brief summaries in the students own words, listing out characteristics and cause-and-effect relations in the text, putting key information in graphics and charts, marking possible test questions, and underlining keywords or phrases or putting a question mark next to confusing concepts. REAP: A Whole-Language Strategy According to  Eanet Manzos 1976 Read-Encode-Annotate-Ponder strategy for teaching students language and reading comprehension, annotation is a vital part of a students ability to understand any given text comprehensively. The process involves the following four steps: Read to discern the intent of the text or the writers message; Encode the message into a form of self-expression, or write it out in students own words; Analyze by writing this concept in a note; and Ponder or reflect on the note, either through introspection or discussing with peers. Anthony V. Manzo and Ula Casale Manzo describe the notion in Content Area Reading: A Heuristic Approach as among the earliest strategies developed to stress the use of writing as a means of improving thinking and reading, wherein these annotations serve as alternative perspectives from which to consider and evaluate information and ideas.

Analysis Of The Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin

At the beginning of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, it seems to become unclear to the reader if they are, in fact, reading about his life. The man we hear about today is the widely successful social businessman of the 18th century, so it comes as a surprise to hear that at the start of his life he was a bit impoverished. With further reading comes the understanding that he had to work arduously to get where he was. This is because during the 1700’s, only people of great affluence were a part of the higher social classes; this being said, it would seem as if a miracle had occurred for Franklin to reach the status he had amongst others. This, however, was not the case. He had acquired certain key factors throughout his life that†¦show more content†¦Further proving his social capabilities, at only age twenty-one he had created a group called Junto, which served as a club for like-minded intellectuals from a variety of different professions and backgrounds to mee t and discuss business, politics, and personal issues with one another. This, in turn, helped him make connections that made possible more opportunities crucial to his lifetime of accomplishment. Not only did he have this ability most people now are unable to obtain, but Franklin was also able to speak five different languages, which was helpful in breaking language barriers and allowed him to connect with the people of foreign nations. This characteristic goes hand-in-hand with his education, which aided to allow him to create sophisticated conversation with his peers. â€Å"Insert quote please â€Å". Benjamin Franklin, although having a sort of unconventional schooling based on modern teachings, was a man of high intelligence. He had only stayed in school for two years, but was taken out because his family was too poor to pay the required tuition. There wasn’t any more formal schooling, but he learned much from his personal research and study, as well as through communication and experiences with others. In the duration of his time in school, he had become rather fond of writing, which led to his interest in his brother’s printing business. This was what began Franklin’s writing career as a whole. HeShow MoreRelatedThe Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin Analysis781 Words   |  4 PagesLater adding to it, contributing his life’s story to a historical documentation. Written in a specific style, Benjamin Franklin’s memoir, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, is a narrative of his life. Incorporating strict fact and events, expository writing, excludes the author’s opinion of the subject matter. This is unmistakably not the case in â€Å"The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin† because he writes his contemplations, especially his past experiences, rather than just revealing the eventsRead MoreFranklin: Puritan or Enlightenment? Essay868 Words   |  4 PagesIs Franklin a Puritan or Enlightenment Thinker About Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin came from a very simple Calvinist background. Ha dad little formal education, but he made it through his own efforts and became a rare genius in human history. Everything seems to meet in this one man, mind and will, talent and art, strength and ease, wit and grace and he became almost everything: a printer, essayist, scientist, statesman, philosopher, political economist, ambassador, etc.-#161;#176;JackRead MoreCriticism of Fordes Claim on Benjamin Franklins Autobiography1629 Words   |  7 PagesArgumentative Essay on Fordes claim on Benjamin Franklins autobiography Benjamin Franklins autobiography by Steven Fordes was compiled both as a template for the ancient Americans on how they should live and interact with one another in their society and a memoire to his son. The work was received and embraced by many around the world, Asians and Europeans inclusive. The work was also criticized for many reasons. In order to reach his aim or goal, Forde split the work into three distinct topics;Read MoreAn Analysis of Benjamin Franklins Autobiography1114 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Benjamin Franklin is revered by Americans as one of its most revered and adored founding fathers. For foreigners, Benjamin Franklin became the very icon of America, not only because he was accomplished, but because he was a new man, a man that could only have been made in America. Franklin came to be seen as the embodiment of American values. The image and the values promoted in Franklins autobiography would later come to be regarded as essential American virtues: determination,Read MoreAnalysis Of The Study Of American Literature907 Words   |  4 PagesAn Analysis of the Study of American Literature American Literature is a common subject that every American citizen is exposed to throughout elementary school, high school, and college. The study of American Literature is integral with American History – the two subjects, although distinct, are often intertwined into a hybrid form. This hybrid subject usually focuses on literature with historical significance, rather than significance to the beliefs and ideals of our society as a whole. In upper-levelRead MoreThe Emergence Of Self Concept1489 Words   |  6 Pagesnew spirit of American Individualism and identity of the Revolutionary Period, many literary voices emerged during the nineteenth century to establish the American Literature. With a fresh and vastly expanding American culture, writers such as Benjamin Franklin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Emerson, published works that constructed a literary tradition in the United States rooted in the ideals of individualism, nature, and self-reliance. Amid the Revolutionary period, America beganRead MoreDeciphering Memory : John Adams And Authorship Of The Declaration Of Independence Essay1030 Words   |  5 Pagesdated June 11, 1776, that he copied into his autobiography, Adams interlined: Jefferson was chairman because he had most votes, and he had most votes because We united in him, to the Exclusion of R. H. Lee in order to keep out Harrison.† Third source :â€Å" On June 23, when the chevalier asked Adams who was responsible for the declaration, Adams replied, Mr. Jefferson of Virginia . . . was the Draughtsman. The Committee consisted of Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Harrison, Mr. R. and myself, and We appointedRead MoreCritical Analysis Of John Winthrops Model Of Christian Charity1274 Words   |  6 Pagesin the last stanza, where Bradstreet describes how men â€Å"have precedency and excel† and â€Å"can do best† but holds that women should be granted â€Å"small acknowledgement.† COLLECTION 3: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, FROM THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY: PART TWO In the passage of Benjamin Franklin’s The Autobiography: Part Two provided, Franklin primarily discusses the twelfth virtue of humility. In the larger portion of the work available in Collection 3, this passage served to provide context for the twelfth virtue and addRead MoreThe Mono Tale Of The Hero s Journey1549 Words   |  7 Pagesdecipher the languages spoken and the meaning of the words said. According to Paul Lowe in his article Learning by Reflection, he states that â€Å"Learning by experience involves being able to reflect on a personal happening and through a process of analysis, come to understand it† (Lowe). This means that the process of learning constitutes to ‘deep learning,’ a method that is encouraged to students to create independence in their learning. Though it is not a method that I have lost touch with, it wasRead MoreThe American Dream1921 Words   |  8 Pagesjustice for all, these terms undeniably hold a very different meaning am ong different communities. So different in fact that it calls to question what the American dream actually is. To better understand the concept of American identity, in-depth analysis is imperative to differentiate the many dimensions of Americanism, and how the adaptive definition has been substantiated among different groups of people. Even before the thought of national revolution and separation from England, establishing an

Essay on Capital Punishment - 863 Words

Capital Punishment Capital punishment is the lawful infliction of the death penalty, and since ancient times, it has been used to punish a large variety of offenses. The penalty of death is reserved for the most serious and detested crimes. The legal system must sentence the death penalty to capital crime offenders. Criminals convicted of murder or rape need to be executed because they are dangerous to the world and the human race. However, America seems to to always want to put people in prison for life, but how is that fair to the criminals who did not commit such a horrible crime, but still gets the same punishment? The death penalty should be used more often, but is the death penalty the answer to crime? The death penalty is not†¦show more content†¦However, according to Stephen Nathanson, people would rather die than spend the rest of their lives in prison (Whittier 14). Despite these facts, capital punishment should still be enforced on more criminals. The death penalty was used in Bibli cal times for crimes such as kidnapping and witchcraft. Today most countries still use capital punishment for many crimes and with varying frequency. To stop the crime rate from rising, the United States must stop being soft-headed sentimentalists when it comes to penalizing offenders. The murder rate has risen to an enormous figure, and many of the offenders never get punished as the law says they shall be. The United States legal system must start treating criminals like criminals and not like family. We need to start getting tough with criminals. Letting the inmates have seven years on death row trying to change their sentence is crazy. If we would execute them within three years of their conviction, crime would slow down. Another area of concern is that administering capital punishment is inhumane, But that perception needs to change. The most common method of inflicting the death penalty is lethal injection which is when they take the convicted person to a room, strap them down and inject them with poisonous drugs. Electrocution is another common method. Florida, for instance uses Old Sparky, the electric chair (Mauro 17). Florida is the only state that still usesShow MoreRelated Capital Punishment1099 Words   |  5 Pages Capital Punishment Murder, a common occurrence in American society, is thought of as a horrible, reprehensible atrocity. Why then, is it thought of differently when the state government arranges and executes a human being, the very definition of premeditated murder? Capital punishment has been reviewed and studied for many years, exposing several inequities and weaknesses, showing the need for the death penalty to be abolished. Upon examination, one finds capital punishment to be economically weakRead MoreCapital Punishment1137 Words   |  5 Pagescorresponding punishments. Among all penalties, capital punishment is considered to be the most severe and cruelest one which takes away criminal’s most valuable right in the world, that is, right to live. It is a heated debate for centuries whether capital punishment should be completely abolished world widely. The world seems to have mixed opinion regarding this issue. According to Amnesty International (2010), currently, 97 countries in the world have already abolished capital punishment while onlyRead MoreCapital Punishment1786 Words   |  8 PagesCapital Punishment Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the toughest form of punishment enforced today in the United States. According to the online Webster dictionary, capital punishment is defined as â€Å"the judicially ordered execution of a prisoner as a punishment for a serious crime, often called a capital offence or a capital crime† (1). In those jurisdictions that practice capital punishment, its use is usually restricted to a small number of criminal offences, principallyRead MoreCapital Punishment1276 Words   |  6 Pagesbroken to get the death penalty, increased murder rates and wrongful accusations. There are many different views of the death penalty. Many different religions have their own views of the death penalty. In Hinduism, if the king does not inflict punishment on those worthy to be punished the stronger would roast the weaker like fish on a spit. In the religion of Jainism, mostly all of their followers are abolitionists of the death penalty which means that they oppose of it. Infact, this religionRead More Capital Punishment1898 Words   |  8 PagesCapital Punishment Imagine your heart suddenly beginning to race as you hear a judge give you a death sentence and then you’re quickly carried away in chains as your family sobs as they realize that they will no longer be able to see you. As you sit in your cell you begin to look back at your life and try to see where you went wrong to end up in jail waiting to carry out a death sentence, and at the same time know that you are an innocent waiting to be heard. This same scenario repeatsRead More Capital Punishment Essay: Retain Capital Punishment?696 Words   |  3 PagesCapital Punishment - Retain or Not?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This essay tangles with the question of whether or not we should retain the death penalty within the American code of penal law.    There is a feeling of frustration and horror that we experience at the senseless and brutal crimes that too frequently disrupt the harmony of society. There is pain which accompanies the heartfelt sympathy that we extend to the victims families who, in their time of suffering, are in need of the support and compassionRead MoreCapital Punishment2506 Words   |  11 PagesCapital Punishment and the Death Penalty Capital punishment exist in today’s society as citizens of the United States should we have the right to take an individual life. As illustrated throughout numerous of studies the death penalty is an unfair process seven out of ten deaths handed down by the state courts from 1973 to 1995 were overturned when appeal and the seven percent were later found to be innocent. Such as the Dobie Williams case which took place July 8, 1984. DobieRead MoreCapital Punishment Is A Legal Punishment1116 Words   |  5 Pageswhat the big deal about Capital Punishment is? According to free dictionary, Capital Punishment is to put to death as a legal punishment (Farlax). Capital Punishment is used worldwide, and is guaranteed to prevent future crime. Capital Punishment is a large controversy in the U.S. but before a personal opinion can be formed, some facts need to be known, such as what it is, where it is used and why it could be good or bad. Well, what is Capital Punishment? Capital Punishment is where a person is executedRead MoreCapital Punishment Is The Ultimate Punishment1704 Words   |  7 Pageswhat would you want from the government if he had killed someone you know? He should receive the capital punishment. The capital punishment is the ultimate punishment given to the precarious crimes. It is the last stage of capital punishment. There are different methods of like hanging, electric chair, lethal injection, firing squad, gas chamber. Murderers and rapist should be given extreme punishment, and they have to pay for their wrongdoing. We can observe crime rates are accelerating day-by-dayRead MoreCapital Punishment And Juvenile Punishment1631 Words   |  7 Pages Capital punishment is the term used when an individual is put to death by the state or government for the commission of a crime. Until recently, juveniles were not exempt from this punishment, however they would generally need to commit a more serious offense compared to their adult counterpart. Then there was the decision ruling the execution of mentally handicapped individuals was unconstitutional, using the 8th amendment as their authority, while taking into account the diminished capacity of

Les Miserables Essay Free Essays

In Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserable’s, one character plays a part in each of the other character’s lives. Cosette, a little girl, is created to develop the rest of the â€Å"miserables† throughout the book. Fantine, Cosette’s mother, digs herself into the shameless lifestyle of prostitution and poverty, while trying to support Cosette. We will write a custom essay sample on Les Miserables Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Thenardiers become her home while her mother leaves in search for work. There, Cosette is used to clean and work. Through Cosette, the Thenardier’s are shown as they beat and punish Cosette, their â€Å"slave†. Jean Valjean uses Cosette in a different way. He takes her in as his â€Å"daughter† and finds companionship through her. Cosette is loved and cared for. As Cosette’s character develops she is passed along from a pitiful mother who cannot support her; to the Thenardier’s who beat and starve her; then, to Jean Valjean who takes Cosette in where she becomes his everything. Fantine, desperately in love with a man, Felix Tholomyes, whose feelings vary from hers, and yet she bears his child despite his fickle appearance. The illegitimate child, Cosette, is the outcome of her dying love toward him. Cosette is used to show Fantine as a â€Å"miserable. † Fantine leaves Cosette with the Thenardier’s and goes in search for a job to support Cosette. As Cosette’s character grows, she reveals how pitiful Fantine becomes. Fantine’s devotion for Cosette, a little girl who is too young to give anything back in return, exposes us to one of the themes being forced to consider throughout the book, unrequited love. â€Å"My child in not cold anymore, I dressed her in my hair. † Fantine does everything she can to work for money to support Cosette. She sacrifices her hair so that Cosette will have clothes. Without Cosette Fantine could live her life for herself. She puts all her effort into a child that she does not see and which the child does not know who she is. The child, Cosette, is a symbol of all the love and everything Fantine put into a man who gave her nothing back. Cosette’s character is used merely to show Fantine as she goes through life and through each step as she puts something into someone else, how â€Å"miserable† she becomes. As the Thenardier’s continue to send Fantine bills for Cosette’s deceptive needs, Fantine continues to find ways to get that money. She goes to every extent go the money they claim to need for Cosette. Fantine sells everything she has, and when she had nothing she sells herself. She becomes a prostitute as an alternative to earn money. The Thenardier’s use Cosette to get money from Fantine as needed. Fantine, being weak and trusting, does not know of their plans and her love for Cosette lets her fall into their scheme. The Thenardier’s take in Cosette because Fantine can’t take care of her and work at the same time. As Cosette gets older she becomes useful to the Thenardier’s. Her innocent childhood is taken away from her and she is treated like a slave. Cosette is used to clean and work around the house making stockings and other necessary things. Cosette’s character and the way she is treated show the Thenardier’s authority. The way that the two daughters of the Thenardier’s won’t play with Cosette reveals the superiority the daughters claim to have over Cosette. Cosette is different; she is small and skinny, for she doesn’t get fed as well; she is dirty and her clothes have holes, for doesn’t have the privilege of getting a bath; and she is used as help and treated as a slave. This shows the boundary that was put up between Cosette and the Thenardier girls. Cosette isn’t loved or cared for-only used. Her role plays into the plot of the book; after being beat and tortured by the evil Thenardier’s, it’s time for Cosette to be saved. Jean Valjean comes just in time to take Cosette away from these awful people. Cosette play an important role in the life of Jean Valjean. After being imprisoned for nineteen years and accused of many other crimes, Jean Valjean can’t find it in him to love or trust another human. Cosette changes that for him. When Jean Valjean first goes to the Thenardier’s and notices poor Cosette working away at knitting stockings while the other children play he connects with her. Jean Valjean then buys the stockings she is knitting and gives her permission to play. Cosette is shocked for she is never allowed to play, and Jean Valjean finds joy in watching this little girl content. When Jean Valjean takes Cosette from the Thenardiers, she becomes his â€Å"daughter. † Jean Valjean grows very attached to Cosette and learns to love and care for her. Cosette is used to show that a man in prison can change. Jean Valjean changes once Cosette enters his life. His actions become revolved around the safety and happiness of her. Jean Valjean existence is centered on Cosette. As her character is developed with him, Jean Valjean’s outgoing love for others is revealed. Having Cosette in Jean Valjean’s life, it exposes us to a changed side of him. Through, Cosette, it is showed that a man in prison can become a good man. After adopting Cosette, taking her in, loving and caring for her, Jean Valjean and Cosette’s relationship shows what a good man he has become. Cosette becomes Jean Valjean’s entity. He puts everything into her happiness. She symbolizes all he has. When she falls in love with Marius and leaves him, he has nothing. Jean Valjean’s reason for living dies and so does he. Cosette’s character moves around many times throughout the novel. She spends a portion of the book with her mother, Fantine, who could not take care of her. Cosette becomes the object of Fantine’s poverty. Their relationship also exposes us to the theme of the unfulfilled love, since Cosette cannot return Fantine’s love at such a young age. Cosette then goes to the Thenardier’s where she presents us to this evil family who beat and abuse her. When Jean Valjean takes her in, Cosette reveals a side of Jean Valjean that has not yet been exposed- his loving side. Jean Valjean loves Cosette and supports and protects her. Cosette is used in many ways throughout the novel and by many different characters. Although she never becomes a well-rounded character, she plays an important role in the development of the other characters. Cosette touches each character she comes in contact with and each in a distinct way. How to cite Les Miserables Essay, Essays Les Miserables Essay Free Essays The longest running and arguably the most powerful musical production to have ever hit the stage, Les Miserables has been seen by over 60 million people in 42 different countries across the globe. Since its opening night at the Barbican Theatre on October 8, 1985, it has captured the hearts of many as it continues to break box-office records even in its 28th year. The story revolves around an ex-convict named Jean Valjean who broke his parole and is from then on pursued by a constabulary named Inspector Javert. We will write a custom essay sample on Les Miserables Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Valjean then dedicates his life to becoming an honest man who tries to show love for people around him who are in need. Les Miserables embodies a primarily historical performance, yet certain modern elements are present as well. Historical elements are manifested through its setting of 19th Century France. The use of language, the culture of the characters, as well as the costumes and outfits are also key indicators of the historical background of the production. Yet hints of modern ideas also turn up in the form of hierarchies, authorities, and causality within the story. Such a fusion of a historical setting and modern concepts helped spur the complexity and aesthetics of the entire production. Directed by Tom Hooper and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Les Miserables the film starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway was released in 2012. It was a revolutionary production of film fused with musical theatre as it evoked tears from audiences all around the world. However, as a film, it deviated from certain norms of musical theatre and such is evident upon comparison with the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables starring Colm Wilkinson, Lea Salonga, and Michael Ball among others. A glaring difference between the two productions lies in the spectacle. While the costumes of both productions were vibrant and candy to the eyes, the 10th Anniversary Concert provided a powerful and striking display of ensemble and orchestra that was absent in the movie. Throughout the concert, the entire cast of characters was seated somewhere around center stage, easily visible to the audience. More so, the ensemble and cast members would occasionally participate in scenes that they did not have an on-stage role in. In contrast, the movie provided a very rigid and precise depiction of scenes and characters. Only characters that played active roles during a scene were tangible to the audience’s senses. In sum, the movie provided a â€Å"what you see is what you get† type of value to the audience, thus, giving them a clear idea of what was going on and exactly how the plot was unfolding. However, the concert provided audiences with a more dynamic and holistic theatrical experience, and as a result, a more appealing form of spectacle. Both performance films had similar and contrasting means of unveiling the given circumstances for certain characters. For instance, both productions utilized the music in the confrontation scene between Valjean and Javert to uncover the character of Javert. Following that scene, there was a sense of awareness that beyond his strict adherence to his duties and to the law, Javert was born in a jail and grew up in harsh conditions. On another note, Fantine’s given circumstances in the movie were revealed not only through the music, but also through her changes in costume, hair, and make up. In the concert, her given circumstances were revealed more through conventions. As it was refreshing to watch the complex plot of Les Miserables unfold in a straightforward manner as it did in the movie, it did not leave much room for theatrical conventions. The 10th Anniversary Concert on the other hand showcased such conventions that were lacking in the movie. During the first scene of the concert, prisoners walking behind two guards around the stage signified that the prisoners were not yet free and were being led to do more slave work. In addition, the scene where men are tumbling around the stage in slow motion behind a cart imparts to the audience that they are running down the streets trying to avoid being run over and crushed by the cart. These conventions contributed to the dynamics of the concert and gave the audience a more active role in terms of performance evaluation. As an art form, Les Miserables the movie took on a very grand idea of audience as the film was released in theatres globally. With its large-scale production, such an idea proved successful for the film. In contrast, the concert’s idea of an audience was both a live audience as well as an audience who would watch the film from households due to the fact that the concert was not released on the big screen. As a performance, the concert’s organizing principles were grounded and focused on the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the staging of Les Miserables. On the other hand, the movie was organized more for the sake of publicity as well as higher profit margins. Taking a step back to glance at the front cover of the theatrical film, it is clear that the movie offers a focused and detailed depiction of Les Miserables. The given circumstances will be crystal clear and the conventions will be minimal and very straightforward. Meanwhile, the front cover of the theatrical concert reveals a dynamic set up and a large-scale stage production. Such a poster reveals production’s capacity for grand and complex theatrical conventions that could aid in the disclosing of given circumstances. In sum, both front covers are striking but the theatrical concert’s cover shows more dynamics than its subtler counterpart. In the postmodern age, where innovation and developments are abundant in the theatre, it is of utmost importance that critical questions brought up. In terms of the performances of Les Miserables, questions such as the following should be asked for optimum evaluation: What are the strengths and weaknesses of such a production? Are the musical pieces arranged in the most suiting manner? How can different art and performance forms be fused into such a production so that it can be improved? BIBLIOGRAPHY (ENDNOTES): * Patterson, Jim, Jim Hunter, Patti Gillespie, and Kenneth Cameron. The Enjoyment of Theatre. 8th ed. USA: Pearson Education, Inc. , 2011. * Verlezza, Joseph â€Å"Cabaret. † Peter Marshall: And Then She Wrote (2012): page nr. http://www. theatrereviews. com/reviews/cabaret-AndThenSheWrote. htm (accessed January 14, 2013). * Mackintosh, Cameron. â€Å"Les Miserables. † Les Miserables. http://www. lesmis. com/uk/ (accessed Feb 3, 2012). * Sweeney, Erica. â€Å"How to Write a Theatre Performance Review. † (2012): page nr. http://www. ehow. com/how_4881268_write-theatre-performance-review. html (accessed February 3, 2013) How to cite Les Miserables Essay, Essay examples

The Pigtail free essay sample

? The Pigtail –William Makepeace Thackeray This poem ‘the pigtail’, written by William Makepeace Thackeray is a humorous poem, which revolves around a foolish act done by a sage. Throughout the poem, the poet laughs at this wise man, who does not have any practical knowledge, but uses his thearatical knowledge and does foolish things. In this poem, the sage tries to change his pigtail’s place and move it in front of his head and he thinks if he turn around and this pigtail would also turn and come infront of his head which is extremely funny. â€Å"There lived a sage in the days of yore And he a handsome pigtail wore† The poet narrates us about a sage, who lived in the past with a beautiful pigtail. Usually sages are wise men and we expect them to do wise things. But this sage worrying over a pigtail which is actually useless. We will write a custom essay sample on The Pigtail or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Even a common man can understand this truth, but this wise man is unable to understand this fact. He just think according to his logic and forgets even the practical side of the matter. As reader’s we understand what would happen if our hair grows in front of our head, we would be unable to see, breath understand it would affect our normal life and we would have to face so many bad consequences. The illogical, irrational behavior of this sage creates humour, and we readers cannot help agreeing that the poet has made humour successfully , out of sage’s behavior. â€Å"he mused upon this curious case And swore he’d change the pigtail’s place† Actually this case neither has anythi g to worry about nor this is a curious case. But this sage worried about this for along time and gave an oath that he’d change the pigtail’s position,which is apparently impossible and very funny. This small thing is a serious problem for this wise man and this concept is made fun of. â€Å"says he the mystery I’ve found I’ll turn me round He turned him round But still hung behind him† The funniest part is the solution the sage has found to change the position of the pigtail. He decided to turn himself round and he does this continiously without stopping, throughout the day . He turns in different directions ,he turns right and left and out and in,creating a humorous picture of a wise old man who is struggling hard to turn in different ways, in reader’s mind. Even though he does this entire day ,it doesn’t change a bit, it still hangs firmly behind the sage’s head. Throughout the poem every act of this sage is described in a humorous manner by the poet. Even the narration of the story comes out with humour. This character of the sage is too rigid and attempts to change the natural order. The poet uses the words in old English such as â€Å"sage†, â€Å"yore†, †mused† to emphasize that right from the olden days the too learned are too foolish and irrational. The rhyming scheme enhances the funny effect of the poem. Throughout the poem, poet brigs out humour and at the same time he attacks well educated people who does not have practical common sense. William Makepeace Thackeray reveals clearly the vague efforts of the socalled sages bringing out humour and also inviting his readers to be alert and thoughtful and act in a meaningful manner.