J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, a Fantasy Epic Essay -- Tolkien Hobbit Es

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, a Fantasy Epic    "Long ago in my grandfather Thror's time our family was driven out of the far North. . . . It had later been discovered by my far ancestor, Thrain the Old, they mined and they tunnelled and they made huger halls and greater workshops-and in addition I believe they found a good deal of gold and a great many jewels too. Anyway, they grew immensley rich and famous, and my grandfather was King under the Mountain again. . . . Undoubtedly that was what brought the dragon. Dragons steal gold and jewels, you know. . . . There was a most specially greedy strong and wicked worm called Smaug. . . . [W]ell, from a good way off we saw the dragon settle on our mountain in a spout of flame. . . . and has been there ever sense. . . . we have never forgotten our stolen treasure. . . . we still mean to get it back, and to bring our curses home to Smaug" (31-33). This is the goal of all the main characters that J.R.R. Tolkien portrays in the novel, The Hobbit. It starts as any normal day for Bilbo, sitting in his quiet home, enjoying the piece and quiet and having a good smoke. The next thing Bilbo knows, an old friend named Gandalf appears before him. They reminisce for awhile about past times and lost adventures. Gandalf finally decides to leave Bilbo in piece, but not without convincing him of the journey they should soon embark on. Bilbo wakes up the next day to find thirteen knew faces in his home. Thirteen dwarves to be exact. They continue to propose to Bilbo the plan of stealing back the gold and treasures that was once theirs. Before Bilbo knows what's going on, he sets out, with his new friends, to conquer the Dragon that stole not only their riches, but also the lives of many men who d... ...e found. . . . That is why I settled on burglary. . . . And here is our little Bilbo Baggins, the burglar" (30). This quote is a perfect example of how The Hobbit is unusual. Not only is Bilbo not a fierce warrior, but he is also a thief. Heroes usually have the record of being loyal and honorable, but because Bilbo is a burglar, he isn't quite as honorable as most would think. In The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien takes the reader on a unique fantasy epic without the traits of previous epics like Homer's Illiad. By using the different traits, the hobbit has set a new standard for modern epics, and will continue to inspire future authors to compose classic yet groundbreaking novels.       Works Cited    Harmon, William, and Holman, C. H. "Epic," Handbook to Literature. New York: Macmillian, 1992.    Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1966.

Boys of Blood and Bone Essay

David Metzenthen’s Boys of Blood and Bone is an ambitious novel linking the stories of Henry Lyon, in the summer before he starts his first year of Law at university, and Andy Lansell, Australian digger killed in the Somme in 1918. Andy and Henry’s stories meet when Henry’s car breaks down in the small country town of Strattford on his way to a sailboarding weekend with his mates — and his disgruntled girlfriend Marcelle. While stuck in Strattford, Andy gets to know Trot and his girlfriend Janine and centenarian Cecelia Hainsworth, never-married fiancee of the long-dead Andy. Henry is given Andy’s diary to read, and finds himself fascinated bythe tragic story of this young man of his own age from another time, another world. The narrative of Boys of Blood and Bone alternates between Henry’s contemporary story and the war time experiences of Andy and his mates. The point is not so much that the two young men’s lives are directly paralled — it’s rather that the comparison of their stories points up the extreme difference between the experiences of the generations in question, and their attitudes to life and death. Henry’s moment of physical courage when he board sails into a wild and dangerous sea points up his reckless sense of immortality, as contrasted with the young soldiers’ rueful, resigned courage under the most extreme, nightmarish and unbelievable circumstances. Similarly, Henry’s one passionless sexual encounter contrasts powerfully against the diggers’ frank embracing of (as they know, possibly first and last) sexual opportunities with, it must be stressed, entirely willing young women. This is not to infer that the novel romanticises the past, or past generations at the expense of the current generation. Yet there is a sense of frustration with Henry’s somewhat aimless, even unambitious wandering through life, compared to Andy’s clear-sighted, focused recognition of what is required of him in his here and now. And don’t forget — we’re talking about 18 year olds here. Boys of Blood and Bone is on its surest ground in the chapters dedicated to Andy and the desperate, bloody battlefield of the Somme. Metzenthen’s year spent researching the war is evident, and the physical and emotional ordeal these young men is vividly realised (although Andy’s last day is dragged out a little too much in classic horror movie â€Å"I’m not dead yet! † style). Less well depicted is the romantic tribulations that form the core of Henry’s story. His conflict with Marcelle is presented, but not adequately explored; his subsequent romance is more fleshed-out and recognisable, yet this narrative thread still seems somewhat pale in comparison to the life and death circumstances of Andy and his mates. In the past decade or so, young Australians have demonstrated a genuine interest in the war-time experiences of their counterparts from decades ago. Attendances at ANZAC Day ceremonies and visits to Gallipoli have increased enormously, and there is a new-found respect for the war-time experiences of Australian service men and women in times gone by. In this context, Boys of Blood and Bone is bound to find an enthralled and open audience.

Autobiography of a Coin

I was born in mines. My body is made of various metals. Thus I have no fixed race. I am a hybrid. I remember the day when I was put into a furnace. The whole of my body was burning red hot. Finally, I remember vaguely to have melted. I was put into mcould and given a new shape. When I regained consciousness, I found that I had completely changed. My body was shining brightly. When I had put on my new shape, beautiful designs were put upon both sides of me. I began to smile with joy. After the pains of fires, I had become a personage with some status. I remained at the mint for a few days with a number of brothers and sisters.We were lending a happy life full of golden dreams about our future lives and careers. It was a red letter day in the history of my life, when I was put into a huge bag along with all my brothers and sisters and placed in a bus. We knew we would see the light of the day. Our grand careers were going to commence. We were on the threshold on a new life. Of course, for some time it was suffocating. But we did not mind. We knew our troubles were short lived and would come to an end very soon. We therefore suffered patiently ‘the mild yoke of God’. We were taken down at a majestic building.My friends told me we had reached ‘The State Bank’. I heaved a sigh of relief but my troubles were yet not over. I was closed in a safe. It was rigorous imprisonment. It was rumored that armed constabulary guarded the doors of our prison. We were sad at heart. We had run from frying pan to the fire. All our hopes were on the point of being shuttered. We prayed to god and one day he did listen to our prayers. A gentleman came to my rescue. He took me and some of my brother home and put me in a chest. The next day he gave me to his child, who was very pleased to see my glittering appearance.I was also glad to have obtained this young friend. I had thought that I shall get an oopportunity of enjoying the company of my friend for a long t ime. But alas! He went straight to a sweet-seller and threw me at his shop. The sweet-seller knocked my head against the ground. I had learnt the lesson that life is not a bed of roses. It is really full of dangers, difficulties and disappointments. To cut a long story short, I have been leading a free, vagrant life. I have been with old and young, rich and poor, men, women and children. I have been with doctors and cobblers, cycle-merchants and lawyers, sstudents and company managers.It is impossible to recount all the adventures. I have had all the ups and downs. Now I am old and weak. Time was, when I was young, fresh, energetic and fiery. Now I am mere ashes. I am worn-out and weather-beaten and my heart is as grey as my head. I only console myself with the thought that I have always received love and affection in my life. Everybody has taken great care of me and kept me as best he could. For this all generosity, I thank everybody with all my heart. I have no ambition. I am only waiting for the day, when I shall go back into the lap of my creator (the in charge of mint).

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in World War II essays

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in World War II essays THE AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU CONCENTRATION CAMP IN WORLD WAR II In the event of war, the result will not be the bolshevisation of the earth, and thus the victory for Jewry, but the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe." We shall never be rough and heartless when it is not necessary, that is clear. We Germans, who are the only people in the world who have a decent attitude towards animals, will also assume a decent attitude towards these human animals... All over the world, Auschwitz has become a symbol of terror, genocide and the Holocaust. It was established by the Nazis in 1940, in the suburbs of Oswiecim, a Polish city that was annex to the Third Reich by the Nazis. Its name was changed to Auschwitz, which also became the name of Konzentrationslage Auschwitz. The camp was established in mid-1940, more than year before the Germans embarked upon the Endlsung der Judenfrage (Final Solution of the Jewish Question) the plan, systematically carried out, to murder all the Jews living in the countries occupied by the Third Reich. It is known as the largest of the death camps. However, the evil that drove the Gestapo so enthusiastically involved in the genocide of Jews and the relief of the Aryan race and the marks revealing the hatred can easily be seen inside the camp. The location of the camp, practically in the center of German-occupied Europe, and its convenient transportation connections, led the Nazis to expand Auschwitz on an enormous scale. At its peak, the camp was composed of three parts including the Birkenau Camp. All the camps were isolated from the outside world. The pre-evacuated Polish houses within 40 km. square radius of the camps were demolished due to so-called security reasons. This zone was later to be used as a military area. Buildings and complexes were established here to be used as technical support, workshops, storage,...

Harry Potter Discussion Board Example

Harry Potter Discussion Board Example Harry Potter Discussion Board – Coursework Example The Magic of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone I believe that Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone is incredibly successful because of multiple factors: lovable characters that the audience can identify with and root for; imaginative settings that children and adults can delight in exploring; an exciting plot that promises new happenings and outcomes; and the universal themes of friendship and finding one’s identity. First, this book has characters that many readers can fall in love with. They will love Harry and root for him because of his traumatic childhood experience. They will want him to be prepared in defeating Voldemort. They can relate with him, Ron, and Hermione too because these kids want to find out who they are and to prove themselves worthy of being in Hogwarts. The audience can also love to hate Snape for being the archetype of the detestable teacher. These are characters that arouse emotions and motivate people to read more about them. Second, the settings a re creative and new. Hogwarts and its nearby environments are treasures of new sights, sounds, tastes, and scents that can pique and hold the interest of various people. Third, the plot is engaging and exhilarating. It has numerous action-filled sub-plots and enough drama to keep the story â€Å"real.† Finally, the themes of friendship and finding one’s identity are important themes to numerous people. Human beings want to find real friends and to uncover and develop their real identities. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone is successful because it has magic without being unrealistic. It can cast a spell on people who like characters who have goals and challenges in life and who want to live in fantastic worlds where good can trump evil.

3 Sentences That Present Obstacles to Comprehension

3 Sentences That Present Obstacles to Comprehension 3 Sentences That Present Obstacles to Comprehension 3 Sentences That Present Obstacles to Comprehension By Mark Nichol In each of the following sentences, the statement’s wording or syntax problematically interferes with reader comprehension. Discussion and revision of each example points the way to a clear solution. 1. He exchanged greetings with leaders from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. This sentence implies that Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are names of leaders, because the writer is trying to use from both on its own and as part of a â€Å"from . . . to† range. For the statement to make sense, the category of which the two names are examples must be specified, preceded by a preposition linking leaders with that word: â€Å"He exchanged greetings with leaders of countries ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.† 2. Focusing on H1-B visa reform has caught the technology industry’s attention, which has long argued that it must attract the best and most qualified workers to compete in the global marketplace.   Here, the attention of the technology industry, rather than the industry itself, is said to have argued a proposition. To properly identify who or what is doing the arguing, that entity must be mentioned immediately before the subordinate clause, as shown here: â€Å"Focusing on H1-B visa reform has caught the attention of the technology industry, which has long argued that it must attract the best and most qualified workers to compete in the global marketplace.† 3. Companies should follow a common privacy framework such as the federal Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Privacy and Security Framework for Electronic Exchange of Individually Identifiable Health Information. Take care not to overwhelm the reader with excessively long, complex strings of words in proper names. Here, a standard developed by a federal agency is treated as if the agency’s name is part of the standard’s designation. A simple (but scarcely more effective) solution is to use the possessive form of the agency’s name. Better yet, treat the connection of the agency’s name to the standard as a subordinate clause: â€Å"Companies should follow a common privacy framework such as the Privacy and Security Framework for Electronic Exchange of Individually Identifiable Health Information, a standard developed by the federal Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†Precedent vs. PrecedenceFew vs. Several

How a Bill Becomes a Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Case Study Example Nurses’ working hours should be set. A nurse should be prohibited from working overtime after the end of his/her shift even if it is voluntary. A minimum of 3 nurses should handle a 24 hour shift where each nurse works a maximum of 8 hours. This will reduce nurse fatigue and subsequently improve the quality of health care provided. Among nurses, work shifts of 12 hours or more have become a common occurrence. This act of working long hours can be attributed to different factors such as the shortage of nurses, attractive incentives for overtime work or nurses volunteering to work extra hours. However, extended work shifts have a negative impact on nurses and their patients. Findings from a study carried out by Stimpfel, Sloane and Aiken in 2012 indicated that nurses who work for longer shifts (12 hours and more) were twice more likely to suffer from job dissatisfaction and burnout than nurses who worked shorter shifts. Due to job dissatisfaction, nurses tend to leave or quit the practice, and thereby contributing to the already shortage of nurses in hospitals. Additionally, patient dissatisfaction was higher in nurses who worked for longer shifts. Furthermore, the long working hours undermine nurses’ well-being. Also, a study carried out by Rogers et al in 2004 titled ‘The Working Hours Of Hospital Nurses And Patient Safety’ stated that long working hours had a negative effect on patient safety. According to the study, near errors and errors were likely to happen if nurses worked for more than 12 hours continuously.