The Significance of Spring and Summer in Thomas Hardy’s Poems

Weathers By Thomas Hardy This is the weather the cuckoo likes, And so do I; When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, And nestlings fly; And the little brown nightingale bills his best, And they sit outside at ‘The Traveller's Rest,' And maids come forth sprig-muslin drest, And citizens dream of the south and west, And so do I. This is the weather the shepherd shuns, And so do I; When beeches drip in browns and duns, And thresh and ply; And hill-hid tides throb, throe on throe, And meadow rivulets overflow, And drops on gate bars hang in a row, And rooks in families homeward go, And so do I. The Significance Of Spring And Summer In Thomas Hardy’s Poems – Document Transcript 1. The Significance of Spring and Summer in Thomas Hardy's Poems, If It's Ever Spring Again, and It Never Looks Like Summer Mehdi Hassanian esfahani (GS22456) The Victorian Age (BBL5101) Lecturer: Dr. Wan Roselezam February 2009 2. Introduction: Reading about Thomas Hardy, and as the master students of English Literature, we all know that Hardy had a pessimist view on life and love, was watchful about relationships and interested in psychology of behaviors. His meticulous description of events and characters is not limited to humans, and even nature and animals play a role in the setting of what he narrates and are related to the theme. The following study examines the description of ‘summer’ and ‘spring’ in two selected poems by Thomas Hardy, to observe the significance of climate and seasons in the theme of the poems. The reason of this particular selection is the similarity between the two, in their mood, atmosphere, theme and even the ending. As a result, the analysis will claim the same thing, although it may seem inappropriate to generalize it to Hardy’s poetry. Interpreting imagery, particularly visual imagery in these two poems helps to understand their usage and the role they play to create the theme and setting of time and place. In this way, figurative language and the relationship between words would be examined to lead us to the theme and bring about the importance of summer and spring regarding the poems. It is expected that Hardy uses seasons to refer to nature and its beauty, in order to create a romantic setting, like other Victorian poets, and also uses ‘summer’ and ‘spring’ in the sense attributed to optimistic qualities, hope, [2] 3. warmth and love. But the careful observation of this may reveal a contrast which is made to intensify the underlying theme, and lead us to a pessimist view of Hardy in these poems. Accordingly, it will show that the mood of these poems â€Å"differs from Victorian sorrow; it is sterner, [and] more skeptical as though braced by a long look at the worst† (Stallworthy & Ramazani, 1852). If It's Ever Spring Again (Song) If it's ever spring again, Spring again, I shall go where went I when Down the moor-cock splashed, and hen, Seeing me not, amid their flounder, Standing with my arm around her; If it's ever spring again, Spring again, I shall go where went I then. If it's ever summer-time, summer-time, With the hay crop at the prime, [3] 4. And the cuckoos – two – in rhyme, As they used to be, or seemed to, We shall do as long we've dreamed to, If it's ever summer-time, Summer-time, With the hay, and bees achime (594). The poem, or as Hardy called it the ‘song' If It's Ever Spring Again deals with spring and summer; two bright and shiny seasons which normally warm the nature and people by the energy and hope they spread around. Kinesthetic imagery of ‘going out’ in line three, stanza one and the plashing moor-cock supports the excitement which is in the air. Hardy depicts spring with many positive qualities, when happiness is all around. He doesn’t talk of common characters, but moor-cock and moor-hen, which according to Morgon, the editor and publisher of the annual Hardy Review, are â€Å"shy, undemonstrative creatures rarely drawn from their coverture under the river-bank to gladden the heart of spring† to emphasize this supreme enthusiasm. As a result of this depiction, the prominent imagery in this poem is the visual imagery; which suddenly puts us in the middle of the nature; but there are also auditory and, as we saw, some hints of kinesthetic imagery. 4] 5. At first, Hardy reminds himself a day in spring, when he (the persona) was able to stand next to the beloved ‘with arms around her’ and enjoy the beauty of spring. He feels prospered and thinks of spring as a complete season, as well as himself. Then in stanza two, he leaps to another memory in a summer day, with again the perfection of setting and t he inner sense of fulfillment, when the ‘day crop’ is ‘at the prime’, ‘bees achime’ and cuckoos are singing in rhyme. The visual imagery which is connected to the golden color of the sun and the repetition of ‘summer’ in addition to the auditory imagery of birds singing free and cheerful, are effective devices to insure us of the blissful man, he feels inside. But it is not all. Richards explains that Hardy was interested in nature, and for him, like other Victorian writers, nature was equal to beauty, but also clarifies that â€Å"he was more interested in strangeness than conventional beauty† (190). It is as if the beauty of nature is not the ultimate goal of his poetry. Narrator’s effort to give an adequate visual imagery and create the setting of place and time is just a tool to carry out the profound meaning which is implied in the poem. The ‘if’s and ‘ever’s convey a sense of regret. Thinking of past days, the narrator cannot understand the lack which is now in his life. And the poem ends on a note, as if he lives in the past and doesn’t dare to face the future. In this sense, the whole poem seems not a delightful praise of spring, but an envy of the past. That’s Mellers’ view who considers this poem ‘a song of [5] 6. ostalgia’. Taking birds and bees, according to Cortus, the Vice President of The Thomas Hardy Association, as â€Å"collectively a trite euphemism for sex†, two cuckoos can be a metaphor of lovers (which includes the narrator), and his doubt in line 14, about their singing ‘As they used to †¦ or seemed to’ be together, demonstrates the pessim ist atmosphere which is settled in the mind, as well as the heart of this narrator that even cannot trust his beloved, and the past. This may explain the reason for the cock and hen ‘seeing not’ the narrator ‘amid their flounder’. In this case, the whole poem presents a continual abstract dreaming, disclosing the dimness melancholy that the narrator feels inside. It can suggest that the narration of past and this memory is not reliable, due to the obsession of narrator to his relationship, and the traumatic lost he has in his life. In the second poem, It never looks like summer, Hardy strongly uses ‘summer’ to display the peak of a relationship, the satisfaction and joyfulness which this season, apparently is connected to or is responsible to bring us. The poem lacks descriptive statements or cliche details of nature, and is much modern in the sense which looks like an internal monologue. It is written in a way, that one can conclude it wasn’t supposed to be published (although there is no evidence of such a thing), and is more like the private thoughts of its poet than a poem about ‘summer’. [6] 7. It Never Looks Like Summer â€Å"It never looks like summer here On Beeny by the sea. † But though she saw its look as drear, Summer it seemed to me. It never looks like summer now Whatever weather's there; But ah, it cannot anyhow, On Beeny or elsewhere (507)! Here, the image of summer is overwhelming, though it is very general and there are no details. Hardy uses contrasts to express his feeling. Again, the prominent imagery in the poem is visual imagery, like the drear summer that surrounds us; however an abstract imagery can be derived from connotations of ‘summer’. Narrator implicitly attributes some positive qualities to summer, though he never names them. In the first stanza, he remembers a day when weather was not ‘summery’ a lot, but he felt so; perhaps due to a companionship. And now, in the second stanza, he feels cold although it is summer outside. The nature in general and ‘summer’ in particular is interweaved to persona’s life (both emotionally and [7] 8. physically), though they do not always match together. In other words â€Å"the thinnest partition divides man’s existence (including his mental existence) from the rest of nature† (Richards, 196). This is remarkable which in both If It's Ever Spring Again and It never looks like summer, climate and seasons metaphorically are used to explore the feeling of the persona and â€Å"to register inner states of [his] feeling† (Blackburn, 15). The pessimist view of life and [the lost] love is repeated again; when narrator can say which season it ‘is’, but doubts if the beloved’s presence was real or the feeling was true, and claims that it ‘seemed’ summer to him. He prefers to sing bereavement poems, than face the reality and live in present, and the last two lines support this idea that he cannot think of future. He generalizes the unsatisfactory consequence of his attempts and his lost to all other happenings anytime in future and anywhere else around the world, and decides not to move and not to change; he dares not to look at the future because of his tragic experience. Talking about Hardy’s poetry, Blackburn asserts that the magnetism of his poems â€Å"is built around a complex of love and loss, memory and guilt, pain and self-pity, beauty and regret intermingled with something of delight† (12). In these two poems, he uses images of spring and summer and refers to nature to express the emotions and create the setting, so that he compares two conditions of past and present. To conclude, and as Berger states in the abstract of her PhD [8] 9. roposal, â€Å"Hardy's epistemology can be found at a meeting point of the senses– primarily visual, emotions, imagination, will, and the external world†. Here, the primary setting and the visual imagery play a strong role, metaphorically, to the oppositions, and intensifies the sense of regret. This technique is effective in a way to create the atmosphere and express the sadness this persona feels in his present life. [9]

Biography of Mary Parker Follett, Management Theorist

Biography of Mary Parker Follett, Management Theorist Mary Parker Follett (September 3, 1868–December 18, 1933) was an American social theorist known for introducing ideas about human psychology and human relations into industrial management. Her articles and essays had a profound influence on the field of organizational behavior. Modern management theory owes much to her original ideas. Fast Facts: Mary Parker Follett Known For: Follett was a management theorist who incorporated ideas from psychology and human relations into her theories.Born: September 3, 1868 in Quincy, MassachusettsParents: Charles and Elizabeth FollettDied: December 18, 1933 in Boston, MassachusettsEducation: University of Cambridge, Radcliffe CollegePublished Works: The Speaker of the House of Representatives (1896), The New State (1918), Creative Experience (1924), Dynamic Administration: The Collected Papers of Mary Parker Follett (1942) Early Life Mary Parker Follett was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, on September 3, 1868. She studied at the Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts, where she credited one of her teachers with inspiring many of her later ideas. In 1894, she used her inheritance to study at the Society for Collegiate Instruction of Women, sponsored by Harvard, and later completed a year of study at Newnham College in  Cambridge, England, in 1890. She studied on and off at Radcliffe College as well, starting in the early 1890s. In 1898, Follett graduated summa cum laude from Radcliffe. Her research at Radcliffe was published in 1896 and again in 1909 as The Speaker of the House of Representatives. Career Follett began working in Roxbury as a voluntary social worker in 1900 at the Roxbury Neighborhood House of Boston. Here, she helped organize recreation, education, and social activities for poor families and for working boys and girls. In 1908, Follett became chair of the Womens Municipal League Committee on Extended Use of School Buildings, part of a movement to open schools after hours so that the community could use the buildings for activities. In 1911, she and others opened the East Boston High School Social Center. She also helped found other social centers in Boston. In 1917, Follett took on the vice presidency of the National Community Center Association, and in 1918 she published her book on community, democracy, and government, The New State. Follett published another book, Creative Experience, in 1924, with more of her ideas about the creative interactions that take place between people in group processes. She credited her work in the settlement house movement with many of her insights. She shared a home in Boston for 30 years with Isobel L. Briggs.  In 1926, after Briggs death, Follett moved to England to live and work and to study at Oxford. In 1928, Follett consulted with the League of Nations and with the International Labor Organization in Geneva. She lived in London for a time with Dame Katharine Furse of the Red Cross. In her later years, Follett became a popular writer and lecturer in the business world. She was a lecturer at the London School of Economics in 1933, and she also provided personal advice to President Theodore Roosevelt on organizational management. Management Theories Follett advocated for a human relations emphasis equal to a mechanical or operational emphasis in management. Her work contrasted with the scientific management of Frederick W. Taylor and promoted by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, which stressed time and motion studies. These approaches did not account for human psychology and the ways in which work demands might be in conflict with personal needs; rather, they treated human activities as machine processes that could be optimized to produce better results. Unlike her contemporaries, Follett stressed the importance of the personal interactions between management and workers. She looked at management and leadership holistically, presaging modern systems approaches; she identified a leader as someone who sees the whole rather than the particular. Follett was one of the first (and for a long time, one of the few) to integrate the idea of organizational conflict into management theory, and is sometimes referred to as the mother of conflict resolution. Follett believed that conflict, rather than presenting a need to compromise, could actually be an opportunity for people to develop innovative solutions that they would not have been able to devise on their own. In this way, she promoted the idea of reciprocity within organizational structures. In a 1924 essay, Power, Follett coined the terms power-over and power-with to differentiate coercive power from participative decision-making, showing how power-with can be greater than power-over. Do we not see now, she observed, that while there are many ways of gaining an external, an arbitrary power- through brute strength, through manipulation, through diplomacy- genuine power is always that which inheres in the situation? Death Mary Parker Follett died in 1933 during a visit to Boston. She was honored widely for her work with the Boston School Centers, including her promotion of after-hours programming for the community. Legacy After Folletts death, her papers and speeches from 1942 were compiled and published in Dynamic Administration, and in 1995 Pauline Graham edited a compilation of her writings in Mary Parker Follett: Prophet of Management. The New State was printed in a new edition in 1998 with helpful additional material. In 1934, Follett was honored by Radcliffe as one of the colleges most distinguished graduates. Her work was mostly forgotten in America, and is still largely neglected in studies of the evolution of management theory, despite the accolades of more recent thinkers like management consultant Peter Drucker, who has called Follett the prophet of management and his guru. Folletts ideas also had a strong influence on psychologists such as Kurt Lewin, who studied group dynamics, and Abraham Maslow, who studied human needs and health. Sources Follett, Mary Parker, et al.  The Essential Mary Parker Follett. Franà §ois Hà ©on, Inc., 2014.Follett, Mary Parker, and Pauline Graham.  Mary Parker Follett: Prophet of Management; a Celebration of Writings from the 1920s. Beard Books, 2003.Follett, Mary Parker., et al.  Dynamic Administration: The Collected Papers of Mary Parker Follett. Taylor Francis Books Ltd., 2003.Tonn, Joan C.  Mary P. Follett: Creating Democracy, Transforming Management. Yale University Press, 2003.

Free Essays on Confucism

China - Pure Land scriptures, such as the "Pratyutpanna-samadhi-sà »tra", were among the first Buddhist sutras to be translated into Chinese. In 402, the monk Huiyuan, basing himself on the "Pratyutpanna-samadhi-sutra", founded the White Lotus Society (Bailianshe) on Mont Lushan, which was at the origin of the Lushan tradition of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. The same sutra was used by Zhiyi (538-597), founder of Tiantai School, to develop his own interpretation of Pure Land. - The Shandao Tradition follows mostly the "Threefold Pure Land Sutra". This began with Tanluan (476-542) but owes its name to Shandao (613-681) who emphasized the practice of chanting the Buddha's name as the sufficient condition to be born in the Pure Land. This tradition includes also masters such as Daochuo (562- 645), Huaigan (?-?) and Shaokang (?-805). Although it did not survive the anti-Buddhism persecution of 845 in China, it is this tradition that was to develop later in Japan. The Cimin Tradition goes back to Cimin (Huiri, 680-748), who visited Gandhara. His teachings combine meditation (chan) and discipline (vinaya) within a Pure Land framework. This syncretism characterizes later Pure Land Buddhism in China (as well as in Indochina and Korea), trough the works of masters such as Yongming (Yanshan, 904-976), Yuanzhao (Zhanran, 1048-1116) and Yunqi (Zhuhong, 1535-1615). - Commentaries on Pure Land were also written by masters of almost every school of Chinese Buddhism, including Jicang (549-623) of the Mà ¢dhyamika (Sanlun) school, Kuiji (532-682) of the Vijà ±Ãƒ ¢navà ¢da (Faxiang) school, and the Korean Wonhyo (617-686) of the Avatamsaka (Huayen) school. China - Pure Land scriptures, such as the "Pratyutpanna-samadhi-sà »tra", were among the first Buddhist sutras to be translated into Chinese. In 402, the monk Huiyuan, basing himself on the "Pratyutpanna-samadhi-sutra", founded the White Lotus Society (Bailianshe) on Mont Lushan,... Free Essays on Confucism Free Essays on Confucism China - Pure Land scriptures, such as the "Pratyutpanna-samadhi-sà »tra", were among the first Buddhist sutras to be translated into Chinese. In 402, the monk Huiyuan, basing himself on the "Pratyutpanna-samadhi-sutra", founded the White Lotus Society (Bailianshe) on Mont Lushan, which was at the origin of the Lushan tradition of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. The same sutra was used by Zhiyi (538-597), founder of Tiantai School, to develop his own interpretation of Pure Land. - The Shandao Tradition follows mostly the "Threefold Pure Land Sutra". This began with Tanluan (476-542) but owes its name to Shandao (613-681) who emphasized the practice of chanting the Buddha's name as the sufficient condition to be born in the Pure Land. This tradition includes also masters such as Daochuo (562- 645), Huaigan (?-?) and Shaokang (?-805). Although it did not survive the anti-Buddhism persecution of 845 in China, it is this tradition that was to develop later in Japan. The Cimin Tradition goes back to Cimin (Huiri, 680-748), who visited Gandhara. His teachings combine meditation (chan) and discipline (vinaya) within a Pure Land framework. This syncretism characterizes later Pure Land Buddhism in China (as well as in Indochina and Korea), trough the works of masters such as Yongming (Yanshan, 904-976), Yuanzhao (Zhanran, 1048-1116) and Yunqi (Zhuhong, 1535-1615). - Commentaries on Pure Land were also written by masters of almost every school of Chinese Buddhism, including Jicang (549-623) of the Mà ¢dhyamika (Sanlun) school, Kuiji (532-682) of the Vijà ±Ãƒ ¢navà ¢da (Faxiang) school, and the Korean Wonhyo (617-686) of the Avatamsaka (Huayen) school. China - Pure Land scriptures, such as the "Pratyutpanna-samadhi-sà »tra", were among the first Buddhist sutras to be translated into Chinese. In 402, the monk Huiyuan, basing himself on the "Pratyutpanna-samadhi-sutra", founded the White Lotus Society (Bailianshe) on Mont Lushan,...

Becker Last Name Origin and Meaning

Becker Last Name Origin and Meaning The surname Becker, which ranks 8th among  most common German last names,  has several possible origins: From the German becker, meaning baker, or one who bakes bread.One who created wooden vessels such as cups, mugs, and pitchers, derived from Middle High German becher, meaning cup or goblet, from Greek bikos, meaning pot or pitcher.A derivative of the Old English becca meaning mattock - used to denote a maker or user of mattocks, digging tools with a flat blade set at right angles to the handle. Surname Distribution Today, the Becker surname is by far most commonly found in Germany, followed by Luxembourg, and then the United States and Canada according to the World Names Public Profiler. Within Germany, the Becker surname is most prevalent in the Saarland region, followed by Rheinland-Pfalz, Hessen and Nordrhein-Westfalen. Because most last names originate in multiple areas, the best way to learn more about your Becker last name is to research your own specific family history. If you are new to genealogy, try these steps to begin tracing your family tree. Surname Origin: German, English Alternate Surname Spellings:  BAECKER, BEKKER, BECKERDITE, BUCHER Famous People With the BECKER Last Name Howard S. Becker: American sociologistPaula Modersohn-Becker: German expressionist painterAaron Becker: American childrens book authorBoris Becker: Former German tennis star Genealogy Resources for the BECKER Last Name The Bucher, Beecher, Becker, etc. DNA ProjectThis Y-DNA testing project is open to all families with the Becker last name and variations (B260 soundex surnames), from all locations. The purpose of the project is to help members use a combination of  yDNA  testing, paper trails, and additional research to identify common Becker ancestors. BECKER Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Becker last name to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Becker query. FamilySearch - BECKER GenealogySearch and access records, queries, and lineage-linked online family trees posted for the Becker surname and its variations. FamilySearch features over 2.5 million results for the Becker last name. References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Critical Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 18

Critical Thinking - Essay Example Much of the corporate wealth in the region is in government hands. Earlier this year, the company won the auction for former GE Plastics with $11 billion, and it has significantly expanded its U.S. operations. In addition to that, it has acquired the U.K.’s Huntsman Petrochemicals Company last year. The company is currently investing about $20 billion annually in expanding capacity (Al†Salamah & Wilson, 2001). I chose SABIC because it has values that include inspiring employees by empowering them with clear and shared comprehension of the ethical boundaries that they must operate. More so, Engage diverse workforce by ensuring that they maintain respectful and welcoming work environment. In addition, it helps create a sustainable compliance with integrity framework. That is, it will support innovation in products in a highly regulated world. Thus, finally delivering growth by earning the trust of employees, customer and business collaborates and ensure that they always conduct business with a lot of integrity (Jasinska-Walc et al., 2015). One can describe the advantages of SABIC basing on the geographical environment. In addition to that, the countries’ regulatory framework of government in which SABIC operates their business, the political set up of the countries that SABIC have their manufacturing plants. Moreover, the taxation rules, regulations and policies of the countries, and finally the production and transportation costs. Cultural issues: cultures of different countries vary and can bring impact on the company accordingly. There are Promotional messages sent to the consumers who are responsible for the purchase decision, also the marketing message highly depends on cultural background of the user. Therefore, cultural awareness is essential when designing marketing strategies for the global markets. The views of the user are always in consideration (Jasinska-Walc et al., 2015). SABIC has used marketing strategies of the firms to learn more

Marketing Mix Analysis of Valentino Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Mix Analysis of Valentino - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the current condition of the global economy is highly unstable and is being driven by uncertainty. Studies suggest that a large number of firms in every sector are struggling hard for survival and holding market positions. In such a time, it is gathered that demand and interest in luxury products and services among consumers have increased exponentially. The trend is not limited to a particular sector but can be witnessed across various sectors including the fashion industry. Valentino Garavani, also known as Valentino, launched his first product line in 1959 and since then, the company has made relentless efforts to become a prominent name in the fashion industry. Presently, Valentino is considered as one of Italy’s finest exporters of luxury fashion, and it has created an elegant range of fashion wear for various personalities over the past four decades. Besides apparel, the company offerings consist of shoes, bags, and access ories. Valentino opened the first store of the company in 1960 in Paris and introduced the signature ‘Red Valentino’ along with the ‘V’ label. Though the company started in Italy, presently it has stores all over the world. In 2013, the company earned revenue as high as 110 billion Swedish Kroner and its operating margin was around 16%. The assessment suggests that the company is enjoying steady growth even in an uncertain economic condition.

Toyotas Position in the Automobile Industry Research Paper

Toyotas Position in the Automobile Industry - Research Paper Example The competencies are responsible for the growth of an organization’s core products which in turn support the growth of other business units. Eventually, the business units are responsible for the production of the end products. This has been the case of Toyota. Toyota is among the most successful businesses in the global car manufacturing market. The success of the company is attributed to its core competencies and capabilities.   Toyota entered the vehicle manufacturing market with the few competencies and low capabilities that saw the company manufacture small volumes of cars annually. In 1947, the company could only manage to manufacture 100,000 cars only. The company was small in size and had limited resources and capacity to produce significant volumes for its market. This situation was compounded by the fact that the company was a new entrant in the car manufacturing market. However, the company made the first step towards growth by creating a team of visionary manager s that had competent skills in the manufacturing of cars and the management of the company in the new Japanese market. The operations of the company were directed by the exceptional skills of the founder. The founding team has been at center of the management of the company because of the management principles that they managed to establish when Toyota was making entry into the car manufacturing industry.   In terms of effectiveness, the company produces such large volumes but still maintain quality.  For instance, in the year 1962, the company was taking 15 minutes to change dies but the time was later reduced to only 3 seconds in its current production process.