The Philosophy of Birches :: Robert Frost Birches Essays

The Philosophy of Birches  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The philosophy expressed in "Birches" poses no threat to popular values or beliefs, and it is so appealingly affirmative that many readers have treasured the poem as a masterpiece. Among Frost's most celebrated works, perhaps only "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" ranks ahead of it. Yet to critics like Brooks and Squires, the persona's philosophical stance in "Birches" is a serious weakness. [. . .] The didactic and philosophical element that some critics have attacked strikes others as the very core of Frost's virtue. [. . .] Perhaps impartial observers can accept the notion that "Birches" is neither as bad as its harshest opponents suggest nor as good as its most adoring advocates claim. [. . .] "Birches" . . . contains three fairly lengthy descriptions that do not involve unusual perspectives. In fact, the most original and distinctive vision in the poem--the passage treating the ice on the trees (ll. 5-14)--is undercut both by the self-consciousness of its final line ("You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen") and by the two much more conventionally perceived environments that follow it: the rural boyhood of the swinger of birches (ll. 23-40) and the "pathless wood," which represents life's "considerations" (ll. 44-47). As a result, the poem's ardent concluding lines--its closing pronouncements on life, death, and human aspiration--do not arise from a particular experience. Instead, they are presented as doctrines that we must accept or reject on the basis of our credence in the speaker as a wise countryman whose familiarity with birch trees, ice storms, and pathless woods gives him authority as a philosopher. Since in "Birches" the natural object--tree, ice crystal, pathless wood, etc.--functions as proof of the speaker's rusticity, Frost has no need for extraordinary perspectives, and therefore the poem does little to convince us that an "experience," to use [Robert] Langbaum's wording, "is really taking place, that the object is seen and not merely remembered from a public or abstract view of it." This is not to deny that the poem contains some brilliant descriptive passages (especially memorable are the clicking, cracking, shattering ice crystals in lines 7-11 and the boy's painstaking climb and sudden, exhilarating descent in lines 35-40), and without doubt, the closing lines offer an engaging exegesis of swinging birches as a way of life. But though we learn a great deal about this speaker's beliefs and preferences, we find at last that he has not revealed himself as profoundly as does the speaker in "After Apple-Picking.

Psychological Aspects of Remember the Titans

Quinn Psych 100 November 13, 2012 Psychology in Movies Psychology is the study of or science of how individuals and groups behave and their mental processes. Characteristics of these behaviors and mental processes are portrayed in many different ways within the movies that we create. Within the movie, Remember the Titans, many social psychology concepts are present. Remember the Titans is a movie set in Virginia 1971, its about a high school football team and how they come together in order to try and win the state championship.Unfortunately it is not that simple, this is a high school that has just been forced to integrate in a time of racial segregation, in a town where football is everything and is most of the boys’ ticket out of town and onto college. The three concepts that are evident in the movie are foot-in-the-door phenomenon, groupthink, and ingroup bias and outgroup. The first concept is foot-in-the-door phenomenon. There is a scene where the teams newly appointed A frican American head coach, Coach Boone, forces all the boys off the two busses taking them to their two week camp.Then he separates the team into two groups, offense and defense, and then pairs each player with a teammate of a different race. Coach Boone goes on to explain to them that this is also the person with whom they will be sharing a room with; this is his initial small request. As camp continues on the team gets to know each other and slowly the race lines between them fade and they become close to each other. So Coach Boone’s initial request helped the team to later comply with his request of them to play together as a strong bonded team.This later request would not have been possible if asked originally, he had to start with a smaller request and work his way up to the larger request. Groupthink is the second psychology concept within Remember the Titans. After the team returns from the football camp, where they united together, they win a couple of games but the hatred and racism is still strong within the town and they slowly disband because of this. Gerry, Julius, Rev, and Louie tell the team about a mandatory team meeting, but as the other teammates show up they start to realize that the coaches aren’t there and are about to leave.The four that organized this meeting ask them to stay and hear them out. They talk about winning games but point out that that isn’t a win, sticking together through all the chaos as a team is a true win. This meeting or decision making group decide to work for harmony within the group and let it override the realistic alternative of reverting back to the hate of each other that is the norm in the town. This entire movie is encased with ingroup bias and outgroups. A great example of this is a scene when the team is at their football camp.Louie goes to sit down at a table of all African Americans and Julius says, â€Å"What you doing man? † Louie answers â€Å"I’m eating lunch. † and Julius replies â€Å"I see you eating lunch. Why you eating over here? Why don’t you go on over there and eat with your people. † This shows Julius’ tendency to favor his own group over Louie who is perceived to be part of a group that is different than his group. Remember the Titans being set in a segregated time is all about the in-group and out-group.In conclusion, the three concepts that are evident in Remember the Titans are foot-in-the-door phenomenon, groupthink, and ingroup bias and outgroup. Adding these concepts into the plot made this a stronger storyline, by creating a dynamic story. The concept of groupthink is a concept that I think isn’t experienced enough with most people having a â€Å"me† attitude rather than the desire for harmony or that anyone should feel outside or not part of the ingroup. This has opened my eyes to all the social psychology aspects within movies.

God’s faithfulness

Log then Capture Sometimes we are that piece of log. Lifeless. No shape. No form. No beauty. Nothing special about it. But God sees something special about you. People around you may say that you are bound to fail because you were not able to go to school, or because you are poor, or because you have no talent, or because you have a broken family. But the sculptor, our God, sees something special about you? The reason why you are here. He sees greatness in you because he has created you for that purpose-?for greatness! We may not see it at the moment.Because God is still working that masterpiece in you. Our text is taken from Ephesians 2:10 which says, ‘We are God's workmanship, retreated in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. † 1. We are God's Workmanship A. Every Human is Created by God in His Image (Genesis 126-27) a. Like this picture (father and son), we can say that they are father and son. Because the son resembles his father. Sino as ninny nag kumara nag mama o papa ninny? Dib sometimes people will know who you are because of your resemblance with your parents. Again din asana Toyota Kay Lord.When people see us, they need not ask if you are a Christian because from your words and actions, they will know that you are God's son and daughter. B. I know how hard it is to become a Christian. A lot of people have difficulty in deciding to follow Christ because there are so many things an â€Å"bawl†. Bawl magma boyfriends/ girlfriend. Bawl minimum/managerially. God wants us to follow these DON TTS because he actually wants to protect us. Protect us from early pregnancy, early fatherhood/motherhood, sickness like lung cancer, liver problems, hypertension, etc.Asana normalize anti LATA nag to. God loves you so much that He doesn't want you to make decisions that may harm you in the future. C. And like the father in the prodigal son, no matter how we fail him, he will till welcome you back with love and f orgiveness. God loves us so much. B. Every Christian has been created again in Christ. A. Created IN CHRIST JESUS. This means that even before JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save us, He was actually already present from the beginning. Before Adam and Eve had ever sinned against God, they were perfect like Jesus Christ.But when sin came into the picture, the perfection was destroyed. We became sinners, unfaithful, selfish and unrighteous. B. But in 2 Corinthians 7 of the New Testament, It says there, â€Å"If anyone is IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATION, the old has gone and the new has come. God gave us another chance through Jesus Christ to redeem ourselves. To have that connection with Him again and enjoy the abundance and the fullness of His love. C. Have made a lot of mistakes again and again and yet, God never really gave up on me.Katie guano pa kali nag Salinas MO as Kenya, He would even be the one to come near you and not to remind you of your sins but to remind you that H e loves you so much despite of everything. So, if you are here today and you have made a serious mistake in the past, do not let that define you. You are created for something more than you're past. Tell the arson next to you, be patient with me, God IS not yet finished With me. 2. We are created for good works a. Many people believed that good works are enough for them to be saved.But it is said in Ephesians 2:8-9, â€Å"For by grace you have been saved through faith, not of yourselves, it is a gift from God so that no one can boast. B. Our good works cannot save us because even our good works are also influenced by our needs, ideologies and beliefs. Sometimes, we help people because we Want to pay it forward so that when the time comes that We will be needing their help, they will also help us. Sometimes, we help other people so we can e recognized. We help others because they have helped us. Even our best is tainted with sin. C. Our good works can sometimes cause us to boast.The reason why God used the young and small David to kill Goliath, the shepherd boy and the youngest Joseph to be the ruler, the killers of Christians Saul to be Paul who confesses God with all his heart, the old and barren Sarah to give birth to Isaac or the young and lustful David to be the man after God's own heart-?the reason why God used them is so that they will say that it was not them but it was all because of God. D. Sometimes we are afraid to be involved n the church because we feel that we are incompetent, poor, weak, untalented, shy or that we are not good enough.But guess what God wants people like you and me to serve Him and glorify His name. MY TESTIMONY: I have been a Christian since I was in kindergarten. But I came to really understand God's word when was in high school. But understanding is different from actually obeying God's commands. Like anybody in this room, I was really struggling. Having a knowledge of what is right and evil makes me more accountable of our a ctions. Which is more hurting? When your grade 1 friend had left you? Or when your best friend since grade 1 until now had suddenly left you with no explanation? It is the latter. Why?Because you have known and understand better that friends really don't just do that. Same is true with our relationship with God. When we were little, it was okay that we were not praying everyday, meditating on his words or obeying his commands because we still did not understand the real meaning of Christianity. Which is actually living life like Christ. In high school, was a church gore and even joined the activities of the church. But was not actually doing everything that he said in his word. Was actually doing a lot of things that you also are doing. But nevertheless, God has still been very faithful to me.He caused me to finish on top of our class even when was not faithful. That chapter of my life was also the time when we almost lost everything we own. We lost the house, the lumber yard, the p awnshop, the cars, and the hardware. If God was not with us, we might have also lost our family. No matter how sinful, unfaithful and hard-headed we are, God will find a way to reach out to you. When I started college, I came to know Christ more through the campus crusade for Christ. It was easier to change because I have people around me ho are supporting me and joining me in my walk with Christ.We were winning souls in the campus. I felt very secure and fulfilled that time. Was being used by God in his ministry. But then again, the college years had to end. When I was starting medicine, I went to another school and lost contact with my campus crusade friends. I was becoming busy reaching for my dream of becoming a doctor when was beginning to lose my relationship with God. I Was not as disobedient as Was when was in high school. But then again, I was spending most of my time in school. I became just a church gore. I was till able to finish well through God's faithfulness.When I wa s in Dave last year, where was having my internship for one year. This was the time when began to slowly lose my sight of God. I was back into my old self or even worse. But even though this times, God has remained faithful to me and my family. Was able to finish my internship and passed the exam. I may have failed God and my family several times in my life. But God never fails. He never gave up on me. He has always given many chances to straighten up my life. I admit that at the moment, I am still getting back on the right track and it is very hard to do so.

The Change Essays - Startup Cult, Chitto Harjo, Free Essays

The Change Essays - Startup Cult, Chitto Harjo, Free Essays The Change Essay In this essay I am supposed to discuss a project or activity that best represents me. I thought about this for a while, and I decided I would talk about my piano lessons. My parents didnt make me take them, and I didnt take them because it was just something to do. There is a lot behind the story. About a year and a half ago, I suffered an injury that put me out of basketball for 6 months. To me, it was the end of the world. Basketball was supposed to be my future. It was what I thought I was going to do. It was my life. Everything I did centered around it, and I wanted to be the best at it. I was on top of my game, and the next minute I was watching everyone else play from the bench. I would get angry and frustrated, and wonder why it happened to me. I was out for the whole summer, and that affected my game a lot. I went out for basketball the next season, but I didnt do very well. I was irritated at how inefficiently I was playing. After the season got over, I knew I would have to make a big decision. A decision that would, perhaps, affect the rest of my life. I had to determine if I wanted to continue with basketball, or pursue other things I wanted to do. I considered how unhappy basketball was making me, and how I wished I could do other things. Following a lot of thought , I came to the decision that I would stop playing basketball. Most everyone was devastated, but I think it was the right choice. After my resolve to quit basketball, I took time to think of things I enjoy doing. I loved to sing, and I loved music. This led me to take piano lessons. I have only been taking them for eight months, but I have found a deep love of music I never knew I had. I have learned so much about myself, and what it is I actually want to do with my life. I have worked diligently, and I have progressed a considerable amount. I have a passion for this new activity that surprises me. It feels like I cant learn enough, or play enough. I believe I like piano so much, because I knew it was what I wanted to do. I did have to sacrifice something I thought I loved, but I found out I loved doing something else. From this experience, I learned that you cant always expect things to be the way they are now. People change, and circumstances are always changing. I still am very angry that I ever got an injury, but I believe it helped me to find something that I love. I would have never got the chance to play piano if I hadnt had that injury. There will be many tough decisions in life, and youve got to trust in yourself when you make them. Youre the one who will live with it. Because after all, we make our decisions, and our decisions turn around and make us.

A Beginners Guide Tenses of Latin Verbs

A Beginner's Guide Tenses of Latin Verbs Latin is an inflected language  where the verbs include a lot of information about the sentence. Sometimes the verb is the only word in the sentence. Even without a noun or pronoun, a Latin verb can tell you who/what the subject is. It can also tell you the time frame, interval, or tense. When you parse a Latin verb, you deconstruct these and other facets of the Latin. When you parse a Latin verb, you list the following: Meaning/translationPersonNumberMoodVoice (active/passive)Tense/aspect Tense, as mentioned, refers to time. In Latin, there are 3 simple and 3 perfect tenses, a total of 6, and they come in both active and passive forms. Moods in Different Tenses The Indicative Mood is the most common and thats what this page is about. You need to make note of the mood when parsing a verb. Most statement sentences use the indicative. In English, we generally contrast indicative with conditional sentences, although English has the Latin moods (Indicative, Subjunctive*, and Imperative**). Present Tense The first of the simple tenses in the Indicative Mood is the present tense. The present tense in the Indicative Mood has both Active and Passive voices. The present tense shows action that is happening now. I walk - ambulo Latin Imperfect Tense The next tense is the imperfect, which conveys incompleted action in the past. Imperfect means incomplete or unfinished. When translating an imperfect verb, the simple past tense sometimes works. Other times, was plus an -ing ending on the verb or used to plus the verb will convey the incompleted past action. I was walking - ambulabam The imperfect tense in Latin is used for both continuous and habitual actions in the past. Latin Future Tense The third tense is the future tense. A verb in the future tense conveys an action that will happen in the future. The customary auxiliary verb denoting the future tense is will. He will walk - ambulabit The 1st person singular future ambulabo is translated I shall walk technically. Most people in the U.S., if not in the rest of the anglophone world, would say I will walk. The same is true of the 1st person plural ambulabimus: technically, its we shall walk, but in custom, its we will walk. In the second and third person, its just will without qualification. Latin Verb Endings Active Singular -o, -m-s-t Active Plural -mus-tis-nt Passive Singular -or, -r-ris-tur Passive Plural -mur-mini-ntur Perfect Active Endings Singular   -i-isti-it Plural -imus-istis-erunt (sometimes -ere) Past Tenses Past or perfected tenses are used for completed actions. There are 3 such tenses: Perfect,PluperfectFuture perfect. Latin (Past) Perfect Tense Generally simply called the perfect tense, this tense refers to an action that has been completed. Either a simple past tense ending (e.g., -ed) or the auxiliary verb have conveys the perfect tense. I walked - ambulavi You may also translate it: I have walked. Latin Pluperfect Tense A verb is in the pluperfect tense if it was completed prior to another. Usually the auxiliary verb had signifies a pluperfect verb. I had walked - ambulaveram Latin Future Perfect Tense Future perfect is used to convey an action that will have been completed prior to something else. Will have are the customary auxiliary verbs. I will have walked - ambulavero *  More advanced:  In the Subjunctive Mood, there are 4 tenses, both active and passive: Present,Imperfect,Perfect, andPluperfect. ** There is ordinarily one Latin tense in the Imperative Mood, with both active and passive forms.

Major General James H. Wilson in the Civil War

Major General James H. Wilson in the Civil War James H. Wilson - Early Life: Born September 2, 1837 in Shawneetown, IL, James H. Wilson received his education locally before attending McKendree College.   Remaining there for a year, he then applied for an appointment to West Point.   Granted, Wilson arrived at the academy in 1856 where his classmates included Wesley Merritt and Stephen D. Ramseur.   A gifted student, he graduated four years later ranked sixth in a class of forty-one. This performance earned him a posting to the Corps of Engineers.   Commissioned as a second lieutenant, Wilsons initial assignment saw him serve at Fort Vancouver in the Department of Oregon as a topographical engineer.   With the beginning of the Civil War the following year, Wilson returned east for service in the Union Army. James H. Wilson - A Gifted Engineer Staff Officer: Assigned to Flag Officer Samuel F. Du Pont and Brigadier General Thomas Shermans expedition against Port Royal, SC, Wilson continued to serve as a topographical engineer.   Taking part in this effort in late 1861, he remained in the region in the spring of 1862 and aided Union forces during the successful siege of Fort Pulaski.   Ordered north, Wilson joined the staff of Major General George B. McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac.   Serving as an aide-de-camp, he saw action during the Union victories at South Mountain and Antietam that September.   The following month, Wilson received orders to serve as the chief topographical engineer in Major General Ulysses S. Grants Army of the Tennessee. Arriving in Mississippi, Wilson aided Grants efforts to capture the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg.   Made inspector general of the army, he was in this post during the campaign that led to the siege of the city including the fighting at Champion Hill and Big Black River Bridge.   Earning Grants trust, he remained with him in the fall of 1863 for the campaign to relieve Major General William S. Rosecrans Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga.   Following the victory at the Battle of Chattanooga, Wilson received a promotion to brigadier general and moved north as chief engineer of Major General William T. Shermans force which was tasked with aiding Major General Ambrose Burnside at Knoxville.   Ordered to Washington, DC in February 1864, he assumed command of the Cavalry Bureau.   In this position he worked tirelessly to supply the Union Armys cavalry and lobbied to equip it with fast-loading Spencer repeating carbines. James H. Wilson - Cavalry Commander: Though an able administrator, Wilson received a brevet promotion to major general on May 6 and command of a division in Major General Philip H. Sheridans Cavalry Corps.   Taking part in Grants Overland Campaign, he saw action at the Wilderness and played a role in Sheridans victory at Yellow Tavern.   Remaining with the Army of the Potomac for much of the campaign, Wilsons men screened its movements and provided reconnaissance.    With the beginning of the siege of Petersburg in June, Wilson and Brigadier General August Kautz were tasked with conducting a raid into General Robert E. Lees rear to destroy key railroads that supplied the city.   Riding out on June 22, the effort initially proved successful as over sixty miles of track were destroyed.   Despite this, the raid quickly turned against Wilson and Kautz as attempts to destroy the Staunton River Bridge failed.   Harried east by Confederate cavalry, the two commanders were blocked by enemy forces at Reams Station on June 29 and were forced to destroy much of their equipment and split up.   Wilsons men finally reached safety on July 2.   A month later, Wilson and his men traveled north as part of the forces assigned to Sheridans Army of the Shenandoah.   Tasked with clearing Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early from the Shenandoah Valley, Sheridan attacked the enemy at the Third Battle of Winchester in late September and won a clear victory. James H. Wilson - Back to the West: In October 1864, Wilson was promoted to major general of volunteers and ordered to oversee the cavalry in Shermans  Military Division of the Mississippi.   Arriving in the west, he trained the cavalry that would serve under Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick during Shermans March to the Sea.   Rather than accompany this force, Wilson remained with Major General George H. Thomas Army of the Cumberland for service in Tennessee. Leading a cavalry corps at the Battle of Franklin on November 30, he played a key role when his men repulsed an attempt to turn the Union left by noted Confederate cavalryman Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest.   Reaching Nashville, Wilson worked to refit his cavalry before the Battle of Nashville on December 15-16.   On the second day of the fighting, his men delivered a blow against Lieutenant General John B. Hoods left flank and then pursued the enemy after they retreated from the field. In March 1865, with little organized opposition remaining, Thomas directed Wilson to lead 13,500 men on a raid deep into Alabama with the goal of destroying the Confederate arsenal at Selma.   In addition to further disrupting the enemys supply situation, the effort would support Major General Edward Canbys operations around Mobile.   Departing on March 22, Wilsons command moved in three columns and met light resistance from troops under Forrest.   Arriving at Selma after several skirmishes with the enemy, he formed to assault the city.   Attacking, Wilson shattered the Confederate lines and routed Forrests men from the town. After burning the arsenal and other military targets, Wilson marched on Montgomery.   Arriving on April 12, he learned of Lees surrender at Appomattox three days earlier.   Pressing on with the raid, Wilson crossed into Georgia and defeated a Confederate force at Columbus on April 16.   After destroying the towns navy yard, he continued on to Macon where the raid ended on April 20.   With the end of hostilities, Wilsons men fanned out as Union troops made an effort to capture fleeing Confederate officials.   As part of this operation, his men succeeded in capturing Confederate President Jefferson Davis on May 10.   Also that month, Wilsons cavalry arrested Major Henry Wirz, commandant of the of the notorious Andersonville prisoner of war camp. James H. Wilson - Later Career Life: With the end of the war, Wilson soon reverted to his regular army rank of lieutenant colonel.   Though officially assigned to the 35th US Infantry, he spent the majority of the final five years of his career engaged in various engineering projects.    Leaving the US Army on December 31, 1870, Wilson worked for several railroads as well as took part in engineering projects on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.   With the beginning of the Spanish-American War in 1898, Wilson sought a return to military service.   Appointed a major general of volunteers on May 4, he led troops during the conquest of Puerto Rico and later served in Cuba.    Commanding the Department of Matanzas and Santa Clara in Cuba, Wilson accepted an adjustment in rank to brigadier general in April 1899.   The following year, he volunteered for the China Relief Expedition and crossed the Pacific to combat the Boxer Rebellion.   In China from September to December 1900, Wilson aided in the capture of the Eight Temples and Boxer headquarters.   Returning to the United States, he retired in 1901 and represented President Theodore Roosevelt at the coronation of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom the following year.   Active in business, Wilson died at Wilmington, DE on February 23, 1925.   One of the last living Union generals, he was buried in the citys Old Swedes Churchyard. Selected Sources National Park Service: Major General James H. WilsonMr. Lincoln Friends: Major General James H. WilsonEncyclopedia of Alabama: Major General James H. Wilsonskidfadhe or

Role of Political Parties in Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Role of Political Parties in Japan - Essay Example The Japanese political system has been subject to various political changes since the time the constitutional government has emerged. Political Parties emerged in Japan after the Meiji restoration in 1868. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica after 1868 a number of political parties emerged and some of them did get some share in forming the government. According to Hayes the first political party was founded in 1874 and the second one in 1882. The first party was called â€Å"Liberal Party’ and the second one kept on changing its name and finally settled as the Democratic Party. As stated in Encyclopedia Britannica there was a period of inactivity among political parties in the 1930s and 40s due to the war. However total liberty for the formation of political parties was given after the promulgation of the 1947 constitution. Strict rules were followed and any organization which expressed its wish to nominate a person for political posts was to be registered as a political party. As such Japan saw thousands of political parties out of which only a few managed to get a place in the spot light. At present there are five major political parties in Japan. Political system in Japan is based on the leadership provided by the Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition by other parties. Japan owes its success to the policies adopted by the LDP. Indeed LDP has made Japan an economic success on the map of the world. Today Japan is an important member of all the important organizations of the world. Its worth is valued all over and it is all due to the successful policies of the LDP. Other opposition parties have to work hard to bring about a real change in the Japanese political system.