Traveling Through the Dark Essay Example for Free

Traveling Through the Dark Essay When reading a poem for the first time, it is fairly easy to view it on a literal level. Nonetheless, after analyzing the purpose, tone, word choice, and figures of speech and how they simultaneously work together, the reader is hit with a whole new perception of the poem. William Staffords Traveling through the Dark holds this characteristic. The poem is about a man driving on a narrow road at night and his internal conflict triggered by an encounter with a dead deer along the road. He immediately leaves his car and walks toward the deer with the intention of rolling it into the canyon. However, when he discovers that this deer has an unborn fawn, the man is struck with an instant conflict. Does he push the deer off into the canyon? Or does he leave it alone and save the fawn while endangering the lives of others that will travel this narrow road? Stafford uses a mans simple confrontation with a deer as an instrument for conveying a deeper message about nature. He comes across a dead deer, and without hesitation, plans to push it into the canyon. This clearly indicates that the speaker holds no emotions whatsoever for the deer. Then, a conversational tone is thrown into the mix. The narrator is sharing and guiding the readers through his experience. He gives advice in line four, It is usually best to roll them into the canyon. This supports his informal attitude and establishes a relationship with the reader in hopes of allowing the reader to feel the way he does. Several symbolic elements emphasize the theme of Traveling through the Dark, all within the last three stanzas of the poem. The first symbol, an unborn fawn. The fawn represents the future of nature in the changing world. Although the mother, or nature in present time, has been killed the fawn still waits alive, still, never to be born (11). The fawn waits in hope that it will live to breathe air, in the hope that the speaker will save it. However, technology is also competing for the speaker’s attention. The first three lines of the fourth stanza make the idling car into a mechanized beast that kills nature. Some details about this mechanized beast are on lines thirteen to fifteen where the car aimed ahead (13) its lights, purred (14) its steady, idling engine, and emitting warm exhaust turning red (15). The third and final symbol is revealed only in the last stanza. On line seventeen, I thought hard for us all exhibits the fact that the speaker is representative of all mankind. The speaker represents mankind coming around the curve in the dark. He symbolizes mankind being caught in the struggle between nature and technology. Nature in the form of a dead doe is portrayed as an object worthy of pity while the mechanical beast is a ruthless image. Among the various descriptions relating to the dead doe, the most conspicuous is of her being large in the belly (8). The heap, a doe (6) describes the speaker’s first impression of the recent killing. Aside from those two images, the other description of the doe correlates to the sense of touch; the speaker notices that that the doe’s side was warm (10) after brushing finger against her fur. Stafford describes the car with regards to three of the body’s five senses. The car is described as having its lights lowered (13) or dimmed, casting the scene in shadows. The steady purring emitted from the engine appeals to the speaker’s sense of hearing. Warm exhaust (16) caresses the speaker, stimulating the speaker’s sense of touch.

The Mystic Knights Band and Daniel Robert Elfman Essay example -- music

Daniel Robert Elfman known as Danny Elfman was born May 29, 1953 in Amarillo Texas. He grew up in Los Angeles until he moved to France with his brother at the age of 18. His mother Blossom Elfman was a teacher and a writer and his father Milton was a teacher and was also in the Air Force. His brother Robert is a filmmaker. He was married to Bridget Fonda on November 29, 2003 and has scored one movie of hers in 1997. He has three children Lola born in 1979, Mali born in 1984, and Oliver born in 2005. When he went with his brother to France he performed with an avant-garde musical theater group known as Le Grand Magic Circus. He then decided to travel through Ghana, Mali, and Upper Volta in Africa experiencing new musical styles that would influence his own style. While in Africa he contracted malaria. When he finally returned to the United States he began studying at CalArts even though he was not really a student there. In 1972 Richard Elfman began a band known as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo that was a new wave band when he left the band to become a filmmaker. In 1976 Danny took over the band until they retired in 1995. They were then called simply Oingo Boingo in 1979 they were a ska influenced new wave band until they changed styles again in the 80’s and became more guitar rock. They were known for their Halloween themes and sold out every Halloween concert they ever performed. One of their most popular songs that is played on several radio stations every year for Halloween is â€Å"Dead Man’s Party†. In 1985 Tim Burton and Paul Reubens asked Danny Elfman to write the score for their film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. At the time he had no formal training but sought help from Steve Bartek the guitarist and arranger for Oin... ...on all 24. Nominated for 2 British Academy Film Awards and has not won either, same with Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards. Nominated for 4 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards and did not win any of them. Nominated for 2 Emmy Awards won one. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes did not win either time. Nominated for 11 Grammy Awards won once. Nominated for 1 Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards did not win it. Nominated for 6 Satellite Awards won once. Nominated for 12 Saturn Awards won 5 of them. Nominated for 2 Sierra Awards one once. Nominated for 2 World Soundtrack Awards did not win either time. He has been nominated for a total of 75 awards and has won 33. Works Cited Barnes & Noble Biography: http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/biography.asp?CTR=68216 Encylopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Danny_Elfman.aspx Music For a Darkened Theatre

Parliamentary Supremacy Essay

â€Å"In the absence of a written constitution, the UK Parliament is the sovereign law-making power, incapable of limiting its own power, or being limited by an external power.† In the absence of an unwritten, or rather, uncodified constitution, the doctrine of Parliamentary supremacy (also called â€Å"Parliamentary sovereignty†) emerges as a principle factor granting legitimacy to the exercise of government power within the UK. The doctrine of Parliamentary supremacy is a set of rules that determine how courts should approach Acts of Parliament. This includes rules pertaining to how courts should handle contradictory provisions, or Acts, as well as the status attached to an Act of Parliament. This doctrine recognises Parliament as the ultimately supreme, sovereign law-making body within the UK. The rules that construct the doctrine of Parliamentary Supremacy may be found in a number of sources; case law, constitutional conventions, statute law, and the writing of famous academics. The purpose of this essay is to analyse the extent to which the UK Parliament is â€Å"the sovereign law-making power, incapable of limiting its own power, or being limit ed by an external power.† Anytime the sovereignty of the UK Parliament is mentioned, Prof A.V. Dicey’s classic, three-point definition springs to mind. According to Dicey, a) Parliament has the right to make or unmake any law whatever, b) no Parliament can bind a future Parliament, and c) person or body has the right to override an Act of Parliament. The three points given above summarise the Doctrine of Parliamentary Supremacy (or Sovereignty). Dicey’s first and last points, pertaining to Parliament having the right to legislate on any matter and no person or body being able to override those laws, have been strongly confirmed by UK courts. Judges have repeatedly upheld the principles of Parliamentary sovereignty, in cases and quotes. Sir Ivor Jennings once stated â€Å"Parliament can legislate to ban smoking on the streets of Paris; Parliament can legally make a man into a woman.† In Madzimbamuto v Lardner-Burke (1969), Lord Reid stated â€Å"It is often said that it would be  unconstitutional for the UK parliament to do certain things†¦but that does not mean it is beyond the power of parliament to do such things.† Similarly, in ex parte Simms and O’Brien (1999), Lord Hoffman stated â€Å"Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament can†¦legslate contrary to fundamental human rights.† In Brit Railways Boards v Pickin (1974) and Edinburgh and Dalkeith Rly Co v Wauchope (1842), the courts refused to challenge the validity of an Act of Parliament, regardless of procedural flaws. This gave rise to what is now the â€Å"Enrolled Bill Rule†- which is courts will not look beyond the â€Å"Parliamentary roll.† In Jackson v AG (2005), the validity of the Act of Parliamen t 1949 and subsequent Acts passed under that procedure, was questioned. The concept of Parliamentary supremacy was challenged in obiter statements of three judges; however, the Acts were ruled as valid and the sovereignty of Parliament was again confirmed by the courts. Dicey’s second point relates to Parliament being unable to bind its’ successors. The mechanism through which courts give effect to this point is known as the â€Å"doctrine of implied repeal.† This requires courts to enforce the latter, and impliedly repeal the former, when two Acts conflict with each other. This is exemplified in the Ellen Street Estates Ltd v Minister of Health (1934). Thoburn v Sunderland City Council (2002) examined the doctrine of implied repeal more closely and held there is a special class of statutes, called, â€Å"constitutional statutes†, that cannot be impliedly repealed. Rather, they can only be expressly repealed. These constitutional statutes are those defining fundamental rights, such as the Magna Carta and Bill of Rights 1689. The Act of Union 1706 Act intended to bind future UK Parliaments, but that eventually failed. In MacCormick v Lord Advocate (1953), it was argued the principle of Parliamentary sovereignty is not reco gnised in Scottish law. The â€Å"manner and form argument† declares that although there is no limit to the subject matter on which Parliament can legislate, and a Parliament cannot bind its successors, the manner and form in which it legislates may be limited. Special procedures for legislation may be set down by the courts. This was illustrated in Minister of the Interior v Harris (1952). The two factors that challenge the concept of Parliamentary sovereignty are  the ECA 1972 and the HRA 1998. EctJ judgements are binding on all UK courts, and according to S.2 of the ECA 1972, all Acts of Parliament are to be construed according to EU law. EctHR judgements are not strictly binding on the UK Supreme Court (formerly House of Lords), but the HRA 1998 calls for all legislation to be interpreted according to Convention rights. If an Act of Parliament is incompatible with the HRA, a â€Å"declaration of incompatibility† will be issued by the courts but the Act will remain in force until Parliament amends it. This â€Å"declaration of incompatibility,† in fact, enphasises the sovereignty of Parliament. In the Jackson case, Lord Hope states the supremacy of Community law limits the sovereignty of the UK Parliament. In summary, it appears the UK Parliament, to a large extent, is a â€Å"sovereign law-making power, incapable of limiting its own power,† as evidenced by many cases mentioned above. Parliament can legislate on any subject matter it chooses to, and no body has the authority t override an Act of Parliament. As illustrated by the Enrolled Bill Rule, even procedural flaws cannot invalidate an Act of Parliament. However, it is limited slightly by external powers, such as the ECA 1972, the HRA 1998, and special procedures may be laid down to make legislation difficult. However, the fact that Parliament, of its own free will, chose to pass the ECA and HRA indicates that these Acts do not limit its’ sovereignty. Parliament can, after all, legislate to undo the above-mentioned Acts and procedures if it chooses to. The phrase â€Å"what the queen enacts in Parliament is law† remains a fairly accurate embodiment of the doctrine of Parliamentary Sovereignty.

Ralph Ellison s Invisible Man - 1429 Words

Authors who incorporate political or social issues into their novels are often doing so in order to create a deeper meaning by allowing these elements to serve as a basis while also allowing these elements to give the characters direction. In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the main social issue that prevails throughout the course of the novel is race in the society. The concept of race as one of the main focuses of this novel in particular provides a basis for the main character, the narrator, for which he can explore, grow, and maintain a grasp on reality versus false hope. The concept of race also allows the narrator to recognize his invisibility in society which further allows him to gain perspective of various other things. The narrator’s struggle against this social issue is seen through several symbols provided by Ellison through the novel. The symbols Ellison provides are that of the word ‘sambo’ and the sambo dolls, the Optic White paint from The Li berty Paints Plant, and the Brotherhood. Although each symbol is different from one another, they all generally encompass the same element of race. This social issue also creates problems for the narrator when it comes to his own ways of thinking. It is through the narrator’s invisibility and the symbols provided by Ellison that the true meaning or theme of the novel comes into focus, this deeper meaning being the limitations and effects of general thinking and stereotypes due to race as well as the side-effects of race onShow MoreRelatedRalph Ellison s Invisible Man925 Words   |  4 PagesIn Ralph Ellison’s, Invisible Man, Grandfather’s dream presents a piece of advice that challenges and opens Invisible Man’s eyes to different perspectives. The dream haunts Invisible Man as he often refers to and reflects upon his grandfather’s advice. 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Also, I do not believe that Ellison necessarily wrote this novel with intentions to include exact characteristics of the past, or in an ahistorical way. However, throughout the text of the novel Invisible Man, there are severalRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance And Its Impact On Ralph Ellison s Book The Invisible Man Essay2165 Words   |  9 Pagesimpact on Ralph Ellison’s book The Invisible Man. This paper will illustrate how the Harlem Renaissance assisted the African-American intellectual community to gain acceptance in mainstream America and prompted the writing of the book The Invisible Man, written by Ralph Ellison. Throughout this paper, I will examine the social context and climate of Ellison’s work. This paper will focus on the experience of a young African American man who claims to be invisible. However, the young man argues thatRead More`` Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison : A Black Man s Search For Identity2068 Words   |  9 Pagesidentity can also be defined as one’s name. 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Once the narrator arrives in Harlem, it becomes apparent that he was sent to Harlem as a punishment and has been permanently expelled from black college. The narrator