The darkling Thrush and Neutral tones Essay Example For Students

The darkling Thrush and Neutral tones Essay Both poems deal with the presence or lack of hope. Though hope may not be mentioned many times throughout the poem, it is clear The Darkling Thrush optimises hope, whereas Neutral Tones is about the end of a relationship. The Darkling Thrush begins with the introduction of Thomas Hardy describing all that he sees and feels around him in negatively superficial detail. This is done by continuously using exaggerated personifications, The wind his death-lament. These help give the poem a vivid image to gain the depth of Thomas Hardys feeling towards the landscape and so when reading through the poem, it is very clear when the poem takes on a positive tone: At once a voice arose among The bleak twigs overhead The theme of hope can be seen as anything good or positive taking place when there is nothing but negativity around. In this part of the poem it comes suddenly, as emphasized by the At once in the first line of the second stanza. We will write a custom essay on The darkling Thrush and Neutral tones specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now It brings Warmth to a poem which in the previous two stanzas expressed nothing but cold and negative emotions, which were further enhanced by alliterations, such as: The Centurys corpse out leant His crypt the cloudy canopy, Thomas Hardy is clearly in a very pessimistic mood, this is made obvious in the first line of the last stanza where he reprehends the Thrushs actions; So little cause for carolings. This is a metaphor used to describe the connotations of Christmas time. In the last 4 lines of the last stanza it becomes apparent that though Thomas Hardy maybe in a pessimistic mood, he is not actually hopeless. Some blessed hope, whereof he knew And I was unaware. By questioning the actions of the thrush, he himself eventually realises that hope may exist only he is unaware as to when it may come or what form it maybe in. When reading a poem, the first thing that the reader usually glances at is the title, therefore, the title has to have a certain amount of information in it. For example, when the reader looks at the word Neutral in Neutral Tones he or she will immediately have certain ideas and connotations running through his or her head. The word neutral has connotations such as silence, disinterest, dispassionate and impartial. Therefore, the reader immediately is given a clue about what the poem is going to be about. The reader knows that this poem is not going to be about something exciting or adventurous. As a result, Hardys presentation of love is bleak. One of the ways that one can tell that Neutral Tones is about a concluding relationship is by the figurative language. For example, line nine declares, The smile on her face was the deadest thing. By using the word deadest, Hardy has suggested that the connection between the two is dying; had he used the words happiest or warmest; it would have changed the message of the phrase totally and would have suggested that the relationship was content. Hardy also uses the word grey often. As grey is associated with neutral and endings but not the end, it suggests that the relationship is coming to an end, whereas if he had used the word black it would have changed the meaning, as black has connotations of endings, death and insecurity. On the other hand, if Hardy had used the words red or pink, it would have given the impression of the relationship being in an earlier stage, i. e. the lust stage; this is because love and lust are associated with such colours. Also, on line four Hardy writes, they had fallen from an ash and were grey. Hardy has used the ash tree for a certain reason, this being the fact that the ash tree is a symbol of love. Because Hardy had said that the leaves on the tree were falling and grey one would presume that the couples love is also falling, therefore, the reader believes that the couples relationship is falling apart. .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 , .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .postImageUrl , .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 , .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6:hover , .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6:visited , .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6:active { border:0!important; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6:active , .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6 .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2a20f3bd622445e56e492cce3a28f4d6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poetry analysis Essay ThesisFigurative work to present the scenery of Thomas Hardys mood as well as the petty argument that took place between both of them, And some words played between us to and fro On which lost the more by our love Hardy uses winter to portray love in his poem. This tells the reader that the relationship is at an end. It could also mean that the couple has cold feelings towards each other, as winter is the coldest season. This portrays the stage of love as it tells you what the couple is feeling towards each other and what stage of love they are in. The tone of each poem is quite similar; although they dont both dominantly portray the same negativeness. In The Darkling Thrush we have stronger emotions and a more morbid insight to the poem that ends with an unexpected arrival of hope. Whereas with Neutral Tones it offers a succinct conclusion to a failed love story, and it also shows how memory works that we frequently think and feel in terms of visual image, thus creating more of a stir, and so to me making it more fascinating.

The eNotes Blog Man Booker Prize Awarded to Eleanor Catton for The Luminaries

Man Booker Prize Awarded to Eleanor Catton for The Luminaries What were you doing at age 28? If you were author Eleanor Catton, you would be graciously  accepting Britains highest literary honor, the Man Booker Prize.   Catton won the prestigious award for her   second novel  The Luminaries.   In addition to making her the youngest recipient in the history of the prize, Cattons 832 page novel is also the longest work to ever win. The Luminaries  is set in New Zealand during the gold rush of 1866.   Catton knows the country well, as she moved from Canada to New Zealand at the age of six. Here is an excerpt from the novel, published by Londons  The Telegraph.   Click here to read the longer sampling: MERCURY IN SAGITTARIUS In which a stranger arrives in Hokitika; a secret council is disturbed; Walter Moody conceals his most recent memory; and Thomas Balfour begins to tell a story. The twelve men congregated in the smoking room of the Crown Hotel gave the impression of a party accidentally met. From the variety of their comportment and dress – frock coats, tailcoats, Norfolk jackets with buttons of horn, yellow moleskin, cambric, and twill – they might have been twelve strangers on a railway car, each bound for a separate quarter of a city that possessed fog and tides enough to divide them; indeed, the studied isolation of each man as he pored over his paper, or leaned forward to tap his ashes into the grate, or placed the splay of his hand upon the baize to take his shot at billiards, conspired to form the very type of bodily silence that occurs, late in the evening, on a public railway – deadened here not by the slur and clunk of the coaches, but by the fat clatter of the rain. Such was the perception of Mr. Walter Moody, from where he stood in the doorway with his hand upon the frame. He was innocent of having disturbed any kind of private conference, for the speakers had ceased when they heard his tread in the passage; by the time he opened the door, each of the twelve men had resumed his occupation (rather haphazardly, on the part of the billiard players, for they had forgotten their places) with such a careful show of absorption that no one even glanced up when he stepped into the room. This award marks the last in which Americans are not eligible to win.   In 2014, the Man Booker will also accept submissions from across the pond.   The only stipulations for consideration are that the work is published in English and that it is available for purchase in the U.K.   This year, Catton won against the following nominees:   Ã‚  A Tale for the Time Being  by Ruth Ozeki,  Harvest  by Jim Crace,  The Lowland  by Jhumpa Lahiri,  The Testament of Mary  by Colm Toibin and  We Need New Names  by NoViolet Bulawayo. In 2012, Hilary Mantel won for Bring Up the Bodies,  Ã‚  her sequel to  Wolf Hall.   Wolf Hall  won it in 2009.

Research/ Detail Paper of the Religion of the Sunni Muslim People Research

/ Detail of the Religion of the Sunni Muslim People - Research Paper Example Although several branches of Islam exist, Sunni Muslims are the largest by followership, accounting for about 80 percent of the world’s Muslim population, followed by the Shi’a at approximately 10 percent. As a branch of Islam, the Sunni emerged in the 7th century C.E. in the Middle East after disagreements arose over who would succeed Prophet Muhammad. At the height of the disagreement, the Sunni advocated for the selection of a successor (also referred to as caliph) by the entire Muslim community, but the Shi’a believed that Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law and also cousin, had been chosen by the prophet to succeed him. This paper will research specific features and viewpoints of the Sunni Muslim and describe their past, present and future. It will further highlight their conflicts and where they stand on the worldview and in the eyes of the US government and the Taliban. At this point, it is important to mention that the defining belief of the Taliban is Sunn i Islam; however, their interpretation and practice of Islam, including Sharia law and female brutality, informed scholars’ decision to refer to them as fundamentalists or extremists (Goodson, 2002). The term Sunni is derived from the word Sunnah, which is an Arabic term that translates into â€Å"the traditions of Prophet Muhammad†. The Sunni Muslims agree with the other Islamic branches on many practical and theological aspects. This is because Islamic life stems from and is defined by Sharia (or Islamic) law. However, the areas that are unique to Sunni Muslims and set them apart from the start include the fact that they developed and grew from a controversy; they do not agree with claims that a successor was named by the prophet; they believed that companions of the prophet had authoritative leadership; and they relied on the consensus of scholars and religion. More contemporarily is their typical emphasis of Allah’s power and how he determines human fate. Th eir definition of what it entails being a Muslim is more inclusive, and that is why their tradition places prominence on the functions of religion in family (such as marriage, inheritance, divorce), political and public life (Goodson, 2002). For a better insight into Sunni Muslims, the research will be split into sections. Further, because the essence of Sunni Muslims is founded on their differences with the Shi’a Muslims, comparisons between the two will be used for the purpose of emphasis. History Although the Sunni would later develop theological and legal traditions and structures over the centuries, its fundamental origins are embedded in the caliph succession dispute. The 632 C.E. death of Muhammad pitted the Muslim community into a leadership wrangle because Muhammad did not have living heirs, who were required to be male. Without one that the community could agree upon, it followed that they split along the lines of choice of a leader, ending up with the Sunni and Shi ’a. Each sect had several subdivisions, but the Sunni and the Shi’a still represent the key divide in Islam (Johnson, 2010). Those who did not back the leadership of Ali adopted the name Sunni, which is a term that derives from ahl al-sunna wa al-jamaa. This is an Arabic phrase referring to a group of people who consider themselves to follow the ways of the prophet and are people of the community. They decided that the next caliph should come from the Quraysh tribe, to which the prophet belonged. Literature on Sunni history indicates that while the prophet

Business Growth and Sustainability Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Growth and Sustainability - Assignment Example Holding the tournament on campus would cut costs and maximize profits. In addition, it would provide a ready market base that would go a long way to achieve great results within the shortest time possible. The tournament would address the business objectives, whilst significantly reducing the running costs. Its success was focused on its leadership and management position, which turned it into a goal-oriented adventure. The sales process was flexible and accommodated consumer needs and changing market trends. Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... 1 1.1 Overview of Make an Impact†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1 1.2 The Product – Fifa 12†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2 1.3 The Business†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 2 1.4 Short term aim†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... 3 2.0 Market†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3 2.1Market Size†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ... 5 4.0 Risks†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 5.0 Finance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 8 6.0 Growth†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 8 INTRODUCTION: 1.1 Overview of Make an impact. For the make an impact week, the team was set the task of creating an idea to generate funds for charity during university time. The team decided to hold a Fifa 12 tournament as its project. It had to promote and market the idea around campus and raise money for a char ity at the end of the week. The group carried out the task efficiently and met all its objectives, which were set at the start of the Make an impact week. The basis for the idea worked well in terms of generating quick profit with a low starting up cost, which was its main advantage. Make an impact week was intended to develop strategies for establishing a business idea that would attain and maintain realistic growth. The team held a tournament aimed to increase sales of Fifa 12 tickets as fast as market conditions would allow. The project emphasized the focus of strategic planning that enables a business to grow forward. This focus includes public relations, public image, labour relations, advertising and promotion, political lobbying and flowing with the stream (Daems, 2006, p. 157). 1.2 The Product – Fifa 12 Fifa 12 is a game that is fun, competitive and socially interactive. It was a feasible idea for fundraising as it brought people together without trying too hard. The idea of the FIFA tournament was arrived at after thorough

General Field Marshell Erwin Rommel the true leader of Men Term Paper

General Field Marshell Erwin Rommel the true leader of Men - Term Paper Example The purpose of this paper is to discuss his accomplishments and to also analyze his extraordinary leadership abilities, display of chivalry and gallantry towards his opponents, his soldier’s code and faith as an underlying theme of the paper. World War I: The period of World War I saw Rommel fight in Italy, Romania and France for the majority of the war in Alpenkorps, an elite Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion. His service proved to be highly successful throughout and this success was recognized and praised when he was awarded Iron Cross, Second Class and Iron Cross, First Class in 1914 and 1915, respectively. He was further decorated with the highest German honor, the order of Pour le Merite in 1918. His efficient and quick decision-making, display of bravery and ability to reap benefit out of the weaknesses of the enemy led to the capture of Mount Matajur and a vast number of Italian Defenders, in return of a fairly small loss for Rommel’s men which was an achievement in itself and could be attributed to his skills as a military commander and a strategic thinker. The First World War was only the beginning for Rommel’s extraordinary accomplishments and emergence as a chivalrous military leader, for his direction in World War II was even more resolute. In the period leading up to the Second World War, Rommel served at Dresden Infantry School as an instructor, it is during this time from 1929 to 1933 that he penned down â€Å"Gefechts-Aufgaben fur Zug und Kompanie  : Ein Handbuch fur den Offizierunterricht", an instruction manual for officers involved in infantry training, which reflected Rommel’s prowess as a leader who believed that military achievements depended greatly upon the skill and training of the armed forces. Rommel is also credited with writing "Infanterie greift an" a book which documented his military observations throughout World War I and was highly regarded as a source of guidance for the army. Certainly, Rommel was one of the few leaders who firmly held the conviction in the ideology that military strategy and tactitical decision-making was of great and undeniable importance for the success of any campaign. World War II: This part of the paper will document Erwin Rommel’s accomplishments through the period of the Second World War, analyzing the leadership style and characteristics that can be attributed to his accomplishments as well his conduct which has enabled Lewin amongst many other commentators to label him as a highly professional and humane officer. Rommel commanded the Fuhrerbegleithauptquartier  (Fuhrer escort headquarters) in the 1939 invasion of Poland until its defeat, in the following year Rommel voiced concern that his current position in the guard detail was not allowing him to fully exploit his abilities. Upon his request to Hitler to hand him charge of a panzer division, Rommel was handed over the control of the 7th Panzer Division on 6th February, 1940, three months later the planned invasion of France would occur. The reason why Rommel was suited to lead a panzer division was because of two factors which were central to his own approach towards leadership and fighting against the enemy – surprise and maneuver. Under his leadership, the 7th Panzer Division systematically practiced the methods that were integral to advancement in the campaign, the triumph of the 7th Panzer

Business Environment Analysis For Marks And Spencer Economics Essay

Business Environment Analysis For Marks And Spencer Economics Essay My chosen organisation is Marks and Spencer. Marks and Spencer has six main objectives. The main goal of any business is to increase profit. This is done by working out the total revenue that the business has made from selling and costs of its product. For any business to survive, profit must be earned. Like any other business Marks and Spencer needs to increase its sales. To do this they must fulfill what the customer needs and desires. To increase their sales Marks and Spencer needs to attract new customers by for instance aiming for the younger market whilst at the same time ensure that its loyal customers are kept satisfied with a supply of products which cater for their needs. Marks and Spencer also have the objective of earning market leadership. In order to do this, they must become more competitive. By meeting the wants and needs of more customers as well as by attracting more potential customers and offering better quality for affordable prices, Marks and Spencer can oust the competition and achieve a high standing status in the market. Offering a high quality service is also one of Marks and Spencers objectives. In their annual report they claimed that no one cares more about quality than they do and in fact Marks and Spencer are well known for this. Like other businesses another objective for Marks and Spencer is growth. For Marks and Spencer to survive and to be competitive, the issue of growth must be attended to. By growing, the business is expanding globally and thus achieves recognition in different countries attracting different pools of clientele. The last objective of Marks and Spencer is rewarding shareholders. It is important for a business to keep the shareholders content since they are a fundamental source of investment. Marks and Spencer needs to make profit in order to maintain share holders as well as attract further investment. Each of these objectives has its own importance, neglecting either one of them would surely bring the organisation to a halt. Marks and Spencer has created a set of six priorities in order to better meet the objectives it has set out. The organization aims to retain their leading position in the market whilst improving their performance in certain sectors which do not make as much profit as other areas, such as for instance the food sector. In this way they can continue to satisfy the current customers they hold whilst attracting potential customers by focusing on better promoting one of the branches of their business. Through the optimization of margins, controlling costs and expenditure and maintaining a strong balance sheet, Marks and Spencer can ensure a better calculation of its profits and losses and thus have a better chance of securing its place in the market through the composition of a well-planned market strategy. Finally and by no means as a last priority, Marks and Spenc er deems it necessary to enforce high ethical standards. Essentially the organization has to increase its sales since this is the only way in which it will be able to make a profit. It therefore has to invest in its products and ensure that these are marketed well as its ultimate goal is to attract customers and keep them from going to their competitor. It is of no surprise that driving their international business is not a first priority since ultimately I think they would be better off ensuring that the organization is functioning with utmost profitability before seeking to expand to other areas. 1b) External stakeholders play an important part in the achievement of the business, this is because they sell to and purchase from the company, but they are not employed by the company. They are considered stakeholders as they stand to gain from the company. Some external stakeholders of Marks and Spencer are customers, suppliers and the general public. One of the most essential stakeholders of a business is the customer. The customers of Marks and Spencer purchase the products marketed by the company resulting in a profit for the organization. Without customers the business would not survive. Suppliers are external stakeholders as they sell their products to Marks and Spencer in exchange for a price; thus both parties benefit from this relationship. Marks and Spencer need to take care of their suppliers to ensure that the suppliers continue to provide them with good quality products for a reasonable price, so that in turn Marks and Spencer provides its customers with the same good quality products at competitive prices. Another important stakeholder is the general public. The organization must take into consideration various factors when developing products as well as their production processes. The reason for this is the impact and influence which such process or product may have on potential and actual customers. Marks and Spencer have to ensure that their goods are environmentally friendly and are produced in an environmentally friendly way. Having a means of production which creates high health or environment hazards will result in a decline of people purchasing the product, or potentially purchasing from that organization, therefore, a lower amount of sales and consequently a reduction in profits. 2) There are several conditions that affect demand in an organization. A change in a customers income is one such condition. If the purchaser does not have a good income to maintain himself or his family, then he will definitely not have enough money to treat himself to something that he wants, conversely, if the buyer earns a good income, he would be more likely to spend. Thus the rise in income is directly proportionate to the demand and affects it in such a way that with an increase in income, the consumer will tend to purchase more products than he would if he earned a lesser amount. Marks and Spencers offers high quality products with good value, thus people earning an average wage would definitely afford their products. A second condition is when a substitute product changes its price. The increase in the price of one good will direct to an increase in demand for the competing product. Another condition is when a price of a complementary product changes. Here one considers supplies that are in complementary demand, such as the demand for video players and video films. If Marks and Spencer sells DVD players at a cheaper price, the likelihood is that more DVD players will be bought. This will lead to a growth in market demand for DVD films. The changes in weather also condition demand. The price of a product fluctuates when either demand or supply changes. For example in good weather the supply of grains and oil normally increases. Customers will tend to purchase more when products are more readily available and are at a lower price. One can also consider the scenario where the change in climate or weather increases the demand as is the case in the sale of umbrellas when rain is expected. Another condition is the changes in taxation on the product. The implementation of a tax by the government affects product prices in such a way that the organization will have to raise its price in order to be able to meet the tax requirement, cater for the expenditure incurred for the purchase of the product as well as keep a percentage of profit from the sale. Thus one must assess whether the business can pass some or all of the tax onto the customer through a higher price without negatively affecting the demand. Clothes and accessories are essential products in todays world and affect all levels of society indiscriminately. A condition that relates to their demand is changes to tastes and fashions. Companies try to influence the varying tastes and preferences of households in favor of their products with the help of a good marketing and advertising strategy. The influence which these advertisements have on the public brings about an increase in demand for their products. Marks and Spencer offers a wide range of variety in clothes. They offer a selection of inexpensive to extravagant and luxurious products that cater for every pocket. Another condition is a change in the population, such as growth. Due to the inelasticity of demand of a product such as food; which will continue to sell despite any increase in price; as the population grows so does the demand. Consequently this leads to growth in agriculture and the expansion of cultivated land. I think in this type of situation the only thing that Marks and Spencer can do is generate more products so as to cater for a bigger demand by the growing population. Marketing in itself is a condition which affects demand. Marketers must pursue constant research and should not rely solely on their own judgment to determine whether marketing decisions need to be adjusted. When considering price adjustment, the marketer must investigate the effects which a change in price is likely to have on target market demand for a product. Understanding how changes in price affect the market requires the marketer have a firm understanding of the concept of elasticity of demand. This entails an evaluation of the price and how it alone affects the overall demand. This assessment necessarily requires one to consider the manner in which competitors may react to the marketers price change by changing the price of their product. Thus one here anticipates the market reaction and how this will affect company revenue. Marks and Spencer continue to strive to meet customer demand; the expansion of their websites offering free delivery and online deals clearly illustrates this. Marks and Spencer have continued to endeavor to provide a better service by increasing the number of people in their trading teams in order to focus on bringing the right products to the right stores, to meet the ever-growing demands of the customer. 3a) A mixed economy is when both the private and the public sector take part in the production, distribution and all other economic activities within a state. The mixed economy permits the inclusion of private contribution in the field of production in a situation of competition with an aim of achieving profit. This mixture of free enterprise and government control has been looked upon from varying perceptions; some claim it is beneficial whilst others believe it has no impact or is detrimental to the economy of that state. An advantage of a mixed economy is that it assists in increasing over-all production in the nation.  Private and public segments work hard in order to bring about more production. People can take the initiative to start companies on their own, whilst deciding what to produce and the prices they will charge for the goods or services that they offer.  Ã‚  Another advantage is the use of government revenue through the payment of taxes, these organisations obtain benefits such as those provided by government services like social programs, subsidies and other government incentive programs. The benefits of mixed economies have been witnessed by the growth of some states into some of the leading markets in the world such as those of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Some disadvantages of a mixed economy are that businesses have to find their own niche in the marketplace for products, and that they have no control over the taxes they pay.  Companies often complain of tax rates being too high for the services and products they offer. Certain economists opine that in fact, mixed economies hardly ever accomplish the growth at which they are aimed. They also criticize the fact that the mixed economies do not make proper use of national resources. 3b) The current economic climate of the USA is a recession, as seen in the figure below. A recession is a phase of general economic turn down. This comes with a fall in the stock market, an increase in unemployment and a turn down in the property market. If a recession persists long enough it is often then classified as a depression. The last two depressions of the USA occurred in 1990-1991 and 2001, lasting eight months each and only two of the ten previous post-depression downturns lasted as long as a full year according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Tony Fratto, the Deputy Press Secretary for the White House emphasized on the need for the American Government to take the necessary steps to bring the economy back to its full force. He propounded on the importance of returning the financial and credit markets back to their normal state, and to try to re-establish the housing market. Mr. Fratto also held that in order to reach stability the states must necessarily take cognizance of the current unemployment situation. Although there is no singular cause, one of the principal reasons given to explain the current economic recession was the housing downturn that resulted in losses of multibillion dollars for one of the nations leading banks as early as 2006. Furthermore, June 2007 was recorded as a period with the lowest rate of home sales and in December of the same year, the recession was deemed to have started. In 2008 due to a reduction in the labour market, the costs of living rose along with the unemployment rate, leading to a reduction in the peoples savings. In 2009/2010 the global markets continued to shift, unemployment increased whilst profits, interest rates, expenditure and investment continued to descend rapidly. Various commentators have stated that the present recession is one of the extended downturns since the Great Depression of the 1930s. What is President Obama doing to try to get out of the recession? President Obama requested Congress to provide him with an economic package the value of which amounted to more than 800 Billion Dollars in order to be able to cope with the current economic crisis. As part of his economic policy the President engaged in a series of talks with the banking sector to introduce new banking policies for the benefit of its customers. Monetary and fiscal policies are being updated, special care being taken so as to reduce the present economic crisis. Many US economic policies are being promulgated by government to stabilize the financial sector. A motion was put forward for the modification of health insurance in order to ensure better health for residents and counteract the repercussions that poverty might bring upon the American citizens. The introduction of new inventions and ideas would help in the economic development of the continent and generate a new source of investment and income. Currently, one can see an immense expansion being demonstrated in the area of computing, aerospace, medical and military equipment. 4a) Price intervention in the context of the European Community refers to a point when the world market price falls below the EU price, the EU interferes to buy the surplus product, in order to keep the price high. Fifty years ago, the importance of the EU agricultural policy was to supply enough food to a Europe coming from a time of shortages, due to war. The EU policy seeks to facilitate the route for producers of all forms of food; such as crops, fruit and vegetables; in order to enable them to compete with other producers on both a European and a global scale. The EU nowadays helps farmers by giving them payments to keep their lands in good condition and to meet the environmental and animal welfare standards, as an alternative to paying famers to produce more. The Common Agricultural Policy with the help of the Community, purchases farm products after the market price falls below the agreed level so as keep itself from the accumulation of Butter Mountains and Wine Lakes. The advantages of price intervention in the EU through the Common Agricultural Policy are that it provides incentives and measures to raise productivity and ensure reasonable living standards for the agricultural society. It also promotes the stabilization of the market whilst ensuring availability of food products at reasonable and realistic prices. The disadvantages are that due to an increase in productivity leading to a surplus which can result in Butter Mountains. These cause an increase in the tax load on EU Member States due to a rise in the contributions each must make to the budget. I think that the European Unions Agricultural policy is a necessary tool which allows farmers to maintain their jobs whilst keeping agricultural produce at a stable price for everyone to afford and thus minimalising waste and expenditure. http://europa.eu/pol/agr/index_en.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4407792.stm 4b) Introduced in 1999, the European Economic and Monetary policy aimed to facilitate the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour. Full integration necessitates the harmonization of member states in certain sectors in order to achieve greater unity and symmetry. EMU in conjunction with other policies implemented by the European Community seeks to achieve this objective. Having the euro as a common currency has proved particularly useful during the recession because it provided more stability for countries within the Union by allowing them to deal with the economic crises in a strategic and co-ordinated manner. The benefits of being in the Euro-Zone are that goods, services and profits are easily moved across the national borders of the Unions member states. The Euro has gained strength over the years and now competes with strong-standing currencies such as the American Dollar. An additional benefit of the adoption of the EMU is that it is now becoming far easier to trade, travel and invest within the Union itself. However, in order to join the EMU, EU member states need to meet certain criteria. Every governments debt must be not exceed 60% of a countrys gross domestic product, the deficit must not be greater than 3% of the nations gross domestic product and the inflation rate must be reduced to below 3.2% and conversely government bonds producing 7.7%. Member States encounter certain additional problems when considering full integration with the European Union; these include dealing with tax, the application and transposition of different regulations affecting financial intermediaries along with security trading systems. In conclusion I would like to speak from my own personal experience as the citizen of one of the smallest member states in the Union. Malta adopted the Euro in 2008; the process of adjusting our economic and financial institutions to meet the established criteria was no easy one. The strive towards full integration is no easy task but so far has reaped many benefits, the only hope for the future is that it will continue to do so. http://lexicon.ft.com/term.asp?t=Economic-and-Monetary-UnionEMU http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/publication_summary12325_en.htm http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LZQpGtQWjRL2yvLcRhXHT5tv3vQhW31Mcq3jhc1qYn14HWcGPT4g!631636653!610724718?docId=5001841397 Bibliography 123helpme, (2010) Marks and Spencer objectives, [Online] Available: http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=149330 [Accessed 2/1/10] Blurit, (2010) Mixed Economy [Online] Available: http://www.blurtit.com/q917361.html [Accessed 20/1/10] Economy Watch, (2010) Mixed economy, [Online] Available: http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/world-economic-indicators/mixed-economy.html [Accessed 20/1/10] HNC/D Module 1 Course Notes, RDI, 2005. MS Full Annual report and financial statements 2009 Directors report [Accessed 2/1/10] Net MBA Business Knowledge Centre, (2010) Price elasticity of demand, [Online] Available: http://www.netmba.com/econ/micro/demand/elasticity/price/ [Accessed 10/1/10] Trading Charts, (2010) How Supply and Demand Determine Commodities Market Prices, [Online] Available: http://futures.tradingcharts.com/learning/supply_and_demand.html [Accessed 15/1/10] Kevin Colby, News. Politics. Liberty, (2010) Americas Current Economic Condition, [Online] Available: http://kevincolby.com/2008/10/26/americas-current-economic-condition/ [Accessed 21/1/10] Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer, (2010) http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/01/news/economy/recession/index.htm http://www.economywatch.com/economic-policy/us.html http://www.economywatch.com/finance/public-finance/public-finance-and-public-policy.html http://www.unb.ca/news/view.cgi?id=1715 http://www.investorwords.com/4086/recession.html

Children, Television, and Violence Essay -- Children Effect Violence M

Children, Television, and Violence TV violence may influence children more than most people are aware of. The amount of violence on TV is an important topic in today's society. One of the reasons it should be so important to all of us is because almost everyone in America today has a television set, and because of it's availability, children are viewing disturbing images everyday from the comfort of their own homes. Television is all about ratings. To keep the viewers from changing the channel, networks will try to do anything. Even the news is displaying more bloody details than people need to see. If there isn ¡Ã‚ ¯t a murder, rape, or shoot-out on the news, people are let down. They may get bored with the broadcast and change the channel. That is the main reason why kids can be exposed to view acts of violence even while watching a comedy. By putting violence into the equation, networks become more confident that you are not going to change the channel. The networks don ¡Ã‚ ¯t give a damn about the affects it m ay have on the children watching, just as long as the ratings are high and the money keeps rolling in. The network broadcasters need to decrease the violence because it often confuses children, and as we all know children are visual learners. This may cause young kids sometimes blur things with the real world that they see on TV. It helps makes this happen by shaping an altered reality. Children do not seem to have a full grasp of the real world and the situations it m...