Sir Gawains Shield and the Quest for Perfection Essay

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a religious allegory full of Christian symbolism with the central message of sin, forgiveness, and redemption. The poem is a great story of virtues, trust and honor. Its an Arthurian romance in which Sir Gawain carries a shield on his chest in his quest for Green Knight. Gawains shield has two images, a picture of Virgin Mary on the inside and Painted upon his shield is a five-pointed star (pentangle). He is a perfect knight who realizes that it is important to be a good Christian The image of Mary inside this shield conveys that Gawain never loses heart and the detailed description of the pentangle is a key for proper understanding of the poems message. The poet spells out the†¦show more content†¦It is a symbol of the perfect chivalry. The pentangles placement on Gawains shield suggests that his knightly virtues may be a protection in his quest. It appears when Gawain is about to leave in quest of Green Knight. He wears it because it carries a special significance for him. He defines his life by this symbol and attempts, to exemplify the traits it represents. The physical features of the pentangle he wears on his shield emphasizes that hes pure and perfect like the gold on his shield. The poet also calls the pentangle a token of truth in line 626. Because truth is the largest significance of the pentangle and it points to the theme of faithfulness in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Gawain is tested for his faithfulness to all of his promises--to the Green Knight in the so-called beheading game and to Bertilak in the so-called exchange of winnings. Pentangles endless knot forming five interconnected points is an icon for Gawains perfection and interdependence of his virtues. The interlocking lines of the pentangle are loyal to each otherTheir unflawed combination makes them strong. The narrators language emphasizes on the strong relationship of these five virtues that is being tasted in the poem. These five fives are being tempted during Sir Gawains quest for perfection. On New Years Day when in King Arthurs court all areShow MoreRelatedSir Gawains Shield and the Green Night: A Semiotic Analysis1378 Words   |  6 PagesIn the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain must go on a quest to find the Green Knight from whom he accepted a challenge a year earlier. Because Gawain lives the chivalric code, he must keep his promise to the Green Knight and let him get one swing of the axe one year and a day after he swung the axe on him. Before leaving for this quest, Gawain was given amazing armor and a descriptive shield. This shield was more than just a shield; it had a much greater meaning like many otherRead MoreExamples Of The Pentangle In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1233 Words   |  5 PagesIn the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain brings two very different items to face the Green Knight. The pentangle on Gawain’s shield and the green girdle he ties around himself are both complex symbols with many contrasting meanings . One of the ways the Gawain-poet uses these items is juxtaposing them to develop Sir Gawain’s character. The pentangle represents the ideal human perfection and the green girdle causes Gawain to fail to teach him about his lack of perfection. At the same timeRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1482 Words   |  6 PagesIn Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, the protagonist, Sir Gawain, is illustrated as the imperfect hero of the tale. His documented imperfections and various flaws create a sense of irony when put into comparison with the depiction of the pentangle on his shield. The pentangle, designed by King Solomon of old as his own magical seal, symbolizes the virtues that Gawain aspires to uphold: to be faultless in his five senses, that his five fingers were never at fault, being faithful to the five woundsRead MoreChristian Symbolism and Chivalric Ideals in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight1472 Words   |  6 Pages Upon first Reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knigh t, I noticed that it comes off as a romantic normative poem about chivalric ideals and traditions of the ruling class with covertly Christian Images. The protagonist character Sir Gawain stands out as the role model of the chivalric ideals of the 14th century while displaying Christian images on his armor. The combination of Gawain’s armor and actions throughout the poem exemplify his characteristics of Christian perfection and chivalric ideals. TheRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1152 Words   |  5 PagesIn the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by Brian Stone, the idea of righteousness pervades Sir Gawain’s quest. The poem was first written in Arthurian England, where the knights are expected to follow the code of chivalry, which tells them how to behave. Sir Gawain, the main character, is no exception, as every decision he makes follows that code of chivalry, save one. He is then punished for that one foolish choice, suggesting that a man must strive to be chivalrous, evenRead MoreThe Pentangle in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Essay3294 Words   |  14 PagesThe Pentangle in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight When writing, never explain your symbols. The author of ``Sir Gawain and the Green Knight dropped this unspoken rule when he picked up his pen. Why? The detailed description and exposition of the pentangle form the key to understanding this poem. By causing the reader to view Gawains quest in terms of the pentangle, the narrator compares the knightly ideals with the reality of Gawains life. The narrator uses the pentangle to promote the knightlyRead MoreSir Gawain and the Green Knight: Symbolism and Moral Seriousness1047 Words   |  5 PagesIn the opening lines of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Gawain-poet predicates the numerous dualities—which lead the reader through questions of moral seriousness—that exist in the poem. The opening historical recounting, according to Richard Hamilton Green, reminds the reader that â€Å"the greatness of the past is marred by reminders of failure† (179). The paradox of triumph and greatness arising out of failure for eshadows Sir Gawain following the same pattern of fate as his predecessors. WhileRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight3517 Words   |  15 PagesKapelle Medieval Literature 16 April 2015 Sir Gawain’s Performative Identity and Antifeminist Diatribe in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Medieval scholars continually inspect the particularities of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (SGGK) within the context of the preexisting Gawain literary tradition, and the issue of Gawain’s sudden antifeminist diatribe repeatedly comes to the forefront of these textual investigations. Often, literary critics claim that Gawain’s antifeminist outburst is common for theRead MoreGilgamesh, Beowulf As A Literary Hero1343 Words   |  6 Pagesreflection of what is believed to be the ideal person; complete with strengths, flaws, aspirations, and codes that mold his or her goals, decisions, and, ultimately, fate. Such figures, though imperfect, are celebrated because they are attainable, for perfection is too far beyond the inspirational grip of imagination for many. Each of these heroes, be they Gilgamesh, Beowulf, or Achilles, are motivated toward different goals and take a varied and unique path in order to achieve these goals, which are shapedRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight2319 Words   |  10 Pagescouples conventionally exchanged gifts and tokens as symbols of their affair. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Lady Bertilak who, throughout the poem attempts to seduce Gawain, asks for a token and offers him two of her own. The three tokens—the glove, the ring and the girdle—represent a scale of temptation by which the lady seeks to discover what might tempt Gawain to compromise his commitment to Bertilak, her husband. Sir Gawain resists the first two tokens, as they are too dishonorable, but succumbs

Clif Bar Marketing Plan - 7190 Words

TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................3 Situation Analysis - Background ...............................................................................................................5 SWOT Analysis ..................................................................................................................................7 Key Problem to be Solved ..................................................................................................................9 Key Strategic Campaign Decisions - Objectives .....................................................................................10 Target†¦show more content†¦Increasing international growth and commitment to the environment and their employees are major strengths for the company. Growth opportunities are present in the organic market, which is projected to grow 9% (Scott-Thomas, 2012), and the smoot hie market, which will see a potential growth of 1.6% through 2013 (Technomic, 2012). Some of the weaknesses facing the company are its narrow target market in the organic product industry and lack of traditional advertising. Major competition from Odwalla and Naked Juice are threats to growth and the volatile market for fruit and other natural ingredients may cause unpredictable price increases and as well as an unpredictable future. Also, shifts in popularity of the trendy organic product movement may cause a decline in future revenues. However, both the smoothie and the organic/health food markets are growing rapidly and Clif Bar can secure a larger share in these markets with the introduction of Simply Clif. 2 Advertising efforts for Clif Bar have traditionally focused on social media and event support. The company aligns itself with promotions and activities that involve being active and supporting the community and the environment. Social media, magazine advertisements, a billboard, and a responsive website will be the main media used to introduce Simply Clif to the target market of adults in the age range of 18-40 who are concerned about health and are not overly cost conscious. Campaign effectiveness will beShow MoreRelatedClif Bar Marketing Plan7165 Words   |  29 Pages............................................................31 1 Executive Summary Clif Bar products are delicious, healthy, organic and convenient sources of nutrition. All of Clif Bars products are at least 70% organic and free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup (Clif Bar Company, 2013). As the natural and organic food market continues to grow in popularity, Clif Bar has a promising opportunity for growth. Another important market in the health food categoryRead MoreIdentify A Need Or Opportunity For Program Development1488 Words   |  6 Pagesthat good or service is ideally what experience a customer really wants. By taking the unmet needs of the consumers and meeting their requests, it will help alleviate frustrations and you are going to have engaged and loyal customer. Implementation plan: In order to make the business more well know, we will start by implementing them in local businesses to spread info about the product. Is there a need for physical space? Yes there is a need for physical space. The needs include the central office/storageRead MoreVideo Notes29279 Words   |  118 PagesLean Systems |8 |65 | |Inventory and Textbooks |9, 12, 15 |70 | |Clif Bar: Supply Chain |9 |77 | |Sourcing Strategy at Starwood |10 |80 Read MoreGatorade : A Product Line Based For Athletes2770 Words   |  12 Pageskeep it’s popularity. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to research and analyze the business and corporation of Gatorade. I will analyze gatorade, its affects on the sports drink industry and how it has grown over the years, and lastly its marketing and innovations. Background Information Gatorade was the idea that launched an industry. In 1965, Dwayne Douglas asked Robert Cade, a kidney disease specialist, why his players would lose so much weight during season, but would hardly urinate

451 Essay Free Essays

Fahrenheit 451 Essay A dystopia is defined as a community or a society that is undesirable or frightening in some important way. There have been many novels written about such societies, such as 1984 by George Orwell, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 describes a dystopian society in which books are outlawed and technology is prevalent. We will write a custom essay sample on 451 Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury conveys a significant message through the contrasting tones he uses to describe Clarisse and Mildred. Bradbury uses a reverent, respectful tone to describe Clarisse, when Guy Montag sees her for the first time in the street as he walks home from work (3). The diction â€Å"slender† and â€Å"milk-white† portrays that Clarisse is young and innocent. These words create this feeling because one would normally associate slimness and a clear complexion with youth. The personification used in â€Å"gentle hunger† and â€Å"tireless curiosity† reveal the fact that Clarisse is inquisitive to the reader. The use of â€Å"gentle† and â€Å"tireless† allow the reader to see that Clarisse has a hunger for knowledge. The imagery â€Å"sliding walk† and â€Å"dress was white† creates an image of Clarisse’s demeanor and general appearance in the reader’s mind. Using these words also gives the reader the sense that Clarisse is pure, like an angel, because a sliding walk and white garments are associated with angels. Bradbury’s praising and positive tone shows that he strongly identifies with her personality. In contrast to the tone he uses when describing Clarisse, Bradbury uses a dull, monotonous tone to talk about Mildred when Guy Montag sees her as he walks into their bedroom shortly after his encounter with Clarisse (11). The metaphor â€Å"felt no rain† and â€Å"felt no shadow† compares rain and shadow to the feelings that Mildred does not feel. With this metaphor, Bradbury reveals to the reader that Mildred is apathetic, unfeeling. The diction â€Å"tamped-shut ears† and â€Å"ears all glass† suggests to the reader that Mildred is oblivious to her surroundings. These words create the effect that Mildred does not see and hear what is going around in front of her. The simile â€Å"like a snow-covered island† compares Mildred’s face to a snow-covered island. This simile leaves the reader with the impression that Mildred’s face is pale, almost lifeless. Bradbury’s apathetic, negative tone shows that he does not approve of Mildred’s obliviousness and lifelessness. Bradbury uses an admiring, awed tone to describe Clarisse when Guy Montag is remembering his encounter with Clarisse (8). The simile â€Å"face like the dial of a small clock† compares Clarisse’s face with the dial of a small clock. Bradbury goes on to describe the clock as the type giving off light in the darkness in the middle of the night. This comparison conveys the idea that Clarisse represents good early on in the book. The simile â€Å"how like a mirror too, her face† emphasizes the fact that Clarisse’s demeanor in general makes Montag reflect on his actions, thoughts, and words. Bradbury is trying to relay the message that Clarisse has the type of personality that makes other people reflect upon themselves. The simile â€Å"like the eager watcher of a marionette show† compares Clarisse to an eager watcher of a marionette show through a simile. This simile demonstrates how perceptive Clarisse is. Bradbury’s tone of disbelief and awe shows his admiration of Clarisse’s character. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses contrasting tones towards Clarisse and Mildred in order to convey his opinion that one should not blindly the beliefs that are presented to them. Bradbury strongly believes that we should constantly question the world around us. How to cite 451 Essay, Essay examples

Lynching free essay sample

â€Å"The practice of lynching in the United States is a phenomenon that scholars from all backgrounds- history, psychology, sociology, and economics- continue to analyze. (pg. 89) † Lynching to me was a way for white’s to get back at blacks in a horrifying manner. Many whites believed that lynching was simply a necessary reaction to criminal behavior on the part of blacks. â€Å"Lynching played a key role in affirming the place of poor whites within the strata of southern society† (pg. 91). The lynching mobs consisted of twelve or more whites that took matters into their own hands to torture an African American person brutally or even worse, murder them. Lynching started to take place after World War II. In most cases lynching effected black African Americans. They were kidnapped and lynched for reasons whites thought were not socially acceptable. Whites looked at lynching as immediately justice for themselves. Personally, if blacks were taken to court they would still be penalized because the jury was likely to be an all-white jury in most cases. We will write a custom essay sample on Lynching or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"In rare cases lynches were brought to trial, all white juries, time after time, they failed to find the guilty† (pg. 96). Less than one percent of lynches were convicted for their crimes. Failure to find lynchers guilty showed an injustice to the black community. â€Å"Lynching of a black person was an act of community solidarity and white supremacy† (pg. 92). Blacks could not retaliate and defend themselves because they were still quite powerless. If they were to act on an event of lynching they would become a victim to the lynching mob. In May of 1918 in South Georgia, Mary Turner tried to seek justice for her husband. The statements that Mrs. Turner made about her husband and his death caused her to be victimized by the mob. They kidnapped Mrs. Turner, drowned her with gasoline; not satisfied enough with what they had done, they cut her fetus out and demolished it with the boot of a mobber. In the 1930’s, lynching started to decrease and more people had become aware of the things that were going on with lynching. People were less fearful and started to report more lynchings. â€Å"Activist such as Ida B. Wells, a famous journalist led a women campaign against lynching†. (pg. 94) Eventually more people joined her campaign to stop lynching completely. What caught my interest was the fact that many McLeod Bethune took a stand against lynching. Her efforts of broadcasting lynching helped bring more attention to unfairness, inequality, and suffering to blacks. Unfortunately, you would think all the attention brought to white’s about lynching would cause it to go away completely, but didn’t. In 1955 a famous incident of lynching happened. A young man Emmett Till was taken away from his Uncle house in Money, Mississippi for yelling â€Å"hey baby† to a white lady. When they took Emmett beat him, shut him in the head and tied him to a cotton gin. Till was the thrown into a lake. Later on, Till’s family identified him and this brought attention back to lynching. Till’s Uncle did not know what was going on until after they found Emmett was brutally murdered. In today’s society lynching is not very common but other acts similar to if is still relevant. Recently there was a case were a white person killed a young black man and was not found guilty of his act. This made African-American very furious because this act was just a repeat of history. As a young African American woman I want equality and justice for every one of all colors and rules. Even though we were tortured terribly by whites, we can’t continue to go along in life and hold grudges and have a heart full of hatred. The hatred will only pass down from generation to generation and society will never be able to better itself.

A Worn Path Phoenix Jackson free essay sample

1. ) The protagonist in â€Å"A Worn Path† is Phoenix Jackson, an elderly black woman who lives along the Natchez Trace. History shows that the Natchez Trace was a road begun in 1806, extending from Mississippi to Tennessee and was approximately 500 miles long. The story depicts Phoenix’s long journey on foot, from her home to Natchez, a small outlying town. The story characterizes both internal and external conflicts in Phoenix’s quest to acquire medicine for her sick grandson. Poor vision, unsteady gait, age, and nature are impediments against Phoenix but she unselfishly presses forward for the health of her grandson. . ) Phoenix faces antagonists both internal and external on her long journey to town. External factors: her obvious age, impaired gait (falling in a ditch), poor vision (she thinks she sees a dancing ghost but really it’s a scarecrow, recalls seeing a two-headed snake, a boy approaches her and offers her a piece of marble cake-no child was present),weather (cold frozen earth), untied shoelaces/attire, wild animals (which she thinks are in her path), bush/thickets (she thinks is a green bush), large log lying in her path, a barbed wire fence, big black dog, hunter. We will write a custom essay sample on A Worn Path: Phoenix Jackson or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Internal factors: her conscious (knows stealing is wrong but pockets the nickel anyways), fearless (hunter points the gun at her), and memory loss (can’t remember what she made her long journey for when she gets to the hospital). 3. ) When reading the title of this short story, â€Å"A Worn Path† the theme it hints at is a path worn due to a symbolic journey. After reading the story, the major theme remains the same. The story is set during the Christmas season which may symbolize Christianity. Phoenix represents the true spirit of giving and self-sacrifice when she walks to town for her grandson. The hunter assumes she is going to town to see Santa Claus and the nurse at the hospital dismisses her as a charity case. Despite the obstacles the she faces along her journey, Phoenix is determined to get the medicine needed to treat her grandson. 45. )A Phoenix is a mythical Egyptian bird symbolizing resurrection. After living for centuries, it dies, and rises from its own ashes. Phoenix helps create a theme of life emerging from death in this story. The mythological and Christianity symbolism for Phoenix is why I feel that Welty chose the name as the Protagonist in this short story. The name is significant in this story because it ties the Christian and mythical meaning of Phoenix together . Phoenix is the symbol of perseverance, stamina, and life in the face of hardship and death.

Swing is Back essays

Swing is Back essays The scene: A crowded dance floor. Its dark, the fans are dressed wildly, the music is blaring, and the dancers are going crazy. Its the year 2002. Normally, in this situation, youd expect the music to be some kind of rock, alternative, or even country. However, the music is swing, and the fans are all between the ages of sixteen and thirty-something (aside from a few elderly people sitting in the back and enjoying the music), followers of a recent movement aptly labeled neo-swing. This recent craze of swing music is one that is getting larger all the time. After swing music lost its popularity in the late postwar 1940 s, nobody really expected it to make a comeback. They were wrong. The movement is larger than was ever expected, and still growing. Popular mostly with a generation labeled X, swing music is much more than just music. Its about retro clothing, a new, more laid-back attitude, a dance that lets young people let loose, and the fusion of classic big-band sounds from the old Swing Era with new music. Before one can really understand swing musics recent popularity, its important to know about the Swing Era of the 1930s - 1950s. With names like Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, and Glen Miller, swing music evolved from classic jazz in the late 1930s/early 1940s. Back then, swing music served as a cultural escape from World War II and the seriousness of the times. Its own unique language, dance steps, and call and response rhythms created a subculture that immersed its participants emotionally and physically in the music. However, when the war ended, so did the cultures interest in swing (Mahoney). Today, many people are wondering, Why has swing become popular again? It was gone fifty years ago! Many of the same reasons for its original popularity apply to the recent craze. ...

Intro to Astronmy Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Intro to Astronmy - Article Example In 200 AD, astronomers believed that planets moved round the earth in small circles called the epicycle. The Heliocentric model later explained that all planets including the sun revolved around the sun. This model also explained that the retrograde motion of planets did so as the earth which moves faster than the other planets overtook the other planets. Other planets are categorized as superior or inferior to the earth. Time that is able to elapse between the configurations that are identical and consecutive is known as the synodic period. It was Copernicus who determined the sidereal period of other planets. He was also able to know the distance between the planets and the sun. Kepler was able to come up with a law that stated that every planet has an orbit that about the sun know as an ellipse. He also came up with the semi major axis. This happens to be the distance between the planets and the sun. The measure of the deviation from the perfect circle is known as the eccentricity. Kepler had three laws to explain the motion of planets and this was a major achievement in the field of astronomy. Galileo was able to discover a lot more with the aid of a telescope. He was able to know that the earth was not at the centre of the universe. With his telescope, he was able to know that the earth was not at the centre of the universe and that the earth was just like any other planet moving around the sun. Isaac Newton later came and introduced three laws. Inertia, force and action and reaction. He was also able to come up wi th the laws of the universal gravitation. The law of gravitation states that two bodies attract each other with a force directly proportional to each and every mass of the two bodies. This force is also inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Using the law of gravitation, Kepler’s three laws can be summed up. Newton’s was able to note that every