The Importance of Social Class Exposed in The Canterbury Tales Essay

Social class was the foundation of everyday life during the Middle Ages. Social class played a significant role in the lives of medieval people. The aristocracy class and the immoral lower class were often viewed by society as practically different races. In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer shows the wide variance among the classes in every aspect of their daily lives. The zeitgeist of the Middle Ages can be seen through his illustration of differences between classes in moral behavior, economic power, the autonomy and education of women during the Middle Ages. In today’s society the differences in morals between the rich and the poorer classes are virtually non-existent, but during Medieval times â€Å"morals and, above all, the virtues at its center, played an important role not only for distinguishing between good and bad, but, more importantly, even for the structuring of society† (Virtus 1). The aristocracy class and the immoral poor class had morals but how they demonstrated them varied; the aristocratic class used chivalry as the basis of their morals, while the immoral poor class did not. Chivalry was not only a code of conduct for those who followed it; chivalry was a way of life. ‘Chivalry first arose in Europe during the Crusades. Chivalry dealt with loyalty honor, and service to women on and off the battle field’ (â€Å"The Medieval Period: 1066-1485† 76). The Knight in The Canterbury Tales is the perfect example of someone who follows the code of chivalry. Chaucer describes him with much admi ration as â€Å"a most distinguishable man, who from the day on which he first began to ride abroad had followed chivalry, truth, honor generousness and courtesy† (Chaucer, "The Prologue." 117). While Chaucer praises the knight for ... ... the class system. Works Cited Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Trans. R. M. Lumiansky. New York: Washington Square Press, 1971. Print. Chaucer, Geoffrey. â€Å"The Prologue.† The Canterbury Tales. Trans. Nevill Coghill. Literature: The British Tradition. Ed. Roger Babusci et al. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1994. 115-136. Print. â€Å"The Medieval Period: 1066-1485.† Literature: The British Tradition. Ed. Roger Babusci etal. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1994. 69-79. Print. "The Middle Ages: Feudal Life." Learner.org. Annenberg Foundation, 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. Virtus: Moral Limitations of the Political Sphere in the Middle Ages. Thesis. Bielefeld Universit. Silke Schwandt: Bielefeld University. Print. Wheelock, Stephanie. Advanced English 12: Humanities. Eden Prairie High School. Eden Prairie. March 2012. Class discussion.

Green Roof Essays -- Environment, Plants, Structural Design

Green roofs, also known as living roofs, eco roofs, roof terraces or roof gardens, are a roof design of a building that is partly or entirely enclosed with vegetation and growing medium, therefore, the roof is planted over a waterproofing membrane and it has extra layers, for instance roof fence and drainage. He and Jim, (2010) states that green roof require the making of vegetated space on the top of artificial structures design. They can help to reduce the thermal properties of buildings to produce cooling energy conservation and increase social comforts. There are two main types of Green Roof-Intensive and Extensive. Castleton and Davison, (2010) explains that intensive green roofs have a shallow substrate layer that tolerate deeper rooting plants, so that the trees and shrubs can remain alive. They are usually accessible and need regular maintenance such as extensive irrigation and fertilising. This type of roofs is generally thicker and can support a wider selection of plants and generally they are heavier systems, but therefore it has the highest demand on building structures. Fioretti and Palla, (2010) suggest that Intensive roofs are considered to be expensive to maintain and to build. Nagase and Dunnett, (2010) debates that extensive roofs are not appropriate for plant growth, therefore it has inadequate water accessibility, extensive temperature variations, great exposure to wind and solar radiation that generates highly strained, and occasionally troubled environment. Due that reason, insignificant variety of plant types is generally used for extensive roofs. Sedum types are the most frequently used plant, Dunnett and Kingsbury, (2008) suggest that they are greatly adapted to dry environments. Extensive Green Roofs... ...was the hefty rainfall that happened in the earlier fortnight leaving the ground soaked without much of capacity to absorb additional rainfall. Biodiversity An important feature of green roofs is their potential to provide habitation for urban wildlife, therefore many animal species such as rats and ants would benefit from green roofs. Coffman and Waites, (2008) explains that the urban development practices recognised as roof greening offers habitat for wild species within the towns and it also helps rise the home-grown natural diversity. However, roof greening is not a method restoration ecology, but it is method of reconciliation ecology, where entirely new habitation is formed for non-human species. In addition Green roofs certainly delivers some form of habitat, it is also possible that the properties of the roof could harm the wildlife diversity.

Gothic Cathedral of Florence

This Gothic Cathedral of Florence is now becoming a great difficulty for me. If the Cathedral’s commission was given to me from the beginning of the construction, it would not have been such a pain. But this unfinished dome! Oh my God! Sometimes I get afraid if I am not able to complete it with perfection, I am not going to get even good food from the King. I sometimes wish I was not an architect I always wanted to become a musician. I could have listened to music all day long. I even though of starting up a musical school of mine but the desires of the King have led me to this place.I do not want to get insane. I will have to take some step. Decided! I am going to buy a sheep or a goat from Frodo. I know he will sell me one of his sheep or a goat. Then I am going to make a bagpipe out of the sheep skin. These bagpipes are not available in this city. Nothing is good about this city except the food. Then I will take this bagpipe to the King and tell him that I am a musician by birth and I have changed my occupation now. But will he kill me then? Diary you tell me, you tell me, will he kill me or spare me? I do not want to die.I am not becoming any musician. I am a good architect and will die an architect. Diary, I am now going to design the dome, a dome which has not been designed before. This will be the first dome of its type. August 30th, 1436 I am glad the dome is completed now. I do not believe that I have done it though it took very long. I am tired now I have to get some rest. I should go to some other city of Greece or Rome and leave Italy now for some time. I do not admire the dome so much as others do. I have not even gotten a chance to see it clearly myself.God seriously I have done some hard work on the dome and I am really proud of it. I hope the dome will remain as it is now for centuries. The material used in the structure has been the best available. If war does not struck Italy, this dome will remain enact for some centuries I believe. I wish my father was alive at this moment I would celebrate this moment with him and I am sure he would be really proud of his son who helped the King in building the largest dome ever built. The King has invited me at the dinner; God knows how many presents I am going to receive from all the friends of the King.Only this thing worries me that when will the dome be decorated with the tiles and stones that I have recommended. I hope the dome is completed in my lifetime though I do not wish to live too long in this world. And yes today I am going to thank all of the supporters who helped me in the making of the dome. Lorenzo has been very supportive as he also took over the construction when I was suffering from illness. I am getting late for the dinner now I have to wear the clothes and leave for the dinner the horse cart must have arrived.

Promotion and Price Analysis

The product chosen for its promotion campaign analysis is instant coffee Nescafe produced by Nestle. Before analyzing the promotion campaign, it is important to determine the target audience of Nescafe. In the major part coffee is usually preferred by both male and female at the age of   20 to 45 approximately. Children are usually not allowed to drink much coffee, since caffeine is believed to provoke special hyper reaction. Older people, in turn, are trying to avoid coffee because at this age they are taking special care for their health.Thus, the typical segmentation in the sector can be represented in the following way:Demographic characteristics:men and women from 20 to 45;single/married/married with children;elderly people who prefer decaffeinated coffee.Economic: low, middle and premium segments;Consumption habits:regular buyers, random buyers;those who prefer to drink coffee at coffee bars/ those who prefer to drink coffee at home / those who prefer take-outs;  those who prefer to drink coffee alone/ in a company;psychographical characteristics:people who lead active style of life/passive style of life;people who prefer status/price/taste/convenience;businessmen/students/working people. (Cateora, 1990, p.116)As for Nescafe its target segments are:1. Married and married with children people who prefer to drink coffee alone at home and buy instant coffee on a regular basis. It is caused by the fact that those people are oftentimes busy and they do not have time to brew their coffee. Moreover, those who have children usually face the problem that if they leave the coffee in the coffee machine, their children might tempt to drink it.2.Students who simply do not have coffee machines and prefer instantaneous coffee, which they can easily make at any given time.Thus, we can see that Nescafe is aimed for younger audience as its core segment.  Ã‚   Targeting the younger audience as its core segment, it is very important for the company with such a strong b rand as Nescafe to distinguish the core values for this type of customers. Such values are individuality, independence, pleasure, self-confidence.Thus, the brand is positioned as the one, which has extraordinary taste that you want to enjoy every day. The slogan sounds like â€Å"Don’t let anyone prevent you from enjoying your favorite taste†. The company emphasizes both functional qualities of the product, as well as special feelings that it gives to the customers – pleasure, comfort, and the whole imaginary world that you want to enjoy over and over again. Nescafe is really aimed to be â€Å"Your favorite taste,† as another slogan states. Thus, we can see that Nescafe is professing more individualistic values.However, Nescafe is still perceived as a caring, charming brand, though it gives self-confidence and assures good taste. People choose this brand as they trust its long-standing reputation and think this brand is very reliable. Moreover, it is quit e affordable as well. Since it cares about people, Nescafe, as it was mentioned before, presents something for everybody – a wide range of choice from different type of product to different sizes and prices.Having analyzed the positioning of Nescafe, it is easier to determine the key messages that are being delivered via different channels of communications. The first channel of communication is television with large-scale advertising. The key message that are being delivered is that Nescafe is a wonderful taste that needs to be enjoyed and enjoyed. Global commercial portraying woman in a peculiar garment trying to become unnoticed by her husband to be able to enjoy Nescafe alone is the best proof of that.Thus, we can see that brand managers of Nescafe are emphasizing physical qualities of the product, specifically its taste. However, the TV with its ability to show the wide range of colors, sounds and images is also chosen to make people feel and understand the sophisticatio n of Nescafe’s taste. It was already mentioned that Nescafe is positioned as a premium segment coffee (despite subbrand Nescafe classic). That is why it is crucial to transmit to the audience the very special qualities, the originality of the brand.Thus, on of the original feature of Nescafe appears to be its sophistication, its elite taste. The commercial is trying to convey that if you drink Nescafe, it means that you belong to the chosen circle of people who have exceptional taste, namely elite.The second channel of communication is Internet. In fact, Nescafe has its own web-site separate from the site of the producer Nestle. Nescafe site was created in order to give its target audience ampful information about the product and the brand in particular. It has the description of all the existing types of Nescafe (subbrands), about the new products that appears in the product line. It also tells about the coffee as a physical substance, about its nutrition etc.Thus, the main message that is being delivered via Internet (including Internet advertising) is that brand Nescafe is so diverse, that everyone can find something that suits him/her the best wether it is Necafe Colombie or Nescafe Gold. The message stimulates to try Nescafe and to match the desire with the available product brand.Finally, the third channel of communication is publicity. The latter is achieved by creating different kinds of informational grounds. It can be sponsorship of certain events that are covered by different types of media. It can be informational articles discussing the problem of coffee-drinking. It can also be different special events that are also covered in media.   For instance, in 2004 in England there was a contest the winners of which could experience a luxury balloon flight and stay in the country hotel house.The evnts was transmitted via TV. This was a great informational ground and thus the cause of publicity. The main message that is delivered via publicity is that Nescafe is a reliable trustworthy and responsible brand. Thus, drinking Nescafe one can be sure of its exceptional quality. In other words, publicity is aimed to ensure good reputation of Nescafe and ultimately to form a strong brand loyalty of customers.As for pricing, it is not dependent on the life cycle of the product. Coffee is a product with an extended life-cycle since the taste and the quality of it are unique, and the customers are usually loyal to the brand that can ensure the same quality taste over and over again. Therefore, the pricing of Nescafe is based upon its segmentation. Simply saying the premium segment brands such as Nescafe Gold, Nescafe cap Colombie, Nescafe Alta Rica cost more. They are aimed at elite target audience with more than average level of income.Similarly, there is also an offer for the lower income level people who cannot afford buying premium segment products.   This offer is called Nescafe Classic, which is substantially cheaper than bra nds mentioned before. Thus, we see that Nescafe pricing strategy is more of a marketing tool that allows to cover more of a target audience. Yet, the key target audience for Nescafe still remains people with more than average income segment that can afford buying elite products.In conclusion, it is important to say that Nescafe is aimed to embrace as big audience as possible. However, its primary focus is on younger people with middle and high income, who are self-confident, active and enjoy pleasure. The company positions its brand as the one giving tempting taste that you want to enjoy. Since the brand is designed to embrace wide circle of customers, the company uses differentiation while pricing the product, giving its customers the opportunity to choose from different types and sizes.The key messages that Nescafe is trying to deliver depends on the channel of communication. yet, the main messages emphasize Nescafe’s exceptional taste, reliability of the brand and its pecu liarity varying on the subbrand, so that everyone can find something that suits him/her best.ReferencesApplbaum K. â€Å"The Marketing Era† Routledge, New York, 2004 Brown S. â€Å"Imagining Marketing: Art, aesthetics and the avant-garde† Routledge, London, 2000 Cateora P. †International Marketing†, 7th ed. Irwin, Homewood, IL, 1990 Laforet S. (1999)  «Managing Brand Portfolios: Why Leaders Do What They Do† In Journal of Advertising Research, vol.39, p.23 Parsons A. (1996) â€Å"Nestle; The visions of local managers† In The McKinsey Quarterly, no.2, pp.21-22

Antigone – Essay 9

Aristotle defines a tragic hero as â€Å"having high estate, nobility of soul, ability to have free will, having tragic flaw, also somebody we are able to empathize with, a person who suffers from reversal of fortune, achieving enlightenment, accepting responsibility for his/her fall and being able to die bravely. † I am going to use Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero to support evidence to the character Antigone, in the play Antigone. To me, the tragic hero in the play is Antigone. Antigone, who is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, becomes infuriated with Creon, who is the king of Thebes and her uncle. Creon will not allow Antigone's brother, Polynices, to be buried. Antigone tells her sister, Ismene, that she will defy Creon’s ruling even though she knows the consequences, which is death. The first on Aristotle’s tragic hero list is that the character â€Å"should be of high estate/class. † Antigone comes from high estate; she was considered a princess and was to be married to Creon’s son, Haemon. Though Antigone came from high estate/class, she still did not carry out the power to make changes; therefore, Antigone’s character of having high estate, yet no power, complies a little with Aristotle’s tragic hero. Second on Aristotle’s tragic hero list, was that the character â€Å"should have nobility of soul or tragic greatness. † Antigone showed nobility of soul because she stood-up for what she believed in knowing the outcomes would cost her life. An example of her nobility was when she first told her sister, Ismene, of what she was going to do. Antigone said, â€Å"I’ll bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory. † I think that this quote shows nobility of soul, as well as, a tragic greatness. She saw it as glory to die for doing the right thing. (Line 85) Third on Aristotle’s tragic hero list, was that the character â€Å"should have free will and make important choices. † From the beginning of the play, until Antigone’s death, she kept her free will, as well as, making important choices for herself. When Antigone had gotten caught by the guards while burying her brother, she was taken to Creon to announce what she had done. There is a quote in there that shows how free willed of a person she was, Antigone says to Creon â€Å"Of course I did it. It wasn’t Zeus, not in the least, who made this proclamation—not to me†¦These laws—I was not about to break them, not out of fear of some man’s wounded pride, and face the retribution of the gods. † This quote by Antigone shows that she was capable of making her own choices, whether she would follow man’s law or the gods. She also showed that she was not afraid of the choices she made for herself. (Line 500) Aristotle’s fourth tragic hero listing is that the character â€Å"should have a tragic flaw or hamartia. Antigone made plenty of mistakes, her first one was defying Creon’s ruling. Though it was understandable why she made that choice, it probably would have spared her from going through all this trouble if she would have just asked Creon for a proper burial. Unfortunately, Antigone's stubbornness gets in the way of her thinking and results in her acting off of her emotions. Also, when it comes to Antigone’s dea th, if she would have not taken the matters into her own hand again, Creon had made the decision to free her and give her brother the proper burial. Yet, it is understandable that she does not want Creon to get satisfaction off of her death, as well as, not knowing that Creon would change his mind and actually side with her. Aristotle’s fifth tragic hero listing is that the character â€Å"should be someone with whom we can empathize. † Antigone had this down packed with the audience. The whole city empathized with Antigone and felt that â€Å"No woman ever deserved death less, and such a brutal death for such a glorious action. She, with her own dear brother lying in his blood she couldn’t bear to leave him dead, unburied, food for the wild dogs or wheeling vultures. Death? She deserves a glowing crown of gold! † I feel that quote right there sums it up. (Line 775) The sixth tragic hero listing that Aristotle feels is necessary, is that the character â€Å"should suffer a reversal of fortune (peripeteia), falling from a pinnacle to the depths. † Antigone was considered a princess and to be married to the king’s son, Haemon. After being caught by the guards, she was sentenced to death by the king, Creon. Now she is looked upon as a slave, not as a princess. She is treated like trash and looked down upon. She went from being of royalty to quickly being nothing. Antigone definitely serves the sixth tragic hero listing. The seventh tragic hero listing that Aristotle has is that the character â€Å"should achieve anagnorisis or enlightenment; should accept responsibility for his/her fall. † Antigone takes responsibility when she is first brought to Creon and asked if she was the one to give Polynices a proper burial, Antigone responded with â€Å"I did it. I don’t deny a thing. † Then Antigone shows her commonality with humanity when she is arguing with Creon about the citizens feeling like she did about his ruling. For example, Creon says â€Å"You alone, of all the people in Thebes, see things that way. † Antigone replies with â€Å"They see it that way but defer to you and keep their tongues in leash. † (Lines 492, 570) The last trait that Aristotle has listed that the tragic hero should carry is that the character â€Å"should die bravely. † Antigone died for love, for respect and for doing what she and many others believed what was right. She did not bravely give her life to defy one man’s wants; it just unfortunately came down to her having to do that. Antigone gave up â€Å"†¦bridal-song, the bridal-bed, denied all joy of marriage, raising children—deserted by loved ones, struck by fate†¦Ã¢â‚¬  just to give her brother, Polynices a proper burial. I think she clearly defines dying bravely. (Line 1009) In conclusion, the tragic hero in the play Antigone is herself, Antigone. Antigone shows how her character meets the requirements of Aristotle’s tragic hero, as well as, many other aspects that we find in a common hero. Antigone, from the beginning to the end of the play, lived and died for what she believed in.

1.Critically examine the challenges facing the NHS in employing the Essay

1.Critically examine the challenges facing the NHS in employing the use of computer-based systems in the management of patients care since the introduction of the National Programme for IT in 2005 - Essay Example e National Audit Office (2006) the establishment of the specific Programme was decided mostly because of the following reasons: a) the high volume of cases handled by hospitals and other care centers; it has been estimated that every week about 6 million people are likely to visit their GP (National Audit Office, 2006, p.9), b) the increase of security in regard to the storage and management of personal data, c) the high cost in prescribing in healthcare settings across Britain. Despite the above advantages, the NHS IT Programme of 2005 has faced a series of challenges – an indication of the failures related to its design/ monitoring. These challenges are analytically presented in the next section; it is concluded that the use of the NHS IT Programme has helped towards the increase of quality of healthcare services across Britain; however, appropriate initiatives should be developed so that the above system to fully perform. Such schemes of action would be the training of user s, the introduction of simpler guidelines and the continuous review of the system’s needs. Through the introduction of information systems in the management of activities across NHS the performance of the specific organization has been improved. The advanced information technologies available to health practitioners have helped to the increase of quality of the services provided to the patients but also to the establishment of services which were not available previously – for instance the services available in the context of the Geographical Information System (GIS) which is incorporated in the IT systems used in NHS’ healthcare settings (Higgs et al., 2001, p.247). However, the performance of information systems in NHS has faced severe delays mostly because of the failures developed across the organization in regard to the management of the specific systems. The update of existing NHS IT systems framework in 2005 has been considered as a necessary solution in order for the above

Dox Thrash - Making Prints of His Real Life Research Paper

Dox Thrash - Making Prints of His Real Life - Research Paper Example Since the art was funded by the government, the art could be used for government purposes. One such artist is Dox Thrash. Defence Worker is one print created by Thrash which will be examined as a relative piece of art of the Depression Era. Another print from Thrash is Boats at Night which is also inspired by social realism will also be looked at. While Thrash was making prints of his real life, the U.S. government took these prints and used them for their own purposes. Defence Worker and Boats at Night by Dox Thrash will be examined in relation to social realism inspired art being used for United States government propaganda. Dox Thrash created both of these prints using a pioneering technique. Thrash had created a new printing technique called carborundum mezzotint.1 Both prints were commissioned by the WPA during the depression. The subjects of these prints were influenced by social realism. The Depression Era made many artists, including Thrash, rethink their perspectives on life and art. Artists begin to think capitalism might not be the best form of government. Kathe Kollwitz was a German artist that dealt with the same issues as Thrash. One of her paintings will be compared to Thrash in order to show how different countries reacted to the situation after World War I. The artists sketched, painted, or carved art reflecting their new views. An analysis of these two works will be undertaken along with a comparison to Kollwitz’s work. Dox Thrash has created two incomparable prints that illustrated the Depression Era, but his art was used as government propaganda in the end. Dox Thrash’s Defense Worker is a male worker. Thrash completed this piece in 1942.2 The worker is using a jackhammer, power sweeper, or some other piece of equipment. The huge male is a worker. This can be determined by the clothes, boots, and helmet the man wears in this print. There is a white billow of steam behind the figure.     Ã‚