The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry Essay - 1234 Words

Stories of love and sacrifice abound in literature. Perhaps one of the most well known stories among teens and adults is the tale of a poor, young couple struggling to find the perfect Christmas gifts for each other using their very limited means. They each manage to get what they think is the perfect gift for the other, but only accomplish this by selling a prized possession which effectively makes the new gifts impractical. This bittersweet narrative, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† by O. Henry, illustrates the moral idea that a person, motivated by nothing but love for another, can possess a willingness to give in a self-denying way which necessitates that the reader consider that wealth be measured by something more than having money†¦show more content†¦The Magi most likely came a long distance from Persia and sacrificed much to present their costly gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the child. These gifts were esteemed not only because of their intrinsic value, such as the precious metal, gold, but also for their medicinal properties and were traditionally given to a king as a gift of honor. The Magi, also known as wise men or kings, are just that, wise men. They know the value of bringing the gifts to baby Jesus not because He needed gifts, but to show their devotion to Him. They brought these valuable gifts out of respect and love for the new Savior. Love is a defining force for Della and Jim too, overshadowing the poor condition of their finances. Jim and Della do not have much. They would most certainly be considered to be in the lower class, living in a little $8 a week flat in the city and going from a sufficient income of $30 a week to a less than adequate $20 a week with Jim in need of a new overcoat and pair of gloves (Henry). Henry articulates how their love for each other transforms their drab house and surroundings and gray circumstances into a warm and inviting refuge called home. â€Å"One dollar and eighty-sev en cents. That was all Della had,† not nearly enough to get a gift worthy of her beloved Jim (Henry). She desires nothing but to please him and considers him worthy of somethingShow MoreRelatedThe Gift Of The Magi O Henry Analysis787 Words   |  4 Pages In The Gift of the Magi O. Henry brilliantly uses vivid imagery, laughable irony, and a sentimental tone to fully develop an overlaying theme of sacrifice. Imagery is very important in this story, especially when it comes to describing Della and Jim’s treasures so the reader can fully grasp their significance. There are so many good examples of the rich imagery including, â€Å"There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigatesRead MoreLove And Selflessness In The Gift Of The Magi By O. Henry702 Words   |  3 PagesIn the â€Å"Gift of the Magi† by O. Henry, there are many ideas about love and selflessness. These concepts are communicated throughout the story through Della and Jim’s hardships. The couple is unprivileged, but they seem to sacrifice what they have, to bring happiness to the other, like the Magi. In the end both find enjoyment in their gifts since they sacrificed something they love, but it shows how much they actually love one another. In O. Henry’s, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi†, the theme explainsRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi: Narritive Essay1549 Words   |  7 PagesTheme and Narrative Elements: The Gift of the Magi ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Theme and Narrative Elements: The Gift of the Magi The Gift of the Magi is a short story that was written by William Sydney Porter, better known by his pseudonym O. Henry in 1906. O. Henry was a prolific author penning many short stories beginning in 1899 until his death in 1910. O. Henry is famous for his trademark surprise endings which he called â€Å"snapper† endings (Clugston, 2010) andRead MoreTheme Of Sacrifice In The Gift Of The Magi746 Words   |  3 PagesO. Henry’s â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† is a story about a couple who buys and gives each other gifts for Christmas. Upon receiving these gifts, the couple discovers that they have each sacrificed the possession necessary to properly use the gift. In the short story, O. Henry implements specific descriptions, character’s actions, and major comparison to develop his overall theme of sacrifice. Firstly, to develop the theme of sacrifice, O. Henry uses specific descriptions of the characters and their possessionsRead MoreThe Gift Of The Magi1132 Words   |  5 PagesThe Magi refers to the Wise Men or Kings in the Gospel of Matthew and Christianity. They visit Jesus after his birth and bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to him. Also, they are important figures of celebrations of Christmas. Christmas gifts are precious, so people want to receive the most valuable gifts at the end of the year, such as the gift of Magi. A famous American writer O. Henry creates The Gift of The Magi, a short story of giving gifts on Christmas Eve, which is a common themeRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi1271 Words   |  6 PagesThe Gift of the Magi Ashlee Stevens ENG125: Introduction to Literature Amy Sloan September 10, 2012 Ashford University The Gift of the Magi The Gift of the Magi was about sacrificial love. The story explained how important it is to be willing to sacrifice for the one that you love. No matter what the circumstance, if a person can unselfishly give of themselves for another, they can experience life in a whole new way. Many people give what is not important to them andRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi1377 Words   |  6 PagesLITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY THE GIFT OF THE MAGI The Gift of the Magi is one of the most popular short stories by O. Henry, a pen name for William Sydney Porter - a renowned American author. Originally published in 1906, in O. Henry’s second collection of short stories, The Gift of the Magi which displays all of the major O. Henry traits in abundance has given him credit for his genuine talent. It has been retold in various forms since then, especially at Christmas time. The storyRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi Theme Analysis707 Words   |  3 Pageslife; that even those who have fallen to the lowest depths in the social scale would, if they could, get back to the higher life†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Rollins 7-8 ). O`Henry came up with this philosophy when writing his many different, entertaining stories. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† was initially published in 1906 in O`Henry`s second collection of stories. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† is a perfect story to illustrate how people do anything for the ones they love. The main characters each sell their most valued possession in orderRead MoreLiterary Analysis of The Gift of the Magi1276 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of The Gift of the Magi The twists and turns of the plot as it unfolds within O. Henry s â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† are what simply captivate the reader in such a short amount of pages. The story of Jim and Della on a cold Christmas Eve at the turn of 20th century America is centered around what is remarkably relevant to what many readers have experienced in their own lives; the inevitable stresses, sacrifices, and joys of the holiday season. Strapped for cash and wanting to giveRead More life Essay949 Words   |  4 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was widely known for his short stories. He is often reffered to as the quot;Master of Short Stories.quot; His stories were filled with twist and irony within the plot. quot;Some have called him the American Maupassant because of his so well made surprising endingsquot; (Online). In 1908 critic Henry James Forman wrote that quot;No talent could be more original or more delightful. The combination

The Basics of Adult Learning

Do you remember what it was like to sit in a classroom? Rows of desks and chairs faced the teacher at the front of the room. Your job as a student was to be quiet, listen to the teacher, and do what you were told. This is an example of teacher-centered learning, usually involving children, called pedagogy. Adult Learning Adult learners have a different approach to learning. By the time you reach adulthood, you’re most likely responsible for your own success and you’re perfectly capable of making your own decisions once you have the information you need. Adults learn best when learning is focused on adult students, not on the teacher. This is called andragogy, the process of helping adults learn. The Differences Malcolm Knowles, a pioneer in the study of adult learning, observed that adults learn best when: They understand why something is important to know or do.They have the freedom to learn in their own way.Learning is experiential.​The time is right for them to learn.The process is positive and encouraging. Continuing Education Continuing education is a broad term. In the most general sense, any time you return to a classroom of any kind to learn something new, you are continuing your education. As you can imagine, this encompasses everything from graduate degrees to listening to personal development CDs in your car. Common types of continuing education: Earning a GED, the equivalent of a high school diplomaPost-secondary degrees such as a bachelor’s, or graduate degrees such as a master’s or doctorateProfessional certificationOn-the-job trainingEnglish as a second languagePersonal development Where It All Happens The methods involved in achieving continuing education are just as diverse. Your school can be a traditional classroom or a conference center near a beach. You might start before dawn or study after a day of work. Programs can take months, even years, to complete, or last just a few hours. Your job can depend on completion, and sometimes, your happiness. Continuous learning, no matter how old you are, has clear benefits, from finding and keeping the job of your dreams to remaining fully engaged in life in your later years. It’s never too late. Should You Go Back to School? So what is it you want to learn or achieve? Have you been meaning to go back to school to earn your GED? Your bachelor’s degree? Is your professional certificate in danger of expiring? Do you feel the urge to grow personally, learn a new hobby, or advance in your company? Keeping in mind how adult learning differs from your childhood schooling, ask yourself some questions: Why am I thinking about school lately?What exactly do I want to achieve?Can I afford it?Can I afford not to?Is this the right time in my life?Do I have the discipline and the freedom right now to study?Can I find the right school, the one that will help me learn the way I learn best?How much encouragement will I need and can I get it? It’s a lot to think about, but remember, if you really want something, you’re likely capable of making it happen. And there are a lot of people available to help you.

The American Concept Of Freedom - 1357 Words

The American concept of freedom is a constant source of debate. There is a difference in perspective, in expectation, in allowable expression of said freedoms within the confines of a mutually agreed upon societal contract as defined by legislation. The extremes define boundaries set by anarchy with total freedom and gulag like conditions with no freedom. Following the Civil War, during Reconstruction, the perspective of a share cropper may well have been that there was little to the idea of American freedom. Gender, age, religious affiliation, race, and socio-economic status of an individual has played a role in the freedom that the individual experienced in America. These changes in freedom have had many actors influencing the extent to which freedom has been afforded to some and denied others. Following the Civil War, many changes influenced how American citizens experienced freedom. The changes continue on through the twenty-first century suggesting that the process is ong oing. As the discussion of individual perspectives on the concept of American freedom is such a vast subject, some of the larger changes to specific groups are worth investigating. By far, the largest changes to the personal perspective of what the idea of American freedom meant occurred as a function of race. The methods by which these changes to freedom occurred as a function of race was by legal action, namely legislation, executive order and legal precedent. In order to focus theShow MoreRelatedThe Great Concept of American Freedom1435 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Concept of American Freedom Early America was a place for anyone to live their life the way that they wanted, as it is now, but back then this was a new concept. Much of this idea comes from the freedoms obtained by living here. Many other countries in the world had many freedoms, but not as numerous as they were in America shortly after the country was founded. Americans during the late 1700s and early 1800s embraced their freedoms and became leaders and expanders, and what we now considerRead MoreEssay about The Great Concept Of American Freedom1412 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Concept of American Freedom Early America was a place for anyone to live their life the way that they wanted, as it is now, but back then this was a new concept. Much of this idea comes from the freedoms obtained by living here. Many other countries in the world had many freedoms, but not as numerous as they were in America shortly after the country was founded. Americans during the late 1700s and early 1800s embraced their freedoms and became leaders and expanders, and what we nowRead MoreVarying Concepts of Freedom1515 Words   |  7 PagesThey answered clearly that freedom mean the capability to develop from one’s own labor and what was necessary to do this was the access to land. What was Freedom? The understanding of freedom of African-Americans was simply molded by their experiences as slaves and how they observed the free society surrounding them. African-Americans were delighted with the chance to demonstrate their freedom through liberation from regulations that were involved with slavery. Freedom during that time alteredRead MoreThe National Identity Of Being Amercian Essay779 Words   |  4 PagesOne 100 years from now, will Americans still have a sense of national identity ? Joonkyung(David) Chi, Class - 11:30 The national identity of being Amercian will be the concept of everyone. A. The prominent national identitiy of being American is the freedom.†¨ Today, The freedom may could be considered by the value of Amercian. According to The Atlantic, when American were asked the question â€Å"What contributes to America having stronger values than other places in the world?†, over the half ofRead MoreThe Success Of The American Revolution881 Words   |  4 Pagestotalitarian monarchy of England who continuously taxed them. The American colonies wanted their freedom from England because they no longer had a say in England’s government, but were still forced to follow its laws. Thomas Jefferson, the head of the committee to later drafted America’s demand for freedom, went so far as to call England an â€Å"absolute tyranny.† Americans knew their break from England would lead to a war—the American Revolution—but continued to up rise. This lead to many revolts andRead More literature in America Essay916 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica, I think of freedom. We live in a country where we can do what we choose. We can express our opinions and live our own lives. Individuals can form their own individual beliefs and they can do what they want and pursue what they wish. They can play basketball, go to school, get a job, have a family, buy a house, or go to church. We are free. We have opportunity to be whatever we want to make ourselves. When you ask, what is an American? I find it no different to ask, what is freedom? America andRead MoreAmerica Is A Nation That Created By Settlers And Immigrants948 Words   |  4 PagesBeing an American is different from being a citizen of any other country for numerous reasons. America is a nation that was created by settlers and immigrants; it boasts an inherently diverse assemblage of citizens, unlike many other countries in the world. It’s a country that was built by people with a distinct set of values that honor an individual’s â€Å"God-given† rights; a set of values that further shaped how the world came to unders tand and view humanity. Admittedly, what I’ve come to learnRead MoreEssay on American Philosophy514 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican Philosophy In all its forms, American philosophy emphasizes freedom and the supreme importance of the individual. Indeed, an examination of four major American writers shows these concepts in all four main schools of American thought-- Epicureanism, Transcendentalism, Pragmatism, and Protestantism. Epicureanism is the pursuit of pleasure in order to avoid pain. This philosophy is very American. One of the most famous American-Epicureans is Walt Whitman. Whitman is, perhapsRead MoreThe Intellectual Movement of Elightment759 Words   |  3 PagesEnlightenment was a very intricate movement that was centralized on the concepts of progression, reasoning, and the scientific method. The Enlightenment thinkers believed they could implement some of these ideas towards societies and people. These ideas changed how humanity viewed the government, politics, and society. Although each philosopher had their own individual concept, they all centered on the themes of equality and freedom. Thomas Hobbes believed that religion should be separate from politicsRead MoreThe Concept of a Free Country Essay1371 Words   |  6 Pagesprice of an American passport is $140, and apparently American citizenship ensures personal and ethical freedom. But does it really? The severe lack of liberty pres ent during various periods of American history illustrates how weak our constitutional freedom really is. â€Å"All I want to do is change the job description. Give everybody the chance to drive the truck† (Wilson 1.1.15). In the case of this discussion, â€Å"driving the truck† represents involvement in society and basic human freedom. To be more

Understanding The Dynamics Of Emotion, Compassion, Cognition,

Understanding the dynamics of emotion, compassion, cognition, morality, culture, character, aggression and violence, will reveal the motivations for all character types, their role in stories, and overall their contributions to forwarding the storytellers message. But to understand these dynamics, they must be explored through the lense of objectivity, pragmatism, and an evolutionary perspective that explains the purpose of emotion in its entirety, and the importance of the emotion of love to the development of character and personality. All characters from all works of literature, cinema, and other mediums of storytelling are motivated by basic human instincts that originate from the need to survive. Leda Cosmides and John Tooby, pioneers†¦show more content†¦In its basic components, emotion serves to promote survival, and in human culture, promote socialization. As humans evolve so do emotions. Emotions continue to perform the same function that they have been performing for thousands of years, but they have evolved into more complex entities that challenges and questions. Emotion contributes to cognition and intellect. Emotion and cognition explain the choices characters make throughout a story. Decisions like whether or not to embark on a journey relies on both emotional and logical rationale. Characters internally discuss the economics of choice, risk and reward, through pragmatic and emotional reasoning. At times, one method of reasoning surpasses the other, so decisions are made more on emotion than logic or vice versa, therefore influencing the course of a story. However, no decision is completely made by one or the other. Despite intellect’s reputation as purely objective and devoid of emotion, thinking and cognitive processes cannot occur without some degree of emotional input. This relationships applies in reverse as emotion cannot exist without a cognitive input. Don Hockenbury, Associate Professor of Psychology at Tulsa Community College, describes emotions as â€Å" a complex psychological state that involves three distinct components: a subjective experience, aShow MoreRelatedExperiential : Experiential Family Therapy1551 Words   |  7 PagesEmotionally Focused Couples Therapy and internal family systems model. Grounded in the belief that dysfunction in the family comes from suppressed emotions, experiential therapy endeavors to create experiences in the here-and- now that will allow families to examine their internal processes, and not get stuck at the intellectual level of problem-solution or cognition. Experiential therapists encourage transformation through individuation and self-actualization, believing that to bring a more authentic selfRead MoreEmotional Inelligence Essay examples1669 Words   |  7 Pagestime, to demonstrate or refute the importance of feelings. In the beginning common thoughts from managers and or supervisors were; emotions are in the way; emotions try to keep us from making good decisions; emotions increase a lack on focusing. Fortunately, an indeed research takes emotional intelligence to an ultimate ideal in which intelligence is based on emotions, and people who contain this capacity are less depressed, in good health, more employable, and have better interactions. EmotionalRead MoreSocial Psychology Essay1906 Words   |  8 Pagesbased on emotion rather than intellect (Ferguson, 2004). Le Bon recognized that his work revealed great dangers to society and he warned that if the masses were to gain control, human society would Social Psychology 3 revert to barbarism (Ferguson, 2004). In this sense, Le Bons work was an incomplete analysis of crowd dynamics, while at the same time it did open new avenues of understanding human behavior (Ferguson, 2004). Gustave Le Bon incomplete theory of crowd dynamics helped socialRead MoreAre We Socially Intelligent?2438 Words   |  10 PagesNew Science of Human Relationship,’ revealing that the human minds are made to connect with one another during any interaction. He had, in 1995, published a book on Emotional Intelligence where he discussed the human’s ability ‘to manage our own emotions and inner potential for positive relationships.’ In Social Intelligence, he enlarges his scope of investigation to include our human ability to connect with one another. In the words of an editorial review from Publishers Weekly, â€Å"Goleman persuasivelyRead MoreFriendship: How to Make and Keep Friends Essay1783 Words   |  8 Pagesconflict, controlling emotions (in response to rejection/conflict), and making friends. Research Research on the topic of friendship relationships between female adolescents (and specifically middle school students) highlights both the need for intervention with students, as well as some techniques that may most effective for friendship issues. Adolescence, and specifically the time individuals go through middle school is a time of a lot of changes, which include changes in cognition (concrete to formalRead MoreThe Theory Of Social Contract1832 Words   |  8 Pagesdilemma materials that were intuitive and realistic. Through brainstorming discussion, children can moderately discover, comprehend and acquire values and ethics, thus turn moral education from static process of inculcation into a dynamic development process for moral cognition and judgement. This enhances the moral teaching’s influence and effectiveness. Another strength in Kohlberg’s theory is that this method helps create a democratic atmosphere for children’s learning and brings their self- d eterminationRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Schizophrenia3448 Words   |  14 Pageswhich a person loses the ability to assimilate their emotions and feelings with their thoughts, having unrealistic beliefs, referred to as delusions, as well as false perceptions of their environment, known as hallucinations. With these mental characteristics, the disease produces social difficulties like working and developing relationships. Schizophrenia affects a significant portion of the working-age population, but denial, a lack of understanding, support or even scarce treatment resources may stirRead MoreMajor Depressive Disorder: Theories and Therapies3035 Words   |  13 Pagesexternal stimuli. Symbolic Interaction Theory adds the concept of interaction with others, while Cognitive Theory does not. Cognitive Theory suggests cognition and behavior are learned and built upon, while Symbolic Interaction Theory suggests thoughts and actions taking place in the present and are dynamic, chang ing according to the present experience. Dynamics: Compare and Contrast Cognitive Theory and Symbolic Interaction Theory both assert that beliefs about self will strongly determine the way theRead MoreFrom actions to empathy and morality9042 Words   |  37 PagesFebruary 2010 Accepted 27 February 2010 Available online 16 September 2010 Keywords: Mirror neuron system Limbic system Emotion Empathy Morality Neuroimaging a b s t r a c t Our culturally varied, complex social world, governed by unwritten moral codes that encourage afï ¬ liative helping behavior, may be subserved by the unique properties of a neural system for understanding the intentions and actions of others. The ï ¬ ring pattern of neurons within this system appears to ‘mirror’ an action performedRead MoreTherapeutic Styles of Counselling4870 Words   |  20 Pagesaware of the elements that make up the various parts of a field, so that one becomes able to choose and/or organize one’s own existence in a meaningful manner (Jacobs, 1992; Yontef, 1982, 1983). An awareness of the relational field is a way of understanding how one’s context influences one’s experience. Gestalt theory suggests that people define themselves by how they experience themselves in their field in relation to others. Yontef Jacobs (2008, p. 340) argue that this is an identity boundary

The Crystal Shard 24. Cryshal-Tirith Free Essays

Drizzt soon came upon the battered ground where the army had crossed. The tracks came as no surprise to the drow, for the smoke pillars had already told him much of what had transpired. His only remaining question was whether or not any of the towns had held out, and he trotted on toward the mountain wondering if he had a home to return to. We will write a custom essay sample on The Crystal Shard 24. Cryshal-Tirith or any similar topic only for you Order Now Then he sensed a presence, an otherworldly aura that strangely reminded him of the days of his youth. He bent to check the ground again. Some of the marks were fresh troll tracks, and a scarring on the ground that could not have been caused by any mortal being. Drizzt looked around nervously, but the only sound was the mourn of the wind and the only silhouettes on the horizons were the peaks of Kelvin’s Cairn before him and the Spine of the World far to the south. Drizzt paused to consider the presence for a few moments, trying to bring the familiarity he felt into better focus. He moved on tentatively. He understood the source of his recollections now, though their exact details remained elusive. He knew what he was following. A demon had come to Icewind Dale. Kelvin’s Cairn loomed much larger before Drizzt caught up to the band. His sensitivity to creatures of the lower planes, brought about by centuries of associating with them in Menzoberranzan, told him that he was nearing the demon before it came into sight. And then he saw the distant forms, a half-dozen trolls marching in a tight rank, and in their midst, towering over them, was a huge monster of the Abyss. No minor mane or midge, Drizzt knew at once, but a major demon. Kessell must be mighty indeed if he held this formidable monster under his control! Drizzt followed them at a cautious distance. The band was intent on their destination, though, and his caution was unnecessary. But Drizzt wasn’t about to take any chances at all, for he had many times witnessed the wrath of such demons. They were commonplace in the cities of the drow, further proof to Drizzt Do’Urden that the ways of his people were not for him. He moved in closer; for something else had grabbed his attention. The demon was holding a small object which radiated such powerful magic that the drow, even at this distance, could sense it clearly. It was too masked by the demon’s own emanations for Drizzt to get any clear perspectives on it, so he backed off cautiously once again. The lights of thousands of campfires came into view as the party, and Drizzt, approached the mountain. The goblins had set scouts in this very area, and Drizzt realized that he had gone as far south as he could. He broke off his pursuit and headed for the better vantage points up the mountain. The time best suited to the drow’s underworld vision was the lightening hours just before sunrise, and though he was tired, Drizzt was determined to be in position by then. He quickly climbed up the rocks, gradually working his way around to the southern face of the mountain. Then he saw the campfires encircling Bryn Shander. Further to the east, embers glowed in the rubble that had been Caer-Konig and Caer-Dineval. Wild shouts rang out from Termalaine, and Drizzt knew that the city on Maer Dualdon was in the hands of the enemy. And then predawn blued the night sky, and much more became apparent. Drizzt first looked to the south end of the dwarven valley and was comforted that the wall opposite him had collapsed. Bruenor’s people were safe at least, and Regis with them, the drow supposed. But the sight of Bryn Shander was less comforting. Drizzt had heard the boasts of the captured orc and had seen the tracks of the army and their campfires, but he could never have imagined the vast assemblage that opened up before him when the light increased. The sight staggered him. â€Å"How many goblin tribes have you collected, Akar Kessell?† he gasped. â€Å"And how many of the giants call you master?† He knew that the people in Bryn Shander would survive only as long as Kessell let them. They could not hope to hold out against this force. Dismayed, he turned to seek out a hole where he could get some rest. He could be of no immediate help here, and exhaustion was heightening his hopelessness, preventing him from thinking constructively. As he started away frown the mountain face, sudden activity on the distant field caught his attention. He couldn’t make out individuals at this great distance, the army seemed just a black mass, but he knew that the demon had come forth. He saw the blacker spot of its evil presence wade out to a cleared area only a few hundred yards below the gates of Bryn Shander. And he felt the supernatural aura of the powerful magic he had earlier sensed, like the living heart of some unknown life form, pulsating in the demon’s clawed hands. Goblins gathered around to watch the spectacle, keeping a respectable distance between them and Kessell’s dangerously unpredictable captain. â€Å"What is that?† asked Regis, crushed in among the watching throng on Bryn Shander’s wall. â€Å"A demon,† Cassius answered. â€Å"A big one.† â€Å"It mocks our meager defenses!† Glensather cried. â€Å"How can we hope to stand against such a foe?† The demon bent low, involved in the ritual to call out the dweomer of the crystalline object. It stood the crystal shard upright on the grass and stepped back, bellowing forth the obscure words of an ancient spell, rising to a crescendo as the sky began to brighten with the sun’s imminent appearance. â€Å"A glass dagger?† Regis asked, puzzled by the pulsating object. Then the first ray of dawn broke the horizon. The crystal sparkled and summoned the light, bending the sunbeam’s path and absorbing its energy. The shard flared again. The pulsations intensified as more of the sun crept into the eastern sky, only to have its light sucked into the hungry image of Crenshinibon. The spectators on the wall gaped in horror, wondering if Akar Kessell held power over the sun itself. Only Cassius had the presence of mind to connect the power of the shard with the light of the sun. Then the crystal began to grow. It swelled as each pulse attained its peak, then shrank back a bit while the next throb grew. Everything around it remained in shadow, for it greedily consumed all of the sunlight. Slowly, but inevitably, its girth widened and its tip rose high into the air. The people on the wall and the monsters on the field had to avert their eyes from the brightened power of Cryshal-Tirith. Only the drow from his distant vantage point and the demon who was immune to such sights witnessed another image of Crenshinibon being raised. The third Cryshal-Tirith grew to life. The tower released its hold on the sun as the ritual was completed, and all the region was bathed in morning sunlight. The demon roared at its successful spellcasting and strode proudly into the new tower’s mirrored doorway; followed by the trolls, the wizard’s personal guard. The besieged inhabitants of Bryn Shander and Targos looked upon the incredible structure with a confused mixture of awe, appreciation, and terror. They could not resist the unearthly beauty of Cryshal-Tirith, but they knew the consequences of the tower’s appearance: Akar Kessell, master of goblins and giants, had come. * * * Goblins and orcs fell to their knees, and all the vast army took up the chant of â€Å"Kessell! Kessell!† paying homage to the wizard with a fanatical devotion that brought shivers to the human witnesses to the spectacle. Drizzt, too, was unnerved by the extent of the influence and devotion the wizard exerted over the normally independent goblin tribes. The drow determined at that moment that the only chance for survival for the people of Ten-Towns lay in the death of Akar Kessell. He knew even before he had considered any of the possible options that he would try to get to the wizard. For now, though, he needed to rest. He found a shadowed hole just back from the face of Kelvin’s Cairn and let his exhaustion overtake him. Cassius was also tired. The spokesman had stayed on the wall throughout the cold night, examining the campsites to determine how much of the natural enmity between the unruly tribes remained. He had seen some minor discord and name-calling, but nothing extreme enough to give him hope that the army would fall apart early into the siege. He couldn’t understand how the wizard had achieved such a dramatic unification of the arch foes. The appearance of the demon and the raising of Cryshal-Tirith had shown him the incredible power that Kessell commanded. He had soon drawn the same conclusions as the drow. Unlike Drizzt, though, the spokesman from Bryn Shander did not retire when the field calmed again, despite the protests of Regis and Glensather, concerned for his health. On his shoulders, Cassius carried the responsibility for the several thousand terrified people that lay huddled within his city’s walls and there would be no rest for him. He needed information; he needed to find a weak link in the wizard’s seemingly impregnable armor. And so the spokesman watched diligently and patiently throughout the first long, uneventful day of the siege, noting the boundaries that the goblin tribes staked out as their own, and the order of hierarchy that determined the distance of each group from the center spot of Cryshal-Tirith. * * * Away to the east, the fleets of Caer-Konig and Caer-Dineval moored alongside the docks of the deserted city of Easthaven. Several crews had gone ashore to gather supplies, but most of the people had remained on the boats, unsure of how far east Kessell’s black arm extended. Jensin Brent and his counterpart from Caer-Konig had taken full control of their immediate situation from the decks of the Mist Seeker; the flagship of Caer-Dineval. All disputes between the two cities had been called off, temporarily at least – though promises of continued friendship were heard on the decks of every ship on Lac Dinneshere. Both spokesmen were agreed that they would not yet leave the waters of the lake and flee, for they realized that they had nowhere to go. All of the ten towns were threatened by Kessell, and Luskan was fully four hundred miles away and across the path of Kessell’s army. The ill-equipped refugees couldn’t hope to reach it before the first of winter’s snows caught up with them. The sailors that had disembarked soon returned to the docks with the welcomed news that Easthaven had not yet been touched by the darkness. More crews were ordered ashore to collect extra food and blankets, but Jensin Brent played it cautiously, thinking it wise to keep most of the refugees out on the water beyond Kessell’s reach. More promising news came a short time later. â€Å"Signals from Redwaters, Spokesman Brent!† the watchman atop the Mist Seeker’s crow’s nest called out. â€Å"The people of Good Mead and Dougan’s Hole are unharmed!† He held up his newsbearer, a small glasspiece crafted in Termalaine and designed to focus the light of the sun for signaling across the lakes, using intricate though limited signaling codes. â€Å"My calls have been answered!† â€Å"Where are they, then?† Brent asked excitedly. â€Å"On the eastern banks,† the watchman replied. â€Å"They sailed out of their villages, thinking them undefendable. None of the monsters have yet approached, but the spokesmen felt that the far side of the lake would be safer until the invaders have departed.† â€Å"Keep the communication open,† Brent ordered. â€Å"Let me know when you have more news.† â€Å"Until the invaders have departed?† Schermont echoed incredulously as he moved to Jensin Brent’s side. â€Å"A foolishly hopeful assessment of the situation, I agree,† said Brent. â€Å"But I am relieved that our cousins to the south yet live!† â€Å"Do we go to them? Join our forces?† â€Å"Not yet,† answered Brent. â€Å"I fear that we would be too vulnerable on the open ground between the lakes. We need more information before we can take any effective action. Let us keep the communications flowing between the two lakes. Gather volunteers to carry messages to Redwaters.† â€Å"They shall be sent off immediately,† agreed Schermont as he headed away. Brent nodded and looked back across the lake at the dying plume of smoke above his home. â€Å"More information,† he muttered to himself. Other volunteers headed out later that day into the more treacherous west to scout out the situation in the principle city. Brent and Schermont had done a masterful job in quelling the panic, but even with the substantial gains in organization, the initial shock of the sudden and deadly invasion had left most of the survivors of Caer-Konig and Caer-Dineval in a state of utter despair. Jensin Brent was the glowing exception. The spokesman from Caer-Dineval was a courageous fighter who steadfastly refused to yield until the last breath had left his body. He sailed his proud flagship around the moorings of the others, rallying the people with his cries of promised revenge against Akar Kessell. Now he watched and waited on the Mist Seeker for the critical news from the west. In mid-afternoon, he heard the call he had prayed for. â€Å"She stands!† the watcher on the crow’s nest cried out ecstatically when the newsbearer’s signal flashed in. â€Å"Bryn Shander stands!† Suddenly, Brent’s optimism took on credibility. The miserable band of homeless victims assumed an angry posture bent on vengeance. More messengers were dispatched at once to carry the news to Redwaters that Kessell hadn’t yet achieved complete victory. On both lakes, the task of separating the warriors from the civillians soon began in earnest, with the women and children moving to the heaviest and least seaworthy boats, and the fighting men boarding the fastest vessels. The designated warships were then moved to the outbound moorings, where they could put out quickly across the lakes. Their sails were checked and tightened in preparation for the wild run that would carry their brave crews to war. Or, by Jensin Brent’s furious decree, â€Å"The run that would carry their brave crews to victory!† * * * Regis had rejoined Cassius on the wall when the newsbearer’s signal had been spotted on the southwestern banks of Lac Dinneshere. The halfling had slept for most of the night and day, figuring that he might as well die doing the thing he loved to do best. He was surprised when he awakened, expecting his slumber to last into eternity. Cassius was beginning to view things a bit differently, though. He had compiled a long list of potential breakdowns in Akar Kessell’s unruly army; orcs bullying goblins and giants in turn bullying both. If he could only find a way for them to hold out long enough for the obvious hatred between the goblin races to take its toll on Kessell’s force †¦. And then, the signal from Lac Dinneshere and subsequent reports of similar flashes on the far side of Redwaters had given the spokesman sincere hope that the siege might well disintegrate and Ten-Towns survive. But then the wizard made his dramatic appearance and Cassius’s hopes were dashed. It began as a pulse of red light circling within the glassy wall at the base of Cryshal-Tirith. Then a second pulse, this one blue, started up the tower, rotating in the opposite direction. Slowly they circled the diameter of the tower, blending into green as they converged, then separating and continuing on their way. All who could see the tantalizing show stared apprehensively, unsure of what would happen next, but convinced that a display of tremendous power was forthcoming. The circling lights speeded up, their intensity increasing with their velocity. Soon the entire base of the tower was ringed in a green blur, so bright that the onlookers had to avert their eyes. And out of the blur stepped two hideous trolls, each bearing an ornate mirror. The lights slowed and stopped altogether. The mere sight of the disgusting trolls filled the people of Bryn Shander with revulsion, but intrigued, none would turn away. The monsters walked right to the base of the city’s sloping hill and stood facing each other, aiming their mirrors diagonally toward each other, but still catching the reflection of Cryshal-Tirith. Twin beams of light shot down from the tower, each striking one of the mirrors and converging with the other halfway between the trolls. A sudden pulse from the tower, like the flash of a lightning stroke, left the area between the monsters veiled in smoke, and when it cleared, instead of the converging beams of light, stood a thin, crooked shell of a man in a red, satiny robe. Goblins fell to their knees again and hid their faces in the ground. Akar Kessell had come. He looked up in the direction of Cassius on the wall, a cocky smile stretched across his thin lips. â€Å"Greetings spokesman of Bryn Shander!† he cackled. â€Å"Welcome to my fair city!† He laughed wryly. Cassius had no doubt that the wizard had picked him out, though he had no recollection of ever seeing the man and didn’t understand how he had been recognized. He looked to Regis and Glensather for an explanation, but they both shrugged their shoulders. â€Å"Yes, I know you, Cassius,† Kessell said. â€Å"And to you, good Spokesman Glensather, my greetings. I should have guessed that you would be here; ever were the people of Easthaven willing to join in a cause, no matter how hopeless!† Now it was Glensather’s turn to stare dumbfounded at his companions. But again, there were no explanations forthcoming. â€Å"You know of us,† Cassius replied to the apparition, â€Å"yet you are unknown to us. It seems that you hold an unfair advantage.† â€Å"Unfair?† protested the wizard. â€Å"I hold every advantage, foolish man!† Again the laugh. â€Å"You know of me – at least Glensather does.† The spokesman from Easthaven shrugged his shoulders again in reply to Cassius’s inquiring glance. The gesture seemed to anger Kessell. â€Å"I spent several months living in Easthaven,† the wizard snapped. â€Å"In the guise of a wizard’s apprentice from Luskan! Clever, don’t you agree?† â€Å"Do you remember him?† Cassius asked Glensather softly. â€Å"It could be of great import.† â€Å"It is possible that he stayed in Easthaven,† Glensather replied in the same whispered tones, â€Å"though no group from the Hosttower has come into my city for several years. Yet we are an open city, and many foreigners arrive with every passing trading caravan. I tell you the truth, Cassius, I have no recollection of the man.† Kessell was outraged. He stamped his foot impatiently, and the smile on his face was replaced by a pouting pucker. â€Å"Perhaps my return to Ten-Towns will prove more memorable, fools!† he snapped. He held his arms outstretched in self-important proclamation. â€Å"Behold Akar Kessell, the Tyrant of Icewind Dale!† he cried. â€Å"People of Ten-Towns, your master has come!† â€Å"Your words are a bit premature – † Cassius began, but Kessell cut him short with a frenzied scream. â€Å"Never interrupt me!† the wizard shouted, the veins in his neck taut and bulging and his face turning as red as blood. Then, as Cassius quieted in disbelief, Kessell seemed to regain a measure of his composure. â€Å"You shall learn better, proud Cassius,† he threatened. â€Å"You shall learn!† He turned back to Cryshal-Tirith and uttered a simple word of command. The tower went black for a moment, as though it refused to release the reflections of the sun’s light. Then it began to glow, far within its depths, with a light that seemed more its own than a reflection of the day. With each passing second, the hue shifted and the light began to climb and circle the strange walls. â€Å"Behold Akar Kessell!† the wizard proclaimed, still frowning. â€Å"Look upon the splendor of Crenshinibon and surrender all hope!† More lights began flashing within the tower’s walls, climbing and dropping randomly and spinning about the structure in a frenzied dance that cried out for release. Gradually they were working their way up to the pointed pinnacle, and it began to flare as if on fire, shifting through the colors of the spectrum until its white flame rivaled the brightness of the sun itself. Kessell cried out as a man in ecstacy. The fire was released. It shot out in a thin, searing line northward toward the unfortunate city of Targos. Many spectators lined Targos’s high wall, though the tower was much farther away from them than it was from Bryn Shander, and it appeared as no more than a flashing speck on the distant plain. They had little idea of what was happening beneath the principle city, though they did see the ray of fire coming toward them. But by then it was too late. The wrath of Akar Kessell roared into the proud city, cutting a swath of instant devastation. Fires sprouted all along its killing line. People caught in the direct path never even had a chance to cry out before they were simply vaporized. But those who survived the initial assault, women and children and tundra-toughened men alike, who had faced death a thousand times and more, did scream. And their wails carried out across the still lake to Lonelywood and Bremen, to the cheering goblins in Termalaine, and down the plain to the horrified witnesses in Bryn Shander. Kessell waved his hand and slightly altered the angle of the release, thus arcing the destruction throughout Targos. Every major structure within the city was soon burning, and hundreds of people lay dead or dying, pitifully rolling about on the ground to extinguish the flames that engulfed their bodies or gasping helplessly in a desperate search for air in the heavy smoke. Kessell reveled in the moment. But then he felt an involuntary shudder wrack his spine. And the tower, too, seemed to quiver. The wizard clutched at the relic, still tucked under the folds of his robe. He understood that he had pushed the limits of Crenshinibon’s strength too far. Back in the Spine of the World, the first tower that Kessell had raised crumbled into rubble. And far out on the open tundra, the second did likewise. The shard pulled in its borders, destroying the tower images that sapped away its strength. Kessell, too, had been wearied by the effort, and the lights of the remaining Cryshal-Tirith began to calm and then to wane. The ray fluttered and died. But it had finished its business. When the invasion had first come, Kemp and the other proud leaders of Targos had promised their people that they would hold the city until the last man had fallen, but even the stubborn spokesman realized that they had no choice but to flee. Luckily, the city proper, which had taken the brunt of Kessell’s attack, was on high ground overlooking the sheltered bay area. The fleets remained unharmed. And the homeless fishermen of Termalaine were already on the docks, having stayed with their boats after they had docked in Targos. As soon as they had realized the unbelievable extent of the destruction that was occurring in the city proper, they began preparing for the imminent influx of the war’s latest refugees. Most of the boats of both cities sailed out within minutes of the attack, desperate to get their vulnerable sails safely away from the windblown sparks and debris. A few vessels remained behind, braving the growing hazards to rescue any later arrivals on the docks. The people on Bryn Shander’s dock wept at the continued screams of the dying. Cassius, though, consumed by his quest to seek out and understand the apparent weakness that Kessell had just revealed, had no time for tears. In truth, the cries affected him as deeply as anyone, but, unwilling to let the lunatic Kessell view any hints of weakness from him, he transformed his visage from sorrow to an iron grimace of rage. Kessell laughed at him. â€Å"Do not pout, poor Cassius,† the wizard taunted, â€Å"it is unbecoming.† â€Å"You are a dog,† Glensather retorted. â€Å"And unruly dogs should be beaten!† Cassius stayed his fellow spokesman with an outstretched hand. â€Å"Be calm, my friend,† he whispered. â€Å"Kessell will feed off of our panic. Let him talk – he reveals more to us than he believes.† â€Å"Poor Cassius,† Kessell repeated sarcastically. Then suddenly, the wizard’s face twisted in outrage. Cassius noted the abrupt swing keenly, filing it away with the other information he had collected. â€Å"Mark well what you have witnessed here, people of Bryn Shander!† Kessell sneered. â€Å"Bow to your master, or the same fate shall befall you! And there is no water behind you! You have nowhere to run!† He laughed wildly again and looked all about the city’s hill, as though he was searching for something. â€Å"What are you to do?† he cackled. â€Å"You have no lake!† â€Å"I have spoken, Cassius. Hear me well. You will deliver an emissary unto me tomorrow, an emissary to bear the news of your unconditional surrender! And if your pride prevents such an act, remember the cries of dying Targos! Look to the city on the banks of Maer Dualdon for guidance, pitiful Cassius. The fires shall not have died when the morrow dawns!† Just then a courier raced up to the spokesman. â€Å"Many ships have been spotted moving out from under the blanket of smoke in Targos. Newsbearer signals have already begun coming in from the refugees.† â€Å"And what of Kemp?† Cassius asked anxiously. â€Å"He lives,† the courier answered. â€Å"And he has vowed revenge.† Cassius breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t overly fond of his peer from Targos, but he knew that the battle-seasoned spokesman would prove a valuable asset to Ten-Towns’ cause before all was through. Kessell heard the conversation and growled in disdain. â€Å"And where shall they run?† he asked Cassius. The spokesman, intent on studying this unpredictable and unbalanced adversary, did not reply, but Kessell answered the question for him. â€Å"To Bremen? But they cannot!† He snapped his fingers, beginning the chain of a prearranged message to his westernmost forces. At once, a large group of goblins broke rank and started out to the west. Toward Bremen. â€Å"You see? Bremen falls before the night is through, and yet another fleet will scurry out onto their precious lake. The scene shall be repeated in the town in the wood with predictable results. But what protection will the lakes offer these people when the merciless winter begins to fall?† he shouted. â€Å"How fast shall their ships sail away from me when the waters are frozen around them?† He laughed again, but this time more seriously, more dangerously. â€Å"What protection do any of you have against Akar Kessell?† Cassius and the wizard held each other in unyielding glares. The wizard barely mouthed the words, but Cassius heard him clearly. â€Å"What protection?† * * * Out on Maer Dualdon, Kemp bit back his frustrated rage as he watched his city tumble in flames. Soot-blackened faces stared back to the burning ruins in horrified disbelief, shouting impossible denials and openly crying for their lost friends and kin. But, like Cassius, Kemp converted his despair into constructive anger. As soon as he learned of the goblin force departing for Bremen, he dispatched his fastest ship to warn the people of that distant city and to inform them of the happenings across the lake. Then he sent a second ship toward Lonelywood to beg for food and bandages, and perhaps an invitation to dock. Despite their obvious differences, the spokesmen of the ten towns were in many ways alike. Like Agorwal, who had been happy to sacrifice everything for the good of the people, and Jensin Brent, who refused to yield to despair, Kemp of Targos set about rallying his people for a retaliatory strike. He didn’t yet know how he would accomplish the feat, but he knew that he had not had his final say in the wizard’s war. And poised upon the wall of Bryn Shander, Cassius knew it, too. How to cite The Crystal Shard 24. Cryshal-Tirith, Essay examples

Nishat Textile Mill free essay sample

Personal Development and Training: Junior-level courses are frequently held in-house for personal training. Various courses organized in the past include the following, ?Japanese-style Production Management: This course was formulated for supervisors and officers to enhance their management capabilities in interaction with the lower staff and associates and also to improve the production efficiencies. ?Executive Development Course: This course was specially designed for middle management to enhance their principle-centered leadership qualities so that they could meet the emerging challenges of the global world. Neuro-linguistic programming was part of the course to help the employee in day-to-day activities to improve proficiency and effectiveness in their attitude and work style. ?Basic English Language Course: This course was for those staff that is not proficient in written and verbal English language. An external instructor whose services were especially hired for this purpose conducted the course. ?Basic Labor laws of Pakistan: Professionals from Labor Department organized this course. We will write a custom essay sample on Nishat Textile Mill or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The main purpose was to give acquaintances to the staff of their rights. Wage rates, vacations, working hours, child bonded labor etc, were the main topics covered. ?In-Housing Training School: Nishat mills limited have also established an in-house Training School for unskilled labor so that they may be trained on stitching machines, and qualify for work in the stitching floors. Unskilled manpower is hired from the market for training. And during this period they are paid as per the prevailing wage rules. NML started out as a weaving unit with 500 semi-automatic looms; later 10000 spindles were added, laying the foundation on nation’s biggest textiles composite project. Composite project at Nishat mills limited Faisalabad covering 98 acre of land is providing all production process under one roof i. . spinning, weaving, processing, stitching and power generation. The Chairman: Today Mian Mohammad Mansha, the chairman of Nishat Group, like his father, continues the spirit of entrepreneurship and has led the group to become a multi dimensional corporation, with wide ranging interests. Nishat has grown from a cotton export house into the premier business group of the country with 5 listed companies, concentrating on 4 core business, Textiles, Cement, Banking, and Power Generation. Today, Nishat is considered to be at par with multinationals operating locally in terms of its quality products and management skills. Firmly believing in ‘Growth through Professional Management’ corporate culture is based on decentralization, delegation of authority, encouraging the acceptance of responsibility and inculcating quality consciousness. It is their conviction that every successful organization is a reflection on the commitment, dedication, and team spirit of its employees, and Nishat is no exception. The people are all imbued with the spirit, a fact manifested in our rapid growth and low turnover. Nishat continue to strive to be a better group today than what they were yesterday, for their customers, for their shareholders, for their investors, for the environment, for the community and for their employees, for it is with them that Nishat has achieved so much success in last fifty years.Production process consists of spinning, weaving, processing, and finishing. The processing includes dyeing, engraving. The textile capacity of the group is the largest in the country.