How to Read and Understand a Difficult Book or Chapter

Weve all encountered chapters or books that we just cant get into or we dont understand. There are lots of reasons for this: sometimes were required to read about a topic that is just plain boring, sometimes we try to read material that is written way above our current reading level, and sometimes we find that the writer is just plain bad at explaining things. It happens. If you find yourself reading an entire chapter or book several times without understanding it, try taking the following steps. Be sure to do steps 1 to 3 before you jump in to read the text. Difficulty: Hard Time Required: Differs by length of written material What You Need: A difficult book or passageNote paperPencilSticky note flagsQuiet room How to Do It 1. Read the introduction and reflect.  Any nonfiction article or book will have an introductory section that gives an overview of the main points. Read this first, then stop, think, and soak it in.Reason: All textbooks on a certain topic are not created equal! Every writer has a certain theme or point of view, and that will be introduced in your introduction. Its important to understand this theme or focus  because it will help you to recognize why certain examples or comments appear in your reading. 2. Look at the sub-headings. Most books or chapters will progress in some manner, whether they show a progression of time or an evolution of ideas. Look over the topics and try to find the pattern.Reason: Writers begin the writing process with an outline. The subheadings or subtitles you see in your text show you how the author started when organizing his/her thoughts. Subtitles show the overall subject broken down into smaller segments which are arranged in the most logical progression.   3. Read the summary and reflect.  Right after you read the introduction and subheadings, flip to the back of the chapter and read the summary.Reason: The summary  should re-state the points that were mentioned in the introduction. (If they dont, then this really is a difficult book to understand!) This reiteration of the main points may offer the material in more depth or from a different viewpoint. Read this section, then stop and soak it in. 4. Read the material. Now that youve had time to understand the points the author is trying to convey, youre more apt to recognize them when they come along. When you see a major point, flag it with a sticky note.   5. Take notes. Take notes and, if possible, make a brief outline as you read. Some people like to underline words or points in pencil. Only do this if you own the book. 6. Watch for lists. Always look for code words that tell you a list is coming. If you see a passage that says There were three major effects of this event, and they all impacted the political climate, or something similar, you can be sure there is a list following. The effects will be listed, but they may be separated by many paragraphs, pages, or chapters. Always find them and make note of them. 7. Look up words you dont understand. Dont be in a rush! Stop whenever you see a word that you cant immediately define in your own words.Reason: One word can indicate the entire tone or view of the piece. Dont try to guess the meaning. That can be dangerous! Make sure to look up the definition. 8. Keep on plugging through. If youre following the steps but you still dont seem to be soaking in the material, just keep reading. Youll surprise yourself. 9. Go back and hit the highlighted points. Once you get to the end of the piece, go back and review the notes youve made. Look over the important words, points, and lists.Reason: Repetition is the key to retaining information. 10. Review the introduction and summary. When you do, you may find that youve absorbed more than you realized. Tips Dont be hard on yourself. If this is hard for you, its probably just as hard for other students in your class.Dont try to read in a noisy environment. That might be ok under other circumstances, but its not a good idea when attempting difficult reading.Talk to others who are reading the same material.You can always join the homework forum and ask advice from others.Dont give up!

Machines can be conscious - 1605 Words

R.Yusuf Akbal 210112409 03.05.2013 Can machines be conscious? Can machines be conscious? Well, the answer actually depends on the kind of machines you are talking about. Based on quite a few instances and research work done on this particular topic, I think that the machines can indeed be categorized as conscious beings and in the following paragraphs I will be providing a couple of examples in order to support my argument. If we look at the definition of consciousness, which implies that ‘one has to be aware of all its surroundings and wellbeing’ then machines can certainly not be conscious; as they have all the operations and data already programmed in them by some external forces and are only aware of those situations which have†¦show more content†¦Another example quoted by Harnad (Harnad, 1991) is that, whenever we dream, we are apparently disconnected from the world, our muscles get stable and paralyzed and we are cut-off from the whole environment. However, we are still conscious as we are conscious about the functions and sounds performing inside and outside the body, and our body would respond when it is touched or forced to move. Sensory perceptions would be always there. This reflects machines as being conscious. Neurological evidence points out that people who lose their eye sights accidently or by birth can certainly dream and imagine about things. Consciousness does not require interaction with the environment. This means that interaction, awareness, and emotions do not always fall in the category of consciousness. In this way, machines can be conscious if they acquire just few aspects (Shear, 1997). One of the examples that support my argument that the machines can be conscious is the example of a sheep that was genetically made by human beings using the genes and DNA of an original sheep. That was actually a machine as it was synthetically made by human beings, but it had the ability to survive, produce heat, think, and do all the activities that an original sheep is capable of doing. So this machine comes under the category of being conscious. Dolly sheep was made on 5th July 1996 with the help of cloned embryo and DNA of another naturally produced sheep. She was also aShow MoreRelatedAn Aristotelian Theory Of Consciousness1646 Words   |  7 PagesVictorian automatons, to our more recent fancies- computers, robots and other Turing machines. Perhaps the reason for this preoccupation with artificial intelligence is actually a quest to better understand our own consciousness. At first sight, the question â€Å"Can a machine be conscious?† appears deceptively simple. However, the answer to this question is entirely dependent on how we define consciousness. We can embark by defining consciousness in an Aristotelian fashion- by its function. 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A Report on Alkaline Cells

Question: Discuss about the A Report on Alkaline Cells. Answer: Introduction Lew Urry developed the alkaline-manganese cell, at the Eveready Battery CompanyLaboratory in Parma, Ohio in 1949 (Aifantis, Hackney Kumar 2010, p. 36). The development of the alkaline cells stemmed from the idea that it was able to supply more total energy at elevated currents compared to the Leclanch cells that were majorly used at that time. Over the years, increased technological discoveries and advancements have led to further improvements by increasing the energy storage within a particular size package. A year later, an independent inventor called Samuel Ruben developed the zinc-mercuric oxide alkaline cell that later became Duracell. Duracell was licensed to the P.R. Mallory Co. Since that time; mercury compounds have been eliminated from the cells to minimize environmental pollution and risks. The alkaline cell is ideal for applications that require high voltages and high current continuous discharge, such as high power remote control, camera, electric toy, electric shaver, flashlight, and CD player. Chemical reaction responsible for electricity production In the alkaline cell, zincis the negative electrode while manganese dioxide is and the positive electrode (Hummel 2011, p. 107). The potassium hydroxide alkaline electrolyte is, however, not part of the reaction since only the manganese dioxide and zinc are consumed during the discharge (Abdullah 2012, p. 229). The potassium hydroxide as an electrolyte does not undergo consumption. The reason is that there are equal amounts of ions of OHproduced and consumed. The equations for the reaction are as shown below. Zn + 2 OH- Zn (OH)2 + 2e- (oxidation) 2 MnO2 + H2O + 2e- Mn2O3 + 2 OH- (reduction) Basic set up of the alkaline cell The basic set up of the alkaline cell is as illustrated in the diagram below. The major components of the cell include the cathode, separator, cathode cap, anode, insulator, anode cap, and anode collector. The working of the alkaline cell The generation of electricity in the alkaline cells is by the redox reaction. In the alkaline cells, power is generated by the reduction-oxidation reaction that takes place at the anode (Zinc) and cathode (Manganese Oxide) through an electrolyte (potassium hydroxide). The redox reaction results in the flow of electrons from the anode (oxidation reaction) to the cathode (reduction reaction) to create a reduction potential of the half-reactions (Linden and Reddy 2002, p. 10.4). The equations for the reactions and the EMF of the alkaline cell The half-equation for the reaction The half-equation for the reaction at the cell is given as Zn(s)+ 2OH(aq) ZnO(s)+ H2O(l)+ 2e[e = 1.28 Volts] (Abdullah 2012, p. 229) 2MnO2(s)+ H2O(l)+ 2e Mn2O3(s)+ 2OH(aq)[e = +0.15 Volts] The complete equation for the reaction The complete equation for the reaction of the cells is expressed as Zn(s)+ 2MnO2(s)+ZnO(s)+ Mn2O3(s)[e = 1.43 Volts] (Linden and Reddy 2002, p. 10.4) The EMF of the cell The EMF of the cell is calculated by adding the half-equations Anode: Zn(s) + 2 OH-(aq) ZnO(s) + H2O(l) + 2e-; [e = 1.28 Volts] Cathode: 2 MnO2(s) + H2O(l) + 2e- Mn2O3(s) + 2 OH-(aq); [e = +0.15 Volts] Overall reaction: Zn(s) + 2 MnO2(s) ZnO(s) + Mn2O3(s) [e = 1.43 Volts] Therefore, the EMF of the cell = 1.28 + 0.15 = 1.43 V The durability of the alkaline cell Alkaline cells last for a long period and have a comparatively long shelf life of at least 2 years during which they can retain about 90% of their original charge capacities. As a result, they have better performance at both high and low temperatures. In addition, there are two types of alkaline batteries available namely premium alkaline and standard alkaline. Advantages and disadvantages of Alkaline Cell Advantages One of the benefits of alkaline cells is reduced costs. Instead of discarding the standard alkaline cells, they can be recharged to save money. In addition, there is less environmental pollution from disposed electrolyte cells due to the reduced mercury content. Secondly, alkaline cells are significantly reliable compared to the nickelcadmium battery since they do not suffer from loss of capacity due to shallow discharges or cell failure due to trickle charging. Thirdly, alkaline cells discharge slowly and consequently have a longer shelf life of characteristically between 2 to 4 years compared to nickelcadmium battery whose shelf life is between 2 to 3 months (Aifantis, Hackney Kumar 2010, p. 37). Therefore, they are appropriate for applications where the appliance requires standby power. Fourthly, alkaline cells have a superior power capacity per cell compared to most standard batteries such as nickelcadmium battery and zinc-carbon battery. Fifthly, the alkaline cell has a higher voltage output (1.5 V) compared to nickelcadmium battery (1.2 V) and this further increases its reliability. Disadvantages On the other hand, alkaline cells have a high internal resistance that impairs their run time and leads to an early low battery warning in most appliances (Doble Schoch, 2008, p 86). Consequently, alkaline cells will not last long in applications that have high start up current demands or even require much power while in use. In addition, rechargeable alkaline cells offer a much lower performance compared to standard alkaline cells although that variance has narrowed these days owing to superior technology and using perfect raw materials for the manufacturing. Secondly, recharging cells can sometimes be irritating and abrupt. However, keeping track of their usage and recharging at standard intervals when not yet fully discharged may greatly help in overcoming this problem. Thirdly, the high cost of the battery charger can be a drawback and a source of convenience. Furthermore, a defective battery chargermay lead to the explosion of the alkaline cells. Fourthly, alkaline cells are bu lkier compared to the other lithium cells that are capable of giving much higher energy. Disposal method/recycling of the used Alkaline Cells Alkaline cells can be disposed of as ordinary wastes in the landfills today owing to the 1996 reduction of the mercury content. Nevertheless, alkaline cells with high amounts of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, corrosive chemicals, and mercury pose a significant challenge of disposal, particularly in the landfills. The biggest problem is the threat of environmental pollution and the danger imposed on human life, particularly those living or working near the landfills (Bernardes, Espinosa Tenrio 2004, p. 292). The authors argue further that the other methods of disposal of alkaline cells other than landfills are stabilization and incineration. The waste alkaline cells are not regarded as valuable materials. One of the common ways of recycling the alkaline cells is by shredding and separating the zinc and manganese case metals from the other components. Alternatively, the cells can be used as a furnace feedstock in the manufacture of products such as rebar and other low-grade st eel metals. During this process, zinc metal is separated from the furnace components in the form of fumes. Environmental impact of the disposalof Alkaline Cells The extensive use of alkaline cells has resulted in many environmental concerns across the globe. To start with, the disposal of the used alkaline cells as electronic waste leads to pollution by the toxic chemicals and metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury (Kang, Chen Ogunseitan 2013, p. 5495). Secondly, the manufacturers of the alkaline cells consume the resources such as the metal ores as the primary raw materials, and this leads to environmental degradation due to the resulting landfills and the depletion of the natural resources. For instance in the United States, approximately 3 billion alkaline cells are purchased annually, and an estimated 179,000 tons of the waste alkaline cells end up in landfills throughout the country. Conclusion The alkaline cell is durable, produces much current, have long shelf life, and have a shell that is resistant to corrosion compared to carbon battery. In addition, the alkaline cell uses opposite electrode structure, and this leads to an increased relative volume between the anode and the cathode. Moreover, conductive potassium hydroxide solution replaces both the zinc chloride and ammonium chloride solution to improve the electric properties of the cell. Furthermore, the capacity and discharge time is between 3 to 7 times longer than that of an ordinary battery of the same model. Besides, during the discharge process, the reaction does not produce gas or bubbles, and this leads to a constant voltage. Bibliography Abdullah, M 2012, Applied energy, Boca Raton, FL: Taylor Francis. Aifantis, K, Hackney, S Kumar, R 2010, High energy density lithium batteries, Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. Bernardes, A, Espinosa, D Tenrio, J 2004, Recycling of batteries: a review of current processes and technologies, Journal of Power Sources, 130(1-2), pp. 291-298. Doble, R Schoch, E 2008, The Everything Digital Photography Book: Utilize the latest technology to take professional grade pictures, Avon, Mass.: Adams Media. Hummel, R 2011, Electronic properties of materials, New York: Springer. Kang, D, Chen, M Ogunseitan, O 2013, Potential Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Rechargeable Lithium Batteries in Electronic Waste, Environmental Science Technology, 47(10), pp. 5495-5503. Linden, D Reddy, T 2002, Handbook of batteries, New York: McGraw-Hill.

Norse Mythology free essay sample

Beliefs are a large aspect of humanity, which will often guide the lifestyles of societies and individuals. Regardless whether these beliefs are religious or merely subjective; they hold great significance to their advocates, giving them something to cherish and live by. Since the ancient times, civilisations have been impacted by the beliefs and perspectives of their people. And as historians have discovered, every society—whether it be modern or ancient—has had religious and spiritual influences! As well as the common established religions we have nowadays, people in the ancient world also followed myths and sagas, relative to their culture. Having such beliefs would often provide explanations for inexplicable occurrences and natural phenomena, while giving the people some much-needed incentive. For example: in Greek mythology, there are powerful gods and goddesses controlling just about every facet of lie, as well as the afterlife. Similarly, the Egyptians worshipped their gods and goddesses. We will write a custom essay sample on Norse Mythology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page And just as the Greek and Egyptian mythologies, Norse mythology—relative to the Vikings—also mentions the significance of their alleged gods and goddesses. Information and knowledge regarding the significance and expertise of these gods can be acquired from the sagas. Odin (Main Article) As determined through historical studies, runes and sagas, the Vikings, like many ancient and modern civilisations, worshipped several gods and goddesses and had unique beliefs of their own. Amongst all of the Viking gods, Odin is one of the few, still well-known today. Being a foremost member of ? sir, as well as the ruler of Asgard—the Viking heaven; home of the Norse gods—Odin was one of the more prominent gods in Norse mythology. His old-Norse name, Odinn, is now acknowledged as an official, valid religion throughout the several countries of Scandinavia, where the Vikings had inflicted their culture! Unknown author(s), 2013: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Odin Odin is a god of war, death and victory; but also, the god of poetry and wisdom. And for this wisdom, he’s thought to have traded one of his eyes, in order to be granted a drink from the Well of Wisdom! Since then, he’s gained vast knowledge, though having to suffer and live with only one eye! In most depictions and sagas, Odin is closely accompanied by his prized spear, Gungir; the two trusted wolves who helped him keep watch over the cosmos, and his eight-legged steed, Sleipnir. His spear—one of a kind—never missed a target! * His wolves: close allies. He always fed them his own meals, choosing to live on nothing but wine. Lindemans M. F. , 2005: http://www. pantheon. org/articles/o/odin. html Saldais M. , Smith R. , 2012: Oxford Big Ideas History 8, page 76 Odin, being a mythical figure, has several illogical sagas suggesting this beginning an end. For example: In some alternative sagas, he’s said to have been exiled from Asgard by the other gods , despite being its ruler.

Tenars Psychic Growth Essays - Analytical Psychology, Earthsea

Tenars Psychic Growth Essays - Analytical Psychology, Earthsea Tenar's Psychic Growth ?For most people the years of youth are characterized by a state of gradual awakening in which the individual slowly becomes aware of the world and of him or herself,? states Carl Jung in Man and his Symbols (pg. 168). This is usually accomplished through dreams or real events that foresees the future in a symbolic form. Tenar, later named Arha, was a little girl when she was taken to Atuan to become the new High Priestess. There she was taught the ways of the High Priestess, as she was to become one when she grows older. In Atuan, young Arha journeys through her mind and progresses through her psychic growth in order to leave her childhood. Along this road she encounters many characters that guide and mislead her as she grows. As one reads Tombs of Atuan, one may recognize that the story of Arha and her passage from darkness of her childhood world to the light of her mature world is structured around Carl Jung?s dream theories. When Tenar became the ?Chosen One? for the High Priestess in Atuan, she was compelled to adjust to this new life and new surrounding. She was brought up in the Kargish lands with her family of many siblings and a mother and a father, but Atuan was a whole new place with mostly women training to be priestesses. As Jung puts it, ?When a child reaches school age, the phase of building up the ego and of adapting to the outer world begin.? (pg. 168). As Tenar was to become the next High Priestess she was led to live in loneliness as she was different from the rest of the priestesses in Atuan. She was made to live in her own dwelling, the Small House where no one else was to sleep in. Jung describes this phase of the building up of the ego, as the time when children feel different from their contemporaries, and this feeling of uniqueness brings sadness, that is part of the loneliness of children. During Tenar?s first years in Atuan she wanted to discover herself by contradicting the rules of becoming a High Priestess. Tenar and her counterpart, Penthe, decided to evade their chores of weaving in the Big House and slipped out to the outer walls of Atuan, but their attempts to have fun were foiled by the High Priestess of the Twin Brothers, Kossil. Arha desired to figure out why she was there, and what her purpose was in Atuan. This process of self realization or coming to terms with one?s inner self is known as individuation, which begins with a wounding of the personality and suffering (pg 189). This wounding of the personality is caused by something external, and thus the ego, being obstructed from its growing, denounces God or someone of authoritative figure, and in Tenar?s case it would be Kossil. Tenar suffered a personality shock when Thar says, ?It is not fitting that you are seen climbing and running with other girls. You are Arha.? Implying that Tenar is not to associ ate with the other girls of Atuan. She is supposed to stay in solitude. Jung describes this as a time when everything is all right, but underneath the surface [Tenar] is suffering from boredom that makes everything seem meaningless and useless. What was all this teaching for? Why did Arha, or Tenar, undergo something that seemed so endless and meaningless. It wasn?t until Arha was introduced to the ?Ring of Keys? that things changed. Arha was acquainted with something new from her personality that she didn?t know was part of the High Priestess?s duty. Le Guin correlates this part to Jung?s idea that: ?Through dreams one becomes acquainted with aspects of one?s own personality that one has preferred not to look at too closely.? This was his idea of the ?realization of the shadow?. Arha never looked into the idea that she would actually be able to have the keys to the Undertomb which would later lead to the Labyrinth. These keys unlocked the entrance to the shadow, the Labyrinth, surrounding her young, small ego. The Labyrinth exemplified her shadow, the unconscious and unknown personal attributes of oneself. As soon

The Hundred Years War History and Summary

The Hundred Years War History and Summary The Hundred Years War was a series of connected conflicts between England, the Valois kings of France, factions of French nobles and other allies over both claims to the French throne and control of land in France. It ran from 1337 to 1453; you’ve not misread that, it is actually longer than a hundred years; the name derived from nineteenth-century historians and has stuck. Context of the Hundred Years War: English Land in France Tensions between the English and French thrones over continental land dated to 1066 when William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England. His descendants in England had gained further lands in France by the reign of Henry II, who inherited the County of Anjou from his father and control of the Dukedom of Aquitaine through his wife. Tensions simmered between the growing power of the French kings and the great power of their most powerful, and in some eyes equal, English royal vassal, occasionally leading to armed conflict. King John of England lost Normandy, Anjou, and other lands in France in 1204, and his son was forced to sign the Treaty of Paris ceding this land. In return, he received Aquitaine and other territories to be held as a vassal of France. This was one king bowing to another, and there were further wars in 1294 and 1324 when Aquitaine was confiscated by France and won back by the English crown. As the profits from Aquitaine alone rivaled those of England, the region was important  and retained many differences from the rest of France. Origins of the Hundred Years War When Edward III of England came to blows with David Bruce of Scotland in the first half of the fourteenth century, France supported Bruce, raising tensions. These rose further as both Edward and Philip prepared for war, and Philip confiscated the Duchy of Aquitaine in May 1337 in order to try and reassert his control. This was the direct start of the Hundred Years War. But what changed this conflict from the disputes over French land earlier was Edward III’s reaction: in 1340 he claimed the throne of France for himself. He had a legitimate right claim- when Charles IV of France had died in 1328 he was childless, and the 15-year-old Edward was a potential heir through his mother’s side, but a French Assembly chose Philip of Valois- but historians don’t know whether he really meant to try for the throne or was just using it as a bargaining chip to either gain land or divide the French nobility. Probably the latter but, either way, he called himself the King of France. Alternate Views As well as a conflict between England and France, the Hundred Years War can also be viewed as a struggle in France between the crown and major nobles for control of key ports and trading areas and equally a struggle between the centralizing authority of the French crown and local laws and independencies. Both are another stage in the development of the collapsing feudal/tenurial relationship between the King-Duke of England and the French King, and the growing power of the French crown/tenurial relationship between the King-Duke of England and the French King, and the growing power of the French crown. Edward III, the Black Prince and English Victories Edward III pursued a twofold attack on France. He worked to gain allies among disaffected French nobles, causing them to break with the Valois kings, or supported these nobles against their rivals. In addition, Edward, his nobles, and later his son- dubbed The Black Prince- led several great armed raids aimed at plundering, terrorizing and destroying French land, in order to enrich themselves and undermine the Valois king. These raids were called chevauchà ©es. French raids on the British coast were dealt a blow by the English naval victory at Sluys. Although the French and English armies often kept their distance, there were set-piece battles, and England won two famous victories at Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), the second capturing the Valois French King John. England had suddenly won a reputation for military success, and France was shocked. With France leaderless, with large parts in rebellion and the rest plagued by mercenary armies, Edward attempted to seize Paris and Rheims, perhaps for a royal coronation. He took neither  but brought the Dauphin- the name for the French heir to the throne - to the negotiating table. The Treaty of Brà ©tigny was signed in 1360 after further invasions: in return for dropping his claim on the throne. Edward won a large and independent Aquitaine, other land and a substantial sum of money. But complications in the text of this agreement allowed both sides to renew their claims later on. French Ascendance and a Pause Tensions rose again as England and France patronized opposing sides in a war for the Castilian crown. Debt from the conflict caused Britain to squeeze Aquitaine, whose nobles turned to France, who in turn confiscated Aquitaine again, and war erupted once more in 1369. The new Valois King of France, the intellectual Charles V, aided by an able guerrilla leader called Bertrand du Guesclin, reconquered much of the English gains while avoiding any large pitch battles with the attacking English forces. The Black Prince died in 1376, and Edward III in 1377, although the latter had been ineffectual in his last years. Even so, the English forces had managed to check the French gains and neither side sought a pitched battle; stalemate was reached. By 1380, the year both Charles V and du Guesclin died, both sides were growing tired of the conflict, and there were only sporadic raids interspersed by truces. England and France were both ruled by minors, and when Richard II of England came of age he reasserted himself over pro-war nobles (and a pro-war nation), suing for peace. Charles VI and his advisors also sought peace, and some went on crusade. Richard then became too tyrannical for his subjects and was deposed, while Charles went insane. French Division and Henry V In the early decades of the fifteenth-century tensions rose again, but this time between two noble houses in France - Burgundy and Orlà ©ans - over the right to govern on behalf of the mad king. This division led to civil war in 1407 after the head of Orlà ©ans was assassinated; the Orlà ©ans side became known as the Armagnacs after their new leader. After a misstep where a treaty was signed between the rebels and England, only for peace to break out in France when the English attacked, in 1415 a new English king seized the opportunity to intervene. This was Henry V, and his first campaign culminated in the most famous battle in English history: Agincourt. Critics might attack Henry for poor decisions which forced him to fight a larger pursing French force, but he won the battle. While this had little immediate effect on his plans for conquering France, the massive boost to his reputation allowed Henry to raise further funds for the war and made him a legend in British history. Henry returned again to France, this time aiming to take and hold land instead of carrying out chevauchà ©es; he soon had Normandy back under control. The Treaty of Troyes and an English King of France The struggles between the houses of Burgundy and Orlà ©ans continued, and even when a meeting was agreed to decide upon anti-English action, they fell out once more. This time John, Duke of Burgundy, was assassinated by one of the Dauphin’s party, and his heir allied with Henry, coming to terms in the Treaty of Troyes in 1420. Henry V of England would marry the daughter of the Valois King, become his heir and act as his regent. In return, England would continue the war against Orlà ©ans and their allies, which included the Dauphin. Decades later, a monk commenting upon the skull of Duke John said: â€Å"This is the hole through which the English entered France.† The Treaty was accepted in English and Burgundian held lands- largely the north of France- but not in the south, where the Valois heir to France was allied with the Orlà ©ans faction. However, in August 1422 Henry died, and the mad French King Charles VI followed soon after. Consequently, Henry’s nine-month-old son became king of both England and France, albeit with recognition largely in the north. Joan of Arc Henry VI’s regents won several victories as they readied for a push into the Orlà ©ans heartland, although their relationship with the Burgundians had grown fractious. By September 1428 they were besieging the town of Orlà ©ans itself, but they suffered a setback when the commanding Earl of Salisbury was killed observing the city. Then a new personality emerged: Joan of Arc. This peasant girl arrived at the Dauphin’s court claiming mystic voices had told her she was on a mission to free France from English forces. Her impact revitalized the moribund opposition, and they broke the siege around Orlà ©ans, defeated the English several times and were able to crown the Dauphin in Rheims cathedral. Joan was captured and executed by her enemies, but opposition in France now had a new king to rally around. After a few years of stalemate, they rallied around the new king when the Duke of Burgundy broke with the English in 1435. After the Congress of Arras, they recognized Charles VII as king. Many believe the Duke had decided England could never truly win France. French and Valois Victory The unification of Orlà ©ans and Burgundy under the Valois crown made an English victory all but impossible, but the war continued. The fighting was halted temporarily in 1444 with a truce and a marriage between Henry VI of England and a French princess. This, and the English government ceding Maine to achieve the truce caused an outcry in England. War soon began again when the English broke the truce. Charles VII had used the peace to reform the French army, and this new model made great advances against English lands on the continent and won the Battle of Formigny in 1450. By the end of 1453, after all, English land bar Calais had been retaken and feared English commander John Talbot had been killed at the Battle of Castillon, the war was effectively over.

English CASE 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English CASE 4 - Essay Example Her husband being a highly repute physician by profession, constantly ignores her and never believes that she is sick (Jeffrey, 1985, p.64). He calls it a "temporary nervous  depression† and explained that it is a kind of mild hysteria that she was going through. He communicates the same thing to all their relatives and friends and Gilman’s brother himself was a renowned physician who agrees with his brother-in-law. Thus everyone believed that she is fine and doesn’t require any further treatment. She used to lead a confined life. She was never allowed to work until she gets well again. She spent her days in the company of the tonics, exercise, and journeys. She wished to take up some work and firmly believed that if a work gives pleasure and satisfaction to a person then it also aids in the fast recovery process of the person. But Gilman was not allowed to work. The narrator further mentioned that she didn’t like her room which had a single window rather she liked a room downstairs, but her husband paid no attention to her. Gilman started to feel obsessed with the yellow wall paper in her room. The wall paper made her depressed and she was gradually drifting into psychosis. It was evident from her words where she says, â€Å"Sometimes I think there are a great many women behind, and sometimes only one, and she crawls around fast, and her crawling shakes it all over†. Her thoughts connected her to the wall paper in a strange way. She hated the patterns of the wallpaper but still she felt attracted towards it. She even mentions in her journal her child’s nanny Mary who took perfect care of their baby. The narrator’s obsession regarding the wall paper grows and at a certain point of time she starts discovering faint and creeping structure behind the wallpaper’s pattern. During the night she could clearly see a lady behind the bars within the patterns of the wallpaper. She didn’t inform anyone about t hose images and structures she could see. She had become paranoid and believed that neither her husband John nor his sister Jennie would be able to find out the images which she can see as they are not deeply interested in the wall paper as she herself is. Her hallucinations made her think that the woman behind the bars is shaking those bars strongly to get rid of the obstacle. She started seeing several other women behind the pattern of the wallpaper. These images made her to strip down the wallpapers. Gradually at the end of the story we can find that the narrator turns into an obsessed person affected by psychosis. She refused to recognize her husband even and crept all over the ground (Stetson, 1892). The entire story is a tragic narration of events experienced by a confined woman. From the standpoint of a woman it can be stated that the entire journal is an outcry of Gilman where she constantly strives to be free and to go outside of the boundaries. In other words, Gilmanâ€⠄¢s journal represents the American society of those days which considered women as an object which has got no wishes, desires or ambitions. Women were treated during those days as a showpiece to be presented in front of the outsiders and then again to decorate her and place her within the showcase. The statement â€Å"