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METER� a rhythmic pattern in poetry wherein stresses (accented syllables) recur at fixed intervals. The word “meter” comes from the Greek word for “measure.”

FOOT� the basic unit of meter; a group of syllables forming a metrical unit; a unit of (usually) two or three syllables that contains one strong stress. Metrical feet are marked by using symbols to represent stressed (/) and unstressed (x; or a flattened out “u” shape) syllables.

IAMB (IAMBIC FOOT)� a metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (x /).

PENTAMETER� a metrical pattern in which the poetic line consists of five iambic feet; thus, a ten-syllable line with the following pattern: x / x / x / x / x / .

RHYME (EXACT RHYME)� when two or more words or phrases contain an identical vowel sound, usually accented, and the subsequent consonant sounds (if any) are identical: free/see; hit/fit; prize/lies.

DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE� a poem in which a single (fictional) speaker addresses an implied audience at a critical moment in an ongoing series of events.

FREE VERSE� (”vers libre”; open form poetry); poetry with no identifiable metrical pattern or rhyme scheme.

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\\ tags: Literature, Poetry

ALLEGORY� (from the Greek “allegoria,” which means “speaking otherwise.” A story in prose or verse that has a double meaning or multiple meanings, both the obvious surface meaning and one or more secondary meanings, and thus must be understood on two or more levels.

DIDACTIC LITERATURE� literature used to teach a moral or a lesson. Most of the didactic literature in Europe was produced during the Middle Ages.

PSYCHOMACHIA� the battle within the individual�s mind or soul, often represented allegorically in literature as a conflict between virtues and vices for the possession of the soul.

APTRONYM� a name that fits the nature or character of an individual (a “label name”)>.

FABLE� a short narrative, often with animals as characters, that embodies a moral or a lesson.

EXEMPLUM� a short narrative used to illustrate a moral. Such stories were often used in sermons during the Middle Ages.

INTERLUDE� (literally, “between play”); a short entertainment put on between the courses of a feast or the acts of a longer play.

MORAL INTERLUDE� a type of interlude that was very similar to the morality play, though often shorter and more humorous. The dividing line between moral interludes and morality plays is not clear, and in many cases the two types of drama are indistinguishable. Several plays are classified both as moral interludes and as morality plays.

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\\ tags: Literature, Morality

Archetypal analysis of a work is one of the most common forms of literary analysis. It is easy to understand and use with a little knowledge of the basics.

First of all, an archetype is a pattern from which copies can be made. That is, it is a universal theme that manifests itself differently on an individual basis. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung believed that these archetypes were the result of a collective unconscious. This collective unconscious was not directly knowable and is a product of the shared experiences of our ancestors. Jung believed it was:

Primordial: That is, we, as individuals, have these archetypal images ingrained in our understanding even before we are born.

Universal: These archetypes can be found all over the world and throughout history. The manifestation of the idea may be different, but the idea itself is the same.

Archetypes fall into two major categories: characters, situations/symbols. It is easiest to understand them with the help of examples. Listed below are some of the most common archetypes in each category.

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\\ tags: Literature

Psychological analysis of literary works evolved as modern psychology itself began to take form during the early twentieth century. Although this type of critique employs the concepts expressed by many noted sociologists, including Carl Jung, Alfred Adler and Otto Rank, none have contributed as heavily to this field of study as Sigmund Freud has. While many aspects of his theories have been discounted by contemporary psychologists, the fundamental ideas he expressed have withstood the test of time. Five of these, in particular, form the basis of the psychological analysis of authors and the books they write.

The Primacy of the Unconscious
Freud believed that every individual has a conscious and an unconscious mind. Moreover, he believed that it was the unconscious mind that plays the largest role in shaping someone’s personality. He maintained that the vast differences between real and apparent motives are a result of this delineation between the two aspects of the soul.

The Iceberg Theory of the Psyche
Freud believed that the psyche, or “soul”, of an individual was shaped like an iceberg. The small part that remained above the surface for all to see was the ego, the individual’s self image that he projected to the world. Below the surface, much larger, the pleasure-principle, the id, remained away from public view. Lining this iceberg was the superego, representing parental influences. Between the conscious mind (the ego) and the unconscious mind (the id), at the “waterline” of the iceberg, was a line separating the two parts of the individual. Occasionally, the id would poke through that line, but, in most psychologically well-adjusted people, this barrier was a strong one.

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\\ tags: Literature

I: What to Expect
Expect to read! When you sign up for a literature course, anticipate spending many hours every week in the company of books. Let this be your one great expectation, and you will not be disappointed. Do you like to read? Do you enjoy stories? Do you feel enriched by having your ideas challenged, by thinking philosophically about the circumstances of life, people, and abstract concepts, or by experiencing the beauty that is possible through the skilled or merely felicitous use of language? If so, then you will probably get along just fine with the company you’ll be keeping.

But, alas, there are other factors–factors of a decidedly practical aspect–that insist on being taken into consideration. First, there is that most obtrusive time factor. Do you have the time to invest into a literature course? Courses vary, yet it is safe to say that literature will always take whatever time you can give to it, and teachers often demand that you give to it more time than you are inclined or believe that you are capable of giving. Therefore, expect to read even beyond your inclination and supposed capability. Such a conclusion may seem too vague to be helpful, but it is meant to suggest an attitude that may be of benefit when you find that all of your courses have assignments due during the same week. Of course, only you can decide what your schedule will permit, but if you have doubts, allow yourself the liberty of examining the course requirements before you commit yourself.

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\\ tags: Literature

For those who truly care about the environment many consider themselves eco-warriors and work countless hours in their chosen cause. As a retired entrepreneur from the car wash business I always understood how important clean water is. As a runner I always realized how important clean air is. So am I an environmentalist by profession, observation or choice?

Well generally I do not consider myself an environmentalist at all, although my action appear to point to that? Additionally in my retirement and the author of over 6000 online articles; I will often write on environmental issues and have been called a 24/7 Eco Warrior? Do I like this title? Well it is interesting that perception one might get from their observations of my various activities.

However as far as a 24/7 Eco warrior; I am a 24/7 type of guy indeed, Eco Warrior, well I am a realist and believe in the cycles, flows and patterns of the Earth Systems and realize it will take care of its self, while the little human ants upon its surface do their thing. The issue really is that we need to be wise and not exacerbate the pendulum swings of the normal cycle flows. And we must maintain clean water and air if we want our own bio-systems to work right.

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\\ tags: Humanities

I was at a school where racial segregation was the greatest thing since sliced bread. To them. Because the black girls had total control over our entire environment, and all the boys were in their section of the playground. The black girls were somehow in the spread out zone map of egalitarian war. I was the “journalist.” I wandered the playground, interviewing every segregated group on it. There were the black girls who jumped rope like it was goin’ out of style. There were the white girls who had to bow to that Goddess of Jumping, the master of the black girls. Everybody was into it funny. I didn’t cause any of the “events” that happened there, I just entered each girl section of the segregated girls playground, interviewing every one of them like I was Alex Hailey or something, the ghost writer who helped Malcolm X write his book.

I will never make it that far in life…

I even got my damn African glasses knocked off when I tried to go to the boy’s playground and interview them. They had a non-racist playground going. We had a racist, tallist, shortest, Jewest, Christian, fat girl segregated playground going, and somehow, if it meant something to us that we were evil incarnate, that worked for everyone else but me. Me? Nuh uh.

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\\ tags: Humanities

Fauvism began in 1905. It was a short-lived movement and included a group of artists who used deep, more intense color than the work of the Impressionists. With simplified lines the subjects were easy to decipher. Objects were painted in any colour and the perspectives exaggerated.

’Fauves’ means wild beasts in French. The finished look of the work was immaterial as the artists just painted what they visualized.

Leading the movement were Henri Matisse and Andre Derain. See Matisse’s 1908 ‘The Dessert’; and/or Derain’s ‘The Two Barges’.

Fauvism, had no concrete theories. Matisse’s aim was to use art as decoration. Seeing a work by Matisse one senses the feeling of d©cor, especially if harmonizes with the surroundings.

Rough and clumsy, intense, vivid, unnatural colour, distortion, was the emotional, driving force.

The movement was not popular and was subject to abuse. However, it gained some respect when art buyers began to show interest.

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\\ tags: Fauvism, Humanities

Five years ago when Tehelka.com introduced India to the concept of a sting operation, we were all jubilant.It showed us that finally transperancy was on its way.A very unfortunate Bangaru Laxman was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.And something that we had always known was proved yet again,namely,politicians are corrupt.But soon these optimistic musings were killed when most of those implicated by the sting operation continued their careers in active politics.Tehelka, just as its name implied, had started the age of sensationalism although accountability still seemed elusive.

Media gurus and spinmasters realised that the Indian psyche loved this concept of a sneak peek.This lead to many scandals which were bordering on obscenity and definitely in the realm of bad taste.From sting operations on B-grade Bollywood character artistes to unknown television artists, we saw it all.News channels covered these faux pas of the relatively rich and famous as though it was credible news.Obscene MMS’s regularly pop up featuring Bollywood starlets and the girl-next-door.I guess the decades of prudish media coverage lead to this voyeristic streak in all of us.

In all fairness,we cannot blame the media agencies alone for this turn of events, as they just supply the public’s demand. Our nation stands at this critical juncture in History with increasing global clout and also increasing global aspirations of its citizens.But as the values subscribed to by the mass media change, the public perceptions are confusingly muddled.

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\\ tags: Humanities

Today it is all gone except for Amtrak. Kids don’t see the big freights trains and steam locomotives. They are generally not exposed the railroads of today. The Freeway Highway System has moved away from the tracks of our railroads. In the past the highway was usually built next to or within visual sight of the railroads. Kids like me would look out of the car and see all kinds of trains.

From this kind of experience kids, boys in particular, would be looking for model trains at the local department store for birthdays or Christmas. It brought excitement when kids would see a model train at the local department store at Christmas. Children would want to see the latest catalogs from Lionel or American Flyer.

Visiting a train depot was always a great experience to see the new streamliners and other railroad equipment. Many children lived very close to the mainline of a railroad or roundhouse. They could see the operation of a railroad in action.

Many of my friends grew up in the Midwest where a large number of railroads existed. Many times a father or relative worked for the railroad giving kids a chance to see a big steam engine up close or even getting a ride once in a while.

This was a great learning experience for a lot of young people. Some of them became famous photographers of the steam age and trains in general. There have been several artist who lived in the 30’s through the late 60’s painted some of the most famous art work on trains any where in the World.

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\\ tags: Humanities