How reliable a narrator do you think Nick is based on what you have Ess

How reliable a narrator do you think Nick is based on what you have read in chapters 1 and 2 Throughout the opening of the book we meet Nick Carroway and he exposes many strengths How reliable a narrator do you think Nick is based on what you have read in chapters 1 and 2 Throughout the opening of the book we meet Nick Carroway and he exposes many strengths and weaknesses as the narrator of the book â€Å"Great Gatsby†. In this essay I will explore what contributes to him being reliable as well as his drawbacks as the narrator. Nick is never directly involved in any of the events. He only ever observes what is going on and this leads to a very unbiased outlook on the events. If Nick was more involved he may not give the reader such a clear outlook on the story line. This also suggests Nick is possibly not used to being in social situations, like at Gatsby’s house party, and this could hinder his interpretations of the events. Nick continues to contradict himself throughout the first two chapters. He ironically claims ‘I’m inclined to reserve all judgements,’ yet...

Explore How Conflict Effects Those Not Fighting in the Conflict Poems

In The Falling Leaves and Poppies, compare the effects conflict has on those not fighting. In Poppies by Jane Weir and The Falling Leaves by Margaret Postgate Cole both poets use a variety of methods to show effects conflict has on those not fighting. Use of structure and language is important in presenting these effects. This essay will explore both poems to analyse the effects of different methods as implemented by the poets. The structure used in the poems along with similes and metaphors to describe the soldiers in both poems give a sad, solemn tone, to show how the poet was effected by conflict.The use of enjambment in The Falling Leaves gives the sense of long pauses and broken thoughts and feelings of the poet showing that it saddens the poet to think of hundreds of soldiers losing their lives in war. In Poppies, â€Å"All my words flattened, rolled, turned into felt, slowly melting. †, is used to show that the feeling of her son leaving to fight in a war was hard to ex plain and that the words meant nothing as the feeling was too strong to explain in words. The emotion of the poet is clearly described in both poems. I resisted the impulse† and â€Å"I was brave, as I walked with you†. Both quotes from Poppies show that although the poet felt upset that her son was going to war, and that she felt he was too young, she allowed her son to do as he wanted. This shows realisation that he had grown up, that it wasn’t her decision to allow him to go and that she didn’t want to upset him by showing how she really felt. In The Falling Leaves, the poet describes her emotion through the weather. â€Å"like snowflakes wiping out the noon;† this shows that she was feeling saddened and upset from what she had seen.Both poems describe the soldiers as innocent. For example, in Poppies, the poet’s memories of her son were all those of his youth, showing that he was still an innocent child. In The Falling Leaves soldiers are compared to graceful, white snowflakes. â€Å"Like snowflakes falling on the Flemish clay†. White is purity, cleanliness, and innocence. This may be emphasising the idea that all soldiers were still children that needed guidance from their parents and were naive and were only killed as they had little guidance.This idea of innocence could show that the impact on those not fighting was much larger because the soldiers did not deserve to die in the eyes of the poets. However, the soldiers are also described as â€Å"brown leaves dropping from their tree†. This may give the impression that those fighting were not important, just as leaves aren’t important to a tree. The idea of the brown leaves may mean that they had completed their ‘service’ and were no longer useful but that it was not an issue as new soldiers would replace them.The amount of death is recognised in The Falling Leaves, the soldiers are described as â€Å"a gallant multitude†, generalising huge number of dead soldiers as one unit. This lessens the portrayed sorrow of those not fighting by making all soldiers faceless and identical. Whereas in Poppies, it is much more personalised, this creates a feeling of grief and shows that the poet thinks it may be harder to cope with the loss of those in war than is portrayed in The Falling Leaves.

Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts

Warning: After watching this play, you may be compelled to drive to the nearest donut shop, thereupon eating your fill of bear-claws, maple bars, and old fashioned glazed. At least, that was the effect the play had on me. Theres quite a bit of donut-talk, and were easily persuaded, especially when it comes to dessert. However, Superior Donuts, a 2009 comedy written by Tracy Letts, offers a bit more than sweet talk. About the Playwright Tracy Letts, son of author Billie Letts, is most famous for his Pulitzer Prize-winning play, August: Osage County. He has also written Bug and Man from Nebraska. The aforementioned plays blend dark comedy with an even darker exploration of the human condition. Superior Donuts, in contrast, is lighter fare. Although the play does delve into issues of race and politics, many critics consider Donuts closer to a TV sitcom rather than a brilliant piece of theater. Sitcom comparisons aside, the play features lively dialogue and a final act that is ultimately uplifting, albeit a bit predictable at times. The Basic Plot Set in modern-day Chicago, Superior Donuts depicts the unlikely friendship between a down-and-out donut shop owner and his enthusiastic employee, who also happens to be an aspiring author with a serious gambling problem. Franco, the young writer, wants to update the old shop with healthy choices, music, and friendlier service. However, Arthur, the shop owner, wants to remain set in his ways. The Protagonist The main character is Arthur Przybyszewski. (No, we didnt just mash my fingers on the keyboard; that is how his last name is spelled.) His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Poland. They opened the donut shop which eventually Arthur took over. Making and selling donuts has been his lifelong career. Yet, even though he is proud of the food he makes, he has lost his optimism for running the day-to-day business. Sometimes, when he doesnt feel like working, the shop stays closed. Other times, Arthur doesnt order enough supplies; when he has no coffee the local police, he relies on the Starbucks across the street. Throughout the play, Arthur delivers reflective soliloquies in between the regular scenes. These monologs reveal several events from his past that continue to haunt his present. During the Vietnam War, he moved to Canada to avoid the draft. In his middle-age years, Arthur lost contact with his young daughter after he and his wife divorced. Also, at the beginning of the play, we learn that Arthurs ex-wife recently died. Even though they had been apart, he is deeply affected by her death, thus adding to his lethargic nature. The Supporting Character Every crotchety curmudgeon needs a pollyanna to balance things out. Franco Wicks is the young man who enters the donut shop and ultimately brightens Arthurs perspective. In the original cast, Arthur is portrayed by Michael McLean, and the actor poignantly wears a T-shirt with a yin-yang symbol. Franco is the yin to Arthurs yang. Franco walks in seeking a job, and before the interview is over (although the young man does most of the talking, so its not a typical interview) Franco has not only landed the job, he has suggested a variety of ideas that could improve the store. He also wants to move up from the register and learn how to make the donuts. Eventually, we learn that Franco is enthusiastic not simply because he is an ambitious up-and-coming businessman, but because he has huge gambling debts; if he doesnt pay them off, his bookie will make sure that he gets hurt and loses a few fingers. "America Will Be" Arthur resists and occasionally resents Francos improvement suggestions. However, the audience gradually learns that Arthur is a pretty open-minded, educated guy. When Franco wagers that Arthur would not be able to name ten African American poets, Arthur starts off slowly, naming popular choices like Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, but then he finishes strong, rattling off the names and impressing his young employee. When Franco confides in Arthur, revealing that he has been working on a novel, a turning point is reached. Arthur is genuinely curious about Francos book; once he finishes reading the novel he takes a more vested interest in the young man. The book is titled America Will Be, and although the audience never learns much about the novels premise, the books themes profoundly impact Arthur. By the plays end, the protagonists sense of courage and justice have been reawakened, and he is willing to make great sacrifices to save Francos physical and artistic life.