The Quest Of Life From Childhood To Death Essay Example for Free

The Quest Of Life From Childhood To Death Essay The quest for life has always been a medley of â€Å"the good, the bad and the ugly†. The occasional ups and downs of life and the frequent twists of fate here and there have left nobody untouched even the famous celebrities people see as role models. From Cradle to grave, everyone is faced with one challenge or the order of diverse degree. This was what Terry Kay’s plot captured in his classical, award winning novel titled To Dance With The White Dog. The plot of the novel revolves around Sam Peek, a complete family man, a local farmer and a celebrity, for featuring in many horticultural magazines in Hart County, Georgia, who devotedly planted pecan tress and even more devotedly loved his wife, Cora. For over 55 years, they were happily married, with kids until tragedy came knocking one night when Cora suddenly develops a heart attack which led to her death. Sam, already in his eighties was deeply saddened by his wife’s death. The children were not left out in sharing in the sorrow for they were one very happy family and devotedly loved each other. Sam’s health was naturally affected with by his grief and his daughter, Kate became too worried over his health, most especially when Sam claimed he keeps seeing a stray white dog that nobody else could see. Even Sam’s favorite son, James did not see the dog initially and everybody believes that the grief has affected his and simply going crazy, except his grandson, Bobby. However, after a series of events, everybody began seeing the white dog. Until the dog eventually disappears immediately after Sam’s death. It was concluded that the dog was Cora in another form. The theme of the novel is virtually about the quest or journey of life.The series of quest in Sam’s journey of life. His â€Å"saddest day† of loosing his wife, the lonesomeness that follows and the strength to live life without his wife. Sam’s story is about a true grief, aging, love and family life. Adding flavour to the quest is the mysterious White Dog that can only be seen by Sam Peek. It demonstrated a life-long love, natural process of aging and family relationship. One can taste bitterness and sweetness as one enters Sam’s life. You can feel the tears in his eyes, loneliness in his heart and joys on his face as the entire book enfolds vividly and dissolves in your mind. The book has been described as poetry portraying itself to be fiction. Despite his many children and friends, Sam felt lonely after his wife’s death. He had been invited for his 60 year college re-union, which he was looking forward to going along with Cora who promised to go with him. She died the very day the invitation came in the mail. Sam left home for the re-union, but lost his way along the road, he ended up in a medley of memories of his past struggles and achievements. He ended up going to where he proposed to Cora. He took a while reflecting on how he spent his life, the good old days with his wife, the younger days of the children. The life after his wife’s death and his companion, the mysterious white dog. He eventually discovers that he has cancer. As the cancer progresses in its stages, his oldest daughter moved back in to take care of him. Meanwhile, during his lonely days, his companion, the white dog would come around to keep him company. He was living alone in the farm. His children did not believe he could survive living alone in the farm without his wife. â€Å"How can this elderly man live alone on his farm? How can he keep on driving his dilapidated truck down to the fields to care for his few rows of pecan trees?†   Their fear was further aggravated when Sam keeps telling them about a white dog, â€Å"as white as the pure driven snow†, which seems to be   invisible to everyone but him, his children   be to think that grief and old age have gotten to his brain. Sam on the other hand begin to think his children crazy. Sam, knew he saw the dog. He, one of the smartest men in the South when it comes to trees could not be insane. He survived the pain of loss, grief, loneliness and old age yet maintaining the old farm alone. It is an emotional and intriguing story tracing Sam’s life through his life span, his memories, travails and the process of learning in life. Sam learns that the simple things of life are the most important after all. When he needed anyone, the white dog was always there, showing itself only when it felt was necessary. The story proves that love transcends death, for the love of Sam and Cora continued after Cora’s death through the white dog that Sam saw licking up grease on his back porch. Strangely enough, the white dog looked just like a dog that Sam and his wife had when they first were married. As Sam’s eldest daughter moved in to take care of him in his dying days, he opens the door for the white dog never to be seen again. After Sam’s death, the dog was not seen again either, only a faint print of the dog’s paws was noticed on his grave. The work was inspired by the experience of the writer and that of his parents. Kay was born in Hart County, Georgia, the setting of his novel. The eleventh of twelve children, which was the reason Sam had many children and friends. He grew up on a farm, he said that his parents had an undying love which he uses his novel to express, proving that true love disregards the concept of time and can possibly carry on lasting for eternity. It is actually a revised story of his experience about love, family and relationships.   A memorable experience of his childhood struggles, parental love and devotion, peer and family interaction etc. Summarily, the novel captures a true- life-like-story of humor, love, and friendship woven through the journey of Sam’s life. A quest for life from cradle to grave of an old man who must deal with the death of his wife death, as well as the trials of old age. A compelling story of the unusual struggle for survival despite the loss of a true companion and the other series of events time temper one life with. Sam Peek is a personification of strength, will and endurance, as he chose to continue to live on with all odds. Eventually his death culminates to creativity of the novel as the paws of his perpetual companion, the white dog, which was another form of Cora, was found on his grave. A true proof that their love will continue even after death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Reference: Terry Kay: To Dance With the White Dog: Washington Square Press 1st edition Trade.1991 Paperback. ISBN # 0671726730 http://www.terrykay.com/TerryBio.html www.mupress.org/webpages/books/blackmarrhouse.html www.amazon.com

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Jorge Luis Borges’ thought provoking and fantastical literature stems from his philosophical mind. His stories, especially â€Å"Death and the Compass†, focus on labyrinths and identity. Borges fascinates his audience with his analysis of reality. He combines fact and fiction to create the perfect genre of mystery. His characters’ conquest for the unknown defines his use of detective fiction. Borges often contemplated life and where man should find himself suitable in its situations. In â€Å"Death and the Compass†, detective Lonnrot works to solve a labyrinth that has been created for him through a series of murders. The labyrinth is considered the biggest secret in the short story. In the end the labyrinth proves to be worthless to Lonnrot. Borges strategically uses symbolism to prove his philosophy that, it is pointless to spend life endlessly searching through a â€Å"labyrinth† to find our purpose. Borges specified, â€Å"Man’s search for meaning in the world is a fruitless effort† (Borges). The idea of someone creating a series of murders that form a triangle with equidistant vertices is completely imaginary. It is a clear portrayal of Borges’ manipulation of fantasy to create alternate realisms. Borges’ varied literary methods in a single story help communicate his two life theories. Labyrinths and identity are consistent t opics that transpire in Borges’ short stories. â€Å"In Death and the Compass†, as well as several other short stories, Borges depicts characters that use reason to create and solve labyrinths. This symbolizes that people create their own paths in life. The labyrinth in Borges’ stories plays many roles. It examines the idea that life is a riddle and at times can seem endless. In â€Å"Death and the Compass† Red Scharlach, a criminal ... ...es it easier for their audiences to picture what is taking place. Borges manipulates fact and fiction in his stories to vividly and clearly describe events that occur in his mysterious novels and to make them seem more captivating. The influence of Jorge Borges’ stories comes from his philosophical mind more than it comes from his previous experiences. He based his stories on his philosophical beliefs that he believed applied most to life’s circumstances. Identity and labyrinths are unfailing topics that can be found in most of Borges’ short stories. Used to represent the unknown, identity and labyrinths are ideal symbolism in mysterious works. Borges skillfully uses fact and fiction to make his story interesting and fantastical while still maintaining authenticity. The unyielding inquiring Borges’ characters endure keeps â€Å"Death and the Compass†, detective fiction

Everything Your American History Book Got Wrong

James Loewen’s book entitled ‘Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Book Got Wrong’ speaks of criticism against twelve American history textbooks that mislead readers by representing facts and viewpoints that are actually far from truth. There is often a hitch of bias in the way history is being presented nowadays, what Loewen (2008) defined as heroification or â€Å"a degenerative process that makes people over into heroes†¦ turn flesh-and-blood individuals into pious, perfect creatures without conflicts, pain, credibility, or human interest† (p.19). From the Pilgrims up the occurrence of the Vietnam War, this Eurocentric method of formulating the teaching of history bears thoughts and issues, which appear to be very irrelevant to the views of everyday lives. Main Body Loewen (2008) has inserted in his book the words of W.E.B. Du Bois when he said: â€Å"One is astonished in the study of history at the recurrence of the idea that evil must be forgotten, distorted, skimmed over†¦ The difficulty, of course, with this philosophy is that history†¦ paints perfect men and noble nations, but it does not tell the truth† (p.18).   In Loewen’s book, it is emphasized how history textbooks, which are used today in education, proclaim misleading evidences and details that abuse ‘heroification’ and put the angle away from truth. It emphasizes too much on positive qualities that give an overly-emphasized meaning that reflect significant lessons, while distorting the negative characteristics of history and its heroes.   By this, students usually find significant lessons in them, such as, for example, Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller.   As Loewen (2008) stated, Wilson was usually pictured as an important president, while Keller was an inspiration to the blind and deaf students of this century (pp.19-20). However, as Loewen (2008) stated, â€Å"Heroification so distorts the lives of Keller and Wilson (and many others) that we cannot think straight about them† (p.20).   It takes away the truth behind real people and events by presenting them in a way that leads to a specific objective and design.   It fabricates people’s minds after a certain framework that would theoretically lead to a basic viewpoint, picture, or assumption. Questions that are raised in Loewen’s book consist of the following: (1) How true and accurate are the details that are being presented in educational textbooks in the field of history?   (2) How much morality do the authors, publishers, adoption committees, and teachers nowadays possess in presenting facts and issues that should reflect fair, non-bias, and factual details of history?   (3) What are the exact causes why most elementary and secondary students find the lectures of history bland, boring, and almost senseless?   (4) How can the process of heroification lead to more positive, truthful, fair, yet fruitful results?   Lastly, (5) what can authors, publishers, and teachers do to highlight the truth behind Loewen’s statement that history is an ongoing process that is influenced by specific events, environments, and characteristics of the past.   My general perception after reading the author’s viewpoints or perspectives is that, Loewen (2008) has failed to analyze the other end of the pole, which reflects that, prior to a youth’s desire to be one of the great men of his time, there first has to be the episode of mental and psychological stimulation and inspiration, before one can project positive results and actions that make history a lot more worthwhile. Conclusion I feel that this book of Loewen (2008) is the very thing needed to emphasize the truth behind the statement that history is an ongoing process that is being lived by on the account of one’s everyday life.   The reading has helped me to formulate my own ideas regarding education, as it reflected the issues of accuracy, morality, and the different tactics used in trying to come up with a structure that makes heroes appear like what the readers would expect them to appear: all faultless, perfect, and absolute.   It is, however, far from the truth. Reference Loewen, J.W. (2008). Lies my teacher told me: everything your American history textbook got wrong. New York, NY: New Press.   

The Importance of Sleep for College Students - 1617 Words

Sleep is a necessity of life, it is not an option, the human body needs it, but not many people know the importance of sleep. Sleep is important for the mind and body to function properly; it is required for survival (Global Sleep). According to the national sleep foundation, about 40 million American suffer from sleep disorders (NSF). Sleep deprivation affect woman more than man. Also, woman who work night shift are more likely to get less sleep than those who work morning shift; and have more difficulty conceiving. Studies show that insufficient sleep may lead to problems such as concentrating, making wise decisions and actions that are not safe, especially among college students (NSF). Most college students are deprived of sleep all the time due to many of thing such as: partying late, staying up late studying, procrastination, drugs, alcohol and poor sleep habits. Not getting enough sleep can play a big role when it comes to academic performances. Sleep is a major factor when it comes to college students; however, it is what college students lack the most. College students are among the most sleep deprived people in America; many college students do not sleep enough (CMW). When students do not get enough sleep at night, they usually have problem focusing in class, students tends to just fall asleep which leads to not paying attention. Some college students find themselves failing certain classes because they are either always missing class or sleeping inShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Sleep On Health And Quality Of Life Through Prevention And Treatment Of Disease Essay1589 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will show different sleep interventions that have been used among one of the most sleep deprived generations, college students. 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