The Power of Imagination in The Thought-Fox - Literature Essay Samples

In ‘The Thought-Fox’, Ted Hughes explores the transformative power of the imagination through the extended image of an imagined ‘fox’’ roaming through foliage post-midnight. Indeed, the poem might be read as an ode to beasts through putting a tender and gentle spin on descriptions of a ‘fox’- an animal generally perceived as beastly and intensely violent. Nonetheless, upon further examination the poem reads as a testament to the power and creativity of the imagination which is able to conceive of vivid images that are, in fact, faux. Throughout ‘The Thought-Fox’, Hughes challenges perceptions of animals as primitive and aggressive through the extended description of a ‘fox’ which is described with a tone of both beauty and tenderness. Such is immediately demonstrated through the simile ‘delicately as the dark snow/ A fox’s nose touches twig, leaf’, with the plosive alliteration of ‘delicately’ and ‘dark’ mirroring the careful and lithe movements of the fox. Furthermore, the brief syndetic list of ‘twig, leaf’ conveys the onlooker’s perspective of rapidly trying to digest the wondrous sight from his window. Indeed, alliteration links much of the language throughout from ‘sets’ and ‘snow, to ‘midnight’ and ‘moment’, to ‘body’ and ‘bold’, which echoes the fox’s actions of gently padding through the forest, whilst also conveying the speaker’s desire to remember such a moment through articulating it so concisely. Highlighting this is the declarative that ‘warily a lame/ Shadow lags by stump’ with the metaphor of a ‘shadow’ when reinforced through weakening adjective ‘lame’ erasing any connotations of danger of fear that might have been associated with the fox; through implications that it is as harmless as a shadow. Indeed, the even number of six stanzas paired with the even number of four lines within each stanza suggests that the actions of the fox are logical, are tentative therefore it should not cause any harm. Nonetheless, it could be argued that the dynamic line which begins the final stanza, describing ‘a sudden sharp hot stink of fox’; breaks from such tranquility with the triple use of dynamic adjectives and sibilance. Furthermore the diction ‘hot’ most notably holds connotations of violence and passion, perhaps undermining the speaker’s previous descriptions of the fox as tentative and gentle. Yet, we can understand the point being made by the poet that passion and gentility do not have to be mutually exclusive characteristics and are both contained within the fox; thus encouraging an audience to challenge their steadfast beliefs condemning foxes as terrifying creatures. Further sympathy is evoked for the animal through adjective ‘Cold,’ w hich is distinguished from the remainder of the line by a caesura to suggest that the fox has been stripped of its aggressive power and is now both meek and mild. Additionally, the poem might be read as an ode to the capacity of the imagination to create beauty and awe in a setting in which there is none. Indeed, the poet’s frequent use of free-verse paired with the lack of fixed rhyme scheme throughout highlights the fact that the imagination can always surprise both the poet, and the reader alike. Reinforcing this is the gradual build up of the descriptions of the fox, who we gain an image of from a number of synecdoches including the ‘fox’s nose’, ‘two eyes’ and then ‘prints’, until we finally gain a sight of ‘a body’. That we gain merely snatches of the fox heightens the sense of wonder as the fox remains somewhat elusive, and can only be perceived wholly in the imagination. This is mirrored structurally; with the poet’s decision to begin and end on descriptions of a ‘page’ suggesting that the image of the fox cannot truly enter into reality, and must rem ain trapped within verse. The speaker’s desperation to retain the image of a fox reaches a climax midway through the stanzas through the asyndetic listing of ‘And again, now, and now, and now’ with the repeated temporal diction placing emphasis on the existence of the fox in the current moment. Thus, reality is diminished in comparison to the wonders of the present. Furthermore, the epiphoric patterning of ‘now’ as closing the final two lines additionally convey’s the speaker’s disappointment with his knowledge that the moment will eventually pass. This is demonstrated by the monologue form of the poem and use of personal pronoun to begin the poem- ‘I’- suggesting that despite his efforts to conjure an animalistic companion, the speaker remains painfully alone. Nonetheless, the power of the imagination is shown to shatter such feelings of isolation and replace them with a sense of wonder as demonstrated by the catalogue of adverbs used to describe the fox’ eyes, from ‘widening’ to ‘deepening’, and then the adjectives ‘brilliantly’ and ‘concentratedly’ to suggest that the speaker’s imagination is growing in its power to conceive of the fox. Furthermore, we are not generally allowed to see what a fox’ eyes look like, and so Hughes here considers the capacity of the imagination to allow for the impossible to become true. Indeed, that the two adverbs are separated by the caesura of a comma implies that the speaker is savouring each glimpse of the fox and is extending the time in which he can view it. The frequent use of enjambment throughout further conveys the speaker’s unbridled excitement in his imaginative image of a fox, and additionally represents his action of struggling to write all the words down before the animal vanishes. Nonetheless, the poem ends on a tone of satisfaction conveyed by the dual declarative as use of comma and end stop which break from the enjambments as ‘The window is starless still’ and ‘The page is printed’, suggesting that the speaker feels satisfied in this mission to find a topic to write about. Indeed, use of end-stop and plosive alliteration of ‘page’ and ‘printed’ further heightens the sense of finale as if he has returned from a joyous adventure. Nonetheless, the personification of the clock in the line ‘the clock’s loneliness’ perhaps suggests that the speaker’s adventure into the wonders of his imagination has not reached a close, as even mundane objects can be imagined with a degree of magic through being considered to have human characteristics. In ‘The Thought-Fox’, Ted Hughes challenges the idea of animals as violent and inhumane through the imagine of a gentle and tender fox that moves through the forest. Hughes’ poem might also be read as a testament to the wonders of the imagination. In this poem, and in the conditions of life that it addresses, it is possible to create beauty out of surrounding darkness.

Whats So New about the New Terrorism

The term new terrorism came into its own after the September 11, 2001 attacks, but the phrase itself is not new. In 1986, the Canadian news magazine, Macleans, published The Menacing Face of the New Terrorism, identifying it as a war against the perceived decadence and immorality of the West by Middle Eastern, mobile, well-trained, suicidal and savagely unpredictable...Islamic fundamentalists. More frequently, new terrorism has  focused on a perceived new threat of mass casualties caused by chemical, biological or other agents. Discussions of new terrorism are often highly alarmist: it is described as far more lethal than anything that has come before it, a terrorism that seeks the total collapse of its opponents (Dore Gold, the American Spectator, March/ April 2003). The UK writer is correct in thinking that when people do make use of the idea of a new terrorism, they mean at least some of the following: The new terrorism aims at destruction as an end in itself, while the old terrorism used violent destruction as a means to a political end;The new terrorism aims, therefore, at as much destruction as possible, whether through devastating forms of weaponry or techniques such as suicide terrorism, whereas the old terrorism sought to create a dramatic spectacle with as little damage as possible;The new terrorism is organizationally distinct from the old terrorism. It is heterarchical (has many equally authoritative points of authority) and horizontal, rather than hierarchical and vertical; it is decentralized rather than centralized. (You might notice that corporations, social groups and other institutions are also frequently described in new terms, these days);The new terrorism is justified on religious and apocalyptic grounds, while the old terrorism was rooted in political ideology. New Terrorism Not So New, After All On its face, these simple distinctions between new and old terrorism sound rational, especially because they are tightly bound to  discussions of al-Qaeda, the most highly discussed terrorist group of recent years. Unfortunately, when held up to history and analysis, the distinction between old and new falls apart. According to Professor Martha Crenshaw, whose first article on terrorism was published in 1972, we need to take a longer view to understand this phenomenon. In the March 30, 2003 edition of the  Palestine Israel Journal she argued: The idea that the world confronts a new terrorism completely unlike the terrorism of the past has taken hold in the minds of policy makers, pundits, consultants, and academics, especially in the US. However, terrorism remains an intrinsically political rather than cultural phenomenon and, as such, the terrorism of today is not fundamentally or qualitatively new, but grounded in an evolving historical context. The idea of a new terrorism is often based on insufficient knowledge of history, as well as misinterpretations of contemporary terrorism. Such thinking is often contradictory. For example, it is not clear when the new terrorism began or the old ended, or which groups belong in which category. Crenshaw goes on to explain the flaws in broad generalizations about new and old terrorism. Speaking generally, the problem with most of the distinctions is that they arent true because there are so many exceptions to the supposed rules of new and old. Crenshaws most important point is that terrorism remains an intrinsically political phenomenon. This means that people who choose terrorism act, as they always have, out of discontent with how society is organized and run, and who has the power to run it. To say that terrorism and terrorists is political, rather than cultural, also suggests that terrorists are responding to their contemporary environment, rather than acting out of an internally coherent belief system that has no relationship to the world around it. If this is true, then why do todays terrorists often sound religious? Why do they speak in divine absolutes, while the old terrorists spoke in terms of national liberation, or social justice, which sound political? They sound that way because, as Crenshaw puts it, terrorism is grounded in an evolving historical context. In the last generation, that context has included the rise of religiosity, the politicization of religion, and the tendency to speak politics in a religious idiom in mainstream circles, as well as in violent extremist ones, both East and West. Mark Juergensmeyer, who has written much on religious terrorism, has described bin Laden as religionizing politics. In places where political speech is officially muted, religion can offer an acceptable vocabulary for voicing an entire range of concerns. We might wonder why, if there isnt really a new terrorism, so many have spoken of one. Here are a few suggestions: The first efforts to describe a new form of terrorism, in the 1990s, were generally by professional students of terrorism attempting to make sense of phenomena that did not fit into the model that evolved in the 1970s and 1980s out of left-leaining national liberation movements. Attacks such as that of the religious cult Aum Shinrikyo did not make sense without a reconsideration of the model;Clear schematics such as old and new make complex phenomena seem simple, which is intellectually satisfying and emotionally comforting in a complicated world;When people do not know the historical or cultural context of a phenomenon, anything that they do not recognize may indeed look new. In reality, it is simply new to them;Although individuals who write about new terrorism after 9/11 may not be aware of it, their claim of unprecedented lethality is a political argument that favors putting more resources into terrorism (which does not kill as many people as heart disease, or poverty) precisel y because it is so lethal;It is difficult for any cause to draw attention in crowded media space. Claiming newness is one way to distinguish a phenomenon, and it is easier to digest than explanations of complicated historical facts;Identifying a new phenomenon can help a writer gain attention or build a career.

Mr. Holliday And The Treatment Program - 1079 Words

Mr. Holliday reported that he does not see a need to change. Mr. Holliday reported that he is â€Å"not a big drinker and a social drinker†. He stated that he want to be free of legal trouble. He stated that he does not want to consume or get drunk again. Mr. Holliday stated that he will only consume alcohol at his house. Mr. Holliday reported that he will eventually stop consuming alcohol. He stated that he does not have a problem. It seems that he is in the precontemplative stage of change. VIII. ASAM-DIMENSION 5 – Relapse, Continued Use or Problem Potential Mr. Holliday stated that he considers his wife to be a part of his support system. He stated that she encourages an environment of sobriety. Mr. Holliday reported that there are not†¦show more content†¦3. Have you ever been arrested or taken into custody even for a few hours, because of other drunk or stoned behavior? XI. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING REPORT Mr. Holliday was asked to submit to a Urinalysis Drug Screen (UDS) at the time of this evaluation. The results were as follows: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V (DSM 5) describes the essential feature of a substance use disorder as a cluster of cognitive, behavioral and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems. Specifically, the DSM V describes diagnostic criteria as a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. Mr. Holliday manifested the following: Alcohol Use Disorder, Unspecified 1. Substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance. This is evidenced by Mr. Holliday’s self-report that he has continued to consume alcohol after the accident in spite of his hospitalization from a car accident. Mr. Holliday presents a moderate level risk of continuing to progress into the disease of addiction. Mr. Holliday presents a moderate-level risk of continuing to use drugs. He has developed a maladaptive pattern of substance abuse evidenced by his recent legal problems. There areShow MoreRelatedEthical Decisions For Social Work Practice Essay2113 Words   |  9 PagesMr. Pilsudski To begin with, the client whose name is Mr. Sam Pilsudski has an obstructed airway secondary to cancer of the larynx. He is a 67-year-old widower, and a father of one son and two daughters, who is unconscious and terminally ill, if not for a much-needed operation to remove both his cancer and larynx to save his life. However, one of Mr. Pilsudski’s daughters has adamantly refused to consent to the surgical procedure despite the physician explaining that although the operationRead MoreEssay about Three Approaches to Coping with School Violence2647 Words   |  11 Pagescourse, some of us may interpret such suggestions as merely dark, stoic, and cynical—â€Å"scare† tactics quite in keeping with the current national mood about many social issues these days. Yet, as a profession (and a society) maybe a little shock treatment now and then is good for us, especially if we ourselves work in relatively â€Å"safe† schools and communities. Maybe it’s time to remind ourselves that one school’s problem can become every school’s problem if the profession at large is not watchfulRead MoreThe Studio System Essay14396 Words   |  58 PagesArzner * Actresses: Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, Claudette Colbert, Sylvia Sidney Actors: Maurice Chevalier, Marx Bros, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Ray Milland, George Raft * Typical Films: Trouble in Paradise , Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Death Takes a Holiday, Easy Living Warner Brothers --------------- * Known For: Working-class grittiness; also, musicals and biopics * In Charge: Jack Harry Warner, Hal Willis * Directors: Michael

Major Barriers of Innovation Magna Closures and Magna

Question: Discuss about theMajor Barriers of Innovation at Magna Closures and Magna. Answer: Introduction Magna International Inc. is one of the largest industrial houses of Canada. Based at Aurora in Ontario, the organization operates in the field of automobile parts production and is considered as one of the global leaders of the said domain (Magna.com 2016). The various operational groups of the organization include the Magna Powertrain, Magna Steyr, Magna Exteriors, Magna Closures, Magna Seating, Magna Electronics, Magna Mirrors and Cosma International. This paper is aimed at identifying the factor that are acting as a barrier to organizational innovation of the said group. Organizational silos. Researchers Lee et al. (2012) are of the opinion, that the very first factor that need to be considered while finding out the reasons for the lack of innovation within an organizational infrastructure is that of the hierarchical nature of the administration. Researchers Gnyawali and Srivastava (2013) second their opinion, claiming that interests of the organizational heads in creating their individual identities, get recognized, maintaining the sustainability of the organization and protect their own interests forces them to create boundaries and define specific roles and responsibilities for all. Such division of responsibilities leads to the development of organizational silos. On the other hand, author Laforet (2013) is of the opinion that innovation, by nature defies all organizational barriers and boundaries, and creates new categories within an organization. The information available from the official website of Magna Closures indicates that the organizati onal heads run the company in a bureaucratic fashion (which denotes existence of silos): this indeed is one of the major factors restricting innovation in the organization (Magna.com 2016). Risk avoidance. On the other hand, experts in the domain of organizational management uniformly agree on the point that the organizational heads of most larges sized industrial houses tend to avoid situations that might lead to loss of finances or reputation of the organization (Lee et al. 2012). Researchers Purcarea et al. (2013), further claim that the implementation of innovative ideas and process are generally stalled as soon as the risks associated with such ideas are identified. The official website of Magna indicates that at present, the organization is currently conducting business in a stable manner: thus, the tendency of the organizational heads towards avoiding risky situations in their business in justified (Magna.com 2016). Other factors. Researchers DEste et al. (2012) have pointed out several other factors that restrict the incorporation of innovative ideas within an organizational infrastructure. The authors are of the opinion that the lack of urgency is indeed one such factor that does not motivate the organizational heads to incorporate innovative ideas. The financial records of the organization (as released officially) claim that the company had been gaining profits steadily for the last few years: thus it can be concluded that the lack of any market threat or urgency is the actually hindering the inclusion of innovation in Magna. Authors Gnyawali and Srivastava (2013) , on the other hand, argue that the concept of innovation is essentially conceptual and not concrete: thus the mere lack of inclusion of significant innovative ideas within an organization in the recent past does not imply the fact that no efforts are being made in the said direction. But at the very same time, the official website of the organization does not provide enough information that can support the fact that the stakeholders internal to the organization are working on innovative ideas (Magna.com 2016). Existing good examples. However, an important point that demands mention in this context is the fact that the organizational heads of Magna International Inc. are aware of the fact that the incorporation of new ideas and concepts is important to maintain the sustainability of the organization (Magna.com 2016). This is evident from the fact that the newsletters posted on the web pages announce of contests for submitting innovative ideas that could be utilized for enhancing the safety of the customers. Besides this, the publication of the said newsletter is indicative of the fact that Magna has started utilizing innovative management policies within the organizational infrastructure, even if a small scale. According to experts DEste et al. (2012), the existence of the above mentioned features within an organization deserves special mention and appreciation. Conclusion In the light of the discussions made in this paper, it can thus be concluded that the existence of the o organization silos in Magna closure is the first and primary reason behind the lack of innovative ideas in the organization. On the other hand, a tendency to avoid any risk is yet another significant reason for the said state of the business. However certain efforts being made by the organizational heads are truly appreciable and would indeed lead to the inclusion of innovation in Magna. References DEste, P., Iammarino, S., Savona, M., and von Tunzelmann, N., 2012. What hampers innovation? Revealed barriers versus deterring barriers.Research Policy,41(2), 482-488. Gnyawali, D. R., and Srivastava, M. K. ,2013. Complementary effects of clusters and networks on firm innovation: A conceptual model.Journal of Engineering and Technology Management,30(1), 1-20. Laforet, S. (2013). Organizational innovation outcomes in SMEs: Effects of age, size, and sector.Journal of World business,48(4), 490-502. Lee, S. M., Olson, D. L., and Trimi, S. , 2012. Co-innovation: convergenomics, collaboration, and co-creation for organizational values.Management Decision,50(5), 817-831. Magna.com,. 2016. Magna: Home. Magna.com. Retrieved 23 June 2016, from https://www.magna.com Purcarea, I., del Mar Benavides Espinosa, M., and Apetrei, A., 2013. Innovation and knowledge creation: Perspectives on the SMEs sector.Management Decision,51(5), 1096-1107.