The Thirty-Nine Steps Essay Example

The Thirty-Nine Steps Paper How does John Buchan create suspense in the book The Thirty-Nine Steps? The Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan is about a man who has to escape London to find the real criminals behind a political assassination. The author throughout the story uses many techniques to create suspense through using the main character Richard Hannay. In the first chapter sets the scene by giving some background history of Hannays life before he gets a visit for Scudder. Buchan in the first few pages of the book is already creating the feeling of suspense when Hannay and Scudder meet outside Hannays flat. The line, Is the door locked? He asked feverishly. This gives me the image that Scudder is really nervous. I feel this creates the impression that something quite serious is going on and that the rest of the story is also going to be exciting. Buchan ends the chapter quite suddenly by finishing with, My guest was lying sprawled on his back. There was a long knife through his heart which skewered him to the floor I feel this ending made it very clear that the man who had confided in Hannay had been killed and left me wondering what was going to happen next in the story. We will write a custom essay sample on The Thirty-Nine Steps specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Thirty-Nine Steps specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Thirty-Nine Steps specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The second chapter deals more with the thoughts of Hannay, who is devising a plan to try and leave London. He does this by stealing the uniform of a milkman. Hannay way gives exact details of timing, six thirty passed, then six forty and At one minute after the quarter to seven. I feel that the exact details of timing keeps the reader involved in the story as it creates a much stronger feeling of suspense and what will happen next. As Hannay sets out to travel to Scotland his decides he must disguise his voice so that he wont be caught out, in my broadest Scots. I feel this continues the deception of Hannay trying to hide from the Police and it also adds to the suspense that he may be caught out at any time and wont be able to stop the political assassination that is about to happen. As Hannay is in a manhunt in Scotland is becoming scared, Crouching low in the tunnels of the bog, I ran till the sweat blinded my eyes. This shows that Hannay is now becoming scared and he could be found at any time. Throughout the story Hannay fools the people he meets and causes suspense because I wonder if the people will believe his story. I pitched him a lovely yarn Hannay had been told lies by Scudder when been told about his situation. The little man told me a pack of lies I feel this created suspense because Hannay is now lost and if it wasnt for Scudders notebook he would have to give himself in. After Hannay is nearly caught by a policeman, I felt that he had no longer any who could help him, it was as if it was him against everyone. my friends at the inn had come to the understanding, and we were united in desiring to see more of me. Then follows an action packed section of the story. The plane that found him before finds Hannay and then he crashes the car and his nearly killed. This gave great suspense as I was faced with the idea that he might be killed at any time, and he would not be able to stop the political assassination that was about to happen. When Hannay spots his enemies in the hills of Scotland he begins to think clearly. He thinks of the time he changed roles with the milkman when he was trying to leave London and thinks he must do the same now. He spots a road worker and swaps role with him. Ill take on your job for a bit and see the surveyor. Here Hannay who was seconds away from death he still managed to think clearly which created suspense. Hannay is starting to struggle with hiding from his pursuers. My lack of local knowledge might very well be my undoing. By showing that Hannay was struggling, I feel that Buchan is building the reader for an exciting ending, which then creates suspense. After Hannay has found safety in the house of an old man he realises that he has made a big mistake. After being locked in a room that hid him from the men who where chasing him, he found himself held at gunpoint. I turned, and saw two men-servants who had me covered with pistols. I think this action packed section of the story has made the story far more exciting as I wondered if Hannay would be killed or would he escape and tell of the political assassination that is about to happen. Hannay realised that he had to get away. I was doing an experiment as simple as Gut Fawkes fireworks. His small knowledge of explosives might just let him escape. In this part of the story great suspense was created here. I wondered would Hannay blow himself up or manage to escape. After managing to escape he headed for a hideout. I feel at this stage in the story that Hannay might actually get free. The final section of the story is action packed when he finds out where he will be able to meet the enemy and find out their plans for the political assassination. Thirty-nine steps-I counted them-High tide, 10. 17pm. I was now very much interested as Buchan as built the story about this section. I also became interested in the story as I thought to myself Hannay might now save the day. As Hannay begins to figure out what the thirty-nine steps are, I become more positive that he would save the day. I felt that there was a lot of suspense here so Buchan could give the ending a maximum impact. When Hannay burst in on the group of criminals he thought he had made a terrible mistake but he noticed that he had seen on of the men from when he was held at gunpoint. I had stood before him in the moor land farm, with pistols of his servants behind me. Everything had now fallen in to place and I knew Hannay would catch the group of criminals. Hannay and his troops chased them and caught them. I feel that John Buchan has succeeded in creating suspense through use of the main character Richard Hannay. Which I thought made the story action packed and interesting.

Free Essays on Mary Tallmountain

Mary Tallmountain is considered one of the greatest writers amongst the Native American community. Although she really didn’t gain much recognition nationally until the early 1980’s when she won the Pushcart Prize. She is mostly known as a spiritual and cultural writer for instance the poem, â€Å"There Is No Word for Goodbye.† In this poem she shows the conversation between an Athabaskan girl and her aunt. The girl is trying to find out how to say goodbye in Athabaskan. The aunt in the poem seems to be very old and wise. You see this when the girl was looking into her net of wrinkles and her wise eyes. Her wrinkles symbolizes her old age which also symbolizes knowledge. Her â€Å"Wise black pools of her eyes†(Tallmountain 177-178) symbolizes her immeasurable depth of wisdom. She is old, and at this point the niece asks her how to say goodbye in Athabaskan. The aunt says, â€Å"Ah, nothing†¦we just say, Tlaa. That means see you.†(Tallmountain 178) What exactly did the aunt mean? Do the Athabaskans’ not like the word goodbye, or do they imply that they feel no sense of separation when they depart from each other? Maybe they do not miss the person they are distant from. Perhaps they simply have faith that they will eventually be reunited. This is when Tallmountain’s spiritual part of the poem comes into play: We always think you’re coming back, but if you don’t, we’ll see you someplace else. You understand. There is no word for goodbye.(24-28) At this point Tallmountain is giving the impression that the aunt might be in poor health, and could be dieing. When the aunt says, â€Å"We’ll see you someplace else,†(Tallmountain 178) she may possibly be talking about heaven. In addition, when she tells her niece that they never really leave each other, she is giving a suggestion that she will always be there if not physically, then spiritually or in her memories. At this moment t... Free Essays on Mary Tallmountain Free Essays on Mary Tallmountain Mary Tallmountain is considered one of the greatest writers amongst the Native American community. Although she really didn’t gain much recognition nationally until the early 1980’s when she won the Pushcart Prize. She is mostly known as a spiritual and cultural writer for instance the poem, â€Å"There Is No Word for Goodbye.† In this poem she shows the conversation between an Athabaskan girl and her aunt. The girl is trying to find out how to say goodbye in Athabaskan. The aunt in the poem seems to be very old and wise. You see this when the girl was looking into her net of wrinkles and her wise eyes. Her wrinkles symbolizes her old age which also symbolizes knowledge. Her â€Å"Wise black pools of her eyes†(Tallmountain 177-178) symbolizes her immeasurable depth of wisdom. She is old, and at this point the niece asks her how to say goodbye in Athabaskan. The aunt says, â€Å"Ah, nothing†¦we just say, Tlaa. That means see you.†(Tallmountain 178) What exactly did the aunt mean? Do the Athabaskans’ not like the word goodbye, or do they imply that they feel no sense of separation when they depart from each other? Maybe they do not miss the person they are distant from. Perhaps they simply have faith that they will eventually be reunited. This is when Tallmountain’s spiritual part of the poem comes into play: We always think you’re coming back, but if you don’t, we’ll see you someplace else. You understand. There is no word for goodbye.(24-28) At this point Tallmountain is giving the impression that the aunt might be in poor health, and could be dieing. When the aunt says, â€Å"We’ll see you someplace else,†(Tallmountain 178) she may possibly be talking about heaven. In addition, when she tells her niece that they never really leave each other, she is giving a suggestion that she will always be there if not physically, then spiritually or in her memories. At this moment t...

Analyse the benefits of deploying tablet computers in organisations Assignment

Analyse the benefits of deploying tablet computers in organisations and should focus specifically, and at a minimum, on areas such as productivity, accessibility, and compatibility - Assignment Example This paper focuses on the merits of supplying workers with computer tablets in the workplace (Sorin). A tablet refers to a mobile computer which is equipped with a variety of features such as a touch screen, microphone and camera. Unlike computers, tablets do not necessarily require the use of mouse or keyboard. Instead, they have sensors which can be operated by the use of stylus gestures or fingers. However, it might contain virtual keyboards that are used for performing any typing work. With their small and comfortable portably design, tablets can be very much suitable for individual use. Meaning, they can be easily used by one person without necessarily relying on a network of computers or servers. Thus, it can suit workers both in their offices and at the comfort of their homes. When an employer opts to supply the workers with tablets, they should be commended for taking a noble initiative. This is because it can benefit them in the following ways: To begin with, a tablet computer can greatly help the workers to improve the efficiency of their communications. When each worker is given a personal tablet, they can use them in communicating with one another. This can be done through the use of email, fax, chat room or short messages. Indeed, these are revolutionary means of communication which have greatly impacted on the lives of workers. Unlike it was before, workers had to rely on traditional means of communication such as letter writing or face to face communication. However, when each of them has a personal tablet, they would no longer need to take much time drafting letters or leaving their offices to go and look for others to deliver the message to. Instead, if they have tablets, they will only require connecting them to the internet then draft and sending short and brief messages. With personal tablets, individual workers can easily communicate to their seniors, colleagues or juniors without many interruptions. This is be cause

Christopher Barringham - Entrepreneur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Christopher Barringham - Entrepreneur - Essay Example This essay discusses that the idea he is emphasizing on is to keep on mailing those companies and also finding new clients through searching further as they would help the company in creating more market for the five of the companies being operated by Mr. Barringham’s family. The entire idea Mr. Barringham is trying to tell is to inform the new clients and to keep on reminding the previous ones, this is possible through personal meetings with their customer relationship manager which would provide the details about the products on person to person basis and also they send the complimentary gifts to the old clients, such as calendars and diaries and small gift items and also the customer relationship manager keeps on calling to the clients once a month asking if they need any of the services. Another important point of notice is the payment terms which means the ability to collect the cash from the customers, previously all the five companies work on the credit terms and they h ave hardly faced bad debts but the idea is that all the old customers are allowed to buy on the credit terms while the new customers would have to pay the cash in hand, which is another reason for Mr. Barringham’s success in the business of Steel. So Mr. Barringham started a business with very less budget, which is showing that it was a small business while performing the even bigger operation, one can also say that his office is performing the work of a manager, a marketer and a forecaster for not just one but all the five companies in a unified manner.

Food is culture Essay Example for Free

Food is culture Essay According to the Executive Director of the Washington International Center, Robert Kohls (1984), â€Å"the different behaviors of a people or a culture make sense only when seen through the basic beliefs, assumptions, and values of that particular group. † This legendary statement that was uttered more than two decades ago was intended to explain American values and to compare these values with those that belong to other cultures. But, as time went by, Khols insightful perception about culture has taken on international meaning and it was one of the fundamental concepts espoused by Montanari in his book entitled â€Å"Food is Culture. † Using historical reference to Hoppocrates, Montanari insisted that food has never been associated with nature and this contradicts the general idea advertised by people who campaign for organic foods. Montanari explains that food is the result of the efforts of a society to tame, transform, and interpret nature. This view can be supported by two related observations. First, societies all over the world encounter different environments. That is, societies in the Pacific region may find tropical climates whereas societies in the Mediterranean region have temperate climates. The differences in weather, together with the differences in geography, lead to the different ways that the members of the society learned to deal with their varied environments. Thus, the second observation is that the different societies have produced their own unique food and food culture. For example, Italian food reminds people of spaghetti, tiramisu, and other pasta dishes. Asian food, on the other hand, brings to mind bowls of rice. Kohls’ perception, when combined with Montanari’s view about the relationship of food and culture, evolves into something different then. That the different values of a people or a culture are revealed and understood when seen through the food culture of that particular group. Feedback from a reader: At first, it would take some stretch of imagination to associate food with culture. There are two major reasons for this difficulty. First, people eat food in order to survive and perhaps live a relatively healthy life. The desire to live and survive is so fundamental that all peoples possess this particular desire. And if all peoples and culture uphold this desire to live, then eating food is very common that it cannot be directly related to the uniqueness of culture. And second, food is almost always taken from nature. This means that food is obtained from farms and from forests. â€Å"Farm† and â€Å"forest† are two concepts that are associated with things natural. Food, therefore, is a natural resource. And despite the fact that most people in America consume processed food, food is definitely associated with nature. However, using a more critical thinking and a wider observation of the world, the statement that food is culture begins to make some sense. The values of a culture can be reflected in the kinds of food that people eat and the ways that people eat their food. For example, the Japanese culture carries out a tea ceremony, specializes in sushi, and usually serves food in small bite sizes. All these reflect the fact that the Japanese culture gives great importance to tradition. Thus, when Japanese encounters a problem, he turns to the knowledge of his ancestors for guidance. The typical American, on the other hand, rarely imitates the actions of his ancestors. When he encounters a problem, he tends to find help by himself and establishes some measure of control on his problem. The way that Americans value individuality and personal control over their environment can be seen in the way they wanted their food to be served individually. The Americans also wanted their foods to be served fast and this preference echoes the values of practicality and efficiency. Therefore, as a reader of Montanari’s ideas about the relationship of food and culture, I am convinced that food culture does reflect the values upheld by a society. Bibliography Kohls, R. (1984). The values Americans live by. Retrieved September 18, 2007 at http://omni. cc. purdue. edu/~corax/kohlsamericanvalues. html Montanari, M. (2006). â€Å"Introduction. † Food is Culture. A. Sonnenfeld (trans. ). New York: Columbia University Press.

Breaking Up (Online or Not) :: essays research papers

How to Break-Up (Online or Otherwise) In the last year, I have watched the fallout from a number of relationships and break-ups take over the bulletin boards. These problems have caused hurt feelings, have ended friendships, and have come to involve dozens of people (through bulletin boards, email, and other electronica) who have no personal stake in the outcome. The emotional devastation these poorly handled situations bring is totally unnecessary, and prompted the following. The following is not scientific fact: it is based on my own observations, the experiences of my friends (male and female; straight, gay, and bi) and family, and a lot of tired, commercial popular psychology. That doesn't, however, mean that it's bad advice. [sanctimony] 1. Do it in person. If this is an online relationship, it may not be possible. That doesn't give you an excuse to send a Dear John/Jane e-mail. Get as close to in-person as you can, given the limitations of space and time. Call on the phone if you must, go over if you can. But NEVER break up with an answering machine, an e-mail account, or a public forum. You and your ex both deserve better: if this relationship ever meant anything to you, it needs closure. If it didn't, you have no right to take that out on them by treating them callously; it's not your ex's fault that you don't love them anymore. You are not "off the hook," you still have to treat them like a real person, with actual feelings. 2. Be honest, and do it before you're so upset that you can't be reasonable. If you're having problems, that doesn't necessarily mean that your partner knows about them or understands what they can do to help. Take the time to let them know what's bothering you. If your partner really cares about you, chances are some compromise can be reached, or they will at least try to address the behaviors that make you crazy. If it's unsalvagable, at least show them enough respect to end things finally, and with dignity. Don't say you want to be "friends" if what you really mean is "drop dead, you jerk." There's a big difference between letting someone down easy and leaving them hanging, emotionally manipulating them to serve your own ego needs. Be clear, concise, and as reasonable and respectful as possible. This isn't easy for anyone, and your ex deserves, at minimum, as much truth as you can give without being brutal and/or hurtful.

Biblical Criticisms

The Bible is unarguable the most circulated book of all books in the world. It has been translated to several languages in different versions. The book has been described as the world’s best and most widely distributed book by the Guinness Book of Record. The Bible has been read by more people and published in more languages than any other book in history. It was estimated that within the period of 1815-1975 alone, 2. 5 billion copies sold.Record has also shown us that at the end of 1993, the Bible has been fully translated into 337 different languages in the world while over 2,062 languages have translations of at least one book of the Bible. Due to its wide-spread influence, the Bible has been written by various Bible societies for easier comprehension and from their revelations. This has resulted in some textual difference in these various versions of the Bible.The question is how can the original meaning of scriptures that have divergent textual interpretations by these ve rsions be known? The answer to this is Biblical criticism. What then is Biblical Criticism? In its simplest form, this term is an umbrella term for the critical study and appraisal of textual, compositional and historical questions of Biblical scriptures without recourse to revelation. It uses the canon of reason rather than and historical principles in its study.Summarily, the query inquisition made in biblical criticism concerns the preservation and transmission of biblical text and scriptures, this includes the manuscripts in which the text has been preserved, the date, its setting, its relationship, and what the most reliable form of the text is; the source and composition of the text, together with when and where it was created, how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what situation it was created, what were the influence that were work when it was produced, and what sources were used in its composition; and the message of the text as expressed in its language, including the meanin g of the words as well as the way in which they are arranged in meaningful forms of expression. There are different forms of biblical criticisms. Some of them have been in existence as far back as eighteenth century. The major types of biblical criticism are form criticism, textual criticism, philological criticism, literary criticism, traditional criticism.There are also forms of biblical criticisms that have come to existence over the years. They are the literary approach, social-scientific criticism, cultural hermeneutics under which is canonical criticism. For the purpose of this essay, more attention will be drawn on the more recent form biblical criticism; the canonical criticism. Canonical criticism as the more recent form of biblical criticism is a form of cultural hermeneutic approach of biblical criticism that deals with the theological form of interpretation that puts into the center of its study the community background within which the text was produced and from which i t is to be read.It is a form of biblical criticism that deals with how scripture’s final form was created in the context of a believing community and how the interpretations produced by that final form continually guides the reading practices such community. Canonical criticism as a form of biblical criticism has greatly affected biblical study in our world today. As a theological form of biblical study, it preaches that we ought to read Scripture from a universal perspective and not individualistically but as part of a worshiping community of fellow believers. It also seeks a practical goal in that it entails reading the Scripture not just for academic or aesthetic reasons but in order to inhabit its narrative, to have our imagination converted to its values, and to promote love of God and neighbor. In addition to this, it serves as a historic framework.For canonical critics, we ought to read Scripture in conversation with previous generations of believers, especially those of the pre-modern period. Reference: †¢ Greenslade, S. L. , ed. â€Å"Cambridge History of the Bible†. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1963. †¢ Gurthrie, D. â€Å"Canon of Scripture†, In the New International Dictionary of the Christian Church†, Rev. ed. J. D. Douglas, ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1974. †¢ Kenyon, F. G. â€Å"Handbook to the textual Criticism of the New Testament†, London: Macmillan and Co. , 1901. †¢ Biblical criticism. (2008). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved March 28, 2008, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-9079097Back to top