The Stolen Child Essay Example for Free

The Stolen Child Essay In W. B Yeats The Stolen Child, written in 1886, Yeats employs a vivid use of imagery and contrast to create an easily visualised representation of his beloved rural Ireland, but also a world of fantasy and sheer mysticism; a world created from Yeats love and life-long intrigue of the Irish folk-lore tales of old, and how he saw their revival, their symbolism and importance as something that needed to be preserved and re- addressed amongst his modern day Ireland. Considered as one of Yeats better known earlier pieces, the poem itself and its overall message is something I feel is ery ultimately left open to much suggestion and debate. In this essay, I seek to highlight Yeats own sense of mysticism toward the old Celtic fables through his passionate and seamless depictions of his rural homeland, the World of reality and the strikingly ethereal yet easily envisioned realm of the fairies; his fantasy world. In the first stanza, Yeats makes mention toward Sleuth Wood, the name given to Slish Wood upon Lake Gil which harkens back to his childhood in rural Sligo. Where dips the rocky highland, of Sleuth Wood in the lake, (Yeats, 2008) a reference to the verlooking hilltop known as The Kings Head. His use of the woodland by name creates an instantly relatable image for the reader, the natural beauty of the rural Emerald Isle as Yeats saw it immediately realised and established. The beginning of the second stanza again grounds the reader to reality with the mention of dim grey sands of light, far off by furthers Rosses† a reference to Rosses Point, (Yeats, 2008) a small seaside village upon a headland north-west of Sligo. Again the image is an instantly recognisable and relatable one, and a true to life locational reference that gain helps see the lines of reality and fantasy to the reader ever slightly blurred. In what might be seen as homage to the stories of his youth, stories much loved by his mother, his depictions of the pastoral life of rural Ireland at the beginning of each stanza reminds the reader constantly the time and lifestyle in which they inhabit. Stanza fours mention of the lowing of the calves, and the traditional kettle upon the hob reinforce what we perceive to be the most rural of Irish homesteads, and yet what follows with the progression of each stanza is a meandering of traditional Irish uperstitions and personal, romantic depiction of Yeats contrasting fantasy world. It is stanza one where Yeats describes the leafy Island, a realm of the fairies, where they hid their fairy vats, their pots of berries and stolen red cherries (Yeats, 2008). The notion is presented of a place far removed from the pains and troubles of the real world, while still striking the image of somewhat familiarity. The image of the mischievous fairies draws from age old Irish folklore and superstitions, something Yeats throughout his life held a great fascination toward, although to say the fairies f this poem are truly seen as mischievous would be left open to interpretation. The fairies come to take a human child to the waters and the wild (Yeats, 2008), an image that relates back to many of the old Celtic mythologies of the fairly folk, how they may snatch away children replacing them with changelings. As with much of Yeats earlier works with Irish folk lore, the poem takes from and delves heavily into the Celtic influences. The fairies wish to walk hand and hand with the child across the waters 2008) The fairies represent for the greater part of the poem the essence of freedom nd innocence, or at the very least its illusion. The second stanza gives mention to them leaping to and fro, wild and free, chasing the froth bubbles of the free running waters, while the world†the world of reality†sleeps anxiously in its troubles. Much comparison can be made with the tale of Oisin and Tire Na Nog, the contrasting promises everlasting youth and freedoms. The image of the island itself invokes symbolism. The realm of the fairies is a far removed and magical one to that of the real world, but its familiarity in its connection to the world is what grounds it to not omplete disbelief. The island is located within the lake, itself a metaphor for isolation, or to be isolated from that around it while seeming not entirely out of reach. This liberates it from the harshness out the outside world, creating the sense of a romantic place untouched by the boundaries and conditions of a changing world progressing and evolving about it. Waters surround it, protecting it. The wandering water gushes (Yeats, 2008) stirs an image of something free-flowing and untameable. Nature is another image that represents the contrasting images of freedom. In tanza four, Yeats mentions the calves on the warm hillside and the brown barn mice, while in his initial description of the leafy island, herons are said to be flapping free to the waking of the drowsy water rats. The pastoral calves upon the hillside strike the image of natures enslavement to modern society. Upon the island, no such thing exists. The birds fly and wildlife roam as free as the waters and the fairies themselves. The romantic notion of such an untouched harmonious place strengthens. Again much can be made as to the true meaning behind the poem, as it is open to endless suggestion and debate. Upon first reading and analysis of the poem, innocence†or its loss†was a theme that seemed to stem from the representation of the fairies. The fairies perhaps represent everlasting innocence, something that will inevitable be lost to the human child as time and life progress† as it does with us all. They seek to take him away to preserve that which will become fleeting to him, referring to the real world as one of weeping that he can never truly fathom, but ultimately talking about the challenges of life and all that embodies it. There is a level of freedom suggested in the notion of ever-lasting innocence, again ersonified in depictions of the free running/flowing imagery of the fairy realm, to the idea of being shielded entirely from the worlds horrors can bring ones self to be liberated; if not physically then perhaps mentally or emotionally. To stay forever young is to stay forever naive, to stay pure or perhaps even without sin or corruption. This idea of preserving innocence shows to me maybe contempt for what is depicted to be the reality world, and what Yeats felt it to be. We were no longer a people and nation that Yeats saw to embrace the same beauty of heritage as we once were. We ived in a world now more politicised than ever before and in doing so, we were losing and forgetting a very large part of what was both important to us as a culture and a nation†losing our innocence in this regard.

Hydrologic Cycle Essay example -- essays research papers

HYDROLOGIC CYCLE The hydrologic cycle is a constant movement of water above, on, and below the earth's surface. It is a cycle that replenishes ground water supplies. It begins as water vaporizes into the atmosphere from vegetation, soil, lakes, rivers, snowfields and oceans-a process called evapotranspiration. As the water vapor rises it condenses to form clouds that return water to the land through precipitation: rain, snow, or hail. Precipitation falls on the earth and either percolates into the soil or flows across the ground. Usually it does both. When precipitation percolates into the soil it is called infiltration when it flows across the ground it is called surface run off. The amount of precipitation that infiltrates, versus the amount that flows across the surface, varies depending on factors such as the amount of water already in the soil, soil composition, vegetation cover and degree of slope. Surface runoff eventually reaches a stream or other surface water body where it is again evaporated into the atmosphere. Infiltration, however, moves under the force of gravity through the soil. If soils are dry, water is absorbed by the soil until it is thoroughly wetted. Then excess infiltration begins to move slowly downward to the water table. Once it reaches the water table, it is called ground water. Ground water continues to move downward and laterally through the subsurface. Eventually it discharges through hillside springs or seeps into streams, lakes, and the ocean...

Non-Fiction: Useful and Informative

Non-fiction not only has the potential to make the world a better place, it actually does make the world a better place (poor intro, sorry). Non-fiction is everywhere – on the news, in newspapers, in books, and even on the internet. It is very useful and informative. If it was not for non-fiction, we would not know anything about our planet, and the events that are taking place in it. It is undoubted that non-fiction makes the world a better place. Firstly, non-fiction has already helped us evolve to the point that we are at now.So not only does it have the potential to make the world a better place, it has been forever helping us in our ambitions to make the world a better place, and will continue to do so. It has been around forever. In fact, cave paintings from about 32,000 years ago display a man coming home from a successful hunting trip, and they also showed what tools he used, so other people could do so as well. Things like this have been happening throughout history, up to this present day. Even things like science reports have helped many people, in many different says.Additionally, non-fiction is very informative. Not only does it let us know interesting facts, but also keeps you updated about events and affairs that are occurring in our world. Non-fiction is great because not only does it tell us about all this, but it is extremely easy to access. Simply watch the news on TV, buy a newspaper, or go on the internet, and you will be instantly inundated by interesting and useful facts. Finally, non-fiction books are very good for educating children.Non- action teaches kids about culture, historic moments in time, extraordinary people, and many other things. A great example of this is â€Å"Simpson and his Donkey', the story of a man and his donkey, who in World War II in the battlefields of Galileo, saved many lives by transporting wounded soldiers to safe ground. So not only does non-fiction entertain and inform children about historic events, but it teaches them valuable life lessons, which is a small step in making the world a better place.In conclusion, non-fiction has already helped us evolve to where we are at now, so obviously, it not only has the potential to make the world a better place, it does make the world a better place. Simply things like being updated with world events, and teaching children about history, are Just a couple of the many reasons why non- fiction makes the world a better place. So unless all of the known laws of the universe have changed in the past couple of hours, and nobody bothered to tell me, non- fiction definitely makes the world a better place. Non-Fiction: Useful and Informative By Breakfast

Advanced Financial Statement Analysis - Leons vs the...

Advanced Financial Statement Analysis Assignment #1 Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Performance Leon’s Furniture Limited and The Brick Income Fund Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Performance Assignment #1 - Leon’s versus The Brick TABLE OF CONTENTS Page # Table of Contents †¦. Abstract †¦.. Report Outline †¦.. Introduction †¦.. Ratios – Financial Analysis †¦.. Summary †¦.. Bibliography †¦.. Appendices (A – J) †¦.. 2 3 4 5 6 23 25 26 Advanced Financial Statement Analysis Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Performance Assignment #1 - Leon’s versus The Brick Abstract This research paper is prepared for purposes of assessing financial condition as well as overall operating performance of two same sector entities.†¦show more content†¦management discussion and analysis, audited financial statements, etc †¦.) as well as quarterly filings for publically traded companies. Access to which, all stakeholders (investors, creditors, suppliers, Advanced Financial Statement Analysis Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Performance Assignment #1 - Leon’s versus The Brick etc.) have a vested interest in understanding inherent risks of engaging in economic activities with such companies. In addition to periodic and timely filing requirements for publically traded companies, market based share price data is readily available through most online news networks or major stock exchange websites. Yet another touch point for the financial analyst to access relevant and valuable business intelligence on a timely basis. In addition to historical financial data, financial analysis must incorporate business intelligence into any review that is peripheral to the entity being assessed as well as forward looking. For instance, consideration should be given to general economic conditions at regional, national and international levels to ensure that analytical review procedures appropriately factor potential impacts (favourable or unfavourable) that may influence prospects for the firm, its region or sector. Integral to any financial analysis exercise is the analyst’s ability to identify unusual, exceptional or extraordinary activities that may require special consideration as part of the