People aspects of capital investment decision making Essay

People aspects of capital investment decision making - Essay Example Though these techniques have successfully gained popularity as deciding tool, however, influence from the human element on decision making still maintains its dominance (paper). Managers of the firm themselves receive impact from their traits leading to influenced preferences in making decision. Among many reasons that advocate the acceptance of human element weight in investment decision, it is also for the fact that capital budgeting techniques has some unanswered queries. For instance, subjectivity of the discount rate used to discount the cash flows. It further states that the outcome of decisions based on capital budgeting techniques does not facilitate learning function as each situation is considered different. Successes or failure of decision from the usage of these techniques are also attributed to manager; and it is a manager who receives promotion (demotion) on success (failure) of project and not the techniques. Also these techniques are not easy to employee and are consi dered as complex procedures. Hence, mentioned ones and many other reasons lead to advocacy to systematically include human element factor in decision making criteria (Simon (1955, 1959), Margolis (1958), and Cyert and March (1963). This report provides the critical evaluation of capital budgeting technique with application on hypothetical project of construction and discusses the impact of various factors mainly managerial implication in results. In the second part, human impact of managerial attitude towards risk is discussed in detail. THE ALTERNATIVE ‘OBJECTIVE PROCESSES’ EVALUATION The alternative objective processes evaluation has been conducted with developing hypothetical example from construction sector. Example is a construction project of three storey building. Project has an initial cost of UK ?. 75, 192 and has been financed by 60% debt and 40% equity. Table 1 provides cash flow details with application of capital budgeting techniques. Details of estimated i nitial cost, revenues, expenses, and loan are provided in appendix. Result of each technique application is discussed under heading titled to technique. TABLE 1: Cash Flow       No. Of Years 0 1 2 3 4 5 Working Capital ? 7,049 ? 7,593 ? 8,181 ? 8,814 ? 9,497 ? - Change in working -? 7,049 -? 545 -? 587 -? 633 -? 683 ? 9,497 Initial investment -? 75,193                Cash flow from Investing -? 75,193 ? 7,049 ? 7,593 ? 8,181 ? 8,814 ? 9,497                      Revenues ? - ? 64,721 ? 69,879 ? 75,449 ? 81,464 ? 87,959 Less: Total Expenses ? - ? 35,283 ? 37,609 ? 41,305 ? 44,888 ? 49,372 Cash From Operating ? - ? 29,438 ? 32,270 ? 34,144 ? 36,576 ? 38,587                      Cash Flow -? 75,193 ? 36,487 ? 39,864 ? 42,325 ? 45,390 ? 48,084 Interest Expense    ? 1,805 ? 1,471 ? 1,125 ? 765 ? 390 EBT    ? 34,682 ? 38,392 ? 41,200 ? 44,626 ? 47,694 Tax(0) ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? -                      Total Cash Flows(after Tax) -? 75,193 ? 34,682 ? 38,392 ? 41,200 ? 44,626 ? 47,694 R    ? 0.05 ? 0.05 ? 0.05 ? 0.05 ? 0.05 DCF -? 75,193 ? 33,031 ? 34,823 ? 35,590 ? 36,714 ? 37,370 PAYBACK PERIOD    -? 42,162 -? 7,339 ? 28,251       Based on the positive NPV, the project is suggested to be feasible to undertake. Moreover, evaluation of NPV and other

Timothy Treadwell Behavior Essay Example for Free

Timothy Treadwell Behavior Essay There’s a lot of awareness toward animal rights and animal cruelty in the United States, there are plenty of animal rights organizations that help us the public learn about what happens to animals when we don’t know or see. But some activist make the safety of animals their priority in life, even to the point to put them in danger to do what they think is correct. Timothy Treadwell, also known as Grizzly Man, did just that. Being a hardcore activist living with grizzlies in order to protect them from what he called â€Å"the evils of men†. According to Anthrozoologist like Hal Herzog, the author of â€Å"Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat†, Timothy Treadwell’s behavior can be explained by his past life struggles, his over love for bears, and his eagerness to take action. How does someone go from being an actor to a bear enthusiast? Treadwell’s occupation is stated as being an actor because that’s what he studied for, but it was something that he didn’t get lucky in and therefor became a frustrated actor. The truth about Treadwell is that before you found his â€Å"calling† he was a very lost and unhappy person, in some of his footage saying â€Å"Nobody friggin’ knew that there are times when my life has been on the precipice of death†. Treadwell after becoming alcoholic survived a near-fatal heroin overdose making him realize that he had to do something in his life that was meaningful and that’s where the grizzlies changed his life. Hal Herzog says â€Å"animal activism can give meaning and purpose to a person’s life† (Herzog 242), after hiding bottom Treadwell needed to figure out what else he had to do where he wouldn’t be judged, rejected, and ashamed by anyone. When Treadwell met his first bear, he found his calling, he found his meaning in life, he now knew what his purpose was and that was to live among the brown bears. Because of his past situations and disappointments, being alone in the wild with creatures that wouldn’t mind having him around and where curious about him made him feel safe. In the film Treadwell shares how he can’t wait to return to Alaska when he leaves, he enjoyed being out there because that was his safe zone in life away from all ‘evil’. That safe zone with the bears kept Treadwell at piece and gave him an identity, Hal Herzog giving an example of activist that are lost in the world and once they find something worth fighting for they find themselves and gain an identity. Treadwell’s identity was Grizzly Man, his identity gave him power and strength that helped him throughout the ears with living with bears for 13 summers. There’s a saying that states â€Å"love kills† and you could say that about Timothy Treadwell’s death, being attacked and eaten by the very animal that he love the most makes you wonder why anyone could pass logic and follow their heart. Throughout Werner Herzog’s film Treadwell shouts, cries, and expresses how much he loves grizzly bears, â€Å"I will die for these animals! I will die for these animals! I will die for these animals! † he said. Hal Herzog explains in a chapter that sometimes instead of following our heads we believe we should follow our hearts because that will lead us to happiness, â€Å"Our hearts are even more prone to error than our heads†(Herzog 260). Treadwell’s heart was bears and helping the bears, but because of the obsessive love he had turned into the willingness to go against his logic of living with wild animals. He believed that bears were his friends; he told them he loved them and even petted them, Treadwell didn’t care about anything else besides his friends in the wild whom he loved and was willing to die for them and did die because of one. His powering love that he had for these animals, the living things that had saved his life and brought so much happiness, was a reason why he decided to leave humans and life in solitude with bears. â€Å"I am the Lord’s humble servant. I am Allah’s disciple there has been an absolute miracle. It has rained 1. 65 inches of rain today† Treadwell said after a long drought affecting the animals. Treadwell’s love drove him to take action but his eagerness to go every summer and spend months alone, his ambition, desire, and anxiousness to be with bears was from his passion to return the favor. â€Å"The moral commitment of activists shows up in many different ways Sometimes the burden just gets too heavy† (Herzog 245), Treadwell felt like he owned his life to the bears that he had a commitment to them and was never to break it. After saving his internal and physical self he needed to protect them and he did as much as he could, he looked after the animals as if they were his family and when it got hard he just took it out on himself and never on the animals because Treadwell believed humans were the problem not the bears. Treadwell wanted to accomplish what no other person could do and that was to live within wild animals that had the strength to kill anyone, and his ambition drove him to take action, his love and commitment to the grizzly bears. Timothy Treadwell’s death was horrific and not shocking at all because most people did except that to happen, if you asked anyone what they thought of Treadwell decision to live with grizzlies they’d probably say he was crazy. But the truth is that he was crazy but crazy in love, in love with the animals that had given him a purpose in life and had saved him from his past. Timothy Treadwell didn’t want harm for anyone or for anything, he just wanted to express his gratitude and love to the animals that had changed his life forever.

The Characteristics of Foreign Exchange markets

The Characteristics of Foreign Exchange markets Foreign exchange refers to money denominated in the currency of another nation or group of nations. Foreign exchange can be cash, bank deposits or other short-term claims. But in the foreign exchange market as the network of major foreign exchange dealers engaged in high-volume trading, foreign exchange almost always take the form of an exchange of bank deposits of different national currency denominations. Market Characteristics The foreign exchange market place is a twenty-four hour market with exchange rates and market conditions changing constantly. However, foreign exchange activity does not flow evenly. Over the course of a day, there is a cycle characterized by periods of very heavy activity and other periods or relatively light activity. Business is most heavy when two or more market places are active at the same time such as Asia and Europe or Europe and America. Give this uneven flow of business around the clock, market participants often will respond less aggressively to an exchange rate development that occurs at a relative inactive time of day, and will wait to see whether the development is confirmed when the major markets open. Nonetheless, the twenty-four hour market does provide a continuous real-time market assessment of the currencies values. The market consists of a limited number of major dealer institutions that are particularly active in foreign exchange, trading with customers and (more often) with each other. Most, but not all, are commercial banks and investment banks. The institutions are linked each other through telephones, computers and other electronic means. There are estimated 2,000 dealer institutions in the world, making up the global exchange market. Each nations market has its own infrastructure. For foreign exchange market operations as well as for other matters, each country enforces its own laws, banking regulations, accounting rules, and tax codes. They also have different national financial systems and infrastructures through which transactions are executed and within the currencies are held. With access to all of the foreign exchange markets generally open to participants from all countries, and with its vast amounts of market information transmitted simultaneously and almost instantly to dealers throughout the world, there is an enormous amount of cross-border foreign exchange trading amongst dealers as well as between dealers and their customers. At any moment, the exchange rates of major currencies tend to be virtually identical in all of the financial centers. Rarely are there such substantial price differences among these centers as to provide major opportunities for arbitrage. Over-the-Counter vs. Exchange-Traded Segment There are generally two different market segments within the foreign exchange market: over-the-counter (OTC) and exchange-trade. In the OTC market, banks indifferent locations make deals via telephone or computer systems. The market is largely unregulated. Thus, a bank in a country such the USA does not need any special authority to trade or deal in foreign exchange. Transactions can be carried out on whatever terms and with whatever provisions are permitted by law and acceptable to the two counter-parties, subject to the standard commercial law governing business transactions in the respective countries. However, there are best practice recommendations such from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with respects to trading activities, relationships, and other matters. Trading practices on the organized exchanges and the regulatory arrangements covering the exchanges, are markedly different from those in the OTC market. In the exchange, trading takes place publicly in a centralized location and products are standardized. There are margin payments, daily marking to market, and a cash settlement through a central clearinghouse. With respects to regulations in the USA, exchanges at which currency futures are traded are under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Corporation (CFTC). Steps are being taken internationally to harmonize trade regulations and to improve the risk management practices of dealers in the foreign exchange market and to encourage greater transparency and disclosure. The various parties involved Today, commercial banks and investment banks serve as the major dealers by executing transactions and providing foreign exchange services. Some, but not all, are market makers, that regularly quote both bids and offers for one ore more particular currencies thus standing ready to make a two-sided market for its customers. Dealers also trade foreign exchange as part of the banks proprietary trading activities, where the firms own capital is put at risk on various strategies. A proprietary trader is looking for a larger profit margin based on a directional view about a currency, volatility, an interest rate that is about to change, a trend or a major policy move. . Payment and Settlement Systems Executing a foreign exchange transaction requires two transfers of money value, in opposite directions, since it involves the exchange of one national currency for another. Execution of the transaction engages the payment and settlement systems of both nations. Payment is the transmission of an instruction to transfer value that results from a transaction in the economy, and settlement is the final and unconditional transfer of the value specified in a payment instruction. The foreign exchange instruments Spot: A spot transaction is a straight forward (or outright) exchange of one currency for another. The sport rate is the current market price, the benchmark price. Outright Forwards: An outright forward transaction is a straight forward single purchase/sale of one currency for another, that is settled on a day pre-arranged date three or more business days after the deal date. FX Swaps: In the FX swap market, one currency is swapped for another for a period of time, and then swapped back, creating an exchange and re-exchange. Currency swaps: In a typical currency swap, counter-parties will (i) exchange equal initial principle amounts of two currencies at the spot exchange rate, (ii) exchange a stream of fixed or floating interest rate payments in their swapped currencies for the agreed period of the swap and then (iii) re-exchange the principle amount at maturity at the initial spot exchange rate. Direct and Indirect Quotation for Exchange Rates Purpose: This component enables you to manage exchange rates for each currency pair using direct or indirect quotation. The type of quotation used is dependent on the market standard. You can define the type of quotation per client and currency pair (business transaction). Indirect quotation has not been required until now, because direct quotation was usually used for exchange rates. With the start of the dual currency phase of the European Monetary Union (EMU), indirect quotation is now used within Europe for exchange rates with the euro. Indirect quotation is also becoming more widely accepted internationally. Until now, there were many limitations involved in processing indirect exchange rates. Direct quotation is where the cost of one unit of foreign currency is given in units of local currency, whereas indirect quotation is where the cost of one unit of local currency is given in units of foreign currency. Your local currency is GBP: Direct exchange rate: 1USD = 0.6464 GBP Indirect exchange rate: 1GBP = 1.5470 USD Direct or indirect quotation can be maintained as the standard form of quotation for a certain currency pair. You use: 1 for direct quotation 2 for indirect quotation If a standard form of quotation has not been specified for a currency pair, the system automatically uses direct quotation. Foreign currency options: A foreign exchange or currency option contract gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy/sell a specified amount of one currency for another at a specified price on a specified date. That differs from a forward contract, in which the parties are obligated to execute the transaction on the maturity date. An OTC foreign exchange option is a bilateral contract between two parties. In contrast to the exchange-traded options market, in the OTC market, no clearing-house stands between the two parties, and there is no regulatory body establishing trading rules. Trade mechanics Dealer institutions trade with each other in two basic ways: direct dealing and through a brokers market. The mechanics of the two approaches are quite different, and both have been changed by technological advances in recent years. Direct Dealing: Each of the major market makers shows a running list of its main bid and offer rates that is, the prices at which it will buy and sell the major currencies, spot and forward and those rates are displayed to all market participants on their computer screens. The dealer shows his prices for the base currency expressed in amounts of the terms currency. Although the screens are updated regularly throughout the day, the rates are only indicative-to get a firm price, a trader or customer must contact the bank directly. A trader can contact a market maker to ask for a two-way quote for a particular currency. Theories of Fund Flow Fund flow is usually measured on a monthly or quarterly basis.  The performance of an asset or fund is not taken into account, only share redemptions (outflows) and share purchases (inflows).   Net inflows create excess cash for managers to invest, which theoretically creates demand for securities such as stocks and bonds.  Ã‚   Law of one price The law of one price is another way of stating the concept of purchasing power parity. The law of one price exists due to arbitrage opportunities. If the price of a security, commodity or asset is different in two different markets, then an arbitrageur will purchase  the asset in the cheaper market and sell it where prices are higher. When the purchasing power parity doesnt hold, arbitrage profits will persist until the price converges across markets. Foreign exchange risk exposure : We can define exposure as the sensitivity real home currency value of an asset, liability or an operating income to an unknown change in the exchange rate, moreover foreign exchange risk means variabilty of the domestic currency values of assets, liabilities operating income due to unknown changes in exchange rate. The foreign exchange business is by nature risky because it deals primarily in risk measuring it, pricing it, accepting it when appropriate managing it. Market Risk: Market risk, in simple terms, is price risk, or exposure to adverse price change. For a dealer in foreign exchange, two major elements of market risk are exchange risk and interest rate risk. Exchange rate risk is inherent in foreign exchange trading. Interest rate risk arises when there is any mismatching or gap in the maturity structure. Thus, an uncovered outright forward position can change in value, not only because of a change in spot rate but also because of a change in interest rates, since a forward rate reflects interest rate differential between the two currencies. Credit Risk: Credit risk arises from the possibility that the counter-party to a contract cannot or will not make the agreed payment at maturity. In foreign exchange trading, banks have long been accustomed to dealing with the broad and pervasive problem of credit risk. Know your customer is a cardinal rule and credit limits or dealing limits are set for each counter-party and adjusted in response to changes in financial circumstances. Over the past decade or so, banks have become willing to consider margin trading when a client requires a dealing limit larger than the banks is prepared to provide. Under this arrangement, the client places a certain amount of collateral with the bank and can then trade much larger amounts. Other Risks: Numerous other forms of risks can be involved in the foreign exchange trading, such as liquidity risk, legal risk and operational risk. The latter is the risk of losses from inadequate systems, human error, or lack of proper oversight policies and procedures and management control. Interest rate swap and currency swap: Interest rate swaps: This type of swaps are derivatives as the the underlying asset is not exchanged in the trancation. It is an agreement in which two parties exchange interest payments of differing nature on an imaginary amount of principal for a defined time span. Actually, it is an exchange of different cash flows; one generated by a fixed interest rate on a sum, the other by a floating interest rate on the same sum. For instance, a party (such as a depository institute) that earns a steady stream of income may prefer one which matches (fluctuates with) the market interest rates. It may agree to exchange its interest income on a certain sum (say ten million dollars of principal) for a certain period (say one year) with another party (such as a mutual fund) which earns a fluctuating interest income but prefers a steady one. Currency swap: An agreement between two parties to exchange  interest  payments and principal on loans denominated in two different currencies. In a cross currency swap, a loans interest payments and principal in one currency would be exchanged for an equal valued loan and interest payments in a different currency. Different Types of Foreign currency option: Arrangement in which a party acquires (upon payment of a fee) the right but not the obligation to buy or sell a specified amount of a currency on a fixed date and at a fixed rate. Such options are used usually by importers as a hedge against exchange rate fluctuations. See also foreign exchange contract. Call Option: The call options give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy the underlying shares at a predetermined price, on or before a determined date. Put Option: A Put Option gives the holder the right to sell a specified number of shares of an underlying security at a fixed price for a period of time. Knock-Out Options: These are like standard options except that they extinguish or cease to exist if the underlying market reaches a pre-determined level during the life of the option. The knockout component generally makes them cheaper than a standard Call or Put. Knock-in Options These options are the reverse of knockout options because they dont come into existence until the underlying market reaches a certain pre-determined level, at this time a Call or Put option comes into life and takes on all the usual characteristics. Average Rate Options The options have their strikes determined by an averaging process, for example at the end of every month. The profit or loss is determined by the difference between the calculated strike and the underlying market at expiry. Basket Options A basket option has all the characteristics of a standard option, except that the strike price is based on the weighted value of the component currencies, calculated in the buyers base currency. The buyer stipulates the maturity of the option, the foreign currency amounts which make up the basket, and the strike price, which is expressed in units of the base currency. Difference between a call and a put option : The main diffenence in writing a put option and buying a call option is that they both are opposite to each other an elaboration of a put and call option will diffenciate clearly. An inverstor who writes a call option sees the future price of the underlying asser will go up and they will be able to get profit from this investment. An investor who buy put options believe the price of the underlying asset will go down and they will be able to purchase another option on the same asset for reselling at a price lower than the current exercise price. Put Option : Because put options vest the buyer with the right to sell stock at a pre-determined price, these option contracts are frequently used to protected stock holdings from losses in the event of a market decline.   Much like insurance, a stock investor can pay a premium and purchase a put option to protect his holdings.   In the event of a market downturn, he may sell the put option at an increased value to offset any losses or the option may be exercised, and the stock sold, at what would be above market prices. Call option : A call option, often it is simply labeled a call, is a financial contract between two parties, the buyer and the seller of this type of option. The buyer of the call option has the right, but not the obligation to buy an agreed quantity of a particular commodity or financial instrument (the underlying) from the seller of the option at a certain time (the expiration date) for a certain price (the strike price). The seller (or writer) is obligated to sell the commodity or financial instrument should the buyer so decide. The buyer pays a fee (called a premium) for this right. Why are the premiums different with the same contact specifications but different trading dates: The premium is the amount that is offered to the contactor for taking the risk while making a forwad, future or options contract as the investor is making his/her investment safe the contractor is exposed to risk so he/she might charged an amount called premium. The reason that the contract might have different premium amount with the same specifications is that the risk of currency appriciation or depriciation or the maturity of the contract, foir instance if the contract is one month long the premium might be low as the contract time is less and more accurate predictoins can be made by the contractor but if the maturity date is too long it will be difficult for the contractor to predict the future or will be difficult for him to manage his/her own risk do he/she might charge more premium for the transaction. Deep in the money : An option with an exercise price, or strike price, significantly below (for a call option) or above (for a put option) the market price of the underlying asset. Significantly, below/above is considered one strike price below/above the market price of the underlying asset.  For example, if the current price of the underlying stock was $10, a call option with a strike price of $5 would be considered deep in the money. Many option traders (both professionals and individual investors) will exercise, as they have the right, an expiring option that is in-the-money by any amount, even though this amount may be less than OCCs thresholds for automatic exercise. Therefore, you might anticipate assignment on any in-the-money option at expiration. An option is  in-the-money if it has positive intrinsic value that is, if the holder would profit from exercising it. In terms of strike price, a call is in-the-money if the exercise price is below the underlying stocks spot price. A put is in-the -money if the exercise price is above the stocks spot price. If GBP would depreciate against the dollar a call or put option would have been better for a British exporter If the GBP would depreciate against the dollar a call option will be beneficial for a British exporter as he is carrying transactions in dollar and he can buy GBP on low price at the future date and when it appreciates he can again write a put put option to get the benefit

The Disturbing Tone of Rapunzel Essay -- Grimm Rapunzel Essays

The Disturbing Tone of Rapunzel The story of "Rapunzel" has been passed throughout generations in the form of a fairy tale. Typical fairy tales come to a resolution ending ‘happily ever after’. It seems that there is always a villain, always a hero, and some sort of a moral or lesson to be grasped from each story (Rhetoric 102K/L class discussion/lecture, January 18, 2001). Most of the traditional fairy tales involve a ‘damsel in distress’, in which she is happily rescued by a true love. These types of stories leave readers feeling that those who are in pain and anguish will eventually rise above and be granted pure happiness. It is this break in the traditional style that sets the Grimm stories apart from others. Using the formalistic approach allows for the Grimm version of Rapunzel to be analyzed closely. For starters, the way a story begins and the first impression upon the reader are extremely important. The authors creatively set up a situation in which they manipulate the minds of their readers. They have to pave the road they want their readers to follow in order to have a greater impact. The road starts with the title, which is a direct indication of the main character, Rapunzel. While reading the story the authors have already given the reader a previous insight of what is to come. The story begins describing the situation of â€Å"a man and his wife, who had long wished for a child, but in vain†(Grimm 514). This opening line begins to unfold much of the story and reveals the main part of the story, how Rapunzel was the center of their wishes. The names of the characters are insightful for the reader to relate the events and make connections. In th... ...ere no one else can go without permission. They climb a golden ladder to discover beauty. Rapunzel is perceived as innocent and pure. When the witch discovers her sin of connecting to the world and ruining this purity, her beauty is lost. Hence, the loss of her famous trait, her locks of hair. This version of Rapunzel is still a fairy tale. It has the villain, the 'damsel in distress', the hero, and the happy ending. However, the tone of the story is more disturbing. The prince has a genuine affection for Rapunzel despite the loss of her gorgeous hair. The story explains how he seeked finding her originally because her "song had entered his heart"(Grimm 516). The word choice here is very effective. The prince liked her before the display of her beauty. This is a typical fairy tale idea that they are meant to be together through fate.

The Christian Perspective on Capital Punishment and Rehabilitation Ess

Abstract Christian’s hold three distinct perspectives on capital punishment, namely Rehabilitationism, Reconstructionism and Retributionism. Rehabilitationism is the view that death sentence should not be allowed for any crime; Reconstructionism holds that death penalty should be allowed for any serious crime; Retributionism recommends death sentence for some capital crimes. The last two positions share a somewhat similar view. This paper focuses on rehabilitationism. Proponents of this view comprise those who appeal to the Bible for justification and those who do not. The paper presents the arguments of those in the former group. Contrary to the view of the rehabilitationalists that the aim of punishment is reformatory or remedial, the paper argues that the aim of capital punishment is justice and a good society. Conceptualization of Capital Punishment and Rehabilitationism Capital punishment is the taking of an offender’s life for a crime which he has committed and found guilty of by a court or tribunal under law. For Etuk, capital punishment is the death penalty when it is executed after a due process of law carried out by a society’s duly constituted apparatus (2000, 6). It is distinguished from other forms of extra-legal killings such as shooting on sight of suspected criminals, assassinations, disappearance of persons carried out by state agents, among others. Capital punishment thus defined has existed in almost all civilizations and the modes of its execution have varied from country to country. Amnesty International in 1989 listed out the following modes of execution in current use: hanging, shooting, electrocution, lethal injection, gassing, beheading and stoning (Etuk, 6). In Nigeria, the most prominent me... ...ence†. SOPHIA: An African Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 2 No 1, 2000, pp 1 – 18. Geisler, N. L. Christian Ethics. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989. Ige, E.    â€Å"Death Penalty in the Dock: Seminar that Explores its Retention or Abolition†. Vanguard, November 1, 2002. Iwe, N. S. S. Socio-Ethical Issues in Nigeria. Oruowulu – Obosi: Pacific Publishers, 1991. Stamps, D. C. (ed.) The Full Life Bible Study. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992. Walvoord, J. F. & Zuck, R. B. The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Old Testament). USA: Cook communications Ministries, 1983. Walvoord, J. F. & Zuck, R. B. The Bible Knowledge Commentary (New Testament). USA: Cook communications Ministries, 1983.

The Inspiring Rhyme of Gwendolyn Brooks :: Literary Analysis, We Real Cool

In â€Å"We Real Cool,† by Gwendolyn Brooks, one can almost visualize a cool cat snapping his fingers to the beat, while she is reading this hip poem. Her powerful poem uses only a few descriptive words to conjure up a gang of rebellious teens. Brooks employs a modern approach to the English language and her choice of slang creates a powerful jazz mood. All of the lines are very short and the sound on each stop really pops. Brooks uses a few rhymes to craft an effective sound and image of the life she perceives. With these devices she manages to take full control of her rhyme and cultivates a morally inspiring poem. Brooks’ selection of single syllable words helps set the rhythm of a jazz mood. The monosyllable words provide a rhythmical tool for generating a snappy beat to her tale. Her repetition of rhyming words close together adds unity to the poem. By placing the one syllable words close together: â€Å"cool / school† (1-2) and â€Å"sin / gin† (5-6), it emphases each word. The feelings and imagery are clear in this poem. The rhyming lines in her verse contain only three words, and it keeps the poem’s rhythm moving. The short verse makes it easy to remember. The short lines speed it up, but the sound on each stop really stands out. Only the subtitle is longer, which Brooks utilizes to encompass the setting. Her careful use of short words keeps the beat and describes what the boys are doing, like leaving school, or staying out late. These simple Anderson 2 words represent the gang’s lack of language skills. This symbolizes uneducated boys talking. She does it with such vivid verse and ethnic slang that it gives this poem a unique style. Brooks employs more than one rhyming device. She exercises end rhyme in the poem. Brooks’ words rhyme at the end of each sentence. Often in rhymes, the sentence ends with the rhyming word, but not here. The poem’s sentences end in the middle of the line, because Brooks chose to create a metrical pause or caesura. The repetition of â€Å"We† at the end, helps to keep the audience focus on the gang. Brooks applies internal rhyme before the end. â€Å"We / Sing in. We / Thin gin† (5-6) shows internal rhyme. The gang is proud and boasting about their lives. This conjures up visions of the boys bad choices, but it also helps you see the connection in the lines.

Criticism on the Poem Do Not Go Gentle

The first poem that Dylan Thomas ever published, when he was only eighteen, was an early version of â€Å"And Death Shall Have No Dominion. † The cycle of life and death formed a constant underlying theme throughout his poetry since that earliest effort. In â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,† a moving plea to his dying father, death takes on a new and intensely personal meaning for Thomas. David John Thomas was an important influence throughout his son Dylan’s life. A grammar school English teacher, he had a deep love for language and literature which he passed on to his son. In a 1933 letter to a friend, Dylan Thomas describes the library he shared with his father in their home. His father’s section held the classics, while his included modern poetry. It had, according to Thomas, everything needed in a library. â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night† was in all likelihood composed in 1945 when D. J. Thomas was seriously ill; however, it was not published until after his death on December 16, 1952. Thomas sent the poem to a friend, Princess Caetani, in the spring of 1951, telling her that the â€Å"only person I can’t show the little enclosed poem to is, of course, my father who doesn’t know he’s dying. After his father’s death, the poem was included in the collection In Country Sleep. Ironically Dylan Thomas himself died just a year later. The poem discusses various ways to approach death in old age. It advocates affirming life up until the last breath, rather than learning to accept death quietly. Poem Summary Lines 1-3 The first tercet introduces the poem’s theme; it also introduces the two recurring refrains that end alternate stanzas. Although these two lines, the first and the third, both state Thomas’s basic theme about resisting death, they contrast in several ways. Each of the predominant words in line one finds its opposite in line three. â€Å"Gentle† is paired with â€Å"rage,† â€Å"good† with â€Å"dying,† and â€Å"night† with â€Å"light. † The tone of the two lines also is quite different. Line one is subdued; the verbs are deliberately simple, vague. Thomas uses the predicate adjective â€Å"gentle,† making it describe the personality of the individual, rather than the more obvious choice â€Å"gently,† an adverb which would only refer to the action of the verb. â€Å"Good night† when it refers to dying becomes a paradox for Thomas, meaning a good death. Although this line may be an exhortation to resist death, its entire tone is gentle. Compare this to the beginning of line 3 where â€Å"rage† is repeated twice. Here the poet urges a furious resistance to death. The second line introduces Thomas’s advice to those who near death. The idea of burning is frequently associated with the passion of youth; however, Thomas wants the elderly to cling as passionately to their lives as anyone would. The phrase â€Å"close of day† establishes a connection with the â€Å"good night† of the previous line, while the words â€Å"burn† and â€Å"rave† move the reader into the third line of the stanza. Line 4 The next four stanzas describe four different types of old men and examine their attitudes and feelings as they realize that death is approaching. The first type Thomas mentions are the wise men. They may be considered scholars or philosophers. Perhaps because of this, intellectually they accept the inevitability of death. Thomas begins the line with the word â€Å"though,† however, to indicate that their knowledge has not prepared them to accept the reality of death. Line 5 This line explains why the wise men are unable to act in accordance with their knowledge. Scholars are known and measured by their words. These men have many words still left unwritten or unspoken, so their goals have not been accomplished. Thomas ends this line in mid-thought, leaving the rest of the idea to the next line. This parallels the unfulfilled lives of the wise men, with their messages only partially delivered. Line 6 In many villanelles, the refrains simply serve as a chorus. Here, Thomas makes it an integral part of the meaning of the stanza. Lines 7-8 â€Å"Good† seems to be used in a moral sense here, describing men who have lived worthy, acceptable lives. The phrase â€Å"last wave† presents readers with a dual image. The men themselves are a last wave, the last to approach death; they also seem to be giving a final wave to those who they are leaving behind. â€Å"Crying,† as well, has two meanings here. In one sense, it simply means speaking out, but it also carries the sense of weeping and mourning. Like the wise men, the good men have not accomplished what they wished to in life. Their actions failed to stand out. Thomas uses rhyme for different purposes here. Rhyming â€Å"bright† at the end of line 7 with â€Å"might† in line 8 erves to emphasize both words and link the two stanzas. Also, the rhyming of â€Å"by,† â€Å"crying,† and â€Å"dying† unites this stanza, while the use of â€Å"deeds† and â€Å"danced† is an example of alliteration. Line 9 The intensity of the refrain contrasts with the nature of the good men as Thomas has presented them. They seem passive, their actions weak. Now at the end of life, they must finally behave passionately, finally be noticed. Lines 10-12 Thomas’s wild men are very different from the good, quiet men in the previous stanzas.  The image, â€Å"caught and sang the sun,† is joyous and powerful when compared to frail deeds. These men have lived live fully, not realizing that they, too, will age and die. Since Thomas himself cultivated an image as a wild Celtic bard, this stanza seems ironically prophetic about his own death. Line 13 The word â€Å"grave† carries two meanings here: seriousness and death. These are the men of understanding; paradoxically, although they are blind, they are able to see more clearly than those with sight. Lines 14-15 The mentions of blindness are references to his father. Thomas spoke of this blindness again in the unfinished elegy he wrote after his father’s death, describing him as: Too proud to die, broken and blind he died †¦ An old kind man brave in his burning pride. In this stanza, Thomas contrasts light and dark imagery; for instance, the term â€Å"grave† is countered by â€Å"gay,† just as â€Å"blind† is contrasted with â€Å"sight. † Lines 16-17 While the last stanza referred to Thomas’s father only obliquely, this stanza is addressed to him. The â€Å"sad height† refers to his closeness to death. There are Biblical overtones to Thomas’s request in line 17, as he asks for a final blessing or curse; the patriarchs delivered such parting messages to their sons. As in many Bible verses, with their parallel structure, blessings and curses are paired together. If this line is read as iambic pentameter, however, the emphasis will fall on the words, â€Å"bless† and â€Å"now. † The image of â€Å"fierce tears† shows contrast: the tears acknowledging the inevitability of death, while the use of â€Å"fierce† indicates resistance until the end. â€Å"I pray† reinforces the Biblical imagery; however, the prayer is addressed to his father, the agnostic, rather than God.