Saturday, May 23, 2020

Jean Toomer- An African American Writer - 1188 Words

Jean Toomer was an African American writer. He was known as the leading American writer of the 1920s after he established his book Cane which inspired authors of the Harlem Renaissance. Jean Toomer was born on December 26, 1894 as Nathan Pinchback Toomer. His mother was the governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction and the first U.S. governor of African American descent (Jones 1). In 1985, Toomers father abandoned him and his mother. He forced them to live with his mother cruel father in Washington. P.B.S. Pinchback made a deal to support them only if they changed Toomers name to Eugene Pinchback. Toomer later shortened Eugene to Jean. Toomer appreciated all the major American poets as part of his self-directed education. He was†¦show more content†¦Toomer’s poems enhanced the moods of wistful and mournful pastoralism that pervades the book. His poems provide transitioning from one narrative to another, incorporating myths and symbols. Toomer is a controversial literary and cultural figure who gets criticized by people for rejecting his race. He is praised by others for the confines of rigid ethnic distinctions. Toomer’s rejection of race drew sharp criticism from many people, especially from members of the African American community. They found him being self- loathing rather than racial unification (Claypool 2). Toomer has been criticized for failing to write about the experience after Cane. Many people said he denied his African American heritage out of shame and cowardice (Claypool 4). Many critics have credited his work with ushering in the Harlem Renaissance noting the book’s representations of African American characters and culture. Others have located it within the lost generation owing to its literary experimentation, romantic primitivism, and its critiques of postwar values (Jones 3). The analysis of Cane contains Toomer denying his racial heritage. This book also contains the extracts from most of the important early Cane criticism (Golding 3). As an idealist philosopher, he valued the power of the mind and the imagination of physical reality (Claypool 3). In the summer of 1924 he spent time at Gurdjieffs schools. He became a disciple and led Gurdjieff groups in NewShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis Of Jean Toomer s Georgia Dusk 1849 Words   |  8 PagesStruggle to Rise in Jean Toomer’s â€Å"Georgia Dusk† People struggle with the concept of identity who you are? What do you do? What makes you this way? Why did you chose to be like this? Did you choose to be like this or did somebody choose for you? Why do you do what you do? Is it because of where you grew up or how you were raised? These questions will be asked all throughout your life as you struggle to grasp the concept of identity. Jean Toomer struggled with his identity. Toomer grew up a light skinnedRead MoreEssay Claude McKay Jean Toomer699 Words   |  3 PagesHis first American poem appeared in 1917. Of all the Renaissance writers, he was one of the first to express the spirit of the New Negro. By 1921, McKay had become the associate editor of a magazine called, The Liberator, a socialist magazine of art and literature. In 1922, Harcourt, Brace and Company published a collection of seven poems called, Harlem Shadows. This made him receive the status of being the first significant black poet. Even though he was considered an African-American icon, McKayRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance Essay2291 Words   |  10 PagesRenaissance was an intellectual and literary period of growth promoting a new African American cultural identity in the United States. The years of 1920 and 1990 and â€Å"were clear peak periods of African American cultural production.† During these years blacks were able to come together and form a united group that expressed a desire for enlightenment. â€Å"It is difficult not to recognize the signs that African Americans are in the midst of a cultural renaissance† (English 807). This renaissance allowedRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance, A Soc ial, Cultural, And Artistic Movement1298 Words   |  6 Pages1950’s† (Thomas, 2017). â€Å"The social foundations of this movement included the Great Migration of African Americans from rural to urban spaces and from South to North; dramatically rising levels of literacy; the creation of national organizations dedicated to pressing African American civil rights, â€Å"uplifting† the race, and opening socioeconomic opportunities† (Hutchinson, 2016). As more and more African Americans left the more oppressive South, they sought better lives and education in the North. IncreasedRead More Passing Essay885 Words   |  4 Pagesshe only published two novels it is clear that she was one of the most important writers of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Her career as writer probably would have lasted longer, but she was accused of plagiarizing her short story, Sanctuary. She was eventually cleared of any wrong doing, but the accusation deeply tarnished her reputation as writer. It is truly a shame that the first African-American woman to win the Guggenheim Fellowship was forced out of writing by scandal. Read MoreSuffering and Assimilation Essay1111 Words   |  5 Pageswritten by African Americans and Mexican Americans seems to be the suffering of the past and present along with not much hope for the future. The pains expressed by these people are related to race, poverty, violence, and lack of opportunity. Another recurring theme is the minorities assimilation into the white society. Minorities have always been socially pressured to assimilate into the society in which they live. They are subtly encouraged in the United States to become a part, The American DreamRead MoreHow The Harlem Renaissance Shaped Literature1596 Words   |  7 PagesShaped Literature The Harlem Renaissance was a revolutionary time for African Americans in the Twentieth Century. It lasted from around 1918 until 1937 and is described as â€Å"the nation’s first self-conscious black literary and artistic movement† (Tindall 804), but the ideas cultivated within those years are still relevant in today’s society. In New York the city of Harlem had a rapidly growing population of African Americans due to the Great Migration and it was also the destination for immigrantsRead Morealice walker in search of the garden1376 Words   |  6 PagesSearch of Our Mother’s Garden, talks about her search of the African American women’s suppressed talent, of the artistic skills and talents that they lost because of slavery and a forced way of life. Walker builds up her arguments from historical events as well as the collective experiences of African Americans, including her own. She uses these experiences to back up her arguments formed from recol lections of various African American characters and events. Walker points out that a great part ofRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance and Its Effect on African American Literature3258 Words   |  14 PagesThe Harlem Renaissance and its Effect on African American Literature Thesis: The literary movement during the Harlem Renaissance was a raging fire that brought about new life for the African American writer; its flame still burns today through the writings of contemporary African American writers. I. The Harlem Renaissance- Its Beginning and Development II. The Major Writers A. Claude McKay B. Jean Toomer C. Countee Cullen D. Langston Hughes E. Zora Neale Hurston IIIRead More Alice Walker Essay662 Words   |  3 Pages Alice Walker nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Alice Walker is an African American essayist, novelist and poet. She is described as a â€Å"black feminist.†(Ten on Ten) Alice Walker tries to incorporate the concepts of her heritage that are absent into her essays; such things as how women should be independent and find their special talent or art to make their life better. Throughout Walker’s essay entitled â€Å"In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens,† I determined there were three factors that aided Walker gain

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Find Scam-Free Postal Service Jobs

You may have seen them online or in the classified section of your local newspaper - ads offering to help job seekers find Postal Service jobs ... for a fee, of course. Heres the thing: Theres no trick to finding those Postal Service jobs ... for free. When it comes to federal and postal jobs, the word to remember is free, the Federal Trade Commission says in an alert to consumers. Information about job openings with the U.S. government or U.S. Postal Service is free and available to everyone. Applying for a federal or postal job also is free. How the Scams Work The consumer-protection arm of the government wants that scam artists try to hoodwink Postal Service job seekers into shelling out cash by hiding behind important-sounding federal agencies. Some examples of those bogus agencies are the U.S. Agency for Career Advancement and the Postal Employment Service, according to the FTC. One popular scam is conducted by con artists who lure job seekers into responding to ads placed in local newspapers. They inform the job seekers there are openings locally and that they qualify, but that they need to pay for study materials to get a high school on the postal exam. The FTC says such claims are ridiculous. The company isnt part of the U.S. Postal Service, the materials may be worthless, and a passing score on a postal exam does not assure youll get a postal job. There may not even be an available job in your area, the FTC says. How to Spot Scams Here are a few tip-offs to Postal Service job rip-offs from the government: Classified ads, online ads or telephone sales pitches that imply an affiliation with the federal government, guarantee high test scores or state that no experience is necessary;Ads that offer information about hidden or unadvertised federal jobs;Ads that refer you to a toll-free phone number; Often, in these cases, an operator encourages you to buy a valuable booklet of job listings, practice test questions and tips for entrance exams.Toll-free numbers that direct you to other pay-per-call numbers (such as 900 numbers) for more information. Under federal law, any solicitations for pay-per-call numbers must include full disclosures about the cost of the call. If you have concerns about a company’s advertisement for employment services, contact: The Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint, or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).The U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Find your local office at postalinspectors.uspis.gov or in the blue (government) pages of your telephone directory.Your state attorney general at naag.org, or your local Better Business Bureau at bbb.org. In addition, federal government job information is available through the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s USAJOBS at usajobs.gov. How to Find a Postal Service Job on Your Own The federal government makes it very easy to find Postal Service Jobs. To look for Postal Service jobs go online to www.usps.com/employment. The site will tell you where the Postal Service is hiring, as well as whether you need to take an exam. Even you do need to take a test, the agency typically offers sample questions to people who sign up for the exam. Best of all, its free. Are Postal Workers Government Employees? While Postal Service employees must follow federal government rules and do receive federal employee benefits, they are not classified as federal employees by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics because the postal service is a quasi-federal agency. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress has direct control over the rules and regulations the post office must follow concerning operations and personnel. The U.S. Postal Service does not receive tax dollars for personnel and most of its operations. Instead, all its revenue comes from the sale of postage stamps and other postal produces and mailing supplies. Updated by Robert Longley

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Funeral Mask of King Tutankhamen Free Essays

Perhaps one of the most amazing finds in Egyptian archeology is the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Howard Carter, the archaeologist whose subsequent death fueled speculation of the actuality of the mummy’s curse, discovered it in 1923 (â€Å"Tutankhamun,† par. 2). We will write a custom essay sample on The Funeral Mask of King Tutankhamen or any similar topic only for you Order Now Most well known because it was largely intact at the time of its opening, the site gives modern viewers a rare insight into the life and death of a pharaoh. Today, the tomb remains shrouded in fascination as people all over the world visit displays of the artifacts retrieved from the crypt. According to the National Gallery of Art, archaeologists retrieved fifty-five items from the site, and among the items, King Tutankhamen’s Funeral Mask is possibly the most recognized (par. 1). It is also the most stunning example of Egyptian art recovered from the tomb. The mask of King Tutankhamen, better known as King Tut, is a large headpiece with the face of the young king, worn over the head and shoulders of the deceased. The entire mask is made of solid gold with inlaid blue glass and stones that create horizontal lines along the right and left sides of the head, down to the shoulders. This blue and gold striped headdress, also known as a â€Å"nemes,† which is a â€Å"royal head cloth† to be worn only by the ancient kings (â€Å"Death Mask,† cap. 1). On the forehead portion of the nemes are two small statuettes, one of a vulture and another of a cobra. According to experts, the â€Å"vulture, Nekhbet, and the cobra, Wadjet, protected the pharaoh† (â€Å"Death Mask,† par 1). On the back, the lines of the nemes converge at the bottom, in the center. The piece spares no detail, including the eyeliner worn by the ancient king. As a piece of Egyptian art, the Funeral Mask shows masterful use of the elements of design. The use of color is simply exquisite. Blue, gold, red and black, which comprise the piece, are still colors representative of royalty today. The use of line and space on the sides and collar create the illusion that the young king was large and imposing. In addition, the level of symmetry and balance in the piece is textbook. However, perhaps the most overtly powerful element in the piece is the use of symbols. Iconography and symbols are key to understanding the artists and the subject. The shape of this mask itself is reminiscent of the cobra, ostensibly representative of his power and fierceness. Also, the lines along the sides of the nemes seem to reflect the image of sunrays. In fact, it appears as if the rays of the sun were radiating from the king’s face. The sun god did play a large role in ancient Egyptian religion, but it is also possible that this represents the artists’ love of their young pharaoh. The most obvious symbols on the mask are of the cobra and vulture. Other than their use for King Tut’s protection, they may also represent his adherence to the old religions. According to Britannica Encyclopedia, â€Å"†¦serpent, vulture, and sphinx are all motif symbols tied up with such religious cults as the cult of the pharaohs and the gods and the cult of the dead† (par. 2). Considering the animals’ religious affiliation, and the fact that Tutankhamen spent his short reign reestablishing the various god religions of the past, one must speculate as to the   animals’ religious significance as well (â€Å"Tutankhamun,† par. 5). Perhaps these two particular animals were representatives of the gods that the pharaoh worshiped. Above all, these artists give the impression of adoration for King Tutankhamen in the medium chosen. The entire work is comprised of precious metals and stones that are historically synonymous with wealth and power. Goldsmiths spent a great deal of time refining and molding the metal, while small stones were cut and polished by hand to fit together almost seamlessly in the piece. Today, not only would the piece be expensive to recreate, it would also be somewhat laborious. Even with the use of modern tools, the work would be tedious at best. While it must have been somewhat difficult to achieve this level of work, without these elements the image of their king would have been somewhat dimmed. Although the Funeral Mask would have been exquisite even in clay, ancient craftsmen used materials fit for a pharaoh. Furthermore, ancient artisans obviously put a great deal of care into making their pharaoh’s mask a true representation of the ruler. It appears that their hope was to represent the king accurately and powerfully in the afterlife. Although their belief was that Tutankhamen would carry all the elements of his tomb into the underworld, they fitted him perfectly for presentation to an audience thousands of years later with all the riches one would expect to accompany such a powerful man as pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Even today, the Funeral Mask awes visitors with its royal visage. While some of the elements, such as facial features, seem crude on the surface and lacking realism, they are perfect in their simplicity. Thousands of years later, the artistry of the mask is virtually unmatched. Modern artists and goldsmiths would find the exact recreation of the mask difficult, if not improbable. When combined with the use of color, line, and symbols used by the ancient Egyptians, the mask is perfect. Twenty-first century artisans could not complete such an important task more appropriately. When given the commission of designing a similar piece, with the originality of this one, most artists would fail to find such a faultless balance of elements and design, which makes King Tutankhamen’s Funeral Mask the most superb piece of ancient Egyptian artwork found in the tomb, and perhaps even the world. Works Cited â€Å"Death Mask of King Tutankhamun†. King Tutankhamun by Wysinger. 27 March 2007. http://www.homestead.com/wysinger/kingtutankhamun5.html. â€Å"Jewelry.† Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 27   March 2007.   http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-14079. â€Å"NGA – Treasures of Tutankhamun.† National Gallery of Art. 27 March 2007. http://www.nga.gov/past/data/exh410.shtm. â€Å"Tutankhamun.† 27 March 2007. Wikipedia.com. 27 March 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutankhamun.       How to cite The Funeral Mask of King Tutankhamen, Essay examples

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Hamlet Essay Madness Vs Sanity Example For Students

Hamlet Essay Madness Vs Sanity Hamlet is mad, feigns madness or his pretense turns into real madness. Outlinearguments for all three and discuss. 1.Hamlet begins with guards whose mainimportance in the play is to give credibility to the ghost. If Hamlet were tosee his fathers ghost in private, the argument for his madness would greatlyimprove. Yet, not one, but three men together witness the ghost before eventhinking to notify Hamlet. As Horatio says, being the only of the guards to playa significant role in the rest of the play, Before my God, I might notthis believe / Without the sensible and true avouch / Of mine own eyes. (I.i.56-8) Horatio, who appears frequently throughout the play, acts as anunquestionably sane alibi to Hamlet again when framing the King with hisreaction to the play. That Hamlet speaks to the ghost alone detracts somewhatfrom its credibility, but all the men are witness to the ghost demanding theyspeak alone. Horatio offers an insightful warning: What if it tempts you towardthe flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles oerhis base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form Which mightdeprive your sovereignty of reason, And draw you into madness? Think of it. (I.iv.69-74) Horatios comment may be where Hamlet gets the idea to use a pleaof insanity to work out his plan. The important fact is that the ghost does notchange form, but rather remains as the King and speaks to Hamlet rationally. There is also good reason for the ghost not to want the guards to know what hetells Hamlet, as the play could not proceed as it does if the guards were tohear what Hamlet did. It is the ghost of Hamlets father who tells him,but howsomever thou pursues this act, / Taint not thy mind. (I.v.84-5) Later, when Hamlet sees the ghost again in his mothers room,her amazement at his madness is quite convincing. Yet one must take intoconsideration the careful planning of the ghosts credibility earlier in theplay. After his first meeting with the ghost, Hamlet greets his friendscheerfully and acts as if the news is good rather than the devastation it reallyis. Horatio: What news, my lord? Hamlet: O, wonderful! Horatio: Good my lord,tell it. Hamlet: No, you will reveal it. (I.v.118-21) This is the first glimpseof Hamlets ability and inclination to manipulate his behavior to achieveeffect. Clearly Hamlet is not feeling cheerful at this moment, but if he letsthe guards know the severity of the news, they might suspect its nature. Anotherinstance of Hamlets behavior manipulation is his meeting with Ophelia whilehis uncle and Polonius are hiding behind a curtain. Hamlets affection forOphelia has already been established in I.iii., and his complete rejection ofher and what has tr anspired between them is clearly a hoax. Hamlet somehowsuspects the eavesdroppers, just as he guesses that Guildenstern and Rosencrantzare sent by the King and Queen to question him and investigate the cause of hissupposed madness in II.ii. Hamlets actions in the play after meeting theghost lead everyone except Horatio to believe he is crazy, yet that madness iscontinuously checked by an ever-present consciousness of action which never letshim lose control. For example, Hamlet questions his conduct in his soliloquy atthe end of II.ii, but after careful consideration decides to go with hisinstinct and prove to himself without a doubt the Kings guilt beforeproceeding rashly. Even after the Kings guilt is proven with Horatio aswitness, Hamlet again reflects and uses his better judgement in the soliloquy atthe end of III.ii. before seeing his mother. He recognizes his passionatefeelings, but tells himself to speak daggers to her, but use none,as his fathers ghost instructed. Again, when in the Kings chamber, Hamletcould perform the murder, but decides not to in his better judgement to ensurethat he doesnt go to heaven by dying while praying. As Hamlet tellsGuildenstern in II.ii., I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind issoutherly I know a hawk from a handsaw. This statement reveals out-rightHamlets intent to fool people with his odd behavior. This is after Poloniusenlightened comment earlier in the same scene, though this be madness, yetthere is method int.Shakespeare