IN WHAT WAYS AND TO WHAT EFFECT IS 'GENRE' QUESTIONED IN IF ON A Essay

IN WHAT WAYS AND TO WHAT EFFECT IS 'GENRE' QUESTIONED IN IF ON A WINTER' S NIGHT A TRAVELLER', BY ITALO CALVINO - Essay Example (Broderick, 2000, p.11) The novel in question employs a radical new narrative structure, where not only are events shuffled across time-scales, but also the narrative perspectives. In conventional novel structures, either a first-person or a third-person narratives are used consistently through-out the work (with varying degrees of omniscience on part of the narrator). But in If On A Winter's... address to the second-person is made, bringing a new dimension of reader-interactivity that was unimagined previously. For example, the first line of the novel goes â€Å"You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino's new novel, If on a winter's night a traveller. Relax. Let the world around you fade." (Calvino, 1981, p.3) Here the reference is both directly to the reader as well as the novel itself; which could be construed as the mathematical equivalent of fractals. In this respect, the novel is avant-garde, making it one of its kind. In the novel, ten other novels are embedded, â€Å"all of them echoing aspects of the surrounding diegetic story. Strictly speaking, none of these ten constitutes a true novel en abyme, since what they double is local aspects of the story, not continuous aspects, as called for by the criteria of mise-en-abyme. But there are two nested texts which do meet the criteria fully, though neither is actually presented but, like Dampfboot’s, merely described.† (McHale, 1987, p. 125) Even within serious literature, certain distinct genres can be identified. These include, Social-realism (as exposited by Charles Dickens, V.S. Naipaul and Dorris Lessing); Magic-realism (Salman Rushdie being its chief exponent in modern times); Satire (Evelyn Waugh and the early novels of Aldous Huxley); Meta-physical enquiries (Iris Murdoch and Huxley's later novels); Feminist novels (Dorris Lessing and Margaret Atwood being leading lights of this genre) and Marxist Realism (George Orwell's early works and numerous Russian authors). (Mullan, 2006, p.7 7) Given Calvino's experiences in childhood, as well as his father's involvement with Communist causes, it would be a natural inclination for him to adopt the Social Realism or Marxist Realism genres. Indeed, Calvino has successfully explored and mastered these genres in other works. But what makes If On A Winter's... unique and places it outside these well-trodden genres are the following aspects. First, the novel carries a labyrinthine and looping narrative structure, whereby the reader is continuously taken from one embedded novel lead to another, without ever resolving any of the started leads. (Tandello, 2007, p.537) Second, the employment of second person reference, adds a whole new dynamic to the reading experience, making it more personal, interactive and involving. The work lucidly shows how a text can signify subjective experiences of the reader by immersing him/her in a â€Å"process of identification† (Fludernik, 1994, p.525). For example, the text addresses the r eader directly as one of the characters in the plot. As a result, â€Å"it foregrounds, as conventional narrations do not, the extent to which your subjectivity as a reader depends upon identification with the signifier you. An effaced narrating agency makes itself apparent only indirectly in the form of imperatives and questions.† (Cohan & Shires, 1988, p.150) Third, the novel is a detailed introspection on the process of writing itself, taking the reader through the complexities and challenges that the author

Torvald Helmer of Henrik Isbens A Dolls House :: A Dolls House Essays

Torvald Helmer of Henrik Isben's A Doll's House In Henrik Isben's A Doll's House, he makes the observation that women in contemporary society posses no independent self unrestricted from the male's image of them; Isben accomplishes this through the character relationship between Torvald Helmer and his wife Nora. Henrik Isben sought to show the psychological complexity of realism underneath the surface of a typical urban bourgeoisie or professional class family. Thus in doing so, brings out the central conflict between the idealistic Torvald and this underlying theme demonstrated through Nora. Ultimately, it is because of Torvald's completely inflexible and self-righteous attitudes towards life and his moralistic values, that Nora is driven from her role of submisiveness in his game of male dominance to seek her own identity. Hel. (walking about the room). What a horrible awakening! All these eight years-she who was my joy and pride-a hypocrite, a liar-worse, worse-a criminal! The unutterable ugliness of it all! For shame! For shame! ...(62) It is only when she has found this sense of a self that she had been denying and sacrificing all these years, that she can truly begin to love others. Hel. Before all else you are a wife and a mother. Nora. I don't believe that any longer. I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being just as you are-or, at all events, that I must try and become one. (68) This game which she had been playing with her father before, and now with the close-minded Torvald, she finally realizes, is the "Dolls House" she's been living in for all her life, never finding out who she truly is. Nora. But our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been your doll wife, just as at home I was Papa's doll child; and here the children have been my dolls. I thought it was great fun when you played with me,

Effect of Light Color on Plants

Introduction Living organisms have been classified by humans according to several different characteristics, one of them being the manner in which they obtain nutritive organic molecules (1), in other words, their food. Plants are denominated as autotrophs, organisms that can produce their own food from abiotic sources surrounding them, such as light, carbon dioxide and water (2). Plants use these three factors in photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy, which is then stored until the plant needs it, or used right away (3). The process of photosynthesis takes place on organelles (substructures inside eukaryotic cells) called chloroplasts, more specifically, on the membrane of the thylakoids inside the chloroplasts, where protein complexes known as photosystems are situated. It’s these complexes that are responsible for the photosynthetic processes. Because this is the main way in which plants obtain their food, and light energy is the base of said process, light is absolutely essential for their growth. Sunlight contains many different wavelengths which, when isolated, present different colors of visible light. Plants cannot use all wavelengths of light, however, because the different chlorophylls (pigments in the plants’ chloroplasts, also responsible for photosynthesis) absorb and use only certain wavelengths of light ; the rest is reflected back out, unused (4). Exposed to sunlight, plants have available to them, a range of wavelengths wider than the light spectrum visible to us, from which they utilize only a select range for photosynthesizing. This essay will investigate the effect light color/wavelength has on plant germination and rate of photosynthesis. Cellophane sheets of different colors (red, yellow, blue, green) and clear plastic wrap were used to provide these limited wavelengths . The experiments dealing with germination consisted of different seeds being planted separately from other species and being covered by the different colored cellophane or the clear wrap; they were then watered and monitored for a week, taking note of any growth. The plants used were the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), brown mustard (Brassica juncea), and common oats (Avena sativa). For the photosynthesis rate experiment, same sized Brazilian waterweeds (Egeria densa) were inserted in eudiometer tubes filled with water and then placed in a beaker half-filled with water. Each test tube was wrapped with a different color, and the volume of oxygen produced, through photosynthesis, by each of the plants was compared. Beans, specifically all the plants under the genus Phaseolus, are amongst the fastest growing plants and are said to germinate within a week. To make them germinate faster, it’s usually recommended to soak them in water before planting because hydrating the seeds stimulates germination. (5) They also benefit from warm temperatures because they are native to more tropical climates (6). They need to be planted in well drained soil because they aren’t tolerant to water excess. Mustard is also among the fastest sprouting plants, but its growth afterwards is relatively slow as it’s meant to grow flower buds five weeks later. It does better in cool conditions than warm and can usually withstand short periods of mild drought with little to now consequences. In addition, it too, is not tolerant to water clogging in the soil (7). Oats are native to warm, sub-tropical regions and can manage well in poor soils (8) but they also require good water draining . The Experiments Germination Fifteen equally sized plastic containers (cylindrical in shape, approximately 8cm in diameter and 6cm in height) were filled with the same amount of soil. Five of them were allotted to each plant species; making sure to add the same amount of seeds in each segment (comparing to the same species, since the size of the beans and oats is much greater than the brown mustard seeds and would therefore be unreasonable to compare their numbers). Each of the containers was covered with cellophane of a different color (red, blue, yellow, green, or clear plastic wrap) and secured with a rubber band so that each species had a sample exposed to each different light color. They were watered with normal tap water, placed next to the same windowpane for a week and monitored every day. The cellophane secured with the rubber band created a seal that was too tight, preventing excess water from evaporating which overloaded the plants with water and deprived them of enough oxygen. Towards the end of the week, the plants were left covered by the cellophane, but unsecured by the rubber band so that the water was able to evaporate, to provide the dry mass of the samples, which were on average 0. 06g lighter than at the beginning of the week, when they were planted . The mass measured included the seeds, soil and plastic container. Even though an unknown type of fungus started growing in the containers because of the high humidity and warm temperature, some shoots were visible (Table 1). Cellophane ColorQualitative Data Red Some oat and mustard shoots, fungus growth Yellow Fungus growth, no shoots visible Green Oat and some mustard shoots visible, some fungus growth Blue Some oat and few mustard shoots, fungus growth Clear Fungus growth, no shoots visible These samples were discarded and a new method was devised: A cardboard egg container was cut into fifteen separate segments (for the five colors for each of the three species) which were to be used instead of the plastic containers to allow excess water to evaporate through the porous walls and bottom of the cardboard. These segments were then loosely filled in with cotton-wool. After the first experiment, where seeds drowned and fungus started to grow instead because of the excess of water, cotton seemed the best substitute for soil; it would allow for even dispersal of water, a lot of more light would be able to reach the seeds, it would be easier to observe the germination process, and since the cotton didn’t weigh practically anything, it would be easy to measure the change of plant mass on a scale. The segments were weighed once they had the cotton and seeds in them; their mass was noted down individually. A thin layer of cotton was placed on top of the seeds so they would retain moisture above them as well as below, but still allowing light to reach them. Then, the segments were watered with a handheld sprayer until the cotton was thoroughly moist and then were weighed again. To provide the different light coloring, one sample of each species was placed underneath a handmade cover fashioned out of bamboo and cellophane. These covers (Figure 1) provided the needed space for the plants to grow, free flow of air, and control of light shining on the plants. The cotton wool wasn’t a good substitute for soil since it retained little water and evaporated too quickly for the plants to take it in; it mostly bled into the cardboard, which, because of its porous nature, allowed for further evaporation of water. The results are shown in the following table: Color of CellophaneQualitative Data Red Few mustard shoots + very few oat shoots Yellow Very few mustard shoots Green Mustard shoots* + oat shoots ~4cm Blue Mustard shoots* + oat shoots ~3cm Clear Mustard shoots* + oat shoots ~6cm New cardboard segments were cut out and filled in with soil this time. Care was taken to add the same amount of soil (~ 4. 25g) and water (2. 0g) to each container at the beginning of the experiment. The following three days, the amount of water was altered from day to day to find the adequate amount of water that could be retained by the soil without too much bleeding into the cardboard container (since this would weaken its structure and remain unused by the plant); the conclusion was derived that the amount of water should be of the same mass as half of the soil in the container in order to maximize water intake by the plant: about 2. 5g. The results can be seen in Table 3 on the following page. Color of CellophaneQualitative Data Red Mustard sprouts* Yellow No growth Green Mustard sprouts * + oat shoots ~5cm Blue Mustard sprouts* + oat shoots ~8cm Clear Mustard sprouts* + oat shoots ~8cm Photosynthesis Rate The rate of photosynthesis was measured through the volume of oxygen produced in a set amount of time. To do this, six eudiometer tubes were wrapped with different color cellophane (one was left bare, to be the control) and filled with tap water. Next, six strands of Brazilian waterweeds were cut to the same size, each inserted into an eudiometer tube and then placed in a half filled beaker. The eudiometers were held with clamps on a stand and left next to wide windows to photosynthesize at their own rate. The oxygen produced by the plants floated to the surface creating bubbles that could then be measured and compared to each other. The sunlight provided was insufficient however, and the oxygen produced was too little to be measured accurately, but there were clear differences between the different samples; the waterweed in the red light was the one the produced most oxygen, followed by the green, then the blue, yellow, and clear. The control, the one without any cover, was the one that produced the least oxygen. After the experimentation, the data collected was reviewed to determine the most beneficial color for plant germination and photosynthesis rate. Taking the data from each week, the cellophane colors were arranged in order of effectiveness, to make it easier to compare the results (Table 4). Germination Photosynthesis Rate Week 1 Week 2Week 3 Red Green* Clear* Blue* Green Red* Green* Clear* Blue Blue* Blue* Green* Yellow Clear Red Red* Clear YelllowYellow Yellow No cover

Food Stamp Living in Low Budget Free Essay Example, 750 words

ï » ¿Food Stamp: Living in Low Budget Food is a basic necessity for all living organisms. Where animals have to hunt for food, humans get the liberty to go to a convenient store and just buy what they want. Food and eating have evolved a lot since the prehistoric times. From eating raw to what is now called fast food, people have come a long way in changing their eating styles. All types of food are available in most places across the world. But the problem arises when people cannot afford to buy food and have to sleep on empty stomachs. The richer section of the society enjoys food like there is no tomorrow and end up wasting a huge amount of food, whereas the poor have to go hungry without proper meals for days. Such a miserable lifestyle leads to malnutrition, which in turn leads to several diseases and ultimately death. This assignment focuses on giving us a first hand experience of the more unfortunate group of people. By engaging in such a project we are sure to understand the pain of living in low budget. We will write a custom essay sample on Food Stamp: Living in Low Budget or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The assignment requires for us to spend only $5 a day for four consecutive days. That amounts to a total expenditure of only $20 during the course of the project. As is expected as a commitment to this assignment, I did not accept any food offered by my family members, friends or relatives. I made all the purchases from stores nearby my residence or college. I have not traveled very far. Following is what food I consumed during the course of the assignment. However, I have not included water among these items. It has been quite a hard experience actually and I missed out on many of my favorite foods due to this. However, on the flipside, the exercise has definitely been a rewarding experience, as I have learned how to make the best use of my money on food, eating what is tasty but at the same time keeping nutritional values in mind. Day 1: Breakfast: One cheese burger - $1, biscuits – 50 cents Lunch: One Sandwich- $1 Supper: Starbucks coffee - $1, One muffin – 50 cents Dinner: Plain yoghurt- 50 cents, two bananas- 50 cents Day 2: Breakfast: Bowl of Kellogg’s Cornflakes– 50 cents, one egg- 50 cents Lunch: One Hamburger- $1.50 Supper: One glass of milk- 50 cents Dinner: Vegetable pasta - $2 Day 3: Breakfast: One glass of milk – 50 cents, one apple - $1 Lunch: Bread and bacon- $2 Supper: One cupcake – 50 cents Dinner: Instant noodles- $1 Day 4: Breakfast: One cheese burger - $1 Lunch: One Sandwich- $1 Supper: Starbucks coffee - $1 Dinner: Chappati and curry - $ 2 My source of protein and fiber were from bread, fruits etc and proteins from milk, egg and bacon. The fast food I have consumed has contained fats and carbohydrates. I have not taken any vitamin supplements. Usually, I take two capsules of Omega-3 daily. I do not think that I have been able to completely meet the nutritional needs of my body as major part of my diet consisted of fast food, within the constraint of a limited budget. I think I could have kept the provision for some fruits and more vegetables, if I have had the leeway of spending some more instead of relying merely on fast food. I have found that my routine has totally changed due to this challenge. I have felt hunger some of the times. I also have felt like my food needs have not been fulfilled. The times when my stomach did feel full, I did not feel good mentally. I have come to notice that my diet included mostly fast food. This is different from my usual diet as I am always keen on eating more fruits and vegetable s of my choice rather than a limited array a restaurant provides. The limited budget in this challenge has also resulted in reduced intake of meat. My consumption of fast food has increased during the course of the assignment and the level of fruits and vegetables has decreased. As mentioned earlier, I have really come to understand the situation and lifestyle of the lesser fortunate groups. I always felt tired and under nourished during the course of these four days. However, I have noticed that I drank more water than I usually take, which helped my stomach feel fuller and, hence, I have been able to hydrate my body amply. This experience has also made me understand the difficult life the poor people have to lead. I have really come to appreciate this assignment as it has made me realize how lucky I actually am to have a family that can provide me enough food of my choice. I have grown to understand more about the seriousness of the assignment as at first I did not really find any need for this kind of a challenge. As far as I am concerned I think this experience would benefit all the participants in such a way as to encourage them to appreciate what they have and be grateful for the life they currently lead. I felt the urge to be more compassionate and donate more for the needy. So, I think, my fellow participants may have felt the same. Another fact is that this assignment must have definitely made them realize the need to have a balanced diet daily. I am sure after this assignment the participants will be more careful about the food they consume and be more charitable as well.