Saturday, January 25, 2020
Stress in the Police Force: Causes and Effects
Stress in the Police Force: Causes and Effects Abstract This paper discusses police and the stress they deal with on a daily basis. It goes in depth on the negative issues of stress on police officers, the causes of stress and how stress can be managed. Lastly, this paper concludes that in order to have successful officers in our community we must address the significance of stress.                                                                                               Stress is a term used by many, but it is often misunderstood. Parker (2006) describes stress as physical and mental responses between personal experience and expectations. There is positive stress which helps improve athletic performance due to motivation that causes people to feel competitive, but generally stress is associated with negativity. Stress can be defined as the bodies reaction to internal and external stimuli that disrupts the bodies normal state. Stress normally upsets the normal state. The stimuli that causes stress can be physical, mental, or emotional. The body has to react to stressful situations which are called the flight-or-fight response and the body’s subconscious decision is critical for law enforcement officers. Officer’s initial reaction to an incident cannot be to run away from it they must run to it because it is there duty and citizens are relying on them. However, stress can weaken and disturb the bodys defense mechanisms and may play a role in developing hypertension, ulcers, cardiovascular disease, and possibly even cancer. Stress alone does not cause sickness but it is a contributing factor to the development of certain illnesses. This can be very detrimental to a police officer’s career and wellbeing. So it becomes critical that we analyze the leading factors in stress for cops and find out how it can be combatted to make a better more sustainable police force.                                 Overview of Stress in law Enforcement                        Law enforcement officers deal with four categories of stress which are external, organizational, personal, and operational. Eternal stressed is caused by real dangers that officers face outside of the office. These dangers can be found at every single traffic stop they make no matter how routine it is. There is always that unknown factor that causes them to stress. Organizational stress on officers comes from the military like structure within the department. This can include the strange hours and the constant changing duties for the officers. Personal stress is produced from interpersonal relationships within the department. This can come from relationships with other officers or with your superiors. Finally, operational stress comes from the daily confrontation of bad things. This can include officers dealing with criminals or looking at deaths. This creates stress for them. There is not just one way that will cause an officer to stress, instead there are multiple different facotrs that lead to officer stress. Therefore, multiple different approaches need to be taken in order to reduce thesed stress levels and produce and better law enforcement officer.                                                                                                        Negative Outcomes of Stress Work related factors that lead to increased stress in officers are: risky situations, organizational stress, and shift work. All of these stress catalysts can take a toll on police officers and can eventually negatively change their work performance. There are all sorts of way that officers cope with their stress levels and the majority of them are self-destructive and prove to be detrimental to their career. These can be harmful not only the individual officer but also the community in which they are serving. According to A National Institute of Justice report some other consequences of being a police officer that causes stress are cynicism and suspiciousness, emotional detachment from aspects of daily life, reduced efficiency, absenteeism and early retirement, excessive aggressiveness, alcoholism and other substance abuse problems, marital or other family problems, posttraumatic stress disorder, and suicide (Dempsy, Forst, 2016, p. 174). There are also specific health issues such a s heart attacks, ulcers, weight gain, and other health problems. An early study 2,300 police officers in 20 U.S. police departments revealed that 37% had serious marital problems, 36% had health problems, 23% had alcohol problems, 20% had problems with their children, and 10% had drug problems (Dempsy, Forst, 2016, p. 174-175). Stress commonly leads to family issues, fatigue and alcoholism. The prolonged effects of stress are very damaging to a human being. A study was done on the police officers in Buffalo, New York to see if stressors related to on the job work correlated with long-term physical and mental health. The study was prompted by the assumption that the high demands and exposure to human misery and death has a connection between obesity, suicide, sleeplessness and cancer (Goldbaum, 2012).                                                                                                                                   Causes of Stress According to Waters & Ussery (2007), Police officers put themselves in many different dangerous situations on a daily basis and even a routine traffic stop can potentially lead to a fight for their life. Police officers constantly are dealing with people throughout their work day and not everyone they come in contact with are in a stable state of mind. The unknown factor is one of the hardest for police officers to get past because they don’t know anything about the individual they are about to come in contact with or how they view the police. For example, members of the Hmong community are going to react much differently to an officer approaching them than an old white lady. Another extremely dangerous and difficult job that officers deal with are people on drugs like alcohol or PCP. When a person is high on PCP they lose their pain threshold and become almost superhuman. It can take a while for an officer to identify what drug a person is on and it creates increased stress a s they are tensing up ready for anything. Officers cannot allow themselves to relax while they are on duty and the constant life or death situations can take a toll on any person’s mental state and induce stress. Stinchcomb (2004) states that another stress police officers have is organizational stress. Police officers deal with life threatening situations and traumatic encounters, but are also required to fill out paperwork and make sure their deskwork duties get completed as well as everything else. Organizational problems can stem from an organization becoming too centralized. Law enforcement departments must be sure to include lower ranked officers in the decision making process. They must feel like a contributing factor tio the department and not just a pawn. An additional organizational stress example is officers trying to take work time off during the holidays. Since police departments run 24/7 365 days of the year officers must make sacrifices and work on holidays lik e Christmas even if this means they miss seeing their family. However, this can be a great cause of stress for many officers especially the family orientated ones. It becomes stressful trying to make sure you have the day off or the officer with the youngest kids has the day to be with the family. The stress can be compounded to by outside forces such as your wife harassing you about not being home with the family enough. Often overlooked, organizational stress is can easily become a silent killer for many officers. Another factor that contribute to police stress is their rotating shift work. Shift work is described as the â€Å"regular†(non-overtime) employment hours outside of the general 7am to 6pm working interval. According to Waters & Ussery (2007), studies have shown that most shift workers only get approximately seven hours of sleep or less than those who work normal hours and average about five and a half hours of sleep a night. It is no secret that police officers work unusual shifts. Since officers are assigned shifts based upon seniority, newer officers generally have to work less than desirable work hours. That combined with the pressure of the demanding new job can be extremely harmful for young men and women in the profession. Waters & Ussery (2007) also state that rotating shift work is an added stress for police officers because once they start getting used to a certain sleep pattern, they are forced to re-adjust to a different time. Changing sleep patterns can add stres s to an officer’s already stressful life and can have both physical and psychological effects on officers. Also, court dates can interfere with an officer’s sleep schedule because court is hearings are during the day. So an officer that works graveyards and sleeps during the day is forced to stay awake and can suffer from sleep deprivation. The lack of sleep like many know can cause mood swings and change a person’s attitude. The profession of a police officer can often involve long hours. Fatigue and sleep loss are crucial in regular functions of how officers’ bodies run. While on the job, officers remain in their cars to watch for possible dangers. Krause (2012) references vigilance and fatigue becoming a problem when the police tasks are extended for long periods of time because it can reduce attention and alertness while raising stress levels. Sleep deprivation in comparable to excessive drinking and has the same effects. A sleep deprivation study sho wed that not sleeping for seventeen hours impaired a person’s motor skills to a person who has a blood alcohol level of .05 percent (Amenodola et. al., 2011). Officers that are fatigued tend to have more work related accidents. According to the National Institute of Justice, research has showed that fatigued officers use more sick leave, are more likely to use inappropriate force more frequently, more likely to be involved in a vehicle accident, and also have a higher likelihood of dying in the line of duty (Amenodola et. al., 2011).                                                                                                     Stress Management Stress is an unavoidable aspect of law enforcement but there are numerous ways to manage it successfully in order to have a long and prosperous career that ends in a healthy retirement. One way police officers can reduce stress is by making sure they are not fatigued which means making sure they get enough rest. Police departments need to promote 10 hour work shifts nationwide instead of 12 hour shifts. There also needs to be plenty of swing shift coverage so officers can get off when they are scheduled. If there were policies or programs implemented in police organizations to recognize the dangers of fatigue on the job it could lead to healthier officers. To help with officer stress levels there are early intervention systems that monitor the performance of officers and based off various factors officers can be identified for an intervention (Walker, 2011). Management would be able to identify the level of fatigue an officer could have and schedule accordingly. Dennis (2007) suggest s having managers limit the number of hours officers work within a 24 hour period and being able to set a max hour limit to avoid overtime. Both of these are important for an officer’s fatigue because it will create set schedules so police can prepare accordingly. Improvement on scheduling programs can be beneficial with agencies to help maintain officers at a well-functioning level. There is no way to completely eliminate stress, but one way to reduce it is by working out and taking care of their bodies. According to Anxiety and Association of America (ADAA), working out is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate. â€Å"Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-est eem. Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects†(adaa.org). Other benefits of exercising are that it pumps up your endorphins and focusing on a single task can be calming and clear the mind from the days stresses. According to the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is available for law enforcement officers to participate in. The structure of a CISD usually consists of the presence of  â€Å"one or more mental health professionals and one or more peer debriefs, i.e. fellow police officers or emergency service workers who have been trained in the CISD process and who may have been through critical incidents and debriefings themselves.†A typical debriefing takes place within twenty-four to seventy-two hours after the critical incident, and consists of a single group meeting that last approximately two-three hours, although shorter or longer meetings are determined by circumstances ( aaets.org). CISD consists of seven standard phases to help the officer cope with whatever traumatic incident he/she has been through in an effort to handle the stress before it negatively effects them. Although stress is unavoidable in some circumstance there are ways to prevent chronic stress. Police officers can change their lifestyle in order to manage their personal stress. They can try to avoid using alcohol and nicotine as coping mechanisms of stress. These factors can actually contribute to stress. A better diet and exercising can be beneficial by improving the resilience of the body and mind to stressful situations. Also, limiting your duty work hours to no more than twelve hours a day can help manage stress as well as talking about emotions to process what has been seen and done (Dennis 2007). References Amenodola, K., Weisburd, D., Jones, G., & Slipka, M. (2011). Police Foundation. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://www.nij.gov/topics/law-enforcement/officer-safety/stress-fatigue/pages/shift-work.aspx Dempsey, J. S., & Forst, L. S. (2016). An introduction to policing. Boston, MA, USA: Cengage  Learning. Dennis, L. (2007, August). Police fatigue: an accident waiting to happen. PsycEXTRA Dataset. Goldbaum, E. (2012, July 9). Police officer stress creates significant health risks. States News Service.  Home | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2017,            from https://www.adaa.org/ Law Enforcement Traumatic Stress: Clinical Syndromes and Intervention Strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2017, from http://www.aaets.org/article87.htm Parker, H. (2006). Stress management. Delhi, IN: Global media. Stinchcomb, J. (2004). Searching for stress in all the wrong places: Combating chronic organizational stressors in policing. Police Practice & Research, 5(3), 259-277. Waters, J.A., & Ussery, W. (2007). Police stress: history, contributing factors, symptoms, and interventions. Policing, 30(2), 169-188.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Unit 1, Business Administration Level2
Unit one: Principles of personal responsibilities and working in a business environment Section 1 – Know the employment rights and responsibilities of the employee and employer 1. Identify four main points that would be included in a contract of employment. If possible, use an example contract to support your answer (feel free to obscure any confidential information). – Employer’s name – Employee’s name – Date of commencement of employment – Main place of work Example: Employer’s name: AbC Ltd. Employee’s name: Date of commencement of employment: 15 Jan 2013 Main place of work: Unit 12, 3 Long Way, New York, AB1 2CD, UK a) List three key points of legislation that affect employers in a business environment. – Health and safety – Employments rights and responsibilities – Data protection 2b) List three key points of legislation that affect employees in a business environment. – Health and safety – Pay & Pensions – Employments rights and responsibilities 3. Identify a range of places where a person can find information on employment rights and responsibilities. You should identify at least two internal and two external sources of information. Internal (within organisation): – Line manager – Informed colleagues – Trade union representativesExternal (outside of the organisation): – Citizens Advice Bureaux – Government – ACAS 4. Describe how representative bodies can support employees. The representative bodies can help and support employees in work place. The best examples are Trade Unions, large organisations that represent the interest of their members. They can offer assistance through work based representatives. Their members may share an occupation or a common industry. Trade Unions will also have regional and national expertise that they can use. One of the place, where employee can get help and advice when is not a member of Trade Union, is Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).It can advise employee on his rights at work and in other settings. CAB advisers can often help write letters to present employees complaint or claim to an employer, service provider or business. Sometimes, the CAB will provide representation if person makes a claim at the employment tribunal. 5. Briefly describe employer and employee responsibilities for equality and diversity in a business environment. You should give at least two employer responsibilities and two employee responsibilities. If possible, provide relevant equality and diversity procedures from your workplace (or place of study) to support your answer. These documents hould be annotated to highlight the relevant sections. Equality can be described as breaking down barriers, eliminating discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity and access for all groups both in employment and to goods and services. In all organisations, it’s important that all em ployees are treated in an equally fair way and are given equal opportunities. Diversity can be described as celebrating differences and valuing everyone. Each person is an individual with visible and non-visible differences and by respecting this, everyone can feel valued for their contributions, which is beneficial not only for individual but for company too.Examples: Employer responsibilities: – Should provide training to increase  awareness of equality and diversity so that employees at all levels can perform effectively and develop their full potential within their jobs; –  It has responsibility to protect employees in the work place, to remove all barriers to individual development and to maintain and promote an environment that appreciates diversity and is free from discrimination, harassment and bullying. Employee responsibilities: Focus on actual people rather than the â€Å"label†which may be put on them; – Be aware of the judgements make. 6. Briefly explain the benefits of making sure equality and diversity procedures are followed in a business environment. Your answer should include one benefit for the employer, one benefit for the employee and one benefit for the overall organisation. In all organisations, there are social and economic benefits of equal treatment. Examples: Benefit for employer: – Employer can reduce the risk that will be held legally responsible for he behaviour of the people who work with him, if training them in equality and diversity procedures. Benefit for employee: – Any person doing the same work as someone else has the right to be rewarded in the same way as they are. Benefit for overall organisation: – It brings to an organisation a wide range of experience, ideas and creativity and if managed well it can ensure that each individual utilises their skills effectively and feels valued for their individual qualities. Section 2 – Understand the purpose of health, s afety and security procedures in a business environment . Identify employer and employee responsibilities for health, safety and security. If possible, provide relevant health, safety and security policies / documents from your workplace (or place of study) to support your answer. These documents should be annotated to highlight the relevant sections. Health, safety and security procedures clarify ‘who’ is responsible for ‘what’. This ensures that an organisation has a structure to ensure a secure, safe and healthy business environment for everyone.The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering work-related health and safety in the United Kingdom. It states that everyone has responsibility for health and safety in the workplace. The 1998 Data Protection Act, that is another law, which purpose is to protect people from having information about themselves abused. In other words, in spite of its name it is intended to p rotect individuals rather than data. It does this by imposing restrictions on what those holding personal information may do with it and to whom they may pass it.One more very important legislation in a business environment is Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This act ensures that things such as literacy, photographs, artists creations, dramatic and musical works cannot be copied. The law is also carried out when it comes to computers as it is illegal to copy software or run pirated software. Everything here mentioned, however, can be claimed as someone else when the original owner has been dead for a certain amount of years.It is usually after 70 years it can be claimed but in some cases where they don't know who the creator is it can be claimed 50 years after it was first made public. Examples Employers responsibilities: – Employers have duties under health and safety law to assess risks in the workplace. Risk assessments should be carried out that address all risks that might cause harm in workplace. – Employers must give information about the risks in workplace and how employees are protected, also instruct and train on how to deal with the risks. Employers must consult employees on health and safety issues. – Employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations (HSIER) to display the approved poster in a prominent position in each workplace or to provide each worker with a copy of the approved leaflet Health and safety law: â€Å"What you need to know that outlines British health and safety law†. Employees responsibilities: – Follow the training has received when using any work items your employer has given. – Take reasonable care of own and other people’s health and safety. Co-operate with employer on health and safety. – Tell someone (employer, supervisor, or health and safety representative) if think the work or inadequate precautions ar e putting anyone’s health and safety at risk. 2. Explain the purpose of following health, safety and security procedures in a business environment. All people at work need to take reasonable care to avoid harm to themselves or to others by their working practices, and to co-operate with employers and others in meeting statutory requirements.The principal objective in Health and Safety Act is to prevent harm from occurring to employees while they are at work. It is an employer's duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and other people who might be affected by their business. The employer has legal responsibilities to staff and any breach of these could result at legal action against employer as an individual, resulting in heavy fines. All companies have procedures for staff to follow. There are some important reasons for following those procedures.Failure of any of them can bring consequences: – Legal reasons – reprimands, fines, closure s and even prison sentences – Organisational rules – can be subject to disciplinary procedures – Morale reasons – employers and employees have a moral obligation to follow health and safety procedures to ensure no one comes to any harm – Economic reasons – e fines for breaking the law, compensation payments to customers or staff, loss of customers who are aware that health and safety procedures are not being followed, increased costs and, potentially, even the whole organisation being shut down . Describe three different ways of maintaining a safe and secure business environment. – Personal conduct: One of the most significant influences on risks in the workplace is the behaviour of staff. How people conduct themselves can have a significant impact on their own health and safety and that of others. For example: not wearing clothes / jewellery that may be dangerous, not tired when at work etc. Awareness and observation: Noticing any po tential hazard, noticing what is happening in work environment; – Prompt reporting: promptly reporting to the appropriate person when someone is wrong or may have a potential for causing harm but the individual cannot correct it. Section 3 – Understand how to communicate effectively with others 1.Complete the table below with descriptions of different methods of communication. You should include two verbal, two non-verbal and two written methods of communication. |Methods of communication |Description | |Verbal communication |1.One-to-one discussion: allows communicators to exchange ideas | | |back and forth freely; information flowing smoothly and clearly | | |between speaker and the audience | | | | | | | | |2. Presentations: Using effective verbal communication, business | | |professionals give presentations and lectures to convey their | | |expertise on a particular topic.Whether a business professional | | |provides instruction, describes a product to ma ke a sale or | | |communicates a vision or strategy, he needs to keep the message | | |clear by preparing adequately. | | | | | | | |Non-verbal communication |1.Voice ton: quality of person’s voice, characteristic style or | | |manner of expressing yourself orally, that shows what the speaker is| | |feeling | | | | | | | | |2. Eye contact: is strongly influenced by social behaviour, is most | | |often defined as a sign of confidence; can indicate how interested a| | |person is in the communication taking place.It could also suggest | | |trust and truthfulness. | |Written communication |1. E-mail: electronic messaging, virtual communication tool, have | | |taken the place of actual â€Å"pen and paper†memos or written letters | | |due to ease and speed of sending and receiving emails. | | | | | |2.Business letter:  is a letter written in formal language, usually| | |used when writing from one business organization to another, or for | | |correspondence between such organizations and their customers, | | |clients and other external parties. The overall style of letter will| | |depend on the relationship between the parties concerned. | | | | | | | 2. Using two specific examples, explain how to choose the most appropriate method of communication to meet your needs and the needs of others. Managers meeting regarding targets for next year – Business manager have to communicate â€Å"plan to win†for next year with all managers. It should be done in out of the public place; it’s kind of the face-to-face meeting in small group. Speaker can use presentations, may discus some issues concerning business with staff. Clearly written, comprehensive and organized notes can be very powerful. They can make the difference between those who attended the meeting going away and doing nothing, or actually doing what's needed in order to move a project forwards. – Confirm additional order – when need to add some more items to existing order, need to quick communicate it with service company.The best and the quickest way is to send fax. It’s good method of communication for all external contacts, or other offices some distance way. In addition, we are in possession of copies of the order confirmation in writing. 3. Describe at least two ways of actively listening. The way to become better listener is to practice â€Å"active listening†. This is where the person makes a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, try to understand the complete message being sent. There are some key elements of active listening. They all help to ensure that you hear the other person, and that the other person knows you are hearing what they say.Examples: – Pay Attention: Give the speaker your undivided attention, and acknowledge the message. Recognize that non-verbal communication also â€Å"speaks†loudly. * Loo k at the speaker directly. * Put aside distracting thoughts. * Don't mentally prepare a rebuttal! * Avoid being distracted by environmental factors. For example, side conversations. * Listen†to the speaker's body language. – Respond Appropriately: Active listening is a model for respect and understanding. You are gaining information and perspective. You add nothing by attacking the speaker or otherwise putting him or her down. * Be candid, open, and honest in your response. Assert your opinions respectfully. * Treat the other person in a way that you think he or she would want to be treated. Section 4 – Understand how to work with and support colleagues 1. Explain the purpose of agreeing standards for your own work. Give at least two reasons. Organisation provides a foundation of work standards to ensure everyone knows what is required from them and from people around them. As an employee, we should always make sure that we know exactly the work standards requir ed of you. If an employee doesn't have a standard of work or unclear then it is difficult for them to know what or how or when they should be doing it.The absence of standards makes it impossible for an employee to effectively monitor their own performance. If work standards don't exist, then things are open to personal interpretation and this can lead to conflicting viewpoints. If some colleagues work to lower standards, it can affect the work of others. Examples: – Wastage standards – An engineering business producing ‘widgets' may set a maximum of 0. 25% scrap; a chef in a restaurant aims to keep the cost of unused ingredients down to ? 30 per day. – Behavioural standards – Members of the armed forces will have very precise standards on appearance and dress; a receptionist should smile 100% of the time when greeting customers. 2.Explain the purpose of taking on new challenges and being able to adapt to change at work. It is important to take on n ew challenges and adapt to changes, because nothing ever stays the same, things are always changing which means unless you can adapt and change too, you will be stuck doing the same things which could then make your life a lot harder than it needs to be. Changes could be due to an advance in technology, new environment or anything that will have an impact on you and your day to day life. Those people who welcome change are likely to get more opportunities for variation in their work. If a person wishes to learn then they will need to face up to new information and new situations.If a person will not change and adapt then there is little scope for learning. Employees who resist or deny changes will find themselves at odds with colleagues and managers. Their skills and attitudes may become redundant. This may result in them no longer fitting in with the business. 3. Explain the purpose of treating others with honesty and consideration. Having integrity and being honest are fundamental requirements if you want to grow spiritually and follow your true destination of personal development. It’s not simply about being honest with people. Whilst that will make you a better person and a more accepted one it’s more importantly about being honest with yourself.If we’re honest in all that we do and say, it means we are genuine, real and true whereas dishonesty symbolises all that is fake, fictitious and unreal. Living your life honestly and with integrity means that you’ve decided to live openly and to show your true self to others and that you can be relied upon to be genuine. One of the key elements in any relationship, be it a personal or professional one, is the ability to trust and be trusted. Without trust, we have no credibility which is at the core of being able to influence people and provide strong leadership. Without honesty, there is no foundation upon which to build a personal relationship with someone you love.Section 5 – K now how to plan own work and be accountable to others 1. Explain the purpose of meeting work standards and deadlines when completing tasks in a business environment. Setting clear standards of work and deadlines enables people to complete work effectively. If there are no standards or they are vague this can lead to confusion and problems. It is important that you produce your work to the best possible standard in order to meet the requirements of the person who set you the task. This shows that you are responsible and trustworthy and that you can be relied upon to get things done. You do not know who else might be waiting for your work; it could have to be passed on to someone else.This could cause problems in a business environment and affect your team relationship. Your line manager will expect you to meet all your deadlines, this could have a detrimental effect on your progress is you regularly fail at this. 2. Describe two different methods that you can use to plan your o wn work in a business environment. – Prioritization – Prioritization is the essential skill you need to make the very best use of your own efforts and those of your team. It's also a skill that you need to create calmness and space in your life so that you can focus your energy and attention on the things that really matter. It is particularly important when time is limited and demands are seemingly unlimited.It helps you to allocate your time where it is most-needed and most wisely spent, freeing you and your team up from less important tasks that can be attended to later or quietly dropped. With good prioritization (and careful management of reprioritized tasks) you can bring order to chaos, massively reduce stress, and move towards a successful conclusion. Without it, you'll flounder around, drowning in competing demands. – Goal setting – is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. You'll also quickly spot the istractions that can, so easily, lead you astray. A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. While there are plenty of variants (some of which we've included in parenthesis), SMART usually stands for: †¢ S – Specific (or Significant). †¢ M – Measurable (or Meaningful). †¢ A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented). †¢ R – Relevant (or Rewarding). †¢ T – Time-bound (or Track able). 3. Describe ways of keeping other people informed about progress and compare their effectiveness. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each approach? Very few people work entirely on their own. Even fewer are responsible to no one but themselves for the work they do.Most of us have to make sure that other people know what we are doing and, in many cases, approve it. If you don’t keep them informed you’re going to make both your life and theirs that bit harder. It’s quite easy to let people know about the end of your actions. You send a memo to each member of staff telling him or her of the time of the staff appraisal interview. You hand the boss a file containing all the relevant travel documents. You tick the completed box on your list of â€Å"jobs to do†and that’s that. What is equally important is keeping people informed on an ongoing basis as a particular job progress, particularly if it is long and complicated.The reasons of that: – You might not be completely clear about what you are supposed to do and don’t want to go any further because you might be taking the wrong route; – Something unexpected turns up that might alter what you have to do; – You might urgently require some advice; – The person for whom you are doing the job needs a regular progress report for his or her own boss; – The job is so big that a number of people have to be kept informed on a regular basis of what everyone else is doing so that they feel confident that they can continue carrying out their part of the plan. There are many different methods of communicate progress with other people, but always have to remember to choose correct one. One can be very effective, the others less. For example: Meetings – These can vary from one-time kickoff meetings to daily meetings of small groups of team members, weekly or monthly executive updates, or occasional all-hands meetings. Although you can’t guarantee that people will pay attention in a meeting, getting people in the same room is ideal for discussions, brainstorming, and decision making. – Status reports – These can contain different types of information depending on the audience. Moreover, whether you produce paper or electronic status reports depends on the audience as well. Sending status reports to people makes it easy for them to read the information, and they can choose to scan the reports for pertinent topics or ignore them if time is at a premium. Newsletters and email distribution lists: These work well for announcements and other information you want to disseminate to broad audiences. You can distribute information to many people without much effort, but the readers can skip the message if it doesn’t apply to them. Section 6 – Understand the purpose of improving own performance in a business environment and how to do so 1. Explain the purpose of continuously improving your performance in a business environment. Knowing that you are getting better at something feels good. Sometimes this happens just because you get more and more experienced at doing it. At other times it needs someone to show you how you can improve on what you’re doing.Your first step is to decide where you are now and where you want to get to. A lot of organisations try to encourage their staff to â€Å"continuously improve†themselves; often referring to it as â€Å"lifetime learning†because they feel that it can help them to improve the organisation’s overall performance. Businesses and employees should focus on doing their tasks as well as possible, and look for what can be improved. By continuing to improve, an employee can increase job interest, wages, long-term careers and a more valued contribution to the organisation and the satisfaction of customers. 2. Describe at least two ways of improving your performance at work.Where relevant, illustrate your answer with specific examples from your own experience. Knowing that you are getting better at something feels good. Sometimes this happens just because you get more experienced at doing it. At other times it needs someone to show you how you can improve on what you’re doing. First step is to decide where you are now and where you want to get to. For an organisation to survive and grow it must continuously improve its performance. When an organisation makes changes, employees will have to make changes in what they do and how they do it. Improvement can take place in different ways. Examples: – Learning from mistakes – very few people like saying sorry.Nor do they like even admitting to themselves that they have made a mistake. It might boost your morale in short term to blame everyone but yourself when a mistake is made. In longer term, never admitting a mistake can cause problems. Acknowledging your mistakes can help both you and the person you’re talking to. He or she will recognise that you have admitted your mistake without trying to lay the blame on anyone else, be immediately in a position to try to correct the mistake because you have not tried to be obstructive about it, will try to ensure that the same mistake won’t occur a gain by giving your extra training, assistance or support, will appreciate your honesty. Learning from performance reviews -it is a systematic and periodic process that assesses an individual employee’s job performance and productivity in relation to certain pre-established criteria and organizational objectives. These reviews tend to be done every 6-12 months so they create a framework for continuous performance review and improvement. Most people think of a performance review as an uncomfortable meeting with their boss; a chance to hear how great (or not so great) a job they’ve been doing or what sort of salary increase to expect this year. But a good performance review should be much more than this  it should be an engaged, two-way conversation between employer and employee.While this is your manager's time to share his or her overall evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses, it is also your time to ask insightful questions, receive constructive fee dback, and establish a clear plan for improvement or future professional development. Your performance review, whether overwhelmingly positive or somewhat disappointing, is always a great opportunity to learn, grow, and move forward in your career. 3. Briefly describe at least two different types of career pathways that may be available to you. One and the most wanted career pathways for me is kind of administrative job. I would like to work in the office environment.Many of administrative and clerical jobs, like Administrative Assistant, Data Entry Clarke, Secretary and other, all are about following procedures, checking things and keeping records. So, I’m organised person, accurate and pay close attention to detail. I have ability to use my own initiative, but also know when matters need to be referred to a supervisor. Second career pathway for me is the social service sector. All of these services are about helping people. I could work as Social Work Assistant, Family Supp ort Worker or Youth and Community Worker. I’ve got a caring personality and want to help people during trying times in their lives. I want to make a positive difference to children and their families' lives, and help them have a better future.Unfortunately, I don’t have specific qualifications to work in this environment, but the most of employers giving training before work begin. Section 7 – Understand the types of problems that may occur in a business environment and how to deal with them 1. Identify at least two different types of problems that can occur in a business environment. At work, problems are at the centre of what many people do every day. You're either solving a problem for a client (internal or external), supporting those who are solving problems, or discovering new problems to solve. The problems you face can be large or small, simple or complex, and easy or difficult to solve. Regardless of the nature of the problems, a fundamental part of ever y manager's role is finding ways to solve them.There are two main types of problems that may occur at work environment: – Minor problems – small and usually have obvious, easy-to-implement solutions, where you can use your own knowledge and experience to come up with a workable solution. – Major problems – are likely to have serious consequences and need careful consideration, they must be referred to a senior manager. In this instance, you should inform a senior manager as soon as possible. 2. Complete the table below by describing at least two specific problems that can occur at work and how they can be dealt with. |Problem |Dealing with the problem | |1.Equipment failure |Need to report the problem to store manager, he need to call | | |engineer to fix it up | | | | | | | |2. Customer complaint about hair in food |Ask shift manager to deal with customer. Need to apologise customer,| | |offer replace food, extra dessert.Check that they are kept f ood | | |safety roles on the kitchen. | 3. Complete the table below by listing at least two problems you are able to deal with yourself and two problems you would need to refer to others to deal with (and how you would refer these problems). |Problems I can deal with: |Problems I would need to refer to others: |How are problems referred to others? | |1. Delivery not arrived – need to contact |1. Computer crashing |Report to computer technician by telephone. | |with head office by telephone, to find out | | | |what happened. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |2. Stock on front counter run out – need to |2. Important equipment failure |Report to store manager. If is present in | |go to stockroom to pick up some stock or | |store – face to face, if not – by phone call | |delegate someone to stock up | |or by email. Should leave note in managers | | | |diary for next shift manager, to let him know| | | |about problem | | | | | | | | |
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Differences Between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Essays
Many black authors and leaders of the sixties shared similar feelings towards the white run American society in which they lived. Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, and Stokely Carmichael all blamed the whites for the racism which existed. However, they agreed that it was up to the black society to end this problem. Using the black society, each of the authors had their own idea of how racism could be stopped. Unfortunately, for some, such as Malcolm X, this involved the use of violence, while others, such as King, favored the non-violent approach. This paper will focus, for the most part, on Malcolm X and King because they are both strong representations of two different approaches to a common goal.†¦show more content†¦Altogether, these views of white society as expressed by Malcolm and King are reflected in their methods of fighting racism. Malcolm, who supported the use of violence to achieve equality, most likely reached the conclusion that this was the only way to fight the whites based on his original view of them as heartless and uncaring. One place in Malcolms Ballot or Bullet, where his categorizing of whites with violence and cruelty can be found, is during a passage in which he compares the white man with a Guerrilla warrior. Youve got to have a heart to be a Guerrilla warrior, and he (the white man) hasnt got any heart (267). Malcolm sees the whites as a violent group. He most likely came to his theory, that nothing important could be accomplished without violence, through the reasoning that only violence can be used to stop a violent group. Violent people would not understand the use of peaceful means to reach an agreement. Therefore, it is not really the violence itself which he supports as much as it is the reason for using it. He justifies his use of violence by trying to explain that there is no other way to get through to the white people. In contrast, King sees the whites more as victims of violence than creators of violence. He blames the violence, itself, on evil forces. In Pilgrimage to Nonviolence, King calls the problem of racism tension...between the forces of light and the forcesShow MoreRelatedDifferences Between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Essay805 Words  | 4 PagesDuring the 1960’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X represented two sides of the Civil Rights Movement. Speaking to all of humanity, Dr. King made these famous peaceful words, â€Å"I have a dream, a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal†(King, 1963, para 10). Malcolm X spoke of a violent revolution by claiming, â€Å"If it’s necessary to form a Black Nationalist army, we’llRead MoreDifference Between Martin Luther King Jr. And Malcolm X987 Words  | 4 PagesDifference in Approaches Between Martin Luther King Jr.and Malcolm X During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans, both men and women, fought for basic human rights and opportunities that should have never been taken from them in the first place. These were rights that every being was born with, so it was a very frustrating and exhausting situation to be demanding to be viewed as an equal in a society that thought otherwise. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were two of the most prominentRead MoreDifferences and Similarities Between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.866 Words  | 4 Pagesyou compare Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, you will know instantly that this is true. There are many differences between the two, apart from the striking one: that Martin Luther King was a very good statesmen who delivered moving speeches about peace, freedom and democracy while Malcolm X was a known eradicator of those who were not of the superior white race. The beliefs of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X may stem from Read MoreSimilarities And Differences Between Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X1191 Words  | 5 PagesEven after almost fifty-years, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X endure as cherished, powerful, and instrumental leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. Although they were advocating for the same cause, they were not always on the same page about the means. They were both ministers, although of different faiths, and had different thought processes. In his autobiography, Malcolm discusses his childhood in poverty and the ramifications that this caused such as dropping out of school in the eight-gradeRead MoreMartin Luther King J. And Malcolm X Essay1103 Words  | 5 Pageswere Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. They were both influential leaders of the civil rights movement who strove for a common goal, which was to create equality for African Americans. Although Martin Luther King Jr. and M alcolm X were both authoritative figures in the African-American civil rights movement, they differed significantly in their social backgrounds, religious beliefs, and ideologies, which affected their philosophies. The differences in Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X’s familyRead More Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay1481 Words  | 6 PagesMalcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.      African Americans are fortunate to have leaders who fought for a difference in Black America. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are two powerful men in particular who brought hope to blacks in the United States. Both preached the same message about Blacks having power and strength in the midst of all the hatred that surrounded them. Even though they shared the same dream of equality for their people, the tactics they implied to make these dreamsRead MoreEssay Philosophies and Tactics of Dr. King and Malcolm X1492 Words  | 6 Pagesminorities. Among them, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had an everlasting effect on the treatment of minorities in the United States. Although their philosophies and tactics differed greatly, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X helped shape the Civil Rights Movement and make the United States a better place for people regardless of their race. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had different beliefs and goals for the Civil Rights Movement. While Martin Luther King Jr. took a more peacefulRead MoreWhose Filosophy Made the Most Sense for Merica in the 1960s? Malcom X or Martin Luther King Jr.?1036 Words  | 5 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X grew up in different environments. King was raised in a comfortable middle-class family where education was crucial, and Malcolm X came from a family of low class. He was a self-taught man who received little schooling and became who he is on his own. Martin Luther King was born into a good family. Despite segregation, Martin Luther King s parents tried everything so that he could be secure and happy. He was a smart student and skipped two grades before enteringRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X997 Words  | 4 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both fought for the same goal, but had different ways of achieving this goal. They both fought against civil rights and were leaders in the civil rights movement. The way they were brought up is a good explanation for their differences; King was brought up in a wealthy family, while X was raised in the ghetto to a poor family. Both fought against unfair laws, Social Discrimination, and Racial segregation, but theyRead MoreMartin Malcolm : A Dream Or A Nightmare951 Words  | 4 Pagesâ€Å"Martin Malcolm America Peace†If one man never steps forward to show all the others that change is possible, nothing will ever change. When you look back at history of the American civil rights movement, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are still often two of the first names even someone of today’s society may think of. They were, and still are, some of the most influential men to ever live. As young African-American men living during a time of harsh global, but most importantly
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Galileo on religion and science Essay - 1657 Words
Explain Galileo’s attempt to make science and religion compatible, with particular reference to methods of justification. How successful is he? Use Kuhn’s notion of incommensurability to investigate Galileo’s attempt to reconcile the propositions of science and religion. There will always be a battle between religion and science, it is a truth universally acknowledged. Galileo attempted to make the two compatible by suggesting that the truth can only be sought out if the notion under consideration can be accurately tested and if the opposing view can be founded as false. Galileo’s goes into depth about the truth of scripture and the sciences, intertwined with the reason of man, in his letter to Christina of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of†¦show more content†¦Galileo is thankful to God because he does not allow the majority of these â€Å"common folk†as stated above to have all the authority, some learned people too have authority. Galileo is not speaking blasphemy, he is suggesting there is a place for both Holy doctrine as well as scientific doctrine and he attempts to prove this. Galileo is concerned with obtaining the truth about the world we live in, whether religion provides an answer or science. This is evident in the lette r when he is discussing the â€Å"celestial bodies†concerning the work of Copernicus. Galileo believes that it would be wholly unjustified to ban Copernicus’ work after it has been confirmed over the years, he puts it: â€Å"in my judgement to be a contravention of the truth†if this were to occur. Basically Galileo believes if something is true, the basis of the truth either, religious or scientific is equally creditable. He further states that if scientific fact is unattainable, it must be a thing of faith and religion; â€Å"where human reasoning cannot reach†and there â€Å"is no science but only opinion of faith†the truth must be in the Scripture. This is demonstrated in the letter â€Å"whether the stars are animate†or â€Å"whether or not the heavens are spherical†. Galileo believes that ultimately that the science behind a phenomena willShow MoreRelatedThe Clash of Faith and Evidence1545 Words  | 6 PagesClash of Fait h and Evidence History has shown that in the past, religion dominated as an explanation of knowledge and was used to explain many of the worlds mysteries such as why the sun rises and sets and how the world came to be. Science, using concrete and tested evidence, gave light to many of these mysteries and debunked the myths created from religion. In todays modern society, science has advanced in a remarkable fashion. Science has broken down objects into structured molecules, found theRead MoreGalileos View of the New World Essay1339 Words  | 6 PagesThis essay will thoroughly analyse this document. It will analyse the context behind what was happening in 17th century with regards to science and religion. Secondly it will critically explain and analyse the grounds behind why this document actually holds significance. This will make the argument that Galileo wanted to make the distinction between science and religion. In order to understand and analyse this source, the letter needs to be in its 17th century context. During this period, the CatholicRead MoreThe Scientific Revolution Of The Great Works By Copernicus, Vesalius, And Archimedes Sparked989 Words  | 4 Pagesworld view was contrary to the teachings of the Bible. A prominent Copernican scientist, Galileo Galilei, lived his entire life within the context of the Scientific Revolution. In his Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina Galileo explains the way he feels the Bible relates to science, arguing that both nature and Scripture are God’s creation and thus authoritative in their own right. As a Copernican, Galileo believes in a heliocentric model of the universe – that is, that the sun is â€Å"situated motionlessRead MoreGalileo vs. The Bible Essay707 Words  | 3 PagesGalileo vs. The Bible Religion and science have always been conflicting studies. Religion, being based on faith, relies on the supernatural to explain life and being. Science, on the other hand, cannot do this. Scientists need to eliminate the possibility of the unexplainable in order to maintain and control group by which to measure other groups. The unexplainable I refer to are the miracles that are commonplace in all supernatural religions. Galileo lived in a time where church was state.Read MoreThe Life of Galileo1545 Words  | 7 Pagesand in doing so, embark on a quest to find their true identity and place in life. One must realize that the common theme in all literature is the search for identity and belonging. Bertolt Brecht, author of The Life of Galileo, effectively uses the developing character Galileo Galilei to portray a strong message; a message which five hundred years after the fact has still not been completely comprehended. Through Galileos continuous battle with the Church in prev ailing his work, Brecht is tellingRead MoreThe Relationship Between Religion And Science1339 Words  | 6 Pagesbetween religion and science. For example, the question has been raised whether science and religion give the same kind of knowledge, thus competing with one another. The alternate view is that they give different kinds of knowledge, thereby complementing one another. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian scientist who addressed this issue. A bit later, the English philosopher David Hume (1711-1776) similarly discussed the kinds of knowledge that can be obtained from religion and science. ThisRead MoreAnalysis of Galileos Letter Essay766 Words  | 4 Pages17, 2013 Analysis of Galileo’s Letter The Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany was written by Galileo Galilei in 1615. Galileo was an Italian scientist that began making new discoveries in the heavens in 1609. He discovered many things that did not coincide with the teaching of the church. The Letter of the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany was written by Galileo in response to hearing that the Grand Duchess of Christina criticized the heliocentric theory that was created byRead MoreEssay about Quest for Identity in The Life of Galileo by Brecht1498 Words  | 6 Pagesfor Identity in The Life of Galileo by Brecht Throughout the course of history, from era to era, mankind has been on a continuous attempt to perpetuate what they perceive as the truth; and in doing so, embark on a quest to find their true identity and place in life. One must realize that the common theme in all literature is the search for identity and belonging. Bertolt Brecht, author of The Life of Galileo, effectively uses the developing character Galileo Galilei to portray a strongRead More The Scientific Revolution and The Enlightenment Essay1004 Words  | 5 PagesThe Scientific Revolution and The Enlightenment In the 17th Century, there was much controversy between religion and science. The church supported a single worldview that God’s creation was the center of the universe. The kings and rulers were set in their ways to set the people’s minds to believe this and to never question it. From these ideas, the Enlightenment was bred from the Scientific Revolution. Nicholas Copernicus was the first to question the universal truths and teachings of theRead MoreEssay about Possibility of Life on Other Planets1203 Words  | 5 Pageshas these building blocks and the proper atmosphere it is very probable that intelligent life has the chance to form and develop. For centuries scientific discoveries and religion have clashed, especially discoveries that shape the foundations of our universe.  In the early 1600’s Italian mathematician and astronomer Galileo Galilei testified to the Roman Catholic inquisition that the Copernican model of the Solar System was correct and that the Aristotle model the church followed was incorrect
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Ancient Greece And The Golden Age Of Hellenic Art
The excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the 18th century provided the world with an incredible source of artworks ranging from fresco’s, paintings, sculptures, mosaics and ceramics. These artworks have been a major source of information about art and history in the ancient world. However, what is significant about many of the art works is their connection to Ancient Greece and the the Golden age of Hellenic Art. So why this fascination for the ancient Greeks? It was a sign of sophistication to know about ancient Greece and it was fashionable especially amongst the wealthy class to replicate ancient Greece in their daily lives. It is important to remember that Pompeii and Herculaneum was at the time a seaside resort for the rich and the elite. They built large and beautiful villas and could afford to fill them with Greek art. Many had commission artists from Greece to create this art. To quote Paul Zanker, professor of art history in his lecture on Italian art ‘To Live with Myths in Pompeii and Beyond’ â€Å"these myths have fully retained their exemplary character and have in no way been reduced to a decorative repertoire. Just as for the Greeks, here, myths had the power to speak to an individual about his own situation, to stir up emotion and to provide guidance†. End of quote. CHANGE SLIDE Most of the artworks come from the private villas. A striking feature of these residences is their magnificent floor mosaics. Floor mosaics have given insights as they depictShow MoreRelatedThe Era Between 350 And 310 Bc929 Words  | 4 Pagesthe first, classical Hellenic Age of the Greeks, to the second, Hellenistic Age of the Greek Civilization. This classical period was considered the height of Greek civilization and deemed â€Å"The Golden Age†of ancient Greece. The polis (Greek city-state) was the center of Greek political life for the majority of this period. The poleis were small, independent, and self-sufficient; however, too politically divided to survive the blow of the Peloponnesian war. In 338 BC, Greece was concurred by MacedoniaRead MoreThe Archaic and Classical Greek Periods Essay1279 Words  | 6 Pagesdeed deserved to become god. On the other hand, the hero stands for great and brave warrior who is ready to give his life in order to gain immortal glory, and continue to live in the social sphere, in the memory of his descendants.†, (Stevanović). Ancient Greeks would regard with respect, the spirits of dead men, women, and children through cult activities focused around the location of the dead individual’s presumed gravesites. The individuals who would receive such honors were referred to as heroesRead MoreAssignment 2: Comparing Sculptures of Ancient India and Greece1470 Words  | 6 PagesAssignment 2: Comparing Sculptures of Ancient India and Greece Assignment 2: Comparing Sculptures of Ancient India and Greece Andelle Gregoire World Cultures I Abstract Overall, Greek and Indian art had many similarities and differences. Even though they lived far away and had different beliefs, their depicted the same topics: Gods and goddesses, animals, royalty, myths, everyday life, and sports. Jewelry wise, they both used a lot of gold, although Indians used more beads and gems. In sculptureRead MoreThe Conflict Between Greece And Persia898 Words  | 4 PagesOnce the conflict between Greece and Persia had ceased in 479 BCE, Athens found themselves following a new leader, an Athenian statesman, Pericles, who had a fervent interest in advancing Athens. Under Pericles’ leadership, Athens experienced a period of time in the 5th century where they were regarded as the cultural, intellectual and commercial heart of the Hellenic world. Their hegemony and superiority contributed to the creation of a Golden Age, a valid title, which is currently embraced by historiansRead MoreGreek Culture And Its Effects On Human Populations Essay2258 Words à ‚ | 10 PagesLiliana Martinez 12/6/16 Period 6 Greece Greece is located in Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey. The climate is usually mild, wet winter and hot, dry summers. Their populations as of July 2016, 10,773,253 , one- third of their population lives in and around metropolitan Athens, the rest of the country has moderate population. There are also natural hazards like severe earthquakes and volcanism. Santorini has been classifiedRead MoreEssay Ancient Corinth1796 Words  | 8 PagesAncient Corinth ?Unlike most other cities in the ancient world, Corinth was a city destined for prosperity and longevity no matter who occupied it or how it was governed.? It is as old, or older, than any other ancient Greek city, with origins that lie only in myths and legends that are more than two thousand years old.? Little is known of who established the city or when it was actually founded.? What we do know is Corinth was a very important city and it became a major player in ancient GreekRead MoreAncient Greek Essay1393 Words  | 6 PagesChapter 3: Ancient Greek Civilization 1. During the Mycenaean civilization, who was the great poet and what were his two important literary works that influenced the Greeks and formed part of Western literature? Homer, The Iliad, The Odyssey 2. In a period known as the Dark Ages from 100 B.C. to 800 B.C., life reverted to simpler forms and people lived in relative isolation. 3. The period from the 9th to the 6th century B.C. is known as the Archaic Age during which the Greek kings were deposedRead MoreWhat Did Ancient Greek Concepts And Ideas Serve As A Baseline For The Growth And Influence Of Knowledge1796 Words  | 8 Pages To what extent did ancient Greek concepts and ideas serve as a baseline for the growth and influence of knowledge in the Roman Empire Trevor Massey Drallos 1st Hour 27 December 2015 Identification and evaluation of sources To what extent did ancient Greek concepts and ideas serve as a baseline for the growth and influence of knowledge in the Roman Empire? Ando, Clifford. Was Rome a Polis? Classical Antiquity, 1999, 5-34. Accessed January 8, 2016. doi:10.2307/25011091. ThisRead MoreEssay on The Age of Alexander1793 Words  | 8 PagesThe Age of Alexander The conquests of Alexander the Great spread Hellenism immediately over the Middle East and far into Asia. After his death in 323 B.C., the influence of Greek civilization continued to expand over the Mediterranean world and W Asia. The wars of the Diadochi marked, it is true, the breakup of Alexanders brief empire, but the establishment of Macedonian dynasties in Egypt, Syria, and Persia (the Ptolemies and the Seleucidae) helped to mold the world of that day into a widerRead MoreGreek Period Of Ancient Greece2144 Words  | 9 Pagessculptures were sometimes made in honor of their myths, gods, goddesses or heroes. The Greeks had many art styles in ancient times. Each period of ancient Greece had a distinct style to their sculptures. The Geometric, Archaic, and Classical periods all varied in their styles of artwork. Greek sculptors from all three periods had a fair amount of influence for their artworks. The philosophies of Ancient Greece also had an influence on how the sculptures were designed. The Greeks also set the stage for many
Monday, December 16, 2019
Compare how language Free Essays
Compare how language is used to explore ideas and feelings in ‘Checking out me History’ and one other poem from the Anthology. By dordafaye Compare how language is used to explore ideas and feelings in ‘Checking out me History and one other poem from the Anthology. Checking out me History is a poem about a Caribbean man’s frustration at the teaching of history- he believes that he is only taught about white historical figures and argues that some important black icons are neglected. We will write a custom essay sample on Compare how language or any similar topic only for you Order Now He argues for more freedom to learn about icons from other cultures- reflecting multi-cultural society more accurately. Singh Song is a poem written from the perspective of a newly- wed Indian shop-worker in Britain, and tells the reader about his relationship with his bride and how this affects his work. The poem explores ideas about cultural identity- particularly looking at how ethnic cultures fit into Western (British) society. In ‘Checking out me History John Agard uses a Caribbean dialect â€Å"lick back†, and phonetic spelling â€Å"dem†¦ dat†which reflects the Caribbean accent, to create a clear character voice. He does this to emphasize that he is a black Caribbean man and therefore the issues he explores are relevant and personal to him. Agard is in fact half Guyanese and so the character of the poem could in fact be him; this could be auto-biographical. ‘Singh song is similar in that DalJit Nagra uses phonetic spelling â€Å"My vife is on di web†to reflect an Indian accent, and uses some humorous examples of language ‘lost in translation’ such as â€Å"at di cheese ov her price†. Like Agard, Nagra uses a Voice’ which is directly linked to his own, as he is a British born Punjabi Indian, and the character speaks in what is referred to as ‘Punglish’ a Punjabi influenced version of standard English. The tone of the two poems is very different- ‘Checking ut me History has an angry and negative tone. He is using the dialect and accent to emphasize how different black Caribbean is from white British. The choice to write in non-standard English perhaps reflects his disapproval of the idea of ‘standard English’- linking to his cultural identity. He repeats the phrase â€Å"dem never tell me†which emphasizes that the accused â€Å"dem†are withholding important information, and depriving him of something. He directs his poem at â€Å"dem†- a nameless authority who he claims are leaving him in the metaphorical dark: â€Å"Blind me to me own identity’. We can assume that â€Å"dem†are white people that decide the curriculum, and the narrator feels show a very polarized view of history; you could say he is trying to show that they oppress him, an idea which is fuelled by the images of slavery and oppression of black people by others, and of escape: â€Å"freedom river†, that he depicts in his descriptions of his heroes. The fact that he doesn’t give â€Å"dem†names suggests he doesn’t think very positively of them; they don’t deserve a name. He Juxtaposes white icons with black icons, and often the white icons or histories are ridiculous Dick Whittington and ne cat†or linked to war and aggression â€Å"Lord Nelson and Waterloo†. This has the effect of making the black icons he mentions seem more important and impressive â€Å"Toussaint a slave with vision†. The presentation of the poem pushes this idea further- as the black icons are written in italics, whereas the white icons are written in ‘normal’ font. This could be significant as often literature uses italics to stress of emphasize a word within a sentence, he is perhaps trying to present his history choices as important in contrast to â€Å"dem’s†choices. However, ou could say that there are positive moments in the poem- when he is describing the people he would like to learn about he sounds as though he is inspired, using adjectives like â€Å"see-far†and verbs such as â€Å"struggle†¦ brave†to show his admiration. His descriptions of the black historical icons use positive imagery referring to freedom â€Å"hopeful stream to freedom river†from slavery, and of positive role-models â€Å"A healing star†¦ a yellow sunrise†. When he describe the white fgures he is taught about he is matter-of-fact and very succinct, but discusses the black figures in longer and more expressive detail. His descriptions of black icons are also free’ from rhyme schemes, enforcing the theme of freedom which runs throughout. ‘Singh Song has an overall positive and Jolly tone. Nagra uses phonetic spelling and mis-translations in an amusing way. He builds what might be called a ‘stereotypical’ image of an Indian man. The stereotype is shown in that: he runs a corner shop, he eats Indian food â€Å"chapatti†¦ chutney’ and he lives in an ‘indian’ area â€Å"di whole Indian road†. However, rather than being angry about being a stereotype, the character is happy and content. When non-standard English is used, it isn’t necessarily deliberate or rying to make a point like in ‘Checking out me History which I think forces a phonetic difference to create an atmosphere of them’ versus ‘me (the narrator)’. I do still think that Nagra is trying to disprove the stereotype subtly, and show that them’ and ‘me’ can be harmonious. He does this mostly through the character of the bride’ who is shockingly untraditional â€Å"effing at my mum†¦ stumble like a drunk†¦ a red crew cut†, but is still connected to her Indian culture: â€Å"in all di colours of Punjabi†¦ sari†. She is a more ‘modern’ and westernised representation of an Indian woman. How to cite Compare how language, Papers
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Loki Essay Example For Students
Loki Essay LOKILoki is probably the most misunderstood of all the gods. Most people have come to see him as a most vile being, but this is a misconception. As everyone knows his actions willhelp destroy the gods, but there is more to him than that. What he gave to humanity as a whole outweighs what he has done and what he will do. He gave us choice; to understandthat statement you need to know more about him, the events which led to his imprisonment, and the events that will lead to his eventual death. Loki is mentioned in Volsupa, Thrymskvitha, Hymiskvitha, Svipdagsmal, Reginsmal, Gylfaginning, Hyndluljod, and Baldrs Draumar. He is the subject of Lokasenna. Eilif Gudrunarson, Thjodolf of Hvin, and Ulf Uggason myths about Thor and Geirr?dr, Idunn and Thjazi, and Heimdall and Loki have Loki playing a part in them. Loki came from the east. He is the son of the giant Bergelmir, or Farbauti (the dangerous striker, ie, the storm), and giantess Laufey (or Nal, needle). His wife is Sigyn, who isinclud ed among the Asynjur by Snorri. They have two sons Vali and Narfi. In Hyndluljod, He also had three other children by the giantess Angrbodha (Boder of Sorrow), the Vanargand (Fenris Wolf), the Midgard Serpent (Jormungand or Ioemingang), and Hel. He is also mother/father to Sleipnir (Gylfaginning 42, Volupsa 25). Also in Hyndluljod, he atethe cooked heart of a woman which he found in the embers through this he came with child, and gave birth to an unknown monster. In Gylfaginning (33) Snorri says that Included among the Aesir is he whom some call the slanderer of the Aesir or the author of deceit and the shame of god and men. To outwardappearance Loki is beautiful and comely, but evil in disposition and most fickle in nature. He excelled in sleight and had strategems for all occassions. He often brought the Aesir into great difficulties, but then delivered them with his cunning. He elsewhere says; How shall Loki be referred to? By calling him comrade and table-companion of ?din and t he Aesir, Geirr?drs visitor and casket-ornament, thief from giants, of goat and Brisingamen and Iduns apples, enemy of the gods, Sifs hair-harmer, maker of mischief, the cunning As, accuser and tricker of gods, contriver of Baldrs death, the bound one, wrangler with Heimfdall and Skandi. In Heimskringla ?din is called Lopts friend, and Snorri speaks of him as Evil companion and bench-mate of ?din and the Aesir. Other descriptions by Snorri are: Foe of the gods, the sly god, Slanderer and cheat of the gods, Wolfs father, the cunning Loki. He calls himself Lopt (the airy one), andthis name is also given to him by others (Lokasenna 52), and may be connected with lopteldr (lightning). The name Lodur, which occurs only in Volupsa (18), as that of an associate of ?din and H?nir, is generally supposed to be an early name of Loki, who was companion and friend of H?nir according to Thjodolf of Hvin (Sk?ldskaparm?l 22). DUALITY As already stated, Loki and ?din are blood brothers. This is how he came to be included among the Aesir, despite that the Aesir and the giants are maternal blood relatives. Yet he has always brought much woe to the gods. Loki does mischief for mischiefs sake. He is a thief (of the Brisingamen) or he causes theft (Idunn and her apples). He dislikes others to be praised, even as a servant, as when he slew Fimafeng at Aegirs banquet (Skaldskaparm?l 33, Lokasenna Intro). He is foul-mouthed and slanderous, as Lokasenna shows. However, he has also been the key in bringing about situations which have helped the gods. If it wasnt for Loki how would Thor come about having the hammer Mjollnir, or ?dinhis spear Gungnir and horse Sleipnir? Loki was always welcome, to a certain extent, among the gods (until Lokasenna). Whenever anyone went to J?tunheim, he was usually thereas an intermediary. In those days he was a mischievous god bent on a little personal gain. His actions were never truly evil, but eventually his pranks took on a more serious turn. His natu re has been sought in the meaning of his name, which may be connected with Logi, German Lohi (fire) which has the same destructive power as he delighted in. The namehas also been derived from Lucifer and his personality regarded as a refection of the devils. Others connect it with luka, ljuka (too close / to bring to an end), lok (the end). Therefore Loki would be the one who closes or brings to an end, because his deeds leads up to Ragnarok. His father Farbauti (the dangerous striker, ie, the storm) and motherLaufey (the leafy isle) or Nal (needle, ie needle-tree or fir-tree). Thus, Loki is the creation of the storm which, in lightning, brings down fire on the wooded isle. Or Farbauti is apiece of stick, the drill, which by rubbing on a soft piece of wood, Laufey, produces fire (Gerring). Lokis dual character can, then, be related to fire, since it is both beneficent anddangerous. Later folf-lore is also thought to point to Lokis connection with fire. A Norse saying when the fire crackles is: Loki is beating his children, and the skin of the milk is thrown intothe fire as a dole. On hot days when the air shimmers, or in spring when the mists rise from the ground in the sunshine, a Danish saying is Loki is driving out his goats. The sunappearing through clouds and drawing up moisture seems to referred to in the sayings: Loki drinks water, or Loki is passing over the fields. In Sweden when a little childstooth falls out, it is thrown into the fire with the works: Lokke, Lokke, give me a bone tooth: here is a gold tooth. In Iceland chips and refuse for fire are called Lokis chips, andsubterranean sulphur fumes Lokis vapor. The bright star Sirius is named Lokabrenna (the burning of Loki). The name Loki is also related to liechan or liuhan (enlighten), to the Latin luc-, lux, to the Old English leoht (light), and the Greek leukos (white). LOKI AS VICTIM In several myths, Loki seldom acts out of his own free will, but that he ..acts under some sort of compulsion in more cases than of his own free will (de Vries). The better knownstories about Loki are: his responsibility for the death of Baldr, and that he opposses the Aesir at Ragnarok. These are his only truly evil acts without any compensating good,including perhaps the killing of Fimafeng at Aegirs feast (Skaldskaparm?l 33, Lokasenna Intro). Loki i s not always portrayed as absolutely evil or repulsive. Nor is he always portrayed doing harmful acts. He more often acts under compulsion. For all his flaws, Loki inspired adegree of loyalty not only in Sigyn, but in ?din as well. Even though he has already played a part in Baldrs sojourn in Hel, his oath of blood-brotherhood with ?din secures him aplace at Aegirs feast, above the objections of the other Aesir. Sigyn, Lokis wife, remains steadfastly by him until Ragnarok, keeping him from as much harm as she is able. If hedbeen truly awful to her, Sigyn could have just gone on her way. Njord and Skadi parted for far more trivial reasons without apparent censure. Lokis relationship with ?din and Thor would seem to support the claim that Loki often acts under compulsion. LOKI AND ?DIN Loki is most often seen as the comrade and table-companion of ?din and the Aesir depicting Loki not as a cleverly dangerous and manipulative diety who harms everyone aroundhim, as is popular belief. In Lokasenna he recalls to ?din that in earlier days they had mixed their blood in the rite of blood-brotherhood, and ?din had promised to pour no ale unless it were brought forboth. Later, Frigg bids ?din and Loki to preserve silence on the deeds they had done long ago. Idunn reminds Bragi that Loki had been chosen as wish-son or adopted son by?din (Lokassenna 9). In Gylfaginning (41), the Aesir have hired a giant to fortify their stronghold in Asgard, and has promised him Freyja, the sun and the moon as his reward, provided that the wallswould be finished within half a year. On the advice (or permission) of Loki, the giant is allowed to use his horse to help him in his work. He sets to work with his extraordinaryhorse Svadilfare, making tremendous progress each day, which worries the gods. The gods hold council, they adjudged Loki worthy of death unless he found a way to stop thegiant from keeping his part of the deal. He then changed himself into a mare, which was pursued by the gia nts helpful stallion Svadilfari. This caused the work to be suspended and itwas not completed in the agreed time. Thor slew the giant and, some time after, Loki gave birth to Sleipnir, ?dins horse (Gylfaginning 42, Volupsa 25). This myth shows Loki asacting in self-preservation rather than malice. Thus, Loki is a victim of circumstance, out to save his own skin. Loki is again the cunning god, appearing in the well-known role ofthe man, who gives bad advice and afterwards has to remedy the dangers issuing from it (de Vries). He also provides a gift for a god: he provided ?din with Sleipnir. This will alsobecome a recurring trait of Lokis. In the Sorla-thattr (13th century) Loki, son of a peasant Farbauti and his wife Laufey who was thin and meagre and hence called Nal or Needle, is cunning, caustic, and tricky. Hebecame ?dins serving-man. ?din always had a good work for him, all of which he performed. Loki knew almost everything that happened and told it to ?din. In Lokasenna, thisdo es appear to be the case, for Loki knows all the secrets of the other Aesir, which he throws into their faces. Also in the Sorla-thattr, Lokis steals the Brisingamen, Gem of fire ( ie, human intelligence; brisingr means fire; brising means bonfire) from Freyja this sets in motion a train ofevents vitally connected with the course of human evolution. According to Old Norse myth, another version of this story, obscurely referred to in a poem, appears as a fragmentcited by Snorri (Skaldskaparm?l 8, 16). Here, Loki stole the Brisingamen for his own purposes. Heimdall contends with him for it and both are in the form of seals. This equates Lokiwith Promethean stealer of fire for the benefit of mankind, though it is never stated that this necklace did good to men, but more on Prometheus later. ?din, H?nir and Loki are travelling together. They are confronted with a giant, Thjazi, in the shape of an eagle. Loki is separated from the two others by Thjazi. Thjazi forces Loki topromise to br ing the goddess Idunn into his power or he will kill him. When the gods discovered this, Loki was threatened with torture or death for it is Idunn who keeps theapples which the gods have to feed on when they age, and they all become young, and so it will go on right up to Ragnarok. He escaped by borrowing Freyjas feather-dress,flying to J?tunheim in the form of a falcon, and brings back Idunn, whom he transformed for the occassion into a nut. The Aesir slew Thjazi when he pursued Loki to Asgard in hiseagle form, but in Lokasenna Loki claims to have been himself first and last in the fight with the giant. When Thjazis daughter Skadi came to Asgard to avenge her father, she isoffered a god of her own choice in marriage, on the condition that she will only be able see his feet when she makes her choice. She also demands that the Aesir makes her laugh,which is accomplished by one of Lokis more bizarre tricks. Loki caused her to laugh one of the terms of reconciliation demanded by her. ?din and H?nir are remarkably passive. ..the only real hero of the tale is Loki, the two other gods doing nothing at all (de Vries). This myth again shows Loki as acting in self-preservation rather than malice. For him,breaking his oath would be impossible, just as leaving Idunn in J?tunheim. In Reginsmal, ?din, H?nir and Loki again travel together. By slaying a dwarf, Otr, in the shape of an otter (they didnt know it was anything but an otter), he brings the wrath ofHreidmarr onto the Aesir. They are forced to pay weregild for the slain dwarf, and Loki is sent to Svartalfheim to fetch the gods ransom. He catches another dwarf, Andvari, whowas in the form of a fish, and takes all his gold. Loki borrowed Rans net in order to catch Andvari. The dwarf tries to hide a ring of gold, but Loki finds out and takes that too. Thedwarf then lays a curse on that particular ring and leaves. The ring would be the ruin of everyone who came into possession of it. Loki gave the gold to ?din, who covered the skinwith it but retained the ri ng. One of the otters whiskers remained uncovered, and Hreidmarr insisted on it being covered, so ?din gave up the ring. Loki said that now the ring andthe treasure would be a curse to every posessor of them. When the ransom is paid, the Aesir are free to go. Again we find that the two other Aesir are merely passive spectators,and that the only active role, albiet a forced one, in the story is played by Loki. LOKI AND THOR In Skaldskaparm?l (18), Loki flew to J?tunheim in the guise of a falcon (using Friggs feather-dress), and has been captured and starved by the giant Geirr?dr. The giant releaseshim only if he promises to bring Thor to him without his hammer, belt and gloves, and after having made his promise he is free to go. Loki manages to make it back to Bilkskirnir,home to Thor and Sif and convinces Thor to leave his weapons at home, but on their way he is supplied with a belt of power, a pair of iron gloves and a power staff by a giantessnamed Grid. After having crossed a dan gerous river with Loki hanging on his belt, Thor confronts the giant and his daughters, kills them and heads back to Asgard. Loki is not evenmentioned after the river incident: Loki, as it seems, accompanied Thor on the first part of his journey, but he disappears from the scene (Turville-Petre). Snorris version of themyth in Skaldskaparm?l differs somewhat from the older poem Haustlong where the original story is told, where Thor is accompanied not only by Loki but also by Ialvi. There is noaccount of this myth in the Poetic Edda. This myth shows Loki as acting in self-preservation rather than malice. Thus, Loki is again victim of circumstance, out to save his own skin. In Thrymskvitha Thor wakes up only to find that his hammer is gone. He approaches Loki, tells him about his loss, and Loki assumes Freyjas falcon shape in order to go looking forthe hammer. He finds out that the giant Thrymm has stolen the hammer and that he keeps it safe, eight miles underground, and that he will n ot give it back unless he is promisedFreyjas hand in marriage. Freyja herself does not approve of being married to the giant, and the gods are quite at a loss about what to do. They hold council, and Heimdallrsuggests that Thor could disguise himself as Freyja and go to ?rym and recover his hammer. Loki readily offers to follow as the false Freyjas bridesmaid, and hence they arrive inJotunheim in order to celebrate the wedding. Thor is almost disclosed twice due to his excessive eating and red-hot gaze, but the cunning Loki quickly saves him by his wittyexplanations. At last the hammer is produced to be used in the ceremony and put in Thors lap, only to be picked up by the most furious of gods and used to smash the giants toatoms. We are not told that Loki had caused the hammer to be stolen, but this may once have been the introduction to the story. Otherwise, this is a myth where Loki volunteers tohelp another Aesir. No threats or pain of death was involved. LOKI AS CREATOR In Volu sp? 18, ?din, H?nir and Lodur create the first human beings out of two pieces of wood, a man called Askr and a woman called Embla: Then from the host three came, Great, merciful, from the Gods home: Askr and Embla on earth they found, Faint, feeble, with no fate assigned them. Breath they had not, nor blood nor senses, Nor languagepossessed, nor life-hue: ?din gave them breath, H?nir senses, Blood and life hue Lodur gave. It is argued that Loki and Lodur are one and the same. ?inn and H?nir are, when they are mentioned together, always accompanied by a third god, sometimes Lodur and sometimesLoki. Lodur is not mentioned in the Poetic Edda except for in this passage. Snorri does not mention him at all. LOKI AND SIF / LOKI AS PROVIDER In the halls of Bilskirnir Sif and Thor were just wed. The next night, Loki crept to Sifs chamber. She glanced up at Lokis approach and smiled in welcome. She knew why Loki choseto visit her, since she could forsee things. Without any further prompt, Sif unknotted her long fair hair and shook it loose about her shoulders. He grabbed the shears from Sifs workbox and chopped off every strand of the goddesss shining locks, leaving only prickly tufts on the Sifs head, all that remained of Sifswonderful ormament. She seemed so diminished in presence by the loss that tears came to his eyes. Forgive me. he whispered. Sif hugged him close Be brave she said or all willbe for nought. The next morning, Thor (her husband) would have broken all his bones, had not an apologetoc Loki sworn to the Black Elves in svart?lfar to make Sif hair of gold, which wouldgrow like other hair. It is unclear how Loki found himself in a position to lop Sifs hair off in the first place. In Lokasenna, it is said he was already in Sifs bed when he did it. In theHyndlulj?d, the ferryman (none other than ?din) tells Thor that With Sif someone sleeps in her bower. Adding gratuitous insult to the injury already done to her marriage vowsseems perfectly in keeping with L okis character. The injury could not have been too great, however, since we still see Thor and Loki wandering around together after this. Thereis a reason for this. The dwarfs are so eager to please they produce not only golden hair for Sif, but also a marvellous ship for Heimdallr and a magic spear for ?din. Loki challenges two other dwarfs tomake even better things, and puts his head at stake. The dwarfs set to work, and Loki who is afraid of losing his head tries to disturb them, and by transforming himself into a fly, heinterferes with their work. Nonetheless, the dwarfs manage to produce a golden boar and a golden ring, both of which are flawless, and a hammer, Mjollnir, which shaft is a bit tooshort. Who really won the bet becomes a matter of dispute, which is settled by the Aesir, who deem that Loki has lost his bet and that he therefore must lose his head. Loki escapesbut is captured by Thor and brought back. He then agrees to letting the dwarf cut off his head, as long as h e does not touch his neck, which, of course, is impossible. The dwarf thensews Lokis lips together in wrath with a string called Vartare. This myth demonstrates Lokis dual nature, putting himself in deep trouble because of some harmless trick, only to save his skin in the last second. First he offends the wife of thethunder god by cutting off her hair, and secondly he succeeds in damaging the hammer of Thor. (de Vries). Yet something is overlooked. Loki brings more good things to the Aesir than would suffice to cover the loss of Sifs hair: he provides not only Thor with a hammer: ?din receivesnot only a spear but also a golden ring, Frey a golden boar and a ship that easily can be folded up and fitted into a pocket. All this for something that began as a prank. LOKASENNA / A BITTER LOKI In Lokasenna, Lokis attitude becomes more bitter when he cuts down each god and goddess in turn during the feast of Aegir. The prose Introduction tells how Aegir invited many of the gods and elves to a feast. All went well until Loki kills one of Aegirs slaves, Fimafeng, because he could not standhearing the gods praising of his skill of serving and pleasing the guests. The Aesir shake their shields and howled at Loki, and drove him out of the forest. Loki returns and asksEldir, another of Aegirs slaves, of what is going on in the hall. Eldir tells how the talk is of weapons and war, and that none has a friendly word for him. Loki says he will go in,mixing hatred to the gods and mixing venom with their ale. Loki enters and says that he has come from a far journey and asks for a drink. The gods are silent, till Bragi speaks and says there is no place for him here. Loki appeals to ?din on theground of their old brotherhood sworn in the morning of time, and ?din bids Vidar find a place for the wolfs father, lest he should speak evil. Vidar obeys and Loki pledges allpresent, excluding Bragi. The poem then becomes a flyting between Loki and the other guest present, a quarrel that ca nnot be stopped by force as the gods had taken a vow of peace inside the hall wherethe feast was held. Loki is therefore allowed to verbally abuse each and every one of the gods as he sees fit. He accuses Bragi of cowardice. Idunn begs him to weigh Lokis kinship with ?din and speak no taunt with him. Loki turns on her and accusses her of promiscuosity and of havingembraced the killer of her husband. She doesnt refute this taunt, but merely tries to calm Bragi, who is overcome with ale. Gefjon intervenes and begs that no bandying of wordswill continue, for Loki is known as a slanderer and hates everyone. Loki accuses her of having committed adultery with a youth who gave her a necklace. ?din tells Loki that he is mad to raise Gefjons anger, for she knows mens destinies just as ?din himself does. Loki turns on ?din and tells him that he does not justly assign victory ,and often gives it to thise who deserve it least. ?din says this may be, but reminds Loki of his own faults, of having spent eight winters in the underworld as a woman, milking cowsand giving birth to children. Loki retorts that ?din had once wrought magic spells in the guise of a witch in Samsey. These two taunts, a man bearing children as a woman and a mantaking womans form, were not uncommon in the Scandinavian north, but were regarded as most deadly insults. The Aesir in turn to address Loki and strive to silence him, but invain. Loki points to Friggs affair with ?dins two brothers when she thought ?din to be dead. She also says Forsooth, had I in Aegirs hall a son as Baldr so brave: Thoudst not get theegone from the gods foregathered before thou hadst fought for thy life (27-8). He then tells her, Be mindful, Frigg, what further I tell of wicked words of mine: my rede wrought it that rides nevermore hitherward Baldr to hall. He admits then that he is thecause of Baldrs absence, possibly referring to his refusal to weap over him to keep him in Hel. Freyja, a witch strong in evil, is accused of adultery with all the gods and Alfar, andwith being her brothers lover. Loki taunts Njordr of having been used as a chamber pot by some giantesses and of having a son, Frey, by his sister. Tyr says that Frey is best of heroes. Loki bids him be silent, fornot being unable to solve juridical problems, lost his hand by the Fenris-wolf (Lokis offspring) and of not being the father of his own son, Loki himself claiming paternity. Freyreminds Loki that By the River fettered Fenris will lie till draws night the doom of the gods; and nigh to him, but thou hush thee now, wilt be bound, thou breeder of ill. Loki says that Frey bought Gerd with gold and his sword, and is now weaponless must await Muspells son when they ride theough Myrkwood. Byggvir, Freys servant,intervenes, and says that if he were of such birth as Frey, he would crush Loki to marrow and break all his bones. Loki taunts him, little creature that he is, with cowardice. NowHeimdall speaks and tells Loki he is drunk. Skadi says , Thou art lusty, Loki, but long thou wilt not a loose tail wag as thou list; for on a rock with thy ice-cold sons guts will bindthee the gods (49). Loki cries that he was first and last among those who slew her father, and reminds her of his armour with her. Sif comes forward, pours ale for Loki, and says that she at least is blameless, but she is slao reminded of misconduct with him (she sleps with him, and he cut her hair for it). Beyla,wife of Biggvir, cries that the mountains are shaking and Thor, absent slaying trolls, is coming, and will silence the slanderer. She is also vilified, and now Thor enters and bids Loki,wretched wight, be silent or his hammer will close his mouth. Loki says he need not threaten so much. He will be less fierce when he fights the Fenris Wolf. Thrice again does Thorthreaten him. Loki taunts him still, with hiding in a giants glove and with his difficulty in opening Skrymirs wallet. Finally he says that he has spoken all he wished to say. Now hewill g o, because Thor is such a great fighterm but he warns the Aegir that no more feasts will he give, for the fire will soon consume all that is here. DEATH OF BALDR ; RAGNAROK / AN EVIL LOKI Lokis worst actions, as stated earlier, showing him as a foe of the gods, is connected with the myth of te sun-god Baldr (Gylfaginning 48). Ragnarok has once been translated as the age of fire and smoke, probably because rok in Swedish means smoke. Juvenile Crime Essay SummaryLoki himself, with Hrym and the forest-giants, will come at the head of a giant army on the boat Naglfar. Fenris kills ?din and in turn is killed by Vidhar. Jormungand will die at Thorshands, but he himself will succumb to the effects of the poison from the World Serpent. Loki will grapple with Heimdall, they will kill each other (Gylfaginning 51). Loki here plays a more violent role than usual. Instead of using his wits he actually joins the fray, which in some ways contradicts the very essence of his character as the slymanipulator who would rather run off than take the heat. Instead of balancing between good and evil he makes his stand against the Aesir, joining forces with their enemies. Thiscould be in part because of his imprisonment and torture while bound. He could have merely been acting out of vengeance for what they did to him, or out of madness, or both. OTHER-MYTH COMPARISIONS Loki does not have obvious counterparts in Greek mythology, altho ugh many other cultures, such as North American aboriginals, Oceanic, West African and Chinese, have mythswhich feature tricksters. There is one Greek god, Hermes, that is considered somewhat of a trickster, although not to the same extent as Loki. As soon as Hermes was born, hedisplayed this trait by stealing Apollos cows. He was taken for judgement to Zeus after this crime, but he used his cunning, offering the lyre he invented, to escape punishment. Inmany ways this is much like Lokis behaviour, in that Loki often was able to talk his way out of predicaments and bringing about situations which have helped the gods. As god of fire, Loki could be compared to Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire. One of the major stories about Loki is his exile from Asgard for being indirectly responsible for thedeath of Baldr. This punishment was meted out by ?din. Similarly, Hephaestus was ejected from Mt. Olympus by Zeus over an argument about one of Zeus favourites, Heracles. PROMETHEUS COMPARISON Loki is can also be compared to Prometheus, primarily again because of their association with fire. Loki being the god of fire, and Prometheus being the bringer of fire to thehumans. Prometheus was a Titan, admitted into Olympus for remaining neutral in the revolt of the Olympians against the Titans. However, Prometheus knew who would be responsible for the death of Zeus. This can be looked at in the same light as Lokis both knowledge and responsibilty of ?dins death, ashe fathered the beast Fenris who would kill him. Also, Loki is a major palyer and provokes Ragnorok, the final battle that will destroy everything including the gods. Prometheus caused the creation of Pandora therefore damningmankind. However this was not enough punishment in the eyes of Zeus, so he caused a flood that destroyed mankind. In both myths, humanity renews itself. Fire also plays a very large role in the destruction of the world in the Norse myths, as Surtur engulfs the world in flame after the battle ofR agnarok. Some would say that Prometheus association of fire destroyed mankind. Prometheus was also a trickster, as he stole cheated and lied. One of Lokis strong qualities was his ability to out-wit the gods. This too was a characteristic of Prometheus. Neitheracted capriciously, which set both of them apart from the other gods in their respective mythologies. For indirectly causing the death of Balder, Loki was bound in chains with a seprent above him dripping poison to harm Loki. Prometheus was likewise bound by the gods for hisactions. He was chained to a rock in the Caucasian mountains, with a vulture to tear away at his liver all day long an endless torture, as his liver would grow back every night. Verysimilar as both were chained to stone, with an endless torture. Loki was not freed until the twilight of the gods, or Ragnorok. Prometheus was also released by Herakles, andimmediatly had the interaction with Zeus, when he told him what would cause his death. So both were freed , and immediatly became associated with the death of the gods. CONCLUSION The thing to understand about Loki is his necessity to the whole picture. He is a renegade, the trickster. Through many wrong choices Loki has become the mischief-maker, theinstigator of wrongs in many tales. He is disruptive, representing the necessary questioning of authority which is totally necessary if things are to be kept running in an optimalway. It is the only way to make progress. He is the constant companion of the gods and serves as go-between in their dealings with the giants, the key which opens the door intothe new world that comes after the final battle. Loki is also the divine intelligence which is aroused in us, and also the will by which man may choose its course, for good or evil. Overall he is the human mind, clever, foolish, and immature. However in his most redeeming state Loki is known as Lopt and is the elevating and aspiring traits in human intelligence. He is the bridge between the animal and the divine.Looking back on the life of Loki you can see that he is the perfect example of the darkness which can rise in a mans soul. This destructive aspect is so close to the animal nature of us all.
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