ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Grendel is the 1971 novel by John Gardner. It is a unique novel that retells the epic poem, Beowulf, from the perspective of the villain, Grendel. It is about the large and frightening monster named Grendel who lives in a cave near King Hrothgar’s castle. Contrary to his beastly appearance he has considerable intelligence. He can speak, tell sophisticated jokes and even philosophize about the meaning of life. He tells this story as a series of flashbacks, mixed with “present-day” scenes. He lives with his mother who suffocates him with her love cannot yet speak or reason. Despite his inherent rationality, Grendel has no qualms about eating Hrothgar’s subjects and even relishes their screams. He was first discovered by the outside world after a chance encounter with Hrothgar’s men who immediately attacked him but were fought off by his mother. Grendal bore witness to Hrothgar’s rise to power from a minor chieftain to a mighty king. One of the people he interacts with is Shaper the singer who sings beautiful songs about battles to which Grendel disagrees because he believes that battles were just brutal and petty. Grendel’s actions soon change the songs of Shaper and this stimulates confusion in him. The confusion ultimately leads to his encounter with the Dragon who is an important foil in the story. Like Grendel, the Dragon is also capable of philosophy he believed that cruelty was good and life was pointless. The dragon is a nihilist as will be discussed later it was his influence that led to Grendel’s nihilist stage later in life. The dragon enchants Grendel and makes him invulnerable. This sets the stage for Grendel’s boredom over life because he does not even have to fight to kill things. Unferth the unfortunate tries to kill Grendel but fails and in an ironic twist, Grendel protects Unferth from death despite his wish to die. As was foretold in Beowulf, Grendel will be slain by Beowulf. This paper will discuss Grendel as an existentialist and as a nihilist (Gardner J.) For Grendel to be seen as an existentialist it is important to find a definition for this term. Existentialism is that explicit conceptual manifestation of an existential attitude (Solomon 1987) that begins with a sense of disorientation and confusion in the face of a meaningless or absurd world (Solomon 1974 and Cooper 1999). In layman’s terms, an existentialist is someone who lumbers on in a daily existence confused and witless, finding little meaning in the world. An example of this would be a blue-collar worker stuck in the droll of the rat race. Applying this to the context of Grendel it is easy to see that his early existence become existentialist. From the very beginning Grendel sees the world as meaningless, his yearning for meaning aside, he does not consider himself important and he sees little meaning in the world. His existentialism is so heavy upon his heart that he considered men rebuilding their castle as engaged in a meaningless exercise in futility. He tries to impose existentialism on them by kil
It is imperative to mention that the number of Chicano murals in Los Angeles is truly astounding, and it is not an easy task to choose the one that is the most visually appealing. However, a piece titled “La Ofrenda” that is located under the bridge at the Toluca Street has managed to grab my attention. It is dedicated to Dolores Huerta, a prominent activist who participated in numerous events and meetings. The work is quite powerful, and it is evident that the author is devoted to the craft because the work is marvelous. The attention to details is especially worth highlighting. It is possible to see that various events over the course of Chicano history are depicted, and every single one of them is equally important for the culture. The primary purpose of most pieces in this genre is to draw attention to particular social and political issues that need to be resolved. It is clear that the author did not want this work to be as realistic as many other pieces in this area. The mural is rather abstract, and several interpretations are possible. It is possible to state that small parts are not connected with each other, but an underlying theme may be identified. The message is that years of hardship that the working class had to deal with should be acknowledged, and the role of women also should not be overlooked. They have helped to address such problems as inequality and unfair treatment are and fought for rights of the community. The author places females in central positions to ensure that the audience may be motivated. Their determination has frequently been disregarded in the past, and the goal is to celebrate their accomplishments. The style that is utilized is also intriguing, and an influence of similar murals in Mexico can be identified. One of the primary qualities of such works is that they are heroic, and artists are proud of their heritage. Overall, I think that it should be viewed as a valuable part of the Chicano culture and needs to be studied to enhance the understanding of events that took place at the time of creation (“La Ofrenda”). Pic. 1. La Ofrenda.
The infamous Transatlantic Slave Trade “took place from the 15 th to the 19 th century” (Bush 19). This trade resulted in massive human migration. Many Africans came to America during the period. According to historians, many Europeans wanted to support their colonies in order to achieve their goals. During the period, many “colonies were producing various cash crops such as cotton, sugar, and tobacco” (Bush 27). Most of the paid laborers were becoming extremely expensive. The indigenous populations were also dying due to poverty, conflicts, and diseases. The colonialists wanted to get new sources of cheap labor. The best solution to this problem was to acquire different slaves from Africa. Some African societies collaborated with different Europeans in order support this illegal trade. Some merchants also wanted to benefit from the Slave Trade. This fact explains why different African leaders and merchants supported the trade. The Slave Trade also affected many societies across the world. For example, the trade supported the economic needs of different colonies. The practice also supported the economic positions of different countries. A large number of individuals lost their original lands. According to many scholars, the trade introduced new diseases and socio-cultural practices in these colonies. The trade also resulted in environmental destruction. The Slave Trade “left many societies underdeveloped and disorganized” (Bush 62). This development also weakened several communities in Africa and Asia. The Slave Trade affected the economic stability of every targeted society. This situation made such societies more vulnerable to colonialism. This slave trade produced different racial groups in many countries across the globe. The trade also produced long-term effects such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination. Many descendants of these slaves are currently facing most of these challenges. The Slave Trade presented numerous lessons to different societies. Many societies enacted new laws in order to safeguard the rights of every minority group. Imperialism The word imperialism “refers to a policy aimed at expanding a nation’s influence and capability through military force, colonization, or assimilation” (Thomas 38). Many countries such as the United States “pursued aggressive policies in an attempt to extend their economic and political influences across the word” (Thomas 47). Some historians have presented numerous arguments regarding the major causes of imperialism. For example, many nations wanted to acquire new territories in order to emerge powerful. This expectation encouraged some countries such as Britain, France, and Italy to colonize different societies. The second factor that contributed to imperialism was “the desire to govern and develop different societies” (Thomas 49).
Introduction The Enlightenment was an important philosophical movement that dominated Europe in the eighteenth century. The movement was also known as the Age of Reason, and it completely shifted people’s understanding of nature and resulted in a rapid increase of knowledge in all spheres of human endeavor. However, a wide range of ideas associated with the movement was not supported and promulgated by all intellectuals of the century (Cole et al. 404). The aim of this paper is to explore the link between the Enlightenment project and the religious mode of thinking of the past. The paper will argue that although the Age of Reason was associated with the strengthening of faith in human reason, eighteenth-century intellectuals did not completely escape from the religious thinking of the previous centuries. Discussion The scientific revolution that emerged as a result of the intellectual efforts of distinguished thinkers such as David Hume and Isaac Newton helped to create a new approach to scientific inquiry (Cole et al. 404). This approach was at variance with traditional thought that favored superstition. Kant, who believed that the Enlightenment represented the disappearance of “humanity’s self-imposed immaturity” (qtd. in Cole et al. 404), also saw it as an escape from the intellectual authority of the Catholic Church. In an attempt to systemize human knowledge, great thinkers of the era developed the scientific method. The expansion of literacy that occurred simultaneously with the Age of Reason allowed the broad masses to discover works of Voltaire and Rousseau. Voltaire was a free thinker whose works were not constrained by religious and political dogmas of the time. The intellectual praised the weakening of British aristocracy and showed his respect for British scientists (Cole et al. 405). The man opposed religious bigotry and argued that fanaticism was linked to human misery. Montesquieu was another prominent thinker of the era who criticized monarchies and claimed that “the soul of a republic was virtue” (Cole et al. 405). The spirit of the century was captured in the Encyclopedia —a collective project that summarized contemporary knowledge. Diderot overviewed the publication of the work and promoted the application of science. The Encyclopedia was banned by government officials who believed that it thought to destroy religion (Cole et al. 407). Although France was an engine of intellectual progress in the Enlightenment era, Great Britain and Scotland also produced remarkable philosophers such as Edward Gibbon, David Hume, and Adam Smith. Secular ideas were prominent in works of a British literati, Mary Wollstonecraft. The woman believed in equality of relationships between the sexes, which represented a diversion from religious traditions of the past. Rousseau, on the other hand, claimed that women were radically different from men and, therefore, they should not engage in intellectual pursuits (Cole et al. 418). The intellectual’s reasoning was in l
Introduction Australia’s mining industry registered a remarkable turnaround at the turn of the new millennium following high market demands in Asia’s emerging economies. The resultant increased demand created a positive effect in Australia. This paper seeks to discuss how the turnaround specifically impacted on the Australian economy in terms of growth. Global demand, supply, commodity prices The period between 2003 and 2011 witnessed an increase of more than 300%, in US dollars, of global export resources from Australia after a sharp increase in demands from majorly the emerging economies. Prices of other noteworthy steelmaking commodities from Australia also increased in the process. These developments followed closely on the heels of a poor performance in the same sector and industry that lasted for over two decades, between the 1980s and the early 2000s. The Asian recession of early 2000, the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, and the poor run faced by Japan during the 1990s affected prices negatively, leading to the commodity prices stagnating. In an attempt to mitigate on the harsh situation that was being faced by the industry, companies entered into mergers globally in order to achieve economies of scale advantages. China’s emerging economy triggered huge demands for steel in 2003 given her humongous domestic market. The high demands have been sustained throughout the period, mainly due to the rate of urbanisation currently ongoing in the country. Other economies in Asia have also indicated significant rise in demands, with India poised to also increase on its total market demands for steel over the next few years. The Mining industry in Australia during the 2000s Australia has a wide portfolio of minerals which it exports to the global market, including coal, iron ore, copper, as well as bauxite, and gold. On average, Australia’s resource export value rose strongly in the 2000s to more than half the value of total exports registered at the close of the decade, mainly due to a 9% growth on the average of commodity prices. Changes have also been witnessed within the structures of the mining industry where iron ore and coal now remain to be the minerals with most advantages to the country, unlike the 1990s when aluminium, gold, and copper emerged strongly as the most valued and profitable minerals for export. The volume of processed metal exports contracted as their share grew less. The effect of the mining boom experienced in 2000 saw the Company’s revenue rise from 6% of the total GDP to 14% by close of the first decade in the new millennium. Mining investments currently stand at more than 4% of the GDP value, in comparison to 1.5% of GDP in the year 2000. Equally, Mining employment rose to 1.7% by close of the decade from a lower value of only 1% in 2000. On the contrary, however, the total mining output has grown at a smaller rate of only 3%. This has consequently led to fallen labour and multifactor productivities as a result of t
The workers’ union plays a great role in the workplace. Lack of union in the plant that SNCC is purchasing will automatically have disparities in the company. This is because of the nature of roles played by unions in companies. They ensure a positive function in addressing and preventing familial abuse via intervention and training. In most work places, domestic abuse is one of the union agenda since it is majorly a public health issue, family issue, workplace issue, social justice issue and a community issue. This paper seeks to discuss the role of unions in workplace and their relationship with the human resources and management. Lack of union in the SNCC plant will therefore have disastrous impact in the company as a whole. This is because unions are vital in helping its members stay healthy, employed and safe so that they may remain self sufficient economically and retain their dignity (Phanindra, 2009). Various business issues are associated with unions. The absence of a union in a workplace may result into adverse effects in the company. Without the union, issues such as fear, embarrassment, and workplace gossip, abuse of rights, exploitation, demonization, workplace conflict and low self esteem among other issues may arise due to lack of protection by the union. In situations where there is a union, positive issues results. Employers and employees would to thing such as: understand that embarrassment and fear can prevent a member from talking concerning j
Introduction Extant literature demonstrates that the past several decades have been manifested by rapid growth in the exploitation of project management as a viable means by which contemporary organizations the world over realize their set objectives (Meredith & Mantel 2011; Piyush, Dangayash & Mittak 2011), as well as their competitive advantage (Jones 2008). As acknowledged by Meredith & Mantel (2011), most projects were external to the organization in the past, but the rapid proliferation in the use of projects in recent years has primarily been targeted to the sphere of projects internal to the organization. Despite the substantial scholarship focussed on the critical sphere of project management both in the developed and developing world, little attention has been given to understanding the drivers of conflict that profile the trajectory of projects and influence their successful completion (Boudet, Jayasunder & Davis 2011). The principal objective of the present paper is to identify and critically discuss four social and organisational issues that could be areas of potential conflict in a project. The areas earmarked for analysis include leadership role and style, communication, project procedures, and teambuilding. Leadership Role & Style In spite of advances in the project management profession, consecutive research studies demonstrates that many projects fail, underscoring the immense significance of the project manager’s role as manager. Distinctively, the manager’s leadership role and style are of considerable consequence in not only motivating people but also generating an effective working environment in order for the project team to successfully surmount greater challenges in contemporary global economy (Geoghegan & Dulewicz 2008). A research conducted by in 2005 by Turner and Muller and cited in Anantatmula (2010) demonstrates that “…different project leadership styles are appropriate at different stages of the project life cycle, and the project manager has a leadership role in creating an effective working environment for the project team” (p. 13). This therefore implies that leaders themselves may be the cause of conflict in project environments, not only in the context of applying the wrong leadership style but also in failing to create an effective working environment which is needed to reinforce the collaboration of cross-functional team members working in various spheres or aspects of the project. As suggested in the literature, it may indeed be true that leadership style and competence in project settings are not directly related to project success (Anantatmula 2010); however, it can be argued that these two variables are critical to facilitating various project success factors that eliminate any sources of conflict and hence contributing to project performance. Conversely therefore, it
The dawn of the 20 th century is one of the most controversial periods in the history of the USA. In his book Murdering McKinley: The Making of Theodore Roosevelt’s America, Eric Rauchway explores the details of the accident which occurred on September 6, 1901, because this event led to the radical changes in the U.S. political course. Focusing on the aspects of the murder of the U.S. President William McKinley by Leon Czolgosz, Rauchway also describes the particular features of the political and social life in the USA at the beginning of the 20 th century. The author presents the full story of McKinley’s murder in his book, paying much attention to the details of that day, the consequences of the murder for the killer, the personality of Leon Czolgosz, his motives, and to the global effects for the country’s further political development which was connected now with the personality of Theodore Roosevelt. Thus, the book covers the shift from McKinley’s conservative period to Roosevelt’s Progressive Era, where the murdered President, his killer, and his successor become the influential historical personalities. Thus, Eric Rauchway states that the political modernization which came with Theodore Roosevelt was the result of killing McKinley by a person who suffered significantly during the period of McKinley administration, and that is why the President had two killers who deprived him of life and power. Eric Rauchway’s discussion of the aspects of the murder, the personality of the killer and the following consequences of the accident for the politics and social sphere is based on the documents which are related to the period under analysis and on Dr. Lloyd Vernon Briggs’ diaries in which the details of Leon Czolgosz’s life fixed. Dr. Lloyd Vernon Briggs was a psychologist who developed his investigation of the aspects of Czolgosz’s case, concentrating on his motivation and reasons for murdering McKinley. The results of Briggs’ research are important for creating the picture of the social environment in which Czolgosz lived and which affected him to kill the President. Having summarized Briggs’ notes, Rauchway presents the story of an average American whose life conditions are so poor that he intends to kill the President as the source of social problems, being mentally sane, but physically sick and hoping for the coming death. The murder of William McKinley became the turning point for changing the features of the conservative political course during the late 19 th century to the dynamic and modernized beginning of the 20 th century. To explain the characteristic features of the shift from the point of the life of an average American, Rauchway concentrates on the life of Leon Czolgosz in the context of significant social events. Thus, at the beginning of the 20 th century, the American society rethought the outcomes of the industrial revolution which had a lot of positive and negative effects. Rauchway pays attention to the fact that the family of Leon Czolgosz was among those numerous families in the USA which experienced all the negative effects of th
The innovation that one society developed that was not adopted by a different one The famous American democratic political model is one of the most significant innovations in the world today. Other countries around the world and upcoming governments are gradually modeling their governance style using the United States democracy model as an example (Ferrantino, & de Piñeres, 2015). This innovation dates back to more than one hundred years ago. Currently, the American politics model is one of the most envied and admired models in the world. The US has been in a unique position to influence other countries to follow the same political path. However, some countries managed to adapt to the political innovation set by America while others did not. Some are still trying to keep up with the new democratic style of leadership. Before the innovation of democracy, there was an error of anarchy and slavery. The rich become automatic leaders and rulers of the poor. The most depressing fact about the former leadership and political setting was that there was a clear separation between the rich and the poor. Sadly, the rich had more rights and power over the poor and this created a social imbalance (Kentor, 2014). Poor people were slaves of their rich masters. Slaves did not have rights and their masters could decide their fate even their right to life. This was the existing political and leadership style before the democratic type was developed in post-colonial America. Today, the democratic model of governance is the most acceptable and most celebrated mode of governance around the world. Due to the high level of civilization and high level of education among citizens, the world is gradually turning towards fairness and equality in terms of governance and management of natural resources. In the pre-colonial period, natural resources were owned by a few individuals who control the wealth of the entire country. With the new democratic model of governance, all citizens are equal and opportunities are offered to all in an equal measure (Pratto et al., 2014). Clearly, western countries were quick to adapt to this model of governance but Africa and the East are yet to fully accept this concept. How a society came to dominate another one Due to the organization and freedom created through this model of governance, western countries have been able to dominate the entire world. For instance, America dominates the world despite the fact that the country was a British colony. How did American society overcome and dominate the world? This is considering the fact that