Biography of Peggy Shippen, Socialite and Spy

Biography of Peggy Shippen, Socialite and Spy Peggy Arnold (born Margaret Shippen; July 11, 1760–August 24, 1804) was a Philadelphia socialite during the American Revolution. She was part of a notoriously Loyalist family and social circle, but she became infamous for her role in the treason of her husband, General Benedict Arnold. Fast Facts: Peggy Shippen Known For:  Socialite and spy who helped her husband, General Benedict Arnold, commit treasonBorn:  July 11, 1760 in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDied:  August 24, 1804 in London, EnglandSpouse:  General Benedict Arnold (m. 1779-1801)Children:  Edward Shippen Arnold, James Arnold, Sophia Matilda Arnold, George Arnold, William Fitch Arnold Pre-Revolution Childhood The Shippen family was one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Philadelphia. Peggys father, Edward Shippen IV, was a judge, and although he tried to keep his political views as private as possible, he was generally counted as a â€Å"Tory† or â€Å"Loyalist† to the British colonials, not an ally of the would-be revolutionaries. Peggy was the Shippens’ fourth daughter, born after three successive older sisters (Elizabeth, Sarah, and Mary) and a brother, Edward. Because she was the youngest of the family, Peggy was generally considered the favorite and was particularly doted upon by her parents and others. As a child, she was educated like most girls of her social class: basic school subjects, as well as accomplishments considered suitable for a wealthy young lady, such as music, embroidery, dancing, and sketching. Unlike some of her contemporaries, however, Peggy displayed a particular interest in politics from a young age. She learned about political and financial matters from her father. As she grew older, she gained an understanding of these topics as they related to the Revolution; she had hardly known a time when the colonies were not at war, since the war began when she was only five years old. A Tory Belle Despite her genuine interest in politics, Peggy was still a young woman concerned with social events, and she tended to move mostly in Loyalist circles. By 1777, when Peggy was seventeen, Philadelphia was under the control of the British, and the Shippen home was central to many social events involving the British officers and Loyalist families. Among these guests was a significant figure: Major John Andre. At the time, Andre was an up-and-coming figure in the British forces, under the command of General William Howe. He and Peggy met often in social settings and were believed to be particularly close. The pair definitely shared a flirtation, and it’s fairly likely that their relationship bloomed into a full-fledged romance. When the British abandoned their stronghold in Philadelphia upon news of French aid coming to the rebels, Andre left with the rest of his troops, but Peggy kept up a correspondence with him in subsequent months and years. The city was placed under the command of Benedict Arnold in the summer of 1778. It was at this point that Peggy’s personal politics began to change, at least outwardly. Despite her father still being a staunch Tory, Peggy began to grow close to General Arnold. Their differences in political background were not the only gap between them: Arnold was 36 to Peggy’s 18. Despite this, Arnold sought the consent of Judge Shippen to propose to Peggy, and although the judge was mistrusting, he ultimately gave his consent. Peggy wed Arnold on April 8, 1779. Life as Mrs. Arnold Arnold purchased Mount Pleasant, a mansion just outside the city, and planned to renovate it for his family. They did not end up living there, however; it became a rental property instead. Peggy found herself with a husband who was not necessarily as much in favor as he once had been. Arnold had been profiting off of his command in Philadelphia, and upon being caught in 1779, he was found guilty of a few minor corruption charges and was reprimanded by George Washington himself. At this point, Peggy’s favoring of the British began to re-emerge. With her husband furious at his countrymen and their social circle increasingly including those with British sympathies, the opportunity arose to switch sides. Peggy had kept in touch with her old flame Andre, now a major and the spy chief for British General Sir Henry Clinton. Historians are divided as to who was the original instigator of communications between Andre and Arnold: while some point to Peggy’s close relationship with Andre, others suspect Jonathan Odell or Joseph Stanbury, both Loyalists affiliated with the Arnolds. Regardless of who started it, the undisputed fact is that Arnold began communications with the British in May 1779, sharing information on troop locations, supply lines, and other vital military intelligence. Espionage and Aftermath Peggy did play some part in these exchanges: she facilitated some of the communications, and some of the surviving letters include portions written in her handwriting, with her husband’s messages on the same sheet, written in invisible ink. In 1792, it would be revealed that Peggy was paid  £350 for handling some messages. Around this time, however, Peggy became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son, Edward, in March 1780. The family moved to a home near West Point, the crucial military post where Arnold had gained command- and where he was slowly weakening defenses in order to make it easy to hand over to the British. In September 1780, the plot fell apart. On September 21, Andre and Arnold met so that Arnold could hand over significant documents related to the West Point plot. As Andre attempted to return to British territory, however, he was persuaded by his go-between that it would be safer to ride in plain clothes; as a result, he was captured on September 23 and deemed a spy instead of an enemy officer. Arnold fled on September 25, leaving Peggy and their son behind. George Washington and his aides, including Alexander Hamilton, were scheduled to have a breakfast with the Arnolds that morning, and they discovered his treason as they arrived to find Peggy alone. Peggy became hysterical upon â€Å"discovering† her husband’s treason, which may have helped buy Arnold time to escape. She returned to her family in Philadelphia and feigned ignorance until a letter between Andre and Peggy was discovered, upon which she was sent to British-occupied New York with her husband, where their second son, James, was born. Andre was executed as a spy. Post-Revolution Life and Legacy The Arnolds fled to London in December 1781, and Peggy was presented at the royal court in February 1782. It was here that she was paid for her services in the war – an annual pension for her children, plus  £350 on the orders of King George III himself. The Arnolds had two more children – a son and a daughter – but both died in infancy in London. Arnold returned to North America in 1784 for a business opportunity in Canada. While he was there, Peggy gave birth to their daughter Sophia, and Arnold may have had an illegitimate son in Canada. She joined him there in 1787, and they had two more children. In 1789, Peggy visited family in Philadelphia, and she was made very unwelcome in the city. By the time the Arnolds left Canada to return to England in 1791, they were unwelcome in Canada, too, where mobs met them with protests as they departed. Arnold died in 1801, and Peggy auctioned off much of their property to cover his debts. She died in London of 1804, possibly from cancer. Although history remembers her husband as the ultimate traitor, historians have also come to conclude that Peggy played a role in that treason. Her legacy is a mysterious one, with some believing she was just a British sympathizer and others believing she orchestrated the whole betrayal (Aaron Burr and his wife, Theodosia Prevost Burr, were among the sources of the latter belief). Either way, Peggy Shippen Arnold went down in history as party to one of the most infamous actions in American history. Sources Brandt, Clare The Man in the Mirror: A Life of Benedict Arnold. Random House, 1994.Cooney, Victoria. Love and the Revolution. Humanities, vol. 34, no. 5, 2013.Stuart, Nancy. Defiant Brides: The Untold Story of Two Revolutionary-Era Women And the Radical Men They Married. Boston, Beacon Press, 2013.

Job Profile - Human Resources Managers

Job Profile - Human Resources Managers What Is a Human Resources Manager? A human resources manager, or HR manager, is in charge of overseeing the human capital, or employees, of an organization. They often help to staff an organization by recruiting employees, conducting hiring interviews, and selecting new employees. Once staff is hired, the human resources manager may oversee employee training, employee benefits programs (such as insurance programs), and disciplinary proceedings.   Human Resources Management Job Titles Some human resources managers are just called human resources managers, but others may have more specialized titles. Some of the most common job titles associated with the human resources management field include:   Affirmative Action SpecialistBenefits ManagerCompensation ManagerEmployee Relations representativeEmployee Welfare ManagerGovernment Personnel SpecialistJob AnalystLabor Relations ManagerPersonnel ManagerTraining Manager Required Education for Human Resources Managers Most human resources managers have some sort of formal education. The minimum requirement is typically a bachelors degree in business, management, human resources or a related field. However, it is not uncommon for human resources to have a more advanced degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a specialized masters degree, such as a Master in Human Resources Management. While enrolled in a human resources degree  program, students will usually take core business courses in management, accounting, and finance as well as more specialized courses that teach them about labor relations, workplace psychology, benefits management, business ethics, and business law. Student who want to work for a company with a global business presence should also take courses in international business.   In addition to classes, aspiring human resources managers should also seek out other opportunities while they are enrolled in a college, university or business school program. Networking is important in this field. Meeting people will make it easier to get a job after graduation and may even help you to fill positions once you do start working for a company. Participating in internships and experiential learning experiences can also give you valuable hands-on skills that will prepare you for your career and possibly give you an edge over other applicants when you enter the workforce after graduation.   Salaries for Human Resources Managers Human resources management is a lucrative career path for business majors. According to numbers published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, human resources managers make a median annual salary of more than $100,000 per year. The highest paid HR managers earn almost $200,000 per year.   Job Outlook for Human Resources Managers Growth  in the human resources field  is expected to be better than average in the coming years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Opportunities are expected to be best for individuals with a masters degree in human resources or a related area.

Globalization Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Globalization - Case Study Example Many things have conspired to make this trend a reality, primary of which is the constant push for globalization from liberal political theories that a â€Å"rising tide lifts all boats† as famously uttered by former president John F. Kennedy in one of his speeches. Another is rapid technology, especially in the areas of information and communications technologies (ICT) in which both geographic distance and time zone differentials had been shortened or compressed, in what is now called as a â€Å"flat world† where people produce goods and services continuously on a twenty-four hour basis. A very frequent theme of globalization critics is the concept of a â€Å"race to the bottom† in which manufacturers try to get the cheapest products made abroad at the lowest labor costs possible. These issues are the main concerns in this management case study regarding bicycle manufacturing. Discussion Super Sized Cycles is a little niche maker of custom-built bicycles intende d for big (obese or fat) people who are too big or heavy for ordinary and conventional bicycles. It is owned by Ms. Denizot and is in existence for barely five years already and operates out of the Burlington city in Vermont State in the United States of America. Her bikes are certainly not cheap, as these costs range from $699 up to $3,395 in price but these are built sturdier to carry overweight people and not collapse under a heavy load; the wheels, tires, seats, and steel frames are built much stronger than ordinary bikes. Sales last year was around $104,000 only. Mission Statement – Big Bikes for Big People at an affordable price of high quality Target Market – the obvious target market for this small niche-market manufacturer of big bikes are people who are obese or overweight which ordinary bicycles cannot carry as their big weight cause these ordinary bikes to either collapse or suffer a flat tire. There is now a sizable number of people who belong to this cate gory of overweight people as there is an on-going obesity epidemic in the United States of America due to changing lifestyle patterns, primarily the lack of any adequate physical exercise to burn off excess calories and the habits of many people to consume a lot of junk foods such as fast-food which are low in nutrients but high in bad cholesterol. In fact, this obesity epidemic is now so bad it is estimated that one out of every three adult Americans is considered overweight based on the body mass index or BMI which is the easiest way to measure if a person is obese or not (The Economist para. 3). Even children today are also markedly obese compared to kids two or three decades ago. Economists have considered imposing a so-called â€Å"fat tax† to discourage the people from eating too much junk food these days. However, there is another more positive approach to changing people behaviors through an activist approach which is to encourage obese people to be more physically ac tive through exercise. One of the healthier and more fun ways to do so is through biking and Super Sized Cycles has wonderfully found this viable alternative by offering to overweight people the chance to own a bike that is suitable for their size. There is a clear customer need for big bikes for big people who often cannot find the right bike. A generic business-level strategy for this small company for big bikers is to market exclusively to people who are considered obese based on their individual BMI. This is a type of focused strategy which means the company should sell big bikes only and nothing else that will dilute its strategy and make it lose its marketing focus. Examples are the two models that the owner had developed by herself (named as â€Å"

Napoleon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Napoleon - Essay Example For example, in military affairs, he managed military inventions, which were necessary for the French revolution. This included the use of mass conscription enabling the use of block tactics to enhance attacks in columns. This also helped in the elimination of supply lines enabling the French armies to be mobile (Lyons, 25). History depicts that, before the reign of napoleon, France had undergone revolutionary turmoil for over a decade. Causing instability in the government and increasing incidents of corruption. It is evident that during this period church policies were rare because they triggered inflation. The citizens of France were tired of the situation, and they desired for a stable government that would ensure the stability of their lives. These changes were brought about by napoleons reign because it is his military innovations that helped the French in to secure their government. The success of the military forces established by napoleon helped him to consolidate and hold o n to power. This led to his declaration as the French emperor in the year 1804 (Lyons, 33). Politically it is evident that Napoleon was an active administrator. History depicts that the internal reforms that were put in place by Napoleon helped France in consolidating some achievements during the French revolution, enhancing the suppression of others. ... The political impact during his reign in France is also depicted from his introduction of equality as one of the essential factors in politics. This is because he thought that by introducing the concept, he would have stayed in his position with little threat. This changed the political situation in France because all men were considered equal under his power. Some of his main accomplishments in ensuring equality in the political system are evident from the establishment of Napoleonic civil codes. This made all the men equal, however; the law despised the women because the men maintained their legal powers over the women. This had an impact on the political structure of France because the hopes that the women had towards the revolution as an improvement of their legal positions were frustrated by Napoleon (Lyons, 55). Napoleon is also seen to have made a contribution to the political structure of the French government through his introduction of nationalism. History depicts that he i s one of the French leaders, who believed in nationalism as a tool that would help him obtain the loyalty of the French people during his reign. It is evident that it is this spirit of nationalism that enhanced the inspiration of the armies of the French government enabling the government to attain a remarkable series of victories. These were of enormous benefit to him as he obtained a chance to rise to power. However, this interfered with the political structure of France as it was thought to be a trick that was used, by the leader, to establish a personality cult making the French people identify him with France. This meant that by the citizens being loyal to their country France they were also being loyal to him. It is evident that

Why did the reds win the Civil War Essay Example for Free

Why did the reds win the Civil War Essay The Reds won the Civil War for many reasons, but some are specifically more important than others. Some factors such as†¦ Geographical advantage   Strong leadership Unity and organisation   Support Paragraph 1 (Short) (6 mins) The geographical advantage of the Reds helped them with the Civil war because it provided them with military benefits that the Whites did not have. Geographical Factors   Reds: Held central area of Western Russia – Moscow + Petrograd = population for conscription   Whites: Scattered amongst Russia. Reds: Controlled large industrial centers produce war supplies deliver them efficiently amongst soldiers Whites: Communication difficult, hundreds of miles separated different armies – created disunity   How did this help them win? Because they had abundant resources while the Whites did not†¦ Paragraph 2 (Short) (6mins) The Reds won the Civil war partly because of their enemy’s disunity and lack of organisation. The Reds could therefore exploit the White’s major weaknesses in order to secure a victory. Unity + Organisation   Whites: Some members were liberal and just satisfied with the returning of the Provisional government   Whites: The generals distrusted each other Didn’t communicate with each other about attacks bases already far apart Reds: Conscription was introduced and Trotsky hand picked loyal soldiers army increased from 100,000 to 500,000 by August 1918   Reds: January 1920 5 million men enlisted former Tsarist officers held with blackmail   The result? The Campaigns of Kolchak and Deniken contributed to the Red’s victory (lack of troops, unorganised) Production of weapons war communism Paragraph 3 (6 mins) Without a clear sense of direction and leadership the Reds would have had difficulty in their success. Lenin and Trotsky were robust leaders who led the Red’s to their victory. Leadership   Trotsky traveled 65,000 miles throughout Russia assisting front line to encourage Red soldiers.   Lenin clear and structured leadership Whites: Had multiple leaders who set bad examples by drinking. Whites: Aided landlords to gain lost land (lost support from peasants)   Whites: Once peasants conscripted   Brutal discipline = want democracy more   The result? : Better army and more support = victory Paragraph 4 (6mins) Another factor that meant the Reds won the Civil war was because of the amount support they gained in Russia. Support   Reds: gained support through repression and reform Repression: Cheka, grain requisitioning,   Reform: Propaganda, VIK peasant representation of villages in dealings with central government. Briefly mention former Tsarist commanders (blackmail)   Whites: Had foreign aid from France, Japan and USA. Was half hearted and some troops sympathised with Reds. Whites: Peasant soldiers often switched sides, as they were not happy with White’s declaration of returning land back to landlords.   The result? : Had committed troops who fought for them, ensuing in a better army. Conclusion (10) To conclude, I think the main reason as to why the Reds won the Civil war was because of their enemy’s disunity and their lack of support. The White’s became infamous for their terror they brought. Estimated 100,000 – 150,000 Jews in Ukraine and southern Russia were killed in pogroms.   Result? Loss of support   Reds managed to gain 48,000-experienced Tsarist officers   Compare with Whites and their unorganised efforts Effect of good army?   Reds: Ensure loyalty of officers and men, political commissars attached to provide ‘political education’. Whites? Less loyalty   Disunity?   Campaign example Why did the Reds win the Civil War in 1920 Essay Plan.

Stalins Rise To Power Essay -- essays research papers

Question: How far did Stalin achieve and maintain what Kruchev described as â€Å"the accumulation of immense and limitless power†, in the USSR between 1924 and 1945? Between 1924 and 1945, Joseph Stalin was able to emerge as the leader of the USSR and maintain what Kruchev described as â€Å"the accumulation of immense and limitless power†. Stalin's rise to power was a combination of his ability to manipulate situations and the failure of others to prevent him from taking power, especially Leon Trotsky. Stalin ruled the USSR from 1929 until his death in 1953. His rule was one of tyranny, a great change from the society that his predecessor, Lenin, had envisioned. During his time of reign, Stalin put into effect two self-proclaimed "five-year plans". Both were very similar in that they were intended to improve production in the nation. The first of these plans began collectivization, in which harvests and industrial products were seized by the government and distributed as needed. The government eliminated most private businesses and the state became the leader in commerce. By these, and many more ideas, Stalin was able to collect limitless and immense power with no one to stop him. In 1925, according to historian V. Serge1, LeonTrotsky did not take advantage of several opportunities, which would have helped him to crush Stalin politically. When he failed to take advantage of these opportunities, Stalin maneuvered himself into a stronger position within the party by allying with Zinoviev and Kamnev. He manipulated them into crushing Trotsky, thus eliminating the strongest opponent in his path to power. Stalin cleverly avoided potential political diminishment when Lenin formulated his Testament in December 1922. Lenin's Testament2 described what he thought of the future of the Party and Party leaders, especially Trotsky and Stalin. Lenin warned the people of a potential split in which Stalin and Trotsky would be the head factors. When describing Stalin, Lenin felt that he had showed "†¦unlimited authority†¦ in his hands and whether he will always be capable of using that authority with sufficient caution." The content of Lenin's Testament eventually became more damaging to Trotsky than Stalin, allowing Stalin to accumulate even more power. Together with Lenin unintentionally praising Stalin, Stalin manipulated the content of the Testament to enhance... ...e 1930s. He decided and persuaded the people that the former leaders and allies, such as Kamenev and Zenoviev, were plotting against the Party with Trotsky. The purpose of the purges, according to N. Mandelstam4, was not to secure power Stalin’s position, but to intimidate the nation. So, all opponents were imprisoned. In January 1937, several other prominent Bolshevik leaders were trailed for treason and executed. The climax of Stalin’s purges came in March 1938 when 21 leading Bolsheviks, including Bukharin, Rykov and Yagoda were similarly accused and killed. This demonstrates Stalin’s immense power, for he could simply eliminate anyone standing in his way! Between 1924 and 1945, Stalin proved that he could, â€Å"accumulate immense and limitless power† in the USSR, mainly because everyone was either scared or inspired by him. Many of the poor peasants thought that he could give them what the wanted. Many of the kulaks were afraid to face Joseph and those who did were imprisoned. Even the Party members who did not give Stalin his way were eliminated. Because of his immeasurable amount of power and strength over the nation, Joseph Stalin would not be opposed by anyone until his death!

Chinese Literature Essay

The first short story under consideration is â€Å"Iron Child† by Mo Yan. The piece of literature deals with industrialization of China, which aimed at establishing the socialist model of political system of this country in the beginning of the second half of the twentieth century. The outcomes of the political transformation of China, particularly, child labor, are described in the story. The story â€Å"Iron Child† is narrated by a five-year-old boy (Yan n.pag.). Another short story under analysis is â€Å"Dogshit Food† by Liu Heng. The events of this story take place in the period of the so-called Great Leap Forward (1958). â€Å"Dogshit Food† deals predominantly with the issues of social life in China and political transformation after the World War II. The author emphasizes the human perception of beauty and ethical aspect of interpersonal relations. The story is being delivered in the third person singular, which indicates author’s narrative. The protagonist of the novel is Yang Tiankuan (Heng n.pag.). In spite of thematic diversity and differences in the formal realization of subject matter in both short-stories, â€Å"Dogshit Food† by Liu Heng and â€Å"Iron Child† by Mo Yan, they have a wide range of similarities. In his short story â€Å"Iron Child†, Mo Yan deals with the issues of industrialization of China establishing the socialist model of political system. The writer also reflects upon the most acute and burning social issues, particularly, child labor. It should be mentioned that Mo Yan creates the reality in which children appeared to be the most vulnerable in  the face of decisions and choices of adults. The general tone of the novel is gloomy. The pace of revolving the plot is predominantly moderate, gravitating towards acceleration. The surrealist vision gives this short story the flavor of reminiscence, since the author, apparently, is recalling and reconsidering his childhood. The aspect of the surrealist vision is embodied in the Iron Child who is the protagonist’s friend. Iron Child is endowed with extraordinary abilities of consuming iron (Yan n.pag.). On the other hand, â€Å"Dogshit Food† by Liu Heng, above all, accentuates the inter-personal relations between Yang Tiankuan and his wife and Yang Tiankuan and the rest of community inhabiting the Flood Water Valley. According to the short story, the negative effect of reformatting the agriculture and economy of China is related to the issue of malnutrition. Apparently, the author is drawing a parallel between the affliction and the person’s character. The conflict between the appearance, the outer surface, and person’s inner world is revealed through the lens of Yang Tiankuan’s wife. Namely, the author analyzes the way she treats Yang Tiankuan and others and, consequently, the way she perceives the world (Heng n.pag.). Therefore, the issues dealt in both novels are social life in China in the age of the Great Leap Forward, childhood and the status of children in Chinese society, interpersonal relations, human perception, and understanding the beauty. The essence of social issues and their outcomes and, as a result, the cause-effect relations dealt with in both short stories constitute the commonness between these particular pieces of literature. Another important observation to be made concerns the aspect of distinctiveness and autonomy of Chinese literature in general and Chinese prose of the twentieth century in particular. The phenomenon of distinctiveness and autonomy of Chinese literature was predetermined by the geographical position of China as well as scientific, cultural, and political separateness of this region from the rest of the world. Coalescence, i.e. loss of individuality, of the Chinese historic-cultural frontier in Asia represented itself as a notable fact common to the second half of the twentieth century. Mo Yan and Liu Heng’s positions supported Chinese identity in the context of culture by all means. Considering the current situation, it is important to admit the process of introducing the realities of the Western world to East and China in particular. They were assimilated into Eastern ground. Mo Yan and Liu Heng’s short stories were called, above all, to communicate the idea of cultural identity to the audience across the world. In other words, these particular pieces of literature have no target audience. In its turn, the absence of target audiences indicates both self-sufficiency and self-sustainment of art in general and literature in particular. Self-sufficiency and self-sustainment are the markers of the postmodern art, philosophy and the concept of world. However, social determination of both pieces of art is obvious as far as their subject matter is concerned. In my considered opinion, the issues of identity, assimilation and social determination presented in both â€Å"Dogshit Food† by Liu Heng and Mo Yan’s â€Å"Iron Child† are important in terms of investigating and analyzing. Works Cited Heng, Liu. â€Å"Dogshit Food.† _Fiction Since 1976._ Trans. Deride Sabina Knight. N.p., n.d. 366 – 378. Print. Yan, Mo. â€Å"Iron Child.† _Fiction Since 1976._ Trans. Howad Goldblatt. N.p., n.d. 367 – 387. Print.

History of Chines Opera and its effect on World Music Essay

The search for creativity and originality is deeply rooted in human nature such that it represents an inescapable and defining requirement of the human being. Since in man’s creative restlessness beats and pulsates what is most deeply human- the search for knowledge. A major issue in the history of china is its opera Extolling the great the importance of opera, it could be said that the Chinese by nature desire opera. Thus, making opera their delight and links it with their quest for survival. Opera can therefore be said to be ontological to them or the existentialist parlance, it is part of their existentiality since man for them is condemned to creative works and performance. To Elucidate more on the History of Chinese opera and its effect on world music is why I considered the topic â€Å"An analytical exposition on the history of Chinese opera and its effect on world music† very pertinent as an effort in enriching our human culture and our existence. My goal in this study is not to probe into the nature of Chinese opera but, to evolve and analytical exposition on its history and how it has imparted an effect on world music. The Concept of Opera: An opera is a staged dramatic work that is entirely sung. However, there are many exceptions to this rule. There are operas in which the actors sing in between spoken dialogue, and others that are semi-staged. Some operas are constructed with action scenes called recitative. Personal commentary or scenes involving inner thoughts and emotions are called arias. An aria is a song in which a character may share his or her feelings with the audience and fellow characters. Occasionally this is done in an ensemble with two or more singers and then the aria becomes a duet, trio, quartet, etc. epending on the number of singers involved. Composers used recitative to advance the story while arias, duets, trios, and quartets often were comments on the action. In most modern opera, composers no longer use the structure of recitative and aria, but blend the two styles together to create a more realistic picture of continuous drama. Characters in opera are developed by the composer and given certain voices to best illustrate their personality and role. Opera is thought to be the single greatest art form because it combines many artistic disciplines into one. The Nature of Chinese Opera; a Historical Survey: Chinese traditional opera is a comprehensive performing art which combines singing, music, dialogue, acrobatics, martial arts, and pantomime. It represents the culmination and distillation of two thousand years of Chinese civilization. A traditional form of stage entertainment, weaving together elements of mime, dance, song, dialogue, swordplay, and acrobatics into one fluid continuous flow. Gestures, movements and expressions incorporated within each performer’s script come together to bring forth an impressive performance. In contrast to Western stage entertainment, which is subdivided into different categories such as opera, drama and sketches, Chinese opera has remained faithful to its original format over the centuries. By doing away with three-dimensional stage props and complicated backdrops found in Western opera, Chinese opera conveys the idea of time and space to the audience through the acting of performers. This simple and flexible technique is called â€Å"imagined time and space† in Chinese operatic terminology. The acting, however, is not mere imitation of movements in daily life. Instead, it has been perfected to bring out just their essentials, making them highly-stylize and rhythmic dancing movements. Such acting is described in Chinese stage language as â€Å"stylized formula†. In addition, Chinese opera has specific costumes, facial make-ups, musical motifs and recitations to represent each character in the series of characters known as Xingtous. All this, plus imagined time and space and stylized acting, has enabled the story to rise above real life and create a strong dramatic atmosphere with distinct operatic effects. The history of Chinese opera dates as far back as the third century, simple plays were performed as part of court entertainment. In the twelfth century, during the Southern Song Dynasty (1271-1368). The Yuan zaju is a landmark in the development of traditional drama. It took social life as its main subject matter and was very popular at that time. Guan Hanqing is considered the greatest Yuan dramatist. One of his plays, The Wrongs Suffered by Dou E, is still appreciated by today’s audiences. In the later years of the Yuan Dynasty, Yuan zaju was gradually replaced by nanxi, a kind of southern opera. By the middle Ming Dynasty, a combination of Yuan zaju and nanxi, known as poetic drama, appeared. The Romance of drama, was written by Tang Xianzu who is considered the â€Å"Chinese Shakespeare During the late Qing Dynasty, a new type of traditional drama-Beijing Opera-came into being. In 1790, some troupes of Auhui Opera went to the Imperial Palace in Beijing to offer birthday congratulations to the emperor and other members of the royal family. They remained in Beijing and performed for the ordinary citizens. Because of their efforts to learn artistic techniques from other local operas and to the taste of the Based on Anhui Opera, Beijing Opera, Beijing Opera took shape as an independent opera form between 1840 and 1860. Having incorporated the merits of many other local dramas, Beijing Opera not only appeals to Chinese audiences but is warmly received by people all over the world. In the course of the development of the development of Chinese traditional opera, mutual borrowing has taken place among various types of local opera and new forms throughout have appeared continually. Recent surveys show there are 368 different forms of opera the country. Each variety takes its name from the place where it originated and is popular. The use of local dialects and unique melodies distinguish the different types of opera. Among the best known forms are Beijing Opera (actually a national form), Pingju (popular in the north), Shaoxing opera (popular in Zhejing Province and Shanghai), Yuju (a kind of Henan Opera), Kunqu (Kunshan Opera, popular mainly in Jiangsu Province), Qinqiang (Shaanxi Opera), Chuanju (Sichuan Opera), Hanju (Hubei Opera), and Yueju (Guangzhou Opera). Features of Chinese Opera and World Music;   A Synthesis:  China is the home of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and is also home to the earliest musical scale in recorded human history. For ages, Chinese music has been seeking a type of spiritual release, a doorway to vitality. It is like looking for spirituality with a unique dignity of its own. Now, we are starting to see the religious sounds heard from the pious and faithful people throughout Tibet slowly being infused into the beautiful music we hear everyday, bringing us a quiet, serene peace of mind, as it does not strive to be real in its physical presentation, since it is more to instruct than to amuse.

WAGNERS THOUGHTS ON CHRISTIANITY AND ANTI-SEMITISM

WAGNERS THOUGHTS ON CHRISTIANITY AND ANTI-SEMITISM II. POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INFLUENCES 4-5 V. SPIRITUAL The thoughts and ideas of Richard Wagner, in relation to anti-Semitism and Christianity, are linked not only to the social atmosphere he grew up in, but also to the writers and dramatists of that era whose works influenced and inspired many of his own. Although there are some conflicting statements written by him on these two subjects, the overall messages are of similar content. These statements are found in his racial and religious essays, scattered throughout many of his other writings and are present in some of his musical works as well. Wagner was apparently familiar with the old and new testaments of the Bible, could quote the Talmud, and was able to discuss religions such as Buddhism and Confucianism. This lent credibility to his outspoken opinions on the importance of language, Volk, and Kultur in German society. However, it is thought that the only person to have believed all of these theories was Wagner himself. Most of the people who supported him were not aware! of every idea that made up Wagnerian thinking, in particular, his views on anti-Christianity and anti-Semitism. Most people only agreed with one or two of Wagners ideas, but what made his opinions so interesting was that everyone could find at least one thing that they could agreed with, no matter how misplaced the sentiment was. For example, many Protestants willingly accepted his views on anti-Catholicism, without recognizing the anti-Christian values he also had; and the state of the people in Germany at the time could not help but avidly support his patriotic fervour, although it was closely connected with racial and cultural biasness in his anti-Semitic beliefs. During the 19th and 20th centuries Germany was seen by many as being one of the most cultu...

Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous for ESL

Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous for ESL The two most advanced tenses in the past are the past perfect and past perfect continuous. There are slight differences between these two tenses, but both are used to speak about actions that occur before another point in time in the past. Intermediate level English learners  can study the basic structures below, and then use the activities provided below. Teachers can print out and use materials in-class to help students acquire these two complicated tenses. There are also a number of lessons referenced below that focus on comprehension materials for both of these tenses. Finally, teachers can get ideas and tips from these guides to teaching the past perfect and past perfect continuous. Past Perfect There are two past tenses used to describe things that happen before another point in time in the past. Use the past perfect to talk about an event which had happened at some point in time before something took place. Tom had interviewed five times before he got his first job.She had already eaten by the time they arrived. Past Perfect Continuous The past perfect continuous is used to express how long something had been going on before something important happened in the past. Jane had been studying for four hours when he came home.Jack had been driving four over six hours when he finally pulled over to have lunch. Past Perfect Structure Positive Subject had past participle I, You, He, She, We, They had finished before I arrived. Negative Subject had not (hadnt) past participle I, You, He, She, We, They hadnt eaten before he finished the job. Questions Question word had subject past participle What - had he, she, you, we, they thought before I asked the question? Past Perfect Continuous Structure Positive Subject had been verb ing I, You, He, She, We, They had been working for two hours when she telephoned. Negative Subject had not (hadnt) been verb ing I, You, He, She, We, They hadnt been paying attention for long when he asked the question. Questions Question word (often How long) had been subject verb ing How long - had he, she, you, we, they been working before he arrived? Study the Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous in Depth Here are detailed guides to the past perfect and the past perfect continuous tenses. Each guide provides situations, common time expressions used with the tense, as well as examples. This guide is for choosing between using simple perfect forms or continuous perfect forms (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect vs present perfect continuous, past perfect continuous, future perfect continuous) is perfect for advanced level students looking to understand the fine points of these tenses. The past unreal (3rd) conditional also uses the past perfect form. Test Your Knowledge of Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous Once youve studied the rules - or if you already know the rules - test your knowledge with a past forms review or conditional forms quiz. Teach a Lesson about the Past Simple and Past Continuous Here are lessons on the site which have elements of the lesson which focus on the past perfect simple or past perfect continuous and their use with other tenses. Tense Identification Review - Integration Lesson for Upper-Level Students​A Difficult Situation - Using Modal Verbs of Probability in the PastMultinationals - Help or Hindrance? - use of past perfect/continuous to in debate lessons to provide contextGuilty! - communication lesson using a variety of past tensesSentence Auctions - students try to decide whether a sentence is a genuine masterpiece worth buying, includes examples of past perfect. Activities with the Past Perfect Simple and Past Perfect Continuous Some activities that will help you practice: Waiting for a Friend - Advanced past and future forms (future continuous, 3rd conditional, etc.)English Tenses Timeline Chart - study how the past perfect and past perfect continuous relate to other tenses on a timeline.

Political Development of Western Europe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Political Development of Western Europe - Essay Example From the revolution time to the period during the Franco-Prussian war, France had experienced different dictators led by the famous Napoleon and minimal political advancement was made until the emergence of a democracy in the late 19th century (Lecture 2). Germany’s democratization process was even slower in its own unique way because of issues to do with unification of the country in different aspects (Ertman 224). Germany was reunited as a nation in the 19th century coming from disintegration in the period before but even with its unification, its constitution and rule were solely an imagination of the princes and not with the involvement of the people as was the case with other advanced nations like England and the United States. By the end of 19th century, Germany could be said to have achieved a social democracy with dominion of power of the people through labor unions. Britain on the other hand has been on monarchy system of government for the longest time in the 19th ce ntury. Some aspects of democratic governance during this period may be inferred from Britain’s government institutional set up where crucial bodies such as the judiciary, local government and parliament were in place though working under the monarchy administration (Ertman 156). Additionally, an electoral system which could be termed as free and fair existed with desirable frequency of election activities though characterized by discriminative participation only allowing the rich and mighty at the expense of the poor and the common people. Even with successive legislation passed and efforts by the civil society forming social movements such as the... This paper stresses that democracy has been described variously but it basically means the form of political system that is guided by the power of the people. Although Europe was and still is one of the civilized regions of the world in the 19th century, the process of democratization in virtually all countries was complex and challenging and took different dimensions depending on country’s historical orientation politically, economically, and socially. During the period, Britain’s governance system was nearer that of a democracy compared to some other select countries like France and Germany. This report makes a conclusion that countries that encourage democratization must embrace the power of the electorate to influence political and governance decisions through majority rule and guided by the constitution and rule of the law, with eligible citizens given the opportunity to elect their representatives and run for public offices. There should be freedom of expression and worship, promotion of right for access to information, and opportunity to frequently change governments fairly and equitably through periodic elections. Even more, the rule of law as guided by the constitution must be observed and respected to avert inequalities and promote fair treatment for all. The promotion of individual freedom and dignity through human rights is fundamental in any democratic society where laws are set in line with the constitution to ensure that the rights of citizens are observed and respected. Democratic countries usually set up governance institutions to support and oversee effec tive adherence to these democratic principles.