The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and the Story of an Hour...

Jurrell D. Harrison The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and The Story of an Hour Introduction to Literature Professor Daw Monday 12th December 2011 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, written by James Thurber (1939) and the Story of an Hour written by Chopin (1894) are the two literary works that will be compared and contrasted in this paper. Both these pieces depict some of the trials and tribulations of a union in marriage, such as the want of independence and excitement; experiences that a marriage can inadvertently inhibit. Not only do both these stories illustrate some of the wants or needs that arise out of marriage, but they both also show how at times; the only means by which desire or necessity can be satisfied or†¦show more content†¦For example, look back to the beginning part of the piece again and not how Thurber describes the rainy weather as: a terrible storm raging.† By using this metaphor, Thurber clearly engages the readers mind in an imaginative way. Another example is when Mitty describes sound of the hotel lobby doors as faintly derisive whistling, it is clear therefore to see that there is a playfulness, and a great detail of description through imagery in Thurber’s writing. Unlike Thurber however, Chopin’s piece is a lot darker – It isn’t as playful as Thurber’s. A similarity that can be found in the two pieces is that they both use scenery to set tone and description. Chopin’s piece is also ironic, unlike Thurber’s, which will be discussed later in this paper. With the theme of both stories being similar, it is also very interesting to note, that both characters in their stories, explore the freedoms that they desire through imagination. Divert again to the first part of Thurber’s piece, where Mitty exceeds his wife’s comfort speed. He begins to speed only when he begins to daydream about being the Commader of the Navy hydroplane. This relation between his speed and his daydream is clearly direct. Simply put, Mitty’s lack of concentration while driving is because in his mind, he is doing things, that make him feel or experience excitement. And for those very moments, it is in his mind that he escapes the world. LikeShow MoreRelatedThe Secret Life Of Walter Mitty1086 Words   |  5 Pagesexcitement and fun. The ideas that inhabit stories, movies, and the minds of those who wish to escape from their dreary, unhappy lives and live a life of action and excitement. This concept is the exact idea that James Thurber wr ote about in â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,† utilizing indirect characterization and motifs to highlight those ideas. In â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,† the characterization through the actions and thoughts of Walter Mitty are employed to expose his personality andRead MoreChopin VS Thurber and Relationships2545 Words   |  11 PagesIn the stories â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† by James Thurber (Clugston, sec. h1.1) and â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin (Clugston, sec. h2.1) escapism is a similar theme with in both these stories, yet there is a slight variance in how each of these authors place these characters into their escape from reality, relationships, and everyday chaos. In each of these stories the author shows the characters escaping the realities of the relationship, one through Walter Mitts’ daydreams, and theRead MoreStory of an Hour Literary Analysis1990 Words   |  8 PagesLiterature Professor Joan Golding 10-16-2011 â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin and â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† by James Thurber both captured my interest from the very beginning. These short stories represent gender roles and marriage. They both are about married couples with controlling mates. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is about a young married woman and how she reacts to the news of her husband dying in a train accident. The story takes place in the home of the young woman, Mrs. MallardRead MorePeople throught out the world and throughout time all had different perceptions of death. Some500 Words   |  2 Pageswere or where they came from but he stayed awake for hours so he wouldnt be harmed. Finally once the murderer killed the old man and the police came to investigate, the murderer was starting to suffer from his insanity. The murderers insanity was too great for him and he told the police he killed the old man hoping the would kill him right then and there so he wouldnt hav e to hear the noises anymore. Mrs. Mallard from The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin found freedom and independence when she

Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci Free Essays

This oil on poplar, 77 x 53 cm, or 30 x 21 inches,  Ã‚   has taken the world by a perennial storm for one reason or the other, for centuries. It is one of the most famous paintings of the world. Its creation is the news for all time to come. We will write a custom essay sample on Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci or any similar topic only for you Order Now When it was stolen, it again made headlines in the world press. So much scrutiny, parody, studies and mythologizing about this little painting, which is greatest of the great! That enigmatic expression, the smile that has no beginning or end, has always taken the world of art critics/lovers  Ã‚   to the flight of an amazing wonderland. Aesthetics qualities of Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci: â€Å"Silence is the sweetest sound on Earth,† said Mr. Boris Pasternak, the famous Nobel Prize winning Russian author. The gaze of Mona Lisa is fixed on the viewer and it seems to welcome him with her typical silent style of communication. Silence is a divine quality and the immediate effect of viewing this painting is, as if it emits rays of divinity. Leonardo used a pyramid design to make the woman simple and calm, in the space of painting. The light gives the variety of living surfaces an underlying geometry of sphere and circles. The images of seated Madonna were widely popular at that time, and Leonard has used the same method. He has admirably succeeded in creating the visual impression of distance between Mona Lisa and the observer. Her sitting angle indicates her reserved posture. The best part that seizes the attention of the viewer is her brightly lit face. Much darker elements there around, like hair, veil and the shadow, create a telling effect as regards the glow on her face. Every feature is divine; every artistic stroke makes you salute Mona Lisa. For a while, you even forget the creator of the painting, and you think that it has arrived straight from the celestial world! â€Å"The painting was one of the first portraits to depict the sitter before an imaginary landscape†¦ Behind her a vast landscape recedes to icy mountains. Winding paths and a distant bridge give only the slightest indications of human presence†¦ are echoed in the undulating imaginary valleys and rivers behind her. The blurred outlines, graceful figure, dramatic contrasts of light and dark, and overall feeling of calm are characteristic of Leonardo’s style†¦ for it represents rather an ideal than a real woman. The sense of overall harmony achieved in the painting—especially apparent in the sitter’s faint smile— reflects Leonardo’s idea of the cosmic link connecting humanity and nature†¦.† (Mona Lisa†¦.) Regional qualities of Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci: You observe that Mona Lisa has no visible facial hair at all. No eyebrows or eyelashes. This was done by Leonardo, as per the practice obtaining at that time as genteel women plucked their hair. â€Å"In 2004, the Italian scholar Giuseppe Pallanti published Monna Lisa, Mulier Ingenua (literally ‘†Mona Lisa: Real Woman†, published in English under the title Mona Lisa Revealed: The True Identity of Leonardo’s Model. The book gathered archival evidence in support of the traditional identification of the model as Lisa Gherardini. According to Pallanti, the evidence suggests that Leonardo’s father was a friend of del Giocondo. â€Å"The portrait of Mona Lisa, done when Lisa Gherardini was aged about 24, was probably commissioned by Leonardo’s father himself for his friends as he is known to have done on at least one other occasion† (Mona Lisa†¦) Regardless of the fact that the scenes depicted are relevant to the region to which Leonard belonged, the compositions are united by a magical mood of frozen time. The artist has captured in the painting what he himself has seen and experienced more deeply. No artist can create a masterpiece, if he thinks of the critics in advance-as to what the knower of the art might opine. To be an art critic is one thing; to be an artist is an entirely different matter. A critic writes with the pen using his mind. The artist writes with the strokes of his brush, inspired by the soul! Mona Lisa is the actual life and transformation of Leonard’s life. Therefore, it is believed that he carried the painting, along with him, wherever he went! â€Å"It is difficult to discuss such a work briefly because of the complex stylistic motifs which are part of it. In the essay â€Å"On the perfect beauty of a woman†, by the 16th-century writer Firenzuola, we learn that the slight opening of the lips at the corners of the mouth was considered in that period a sign of elegance† (Web Museum†¦) All world famous paintings and drawings remind the viewers of the traditional regional images of that time, along with which the artist was brought up and associated with. Such an influence can not be avoided, as all paintings tell everything about the painting and something about the artist who created it. Vibrant regions around him are bound to be reflected in his paintings. The regional qualities and influences can be seen in the avalanche of modern paintings.   The highlight of the paintings in the 1980s is confrontation between the power of the feminine and the power of the masculine. In the 1990s it has been mythological and religious themes related paintings, environment objects and land art. At the end of the 20th century, it was society’s processes of development. (LNMM-2007) References: Mona Lisa–  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa – 107k Web Museum, Paris, Leonardo da Vinci   LNMM: Exhibitions 2007—archives www.vmm.lv/fr/exhib_archive/2007/?PHPSESSID=cc35fafcecf9d2735cf267e5d2e91870 – 43k How to cite Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci, Essay examples

Acadian History free essay sample

Acadian History This section of the web site is devoted to the history of the Acadian people. It explains how and why the French lived in this place and called it Acadia, it was the part of New France. How a group of less that 100 families, including Francois Girouard and his wife Jeanne Aucoin, took a chance and left France to inhabit this new land and call it home. This Colony of people managed to prosper even under strict English rule. I can thinking the how the Acadian people lived and in what kind of the houses, and what food they eat In 1755, everything changed. The years between 1755 and 1762 was a tragic time for the Acadians and the Girouard Family. The British and French were feuding over the control of rights and land. Until 1713, all the Acadian were asked to swear loyalty to the British. When they refused the British authority decided for enforce a deportation. We will write a custom essay sample on Acadian History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It was a bad news for Acadian. Acadians lost all of their rights and lands and were forced to leave in the hold of overcrowded ships bound to a unknown place. The story of the Acadian deportation is not pretty. During the late summer and fall f that year, troops acting under the authority of colonial officials rounded up about seven thousand French-speaking, Catholic Acadians. They were crowded into the holds of transport ship and dispersed in small groups throughout the British North American colonies. Many families were separated, some never to meet again. Another eleven thousand Acadians escaped into the woods and spent years as homeless refugees. At least three thousand were captured and sent to France, while others took up arms in guerrilla resistance. * Why did this happen? What offense had the Acadians committed? They had refused to take an unconditional oath of allegiance, insisting on remaining neutral in the violent and destructive imperial warfare between the colonial empires of Great Britain and France. They were willing to swear loyalty to the British crown, they declared, but only with the inclusion of a condition: that we will take up arms neither against his Britannic Majesty, nor against France, nor against any of their subjects or allies. * British colonial authorities tactily agreed to those terms for nearly forty years, and the Acadians became known as the neutral French. But in 1755, on the eve of what would prove to the climactic war with the French in North America, British authorities used Acadian neutrality as the pretext for their expulsion. The deportation of the Acadians began in the fall of 1755 and lasted until 1778. The first removals, comprising about 7000 people, were from settlements around the Bay of Fundy. After the British captured ile Royale and ile Saint-Jean and raided the Gaspe and the Saint Jonn River in 1 58, turtner Acadians were captured and deported. Farms and businesses were destroyed. A British officer arriving at Annapolis Royal in October 1757 observed ruined habitations, and extensive orchards well planted with apple and pear trees,bending under their weight of fruit . Acadians were shipped to many points around the Atlantic. Large numbers were deported to the continental colonies, others to France. Some managed to escape to New France (Quebec). A handful arrived in the Upper Saint John Valley. Many moved several times; a great number left the American colonies at the end of the war and returned to Nova Scotia; many of those in France moved to the French Caribbean or o Louisiana, where they formed the basis of the Cajun population. Those Acadians who returned to Nova Scotia in the 1780s and 1790s found their former settlements occupied by American settlers and Loyalists. As a result, the Acadians occupied new areas in western Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, Prince Edward Island, the eastern shore of New Brunswick, and the Gasp © Peninsula. In these areas, they drew a living from farming, inshore fishing, lumbering, and shipbuilding The National Historic Park at Grand-pr © remember the Acadian deportation. The tatue represents the maid Evangeline, the hero of Henry Wadsworth LongfelloWs famous poem about the deportation published in 1847. Recently, the Queen of England acknowledged that this was a mistake. In order to remember this event 250th anniversary, the Canadian postal service distributes a commemorative stamp, in the postage stamp design ticket the ticket for Canada in 1930 the commemorative stamp which distributed for this event 175th anniversary, the design for the same year Arab League Cady Asias gospel church. In this kind of ticket the ticket design mentality is the Canadian postal service postage stamp dvisory commissions suggestion. This postage stamp by Pierre-Yves the Pelletier design, the face value is 0. 50 Canadian dollar, the postage stamp specification for 39. 65x48mm, edition 16, the perforation 13+ degree, print by Canadian India Paper money Factory, the quantity issued is 2,500,000. * The British and Canadian government have now acknowledged their responsibility for the wrong done to the Acadians. The role of New Englanders as the perpetrators in this episode of ethnic cleansing suggests that Americans ought to reflect on the larger context of our national history.