Lesson before Dying
Ernest Gaines' novel A Lesson before Dying is a story about the evolution of two men during the period of time where one awaits death by execution and the other tries to improve the convicted man before time runs out. Beyond this crime story, there is the overt racism that is shaping their progress in the American south after the Civil ar but before the Civil Rights Movement. As African-American men, Grant and Jefferson have much of their lives predestined. No matter what they make of their lives, they will always be affected by the prejudicial attitudes of those around them. These are the two main characters at the center of the events in the novel. However, there are also extremely important characters in the story who serve the purpose of forwarding the story and forcing the evolution of the two primary male characters, Grant and Jefferson.…...

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Works Cited:

Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. New York, NY: Random House. 1993. Print

Lesson Before Dying
In the novel, 'A lesson before dying', there are many inter-related and intricately woven themes that highlight the predicament of a black man in 1940s Louisiana. Convicted of a crime he never committed, Jefferson is treated like an animal and when the public attorney tries to defend him for being a man without thoughts and feelings, this deeply distresses Jefferson and his mother. The novel then becomes a tale of responsibility towards self and community. A person owes something to his community despite his ill-favored circumstances. Jefferson's psyche is so negatively influenced by the comments made by the public defender "I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this" (8), that he starts seeing himself as an animal. The hog label has had a strange impact on him which alters his personality and makes him believe that "Just do the best you…...

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Work Cited:

Ernest J. Gaines, A Lesson Before Dying. New York: Random House, 1994

Jefferson faces his death with dignity, which he learns in part from his interact with Grant. Critic Beavers notes, "Though Jefferson's death is certain, Grant's task -- which becomes Jefferson's legacy -- is to impart some of himself, to demonstrate to Jefferson a way to improvise upon a negative situation till he discovers dignity and purpose" (Beavers 31). Each man learns something valuable from the other, and that is another major point of the novel. Gaines is showing the reader they can learn from anyone, no matter how "insignificant" they may seem. Everyone has a lesson and everyone can be a pupil, no matter who they are or what they do in life.
The theme of the novel is quite clear. Gaines' purpose in writing this novel is to illustrate how each person is valuable as a human being. Those with the most courage inspire others to live their lives…...

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References

Beavers, Herman. Wrestling Angels into Song: The Fictions of Ernest J. Gaines and James Alan McPherson. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995.

Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. New York: Alfred Knopf, 1993.

Ernest Gaines - a Lesson Before Dying
Ernest J. Gaines is considered by many critics to be a giant in his genre, and although he is not as "militant" or "intense" in his writing as ichard Wright, or James Baldwin, he makes his points about racism, about poverty, and about cultural bias, with a very strong sense of narrative and character development. This paper will address the characters in Gaines' novels, and it will also look into the background in which Gaines grew up into manhood. Though the civil rights movement is now just a point in the history of the United States, and today's news tends to focus on America's war in Iraq and on terrorism, for many African-Americans and others struggling to become part of the "American Dream," Gaines is a writer who hits home with honesty.

The civil rights movement came about because there was so much discrimination and…...

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References

Doyle, Mary Ann. "The Social Foundations Classroom." Educational Studies 32 (2001):

Folks, Jeffrey J. "Communal Responsibility in Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying." Mississippi Quarterly 52 (1999): 259-272.

Friesen, Lynette. "Gaines, Ernest J. A Gathering of Old Men." Library Journal (1983):

1501-1502.

But he didn't tell me that my aunt would help them do it'" (Gaines, 79). Grant believes at this point that dignity is something he can only find -- and is supposed to find -- outside of his community and away from the relationships and ties that he has there, including his maternal bond to his aunt.
As the novel progresses, however, Grant begins to realize how necessary the community is to his own happiness, if not his very survival. This transformation is not complete by the end of the novel, but Grant has begun to change or at least question many of his beliefs, including his attitude towards God and religion, and certainly in his attitude, hopes, and feelings for Jefferson. Perhaps most telling in Grant's search for dignity and identity within his community is his relationship with Vivian. Though she is still married and the relationship is therefore…...

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Works Cited

Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. New York: Random House, 1994

Field, Marilyn Jane & Cassel, Christine K. (1997). Approaching Death: Improving Care at the End of the Life. National Academic Press.

This work emphasizes the necessity to improve end of life care as a way to help ease fears about death and reduce anxiety which would create a more negative death experience within the nursing home. Additionally, this work shows the negative impact of over treating symptoms that are relating to oncoming death which cause patients unnecessary stress and pain in their last few days.

anson, Laura C. (2003). Improving Nursing ome Care of the Dying: A Training Manual for Nursing ome Staff. Springer Publishing Company.

This handbook for physicians emphasizes taking a multi-disciplinary approach to caring for the dying, which also encourages nursing home staff to learn from the lessons seen in hospice care. This includes taking a strategy of main management, rather than resuscitation in order to provide the best possible…...

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Hall, Sue; Longhurst, Susan; & Higginson, Irene. (2009). Living and dying with dignity: a qualitative study of the views of older people in nursing homes. Age and Aging. 38(4):411-416.

This study works within the established fact that most older people who reside in nursing homes will eventually die there. Thus, it examines an empirically-based model of dignity, defined through psychotherapy as a way to help increase the individual perceived levels of dignity within individuals in a nursing home setting. Results shows that issues attacking individual dignity is not necessarily related to the perception of death, but more towards illness-related concerns and the decline of their social role when dealing with various illnesses.

Henderson, Lori. (2009). Variables affecting death anxiety. Le Moyne College. Retrieved

In his 1997 book The Grand Chessboard, he posits a Trans-Eurasian Security system that looks incredibly like the Bush doctrine of the preemptive strike (Brzezinski 208) . Of course, energy features largely in the Brzezinski equation, as a more careful examination of the book would reveal (well beyond the scope of this essay. This policy has lead directly to the present recession (no one wants to use the "d" word depression any more). Much as America's economy was the proverbial basket case after the multiple conflicts of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, this present experience with multiple Asian wars has contributed to the coming bankruptcy of America and the death of our much daunted American dream. The money spent in Afghanistan (as well as Iraq) is desperately needed at home in America to rebuild a civilian infrastructure badly in need of revamping.
The war is spreading in involvement as oil rich…...

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Works Cited

Brzezinski, Zbigniew. The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geo-strategic

Imperatives. New Yourk, NY: Basic Books, 1997. 208. Print.

Eisenhower, Dwight D. "Military-Industrial Complex Speech, Dwight D. Eisenhower,

1961 ." H-net. Web. 22 May 2011.

It is also important to note that Emma's actions affect more than Jefferson and Grant. Emma serves as a support for Tante Lou and she is the one that provides Grant with the compelling image of a hog when she declares that they want them to "kill a hog... I want a man to go to the chair" (Gaines 13). Emma is also significant because of her past. She has provided the Guidry's with years of service, which seems to be a motivating factor in Guidry's decision. Emma's influence cannot be overlooked because she is person that wants Grant to begin removing the racial oppression that has existed in the community.
In addition, Vivian's powerful influence over Grant also emerges in the novel as Grant tries to come to terms with what is happening. She tells Grant he should she Jefferson. She is also the one to force Grant to…...

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Works Cited

Gaines, Ernest. A Lesson Before Dying. New York: Vintage Contemporaries. 1993.

Harris, Trudier. Saints, Sinners, Saviors: Strong Black Women in African-American Literature. New York: Macmillan. 2001.

Folks, Nancy. The World is Our Home. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. 2000.

Nash, William R. '"You Think a Man Can't Kneel and Stand?': Ernest J. Gaines's Reassessment of Religion as Positive Communal Influence in "A Lesson before Dying." Callaloo. 24.1. 2001.

Great ar in American history does not signify any greatness for the disastrous affects it left behind. The aftermath of the civil war had been damaging for the Americans, which resulted in their rebuking the African-Americans, with a biased attitude towards their slavery. The book 'A lesson before Dying' emphasis on such a community, where the outcome of the wars were still hanging on their shoulders, yet it was becoming more difficult for the blacks to sanctify their identities. Leaving a young boy's life in danger, when he's unjustly announced with the death sentence. hile ' Snow Falling in Cedars' brings out the Japanese-Americans and their hardships while they try to live discreetly around coastal environment. It shows the side after orld ar II, when Japanese were taken into the concentration camps and even after they were released they had to fight a battle with the same people they…...

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Works Cited

Gaines, J. Earnest, A Lesson Before Dying, Vintage Books, 28th (Sept 1997)

Gutterson, David, Snow Falling in Cedars, Random House 1st (Aug 1998)

The African-American: A Journey From Slavery to Freedom, C.W Post Campus

Available at:  http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/aaslavry.htm#civil

During that time, I cannot recall mourning, but I cannot recall feeling much of anything else, either.
My grief returned more intensely than before at the graveside service.

Afterwards, I was exhausted by the emotional flood that I had experienced, but it is equally possible that the relief was more a function of all the energy that it had required not to release during the time between my father's death and his funeral. As powerful as the feelings of outright grief were some of the more unexpected feelings I began to experience in the next few weeks: feelings of anger at my father, anger at myself, shame, totally inexplicable feelings of hurt, and fear, and also relief.

A realized for the fist time, only weeks after my father's death, that I was angry at my father: angry that he'd refused the dialysis which could have prolonged his life; angry at having had…...

Your answer should be at least five sentences long.
The Legend of Arthur

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 9 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.7A: Honor and Loyalty

1. Consider how Arthur's actions and personality agree with or challenge your definition of honor. Write a few sentences comparing your definition (from Journal 1.6A) with Arthur's actions and personality.

2. Write a brief paragraph explaining the importance or unimportance of loyalty in being honorable.

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 10 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.7B: Combining Sentences

Complete the Practice Activity on page 202 of your text. After completing this activity, read over your Essay Assessment or another journal activity you've completed.

* Identify three passages that could be improved by combining two or more sentences with coordinating or subordinating conjunctions. Below the practice activity in your journal, write the original passages and the revised sentences you've created.

* Be sure to indicate which journal or writing assignment they came from.

The…...

The new division of these apartments that was thought to be a main feature of modern housing was not a solution to the problem of privacy. Most of the families only got a small bedroom with a small living space. Males and females often had to share the same rooms and in fact there was no room for children and guests (Bounrdieu, 1960).
This definitely shows the need for negotiating for modern space and daily life within el-Masaakin.in an analysis by an anthropologists he came to the conclusion that modern housing would not be sufficient for the production of modern articles and dispositions. However there are objective conditions which structure individual's appropriation of modern apartments. He maintained a clear distinction between the less and more privileged sections of the working class. Adopting modern housing is bound by cultural transformation where the segments of those who earn low incomes can not…...

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References

Brades, S. (1997).Society for comparative studies in society and history. Sugar, colonialism and death: on the origins of the Mexico's Day of the dead.vol.39.pp270-299

Bounrdieu, P.(1960).Relocation and Daily use of Modern space.

Aging in the Bucket List and Cocoon
Aging and its natural consequence -- death -- are subjects that raise diverse emotions among persons involved in these processes. Some embrace these pivotal moments in life, some attempt to avoid them. The two films The Bucket List and Cocoon give examples of how different people deal with the issue of aging and death. This paper will examine these films from the perspective of the characters' physical and mental health, their family and social issues, their economic status and social service usage, and cultural diversity issues.

The Bucket List is a 2007 comedy-drama about two strangers who meet in a hospital: Carter is an African-American blue-collar worker, a family man and an amateur historian but a mechanic by trade; Edward is a white, billionaire health care tycoon, who is estranged from his daughter. Forced to share a room in the hospital, the two befriend one…...

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References

Howard, R. Director. (1985). Cocoon. LA: 20th Century Fox.

Morgan, L., Kunkel, S. (2011). Aging, Society and the Life Course. NY: Springer.

Reiner, R. Director. (2007). The Bucket List. LA: Warner Bros.

Van Hoof, J., Kort, H., Van Waarde, H., Blom, M. (2010). Environmental interventions and the design of homes for older adults with dementia: an overview. American Journal of Alzheimers Disease and Other Dementia, 25(3): 202-32.

On the contrary, if I had been able to be a clergyman or an art dealer, then perhaps I should not have been fit for drawing and painting, and I should neither have resigned nor accepted my dismissal as such. I cannot stop drawing because I really have a draughtsman's fist, and I ask you, have I ever doubted or hesitated or wavered since the day I began to draw? (Van Gogh, Letter to Theo, April 1882).
That he was a talented artist was undeniable. Yet, art was no substitute for religion, and, further still, art was no direct avenue to sanctifying grace. Van Gogh's increasing sense of alienation and feeling of despair would continue unabated -- evidenced by he and his brother Theo's inability to live together for long; the inability of his dream of an artists' collective (the artistic equivalent of a kind of monastic community) to come…...

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Reference List

Fritillaries. (2006). Musee d'Orsay. Retrieved from http://www.musee-

orsay.fr/en/collections/works-in-focus/painting/commentaire_id/fritillaries-17564.html?tx_commentaire_pi1[pidLi]=509&tx_commentaire_pi1[from]=841&cHash=4a0a47f91d

Garrigou-Lagrange, R. (1938). The Three Ways of the Spiritual Life. London: Burns

and Oates.

Norma Fox Mazer
While most of the books students read in school seem to be written by men, one of the most popular authors of books for young adults was actually a woman. Norma Fox Mazer wrote more than 30 books during her career before dying at the age of 78 from brain cancer. Some of Mazer's more popular titles are "After the Rain" and "When She Was Good" and while both books were written by the same author each one covers very different themes. In "After the Rain," which was published in 1987, Mazer tells the story of a teenaged girl named Rachel who is struggling with self-esteem at school and family issues at home. Rachel learns to appreciate her own uniqueness by forming a bond with her grandfather, a tough old man who is unfortunately dying from an illness. The lesson of "After the Rain" is to appreciate…...