Wednesday, September 18, 2019
History of the city of Florence Essays -- Italy European History Essay
History of the city of Florence In the entire scope of history there are few civilizations that have left their own unique imprint upon the rest of the world as well as influencing future generations like the city of Florence. Only a handful of nations can claim the cultural, financial, social, and artistic accomplishments that this city can. Throughout the history of approximately three thousand years Florence has proven to be an impressively resilient civilization that takes pride in itself and has been a leader in Italy and worldwide. From the founding Etruscan people, to Dante and Boccaccio, to the Medici family the Florentine people have proven themselves to be remarkable in many areas of life. This paper will trace the different stages of the Florentine civilization from its foundations, to its emergence from the Middle Ages, to the period of the Renaissance, and finally to its transition to become part of the nation of Italy. Early Florence The first people to settle the area that was to become Florence were the Etruscans who probably arrived around 1,000 B.C. by sea from Asia Minor.[i]? Current day archeologists and historians think fighting was common to the area because the Etruscans settled in walled cities built on high, unapproachable hills which would be hard to attack. Fiesole was one such city which was conquerored by the Romans around 300 B.C. along with the surrounding areas. As is turned out, this defeat was beneficial to the native people because it provided secure trade routes protected by the Roman military. The ability to travel and trade more freely prompted these people to move their civilization to the banks of the Arno River not far from the site of modern day Florence.[ii]... ...ucker, p. 58. [xxi] Lweis, p. 140. [xxii] Levey, p. 180. [xxiii] Levey, p. 236. [xxiv]? Colonel G.F. Young, The Medici (New York; Modern Library, 1933), p. 286. [xxv] Levey, p. 254. [xxvi] Levey, p. 256. [xxvii] Young, p. 332. [xxviii] Young, p. 364. [xxix] Levey, p. 321. [xxx] J. Lucas-Dubreton, Daily Life in Florence In the Time of the Medici (New York; MacMillan, 1961), p.? 287. [xxxi] Levey, p. 332. [xxxii]? George Holmes ed., The Oxford History of Italy (Oxford; Oxford Univ Press, 1997), p. 115. [xxxiii] Holmes, p. 115. [xxxiv] Holmes, p. 116. [xxxv] Holmes, p. 126. [xxxvi] Levey, p. 432. [xxxvii] Levey, p. 440. [xxxviii] Levey, p. 432. [xxxix] Levey, p. 456. [xl] Lewis, p. 182. [xli] Lewis, p. 183. [xlii] Levey, p. 456. [xliii] Lewis, p. 189. [xliv] Holmes, p. 229. [xlv] Holmes, p. 215.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
The Art Department is Essential for Student Expression :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays
The Art Department is Essential for Student Expression Walking down the halls of the school, students are never at a loss for something to look at. The walls of the school are constantly plastered with posters and fliers. More importantly, though, there are the products of the schoolââ¬â¢s art department. The paintings, drawings, sketches and photographs turn bland walls into something to be admired and awed by everyone. And none of these would be possible without the art department. The pictures on the wall are not the only things that the department offers the school though. It provides student artists with a chance to enhance their talents. It provides the artists with training in various media including acrylic paints, chalk pastels, clay, photography, and much, much more. Through their artwork, the students can develop an extension of their voice and express themselves visually. The art department also displays student artwork throughout the building for the faculty and the community so that everyone recognizes the efforts and skills of the students. Unfortunately, undue negative light has been shed on the department within the past month. It is unfortunate to think that all of the accomplishments of the student artists and the teachers could be so quickly forgotten because of fifteen controversial drawings in the hallway. For fifteen years, the art teachers have displayed the nude torso drawings in the hallways with no complaints from the community, but after a single complaint from a board member this year, the principal demanded that the art teachers remove the drawings from the wall. Suddenly, the art department acquired a bad name simply because one person thought that drawings of nude statues were inappropriate. How is it possible that with one comment from one person, people forget how often the art department has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help the school? The department benefits more than just its own students. It affects the entire student body and the community itself. Several major projects have been sponsored and carried out by the department. One of those projects was a traveling exhibit celebrating cultural diversity. This project was done in conjunction with Parsonââ¬â¢s School of Design in New York. The department also participated in the Violence Project. For this, students created visual artwork and wrote essays and poems dealing with violence in American culture. This project was done in conjunction with the group called Parents of Murdered Children.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Arizona Laws- Immigration Essay
America the land of opportunities. Have you ever heard this infamous saying before? We live in a country created of immigrants, yet Arizona is trying to enforce SB1070 which is an intrusive law that goes against the diversity of what makes America great. The recent efforts in Arizona threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities which is crucial to keep us safe. This harsh crackdown against undocumented immigrants is currently in full swing and is causing plenty of controversy. Is this law an effective way to keep out undocumented immigrants? Or is this law simply causing more issues rather than creating positive outcomes? To be clear, Arizonaââ¬â¢s SB 1070 requires documents to be carried at all times. Whoever violates the federal alien registration laws, are subject to arrest and penalties under the Arizona criminal code. While being stopped, SB1070 directs law enforcement officers to deter mine the immigration status of individuals who they reasonably suspect to be illegal immigrants. In addition, law enforcement officers are also authorized to arrest an individual without a warrant if there is a probable cause to believe the individual has committed a public offense that makes them removable from the U.S. In spite of itââ¬â¢s motives to reduce the number of illegal immigrants, SB 1070 gives all immigrants a false image as criminals and racism goes in effect, thus dividing the communities to great lengths. In addition, businesses are also affected resulting in the closure of stores and even shopping centers. Many undocumented immigrants simply want to obtain a chance at building a better life for their children so they can succeed in their future. A large portion of them would rather not be a bother, simply sending their children to school, paying taxes and staying out of trouble. Throughout my research, I came across the article ââ¬Å"Arizonaââ¬â¢s Punishment Doesnââ¬â¢t Fit the Crimeâ⬠on the American Immigration Councilââ¬â¢s website, which discusses recent statistics of Arizonaââ¬â¢s crime rate. A centuryââ¬â¢s worth of research has demonstrated that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes or be behind bars than native borns. Furthermore, the problem of crime in the United States is not caused or even aggravated by immigrants, regardless of their legal status. In addition, a 2007 study by University of California Irvine, sociologist Rubà ©n G. Rumbaut, found that for every ethnic group, incarceration rates among young men are lowest for immigrants, even those who are the least educated. This statement holds true especially for the Mexicans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans who make up the bulk of the unauthorized population. Thus, despite accusations that undocumented criminalsââ¬â¢ are a key factor with crime, statistic show that the rates are actually lower in the most populated cities with undocumented immigrants. For example, ââ¬Å"The El Paso Miracleâ⬠by Radley Balko describes El Paso, Texas which is a relatively poor and heavily Latino city that is home to many unauthorized immigrants, as among the list of the safest big cities in the United States. Although Arizonaââ¬â¢s SB1070 claims race will not be an issue, it seems to actually be sparking the most controversy, which is unfortunate for it leads to division among the community. I find it rather mindboggling that some Americans feel this law is not a step towards racism. Above all, I found myself rather frustrated and even disgusted at numerous comments on newspaper articles and YouTube postings th at were clearly putting spotlight on specifically one ethnicity, yet stating racial profiling is not tolerated. I find this ironic, hence the law allows law enforcement to determine the immigration status of individuals who they reasonably suspect are illegal immigrants. Is it just me or does that clearly sound like racial profiling? Furthermore, Former state senator Alfredo Gutierrez made a good point when expressing his thoughts to Arizona radio station KTAR 92.3 saying, ââ¬Å"Reasonable suspicion in Arizona isnââ¬â¢t going to be someone who looks like a Canadian, whatever a Canadian looks like, itââ¬â¢s going to be someone who looks like my familyâ⬠. Gutierrez then went on to say, ââ¬Å"ââ¬Å"This is the first step towards apartheid.â⬠According to the article ââ¬Å"Arizona Legalizes Racial Profilingâ⬠by Juilanne Hing, she discusses when Arizona Governor Jan Brewer was bombarded with questions concerning the criteria police officers will use to determine whether or not there is reasonable suspicion to detain a person. Governor Brewer replied with ââ¬Å"I do not kn ow what an illegal immigrant looks like.â⬠Considering she signed the law, itââ¬â¢s unfortunate and rather humorous that Brewer cannot state what reasonable suspicion consists of. This response was not thoughtful considering what the public is encountering in result of SB 1070. It appears that when Arizona SB 1070 was being considered, the economic reality of what the law results of, was not a thought that crossed Governor Brewerââ¬â¢s mind. Coupled with the other factors of SB 1070 is Arizonaââ¬â¢s current money situation, which is the current budget deficit of more than $4.5 billion dollars. Maybe this wasnââ¬â¢t thought about, but there is a significant number of immigrants and Latinos who will be persuaded to leave the state because of this new law. Thus, the tax dollars, businesses, and purchasing power they will take with them. As in the article ââ¬Å"Hispanic Families Fleeâ⬠by Ed Pilkington, a disturbing pattern is discussed where once busy shopping centers are turning into ghost towns. One example is a Mexican restaurant in which proudly boasts, ââ¬Å"Tacos Since 1975â⬠which is unfortunately now stripped bare like the other local restaurants and stores. In the long run, Arizonans should take into consideration not only the potential costs of implementation and defending the state against lawsuits. Additionally, what needs to be reminded is the significant numbers of residents who are currently leaving the state and what consequences that brings. In the midst of all this controversy, letââ¬â¢s try not to forget the American dream. We are all immigrants from somewhere and shouldnââ¬â¢t blame undocumented immigrants for what ails America. We should instead, recognize those before us who took the leap of coming to America and thank their hard work, as well as what they risked to be here. Immigrants are human beings, simply wanting a better life and are not criminals. Instead of dividing the community with racism, which can eventually divide America, letââ¬â¢s focus on improving our country. Clearly, without immigrants the economy will take an additional downfall. In short, I hope a law that is fair will replace Arizonaââ¬â¢s SB 1070.
Carrier Corporation
History of the air-conditioner Air-conditioner was invented based on invention of refrigerator. The history was told that the Chinese were the first to store natural ice and snow to cool wine and other delicacies. Evidence has been found that ice cellars were used as early as 1000 B. C. in China. Early Greeks and Romans also used underground pits to store ice. Ancient people of Egypt and India cooled liquids in porous earthen Jars. Ice was produced due to vaporization of water through the wall of these Jars, radiating heat nto the night air.In 18th and 19th centuries, natural ice was cut from lakes and ponds in the winter in northern climates and stored underground for use in warmer months. In early 20th century the same method was used but stored in open ice houses for businesses and to delivered homes to homes. At first, in 1823, Michael Faraday discovered that certain gasses under constant pressure will condense when they cool. Secondly, in 1842, Florida physician John Gorrie used dripping ammonia to produce cooling. Thirdly, in 1856, Australian inventor JamesHarrison, used ammonia on experimental basis but used ether in the equipment that was previously constructed. Then, in 1902, Willis Carrier, the ââ¬Å"Father of Air- Conditionerâ⬠designed humidity control for a new air-cooling system and pioneered modern air conditioning. Willis Carrier also originated the carrier equation upon which the psychometric chart and all air conditioning is based. Later, 1906, Stuart Cramer, engineer in North Carolina, invented a ventilating machine that add water vapor to the air of textile plants. The wetness makes the fiber easily spin and ardly to break.He's the first to call this process ââ¬Å"air conditioningâ⬠. During 1914, air- conditioner was officially used at home for the first time. Next in 1931, individual room air conditioning that sits on a window ledge was invented by J. Q. Sherman and H. H. Schultz The air conditioner was available to purchase in 1932. Packard invented the first ever air-conditioned car in 1939. The air conditioner controller on the dashboard was invented later. After that, the United States built first power plant to handle development electrical load of air conditioner in 1942.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Rhetorical Analysis of “Making a Killing off Captivity” by Melissa Richards
Kept in captivity since 1961, orcas have been spectacles for millions of people each year who flock to marine parks around the world in hopes of entertainment and education. The chance to get close to such an incredible creature that one may not have the opportunity to see otherwise is undoubtedly an amazing experience. But Melissa Richards questions in ââ¬Å"Making a Killing off Captivityâ⬠, at what cost are we getting this experience? She argues that the positive image big-name aquatic parks create for animals is in actual fact leading people to unknowingly support a cruel industry. Explaining the detrimental effects of taking an orca out of its natural habitat, Richards emphasizes her concern for the conservation of Orcas and the importance of treating these powerful and dangerous creatures with respect. Richards begins by setting a joyful scene of a SeaWorld orca performance, an invitation for the reader to enter a high spirited fun spectacle of an orca. Weighing several tonnes the orca circles, leaps and splashes the delighted audience. Suddenly, the mood shifts horrifically as the trainer becomes victim to an orca attack in front of a stunned audience. The sharp change in mood is established by Richards when she says, ââ¬Å"The show ended to a usual bout of applause and cheers, until ââ¬ËTilly' grabbed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, by her ponytail and dragged the woman into his tank. â⬠Just as one would think that the spectacle was over, the reader is shocked at the unexpected ending as the audience would have been at Seaworld. The reader's perception of the orca as being a fun loving, friendly creature, emphasized by the amusing nickname ââ¬ËTilly', immediately changes to perceiving the orca as a villain. Richards questions ââ¬Å"what could have prompted this sudden violent outburst from Tilikum, a whale who has been in captivity for almost thirty years? â⬠This question brings new dimension to the matter at hand. Suddenly the situation isn't as black and white as one would have assumed. She elaborates by stating, ââ¬Å"the stress of being captive and made to perform daily had elicited a frustration against his trainerâ⬠. Richards manipulates the reader's perception towards the orca, from a villain to a victim. The deliberate changes of perception towards orcas helps in avoiding predictability in Richards' argument, this is an effective way to keep the reader focused and intrigued in her writing. Richards elaborates by stating that captivity has had many detrimental effects on orcas including ââ¬Ëatypical illnesses, erratic behavior, deformities, neurotic problems and early death'. These conditions bring light to the fact that the matter at hand is life threatening and ââ¬Ëcounterproductive to the goals of wildlife appreciation and conservation'. Intertwining these critical issues of wildlife conservation and animal cruelty, she stresses the urgency in her argument. There is a need to convey the message that action must be taken immediately. It is acknowledged that to know whether the orcas are being mistreated in their artificial habitat, we must know the natural habitat of an orca. Richards does a commendable job of familiarizing the reader the sheer magnitude of a creature that many people are unknown to via statistics. Travelling ââ¬Å"one hundred nautical miles every dayâ⬠(qtd Landeau 1) and weighing ââ¬Å"1. to 3. 6 tonsâ⬠it is no wonder that their power and strength has earned them the nickname of the ââ¬Å"wolves of the seaâ⬠. Despite the general unfamiliarity of these exotic creatures, Richards draws comparisons of the behavior and characteristics of Orcas to that of humans. Orcas have been found to create social and familial bonds with one another, The idea that whales share similar bonds to thei r family as we do encourages the readers to change their belief that whales may not be as alien of a species as they had imagined. This is further elaborated when Richards states ââ¬Å"Mothers are the main caretakers of their offspring, but fathers will remain with their own matriarchal pod, helping to care for the young within this maternal line. â⬠Words such as ââ¬Å"caretakersâ⬠, ââ¬Å"helpingâ⬠and ââ¬Å"careâ⬠appeal to the reader's emotions as we see how affectionate the orca species can be within their pod just as we are affectionate to our kin. ââ¬Å"The familial bonds within orca pods are very strong and only can be broken through death and capture of memberâ⬠(qtd Williams 9). Suddenly, the loving image of an orca pod is brought back to our harsh reality as she clearly states that captivity devastates innocent orca families. While Richards draws emphasis to the social behavior of orcas, she also informs us of their impressive cognitive abilities. ââ¬Å"orcas are one of the few animals besides humans to have such distinctive language and shared speech patterns among individuals living in the same areaâ⬠This shows that not only do orcas have strong communal bond with each other, they also communicate so effectively that this is a rare occurrence in the animal kingdom. She stresses the similarity between the reader and the orca species here, this creates familiarity. Moreover, she compares the habitat and behavior of orcas in the wild to those held captive in marine parks. Incorporating the opinion of a former Seaworld trainer (Jeffrey Ventre), a truly credible source considering her experience, the argument is strengthened by a bold statement. ââ¬Å"the SeaWorld system is the best of all seaquaria in the world, if I was an orca, that would be the last place I'd want to liveâ⬠This suggests that even at its best, marine parks and seaquarias are far from the ideal habitat for an orca. Ventre compares an orca tank to ââ¬Å"an acoustically dead cement pondâ⬠emphasizing the numbing atmosphere of a captive orca's habitat. Case studies of orcas being neurologically and physically damaged because of captivity add credibility to Richards case. Due to ââ¬Å"inadequate space in which to swimâ⬠(qtd Williams 52), the dorsal fins of an orca can collapse. This could happen as a result of colliding with the side of the small tank. The size of orca tanks can have great effect on the neurological stability of an orca where some have been documented to self induce physical damage. According to ââ¬ËListening to Whales' by Alexandra Morton, a young killer whale was observed ââ¬Å"rushing over to a particular spot and banging her head against the underside of a dockâ⬠. Swimming in circles and being separated from their families causes the orca to become neurotic. Isolation can be severely detrimental for an orca as some are forced to be in solitary confinement. If orcas cannot adapt to captivity they are made to endure horrifying conditions as in the case study of ââ¬Å"Juniorâ⬠who died ââ¬Å"lethargic and psychoticâ⬠after being kept in an indoor pool without natural light and other orcas. Richards emphasized that orcas are highly social creatures so the idea that it is common practice for captive orcas to be isolated is truly shocking. To further support her argument, Richards shows us how captivity is harmful to orcas with the use of numbers and statistics. After the first orca was taken into captivity in 1961 ââ¬Å"at least 106 (79%) are now deadâ⬠(qtd Williams 4). The average lifespan of an orca is approximately sixty to eighty years, which means the majority of orcas do not die from a natural death. This is addressed when Richards states ââ¬Å"one in five of these deaths were a result of avoidable or preventable causesâ⬠. It is clear that preventing the death of orcas is not unachievable if more people knew the risks of captivity. Richards appeals to the reader by explaining how the relationship between a mother orca and it's offspring can be heartbreakingly affected by living in a tank. After a giving birth to a series of orcas that died in weeks, ââ¬Å"Corkyâ⬠the killer whale was encountering a problem in which her offspring could not instinctually find the spot on Corky to nurse on. This is because of the circular nature of the tank. In the wild, orcas travel in straight lines that make it easier for the offspring to feed. Corky had been continuously pregnant for almost ten years and ââ¬Å"finally at the young age of twenty one, Corky stopped ovulating. â⬠â⬠The death of multiple innocent babies that was so easily avoidable is tragic and makes the reader sympathize with these creatures. Other occurrences that may not be seen in the wild is aggression between orcas. Richards documents a sickening account of two orcas fighting aggressively. ââ¬Å"As Kandu hemorrhaged into the tank and spouted blood from her blowhole onto the stage, SeaWorld staffed ushered a shocked audience out of the audienceâ⬠¦ This gruesome event graphically conveys the point that captivity induces strange behavior in orcas, ultimately due to neurological damage. This study makes a point of noting the sheer strength and ferocity that an orca can possess. Overall I believe Richards does a commendable job of conveying her argument. She uses credible sources and reliable statistics in order to support her point of view. I have personally been to an orca show in California, reading this article made me reflect on that experience and completely change my percep tion. At the time the experience was completely positive and almost magical as we stepped in to a fantasy land where Shamu was almost a cartoon character, jumping and leaping out of glee. Reading this article has made me realize that Shamu is far from an enchanting Disney character but is actually one of the fiercest, most powerful predators in the ocean. Richards has achieved this with her various case studies that enlightened me on the magnitude of an orca and its ability to kill not only humans but other orcas too. She has persuaded the reader to support her argument with the use of emotions. However, Richards has made an effort to avoid rambling needlessly to provoke empathy by using clear facts to accompany her opinions. An aspect of her research paper that I would change would be the incorporation of the Vancouver Aquarium. The aim of Richards argument was to eliminate captivity in order to conserve the orca population and animal cruelty. However, she has shown Vancouver aquarium in a positive light by stating it ââ¬Å"eliminates parallel surfaces, reduces noise transmission and improves acoustics within the waterâ⬠. Although Vancouver Aquarium vowed to end orca shows after the death of an orca in their aquarium, I believe Richards message in this quotation is that these conditions are acceptable for an orca in captivity. My personal belief is that no orca should be taken from their natural habitat and away from their pod at all. I believe that this article was written at a point in time that it was needed the most. Conservation and wildlife protection is of utmost importance as hundreds of species a day are rapidly moving towards extinction. This article has shown that we need to be more aware of how we treat animals. Ultimately, Richards has done a fantastic job of educating the reader about a topic that is alien to many. With the use of powerful statistics, thought provoking points and emotional case studies, she has produced a strong argument. The ultimate reaction I believe many readers will walk away from this article with is disappointment, distaste and disillusionment towards orca shows and marine parks. The next time one makes a trip to SeaWorld they must question whether they are going for a day of education and entertainment or whether they are supporting a business built on exploitation of innocent orcas.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Gay marriage should be legalized and accepted Essay
Gay marriage (also known as same-sex marriage) generally refer to the marriage between two people with same sex can be either both male or both female. Imagine this, you and your beloved person walking on the street, everyone look at you in a strange way and mumble about you. How will you feel? That is how homosexual people feel these days. Remember this, they are just human beings like us but have different sexual orientation and that is the one and only difference. They can feel pain, happiness, sadness and lost just like how we feel, both physically and psychologically. It is one of our liberties to pursue happiness, which homosexual people are not able to chase, because they cannot marry the person they love. Who give you the right to take away othersââ¬â¢ happiness? The happiness which did not and will not harm you. Are you racist? Are you sexist? Reasonable people will know that discriminate against anyone for any reason is rude and uneducated. And denying same-sex marriage sends the message of it is acceptable to discriminate against them. Some people may say that the institution of marriage has traditionally been defined as between a man and a woman, and allowing gay marriage will weaken the institution of marriage. This is absolutely nonsense. To not to change the institution is like to tell the court to not to change the law even when the law does not fit the modern world anymore. Nowadays, everything is changing as time passing by, so why not the institution of marriage. The legalization of gay marriage will also make it easier for same-sex couple to adopt, and provide stable home for children who otherwise be left in orphanage which hardly makes kids feel like home. Even gay marriage will lead to children being raised in same-sex household that lots of people may refer as not an optimum environment because children need both mother and father. However, according to a research by University of Melbourne lead by Doctor Simon Crouch which surveyed 315 same-sex parents and 500 children. The research shows that children who were raised in same-sex parents scored an average of 6% higher then general population on both health and family cohesion. Clearly the evidence shows that the children who grown up in same-sex couple family wonââ¬â¢t grow unhealthily, in fact sometimes it is even better for kids to gain more resilience, because all the kids need is no more than two loving parents. So how many lives should be ruined, how many happiness should beà taken away before we take actions?
Friday, September 13, 2019
Reading and Studying Literature - Compare and Contrast Essay
Reading and Studying Literature - Compare and Contrast - Essay Example Wordsworthââ¬â¢s extract from the Prelude, and de Quinceyââ¬â¢s extract from Confessions of an English Opium Eater have one feature in common: they both demonstrate a truly romantic sensibility. Beyond this central similarity, however, there are some major differences such as genre, national/international perspective, and proposed levels of social and moral behaviour which the ââ¬Å"autobiographerâ⬠persona claims to embody. The Romantic movement was essentially a continental European phenomenon when it first emerged, through the works in French and German by writers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749-1832). In Britain it flourished in literature first, and then later spread to music and other arts. It is seen in connection with some important developments in European history such as the Enlightenment, with its emphasis on scientific discovery, and the use of logic and reason to make sense of the world, and the Industrial Revolut ion, which saw a widespread move of populations from rural areas to the cities in search of work in factories which had begun to spring up. The French Revolution of 1789 was evidence of great changes in political understanding also. In some ways the Romantic movement was a reaction to these seismic events: a key characteristic of this period is that writers began to focus on ââ¬Å"the powers and terrors of the inner imaginative lifeâ⬠(Watson, in Watson and Towheed, 2011, p. 3) In the Wordsworth text, the power of the inner imaginative life of the author is presented as something positive, sweet and pleasant, citing ââ¬Å"visionary things, and lovely forms/And sweet sensationsâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Wordsworth, ll. 61-62). He speaks of the power of his own former years, (Wordsworth, l. 51) and depicts the task of capturing them in writing as a form of ââ¬Å"honourable toilâ⬠(Wordsworth, l. 53). Wordsworthââ¬â¢s early life is presented as an idyllic scene, painted for the re ader under a shining sun, evoking strong emotions for their edification and enjoyment, in a timeless English countryside. De Quincey also aims to arouse the emotions of the reader, but in his text the emotions that he evokes are somewhat more extreme, and tinged with danger and excitement, since he mentions for example that be might ââ¬Å"shockâ⬠his readers with the revelations that are to come. Both personas are presented as something out of the ordinary, in order to captivate the interest of the reader, and this also is a feature of the Romantic sensibility: ââ¬Å"The idea of the writer as an original genius, an exceptional man ahead of his time, possessed by inexplicable, spontaneous, visionary inspiration, first became dominant in the Romantic period.â⬠(Watson, in Watson and Towheed, 2011, p. 7) Both men introduce themselves to the reader as older, wiser individuals who have retired from their busy life to devote themselves to inner contemplation and recording thei r innermost thoughts about their own experiences. Wordsworth displays his academic credentials through lofty abstract terms such as ââ¬Å"inquiryâ⬠(l. 55), ââ¬Å"knowledgeâ⬠(l. 57), and ââ¬Å"judgementsâ⬠(L. 59) while de Quincey finds it necessary to spell out the fact that he has been reading various very academic writers, and that he is ââ¬Å"
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