Study Guide The Road Not Taken

When analyzing Robert Frosts poem, The Road Not Taken, first look at the shape of the poem on the page: four stanzas of five lines each; all lines are capitalized, flush left, and of approximately the same length. The rhyme scheme is A B A A B. There are four beats per line, mostly iambic with interesting use of anapests. The strict form makes it clear that the author is very concerned with form, with regularity. This formal style is totally Frost, who once said that writing free verse was â€Å"like playing tennis without a net.† Content On first reading, the content of â€Å"The Road Not Taken† also seems formal, moralistic, and American: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference. These three lines wrap the poem up and are its most famous lines. Independence, iconoclasm, self-reliance—these seem the great American virtues. But just as Frost’s life was not the pure agrarian philosophe’s we imagine (for that poet, read Fernando Pessoa’s heteronym, Alberto Caeiro, especially the terrific â€Å"Keeper of Sheep†), so â€Å"The Road Not Taken† is also more than a panegyric for rebelling in the American grain. The Tricky Poem Frost himself called this one of his â€Å"tricky† poems. First, there is that title: â€Å"The Road Not Taken.†Ã‚  If this is a poem about the road not taken,  then is it about the road that the poet actually does take—the one most people do not take? This is the path that was, as he states, perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Or is it about the road the  poet  did not take, which is the one that most people take?  Or, for all that, is the point actually that it does not matter really which road you take, because even when you look way, way down to the bend you can’t actually tell which one to choose: the passing thereHad worn them really about the same.And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black. Analysis Take heed here: The roads are really about the same. In the yellow woods (what season is this? what time of day? what feeling do you get from â€Å"yellow?†), a road splits, and our traveler stands for a long time in Stanza 1 looking as far as he can down this leg of the â€Å"Y†Ã¢â‚¬â€it is not immediately apparent which way is â€Å"better.† In Stanza 2 he takes â€Å"the other,† which is â€Å"grassy and wanted wear† (very good use of â€Å"wanted† here—for it to be a road it must be walked on, without the wear it is â€Å"wanting† that use). Still, the nub is, they both are â€Å"really about the same.† Are you reminded of Yogi Berra’s famous quote, â€Å"If you come to a fork in the road, take it?† Because in Stanza 3 the similarity between the roads is further detailed, that this morning (aha!) no one has yet walked upon the leaves (autumn? aha!). Oh well, the poet sighs, I’ll take the other one next time. This is known, as Gregory Corso put it, as â€Å"The Poet’s Choice:† â€Å"If you gotta choose between two things, take both of ‘em.† However, Frost acknowledges that usually when you take one way you keep going that way and rarely if ever circle back to try the other. We are, after all, trying to get somewhere. Aren’t we? However, this, too, is a loaded philosophical Frost question with no easy answer. So we make it to the fourth and final Stanza. Now the poet is old, remembering back to that morning on which this choice was made. Which road you take now seems to make all the difference, and the choice was/is clear, to take the road less traveled. Old age has applied the concept of Wisdom to a choice that was, at the time, basically arbitrary. But because this is the last stanza, it seems to carry the weight of truth. The words are concise and tough, not the ambiguities of the earlier stanzas. The last verse so upends the whole poem that a casual reader will say â€Å"Gee, this poem is so cool, listen to your own drummer, go your own way, Voyager!† In fact, though, the poem is trickier, more complicated. Context In fact, when he was living in England, which is where this poem was written, Frost would often go on country rambles with the poet Edward Thomas, who used to try Frost’s patience when trying to decide which route to take. Is this the final trickiness in the poem, that it is actually a personal gibe at an old friend, saying, â€Å"Let’s go, Old Chap! Who cares which fork we take, yours, mine or Yogi’s? Either way, there’s a cuppa and a dram at the other end!†? From Lemony Snicket’s  The Slippery Slope: â€Å"A man of my acquaintance once wrote a poem called ‘The Road Less Traveled,’ describing a journey he took through the woods along a path most travelers never used. The poet found that the road less traveled was peaceful but quite lonely, and he was probably a bit nervous as he went along, because if anything happened on the road less traveled, the other travelers would be on the road more frequently traveled and so couldn’t hear him as he cried for help. Sure enough, that poet is now dead.† ~Bob Holman

Music The Power Of Music - 1741 Words

Uses of Music The Power of Music Ariel Balda South Piedmont Community College Abstract Music is something has been around for a really long time. Music can be seen as a form in which artists express themselves but it could also benefit people that listen to it. Music has many uses for people. Musical therapy is a type of therapy that has been developed and researched well. Patients using musical therapy benefit in many ways such as helping in dealing with emotions, improving learning, and improving sleeping. Uses of Music â€Å"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything† -Plato. Plato was a Greek philosopher that was taught by Socrates and was a teacher of Aristotle (Plato Biography, 2015). It is amazing that even around 400 BCE, some people recognized the power that music had. It has been found that music has many uses for people. Schools use songs to help children remember certain things. For example, the ABCs is still a song that many people sing to remember what letter comes before another. School is not the only place where music is used. In the military, music is used to build confidence and pump up of the soldiers. Music can be used from the military to individual people trying to face their problems with a therapist. Music therapy has been a therapy that has been used and researched to help people cope with their problems with aShow MoreRelatedPower Of Music1058 Words   |  5 PagesN ever Underestimate the Power of Music Each year, the junior class at Bayside Academy embarks on a trip to Pine Mountain, Kentucky, with one rule rising above all others; NO cell phones. Once the school year starts, planning begins for the Junior class trip, with the emphasis of the trip focused on promoting camaraderie and creating a closeness between classmates. 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Growth Population And It’S Effects In The La Essay Example For Students

Growth Population And It’S Effects In The La Essay ter Twentieth Century In ChinaFrom the 3. 68 billion people that will be added to the world population between 1995 and 2050, Asia will contribute some 2 billion. This enormous increase is due to the already massive size of the population. Most of this growth will occur in the next three decades. Between 1995 and 2025 Asias population will grow by 1. 35 billion between 2025 and 2050 the increase is projected to be just 658 million. China is the worlds largest population, estimated to be around 1.24 billion in 1998. It grows at a rate of 1. 3% per year or 44,100 people a day. There are now more people living in China than whole world 150 years ago. The population broke the billion mark in the 1982 census, the results of which provided the justification for the strict one-child policy which effectively curbed rapid population growth. In the 1990 census, China counted 1. 133 billion people, over the next decades the world population will inevitably age. This is an unavoidable consequence of large birth cohorts during the 1950s and 1960s and the rapid fertility decline since the 1970s. In 2025 the baby boomers of the 1950s and 60s will be between 65 and 75 years of age. These large aging cohorts are followed by the relatively small baby bust generations of the worldwide fertility decline. In 1950 there were only 131 million people of age 65 and older; in 1995 their number had almost tripled and was estimated at 371 million. Between now and 2025 the number will more than double again; and by 2050 we will probably have more than 1.4 billion elderly The percentage of elderly increased from 5.2 in 1950 to 6. 2 in 1995. By 2050 one out of ten people worldwide will be 65 years of age or more. While currently population aging is most serious in Europe and Japan, China will experience a dramatic increase in the proportion of elder people by the middle of the next century. This is largely due to the countrys success in family planning, which rapidly reduced the relative size of birth cohorts since the 1970s. The future number of people on the globe, evidently, is an important antropogenic factor of global change. However, even more important the changes that need to happen in order to help solve Chinas growing population. Part 2Admittedly, China is already an aging society by international standard: the number of people aged 60 and over accounts for more than 10% of the total population; those aged 80 and over number 8 million and that number still grows by 5.4% annually. Additionally, the traditional ethics that prevailed in China for the past millenniums are eroding amidst rapid social transformations touched off by the market-driven reforms. It is no longer morally appealing, nor economically feasible, for children to support their elderly parents at home. Economists estimate, for example, that by 2050, two working people will have to support an elderly citizen. Reflecting the changing times, old people are increasingly willing to be on their own for care. A random survey conducted by reporters of Liaoning Daily, the largest newspaper in north China’s Liaoning Province, yielded some insights into how old folks in China today plan to take care of themselves. The survey showed that most senior citizens prefer self-care as opposed to home care staying with children for care. Of the 30 people interviewed at random at one morning exercise session in June 1999, 77% were aged 70-79, 13% 60-69 and 10% over 80. In living choices, 70% live by themselves. .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 , .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .postImageUrl , .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 , .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959:hover , .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959:visited , .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959:active { border:0!important; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959:active , .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959 .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9f2257e48831d0f9daa7aa759dad9959:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Essay about Online Dating Analysis Essay Even among the nine spouseless, six (67%) live alone. Economically, 73% live on their own pensions, 17% on the pensions of their spouse, 5% on children and another 5% on relatives. In daily life, their spouse or themselves care 67%. For social life, though, there was greater diversity. Page 3Human resource is the key to socio-economic development. Currently, however, western China is being bogged down by a fast-growing population, an incompetent work force and an irrational population structure. To achieve sustainable development, the issue of population development and family planning must be addressed first. Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership

The US energy diplomacy

There is only one market for oil, and that is the global market. The market is subject to effects of world politics especially concerning matters of diplomacy, and pricing wars between major suppliers. These will in effect have adverse political implications as well as economic effect to the major players especially the United States of America.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The US energy diplomacy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because the US is the world-leading importer of oil, with the country importing at least 70% of its oil needs, which has risen from 33% in the last 20 years (Yergin I). As such, the US heavily relies on major suppliers of the commodity to fulfill its domestic energy requirement, thus enhance its energy security. The major exporters of oil to US include Canada, Venezuela, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. The complexity of the global oil market is enhanced because the global oil business has heavy political implications with major world suppliers led by Russia using it as a political tool to advance self interest in the world political affairs. As such the US finds it hard to engage effectively with such countries especially Russia as such dependency will undermine the place of the US in the world politics (I). Former British premier, Sir Winston Churchill observed that to circumvent the issue of political manipulation from oil supplying countries, oil dependent countries ought to create a diverse oil supply mechanism such that should one source be affected, the country will still have enough suppliers as contingency plans (LeVine 1). As such, the US government has been strongly opposed to over reliance on one source especially Russia, for oil; Europe is heavily reliant on Russia for her oil and natural gas supplies (Woehrel 18). Major players in the global oil market such as India and china have made tremendous effort in diversifying their energy suppl y by moving from energy sufficiency to development of a diverse energy supply mechanism. This is not only as a way of ensuring energy security but also as part of their foreign policy development. This proves how important oil is to diplomacy and foreign policy development and as such, the US cannot be left behind by emerging nation such as Indian and china. This means that due to the frosty diplomatic and politically complex nature of the US-Russia ties, Washington cannot therefore turn to this Moscow for its energy supply diversification needs. America will have to look elsewhere and possibly towards the east. Despite the tension that has [previously existed between the two countries America has no alternative than to enhance its ties with Saudi Arabia. Developing such relations means multiple benefits that come along with it especially in enhancing America’s foreign policy in the entire Middle East. Thus, this paper endeavors to describe why the US needs Saudi Arabia for i ts energy supply diversification program as well as foreign policy development for the Middles East.Advertising Looking for critical writing on diplomacy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Russia has developed its natural gas and oil resource as well as investing heavily in the energy supply infrastructure to become a force to reckon with in the global energy market. It has established something of a monopolistic strategy in European and Eurasian energy market. Diplomats and political analysts have argued that this, accompanied by the decision to abolish trade aids to former soviets states is the new Russian foreign policy aimed at consolidating its position in matters of international politics (Woehrel 1). The US is however strongly opposed to Russian energy expansion program and has seen advised European countries to check their reliance on Russian oil. Furthermore it has supported the development of oil pipelines such as Baku -Tiblisi-Ceyahn pipeline that will help supply oil from Azerbaijan to the European market thus shrinking Russian European domain and subsequently its (political) influence (14, 15). This is in efforts to contain Russian growth and influence as a world power. Therefore the Washington cannot look up to Moscow as a energy supply diversification alternative but consider other alternatives especially those that The US stands to gain at the economic as well as the diplomatic fronts. America’s major suppliers of oil and natural gas are Canada, Mexico Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Canada supplies about 17% of America’s needs while Mexico 13% exports to the US market. Venezuela averages about 7% of America’s oil needs. The three are among the four main suppliers and more importantly are Americas neighbors. Since oil is part of the wider foreign policy the US needs to look further beyond its neighbor and develop strong relationship with Saudi Arabia the suppler that complet e the quartet and the third major exporter of oil to the US market at 11%, which is about 1.46 million barrels per day. With the price if oil approaching US$ 100, the US is spending a colossal amount of money on oil from the gulf (LeVine 1; Yergin II). Further studies have indicated that the demand for oil will rise in the next forty years and Saudi Arabia tops the countries with the greatest potential for expanding oil supply, and as such will be a possible supplier to the US future increased energy needs (Yergin II). This further supports the need that the US needs Saudi Arabia more than ever before. LeVine adds that the notion that some sections of Washington think that some of that money spent by US to buy oil from Arabia goes to fund terrorism is misplaced and a misrepresentation of facts (2). This is because of the important role that Saudi Arabia is applying in maintaining peace in the Middle East. Washington has always called upon Riyadh as one of its key diplomatic alleys i n carrying out its activities of repressing terrorism in that region.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on The US energy diplomacy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Riyadh is playing key diplomatic roles , and successfully so, such a mediation with terrorists and terror groups in countries like Afghanistan, Yemen Lebanon and Iraq, as well as gathering counter terrorism intelligence , the latest of which thwarted an attempt to send explosive parcels to Washington. Without Riyadh’s support, the US diplomatic duties in the Middle East would almost be non-existent and in great peril where they exist. Thus, they us need to look to Riyadh for oil as its energy diversification strategy but more importantly, it needs to needs the oil as a way of strengthening its only ally in the Middle East. The very nature of the political situation exposes the US Middle East soft diplomatic underbelly and thus makes the U S more dependent on Saudi help (oil). Such dependency however has its negative repercussions on a country. Some suppliers such as Russia use oil as a political weapon to advance their political agenda, and as such may use that trade advantage to influence political decision in their weak trade partners. To avoid such occurrences the US is diversifying its energy sources not only through diversifying supply and sources but also in looking at alternatives to oil. This is intended to reduce its dependency on oil. There are efforts to develop new technologies and enhance energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is a technology that ensures that there is optimum out put for every input of unit of energy and thus avoids wastage. Energy efficiency efforts have doubled up in the last decade. Accompanying energy efficiency methods is the development of clean energy through solar, wind and other liquid fuels such as bio fuels. These alternative sources are supposed to supplement US domestic energ y needs and reduce overdependence on oil (Yergin II). However, LeVine explains that alternative energy in the US accounts only for a small percentage of its energy use and as such cannot be entirely depend upon as supplement to oil (2). Despite the fact that future Saudi Arabia oil potential will significantly increase while the US oil needs will reduce marginally this does not reduce America dependent on oil supply from outside sources. It is also not threat to America’s future but an opportunity to explore and tighten diplomatic relations between these twp frenemies. As such, America still needs oil from Saudi Arabia now and in future. The future of America greatly depends on how it plays its diplomatic crds well with Saudi Arabia, especially concerning oil trade. This oil is impotent because it has economic implication as well as diplomatic implications. Tightening the relationship will mean the US can buy more oil for the Arab country while Arabia can use that money to st rengthen its politics and economy so as to help America carry is diplomatic duties in that region.Advertising Looking for critical writing on diplomacy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited LeVine, Steven. Frenemies Forever: How Washington Stopped Worrying and Learned To Love Saudi Arabia, Again. Foreign Policy, 2011. Web. Yergin, Daniel. The Fundamentals of Energy Security, Foreign Affairs House, 2007. Web. Woehrel, Steven. CRS Report for Congress: Russian Energy Policy Toward Neighboring Countries. 2008. Web. This critical writing on The US energy diplomacy was written and submitted by user Warren Worthington III to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.