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Motivation is something that is sought out by everyone in some form or another. It is a driving force that causes us to want to do better or to change something that we might be doing. Motivational speaker Nick Vujicic talks about how he found motivation even though he was born a paraplegic in the video that we watched. He talks about how he found motivation through Christ and loving others. People find motivation in all kinds of different forms throughout their life. Motivation is something that is difficult to find at times and is even harder to hold on to. We are constantly searching for motivation because we are not ever satisfied, we are always looking for an opportunity to find something better. Different things and emotions can give people motivation but at the same time, things and emotions can cause people to lose motivation. People find motivation in all sorts of ways. Some people might find motivation from the desire to be best at whatever it is that they may do. Others might find motivation through money or trophies. So to answer the question of what motivates you, I am writting this essay.

For me, I find motivation to be the best Christian example for others that I can be. Guys like Nick Vujicic really inspire and motivate me because he does not let his physical condition keep him from moving forward and living the life that he wants to live. Another one of the number one motivational factors for people is the desire to be happy. People use humanistic perspectives to boost morale in hopes to help find happiness. Nick talks a lot about how people desire to happy in his video. He talks about how people are always striving to find new ways to make them happy. This is because the feeling of happiness is temporary. Happiness is “simply a state/emotion of feeling good” and is a temporary “good/positive feeling comes in different flavors”.

Our emotions impact heavily on what motivates us. Things like our self-esteem can control our motivations for the better or the worse. If we have a very low self-esteem, we might not feel confident enough in ourselves to work toward whatever motivates us. Nick spoke on this subject as well proclaiming that our own self-confidence issues can cause us to lose motivation. Another thing that affects our emotions and ultimately affects what motivates us is stress. Our emotions can cause us to stress. On our journey to reach our goals we are going to run into stress, it’s inevitable. It is how we react to stress that will determine if we can stay motivated or not. Most of the time, peoples first reaction when they start to get stressed is to just give up. When you give up it can lead to sadness and even depression and other mental health issues. Nick talked about how hard it is to pick yourself back up after you have become discouraged and given up. Sometimes when you have given up, all you need is some encouragement from others to help you get back up and get back to it.

Encouragement from others is a huge boost to your self-esteem and it can motivate you to give your goals another shot. Even though we might be motivated to do something we will always still face difficult obstacles on your journey to accomplish the goals that we have set for ourselves. Social pressure is one of the big obstacles that we must overcome at times to reach our goals. Social pressure is pressure that you receive from your peers. Sometimes your peers might pressure you into stuff that can lead you away from your goals. Social pressure is not always a bad thing and can be a good thing at times, but it is something that you need to watch out for.

Conflict is also another thing that could be a road block in between you and your goals. If you run into conflict and you don’t know how to approach it affectively, it can discourage you and make you doubt yourself. It can cause you to question if you are on the right path and maybe even cause you to give up on your goals. This is one of the new things that I have learned in this class. I have learned that when there is conflict to not just get mad and give up. Instead we should take an assertive stance towards conflict and figure out how to fix it. This is something that I really need to apply to my own life because I have always had a short temper and when there is conflict I would usually just get mad and not try to solve it. Everyone should be able to find motivation of some sort from Nick and his message. He is an inspiration to me because he is out loving life when he has plenty of excuses to be depressed and hate life because of his physical condition.

What drives you, as seen from this essay, can be different of what motivates other people. We all have our goals that we have set for ourselves. We must not let our emotions cause us to lose motivation and not reach our goals. We all should take the motivation that we received from Nick’s story and apply it to our lives. When obstacles get in the way of us and our goals, we need to use our motivation to overcome those obstacles. Nothing is too big to overcome to reach our dreams. We have just have to keep pushing forward until we reach them.

After his death at the tender age of twenty-five, English poet John Keats left behind a legacy of hundreds of letters in addition to his published poems. These letters to family and friends feature a few common recipients, including his brothers Tom and George, his sister Fanny, his last love Fanny Brawne, and his good friend Reynolds, among others. One remarkable feature of these letters is the inclusion of poetry in them. This poetry is anything from completed pieces to merely fragmentary lines. Scholar Grant Scott writes, in his introduction to the Selected Poems of John Keats, “Perhaps what is most surprising and delightful about Keats’s letters, especially next to the polished, anthology-ready gems of his poetry, is their unpredictability…The proximity of the mundane and the profound leads to another salient feature of Keats’s letters: their seamless integration of everyday life with the life of the mind”[1]. The towering twentieth-century poet T. S. Eliot said, of Keats’s letters, “[they] are what letters ought to be; the fine things come in unexpectedly, neither introduced nor shown out, but between trifle and trifle”[2].

The “seamless integration” recognized by Scott is a unique reconciliation which runs, through multiple levels, throughout all of Keats’s poetry, but especially the poetry found in his letters. The incorporation of poetry into Keats’s letters—which are written in prose—unconsciously brings together several layers of seemingly opposed forces. By inserting verse into his prose letters, Keats brings together first stillness and movement, and then individuality and otherness, and finally, the understanding of art as both a personal pursuit and a public presentation. Keats’s general purposes in including poems in his letters are practical: he provides himself with an opportunity to critique his own work, he shares his new and currently present ideas with his family and friends, and finds an expressive outlet which functions differently than prose. Therefore, rather than examining the roles these poems were intended to perform, it is now more interesting to at what roles these poems have come to play.

By looking at a work which utilizes a letter form within a poem—or, depending on perspective, a poetic form within a letter—the layered process of reconciling oppositions can be better understood. While all the answers to the questions of what roles embedded verses have come to play cannot be completely addressed by looking at one poem alone, the insights this one work lends will inevitably shed light on larger, connected answers regarding Keats’s letter-poetry in general.

One poem which meets the above criteria is found in a letter to Keats’s friend J. H. Reynolds, written on March 25 of 1818.[3] Keats met Reynolds (1796-1852) in 1816 at the house of a mutual friend; the two fast became close; “of all the company that Keats met at Hampstead, Reynolds seems to have had the most genuine poetic talent, the keenest powers of criticism, and the greatest sympathy with the intellectual interests of his friend. Like Keats, he had been much influenced by Wordsworth…We are not surprised, therefore, to find that when Keats wishes to discuss the profounder problems of life and art his letters are generally addressed to Reynolds”[4]. This poem in the March 25, 1818 letter is precisely concerned with such a large and abstract problem: “If substantiality be the criterion of value, what value can be assigned to mental perceptions?...This questioning receives a special poignancy in Keats’s verse epistle to Reynolds…what troubled him [Keats] most was the inability of the human will to regulate events, and events were unpredictable, cruel, and ineluctable…The idea is expressed through a series of images in the verse epistle to Reynolds, as a statement of the poet’s inner crisis the poem deserves a more searching critical attention than it has so far received”[5].

Scholar Chatterjee presents a series of paraphrased interpretations of other scholars who have analyzed this epistle-poem thus far[6]. Amy Lowell “considers the poem ‘unconnected’ and thinks that Keats’s purpose was to make a picture solely to amuse his sick friend. (Reynolds was suffering from rheumatic fever.)” Albert Gerard, after analyzing the poem in great detail, believes that “a fundamental aesthetic problem underlies the epistle,” which has to do with accounting for “ ‘disagreeables’ in the products of imagination, in dreams, in art, and in poetry.” Mary Visick puts forth that the poem calls for the “need of reconciling complex imaginative values with natural or with moral philosophy; the poet finally abandons the whole dilemma and seeks to take refuge in ‘new romance.’” Walter Evert asserts that the poem is overall “concerned with the unhappy vagaries of imagination.” All of these three extensive analyses emphasize the tension of unreconciled opposites within the poem. However, scholar W. J. Bates thinks that “it would have disturbed rather than flattered Keats that, long after his death, these lines, like so much of his impromptu verse, were salvaged, printed as ‘poetry,’ and then approached with formal expectations that are wildly irrelevant. Therefore, instead of performing any sort of close analysis of the poem, the ways that its formal qualities contribute to its macro-role in contemplating the presentations of art will be considered instead, in accordance to the aim of this paper. While Chatterjee recognizes that the “clash between the inner and the external world undoubtedly constitutes the theme of this troubled poem; the ramifications of this theme demand close scrutiny”—this paper will focus on the important unreconciled opposites outside of the poem itself.

This epistle-poem is composed of 113 lines told in 56 sets of heroic couplets. (The one out-standing line is line 105, where the end word “moods” does not rhyme with anything, and does not have a paired line, at all.) The poem is rather long for something to be included in a letter; in many other letters Keats will write the majority of his content in prose, before inserting, here and there, sections of verse (usually much shorter than 113 lines long.) This oddity is mitigated by the fact that the poem is essentially the letter. It absorbs the greeting of the letter into its opening line, thus: “Dear Reynolds, as last night I lay in bed,/There came before my eyes that wonted thread.” The quality of the poem, that is, its usage of language, has been critiqued as having “certain obvious lapses in taste, [such as] the meaningless caprice of the opening paragraph with the unnecessary banality of line 11 and the vulgar pronunciation of perhaps as p’raps in line 14, all due in a measure to the rapidity of its production, [but this epistle-poem still] marks a great advance in style and treatment of subject upon the earlier epistles. The heroic couplet is well controlled throughout, enjambment is sparingly and effectively employed, and there are no double endings to the lines”[6]. This rapidity of production is the same reason Bates cited for the unnecessary close readings of this epistle-poem and other epistle-poems like it. Yet despite the validity of such a claim, reading the poem as a less significant product of its more significant context is valuable insofar as it reflects the fleeting and momentary mindset of its author.

The rapidity of this poem’s production is all the more striking when its content is considered. The epistle-poem spends several lines considering a painting. The ending of the letter, written in prose, will be discussed in fuller detail later in this paper; for the time now it is sufficient only to mention that, in it, Keats directs his recipient’s attention, thus: “You know, I am sure, Claude’s Enchanted Castle and I wish you may be pleased with my remembrance of it,” he writes, in prose, after his epistle-poem. The Enchanted Castle (1664) is an oil painting by Baroque English painter Claude Lorrain, illustrating the tale of the princess Psyche and her love affair with the god Cupid. While Psyche features as the prominent, and the only, human subject of the painting, she is dwarfed by the rest of the image, which contains a lush and mystical landscape.

In much of Keats’s poetry, that is, not only this epistle-poem, there is a “tendency…towards an imagery of stillness or repose [that] has been the subject of frequent critical comment”[7]. Scholars have said that “Keats’s imagery is characterized by a ‘sense of power momentarily in its restraint, of massive repose, which yet gives promise of decisive action’”; that there is not simply “absence of motion, ‘but of things poised on the brink of action, their motion briefly arrested and ready to continue.’” Bate argues that Keats’s ideal in poetry is “the dynamic caught in momentary repose.”

In this epistle-poem, in his remembrance of The Enchanted Castle, Keats is not painting an image with his words per se, at least not in the way he does so explicitly in works like “Ode on a Grecian Urn” (1819). Rather, Keats is performing a sort of ekphrasis, a linguistic illustration of an artwork. Nevertheless, the literal anchoring of this epistle-poem in the remembrance of a single, static painting is a definite way for Keats to express this quality of stillness which permeates his corpus. “His images endow silence with a certain being of its own. It is no mere negation of sound or noise, but a presence to be felt, and almost heard. Keats conveys experience in complex and paradoxical personifications,” writes Swaminathan in The Still Image in Keats’s Poetry[8], in a return to the paradoxical or opposed natures of the elements in Keats’s works. The Enchanted Castle inspired the completed poem “Ode to a Nightingale” (1819), one of Keats’s most beloved, acclaimed, and studied poems, but these related lines in a single letter also contain reference to this painting offer up a different significance. Letters are something which inherently involve movement and transition—and, it might even be said—lack of stillness. The fact that this letter which will be transported from Keats to his friend, and will be removed from its author or creator, goes against the tendency towards stillness found in its verse content. Yet it is the content of this epistle-poem, and the contents of its author’s life which created it, that necessitate this stillness. Points of immense gravity lie in Keats’s own life during the composition of this letter. His dear brother Tom is deathly ill with tuberculosis, something which weighs heavily on Keats’s heart, especially after having nursed his mother on her deathbed during his adolescence. In line 110 of the epistle-poem, he explicit mentions his daily concerns for his brother: “Do you get health—and Tom the same—I’ll dance,/And from detested moods in new Romance/Take refuge.” Furthermore, by inserting certain lines of still imagery into this dynamic poem, and then into this letter, which is a vehicle of motion—an item of delivery and of communication—Keats instills a reverence into his personal letters which extends beyond the simple presence of verses in these correspondences.

Moving forward from the reconciliation between stillness and movement is the way that this epistle-poem finds a balance between the value of the individual and the value of the other. The prominence of reconciliation is not completely new to theoretical work on Keats; scholar Robert Gittings describes Keats’s letters as making up the body of a “spiritual journal,” and that they were not for specific others as much as they were for “synthesis”[9]. Despite this immediate gravitation towards synthesis, Keats’s letters do put due importance on the individuality of the recipient. His letters to different members of his family and his different friends vary in tone and style, and perhaps most significantly in the poetry that they contain. For example, his poems to his brother George and his wife Georgiana contain some of the longest, brightest, and most completed lines in his letters; his tone, there, is also more colloquial. His tone with his friends changes from person to person, whether it is “ambitious with Haydon” or “reflective and philosophical with Bailey and Reynolds” or “paternal with his sister, Fanny”[10]. Furthermore, the epistle-poem of March 25, 1818 was composed only for Reynolds: Keats specifies, after his lines end, that he hopes to have cheered up the sick Reynolds, and chose the subject of The Enchanted Castle because he thought Reynolds would appreciate it.

The differentiation, as well as the bringing together, of the individual and the other, inevitably brings up the concern of personal versus public consumption. This is of especial concern to artists. In another letter to Reynolds, written on April 10, 1818, Keats rails that he “never wrote a single line of poetry with the least shadow of public thought”[11]. This is clearly untrue to some degree, as the young poet was lauded by others for his poetic talents, and sought publication, as poetry became his professional career. The “public thought” that Keats is unhappy about here has to do with the opinions of certain critics. Around this time, a mere couple of years before his death which no one at the time foresaw, Keats’s poetry was scathingly criticized by professional literary critics. This criticism only served to worsen his uncertainties about the purpose and the value of art. “Poetry,” he once wrote to his friend Benjamin Bailey on March 13, 1818, “may be a mere Jack-a-lanthern to amuse whoever may chance to be struck with its brilliance. The artist ought to be a friend of man—a physician to all men—but how can an artist labour for mortal good and ease the giant agony of the world?”[12]. This, at the very least, demonstrates that Keats clearly kept public opinion in his mind as he composed poetry, because he viewed—even if he doubts this view from time to time—the consumption of art by general others to be a way of healing the brokenness of humanity. Reynolds, the recipient of the 1818 epistle-poem, seemingly also agrees with Keats’s belief in sharing poetry with the world. In a response to the Quarterly Review’s unpleasant review of Keats’s Endymion, Reynolds writes that: “The genius of Mr. Keats is peculiarly classical; and, with the exception of a few faults, which are the natural followers of youth, his imagination and his language have a spirit and intensity which we should in vain look for in half the popular poets of the day…Poetry is a thing of generalities—a wanderer amid persons and things—not a pauser over one thing, or with one person”[13]. Reynolds’s usage of the terms “pauser” and his phrasing of “over one thing, or with one person,” harken back to the unique function of poetry contained in letters, which are sent to other people. The poetry that is contained in Keats’s letters does precisely what Reynolds puts forth as the mission of poetic arts, to wander from person to person and thing to thing. Not only does the epistle-poem blur the lines between individuality in creator and recipient, but it also forms a bridge between the personal mission for creating poetry and the public goal of receiving and consuming and appreciating the works. Just as poetry is an immensely personal process, so it is an immensely public presentation. Because of the aim of the artist in easing “the great agony of the world,” these processes are now one and the same.

In this same protest to the Quarterly Review Reynolds writes: “The manners of the world, the fictions and wonders of other worlds are its [the mind of poets] subjects; not the pleasures of hope, or the pleasures of memory. The true poet confines his imagination to no one thing—this soul is an invisible ode to the passions”[14]. The role of the poet’s mind is to encompass as much of the universe as possible, and the role of the poet is to make sense of these realities into graspable works. “Keats undoubtedly regarded poetry as his vocation in the religious sense of that word,” writes Baker in John Keats and Symbolism[15]. and so “his understanding of the nature of art is organically connected to his understanding of larger issues.” But, as seen earlier, Keats’s understanding of the nature of art wavers. He values and devalues it seemingly in alternation. In his letters, he often uses the prose around his verses to critique his own work. After the poem in the epistle-poem he writes to Reynolds:

My Dear Reynolds,

In hopes of cheering you through a Minute or two I was determined nill-he will-he to send you some lines, so you will excuse the unconnected subject and careless verse. You know, I am sure, Claude’s Enchanted Castle and I wish you may be pleased with my remembrance of it. The Rain is Come on again. I think with me Devonshire stands a very poor chance. I shall damn it up hill and down dale if it keeps up to the average of 6 fine days in three weeks. Let me have better news of you.

Your affectionate friend,

John Keats

Tom’s Rememberances to you. Remb. us to all—

He asks to be excused for the “unconnected subject” of his poem and the “careless verse.” Keats’s understanding of larger issues does not necessarily further his understanding of the nature of art, although Baker is right in saying that the two are tightly tied together. For example, the larger issues of pain in the world and of human physical inability are reasons for the wavering of Keats’s constantly developing understanding of the value of art. In writing to George on the 19 of March, 1819, after Tom’s death, Keats reveals his pained state of mind: “Neither Poetry, nor Ambition, nor Love have any alertness as they pass by me: they seem rather like three figures on a greek vase—a Man, and two women who no one by myself could distinguish in their disguisement”[16]. Hints of this melancholia can be found in the 1818 epistle-poem as well, in which an upbeat attitude is maintained, but strains of fatalism still shine through; it seems that “beauty itself, whether natural or artistic, seems no more valid than the enchanted castle which is only a delightful illusion”[17]. Keats’s value of art, or of his own art, depends on the larger factors at play in his life, and his “sensibility was [deeply] stirred by the actual. It is true, of course, that in some of his early poems he proposes an escapist view of poetry…Yet even in his abortive tales of chivalry (Calidore, Specimen of an Induction), the grasp of reality is clearly meant to provide the substance of the poetry, and is not an accidental and scarcely welcome intrusion into a pleasant daydream”[18]. The way Keats chooses to grasp his reality determines the way he produces his poems, even as he comments on these poems over and over again, and reshapes them into more complete pieces than the epistle-poems found in his letters. Many of Keats’s letters themselves foreshadow prominent, complete poems to come, as these letters reflect the poet’s current mindset, and his most recent outlook on the world.

The letters, too, show “no embarrassment in mingling serious ideas with bits of idle gossip, light-hearted banter, comments on women and the weather”[19], even as they include poetry both of Keats’s creation and of others’. “Here the poems are not isolated aesthetic events…so much as natural extensions of his [Keats’s] ordinary existence. Some of Keats’s most supple and original sonnets grow organically out of specific contexts, reflecting both the patterns of his thought at the moment of writing and the interest of individual correspondents,” writes scholar Grant Scott, “The happy marriage of poetry and prose in the letters tells us that for Keats, poetry was not a job or a career but a necessity, like breathing.” The marriage of poetry and prose is not the only union that takes place. Like generations, further reconciliations take place that involve the movement of letters as items of correspondence, and the natural functions of letter-writing; the self-assessment that is evident in Keats’s epistle-poems and his general contemplations about the value of art are also brought to the surface. In bringing prose together with poetry, regular correspondences with verse; in binding together artificial profession with organic breathing; Keats finds ultimate resolution by bringing life together with writing about life.

NOTES (References)

[1] Keats, John. Selected Letters of John Keats. Edited by Grant F. Scott. (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002), xxii.

[2] Eliot, T. S. The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism: Studies in the Relation of Criticism to Poetry in England. (London: Faber and Faber, 1964), 100.

[3] Keats, John. Selected Letters of John Keats. Edited by Grant F. Scott. (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002), 107.

[4] Keats, John, John Gilmer Speed, and Richard Monckton Milnes Houghton. The Letters and Poems of John Keats. Vol. 1. (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1883), 537.

[5] Chatterjee, Bhabatosh. John Keats: His Mind and Work. (Bombay: Orient Longman, 1971), 284.

[6] Keats, John, John Gilmer Speed, and Richard Monckton Milnes Houghton. The Letters and Poems of John Keats. Vol. 1. (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1883), 537.

[7] Swaminathan, S. R. The Still Image in Keats's Poetry. (Salzburg, Austria: Institut Fur Anglistik Und Amerikanistik, Universitat Salzburg, 1981), iii.

[8] Swaminathan, S. R. The Still Image in Keats's Poetry. (Salzburg, Austria: Institut Fur Anglistik Und Amerikanistik, Universitat Salzburg, 1981), 44.

[9] Gittings, Robert. John Keats: The Living Year, 21 September 1818 to 21 September 1819. (London: Heinemann, 1954), 121.

[10] Keats, John. Selected Letters of John Keats. Edited by Grant F. Scott. (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002), xxxi.

[11] Keats, John, John Gilmer Speed, and Richard Monckton Milnes Houghton. The Letters and Poems of John Keats. Vol. 1. (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1883), 77.

[12] Baker, Jeffrey. John Keats and Symbolism. (Sussex: Harvester Press, 1986), 183.

[13] Schwartz, Lewis M. Keats Reviewed by His Contemporaries: A Collection of Notices for the Years 1816-1821. (Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1973), 144.

[14] Schartz, Lewis M., Keats Reviewed by His Contemporaries, 144.

[15] Baker, Jeffrey. John Keats and Symbolism. (Sussex: Harvester Press, 1986), 4.

[16] Sinson, Janice C. John Keats and the Anatomy of Melancholy. (London: Keats-Shelley Memorial Association, 1971), 17

[17] Chatterjee, Bhabatosh. John Keats: His Mind and Work. (Bombay: Orient Longman, 1971), 295.

[18] Baker, Jeffrey. John Keats and Symbolism. Sussex: Harvester Press, 1986), 13.

[19] Keats, John. Selected Letters of John Keats. Edited by Grant F. Scott. (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002), xxiii.

Bibliography

Baker, Jeffrey. John Keats and Symbolism. Sussex: Harvester Press, 1986.

Chatterjee, Bhabatosh. John Keats: His Mind and Work. Bombay: Orient Longman, 1971.

Colvin, Sidney. John Keats: His Life and Poetry, His Friends, Critics, and After-Fame. New York: Scribner's, 1917.

Eliot, T. S. The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism: Studies in the Relation of Criticism to Poetry in England. London: Faber and Faber, 1964.

Gittings, Robert. John Keats: The Living Year, 21 September 1818 to 21 September 1819. London: Heinemann, 1954.

Hanson, Marilee. "The Life of John Keats - Facts, Information & Biography." English History. February 1, 2015. Accessed December 7, 2015.

Keats, John, John Gilmer Speed, and Richard Monckton Milnes Houghton. The Letters and Poems of John Keats. Vol. 1. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1883.

Keats, John, and Richard Monckton Milnes. The Life & Letters of John Keats,. London: J.M. Dent & Sons;, 1927.

Keats, John. Selected Letters of John Keats. Edited by Grant F. Scott. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002.

Schwartz, Lewis M. Keats Reviewed by His Contemporaries: A Collection of Notices for the Years 1816-1821. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1973.

Sinson, Janice C. John Keats and the Anatomy of Melancholy. London: Keats-Shelley Memorial Association, 1971.

Swaminathan, S. R. The Still Image in Keats's Poetry. Salzburg, Austria: Institut Fu?r Anglistik Und Amerikanistik, Universita?t Salzburg, 1981.

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Wigod, Jacob. The Darkening Chamber: The Growth of Tragic Consciousness in Keats. Salzburg, Austria: Institut Fur Englische Sprache Und Literatur, Universitat Salzburg, 1972.

In the movie “Everyday,” the main character is a person who wakes up in a different body every day. They never wake up in the same body twice and they never get to know whose body they are going into next. It is always a mystery to what kind of mood or feelings they will have because do not really know who they are as a person. All throughout Contemporary British literature, poets and authors use narrators who tell their own individual stories and life experiences to find their true identities. Margaret Atwood, in addition, uses the outdoor environment to influence the characters’ own individuality in the short story “Death by Landscape.” In the poem “Originally,” Carol Ann Duffy gives the characters distinguishing characteristics through life experiences, similar to Duffy’s Scottish immigration. In the poem, “This is a Photograph of Me” Margret Atwood, also, gives a character the ability to look at herself in a different way than she did before her death. Authors and poets, overall, use many factors to help the character find their identity throughout the story or poem.

In Atwood’s short story, she begins with giving Lois the environment she needs to recognize herself in “Death by Landscape.” In addition, while she was at camp, the environment around her is better than it was back at home where she lived. Lucy realizes “it would be nice not to go back” when they are sleeping outside under the stars. Dynamic characterization forces Lois to realize she is free at camp and is on track of finding her true, happy self. Meanwhile, Lois has so much more freedom when she is at camp because she does not have her parents constantly looking over her and controlling her. After Lois “travelled so far, overall that water, with nothing to propel them but their own arms” she realizes how there are many activities she is capable of accomplishing. This is ironic because Lois had two camp counselors that are always watching the girls and she does not have as much freedom as if she was all on her own, but has much more than back at home which allows her to understand what makes her happy. The setting that Atwood puts Lois in, additionally, gives her the independence she needs to truly find her own identity. When the girls “begged to be allowed to sleep out,” it showed their counselors that they are responsible. Through indirect character development, Atwood shows that Lois is being more independent rather than just telling the reader. All in all, the environment plays a key role in the way authors deepen their characters’ understanding of who they are.

In “Originally,” Duffy also, uses a narrator who goes through a life-changing experience that will later change the character’s identity. Furthermore, Duffy uses the traumatic experience of immigration to set a story of a young narrator on her journey of self-growth. “As the miles rushed back to the city,” the immigrants miss their country and their home already. This flashback of the scary journey illustrates the speaker’s remembrance of the sorrow they felt when they left from their own home. In a similar way, many times when people move to a new place they want to return to the house they grew up in, but they struggle to go back. They come to a new country with all of their belongings and “in a red room which fell through the fields,” they find their new home. The vivid imagery helps the reader be in the moment of the poem. In the same manner, Duffy uses an event that every person goes through, childhood, so the reader can relate to the poem. “Some are slow, leaving you standing, resigned, up and avenue where no one you know stays”. This direct metaphor emphasizes that childhood is difficult, especially when a person is trying to understand who they are. Duffy overall uses life-changing events that most people go through to give the reader a better understanding of the speaker’s struggle.

Equally important, in the poem “This is a Photograph of Me,” Atwood expresses the death of a girl which allows her to see herself in a more positive way after death. Even though the narrator is dead, subsequently, she is able to see herself in a more profound way than she saw herself when she was alive. When the narrator says “she is in the lake, in the center of the picture, just under the surface,” she sees herself better than others see her. This foreshadows how the narrator will later tell us that she is dead. In the meantime, through unexpected realizations, people need to look at small details to be able to find true identity. When the narrator says, “the photograph was taken the day after I drowned,” the readers are looking at the whole picture, not just the center. This is situational irony because the narrator is dead so how she is able to see the picture of the pond were she drowned. At length, Atwood creates an uncomfortable mood to help get her theme across. “[I]f you look long enough, eventually you will be able to see me”. Because of the first-person point of view, the reader understands that they must get to know a person to better understand who they are. To sum it up, Atwood uses a very uneasy mood to help the reader understand the poem as a whole.

Overall, a person's identity overall can only be shared through their own personal experiences. For instance, Atwood uses a camp environment to help the characters find themselves. She does this by using all of the land features to help the characters and the reader understand how Lois changes for the better. On the other hand, Duffy uses life-changing events to help the characters find their identity. She uses immigration, a very hard event to go through, to show how immigration changes a person’s perspective on life. Atwood, in a similar way, uses a perspective from a dead character to help her characters find their true identity even when they do not see it themselves. The readers have to understand what Atwood is saying for them to be able to find the identity of the characters in the poem. Finally, unlike in the movie “Every day,” British literature authors and poets use many different life experiences to help characters find their true identities. They also use personal, life-changing events to help the reader understand the identity of the characters and also themselves.    

The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God is a story of one woman’s growth as a person physically, emotionally, and intellectually while on a journey for life fulfillment. Throughout the novel a theme illustrating the value of finding true love and friendships rather than material possessions and power is developed. This theme is most apparent in the contrasting relationships that Janie shares with each of her husbands: Logan, Jody, and Tea Cake.

In her relationship with Logan, Janie’s desires for reciprocated love are not satisfied. Despite the fact that Logan has sixty acres of land, their relationship lacks any kind of genuine mutual sensuality and leads to resentment and misery. The affection dying between them is displayed when Hurston says, “Janie noticed that her husband had stopped talking in rhymes to her. He had ceased to wonder at her long black hair.” At this point, Logan does not appear to care for Janie at all; he does not admire her hair, the unique quality that is a symbol for her strength and independence. In fact, Logan has made Janie a slave to him. He “calls to her harshly” and demands her help in moving manure outside. When Janie responds, “you don’t need mah help out dere, Logan,” he threatens to kill her with an axe. They do not show any kind of respect or devotion to one another. Janie knows that she is unhappy in this relationship and could find someone who treats her better. She has plenty of land with Logan, a rare thing for an African American at the time, but she becomes a discontented slave in her own home because they do not love each other. This lack of compassion between the couple and the hope of real affection drives Janie away and causes the deterioration of their marriage.

In Janie’s relationship with Jody, she finds someone her own age who reminds her that she is young, someone with dreams and aspirations like her, and someone who will take her away from Logan. However, Jody is a power-seeking womanizer who mistreats everyone around him in order to gain command. They do not truly care for one another and their relationship is going down the same road as Janie’s relationship with Logan. Just one day after they’re married Janie notices that Jody doesn’t “make many speeches with rhymes to her.” This foreshadows the similarity between the two relationships. When the town asks Janie to make a speech, Jody says, “She’s uh woman and her place is in de home.” This is one of the first signs that Jody has a blatant disrespect for women, which causes a great deal of turmoil between him and Janie. Jody will not allow Janie to participate in any town events and so she doesn’t make any friends in town. He also makes Janie tie her hair back with head rags. This is a metaphor for how Jody is suppressing Janie’s spirit and liveliness. Janie is married to the mayor of Eatonville but that does not create happiness in the absence of love. When Jody dies Janie celebrates her liberation inside herself.

Janie’s relationship with Tea Cake displays many significant differences from her relationships with both Logan and Jody. In Tea Cake, Jody discovers true love, friendships, and real happiness in life regardless of the fact that he has virtually no money. From their very first meeting Janie, “found herself glowing inside.” Tea Cake does not have a desire for material things or power that causes him to mistreat or disrespect Janie. He is playful and young bringing Janie back to life after the years she spent aging under Jody’s strict command. Tea Cake says that the, “Moons too pretty fuh anybody tuh be sleepin’ it away,” displaying the same appreciation for nature that Janie does. For the first time Janie is actually attracted to a man. She admires Tea Cake, “full lazing eyes with the lashes…and narrow waist.” Tea Cake, as his name suggests, is sweet. He asks her to play checkers and shows a respect for Janie as a woman. He encourages her to participate in town activities. While Logan and Jody did not admire Janie’s long rope of black hair, Tea Cake stays up at night dreaming about touching her hair. This shows the awe that he finds in Janie as their love begins to grow. Janie and Tea Cake move to Jacksonville, Florida and get married. There, Janie meets other people who have found enjoyment in things other than money and possessions. Here she makes friends and participates in conversation. Her experience here is a completely different life compared to her life with Jody. Janie and Tea Cake truly care for one another and share a chemistry that allows their love to last beyond the short duration of their life together. Despite Tea Cake not having very much money, Janie only finds the fulfillment she was missing in her life after she develops real friendships and a shared devotion with Tea Cake.

As Janie Crawford progresses through the journey of life in search of her horizon, she experiences three different relationships. Her first relationship with Logan supplies her with land but no love, leaving her in a position of servitude to her husband. Her second relationship shows her a life of suppression being controlled by her subjugating husband Jody. Finally, in her third marriage Janie finds happiness when she stumbles upon a real love with Tea Cake even though he doesn’t have money. These relationships display how true happiness is not found in the objects of life but instead is found in the truly deep sharing of affection and admiration between people. Only in this environment filled with love and friendship could Janie reach her horizon.

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Impact of Fintech
4. Fintech in Banking
Big Data and Risk AssessmentSecurity and Client ExperienceDigitalization of TransactionsProducts and Services of the New GenerationSubstantial shift in the Human Resources
5. Fintech in Bangladesh
6. Findings
7. References

Introduction

The term ‘fintech’ happens to be a merge of the two words ‘financial’ and ‘technology’ which is used to describe any and every technology used to any provide financial service to end-consumers and business. So, the application of fintech ranges from mobile banking and insurance to cryptocurrency and investment apps. Broadly, fintech entails the usage of any entity to perform or connect to their desired financial services via the internet thus allowing the user to partake in transactions such as money transferring, lending, loan managing and investing. A real-life example of fintech would be apps like PayPal or Venmo through which many of our day-to-day transactions take place, from the payment of salaries to just a casual purchase in a grocery store. Fintech has integrated into our lives without us even realizing the intensity of how much we have grown to depend on it. It’s quite difficult to fathom that fintech allows a user to be able to open up a bank account over the internet, without having to be physically present at a bank and even allows users to use their phone as a ‘digital wallet’ to carry out our monetary transactions.

Right now, that is globally, the emerging fintech technologies would be include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data. AI for fintech industry would be used to predict changes in the stock market and give insight into the economy, thus allowing firms to better understand and serve its clients. Then Big Data, for the financial sector, is also used to predict client investments and market changes and create new strategies and portfolios. It also allows firms to analyze and mitigate risks on their future investments through its big data analysis.

Like all technology, there are certain drawbacks to fintech like the way it possesses potential threats to the traditional methods of financial marketing. There is a concern on how it might replace the old ways, but we simply cannot ignore the possibilities of what the integration of fintech would unveil for its users.

Background

To grasp a better knowledge of fintech is it vital to know the history of it. According to a paper by Arneris, Barberis & Ross the key periods in the timeline of fintech are broken down into three major timelines. The first era is between 1886-1967, as this is the time around where rapid transmission of financial information started taking place. It is also when we had first received the transatlantic cable and Fedwire in the USA along with the technology of credit cards. The second era is from 1967 to 2008 where we were introduced to ATMs, digital stock exchange, online banking and the initial paving of e-commerce business models. The third era encompasses our current time from the year 2008 to the present, where the public mindset shifted from the traditional methods of financing to a more digital one. We have had the launch of Bitcoin, which happens to be a cryptocurrency, and had a major impact in the financial markets globally. We have also witnessed a rise in the dependency of digital payments through apps like Google Wallet and Apple pay whose growth was enabled by the massive influx in the usage of smartphones.

Today, according to the fintech adaptation index 2017, the countries with the highest Fintech usage are China (69%) and India (52%). China, India and other emerging markets never had time to develop Western levels of physical banking infrastructure, which has left them more open to new solutions. In the case of China, the fintech penetration is well above the average global adoption (33%) as well as that of the average adoption across emerging markets (46%).

In the context of Bangladesh, services in banking sector that incorporates heavy uses of fintech is yet to begin but there are other forms of it being implemented. Mobile phone apps such as Bkash, Rocket and Upay are allowing users to have more fluid exchange of currency without the physical need of cash. The apps are allowing users to be more efficient and also providing them with security as they don’t have to carry cash around. Overall, fintech uses in Bangladesh are still at their relatively early stages but we can quite vividly envision that it would grow to a much more widely used platform.

Impact of Fintech

Fintech has enabled companies with low-cost way of coming up with convenient, personalized and data-intuitive products and services. Fintech has also lowered barriers to entry for new companies, along with the established financial institutions, to join the evolving industry and has thus resulted in a complex web of cooperative competition.

There are four categories of Fintech users: 1) B2B for banks and 2) their business clients, 3) B2C for small business and 4) consumers. Mobile banking trends, increased knowledge, data, and more reliable access analytics and decentralization will create opportunities for all four groups to engage in previously unimaginable ways.

The younger consumers are more aware of fintech and tend to be the most active users of fintech. The fact is that customer-oriented fintech is mostly targeted at the millennial since this segment has a massive size and rapidly increasing earning potential. It is believed by many fintech watchers that the millennial are the main focus of fintech because of the market size rather than their interests and ability. Hence fintech can cater to the older generation very little since their problems are not addressed properly.

Before the advent and adoption of fintech a start-up or business owners would have to visit banks physically to seek funds and establish infrastructure, such as a landline-connected card reader, and relationship with the credit card provider if they intended to accept credit card payments. Now fintech has made these processes easier and hassle-free for them.

Fintech in Banking

Fintech is gradually changing the shape of the global financial system. With the collaboration of fintech startups and traditional institutions things like P2P loans at a fingertip, crowdfunding, cryptocurrency payments and automated financial advisors have evolved over time.

In the beginning, fintech startups and traditional financial banks were rivals and were competing against each other for attracting customers. But things have changed now. They both are now working hand in hand because of the disruption in the financial services caused by fintech. Combinedly, they are now able to provide their clients and businesses better client service, enhanced financial security, more opportunities and so on.

Big Data and Risk Assessment

Big Data is the massive volumes of structured and unstructured data sets stored electronically which can be analysed and used to reveal trends and patterns related to human behaviour. Big Data is used in fintech to come up with better personalised financial services and products for both existing and potential new customers. Advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms deployments can detect fraudulent transactions by identifying unusual user activities based on their behavioural patterns.

Security and Client Experience

Another impact of fintech on banks is the changes in the clients’ personal data protection and customer experience. Since fintech rely mostly on digital and mobile applications data infringement risks have increased in the past few years. Hence fintech firms are investing more on their cybersecurity infrastructures and cloud services to ensure better customer experience by advanced techniques to detect automated attacks on the personal data and digital wallets.

Digitalization of Transactions

Mobile payment volume has increased dramatically in the past few years; thanks to fintech. Despite the easy access to transactions 24/7, there are still customers who prefer traditional banking services. These digital transactions are now more innovating and are also going to attract these conservative customers as well.

Fintech has enabled an omnichannel banking making it possible for users to make transactions in web platforms, applications and social networks. Fintech has also reduced transaction fees, improved transparency and lowered error risk.

Products and Services of the New Generation

Banks are adopting innovative technologies to come up with more trailblazing products and services for their clients such as the following:

• Digital-only banks which has no physical existence and provides only digital services.
• Joint current accounts which deal with different currencies, card types and user categories allowing customers to keep track of their expenditures and managing savings.
• Voice and face recognition techniques are applied to provide access to users’ accounts and keep them secured from unauthorised access.
• Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) gives financial institutions an edge over their rivals by providing their clients three-dimensional experience.

Substantial shift in the Human Resources

Fintech has not only impacted evolution in the business models and infrastructure of banks but also has caused significant changes in their human resources. Now banks and other financial institutions are hiring employees with skills and expertise in both finance and technology. This has opened new doors for young people to choose the best suitable career path that feeds their interest and skills. Positions like cyber security analysts, data specialists, product managers, compliance experts etc. are gaining popularity as career choices for young people. Fintech has also made it easier for the young generation to pick career paths that will be relevant for them in the coming years. This has also created a driving force for the companies to invest more in their human resources to develop technical expertise by providing training for the existing staff, arranging educational events etc.

Fintech in Bangladesh

Fintech is refurbishing financial services for both businesses and consumers not only across the globe but also in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has adopted fintech and has moved into the emergent markets. There has been a large unbanked population in Bangladesh which was not a part of the modern financial industry. Fintech has been able to change this scenario.

Bangladesh Government has been working relentlessly on the “Digital Bangladesh Vision” which has four key elements-human resource development, people involvement, civil services and use of technology in businesses. Since the use of technology in businesses is a crucial element of the vision fintech has played a significant role to accomplish that. One of the platforms of fintech is mobile financial services (MFS) which has made the most remarkable improvement over the years by including 47% of the population financially. Now these people have cheap and convenient access to financial products and services like transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance.

Financial services like Micro-Finance Institutions (MFI) are creating new scope to bring the rest of the population under the umbrella of financial services. MFIs is the main way through which 90% of the 180 million poor Asian households can be financially included. Since these people cannot afford high transaction costs and loan repayment MFIs can be a cheaper route for financial inclusion for them. In Bangladesh MFIs have been influential in making greater financial inclusion but its growth has become stagnant over the past couple of years after the advent of agent banking. Though social inclusion is not the main of the MFIs they are still serving the customers with savings offers as well as technological support.

MFIs in Bangladesh have a huge customer database with they can use to leverage the potentiality of fintech. MFS industry has not been able to unleash its true growth capacity due to its limitations of providing loans. This indicates a growth opportunity for MFIs to merge with the MFS to break into the untapped market.

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Findings

Fintech is often portrayed as a negative force that threatens the traditional banking system. It is still a very popular thought that fintech is transforming the way people and companies connect with their banks, and the way the banks manage teir back office operations. However, as stated by Francois de Maricourt, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bangladesh, fintech rather than threatening, actually compliments the banking institutions. The innovation of financial technology represents evolution rather than revolution of the traditional banking. It is understable that ever since the global financial crisis of 2007-2008, regulation have been constantly evolving and becoming more complex. But the goal of financial technology is only to make financial services more efficient, so that customers can get improved services from their banks. Figures from various researches itself shows how the use of technology can enhance the diversity of financial services. According to the data of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), at the end of February 2017, Bangladesh had 67.25 million Internet users and 129.58 million mobile subscribers, making the cell phone a strong medium to perform many other business activities besides communication. Bank-led Mobile finance services have seen a rapid growth and have become an important tool-of-the-trade for extending banking services to the unbanked/banked population. There are 52.68 million registered mobile banking accounts as of May 2017, as stated in the Bangladesh Bank website. However, despite this rapidly growing number, cash is still the most prevalent form of financial transaction. It is expected cash transaction will reduce in the next few years and mobile money will grow as more and more people will start paying money for private and government services through mobile wallet. In the past, a large number of technological changes have been seen such as credit cards and ATM machines. Those changes provided huge advances in convenience for consumers, but they did not either threatened the financial landscape. Rather, the financial institutions remained the dominant players and adapted to these changes. Which shows that banks and fintech start-ups have a great deal to offer each other.

References

1. FinTech – Creating New Opportunities for MFIs in Bangladesh. (2019, July 24). Retrieved from 'https://databd.co/stories/fintech-creating-new-opportunities-for-mfis-in-bangladesh-3401?fbclid=IwAR2DjArS0Fcd3lnlHqrDiHeC9ooeszANnQLglI0sViha719HhxDS4XBvw90' https://databd.co/stories/fintech-creating-new-opportunities-for-mfis-in-bangladesh-3401?fbclid=IwAR2DjArS0Fcd3lnlHqrDiHeC9ooeszANnQLglI0sViha719HhxDS4XBvw90.
2. EY FinTech Australia Census 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://fintechauscensus.ey.com/2019/.
3. Perzhanovskiy, N., Prokopenko, A., & Berezhnoy, I. (2019, April 15). The impact of FinTech on banks and financial services. Retrieved from https://justcoded.com/blog/the-impact-of-fintech-on-banks-and-financial-services/.
4. What is 'fintech' and how is it changing financial products? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://centralbank.ie/consumer-hub/explainers/what-is-fintech-and-how-is-it-changing-financial-products.
5. Sraders, A. (2019, March 8). What Is Fintech? Uses and Examples in 2019. Retrieved from https://www.thestreet.com/technology/what-is-fintech-14885154.
6. Aldoma, C. (2019, July 3). Evolution of Fintech - Innovation & Technology Blog. Retrieved from <a>https://www.e-zigurat.com/innovation-school/blog/evolution-of-fintech/</a>.

Introduction

Provision of adequate fire safety measures in a shopping mall is critical since they are accessed by individuals from all walks of life. Research indicates that safety measures in shopping mass are inadequately provided; therefore, serious damages are likely to occur in case of a fire. According to Kachenje et al (2010, p.6) most large shopping malls have insufficient number of facilities and fire control measures. Additionally, some of the facilities are not easily accessible or functioning at all. There are specific attributes that contribute to fire safety within shopping malls such as their design with wide exit points, big access routes and alert and mobile occupants. Shopping complexes have high chances of fire accidents because of the transient population (Kachenje et al (2010, p. 6). Each year, fire accidents are reported in various malls across the world. Below are three case studies of fire accidents that resulted in death, and property loss.

One of the critical fire accidents happened in Aksaray underground shopping mall in Turkey in 1975. Reports indicate that the fire was due to an electric short circuit in one of the shops inside the mall. The fire fighters responded promptly; however, the nature of the fire made it hard for the fire squad to contain the fire (Arioglu, Anadol and Candogan nd, p.2).The fire fighters attempted to use fans to suck out the smoke but it was too dense. Also, the very high space made it hard for the squads to access an ideal location to fighting the fire. After a few hours, the fire squad gave up and shut off entrance points using wood, canvas and sand to block oxygen and let the fire self-extinguish. The fire squad created holes over the ceiling to hose water inside the building but the technique did not work. The fire continued for about 63hours (Arioglu, Anadol and Candogan nd, p.2).

Villagio fire began as results of a fluorescent tube light short-circuit. The bulb burst after the plastic components of the tube overheated (Khatri, Chatriwala and Mills 2013, p.10). Villaggio mall fire is among Qatar's worst tragedies whereby 19 people died most being children in a day-care center. The fire-fighters tried to gain access of the day-care through the roof of the mall to rescue people. However, delays resulted in death of the children due to smoke inhalation. Others died when the mall’ staircase collapsed. People could observe the smoke billowing from the shopping mall (Khatri, Chatriwala and Mills 2013, p.8). There was no exit to escape since both exit points were blocked by smoke. The alarm and sprinkler systems were not working properly. The thick smoke and heat hindered rescue mission, as well as the lack proper floor plans and malfunctioned sprinkler systems. The smoke spread all over the mall through the mall's air vents and along the ceiling. The smoke become thicker and more toxic after mixing with flammable paint used to decorate the mall. At first, shoppers seemed unbothered by the fire but they had no idea that the fire was spreading out of control. The smoke spread on the roof space, and vents. It’s common for smoke to be generated in huge fires. The hot and toxic gases tend to be harmful to the mall occupants and block fire-fighters interventions (Khatri, Chatriwala and Mills 2013, p.8).

The fire in Myer shopping centre led to total destruction of the Myer store and over 40 million dollars losses (Cordingley and Tullberg 2007, para.1). Reports indicate that the fire was as a result of an electrical fault inside the store. The structure of the store contributed to the fast spread of the fire. Half of the store was badly hit by smoke, however, it remained structurally firm. The heat produced by the fire was too hot such that the fire-fighters had to fall back briefly. The smoke from the building raised in a plume into the ceiling. When the smoke reached the ceiling, a smoke layer was formed. As observed from the below image, the volume of the smoke increased when it came into contact with air. The smoke from the building hindered fire-fighters efforts to rescue property inside the building. The smoke could be seen spreading through the roof of the building.

Smoke controls are engineered systems that utilize fans to produce pressure differences so as to hinder smoke movement. A smoke control system prevents smoke from spreading to stairwells, elevator, and means of egress or similar areas (Ball 1999, p.134-135). The system maintains a friendly environment before the evacuation process by fire fighters. Additionally, the control system prevents migration of the smoke from the initial point. The smoke control creates a tenable environment allowing the emergency response team to conduct search and rescue mission and to locate and fight the fire. Research indicates that installing a smoke control system results in life protection and reduction of property loss (Ball 1999, p.134-135). According to Ball (1999, p.136) "smoke control systems comprises automatic smoke release or extraction as well as the necessary screens." Smoke control system cools the temperature allowing occupants to breathe with ease and prevent structural damages by maintaining building materials and contents below their flash point.

Smoke is one of the critical problems generated by fire. Smoke results in life and property loss and damages around the fire site. Smoke contains airborne solid and liquid matter and gases generated during combustion. It takes a few minutes for smoke to fill a room. Thick smoke tends to obscure exit signs and doorways, complicating the escape process. From the three case studies especially, the villaggio shopping mall fire, it’s evident that smoke is the key killer in building fires. The villagio shopping mall incident resulted in death of 13 children inside a day-care whereby the fire did not reach. However, the children chocked because of too much smoke inside the building. Fire in a shopping mall results in many fatalities due to panic among the building occupants as they push to exit the fire scene. Determining the smoke movement in a shopping mall can be complex because of their size and complicated design. Therefore, rescue procedures tend to be hard. Currently, researchers examine move movement based on the fire spots in different locations inside a big shopping mall. Usually, shopping malls comprise several stores such as boutiques, food court, entertainment facility, or clothing and fabric stores.

Installation of a smoke control system should be among the major building design considerations. The smoke control systems play an essential role in building design. In large building such as shopping malls, the system should focus on protecting key escape routes. As the smoke from the building escapes, it should leave clear air to allow the occupants to move freely. In modern times, there are several design techniques to control smoke in large building. People should have the ability to access a safe escape route regardless of the location of the fire. In complex shopping malls, the most effective way of safeguarding an escape route is through use of smoke control systems. Smoke control systems are installed to ensure easy access to a free escape route and staircases to allow occupants to get out of the shopping mall fast and safe. Designing and installing a smoke control system can be complex in a multi-storey shopping centre compared to a single-storey building. Basically, shopping centres have several levels, complicated layouts with junctions as well as changing roof lines (Clark 2004, P.20).

From the villagio fire case study, it’s clear that the 13 children suffocated inside the day-care due to excessive smoke. The fire-fighters efforts to access the room were hindered by the thick smoke. The smoke blocked both exit points. Natural ventilation system inside the Villagio mall would have provided a safe escape route for the fire-fighters to save the children inside the day-care. The villagio shopping mall design should have included natural openings such as lobby vents, smoke shafts, and stair vents around the entire building. Also, existing windows and doors would have served as natural ventilation system. During the Villagio mall fire the smoke would have escaped through the openings to other non-fire areas. The suitable points should have been evaluated during the design stage of the mall.

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The smoke observed at the Myer shopping centre fire was so dense such that the fire-fighters were unable to rescue property inside the building resulting in over $40million dollars losses. Natural ventilation systems would have created a tenable environment for the fire-fighters as they entered the building to save the property.

When I first read this poem, the first thing that I notice is general idea that whoever is speaking (in first person) is describing the end of the world. The first thing that comes to mind is the movie "Armageddon" and meteors burning up the earth, representing the fire. I can also see the planet covered with great glaciers with everything buried beneath sheets of ice. That is especially frightening to me as I live here in warm Hawaii. I can understand the literal meaning, that the person who is speaking says if the world were to end they would favor fire, but ice will also do. These are things I know to be true upon a first reading.

Another thing I looked at was the structure of this poem. It is arranged so that there is a rhyming scheme, which I believe was intentional by the author. The way the poem seems held together by the rhyming is aesthetically pleasing. One thing interesting that I saw was the scheme in lines 6 and 8 differ from the rest of the poem. The words that rhyme are "hate" and "great", which is an ironic association to make between something considered bad and something which is by definition good. Another thing I noticed about the rhyming was that in the first 4 lines, the word ice (2) does not rhyme with fire and desire. This may have been to show an initial contrast between fire and ice.

Now that I have established what I know, I now ask myself some questions about what I do not know about this poem from an initial reading. How do fire, ice, desire, and hatred relate? Why is their relationship important? What is Frost trying to say in this poem? These are the main questions that I had.

To begin to deal with the first question, in line 3, the speaker says "From what I've tasted of desire" and then continues into line 4 with "I hold with those who favor fire" here the speaker makes a connection between fire and desire. I believe he is trying to use fire as a metaphor for desire. From personal experience, I know a desire can be all consuming and much like a wild fire raging out of control and destroying everything in its path. The speaker also appears to understand how destructive desire can be, and makes it his first choice for the end of the world.

Then the speaker speaks in the second half of the poem. There he states in line 7 of how ice "Is also great" for destruction based on their knowledge of hate. Here the speaker makes a connection similar to that used in first half, except here between ice and hatred. It should be noted that the author is performing the same process with two sets of opposite things, desire and fire, and hatred and ice. I can also relate to how cold hatred is. When I do things I really hate, it feels like time and the clock hands are frozen in time. Hate is also cold in the sense that when one truly hates something, they will do anything to cause harm or eliminate it, no matter what the consequences. Any heart can be frozen in hatred's iron grip. So, the speaker states that hatred can also destroy the world.

I believe fire and ice, and desire and hatred were first brought up as opposites. When one thinks of fire, one thinks heat. When one is hot, they would like to drink something cool. When one thinks of ice they think of cold. When one is cold they want to sit by a fire and warm up. Desire is the want to have or create something while hatred is wanting to destroy it. I have answered my first question about how fire, ice, hatred and desire are associated. I can begin to see that my answer to the second question (what is the deeper message in this poem?) is getting closer.

Frost begins to confuse me with line 5, "But if it had to perish twice," as nothing can die twice. This paradox leads me to believe that there is a larger paradox hidden in this poem. When the speaker talks of the destruction that will cause the end of the planet, they cite two opposite causes, fire and ice. This leads to the larger (and more important) paradox where the author is implying that ice and fire, and the speaker-associated emotions of desire and hate are really the same thing. Fire and ice are the same, as are desire and hatred.

While at first, this may seem impossible (as is the nature of paradoxes), I looked at the context of which the author speaks of fire and ice, and desire and hatred. When the person discusses fire and ice, and desire and hatred, they do it in the context of the end of the world. Both the fire and the ice, and desire and hate can ultimately end up destroying the world. The author is trying say that because both of these pairs of opposites can bring about destructive force, they are really the same. I have now answered all my questions, and can begin reflecting on the poem.

Something that I found interesting was Frost's use of the word "suffice" in line 9. This is where Frost states that fire and ice (and their associated emotions) are equally dangerous. Yet there is an irony in this. When one thinks of fire, they see a bright, smoky, dramatic event. Whereas ice is just plain old ice. While the two are same, they are also inherently different. Fire goes through the flashy process of burning, where ice is just frozen. But they still result in the same thing. That is the irony.

I can make one main assumption about Frost's values. He believes that anything in the extreme, such as hate or desire can be in very dangerous, potentially causing the end of the planet. I tend to agree, as governments bent on either hatred of others or the desire for power have, in our history caused great pain and suffering. One shining example of this is Adolf Hitler's hatred of people who were different. This cold hatred lead to a great war and Holocaust in which many people suffered and died.

Though this poem was written over 70 years ago, it carries an eternal message and a paradox. Any emotion taken to the extreme is dangerous, and opposites become the same (destructive) at an extreme state. We must all be careful not to hate or desire something so much that it becomes an obsession, for a Holocaust lies in all of us.

Fire doors must be checked regularly as they are crucial in protecting escape routes and maintaining compartmentation. They are usually made from timber or steel and are designed to provide 30 to 60 minutes of protection. But before you think of installing one, it’s important to understand how they work and how to identify the right door for you.

Identifying Fire-Rated Doors

Timber fire-rated doors normally require a gap of around 3 to 4 millimeters, between the door leaf and the frame. To maintain fire resistance, the gap is normally protected by an intumescent seal that’s installed in either the door or the frame. The intumescent seal expands to seal gaps when a fire tragedy occurs. If the door contains a glazed panel it will also normally be fitted with an intumescent material.To restrict the spread of smoke at ambient temperatures, smoke seals may also be fitted. Occasionally metal fire doors may be more appropriate than timber, for example where fire resistance of more than one hour is required. To identify a door and its rating you should look for a label or plug from a third-party certification scheme.

Labels

Labels or plugs from certified providers, are a reliable indicator that a door meets the designated fire resistance. Labels usually indicate the period of time that a door will resist fire. Each label is generally numbered. This is useful in tracing the door manufacturer if a replacement is required or there are problems. Old doors have labels. But if they are solid heavy construction and similar to other fire doors in buildings, they probably are fire-rated doors. If there is any doubt, a professional opinion on a doors performance must be obtained or a proven replacement fitted.

Gaps

Gaps around fire-rated doors should be three to four millimeters. Gaps larger than this are unlikely to hold back fire and smoke. In older buildings, doors may not have intumescent strips, so only a nominal 20-minute fire resistance can be expected. Current recommendation is that a door with an intermittent strip affording a minimum of 30 minutes of fire resistance is fitted. Metal doors are not usually fitted with intumescent strips.

Smoke Seals

Many fire-rated doors are now fitted with smoke seals that prevent smoke spreading at normal temperatures. These seals are usually polymer blades or brushes. An Assessor should check that smoke seals are present and in good condition. They should completely fill the gap between doors and frame.

Ironmongery

Fire door ironmongery is complex. The combinations of hinges, latches and push plates are almost infinite and many are not compatible with each other or particular types of door leaf and frame. Most fire-rated doors will be hung on three or more hinges. If the door has dropped due to failure of hinges or fixings or if the door does not close properly, remedial work should be undertaken as soon as possible. Fire risk Assessors should also check for the presence and the condition of intumescent seals. They should be fitted at the top and both side edges of your door. Intumescent protection for ironmongery should also be used to prevent early door failure. This is especially important for one-hour fire resisting timber doors.

Self-Closing Devices

It is very important that self-closing devices, close fire doors completely. Failure to close correctly or overcome the resistance of the latch, can usually be rectified by correct adjustment of the door closer and/or strike a plate. Many fire-rated doors are held open by automatic door releases. When the fire alarm is activated, these devices must release the door and it should then, fully shut. Correct operation should be checked and records kept.

Emergency Escape Doors

Doors use for means of escape which may not be fire doors, for example final exit doors out of a building must open easily. Only one hand movement such as turning a lever or pressing a push pad or bar should be needed to open an emergency escape door. All fire doors must be adequately signed. Extra security locks should not be fitted to fire exit doors. If additional security is required, there are a variety electronic device that unlock with the fire alarm.

Conclusion

If a fire or protecting means of escape is fitted with an air transfer grill, it needs to be a type that is linked to a suitable fire detection alarm system. The fire risk Assessor should check that the operation of any air transfer grills has been regularly checked and recorded.

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Discussion
3. Works Cited:

Introduction

Arthurian Legend refers to a group of tales in numerous languages recounting the escapades of King Arthur of Britain, his kingdom, and the knights in his inner circle. The legend has been told over centuries, and remains popular in modern times, brought to life in numerous films. The wide range of films available for one tale, the Legend of King Arthur, from different storytellers targeting different audiences in different eras implies that there are bound to be diverse renditions of the story. Therefore, considering the strong influence of films, in comparison to texts, it becomes necessary to examine differences between depictions of medieval tales, whether for accuracy or simply to examine how modern society perceives history and literature from the past Williams.

While the first meeting between Lancelot and Guenivere in John Boorman's 1981 Excalibur presents a stoic and archetypical “knight in shining armor” like in The Lancelot-Grail Reade, bound by his duty to the King, in Jerry Zucker’s 1995 First Knight, the Lancelot a more modern, charming “adventure-seeker” in the woods with no allegiance to not only anyone but also to any ideals.

This essay, therefore, will explore parallels and contrasts between characters in The Lancelot-Grail Reader: Selections from the Medieval Arthurian Style and depictions in two medieval movies, including Excalibur and The First Knight, with the aim of illustrating how medieval movies vary in their depiction of history.

In Excalibur, at their first meeting, Lancelot arrives and is received enthusiastically by an acquaintance at Guinevere’s residence. “Here is Arthur’s greatest knight… he’s come to escort you to the King”, the acquaintance animatedly announces Lancelot’s arrival (Boorman). When Guinevere learns of Lancelot’s presence, she rushes to see him, as if she has heard of him before. She is excited, and it shows on her face. Lancelot on the other hand, is disinterested. He looks up at her and hardly acknowledges her presence. In the entire scene, none of the two utters a word. He walks away. He is more focused on the duty ahead of escorting Guenivere to his King. Most notably, Lancelot emerges in full regalia. He is a typical “knight in shining armor”. It could be his appearance that excites Guinevere so much. I

n the following scene, as Lancelot and Guenivere ride side by side, women giggle in excitement at the appearance and mannerisms of Lancelot. He is the typical “knight in shining armor” that “every woman” dreams about. Guenivere is highly interested to learn about Sir. Lancelot’s life. She curiously engages Lancelot, asking him if he fancies any of the women gawking at him. However, Lancelot’s response is quite disappointing. So, disheartening are Lancelot’s words that she falls back, dejected. Lancelot emphatically states that he is “sworn to the quest”. He adds, “I will love you always. I will love you as my queen, and as the wife of my best friend, and while you live I will love no other” (Boorman). He is sworn to a cause and is honorable. This is similar to the Lancelot in The Lancelot-Grail Reader: Selections from the Medieval Arthurian Style.

In First Knight, Guenivere and Lancelot meet following an ambush on a caravan transporting Guenivere and her companions. Guenivere manages to escape but the assailants soon catch up with her as she tries to hide in a thicket. Out of nowhere, Lancelot grabs her and covers her mouth so that she does not make any sound and attract the attention of the assailants. Eventually, there is a scuffle, a fight. Lancelot kills all the members of the raiding party and saves Guenivere.

Guenivere is amazed at his skills, his charm, and why he would risk his life to save hers. In the First Knight, Lancelot, at their first meeting, is a regular citizen going about his own business in the forest, when he chances on the caravan and the raiders. He wears no armor and does not seem to be duty bound to do anything. He is a wanderer, an adventurer, and a showman whose only goal in life is to meet a swordsman who is a worthy opponent. “As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, somewhere, there is a man better than me”, he teases in one scene (Zucker).

Lancelot in The First Knight is more modern. This could be partly because the movie is released a decade later than Excalibur. Major differences between the two movies are discernible in Lancelot’s character and behavior. In Excalibur, he is a “knight in shining armor”, he is duty bound, and does not have time for distractions. Conversely, in the First Knight, Lancelot is a mere wanderer with no honor. Lancelot in Excalibur is sworn to serve his King. He is selfless. Lancelot in First Knight is self-centered and motivated only by his interests, at least until he meets Guinevere. “I don’t know about honor,” he admits to Guenivere (Zucker).

Discussion

Adaptations of historical legends, in the form of films, are bound to present slightly or immensely varying accounts of the events, especially if they are released in different eras, and inevitably, if they are directed by different persons, and target varying audiences. Such movies are hardly accurate in their depiction of events, since the messages and images presented are influenced by numerous factors, including defining events at the time of production, feelings of nostalgia in the authors or directors, as well as a need to meet the diverse expectations of equally disparate audiences Williams.

According to Beatie, although Excalibur attempts to retell the entire Arthurian biography, it failed simply because the medium in question, film, could not capture all the details. Similarly, according to Grindley, both Excalibur and First Knight are highly inaccurate, despite the differences between them. Grindley argues that accuracy in medieval films is impossible. In addition, people who care enough to judge such films for accuracy can never be satisfied and many more audiences would hardly notice the inaccuracies within the accounts (Grindley).

In Excalibur, Lancelot is the quintessential knight in shining armor. He is honorable and sworn to service to the King, just as depicted in The Lancelot-Grail Reader. Conversely, in First Knight, he is a wanderer with no allegiance to any one or any ideals. It seems that films cannot capture as much detail as texts, and films are at more liberty to be imaginative. In addition, films can hardly be accurate. They are influenced by numerous factors ranging from the texts used to draw them up, the directors’ whims, to audiences’ expectations. In addition, medieval movies, as historical accounts, may never satisfy medievalists and enthusiasts with regard to accuracy, and many more individuals in audiences will not discern deviations from the “true account”.

Works Cited:

1. Beatie, Bruce A. "Arthurian Films and Arthurian Texts: Problems of Reception and Comprehension." Arthurian Interpretations (1988): 65-78. Print.
2. Excalibur. Dir. John Boorman. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1981. FilmFirst Knight. Dir. Jerry Zucker. Perf. Richard Gere, Sean Connery and Julia Ormond.
3. Columbia Pictures, 1995. Film.Grindley, Carl James. "Arms and the Man: The Curious Inaccuracy of Medieval Arms and Armor in Contemporary Film."
4. Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and Television Studies 36.1 (2006): 14-19.
5. Print.Williams, David. "Medieval Movies." The Yearbook of English Studies 20 (1990): 1-32. Print.

August 6, 1945, was the day Hiroshima suffered under the devasting power of the first-ever atomic bomb used by the United States. This historic event changed the nature of war which led to a surge in the production of nuclear-powered weapons after WWII.1 With many world powers obtaining such dangerous weapons, there was a need to impose treaties for its production and usage. The 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is one example that was imposed to restrict the production and distribution of such weapons. It also stated the directions for nuclear resources to be used for peaceful motives and included disarmament plans for the future.2 In spite of this, North Korea has sparked much controversy by not complying with the regulations of the NPT in 1985.2 This led to long-term denuclearization negotiations between the United States of America (USA) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of which always ended inconclusively. This is a result of the misalignment of conditions for denuclearization, the ineffectiveness of sanctions imposed on North Korea for the termination of its nuclear program, and the failure of the international community to have a united stand on North Korea’s denuclearization.

The misalignment of conditions between the USA and DPRK hampers the progression of North Korea’s denuclearization. One example would be the Singapore Joint Declaration signed during the Trump-Kim summit which does not state specifically the meaning of total denuclearization and the security guarantees President Trump would provide to the DPRK. This has resulted in many uncertainties. Firstly, US and DPRK have their own different interpretation of denuclearization. For the USA, denuclearization means the removal of all forms of nuclear-powered resources which includes weapons and nuclear-generating facilities. DPRK conversely, defines this as a gradual action rather than an immediate removal of all their nuclear-powered resources. Secondly, without any fixed timeline and agenda-setting, the DPRK Comment by Thien Zhi Yang Reuben: How does it hamper?

Can decide the duration to carry out their denuclearization plans under their own terms. Thirdly, the security guarantees provided by the USA vary to some extent depending on the extent of North Korea’s denuclearization. Without properly defining the respective views on denuclearization and the plans to be carried out, both countries are suspicious of each other which has often led to a denuclearization hiatus. Thus, proper alignment of the denuclearization conditions between the USA and DPRK must be attained for successful negotiations to take place.

Apart from the misalignment of conditions for denuclearization, the ineffectiveness of sanctions imposed also encourages a continuation of North Korea’s nuclear program for economic benefits. In 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear weapon test amidst negotiations for denuclearization. This bold move gained much attention from the international community and to deter North Korea’s hostile actions, additional sanctions were imposed. Despite this, North Korea continued to conduct another round of tests in 2009 following the inauguration of the Obama Administration which proposed for the renewal of the Six-Party alliance. This has brought about speculations that North Korea’s intention to conduct such tests is a means to bargain for additional economic aid and to mass produce nuclear weapons to support their economy. With increased sanctions, North Korea was placed in a vulnerable position against any military attack and its domestic destabilization. The purpose of the additional sanctions was to discourage further nuclearization in North Korea but because of national interest, it was the only alternative that North Korea had to survive. Hence, North Korea took advantage of the situation and continued its nuclear program for national benefits. 

The failure of the international community to take a united stand on North Korea’s denuclearization has prevented a mutual consensus, resulting in the lack of a firm resolution. An example would be the Six-Party Talks which were set up in 2003 to solve the North Korea denuclearization issue. This dialogue comprised of a coalition made between the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea which initially was hesitant. Between 2003 to 2009, when North Korea left the Six-Party Talks, there were many disputes between members which were factored in when there was a need to agree on a solution. Other reasons which impacted the decision-making on North Korea’s denuclearization were the lack of communication, unequal commitment in providing economic relief to North Korea, and prioritizing national interests. Consequently, each member had different propositions to solve the denuclearization issue. Furthermore, North Korea saw the tension among members as an opportunity to demand for more economic relief and leeway. Should neighboring countries continue to not have a unified stand, North Korea will continue to control the diplomacy in Northeast Asia with their nuclear weapons. Therefore, it is paramount that the international community stand united on North Korea’s denuclearization and put an end to the incessant nuclear issue. 

The Trump-Kim summit held in Singapore marks a long history of denuclearization negotiations since 1985. The USA has always pressured North Korea toward denuclearization through various bilateral and regional dialogues all of which North Korea has never complied with. The article written by Bonnie Girard makes reference of the current nuclear issue to WWII in that following the surrender of the Japanese, Churchill, Roosevelt, Chiang Kai-Shek and Stalin agreed that Korea will have her independence but gradually.9 Though there was much agreement on the outcome of Korea after WWII, individual national interests caused many conflicts to arise between countries resulting in the eventual fallout of the coalition formed between the world powers. This reference summarizes that collective effort between the world Comment by Thien Zhi Yang Reuben: Do not understand, have to rephrase.

Powers were key to solving the denuclearization issue and without common effort made, conflicts will continue to persist. Moreover, Sentosa as the venue for the summit reminds many of the trauma caused during the Japanese Occupation in 1942 but at the same time, a moment of peace when the Japanese surrendered in 1945. This brought about a sense of hope for many that the Trump-Kim summit held at Sentosa, was a possible dialogue for both countries to reach a peaceful compromise. Hence, I would not modify any part of Bonnie Girard’s view on the Trump-Kim summit. 

In conclusion, USA and North Korea negotiations will continue to take place should the misalignment of conditions for denuclearization, the ineffectiveness of sanctions imposed on North Korea for the termination of its nuclear program, and the failure of the international community to have a united stand on North Korea’s denuclearization are not addressed. Ultimately, without a collective effort made by the international community to have a united stand against North Korea’s denuclearization, the nuclear issue will continue to persist.

Bibliography

1. Choi, Jinwook. “How to Stop North Korea’s Nuclear Ambition: Failed Diplomacy and Future Options.” Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies, Vol. 7, No. 1 (2018): 1-15.
2. Frank, Ruediger. “The Political Economy of Sanctions Against North Korea.” Asian Perspective, Vol. 30, No. 3 (2006): 5- 36.
3. Harrison, Selig S. “Did North Korea Cheat.” The Asia-Pacfic Journal, Japan Focus, Vol.2, No. 3 (March 28, 2005): 1- 8.
4. Kittrie, Orde F. “Averting Catastrophe:Why the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is Losing its Deterrence Capacity and How to Restore it.” Michigan Journal of International Law, Vol. 2, No. 2 (2007): 1- 95.
5. Ko, Sangtu. “International Sanctions on North Korea: A Two-Level Solution.” Pacific Focus, Vol. 34, No. 1 (April 2019): 55- 71.
6. Lewis, Adrian R. The American Culture of War: The History of US Military Force from World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom. New York: Routledge Press, 2007.
7. Nishino, Junya. “Assessment of the Second US-North Korea Summit and the Future Course of North Korea’s Denuclearization.” Asia Pacific Review, 26:1, (September 17, 2019): 146- 161.
8. Snyder, Scott. US Policy Toward North Korea. North Korea Bulletin: SERI Quarterly, January 2013.
9. Yoon, Jong Han. “The Effect of US Foreign Policy on the Relationship Between South and North: Time Series Analysis of the Post-Cold War Era.” Journal of East Asian Studies, Vol. 11, No. 2 (May-August 2011): 255- 287.
10. Girard, Bonnie “Will World War II End Tomorrow?” The Diplomat. Last modified June 11, 2018, https://thediplomat.com/2018/06/will-world-war-ii-end-tomorrow/.