Performance Measurement and Management Assignment

Performance Measurement and Management - Assignment Example This is also ensures that transparency is achieved because stakeholders are informed on the choices the organization intends to take. In addition, it assists an organization to monitor its progress towards its set objectives and standards of performance (Lichiello and Turnock, 2010). In addition, Myer (2005) highlights that performance management is the coordination of activities, which ensures that organizational goals are effectively achieved. It is also the use of performance measures and standards by an organization to ensure that the desired results are met Lichiello and Turnluck, 2010). In performance management, an organization matches its resources, systems and workforce towards desired objectives. Employees, organizations departments and processes in the organization can be the basis of performance management (Lichiello and Turnock, 2010). Myer (2005) also highlights that the benefits of performance management include; reduced costs by decreasing the time of achieving goals and reducing project overruns, motivation of employees by using incentive plans for goals achieved, improved engagement and transparency, and lastly, improved control of organization activities through proper data relationships. This paper will highlight and describe in detail the va rious performance measures that can be used by Allulite Windows and Joinery in measuring performance, and it will emphasize on the balanced score card approach and why it is favorable for the company than any other methods. In general, the metrics of measuring performance in an organization can be broadly classified into financial and nonfinancial measures. Some of the financial measures include the Return on Investment (ROI), Residual income (RI) and discounted cash flow methods such as the NPV method. On the other hand, the nonfinancial performance measures include

Political Philosophy 3 paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Political Philosophy 3 paper - Essay Example Therefore, this essay will delve on two Greek philosophers, Epictetus and Epicurus, to try to understand their ideologies regarding the importance of living life without having to worry of the occurrence of death. According to ancient philosophy, Epicurus was an ancient philosopher that lived between two hundred and seventy one and three hundred and forty one B.C. He founded his school of philosophy in Athens where he spent most of his life. Epicurus was a philosopher who related the aspect of pleasure with good and the aspect of bad with pain concerning living. This concept became Hedonism, a Greek word meaning pleasure. For Epicurus, being sensuous and exalting life did not quantify for Epicureanism to form opinion on the views of living. However, Epicurus was of the belief that a pleasurable life came from having calm emotions through the appreciation of simple but beautiful pleasantries of life. These pleasures include good company of friends, a healthy diet, morally upright behavior, and good personal health. This meant that people were not to worry about death, but only had to concern themselves with pleasure and pain (Pojman 531). Therefore, Epicurus believed that death was not a feeli ng hence advising people not to be fearful of death. Ideally, this philosopher was a great believer in the doctrines of philosophy because to him philosophy was a constant factor in the life of any individual. Further, Epicurus felt that people needed to focus on the aspects of life that made them happy as part of living a fulfilled life. However, this philosopher had a queer belief in matters related to God and other gods, but acknowledged their existence. In essence, Epicurus believed that these higher deities received much accreditation for what they truly were not. For him, ill fate befell those that lived wicked lives and blessings followed those that did well hence

Causes And Effects Of Food Insecurity Environmental Sciences Essay

Causes And Effects Of Food Insecurity Environmental Sciences Essay State reconstruction is primarily aimed at restoring peace and stability. One of the key factors that threaten peace and stability is food insecurity. This paper focuses on the key challenge of improving food security in protracted crises as well as during post conflict times. The goal of achieving  food security often becomes a daunting challenge, especially when emergencies persist for years or even decades as evidenced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Somalia. The paper begins with a brief overview of what food security entails, structural factors hindering food security as well as the effects of food insecurity. This will be followed by a glimpse into the protracted situation in the DRC as well as suitable frameworks for analyzing and responding to protracted crises. It concludes with recommendations on how to improve food security in protracted crises. The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security to be existing when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy lifestyle. Food security means that: Food is available The amount and quality of food available globally, nationally and locally can be affected temporarily or for long periods by many factors including climate, disasters, war, civil unrest, population size and growth, agricultural practices, environment, social status and trade. Food is affordable When there is a shortage of food prices increase and while richer people will likely still be able to feed themselves, poorer people may have difficulty obtaining sufficient safe and nutritious food without assistance. Food is utilised At the household level, sufficient and varied food needs to be prepared safely so that people can grow and develop normally, meet their energy needs and avoid disease. Food security is considered a complex sustainable development issue, linked to health through malnutrition, but also to sustainable economic development, environment, and trade. There is debate around food security with some arguing that: There is enough food in the world to feed everyone adequately; the problem is distribution. Future food needs can or cannot be met by current levels of production. National food security is essential or no longer necessary because of global trade. Globalization may or may not lead to the persistence of food insecurity and poverty in rural communities. Issues such as whether households get enough food, how it is distributed within the household and whether that food fulfils the nutrition needs of all members of the household show that food security is clearly linked to health. Agriculture remains the largest employment sector in most developing countries and international agriculture agreements are crucial to a countrys food security. Some critics argue that trade liberalization may reduce a countrys food security by reducing agricultural employment levels. 3. Structural Factors Institutional failure, non-existent or weak public and informal institutions are arguably the primary source of protracted crises and food insecurity. This is due to the fact that basic public services such as health, education and protection are inadequately and ineffectively provided if at all. Poor governance of land use and access fuels disputes over land in these crisis situations and impacts negatively on food security in that agricultural production is hampered and investments to increase food production decrease when access to land becomes insecure. Unequal access of land is common in protracted situations of the DRC, Somalia and Sudan and a typical example is when the powerful politico-military rewards their supporters with extra land in an effort to secure their support base. This results in the majority of land being the property of a small number of landowners and the rest of small farmers being marginalized. State reconstruction became hindered when the economy of the DR C collapsed due to the powerful elite exploiting the countrys economic resources. Informal and cultural institutions also play a role in easing the burden of conflicts and can prove to be more effective than weak or collapsed formal institutions. A perfect example in this regard is the local council in the DRC known as chambres de paix that comprised of community elders who investigated and settled land disputes between farmers on the basis of compromise. ¹ This form of justice system became the most trusted mechanism for providing protection to farmers and as a result, farmers no longer trusted the formal corrupt justice system and local courts which traditionally failed to afford them legal protection and justice. However, protracted crises have had a bad effect on informal institutions and thus deprived them of mitigating against the crises. For instance, in Sudan traditional elder authorities were eradicated by military forces. ² 4. Causes and Effects of Food Insecurity Poverty Poor people lack access to sufficient resources to produce or buy quality food. Poor farmers may have very small farms, use less effective farming techniques, and/or be unable to afford fertilisers and labour-saving equipment, all of which limit food production. They often find it difficult to grow enough food for themselves, let alone generate income by selling excess to others. Without economic resources and a political voice, poor farmers may be forced on to less productive land possibly causing further environmental deterioration. Addressing poverty is critical to ensuring that all people have sufficient food. Health Without sufficient calories and nutrients, the body slows down, making it difficult to undertake the work needed to produce food. Without good health, the body is also less able to make use of the food that is available. A hungry mother will give birth to an underweight baby, who then faces a future of stunted growth, frequent illness, learning disabilities and reduced resistance to disease. Contaminated food and water can cause illness, nutrient loss and often death in children. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has reduced food production in many affected countries as productive adults become ill or die. Lacking the labour, resources and know-how to grow staples and commercial crops, many households have shifted to cultivating survival foods or even leaving their fields, further reducing the food supply. Addressing health issues will improve utilisation and availability of food. Water and the environment Food production requires massive amounts of water. Producing sufficient food is directly related to having sufficient water. Irrigation can ensure an adequate and reliable supply of water which increases yields of most crops. Where water is scarce, achieving food security may depend on importing food from countries with an abundance of water. This may be a more efficient use of a scarce resource. Gender equity Women play a vital role in providing food and nutrition for their families through their roles as food producers, processors, traders and income earners. Yet womens lower social and economic status limits their access to education, training, land ownership, decision making and credit and their ability to improve their access to and use of food. Food utilisation can be enhanced by improving womens knowledge of nutrition and food safety and the prevention of illnesses. Increasing womens involvement in decision making and their access to land and credit will in turn improve food security as women invest in fertilisers and better seeds, labour-saving tools, irrigation and land care. Disasters and conflicts Droughts, floods, cyclones and pests can quickly wipe out large quantities of food as it grows or when it is in storage for later use. Seeds can also be destroyed by such environmental dangers. Conflict can also reduce or destroy food in production or storage as farmers flee to safety or become involved in the fighting. Previously productive land may be contaminated with explosive debris and need to be cleared before it can again be used for food production. Stored food, seeds and breeding livestock may be eaten or destroyed by soldiers, leading to long-term food shortages. Government spending needs to prioritise food security after conflicts. Population and urbanisation Population growth increases the demand for food. With most productive land already in use, there is pressure for this land to become more productive. Poor harvests and higher costs lead many poor farmers to migrate to cities to look for work. Expanding cities spread out across productive land, pushing food production further and further away from consumers. This increases the cost of all the activities associated with producing and transporting food, and decreases the food security of the poor in cities. Trade Many poor countries can produce staples more cheaply than rich nations but barriers to trade, such as distance from markets, regulations and tariffs make it difficult for them to compete in export markets against highly subsidised farmers in rich countries. This deprives poor farmers of income and entire countries of the agricultural base they need to develop other sectors of the economy. Trade imbalances prevent poor countries from importing agricultural products that could enhance their food security. The negative effects of food insecurity include impaired physical and cognitive abilities of children. Generally, food insecurity and hunger amounts to poor health status, making children sick more often, with higher rates of iron deficiency anemia, and also results in children being frequently hospitalized. In Somalia, for example, 20 percent of children die before the age of five. The nutritional status of women is also a major concern. They are mainly farmers and are usually carers of their families. It has been reported that two-thirds of women in the Horn of Africa suffer from anaemia, which is partly attributed to the high levels of maternal mortality. 5. Protracted Crises The term is defined as conflict situations characterized by the prolonged and often violent struggle by communal groups for such basic needs as security, recognition, acceptance, fair access to political institutions, and economic participation. ³ 5.1 DRC Democratic Republic of Congo is listed as one of the worst humanitarian crises. Its five-year war ended in 2003. The country is rich with gold, diamonds and minerals, yet millions of its people suffer from a lethal combination of disease and hunger caused by ongoing conflict and displacement. 5.4 million people were declared dead since 1998 from war-related violence, hunger and disease. The devastating effects of pre-war land policies on the rural people of DRC have intensified since the war. Land is at center stage of conflict, especially in the regions such as Ituri and Masisi. It has also become an important resource to warring factions because through their control over land, they have reinforced their political position to the disadvantage of small farmers. A study undertaken by FAO concluded that food insecurity in the DRC can be tackled through interventions that focus on land access and that possible interventions include the strengthening of the legal position of rural populations and the strengthening of the role of community representatives in land issues. The study also focused on the structural impact of the protracted crisis on local food systems and the effects and limits of food security interventions. 6. Frameworks for Analysis and Response In protracted crises, food security interventions tend to be based on a standardized set of responses that do not consider the dynamic nature of protracted crises. Such interventions usually focus on food production and neglect other dimensions of food security. Responses to these situations are of a humanitarian/emergency nature. They contribute to saving lives and to protecting livelihoods but are inadequate for addressing the complex root causes of these crises. Stated differently, traditional humanitarian and development approaches are often not suitable for guiding analysis and response. Organizations that intervene in these situations tend to concentrate on one side of the humanitarian/development divide and plan their response accordingly. The studies show that assistance is often externally driven and very few donors commit to longer term development once the acute phase of a crisis passes and thus disregard the root causes of the crisis unresolved. In the DRC and Sudan, analytical tools that were employed wrongly suggested that food insecurity in those countries were livelihoods crises at the household level caused by external factors. As a result, contextual analysis was not undertaken. Alinovi et al therefore suggest that a new operational framework for food security in protracted crises should: †¢ have an overarching livelihoods-based framework to represent various processes at the global level and the effects of those processes at the household level; †¢ highlight appropriate food security responses policies and programmes; †¢ identify institutions that play a positive (or negative) role in strengthening the resilience of food systems; and †¢ identify institutions that are necessary for implementing food security response. Conclusion It is necessary to address both the short and long term dimensions of protracted crises in order to have an impact on increasing food security and thus prevent and/or mitigate the adverse effects of food insecurity, especially in protracted crises. The current aid architecture also needs to be reformed so that it is flexible enough to link short and longer term response. Response must be based on adequate analysis, including institutional analysis of these complex situations. Acting without adequate analysis may reduce the effectiveness of response and, in the worst cases, make the situation even worse. The eradication of hunger and food insecurity must be considered a long-term development goal. Food insecurity cannot be addressed in isolation. Progress needs to be made also with relation to goals set in other pressing areas, including poverty alleviation; education and literacy; reductions in infant, child and maternal mortality; improved reproductive health; and environmental protection. The countries in protracted crises should establish their own regional and national targets as well as associated indicators. These goals should be achieved within the framework of human rights. This rights-based approach acknowledges the responsibility of national governments and their international partners in fulfilling peoples fundamental rights, including freedom from hunger. Community participation should also be encouraged to ensure that beneficiaries participate in all decisions affecting their lives. Women should also have an equal voice in decision-making.

Nationalism from a Marxian Perspective :: Politics

Nationalism from a Marxian Perspective The mobilization of the masses to both support and participate in a wide variety of cultural and political endeavors is often achieved through nationalism. It can be used to get a society to push for a return to traditional ways and old-time religion, to press on for national liberation and self-determination, to support or fight vast acts of imperialism and genocide, as an excuse to severely obstruct rights and liberties for citizens, and ultimately be used as a great tool in a quest for all out war and full throttled vengeance in any case in which a country is attacked. For decades, the Nationalist tendency of America has not been as clear or strong as it has been during the current aftermath of the attacks in New York City. The response across America has been widespread and clear: people, by and large, and in full support of the state and whatever path it wishes to choose, with a majority of the population even supporting secret military trials and a strict curtailing of civil liberties in America. Nationalism is running rampant in America, much of which goes far beyond mere patriotism and concern for the state of one’s nation and rather into astonishingly high levels of First World chauvinism. But what does this mean on a larger level? How is nationalism used on a larger scale? Is it most always used to have the mass blindly follow the interest of elites? Or is nationalism more complex? To answer these questions, in this paper I will address nationalism on multiple levels and from a Marxian perspective. Nationalism will be dealt with at a structural level, with an examination of how it utilized in both the First World and the Third World. Many basic descriptions of what nationalism is exist, and defining precisely what nationalism means is not an easy task. This is in large part because the causes and effects of nationalism greatly varies from social context to social context, as the concrete social reality determines the specific shape and character that the nationalism idea takes when it comes to hold a large part of the consciousness of a society (I say the ‘nationalism idea’ for I feel that nationalism is, primarily, in the realm of the ideological). Put more succinctly â€Å"Nationalism can be, and has been, democratic and authoritarian, forward-looking or backward-looking, socialist or reactionary† (Kamenka 1976: 3).

Automating computer usual processes Essay

Nowadays, almost all kinds of establishments are relying on computers for automating their usual processes. Most of the manual systems in offices are replaced by the automated systems which use computer technology. Moreover, computers have also diminished the total manual works and the effectiveness of employees has also increased because of the dependence of establishments on computer technology. It helps also to perform the routine business tasks much quicker compared to the manual way of doing things. Computer nowadays is no longer considered a luxury but rather a necessity with the emergence of information technology 1 â€Å"We are in the so-called information age, and every transaction at every phase of the establishments depends on modern computing.† As observed, there are already many manual systems that are being replaced by the computerized ones. Some of these are the payroll, sales and monitoring, point of sale, enrollment, grading, library, and other related systems .. Integration with the people in the society is in demand for progress. The relation field of Information Technology concerns the use of computer-based information system to convert, process, protect, share, store, transmits and retrieve information. Technologies have brought us more advances on personal computer, to build new industries and change the lifestyle of each individual. These advances became more powerful and more productive for simultaneous growth in society and industries. Using Internet is one of the medium of today’s communication, people easily connect in the current events in their community and even outside their places and acquire necessary information in just a short period of time. 2As the saying goes, â€Å"Nothing is permanent than change† so as with Information Technology. This field will continue to prosper and continue to help change lives by improving it. Although most people, especially in the Philippines still prefer the old ways or manual transactions, the future Filipino generations will eventually embrace ch ange and not only that, but also be the one to provide change through the future students and graduates that will courageously take this field. Every bit of information is now considered as a powerful tool hence it should be used and managed with the utmost caution. This mere reason prompts many establishments to produce their own system  that will protect information. The Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) was established to address the existing health condition in the Bicol region. It is a coordinating system involving various institutions in the region with interest in health research. The BCHRD was created upon the partnership with Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS), Regional Development Council (RDC) with the member institutions of : Department of Health (DOH) ,Bicol Regional and Training And Teaching Hospital(BRTTH), Commision on Higher Education (CHED) , Bicol University (BU), Catanduanes State University (CSU), University of Saint Anthony, Ago Medical and Educational Center (AMEC), Atedeo de Naga, University of Nueva Caseres, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Aquinas Univ ersity of Legazpi (AUl), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Bicol Medical Center, Partido State University (PSU) . Universidad de Santa Isabel. The existing health condition in the region necessities the establishment of a strong health research and development (R&D) coordinating system involving various institution in the region with interest in health research. Putting them together to work on consortium arrangement will promote complementation, thereby increase the synergy despite limited resources for R&D undertakings. The Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) was therefore established to address the afore mentioned concerns. The primarily goal and objective of BCHRD is to institute/strengthen the system collaboration in Bicol to develop and enhance the capacity of research institution within the region which have interest and engage in health related researches, as a strategy to improve the health condition of Bicolanos Specifically the consortium aims to : (a) Undertake and/or spearhead health related Research and Development (R&D) activities; (b) Establish a collaborative system for effective sh aring and utilization of physical, financial and manpower resources among member-institution as well encourage the active involvement of non-members that will fave the way for expanding the membership of consortium; (c) Promote an effective collaboration and harmonious working relationship between among member-institutions in the conduct of researches in health, nutrition related fields; (d) Encourage, generate and provide funds for health –related researches in accordance with the health and nutrition priority  areas/sectors indicated in the plans of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS); (e) Develop the capability in manpower, facilities and other infrastructure for health and nutrition and other related researches; (f) Effectively promote the proper utilization of health research findings; (g) Serve as clearing house for all health related researches; (h) Establish linkages/network within and outside the region ; and (i) Institute a mechanism and implement strategies for a sustained visibility of the consortium and ensure a long-term viability of the consortium. Monitoring system is not just used in the field of industry; it has also a very significant role in improving the quality of education in the country (Philippines). Once this technological approach is implemented a full assurance that the aimed quality of educational system will be able to reach its peak of being more organized and well improved system In terms of paper works, these two types of management system can easily manage the projects through having an Proposal monitoring system. Archiving system refers to the process of moving data through an automated storage device that helps the people to access the data easily. Before, an archival record was identified with manuscripts or with written records. Years passed by, archival record refers to recorded information, specifically in paper-based transforming it to automated form method. Implementing an archiving system of records can do task of organizing, monitoring and easy generation of reports. On the other hand, all the Research proposal that are pending, denied or approve must be monitored in order to ease the different operations and functions of organizations. In this study, monitoring system for the research proposal of the institution is the most needed to work to. This system updates the current status of the research project. In addition, monitoring system has a significant role in improving the quality of the implemented projects to be able to reach its goal. Because of its function, they are having problems in a certain field. They seem to have problems in the management of projects from time to time. In addition, the increasing burden of creating and maintaining the archive of projects. Their file storage is full of projects making it a burden when finding a needed project. This study aimed to create a system for the Bicol Consortium for  Health Research and Development. It covered the storing and updating of projects that are processed in the department and al so uploading projects in the system that can be retrieved easily. Statement of objective General Objectives This study aims to develop a research proposal and monitoring management system for the Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development. Specific Objectives 1.) To create a system that will facilitate research proposal and monitor status for approval. 2.) To develop a monitoring system for all ongoing researches. 3.) To record all pending, approved and rejected proposals, and ongoing and completed research of the health proponent/researcher. 4.) To create a secure system for monitoring of research proposals and projects. 5.) To generate reports on the status of research projects and proposals. Scope of the System Check the requirements for filing a proposal Keep track of the status of the proposal Keep track of the research’s accomplishments and budgets Monitor progress of ongoing research Scope and Delimitation This study is about Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development. This will cover the checking of requirements the tracking and monitoring of the proposal. It has the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from beginning to completion. The system records the detailed planning, proposed, on-going and finished projects in the department. Old  files were also scanned and be saved as pdf. The secretary, regional administrator, institution head and all the member of the health research were given privileged to view the system. The employees may ask the administrator of each section if they need files that were in the system. The head administrator provides admin accounts for each section head. The proposal monitoring management system has different sections for the storage of projects (proposed, on-going and finished projects) and it provided easy access to the projects’ status and tracks the finished projects that are archived. Old and new files are archived in this system. The date could only be searched, retrieved and printed. The archive could be searched by date, name etc. As for the proposal monitoring management system, it provided an automated monitoring and checking the status of ongoing research development. It has additional features, like the user is notified for the reminders of the agency; and the system is secured by providing administrator restrictions. On the other hand, the proposed system would not include other health researcher that are not member of the institutions that are part of BCHRD. The study only focused on the automation of storage of all projects that would be made and were done, monitoring its status among various sections of PDMO and provide an automated maintenance plan in monitoring, checking and repairing of items. Significance of the Study The result of the study will benefit the following: Bicol University. College of Science One of the four-fold functions of a university or any academic institution is research. This study will be another contribution to the research achievements of the university. BCHRD (Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development).This lessened the manual labor of the agency through the use of the system which operates the research projects and monitoring plans for BCHRD. Employee. The system helped the employee to do their job efficiently, properly and effectively. Students This study will serve as an educational  and reference material for their future studies and undertakings. This may also give an idea on making their own versions of the existing software, thus presenting their own modifications. Researchers. This study which is connected to the Research Proposal Monitoring and Management System will improved the researchers’ knowledge in programming skills and their sense of responsibility. Future Researchers. Students who will undertake future research projects can use this study as reference material. This will provide the future researches sufficient information with regards to system development. Definition of Terms For better understanding of the study, the following terms were defined operationally or concepltually: Research Proposal an study that request time and fund from instition Monitoring Management System the process of checking the updates and status of ongoing health research Proponent in this study the proponent is the person who is requsting or conducting health researh Storage. , this term refers to the method of storing finished and proposed projects for future use. Secure System in this study this term refers to a system that cannot be easily tamper the information that is stored. EDIT OR E-REVISE NIO Notes 1 The Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, USA: Grolier Incorporated, 1995 (accessed on May 19, 2014 9:05am) 2http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/information-technology-and-software-development/9788131760291/information-technology-basics/ch008006 (Accessed on: May 20, 2014 2:18PM) â€Å"What is Information Technology?†.

Journey to Manhood… An Analysis of “Do You Fear the Wind”

After reading â€Å"Do You Fear the Wind†, I immediately thought of a father talking to his son about becoming a man. This particular talk appears to focus on being strong, facing one's fears, and fighting one's own battles. The persona appears to be trying to educate someone on masculinity. There is an underlying theme of strength that is prominent throughout the poem. The poet, through language, imagery, and use of poetic metre, contributes to this theme by having the persona command the addressee to embrace his masculinity and â€Å"walk like a man†. Throughout the poem, the persona uses strong language when he is speaking. It is almost as if he wants to frighten his addressee. The comfortable atmosphere that is expected when one is at home talking to one's parents is not evident here. There are no soft gentle tones, or kind words of encouragement. Instead, there is this gruesome display of harsh, brutal language, and eccentric commands. It is almost frightening how the addressee is expected to obtain such warrior-like qualities in his quest for manhood. He is supposed to â€Å"slash†, â€Å"fight†, use â€Å"force†, and â€Å"be savage†. The poet, in his choice of words, inadvertently reveals his belief in the qualities that a ‘real man' should possess. The persona continues his harshness in the command, â€Å"Go wade like the crane.† It is difficult to imagine why someone would tell another person, under any circumstances, to â€Å"go wade like the crane†, but it is possible that the poet is alluding to the aggressive nature of the crane. The crane is a very intrepid bird with elaborate courting displays. Cranes are also known for their pride, as they fly with their necks outstretched rather than pulled back. The poet also uses vivid imagery throughout the poem to contribute to its theme. He creates a stormy atmosphere with the â€Å"force of the wind† and the â€Å"slash of the rain†. He, then, equates going â€Å"hungry and cold† with masculinity. The persona apparently associates being masculine with being a savage beast. Incidentally, he instructs the addressee to become animalistic and obtain certain qualities of a â€Å"wolf†. In order to be clearly understood, the persona informs the addressee that becoming a man will be no easy task. He will encounter obstacles along the way. There will be times when his â€Å"palms will thicken† and â€Å"the skin of his cheek will tan†. It is easy to picture a bloody, dirty, exhausted man returning from war in the line, â€Å"You'll grow ragged and weary and swarthy.† He may get battered and bruised, but he must persevere because the juice of this prize is worth the squeeze he must execute. The poet also contributes to the theme through his use of poetic metre. Unlike the flowery, feminine traits of iambic pentametre, common in sonnets, the poem consists of only dimetre (lines containing two feet) and trimetre (lines containing three feet). All of the lines in the poem are short and abrupt. The metre helps to create the sense of rigidity that is implied in the tone of the poem. Lines three and seven of the poem contain amphibrach foot. Amphibrach is a Greek word meaning short on either side. The poet suggests, through metric foot, that the addressee should not be cowardly, but fight back. All of the lines in the poem, with the exception of line three, contain anapestic foot. Anapest is a Greek word meaning struck back. The persona in the poem teaches a valuable lesson about embracing one's fears and subsequently overcoming them. Nothing is promised in life, and anything that is worth having is worth the struggle necessary to obtain it. It is important to understand that the challenge does not lie in never being in fear, but in learning that fear can be conquered. It will not always be easy and it may sometimes seem impossible. However challenging and tiring it may seem, one must persevere. The gratification one gets is summed up best in the lines, You'll grow ragged and weary and swarthy, But you'll walk like a man.

The Wind in the Willows Questions for Discussions

'The Wind in the Willows' Questions for Discussions The Wind in the Willows is a famous book about animals, by Kenneth Grahame. Here are a few questions for study and discussion. What is significant about the title?What are the conflicts in The Wind in the Willows? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) do you see?How does Kenneth Grahame reveal character in The Wind in the Willows?What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?What are some symbols in The Wind in the Willows? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Is Badger (Mr. Badger) consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character? How? Why?Does Badger change and/or develop as a character?How does Badger relate to other characters in the book?Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters creatures you would want to meet?Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?How does the past figure into the novel?How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?Would you recommend this book to a friend?​