Based on how technology, with particular emphasis on the internet and Essay

Based on how technology, with particular emphasis on the internet and computers, has changed world culture - Essay Example on, online education is less costly than going in another part of the country or going abroad and earning a degree (Online Education Database , par 2). This is indeed one of the major breakthroughs of the Internet age. Furthermore, doing research has never been easier than it is now. Gone are the days when one has to spend hours in the library. There is simply so much information within one’s reach. Globalization is another area which has benefitted much from the emergence of the Internet and computers. Better access to information and more efficient processing of information from Internet technology has helped businesses worldwide to improve its competitiveness and productivity (Zunairah 1). Marketing of products became less complicated with even a greater reach. Doing business and availing of products and services all over the world is less rigorous. Economic and political laws and policies of the different countries can easily be accessed, making it easier for companies to tap international markets. The Internet technology is not without its problems though. A major problem posed by the Internet is cyberbullying. The Internet and digital technologies gave birth to the social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. These networks have made it easier for some people to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate and embarrass other individuals (WiredKids, Inc. , par 1). Another major drawback of the advancement in information technology is the rise in cybercrimes. The Internet has brought about the emergence of cybercrimes such as unwanted software, fraud, identity crime, phishing, crimes against the intellectual property rights and terrorism (Chantler 249). Computers and the Internet technology is probably one of the greatest invention of mankind. One believes that its benefits more than outweigh its detrimental effects. It would be hard to imagine life without computers and access to the Internet. For the Internet generation, eliminating these

Benefits of Outsourcing Essay Example for Free

Benefits of Outsourcing Essay There are a number of outsourcing benefits that have been recognized by the researchers and they are as many as thirty two advantages of outsourcing. The following will describe the various benefits that will be provided to the university if it plans to outsource the activities in the future. The first kind of advantage that is received by outsourcing is that the overall costs of those functions are reduced and there are no more overhead costs for the university. This means that the company would try to reduce its overhead costs by simply passing on the costs to the outsourced company so that it would be at an advantage. The second advantage is that of off-loading non core functions. As has been mentioned before in the paper, when a university would outsource, it would make sure that it out sources the non core functions so that it can concentrate more on the core activities that it is supposed to perform. This in turn would allow the university to become more competent in its field and allow the university to concentrate more on the work that it is good at. This is the main purpose of outsourcing to a company. Another advantage from outsourcing is that the personnel would now be shifted to the core activities. This means that the company would now take upon the non core activities and leave the university with the benefit of shifting its employees to the core activities of teaching and research where the employees can work with one another to explore new areas that have not yet been researched by people and many other ways. The employees would now be able to concentrate more on the core activities and give their full attention in stead of being worried about the daily chores that were to be completed on time in order to move ahead with their work later on. This was a hassle and a barrier for the employees to move ahead in life and bring new changes in the university. Once the employees are able to achieve the sense of not having to complete the daily chores because they are being handled by someone else, they can concentrate on their skills and how they will be used more accurately and in the right way in order to help the employees an the university to move ahead and face the competition that they have from various other universities as well as the online services that are provided by them. There are a few more advantages that are listed below such as: 1. â€Å"Get access to specialized skills 2. Reduce need for internal commitment of specialists 3. Save on manpower and training costs 4. Control operating costs 5. Improve efficiencies through economies of scale 6. Improve speed and service 7. Level out cyclical or seasonal fluctuations 8. Eliminate peak staffing problems† (Tips and Trivia, 2005 ) Conclusion In conclusion, it can be said that the university can think of outsourcing its operations to other companies that can handle the work so that there is no disruption for the university to do its work on time. The university will now be able to face the fierce competition that is there in the filed of education.

The Virtues of Apathy Essay -- Essays Papers

The Virtues of Apathy â€Å"I just don't think I can continue to live in a place that embraces and nurtures apathy as if it was virtue.† Morgan Freeman speaks these words in the movie Se7en after declaring that he is going to quit his job as a detective. His character sees crimes of hate, aggression and murder every day, and he also observes the public’s reaction to them. People turn a blind eye; they no longer care. What has happened to society? Why has what used to be considered incredibly shocking dissolved into what is considered an everyday and usual activity? Apathy has become the common response of American society towards what should be considered shocking because these activities have become unshocking and â€Å"everyday†. In searching for the cause and extent of the problem of social de-shockification, one must begin with the group of writers who devoted themselves to intermixing the shocking and strange with the everyday: the surrealists. The original intention of the Surrealists was not to normalize shocking activities, but instead to make strange the â€Å"normal† and the â€Å"everyday†. These writers took the shocking and taboo items and subjects and introduced them into common circumstances so that readers would take a closer look at the circumstances, not the items introduced. Cultural analyst Ben Highmore describes it as a â€Å"juxtaposing of disparate elements† (Highmore 46). Surrealists took the evil, they took the wickedness and the debauchery, and they placed it in with the â€Å"clean† and the â€Å"good†. Opposites have the optimal effect of bringing out the different qualities of two objects. In order to defamiliarize what was good and normal, Surreal ists had to place it in juxtaposition with what was evil and unusual. One Surre... ...ly receive notice. The only problems that are solved are the ones the affect individuals. That in itself is a problem that plagues society, and it will not be fixed until apathy ceases to control the everyday lives of the American people. Works Cited - Bataille, Georges. Blue of Noon. 1957. New York: Marion Boyars Publishers, 2002. - Camus, Albert. The Fall. 1956. New York: Vintage Books, 1991. - Highmore, Ben. Everyday Life and Cultural Theory: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2002. - Isidore, Chris. â€Å"NCAA Rating Sag.† 25 Mar. 2003. CNNMoney. . - Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1929. - Se7en. Dir. David Fincher. Perf. Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey. New Ling Home Entertainment. The Virtues of Apathy Essay -- Essays Papers The Virtues of Apathy â€Å"I just don't think I can continue to live in a place that embraces and nurtures apathy as if it was virtue.† Morgan Freeman speaks these words in the movie Se7en after declaring that he is going to quit his job as a detective. His character sees crimes of hate, aggression and murder every day, and he also observes the public’s reaction to them. People turn a blind eye; they no longer care. What has happened to society? Why has what used to be considered incredibly shocking dissolved into what is considered an everyday and usual activity? Apathy has become the common response of American society towards what should be considered shocking because these activities have become unshocking and â€Å"everyday†. In searching for the cause and extent of the problem of social de-shockification, one must begin with the group of writers who devoted themselves to intermixing the shocking and strange with the everyday: the surrealists. The original intention of the Surrealists was not to normalize shocking activities, but instead to make strange the â€Å"normal† and the â€Å"everyday†. These writers took the shocking and taboo items and subjects and introduced them into common circumstances so that readers would take a closer look at the circumstances, not the items introduced. Cultural analyst Ben Highmore describes it as a â€Å"juxtaposing of disparate elements† (Highmore 46). Surrealists took the evil, they took the wickedness and the debauchery, and they placed it in with the â€Å"clean† and the â€Å"good†. Opposites have the optimal effect of bringing out the different qualities of two objects. In order to defamiliarize what was good and normal, Surreal ists had to place it in juxtaposition with what was evil and unusual. One Surre... ...ly receive notice. The only problems that are solved are the ones the affect individuals. That in itself is a problem that plagues society, and it will not be fixed until apathy ceases to control the everyday lives of the American people. Works Cited - Bataille, Georges. Blue of Noon. 1957. New York: Marion Boyars Publishers, 2002. - Camus, Albert. The Fall. 1956. New York: Vintage Books, 1991. - Highmore, Ben. Everyday Life and Cultural Theory: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2002. - Isidore, Chris. â€Å"NCAA Rating Sag.† 25 Mar. 2003. CNNMoney. . - Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1929. - Se7en. Dir. David Fincher. Perf. Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey. New Ling Home Entertainment.

Tourism: An Attractive Industry For Economic Development

ABSTRACT Tourism is widely recognized as an important catalyst for economic growth. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the tourism industry is amongst the biggest industries that make substantial contribution to the economy in terms of its contribution to the GDP, the revenue generated, increased employment and other benefits. The success of the tourism industry begs the question what are the characteristics that make it an attractive industry for economic growth. In order to respond to this question, this analysis will explore on the various tourist attraction sites including natural and cultural attractions, heritage sites, national and wildlife parks, theme parks, gardens and museums, beaches and coastal regions, and entertainment and events. This will include examining how these attractions contribute to economic development. UK will be used as the case study. INTRODUCTION Tourism is widely recognized as an important catalyst for economic growth. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the tourism industry is amongst the biggest industries that make substantial contributions to the economy in terms of its contribution to the GDP, the revenue generated, increased employment and other benefits (Business tourism 2003). Take for example the UK, the 6th largest destination in the world attracting over 32 million overseas visitors yearly (Williams et al., 2010). UK’s tourism industry is the 5th largest industry and contributes to a large proportion of the GDP. In 2007, the industry was valued at ?114 billion representing 8.2% of GDP and employing over 2.65 million people (Williams et al., 2010). In 2009, the industry was valued at ?115.4 billion of the UK economy, hence representing 8.9% of UK GDP (Williams et al., 2010). The tourism industry is further anticipated to grow yearly at 2.6%, a growth rate similar to that of retail and construction industries (Williams et al., 2010). Indeed, tourism increasingly continues to become an attractive industry for economic growth with an increasing number of visitors. This begs the question what are the characteristics that make tourism an attractive industry for economic developmentThis analysis is thus intended on exploring on these characteristics with a focus on the factors that lead to economic development. Before giving an overview of the fundamental aspects of the economics of tourism, we will first define what we understand by the term â€Å"tourism† WHAT IS TOURISM? The term â€Å"tourism† was first defined by Hunziker and Krapf (1942), the main pioneers of tourism research. They defined tourism as a sum of relations and phenomena that resulted from travelling and staying of non-residents. In this context, a stay does not result into permanent residence of the individual and is not in any way connected to permanent or temporary earning activity. This conceptual definition was for a considerable time generally accepted but had certain flaws. For example, a visit to the hospital could be considered as a form of tourism. Furthermore, under this conceptual definition, non-residents were only identified with foreigners; hence domestic tourism had no place in it. In the later years, a more succinct definition of tourism was put forth by the British Tourism Society. Based on the work of Burkart & Medlik (1974), the British Tourism Society adopted the following definition. Tourism is deemed to be inclusive of any activity concerned with short-term movement of people to destinations other than their neither main continuous domiciles nor place of work (Burkart & Medlik 1974. Within this conceptual definition, activities involving a stay or a visit to the destination are included. It also allows for domestic and day visits as well. This definition still applies up to date. Another conceptual definition that deserves special attention is that put forth by Gilbert (1990). Gilbert (1990) posits that tourism is a part of recreation that involves travelling to other destinations for a short term-period with the aim of satisfying a consumer need. This definition places tourism in the overall context of recreation. Recreation according to Cooper et al. (1993) refers to the pursuits engaged in during leisure time. However, it should be noted that tourism is not only confined to activities carried out during leisure time. Part of the tourism (business tourism in particular) takes place during working time including conventions and business meetings. TOURIST SECTORS Tourism comprise of five main sectors: THE ATTRACTION SECTOR: – this sector comprise of the natural and cultural attractions, heritage sites, national and wildlife parks, theme parks, gardens and museums, beaches and coastal regions, and entertainment and events (Anon 2004). THE ACCOMMODATION SECTOR: – this sector comprise of the hotels, motels, apartments, villas and flats, guest houses, holiday villages, campsites, marinas, touring caravans and condominium timeshares (Anon 2004). THE TRANSPORT SECTOR: – Consists of the airlines, railways, shipping lines, car rental operators, and bus and coach operators (Anon 2004). THE TRAVEL ORGANIZER SECTOR: – the sector covers tour operators, travel agents and incentive travel organizers among others (Anon 2004). THE DESTINATION ORGANIZATION SECTOR: – this includes regional and national tourist offices, local tourist officers and tourism associations (Anon 2004). In order to answer the question: what are the characteristics that make tourism an attractive industry for economic development, we will explore on the attraction sites discussed above. This will also include exploring on business tourism and its contribution to economic development. CULTURAL AND HERITAGE ATTRACTIONS Cultural and heritage attractions play a significant role in the tourism industry. Most of the world heritage sites have a cultural significance that transcend national boundaries and of importance to the present and future generations. Currently, there are 890 world heritage sites reflecting a rich diversity of the world’s cultural heritage (Endresen 1999). In the United Kingdom, sites as diverse such as the Giant’s Causeway, City of Edinburgh, Blaenavon Industrial landscape, and Manchester City help make up the UK’s heritage (UNESCO 2009). In this context, Manchester city, one of the most vibrant cosmopolitan cities has a thriving art and cultural scene that attracts a large number of visitors. The city’s attraction centres include the sports stadiums, museums and galleries, and music venues (UNESCO 2009). The rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene and the multicultural population in UK makes it a very attractive tourist destination. Museums which showcase the best of Britain’s culture and history attract millions of international and domestic visitors. Britain’s culture and heritage is estimated to attracting ?4.5 billion worth of spending by inbound visitors annually (UNESCO 2009). NATURAL LANDSCAPE SITES Another popular attractive site in the tourism industry is the natural landscape. Natural landscapes such as Stonehenge, the most famous and mysterious landmark in the UK, attracts a vast number of tourists (Mieczkowski, 1990). Built over 650 years ago and consisting of a ring of monolithic stones, the landmark is a very popular attractive site. Scenic landscapes such as the Wye Valley, an internationally protected landscape straddling the border between Wales and England also attracts a large number of visitors (Mieczkowski, 1990). This area that covers parts of Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire is widely recognized for its gorgeous scenery and dense native woodlands as well as for its wildlife and archaeological remains (Mieczkowski, 1990). NATIONAL AND WILDLIFE PARKS National parks also play a huge role in the tourism industry. Britain’s finest national and wildlife parks, zoos and animal attractions such as the Animalarium attract a large number of visitors (Mathieson & Wall 1982). The national parks offer a variety of activities ranging from walking, exploring on the rich and cultural heritage to pursuing other activities such as cycling, rock climbing, and absailing among others (Mathieson & Wall 1982). An estimated 110 million people are estimated to visit national parks in England and Wales annually (UNESCO 2009). ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS Entertainment and events also play a major role in the tourism industry. Majority of the concerts and music festivals taking place in the UK attract more than 7.7 million visitors, domestic and overseas combined (ICTHR 2010). The significant amount of revenue generated from entertainment and events is used in boosting the UK’s economy. A great majority of these tourists are UK residents who travel outside of their regions to attend events and see their favourite artists perform live in another region within the UK (ICTHR 2010). London dominates as the destination for live music tourism in the UK. Music tourists at the capital outnumber the local music fans. Its dominance can be attributed to the high number of domestic music tourists attending concerts. With a population of more than 7 million people, the region is host to the O2 Arena, the most successful concert venue in the world (ICTHR 2010). London region is also a host to Wembley stadium and Royal Albert Hall as well (ICTHR 2010). Its parks, mainly Victoria Park, Hyde Park and Clapham are home to a growing number of music festivals (ICTHR 2010). BEACHES AND COASTAL AREAS Beaches and coastal areas are also a huge attraction site for tourists. Tourism in the south of Wales, for example, is primarily focused on the coastal areas in order to attract its visitors. The Welsh tourist industry which is worth ?3.5billion and makes a significant contribution to Wales’ GDP relies largely on its excellent coastal scenery in attracting tourists (Williams, et.al, 2010) BUSINESS TOURISM Another important, yet least acknowledged component of the tourism industry is business tourism. It is one of the most lucrative components of the tourism industry with various benefits that stimulate the growth of the economy. In the UK, business tourism is a wide sector encompassing Conferences and meetings – the British Conference Market Trends Survey 2001 estimates this to be worth around ?7.3 billion annually (Business report 2003). Exhibitions and trade fairs: – these are listed as the 5th largest marketing medium in the UK attracting 11% of the media expenditure and are estimated at ?2.04 billion annually (Business report 2003). Incentive travel: – the value of inbound incentive travel market is estimated to be around ?165 million annually (Business report 2003). Corporate events: – estimates for this segment are between ?700 million and ?1billion annually (Business report 2003). Outdoor events: – a rough estimate of the outdoor events is around ?1billion annually (Business report 2003). In the past few decades, business tourism has grown significantly exceeding the overall tourism growth rate. According to the International Passenger Survey 2001, business tourism accounted for 29.7% of all overseas visitors to the UK and 31.7% of the inbound earnings (Business report 2003). From what can be discerned, investment in business tourism can significantly stimulate the growth of the economy. It may lead to regeneration of urban and inner cities as evident with Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and Manchester (Business report 2003). Its resilience during the great recession makes it even more an attractive industry for investment. The business tourism proved resilient, being less affected by economic downturns and by disasters such as the Foot and Mouth Epidemic unlike leisure tourism (Business report 2003). With the above in mind, it is worthy examining some of the main elements that make attractions to be appealing to many. CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS It is important to recognize that tourists’ attractions are not all equal. Some may have more potential to draw visitors than others. The main elements that set attractions apart include quality, uniqueness, authenticity, drawing power and activity options. QUALITY: – high quality is a key principle for tourism development. This means offering smooth customer oriented operations and procedures and ensuring that attractions have a pleasing appearance and that they are visitor friendly (Merchant 2005). This includes asking these questions Is the attraction visitor friendly .How does it rate in terms of the appearance, hospitality, operations and resource protection AUTHENTICITY: – authenticity refers to originality. For example, if it is a cultural heritage attraction, authenticity would imply letting the distinctive local flavour of the community to shine in ways that create a â€Å"sense of place†(Merchant 2005). We can consider: Whether the attraction reflects the natural and cultural heritage of the community UNIQUENESS: – this is the â€Å"edge† that sets attraction apart from competition. It involves asking the fundamental question: Is the attraction unique Take for example, The London Eye which is sitting on the South Bank of River Thames. Hanging like a gigantic wheel, this landmark is instantly recognizable. It is currently the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe standing 135 metres high and supported by a giant A-frame which juts the spindle (UNESCO 20090. This makes it unique from other Ferris wheels which use two A-frames and axle support method. DRAWING POWER: – this is a measurement on the power to attract a large number of visitors (Merchant 2005). ACTIVITY OPTIONS: – this is an important characteristic of attractions (Merchant 2005). It involves assessing whether the attraction site offer a varied and changing set of activities. CONCLUSION Indeed, tourism is an attractive industry for economic development. Major attraction sites including the scenic landscapes, cultural and heritage sites, national and wildlife parks, landmarks, theme parks, gardens and museums, beaches and coastal regions, and entertainment among others attract a large number of visitors. There is no doubt that the industry contributes to a large proportion of the GDP and is responsible for employing millions of people. This makes it an important industry for investment. (2,070 words) REFERENCES Anon, 2004. Economic characteristics of the tourism sector, http://v5.books.elsevier.com/bookscat/samples/9780750666374/9780750666374.PDF {Accessed 21st January 2012} Burkart, A.J. and S. Medlik, 1974. Tourism. Past, Present and Future. London: Heinemann. Cooper, C., J. Fletcher, D. Gilbert and S. Wanhill, 1993. Tourism. Principles & Practice. London: Pitman Publishing. Business tourism partnership report, 2003. Business tourism briefing: an overview of the UK’s business tourism industry. London http://www.businesstourismpartnership.com/pubs/briefing.pdf {Accessed 20th January 2012} Endresen, K., 1999. Sustainable tourism and cultural heritage: A review of development assistance and its potential to promote sustainability http://www.nwhf.no/files/File/culture_fulltext.pdf {Accessed 20th January 2012} Gilbert, D.C., 1990. â€Å"Conceptual issues in the meaning of tourism†. In: C.P. Cooper (ed.), Progress in Tourism, Recreation and Hospitality Management, Vol. 2. London: Pitman Publishing. Hunziker, W. & k. Krapf, 1942. Grundriss der Allgemeinen Fremdenverkehrslehre. Zurich: Polygraphischer Verlag International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR), 2010. The contribution of music festivals and major concerts to tourism in the UK. London: Bournemouth University. http://www.ukmusic.org/assets/media/UK%20Music%20-Music%20Tourism.pdf{Accessed 22nd January 2012} Mathieson, A. and G. Wall, 1982. Tourism: Economic, Physical and Social Impacts. London: Longman. Merchant, R., 2005. Tourism attraction characteristics. Community tourism handbook: Minnesota Extension. http://nercrd.psu.edu/entrepreneur_what_works_wksp/Handouts/MerchantCharacteristics23.pdf {Accessed 20th January 2012} Mieczkowski, Z., 1990. World Trends in Tourism and Recreation. New York. UNESCO, 2009. World heritage sites. http://www.unesco.org.uk/world_heritage_sites {Accessed 20th January 2012} Williams, et.al, 2010. An assessment of UK heritage coasts in South Wales: J A steers revisited. Journal of Coastal Research. http://www.griffith.edu.au/conference/ics2007/pdf/ICS087.pdf {Accessed 20th January 2012}

Awakening Study Guide

Section 1: Due Wednesday, March 8 Chapter I 1. What does the parrot say? What does it mean? How might these comments foreshadow what will occur in the novel? 2. Describe Leonce Pontellier. Specifically describe his reaction to the parrot, how he speaks to his wife, and his reaction to Mrs. Pontellier's question about dinner. 3. Describe the Pontellier children. 4. What is the role of the â€Å"quadroon†? 5. Who is Robert Lebrun? What is his part in this story? Chapter II 1. Describe Edna Pontellier. What does she look like? Where is she from? Where does she live now? 2. What is Robert Lebrun like?What are his plans for the future? Do you think he will ever follow through with his plans? Why, why not? 3. Describe Edna and Robert's relationship. Chapter III 1. How does Leonce feel when he returns home? 2. How does he feel about Edna's mothering skills? 3. Why does Edna cry? 4. How do others feel about Leonce? Chapter IV 1. What is a mother-woman? Why is Edna not one? Who is a mo ther-woman? 2. How is Edna different from Creole women? Chapter V 1. How does Robert relate to women on the island? 2. How does Edna feel about sketching? 3. Do you think Adele faked fainting? Why,or why not?Chapter VI 1. â€Å"A certain light was beginning to dawn dimly within her – the light which, showing the way, forbids it. † Analyze the above sentence. What does the light represent? How does the light forbid as it compels? 2. What does Edna come to realize about her â€Å"position in the universe†? 3. What is the ocean's effect on Edna? Chapter VII 1. How does Edna have an â€Å"outward life which conforms, and the inward life which questions†? 2. What does Edna blame her change upon? 3. How do Edna’s and Adele's outward appearances represent their inward lives? 4. How does Adele treat Edna's sadness?What does this say about her? 5. Describe Edna's sisters. Chapter VIII 1. Why does Adele tell Robert that Edna is not one of them? 2. Who is Alc ee Arobin? What stories does Robert tell about him? 3. Describe Robert's relationship with his mother. 4. How is Robert affected by the letter from Montel? Chapter IX 1. Early in this chapter the parrot speaks, and the Farival twins play songs from Zampa. Why do you think Chopin repeats these events? 2. Again, Edna sees the ocean and remarks on its restlessness. How does the ocean reflect Edna's own feelings? 3. Describe Mademoiselle Reisz.How does Edna feel about her? 4. Describe the story Mlle Reisz's playing conjures for Edna. 5. How does Mlle Reisz's playing affect the audience? Chapter X 1. Edna cannot swim. What are the implications, then, of her focus on the ocean? 2. â€Å"She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before. † Analyze the above sentence. List the different meanings it has for Edna’s life. 3. Why does Edna have an encounter with death? Chapter XI 1. How does Leonce feel when Edna returns from swimming? 2. Now that Edna is awakening from a dream, how does her everyday life affect her? Chapter XII 1.Edna says, â€Å"He'd never be in bad humor if it weren't for me,† referring to Leonce. Why does Edna think this? 2. Where are Robert and Edna going, and why is it unusual? 3. Describe Mariequita's encounter with Robert. Chapter XIII 1. Where does Robert take Edna after they leave church? 2. Describe Madame Antoine and her life. Section 2: Due Friday, March 11 Chapter XIV 1. Who took charge of Edna's children while she was on the island? 2. What doesn't Edna realize about herself? 3. What does Robert's song, â€Å"si tu savais† (if you knew), represent? Chapter XV 1. Describe Edna's reaction to hearing Robert is going to Mexico. . Does her reaction surprise you? Why, why not? Chapter XVI 1. How does Mlle Reisz react to Edna? 2. Do you agree with Edna's idea that a woman should never sacrifice herself for her children? 3. What does Mlle Reisz think about Madame Lebrun's relationships with her sons? 4. What new information did you learn about Mlle Reisz? Chapter XVII 1. The setting has changed. Where does the story take place now? 2. Leonce is angered when Edna tells him she went out. Why is he angry? 3. What does Leonce think Edna should do about the cook? 4. Why does Edna try to destroy her wedding ring?What change is taking place in her? Chapter XVIII 1. How does Edna feel about the house and her domestic chores? 2. How does Adele feel about her domestic chores? 3. Reflect upon the difference between the two women. 4. Compare and contrast the Pontellier marriage with the Ratignolle marriage. Chapter XIX 1. After her visit with Adele, what does Edna do about her domestic obligations? Does this surprise you? Give evidence as to why you think Edna's reaction is expected or not. 2. How does Leonce react to Edna's actions? 3. Of what does Chopin say Leonce is not aware? 4. What does Edna spend her time doing?Chapter XX 1. What does the neighborhood grocer think of Mlle Reisz? Why do you thi nk he feels this way? 2. Describe the altercation between Victor Lebrun and the black woman. 3. The Lebruns comment that Edna looks better. Why do you think Edna looks healthier? Chapter XXI 1. Describe Mlle Reisz's apartment. 2. How does Mlle Reisz react to Edna's arrival? 3. Mlle Reisz says to Edna, â€Å"To be an artist includes much; one must possess many gifts – absolute gifts – which have not been acquired by one's own effort. And, moreover, to succeed, the artist must possess a courageous soul. The brave soul.The soul that dares and defies. † Do you think Edna has such a soul? Why or why not? 4. Do you think Mlle Reisz has such a soul? Why or why not? 5. What do you think is in Robert's letter to Mlle Reisz? Why has he not written to Edna? Chapter XXII 1. Describe the conversation between Leonce and Doctor Mandelet. 2. Why would Edna tell Leonce that â€Å"a wedding is one of the most lamentable spectacles on earth†? Chapter XXIII 1. Describe Edna' s father. 2. What is the doctor's assessment of Edna's health? 3. What story does Edna tell at dinner with the doctor and her father? Chapter XXIV 1.Edna's father gives Leonce the following advice concerning Edna, â€Å"Authority, coercion are what is needed. Put your foot down good and hard; the only way to manage a wife. † Do you think this would be an effective way for Leonce to relate to Edna? 2. Who is Emerson? What kind of literature did he write? Why would Edna be reading his works? Chapter XXV 1. Who is Arobin? What kind of man is he? 2. Describe Edna's encounter with him after the races. 3. Edna imagines her time with Arobin means she is being unfaithful to Robert. Does Edna ever think of her husband? Chapter XXVI 1. Mlle Reisz mothers Edna; why does Edna let her treat her that way? . Chopin says of Edna that she â€Å"resolved never again to belong to another than herself. † Do you think this is an accepted way for women to think in the late 1800s? 3. Edna ad mits to Mlle Reisz that she is in love with Robert. How does Mlle Reisz react? Section 3: Due Tuesday, March 15 Chapter XXVII 1. Edna says to Arobin that she would like to â€Å"determine what character of a woman† she is. He replies, â€Å"Why should you bother thinking about it when I can tell you what manner of woman you are. † Think about Edna's comments concerning wanting to be her own woman, to be possessed by no one.Why would Chopin not have Edna protest such a comment? 2. Mlle Reisz tells Edna, â€Å"The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth. † Do you think Edna is strong enough to soar? Why, why not? 3. Arobin kisses Edna. What are the implications? Remember what the doctor said about Arobin. Chapter XXVIII 1. How does Edna feel after the kiss? Chapter XXIX 1. Who are the â€Å"thousand muffled voices† tellin g Edna to leave her home? 2. Describe Edna's demeanor concerning moving.Chapter XXX 1. We learn the second line in the song Robert sang to Edna. What is that line? Why is it important? Why does Edna not want Victor to sing that song? Chapter XXXI 1. Arobin walks Edna to her new house. How does he treat her when they arrive? Chapter XXXII 1. How does Leonce react to Edna's move? 2. What is Leonce most worried about? What actions does he take? 3. Edna is pleased to see her children. Does this surprise you? Why, why not? Chapter XXXIII 1. What is the advice Adele gives Edna? How does Adele feel about Arobin? 2. Describe the meeting of Robert and Edna. 3.Robert sees Arobin's photograph in Edna's â€Å"pigeon house. † How does he react? Chapter XXXIV 1. Describe the meeting of Arobin and Robert. 2. Arobin declares his love to Edna. Does she believe him? Should she? 3. Which man does Edna fantasize about? Chapter XXXV 1. Edna spends time with Arobin. He feels her â€Å"latent sens uality. † What does she feel? Chapter XXXVI 1. Edna meets Robert by chance at an outside cafe. Describe their meeting. 2. They return to Edna's house where she kisses him and declares she is possessed by no one. What else does she tell Robert? Chapter XXXVII 1. Edna goes to Adele's sick bed.How does this make her feel? 2. Why does Adele say to Edna, â€Å"Think of the children†? Chapter XXXVIII 1. Doctor Mandelet speaks to Edna as they leave Adele's house. What advice does he give her? What does he speak to her about? 2. What keeps Edna awake? Chapter XXXIX 1. Why does Chopin begin the last chapter with Victor Lebrun and Mariequita? 2. In this last chapter, the novel seems to be repeating itself. Which quotes are similar to or are repeats of previous lines? 3. How does the novel end? What is Edna's fate? Is the ending appropriate for the purpose of the book? Explain.