That Tally Stick Essay Example

That Tally Stick Paper So many people have keepsakes to symbolize their love for one another. Couples have pictures and mementos to remind them of their special times. In â€Å"The Tally Stick†, Jarold Ramsey introduces us to a couple who use a tally stick rather than pictures to represent what is important in their lives. Ramsey takes us from the beginning of the relationship, when the stick is bare, to the end when it is carved end to end. We learn of the outside events that build their love, as well as internal measure, upon which their love is built. According to Ramsey the stick is a part of the couple’s relationship. The tally stick shows that love can be a long-lasting bond defined by failure and success that strengthen their relationship. Before there is a single notch in the stick the narrator shows its significance. Ramsey indicates the stick is a gift, which represents the couple’s lifetime together. Saying, â€Å"From our first of days†¦/ I have carved our lives in secret on this stick† (1; 2). Their unique and extraordinary bond is directly represented by the type and length of the â€Å"Mountain mahogany† stick, Measured by â€Å"the length of your arms/ outstretched†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (3; 4). Also, because their relationship is so concrete and red with passion, Ramsey describes â€Å"the wood† as â€Å"clear red, so hard and rare† (4). In the opening stanza Ramsey shows that the tally stick embodies every part of this relationship, and its characteristics signify more than just important events. The first and most elaborate notch on the stick is the couple’s wedding. It is very detailed and enables them to relive their wedding. Like their lives â€Å"the grains /converge and join† (6; 7). The details of the notch are so specific the couple can tell â€Å"who danced, who made up the songs, who meant† them â€Å"joy† (9). We will write a custom essay sample on That Tally Stick specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on That Tally Stick specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on That Tally Stick specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The complex structures not only depict their wedding but the intricacy of their relationship, its specialness and how much they mean to each other. Inscriptions along the grain show the love they have for their children and how they want them involved in their lives’, indicated by â€Å"little arrowheads along the grain† (10). During times of grief the couple’s heavy hearts are exposed to the reader. Ramsey uses â€Å"heavy crosses† to mirror the couple’s mood during /â€Å"the deaths of† their â€Å"parents, the loss of our friends† (12; 13) Ramsey shows us that the difficult times made their onnection grow stronger. Death was not the only hardship they had to endure. Stanza three outlines all the external hardships the pair suffered through. Historic events were randomly cut against the grain, symbolizing occurrences that tried their relationship. â€Å"Hashmarks cut against the swirling grain† show how certain events could de stroy what they have (16). The poem indicates all the events their love survived, and shows their love has lasted many years. They remember what they thought was â€Å"the year the world went wrong† and â€Å"the days the Great Men fell† (17; 18). The third stanza ends with the power of the couples love, â€Å"The lengthening runes of our lives† that â€Å"run through it all† (19). This line from the poem signifies the strength their love possesses. There love persisted through hard times and their marriage grew stronger. These lines show that nothing compares to the love the two have for each other. Despite hardships their love continued to grow. In the final stanza the narrator talks about what it is like to look back on all the events that shaped the couple’s life. The stick is full of memories and represents a long lasting relationship. This relationship is made stronger by the events shown on the tally stick, every notch made them stronger and although the stick is beginning to wear, their love is not. â€Å"Our tally stick is whittled nearly end to end; delicate as scrimshaw, it would not bear you up† (20). Ramsey mentions that the stick is polished with regrets. Because they both have regrets that helped build their love, the couple clusters those regrets with all other mishaps â€Å"hand over hand† (22). The author ends the poem with the couple looking back on everything they have done. Running their fingers from beginning to end they will explore everything that shaped their relationship and forgive each other’s regrets. Ramsey refers to their blameless eyes, telling us that the two no longer blame one another and can go on loving through old age. Starting from when they were children, they follow the grain all the way to adulthood and â€Å"talk softly as of ordinary matters and in one another’s blameless eyes go blind† (27). The Tally Stick† is symbolic of everything this couple shares with each other. It not only shows special occasions like a picture but tells a detailed story of their life together. The couple relives the significant times they spent together by running their thumbs through the intricate notches. Detailed depictions of their wedding, the births of their children, the tragedies they have gone through can all be found within the stick. This stick defines the relationship, and is part of the each of them. The marks indicating internal events are the ones that remain special and are intricately drawn, where as the historic actions are just random marks, indicating they are not as exceptional as the internal dealings and everything random just fades away. â€Å"The Tally Stick† is a physical representation of this couple’s love for one another. It tells a practical story of the couple’s companionship, nothing on the stick is idealistic and depicts real events that drove their love, not what their relationship could have been, but what it is.

The Powers of Congress

The Powers of Congress The powers of the United States Congress are set forth in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. The constitutionally granted powers of Congress are further defined and interpreted by the rulings of the Supreme Court, and by its own rules, customs, and history. The powers explicitly defined by the Constitution are called the â€Å"enumerated powers. Other powers not specifically listed in Section 8, but assumed to exist, are called â€Å"implied powers. Making Laws Of all the powers of Congress, none is more important than its enumerated power to make laws. Article I of the Constitution sets forth the powers of Congress in specific language. Section 8 states, Congress shall have Power †¦ To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. Laws arent simply conjured out of thin air, of course. In fact, the legislative process is quite involved and designed to ensure that proposed laws are given careful consideration.   Briefly, any senator or congressman may introduce a bill, after which it is referred to the appropriate legislative committee for hearings. The committee, in turn, debates the measure, possibly offering amendments, then voting on it. If approved, the bill heads back to the chamber from which it came, where the full body will vote on it. Assuming lawmakers approve the measure, it will be sent to the other chamber for a vote. Once the measure clears Congress, it is ready for the president. If both bodies have approved legislation that differs, it must be resolved in a joint congressional committee before being voted on again by both chambers. The legislation then goes to the White House, where the president may either sign it into law or veto it. Congress, in turn, has the power to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. Amending the Constitution In addition, Congress has the power to amend the Constitution, though this is a long and arduous process. Both chambers must approve the proposed constitutional amendment by a two-thirds majority, after which the measure is sent to the states. The amendment must then be approved by three-quarters of state legislatures. The Power of the Purse Congress also has extensive powers over financial and budgetary issues. These powers include: levy and collect taxes, duties, and excise fees;allocate money to pay the government’s debts;borrow money on the credit of the United States;regulate commerce between the states and other nations;coin and print money; andallocate money to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States The Sixteenth Amendment, ratified in 1913, extended Congress’ power of taxation to include income taxes. Its power of the purse is one of Congress primary checks and balances on the actions of the executive branch Armed Forces The power to raise and maintain armed forces is the responsibility of Congress, and it has the power to declare war. The Senate, but not the House of Representatives, has the power to approve treaties with foreign governments, as well. Other Powers and Duties Congress keeps the mail moving by establishing post offices and the infrastructure to keep them going. It also appropriates funds for the judicial branch. Congress can establish other agencies to keep the country running smoothly as well. Bodies such as the Government Accountability Office and the National Mediation Board ensure that the monetary appropriations and the laws that Congress passes are applied properly. Congress can also investigate pressing national issues, famously holding hearings in the 1970s to investigate the Watergate burglary that ultimately ended the presidency of Richard Nixon, and it is charged with supervising and providing a balance for the executive and judicial branches. Each house has some exclusive duties as well. The House can initiate laws that require people to pay taxes and can decide whether public officials should be tried if accused of a crime. Representatives are elected to two-year terms, and the Speaker of the House is second in line to succeed the president after the vice president. The Senate is responsible for confirming presidential appointments of Cabinet members, federal judges, and foreign ambassadors. The Senate also tries any federal official accused of a crime, once the House determines that a trial is in order. Senators are elected to six-year terms; the vice president presides over the Senate and has the right to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.​ The Implied Powers of Congress In addition to the explicit powers enumerated in Section 8 of the Constitution, Congress also has additional implied powers derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution, which permits it, â€Å"To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.† Through the Supreme Court’s many interpretations of the Necessary and Proper Clause and the Commerce Clause- the enumerated power to regulate interstate commerce- such as McCulloch v Maryland, the true range of the lawmaking powers of Congress extends far beyond those enumerated in Section 8. Updated by Robert Longley   Phaedra Trethan is a freelance writer who also works as a copy editor for the Camden Courier-Post. She formerly worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she wrote about books, religion, sports, music, films, and restaurants.

Gippaland E-Market Strategic Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Gippaland E-Market Strategic Plan - Essay Example A survey done showed that its customers are mainly tourists and people in aged care and in hospitals. The target market is therefore the hospitality and the healthcare industry for both online and offline customers. There are few competitors that exist in the market and this is because GPS acquired the main competitor in the market. A market analysis revealed that the products are of basic importance and therefore there are no cultural beliefs attached to them. The political environment is also supportive and therefore it will be easy to run the online platform. GPS is strong as it is able to provide most of the goods required by the market. They also have a variety of products to suit different markets. The have also taken a customer based approach where they deal face to face with customers in order to win their trust. The threats identified were the developed companies around that posed the biggest challenge. The goal for online marketing is to grow its numbers, to provide support to customers and provide a platform where it will be easy to interact with customers and products. ... the website on a daily basis, monitoring revenues generated by each product or service and documenting customer ratings of products and services to find out which is the most liked. This online platform is seen to work if all the parameters discussed will be put in place and the governing boards ready to implement the plan. Apart from a few technical areas, the rest should be able to work and meet the company’s target objectives. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 1.0SITUATION ANALYSIS 6 1.1Our customers 6 1.2Our market 7 1.3Our competitors 7 1.4Intermediary and potential customers 8 1.5Wider macro environment 9 1.6Our own capabilities 10 2.0Internet specific SWOT summary 10 3.0GOALS SETTING 11 4.0STRATEGY 11 4.1Targeting 11 4.2Positioning 12 4.3Proposition and the marketing mix 12 4.4Brand strategy 12 4.5Online presentation and presence 13 4.6Content and engagement strategy 13 4.7Acquisition and communication strategy 13 4.8Conversion strategy 13 4.9Ret ention and communication strategy 14 4.10Data strategy 14 4.11Multichannel integration strategy 14 5.0TACTICS, ACTION AND CONTROL 14 5.1Tactics and action 14 5.2Control 15 5.3Governance 16 REFERENCES 17 1.0 SITUATION ANALYSIS 1.1 Our customers Gippaland packaging supplies has a variety of customers due to its broad range of products as explained in the introductory part. They supply products to small and midsized companies that include cafes, restaurants and take away shops located in the Gippaland region. Gippaland region is a tourist hub and therefore these services are of paramount importance. Other customers include hospitals that require products such as napkins, tissues and toilet papers, aged care and guest houses. All of them are customers who are held with high esteem by providing

Trends in Mining Industry Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 98

Trends in Mining Industry - Case Study Example Aluminum cost is going even lower in China beyond much of other countries. This is due to the funding by the Chinese government which has now reduced competition for the aluminum product from China. Silver and copper are amongst those expected to drop as well, however, this may not be immediate but rather gradual. Diamond and gemstone are the minerals whose mining are expected to experience a boom realizing the largest industry growth in Australia. The mining industry in Australia has experienced a tremendous growth over time and is thus expected to affect a change in the mining industry. However, explorations or mines are in a downturn. There is slush in companies’ exploration budgets. Additionally, there is a plummet of about 30% in the exploration of non-ferrous metals. Thus the focus is shifting away from the exploration of minerals to production. The nursery sector of mining is shrinking due to a rise in troubled small miners. Small miners are experiencing problems due to lack of economies of scale. Costs are likely to careen beyond control due to the resultant pullback in the budgets for exploration threatening to widen the rift between supply and demand. The mining sector is in a decline falling with over 7.5% in 2014. The effects of these challenges have subsequently made companies mothball their projects as well as cap capacity. Therefore only an adoption of new ways of business will break this cycle. Nonetheless, CIBC world Market projects a likely rise in gold at about $US1383 per ounce as silver on the other end is to fall to about $US22.81 per ounce similarly, copper will experience a drop to $US3.17 per pound. A critical evaluation of Dicores customers and Dicores competitors shows the table below using strengths, weakness risks and opportunity (Amin, Razmi, & Zhang, 2011).

Cultural Differences In Interpersonal Relationships English Language Essay

Cultural Differences In Interpersonal Relationships English Language Essay What is your friendship style. It is probably different for each one of you and you all have your own friendship style as well. Friendship consist of mutual liking, trust, respect, tolerance, and often even love and acceptance under any conditions. They are established usually on the basis of similarities or common ground between the individuals. Friendship in real life may involve intimate touching between individuals. We can be a friend no matter what reasons. It does not matter where we from, which countries. Therefore, I would want to discuss about the difference between friendship styles with cultural background especially, cultural differences in interpersonal relationships. Many foreigner comers to the United States mention that people from US do not know what true friendship is. Americans seem very friendly at first time, but the friendships do not forward to another step. Americans are usually very friendly and kind to people eventhough they are not really close with, and they also being more generous in what others talk about than people are from many other countries. Because of this, it can be make someone to confuse who comes from a country where people are deserved first. It may seem like some difficulty to other people who from many other countries. 2 Case descriptions Steve and Yarer first met in their chemistry class at an American university. Yarer was a student from Jordan. He was excited to get to know an American; he wanted to learn more about American culture and hoped that he and Steve would become good friends. At first, Steve seemed very friendly. He always greeted Yarer warmly before class. Sometimes he offered to study with Yarer. He even invited Yarer to eat lunch with him. But after the semester was over, Steve seemed more distant. The two former classmates didnt see each other very much at school. One day Yarer decided to call Steve. Steve didnt seem very interested in talking to him. Yarer was hurt by Steves change of attitude. Steve said we were friends, Yarer complained. And I said friends forever. What was wrong in the relationship between Yarer and Steve? Are Americans fickle? Why did Yarer feel confused? Because he is an outsider to American culture, he doesnt understand the way Americans view friendship. Americans use the word friend in a very general way. They may call both acquaintances and close companions Friends. Americans have school friends, work friends, sports friends and neighbourhood friends. These friendships are based on common interests. When the shared activity ends, the friendship may fade. 3 Analysis and solutions of the case 3.1 Problems and underlying cultural differences As you can see this case, there is one big problem. Steve and Yarer they did not understand their cultural background. Understanding ones cultural background is not easy and simple. However, if you want to make effort to make a friend, you should know about his or her cultural differences. What is the most important point to considered an appropriate topic to discuss about with your friends from many other countires. Many international students said that they do not know how to make a good conversation with Americans and suffered from make a friend in US, because of a lack of understanding ones cultural factors like background information. People from different cultures have different organizations of interpersonal relationships and they have different expectations of people in the same category. As you know, Steve is from US. He seemed very friendly at first time, but it did not go for long relationship. So Yarer disappointed about Steves behave and he confused why Steve changed. From this case, we can find out what is American friendship style like. According to Cornell University international student and scholars office department, they mentioned that what is American friendship like. The American pattern shows typical Americans friendships are like they initially kind at first time because they do not really put any meaning to word friend. For instance, in US, word friend mean anything like many kinds of friend. There could be work friend, study friend, gym friend and so on. Therefore you do not have to put a big meaning to be a friend. Just try to get use to their friendship style because we all have other kinds of friendship style depends on what countries we are from. 3.2 Solutions and recommendations Your friendship and the way you look at friendships will be influenced by your culture. In cultures around the earth we observe friendship defined by the way people interact with each other, how they display their affection toward close and loving friends. But the word friend has different meanings in different countries. The misunderstanding about friend during intercultural communication sometimes may hurt ones feeling and cause in bad effects as well. Many international newcomers or students feel very disappointed that they do not know Americans well. Here are some advices: Even though you wish that Americans will invite you to come over and hang it out to get to know each other, do not take it seriously. They may not put any meaning of it. Just try to take it as a refuse to your request. Take the first step as make you to get close with them. Do not be frustrated to ask about certain thing that you need to know. talk with them with interesting topics. Such as talk about your country, cultural background and etc. They will interest to those topics because differences between culture factors always sounds fun. -Approach to them with your own friendship style. Do not frustrated to talk to them and shared your thinking. They will welcome what you think about them and care about them as well. If you want to be a good friend, just show them your true heart. It will bring out a trustworthy friendship to you If you think too much to make friend from many other countries, it will not forward to another steps to move on. You should act with confidence. And do not forget you should try to know other peoples cultural background. Also, you need to understand and respect their cultural background. 4 Conclusion The meaning of friendship may give everyone to interest but it also sort of difficult to describe. Communication style differences can also bring out misunderstandings about the other persons intentions and purpose. A main point to having successful intercultural relationship is establishing an effective relational culture. It is true that understanding ones cultural background is sort of difficult however; we should put our effort to make a good relationship with people from many other countries. If you want to maintain a good friendship with others, you should respect others first and approach to them with your true heart. People from many other countries may have different friendships between you have so we should prepare to comprehend others cultural fact and background information. Like any other friendship, intercultural friendships still hold a lot of uniqueness. In fact, friendship rules are individually negotiated so that no two friendships are alike. We create our own relat ional culture that determines whether we will be successful. 5 Literature http://www.silvaultramindsystem.com: The Silva Methods latest and most up to date program for training your intuition http://www.china-nafsa.aief-usa.org/chpter3.pdf http://www.friendship.com.au/ http://www.helium.com/knowledge/143177-what-is-friendship

The Tet Offensive Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Tet Offensive was unquestionably the biggest occurrence of the Vietnam War. While the military success of the Viet Cong in mounting a sustained revolt in cities across South Vietnam was virtually non-existent, the psychological impact it had on the American public was quite simply phenomenal. This effect was partially due to the reporting of the war by the media. To completely understand the impacts of Tet, we must first understand the goals of Tet. The execution of Tet was a failure on the battlefield; however, it proved to be an astounding success on college campuses across America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main objectives of the Tet Offensive of 1968 were to mount numerous uprisings in cities that were supposedly secure. The cities focused on in Tet were Saigon, Hue, and Danang. The idea originally came about around 1966. The reason being was that General Westmoreland’s continuous pressure constantly harried the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong (Ford 33). The US armed forces were depriving their Vietnamese aggressors of what they needed most, time to plan. Around this time General Nguyen Chi Thanh was being reprimanded for his failures in using large-scale unit operations against the devastating firepower of US forces. Basically, if Thanh continued the war under these circumstances he would have no army to continue the revolution. The decision from Hanoi was that their only hope was to use a Protracted War Strategy and outlast the Americans (Ford 33). In 1967 Thanh died and was replaced by General Giap. This gave the decision makers in Hanoi a solu tion to their problem of adopting a sound strategy. It wasn’t hard to make a decision, they decided on fighting a long and drawn out guerilla war. Hanoi also expanded the debate to consider the views of others (Ford 34). Psychology was a factor in this war, the leaders in North Vietnam made sure of it. They realized that Vietnam was a political war for America. In fact, it was not uncommon for the North Vietnamese leaders to tune in to American broadcasts to see how the media handled the war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On January 30th, 1968 the Tet Offensive came into being. Nineteen Vietnamese sappers blew a hole in the eight-foot wall surrounding the US embassy in Saigon. Initially the dozen military police and Marine Corps guards were taken by surprise, by dawn the wall was secure and ... ...r the Viet Cong it was a great psychological victory over the American public. The decline of events in 1968 was enough to keep President Johnson from seeking re-election.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It isn’t difficult to understand why the Tet Offensive of 1968 changed many American’s opinion of the war. The offensive took the US by surprise. There were signs that it was coming but these signs were not given the proper attention that they required. The media in Vietnam was in disarray when the offensive first broke out and when they finally came back into their normal functions the damage had been done by misreporting and the chaos and confusion that swept the country. List Of Works Cited Braestrup, Peter. Big Story. New Haven: Westview Press, Inc., 1977. Ford, Ronnie E. TET 1968: Understanding the Surprise. London: Frank Cass & Co. LTD, 1995 Gilbert, Marc Jason and William Head. The Tet Offensive. Westport: Praeger, 1996. Omicinski, John. Tet Offensive – A Turning Point.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vets With A Mission. 4 Feb. 2003   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  . Wirtz, James J. The Tet Offensive: Intelligence Failure In War. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1991.

Hamlet †historical and political context Essay

The political and religious upheavals before and after the death of Henry VIII had left their mark on the people of England. The King had done previous un-heard of things: He had divorced two wives and had had two executed. In the brief reigns which followed, persecution, first of the Catholics and then of Protestants, split family allegiances and brought very real danger – of imprisonment, torture, even execution. Claimants for the thrown jockeyed for position. Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558 the first successor to her father, Henry Viii had been his young son Edward, ten years of age. As he was still very much under age, he had to ‘rule’ through Regents. They persisted with the Protestant reforms instituted by his father after his break with the Roman Catholic. Edward died six years after coming to the throne. He was succeeded by his half-sister Mary (Tudor), who died childless after five years as Queen. She had tried to reinstate Roman Catholicism as the state religion. Elizabeth, Mary’s half sister, although not considered a legitimate heir to the throne, became Queen in 1558 and ruled for 45 years. Although she had been brought up as a Protestant she understood that in view of the recent religious upheaval some compromises some compromises had to be made. The country needed stability and a strong ruler. Her life had been in danger before she became Queen and there were the inevitable conspiracies to usurp her position. The tragic figurehead of one of these and the object of Elizabeth’s suspicion and jealousy for many years was Mary, Queen of Scots; Elizabeth at first kept her under arrest but eventually had her executed in 1587. Late in her reign, in 1601, the Earl of Essex, formerly her favorite, made his bid for power. He failed in his attempt to cause a popular up rising, was imprisoned and executed. It is not difficult to trace this atmosphere of suspicion and treachery in Hamlet, nor the reassuring promise to royalty contained in the suggestion at the end of the play that strong and humane rule will be reasserted. There were also serious threats from abroad. In 1588 Phillip II of Spain sent the Armada, a large fleet of ships, sailing up the Channel in an attempt to conquer England by force. Another foreign threat was marriage. Elizabeth constantly resisted attempts by her counselors to contract any politically advantageous marriage and she died unmarried, naming James, her Scottish cousin, already established for many years as King in Scotland, as her successor. Social and Context Elizabeth I built on the foundations laid by her father and grandfather until her power, the power of the Crown, was almost unquestioned. To help achieve the security which she and the country, needed it was important to encourage an articulate and educated aristocracy. Education and in particular classical scholarship assumed a fresh importance. In the grammar schools – it is assumed that Shakespeare attended the Stratford Grammar school- Latin Language and literature were studied; prose and verse, composition, rhetoric, orations and declamations. Much was learnt by heart and in the upper school Greek was added. Shakespeare’s knowledge of the classical theatre, poetry and legend is evident throughout his whole body of work. How does this relate to Hamlet? The Player’s speech, which Hamlet has remembered, is part of the Dido and Aeneas story, the sack of Troy and the slaying of King Priam. Also, Hamlet and Horatio have been fellow-students at the University of Wittenberg. The others, to address the ghost, call upon Horatio. Hamlet clearly wanted to return to Wittenberg, to turn his back on the whole situation at the castle, and possibly to become a perpetual student and scholar – until his father demands the revenge which he is unfitted to deliver. Exploration There was vitality; a fresh interest in foreign countries in the sixteenth century and exploration by sea had led to an increase in foreign trade. European foreign countries hardly seemed far away. Laertes lives very happily in Paris, away from his father’s influence. Hamlet is casually packed off by his uncle to a planned death in England. There was an extension of experience and an opening up to fresh influences, which included a new vocabulary of classical and foreign words. Printed books and pamphlets circulated more widely, so that information was more easily obtained. The Elizabethan age was establishing a feeling of national community and confidence. At the same time an increase in prosperity and a raising standard of living for many. This prosperity was also reflected in the newly built theatres and the audiences who flocked to entertainments of all kinds This is not to say that dissent and uneasiness did not exist. There will still disputes over religion and new ideas can be worrying as well as exciting. Persecution of religious minorities of the mainland caused a large influx of refugees from France and the Netherlands. It is also important to remember that some of the ‘entertainments’ mentioned above were public executions. Bloodthirsty pastimes such as bull- and bear- baiting were popular. The streets were filthy and away from the main thoroughfares, in the poorer parts of the city, they resembled open sewers and rubbish dumps. The plague, spread by black rats, struck in 1592 when it ravaged the city for two years, and again in 1603, wiping out whole families and forcing those Londoners who could afford to do so to flee to the country. Theatres and all public places of entertainment were closed down. This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Hamlet section.