Importance of dreams in the Epic of Gilgamesh

In the Gilgamesh story, dreams have been given great prominence especially since they play a critical part in explaining the unfolding of events. The two main characters Gilgamesh and Enkidu constantly dream about things and events which contribute positively to their lives as well as help give meaning to the story. In the period of the story, the Mesopotamians held the common belief that dreams were a method of communication between human beings and their ancestors.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of dreams in the Epic of Gilgamesh specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the dream where a meteor dropped from the sky, Gilgamesh’s mother, Ninsun, interpreted it as a sign of the arrival of a powerful person who would seek to challenge Gilgamesh’s authority (Shin-eqi-Unninni 15). She also said that after Gilgamesh fails to take down the assailant an interpretation arrived at from Gilgameshâ€⠄¢s revelation that he â€Å" tried to lift it but it proved too heavy. All the people of Uruk came round to see it† (Shin-eqi-Unninni 15). Ninsun also claimd that they (Gilgamesh and the stranger) would combine forces to become a formidable team which would live up to their greatness. This interpretation came to pass when he (Gilgamesh) meets with Enkidu in the duel at the wedding banquet. As it happens, the two struggle with each other before they eventually agree to become friends. The importance of the dream in this instance was to prepare Gilgamesh for the event. As far as the development of the plot is concerned, this dream and its subsequent interpretation, help create a sense of anticipation. The reader finds him/herself pushing through the story hoping to find out whether the dream came to be true or not. Enkidu dreams about his own death in a vision that depicts him infront of a council of gods. In the dream, Enkidu believes that Shamhat is the one responsible for h is weakened state but later, at the intervention of Shamash, he is able to see things in a broader perspective and blesses the woman (Shin-eqi-Unninni 26-27). In line with the dream, Enkidu falls sick for twelve days and eventually passes on, urging Gilgamesh not to forget him. By the time this dream appears in the story, the reader is already aware that it is bound to come true, but one reads on hoping that Enkidu would somehow find a loophole that would take him away from the fate predicted by the dream. The prophetic dreams that both Gilgamesh and Enkidu have are used to show the weaknesses of man in front of destiny. This is because, even as powerful as the two individuals are, they cannot change tragic events that lay in their life paths. These dreams become some sort of satire as the two individuals have the strength to handle most of life’s unexpected challenges but they cannot summon enough authority to handle things that they are sure are coming.Advertising Look ing for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Enkidu tries to find a scapegoat by blaming the lady Shamhat for his own shortcomings in his pre-death premonition (Shin-eqi-Unninni 27). His disappointment at dying a weak man’s death is evident from the story and one would be tempted to blame him for not responding to earlier challenges adequately. Dreams have been used repeatedly in the epic story with an aim of emphasizing the Mesopotamian cultural and religious beliefs. It is less likely that the dreams would have had great significance to individuals from different cultural backgrounds and the reader is also left wondering whether the events in the story would have come out the same way had the interpreters given different explanations. This means that the dreams could also have been used to create some form of rhetorical questioning in the minds of the readers. Works Cited Shin-eqi-Unninni.  "Gilgamesh†. The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Vol A:  Beginnings to A.D. 100. Eds. Sarah Lawall et al. New York: W.W. Norton Company, 2003. 10-41.Print This essay on Importance of dreams in the Epic of Gilgamesh was written and submitted by user Abbey Santiago to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Left Realism

In the early 1980's, two "new" approaches to the study of crime and deviance began to emerge in Britain and America, both of which focused upon the "realities" of crime (specifically) - but from different ends of the political spectrum. In Britain, the "New Left Realism" started to develop through the work of writers such as Lea and Young, while the "New Right Realism" developed around the work of Wilson in America and writers such as Clarke and Mayhew in Britain. While, as you might expect, the two basic approaches address the "problem" of crime from quite different political starting points, they have a couple of ideas in common: 1. Both view crime as a form of "social problem" - not only for control agencies but also for the victims / potential victims of crime. 2. Both produce ideas that attempt to locate crime within a wider political (although different) context - the "New Realism". New Left Realism For the past 30 years, Jock Young has been recognized as one of the major British writers in the field of crime and deviance. His intellectual career encompasses Interactionism, Radical Criminology and now New Left Realism and, for this reason alone, perhaps, his work represents an interesting area of study. A New Left Realist approach to the study of crime begins by doing two things: Firstly, it rejects "partial" theories of crime because they are guilty of either: a. An over-concentration on the operation of control agencies (for example, Functionalism and Subcultural theory) or b. An over-concentration on the experiences of criminals and the attempt to "understand" their point of view as either: "Victims" of a labelling process (Interactionism) or "Political catalysts" against bourgeois domination (Radical Criminology / Marxist Subcultural theory). Secondly, it synthesizes various elements from past theoretical perspectives into a "new realistic" approach to crime and deviance that seeks to und... Free Essays on Left Realism Free Essays on Left Realism In the early 1980's, two "new" approaches to the study of crime and deviance began to emerge in Britain and America, both of which focused upon the "realities" of crime (specifically) - but from different ends of the political spectrum. In Britain, the "New Left Realism" started to develop through the work of writers such as Lea and Young, while the "New Right Realism" developed around the work of Wilson in America and writers such as Clarke and Mayhew in Britain. While, as you might expect, the two basic approaches address the "problem" of crime from quite different political starting points, they have a couple of ideas in common: 1. Both view crime as a form of "social problem" - not only for control agencies but also for the victims / potential victims of crime. 2. Both produce ideas that attempt to locate crime within a wider political (although different) context - the "New Realism". New Left Realism For the past 30 years, Jock Young has been recognized as one of the major British writers in the field of crime and deviance. His intellectual career encompasses Interactionism, Radical Criminology and now New Left Realism and, for this reason alone, perhaps, his work represents an interesting area of study. A New Left Realist approach to the study of crime begins by doing two things: Firstly, it rejects "partial" theories of crime because they are guilty of either: a. An over-concentration on the operation of control agencies (for example, Functionalism and Subcultural theory) or b. An over-concentration on the experiences of criminals and the attempt to "understand" their point of view as either: "Victims" of a labelling process (Interactionism) or "Political catalysts" against bourgeois domination (Radical Criminology / Marxist Subcultural theory). Secondly, it synthesizes various elements from past theoretical perspectives into a "new realistic" approach to crime and deviance that seeks to und...

Me going throgh the interior castle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Me going throgh the interior castle - Essay Example That has helped me understand life in a better manner, and removed my ignorance. Kneeling, I begin to pray and I see her disappear like a wisp of smoke, dissolving in to air. An inner vision gives me a sense that I am praying before a large â€Å"castle formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal, and containing many rooms, just as in heaven there are many mansions.† (P.38-39) An understanding dawns on me that my soul is pure dignified, it is where my god would choose to dwell; it is the place where I can find him. To be one with my god I have to eschew the elements of bad in me, and focus on the good in the world, which only the soul could make me recognize. My body only compare to the coarse exterior of a beauty that lies within me. I beseech my lord to give me entry in to the interior of this magnificent castle. I can see a few people hanging out in the courtyards, some thronging around tables filled with food while others encircle what looked like a roulette fable, but the food, despite its inviting aroma, and the jingle of the gold coins that clatter on the roulette table, fail to evoke any sense of interest in me. Sentinels who stand guard also seem to ignore them. I keep praying and the vision of a gate emerges. Crowding on either side are silhouettes of men and women who appear through a misty shroud like pale apparitions. But all of them seem to be unsure whether to enter the gate or not. They look at me, as if sizing me up; questioning the propriety of by being there. I hesitate for a moment, a feeling of confusion foreboding me. Wailing sounds ring inside my ear and my mind conjures up the images of grotesque figures lamenting about their miseries. â€Å"The soulless spirits of sinners†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I whisper. My steps begin to waver as I approached the threshold and I hold my palms together, fingers of each hand pressing hard against the back of the other. The image

Justice in the distribution of marketing service (Walmart) for the Research Paper

Justice in the distribution of marketing service (Walmart) for the population density in Arkansas state in 2000 and 2010 - Research Paper Example The average life expectancy in Arkansas is 76.0 years. This period is shorter than the U.S life expectancy of 78.0 years approximately all of the 75 counties in Arkansas apart from three have life expectancies shorter than the total average nationally. Benton County in the north-west Arkansas has the longest life expectancy, which is 79.8 years. Phillips County located in eastern Arkansas has the shortest life expectancy, which was 69.8 years. This period has a difference of 10 years in life expectancy. There are averagely 17 counties with life expectancies that are six to ten years shorter than Benton County. Arkansas borders Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Arkansas 10 biggest cities and towns are Little Rock, Springdale, North Little Rock, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Pine Bluff, Rogers, and Conway (Rice 13). This work discusses how justice is not done equally in the distribution of marketing provision (Walmart) for the population compactness in Arkansas State in 2000 and 2010. Tourism is one of the Benton County’s leading productions, generating $6.66 billion in transactions yearly. Arkansas State Metroparks subsidies to this commerce. Almost 12 percent of tourists to Benton County emanate for the perseverance of visiting the outside, such as parks, trails, and seashores. These tourists devote $743 million per annum in the native economy and create $50.6 million in government and confined sales taxes. -Inhabitants also appreciate Arkansas State Metroparks trails and botanical gardens. Each year occupants of Benton County collects a subsidy of $40.5 million for the straight use of these park amenities (Rice 19). Autonomous investigation shows that park use transforms into an enlarged physical bustle, resulting in medical fee savings. Roughly 143,000 adult occupants of Benton County participate in physical commotion at a level adequate to produce computable health benefits,

Segmentation Variables for the water market in the UK. Coca-Cola in UK Assignment

Segmentation Variables for the water market in the UK. Coca-Cola in UK - Assignment Example Dasani failed in the UK market because unlike most of the bottled water which were obtained from precious natural spring or alpine glaciers, Dasani was obtained through local tab water which the company put in the purification process and added mineral salt to it. Within just five weeks of its launched Dasani was withdrawn from the market resulting in financial loss, created a bad image in the minds of the customers reducing the brand value. Bottled water is the fastest growing product in the soft drink category and Coke needs a successful bottled water to capture the UK and European market (Garrett, 2004). Segmentation Variables for the water market in the UK The benefits of market segmentation are highly recognized by the marketing practitioners. With more advanced and sophisticated technology the consumers have become more sophisticated in their shopping behavior and so it becomes important for the marketers to consider the potential market segment and introduce the product. The p rinciple assumption lies on the fact the consumers are numerous and are varied in their product needs and requirements and are not satisfied by single offering, thus market segmentation is required to satisfy the different needs and demands of the customers. ... The UK soft drink sector has showed a growth rate in the year 2010 and is expected to grow in the future. The soft drink market registered an impressive 4.1% of growth along with 5.8% increase in the value and stood at 14585 million litters in 2010. UK soft drink sector is divided into five segments comprising of carbonates (44%), dilutables (24%), fruit juice (8%), bottled water (14%) and still and juice (10%) respectively. UK water markets are segmented into three types of water which includes natural mineral water comprising of 61%, spring water comprising of 28% and bottled drinking water which comprises of 11% (BSDA, 2011). Segments for bottled water UK soft drink sector consists of five different segments in which the bottled water compromises of 14% of the market share. Consumption of bottled water in UK was highest in 2006 where consumption amounted to 2240 million liters and in 2010 consumption of bottled water amounted to 2055 million liters. UK bottled water falls under th ree segments, still bottled water comprising of 72%, sparkling bottled water accounting for 14% and still water cooler comprising of 14% in the bottled market sector (BSDA, 2011). UK bottled water market continued to recover and grew by 0.7%in volume. With promotional activity along with few lucky breaks experienced in the weather kept the market share of bottled water rising. Segment targeted by Coke The target audience segmented by Coke was similar to the soft drinks, Diet Coke one of the most popular and famous product of Coke. The target customers were all those people who wanted to a product that would quench their thrust and at the same time is healthy. It can also be said that

Single Stage Selective Tendering

Single Stage Selective Tendering The method of single stage selective tendering involves finding contractors, possibly from previous experience, and asking them to submit tenders for the project at hand. Because you choose your contractors yourself you can properly dig to find the best one. Past experience is always a help in making your decision, not only this but you can take into account the resources of the company youre using, their health and safety record and their references. Not only this but when choosing a contractor it is also sensible to take into consideration the type of work your doing, some companies will specialise in different areas. There are a few benefits to using single stage selective tendering, firstly you can choose your own contractor and remove bad performing contractors, secondly companies are competitive over it and lastly you can rotate your contractors ensuring you always have a fresh pair of hands. Two Stage Selection Sometimes, potential contractors may be invited to initial discussions about the project to provide input. This is usually only when a project has a short time scale or the client doesnt have much time to work with. After this initial discussion the client can invite his favourite contractors back for a second, which again is a good way to gather more ideas and different inputs on the project. After the second interview the client should definitely know who he wants on board and it the discussions should make it easier to select his contractor. This is a good way of selecting a contractor as you can gather a wide range of input from the first two discussions; it also allows the client to meet all potential candidates allowing him to make a sensible decision. In the second meeting it is likely the contractors will bring bills of quantities to submit as part of the final tender. Open Tendering Open tendering almost explains itself. A client will put some form of advertisement out for a contractor and all contractors are welcome to reply. The client can then make this decision based on portfolios, references or CVs of potential contractors. Open tenders usually occur when a service such a road cleaning is needed. The major disadvantage in open tendering is that many contractors who you have know nothing about, considering their costs and reputation too, can apply, meaning you could end up making a bad decision due to minimal knowledge. References are important in open tendering. Serial Tendering Serial tendering has a number of benefits to it. This is because when you choose a contractor for serial tendering he will be involved on a number of projects. The contractor provides a price for the first project and then uses this to estimate prices for the following tasks. This method of tendering is usually used when there are a number of similar projects taking place, for example a series of schools being built. The advantages to serials tendering are that firstly, the contractor gains valuable knowledge from initial projects to be used in the other projects and secondly the client is guaranteed a long term commitment from the contractor. OBJECTIVES IN TENDERING There are a number of different objectives you will set for yourself in the tendering stage of a project. These objects can have an affect on the tender costs, and if they are not met, it means your overall price will rise. Profit Margin The profit margin of a project is basically how much profit there is to be made, it is a figure taking into consideration all of the costs, once all these costs deductions are done we are left with a rough figure or how much money is to be made. Cost Costs are always a key thing to keep in mind; it will definitely be an objective for the contractors and client to ensure that they keep within their cost restraints. The lower the overall costs of your project, the lower the asking price will be. Some contractors will loose money from their own pocket if they do not keep to their initial set costs. Time It is important to ensure you keep within your timescale on a project, lengthy projects will cost more money than short ones and going over your time scale will have a roll on effect on the overall price. FACTORS AFFECTING THE LEVEL OF TENDERS Main Contractors The main influence in the levels of tenders is the value of a project. Small projects tend to have large lump sum overheads resulting in small profit margins whereas larger projects rely on massive financial commitments. There are numerous other factors that affect the levels of tendering: The number and reputation of other companies trying to secure a tender. The economic climate of a country. Bank of England Base rate higher base rate=higher loan repayment Specialism Location The location of a project can have a massive effect on the tender price. For Example, if a client chose a contractor based in the UK to carry out works in northern Scotland the tender price will be significantly higher. Not only will prices rise due to the fact that the contractor will have to get himself and his men and machinery to northern Scotland and back but sometimes, on long-term projects, the contractor will have to pay for temporary accommodation, including food and drink. Temporary accommodation will cost a lot and can have a great affect on the contractors tender price. Not only this but also, if the project is based somewhere like London, where living costs are substantially larger than the rest of the UK, this can have an effect on the tender price. Site Access The accessibility of a site can also have a significant affect on the tender price. If the site is in the middle of a busy city centre, this will make it hard for large plant to access; city centres also bring a lot of traffic which results in delays. If your site is small with not many access routes or roads it can deem difficult for larger plant to get in, some projects require new access points and routes to be made for larger plant to do their jobs. This obviously costs money, which results on a larger tender price. Site Conditions If the chosen site is unlevelled or bad it means that before works can even proceed, the site will have to be sorted out. This can cost a lot of time and money depending on the state of the site. Some sites are contaminated which will result in a massive operation to decontaminate the site and a massive increase in tender pricing. Sub Contractors Subcontractors are usually appointed in one of two ways. The first way is as a domestic subcontractor to the main contractor and the second is a nominated subcontractor by the client. When there is specialist work that needs to be done that a contractor cannot, he will send for a subcontractor who can do the work. Some subcontractors get recommend by the client. There are once again, factors that influence the prices: The location of the work The schedule of the subcontractor How specialist the work is The client/contractor relationship with the sub contractor. M4 Single Stage Selective Single stage tendering requires the potential contractors to attend one interview with the client before one is chosen. This method is usually used when the client is looking for a partnership agreement with a guaranteed price and profit share. Single rate is also good for projects that need specialist attention. It is a good method for the projects such as hospitals where the client can guarantee a max price. Two Stage Selection This kind of tendering is often used for the design and build aspect of a project as it is good for gathering a wide range of ideas from a number of potential contractors. A sensible contractor will bring ideas to save money to the client and whoever usually manages to save the most money will be hired. This is a good method for specialised needs as the information you gather from the contractors can inform you on whether of not they themselves can carry out the work, which will be cheaper, or whether they have good links with sub contractors that specialise in that area. Two stage selection is good for any building that needs specialist care and also for school and colleges as the client gets significant input from all the potential contractors in the first two stages. Serial Tendering Serial tendering is used when there are a number of similar projects being undertook. It is good because the contractor can use his knowledge from pricing the first building to then price the following projects too. Not all the projects have the same layout but are similar in material and plant need. This enables the contractor to get a quicker idea of price ranges for the other projects as he already knows what he is expecting. Serial tendering is used when a series of school are being built, it can also work for a series of police stations or hospitals. Serial tendering is also good for housing projects, shop chains and restaurant chains. Open Tendering Open tendering is the most traditional tendering method. It is when anyone is open to submit a tender and the client will go through the applicants and choose, who he believes, to be the most suitable candidate. Open tendering can work for any kind of building and also is used for general services like road cleaning. It is good because you get a wide range of applicants to choose from. Even buildings that need specialist work done can be open tendered as the contractors themselves can appoint subcontractors for that kind of work. There are a number of different factors that will have an effect on tender method to be chosen, the following factors can all have an effect on what kind of tender method you use; The location of the project, European construction works are usually dealt with differently to non-EU construction projects. Project size, massive multi-million projects sometimes need the combined help of a number of contractors, e.g. Channel Tunnel. Financial stability of construction company tendering for the work. Company reputation Company resources, including plant, labour and materials. Company competency, including health and safety aspects. The size of projects does have a big effect on the contractor you can use. For many small projects, worth around  £10,000 or less, the majority of clients would find a local contractor to do the job, however for the larger scale projects contractors can be brought in from all corners of the country. Not only size but also the type of work being carried out affects this too, as mentioned before, sometimes a number of contractors will have to join together, in what we call a consortium, in order to meet the high demand of resources needed. And lastly, the massive, high-value projects must be kept an eye on. To ensure they have the capacity to take on such a large financial debt and the associated cash flow requirements, the financial accounts of a prospective tender must be checked over a number of years.

Comparing John Cheever’s The Swimmer and The Five-Forty-Eight Essay

Comparing John Cheever’s The Swimmer and The Five-Forty-Eight Two stories by John Cheever, The Swimmer and The Five-Forty-Eight (5-48), will be explored in terms of how the characters, genre and point of view in these stories give rise to classic fiction. The Swimmer is of a suburban man, Neddy Merrill, who decides to return home from work by swimming eight miles through all of his neighbors' pools along the way. At each pool he encounters a former mistress, distant and unfriendly neighbours and other symbols of a bitter, frustrated life. To Neddy, this is his epic day's journey. However, when he arrives home, his family has left him. The swimmer has made it home; but too much has changed. While 5-48 is about the protagonist, Blake, having an affair with the emotionally weak Dent. The story begins with Blake firing Dent and she in turn stalks him to the 5-48 with a gun. She gains her revenge by making him kneel before her. Blake’s humiliation is complete when she forces him to rub his face in the dirt. 5-48 is developed as a typical story with the two principal characters, Blake and Dent, very well developed. There is constant tension from the point where Blake (depicted as egotistical, insensitive and in control) leaves the office to the train 5-48, all the while being pursued by Dent (the victim, who is emotionally weak, manipulated and cheated). Its chronological form simplifies the story and makes it a fast paced and delightful read. In addition, there is realism injected by actual places like the 5-48 train and Shady Hill, tired and cold relationships, betrayal, revenge and affairs that are so commonplace in society. Swimmer seems to be a painful reflection of his own life that was blighted by serious al... ...s request for a drink or the idea of entertaining him or give him money. In retrospect after analyzing Cheever’s The Swimmer and The Five-Forty-Eight, I think that isolation stands out as the underlying theme for both stories although they are markedly different in plot and genre. Also these stories seem to be a poignant reminder of Cheever’s personal life and to an extent a chapter of life in that period, although poverty, discrimination and adultery are still present today and affect both you and me. Works Cited Cheever, John. â€Å"The Five-Forty-Eight.† The Stories of John Cheever. New York: Knopf, 1978. ---------------. "The Swimmer." The Stories of John Cheever. New York: Knopf, 1978. Works Consulted Slabey, Robert M. "John Cheever: The Swimming' of America." Critical Essays on John Cheever. Ed. Robert G. Coolins. Boston: Hall, 1982. 180-90.