Speculative Fiction in Translation Czech Republic

Speculative Fiction in Translation Czech Republic The title of this post probably has you thinking about authors like Karel Capek or Franz Kafka, but what about HanuÅ¡ Seiner or Petra Slováková? Well, thanks to Czech author and translator Julie Novakova, and her anthology Dreams From Beyond: An Anthology of Czech Speculative Fiction (2016), English-language readers can dive into this wonderful, vibrant world and sample stories from several contemporary Czech spec fic authors. Steampunk, military SF, hard SF: youll find these sub-genres and many more in Dreams From Beyond and Czech SF in general. Just recently, Tor.com published the entirety of Seiners Hexagrammaton, a story about buried alien ships and the contact between two civilizations, and hopefully this will lead to even more translated Czech SF. And despite the fact that Anglo-American SF is popular in the Czech Republic, Czech SF authors are gaining attention as well, and the country can boast of several professional sf magazines started in the past two decades: Ikarie (1990â€"2009) and its descendant XB-1 (2009â€"), Nemesis (1994â€"1997), the Czech version of FSF (1992â€"2010), and Pevnost (2002â€"). So next time youre thinking of adding to your swaying TBR pile, consider picking up the following books. Youll thank me. Dreams From Beyond: Anthology of Czech Speculative Fiction, edited by Julie Novakova, various translators (Eurocon, 2016) Author, translator, and editor Julie Novakova brings together some of the best contemporary Czech sf in this wonderful collection. Available through her website (see link above), these stories explore issues of high-tech war, wormholes, alien cultures, and much more. Dreams also includes Novakovas essay on the current Czech sf market and translations into English. This is a great way to find your way in to Czech sf. Aberrant by Marek Å indelka, translated by Nathan Fields (Twisted Spoon Press, 2017) Å indelkas debut novel has been described as a mash-up of many genres: crime story, horror story, ecological revenge fantasy, and Siberian shamanism. Nothing is as it seems: plants act like animals, humans are actually shells for aliens or demons, and post-apocalyptic Prague itself is suffering from devastating floods. Through all of this, three friends must find their way in life and in the world of rare plant smuggling. Unsettling and disturbing, Aberrant blurs the (already fuzzy) line between reality and illusion. The Fifth Dimension  by  Martin Vopenka, translated by Hana Sklenkova (Barbican Press, 2015) I just love that cover. And the story? Well, if you like an adventure story about love, rivalry, black holes, astrophysics, murder, and a strange science experiment in the High Andes, The Fifth Dimension is most certainly for you. The Golden Age by Michal Ajvaz, translated by Andrew Oakland (Dalkey Archive Press, 2010) Part of Dalkey Archives Czech Literature Series, The Golden Age is at once a Gulliver-esque travelogue and a fascinating exploration of reality and/versus the written word. When the protagonist writes about an island he once visited, he describes its inhabitants as seemingly passive observers of their world, even as they all contribute to a Book (central to their culture) that is filled with feuding royal families, sorcerers, and narrow escapes. Like Marek Huberaths Nest of Worlds, The Golden Age is about nested stories that make us think more deeply about how and why we tell stories. Sign up to Swords Spaceships to  receive news and recommendations from the world of science fiction and fantasy.

New Technologies And Policy Instruments - 1399 Words

Organisational change means the movement from a current state to a new different state and it is a continuous process (Cummings and Worley 2014). Modern organisations need to adapt to contiguous change or they will face the likelihood of failure (Jamali et al. 2006; Elias 2009). For organizations to progress, they must undertake significant change at various points in their enhancement (Eisenbach et. al 1999). A majority of organisations today embrace a mechanistic, monocratic view of authority. Successful sustainability leaders have the ability to keep their organisation strong-minded on accomplishing its higher objectives while instantly handling several, occasionally changeable, streams of movement. According to (Cummings and Worley 2014), discussions about what needs to be done with new technologies and policy instruments to apply-have dominated the public dialogue on sustainability. Today s business environment exact companies to hazard turn almost constantly if they are to last competitory (Eisenbach et. al 1999). Factors such as globalization and fast release of technologies strengthen businesses to respond in order to maintain their position in consumer’s eyes. Such changes may be relatively small—as in the casing of installation a fresh software application—or completely mayor—as in the case of refocusing an everywhere marketing strategy. External concerns originate from differentiate in the legal, inexpensive, technological, and economic environments (Vakola etShow MoreRelatedGlobal Environmental Issues1007 Words   |  5 Pagesof this climatic change threat hence policies are made domestically and internationally to tackle this crisis.(Stavins, 1997) Generally, countries choose to employ policies which will best suit their economic and social development. The most common policy instruments are regulatory instruments and market- based instruments.(Hahn and Stavins, 1991) To address this global environmental crisis, it is essential to assess both regulatory and market-based instruments in the economic and social contexts.Read MoreSwot Analysis : Texas Instruments Inc.1197 Words   |  5 Pagesstrengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats. (Sector Publishing Intelligence) Strengths †¢ Strong market position: One can see that Texas Instruments is generally considered a pioneer and forerunner in the technology and innovations of semiconductor products, such as: defense, metallurgical and digital products. Texas Instruments Inc. has a 29% revenue share amongst the Top-Ten analog IC companies. Moreover, a preponderance of the mobile phones sold globally contain computer modelsRead MorePolicy Brief On Sustainable Energy And Green Industry Puerto Rico1703 Words   |  7 PagesPolicy brief on sustainable energy/green industry Puerto Rico Purpose section According to United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) the term green industry is defined as an industry that ensures sustainable and viable future with no harm on our environment (UNIDO 2016). In Puerto Rico, manufacturing industry accounts for about 46.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This indicates that Puerto Rico is highly dependent on different manufacturing industries for its revenue. SimilarlyRead MoreThe Social Barriers Of The Building Sector1179 Words   |  5 Pagesnational level? -Which of these barriers do the policy packages and instruments described in D.1.1 and D.1.2 address? What are the future trends? Potential barriers Description/Examples Heterogeneity of consumers Although a technology may be cost-effective on average for a class of users taken in aggregate, the class, itself, consists of a distribution of consumers: some could economically purchase additional efficiency, while others will find the new level of efficiency not cost effective (SweeneyRead MoreThe Natural Disaster Of California1641 Words   |  7 Pagesstate of emergency in 2014 because of it. Since the state of emergency, governor issued the first regulatory policy through Executive Order B-29-15 on April 1st 2015 to fight the drought. A drought is unique in that it is very hard to determine when the problem actually started and when it is expected to end since periods of wet weather are almost impossible to know for sure. Therefore, policy to fight the drought can be very tricky seeing that officials really don’t know when the problem will end andRead MoreStatus Of Use Of Ict By Secondary School Students Of Nepal Essay1290 Words   |  6 Pagescommunication technology (ICT) is most important part of modern education system. It is highly beneficial for the improvement of students several aspect of knowledge, skill and attitudes. The study focused in use of ICT with respect to students of class nine and ten from secondary schools of Kathmandu, Nepal. Responses of 106 students were taken and data has analyzed by percentage and Mann Whitney U test. It was found that most of the students of that level are weakly using technology and public schoolRead MoreThe Impact Of Exchange Rate On Exporting And Importing Enterprises1501 Words   |  7 Pagesbe achieved by cutting the cost. For instance, new technologies could be applied or invented by the companies. By applying new technologies, companies may cut their cost in production or selling. As for inventing a new technology, companies should focus on predicting the pay-off period when applying it. If the pay-off would start before the next run of huge change in exchange rate, then it would be an applica ble strategy to invent this new technology. In addition, governments could support exportingRead MoreDeveloping Technology And Collaborative Learning1580 Words   |  7 Pagesand easier to use and are more convenient. For example, smart phones, PDAs, portable computers, iPad, and tablets are important tools for study so having them smaller and easier to use is of great value. Educational policies in Thailand have packed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the curriculum. Therefore, the current tools used in teaching need to be portable devices. Teachers and students use portable devices for sharing information, preparing reports, presentations, and communicationsRead More Noteworthy Technology Essay1249 Words   |  5 PagesNoteworthy Technology Few things possess the power of music. Good music has the capacity to convey messages, evoke emotion and inspire awe. Yet, not many posses the means to acquire the power of music. Writing music by hand can be time consuming, inaccurate, and it does not allow the composer to actually hear the annotated music. Furthermore, learning an instrument can be time consuming and frustrating if all a person wants to do is compose their own music. This is where the beauty of technologyRead MoreThe Main Reasons That Have Resulted in The Bank Disintermediation1472 Words   |  6 Pagesinto the banking industry and later became a popular term used in commerce generally in the 90s. Economics or financial policies are some of the factors leading to the phenomenon known as disintermediation which banks sometimes face. Bank disintermediation is a situation whereby funds which should ordinarily be invested in banks are directed into some other investment instruments such as assets backed securitie s and convertibles, which will be issued by the final user of the funds, in the process

Stephanie Murray. Sjs165. Ryan Gunderson. May 1 2017. Call

Stephanie Murray SJS165 Ryan Gunderson May 1 2017 Call to Action on Food Insecurity A. Summary of Actions Food insecurity the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, more than 800 million people live every day with hunger or food insecurity as their constant companion (Definitions of Food Security) . People who suffer from food insecurity often live in low income areas that lack grocery stores, farmer markets, or healthy food at a reasonable price called food deserts. So, the question is how can we address this issue. In order to get a better understanding of my chosen issue, and make others more aware of this matter, I partook in several events on campus. For example, On April†¦show more content†¦I chose my actions because each act applied to more than one of the groupings. CANstruction, the documentary, and petition can be grouped under options 1 and 2. CANstruction benefited our community while being something happening right here on campus. It was something easy to take part in and helped people right here. The documen tary was easy and quick to send to many with the click of a button, and by having people do it on their own time, I believe more watched it than if I hosted a watching event, and it was informing each recipient about what exactly food insecurity is . Then the petition was something quick I could sign digitally, but adding my name to the list would hopefully bring them closer to reaching their goal. The bake sale, and popsicle sale apply under groups 2 and 3. I love to bake and work at a bakery at home, so I was excited to help with the bake sale. Some people may say these two do not help the cause because it is junk food, but by making homemade goods and buying a good healthier option popsicle we were supplying students with healthier options than they would find on campus. I thought this goes hand in hand with food insecurity because those affected by it have access to food just not healthy or affordable options. And again, these activities were right here

Analysis of Passion Diptychs Free Essays

The front surface has three registers with ‘each crowned by a cusped arcade with five hanging capitals and six recreated apertures’ which ‘means that the enter of each composition is aligns with a capital’. The first direct visual impression left on a beholder is that the diptych is a representation of an ordered chaos. It Is ordered because It Is systematically divided Into three registers on each wing with each register having six recreated apertures equidistant from each other and symmetric. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Passion Diptychs or any similar topic only for you Order Now On the contrary, it seems chaotic because unlike some other passion diptychs, each individual registers are not bordered inside (or split according to the number of apertures) to explicitly show different scenes. Instead, in most registers in his diptych, different scenes are interposed which makes an interesting narrative and, comparatively, leads to a chaotic On a good way) display In an otherwise neatly bordered and systematic diptych. This type of representation, In each composition, also portrays a lively sense of movement to the traditional scenes which are otherwise portrayed in an iconic style. This diptych is read left to right across the wings and from the top to the bottom without changing directions. Although it is of a ‘normal’ directional impulse, the implications of reading the scenes horizontally sakes It easier and provides a potential to understand and meditate on horizontal and vertical relationships between registers. Interestingly, an absence of Interior dividers not only provides more space and therefore, more creatively but also leads to an increased scope to form thematic relationships between registers without confusion. The first register is a rather unusual start to a Passion diptych because most of them usually start with the ‘Entry Into Jerusalem’ or an event that Is directly related to the death of Christ. However, both, this diptych and the â€Å"Abbreviated Passion Diptych† egging with the Resurrection of Lazarus (fig. 1). Both the diptychs have Mary and Martha thanking Jesus for what he’s done. In the Dormouse diptych, a disciple or onlooker can be seen scratching his head in bewilderment and amazed at the fact that Lazarus has resurrected. Lazarus is half out of the tomb that held him holding the cloak of Jesus, who is compassionately looking at him while Lazarus does look tired as If woken up from an unfinished sleep. This section of the first register stimulates trust and dependency because Jesus, although he’s Ralston someone from he dead, is calm but also compassionate which agrees to the fact that ‘He loved Him’ and shows His humanity. The next scene in the first register is the ‘Entry to Jerusalem’ where a person can be seen laying down his cloak and the people ‘on the wall’, which denotes people in the city watch excitedly for the entry of their Savior. Interestingly, the scale of Jesus and his disciples, and the other half- the people and larger than the people hailing his entry. Noticeably, Jesus head is held high, Just as a king nobly receives the respect he is due while he also greets them and accepts their joyous praise. However, this is a sharp contrast from the previous scene – The raising of Lazarus – which is relatively melancholy and calm, suddenly turning to erupting praise which provides an interesting twist in the prayer of the beholder. Continuing on, the next register shows the Washing of the Apostles’ Feet’ . At this instant, Jesus is probably talking to Simon Peter, as is recorded in the gospel of account of John in which he is initially taken aback and refused to have his foot washed by Jesus but when Jesus insists and gives his reasoning, Peter agrees to it. The mood is very ember and to a degree, awkward, as Jesus is doing something very unexpected of a leader. Incidentally, In stark contrast to the ‘Entry to Jerusalem’, where Jesus is being ushered and hailed as King with his head held high, in this scene, Jesus’ head is tilted down, and he is missing his outer garment – his cloak. In this scene, Jesus is kneeling down before his disciples, humbling himself before them and washing the dirt of their feet. To the beholder, this reminds him of the nature of Jesus, that he being God and master of the apostles, humbled himself to wash their feet. A viewer s reminded and encouraged in the fact that if Jesus showed that the way of the kingdom is serving, then he too, must serve willingly. Furthermore, unlike the previous scene where Jesus is a ‘head above’ the disciples, in this register, he is placed at the same height showing that he humbled himself to their level. The third register is the event of ‘The Last Supper’ which consists of two scenes : Firstly, Jesus foretelling that one of them would betray him. He is seen dipping the bread at the same time as Judas, his betrayer (Matthew 26:23). Secondly, Peter is seen leaning on Jesus’ breast as He breaks it to him that he will be betrayed and in the process, be denied by Him three times. Here, ten of the disciples seem a bit merry as they enjoy a feast with Jesus. However, Judas looks at Jesus with a mix of guilt and deceitfulness while Peter has his eyes closed, visibly sad that his master is going to be betrayed and that he would deny him three times in the process. The diptych continues onto the ‘Agony in the Garden’ at Statement where Jesus is praying, fearing for the punishment that he will bear, while his disciples sleep. The three disciples in front’ of him are Peter, James and John while the other eight are ‘behind’ Jesus. The trees are curved in order to use the available space and is shown in a smaller scale to the disciples and Jesus creating a background that helps imply that they are in a garden. This scene shows the humanity of Jesus; where he is looking up towards heaven, with his arms raised, wide awake, asking for help as he is visibly troubled. Interestingly, there is a contrast between this register and the previous one. Unlike the last supper, he disciples here are asleep and hence, to a degree, the mood is a bit dull and dreary. However, for Jesus, it is a tense night as He gains his strength from the Father. This encourages a beholder to find His strength in God through prayer when from all around support is waning, lacking or even absent. Onwards, the next register, ‘The Betrayal of Jesus’ shows three scenes simultaneously with Jesus presented only one time, making an interesting Juxtaposition of various scenes in one register. In the background are two soldiers who are of a slightly lower height which ivies a more realistic sense of scale to the whole composition. Peter looks on with and Jesus has rebuked him for that act. The disciple next to Simon Peter is seen as restraining him to attack anyone else. Furthermore, the betrayer, Judas Chariot leans in to kiss Jesus while Jesus tilts his head downwards to receive the kiss. Jesus looks at him disappointedly while Judas looks with guilt and remorse as he slowly comes to the fact that he is betraying his master and God. At the same instance, Jesus is healing Mulches who is shown writhing in pain. Onto the next scene in the same sister, Judas Chariot, overcome by his guilt hangs himself on a tree, naked, with his intestines and innards coming out. There is a burst of activity in this diptych as there are a lot of intense activities occurring simultaneously. If the previous register was tense because Jesus was apprehensive of the wrath He would take on, the scenes in this register are even tenser with almost a deceptive calmness that Jesus shows in every composition. Incidentally, this diptych has no scene representing the flagellation of Christ or the trying of Him at a counsel and goes straight ahead, after he betrayal, to the crucifixion of Jesus. In the register containing the crucifixion, two major scenes occur simultaneously. Firstly, Mary is swooning and is supported by women who have come to see of her son. Secondly, a dead Jesus, flanked by Longings, the Roman soldier who pierced Jesus’ side, with his spear leaning on his far shoulder, on the left side, who is convinced of his deity and on the right, Stephan, who offered Jesus sour wine to abate his pain. The soldiers flanking him and the women on the left mourn his death radiating sorrow. Moreover, this composition, in n observer, invokes a feeling of gratitude on meditation. Gratitude, because of the humanity of Jesus, who suffered a horrendous death and took on God’s wrath so that all could be redeemed by God through Christ. It also stimulates praise and love when one imagines the degree of humility that Jesus underwent to do what He did on the cross. Interestingly, comparing the bottom two registers, Judas is similar to Jesus hanging on a cross as both have their heads slumped to the left. However, Chrism’s torso is bare but his abdomen and loins are covered while Judas’ torso is covered while his abdomen and loins are bare. Additionally, Judas’ hands are turned out which is similar to the orientation of the hands of Mary, who is despairing, too. Similarly, there exists another diptych, the ‘Passion diptych in three registers (135()-75)’ which in form is different from the Dormouse diptych as it has five apertures. Apart from the form of the diptych, this passion diptych varies a lot in terms of expression from the Dormouse diptych. The Dormouse diptych contains a range of emotions and passions. From somberness to Joyous rapture to an awkward tuition – it has it all. However, the ‘Passion diptych in three registers’ mostly continues along without much changes in individual expressions of horror or happiness, of Joy or sadness. Additionally, unlike the Dormouse diptych, this diptych doesn’t have the cruciform halo and doesn’t contain scenes such as the ‘Raising of Lazarus’ and ‘The Hanging of Judas’. Furthermore, this diptych also lacks difference in scale and precise proportions that distinguishes itself between a good and great diptych. For example, in the last register, the swooning Virgin is seen as tender, restfully falling into the hands of the women supporting her. However, in this Passion diptych, it seems like she’s standing with her eyes closed. In conclusion, the Dormouse diptych is a wonderful piece of gothic ivory that is unrivalled not only each composition provides and produces and how the visual complexity of this diptych make the study of its images rewarding. ‘ Bibliography Lowdown, John, and John Cherry, Medieval Ivories and Works of Art: The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. British Columbia: Skillet Publishing, 2008 How to cite Analysis of Passion Diptychs, Papers

The Ascent of Money Book Report Essay Example For Students

The Ascent of Money Book Report Essay The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World is a non-fiction analysis of the history of money, banking, and the rise of financial systems by Niall Ferguson, a British historian and professor at Harvard University. In his book, Ferguson makes the argument that finance is at the root of all human progress and that a lack of financial systems results in a failed society, using the gold-rich Spanish Empire of the 16th century as an example. As well, he argues that all historical events, whether they are political, social, economic or otherwise, are deeply grounded in the global financial systems. We will write a custom essay on The Ascent of Money Book Report specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Ferguson also tries to draw a parallel between financial systems and biological systems, making the claim that evolution and Darwinism apply to finance. He says, Financial history is essentially the result of institutional mutation and natural selection. With these arguments, Ferguson explains candidly how finance has influenced past historical events. He reveals why Argentina went from being the worlds 6th richest country to an inflation-ridden basket case, how the French Revolution was started because of a stock market bubble, and how China is emerging from poverty into a global superpower in a single generation. Ferguson has crafted a well-written piece on the financial history of the world and why it is important to society. Ferguson effectively proves through historical example and sound reasoning that finance is at the root of all human progress and is essential to the development of civilizations. Fergusons study of the financial history of the world touches on a number of Theory of Knowledge areas of knowledge. He touches on history, ethics, natural sciences, and, most importantly, human sciences including economics. In examining the financial history of the world, Ferguson draws attention to the positive relationship between the growth and development of civilizations and the strengths and success of their financial and economic systems. Essentially, money is the reason for development in modern societies. These financial systems have allowed for quicker transactions, loans, and investments. Using such examples as the colonization of South America, Roosevelts New Deal, and the rise of China, Ferguson successfully argues this point. Drawing from a wide variety of examples, Ferguson effectively shows the reader that the correlation between the growth of financial systems and the growth of civilizations is not just a coincidence but a trend throughout history. In this way, Ferguson effectively uses history, an area of knowledge, to support his reasoning that finance is at the root of all human progress. His arguments are also effective because they use sound logic, are not terribly provocative, and therefore seem very reasonable to the reader. This is most likely because we live in a society that is heavily influenced by finance and money. The economy greatly affects our everyday life, something made increasingly evident in the current recession, where people are unable to maintain their old lifestyles of excessive spending. People are constantly trying to further their economic goals. As Ferguson puts it, Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot, lucre, moolah, readies, the wherewithal: call it what you like, money matters. Fergusons arguments are so reasonable and true that they are easily proved through evidence from a wide range of countries and empires from the past.

Study Guide for Albert Camuss The Fall

Study Guide for Albert Camus's The Fall Delivered by a sophisticated, outgoing, yet often suspicious narrator, Albert Camus’s The Fall employs a format that is rather uncommon in world literature. Like novels such as Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground, Sartre’s Nausea, and Camus’s own The Stranger, The Fall is set up as a confession by a complicated main character- in this case, an exiled French lawyer named Jean-Baptiste Clamence. But The Fall- unlike these famous first-person writings- is actually a second-person novel. Clamence directs his confession at a single, well-defined listener, a â€Å"you† character who accompanies him (without ever speaking) for the duration of the novel. In the opening pages of The Fall, Clamence makes this listener’s acquaintance in a seedy Amsterdam bar known as Mexico City, which entertains â€Å"sailors of all nationalities† (4). Summary In the course of this initial meeting, Clamence playfully notes the similarities between him and his new companion: â€Å"You are my age in a way, with the sophisticated eye of a man in his forties who has seen everything, in a way; you are well dressed in a way, that is as people are in our country; and your hands are smooth. Hence a bourgeois, in a way! But a cultured bourgeois!† (8-9). However, there is much about Clamence’s identity that remains uncertain. He describes himself as â€Å"a judge-penitent,† yet doesn’t provide an immediate explanation of this uncommon role. And he omits key facts from his descriptions of the past: â€Å"A few years ago I was a lawyer in Paris and, indeed, a rather well-known lawyer. Of course, I didn’t tell you my real name† (17). As a lawyer, Clamence had defended poor clients with difficult cases, including criminals. His social life had been full of satisfactions- respect from his colleagues, affairs with many women- and his public behavior had been scrupulously courteous and polite. As Clamence sums up this earlier period: â€Å"Life, its creatures and its gifts, offered themselves to me, and I accepted such marks of homage with a kindly pride† (23). Eventually, this state of security began to break down, and Clamence traces his increasingly dark state of mind to a few specific life events. While in Paris, Clamence had an argument with â€Å"a spare little man wearing spectacles† and riding a motorcycle (51). This altercation with the motorcyclist alerted Clamence to the violent side of his own nature, while another experience- an encounter with a â€Å"slim young woman dressed in black† who committed suicide by throwing herself off a bridge- filled Clamence with a sense of â€Å"irresistible weakness (69-70). During an excursion to the Zuider Zee, Clamence describes the more advanced stages of his â€Å"fall.† At first, he began to feel intense turmoil and pangs of disgust with life, although â€Å"for some time, my life continued outwardly as if nothing had changed† (89). He then took turned to â€Å"alcohol and women† for comfort- yet only found temporary solace (103). Clamence expands upon his philosophy of life in the final chapter, which takes place in his own lodgings. Clamence recounts his disturbing experiences as a World War II prisoner of war, lists his objections to commonplace notions of law and freedom, and reveals the depth of his involvement in the Amsterdam underworld. (It turns out that Clamence keeps a famous stolen painting- The Just Judges by Jan van Eyck- in his apartment.) Clamence has resolved to accept life- and to accept his own fallen, immensely flawed nature- but has also resolved to share his troubling insights with anyone who will listen. In the final pages of The Fall, he reveals that his new profession of â€Å"judge-penitent† involves â€Å"indulging in public confession as often as possible† in order to acknowledge, judge, and do penance for his failings (139). Background and Contexts Camus’s Philosophy of Action: One of Camus’s greatest philosophical concerns is the possibility that life is meaningless- and the need (in spite of this possibility) for action and self-assertion. As Camus wrote in his tract The Myth of Sisyphus (1942), philosophical discourse â€Å"was previously a question of finding out whether or not life had to have a meaning to be lived. It now becomes clear on the contrary that it will be lived all the better if it has no meaning. Living an experience, a particular fate, is accepting it fully.† Camus then goes on to declare that â€Å"one of the only coherent philosophical positions is thus revolt. It is constant confrontation between man and his own obscurity.† Even though the Myth of Sisyphus is a classic of French Existentialist philosophy and a central text for understanding Camus, The Fall (which, after all, appeared in 1956) should not merely be taken as a fictional re-working of The Myth of Sisyphus. Clamence does revolt against his life as a Paris lawyer; however, he retreats from society and tries to find specific â€Å"meanings† in his actions in a manner that Camus might not have endorsed. Camus’s Background in Drama: According to literary critic Christine Margerrison, Clamence is a â€Å"self-proclaimed actor† and The Fall itself is Camus’s â€Å"greatest dramatic monologue.† At several points in his career, Camus worked simultaneously as a playwright and a novelist. (His plays Caligula and The Misunderstanding appeared in the mid 1940s- the same period that saw the publication of Camus’s novels The Stranger and The Plague. And in the 1950s, Camus both wrote The Fall and worked on theater adaptations of novels by Dostoevsky and William Faulkner.) However, Camus was not the only mid-century author who applied his talents to both theater and the novel. Camus’s Existentialist colleague Jean-Paul Sartre, for instance, is famous for his novel Nausea and for his plays The Flies and No Exit. Another of the greats of 20th century experimental literature- Irish author Samuel Beckett- created novels that read a little like â€Å"dramat ic monologues† (Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable) as well as oddly-structured, character-driven plays (Waiting for Godot, Krapp’s Last Tape). Amsterdam, Travel, and Exile: Although Amsterdam is one of Europe’s centers of art and culture, the city takes on a rather sinister character in The Fall. Camus scholar David R. Ellison has found several references to disturbing episodes in Amsterdam’s history: first, The Fall reminds us that â€Å"the commerce linking Holland to the Indies included trade not just in spices, foodstuffs, and aromatic wood, but also in slaves; and second, the novel takes place after â€Å"the years of World War II in which the Jewish population of the city (and of the Netherlands as a whole) was subject to persecution, deportation, and ultimate death in Nazi prison camps.† Amsterdam has a dark history, and exile to Amsterdam allows Clamence to face his own unpleasant past. Camus declared in his essay â€Å"The Love of Life† that â€Å"what gives value to travel is fear. It breaks down a kind of inner dà ©cor in us. We can’t cheat any more- hide ourselves away behin d the hours in the office or at the plant.† By going into living abroad and breaking his earlier, soothing routines, Clamence is forced to contemplate his deeds and face his fears. Key Topics Violence and Imagination: Although there is not much open conflict or violent action directly displayed in The Fall, Clamence’s memories, imaginings, and turns of imagery add violence and viciousness to the novel. After an unpleasant scene during a traffic jam, for instance, Clamence imagines pursuing a rude motorcyclist, â€Å"overtaking him, jamming his machine against the curb, taking him aside, and giving him the licking he had fully deserved. With a few variations, I ran off this little film a hundred times in my imagination. But it was too late, and for several days I chewed a bitter resentment† (54). Violent and disturbing fantasies help Clamence to communicate his dissatisfaction with the life he leads. Late in the novel, he compares his feelings of hopeless and perpetual guilt to a special kind of torture: â€Å"I had to submit and admit my guilt. I had to live in the little-ease. To be sure, you are not familiar with that dungeon cell that was called the litt le-ease in the Middle Ages. In general, one was forgotten there for life. That cell was distinguished from others by ingenious dimensions. It was not high enough to stand up in nor yet wide enough to lie down in. One had to take an awkward manner and live on the diagonal† (109). Clamence’s Approach to Religion: Clamence does not define himself as a religious man. However, references to God and Christianity play a major part in Clamence’s manner of speaking- and help Clamence to explain his changes in attitude and outlook. During his years of virtue and altruism, Clamence took Christian kindliness to grotesque proportions: â€Å"A very Christian friend of mine admitted that one’s initial feeling on seeing a beggar approach one’s house is unpleasant. Well, with me it was worse: I used to exult† (21). Eventually, Clamence finds yet another use for religion that is admittedly awkward and inappropriate. During his fall, the lawyer made references â€Å"to God in my speeches before the court†- a tactic that â€Å"awakened mistrust in my clients† (107). But Clamence also uses the Bible to explain his insights about human guilt and suffering. For him, Sin is part of the human condition, and even Christ on the cross is a figure of guilt: â€Å"He knew he was not altogether innocent. If he did not bear the weight of the crime he was accused of, he had committed others- even though he didn’t know which ones† (112). Clamence’s Unreliability: At several points in The Fall, Clamence acknowledges that his words, actions, and apparent identity are of questionable validity. Camus’s narrator is very good at playing different, even dishonest roles. Describing his experiences with women, Clamence notes that â€Å"I played the game. I knew they didn’t like one to reveal one’s purpose too quickly. First, there had to be conversation, fond attentions, as they say. I wasn’t worried about speeches, being a lawyer, nor about glances, having been an amateur actor during my military service. I often changed parts, but it was always the same play† (60). And later in the novel, he asks a series of rhetorical questions- â€Å"Don’t lies eventually lead to the truth? And don’t all my stories, true or false, tend toward the same conclusion?†- before concluding that â€Å"authors of confessions write especially to avoid confessing, to tell nothing of wha t they know† (119-120). It would be wrong to assume that Clamence has given his listener nothing but lies and fabrications. Yet it is possible that he is freely mixing lies and truth to create a convincing â€Å"act†- that he strategically using a persona to obscure particular facts and feelings. A Few Discussion Questions Do you think that Camus and Clamence have similar political, philosophical, and religious beliefs? Are there any major differences- and if so, why do you think Camus decided to create a character whose views are so at odds with his own?In some important passages in The Fall, Clamence introduces violent images and intentionally shocking opinions. Why do you think Clamence is dwelling on such disconcerting topics? How is his willingness to make his listener uneasy tied to his role as a â€Å"judge-penitent?†Exactly how reliable is Clamence, in your opinion? Does he ever seem to exaggerate, to obscure the truth, or to introduce obvious falsehoods? Find a few passages where Clamence seems especially elusive or unreliable, and keep in mind that Clamence may become significantly more (or significantly less) reliable from passage to passage.Re-imagine The Fall told from a different perspective. Would Camus’s novel be more effective as a first-person account by Clamence, withou t a listener? As a straightforward, third-person description of Clamence’s life? Or is The Fall supremely effective in its present form? Note on Citations: All page numbers refer to Justin OBriens translation of The Fall (Vintage International, 1991).

How to Say And in Mandarin

How to Say And in Mandarin Some English words have several possible Mandarin Chinese translations. Knowing when to use the correct word is one of the main challenges for both beginner-level Mandarin students and professional translators alike. For example, the English word for can has at least three possible Mandarin translations: èÆ' ½ (nà ©ng), Ã¥  ¯Ã¤ » ¥ (kÄ› yÇ ), and ä ¼Å¡ (huà ¬). Another English word with multiple translations is â€Å"and.† You may think that there can be no possible variations for and, but there are many different meanings for this word. It depends on the subtle nuances of the speaker or writers meaning or the context in which this conjunction is used. Joining Nouns In sentences that combine nouns or noun phrases, there are three ways to say and. All three of these connectors are interchangeable and commonly used. They are: Hà ©Ã¢    : å’Å'Hn⠁   : å’Å'GÄ“n⠁   : è ·Å¸ Note that hà © and hn use the same character. The hn pronunciation is most commonly heard in Taiwan. The example sentences are given first in English, followed by a transliteration in Chinese called  pinyin,  a Romanization system used to help beginners learn Mandarin. Pinyan  transcribes the sounds of Mandarin using the Roman  alphabet. Pinyin is most commonly used in Mainland China for teaching school children to read and it is also widely used in teaching materials designed for Westerners who wish to learn Mandarin.  The sentences are then listed in Chinese characters in traditional and simplified forms where appropriate. He and I are colleagues.WÇ’ hn tÄ  shà ¬ tà ³ngshà ¬.我å’Å'ä »â€"æ˜ ¯Ã¥ Å'ä ºâ€¹ Both pineapple and mango are good to eat.Fà ¨nglà ­ hà © mngguÇ’ dÃ… u hÄ›n hÇŽo chÄ «.(traditional form) é ³ ³Ã¦ ¢ ¨Ã¥â€™Å'芒æžÅ"éÆ' ½Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¥ Æ'(simplified form) å‡ ¤Ã¦ ¢ ¨Ã¥â€™Å'芒æžÅ"éÆ' ½Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¥ Æ' She and mom went for a walk.TÄ  gÄ“n mÄ ma qà ¹ gung jiÄ“.Ã¥ ¥ ¹Ã¨ ·Å¸Ã¥ ª ½Ã¥ ª ½Ã¥Å½ »Ã©â‚¬â€ºÃ¨ ¡â€"Ã¥ ¥ ¹Ã¨ ·Å¸Ã¥ ¦Ë†Ã¥ ¦Ë†Ã¥Å½ »Ã©â‚¬â€ºÃ¨ ¡â€" This pair of shoes and that pair of shoes are the same price.Zhà ¨ shuÄ ng xià © gÄ“n n shuÄ ng xià © jiqian yà ­yng.這雙鞋è ·Å¸Ã©â€š £Ã©â€ºâ„¢Ã©Å¾â€¹Ã¥Æ' ¹Ã©Å' ¢Ã¤ ¸â‚¬Ã¦ ¨ £Ã¨ ¿â„¢Ã¥ Å'éž‹è ·Å¸Ã©â€š £Ã¥ Å'éž‹ä » ·Ã©â€™ ±Ã¤ ¸â‚¬Ã¦   · Joining Verbs The Mandarin Chinese character ä ¹Å¸ (yÄ›) is used to join verbs or verb phrases. It translates as either â€Å"and† or â€Å"also.† I like to watch movies and listen to music.WÇ’ xÇ huan kn dinyÇ ng yÄ› xÇ huan tÄ «ng yÄ «nyuà ¨.我åâ€"Å"æ ­ ¡Ã§Å"‹é› »Ã¥ ½ ±Ã¤ ¹Å¸Ã¥â€"Å"æ ­ ¡Ã¨  ½Ã©Å¸ ³Ã¦ ¨â€šÃ¦Ë†â€˜Ã¥â€"Å"æ ¬ ¢Ã§Å"‹ç” µÃ¥ ½ ±Ã¤ ¹Å¸Ã¥â€"Å"æ ¬ ¢Ã¥  ¬Ã©Å¸ ³Ã¤ ¹  He doesn’t like to go for walks and he doesn’t like to exercise.TÄ  bà ¹ xÇ huan gung jiÄ“ yÄ› bà ¹ xÇ huan yà ¹ndà ²ng.ä »â€"ä ¸ Ã¥â€"Å"æ ­ ¡Ã©â‚¬â€ºÃ¨ ¡â€"ä ¹Å¸Ã¤ ¸ Ã¥â€"Å"æ ­ ¡Ã© â€¹Ã¥â€¹â€¢Ã¤ »â€"ä ¸ Ã¥â€"Å"æ ¬ ¢Ã©â‚¬â€ºÃ¨ ¡â€"ä ¹Å¸Ã¤ ¸ Ã¥â€"Å"æ ¬ ¢Ã¨ ¿ Ã¥Å  ¨ Other Transition Words There are a few Mandarin Chinese words that can be translated as â€Å"and,† but which more accurately mean â€Å"furthermore, â€Å"moreover,† or other such transition words. These words are sometimes used to show a cause-and-effect relationship between the two phrases. Chinese transition words include: Ér qiÄ› - è€Å'ä ¸â€: additionally  Bà ¬ng qiÄ› - ä ¸ ¦Ã¤ ¸â€ (traditional) / Ã¥ ¹ ¶Ã¤ ¸â€ (simplified): and; moreoverRn hà ²u - ç„ ¶Ã¥ ¾Å' / ç„ ¶Ã¥ Å½: and thenYÇ  hà ²u - ä » ¥Ã¥ ¾Å' / ä » ¥Ã¥ Å½: and afterHi yÇ’u -  Ã©â€šâ€žÃ¦Å"‰ / è ¿ËœÃ¦Å"‰: even more; on top of thatCÇ  wi -  Ã¦ ­ ¤Ã¥ ¤â€": furthermore Ér qiÄ› è€Å'ä ¸â€ additionally Bà ¬ng qiÄ› ä ¸ ¦Ã¤ ¸â€ (traditional)Ã¥ ¹ ¶Ã¤ ¸â€ (simplified) andmoreover Rn hà ²u ç„ ¶Ã¥ ¾Å'ç„ ¶Ã¥ Å½ and then YÇ  hà ²u ä » ¥Ã¥ ¾Å'ä » ¥Ã¥ Å½ and after Hi yÇ’u é‚„æÅ"‰è ¿ËœÃ¦Å"‰ even moreon top of that CÇ  wi æ ­ ¤Ã¥ ¤â€" furthermore Sentence Examples of Transition Words As noted, the particular form of and that you use in Mandarin Chinese depends heavily on the context and meaning of the word. It can be helpful, therefore, to peruse some example sentences to see how the different forms of and are used in various contexts. This is a very good movie and (moreover) the music is very nice.Zhà ¨ bà ¹ dinyÇ ng hÄ›nhÇŽokn à ©rqiÄ› yÄ «nyuà ¨ hÄ›nhÇŽo tÄ «ng.這éÆ' ¨Ã©â€º »Ã¥ ½ ±Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã§Å"‹è€Å'ä ¸â€Ã©Å¸ ³Ã¦ ¨â€šÃ¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¨  ½Ã¨ ¿â„¢Ã©Æ' ¨Ã§â€ µÃ¥ ½ ±Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã§Å"‹è€Å'ä ¸â€Ã©Å¸ ³Ã¤ ¹ Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¥  ¬ This knapsack is very practical and (furthermore) the price is reasonable.Zhà ¨gà ¨ fngshuÇ  bÄ“ibÄ o hÄ›n shà ­yà ²ng bà ¬ngqiÄ› jigà © hà ©lÇ .這個é˜ ²Ã¦ ° ´Ã¨Æ'Å'Ã¥Å'…å ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¯ ¦Ã§â€ ¨Ã¤ ¸ ¦Ã¤ ¸â€Ã¥Æ' ¹Ã¦   ¼Ã¥ Ë†Ã§ â€ Ã¨ ¿â„¢Ã¤ ¸ ªÃ©Ëœ ²Ã¦ ° ´Ã¨Æ'Å'Ã¥Å'…å ¾Ë†Ã¥ ®Å¾Ã§â€ ¨Ã¥ ¹ ¶Ã¤ ¸â€Ã¤ » ·Ã¦   ¼Ã¥ Ë†Ã§ â€  We can first go have dinner and then see a movie.WÇ’men xiÄ n qà ¹ chÄ « wÇŽncÄ n rnhà ²u zi qà ¹ kn dinyÇ ng.我們先åŽ »Ã¥ Æ'晚é ¤ Ã§â€ž ¶Ã¥ ¾Å'å† Ã¥Å½ »Ã§Å"‹é› »Ã¥ ½ ±Ã¦Ë†â€˜Ã¤ » ¬Ã¥â€¦Ë†Ã¥Å½ »Ã¥ Æ'晚é ¤ Ã§â€ž ¶Ã¥ Å½Ã¥â€  Ã¥Å½ »Ã§Å"‹ç” µÃ¥ ½ ± Eat dinner, and then you can eat dessert.ChÄ « wn wÇŽncÄ n yÇ hà ²u jià ¹ nà ©ng chÄ « tin diÇŽn.Ã¥ Æ'Ã¥ ®Å'晚é ¤ Ã¤ » ¥Ã¥ ¾Å'Ã¥ ° ±Ã¨Æ' ½Ã¥ Æ'ç”Å"é »Å¾Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ¥ Æ'Ã¥ ®Å'晚é ¤ Ã¤ » ¥Ã¥ Å½Ã¥ ° ±Ã¨Æ' ½Ã¥ Æ'ç”Å"ç‚ ¹Ã£â‚¬â€š Im cold because I didnt wear enough clothes, and on top of that its snowing now.WÇ’ lÄ›ng yÄ «nwà ¨i wÇ’ chuÄ n bà ¹gà ²u yÄ «fà º, hi yÇ’u xinzi xi xuÄ›le.我å† ·Ã¥â€º  Ã§â€š ºÃ¦Ë†â€˜Ã§ © ¿Ã¤ ¸ Ã¥ ¤  Ã¨ ¡ £Ã¦Å" Ã©â€šâ€žÃ¦Å"‰ç  ¾Ã¥Å" ¨Ã¤ ¸â€¹Ã©â€º ªÃ¤ ºâ€ Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ¦Ë†â€˜Ã¥â€  ·Ã¥â€º  Ã¤ ¸ ºÃ¦Ë†â€˜Ã§ © ¿Ã¤ ¸ Ã¥ ¤Å¸Ã¨ ¡ £Ã¦Å" Ã¨ ¿ËœÃ¦Å"‰çŽ °Ã¥Å" ¨Ã¤ ¸â€¹Ã©â€º ªÃ¤ ºâ€ Ã£â‚¬â€š Lets quickly go see the cherry blossoms. The weather is nice today, furthermore it will rain tomorrow.WÇ’men kui qà ¹ kn yÄ «nghuÄ . TiÄ nqà ¬ hÄ›n hÇŽo, cÇ wi mà ­ngtiÄ n huà ¬ xi yÇ”.我們å ¿ «Ã¥Å½ »Ã§Å"‹æ « »Ã¨Å  ±Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ¥ ¤ ©Ã¦ ° £Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¦ ­ ¤Ã¥ ¤â€"明å ¤ ©Ã¦Å"Æ'ä ¸â€¹Ã©â€º ¨Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ¦Ë†â€˜Ã¤ » ¬Ã¥ ¿ «Ã¥Å½ »Ã§Å"‹æ ¨ ±Ã¨Å  ±Ã£â‚¬â€š Ã¥ ¤ ©Ã¦ °â€Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã¦ ­ ¤Ã¥ ¤â€"明å ¤ ©Ã¤ ¼Å¡Ã¤ ¸â€¹Ã©â€º ¨Ã£â‚¬â€š