Thesis Statement Essays - Ambrose Bierce, Fabulists, Chickamauga

Thesis Statement Ambrose Bierce's "Chickamauga" is representative of his typical subject matter, theme, and style. Outline I. Introduction II. Biographical Sketch A. Military experiences B. Effect of the loss of his wife and eldest son III. Bierce's subject matter IV. Bierce's themes A. Supernatural themes B. Military themes V. Bierce's style of writing VI. Bierce's subject matter in "Chickamauga" A. Civil War B. Supernatural VII. Bierce's theme in "Chickamauga" VIII. Bierce's style in "Chickamauga" A. Shifting points of view B. Adult and child perspectives IX. Conclusion Ambrose Bierce's "Chickamauga" is representative of his typical subject matter, theme, and style. His subject matter often deals with the Civil War and its horrors. Having served in several battles during the Civil War, Bierce strives to display, through his writings, the true devastation which comes as a result of wars. His theme, although sometimes macabre, emphasizes the reality of warfare. Again, Bierce is relying on his own war experiences in order to have his audience empathize with his characters. Ambrose Bierce's style of writing includes shifting of views from one character to another. With his own unique subject matter, theme, and style, Bierce develops stories which interest readers from generation to generation. Ambrose Bierce was born in 1842 (May 368). At the age of 19, Ambrose Bierce joined the 9th Indiana Volunteers, in 1861, for the United States of America (Appelbaum iii). He was in several of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War (Appelbaum iii). Bierce was at Chickamauga, where 34,000 men lost their lives (Appelbaum iii). During battles, he risked his own life several times to rescue his fallen comrades (Appelbaum iii). Once, at Kennesaw Mountain in northern Georgia, he himself was seriously wounded (Appelbaum iii). Bierce recovered, though, and he went on to write many stories dealing with the Civil War. The battles he participated in and the things he saw in those battles gave him inspiration for his stories (Hall 87). Ambrose Bierce used his experiences in the Civil War to understand and to convey to other people through his writing that war is not glorious--it is horrible. Even though Bierce wrote more supernatural stories, he is better known for his Civil War short stories (Hall 87). Of a total of ninety-three short stories, fifty-three were supernatural (Gullette). Bierce was able to write convincing stories with less than one thousand words (Gullette). Many of his writings are less than three thousand words (Gullette). Some of his short stories had a Civil War and a supernatural aspect to them. "Chickamauga" is an example of one of these stories. Sharan K. Hall described Ambrose Bierce's stories as having "an attraction for death in its more bizarre forms, featuring depictions of mental deterioration, uncanny manifestations, and expressing the horror of existence in a meaningless universe" (87). Many of Bierce's stories shock the reader, and the stories tell about a nightmarish reality (May 37 0). James K. Folsom described Ambrose Bierce's writing like this: Many people think Ambrose Bierce is obsessed with death; incapable of compassion. A less moralistic and biographical reevaluation of Bierce's work, however, reveals his intellectual fascination with the effect of the supernatural on the human imagination. (222) Alan Gullette suggested that maybe the reason Bierce is so dark and talks about such morbid things is because the separation from his wife and the suicide of his eldest son made him bitter. Gullette suggested that maybe this bitterness strengthened the effect of his pen and darkened his satire and morbid fiction to an extent perhaps no other author has achieved. In fact, Bierce earned the nickname of "Bitter Bierce" (Probst 466). Even though Bierce wrote short stories that dealt with supernatural themes, he is better known for his military themes (Folsom 225). The reason is that Bierce was once in the United States Army during the Civil War, and he was familiar with the armed forces (Folsom 225). In Bierce's military stories, the theme is an antiwar one (May 369). His writings center on warfare and the cruel joke it plays on humanity (Probst 466). Ambrose Bierce wants to destroy the view of many people that war is a place to gain glory. Bierce wants to replace this viewpoint with the images of people dying and what war is really like. War is horrible, and it is a place where people die. Ambrose Bierce uses point of view

The climax of the Millers Tale Essay Example

The climax of the Millers Tale Essay Example The climax of the Millers Tale Paper The climax of the Millers Tale Paper During the climax of the Millers Tale, Chaucer incorporates a kind of bowdy humor that makes the whole tale seem as though it is a comedy that just entertains the reader as a kind of prelude for the rest of the Tales in the Cabterbury Tales it self. The whole ending to the reader may just seem an elaborate ending to a tale that seems to stem from a kind of perverted mind at the times of Chaucer. The setting of the time is very important as it shows that the old days in which Chaucer lived in was not all the stereotypical ideas that many hold today and have been exploited by film makers as well. The ending and the tale show that the people of those times were not all that afraid of the kind of sexual ness that people are subjected our days. And the climax shows that a humorous society may have lived during the time and may have embraced the magnitude of the humor that Chaucer implies to the ending of the Tale The ending of the Tale is quite vivid. It figures Absalon, Nicholas and John as well as Alison. What befalls Nicholas is quite funny at first glance as a hot poker is shoved up his arse And he was redy with his iren hoot, And Nicholas amide the ers he smoot. By Absalon, due to the fact that Nicholas tried to trick him again with the same trick as before. This is funny but shows an element of surprise as Hende Nicholas is a scolar and a learned person but it prompts the question Why didnt he be original and tries another trick that may not have been so easily foreseen by Absalon. This shows that Chaucer may have just incorporated the idea that learned people at the time could also be fools and could have been bettered. Also the fact that John has already been bested and is made out to be an ignorant person he is also made out to be a crazy person who the whole town see as a fool. The folk gan laughen at his fantasie Now in those times we would expect different stories to be about the sacrifices if great honorable heroes for God, which was displayed in The Knights Tale. The fact that the two endings contrast as being opposite means the Chaucer has cleverly used the different concepts to shows what the people were really like in those days. As a difference to those in service to God the other people did enjoy a kind of sexual desire that most people experience these days. And the ending shows that a kind of humorous society lived that would accept some things that we might not have expected at the time. They would accept some kind of humor as long as it did step over the limit that most people expected at the time. This tale actually shows Chaucer as a kind of adventurous person who would like to show what qualities and talent he has, as he has done so in the Canterbury Tales. This shows that Chaucer as a person is not restrained by public opinion and especially makes this a reality with The Millers Tale. The ending in my opinion has a deeper meaning and shows that what we have stereo typed the old ages with is wrong and Chaucer has allowed us to see what reality was really like during his time. The fact that I mentioned earlier that applies to the position of the Tale in the book shows that Chaucer has contrasted a noble story with a kind of opposite with deceit and dishonorable actions and Chaucer has deliberately does this to show us that The Millers Tale was accepted then and is a kind of pub joke. The tale itself and the ending show that these ideals are true as the people then had found this amusing even though it was offending to some. The hot poker trick may have been included to show that no sin is not punished, as Chaucer may have been deeply religious at the times.

Prisoner's Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Prisoner's Rights - Essay Example (Cruel and Unusual Punishments). By taking away the rights of such activities from the inmates would be going against the law imposed under the First Amendment. When we consider the First Amendment, it clearly and legally provides the rights of freedom of speech to the citizens. Therefore, being a prisoner also comes under the category of State’s citizen. Being the part of the State, prisoners do hold the right of freedom of speech, to openly claim for their rights, because free and legal rights of humans cannot be abandoned. But, on the other hand, it is also correct that Court impose such restrictions on the prisoners to maintain the terms of security. So, taking away their rights comes under legitimate punishment too. Therefore, today Court is making sure to include such restrictions on inmates, which are considered correct by looking in all the aspects. The Civil Rights Act of 1871 also states that the prisoners are free to question their prison life on the basis of constitutionality. This act came into being to protect the rights of every individual on the basis of official legitimation. This act makes sure that the rights of the people are protected equally. Leburd’s suit does hold a complete legal effect under the dilemma of today’s prison life. Prisoners hold equal right to challenge the Court, if their rights are being prohibited to them. (Prisoners Rights ). Supreme Court expanded the individual’s rights in relation to the state as a whole. That is why Federal Courts role have become essential in protecting the rights of those people who are not powerful, for an example; politicians. Here comes the prisoner, who comes under such category of people who are poor, helpless and needs protection of the courts to safe them. This expansion of law by the Supreme Court has protected the freedom of speech, violence , bill of rights, civil rights and prison conditions and practices in the federal court. Due