Hard Times Essays - Literature, Hard Times, British Literature

Hard Times Essays - Literature, Hard Times, British Literature Hard Times In Charles Dickens' novel Hard Times a conflict between Tom and his father Mr. Gradgrind is caused by childhood devoid of fancy. Tom rebels from such a past by gambling, drinking and other unsavory habits. This father/son conflict enhances the meaning of the work by showing how an improper upbringing can lead to failure in adult life. Mr. Gradgrind's whole philosophy on life was that life itself should be composed entirely of facts and nothing else. He believed the only way to make a successful man was to strip away the very essence of his childhood, fun and fancy. Gradgrind forced his beliefs upon his children Louisa and Tom and while Louisa simply became incapable of love, Tom vowed for vengeance against his father's dogma. Tom plans to enjoy life and wreak havoc at the same time when he moves out of their house the Stone Lodge. He finances his expenses through Bounderby whom he manipulates by incorporating his needs to seem in his sister's favor. Tom also uses his sister's great love for him by preparing her to marry Bounderby as this will help in increasing his financial means. Tom lies to Stephen Blackpool telling him to loiter around the bank for a job opportunity when in fact he is preparing to frame Stephen for a robbery he commits. Tom does not go unpunished for his evil deeds for his planting the seeds of dishonesty he reaps the harvest of guilt and isolation. When the villagers bring Blackpool out of Old Hell Shaft he clears himself of the robbery by naming Tom as the man who told him to reside outside of the bank. Tom attempts to escape from the country and after a brief encounter with the interfering Bitzer he manages to leave and never return. Tom finishes the rest of his life as solitary depressed man his last words pleading for forgiveness. In Hard Times Dickens' portrayal of the conflict between Gradgrind and his son contributes to the message against the Utilitarian school of thought. Since the child never learned the fancies of society the man abused them to the point of self-destruction. Tom's life was led down the path to tragedy by his father's strict interpretation of the All-Fact No-Fancy way of "life".

The Difference Between the Words Aural and Oral

The Difference Between the Words 'Aural' and 'Oral' The words aural and oral are often confused, most likely because theyre nearly homophones (that is, words that sound the same). While the two words are related, theyre not interchangeable and in fact are in contrast with one another. Heres what you should know before using these words in your writing or speech. Definitions The adjective aural refers to sounds perceived by the ear. For instance, a musicians aural skills might refer to their ability to identify melodies and intervals by hearing them, rather than seeing them written out in sheet music. The adjective oral relates to the mouth: spoken rather than written. In everyday life, its often used in the context of dentistry (i.e. an oral exam checks for cavities, gum disease, etc.). It can also be used to describe something spoken, often in contrast with writing. For instance, a foreign language class might have a two-part exam: a written exam as well as an oral exam that requires speaking the language aloud. Origins Aural derives from the Latin word auris, which means ear. Oral dervies from the Latin oralis, which in turn derived from the Latin os, meaning mouth. Pronunciations In common speech, aural and oral are often pronounced similarly, which can contribute to the confusion between the two words. However, the vowel sounds at the beginning of each word are technically pronounced differently, and one can consciously emphasize those differences if confusion seems likely. The first syllable of oral is pronounced as it looks: like the conjunction or, as in this or that. The first syllable of aural, with the au- diphthong, sounds more similar to the ah or aw sound, like in audio or automobile. Examples: Harlems brand of ragtime was not made to accompany dancing or seduction; its only aim was aural delight. . . . The music flourished where it could feed, and feed off of, high spirits.(David A. Jasen and Gene Jones, Black Bottom Stomp. Routledge, 2002)Poetry remembers that it was an oral art before it was a written art.(Jorge Luis Borges) Usage Note: For many speakers of English, these words sound the same. But for all, their meanings are distinct. Aural refers to the ear or to hearing: aural disease, a memory that was predominantly aural. Oral refers to the mouth or to speaking: an oral vaccine, an oral report.In certain contexts, the difference can be more subtle than might be expected. An oral tradition is one that is conveyed primarily by speech (as opposed to writing, for example), whereas an aural tradition is one that is conveyed primarily by sounds (as opposed to images, for instance). (The American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style. Houghton Mifflin, 2005) Answers to Practice Exercises: Aural and Oral (a) Tall tales and legends have filtered down to us through oral traditions and early written records.(b) Her music is the aural equivalent of a deep breath of country air. Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words