Scops: A Living History :: English Literature Dictionary Essays

Scops: A Living History A scop is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "an Old English poet or minstrel." However, scops were simply so much more than that to the medieval world. They were the only means of entertainment for the people of the time. There was no television or Internet to escape to, and books were not readily available. Most medieval people in the eighth through twelfth centuries could not read or write,so the scops would tell amusing stories or tales of heroic deeds to the music of their harps. The stories would be chanted, giving great honor to those mentioned in the oral recitations, and the scop's song also provided a memory of the culture for those who would come after. According to Kemp Malone, â€Å"At an early date Germanic kings began to keep professional poets.† (p.75) These scops would travel the kingdom, telling their stories and singing their songs. They would have a harp or later a lute; these were the tools of their trade. Creating worlds and places many Anglo- Saxons never saw because few people ever left the place they were born, scops were important fixtures to the medieval world. The scops opened up the outside world to medieval people and engaged the imagination too. In Beowulf, scops are mentioned in recounting Beowulf’s deeds and amusing the men in the mead- halls. Like courtly fools, they would make their audience laugh. However, unlike the fools or court jesters, a scop was not there merely to entertain. They were a living history of the times and places of the past and present. Their ability to memorize many lines of poetry or stories has kept them alive throughout the ages so that we still have them today. The stories were sometimes embellished and altered to be more interesting to the listeners. For example, in Beowulf, there is the story of our hero fighting sea monsters as he swims across an ocean and spending seven days and night in the cold sea. â€Å"The Wanderer† is a tale that mostly likely would have been recited by a scop. The stories that the scops would tell often were elegies for the heroic dead.

Coming of Age Rituals

Itercresco Make-up. High heels. Driving. Shaving. Dating. These are most of the undertakings that accompany maturing and becoming a young adult in the western society. For some in the western culture, the coming of age ritual is the allowance of these freedoms. In other cases and cultures, the coming of age ritual is often based on deeply rooted traditions and a heightened sense of grandeur. Whatever they may be, coming of age rituals are integral to our society, to our inner growth, and to our development as people. In this generation, â€Å"young people however, do not suddenly feel adult upon reaching the landmark legal ages.Instead, they view these ages as representing starting points for adulthood rather than as things that immediately render them adult,† (Waters 171). The coming of age rituals avail in establishing a heightened sense of responsibility to young adults, which in turn benefits our society; these rituals cause a person to feel seasoned and as if they are tru ly coming into their own. At this point in their lives, young adults are akin to baby sea turtles that have almost made it to the ocean; they are crawling to the ritual that will â€Å"make† them an adult.Itercresco not only enables adolescents to discover their roots in the context of cultural traits, religious spirituality, and relevant philanthropy, which will assist them in becoming productive members of society. With attention to common perceptions of â€Å"adulthood†, Itercresco interlaces practices such as volunteerism and going to an art museum to encourage the youth to be emotionally, spiritually, physically, and financially independent. â€Å"Itercresco†Ã¢â‚¬â€ the name is a combination of the Latin translations of the words â€Å"growing† and â€Å"journey†.The ritual, which occurs at the age of sixteen, involves seven months living in the country and town from which either the teenager’s mother’s or father’s family originates; the young adults have the option to choose the region they wish to further explore. If there is still family living in the town or city, the teenager may spend one out of the seven months with the relatives if they allow them to. If the young adult no longer has family in that vicinity, they will live on their own and off of the land as much as possible for the duration of the seven months.The adolescents are sent away with seven thousand dollars and half of these funds must be used for philanthropic purposes. The rest of the money must endure the seven months, but they are allowed to find work. In fact, acquisition of employment is highly encouraged, as it will further fuel attention to a responsible persona. The funds for the philanthropic aspect cannot simply be donated; it must be actively used to benefit the town or city. In this day and age, preparation of the nation’s youth for the fast-paced society they are subjected to is integral.Itercresco seeks to re ady adolescents for the â€Å"real world† by exposing them to society in a mature light and fashion. This generation requires a well-rounded persona in order to be successful. Being cultured is imperative in our community; knowledge of classic literature, film, art, and music seems to be the necessity in the modern time. For example, trips to the Louvre in Paris and Gershwin Theatre in New York City can drastically provide new outlooks on life as well as knowledge not previously present.Self-discovery and understanding on a religious level is also an integral aspect to being a productive member of society; apprehension of one’s inner self and a sense of self-awareness serve as foundations for being self sufficient and independent. Spending time immersed in learning about the spiritual aspects of different religions and examining one’s own views on spirituality and religion can provide immeasurable wisdom and erudition. A simple trip to a mosque or synagogue can shed light on a myriad of beliefs and ideals that may shape one’s future outlook on life.Giving back to the community and having a sense of responsibility for one’s environment is also an important aspect of being a contributing party to one’s community. Anything from assisting with building homes for citizens displaced by natural disasters to singing for the elderly can spawn a sense of obligation to one’s commonality and environment. Itercresco and its various parts successfully establish activities in lieu of producing and spawning successful and contributing members of society that can maintain stable employment and admirable relationships, for example.The coming of age ritual ensures that a sense of independence and stability will be met at the end of the journey because it requires tasks that build and cultivate accountability. At first glance, the young adults find the discovery of the cultural traits is most jocular in Itercresco. The new understa nding of the clothing, music, and fine arts of their region of origin proves to be a refreshing aspect of the coming of age ritual. At least one concert must be attended as well as one dance performance, art show or exhibit, or heatrical performance. The young adult may or may not choose to adapt to clothing styles, but while attending shows or performances, he or she must wear garb similar or identical to the citizens of the province. In further examination of the cultural aspects of the region, the purpose of Itercresco seeks to educate and entertain young adults with their own roots and origins. Itercresco solicits a sense of feeling connected to one’s heritage while ensuring the teenager is having a convivial experience.The exploration of the culture will help the adolescent to become more well-rounded and refined, which will in turn better prepare them to participate and converse effectively in society. Self identification and spiritual discovery are the most important s tandpoints of Itercresco; they give the young adult an opportunity to find out who they are as a person, what they seek for their lives, and what they will rely on as their rock and stronghold. Itercresco encourages young adults to learn about the regional religion in order to expand knowledge of their own roots and even perhaps to positively influence the spiritual journey.By no means is the young adult to have the regional religion forced upon them; the young adult is encouraged to take all religious leanings with a grain of salt and discover for him or herself what they need spiritually. To better understand the region’s roots, young adults learn and understand the common creation story the majority of the citizens believe. They can choose to unearth and learn about the creation story by asking family, neighbors, citizens, or by researching through books and other writings.The young adults are also expected to explore the ethereal quests of their ancestors to better unders tand where they come from. They are also encouraged to journal their progress through their metaphysical ventures throughout the seven month duration. The purpose of this portion of Itercresco is to establish independence. Thinking and feeling for oneself, as well as having control and knowledge over one’s emotions and religious or spiritual beliefs, is a significant step towards adulthood and establishing one’s aptitude.This autonomy is crucial to being an adult in our post-modern society. In a hypothetical sense, if a family tragedy of some sort occurred, a faculty over one’s emotions and actions is expected. Hence, why personal understanding is promoted during Itercresco. The philanthropy aspect of Itercresco is the most personal of the discovery aspects. It takes the young adults heart and projects in into something that will benefit the community from which they inherit their culture.The young adults will choose something that is not only close to their hea rts, but something that can truly benefit the community. The mission is to give back to the region that took part in establishing their existence. During the philanthropy, if funds or resources fall short, they are responsible for recovering what they need to complete the philanthropy; they can take donations or use any earnings from jobs they have done. The philanthropy can span from anything—from donating school supplies to building a garden to sustainably grow food. The possibilities are endless.The young adults choose a task that will touch their own lives as well as the lives of others in the community. The adolescent is not only performing the philanthropy to finish with the particular area of Itercresco. Every commonality has needs and Itercresco’s foundation bases and prides itself on connection to heritage; who better than to aid in fulfilling the needs of a populace than an individual whom derives their roots from said territory? After the philanthropy is com pleted, a book of photos and journals is compiled to aid future generations in their philanthropy.The community outreach is integral to Itercresco, as it will determine the compassion and service they are willing to give back to the community; this is critical as this is what stands to be the backbone of society. Fulfilling the different areas of Itercresco combine to be beneficial to one’s maturity as well as their inherent growth as a person. Discovering and spending time immersed in one’s roots helps a person better understand one’s heritage; knowing oneself guides who a person toward individualized identity.Young adults are meant to glean experience, knowledge, and a new sense of independence from Itercresco. Julia Alvarez soundly states in her work, Once Upon a Quinceanera, that her own ritual gave her â€Å"a new community to belong to, a narrative I could follow into adulthood† (37). This quote proves accurate for Itercresco as the ritual gives a n ew sense of established belonging to a community the young adult already had ties to. Itercresco is in pursuit of reintegrating the teenager into their society with a cultivated and sophisticated outlook on society, their lives, and their environments.The highlighted sense of responsibility, independence, and feeling of belonging of Itercresco provides immeasurable benefits and internal growth for the teenager moving into adulthood. Works Cited Barrios, Barclay. â€Å"Once Upon a Quinceanera. † Emerging: Contemporary Readings for Writers. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 228-48. Print. Waters, Mary C. Coming of Age in America: The Transition to Adulthood in the Twenty-first Century. Berkeley: University of California, 2011. Print.

Compare and contrast teaching and medical doctor proffesion Essay

A profession is something a little more than a job, it is a career for someone that wants to be part of society, who becomes competent in their chosen sector through training; maintains their skills through continuing professional development (CPD); and commits to behaving ethically, to protect the interests of the public.We all rely on professionals at many points of our lives – from dentists to teachers, from pension managers to careers advisers, from town planners to paramedics. We rely on professionals to be experts and to know what to do when we need them to. Back in the nineteenth century, the professions were defined as law, religion, and medicine. Nowadays, the number of professions is much wider and ever-increasing, as occupations become more specialised in nature and more ‘professionalised’ in terms of requiring certain standards of initial and ongoing education – so that anything from automotive technicians to web designers can be defined as prof essionals. Professions are equal even if they are different in terms of how they work, structure, functionality, and the process how to do the job. However, no profession is undermined. For instance, there are some similarities and differences between teaching and medical profession in terms of code of ethics. This are; the time frame to become a teacher and a doctor, ethical conducts towards whom they serve, the amount of dedication the profession requires, ethical conducts towards professional colleague are some examples that can be mentioned. First, the time frame to become a teacher and a doctor is different. Time frame is very important when considering whether you want to become a teacher as there are several different career paths to choose from. At a minimum, you’ll need to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree. You will need to also complete a one-to-two year master’s degree. Some schools prefer GPA to 3.0. when we look the time frame to become a doctor or a physician or a medical professional,it obtain an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. This can take anywhere from three to four years depending on course load taken each semester. Students interested in becoming a doctor should follow a pre-med track in undergrad where they focus on math, biology, and physics. Students that are eager to join the profession should target colleges that offer a six year medical track. These  types of programs and hard to get into and have a rigorous curriculum to follow.Consider going abroad if attending a U.S. six-year program is not an option. Schools around the globe attempt to attract students’ right out of high school to join their medical programs. Medical schools in countries like Poland, Hungary, England, and even as far away as India and China are options if your goal is to become a doctor in a short period of time. Second, ethical conduct towards whom they serve makes the two professions similar. We strongly affirm parents as the primary moral educators of their children. Nevertheless, we believe all educators are obligated to help foster civic virtues such as integrity, diligence, responsibility, cooperation, loyalty, fidelity, and respect-for the law, for human life, for others, and for self.The professional educator, in accepting his or her position of public trust, measures success not only by the progress of each student toward realization of his or her personal potential, but also as a citizen of the greater community of the republic, The professional educator also deals considerately and justly with each student, and seeks to resolve problems, including discipline, according to law and school policy, does not intentionally expose the student to disparagement, does not reveal confidential information concerning students, unless required by law, makes a constructive effort to protect the s tudent from conditions detrimental to learning, health, or safety, and endeavors to present facts without distortion, bias, or personal prejudice. As same, a physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of public health, uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities. Next, the amount of dedication the profession requires is the difference in between teaching and medical profession. A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights. If a physician see a person who is injured on the street he can’t pass the person and continue his way. This is because a physician has a responsibility to serve every person equally. Also, physicians have  life or death way of life, there profession may lead them till death. But, a teacher do not need to take a little boy who walks on the street to the school because it’s not his/her responsibility to take him school. The life of a teacher is in the school community. A great teacher should have the necessary command over the subject matter her or she teaches. This way he or she can be comfortable while explaining things. Teachers with a full understanding of subject matter are able to help students understand, by explaining conc epts thoroughly and being able to answer all questions accurately. By displaying competence and interest in a variety of areas, us as teachers set a positive example for our students, and encourage them to explore new areas of knowledge. Although knowledge and skills are important, a teacher who is enthusiastic, compassionate, and patient will create a positive environment in which students feel comfortable learning. Great teachers truly believe that each of their students can succeed, and are dedicated to the achievement of this success. At last, ethical conducts towards professional colleague is the last similarity that I listed before. The professional educator, in exemplifying ethical relations with colleagues, accords just and equitable treatment to all members of the profession is ; The professional educator does not reveal confidential information concerning colleagues unless required by law, does not willfully make false statements about a colleague or the school system, and does not interfere with a colleague’s freedom of choice, and works to eliminate coercion that forces educators to support actions and ideologies that violate individual professional integrity. Similarly, physicians should be aware of the limitations of their expertise and seek consultation or assistance in clinical situations where appropriate. Also they have a responsibility to develop, monitor and maintain their own physical and psychological well being and to recognize and disclose any impairment that would affect the care of the ir patients. Physicians should expect and promote in their colleagues intellectual honesty, moral integrity, clinical competence, and physical and psychological well-being consistent with their responsibilities. Physicians, individually and collectively, should identify colleagues whose ability to practice medicine becomes temporarily or permanently impaired. Physicians should assist such impaired colleagues to  obtain remedial help and modify or discontinue their practice, and assist with rehabilitation when appropriate, and should engage in collegial behavior and avoid any professional arrangements that exploit other physicians. In conclusion, even though there is some similarity and differences between the two professions, teaching and medical profession(Doctor or Physician) go Hand in Hand. To become a doctor a person should complete the requirement education level which is served by the teacher. At the same time, the doctor is a problem solver for the teachers life. Therefore, we can conclude that no profession is undermined even though they have some differences in terms of their code of ethics. Sources AMA (American Medical Association) – http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics/principles-medical-ethics.page Council of Medical Specialty Society – http://www.cmss.org/DefaultTwoColumn.aspx?id=79