Water for Elephants Book Club Discussion Questions

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is a must read a story about a 90-year-old man remembering his days with a circus during The Great Depression. Use these book club discussion questions on Water for Elephants to lead your book clubs conversation on the story.Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions reveal important details about Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Finish the book before reading on. Book Club Questions Water for Elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. How do the chapters about the older Jacob enrich the story about Jacob’s adventure with the circus? How would the novel be different if Gruen had only written about the younger Jacob, keeping the story linear and never describing Jacob’s life as an old man?Did the chapters about the nursing home change how you think about older people? In what ways are the doctors and nurses condescending? How is Rosemary different? How do you treat older people?In chapter two, the twenty-three-year-old Jacob starts his story by telling us he is a virgin. From the cooch tent to the erections the older Jacob gets when being bathed, sexuality is woven into the whole story. Why do you think Gruen added these details? What role does sexuality play in Water for Elephants?When you first read the Prologue, who did you think murdered the man? Were you surprised by who the actual murderer was ?The book begins with a quote from Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss: â€Å"I meant what I said, and I said what I meant†¦An elephant’s faithful—one hundred percent!† What is the role of faithfulness and loyalty in Water for Elephants? How do different characters define loyalty? (Jacob, Walter, Uncle Al).Why does Jacob get so mad about Mr. McGuinity lying about carrying water for elephants? Do you see any similarities of temperament between the young Jacob and the old Jacob?In what ways is Water for Elephants a survival story? A love story? An adventure?Water for Elephants has a happy ending for Jacob, but not for many other characters. Discuss Walter and Camel’s fates. How does tragedy fit into the story?There is an â€Å"us and them† mentality in the circus between performers and workers. How does Jacob bridge these two classes of people? Why does each group hate another group? Does the circus merely mirror society in an exaggerated way?Ar e you satisfied with the end?In the Author’s Note, Gruen writes that many of the details in the story are factual or come from circus workers’ anecdotes. These true stories include the hippo pickled in formaldehyde, the deceased fat lady being paraded through town and an elephant who repeatedly pulled out her stake and stole lemonade. Gruen did extensive research before writing Water for Elephants. Was her story believable?Rate Water for Elephants on a scale of 1 to 5.

Analysis Of The Poem Daystar And Enemy Of The People...

Mainstream refers to a general consensus in regards to normality. Society generally sees normal as good and abnormal as bad. Someone being called â€Å"normal† or â€Å"abnormal† establishes social prejudices such as exclusions. Daystar, Speed of Dark, Frankenstein, Enemy of the People and Proof are all literature pieces that share a common theme of the impact mainstream society has on individuals. The theme of society’s perception towards mothers, disabilities, physical appearances and mental stability is portrayed through individual characters that struggled to live in a mainstream society. Daystar by Rita Dove emphasizes gender roles and the expectations society has towards being a mother. Often believed that mothers should assume responsibility for cooking, cleaning, tending to their demanding children and husbands. The poem illustrates the challenges women endure to live up to society’s expectations to be a fit mother and wife. As seen through the main character mothers have to make sacrifices that often puts everyone else’s happiness before their own. For example, the women in the poem desired to have time to herself, but she couldn’t because of endless chores and children to care for. Not having time to herself making her feel lost and unfulfilled. The novel Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon illustrates living with a disability and overcoming society’s stereotypical views. People with disabilities are often labeled as abnormal. In the novel the main character, Lou endures theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem Daystar And Enemy Of The People And Proof Are All Literature Pieces986 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"abnormal† establishes social prejudices such as exclusions. Daystar, Speed of Dark, Frankenstein, Enemy of the People and Proof are all literature pieces that share a common theme of the impact mainstream society has on individuals. The theme of society’s perception towards mothers, disabilities, physical appearances and mental stability is portrayed through individual characters that struggled to live in a mainstream society. Daystar by Rita Dove emphasizes gender roles and the expectations society Analysis Of The Poem Daystar And Enemy Of The People... Mainstream refers to a general consensus in regards to normality. Society generally sees normal as good and abnormal as bad. Someone being called â€Å"normal† or â€Å"abnormal† establishes social prejudices such as exclusions. Daystar, Speed of Dark, Frankenstein, Enemy of the People and Proof are all literature pieces that share a common theme of the impact mainstream society has on individuals. The theme of society’s perception towards mothers, disabilities, physical appearances and mental stability is portrayed through individual characters that struggled to live in a mainstream society. Daystar by Rita Dove emphasizes gender roles and the expectations society has towards being a mother. It is often believed that mothers should assume responsibility for cooking, cleaning, tending to their demanding children and husbands. The poem illustrates the challenges women endure to live up to society’s expectations to be a fit mother and wife. As seen through the main character mothers have to make sacrifices that often puts everyone else’s happiness before their own. For example, the women in the poem desired to have time to herself but she couldn’t because she had endless chores and children to care for. Not having time to herself made her feel lost and unfulfilled. The novel Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon illustrates living with a disability and overcoming society’s stereotypical views. People with disabilities are often labeled as abnormal. In the novel the main character, LouShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem Daystar And Enemy Of The People And Proof Are All Literature Pieces Essay987 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"abnormal† establishes social prejudices such as exclusions. Daystar, Speed of Dark, Frankenstein, Enemy of the People and Proof are all literature pieces that share a common theme of the impact mainstream society has on individuals. The theme of society’s perception towards mothers, disabilities, physical appearances and mental stability is portrayed through individual characters that struggled to live in a mainstream society. Daystar by Rita Dove emphasizes gender roles and the expectations society

Social And Political Thought - 1722 Words

Sriya Siems Classics of Social and Political Thought Mr. Ellison SOSC 15100 Second Paper- #4 (Democracy) A Proposition To Abolish Democracy In the modern west, democracy is generally conceived as the â€Å"most free† regime. Democracy is uniquely characterized by majority rule. This gives its citizens the privilege to vote, overturn, and motion, with the purpose of best representing the desires of the population. Not only do societies strive for democracy to gain political freedom, but also personal freedom. Traditionally, we equate government intervention and regulation with harsh restrictions that devitalize our personal freedom, however, according to Socrates; regulation is necessary in order to experience â€Å"genuine freedom†. In the Republic, Socrates discusses his tripartite regime in which promotes optimal justice and happiness for its citizens. However, if we fully accept Socrates’ republic, this does not necessarily mean we have to reject democracy entirely. This idea will be furthered explored throughout the entirety of this essay. While Socrates describes democracy as the â€Å"fairestà ¢â‚¬  regime, he refutes this claim by exposing the disastrous effect lack of structure has in a democracy, producing only spurious pleasures and, therefore, failing to achieve Socrates’s justice, (demonstrated in his republic) which produces genuine pleasures that greatly benefit the individual and the city. Socrates uses a democratic society as a foundation to build his republic. Socrates says,Show MoreRelatedAfrican Social Political Thought1357 Words   |  6 PagesPHL 305: AFRICAN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT QUESTION: TAKE ONE AFRICAN SOCIO-POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER AND DISCUSS: A. HIS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY B. THE PROBLEM HE TRIED TO SOLVE C. THE EXTENT TO WHICH HE WAS SUCCESSFUL. African socialism was one of the earliest theories proffered by many African leaders at the outset of independence. Leaders such as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Obafemi Awolowo and Leopold Senghor all supported this concept but had different approaches toRead MoreTheoretical Perspectives On Political And Social Thought1859 Words   |  8 PagesOoychai Yuthiwattana 25844067 AZA2719 – Theoretical Perspectives in Political and Social Thought Assessment 1 – Individual Essay 27th May 2015 Capitalism tends to sow the seeds of its own destruction. Discuss. Introduction: Entering the 21st Century, these past few years we have begun to encounter and see the beginning of world economic crises. The financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the oil crisis of 2003-2008 are just the few of many examples that we have seen and been impacted by. These eventsRead MoreAfrican American Social And Political Thought Of Today1785 Words   |  8 PagesSayfur R Shuyeb FP7735 AFS 2210-001 African-American Social and Political Thought of Today I might not be a person like Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B Du Bois, Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, Bell Hooks, and Jesse Jackson, or I might not be a part of organizations like the NAACP, SCLC, Afro American Unity, and Black Panther Party, but if I ever get an opportunity to make a difference these people and organizations made to the lives of African-Americans, I would never hesitate to take it. Although, theseRead MoreThe United States Constitution: A Historical Representation of Political and Social Thought993 Words   |  4 Pagesform of social contract out of thin air. Instead, they drew from a long line of legal and social contracts and writings in order to develop a robust system of governance meant to protect the rights of the individual while maintaining a sufficiently strong federal government. Examining some of the most important documents and ideas that the framers drew on will serve to demonstrate how the United States Constitution represents the culmination of nearly five centuries worth of political and social thoughtRead More Modern Political Thoery and Liberalism Essay1040 Words   |  5 PagesModern Political Thoery and Liberalism The subject given for this paper was to â€Å"assess the alienation from liberalism found in modern and contemporary political theory.† To be honest, I don’t see a correlation with alienating liberalism and modern political thought through the time line of political theory in the 18th and19th century and through the 20th century. So, for this paper, I will prove the opposite. I will show, in my opinion, how the rise of liberalism has kept alive modern and contemporaryRead More Political Correctness Essay1735 Words   |  7 Pages Political Correctness Political correctness is a political ideology, nothing more. I believe political correctness is a political ideology and it cannot be correct unless it is linked to genuine transformation. First, I will examine the origins of political correctness to try to get a clear understanding of what this movement is. Second, I will show you that political correctness is political and how it became a political ideology. Lastly, I shall discuss why this ideology does not work. PoliticalRead MorePHL 215 Version 6 Moral Social And Political Philosophy Matrix And Essay Parts 1 2 2 2993 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿University of Phoenix Material Moral, Social, and Political Philosophy Matrix and Essay Part 1 Matrix: Analyze moral, social, and political philosophy by completing the following matrix. Provide a definition of the branch of philosophy as given in a philosophical source (the readings, supplemental materials, or outside academic sources) and list a minimum of three historical developments, theories, key contributors, and principal issues. Bullet point answers are acceptable. Read MoreThe Unification Of China And Han Dynasty873 Words   |  4 PagesHan. There were formed schools of thought called Confucians, Daoists, and Legalists. These school of thoughts worked to bring political and social stability to China during the rule of the late Zhou dynasty which were chaotic years. Legalist principles and imposed centralized imperial rule were adopted by rulers of the Qin and Han dynasties. Political stability was the foundation of economic prosperity for the Han dynasty. There was a search of political and social order, unification of China, andRead MoreEssay on How Does Facebook and Twitter Affect Social Interaction1257 Words   |  6 Pagesworld that is more interconnected than ever before. The invention of the internet, cellphones, and computers have almost made everyone and everything within the reach of our fingertips. With the evolution of communications technology, methods of political participation and civic engagement have also changed to adapt to this advance made by mankind. Before, our choice was limited to holding demonstrations, going out to the streets, and protesting in order for our voices to be heard. Consequently, weRead MoreThe Political Philosophy of Karl Raimund Popper1139 Words   |  5 Pagesauthoritarian political systems and their philosophical foundations. This critique popper claimed was a response to the fantastic and futuristic assertions of these systems, which were simply an admixture of subjectively reasoned and uncritical thought about politics. Popper considered authoritarian and totalitarian systems to be based upon one sided thought, which marred the objectivity of reason in thought in the critical spirit of classical liberalism and its tradition of plurality in social life, the

Democracy Of The Islamic States ( Iran Vs Turkey - 1813 Words

Democracy in the Islamic States (Iran Vs Turkey) Democracy is a predominant authority regime that most countries both young and mature have adopted based on its accrued benefits. Defining democracy can be a daunting task as several countries may prefer to institute governing policies rather than adopt from other states (Rowley Smith, 2009). The element of incorporating modified aspects of democracy is based on the difference in several factors that may range from religion, culture, to political ambition. Islamic states are considered complex as religion â€Å"sharia laws† play a prevailing role in the majority of the administration tasks conducted by the state. As such, Islamic countries defined by a democratic administration will prefer to integrate the alternative that will serve them best. This essay will evaluate two democratic regimes that were established in the Middle East, and further, discuss the factors that lead to Iran’s democratic failure over Turkey’s administration success. Assessing Compatibility between democracy and Islam is a topic that numerous and prominent individuals ranging from authors, religious leaders, political figures among other important personalities have significantly contributed towards. As purported by Ahmad (2011), most intellectuals, for instance, oriental scholars have over time represented Islamic governed states as static with minimum development. The culmination of the Iranian revolution in 1979 sparked an inquiry into the authoritarianShow MoreRelatedCommentary and Analysis of Samuel Huntington’s paper â€Å"The clash of civilizations1196 Words   |  5 PagesLately there has been a thought that the difference in Civilizations is another issue that may cause a conflict. Starting from World War I the arguments raised by nations were over an ideology: fascism vs. communism, communism vs. democracy. Some people believe that the next step would be a war based on a cultural sense and religion. Such war would unite people with similar beliefs, views on the world, language, tradition and history. They believe the conflict of the future will occur along the culturalRead MoreWhat Grounds Are There For Thinking That Nuclear Proliferation1677 Words   |  7 Pagessupporting/tolerating nuclear proliferation using the cases of Israel and Iran as examples, while arguing that theoretical grounds for proliferation do not outweigh the actual and potential risks of escalation to nuclear war, nuclear miscalculation or accident, or nuclear technology falling into the hands of increasingly sophisticated terrorist groups. Military Balancing as Justification for Proliferation The concept of military balancing between states is often employed to justify proliferation. Founder of theRead MoreFinal Study Guide for Livanis Intl 1101 Essay3736 Words   |  15 Pagesepidemics in China from unsterilized needles Demographic Change and Disease - Population mobility - Conditions that lead people to move are the same that favor the emergence of infections (poverty, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, state failure) - Refugees: sanitation, food, healthcare - 50,000 dead in a month (Rwanda, 1994) - Haiti: cholera from Nepal? (4,800 mortalities) - Long-term migration - Disease to non-immune populations, and transfer of new diseaseRead More Ideology of Fundamentalist Islam Explained Essay5434 Words   |  22 PagesIntroduction: This essay concerns itself with exploring the Islamic and political orientation of Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966), an Egyptian civil servant turned political and religious activist, inspired by fundamentalist Islam. To gain an understanding of what influenced and formulated Qutb’s ideas it has been necessary to provide some background information relating the history of modern day Egypt and the emergence of reformist and fundamentalist Islam, from the 19th century until Qutb’s time. TheRead MoreFixed Deposit Investment10502 Words   |  43 Pagesset outside the purview of outward FDI to retain governments control over the defense related industrial complex †¢ Subsidy scheme targeted at local businesses †¢ Lobby groups with vested interests possessing support from either inward FDI sector or state investment funding bodies †¢ Government policies, which lend support to the phenomenon of industry nationalization Foreign direct investment may be further classified by their set target. The areas here are Greenfield investment and Acquisitions andRead MoreAn Introduction to Intercultural Communication29172 Words   |  117 PagesCanada. A declaration issued by the town in January 2007, which was designed to inform immigrants, that the way of life which they abandoned when they left their countries of origin cannot be recreated here [i.e. Herouxville]. It then went on to state that the immigrant population would therefore have to refrain from their cultural norms and activities such as to kill women by stoning them in public, burning them alive, burning them with acid, circumcising them, etc. The declaration paints aRead MoreThe Cause of Globalization18688 Words   |  75 Pagesrole of political institutions ranging from trade unions to constitutional systems (Garrett Lange, 1995). I offer a brief analysis of these perspectives with respect to three prominent classes of variables: levels of development, the extent of democracy, and the balance of power between the left and right. The strongest result is that 946 COMPARATIVE POLITICAL STUDIES / August-September 2000 countries at higher levels of development are more likely to open their borders to the internationalRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 PagesInc., including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning. Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers outside the United States. This book is printed on recycled, acid-free paper containing 10% postconsumer waste. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 QDB/QDB 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN 978-0-07-811257-7 MHID 0-07-811257-5 Vice President Editor-in-Chief: Brent Gordon Vice President, EDP/CentralRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesD421.E77 2010 909.82—dc22 2009052961 The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992 Printed in the United States of America 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 C ONTENTS Introduction Michael Adas 1 1 World Migration in the Long Twentieth Century †¢ Jose C. Moya and Adam McKeown 9 †¢ 2 Twentieth-Century Urbanization: In Search of an Urban Paradigm for

Equal Opportunity for Financial Aid Free Essays

Most post secondary institutions consider themselves to be equal opportunity establishments, although their financial aid system does not always seem to agree. In leaving my native country for university I have personally gone through the difficulties of trying to get financial aid. If you are an international student your only hopes of obtaining any aid are based on your athletic ability or your SAT scores. We will write a custom essay sample on Equal Opportunity for Financial Aid or any similar topic only for you Order Now If we chose to come to America to get a university education, we should be treated as equals and allowed to apply for all the same financial aid that the American students do. It is every student-athletes dream to come to an American university. Athletes from around the world try to obtain athletic scholarships in hopes of getting the training and recognition to be able to go professional. Unfortunately not every athlete is able to obtain a full athletic scholarship, leaving the student to come up with the remainder. Not that we all deserve full scholarships, but in order to qualify for an I-20 student visa you must show proof of having 15,000 American dollars at your dispense. Once that amount is converted to Malaysian funds that amount is nearly $60,000, significantly more than ny American student needs proof of. The Malaysian government does not agree with giving of athletic scholarships, therefore they withhold any funding for student-athletes to leave to study in the United States. There is one source of financial aid for post secondary students from Malaysia, For students studying internationally, called the Malaysia Student Assistance Program. This is a near impossible student loan to obtain, it is available to students who’s parents either make enough money to send them anywhere they want to go, or for students who could ot afford to go to university in Malaysia, therefore needing the athletic scholarships only offered in the United States. Being from a middle class family I, like many other Malaysian student-athletes could not qualify for this loan because of my working class The other option for international students to obtain financial aid from the institution of education would be from their SAT scores. The United States is the only country in which this standardized test is mandatory. In Malaysia the cost of taking this test is $100 American, which converts to approximately $ 400 Malaysian, the cost of aking this test restricts most people from taking it numerous times as we are prompted to do. I could only afford to take the test once, therefore limiting my academic scholarship American students also have to opportunity to hold employment while in university. International students according to the I-20 student visa are unable to hold employment. We are not given social security numbers or citizenship status, although the majority of us will end up acquiring a green card and living in the United States by the time that we are done our university educations. For the amount of money we are giving to the American economy one would think that they would be grateful and be willing to give back by helping to subsidize our education. We are forced into bank loans, and personal loans to pay for our education. The thought of living in debt for the rest of by life trying to pay back seven years of post-secondary education is absolutely terrifying. As well as the thought of only being nineteen years old an already being in debt, because I am unable to hold a job or obtain any sort of financial aid because I am not an American The Malaysian government has a right to withhold money from its citizens for leaving the country, as well as the American government has a right to only give to American citizens. I am just unsure as to why either country would want to with hold money from any student from any country. In a time where education is so important to the future why would either country want to hold its youth back. We would not be aiding or taking away from either economy by studying in another country. We aid the American economy by continuing our education here, and then we return to our country f origin where we pursue summer and winter employment, where we still pay taxes. We are not helping solely our economy of our country of origin, but we are helping a global economy by becoming aware of not just our country, but also other countries. We remain sheltered if we stay in one place all our lives, we need to explore and see the world, and we can start by going from our home country to another for post secondary education. The opportunity to study in another country does not come to everyone, but to those it does come to, it is a very difficult opportunity to pass up. If we are invited to this county to continue our education, why are we not treated as equals, both emotionally and financially. We, like the American students are just that, students. We do not come here because we do not want to study in our native countries, we come for the opportunity to experience new things, meet new people and become more educated, just like the American students. We do not come here to be judged or treated differently. We came to be treated like what we are, students, regardless of where we came from. How to cite Equal Opportunity for Financial Aid, Papers

Hearts free essay sample

This case is about a company named Hearts ‘R Us. This company provides research and development for medical devices. According to the information provided the company is in its early stage and has no products in the market. They have developed a Heart Valve System that would be revolutionary in the market if is approved. Also there’s another company called Bionic Body that is a biological medical device company, they have another product that would work well with this new Heart Valve System. Therefore both companies decided to fuse by agreement. The agreement is as follows: $3.5 million preferred stock shares of Series A from Heart Company are sold to Bionics with a par value of $1 each. This transaction was completed on November 30, 2011, according to the information provided. This transaction gave Bionic specific rights: 1. Board Rights, 2. Mandatory Conversion right, 3. Contingent Redemption Rights. Additional Protective Rights, 5. Right of first refusal and Co-Sale Rights. We will write a custom essay sample on Hearts or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The $3.5 millions of shares would be convertible in common stock according to the agreement when the IPO reaches net proceeds of at least $50 millions. It is stated that if on year five of the agreement the FDA has not yet approve the product to be in the market; the shares could be redeemed at its par value. Hearts R Us is a company that reports on a year basis and it’s planning to make an IPO soon. There are a couple of issues surrounding this case. First is an early-stage company that doesn’t have the financial stability and this might create trouble for further transactions. The only product that might be coming to the market still depends on a series of trials and the approval of the FDA. Since the company is just starting; all of its accounting transactions have being recorded to comply with the covenants of its outstanding debt. Furthermore they are not required to comply with SEC and are currently not doing so. Also theirs an issue of how to be done to register the Series A shares that have being sold to Bionic. Preferred Stock: A security that has preferential rights compared to common stock. †¢Participation Rights: contractual rights of security holders to receive dividends or returns from the security issuer’s profits, cash flows, or returns on investment. FASB has some guide lines of how companies should report or disclose information of their securities. 1.FASB: addresses disclosure of information about capital arrangement is in the FASB Codification 505-10-50-3. 2.Participation Right is contractual right of security holders to receive dividends or returns from security issuer’s profits, cash flows or returns on investments. †¢FASB Codification 505. An entity shall explain, in summary form within its financial statements, the pertinent rights and privileges of the various securities outstanding. Examples of information that shall be disclosed are dividend and liquidation preferences, participation right, call prices and dates, conversion or exercise prices or rates and pertinent dates, sinking-fund requirements, unusual voting rights, and significant terms of contracts to issue additional shares. An entity shall disclose within its financial statements the number of shares issued upon conversion, exercise, or satisfaction of required conditions during at least the most recent annual fiscal period and any subsequent interim period presented.

Consider the representation of gender roles in Rowlings text Essay Example For Students

Consider the representation of gender roles in Rowlings text Essay Despite his rough edges and lumbering appearance, Hagrid is both unquestionable loyal and honest and incredibly protective of Harry. When Hagrid appears, the Dursleys and indeed Harry (at first) are petrified by this giant. The door was hit with such a force that it swung clean off its hinges and with a deafening crash landed on the floor.. As Hagrid proceeded to tell Harry of his life, Mr. Dursley forbade Hagrid to tell Harry truth, fact that he is a wizard. However, Hagrid carries on and takes control of the situation by telling Mr. Dursley to shut up. He shows his power by reaching for a gun and tying it into a knot. Hagrid takes Harry away and explains to Harry he is to be enrolled at Hogwarts school of Wizardry and Witchcraft. Harry asks many questions and you begin to feel that Hagrid almost plays a father figure in the novel. Again the alpha male has shifted to Hagrid, until that is they arrive in Diagon Alley, a town full of Witches and Wizard and all of the shops that magic folk would need from books to brooms and magic wands Diagon Alley was the opening to Harry Potters newfound world. Harry had found himself as a newfound celebrity and everyone in Diagon alley was aware of his presence and knew his name women, man and children alike knew who he was and from this moment on Harry realises that he is indeed a very special person. Class plays a huge part within the novel while on the train Harry meets Ron Weasley, Ron follows in the footsteps of Brothers Percy the Prefect and twins Fred and George, in becoming the sixth Weasley to attend Hogwarts. This is Rons first year at the school, but unfortunately not that of his clothes that have been passed down from brother to brother. Ron is a Gryffindor and proud to say best friend to Harry Potter. His likes are chess, sweets and the Chudley Cannons Quidditch team. He also has a soft spot for his rat Scabbers. Ron and Harry become friends on the journey and although Ron comes from a poorer background, Harry can relate to this through the bad treatment at living at Privet Drive with the Dursleys. While on the train journey Ron tries to do a magic trick and Hermione Granger enters and introduces herself. Are you sure thats a real spell? said the girl. Well, its not very good, is it? Ive tried a few simple spells just for practice and its all worked for me. You can clearly see from Hermiones entrance that she is clearly going to be an annoying little girl and likely to get on the nerves of any male reader. Hermione is the first wizard to come from her family and is a real credit to her parents, always studying and reading. Her biggest fear is not the beasts that lurk behind the forbidden rooms and corridors at the school, but failing her exams! This is also to be her first year at the school and is always looking out for her less academic friends Harry and Ron. Harry Potter, said Harry. Are you really? said Hermione. I know all about you, of course I got a few extra books for background reading, and youre in Modern Magical History. Certainly, a clear point to make here is that Hermione being a woman knows exactly everything about Harrys life and the school that they are to attend not to mention the fact that she has read all of her books for the year. .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 , .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .postImageUrl , .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 , .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697:hover , .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697:visited , .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697:active { border:0!important; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697:active , .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697 .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf0f2bc0c15ccef92f85996167ea5b697:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Poets often write about ideas through exploring emotions EssayI feel that Rowling is making the point here that girls are much more academic than boys are and this is clearly shown when Harry looks at Rons open mouth and the fact she has read them all. Another point to make is that when they all arrive at the school to be sorted into their rooms, the sorting hat especially within the film should be the voice of a male. A male hat of authority taking the main decision in peoples lives just like a government or local authority. Harry now decides to be a super hero and save the Philosophers Stone and so takes Ron and Hermione on a quest to save it interestingly when ever Harry gets himself in trouble Hermione is always there to give a helping hand. Hermione let out a great sigh and Harry, amazed, saw that she was smiling, the very last thing he felt like doing. Brilliant, said Hermione. This isnt magic its logic a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards havent got an ounce of logic; theyd be stuck in here forever. But so will we, wont we? Of course not said Hermione, everything we need is here on this paper. In a moment of weakness, the female warrior rescues Harry, putting him on an equal level with Hermione. Interestingly all of the bad things that had happened were all ideas of men playing the devious and controlling characters within the novel. Even the headmaster of the school Dumbledore is male with his almost deputy sidekick Professor McGonagall who could be described as a weaker character than the males dominating the novel. I found it interesting how Rowling used these females as a weaker persona but still describes the times that they save the story and the readers imagination. I think that Rowling was trying to show her readers that although we all face things that seem impossible to overcome, there is always a way out whether male or female, you just need to stick to your guns. Look at her own life she has come through the tough times to a life that is truly phenomenal. Bibliography. Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, J. K Rowling, 1997, Bloomsbury London. Word Count, 1,532 1 Ben Ireson 03411958.