Coney Island and Victorian Culture free essay sample

Coney Island at the turn of the century was a bustling and growing place. People of all classes traveled from New York City as well as other parts of the world to take part in the famous amusements that helped to loosen the tight corsets of Victorian gentility. Inspired by the Columbian Exposition in 1893 George Tilyou began to build a park on Coney Island beginning with the Ferris Wheel similar to that featured at the exposition which was designed by the Pennsylvania Steel Company. By 1895 Tilyou opened Steeplechase Park and began to fill it with acts and side shows thus inspired by his travels a few years prior. While concentrating on the appeal to all walks of life Tilyou acquired A Ride to The Moon from Fredric Thompson and Elmer Dundy who built the ride specifically for the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. A short season later in 1902 Thompson and Dundy left Steeplechase to create Luna Park taking the amusement with them. Playing off the most popular sport on Coney Island, Tilyou obtained a mechanical horse race that took riders on a thirty second ride around a track complete with hills and sharp turns. Other attractions added to the park included the Human Roulette Wheel which threw riders in all directions and Earthquake Stairs which jostled climbers and challenged them to descend a shaking stair case. These attractions as well as the wild side shows caused people to throw off all conventionality and made them rub elbows with other classes while having unrestricted fun. While Steeplechase drew visitors to the peninsula it also increased in the popularity of swimming or bathing as it was referred to in Victorian speak. People on a hot New York day adventured to Steeple Chase and the beach by various means of transportation. Donning the latest in bathing fashions people enjoyed more unrestricted fun regardless of any class system in the water. Although Victorians looked down their noses at the amusements and public bathing, people still flocked to the beaches and splashed in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Ruckus rides and the ability to socialize appealed to the younger generations looking to toss off the oppressive garbs of Victorian gentility and just have plain unrestrictive fun. In 1907 tragedy struck Steeplechase as fire ravaged the park leaving a smoking ruin. In the efforts to still turn a dollar Tilyou charged admission to the ruins of the once great park. During the rebuilding, Luna Park benefited from the loss and treated guests to a modern park with rides to thrill everyone. The â€Å"old-fashionedness† of Steeplechase was challenged as Luna Park, the most modern of it’s time dazzled park goers with electric lights and tall white towers bathed in bright bulbs. This enabled the park to operate at night. But still people remained loyal to the original amusement park they knew so well even though built anew from smoldering ruins. George Tilyou sadly passed away in 1914 after seeing his park through another fire in 1911 which claimed Dreamland. Luckily enough the winds shifted and spared his park from a second disaster. By 1914 the amusement park began to fall out of favor. The once well loved and most visited park suffered a loss in the visitors during the hot New York summers. Steeplechase continued to operate and help people socialize and essentially come out of the tight bonds of gentility by offering a carefree time with out restrictions. Then on New Year’s Eve 1964 the last light was turned off for the final time at the ill fated old fashioned park. Luna Park on the other hand was not as popular as the original park but provided new wonders for those curious and daring enough to seek it out. Created after the Beaux-Arts movement of the time Thompson an erratic architect began to design the park as a world where someone could be lost in fantasy. By opening day on May 16th 1903 Luna Park opened its doors to the wonderment of many people seeking out entertainment and new amusements to help them shed the conventionality of the structured Victorian world. Here we can clearly see where still Steeplechase was cherished like a child hugs a ragged teddy bear but the new adventure which was named Luna was embraced for its latest technologies that Steeplechase clearly was lacking. With over 1 million lights, long distance telephone service, telegraph and radio services Luna Park became a city with in a city. With Thompson and Dundy’s success in creating illusion rides for the park guests they still relied on others as well. When they left the employment of Tilyou after the 1902 season they brought their famed â€Å"Ride to the Moon† amusement with them. Counting on its fame from Steeplechase park and the illustrious past of being featured at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 the creators hoped it would bring the crowds in. With more and more people seeking a day at the park and on the beach both parks helped make Coney Island known world wide and soon became a top tourist destination. At a time when high society still held restrictions of how men and women should act in public in high regards, more and more people used these parks as a way to shed the restrictions of society and seek titillating amusements and fill curiosities each other had that Victorian culture had suppressed over the years with rules and barriers against those who dared to go against the prim and proper societies. Technology in these times were changing and what better place to display these but at amusement parks and expositions. Younger Victorians embraced these changes and viewed them as a move toward the future. We can clearly see where walls were broken down between classes while all walks of life frolicked on the beaches of Coney Island, screamed on the same rides, and traveled faster than they ever had in their lives. Luna Park and Steeplechase side by side were wonderful examples of old an new. While people still embraced the old curious onlookers sought out attractions that displayed futuristic gadgets. By the creation of the final park Dreamland in 1904 tourism and the shedding of Victorian genteel ways were in full swing. Dreamland brought more pleasure seekers to the peninsula and more bathers to the sea shore. The park was built by William Reynolds who is best known for his crooked dealings with Tammany Hall. Dreamland became the park to rival the other 2 on the peninsula. It is said that the park would be anything unlike the modern world has seen. The main tower of Dreamland had a beacon that shined out to sea and confused many ships coming into port. The amusement park sparkled as guests promenaded through the many attractions and thrill rides. With Dreamland promising amusement in a more dignified way the creators tried to offer Culture to those who visited the park. Providing a grand ballroom and upscale restaurants from around the world Dreamland attempted to cater to the upper class leaving lower classes to attend the older less dignified parks. The developers still provided rides and attractions that rivaled the other parks and even stole ideas from them as well. Americans were fascinated by disasters. Fighting the Flames was a good example of this as New Yorkers were most familiar with tenements catching fire and many people dying. People could identify with this ride. As tenement style buildings covered in asbestos were set ablaze, firefighters came to the rescue of the tenants who jumped to their safety in huge nets below. With rides like Shoot the Chutes guests at Dreamland were still treated to rides that caused them to throw off all conventionalities. Dreamland with its intentions to preserve all that is roper and dignified still provided outrageous outlets that caused people to smile and scream like they never had before. Sideshows still prevailed like Bostock’s Circus and Captain Bonavita’s Lion Show. They treated guests to clowns, wild animals, and daring stunts which caused people to gasp and look on in awe. Dreamland gave people a look at the world in their own backyard. Rides like Touring the Alps which provided ride rs with a simulated ride through the Alps complete with blasts of cold air to the Japanese Tea Room which gave people a look at cultures foreign to their own. The achievements of creating an atmosphere of wonderment and awe like that of the previous expositions held in Chicago and Buffalo, Reynolds achieved ultimate success in helping people question their hum drum ways and rules that bound them tightly. On May 27 1911 the wonderment that was known as Dreamland came to an end when it burned to the ground. Complaints by the fire departments that fought the flames were low water pressure. It was said that Reynolds built the park so fast that he built over fire hydrants. The mistakes and rush to greed cost him his park only seven short years later. The fire although sparing because of the winds did not leave Thompson’s railway alone. Sadly but fortunately that was one of a few external victims of the fire caused by greed. Fred Thompson found General Manager Samuel Gumpertz staring blankly at the ruins. Reynolds decided not to rebuild the park and Gumpertz opened a freak show in a large tent. This was the beginning of the end of Coney Island, the most famous playground of the early 20th century. Luna Park and Steeplechase continued to operate through many changes of attractions. The 1920’s ushered in rides like The Wonder Wheel and The Cyclone. It is joked immigrants who came to this country saw The Wonder Wheel first before seeing the Statue of Liberty. Still The Wonder Wheel is a wonderful example of freedom through good times and laughter and the shedding of old ways to a new life. By the close of the season of 1946 Luna Park could no longer afford to keep its gates open to the dwindling visitors. That which was new and exciting became old and worn out. Steeplechase continued to operate and pride itself of being risen from the ashes still provided visitors with aging and familiar rides. By the opening of Astro Park in 1962 this began to spell the end of the turn of the century amusements. At the stroke of midnight New Years Eve 1964 the last light was turned out on the oldest amusement park of the time leaving behind a legacy of fun and a little known waltz written for the opening of Dreamland entitled â€Å"Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland†. By looking at the amusement parks of the early 20th century we can clearly see where proper Victorians were given the opportunity to shed the constrictions of a culture that forced them into a protected part of society. Here creators of parks provided a person all types of amusements and bathing which for proper Victorians swimming with people of the opposite sex was just scandalous. Many of the older generations still held fast to their convictions of manners and proper ways. In many ways Coney Island was a petrie dish for societies and cultures. Could they truly leave behind the tight corsets and stiff collars to have fun with all folks of all classes with out concern for class stratification due to wealth, power or even dress? The writer of this believes yes. This was a place where society began to leave behind their constrictions and just have plain fun. Therefore unmaking Victorian culture as it was known.

African Elephant Essays - Elephants, Elephant, African Bush Elephant

African Elephant Essays - Elephants, Elephant, African Bush Elephant African Elephant The common name is the African Elephant, the scientific name is Loxodonta Africana, the phylum is Vertebrata, the class is Mammalia, the order is Proboscidea, and the family is Elephantidae. The Closest Relatives to the African Elephant are: the Asian Elephant, mammoths, primitive proboscidean (mastodons), sea cows, and hyraxes. Scientists believe that the African Elephant evolved from one of its closest relatives, the Sea Cow. The geographical location and range of the African elephant covers all of central and southern Africa. In Ethiopia there are isolated populations that exist around Lake Chad in Mali and Mauritania. Also in Kenya, Rhodesia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Zaire, and in National parks located in South Africa, as well as several other countries. African Elephants, originally, were found in all of the Sub-Saharan African habitats except desert steppes. Elephants still occupy diverse habitats such as: temperate grassland, tropical savanna and grass lands, temperate forest and rainforest, tropical rainforest, tropical scrub forest, and tropical deciduous forest despite their drastic decline in numbers. However, their migratory patterns and habitat use have changed, due to the fact that they are restricted to protected areas. The elephant can exist in many types of environments but it prefers places that have many trees and bushes, which the elephant needs both for food and shade. They also like warm areas that have plenty of rainfall. This ensures plenty of food, shade, and water. The elephant prefers a habitat of mixed woodland and grassland which gives them an opportunity to eat a variety of vegetation. African Elephants are considered herbivores, they are both browsers and grazers; they will eat rough sticks, stems and leaves of plants as well as grasses, sedges, and fruit. Their favorites are mangoes, berries and coconuts. An elephant eats up to 500 pounds of vegetation every day and drinks up to 50 gallons of water daily. Elephants must consume these giant quantities of food, due to their poor digestive system. The small intestine is 82 feet long, the large intestine 21 feet long, and the rectum adds a further 13 feet. The problem with the digestive tract lies in their gut; elephants have too few symbiotic bacteria. These are the organisms which help break down the cellulose of plant cell walls by producing enzymes called cellulases. The most remarkable feature of the elephants digestive system is its 5 feet long appendix, bigger than the stomach. Proteins, starches, and sugars are digested in the appendix. The elephant will excrete almost 200 pounds a day of semi-digested food. Elephants live together in strong family units which might have as few as two or as many as twenty members. When the group gets too big, it splits up; but the groups stay in close contact. Elephant life revolves around this unit which is usually headed by the oldest female. The family offers protection, aid, comfort, and teaching to all of its members. Within the units are cows, calves, and bulls. The male bulls are very solitary and most of the time travel only with other males, except during mating season when the bulls travel with the pack looking for a mate. The males remain with the family unit until they are about fourteen and then leave the family to join the other males. The African elephant usually gives birth to one calf every four years. The gestation period is approximately twenty to twenty two years. The newborn calf, which weighs 200-300 pounds and stands about three feet high, is cared for by all of the females in the pack, not just by the mother. The calf may nurse as long as eight years, or until its tusks are too long for the mother. It takes about 14 to 15 years for an elephant to fully mature. They grow to about 10-13 feet tall and 7.5 meters in length and weigh as much as 7 tons. The family will remain together throughout their lives. The elephants body has many special features which it has adapted throughout the centuries to help it survive in its environment. The most important part of the elephants body is its trunk. An elephant uses its trunk for many things. With it, the elephant can pick up objects that weigh as much as 600 lbs. This powerful trunk is also used to beat off attacking animals and sometimes mother elephants use their trunks to swat their babies. The trunk, which is very flexible, can curl over the elephants head so that the elephant can give

how technology affects my life essays

how technology affects my life essays Try imagining your life without technology. Without alarm clocks, refrigerators, computers, telephones and so on. It would be very different from what we are accustomed to today. The truth is, all of us rely on technology a great deal to get through the day. Whether it's at work, at home, or at school, I know my family depends greatly on technology. Without technology our lives would all be much different. My sisters and I use technology at school a lot. We are always on the computers doing research and typing papers. As a student, I am in web page design class where I use computers everyday. My sister Kelly is in her school's web club where she also uses the computers. At school, computers are not the only type of technology we use. At games we use the scoreboard. In math class, we use claculators and during some classes, we listen to books on tape or audio tests. I think that without technology, school would be much more difficult. At home we use technology a great deal. In order to wake up in the morning, we all depend on alarm clocks to wake us up. We have refrigerators to keep all of our food cold. We also use the computer a lot. We are always looking up things for school, talking to friends, or playing games. We use cell phones to keep in touch with everyone too. We use CD players to listen to our favortie music. And of course we use the televison to watch all of our favorite shows, and what's TV without a remote? We use that too. Technology is everywhere you look inside of my house and it helps us get through the day much easier. Technology affects my life in so many ways. It also affects the lives of other people such as the ones in my familyTechnology helps us so much and sometimes we take it for granted. I know that doing this essay has shown me not to take the technological advances we have today for granted becuase someone had to come up with those ideas. I am very thankful to all of the people for making my life ...

Comparing Mortgage Rates Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparing Mortgage Rates - Research Paper Example Mortgage quotes that are published such as these are usually rates and terms available under the best of circumstance while your rate will vary according to: credit, down payment, house location and size, and your ability to prove income and assets Verbal rates are not a guarantee and you must get a written quote if you want to be assured the rate is ‘locked’ in and you should always get a letter of confirmation of your rate, rates that go up between the start of your mortgage process and the closing date can cost you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan Do not assume that because you are offered at good rate on one type of loan that you will get the same rate on a different type of mortgage Many people do not consider closing costs and fees when shopping for a mortgage Based on the effective annual rate the Lending tree offers the best rate for a fifteen year fixed interest rate loan. This amount is the percentage paid per year on the mortgage over the lifeti me of the loan. AmeriSave offers the lowest effective annual rate on a thirty year mortgage. Paying some of the interest in advance can reduce the accrual over the course of the year. Any fees or penalties that you accrue during the loan are added to the principle and will increase the EAR. These effective annual rates make sense as being the lowest because they are also in line with the lowest rates. Different lenders are able to offer different rates somewhat based on what type of lender they are, a mortgage lender or mortgage broker, each charging a different commission rate on the loan. Mortgage broker do not actually lend money and are used to help an individual find a direct loan, charging the consumer a fee for this service. While this is advantageous in that they will shop many lenders for you in an attempt to gain the best rate you will pay the associated fees, which are usually between 0.5-1 % of the loan value. The difference in rate will have a material impact on the con sumer because the value of the property will either decrease or increase with the market over the course of the loan. Investors may choose 30 year investment mortgages over other options because the value of the dollar while continue to decrease while the investment property and amount of payment remains the same. This is due to inflation of the economy and other market factors. References Today's Rate Results. (2012). Bank of America. Retrieved 2012, from https://www9.bankofamerica.com/home-loans/mortgage-purchase/TodaysRateResults.go?referrer=/home-loans/mortgage-purchase/rates Mortgage - Home Loans - Refinance - Mortgage Refinancing - Mortgage Rates - Home Equity. (2012). Retrieved 2012, from http://www.lendingtree.com/ Mortgage, Refinancing, Home Loan, Mortgage Rates - GMAC Mortgage. (2012). Retrieved 2012, from http://www.gmacmortgage.com/ Chase Mortgages - Home Lending | New or Refinance Mortgage Loans Online. (2012). CHASE Home: Personal Banking | Personal Lending | Retiremen t & Investing | Business Banking. Retrieved 2012,

Risk Assessment and Risk Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Risk Assessment and Risk Management - Essay Example The essay "Risk Assessment and Risk Management" talks about the knowledge bases in risk assessment and risk management and the consensus-based model of risk assessment. The knowledge base is the foundation of any profession; this refers to a body of specialist knowledge, which acts as the base of professional practice. Therefore, it has become increasingly essential for individuals and organizations to demonstrate underpinning knowledge base while undertaking any task within human services, aimed at achieving professional status. In the development of a framework for risk assessment and risk management, three interweaving features of knowledge bases are needed: theoretical knowledge, practical or personal knowledge, and factual knowledge. The theoretical knowledge base includes the existing literature that analysis risk incidents, situations, or events, literature that analysis our role and tasks in risk assessment and risk management, and literature that offers guidance on the pract ical approaches to be followed in assessing and managing risks. Practical or personal knowledge base refers to the practical skills or knowledge that is acquired at workplace related to risk assessment and risk management. These practical skills may be acquired through training, or through learning from experience, which leads to new knowledge. Finally, factual knowledge refers to the professional standards, rules, regulations, and ethical values developed in the past to provide guidance during professional practice.

The Community Partnership And Oriented Policing Criminology Essay

The Community Partnership And Oriented Policing Criminology Essay The evolution and refinement of Community Oriented Policing its philosophy and practice have had a significant positive impact on the attitudes and behaviors of citizens in previous high crime communities at every level by improving the quality of its residents. Community oriented Policing has allowed communities to take ownership of the communities and making it a socially healthy environment to raise kids and establish long lasting friendships. Every community oriented policing program should seek to meet the textbook goal, to establish A pattern of attitudes and behaviors directed both at reducing the threat of a crime and enhancing the sense of safety and security to positively influence the quality of life and to help develop environments were crime cannot flourish(Peak and Glender. 2004).   In Community Policing and Problem Solving, Community policing is a philosophy of full-service, personalized policing where the same officer patrols and works in the same area on a permanent basis, from a decentralized place, working in a proactive partnership with citizens to identify and solve problems (Trojanowicz, 1992) . These the goals that have been established through police and community input and how they can be enable Community Partnership Programs to establishing; suspicious crime activity hot lines, School Resource Officers, establish faith and non-faith drug prevention and education programs and forming Neighborhood Crime Watch associations are the building blocks of community policing. Each police department must realizes that to effectively  minimize all criminal activity within an specific neighborhoods, will only be accomplished through a collective effort of all members of  the  targeted community which may include; police officers that are assigned to our locals schools, establishing a suspicious (anonymous) illegal activity hotline, creating drug prevention programs community and enforcing local faith lead community programs and neighborhood crime watch programs. As always, individuals should always call 911 immediately  when observing a serious crime in progress or one that has just occurred, or to report crimes after the fact, police department have set up non-emergency numbers. In community oriented policing ,If suspicious  activity is observed that is not place the citizen at any physical or mental harm of an and does not warrant emergency response, the citizens are  encouraged to call the  Suspicious Activity Hotline   at anytime. In addition most police departments provide access to learning and informational material which might provide details on how to recognize and handle  specific  types of suspicious activity in  the participating neighborhoods. As part of the community oriented policing, Police  officers can also be assigned to local schools. At the school campus the majority of the officers time is spent on building relationships with the youth thus reducing the potential for minor crimes to occur. These campus officers may also become   a great resource to the teachers, counselors, students and most of all to the parents in maintaining a safe and crime free campus, by teaching law enforcement and criminal justice related courses.  Ã‚   The Police Department can also assist in the creation and support of faith and not-faith based drug prevention and education programs. These programs can also work with the local law enforcement agencies to aid in the prevention and reduction of drug related crimes. Neighborhood Crime Watch programs encourages minimal participation of the citizens in a neighborhood to organize  block watch programs in cooperation with law enforcement. It is sometimes called Block Watch or Neighborhood Watch, which, is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime .Neighbors get to meet one  another at these block watch meetings and discuss neighborhood problems and priorities. On many occasions a police officer will attend these meetings to give crime prevention tips and assist in organizing the block club. The Neighborhood Watch Program works by doing the following: Neighborhood Watch teaches citizens crime prevention techniques to reduce the risk of being victimized at home or in public. Citizens are trained on the importance of recognizing suspicious activities and how to report them. Participants are taught how to make their homes more secure and the importance of recording and identifying their property. Block watch Program allows neighbors to interact and get to know each other and their daily routines. Enforcement of block watch program allows the citizen to notice any out of ordinary activities that might need to reported and investigated by the police. As building blocks to a safer community the neighborhood watch program creates a cohesive body of concerned citizens who become the eyes and ears of law enforcement, thus becoming actively involved in the reduction of crime in their community. This program is always ongoing and continued enrollment is always accepted. An effective crime prevention (neighborhood watch) programs enable the active participation of citizens to cooperate with law enforcement to aid in the reduction of larceny, criminal property damages burglaries primarily the reduction of burglaries on the high rate of the fore-closed homes which will the reduce the other neighborhood crimes. By contacting the Buckeye Police department, I learned that the Buckeye Police department has taken the philosophy of Community Oriented Policing in effort to better serve the community. The police departments has established community partnerships thought the path of working with house developers and community house associations to develop and design neighborhoods in a such way as to deflect criminal activity. As a result of these associations citizens enjoy a lesser crime environment with a faster 911 response. Though community oriented policing the Buckeye police department can also strengthen and developed its community based policing to reflect the communitys needs and requests. (Lt.  Dave Hubalik,) The Buckeye police community out-reach program will also teach you the steps that citizens can take to aid in protecting ones home. The police department will also aid in organizing a neighborhood watch group, by making crime prevention part of every person in your community a daily routine, just by learning watching out for yours and your neighbors and safe wellbeing .The Buckeye Lieutenant Dave Hubalik reinforced that it is you job as a member of the community to report all suspicious activity to the police even if you have a doubts it might not be illegal activity. The lieutenant stated that is the sole job to handle the perpetuators the criminals The Buckeye police department believes that neighborhood watch programs are a proven and effective method to aid in the reduction of residential burglaries in specific developments. For example in the Sun Dance ,Tarteso or the Westpark Communities incidents of crimes reported can be tracked and responses logged by a specific geographic area(Buckeye 2010 Crime statistics). By, sharing local crime statistics with the community allows the police department to developed methods of targeting specific types of crime that for the most part can be reduced or eliminated by the activities of the community policing policies. A representative for the Buckeye Community outreach programs states that by combining neighborhood watch programs and though constant communication with our neighbors homes are not as easily accessible to burglars. By being actively involved in preventing crime in our neighborhood citizens are encouraged to hold block meetings that aid in the apprehension of criminals by police enforcement. These types of community oriented police programs, Community Partnership programs, suspicious crime activity hot lines, School Resource Officers, establish faith and non-faith drug prevention and education programs and forming Neighborhood Crime Watch associations are of no cost, they are free programs that mostly involved neighbors working together and by getting acquainted with police enforcement and community organization leaders. Community oriented policing is building block a sure way of making sure all neighbors are looking out for ones propertys yours and your neighbors and safe wellbeing. But most importantly is a great method of getting the opportunity to learn more about effective crime prevention and learning more about crime prevention. When community police work is not maintained street people take over parks and other public areas and make them unusable by families (Peak and Glender. 2004). Community Oriented Policing concepts and theories must be implemented within the police crime prevention departments and all local faith and non-faith community organizations. As responsible citizens we must accept and acknowledge that successful policing requires the active participation about solving our neighborhood crime problems.  Community policing, also acknowledges the dependence of police on citizens for information about the status of neighborhood problems and for help in solving crime (Peak and Glender. 2004).   Community oriented policing is a great idea but, in states, To be successful, community policing requires the total commitment of the five major groups: police; citizens and subgroups like business; media; political leaders; and social service agencies and other institutions of the community (Peak and Gle nder. 2004). We have the option to decide how we choose to live, but we must accept that shared property, the practice of taking decisions is the responsibility of both police enforcement and the community. Work Cited Peak, Kenneth J., and Ronald W. Glensor. Chapter 2: COPPS, Chapter 4: Crime Prevention. Community Policing and Problem Solving Fifth Edition. Ed. Vernon R. Anthony. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008. 39-101.

Parataxis Of Homer :: essays research papers

Throughout the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer employs a technique called parataxis. This technique is used frequently to identify characters in the book or explaining an event. The poem not only covers the story of Odyssey. The poem not only covers the story of Odysseus, but also touches upon other characters as well. By using parataxis, Homer can briefly tell and describe characters and events. Often, characters are identified by their relationships to others, a great deed they have accomplished, to hardships they have come across.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In describing Odysseus in Book V, lines 97 to 115 of which lines 105 to 110 are paratactical, Hermes says â€Å"you have with you the man who is wretched beyond all the other men of all those who fought around the city of Priam for nine years, and in the tenth they sacked the city and set sail for home, but on the voyage home they offended Athene, who let loose an evil tempest and tall waves against them. Then all the rest of his excellent companions perished, but the wind and the current carried him here and here they drove him.† The original conversation between Hermes and Kalypso had little to do with Odysseus’s journey. Hermes in lines 97 to 115 tells Kalypso that Odysseus’s fate lie not on the island, but back home in Ithaka. The parataxis interrupts the line of conversation to inform the reason why Odysseus arrives here. It gives a glimpse the span of Odysseus’s journey and the fate of his companions before the story is told. In this instance, Hermes identifies Odysseus with the obstacles he has overcome.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At times, a parataxis of a certain character in one part of the poem help explain matters later on. In book XI, lines 281 to 297, Odysseus tells of Chloris, a beautiful maiden. Of those lines, lines 287 to 290 are paratactical, â€Å"Also she bore that marvel among mortals, majestic Pero, whom all the heroes round about courted, but Neleus would not give her to any, unless he could drive away the broad-faced horn-curved cattles of strong Iphikles out of Phylake.† It talks of Chloris’s daughter, Pero and the task that all suitors must accomplish before he can have her hand. Later on in book XV, another character is introduced. He is the son of the man who won Pero. Without mentioning Pero or the task of the suitors in the earlier book, much more explanation would be needed to identify other characters. This parataxis links various character and their stories.