Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata Fires on The Plain by Shohei Ooka free essay sample

Compares roles of Buddhism in Kawabata Christianity in Ooka as reflections of novels protagonists views of Japanese culture. This study will compare and contrast the role of Buddhism in Yasunari Kawabatas novel Thousand Cranes with the role of Christianity in Shohei Ookas novel Fires on the Plain. The argument of the study will be that in each book the religious path chosen or followed by the protagonist is a reflection of the his attitude toward and relationship with the Japanese culture in general. Despite the fact that both books were originally published in the late 1950s, Ooka writes about World War II, while Kawabata writes about the postwar period. Because of this difference, the emphases and themes of the books stand in contrast. Thousand Cranes explores intimate relationships with larger historical, social and political issues serving only as a contextual backdrop.

Seagrasses and Seagrass Beds

Seagrasses and Seagrass Beds Seagrass is an angiosperm (flowering plant) that lives in a marine or brackish environment. Seagrasses grow in groups, forming seagrass beds or meadows. These plants provide important habitat for a variety of marine life.   Seagrass Description Seagrasses evolved around 100 million years ago from grass on land, thus they look similar to our terrestrial grasses.  Seagrasses are submerged flowering plants that have leaves, roots, flowers and seeds.   Since they lack a strong stem or trunk, they are supported by the water.   Seagrasses attach to the ocean bottom by thick roots and rhizomes, horizontal stems with shoots pointing upward and roots pointing downward. Their blade-leaves contain chloroplasts, which produce energy for the plant through photosynthesis. Seagrasses Vs. Algae Seagrasses may be confused with seaweeds (marine algae), but they are not. Seagrasses are vascular plants and reproduce by flowering and producing seeds. Marine algae are classified as  protists  (which also includes protozoans, prokaryotes, fungi and  sponges), are relatively simple and reproduce using spores. Seagrass Classification There are about 50 species of true seagrasses worldwide.  They are organized into the plant families Posidoniaceae, Zosteraceae, Hydrocharitaceae, and Cymodoceaceae. Where Are Seagrasses Found? Seagrasses are found in protected coastal waters such as bays, lagoons, and estuaries and in both temperate and tropical regions, on every continent except Antarctica.  Seagrasses are sometimes found in patches, and these patches can expand to form huge seagrass beds or meadows. The beds can be made up of one species of seagrass or multiple species. Seagrasses require lots of light, so the depths at which they occur in the ocean are limited by light availability.   Why Are Seagrasses Important? Seagrasses provide food and habitat for a variety of marine life (more on that below!).They can stabilize the ocean bottom with their root systems, which gives greater protection from storms.Seagrasses filter runoff and trap sediments and other small particles. This increases water clarity and the health of the marine environment.  Seagrasses help boost local economies through supporting vibrant recreation opportunities. Marine Life Found in Seagrass Beds Seagrasses provide an important habitat to a number of organisms. Some use seagrass beds as nursery areas, others seek shelter there their whole lives. Larger animals such as manatees and sea turtles feed on animals that live in the seagrass beds. Organisms that make the seagrass community their home include bacteria, fungi, algae; invertebrates such as conch, sea stars, sea cucumbers, corals, shrimp and lobsters; a variety of fish species including snapper, parrotfish, rays, and sharks; seabirds such as pelicans, cormorants and herons; sea turtles; and marine mammals such as manatees, dugongs and bottlenose dolphins. Threats to Seagrass Habitats Natural threats to seagrasses include storms, climate changes such as floods and droughts affecting water salinity, disruption of seagrasses by small predators as they search for food, and grazing by animals such as sea turtles and manatees. Human threats to seagrasses include dredging, boating, water quality degradation due to run-off, and shading of seagrasses by docks and boats. References and Further Information: Florida Museum of Natural History. 2008. †Seagrasses†. (Online) Florida Museum of Natural History. Accessed November 12, 2008.Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2008. Learn About Seagrasses.  (Online). Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish Wildlife Research Institute. Accessed November 12, 2008.Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.   Importance of Seagrass. Accessed November 16, 2015.Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 2008. †Seagrasses† (Online). Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed November 12, 2008.Seagrass.LI, Long Island’s Seagrass Conservation Website. 2008. †What is Seagrass?† (Online). Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program. Accessed November 12, 2008.Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce. Seagrass Habitats. Accessed November 16, 2015.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Seagrass and Seagrass Beds. Ocean Portal. Accessed November 1 6, 2015.

Mid-term Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mid-term - Assignment Example speed, he uses his mind to trick the tiger with a glass ball, which the tiger after seeing its image on the mirror believes it is the cub and even cuddles it, allowing the hunter to escape with the real cub (White 7). a. Portals with subtle and twisted columns that seem to be strained by the weight. The portals have been criticized that they might give in to the heavy weight that they support though they have stood the test of time. The Donation of Constantine is the interpretation of the Holy Trinity. The holy trinity refers to three God in one, described as the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. It was important in the Middle Ages since it helped to explain the development of the Roman faith. It explains the shift from the period of worshipping idols to the realization of the modern faith. Sylvester, the universal pontiff, has helped in spreading the modern gospel. Sylvester changed the perception that the author had about the gods Peter and Paul, and told them that they were apostles (Halsall 1). The theme of this passage is love. It clearly brings out the various aspects of two people who love and treasure each other. The lady confesses that his only fear is losing him. The man who is the king treats the beautiful creature like a marvel of nature which he had never seen before. He orders that the creature should be fed well and given drink. Every other man admires the beautiful creature who is depicted by the king as a very special one. The theme of love is cemented by the statement that the couple would always visit places together, and none of them would allow to be separated from the other. The passage relates to the course in that it contributes to the effectiveness of use of figurative language, commonly used during the medieval period. The passage was written by Marie de France and translated by Judith P. Shoaf in 1996 (France, para 12). The theme of the text is religion. It describes the faith and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The