Soccer Ball May Seem Simplistic - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 869 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/04/04 Category Sports Essay Level High school Topics: Soccer Essay Did you like this example? To many the soccer ball may seem simplistic in nature; one may think the sole purpose of this round object is to be kicked into a large net. The soccer ball possesses greater significance than what people perceive. Prown says an object has meaning if it is linked to a sense of self, the structure of the soccer ball does connect an individual to their sense of self by teaching the importance of diligent practice, by improving cognitive problem solving and by encouraging introspection and acceptance of ones mistakes. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Soccer Ball May Seem Simplistic" essay for you Create order The soccer ball teaches an individual that daily preparation and training are essential to perfect a certain skill. The aerodynamic properties of the soccer ball allow it to travel at speeds of up to sixty miles per hour when kicked aerially to another player (source 2). Through meticulous training, players develop fundamental skills such as passing, shooting, ball control, first touch and dribbling. Perfecting fundamental skills allows players to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the game. For example, in soccer first touch is defined as the opportunity a player has to touch the ball with his or her foot, body, or head as the receiver of a pass (source 1). It is not uncommon for players to extensively practice this skill; an article published in the Guardian found that players in the Dutch football club FC Trent would do a drill where they would practice the first touch skill ten thousand times during the duration of a practice session up to six days a week. Furthermore, the coach added that players were expected to practice this skill further when they would go home (source 3). The less time a player takes to complete an action, the more time he or she has to take advantage of the situation. To successfully complete any basic skill in soccer, one must have adequate ball control from all parts of the foot that can only be built from practice. Furthermore, practicing soccer drills also helps build cognitive decision-making in players. Cognitive decision-making is defined as a human decision-making based on information, knowledge, and preference (source 4). When a soccer player practices a fundamental skill repetitively such as passing or dribbling a soccer ball, they are building a cognitive blueprint, which they can visualize during game scenarios (source 5). This rehearsal allows players to make decisions instinctively rather than having to think about what they have to do, which can be very beneficial in a game scenario. A deep reservoir of skills is essential to have but it must be accompanied by the ability to make important decisions in tough circumstances. The soccer ball presents players with multiple options when facing a particular situation. While taking a corner kick, a player has the ability to simply pass to another player on his team along the ground, cross the ball aerially to one of his teammates or even try to score a goal from the corner line. In this scenario, a player must be able to successfully analyze the game situation and pick an appropriate action. This helps promotes cognitive decision-making and forces a player to analyze the scenario before choosing what to do (Split second decisions, ball can go where you want) In the boarder sense, the soccer ball creates a need for acceptance and introspection of an individuals mistakes. Mistakes are an integral part of any competitive sport and a player must identify and rectify his or her mistakes to be successful. The game of soccer is a test of precision and very seldom do mistakes not change the outcome of the game. For example, common strategy teams use to score goals is to give a player the opportunity to head the ball in the goal during a corner kick. If a player misses an easy chance to score a goal off a header, it is ultimately his or her fault because they should have sufficient knowledge and skill to execute a header correctly. Only the player can be responsible for the missed chance; the ball is an inanimate object and simply serves as a medium through which the players actions are communicated. In this scenario, an individual has no choice but to look at his or her mistakes and introspect to ensure the mistake isnt repeated in the future. Some may argue that the structure of the soccer ball may cause an individual to lose their sense of self. Players often gain an obsession with perfecting their skills to the point where their actions become mechanical causing them to forget about their sense of self. This is a logical argument, however it is not necessarily a negative thing. Some players use the soccer ball to define their sense of self. The legendary Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho was quoted saying, Its everything to me. Without the ball I am nothing. While this may seem to prevent someone from finding their true sense of self, it also ensures the players are completely focused on perfecting their skills which leads to a better game experience for the players and views. The soccer ball does connect an individual to their sense of self by teaching the importance of meticulous practice, by improving cognitive problem solving and introspection of ones mistakes.

Antigone s Bravery And Her Challenge Of Breaking The...

Antigone’s Bravery and Her Challenge of Breaking the Traditional Role of Women (October 6) Antigone is an extremely strong woman. The way that she stood up to King Creon when he banned the burial of her brother Polyneices for being a traitor. Antigone disregarded any consequences for her actions from the King just to do what she thought was morally right. Also, in Antigone women were looked at as being inferior to men. The scene that showed just how superior men thought they were to women in Antigone was when Creon mocked his son, saying that he was a â€Å"woman’s slave.† I interpreted this scene as Creon telling his son that he should not be a slave to any women, but rather a woman should be a slave to him. Antigone as a brave woman questioned and defied the traditional role of women in literature and its self. Antigone is some ways reminds me of Rosa Park, the strong women who decided one day enough was enough and she would not give up her seat on a bus for a white individual. The same way that Antigone stood up to King Creon, Rosa Parks stood up to societ y by saying that she deserved to sit in the same section as whites. Both women faced consequences for their actions, but they both also made incredible feats in literature and history showing how strong women truly are. Sadly, women today are still treated as inferior to men, especially in the workforce. Women are being paid less than men for the same quality of work and it is simply unacceptable. It is 2016, not the 1950’s,

Beowulfs Origins Essay Example For Students

Beowulfs Origins Essay The origins of Beowulf predate the era of readily available manuscripts and texts for a common and, at the time, mostly illiterate peasantry to read. Though Beowulf was recorded in Old English, it can readily be assumed that its roots are to be found in the mostly oral traditions of the ancient Germanic tribes that roamed and settled much of Western Europe. Because of this heavy oral tradition, stories and legends were passed on by storytellers who would recite their tales from memory. Beowulf, in many ways, reflects this tradition in how it is told. Epics and ballads of considerable length may have needed repetition in order to be memorized easier, and Beowulf has many of its events told again and again. In that sense, a story being retold in Beowulf might be akin to refrain of a song. Also, it is quite possible that the especially more heroic events needed more emphasis, for killing Grendel was no small task, so repetition might have been used as a tool to remind the storytellers a s to which events within the Beowulf story were the most important. In essence, repetition in Beowulf was used both for memorization and event emphasis. First of all, repetition in Beowulf may be present as an aid for memorization. Though there are two different tales of Beowulfs heroism in water, it can be noted that both have many similarities. The first is told at the banquet before Beowulf it to face Grendel. Unferth, king Hrothgars spokesman, notes that Beowulf was bested by one Breca in a swimming contest. Though Beowulfs response is long and detailed, it is to be seen that he faced more than a few sea monsters. Rough were the waves; fishes in the sea were roused to great anger. Then my coat of mail, hard and hand-linked, guarded me against my enemiesA cruel ravager dragged me down to the sea-bed, a fierce monster held me tightly in its grasp (42). In his encounter with Grendels mother, much the same is to be seen after Beowulf dives into the lake. Then she grasped at him, clu tched the Geat in her ghastly claws; and yet she did not so much as scratch his skin; his coat of mail protected him; she could not penetrate the linked metal rings with her loathsome fingers (61). Though the stories take place at different times and under different circumstances, the parallels can easily be seen. From this, it can be surmised that for memorization purposes retelling the same story in a different way might be easier than telling a completely new one. Next, and perhaps more importantly, repetition stressed the important events that Beowulf undertook and marked them for the most important parts of the story. This can best be seen in the telling and oft repeated retelling of his encounter with Grendel. The first time it is told, obviously, is when the Geat performs the feat. However, following that, it is told again almost immediately to Hrothgar. I did not hold my deadly enemy firm enough for that; the fiend jerked free with immense power. Yet, so as to save his life, he left behind his hand (50). Again it is mentioned before Grendels mother attacks the thanes. Grendel, that hateful outcast, was surprised in the hall by a vigilant warrior spoiling for a fight. Grendel gripped and grabbed him there, but the Geat remembered his vast strengththus he overcame the envoy from hell, humbled his evil adversary (57). Beowulf himself tells of his fight with Grendel to King Hygelac. The demon monster meant to shove me in it, and many another innocent besides; that was beyond him after I leapt up, filled with furyGrendel escapedbut he left behind at Heorot his right hand (73). Though each telling is different in its length and wording, it can be derived that these repetitions are to strike the point home that while Beowulf did go on many different adventures and slay many beasts, the encounters that are repeated are the meat of the story and are the ones that are the most critical to be remembered and repeated. .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc , .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .postImageUrl , .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc , .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc:hover , .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc:visited , .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc:active { border:0!important; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc { 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; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc:active , .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .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; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1d673b2036732079dd882d46dd6135dc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Henry Ford Engineer Essay

Stephen Crane A Research Paper Essay Example

Stephen Crane: A Research Paper Essay Stephen Crane gained international renown through his book â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage†, which he wrote was published in 1985 when he was only 24 years old. This novel portrayed the American society during the Civil War. His father was Jonathan T. Crane, a member of the Methodist clergy and his mother is Mary Helen Peck Crane, who died when he was still young. He was born in Newark, New Jersey as the fourteenth child of his parents. Stephen Crane witnessed how his sisters and brothers died. Such experiences could have led him to portray violence in his fictional works. Four years after the death of his mother, her elder sister, Agnes, died because of meningitis. A year after, his brother Luther died of a railroad related accident. He was introduced to the world of writing when one of his siblings, Townley, gave him an opportunity to write about several activities of Ocean Front resort community. Because of his sharp criticism of the practices of the upper class, he lost his job along with his brother. His first novel, â€Å"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets† was published through the money he inherited from his mother (Vanouse, 2004). Stephen Crane’s life and writing career is very interesting. For one, the success of â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage† is phenomenal and upon first reading, it appears as if Crane, himself, was there to witness the horrors and scenes of war. Surprisingly, he did not personally witness the war! Rather, he relied on interviews and first hand accounts of the war and reconstructed their accounts in order for him to create vivid scenes and moving portrayals. He was only 28 when he died of tuberculosis. Such an early death seems to be a waste of talent. If he lived longer, he could have written more and employed his writing skills in analyzing and criticizing the society he lived in. His background is also interesting. His father is a Methodist minister. The initial expectation would be for him to be conservative and would tend to follow the faith and example of his father. His works, however would belie this initial example (Vanouse, 2004). We will write a custom essay sample on Stephen Crane: A Research Paper specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Stephen Crane: A Research Paper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Stephen Crane: A Research Paper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer H.G. Wells’ tribute to Crane A lot of people mourned the demise of Stephen Crane and not only his family. One of them was H. G. Wells, the renowned writer of science fiction and fantasy who has developed a close friendship with the author. The tribute of H. G. Wells was written more than a hundred years ago, yet it is timeless in expounding on the contributions of Crane to literature as well as to the person of Crane, himself. Wells (1900) praised the newness and the power of the literary method of Crane, which was eventually called naturalism or realism. He considered Crane’s method as a fresh breath into the literary world of English speaking countries and hailed his imagination for being vigorous. Moreover, it broke away from several traditions endemic in the literary world of that time. â€Å"It was a new thing, in a new school† (Wells, 1900, p. 234). Crane’s pen effectively eliminated trivial information from his prose and fiction and instead worked towards the presentation of elements and â€Å"impression†. Wells (1900) also described rather poignantly how Crane sat down and wrote his pieces. He said that Crane can sit down at home with only his mind conjuring scenes and acts of war, digging records of interviews and observations from his memory and have these thoughts and ideas translated into words by his pen as it writes on the paper. Wells also drew attention to a funny attitude of Crane – he is a bad traveler. He loses his trains as well as his luggage, miss connecting trips even in the absence of disturbing wars. Crane went to Greece and to Cuba as correspondent for war. These experiences contributed to the deterioration of his health. When he was on his way back from Cuba, the boat he was riding was shipwrecked. True to his calling to be a writer, he wrote about the experience and produced the short story â€Å"The Open Boat†. The reception to short stories, however, was on the decline during that period. As a result, the shorter works of Crane was not received very well by readers and critics alike, and he was encouraged to stop writing shorter pieces. Although, his health was failing, crane continued to write incessantly and produce works of fiction, war stories as well as engage in his journalistic work. On top of all these, he also experimented in writing poetry (Wells, 1900). Wells did not engage in the futile effort of trying to rank Crane on top of his contemporaries and colleagues. Rather he argued that Crane, prior to his early death, has left a very distinguishing mark in the landscape of English literature. His influence was important and that his writings will be sewn onto the fabric of literature for all time. The way that he wrote about war was praiseworthy, his descriptions vivid and profound, yet never did he expound on the reasons and justifications why those wars were fought. Wells concluded by declaring that Crane has opened up a new era of literature by recording impressions tinged with vigor and intensity (Wells, 1900). The Lighter Side of Crane: â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky† as Comedy Tibbetts (1965) has noted that a lot of critics and readers have regarded â€Å"The Bride Comes  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to Yellow Sky† as an allegory. Tibbetts, argued instead that it should be read as a comedy in order to fully appreciate its impact. Several authors have put forward allegorical interpretations of what the story means. One author, for example, regarded the marshal and the badman to be representations of idealism and stark realism on other extreme. Others viewed the story as a representation of the conflict between the cultures of Eastern and Western countries. The author drew attention to the style of writing employed by Crane. He argued that such a style was utilized in order to put several layers of meaning in his writing and discourage simple and shallow readers from getting the real message of the story. If Crane’s writing were analyzed, it can be observed that he used exaggerations as well as understatements in order to expound on his stories and ideas. On a deeper note, it appears that Crane viewed life as a long struggle and trick. What sets him apart, however, is his effective use of imagery and metaphor. Another possible reason for misreading Crane is his reputation for writing on â€Å"serious† topics and tragedies, which, more often than not, were infused with â€Å"dark meaning†. Yet, â€Å"The Bride..† is still a comedy that should be enjoyed and should be read â€Å"too deeply† (Tibbetts, 1965). The story is all about the town marshal and how he endeavored to bring his wife to Yellow Sky, a border town of Texas. It is a western story, and probably one of the best during its time. The story has four parts. The first one deals with the relationship of Jack with his wife, whose name was not given in the story. Perhaps her namelessness was meant to show that she is not very important in the story except for being Jack’s wife. The couple was on board a train and became self-conscious. As a result, they were made fun of by several passengers in the train. Jack and his wife eventually alighted from the train and walks toward his home. Crane then showed the state of the town through the six men who were drinking at the bar. One of those men, Scratchy, used to be an adversary of Jack. Perhaps because of drunkenness and old atrocities, Scratchy issues challenges and shoots the saloon door and a dog. Later he challenges Jack for a duel. Jack, however, declined his challenge. The n the subtly funny episode between Scratchy and Jack ensued. When Jack was already pressed for an answer why he was not answering Scratchy’s challenge, he simply answered that he was married. Scratchy then walks away, thinking and considering that his western practices are over (Erskine, 2007). The story symbolizes the end of the western era and the increasing encroachment of civilization to a frontier town, which is Yellow Sky. Jack, being a part of the community, represents a kind of break from tradition. He was presented as a person who takes himself seriously and who is thoughtful in what he does. In bringing his wife to the town, he appears to have betrayed the practices he used to have with his friends in the town. Although he appears to take himself too seriously, the comedy in the story is the way that Scratchy held himself and how he showed his provincialism and lack of erudition. Conclusion Stephen Crane can be regarded as a trailblazer in literature. During his time, his writing started shaping English literature towards a new direction. His peers have had great perceptions of his work. One of these peers is H. G. Wells, who praised Crane for eliminating trivial details from his prose and incorporating only the important aspects in developing his stories. He also hailed the imagination of Crane and the way that he created war stories not out of actual experiences but out of interviews and second hand sources. Nonetheless, Crane was effective in portraying war and its various aspects. Crane, however, was not a totally serious writer. Yes, he was keenly observant and did not allow any particular aspect of society and history to go unnoticed. He also managed to write on the lighter side. In spite of the way that various authors and critics read â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†, he managed to depict an aspect of western culture that was about to be phased out, r ather comically, instead of seriously. This multi-faceted talent of Crane lends credence to his contributions to literature. Truly, he was one genius who paved the way for other writers to further develop English literature. At first impression, Crane might be expected to become conservative because of his family background and with his father as a Methodist clergyman. Yet, such a conservative background did not prevent him from exploring various aspects of reality and society without regard for what the church might say or what his father might say. He freely experimented with his form and style and as Wells proclaimed, he broke away from tradition in order to pursue his own style. Such a display of individualism is admirable and perhaps one of the shapers of American culture. For even though society is important to an individual, it is still the individual who sets his own course, just as what Crane has shown. Too bad he died young. Reference Erskine, T. L. (2007). The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky: An Analysis. Retrieved 31 May 2007 from http://members.tripod.com/studies/ENGL2328/bride_yellow_sky.htm. Tibbetts, A. M. (1965). Stephen Cranes The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†. The English Journal, 54 (4), 314-316. Vancouse, D. (2004). Stephen Crane. The Literary Encyclopedia. Retrieved 31 May 2007 from http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=trueUID=1060. Wells, H. G. (1900). Stephen Crane. From an English Standpoint. North American Review Publishing Company, 171 (525), 233-242. Stephen Crane A Research Paper Essay Example Stephen Crane: A Research Paper Essay Stephen Crane gained international renown through his book â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage†, which he wrote was published in 1985 when he was only 24 years old. This novel portrayed the American society during the Civil War. His father was Jonathan T. Crane, a member of the Methodist clergy and his mother is Mary Helen Peck Crane, who died when he was still young. He was born in Newark, New Jersey as the fourteenth child of his parents. Stephen Crane witnessed how his sisters and brothers died. Such experiences could have led him to portray violence in his fictional works. Four years after the death of his mother, her elder sister, Agnes, died because of meningitis. A year after, his brother Luther died of a railroad related accident. He was introduced to the world of writing when one of his siblings, Townley, gave him an opportunity to write about several activities of Ocean Front resort community. Because of his sharp criticism of the practices of the upper class, he lost his job along with his brother. His first novel, â€Å"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets† was published through the money he inherited from his mother (Vanouse, 2004). Stephen Crane’s life and writing career is very interesting. For one, the success of â€Å"The Red Badge of Courage† is phenomenal and upon first reading, it appears as if Crane, himself, was there to witness the horrors and scenes of war. Surprisingly, he did not personally witness the war! Rather, he relied on interviews and first hand accounts of the war and reconstructed their accounts in order for him to create vivid scenes and moving portrayals. He was only 28 when he died of tuberculosis. Such an early death seems to be a waste of talent. If he lived longer, he could have written more and employed his writing skills in analyzing and criticizing the society he lived in. His background is also interesting. His father is a Methodist minister. The initial expectation would be for him to be conservative and would tend to follow the faith and example of his father. His works, however would belie this initial example (Vanouse, 2004). We will write a custom essay sample on Stephen Crane: A Research Paper specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Stephen Crane: A Research Paper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Stephen Crane: A Research Paper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer H.G. Wells’ tribute to Crane A lot of people mourned the demise of Stephen Crane and not only his family. One of them was H. G. Wells, the renowned writer of science fiction and fantasy who has developed a close friendship with the author. The tribute of H. G. Wells was written more than a hundred years ago, yet it is timeless in expounding on the contributions of Crane to literature as well as to the person of Crane, himself. Wells (1900) praised the newness and the power of the literary method of Crane, which was eventually called naturalism or realism. He considered Crane’s method as a fresh breath into the literary world of English speaking countries and hailed his imagination for being vigorous. Moreover, it broke away from several traditions endemic in the literary world of that time. â€Å"It was a new thing, in a new school† (Wells, 1900, p. 234). Crane’s pen effectively eliminated trivial information from his prose and fiction and instead worked towards the presentation of elements and â€Å"impression†. Wells (1900) also described rather poignantly how Crane sat down and wrote his pieces. He said that Crane can sit down at home with only his mind conjuring scenes and acts of war, digging records of interviews and observations from his memory and have these thoughts and ideas translated into words by his pen as it writes on the paper. Wells also drew attention to a funny attitude of Crane – he is a bad traveler. He loses his trains as well as his luggage, miss connecting trips even in the absence of disturbing wars. Crane went to Greece and to Cuba as correspondent for war. These experiences contributed to the deterioration of his health. When he was on his way back from Cuba, the boat he was riding was shipwrecked. True to his calling to be a writer, he wrote about the experience and produced the short story â€Å"The Open Boat†. The reception to short stories, however, was on the decline during that period. As a result, the shorter works of Crane was not received very well by readers and critics alike, and he was encouraged to stop writing shorter pieces. Although, his health was failing, crane continued to write incessantly and produce works of fiction, war stories as well as engage in his journalistic work. On top of all these, he also experimented in writing poetry (Wells, 1900). Wells did not engage in the futile effort of trying to rank Crane on top of his contemporaries and colleagues. Rather he argued that Crane, prior to his early death, has left a very distinguishing mark in the landscape of English literature. His influence was important and that his writings will be sewn onto the fabric of literature for all time. The way that he wrote about war was praiseworthy, his descriptions vivid and profound, yet never did he expound on the reasons and justifications why those wars were fought. Wells concluded by declaring that Crane has opened up a new era of literature by recording impressions tinged with vigor and intensity (Wells, 1900). The Lighter Side of Crane: â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky† as Comedy Tibbetts (1965) has noted that a lot of critics and readers have regarded â€Å"The Bride Comes  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to Yellow Sky† as an allegory. Tibbetts, argued instead that it should be read as a comedy in order to fully appreciate its impact. Several authors have put forward allegorical interpretations of what the story means. One author, for example, regarded the marshal and the badman to be representations of idealism and stark realism on other extreme. Others viewed the story as a representation of the conflict between the cultures of Eastern and Western countries. The author drew attention to the style of writing employed by Crane. He argued that such a style was utilized in order to put several layers of meaning in his writing and discourage simple and shallow readers from getting the real message of the story. If Crane’s writing were analyzed, it can be observed that he used exaggerations as well as understatements in order to expound on his stories and ideas. On a deeper note, it appears that Crane viewed life as a long struggle and trick. What sets him apart, however, is his effective use of imagery and metaphor. Another possible reason for misreading Crane is his reputation for writing on â€Å"serious† topics and tragedies, which, more often than not, were infused with â€Å"dark meaning†. Yet, â€Å"The Bride..† is still a comedy that should be enjoyed and should be read â€Å"too deeply† (Tibbetts, 1965). The story is all about the town marshal and how he endeavored to bring his wife to Yellow Sky, a border town of Texas. It is a western story, and probably one of the best during its time. The story has four parts. The first one deals with the relationship of Jack with his wife, whose name was not given in the story. Perhaps her namelessness was meant to show that she is not very important in the story except for being Jack’s wife. The couple was on board a train and became self-conscious. As a result, they were made fun of by several passengers in the train. Jack and his wife eventually alighted from the train and walks toward his home. Crane then showed the state of the town through the six men who were drinking at the bar. One of those men, Scratchy, used to be an adversary of Jack. Perhaps because of drunkenness and old atrocities, Scratchy issues challenges and shoots the saloon door and a dog. Later he challenges Jack for a duel. Jack, however, declined his challenge. The n the subtly funny episode between Scratchy and Jack ensued. When Jack was already pressed for an answer why he was not answering Scratchy’s challenge, he simply answered that he was married. Scratchy then walks away, thinking and considering that his western practices are over (Erskine, 2007). The story symbolizes the end of the western era and the increasing encroachment of civilization to a frontier town, which is Yellow Sky. Jack, being a part of the community, represents a kind of break from tradition. He was presented as a person who takes himself seriously and who is thoughtful in what he does. In bringing his wife to the town, he appears to have betrayed the practices he used to have with his friends in the town. Although he appears to take himself too seriously, the comedy in the story is the way that Scratchy held himself and how he showed his provincialism and lack of erudition. Conclusion Stephen Crane can be regarded as a trailblazer in literature. During his time, his writing started shaping English literature towards a new direction. His peers have had great perceptions of his work. One of these peers is H. G. Wells, who praised Crane for eliminating trivial details from his prose and incorporating only the important aspects in developing his stories. He also hailed the imagination of Crane and the way that he created war stories not out of actual experiences but out of interviews and second hand sources. Nonetheless, Crane was effective in portraying war and its various aspects. Crane, however, was not a totally serious writer. Yes, he was keenly observant and did not allow any particular aspect of society and history to go unnoticed. He also managed to write on the lighter side. In spite of the way that various authors and critics read â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†, he managed to depict an aspect of western culture that was about to be phased out, r ather comically, instead of seriously. This multi-faceted talent of Crane lends credence to his contributions to literature. Truly, he was one genius who paved the way for other writers to further develop English literature. At first impression, Crane might be expected to become conservative because of his family background and with his father as a Methodist clergyman. Yet, such a conservative background did not prevent him from exploring various aspects of reality and society without regard for what the church might say or what his father might say. He freely experimented with his form and style and as Wells proclaimed, he broke away from tradition in order to pursue his own style. Such a display of individualism is admirable and perhaps one of the shapers of American culture. For even though society is important to an individual, it is still the individual who sets his own course, just as what Crane has shown. Too bad he died young. Reference Erskine, T. L. (2007). The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky: An Analysis. Retrieved 31 May 2007 from http://members.tripod.com/studies/ENGL2328/bride_yellow_sky.htm. Tibbetts, A. M. (1965). Stephen Cranes The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†. The English Journal, 54 (4), 314-316. Vancouse, D. (2004). Stephen Crane. The Literary Encyclopedia. Retrieved 31 May 2007 from http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=trueUID=1060. Wells, H. G. (1900). Stephen Crane. From an English Standpoint. North American Review Publishing Company, 171 (525), 233-242.