Korean pottery essays

Korean pottery essays From 10,000 to 6,000 years ago, the mankind started to make earthenware and use them. In Korea, they have used earthenware from 7~8,000years ago-the New Stone Age. As time went by, glazes were sometimes employed. The firing temperature varied between 500 and 1,100 degrees. Earthenware was used in Korea until the early Koryo dynasty (10-11th centuries). Earthenware and bronze developed in parallel through the prehistoric age, and then the periods known in Korea as Silla and Kaya (from 57 BC until the 10th century), and Koryo (10-14th centuries). The earthenware pottery of Silla and Kaya is particularly noted for its formal qualities. The earthenware was used for utilitarian vessels, which were sometimes modelled into the shape of people, houses, and animals. Among the various pieces surviving from this period, we can find vessels expressing vividly the characteristic spirit of the Korean people, a spirit that has remained alive through the centuries until the present day. The facial e xpressions are comically exaggerated, we find amusing caricatures, as well as bold sexual features suggesting use in fertility rites, a variety of concise artistic details indicating a rich imagination. Through such works the image of our ancestors of centuries past has been transmitted to us today. In 9th century Silla(Koreas earliestdynasty), they have had great opportunity to trade with China and accepted manufacturing technology of Celadon. In China, jade signifies the true gentleman, wealth and honor. Therefore jade was popular for use in objects enclosed in tombs. The ruling classes were eager to possess jade, but it was too little for their needs, and very expensive. Therefore artisans tried to create jade from clay, and the result was the pottery known in the West as Celadon. In Korea, Chinese celadon pottery has been found in tombs dating from the 4-6th centuries, suggesting that the royal family of the period imported celadon from China as...

Word Choice Dessert vs. Desert - Proofread My Paper

Word Choice Dessert vs. Desert - Proofread My Paper Word Choice: Dessert vs. Desert We’ve all been there. You’re in a restaurant with friends. You finish your main course and order a â€Å"desert.† Moments later, the waiter returns and buries your table beneath a truckload of sand, ruining the evening for everyone. Mmmm sand. [Photo: Simon A. Eugster]OK, this probably hasn’t happened in real life. But that’s because â€Å"desert† and â€Å"dessert† are pronounced differently enough that you wouldn’t normally mix them up. Written down it’s different, and we see these terms confused on a regular basis. Sometimes this is a just a typo (so remember to proofread!) but it can also be an issue with spelling, so make sure you know the difference between these words. Dessert (Sweet and Delicious) This is the easy one, since â€Å"dessert† only has one meaning. Specifically, it’s used to describe sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal: For dessert, I ate my own body weight in ice cream. As such, you should only use â€Å"dessert† in reference to food. Getting hungrier now You sometimes see people write â€Å"just desserts,† but this is actually a mistake; the correct term is â€Å"just deserts,† meaning â€Å"that which is deserved.† By comparison, â€Å"just desserts† would mean something like â€Å"only puddings,† which is only useful if you run a diner for people with a sugar addiction. Desert (Dry and Sandy) The most common use of â€Å"desert† is to identify a place with little to no rainfall, typically somewhere hot and sandy: The Mojave is the hottest desert in the United States. It really is very, very hot there. [Photo: Theschmallfella]We also use this sense of â€Å"desert† as an adjective, such as when describing something associated with the desert: From his campaign in North Africa during WWII, Rommel became known as the â€Å"Desert Fox.† Meanwhile, the verb â€Å"desert† is pronounced a little differently despite having the same spelling. This sense of â€Å"desert† means â€Å"to abandon†: The prisoner got away after the guard deserted his post. Dessert or Desert? It’s easy to avoid mistakes with â€Å"dessert† and â€Å"desert† as long as you remember that â€Å"dessert† only has one meaning (it becomes even easier if you imagine the double-â€Å"s† in â€Å"dessert† stands for â€Å"something sweet†). Once you’ve ruled that out, whether you’re using â€Å"desert† as a noun or a verb, the spelling is the same. Just keep in mind that: Dessert (noun) = The final course in a meal (â€Å"something sweet†) Desert (noun) = A dry, sandy area of land Desert (verb) = To leave or abandon

English annotation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

English annotation - Essay Example e a human being and used to walk on two’s as he is told by those who knew him, â€Å"the people who survive the horrible chemical fog and poisoning of the water suffer from terrible diseases† (Sinha 1). People’s livers begin to rote as a result of the incidence of the ingestion of the chemicals in the industry. Khaufpur is a small poor town, it does not have doctors who can treat the disease that the people are suffering from. An American doctor, Elli Barber, is sent to Khaufpur to run a clinic without payment. The author describes that Elli Barber encounters a lot of problems than her earlier believe the activity will go on smoothly. The people of Khaufpur are very suspicious of the behavior of Elli and they believe that Elli is contacted to the thing they hate most, the Kampani. There is evidence that people do not have hope for the change. The narrator says that many people had written about the town, but it had not brought justice to the town (3). The subsequent paragraphs give the summary of what happens. A man named Zafar is a professional activist who champions for the rights of the people of Khaufpur. Zafar has a group of individuals that helps him to carry out his work of activism. The group consists of many people, who include; Farouq, Zafars right-hand man, Someraji, who was once a professional singer that has been an activist for about a decade, and Nisha, Zafars girlfriend, Somerajis daughter and the hope and girlfriend of Animals life. Animal is also ingested in Zafars group. He is used as a spy. Animal is sent into the clinic to watch over and inform on Elli and ends up befriending her. Zafar is seen as their god, respected for his kindness, respect and whatever he says no one can object. When Zafar suspects that Elli Barber is in league with the man they hate most Kampani, he cautions and convinces all the people to boycott and avoid the free medication (303). Animal believes that Elli will help him to achieve his dream. More than anything

Edgar Allan Poe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Edgar Allan Poe - Essay Example Yet, though the narrative structures are dissimilar and combine with the language to produce distinct atmospheres in the two tales, the settings created by the author demonstrate remarkable similarities of effect. The tale of the House of Usher is told by a narrator who discovers much of the story's substance as the tale unfolds. Nevertheless, he is considered sufficiently trustworthy, as his thoughts are coherent and he feels the mystery of the situation as much as the reader comes to feel it in the earliest moments of the story. The fact that he is so affected by the simple yet strange things in this setting startles him as it intrigues the reader. He considers this fact "unsatisfactory," and that places him in the realms of sanity and garners the trust of the reader. The narrator of "The Tell-tale Heart," from the very beginning, startles the reader with a very abrupt and spastic attitude that gains the immediate mistrust of the reader. The very form of the text is broken by dashes, as the narrator introduces the possibility of his madness in the very first sentence. He goes on to mention "the disease," which further confirms his untrustworthiness. The result of this is that, while the rea der unites his interests with the narrator of "The Fall of the House of Usher," the same reader is inclined to feel no sympathy for the narrator of "The Tell-tale Heart." The tension of the suspense is increased in the former tale and decreased in the latter because of the difference in sympathy levels for the two narrators. A mysterious atmosphere exists in both the tales, though the nature of the mystery and reasons for suspense differ. The language and setting used to create these atmospheres are largely responsible for the existence of these differences. On the one hand, "The Tell-tale Heart" is granted a certain psychological mystery as the uncertainty lies in what actions might proceed from the mind (and body) of the narrator. In contrast with this, the mystery of the House of Usher occurs outside the narrator and any dangers present are almost as likely to happen to him as anyone else. The psychological constitution of the narrator of the Tell-tale heart is revealed through the author's use of the language, as he gives the impression of the narrator's picking motives out of thin air. In fact, he at first declares that there was no object for "the idea" that entered his brain, but soon lights upon the old man's eye and declares unconvincingly, "I think it was his eye! yes, it was this!" (121). Thes e inconsistencies create a kind of concentrated fear in the mind of the reader. It differs from the diffuse fear found in the tale of the house of Usher, as this fear comes from not knowing where danger lies. This fear is reflected in the narrative language used by the author. Apart from the story's beginning in the middle of a solitary wooded area, lacking in all light and sound, the description of the House of Usher itself demonstrates the use of language to create a gothic and eerie atmosphere in which all evil seems possible. It was "an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven, but which had reeked up from the decayed trees, and the gray wall, and the silent tarn, in the form of an inelastic vapor or gas - dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leadenhued" (179). The descriptions call forth images of cold death, with the dreary possibility of spirits lurking within the vaporous substance that suffuses the air

The Gothic Horror genre Essay Example for Free

The Gothic Horror genre Essay With particular reference to the construction of Mr Hyde, discuss how portrayal of the character places the novella into the Gothic Horror genre. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886, a time where the Gothic Horror story was at its fullest expression, and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde continues to remain one of the most well written, exciting and terrifying Gothic Horror stories to date. The Gothic Horror story has adapted over time, first being associated with dark, mysterious forces of the personality which were though of as uncivilised and therefore medieval and Gothic. However, it was then being used to describe the mysterious, the fantastic and occasionally, the horrific, appealing to the emotional side of human experience and throwing off the shackles of reason. Gothic Novels all shared similar settings, which were not just castles but anywhere that created a dark and mysterious atmosphere, and by the nineteenth century, Gothic Horror began to develop into ordinary human beings in familiar environments, to make the reader even more inclined to believe the unbelievable; that such dreadful events could actually happen; and this is exactly what Stevenson has done. Stevenson wrote Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at a time where science was still relatively new; Darwins theory of evolution had turned what was a very religious world upside-down, and that, combined with the discovery of electricity and other scientific breakthroughs, made people start to believe that anything was possible. It is this that makes the events in Stevensons novel, which consists of ordinary characters in familiar settings, that much more believable, and therefore even more terrifying. Stevensons Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde fits into this mould of a Gothic Horror story perfectly, and this is largely down to the construction and portrayal of the character of Mr Edward Hyde; the evil half of Dr Jekylls personality. Stevenson introduces the theme of their being two sides to everybodys personality with his opening description of Mr Utterson. Stevenson begins by creating a negative impression of the lawyer, that he is of a rugged countenance and that he is never lighted by a smile. This creates the impression that he is unfriendly and cold, and that he does not show his feelings, yet Stevenson manages to compensate for this by saying that Utterson is yet somehow loveable, and explains that he helped people rather than to reprove. Stevensons use a lot of pathetic fallacy throughout the novel is apparent, and this technique is a very strong and common factor displayed in a lot of Gothic Novels. Stevenson has used it to emphasise the horror that he is describing, and it helps to create a generally terrifying and Gothic atmosphere. An example of this is that Jekylls evil side only comes out at night, as this relates to Stevensons theme of good and evil, where evil is associated with darkness and mysterious atmospheres. The first we learn of Mr Hyde is through the very odd story that Enfield tells Utterson at the beginning of the novel. Utterson and Enfield are walking through a street, which Stevenson describes as having an air of invitation about it, and readers are led to believe that as they are walking, Utterson and Enfield are quite safe in their quiet, peaceful town. However when Enfield begins his odd story, it is about three oclock, of what he describes as a black winter morning. This gloomy atmosphere, where there was nothing to be seen but lamps, leads readers to believe that something odd is about to happen. The very first description of Hyde is that he is a little man who was stumping, which suggests that he is not as proper as the other characters in the novel, and that there is, perhaps, something different about him. Quickly, Stevenson lets the readers know that this inkling is right, as Hyde trampled calmly over the childs body, which is horrible enough, but readers then learn that Hyde left her screaming on the ground. This suggests that Hyde was not fazed by what he had just done, and walked off as if nothing had happened; this is almost evil. Although it is not a particularly horrific event, it gives readers a taste for what is going to come, and they can guess that this is not going to be the first of many such incidents, that can only get worse from here. When Enfield collared Hyde, Stevensons description of Hyde at this point already suggest that he is not quite human, and that although nobody can quite pinpoint it, he has a peculiar effect on all those who encounter him, and this is Stevensons way of conveying the sinister atmosphere that is so often created in a Gothic Novel. For example, Enfield describes that Hyde just gave him one look, so ugly that it brought out the sweat on me like running. Also, Enfield explains that the girl Hyde knocked over was screaming not because she was in pain, but because she was frightened; and Hyde had such an effect on the doctor, Sawbones, that every time he looked at Hyde, he turned sick and white with the desire to kill him. When Utterson asks Enfield what Hyde looked like, Enfield explains that he is not easy to describe, and that he gives the strong feeling of deformity, which suggests that his appearance is enigmatic, which backs up what I have already mentioned of him having a peculiar effect on all those who encounter him, and also that he is not quite human. All of this makes Hyde a typical Gothic character and he certainly fits into the tyrannical males mould that is often used to describe such Gothic characters. The house that Hyde goes into to get the gold and the cheque Dr Jekylls house showed no window and throughout the novel there are further references to this, as well as to locked doors, barred windows and a thick, muffling fog. All of this adds to Stevensons creation of a Gothic atmosphere of secrecy and mystery. Although Utterson and Enfield agree never to refer to this again (this being Hyde), Utterson makes it his mission to seek Hyde, and try to work out the mystery regarding him and Dr Jekylls will, and after nights of waiting for Hyde to appear at the door he was first associated with, Hyde does just that. It is always night time when Utterson waits for Hyde, and this particular night was accompanied by frost in the air and was very silent and very solitary, which puts readers on guard, as throughout Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Stevenson uses dark, silent nights as the setting for horrific events, such as when Hyde trampled calmly over the childs body. This use of pathetic fallacy makes it easy for Stevenson to make events instantly terrifying, as the recognition of this setting automatically frightens readers as they know that something bad is about to happen, and it adds powerfully to the brooding and menacing atmosphere he has successfully created. Stevenson represents the beast in man by referring to Hyde in a number of animal images, and when Utterson greets Hyde, Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of breath, which shows his momentary fear, as if he has been caught off-guard. Hyde avoids showing Utterson his face, and only does so on request; this builds up the element of mystery that is sustained throughout the novella, and readers still do not know very much about Hyde. Further on in the novel Stevenson describes Hyde as moving like a money, by which, with reference to Charles Darwins theory of evolution, Stevenson is suggesting that by turning into the ape-like Hyde, Jekyll is evolving backwards. As the pair question each other, Hyde snarled into a savage laugh, which gives Hyde an element of terror about him. When Hyde is described for the second time this time from Uttersons own point of view he has the same dwarfish stance and gives the same impression of deformity without any nameable malformation of which Enfield emphasised when he tried to describe the character, which again adds to the air of mystery surrounding the character himself. Hyde speaks with a husky whispering and a broken voice, which although readers do not yet know, Stevenson is referring to the fact that Hyde is not a whole person. Utterson continues to be confused and frightened by Hyde even after he has disappeared, as he tries to describe the unknown disgust, loathing and fear that he senses from the character, which convinces the readers that Hyde is most certainly someone or something to be feared, and this is confirmed when Utterson links Hyde with the devil by saying he says that Hydes face was marked with Satans signature. Stevenson continues to leave readers in suspense until Hydes true identity is revealed to them in the ninth chapter, although he does drop clues along the way to allow readers to try and figure the mystery for themselves. The plot is eventually exposed by Dr Laynon, who witnessed Hydes transformation back into Jekyll for himself, and recalls his account in detail in the ninth chapter; Dr Lanyons Narrative. Lanyons first task is to recover, with all its contents as they stand, the fourth drawer down in Jekylls cabinet. Stevenson uses the recurring motif of the locked door to re-enforce the atmosphere of secrecy which pervades the Gothic novel; the lock of which was so strong that it took two highly skilled men two hours to open. Of the contents, Lanyon notices in particular a blood red liquor with a highly pungent smell; Stevenson has used this to suggest that Jekyll is involved in highly dark, secretive and dangerous practices, and that the reader is soon going to be dragged further than ever before into this terrifying mystery. Lanyon is told to meet Jekylls messenger at midnight, which adds to Stevensons creation of a Gothic atmosphere and adds mystery and suspense to the story. Stevenson is using his clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ setting of it being a dark, silent night, as he has throughout the novel, to build up to the main event. Readers will recognise this familiar setting and horror will rise inside them, as they do not know what is going to happen next; only that it will be terrifying and is going to involve the evil character of Hyde. When the messenger does appear, it is instantly recognisable to readers that it is Hyde through Lanyons use of Gothic vocabulary to describe the figure. The first description of him is that he is a small man crouching against the pillars, and Lanyon describes his disgustful curiosity at the sight of the man wearing a ludicrous accoutrement of oversized clothes which was far from moving [Lanyon] to laughter. Stevenson again refers to the beast in man by demoting Hyde to a creature that is seizing, surprising and revolting. This description of Hyde is sinister and grotesque, to make him fit even better into his Gothic role as a tyrannical male, which further builds up the Gothic atmosphere of mystery and suspense that Stevenson is trying to create as readers wait for Hydes true identity to be revealed to them. Stevenson lets readers know that something dangerous is about to happen as the policeman not far off causes Hyde to make greater haste. Hyde appears to be hysterical with sombre excitement, which leaves readers terrified as to what is going to happen when Lanyon gives him the contents of the drawer. Stevenson builds up the atmosphere of excitement, mystery and suspense by building up Hydes joy; he is so excited at the prospect of Lanyon having got the drawer for him that he has to put his hand to his throat to wrestle against the approaches of hysteria. When Lanyon does reveal the package to him, Hyde sprang to it, and this suggests that the contents are very exciting, yet dangerous and leads the reader to fear for Hydes life as Lanyon does. Stevenson suggests that Hyde is pure evil when he turned a dreadful smile and then when he opens the package he uttered one loud sob which was of such immense relief that Lanyon sat petrified. This event is building up the tension, and it appears that Hyde is getting so excited that he can no longer control himself; to Stevenson uses Lanyons narration to emphasise the horror of the situation and describe just how terrified Lanyon is. In turn, this makes the reader terrified, as they know that something dreadful and horrifying is about to take place. Stevenson is building up to the main event, and is using as much Gothic description as he can to terrify readers and get them gripped for what is about to happen; this is another classic sign of a Gothic novel. On pouring the potion, Hyde gives Lanyon a choice; this is that Hyde can either go home and drink the potion on his own, or he can stay for Lanyon to watch what is about to happen. This is clearly a challenge to Lanyon and everything he represents. Hyde obviously intends to teach the doctor, Jekylls ignorant, blatant pedant, a lesson; to him this would be to settle matters. He is in total command here, recognising that Lanyons greed of curiosity controls him. It is important to remember that Lanyon is given a clear choice, and it is in his own greed that he chooses to watch Lanyon drink the potion. Jekyll is obviously proud of his scientific achievement, and teases Lanyon that he has denied the virtue of transcendental medicine and ridiculed his superiors (by whom he is referring to himself), and readers know that something amazing and exciting, but at the same time horrific and terrifying, is about to happen once Hyde says behold! Stevensons use of Gothic language to terrify readers as Hyde reacts to the potion is particularly important, as he describes how Hyde reeled and staggered; he clutched at the table; he stared with infected eyes, gasping with open mouth, and suddenly the figure standing right in front of, and staring at Lanyon is no longer Mr Hyde, but Dr Jekyll. Stevenson continues to use Gothic language to describe Hydes metamorphosis to Jekyll which will particularly terrify contemporary readers as Stevenson was writing at a time that people thought anything was possible with science, and many believed that transcendental medicine, such as Jekylls own potion, was probable; therefore contemporary readers would think that the events in Jekyll and Hyde were not that unlikely, and could be happening on their street. Therefore they would have been more terrified at Hydes transformation than modern readers, and Stevensons Gothic description of the figures face becoming suddenly black and his features seeming to melt and alter as he is now half Jekyll, half Hyde, helps readers to really imagine the metamorphosis as if they were seeing it for themselves. Lanyons petrified reaction makes readers even more scared, as he sprung to his feet, raised his arm to shield himself from the prodigy, and his mind submerged in terror. This terrifies readers as they begin to imagine Lanyons reaction as their own, and they can see the figure staggering about, his features swelling, and they suddenly realise the truth of Jekylls two personalities. Stevenson describes Lanyon to have destroyed himself, and his life has been shaken to its roots, and this makes readers realise the full extent of what they have just witnessed. Overall, I think that Stevenson has portrayed Hyde to fit in with the typical Gothic mould of the tyrannical male, not only through his use of Gothic language, but through the horrific events themselves; the chilling, secretive, mysterious atmosphere; and the after-thought to contemporary readers that something like this is entirely possible to happen. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a lot more terrifying to contemporary readers for several reasons. One reason is that at that time of scientific breakthroughs and Charles Darwins theory of evolution, the world had been turned on its head, and people thought that anything was possible with science; they certainly believed in transcendental medicine, which would take human beings from beyond the realms of normal experience. Also, Stevenson has left clues throughout the novel to allow readers to guess the plot by themselves, which would lead to all sorts of wonders in their imagination; however the story is so well known now that modern readers know the plot, the twist and all events in-between the novel, that it would neither frighten nor surprise them. Also, Stevensons use of Gothic description is particularly terrifying as it allows readers to conjure all sorts of horrific images, however the play has been re-enacted in theatre and in film now so many times that there is not much left to imagine for modern readers anyway.

An Analysis of Effectiveness Essay -- Martin Luther King Toni Morrison

An Analysis of Effectiveness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Martin Luther King Jr. and Toni Morrison are two of the many great writers of the late twentieth century. Their styles follow rhetorical guidelines to create persuasive arguments and clear writing. To show how they accomplish this I will be comparing the rhetorical style used by King in 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail,'; with that of Morrison in 'Friday on the Potomac.'; Each of these works result from strong opinions surrounding the issue of racial equality in the United States, and each appeals to the desire of achieving that equality. In order to address a sensitive topic such as racism and achieve the desired results, the authors had to implement various methods of persuasion. While each author chooses different manners with which to accomplish this, each forms clear writing with convincing arguments. They achieve this clarity due to their understanding and use of ethos, pathos, and logos as the foundations for creating these arguments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before we can examine the writing on the basis of these three elements, we must first understand the meanings of each. They were conceptualized by Aristotle as the keys to persuading an audience. Ethos, directly translated, means 'worthy of belief,'; and deals with establishing credibility. Pathos involves 'putting hearers†¦into the right frame of mind with regard to certain issues and the speakers persuasive intent'; (Smith 83). Logos includes the arguments that are used to make a point, and involves the basis upon which the arguments were made. The use of these three elements in harmony with each other will produce a persuasive argument according to Aristotle. Being that he did 'write the book on rhetoric,'; I will be using the ideas of Aristotle as the blueprint for effective writing to which I will compare the works of King and Morrison.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First I will examine Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter which embodies all of the characteristics outlined by Aristotle. The most clearly presented element in King's article is the use of ethos. King establishes himself as a credible and learned man early in the letter so that the reader has an immediate connection with him, and then he carries the thought throughout the letter's entirety. Within the first paragraph he uses this tactic when he writes, 'If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would h... ...How could the notion of union, nation, or state surface when race, gender, and class†¦dominated every moment and word of the confirmation process?'; (Morrison xii). The answer to the question lies within itself and forms the basis of her argument to follow throughout the essay. She then begins to demonstrate how race, gender, and class played into the hearings, in order to substantiate the argument. The reader then has no choice but to agree with her ideas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thus, we see that both Morrison and King were both admirable in their abilities to persuade their audiences, though each did so using different tactics. King focused mainly on establishing his own credibility so that his statements would bear the appropriate weight necessary for effectiveness. Morrison, however focused her strategy on the manipulation of the audience by using their emotions and empowering them to confirm her arguments. Regardless of the individual focus of each author's style, they both contained the necessary elements of successful writing as defined by Aristotle: ethos, pathos, and logos. These elements form the backbone upon which all good writing should form, and these two passages verify that.

Explain Platos Theories of Form Essay

Plato was born in 429 B. C. As the son of a wealthy nobleman, he turned his back on a political scene, and devoted himself to writing ideas of his master, complimented with his own views in his dialogues. One particular theory he dedicated his time to was the the theory of ‘The forms’. Plato’s theory of forms is strongly based on what is real and what is not. What is real is thought to be perfect, but something cannot be real or perfect if it is always changing. He believed that behind every concept in the visible world, there is an unseen reality, which he calls its Forms. A form is an abstruse property or quality. The forms may be seen as ideal blueprints for the particular earthly example of beauty and trees, and so on, which Plato called particulars. If you take any property of an object and then separate it from that object and consider it by itself, you are deliberating a form. For example, if you separate the roundness of a tennis ball from its color, power and its weight, etc. and consider just roundness by itself, you are thinking of the from of roundness. Plato reasoned that this property of roundness existed not just in the appearance of a tennis ball, but in a different mode of existence. Plato believed that therefore all round objects, not just this tennis ball, participate or copy this same form of roundness. The same thing occurs with concepts like equality; we recognise two shapes are being equal because we have some awareness of the Form of Equality. Plato explains that the â€Å"World of forms† is very different to the â€Å"Visible world†. The â€Å"World of forms† can only be properly understood by philosophers and those who seek knowledge, not by the ignorant or those who do not wish to learn the truth. The theory of forms makes an analysis between those objects that are real and those that are only real in our minds. Plato emphasised that the Forms exist separately from their particulars. The Forms are eternally more real than their particulars, which only ‘appear’ to exist and therefore are very vague reflections of the Forms. The forms are radically different from the visible world in that they are not dependent upon or made of Physical matter. Plato believes that physical matter is inherently illusory and unreliable because it is subject to change. As the source of all knowledge possible, the Forms must be totally consistent meaning that it is eternal and unchanging, they transcend and go beyond the material. They are therefore immaterial (non-physical) which is why they cannot be detected by the senses but through the soul. Unlike the Forms, the particulars depend on physical matter and are changeable and imperfect. Plato believes that the different Forms are all connected to each other in a fixed order of importance. Most important of all is the Form of the Good, which is central to the existence of the whole universe. It is the principle of order, which structures the other forms, giving each other Forms, giving each other its own nature. Without this Form, there would be no ideal of beauty or justice etc†¦ According to Plato, knowledge of the Good is the highest knowledge a human is capable of. The ordinary person struggles to see past the illusion of this world because they ware ruled by their senses. Only the philosopher is capable of seeing beyond, because he can make a priori judgements The analogy of â€Å"The Cave† relates to the theory of ‘The Forms’ . Plato used the cave story to explain the importance of questioning everything like a philosopher does in order to distinguish between the unreal physical world and the real spiritual world lit by the sun. The prisoners in the cave are people who just accept everything at face value and never try to understand and ask questions. Their lives are therefore empty and meaningless. The tied prisoners are in an illusory world, what they think is reality, the shadows, is not really reality at all. Plato says that their situation is no different from ours. In Plato’s thinking people do not see the Forms clearly, only the illusory physical world. The puppets that people carry are also images of the Forms. These images are themselves only imitations or copies of the true reality of the Forms. The prisoner that breaks away and escapes making the tough journey (tough, because this relates to the distress it causes for a philosopher to change someones mind) out of the cave is the philosopher who wants to know what is really going on. In the outside world. As the sun gives life to all things and illuminates them, enabling us to see them for what they are, meaning the Form of the Good gives rise to all knowledge, enabling us to recognise the other Forms. The Theory of Forms represents Plato’s attempt to advance our expansion for abstract thought. Philosophy was a relatively new invention in Plato’s day, and it competed with mythology, tragedy, and epic poetry as the primary means by which people could make sense of their place in the world. Art and mythology was appealing to our emotions and desires whereas philosophy appeals to the intellect. The Theory of Forms differentiates the abstract world of thought from the world of the senses, where art and mythology operate. Plato said that abstract thought is superior to the world of the senses.