Class Notes
1. Politician & Statesman
We hear a lot about politicians but not enough about statesmen. People think of a politician as someone having one primary objective -- to get elected. The general view of a statesman, however, is of someone interested in the common good of constituents and not his own ego. An example of a politician is a person running for office who flip-flops on issues as the polls change. The politician makes promises but may not deliver on them once elected. A statesman is a person who stands by his ideals and does everything in his power to do what he believes is right for the people of his country.
Statesman Principles
Statesmen stand on a platform of fundamental truths. They believe in certain core values and don't change beliefs to get ahead in politics. A statesman, however, may change his policies and methods of going about achieving his goals. He may even be criticized for doing so, but he believes that the short-term sacrifice is necessary to the long-term triumph. According to the author of "Politics Among Nations," Hans J. Morgenthau, statesmen are political realists. They look at policy in terms of its effect on the nation.
Politician Principles
Politicians may have beliefs, but they tend to be flexible and grounded in the political sphere. Most politicians base decisions on power, wealth or conformity to legal rules or morals, or, as Morgenthau states "[the] landscape of international politics is the concept of interest defined in terms of power." Therefore, rather than seeking power for the nation, they instead strive for power for their party, Congress or the government.
http://work.chron.com/statesman-vs-politician-21103.html
2. English Dictionary
- Macmillan Dictionary | Free English Dictionary and Thesaurus Online
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/
- Merriam-Webster: Dictionary and Thesaurus
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
3. Building Vocabulary for College: R. Kent Smith
http://ishare.iask.sina.com.cn/f/24693085.html
4. Fairy Tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features folkloric fantasy characters, such as dwarves, elves, fairies, giants, gnomes, goblins, mermaids, trolls, unicorns, or witches, and usually magic or enchantments. Fairy tales may be distinguished from other folk narratives such as legends (which generally involve belief in the veracity of the events described) and explicitly moral tales, including beast fables. The term is mainly used for stories with origins in European tradition and, at least in recent centuries, mostly relates to children's literature.
In less technical contexts, the term is also used to describe something blessed with unusual happiness, as in "fairy tale ending" (a happy ending) or "fairy tale romance" (though not all fairy tales end happily). Colloquially, a "fairy tale" or "fairy story" can also mean any far-fetched story or tall tale; it is used especially of any story that not only is not true, but could not possibly be true. Legends are perceived as real; fairy tales may merge into legends, where the narrative is perceived both by teller and hearers as being grounded in historical truth. However, unlike legends and epics, they usually do not contain more than superficial references to religion and actual places, people, and events; they take place once upon a time rather than in actual times.
- characters: elves, goblins, witches
- opening line: once upon a time
- happy ending
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_tale
List of fairy tales
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fairy_tales
Cinderella
Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper, (Italian: Cenerentola, French: Cendrillon, ou La petite Pantoufle de Verre, German: Aschenputtel) is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances, that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune. The oldest documented version comes from China, and the oldest European version from Italy. The most popular version was first published by Charles Perrault in Histoires ou contes du temps passé in 1697, and later by the Brothers Grimm in their folk tale collection Grimms' Fairy Tales.
China
A version of the story, Ye Xian, appeared in Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang by Duan Chengshi around 860. Here, the hardworking and lovely girl befriends a fish, the rebirth of her mother, who was killed by her stepmother and sister. Ye Xian saves the bones, which are magic, and they help her dress appropriately for the New Year Festival. When she loses her slipper after being recognized by her stepfamily, the king finds her slipper and falls in love with her (eventually rescuing her from her cruel stepmother).
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen (often referred to in Scandinavia as H. C. Andersen; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. Andersen's popularity is not limited to children; his stories, called eventyr in Danish, express themes that transcend age and nationality.
Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Nightingale", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling", "Thumbelina", and many more.
His stories have inspired ballets, animated and live-action films, and plays.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Christian_Andersen
The Princess and the Pea
"The Princess and the Pea" (Danish: "Prinsessen paa Ærten"; literal translation: "The Princess on the Pea") is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a young woman whose royal identity is established by a test of her physical sensitivity. The tale was first published with three others by Andersen in an inexpensive booklet on 8 May 1835 in Copenhagen by C. A. Reitzel.
Andersen had heard the story as a child, and it likely has its source in folk material, possibly originating from Sweden, as it is unknown in the Danish oral tradition.[1] Neither "The Princess and the Pea" nor Andersen's other tales of 1835 were well received by Danish critics, who disliked their casual, chatty style and their lack of morals.
In 1959 "The Princess and the Pea" was adapted to the musical stage in a production called Once Upon a Mattress starring Carol Burnett.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_and_the_Pea
http://hca.gilead.org.il/princess.html
The Little Mermaid
"The Little Mermaid" (Danish: Den lille havfrue) is a fairy tale by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul.
The tale was first published in 1837 and has been adapted to various media, including musical theatre and an animated film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Mermaid
http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html
The Little Mermaid (1989 film)
The Ugly Duckling
"The Ugly Duckling" (Danish: Den grimme ælling) is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875). The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from the others around him until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The story is beloved around the world as a tale about personal transformation for the better. The Ugly Duckling” was first published 11 November 1843, with three other tales by Andersen in Copenhagen, Denmark to great critical acclaim. The tale has been adapted to various media including opera, musical, and animated film. The tale is completely Andersen's invention and owes no debt to fairy tales or folklore.
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