My Love is Like a Red Rose Essay -- Robert Burns Poetry Literature Ess

Life is like A Red Rose This is the loveliest lyrical song of all time for Robert's wife - Jean Armour. It is widely known for not only its emotional significance bur its perfect form as well. Robert Burns opens this poem with a traditional comparison:"Oh my love is like a red red rose" Up to now, "rose" is considered the symbol of love. In this case, rose "is newly sprung in June", we can understand that his love is always at the starting point. Robert uses his rose with the meaning that it is very strong and passionate. In the second comparison, the poet shares, "the melodie" that "sweetly played in tune": "Oh my love is like the melodie" This is the conventional comparison that evolves the hearing sense of the beats of two hearts of those who are in love. This sounds very harmonious and is played sweetly in tune. The next stanza is begun with an inversion in the first and second lines to emphasize Robert's love becomes deeper and deeper. " So fair art thou, my bonnie lass So deep in love am I" The first speciality of this poem is the end of the second stanza and the beginning one of the third stanza are the same:" ...Till a'the seas gand dry" and "Till a'the seas gang dry, my dear..." Here is the link of the poem and also the continuing love Robert Burns has. There are two exaggerated images proving the poet's passionate and deep love: "Till a'the seas gang dry, my dear, and the rocks melt wi'the sun." The seas are so broad to get dry an...

Waiting for the phone call

The room is stuffy. It has a gaudy lino floor with pattern rubbed away in front of the sofa and round the table; the walls are damp and cluttered with old calendars and pictures torn from magazines. There is a rotten stench. The mantelpiece by the fireplace is filled with china ornaments: big-eyed flop-eared rabbits and beribboned kittens and flowery milkmaids and a porcelain doll wearing a Victorian dress and her long, golden hair in two neat plaits. The room is silent; except for the steady paced ‘tick-tock' from the ancient Grand-father clock. It is Dorothy's birthday, 12th August. She is hunched up on her old tacky sofa on an early August morning. Dorothy is startled by birdsong echoing across the garden outside and, for a long time, she stares in confused remembrance towards where the swelling orange sun is burning the faded floral wallpaper across from her old-fashioned table. ‘It's my birthday,' she finally realises. ‘I'm seventy-six today. Where did it go?' Climbing painfully from a lumpy sofa, standing in a striped night dress by the window, Dorothy stares outside in her back garden. There's much too be done. Later. Much later. These days it's all weed killing, backache and sore bones. ‘It's my birthday.' Dorothy's cat slithers past a glass sharp wall and drops beside its shadow under an apple tree, stalking anxious sparrows. Under the broken birdhouse a mouse plays with a nibble of yesterday's bread. Shadows shrink in bright shyness against all the garden fences and the last star melts into dawn rise. There's heat in the breathless August day already. Dorothy sits in her kitchen. Silent. The house, holding its breath around her, the roof heavy and oven baked. Dorothy's thick veined hands brush toast crumbs from the plastic tabletop and when she moves her faded dainty feet dust dances giddily on the sun patched carpet. She listens to the awakening of the new day: the clock on the dresser ticks hurriedly and the letter box snaps awake. Dorothy walks to the hall and picks up bills and ads that promise discounts and holidays abroad, Dorothy has never been out of England, never been on a plane. Her tired eyes examine the envelopes at arm's length. There are no birthday cards to sigh over – Not even from her family! Returning to the familiar kitchen she slides a knife along her letters, slitting out the folded information. It's better than nothing. Even if the electricity is red and overdue – At least, they keep in touch. No longer absorbed in her letter opening task Dorothy looks at the sunlight shining blindly on her glazed, brown teapot and then she pours some lukewarm tea. She sits and thinks about birthdays back then – Cakes and drinks, songs and celebrations and her precious beloved family members spending time with her on her special day. Back when. ‘Time flies,' she says. She's talking to herself most days – who else will listen? Up in the still shadowed parlour a clock chimes the hour and Dorothy rises tiredly and prepares to face the day. She stumbles into the living room and looks up to the mantelpiece. No birthday cards – Only a picture of her and her adorable grandchildren, Steven and Carol. Her eyes close. She becomes delirious with dreaming†¦ Carol skipping up the lawn with a small straw basket, picking up little daisies and carefully placing them in the basket. Steven, being 2 years old, filling the bird house with crunchy treats awaiting the magpies to glide in. Dorothy is stood under the apple tree, tip-toeing up and grabbing fresh, ripe apples for her relatives. Carol and Steven run over to Dorothy and wrap their arms tightly around her as if they were to never let go†¦ Dorothy smiles and wishes she could still feel their small hands around her waist, grabbing securely. She dresses and walks to the front door and checks the windows and the bolts and all's secure. When the night time house creaks with its own age, Dorothy thinks of burglars and imagined violations and trembles in case they invade her. Dorothy swings open the front door and sees Carol and Steven stands there, smiling like sunlight. ‘Happy birthday Grandmother!' No longer astonished, Dorothy smiles back and sighs because they aren't really there. Her head sinks and she wonders back to living room. She notices the phone on the table. She slides over to it. Gently picks it up to check if the dial tone is there – she is reassured and drops it down. No phone calls. No phone messages. No birthday cards. She collapses into her tacky sofa. When she turns on the television the news assaults her soul. The world is littered with dead children and pain. The world has gone mad with cruelty and nobody seems to have noticed. It was different back in her day, when children could go out and play happily on the street without anybody worrying that someone would come abruptly attack them. Back when. She is startled by the sharp ringing of the phone. Her heart is pounding – could this be the phone call she has been waiting for all day? Is this her treasured family? She reaches over and clasps the phone. ‘Hello?' she asks waiting urgently for answer. ‘Hello. My name is Abigail Taylor calling on behalf of†¦' the woman replied. Dorothy slowly lowers the handset and replaces it back in the holder. She stands there paralysed. A tiny tear drop trickles down her wrinkly skin. She felt so much pain it was as if someone had stabbed her millions of times in the heart. What is the point of living if there is nobody who even knows you exist? The Grandfather clock strikes six in the evening. She strolls back to the photo of her with her grandchildren. Dorothy bursts out in tears – her eyes sore and red and waterfalls of tears flowing down her face. She picks up the photo and holds it against her broken heart. Dorothy still hopes to get that special phone call from her much-loved grandchildren.

John Donne - 1376 Words

John Donne is the name in English Literature who gave new direction to the literary activities of his age. He is in a sense founded the metaphysical lyric, which was practiced by scare of writers. As Dowden says, â€Å"We are told that in the decline of the greater poetry of the Elizabethan period, a metaphysical school arose and that John Donne was the founder or the first eminent member of this school.† John Donne set up a new tradition in versification by and large Donne must be regarded as an original poet, â€Å"a poet who gave much more than what he borrowed from his age.† The word â€Å"metaphysical† has been defined by various writers differently. The learned critics feels that â€Å"metaphysical poetry† is inspired by a philosophy,†¦show more content†¦Then comes a conceit which also expresses the passion of the lovers: SHE’S ALL STATES, AND ALL PRINCES I; NOTHING ELSE IS. The most striking and famous one is the comparison of man who travels and his beloved who stays at home to a pair of compasses in ‘A Valediction Of Forbidding Mourning’. Here soul of the beloved is like the fixed foot of compasses as by her inborn nature she stays at home whereas the soul of the lover is like the other foot of compasses which moves beyond the center to complete a circle of journey. IF THEY BE TWO, THEY ARE TWO SO AS STIFF TWIN COMPASSES ARE TWO, THY SOUL THE FIX FOOT, MAKES NO SHOW TO MOVE, BUT (DOTH) IF THE OTHER DOE. In The Relique, John Donne imagines himself lying in a grave as a skeleton with the undeniable token of spiritual love in the sphere of his beloved’s bright lock of hair forming a bracelet about his wriste borne and because of their great love, he and his beloved will be honored like saints, ALL WOMEN SHALL ADORE US, AND SOME MEN. Another feature is the use of colloquial speech which marks the metaphysical poetry. In John Donne’s poems, the vigor of colloquialism is especially apparent in the abrupt, conversational opening of many of his poems. He selected colloquial diction which has vigor, freshness and originality. He discarded literary words and phrases which became rusty because of repetition. Another characteristic of metaphysical poetryShow MoreRelatedEssay on John Donne1928 Words   |  8 PagesJohn Donne John Donne had a rich life full of travel, women and religion. Donne was born in 1572 on Bread Street in London. The family was Roman Catholic which was dangerous during this time when Catholicism was being abolished and protestant was taking over. Donne’s farther was an iron monger who died in 1576. At 11 Donne and his younger brother went to university and studied there for three years then he went to Cambridge for a further three years. He left without any degrees becauseRead More Biography of John Donne Essay3729 Words   |  15 PagesBiography of John Donne John Donne was an English poet and probably the greatest metaphysical poets of all time. He was born in 1572 to a Roman Catholic family in London. His father died when John was young leaving his mother Elisabeth to raise him and his siblings. Throughout Donne’s life his experiences with religion were full of trials and tribulations, something that can be clearly seen in his poetry over time. He remained Catholic early in life while he attended both Oxford and CambridgeRead MoreJohn Donne Poetry Analysis2693 Words   |  11 PagesJohn Donne Poetry Essay The metaphysical poets were segregated in the seventeenth century to form a new and distinct style of poetry that employed immaculate wit, complex metaphors and luminous imagery. John Donne’s poetry is no exception to the form and thematic volume of the metaphysicals. Donne explores ideas in a manner which some readers find confronting and enlightening through relentless use of metaphysical conceits and his direct address to an individual or god. Donne confronts and enlightensRead MoreMetaphysical Poetry By John Donne1590 Words   |  7 Pagesgot involved in metaphysical poetry like: Samuel Johnson who wrote his book which is known as ‘’Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets’’, Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvel, Richard Crashaw, George Herbert and finally who was the main founder, John Donne. John Donne (1572 - 1631), the founder of the Metaphysical school of poetry, lived and wrote during the succeeding reigns of Elizabeth I, James 1 and Charles I. His early life was passed in dissipation and roguery, much occupied with secret love-makingRead MoreMetaphysical Poetry of John Donne1441 Words   |  6 PagesKirsten Furnish AP Literature Mrs. Hendricks November 1, 2012 Literary Analysis of John Donne This examination of John Donne’s metaphysical poetry includes analysis of Donne’s use of topic, structure, scansion, style and theme. John Donne is known as one of the best writers of metaphysical poetry, a genre of poetry that is characterized specifically by themes of knowledge, intellect, and having a somewhat unrecognizable meter or rhyme. Metaphysical poetry forsakes pure and genial nature of otherRead MoreJohn Donne And George Herbert942 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Donne and George Herbert are two metaphysical poets that lived in the United Kingdom around the 17th century. Although they are almost a generation apart in age, both poets showcase an unbelievable amount of comparison in their poems. Each of these poets has written about their life experiences from troubling times to love and compassion. Though they share similar backgrounds, each poet has a unique style that shows a great amount of symbolism, irony and spirituality. The poems EasterRead MoreSonnet 116 And John Donne1059 Words   |  5 Pages William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Sonnet 116† and John Donne’s â€Å"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning† similarly explore the theme of everlasting true love. However, both poems differ in rhyme scheme, techniques, and meaning. The poets use these tools to convey to the reader that everlasting true love does in fact exist. Although both speak so passionately about said love, only the speaker of Donne’s poem has actually experienced it. While both poems explicate eternal true love, their rhyme scheme differencesRead MoreDeath Be Not Proud By John Donne1329 Words   |  6 Pagesthe insignificance of death as a state in Donne’s time. However, this value does not transcend to our modern existential contexts, as epitomised in W;t, where death, seen as a terrifying fate, is the end of everything. Through irony and wit, we see Donne finally dismissed death, â€Å"Death, thou shalt die.† Consequently, we see how, through Donne’s context, the perennial issue of death is ridiculed and disempowered. In contrast to Donne’s poetry we see how the transition through time of sociologicalRead MoreDeath Is Inevitable By John Donne Essay1560 Words   |  7 PagesMeditations XVII by John Donne, the speaker talks about how everyone has a path in life and God is the one that decides who dies and who doesn t. By many, death is seen with fear, anger, denial, and grieve. In the poem, I Felt a Funeral in My Brain by Emily Dickinson, the speaker appears to be losing her mind and uses funeral as a metaphor; a representation of the speaker s emotions dying. For me, death is a way for a person to start a new chapter. Perhaps even a better â€Å"life†. John Donne was an EnglishRead MoreJohn Donne s A Fever1270 Words   |  6 Pagesmetaphysical poet, John Donne is known for use of strange paradoxical imagery, complicated thought, and questioning the nature of the reader’s reality. In the sonnet, â€Å"A Fever,† Donne explores an unusual and complex love that he has for a woman. Throughout this poem Donne makes use of the contrasting themes of love and hate. While some might this consider this unusually, Donne’s use of the contrasting themes of love and hate show that the love a woman can give purpose to a man’s existence. Donne begins his

Case Study of Brady v. Salt Lake City Essay - 610 Words

Significant Facts Two Utah sisters, Maria and Jan Brady posted a message on Facebook in support of anti-globalization and anti-genetically organism (GMO) activists against McDonalds restaurants, who had incited riots in Europe. The sister’s message, sent to over 500 â€Å"friends†, asking them to join the sisters in two days at 10 p.m. at a McDonalds near the sister’s apartment for a â€Å"night of riot, pillage, and fun†. A secondary message was sent out asking the participants to bring items that could be used as weapons or cause property damage. However, one of the â€Å"friends† that the message was sent to turned the postings over to the Salt Lake Police Department. SLCPD officers set up an operation at the scheduled place and time the sister’s†¦show more content†¦Similarly, a State’s statute will found constitutional if they are not arbitrary and a reasonable attempt of the state to protect the public within vested stat e police powers. In Gitlow v. New York, the petitioner was charged with criminal anarchy for advocating a socialist reform in the United States. In 1919, he had published a socialist manifesto and was preparing a mass distribution throughout New York City. The Court held that the State’s statute fell within ordinary scrutiny, and a reasonable means of exercising the police powers of the State. Justice Sanford held that a state has the power to prevent disturbing the peace and restrict speech that has the potential to incite violence, even though there may be no immediate threat of such action. Gitlow set the precedent for the â€Å"Bad Tendency† test, where freedom of speech and press does not give an individual the unmitigated right to any speech or publication without being held responsible for the results. However, in 1969, the Supreme Court held that the clear and present danger test was not an acceptable standard for interpreting the First Amendment. In Brandenbur g v. Ohio, Brandenburg was convicted under the Ohio Criminal Syndicalism Act, which prohibits â€Å"advocating the duty, necessity, or priority of crime, sabotage, violence, or unlawful methods of terrorism as a means of accomplishing industrial or political reform† (Epstein Walker, p. 223). The Court held that although the Act didShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages—San Diego State University Timothy A. Judge —University of Notre Dame i3iEi35Bj! Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: Ashley Santora Acquisitions Editor: Brian Mickelson Editorial Project Manager: Sarah Holle Editorial Assistant: Ashlee BradburyRead MoreCost Accounting134556 Words   |  539 PagesAccounting, 5/e 1–9. In decision making, managers or supervisors may wish to take actions that are not economically justifiable. In most cases, upon receipt of a well-developed cost analysis, a production manager is satisfied whether an action is feasible. If the action is not economically justifiable, the matter is dropped without conflict. In a few cases, however, managers may wish to pursue a project because of personal reasons, and hope to have an economic analysis to support it. In these situations

The Year 1789 By Abbe Emmanuel Sieyes - 1370 Words

The year 1789 was an eventful one in France with major changes happening all over the country. The French government was in a state of desperation, because of a string of wars and bad investments the country was now in bankruptcy. Abbà © Emmanuel Sieyà ©s a clergyman and member of the first estate, published a pamphlet entitled Qu’est-ce que le tiers-à ©tat? or as it is known in English What Is The Third Estate?. This pamphlet which was published in January 1789, marked a turning stone in the way of thinking in France. Sieyà ©s although himself a member of the first estate because he was a clergyman, understood the importance of the third estate. He understood that the third estate was the foundation that which France was built on. They were the farmers, the cobblers, the Bakers, the tavern owners and as his own father once was the postmaster’s. It is because of the fact that his own father and he himself until he became a clergyman were members of the third estate that Sieyà ©s had such an in-depth understanding of the importance that third estate held in maintaining the health of the country as a whole. He even goes as far as to state the third estate is a nation in of itself. With its own set of classes that separate the people, and express the importance of each job that they contribute to the community. He claims that the first class is made up of farmers, for they feed the people and nourish the country. He states, â€Å"Since earth and water furnish the raw material for man’sShow MoreRelatedToward the Terror1257 Words   |  6 PagesThe French Revolution began in 1789 aiming to transform France into a more liberal, equal society ruled by a constitutional monarchy. Yet by 1793 it had generated something else entirely— a system of repression and violence referred to as the Terror. While some insist that the Revolution’s culmination at this point was inevitable, others assert that key events between 1789 and 1793 set the Revolution on this particular trajectory. Siding with the latter, I argue that King Louis XVI’s attempted flightRead MoreThe Causes And Consequences Of The French Revolution Essay5309 Words   |  22 Pagescauses and consequences of the French Revolution: The Tennis Court Oath Introduction The French Revolution was arguably and widely regarded by historians as being one of the most important events in human history. The revolution in France (between 1789 to 1799) accelerated the rise of republics and democracies. It became the â€Å"focal point for the development of all modern political ideologies, leading to the spread of liberalism, nationalism, socialism, feminism, and secularism (among many others)Read MoreCauses of the French Revolution Essay1336 Words   |  6 Pageswas widely circulated and the people were seeing Necker as a hero because he seemed to have saved the government from bankruptcy. Neckers report was eventually exposed, and he was dismissed shortly afterwards. Besides the debt caused by the Seven Year Wars, France also supported America in its attempts to win the American Revolution. Half of the countrys budget was used to pay off these debts. Tax collection had been an utter disaster. The taxes were different in each region. Private businessesRead More The French Revolution of 1789 Essay1950 Words   |  8 Pageswidely circulated and the people were beginning to see Necker as a hero because he seemed to have saved the government from bankruptcy. Neckers report was eventually exposed, and he was dismissed shortly afterwards. Besides the debt caused by the Seven Year Wars, France also supported America in its attempts to win the American Revolution. Half of the countrys budget was used to pay off these debts. Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish satirical writer once said â€Å"Alas, much more lies sick than poor Louis: not

American National Standards Institute Free Essays

In every database project, there would always be requirements for the implementation of its data model. For it to work well and test its functionality, a data value might be needed. This data value will assume a value that is unknown. We will write a custom essay sample on American National Standards Institute or any similar topic only for you Order Now In relational databases, SQL server uses a placeholder called NULL that resembles unknowns. NULL sets parameters so some data modelers can avoid using it. However, just like any other technology, complications would always arise. One of these is an argument whether it’s good to use NULL or not. NULL is a condition, apart from being unknown (Poolet, 2006). However, along with its many uses are issues supported by some books that suggest minimization of using NULL. There are also a few authors who came to a point of telling to never declare a column NULL. According to them, declaring a column null would mean minor additional overhead on SQL server. Also, you must see to it that you have accounted for the NULL condition in any program that will gain access to the database most especially to those programming languages that would flag null as an error condition. The issues, however, do not necessarily suggest to avoid the use of NULL. In the first place, NULL values are created for purpose. It expresses an unknown condition that is valid. The American National Standards Institute, the provider of standardization system in USA, is supporting the use of NULL instead of empty strings. Thus, the use of NULL is just a matter of choice. References Poolet, M. A. (2006, May) Designing for Performance: Null or Not Null? SQL Server Magazine, pg. 31 How to cite American National Standards Institute, Papers

Was the Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand That Important free essay sample

Two bullets fired in a Sarajevo back-street on the morning of the 28th June in 1914 set in motion a series of events that have shaped the world we live in today: World War One, World War Two, the Cold War and their conclusions all trace their causes to the gunshots that shook that summer day. But why was this so important? Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his pregnant wife were the victims, the heirs to the Austro-Hungarian throne. Tensions had been building up in the years before hand, but were their deaths really that important as an individual event? To begin with, one would have to look at the various factors that led to souring in relations between countries, for example, â€Å"Weltpolitik†. Germany was a new country, and had industrialized pretty quickly. Its nationalism was growing which led its imperialistic attitude. Thus it had ditched â€Å"realpolitik† and cast its eyes on the rest of the world. Germany did not â€Å"want to place anyone in the shadow,† but still have â€Å"a place under the sun. Britain and other leading powers did not want Germany to have an empire, because they were scared it would make Germany even more powerful. Germany accused them of double standards and led to it feeling resentful to the other countries. In order to achieve Weltpolitik, Germany had to develop a formidable navy. Britain had the strongest navy since the Battle of Trafalgar, and needed one in order to maintain its empire and import vital supplies. Thus, it saw Germany’s naval ambitions as a threat. When Britain built the first Dreadnought, it brought the naval race to a new level. The Germans developed the â€Å"Risk Theory†: that Britain would stay in port, rather than risk severely damaging its navy in a battle. On the other hand, Britain developed the â€Å"Two Power Standard†: that Britain should have a navy stronger than the other two leading navies put together. Eventually Britain won the race. This caused tensions between both countries to be extremely high, meaning any infraction could be used as a trigger for war. Distrust was at its highest in a long time, thus any chances of cooperation or negotiation were slim, leading to a worse bond between the two countries. The military plans increased the likelihood of a war taking place because each country had made the assumption there would be a war, for various different reasons, like imperial gains (Austria over the Balkans and France reclaiming Alsace and Lorraine) or diplomatic superiority (Germany, who was surrounded by enemies). Most of the countries were vying to have the best militaries, which had led to arms races (Britain and Germany’s naval race). The nationalist â€Å"vox populis† in certain countries led to faster development of armies and navies, a famous slogan in Lloyd George’s Britain was â€Å"we want eight [dreadnoughts] and we won’t wait! The first Moroccan crisis happened in 1905, when France wanted to make Morocco one of its colonies. Germany hadn’t been consulted, unlike the other countries of Europe; therefore the Kaiser pretended to be upset. He decided to go personally to Tangiers and deliver a message to the Sultan of Morocco, stating th at he would stop France from taking over. The Kaiser actually had no real interest in helping Morocco, although it is possible that he wanted it for himself due to Germany’s imperialistic desires; instead he set up this fiasco in order to test Britain and France’s newly formed â€Å"Entente Cordiale†. France and Britain anxiously negotiated, but eventually decided against war. Instead, they held a conference at Algeciras. The results disappointed the Kaiser; France could not have possession of Morocco, but still had â€Å"special rights† in it. But the Kaiser found out what he wanted to know; that Britain and France would stand together at the conference table, but would not join forces to fight Germany. In the second crisis, a rebellion happened in the town of Fez. The French decided to crush the rebellion by sending 20,000 troops. Germany accused France of invading Morocco and deployed the â€Å"Panther, a warship, to the port of Agadir on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The British were extremely alarmed. They were paranoid that Agadir might be used as a rival navy base to Britain’s base in Gibraltar, so Britain ordered its navy to prepare for war. At the last moment, when war seemed imminent, the Kaiser ordered his ships to give way and leave Agadir to avoid a confrontation with Britain’s superior navy. The consequences of the Agadir crisis were that it left Britain and Germany even more terrified of each other, which led to a more frantic race to build Dreadnoughts for their next confrontation. In addition, the crises welded the Entente powers, raised a new spirit of national defiance in France and led them to believe that Germany could no longer be trusted, as it had tried dictating the world by force in various occasions like the Tangiers and Bosnian crises. Therefore, from 1912 onwards, the Entente shared all its military details and coordinated strategies in the event of a war with Germany. On the other hand, the diplomatic defeats in both crises had a profound effect on Germany. German nationalism was at a high and from then on, German propaganda would often loudly proclaim that the Central powers were surrounded by the Entente powers, a union of jealous and troublesome powers, who were waiting for an opportunity to crush them. Fifty years before World War one, the political alignments of Europe were very different. It was a time when two new powers had formed: Italy and Germany. Britain had no ties with any European countries, and preferred to be in â€Å"splendid isolation†. The emperors of Eastern Europe were tied by an agreement called â€Å"the Three Emperors League†. France had few allies and was still nursing its wounds from its humiliating defeat in the Franco-Prussian war. But this is how Europe divided into two power blocs and edged closer to war. In 1879, Russia and Germany quarreled. Fearing an attack from Russia, Germany allied itself with Austria, making the Dual Alliance. Soon, Italy joined, making the Triple Alliance in 1882. This worried France and Russia, so they formed the Franco-Russian Alliance in1892. The countries were now temporarily at peace. Britain was now concerned. It had spent much of that time building up its empire, rather than getting involved in European affairs. But Germany had gotten itself involved in the Boer war, earning Britain’s mistrust. Now Britain needed to find an ally. In 1903, Edward VII paid a state visit to France, and the year after signed a treaty, the â€Å"Entente Cordiale†. Britain was no longer isolated. Three years later, due to the naval race and first Moroccan crisis, Britain signed an agreement with Russia. Since Russia and France were already allied, this agreement became the Triple Entente. Although in 1912, Italy had waged war on Turkey, winning easily and making the Ottoman Empire even weaker. This put cracks into the Triple Alliance as Turkey was allied with Germany, who had spent a great deal of money to help it. Italy also fell out with Austria, leading to Italy remaining neutral until 1915, when it joined the Entente. The alliance system didn’t make war less likely, in fact, it increased the likelihood. If one country attacked another, each one’s allies would be drawn in, who would then draw in their allies and so on. The Balkans were a heavily coveted area for several different reasons. For many centuries, the Ottoman Turks ruled over it. However, in the 1800’s their influence diminished as the native Slavs rebelled against Turkish rule. The Ottoman Empire was nicknamed the â€Å"sick man† of Europe, and other countries surrounding the area realized they could easily grab land from weak Turkey and increase their influence. Russia sought seaports on the Mediterranean. This would make trade easier, and in times of war, its ships wouldn’t be bottled up in the Black sea. Russia was also interested in the Balkans because it was a predominantly Slavic area, so it saw itself as the protector of Slavic nations, being one itself. Austria obviously wanted to increase its empire, but it had a much more important reason. Austria-Hungary was a â€Å"patchwork† empire, meaning it had many different nationalities under its rule. One of these was the Slav people, who wanted to break away and form new nations, and were particularly keen on doing so due to other independent Slavic nations, like Serbia who often stirred up trouble. Therefore, Austria wanted to take over Serbia before any rebellion could start and spread through out its empire, leading to its collapse. Germany was interested in the Balkans because it was allied with Austria and wanted to build a railway that would extend from Berlin to Baghdad, and would have to pass through the area. In 1908, the â€Å"Young Turks† staged a rebellion, causing chaos all over Turkey; Austria exploited the turmoil and annexed the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia was outraged because it had wanted that area due to an ethnic majority of Serbs living there. Serbia also wanted to expand towards the sea, but was unable to do so without those territories. Russia also objected to this because it had promised to support Austria’s claims to those provinces, if Austria supported it in the ending of the 1841 convention that banned men-of-wars from using the Bosporus and Dardanelle’s, effectively trapping the Russian Navy in the Black Sea. Germany, however, got itself involved and backed Austria. Russia did not want to risk a war with both powers, especially since France wouldn’t support it on this matter, thus a conflict was avoided. As a result, Russia was determined not to back out In 1912, the Balkan nations declared war on Turkey, and effectively drove it out of the peninsula, except for the territory of East Thrace. Serbia gained the most territory, which fuelled Serbian nationalism and made the Serbians even more aggressive. This also made the Serbians in Bosnia restless and wanted to become part of Serbia more than ever. Bulgaria had been unfairly treated in the Balkan wars, thus he hated Serbia and was bent on getting revenge. Austria was also afraid of Serbia and was desperate to invade it. Eventually an extremist nationalist group called the â€Å"Black Hand† decided to take matters into their own hands and deal a devastating blow to Austria. On the 28th of June 1914, they assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This led to Austria’s ultimatum, which it had designed to be extremely hard to accept as an excuse to finally take over Serbia. In conclusion, the Archduke’s assassination was merely the spark that lit the bonfire; as it would have had no real significance as an isolated occurrence. Out of all possible causes, the Alliance system was the most significant one. This is because its failure to act properly made what should have been a local dispute between Austria and Serbia an international issue. Nationalism and militarism also contributed greatly to the beginning of World War 1 as it provided leaders with support for their campaigns. This could have been avoided had the countries not been so belligerent and hateful to each other; and maybe a peaceful agreement could have been made. Therefore diplomacy rather than military prowess could have been used to end their quarrel.