Before Bilbo Baggins meets Thorin, he was a tiny and modest creature living as an ordinary hobbit, in his average hobbit hole. Thorin, who plays the role of a guardian angel in this story, watches over Bilbo as he seeks to complete his journey. The series of events that Bilbo has to face on this…
The Spartans were the most formidable warriors in all of history. They dedicated their entire lives to warfare. They were taught to endure cold, hunger, pain; their courage on the battlefield was second to none. The Spartan code was to fight hard, follow orders without question and to die rather than retreat or surrender. To…
Lewis, (Harry) Sinclair (1885-1951), American novelist, whose naturalistic style and choice of subject matter was much imitated by later writers. He replaced the traditionally romantic and complacent conception of American life with one that was realistic and even bitter. Lewis was born in Sauk Center, Minnesota, on February 7, 1885, and was educated at Yale…
Sea dogs of the 1500 and 1600s worked for Queen Elizabeth, robbing and pillaging the Spaniards. Over this period of 200 years many shipments of gold and treasure were stolen from Spanish ships while they were sailing from port to port on the Spanish Main. In one attack the infamous Francis Drake, …surprised and attacked…
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, to those who know and understand his poems well, exists in three modes, as Philosopher, Poet, Friend. If the truth were told, we should all be obliged to admit that the Philosopher escapes us. It is the opinion of many that Coleridge as Poet is almost equally an evanescent shadow; and though…
The City of Rome, Italy is located along the Tiber River in the west-central part of the Italian mainland, approximately a mere fifteen miles inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The City of Rome is situated on the famous Seven Hills of Rome, which are again bordered by hills to the north, south, and east. Rome…
Robert F. Kennedy was born in 1925 in Brookline Massachusetts, and was raised with traditional family values. He was a true patriot, with a strong sense of nationalism. While Attending Harvard University, he saw that his country needed his help, so he put his undergraduate studies on hold to serve his country’s Navy in World…
The way a person lives his life and his religious beliefs can greatly affect history and the well being of a nation. A life of stealing and lying can kill you and destroy a nation, while leading a Godly life will keep you and everyone around you protected. Rasputin, in both his distorted religious beliefs…
Pompey was a Roman general and political leader. He was a member of the first Triumvirate with Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus, but later became Caesar’s enemy. Pompey was born September 30, 106 B.C. His first important military experiences were in the Social war during which his father Pompeius Strabo, taught Pompey his military skills.…
In Martin Luther King, Jr.¹s selection, Nonviolent Resistance which first appeared in 1958 as a part of his book Stride Towards Freedom, he describes the processes people follow as they confront their situation. There are three ways he explained how oppressed people can deal with their situation. The different processes that are opened to the…
Mozart is perhaps the greatest musical genius who ever lived. Mozart’s full name is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Most people called him Mozart or Wolfgang. Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, January 27, 1756. Mozart is the greatest musical child prodigy who ever lived. He began composing minuets at the age of 5 and symphonies at…
The U. S. has explored the moon since the 1960’s. “The Apollo Program” tells why the United States went to the moon. “The Apollo Spacecraft” tells how we got to the moon. The Apollo program was made to meet the goal set by John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961. The goal was to land…
Metamorphosis is a key element in Greek mythology. This ability to change shape or form is a major development in the stories of Arachne, Zeus, and Daphne. Almost all of the gods had the power of metamorphosis. The first story was the one of Arachne. Arachne was a mortal, who was a great weaver. She…
Maria Montessori was born in the village of Charaville, Italy on August 31, 1870. She was born to a well respected family and was expected to grow up to fulfill the traditional role of the Italian woman. When she was three years old, the family moved to Rome where she received her education. Upon graduating…
Our understanding of the literary achievements of King Alfred depend very much upon what we believe about his early education. If we are content to accept the stories of Asser, the famous biographer of Alfred, that he reached his twelfth birthday before he learned to read (Keynes 75), then we must reckon his literary career…
Kurt Vonnegut Jr., was born November 11, 1922, in Indianapolis, Indiana(Dictionary of Literary Biography). Kurt is often known for his science-fiction writing. He often uses space travel and technology within his novels (World Book Encyclopedia). Vonnegut attended Cornell University from 1940 to 1942. Next, he attended the University of Chicago from 1945 to 1947. He…
John Joseph Gotti was born into one of the poorest families in New York on October 27, 1940. His father was a sanitation worker, his Mother didn’t work. John was the youngest of five children. There was barely enough food to go around, and meat was a luxury, only to be eaten once a week.…
Hercules, in Greek mythology, was a hero known for his strength and courage and for his legendary adventures. Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles. He was the son of the god Zeus and a human mother Alcmene, wife of the Theban general Amphitryon. Hera, Zeus’ jealous wife, was determined to kill…
Heraldry played a very dramatic role in Medieval history. Heraldic arms signified and defined your families stature in the community and country. It was a symbol of family pride that could not be argued and gave the bearer a link to his ancestral family. It was also necessary in the often violent and war filled…
He spent his life in voluntary poverty, enthralled by the study of nature. Two years, in the prime of his life, were spent living in a shack in the woods near a pond. Who would choose a life like this? Henry David Thoreau did, and he enjoyed it. Who was Henry David Thoreau, what did…