Canterbury Tales Analysis Essay Example for Free

Canterbury Tales Analysis Essay Physically the two characters appear extremely different. The knight is dressed in a fustian tunic, â€Å"Stained and dark with smudges where his armour had left mark† (Chaucer 5). Although he is a distinguished man, he dresses humbly and does not give the appearance of arrogance. It is also apparent that he carries a sword, which would match his profession as a knight because he is able to fight. The Sea Captain’s attire matches his occupation. He wears a â€Å"Woollen gown that [reaches] his knee† (Chaucer 15); he is tan and has a large beard. He carries a dagger, implying that he knows how to fight and defend himself like the Knight. Considering their occupations, one can find many similarities. They are both very proficient at their jobs. The Sea Captain is described as having no competition: â€Å"None from Hull to Carthage was his match† (Chaucer 16). He is experienced and knows the seas better than any captain. He is known for his skill at commanding his ship, the Maudelayne. He frequently travels the sea. Similarly, the knight is a traveler, except on land. He is an experienced fighter, as he has been in many battles. He was present at the battle where Alexandria was taken in 1365 by the King of Cyprus. In fifteen mortal battles he had been† (Chaucer 5). According to the examples of battles given in the text, the knight rarely loses a battle. He owns fine horses and is skilled at riding horseback. However, behavior is what really sets these two characters apart. The knight is a chivalrous man. He believes in truth, honor, and generosity. People look up to him; he is â€Å"Ever honoured for his noble graces† (Chaucer 4). A Christian and a virtuous man, he is even more humbled by his position as a knight. His many victories did not permit him to lose his modesty; instead, they led him to be wise and honorable. The Sea Captain, in contrast, is a fearsome character. When dealing with prisoners, â€Å"The nicer rules of conscience he ignored† (Chaucer 16); they walked the plank. Not a virtuous man by any means, he has a reputation of stealing goods from traders while they sleep. Those who fight him fear him. He does not have a high position in society, but his brutality and prudence make him successful in battle. He is revered for his skill and success, but people do not look up to him. In summary, the use of foil by Chaucer enables the reader to notice differences and similarities between the Knight and the Sea Captain. They have similar occupations, but different roles in society as well as nearly opposite personalities. The foil emphasizes their characteristics to make them even more prominent to the reader. For example, the knight’s Christian values make the Sea Captain seem extremely harsh and lowly in comparison. The reader will be able to gain more out of the story these characters tell because of how detailed their character sketches are. Specifically, the characters are given more depth by their similarities and differences to other characters in the tale. Canterbury Tales Analysis. (2018, Oct 17).

The Main Functions and Responsibilities of the Manager Case Study - 1

The Main Functions and Responsibilities of the Manager - Case Study Example It seeks to find out the ethical questions that managers may have to ask themselves as they make decisions. This report seeks to draw insight on management theories and elaborate on how they work in the real world. The report will attempt to draw conclusions based on interviewee’s experiences. It will examine how working relationships affect the execution and coordination of an organisation’s activities. Responsibilities of A Manager The interviewer began by asking the manager his responsibilities at his current position. He asked the manager to describe his areas of accountability, responsibility, and delegation. The manager described his responsibilities as divided into three main categories (Tripathi & Reddy, 2005, pp. 12-35). The operational responsibilities are in line with the organisation’s mission. The manager also deals with financial and administrative issues, which mainly relate to the organisation’s resources and how they are allocated and util ised. These include the human resource element where the manager is responsible for the allocation and distribution of staff and the tasks they handle. The third category of responsibilities in matters of compliance. It is upon the manager to ensure all the organisation’s activities adhere to set laws, regulations, standards, and ethics. The manager has the responsibility of implementing established policies and procedures to ensure the smooth, fair, and lawful running of the organisation. A manager usually has staff reporting to them. The interviewer asked the manager if the manager had ever had to deal with an underperforming member of staff, how the manager dealt with the matter and the result. Was there an improvement in the employee’s performance? Where there was no improvement, the interviewer asked about the steps the manager took.

J&S mini supermarket Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

J&S mini supermarket - Research Proposal Example Their main problems lie in the fact that they don't have the resources (enough staff) to offer a good service to their clients. This means that they have not been able to pay attention to building relationships with their customers. Relationship marketing is defined as "a marketing method in which businesses consistently maintain two-way communication with their prospective, current and inactive customers in order to gain a deeper understanding of their needs while delivering personal and compelling marketing throughout their lifecycle"(Vtrenz,2004:4). It involves understanding the customers' needs as they go through their life cycles, and one of its central concepts is customer retention.(Wikipedia, 2005) At J & S, customers are hard to retain because once they have experienced a bad service, they seldom come back. In order to start building relationships with their clients, this business must get to know them; who are their clients, what are their needs. This can be done by several ways. From the basic observation technique (e.g. noticing their shopping patterns); to applying mini surveys while they wait in line to pay. The point is to get to know them better. It is useful to observe things like: With this information, you ... With this information, you might be able to offer valuable services to the clients such as free parking (and/or parking space for bikes), weekly offers and promotions, etc. The point is to design a strategy that fits the customers' lifestyles and needs. Focusing on the customers' needs One of the main things the clients need at this convenient store is to be able to find their products easily. This can be done; first, by re-organizing the store's layout so that the access and flow through the locale is easy. Then, by using clear signs in the aisles and throughout the that help the customers find what they need (and their prices). Customers shouldn't feel left alone in their task of shopping their groceries. It should be made a pleasurable experience instead of a hassle. Hiring new staff for the purpose of aiding and guiding the customer is the most important action to be taken by this convenient store. Their job is to be available to the clients, to have the information about the products, about where they are located, and about new products. They should wear a distinctive uniform, perhaps a good suggestion is that they wear T-shirts or vests with a legend such as "Ask me if you have any questions" or "I'm here to help you". The clerk should salute and ask the client "Did you find all that you were looking for" before they pay, and thank them for shopping there before they leave the store. All these little details count. They will make the customer feel special and it is likely that he/she will return because the service was good and focused on the client. In the store, machines to verify the price should be available at the end of each aisle, and a person should be responsible for checking the aisles for missing prices tags, and misplaced products. Extra