Wednesday, May 6, 2020

John Steinbeck Experiencing the Dust Bowl Essay - 1364 Words

The 1930s were a decade of great change politically, economically, and socially. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl wore raw the nerves of the people, and our true strength was shown. From it arose John Steinbeck, a storyteller of the Okies and their hardships. His books, especially The Grapes of Wrath, are reflections of what really went on in the 1930s. John Steinbeck did not write about what he had previously read, he instead wrote what he experienced through his travels with the migrant workers. His method was not to present himself notebook in hand and interview people. Instead he worked and traveled with the migrants as one of them, living as they did and arousing no suspicion from employers militantly alert against†¦show more content†¦Steinbeck had been aware of the labor problems in his state of California, but for these articles he wanted to experience it firsthand. For inspiration for his articles, and also what would turn out to be the inspiration for Gra pes of Wrath, he visited the farms outside his native Salinas and also visited the squatter camps near Bakersfield (Lisca 12-14). These visits to the squatter camps led to his creation of the Weedpatch camp in Grapes of Wrath. A few years later, Steinbeck returned to California to write Grapes of Wrath and to further research the flawed California labor. He was not, however, merely researching materials for his next book, but passionately involved in the suffering and injustice (Lisca 16). His fervor for the migrant cause almost lead him to abandon his recent writing and revise Of Mice and Men and sell it so he could donate to money to the migrant workers. In early September 1936, Steinbeck went back to Salinas to find that there was a violent clash between growers and workers over a strike that resulted in riots and killings. This turned Steinbeck upside down, because now it was not only something happening in California, but was happening in the town where he grew up. While visiting migrant camps that were being flooded by the torrential rain in Visalia, he was filled with anger at the conditions in which these people were living (DeMott 3). The people were living inShow MoreRelated John Steinbeck: Experiencing the Dust Bowl Essay1346 Words   |  6 Pages The 1930’s were a decade of great change politically, economically, and socially. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl wore raw the nerves of the people, and our true strength was shown. From it arose John Steinbeck, a storyteller of the Okies and their hardships. His books, especially The Grapes of Wrath, are reflections of what really went on in the 1930’s. John Steinbeck did not write about what he had previously read, he instead wrote what he experienced through his travels with the migrantRead MoreGrapes Of Wrath Literary Analysis997 Words   |  4 PagesThe Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck uses numerous literary techniques to advocate for change in the social and politi cal attitudes of the Dust Bowl era. Simile, personification, and imagery are among the many devices that add to the novel’s ability to influence the audience’s views. Moreover, through his use of detail, Steinbeck is able to develop a strong bond between the reader and the Joad clan. This bond that is created evokes empathy from the audience towards the Joads as they face numerousRead MoreWhen Creating His Short Stories/Novels, John Steinbeck1665 Words   |  7 PagesWhen creating his short stories/novels, John Steinbeck focused on what it meant to be human. He included life experiences and really fed off of that in many of his writings. Steinbeck was able to experience many struggles in the 1900s such as the great depression and both world wars, all events of which were first hand experiences. Being born in the early 1900’s, Steinbeck revolved around themes relevant to the world and his era. His books/novels fall under these categories: disenfranchisement, integrityRead MoreThe Strength of Unity A sense of community was a necessity for many Americans during the era of1200 Words   |  5 Pagescommunity was a necessity for many Americans during the era of the Great Depression. With the drought in the Dust Bowl and other catastrophes, many were forced to relocate elsewhere in attempt to survive. The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, illustrates the importance of unity during privation through the idea that members of society must work in unison to achieve a common goal. Steinbeck demonstrates this theme through multiple aspects in the book. Being united in a group provides people theRead MoreJohn Steinbecks use of Realism, Characterization, and Dreams in The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men2450 Words   |  10 PagesJohn Ernst Steinbeck has written many award winning novels, some of which has even been produced as plays that captured audiences everywhere. Steinbeck wrote about real life experiences using realism, characterization, and dreams to emphasize his poi nts and make an impact on his readers in order to reform or change society. The realism used in Steinbecks works is not only effective in informing the reader of circumstances that should be changed, but this nineteenth century literary style also createsRead MoreEssay on Grapes Of Wrath2532 Words   |  11 Pages The Grapes of Wrath nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath, a remarkable novel that greatly embodied the entire uprisal of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl in the 1930’s. The usage of imagery and symbolism help to support his many different themes running through the course of the novel. His use of language assisted in personifying the many trials and tribulations which the Joad family, and the rest of the United States, was feeling at the time. This wasRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1579 Words   |  7 Pages In the two texts A Fine Balance (1995) by Rohinton Minstry and The Grapes of Wrath (1939) by John Steinbeck, the idea that adverse experiences impact an individual’s beliefs is explored through the different ways that the composers of both texts convey how living in a hostile environment and loss can change an individual’s personal philosophy. Throughout the two texts it is apparent that a hostile and oppressive society exists and through the use of various techniques, the authors reveal how livingRead MoreAnalysis Of Steinbeck s The Passage 2133 Words   |  9 PagesSteinbeck magnificently developed the passage, due to he beautifully transitioned the setting from a melancholy atmosphere to a hopeful, and joyful environment, using excellent language, which adds emotion to the connotation to Ma’s words. As an illustration, in the passage Ma Joad states she currently feels forlorn, due to she is recalling her loved ones that she has lost throughout her journey to the government camp. However, the rationale for her mood is, due to she is overwhelmed by the wonderful

Education and Gender Equality Free Essays

Gender Inequality and Education World Health Organization defines gender inequality as ’the difference between men and women which systematically empowers one group to detriment of the other. ’1 For an example, throughout in world, women have lower cash income on average than men. Gender values and norms can give rise to gender inequalities which when combined with gender differences give rise to inequalities between men and women in access to education. We will write a custom essay sample on Education and Gender Equality or any similar topic only for you Order Now For example a girl or woman is unable to access the education because the norms in her community prevent her from doing so. Another example from developing countries can be that, children are unable to get education as they need to work hard to support the family, as accessing food and money is their major priority, for living may be. The given table of education presents the percentage ratios of variables like; literacy rates, participation to pre-primary, primary and secondary school participation in between male and female and access to internet and mobile phones per hundred population, in different countries and regions. Generally speaking we observe that the percentage ratio in accessing education is higher among developed countries as compared to developing countries. But we also observe strikingly high difference of education-participation among developing countries when we take a look at them, especially developing countries from the South-East Region. For example Sri Lanka and Maldives come up with very high education-participation ratio which is extra-ordinary. And I have discussed it in one of group-mate discussion post that Sri Lanka is a country where Education is given one of higher priority and facilitated free of cost by the government from the pre-primary level up-to university level. Maldives is a rich and well established state and the education is on top priority by the government which makes it easily and highly accessible to everyone. Talking about access to internet and mobile phone per hundred population, a surprising fact comes up that the users of these devices are higher in rich and developed countries but especially the countries in European region, for example Finland, Croatia, Germany, Italy, etc. But we also observe that the use of mobile phone is very much higher if compare them with internet usage. The main reason can be the very easy and lower cost of access to mobile phones everywhere as it is one of the most useable devices for social-communication in the world. On the other hand, accessing to internet is not always easy and available in all parts within a country, especially in rural areas and it can be very expensive to afford sometimes. If I talk about my country, Pakistan, being the second largest Muslim country after Indonesia, gender inequality in education still exists despite the Noble Quran’s spirit of â€Å"Iqra† (Read/Study). The main reasons for holding back gender equality of education are gender discrimination, early marriage and pregnancy, cultural stereotypes, etc. As a conclusion I believe achieving education for all requires a truly global commitment. A lot of work needs to be done in this aspect and to make complete the goals of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Program for achieving universal primary education, promotion gender equality and empowering women. Reference: World Health Organization: Why Gender and Health. Available at: http://www. who. int/gender/genderandhealth/en/index. html How to cite Education and Gender Equality, Papers

Bean Trees free essay sample

Necessary Bonds Make no mistake; the world today is not an easy place to grow up in. Hatred, poverty, and violence affect everyone. However, these are not the only problems. Every day we are all faced with adversity, ranging from simple tasks, a math test, to seemingly impossible ones, such as moving on from the loss of a good friend or family member. We are challenged to be strong and overcome this diversity. Sometimes we feel hopeless, unable to believe in ourselves, and we come close to quitting. It is then that we need a friend, someone that can be there for us in our times of need to support and keep pushing us to maximize our potential. In The Bean Trees, Taylor is faced with multiple adversities, and struggles to overcome them when she finds herself alone. Through her novel, Kingsolver illustrates with character development and dialogues how Taylor must form solid bonds with others in order to combat the hopeless, cruel nature of the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Bean Trees or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While growing up in Kentucky, Taylor was faced with many conflicts that caused her to question her core beliefs, who she was, and who she truly aspired to be.All around her was failure, whether it was the overwhelming rate of female dropouts in her high school due to teen pregnancies, or the broken relationships that seemed to flood the town. This type of environment has the ability to break a person down mentally, and to most girls, it did. Taylor had to be courageous in order for her to battle the odds. On a certain occasion, Taylor was faced with a life-changing, unexpected, circumstance. She was working at a hospital, a job that her hero of a science teacher provided her with, when it happened.Two bodies were rolled into the room that she was serving in, one hot and one cold. They were the bodies of Newt and Jolene Hardbine, a well-known family in her town. Newt had been shot dead, and Jolene was almost killed as well. As you can imagine, Taylor was a wreck. When she sat down with Jolene to have a conversation with her and attempt to console her, she ended up asking the question, â€Å"Why Newt? † Jolene responded with, â€Å"Why not? My daddy’d been calling me a slut practically since I was thirteen, so why the hell not?Newt was just who it happened to be. You know the way it is. † (Kingsolver 9) This is the type of lifestyle that surrounded Taylor. Even Jolene’s own father had been calling her a slut ‘practically since (she) was thirteen. ’ Most girls were like Jolene. They dropped out of high school, and married early because that was the way it was. Taylor was not given high expectations, and if it were not for the way her mother raised her, she most likely would have been in the same sort of situation as Jolene. â€Å"There were two things about Mama. One is she always expected the best out of me, and the other is that then no matter what I did, whatever I came home with, she acted like it was the moon I had just hung up in the sky and plugged in all the stars. Like I was that good. † (10) Without this kind of support in her life, Taylor would have been a wreck. She needed a solid bond with her mother just to survive her life in Kentucky, a place that she had never really felt was right for her. Thankfully, the bond that her mom had provided her was enough for her to get by. She couldn’t have made it alone.Consequently, once Taylor left Kentucky, she faced a much larger problem: loneliness. Being on the road alone was not easy for her, especially once she was given a small child to take care of. In order to try and support herself and the child, Turtle, she got herself a job. She struggled with this too though. â€Å"After six days the Burger Derby manager Jerry Speller†¦said I didn’t have the right attitude, and I told him he was exactly right. † (67) As an inexperienced, broke parent, Taylor was in need of support. This came with a change of living arrangements. After searching for a roommate, Taylor met Lou Ann. Lou Ann was also a struggling mother who’s husband had deserted her to follow a different lifestyle. The two bonded right away, and were able to form a connection that neither had experienced before. â€Å"Within ten minutes Lou Ann and I were in the kitchen drinking diet Pepsi and splitting our gussets laughing about homeostasis and bean turds. † (72) By having one another, they realized that they could overcome any obstacle that they were faced with. For instance, when Taylor learns that she is not the legal guardian of Turtle and must give her up, she is devastated.She doesn’t know what to do and is on the verge of giving up all hope when Lou Ann questions her and pushes her to seriously consider her decision. â€Å" ‘Taylor, don’t. Just don’t. You’re acting like it’s a lost cause†¦ All I’m saying is there’s got to be some way around them taking her, and you’re not even trying to think of it. ’ ‘†¦Why should I think Turtle’s better off with me than in a state home†¦They wont let anything happen to her. ’ ‘Well, that’s sure a chickenshit thing to say. ’†(175) By arguing with her, Lou Ann makes Taylor question herself and what she truly wants and what she believes is best for the child.Though it may have created tension in their relationship at the time, that’s what a good friend does, look out for one another’s best interests even if they are blinded from it at the time. Without this relationship in her life, Taylor may have just rolled over and given up on everything she’d worked so hard to achieve with Turtle. She needed a bond with Lou Ann to beat the unexpected situation the world set in front of her. On the whole, Taylor realizes at the end how important her relationships are in her life.She understands that she cannot make it alone, and that it doesn’t mean she’s weak if she needs a little help here and there along the way. A biblical quotation states Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. ? Bible: Ecclesiastes. That’s what Taylor and Lou Ann were able to do for one another, have a mutual relationship in which they picked each other up when they fell, enabling them to battle the cruel and hopeless nature of the world.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Mother to Mother by Sindiwe Magona Analysis free essay sample

Mother to Mother The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the book Mother to Mother by Sindiwe Magona. Specifically, it will critically analyze the book. The book Mother to Mother is a touching and elegant story of race relations and misunderstanding in South Africa. The author bases her book on a true incident, but looks at it from the eyes of a mother who loves her son but recognizes his inadequacies. It is a devastating look at apartheid, violence, and anger in a society long split between black and white. Well-written with emotion and pathos, it is a book that discovers the difficulties of reconciliation and continuing with life after the death of a loved one. This emotional book looks at both sides of a young white womans murder in a black township in South Africa. The book begins with the haunting line My son killed your daughter (Magona 1), and that line grabs the reader from the beginning, and makes them want to learn more about the two families and their responsibilities to themselves, and the their community. We will write a custom essay sample on Mother to Mother by Sindiwe Magona Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The book covers only two days chronologically, but the author skillfully uses flashbacks to look back on her life and the life of her son, to illustrate the hatred and violence at work in South African society that created such a monster as her son and the other killers. The mother is not unaware that her child has turned into something she cannot control, but she is also aware that the lifestyle of poor blacks in a dominant white society has been the spark that created the fire under the murderers. Coming from a life without hope, how can they see anything else for themselves? The fictional mother understands the white familys grief, but she is also strong enough to stand up and place part of the blame on their daughter, who walked straight into a deadly situation. She chides the couple, Yes, the more I think about this the more convinced I am that your daughter must have been the type of person who has absolutely no sense of danger when she believes in what she is doing (Magona 2). This is a difficult position for any mother to take, but in recognizing the truth of the matter, she is not only healing herself, she is standing up to the white family and saying that their daughter was a responsible adult. Clearly, she should have known the dangers of what she was doing, rather than looking at her situation only idealistically. Mandisa, the mother in the story, does not make excuses for her son, she knows his act was reprehensible, but she does understand his young life has been filled with despair, betrayal, and difficulty. She notes, Understand the people among whom he has lived all his life. Nothing my son does surprises me any more. Not after that first unbelievable shock, his implanting himself inside me; unreasonably and totally destroying the me I was. The me I would have become (Magona). Mandisa gave birth to her son when she was only fifteen, and it changed her life, just as it would change the young white girls life eventually. In an interview about the book, author Magona elaborates: It is a well-known fact that children of children are at high risk of not finishing school. Mandisa is a perfect example of the success of apartheidshe is the perfect product of that systemher talent is stillborn; so is that of her children. Society will never benefit from the gifts they brought to the world. I firmly believe no child is born without potential. Thus, by neglecting the young, we deny ourselves great blessings and rewards (Gray). Her son is fighting out against a system that kept his people oppressed for decades, and it is no surprise that he fights back with violence, which is really the only weapon he has. His mother wryly notes, We live here, fight and kill each other (Magona 3). This is an exceptional point in the novel, for the reader understands that the blacks can kill each other all they like, but when they step into the white world, they have crossed a line, and they will pay. Here is another reason the young black men rebel, they know there is a double standard, and the white do not care if they kill each other. It is a depressing and hopeless thought, and it is no wonder the young men lash out with violence and hatred. Magona herself asks the perplexing question, What was the world of this young womans killers, the world of those, young as she was young, whose environment failed to nurture them in the higher ideals of humanity and who, instead, became lost creatures of malice and destruction? Magona, Preface). She answers this throughout the book when she portrays the children on their own over a long weekend when Mandisas employer kept her instead of sending her home, or when the leave the political meeting chanting one settler, one bullet. Throughout the book, the differences between blacks and white are continually apparent, and the illustration of the ease of the idealistic young whites girls life, compared to the hardships the blacks face is someti mes difficult to read. The young white girl really has no idea of the conditions in the townships, and if she did, she would never have placed herself there in harms way. Resented by blacks, she was not doing good, she was an idealistic fool. Despite the best of intentions, this book shows there were simply too many differences separating blacks and whites in South Africa for a young white girl and her friends to make any progress in stalling apartheid.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Sample Essay in MLA Format

Sample Essay in MLA FormatIf you are looking for an opportunity to showcase your academic excellence and personality, a sample essay in MLA format is available for your convenience. This is a format that students of all levels can utilize as a format for submitting their papers. This format is very common in business applications such as the negotiation process.This particular sample essay in MLA format is quite different from other types of essays that you may find. It is used as a template to allow students to better express their thoughts and ideas regarding various topics that they want to include in their papers. It is also used to help students prepare for these types of situations. This format allows students to express themselves better and use more complex terminology that would otherwise be reserved for formal writing.The sample essay in MLA format should always be drafted with precision and this is due to the fact that MLA is not a formal writing style. You will need to ad d to your own ideas in order to achieve the goal of your essay. There is a tendency for students to just copy the ideas that they have read, but this is not recommended as it will make it hard for them to modify their work. By using your own ideas you will be able to be more creative and come up with better ideas that will not be easily found on a printed paper.When writing your sample essay in MLA format, you will need to place certain questions and thoughts within the essay. These questions and thoughts are using to facilitate you in formulating your own ideas as well as to give you enough information to guide you in making your own statements. This is what allows you to be more honest and truthful about your ideas. As you are writing the essay, you will be given opportunities to write a paragraph or a single sentence pertaining to the idea that you wish to emphasize. In this way you will have the opportunity to express your own thoughts and opinions regarding the idea.This format of essay in MLA format can be used in situations that you have been very specific about, such as in relation to a specific topic that you have chosen. If you have a specific topic, or if you were given a specific deadline, then this particular format is perfect for you.Another advantage of this particular format is that it is easy to revise your work with MLA format as it can be revised easily. You will not have to get your essay corrected due to grammar errors. This means that you will not need to spend a lot of time correcting your essay as you can simply go back to the start line and write a new one from there.If you do not like MLA format, then you can use a different style of writing such as MLA. It is up to you as to whether you want to use it or not, but whatever style you choose to use you will find it easier to express yourself in.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky essays

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky essays Crime and Punishment is a book written by Fyodor Dostoevsky who spent four years at a labour camp in Siberia, followed by four years of military service. Raskolnikov's time in a Siberian prison, described in the Epilogue of Crime and Punishment, is based on Dostoevsky's own experiences at a similar prison. Crime and Punishment is the story of a poor man in Russia who can only purge himself of his guilt through suffering. The book deals with the mental and physical tribulation brought upon him by his crime. His troubles are compounded by the conflicting personalities, which he possesses. The reader is inclined to characterize him by his cold, intellectual side. Yet, without the contrasting humane side of his nature, Raskolnikov never realizes the errors in his theory and actions. Raskolnikov is defined by the dualistic nature of his personality, with each facet being just as vital as the other. During his time in prison Fyodor Dostoevsky underwent something of a political conversion, rejecting the radical socialist positions that had led to his arrest in favour of a conservative concern for traditional values. His dismissal of leftist political thought is evident in Crime and Punishment. For instance, Raskolnikov's crime is motivated, in part, by his theories about society. Lebezyatnikov, whose name is derived from the Russian word for "fawning," is obsessed with the so-called new philosophies that raged through St. Petersburg during the time that Dostoevsky was writing the novel. Luzhin, a mid-level government official, is continually afraid of being "exposed" by "nihilists." Raskolnikov, the protagonist is a complicated man who commit a crime. Raskolnikov murders a woman who was a plague to mankind, especially the poor of Russia: Alyona Ivanovna. In the chilling process however, he also murders her younger sister, Lisaveta Ivanovna. The crime of Raskolnikov reverberates on a much deeper, moral level inside his own head. He igno...

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Definition and Examples of Verbal Placeholders

Definition and Examples of Verbal Placeholders A placeholder is a word (such as whatchamacallit) used by speakers to signal that they dont know or cant remember a more precise word for something. Also known as a  kadigan, tongue-tipper, and dummy noun. Examples and Observations You need something to sell. Now this could be anything. It could be a thingamajig. Or a whosi-whatsi. Or [pulls out a Watchamacallit candy bar from his pocket] a Whatchamacallit.(Steve Carell as Michael Scott in Business Office, The Office)Work, the whats-its-name of the thingummy and the thing-um-a-bob of the what dyou-call-it.(P.G. Wodehouse, Psmith, Journalist, 1915)I have unspiked the sliding doors at the far end of the barn, so that the greatly increased flow of visitors can move past the whatchamacallit without eddies and backwash. In one end they go, and out the other.   (Kurt Vonnegut, Bluebeard. Delacorte Press, 1987)It will do magic,Believe it or not,Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.Now Salagadoola meansA-Menchika-boola-roo,But the thingamabobThat does the jobIs Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.(Al Hoffman, Mack David, and Jerry Livingston, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo. Cinderella, 1950) Doodad doodad n (Variations: do-dad or do-funny or doofunny or do-hickey or doohickey or do-hinky or doohinky or do-jigger or doojigger or doowhangam or do-whistle or doowhistle or do-willie or doowillie) Any unspecified or unspecifiable thing: something one does not know the name of or does not wish to name.  (Barbara Ann Kipfer and Robert L. Chapman, American Slang, 4th ed. Collins Reference, 2008) Placeholders Placeholders . . . have little or no semantic meaning and should rather be interpreted pragmatically. The placeholder words that Channell discusses... are thing, thingummy (with the variants thingummyjig and thingummybob), whatsisname, whatnot, whosit, and whatsit... Incidentally, they are all defined as slang in Cassells Dictionary of Slang (2000)... The situation where the next dialogue occurs reveals that Fanny does not know the name of the boy who was laughing with Achil and uses thingie as a placeholder: Fanny: And I walked off and like I just walked away and Achil and thingy were laughing at, you know, just not at me at how how crap [name]Kate: [Yeah.]Fanny: had been and how I had to go away.(142304: 13-215) Thingamajig occurs four times with reference to an object and twice with reference to a person. In (107) we meet 14-year-old Carola and Semantha . . . from Hackney: Carola: Can I borrow your thingamajig?Semantha: I dont know what thingamajig it is.(14078-34) Semanthas reaction shows that there is no doubt that thingamajig belongs to the category of vague words. It obviously refers to an object that Carola would like to borrow, but Semantha apparently has no idea of what she is referring to.  (Anna-Brita Stenstrà ¶m et al., Trends in Teenage Talk: Corpus Compilation, Analysis, and Findings. John Benjamins, 2002) Douglas Adams on the Placeholder in Do-Re-Mi One particularly niggling piece of Unfinished Business, it occurred to me the other day in the middle of a singing session with my five-year-old daughter, is the lyrics to ‘Do-Re-Mi,’ from The Sound of Music... Each line of the lyric takes the names of a note from the sol-fa scale, and gives it meaning: ‘Do (doe), a deer, a female deer; Re (ray), a drop of golden sun,’ etc. All well and good so far. ‘Mi (me), a name I call myself; Fa (far), a long, long way to run.’ Fine. I’m not saying this is Keats, exactly, but it’s a perfectly good conceit and it’s working consistently. And here we go into the home stretch. ‘So (sew), a needle pulling thread.’ Yes, good. ‘La, a note to follow so . . . What? Excuse me? ‘La, a note to follow so . . . What kind of lame excuse for a line is that?â€Å"Well, it’s obvious what kind of line it is. It’s a placeholder. A placeholder is what a writer puts in when he can’t think of the right line or idea just at the moment, but he’d better put in something and come back and fix it later. So, I imagine that Oscar Hammerstein just bunged in a ‘a note to follow so’ and thought he’d have another look at it in the morning.Only when he came to have another look at it in the morning, he couldn’t come up with anything better. Or the next morning. Come on, he must have thought, this is simple. Isn’t it? La . . . a something, something ... what?’...â€Å"How difficult can it be? How about this for a suggestion? ‘La, a ... a ...well, I can’t think of one at the moment, but I think that if the whole world pulls together on this, we can crack it.(Douglas Adams, Unfinished Business of the Century. The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time. Macmillan, 2002)