English Studies Reflection paper Essay Example for Free

English Studies Reflection paper Essay One should assume that in taking an Intro to English course that they would be formally and informally introduced to English. However, that assumption escaped me. I didn’t know that we would explore so many avenues for English as a major, but I’m pleased that we did. This journey through the various areas of English has both enlightened me and piqued my interest. While I entered into this course feeling very confident with the path that I wanted to travel, I am now a bit more open-minded about additional ways to reach my destination; which is English Education. As an English teacher I can see the roles that each area of study that we covered could potentially play in education for me as well as my future students. When I consider Publishing Studies and what it has to offer, I immediately think of projects I could assign my students. Publishing studies takes a book in its skeletal state and constructs all the layers until it becomes a live and fully functioning piece of art. Publishing studies in a sense is the production phase of the books we read. It is where the book goes to develop. It starts with the brains of the operation or the writer. Once the writer creates the manuscript it is then passed on to the heartbeat of the process. There are various organs within that cause the heart to function. Those organs include the designer of the cover, the designer of the layout and even the editors. The area of production studies is a well-oiled machine working to produce the fully developed body of the writers’ creation. However, without linguistics what words would the writer use to even create such a masterpiece?

The Current Firewall Technology Computer Science Essay

The Current Firewall Technology Computer Science Essay Currently firewall technology as a specialized engineering solution rather than a scientifically based solution. Currently firewall is classified in to three category packet filtering, proxy server, and stateful firewall. This paper is main focus on the various type of firewall available and their pros and cons. Originally computer network was design for data communication to share the resources. The sharing of resources was bounded between universities. Eventually businesses, corporations, government agencies were begun to use internet. So network become vital part of their institution. Computer networking, however, is not without risks as Howard illustrates in his analysis of over 4000 security incidents on the Internet between 1989 and 1995 [1]. A neutral approach to network protection draws from several other fields, such as physical security, personnel security, operations security, communication security, and social mechanisms. [2] According to definition firewall is a set of mechanisms that can enforce a network domain security policy on communication traffic entering or leaving a network policy domain [3]. In simple word firewall is guard point which gives control point of entry or exit from computer or network. It is a first line of defence and it is also a contact point of the netw ork. It is very important to choose and design firewall to guard inside network from outside attack. Case Study Figure 1: ABC.Ltd network [6] Above figure shows our case study network . Consider a case where company ABC.Ltd want to implement a firewall for their campus design. Company whole network is divided in to three parts, inside network, Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and outside network. Inside network has ip address 10.1.1.0/24. DMZ is further divided in to two sub section; one is protected DMZ which has ip address 192.168.11.0/24 and dirty DMZ which is dump host whose ip address is 192.168.1.0/24. Dump host is a computer which got nothing important in it. These dump hosts are act as a honey pot which is use to lure attacker so that network security designer know different type of attack and help them to design security policy. DMZ is a zone where company put their services like web services, FTP services etc. Company has remote office which uses secure VPN to connect to the main campus network. There are different type of firewall technology which are packet filtering, proxy server and stateful firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT),Software firewall. Each firewall has their advantages and disadvantages. Rest portion of this paper is describe pro and cons of different firewall. Packet Filtering This is one of the simple types of firewall. This firewall is work on OSI layer 3 and 4.It filter packet by looking at IP address, TCP/UDP port number. It compare the incoming packet against pre define rule configure in to the router. After comparing router make decision to allow or deny the packet [4]. An access list is used to create rule to make decision. Figure shows the working of the packet filtering firewall. Figure 2: Packet Filtering in Router [4] Pros The simplest of the firewall technologies to configure. Only required access list to configure the firewall. Packet filtering capabilities are easily available in many hardware and software routing products, both commercially and they are freely available over the Internet. It is less processor intensive. Adding a filtering rule to a router produces little or no additional performance overhead. It is use for all type of application because it operates at the OSI layer 3 (Network) and layer 4 (Transport) layer. Only one router is required to protect entire network. Cons The packet filter has no intelligent to identify the authenticity of source. A well trained intruder can spoof inside IP address and can fool the firewall as the packet is from inside network. Since filtering rule is configuring manually it add administrative workload. Adding complex rule to the firewall decrease the router performance. In some cases, the filtering is incompatible with certain caching Strategies commonly used for performance enhancement. Some policies cannot readily be enforced by normal packet filtering routers. Example The following example shows how to build basic packet filtering firewall Consider a scenario of company whose inside network is lying in IP address range 10.1.1.0/24. Ethernet 0/1 is inside interface and Ethernet 0/0 is outside interface. To protect against IP spoofing attack following access list policy is configure Access list 100 deny ip 10.1.1.0 0.0.0.255 any log Access list 100 deny ip 127.0.0.0 0.255.255.255 any log Access list 100 deny ip 172.16.0.0 0.15.255.255 any log Access list 100 deny ip 192.168.0.0 0.0.255.255 any log Access list 100 deny ip 224.0.0.0 15.255.255.255 any log Access list 100 deny ip host 255.255.255.255 any log Access list 100 permit ip any 10.1.1.0 0.0.0.255 Interface Ethernet 0/0 Ip access-group 100 in An access list is basic tool to configure for packet filtering. Generally all routers support this tool. Above example is configured and tested on Cisco router. There are free download is available on internet few examples are Tuneup 1.0, Truxtis, Visnetic. Packet filtering firewall is simple in configuring and freely available on internet it is good solution for small business where not much complex firewall implementation is required. In our case study implementation of packet filtering is not a wise solution. A simple reason is it is very cumbersome. Example shows that just to stop ip spoofing we need to configure eight commands. Sometime it is difficult to troubleshoot and manage for network administrator. Application Layer Firewall Application Layer Firewall is also known as a proxy server. According to dictionary meaning of proxy is A person authorized to act for another; an agent or substitute. Same definition is valid for proxy server in network security. Proxy server is a software package install on device and act behalf of protected network which allows or denies access across network [5, 7]. Figure 3: Proxy Server [4] Above figure shows the working of proxy server. Proxy server works at layer 7 of Open System Interconnection (OSI) system model [4]. It intercepts and established the connection behalf of internal host to the outside network. As shown in figure when inside network is trying to connect outside network, application layer firewall which is install on router is intercept the secession and check the request is valid or not. If it is not valid request it discard the packet and if it is a valid request it repackage the request and send it to outside network as the packet is send by itself. When outside network response the request proxy server repackaged the response and sends it back to the original inside network. In some case proxy server block all connection from outside network and allowed only inside network to go outside. The only traffic is allowed from outside is the response from outside network to inside network. In some case both inbound and outbound traffic is allowed but under strict observation [4, 5, 7]. Example A good example, and the one we probably see the most, is a web proxy. When configured to use a proxy, your web browser contacts the proxy server for each web access instead of going directly to the target server on the internet. The proxy server then turns around and makes the real request of the web server. The proxy server gets the response, and then passes it back to you. Another example is proxy server is Tibia proxy which is game proxy server. Tibia is a popular multiplayer online computer game hosted on Internet servers. To play Tibia requires establishing a network connection to TCP port 7171 on the server. Depending on your network setup and your Internet Service Provider (ISP), your direct connection to the Tibia server and ability to play the game may be blocked by a network firewall or proxy server. Setting up a Tibia proxy avoids this common connection problem. A Tibia proxy is a special Internet server (separate from the game server) that does not require a port 7171 connection. Instead, the Tibia proxy server will accept requests on alternative network ports (such as port 80) that will typically not be restricted by firewalls / proxies. The Tibia proxy, in turn, makes its own direct connection to the game server (on port 7171) and translates messages between the Tibia server and your client in real time to allow game play [8]. Pros Act as an intermediary between outside network and protected network. It prevent direction connection between source and destination It is application aware firewall so that it can analyzes application inside the payload Support user level authentication It able to log the traffic and can do user level authentication Cons It is processor intensive so it is slower than packet filtering Need to configure internal client about proxy server Sometime it does not support all type of application. For example Sling Player 2.0 does not supported by proxy server. It is single point failure. Proxy server is install on device so if that device gets compromised then whole security compromised. Stateful Packet Filtering Figure 4: Stateful Firewall [4] In the mid-1990s, packet filters and proxy servers were the two technologies used to build firewall systems. As the number of applications that needed to pass through firewalls increased, proxy server vendors could not keep up with the development of new proxy servers. On the other hand, packet filtering also could not support the dynamic nature of the many modern applications. Thus, a new technology was born [4, 11]. Stateful packet filtering is a combination of packet filtering and application level gateway firewall [11]. It contains advantages of both. It is also refer as a application aware firewall. Stateful firewall not only examines IP header information but also up to application layer information for better inspection. The working of stateful firewall is as follow. When host from inside network send a packet to outside network it check authorization of the network and if it is authorized then it allow the packet outside the network and maintain state table. State table is a table which keep track of the active network connection which is TCP secession or UDP communication passing across it. This is also called as saving of state. When destination network respond to the initial request it compare the response with the information saved in state table to allow or denied the packet [11]. Example Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances in short Cisco ASA [9], Cisco PIX firewall, Check Point [10] are example of stateful firewall. Pros It work at network level and transport level but also at application layer It is not a processor intensive as proxy server Temporarily open the outside port so it reduces the possibility of attack that work against static packet filtering. Because of the state table it is faster than application layer gateway Support almost all the services. Cons It allows direct connection to inside host once the request to enter the network is granted. An attacker may exploit the vulnerability of that host and poison the network. It required skill knowledge of different type of traffic and attacks Network Address Translation This is one of the simplest methods to protect inside network. Network Address Translation (NAT) is quite similar to the packet filtering. When it configure on router it translate internal private network to outside public network. It maintain translation table so when reply come from outside to inside it send back to correct host. There are three type of NAT static NAT, dynamic NAT, port address translation (PAT) [12]. Pros It is very simple to configure It hide private network behind one public IP address Unlikely proxy server it does not requires any configuration on inside host. Cons It is difficult to troubleshoot end-to-end NAT cause problem when Virtual Private Network (VPN) is configured Like packet filter firewall it work at network and transport level of OSI model so it translate packet based on ip address Personal Firewall The personal firewall is an application which is install on computer to protect personal computer from different virus and different kind of attack [13]. It allow or deny request from computer based on configure policies. Many personal firewall like does intrusion detection. An example of this type firewall is Host Base Intrusion Prevention (HIPS) which block the communication if it finds any suspicious activity [14]. Pros Prompt user for outgoing connection Allow user to control which application is permitted to connect interne od LAN Dose auditing for all user of the computer Tell user that application is attempting to connect internet and gives information about destination server with which application want to connect It dose virus scanning automatically every day and remove them Cons It is an application running on host so it gives some load on CPU If system get affected by malware or spyware, it can modify the firewall cause security issue Recommendation By looking at different type of firewall and comparing their advantages and drawback we can conclude that stateful firewall is good solution for our scenario. The product like Cisco ASA or Check Point is ideal to guard against different type of attack. They also does intrusion detection and prevention and can virtualized these firewall which save cost of buying extra firewall.

Career Plan Essay -- Business Career Goals Plans

My Career Plan The future is uncertain for me, but it is important to develop a career plan that will provide financial support and personal fulfillment over the course of my professional life. To make this transition from school to a professional career, I am going to plan a plan that will help me stay focused and motivated in meeting my goals and objectives. In the next paragraphs, I will explain my ten-year plan for my professional career and incorporate some of Mr. Bolles ideas in how to do this process. At the end of my career, I want to be recognized as a positive team leader who can bring the best out of her subordinates and help increase profits for the company. I believe it can be achieved due to the impact on people’s lives around me in school and out. California State University Monterey Bay prepared me for these objectives by implementing teamwork, passion for your career and love for diversity. I do realize to accomplish all that I want to, I have to be motivated and keep a positive attitude as I continue to learn new skills. â€Å"If a thing turns you on, you’ll be good at it; If it doesn’t, you won’t†, said by David Maister, because you have to love what you do in order to enjoy life and produce great outcomes in your job selection.[1] Especially now with the turmoil in the economy, if you have a great job, you are blessed and hold on to it. Therefore, in the next paragraphs, I will show you my ca... ...bs. ----------------------- [1] Bolles, Richard. (2009). What Color is your Parachute? (pg 20) Retrieved on April 8,2009, from http://books.google.com/books?id=2P-0JiwZ2cIC&pg=PA129&dq=what+color+is+your+parachute+online+reading#PPP1,M1 [2] Bolles, Richard. (2009). What Color is your Parachute?(pg 4) Retrieved on April 8,2009, from http://books.google.com/books?id=2P-0JiwZ2cIC&pg=PA129&dq=what+color+is+your+parachute+online+reading#PPP1,M1 [3] Bolles, Richard. (2009). What Color is your Parachute? ( pg 8) Retrieved on April 8,2009, from http://books.google.com/books?id=2P-0JiwZ2cIC&pg=PA129&dq=what+color+is+your+parachute+online+reading#PPP1,M1 [4] Bolles, Richard. (2009). What Color is your Parachute? (pg 9)Retrieved on April 8,2009, from http://books.google.com/books?id=2P-0JiwZ2cIC&pg=PA129&dq=what+color+is+your+parachute+online+reading#PPP1,M1

Three Honrable Pilgrims :: essays research papers

Three Honrable Pilgrims Geoffrey Chaucer was the greatest English poet of his time. Besides William Shakespeare no other writer has surpassed Chaucer's achievements. One of his best unfinished writing, "The Canterbury Tales" rankes as one of the world's best work of literature. In "The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales" Chaucer presents a cross-section of Medieval Society through his discriptions of people representing the court, the church and the common people. In Medieval Society, just like in modern day society, there were people of different moralities. The knight the Parson and the Plowmen are examples of good people who possessed honorable characteristics. The Knight in this pilgrimage is a representative from the Court class which was at the top of Medeval Society. He was wealthly but he didn't want to impress anybody. He truly had all the charactoristics of an ideal knight. As a Christian, he loved thruth and as gentlemen, he believed in chivalry and honor. With so many dishonest people going to Canterbury,or must have been very irritating to deal with them. But "He never yet a barrish thing had said. In all his life to any , come what might ; He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight." He was true to his king and was generous, and courteous. He didn't wear flashy clothes. All he wore was a coarse cloth shirt of cotton and linen. His shirt was stained with dark smudges where his amar had left it's marks . The Knight's motivation to go on this pilgramage is to give thanks to God, because he had survived all of the wars and battles he had fought in. Another honerable pilgrim on this trip was the Parson who is representative of church society. Un like the other religious people on the pilgrimage who claimed lots of earthly posessions, the Parson was a very poor priest. However he was a noble example to the people of his church. He was an honest priest who didn't cheat people out of their money. Although he was poor in money and possessions, he was vary rich in the Christian spirit. He would practice what he preached and would rather give then recive and "who truly knew christ's gospel and would preach it, Devoutly to parishioners,and teach it". When parishioners gave him money he would not accept it. As a follower of Christ he was willing to help his fellow man. The reason he is gtoing on this trip was to pay respect to the

Islamic Art and Architecture; Influence and Effects Essay

Introduction During the reign of the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughal rulers, architecture and art took on more meaning than it had in the past. The types of architecture and manuscript writing have had both symbolic significance and influence on the people of these empires. The architecture can be said to have had the greatest impact on the presence of power and devotion to Islamic arts of all of the empires, while manuscripts were held privately until trends influenced their spread over greater distances and people. The Ottomans, in their quest to expand their lands and influence, conquered Constantinople in 1453, which sparked a major period of construction in the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. This large building initiative took place in order to encourage a repopulating of Istanbul, as well as the revitalization of the economy in this declining city. The buildings and complexes the Ottomans built shed an interesting light on their concerns and ideals. For example, while the complexes were mainly built as places of worship, they took on other roles, such as, centers for education, commerce, and hospital care. One complex is clear in its intentions to the public, as can be seen by the endowment deed, which read â€Å" to elevate matters of religion and religious sciences in order to strengthen the mechanisms of worldly sovereignty and to reach happiness in the afterworld†, (Bloom & Blair, 298). This combination of buildings in a complex format drew people from the old capital and cities of the empire, and generated revenue that amassed into fortunes for the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, however, were not the only empire to enjoy great wealth and displays of that wealth. The Mughals, who descended from the same Turkish conquerors as the Ottomans, also enjoyed prosperity from great building projects. The architecture of the Mughals was able to change with great regularity during its time, due to the constant movement of the central government. The Mughals also benefited from a blend of styles and influences to create their palaces. The most famous example of Mughal architecture was the Taj Mahal, which was built in the memory of a deceased favorite wife. In the building of temples and tombs in Mughal history, it is quite common to find them built as reminders to the community of saints, heroes, or loved ones. It was  also common to find that they lacked as muc h fine detail as their neighbors to the west, but brought new styles to the architecture derived from the rich traditions of the people of India. Unlike the Ottomans and The Mughal, the Safavids were derived from the family lineage of Mohammed the prophet. Despite this difference, the Safavids built great temples and complexes for similar reasons. The Safavids built great complexes, and like the Ottomans, they moved their capital to a centralized location in order to centralize power, and increase commerce. The Safavids also shared another trait in building with the Ottomans. They both had a strong emphasis on education, and liked to keep a watchful eye over it. For this reason, religious complexes often included the highest forms of education for both the government and the religion of Islam. Though in competition for much of their histories, the Ottomans and Safavids adhered to many of the same architectural styles, with one major difference. Due to their difference in branches of Islam, the Safavids, unlike their Sunni neighbors the Ottomans, had little problem with diverging from traditional customs of avoiding the use of depictions of animals and people in their design. This proved to enhance the appearance of the buildings, but also give them a unique place in the history of Islamic buildings. Manuscripts, on the other hand, have a very different history than do the magnificent buildings of the Islamic world. In the Ottoman Empire, as was true of most of the Muslim world, the Koran was the most copied manuscript. Copies of the Koran were reproduced with astonishing art, but were usually given as gifts to other rulers. In this system, the common person was excluded from viewing the finest manuscripts. Common manuscripts were produced by artisans, but lacked the high quality of that of the royal courts. The Ottomans also used their talents to reproduce manuscripts that depicted great rulers and events in history, as well as topography paintings that displayed the prominence of conquest in the Ottomans daily life. Ottoman manuscripts were not as popular or unique as the ones created by the Safavids or Mughals, but they did posses superiority in the ar t of calligraphy. Manuscripts from the Safavid and Mughal empires possessed greater detail in art, but most of the calligraphers were not as skilled as those of the Ottoman Empire. Despite this lack of good calligraphy, the Safavids and Mughals were more skilled in art and design. Like the Ottomans, the Mughals and Safavid empires copied  the Koran at a high rate, but only the best works of art were given away as gifts. This lack of quality reproductions, which included not only writing, but also painting, led to the decline of the bound book. This decline led to the development of an industry of artisans creating single manuscripts. These manuscripts allowed for both artistic differences that were hard to avoid in large manuscripts, and it allowed more people to posses art. They were collected into books, but they had a greater impact on both the people of the Muslim world and the Europeans, who were exploring the area heavily in search of people to colonize. The arrival of the Europeans also led to a decline in the production of small manuscripts, due to the fact that the printing press and mass production of books were arriving in Europe. Conclusion Islamic art and architecture both had more than one use in Islamic life. The architecture reminded the people of saints, great rulers, martyrs, or beloved figures, as well as serving as a center for religion, education, commerce, and medicine. The art of the Islamic world was originally used to tell of battles, heroes, and most popularly recreate the Koran. Art also allowed for the growth of writing, painting, and the distribution of ideas over greater distances than the spoken word. Both Islamic art and architecture still hold as reminders to Muslims and the world that great rulers, conquerors, and artists have made a lasting impact on the region and its culture.

Beauty vs Truth Essay

Is truth or beauty more important when communicating information. It is my argument that beauty is more important when communicating information. Beauty is defined as The quality that gives pleasure to the mind or senses and is associated with such properties as harmony of formation or color, excellence of artistry, truthfulness, and originality. How does this relate to communication? †¢ Communicating information is more than just exchanging words. Just as in the definition of the word â€Å"beauty†, when communicating with a certain amount of eloquence it paints a mental picture that gives pleasure to our minds and wakes up our senses. The way words are used in the process of communication is what holds attention and causes an audience to become engaged. It’s the beauty in a message and the expression in the words which we tend to remember. This is not to say that truth is not important in communication but mere stating mere facts may not be enough to get the point across or keeping the attention of an audience. †¢ Beauty is more important in communication because it is what leads us to the truth. Sometimes the truth is too ugly and mind blowing and in some instances too much truth all at once can cause pain. Everyone should know the truth but using a certain diplomacy and finesse with one’s words can make all the difference in how the truth is received. That is why beauty in communication is important . ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON TRUTH AND BEAUTY †¢ A story doesn’t necessarily have to be true to be entertaining, or to teach a lesson. How many of us as children or have even possibly told our own children about the tortoise and hair? ? A tortoise and a hare enter a race, the hare boasting about how he is faster, and will therefore win. The hare foolishly over-estimates his speed, and it ends up costing him the race. With the moral of the story being that over – confidence can sometimes back fire. or the boy who cried wolf? ? The story of a boy who thought it was fun to alert the town of a wolf when there wasn’t really one. And when he finally does see a wolf no one comes to help him. The lesson being that telling too many lies will cause people to stop believing anything you say. My point is that these stories may not necessarily be true but such tales have been told for centuries for the purpose in teaching life lessons. †¢ When listening to a story, I personally always remember the characteristics and tidbits of a story which brought the message to life. An eloquently told story, whether it is told for entertainment or simply for sharing information draws a person in to want to hear more. When you’re listening to a story filled with grandeur and elaborate details, it’s easy to become captivated and interested. Why is being drawn in by the beauty of a message important? †¢ How many of us have tried a product not because of what the announcer on the commercial said the product could do, but because we were drawn in by something appealing we saw in the commercial. o An example of this would be weight loss commercials †¢ It’s what grabs your attention enough to the truth. Another perspective†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. The Boy Who Called Wolf This fable is about a small boy who thinks it’s fun to alert the town of a wolf when there is none. When a wolf actually appears, no one comes to the boy’s aid. . Eloquence added to an ordinary story is keeps interesting. . It’s the initial phase of the communication process in which your senses become engage. When communicating information to be interesting to capture the audience’s attention. . Once your attention has been grabbed by an interesting, story, or some form of communication, you can then decide if what your listening to or looking at is worth your time.. Tell all the Truth but tell it slant — Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth’s superb surprise As Lightning to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind — A funny TV commercial or a commercial that endorsed by your favorite actor is more easily remembered than serious, factual ones that constantly appear. images, stories and songs much easier and find them far more enjoyable than just listening to words.

A Dream Within a Dream

A dream within a dream 1. Good morning today I will be talking about the poem a dream within a dream written by Edgar Allen Poe, first published in 1827. The poem is a two stanza lyric poem. The poet asks himself if a person can determine the difference between reality and fantasy by asking † is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream†. The poet is reflecting his feelings of the time and exaggerating his confusion as he is watching the important things in his life slip away as if they were grains of sand held in his hand, finally he comes to the conclusion that all the things in his life is part of a dream. . Poe uses the form of poetry called a lyric poem. A lyric poem is a form of poetry which can be categorized into other forms of poetry such as ballads and odes. Lyric poems are used to express deep feelings and thoughts. Because the poet has used the form of a lyric poem emphasizes the fact that the narrator is going through difficult times and is conflicte d by confusing emotions. 3. It begins at the moment of parting—a clean kiss on the forehead that shows the passion between them had been stopped. His beloved has accused him of living in a dream, with his head stuck in the clouds.Presumably making him far from marriageable material. 4. His joy in the love they shared was not returned so his hope has, as he says, â€Å"flown away†. But he wonders if his love has really gone and asks what really exists in his life. The continuous rhyme has a strange sweetness, with couplets and triplets sending us tumbling effortlessly through the lines. The repetition of the word dream throughout the poem gives the poem a glaze like effect because we delve deeper into the different emotions and thoughts of Poe's mind. . In the second stanza we are moved from a civil society to an unruly sea side, the water and waves are used to represent the tides of thoughts, feelings and reactions that flow endlessly in and out of our mind each day. 6 . The two stanzas appear to be completely different but they are connected through the aspect of the end of love and time. The grains of sand symbolize an hourglass which shows the route of time and as the sand keeps flowing the time disappears and at the same time the narrators loves also disappearing. 7. And I hold within my hand Grains of the golden sand-How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep† this is a metaphor used in the second stanza where Poe compares the few grains of sand in his hand to the few important things in life he has left. He says that even though there are few left they can slip away from our minds into the forgotten. He wants to know why he can't hold onto the things that he believes to be so dear to him. It relates to life in the way that it is so easy to forget things that are important to us. 8.