Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Personal Narrative- Amazon Experience Essay - 1034 Words

Personal Narrative- Amazon Experience Being a curious little twelve year old who was eager to discover the world, when my father asked me back in 1997 if I wanted to travel to Colombia, I jumped on the opportunity. Little did I know just how much I would be discovering. Colombia held sights, sound, and smells that I had never experienced. Crowded city highways with no marked lanes, the stench of lead exhaust filling the overcrowded streets of the capitol, the freshness of the Andean Mountains filling the country air. The thought of Colombia brings a dozen images and adventures to mind. Out of all of these, however, there is one in particular which I shall never forget. It was one of the last mornings we were to spend in†¦show more content†¦I reached out to feel what I thought would be hard bone, but instead, my fingers met with a leathery surface. This gave me the chills. â€Å"Dad,† I said, â€Å"come here. Tell me this isn’t real.† His eyebrows wrinkled in suspicion as he felt the small skull’s leathery surface. â€Å"Ma’am,† he addressed the shop’s owner, â€Å"are these real?† A pretty, young Colombian girl sitting with one long leg thrown over the other while filing her nails answered without even looking up, â€Å"Oh yeah, those are real.† â€Å"Real heads? Human heads? Real human heads?† my dad asked in disbelief. â€Å"Yep, straight from the Amazon,† she answered indifferently. I stared at the skulls in disbelief wondering who the poor victims were. I’ll intentioned intruders who tried to harm an Amazon tribe? Nosy tourists who entered unwelcome into a prohibited zone?†¦ †Wait a minute,† I thought. â€Å"Weren’t we nosy tourists about to enter the depths of the Amazon?† â€Å"Are you sure you still want to go on that Amazon trip† I asked my dad. â€Å"Oh yeah, you’re right. It is getting late,† he misunderstood. â€Å"Let’s get going.† â€Å"Oh well,† I thought. â€Å"Perhaps my twelve year old imagination is just running wild again. The Amazon can’t have head hunters where we’re going. After all, it’s a guided tour.† After driving around some breathtaking mountains, the land began to flatten out and the temperature began increasing. A few hours later, we arrived at the site of they day’s planned adventure. WeShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis755 Words   |  4 Pagesopportunity to explore concepts. Meld life experiences with curiosities to create new situations. I strongly believe that as you write more and more about a character, that they begin to reveal more and more about themselves, from the standpoint that two unintentionally related traits may organically foster another by extension of themselves, in this way the characters are revealing parts of themselves to the author before the author reveals them to the reader. 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Tuesday, May 5, 2020

An Analysis of Death In British Literature Essay Example For Students

An Analysis of Death In British Literature Essay Death is inevitable and what happens after death will always be a mystery to the living. For this reason, the afterlife has always been a topic which artists have chosen to explore in their works. Throughout the chronology of British literature, artists have used societys views as a basis to examine the afterlife, and look at it in new ways. The afterlife has been a theme in British Literature from the Anglo-Saxon period of Beowulf to the twentieth century writings of Dylan Thomas. The mysteriousness of the afterlife makes it a topic which artists will always be eager to analyze. During the Anglo-Saxon Period which lasted from 449 AD to 1066 AD, the popular belief of the times was that a persons life was predetermined by Wyrd, the Old English word for fate, and there was nothing which the individual could do to change his destiny. The most famous writing from this epoch is the epic poem Beowulf. Beowulf, the main character, had no fear of the evil monster Grendel because he believed Grendel and I are called/ Together, by fate. He also displayed his faith in the beliefs of society when he told Hrogthgar Fate will unwind as it must. When Grendel died, the soldiers had no semse of sorrow, felt no regret for his sufferings, because they believed Grendel was destined to die, and there was no way to defy destiny. They also did not pity Grendel because they considered him to be entirely evil because it was his fate. The Anglo-Saxons strong belief in fate led to them not fearing death as much as during other times periods in British Literature. Beowulfs strong belief in fate was a reflection in the societys pagan belief in fate. Due to the fact that the society at the time of Beowulf was pagan, they did not believe in the afterlife. The Christian revision to Beowulf illustrated a different outlook on death and the afterlife. When monks were copying the story, they realized it dealt with pagan ideals, and they incorporated Christian ideals into the text. The monks included the concept God was the ultimate one who controls fate. This was shown when Beowulf told Hrogthgar God must decide/ Who will be given to deaths cold grip. The monks also inserted the idea that there is an afterlife. When Grendel died, hell opened up to receive him. They thought the pagan beliefs about death and the afterlife in Beowulf were unacceptable, so they included their Christian views of death and the afterlife into the poem. The societys values greatly influenced the monks revision of the poems. The Seafarer is another Anglo-Saxon poem which deals with the afterlife. The poem was written by Bede, who was a monk, so it contains the Christian views of the afterlife which are very similar to the ones included in the Christian revision to Beowulf. The speaker believed Death leaps at the fools who forgot their God. He who lives humbly has angles from Heaven/ To carry him courage and strength and belief. This showed the belief that God must be worshipped to get to Heaven, and if you do not follow God, like Grendel in Beowulf, you will not go to Heaven. In the poem, the persona expressed that riches can not buy entrance into heaven in the afterlife because, nothing/ Golden shakes the wrath of God/ For a soul overflowing with sin, and nothing/ Hidden on earth rises to Heaven. This poem reflected an Anglo-Saxon monks views of the afterlife, which were centered around his strong faith in Christianity. During the Medieval Period, the Catholic church played a dominant role in society. In England, the churchs abbeys and monasteries were the main centers of learning and the arts before the founding of Oxford and Cambridge universities during the thirteenth century. The church preached that following their faith would led a person to the afterlife. A piece of literature which displayed the belief in the afterlife was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The story starts at a Christmas party at Camelot when the Green Knight enters and offers to let a knight hit him with an ax if he can return the blow a year and a day later. Sir Gawain, the most brave knight of the round table, accepted the challenge, and he chopped off the knights head. The Green Kngiht then picked up his head, and rode away. A year and a day later, Gawain went to the Green Knight. He kneeled before the Green Knight, ready to take the blow. However as the Green Knight is about to lower his ax, Gawain pulled his shoulders back, just a bit. The Green Knight noticed this and was shocked. He said, Gawaina? You cant be Gawain, his name/ Is too noble, hes never afraid, nowhere/ On earth and you, you flinch in advance! The Green Knight then swung again, but he only nicked Gawain. Later, the Green Knight and Gawain talked about what happened. The Green Knight told Gawain he was testing him, and that Gawain was very great, but you failed a little, lost good faith/ -Not a beautiful belt, or in lust,/ But for love of your life. Gawain was completely ashamed because he had flinched, and he declared, A curse on cowardice and a curse on greed! / They shatter chivalry, their vice destroys/ Virtue. Gawain considered his fear of death to be a sin. This was because the society believed knights should not be afraid of death because they will be rewarded in the afterlife for having chivalry. Dionysus EssayDuring the Romantic Age, Percy Bysshe Shelley offered another perspective of the afterlife. In Ozymandias, he described a monument which was built to Ozymandias during the 13th century BC. The monument was broken apart, and only its head and legs remained alone in the barren desert. On the base of the statue, was inscribed the words, My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:/ look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair! This statue which was once a symbol of the power of Rameses II is now in complete ruin. The poem shows how pride and glory are only temporary earthly things. It also mentions that we are all equal in death. Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare the lone and level sands of time stretch far away. This line means we area all on level sands, when we enter the afterlife and it is time to be judged. According to the poem, glory during life does not mean the person will have the same glory in the afterlife. It doesnt matter how many monuments a person built to attest to his glory, he must face the same judge as the slave sculptor which created the monument. Alfred, Lord Tennyson expressed the idea held by Marvell that death is an enemy which a person should fight. In Ulysses, a Victorian Age poem, Ulysses was past his prime yet he still struggled to the most of his life, and did not wait for death to come for him. He felt Tis not too late to seek a newer world, and he believed Death closes on us all; but something ere the end,/ Some work of noble note, may yet be done. Ulysses believed a person should take advantage of the life they are given, and live life to the fullest. He thought when death was approaching, a person should continue to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. The poem expresses the need to look ahead, and continue on with life, even though death may be approaching. Ulysses and To His Coy Mistress both advocated a Carpe Diem philosophy, but in Ulysses, the persona had a belief in the afterlife. He believed that he may reach the Happy Isles which is the place heroes went after death. It is interesting how both encourage Carpe Diem, yet they have contrasting views of the afterlife. The Victorian age poetry of A. E. Housman, brought forth another idea about afterlife. In To An Athlete Dying Young, the poet contradicted the idea in Ozymandias that having glory during life does not mean a person will have glory in the afterlife. Instead, he suggested a person is immortalized the way he is when he dies, and in the afterlife he has the honor and prestige he had during life. Housman told the athlete, silence sounds no worse than cheers/ After earth has stopped the ears:/ Now you will not swell the rout/ Of lads that wore their honors out. The athlete will live his afterlife in glory which he had on earth, and according to this thought, Ozymandias will live in the afterlife as king of kings. In the 20th century, Dylan Thomas offered advice about how to live the time before the afterlife. In Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, he advised people to rage against the dying of the light. He is telling people to continue to make life meaningful and live it to the fullest before they go into that good night, which symbolized the afterlife. This concept is very similar to the ideas in Ulysses. Both poems suggested that people should struggle to make the most of their lives, and they each expressed a belief in the afterlife. Throughout the chronology of British literature, artists have presented many different perspectives on the afterlife. There are views which I agree with, and there are views which I dont agree with. One of the ones which I support is John Donnes idea of death not being a terrible thing because it leads to the afterlife which is a better place. I support this idea because I have been raised in a rather religious family, and it has been instilled in me that death is not bad, and there is an afterlife to go to. I also agree with the ideas in Ulysses and Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night that one should struggle to make the most out of his life and to make it meaningful. This idea is very appealing to me because I believe a person should always attempt to make the most out of what he/she is given, and it is important to never give up. While I dont agree with the poems which state that there isnt an afterlife, analyzing and thinking about them has been valuable for me because it has forced me to consider my views, and to build up a stronger support of my views to counter the ideas presented in these poems.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Understanding College Entry Essay Topics

Understanding College Entry Essay Topics The Basics of College Entry Essay Topics You Will be Able to Benefit From Beginning Today The single most essential part of your essay preparation could possibly be simply making certain you truly understand the question or essay prompt. In the event you have any pressing questions, you don't need to shy away. Attempt to conclude with an illustration of the way the failure improved the direction you deal with similar situations now. For a beginning, the usual application essay topics need you to use language that's totally free from language flaws and grammatical mistakes. Anyone who works in journalism will tell you it is possible to catch any reader's attention provided that you deliver an outstanding introduction. Education is one of the areas where technological advancements have produced significant positive impacts. Bridget's essay is extremely strong, but there continue to be a couple little things that could be made better. Our site is just one of the top rated on-line platforms dedicated to supplying scholars with assistance in college essays writing. The excellent news is, I can provide help. Maybe a philosophical text really elucidates your present paradigm. Stephen's essay is rather effective. The author starts with a rather comprehensive story of an event or description of an individual or place. Tell us a topic which you've changed your head on in the last three years. When you locate a topic you want, sit down and write for one hour or so. Your reply shouldn't be a book report. Write about a problem you have or would like to address. It's very beneficial to take writing apart to be able to see just the way that it accomplishes its objectives. The revisions are unquestionably free! In your essays, you may use distinctive approaches. Essays are an essential component in the college application procedure. Thus, the essay is supposed to coincide with the applicant's qualities and interests in order for it to boost the probability of admission. Our essay writing service is made for individuals that are dreaming of becoming the cover of the college and have an urge to receive only higher marks and praises of their teachers. The college admission essay plays a crucial part in the enrollment practice. Writing the college application essay can be among the most daunting elements of applying to college. It is crucial to capture the interest of the admission tutors irrespective of how strict they may appear to be. Since every pupil is qualified for an equal opportunity to be effective in research studies. An admissions officer is considerably more likely to bear in mind an applicant who has quite a specific essay written in a special and quirky way. For a high-school pupil who made a decision to go to college, it is going to be frustrating and rather challenging. One of the most difficult facets of college life is finances. Well Laura, I'm a white male. Let the minute you choose be revealing of your nature and character. College admissions essays aren't rocket science, but there are a range of steps that students may take to assemble the most accurate and compelling essays which will help their likelihood of gaining admission to their top-choice colleges. Show how you fit in the campus culture and how you'll affect the community through specific examples. Map out what you're likely to write by creating an outline. In addition to its growing cultural and ethnic diversity, State University is turning into a master at developing a niche for every single student.

Essay on Any Topic For Interview - How to Write Your Essay?

Essay on Any Topic For Interview - How to Write Your Essay?If you are an undergraduate or graduate student and are looking for ways to write an essay on any topic for interview, then this article is for you. I will show you some tricks that will help you write your essay effectively and attract the attention of any interviewers.The first thing that you have to consider when writing an essay on any topic for interview is the topic. To make sure that you come up with the right essay for the interview, it is best if you know the topic beforehand. This will help you come up with a good essay.Second, you should consider which types of essays are most commonly done by people who do interviews. First is the written essay, and second is an oral essay. Thus, the type of essay that you should write is the type that most interviewers usually ask questions and get information from. Therefore, if you have a personal essay in your mind, you should choose your essay wisely.Writing the essay should also be done carefully. It is essential that the content of the essay is related to the question that you would like to answer. Otherwise, it would turn out to be an information-based essay. Keep your thoughts simple and factual. Avoid including details and 'explanations' that have not anything to do with the topic that you would like to address.Moreover, the essay should be brief and concise. There are essay software that can help you prepare for writing an essay. These softwares offer several features that can help you to research and organize the essay content. And one of these features is that they allow you to edit the essay.After you are done editing your essay, you can share it with the article writing software. These softwares have numerous ways to help you to edit your essay. This will make your essay more compelling and useful to the interviewer.Finally, make sure that your essay has enough space to explain and clarify your thoughts. Also, you should include references and other relevant sources. Finally, there should be a link back to your website or academic resource.In the end, the most important things to keep in mind when writing an essay for interview are research, structure, format, and good English. A quality essay is the best tool to help you get hired by the interviewers. So, do not forget to learn these points when preparing for your essay on any topic for interview.

Lies Youve Been Told About What Is the Average Length of a College Scholarship Essay

Lies You've Been Told About What Is the Average Length of a College Scholarship Essay When it's possible to accomplish this, get the most recent set of rules from the organization's web website. You may not be in a position to find length guidelines in the prompt, but you might still hunt them up elsewhere on the site. There are lots of amazing scholarship websites free of charge. You may use the feedback to enhance the essay before submitting it. Life, Death and What Is the Average Length of a College Scholarship Essay Touch on the most essential elements of your essay then leave the reader with something to consider. To write a great essay you have to be familiar to types. When writing an essay, you will need to verify that you're worthy of the scholarship. Both examples manage the very same theme (sick parent) but utilize various approaches. For big essay tests, where there is simply 1 question for an entire hour-long test, you are going to be expected to compose a full essay. In the same way, presenting a question in the title is essentially a promise you will supply some kind of answer in the essay. The title of the topic also can help you understand the compulsory approach. Usually it's not sufficient to name the topic of the essay in the title. In an attempt to fully convey a story or maybe to explain complicated conditions, we often wind up with a college personal statement that's significantly longer that what is allowed for the application practice. Some stories just take more time to tell than others. College application essays require that you stick to a prompt or question. Language is produced by people together. Along with the dissertation, there's coursework in a doctorate application that will teach the concentration specifically. The precise requirements differ from scholarship to scholarship. A t first, it might seem near impossible to find scholarship money, competing with different students that have a far better GPA's. Your very first scholarship application will almost certainly seem quite daunting. Figuring out your college essay can be among the most difficult pieces of applying to college. When it's too late for that get started when you're able to. If you don't have parents that are ready to pay the huge bill, then you will have to really, at least partially, on scholarships and student loans. Whispered What Is the Average Length of a College Scholarship Essay Secrets There are lots of concerns that you can do to boost your probability of obtaining a scholarship and writing a scholarship essay is just one of it. The second aim is to demonstrate that you're the form of superior student and person the school would like to enroll. For instance, the author addresses the manner that American history classes don't usually address about the Vietnam War, although it happened just a limited time ago. Try to remember that to be able to win the scholarship, you're going to need to show the best you can. Not going over 10% of the suggested length is a superb rule. Don't concen trate on the term count as you write. The end result is a strong essay with scientific depth. The same holds for the duration of your private statementhone in on the particular message you wish to convey and deliver it as succinctly as you are able to.

Writing a Sample Introduction For an Argumentative Essay

Writing a Sample Introduction For an Argumentative EssayA sample introduction paragraph for an argumentative essay is one of the most important parts of a written composition. It gives the reader the feeling that they are about to get to know you and get to know your argument, but if it is not an effective introduction then your reader is unlikely to ever feel persuaded to the other side of the argument.A sample introduction paragraph for an argumentative essay is usually introduced by summarizing the essence of the argument and explaining your own position. The usual introduction comes at the end of the paragraph or starts with a question that the reader should answer. A real eloquent introduction is something that is both exciting and powerful.A survey of the main topics for introductory paragraphs in first year composition classes will reveal that questions make up a significant part of these writings. This may seem surprising, but students love to learn about others and about the ir writing. They have strong opinions and often feel very strongly about things, so why not learn about them? An introduction that answers a reader's question is likely to be more compelling than one that merely introduces them to you and your views.In addition to learning how to write an introduction for an initial essay it is important to learn how to manage your time. This means that if you find yourself in a hurry and do not have enough time to make a good introduction you should break off the discussion. Students can be extremely impatient and there is always the chance that they may forget what you were talking about or even worse. They may end up being bored.Be prepared for this possibility because it is likely that you will have little time to give to a written introduction paragraph for an argumentative essay. However, it is useful to know that students are capable of writing an opening introduction and know how to construct it. There is nothing wrong with letting them do i t and they will generally be grateful for the chance to contribute.One of the best ways to deal with a rushed opening introduction paragraph is to provide references and let the student take care of filling in the gaps. Try to remember that you are just a student who may well be working hard but you can also be students who are smart and have an interest in learning.You can include a reference to your main thesis. If you want to develop your own arguments and not just discuss them, it is better to provide some supporting facts that will help to support your case. This way your introduction will be more persuasive and convincing.Always remember that when you are writing a thesis based essay it is important to be fully prepared. The introduction should be the first stage of your essay so do not take your time.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Aztec Tradition free essay sample

The driving creation beliefs of the Aztec religion begin with the dual god, Ometecuhtli/Omecihuatl. * This god created itself and it was both male and female, bad and good and, chaos and order. * The Aztecs believed that the contrasting aspects in the world would create balance and unite the origins of the world. * The god had four children and each of them represented the four directions of the world north, south, east and west. The Aztecs believed that their empire was at the centre of the universe and therefore the directions mentioned in the creation story link to this. * The four gods created the water and then other gods who then created Cipactli a creature who was part crocodile and part fish. * This creature begun to eat all the creations made by the gods and were eaten. * The four direction gods attacked the Cipactli and stretched him into the four corners and the world was created when it was defeated. We will write a custom essay sample on Aztec Tradition or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page * It is believed that the head contained the 13 heavens, the body contained the world and tail held the 9 underworlds Principal beliefs of the Aztecs: * The Aztecs beliefs were based upon the theme of nature * Aztecs believed that the gods needed to be nourished by humans and therefore sacrifice is an integral aspect of Aztec tradition * They believed that the world was divided into five eras, or suns. Each previous era had been governed by one deity and it had ended with the destruction of the elements or phenomena after which it had been named. They believed they were living in the fifth and last era. They believed this era was the era of movement as they believed an earthquake would end the world and time would come to an end. The Aztecs believed in an underworld and a paradise where in which there were 13 heavens and 9 hells in which one could go after death * The sun fought against the darkness every night and rose to save mankind * The Aztecs saw the Earth as a giant flat circular disk (sometimes imagined to be an enormous alligator, whose scales were mountains), surrounded by water as far as the distant horizon, where it joined the sky Identify and describe the role of the supernatural powers and deities in the religion: * The Aztec tradition is a polytheistic religion and is credited over 100 gods and creatures that possess supernatural powers. They worshipped many gods and goddesses, each of whom ruled one or more human activities or aspects of nature. * Many of the gods were agricultural based as the Aztec period was heavily based on farming * Some of the deities were benevolent while others had terrifying characteristics and feared the people * The deities needed to be fed fresh blood in order for the chaos in the world to be avoided. If this was not done the Aztecs believed they would wither and die. They believed that the processes that make life possible like the rain or solar energy and that the destiny of people depended on the will of these gods * Many of the Aztec deities belonged to a number of tribes, cultures and regions Discuss the relationship between sacred spaces and the beliefs of the religion * Aztecs called their temples Teocalli and they were used to worship, pray and make offerings to the Gods. * Some spaces were built purely for specific celebrations of the Aztecs * Many of their sacred spaces were used to carry out the blood offering to the Gods. The temples were a dwelling place on earth for a particular deity and hence why the sacrifices were chosen to be done within this space * The Aztecs believed that once an area is used as a sacred space it is incredibly important and essential that it remains this way * The size of the space which was used for worship was not relevant as long as it was sacred and remained separate and was distinct to the other areas of the house * It is a common belief amongst the Aztecs that this sacred space needs to be present even if it is simple and basic. It must be respected regardless of the size. Identify the principal rituals and examine their significance for the individual and community * The loyalty, respect and even fear which was felt towards the Gods lead to the establishment of various rituals * The main rituals of the Aztec traditions are: Sacrificial Blood letting Deity impersonation Reenactment of myth * The Aztecs had 18 months in one cycle, and for each of the 18 months there was ritual sacrifice. The victim would be painted as a part of the ritual, they would be placed on a slab where their heart would be removed and held up to the sun. The body would be thrown down the stairs of the temple/pyramid. The body would be disposed in several ways including being fed to animals and it is even believed cannibalism took place amongst the Aztecs * Blood letting was a ritual amongst the Aztecs where people would cut themselves to offer their blood to the gods. Such blood-letting was tied to rank: the higher one was in social or priestly rank, the more blood one had to sacrifice * It was the role of priests or another elected individual would dress up and achieve the likeness of a specific deity. This individual would be the physical manifestation of the god until the inevitable end when the gods likeness had to be killed as the ultimate sacrifice under great circumstance and festivities * Similar to the impersonation of gods, the purpose of the reenactment of myth was to remind the Aztec community of the past mythical events but was also to perpetuate the word by spreading the important events of creation Explain the relationship between the religion and its society * The Aztec society was heavily related to the culture which was established. In many ways the Aztec culture was expressed in through their beliefs * The Aztec culture was incredibly creative and filled with rich and beautiful forms of art (music, tattoos, poetry). This art which they created linked to their beliefs and furthermore their unique tradition * The Aztec warfare is portrayed through their art and examples of this can be found in the form of paintings and pottery found in temples * Religion evidently played a large role in the Aztec culture. Many of their actions were linked to the deities. They were expected to work hard in order to please the gods and therefore keep the balance of the universe * The remains of temples are examples of how their lives were based around showing their dedication and lives towards their deities. The culture and way of life was based around keeping the gods content in order for their lives to be good Explain how the religion provides a distinct response to the search for meaning * As identified in the previous sections, the Aztecs have proven a culture which is unique through the way in which they conduct their rituals and way of life. The deep respect and honor the Aztecs have for their gods is an incredibly unique way of communicating their reason for being and search for meaning * In everything that they do they convey their love and dedication to pleasing the deities. It is evident through their religion and their culture it is very evident that their reason for existence is to please the gods * Many other traditions include similar bel iefs however for the Aztecs it provides their reason for being and the basis of their lives Identify the principal rituals and examine their significance for the individual and community: The Aztecs practice many rituals which are significant to their religious identity, and on a wider scale their culture. These forms of rituals explore and make the tradition unique and support and tie into the beliefs which are followed by the Aztecs. All the rituals are designed and performed in order to celebrate and honor the gods, and the world they have given to us. It is the central belief of the tradition that they exist to serve and show gratitude to the gods that placed them on this earth. The rituals which are common within the Aztec religion include blood –letting, human sacrifice, impersonation of deities and reenactment of myths. Even from the names of these rituals it is evident that the focus around the gods play a significant role. Blood-letting was the process by which elite individuals including community leaders and religious figures would cut themselves in front of a congregation. They would intentionally cut parts of their body usually their tongues and then collect the blood on paper and then burnt as an offering to the gods through the form of smoke. This was significant for the Aztecs as it demonstrated the strong connection the person performing the ritual had with the supernatural and gods. It was a way of showing respect to the higher beings. It was a way in which all individuals could be involved through joining as a community and observing a sacrificial practice. It was also integral because it provided as a form of maintaining political power and legitimizing the prominent social position of the chosen blood-letting figure. Human sacrifice was a ritual which the Aztecs are still known for today. This ritual required 5 priests to take the victim to the top of a temple where they would then tear the beating heart out of the body. This was because the gods required living human hearts for nourishment. The heart would be burnt and the corpse would be pushed down the stairs of the temple. Many people in the community would choose to impersonate deities and then died as a sacrifice to that particular god. Approximately 20,000 Aztecs were sacrificed each year and in comparison to other traditions at the same time this was incredibly high. This ritual was particularly significant to the Aztec religion because it was the most extreme form of sacrifice. Individuals in the Aztec community were chosen at random to be the sacrificial person and therefore each person needs to be prepared to do so. The beliefs of the tradition link to this ritual in the way that all people should be fully dedicated and show gratitude to the deities. As a community they were expected to respect this ritual and support the reasoning behind it. The reenactment of myths was a ritual where in which people in the community would gather together and reenact mythical stories of the deities. These reenactments were a special part within the community because they provided as reminder of the Aztecs of their creation story and their myths. The recreation of these myths ensured that the important events behind the religion were passed down through the generations. This is another way in which the community gathers in order to show their respect to their beliefs and furthermore show pride in their culture. It is clear to see that the Aztecs were a group of people who had a strong connection with their gods. They performed rituals that expressed the gratitude, which they had towards the gods. These rituals were a way in which individuals could convey their dedication to the higher beings.