<p>Imperil panegyrics have often been dismissed as mere flattery of no literary merit and limited historical value. In recent years, increasing interest in the study if the history of the later Roman empire has led scholars and to take a fresh look at panegyrics and to examine their role in the society of the late antique world. Detailed studies of individual works are necessary for this examination and reevaluation of imperial panegyric. This thesis, consisting of translation and commentary, provides such a study, the first in English, of the Delaude Anastasii impreratoris, a verse panegyric of the emperor Anastasius (491-518) written in Constantinople by the sixth century author Priscian, best known for his work on Latin grammar.</p> <p>Set in its literary context, the panegyric illustrates one stage in the Christianization of a secular literary genre. To praise his Christian emperor and justify his rule in terms of Christian political theory, the poet abandons the epic style and mythological allusions used by his predecessors in Latin verse panegyric. Instead, Priscian versifies the outline for imperial panegyric provided in rhetorical handbooks. Literary traditions, however, dictates that his language and poetic adornment be neutral, acceptable to both pagan and Christian, and as a result there are few overtly Christian elements in the poem.</p> <p>In the panegyric; Priscian creates the image of an emperor chosen by God and protected by His might. The skillful development of and emphasis on such an image suggest that historically the poem should be dates to the later part of Anastasius' reign when religious controversy and armed rebellion threatened his throne. More specifically the panegyrist's portrait of the emperor, combined with reference to historical events, indicates that the poem may date to the year 513, the first year of the rebellion of Vitalian. Set in this context, the poem was probably aimed at dissident elements within Anastasius' court and administration.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The purpose of this study is to bring to the forefront the importance of black humor in the lives of African-Americans. The cultural roots of black humor began in Africa and were transported to America where Africans were forced to live as an enslaved people. Humor is a defining factor which contributed to the survival of blacks living in an oppressed state. Black people continue to live in survival mode and the researcher evaluates how black humor is a significant component to overcoming a life of adversity. All genres of literature evolve from one generation to the next. The genre of black humor is no different. This study will disclose how the dynamics of black humor evolve from the days of the enslaved entertaining the plantation masters, to the era of minstrelsy, and into the twentieth century with the rise of black comedy. Each period of black humor will demonstrate the profound effect humor has in the lives of black people.

Griselda Gambaro’s work had been studied previously under the confrontation of victims and their oppressors where the oppressor’s role is played by male characters while women play the victim part. However, in Gambaro’s four monologues that were written in 1970 and 1974, just before the Argentinean military dictatorship that took place in 1976, there were no male characters. However Gambaro’s monologues, even without male characters, illustrate the violence, repression and stark violations of human rights in an “apparently” democratic time in Argentina. This is possible because the women characters plunder their passive feminine identity by acquiring male behaviors full of aggression which threatens their own elimination. The details of the role of women as victims and oppressors are described in this dissertation.

It is the aim and purpose of this thesis to show that electricity in the modern theatre is a useful and necessary commodity. Also that the effects gained through the development of electrical equipment add to the effectiveness of plays as produced by the modern theatre. It is desired to show that electrical current will continue to be used in the stage lighting of the future although the present method used may become obsolete.

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the speeches of three representative modern women orators and in analyzing the speeches of these women to draw certain conclusions regarding women's oratory. I have chosen the speeches of Judge Florence E. Allen, Ruth Bryan Owen, and Mabel Walker Willebrandt. These women are well known for their ability as successful public speakers and they are listed as "good speakers" in the Who's Who of Women Orators in America.

This qualitative study identified the strategies that secondary French teachers use in their classroom to show students that they have made progress in their learning. Six teachers participated in this study. Data were collected from interviews, class observations, and artifacts used by the teachers. The findings suggest that teachers use a variety of strategies to help their students to know that they have made progress. These strategies include various forms of formative assessments, self-assessments, and self-reflections. The findings reveal that teachers choose to use these strategies because they are able to help their students develop characteristics of autonomous learners.

Many students in an allied health program at a Middle Eastern Arab university were experiencing difficulties with courses taught in English, resulting in poor academic achievement, low grade point averages, a high failure rate amongst its first year students, and an adverse impact upon a future skilled and educated work force for the region. Tinto's theory of institutional action for students' success served as the conceptual framework for the inquiry that used a qualitative explanatory case study method to examine the experiences of those students who were facing difficulties with their studies. To address questions about why students were failing and leaving the school and how the institution might remedy this educational problem, the study employed initial and follow-up interviews and reviews of academic records and portfolios of 6 currently enrolled or recently graduated students over age 21, who volunteered to participate. Content and thematic analysis of the collected qualitative data produced findings indicative of lack of college readiness among students and gaps in institutional practices such as remedial methods for the unprepared students. Based on the study findings, a policy recommendation for improving the educational practices was introduced to support building a better educational environment at the school. The positive social change implications of this study are not only limited to establishing programs to support the students' success and improve retention rates at the institution but also may include the establishment of more effective approaches to the reform measures of the educational system in the country.

Through researching the history of the construction of Barcelona, one can see how the city has been intentionally shaped in order to draw in the public. From the end of the 19th century the city has strived to replicate attractions from other, more well known cities, in order to create a tourism industry of its own. This has resulted in a modern day tourism that is thriving, but lacking in substance. By looking at the political history of Catalonia one learns the powerful independence the city has always had. This strength has only been reflected in times of trouble, and the tourism industry of today has chosen to ignore this history. By only expressing itself to visitors as metropolitan and sophisticated, travelers cannot fully understand what it is that truly makes Barcelona unique.

Many students in an allied health program at a Middle Eastern Arab university were experiencing difficulties with courses taught in English, resulting in poor academic achievement, low grade point averages, a high failure rate amongst its first year students, and an adverse impact upon a future skilled and educated work force for the region. Tinto's theory of institutional action for students' success served as the conceptual framework for the inquiry that used a qualitative explanatory case study method to examine the experiences of those students who were facing difficulties with their studies. To address questions about why students were failing and leaving the school and how the institution might remedy this educational problem, the study employed initial and follow-up interviews and reviews of academic records and portfolios of 6 currently enrolled or recently graduated students over age 21, who volunteered to participate. Content and thematic analysis of the collected qualitative data produced findings indicative of lack of college readiness among students and gaps in institutional practices such as remedial methods for the unprepared students. Based on the study findings, a policy recommendation for improving the educational practices was introduced to support building a better educational environment at the school. The positive social change implications of this study are not only limited to establishing programs to support the students' success and improve retention rates at the institution but also may include the establishment of more effective approaches to the reform measures of the educational system in the country.

Pragmatics in Arabic needs to be studied for two main reasons: first, the large cultural difference between American and Middle Eastern society; and second, the recent surge in demand for Arabic speakers in the US. Especially in regard to refusals, what is acceptable in America is rarely acceptable in Arabic speaking countries. There are very few occasions when refusal of an offering of food or other hospitalities is acceptable. Arab culture requires one to provide family members with anything they need, including money. If that is not possible it is required to find the means for what they need. American culture permits one to deny help in certain circumstances, but Arab culture does not. The inability of the US to meet its demand for Arabic speakers demonstrates the importance of research in Arabic pragmatics. Whenever the Middle East is at the forefront of world-wide media, the demand for Arabic instruction in the US increases. Since September 11th, the Middle East has been in the forefront of the news, causing an unprecedented rise in need for Arabic programs. Study abroad programs have the ability to help universities prepare their students both linguistically and culturally. This study examines Brigham Young University's Fall 2004 Egypt study abroad program and how its students were able to improve their knowledge of Arabic pragmatics.