Pick any of the stories/prose fables in Gibran Khalil Gibran’s “The Prophet” and write about the following: 1.The author: give a brief introduction on the author of the novel.
2.The country: give a brief about the country/culture that the work belongs to
3.The context: mention under what historical/personal/political/econo mic circumstances the novel you picked was written.
4.Plot summary: give a brief summary of the work.
5.Discuss the social issue that the prophet was addressing. What was the issue? Be sure to link specific social issue to the cultural background in USA/Lebanon/Universe.
6.Cultural elements: discuss how and what cultural elements are reflected in this work. Provide examples from the text.

Selected story:  "Love"

1. The author: Gibran Kahlil Gibran: Born in Lebanon in 1883. He came to the United States in 1885 with his mother and brothers. He was a poet, novelist, essayist, philosopher, and painter. He founded and was president of the "Literary League" which was of enormous influence on Arabic literature.

He died in 1931.

2. The country: The country of origin is Lebanon. Most of its population professes Islam. Among the Muslims there are different types: Shiites, Sunnis and Alawites. The rest are Christians, mainly Maronites, and a minority are Druze.

The Lebanese use to go shopping in the city center and stroll with friends along the busy streets. Lebanese normally sit together and interact lively.

Manners are important in this culture. Both foreigners and acquaintances greet each other respectfully, generally using French words like bonjour, bonsoir and pardon.

Hospitality is very important. Travelers to Lebanon are warmly welcomed.

3. The context: The context of this story shows us a wise prophet, Almustafa, who is found on Orphalese Island. He is about to leave his city and the citizens, who loved him very much, ask him to tell stories of his life philosophy before leaving them.

4. Plot summary: The story Love talks about following love, even though it hurts a lot. Love has the power to destroy us, but each person must seek it anyway, since it helps us grow and learn many things that will serve us throughout life.

We cannot control love, just as love cannot control us.

5. Discuss the social issue that the prophet was addressing. What was the issue? : The prophet is giving advice on specific topics throughout the book: love, marriage, children, children, work, pain and joy, clothing, freedom, prayer, dialogue, beauty, pleasure, religion and, finally, death.

In general, the themes of this book are themes that affect most of us equally, but the way it is narrated simply by the prophet is what makes it special.

The issue treated in "Love" is that love will surely hurt us, but we must follow it anyway.

"When love beckons to you, follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep. "

"For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning."

6. Cultural elements: The cultural elements in this story are:

Learning: "All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart."

Suffering: "So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself

He threshes you to make your naked.

He sifts you to free you from your husks.

I've grinds you to whiteness. "

Religion: "He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast."

i have learned a great many things from participating in varsity football. it has changed my entire outlook on and attitude toward life. before my freshman year at [high-school], i was shy, had low self-esteem and turned away from seemingly impossible challenges. football has altered all of these qualities. on the first day of freshman practice, the team warmed up with a game of touch football. the players were split up and the game began. however, during the game, i noticed that i didn't run as hard as i could, nor did i try to evade my defender and get open. the fact of the matter is that i really did not want to be thrown the ball. i didn't want to be the one at fault if i dropped the ball and the play didn't succeed. i did not want the responsibility of the team because i was too afraid of making a mistake. that aspect of my character led the first years of my high school life. i refrained from asking questions in class, afraid they might be considered too stupid or dumb by my classmates. all the while, i went to practice and everyday, i went home physically and mentally exhausted.

yet my apprehension prevailed as i continued to fear getting put in the game in case another player was injured. i was still afraid of making mistakes and getting blamed by screaming coaches and angry teammates. sometimes these fears came true. during my sophomore season, my position at backup guard led me to play in the varsity games on many occasions. on such occasions, i often made mistakes. most of the time the mistakes were not significant; they rarely changed the outcome of a play. yet i received a thorough verbal lashing at practice for the mistakes i had made. these occurrences only compounded my fears of playing. however, i did not always make mistakes. sometimes i made great plays, for which i was congratulated. now, as i dawn on my senior year of football and am faced with two starting positions, i feel like a changed person.

over the years, playing football has taught me what it takes to succeed. from months of tough practices, i have gained a hard work ethic. from my coaches and fellow teammates, i have learned to work well with others in a group, as it is necessary to cooperate with teammates on the playing field. but most important, i have also gained self-confidence. if i fail, it doesn't matter if they mock or ridicule me; i'll just try again and do it better. i realize that it is necessary to risk failure in order to gain success. the coaches have always said before games that nothing is impossible; i know that now. now, i welcome the challenge. whether i succeed or fail is irrelevant; it is only important that i have tried and tested myself.

the topic of this essay is how the applicant has matured and changed since his freshman year. he focuses on football. one of the strengths of this essay is that it is well organized. the applicant clearly put time into the structure and planning of this essay. he uses the platform of football to discuss and demonstrate his personal growth and development through the high school years. what he could have done better was spend more time describing himself after he made improvements. as it is, he only tells us about his newfound confidence and drive. this essay would have been stronger had he actually shown us, perhaps by including a story or describing an event where his confidence made a difference

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