CASE 2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

CASE 2 - Coursework Example Common stocks are also investment made by stockholders and is recorded as par value. Retained earnings are the portion that a company keeps once dividends are paid to the preferred stockholders. Large corporations hold a considerable amount of retained earnings. Capital surplus defines values created from stocks issued at a premium over par value. Other stockholder equity shows cumulative gains or losses that cannot be recorded on the income statement (â€Å"Financial Statements†, n.d.). The concept outstanding share is contributed to common stocks. They are owned by public as well as by the company employees. A company calculates its market capitalization by multiplying outstanding shares by their current market price. From this perspective, companies do not have outstanding preferred stock shares. Preferred stocks have characteristics of common stock and a bond. They are traded separately from common stock at a different price. Like a bond, preferred stock has fixed rate payment. These stocks do not have voting right. Treasury shares are that share that once were outstanding shares, but later bought back by the company and decommissioned; they do not have voting rights and cannot claim dividend. Treasury share are created to boost up earning per share (EPS). This assignment uses Whole Foods Market from NASDAQ and General Electric Company from NYSE. Both companies report treasury shares but do not disclose the reason. Basic earnings per share (BEPS) implies the amount of a company’s profit that can be allocated to one stock. It is calculated using the formula, BEPS = (Net Income – Preferred dividends) / Weighted average number of common stock. Diluted EPS (DEPS) is calculated in those cases if a company possesses dilutive securities that can be converted into common stock. It is calculated using the formula, DEPS = {(Net income-Preferred dividend)/ Weighted average number of common stock – impact of convertible

Marketing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing research - Essay Example Table of Contents 1. Introduction --------------------------------------------------------4 1.1 Research Questions--------------------------------------------4 1.2 Research Aim---------------------------------------------------4 1.3 Research Objectives -------------------------------------------4 1.4 Research Hypothesis------------------------------------------5 2. Literature Review--------------------------------------------------------6 2.1 Service Recovery -----------------------------------------------6 2.2 Customer satisfaction-------------------------------------------7 2.3 Customer loyalty------------------------------------------------7 2.4 Service Recovery, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Retention 3. Research Methodology ----------------------------------------------------9 3.1 Research Approach ----------------------------------------------9 3.2 Research Methods------------------------------------------------9 3.3 Research Design----------------------------------------- ----------9 3.4 Ethical considerations--------------------------------------------11 4. Findings and Analysis ---------------------------------------------------12 5. Conclusion and Recommendations------------------------------------17 6. ... ----------------- Table 1: Time of recovery and customer satisfaction and customer retention----13 Table 2: Quality of recovery and customer satisfaction and customer retention--14 Table 3: Type of service failure and customer satisfaction -------------------15 Table 4: type of service failure and customer retention------------------------15 List of Appendices Appendix A: Research Questionnaire--------------------------------------------------19 Appendix B: Findings from SPSS-----------------------------------------------------------------------21 Appendix C: Correlations from SPSS-------------------------------------------------23 References------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24 1. Introduction This report aims to evaluate the impacts of service recovery on customer satisfaction and loyalty in the hotel industry in the UK. Efficient and quick service recovery has been found to have a positive impact on customer loyalty and satisfaction in several researches (Bowen and Chen, 2001). However, it has also been found that service recovery’s impact is mediated by several factors like the type of industry, and the type of service failure that may have occurred (Matos, Henrique and Rossi, 2007). The current research aims to understand how service recovery impacts the customer loyalty and satisfaction in the hotel industry, which is predominantly a service intensive industry. The following research questions are used to guide the research: 1.1 Research Questions 1. How does service recovery enhance customer satisfaction in the hotel industry? 2. How does service recovery enhance customer loyalty in the hotel industry? 3. What is the relationship between the impacts of service recovery and the type of service

Justifying the Increase in Tuition Fees Research Paper

Justifying the Increase in Tuition Fees - Research Paper Example Spending on education has become a part of the family’s consumption. Parents would save a portion of their incomes for their children’s education. It is because they see a brighter future through education. Education promises a good job in the future. A good job will give a man a better position in his future life.  Ã‚   These were the cases before. Our world now is becoming demanding. It now requires more knowledge and skills for us to continue our existence. This means we need not only to have our basic education but also to enter a university and finish a degree. We have to pay for our education if we want a good paying job after graduation.The Government has withdrawn its support for undergraduate studies. This may be the result of a shortage in the Government budget not being enough to finance all the spending for its people’s basic education up to higher level. So, the private sector needs to help the government in providing higher education for the peopl e. As a result, annual tuition fees of top universities are expected to increase. Debates may arise as proposals for higher tuition fees enter the scenario.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      In our dynamic economy, the future is always uncertain. We never know what will happen next. We will never know where our decisions will take us. We will never know how other people will react to our actions. So there is always the risk. So in these times when everything seems to go high, from the prices of basic commodities up to tuition fees in universities, we are faced with tough decision making. A lot of questions now are playing on our minds. Will I continue my studies and accept the increase in tuition fees? Will the increase in tuition fees worth my stay at the university as I expect to land a good paying job after I graduate?   Or will I stop studying, leave the university and work instead? Will companies hire me against an applicant who has a degree? To help a school leaver decide under this uncertainty, we have to analyze the expected utility and the cost and benefits of going to the university.

Marketing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing research - Essay Example Table of Contents 1. Introduction --------------------------------------------------------4 1.1 Research Questions--------------------------------------------4 1.2 Research Aim---------------------------------------------------4 1.3 Research Objectives -------------------------------------------4 1.4 Research Hypothesis------------------------------------------5 2. Literature Review--------------------------------------------------------6 2.1 Service Recovery -----------------------------------------------6 2.2 Customer satisfaction-------------------------------------------7 2.3 Customer loyalty------------------------------------------------7 2.4 Service Recovery, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Retention 3. Research Methodology ----------------------------------------------------9 3.1 Research Approach ----------------------------------------------9 3.2 Research Methods------------------------------------------------9 3.3 Research Design----------------------------------------- ----------9 3.4 Ethical considerations--------------------------------------------11 4. Findings and Analysis ---------------------------------------------------12 5. Conclusion and Recommendations------------------------------------17 6. ... ----------------- Table 1: Time of recovery and customer satisfaction and customer retention----13 Table 2: Quality of recovery and customer satisfaction and customer retention--14 Table 3: Type of service failure and customer satisfaction -------------------15 Table 4: type of service failure and customer retention------------------------15 List of Appendices Appendix A: Research Questionnaire--------------------------------------------------19 Appendix B: Findings from SPSS-----------------------------------------------------------------------21 Appendix C: Correlations from SPSS-------------------------------------------------23 References------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24 1. Introduction This report aims to evaluate the impacts of service recovery on customer satisfaction and loyalty in the hotel industry in the UK. Efficient and quick service recovery has been found to have a positive impact on customer loyalty and satisfaction in several researches (Bowen and Chen, 2001). However, it has also been found that service recovery’s impact is mediated by several factors like the type of industry, and the type of service failure that may have occurred (Matos, Henrique and Rossi, 2007). The current research aims to understand how service recovery impacts the customer loyalty and satisfaction in the hotel industry, which is predominantly a service intensive industry. The following research questions are used to guide the research: 1.1 Research Questions 1. How does service recovery enhance customer satisfaction in the hotel industry? 2. How does service recovery enhance customer loyalty in the hotel industry? 3. What is the relationship between the impacts of service recovery and the type of service

Long Neck in Thailand Essay Example for Free

Long Neck in Thailand Essay Long Neck people are originating in the Shan State in Burma is a Union of Myanmar these unique people are a small minority of the Karennin or Red Karen people of Burma and they are have also In Northern Thailand. They are from Padaung tribe synonym Kayan tribe and this tribe has today a number about 50. 000 persons. Kayan Lahwi is developed as a combination of Kayan by slash and burn and Lawi tribe by neck rings from Laos and North Thailand. Padaung (Yan Pa Doung) is a Shan term for the Kayan Lahwi (the group whose women wear the brass neck coils). The Kayan resident in Mae Hong Son Province in Northern Thailand refer to themselves as Kayan and object to being called Padaung. In The Hardy Padaungs (1967) Khin Maung Nyunt, one of the first authors to use the term Kayan, says that the Padaung prefer to be called Kayan. In the late 1980s and early 1990s due to conflict with the military regime in Burma, many Kayan tribes fled to the Thai border area. The Thai government has granted them refugee status, but they are allowed to live only in certain areas. Villages displaying Padaung women with brass neck coils for tourist dollars appeared. There are three Kayan villages in Mae Hong Son province in Thailand. The largest is Huay Pu Keng, on the Pai river, close to the Thai Burma border. Huai Seau Tao is a commercial village opened in 1995. Many of the residents of Nai Soi Kayan Tayar moved into the Karenni refugee camp in September 2008, but a few families remain there. Most of the Kayan people in Mae Hong Son are formerly from nine villages in Karenni State. The majority are from Rwan Khu and Daw Kee village. The people of Huay Pu Keng are mainly from Lay Mile village. Women of the various Kayan tribes identify themselves by their different form of dress. The Kayan Lahwi tribe are the most renowned as they wear ornaments known as neck rings, brass coils that are placed around the neck. These coils were first apple to young girls when they are around five years old. Each coil is replaced with longer coil, as the weight of the brass pushes the collar bone down and compresses the rib cage. Contrary to popular belief, the neck is not actually lengthen the illusion of a stretched neck is created by the deformation of the clavicle. Many ideas regarding why the coils have been suggested, often formed by visiting anthropologists, who have hypothesized that the rings protected women from becoming slaves by making them less attractive to other tribes. Contrastingly it has been theoried that the coils originate from the desire to look more attractive by exaggerating sexual dimorphism, as women have more slender necks than men. It has also suggested that the coils give the women resemblance to a dragon, an important figure in Kayan folklore. The coils may be mean to protect from tiger bites, perhaps literally, but probably symbolically. Many women have removed the rings for medical examinations. Most women prefer to wear the rings once their necks were elongate, as their necks and collars bone are often bruised and discolored from being hidden behind brass for so long. Additionally, the collar feels like an integral part of the body after ten or more years of continuous wear. The kayan appear to be Mongolian in origin, and they have their own distinct language and cultural traditions. Many of them follow an animist religion, although some also integrate Buddhist beliefs into their religious practices. The Kayans’ traditional religion is called Kan Khwan, and has been practiced since the people migrated from Mongolia during the Bronze Age. It includes the belief that the Kayan people are the result of a union between a female dragon and a male human/angel hybrid. The major religious festival is the 3-day Kay Htein Bo festival, which commemorates the belief that the creator god gave form to the world by planting a small post in the ground. During this festival, held in late March or early April, a Kay Htoe Boe pole is erected and participants dance around the pole. This festival is held to venerate the eternal god and creator messengers, to give thanks for blessings during the year, to appeal for forgiveness, and pray for rain. It is also an opportunity for Kayan from different villages to come together to maintain the solidarity of the tribe. The Kayan have a strong belief in augury and nothing is done without reference to some form of divination, including breaking thatch grass, but most importantly consulting the chicken bones. In present times the annual Kay Htein Bo festival is always accompanied by a reading of the chicken bones to predict the year ahead. Fowl bone prognostication can be witnessed in the Kayan villages in Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province during the annual festival and during â€Å"Cleansing Ceremonies† which are held when a family has encountered ill fortune. Dreams are also used to make predictions.

Mathematical and Physics Concepts in Computer Games

Mathematical and Physics Concepts in Computer Games Introduction A two part assignment was distributed and part one was run a simulation of a given differential equation using numerical integration techniques i.e. Euler and 4th order Runge-Kutta methods. Also continued as part one a table showing the results of the simulation was to be produced and each value was to be to 3 decimal places. Two graphs where to be produced a) a plot of each simulation result and the exact solution b) a plot of error values in each simulation and a short analysis of the results was to be produced. Part two a little more complicated than part one was to implement realistic physics of a rocket movement in earth atmosphere. Part 1 To calculate the exact solution was the simplest of equations mostly because it was provided it was a matter of processing the data. In simple terms to calculate the exact equation was displayed such as 1/(1+t), whereas t is time and increments by 0.25 each solution, therefore the equation would look like 1/(1+0.25) = 0.8 and the next step is 1/(1+0.50) = 0.667, furthermore is quite easy to calculate this equation. From the results appendix [a1] there are noticeable differences between Euler and the exact solution, first of all for Eulers method I used y-1+-(y-1^2)*(h), loosely translated into simpler terms y-1 is the previous y coordinate + -previous y coordinate to the power of 2 multiplied by h which in this case h was equal to 0.25. After having solved the equation for each t i.e. the x coordinate a significant difference was noticeable. After calculating Eulers results next was to calculate Eulers errors including the first y coordinate which was equal to 1 therefore the exact solution for the first y coordinate was also equal to 1 so there would be an error equal to 0 as the result. However the rest of the results varied but still remained below their equal t (x) coordinate for example t 0.250 was equal to y 0.800 in the exact solution and 0.750 in Eulers, after analysing the rest of the results prior to the calculation it was clear each Euler y result was lower than the exact solution y coordinate and was fairly easy to come to the error by simply exact solution y Euler solution y. Upon summing up all of Eulers results it gives a solution of 0.761 and dividing that by 41 gives a solution of 0.019. The reason it was divided by 41 is because there are 41 y coordinates including the first y coordinate which is equal to 1, therefore revealing the average number Euler error, suggesting Eulers method missed out on the exact solution at an estimate of 0.019, this does not seem a big difference but when trying to implement real physics in a game it makes all the difference. The graphs in appendix [a3] shows the simulation for Eulers method and the exact solution where it is easy to see each y coordinate and each error coordinate whereas [a4] shows the closer Eulers line and the exact line get to each other as t (time), (x coordinate) ascends, this suggests that Eulers method becomes more accurate over time and after using Eulers method for a long period of time eventually Eulers wouldve matched the exact solution at some point. Having viewed [a3] and [a4], [a8] shows the linear line for the exact solution and the linear line for Eulers method. 4th Order Runge-Kutta method was more complicated than Eulers mostly because as shown in [a1] the solution is more accurate because of the slopes that must be calculated in order to solve each y coordinate see [a2] for each slope solution. First and foremost we start by solving the first slope as k1 which was calculated as -(y-1^2) and like Eulers method translate to minus (the previous y coordinate to the power of 2) thats how k1 was solved. K2 has bit more calculation to process which looks like -(y-1+(0.5*k1-1*h))^2) translated to simpler terms is minus(previous y plus (0.5 multiplied by previous k1 multiplied by 0.25)) to the power of 2) this is how the second slope is discovered, solving k3 is much simpler because k1-1 is replaced with k2-1 the previous k1 solution that was just solved and k4s calculation becomes smaller -(y-1+(k3-1*h)) to the power of 2) just like k2 and k3, k4 using k3s previous solution that was solved. The fun part is finding y+1 which is the next y coordina te per t coordinate the calculation used is (y-1+((1/6)*(k1-1+2*(k2-1)+2*(k3-1)+k4-1)*h)) a significantly long calculation but reliable as it will get close to the exact solution result, translated it is (previous y coordinate plus(1 divided by 6) multiplied by (previous k1 solution plus 2 multiplied by (previous k2 solution) plus 2 multiplied by (previous k3 solution) plus (previous k4 solution) multiplied by 0.25). The sum of RK4 errors are 0 and the average was equally 0 that is an incredibly accurate method but more complicated to solve as Eulers method is the simplest RK method (first order) which is why RK4 is more accurate as it is a multi-stage method. See appendix [a5] for each y coordinate because RK4 method was incredibly accurate the exact solution coordinates cannot be seen but the data types are there to see and the legend is also there to show the different styles between each coordinate, appendix [a6] show the curve without any coordinate markers on them, again the c urves cannot be distinguished from each other because of RK4s incredible accuracy. See appendix [a7] to see the error coordinates for each integration technique on the same graph; it is quite easy to see which method is much more accurate but again this is because Eulers method is a first order method whereas Runge-Kutta is a fourth order method, Runge-Kuttas method has more steps in solving the equations therefore providing for a more accurate solution and producing less error values, whereas Eulers method only has one step and will always provide an error value each time. See [a9] for the linear line of the exact solution and RK4 estimation, it is extremely difficult to see because RK4 method is so accurate. Part 2 After using RK4 in part 1 an understanding it had taken some time to put it into physics, however the following scenario seems to be correct. The equation for acceleration is a = (Force Rocket + Force Drag) mass. The equation for Force drag is force drag = -0.5 * (0.2^3) * (0.2) * (20^2) * (2^2) ^2 The time step that is used is 1 i.e. 1kg m^2 because that is how much it can increment or decrement by with the user input. Time will go up to 60, the max the rockets force can go up to is 20kg m^2 and because acceleration is a derivative of velocity k1 = (time + velocity) i.e. the x and y positions. To find k2 the equation was k2 = (time + 0.5 * h, velocity + k1 * h), to find k3 is the same as k2 except the k1 in the equation is replaced with k2. K4 the last slope is calculated as k4 = (time + h, velocity + k3 * h). Lastly acceleration is calculated as a1 (next acceleration value) = (a-1 (previous value) + 1/6(k1 + 2 * k2 + 2 * k3 + k4) * h). The hard part is getting the equations correct after that it is a matter of using a loop in game to calculate the players position; the players position is equal to 5 metres. Pseudo Code for in game: Declare Static Class 4th Order Runge-Kutta { Do Declare Delegate double RK (x, y) variables declared as doubles (timer and velocity) Declare a static variable to calculate 1/6 as fS (fraction sixth) Declare rocket position as 5 Declare timer Declare a static double rk4(double x, y, h, RK f) x, y and h are doubles, r is called from delegate variable) { Declare half of h as halfh Declare Double k1, k2, k3, k4 Declare acceleration equals 0 y = acceleration K1 = (x plus y) K2 = (x plus halfh multiplied by h) plus (y plus k1 multiplied by h) K3 = (x plus halfh multiplied by h) plus (y plus k1 multiplied by h) K4 = (x plus h) plus (y plus k3 multiplied by h) Return (y plus fS multiplied by (k1 plus 2 multiplied by k2 plus 2 multiplied by k3 + k3)) RK acceleration equals y^2 ^^^ Returns acceleration } Declare Force drag kg to the power of 2 = -0.5 multiplied by (1.2 to the power of 3) multiplied by (0.2) multiplied by (20 to the power of 2) multiplied by (y to the power of 2 per second) because y is velocity Acceleration = (timer + force drag) / mass (decrement mass by 1 every second)) Player position plus acceleration every second If key pressed equals up Increment acceleration by 1Else if key press equals down Decrement acceleration by 1 Print timer, player position, acceleration and y While timer is less than 60 } Flowchart Critical analysis of the use of numerical integration techniques to solve similar situations in game development In the context of differential equations no numerical integration method is known as the method that is the best method to solve any and all ordinary differential equations. It all depends on the type of equation that is presented. When discussing gaming physics the solution to the differential equations plays a big part in games taking on more realism for example if a player fires an arrow in the air from a crossbow depending on velocity, gravity and wind etc. When and where will the arrows new position be within the game environment? Physics can be found almost anywhere whether it is in Skyrim shooting an arrow that will eventually drop or sniping in Battlefield that also includes bullets descending over time which is incredible and makes the games more realistic and much more difficult. Before using any method some basic equations must be known first for example force = mass multiplied by acceleration and acceleration = force divided by mass, standard equations that can be learned just using a search engine. Next the derivative of velocity is acceleration and the derivative of acceleration is position, a derivative is something which is based on another source [1] There are several methods to choose from when it comes to differential equations: First order integration Higher order integration First order integration Eulers Method One of the rather simpler methods that game developer can use although as already seen above it is not the most accurate. [2] Just like the previous ordinary differential equation that was solved in part one a developer takes the initial position and velocity and calculates the next position and velocity over time, a time step is used to calculate the next position and velocity such as the previous one that was used 0.25, once the first value is calculated the method is simply repeated to calculate the next one. An equation could look like this Vn+1 = Vn + (An *dt) whereas V is velocity and A is acceleration then the position could be calculated like Pn+1 = Pn + (Vn *dt) whereas P is position. Although this is a simpler method to use an error value will always be return because it is not the most accurate to produce solutions. Using any method can produce error values which is why the numerical integration methods provide estimations and not exact solutions whereas as the error value calculates how far off the estimation was from the exact solution. According to Bourg [3] instability is eliminated or minimized by smaller step sizes however larger steps size seems to make the problem much more complicated than it needs to be. Stability plays an important part for calculating equations more calculations will be processed if the step size is significantly small however this results in more stability. Bourg [3] mentions an adaptive step size where after a predicted amount of error the step size is changed as calculations are being processed. To use adaptive step size method it has to be based on the errors given from the estimations by doubling the step size, Heidts [4] mentions in his abstract the adaptive step size method works considerably well with second-order split-step Fourier integration scheme and can be greatly improved when using it alongside 4th order Runge-Kutta method. Unless the error values provided by Eulers estimations causes a serious change in a games physics then there should be no problem using Eulers method for simpler equations [2]. The simplest way to estimate the exact solution is using Eulers method, when using the method and there is a big difference between y1 and y-1, setting aside the curvature the linear extrapolation will not match up to it. Higher Order Integration 4th Order Runge-Kutta Runge-Kutta is more commonly used in physics [2], this integration method is incredibly accurate from what has been displayed already in part one of this report due to the method have many more steps to solving equations. The accuracy is second to none because RK4 calculates equations estimations in four steps thus given the name 4th Order. In order to achieve this accuracy a price must be paid and the price is more calculations need to be processed to calculate the physics; it has many more computations than other integrator techniques [2]. These types of calculations only need to be considered when accuracy is a must in games like bouncing a grenade of a doorframe in call of duty, therefore not all physics in games will require RK4 to calculate physics because physics is different in all games and some will only require Eulers method. So using the example of the Rocket in earths atmosphere a = Fr + Fd / m translates to acceleration = (FORCE rocket + FORCE drag) divided by mass. The rocket force increments by 1kg/m2 every time the user presses the UP key on the keyboard. Fr is calculated as Fd = -0.5.P.Cd.A.v^2 so basically force drag = minus 0.5 multiplied by P (airdensity) multiplied by Cd (Drag coefficient) multiplied by A (frontal area of the rocket) multiplied by v (velocity) squared. Conclusion All in all no numerical integration technique is better than the other it all depends what kind of physics in games needs to be produced, if its simple physics where the estimation does not make a major impact on the outcome Eulers method is the way to go for its quick computations it can make having simulations processed rather quickly, as for games where more complicated physics is involved 4th Order Runge-Kutta is the next best thing although it takes many more computations to be calculated the estimates are near perfect, RK4 is second to none when it comes to accuracy because of the extra work that needs to be considered. For example in games like battlefield RK4 is most likely to be used for those physics because the estimations need to be as accurate as can be, this takes into account bullet drop and flying aircrafts. Appendix [a1] [a2] [a3] [a4] [a5] [a6] [a7] [a8] Euler [a9] Rk4 References [1]https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=crei=xfluWI62OrLS8AerrruIDAgws_rd=ssl#q=what+is+a+derivative (Accessed: 18 December 2016). [2] Dickinson, J. (2015) Numerical integration in games development. Available at: https://jdickinsongames.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/numerical-integration-in-games-development-2/ (Accessed: 20 December 2016). [3] Bourg, D.M. (2001) Physics for games developers. United States: OReilly Media, Inc, USA (Accessed: 25 December 2016).. [4] Heidt, A.M. (2009) Efficient Adaptive step size method for the simulation of Super continuum generation in optical fibres, Journal of Light wave Technology, 27(18), p. 1. doi: 10.1109/jlt.2009.2021538 (Accessed: 2 January 2017).

Copernicus, Galileo and Hamlet :: Hamlet Copernicus

Copernicus, Galileo and Hamlet If imagination is the lifeblood of literature, then each new scientific advance which extends our scope of the universe is as fruitful to the poet as to the astronomer. External and environmental change stimulates internal and personal tropes for the poetic mind, and the new Copernican astronomy of the late 16th- and early 17th-centuries may have altered the literary composition of the era as much as any contemporaneous political shifts. Marjorie Nicolson, in "The Breaking of the Circle," argues that the heliocentric system greatly influenced the metaphysical poets, especially John Donne, as it necessarily mated the concept of a universal macrocosm with the preexisting notions of a personal microcosm and earthbound geocosm. Nicolson claims that the Elizabethans, Shakespeare included, failed to apply the new motion of heavenly bodies to their own bodies of work, and that their obsolete cosmology confers obsolescence upon their literary endeavors. I will argue that Hamlet, written in the aftermath of Copernicus's De Revolutionibus and Tycho Brahe's cosmological observations, not only follows many of Nicolson's tenets for the metaphysical poetry of the time, but stands as a central metaphor for the ambiguous period between Copernicus's initial theories and Galileo's visual proofs in Sidereus Nuncius. The conflict of Hamlet is the geocentric pitted against the heliocentric; Hamlet the "son/Sun" must revenge his Hyperion father's death by deposition of his traitorous and swinish uncle from the English throne, the center of the action and royally emblematized through the Sun. But the addition of the macrocosmic/heliocentric view to Hamlet's preexisting microcosmic†¹that is, self-centered or, to use a word that rings of etymological irony, solipsistic†¹obsessions does not make for a happy marriage; rather, the two spheres, representing externality and internality, stall Hamlet's geocentric development†¹earthly, physi cal action. Hamlet's legendary propensity to delay stems not from a mere excess of thought but from a divisive thought process that clouded Shakespeare's times: its fractured and debated cosmology. As Nicolson postulates, "'Correspondence' between macrocosm and microcosm, which man had accepted as basic to faith, was no longer valid in a new mechanical universe and mechanical world" (Nicolson, xxi). In Nicolson's eyes, King Lear reflects Shakespeare's preoccupation with the new cosmology more in astrological than astronomical terms: "Disruption in the heavens presaged disruption upon earth, the storms of the geocosm paralleled those in the microcosm, but our attention and Shakespeare's is centered on Lear, the man, rather than on the world and the universe" (Nicolson, 149).