William Shakespeare revolutionised literature with his remarkable ability to portray the depth and complexity of human emotions; this was especially true in love and romance. He introduced and popularised over 1,700 words and phrases into the English language, many of which vividly capture the nuances of love, such as “love is blind” and “star-crossed lovers.” Timeless works like Romeo and Juliet have inspired countless adaptations, transcending cultural boundaries and profoundly influencing the way love is understood and depicted worldwide.

Romantic Themes And Language

One of the reasons Shakespeare remains iconic is his powerful use of universal themes that have become staples of love stories across cultures. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet depicts a tale of forbidden love, a passionate romance constrained by societal expectations. Despite the forces conspiring to keep them apart, their unwavering devotion symbolises love’s ability to transcend boundaries and reason. On the other hand, Shakespeare explores the comedic, unpredictable and often irrational aspects of romance in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Through mischief, mismatched lovers and humorous misunderstandings, he highlights love’s transformative power.

Shakespeare’s mastery of the English language provides a rich and multifaceted perspective on the emotional spectrum of love. His use of metaphors, similes and vivid imagery allows complex emotions to be intricately woven into the verses of his sonnets and plays. For instance, the famous line “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” from Sonnet 18 evokes a wide range of feelings. While a summer’s day is fleeting, the comparison captures the enduring and transcendent joy of love.

Exploring Love’s Complexity

In addition to traditional portrayals of love, Shakespeare often delved into its more complex and darker dimensions. Themes of jealousy and betrayal are powerfully explored in Othello, while in Antony and Cleopatra, he presents a love that is both intense and flawed, interweaving political ambition with personal passion. By addressing these imperfections, Shakespeare offered a nuanced and multifaceted depiction of relationships that was far ahead of his time.

Shakespeare also challenged societal norms through his portrayal of strong, independent female characters who defied the expectations of their era. Rosalind from As You Like It exemplifies this through disguising herself as a man to pursue her love interest. These unconventional heroines reflect Shakespeare’s progressive approach to gender roles and his ability to portray love as a dynamic and evolving force.

Influence On Modern Romance

William Shakespeare’s influence on modern romance has been profound, shaping literature, film and popular culture for centuries. His blueprint for romantic storytelling resonates universally with contemporary love stories – from Hollywood rom-coms to poignant dramas – often reflecting Shakespearean themes of conflict, reconciliation and love’s transformative and transcendent power.

From The Pen Of A Teenage Girl

Science Fiction is a wonderful genre. It can be as broad and ambitious as space operas like James S. A. Corey’s The Expanse series, play with time and what-if scenarios like PKD’s The Man in the High Castle, or simple and whimsical like Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

However, like all big things, they start rather small and simple, and so did the science fiction genre some 200 years ago. At the time, we had some terrific authors penning classics, but the origin of one of the most popular genres today comes from a source not many would have expected, given the way of the world at the time.

Thank The Weather

The story of how Mary Shelley came to write Frankenstein is as legendary as the novel itself. In 1816, 18-year-old Mary and her future husband, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, spent a summer in Switzerland with Lord Byron and some friends. Stuck indoors due to relentless storms, the group decided to pass the time with a ghost story contest. Inspired by scientific experiments of the day—particularly those involving electricity and the reanimation of dead tissue—she began crafting the story that would become Frankenstein.

Think about it: Mary Shelley was just a teenager when she conceived a tale so profound it would shape an entire literary genre. She wasn’t simply writing about a monster; she was tackling big philosophical questions about creation, responsibility, and the boundaries of human achievement.

Breaking Barriers

Mary Shelley wasn’t just a young writer—she was a young female writer in an era when women were expected to stick to embroidery rather than groundbreaking literature. Publishing wasn’t an easy road. At first, Frankenstein was released anonymously, leading many to assume it was written by a man (because surely no woman could dream up something so macabre and complex, right?).

When her name was eventually revealed, she faced intense scrutiny—not just for the novel’s dark themes but for daring to step outside the “acceptable” boundaries for women. Yet Shelley persisted. Over her lifetime, she wrote numerous novels, essays, and travelogues, cementing her place in literary history.

The Birth Of Science Fiction

So why is Frankenstein considered the first science fiction novel? It would be easy to write it off as a horror novel, it certainly plays into that category with its ghoulish patchwork monster and layers of tension. But unlike earlier gothic works, which relied on supernatural elements, Frankenstein is grounded in science—or at least the science of its time. Shelley took contemporary theories about electricity and biology and asked, “What if?” That simple but powerful question became the foundation of the entire genre.

Her novel introduced a key hallmark of science fiction: exploring the ethical implications of scientific advancement. From H.G. Wells’ time machines to the AI dilemmas of modern sci-fi, Shelley’s influence is everywhere. Today, science fiction is a vast and varied genre, but its roots lie firmly in the hands of a teenage girl who dared to ask questions about science, humanity, and morality.

A Classic Inspiration

At 18, most of us are just figuring out what we want to do with our lives. Mary created an enduring masterpiece. As a woman in a male-dominated society, she opened doors for future generations of writers, proving that imagination knows no gender.

If there’s one thing you can take from this, it’s to believe in yourself. If Shelley can turn around a literary classic at 18 in a world where women weren’t allowed to do much of anything, who knows what you could achieve if you put your mind to it?

Expanding your vocabulary is a valuable tool for enhancing communication, promoting intellectual growth and refining writing skills. A rich vocabulary allows the expression of ideas and emotions more vividly and with greater nuance, enables complex ideas to be conveyed with clarity and effectiveness and deepens the understanding of others to help strengthen connections in conversations. Below are some useful tips to help you effectively increase the range of your vocabulary.

Read Widely

Reading exposes you to a diverse array of words, phrases and expressions, allowing you to see how they are used in various contexts and the impact they create. Different genres provide unique vocabularies, so it’s beneficial to explore a mix of fiction, nonfiction and journalism to maximise your exposure. Take the time to appreciate an author’s choice of vocabulary and how it evokes emotions and imagery. Embrace the challenge of tackling more complex texts that introduce unfamiliar words and phrases, as this will further expand your vocabulary and deepen your understanding.

Use A Word Journal

Word journaling is a highly effective method for memorising and actively integrating new vocabulary into everyday use. By recording new words and engaging with them, you can enhance retention and ensure these words become an active part of your linguistic repertoire. Setting a goal to use these words daily, whether in conversations or writing, helps reinforce their use. Creating flashcards can also be a useful tool for reviewing these words and memorising their definitions, making the process both interactive and productive.

Word Games

Word games offer an entertaining and engaging way to expand your vocabulary, allowing you to explore new words and test your knowledge. Board games and learning apps provide an ideal platform for this type of learning. Games like Scrabble, crossword puzzles and word searches are excellent for discovering new words in a structured format, helping you become familiar with unusual phrases and idiomatic expressions. Additionally, gamified learning apps provide an effective and enjoyable way to progress through small, manageable tasks, making it easier to track and monitor your vocabulary development.

Media For Vocabulary Building

Watching movies or listening to podcasts and audiobooks is an effective way to learn new words and phrases in context. It allows you to see language in real-life situations, providing a deeper understanding of how words are used and the emotions they convey. Visual elements enhance memory retention, while audio sharpens pronunciation and listening skills. To maximise your vocabulary growth, explore a variety of genres, from formal dialogues to the casual slang of comedies, broadening your exposure to a diverse range of language styles.

The Little Adventures Of Erig the Earwig by Andy Evans

Christmas is over. The decorations are all packed away, the last of the chocolate and snacks have been finished off, and we’re into a brand new year. January is a bit of a difficult month, we all know that. Bad weather, back to school, no more Christmas, and for some there are even exams. The only saving grace is that Mariah Carey has gone back into hibernation.

So, to help stave off the January blues, this month’s recommendation is a nice easy read and a great little uplifting story: The Little Adventures of Erig the Earwig is just such a book—a delightful exploration of friendship, nature, and discovery that’s perfect for readers of all ages.

Step into the enchanting Long Garden, where Erig the earwig and his best friend Bob, a clever little copper beetle, embark on grand adventures. From daring rescues to uncovering hidden wonders, their escapades celebrate the beauty of the natural world, the importance of friendship, and the thrill of learning something new. This isn’t just a collection of tales; it’s a love letter to the tiny creatures that inhabit our world and the vital roles they play in keeping nature balanced.

Why The Recommendation?

One of the standout features of this book is its ability to weave fascinating facts about insects into the narrative seamlessly, offering an engaging way to learn about the environment, with a few surprising details you may never have even considered.

The language is accessible, yet backed by dictionary explanations, making it a valuable learning tool. The inclusion of the Yorkshire dialect adds a charming touch, giving it a little humourous spin, while Lucy Fleming’s lovely illustrations are placed perfectly to break up the text and give you something nice to look at.

In summary, The Little Adventures of Erig the Earwig is a heartwarming and educational gem. With its engaging narratives, endearing characters, stunning illustrations, and underlying message of environmental appreciation, this book is a must-read.

So, make a cup of tea, settle in, and let Erig and his friends brighten your day. And you might learn a thing or two along the way as well. Not a bad way to start off the year at all.

When we think of dystopian futures, perhaps George Orwell’s unsettling account of government oppression in 1984, or Margaret Atwood’s telling of gender oppression and loss of personal autonomy in The Handmaiden’s Tale come to mind. Dystopian narratives reflect societies’ fear of loss of identity, freedoms, environment and humanity and serve as a cautionary tale of unchecked regulations as well as asking the question of what we truly value in society.

Government Oppression

With increasing technological advances such as surveillance and the collection of personal data, there is a growing fear of the loss of personal freedoms and government oppression. Dystopian themes such as these explore fears of a world where personal privacy no longer exists and the truth is manipulated to create the illusion of a stable and secure society. The Circle by Dave Eggers highlights this through the exploration of a future where a powerful technology company surveys all aspects of everyday life, thereby rendering all people devoid of their own privacy.

Environmental Collapse

Another prevalent theme is environmental collapse, reflecting our fears of global warming, deforestation, mass extinction, resource depletion and pollution. These narratives often serve to remind us of Earth’s fragility and the need for sustainable action. Many blockbuster films have played with the idea of environmental collapse. The Mad Max series depicts a chaotic post-apocalyptic world ravaged by climate change and resource depletion where violence is used as a means of survival. Waterworld, on the other hand, depicts a similar world of survival in which the polar icecaps have melted causing a world of endless ocean.

Inequality And Division

There is a current concern that the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. The fear of the formation of an irreversible class divide where the wealthy exploit the impoverished has influenced many dystopian novels such as Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. Here, impoverished districts are exploited to provide resources and support the lavish lifestyle of the Capital’s elite. They are kept subjugated by sacrificing their children to take part in The Hunger Games. The narrative aims to explore an unequal and divisive world where unchecked capitalism comes at enormous social cost.

And The Allure Of The Dystopian…

We are drawn to dystopian fiction due to its reflection of our greatest fears and real-world anxieties. TV Series such as the aptly named Black Mirror continue to question our modern boundaries and comfort around technological advances. Dystopian narratives compel us to question and evaluate present day issues in terms of their personal and environmental costs.

 

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A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

What is Christmas all about? Presents? That big jolly man in the red coat who’s a big fan of reindeer? The food? In truth, Christmas means many different things to all of us, but there is one thing we can all agree on—It sure isn’t the Brussels sprouts.

Christmas is all about bringing people together, be it family or friends, united by the joy of giving. It’s a notion that can often be all too easy to forget and can be a lonely time for some, and worrisome for others when finding gifts without breaking the bank. So for Christmas, this book recommendation comes from one of America’s classic novelists, Truman Capote. A Christmas Memory is a short yet delightful read which will not only get you into the Christmas spirit but also serve as a gentle reminder of just how joyous simply being around people and giving at this time of year can be. First published in 1956, this much sought-after autobiographical recollection of Capote’s rural Alabama boyhood has become a modern-day classic.

What’s It All About?

Seven-year-old Buddy knows that the Christmas season has arrived when his cousin, Miss Sook Falk exclaims: “It’s fruitcake weather!” Thus begins an unforgettable portrait of an odd but enduring friendship between two innocent souls—one young and one old—and the memories they share of beloved holiday rituals.

Capote’s A Christmas Memory is the kind of story that wraps around you like a blanket on a frosty winter’s eve. It’s not just a perfect Christmas tale—it’s a masterclass in capturing the essence of the season. This isn’t about flashy lights, over-the-top presents, or big, bustling family dinners. It’s about the simple, heartfelt rituals that make Christmas magical. We all have our own Christmas traditions, and it’s easy to take them for granted. Capote’s story is the gentlest nudge to make sure you don’t. You’d be amazed at how quickly tradition can become a memory.

At its core, the story is about love and connection. Buddy and his cousin may be poor and somewhat isolated, but their tradition of baking fruitcakes for people they barely know is so pure and selfless. It’s a reminder of how Christmas is really about giving, not just things, but time, care, and kindness.

Capote’s descriptions are so vivid you can almost smell the nutmeg and whiskey in their kitchen, and feel the crisp winter air as they cut down their tree. It’s nostalgic without being overly sentimental, and it perfectly captures that bittersweet blend of joy and loss that often comes with looking back on cherished memories.

Reading this will leave you misty-eyed and brimming with Christmas spirit. It’s a classic because it shows that even the simplest traditions, done with love, can create the most lasting magic. And the best part is that this is a story that’s accessible to anyone. This is a story that can equally be enjoyed alone or as a group as the tub of Quality Street is passed around (other respectable brands are available, of course).

 

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We’ve all found ourselves staring at a book that part of us wishes we never picked up. However, that doesn’t always mean we should put the book down!

Some people claim that not finishing a book gives them a sense of joyous freedom, but in truth, that’s probably a short-term sensation and a hollow victory. It’s not always an option, either. After all, there are many reasons you might need to power through a book you don’t like. Perhaps you need to get through the book as part of your academic study? Or could it be a friend recommended a text to you, and you’re trying to be a good pal by seeing it through? Whatever the reason, it’s important to have a few techniques at your disposal that will help you finish the books you don’t like. We’ve suggested some for you below!

Open Your Mind

Even books you don’t like can tell you something about yourself. After all, knowing what you don’t like can define you just as much as the things you do like! What are your tastes when it comes to reading? What genres don’t appeal to you? Which writing styles grab your attention or bore you to tears? There can be a lot of intrigue where criticism is concerned, and it’s worth exploring further.

You could also consider the wider context of the book to keep you engaged. Who is the text for? Has it had a cultural impact? What have other people said about it? Sometimes you need to step outside of yourself when reading a book and view it through another person’s perspective.

Keep A Reading Journal

It’s hard to read something you’re not enjoying. However, it can be even harder to read something you’re not enjoying in a passive, isolated silence.

No one likes a serial complainer. Although, that doesn’t mean you can’t complain at all! Keeping a reading journal may help you air your frustrations with a book in an introspective, healthy way. You can leave no stone unturned, and better understand the source of your grievances.

Of course, it’s not just about venting negativity, either. Keeping a journal of any kind can bring perspective in tough times, and help you look at things in a different way. Maybe a reading journal could help you understand the book on a deeper level, and thereby enjoy it more than you otherwise might have done.

Either way, the overarching point here is to be an active reader, rather than a passive reader. Consuming a book you’re not enjoying can feel mind numbing, but with a reading journal, you’re keeping your thoughts churning and sharp. If nothing else, you may give yourself extra fuel in the tank to actually finish the book!

Beating Your Elders

No, we’re not suggesting anything violent here. Instead, we’re referring to you developing better reading habits than the generations that came before you. As of July 2024, it’s estimated that half of UK adults are no longer reading regularly. Even the grown-ups who made reading a key pillar of their identity have let the written word fall by the wayside. Consequently, there’s a lot at stake when it comes to your generation’s interest in reading. You might ask yourself, ‘if adults aren’t reading, why should I?’. Well, the truth is that interest in books is objectively waning. Libraries run by hardworking experts and volunteers are closing down left and right.

For every book you read, you have an opportunity to keep the love of them alive and course correct something terrible that ‘so-called adults’ have let happen. The goal of every generation is to do things better than the ones that came before and knowing you can do that with your reading may motivate you to finish those books!

Schedule Your Book Reading

If you’re not enjoying a book, you may make excuses to put off reading it. Consequently, it could be a good idea to give yourself a strict reading schedule that you can commit to. Once your reading time is mapped out, you can feel more motivated to see things through, rather than leaving it up to ‘vibes’. Finishing your book becomes a mission, rather than just an idle way of passing time when you have nothing better to do.

Set alarms on your phone, mark your calendar, or even set voice note reminders for yourself. There’s no shame in needing an extra push to finish a book… or several.

 

If you’re interested in studying English or English Literature, Oxford Home Schooling offer the chance to do so at several levels, listed below. You can also Contact Us.

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Satire And Politics

Satire has played a significant role throughout history, using irony and humour to challenge authority and inspire public debate as tools for social change. It acts as an important part of free speech, allowing for a healthy democracy and the accountability of those in power through awareness and the impact of public opinion.

Historical Significance

Satire can be traced back to ancient Greece, where playwrights such as Aristophanes used comedic plays to critique societal leaders and social norms. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, literature and poetry were often used as a medium for satire, where writers such as Geoffrey Chaucer would highlight the failings of the Church.

Later, during the 18th century, the rise of printed media such as pamphlets became a popular way to reach broader audiences. In today’s modern age, television, film and digital platforms have rapidly changed the satire landscape, making it highly accessible, influential and dynamic, giving the ability to act on topics in the moment.

Mechanisms Of Satire

A variety of methods are often used to portray satirical messages which can include exaggeration, parody, irony, absurdity and sarcasm. Chaucer would often use exaggeration in The Canterbury Tales, such as in his description of the Pardoner as having a “voice like a goat”, highlighting the corruption and greed within the Church. In the Greek play “The Clouds”, Aristophanes would use parody to depict the philosopher Socrates as a caricature who teaches outrageous arguments with morally questionable reasoning. Parody is also often widely used in modern-day satirical programmes such as Saturday Night Live. George Orwell’s Animal Farm uses irony to critique totalitarian regimes through the absurdity of animals trying to create an equal society but falling victim to corruption of power.

Impact On Political Movements

Satire has worked throughout history in a number of ways; it helps to raise awareness of issues, encourages political participation and debates and challenges authority. Satire can be particularly effective in reaching younger audiences, who may feel disconnected to political issues. Through the highlighting of injustices, it can spark people to express their opinions and drive a call to action.

One such example of its effectiveness was in the case of gun violence, especially in the Parkland school shooting of February 2018. Student survivors advocated for gun control and reform by posting satirical memes and humour on social media, highlighting the absurdity of the current gun law issue. This reaction led to the organisation of the March for Our Lives movement across the country and gained awareness through high-profile media and channels such as The Late Show. These actions encouraged lawmakers to consider reforms such as background checks and bought the conversation to a national level.

 

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The Goosebumps Stories by R.L. Stine

Halloween may have been and gone, but maybe there’s a few out there who are still feeling in the spooky spirit. If that’s the case, or you’re just a big fan of being terrified then you’re in for a treat with this month’s recommendation. Goosebumps is a series of horror novels that have been running for over thirty years. Ever since he published the first entry and my recommendation, Welcome To Dead House back in 1992, author R.L. Stine has been giving young readers sleepless nights. You may not have heard of him, but ask your adults, they certainly will have.

R.L. Stine is often referred to as ‘Stephen King for kids’, due to his blend of horror with humour, making spooky stories approachable for kids. They’re fast-paced, engaging stories that are easy to get lost in, with clear language and short chapters that encourage readers to keep turning pages. Each book is packed with suspense, twists, and cliffhangers, making it hard to stop reading once you’ve started. There’s no long build-up or overly complex plots to wade through—just immediate, gripping storytelling that grabs your attention. It’s just straight into the scary stuff and no fussing about.

Whether it’s dealing with friendship troubles, family dynamics, or school pressures, there’s always a layer of realism underneath the horror. His characters always have their own relatable problems, making it all the better when bad things happen to them.

Welcome To Dead House

In Welcome To Dead House, already feeling lonely having moved away from their friends to somewhere new, Amanda and Josh think the old house they have come to live in is weird. Spooky. Possibly haunted. And the town of Dark Falls is pretty strange, too. — But their parents don’t believe them. You’ll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends.  So Amanda and Josh do. But these creepy new friends are not exactly what their parents had in mind. Because they want to be friends… Forever.

The Series

With plenty of variety across his books—from haunted houses to creepy creatures—there’s always something new to discover in the Goosebumps series. Anyone looking for a quick, entertaining read will find Stine’s books offer the perfect mix of thrills and accessibility.

With over sixty titles, while they may be old, they’re still terrific. And they can be read in any order you want as well, so dip in and out as you please! You’ll find collections readily available as too. So go on and give yourself goosebumps. And whatever you do, don’t look behind you.

 

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We all have our ways of doing things. It’s one of the many things that makes each of us unique. How we do anything is how we do everything and is often how we can stand out from a crowd. If we all did things the same way, the world would be an incredibly boring place. But no matter what we do, when we first start out we do them terribly and inefficiently—it’s all part of learning. We do things, we reflect, adapt, and try again… hopefully with better results next time around. However, while it is commendable to jump into the deep end of things straight away and hope we can learn to swim before things go horribly wrong, it always helps to do a bit of homework beforehand. Look at how others have done things and take inspiration from that. Stephen King is a good author to start with.

With that idea, we can look at the masters of writing and how they approach what they do, to see what lessons we can take from them and apply to our own writing. Now, this isn’t to say you’ll become bestselling authors overnight, but there are methods and philosophies from these people that can help us not only be more productive in our studies and work but also improve their quality.

The Self-Proclaimed ‘Pantser’

King doesn’t plan his books. He’s what’s known as a ‘pantser’ or ‘discovery writer’. He essentially just thinks up a situation and then allows that to develop with his writing. He doesn’t come up with an outline or plot beforehand, he just dives right in…flying by the seat of his pants as it were. This is the way he likes it because his characters can surprise him. Once the first draft is done, he shuts it away for a while, then comes back to it and goes to work filling in plot holes and adding that polish.

For King, while his actual method is rather anxiety-inducing for a lot of authors, his perceived lack of planning isn’t quite all it seems. He does in fact do some homework beforehand, just not for his novel. In order to set the scene for a productive writing run, King has his own loose set of rules to live by:

Read and write. As much as you can. In his book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, King claims one of the most important things you can do as a writer is read. “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot”. He even goes on to claim that if you don’t have time to read, well, you don’t have time to write. He’s got a point too. The more you read, the greater your vocabulary becomes. Not only that but all the contrasting styles and genres all help feed your own voice when it comes to forging whatever it is you’re aiming to write. This applies to things outside fiction, too.

Applying King’s Process

It’s important to write every day to build it into a routine. King does it for the most part. It’s like exercise, you keep using those writing ‘muscles’ and they’ll get more adept with each passing use. Now, every day might be a bit of a stretch, but developing some form of routine is a great way to build up that wordcount.

On top of that, avoid distraction when you do. For King, writing is a retreat from the world, and something to immerse yourself in. So remove your phone, turn away those screens, and put on some music if you need to drown out the world. You might even go as far as using the old school method of a pen and paper to remove the temptation of the internet.

Writing without a rigid plan in mind can be quite liberating, allowing you to follow the story or both sides of an argument without feeling constrained by what must come next. Instead of fussing over the details, you’re free to explore the topic from a number of angles and even experiment with the structure and style. For those writing critically, you could even find opportunities to bring in more controversial points of view. You may find yourself naturally coming to your own conclusion over the course of writing.

Then, leave it alone for a bit. Come back to it later with a fresh editorial eye. The problems will jump out at you and you’ll be able to run through your piece to refine your wording better or correct any factual or punctuation errors. This will turn your rough draft into something that will really grab your audience’s attention.

If you’re interested in learning more about the way King does it, check out his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. In it he talks in length about his process, as well as a few anecdotal bits too. It’s part writing help, part autobiography.

 

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