The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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Plaster is most commonly used to coat the surface of the interior walls of buildings. Also known as plaster of paris, it is a mixture of solids and water that sets to a hard solid.
Plastering is one of the oldest building techniques. Early plaster was mostly mud, used to strengthen buildings against weather and animals. Over time, other materials came to replace mud. The Great Pyramids of Egypt contain plasterwork that originated over 4,000 years ago and is still durable, made of gypsum and identical to plaster of paris. Even the plastering procedures used by the Egyptians were similar to those used today.
Plaster consists of water, sand, and usually gypsum. Heating the calcium-based mineral gypsum to temperatures up to 482°F (250°C) produces a fine, white powder. When mixed with a material like sand (to provide bonding), moistened and allowed to dry it produces the hard material with which we are familiar. (Gypsum near Paris, France was early used to make such plaster, hence the name "plaster of paris.")
Such plaster has been applied to the interior of building walls, where it provides structure, a base for decoration and painting, soundproofing, is easily cleaned, and also works as a fire retardant. The ornamental ceilings of the English monarchs Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and James I are still admired for their artistry. When applied to the outside of buildings plaster is known as "stucco," a architectural technique first used by the Greeks. Plaster is also used in casts and molds--once poured, it hardens and expands slightly, and has been used for ornamental work on ceilings and walls, sculpture, and casts for broken arms and legs.