How does society see Liza at the end of Pygmalion?

Liza is stuck in the middle of two classes.  She is no longer able to fit in with her flower-selling counterparts as she no longer looks or speaks the part.  In fact, when she goes back to her roots, no one she knows recognizes her.  She has been programed by Higgins to "be a duchess," yet she has no title, no money, no family, and no support system. 

She is enamored with Freddy, because he loves her and wants to marry her, but she is in love with Higgins.  Higgins, a self-proclaimed bachelor, does not wish to get married.  The reader is left to believe that he would allow her to live in his home as a "slipper-fetcher" and arm-ornament for those posh Victorian parties, but nothing more. 

Higgins won the bet, but he left Liza with nowhere to go.  It is understandable that she is frustrated and angry.  Her independence has been stripped from her as she is no longer able to support herself.  Perhaps she will sell flowers in a flower shop if someone will hire her without any work experience, but it is more likely she will marry and be miserable.

In1790the U.S.Naturalization Act specified all "free white persons" could become U.S citizens. How and why should this not have been a surprise?

This is not a surprise simply due to the time period. Things were very different back then. Free white men were in charge of the country and that is just the way that it was. People still owned slaves so anyone who was not white was viewed as being beneath them and certainly not an equal. The intent of the Naturalization Act was to limit who was allowed to become a citizen.

It was also limiting to women because the act stated that citizenship was inherited through the father. In other words, if a woman was a citizen of the US but the father was not and she had a child born abroad that child would not be a citizen of the US.

It was not until the 14th amendment (post Civil War) was passed that ALL people born in the US were granted citizenship. It was not until 1870 when people of African descent were granted naturalization.

What is the tone of "Ode on A Grecian Urn"?

Ode on a Grecian Urn" consists of five stanzas that present a scene, describe and comment on what it shows, and offer a general truth that the scene teaches a person analyzing the scene. Each stanza has ten lines written in iambic pentameter, a pattern of rhythm (meter) that assigns ten syllables to each line. The first syllable is unaccented, the second accented, the third unaccented, the fourth accented, and so on. Note, for example, the accent pattern of the first two lines of the poem. The unaccented syllables are in lower-cased blue letters, and the accented syllables are in upper-cased red letters. 

thou STILL un RAV ished BRIDE of QUI et NESS,  
thou FOS ter - CHILD of SI lence AND slow TIME 

Notice that each line has ten syllables, five unaccented ones in blue and five accented ones in red. Thus, these lines--like the other lines in the poem--are in iambic pentameter. Iambic refers to a pair of syllables, one unaccented and the other accented. Such a pair is called an iamb. "Thou STILL" is an iamb; so are "et NESS" and "slow TIME." However, "BRIDE of" and "FOS ter" are not iambs because they consist of an accented syllable followed by an unaccented syllable. Pentameter--the first syllable of which is derived from the Greek word for five--refers to lines that have five iambs (which, as demonstrated, each have two syllables). "Ode on a Grecian Urn," then, is in iambic pentameter because every line has five iambs, each iamb consisting of an unaccented syllable followed by an accented one. The purpose of this stress pattern is to give the poem rhythm that pleases the ear. 

Situation and Setting 

In England, Keats examines a marble urn crafted in ancient Greece. (Whether such an urn was real or imagined is uncertain. However, many artifacts from ancient Greece, ones which could have inspired Keats, were on display in the British Museum at the time that Keats wrote the poem.) Pictured on the urn, a type of vase, are pastoral scenes in Greece. In one scene, males are chasing females in some sort of revelry or celebration. There are musicians playing pipes (wind instruments such as flutes) and timbrels (ancient tambourines). Keats wonders whether the images represent both gods and humans. He also wonders what has occasioned their merrymaking. A second scene depicts people leading a heifer to a sacrificial altar. Keats writes his ode about what he sees, addressing or commenting on the urn and its images as if they were real beings with whom he can speak.  

The image seen in a plane mirror can't be formed on a screen. What name is given to an image of this type?

Any image that can be formed on a screen are called real image. Such images are formed by light rays emanating from the object, when reflected and/or refracted by devices such as lenses and mirrors converge at some specific point.

In contrast thee are other images which are formed by the rays of light reaching the observer appearing to converge at some point. This happens when the rays reaching the observer are diverging and when the line of these rays are projected backward these lines converge. Such images images, which  cannot be formed on a screen, are called virtual images.

What are the lessons to be learned from Anowa?

One of the lessons deals with the power of traditions and customs and what happens when a person tries to change those customs and traditions. Anowa refuses to take on her traditional role as a woman in her society. As a result, she committs suicide as well as her husband, Kofi Ako. Anowa remained true to what she believed, but in the process of following her own beliefs, she hurt others.

Pride is another lesson because pride is Anowa's downfall. She shows how strong she is by sticking to what she believes, but her pride leads to her death as well as her husband's death.

We can also learn about the consequences of the choices we make in our lives. Kofi Ako chooses to buy slaves, and this choice leads to the destruction of his marriage, and the eventual ending of his own life.

What is the significance of Troy's song Old Blue? Is it in any way about the failure of human love?

Troy sings the song early in Act II, and then Cory and Raynell join in and echo it at the end.  In this way, it is an individual and group song, and it is a primary source that, when shared, becomes a secondary one.

In Act II, Troy sings, "Blue was mighty true / Blue was a good old dog."  And then, "Old Blue died and I dig his grave...Every night when I hear old Blue bark / I know Blue treed a possum in Noah's Ark."  Cory and Raynell sing it too: "Go on Blue, you good dog you."

Blue is not only a dog, but it is "the blues," the Negro lyrical songs of mourning.  The blues blend comedy and tragedy like no other art from.  The lyrics look funny on paper (they're about a dog in heaven), but when sung, they elicit a catharsis.

The blues descended from slavery and old Negro spirituals, but then they took on a more secular identity in the 20th Century.  They were a key to the past and a link to the future.  Muddy Waters says "The Blues had a baby and named it Rock and Roll," so they are the basis for all modern American popular music.

Richard Wright says, “Blues, spirituals, and folk tales recounted from mouth to mouth . . . all these formed the channels through which the racial wisdom flowed.”

Ralph Ellison says, "The blues is an impulse to keep the painful details and episodes of a brutal experience alive in one's aching consciousness, to finger its jagged grain, and to transcend it, not by the consolation of philosophy but by squeezing from it a near-tragic, near-comic lyricism."

These songs are Troy's and Cory's and Raynell's way of responding to a world that has rejected them.  Troy could be victim of tragedy (like a Greek tragic hero) and kill himself, or he could have a victory over his suffering and sing the blues.  The song gives him a way of both coming to terms with and sharing his grief with others.  By singing about Old Blue (suffering), Troy is keeping the dog (and his suffering) alive.

Would you describe the tragic events as a form of “poetic justice” against Victor for his own misdeeds? Why? Or why not?

Frankenstein's aggressive ambition and devotion to the obsession of playing God resulted in his actual creation of a being. The fact that Frankenstein was acting upon impulse and he was no God made his creature as abhorrent as the nature of its creation. However, in an ironic twist, this horrifying monster ended up having more feel of sentiment, intuition, and self-education than Victor himself- to the point that, in the end, Victor declares that he, himself, is "the wretch". For that irony of events, I would say that it is indeed poetic justice. However, I also agree that Victor's family should have not had to suffer the consequences of Victor's deeds.

What are the differences between Mayella and Mr.Ewell's testimonies that can be used to defend Tom Robinson's innocence?To Kill a Mockingbird by...

Significantly, Mayella's testimony differs from her father's.  For one thing, in Chapter 18, she testifies that Tom Robinson choked her as she faced him, then he "took advantage of her."  She says nothing about having been struck in the right eye (or the left, for that matter) as her father, Tom Ewell, has done previously in Chapter 17.  And, when Atticus questions her, "Do you remember his beating you about the face?"  Mayella hesitates.  When Atticus reminds her that she seems certain about the choking, and asks her again about being hit, she replies,

'No, I don't recollect if he hit me.  I mean yes I do, he hit me.'

'Was your last sentence your answer?' [Atticus]

'Huh? yes, he hit--I just don't remember, I just don't remember....it all happened so quick.'

Unlike Mayella, Tom Ewell has been absolutely affirmative about Mayella's eye having been blackened.  He also has said nothing about Mayella's neck being bruised, red, etc. which would have indicated choking, whereas she has repeatedly testified to this action.

Obviously, there is a question of credibility with the witnesses.  In addition, Mayella is vague about when her father arrived on the scene,

I don't remember too good, but next thing I knew Papa was in the room a'standin' over me hollerin' who done it, who done it?"  

whereas Mr. Ewell has stated that he looked through the window and saw Tom Robinson on top of his daughter. Contrary to this is Mayella's citing her father's having asked "Who done it, who done it?"

These discrepancies between the father's and the daughter's testimonies, along with the fact that Mayella possesses a right black eye which indicates that a left-handed person must have hit her (her father is left-handed and Tom's left arm is useless) are what Atticus Finch believes will prove the innocence of his defendant. 

Also, with one of the main themes of Lee's novel as that of Prejudice, the description of the hearings of Tom Robinson's trial, in conjunction with the verdict of the jury, clearly demonstrates such prejudice.  Indeed, the testimony of Bob Ewell and of Mayella are pivotal to the development of the theme of Prejudice, a development that becomes apparent after a close reading.

Discuss Phoenix's.......Like many classic works of literature, "A Worn Path" features a journey and a quest. Discuss the elements of plot and...

Wikipedia defines a "quest" as "a journey towards a goal used in mythology and literature as a plot. In literature, the objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and the overcoming of many obstacles, typically including much travel..."

In literature, a quest can be as simple as going to the store for a loaf of bread.  It doesn't have to be Perseus in pursuit of Medusa's dangerous head.

Phoenix Jackson begins her quest on a cold December morning. She already has lots of things against her:  her failing eyesight, her age, her aching body.  She does have knowledge of the path and experience on her side.  She talks constantly to the animals--could be seen as comfort or a way for her to pass the time, could be interpreted as her spiritual side, or maybe she's just losing her mind.  She trips and falls, she meets with a hunter who points his gun at her.  All the while, she is convinced that her goal--the medicine for her grandson--is a quest for life not death.  Her persistence and devotion, as well as her optimism keep both her and the plot of the story moving.  Each time we, the reader, think she will turn back now or she will give up.  However, Phoenix does not.  She gets up when she falls, she keeps moving through snow and wind, and she does not cower in the face of a loaded rifle.  She takes what is dealt and keeps moving forward with the determination and resolve of Job in the Bible. 

When Squealer explains about the windmill at the end of the chapter, what causes animals to go along with his explanation?

The narrator tells us that Squealer "was a brilliant talker...he could black into white." When Boxer protests Squealer's explanation, saying Snowball "fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. I saw him myself," Squealer says 'For we know now--it is all written down in the secret documents --that in reality he was trying to lure us to our doom." Although this is blatantly untrue, Squealer attaches Napoleon's name to the lie, and Boxer can only say 'If Comrade napoleon says it, it must be right." The text also italicizes certain words, showing how the rhythm of his language persuades the audience. When Squealer explains the new account of the Battle of the Cowshed, the narrator tells us that "Once again, this argument was unanswerable."

Summarize the main dramatic functions of each act in The Crucible.

Because this play is a re-telling, so to speak, of the Salem Witch Trials, each act presents one stage or period of the trials.

The dramatic action of Act I is watching the hysteria and panic rise to a level which finally causes the first "calling out" of witches in Salem.  The act ends with the frightened, guilty, and impressionable girls screaming out the names of women in the town--the first "hit list," if you will for the subsequent trial.  This act employs dramatic irony, in the sense that the audience knows what silliness prompts this outcry, but most of the characters do not.

Act II depicts the actual trials, events full of dramatic moments.  We get a clearer indication of Abigail's motives; a more complete understanding of Proctor's guilt, shame, and resolve to repair the damage he has caused; a closer look at the accusation and arrest process for those who have been "named"; a picture of a husband and wife who love each other but end up in jail for that very reason; and a town and court system gone utterly mad with witch hysteria.

Finally, Act III shows both a picture of redemption and the tragic conclusion to this ugly episode in history.  Proctor, a self-accused sinner, cannot, in the end, confess falsely to the one sin he did not commit; in doing so, he regains his soul and finds some peace for his guilt-ridden conscience.  As these innocent people die on the gallows (in front of a crowd which has finally lost its taste for hangings), we understand this awful injustice is the beginning of the end. 

As a whole, the play presents in several hours what, in reality, took several years.  Each act creates dramatic impact for each aspect of the historical event.

In Fahrenheit 451, what does Montag do when the train stops?

At the beginning of Part II, "The Sieve and the Sand," Montag is trying to read the Bible on the subway. He compares reading to trying to fill a sieve with sand, as he tried to do when he was young. He is trying to memorize the words in the Bible, but the advertisements keep coming on over the loudspeaker of the train for goods like "Denham's Dentrifice" when Montag is trying to concentrate on Biblical images such as the lilies of the field. As a result, he loses his patience entirely, and the radio on the train gets louder when he is screaming about the Bible: "the train radio vomited upon Montag, in retaliation, a great tonload of music made of tin, copper, silver, chromium, and brass" (page 79). The louder he speaks, the louder the hideous music in the train plays. By the time his stop is called, his voice has quieted, and the radio on the train whispers in response. While everyone else is sitting in submission, Montag rushes out of the door at the last minute and runs through the tunnels on his way to Faber's house. He runs rather than taking the escalator to feel his own power and relax his tense muscles. 

In "The Hunger of Memory," what is the meaning of "taken Caliban's advice. I have stolen their books..."?

This is a literary allusion (reference) to the character Caliban in Shakespeare's play, "The Tempest." Caliban is a monster who has been enslaved by Prospero the magician who landed on Caliban's island when he and his daughter were put out to sea to die. Caliban resents the power Prospero holds over him, so when other men are shipwrecked on the island, Caliban tries to convince them to help him kill Prospero so he can steal his books and magic.

As a major theme of "Hunger" is education and the strong desire for it, the allusion the author uses makes a great deal of sense.

Check the links below for more information. Good luck!

Why do the husband, the wife, and the thief all claim to have done the stabbing in "In the Grove" by Ryunosuke Niihara?

The answer to the question of why they all confess lies at the heart of the objective of the tale, which is to show that people are guilty of morally compromising themselves. In the story, the moral compromise leads each character to tell events with a slant in their favor, even the ghost of the dead Takehiro. Rather than face their own self-originated humiliation, each changes the truth somewhat. For instance, Masago doesn't want to confess that she was willing to abandon her husband and instead become the husband of the villain Tajōmaru because that is too humiliating. She would rather confess to a pact of joint-death murder than be exposed as disloyal.

The ambiguity of facts at the end of the story leaves that reader in the same position as the characters. The tale doesn't give enough facts to logically determine which person stabbed Takehiro, and even his ghost is unreliable, as his evidence doesn't explain all the facts. Nevertheless, even though the reader can not ascertain truth, almost invariably a determination is made of who is guilty and who innocent based on a preconception of sympathy with one character's or another's trustworthiness, or believability. This morally compromises the reader because the choice isn't made on fact--it's made on emotional preference.

What lessons does Laila apply from her own childhood in raising her children in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

Above all else, Laina makes certain that both of her children will become educated as she was by her teacher father. Gone with the Taliban is the edict that forbids the education of females, so Aziza will join a new generation of Afghani females to attend school. Laila's marriage to Tariq will assure that both of her children receive an attentive and loving father, just as her own father was. Unlike her own mother, who doted over her brothers and paid little attention to her own well-being, Laila will show no favoritism toward Zalmai simply because he is a boy. By the end of the story, Laila has already developed a deep bond with her daughter, something that was often missing with her own mother.

Who is macduff and how significant is he in the play?

Macduff is yet another noble who truly loved King Duncan.  As your other answers tell you, he was first to suspect Macbeth for wrong-doing and Macbeth has Macduff's family murdered after Macduff flees Scotland to England and help with the army to overthrow Macbeth.  Macbeth does this because the witches tell him to "Beware Macduff!."  Macbeth already knew this since Macduff does not attend the state dinner Macbeth has after he becomes king (the one where Banquo's ghost appears), nor is he present at Macbeth's coronation.

Without Macduff, there would be less of a chance of Macbeth's overthrow.  Shakespeare wants the audience to side with the English forces who are helping Malcolm back as rightful Scottish King.  They need reasons to side with this army, and the murder of so many innocents helps achieve this.

It is also worth mentioning that by putting Macbeth down, the witches' prophecy of Banquo's issue becoming kings for many, many years is that much closer to coming true.  The play was originally written for King James I of England (also King James VI of Scotland) whose ancestor is represented by Banquo. 

To what extent is the punishment Leonato places on Claudio fitting in "Much Ado about Nothing"?How does the gender of the characters play into this?

Interesting question! It's important to note that when Hero was originally disgraced at the wedding, Leonato was ready to see her dead because of the shame she had supposedly brought upon her family. I mean, his daughter who had always been pure and modest should have been given the benefit of the doubt, but Leonato even says, "Would the two princes lie? Would Claudio lie?" Leonato knew the character of Don John - that he had risen up against his brother and probably wasn't 100% trustworthy - yet he was willing to believe him over Hero.

Then the truth comes out and what does Leonato do for "punishment"?  He says, "Hey, you can marry my niece, then, to make up for what you did to Hero."  Now I realize that this was all part of the plan to get Hero and Claudio together, but Claudio probably deserved more of a punishment than to simply be given another wife to marry (that was his perception, of course, as we know he's being given Hero).

Personally, I think Leonato is a typical man of his time - he put more faith in the honor of men than in the honor of women. Shakespeare was highlighting the irony of this in this play, particularly with his song, "Sigh no more, ladies," which talks about how "men were deceivers ever."  So, from a modern perspective, Leonato's punishment of Claudio wasn't much punishment at all. But I think that is the message Shakespeare was trying to get across to his audiences.

Can you please tell me the themes of the 1st and 3rd stanzas in the poem "Ithaca"?

In the first stanza of the poem "Ithaca" by Constantinos Cavafys, the theme that the author is portraying is something like "carpe diem" or seize the day. He is telling us to live life without fear and good things will come. He wishes the traveler a long journey, "full of adventure, full of knowledge," which is a metaphor for life. He says that the traveler will not encounter the trials that Odysseus encountered, like Poseidon's wrath, the Cyclops, and the Lestrygonians.

In the second stanza is very much an extension of the theme in the first which is to make the most of life and the well-wishes that the life one leads be fulfilling and long.

The third stanza speaks then not of the journey itself, but of the destination- Ithaca. Ithaca here is used as a metaphor for Heaven or the after-life. The goal of the traveler should be to get to Ithaca, but not to rush to get there. The writer asks that the traveler revel in the moments of the journey rather than thinking constantly of the destination because thinking of it constantly will ruin the trip. He asks the traveler to, "anchor at the island when you are old" which means take your time and live, gain knowledge, revel in the beauty that life has to offer and Ithaca will be more spectacular when you get there.

What does "The Lottery" say about human nature?

Jackson's "The Lottery" reveals that human beings are capable of committing great atrocities and behaving cruelly, when such are condoned by society and peer pressure and tradition.  The story also reveals that human beings are prone to scapegoat others.

The characters in the story are not exceptional or odd or different in any obvious way.  They are normal people in a normal town.  But when they form a group, or mob, and when atrocity and cruelty are sanctioned by the group, they eagerly participate in the behavior seen in the conclusion. 

This actually parallels human behavior.  Numerous examples exist, but I'll mention just one, which would have, in all likelihood, been fresh in Jackson's mind when she wrote the story.  During WWII, Nazi's were not the only persecutors of minorities.  Once persecution was sanctioned by the Nazis, towns and villages across Europe began persecuting Jews, Gypsies, and homosexuals.  Concentration camps were not the only places where minorities were slaughtered.  Group violence is a real phenomenon. 

"The Lottery" reveals this.

Discuss the rebellion and conformity of the story.the thematics of this story

Conformity plays a huge role in this story. The people in the village blindly follow the customs of the ritual, for the most part, without question. The black box that is used to draw the names is literally falling apart, but when asked if it should be replaced, the people never get around to it. It is what has always been used, and the villagers do not feel they should change it.

The children are so conditioned to the normalcy of the tradition, that they are able to continue their games while the ritual stoning is being carried out.Mr. Graves and Joe Summers are the main leaders in keeping this tradition alive, and never question the validity or humanity of the ritual.

Mr. Adams seems to question the practice, when he mentions that some villages are proposing stopping the lottery. Mrs. Adams asserts that some villages already have. But it is Tessie, who is the symbol of rebellion.

Tessie is late to the lottery, and tells them she forgot the day. She then protests the way the drawing s are held, stating that is is unfair that she , or any wife, must draw with her husband's family.

When she is the unlucky "winner", her husband is not sympathetic, and as the stoning is carried out, Tessie asserts her rebellious cry, "It isn't fair, it isn't right".

how would shakespeare's audiences have reacted to the play?

Since we'll never know for certain how the audiences would have acted seeing the play we have to examine the history and cultural norms surrounding the Elizabethan time period.

Most people during this time period did in fact believe in witches so the audience's reaction to the opening scene and subsequent scenes with the witches were, most likely, taken very seriously. The audience would have reacted more emotionally than audiences do today to the witches on stage. They also would have contemplated what was being said by the witches much more closely. The concept of Evil was a very intellectual topic during this time period. The audience would be frightened and intrigued to see Evil manifested physically on stage by the witches.

In chapter twenty-two why does the author include the story of Ted Lavender?

 Ted Lavender's death forces the men to face death, knowing that their lives could be taken away at any moment. They are all so happy when one soldier makes it through the tunnel, but then that small bit of happiness is taken away when Ted is shot while coming back from the bathroom. After his death, the men attempt to make sense of Ted's death in their own way. One doesn't want to talk about it, while Kiowa needs to talk. Each day, the men must face the possibility of their own deaths, but Ted's death seems so senseless. Lt. Cross burns all of  his personal effects having to do with Martha because he thinks that allowing himself to dream will get another man killed. Lt. Cross feels responsible for Ted's death and feels responsible for keeping the other men alive. As the platoon leader, Cross is "determined to perform his duties firmly and without negligence" because he thinks this is the only way he can keep himself and his men alive.

Based on your experiences growing up in the city and/or living there now, do you find normal descriptions of the city life accurate? If you...

Experiences of growing up in a city have been presented by many novelists and psychologists - two that spring to mind instantly are James Joyce ("Dubliners" and "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man") and T.S. Eliot ("The Prelude.") There are of course different types of people who live in a city - in Dublin for example at the turn of the century the city was a collection of conurbated villages where everyone still knew everyone else's business because the city was small and families large and overlapping. T.S. Eliot on the other hand presents a more familar view of city life where the centre is daily populated only, because the people are identity-less commuters servicing the huge financial and establishment agencies. Due to the alien environment, trust has not built up and people are self-protective and non-engaging with strangers who could be anyone with any disorder.

How does Antonio help Bassanio and why doesn't he just give him the money himself? How does Antonio help Bassanio and why doesn't he just give him...

Antonio helps Bassanio by borrowing money from Shylock, the Jewish money-lender, to loan to Bassanio so that he (Bassanio) can court Portia, a wealthy heiress.  Antonio's money is tied up in his ships and trading, so he doesn't have the cash on hand to loan to Bassanio himself.  The trouble occurs when Shylock wants a pound of Antonio's flesh, rather than the money paid back and the interest he would have made on the sum.

Explain the purpose of Birkenau in the story "Night". What ultimately causes the dramatic change in Eliezer's religious faith here?Chapter 3

Elie has grown up to be a very devoutly religious young man.  He spent much time in his youth studying and seeking to understand the nature of his spirituality.  His faith in God is so complete and pure that he cries when he prays, feeling deep love for the deity he worships.

However, at Birkenau, Elie first sees the horrible acts humanity can commit.  He sees the people led off to be burnt, smells the fumes of their burning flesh, is left in uncertainty of his own life, and walks past pits of open graves of burning babies.  He becomes skeptical of God's benevolence.  The other prisoners begin saying the Kaddish, which is the prayer for the dead, but which also thanks God for life.  Elie can not see anything to be thankful for:  "Why should I bless His name?” Eliezer asks, “What had I to thank Him for?”

Elie's childhood faith is shattered, and he doubts God's love and his own belief in God.  The most powerful of his words in regards to this comes at the end of the section.  See below:

Never shall I forget that night . . . which has turned my life into one long night . . . .
Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever.
Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God.

The God he loved has been murdered - he doesn't know God anymore.

What are ionic and non ionic compounds? Please give examples

first of all we have two types of bonds : ionic bond and covalent bond ,,the ionic bond occures between two elements (a metal & a non metal)where the metallic element lose 1,2 or 3 elecrons giving them to the non-metalic element  (example : sodium (Na)and it's atomic number is 11 can be combined during chemical reactions with a non-metal as chlorine (Cl) and it's atomic number is 17 ) ,,,Sodium  loses an atom & chlorine takes it ,,,and the reason is simple ,,,that occures because each elemen wants to have only 8 elecrons in it's outermost enery level in order to be in a stabled state

Covalent bond : occures between two non-metals by sharing electrons (a chlorine atom shares another chlorine atom by 1 electron) why?? because chlorine has 7 electrons it it's outer energy level so it needs only another one to have 8 elecrons in the outer level ( it gains it by sharing of course)

now you want to know WHAT ABOUT NOBLE GASES ? : these elements don't make ionic or covalent bond because if you make electronic configration to anyone of them , you find that each one already has 8 electrons in the outer energy level thus sharing or losing electrons is meaningless for them (ex. neon (Ne) it's atomic no. is 10 the k level takes 2 electrons & the L level takes 8 electrons ) EXCEPT THE HELIUM whish is also a noble gas but has 2 electrons filling the level k copmletely thau it needs no more electrons

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus says that the best way to understand a person is "to stand in his shoes." How is that illustrated?

The author uses several events in the story to illustrate this.  When Jem gets in trouble for bothering the old lady across the street, he is at first angry with his punishment.  He cannot understand why his is not allowed to be nasty to her when she is nasty to everyone else.  His punishment is to read to her every day and by doing this he gets to know her and see the daily pain she has to live with. Therefore he gains understanding.

Additionally, the children learn through experience not through school.  By knowing their black neighbors the children learn that many of the things which the white adults in the neighborhood say about blacks is incorrect.  By getting to know Tom and his family, the children are able to better understand the situation Tom was in.

Finally, Boo Radley.  Initially, the children are afraid of him because he is a recluse. They do not know him.  Boo leaves toys for them in the knot of the tree and eventually is he hero of the story when he saves the children from Bob Ewell.  They no longer fear him but also have pity for him and understanding.  By getting to know him too, the children can imagine his situation and 'step into his shoes' 

What is the impact of the film to you as a viewer? Do you agree with the point of view of the story?

For me, the visuals of China were unforgettable.  Seeing what the mothers endured, hated, and loved in their home country helped me understand their ambivalence about America and their frequent disconnection with their daughters.  The girls, though they have heard (most) of their mother's stories ad nausem, can never really know how hard life was for women in China and how lucky they are to live in a free country.  It is not until Jing-Mei travels to the country and meets her half-sisters whom her mother was forced to abandon in China, that she starts to feel real empathy and sorrow for her mother's tragic life.  Like Jing-Mei, seeing those images really brought home Tan's stories for me.  The novel was fascinating and absorbing, but something about the visual captured me in a way the novel could not. 

As for point of view, it is hard to say if I "agree" with a point of view or not.  There are multiple points of view, from each of the daughters and each of the mothers.  However, being a mother and a daughter myself, I understand how your children never really know how much you love them and what you've gone through as a person (a not-mom).  As a daughter, I still get frustrated with my own mother who, raised in the 50s, has little in common with me. 

What does the Doctor mean when he says, “Therein the patient/Must minister to himself?” in Act V?

The doctor is merely stating to the nurse that Lady Macbeth obviously has a guilty conscience and that she has done some horrible things in her life.  This is why she is sleepwalking, as her soul will not let her sleep soundly as a result of the evil she has committed.  In order for him to be able to help her, she must first admit in her waking hours her guilt and seek help for what she has done and what she knows has been done--rather like someone with a drinking or drug problem--first you must admit there is a problem, then you can seek help which will actually do some good.  Until then, nothing works.

How is the trial depicted? What is evident in the atmosphere outside court and town? Quote examples. What happened at the Ewells' Novemeber...

The heat of the courtroom adds to the atmosphere of the trial.  It is so hot, in fact, that Atticus takes off his jacket, which is something his children never sees him do. He also sweats, even though "he was one of those men whose faces never perspired."  This indicates not only Atticus's hard work and anxiety concerning the trial; it also suggests the tense mood felt by everyone in the courtroom.  Mr. Raymond drinking a soft drink out of a brown paper bag, pretending he is drinking whiskey to give people something to talk about, also says something about the atmosphere of the trial. An outsider in the town, he doesn't go into the courtroom; indeed, he doesn't want to nor would his presence be welcome, for where would he sit?  He has aligned himself with the blacks in the community although he is white.  As a result, he belongs to neither community, thus showing the consequences of breaking the color line. That he drinks coke while pretending to drink whiskey signifies the pretense and artificiality of that barrier.  Mr. Raymond explains to Scout "you haven't seen enough of the world yet. You haven't seven seen this town, but all you gotta do is step back inside the courthouse" to understand the truth about both."  People inside the courtroom and outside know, even if they don't specifically say, that what is on trial is the traditional though immoral practice of racism in the south, and the atmosphere carries that tension.

What is the main theme in "Picture Bride?"

There are a number of themes in this book, but to me, the main theme is the idea that hopes are often raised, only to be dashed.  I think that this is one reason for giving the book the title it has -- the whole concept of picture brides is one with the potential for this kind of disappointment.

If you think about it, every dream that Hana has pretty much lets her down.  Taro is not the way she dreams of him being.  She dreams of having a son and has a daughter instead (and has a hard time understanding her daughter).  She thinks America will be a country of freedom, but as a Japanese, she does not really experience this.

There are other themes, but I think this is the main one.

Man can only be truly free if good and evil coexist in the world. Is that a good thesis topic for an essay on Lord of the Flies?

Hi there-  I totally agree with tthakker.  I would be happy to see a thesis statement with so much promise on one of my papers!

You might add something as simple as an addition that includes the title of the novel, ie, "In Wm Golding's novel Lord of the Flies..." Do be careful to use your own words, however.  If you use the tthaker's suggestion verbatim in your paper, you must cite it or it will be considered plagiarism.   

What inner conflict does Gatsby have as a result of his relationship with Daisy?

Gatsby, in The Great Gatsby, is single-minded and totally dedicated to recapturing his relationship with Daisy.  He is obsessed.  So there certainly isn't any internal conflict concerning his goal, etc. 

Any internal conflict one sees in Gatsby would have to be between want he wants and what he doesn't have.  He totally wants Daisy, but she was stolen, in his mind, by somebody else, and he can't have her.

He spends five years of his life searching for her and preparing himself and his image in an attempt to win her back.  That is the conflict that Gatsby faces concerning Daisy.

What is a “credential society"?Is there too much of an emphasis on credentials in the U.S.? If so, how might this be harmful? To whom? Have you...

I do not know whether there is more of an emphasis on credentials in the US than anywhere else, but I do think that we do emphasize credentials too much.

I've been, in my opinion, on both sides of this.  Before I started teaching high school, I had been teaching in college.  But because we require credentials, I had to spend a year getting a teaching certificate that did very little to make me a better teacher.  On the other hand, I got paid better than other first year teachers because I had a Ph.D., which did not necessarily make me a better teacher.

As far as the reason, I think it is functionalist.  It gives decision-makers an easy way to identify who is (allegedly) competent.  This lowers the costs of hiring people, which should help society as a whole.

Where does Mrs. Frisby have to go to be able to get a close view of the farm house in Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?

In order to get a close view of the farmhouse, Mrs. Frisby climbs up "a very thick fence post at the corner of the garden nearest the farmhouse and the tractor shed." She knows that, a few inches above the ground, there is "a convenient knot hole with a hollow place behind it in which she could hide...and watch what (is) going on in the yard." Mrs. Frisby needs to see what is going on at the Fitzgibbon farm, because she has just heard the tractor starting up. Mrs. Frisby needs to know if Mr. Fitzgibbon is getting ready to plow the fields, because if he is, she will have to find a way to move her family out of their home immediately. Mrs. Frisby's son Timothy is very sick, and cannot be taken outdoors without grave danger to his health, so if it is necessary for Mrs. Frisby to move her family, she will have to think of a way to do it quickly, without exposing Timothy to the elements.

Mr. Fitzgibbon is a hardworking farmer, and he has two sons who are old enough to help him. The older son, Paul, is fifteen, and although he is "rather clumsy in his movements," he is quiet and industrious, "strong and careful about his chores." The younger son, Billy, is twelve, and tends to be noisier and has "an annoying habit of skimming rocks across the grass at anything that move(s)." Mr. Fitzgibbon and his sons are readying the tractor for plowing, checking its parts and greasing it up. It is springtime, and just about time for farmers to start planting their cro's; plowing season is right around the corner, although Mr. Fitzgibbon notes that the ground is a little too wet to begin right away. He figures that in about five days, the ground will be dry enough to plow. The title of the chapter, "Five Days," is significant because it refers to these five days of respite before plowing begins and Mrs. Frisby's house in the field will be destroyed by the plow. Mrs. Frisby has five days to figure out how to get Timothy to safety without risking his life (Chapter 5). 

In "The Kite Runner," what does the kite symbolize?

I'm convinced that the kite symbolizes redemption and dignity. So much of the book deals with "becoming good again" or overcoming shame and reviving your spirit. At the closing scene in the book, Amir and Sohrab fly a kite, but on a different level, it is an activity that allows them to move forward in life, past the pain and shame of events they've experienced. For Sohrab, he must heal from the pain of sexual abuse, the death of his parents, adjust to life in America, and allow Amir and Soroya to be close to him. For Amir, the kite symbolized his failed attempts to be loved by his father, but it also symbolizes his ability to stand up for himself and "become good again". By adopting Sohrab, he is able to atone for the cowardly act he committed toward Hassan when they were children living in Kabul.

What is orwell's voice in 1984?

I'm not sure I fully understand your question, so I am going to give you information relevant to the novel that would seem to connect to the question you have presented.

1984 was written in third person limited point of view.  The limitation forces readers to see the story through the eyes of Winston alone, the tired soul seeking independence but having it stripped from him.

Orwell's own "voice" can be seen in two ways.  The first, as is true of any author, is in the diction of the story.  1984 is simplistic in its prose.  The descriptions and the action are not designed to evoke strong emotion, but are left to harsh specifics.  No embellishment of beauty or of tragedy is provided, but scientific reporting used consistently throughout.  This cold diction helps to underscore Orwell's creation of a world where individuality and passion have been discarded.

In another way, Orwell's voice can be observed in the appendix.  Again, the explanation of Newspeak is written with a scientists attention to detail and lack of embellishment.  However, as is the case with the text of the novel, this practiced use of understatement and lack of emphasis comes across as sarcastic.  Orwell's pesimisstic tale is relayed with a cynic's voice.

What is Romanticism?

Literary critics consider 1798, the year when Wordsworth and Coleridge published their "Lyrical Ballads," to mark the beginning of the English Romantic Movement. However, its actual beginnings date back to the poetry of Gray, Collins, Blake and Burns who are regaded as 'Transition Poets' who lived and wrote at the end of the Neo-Classical Age. Critical opinion is divided as to when the Romantic Movement actually came to an end; infact, some critics consider the Victorian age to be a continuation of the Romantic Age and that the English Romantic Age extended till the beginning of the Modern Age in the twentieth century. The characteristic features of English Romantic poetry are:

1. Love and worship of Nature and dislike for the urban life. I quote from Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey":

and this prayer I make, 
Knowing that Nature never did betray
The heart that loved her; 'tis her privilege,
Through all the years of this our life, to lead 
From joy to joy: for she can so inform
The mind that is within us, so impress<
With quietness and beauty, and so feed
With lofty thoughts.

2. Love for the Medieval Age. Keats' "La Belle de sans Merci" clearly illustrates the fondness Keats had for the medieval form ballad and the medieval age.

3. Love for the supernatural and the mystical. Coleridge's "Ancient Mariner" is completely pervaded by a supernatural atmosphere.

4. Poetry came to be regarded as the spontaneous expression of the poet's own subjective feelings and did not conform to the poetic conventions of classical doctrines. Wordsworth's famous definition of poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" is echoed in Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" in which the nightingale  "singest of summer in full-throated ease."

5.Completely abandoned the 'Heroic  Couplet' and substituted it with simpler verse forms like the ballads which belonged to the English rural Folk. In fact the 'Ballad Revival' is said to have sparked off the English Romantic Movememnt.

6. The 'poetic diction' of the Neo-Classical Age was completely  done away with and the language of the ordinary people became the language of Romantic poetry. Wordsworth remarks that the language of the ordinary rustic people was the most appropriate language for a poet to express his feelings because,

"such a language, arising out of the repeated experience and regular feelings is a more permanent, and a far more philosophical language, than that which is frequently substituted for it by Poets."

7. The subjects of Romantic poetry were often ordinary people for instance Wordsworth's "The Idiot Boy."

What is a theme in A Worn Path?

I see a couple of themes in this story.

Perhaps the main one is race and racism.  We see the ways in which the hunter, especially, has absolutely no respect for Phoenix even though she is an elder.  This clearly comments on race relations in that time and place.

The other one is responsibility and family.  Phoenix is willing to go to all this trouble to get medicine for her grandson because it is her responsiblity as his only family member.   In fact, I wonder what is going to happen to him when Phoenix dies, which surely will be in the near future.

What is Darwin's Theory? What is it about? And What are the Criticisms on Darwinism?

Charles Darwin (1809-1892) was a naturalist, who is best known for his theory of evolution which explains how new species of living organism develop and manage to survive better than than the other in a very slow and gradual process of evolution. As per this theory all different types of plants and animals existing in nature have evolved out of relatively limited numbers of common ancestors through a gradual process of evolution over thousands of millions of years. This theory is referred by many as Darwin's as theory of evolution. Darwin's ideas on the theory of evolution have been described in great detail in his book called On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of favoured Races in the Struggle of Life, published in 1859.

As per this theory the primary mechanism of evolution is the process of natural selection. Some people also describe this process of natural selection as the process of survival of the fittest. Darwin stated that all species of organisms produce mare off springs than are necessary to replace themselves. Thus there is a tendency for the population of the species to increase. However there is limited amount of food and other necessities available in nature to support these increased numbers. Also some species are killed by prey by others for their food. Thus all the members of a species have to continuously struggle for their survival. Darwin's theory states that some members of the species have traits that help them in this struggle for survival. In comparison other members have traits that are not so helpful for survival. As a result the members of species with more suitable traits have greater chance of surviving and reproducing. As a result population of members with more favourable traits increase. On the other hand population of members with less favourable traits gradually reduces till it becomes totally extinct.

When this type of evolutionary process occurs in one species in two or more different geographical locations with different environments, members of population in each of the location may evolve differently because of the environmental factors. This type of differences in evolution, in many cases lead to development of so different varieties of a common species that each is considered a different species.

In the past there was major criticism of Darwin's theory because it conflicted with some religious beliefs regarding how this world and all the creatures living in it were created.

Another major criticism of Darwin's theory is on the grounds of some of the statistical impossibility of some of the sophisticated features of many organism developing as a result of random variations in basic traits of the less developed ancestors from which the more sophisticated species are supposed to have developed.

It is also important to note that Darwin's theory only explains how different multiple species develop from some common ancestors. This theory does not explain satisfactorily how the ancestor itself may have developed. In particular, Darwin's theory does no explain how the basic life form developed.

To what extent can we use nonverbal communication between people from a different culture?

Nonverbal communication often has international characteristics that can help with cross-cultural communication. Actually, most communication is done with nonverbal cues, no matter how clear the verbal interaction may be.

Despite cultural differences, there are identifiable universal sounds, facial expressions and body movements that rightly convey a message.

A smile, a frown, crying, all reveal an emotion.  How this is interpreted or responded to, rests more with cultural or learned behaviors.

Often nonverbal is the ONLY way to communicate, if there are language differences. Signaling intention, with a smile and a nod of a head is a step towards saying what you would like.

Again, the cultural response may lead to miscommunication. Someone may say to him- or herself "That person should not be smiling at me. They are not someone I know." SO, the interpretation of someone gesturing friendliness or good feelings may be problematic. If there is a language difference, even this negative response will be shown non verbally. All people "get the message" when another walks away or turns away.

In each culture, there are learned explicit gestures that signal dislike, acceptance or some other message. Misinterpreting these can lead to problems. For example, in some cultures, if you want someone to come to you, you wave your hand at them, with the palm of your hand facing the ground. In other cultures, this would be seen as a dismissive gesture.

Even with these problems, nonverbal communication is relied on more and more. As people travel to other countries, meet strangers and embrace cultural diversity, respect and interest in non verbal communication is an excellent starting place to meet others and communicate.

What did Buck vow would never happen to him after he saw Curly die?

The short answer is that he vowed he would never get knocked off his feet.  He would see to it that he never went down in a fight.  That way, he would be able to stay alive.

He came to this conclusion, as you say, after he saw Curly die.  He learned from that that once a dog goes down, everyone else watching is going to go for that dog and kill it.

It is exactly in this way that Spitz will die when fighting Buck later in the book.  He will go down and the other dogs will kill him.

What are the internal and external conflicts of Ralph? Lord of the Flies by William Golding

As a main character, Ralph of Lord of the Flies experiences several conflicts.  These struggles are what move the plot forward, in fact. Initially, Ralph, who mistakenly thinks that he has arrived on an idyllic island, finds himself elected leader of the boys and burdened with much responsibility.  At first, with the assistance of the rational Piggy, Ralph establishes order by using the conch to call the boys to meetings.  He convinces them initially of the importance of building and sustaining a fire with green branches that will send smoke high into the air as a signal so they can be rescued. Yet, even with Piggy, Ralph has some conflict as they disagree at times. However, as previously mentioned, Ralph's leadership is most challenged by the aggressive and proud Jack, once leader of the boys' choir, who now wishes to rule the boys and have them join his own group of hunters [see ch.4].  The external conflict comes of the civilized manner of Ralph's leadership which involves building shelters and maintaining the rescue fire vs. Jack's control of the boys by brute force and having them engage in hunting the feral pigs on the island.  This force of Jack and his hunters along with his sadistic friend, Roger, defeats Ralph's group by stealing the fire; after this, anarchy rules the island and the hunters go after Ralph, who is only saved by the rescuing warship and its captain.

Within Ralph there are, of course, internal conflicts, which his inner thoughts reveal.  One important one is his desire to join in the hunt, as previously mentioned. In Chapter 5, for instance, Ralph experiences another internal conflict in his realization that he does not have enough to command the leadership:

Again he fell into that strange mood of speculation that was so foreign to him.....The trouble was, if you were a chief you had to think, you had to be wise....

Once more that evening Ralph had to adjust his values.  Piggy could think.  He could go step by step inside that fat head of his, only Piggy was no chief.  But Piggy, for all his ludicrous body, had brains.  Ralph was a specialist in thought now, and could recognize thought in another. 

By the end of this chapter, Ralph begins to wish for the return to civilization where adults have the answers.  He realizes inside himself that he is not equipped to handle what changes are occurring on the island.

__________________________________________________

Before writing an essay on Ralph review the character analysis in the site below. Go back through the novel; hopefully, you noted significant passages.

 What you want to do, essentially, is analyze the character of Ralph, discussing what traits he possesses and how he deals with his internal and external conflicts; that is, discuss the development of Ralph as a character.  Explain how he resolves (or does not resolve) these external conflicts/struggles with Piggy, the littl'uns, and Jack.  And, identify his internal struggles--what he worries about, wants, etc.--explaining how he deals with these conflicts. 

What foreshadows the mother's decision to keep the quilts from Dee, and is her choice just a temporary change of character?

The mother is hostile toward her daughter Dee and protective of Maggie from the beginning of the story. She holds Dee responsible for the scars of Maggie, both literal and figurative. She resents her daughter's beauty and vigor, saying right before Dee arrives that when Dee was courting "Jimmy T she didn't have much time to pay to us, but turned all her faultfinding power on him." In this statement we see the mother's feeling of rejection and hurt resulting from the way Dee has treated her over the years. So, the mother's refusal to give Dee the quilts is very consistent with her character in that the act constitutes a "payback" for all the hurt Dee has caused. When she feels that Dee looks at her with "hatred" when she says she plans to give the quilts to Maggie, we can imagine the mother drawing a line in the sand, ready to do battle and not give way. Putting all of this in the context of the mother's early statement in anticipating and dreading the arrival of Dee, we see the inevitability of her refusing the quilts. In the second paragraph, the mother says that Maggie thinks that "'no' is a word the world never learned to say to" Dee, and that word, "no," is precisely what she says to her at the end of the story. This word foreshadows the conclusion of the story.

What is the difference between the idea of sin today and in the time period of The Scarlet Letter? Are the consequences the same?

The idea of sin and the consequences are drastically different from the time period of the Scarlet Letter to today.  Today, many people deny that sin even exists.  In the Puritan era (the timeperiod of the Scarlet Letter) sin and the law were one and the same.  The first few chapters of the novel talk about the ideas of Puritan law, sin, and punishment.  If a child were disobedient in those times, the parents could hand them over to the magistrates to be publicly whipped.  If a servant was lazy, they could also be handed over to the government.  And obviously, adultery was a crime punishable by death.  Today, sin in a lot of ways is a much more private issue.  Consequences are also many times much more private.  Parents deal with their own children, etc.  Adultery is not considered worthy of the death penalty.  

What does Hale and Danforth request of Elizabeth proctor in The Crucible?

Real answer:

Hale and Danforth do request Elizabeth to convince proctor, but she is not the soul person who convinced him. Befor, he was already thinking about confessing, b/c he realized that he is not a good man, and he cannot go like a saint, so diying like a saint would be a lie in itself. Two things that convince proctor not to confess is b/c proctor wanted to save his reputation... from his kids.. future... and the second is Rabecca.. who came in and was asstonished at proctors dicition, wich made him feel guilty

Who are the main characters in "The Cask of Amontillado"?

The main characters of “The Cask of Amontillado” are Montresor and Fortunato. Montresor is the narrator and a wealthy man intent on receiving revenge on Fortunato who is both a friend sworn enemy of Montresor's. He has planned to ‘‘punish with impunity.

Fortunato has committed a "thousand injuries’’ and a final "insult," to Montresor, but no details are given. Fortunato is comfortable in Montresor's company, and has no clue of the deadly plan awaiting him at the hands of the man he considers a friend. Fortunato, is a respected and feared man and a proud connoisseur of fine wine, but he is also is singleminded . Unfortunately, he also drinks too much on the night we read about, which actually turns out to be his downfall.

Montresor is a cold and calculating man, revealed perfectly as he tells the story fifty years later, revealing no regret for his actions, and no real pleasure in them. He simply demonstrates no feeling whatsoever, making him seem a highly immoral character.

What is the tone of the nymph's response in "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd"?

The Nymph's reply is rings of sarcasm and possibly a tinge of regret.

The Shepherd has offered her many things to "come live with me and be my love."  However, the Nymph's response includes her pointing out that all of the things the Shepherd has offered her are temporary.  All die, dry up, fall apart...nothing he has offered has any staying power.  That includes his proclamation of "love".  He never mentions marriage.  It's more of a "lust" call than a love proclamation.

She says that IF she could be sure that time would stand still and all these flowers and homemade items could last forever with the Spring/Summer months, then she might consider the temptation.  However, since she knows it is not true, and he has not offered a commitment past three-four months, she's not biting. 

What is the thesis of Civil Peace by Chinua Achebe?

Achebe's thesis, if it can be so simplified, is that Nigeria can find itself again if it recognizes and dismisses the vestiges of colonialism.  The story takes place just a year after the end of the Nigerian war for independence.  Although lawlessness ensues in the aftermath of a discarded government, their is hope for the future.  Jonathon, the protagonist, is left with a good job and finds that his house is still standing.  Thieves - symbolic of the thieving colonizing forces - threaten his new home, but he survives, and his neighbors help him in his efforts to rebuild.  Achebe harkens back to the communal nature of pre-colonial Nigeria in an effort to call upon his fellow citizens to remember their culture and their roots, and to abandon the influence of European imperialism.

Why does Beatty refer to the old woman's books as the Tower of Babel?

The reason that Beatty says this to the woman is because, in his opinion, the books do not agree with each other. This means that they would not really be able to understand one another, and that is why they are like the Tower of Babel.

In the Bible (the book of Genesis, to be exact), a group of people were going to build a tower so high it would reach Heaven.  God did not like them trying to do this and so he made it so that they all started speaking different languages.  When this happened, they could not longer understand or talk to each other.

So it is with the books.  They don't agree, so they can't really talk to each other.

What do you think the statement by the statement, "Do i dare disturb the universe?"

I think the statement is a challenge, asking whether a person will dare to be different, to "march to the beat of a different drummer", to quote loosely from Thoreau.  It asks whether a person is willing to go against the flow, to NOT do what everyone else is doing just because it is expected, and to take the consequences of the choice.

In the context of the story, Jerry looks at his father's very ordinary life and asks, "is that all there is?'  He doesn't want to just coast along and live a life of mediocrity like his dad, he wants to make his own decisions, to take charge of his own destiny, so to speak.  When his assignment from the Vigils is over, the easy thing to do would be to just sell the chocolates like everyone else, but Jerry at this point is tired of doing things just because he is told to or because it is expected, so he "dares to disturb the universe" and continues to refuse to participate.  Unfortunately, he finally concludes that the consequences of daring to be different are not worth it.

What is a description of Creon in Oedipus Rex?

In this play, Creon is seen as a noble man, doing his best to help his brother-in-law, Oedipus the king, and the city of Thebes. He is sent by Oedipus to the Oracle at Delphi to discover why the city is being plagued with disease. When he reports back to Oedipus that the gods require Oedipus to discover who murdered the old king, Laius, Oedipus thinks Creon is out to get the throne away from him.

Creon takes this very seriously and does his best throughout the play to show his innocence in the matter, and the fact that his only concern is for the welfare of the people - in other words, he is showing that he would, indeed, be a good leader.

At the end of the play, Creon does become the new king after Oedipus blinds himself upon discovering that he himself was the murderer of his own father, Laius, and that he had married and had children with his own mother, Jocasta. Creon treats Oedipus with respect and compassion through it all.

Creon can be described as trustworthy, loyal, a good leader, compassionate, honest, and brave.

Check the link below for more information!  Good luck!

What are the "yonic symbols" in the story "The Chrysanthemums"?

Huh!  Well, I learned something myself today!  I had never heard this word, ever,  but I think the explanations are probably right.  At the time Steinbeck was writing this, he was spending a good deal of time with Joseph Campbell, who was then writing his own book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces.  Steinbeck, Campbell, and Ed Ricketts (John's marine biologist friend, and inspiration for Doc in Cannery Row) spent long hours discussing myth and sybolism.

There is not much Steinbeck more than myths of the world.  It makes perfect sense to me that he would have absorded this idea into The Chrysanthemums. 

What changes have taken place in Silas Marner throughout the book, and what were their causes?

Silas Marner learns to love.  At the beginning of the book, he is betrayed and hurt by his best friend, so he shuts out all humanity.  All he cares about is the gold that he accumulates.  Once the gold is stolen and he finds Eppie, he begins to love again.  His natural goodness comes out and he realizes that people are more important than money.

Is Shakespeare a pen name or is it his real name?I know he is real but I'm unsure about the name.

Shakespeare is Shakespeare's real name.  He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, and his father's name was John Shakespeare.  He married Anne Hathaway in 1582, and a daughter was born six months later.  They also had twins, Judith and Hamnet, who died young, in 1585.  Judith lived until 1662. 

Virtually nothing is known about Shakespeare's life from 1585-1592.  By 1592, however, he is at at least fairly well-known on the London stage.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

But, again, yes, Shakespeare is his real name. 

 (Source:  The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English)

Lady Macbeth of the play Macbeth has often been seen as one of Shakespeare's strongest women; in fact, some may see her as an early feminist. Why?

Consider this famous speech of Lady Macbeth's.  It is some of the best evidence that she held "feminist" beliefs: 

Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here;
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
And take my milk for gall, your murdering ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief!

Much of the feminist movement has been motivated by a desire for equality.  Women wanted to be considered just as capable of men as doing every job they did - whether that be the job of voting, holding political office, or performing certain sports.  Here, Lady Macbeth is specifically asking the universe to "unsex" her.  She wants her womanly characteristics taken away so that she can perform the duties that society says is a "man's job". 

Is the condition that the author depicts in chapt. 9 likely to inspire citizen confidence in the government and willingness to follow laws?

The conditions described in chapter nine are not at all likely to inspire confidence in the government.  The chapter describes the shanty towns and difficulties in finding places to live.  It mentions people who bribe the government to get a house built for them faster.  It talks about the government saying it will build shelter and lavoratories, but the government comes through slowly if at all.  People frantically try to find places to shelter their families wherever they can.  The conditions are deplorable and the government acts like it wants to help, but the help is minimal and slow.

What excuse or explanation did Macbeth give for killing the guards (grooms)? What is his real reason?

After first feigning ignorance, Macbeth comes forward with an excuse. Macbeth tells Macduff and Lennox that when he went to Duncan's room and found him dead, he became enraged by the sight of the guards, covered in blood and holding the daggers, and killed them. He claims it was in his grief he committed the murder to avenge Duncan's death.

The true reason he killed the guards is that when he went to approach Duncan, one of the guards yelled "Murder!" in his sleep and caused both guards to awaken. He kills them to cover his tracks, as witnesses were not an option.

Macduff is the only character who seems to suspect Macbeth. Macbeth's story does not seem to satisfy Macduff, and he will exhibit further signs of distrust later in the play.

At School House Hill, what did Mattie remind Ethan about in the book Ethan Frome?What does the narrator realize? *specific answers please no...

At School House Hill, Mattie reminds Ethan that he had promised to take her sledding down the slope again. The first time they went down was "once last winter;" since then, they had not gone down again.

Mattie reminds Ethan of his promise during their last moments together before he is supposed to take her to the train. Ethan's wife Zeena has demanded that Mattie be sent away, and Ethan can think of no way of avoiding the inevitable. On the way to the train station, Ethan and Mattie revisit the places they had enjoyed together during Mattie's time with the Fromes. Finally, the two end up on School House Hill, where they had seen an engaged couple from the village kissing, and where they had themselves taken an exhiliarating ride down the steep slope that one time so long ago.

Ethan and Mattie take a "splendid" ride down the hill on a borrowed sled, and then trudge back up to the top. As they stand in an embrace at the crest of the hill, Ethan realizes that he can't let Mattie go, but he does not know what he can do about it. Mattie, however, provides a solution, one which is drastic and irrevocable. She persuades Ethan to crash into a dangerously placed elm on one last ride down the hill, so that in death, they need never be parted (Chapter 9).

In Night, describe the prisoner's indoctrination into concentration camp life and also how does it benefit the Nazis?Chapter 3

The prisoner's are shipped by packed cattle car to the concentration camp, separated men from women, guards hold guns to them at every turn, other guards scream at them - the prisoners are registered, stripped, shaved, showered, administered prison clothing, disinfected. The motto of the concentration camps was "Work is Freedom", and the guards work to drill this into the prisoner's brains.

This indoctrination benefits the Nazi's for several reasons. First, they pillage the belongings of the Jews. Next, they separate them, and in doing so, they kill any thoughts of rebellion. The Nazi's treated the Jews like animals and degraded them - this treatment lowers moral so again the Jews would not be likely to try and fight back. Finally, the Nazi's were able to use the Jews as free labor to support their war efforts. The Nazi's would work a prisoner until they died or were too weak to work anymore, in which case they were put to death.

The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is the result of their own impulsive actions.Give supporting details agreeing or disagreeing with this...

Romeo and Juliet were young teens who were not ready for the committment of marriage.  Their actions were impulsive and compounded the tragedy.  First, Romeo was in love with Rosaline and pined over her even when she never gave him the time of day and didn't know he existed.  Then all of a sudden he sees Juliet at the feast, and Rosaline no longer exists.  Next, Romeo and Juliet make their vows to each other, on the balcony, when they have only muttered a few words at the feast and they are already making wedding plans.  Soon they are married and before the marriage even gets started, Romeo is banished, Juliet fakes her death, Romeo thinks she is dead, she drinks the poison, and Juliet stabs herself.  The two were impulsive in their actions, but determined to be together.  They didn't care what their families did or said, they would be together, whether in life or death.  They knew what the outcomes could be, but it didn't stop them.  But even if the couple took their time getting to know each other, or courting as they say, the odds were against them from the start because of the Feud.  Did their impulsive actions cause the tragedy, partly, but their family history would never have allowed them a future together.

The Equal Protection Clause does not prevent the government from discriminating in all cases. What are the various Constitutional...

All laws discriminate.  Laws against murder treat murderers differently than other types of people.  All laws classify people like that.  It's just that some classifications are legal, according to the Court, and some aren't.

Most classifications (like murderers) get standard scrutiny and are always upheld.  But other classifications (race, national origin, religion) get strict scrutiny.  Laws that discriminate on those bases must be very closely tailored to accomplishing a compelling state interest.  In other words, you have to have a really good reason to discriminate and there had better be no other way to do it.

Gender has typically gotten a level of scrutiny in between strict and standard.

Is there a main character that the snowman is portraying and why? and is this character experiencing struggles of survival and acceptance(Does this...

If the reader wishes to attach symbolism to the snowman that the children make, he/she may see that all the various citizens whom this snowman represents go into the whole of its creation.  Likewise, all the citizens of Maycomb, black, white, upper class, middle class, lower class--all are part of the community, all are subject to the laws of nature, all are affected by what happens to the others.

Perhaps, the creation of the snowman by the children demonstrates that they--unlike many of the adults of the community--understand this interrelationship of citizens in Maycomb.  Without this understanding, the people of Maycomb suffer the "disease common to Maycomb" of which Atticus Finch speakers.  Consequently, the entire community suffers and certain elements in this community are destroyed as a result, just as the snowman suffers damage.

What is the contrast between Puck and Bottom?

Bottom is a mortal who is a control freak and basically intolerable.  His name says it all, and later in the play when his head is turned into that of an "ass" it culminates his attitude and personality.

Puck is a Pixie--not a mortal.  He is not intolerable, he just enjoys playing pranks.  He serves Oberon the King of the Pixies with loyalty and zealous joy.

When Hester throws down her scarlet letter, the transfiguration that was foreshadowed occurs, and Hester's beauty returns.

I am assuming that you want an explanation of the symbolism that occurs with this act of throwing the scarlet letter. Hester is experiencing an escape from her reality, the woods is a respite from the burden of the community. She, Pearl, and Dimmesdale are alone in the woods. As she takes down her hair, which is symbolic of Hester's letting herself relax, the sun shines down on them. She tosses the letter, and this is also a symbol of her feeling a freedom from her constant reminder of sin.

Yet, this is a mere respite, not a total transformation. She is lighthearted and beautiful for a time, yet the fact that the scarlet letter did not fall into the stream and get carried away, instead it gets caught in the shrubbery, symbolizes that Hester is not truly free of the burden of her sin.

List at least three logos appeals that Patrick Henry uses in his "Speech to the Virginia Convention" and explain what they mean.

Logos appeals are appeals to logic or reason. They include deductive or inductive reasoning, cause and effect relationships, facts, and statistics. Here are some of the logos appeals Patrick Henry used in his "Speech to the Virginia Convention":

"I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past." Here Henry uses inductive reasoning--using examples from past observation--to argue that Britain was not going to suddenly start treating the colonies better. What the colonies had observed in Britain was going to continue; the colonies' entreaties would continue to be ignored.

"Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?" Here Henry uses cause and effect reasoning. If Britain was planning to reconcile with the colonies, ships containing soldiers would not be required. Only a plan for continued domination and suppression of the colonies would have prompted Britain to send more soldiers on more boats.

"What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?" Henry uses some deductive reasoning here. He states that they have tried every possible peaceful solution. The reasoning goes like this: If we cannot reach a peaceful solution with Britain, we will have to have a non-peaceful solution. We have not been able to reach a peaceful solution; therefore, we must go to war. 

"Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us." Finally, Henry brings facts and statistics to support his argument. Although some have said the colonies were too weak to fight against Britain, he notes that they have a potential force of 3 million. He further suggests that other countries may come to the colonies' aid.

Although Henry's speech is notable for its great pathos (emotional) appeals, he also uses logos appeals very effectively. 

What is the point of Dante's journey through the after-life? What did it mean to be a Christian in Dante's time?

The point of Dante's journey through the after-life is to express his own living hell after his exile from Florence and, at the same time, enlighten and edify his readers concerning what it truly means to be an upright Christian. Quite frankly in Dante's time to be a Christian meant listening to the Pope unquestioningly. This infuriated Dante since he at a young age entered the political scene of Florence at a time when Florence was more important than Rome for the economical and political growth and stability of the Italian peninsula. Dante knew the true faces of these religious figures.

In fact Dante was seen as such a threat that he was very nearly excommunicated. The Church initiated an investigation against him in which he made his own defense beautifully in such terms that even the Church had to admit that he was undoubtedly Christian through and through. Still, the Church banished some of his works that touched on political subjects for fear of what they might stir, pretty much proving what Dante says about them in the Divine Comedy.

Likewise I love to rip on our political system and the blatant corruption of our government in my book _White Man's Inferno_. Because Dante proved a true poet has to tell it how it is with no candy coating!

What are some questions to ask about The Man Who Was Poe?I need this fast!

One thing that occurred to me as I was reading this was "Exactly how much of this story is true?" Others were: Was the information about Poe in this book historical, or was it fiction?  Did people really live like this? 

The mysterious man, Auguste Dupin, provides a lot of material for questions.  Why did he help Edmund, when he appears so delusional and disoriented?  Is he kind and sympathetic, or does he have a different motive?  Who is Auguste Dupin, and why doesn't he use his own name?

This books shows the darker side of human nature in some of its most confounding, frustrating, and difficult-to-understand lights.  Mr. Arnold, Edmund and Sis's stepfather (who they knew under the name Ratchett) is an example of the kind of person whose cruelty seems to know no bounds and have no reason behind it.  Arnold would marry a woman only for her money, abandon her children to die of starvation, and murder to cover up his misdeeds.  This kind of conscienceless evil is exceedingly difficult to understand, and raises many questions about whether or not humanity can be essentially good if such people exist.

Poe's shadowy character, which may or may not reflect the reality of his life (see the link below) also makes one wonder about the motives of human beings.  Edmund is simple to understand -- he wants his family back, and he wants to survive.  But Poe (Dupin) has no such clear motives.  Does he want to be a good person?  Does he live only for his drugs and alcohol?  Could such a man be really devoted to Mrs. Whitman, as he claims to be?  Is such a character necessary to create the kind of dark poetry and literature Poe produced?

Finally, ask yourself if this is a believable story -- either as history (that this sort of world existed once, with these sorts of people in it), or as emotionally true.  Do the characters do what you expect them to do?  When they surprise you, does their uncharacteristic action make sense to you later as you read on in the book? Have you ever known people to be like these characters, and, if not, why?  All of these can help you understand the book better, and help you make sense of some of the tragedy and cruelty in this novel.

In the book Angela's Ashes, why did Sister Rita forbid Frank to talk to Patricia?

The hospital has very strict rules, not all of which make a lot of sense. The Catholic Church is a primary influence in Ireland at this time, and part of the reason Sister Rita has forbidden Frank to talk to Patricia is because "there's to be no talking between two rooms especially when it's a boy and a girl." The thought behind this bann is that by forbidding boys and girls to fraternize, issues of sexual immorality might be avoided. The rule is rigidly enforced; it does not matter that the two individuals involved are just children, and that they are only talking to pass the time, sharing poetry.

Frankie has typhoid, and is in a room for typhoid patients, while Patricia has "diphtheria and something else," and is in a room for diphtheria patients. According to Seamus, a custodian who sympathizes with the two children's desire for communication,

"I'm not supposed to be bringing anything from a dipteria room to a typhoid room with all the germs flying around and hiding between the pages and if you ever catch dipteria on top of the typhoid they'll know and I'll lose my good job and be out on the street."

According to hospital rules, items cannot be exchanged between rooms housing patients with different diseases because of concerns that germs might be transmitted from one room to another. Neither, apparently, is talking between the rooms allowed. The nurse shouts at Frankie and Patricia, "no talking between rooms. Diptheria is never allowed to talk to typhoid and visa versa," while Sister Rita herself reinforces the decree, reminding the children of the "ban on all talk between typhoid and diphtheria" (Chapter 8).

What are two main conflicts in the story and are they solved?

One main conflict is between Granny and the white filmmakers, which represents the broader conflict of race. The filmmakers see Granny and her home and family as representative of rural, poor black families, and they are wanting to use them to make a broad political statement. They make condescending, stereotypical remarks to Granny, reflecting their prejudice toward blacks.

Another conflict represented by the conflict between Granny and the filmmakers is that of the poor against society. The filmmakers seem to be making a statement against giving food stamps to the poor. They reflect a society that doesn't understand the needs of the poor, and the filmmakers make assumptions about Granny and her family that reveal their uninformed attitudes.

How does Scout get Mr. Cunningham and the mob to leave?

When a group develops a "mob mentality", they become willing to do things they normally wouldn't do if they were in their right frames of mind. This is the mentality of the mob outside the jail. They have allowed their emotions to overtake their reason, and all they want is revenge against Tom Robinson, an innocent black man, whom they think has raped Mayella Ewell.

By talking to Mr. Cunningham, Scout reminds him that he is a father just as Atticus is. She calms Cunningham and the other men down by making them realize that all of them are residents of Maycomb. Scout's innocent remarks turnsthe mob back into a group of friends and neighbors who have always been treated kindly and respectfully by Atticus. As a mob, the men are nameless, but when Scout calls them by their names, the men become individuals.

Why is The Outsiders still read?

Everybody loves a good rumble!  The Outsiders features interesting characters:  beer-on-cereal-instead-of-milk kind of characters; as well as sympathetic characters:  kid-saves-kids-in-fire-and-dies kind of characters.  By the end of the novel readers even feel sorry for the real jerks in the novel, like Dallas. 

The novel also makes at least a slight attempt at presenting both sides of a difficult story.  The narrative doesn't spend much time on the Socs, but it does spend a little.

Finally, the novel is a simple and emotional read for younger readers.  It won't be read forever by older readers, but it will probably be around for a long time with middle schoolers.