In The Chrysalids, what information does Uncle Axel discover about David?

In Chapter 4 David is discovered by Uncle Axel chatting away to his other telepath friends. David tells his Uncle Axel his secret - that he is able to communicate in his mind with others like him - because Uncle Axel is his "best friend among the grown ups." This is a key moment for both David and the rest of his companions, as Uncle Axel makes him keep this secret and they all agree that this is a very wise move:

His gravity impressed me greatly. I had never known him to speak with so much intensity. It made me aware, when I gave my promise, that I was vowing something more important than I could understand.

Having shared his uncle's seriousness and gravity with the others later on that night, they are all relieved to make this joint promise. As David says, this promise also had the effect of forming them into a group because the promise signified the "formal admission of our responsibilities towards one another." From this point on in the novel, the group are engaged in a quest for self-preservation that involves them working together.

In "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," what does the conversation with Red Sammy contribute to the plot?complication or conviction

The conversation with Red Sammy adds a few things to the plot.  First of all, he is the first to introduce the title of the story "A Good Man is Hard to Find" when he and the grandmother are discussing the state of the world.  This scene also shows the grandmother's initial idea of what a 'good man' is - she declares that Red Sammy is a 'good man' because he let someone charge gas even though the description of Red clearly proves he is not a 'good man'.  It shows that the grandmother's ideas are empty, ignorant, and vain.  Also, this conversation again brings up the Misfit, who everyone pegs as the 'bad' guy, but the grandmother declares he is 'good' before the end.  The author demonstrates throughout the story that all humans are equally in need of grace because we are all very flawed.  And finally, the conversation again reveals the prejudices that the grandmother has.  Pointing out prejudice is one of the author's themes in this work.

What does Napoleon rename Animal Farm in his toast at the end of the novel?

I guess you could say he renames Animal Farm.  But actually what he does is just goes back to using its original name.  So I don't know if that counts as renaming it.  Anyway, what he starts to call it in this toast is the name it used to have -- Manor Farm.

When Napoleon does this, he shows that he has really come all the way to being just like Jones.  He walks on two feet, drinks alcohol, hangs out with people, and now he brings back the original name of the farm.

What are two things Brom does to get back at Icabod for trying to steal his girl?Legand of sleepy hollow

Brom Bones basically resorted to playing pranks on Ichabod in hopes of making him look foolish so he could win Katrina back.  Brom broke into the school house and messed everything up, he stopped up the school house chimney, and he trained his dog to croon and then introduced it to neighbors as Ichabod.

When do Romeo and Juliet find out that they are members of the enemy families? Who tells them?

Romeo and Juliet each find out who the other is at the end of Act I, Scene 5.  This is the scene where the Capulets hold a dance and Romeo and Juliet first see each other.

Both Romeo and Juliet learn of the other's identity from the nurse.  The nurse comes and tells Juliet her mother is looking for her.  Romeo asks the nurse who Juliet's mom is and the nurse tells him.

Then, after Romeo has gone, Juliet asks her who Romeo was.  The nurse tells her.  Both Romeo and Juliet are unhappy, but still in love with each other.

In The Giver, what four qualities does the Chief Elder say the Receiver of Memory must have?

On page 62 (in the Laurel-Leaf paperback edition), the Chief Elder is talking about why Jonas was skipped as assignments were being announced at the Ceremony of Twelve.  She has returned to Jonas, number 19, and he is on the stage as she says that he was not assigned, but selected.  She informs the audience that his job will be Receiver of Memory.  Jonas isn't sure yet what this means, but he listens as she lists the four important qualities the receiver must have and why the elders consider him to have them:

1. Intelligence.  She says that Jonas has been at the top of his class throughout his school days.

2. Integrity.  She cites the fact that when Jonas has made mistakes, he has presented himself promptly for chastisement.

3. Courage. She does not give a specific example, but says that the elders are certain that he is brave.

4. Wisdom.  She says that the elders are certain that Jonas will acquire wisdom as he goes through his training.

She also lists one final attribute that the Receiver must have - the Capacity to See Beyond.  She tells the audience that she cannot explain it to them.  However, she says that the current Receiver knows that Jonas has it.  

After the Chief Elder is done speaking, the audience begins to chant Jonas' name, showing their acceptance for his new role.  Jonas doesn't know what to expect yet, but he feels proud.

In Lord of the Flies, what is the importance of Simon's death and the discovery of the conch? And why did these things happen at the beach?

In Lord of the Flies, the importance of the conch is to symbolise democracy and fairness. In the first few chapters of the novel, the conch plays an evident part and is the reason leadership and rules are created, and are a reason the boys are able to be at peace with each other to start with. Yet, as their time on the island progresses, the conch becomes less valuable to the other islanders, except Piggy who carries the conch with pride, and Ralph, who feels it still has the ability and power it had initially, and keeps order. In the chapter "Castle Rock", Piggy holds the conch tight by his side, and tries to form another assembly. He clearly feels that despite the segregation of the children, the conch is still a symbol of authority. So, when Roger kills Piggy with the rock and shatters the conch, it shows the real breaking down of the group. The conch shatters, as does the rules and the capable knowledge of Piggy. 

Why do you think Montresor succeeds in leading Fortunato to the niche without raising his suspicions?"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe

In "The Cask of Amontillado," Poe's narrator is a very clever and devious man who speaks eloquently with an acute understanding of men's natures.  Montresor is patient, too.  Like a cat who stalks his prey, Montesor searches for Fortunato's vulnerability:  "He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine" and in the matter of old wines, he "was sincere."  Knowing that Fortunato is always interested in tasting a superior wine, Montesor seeks out his victim, feigning joy at finding him as he has wanted to "consult" with him about his large cask of Amontillado.

Then, lest he seem too eager, Montesor plays with Fortunato as a cat plays with a mouse:

'As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi.  If anyone has a critical turn, it is he.  He will tell me--'

'Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from sherry!'

Again Montesor pulls back, apologizing for asking him because the vaults are damp and he should not endanger Fortunato.  At this point, Montesor toys with the ego of Fortunato, again.  He says he will just ask Luchesi.

Drunkenly, Fortunato presses himself upon Montresor' s arm and is led away.  As they enter the catacombs, Montresor makes certain that Fortunato continues to drink.  He protests against going further, telling his victim that the niter is too bad, the damp is harmful. He says, "As for Luchesi--" and Fortunato angrily remarks, "He is an ignoramus" and goes on because he desires to be the one who judges the amontillado, not Luchesi.

As they pass into the damp vault, Montesor pretends that he will take Fortunato back; he distracts the man with the sign of the mason and phrases in latin.  Finally, Montesor has the unsuspecting Fortunato so drunk that the victim can easily be fettered to a wall.  It is too late.  Montesor has his victim where he wants him; he walls in Fortunato.  When the man shouts, no one hears.  Montesor takes pride in his work and considers it an act of justice.

Give an example of personification used in Act V, scene 2 of Hamlet.

"O proud Death, what feast is toward in thine eternal cell that thou so many princes at a shot so bloodily hast struck?" Lines 403-406.

Fortinbras speaks these words upon entering the hall where so many royalty have been slain. He personifies death by making it a proper noun and speaking directly to it as if it were a person itself. He gives it human qualities (i.e.Death feasts, it took princes, it is proud), which is essentially what personification is.

In Chapter 4, what definite stand does Ralph make?

In Chapter 4, Jack succeeds in killing a pig, but in order to do so, he draws away the boys who were supposed to be tending the signal fire, and the fire goes out. It couldn't have happened at a worse time because a ship was passing the island. When Ralph realizes that Jack has been responsible for their failure to be rescued, he is furious. During Jack's moment of triumph, Ralph must discipline Jack for his grave mistake. The excitement of killing the pig and the prospect of meat has taken most of the boys' attention away from being rescued. Ralph reprimands Jack soundly, and Jack takes out his anger on Piggy, punching him and breaking his glasses. Now Ralph also needs to discipline Jack for his violent behavior at a time when the other boys are admiring Jack's strength. He shouts at Jack, "That was a dirty trick!" Jack apologizes, and suddenly the boys perceive Jack to be the gracious one and "Ralph, obscurely, in the wrong."

Ralph reiterates his verbal reprimand, then commands Jack to "light the fire." Ralph is standing amid the ashes of the previous signal fire. He does not move, requiring the boys to build the fire about three yards away from where it had been. No one dares to ask him to move. This physical display of strength and power is actually equal to or more effective than Jack's displays. In this way, "Ralph asserted his chieftainship and could not have chosen a better way if he had thought on it for days." Even Jack was "powerless" against Ralph's display of authority.

Although Ralph wins this power struggle, it creates a permanent rift between him and Jack and creates a strong alliance between Ralph and Piggy.

Is Nick immoral in any way?I've tried finding actual text proof for this, but I just can't find any. Nick seems to hold a good set of values and...

I don't think Nick is immoral...perhaps confused and a bit star-struck, but not immoral.  In Chapter One, Nick reflects on his time with Gatsby, saying, "what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive and short-winded elations of men."  Although Nick may temporarily suffer from a lapse in judgment, I do think he has a strong moral compass to guide him.

Even when he is enchanted by Daisy, the effect is only temporary:  "For a moment the last sunshine fell with romantic affection upon her glowing face; her voice compelled me forward breathlessly as I listened--then the glow faded, each light deserting her like a lingering regret like children leaving a pleasant street at dark."

In the end, Nick reclaims his center.  Of Tom he says, "I couldn't forgive him or like him but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified.  It was all very careless and confused.  They were careless people, Tom and Daisy -- they smashed things up and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made...

Without a sense of morality, Nick would not have been able to reach any of these conclusions or see Gatsby and his crowd in a revealing light. 

Discuss the ways that O'Neill indicated what is real and what is fantasy in "Where the Cross Is Made"

O'Neill was a naturalist: a kind of realist who uses environmental forces to overwhelm human agency.

Qualities of a naturalist are :

• austere or harsh frankness of manner


• cosmic, biological, or environmental determinism

So, in Where the Cross is Made, we have several examples of these unreal qualities exaggerated for effect.  On a literal level, we have "the facts" vs. "story"; we have "treasure" vs. "map".

On other levels, we have Christ (son of God) vs. Christ (human).  We have earthly treasure vs. heavenly treasure.  There are the great paradoxes of faith.  What do we believe?  Our father's stories?  Or our heavenly father's stories?  Is Christ a man or the God or both?  Do we pursue God or earthly treasure?  How do we know what is real: spiritually?  It's enough to drive anyone crazy!

Look at the dialogue:

There are cases where facts—Well, here goes—the brass tacks. My father was a whaling captain as his father before him. The last trip he made was seven years ago. He expected to be gone two years. It was four before we saw him again. His ship had been wrecked in the Indian Ocean. He and six others managed to reach a small island on the fringe of the Archipelago—an island barren as hell, Doctor—after seven days in an open boat. The rest of the whaling crew never were heard from again—gone to the sharks. Of the six who reached the island with my father only three were alive when a fleet of Malay canoes picked them up, mad from thirst and starvation, the four of them. These four men finally reached Frisco. (with great emphasis) They were my father; Silas Horne, the mate; Cates, the bo'sun, and Jimmy Kanaka, a Hawaiian harpooner. Those four! (with a forced laugh) There are facts for you. It was all in the papers at the time—my father's story.

NAT—(flourishing it above his head with a shout of triumph) See! (He bends down and spreads it out in the light of the lantern.) The map of the island! Look! It isn't lost for me after all! There's still a chance—my chance! (with mad, solemn decision) When the house is sold I'll go—and I'll find it! Look! It's written here in his hand writing: "The treasure is buried where the cross is made."

How is Juliet's soliloquy(lines 33-44) an example of dramatic irony?

Dramatic irony is when something happens that only one or a few characters on stage and the audience know about...all other characters are in the dark.  In this soliloquy, Juliet is grieving that she is in love with Romeo, and he is a member of her family's arch enemy family.  She is speaking on her balcony about how she loves him and how if he were any other name (from any other family) it would all be OK.  She doesn't know it, but Romeo is in the bushes below listening to her every word. The audience knows this, too.  Viola!  Dramatic irony.

In "A Rose for Emily," what do you think the "long iron-grey hair" found on the pillow next to Homer's body symbolizes?

None of the other answers address this question. What does the hair symbolize? That it belongs to Emily is obvious because of the earlier reference to her hair, "Up until the day of her death at 74, it was still that vigorous iron-gray."

Anyone who has studied Faulkner at all knows that his obsession was the dying/decaying South. That's what this story is all about. The necrophilia is just candy for what Flannery O'Connor would describe as "the average reader." Yeah, there's the stuff about her daddy, but that's not the main point.

Emily, and her Dad, represent the old south. They really are allegorical characters. There's very little character development; she simply is the last remnant of the old south, the confederate gray. She is the old generation.

Yes, it is ironic that she, of all people ends up with a Yankee. But from her generation's point of view, the yankees really did come down and screw the south (to put it gently). The baser capitalisitic and opportunistic values of the north pollute the bed of the south for generations to come. This may be why Emily's relationship with Homer is so unnatural.

The final image of the book is a bed with a rotting corpse of a yankee--Homer--and a single iron-gray hair. The symbolism could not be more obvious.

What is one of the annoying things about Luce, according to Holden?

A lot of things about Luce annoy Holden, but in Chapter 19, Holden says specifically, "that was one of the annoying things about Luce...he'd make you describe the most personal stuff that happened to you, but if you started asking him questions about himself, he got sore...these intellectrual guys don't like to have an intellectual conversation with you unless they're running the whole thing".  It was annoying to Holden that Luce wanted to control the direction of every conversation.

What is the meaning of the title Heart of Darkness and how does it relate to the story?

There are a number of ways to consider the meaning of the title on its own or as it relates to the story.  You may or may not be aware that Africa was frequently referred to as the "Dark Continent," and Conrad was almost certainly aware of that. The darkness of the continent could refer to its unknown quality or the darkness of the people who resided there. (Remember that the book takes place during a period of colonialism and great racism, and "darkness" in this context might very well have racist overtones today.) 

Another interpretation of the title that you might want to consider is the darkness of men's souls, which could refer to their lack of morality, the darkness of insanity, or the cruelty of colonialism. Remember also that this is a trip upriver, and the source of a river might be considered its "heart," hence the destination might be the source or heart of the darkness of Africa or the men who colonized it. 

Darkness might refer to the darkness of the insanity that the narrator finds at his destination, the darkness of the treatment that he observes on his way upriver, or the despair of the Africans who are so horribly mistreated. When you consider the plot of the entire book, there is little that could not be reasonably called dark. 

What do you think of Annes reaction to imprisonment in the annexe, loss of personal freedom/rights?even though she grew and adapted to hiding, she...

Anne would not have survived for long on the outside of the Annex. Since she was so isolated in her new surroundings and being the age she was, very much of her universe was self-centered. Many of her entries have to do with her feelings in regard to the adults around her and their constant nagging and nitpicking (in her eyes). A person at this stage in their life needs much social interaction, especially with their peers. Anne didn't really have any with those peers unless you consider Peter, whose influence later became of overwhelming importance to Anne. She didn't get along well with Margot, at least on a consistent basis. So, she grew into herself as expressed in her diary. As she became older, the concerns for and of others became more important. Her longing for the outside is easily understood. Looking at the same four walls and the same old faces day in and day out drove her to the attic where she could peek outside. Anne became enamored with nature and imagining what was going on with the people she saw on the streets. With the restrictions on Jews and the constant raids on Jewish places, Anne and her family would not have survived as long as they did. Without the proper credentials, the whole group would have been apprehended and imprisoned much earlier. The end results, unfortunately, would be the same. Was life in hiding worthwhile? Undoubtedly it had the impact of Anne experiencing her first love and learning to understand her parents. Sadly, it was for naught but a tragic reading for students. Thanks to Mr. Frank surviving and developing the Anne Frank Foundation, some good might come of Anne's tragically short life.

Was Lenny's death inevitable?

I feel that Lenny's death was inevitable.  Throughout the many years George and Lenny traveled together in search of work, they were never able to find stability because of Lenny's mental disability, which caused him to have poor judgement and violent tendencies.  They had a shared dream of owning their own peace of land, but both were handicapped from fulfilling this dream:  Lennie because of his disability and the issues it causes and George because he felt a sense of loyalty and responsibility toward Lennie, so he couldn't make the money or have the stability needed to fulfill this dream. 

George certainly killed Lennie because it was the only humane thing in light of the alternative bloody murder which would have ensued.  However, George had to kill Lennie because he was now out of control and murdering people. Even though it was unintentional, the results were the same.  Also, by murdering Lennie, he was not only keeping the world safer, but he was indirectly giving himself a new beginning to possibly live a more normal, stable life.  However, I do feel that if Lennie hadn't killed someone, he would have never harmed Lennie to improve his chances of fulfilling a dream.

Describe three ways in which technology affected WW I.

World War I was not particularly notable for use of technology.

Perhaps the greatest technological development which had major impact on World War I was the development and use of Submarines in the form of U-Boats. This technology made ships of all kinds highly vulnerable to enemy attack.

Another major technological development having impact on World War I was the increased use of oil operated equipments.

Use of Aeroplanes in the war was also a new development during World War I. Because of this there were considerable developments in aviation technology. However the net impact of airborne warfare during world War I was limited.

The trench warfare, which is a very prominent feature of World War I. was not really much of a technological innovation. Besides, it proved to be quite ineffective even as a strategy for warfare. It resulted in stalemate rather than decisive victory for any one side.

Similarly use of poison gas or the measures taken for protection from it do not represent much of technological advances.

Why the lists in The Things They Carried?

The many repetitions about the weights, the need to carry things, and Lavender’s death build up a pattern of realism in the story. This sometimes overwhelming detail literally transfers the experience of the men directly to readers, who cannot weigh the things but who nevertheless feel the heaviness of the burdens and also the threat of death that the men face each minute of e very day. The listing of items reveals the theme that emotional baggage is much heavier and places a greater weight on a person that mere physical property. This is central to the story.

Are the issues in the novel, such as education and corruption, dated, or are they still relevant today?

So much of literature has relevancy to today's world, no matter what time period it was written in.  In the case of this novel, the issue of corruption is timeless.  The idea here is that power corrupts, and the power in the novel is wrapped up in the idea of Capitalism and wealth.  Because Capitalism gives greedy characters an opportunity to earn at the expense of others, these characters (Kimeria, Chui, and Mzigo) exploit others for their cause.  The same thing happens today.  Sweatshops still exist, and the Enron scandal is just one example of corporate corruption. 

In terms of education, the author portrays the conflicts and paradoxes that are currently plaguing the education system.  The conflict here revolves around content - should students be taught facts, or taught how to think?  What is the right balance between them?  How much should culture influence what is being taught?  Multi-cultural education and changes to standardized tests are reactions to these questions. 

What literary devices are used in "My Sister's Keeper"? What is the theme?

The key literary device in 'My Sister's Keeper' is the use of multiple narrators. Although the story is largely centered around Anna's decision not to consent to the kidney transplant which will save her older sister's life, we are also given the first person perspectives of the rest of the characters involved: Kate, Anna's sister; Jesse, their older brother; their parents Sara and Brian and Kate's lawyer, Campbell Alexander. Through these individual accounts we see that each character has a fierce conviction of their own opinion and what is right in the situation they are all embroiled in. 

This device also helps to exemplify the theme of people's love for others and the myriad of ways that it can be shown.

What does Lady Macbeth do as Macbeth kills King Duncan?act II scene 2

She talks to herself (and us). She jumps at the sound of owls and she talks about how well she's prepared the scene: she's drugged the guards and laid out the daggers nice and neatly for Macbeth, and there's a suggestion in this speech that she expects Macbeth to bungle it. Of the daggers, she says "he could not miss them," and of the act, she says she fears "the attempt and not the deed confound [them]," meaning she thinks they may be caught in the act.

The noise that startles her--the owl (fatal bellman) is ironic because the cry of the owl is supposed to signify an impending death. Given that she has planned the death of Duncan, her reference to being frightened by the owl is particularly powerful--it is as if she is already afraid of the nature of the act (although it takes her much longer to admit it). She actually reveals quite a bit of her weaknesses here: jumping at the sounds of night creatures, expecting things to go wrong, and not being able to actually stick the knife into Duncan because of her sentimental moment, all show that she is more of a plotter and a planner than a doer. Even as Macbeth acts, she lurks about thinking, and worrying about possible complications and consequences. 

Describe Romeo's behavior in Act I and how it changes in later acts.

In Act 1, Romeo is lonely and depressed. He is deeply infatuated with a girl who essentially shuts him down. However hopeless it seems, though, he swears he will never love another.

The rest of the play is all about his love for the other, new girl, Juliet, whose prime difference from the fair Rosalind is that she returns his affection and his advances.

While some might suggest that Romeo matures with his love of Juliet, I think his character does not change. The circumstances do, but he remains as intense and impulsive as he was at the beginning of the play.

What is the importance that setting plays in the development of the plot in What We Talk About When We Talk About Love?

The setting is the McGinnis' kitchen table in their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but all four of the characters are "from somewhere else." This fact is important because it shows that it really doesn't matter where these four people are from or where this story is set. It's what the two couples represent--white, working-class America--that is important. Some have called this "Hopelessville, USA" because the characters have no hope of improving their lives. The pessimistic tone grows worse as the evening wears on, and the couples get drunker. The four people "talk" but they don't "communicate". It's only when they get drunker that their true feelings come out, and their feelings reflect the hopelessness of their lives. Once the alcohol is gone, so is the conversation between them, and both couples silently sit at the end, feeling the lack of hope in their futures.

How does Holmes solve his mystery?

Most Sherlock Holmes stories are solved with the same formula.  Holmes and Watson are usually sought out by someone in distress who tells them of their problem.  Then the duo set out to investigate.  In this story, Helen Stoner seeks out Holmes and he and Watson soon arrive to the estate to investigate the death of her sister two years earlier.  The only thing to go on is that the sister said the words, "...the speckled band..." right before she died.  So what was the speckled band?

At the estate Holmes notices a few details, as usual he tends to see what most others have overlooked.  Firstly, he remarks that Helen is being forced to move into the room where her sister died indicating to Holmes that there must be something special about this room and that the murderer might be ready to strike again.  Therefore Holmes investigates the room and find several odd things. For one the bed is nailed down.  By assessing the peculiarities of the room, he is able to put together a plausible course of action.  

In the end, Holmes catches the step-father in the act.  He has used a bell cord and the ventilation system which connected his room with the step daughter's to let down a poisonous snake which was intended to bite her in her sleep. The snake itself is the 'speckled band' to which Helen's sister referred to just before she died. 

What role should America’s ideals play in its national security policy? Include historical, current, and hypothetical cases in the analysis

The previous answer pegs the central dispute.  Our ideals involve fairness, open and honest international communication, and the idea that consensus can be reached peacefully.  On the other hand, war is unfair, and success in war is based on deception more than anything else.  I believe Washington and the founding fathers were right in wanting America to lead the way into an era of open and plain-spoken diplomacy, and that alone could go a long way toward solving many of the world's problems.  But let's not forget that most countries have always viewed diplomacy as war in disguise, and therefore full of deception.  Clausewitz tells us war is politics by force, and let's realize that politics is economics primarily.  It's not an accident that Western nations are led by the nose by corporate interests, nor that the "terrorist" element in the current world war crisis is led by rich people also.  Ousama bin Laden was a financier, whose family is very wealthy, and he's not the only one.  All governments, and non-governmental political movements, have always been led by economic motives.  The rank and file may believe the ideals, but the leaders are in it for money and/or power.

America's ideals are important, otherwise we have nothing more to offer the world than the naked lust for power empires have always pursued.  The most important point is for us not to forget the reason our country was founded, to give the world an example of a nation led by the people as an informed and empowered electorate.  Unfortunately, the lack of real information in our news media and the complacency of the average citizen is a problem.  The tendency is to let "the government" handle things, and what is the government but those we elect to do our corporate business?  That business has become economic business, not the business of running the country for the benefit of the citizens per se.

But, and here is the real practical problem, intelligence gathering and war must be conducted by deceit or they will fail.  In WW II Pres. Roosevelt spent years helping the British and Canadian intelligence services before the US was in the war.  The entire Manhattan Project was a secret that began with the "Tube Alloys" project in Britain in the 1930s, and was built on weapons research which had gone on in secret since before the First World War.  We must do that which is necessary, but at the same time not exceed what must be done.  In the Second World War we had to let bombing raids kill thousands rather than let our enemy know we had broken their codes.  Today, we may have to let unpleasant things happen rather than resort to torture or indiscriminate killings of people in the vicinity of legitimate targets, but that is the price we pay no less than the assassination of a real target, although that is murder, too.

Describe Jess's relationship with the members of his family.

Jessie is the middle child and the only boy in his family, "smashed between four sisters...the older two had despised (him) ever since (he) stopped letting them dress (him) up and wheel (him) around in their rusty old doll carriage, and the littlest one cried if you looked at her cross-eyed".  He is tormented by Brenda and Ellie, who are spoiled adolescents, and ends up picking up the slack for the work they won't do, and Joyce Ann, the baby, just annoys him.  He is closest to May Belle, who, "going on seven...worshipped him" (Chapter 1).

Jessie's parents, exhausted and preoccupied with financial worries, don't have much time for him.  His mother heaps the bulk of responsibility for chores onto his shoulders, and his father is distant.  Jessie longs for a better relationship with him, wishing he were little like Joyce Ann and May Belle so his father would show affection to him - "it seemed...that he had been thought too big for that since the day he was born" (Chapter 2) .  When Jessie is in desperate need after Leslie's death, however, his parents, especially his father, are there for him.

What is power politics in "King Lear"? Is Shakespeare a post colonial?

The second part of the question is highly intriguing.  One of the strongest and, perhaps, underrated aspects of Shakespeare's work is its articulation of a new and modern world order where the elements that used to define it have disappeared.  In this setting, modern consciousness bears much in way of similarity of Lear in the storm, clothes ragged, unclear of where to go and how to proceed.  The realpolitik nature of Lear's children towards him, dissolving the bonds once convenience has been met, as well as the neglect of "the best" who end up "lacking all conviction" helps to solidify the essence of Shakespeare's statement that can be applied to post- Colonial reality,  where freedom had to be conceived in a different light than was previously configured.

How does Gavroche and Marius's relationship compare to that of Pontmercy and Thenardier?

In both cases, the rich benefactor (Marius and Pontmercy) have chosen to look out for and assist their poorer brethern (Gavroche and Thenardier). 

The difference is that Pontmercy does not reveal himself to Thenardier, and gives mostly financial support.  Marius and Gavroche have a closer relationship, and Marius is a mentor to the boy as well as a financial supporter.

What precisely, is the "sin" of which Amir is guilty? What are the various consequences of his belief that he has committed an unforgivable sin?

To be more precise, Amir committed several terrible acts against his servant "friend," Hassan, in Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner. It is true that Amir never fully embraced Hassan as an equal or as a friend or as a member of the household. These are additional guilts with which Amir has had to live. But the two specific acts for which Amir feels most guilty concern (1) Hassan's rape at the hands of Assef; and (2) Amir's planting of money and a watch in Hassan's room and then claiming that they have been stolen.

When Amir follows Hassan as he chases down a kite, Assef and his mates corner Hassan. Amir watches from a distance as the boys hold Hassan down while Assef rapes him. Amir could have come to Hassan's aid, but his timidity causes him to stay silent. When he confronts Hassan later, he pretends to know nothing of the rape, and Hassan never admits to it.

Later, after Baba has paid for an operation to correct Hassan's hairlip, Amir's jealousy gets the best of him. He takes his watch and money (birthday presents) and plants them in Hassan's room. He then tells Baba that they have been stolen. When they turn up in Hassan's room, Hassan admits to stealing them. Baba forgives him, but Hassan and his father, Ali, leave the home in disgrace. Amir can never forgive himself for these two acts.

What does the narrator say directly about Tom's character?

There are probably a number of statements Nick makes about Tom, but the most meaningful to me is in the Chapter Nine, where Nick finally reaches an epiphany about Tom, and Daisy as well.  He says:

"I couldn't forgive him or like him but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified.  It was all very careless and confused.  They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made...

I shook hands with him; it seemed silly not to, for I felt suddenly as though I were talking to a child."

Describe how antibiotics may be manufactured on a large scale.

Antibiotics are organic chemical substances used as medicines. Antibiotics cure people by inhibiting growth of and killing harmful microorganism causing illness.

Antibiotics are manufactured on large scale by fermentation process in which large amount of antibiotic producing organisms are grown. During fermentation the organisms produce the antibiotics, Which are then isolated and separated for use as drug.

Before fermentation begins the culture for the antibiotics is taken from previously isolated antibiotics kept in cold storage, and is cultured in laboratory, and mixed with food and other nutrients in a liquid suspension in a flask. This is then used for seeding in seed tanks.

The the seed tanks contain fermentation broth suited for providing all the nutrients for the growth of antibiotics and are maintain at ideal condition for growth of culture.

It takes about 24 to 48 hours to complete the process of seeding, After this the material in seeding tanks is transferred to primary fermentation tanks.

The fermentation tanks are similar to seed tanks but much larger, and contain similar nutrients. It takes about 3 to five days to produce optimum amount of antibiotics material in the fermentation tanks. After this the [process of isolating the antibiotic begins.

Depending on the nature of antibiotics and its property such as solubility in water other solvents o, different methods of isolating the antibiotic from rest of the material in the fermentation tank is used. The end product of this isolation process is a powder like form of concentrated antibiotic. However this material needs to be purified further.

The base antibiotic powder is then purified and refined further to yield different grades and types of antibiotics.

The bulk quantities of antibiotics thus obtained are converted into suitable forms like pills, gelatin capsules, syringes and intravenous bags, suitable for administering to patients. These products are then suitably packed and dispatched for selling and use.

Explain what Atticus means by telling Jem not to let his discovery "inspire" him to go "further glory" in To Kill a Mockingbird?In Chapter 8 when...

When Atticus tells Jem this, it is right after the fire.  Jem has been shocked by seeing Mr. Nathan Radley helping at the fire and has been even more shocked by the idea that it was Boo who put the blanket on him.

Up until now, Jem has imagined Boo as some sort of monster.  He has been doing all of these things at the Radley house to show how brave he is to be able to mess with the monster.  This is what Atticus means -- he means that Jem should not try to do more and more stuff at the Radleys'.

Jem is likely to listen now because he has seen that Atticus was right about Boo.  If Boo isn't a monster, and if Atticus is right, it makes sense to listen to Atticus and quit messing with the Radleys' home.

Can you explain and analyze each stanza in Sonnet 130?

Shakespeare is a critic of his character and also of himself  in his writings .Sonnet -130 belongs to the series of the Dark -Lady,-the poet's mistress .The poet speaks the white-truth that , he finds no reason to put coating on his lady like the Italian and his contemporary sonneteers , who flatter their ladies with false adjective , and adverbs .

The poet begins his sonnet with conventional epithets ,as ,coral-colored-lip, snow-white-breast ,golden-wire-hair , rosy -cheek, etc , but implies them in an unconventional -way .For his mistress lacks all those natural -graces .Again he is not ready to accept the lady as an attribute of a goddess .

The poet unlocks the truth of he-man and she woman relationship .He finds life-force and vitality in the lady , and that is the miracle she does .

In the book Frankenstein, what is the monster supposed to represent?

The monster, the result of successful scientific experiment, represents the evils of science.  Shelley was writing in time when science was taking new leaps and bounds, concerning many people who felt that nature was being taken for granted, and who sensed that the power science was giving humans was actually dangerous.  In this novel, she has the protagonist create the monster to demonstrate that: 1) Science should not take responsibility for tasks that are a part of nature (such as creation), because 2) Nature can not be controlled.  

Victor Frankenstein creates his monster, abandons him, and assumes all is done.  But he can not control what he has created.  The monster thinks and feels and takes action.  He, in fact, ends up controlling Victor's life.  This is a strong message that if humans try to use science to control nature, it will actually be the science who controls the human.

Which hurricane caused the GREATEST damage--Hurricane Mitch or Hurricane Katrina?This is a geographical question.

Hurricane Katrina was one of the five deadliest hurricanes to ever hit the United States and probably the costliest. Its winds were recorded at a maximum of 175 miles per hour, but the damage it caused is virtually indeterminable. More than 2500 people were either killed or remain missing following the August 2005 storm. Estimated losses totaled more than $80 billion. Katrina caused the New Orleans levees to break, flooding much of the city.

Hurricane Mitch was the most powerful storm of 1998 with winds recorded up to 180 miles per hour. The 180 mph winds are among the ten highest on record for Atlantic hurricanes. Mitch caused an estimated 11,000 to 18,000 fatalities with a monetary damage of $6.2 billion. The hurricane caused the most damage and loss of life in the Central American countries of Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras.

So, although Katrina caused greater monetary damage, Mitch was slightly stronger and killed far more people.

Miss Emily is black person... does it want to indicate anything or have especial connotation?

I agree with the previous editor.  Miss Emily's father was a Captain in the confederate.  She has had the high regard of her town's people for many years.  Had she been black her life during the time of her youth would have been very different. 

Now if Miss Emily were a black woman it would stand to reason that the townspeople would have been very suspicious of her.  They would not have gone to her home to remove her dead father.  They would have called upon the black community.  When she went to purchase the poison they would sent someone to investigate.  Unfortunately, the south was a very different place for black people.

"Example of a black woman was treated in the story "—he who fathered the edict that no Negro woman should appear on the streets without an apron."

Even Homer would not have given Miss Emily the time of day had she been black because this is how he sopke of black people in the story.

"The little boys would follow in groups to hear him cuss the niggers, and the niggers singing in time to the rise and fall of picks."

Tall TaleMy little sister, who is in the 4th grade, was assigned to write a tall tale. I have no idea on how to get her started. Everytime I give...

A tall tale is a story that has unbelievable elements and exaggerations that may be based on actual events. One of the oldest tall tales is the "fish story", the one that got away. The fisherman exaggerates the size of the fish, such as, "That fish was so big, I couldn't have fit it on the boat!" Some other examples of American tall tales are Johnny Appleseed and Pecos Bill.

This is your sister's opportunity to embellish the truth. Children write best when they write about a subject they are familiar with. What is she interested in? Does she have pets, favorite dolls, or stuffed animals? She could choose one of them and write a tall tale about it. What about her best friend? She could write a story about an adventure they have together. It sounds like the two of you are pretty close, so maybe she wants to write about a trip that the two of you take to a magical land. Once she decides the subject of her tall tale, tell her to let her imagination go wild.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

To what extent were the grim realities of depression reflected in popular culture?To what degree were they absent?

Popular culture is reflected in the literature, art, musical lyrics, and even fashion of a given society. The popular culture of the depression in the U.S. was a strange mix between the realities and the escapist mentalities of the society. For example, John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath and the musical lyrics of E.Y. Harburg's Brother Can You Spare a Dime? describe the harsh grim realities about American life during the depression. However, there was another aspect to popular culture during the depression, one that chose to ignore those grim realities by taking people to another time, place, and even reality. This literature, music, movie,and music brought people a few hours of peace from their anguished lives. For example, films such as The Wizard of Oz brought the audience to a fantasy place, Gone With the Wind, took people back to days gone by, and Gold Diggers 1933 offered people ballgowns and diamonds. Along with these films were the lyrics of Lew Brown/Ray Henderson's Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries and Al Dubin/ Harry Warren's We're In the Money. Popular culture is an extremely important source for anyone studying history. It offers the historian more than the facts, it offers the dynamics of experience.

(FYI- The film industry built movie theatres that were referred to as movie palaces. To walk inside one of these theatres during the depression would have definitely transcended a person's sense of reality. Loew's Theatres built five of the palaces, unfortunately I believe only two survive. The one in N.Y.C. opened in 1930 it is now called The United Palace Theatre. The current owners have retained and maintained all of its original grandeur. I've included a site below if you are interested in looking at the interior.

Meaning of quote?Where shall a man find sweetness to surpass his own home and his parents? In far lands he shall not, though he find a house of gold

Odysseus' remark, which he makes on the island of Calypso, is perhaps one of the driving forces in his journey. Despite all of the exciting adventures he has and people (not to mention, goddesses) he meets, Odysseus yearns to return to Ithaca, his home. Nowhere else will he find happiness but at home where he can be reunited with his family, including his father, the only parent still surviving. Odysseus could have chosen to remain at any number of places where he was treated lavishly, but he continues his quest for home, even daring to visit the Land of the Dead to ask Tiresias for directions. He makes this comment shortly before he is allowed to leave Ogygia; soon after the Phaeacians will take him back to Ithaca. Until he is home again, Odysseus will not be satisfied.

His words remind readers of The Odyssey of the importance of home and family. 

In The Canterbury Tales, what symbolism is found in The Clerk's Tale?

The Clerk's tale is generally understood as a response to the Wife of Bath's Prologue where she characterizes herself as a woman of the world whose wisdom about marriage derives from her experience. She has no patience and does not enjoy men who exert power over her.  The clerk gives a different version of marriage, however, in his tale about Griselda and Walter. The story is an allegory of perfect obedience, suggesting in microcosm the macrocosm of larger relationships. That is, just as Griselda gives up everything, including her children, to show her perfect humility and obedience to Walter, so humans must show perfect humility and obedience to God and the Church.  Walter can be understood as a symbol of patriarchy, who, though stern, in the long run proves kind and good in that he rewards Griselda for submitting to him. The story can also be understood as allegorical in relation to the story of Job, where God tests Jobs patience repeatedly. Job obeys (though is occasionally disgruntled), but poor Griselda doesn't even protest. She is a lamb at the slaughter. To the extent that allegory is an extended metaphor, where everything represents something else, we can understand the story as symbolizing the patience and obedience women owe to men and all people owe to God and the Church.

How does the statement of cash flows contribute to the question, "How well am I doing?"

Cash flow statement shows the details of cash of funds flowing in and out of a company. This statement is used more for determining the expected or planned availability and requirement of cash or funds in future rather than the past situation. Thus in general cash flow statement is not used for assessing the current performance of a firm. However, a projected cash flow statement can provide some insights into current performance of a firm.

To understand how a cash flow statement can reflect the performance of a firm, the first thing we need to understand that, availability of cash or liquid funds with a company does not necessarily reflect the assets or profits of the company. A company doing booming business and therefor making very high book profits may face a situation of cash shortage because of high accounts receivables and inventories. Similarly, a company may have lot of cash during business slump. The cash flow statement, therefor, only reflects company's ability to meet all its commitment of cash or funds during the projected cash flow statement period. It also indicates the extent to which a company is making use of its surplus cash or funds.

A company is requires cash for many of its business activities and other obligations such as repayment of loans taken. If a company is not able to arrange for cash from internal or other resources for this, the company can fail to achieve its potential performance targets in spite of other ingredients of success such as opportunity, quality, operating efficiency, and marketing efficiency being present. A projected cash flow statement enables a company to assess the its capabilities to meet future commitment of funds. A cash flow statement also enables a company to identify the future availability of surplus cash, and take timely action to utilize it in appropriate ways.

Is Walter Mitty a hero and, if so, why?

Walter Mitty spends most of his adult life living through his daydreams.  He feels trapped in his world, by his job that he doesn't like and by his wife that is characterized as demanding.  In those dreams, Mitty is the stereotypical hero, smart, Witty and in control.  He saves every situation.  However, in his life, he is unwilling to express how he feels and is often failing at his responsibilities because he is so lost in his dreams.  In this sense, he is not a hero, but a sad and unfulfilled man.

Others may argue that Mitty's daydreams are his way of being content with the day to day boredom and monotony of daily life, the things we all have to "do" in order to fulfill our roles in our world.  In this case, Mitty is a hero, because he has found a way to have happiness and remain a husband and employee at the same time. 

Why did Thomas Hardy write Tess of the d'Urbervilles? What was his purpose?

It is difficult to measure the intention of a novelist when writing a piece of literature, for their might be ostensible and subconscious motives involved.  These are often referred to as the text and the subtext. Although at first publishers refused the novel, when it was published it attracted criticism for its sympathetic portrayal of a "fallen woman." Its subtitle, A Pure Woman: Faithfully Presented, was intended to raise the eyebrows of the Victorian middle classes. However, recent criticism of this and similar novels by Hardy suggest that while it might have been intended to shock its audience, the subtext of the novel was that women who break the rules must pay for their mistakes, as Tess does.  This novel was part of the “new woman” genre of the late 1800s, which typically shows a woman who crosses boundaries of what is proper for a woman and ends up, unfortunately, dead.

In The Giver, what did Jonas give to Gabriel and why did he give it to him?

When Gabe comes to their house, Jonas realizes he is there to learn how to sleep through the night.  If he doesn't, Jonas is told, he'll be released.  Jonas sees something different about Gabe and wonders if Gabe can receive memories...and if Jonas can give them. So he asks his parents if Gabe can sleep in his room, and they agree.  

He experiments with giving Gabe pleasant memories to help him sleep, and it works. He later gives him memories to keep him quiet as they are escaping and again to keep him warm as they are in the snowstorm.

How do I tell the difference between a malapropism and a pun in Twelfth Night?I understand what they are. A pun is intentional for laughs, and a...

For most literary works, but especially in Twelfth Night, you have to consider the source of the quote to determine whether the speaker intends to use word play (a pun) or unintentionally messes up his or her language (a malapropism).  For the delivery of puns, Shakespeare normally uses his witty, satirical characters such as Feste.  Even though Feste and other jesters (clowns) are often referred to as "fools" inRenaissance works, for Shakespeare, they speak the truth in a witty manner.  In Twelfth Night, Feste remains objective and separated from all of the mixed-up romances and incorporates puns not only to please Olivia but also to speak the truth cleverly.  Orsino enjoys word play also; so he is another character who introduces many puns throughout the play.

In contrast, characters who are guilty of malapropisms are simpletons--not necessarily in social class, but in their logic.  In Twelfth Night, Sir Toby Belch uses several malapropisms, and it is clear that he is not witty or sober enough to think of puns. Often someone's use of a malapropism illustrates his desire to appear more intelligent than he really is.

So, in general, analyze a character's nature--clever or simple--and you will be able to determine whether he or she intentionally uses word play.

How does the religious fundamentalism of the 1920s result in confusion, and conflict?rural vs. urban

I am not sure that it resulted in confusion.  Also, I think that it is a little harsh to blame the fundamentalism for the conflict.  You could just as much blame the city people...

Anyway, during the 1920s, American society was changing in a huge way.  There were way more people in cities than before and their culture was changing.  There were all sorts of new things to do for fun.  There were flappers.

All of this looked to rural traditional people like it was an assault on American values.  Historians say that this is why religious fundamentalism rose -- it was a reaction to these new ways.  The rural people reacted by going back to the old ways.