What are the advantages and disadvantages of telling the story of Stalinism as a fairy tale?can you give me atleast 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages

This is an interesting question.  One advantage might be by simplifying a rather complex period in history and making it appeal to a more general audience by presenting it in fairy tale form.

A disadvantage that I can see would be that you run the danger of simplifying the story.  In essence what may be an advantage may also be a disadvantage.

 Another advantage would be that by allegorizing the characters, you make them more memorable in the reader's mind.  

A disadvantage to this approach would be that you it may not be apparent to the reader who the characters are to represent if they are not history scholars.

A final advantage might be that as a fictionalized tale, the 'warnings' of a totalitarian regime might be more heeded as the reader has become emotionally involved with the characters and has felt empathy for them.

A final disadvantage might be that many readers may miss the connection between Stalin and the events on Animal Farm. If a teacher were not there to tell them that this is based loosely on Stalin's reign, then many students will not know or understand Stalinism.  You could not rely on Animal Farm alone to teach history. 

How might Zaroff find men to hunt?

Zaroff says

"I hunt the scum of the earth sailors from tramp ships—Lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels—a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them.''

From this statement, I would infer that he makes periodic trips to the docks of large ports and hires sailors which he then brings back to his island and hunts.  The story was written in the 1920's and Zaroff has many of the poor stereotypes of immigrants common in America at the time.  He would think nothing of enticing these "scum" sailors to his island on false premises for his hunting pleasure.

Do you believe that our national security has become weakened due to the wars being carried out overseas?

I believe the question relates to wars being carried out by USA.

It is not possible to assess with certainty the effect of this kinds of war by USA or by any other country, where the the objective of the war is not to protect the country from some direct and immediate security or other threats.

This assessment is particularly difficult before the war is taken up, though these may become clearer as the war progresses. This is because the course and consequences of such actions do not always follow the predicted path, and because the objectives sought to be achieved are direct rather than indirect.

However, one thing is clear that a country initially takes up such action only to protect its interest and to strengthen its position. In the end whether its objectives are achieved or not is quite another matter.

Considering all these factors into consideration, It appears to me that overseas actions of USA in countries like Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq may not have been fully realized, but most certainly these have not weakened the country. It appears to me that these wars have actually helped to established the position of USA as the undisputed top military power in the world. And most certainly these wars have not affected adversely the national security.

Discuss each of the following words from "The Giver," indicating the change that has taken place in the vocabulary.release, animals, nurturer,...

"Release" to us is letting go, or setting something free. The society called euthanasia the Release, making it sound like the final step of life, rather than the forced executions of the elderly, the weak infants, and people who break the rules.

People, especially children, who act wild and uncontrolled are referred to as "animals," even though no one has memories of what actual animals are. It has become a negative word, referring to those who cannot keep control over themselves.

The idea of a "nurturer" is especially abhorrent, because a nurturer is supposed to be someone who gives care, someone who raises children and helps to teach them. In the society, a nurturer does those things, but also kills the babies who are not thriving adequately, or kills the weaker of a set of twins.

A stirring is an excitement in feelings to us. To the society, "Stirrings" were the beginning of puberty, of sexual awareness, and was something one took a pill to overcome.

In our lives we can't imagine a "replacement child" if a child dies. In the society, that is exactly what happens - a new child is given, with the same name as the dead child, to erase painful memory.

"Elsewhere" to the society is evil, a place where one is never allowed to go. To us, it's just somewhere that we're not at the time.

Check the link below! Good luck!

What do you think is the main conflict in the novel? Why?

I'll add a slightly different slant and suggest that the central conflict in The Great Gatsby is illusion vs. reality. 

The novel is first and foremost about Gatsby.  It's named for him and it is about him.  When Nick concludes the novel he does so by referring to the subject of recapturing the past, which is what Gatsby tries to do the entire narrative.  That is what the work is about.  I suggest that everything else is secondary. 

The book is above all else a love story.  Gatsby's love for Daisy is what makes it worth reading, the same as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is primarily a love story and that's why it's still popular.  The general population doesn't watch Romeo and Juliet to see what it has to reveal about feuding.  Numerous other issues exist in that tragedy, too, but it is above all else a love story.  Gatsby's story is the same.

Gatsby's view of his relationship, however, is an illusion.  His love for Daisy is everything he thinks it is, but Daisy's love for him is not.  He spends five years of his life chasing an illusion, and he refuses to give up on it even when all rational thought and all evidence suggests that his illusion is false:  of course he does, he's in love.  Society cannot stop Gatsby, neither can money.  Gatsby has money.  If that's all there was to it then Daisy would have gone with him.  Again, Gatsby has money--Daisy wouldn't have to give up a thing as far as money is concerned.  Which man has the nicer shirts?  Gatsby, of course. 

Daisy does not go with Gatsby because the illusion in Gatsby's mind is false.  She refuses to say that she never loved Tom.  She refuses to say that she's been pining for Gatsby all these years.  He asks too much, she tells him. 

The only thing that can stop Gatsby is reality.  Reality trumps illusion in The Great Gatsby. 

What is hate crime?description

Hate crime refers to crimes motivated by intolerance toward certain groups in society. These types of crimes have very high potential of fragmenting the society, and destabilizing it by  creating a cycle of violence and retaliation between groups. Hate crimes are rooted in the prejudices or biases that people have about people from other groups and for this reason hate crimes are also called bias crimes.

Hate crime is based on hate or other negative feelings like resentment and jealousy between different social grouping criteria such as  such as ethnic, religious, national regional colour, language and caste. It could even be based on gender or profession.

The nature of offences committed could be very serious ones like killing, arson and looting. But it also include offences like intimidation and threat. Hate crimes are committed not with the intent of hurting the particular victim, but to hurt and intimidated the entire group to which the victim belongs.

The website referred below gives a detailed paper on hate crime titled Hate Crime Laws: A Practical Guide, Published by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

Why does Napoleon think he's dying the morning after he drinks the whiskey in Animal Farm?

He has a hang-over. Being an animal he's never had the experience of drinking alcohol and experiencing the sensations it provides at the various degrees of consumption. He doesn't understand right away what is going on, but later in the afternoon he's feeling surprisingly better. This is also indicative of a hang-over... the morning is the worst part.

The sickness he felt was probably unlike anything he had felt previously and had nothing to compare it with, thus, he thought he was dying.

Solve the equation log 3(x-8)=2.

Before solving the equation, which is a logarithmical equation, we have to find out the restrictive domain for the x values.

For this reason, we have to impose the condition that x-8>0.

x>8, that means that x belongs to the interval (8, +inf).

Now, we can solve the equation:

x-8=3^2

x-8=9

x=9+8

x=17

The solution is acceptable because is belonging to the interval of allowed x values.

Why is The Crucible considered a tragedy? Many examples would be helpful. I already know that it is because the tragic hero, Proctor, dies in the...

To answer the question effectively, one first needs to define tragedy in the context of literature. In this regard then, tragedy is defined as drama which depicts human suffering and as such, leads to a catharsis within the audience. This means that by watching the play, the audience would experience either intellectual enlightenment or the purification and purgation of emotions. This suggests that we, the audience, would be able to either be awakened intellectually to a new perspective or that we will, through identification with or empathy for the characters in the play, find a release for our own feelings.

The play The Crucible more than adequately subscribes to this definition. There are a number of examples of human suffering depicted in the play. When the accusations start and people are arrested, we are exposed to their suffering. What gives greater depth to the pain experienced by the characters is the fact that they are all innocent. Their attempts to proclaim their innocence are dismissed. There is no concrete evidence to prove their guilt. Furthermore, their only hope is to confess to something they did not do, ensuring spiritual, but not physical, redemption - many were incarcerated after their confessions. Such was the tragedy of John Proctor, for even after having publicly "confessed," he was still hanged only because he refused to sign the confession.

The tragic death of Rebecca Nurse is another example. She had a good name in the town and was much admired and respected, so much so that most of the townsfolk went to her for advice and consultation. People respected her integrity and deemed her kind and generous. Her death is therefore one of the most tragic. She died because of the Putnam's jealousy and their greed for property. Their accusations were believed and they went as far as using their daughter to lie to the court.

The executions of Martha and Giles Corey add to the tragedy. What makes Martha's death more poignant is that her husband inadvertently implicated her by referring to her interest in books and that he would, at times, be unable to speak in her presence. Little did he know that his attempts at trying to gain clarity about these incidents would eventually result in his wife's and his own deaths. One can only be shocked at the utter brutality of Giles' execution; he was pressed to death. He refused to confess and died an innocent man. He also was a victim of the Putnams' greed. The Putnams' used the witch trials to gain an advantage and their plotting and scheming were a tragic success.

There are many other examples of tragedy in the play: Tituba, Sarah Good, Mr. Jacobs and others. The greatest tragedy, however, is encompassed in John Proctor's chilling cry:

"I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem - vengeance is  walking Salem.  We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!"

What measures did wartime governments take to control public opinion?WWI

One medium that was used for positive propaganda during World War I was the poster.  There were a myriad of posters published during this time; most contained a slogan on them.  One example shows a bulldog with a helmet (the US Marines) chasing a German dashund and the words "Teufel Hunden" at the top--the German nickname for the Marines.  Another poster is also a recruiting poster that reads:

If you are an electrician, mechanic, or telegraph operator, you belong in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.  If you are not, we will train you; get in now.

A motivational poster that was hung throughout the country was one reading, "American Red Cross--Our boys need sox--Knit your bit.  One suggests that women buy war bonds; it has Joan of Arc upon it, brandishing a sword.

What character traits make Fortunato such easy prey for Montresor?

Fortunato is avaricious, unscrupulous and deceitful. Montresor knows his victim thoroughly. He knows that Fortunato will be tempted by the prospect of making money off the nonexistent Amontillado if he tells his intended victim that he bought it at a bargain price.

"You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain."

Both men use the word "pipe" in referring to the Amontillado. A pipe contains 126 gallons. Fortunato does not seem like a sherry drinker at all. Sherry is a sipping wine, and Fortunato can chug-a-lug a whole quart of wine at a time. What interests him is the "bargain." If Montresor, who is a poor man, bought one pipe at a bargain price, Fortunato is thinking that he could buy the entire shipment and make a small fortune. 

Fortunato thinks Montresor trusts him and considers him his very good friend. Montresor knows that Fortunato is totally untrustworthy and that he is already planning on telling Montresor that the (nonexistent) wine is not genuine Amontillado, regardless of whether it is or not. Montresor only states that Fortunato is a true connoisseur because he knows that Fortunato would rely on his own judgment and would immediately buy up all the available pipes if he were satisfied that Montresor's is genuine. 

Montresor and Fortunato are not aristocrats but bourgeois gentlemen who deal in expensive merchandise. Montresor pretends to be in a big hurry to have an expert judge his Amontillado even though he has already paid for it and had it delivered to his vaults. The pretense of great urgency is to show Fortunato that he would like to buy more of the bargain wine if only he could be sure it is genuine. That is why Montresor pretends to be on his way to Luchesi. 

Fortunato does not have to taste Montresor's (nonexistent) wine. He knows the Amontillado would have had to be brought in by ship from Barcelona and that he would have no trouble finding the ship in the harbor and dealing directly with the captain, the purser, or whoever is selling it off at bargain prices. But if Fortunato were to try to put Montresor off by telling him he had an important engagement or that he was suffering from a bad cold, Montresor would immediately go to find Luchesi. Luchesi would probably do the same thing to the supposedly naive Montresor that Fortunato intends to do. Luchesi would tell Montresor that he could not assist him that night and then go looking for the nonexistent Spanish ship full of nonexistent Amontillado. So Fortunato has to go to Montresor's palazzo that night. He is greedy and unscrupulous and untrustworthy. He cheats people, even his friends, and thinks his dirty tricks are "excellent jests." Montresor is about to play an "excellent jest" on him.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, what is the mistake Tom Robinson makes when he says he felt sorry for Mayella?

Tom crosses the boundaries of race and class in an extremely poignant manner.  He, the black man, is supposed to be the lowest of the low, being both black and poor.  Even though Mayella is poor, labelled as white trash, she is still that, white.  Being white puts her above being black in the social hierarchy of the South.  It's the ultimate insult that a black man, whose station in society is as low as it gets, could have the audacity to feel sorry for this white woman.  And to add insult to injury, he is right to feel sorry for her.  It reveals his character, a character which is not allowed for by the rhetoric of his opposers.

The narrator says finding the ring is a "turning point in his (Bilbo's) career." Why?Gollum accuses Bilbo being a thief. Do you think Bilbo is? Why...

Up to this point, Bilbo hasn't felt that he had any advantages.  He is out of his depth, out of his own world, and dealing with things that he has never dreamed of.  He is afraid and lacking in self-esteem.  But having the ring gives him a sense of power, and certainly gives him some benefits.  After getting the ring, he becomes more of a leader, and is able to escape the goblins and - later - save his friends in the forest.

As for your second question, you have to decide.  Bilbo knows that the ring belongs to Gollum.  If he is justified in taking it because he has to protect himself, then you could say he isn't a thief.  However, you could also say that - no matter the reason - Bilbo took something that doesn't belong to him so he is a thief.

Identify four different archetypes in the novel Walk Two Moons. Explain why your examples fit the archetypes.

An archetype is "a symbol, theme, setting, or character that is thought to have some universal meaning" in literature. One archetype that is used in Walk Two Moons is the element of story. Traditionally, stories are shared and passed on to help people understand things that are beyond comprehension. In the book, the reader comes to an understanding of Salamanca's mother's life and death through the interwoven stories of the death of Sal's mother, Sal's journey with her grandparents, and Phoeby's mother's temporary disappearance.

Another archetype in the book is the journey, or quest. Sal's mother embarks on a journey of self-discovery, from which she never returns, and Sal herself must undertake a journey with her grandparents to discover the truth about her mother's fate, and how it relates to her own life.

A third archetype in the story is home, both as a physical place and a state of being. Salamanca must leave the security and peace of her home in Bybanks in order to resolve her confusion and grief at her mother's leaving. Only after she discovers the truth and finds the strength to accept it, is she able to return home to Bybanks, having regained the peace and confidence within herself that her mother did love her, and that her disappearance and death had nothing to do with any perceived inadequacy in Sal.

A fourth archetype in Walk Two Moons is trees. Trees represent growth, they have roots, and they are an integral part of nature. Salamanca's middle name is Tree, indicating her closeness to and love of the natural world. Sal and her father also sense that the spirit of her mother and his wife lives on, because they can hear her in the "singing of the trees." Finally, Salamanca loves the trees at her home in Bybanks; they give her a feeling of rootedness and oneness with the natural world around her.

In the novel 1984, Winston's memories of his mother include love, sacrifice, and loyalty. What has replaced these qualities in his present world?

Love hasn't been replaced as much as it has been appropriated by the party, as has loyalty. Whereas once people within a family had love for one another, now people are expected to put their loyalty to Big Brother and the party above all else. That is why children are feared by their parents and why people are allowed to marry as long as they have the proper attitude towards sex (they are not supposed to like it, but are supposed to do their duty for the party). There are not supposed to be any intimate relationships because intimacy and love divide people's loyalties. The party could not have absolute control over people who put their loved ones and family first. As for sacrifice, that has been eliminated, for no one has any reason to sacrifice because no one has anyone (apart from Big Brother, that is) that he loves more than himself.

What nation joined the Allied war effort in 1917? What nation dropped out of the war in 1918?How did these two changes affect the war?WWI

The US joined the war in 1917, which changed everything.  Massive numbers of American troops and a brand new, freshly equipped fighting force would tip the balance on the Western Front in favor of the Allies and force the Germans to eventually seek a cease fire.

At almost the same time, the Russians were forced to drop out of the war due to the Russian Revolution and their inability to fight both the German Army and the communist rebellion, or more accurately, the communists ability to fight a civil war with the Czarist nationalists.

This freed a large portion of the German Army and allowed them to focus the final offensive of the war only on the Western Front.  It very nearly gained them victory in the whole shooting match.

Explain this quote: Every person who has mastered a profession is a skeptic concerning it.

I think all these answers are good and touch on possibilities. Shaw's assertion overreaches, however, when he says "every." Having mastered several usual and unusual professions myself, now that I'm old I don't think it applies to every profession. His assertion is also rather peculiar in that "skeptic" is a slippery and often misunderstood word: it does not mean "cynic," one who discounts new ideas or thinks the future must turn out badly, as is often assumed.

As Shaw was British, I consulted the OED to give a better idea of the sense of the word in his mind. Concise Version OED 2008 states: a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions. Ah hah!

In one's own mastered profession(s) I find that one can question or doubt:

-it's real value to others and was this value been overrated?

-it being as satisfying at the end of the years, or as glamorous as one imagined, when younger and starting out. It is probably disappointing in several respects, as many things turn out to be with time. As has been said, in the beginners mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's, few. And most of us habituate to many repeated exciting stimuli and experiences, they become humdrum. Or years of sex with the same person. A tour guide at Niagara Falls or other amazing attraction will not experience the excitement or amazingness after years of seeing it again and again. This is how most of us are wired.

-Now it is up to you to also think of counterexamples. We've all heard the old saw "Nobody on his deathbed says 'I wish I had spent more time at the office.'" Well, how about a medical researcher such as Dr. Jonas Salk, who came up with the cure for polio? Do you think he was questioning or doubting his or his work's value?

I have mastered two specialty professions and skills which I now volunteer at my local animal shelter. Am I skeptical in any sense whatsoever about them? No.

As with many quote originators, including myself, my guess is that Shaw came up with this one by discovering it in himself.

What is the best intramuscular injection site for infants and small children?

The best site to inject intramuscularly for small children is the vastus lateralis. It is located at the anterior lateral view within the middle or upper thigh region.

The vastus lateralis is considered the safest site to inject intramuscularly at birth and until 36th month of age; wherein it has an appropriate muscle mass for the needle to penetrate enable to reach in the muscle tissue. Needle to be used must be gauge ranges from 23-25 in 7/8" to 1" in size. All infant will undergone intramuscular injection and it is this site recommended that the drugs should be administered; such as the hepatitis vaccine, and the diphtheria, polio and tetanus vaccine.

When the child reach beyond 36 months of age, deltoid muscles already become dense and massive. It is located above the armpit just the border end of both sides of shoulder. In this site, the intramuscular injection is already considered in administering drugs specifically the tetanus toxoid vaccine. Needle to be used will still be the same gauge range, 23-25 in a 1" to 2" in size.

What is the significance of the storm in King Lear?From Act 3

In my opinion, the storm that Lear experiences out on the moor shows how far he has fallen.  It shows that he is no longer an important man.

In the storm, we see Lear being pushed around by nature.  In this, he is just like anyone else.  It is also very similar to how he as been pushed around and defeated by his daughters and his own foolishness.

In addition, this storm symbolizes how Lear is going crazy.  The chaos of the storm reflects the chaos that is going on in his own mind.

What is the significance of the final section?

While you have two fine answers already, it is important to note that Persky warns Kugelmass against using the machine again.  The underlying note is be happy with what you have...in the present.  However, Kugelmass insists, and while the machine is working, Persky has a heart attack, the machine bursts into flames, and instead of the novel Kugelmass expects to end up in, he finds himself in the middle of a Remedial Spanish textbook. Not only is the "large, hairy" irregular verb tener (to have) chasing Kugelmass, it is "over a barren, rocky terrain" that this occurs.  This description of setting again supports the idea that it's not getting what you want in life that is happiness, it's wanting what you have.

How does Scout solve her problem with Walter Cunningham in chapter 3?

Scout gets into trouble on her first day of school. She attempts to get Miss Caroline to understand Walter by explaining the quirks an inadequacies of the "Cunningham's". This gets her into further trouble, and she takes her frustration out on Walter by rubbing his nose in the dirt.

Jem tries to smooth things over by inviting Walter home for lunch. Scout is rude to Walter during lunch, making fun of his eating habits, and Calpurnia lectures her. She tells Scout that she should not think Finches are better than Cunningham's, and that a guest in their home is a guest, regardless of class distinctions.

Atticus reinforces this idea when Scout complains to him about Calpurnia.

How did the Bolsheviks take over Russia?

The Russian Civil War was not the means of seizing power, but of consolidation.  The Bolsheviks were firmly in power by Christmastime of 1917, and the Civil War raged through 1921.  The Bolsheviks seized power because of three main reasons, the weakness of the Provisional Government, the cohesion of Lenin's followers and the fact that he had ready money and his opponents did not.

The Kerensky government, formed after the May, 1917 overthrow of the tsarist regime, was determined to stay in World War I to support the French.  The people as a whole were sick of the war and consequently the Provisional powers lost the support of the masses.  The government's inability to effectively deal with hunger in the cities or control the tsarist counterrevolution or the left-wing agitators of the more radical socialist, communist and anarchist factions made things worse.  The moderate liberals of Kerensky's government simply lost control.

Lenin's reputation with the more radical factions was immense, although many came to see him as a potential tyrant as the year continued.  The Social Democrats split into the Menshevik and Bolshevik factions ("minority" and "majority" respectively, although the Bolsheviks were in fact a small minority of the party), and none of the other radical parties had any real power base outside of very localized centers, usually in Moscow.  Lenin's ruthless pursuit of one central goal served him well, as did his grasp of propaganda and the competence of his followers (Stalin, Trotsky, etc.).  The third factor was simply having funds at hand, something no other political group had.

When the Germans put Lenin on a sealed train in the spring of 1917 and sent him from Switzerland to Moscow they put on the train with him one million dollars US in gold bullion, which was an amount able to finance a great deal of activity. No other faction in the revolution had such ready cash, and the government was barely able to economically function at all.  These things, combined with the practicality of Lenin's plans (and Trotsky's military acumen) for seizing food in the countryside for distribution in the cities, the military attacking of tsarist forces and other so-called "counterrevolutionary" groups (which meant, in the end, all of Lenin's enemies) and the Czech Legion fighting along the Trans-Siberian railway lines, lifted him to leadership.

This, of course, brings up the question of who financed Lenin.  The answer is that the money came through Swiss banks from a consortium of Swiss, British and American businessmen and bankers.  After the initial funds Lenin carried to Russia with him the Bolsheviks were financed to the tune of at least $20 million by, among others, Jabob Schiff, Sir George Buchanon, Olaf Ashberg of the Nye Bank of Stockholm, Albert Wiggin and W. B. Thompsaons (president and a director respectively of the Chase National Bank of New York), and various directors of Royal Dutch Shell and Standard Oil, among many others.

How does Prince Prospero react to the midnight guest?

Initially he is frightened; however, he overcomes that and is outraged.  He storms after the masked figure, ordering his revelers to seize him, though they refuse.  Overcome with anger at such an insult, Prospero draws his dagger to stab the figure.  However, when he grabs the figure and spins him around, he sees that it is really the Red Death itself and Prospero drops dead.

What happens in act 2, scene 8 of The Merchant of Venice?

Act 2, Scene 8 is a conversation between Salerio and Solanio, revealing events which have transpired while Scene 7 was taking place.  Shylock is furious because his daughter has run off with his money and Lorenzo.  Bassanio's ship has set sail for Belmont, and another ship has been wrecked in the English Channel.  Salerio and Solanio know that Antonio is sad because Bassanio has departed, and they will try to raise his spirits.

How do Jim and Della feel toward one another? How do you know? If possible what kind of evidence is shown from the story?

Jim and Della are young and very much in love with one another. The evidence of their love is in their desire to please the other by purchasing the perfect gift for Christmas. Each one, out of love, sacrifices the thing which is most important to them in order to buy the other a gift to accentuate that item. Della loves her hair, as does Jim, it's beautiful so much so that royalty would want her hair. She loves it and she loves that Jim loves it as well. She sells her hair to a salon to buy Jim a fob chain for his watch. Jim's watch is a beautiful family heirloom and he cherishes it. Della says that it is a fine watch and many would marvel over the sight of it, except that he wears it on a leather strap which takes away from it's beauty. Jim sells the watch to buy Della beautiful shell combs to adorn her already beautiful hair. Each one sacrificed their most prized possession to please the other and demonstrate their love for one another. 

Does A Raisin in the Sun end happily for the Younger family?

The ending is ambiguous at best.  On the positive side, the family has renewed their determination to pursue their dream and move to the house in Clybourne Park despite the obstacles which stand in their way.  On the negative side though, it is evident that their road ahead will not be easy.  Not only has Walter's friend and business partner disappeared with all their money, but it is clear that the family will face opposition and racism in their new place of residence, as foreshadowed by Mr. Lindner's offer to buy back their house in the name of the "New Neighbors Orientation Committee".

How does Santiago complete this statement - "First you borrow,then..." ?

Let me complete the sentence first of all.'First you borrow,then you beg'.This is between Santiago and the boy.He interpretes that when a man borrows money or things though he does not earn or whenever the old man goes on fishing,he catches nothing.So from where he will bring money and return the debt.

So one becomes penniless and all resources of earning are chained,

then he comes into great trouble and for that in such tense he will

not consider begging as sin.He will be ready to beg for facing the debt. 

Which character in The Scarlet Letter is innocent?

A case could be made for more than one character, but the purest is Pearl. She didn't choose the situation into which she was born. Instead, she was outcast for someone else's actions (or rather, several other people's actions), and grew up more like a natural creature than a socialized one. She's not without violent tendencies, but even these seem like natural desires, rather than sin or corruption.

In Farenheit 451, what was the significance of Montag's choice of passage from the bible as the literature he would memorize?

I don't know that Montag chose to remember from Ecclesiastes. It seems, as they are heading back to the city, that it just comes to him from his past reading. The quote from my version of the book reads, "And on either side of the river was there are tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

Now what I know of Ecclesiastes is very little other than it emphasizes appreciating God's daily gifts of simple pleasures and work; however, this would fit in well with Montag's realization of life's simple pleasures. The world of Fahrenheit 451 has sped up so much so that people are walled off from one another and let the little pleasures of life and family get away from them. Just look at how odd Clarisse's family appears, yet they value the simple things in life.

The passage quoted above is important too in that in symbolizes the new knowledge that the "book men" are going to pass on to the remnants of civilization left in the city after the bombing. The knowledge from the books in their heads will lead to the healing and restoration of life.

Piggy has useful ideas and sees the correct way for the boys to organize themselves. Yet the other boys rarely listen to him and frequently abuse...

All you have to know to answer this question is what Piggy looks like and acts like and how kids treat people who are like that.

I would say that two of the things that kids make fun of the most are kids who are fat and/or clumsy and kids who are smart and don't know how to act "normal."  Piggy fits both of those categories.

We know Piggy is fat and we know he has asthma and needs glasses.  So he is likely to be somewhat unpopular based on those things.  At the same time, he does not have many social graces -- he doesn't know how to make people feel at ease with him.

So that is why he gets bullied -- he is physically unattractive and he does not come across well.

What are some examples of hypocrisy in To Kill a Mockingbird?

1. At the missionary circle, Mrs. Merriweather talked about how no white person would go near the black Mrunas, however the white and blacks of Maycomb are completely seperate

2. In the historical account about Simon Finch in chap. 1, Simon Finch is persecuted because he is a methodist. However, then he goes and purchases slaves. Simon also buys slaves in order to get rid of his money in order to not spend his money of gold because it is against God. however, purchasing slaves is no more for the glory of God than purchasing gold.

3. MRs. Gate's class- she teaches about the horrors of Hitler and how america would never persecute others, “Over here we don’t believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced” (245)

Why are Lorraine and John writing The Pigman?

John and Lorraine are telling the story of the Pigman, Mr. Pignati, whom they met and grew to care about. The story is told by both of them, so that you get two perspectives on the events. In some ways, they are trying to make sense of the relationship they had with the Pigman, and his death.

What are 3 ways Gene and Phineas are alike and 3 ways they are different in A Separate Peace?

Differences:  Gene is more scholarly (Gene is near the top of his class, Phineas average in his studies) , Finny is (Phineas) the better athlete, Finny is more self-confident (able to step outside convention and challenge authority)

Similarities:  there are not a great deal of similiarties between the two teenagers.  A similarity lies only in the fact that Gene assumes that his "friend" is as envious of his scholarly abilities as much as he is envious of Finny's athletic prowess.  Of course, they have their ages and school in common, too.  But Gene is severly lacking in self confidence and maturity.  Finny may lack maturity as well, but his is a benevolent immaturity, while Gene's is decidely malevolent. 

"As Ronald Weber writes in an article from Studies in Short Fiction, "It is Phineas's innocence that Gene cannot endure. As long as he can believe Phineas shares his enmity, he can find relief, but with this assurance gone, he stands condemned before himself and must strike out against his tormentor."

What "fine New Year's gift" did the SS give the Jews?

This passage from Elie Wiesel’s book Night is an example of verbal irony. Verbal irony is a statement the expresses the opposite of what the writer really means. It is a way of emphasizing the writer’s true intent.

In Night, Elie and his family have been deported and sent to a Nazi concentration camp. We all know that concentration camp life is brutally hard and many do not survive. Elie has already lost his mother to the crematorium and has worried constantly over the fate of his weakening father. However, when Wiesel writes

The SS offered us a fine New Year’s gift

it is not his father he has to worry about, it is himself. At this point in the story the SS has decided to conduct a selection for his block. Selection refers to the process in which prisoners are evaluated. If they are found unfit they are sent to the crematorium. When Wiesel calls it a “fine” gift he obviously means the opposite—it is very bad news, not really “fine” at all. It is possible that he will not survive the selection.

Wiesel survives the selection, but he concludes this section with a chilling observation about the poor souls who did not:

Those whose numbers had been noted were standing apart, abandoned by the whole world. Some were silently weeping.

What is one internal conflict shown for each Lady Macbeth, Macbeth and Banquo and what act/scene are they shown in from Macbeth?

You have received an excellent answer already, but I would like to point out even more internal conflicts.

While Lady Macbeth's greatest internal conflicts are shown near the end of the play, she begins to show the signs of her internal distress in Act 3, Scene 2:

Naught’s had, all’s spent,
Where our desire is got without content.
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.

Similarly, while I agree with dstuva that we see much internal conflict in Macbeth earlier in the play, he has an introspective moment in Act 5 Scene 3 revealing regret for what he has let his life become:

My way of life

Is fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf;

And that which should accompany old age,

As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
28
I must not look to have; but, in their stead,

Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath

Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.

And while it is true that Banquo reveals his internal conflicts in Act 3 just before he is killed, he also shows his concerns about Macbeth's dishonorable intentions almost from the first moment the two hear the witches' prophecies.  In Act i Scene 3, Banquo and Macbeth discuss the great prophecies they have just heard.  While Banquo would love to believe that his "children" (descendants) will be king, he is conflicted because he believes the witches might be evil spirits trying to trick men into performing evil deeds:

That trusted home

Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,
128
Besides the thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange;

And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,

The instruments of darkness tell us truths,

Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s
132

In deepest consequence.

Learn more about the external and internal conflicts in this play at the sites noted below.

How do the boys try to get Ralph out of the thicket in The Lord of the Flies?

First, the savages try to roll rocks down into the thicket to lure him out. This proves almost deadly for Ralph, when an especially large rock almost crushes him.

Then, they try to poke spears at him. Ralph thrusts back at them, and in the end, this is not successful because they cannot reach him.

Finally, they set a fire and intend to smoke him out. Ralph runs, but the savages are in pursuit. The fire is raging out of control and Ralph is losing his lead. Just as he burst through the shelters, he rolls and looks up into the face of a rescuer.

What characteristics of both Gene & Finny are revealed through "Blitzball" & "Finny preparing Gene for the Olympics"?

I changed part of your question to read "Finny preparing Gene for the Olympics" because I think that's what you must have meant.  That being said, here's what the two elements reveal about Gene and Finny.

Gene--both Blitzball and the preparation for the Olympics demonstrate that Gene is insecure and a follower.  Even if he did not like Blitzball, he would not refuse to play because he would not want to be even more of an outcast.  Gene wants desperately to possess Finny's charm; so he follows almost everything Finny suggests (or commands!).  Similarly, Gene is not particularly interested in athletics--he makes that clear when his solution to the injured Finny's request for him to get involved in sports is to be the "manager" of Devon's crew team. Thus, when Finny forces Gene to train for the Olympics, Gene does soout of guilt and his follower tendencies, not out of a desire to be athletic.

Finny--Blitzball is an early characterization of Finny in the novel not just as a charming leader but also as a motivator and an inclusivist.  Finny encourages Leper to play Blitzball and even finds ways to make Leper's awkwardness seem advantageous for the sport. Finny's ability to make up a game and motivate many others to play it demonstrates his charming personality and his inherent charisma.  In regards to the Olympic training, the reader could interpret Finny's role in this section of the book in different ways.  If one views the post-injury-Finny as being manipulative, then he could argue that Finny's training Gene for the Olympics is to make Gene feel even more guilty that Finny cannot train himself (because of Gene).  However, Knowles seems to imply that even post-injury-Finny cannot help but be a leader and thathis training Gene is the next best thing to Finny's getting to train.  If this is the correct interpretation of Finny's character, then his willingness and desire to train Gene demonstrate not only a forgiving spirit but also an optimistic attitude toward seemingly everything in life.

In The Dead by James Joyce, is there anything ironic about the substance of Gabriel's speech? If so, what?

Two ironies exist in Gabriel's speech in "The Dead," by James Joyce.

First, Gabriel praises the tradition of Irish hospitality.  The lavish table his aunts have set is worthy of praise, but Gabriel's praising of it is ironic, because he generally does not think much of Irish tradition.  He is more continental Europeon, than traditional Irish.  He praises his aunts' hospitality, while at the same time he thinks of them as old and ignorant.

Second, Gabriel criticizes the new generation of intellectuals.  This is ironic because he considers himself as somewhat of an intellectual.  He worries most of the night that his speech will be too intellectual for his listeners, whom he views as his intellectual inferiors. 

A third irony just came to mind:  Gabriel is named after the archangel Gabriel, who is a messenger of God used in the Bible to bring messages to humankind.  Yet, Gabriel has difficulty with his speech, as he does at other times in the story when he communicates with people. 

Why is the poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" so popular?

 The poem was written in the classical style, but has elements of the Romantic poets who relished in the power of the individual, the beauty of nature, and the supernatural among other things.  Probably the most important factor pointing to the poem's popularity is that it idealizes the comman man, and brings his importance in the universe to an equal status with those who were wealthy and affluent.

The poem invokes the classical idea of memento mori, a Latin phrase which states plainly to all mankind, "Remember that you must die." The speaker considers the fact that in death, there is no difference between great and common people. He goes on to wonder if among the lowly people buried in the churchyard there had been any natural poets or politicians whose talent had simply never been discovered or nurtured. This thought leads him to praise the dead for the honest, simple lives that they lived.

What do we know about the narrator’s past experiences that may be a potential cause for her “nervous condition?” Is she a reliable narrator?

The narrator is a classic example of an unreliable narrator.  We only 'see' the events through her writing.  Some potential causes for her breakdown include her recent birth, the fact that she is not allowed to see the child, her husband's prescribed treatment of absolute rest and mental inactivity, her sister's adoption of a domesticated female (she acts as the stereotypical wife of the time - doing housework, caring for the husband and baby), the fact that her husband discourages her creativity - refusing to let her write, and the fact that she is literally being kept prisoner in the upstairs room (the bars on the windows, the bed nailed down, her husband's refusal to move her from that room).  All of these could be viewed as reasons for her mental breakdown.

Who are the main characters in Dance Hall of the Dead?

The main character is Joe Leaphorn, a Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant trying to solve a case concerning a missing boy.

George Bowlegs is the missing boy, who, although he does not actually appear in the book, is the object of the mystery.

Dr. Chester Reynolds is an archaeologist and murderer.

Suzanne is a member of the Golden Fleece commune who helps Leaphorn.

Ted Isaacs is a young archaeologist under Reynolds who has a lot of decisions to make concerning his identity and loyalties.

Father Ingles is a Catholic priest who helps Leaphorn with information about Bowlegs and Zuni traditions.

There is more information at the link below.

In The Cask of Amontillado, why does Montresor wait 50 years to confess?How would the timing be significant to the story?

Montresor was very specific in the beginning to explain that Fortunato had "wronged him" and deserved punishment.  However, in order for that punishment to be fair and just to the insults hurled upon Montresor, it had to be done secretly  This secret, as Montresor says, is "not only punish, but punish with impunity''; that is, to punish Fortunato without being caught or punished himself.  Therefore, he can not confess to the crime.  We can assume that this confession is being done towards the very end of his life, perhaps even on his deathbed, when not punishment could be exacted upon him.

In addition, Montresor is an unreliable narrator.  He is obsessed with injuries that he does not even describe in detail, suggesting perhaps that those injuries were not as damaging as his violent act suggests.  The lack of remorse he shows 50 years later, coupled with the passioned explanation of his actions that he makes, help to support the idea that this is an unstable man run amuck with perceived insults, and not a sane man dealing out deserved punishment.

Analyze the ethical and moral arguments associated with animal testing.

This is a subject on which the public has been very successfully misled. It is an ethical but also a scientific issue. To hear what doctors have to say on this issue i advise www.curedisease.net www.curedisease.com www.navs.org www.mrmcmed.org www.dlrm.org  there are many others.

Animal experimentation is also a crime against humans. Strychnine, cyanide, arsenic, botulin, asbestos, HIV infected blood, DDT, benzene, cigarettes all pass animal ‘tests’. Carcinogens, pollutants, teratogens, neurotixins etc also pass. Animal exp. (vivisection) causes human illness in 2 major ways. Firstly, anything and everything will pass an animal test irrespective of what damage it does to humans and the environment. This provides legal protection to the manufacturers or polluters but not physical protection to consumers. Largely as a result of this fraudulent testing humans now have 30,000 diseases. Secondly, once we have these incresing new and old diseases the research is almost entirely animal based, therefore no diseases are cured. 60 million animals a year killed in medical ‘research’ and not a single disease, and there are 30,000 to choose from, cured year after year.

In regard to Peter Singer you may want to google 'singer ruesch rockefeller vivisection' for some surprisng and little know info. about him and his connection to the vivisectors (animal experimenters).

A valid premise on which to base a discussion of this would be 'animal experiments harm animals, humans and the environment. But they provide legal protection to the pharmaceutical and petro chemical industries, titles, qualifications and income to thousands of people, economic benefit to shareholders and employees of industries who benefit from animal experiments." That is what needs to be weighed up to construct a utilitarian argument.

What is a critical summary of the merits and significance of the book The Jacksonian Era?

How to examine and evaluate a history book: What is a critical summary of the merits and significance of the book, The Jacksonian Era?

I have not read that book, but I can give some advice about discovering the merits and significance of a history book. First, look at the Table of Contents to see what topics the author writes about and how the author organized the book. Sometimes the Table of Contents is a good outline of the book. Next, look at the Index to see what topics have the most pages listed under them. It may help you to read a few pages for the most indexed topics. Third, check whether the book has either 1) an introduction, preface, or prologue, or 2) a conclusion, summary, or epilogue. If the book has a section which falls into either one of these categories, read it (or them). This part of the book will usually tell you what the author thinks is significant and meritorious about the book. By now you may have discovered enough to write your summary. If not, check the beginning and end of each chapter. Sometimes chapters are introduced or summarized in one or a few paragraphs. If you still do not have enough information to write your summary, you may have to read the whole book. As you read, look for clues from the author, as to what the author thinks is important. Sometimes, the author will tell you "this is important." Other times you will figure it out because the author has written a longer discussion about one or a few topics, than about the rest of the topics in the book.  And if you still feel lost, make an appointment with your professor to ask for more guidance in how to read the book or write the summary.  (And, since your summary is to be critical, you must give your own opinions.  For example, "I have never read anything about the Jacksonia era, so I cannot compare to other authors' works, but I had an economics course last year, and the author's interpretation of xyxbxmz just does not ring ture to me because of ...."  Or "In my experience, people just do not do what the author describes for the reasons the author gives; instead people do that for these reasons: ....")

What is Roald Dahls writing style?

As he is a writer of fiction and, more specifically of children's fantasy fiction, Roald Dahl's writing style is a mix of Plain and Sweet, according to Walker Gibson's Style Machine.

Most of Dahl's narration is Plain:

-high frequency words

-monosyllabic words

-contractions, articles

-1st person pronouns

-action verbs, active tense

-colloquial

-Anglo-Saxon words

-simple sentences

-short, choppy

-compound sentences (lots of coordinating conjunctions “and”)

Occassionally, Dahl moves to Sweet (like Dr. Seuss), especially when his Ooompa Loompas are singing:

-2nd person pronouns

-fragments

-imperatives

-questions

-2nd Person (You-oriented)

-subjective

-pathos (emotional)

-listener-oriented

-visually-oriented

-little reasoning needed

-alliteration

-rhyming

-slogans, catch-phrases

-assonance

Here's a sample from "My Grandmother":

"I myself had two separate encounters with witches before I was eight years old. From the first I escaped unharmed, but in the second occasion I was not so lucky.  Things happened to me that will probably make you scream when you read about them. That can't be helped. The truth must be told. The fact that I am still here and able to speak to you (however peculiar I may look) is due entirely to my wonderful grandmother."

Notice the Plain Style: the first person pronouns, intimate voice, simple sentences, contractions, monosyllabic words, high frequency words, lots of articles (Plain style is the language of fiction, confession)

Notice the Sweet Style: use of parentheses, 2nd person pronouns; the last two or three sentences read like a movie promo (Sweet Style is the language of advertising)

How is Boxer betrayed by the pigs? What happens to his body?

The way that Boxer is betrayed is that the pigs really do not try to get him any help when he is getting old and sick.  Boxer has been about the best worker for the revolution that you can imagine.  He has worked as hard as he possibly could and has supported Napoleon no matter what.

But instead of helping him, they pretty much let him die.  When he dies, his body is sold to the "knackers" to be taken away and used for glue or dog food or something like that.

Hi.. In the poem White Lies by Natasha.. Why the color is important in this poem?

First of all, thank you for introducing me to this interesting poem and the poet who wrote it, Natasha Tretheway; I must admit that I'd never heard of her before.

Natasha Tretheway was born in Mississippi in 1966 to a mixed-race couple: her mother was African-American, her father was a white man from Canada.  In 1966 Mississippi, such a marriage was not only scandalous, but illegal.

Natasha Tretheway was born very light-skinned, but her mother insisted that she identify herself as "black."  The poem is about the lies that Natasha sometimes told in order to be accepted by white society.

This is where the poem's colors come in.  Natasha would tell people that she was "light-bright near white," but these were just "white lies."  This seems to have a double meaning: these lies were harmless (at least in Natasha's mind) and they were about being white and intended for white people.

Amongst black people ("in a black place"), Natasha would say that she was "high yellow, red-boned."  These are terms that African-Americans sometimes use to describe their fellows who are relatively light-skinned.  

Natasha's mother did not approve of her lying.  She would punish her daughter by washing out her mouth with ivory soap.  Natasha ends the poem by saying, "I swallowed suds/ thinking they'd work/ from the inside out."  The poet seems to be saying that denying her identity was a spiritual "sin" that had to be cleansed "from the inside out."

Describe the nature of the love each character displays in "the parable of the prodical son" both at the beginning and the end of the story

In this parable from Luke 15, there are three characters: a father, an older son, and a younger son. The younger son is wild at heart and asks his father to give him his part of the family inheritance now, while the father is still alive. He does not want to wait for his father to die to get his money. He shows that he is immature and does not love his father.

The father, though, loves his son so much, that he agrees to his demands. This is a big deal because in these ancient times, people didn’t have cash hanging around the house or in the bank. In order to give his younger son the inheritance, the father would have had to sell off land, livestock, etc., thereby putting the rest of the family in jeopardy because the rest of the family still had to live.

The younger son goes off, spends the money on wild living, strong drink and women, and winds up with nothing left. He is forced to get a job as a swineherd, which is despicable to the Jews because pigs were considered unclean. The younger son realizes that his father’s servants are better off than he is, so he decides to go back to his father and ask to be treated as a servant.

However, when the father sees him in the distance, he picks up his robe and runs to meet the younger son, again showing incredible love, because this act would not be considered something a family patriarch would do. The father embraces the younger son and orders the fatted calf to be killed for a huge celebration.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the older son is seething. He tells his father that he is angry because he stayed working for the father all his life, and he is the one that deserves to be treated well, not the younger good-for-nothing brother. The father has great love for the older son as well, though, and tells him “all I have is yours” because you are always with me. The older son does not show much love towards his father and no love towards his brother.

The father in the parable is God. The two sons represent two types of men: the older son represents those people who are legalistic and think they can earn God’s love by obeying rules. The younger son represents those people that think they can live any way they want because God shows grace and love to us and will forgive us “70 times 7.” Both sons are alienated from God in different ways. But both sons are loved by God, who loves us unconditionally. The father's love, as God's love, is the same at the beginning and end of the parable. God's love is constant.  What good news!

What is the difference between writing an expository and a persuasive essay, and what is the structure to write them?

An expository essay is one that explains, describes, or informs. It lists events in chronological order and tells how to do something, such as giving directions to a destination or how to make something. You use words such as first, next, and last. You need to stay focused on your topic and give the directions, explanation, or description in the order they should be given.

A persuasive essay is one that expresses an opinion, usually on an issue that is debatable. There are two clear sides to the issue, and the writer chooses one side and persuades the audience to believe the way he/she does. You should have good reasons, facts, or data to support your opinion. Generally, the strongest support for your opinion comes last, as that is what the reader will remember last.

As far as structure goes, it depends on how many paragraphs your essay is. In an essay, you need to have an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should include a general statement of what the topic is, your opinion, and one or two bridge sentences to connect to your body paragraph(s). The body contains the reasons, facts, and/or data that support your opinion. The conclusion sums up your essay, bringing it to a close. Most essays assigned to students are three, four, or five paragraphs. The only difference between them is the number of body paragraphs contained in each. A three-paragraph essay has an introduction, one body paragraph, and a concluding paragraph. In a four-paragraph essay, you would add one extra body paragraph, and in a five-paragraph essay, you would have a total of three body paragraphs.

I need a sentence for the word "forty."

So all you need is a sentence with the word in it?  You made one just by asking.  But here are some others.

The number forty shows up in the Bible very often.  The story of Noah's Ark says it rained for forty days and forty nights.  The stories say that Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights.  That is why the season of Lent has forty days.

The number forty also appears in other stories.  Ali Baba had forty thieves along with him.

The United States had forty presidents before George Bush senior was president.

What quotation might summarize the complete story of "Harrison Bergeron"?

 I think the quote that summarizes the story of "Harrison Bergeron" is from The Declaration of Independence":

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.  ...it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

Harrison Bergeron and his Ballerina were standing up for what the Declaration says and they were exercising their right to change a terrible government that took away the precious rights we have which are guaranteed by the Declaration.

Inferno canto XXXIV ,circle 9, their characters, summary, setting of the story.

Virgil and Dante arrive in the ninth circle of hell. Satan is here, as well as Judas Iscariot-who betrayed Jesus, Brutus, who went against the secular and divine world, and Cassius, who committed suicide after he was defeated by Antony. (The characters of Brutus and Cassius are later in Shakespeare's plays).They are in wretched pain and covered in ice.

Virgil asks Dante if he thinks it is possible to recognize Satan. Dante does, and when he sees Satan, who is about 1500 feet tall, he is eating Judas Iscariot alive.

Virgil and Dante climb down Satan's body, and then travel back up to leave. They end their journey with the ability to see stars. This is symbolic in that they have left the depths of hell, and the stars twinkling can be seen to represent heaven.

What are the three traps that Zaroff uses to play the game with Rainsford?

Rainsford cannot escape the game. If he refuses to be hunted, he will be tortured by Ivan, Zaroff's servant. If he surrenders, he will either be malled by dogs or shot by Zaroff. He could commit suicide by falling in quicksand or drowning himself. Ultimately, he decides to fight for his life.

 Rainsford sets traps for Zaloff. The first is the Maley man-catcher, a trap in which a positioned tree falls on the hunter, but Zaloff escapes with a shoulder wound. The second is the Burmese tiger pit, which actually does kill one of Zaloff's dogs. The third consists of Rainsford's knife flying on a vine backwards at his pursuers. This trap kills Ivan. In the end, Rainsford does win the "game," when he surprises Zaloff in his bedroom.  

What is the climax of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?

The climax, the most intense point of the story, occurs in Chapter Nineteen. Witnesses come forth at Kit's trial to testify against her. Kit protects Prudence by saying she wrote Prudence's name over and over because Prudence's parents never knew she was being taught at Hannah's house. Nat then comes into court with Prudence, who shows all how Kit taught her to read and write. Prudence's father is so proud of her that he stands up to his wife and drops all of the charges against Kit.

What are the major turning points in 'Things Fall Apart' and how do they affect the outcome of the novel?Kindly comment on the effect it has on...

The major driving force early in the story is Okonkwo's incredible drive for success and his hard work and success as a warrior and a man.  He adopts a child from a neighboring village Ikemefuna and begins to care deeply for him, but his life is eventually demanded by the Oracle.  Okonkwo cannot bring himself to participate in the killing of the boy.

Thanks to other violent actions brought about mostly due to Okonkwo's incredible temper, he is eventually banished and forced to live in another village.  While he is gone, the white man and Christianity come to the Igbo, creating an incredible conflict with the traditional ways.

In a curious twist of events, Okonkwo returns and becomes the most staunch defender of their traditional ways.  He goes so far as to kill a messenger from the court and try to stir up the Igbo to rebellion against the white powers.  This leads to his suicide and the loss of any respect or power because of this crime against the traditional ways.

What characters in Hamlet show one face to the world and another to themselves. Is their deception justified?I am still having a hard time...

With all the two-faced people in the play, it is ironic that only one is actually pointedly accused of creating a second face. In his tirade against Ophelia near the end of Act III scene 1, Hamlet accuses her (and women in general) of showing a dishonest face:

[quotation]

Ham.

I have heard of your paintings too, well enough; God hath
given you one face, and you make yourselves another: you jig,
you amble, and you lisp, and nickname God's
creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance.

This is a pretty ironic statement, since Ophelia, for the most part, is an honest person who only agrees to meet with Hamlet in order to help prove he loves her. There are many more devious characters in the play, but Hamlet, perhaps because he is angry at Ophelia's small betrayal, heaps all his anger towards these other more deserving characters on her. 

What are the symbols in "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe?

Rather than look for specific meanings to specific elements portrayed in the story (black chamber, tripod, etc.) one must first consider who Poe is and when he was writing.  Poe, often and misfit in life, typifies the ideal of the Romantic artist, struggling against a world that fails to understand him, yet trapped, forever, seeking its approval.  Forced to turn inward for inspiration, material and content, the Romantic Artist uncovers much which he himself could not understand, that mysterious and dark place within the soul.  Here, the image of the "Doppelganger" (double) becomes prominent as it is in much of Romantic literature (see, William Willson), as an example. 
The Romantic Artist, and Poe is the quintessential one, struggles to deal with the myriad of bizarre, grotesque and seemingly random images that come to conscioussness when contemplating the "Self."  Later, Freud would call it the "Id" the place in all humans, left over from our own primordial past, when lust, and the struggle to live ruled our lives, unchecked. 
Observe the story from this light and you will find many different and valid interpretations.  

Mine: Poe senses intuitively, the downfall of civilization, his, our own, which I believe we are witnessing even more drammatically and clearly today.   Look around you: learning is at an all-time low, respect for tradition is non-existent, indeed, many of the trappings that held society together for centuries are mocked and derided.  
Poe's "Red Death," is simply that, the encroaching fall of High Western Civilization from we we all (as the Prince) try vainly to hide from and sometimes, absurdly, attempt to deny.

What techniques are used in The Dead to convey Gabriel's character?

This story is told in third person point of view, meaning that there is an outside narrator. However, the point of view is limited to focus on Gabriel's thoughts only, which allows readers to better understand him.  In addition, Joyce uses mimetic style, meaning that in expressing Gabriel's thoughts, he imitates Gabriel's speech and tone of voice.  This further provides insight into the type of man he is.  Through all of this, readers are able to understand that he is educated but insecure.  Finally, Joyce uses an allusion to the angel Gabriel to alert readers to the fact that this will be a passive character.

Why do people live near the coast in Australia?I need a summary--not too long.

I would assume that Australians living near the coast do so for much the same reason that anyone would like to live near the water. Being a native and long-time Floridian and currently living 80 miles from the nearest beach, I find the distance too far for my own desires. The lure of the water is a great one. It provides recreation--particularly swimming, boating and water sports--as well a beach for other similar pleasures. The coastal waters create cool winds in the summer months. For most people, the vista is intensely pleasurable. Living near the coast creates easy access to seafood, whether purchased in a store or caught by the individual.

As for Australia, the island is a vast and arid one, with deserts making up a great deal of the land mass. All of the nation's major cities are found on the various coasts, and these cities and their inhabitants are there for many of the same reasons as listed above. Inland towns and communities are remote, and most of the island's population live along the coast. Historically, most early towns and cities originated on the coast or on rivers due to the easy access by ship. Even in the era of the plane and automobile, shipping is an important form of economic transportation, another major reason for Australia's large coastal populations.

Why do you think Dill made up so many stories about himself and his father? (chapters 4-6)

In my opinion, Dill does this because of the relationship (or lack thereof) with his father in real life.  In real life, Dill's parents do not seem to have much time for him.  They love him, but they do not spend time with him.

Because of this, you can see where he might want to compensate.  So he makes up all these stories about him and his father.  In the stories, they do all sorts of things together.  This makes it seem as if his dad really has a lot of time for him even though in real life he does not.