What are some examples from To Kill a Mockingbird that demonstrate the theme of using reason and intelligence to solve problems?

Because Maycomb is a town rooted in tradition and superstitions, Lee satirizes its idiosyncrasies and creates characters who separate themselves from others because of their use of logic.  Here are several specific examples:

1. When Heck Tate tells Atticus that Tom Robinson is being moved to the Maycomb jail and warns him about the mob that might be stopping by, Atticus calmly grabs a few items from the house and goes over to guard the jail.  He does not allow emotion or panic to overcome him; rather, he believes that he can reason with whoever shows up (Scout actually ends up solving the problem for him), but Atticus's presence at the jail no doubt comforted Tom.

2. Judge Taylor wisely asks Atticus to defend Tom Robinson.  He knows that the trial has the potential to be a riotous disaster, but with Atticus as the defense attorney, the judge is certain that that is the best solution to a potentially volatile situation.

3. When Scout emotionally tells Atticus of her horrid first day of school and of Miss Caroline's demanding that she not read at home anymore (simply an unintelligent order from a teacher!), Atticus suggests that Scout continue reading and not say anything at school about it. He has a way of calming down other characters' emotions so that they can see a more sensible approach to their problems.

4. Atticus needs to prove that Tom Robinson did not attack Mayella; so he uses all of his observations (the location of Mayella's injuries, Mr. Ewell's being lefthanded, and Tom Robinson's permanent arm injury) and builds his case from practical, irrefutable evidence.

5. When Calpurnia realizes that a rabid dog is near the house and the children, she reacts quickly and precisely.  She brings the children into the house, calls Atticus, and even risks her life to run to a neighbor's house to warn of the danger.  During all of this, she is able to negate the telephone operator's silly superstition about rabid dogs and accomplish what she needs to in order to keep everybody safe.

6. Dolphus Raymond knows that the townspeople would not leave him alone if they knew that he willingly and sanely married an African American woman and fathered children with her.  So, instead of demonstrating his reason and intelligence to everyone, he pretends to be drunk, all while getting to live the lifestyle he wants without being criticized.

What are some actions or sayings of Elizabeth Proctor that shows she loves her husband?

To me, the thing that Elizabeth Proctor does that best shows that she loves her husband John is when she lets him die at the end of the play.

This seems kind of weird to say that -- that she loves him so she lets him die, but here's why I think that.  John has been miserable for a while.  He has felt guilty and he has felt like he is not a good person.  At the end of the play, she lets him die because he now has his good name and his feeling that he is a good person.  She does not want to take that away from him.

To me, this shows love -- she does not want to do something that will take away his feeling of being a good person.

What emotional dilemma is Mary Warren now going through? Be sure to support your answer.The question is in Act 2.

Elizabeth was taken away after a warrant was issued for her arrest. A poppet was in their home with a needle stuck in it, and Abigail had suffered a similar "attack" at dinner that night.After Elizabeth is gone, Proctor roars at Mary that she will go to the court and tell them that she made the doll and put the pin in it because Abigail told her to.

Mary Warren is devastated and keeps denying that it is something she can do. She tries to scare Proctor off by telling him that Abigail will charge him with lechery if he pushes this, but Proctor is undeterred.

Mary insists that she cannot bear to go into court because she is afraid of the repercussions. She is worried what will happen to her if she testifies against Abigail, "I cannot, they will turn on me"(II, iv). Abigail has tremendous power over the girls at this point and Mary Warren knows it is dangerous to cross her.Mary Warren cannot stop her repeated protestations of "I cannot do it, I cannot!" (II, iv) as the act ends.

Why is evolution a waste of time to learn?I need to argue this point not the opposite.

Most things you learn in school are a waste of time to learn in practical terms.  The ability to read enough to fill out a job application, the ability to print, the ability to do simple addition and subtraction; millions of people the world over and most people throughout human history survived with that much knowledge or less.

I read an article last year that said that the most useless bit of widely available knowledge is that a peninsula is an extension of a landmass surrounded on three sides by bodies of water.  Everyone is taught that in school, but does anyone really need to know it?  Would Florida or Baja Califonia change if we didn't have a word that referred to precisely that shape and teach it to every elementary student?

Evolution isn't something that you personally can control for the most part.  It's not something that is going to happen to you in your lifetime.  You can live your whole life--and many peope do--without understanding it.  Granted, a doctor, espcially an epidemiologist, needs to understand the evolution of infectious disease organisms.  And while I would prefer that a paleontologist understand evolution, how many students grow up to be paleontologists?

In the one aspect of your life where you could affect evolution, the ingestion of antibiotics for too short a time, causing bacteria to become immune to them, I think someone better educated than you saying simply that doing so, "Teaches the germs to tolerate the medicine, much like running short distances teaches your body to be able to tolerate running longer distances," is probably sufficient explanation.

Heck, Darwin got the most important job of his life without knowing a thing about evolution (joke).

It's very hard to argue, though, in favor of ignorance.  The knowledge of the difference between a lepton and a boson, between a descriptive and a prescriptive dictionary, between Jane Adams and Jane Austen; I don't use this knowledge on a daily basis.  But my cats, who get canned food twice a day, like to play with toy mice and practice the killing techniques they don't need to employ.  And I have my storehouse of knowledge that I can take out and play with, exercising the "muscles" of my brain.

Examples of figurative device.

A figurative device is a way of explaining something in terms of something else, in a way that is not real or true. If I want to suggest that I have a friend whom I can count on, someone really solid, I might say, "He is a rock."  Now, if I were to tell you that, you would know that this friend was not really a rock, at least I hope so!  If he were really a rock, we would say he was "literally" a rock, meaning that was what he really was, perhaps a lump of iron ore sitting on the ground. But because my friend is not really a rock, we say he is "figuratively" a rock.

Our everyday language is filled with figurative language, as is literature.  When we say, "It is raining cats and dogs," no one looks out the window to see if tabbies and poodles are falling from the sky.  That is because that statement is not to be taken literally, as meaning exactly what it says. We understand that this is figurative language. When a writer says, "Her smile was like sunshine," we understand that the woman's smile does not generate thousands of degrees of heat, which it would if it were really like sunshine.  That is figurative language, too. The reader understands that the writer means that the woman's smile makes him feel warm and loved. 

One way for you to get an understanding of how much figurative speech we use in speech and writing would be for you to try to jot down all of the figurative language you hear or see in a day.  You will be amazed when you do this at how dependent we are on figurative speech. It is also amazing how seldom we misunderstand figurative speech and take it literally! 

I have provided a link that explains the different kinds of figurative language and that provides examples of each kind.

What would be a good preliminary thesis for an essay on "The Lesson"?

I  would add that a theme of "The Lesson" is the human difficulty to accept and understand exclusion from something greater than ourselves. Race is the focus in this story, so that a thesis might address a theme by saying something about why Sylvia resists the lesson (about exclusion and economic inequities) that Miss Moore presents. Some of the other children understand are are willing to be "schooled" about their social situation. Why does Sylvia, who is apparently very smart, resist? what does race have to do with her resistance?  "Sylvia resists because....."--answering this question could provide a strong thesis for a discussion of theme.  In general, it helps to create a thesis by formulating a question in your mind that the thesis will answer. The question is not part of the essay:  it is part of the brainstorming necessary before writing it.

How does this passage from "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman diverge from the mainstream of romanticism?"Sure as the most certain sure, plumb in...

This passage from Walt Whitman is too self-assured and confident, assertive and straightforward to be typical Romanticism.  The Romantic movement focused on the extreme details of nature, of the more sentimental side of humans, and is much more elusive and mysterious, wordy and subtle.  Romantics didn't focus extremely on self-analysis like Whitman did, who was more of a Transcendentalist.  Rather,  human nature was a beautiful mystery, one to be feared and even explored as a dark force.  A lot of romantic literature focused on the unknown, the supernatural and the unexplained.  It tended not to be autobiographical, but fictional, focusing on very cut and dry good or bad characters.

Whitman's declaration of strength, self-pride and independence is very autobiographical, straightforward, and dealing with what he can feel and touch, rather than the mysterious and unknown.  It focuses on the good of human nature, and encourages us to relish and celebrate it.  Instead of something to be frightened of or romanticized, human nature is a powerful force of strength and good in our lives.  Whitman embraced a spin-off of the Romantics, the Transcendentalists, who shared the Romantic's love of nature and God, but were much more focused on the self as a conduit of good and enlightenment in the world.  I hope that those thoughts helped; good luck!

What does the storm that kill the Turks symbolise for the main characters?Hint: destructive love, ambition and concern for reputation.

The storm is a kind of pathetic fallacy that mirrors the jealous storm that will brew inside Othello once on Cyprus.  There is much geographical symbolism in the play: Venice is represented by Iago, that which is white, Christian, civilized. Turkey is represented by Othello, that which is non-white, non-Christian, uncivilized.  And Cyprus is represented by Desdemona; she is the island caught in the middle.  She is the key to victory--whoever claims her, controls the Mediterranean, controls the island.  Obviously, this is a sexist gender war.  So, the storm is a symbol of Iago and Othello's battle to claim Desdemona.  It is, as you mentioned, a symbol of destructive love, ambition, and reputation all by the males aimed at the females (Emilia and Bianca too, don't forget).

The storm is also a red herring; the Turks were such a worry to the Venetians in Act I.  The Duke calls a special session of the Senate to discuss the war.  In Act II, just as the battle begins, it ends--as if a God willed the Turks dead, a Deus ex Machina.  So, Othello mistakenly thinks the war is over, but it is really just beginning.  All of Venice in Act I was worried over the Turk (a representation of the dark side of Othello), and Othello thinks the Turk is no longer a threat.  After his victory in court in Act I, Othello thinks of himself as part of the white, Christian, civilized world.  He does not realize that Iago is exposing his darker half by preying on his jealous rage.  Instead of fighting a conventional war with the Turks, Othello will fight a domestic war, and so the storm foreshadows the destruction to come.  In the end, the storm (jealousy, hubris, sexism) destroys all.

What is a great qoute about friendship between Ponyboy and Johnny?this is for a book report so please answer truthfully

The Outsiders is one of my favorite books.  My students always love to read it as well as observe the movie.

Johnny and Pony Boy have a friendship established out of need.  They both belong to the Greasers, a gang in a lower class district.  Pony Boy's home is where the boys go to hang-out, sleep on the couch, or just to feel safe.  Pony Boy's parents were killed in an auto wreck and his older brothers, Darry and Soda Pop, are raising him.  Johnny's parents are abusive and neglectful.  Johnny is skittish because he is a victim in his home and has been victimized by the Socs.  Pony Boy describes Johnny as:

"If you can picture a dark puppy that has been kicked too many times and is lost in a crowd of strangers, you'll have Johnny."(12)

"He was the gang's pet.  Everyone's kid brother."(12)

At the drive-in when Pony Boy and Cherry are getting snacks she asks him about Johnny.  In his defense Pony Boy says:

"And I don't like to talk about it either-Johnny getting beat-up."(31)

After Pony Boy and Johnny get into a disagreement Pony Boy says something mean to Johnny.  He apologizes and tells him:

"I'm sorry," I said miserably.  Johnny was my buddy."(43)

The relationship between Johnny and Pony Boy is further cemented when they run away.  Johnny had killed a Soc, Bob, while trying to protect Pony Boy.  Johnny tells Pony Boy the following after he has just stabbed Bob:

“I had to.  They was drowning you, Pony.  They might have killed you.” (57)

Knowing he is dying he has a nurse help him to write a letter.  In Johnny’s letter he tells his friend to keep digging the sunsets and being gold.  In his last minutes of life Johnny has helped to direct Pony Boy to turn his life around.

Describe Morris's attitude toward the monkey's paw in "The Monkey's Paw."

Sergeant-Major Morris is the man who brings the monkey's paw to the White's home.  On the surface, it seems that he is afraid of the paw and it seems that he wants to destroy it.  After all, he throws it in the fire, which would seem to indicate strongly that he wants to be rid of it.  We also know that he fears it because of what it has done to others (and, apparently, to him).

But he must be somewhat ambivalent about it.  If he hated it and feared it that much, why hadn't he gotten rid of it long before.  And why didn't he act much more strongly to keep the Whites from having and using it?

So it seems to me that he does fear the paw, but on some level he wants someone else to have it so they can have the bad "luck" he had.

Why does Achilles refuse to fight for the Greeks when Agamemnon takes Briseis? Is it love of Briseis? Honor? Pride?

It is in my opinion definitely pride that makes Achilles refuse to fight when Briseis is taken.

First of all, there is not really so much of a tradition of romantic love back in those days in Greece.  I do not really think that Achilles would have fallen in love with Briseis.  This is even more so since she was just a prize of war.

Second, I think that one major theme of Homer's works is that honor was everything for a Greek warrior in these times.  Achilles, seeing himself as the greatest warrior, would surely have felt his honor was being slighted when his prize was taken.

Why does Steinbeck write about migrant farmers?"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck

Steinbeck worked throughout his summers in the early 20s as a farmhand and rancher in the Salinas Valley area. Although the 20s preceded the 30s Depression era that he wrote about, chances are, he well understood the plight of young men working for a period of time to just make a few bucks while there were bucks to be made despite the purpose.

He actually attended Salinas High School, so he well knew the area. As his writing career was taking off and his worldview was taking shape, the Depression hit. Obviously his writing demonstrates sensitivity to the Depression. Born in 1902, he was in his 30s then. This time period for most is a securing of identity and understanding of the world around us.

There is a national society devoted to maintaining his legend. Check out steinbeck.org

Is my half sister allowed to keep me from visiting my grand daughter even if she has coustody?

There is a misconception that, in circumstances of divorce and custody battles, grandparents have no rights to visit and/or be a part of the lives of their grandchildren. Some of the laws regarding this issue are set by individual states, but you may be surprised to know that, if you legally petition family court, you may well gain the right to be a real part of the lives of your granchildren.

More and more, the courts are becoming aware that grandparents can play a vital role in the nurturing and care of their grandchildren. That's why books have recently been written on the subject and some lawyers have begun to specialize in this field. You need to find a lawyer or a law firm that is dedicated to securing grandparents' rights.

It will help you a great deal if, before visitation rights were taken from you, you played an active part in your grandchildren's lives. Judges are more likely to grant visitation if you are seen to have "standing," and if you have had an ongoing, consistent, and loving relationship with the children.

Below are some links that may help. More can be found if you do a simple search for "grandparent rights." Good luck in finding a dedicated and understanding lawyer near you.

What is the role of food and drinks in "The Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl?

Interestingly enough, food and drinks play quite a significant role.  They are key elements of suspense, foreshadowing and plot.  The first time we see this is in the very opening paragraph, where Mary has prepared the drinks for her and her husband to have once he gets home.  This indicates her love for him, and her total and complete desire to please him.  Everything is set out, ready, and waiting, just as she is.  Her world revolves around him, and the ready whiskey glasses symbolize that.  The next time the drinks are significant is when her husband drains his glass all in one gulp.  The narrator indicates that this is "something unusual" for him to do, and if we are paying attention, we can recognize that his drinking of the entire glass and then "going for another one," this time "dark amber with the quantity of whiskey that was in it," is a symtom that something is wrong.  The drink is an element of foreshadowing; we know that he isn't himself, and that something bad is going to happen.  Mary herself senses it, simply through the way that he drinks.  And sure enough, his drinking is just a preface to his betrayal.

Later in the story, food comes in as a key factor.  In shock, Mary realizes that she must go cook dinner because they weren't going to go out after all.  And, then, the leg of lamb that she grabs is instrumental, as we know, in her husband's demise.  Food plays a role again as she goes to the supermarket to play an alibi, and gathers food there for a pretend dinner.  Then later, as the cops sit down to eat the lamb, the suspense in increased even further.

I hope that those thoughts helped a bit; good luck!

How much time elapses in Chapter 12 of "Great Expectations"?

In Volume I, the protagonist Pip writes about events which took place during his childhood. Pip does not give us the exact dates about the events of his childhood; and the events that he writes about are based on what he can retrieve from his own memory.

One important incident he records is his being hired by Miss Havisham to visit her once a week to entertain her. The first part of Ch. 12 deals with one such visit on a particular day - the very next weekly visit after he had fought with Herbert Pocket. Pip tells us that he is frightened to go to Miss Havisham's house because he might be arrested by the police:

When the day came round for my return to the scene of the deed of violence, my terrors reached their height.

However, nothing of that sort happens and Pip continues his weekly visits to Miss Havisham's house.

In the latter half of the chapter, Pip tells us how he gradually became more and more intimate with Miss Havisham and how she began take an interest in his future:

As we began to be more used to one another, Miss Havisham talked more to me, and asked me such questions as what had I learnt and what was I going to be? I told her I was going to be apprenticed to Joe, I believed.

Pip never tells us how much time elapsed between that one particular visit and the time he began becoming intimate with Miss Havisham.

Finally, one day Miss Havisham asks him to bring Joe along with him so that she can pay him off so that he could be apprenticed to Joe:

We went on in this way for a long time, and it seemed likely that we should continue to go on in this way for a long time, when, one day.

Pip has not maintained a diary and so he is not able to tell us exactly how much time passed from the day he entered Miss Havisham's service till he was apprenticed to Joe.

However, we can guess that approximately Pip would have been in Miss Havisham's service for about six or seven years because usually a boy was apprenticed at the age of fourteen, taking into consideration that Pip would have been about six or seven at the beginning of the novel.

So, we can conclude that in Ch.12 Dickens records one particular day when Pip visited Miss Havisham and that the rest of the chapter telescopes about six or seven years of Pip's life.

In Lord of the Flies what does the signal fire represent in the beginning and ending?

The signal fire built by the boys in William Golding's novel, Lord of the Flies, represents at least two different things: First, it serves as the obvious sign of life--the smoke creates a signal for anyone searching for the boys. Secondly, it also symbolizes the boys' aim to remain civilized. The fire warms the boys when the nights are cool, and it cooks the meat and fish that they procure. Additionally, it serves as a constant reminder that the boys must remain alert, disciplined and faithful to their modern human way of life. 

How does the characterization of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth add to your understanding of Macbeth's themes

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the characterization of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both establishes and reflects the themes of the play.  I'll cite two examples.

The Macbeths are shown to be ambitious.  Their ambition drives the plot and establishes the theme of ambition.

The Macbeths reverse gender roles.  He feels pity and guilt and changes his mind about killing Duncan, and has to be talked back into going ahead with it.  Lady Macbeth pleads to be unsexed and turned into a man, figuratively speaking.  The witches also suggest the theme of androgyny, though, so in this case the Macbeths contribute to and reflect the theme, though they do not initially introduce it.   

Please Answer this Question. Joanne has a garden that is 9 feet long by 6 feet wide. She wants to increase the dimensions of the garden by the...

In a rectangular figure the area is equal to width multiplied by length of the rectangle. Expressed in the form of an equation

A = w*l

Where A = area ,

w = width = 6 feet, and

l = length = 9 feet

Therefor:

A = 6*9 = 54 feet^2

If both length and width of the rectangle are increased by a common distance x, the area of the enlarged triangle (A') is given by the following equation.

A' = (w + x)*(l + x) = (6 + x)*(9 + x) = 54 + 15x + x^2

If the increase in area of rectangle is 5 times then:

A' = 5*A = 5*54 = 270 feet^2

Therefor 54 + 15x + x^2 = 270

Therefor: x^2 + 15x - 216 = 0

Therefor: x^2 + 24x - 9x - 216 = 0

Therefor: (x + 24)*(x - 9) = 0

Therefor x = 9 or x = - 24.

We reject the negative value of x.  Therefor x = 9.

Thus we will need to add 9 feet to each of width and length of the original rectangle to increase its area 5 times.

Thus the dimensions of expanded rectangle are:

Width = 6 + 9 = 15 feet

Length = 9 +9 = 18 feet

Area = 15*18 = 270 feet^2

What does Marlow mean when he states "idea that redeems the ugliness of the conquest of the earth? His statement can be found on page 9 of the book.

Marlow is talking about "civilizing" the Congo. He believes that by going he is an emissary of light to the natives. Since Marlow has yet to go to the Congo, his beliefs reflect the belief of the company. This is important because it shows that while the pretense is civilization, the reality is greed.

In the story "The Lottery", the word "win" is never used. What is used instead and why?

Here are some things to think about...

When considering the reference to who got it: "It" is the most non-specific pronoun. "It" doesn't denote gender,number, or even if we mean person or object. This takes the value of human life almost entirely out of the equation or discussion.

Not using the word win demonstrates the irony of this entire story. The way we look at a lottery today is positive. (That in itself is an irony as everyone who doesn't win a cash prize is esentially a loser, those folks being the greater number) People used to cast lots. The person with the shortest straw or stick was 'it'. Under most circumstances, this was a negative thing for that one person. Everyone else then found themselves winners. That was the case in Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. I think we can all agree though that any member's life loss in a society is not a win.

Can you give me a example of a poem that has slant rhyme in it?

Emily Dickenson's poem "The Difference Between Despair" is an example of a poem that uses slant lined poetry.

"The Mind is Smooth - no Motion -
Contented as the Eye
Upon the Forehead of a Bust -
That knows - it cannot see."

"The rhyme scheme is A-B-C-slanted B
The Mind is Smooth - no Motion - (A)
Contented as the Eye (B)
Upon the Forehead of a Bust - (C)
That knows - it cannot see. (slanted B)"

The first lines have a consistent pattern but the last line has a slant pattern.  The slant is used to demonstrate the emotions of love.

Nas' Rap song "New York Sate of Mind" is another example of a slant poem.

"I got so many rhymes I don't think I'm too sane,
Life is parallel to Hell but I must maintain,
And be prosperous, though we live dangerous,
Cops could just arrest me, blaming us, we're held like hostages."

Quite often you will find this type of poetry in rap music.  The style of poetry was frowned upon in the 1700's. 

What is one of the problems the animals encounter as they begin to discuss the coming rebellion?

The animals had to prepare for the rebellion by learning to read and write, and this activity “fell to the pigs, who were generally recognized as being the cleverest.” The pigs also had to counteract "lies" told by Moses the rave, that talked about a better place beyond the farm. The animals also had to overcome their worries that they would not have food to eat if Mr. Jones were no longer in charge. Molly in particular is worried about not having sugar. When the rebellion itself occurs, the animals have no problem scaring Mr. and Mrs. Jones away from the farm.

In "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," what has he now got to do to atone for his sin?Where can I find quote?

The answer to the question about the Ancient Mariner's atonement is in Part Seven of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," starting around Stanza 11. When The Mariner has come safely to his own "countree," and has been given a beacon by the "seraph-band" ("A man all light, a seraph-man, / On every corse there stood"), and has driven the Pilot's boy mad and heard the Hermit's plea to "shrieve" him, his atonement becomes apparent.

The Mariner says in Part Seven that at the Hermit's pleading and questioning, his "frame" (body) was "wrenched / With woful agony." This overpowering agony compelled him, forced him, to tell the tale of his ill-begotten voyage to the listener, in this case the Hermit.

The Mariner then says that ever after that first telling of the tale to the Hermit, he wanders the land "like night," dark and invisible, and possesses a "strange power of speech," a power that transfixes his listener. He also says that, in the midst of his wanderings, from time to time "at an uncertain hour" (an unknowable hour), he'll see a face and burn with the same agony that forces him to tell his tale anew to the face of the "man that must hear" his grisly tale.

What does Matt learn when Attean takes him to the beaver wigwam in The Sign of the Beaver?

Matt learns a number of things when Attean takes him to the beaver wigwam. It is the first one that he has ever seen, and he is startled to discover that with their tails, the beavers make a sharp noise that is similar to a rifle shot. Most importantly, however, Matt learns from Attean the importance of the beaver wigwam to his people. Near the house, engraved in a tree, is a sign that shows that the hunting ground belongs to Attean's tribe, the "people of the beaver." Attean tells Matt that any Indian who sees the "sign of the beaver" will respect this fact, and will not hunt there. For their part, Attean's tribe will hunt the beaver with utmost respect for nature, waiting until the young beaver are ready.

On the way back from the trip to see the beaver wigwam, Attean takes concrete steps to teach Matt to find his way in the woods. He sternly emphasizes that this is a skill Matt needs to learn, and teaches him how Indians make signs when traveling through the forest "to tell the way." The Indian trail marks are more subtle than those made by the white man, so that their wherabouts will not be so easy to detect to the untrained eye. Attean cautions Matt that he must make signs when traveling through the woods, so that he will always be able to find his way back.

Perhaps the most important lesson Matt learns on the journey to the beaver wigwam is that he can trust Attean. Attean is hostile towards white men in general, and Matt is suspicious of him, but despite themselves, the boys are slowly getting to know each other as individuals. On the trip to the beaver wigwam, Matt realizes that

"for some reason he could not explain to himself, he trust(s) Attean. He (doesn't) really like him...but...something (has) changed...They (don't) like each other, but they (are) no longer enemies" (Chapter 11).

Who is the murderer in The Egypt Game?

A relative of Mr. Schmidt is the actual murderer. He worked part time in Mr. Schmidt's store. The town believed that the professor, a curio shop owner, was the murderer. The townspeople were afraid of him , but they had no basis for their fear.

When two girls in one year were killed, fear ran throughout the community. There was no proof that the professor had done the murders, but the speculation was always there. It wasn't until April was attacked, and the professor called for help, that people started to change their minds.

Given the Puritans' view of the forest, what atmosphere does Miller create by setting this scene in the woods?

As the first answer states, Miller does not actually set any of his scenes in the forest.  The play refers to action that has taken place before the first scene between Rev. Parris and Abigail when Abigail discusses being in the forest.  The film version of the play does include two scenes in the forest--the girls' dancing with Tituba and John and Abigail meeting one last time in the forest (this second scene is not part of the play at all).

The Puritans' view of the forest as the devil's earthly home was a common teaching and has often been satirized and portrayed in American Literature.  Washington Irving, who regularly mocked Puritan superstitions and traditions, uses the forest as the devil's home in "The Devil and Tom Walker." Nathaniel Hawthorne, relative of the Puritan leader, Judge Hathorne (from The Crucible), sets the "earthy" scenes between Dimmesdale and Hester in the forest for The Scarlet Letter.  So, as you can see, the Puritans believed that the darkness of the forest hid the sins or sin nature of mankind from the "light" of God and provided a perfect setting for the devil to roam with his black book looking for humans who were willing to sign away their souls to do the devil's bidding.

Why do you start and seem fear/Things that do sound fair?(1.3,51-52)Why do you think Macbeth responds this way?

The lines you ask about in Shakespeare's Macbeth follow the predictions by the witches that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and king.  Banquo notices Macbeth's reaction and says:

Good sir, why do you start and seem to fear

Things that do sound so fair?...

"Start" means flinch or recoil.  Macbeth is startled.  He is startled probably because he takes the predictions seriously, as Banquo does not, and probably because he is extremely ambitious and has considered this possibility before.  At least these reasons are two possibilities.

Another possibility is that he not only has considered becoming king before, but already realizes what his becoming king would include--assassinating the ruling monarch, King Duncan.  This might indicate why he flinches or recoils.

Notice how anxious Macbeth is to hear more.  He wants explanations!  As soon as the witches finish talking about Banquo's future, Macbeth says:

Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.

I don't see an aside in Act 1.7, but his conversation with Lady Macbeth could be relevant to the question you ask.  Macbeth decides not to assassinate Duncan, and his wife talks him back into it.  This indicates he has reservations about killing Duncan, of course, but it may also indicate that he earlier flinches or recoils when the witches predict he will be king, because he has already considered the possibility of assassinating Duncan, and is already afraid of that possibility when he hears the predictions.

This might be a stretch, and it might be mere speculation.  But I suggest it is a grain of evidence that contributes to the question of how ambitious is Macbeth before he hears the predictions, and how much responsibility Macbeth bears for his actions. 

Incidentally, when Banquo asks why do you fear what seems fair, he is contributing to the fair is foul theme started by the witches and later echoed by Macbeth.  And notice Banquo's words apply to Macbeth.  Opposition is at play here, too, as Macbeth reacts in a manner opposite what Banquo expects.

Calculus question? Find the critical numbers of f (x) = x^2-6x. Find also the open intervals on which the function is increasing or decreasing and...

To establish the monotony of a function,only the first derivative of the function is useful. So, if the first derivative is positive on an interval, then the function id increasing on that interval and if the first derivative is negative on an interval, then the function is decreasing on that interval.

Let's find the first derivative of the function f(x):

f'(x)=(x^2-6x)'=(x^2)'-(6x)'

f'(x)=2x-6

To find out the intervals where the first derivative is positive or negative, we have to find out first, where the first derivative is annuling.For this reason we have to calculate the equation of the first derivative:

2x-6=0

2x=6

x=6/2

x=3

To discuss if the first derivative is positive or negative, we can discuss it as a linear function, knowing the rule that claims that the values of the expresion, from the left side of the root of the first derivative, have the opposite sign of the coefficient of x, which is positive, the coefficient being =2.

So, the function is decreasing on the interval (-inf, 3), because the first derivative is negative on this interval.

The values of the expresion, from the right side of the root of the first derivative, have the same sign of the coefficient of x, that means that is positive, the coefficient being =2.

So, the function is increasing on the interval (3, +inf), because the first derivative is positive on this interval.

That means that the function has an extreme point, of minimum, where the first derivative is canceling.

So, the minimum point has the coordinates (3,f(3)), where

f(3)=3^2-6*3=9-18=-9.

So, the local extreme point has the coordinates (3,-9).

What are the literary elements of plot, characterization, setting, and point of view?

There are four parts to plot: EXPOSITION (the background information you need to understand the story and introduction of characters) RISING ACTION (the complications that lead to the climax)  CLIMAX (the point of highest reader interest) and the RESOLUTION (how things are resolved).  Some people also say there is a falling action (between climax and resolution), but in modern literature, that is more and more rare. 

There are several types of characterization the two main types are DIRECT and INDIRECT.  DIRECT characterization is when someone in the novel or movie directly state what a character is like.  Example, "That guy is a real jerk!"  INDIRECT characterization can happen lots of ways.  It could be through what someone thinks, or says about someone else, the way someone acts, the way others react to a character, or just through the way a character appears - writers like to play on stereotypes that way. 

SETTING can include the place where the story is happening, the time in which the story is happening, and it can sometimes include the weather.

There are three main points of views.  There's FIRST PERSON: that's when the main character is telling the story.  In these stories you'll notice the story being told from that person's perspective and you'll notice the use of the pronoun "I" and "me" a great deal.  You'll only know what that character is thinking or feeling.  Then there's THIRD PERSON LIMITED: that's when it seems like someone's looking in on the story and telling what's happening to a character.  However, we still don't know what every character is thinking or saying - that's why it's called 'limited.'  You'll notice "he" and "she" used in the telling of the story rather than "I" or "me."  Lastly, there's THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT: this point of view is when the narrator knows everything about every character in the story and shares the information to advance the plot.  The narrator still uses "he" and "she" and also knows what every character is feeling and thinking.  There's also second person, but that is so rarely used that it's not worth going into detail about.

During the battle with Grendel's mother Beowulf is driven on mainly by a desire for..............Glory, wealth, justice, and revenge! are...

Good question. There are many reasons. Revenge is one. He must destroy here because of her attempt to seek revenge on Beowulf and his men for killing her son. This is similar to the blood feuds the Anglo-Saxons fought.

Glory and to cement his reputation are also factors. Remember, Beowulf's people, the Celts and later the Anglo-Saxons before Augustine converted King Ethelbert to Christianity, didn't have a concept of afterlife. The only way to live on was to perform heroic deeds that would be recorded in song and poem by the bards and recited after you were dead. By not only killing the monster Grendel but also killing his mother, Beowulf's reputation would be even more incredible and sure to be retold.

Bravery is another factor. Remember the heroic code to which Beowulf adheres - loyalty, bravery, and generosity - are embodied in all of his battles. He is being loyal to Hrothgar by sailing to his land to battle these monsters. If he were to leave, he would not fulfill his obligation. He is also being brave by seeking her out and trying to kill her. Finally, if he destroys her, his men can share her treasure and weapons. All of these are vital to the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon ways of life.

Why does Ralph call a meeting in Chapter 5?

I assume from your tag that you are talking about the meeting that Ralph calls in Chapter 5.  I have edited this to show that.

The reason that Ralph calls a meeting in this chapter is because he is unhappy with the way things are going on the island.  In specific terms, he is upset about how they missed the possiblity of getting rescued in the previous chapter (because the hunters let the fire go out).

More generally, he is unhappy that the boys do not seem to care about keeping things orderly and organized.  He wants them to be more serious about being a bit civilized.

Who is Bassett in "The Rocking-Horse Winner?" Why does he keep Paul's secret?

Bassett is the "young gardener" who works for Paul's family. He is "a shortish fellow with a little brown mustache, and sharp little brown eyes." Basset had been "wounded in the left foot in the war," and is an afficionado of horse racing. He keeps Paul's secret because of the relationship of mutual respect which he has developed with the boy, and also because of his keen awareness of his place as a servant in Paul's family.

Bassett is the only adult in the story who treats Paul with respect. He takes what Paul says seriously, follows his instructions on how to bet on the horses, and keeps the boy's winnings safely hidden away for him. Bassett is trustworthy, and he keeps the transactions between himself and Paul a secret because he believes the boy would want him to. He shares the secret with no one, until asked about it specifically by Paul's Uncle, Oscar Cresswell. In Basset's eyes, Cresswell is his employer and authority, and so someone who also must be respected and obeyed.

Bassett's awareness of his station in life, coupled with his respect for authority, is another reason why he keeps Paul's secret as far as he can, but it is also the reason why Cresswell eventually finds out about the success the two of them are having with the horses. Because Paul is a member of his employer's family, Bassett undoubtedly feels a sense of obligation to keep his secret, but by the same token, he also feels that he has to reveal something of the secret to Paul's Uncle when he inquires about it, because Paul's Uncle is his actual employer. Bassett tries, out of duty but mostly out of respect, to remain faithful to his perceived belief that Paul would want knowledge of his almost magical intuition with the horses to remain secret by telling Cresswell diplomatically,

"I don't want to give him away - he's a young sport, a fine sport, sir. Would you mind asking him yourself? He sort of takes a pleasure in it, and perhaps he'd feel I was giving him away, sir, if you don't mind."

What is the job of the elders in The Giver?

The elders of Jonas's community act like a city council or governing body. They enforce the rules, determine job assignments, organize family units, host celebrations, declare holidays, and determine who lives or dies. It's simple, really: They do whatever they can to maintain the effectiveness and execution of the policy of Sameness. Jonas, at age eleven, is concerned with what the elders will assign him for his life's work. He is also worried about his friend Asher because Asher is never serious about anything. When discussing these concerns with his mother, she provides an answer that validates her complete trust in the elders, as follows:

"The Elders know Asher. . . . They'll find exactly the right Assignment for him. I don't think you need to worry about him" (17).

His mother's statement shows her complete trust and loyalty to the elders. She, like the others in the community, never questions the elders' methods, what they tell the people, or if they might ever lie to them. It's just not done.

The Giver provides a little more insight into what the elders do when Jonas asks if they often come to him for advice. He replies as follows:

"Rarely. Only when they are faced with something that they have not experienced before. Then they call upon me to use the memories and advise them. But it very seldom happens. Sometimes I wish they'd ask for my wisdom more often—there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don't want change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable—so painless. It's what they've chosen" (103).

From the description of the elders by the Giver, it is learned that the purpose of the elders is to maintain the status quo; that is to say, to maintain Sameness. They only want the Receiver to hold onto all of the pain for them so they can live out their lives without any extreme emotions or pain.

Discuss the emotions in "The Outsiders."

When I think of the characters in the book "The Outsiders" I am able to relate different emotions with different characters.  Johnny has feelings of loneliness and abandonment.  He has low self-esteem.  He is also timid.

Dallas Winston, Dally, is angry.  He has lost the ability to cope with life in any other manner than anger.

Darry, the oldest brother, is frustrated and angry.  He has had to accept the responsibility of getting his brother through school and keeping the family together.

Two-Bit has the emotion of joy and laughter.  He is a wise cracker but he enjoys being happy and making others happy.

Soda Pop is sensitive and in love with a girl.  He worries bout his family and friends and tries to play mediator.

Bob, the Soc, is angry and spiteful. 

Pony Boy has a need or desire to be something better than his circumstances.  He loves the people he is around but he is more aware of the life beyond his upbringing.  He is confused.

What is the "nightmare" that now descends upon the children?

The nightmare unfolding around the children’s safe and innocent life is the racism the children will face throughout the arrest and trial of Tom Robinson.  Scout and Jem first confront the racism of the town when they follow Atticus to the jail.  Atticus’ intention is to protect Tom from a lynch mob, and when the children arrive at the jailhouse, the mob is threatening and angry.  Scout, in her innocence, points out Mr. Cunningham in the mob.  Mr. Cunningham represents the racism present in the average Maycomb resident, and this scene allows Jem and Scout to see that this hatred is predominant in people they know and the everyday events of Maycomb.  

Throughout the rest of the novel, Scout learns about hypocrisy through the teachings of her teacher about Hitler’s discrimination of Jews and the outlandish hypocrisy of the missionary circle raising money for a tribe in Africa but who won’t help their neighboring black community.  She also learns about Dolphus Raymond and the discrimination he must endure to live the way he wants.  Jem and Scout are also harassed by their classmates at school for Atticus defending Tom.  Even Mrs. Dubose yells at the children and calls their father a derogatory name. 

The children are living in a nightmare because they are being ostracized and bullied by their friends and acquaintances.  They are no longer living the dream-like state of children but are living the reality of how racism can affect them and those around them. 

Is "The Signal-Man a ghost story or is the ghost only part of the signalman's imagination?

I do not know that there is any way to answer this question for sure.  I tend to believe, however, that the ghosts (at least in the story) are actually real.

The main reason that I think the ghosts are "real" is that it is not only the signal man who sees them.  He is the one who sees most of them but, at the end of the story, the narrator sees one of them as well.  This implies that they must be real.

The other thing that makes me say they are real is that they appear to predict bad things that are going to happen.  It does not seem likely that the signal man could imagine such things in advance of the bad things actually happening.

Why was the federal government response to Hurricane Katrina not appropriate?

I would say that one of the most important aspects of a government's response to a disaster is how it makes the victims of the disaster feel.  Does it make them feel like the government cares about them?  Or does it make them feel abandoned?  To me, this was the major problem with the response.

The government's response to Katrina really made it look as if they did not care about the residents of New Orleans.  This was made worse by the fact that the residents were black and poor and the government was Republican (and these two don't usually get along).  Because of that, there seemed to be a logical explanation as to why the government wouldn't care.

Finally, there was the President praising the man whose organization was botching the job.  That seemed to indicate that the government didn't really care what was happening to the victims.

Describe Mathilde in "'The Necklace."

Mathilde changes greatly throughout the course of the story.  The story starts with her as being a materialistic, rather high-maintenance woman who desires parties, jewelry, notoriety and a life of comfort and ease.  She is bitter and resentful that she doesn't have money, and that she doesn't have servants, a nice house, nice clothes, nice jewelry, or nice parties and friends to be with.  She resents the very food she eats, because it isn't good enough for her.  She constantly longs for better things, at least in terms of money. She is willing to take money from her husband, that he had been saving for himself, to have one night of happiness at a party filled with shallow, rich people.

When she goes to the party, she enjoys herself thoroughly, and revels in her acceptance and beauty.  It isn't until after she realizes she has lost the necklace, and spent years working hard to get the money, that she changes.  She gives up her dreams of wealth and fame, and settles into her life with the common people.  She learns to work hard.  She learns to accept her life.  She learns to work hard and take pride in that work.  She changes quite a bit from beginning to end.

I hope that those thoughts helped; good luck!

Could you please Identify the thesis of Dreams from my father book and support the answer with specific example?

Of the many driving forces in the book, I would say that the complex nature of racial identity and the experience of ethnicity becomes the major thesis in the book.  The President engages in a narrative that divulges the reality of someone with a complex heritage.  Being born of a White mother and African father, the President's narrative is one where individuals from different backgrounds have to make sense of this reality, its implications on one's upbringing and their identities as adults.  The reality explored through the memoir is that idea that multiple experiences of ethnicity and race are revealed through one's background.  The memoir explores this theme throughout and how one comes to terms with it as part of their experience, their reality.

How is Brom 's horse, Daredevil, similar to him in its appearance and action?I need to know what is funny about the horse which Ichabod riding as...

Daredevil is similar to Brom in that they are both,

"full of mettle and mischief and which no one but himself can manage,"

which is why they make a good team. The story describes Daredevil as a creature much like Brom. Daredevil can also be described as vicious since the story notes that Brom had an affinity for vicious animals. This is also similar to Brom's temperament because he can be vicious toward others at times.

Ichabod's steed is "funny" in a way because he looks awkward riding it. He has short stirrups which make his knees rise up to the level of the saddle and cause his elbows to stick out so that he has the appearance of a grasshopper. He doesn't quite look like a knight in quest of his adventures.

Where and how does Bernard make sure that the DHC won't send him to Iceland?

In this chapter, the Director calls Bernard Marx to him.  He says that Bernard has been convicted of having improper beliefs and doing improper things.  Bernard is accused of many things, including an unorthodox sex life.

What Bernard does here is the perfect response to this particular accusation.  He brings Linda into the room and has her identify the Director.  She tells everyone that he is "Tomakin" the man who is the father of her child.  This completely humiliates the Director.

This happens in the Fertilizing Room at the Centre.

The reasons for the views whether strong points and weak points in speaking English like a native speaker.The role and nature of English

I think it's both a strong point and a weak point. but to some extent, what do you mean by native speaker? Who exactly? Singaporian, American, British or Australian...? The language i wish to speak like a native speaker is American English (General American English=standard dialect=neutral English)

Strong point if the language you speak is widely understood by other native and non-native speakers. In this view, you have to speak what is a so-called "neutral English" as i mentioned.

Weak point is that the language you using even like native english speaker but it's hard for other to understand you even native English speaker. Obviously, in a native English country, we've already known, there are many regions with different dialects which others can not understand with their great efforts.

to sum up, speaking English like a native English speaker doesnot always mean "good". It depends on someone' s view point. In my oipion, whatever kind of English we use, we have to consider "who is our audience?" to choose the right accent to get their attention and heart. Our accent is not always stationary. we have to adapt in order  to get success in our communication!

How can I write a successful topic essay on Mansfield Park by Jane Austen?Mansfield Park is the novel I will be tested on in my exam.

A successful essay in literature has an Introduction that conveys the Who/What, Where/When, Why and How of your essay. Your Introduction, a generally short paragraph (generally acknowledged as 5 - 7 percent of the essay), tells the who or what of your essay topic, in this case you suggest it is Mansfield Park in general. You'll want to identify the general background of the novel (genre, author, where and when written, and why written if known) and the specific point of discussion: perhaps your exam will ask for a broad general description of the literary points of the novel.

Your Introduction will also provide a statement (usually one sentence for a short essay) of the individual idea that you wish to focus on--again this may be assigned by the exam. This is called your thesis statement, short for hypothesis statement. Further, in relation to the thesis, you will tell why--the purpose for--you are addressing the idea--or why it is worth addressing if assigned--and how you will proceed. In literature, the "how" is generally through analysis: examining individual parts to understand the whole. Here's a sample Why/How statement for a general examination of Mansfield Park: "A general examination of Mansfield Park will shed light on [Why] Jane Austen's means of producing an exceptional work that stands up to even a dozen rereadings without losing its original interest and power. My analysis [How] will examine... ."

Your essay will also provide a short Conclusion that reflects back what you have established in your essay and that suggests what further investigation of the text might shed more light on the thesis or might compliment the thesis by exploring a related topic. In between the Introduction and Conclusion will lie the body of your essay. In it you will discuss the ideas that prove whatever your thesis statement asserts or questions, and in it you will present the quotations or passages from the text, from critics, or from the author's own words (e.g., from letters etc.) that prove the point you are critically arguing from your thesis statement.

Some of the knowledge you should be prepared with for an essay on a general examination of Mansfield Park falls under the term literary devices. This includes literary elements such as structure, theme, point of view, narratorial voice, tone, mood, conflict, and characters. This also includes literary techniques such as ironic narrator, indirect dialogue, metaphor, and symbolism, as they pertain to the text. Whether you pick the thesis statement (the idea/point you argue and prove or disprove) or it is assigned to you as part of the exam, be prepared to provide three sound quotes or passages in the body of your essay that substantiate your statements (three is a generally recommended number).

To what extent do the witches predictions dictate events in Macbeth? Are their prophecies binding?

To all the good answers posted above, I'll dare to add a few lines of my own about what my reading suggests.

The witches' predictions not at all dictate the events. Remember in the first scene of the first act, the witches say: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair". This statement of the weird sisters, for the first time, hints at how much ambiguity and dubiousness they are going to create in Macbeth's mind throughout the whole play. Ambiguity, or conflict between appearance and reality, is one of the key themes in this tragedy. The witches just equivocate in an ambiguous way, implying that, lie in a way which seems apparently true. And this they do solely to win his trust and make him a devil like them.

The witches know that, Macbeth is already an ambitious man who needs a spur in order to rouse his ambition and let it develop fully to achieve his end. They shows him what he wanted to see. They tell him what he wanted to hear. Their predicted apparent truth arises his inner demon and instigates his voracity. Macbeth is thus illusioned. He is told that no human born of woman can kill him, neither he would be killed till the Birnam Wood come close to his fort. Later, when he finds that the Birnam Wood does not come nearer, rather soldiers hiding themselves under leaves come closer, and Macduff is found to be born out of surgery probably because of his mother's illness or death, he understands clearly that, he has been deceived by the witches' dubious prophecy. In act 5, scene 7, disillusioned Macbeth tells to Macdufff:

"Accursed be that tongue... / That palter with us in a double sense, / That keep the word of promise to our ear/ And break it to our hope."

So, it is clear that, the witches prophesies contributes to influence and instigate him towards evil deed, but does not 'dictate events'.

How do the symbols in 1984 support the development of the theme? Be sure to use specific examples.

The reeking smell of cooked cabbage  mentioned at the very beginning of the story shows the insipid, repetitive and bleak side of Winston's existence.

The "feelies" which dope the public are the "bread and circuses" which keep people entertained and satisfied with a surrogate and virtual "experience" -- instead of having the possibility to have the real thing.

The loudspeakers and later on the one-way mirror represent the intrusion of the government in a person's privacy. In fact, no domain is private, as the last "free space" is taken in the end when Winston is brainwashed to betray Julia and to "love" Ford and Big Brother instead.

Note the paradoxical elements within the novel as well, such as the Ministry of Truth whose job is to rewrite history and propagate lies. (See the reference below.)

Why is the prisoner drugged in Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum"?

Although the prisoner is not druggged at first, later on in the story, his torturers do drug him, in order to inflict more torture upon him.  After he has explored his prison and discovered the pit, he is exhausted and sleeps fitfully.  Then, he describes,

"Upon arousing, I found by my side, as before, a loaf and a pitcher of water. A burning thirst consumed me, and I emptied the vessel at a draught. It must have been drugged; for scarcely had I drunk, before I became irresistibly drowsy."

This food that is laced with drugs only occurs after he has found the pit and failed to fall into it.  His accusers know that their little pit scheme has failed, because after he falls, there is a brief flash of light into the chamber.  We can assume that was one of his torturers, peeking into the prison to see if he had fallen into the pit.  Once they realize that isn't going to work, they drug him and knock him out.  After he wakes up from being drugged, he discovers that he is tied to a plank, and that there is a giant scythe slowly descending upon him.

So, his tormenters drugged him in order to try a different plan of action in regards to his demise.  The pit was plan A, and when he didn't fall into it, they moved on to plan B.  Why they didn't just go into the prison and man-handle him onto the plank is unknown; instead, they drugged him and tied him to it while he was unconscious.  Perhaps they didn't want him to put up a fight, or didn't want him to know their identity, or maybe they just wanted to confuse and disorient him, and to add to his torture by having him discover, on his own, the gruesome death that awaited him at the blade of the scythe.

I hope that helped; good luck!

What does the last sentence of paragraph one mean?does it relate to how someone develops as a child

This book is about a young (5 years old) boy named Dibs who has some pretty severe emotional problems.  He keeps to himself all the time and doesn't really talk much to anyone.  Over the course of the book, Virginia Axline, who pretty much invented play therapy, is able to get through to Dibs.  As it turns out, he is a brilliant boy.  The story follows all the difficulties that lead to this triumphant end.

In the first paragraph of the story, Dibs is withdrawn, like he usually is.  All the kids in his class are getting ready to go home, but he is not.  His teachers are watching him "surreptitiously."  This means that they are watching him in a way that he will not notice.  The word "surreptitiously" has nothing to do with child development -- it just means doing something but trying to keep others from noticing that you are doing it.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: What happens during Victor's pursuit of the Creature? Where do they go? What does the Creature do?

In the final chapter of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Victor pursues his creation. Beginning immediately after Elizabeth's murder, the chapter begins with Victor contemplating his self-exile of Geneva "forever." Victor, liquidating all of his assets, quits his home and begins to wander about looking for his "fiendish enemy."  During his initial wanderings, Victor finds himself at the graves of William, Elizabeth, and his father, and he swears to find and destroy his creation. There he hears a "loud and fiendish laugh." 

For many months the creature led Victor, on the brink of death and starvation, through numerous countries (both populated and unpopulated). The creature left notes carved in trees and cut into stones which provoked Victor, insuring he would continue to follow the creature. Eventually Victor follows the creature into the ice fields of the north. It is here where Victor finds Walton and his crew (who tell him that they had seen his creature). In the end, Victor dies (after passing on his tale to Walton). The creature, truly saddened by his "father's death," mourns him openly and allows his own life to be taken by the waves and darkness. 

In The Crucible, John Proctor seems to be the only voice of reason at the end of Act II. What are some examples to support this?

Here is a quote from John Proctor from that scene:  “the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!”

Proctor knows that Abigail is being dishonest, and believes Parris is as well.  He wisely suggests that the two of them be questioned rather than assumed to be correct.  Proctor is being rational - he is urging that all the details be gathered before prosecution is laid down.  Although he has knowledge the others do not, because of his conversation with Abigail in Act I, he is clearly a voice of reason and logic in a time of hysteria.  In any such case, prosecutors should slow down and consider all the possible evidence before coming to any conclusion.

Furthermore, Proctor makes the decision to go to court with Mary Warren.  He is the voice of reason here because he is willing to fight for both his wife and the principles of justice.

Can you please explain this quote from Act V of Romeo and Juliet?“Capulet, Montague, See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds...

In the Act Five, Scene 3 of "Romeo and Juliet," the Prince has been informed that Romeo and Juliet, who have secretly been married, are dead.  When he arrives at the Capulet tombs, Friar Laurence, who has been detained as a suspect, tells him the details of the marriage, Romeo's staying in Mantua until he is told that he can return, the missed message to Romeo that Juliet is still alive because Balthasar has been kept from entering the quarantined city, and Romeo's desperate suicide and murder of Paris.

After he reads Romeo's letter to his father that he has given to Balthasar, the Prince states, "This letter doth make good the friar's words" (V,iii,297), and then he calls upon Lord Montague and Lord and Lady Capulet, telling them that their feud has been the cause of the tragic deaths of their children.  They receive punishment (scourge) from their hatred.  The Prince's line,"That Heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!" (V,iii,304) is ironic, for the love shared by Romeo and Juliet ultimately ends their lives because they have been afraid to reveal this love. Blaming himself, the Prince says that he shut his eyes to the enmity between the families by "winking at your discords,too" (V,iii,305).  As a result he, also, has lost a pair of kinsmen (relatives).  Consequently, the Prince declares, they all have suffered:  "All are punished" (V,iii,306).

Here, at the conclusion of Shakespeare's play, nearly all the characters are on stage to bring to fulfillment what has been told to the audience by the Prologue.  The "star-crossed lovers" have reached their fateful deaths because of their impetuousness--what some term the villain of the play--and these deaths are the only occurrence that has had the power to bring together the two families as they finally reconcile.  Still, they all suffer from the tragedy.

In Chapter 7 of A Separate Peace, even if Brinker is built like an athlete why isn't he an athlete?

In Knowles' A Separate Peace, I don't think the reader is given any specific information about Brinker not being an athlete.  It's possible that a line or two about the subject exists and I'm just not remembering it, but in general, Brinker's interests just lie in other areas.  Not everyone that could be an athlete desires to specialize in athletics. 

Brinker is an organizer and a leader, and he likes to be in control, or at least think he is.  Remember his obsession with the hard cider he secures for their "Olympics."  Also, he is the organizer and the driving force behind the mock trial that tries to establish what or who exactly caused Finny's accident.  Brinker is busy dealing with normal teenage angst, as well as his impending enlistment into some form of the armed forces fighting WWII.  His interests just don't lie in athletics.

How does the fate of Mrs.Crater, Lucynell, and Mr.Shiftlet connect to the title of "The Life You Save May Be Your Own"?

O'Connor's religious vision deals with humankind's fall from grace.  Her comedy shows her characters' blindness and inability to redeem themselves through nihilism and materialism.  The title "The Life you Save May be Your Own" deals not with highway safety, but with salvation in the afterlife.

Mr. Shiflet's fate is just as his name suggests: a shiftless wanderer.  He begins and ends the story lost.  Though he has the ability to redeem himself by marrying an Innocent, Lucynell, he abandons her in favor of a car, a few bucks, and a hitchhiker.  Ironically, the hitchhiker boy abandons him the same way Shiftlet abandons Lucynell.

Lucynell remains silent the entire story; as such, she is an Innocent, uncorrupted, the Virgin Mary, and "angel of Gawd."  She is blind to the cruelties and materialism of the world.  But, because of her mother's blindness, Lucynell is abandoned on the highway.  In the end, we must assume that she will be corrupted too.  As she is literally lost by the end of the story by Shiftlet, her life too is not saved.

Mrs. Crater too loses everything in the story: her daughter, her car, and her salvation too.  She has been deceived by an imposter, Shiftlet.  Her faith in him is misguided; instead of protecting her daughter, an Innocent, she ends up brokering a marriage to a fraud, paying Shiftlet--a kind of pagan, unholy dowry.

Which words in the description of Grendel's birth are most effective in portraying his evil nature?

 In addition to the suggestions above, I think that the first reference to Grendel in line 30-31: The fire blasting demon/Ere long from from the hottest hatred must sword wrath.." is striking indication of his evil nature comparing it to the fires of hell.   Grendel could not bear the singing and music from the Hall.  He "bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkenss (line 34)" also is a stark portrayal of his evil.  Finally that he does his "deeds of direfullest malice (line 48)" I think is very effective in portraying his evil nature.  Each of these phrases creates a compelling picture of evil in the mind's eye.   

What is the theme of Raymond Carver's short story "Sixty Acres"?

Raymond Carver is the minimalist author of the short story "Sixty Acres," a story set in the Lower Valley of the Yakima Indian Reservation in Washington.  A popular area for duck hunting, the area's history is fraught with the sad mistakes of the Indians selling their land to white farmers and duck clubs.  This tragic history of the loss of their land is the grounding of "Sixty Acres."

When Lee Waites gets the phone call again about hunters encroaching upon his land, he is reluctant to answer the call.  Wishing that Joseph Eagle, the old Indian who sits and watches the land would do something besides call him, Waites reluctantly dons his coat and hat and takes his truck to where the hunters are.  Dilatory in his mission, he waits for the grader to pass by; when he finds the hunters' car, he sits in the truck waiting.  "He had not been down there to do anything in four or five years." 

As he delays, Lee Waites [notice the surname!] recalls the deaths of his two brothers who would have shared the sixty acres with him.  Finally, he gets out of the truck and the hunters return.  As his legs shake, Waites confronts the boys, but lets them off.  Returning home, Waits ponders what has happened.  Yes, he has put the boys off his land, 

yet he could not understand why he felt something crucial had happened, a failure.

he is relieved that his sons are asleep, for they will be disappointed that he has done no more than run off the interlopers.  Inside the small house, he feels that there "was never a place to go."  As he explains what has happened to his wife, Waites scrutinizes a "brown mesh of a gill net wrapped around the prongs of a salmon spear."  He glances at his old mother, but the black eyes merely stare.  With foreboding, Waites feels "as if it had happened, whatever it was."  Again he looks at the salmon spear; then, he tells his wife that he is considering leasing the land to a duck hunting club, for it could bring them a thousand dollars.  Worried that they will lose the land and wondering what the mother will think, the wife is reassured with Waites's words, "It's just a lease."  However, Lee Waites feels that the room's floor is slanting as though the house were sinking.

With the subtle details of the dog's disappointment in not going hunting with Waites, his failure to check on his land in years, the old salmon spear hanging useless upon the wall, and the old mother, silent and staring, Carver conveys the loss of dignity that Lee Waites suffers.  Now, he is about to sacrifice the dignity of his family, the legacy of his father, the precious land of his Native American people.

What is a possible thesis statement for the story The Gilded Six-Bits?

You can get a lot of good ideas for thesis statements by visiting the "Themes" link to Hurston's story (below). 

One I can offer you, however, (and is discussed in the "Themes" page) is to consider the differences between appearance and reality.  You might want to go with something as straight-forward as "The old adage "all that glitters is not gold" is certainly true in Zora Neale Hurston's story of two characters , Missy Mae and Joe, blinded by what-seems-to be.  It will be take some time before reality takes precedence over appearance and true gold is realized to be something more intangible than tangible." 

What does "False face must hide what the false heart doth know" mean?

"False face must hide what the false heart doth know" is the very last line of the very first act in Macbeth. 

It is uttered by Macbeth, who has finally been convinced by Lady Macbeth to engage in a plot to murder to Scottish King, Duncan, in order for Macbeth to eventually become the ruler of Scotland. In the scene, Duncan and everyone else are enjoying a welcome feast at Macbeth's castle, where they are visiting. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth steal away for a moment to talk. When Macbeth had first heard the three witches / weird sisters' prophecy that he would become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland, he immediately felt greedy for those positions. His ambitious feeling began to well up over his good sense. However, his moral code fought against it and he tried to convince himself that evil deeds would not be worth it. He attempted to battle his evil ambitions. When he goes home to his wife, though, her resolve is absolutely steelier than his. She is 100 percent sure that murdering Duncan is the quickest and best path to making her husband King and herself the queen. She manipulates, insults, and coerces him into eventually agreeing with her. She uses their sexual passion and his fear of being "unmanly" and cowardly to make him agree to kill Duncan. 

When King Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle for a visit, he is jolly and optimistic as usual. He doesn't know that his seemingly gracious hosts are plotting his death. In the last scene (scene 7) of the first act, Macbeth shows that he is finally convinced to commit an evil deed by saying this line. He agrees with Lady Macbeth that they must outwardly hide (false face must hide) their secret evil plans (which are from their false heart). Although they know what they plan to do, the success of the plan relies on them acting like they are in grief and anger when Duncan is discovered to be murdered.

How did the Souls give new meaning to the phrase "bottoms up"?

"Bottoms up" is ordinarily a term used to describe taking a drink, as in a toast. 

As a result of a recent school reorganization, sixth grade, which used to be the top elementary school grade, is now the bottom grade in middle school (Chapter 3).  When the sixth grade Souls defeat the eight grade academic bowl team, they win the right to represent Epiphany Middle School in the district championships. It is unprecendented for a school to be represented by its youngest, bottom class, and Mrs. Sharkey thus says that the Souls give "new meaning to the term 'bottoms up'" (Chapter 6).

What does Chapter 1 in Chinese Handcuffs talk about?

Chapter 1 of Chinese Handcuffs opens with a letter Dillon Hemingway is writing to his older brother Preston. Preston has committed suicide by shooting himself in the head, but Dillon is desperate to talk to someone about the turmoil he is going through, and chooses his brother, even though he is dead. Dillon, like his brother before him, has an angry, rebellious nature, and is constantly in trouble at school. He remembers that everyone used to say that he and Preston were so much alike, but Dillon knows that things were always much harder for Preston, who had a more brooding personality, especially after he lost his legs in a motorcycle accident. In his letter, Dillon tells Preston that, although he loves him, he thinks he took the "cowardly way out" by committing suicide.

Preston had left a note for Dillon before he died, telling him to never forget an incident from their childhood when they brutally killed a neighbor's cat. The incident scarred both boys deeply, because it revealed to them so starkly "the horror in (them)selves." The boys had vowed never to tell anyone what had happened, but after Preston's death, Dillon had confided in his friend and Preston's former girlfriend Stacy. Stacy had acknowledged that "human beings are connected by the ghastly as well as the glorious," and spoken of the necessity to always guard against allowing the evil side of one's nature to take control.

Chapter 1 closes with Dillon again talking to Preston, telling him about the two women in his life, Stacy and Jen. Although Dillon is not in a romantic relationship with either of them, both are highly influential in his existence. As Preston's former girlfriend, Stacy is "big in (Dillon's) past," while with Jen, a classmate and star basketball player, Dillon enjoys a "magical sense of connection that goes beyond time and experience together." Both girls give Dillon the support he needs to get through these trying times.

9x^2-6x+1I don't understand how to factor the expression.

Factoring an expression means representing the expression as multiple of two or more terms. In a quadratic equation, that is an equation in which one of the term contains square of the variable (say x), and no term which has higher power than square. There are always maximum two factors containing the term x. Thus the factors of the expression of the type:

ax^2 + bx + c

will be of the form:

(x - A)(x -B)*C

Where A, B and C are constant numbers.

There are formulae to calculate the values of A, B and C from the values of a, b and c, without finding out the factors. But in many cases it is possible to find out the factors with a little bit of ingenuity or a little bit of trial and error. To illustrate how this can be done we will find out factors of the given expression in two different ways.

Method I:

If we examine the expression 9x^2 - 6x + 1 carefully, we can see that it conforms to the form p^2 - 2pq - q^^2, which is equal to (p - q)^2. Thus we can straight away we can find out the factors of the expression as:

(3x - 1)^2 = (x - 1/3)(x -1/3)*9

Method II

In this method we need term bx of the expression ax^2 + bx + c in two components b'x + b"x so that we can find a common factor in the terms (ax^ + b'x) and (b"x + c).

Thus we can represent the given expression as:

9x^2 - 3x  - 3x + 1

= 3x*(3x - 1) -1*(3x - 1)

= (3x - 1)(3x - 1)

= (x - 1/3)(x - 1/3)*9

What happened to the seven commandments?

After he revolution and the development of the seven commandments, the idea of creating a different society that would be better than the way mankind exists is strong and idealistic.  However, it does not take long for the animals to begin breaking the commandments or re-establishing them so they fit their wants.

One of the laws was not to sleep in beds, but soon the pigs are in the beds.  Another rule was not to work with mankind, but soon the animals are trading with man.  Just like mankind had taken the original Ten Commandments and manipulated them so that they worked to allow some of the sins that man wanted to commit, the animals have done the same.

In the end the commandments have been adjusted so that they really are only commandments that can be used when those in charge see fit to hurt another with them instead of them serving their true purpose.

What does throwing away the good luck pebble symbolize?

Cross received the pebble from Martha, his girlfriend back home, but as his time in Viet Nam continues, be begins to realize that she really didn't love him, that she was only a fantasy he entertained.  After he participates in the atrocities of war--killing an entire village and seeing men he loved die--he realizes he can no longer carry fantasies with him. As a result, he burns Martha's pictures and her letters and throws the pebble away. His guilt is enormous and he thinks he deserves nothing good, and the reality he has experienced has been so harsh, he can no longer entertain sweet thoughts, hopes for the future.

how is the title of the story connected with the whole story and what does it tell us?

Mary was calm and complacent during her marriage. She kept a neat house, and waited happily each day for her husband to come home from work. In this way she was much like a lamb.

When her husband calmly tells her it is over, an inner rage  causes her to slaughter her husband. She feels little in the way of remorse, as can be seen by her quick planning to cover up her crime.

In some ways , it can be seen that her husband was the lamb. He believed Mary would complacently  accept his decision to leave, without a fuss. He was not threatened in any way for her to react with violence. He was killed easily, like leading lambs to the slaughter.

When bud opened his suitcase what were the contents? What four things did bud's mom always tell him? Chapter 4

"The book, "Bud, Not Buddy" tells the story of a boy whose mother died four years prior.  He lives in an orphanage.  He gets word that he will be going to a foster home.  Bud has one thing that he treasures, a cardboard suitcase that holds his memories of a previous life.  In the suitcase are:

 "some flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and various bands, a few mysteriously labeled rocks and his blanket."

Bud gets abused in the foster home, so he takes off on a quest to find his father.  He thinks that Herman E. Calloway might be his father.

Bud is very protective of his name because his mother always told him, "Your name is Bud, not Buddy.

 "A bud is a flower-to-be.  A flower in waiting. Waiting for just the right warmth and care to open up.  Its a fist of love waiting to be seen by the world. And that's you." (42)

"Bud is your name and don't you ever let anyone call you Buddy.(41)"

"Don't worry Bud, as soon as you get to be a young man I have a lot of things to explain to you."(42)

"These things I am going to explain to you will be a great help for you."(42)

"And Bud, I want you always to remember, no matter how bad things look to you, no matter how dark the night, when one door closes, don't worry, because another door opens."(43)

What is Ponyboy's personality towards his friends and to his life?Thank you!

I think the best way to summarize Ponyboy's personality is to say that he is very loyal to his friends.  He is quite supportive of them.  We can see this especially in how he deals with Johnny.  He helps him deal with his unhappy home life, for example, and he tolerates Johnny's fears that come from being beaten.

With regard to his life, he is not pleased with how his life is at the moment but he is, especially at the end of the book, hopeful that he will be able to change things and get a better life.  This is symbolized by his writing assignment -- he stops being hopeless and gets started on writing his theme.

What is the Milky Way galaxy?

Galaxy is a collection of many stars dust and gas held together by gravity. There are billions of galaxies scattered throughout the universe. They range in size from diameter of a few thousands of half a million light years.

The galaxy of which our earth is a part is called Milky-Way. Our sun is just one of the hundreds of billions of stars contained in it. A portion of the Milky-Way Galaxy can be seen in the sky with the naked eye. In common language this visible part on Milky-Way is also called the Milky-Way.

The Milky-Way shaped like a thin disk with a bulge in the center. Its diameter is about 100,000 light years, and is about 10,000 light-years thick at the center. Stars, dust and gases fan out from the central bulge like long curving arms that form a spiral. Because of this kind of of shape, Milky-Way is classifies as a  spiral galaxy. Our solar system is located towards the outer periphery of this galaxy

How does Meursault change from book one to book two?

I'm not sure I'd say Meursault doesn't exist until the second part of the book. This book isn't your typical "finding enlightenment" kind of epiphany. Meursault has always found his essence by experience: no matter what the situation is. That's why he seems so indifferent all the time - he just accepts the reality which he finds himself in. He still feels like a stranger in prison - perhaps even more so than when he was free. So, if he found more of his essence in Book Two, it is his increased isolation from society. While in prison, he even makes a point that one day on the outside gives him enough to think about for years in prison.

In Book II, he doesn't find his essence, but I guess you could say he was further convinced that his idea of absurdity and his concept of his essence had been confirmed. He sees death as the equalizer of all, which makes life absurd and meaningless and he gains some solace from this.

He does miss his freedom; and maybe this is more essential in terms of his essence. He still feels like an outcast and has come to terms with this. But he certainly would prefer to be a free outcast than an imprisoned one. He is and has always been mentally free, but realizes he that the corresponding physical freedom is something he'll miss.

What happens when Jack asks Ralph's followers to join him, and what tragic mistake is made in the excitement in Lord of the Flies?

Before the storm comes Jack had asked the boys which ones wanted to join him and have fun. He reminds them that he had given them food and that his hunters will protect them. Some of the boys go with Jack.  Simon has gone to the mountain to find out the nature of the beast.

Ralph confronts Jack and the boys by reminding them that they do not have any shelter like when they first landed on the island and the storm had come.  He challenges them asking them what they will do when the big rains come.  Jack needing to divert their attention off Ralph tells the boys to dance.

Jack and the boys work themselves into a frenzy.  They go around and around the fire yelling "Kill the beast."  "Kill the beast."  They are all caught up in the frantic spirit including Ralph.

Simon has seen the beast ad knows that it is just the pilot.  He rushes to tell the others, but when he emerges through the brush the boys believe him to be the beast.  They violently attack him.  They kick, bite, and beat him beyond need. They continue with a savagery that seems unending.

How do you pronounce the name "Tituba" in The Crucible?

Let us remember that Tituba is the name of the slave who is originally from Barbados and has ben taken to Salem to work. She has also brought with her knowledge of magic and charms, and she uses this knowledge to gain something of a following among the girls of Salem who want to know how to cast magic charms to ensure they gain the men they want to marry and the children that they desire.

The name Tituba, given this background, is most likely to be pronounced in the following way: Ti--too--bah," with the stress on the second syllable. Of course, we cannot be completely sure that it would have been pronounced this way, but this form of pronunciation makes the most sense.

Who are Ann and Thomas Putnam in The Crucible? What do they suggest is Betty's problem?What is their motivation for suggesting this?

Ann and Thomas Putnam have buried all their babies but Ruth. Ann believes that something sinister surrounds their life , because now their only surviving child is under some type of spell. It is much easier for them to believe that some force out of their control is to blame for their woes. Witchcraft makes them blameless.

Who seems to represent the point of view of the author? Which of the animals or people comes closest to Orwell's in Animal Farm?

I would say that the animal that comes closest to representing George Orwell's own point of view is Benjamin, the old donkey.

Benjamin does not have any great hopes for the revolution or, really, for anything else.  He believes that, no matter what, things will pretty much stay the same for the animals.  If they are not being exploited by Farmer Jones anymore, they will be exploited by Napoleon.

Orwell clearly is saying in the book that the animals are no better off after the revolution.  Of all the animals, Benjamin is the one who makes this point more than any other.

How do “Pleading Child”and “Perfectly Contented” have a double meaning in the story? What does the last sentence of the story mean?

Jing-Mei realizes, years later, that "Pleading Child" and "Perfectly Contented" are two halves of the same song.  As an impetuous and head-strong child, the narrator doesn't appreciate all that her mother does for her.  As an adult she realizes all that her mother tried to do for her - buying her a piano, arranging lessons, pushing and motivating her.  She just wanted Jing-Mei to have a better life than she did.   Because she was so young and stubborn, she never was able to value all that her mother sacrificed for her.  However, after her mother's death, she examines the song book and realizes that "Pleading Child," is only half of the song.  The other half is "Perfectly Contented."  This symbolically stands for our narrator.  She used to be a pleading child, who never appreciated what her mother was trying to do for her.  But now as an adult, she is - maybe not perfectly contented - but she is much more content than she was as a child.  Jing-Mei has developed her own talents and abilities, which was really what her mother wanted her to do all along.

What is the summary of the poem "Bagpipe Music" by Louis Macneice?

This poem, in my opinion, is largely just supposed to be playful and funny.  But I would argue that it is also meant to critique the society of Macneice's time.  This poem was written in the late 1930s.

I would argue that the poem is meant partly to lament the difficulty of getting ahead in life.  This is especially evident in the last stanza where he says that no matter what you do you can't keep your profits or "hold up the weather."  Please note that "glass" means barometer -- when it is falling that means a storm is coming (the atmospheric pressure is falling).

However, the poem also criticizes all classes of society.  It talks about people who want to sit around for 50 years and get a pension.  It talks about the middle classes who care about nothing but money and fun (a bit of skirt in a taxi).  And I believe he is criticizing the upper classes with their python shoes and hunting trophies.  All classes, to him, are shallow -- they don't really want to improve themselves or think -- they just want material things.

So, overall, I think it's a fun poem that is also meant to be a critique of the society of the time.

In what ways did British colonial rule affect Indian agriculture?

In general, colonized countries' economies are always run in such a way as to benefit the mother country, more or less regardless of what effect that has on the colony.  In India, this trend held true.  In the case of India, Indian agriculture was converted over to the production of staple crops for export.  This conversion was hastened by the US Civil War, which increased demand for Indian cotton.

As Indian agriculture turned to growing cotton, food production declined.  This was, in part, to blame for the famines that hit India during British rule.

In Robert Burns' "A Red, Red Rose" do you think his use of hyperbole makes his comparion seem insincere? Why?

Hyperbole is "obvious extravagant exaggeration or overstatement... used figuratively to create humor or emphasis" (Kathleen Morner & Ralph Rausch, NTC's Dictionary of Literary Terms). Hyperbole is mostly used in love poems. This literary device is a wonderful way do express inner feelings through written or printed words.

Not necessarily hyperbole makes comparison insincere or fake. Rather, it is a nice figurative device to bring a dramatic effect, to emphasize on the certain topic and make the language ornamented. Same proclamations are applicable for the above poem. Moreover, the poem has a background which is related to Robert Burns' personal life. And this factual background would surely make you convinced that the hyperbole is only exaggeration if read as written cluster of letters, but is actually much more than that if thought with heart keeping the background in mind.

The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) felt in love with Jean Armour who was from a conservative family, and their love affair was a very deep one. When Ms. Armour was found pregnant, her father outrageously discarded Robert, and disheartened Robert sailed to West Indies. To bear the expense of the voyage, he decided to publish his poems.

During his stay in Edinburgh, Robert Burns met printer James Johnson, who planned a project to print all of the folk songs in Scotland. This project enthralled Burns and embarked upon a journey throughout Scotland to collect as many folk songs as possible. Burns collected over 300 songs and wrote a few himself, including "A Red, Red Rose."

The poem 'A Red, Red Rose' was a tribute to his own love. He wonderfully depicted his deep, loyal love towards his beloved through the poem. His use of hyperbolic similes are the rich and true expressions of his love, the love for which he endured huge torments, but finally, Jean's father accepted him, and he married his beloved.

Define what it means to be 'moral' and 'ethical'?Please start your definitions for each word in the following way: 1. To be moral, it means... or,...

There are no standard or widely accepted meaning or definitions of the terms 'moral' and 'ethical'. Different people including experts, philosophers, and religious leaders has explained these terms in different ways. Further that there is no clear distinction between these two terms. Although the terms ethics is also used as the name of subject dealing with moral behavior. Also when applied to behavior in a professional context the term ethical behavior is more popular.

In general people talk of ethical or moral behavior in terms of right or good behavior as opposed to wrong or bad behavior. However there are so many diff rent way of defining what is right and what is good.

There are two general approaches of approaching the problem of discriminating moral and ethical behavior from the opposite behavior. One approach is the voice of conscience, where every individual must decide what is right and wrong behavior for him.

The second approach is an externally imposed guidelines. In general culture of every society has some implicit codes of conduct of right and wrong behavior. Religious teachings are another major source of such guidelines. In addition some social institutions may also impose some voluntary or statutory codes of conduct of ethical behavior.

In Book 14 of The Odyssey, what does Odysseus tell the swineherd about himself, and why is Odysseus' disguise ironic?

Odysseus' disguise is ironic because he himself is the King of Ithaca. He is King of the country in which he is hiding out, disguised as a beggar. It is also ironic because he has traveled to get to Ithaca for nearly 20 years enduring things most men never have to endure in their life. Yet, once arriving home, he ironically has another challenge to overcome, being the defeat of the suitors. Nothing is easy for him. It is also ironic that he is being served by his servant, the swineherd. The swineherd, true to Odysseus even in his absence, treats the beggar as Odysseus would have wanted and in proper regional custom, offering him food, a place to sleep, and a spare mantle.

Explain the differences & motivations between the child Amir and the adult Amir?When Amir puts Money Under Hassan's mattress and when Amir puts...

As a child in The Kite Runner, Amir was controlled by his immature emotions. He would not allow himself to treat Hassan as an equal even though no one was closer to him. He was jealous of his father's attentions toward Hassan, and this caused him to plant the money and the watch to disgrace the servant boy. As he grew up, the act haunted Amir, and the guilt over the mistreatment of Hassan continued to grow as well. When Amir finally discovered the truth about Hassan--that he was actually his half-brother--his conscience determined that he must return to Afghanistan to find Hassan's son. His adult motivation was based on past guilt and a desire to make his past transgressions right.

What changes have Pozzo and Lucky undergone during the course of Waiting for Godot?

In Act I of Waiting for Godot,  Pozzo is travelling to the market to sell Lucky, his slave. Pozzo is healthy, possessed of a good appetite and cruel and there seems to be nothing physically wrong with him. He treats Lucky in a despicable way. Lucky, he claims, used to be such a pleasant slave to have around, but he has become quite annoying, and so he is going to get rid of him. This is their position the first time they meet Vladimir and Estragon.

On their second appearance the following day everything has changed. Pozzo is blind, and Lucky is mute. Pozzo has no recollection of the previous meeting, and even claims that Lucky has always been unable to speak, oblivious, it would seem to the fact that just  the day before he gave a long philosophical discourse when bidden to "think." Asked by Vladimir when he became blind, Pozzo responds "I woke up one fine day as blind as Fortune” Didi, finding this incomprehensible continues asking him for details. Pozzo responds to this in a peremptory manner "Don't question me! The blind have no notion of time.” His situation represents the effects of time on people. The meaninglessness and absurdity of a world based on chance means human life is at the mercy of Fortune. Beckett uses this change in the situation of Pozzo and Lucky to show that human life is meaningless because time is meaningless. Remember, if like many, you find this view nihilistic and difficult that this play falls into the genre of the “absurd”

What is the attitude of Logan, Joe, and Tea Cake towards money, and of Janie speaking out in Their Eyes are Watching God?

This question is good. It's possible to tell a lot about people (whether characters in a novel or in real life) by how they view money and how they treat other people. Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God certainly does a great job depicting several different male characters, highlighting their differences by focusing on how they treat Janie, the story's main character.

To get you started (I hope that other posters will chime in, too), I'd like to offer a quick contrast between Joe and Tea Cake. Joe sees money as a means to power, just as he builds the all-black town of Eatonville so that he can be its leader and ruler. He also treats his wife Janie much like his money; her purpose, he believes, is to serve her silently. He's not interested in hearing her talk (e.g. he gives a speech to the assembled townspeople but prevents her from delivering a speech of her own). He's also possessive of her just as it he is of his wealth. He makes Janie keep her hair covered, for example, so that other men can't share in the wealth that is her beauty.

Tea Cake is quite the opposite. He's much less responsible with money and much less obsessed by it. He's better at making money through gambling than he is through long-term investments, like building a town. He's also much more open in terms of how he would like to see Janie act. He teaches her to play checkers, to shoot a rifle, and so on, and doesn't seek to control her expressions (including her speech) in the way that Joe does.

Before I stop, let me add that you may be able to characterize Logan's attitudes on your own. For example, you may want to think about what prompts Janie to leave with Joe in the first place. What about him is different from Logan?

What is the significance of the following proverb in Things Fall Apart?Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines...

This quote comes in chapter 1. Okoye has come to collect his debt of two hundred cowries from his friend, Unoka. As he tells Unoka the purpose for his visit, Unoka begins to laugh.

"Look at that wall," he said, pointing at the far wall of his hut, which was rubbed with red earth so that it shone. "Look at those lines of chalk" and Okoye saw groups of short perpendicular lines drawn in chalk. There were five groups, and the smallest group had ten lines. Unoka had a sense of the dramatic and so he allowed a pause, in which he took a pinch of snuff and sneezed noisily, and then he continued: "Each group there represents a debt to someone, and each stroke is one hundred cowries. You see, I owe that man a thousand cowries. But he has not come to wake me up in the morning for it. I shall pay you, but not today. Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them. I shall pay my big debts first."

So, in this case, those who have given Unoka more are the ones standing. Those who have given little are the ones kneeling. Unoka will pay those he owes more first, because they are the more important than the small debts. Unoka is also making fun of Okoye in his own way. He is suggesting that if a man to whom he owes 1,000 cowries isn't coming around asking for his money, Okoye shouldn't be either.

This proverb is important because Okonkwo seeks to be one of the men standing, not kneeling. He despises his father & his debts, seeing him as weak and feminine. Okonkwo never borrows more than he can pay back, & it is because of his father that he attempts to masculine in all areas.

How can I write a satiric paper about gas prices?

Why not take the position of satirizing what some see as America's propensity to send charity outside the country rather than helping those "here at home"?  Remember that satire involves an opinion--not necessarily the reality.  And, your use of this "slant" is not necessarily your true opinion if you are composing for an assignment [as this is only a writing suggestion].

You, then, could state how the gas prices are the United States' way of rebuilding Iraq since this country always rebuilds the countries that it has fought and destroyed (e.g. Japan, Germany).  Then, you can develop this theme by suggesting that only $x will support a family of four and buy prothestics for those whose arms and legs have had to be amputated as a result of American weaponery.

Remember that satire is usually brutal in order to point out egregious behaviors, attitudes, etc. For example, in Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" which is made reference to above, a suggestion is made by Swift that the British eat the young Irish babies since they are figuratively eating the Irish by starving them when giving jobs to British only.  In fact, you may wish to refer to this excellent example of biting satire as an aid to your own composition.

Good Luck!