HamletHamlet deals a great deal with plotting and scheming. Who in Hamlet sets plans in motion?…
- HAMLET
HamletHamlet deals a great deal with plotting and scheming. Who in Hamlet sets plans in motion?…
There is no doubt that Hamlet by William Shakespeare is full of plots and scheming. The ghost of King Hamlet, however, is the one who sets the course for the final climatic ending. Had it not been…
1 educator answer
- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
What are the two narrative frames in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Shakespeare?just need help!!
The primary plot in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare is the love triangle, or quadrilateral, between Helena, Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius. Shakespeare uses two frame…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In To Kill a Mockingbird, what emotions would Atticus have experienced from the time the mob…
Atticus faces the lynch mob in a steady manner. Even after he learns that Heck Tate has been drawn away from the jail on a pretext and that he will be facing the crowd alone, Atticus remains calm….
1 educator answer
- FAHRENHEIT 451
Do you think our TV programmes are similar to Mildred’s parlor family?
Great question that forces us to ask what the role of Mildred is in this novel and how she represents how society has changed in this futuristic dystopia. One of the possible futures that…
1 educator answer
- ROMEO AND JULIET
Who said, “O shut the door, and when thou hast done so, Come weep with me, past hope, past cure,…
Those are the lines of Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet,” Act IV, Scene 1 in which Juliet enters the cell of Friar Lawrence in her despair over her father’s demands that she marry Paris. Of course, the…
1 educator answer
- A RED, RED ROSE
What literary devices are used in the poem “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns?
Many similes are used in Robert Burns’ poem “A Red, Red Rose”. The first one, the title, compares love to a rose. It is an obvious comparison to the beauty and delicacy of the flower. The second…
1 educator answer
- THE GIVER
In chapter 4 what are some question, connections, and thing you thought were important parts, you…
A question that Jonas, as well as many readers, have when reading this chapter is: What happens during a “release”? Where is a person “released” to? Where do they go? Some good vocabulary words…
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- THE GIVER
In chapter 3 what are some questions, connections, and thing you thought were important parts,…
The book is set in an unknown time and place. The community may be of our world, or it may be on another planet or another dimension for all we know. As it is, I don’t know if it’s important to…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In To Kill a Mockingbird, why does Calpurnia speak differently in the Finch household than she…
In my opinion, the answer for To Kill a Mockingbird’s Calpurnia would be the same as the answer for absolutely anyone in our society (even today). All of us behave differently in our workplace…
5 educator answers
- THE GIVER
In chapter 2 what are some question, connections, and thing you thought were important parts, you…
In chapter two of The Giver, I think it is important to know the following: Why is the Ceremony of Twelve important? What is Jonas’ relationship with his family? How is Jonas’ society set up to…
1 educator answer
- BLESS ME, ULTIMA
How did Ultima feel about plants, the river, and other parts of nature in Bless Me, Ultima?
As a curandera, a natural healer, Ultima relies on her surroundings to create her remedies. She routinely takes Antonio with her while she gathers herbs, teaching him the names and purposes of…
2 educator answers
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What are some important passages in Chapters 7-12 of To Kill a Mockingbird? Why are these…
There are probably about a dozen of those kind of “passages” that you speak of, but let me get you started with three. First, there is a poignant passage in Chapter 9 where Atticus speaks directly…
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- THE GIVER
What did Jonas learn about the community’s rule about lying, in chapters 16 to 19 of The Giver?
Jonas already knows before this that he has been given permission to lie as part of his job description as Receiver. When he learns this, he wonders if other people in the community also have that…
1 educator answer
- THE GIVER
What is The Giver about?Fantasy novel by Lois Lowry.
The Giver is a Utopian novel, meaning it is about a future Utopian, or perfect, society. No one there feels strong emotions, no one sees color and everyone knows their roles in the society. Every…
1 educator answer
- DEATH OF A SALESMAN
What are some of the different types of irony and where are they in Death of a Salesman.
In Death of a Salesman, an example of situational irony is that Willy portrays himself as being at the top of his game in sales after 36 years of experience, having a multitude of connections, and…
1 educator answer
- THE CHRYSALIDS
How do I explain, with some examples, Sophie’s humiliating death as the final statement of pathos…
As you say, in literature pathos is a scene or passage that is designed to arouse deep and genuine feelings of pity, sympathy and sorrow in the reader. An explanation of how Sophie’s death is the…
1 educator answer
- HAMLET
In “Hamlet” does Gertrude tell Claudius the truth about what happened between her and Hamlet? Is…
At the end of Act 3, Hamlet advises his mother to “by no means…let the bloat king tempt you again to bed” (III.iv.181-2) again, and to keep quiet about what they have spoken of that evening. The…
1 educator answer
- THE GREAT GATSBY
What is the significance of Nick turning thirty?
The significance of Nick turning thirty is that he now considers that his youth has passed and he is facing a lonely and unfulfilling future. Throughout the novel, Nick has been the narrator of the…
2 educator answers
- NIGHT
To what did Wiesel compare the world in Night?
The world represents a strong motif in Night with many occurrences. An early metaphor–which is a comparison between two unlike things–describes the world as a “hermetically sealed cattle car.” A…
2 educator answers
- BRAVE NEW WORLD
Is Brave new world the reality today?Is Brave new world the reality today?
While I agree with everything already said, I am more afraid of the world of 1984 than that of BNW (although there is not much to be said for either of them). We have had times in our past where…
1 educator answer
- ACROSS FIVE APRILS
Matt grants Jenny permission to do what in Across Five Aprils?
Matt Creighton first grants his daughter Jenny permission to travel to Washington to be by the side of her beau, Shadrach Yale, who has been critically wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg. He…
1 educator answer
- ACROSS FIVE APRILS
What happens to Shadrach Yale at Gettysburg in Across Five Aprils?
Shadrach Yale is critically injured at the Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg occurred during “three hot July days” in 1863. It was “a battle of unbelievable bravery and unbelievable…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
Who was it that said, “The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away”?
It is Ralph who realizes that “The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away.” Ralph’s realization can be found in chapter five and on page eighty-two depending on the edition…
3 educator answers
- GEORGE ORWELL
How would you compare today’s violent society to the themes of George Orwell’s essay “Shooting an…
One of Orwell’s most important points in “Shooting an Elephant” was that the person superficially in control could often be no more than the puppet of the expectations of his audience. Since he was…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
Which U.S. president made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
There were several times in U.S. history where by Thanksgiving Day was designated a holiday. In 1789, Washington set aside November 26 in order to ‘give thanks’ for the American victory over the…
1 educator answer
- OF MICE AND MEN
What are the ways in which George and Lennie are considered outsiders in Of Mice and Men?
George and Lennie are outsiders in that they are not part of American society; they live on the fringes, never really belonging. They have no home, hold no permanent jobs, own nothing except what…
1 educator answer
- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Compare Portia and Nerissa’s friendship with the men’s in Merchant of Venice. Does marriage…
Portia and Nerissa’s friendship is similar to and different from the men’s friendship (Bassanio and Antonio’s). 1. Similarities: One friend is signficantly wealthier than the other in each of the…
1 educator answer
- ROMEO AND JULIET
Why is the nurse slow to give Juliet the message from Romeo in Romeo and Juliet?The information…
This is one of my absolute favorite scenes from Romeo and Juliet! Very simply, Juliet’s nurse is joking with Juliet. This is the scene where the audience begins to truly understand the very…
1 educator answer
- THE GRAPES OF WRATH
Why did Al think that the third slot machine was ready to payoff in Chapter 15 of Grapes of Wrath?
From his position manning the grill in the kitchen, Al keeps an eye on the number of people who use the slot machines. On “a paper pinned to the wall over the griddle”, he records the usage in…
1 educator answer
- THINGS FALL APART
Likely Okonkwo’s biggest motivation is that of trying not to be seen as his father was, a weakling or a failure. This drives him to work incredibly hard, to fight like a lion and acquire two…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
Why is Simon the only boy on this island who can face the truth about himself and can resist the…
Simon is a different young man from all of the others and it’s this difference that sets him apart, lets him have greater self understanding, and lets him resist temptations of all sorts. The…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
How is Boo Radley an innocent person in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
Boo Radley is an innocent by virtue of his lack of contact with society. He has been “shut away” from mainstream society for a number of years and has virtually no contact with anyone else. It may…
2 educator answers
- MACBETH
Why is Act II, Scene ii the most dramatic scene throughout Macbeth?
This scene is riveting indeed. It opens with Lady Macbeth having drugged Duncan’s attendants and laid out their daggers for Macbeth to use in Duncan’s murder. She waits, knowing that the murder is…
1 educator answer
- THE PIGMAN
Is Kenny a successful electrician in The Pigman?In The Pigman, is Kenny, John’s brother, a…
Kenneth, John’s older brother, is not a successful electrician. Conceivably, such an occupation would not be good enough for the pride and joy of the Conlan clan! Instead, Kenny is following in…
1 educator answer
- RICHARD CORY
What is the theme of the poem “Richard Cory”?
Two themes are developed through the poem’s ironic ending. Although Richard Cory enjoyed wealth and social position and was much envied by the working poor, he is the one who commits suicide, as we…
3 educator answers
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What are some quotes about Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird that show the way she acts like a tomboy?
Scout is a tomboy through and through. She hates wearing dresses, loves wearing her overalls, frequently gets herself quite dirty, and hates to walk away from a fight. Rolling around in the dirt…
1 educator answer
- ANIMAL FARM
In chronological order, what are the main events in Chapters 9 and 10 of Animal Farm?
Chapter 9 opens after the animals have defeated Frederick in battle. Boxer and the other animals are now attempting to erect a windmill, although Boxer is injured and unable to work at full…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
Literary critics say the island in “Lord of the Flies” is a “microcosm of the real world”. What…
A microcosm is a representation of something on a very small scale. Notice the beginning, “micro.” What other words use that prefix? There is “microscope,” “microsurgery,” “microeconomics,” and…
1 educator answer
- TWELVE ANGRY MEN
What hinders group discussion in Twelve Angry Men?
There are many obstacles to communication in the play. The men have different ideas about the role of the jury, so there is disagreement on that issue from the beginning. Some of the men, such as…
2 educator answers
- THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
Is Holden Caulfield a good “actor” when he’s around people?’The Catcher in the Rye’
Although Holden can put on a good performance when the pressure is on, he is a better ‘spectator’ than ‘actor.’ Or perhaps one should say ‘observer.’ Holden notices things about people he really…
1 educator answer
- NIGHT
In Elie’s book Night, what does he mean when he says, “that turned my life into one long light…
In the poem by Elie Wiesel, “seven times sealed” refers to Jewish mysticism and traditions. The number seven stands as a symbol of completion in Jewish thought as shown by the seven days of…
2 educator answers
- HISTORY
Does anyone know any good sites beside Wikipedia for the history of Portugal?
Here’s several good sites with history of Portugal, Portugal and Spain, Portugal and Brazil, etc. The three best are in the links list below. Good luck, it’s always good to know about the…
1 educator answer
- FAHRENHEIT 451
Please can you give some examples of similes, metaphors, personification, and imagery in Part 1…
Here are a few to get you started and then you can look at the rest of Part 1 to find some more. With this brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous keronsene upon…
1 educator answer
- A ROSE FOR EMILY
In “A Rose for Emily” how many years pass between “the smell” in section II and the deputation in…
“A Rose for Emily” is really tricky because Faulkner tells the story out of order; it takes some very close reading, note-taking, and time-lining in order to figure out just exactly when things…
1 educator answer
- FRANKENSTEIN
In Frankenstein, why does William hide from Ernest in Plainpalais?
According to Elizabeth’s letter to Victor in which she informs him of William’s death, William was simply playing hide-and-seek. Elizabeth had gone on a walk with Ernest, William, and her niece…
1 educator answer
- ACROSS FIVE APRILS
Write about Ed Turner’s young boy as Ed Turner explained it to Matt in Chapter 12 of Across Five…
Ed Turner’s young son Sammy is in South Carolina. The war is coming to an end, and in the South, Union soldiers, led by the likes of William Sherman and others, are running wild, looting and…
1 educator answer
- ACROSS FIVE APRILS
Explain the quote, “Don’t expect peace to be a perfect pearl, Jeth”, in Chapter 12 of Across Five…
When Ross Milton warns Jeth, “Don’t expect peace to be a perfect pearl”, he is telling the youth not to expect that, with the ceasing of hostilities, the idyllic world he remembers will be…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
How does Jem change from the beginning of the novel of “To Kill a Mockingbird” to the end of the…
Jem is ten when the novel begins, and as such is a fairly typical ten year old boy who refuses to be seen with his main playmate, and little sister when school begins. Jem, Scout and Dill conceive…
1 educator answer
- PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
In “Pride and Prejudice” what is the difference between Wickham and Darcy, and how is Elizabeth’s…
Wickham is charming in public. He makes an effort to be agreeable. He cares greatly about what others think of him. He puts on pretenses to please whoever he is around. He is also, underneath…
1 educator answer
- ARTS
What are all the key signatures and how many sharps or flats are in them? Example: G# is one…
Sharps: The first key is the key of C – no sharps and no flats. Second is the key of G – one sharp – F Third is the key of D – two sharps – D and F Fourth is the key of A -three sharps – C, F, and…