How does Mark Twain use humor in his writing?

August 23, 2018 Educator

SCIENCE

What are two explanations for why some RNA molecules are cut and spliced?

The main reason some RNA is cut and spliced is to remove duplicate or inactive sections after the mRNA (messenger RNA) is transcribed from DNA. DNA contains the instructions for making proteins….

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OF MICE AND MEN

How is George’s acceptance of Candy’s offer to contribute money to buy the ranch the high point…

In defense of Candy’s joining in on the plan to buy a ranch being the high point of the narrative of Of Mice and Men, George’s acceptance of Candy demonstrates the theme of the fraternity of men as…

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SCIENCE

What type of reflex would happen if you were to touch something gooey or gross ?

The type of reflex response you are asking about is called a reflex action. When we experience something that involves the senses, input sensations are channeled along the peripheral nervous…

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HISTORY

Is Columbus a hero or a villain?

The answer to the question of whether or not Christopher Columbus was a hero or villain is complicated. The Europeans alive when he sailed to the New World in 1492 would certainly have considered…

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL

How do I write a thesis statement about A Christmas Carol?

Well, that depends on whether or not your teacher has assigned you a prompt that you should answering with your thesis statement, or if he/she has allowed you to develop your own argument entirely….

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ROMEO AND JULIET

What are some quotes in Romeo and Juliet that prove Tybalt is impulsive in Act 3 scene 1?

When Tybalt first arrives in Act 3, Scene 1, he approaches Romeo’s friends to see if he can find out where Romeo is. He angers Mercutio who becomes a little insulting, but as soon as Tybalt sees…

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OF MICE AND MEN

Explain the relationship between George and Lennie in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck?

The relationship between George and Lennie is a complex one. First, George is like a father to Lennie. George takes care of Lennie in various ways. For instance, George makes Lennie throw away…

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BUSINESS

How important is it that the effectiveness of a training program be measured in dollar terms?

The importance of measuring the effectiveness of a training program in dollar terms is related to the target market for the training. As with any product, a training will be valued differently by…

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THE TELL-TALE HEART

Is there any personification in “The Tell-Tale Heart”?

There is, I believe, just one example of personification in this story. Shortly after the narrator describes the moments following when his finger slipped on the lantern and made a small noise…

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HISTORY

What are the negatives and positives of war?

The major negative of war is that it is destructive. War destroys wealth as countries use hard-earned tax dollars to buy things like artillery shells to blow up things like tanks that were made…

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LORD OF THE FLIES

I need help analyzing this passage from Lord Of The Flies: Far beneath them, the trees of the…

The passage is an extract from Chapter 6: Beast From Air and relates to the twins, Sam and Eric, who were tending the signal fire. The fire had died since the two had fallen asleep. They reignited…

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ARTS

How can I learn to paint in the style of realism?

Painting people and/or landscapes that look real is no easy task and cannot be learned in just a few days. Learning to paint realistically takes a lot of time, effort, and practice. Much of the…

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THE TELL-TALE HEART

What is personification and how is it used in “The Tell-Tale Heart”?

The literary device personification is when a writer gives typically human characteristics to non-human animals or objects. For example, describing a “furious thunderstorm” would be…

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DEAR MR. HENSHAW

Why does Leigh’s attitude change by the end of Beverly Cleary’s Dear Mr. Henshaw?

In Beverly Cleary’s Dear Mr. Henshaw, Leigh’s attitude changes toward the end of the book due to excellent advice he receives from Mr. Fridley, the school custodian.By February, Leigh is so…

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HISTORY

What is the main idea of the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement which originated in Europe in the 1700s. This was a very complex movement in which many different ideas came to the fore but, in my…

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LORD OF THE FLIES

In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, how does Jack make Ralph lose hope?

At the onset of the story, once the boys realize that they are marooned on the island, they maintain their civility and try to stay organized and work toward common goals. However, Jack challenges…

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RAY BRADBURY

How do the children feel about the sun and weather in “All Summer in a Day?”

When the sun comes out on Venus every seven years, it is an event that everyone in the story looks forward to seeing. It constantly rains on Venus, and the citizens view the sun coming out as a…

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MILKWEED

How might the reader’s connection to the plot/characters change if the story were told through a…

This is an excellent question because it causes the reader to really think about the narrator of the book in relation to the other characters. Let us look at the narrator first, and then figure…

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THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER

What are two problems and solutions in chapters 6-10?

First, in chapter six, Matt wanted to repay Saknis for his care and provisions while taking care of him. The problem he faced was he had nothing to give Saknis but a book that the Indians could not…

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LORD OF THE FLIES

I need help analyzing a passage in Lord of the Flies: “His ordinary voice sounded like a whisper…

You really haven’t done too badly. Some of your interpretations are spot on. Here are a few other ideas you could use. I have copied the text again. His ordinary voice sounded like a whisper after…

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THE DEVIL AND TOM WALKER

What are two characteristics from “The Devil and Tom Walker” that let the reader know the story…

First, the story includes the famous scene at the pine and hemlock swamp where Tom Walker meets the devil or Old Scratch. Tom makes a pact with Old Scratch; however, this fact taken alone, may…

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LAW AND POLITICS

What kind of punishment would be expected if a minor committed the crime of breaking and entering…

First, the details must be delineated. One needs to determine the elements involved. Breaking and entering or burglary is when a person enters or remains in or on premises not their own with the…

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FAHRENHEIT 451

What purpose is the “family” supposed to serve in Montag’s society?

In Montag’s society, people become invested in the lives of fictitious “families” that appear in interactive, continuously running, soap opera-like television shows they watch on their parlor…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What passages in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird show that peoples’ racist attitudes changed?

For the most part, it can be argued that peoples’ racist attitudes in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird do not change. Those who are more liberal-minded, like Atticus and his children, remain…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What are some hero traits that Atticus Finch represents from the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”

Atticus Finch has many, many qualities that heroes usually have. Here are just a handful: Integrity: Atticus takes on Tom Robinson’s case when no one else will. It is a case he knows he will lose,…

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HISTORY

Why did the Tea Act reignite colonial resistance?

Contrary to popular belief, the Tea Act did not raise taxes on tea. In fact, it actually lowered the price of tea to the consumer. It granted a monopoly on the American tea trade to the British…

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FAHRENHEIT 451

How has Beatty given Montag hints that he is under suspicion in Fahrenheit 451?

In Part One of Fahrenheit 451, Beatty gives Montag a few hints that he is suspected of possessing books. The first one comes when Beatty visits Montag (who pretends to be sick) at home. During…

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HISTORY

What challenges faced African nations as a result of colonialism?

After World War II, the European powers that dominated Africa for the better part of a century started to leave. African nations were now faced with the challenge of political independence. The…

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HISTORY

What are five reasons America colonists separated from Britain?

There are several reasons why the colonists separated from Great Britain. One reason was the passage of the Proclamation of 1763 and the Quartering Act. After the French and Indian War, the British…

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LANGSTON HUGHES

What is the tone of Langston Hughes’s poem “Dreams”?

The term tone is defined as the author’s attitude “toward a subject or an audience” (“Tone,” Literary Devices). We can detect multiple tones in Langston Hughes’s short poem “Dream.” Since Hughes…

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THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

What techniques does Montresor use to skillfully deceive Fortunato?

Edgar Allan Poe must have spent a long time thinking about how any man could lure an enemy underground and murder him without being seen in his company and without being suspected of any complicity…

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HISTORY

What are the acheivements of sumerians?

The Sumerians were an important civilisation which emerged in Southern Mesopotamia (now modern-day Iraq) more than 5000 years ago. You may not realise that but so many of features of modern life…

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THINGS FALL APART

Why was Okonkwo forbidden to beat his wife?

Beating is forbidden during the Week of Peace, as is all fighting and violence. There is a custom in this region to observe a week of neighborliness and good cheer before the sowing season begins….

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HISTORY

What situations exist within a country that drive its people to revolution?

Revolutions are very complex, and arise for a number of different reasons. Let us look at a few of them, with some examples. One condition that often leads to revolution is the existence of a class…

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SCIENCE

What is humidity?

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. Air usually contains invisible water vapor, not to be confused with clouds and fog which are visible condensed water droplets. Relative…

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LORD OF THE FLIES

How does Ralph compare and contrast with Jack?

Both boys have qualities of natural leadership at the beginning of the story. Jack leads his hunters to the first meeting and immediately suggests that he should be chief when the idea is brought…

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LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

In the story “Lamb to the Slaughter,” should Mary get away with her crime? Why or why not?

The answer to this question is, of course, a matter of personal opinion. I will present arguments for each side of the issue and allow you to make up your own mind. On the one hand, we can argue…

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LORD OF THE FLIES

What do the two tribes symbolize in the novel Lord of the Flies?

The two tribes that form in the novel Lord of the Flies represent a civil, democratic society with structure, and a brutal, totalitarian society driven by primitive instincts. Ralph’s tribe…

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MACBETH

What is the best way to write a letter from Banquo to one of his family members?

First, consider what you know about Banquo from the play. He is a great general, fearless in battle, and he lives to serve the king, loyal to the death. He has met the weird sisters on the heath on…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Miss Maudie tells Scout that “Mr. Radley was a foot-washing Baptist,” and goes on to say that…

Miss Maudie is suggesting that Mr. Radley’s strict interpretation of the Bible had influenced the way he treated his son, Boo. Mr. Radley, who was a “foot-washing Baptist,” believed that any type…

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ALMOST INNOCENT

What is the best way to describe Clay Lee’s relationship with her father in Almost Innocent?

This is an interesting question in that Clay-Lee is actually not the protagonist of the novel; her mother, Constance, is. In my opinion, the relation between the two could be best described as the…

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THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

Show how “The Fall of the House of Usher” is an example of Gothic Literature using quotations.

Gothic literature is defined by its use of dark scenery, melodrama, mystery, horror, and a fear of the unknown. Often there are terrible secrets, haunted houses, or dark, mysterious characters….

MOLLY HASKELL

Can you summarize the entire book From Reverence to Rape?

From Reverence to Rape: The Treatment of Women in the Movies is a book written by film critic Molly Haskell. It was first published in 1974, and a second edition with a chapter covering films…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

How would one analyze any of the following about Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a…

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee depicts Atticus Finch’s homelife as very characteristic of a widowed father. The children complain that he is rarely home, and when he is home, they see him as…

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LAW AND POLITICS

How does the American political process demonstrate the challenges of democracy?

I take it that you are asking how the US political process shows how it is challenging to have democracy more than it shows how it is good or beneficial to have democracy. If so, I would say that…

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HISTORY

Why is it important to study historical disasters like that of the Lusitania?

There is a famous saying from the philosopher George Santayana where he says that “those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It is important to study “disasters” from…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

From Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, please provide 2-3 quotes that show people’s racist…

To say that any one individual changed from being racist in Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird would be stretching it. After the trial of Tom Robinson, it would be more precise to say that the Cunninghams…

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THE HUNGER GAMES

What makes the government system in The Hunger Games so bad?

Panem’s governmental system in The Hunger Games is bad for a multitude of reasons. There is, of course, the obvious reason: the Hunger Games in and of themselves. This is perhaps the biggest…

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SCIENCE

How far does a ball go that is traveling at 4.5m/s for 10s?

Speed = distance/time, so distance = speed X time distance = (4.5 m/s)(10 s) = 45 meters (Note that speed and velocity have the same magnitude but velocity includes a direction.) When trying to…