How would you summarize the epic poem The Iliad and explain its significance?
- WILLIAM BLAKE
How did the Industrial Revolution affect William Blake’s poetry? Here is what I have so far:…
The Industrial Revolution built a middle class of workers who had, for the first time in history, access to a more comfortable lifestyle because of increase of accessible products, increase in…
2 educator answers
- ILIAD
How would you summarize the epic poem The Iliad and explain its significance?
In terms of its plot, the Iliad is fairly simple. It is the story of the Achaians (Greeks) and their war against the Trojans. It looks at the causes of the war and at the way the war went. But…
1 educator answer
- NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE
Why would learning to read and write cause one to desire freedom?Speculate also about how a…
You’re really asking two very different questions here, so I’m not really going to have space to answer both… I’m going to choose your second question. I believe that a self-professed Christian…
2 educator answers
- YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN
Interpet the description of the following passage, explaining why Hawthorne uses the word…
Nathaniel Hawthorne, the great Early American writer, is responsible for introducing the symbolism that became a signature element of the American novel. Such a symbolic presence is the old man in…
1 educator answer
- MACBETH
What us the role of Lady Macbeth in the assassination of Duncan? How does she help?
Lady MacBeth has several functions in the murder of Duncan. She drugs his guards who are supposed to protect the King while he sleeps (A.I, sc.vii). She lays out the daggers for her husband to…
1 educator answer
- MISS BRILL
What are Miss Brill’s circumstances in “Miss Brill”?
Part of the beauty of this short story is that we are left to infer much about the central character, Miss Brill, and her circumstances, rather than being given information about her situation…
1 educator answer
- BUSINESS
What is the relationship between information technology and environment?
The relationship between information technology and the environment is sort of mixed. In some ways, IT is good for the environment, but in other ways it is bad. Bad: The main problem with IT is…
1 educator answer
- MACBETH
What does the following quote from Macbeth mean: “Things bad Begun make strong themselves by ill”…
The quote expresses Shakespeare’s view of human nature–that mankind is basically evil. Specifically, in this quote, the playwright suggests that evil reproduces itself. If someone premeditates…
2 educator answers
- SOCIAL SCIENCES
How can one bring changes in psychology of society? I need to know how to change people think…
The question is pretty general, so I’m going to take a general approach in my response. One non-violent approach to changing how people live and think could include improving access to education,…
1 educator answer
- THE CRUCIBLE
In “The Crucible” why does Danforth question the truth of Proctor’s evidence?
The first evidence that Proctor brings forth is the petition that nearly 100 people signed, attesting to the righteous character of the women in jail. Danforth questions that evidence because,…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
What was the lifestyle of Native Americans before White Settlers came?
This question is a little too broad to be able to answer in a brief space. Mostly, the problem is that there were many different kinds of Indian lifestyles, depending on the place and the time….
2 educator answers
- ROMEO AND JULIET
Discuss how act 1 scene 5 is structured between love and hate. Discuss whether there is more love…
The duality between love and hate is present in the Prologue when the Chorus says: From forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;Whole misadventured…
1 educator answer
- RALPH THE DUCK
What is the theme of “Ralph the Duck” by Frederick Busch ?I found it hard to come up with a…
One of the central themes in the story is coping with loss. All of the dysfunctional expressions in the story–especially the alienation that the unnamed narrator experiences on multiple…
2 educator answers
- HISTORY
In what ways did the British government attempt to hide the effects of the Blitz from the people…
There was considerable supression of picture images released to the public, for example anything involving dead children was censored, as were other images that could create low morale. Various…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
How many Civil Rights Acts have there been? Civil Rights Act of 1964
There have been 8 major federal laws known as “Civil Rights Acts” over the years, the most famous of which is the Civil Rights Act of 1964. There were Civil Rights Acts enacted in 1866, 1871, 1875,…
1 educator answer
- ESSAY LAB
I am doing a research paper and I want to know what are some factors that contribute to teen…
I agree with washia07’s answer — you need to narrow your topic. Are you going to examine teen violence in urban areas? As a result of drug or alcohol use? As a response to domestic abuse? Once you…
1 educator answer
- THE SCARLET LETTER
In Chapter 13 of The Scarlet Letter, why does Hester decide to reveal the secret of Roger…
Hester decided to reveal Roger Chillingworth’s secret identity to Mr. Dimmesdale because, after her private conversation with Dimmesdale (Chapter 12), she could see that he was on the verge of…
2 educator answers
- THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER
I would like to know what is the difference between the movie and the book for The Sign of the…
The movie version of Sign of the Beaver was originally entitled Keeping the Promise. It is interesting because it focuses on different things than the book. A lot more emphasis is given to the…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
Analyze the cultural and economic responses of the French and Spanish to the Indians of North…
Okay… you’ve gotten a lot in there, but I have a couple of points for you. 1. If you’re only supposed to be going up to 1750, don’t put the French and Indian War in there as it happens after…
1 educator answer
- THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
How does Ivan greet Rainsford in the short story “The Most Dangerous Game”?
The “celebrated hunter” Sanger Rainsford is greeted by the largest human he has ever seen when he first arrives on Ship-Trap Island in Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game.”…
1 educator answer
- ROMEO AND JULIET
What prevents Romeo from finding out the truth about Juliet?In act 4
I assume the “truth” you are referring to is the fact that Juliet is not really dead after she drinks the potion provided by Friar Laurence in Act IV. If so, please note that it is in Act V that…
1 educator answer
- TO A WATERFOWL
What is the power that is mentioned in the poem?
One must assume that the Power referred to is the power of God. The influential natural theologian, William Paley, who pre-dated the author of the poem, William Cullen Bryant, believed, and wrote…
1 educator answer
- THE CRUCIBLE
In “The Crucible” what does Giles Corey complain about?
Giles Corey is an interesting character–he is a bit rough around the edges, and tends to be cantankerous. In fact, he has gained a reputation in town for being one to constantly sue his neighbors…
1 educator answer
- GRAMMAR
Please help with the grammar of the following sentence:”This will require that policymakers,…
In this passage, “creating” is a gerund — a part of speech that acts like a noun but is made by putting “ing” on a the end of a verb. You can use “to” here because you’re not making an infinitive…
1 educator answer
- HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Who are the main characters in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?”
It’s sort of up to interpretation who counts as main characters, but here goes: Harry Potter — 12 year old wizard Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger — his best friends and fellow Gryffindors Dobby…
1 educator answer
- SCIENCE
A nerve cell body is the most central part of the neuron with the most mass. The nucleus is located in the cell body as well as the mitochondria. Appendages branch off from the cell body and…
1 educator answer
- THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
Who do you think is more evil–Zaroff from “The Most Dangerous Game” or Montressor from “The Cask…
Simply from the aspect of the number of men that Zaroff has killed, the Cossack general from Richard Connell’s short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” wins this contest of evil. Whereas Montressor,…
9 educator answers
- DAVID COPPERFIELD
What is the name of the main character in David Copperfield?
Not surprisingly, the main character of the book “David Copperfield” (written by Charles Dickens in 1850) is David Copperfield. The novel follows the main character from his youth up through his…
1 educator answer
- EDMUND SPENSER
Disscuss the art of characterization by Edmund Epenser in “The Faerie Queene”.
Spenser develops characterization in The Faerie Queene in accord with principles of allegory: Each of the twelve knights of The Faerie Queen represent the twelve “private” (individual) virtues, as…
1 educator answer
- LAW AND POLITICS
Male rights in the abortion debateHow about a new argument? Abortion violates the civil rights…
- As a man, you’d have the right to CHOOSE by divorcing your wife to find someone else to marry. By your reasoning here, you’d be able to compel a woman to forego contraception if her husband so…
7 educator answers
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What did Atticus mean when he said, “There are other ways of making people into ghosts”?’To Kill…
Atticus was inferring to the fate of “Boo” Radley, first isolated and ostracized from society by his father, and then (just when there was a possibility of a new life -when his father died!) by his…
1 educator answer
- KING LEAR
Please explain Cordelia as a tragic figure in King Lear.
As she was the only “true” daughter of Lear but was punished for her virtue instead of her vice, Cordelia is NOT a typical tragic figure per se. (No character weakness untimately leads to her…
2 educator answers
- NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH: A DOCUMENTARY NOVEL
What is a summary of Chapter 15 in Nothing But the Truth?a correct detailed summary
Did Miss Narwin cause Phillip’s suspension? That is the main question of this chapter. It all starts with Jennifer Stewart’s story about the incident. The associated Wire service read her story and…
1 educator answer
- JUST LATHER, THAT’S ALL
Explain how the dialogue between the barber and the captain contrasts with the internal…
Both Captain Torres and the barber speak to each other as if they have no secrets from one another in the Hernando Tellez short story, “Just Lather, That’s All.” Torres has just returned from…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
How are ideas of good and bad, right and wrong, and manners and politeness expressed in To Kill a…
Throughout the entire Harper Lee novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch can be counted upon to serve as the conscience of the town. Atticus is always there for Jem and Scout when they need a…
1 educator answer
- ROMEO AND JULIET
Why do you think the author wrote Romeo and Juliet?What general idea ties the whole work together?
I think Shakespeare was disgusted with the prevailing social class sytem of the time and illustrated its stupidity, irony, and uselessness in play form so that people could see it for all its ugly…
2 educator answers
- SCIENCE
What are some suggestions for training hotel staff to handle unusual circumstances?
Probably the best way to train hotel staff to handle unusual circumstances is to have training sessions where incidents are created in real-time and with real people. Make the situations as real…
1 educator answer
- SO FAR FROM THE BAMBOO GROVE
How do the Kawashimas act toward the patients on the train in So Far from the Bamboo Grove?
The Kawashimas go out of their way to be kind to the patients on the train. With the help of Corporal Matsumura, the Kawashimas secure a place on a hospital train headed for Seoul. The boxcar in…
1 educator answer
- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
How did Portia talk about mercy? Was there any effect of it on Shylock? If so, give reasons?
In Act IV, Scene 1 of “The Merchant of Venice,” Shylock is attempting to get “his pound of flesh” from Antonio. Antonio owes him the pound of flesh because he put it up as collateral for some…
1 educator answer
- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
“A pound of man’s flesh, taken from a man, is not estimable, nor profitable” –…
This is a line spoken by Shylock, the Jewish moneylender in Act I, Scene 3. Antonio has come to try to borrow money from Shylock and Shylock (who has been mistreated by Antonio and therefore hates…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In Chapter 8 of TKAM, what does Atticus mean by telling Jem not to let his discovery “inspire”…
Atticus says this to Jem when the children discover that Boo Radley covered Scout’s shoulders with a blanket unbeknownst to Jem or Scout while they watched the fire at Miss Maudie’s house. At this…
1 educator answer
- THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS
In “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury, what unusual qualities and appliances does the…
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury is a very interesting story to read, because Bradbury sets it in the future, where technology has created many appliances and gadgets that are pretty…
1 educator answer
- THE KITE RUNNER
As The Kite Runner begins, what does the author say about the past?
The story begins in current times and then flashes back to the past; so Hosseini discusses the past at the very beginning not only to foreshadow one of the novel’s themes but also to build suspense…
1 educator answer
- THE TELL-TALE HEART
Poe manipulates time throughout the story.Find three quotations that deal with time moving slowly…
Poe has shown us the various deranged states of the narrator through his inability to keep ‘normal’ time. His intensely deliberate actions at the beginning contrast with his wild raving and…
1 educator answer
- A DOLL’S HOUSE
How does Nora in Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House epitomize the id in Freudian theory?
Based upon Freud’s definition, the “id” is that which is most concerned with the present moment: what feels good and what makes us happy at the moment. It is not based upon a clear perception of…
1 educator answer
- FRANKENSTEIN
How does Ernest in the novel Frankenstein support the theme of the book?
Ernest does not play a significant role in Frankenstein. In fact, most readers forget that he is the only surviving Frankenstein at the novel’s end. Frankly, it seems that Mary Shelley had planned…
1 educator answer
- THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
In the story “The Most Dangerous Game,” why does Zaroff think of himself as “civilized”? In what…
General Zaroff thinks of himself as civilized for two reasons. First, he has all the trappings of aristocracy — nice clothes, a butler, a fine mansion with a hunting preserve. Second, he sees…
2 educator answers
- THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW
When a storm blew the tree down Diogory had the wood of the tree made into what?
I assume from the tags that this is in reference to “The Magician’s Nephew” by C. S. Lewis. The young Digory Kirke returned from Narnia with a magic apple given to him by Aslan to cure his ill…
1 educator answer
- SONNY’S BLUES
sonny’ s blues short storydefine the main character in sonny’ s blues. what are the 2 things…
The brother of Sonny, who is also the narrator of the story, is the main character who objectively–at least, he believes he is objective –relates the history of Sonny’s personal difficulties and…
2 educator answers
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What issues did Boo Radley have with his parents and older brother in his past?I’m writing a…
When Boo was a teenager, he and some friends got into some trouble and were going to be sent to a reformatory. Mr. Radley thought that would be an embarassment to the family, so he took Boo’s…