I would like to know how the state of Arizona got its name and what does the word Arizona mean?
- HISTORY
I would like to know how the state of Arizona got its name and what does the word Arizona mean?
I went to a website called Etymology Online and searched for the name Arizona. It’s not clear cut what the meaning is or the origins are for this state’s name, but it’s very interesting to read….
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- MACBETH
In Macbeth, what are the exact quotes of all plant imagery?I know there are a few references to…
You are right in identifying planting as a recurrent image throughout the play. There are many examples of where this image appears, but I will focus on three of the main occurrences. Act I scene…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
Comment on the dramatic irony in each scene: The omens of tragedy even in the romantic language…
There are several types of irony situational irony occurs when what we expect to happen does not happen verbal irony occurs when what the character says is not what he or she means dramatic irony…
2 educator answers
- WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
What is the summary/ critical appreciation of “A Violet by the Mossy Stone” by W. Wordsworth?
Wordsworth’s poem “She Dwelt Among Untrodden Ways” is one of his lesser known poems about the love of his life, Lucy. In terms of analysis, the title is fairly powerful. The speaker, which we can…
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- LITERATURE
Authentic AudienceI am trying to devise more authentic audiences and assignments for my…
Designing writing assignments with a larger audience is critical. Assignments that ask students to write a speech to a targeted audience could be one approach. There would have to be certain…
6 educator answers
- LITERATURE
Alternate ResourcesIn an effort to making the reading material in my classroom more revelant to…
Young adult literature is becoming quite the force. The most obvious title I can throw out there would be the “Twilight” series. It might not constitute amazingly powerful reading, but kids are…
3 educator answers
- DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
Can you please explain the first stanza of the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by…
The first three lines provide the basis of the thematic exploration of aging, death, and resistance which are reiterated throughout the poem. The title and first line of the poem help to bring…
2 educator answers
- THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
What does The Epic of Gilgamesh reveal to us about Mesopotamian culture/religion?
We can learn much about Mesopotamian culture from this epic. First, we see that one strong male leader, assisted by a counsel of city elders, was the traditional form of government. However, there…
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- THE OPEN BOAT
In “The Open Boat,” what is the effect of being told early in the story that the men are not near…
In “The Open Boat”, the text states, early in the story, that the men are far from a rescue station. This allows the reader to know that there seems to be a greater fear than one knowing that the…
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- SHAKESPEARE: A LIFE IN DRAMA
What is the function of the women in Shakespeare’s writings?I want to study mastery in english…
By this question you are assuming that the sex of a character is all-determining in her role. I am not convinced that this is a good starting point around which you can build a thesis. Say, for…
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- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ why are Scout and Jem intrigued by Dill?
As if dropped down from the sky, Dill (Charles Baker Harris) is from elsewhere (Meridian), that is outside the framework of Maycomb, the only source of experience Scout and Jem have ever known….
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- BUSINESS
Explain about compulsive talkerA female clerk in your department is a compulsive talker. her job…
The approaches suggested are quite strong. Some other ideas which can be initiated would be to use a seasoned veteran worker to engage in a mentoring program with the clerk. Naturally, as had…
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- LITERATURE
What is the nature of literature?
The nature of literature is quite an open one. It does many things and accomplishes many purposes. One such end is that it helps to articulate conditions within human beings that can find…
2 educator answers
- THE PIECE OF STRING
What is the irony of “The Piece of String”?
This question has already been asked and answered. You can view the answer at the link below and thanks for using eNotes….
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- WOLF BY THE EARS
What does it mean when president Jefferson says that “slavery is a wolf America holds by the…
The previous post was accurate in its findings. I would like to suggest one other implication behind Jefferson’s image. At the time of his assertion, America as a nation was expanding both…
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- THE MAN TO SEND RAIN CLOUDS
Share your impressions on whether Teofilo has a “good” funeral in “The Man to Send Rainclouds”?
In “The Man to Send Rainclouds,” Teofilo, the local shepherd who peacefully died while tending his sheep, had a good funeral in terms of the religion of Pueblo tradition, which suggests the…
2 educator answers
- FAHRENHEIT 451
In “Fahrenheit 451” what is the symbolical meaning of the following description of Clarisse’s…
In Montag’s society, everyone is living in intellectual darkness, and in blind distraction from things that matter. Mildred, Montag’s wife, is so miserable under the surface that she tries to end…
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- OF MICE AND MEN
What grief/pain does George have to deal with as a result of sacrifices made by Lennie?(Lennie’s…
Is this an assigned question? I wouldn’t consider the things you mentioned actual sacrifices made by Lennie since he doesn’t give them up willfully and in the spirit of renouncement. He is simply…
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- THE ODYSSEY
I need to know some direct quotes that show insight into character development for Odysseus in…
This book begins when Odysseus is at the banquet table of King Alcinous and Queen Arete. After his harrowing adventures, Odysseus seems very appreciative of the simple delights of safety indoors,…
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- OTHELLO
What does Shakespere want us to learn from Iago deceiving others?
One message is that looks can be deceiving especially when it comes to human nature. It is wise to not take people or circumstances at face value (as Othello did) but rather consider eventual…
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- MISS BRILL
What does Mansfield want us to learn from Miss Brill’s false perception of reality?
The theme of appearances and reality is of critical importance in “Miss Brill.” One thing that Mansfield seeks to create in the mind of the reader is the ability to perceive oneself and one’s…
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- THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY
What does Patricia Highsmith want to teach us from Mr. Ripley sustaining a false identity and…
In this story Ripley incarnates the perfect sociopath – a person who conforms to society’s rules and looks good on the outside but who is perfectly corrupt and without moral checks underneath. To a…
1 educator answer
- JULIUS CAESAR
Is it possible that Caesar’s death was engineered by himself, as suicide?”However, as publicized…
Julius Caesar wanted immortality, but he desired great power first, so it is unlikely he choreographed his own murder. Because his family was not wealthy, he had to validate his own rise to power…
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- THE SCARLET LETTER
What talent did Hester use to support herself and Pearl?
Hester was an amazing seamstress and a master at needlework. Ironically, the people who condemned her for her actions went to her for fancy children’s clothes, embroidered laces and gloves, and…
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- MARXIST LITERARY CRITICISM
Explain the quote “What the Bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave diggers”.
Marx and Engels advocate this idea that capitalism is a runaway train, destined to sow the seeds of its own inevitable destruction. Their premise asserts that there is no limit to capitalism, as…
2 educator answers
- THE BEAN TREES
In The Bean Trees, does Taylor Greer leave Kentucky “to avoid pregnancy and to get away”?
In The Bean Trees, Marietta (Missy) has succeeded in graduating high school by avoiding getting pregnant and dropping out of school as a teen. She has successfully applied for a laboratory…
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- THINGS FALL APART
Describe the character Unoka in Things Fall Apart and how his attitude influenced Okonkwo’s life.
Unoka is Okonkwo’s father, and he serves as the guiding force for Okonkwo’s life, in that Okonkwo is determined to never resemble him. Unoka possesses everything that Okonkwo hates-gentleness, lack…
2 educator answers
- BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON
In “By the Waters of Babylon” John enters the place of gods in search of what?
In John’s society, so reminiscent of ancient and tribal societies that were precursors to our modern era, as a priest, he wants to go on a “spirit walk” to find knowledge, and as an initiation into…
1 educator answer
- THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
Why does the headless horsemen chase Ichabod Crane in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” ?
Most people believe to a certainity that the headless horseman is Brom Bones. That being the case, Brom knows very well the degree that Ichabod is scared of nearly everything. His objective is to…
2 educator answers
- HISTORY
Discuss how slavery denied people their basic human rights and ways abolitionists fought against…
The stain of slavery proved to be a contradictory moment in the history of the United States. In a nation predicated upon “justice for all,” “inalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the…
2 educator answers
- GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL
What were the advantages of the Fertile Crescent that made it the earliest site of development…
It had a mild climate. There was an abundance of wild grains that took very little to domesticate. Hunters and gatherers who settled here were able to survive on the abundant grain until…
1 educator answer
- SOCIAL SCIENCES
Judging from the conversations of the Puritan women, what are their conceptions about sin,…
The puritans had a very strong notion of sin. The implications are as follows: 1. They had this strong notion, because they believed in the total depravity of humanity. Verse such as Ephesians…
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- FAHRENHEIT 451
What function do the Hoboes in the wilderness provide? Can you think of any historical precedence…
The men in the wilderness are Montag’s way station-a point of rest between 2 halves of his journey. They become his surrogate family, offering his more acceptance than he’s ever known. After…
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- FAHRENHEIT 451
In “Fahrenheit 451” what role does Faber play in Montag’s character development?
Montag meets Faber before we do. Montag and Faber, previously, had sat together on a park bench and had a conversation that had planted a seed within Montag. He never quite forgot that…
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- DEATH THE LEVELLER
What is a summary of the poem “Death the Leveller”?
As the title suggests, Shirley’s poem is a statement about the inevitable finality of death. The opening stanza contrasts the fleeting accomplishments of human beings with the permanence and…
2 educator answers
- THE SOLITARY REAPER
What is the central concern of the Romantics that can be seen in the poem “The Solitary Reaper”?
The connection to the natural world is one critical concern that is addressed in Wordsworth’s poem of “The Solitary Reaper.” The speaker, presumably Wordsworth, comes across the maiden in the…
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- THE CHOCOLATE WAR
Which quote is essential in moving the plot and why does this quote help to develop the author’s…
“They tell you to do your thing but they don’t mean it. They don’t want you to do your thing, not unless it happens to be their thing, too. It’s a laugh, Goober, a fake. Don’t disturb the universe,…
1 educator answer
- GREAT EXPECTATIONS
In chapter 8 of “Great Expectations,” what does Miss Havisham’s appearance aptly remind Pip of?
Upon seeing Miss Havisham in the dim light of the candle on her dressing table, Pip remarks that he is reminded of both a “waxwork” at a Fair to which he was taken and an exhumed “skeleton in the…
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- GREAT EXPECTATIONS
In Chapter Five of Great Expectations, how did the first convict show his appreciation for Pip’s…
The first convict shows his appreciation for Pip’s loyalty by making sure the boy is not suspected of helping him in his escape. After he is captured, the convict turns to the sergeant and says,…
2 educator answers
- THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
How would “The Most Dangerout Game” have been affected by explaining Rainsfsord’s preparation…
If Connell had taken the time to explain Rainsford’s preparations, the story would have lost intensity. Connell works hard to build the strong emotional response of the reader. This intensity…
1 educator answer
- GREAT EXPECTATIONS
What object in chapter 3 of Great Expectations leads to a real mystery later on?
Magwitch the criminal gets Pip to steal several items from his house in order to help him escape. One of those items was Joe’s file, which is like a saw, for metal. Magwitch, and his criminal…
1 educator answer
- ANIMAL FARM
What is satire? Please explain how “Animal Farm” is a satire.
A satire is a work that criticizes an aspect of society through humor. Irony and caricature are often employed to harpoon the perceived weakness or defect. Also, satire always aims for reform, for…
1 educator answer
- THE SCARLET LETTER
What are Hester’s feelings toward the stranger that appears as she stands on the scaffold?”The…
In Chapter III of “The Scarlet Letter” as Hester clutches her child “fiercely to her breast” and realises her shame, she then looks outward and discerns a familiar form with one shoulder lower than…
1 educator answer
- AMERICA: PATHWAYS TO THE PRESENT
What are three major problems that the South faced in the Civil War?
Of the many challenges that confronted the South at the outset of the Civil War, there were some very significant hurdles that proved difficult to overcome. The North’s industrial capacity proved…
2 educator answers
- OEDIPUS REX
What is the role of the chorus in Oedipus Rex?
Like the chorus in many Greek tragedies, the chorus in Oedipus Rex represents the voice of the greater society. The elders of the chorus are considered to represent men of Thebes who honor and…
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- GREAT EXPECTATIONS
In Chapter 7 of Great Expectations, explain the quote “Steam was yet in its infancy”.In Chapter…
Pip says “Joe’s education, like Steam, was yet in its infancy”. The story takes place in the nineteenth century, during the early years of the industrial revolution when the steam engine had just…
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- GREAT EXPECTATIONS
In Chapter 7 of Great Expectations, how do the references to the bramble bush and figures as…
The author ties the images of Pip’s efforts to become educated with the scenes already established concerning his experiences in the marshes with the convicts. When Pip describes “struggl(ing)…
1 educator answer
- OF MICE AND MEN
Why has Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men been a popular novel?
There are many reasons why Steinbeck’s work is so popular. One reason why this is might be due to the fact that it is so powerful, yet so compellingly short. It seems like Steinbeck maximizes…
2 educator answers
- GREAT EXPECTATIONS
In chapter 4 of Great Expectations, why does Pip feel apprehensive and miserable?
In chapter 4, Pip feels apprehensive and miserable because he fears the discovery of certain secret actions he undertook on behalf of a convict. Pip most fears being subjected to the attentions of…
1 educator answer
- THE NIGHT THE BED FELL
Why does Thurbur use this comic tone to confront the confusing and chaotic situation?Why does…
Thurber’s stories are characteristically infused with a dark comic tone. He rejected the term “humorist,” which he called a “loose-fitting and ugly word.” He said of writers such as himself that to…
1 educator answer