• FRANKENSTEIN

In Chapter 22 of Frankenstein, what was Victor’s plan for the monster on his wedding night?

Victor plans to kill the Monster if necessary. He states: “I took every precaution to defend my person in case the fiend should openly attack me. I carried pistols and a dagger constantly about…

1 educator answer

• BILLY COLLINS

What is the theme of Billy Collin’s “Lanyard”?Some interpret it as being humerous irony, but…

Love your mother! In Billy Collins’ poem “The Lanyard,” the speaker reflects on being a boy at camp and making a lanyard for his mother. The lanyard is key chain of sorts, made from simply braiding…

1 educator answer

• HAMLET

What are Gertrude’s personality traits in “Hamlet”?

Gertrude’s personality in Hamlet is one of the most interesting aspects of the play and Gertrude herself is one of the more complex characters in the play. Critics of Hamlet have long debated…

1 educator answer

• THE ODYSSEY

In Book 9 of The Odyssey, what is an example of a sensory detail that can be smelled?I need a…

Book IX begins with Odysseus telling the kind people around King Alcinous’s table that it is very agreeable to tell stories when an attentive company is gathered quietly to listen. Odysseus, in…

1 educator answer

• REFERENCE

How would you know the best thing ever happens to you?Its how you would feel when the best thing…

This is such an interesting question, but the answer is that you will not know the best thing that happened to you until you are nearing the end of your life. Perhaps I am an optimist, but even…

6 educator answers

• OF MICE AND MEN

What are possible arguable theses in “Of Mice and Men” and which paragraph illuminates the…

In “Of Mice and Men,” it is the death of Lennie which ends the dream for George, a fact which leads the reader to conclude that in George’s life the pursuit of the dream is more important than the…

3 educator answers

• ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

In All Quiet on the Western Front, what 5 key traits does Paul Baumer display?

At the beginning of the novel, Paul–like his classmates–is naive. He does not understand the true implications of the war, nor does he understand what it will mean to be a soldier. He is easily…

1 educator answer

• THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

What does Lily do to ease the pain where her father is concerned?

Lily longs for love, and wishes that T. Ray were more understanding of her. Because of T.Ray’s harsh parenting, Lily has developed a strong imagination and has also become an excellent liar, to…

1 educator answer

• ANIMAL FARM

Why is Snowball important to the pigs in Animal Farm?

Snowball provides them with a scapegoat. When anything goes wrong on the farm, they can claim it was Snowball’s doing or influence. They can pretend that they saw his tracks, or smelled his…

1 educator answer

• THE JOY LUCK CLUB

Briefly explain how Lindo got out of her marriage without losing faith.It is from the book The…

In “The Red Candle,” the third chapter of The Joy Luck Club, Lindo wants desperately to get out of her marriage, however, doing so would cause her to shame her parents and disrespect her culture….

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

How were women treated back in the 19th century? How were women treated back in the 19th century?

A woman’s place was indeed in the home, although certain professions were open to women, such as nursing or teaching. Women were beginning to reclaim their rights as full-fledged citizens, and the…

3 educator answers

• ROMEO AND JULIET

What are the best character traits for the main characters mentioned in Shakespeare’s Romeo and…

What a fun question! Well, obviously this is open to interpretation, but here is my opinion of the “best” character trait for each of the main characters: Romeo: Passion (as evidenced by his every…

1 educator answer

• TWELVE ANGRY MEN

What is the setting in Act 1 of Twelve Angry Men?

The setting of Twelve Angry Men is consistent throughout the play; therefore, the setting of Act 1 is the same as the settings for Acts 2 and 3. The entire play takes place in the deliberation…

1 educator answer

• THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS

What happens to the dog’s remains in “There Will Come Soft Rains?”

After the dog died, it lay for an hour in the parlor until the mechanical cleaning mice “sensed” the dog’s decaying body. Within fifteen minutes, the mice had done their work, and the dog’s body…

2 educator answers

• ROMEO AND JULIET

Why is Romeo self absorbed in Romeo and Juliet?

Romeo is self absorbed because of his age as well as his temperament. He is a teenager and, as such, is subject to this totally normal behavior. People in their adolescent stage are still trying…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

In Lord of the Flies, how is purity symbolized by Simon?

Simon is the loner of the tribe of boys. He is the first of the boys to realize the truth about the nature of the Beast. Ironically, he is killed by Jack and his band of hunters, who represent…

1 educator answer

• A SEPARATE PEACE

In A Separate Peace, what understanding do Finny and Gene reach about the accident in the tree?

What happened in the tree was no accident. Gene “jounced” the limb, causing Finny to lose his balance, fall, and break his leg. He did not plan to do it, but he did it, and his ensuing guilt drives…

1 educator answer

• A SEPARATE PEACE

In A Separate Peace, what is Leper’s description of the accident, and why is his story so…

These answers can be found on the last two pages of chapter 11, if you are interested in finding the actual quotes. Leper actually describes the event very poetically, when he is assembled before…

1 educator answer

• MY ANTONIA

In the book My Antonia, where does Krajiek live?

Peter Krajiek was the first Bohemian to settle in the Black Hawk area. He was related to Mrs. Shimerda and he makes arrangements to sell them his homestead. At the beginning of chapter three,…

1 educator answer

• KING LEAR

What are the most important changes in Lear throughout the play?Any quotes that may be useful?

When the play opens, King Lear is at the point where he wants to retire and divide his kingdom between his daughters. What is interesting, however is that he wants to be retired, but also wants to…

1 educator answer

• THE GREAT GATSBY

Chapter 7 opens on a blistering hot day in the days before air conditioning. How is the behavior…

Near the beginning of the chapter, Fitzgerald incorporates heat imagery to mirror the explosive situation that Nick is about to witness. As Nick rides the train, he comments that the straw seats…

1 educator answer

• LITERATURE

What is the relationship of literature and art with history?What is the relationship of…

So often there is an interrelationship with history and the fine arts. In fact, literature is said to be the mirror of the society. One example of literature in America that reflects its…

3 educator answers

• THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

Show the importance of the house and it surroundings in The Fall of the House of Usher.

It is the house, which represents the slow deterioration of reality and sanity, what sets the mode for what the story tries to represent and furthermore adds the Gothic atmosphere of despair,…

1 educator answer

• WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Did people speak the same as Shakespeare in his plays?Did Shakespeare write his plays to mimic…

No, for the most part at least, Shakespeare is not mimicking the voices of people living in Elizabethan England in his plays. Shakespeare wrote his plays primarily in blank verse, which is the…

1 educator answer

• MACBETH

What is the setting in Macbeth?

Macbeth takes place in Scotland mostly. In the first act, Scotland is fighting Norway in battle. A majority of the play takes place in and around Macbeth’s castle (at Inverness). The time period…

4 educator answers

• THE PEARL

Considering all that Kino gained and lost in The Pearl, was he wise to toss the pearl back into…

I can think of nothing Kino gained from finding the pearl, except for some momentary impossible dreams. He did, however, lose almost everything of value to him. By the conclusion of the novel, Kino…

1 educator answer

• THE PEARL

Consider the doctor, the pearl buyers, the attackers. How dangerous are these enemies, or is…

There are different levels of conflict in this story and they need to be addressed as interelated, then separately (or, if you like, the other way around). On the man versus man level, Kino does…

1 educator answer

• THE SCARLET LETTER

List three devilish acts on Pearl’s part in The Scarlet Letter.

Because Pearl serves as a living symbol of Dimmesdale’s and Hester’s sin, Hawthorne often uses her throughout the novel to remind Hester or others of her origin. 1. As Pearl frolics outside one day…

1 educator answer

• THE HIDING PLACE

In the book The Hiding Place, why did Betsie and Corrie trade jobs?

Betsie’s job was to work in the watch shop, doing the books and helping with customers. Corrie’s job was to take care of the house. The two sisters originally traded jobs because Betsie, who had…

1 educator answer

• THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO

Why does Oscar have a better relationship with his mother than Lola does? How do their…

Consider the following: Beli and Lola are very similar in terms of personality. How does this cause difficulties between the two women? How is Oscar different from his mother? How do these…

1 educator answer

• PYGMALION

How is the quote about Galatea and Pygmalion found in the Sequel of Pygmalion relate to the…

Shaw’s Pygmalion is based on the tale of “Pygmalion” the sculptor in Ovid’s (Roman poet) Metamorphoses, which is fifteen tales written in Latin in heroic hexameter. In Ovid’s “Pygmalion,” the…

1 educator answer

• THE PEARL

What is the event of the story “The Pearl”?

The “event” immortalized in Steinbeck’s rendition of a Mexican folk tale is a poor fisherman’s discovery of a giagantic and perfect pearl. In Steinbeck’s version (there was more than one…

1 educator answer

• FAHRENHEIT 451

How does Montag feel about losing his old burnt-in smile?

If you’ve ever stood near an open fire, especially when it’s cold outside, you’ve felt the “fiery smile” to which you refer. It’s that feeling like the expression on your face is going to be fixed…

1 educator answer

• CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME

Is there in literature, as there is in painting, a current that might be called pre raphaelite?

Yes, the Pre Raphaelite movement, which began in 1848, had a close allegiance between art and literature. Writers who were part of the Pre Raphaelite movement include Dante Gabriel Rossetti,…

1 educator answer

• SYLVIA PLATH

How did Sylvia Plath treat the theme of Feminism in her poetry? quotations would be helpful

Sylvia Plath, an American author considered one of the most emotional writers of the post war period, was a deeply troubled individual who committed suicide at the age of 30. “A complicated…

1 educator answer

• THINGS FALL APART

In “Things Fall Apart”, how far does Achebe manage to portray Africa against the famous…

What Achebe succeeds in doing is presenting a series of individuals with need and desires that are similar to all human beings. He presents the culture of the Ibgo in a matter-of-fact style and…

1 educator answer

• OF MICE AND MEN

Which quotes portray Curley’s Wife as powerless and regretful in “Of Mice and Men”?

Several major details in addition to specific quotations illustrate Steinbeck’s theme that women during his time were often powerless and isolated simply because of their gender. 1. Unlike Crooks…

1 educator answer

• THE CRUCIBLE

In “The Crucible” why does Proctor insist that Mary Warren testify in Elizabeth’s defense? Why…

John has promised to come to the courts and “bring [Elizabeth] home.” He feels incredibly guilty that she was arrested in the first place; he blames himself because it was Abby’s affections for…

1 educator answer

• SOCIAL SCIENCES

how has the acceptance of homosexuality changed in society over 50 years? your thoughtshow has…

Well 50 years ago, the topic was very taboo, which means people thought it such an oddity, that it was never discussed, and certainly frowned upon in all circles of society. There were no famous…

6 educator answers

• THE KITE RUNNER

How effective or not effective is the narrative strategy of the writer? (The way he tells the…

Hosseini’s narrative strategy is highly effective in several respects. The story is told in first person from Amir’s point of view, which brings us close to him and his experiences. The structure…

1 educator answer

• LAW AND POLITICS

I’m looking for a site that will help guide me in writing my research paper in customary law APA…

I have provided some web sites for you below, but I want to offer a bit of advice to you, too. First, the word “cite” is word that refers to a citation in its noun form and a word that, in its…

1 educator answer

• ROMEO AND JULIET

Examine how prejudice is expressed in “Romeo and Juliet.”I’m having trouble finding quotes to…

A simple answer to your question is that prejudice is expressed through physical fighting. The family fued between the Montagues and Capulets is one of the most primary instances of prejudice….

1 educator answer

• THE SCARLET LETTER

I need quotes that support the theme of individuals versus society in The Scarlet Letter.

I have read this book with my students for many years, and I would suggest that the individual vs. society is not at the heart of what this book is about. On one level, of course, we have two…

3 educator answers

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

In To Kill A Mockingbird, find examples of personification and metaphors.

Chapter 8 has several metaphors and some personification when she describes the fire at Miss Maudie’s house. One example is when the men arrive to put the fire out. There are two examples in the…

2 educator answers

• CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

What is the theme, purpose and relevance of “Crime and Punishment” to today?

The primary theme of “Crime and Punishment” is guilt. Rudya kills the old woman, and spends the rest of the novel sick with guilt and fear. Another theme of the novel is the connection between the…

5 educator answers

• AP LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION

Welcome message!Hi, Welcome to the group. If you have anything to say about the AP English Lit…

I think it’s great to have a dicussion group for AP lit on enotes. I am sure that a lot of our kids make their way here, but I have also found a lot of great resources as a teacher. The Prestwick…

1 educator answer

• JULIUS CAESAR

Compare and contrast the characters of Brutus and Antony with reference to their speeches in Act…

Brutus is a very trusting, loyal man. From his speech we are able to see that he is not overly eloquent or elaborate in his speech, but is able to communicate simply and effectively. He credits…

2 educator answers

• THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

In “The Importance of Being Earnest”, what does Jack have written on his calling card?what does…

“Mr Ernest Worthing, B.4 The Albany, W.” is written on his cards. Not only does Algy have one of them in the first act, he produces it to the Cecily’s Merriman when he first arrives in the…

1 educator answer

• WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

What is the history of Shakepeare’s theatre?

I think what you are asking concerns the history of Shakespear’s theater. Shakespeare’s plays were performed in the Globe theater. The original Globe was in London and was rebuilt in 1599 by Peter…

1 educator answer

• THE LADY OR THE TIGER?

What would happen if the LADY came out of the door. I know the princess would be jelous and all,…

How about the idea that this semi-barbaric princess would have the woman killed after the wedding. Or perhaps she would continue to carry on an affair with her lover despite his marital status….

1 educator answer