In Of Mice and Men, how is the initial description of Lennie and George fitting when we find out…
- OF MICE AND MEN
In Of Mice and Men, how is the initial description of Lennie and George fitting when we find out…
The first bit of description we get is that George was the leader, even after they had left the narrow trail. This certainly captures an essential part of their relationship. We also learn that…
1 educator answer
- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
How did the Elizabethan’s veiw Midsummer Night’s Dream, magic and fairies? How did it affect…
Fairies in Elizabethan times were thought of to be bad spirits who played tricks on people and were responsibile for disease, illness and misfortune. We see this attitude mirrored in the character…
1 educator answer
- OEDIPUS REX
In Oedipus Rex, does Oedipus keep his promise to rid the city of the plague?Did he in fact do…
Thebes is suffering from a plague, we hear right at the very start of the play. People are suffering, people are dying, women’s children are dying. Oedipus is the king of Thebes. It is his duty to…
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- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Why is Act 3, Scene 2 of A Midsummer Night’s Dream interesting and effective?
It’s the moment where Shakespeare has maximum fun with all the trouble he’s set up with the lovers. Firstly you get Puck recapping what’s happened with Titania and Bottom, and how he has turned…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
Why was it so difficult to unify Italy?
I cannot speak with any great authority on modern history but I can say that as far back as Roman times regional identity was very strong in Italy and it took a savage civil war in the early first…
3 educator answers
- OEDIPUS REX
Oedipus takes steps to save the kingdom from the plague. Is there anything he could have done…
No, in a word. The plague is brought about by Oedipus’ own presence, and he doesn’t realise it. The process of cleansing the city from the plague, of removing the dirt which ruins Thebes, is the…
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- MACBETH
In “Macbeth”, what did the Elizabethan people think about the three witches?
The play itself can not directly reveal what the audience felt about it. However, the way the characters react can indicate what the audience might feel. Also, research into the time period can…
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- HISTORY
How did F.D.R.’s New Deal address the mood of the nation in 1933?
The New Deal was a result of the Great Depression. Although many attribute the Depression to the collapse of the US stock market in October, 1929, this was actually more of a symptom than a cause,…
1 educator answer
- JULIUS CAESAR
How can I compare and contrast the two characters Brutus and Cassius in the play Julius Caesar by…
Cassius and Brutus are the main two people who head up the plot to assassinate Caesar. Interestingly, although Cassius throughout the play shows that he is a more accurate and canny judge of…
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- OEDIPUS REX
Who is the one character in the play Oedipus the King, who saw, right from the start, the cause…
The one character in the play who sees, right from the start, that the cause of the plague is Oedipus’s transgression in killing his father and marrying his mother, is Teresias. The irony of this…
1 educator answer
- HEALTH
How is the meaning of health often described in metaphors, and what are some examples?
We often use metaphors to describe our perceived state of health, whether referring to illness, well-ness, or, in some cases, lunacy. A metaphor is a direct comparison that is made between two…
1 educator answer
- WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Why was the Globe Theater located where it was and how long did it take to build?Why was it built?
The Globe Theater was not the first theater built in London. James Burbage had built a theater, just called The Theater, in the 1570’s and had left it to his son, Cuthbert brother of the…
1 educator answer
- TWILIGHT
What happens when Bella gets her period in Twilight?
Good question. I can see how this monthly occurrence would cause a problem in Edward and Bella’s relationship. However, this is not an issue that Stephanie Meyer addresses. As you know, the Cullen…
1 educator answer
- THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
Describe the character of Mr Hyde in Chapters 1-3 of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
In the early chapters of the book, Mr. Hyde is described as a mysterious man who has some type of deformity. Mr. Utterson is very curious about Mr. Hyde especially since Dr. Jekyl has written his…
1 educator answer
- ALL MY SONS
Is All My Sons a play concerned with the false values in American life?
One of the play’s themes is the American dream, owning a home, being successful in business having a stable financial life, being able to support your family in style. Joe Keller has attained the…
1 educator answer
- A ROSE FOR EMILY
The story” A Rose of Emily ” covers different time periods. How does each generation reflect…
With Emily’s father, we see the old South’s beliefs and standards. Men were to be chivalrous. They believed that women were completely innocent and moral. And they all wanted nothing to do with…
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- ALL MY SONS
What is the significance of money in the play?
Money plays a significant role in Joe Keller’s decision to ship the faulty airplane parts. He has worked very hard from the bottom up to own the factory, he believed that if he did not meet the…
1 educator answer
- LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE
What do the quails symbolize in Like Water for Chocolate?
Whatever Tita is feeling or experiencing while she cooks is transferred into the people who eat her meals. In the scene where Tita prepares the quail for her family, the quails are filled with her…
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- ALL MY SONS
Why did Joe decide to commit suicide (relate to Kate’s words at the end of the play:”Forget now!…
Joe’s decision to commit suicide comes from the revelations in Anne’s letter from Larry. When Joe finds out that his son, Larry actually killed himself because he could not bear to live with the…
1 educator answer
- THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
What is the character analysis for Sir Danvers Carew in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
Sir Danvers Carew is an elderly gentleman with the highest kind of English manners and deportment. He is not only a person of public importance in his career but he is also a highly esteemed…
1 educator answer
- GUIDE TO LITERARY TERMS
How do I use the words to, too, and two?
To, too and two are homophones, which means that they sound the same but mean different things. Two means the number 2. It has the same beginning as the words twice and twenty. This can help you…
2 educator answers
- ALL MY SONS
Why is Joe Keller a classic tragic hero?
A tragic hero is defined by several factors, he must have a character flaw that prevents him from seeing the truth. There is a reversal of fortune due to his mistaken judgement. He usually loses…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, explain why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird—according…
Atticus told Scout that it was a sin to kill a mockingbird. This was the first time that Scout had ever heard Atticus say that it was a sin to do something, so she asked Miss Maudie about it. Miss…
2 educator answers
- THE SCARLET LETTER
In The Scarlet Letter, why does Chillingworth not want Dimmesdale to go up on the scaffold near…
The only hold that Chillingworth has over Dimmesdale is his hidden guilt and sin. Chillingworth has been torturing Dimmesdale because of his secret. Chillingworth knows that if Dimmesdale stands on…
2 educator answers
- THE FLOWERS
How does Alice Walker establish the setting and atmosphere in the first two paragraphs of “The…
In the beginning we see everything that’s innocent. Everything “seems” happy, warm and inviting. The air has a “keenness” about it while the “warm” sun is about. The whole setting is expressed as…
2 educator answers
- THE SCARLET LETTER
In The Scarlet Letter, does the letter do its job of isolating Hester and bringing attention to…
The letter does accomplish its purpose in a number of ways. For the first several years that Hester wears the letter, the townspeople regard her in a fearful manner, almost as if they are afraid…
1 educator answer
- THE NECKLACE
What symbolic meaning does the necklace have for Madame Loisel?
From the very beginning, Loisel feels inadequate. She longs to go to this party, yet she doesn’t “have a thing to wear.” She and her husband happen to live in the “lower bourgeoisie, a class that…
1 educator answer
- BEOWULF
How are Beowulf and Batman different?
Beowulf and Batman represent two different types of heroes. Beowulf is the classic epic hero. He is “larger than life.” Beowulf is described as being stronger than thirty men. He lists his…
3 educator answers
- GOOD COUNTRY PEOPLE
Discuss O’Connor’s use of irony and depiction of hypocrisy in “Good Country People”.Discuss…
Flannery O’Connor has a great sense of humor–and this story is a perfect example. Ok, not in a “ha ha” sort of way, but still… You have to remember that she was a Catholic who describes the…
3 educator answers
- THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER AND OTHER POEMS OF THE ROMANTIC ERA
Why is “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” a Romantic poem?
By Romantic Poetry, that means that it possesses qualities of the Romantic Era. In Romantic poetry, the authors began doing new things. First, they used common language. Many of the poets used…
1 educator answer
- FAHRENHEIT 451
To whom can we compare Beatty in real life?To whom can we compare Beatty in real life?
Interesting question. Captain Beatty is in my opinion one of the most interesting characters in this novel. As captain of the firefighters, he leads his team in the destruction of books. However,…
1 educator answer
- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
What’s the love relationship between the characters in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”?Specifically…
I think Oberon and Titania’s love starts off very rockily indeed, with a strong and fiery argument over who is going to have control over the Indian boy. And then, of course, to punish her, Oberon…
1 educator answer
- THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
InheritanceIn “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” why do the King and Duke give “their”…
They want to appear gracious, selfless, and wonderfully supportive, in order to clamp down on any suspicions about their identity. Besides, they aren’t really handing the money over to the girls…
5 educator answers
- SONNET 18
Why should I choose “Sonnet 18” for an oral recital on Shakespeare’s Sonnets?
Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18” is suitable for an oral recital because the underlying metaphor comparing the eternal summer of beauty to the eternal summer of beauty in a written sonnet is at once…
1 educator answer
- MEDEA
Discuss gender as a social construction of identity in Medea.
In Medea, gender works as a social construction of power in Corinthian society. Jason has only been able to complete his trials with Medea’s help, and she has given up her family and left her home…
1 educator answer
- OF MICE AND MEN
chapter 1 irony questionwhat is the irony of the emotions that george feels towards lennie in…
The irony that George feels towards Lennie in Chapter one is that he complains about being burdened by Lennie when they are traveling together, and in the end, George is burdened with the task of…
4 educator answers
- THE TEMPEST
What conflicts take place in The Tempest?Kindly make the answers specific.
A major conflict that takes place in The Tempest is the tension between Prospero and Antonio. Prospero was once the Duke of Milan; however, Antonio usurped his brother from power, forcing Prospero…
2 educator answers
- THE GREAT GATSBY
List the number of times that cars are mentioned in The Great Gatsby.
Although I consider myself a very observant reader, I will admit that I wouldn’t attempt to answer your question without a Kindle in hand. Now that I finally have one, I can happily answer your…
1 educator answer
- MACBETH
In Macbeth, what is the signifiance of the three witches being women?Especially in Act One.
One could try and make the argument of the strong female types in MacBeth and comment that the female characters in MacBeth have a devastating effect on the males in the play. It is significant…
2 educator answers
- THE STORY OF AN HOUR
What is the symbolic meaning of “like a goddess of victory” from the story “The Story of an Hour”?
In the story, Chopin uses a lot of imagery and symbolism to represent the freedom and joy that Louise Mallard feels after the initial shock of her husband’s death. She uses symbolism in the…
2 educator answers
- IF
What are some poetic devices for the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling? Please identify and provide…
The three most common poetic devices that are presented in this poem are repetition, personification, and alliteration. Repetition is the repeated use of a word or phrase for a certain effect. In…
2 educator answers
- SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS
A question on Shakespear Sonnet?In sonnets 14 and 15 the poet discusses his subject’s beauty…
What a great question! It may be that the poet is thinking of only himself when he writes that his subject will live, forever beautiful, within the lines of his immortal poetry; then again, it may…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In To Kill a Mockingbird, how do the childrens’ impressions of Boo Radley change?From the…
Dill was so interested in seeing Boo. He was the most curious character of the three children. After all, he was the one who bet Jem he wouldn’t touch the front door of the Radley house (and he…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
How can I compare the relationships in “To Kill a Mockingbird” to those in “The Secret life of…
First, read the eNotes guide “How to Write a Compare-and-Contrast Essay”; click on the link in the Sources section. You’ll get great advice on how to write a thesis statement and what sorts of…
1 educator answer
- THE KITE RUNNER
Why did you like or dislike “The Kite Runner”?Please back up the answer with specific…
I can’t answer this question for you. I can tell you why I like or dislike the book, and I can give you lots of examples to back up why I feel that way. But that would be my opinion, and I’m sure…
1 educator answer
- OF MICE AND MEN
In Of Mice and Men, how does an innocent longing for human contact lead to catastrophe in Chapter 5?
In this Chapter, Lennie and George have found their way onto a ranch owned by a man named Curley. Lennie is a large, burly oaf of man who does not seem to know his own strength. We know from the…
2 educator answers
- THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM—1963
What does Byron remember about Grandma Sands in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963?.
Byron remembers Grandma Sands as being “the meanest, ugliest person in the world”, but Kenny knows that he is probably lying; Byron had only been four years old the last time he saw her. Like all…
1 educator answer
- NIGHT
What are some open ended questions that could create a discussion in the book “Night” by Elie…
I would suggest that a very good discussion point, and one that might be very powerful, would be for students to identify one instance in the book that students can relate to on a personal level….
3 educator answers
- TWILIGHT
In Twilight, if Bella isn’t affected by the vampires’ special gifts, why can Alice see Bella’s…
In the Twilight Series, the author never says that Bella isn’t affected by any of the Vampire’s gifts. Edward can’t read her mind. Alice could see the future and Edward is connected to Bella so…
2 educator answers
- THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
In “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” why does Helen Stoner come to see Holmes?
I actually don’t think that Helen Stoner was aware that she was in grave danger when she went to visit Holmes. She went simply due to the low whistle which she heard in the middle of the night she…