• THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME

In The Most Dangerous Game, Zaroff tracks Rainford to a tree, and a smile spreads over his face….

This is probably because Zaroff wants a true challenge, as opposed to the weak opposition he’s faced in the past. The reason that he’s battling Rainsford, afterall, is because he respects his…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

What has the American Government done that has had an impact on Canadian culture and identity?

I think that NAFTA was an American government action that had a profound effect on Canadian culture and identity. The notion of removing the physical and cultural element of borders between both…

1 educator answer

• FRANKENSTEIN

In Frankenstein, what details does Frankenstein mention that make it believable that he could…

When Victor breathes life into the creature, technically, he becomes a father. And, typically, he does not understand his child. In fact he is revolted by the creature’s appearance at the same…

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• THE GREAT GATSBY

In “The Great Gatsby,” is Jay Gatsby a secretive person?

In the novel “The Great Gatsby,” Jay Gatsby is the protagonist who suddenly appears in West Egg, Long Island, New York. He appears to own a large home and throws huge parties. He does not share…

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• GREAT EXPECTATIONS

After the first four chapters of Great Expectations, describe how Dickens keeps the interest of…

In chapter 6 we learn that Pip is going to go to Miss Havisham’s house. Many unanswered questions hang in the air as we read through these first couple of chapters after the beginning four. There…

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• FAHRENHEIT 451

In “Fahrenheit 451” what role do jets and war play in the book?

They serve as a constant reminder of the unstable nature of their society, the unhappiness that exists within it, and the potential for disaster and tragedy. The jets are there in the background,…

2 educator answers

• NADINE GORDIMER

What is the moral, theme or lesson that is being taught in “Once Upon a Time”?

The central theme brought out through this short story is the idea that human fear represents the greatest obstacle to human happiness. The family “loves each other very much,” as indicated in the…

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• LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE

How is Like Water for Chocolate an example of magical realism?

The origins of the sub genre of Magical Realism is attributed to Swiss-born essayist and writer Alejo Carpentier Valmont, who took residence in Cuba since infancy, and who considered himself a…

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• LORD OF THE FLIES

Is it Ralph’s biggest mistake to believe in the goodness of humanity? Is it Ralph’s biggest…

Ralph really doesn’t make a mistake in believing in the goodness in humans. Ralph is the rational, logical, and adult representative on the island (other than Piggy, of course). Ralph keeps trying…

2 educator answers

• MACBETH

In Macbeth, how does Macbeth respond when one of the witches’ prophesies comes true? And how…

Macbeth is shocked when he is addressed by “Thane of Cawdor” because there is already a man of that title. However, when it’s explained to him, he is rather excited. In fact, he realizes that…

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• SCIENCE

Zeeman’s effectHow did we realized that the Sun has a magnetic field?

I’m not sure when it was that the magnetic field of the Sun had been discovered, but certainly high energy radiation had been discovered in nearby space when Explorer IV, a rocket with a particle…

2 educator answers

• JULIUS CAESAR

How does Caesar feel about Cassius and why does he feel this way?

Caesar feels suspicious of Cassius and somewhat apprehensive, although Caesar twice denies that he is afraid of him. Caesar explains to Antony in detail what he thinks of Cassius and how he feels…

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• WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

I have an old figure table lamp of William Shakespeare. It’s brass that has been painted….

Have you considered taking this to your local antiquities dealer? Or perhaps an expert in art at the local university? I have included some websites that may be helpful in identifying your piece….

2 educator answers

• ON BEAUTY

In On Beauty by Zadie Smith, do the phrases “only connect” and “do concentrate” apply and reflect…

This is an interesting question. I can see how “only connect” and “do concentrate” might be a representative pair of phrases to give a metaphysical and symbolic representation of Zadie Smith’s On…

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• GOOSEBERRIES

Is there any conflict in the story “Gooseberries”?

Yes, there are definitely conflicts in “Gooseberries.” Some of these conflicts revolve around Ivan and Nikolai’s views of the world, and of their own actions. Where Nikoliai saw himself as pursuing…

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• HOW TO ANALYZE SYMBOLISM IN 8 EASY STEPS

Which element does the story “A Rose for Emily” emphasize?(Does this story emphasize character,…

While arguments can be made for each of the literary elements as significant in “A Rose for Emily,” character seems essential to setting both as a gothic tale and as an allegory for relations…

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• MACBETH

In Macbeth, how does Macbeth show that he cannot enjoy his kingship and becomes a tyrant?and how…

Once Macbeth becomes king, instead of enjoying his new status, he begins to fret about what the witches have prophesied for Banquo. Macbeth asks himself if he has killed Duncan so that Banquo’s…

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• LAW AND POLITICS

Why have most of the advances in civil rights come through the federal courts and not through our…

Legislatures function through compromise. Even when one party has enough votes to get a majority and so pass a bill, in the US Senate 60 votes are needed to stop a filibuster. In addition to the…

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• MACBETH

In Macbeth, what does Lady Macbeth mean by saying that their service, even if doubly redoubled,…

All our service In every point twice done and then done double Were poor and single business to contend Against those honours deep and broad wherewith Your majesty loads our house… All Lady M…

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• HISTORY

What were the jobs of each social class in the feudal manors of the Middle Ages?

The social classes of the Middle Ages in Europe developed as a result of the fall and or exodus of the Roman Empire post 476 A.D. The collaspe of Roman power in the west gave wat to feudalism in…

1 educator answer

• ARTS

Is rhythm a repeated pattern of strong and weak beats?

Depending upon the discipline in the arts that is being considered, there are variations upon this definition. Nonetheless, in all aspects, rhythm is the foremost means of aesthetic expression as…

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• MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

What is the climax of the story in My Side of the Mountain?I always thought climax was the ending…

The climax of the novel comes when Sam is faced with a decision at the end of the novel. He must choose either to heed his father’s call and join his family or run off and continue to live in…

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• LAW AND POLITICS

Two men entered my home while my husband and child were there. They were plumbers. By law can…

You don’t say what state you’re in, but typically, if you live in an apartment or condo that you are renting, or even a duplex, the landlord has the right to enter the premises to make repairs…

2 educator answers

• GOOD ADVICE IS RARER THAN RUBIES

What are the ironies in the title of the short story “Good Advice Is Rarer than Rubies”?

There are several ironies in the title. The first is that for all that good advice may be rarer than rubies, Muhammad Ali is willing to sell his advice for much cheaper than this. A second is that…

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• THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, where does Huck go after Sherburn disperses the lynch mob?

After the scornful and haughty Sherburn chastises and mocks the crowd into dispersal, Huck says, “I went to the circus”. He then launches into a lengthy and amusing description of the circus…

1 educator answer

• DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

How does the poet convey the sense of persuasion in “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”?What…

Dylan Thomas uses repetition in his poem to persuade his subject(s). He repeats “do not go gentle into that good night” several times. He also says “Rage, rage against the dying of the light” four…

1 educator answer

• ARTS

What is the summary of A Classic Student ?

I think you mean a student of classics. This is a common misunderstanding, because classics is not studied too much anymore. Many colleges are down sizing in this area. Classics is the study of…

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• LAW AND POLITICS

1)Would Aristotle have supported the idea of “Civil Disobedience” and why?2)How would Aristotle…

Civil Disobedience: He believes in political association in order to flourish and thus believes in formalized government. To the extent the law conflicts with natural justice, Aristotle would…

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• WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

In “Ode to Duty,” why is duty referred to as the stern daughter of the Voice of God?

Epigraph: “I am no longer good through deliberate intent, but by long habit have reached a point where I am not only able to do right, but am unable to do anything but what is right” (Seneca,…

1 educator answer

• FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH

What are the themes in Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?

There are many themes in Mrs. Frisby. For example… 1. Courage, especially in those who are small, can overcome great obstacles. 2. Loyalty to family and friends is important and valued. 3….

2 educator answers

• LORD OF THE FLIES

How does William Golding show evil at work in Lord of the Flies?

Golding uses his novel to demonstrate the evil and darkness that may lurk beneath the surface of the human psyche. He does this primarily with the thoughts, speech, and actions of Jack, Ralph,…

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• LORD OF THE FLIES

How is Piggy important in Lord of the Flies? Piggy is clearly a clever boy, but he is a victim…

Right at the start of the novel, the boys elect Ralph as chief. Golding makes clear that this is a slightly unexpected decision: Jack started to protest but the clamor changed from the general…

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• LORD OF THE FLIES

In Lord of the Flies, Ralph is changed by his experiences on the island. How does Golding show…

Ralph is fair-haired, an Everyman. He can talk to all of the other boys and they all naturally like him. He’s an easy choice, and he also comes with the advantage of being associated with the conch…

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• LORD OF THE FLIES

In Lord of the Flies, why do the boys eventually choose Jack as their chief? Haven’t they any…

Jack, Golding makes very clear right from the start, is a charismatic, authoritative and natural leader. Here’s Piggy’s reaction to the first few lines Jack speaks: Piggy asked no names. He was…

1 educator answer

• THE POEM FROM IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.

What are the themes of sections 130 and 131 of the poem “In Memoriam”?

The entire poem is a process for Tennyson to go through in order to get over the death of his friend. It can be looked at as the 5 stages of grief. By the time that Tennyson reaches section 130,…

2 educator answers

• HISTORY

I need to write a thesis statement based on the following question: What was the financial…

The pride of a Super Power, the economic boost, and land ownership are the main reasons for England to fight long and hard to maintain its control of Ireland in the 18th Century. To lose control…

3 educator answers

• EATING POETRY

Does anyone know of an exercise to sharpen the 5 senses in order to create a more vivid image?

Wear a blindfold. You will intently become more dependent on the other senses which allow you to determine if someone is in the room and who it is by the sound of the footsteps, the scent of soap…

2 educator answers

• THE SHORT STORY

Open EndingsIt seems that more authors of contemporary short-stories are opting for the open…

Probably because it’s human nature. I once observed in Las Vegas a woman running a set of slot machines who kept telling the people playing them how much money to put in the machines. I asked her…

1 educator answer

• FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON

What kinds of morals are involved with an operation like Charlie’s?What kinds of morals are…

Whenever one operates on the mind and changes a personality and intelligence level for good or ill, you’re going to run into issues of morality and even of morals. Charlie is developmentally…

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• HISTORY

What would have been a result if Mikhail Gorbachev had given his Malta Summit speech prior to…

The difference between Mikhail Gorbachev and those who came before him was his uncanny ability to grasp the reality of the U.S.S.R. during the 1980’s, and the Malta Summit confirmed that ability….

2 educator answers

• SOCIAL SCIENCES

WHat is peak oil supply and peak oil production? WHAT ARE THEIR CONCEPTS?How do supply and demand…

Many geologists, economists and others predict that the world will reach peak oil production in the next few years, which means that the amount of oil pumped out of the ground from all existing and…

1 educator answer

• ENDER’S GAME

What do you think of Ender at the end of Chapter 3? What are your early impressions of…

At the beginning of Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game,” Andrew Ender Wiggins is a sympathetic figure. He has been singled out as being different and has worn the sensor implanted in him for…

4 educator answers

• ESSAY LAB

I have to write a descriptive essay for my college English prep class and I am having trouble…

One thing I would do if I were writing about a sporting event would be get a local newspaper, or get online and read some actual stories on prep sports. You can get a feel for how descriptive…

4 educator answers

• A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, what impression do you get of Hermia and Helena when Demetrius and…

It’s Act 3, Scene 2. Initially Hermia’s rage – toward Demetrius – becomes quite clear, though it’s nothing to what comes up later on. She ain’t such a little princess: HERMIA (to DEMETRIUS)Out,…

1 educator answer

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What are some of the lessons learned in “To Kill A Mockingbird”?What are some of the lessons…

Since “To Kill a Mockingbird”‘s is a Bildungsroman, or “novel of maturation,” Harper Lee’s novel has several lessons. One such lesson is that of social justice with the key focus, of course, upon…

1 educator answer

• 1984

In 1984, what quotes show us that relationships were not allowed in the Party?

There are several quotes that show both that relationships are tightly regulated by Big Brother and that any pleasure in relationships is discouraged. Further, O’Brien admits to Winston that…

1 educator answer

• THE PEARL

Comment on this quotation from The Pearl that begins, “The thin dog came to him and threshed…

This passage takes on significance when it is contrasted with an earlier one. In the beginning of the story, Kino arises at dawn as another day begins. He steps outside to watch the sunrise, which…

1 educator answer

• THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER

In “The Rime of the Ancinet Mariner,” does the Mariner really love water snakes after just seeing…

You are referring to Part IV in which the Mariner awakes to begin recognizing and appreciating nature and all creatures. He killed the albatross for no reason; he didn’t appreciate nature nor…

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• AN ASTROLOGER’S DAY

What is the setting for “An Astrologer’s Day”?

“An Astrologer’s Day” is set in India. It is set in a city, but readers are not told what city. However, Narayan created an imaginary city named Malgudi, and it is possible, even likely, that this…

1 educator answer

• HAMLET

Why, in your opinion, does Hamlet fail to sweep to his revenge?Why, in your opinion, does Hamlet…

Hamlet’s failure to sweep to his revenge is nothing to do with a “tragic flaw”, which is a 17th century mistranslation of Aristotle’s “Poetics” (a text which, in fact, argues that a tragic hero is…