In “The Possibility of Evil,” why does Miss Strangeworth lie about what is going on in her town?
How are writing and conquest connected according to Guns, Germs, and Steel?
- are similarities between the early 20th century and today. One similarity is the struggles workers face. In the early 20th century, workers faced many obstacles. They worked in large…
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- GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL
How are writing and conquest connected according to Guns, Germs, and Steel?
The answer to this question can be found in Chapter 3 of Guns, Germs, and Steel. In that chapter, Diamond describes how the Spanish conquistadors were able to defeat the Incas at Cajamarca. He…
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- BLUES AIN’T NO MOCKINGBIRD
What is the climax of Toni Cade Bambara’s “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird”?
The climax in any story is the turning point of the story, the moment rising action becomes falling action. It can also be the most intense moment in the story. In Toni Cade Bambara’s “Blues Ain’t…
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- CANDIDE
What major philosopher is the target of Voltaire’s satire when he talks about “the best of…
The primary target of Voltaire’s satire in Candide is the German philosopher Leibniz who claimed that our world is “the best of all possible worlds”. Leibniz argued that, in spite of its many…
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- A WRINKLE IN TIME
Why does Mrs. Murry think Meg and her brother Charles Wallace are smart?
Because Meg and Charles Wallace are somewhat different from the rest of their small town, Meg is often made to feel stupid, while Charles Wallace, who didn’t speak until he was four, is also…
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- THE OUTSIDERS
Why did Dally run out of the hospital?
At the end of Chapter 9, Dally and Ponyboy are visiting Johnny for the last time. The boys tell Johnny how they beat the Socs earlier that night and Johnny sighs and says that fighting is useless….
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- THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
What is causing the deaths of people in Poe’s short story “The Masque of the Red Death”?
A plague called the Red Death is sweeping across Europe at the time of the story. It is called the Red Death because one of the symptoms is splotchy red marks on the body. Like the bubonic plague…
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- LORD OF THE FLIES
In The Lord of the Flies, what is Jack’s external conflict?
One could argue that Jack has two external conflicts. The first is his struggle for leadership of the boys on the island. It is apparent from the very beginning that he has a desire to be in…
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- THE PIGMAN
In Zindel’s The Pigman, what animals do John and Lorraine encounter on their zoo trip?
In Zindel’s The Pigman, John and Lorraine meet Mr. Pignati at the zoo in the middle of chapter 6. While waiting for Mr. Pignati to arrive, John watches the sea-lion pool. This is when Lorraine…
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- THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s story The Hound of the Baskervilles is centered around a great spectral hound, which we “hear” just. Prior to Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson’s visits to the Baskervilles…
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- THE GIVER
In The Giver, we learn that Jonas is an eleven and Lily is a seven. What do these numbers mean?
These numbers correspond to their ages. The numbers also represent what stage of development they are in according to the community. Lily is only a seven, so at her Ceremony of Sevens she received…
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- THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS
What is Bruno’s opinion of Lieutenant Kotler in Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
In short, Bruno does not like Lieutenant Kotler. The original reason for this dislike is that Kotler is always walking around “like he owned the place.” Bruno also does not like Lieutenant Kotler…
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- THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE
What would be an example of hints for solving the case of The Red-Headed League?
Jabez Wilson tells Sherlock Holmes a long back-story in connection with his request to have the detective help him regain his job with the Red-Headed League, or at least to find out why someone…
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- TUCK EVERLASTING
Why does Winnie’s family feel as though “some part of her had slipped away” towards the end of…
By Chapter 21 of Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting, Winnie’s family members feel like “some part of her had slipped away” because she returned to them a changed person.The greatest way in which…
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- FAHRENHEIT 451
In Fahrenheit 451, why does Mildred need help when Montag gets home?
Poor Mildred. She lives a terrible life obsessed with the soap operas that invade her home daily on the wall size televisions she has installed in the living room. She lives to act out her part…
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- JULIE OF THE WOLVES
The answer to this question is quite simple: Julie/Miyax overcomes fear by concentrating on her survival. Allowing fear to overcome her means death to Julie. She must keep her wits about her…
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- TUCK EVERLASTING
In Tuck Everlasting, what did the man in the yellow suit ask Winnie’s grandmother?
“Wait!” said the man at the gate. He had stiffened, and his voice was eager. “You’ve heard that music before, you say?” The above quote can be found in chapter four of Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck…
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- BEKA LAMB
What is the summary of Chapter 8 of Beka Lamb?
The chapter begins with Toycie and Beka having a bit of fun parodying the politicians they see at Battlefield Park. Although afraid of falling into the water, Beka hoists herself up onto a thick…
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- OUR TOWN
What is Act One of Our Town called, and when does it take place?
Our Town is a three-act play. The acts are not given titles. The narrator, who is called the Stage Manager, tells the audience that “The First Act shows a day in our town.” So it might be said that…
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- LANGSTON HUGHES
What images does Langston Hughes use to evoke the promise and possibilities of America in his…
Early in the poem “Let America Be America Again,” poet Langston Hughes uses several images to evoke the promise of freedom America is supposed to hold. Yet, he contrasts these images of freedom…
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- RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI
What does Rikki-Tikki learn from his encounter with Nagaina?
Rikki has never even met a live cobra before he goes into the garden at the bungalow. While he is talking with Nag, Nagaina sneaks up behind him and strikes. Luckily Darzee warns Rikki, and Rikki…
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- THANK YOU, M’AM
How does Mrs. Jones show kindness?
Mrs. Jones shows kindness in that when she tells him to go wash his face (and he chooses to), she tells him to “Let the water run until it gets warm” and offers him a clean towel. She brushes off…
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- LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER
At the beginning of the text, how does Dahl describe Mary’s characteristics? What textual…
In the beginning of the short story, “Lamb to Slaughter, ” Dahl describes Mary as a very patient, loving and caring wife. She waits for her husband’s return and makes sure he is take care of in…
- THE HOBBIT
In The Hobbit, how does Tolkien use the treasure to portray the dwarves in a negative light?
Tolkien uses the treasure to portray the dwarves in a negative light, because they seem greedy and gold-sick. The dwarves have come to Bilbo because they are treasure hunters. There are really two…
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- THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO
Explain who “him who clamoured” is, and explain why the narrator does not use his name.
The person described as “him who clamoured” is, of course, Fortunato. It would seem that Poe chose to avoid naming his victim by name in that particular paragraph because he wanted to create the…
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- HISTORY
According to Polybius, what are the three elements of the Roman constitution? What are some the…
According to Polybius in his work Histories, the Roman Constitution has three powers; the Consuls, the Senate and the People. Each reserves powers unto themselves separate from the other creating…
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- YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN
Goodman Brown goes into the woods. What romantic qualities does this demonstrate?
The woods in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” hold a transformative power, a Romantic trope that is often seen in literature of this time period. In the short story, we see an young man…
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- LETTERS TO A YOUNG POET
How does Rilke introduce and develop an important idea in the first two paragraphs of the first…
In Letter One, Rilke responds to Kappus’ initial letter, which included a request for Rilke’s comments on Kappus’ poetry. Right from the opening lines, Rilke states that he will not in fact offer…
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- THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE
In “The Red-Headed League,” who are Mr. Jones and Mr. Merryweather?
Peter Jones and Mr. Merryweather come into the story as it is nearing a climax. Jones is “the official police agent.” He is from Scotland Yard. Mr. Merryweather is chairman of the bank directors….
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- OUTLIERS: THE STORY OF SUCCESS
In “Outliers,” why was Stewart Wolf interested in Roseto?
This story is told in the introduction to the book. Stewart Wolf was a doctor who taught in the medical school at the University of Oklahoma in the 1950s. He heard about the town of Roseto,…
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- CHAINS
How are Patriots and Loyalists portrayed in the book Chains?
Chains is definitely a novel in support of the Patriot cause. Loyalists are not portrayed in a positive light at all. Loyalists are best represented by Isabel’s owners, the Locktons. They are…
- THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO
What specific things had Harry waited to write about in “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” by Ernest…
Throughout the short story “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” Hemingway interrupts his narrative to switch to the internal thoughts of the writer Harry Walden, who is reflecting on his life as he lies on…
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- TWELFTH NIGHT
In section five of Night, why does the head of the block order the men to clean the barracks…
At the end of section five in Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night, the head of Elie’s block at Buna orders the men to clean out the barracks. The men are being deported from Buna to Buchenwald. By all…
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- THE DEVIL AND TOM WALKER
What kind of man was Tom Walker?
Tom Walker was a morally repugnant man notable primarily for his vices, which included greed, dishonesty, and hypocrisy. Tom’s foremost characteristic is undoubtedly greed. Throughout the story Tom…
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- FREAK THE MIGHTY
What is the climax in Freak the Mighty?
The climax of a story is the highest point of tension. There is no doubt that the climax of Freak the Mighty happens after Max is kidnapped by his father, Kenny “Killer” Kane, is chained to a…
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- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What do you learn about Maycomb, Alabama, in Chapter 1 of To Kill a Mockingbird?
In Chapter 1 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is remembering the past history of her family and what Maycomb was like for her as a young girl. The time period in which the books takes place is…
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- SEEDFOLKS
In Seedfolks, how does the garden affect Gonzalo?
Gonzalo has a lot of responsibility as a young man in Seedfolks. His family emigrated from Guatemala, and Gonzalo is the only one who knows English. He has to translate for his entire family when…
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- THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW
What happens when the Shepard boys pick on M&M?
In Chapter 1, Mark, Bryon, and M&M hang out at a bowling alley for a little bit before M&M decides to walk home on his own. Bryon and Mark decide to catch up with M&M, and they notice…
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- LE MORTE D’ARTHUR
How does Arthur’s birth fit the common elements of the romance hero?
The general characteristics of a medieval romantic hero include several conditions. First, the hero’s birth is shrouded in mystery. Second, the hero is raised away from his true parents and far…
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- BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
Why did Jess ask Miz Prentice to let him off the bus before his stop?
In Chapter 6, Jess is headed home on the school bus. He’s absolutely miserable, because he can’t think of a good Christmas present to get for Leslie, and he can’t afford anything anyway. But then,…
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- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
How does Atticus show generosity in chapters 28, 29, and 31 of To Kill a Mockingbird?
Atticus is a very humble and generous man. Generosity doesn’t just mean that a person gives away what they have, but also that they are unselfish and considerate when it comes to other people….
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- THE BIRDS
What excuse does everyone use to explain why the birds are acting up?
There are two excuses offered to explain why the birds are acting up. The first one is spoken by Mr Triggs, the farmer, who says that the weather is to blame for the birds’ strange behaviour: I…
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- THE POSSIBILITY OF EVIL
In “The Possibility of Evil,” why does Miss Strangeworth lie about what is going on in her town?
As the title of Shirley Jackson’s story suggests, Miss Strangeworth is not actually lying, but only asking questions about the possibility of certain things happening. For example, she has written…
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- GOOD COUNTRY PEOPLE
In the story “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor, who was the admirable one and the hero?
As in many of Flannery O’Connor’s stories, “Good Country People” has no real hero and no character is particularly admirable. Mrs. Freeman, who is the first person introduced in the story, has many…
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- THE INVALID’S STORY
How does Thompson’s description of the corpse as deliberately trying to smell bad add to the…
The answer to your question is fairly simple. More humor is achieved due to personification. Personification of a thing, in this case the dead body (the smell of which we know is actually the…
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- A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS
In what way does Hosseini portray the hardship in marriage for Mariam and Rasheed in Part 1 of A…
Hosseini portrays the hardship in the marriage between Rasheed and Mariam early in the novel when he develops scenes of violence. Rasheed wants Mariam to birth a baby boy because he feels the…
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- A CLEAN, WELL-LIGHTED PLACE
What is the significance of insomnia in Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”?
Insomnia in “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” is indicative of the feeling of hopelessness or disillusion that the older waiter is feeling about life. He dismisses this disillusion as “insomnia,” but…
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- THE CRUCIBLE
Why is Reverend Parris so terrified by the events in Salem?
Reverend Parris is terrified by the events in Salem because he fears for his own reputation and position within the community. He worries that, if his enemies find out about his niece and daughter…
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- HUSWIFERY
Who is the speaker addressing in this poem?
Edward Taylor writes in the first line, “Make me, O Lord, thy spinning wheel complete;” thus, the speaker is addressing God. Taylor wrote many of his poems as meditations, meant to help him…
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- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What were the differences between Sheriff Tate as a witness and Bob Ewell?
Sheriff Tate was the first witness to the stand. Sheriff Tate was a respected member of the community and listened intently to the questions asked by Mr. Gilmer and Atticus. Sheriff Tate recalls…
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