• THE WESTING GAME

In The Westing Game, why didn’t Judge Ford believe Mr. Westing was murdered?

Judge Ford is the daughter of a servant in Sam Westing’s house. She grew up in his household, and often played chess with Sam Westing himself. Judge Ford is familiar with the workings of his…

1 educator answer

• THE SCARLET LETTER

How do the townspeople feel about Chillingworth in Chapter 9 of The Scarlet Letter?

The townspeople’s opinions about Chillingworth change greatly within Chapter 9 of The Scarlet Letter. First, all of the townspeople seem to be thrilled with Chillingworth’s appearance because…

2 educator answers

• THE FLOWERS

What is a movie or a story that compares to the story “The Flowers ” by Alice Walker

There are a lot of movies out there that are centered around the persecution that black people received, and even some that deal specifically with lynchings, white violence, and the injustice…

2 educator answers

• THE HOBBIT

What old wrong do the dwarves wish to right? How is their quest defined?

Many years earlier, the wicked dragon Smaug drove the dwarves away from their kingdom under the Lonely Mountain and their ancient treasure. An important part of the treasure is the Arkenstone of…

1 educator answer

• DEATH OF A SALESMAN

In Death of a Salesman, why does Willy remember being caught with a woman in a hotel room in Boston?

It was Biff who inadvertently caught his father with the woman in the hotel room. Biff had gone to seek his father’s help in getting a failing grade reversed. As usual, Biff depended upon his…

1 educator answer

• DEATH OF A SALESMAN

In Death of a Salesman, why does Biff’s effort to tell Willy about meeting Oliver trigger Willy’s…

Throughout his life, Willy has enabled Biff, never holding him accountable for his actions and never taking responsibility as a parent for his son’s character development. When Willy demands to…

1 educator answer

• A&P

What are some examples of Sammy’s unsophistication?

When the girls first enter the supermarket, Sammy is supposed to be ringing up sales at the check-out counter. He allows all of his attention to be focused on “Queenie” and the girls. This shows…

1 educator answer

• THE LADY WITH THE PET DOG

In Chekhov’s story “The Lady with the Pet Dog,” why do you think Dmitri had the affair?

Dmitri was accustomed to having affairs. But he never planned them out in detail, and he never went back to the same woman twice. However, since his marriage was loveless, while on his vacation,…

1 educator answer

• REFERENCE

In “Gattaca”, directed by Andrew Niccol, does anyone happen to know the scenes to these examples;…

In the movie “Gattaca” after the movie opens we see Vincent in the shower, he then goes to the science center. After Vincent’s urine test he changes his contacts in the bathroom. After he leaves…

1 educator answer

• THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

What are three hints Montresor gives to Fortunato for what he intends to do in a “The Cask of…

The first hint that Montressor gives to Fortunado in terms of what he expects deals with how far into the vaults he actually takes him. It seems unlikely that they would have to go so far and so…

2 educator answers

• OF MICE AND MEN

In Of Mice and Men, what did George do once that made him stop playing jokes on Lennie?

Early in their relationship, George used to enjoy playing jokes on Lennie because it made him feel smart and superior. He enjoyed the control. He could play jokes on Lennie and Lennie would not…

1 educator answer

• A ROSE FOR EMILY

There are many symbols in “A Rose for Emily”; how do I go about creating an essay based on the…

One good direction you could go in is by making an argument about authorial intention. In other words, you could take one or more of these symbols and create an argument, using the text as…

2 educator answers

• THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND

Where is the location of Kit’s mother’s birth and death? Where is the location of Rachel Wood’s…

Kits Family Where was the location of Kits mothers birth and death. Where was the location of Rachel Woods Birth and death. Where was Kit born? Rachel and Kit’s mother were both born in England….

3 educator answers

• ROMEO AND JULIET

What are some examples of paradox in “Romeo and Juliet” in Acts 4 or 5?

That’s quite a hard question. For my money, most of the paradoxes that spring up in the strange, disturbing final acts of this play revolve around Juliet’s supposed death, and around a key…

1 educator answer

• THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

In Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” why does Montresor search with his trowel the inside of the…

This is where he had stashed the bricks and mortar ahead of time to wall up Fortunato within in the Montressor catycombs. Montressor’s act was premeditated as he had prepared in detail beforehand…

2 educator answers

• THE GIVER

What were four qualifications Jonas had to have to be the next Receiver of Memory in The Giver?

The Chief Elder outines the four qualifications that Jonas has to have in order to be the next Receiver of Memory when she announces his selection at the Ceremony. The four qualifications are:…

2 educator answers

• THE GRAPES OF WRATH

What happy event cuts through the sorrow and struggle in Chapter 28, and what is Steinbeck saying…

Steinbeck is commenting on the resilience of human nature. Even though Tom is forced to leave the family, he says he want to carry on the work of Casy. Thus, Casy’s legacy will live on as Tom…

1 educator answer

• NIGHT

How does that inscription come to embody the deceit and bitter irony of the Nazi camps?Eliezer…

Upon first entering into Auschwitz, there is a sign above the entrance that reads: “Arbeit macht frei”, meaning “work makes you free”. The irony of the sign is blatant; work DOES NOT make you free…

2 educator answers

• THE GIVER

Why does Jonas successfully pass on the memory of a sail to Gabe in chapter 14 of The Giver?

Jonas is able to successfully pass on the memory of a sail to Gabe because Gabe is especially receptive to them. As a newchild, he has not yet been conditioned to the community’s world-view, and…

1 educator answer

• THE LOTTERY

In “The Lottery”, if the protagonist is Tessie, who is the antagonist?

In “The Lottery” the antagonist may be difficult to identify because it is not a character or person in the story. Typically the antagonist is the adversary of the protagonist, this is most often…

3 educator answers

• REFERENCE

What is the definition of IPDE Process in Driver Education rules of the road?

IPDE Process employs an acronym standing for Identify Predict Decide Execute and is a process for safe driving strategies. The first step is to identify conditions and situations around you and…

1 educator answer

• SUMMER OF MY GERMAN SOLDIER

Do you think prejudice, misunderstanding, and the fear of being different is defined by a certain…

Since the beginning of recorded history, there are stories of prejudice and difference, leading me to believe that these feelings span the ages. “The Summer of My German Soldier” was published in…

1 educator answer

• A DOLL’S HOUSE

In what ways is Nora trapped in “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen?

Nora is trapped in several ways. She is trapped by the conventions of her society, by her own personal background, and by her act of forging her father’s signature to secure the loan that saved her…

2 educator answers

• THE OUTSIDERS

What are the values of the greasers’ code?

The greasers value being “tuff” in themselves and other people they admire. One reason they care about their hair so much is it is their trademark, and one can’t be tuff without great greaser…

1 educator answer

• INCIDENT AT HAWK’S HILL

During Incident at Hawk’s Hill, what would have been useful to Ben?

It is important to note that Ben is only six years old, and even without his slight autistic tendencies, a six-year-old would not be expected to understand and react to nature and the world in the…

1 educator answer

• ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

What is a clear summarization of the short poem “Work and Contemplation” by Elizabeth Browning?

The entire poem is a metaphor for how Elizabeth thinks that while we are here on earth, we can be strong, work hard, do good things, and yet pursue something that we truly enjoy, to live for some…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

Throughout the book, how does Jack’s character change? What are some quotes that demonstrate this…

In the beginning of the novel Jack desires power and is furious when he loses the election to Ralph, however, he retains the values of civilized behavior that he had as the leader of the choirboys…

2 educator answers

• THE OUTSIDERS

In what way is Dally different from Ponyboy and Johnny?Please list as many differnt ways as…

In “The Outsiders,” Dally, Dallas Winston, is one of the older boys and a friend to Johnny Cade. He is also part of the same gang as Ponyboy,the “greasers gang.” Dally is very different than…

1 educator answer

• NIGHT

How does Wiesel’s understanding of God change throughout Night? How did the prisoners,…

When the novel begins Eliezer is a strong believer in God but, through his ordeal in the concentration camps, his faith begins to crack. He does not totally reject God, but by the end of the war he…

2 educator answers

• LORD OF THE FLIES

Ralph’s father is a naval officer. But where is the war in the rest of the novel?

I think you can see the influence of war here and there in the novel, though Golding doesn’t give any real details of it. That said, the book came out not long after World War 2, so Golding’s…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

The weather on the island grows increasingly more hostile and ominous when Simon kills. But why?

It’s called pathetic fallacy. It’s when a writer uses elements of the natural world (weather, nature, animals, and so on) to reflect what happens in the book. Golding uses the weather and the…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

What does Jack make such a powerful leader?

Jack leads through fear and appealing to the more agressive side of the boys. He pulls them in by offering them a chance to hunt. What boy doesn’t want the thrill of the hunt? He can be very…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

Why does Ralph tell the other boys Piggy’s nickname?

Great question. To answer it, I’d take you back to the moment at which Piggy reveals his “name”: “I don’t care what they call me,” he said confidentially, “so long as they don’t call…

1 educator answer

• THE GREAT GATSBY

Were the settings in The Great Gatsby real?Sorry, I’m not an American guy. Therefore I have some…

The locations of East Egg and West Egg are disguised versions of real places. West Egg probably represents Great Neck, Long Island, where the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald moved after his first child…

1 educator answer

• BUSINESS

How much should benefit considerations affect ones choice of an employer?

Looking at your question from a purely financial perspective, take into account how much it would cost to provide benefits for yourself, then add that cost to the salary your prospective employer…

1 educator answer

• NIGHT

How do the people Wiesel interacts with strengthen or diminish his hope and desire to live?Talk…

Wiesel’s desire to survive is most impacted by his father. From the very beginning of the novel, Wiesel emphasizes the strength of the family bond, and, once separated from his mother and sister,…

1 educator answer

• THE GREAT GATSBY

In The Great Gatsby, describe the morale of the citizens of Valley of Ashes?Had they a good…

The only two characters from the Valley of Ashes that are mentioned in the novel are Myrtle and her husband George Wilson, therefore the only things that we know about the moral of the people of…

1 educator answer

• NIGHT

What is the significance of the book’s final image, Wiesel’s face, reflected in a mirror?He…

Eliezar’s entire indentity, both physically and religiously, had been changed by the concentration camps. He sees only “an image” of himself because he can no longer see the person he used to be….

1 educator answer

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

In chapter 9 of To Kill a Mockingbird, what is Maycomb’s “usual disease”?

When Atticus says this, he is talking to Uncle Jack about the upcoming trial of Tom Robinson, and expressing his fears of how the trial might impact Jem and Scout. He is worried that Scout will…

2 educator answers

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

what information about dill comes out or what do we learn about dill’s character?

This question has already been answered by one of our expert eNotes editors. Here is a link for you:…

1 educator answer

• THE OPEN BOAT

Why does Crane kill off one of the characters in the story?

There are two reasons why Crane allows one character to die. The first is that the story is based on a true incident in Crane’s life. He was aboard a ship named “The Commadore” when it sank and he…

1 educator answer

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

In To Kill a Mockingbird when Scout says Dill was becoming something of a “trial” anyway, what…

Scout, who loved hanging out with Jem and Dill, being one of the guys, was alarmed to discover that Dill seemed to want to hang out with Jem more than her. So to cover her alarm and dismay, and to…

1 educator answer

• APOLOGY

How is wisdom defined by the Socratic character in Plato’s “Apology”?

Socrates describes how his follower Chaerephon journeyed to the oracles and Delphi and put to it the question of who was wisest. The oracle answered that none was wiser than Socrates. Socrates…

1 educator answer

• WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

In the poem “The Rainbow,” why does the speaker say, “Or let me die”? What doesn’t he want to…

This question has already been answered. Please see the link below.

1 educator answer

• A ROSE FOR EMILY

In “A Rose for Emily”, is Emily white or black?

Emily is part of the white establishment. This can be inferred by the fact that Colonel Sartois, who had issued an obvious racist edict that ” no Negro woman should appear on the streets without an…

2 educator answers

• FAHRENHEIT 451

What is the significance of The Book of Ecclesiastes in “Fahrenheit 451”?

Most obviously, it is the book that Montag has partially memorized, and that he will, in their future society, teach to other people. Part of Granger’s plan, and those that return to the city to…

2 educator answers

• YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown,” how and when does Young Goodman Brown know that…

From the beginning of the story, it is clear to the reader that Young Goodman Brown realizes his errand is for an evil purpose. Based solely on this, one could assume that Brown understands that…

1 educator answer

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What is the myth that begins chapter 8?

Chapter 8 begins with the myth that the changing of the seasons is caused by children who mess around and cause trouble. “When children disobeyed their parents, smoked cigarettes and made war on…

1 educator answer

• MIDDLE AGES

Economically, the “high middle ages” was a period of what?

Economically, the “High Middle Ages” were a period of expansion. During this time there was a move toward town development in Europe along with the growth of city-states in Italy. This urban…

1 educator answer

• MACBETH

I need a quote out of the book McDougal Littel “The Language of Literature” British Literature….

“The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool;(170)…