• EVERYDAY USE

Which words would Mama use to describe herself in “Everyday Use”?

Mama, the narrator of Walker’s “Everyday Use,” would likely describe herself using masculine terms. Near the beginning of the story, Mama tells the reader she is a “large, big-boned woman” who can…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

What do capitalism and industrialization have in common?

There are some things that capitalism and industrialization have in common. Both capitalism and industrialization represent the spirit of taking risks to make a profit. In the capitalist system,…

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• TO BUILD A FIRE

How does Jack London describe the Klondike region of the Yukon Territory in “To Build a Fire”?

Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” is one of my favorite naturalistic works. It is about a man attempting to traverse the Klondike region after diverging from the main trail. The…

1 educator answer

• GOOD ADVICE IS RARER THAN RUBIES

Who really learns a lesson in “Good Advice is Rarer than Rubies”?

In Good Advice Is Rarer Than Rubies, the tables are turned when Muhammad Ali realizes that he has a lot more to learn about the perspectives of a young ‘Tuesday’ woman than he previously imagined….

2 educator answers

• A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

Where is the theme of isolation presented in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, the theme of isolation is presented in the gender separation that is depicted in the novel. Because the Taliban has taken political control of Afghanistan, their…

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• THE LESSON

In the short story, “The Lesson” why does the author have Sylvia speak in such a mature tone?

In “The Lesson,” author Toni Cade Bambara employs the mature voice of Sylvia, who is a young girl. There are two reasons that explain the mature tone of the narrator. First, the story begins with…

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• THE COLD EQUATIONS

Because The Cold Equations has a third person limited point of view, we can only infer how…

As the story begins, immediately after Marilyn is discovered, she is excited. While she may be a bit nervous at being found, she is overcome by excitement to see her older brother, which is the…

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• DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

What connotation is used in the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night”?

The main connotation in the poem is that “night” is referring to death and dying. We can see this connotation at work throughout Dylan Thomas’ verse, especially in the first stanza: Do not go…

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• JULIUS CAESAR

Why should Brutus be the leader of Rome?

If you wanted to argue why Brutus should be a leader of Rome, I would make a character argument. Of the men who killed Caesar, only Brutus appears to have the right motivations. Cassius is hungry,…

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• JULIUS CAESAR

How is the theme of pride used by Shakespeare in Julius Caesar?

A number of characters in Julius Caesar are proud. Mark Antony reveals himself to be an arrogant man. He dismisses his ally Lepidus as “a slight unmeritable man, / Meet to be sent on errands.”…

2 educator answers

• THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS

In the book The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, why was Bruno’s dad chosen to be commandant?

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno’s family is unhappy that they have to leave Berlin and settle down in a “desolate” place. As Maria packs Bruno’s things, his mother tries to explain to him…

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• THE TEMPEST

How would you describe Prospero’s relationship with Miranda based on his use of language and magic?

Prospero certainly loves his daughter Miranda, but their relationship is an unequal one. His use of language and magic indicates that he holds the power. At Miranda’s first appearance, she wishes…

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• ANIMAL FARM

In Animal Farm, what happens to Boxer?

In chapter 9, Boxer has a split hoof and it take a long time to heal. He does get somewhat better, but as the work progresses in building the windmill, he collapses from overexertion. When this…

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• ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Why are Antony and Cleopatra attracted to each other?

Cleopatra is initially attracted to Antony because he is a strong, handsome, virile man, but mainly because he has such great power. He is one of the rulers of most of the known world. Antony is…

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• THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND

What is the conflict in the story titled “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”?

There is a definite man-versus-man conflict in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.” Helen Stoner comes to Sherlock Holmes for help and advice because she is afraid someone is trying to kill her….

1 educator answer

• THE DEATH OF THE BALL TURRET GUNNER

What is the ball turret gunner compared to?

The ball turret gunner is compared to a baby–human or animal–being born. He begins by falling “into the State” where he “hunch[es] in its belly till [his] wet fur [freezes]” (2). This his the…

• MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

Why did the forester leave the Gribley Farm in My Side of the Mountain?

Interesting question! In the book My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, a forester came (and soon left) the Gribley Farm. Although Sam lived in the wilderness, he still encountered a…

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• THE TELL-TALE HEART

How does Poe create tension in “The Tell-Tale Heart”?

One of the literary tools that Poe employs to create tension in “The Tell-Tale Heart” is dramatic irony. A neighbor calls the police stating that a shriek came from the house in the middle of the…

1 educator answer

• SCIENCE

Why are viruses considered non-living?

Viruses are considered non-living because they only exhibit characteristics of living organisms when they are occupying a host organism. A virus consists of a single strand of DNA or RNA enclosed…

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• A WORN PATH

In “A Worn Path,” what qualities does Phoenix share with the typical hero?

Typical qualities of a hero include a strong determination to accomplish a goal, a sense of purpose, loyalty, and sacrifice. Welty’s character, Phoenix Jackson, exhibits all of these qualities,…

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• LITERATURE

In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, describe how the people of the village act as they begin to…

While this story begins with a charming village scene on a lovely summer day, there begin to be hints in this story that something is not quite right by the second paragraph. This is called…

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• THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

In The Catcher in the Rye, what does Holden say is the best thing about the museum?

For Holden Caulfield, the best thing about the Museum of Natural History is “that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was.” He adds the following: “You could go there a hundred…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

What is the best quote to show Jack believes he is excluded from any guilt, since he was only…

The graphic and violent murder of Simon occurs right after a pivotal moment in the novel: Jack has called for a new vote to de-throne Ralph as chief and elect himself, and his efforts publicly…

1 educator answer

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What did Miss Maudie mean when she said ” Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the…

Atticus Finch is a character who lives by his own principles. He is steady in his beliefs and doesn’t compromise his ethics because society may think something different. He doesn’t put on a…

1 educator answer

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Why was Scout able to disperse the mob but not Atticus?

This is a good question. If Scout was not present, I believe that the mob would have not only killed Tom Robinson, the mob would have also seriously hurt Atticus and maybe even killed him. When…

1 educator answer

• A RETRIEVED REFORMATION

What text-based evidence in the story “A Retrieved Reformation” reveals that Jimmy Valentine is…

It only took Jimmy Valentine one week to be back in the safecracking business after he was released from prison and had retrieved his set of specialized tools. The tools are mentioned frequently…

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• SCIENCE

I do not understand what the chloroplast’s role is in a cell.

The chloroplasts within a cell are responsible for harnessing (capturing) sunlight energy and using that energy during photosynthesis in order to make energy for the plant (in the form of a sugar…

1 educator answer

• THE CRUCIBLE

What is the relationship between John Proctor and Elizabeth in the story The Crucible?

John and Elizabeth Proctor are husband and wife in The Crucible. They are farmers on the outskirts of Salem, and they have three sons. At the beginning of the novel, their relationship is…

1 educator answer

• THE BRONZE BOW

Who does Daniel encounter on the mountain in Chapter 1 of The Bronze Bow?

In Chapter 1, Daniel encounters Joel bar Hezron and his sister, Malthace, on the mountain. When he sees Joel and Malthace, Daniel wonders about their reasons for climbing up the mountain….

1 educator answer

• JULIUS CAESAR

In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, what is meant by “bad omens?”

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is not set in Elizabethan England, but in ancient, pagan Rome, and is based on ancient sources such as Plutarch. In this period, most Romans believed in the…

2 educator answers

• THE INTERLOPERS

How does nature seem to get the better of Ulrich and Georg at the story’s conclusion?

Georg and Ulrich have been enemies their whole life, fighting over a piece of land, each considering the other an interloper on his property. When intending to kill each other, both are trapped…

• THE BIRDS

In “The Birds,” what is the resolution and the denouement?

In “The Birds,” the resolution of the story comes when Nat realises that he and his family are alone and helpless against the attacking birds. He realises this when the wireless does not play the…

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• SCIENCE

Suppose a star having twice the mass of the Sun is 10 times more powerful. How many years is its…

The main sequence of a star is defined as the time duration during which the star is converting hydrogen to helium. For example, our Sun will be in the main sequence for about 10 billion years (…

1 educator answer

• THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND

What does Dr. Roylott do shortly after his wife’s death?

When Helen Stoner comes to consult Sherlock Holmes she tells him an exceedingly long back story involving her mother, her stepfather Dr. Roylott, her sister Julia and herself, going all the way…

1 educator answer

• REFERENCE

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the all hazard mitigation approach at the community…

The advantage of an ‘all hazard mitigation approach at the community level’ is pretty much limited to the control that community would have over the processes for which disaster or hazard…

1 educator answer

• SCIENCE

What are the series of elements that are sometimes called the rare earths called?

There are 17 elements that make up the rare earth elements: scandium, yttrium, and elements 57-71. Elements 57-71 are also known as the lanthanide series or just the lanthanides, so lanthanide…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

How did American colonists gain their independence?

The American colonists gained their independence from Britain after a long struggle. At first, the colonists began to peacefully protest laws and policies they felt were unfair. These included…

3 educator answers

• SCIENCE

Explain why an airplane flying from New York to Los Angeles has both kinetic energy and…

The kinetic energy and the potential energy are two forms of mechanical energy. The kinetic energy is associated with the movement of the bodies. For a body with mass (m) and velocity (v), kinetic…

1 educator answer

• LITERATURE

What are two rhetorical strategies?

Rhetoric is the art of or study of using language effectively in writing or speaking. Since an effective writer/speaker will persuade a reader/listener of his/her own viewpoint, rhetoric is even…

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• THE BLACK CAT

What is the narrator’s immediate purpose in Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Black Cat”?

In the opening paragraph of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Black Cat,” the narrator states that his “immediate purpose is to place before the world … a series of mere household events.” In…

1 educator answer

• HEALTH

What three types of cells cannot reproduce?

Almost all cells divide and reproduce, whether through sexual or asexual reproduction. There are very few exception to this. Some examples of cells that do not reproduce include nerve cells, red…

1 educator answer

• THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

In his short story “The Gift of the Magi,” what is author O. Henry criticizing in a humorous way?

In his short story “The Gift of the Magi,” one thing author O. Henry is criticizing through satire is materialism.In the story, both Della and Jim are deeply in love as a young married couple, but…

1 educator answer

• LAW AND POLITICS

what are some of the problems the european union works to solve

To understand the various issues that the European Union faces today, it’s important to understand its origins and what has been its end goal since the beginning as well as its difficulties –…

• LAW AND POLITICS

Is political science a science or not?

Political Science is classified as a social science, to differentiate it from the hard sciences, such as biology, chemistry, engineering, etc. However, one can say that indeed, political science is…

1 educator answer

• LAW AND POLITICS

With what did the Three-Fifths Compromise deal?

The Three-Fifths Compromise dealt with the issue of slavery and if slaves would be counted in a state’s population. When the writers of the Constitution were planning the new form of government,…

1 educator answer

• BUSINESS

Why do you think companies are concerned about how much money it costs to make a product?

Companies are always worried (or at least concerned) about the amount of money it costs to make a product, simply because higher costs mean lower profits. Companies exist to make profits, unlike…

1 educator answer

• SOCIAL SCIENCES

Comte described the earliest human society being at which stage of societal development?

Auguste Comte, the father of sociology, believed that societies progressed through stages of increasing complexity in their development. These three stages of development are the Theological stage,…

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• SOCIAL SCIENCES

Who is often referred to as the father of sociology?

Often considered the father of sociology, Emile Durkheim is also considered to be the creator of the modern social sciences. Durkheim studied psychology and philosophy and was responsible for…

1 educator answer

• BUSINESS

List and explain 5 characteristics of a capitalist democracy.

A capitalist democracy combines characteristics of capitalism (an economic system) and democracy (a political system). Some of the defining characteristics of this system are: private ownership:…

2 educator answers

• SOCIAL SCIENCES

How did the Cristian crusaders get to the Holy Land? Which of the crusaders came by land and…

When it comes to the traveling methods, we will focus on the First and Third Crusades, with special attention for the 4th, as it was the transportation situation itself that greatly contributed to…

1 educator answer