The Scarlet Letter: In accepting Hester, what may the puritans be really accepting?

August 25, 2018 Educator

SHOOTING AN ELEPHANT

What is Orwell’s argument in the essay “Shooting an Elephant”?

“Shooting an Elephant” describes an incident in George Orwell’s early life, when he was working in Burma as a sub-divisional police officer–in other words, as a lower-ranking government official…

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OF MICE AND MEN

In what way is “nature” comparable to heaven in Of Mice and Men?

Several characters in this multi-layered story have ideas about what Heaven would be to them. George’s ideas of Heaven are always closely tied to freedom. Steinbeck links George and his dreams of…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Explain the quotation: “Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three…

Scout asks Atticus about Burris Ewell and why he always goes to school on the first day and skips the rest of the year. Atticus explains to his daughter how the Ewells live. He wants Scout to…

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BRAVE NEW WORLD

Although they were raised very differently, Bernard Marx and John the Savage are both…

In Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel Brave New World, both protagonists are extremely dissatisfied with the majority society and culture that dominates the planet. Bernard Marx, one of the two…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What explanation does Mr. Nathan give for sealing up the knot-hole?

Boo Radley leaves presents for Scout and Jem in the knot-hole of an old tree by the Radley house. They find gifts ranging from sticks of gum to carved soap to an old spelling bee medal. The…

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LITERATURE

How do I properly use apostrophes?

The most common uses of an apostrophe are to denote possession, as “Jim owns a house” would become “Jim’s house,” and in the merging of words known as contractions that are used for purposes of…

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SCIENCE

Gordon Freeman uses a crowbar (2 meters long) to open up a door by wedging it into the hinges. He…

Hello! A crowbar in this situation is a kind of a lever. One end of a lever is used to apply one’s force and the other end transmits energy, force and torque to some load, in this case to a door. A…

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FREAK THE MIGHTY

In Freak the Mighty, what is it about Max that startles Gwen when she first sees him?

Gwen, Freak’s mother, is startled when she first sees Max. Max was showing Freak his room in the down under when he heard his mother calling for him. Freak decides it’s about time that he heads…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What is significant about the character of Miss Caroline Fisher in the novel To Kill a…

Miss Caroline plays a significant role in depicting Harper Lee’s feelings about public education. Instead of encouraging Scout to continue reading with her father and facilitating her advanced…

3 educator answers

HAMLET

What does the line “Now I am alone” mean in Hamlet?

This is the opening to Hamlet’s soliloquy in which he shows some insight into his own character. He knows he is a procrastinator, yet cannot bring himself to do what needs to be done. He says: Now…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Why is the courthouse separated the way it is in To Kill A Mockingbird? What does the structure…

Scout describes the courthouse in chapter 16 as the county heads towards it on the morning of the Tom Robinson trial. She explains a little bit of the building’s history by mentioning that the…

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SOCIAL SCIENCES

Why are Nepal, Columbia, Nicaragua, Portugal, and France classified as compact, prorupt,…

These countries are compact, the simplest shape. Compact states look basically like circles, with some minor variations. They are centered around a single geographic center which is often a…

2 educator answers

EVERY DAY

What are the conflict and solution of Every Day by David Levithan?

The conflict and solution (or resolution) of Every Day involve very specific parts of the plot. Sometimes the conflict is known as the inciting incident, while other times it is mentioned as one…

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JULIUS CAESAR

What is the meaning of the symbol “the bird of night” in Julius Caesar?

Act I Scene III Casca speaks: And yesterday the bird of night did sitEven at noon-day upon the marketplace,Hooting and shrieking. The discussion takes place on the eve of the Ides of March….

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A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

In A People’s History of the United States are the acts of Columbus and the Spanish explorers…

“any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or…

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FRANKENSTEIN

When do we learn that the stranger’s full name is Victor Frankenstein? Why do you think Shelley…

We first learn Victor Frankenstein’s full name at the beginning of Chapter 5, when he receives a letter addressed to him from Elizabeth Lavenza, his cousin and future (intended) wife. I think…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What does Maudie’s comparison between Jem and Jack reveal to us about what Jem might really be…

Jem initially tells Scout that the items left in the tree must have belonged to “some bus child,” but before putting the items in his trunk for safekeeping, “…he looked for a long time at…

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RELIGION

From Thomas Cahill’s book, The Gift of the Jews, why has the Babylonian Exile been so significant…

Until the time of the Babylonian exile, Jewish religion dictated that worship had to center around the Temple in Jerusalem. One of the most important aspects of their worship involved animal…

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BUD, NOT BUDDY

Why did Bud start thinking that going to California wasn’t the right thing to do?

In Chapter 8, Bud and Bugs visit a Hooverville where they eat a meal and do the dishes. After the boys finish doing the dishes, they walk back to the main fire, and a man playing a harmonica asks…

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TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR

Why is the Circle Justice important in Touching Spirit Bear?

Circle Justice is an alternative to prison. It is meant to heal, not punish. “Circle Justice is for those ready for healing. It’s not an easy way out. In fact, a healing path is often much…

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TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR

Why is the detention center important in Touching Spirit Bear?

The detention center is meant to detain juveniles who have committed crimes and keep them off the street until they go to trial or jail. Cole has been in trouble many times in the past. However,…

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NIGHT

Why was Elie angry with his father when Idek beat him in Night?

Idek, their “Kapo” or work commander, is a little off-balance mentally, and those who live and work in Elie’s unit quickly learn to stay out of his way. In Chapter 4, prior to the scene where Idek…

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OTHELLO

In the play Othello, why was Cassio unfairly treated?

Michael Cassio was unfairly treated as a result of Iago’s manipulation. Iago hated him because he had been appointed as Othello’s lieutenant, a post he desired and felt he was entitled to since he…

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MATH

Is y = negative x squared a function?

Hello! Yes, it is a function. I’m not sure you mean y=−x2y=-x2 or y=(−x)2,y=(-x)2, but both of them are functions. Now I’ll explain why. Let’s speak about number single-valued functions only. A function…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

To Kill a Mockingbird is told from the first person point of view of Adult Scout and Young Scout….

The entirety of To Kill A Mockingbird is narrated by the Adult Jean Louise, looking back on the events of a three year span of her childhood, beginning when she was six years old, and the events of…

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THE CRUCIBLE

What is Arthur Miller saying about the dangers of sensationalism in the play The Crucible?

Miller is arguing that people get carried away and lose their sense of reason and right and wrong. In the play, a few young girls turn everyone’s lives upside down when they are caught dancing in…

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NATHAN THE WISE

I need help developing an essay that responds to the following prompt: Explain how Lessing makes…

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing’s (1729 – 1781) play, Nathan the Wise, was published in 1779 but immediately condemned by the Church. It was first performed in 1783 and was considered highly…

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HISTORY

How has Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream affect how you live your life today?

Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream have affected the lives of the American people to this day. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for Civil Rights. He showed the world that it is possible to make…

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WINTER DREAMS

What do you think motivates Dexter to fall in love with Judy in “Winter Dreams”?

Much like F. Scott Fitzgerald himself, Dexter maintains the perception of the rich as possessing some magical quality; thus, he is easily motivated to fall in love with Judy in order to experience…

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HISTORY

How did nationalism influence imperialism?

One way to think through the relationship between nationalism and imperialism is through the logic of political economy and racism. Imperialism can be understood as the extension of a nation’s…

2 educator answers

SCIENCE

What would the vesicle of a cell be if it were a part of the school?

When comparing a cell and its organelles to a human organization, some analogies are fairly obvious. You’ve chosen a school, and comparisons such as mitochondria being like the furnaces burning…

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TUCK EVERLASTING

Where did Jesse, Miles and Mae Tuck take Winnie in Tuck Everlasting?

The Tucks take Winnie to their house so that they can explain everything to her. Technically, the Tucks kidnap Winnie. When Jesse finds her in the woods near her house, she sees him drink from the…

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MACBETH

What is an example of dramatic irony in Act 2, Scene 3, lines 100-112 of Macbeth?

First, to understand this passage, it’s helpful to understand the definition of dramatic irony. Dramatic irony occurs when both the audience and one or more of the characters in a play know…

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FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON

Why is an article from the Daily Press included in the novel Flowers for Algernon?

The Daily Press article is included in the novel, in the section called “Progress Report 14,” on June 15th of Charlie’s diary, because it provides these details relevant to the plot: 1. It reveals…

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LANGSTON HUGHES

Langston Hughes wrote several poems about dreams why might this have been a particularly powerful…

Although slavery had been abolished by the 13th amendment in 1864, the United States remained a deeply racist and segregated nation in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Most blacks in the south were little…

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ROMEO AND JULIET

Why might people understand the 1996 version of Romeo + Juliet better than the 1968 version?

The 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet does an excellent job of translating William Shakespeare’s most famous play to the silver screen. Aside from not taking place on a stage, it is quite…

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ANTIGONE

Who is more honorable, Antigone or Creon?

The question of whether Creon or Antigone acts with greater honor is a central issue in Sophocles’ tragedy. The area of disagreement between the two characters is whether Polyneices, Antigone’s…

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THE GIVER

If Lily continued to make rude comments about individual differences,she would be called in for…

Lily would be called in for chastisement if she continued to call attention to individual differences. Chastisement is another word for punishment or scolding. It is not clear exactly what being…

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OTHELLO

How does Shakespeare present manipulation through Iago in Othello?

Iago manipulates other characters throughout the play to the point where by the end he has destroyed their lives using only words. Iago represents temptation and an appeal to the darker side of…

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UNWIND

What happens up to the very middle of the book Unwind?

During the first three chapters of the book, the reader is introduced to the three main characters. Chapter one focuses on Connor. Connor is hanging out with his girlfriend and trying to convince…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Where does the Finch family go every Christmas in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Every year the Finch family goes to the old family ancestral home at Finch’s Landing. Finch’s Landing has been in the family since their ancestor, Simon Finch settled in Alabama. He was a fur…

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ARTS

How do “Gilgamesh” and Mesopotamian art reflect the same worldview?

There are many ways in which The Epic of Gilgamesh and Mesopotamian art reflect the same worldview. First, there are artistic representations of scenes from the epic itself. Second, many of the…

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HISTORY

What are the differences between the three poleis of Athens, Sparta, and Miletus?

Because of how the Greek city-states developed independently of one another, there are significant differences between them. Athens and Sparta were very different in many regards. Athens was…

2 educator answers

REFERENCE

This person is 22 and communicates by pointing, grunting, and hitting others forcefully to…

There are several avenues to explore with this situation. First, we need to look at a complete history of this individual. Has she recently moved to this group home? Were there any other changes…

LITERATURE

Do you have a guide for Mike Lupica’s book Game Changers?

Game Changers centers on a young football player named Ben McBain, who is talented and flexible enough to play several positions. He also has a huge drive to win. His hero is former NFL quarterback…