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August 17, 2018 Educator

LORD OF THE FLIES

How can chapter one of The Lord of the Flies be seen through a historical lens?

The setting itself, is of course, constructed by Golding. The middle of a nuclear exchange, that is likely destroying much of the known world, has led the parents of the children on the plane to…

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THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS

Where are the human beings in the story?

The human beings have been disintegrated after a nuclear blast. This is made evident here: The entire west face of the house was black, save for five places. Here the silhouette in paint of a man…

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THE DOLL’S HOUSE

How are the schoolgirls cruel to the Kelveys in “The Doll’s House” by Katherine Mansfield?

The story “The Doll’s House” by Katherine Mansfield, shows several instances in which the girls at the school are quite cruel and humiliating to the Kelvey sisters. The first evidence of this is…

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THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE

What is suspicious about how Wilson gets in to the interview for the position at the Red-headed…

Wilson’s assistant, Spaulding, brought him the advertisement and told him about the position. Everything about the Red-headed League was fake. You would think that name alone would make a person…

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THE INTERLOPERS

In The Interlopers, what conclusion can you draw about how Saki feels about fate?

This is a great question. First, we should say that the word “fate” is not used in the short story. Therefore, if Saki has an understanding of fate, then it must be deduced from his story. In my…

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THE RAVEN

In “The Raven,” how does the raven get into the chamber?

At the beginning of the poem, the raven attempts to get in through the narrator’s door. The narrator hears “a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door,” but when he opens…

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PAUL’S CASE

What is Paul searching for in “Paul’s Case”?

One thing that Willa Cather makes clear, from the beginning until the end of the story, is that Paul is different. He is an elemental; he would rather exist in an environment, than be a full part…

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THE WEDNESDAY WARS

Why did Holling have to go to the emergency room in The Wednesday Wars?

Holling had to go to the emergency room to have his butt x-rayed. Toward the end of the January chapter, Holling has to walk home after a very long day at school. The weather has been really…

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OF MICE AND MEN

What is important about Whitey’s departure?

The only really important thing about his departure is the fact that his leaving left space for George, who would then occupy his bunk. It is possible that if he had not left, that George would not…

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THE LOTTERY IN BABYLON

What is the main irony in “The Lottery”?

The main irony in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” occurs because a lottery is something someone generally wants to win, but this lottery results in the brutal death of its winner. In fact, through…

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OF MICE AND MEN

Please give a comparison of George and Lennie’s characters using quotes.

The opening pages of the novella offer a description of George and Lennie. Even though this description is physical, it does show what their personalities and characters are like. Let me give the…

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TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING

How old are Peter’s mom and dad in Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing?

In Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, the reader is never told by Peter, the narrator of the story, the exact ages of Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher. We are only told the exact age of Peter, who…

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THE GIVER

At what age do the children in The Giver get their comfort object taken away?

Lily’s mother tells her that she will have to give up her comfort object at the age of eight. She is trying to wean her from it already, saying,”You should be starting to go off to sleep without…

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MONSTER

What does Acie say about his upcoming verdict?

On Thursday, July 9th, Steve Harmon mentions that O’Brien told him that things were not looking good for him. Steve then mentions that an inmate named Acie who lived in the cell next to him is…

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MACBETH

Is Malcolm the unconscious agent of destiny in Macbeth?

Malcolm is certainly not aware that he is the one who makes the fulfillment of the witches’ prophecy possible. It is him who confirms Macbeth’s worst fear. Malcolm’s plan that soldiers should carry…

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MILKWEED

In the book Milkweed, what is the cliffhanger in Chapter 22?

Yes, there is quite a big cliffhanger in Chapter 22 (although the reader wouldn’t know it because the section is simply titled “spring”). The cliffhanger is announced by none other than the…

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THROUGH THE TUNNEL

Why is Jerry described as both “defiant and beseeching” with his mother?

The narrator of “Through the Tunnel” describes Jerry as both “defiant and beseeching” when he accosts his mother for a pair of goggles. He requires the goggles in order to do what the “big boys”…

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THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

What is the internal and external conflict in “The Cask of Amontillado”?

The internal conflict in “The Cask of Amontillado” besets Montresor and may be described as the conflict of character against self, while the external conflict is a subtle one between Montresor and…

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THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

Why does Phoebe put the pillow over her head?

After Holden gets kicked out of Pencey, the most recent boarding school he was attending, he goes home to see his younger sister Phoebe. He arrives late at night, and only wants to see Phoebe, not…

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THE VELDT

In “The Veldt,” author Ray Bradbury repeatedly uses personification to give human traits to the…

The story begins with George Hadley and his wife discussing sending a psychologist, not a technician, to look at the Happylife Home system. So right away, Ray Bradbury sets up the idea that this…

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SCIENCE

How can I describe predation,competition and symbiosis, explaining how each interaction…

Predation, competition, and symbiosis are all forms of interactions amongst organisms within an ecosystem. The population sizes of organisms that benefit from such an interaction are likely to…

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MERIDIAN

What is the symbolism of the Wild Child’s funeral in Alice Walker’s Meridian?

The Wild Child herself symbolises the possibility of a free, independent life. Such a life could be lived based on personal decisions, with full blame and responsibility on the individual–but the…

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TUCK EVERLASTING

What causes granny to squint suspiciously at the man in the yellow suit in Tuck Everlasting?

Granny is suspicious of the man’s yellow suit. Winnie is outside looking for fireflies when the man in the yellow suit comes along at sunset and talks to her. You can see why Granny would be…

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SCIENCE

The force is an airplane’s jet engine pushes air toward the back of the plane, What is the result?

This is an example of Newton’s 3rd Law: For every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction. The force of the exhaust gases pushing backward produces an equal and opposite force that propels…

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SCIENCE

How is chemical evidence collected at a crime scene?

At a crime scene, many pieces of chemical evidence can be collected. These include blood (liquid or dried), hair, fibers, bones, seminal traces, chemicals (including toxins or poisons, narcotics,…

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RULES OF THE GAME

In “Rules of the Game,” what useful information did Meimei’s mother teach her when she was six…

At six years old, Meimei’s mother taught her the rule of “invisible strength,” or to “Bite back your tongue … Wise guy, he not go against wind. In Chinese we say, Come from South, blow with…

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THE VAGABOND

What are two examples of imagery and metaphors from The Vagabond?

One of the most obvious examples of imagery in The Vagabond is: Biting the blue finger In this part of the poem, it is Autumn and frosts are becoming common. The ‘blue finger’ could represent…

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DIVING INTO THE WRECK

What is the conclusion of the poem “Diving into the Wreck”?

In Adrienne Rich’s poem, “Diving into the Wreck,” she explores the theme of identity. Her speaker has gone into the water on a diving expedition to explore a wreck. At the end of the poem, the…

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THANK YOU, M’AM

In Langston Hughes’s “Thank You Ma’am”, how did Mrs. Jones’s confession influence Roger’s actions?

After Mrs. Jones’s confession, Roger tries very hard to make sure that she trusts him. In this story, a boy named Roger tries to steal the purse of a woman named Mrs. Jones late one night. It is…

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HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE

What is a major conflict and resolution in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?

Harry tries to prevent Quirrell from stealing the Sorcerer’s Stone, and he uses the Mirror of Erised to do it. One of the major conflicts in this first book of the series is a character vs….

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OF MICE AND MEN

What is it that Curley’s wife, Crooks and Candy all have in common and what prevents them from…

The cast of characters in Of Mice and Men is largely made up of people who are socially powerless in one way or another. This shared trait connects Crooks, who is a racial minority and also…

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NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH: A DOCUMENTARY NOVEL

Why doesn’t Allison Doresett sit next to Phillip Malloy on the bus in Nothing But the Truth by Avi?

In Avi’s Nothing But the Truth, the first time Allison Doresett sits with Philip on the bus, he has just found out that he cannot be on the track team unless he can get his grade changed in…

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“MASTER HAROLD” . . . AND THE BOYS

What does dance represent in “MASTER HAROLD” . . . and the boys in detail?

In “MASTER HAROLD” . . . and the boys, the dance represents life and social interactions. Sam tells Hally that the dance is like life in a dream where no one collides with one another. The dance is…

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THE LOTTERY

In “The Lottery,” the author does not include the year in which the story takes place or the name…

The timeless and placeless setting of “The Lottery” is meant to make it a universal story, one that could happen at any time and in any place. The author intends for us to be able to see the story…

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THE TELL-TALE HEART

What is the mood in “The Tell-Tale Heart”?

Given that the narrator is a mad, clearly very excitable man, the mood of the story is one of nervousness and apprehension at what is to come. The reader feels the jumpiness of the narrator, his…

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EVERYDAY USE

Who gets the quilts at the end of “Everyday Use”?

At the end of “Everyday Use,” Maggie gets the quilts. Initially, Mama intended to give one of the quilts to Dee; however, when Dee left for school she turned the quilt down because she was not…

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THE CRUCIBLE

In the play, The Crucible, is John Proctor a good husband, and, if so, why?

In many ways, yes, I do think he’s a good husband. He says, in Act Two, that “[he] mean[s] to please […] Elizabeth,” and he seems to mean it. He evidently finds her cooking to be a little…

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HOW IT FEELS TO BE COLORED ME

In “How It Feels to Be Colored Me,” what does Hurston mean by “brown specter”?

In “How It Feels to Be Colored Me,” Hurston makes a reference to a “brown specter.” A specter is a ghost or some other supernatural apparition. In the context of the essay, Hurston says that…

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THE TELL-TALE HEART

What is a counterclaim for “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe?

As the first-person narrator of “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe begins the story by asserting that he is sane, a counterclaim would be that the narrator is, in fact, insane. The first…

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THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

Why is Holden thinking of joining a monastery in The Catcher in the Rye?

In Chapter 7 of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden tells Ackley that he is thinking of joining a monastery. Ackley is really annoyed with Holden when he asks because Holden has woken Ackley up in the…

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HAMLET

How does Hamlet feel about Queen Gertrude and King Claudius by the end of Act III?

Hamlet is still angry at Claudius, still convinced he murdered Hamlet Sr., and still outraged that his mother would marry her husband’s killer so quickly. But he is also torn about whether or not…

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THE SCARLET IBIS

Why do Doodle’s parents take three months to name him?

Doodle was born sickly and weak. His body was not proportioned right. His head was huge compared to his sickly thin frame. He seemed all head, with a tiny body which was red and shriveled like…

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BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON

How would you describe the persona Benet has created for the narrator, John? Why is it important…

First and foremost, John is brave. He didn’t run away when his father took him to the Dead Places. He didn’t flinch when his father handed him a piece of metal. He takes his dangerous journey to…

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THE MAN WHO WAS ALMOST A MAN

Why is Dave eager to buy a gun?

Dave is a young, powerless black man who wants to be treated like an adult. He is not taken seriously as a man because he hasn’t proven himself to his family and employer. He works on a…

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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Who is the torchbearer referred to in Act II, Scene 4, of The Merchant of Venice?

Jessica, daughter of the Jewish moneylender Shylock, is the torchbearer being referred to in this scene. This scene specifically relates to her preparations to elope with her Christian lover,…

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THE DEMON LOVER

Why isn’t the Drover family living in London right now?

In “The Demon Lover,” Mrs Drover and her family are not living in London because of World War Two. This is made clear through two references in the story. In the first of these, Bowen also refers…

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THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

In “The Masque of the Red Death”, why does Prince Prospero hide in his palace?

Prospero, and a thousand of his nobles, are hiding from a terrible plague, the titular Red Death. It is important to point out that Prospero isn’t actually hiding in a palace, but in an abbey….

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THE OPEN WINDOW

If you were Framton, what would you have said to Vera as the men approached the window?

Most of us would not be taken in by Vera’s ghost story. We would be startled by the appearance of three men carrying shotguns but would probably say something like, “You really had me fooled for a…

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RULES OF THE GAME

In Amy Tan’s “Rules of the Game,” what is the unspoken but implied point?

What is implied in the short story is that Waverly learned a lot from her mother, but she has not learned enough to beat her. In other words, the student has not exceeded the master. In the…