• OF MICE AND MEN

According to Crooks, in John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, why does a person need…

Crooks is an African American ranch hand in a place and time when such an individual was doomed to social ostracism. All of the ranch hands in Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men are desperate in…

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• THANATOPSIS

In “Thanatopsis,” why does the speaker believe that you can never be alone, even when you wish…

William Cullen Bryant was a Romantic, and like many of the Romantics, he believed that in Nature, one could find spirituality and comfort. In the poem “Thanatopsis,” the speaker is first…

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• HAMLET

What political problems does Claudius now face as a result of Polonius’s death?

The only real political problem Claudius faces is that he is now without an advisor and a confidant, a person who would spy for him and keep tabs on Hamlet and inform him about his actions so that…

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• HISTORY

How would you define theMesopotamian ideal of kingship?

The ideal ancient Mesopotamian king fulfilled a number of offices. First, he served as the representative of the gods to his people. Although ancient Mesopotamian kings were not necessarily…

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• THE BET

In the story “The Bet,” the lawyer looks terrible, much older than his forty years. Why?

This is an excellent question. It calls for speculation. For plot purposes, the lawyer had to be in poor physical condition because he was considerably younger than the banker. The banker plans to…

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• JULIUS CAESAR

What is it that the audience learned from Brutus’s soliloquy beginning “It must be by his…

We learn that Caesar has not actually done anything wrong, according to Brutus, but is considered too dangerous to be kept alive because of what he might do. In this soliloquy, Brutus is referring…

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• HISTORY

What was salutary neglect and how was it used on the colonists?

Salutary neglect was the policy where the British government did not really enforce (neglected) its laws that governed the commerce of the colonies in the Americas. It was called “salutary…

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• SCIENCE

A carpet supplier sells a particular type of oriental carpets. The estimated demand for its…

Hello! Our task is to express profit as a function of PP or QQ and maximize it (find the value of an argument for which the function has the greatest value). I think this is a mistake in the sign…

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• YOU’RE UGLY TOO

How is Zoe’s attitude toward love connected with her attitude toward death?

In “You’re Ugly Too” by Marie Lorena Moore both love and death are seen as areas in which modern society fails to fill the intellectual and emotional needs of the protagonist Zoe. Her attempts to…

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• OLD YELLER

Who are the characters in Old Yeller?

In Fred Gipson’s young adult novel Old Yeller, the narrator of the story is fourteen-year-old Travis. Travis takes on the role of “man of the house” when his Pa leaves the family to…

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• HISTORY

What were the political, economic and social characteristics of the three regions of the thirteen…

Since this question was unclearly worded, I have edited the question to some degree. The New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies had unique characteristics. Economically, the New England…

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• SOCIAL SCIENCES

What connection do the Crusades have with the Europeans coming to America?

Both the religious Crusades of the Middle Ages and the colonial-imperialism of the Americas which began in the late fifteenth century were motivated by evangelism, racism, and the prospect of…

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• EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE

How does Thomas find Anna shortly before the bombing in the chapter Why I’m Not Where You Are…

In this chapter, Thomas finds Anna in her room. She reveals that she is pregnant with their child. He is overjoyed with the news, and they talk before he leaves. He states that it is the last time…

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• THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

What is the meaning of Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken?”

In this poem, a traveler comes to a fork in a road and must decide which way he wants to go. He is “sorry [he] could not travel both [roads].” He stares for a long time down one of the roads. In…

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• JOAN GIVNER

What is a summary for “Ellen’s Book of Life”?

Written by Joan Givner, “Ellen’s Book of Life” is part of the Ellen Fremendon book series. This particular book is the fourth installment in the series. The book focuses on a girl named Ellen who…

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• ANTIGONE

What new side of Antigone’s character do we see in the lines which begin the fourth scene of the…

In Scene 4 of Antigone, Antigone is at the brink of death, and she compares herself to other women who have also been put to death for standing by their morals. In earlier scenes, Antigone’s…

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• A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Describe the setting of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and explain how the setting influences the…

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare actually has two separate settings. The first setting is ancient Athens in the time of Theseus. In the Elizabethan period, scholarly chronology of…

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• THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME

What are some examples of allusion in “The Most Dangerous Game”?

“We should make it in a few days. I hope the jaguar guns have come from Purdey’s. We should have some good hunting up the Amazon. Great sport, hunting.” Refers to James Purdey & Sons, which…

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• SOCIAL SCIENCES

What are some examples of deviant acts?

Broadly speaking, there are two general definitions of “deviant.” In common language, it means sick or disgusting, and usually has a sexual overtone. In that circumstance, a deviant act would be a…

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• THE LADY OR THE TIGER?

What does these quotes mean with regard to The Lady or the Tiger? “And so I leave it with all…

The first of these quotes is the last line of the story; the second must be one written by a teacher or a critic. “The Lady, or the Tiger” is an unusual story because the author, Frank R. Stockton,…

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• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What are passages in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird in which Atticus faces problems?

Atticus faces a number of different problems all throughout Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. His problems range from challenges raising his children to conflicts with his sister to facing…

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• A CHRISTMAS MEMORY

As friends, what do Buddy and his cousin give each other, and what do they receive in return…

Both Buddy and his cousin “march to the beat of a different drummer” as Henry David Thoreau expresses those who are different from the “mass of men.” But, because they have their oddity in common,…

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• TWELFTH NIGHT

What are some literary devices in Twelfth Night Act 3?

“Quotation” – Literary Device Definition of Device Meaning “No sir, I live by the church” (III.i) – Pun Pun: The use of word so that it has two meanings, often witty or humorous Viola asks the…

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• SCIENCE

What is the bonding stage and final compound of sodium nitride: Na3N?

Sodium nitride is an ionic compound that is very unstable and easily breaks up to form sodium atoms and nitrogen gas at around 360 K. The atomic number of sodium is 11. To achieve a stable…

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• TWO KINDS

In “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, what does the narrator’s mother want her to become?

In Amy Tan’s story, Jing-mei’s mother wants her to become a prodigy. This desire was spurred by her mother’s good friend’s experience. Auntie Lindo’s daughter, Waverly, was a national chess…

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• MYTHOLOGY/HOMER/ VIRGIL/SOPHOCLES

What is Athena’s connection to astrology?

Interestingly (and unfortunately), there is no Athena constellation, no group of stars that represents the virgin goddess alone. However, the constellation Draco represents a dragon which…

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• THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

How does social-economic status affect whether one survives or falls victim to the Red Death ?

When the Red Death starts spreading across Europe devastating the population, Prince Prospero gathers up 1000 of his closest rich friends and brings them to his castle. He locks up these lords and…

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• ANTHEM

How is Anthem by Ayn Rand an anti-utopian story?

The entire novel, Anthem, by Ayn Rand was about a dystopia, the opposite of a utopia. The Elders in the novel attempted to create the perfect society by making everyone “equal”. The group became…

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• THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME

In “The Most Dangerous Game,” what happens to General Zaroff at the end of the story? How do you…

We cannot be 100% sure of what finally happens to General Zaroff, but the author makes very strong suggestions as to the outcome of the battle of wits between the two men. Evidently Richard Edward…

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• THE GRAPES OF WRATH

How effectively did Steinbeck balance hope and despair in The Grapes of Wrath?

Despair seems to be the foundation on which the Joad family finds their lives built. After generations on the landing, living and dying on it, they are pushed off as if it never belonged to them…

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• OEDIPUS REX

To whom is Oedipus referring when he speaks to “young sons and daughters of Old Cadmus”?

In these opening lines, Oedipus is referring to the old priests and the younger citizens of Thebes who have come to him as suppliants; this is why he describes them as “young and old.” Cadmus was…

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• ONCE UPON A TIME

What are some quotes about the cat in Once Upon a Time by Nadine Gordimer?

In Once Upon A Time by Nadine Gordimer, the family she describes is “living happily ever after.” It has a dog and cat which the little boy loves and which contribute to the seemingly idyllic…

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• THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Do you agree with Portia’s statement that the Prince of Morocco stands as fair a chance as any…

Portia is being honest but ironic. She has not been interested in any suitor aside from Bassanio. She makes fun of one man for talking about his horse too much, another for being too serious, and…

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• THE MINISTER’S BLACK VEIL

How does Hawthorne describe the veil in “The Minister’s Black Veil”?

The veil is described as,”Swathed about his forehead, and hanging down over his face, so low as to be shaken by his breath. . . On a nearer view it seemed to consist of two folds of crape, which…

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• A POISON TREE

What two things does Blake compare in “A Poison Tree”?

In “A Poison Tree,” Blake is comparing his wrath, which means anger, with the nurturing of a tree. This is what we would call an extended metaphor, since he carries it throughout the entire poem….

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• THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND

What methods did Kit use with Prudence and as a teacher in the schoolroom?

Kit found the traditional methods of teaching at the dame school to be gloomy and monotonous. She decided to make learning more interesting to the schoolchildren by creating two line rhymes which…

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• CATHERINE THE GREAT

What was Catherine the Great’s national identity?

Catherine the Great was a Russian empress and playwright. She was born in a region of Prussia, which today belongs to Poland, by the name of Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg….

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• TO BUILD A FIRE

What were the circumstances of the man’s fall in “To Build a Fire”?

The biggest mistake the man made in “To Build a Fire” that led to his death was that he was a newcomer to the Klondike’s brutal weather and conditions. He didn’t have any life experience that would…

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• A SOUND OF THUNDER

What is the falling action in “A Sound of Thunder?”

“A Sound of Thunder” concerns a group of hunters using a time machine to travel into the distant past, in order to hunt animals that are extinct in the modern era. In this particular case, they are…

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• THE LADY OF SHALOTT

What happens to the Lady of Shalott when she sees Sir Lancelot?

When the Lady of Shalott sees Lancelot in the mirror in her castle room, she leaves her weaving and looks out the window, even though it is forbidden by a curse. She gazes at him, riding on his…

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• GENERAL PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES

In The Canterbury Tales, what does the old wife say that convinces the knight to leave it up to her?

First of all, the knight is a rapist who has been saved by the women and queen. His task is to find out what women desire most. However, after a year of searching, he must return and admit defeat….

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• THANK YOU, M’AM

How can I successfully write an essay about the characterization elements of Roger from the story…

First, reread the story carefully, underlining or making notes of everything about Roger that give you ideas about what sort of person he is. For example, when we first meet him, he tries to snatch…

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• EVERYDAY USE

What do you imagine the mother’s relationship with Dee was like when Dee was at home in the…

It is right to commend Dee (Wangero) for embracing her African heritage. However, there is some speculation that she has embraced this heritage because it had become fashionable. Dee has been to…

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• SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

I have a research paper in the field of Education and ESL students. I have suggested a topic to…

There are two standard ways to configure an academic research paper. First, you can find a gap in the existing scholarship or second, you can find a point on which you think the existing…

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• DULCE ET DECORUM EST

What did Wilfred Owen mean when he said, “Man marched asleep”?

There are two meanings to the line, “Men marched asleep.” In the poem. The first one is more of a literal interpretation of the line. The men have been in battle a long time. They are tired…

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• JULIUS CAESAR

How does Antony’s speech at the end of Act 3 Scene 1 indicate his true intentions regarding the…

Antony indicates his intention to cause a mutiny when he speaks at Caesar’s funeral. The most suggestive lines are these: Over thy wounds now do I prophesyWhich like dumb mouths do ope their ruby…

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• TO BUILD A FIRE

How is the dog’s reaction to the cold different from the man’s, and why?

The dog’s reaction to the cold is different than the man’s because nature has equipped the dog with instincts. Man has lost the ability to access his basic instincts due to evolution and becoming…

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• THE SNIPER

In “The Sniper”, what trick does the sniper play on the other gunman?

The titular sniper is basically trapped on a rooftop. It’s nighttime, and the sniper lit a match to smoke a cigarette – this revealed his location to the other gunman, who can clearly see him on…

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• STARGIRL

In Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, what did Stargirl do while the other cheerleaders were taking…

While the other cheerleaders were taking breaks in Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl continued cheering. She went up and down the field doing cartwheels, running and jumping and yelling. She…

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• THE WANDERER

What are some examples of imagery in “The Wanderer?”

The author uses a kenning (a stock phrase or combination of words) to describe his lord. He calls him his “gold-friend.” The lord is associated with gold because a good king or lord would reward…

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