• JULIUS CAESAR

In “Julius Caesar,” what dramatic action has Caesar taken in front of the people before his…

In “Julius Caesar,” as Caesar enters Rome, a trumpet sounds three times since he is thrice offered a crown, but he rejects it each time. Casca tells Brutus and Cassius, I can as well be hanged as…

1 educator answer

• 1984

What are the elements of symbolism and irony in the arrest scene in 1984?In Part Two, Chapter…

The most obvious example of symbolism in the arrest scene is the destruction of the coral paperweight that Winston had bought at the junk shop just prior to the beginning of his affair with Julia….

1 educator answer

• PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME!

How does the blue boat scene in “Philadelphia Here I come” mirror the major themes in the play?

Gar’s memory of the blue boat and of his father and himself fishing when he was a child is not shared by his father, just as certain ‘memories’ of his father’s about Gar’s childhood are not shared…

1 educator answer

• ELIE WIESEL

That deals with Nazi medical experimentation on prisoners.What were they looking for?What were…

The purpose for most of the medical experiementation done on live humans was three-fold. The first order of business was to use science and technology to create a “superior Arian race”. There were…

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• ELIE WIESEL

Discuss the life of Elie Wiesel since his liberation from Buchenwald in 1945.

Elie spent some time in an orphanage shortly after his liberation. Afterwards, he attended school in France and eventually found out that his two older sisters had survived the concentration…

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• JULIUS CAESAR

Discuss scene with the ghost. How would you perform the ghost scene from a modern audience? What…

If I were staging the scene between Brutus and Caesar’s ghost, I would use the technique Shakeseare used in Macbeth when Macbeth sees the dagger floating in the air. There is no stage prop dagger…

2 educator answers

• NIGHT

In Chapter 8 of Night, what did Elie think of the advice given to him by the head of the block?

Elie is not sure what to think of the block leader’s advice to eat his own rations and his father’s and not to worry about his father. He believes that it is too late to do anything for Chlomo and…

2 educator answers

• A ROSE FOR EMILY

In “A Rose for Emily,” why is Homer Barron in town?

Homer Barron, Emily’s supposed lover from the North in “A Rose for Emily” has originally come with a construction crew to work on sidewalks after the death of the last vestige of Southern…

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• NIGHT

What horrible realization does Elie come to about Rabbi Eliahou and his son, and what is Elie’s…

Elie witnesses the rabbi looking for his son during the prisoners’ life-threatening run/march to Gleiwitz. The rabbi is convinced that his son would never leave him and continues his search. Elie…

3 educator answers

• ANIMAL FARM

In Chapter VI of Animal Farm, what weekly changes have been made over the course of the preceding…

In Chapter VI, life on Animal Farm becomes very busy. After Napoleon has Snowball removed from the farm for suggesting the building of a windmill, he has the animals begin construction on the…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

Ralph says of Simon, “He’s queer. He’s funny.” What kind of a boy is Simon?

To answer this question you need to think about the character of Simon, what he represents, and how he compares with the other characters in the novel. If you consider that Ralph and Jack…

1 educator answer

• SONNY’S BLUES

In “Sonny’s Blues”, how does society (Harlem) influence (positive or negative) the two brothers?…

This is a complex question. The narrator makes clear that Harlem is a place of darkness, with temptations for any child brought up there, and he notes that the same temptations still exist for the…

2 educator answers

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

How does Scout’s definition of “fine folks” differ from Aunt Alexandra’s?

Aunt Alexandra bases her judgment of others on external characteristics such as social standing, income, family history, dress, and manners. This is evident from her constant efforts to change…

2 educator answers

• HISTORY

How did the medical practices of Dr. Benjamin Rush and Dr. Jean Deveze differ?

In 1793, a yellow fever epidemic wracked Philadelphia, leaving many of the doctors in the city wondering how to treat the spreading disease most effectively. Benjamin Rush, a well-respected…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

Why did the titanic sink before it was hit after the an iceberg that was in the way of the…

The Titanic was engineered in such a way that the sealed water-tight compartments were not water-tight on top. So like an ice tray, once one compartment filled up with water, it just spilled over…

1 educator answer

• ROBERT FROST

What does Robert Frost’s poem “Fireflies in the Garden” say about the limits of symbolism?

Robert Frost’s poem “Fireflies in the Garden” is a brief but eminently clear commentary on the limits of symbolism. Frost uses fireflies as symbols which “emulate…real stars…(in) the upper…

2 educator answers

• ROMEO AND JULIET

What does the tomb scene in Romeo and Juliet tell us about Juliet’s character?

The tomb scene, which is the third scene of Act 5, tells us that Juliet is in a state of desperation (as is anyone who is about to commit suicide). First consider her words: What’s here? A cup…

1 educator answer

• CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

How does the title Crime and Punishment fit the book?

The title forces the reader first to think about what a crime actually is. Most would picture literal crimes such as Raskolnikov’s murder of the pawnbroker. However, Dostoevsky forces his readers…

1 educator answer

• TWILIGHT

Is there going to be a fifth book in the Twilight series?

Stephenie Meyer began working on the highly anticipated fifth book of the Twilight series. It is titled Midnight Sun, and it is about the events that happened during the first book but told in…

2 educator answers

• THE ODYSSEY

What did Helios demand from the gods?

Helios, god of the sun in Greek mythology is mentioned in the Odyssey in Book XII when Odysseus and those of his crew that are still alive come to the island of Thrinacia, which was sacred to the…

1 educator answer

• THE GLASS MENAGERIE

Are characters in William’s plays based on his family members? I believe his plays reflect…

You are partially right. Part of Laura’s character profile has its roots in the personality of Rose, Tennessee Williams’ sister, and Amanda is a reflection of his mother Edwina. From the enotes…

1 educator answer

• ETHAN FROME

Why is Ethan Frome considered a Gothic novel by some critics?I am doing an assignment and need to…

Ethan Frome is not a Gothic novel in the classic tradition of Poe, for instance, who almost always uses the elements of the supernatural, fear, darkness, ghosts, horror, death, decay, madness,…

1 educator answer

• FAHRENHEIT 451

In “Fahrenheit 451” instead of water, what does the fire hose spray?

Kerosene. The firemen need an accelerant to spread the fire, so they hose kerosene all over the house, then light a match. The second sentence of the book states of the firehose that it is a…

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• THE ODYSSEY

Why does Poseidon despise Odyssueus?

Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, despises Odysseus because of what Odysseus did to his son, Polythemus, otherwise known as the cyclops because of his one eye. Odysseus and his crew land on an island…

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• THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

In Huck Finn, what is Miss Watson’s first name?

Twain does not give Miss Watson’s first name in Huck Finn. Because Huck is the narrator, he refers to her as Miss Watson throughout the novel because that is what he addresses her as. Jim does…

1 educator answer

• TWILIGHT

Especially during chapters 23 and 14 in Twilight, Edward rests his skin on bella’s cheeks, ear…

Edward is a vampire, and the urge to bite Bella is very strong. It is almost as though Edward is “sampling the bouquet” when he lays his face on Bella’s neck. This is the motion a vampire would use…

1 educator answer

• ESSAY LAB

Please help me write a brief essay on the relationship between fiction and socio-politcial…

I guess what this question is pointing towards is how works of literature relate to their historical and cultural context but at the same time have an ability to affect and impact their context….

2 educator answers

• 1984

In chapter 7 of 1984, who are Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford and what is their fate?

Jones, Aaronson, and Rutherford were among the last of the original leaders of the Revolution in which Big Brother’s rule was established. After Big Brother had achieved his position of ultimate…

1 educator answer

• ROMEO AND JULIET

What is Act Two of “Romeo and Juliet” mainly about?

In the beginning of Act 2, Romeo hides in Juliet’s orchard (or backyard) waiting to see her; while standing there, he confesses his love and affection for Juliet and her beauty. When Juleit comes…

1 educator answer

• ARTS

I need help writing a speech for my friends’ wedding.

How about something like this: On this beautiful occasion the moon is shining just for you. _____________, we have shared so much our lives with each other. I am so honored to be sharing this day…

2 educator answers

• HISTORY

In World War II, how was Hitler able to get away with his antisemitic policies?Weren’t the people…

It is important to understand that Hitler did not invent antisemitism in Europe. There is a long history of antisemitism in Europe, dating back hundreds, if not a thousand years. Spain and…

2 educator answers

• THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

What are the main characters in The Catcher in the Rye like?yes, what are the 4 main characters…

The main character in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield. Holden is a 16 year old boy who has been kicked out of another fancy prep school for failing 4 out of 5 subjects. As the son of…

1 educator answer

• LAW AND POLITICS

What is a relevant interesting current topic related to criminal justice?What is a relevant…

There are plenty of interesting criminal justice topics in the news right now. On item of interest in the recent capture of a Somalian pirate who may or may not be a minor. There are maritime law…

2 educator answers

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

How would you present Maycomb County as a character? (Personify Maycomb?)I’m required to write an…

Recall some movies that you may have watched which have a Southern town as the setting. This town seems to have a personality with different facets to it. Often there is an square in this town in…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

What was life like for a soldier in World War I?I need to write a letter and here are the…

In terms of their daily life, soldiers in World War I shared a great deal in common with those who fought in earlier wars. Soldiers had to deal constantly with the possibility of being killed in…

2 educator answers

• REFERENCE

How do I begin to give a good 10 minute lesson to a bunch of uni studentsHow do I begin to give a…

1. Develop a very clear and limited focus. I have no idea what your area is, but this usually works for everything. Make sure that this is something that can actually be done in such a short…

5 educator answers

• THE GREAT GATSBY

The last 3 paragraphs of Chapter II within The Great Gatsby have always been an enigma to me….

I don’t think this is imagination. I think these last paragraphs and the entire end of the chapter are an impressionistic rendering of a drunken episode. The detailed explication provided in the…

1 educator answer

• WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

What is the symbolical significance of using the falcon & falconer in the poem “The Second…

Yeats starts his famous poem “The Second Coming” with the image of a falcon turning about in the sky, far away from the falconer who released it. The falcon continues to turn and turn further away…

1 educator answer

• THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

What is the structure of the novel, “Secret life of the Bees”

The Secret Life of Bees has a linear structure. This means that the action in a story follows a straight chronological line. There are sections in which we learn about the past, which is central…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

What’s the significance of what happens to Simon at the end of Chapter Nine? Why did that happen…

As always when you look at specific chapters and their importance you need to examine their significance in the context of the whole book. This chapter symbolises the end of any vestiges of…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

What is the significance of Simon’s death in Lord of the Flies?

This chapter symbolises the end of any vestiges of civilisation on the island and in the community of the boys. At this stage Jack and his hunters are nothing but inhuman savages filled with…

2 educator answers

• LORD OF THE FLIES

How does Golding portray human nature through the many violent scenes in the story? For example,…

To understand Golding’s treatment of human nature you need to think about the allegorical significance of the novel and the various forces that are represented and how the conflict between these…

1 educator answer

• NICKEL AND DIMED: ON (NOT) GETTING BY IN AMERICA

What is the ailment Barbara gets when she is in Maine in Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by…

When she is working as a maid in Maine, Barbara Ehrenreich develops a rash of unknown origin. She also begins to suffer from various aches and pains caused by the rigors of her job. Barbara is a…

1 educator answer

• TWILIGHT

So, are you going to make all of the Twilight movies, or just the two? I think that you should…

All of the books will be made into movies. “Twilight” was already released in theaters and subsequently on DVD, and “New Moon” is slated to be released in theaters on November 20, 2009 (not long to…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

What are the most significant lessons that our world today can learn from the rise (1497-1815) of…

It may be helpful to study the events that led to Britain becoming the world power that it was. Interestingly, your end date of 1815, the end of the Napoleonic Wars, was the beginning of Britain…

2 educator answers

• THE LITERARY CANON

Can you give me few good examples of how a literary canon is useful? How does it help students?I…

Assuming that everyone can agree on what a literary canon should consist of, there are many arguments for one to exist. Literature is part of the fabric of a particular society, and those who have…

1 educator answer

• THE GIVER

“Diction” refers to an authors word choice. Lowry uses “dwelling” instead of “house” or “home” to…

Question deals with the connotation and denotation of the author’s words. For the denotation of the words, all three–house, home and dwelling–have very similar meanings–they are places in which…

1 educator answer

• THE DEVIL’S ARITHMETIC

How do Gitl and Shmuel react to Hannah telling them she comes from New Rochelle, NY in Devil’s…

Shmuel is at first nonplussed when Hannah says that she comes from New Rochelle, New York. When Hannah persists, however, insisting that New Rochelle was her former home, he and Gitl attribute her…

1 educator answer

• 1984

What problem do you think is the pinnacle of the detriment to society?How does society perpetuate…

I will restrict my discussion to society in the contemporary United States. The K-12 education machine is the pinnacle of detriment to American society. The graduation rates, especially in urban…

1 educator answer

• LYDDIE

How does Lyddie feel about Diana Goss in the book Lyddie?

When Lyddie first meets Diana Goss, she is impressed by her kindness and capability. Diana is the one who steps forward at the factory to help Lyddie get used to the difficult and dangerous job of…

1 educator answer