What does the first scene of Romeo and Juliet reveal about Romeo’s behavior? How does he change…
- ROMEO AND JULIET
What does the first scene of Romeo and Juliet reveal about Romeo’s behavior? How does he change…
The first scene of Act 1 reveals how distraught Romeo is that the girl that he loves – Rosaline – is not in love with him. Lord Montague first makes mention of this when he asks Benvolio to…
3 educator answers
- HISTORY
What are some of the lasting effects of the New Deal on banking and finance in the United States?
Two important pieces of legislation were created under the New Deal that had a tremendous impact on banking and finance in America are the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, F.D.I.C. and the…
1 educator answer
- GONE WITH THE WIND
If my teacher were to give us a final exam on Gone With the Wind, what would be the essay questions?
I hope you understand that only your teacher can give you a concrete answer to your question. The rest of us will need to consult a crystal ball! I can speculate, though. Your teacher might stay…
5 educator answers
- THE GRAPES OF WRATH
In chapter 16, Tom says, ” I’m still layin’ my dogs down one at a time.” How is this line at…
Tom makes this comment to Jim Casy after Casy says, “…s’pose they can’t get no jobs out there?” This is also after the Joad’s car breaks down on the road to California and Ma has told Tom…
1 educator answer
- THE GRAPES OF WRATH
Why does Steinback include the car talk segment in chapter seven of “The Grapes of Wrath”?
Chapter 7 is one of the intercalary chapters that Steinbeck put in the novel to give the reader a different perspective and to show the reader that this story didn’t happen just to the fictional…
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- THE GRAPES OF WRATH
Chapter 12 is a intercalary chapter. What are some shared experiences of all the strangers…
Chapter 12 represents another break in the main narrative of the travels of the Joad family, this time focussing on the wider lot of the tenant farmers and describing the queues of traffic on…
1 educator answer
- THE TELL-TALE HEART
How does Edgar Allan Poe use figurative language to contribute to the mood in “The Tell Tale Heart”?
Great question! Poe was definitely focused on creating mood and his writing style, which he named “arabesque,” was developed specifically to create mood: Poe believed that a story should create a…
1 educator answer
- SOCIAL SCIENCES
What is socialization from the viewpoint of symbolic interactions?
Great question and there has been a lot of work on this from Durkheim and more recently Mary Douglas. All people within a society share symbols and these symbols not only reflect society and the…
1 educator answer
- TRUE WEST
In what way do Austin and Lee represent the True West in Sam Shepard’s play of the same name?
In Sam Shepard’s True West, the characters Lee and Austin both symbolize different aspects of the archetypical West. Austin represents the possibility of the West. When the play opens, it is…
1 educator answer
- ‘NIGHT, MOTHER
How can I get a copy of the play “Night, Mother” as a pdf or word file?
Copyright law prevents this type of download without the author’s permission, and an internet search yielded no results of any availability of the full text online. At amazon.com, I found a digital…
1 educator answer
- FRANKENSTEIN
What is said in Chapter 9 of Frankenstein about “immoderate grief?”
Victor Frankenstein’s father tries to counsel his son when he sees the extremity of his son’s reaction to the deaths of William and Justine. The elder Frankenstein says, “Is it not a duty to the…
1 educator answer
- THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL
Who spoke about “This is not the end….” in “Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl”?
Winston Churchill is the author of these words. They are part of a speech he gave at a luncheon following the victory at El Alamein in November 1942. The Churchill Centre gives a fuller quotation:…
1 educator answer
- ODE TO THE WEST WIND
What does the last line of “Ode to the West Wind” mean? It’s “if winter comes can spring be far…
Simply put, in the timeline of life, winter comes before spring. As soon as winter is finished, that means that spring is coming next, not far behind. For the entire poem, Shelley has been…
1 educator answer
- DEATH OF A SALESMAN
What are physical, behavioral, moral, and motivational characteristics of Willy Loman in Death of…
In Miller’s stage directions before Act One, he describes Willy as being more than sixty years old and “quietly dressed.” His most obvious characteristic in this opening scene is his physical…
2 educator answers
- THE KITE RUNNER
What is the redemption in the book The Kite Runner?IT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED IN A ESSAY FORM AS IT…
This would be a good topic for a three-point essay–a paragraph of introduction, a paragraph of conclusion, and a main body with three paragraphs. The redemption theme in the novel is developed…
1 educator answer
- THE GREAT GATSBY
What is Gatsby’s dream in “The Great Gatsby”?
Gatsby’s dream involves him meeting Daisy Buchannan again, hearing her renounce any feelings that she ever had for her husband, Tom, and for her to love and live with Gatsby for the rest of their…
2 educator answers
- GUIDE TO LITERARY TERMS
I need examples of foreshadowing and historical fiction-you can use any book as long as you tell…
I have provided a link below to a very short story that uses foreshadowing. It is called “The Story of an Hour” and it is about a woman who has heart problems, and she is told that her husband has…
1 educator answer
- HAMLET
I need one good speech in Act IV of Hamlet. The speech has to give a “cause and effect”…
There are really only two great “speeches” in Act IV of Hamlet, one by Hamlet and one by the King. The King’s speech, in IV.5, which begins “O, this is the poison of deep grief,” gives a sort of…
2 educator answers
- CREATIONISM
Has science banished superstition?wants to know why science banished superstition , how and…
The short answer is, “No.” Unfortunately scienctists and the concept of “science” itself falls prey to superstition as often as anyone (or anything) else. The scientific method is a great concept-…
4 educator answers
- HISTORY
The invasion of Poland in 1939 in usually given as the beginning of World War II, although there were three other wars often seen as the beginning of what is often referred to as the “era of…
3 educator answers
- A LESSON BEFORE DYING
In “A Lesson Before Dying” what happen that would go under betrayal?In the themes of being…
The concept of betrayal in “A Lesson Before Dying” is evident in several of the relationships. Grant feels that he is being betrayed by his Aunt Lou when she askes him to enter the back door of the…
1 educator answer
- ESSAY LAB
How do you answer essay questions like, “How does the author use humour/whatever to portray…
In order to begin an essay response, you need to state a main idea in response to the question. In your example, a statement of your main idea would be to say something like “In (name of the book)…
3 educator answers
- THE GIVER
In Chapter 10 of The Giver, what must Jonas do?Pgs. 66 -67
In chapter 10, Jonas is to report to the Annex and meet the Giver to begin his training. He reports as is expected of him and he meets with the Giver. He is somewhat anxious and doesn’t really…
2 educator answers
- THE GIVER
Why aren’t twins acceptable in the community in The Giver?
Twins are not allowed because having two identical people walking around would be confusing. The babies are weighed as soon as they are born, and the lighter one is euthanized (“released”). In…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
Do wars decide history or do they reflect it?I was told recently that historians used to believe…
Not sure about what you are saying. I would say that at the time wars determine the future of the world. Once they are over and historians begin studying them there is really no way it can have an…
2 educator answers
- ROMEO AND JULIET
Why did Juliet not feel for the death of Count Paris in “Romeo and Juliet”?
In this scene of Act V, scene 3, Juliet has not time to ponder the deaths of either Romeo or Paris. As she awakens from her fake-death-slumber, Friar Laurence tells her quickly all that happened:…
1 educator answer
- JULIUS CAESAR
How do Brutus and Cassius respond to Antony’s speech?
Brutus very magnanimously gives Antony permission to deliver the main oration at Caesar’s funeral. Cassius, who is far more practical and worldly wise than Brutus, warns his partner that this could…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
In Chapter 3 of Lord of the Flies, why does Ralph reproach Jack?
Simon and Ralph have been attempting to build lean-tos for shelter from the elements while Jack is gone out hunting. Ralph’s primary concern is for keeping the fire going, in order to have a rescue…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, why was it a big deal that Atticus stood up for Tom Robinson?What was…
Atticus Finch stood up for Tom Robinson simply because he knew the character of Tom Robinson. Civil Rights as a concept had not yet come to be widely accepted. And in Alabama, it was unheard of…
1 educator answer
- THE CRUCIBLE
In “The Crucible” what more do we learn about events in the forest from Hale’s questioning of…
Originally, Abigail claimed to her uncle, Reverend Parris, that the girls were just dancing, and she tells him that there was “nothin’ more. I swear it, uncle.” When Parris mentions that he…
1 educator answer
- THE COLOR OF WATER
In “The Color of Water”, why did Ruth send her black children to Jewish public school?Why did…
First, let’s talk about your question. There are no Jewish public schools in the United States. If a school is Jewish, it must be a private school. If you are talking about a public school with a…
1 educator answer
- THE BEST OF O. HENRY
In O. Henry’s story “After Twenty Years,” why was Bob called ‘Silky Bob’?
He was probably given the name “Silky Bob” because silk is a smooth, slick material–attributes that this man had–he was a mobster, a criminal of some sort. His nickname implies that he was smooth…
3 educator answers
- PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
In “Pride and Prejudice”, what qualities do Jane and Lydia possess which make them better…
I think you mean just Jane in this question: throughout the novel it is clear that Lydia is flighty and headstrong and so has little to recommend her apart from her beauty and sense of fun. I guess…
1 educator answer
- OEDIPUS REX
What does Oedipus Rex say about nature and fate?
One of the key concepts and themes within Oedipus Rex is the concept of fate (the divine will of the Gods) and that of the choices and actions of individuals. Clearly the prophecies that oracles…
1 educator answer
- MONSTER
In Monster by Walter Dean Myers, which witnesses were sympathetic to Steve?
There was only one witness that was sympathetic to Steve during his trial: Mr. Sawicki. Sawicki states that he has known Steve for three years and that he is a good student and person. Sawicki…
1 educator answer
- WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
What was Shakespeare’s theatrical company named? Why?
The troupe Shakespeare joined in London had originally been formed under the patronage of Lord Strange, but on his death in 1594 the troupe found a new patron, Lord Henry Carey. As Carey was Lord…
3 educator answers
- LITERATURE
Do you really need an English degree to be proficient in Literature?Reading is one my favorite…
Any person who reads alot literature overtime will become proficient in literature regardless of a degree. However, I do believe that formal instruction is important to explain the ‘mechanics’ of…
5 educator answers
- THE ROCKING-HORSE WINNER
What is important about the title of the stories, “The Rocking Horse Winner” and “The Lottery”,…
The titles of these books give a clue to what the main storyline is about, as all titles usually do. The message of each of these stories is also reflected in the titles. For example, “The Rocking…
1 educator answer
- ROMEO AND JULIET
In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, is Friar Lawrence wise to agree to marry Romeo and Juliet?
In his own mind, Friar Lawrence is wise to marry Romeo and Juliet because he thinks that the marriage will unite the two families and will bring peace to the town of Verona. In reality it was an…
3 educator answers
- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Who Wrote “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”?I would like to explain who is the writer of A Midsummer…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. This play is a comedy about love and marriage and what happens when the magical world intervene with the lives of…
1 educator answer
- LITERATURE
HolocaustWhile there is plenty of literature on The Holocaust, there isn’t too much literary…
I would look into the work of literary critic George Steiner, who engages in a great deal of analysis with language, art, and the Holocaust. The Holocaust plays a large role in his work and his…
1 educator answer
- CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
What would you suggest to improve my thesis?Thoreau calls for people to take action for…
Always the use of parallel construction in the thesis aids the reader in understanding the contention of the writer. That point having been made, you may wish to revise the wording of the thesis,…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
In “Lord of the Flies”, can you explain to me Simon’s attitude towards nature?
Simon is the most mystical character in the novel, and, like most spiritualists, finds peace and solace in the beauty of the natural world. In fact, he must periodically return to nature in order…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
What appears to be Golding’s attitude toward nature in “Lord of the Flies”?
Golding clearly sees the natural world of the island as the backdrop against which the boys regress from civilized behavior into chaos. The harshness of nature is presented throughout the novel….
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
In “Lord of the Flies”, why does Jack’s group honor the beast?Respectively why do they mount…
Jack’s group honors the beast as a way to placate, or appease, the beast. Ancient civilizations and uncivilized tribes have offered sacrifices to gods and other entities as a way to create harmony…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
Does Ralph also take part in hunting and killing pigs in “Lord of the Flies”? I think so, but why?
Ralph does not take part in killing a pig. He is with Jack in chapter 1, when they first see a pig and Jack makes a weak attempt at killing the pig. Ralph is in charge of the builders, so he does…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
In “Lord of the Flies”, how do Ralph, Simon, Piggy and Jack each deal with the beast?
Jack deals with the beast by offering it part of each of his kills and putting the head of the pig on the stick as a sacrificial offering to the beast. He does this in chapter 8 after he has broken…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
Is something ironic about the death of the parachutist?
There is definitely an ironic element in the death of the parachutist. The boys are on the island because their country is at war and they were being flown to supposed safety. They were meant to…
1 educator answer
- LAW AND POLITICS
Prostitution- Should this activity be a crime?Prostitution- Should this activity be a crime?
Whether prostitution should be a crime is a question of great disagreement. There are countries in which prostitution is not a crime, for example, the Netherlands, and even counties in the United…
4 educator answers
- THINGS FALL APART
Does anybody know any examples of power and oppression occuring in Things Fall Apart?
This novel is full of examples of power and oppression, both from the colonial incomers to the power of tribal chiefs trying to maintain their position. However, one theme of the book which will…
2 educator answers