What is Patty’s plan in Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene?

August 16, 2018 Educator

THE SCARLET IBIS

How does Doodle respond to the scarlet ibis and its death? What does this reveal about his…

When Doodle goes out to see the ibis in the bleeding tree, Brother notices that Doodle’s “hands were clasped at his throat” and that he had never seen Doodle stand so still for so long. Doodle…

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OEDIPUS REX

What is wrong with Thebes in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles?

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles opens with Oedipus ruling the city of Thebes. A plague has descended upon the city. The cause of the plague is the anger of the gods, but Oedipus, his advisers, and the…

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RELIGION

What is fundamental to the description of the Pentateuch?

The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible (based on perspective and religious tradition). These books are arguably some of the most important books. As for…

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THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER

How did Matt know that Attean was becoming his friend?

In the beginning of the story, Matt and Attean are forced into a relationship when Attean’s grandfather, Saknis, makes a deal with Matt. He is to teach Attean the English language in return for the…

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THE CANTERBURY TALES

Which pilgrims does Chaucer idealize in The Canterbury Tales?

Chaucer idealizes the following pilgrims: the knight, the parson, and the plowman. The knight is idealized as a “true, a perfect gentle knight.” Chaucer lists his accomplishments for us,…

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THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO

Why is Kilimanjaro’s weather hot, but the mountain always covered by snow in “The Snows of…

Mount Kilimanjaro is not always covered with snow. There are many pictures of this mountain available on Google. They invariably show that only the top is white. The summit of the mountain is…

ARTS

How can I describe the elements of music in the song “Holy Ground” by Taylor Swift? Elements of…

The best way to analyze a song is to ask yourself critical questions about the piece of music you wish to analyze. Let’s take a look at some questions in some of the categories you mentioned,…

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FAHRENHEIT 451

How are the passengers on the subway characterized?

The only place where it appears that people on the subway are described is in the midst of a conversation between Montag and Clarisse. They are talking about the people that they see and Clarisse…

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THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

What is the tone and voice of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe?

The voice of the narrator sets the tone of the story. Montresor is either speaking or writing in a confidential tone to a longtime confidant or confidante whom he calls “You, who so well know the…

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LITERATURE

What does Benjamin Franklin’s goal of moral “perfection” suggest about the values of the time…

Benjamin Franklin’s experiment in pursuit of achieving moral perfection reflects Enlightenment ideals, particularly the application of reason. In this section of his autobiography, Franklin reasons…

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THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

What can be inferred about Della’s feelings as she counted her money the day before Christmas?

It is hard to know exactly what Della might be thinking at that point in the story. That sequence is the first seven sentences of the story. As the reader learns a little bit more about Della and…

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LITERATURE

What does this mean: “Analyze a quote from the text that really ‘spoke’ to you”?

It sounds like your instructor has given you an assignment to really engage with the text you have read! Maybe phrasing the question differently will be helpful… Was there any part of the text…

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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X

Why did Malcolm X go into hiding?

Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, was an American Muslim preacher and human rights activist. Little was born in 1925, and as a young man he became interested in boxing. When Malcolm was twelve, he…

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THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, what new insight does Maria give us into Fathers character?…

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, it becomes increasingly clear that Bruno’s father is a man of significant importance in Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Even from the beginning, the reader learns how…

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THE INTERLOPERS

Why did the short story, “The Interlopers” end with wolves coming?

Even though we cannot be certain of what Saki, the author, intended, we can surmise that the story ended with wolves for two reasons. First, the story ending with wolves gives an unexpected twist….

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FAHRENHEIT 451

Why is Montag disappointed with the church in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury?

In Fahrenheit 451, Montag expresses his disappointment with the church during a conversation with his wife, Mildred, and her two friends, Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles. The Church disappointed Montag…

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FREAK THE MIGHTY

In Chapter 10 of Freak the Mighty, what does Grim call Freak?

Grim keeps calling Kevin (Freak) “poor Kevin.” Max does not understand why people keep calling Freak “poor Kevin.” To Max, Freak is anything but poor. Kevin is smarter than most of the adults…

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THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN

How is the end of the basketball rematch a metaphor for Junior’s life now, and perhaps his life…

Throughout the book, Junior struggles with his identity as an American Indian, but he also knows that he cannot be successful if he does not leave the reservation. By leaving the reservation, he…

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A JURY OF HER PEERS

Was justice served in “A Jury of Her Peers”?

From a purely legal perspective, namely, based on what “justice” means in terms of having an actual jury of her peers decide a verdict for Minnie, the answer is “No”. Justice was not served the…

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HISTORY

What were five reasons for the Declaration of Independence?

There are several reasons for issuing of the Declaration of Independence. One reason was the unhappiness of the colonists with the Proclamation of 1763 and the Quartering Act that followed. The…

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THE OPEN BOAT

How did you react when you realized the correspondent survives but the oiler does not?

In Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat,” four men are on a tiny boat in the middle of the open sea. Their chances of survival are slim, but by the end of the story, three of the men survive. The oiler,…

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THE WAR OF THE WALL

What is the climax of The War on the Wall?

The climax of the short story “The War of the Wall,” by Toni Cade Bambara occurs when the narrator and Lou, “me and Lou,” return from the hardware store to Taliaferro Street. They have plotted…

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EVERYDAY USE

What kind of relationship does the narrator have with Dee in “Everyday Use”?

In “Everyday Use,” the narrator, Mama, has a contentious relationship with her daughter Dee. At the beginning of the story, Mama imagines that she is a guest on a talk show as a person who…

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THE DEVIL AND TOM WALKER

In “The Devil and Tom Walker”, describe Tom’s first house and property.

Tom’s story suggests that his life is modeled on those who imagine a “get-rich-quick” strategy will make up for a life of poor habits. It isn’t even clear what Tom’s job is, if he even has one; he…

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THE LEAP

What does Anna do when the circus tent pole is struck by lighting in “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich?

Lightning strikes the circus tent pole during Anna and her husband Harry’s trapeze act in “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich. Anna and Harry are supposed to do a blindfold act that culminates in them…

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RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI

How does mentioning snakes foreshadow the conflict?

As the story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” opens, the narrator explains that it is the story of the “great war” that Rikki fought in the bungalow, but it doesn’t reveal who the war was against. This “great…

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HISTORY

Which is not considered a “state”? a. Kurds b. Egypt c. Iraq d. tunisia Once you find the…

The correct answer to this question is “a.” A state is a country that has defined geographical borders, a government, and a people who have enough common identity to consider themselves as part of…

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LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

How do men’s stereotypes of women work to Mary’s advantage in Roald Dahl’s “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

In “Lamb to the Slaughter,” a male stereotype of women works to Mary’s advantage in two ways. First of all, Patrick stereotypes women as being concerned only with financial and material comfort. He…

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THE SCARLET IBIS

We don’t know the narrator’s name and refer to him only as “Brother.” Why, do you…

Usually when a writer doesn’t name a character, and especially the main protagonist, he is wanting the reader to identify with the character on a more personal level. The character becomes “every…

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THE KITE RUNNER

How does author use time as a narrative device in the novel?

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THE ODYSSEY

In Homer’s The Odyssey, how does Odysseus express his pride?

Homers’ Odysseus is a literary hero of legendary proportions. But it isn’t his physical prowess that makes him so formidable. Homer portrays Odysseus as a relatively average man in terms strength,…

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THE SCARLET LETTER

What is an example of cacophony in The Scarlet Letter?

The first sentence of the novel actually serves as an example of cacophony, the literary term for a series of harsh, discordant sounds: A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and gray,…

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CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD

What does Crispin think of himself?

For most of Crispin: The Cross of Lead, this thirteen year-old peasant boy thinks very poorly of himself. Until the death of his mother, he has never been treated as an individual. All his life, he…

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SCIENCE

Does dish oil increase or decrease friction when rubbing grit off of a dish?

As far as friction is concerned, the oil will decrease friction between the pad being used to clean and the grit. If you are trying to remove grit that is stuck on a dish, the task is made easier…

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THE SNIPER

In what city is “The Sniper” located?

“The Sniper” is located in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, and the site of the fighting that initiated the Irish Civil War. The Irish Civil War, which is the subject of this story, was initiated…

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FRANKENSTEIN

Why was William murdered in the book Frankenstein?

We learn in Ch. 7 (VII) that William has been murdered, although we do not yet know why. All we know is that he was found dead after wandering off and it appears he may have been choked or…

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THE CELEBRATED JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY

In paragraphs 2 and 3 we meet Simon Wheeler. What does the description of his appearance suggest…

The first things the reader learns about Mr. Wheeler are that he is fat, bald and dozing in a tavern in the middle of the day. It is quite natural to assume that Mr. Wheeler is not gainfully…

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THE NIGHT THOREAU SPENT IN JAIL

What is Henry’s opinion of lawyers in “The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail”?

This passage comes about nine pages in to Act Two. Bailey, who is another prisoner in the jail, tells Henry that he doesn’t have a lawyer for his trial. He’s impressed with how smart and…

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INTO THIN AIR

What happens when Andy Harris adjusts Krakauer’s oxygen valve?

Krakauer actually talks about that exact event twice in the novel. The first time is very early on in the book when he is getting his audience’s attention. The second time is about halfway…

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MANIAC MAGEE

In Maniac Magee, why can’t you trust a vowel?

Maniac Magee was an avid reader. He loved books and could spend hours reading them. When Maniac found out that his new friend, Grayson, could not read, he saw an opportunity to help. Grayson wanted…

BLUES AIN’T NO MOCKINGBIRD

What messages does Granny give the men through her speech and actions in Toni Cade Bambara’s…

In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird,” the two men with the camera approach Granny expecting her to be very obliging. Instead, Granny uses facial expressions to let the…

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SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE

What celestial body does Vonnegut compare Dresden to after it’s been destroyed?

Kurt Vonnegut, as he reminds us several times during the novel, personally witnessed the firebombing of Dresden. That experience is central to his understanding of war, life and death, humanity,…

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RIP VAN WINKLE

What about Rip Van Winkle’s personality would have made him contented if he hadn’t had a family?

According to the narrator, Rip Van Winkle would have been happy without a family because he was the sort of happy-go-lucky individual who made the best of everything in life. However, even someone…

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THE SCARLET IBIS

In the first paragraph, does the narrator describe the season of the year in a positive or…

Let’s take a look at some of the descriptions Hurst uses to recount the season at the beginning of the story. His use of words and their connotations could give us a clue as to the mood he wants…

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THE GIVER

Why does having a lot of rules provide for the community in The Giver?

The safety, the stability, the peace, and all the other benefits that the Community has are all premised on everyone following the rules. Following the rules protects the Community from outsiders,…

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THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN

How does the author show Junior’s loneliness in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian?

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, the author Sherman Alexie illustrates Junior’s loneliness through the limited friendships that he has throughout the novel. For example, in just…

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THE GIVER

In The Giver, what did Jonas help do at the House of the Old?

Jonas gives an old woman named Larissa a bath. Every eight to eleven year old is required to complete volunteer hours in the community. It is how the community elders determine where the…

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THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN

In the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, was the main character Junior a…

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Junior is a survivor. Born with several physical ailments, Junior has persevered through poverty, bullying, and few opportunities to fight for…