• JUST LATHER, THAT’S ALL

What is the atmosphere in this story, and what techniques does the author use to make it?

The atmosphere of a story is also called the ‘tone’ of the story. The tone is the general mood that the author portrays throughout the story, or the way that he or she express meaning. Sometimes,…

1 educator answer

• THE SCARLET LETTER

How does Hawthorne characterize Reverend John Wilson?Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”

Just as he uses true historical figures as characters in his story “Young Goodman Brown,” Nathaniel Hawthorne writes into his narrative of “The Scarlet Letter” the “stern divine” John Wilson, a…

1 educator answer

• FRANKENSTEIN

For what three items (either tangible or intangible) does Robert Walton express needs through his…

1. In his letters to his sister, he mentions that he needs a crew for his expedition to the Arctic. 2. He also writes about his desire and seemingly insatiable quest for glory and fame. His whole…

1 educator answer

• TEACHERS

I can read program. Can it really teach 2 year olds to read?I saw an ad for a program to teach…

Why not? My mother told me I taught myself to read at age three. The program is not just memorization if it’s the same one I’ve seen ads for on TV. They show the word, the object which is the…

6 educator answers

• THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER

Describe Huckleberry Finn using three quotes from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Even wilder and less civilized than his pal Tom, Huckleberry Finn makes his first appearance as the forbidden friend in Chapter 6 of Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Tom is banned…

1 educator answer

• LITERATURE

What writing makes a play immediate, powerful, and exciting?What writing makes a play immediate,…

What writing makes a play immediate, powerful, and exciting? This is a tough question, and open to some subjective interpretations. However, there exists over 2000 years of writing about drama and…

3 educator answers

• THE SCARLET LETTER

What portrait of Puritan society is given in The Scarlet Letter?

This is a difficult question to answer concisely, but in general, here are several aspects of Hawthorne’s version of Puritan communities as portrayed in The Scarlet Letter. 1. Hypocritical: It is…

1 educator answer

• ROMEO AND JULIET

In Shakespeare, Act 3, Scene 5, can anybody find some rhyming, and analyze why it has been used?

I am assuming we are talking about end-rhyming. In at least one spot in this scene, in which Romeo and Juliet have spent their first married night together and are joking, in verse, together about…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

What happened to the industrial sector after World War I?

In the decade, after WWI, the US industrial sector boomed. However, this can not really be traced back to WWI all that much. WWI ended in 1918 and was followed by the “Roaring ’20s.” During that…

1 educator answer

• SCIENCE

What’s the name of the effect that makes someone think he is sick, but in fact, the illness is…

The word for that is “psychosomatic.”

3 educator answers

• BEOWULF

In Beowulf, how do the actions of Beowulf’s men hold up to the Anglo-Saxon code of honor in…

Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon text with implications for today. Beowulf’s men were the epitome of honor for all time, not just their time–until the battle with the dragon. First, they were chosen by…

1 educator answer

• ROMEO AND JULIET

What does Capulet say he wishes for his daughter?

If you’re referring to Capulet’s first appearance, in Act I scene ii, he wishes for Juliet to mature two more years before she is married. In this scene, Paris is pushing for Capulet to grant him…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

Despite the evidence of corruption, political machines retained strong public support. Why did…

The two main reasons why people continued to support political machines was because the machines A) provided them with material benefits in return for support and B) because the machines could…

2 educator answers

• THE ALCHEMIST

In the novel “The Alchemist,” what was the color of the Alchemist’s horse?

In the book “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho, the main character is walking back to his tent when he is nearly attacked by a man in black who is riding on a gigantic WHITE horse. Though at first…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

When was the first history of slaves?

Slavery has been documented as early as 9000 B.C. when anthropologists unearthed remains in southern Africa in which a group of pygmies were shackled together. In ancient Babylonia, King…

2 educator answers

• THE CRUCIBLE

Why are Danforth, Hathorne and the other authorities so resistant to believing the claim that…

How would it make them look if they convicted “innocent” people and the girls were lying? They would look like fools! You know the saying from the Bible, “Pride goes before a fall”? These men…

1 educator answer

• THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME

What is the literal meaning of “The Most Dangerous Game”?

Literally, the title refers to the concept that the most dangerous game a human can play is to sport with a life or death situation such as Zaroff forces Rainsford into. Figuratively, Connell uses…

1 educator answer

• SCIENCE

Why must the human body be kept at a pH level of 6.5 to 7.5?

The human body is made up of cells. Inside those cells are enzymes which catalyze the reactions that are needed to keep the cell alive. Enzymes are pretty complex molecules with a lot of folds….

2 educator answers

• BEOWULF

Why does Beowulf allow Grendel to slaughter one of the Geats before taking action himself?

Your question is worded in such a way that it assumes Beowulf was somehow okay with one of his men being sacrificed to Grendel’s perverse penchant for killing innocent people. That just doesn’t…

2 educator answers

• BEOWULF

Why is the author of Beowulf so vague about Grendel’s specific features?

We know very little about what, exactly, Grendel looked like. We know he had arms and legs (or Beowulf could not have “arm-wrestled” him and wrested his arm from his shoulder socket), and that the…

1 educator answer

• A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA

How does Ged feel at the Court of the Terrenon in A Wizard of Earthsea?How does he feel about…

You need to look at Chapter 6 and 7 to answer this question. Re-reading this chapter reveals that the Court of the Terrenon is associated with darkness from the first time Ged hears the name from…

1 educator answer

• SEABISCUIT: AN AMERICAN LEGEND

Who are the characters in Seabiscuit: An American Legend, and what do they do?

There are many characters in Seabiscuit (follow the link below to the Enotes listing of characters in the text). The four major characters are Charles Howard, Red Pollard, Tom Smith, and…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

What was the effects of the Blitz on everyday life in Britain?Please could you include:…

This is a very long, multi-part question. What I’m going to try to do is give you something very brief on each part and then add links so you can get more information as needed. Evacuation: many…

2 educator answers

• FRANKENSTEIN

Does the monster in Frankenstein find love?

In short, no. In fact, he really doesn’t find acceptance or companionship at all, let alone love. Instead, the creature reflects the motif of isolation & alienation prevalent in the novel. He…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

What did the presidential election of 1860 show?

The main thing that the presidential election of 1860 showed is that the US had become badly split along North-South lines — enough so that it would be practically impossible for the two regions…

2 educator answers

• THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

Why did the three Magi give Jesus the gifts they did? My teacher asked this question for extra…

The Magi carefully chose gifts for the newborn King of the Jews which were valuable, rare and useful. In the Old Testament it had been foretold that gold and incense would be brought as offerings…

1 educator answer

• FRANKENSTEIN

Why does this Coleridge passage appear in Frankenstein ? Like one who, on a lonely road, Doth…

When Mary Shelley was 8 years old, she heard Samuel Coleridge recite “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” in her parent’s home. Mary Shelley was heavily influenced by the poetry of Coleridge, and…

2 educator answers

• HARRISON BERGERON

In “Harrison Bergeron,” why do Mr. and Mrs. Bergeron seem so calm even though their son is in…

Harrison’s parents do not bemoan his imprisonment or even his demise at the story’s end for several reasons. First, they physically and mentally cannot bemoan anything. Vonnegut writes that…

1 educator answer

• THE ODYSSEY

What are characteristics of Odysseus?I need some characteristics for him. I read the book, but i…

Odysseus is one of the most heroic and cunning characters in literature. He is the central character in a pair of Homer’s classics: In “The Iliad,” he defeats the Trojan warrior Hector and then…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

‘Grown-ups know things,’said piggy,’they ain’t afraid of the dark. They’d meet and have tea and…

There’s a great deal of irony in this quote by Piggy. The idea that grown ups are not afraid of “the dark,” (fear in general), bespeaks of an innocence on Piggy’s part. Of course grown ups are…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

Why was Abraham Lincoln called the emancipator?answer should be of 200 words

Answers on this site are recommended to be of 90 words, so I’ll try to stick around there and give you a basic foundation that you can build on. To “emancipate” means to set free. Lincoln is known…

1 educator answer

• THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

How does the setting in “A Cask of Amontillado” build suspense?

The setting in “A Cask of Amontillado” is very appropriate to the story. Montresor is getting revenge on Fortunato for an unknown reason by taking Fortunato into the catacombs and burying him…

2 educator answers

• THE KITE RUNNER

If The Kite Runner were a tragedy, who is its main tragic protagonist?Are both Baba and…

While one could logically argue that Baba, Amir, and the country itself are all protagonists, Amir meets the requirements most thoroughly of a tragic hero. Tragic downfall: Amir is viewed as the…

1 educator answer

• SWEAT

How are women portrayed as gaining strength after killing their husbands in “Sweat” and Trifles?

In Hurston’s “Sweat,” Delia is trapped in a loveless marriage with her abusive, philandering husband. She works tirelessly to earn money while Sykes squanders her efforts on his string of…

1 educator answer

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Could the phrase “life passing before his eyes” be applied to the ending of To Kill a Mockingbird?

The phrase can be applied to the novel’s end in several ways. Normally, for modern readers, the phrase has a negative connotation–the idea that someone is in a harrowing experience, sometimes…

1 educator answer

• ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

What is the main theme of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?

It would be safe to say that the central theme is survival and adaptation to sudden change. Many have argued that this is an allegory to the transition from childhood to young adulthood, or from…

3 educator answers

• FAHRENHEIT 451

Based on Fahrenheit 451, what is the symbolic meaning/ significance of the description below?”One…

Within the context of the story, this description can be seen as a symbolic representative of the rediscovery of original ideas and ancient philosophies needed to allow for independent thought. The…

1 educator answer

• BRAVE NEW WORLD

Using quotes from Brave New World, how can you describe John as being a flat character?

A flat character is a character that only exhibits one “side” to his or her personality. Some people also describe a flat character as only having one or two personality traits, or refer to a flat…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

What are the three branches of the national government?

The three branches of the national government are the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The legislative branch is the Congress. In general, their job is to make the laws for the…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

How did Tagore fight aginst the British occupiers and how did Gandhi do it? What is the…

I’m assuming that you are referring in this question to Rabindranath Tagore. Both Tagore and Gandhi struggled to free India from British rule during the first half of the 20th Century. The two…

1 educator answer

• HATCHET

Did Brian discover how thin the plane’s aluminum covering was when he slammed his fist against it?

Indeed, Brian learns that the plane’s aluminum covering is thin when he hits his fist against it. This allows him to extract the survival kit from the plane. It also enables him to get a close up…

1 educator answer

• SCIENCE

How does shampoo get to the form that the consumers can use?

Shampoos are made out of a lot of different materials, and those materials vary depending on the brand. Each brand has its own “recipe” for how to make shampoo. Generally, though, all shampoos…

1 educator answer

• MACBETH

How historically accurate is Shakespeare’s Macbeth?Provide evidence to support your answer and…

As in most of his plays, Shakespeare takes dramatic license in his portrayal of most of the major characters. THE FACTS: Macbeth (or MacBeth) was the son of Findlaech (or Findlaich) mac Ruadri, a…

1 educator answer

• SCIENCE

How long will the acceleration of 10 m/2 take place if the bus will run 25m/s and will change to…

The velocity changes from 25 m/sec to 15 m/sec. This represents a change of 10 m/sec. An acceleration of 10m/sec/sec implies that there will be a change of 10 m/sec for every second the…

1 educator answer

• MACBETH

Macbeth bears total responsibility for the murder of Duncan.

Yes, Macbeth, with malice aforethought, did with a dagger, kill King Duncan while he slept. There is no question that Macbeth had been influenced by the three witches and his wife, Lady Mcbeth, to…

1 educator answer

• THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH WITH US

How would you characterize the poem’s level of diction?

Diction is the style in which someone speaks. It can be formal or informal, clear or mumbled. In writing, it is used to set the tone of a piece or a character. In this poem, Wordsworth is sad…

1 educator answer

• SOCIAL SCIENCES

compare the family of today with family of past.are roles the same or changing?discuss

Wow — tough question. This is a hard one to have any clear answers about because it’s not as if there are all that many statistics that can shed light on the topic. However, clearly, there are…

4 educator answers

• THE TELL-TALE HEART

Who is the “you” in the first sentence,”True, nervous, very, very dreadfully nervous, … but why…

The “you” here is the indeterminate second person. It is not directed at a specific That the narrator tells us himself that he is mad gives us reason to doubt anything he says. It is something…

1 educator answer

• MACBETH

Describe the battle fought by Macbeth in Act I, Scene II.

Macbeth is a brave and successful warrior as explained to Duncan by the Captain in Act 1, sc. 2. The Captain tells Duncan that Macbeth fought through the enemy soldiers until he came to Macdonwald…

2 educator answers

• ILIAD

What is the significance of the quarrel in Book 1 of Homer’s Iliad?

The quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon in Book 1 of Homer’s Iliad sets in motion a chain of events that will affect the tenth and final year of the legendary Trojan War. In the first nine years…