What is the life goal that Winnie and Miles share in Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting?
- HARRISON BERGERON
In “Harrison Bergeron,” how do Harrison’s feelings toward society help develop the story’s theme?
In Kurt Vonnegut’s short story “Harrison Bergeron,” the title character is a foil to Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General whom Harrison attempts to overthrow. The two are polar…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
How much does fate contribute to Romeo and Juliet meeting in William Shakespeare’s play?
The degree to which you believe that fate was involved in the meeting of the two lovers in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare depends, to a large degree, on how much you believe in the notion…
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- THE ONES WHO WALK AWAY FROM OMELAS
In “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas,” who is the narrator? What are her feelings about Omelas,…
Both of these questions are important, but they are very different questions. The narrator’s identity is the tougher question. At no point are we told if the narrator is male or female. We’re not…
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- BRAVE NEW WORLD
In reference to Brave New World, which is more distinctly important: freedom or happiness?
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a sort of thought experiment about a future in which, in part through the use of mood-altering drugs, it is possible to engineer happiness. Although the novel…
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- HISTORY
How did imperialism and contact with Hellenistic culture affect the core values of Roman…
The main change that occurred in the Roman political system due to imperialism was the shift from a Republican to an imperial system of rule. Although in theory it would have been possible for a…
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- NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE
In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, who was Douglass’s father?
In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, there is no definitive answer to who Douglass’s father is because Douglass was deprived of the information; however, Douglass says that common gossip…
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- THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
What do General Zaroff and Rainsford have in common in “The Most Dangerous Game”?
Sangor Rainsford and General Zaroff are both impeccable hunters and war veterans with a taste for hunting challenging animals. The two men also share the belief that hunting is fair and the prey…
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- THE NECKLACE
Do you think there are people like Mme. Loisel today?
Mme. Loisel has an interesting collection of qualities and attitudes, some good, some not so good. Let’s look at them to see if there are people around still who have these. In the first…
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- HAMLET
What does Hamlet mean when he says “this too, too sullied flesh”? (1.2.133)
If you want a brief answer, the “sullied flesh” Hamlet refers to is his own body: he means it is dirty or tainted in some way. To expand on that a bit, Hamlet is saying that his body, his physical…
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- CHARLES
What are some clues that Charles is actually Laurie in the story “Charles?”
The author included some clues in the story that help the reader to believe that maybe Laurie and Charles are the same person. For example, on the first page of the story, Laurie speaks to his…
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- TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR
What central problem confronts the main character in Touching Spirit Bear?
Cole was unable to manage his anger and blamed his violent outburst and bitterness on his parents. He blamed his father for hitting him and his mother for doing nothing about it. Cole meted out the…
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- ACROSS FIVE APRILS
after the night of celebration, what terrible news did Nancy give jethro?
duplicate question
- GATHERING BLUE
In Gathering Blue, what are three reasons why a child would not be adopted?
In Kira’s society, children, or tykes as they are called, are considered valuable because they can become workers for the family unit. However, any child who represents a drain on the family…
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- THE SCARLET IBIS
What is the tone in the first two paragraphs of “The Scarlet Ibis “?
Tone is the attitude an author takes towards a subject in a piece of literature. The short story, “The Scarlet Ibis” begins with a reflective flashback by Brother as he remembers a particular…
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- JULIUS CAESAR
What are the two sides of “the war” (internal conflict) going on in Brutus’ mind in Shakespeare’s…
On the one hand, Brutus loves Caesar. This is a fact. The play brings this point out nicely, as Brutus is very reluctant to join the conspiracy. This is why he is the tragic figure in the play….
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- HARRISON BERGERON
Why isn’t Hazel handicapped in “Harrison Bergeron”?
Hazel does not have any handicaps because she is already completely average. She must be average looking, have average intelligence, and have average strength and speed. Due to all of these average…
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- THE SCARLET LETTER
What happens in Chapter 21 of The Scarlet Letter?
In Chapter 21, we see Hester and Pearl attending a celebration to welcome new town officials into office. The streets are crowded with people who have come out for the parade and party. Hester is…
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- LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER
What is the theme of “Lamb To The Slaughter” when we use the idea that we can be deceived by…
That’s a great question. I would say that there is a theme in the story about how things are not always exactly what they first appear to be. I don’t think that means people or items always…
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- THE BLOODY CHAMBER
What is the impact of narrative structures on the meaning and interpretations of The Bloody…
Angela Carter’s collection of gothic inspired short stories The Bloody Chamber and Margaret Atwood’s frightening piece of dystopian science fiction The Handmaid’s Tale both rely on their…
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- THE SCARLET LETTER
What is Pearl’s intelligent answer to why Hester wears the scarlet letter?
In chapter XV, Hester and Pearl are just leaving Roger Chillingworth’s company in the forest when Pearl wanders off to play. After dabbling in a pool of water, she makes her own costume out of…
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- FAHRENHEIT 451
Explain the quote, “the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and…
This quote is found at the very beginning of the story, introducing Montag’s character, the nature of the firemen, and depicting the grotesque pleasure that Montag initially finds in his job. Much…
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- THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
Why do you think Dr. Roylott uses physical force in his meeting with Holmes?
Dr. Roylott, like all the characters in the story, is not a real person but the creation of the author, Arthur Conan Doyle. He has Dr. Roylott make a sudden, violent appearance because he wants to…
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- THE RAMAYANA
What is the attitude of the Ramayana towards family?
The Ramayana is a series of complex mythlogical stories told in the form of one epic poem. The Ramayana depicts values of familial loyalty, trustworthiness, and filial piety. Prince Lakshman…
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- THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ
In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, what differences exist between the Munchkins and…
In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, the Munchkins of Munchkinland differ from the people in the Land of Oz in a few ways. Firstly, the Munchkinlanders are physically about the same…
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- THE CAY
How did Phillip and his mother react when their boat was torpedoed in The Cay by Theodore Taylor?
When the ship, the Hato, was torpedoed in The Cay by Theodore Taylor, Phillip was thrown from his bunk onto the floor. His mother reacted very calmly, and Phillip noticed this was unlike her usual…
1 educator answer
- JULIUS CAESAR
What are Julius Caesar’s strengths and weaknesses?
Caesar’s greatest strength, as Shakespeare emphasizes in the play, is his willpower. According to Plutarch in his “Life of Julius Caesar,” Caesar had truly remarkable determination and willpower….
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- THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
How did the ghost plan to take revenge on the Otis family?
The Canterville Ghost, otherwise known as Sir Simon, planned to take his revenge on the Otis family is the standard ghostly fashion. He plans to scare them out of his house. Many, many years ago,…
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- WINTERGIRLS
What would be the setting of Wintergirls?
The general setting of the novel is in New Hampshire, but that doesn’t say much about the story. It would be better to focus on a couple specific settings that were more relevant to Lia’s character…
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- BRAVE NEW WORLD
In Brave New World, who is the character that is able to quote and independently analyze many…
Mustapha Mond is a highly intelligent and influential New World leader. He is the person that John turns to when he seeks a clear understanding of the history and purpose of the World State. Mond…
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- THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
How did Watson get out of his pledge of secrecy in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”?
Watson indicates in his introduction to the story that he had made a pledge of secrecy which must have been to Helen Stoner, since she was the only surviving member of the family. It appears that…
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- FAHRENHEIT 451
In Fahrenheit 451, how do the patrons react to Montag’s behavior on the train? What is spooky…
While riding on the subway to get to Faber’s house, Montag decides that he needs to inundate himself with reading material; he will have to give the book back to Beatty soon, and he has no place to…
1 educator answer
- OF MICE AND MEN
What does the reader learn about Lennie’s physical strength and George’s control in chapter 3?
In Chapter 3 of Of Mice and Men, the reader learns that Lennie, George’s friend, has the strength of a Samson, and that George is able to control Lennie, at least at certain times. In the bunkhouse…
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- LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER
What news does Patrick have for Mary and how does she react at first?
The story does not tell the reader exactly what Patrick tells Mary, so the reader isn’t 100% sure of what the news is; however, the news is most likely that Patrick is leaving Mary. In other…
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- LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER
In the story “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl, is Mary Maloney a sane person, and why is that?
Mary Maloney succumbs to a fit of rage and kills her husband with a frozen leg of lamb which she happens to have in her hands. At that point, Mary Maloney simply walked up behind him and without…
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- LITERATURE
To what extent can Gatsby be identified as a tragic hero?
According to Aristotle, a tragic hero typically has excessive pride, which Gatsby also has. He believes it is possible to repeat the past, and that he can do so because he wants it so badly. This…
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- SHOOTING AN ELEPHANT
What was George Orwell’s job in Burma and was he liked or disliked by the Burmese for it?
George Orwell worked as the sub-divisional police officer in the town of Moulmein in Lower Burma. He worked in this role between 1922 and 1927. Generally, he was hated by the people that he…
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- TROUBLE
Who are the main characters in Gary D. Schmidt’s Trouble?
The most important main character in Gary D. Schmidt’s novel Trouble is the protagonist, Henry Smith. Henry is the protagonist because he is the central character who changes as a result of…
1 educator answer
- OF MICE AND MEN
What are some private thoughts of Crooks in Of Mice and Men?
Private thoughts are difficult to discern, as they are internal and unspoken. However, there are several clues in the book to make educated guesses about what Crooks is thinking and feeling….
1 educator answer
- THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
In “The Most Dangerous Game,” critics say “ironically, Zaroff’s belief in his invincibility as a…
While Zaroff and Rainsford are having dinner, Zaroff explains why hunting has become so boring to him. He says, “Simply this: hunting had ceased to be what you call a ‘sporting proposition.’ It had…
1 educator answer
- OF MICE AND MEN
Why does George tell Lennie to be quiet when they meet the boss of the ranch in Of Mice and Men?
George tells Lennie to be quiet so the boss will not notice that he is slow. George and Lennie travel around together, because George looks out for Lennie. George may be smaller, but he is the one…
1 educator answer
- YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN
Explain the allegory Hawthorne uses in “Young Goodman Brown.”
This story is an allegory representing the path of a Christian on his way to salvation or damnation. Goodman Brown represents this “every Christian” sort of character; his surname—Brown—is a…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
How does Shakespeare present the effect of blinding passions in Act 3 Scene 1 in Romeo and Juliet?
Act III begins with Mercutio and Benvolio discussing fighting.”The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl” (2-3). Mercutio accuses Benvolio of liking to fight…
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- THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON
Where did Janie hide the milk carton in The Face on the Milk Carton?
Janie knows she has to keep the milk carton with her face on the back of it, but also understands that her parents cannot find it. So, Janie hides the milk carton under her mattress to give her…
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- THE PIGMAN
In Paul Zidel’s The Pigman, why does John’s mother leave the dinner table?
In chapter 7 of Paul Zindel’s The Pigman, John sits down to have dinner with his parents. John’s father is mad at him because he glued the lock on the telephone shut. When his parents asked him…
1 educator answer
- THE USE OF FORCE
In “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams, what is the extended metaphor used?
The language used in “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams tends, like the language of his poetry, to be simple and direct, eschewing such literary devices as metaphor. The incident is…
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- A PAIR OF SILK STOCKINGS
How would you explain the motivation of Mrs. Sommer’s shopping spree?
Perhaps Mrs. Sommers has spent the fifteen dollars on herself because it has been so long since she has indulged herself. That is, she may have endured deprivation for years, and now feels a need…
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- MANIAC MAGEE
What does Grayson tell the park superintendent about Maniac Magee?
In the book Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, Maniac Magee ends up staying with Grayson, a has-been minor league baseball player, in the equipment room of the park. Grayson feeds Maniac with fast…
1 educator answer
- THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER
What did Matt make for his mom?
After Attean and Saknis left the area to find a new location for the Indian village, Matt was all alone. It was winter, so much of the time he was inside. While he waited out the cold and his…
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- TUCK EVERLASTING
What is the life goal that Winnie and Miles share in Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting?
In Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting, both Winnie and Miles express wanting to make a difference in the world.In the third chapter of the story, Winnie confides in a toad that she feels angry with…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
Which country was the first to bring slaves to North America?
The answer to this depends on what you mean by “bring slaves to North America.” There are at least three possible answers. If you consider Mexico and the Caribbean to be part of North America,…
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