What is the main theme of The Epic of Gilgamesh, and what is the historical background of…
- THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
What is the main theme of The Epic of Gilgamesh, and what is the historical background of…
The main theme in The Epic of Gilgamesh is that wisdom and kindness are superior attainments to immortality, and immortality may symbolize all self-centered attainments such as strength and power….
2 educator answers
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
How is To Kill a Mockingbird political?What parts of the book are political?
To Kill a Mockingbird is political primarily due to its portrayal of racial prejudice in the South during the first half of the twentieth century. Harper Lee utilizes powerful characters such as…
2 educator answers
- JEAN PIAGET
Can anyone tell me what the most important theories of Jean Piaget are??There is a lot of…
In my mind, the most valuable contribution Piaget made to developmental psychology was the idea that learning and understanding within children’s minds are not always direct and predictable….
1 educator answer
- A JURY OF HER PEERS
What is the function of laughter in “A Jury of Her Peers?”
Laughter serves two functions in Glaspell’s otherwise dark story of a woman who kills her husband. First, laughter shows nervousness and irony. When Hale is relating his contact with Minnie…
1 educator answer
- THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
Can somebody please give me a character description of Dr Grimsby Roylott from “The Adventures of…
Dr Grimesby Roylott is a violent, aggressive and intimidating character- he is a man of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. He was very antisocial and unpopular He had…
1 educator answer
- LANGUAGE ARTS
What is a clear and concise definition of a punctuation key?
Punctuation is defined by American Heritage Dictionary (on Dictionary.com) as “the standard marks and signs in writing and printing” that are used to clarify meaning by designating the separations…
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- A JURY OF HER PEERS
What is the function of laughter in Susan Glaspell’s short story “A Jury of Her Peers”?Any Ideas…
Laughter is primarily something that is used to highlight the ignorance and the arrogance of the men in this excellent short story. We are presented with a murder site and a group of bumbling men…
1 educator answer
- THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE
Who helped Holmes in many of his cases?
I’m assuming that this question is as obvious as it sounds. Dr. John Watson, Holmes’ sidekick, medical adviser, and security backup, ever-ready with his Army service revolver, is the main…
1 educator answer
- BEOWULF
In “Beowulf”, how long has Grendel’s reign of terror lasted?In the epic Beowulf, how long does…
Grendel, the monster spawned in the slime of a marshy hell, growled in pain at the joyous relevries within Heorot. The more the music played, the more impatient he became to put it to an end. He…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
What does it mean that the devil is lord over the flies? Who do the flies represent?
I’m not sure if I understand your question, but I’ll do the best to interpret what I think you’re asking. The Lord of the Flies itself (i.e., the pig head atop the stick) has many interpretations….
1 educator answer
- THE CRUCIBLE
In The Crucible, what does Reverend Hale hope to accomplish by examining Betty?
Reverend Hale is one of the few clergyman that is actually looking for true signs that the girls are bewitched by Satan. When he examines Betty, he is looking for a sign that it is Satan or demons…
2 educator answers
- OF MICE AND MEN
In Of Mice and Men, what are Curley and Slim’s status within the group?
The social hierarchy on the ranch has two “camps,” the management and the labor. On the management side, the boss is on the top; then, there’s Curley. Among the laborers, the ranch hands, Slim is…
1 educator answer
- THE SCARLET LETTER
How does Pearl act abnormally in The Scarlet Letter?
Because Pearl is the “living A,” the embodiment of her parents’ sin, she cannot be normal and “pure” like the other children in Boston. Thus, throughout the book she acts as a devilish child. She…
1 educator answer
- THE CRUCIBLE
In the play “The Crucible”, what does Mrs. Putnam say about Goody Osburn when Tituba accuses her?
This is actually a very interesting and revealing part of the play, because it shows Goody Putnam’s previously held biases and prejudices. Earlier in the act, she confesses that she sent Tituba…
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- YOUNG GOODMAN BROWN
Can anyone point me as to what narrative references would help me to prove that Brown can be…
One of the themes of Hawthorne’s narratives on the Puritans is the unforgiving nature of this sect. His novel “Scarlet Letter” and short story “The Minister’s Black Veil” underscore this theme of…
1 educator answer
- SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT
In Part 4, the Green Knight and Gawain agree that all their problems can be blamed on women….
People living the middle ages often attributed to a postlapsarian (after the fall of man) view of society in general. One of the tenets of this philosophy is the idea that women somehow exist to…
1 educator answer
- THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
What is Zaroff’s personal conflict in “The Most Dangerous Game”?
Zaroff’s personal conflict is that as a hunter, he had run out of challenges. He has hunted every possible form of game in the world, and has become so good a hunter, everything is too easy for…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
I need help writing my thesis on an assignment about “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.Here…
This task seems insurmountable for only a 5 paragraph essay; however, it may be tackled in a rather cursory manner. I One way in which you can unify all the characters to whom you have alluded,…
1 educator answer
- A RAISIN IN THE SUN
What does the word “raisin” in the title “A Raisin in the Sun” symbolize?
The title itself comes from the Langston Hughes poem, ” A Dream Deferred.” The poem articulates the conditions of dreams that have been silenced and examines how this impacts individuals who must…
1 educator answer
- THE OUTSIDERS
How are the greasers and the socs alike and differant?Please give me a page number for each…
The Greasers and the Socs are the two rival gangs in Susan Hinton’s teen novel “The Outsiders.” The Socs (short for socialites) are mostly rich kids from wealthy families–preppy types with nice…
1 educator answer
- JULIUS CAESAR
How Do Marullus and Flavius rebuke the people in sene one of Julius Caesar?
Marullus and Flavius are rebuking the commoners in Scene I because they are out celebrating in the streets on a work day without wearing the sign of their trade. While ancient Romans did not have…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
What kind of civilization does Roger come from in Lord of the Flies?This question comes from…
This quote is near the beginning of the chapter, when Roger is watching Henry play, & throwing stones at him. Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space…
1 educator answer
- THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, why does Gilgamesh seek out Utnapisthim?
Gilgamesh is distraught over the death of Enkidu. He is forced to face his own mortality in the death of his friend. Seeing that someone equal to himself in physical strength could succumb to…
1 educator answer
- ON THE SUBLIME
Please define Longinus’ concept of sublimity as stated in On the Sublime.
Longinus equates sublimity with elevation of the soul and attributes the presence of elevation to five sources, further asserting that the sublime elevates the audience’s souls and originates in…
1 educator answer
- MANIAC MAGEE
In Maniac Magee, are the “raisins” at the McNab house dried grapes?No
The “raisins” at the McNab house are not dried grapes. They are roaches. Maniac is amazed when he sees the inside of the McNab house for the first time. Never has he come across such squalor; he…
1 educator answer
- SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS
Given: Sonnets 18, 73, 116. Explain what these 3 sonnets’ closing couplets say about the theme…
Essentially, the theme of the three couplets revolves around the idea of finding, keeping, and discovering a sense of eternal and true love. In Sonnet 18, the speaker has spent the sonnet…
1 educator answer
- SONNET 18
What is the figure of speech in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
As indicated from the opening line, the primary figure of speech is a metaphoric comparison between the speaker’s love interest to a summer day. This is explored throughout the sonnet, such as in…
2 educator answers
- AND OF CLAY ARE WE CREATED
What is the theme in “And of Clay Are We Created”?
This highly interesting story seems to have many themes, not just one. Clearly one of the key topics of the story concerns the relationship between Azucena and Rolf Carle, and the way in which this…
2 educator answers
- LORD OF THE FLIES
Would you say that the charaacters of the Lord of the Flies reaches a denouement? Do we, as…
In my opinion, the boys reach a denoument as the island is burning around them and Piggy has been killed and Ralph is racing to escape the hunters. As Ralph emerges from the burning jungle to find…
1 educator answer
- TWELFTH NIGHT
How does Shakespeare show love in Twelfth Night?
Two sides of love that Shakespeare depicts in Twelfth Night are unreasoned love at first sight and the elements of successful love. The first, love at first sight, is depicted in the characters of…
1 educator answer
- ANIMAL FARM
What are 5 characteristics of Napoleon in Animal Farm?
He is proud and vain – He invents elaborate ceremonies in honour of himself. He struts about the farm, putting on airs and hoping all the animals will notice his natural superiority. He is jealous…
2 educator answers
- THE OUTSIDERS
What did Cherry think of Dally, Johnny, Two-Bit, and Ponyboy (at the end of Chapter 3 in The…
Cherry is the beautiful cheerleader Soc who befriends Ponyboy in the Susan E. Hinton teen novel, The Outsiders. She recognizes the differences in the boys quickly and reveals her feelings about…
1 educator answer
- A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
What are the themes presented in the book A Man For All Seasons?
There are multiple themes present in A Man for All Seasons including corruption, law and ethics. Corruption is observed by Richard Rich who sells out his moral doctrine and his friend Thomas More…
1 educator answer
- WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
How was witchcraft viewed in Shakepeare’s time?
In the sixteenth century, witchcraft was certainly perceived to be a reality. People throughout society believed witchcraft existed and was being practiced to varying extents. That being said,…
1 educator answer
- ARTS
What is a theme of the painting Afternoon in the Park by William Merrit Chase? William Merrit…
A favorite theme of William Merrit Chase’s plein air urban landscape paintings, such as the charming Afternoon in the Park, is that of public places as private spaces. This theme is evident in…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
History Sources GroupHello everyone, it’s great to meet you. I’m a history teacher in Australia…
What a great idea! I use lots of history sites as a literature teacher since so much of the literature is based on current events and history eras. Thank you for the sources! I travel with…
2 educator answers
- OBASAN
Can you give me a thesis statement and outline for an essay on Obasan?
I would suggest that Naomi being poised between both aunts is a powerful conception as to how one deals with hurt and betrayal. Aunt Emily is vocal, the word warrior, and is angry, determined to…
1 educator answer
- I, ROBOT
In “I, Robot,” why does Sonny say “Who am I”?
Sonny’s wondering about who he is reflects the conflict of his character within the story. Part of the new NS-5 Upgraded Robots who possess consciousness outside of human control, Sonny is…
1 educator answer
- THE BET
What are some of the literary elements of “The Bet” by Anton Chekov?Exposition, anti-climax,…
The exposition of the story is when the banker and the lawyer get into an argument over capital punishment. The banker condones it, while the lawyer prefers life in prison. This leads to the…
1 educator answer
- STARGIRL
Who is Senor Saguaro in Stargirl?
Senor Saguaro is a tall cactus that is outside of Archie’s home. It is described as a “30 foot giant that towered over the toolshed in the back of his [Archie’s] home.” The towering figure…
1 educator answer
- SOCIAL SCIENCES
Do you support the use of intelligence tests in predicting students’ academic performance? Please…
I think that this question is going to illicit a great many responses. Intelligence tests, from their theoretical point of view, are supposed to be a dispassionate marker of student intelligence….
4 educator answers
- LAW AND POLITICS
When are police officers justified in pulling their guns?
The previous post is strong. I would only add that part of the police justification to brandishing their weapon has to be a clear identification that they are law officers. This must be clearly…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
What did Abraham Lincoln hope to achieve by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation?
It is a challenge to enter Lincoln’s mind and probe to see all the different hopes and angles to his issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation. We do know that one of the hopes of the document was…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
What were the international ramifications of the Emancipation Proclamation?
The international reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation was an interesting one. On one hand, there was a nearly universal acceptance and congratulations about the moral opposition the United…
2 educator answers
- HISTORY
Did the Emancipation Proclamatino help the North with the Civil War?
In the final analysis, how one answers this question relates much to the importance of ideas in wartime and military conflict. There are some who genuinely believe that ideas and documents play…
1 educator answer
- ANIMAL FARM
What are three themes present in Animal Farm?
There are many themes to explore through the reading of Animal Farm. One that doesn’t seem to get enough attention is the effects of an uneducated populace. In the story, the pigs who usurp power…
1 educator answer
- WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
In Water for Elephants, why does Jacob not feel guilty when Walter and Camel are redlighted?
Jacob actually does feel guilty when Walter and Camel are redlighted because he knows that he was the intended victim. Jacob left the ring stock car to kill August, but he only ended up leaving a…
1 educator answer
- THE TELL-TALE HEART
What is the point of view of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”?
The narrator in “The Tell-Tale Heart” shares the story from his own, personal perspective; thus the story is told in a first-person point of view. By using personal pronouns such as I, me, and my,…
2 educator answers
- WILLIAM BLAKE
Why has Blake chosen a tiger for this poem, instead of other animals which may have similar…
The “Tyger” is chosen, I think, because it is not only the most beautiful of all big game animals but because it leads a solitary life, unlike a lion, which hunts in prides. Blake’s poetry is…
1 educator answer
- EVELINE
Frank’s background is given, but he is not physically described. Why not?”Eveline” by James Joyce.
How ironic that a sailor about whom little is known should be named Frank, a name that implies honesty. Yet, his character is ambiguous. As Eveline sits at the window the night before she is to…