What is the name of Hamlet’s father?
- THE OPEN WINDOW
How does Vera’s story about Mrs. Sappleton’s husband and brothers affect Mr. Nuttel’s internal…
Framton Nuttel suffers from a nervous condition and is possibly a hypochondriac. He may have a legitimate neurological condition and it may be psychosomatic. In either case, he is quite easily…
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- MAYA ANGELOU
Give a critical analysis of the poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou.
To critically examine Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman,” let us first look at the structure. The poem is written in free verse, with an irregular rhyme scheme. It does have a clear rhythmic ebb and…
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- HISTORY
I need an answer regarding the Constitution. What is the principle of checks and balances?
The principle of checks and balances is one where the writers of the Constitution wanted to be sure no branch of government could become too powerful. Thus, there are actions each branch of…
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- MAYA ANGELOU
Please explain all the stanzas of “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou.
Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman” is about the power of a woman that does not come from her cookie-cutter good looks but from her individuality and sense of self. In the first stanza, the…
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- LITERATURE
What is a summary of the story “The Stolen Bacillus” by H. G. Wells?
When the story opens, we are in the home lab of a bacteriologist. The bacteriologist has a visitor, a “pale-faced man” with “lank black hair and deep grey eyes…[a] haggard expression and…
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- 1984
What is in the briefcase that the man gives to Winston, and why is this item of special importance?
In Part Two, Chapter Eight, O’Brien arranges to give Winston a briefcase: At some time during the day, in the street, a man will touch you on the arm and say “I think you have dropped your…
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- THE BET
What realization dawns upon the banker and the lawyer towards the end of “The Bet” by Anton Chekhov?
In “The Bet,” both the lawyer and the banker experience a realization at the end of the story. The lawyer realizes life is empty and meaningless because all pursuits and interests are “illusory”…
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- CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD
In Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi, why does Crispin feel that God has abandoned him?
As John Aycliffe and his men chase Crispin, the young boy runs for his life. However, Crispin manages to elude his would-be captors after swimming across the millrace (a ditch filled with river…
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- OTHELLO
In Othello, how does Shakespeare show the manipulation of Roderigo by Iago?
Shakespeare uses various instances throughout the play to illustrate Iago’s malice and how easy it is for him to maneuver Roderigo into doing his bidding. We learn from the outset that Iago has…
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- HISTORY
In the fourth stanza of his poem “A Prayer for my Daughter” Yeats refers to ‘Helen’ and ‘that…
In this poem, written to his infant daughter as a storm howls outside, Yeats fears for her in the new, post-World War I world, and hopes that can she can grow into a woman of beauty, good manners,…
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- HISTORY
What were the Civil War amendments?
The so-called “Civil War” amendments were the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth. Taken as a whole, they were intended to provide equality under the U.S. Constitution for the millions of…
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- THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
Point out the significance of the blossoming of the withered almond tree in “The Canterville Ghost.”
On one level, “The Canterville Ghost” is a parody of the traditional ghost story. It makes fun of ghosts as frightening creatures by showing an American family, the Otises, completely unimpressed…
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- IN ANOTHER COUNTRY
In the story “In Another Country,” why does the boy with the handkerchief on his face have no…
The story is based on Hemingway’s experiences in Italian hospitals after he was wounded in the leg while driving an ambulance in World War I. In the second World War, Italy was on the side of…
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- SOCRATES
What did Socrates mean by the phrase “Know Thyself”?
The phrase “know thyself” (Greek: γνῶθι σεαυτόν) was a maxim actually inscribed near the entrance to the temple of Apollo at Delphi. Although Plato has Socrates discuss it in several…
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- THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
In the description of the exterior of the house of Usher, which words suggest the presence of…
The narrator experiences a strong feeling of dread as he approaches the house and sees the desolate, blighted landscape, but it is not until he draws closer that he discerns distinct marks of decay…
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- THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
In The Importance of Being Earnest, who is Frederick Chasuble?
Frederick Chasuble is a Rector who agrees to christen both Algernon and Jack with the name Ernest. As a member of the Primitive Church, Chasuble is sworn to live without engaging in matrimony, a…
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- THE ODYSSEY
In the Odyssey, when Odysseus enters the Underworld, what does he sacrifice?
As Odysseus and his crew enter the Underworld, they prepare to sacrifice a number of sheep. Odysseus digs a pit while his men hold the sheep, and “round its edges poured an offering to all the…
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- MATH
What number increased by 100% becomes 100
Hello! 100% of a number is by definition 100 hundredths of this number, i.e. this number itself. To increase a number by (its) 100% thus means to take this number and add the same number to it….
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- THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
What is the significance of the blossoming of the withered almond tree in “The Canterville…
In Chapter Six of “The Canterville Ghost,” one of the twins notices that the withered almond tree has suddenly started to blossom. This event happens shortly after Virginia returns to her family…
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- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
How does Portia praise mercy in her speech of mercy in The Merchant of Venice?
Mercy is an important theme in The Merchant of Venice. Characters show varying degrees of mercy throughout the play. Portia’s speech comes in act four, scene one, in response to Shylock’s…
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- A DAY’S WAIT
What is the significance of the title, “A Day’s Wait”?
The title is significant as the “day’s wait” is one Schatz spends alone in agony, believing that he will die. When his father notices that his son appears ill, he feels his forehead and realizes…
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- THE GREAT GATSBY
In The Great Gatsby, Nick also explains his disillusionment with mankind. What about Gatsby…
Nick’s sense of disillusionment is aided by the fact that Gatsby could not survive. The idea that someone could be too sensitive, too hopeful, too romantic to make it in this world populated by…
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- MACBETH
How does Shakespeare present Macbeth’s decision to kill King Duncan? In act 1, scene 7, what…
Macbeth in this scene tries to rationalize Duncan’s murder as a quick, clean, one-time affair that will get him what he wants. Calling it an assassination, rather than a murder, helps Macbeth…
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- THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
In Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” from whom did Ichabod Crane borrow the…
Ichabod Crane borrows the horse known as Gunpowder from Hans Van Ripper, a farmer he is boarding with at the time. This situation is particularly humorous because, though Ichabod wants to appear…
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- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What are three examples of how people are afraid of what they don’t know throughout the novel To…
There are several examples of people fearing what they do not know or understand throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The most obvious example of individuals fearing the unknown is the way…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
The contrast of youth and old age is important in this play. How far do you agree with this…
Shakespeare definitely presents a generation gap in Romeo and Juliet. Both Romeo and Juliet believe the older characters, Friar Lawrence and the Nurse, do not understand their love for each other….
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- THINGS FALL APART
Why does Mr. Brown visit Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart?
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Mr. Brown is the white missionary who has set up in Umuofia and slowly begun to integrate himself into the Igbo society. When Okonkwo returns from his…
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- NIGHT
How does Wiesel react when his father is slapped by the Gypsy?
Elie Wiesel describes a moment in the Auschwitz Camp when a Gypsy struck his father with such force that his father was knocked to the ground. At Auschwitz, the Nazis would put other prisoners in…
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- GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL
Who conquered the Aztecs in Guns, Germs, and Steel?
The conquest of the Aztecs is not discussed in great detail in Jared Diamond’s book, Guns, Germs, and Steel. The main focus is, instead, on the conquest of the Incas by Spaniards who were led by…
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- STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING
In the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” what does “lovely, dark and deep” suggest?
At first glance, Frost’s poem is simple. It’s about a man going through the snowy woods and taking a moment to pause and look around. When his horse jingles his little bells, the speaker…
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- BRAVE NEW WORLD
In Brave New World, how does Lenina’s friend Fanny feel about Lenina’s feelings for John?
Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel Brave New World develops the theme of culture clash or cultural conflict, a theme that is extremely apparent in the relationships between John, Lenina, and Fanny….
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- THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
Describe the ghost & his first meeting with Mr. Otis in “The Canterville Ghost.”
Sir Simon’s first meeting with Mr. Otis is hilarious. It’s hilarious, because Mr. Otis’s response is completely unexpected. The encounter starts off spooky enough. It is late at night, and…
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- THE GREAT GATSBY
How do the books that Jay Gatsby has in The Great Gatsby support the theme of the hollowness and…
At the first of Jay Gatsby’s parties that Nick attends, he and Jordan stumble into the library and on a man in his middle age in wearing “owl-eyed spectacles.” This man is very drunk and begins…
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- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Who does Aunt Alexandra remind the reader of in Chapter 13 of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird?
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra can really be seen as a composition of a couple of different characters, and, as such, she reminds us of other characters within the book. One…
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- LITERATURE
In the first line of the poem ”To the doctor who treated the raped baby and who felt such…
Your question is a very good one. Whenever you read poetry, it is important to note every single word and to understand the meaning and the context. There are clues throughout the poem to answer…
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- SCIENCE
~Ca(OH)2+~(NH4)2SO4−>~CaSO4+~NH3+~H2O~Ca(OH)2+~(NH4)2SO4->~CaSO4+~NH3+~H2OStep 1: Make a list of the number of each type of atom on the reactant and product sides of the equation.
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- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What does Atticus mean when he says “don’t you worry about anything” in To Kill a Mockingbird?
When Atticus tells Scout it is not time to worry, he means that the trial will be difficult but they are safe now. Atticus’s sister and Scout’s aunt, Alexandra, asks him to impart upon his…
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- THE USE OF FORCE
In “The Use of Force,” why does the doctor identify with his patient rather than with her parents?
The doctor identifies with his patient rather than her parents because she’s full of self-possession, but the parents are getting in the doctor’s way with the annoying, phony, unhelpful way in…
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- STILL I RISE
What are some of the poetic techniques used in “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou and important…
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou is the title poem of a collection she published in 1978. It addresses the issues of racial and gender oppression, seeking to subvert them through a refusal to yield…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
What is your first impression of Romeo?
While this question is rather suggestive, I can speak generally about the first impression offered when we “meet” Romeo in Act 1, Scene 1 of the play Romeo and Juliet. We are introduced to Romeo…
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- SCIENCE
Which star is as hot as the Sun?
Our Sun is not very unique (apart from the fact that its solar system has life, that is ‘us’). Sun is neither the largest nor the smallest star. It is also not the hottest star. It is, in fact, an…
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- SCIENCE
What is a chemical reagent for protein?
The Biuret reagent is used to test for the presence of protein in foods. It may be used qualitatively to detect the presence or absence of protein, as well as quantitatively to measure the total…
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- HISTORY
What are some types of imperialism?
There are different kinds of imperialism. One kind of imperialism is economic imperialism. Economic imperialism is when a country takes over another country so it can benefit economically. Great…
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- THE OPEN WINDOW
What are words to describe Vera in “The Open Window”?
The author describes Vera as being self-possessed. This would be about the same as being poised, relaxed, self-assured, self-confident, and sophisticated. The author emphasizes these qualities to…
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- OF MICE AND MEN
How was Curley’s character presented in the barn?
In Of Mice and Men, Curley proves his hatred for Lennie in the barn scene. He is presented as a man with vengeance, not necessarily for his wife, but he is carrying a grudge that he has been…
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- HISTORY
What is the difference between natural and moral liberty, according to John Winthrop?
John Winthrop was a Puritan minister from England who became the deputy-governor of the Massachusetts Colony. In 1645, while serving as a magistrate, he was accused of overstepping his boundaries…
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- THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
Why did Helen Stoner visit Holmes?
Helen Stoner comes to Holmes at Baker Street “in a pitiable state of agitation…with restless, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal.” She, like most of Mr. Holmes’s visitors,…
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- TO HIS COY MISTRESS
What does the phrase “carpe diem” mean, and how does it apply to Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy…
Carpe diem is a Latin phrase that is often translated as “seize the day,” although many serious Latin scholars might argue that something like “pluck the day” would be more accurate. In any case,…
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- THE COLOR PURPLE
How does The Color Purple compare to “Everyday Use”?
Both the short story, “Everyday Use,” and the novel, The Color Purple, deal with similar themes. These two stories focus on African-American women who have difficult lives and suffer at the hands…
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- HAMLET
What is the name of Hamlet’s father?
Though in the printed script Hamlet’s father is listed only as “Ghost”, we know his actual name from things that are said in the play. Hamlet’s father’s name is, in fact, also Hamlet. We know this…
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