What is the role of weather and religion in Things Fall Apart? How are rain and drought significant?
- THINGS FALL APART
What is the role of weather and religion in Things Fall Apart? How are rain and drought significant?
Rain and drought become symbols of spiritual and emotional emptiness, especially for Okonkwo. Weather, particularly rain, is essential to the livelihood of the Ibo people. Without rain, the yams…
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- JULIUS CAESAR
Could someone paraphrase Antony’s lines to the conspirators for me?I know not, gentlemen, what…
Antony confronts the conspirators who have just killed Caesar, and whose swords are dripping blood. In short, Antony’s speech says to the conspirators that, if they intend to murder him too, then…
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- SCIENCE
How do you give artificial age to wool and cotton fibers? What causes the wool to oxidize?
Not sure if this is precisely what you mean, but in some theatre productions I’ve worked on, I’ve seen a couple of very good ways to age and weather cloth – though I’m not sure how it specifically…
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- WUTHERING HEIGHTS
How do Edgar Linton and Heathcliff compare and contrast in Wuthering Heights?
The contrast of these two characters, Edgar and Heathcliff, really exemplifies a common conflict in literature, that of forbidden love. Simply put, Edgar’s love for Catherine provides her with…
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- THE COP AND THE ANTHEM
The quick answer is that Soapy fears the onset of winter, considering that he is homeless and lives on the street. On the previous night three Sabbath newspapers, distributed beneath his coat,…
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- THE INTERLOPERS
How do George and Ulrich contribute to the tragic end of The Interlopers?
They both contribute to their deaths through their own stubbornness. They continue a blood feud between their families, although they have no real idea how it started. They know it has to do with a…
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- LORD OF THE FLIES
How does Jack react when the boys find the piglet?
Jack has, throughout, been slamming his knife into trees in a threat of violence. Yet the moment when the piglet actually appears demands from Jack actual violence rather than just threatened…
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- THE GREAT GATSBY
In chapter 8 of The Great Gatsby, what does Gatsby tell Nick about his past? Is it true?
In the very early morning hours after Myrtle Wilson’s death, Gatsby tells Nick of his past, including what Nick terms “the strange story of his youth with Dan Cody.” After talking of his time with…
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- THE CHRYSALIDS
What are the themes in Chrysalids?
A good overview of The Chrysalids may be found here. Some themes prevalent in the novel include: 1. Isolation and Alienation: David and the “abberrations” are considered as outcasts and alienated…
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- GREAT EXPECTATIONS
How has Pip matured over the course of the book?
It takes Pip a long time to finally mature in this book. He does not fully come to understand happiness until near the end. All throughout the book his focus was on Estella and his wealth needed…
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- ANTIGONE
What is the best summary of what Teiresias tells Creon?
The blind seer tells Creon that his actions are willful and prideful and defy the gods. He is warned that his behavior is so full of pride, a grave sin in Ancient Greek culture, that the gods will…
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- THE CRUCIBLE
In “The Crucible” who are Reverend Parris, Betty, and Abigail?
Reverend Parris is the reverend of the town of Salem, Massachucets. In those Puritan times, the reverend was a very important man in the town; people looked to him for moral and spiritual…
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- HAMLET
In “Hamlet” Act 1, Scene 1, pinpoint the references to a military/war background. Make references…
Firstly, Horatio refers to the ghost of Old Hamlet as being in “fair and warlike” form, and, moreover, uses “march” as a verb, perhaps implying some sort of military marching: What art thou that…
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- FAHRENHEIT 451
In “Fahrenheit 451” how is censorship shown?
Censorship is shown through the books that they burn. People aren’t allowed to read books, and that is the most extreme form of censorship that exists. Not only this, but people talking is looked…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
In Act 1.5 of Romeo and Juliet, what does Romeo mean when he says “O, she doth teach the torches…
He has been so devastated by Rosaline’s rejection that he is depressed. When he first sees Juliet, he sees her as the “light.” Rosaline becomes “darkness” and Juliet becomes the light. What he…
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- THE NECKLACE
In The Necklace, what might be Madame Loisel’s thoughts and feelings right after she learns that…
After finding out that her last 10 years of poverty and hard labor were worth nothing, Madame Loisel was most likely devastated. She struggled so much to be a part of the upper class society and…
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- BUSINESS
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a free market economy? And what are the roles and…
A free market economy is driven by individual innovation and the notion that hard work and ingenuity will be rewarded by success. All businesses exist to make a profit. Therefore, in the free…
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- MATH
Maximum surfaceFrom all the rectangulars which could be inscribed in a circle with the radius R,…
If a rectangle is inscribed in a circle, the diameter of the circle forms the diagonal of the rectangle. Let the sides of the rectangle be W and L, we get 4R^2 = L^2 + W^2 and the area of the…
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- BRAVE NEW WORLD
In Chapter 4 of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, how does the episode in the elevator portray…
The elevator operator’s features are described as “monkey like” indicating the low evolutionary position of the lower caste worker. “He” responds mechanically to the sun, cheered, presumably, by…
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- GREAT EXPECTATIONS
In Chapter 15 of Great Expectations, why does Pip go to Satis House?
Pip suggests to Joe that he should go see Miss Havisham to thank her for all that she has done for him. He assumes at this point that she is behind his “expectations.” Joe, however, is afraid…
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- THE SCARLET IBIS
In The Scarlet Ibis, what evidence does the narrarator use to support his claim that Doodle was a…
Doodle was a burden because he really couldn’t do a whole lot for himself. He was very weak and very dependent. The narrator had to take him with him wherever he went and he had to be careful…
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- BRAVE NEW WORLD
Why is the Controller’s lecture placed close to the conversation between Fanny and Lenina?This is…
This question comes from the Guidon’s Contemporary classics teaching package. They suggest that it is a “juxtaposition that explains the philosophy and rationale behind BNW and, at the same time,…
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- SHOOTING AN ELEPHANT
What are the reasons why orwell does not want to kill the elephant?
The main character, the colonel policeman, Orwell, is called to the market after a working elephant escaped his handler and killed a man. The man, a slave, was crushed by the rampaging elephant….
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- KING LEAR
Discuss the theme of “male anxiety” in King Lear.Discuss the theme of “male anxiety” in King Lear.
When King Lear decides to step down from the throne and divide his kingdom between his three daughters, the outcome and consequences of this decision cause him a great deal of unexpected anxiety….
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- A ROSE FOR EMILY
In “A Rose for Emily,” why was Homer Barron last seen being admitted through the kitchen door?
Many of the residents from the “old south” did not agree with Homer dating Emily. He was a Yankee. Part of the old southern way of thinking was that the North and the South were not to mix….
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- SCIENTISTS BEHIND THE INVENTORS
What is the history of the computer? What is the history of the computer?
The Apple computer showed up in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. The McIntosh came in the 1980’s. First portable invented in 1989.
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- MACBETH
What is a short summary of Macbeth?
Well, in a nutshell, an honorable man falls from grace and is punished for it. Macbeth, recognized for his military skill and integrity, is given a prophecy by three witches. They tell him that…
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- LAW AND POLITICS
How did the federal government raise revenue for services under the Articles of Confederation?
Under the Articles of Confederation it was very difficult for the new federal government to raise the revenue it needed to operate. By definition a confederation is “a loose association of…
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- EVERYDAY USE
What caused the fire and what is its significance in the story “Everyday Use”?
I do not believe that what started the fire is stated specifically, but it is significant that the house that burned down had a shingle roof, unlike the tin roofs that are used now. Shingle is…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
In Act 2, Scene 4, why do you think the conversation between Romeo and his friends is not in…
Well, this question amounts to – why and when does Shakespeare use prose and not blank verse? People will tell you, in a famous and incorrect generalisation, that prose is reserved for lower class…
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- A ROSE FOR EMILY
story settingcan story setting help us identify the social norms and background of Emily’s…
Absolutely. Take a look at the beginning of the story again. It discusses the former splendor of Emily’s family home now nestled close to gas stations and other things none of us would consider…
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- THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
What is the whole book summery for “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian”?
You can find a free chapter-by-chapter summary at the link below:
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- 1984
In what way (O’Brien) is the domination desired by the “Party” different than the world…
O’Brien’s domination is the perfection of what the Nazi’s and early Communists sought. In his world, O’Brien is able to control people (Winston, eg.) to such an extent that external reality ceases…
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- HISTORY
How did the enlightenment change basic western attitudes toward faith, reform, and reason?
The Enlightenment brought about major changes in Western attitudes towards faith, reform and reason because the movement was based on the triumph of reason. The men of the Enlightenment sought to…
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- THE SCARLET IBIS
Why is it so important to the narrator that his brother is “all there”?
The narrator was a very proud little boy. He thought pretty highly of himself and his abilities. He said in the opening pages “I thought myself pretty smart at many things, like holding my…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
In Act 1.1 of Romeo and Juliet, what is the cause of Romeo’s behavior and why is he unhappy?
Romeo, who has become a prototype of the Romantic, emotional and melancholy lover, bemoans his being “out of favor while I am in love” (I,i, 90). The object of his love has “forsworn to love” and…
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- OF MICE AND MEN
In Of Mice and Men, how does the novel show man’s inhumanity towards man?
As drifters in “Of Mice and Men,’ the workers have had to leave their homes during the Depression era; thus, they belong no where and to no one. Even Curley, who is married, does not belong to his…
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- A ROSE FOR EMILY
In “A Rose for Emily” what is the effect of the story, and how it was achieved?
As with all stories, the effect depends on the reader. Every reader is impacted in different ways, depending on their life experiences and background. That being said, because of the surprise…
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- HOW I MET MY HUSBAND
Who is the antagonist (and why) of the short story, “How I Met My Husband” by Alice Munroe?
The question of Edie’s antagonist is an interesting one. Within the story, there is no single character against whom she must strive consistently to prevail, nor is there one individual who plays…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
What kind of mood do Benvolio, Mercutio, and Romeo express in Act II, scene 4 as Juliet’s Nurse…
In this light-hearted scene from “Romeo and Juliet,” Romeo is no longer melancholy over the loss of Rosaline as he was in Act I. Mercutio cries “A sail, a sail!” (27), joking about the size of the…
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- BLESS ME, ULTIMA
What kind of person is Narciso in chapter 14 of “Bless Me, Ultima”?
In chapter 14 of “Bless Me, Ultima,” Antonio comes upon Narciso and Tenrorio fighting in the snow outside the saloon. Tenorio stumbles away and vows to kill Untima because he blames her for the…
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- SAROJINI NAIDU
In the poem, “The Soul’s Prayer” by Sarojini Naidu, can you help to explain the 6th stanza?
The entire poem is about a prayer that a person offers up to God, asking him to give them everything-all of life’s experiences, and to spare them nothing so that they can experience it all. In the…
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- LORD OF THE FLIES
In Lord of the Flies, how does Ralph decide to use the conch shell?
Ralph uses the conch shell in two ways. First, he uses it as a signal for others to gather for a reason. When he blows it like a horn, other boys come running and and assemble themselves…
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- SCIENCE
In an emergency when conventional medicines are not available, which medical condition(s) would…
The Passionflower, scientific name, “Passiflora incarnata,”is found in South America. This flower has been used by people in that culture as a medical treatment for shock, seizures, hysteria, and…
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- THE PIECE OF STRING
In what sense has De Maupassant provided a false climax toward the end of “The Piece of String”?
The climax of the story that you are referring to occurs when the purse and the 500 francs are returned, therefore, Hauchecome believes, as does the reader, that he will be vindicated, now that the…
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- EMILY DICKINSON
In the poem “Success is Counted Sweetest” by Emily Dickinson, what poetic devices can be found in…
There are several techniques in the poem. The first is rhyming The words that rhyme in her poem are “succeed/need”, and “ear/clear”. She also uses imagery in the last stanza (imagery is using the…
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- THE STONE ANGEL
The Stone Angel Can someone help me with following please? Which is specific incident in hagar…
Hagar’s experience of love in life has been that “every good joy” in every opportunity for love in her life with husband, children, brothers has been brought to a “standstill” by the govering power…
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- A MODEST PROPOSAL
In Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”, he elaborates on an unfavorable balance of trade with…
England treated Ireland as they treated the Americans when we were colonies. They took all the best resources of the people and country, and returned shoddy goods. The Irish were treated as…
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- MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Shakespeare introduces the concept of masks at the onset of the play. What information does this…
Yes, there’s a whole bucket of references and themes to the idea that appearance can be different to reality. In just the way that a mask makes the person seem not like the person, so too do all…
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- THE NECKLACE
In “The Necklace,” how does Madame Loisel change during the course of the story? What causes her…
As a young wife, Madame Loisel is a very pretty young woman married to a clerk, living without wealth or possessions. She is dissatisfied with her drab lot in life, always longing for the beautiful…