What is the significance of comic relief in To Kill a Mockingbird?
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What is the significance of comic relief in To Kill a Mockingbird?
This question has already been answered by one of our expert eNotes editors. Here is a link for you:…
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- OF MICE AND MEN
What is the conflict between George and Lennie in “Of Mice and Men”?Are there quotes to support it?
The conflict between George and Lennie arises because George has been taking care or Lennie and looking after him for most of their adult lives. At this point in George’s life he truely wishes…
2 educator answers
- HAMLET
What do you learn about Hamlet by comparing him to Horatio, Fortinbras, and Laertes?
Hamlet is much slower to action than are the other three – Horatio, Laertes, and Fortinbras. Hamlet thinks about actions and consequences and in doing so, is not quick to action. In Act 3, sc. 1,…
1 educator answer
- OTHELLO
What is a great thesis statement in regards to a defense of Iago?Why does he do what he does?…
Your thesis will relyupon which interpretation you take of Iago’s situation. If you want to make an emotional argument to defend him, you will need to cite examples of his being passed over for a…
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- THE SCARLET LETTER
In Chapter 11 of “The Crucible”, what is ironic about Dimmesdale’s incredible success as a…
Dimmesdale is a serious sinner and would be pilloried if the townsfolk knew about his sinful trysts with Hester Prynne in the woods. Hester Prynne is jailed and publicly humiliated for her adultry,…
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- THE GLASS MENAGERIE
What does Tom mean in the sentence below? How does that show Tom’s view about the world and the…
WOW! What an excellent question! Mom had been living in the past for ages= Still talks about gentlemen callers, still reminiscing those old Southern days when she had what not many boys at her…
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- THE GLASS MENAGERIE
What do the altar candles symbolize in below sentence and how do they relate to the “piece of…
At this point in Scene 7, Laura and Jim are alone in the Living Room and she is face to face with her high school crush. This moment is truly a holy moment for Laura, she worshiped Jim O’Connor in…
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- THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Why does Amanda ask “Where was the Moses when the lights went out”? What does Moses represents?Is…
At this point in the play, Amanda, Jim O’Connor and Tom are sitting around the table getting ready to have dinner. Amanda has worked very hard on the evening, spending extra money to make the…
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- PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER
What is the significance of the horrific conclusion to Suskind’s Perfume: The Story of a…
A number of events occur in the novel’s climactic ending. That Grenouille is first reviled and then loved by the crowds of people gathered to watch his execution shows both the fickleness of public…
1 educator answer
- THE CRUCIBLE
What Genre is The Crucible considered?
It is a play; it is loosly based on the stories of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. It would be considered historical fiction since it is based on these events. It is also a paradoxycal allegory…
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- THE OUTSIDERS
What does the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” mean and how does it apply to Ponyboy, Johnny, and/or…
It refers to Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” and has a profound impact on Johnny, who relates it to his own imperiled youth. Later, as he is on his deathbed, Johnny’s last words are,…
4 educator answers
- FEVER 1793
What is the problem and solution in Fever 1793?
The problem in the book Fever 1793 is the outbreak of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia in the year 1793. This epidemic infected and killed about 10% of the population, which at the time was about…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
In Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 5, in what way are the final words that the lovers speak filled…
In Act 3, Scene 5, Romeo and Juliet’s final words to each other are: Juliet: O, think’st thou we shall ever meet again? Romeo: I doubt it not; and all these woes/ For sweet discourse in our time…
1 educator answer
- HAMLET
In “Hamlet” was Polonius a foolish old man?
I find Polonius a bit foolish. He was a a busy-body, which means that he was into everyone’s business, meddling in affairs, and projecting his own opinions on issues all of the time. He gives his…
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- FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH
How does Mrs. Frisby explain Timothy’s frailness in Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?
Timothy is the frailest of the Frisby children, and “when colds or flu or virus infections (come) around he (is) the first to catch them and the slowest to recover” (Chapter 1 – “The Sickness of…
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- THE GREAT GATSBY
Why is the evening in Tom’s New York apartment hazy and dim? Contrast this with the evening…
In this scene, as throughout the novel, the weather reflects the relationships between the characters. In the apartment, Nick comments on the over-large furniture, the smoky air, & the…
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- THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL
Anne’s conflict with her motherAnne wrote her diary in a difficult period of time for her:…
Margot, Anne’s sister seemingly was easier to adapt to the new situation in hiding than Anne was, hence, Anne’s need to vent it all out using her diary. Her mom Edith has of course to put up with…
3 educator answers
- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
In Merchant of Venice, what is the prevailing mood at the end of Act 3, Scene 1? Compare the mood…
The prevailing mood at the end of Act 3, Scene 1 is one of foreboding. The future does not look bright for either of the men involved in the bond plot–Shylock and Antonio. Shylock’s daughter…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
In “Lord of the Flies” what’s ironic about the comment in chapter 12 of “fun and games”?
The ending has the most intense part of the novel, where Jack and his boys are hunting Ralph down, deliberately trying to kill him. Before this, the murders of Simon and Piggy were either…
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- A SEPARATE PEACE
Based on A Separate Peace, what symbolism does this statement suggest and what images does it…
In Chapter 7, Brinker tells Gene that he plans to enlist the next day. Gene is thrilled by the idea: To enlist. To slam the door impulsively on the past, to shed everything down to my last bit of…
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- I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD
Why did the poet write “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”?
Wodsworth wrote this poem to recapture a day in 1802 when he went to the shore with his sister, and saw a line up of daffodils being touched by the wind, extending to an unusual distance, and…
2 educator answers
- SCIENCE
What is the name of an apparatus fixed to the wheels of a car to lessen the effects of rough road…
The short answer is “shock absorbers”. But, there is much more to a car’s suspension to reduce the effects of rough road surfaces than simply putting in shock absorbers. The primary purpose of…
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- PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
In “Pride and Prejudice”, why is Mrs.Bennet so desperate to see her daughters married?this…
The ultimate goal for a young woman in Victorian London and during Jane Austen’s time was to come out into society, meet a suitable gentleman to take care of her, provide her a home, and make her…
1 educator answer
- MACBETH
How is poetic justice shown in Macbeth, Lord of the Flies and Death of a Salesman?
Poetic justice is defined as a character getting a fitting fate based on their actions. Poetic justice is therefore seen as a character getting what they deserve or receiving their deserved…
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- BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
How would you describe Jess as a person in the first three chapters in “Bridge to Terabithia”?
From the story one thing is clear, and it is that, up until Leslie’s arrival, Jesse was a one-dimensional character. Due to his mother’s favoritism towards the sisters, and the lack of time spent…
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- ROMEO AND JULIET
How does Shakespeare use stage directions to generate sympathy for Juliet in Act 3, Scene 5 of…
Many of the stage directions found in Scene 5 of Act 3 are merely used to indicate what characters are coming and going. However, one stage direction that can possibly help to generate sympathy for…
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- THE CELEBRATED JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY
In “TheCelebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” what does the narrator believe about his…
First of all, the narrator in “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” asks for information about a man named Leonidas Smiley and is given a story by Simon Wheeler about a man named…
1 educator answer
- THE CHRYSALIDS
How do Petra, Rosalind, the Sealand woman, and Sophie help the group survive?I need those ponts…
Petra initially imperils the group through the sheer power of her telepathic ability, but she also causes their eventual rescue by contacting the Sealand people over a vast distance and giving them…
1 educator answer
- FAHRENHEIT 451
What final question does Clarisse ask Montag in Fahrenheit 451, and why is it important to the…
Clarisse asks Montag, “Are you happy?” It becomes especially important in the context of his life. Witnessing an old lady choose to burn with her books and finding his wife’s body after she has…
1 educator answer
- TWO KINDS
In “Two Kinds,” when Waverly’s mother tells her that you always have to follow the rules of…
Waverly’s mother wants desperately for her daughter to be not only successful but to excel above all others. Waverly chooses to play chess to “excel,” and her mother’s comment is in response to…
1 educator answer
- BEKA LAMB
Who is Granny Straker in Beka Lamb? Who said, “Toycie’s first trouble caught me too”?In what…
This quote was uttered by Granny Ivy, not Granny Straker. Granny Ivy is Beka’s grandmother on her father’s side. Granny Ivy lives with Beka and her family. Granny Ivy utters this quote in chapter…
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- OTHELLO
What is Othello’s religion? Has he converted to Christianity? What was he before?
And then for herTo win the Moor, were’t to renounce his baptism,All seals and symbols of redeemed sin…(2.3.342-44) There’s Iago, in Act 2, Scene 3, telling us that Othello has indeed been…
1 educator answer
- WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
Is “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” an example of interpretive or escape literature
Hi! I moved your title to “Where are you going, where have you Been” from “Paul’s Case”, just so you know. Yes, “Where are you going, Where have You Been” would be considered intepretive and not…
1 educator answer
- JOHN DRYDEN
Can you give me a simple summary for “Absalom and Achitophel” by Dryden?
The poem is a political satire in heroic couplets, in which David, King of Israel, is a poetic representation of Charles II. The Jews are beset by fears and rumors of plots against the King by a…
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- THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
Define Bunyan’s concept of ‘vanity’ by referring to some specific examples.
Based on the story: Almost five thousand years agone, there were pilgrims walking to the Celestial City, as these two honest persons are; and BEELZEBUB, APOLLYON, and LEGION, with their…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
What are the themes in Chapters 21 and 22 of To Kill a Mockingbird?
The themes are about inequality and discrimination/prejudice. Also, in chapter 22, the maturation of Jem is evident. The children have been at the Tom Robinson trial all day. Cal comes looking for…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
A question from Chapter 22 of “To Kill a Mockingbird”: This story is set in the 1930s but was…
Most notably, there have been changes in attitudes about race between the 1930s and the 1960s. During WWII, a poster of Joe Lewis advertised the black participation in every American war. This was…
1 educator answer
- GUIDE TO LITERARY TERMS
What is meant by “interlude”? Describe it briefly.
The term interlude is most often used in connection with stage production/theater and refers to a short play that is inserted into the larger play. Sometimes the interlude can be connected to the…
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- THE GIVER
What really happened to the apple that day with Asher? What is starting to happen to Jonas?
Jonas is starting to see in color. He is not taking the pills that the rest of his society is taking that create “sameness”. So, Jonas is able to see everything for what it is. The first color he…
2 educator answers
- THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL
Why do Anne and her mother fight?anne’s conflict with her mother.
Anne is a typical pre-teen who wants to be treated more as an adult and less like a child. She is somewhat jealous of her older sister Margot, who in her eyes, has more priveleges. Mrs. Frank…
1 educator answer
- SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
In Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility, who are Elinor and Marianne?what roles do they play in…
These two names were originally intended as the title of Jane Austen’s novel which was published as “Sense and Sensibility.” A writer of the genre, novels of manners, Miss Austen portrays early…
1 educator answer
- ANIMAL FARM
In Animal Farm, how successfully has Orwell used the”beast fable” to present his political ideology?
In Animal Farm, Orwell employs the beast fable rather effectively. The most important aspect of a beast fable is that the audience understands the connection between the character and the beast…
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- HISTORY
Why did some vikings settle in England?
The Vikings were from Scandinavia which is north of England. It was a short distance to travel on a raiding party. The raiding parties saw the fertile croplands and bountiful harvests produced on…
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- SCIENCE
What are the nine biochemical reactions in winemaking?I recently took a two day winemaking class…
The biochemical reaction is known as fermentation. And in winemaking, you want as controled a fermentation process as possible to inhibit the growth of wild yeasts and to have as much alcohol as…
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- LAW AND POLITICS
What is the difference between a “plaint” and “suit”?
A “suit” refers to a lawsuit. It is a civil action, as opposed to a criminal one. A suit is brought by one person or group (plaintiff) against another (defendant), seeking damages for action’s of…
2 educator answers
- ANIMAL FARM
What’s the significance of the title “Animal Farm”?
The title of the book and the changed name of the farm (it used to be Jones farm, I think, but check on that) is that the farm is actually run by animals. A farm for animals, by animals is the…
2 educator answers
- ROMEO AND JULIET
In Act III, scene 2 of “Romeo and Juliet” what type of father do you think Capulet is in this scene?
Capulet is very typical of the “middle ages” kind of father. Juliet is 14 and certainly old enough to be married. He wants to be sure that she is married to a “friend of the family” and one whose…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
How does the writer engage our sympathy for Tom Robinson in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
For one thing, Tom is described as a beautiful person–inside and out. Much as we may not like to admit it, pretty people evoke favorable responses. In addition, Tom’s left arm was injured in a…
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- THE GREAT GATSBY
How does the setting of The Great Gatsby influence the behavior of the characters?
Critics agree that no American novel captures the Roaring 20s as well as The Great Gatsby. The setting is integral to Fitzgerald’s theme in regard to the corruption of the American Dream, and the…
2 educator answers
- POETRY
How does Gieve Patel show his concern to the environment through his poem “On Killing a Tree”?
His poem reflects the intense and thorough process that one has to go through to kill a tree. The overall message might be that if it is so difficult to kill a tree, should it even be done? Even…