• EVERYDAY USE

What role do the quilts and other household objects play as symbols in “Everyday Use”?

The quilt and the butter churn in the story “Everyday Use,” by Alice Walker, are the primary household object-symbols in Mrs. Johnson’s house. Mrs. Johnson, the narrative voice in the story, must…

1 educator answer

• AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE

Why do you think the author used the “life flashing before his eyes” as a description of Mr….

Peyton Farquar, the main character of Ambrose Bierce’s short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” is sentenced to be hanged on a railroad bridge in Alabama. Although the reader is led to…

1 educator answer

• SOCIAL SCIENCES

Euthanasia – Contemporary Moral Issue What are some of your arguments for or against?I need help…

The previous post did a very stellar job of laying out the issue at hand. I would like to add one more thought that could help illuminate your point of view and your argument on the topic. The…

4 educator answers

• ANIMAL FARM

In Animal Farm, what is the metaphorical significance of Snowball and Napoleon agreeing to…

While this incident might seem rather insignificant, just like all of Orwell’s writing, it represents an important trend in the enacting of Communism, which can be applied not just to Russia but…

1 educator answer

• LORD OF THE FLIES

How does Ralph symbolize democracy in Golding’s Lord of the Flies?

For one thing, Ralph wants to play fair and to have it put to a vote before he or anyone else becomes the leader. In the beginning he wields a natural authority over the boys which he loses little…

2 educator answers

• THE CRUCIBLE

In times of conflict, it is difficult for the individual to stand against the group? Why is this…

One of the most pressing issues that is evoked from Miller’s work is the role of the individual set against the community. In American political thought, this has been one of the most problematic…

1 educator answer

• GENERAL PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES

Judging from the description of the two, what does Chaucer think can cause a religious person to…

Which “two” are you asking about? There are several religious people in “The Canterbury Tales”. The first two important ones mentioned are the Prioress and the monk. Both of these characters,…

1 educator answer

• BUSINESS

What is distinctive competence?

Distinctive competence refers to some characteristic of a business that it does better than its competitors. Because the business is able to do something better than other businesses, that business…

2 educator answers

• THE SEAFARER

Do you agree that fate is stronger than any man’s mind?

Remember that in this poem, the author was hanging in the balance between paganism (and the belief in Fate) and Christianity (where Fate doesn’t exist, only the master plan of God). The speaker of…

2 educator answers

• THE OUTSIDERS

Why does Ponyboy act the way he does?50 words

Ponyboy is different from all the other greasers in the Susan E. Hinton teen novel, The Outsiders. He likes school–he even skipped a grade and was promoted to high school at a young age. He is…

1 educator answer

• OUTLIERS: THE STORY OF SUCCESS

Could I have a summary of Chapter 1 of “Outliers: The Story of Success”?Chapter 1 summary of the…

Chapter 1 of Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers opens with a discussion of a Canadian hockey game, a game for the Memorial Cup championships. Gladwell describes then the Canadian hockey system,…

1 educator answer

• ARABY

How does James Joyce juxtaposes the images of darkness and light in “Araby” and what is the…

Throughout this fascinating short story it is well worth the effort to trace imagery of light and dark and how they are contrasted. It is key that as this short story progresses light is always…

1 educator answer

• A&P

What would be a possible thesis for the short story “A & P” by John Updike?

There are many possible angles to take in writing about John Updike’s story “A & P.” It all just depends on your opinion of the story and whether any particular aspect of it stands out in your…

2 educator answers

• HUNTERS IN THE SNOW

How is the setting meaningful in “Hunters in the Snow”?

The setting of the story is a winter hunt, and the reader first sees Tub standing in the falling snow, waiting for his “friends” who do not seem to care how late they are. As the story continues,…

2 educator answers

• THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

In Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, how is Lt. Jimmy Cross established as a savior figure;…

Lt. Cross is similar to a messianic character in a couple of ways. 1. He bears a weighty responsibility and fully realizes the consequences of his not fulfilling his duties. In the story, “In…

1 educator answer

• THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH

How long did the flood last in The Epic of Gilgamesh?

There is not a direct answer to this question in the text. The storm that triggers the Flood lasts six days and seven nights. On that day, the ship runs aground Mount Nimush, & is stranded for…

1 educator answer

• THE CHRYSALIDS

In Chapter 5 of The Chrysalids, what is the mark or measure of a good season among Waknuk farmers?

In Waknuk, in John Wyndham’s novel The Chrysalids, a good growing season among the farmers is one in which the ideal of purity is upheld. After the holocaust that destroyed as it had been, Waknuk…

1 educator answer

• THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

What is the effect of the opening sentences: “This is one story I’ve never told before. Not to…

Tim O’Brien is a master of storytelling. In fact, he’s a master of storytelling about storytelling. It’s called metafiction. Fiction about fiction. This is a story about a story, or…

1 educator answer

• HISTORY

Who’s initials are v.m.w.a., or v.w.m.a?It’s an artist with art of a fisher man made in 1980.

VMWA are the initials for Virginia Movers & Warehousemen’s Association, formed in Natural Bridge, Virginia, on May 23, 1952. The VMWA was originally a division of the Virginia Highway Users…

1 educator answer

• SIGMUND FREUD

What are some of Sigmund Freud’s contributions?

Even though many of Freud’s psychological theories have been discredited, Freud played an integral and massively important role in the development, progression and fame of psychology. Freud is the…

1 educator answer

• THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

In The Things They Carried does Tim betray Jimmy because telling the truth in writing is more…

At the end of the second chapter in The Things They Carried, Tim tells Jimmy that he would like to write a book about their experiences in the war. Jimmy asks Tim to make him out to be a good guy,…

1 educator answer

• GULLIVER’S TRAVELS

What is the relationship between the yahoos and humankind in Gulliver’s Travels?

Gulliver encounters the Yahoos when he goes on the last of his voyages to the land of the Houyhnhnms. The Houyhnhnms represent perfection of existence in that they don’t lie, cheat, steal, covet…

1 educator answer

• SCIENCE

Provide an introduction to the BJT ampliifier. What are the relevant waveforms, and the working…

A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is a three-terminal electronic component constructed of doped semiconductor material, often silicon, and used in amplification or switching circuits. BJTs are…

1 educator answer

• THE OUTSIDERS

In The Outsiders, why does Cherry help The Greasers?idk it

Cherry helps the Greasers for a few reasons. She doesn’t think the fighting is right, and wants the fighting to stop. Secondly, she has a huge crush on Dally. Her feelings for Dally motivate her…

2 educator answers

• ESSAY LAB

What is a good clincher/opening statement for a paragraph on cell phones?

This all depends on what you want to say about cell phones. So, that is the first step–determining an angle, or a focus to write about. Do you want to write about how cell phones are stunting…

1 educator answer

• COPENHAGEN

In Copenhagen by Frayn, why did Heisenberg visit Bohr; what was his reason?

The reason for Heisenberg’s visit to Bohr is revealed in the first act after they reminisce about skiing and agree to a walk as in past times. Margrethe had predicted that Heisenberg might want to…

1 educator answer

• PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

what is your favorite part of the book “Pride and Prejudice”?what is your favorite part of the…

There are so many wonderful moments in Pride and Prejudice that it’s hard to limit it to one “part.” I think the most compelling scene for me as a teacher is the moment when Elizabeth is visiting…

4 educator answers

• THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO

Where is the Count’s new residence in The Count of Monte Cristo?After he visits Albert’s home,…

After taking leave of Albert and his family, Monte Cristo purchases a summerhouse in Auteuil. The summerhouse was once the site of Villefort and Madame Danglars’s affair and is where they…

1 educator answer

• A&P

What does author John Updike tell us about the story of “A & P”?

Through his authorial voice, John Updike tells about “A & P” by disclosing some important things about American society as it existed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He discloses a society…

1 educator answer

• THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

What devices does Poe use to create and heighten the suspense in “The Cask of Amontillado”?

One technique that Poe uses is letting the reader know right off the bat, that Montresor was out for revenge, and that he would punish with “impunity”. This bit of foreshadowing is ominous, and…

2 educator answers

• FAHRENHEIT 451

What are some literary devices (symbolism, metaphors, themes, foreshadowing) in Fahrenheit 451?

There are so many versions of the book that a page number won’t be helpful, but I was able to find plenty within the first few pages of part two, so look there for these descriptions. Bradbury uses…

2 educator answers

• LITERATURE

How are historical circumstances reflected in Hamlet?In 1600 (the approximate date of Hamlet),…

Queen Elizabeth had no heirs and Prince Hamlet had no way to succeed in ruling his father’s kingdom. His father was dead and he wanted revenge. Hamlet chose a convoluted way to get what he wanted:…

1 educator answer

• SHERMAN ALEXIE

What do you think about Sherman Alexie stories?no

Sherman Alexie’s stories about Native Americans are extremely important to the discourse. The reality is that the voice of adolescent Native Americans is missing from the dialogue of identity…

1 educator answer

• GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Using context clues and a dictionary determine what this sentence means. Then rephrase the…

The five stone lozenges are probably five diamond-shaped markers that marked where his five brothers were buried, all of whom seemed to have passed away at an early age. The description of them on…

1 educator answer

• THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME

The dining room setting is described as medieval. In what respects is the medieval setting…

In many ways, the medieval style of the dining room setting is appropriate for the character of General Zaroff. In general, the medieval period is often thought of as barbaric and crude without…

1 educator answer

• BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON

What is the rising action in the story “By the Waters of Babylon” ? Please include the narrative…

When studying literature, the rising action of a story or work is said to be a series of complications caused that threaten to prevent the main character or characters from solving their particular…

1 educator answer

• BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON

What is the falling action in the story of “By the Waters of Babylon” ?

The falling action of a story is normally defined as what occurs after the climax or high point of the story, leading towards the ending and the resolution of what happens. Given this definition,…

1 educator answer

• THE INTERLOPERS

What external conflict pits a character against another character in “The Interlopers”?external…

There is a huge man vs. nature conflict in the story in terms of the tree that falls on both of the men at the same time. Now they can talk trash to each other as long as they want because neither…

1 educator answer

• THE SCARLET LETTER

Do you think The Scarlet Letter accomplished what the magistrates intended?The way hesters life…

Yes, the scarlet letter did accomplish the purpose that the magistrates intended, though it also accomplished much more. The magistrates gave Hester the punishment of wearing the A so that she…

2 educator answers

• THE CRUCIBLE

In The Crucible, what facts are presented in Act One by means of antecedent action?

Arthur Miller relies upon several statements by his characters in Act 1 to inform his audience of prior events. 1. Through Rev. Parris’s conversation with Abigail at the beginning of Act One, we…

2 educator answers

• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Inthe novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” what tense situation occurs at the county jail? How does…

The scene at the county jail is tense because Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, is being held there. Atticus anticipates trouble with some townspeople and decides to sit…

2 educator answers

• TARTUFFE

In Tartuffe, what are the characteristics of Tartuffe that allow him to deceive Orgon so…

Like all successful con artists, Tartuffe is a master in manipulating others; however, only Orgon and his mother, Madame Pernelle, fall for his pious act, unable to see Tartuffe’s selfish motives….

1 educator answer

• INTO THE WILD

In Chapter 13 of Into the Wild, does the author appeal to any logos, pathos, or ethos?

Chapter 13 is entirely about pathos. Chris’s family was struck extremely hard by the news of his death, and it is clear through the chapter that they have still not come to terms with the tragedy….

1 educator answer

• GREAT EXPECTATIONS

In chapter 55 of Great Expectations, What happened to Compeyson, who had prevented Magwitch’s…

In chapter 54, Magwitch and Compeyson begin a fight and go overboard in the water where Magwitch either kills Compeyson, or Compeyson is overcome by wounds/water/injuries. No one knows exactly…

1 educator answer

• THE SCARLET IBIS

What are three ways that the language from “The Scarlet Ibis” is different after the narrator…

1. The first two paragraphs possess more complex diction (word choice) than the following paragraphs. The narrator begins by using words and phrases such as “untenanted” and “the clove of…

1 educator answer

• THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM

In “The Pit and the Pendulum” what are two things the narrator remembers about the courtroom?

Because his tormentors heavily drug him, and he spends most of his days in the prison in that drugged state, it is difficult for him to recall much of anything from the actual “trial”, or his…

1 educator answer

• AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE

How is Peyton’s sense of duty represented in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”?

Bierce stresses Peyton Farquhar’s sense of duty in two ways–his obligation to his state and the South and his familial duty. 1. At the beginning of the story’s flashback section, Bierce describes…

1 educator answer

• HE-Y, COME ON OU-T

Why were the people relieved when they learned about the hole?

The people were relieved when they found a use for the hole because they believed that they found a way to get rid of their waste with no detrimental effects to themselves. It gave them a way to…

1 educator answer

• HEIDEGGER’S EXPERIMENT

Who is the girl in the portrait in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”?

The girl is Dr. Heidegger’s long-dead fiancee. Hawthorne writes that on “the opposite side of the chamber was . . . the full-length portrait of a young lady. . . . Above half a century ago, Dr….

1 educator answer

• CONTENTS OF THE DEAD MAN’S POCKET

What are some telling details from the story “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pockets”?Jack Finney’s…

In the exposition of Jack Finney’s story, “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pockets,” there are two settings. In the first setting, Tom Benecke is at his living-room desk, rolling paper into his…