Why would it be important to the townspeople that Moshe make himself insignificant or invisible?…
- NIGHT
Why would it be important to the townspeople that Moshe make himself insignificant or invisible?…
From the beginning of the novel, Moshe is described as being “physically awkward” and poor. Ellie says, “Moshe the Beadle, the poor barefoot of Sighet, talked to me for long hours of the…
1 educator answer
- SUMMER OF MY GERMAN SOLDIER
I am in the process of reading Summer of My German Soldier. What were Bette Greene’s parents…
Like the main character of Summer of My German Soldier, author Bette Evensky Greene (born 1934) also grew up a lonely Jewish girl in Arkansas during World War II. Like Patty Bergen, Bette’s own…
1 educator answer
- TWILIGHT
How are “New Moon” and “Twilight” related to Evolution? “Twilight” & “New Moon” By:…
One could say that the vampiresin these novels have evolved. Consider the classic vampire charactaristics. They feed on human blood, live in dark, drafty castles, hunting at night and sleeping…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
In “Lord of the Flies,” what is a good adjective to describe Ralph towards the end of this…
Sensible. In Chapter 11, Ralph tries desperately to start the fire that has gone out. When he approaches Jack to ask him to return Piggy’s glasses, he tries to be reasonable, but Jack goads him…
1 educator answer
- ROMEO AND JULIET
What is Juliet’s tragic flaw? Why is it considered fate that Romeo and Juliet commited…
Juliet’s tragic flaw is her loyalty to Romeo. She loves him and is so loyal to him that she could not bear to live without him. So when he died, she had to die as well–to be forever with him….
1 educator answer
- HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED?
“How Much Land Does a Man Need?” is written from which point of view?
The story is written in the third-person omniscient point of view, giving us knowledge of what the characters think and feel, as well as what they say and do. The omniscient view, in contrast to…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Which three characters take action about prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Three other characters who display racism in To Kill a Mockingbird are Mayella Ewell, Walter Cunningham Sr., and Calpurnia’s adversary at her church, Lula. Mayella’s extreme loneliness drives her…
1 educator answer
- ALYOSHA THE POT
What is the culture from which the story “Alyosha the Pot” comes?
“Alyosha the Pot” is set in some unspecified time–but probably in the 1800s–and place in the Russian countryside at Easter time, as Lent and Shrovetide–which are Easter related holidays–are…
1 educator answer
- THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET
How can I describe Esperanza in Part 1 of The House on Mango Street?
In the first part of the book, Esperanza is a work in progress, observing astutely the world she lives in as she tries to find her place in it. She is a seeker, alert and observant, aware of the…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In To Kill a Mockingbird, how does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose’s taunts?
Atticus knew that Mrs. Dubose was giving Jem and Scout grief each time they walked by her house. He also knew that Mrs. Dubose was old and sick, and he felt sympathy for her. Scout recalled that…
1 educator answer
- DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Do you believe Biff when he says, ” I know who I am kid”? why or why not?Do you believe Biff when…
Biff does know who he is, but in a limited way. By the end of the play, he recognizes his failures, his ordinariness, his lies, his thievery, his own corruption. He sums himself up: “I’m nothing!”…
2 educator answers
- THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
What is Holden’s point about the difference between men owning a car and men owning a horse?
The discussion Holden has about the difference between men owning a car or a horse occurs when he is out with Sally Hayes and he is opening up to her and explaining about all the things that he…
1 educator answer
- THE PEARL
In The Pearl, what did Kino do to the man?
I think your question must refer to a very significant event in the story when Kino kills a man who attacks him. In Chapter V of the novel, Kino follows Juana to the beach where she tries to throw…
1 educator answer
- LORD OF THE FLIES
Choose a character from “Lord of the Flies” and write an interpretation of what the element or…
I don’t want to do your assignment for you, but I will give you some guidance. Piggy is a character with great symbolism. He stands for the intellect, the thinking part of people. Piggy is always…
1 educator answer
- TWILIGHT
why does edward and bella clink after a while?
I’m assuming you mean click… if that’s the case, I think they bond because they’re both outsiders. Edward is an outsider in the world of humans and within his own family because he doesn’t have…
1 educator answer
- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Compare and contrast how Bassanio feels about having “engaged” (III.ii.52) himself to his friend,…
Excellent question! In Act 1, Bassanio seems to have little difficulty selling Antonio on the idea of loaning him money. Bassanio admits to his spendthrift ways, promises to correct them, but…
1 educator answer
- INDIAN CAMP
In “Indian Camp,” why did the husband of the Indian woman kill himself after the birth of his son?
The closest Hemingway comes to answering this question directly in the story is Nick’s father’s reply when Nick asks him why the man killed himself: “I don’t know, Nick. He couldn’t stand things, I…
2 educator answers
- GAMES AT TWILIGHT
In “Games at Twilight” by Anita Desai, explain the character of Ravi.
Ravi is a typical little boy, who likes to play games with his friends, and dreams of coming out triumphant in a game of hide ‘n’ seek. He displays a lot of typical little boy attributes: he…
1 educator answer
- TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
In “To Kill A Mockingbird”, how is love shown?I made a quote saying “A powerful novel that…
If you want to discuss how love is shown in the novel, the best way is to look at the characters themselves, and see how they show love to one another. The best example of this that I can think of…
1 educator answer
- THE SCARLET LETTER
What are the three main characteristics of Puritan women as depicted in The Scarlet Letter?
There are different groups of women in the Puritan community. The older women presented at the first scaffold scene are harsh judges of Hester’s sin. Not only are the unhappy with the punishement…
1 educator answer
- 1984
What are the main ideas and details from Chapter 4, part 2 of “1984”?
Chapter four in the second part of the novel takes place in the room Julia and Winston rent above Mr. Charrington’s shop. The first part of the chapter sees Winston waiting for Julia and meditating…
1 educator answer
- THE BLACK WALNUT TREE
Where can i find the actual poem “The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary Oliver?I need it for my homework
Well, I don’t think that it is available on the web; I looked, and had no luck. I actually have a copy of the poem, because I own the book “New and Selected Poems: Volume One” by Mary Oliver, and…
1 educator answer
- MATH
What is the use of arithmetic in daily life?
If you want to have a healthy life, and one in which you do not waste money, you use arithmetic all the time. Every time you go to the grocery store, you should be calculating which item of the…
3 educator answers
- BURIED ONIONS
In Buried Onions, what did Mr. Stiles do at the end of Chapter 6?
At the end of Chapter 6, Mr. Stiles turns Eddie in to the police. Eddie had worked for Mr. Stiles a few times, and had earned his trust. One day, Mr. Stiles had given him the keys to his truck and…
1 educator answer
- THE OUTSIDERS
After talking with Cherry, what reason does Pony finally give for the separation between Greasers…
Ponyboy discovers some new things about the lives of the Socs each time he talks with Cherry Valance. By the end of the story, Pony has become the top greaser authority on Socs, as his essay…
1 educator answer
- THE RAVEN
What is the importance of “The Raven”? Why did Poe write it?
“The Raven” is generally not considered by critics to be one of Poe’s best poems, but it is a very popular poem. Readers of poetry are engaged by its musical nature, vivid imagery, and dramatic…
1 educator answer
- THE TELL-TALE HEART
What is the importance of “The Tell Tale Heart”? Why did the author write it?Why do schools read it?
“The Tell-Tale Heart” is a great story to read in schools for several reasons. One is that it is relatively short, so it holds the attention of students throughout the entire thing. If something…
1 educator answer
- ANIMAL FARM
How do the animals in “Animal Farm” break up the large stone into smaller stones for use in…
To answer this question, take a look at chapter 6. Although the farm has a large supply of limestone, the animals initially find it impossible to break the up the stone into smaller, more…
1 educator answer
- THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
What record did Holden get for Phoebe in The Catcher in the Rye and why?
Holden decides to go visit Phoebe, and he buys her the record “Little Shirley Beans” as a gift. It’s a children’s record, so he thinks that she will like it. However, on his way home through the…
1 educator answer
- TWELFTH NIGHT
What does Olivia reveal about herself from her words and actions in Act IV of Twelfth night?
In Act IV of Twelfth Night Olivia reveals through her words that her gender role does not preclude her from asking Cesario/Sebastian to be ruled by her. Later in Scene iii, she reveals that her…
1 educator answer
- ROMEO AND JULIET
What is Act II of Romeo and Juliet really about?
Act II of Romeo and Juliet is extremely important as it sets up the conflicts that must be resolved in the play. Act II, Scene ii is the famous balcony scene between Romeo and Juliet where they…
1 educator answer
- LE MORTE D’ARTHUR
In Le Morte d’Arthur, who are the major characters in Book 1, “The Tale of King Arthur”?
Uther Pendragon, King of England, is Arthur’s father. He conceives Arthur out of wedlock (although later he marries her and Arthur is legitimized) with another man’s wife. Igraine, the wife of…
1 educator answer
- MY ANTONIA
Describe Mr. and Mrs. Harling and their children.
Mr. Harling is a man with a keen eye for business who openly disapproves of Antonia’s carousals at the town dances. Jim describes him as “autocratic and imperial” and finds his shadow which is…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
Can anyone detail the Missouri Compromise of 1820?I would like to know the various obstacles that…
In December of 1818 a bill was placed into the hands of congressmen to allow Missouri to be acknowledged as an independent state of the United Sates. The bill wanted Missouri to be permitted to…
3 educator answers
- HEART OF DARKNESS
How is Heart of Darkness didactive?
Whe something is didactive, or didactic, it is instructive or teaches a lesson. The word also implies a heavy-handedness in this instruction. The lesson mentioned in the previous post is clear. But…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
How did the Kansas-Nebraska crisis develop, and how was it resolved?What were the causes, issues,…
The Kansas-Nebraska Crisis grew out of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. According to the Missouri Compromise, the admission of new states into the Union would be staggered, so that the number of…
1 educator answer
- HISTORY
Can anyone detail the Missouri Compromise of 1820?
In 1818-1819 there were twenty-two states in The United States. Eleven of those states were ‘slave states’, and the remaining eleven were ‘free states’. Although there was an underlying stress…
1 educator answer
- ANIMAL FARM
Describe the daily life of the animals twenty years after the pigs were seen playing cards with…
None of the original animals are alive. (This is one of the interesting aspects of the book — generations turn over much more quickly with animals so it’s possible to have no “one” aware of the…
1 educator answer
- THE HUMAN ABSTRACT
Summarize the poem “The Human Abstact” by William Blake in a detailed manner.
This poem is a tricky one, and it is pretty hard to understand. Blake is basically commenting on the contradictions that exist in the world, and how life and its mysteries often baffle people and…
1 educator answer
- THE ALCHEMIST
the message you think the author is sending and consider your personal world as well as the…
That depends on your definition of “lead” and “gold.” Perhaps not in the literal sense, but it’s not my contention that that is what the author is suggesting. In my view, the lead in The Alchemist…
2 educator answers
- ARTHUR MILLER
How did Eddie Carbone in View From the Bridge cause his own tragedy?What is the reason behind…
It is clear from the play that Eddie is constantly engaged in creating and protecting his own personal world of illusion where he can remain blind from the significance of his actions and his own…
1 educator answer
- SCIENCE
How does the digestive system help us to live?
The digestive system takes food from the state in which we eat it, and turns it into a form in which nutrients can be used by the individual cells. Without the digestive system, the cells of our…
1 educator answer
- MACBETH
What is a quote from Macbeth that I could use to write an essay about?i need a quote to either…
One quote from Macbeth that would definitely give you substance to work with would be “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Macbeth 1.1). This quote embodies the concept that even in light there is…
1 educator answer
- DEATH OF A SALESMAN
On which level is Death of a Salesman most effective–as a depiction of family conflicts or as a…
Death of a Salesman is more effective as a drama in its depiction of the internal dynamics of the Loman family. Miller’s social commentary is something we approach intellectually; however, his…
3 educator answers
- DEATH OF A SALESMAN
What is the most important scene in Death of a Salesman? Why?
Different interpretations of the word “important” play a part in answering your question. That said, consider these two scenes from the play. The scene in Willy’s Boston hotel room is important…
2 educator answers
- HENRY
What are differences between “The Last Leaf”, “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “The Gift of the…
The differences between these stories are many. “Red Chief” is a comedy for the most part, “The Last Leaf” is a rather sardonic tradegy, and “The Gift of the Magi” is more of a touching tale of a…
1 educator answer
- BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENER, A TALE OF WALL STREET
What is Bartleby’s disorder? Antisocial personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, post…
I am not a therapist, but by a process of elimination, my guess would be major depression. There is nothing to suggest that Bartleby is out of touch with reality. He is not hearing voices, for…
5 educator answers
- MACBETH
In Macbeth, whom do Macbeth and his wife plan to take the blame for Duncan’s murder?
In Lady Macbeth’s plan to murder King Duncan–and it was she who worked out all the details–Duncan’s grooms (his attendants) were to be blamed for his murder. She would drug their drinks so that…
1 educator answer
- ESSAY LAB
I need help coming up with a topic for a research paper. The theme of the class is the 1930’s….
From your tags, I’m assuming you want one related to literature. The 1930s were extremely hard times in a variety of ways, particularly in economics and politics. Entertainment in such times tends…
2 educator answers
- THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
How is Roderick Usher’s “mental illness” schizophrenia? (or is it not?)
The fact that Roderick “hears things” puts him in the category of a schizophrenic- that is, until the reader learns at the very end of the tale that the sounds were indeed coming from his sister…