Write the short summary of "Inchcape Rock" by Robert Southey. What are some of the poetic devices?Poetic devices like a mataphor or...

In the poem 'Inchcape Rock' by Robert Southey, the captain strikes a blow at a beacon of Christianity by removing a safety bell placed by a bishop whom all respect on a dangerous cliff at sea. The captain doesn't want anyone to bless the bishop for their safety any more, so he cuts off the bell which sinks to the bottom of the sea. As the crime is against a Christian representative the act is seen perhaps as an evil one deserving of punishment. Ironically, when the captain returns he does not see the perilous sharp rock and there is no bell to warn him of it and his ship sinks, while the devil laughs below the waves. One of the most noticeable poetic devices in this poem is the heavy use of rhyme. This occurs at the end of lines and has the effect of giving the poem a sing-song effect like a sea-shanty. These types of poems are easy to remember and thus narrate. Other devices to look out for in poetry are below:

Why was Doodle considered to be a disappointment by Brother in the short story, "The Scarlet Ibis"?Need quote to support it.

The older brother in James Hurst's short story, The Scarlet Ibis, was hoping for a playmate with whom he could share his time: a normal brother. Instead he got Doodle.

I wanted more than anything else someone to race to Horshead Landing with, someone to box with, and someone to perch with in the top fork in the great pine behind the barn... I wanted a brother.

Doodle was so sickly that he was not expected to live, so his father built him a little coffin for when the time came. He was tiny and shriveled, and there was even the possibility that he was not "all there." Brother even considered smothering him with a pillow, but changed his mind when Doodle grinned at him one day. In the end, he proved to be "the craziest brother a boy ever had."

Why does the dead body in the first Twilight film trigger in Bella the thought that Edward is a vampire? It seems really random at the time.

In the movie version, when Bella and Edward are returning home from Port Angeles, they notice the emergency vehicles and lights at the sheriff's office. When they stop, they discover that one of the local men has been found murdered. As she is walking out of the sheriff's office, the dead man's body is being placed into an ambulance, and Bella notices his uncovered foot. The skin color is very pale, which reminds her of Edward's coloring. She's a smart girl, and all the odd things about Edward start to come together in her mind. At home, she does some Internet searching, especially of the legend Jacob had told her about.

The next morning, she leads Edward into the woods and confronts him about what she knows: his skin is pale white and cold like that of a dead person; he never eats; he doesn't go out into sunlight. He must be a vampire!

So, you see, it's really not all that random.

In the restaurant, how does Happy reflect Willy's values? Why does Miller have the girls come in?

Willy has a secret that he seems to have kept from himself for a very long time. Or at least it's a secret that he hasn't taken out and looked at very often in the years since he kicked Biff out of the house. Willy was having an affair with a woman up in Boston, and Biff discovered it when he went to the hotel to get his father to help him with his math teacher who had flunked him. This discovery was a singular turning point in the relationship between Willy and Biff and a major turning point in Biff's life as well.

The two women Happy arranges for in Frank's Chop House that last night of Willy's life are a foreshadowing and a deadly trigger for Willy's memory of that night long ago (but oh, so present) in Boston.

And what values of Willy's does Happy exhibit in the restaurant? Happy, like Willy, is a salesman, and he snows the first woman into believing that he sells Champagne and that his brother Biff is a big football star. He's con man, a joker, and a womanizer just like his old man. Nothing serious, I suppose, but more than serious enough for that particular evening.

And don't forget, Biff runs out of the restaurant, and Happy, along with the two women, follows him, leaving Willy, with his past and his regrets, alone on the bathroom floor. Happy, who Willy always favored less than Biff, pays his father back with his own thoughtless disregard.

Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs. What point in the story would be the climax - that intense moment when you finally realize how the plot will turn out?

Clearly everyone will have their different ideas based on this question, however, for me, the climax of the tale where it becomes clear how the story will end comes when the couple have wished for their son's return and then the sound of their "son" knocking on the door can be heard. We see hear the two differing reactions of Mr. and Mrs. White. Mrs. White is depsperate to see her son again, and can't understand her husband's reluctance, wheras Mr. White does everything he can to stop his wife from going down:

She ran to the door, but her husband was before her, and catching her by the arm, held her tightly.

"What are you going to do?" he whispered hoarsely.

"It's my boy; it's Herbert!" she cried, struggling mechanically. "I forgot it was two miles away. What are you holding me for? Let go. I must open the door."

"Don't let it in," cried the old man, trembling.

At this point it is clear that the conflict between the married couple will dictate the ending: Mrs. White will do anything to see her son again, but Mr. White, as indicated by his reference to his "son" as "it", will do anything to stop this grissly reunion - including using his last wish on the monkey's paw to banish him back to his death.

Provide 2 character traits for Gertrude, Claudius, Ophelia, Horatio, Polonius, and Hamlet between Act 1 and Act 2. Also, provide a quote to support...

Hamlet is a character that displays a deep melancholy. He came home to find that her mother married his uncle, after his father death. Thus, Hamlet exhibits morality and righteousness. His high moral is shown in : “But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two:
So excellent a king; that was, to this,
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!”(I,ii)

Claudius is corrupt and false. As the following lines, suggest:

“ Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,--
With an auspicious and a dropping eye,
With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,” (1,ii)

Claudius pretends to mourn Hamlet´s father, but Hamlet knows that he is lying. Thus, you can mention that Claudius is corrupt and treacherous.

Ophelia symbolizes innocence. She is unable to make her own decisions, thus she follows the advices of his father and brother who warn her against Hamlet. When she tells that Hamlet has been tender to her, her father mocks at her, calling her “green girl”. You can mention that Ophelia is naïve, innocent and submissive.

Horatio is Hamlet friend and supports Hamlet´s decisions, although he is worried when Hamlet decides to talk with the ghost. You may say that Horatio is loyal and intelligent. Furthermore, he displays strength of character.

By saying, those word: “Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off,” the queen shows that she is unable to give moral support to Hamlet. She did not mourn her husband. In addition, she marries a corrupt man. You can mention that Gertrude is selfish and hypocrite.

Polonius is the counselor to the king, thus he may support Claudius´s depravity. You may say that Polonius is a devoted father, since he wants to protect Ophelia against Hamlet´s mischievous. He may be a competent adviser since his opinions are well regarded by the king and queen, as when he tells them that Hamlet is mad.

In chapter 23, what does Jem say the four types of people are and what kinds of people are in Scout's hierarchy?

Jem is trying to map out and make sense the socio-economic classes that make up their rural town of Maycomb, and the surrounding environs of Maycomb County, Alabama. From his thirteen year old point of view, he saw the community divided into 4 groups.

"There's four kinds of folks in the world. There's the ordinary kind, like us and the neighbors, there's the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes."

In "white" society there are differences in rank and pecking order. Jem sees caucasians divided by familial lineage, financial, educational and social status, putting the suburban dwellers of Maycomb, like themselves and their neighbors,  at the top of the hierarchy, and the poorer, less educated, but hard working, farmers or laborers like the Cunninghams in the middle of that group. The "white trash" or the most impoverished, uneducated and perhaps most socially backwards group of white folks, such as the Ewells, reside at the bottom of the white society strata.

In the segregated South of that era, the Negroes, regardless of  wealth, education, or career were beneath - and separate- from the Caucasian hierarchy. Racism separated people of color physically, socially, educationally, financially, and in some peoples frame of reference, even morally. People of color were considered totally and wholly separate, and definitely not equals, in Maycomb society.

Jem may have left out the groups that Scout mentions, "the Chinese and Cajuns" partly because they weren't in the vicinity, but also partly because they were regarded as "people of color" and could simply be lumped in with Negroes, because they were not white and therefore not part of the hierarchy of Caucasians.  Aunt Alexandra sees the differentiation in rank and class among white folks as having to with literacy. Those who can read and write are "above" those who are illiterate.

In a strange irony,  young, innocent, clear-eyed Scout actually agrees with her aunt. The difference is she doesn't look down on those who are less educated. Scout sees the difference between white people as really only hinging on one thing - opportunity and access to education. She sees no difference between the Finches and the Cunnighams.

"No, everybody's gotta learn, nobody is born knowin'. That Walter's as smart as he can be, he just gets held back sometimes because he has to stay out and help his daddy. Nothin's wrong with him. Naw, Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."

This implies that Scout sees everyone in the white community equally...but differentiates their social status based on their opportunity to access and participate in education. We might surmise that Scout's world view could go further, and that anyone educated and literate would be in the same category, regardless of race, or class.  It's not likely that she saw it this way given racist and segregated society she lived in.

What curse was put on the monkey's paw?

To be accurate, no curse was put on the monkey's paw. As noted above by bullgatortail, the sergeant-major simply said that a spell was put on it "to show that fate ruled people's lives."

After you finish reading the story, you might conclude that the spell was a curse, but that is only an interpretation based on lots of innuendo but flimsy evidence. The point of the story is that there really is no way to tell if the paw had any special power whatsoever.

Let's say it's true that Sergeant-Major Morris got the paw from a man whose last wish was for death. So what? We know nothing else about the other two wishes. Nor do we know about Sergeant-Major Morris's three wishes. We do know that he thinks the paw does a good deal of mischief, but he seems to be pretty healthy, even though he is a bit creeped out by and wary of the "unwholesome" paw.

And the White's experience when in possession of the paw is certainly harrowing and awful, but is the paw to blame? Who's to say that the paw caused Herbert's death, the windfall of cash, or a gruesome resurrection? There's simply no way to tell. And, again, that's the point of the story: Spell? Curse? Or just superstitious nonsense? Was it fate or a series of chance occurrences? There's simply no way to tell.

What is a literary elements uesd in "Everyday Use" and how does it enhance the theme of the story?

Literary elements are a category of literary devices (one of two categories) that are not optional. This means that literary elements appear in all literary narratives, whether novels or short stories. Some literary elements are character, theme, plot and conflict, structure, setting, mood, and tone.

One literary element that Walker uses is the structural literary element of flashback. At one point Mrs. Johnson recalls the fire years earlier in which Maggie was tragically burned. The theme of the story is enhanced by this structural element because it provides a greater insight into Dee's and Maggie's inner qualities and to the conflict between them of what everyday objects are valued for: passing ornamentation versus family memories.

What is a thesis statement for After Twenty Years by O. Henry?

This really depends so much on what you have been asked about the story or what you yourself want to say about it.  It's pretty hard to tell you a thesis statement without knowing either of those things.

If I were told to just write something about the story, here are some things I might use as thesis statements:

• In this story, the actions of Bob and his friend Jimmy Wells show us that two people from similar environments can turn out to be very different people.


• In this story, Jimmy Wells' behavior demonstrates that good people will always put morality before friendship.


• This story was overly predictable in that any reader who got halfway through the story could be pretty sure of how it was going to end.

Any of those would work for me if I were writing a short essay on this story.

What is 10% of $500?

Whenever you're trying to find the percentage of a number, it may be easiest for you to first convert the percentage into a decimal. Of course you don't need to do this, but for many people this helps them understand the calculation and process the answer much more quickly.

To go from a percentage to a decimal, we simply look at the percentage as if it was out of 100%. So if you're looking for a 20% percentage, think of it as 20/100%, or simply 0.20. 

In your question, we are looking for 10%. Similarly, that is equal exactly to 1/10, or 0.10.

Next, in order to find the percentage of a number, all we need to do is simply multiple the percentage (or decimal) by that number. Thus, in order to find what 10% of $500 is, the calculation is as simple as this:

0.10 x 500 = $50

Fifty dollars is your answer. Just so you can fully understand how to calculate these, let's do another more difficult example. For instance, what is 15% of 850?

0.15 x 850 = 127.50

Calculating the percentage of a number is a very important, yet basic math skill to have. It is essential in many different parts of life. I hope this has helped you understand how to calculate them.

Why is a perfectly competitive firm's demand curve horizontal or perfectly elastic?

This is because all firms in perfect competition are by definition selling an identical (homogeneous) product.

If all firms are selling an absolutely identical product, there is no possible reason why someone would pay a higher price to Firm A than they would pay to Firm B.  Because of this, any firm that raised its price would lose all its market share.

The curve is also like this because firms in perfect competition make no economic profit.  If they drop their price, they will go out of business.

So, they can't raise their prices and they can't lower their prices.  That means their demand curves are horizontal.

Here is a video explaining the concept:

Who does Holden dislike in The Catcher in the Rye?

Here's a list of Holden's phonies, those who are materialistic, hypocritical, and otherwise dishonest:

A. “Phonies”

1. Glad-handing adults (headmaster)

2. Over-sexed teens (Stradlater)

3. Pretentious snobs (Luce)

4. Celebrity-obsessed girls (in Lavender room)

5. Materialistic artists (D.B.)

By contrast, here's a list of the non-phonies

B.  Non-Phonies:

1. All kids are non-phonies: Allie, Pheobe

2. Nuns are non-phonies: talked about Romeo & Juliet

3. Biggest non-phony: James Castle--fell to his death rather than take back “conceited”

4. Mercutio from Romeo & Juliet.  Hated false pretense, puppy love

a. J. C. (“Jesus Christ”): is Castle Holden’s martyred saint?

b. Antolini carried Castle’s body; protected him from rubber-necks

What are the positive lessons of the Holocaust that Elie Wiesel hints at in Night?

One positive lesson is that the Holocaust allowed some people to value their family more than they did before deportation.  Elie's relationship with his father is not the best is could be.  His father sees him as an immature boy, and Elie sees his father as oblivious to what is happening around him. By the end of the book, Elie has taken responsibility for his father and most certainly is closer to him before their camp experience.

Another positive lesson is that Elie gains an immense amount of self-knowledge during the Holocaust.  He learns what he is capable of and that exacting revenge (such as the freed prisoners immediately hunting down their oppressors) doesn't usually help someone heal from a horrific experience.

While Elie learns some valuable lessons from being a Holocaust victim, one must still argue that those lessons could have been learned without his having to endure such awful circumstances.

In Brave New World, what is the meaning of the following quote?"And that," put in the Director sententiously, "that is the secret of happiness and...

This quote comes as the Director is explaining how certain classes of humans are conditioned and engineered to perform certain tasks, regardless of what their own experiences might allow if they had developed normally. They observe a special embryo unit that conditions the developing fetuses to hate cold weather; when adult, these people will find themselves drawn to tropical weather and the jobs that go along with that weather. After the physical conditioning, the psychology workers indoctrinate those conditioned people to love their work and believe that they enjoy it because it is specifically their destiny.

Later on their minds would be made to endorse the judgment of their bodies. "We condition them to thrive on heat," concluded Mr. Foster. "Our colleagues upstairs will teach them to love it."

"And that," put in the Director sententiously, "that is the secret of happiness and virtue -- liking what you've got to do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their unescapable social destiny."
(Huxley, Brave New World, huxley.net)

This future society values conformity above all else. Every person must conform to a specific societal role, and since it is easier to control a happy populace, the government uses physical and mental conditioning to force people to enjoy their work. That way, there are no dissatisfied citizens, and everyone is happy at their indicated job and class-level. By making people love their assigned roles even if those roles would not be chosen by free will, the government can easily enforce its own laws and practices, while allowing government officials to break the rules without consequence.

What is the critical analysis of the poem "The Youngest Daughter" by Cathy SongThe sky has been dark for many years. My skin has become as damp...

It is a beautiful poem about a mother-daughter relationship, where the mother is elderly and the daughter is a grown woman, taking care of her.

At the beginning of the poem, the narrator realises she is getting older. She has migrains. She lives with her mother.

There are quite a few lines describing her bathing her mother. Those lines reveal very much about her mother's history and her current illness, she had 6 children but now she is very old and frail. Her mother jokes about her large breasts. Her mother has diabetes.

The daughter feels weary from having spent so many years taking care of her mother.

In the end her mother performs her daily ritual of preparing tea and rice with gingered fish and pickled turnips. The narrator says that her mother knows she(narrator) can't be trusted. This means that she will not stay there with her mother forever.

The daughter admits that she is already planning to escape.

Which part of the following sentence is a subordinate clause? Nineteen Eight-Four, which was published in 1949 as Orwell suffered with...

A subordinate clause is one which functions as an adjective, and adverb, or a noun.  It expressed an idea that is less important than the main clause.  It can not stand on its own as a sentence.

In this sentence, the subordinate clause is

"which was published in 1949... tuberculosis."

This clause gives us more information about the circumstances of the publication, but could not stand alone as a sentence.

The main clause is "1984 gave a ... propaganda."  That tells us the main point of the sentence.  The subordinate clause simply gives us more information.

In the book The Chrysalids is the main character David Strorm a hero? Why?I need three points to back it up.

David Strorm is a hero because:

1. He discovers Sophie's mutation and keeps it secret from his father, the ruling hegemony. He also keeps secret the fact that he's been communicating telepathically with his cousin, Rosalind. David only reveals Sophie's secret to his father after being severely beaten.

2. David, Rosalind, and Petra have the courage to flee everything they've known and escape to the dangerous fringes. They are pursued by David's father and his troops.

3. David is a hero because he tries to protect those he cares about and those who are weaker than himself. He tries to shelter and protect both Petra and Sophie, but it is ironically Sophie who hides and protects David near the end of the novel.

What makes Jay Gatsby an archetypal hero?"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby," is often interpreted as a satire on The American Dream.  As such, the characters of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan seem somewhat glorified with Fitzgerald's imagery that gives them "golden" and "white" hues at times. Jay is the self-made man who seeks wealth and all that wealth will bring to him. He can easily represent a satirical version of the archetypal hero, for like this archetypal hero

• He leaves his family and lives with others.

Gatsby's parents were poor farmers, whom he never accepted as his parents.  As the narrator, Nick Carraway, declares, "The truth was that Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself.

• An event leads to adventure or quest

While in military service, Jay meets Daisy and falls in love with her.  Because she is wealthy, Gatsby vows to become rich in order to attain his quest, Daisy, who becomes like his "holy grail" as he pursues her and what she represents.

• The hero has a special weapon only he can wield.

Gatsby's car is described in mythological imagery:  it is golden and appears to have wings--"With fenders spread like wings we scattered light through half Astoria"--the "labyrinth of windshields mirrored a dozen suns."  Only Gatsby can drive it, for when Daisy drives it, the car becomes "a death car."

• The hero must prove himself many times while on adventure.

Gatsby buys his home in West Egg simply to impress Daisy, who has married a very wealthy man. Parties go on continually and many affluent people come to Gatsby's mansion.  When Daisy visits, he shows her his many shirts and other material possessions.  Gatsby must compete against Tom for Daisy's attentions and affection.

• The hero goes on a journey and experiences an unhealable wound.

The car ride to the apartment in New York is, of course, the fateful journey where enmity occurs between Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, the murder of Myrtle Wilson occurs, and Gatsby's vigil over Daisy outside her house leaves him "watching over nothing" as Tom and Daisy conspire together to keep Daisy from being suspected of the murder.  They lead Wilson to believe that Gatsby was the driver of his car when it struck Myrtle.

• When the hero dies, he is rewarded spiritually.

Gatsby, who stands by Daisy when she is in trouble, is abandoned by all; when Wilson shoots him, Gatsby, who has "shouldered his mattress and started for the pool," is found face down in his pool, arms outstretched in a  Christ-like position.  The spirituality of this position is also suggested when Nick tells him previously, "You're worth the whole damn bunch of them!"  Tragically, Gatsby dies, having "paid a high price for living too long with a single dream," a morally corrupt dream of riches.  He is spiritually rewarded by being made the sacrificial victim of this corruption.

In "The Crucible" can you tell me 2 differences between Sarah Good and Rebecca Nurse, and the Putnams and the Nurses?

Sarah Good and Rebecca Nurse are both very old women in the town of Salem, but that is about where the similarities end.  Sarah Good is a beggar, a homeless woman, incredibly poor and ill-educated.  Mary Warren herself says that "she sleeps in ditches" and is poor, and came to the house once begging for food and drink.  She also jabbers and jabbers, talking a lot, all of it foolish nonsense words.  Rebecca Nurse is none of these things. She comes from a family that is rather well off financially.  She has a home; in fact, her and her husband have quite a bit of land and started a new town of sorts called Topsfield.  She holds great influence and sway in the town, and is known as being a very righteous and wise woman.  People look to her for advice, and as a sort of judge in matters.  Her words are taken very seriously, and people weigh them as heavy and wise ones.  So, the differences between these two women are very great indeed.

The Putnams and the Nurses are more similar--they are both rich, have land, and hold influence and sway in the town.  There are a couple differences between these two families though.  First of all, the Nurses had a lot of children--eleven kids, in fact, all who lived and thrived.  The Putnams only had one child, Ruth, who survived, and the other 7 died.  So, there's a key difference.  Another difference is that the Putnams are much more materialistic, and less "godly."  The Nurses have a reputation for being a church-going, righteous family, whereas the Putnams have no such reputation.  They participate freely in the witch trials, even prompting some accusations so that they may gain more land. They are part of the accusers, and the Nurses become accused of witchcraft at the voice of the Putnams.  So, those are key differences there.

I hope that helps; good luck!

What is the moral of Everyman?

The play is based on the Roman Catholic premise that salvation is attained through penance and good deeds - one must atone for one's sins before dying in order to receive everlasting life and enter heaven.

In the play Everyman (which obviously refers to every human) is visited by Death to take him to heaven where he is to face judgement. Obviously, Everyman feels that he is not ready and seeks to take with him all that he has accrued on earth to stand witness for his virtues. But one by one, all his earthly possessions forsake him, even his kindred. He cannot take his beauty, strength or fellowship with him. Good Deeds does not have the strength to accompany him since he has been neglected.

When Everyman sees Confession, he agrees to take penance and punish himself with a scourge. After doing this, he is forgiven all his sins. The result is that Good Deeds is revitalized and strong enough to accompany him.

The moral is firstly that one cannot enter heaven with earthly goods when one dies - these have no value and are left behind. Secondly, only the good that one does can bear witness to one's grace at Judgement, and thirdly, one should do penance and seek forgiveness for one's sins before entering the Kingdom of Heaven.   

Why is Chapter 3 of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 called "The World's Greatest Dinosaur War Ever"?

The chapter is called "The World's Greatest Dinosaur War Ever" because in it, Kenny tells how he got cheated out of virtually his whole toy dinosaur collection when his conniving friend L.J. suggests that they play a game by that name. 

Kenny has a bunch of toy dinosaurs, and he likes to play games with them with L.J., but every time he plays with L.J., Kenny finds some of his dinosaurs missing.  At first, L.J. would steal just one or two at a time, but then he thinks of a way to get all of Kenny's dinosaurs from him.  L.J. suggests that he and Kenny have "one great big battle" between their dinosaurs, which Kenny, who has a tendency to speak in superlatives, excitedly calls "The World's Greatest Dinosaur War Ever".  Since it is going to be such a big battle, L.J. cons Kenny into sneaking up to his room to bring out his entire dinosaur collection, since Momma, who is aware that L.J. is not trustworthy, will not let Kenny take all his dinosaurs out at once when he is playing with the boy.  Kenny manages to get his entire collection out past Momma without her knowing it, and the boys commence pretending to destroy the dinosaurs with weapons of mass destruction.  L.J. gets Kenny to bury all the "dead...radioactive" dinosaurs in "one giant hole", and since the carnage is so widespread, most of Kenny's collection ends up underground.  When it is time to go home, Kenny forgets about the dinosaurs that are buried, and by the time he remembers and goes back to get them, L.J. has already dug them up and taken them.  There is nothing Kenny can do to prove L.J.'s duplicity, and he derides himself for his stupidity and gullibility.  He never plays with L.J. again (Chapter 3).

Can I have details of the moon?

Moon is a natural satellite of Earth and its nearest neighbour in space. Moon is the first and the only object in the space to be visited by men. Men first landed on Moon on July 20. 1969.

Moon circles around the Earth in approximately 27 and 1/3 days in an elliptical orbit. The average distance of Moon from the Earth is 384,403 kilometers. The Moon also rotated around its axis in about the same time (27 and 1/3 days).

Average diameter of moon is 3476 kilometers,which is about 1/4th the diameter of Earth. The gravitational force on Moon is about 1/6th of that on Earth.

At night the Moon is the brightest object in the sky. But reality is that the moon emits no light. The sun appears to be bright only because of the light of the sun reflected by it. Moon appears so bright only because it is so near to the Earth. In reality stars are much brighter like the sun, but because of their distance from the Earth appear to be smaller and less brighter.

The phases of the Moon, or the changes in the shape of the moon from a complete round on a full moon night, gradually reducing to a thin crescent over a period of about fortnight on a new moon night, and again increasing to full moon in next fortnight. These phases of moon are caused by different parts of the sunlit side of the moon facing the Earth.

Moon has no life or air. Till recently it was believed to have no water on its surface. However just about a few months back a scientific satellite launched by India, has collected data that points to possibility of water on surface of Moon. This matter is still being investigated, and no firm information has been released to the common media.

Earth surface is marked by a very large number of craters formed by meteorites hitting the surface of the Moon. There are around 1/2 million craters which are 1.5 kilometer wide or bigger. In additions there are billions of smaller craters including some as small as 30 centimeters wide. Moon also has big plane areas, which appear as dark spots on the moon when seen with the naked eye from Earth. These plains have been formed by volcanic activity, which filled the depressions with lava.

The temperature of the Moon fluctuates much more widely than on Earth. The highest surface temperature in Moon is about 130 degrees centigrade and the lowest temperature is about -240 degrees centigrade.

Moon was formed at the same time as Earth about 4.5 billion years back. There are different theories put forward about how exactly the moon was formed. But there is no conclusive proof to support any one theory to the exclusion of others. The Moon could have formed as a separate small planet circling the sun and later attracted toward Earth to become its satellite when at sometime these two came very near. A second group of theories assumes that the Moon was a part of earth and got separated from it at a later date. A third theory is that the Moon has formed out of lot of loose material that was near the earth when the Earth was formed. These loose material collapsed together to form the Moon.

In The Great Gatsby, comment on Fitzgerald’s use of voice in Chapter 4.

In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s main innovation was to introduce a first person narrator and protagonist whose consciousness filters the story’s events. This device was not a total invention since a character through whose eyes and mind the central protagonist is discovered is to be found in two of Conrad’s books : Heart of Darkness and Lord Jim. As usual with this device, the main protagonist remains strange and shady. This technique reinforces the mystery of the characters. The second advantage is that the mediation of a character-witness permits a play between the real and the imaginary. This indirect approach is inherited from Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hence, it is difficult to distinguish between true representation and fantasizing. For Emerson, vision was more important than the real world.

The story is narrated through a ‘modified’ first person viewpoint :
it is not the main protagonist (Gatsby) who recounts his own story but a secondary character, Nick Carraway, who is successively suspicious, wary and eventually fascinated by Gatsby. Nick is not trustworthy, not fully reliable : he oscillates.
whenever Nick cannot obtain a first hand version of facts, he does not hesitate to quote other sources. For instance, Gatsby’s love affair is told by Jordan Baker (chap.4 p80). Nick reports her words but the problem is that she is said to be a liar : how far can she be trusted ?

Nick is obliged to reconstruct an event through the collage of different testimonies. Nick uses his logical mind to come up with a definitive story, result of words that have been filtered by different minds.

Nick is not a random choice, it is very well calculated. He was the best possible witness to let the reader discover Gatsby. Indeed, through coincidence, he happens to be Gatsby’s next-door neighbor (p11). Besides, Nick has not vested interest in hobnobbing Gatsby. He has no axe to grind. Yet, without being acquainted with Gatsby, Nick is nonetheless a relative of Daisy and consequently introduced to the Buchanans and to Gatsby’s story.

The introduction of a first-person narrator who reflects the main protagonist’s personality is the best way to conjure up a sense of mystery that cannot be solved. When all bas been said and done the fact is that Gatsby remains elusive, indiscernible and unfathomable. Therefore the character’s myth is never ever broken up.

Discuss the ways that Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Aunt Alexandra influence Scout's growing understanding of what it means to be a Southern "lady."

Because Scout is motherless, Atticus knows that she must have a feminine influence and leaves that task to several women whom he trusts.  Each influences Scout in a different way.

Calpurnia: Calpurnia is a true mother figure to Scout.  She takes care of her daily needs, helps teach her to read, disciplines her, and even shows her off at church.  From Calpurnia, Scout learns that Southern ladies are tenacious and protective.  She watches Calpurnia's reaction when the rabid dog comes near Jem and her; she realizes (as part of her maturation) what Calpurnia has had to endure not just as a woman but also as a black woman living in the South.  Finally, she learns from Cal what it means to show hospitality as a Southern woman, especially from Cal and her church's response to Attitus's defense of Tom.

Aunt Alexandra: Scout learns from her aunt what it means to be a gracious lady even when people make distasteful comments in one's home.  The tea party at Atticus's house is a good example of this.  Aunt Alexandra maintains her poise even though the other "ladies" are speaking badly about her brother.  Scout also learns from her aunt that even the most stubborn, set-in-their-ways Southern women can change, hence, her aunt's changing perspective toward the Tom Robinson case as the trial ends.

Miss Maudie: Scout learns from Miss Maudie that sometimes Southern ladies need to be bold, especially in defense of their friends and family.  At the tea, Miss Maudie does what Aunt Alexandra does not feel she can do as a hostess by putting the other ladies in their place by running down Atticus at his own table.  Scout also learns from Miss Maudie that true Southern ladies don't gossip or prejudge others.

How does the short story "Girl" embody plot, setting, and symbolism?

I agree it's a little disconcerting to have to find these three literary elements in what appears to be just a huge list of "dos and don'ts" written by a mother to her daughter. A closer look, however, will reveal them. 

Let's start with plot. This list is actually the story of a day, and then a life, of a young girl becoming a woman in this particular culture.  It outlines chores for the day: sweeping, laundry, cooking, shopping, entertaining, gardening, fishing... and the list goes on.  These are the everyday chores, traditions, and activities which a mother must teach and a daughter must learn.  Add to that the intricacies of maturing (white cloths and medicine to "throw a child away") and relationships (smiling and bullying and singing), and this is a lifetime worth of learning experiences. 

The setting is actually the simplest element to identify, as it is embodied in the plot.  This is obviously a more simplified, non-American, tropical culture, one in which growing things and working hard are expected.  We do only have the women's perspective, but we can imagine the same kind of conversation happening as fathers teach their sons to repair roofs and provide for their families.  As you examine the specifics of this list, the setting becomes clearer.

Symbolism is a bit more difficult to identify because it's a culture with which we have little experience.  One consistent symbol includes things that are and are not appropriate in this culture.  Singing benna in the wrong places is obviously potentially dangerous to a young girl's reputation.  So is smiling in the wrong way or improperly setting the table for guests.  And if the baker knows of your sullied reputation, everyonemust know (thus making him a symbol of society). Reputation is clearly important, and it is the consequences of these kinds of symbolic actions which can make or break one's reputation.

While "Girl" may not look like a traditional short story, it does contain the key elements of plot, setting, and symbolism. And, while this may not be your culture, you can understand it in the context of getting advice from a parent on how to live a successful life--and the consequences if you choose to flaunt the rules. 

What are some quotes from Macbeth that show examples of disease imagery?In the play Macbeth, by William Shakepeare, there are many instances in...

What are some quotes from Macbeth that show examples of disease imagery?

In the play Macbeth, by William Shakepeare, there are many instances in which disease imagery is used, please give specific examples of this using quotes and stating the act, scene and lines. thanks!

What are the principal methods of demand estimation?

Demand estimation or demand forecast is the process of forming judgment about the quantities to a product or service that will be demanded by customers in the future. Such forecast of demand are used for planning and control of activities in production, procurement, marketing, personnel, and Finance.

Forecasting methods are classified in the following four types:

1. Qualitative


2. Time series


3. Causal


4. Simulation

Qualitative forecasting methods are primarily subjective: they rely on human judgment and opinion to make a forecast. They are most appropriate when there ale little historical data available or when experts have market intelligence that is critical in making forecast. Such methods may be necessary to forecast demand several years into the future in a new industry.

Time series forecasting methods use historical demand to make a forecast. They are based on the assumption that past demand history is a good indicator of future demand. These methods are most appropriate when the environment situation is stable and the basic demand pattern does not vary significantly from one year to the next. These are simplest methods to implement and can serve as a good starting point for a demand forecast. These methods fall into two basic categories

Causal forecasting methods involve assuming that that the demand forecast highly correlated with certain factors in the environment. Causal forecasting methods find this correlation between demand and environmental factors and use estimates of what environmental factors will be to forecast future demand.

Simulation forecasting methods imitate the consumer choices that give rise to demand to arrive at a forecast. Using simulation, a firm can combine time series and causal to answer such questions as these: What will the impact of a price promotion be? What will the impact be of a competitor opening a store nearby?

Reckless haste leads to disaster. Prove this statement by listing a number of examples.

The main action of Romeo and Juliet takes place in less than a week: a testament to how ill-advised most of the decisions in the play are made.  The five most glaring examples of reckless haste as follow:

1) The secret marriage.  Romeo and Juliet meet on a Sunday and are married secretly in less than 24 hours.  Friar Lawrence is also to blame.  This sets all events in motion.

2) Mercutio's reckless fight with Tybalt.  Mercutio's play-fighting ends with his "accidental" stabbing, causes Romeo to take revenge on Tybalt, and ultimately leads Romeo's exile.

3) Juliet's fake death.  Friar Lawrence again becomes involved, this time in a "death" elopement.  Again, he hopes all will go well, but he doesn't realize he's working with impetuous teenagers.  Oh, and Friar John's letter never had a chance, plague or no plague.

4) The suicides at the end.  Romeo is quick to buy poison; Juliet quick to pull the dagger.  If only they would have waited...it might have turned into a comedy, like Much Ado About Nothing!

Describe General Zaroff's personality.

In "The Most Dangerous Game," General Zaroff is portrayed as a complete savage, albeit one with a veneer of civilized manners overlaying his savagery.

Zaroff's savagery is, of course, on full display in his hunting of human beings and his complete lack of any sympathy for them.

At the same time, he has some superficial aspects of civilization about him.  He has (affects?) aristocratic manners and fancies himself superior to the common run of people, especially such riffraff as the sailors he traps and hunts.

Overall, then, Zaroff acts (in trivial ways) like a sophisticated and civilized man, but his more important actions show him to be a ruthless killer with no other aspect to his personality.

In 1984 why does Winston think of renting Mr. Charrington's room?

Winston has several reasons for renting a room even though he already has Party-provided quarters.  First, the room has no telescreen.  As seen in previous chapters, Winston cringes from Big Brother's constant surveillance of all his doings. He imagines how peaceful the room would be where he could sit and think in private. Secondly, the room features several reminders of the past, and Winston possesses only memory snapshots of what the past was really like. The room's shabbiness and contents cause a sense of nostalgia in the novel's protagonist.  Even though he cannot remember what he thinks is the past, the room provides a pleasant feeling of the past.

How does Hamlet's famous "What a piece a work is a man" passage depart from typical Renaissance humanism?

I completely agree with pohnpei's statement above. And it would be good to look at the "what a piece of work is a man" passage as but a continuation, in mood and intent, as the lines which precede it:

I have of late—but wherefore I know not—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.

All things presently esteemed by the philosophy of the time, be it the earth and the sky above, or man himself, seem to Hamlet to be of little value and are now gross and vile by nature.

Does he really feel this way? Yes, probably. And moreover, he speaks these lines to old school friends of his, Rosencrantz and Guildernstern, whom he knows have been sent for, by his uncle, to spy on him. Nothing much delights Hamlet, and rightly so. This is no anti-Renaissance humanist speech; this is spoken from the heart to friends who have betrayed him.

He is not being fully honest, however, when he says, "I have of late—but wherefore I know not—lost all my mirth." On the contrary, he knows why only too well.

What is a summary of the book "Masks of Conquest?"

"Masks of Conquest" by Gauri Viswanathan follows modern English studies to their colonial origins.  The book shows that English literary study was in place before its institutionalization in England and had its beginnings as a strategy for managing the colony.  The author shows that English literature is tied up in the politics of the British Empire while also challenging modern assumptions about canon creation and the modern study of literature.

In the novel The Great Gatsby, there arose many problems. What exactly were the solutions to those problems, if any?

A vague question, but I'll try...

Fitzgerald's focus seems to be on the problem of America: Gatsby sees it as Dreamland--a place of promise, where a boy can go from rags to riches.  George Wilson sees it as a false promise: instead of owning a nice car, he must work on rich guys' cars in the Valley of Ashes.  So, the American dream is both an opportunity and a false promise.  Both of these men die, so Fitzgerald probably sides with the latter.

Fitzgerald also focuses on the problems of the master class: the rich elitists, the bourgeoisie, the East Eggers, the Buchanans.  Nick says Gatsby is better than the whole damn bunch of them put together.  He's not really.  Fitzgerald portrays all of the rich as careless people: they beat women, have affairs, are terrible parents, cheat on their spouses, hide behind their money, cheat at golf, drink too much, are terrible drivers, cause accidents.

Fitzgerald does not provide solutions; he is too smart for that.  And Fitzgerald was in no position to give any: he was as wild and reckless as any.  Gatsby is a great American novel written by someone who would live as an ex-patriot in Europe and die young, like Gatsby.  The novel provides an up-close look at an ugly America that most Americans don't want to see.

Prove that the inequality sin^8 (x)+cos^10 (x)

It is not true that sin^8(x) + cos^10(x) is always less than 1.

For example when x = 0, sin(x) = 0 and cos(x) = 1

Therefore: sin^8(x) + cos^10(x) = 0^8 + 1^10 = 0 +1 = 1

However we can prove that:

sin^8(x) + cos^10(x) is less than or equal to one.

The proof is as follows.

We know that

sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = 1

This equality has three general relative values of sin^2(x) and cos^2(x).

1. sin^2(x) = 1 and cos^2(x) = 0


2. sin^2(x) = 0 and cos^2(x) = 1


3. Both sin^2(x) and cos^2(x) have a value between 0 and one.

Under the first two condition the sin^8(x) + cos^10(x) = 1 because any exponent of 1 = 1 and. any exponent of 0 = 0.

Under the third condition let us say sin^2(x) = A, and cos^2(x) = B

Then: sin^8(x) = A^4, and  cos^8(x) = B^5

But as A is a fraction, A^4 < A.

Similarly A is a fraction, B^5 < B.

Therefore (A^4 + B^5) < (A + B)

But we know that A + B = sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = 1

Therefore (A^4 + B^5) < 1

Therefore: sin^8(x) + cos^10(x) < 1

In "Jabberwocky," by Lewis Carroll, what is the effect of the last stanza's being a repetition of the first stanza?

My first thought is that the repetition tells us that the story in the poem is over. Most of us are used to the convention that that hero returns home after her or his adventures, for example, and this return to the opening description similarly brings the poem full circle and signals its end.

Signaling the end of the poem in this way is probably all the more important because the poem contains so many "nonsense" words that we, as readers, need as much help as we can get in making sense of the poem. While Carroll is free to make up new nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, he doesn't (because, simply put, he can't) make up new prepositions or articles (such as the word "the"). Just as the nature of the English language limits his experimentation in this poem, he's perhaps limited by the conventions of storytelling.

How do computers create employment?I want to know the jobs computers have created.

Computers create employment by making economic activities of all types more profitable. The jobs thus created indirectly by computers are much more than the the jobs created directly in computer hardware and software industry itself.

Computers make it easier to produce more of better goods at lower costs and sell it to more widely distributed markets. This makes it possible to use more of economic resources of the world, more efficiently. Such increased activities are partly due to greater efficiency resulting from use of computers for management as well as operational activities. This appears to act towards reducing the employment as the same amount of production can be achieved with less manpower. But the total increase in manpower due to increase in production is more than compensates for the reduction due to increases in efficiency and productivity.

In addition to increasing the total employment, computers have also helped to reduce the average level of drudgery of many jobs. Computers are now able to do many boring and repetitive jobs earlier performed by people. Computerized production processes have also contributed to reducing the need for people to be exposed to health and accident hazards in manufacturing activities. Now, with the use of computers, more people are working on jobs that make grater use of their intellectual abilities in comparison to their physical abilities. In this way contribution has also contributed to improvement in levels of wages and job satisfaction.

What is the obstacle or problem that Calvinists face to which Edwards makes references in the sermon?

Edwards revival sermon is a call to the unrepentant, those who have not been saved. For them, perdition waits unles they are saved; that is, "born again."

In order to awaken these complacent sinners, Edwards believed that only an awakening would save them.  So, he stirs the emotions of his listeners by speaking of the "yawning abyss" into which they can easily fall:

The devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up....

If God should only withdraw His hand, the "fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God would rush forth with inconceivable fury."  Nothing but faith in God will save them.

Another Calvinistic trait to this sermon is that salvation is only granted by God's grace.  Because of this tenet, Edwards continuously stresses the "gossamer thread" that holds the sinners over the fiery pit"

and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf,...and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a fallen rock...

Good deeds do not count; it is faith and God's grace that saves the sinners.  They must "consider the fearful danger" that they are in because they "hang by a slender thread."  Edwards urges his listeners to feel the peril of their sinful condition and be "reborn."

In The Watsons go to Birmingham--1963, what happens to Kenny in Chapter 13?

In Chapter 13 of this great novel, Kenny, Joetta and Byron go for a swim. However, Kenny ignores the advice of Byron and Grandma Sands and wants to go to Collier's Landing, where he has been told that a boy drowned because the water there is so dangerous. Byron makes up a story of the Wool Pooh, whom he says is Winnie the Pooh's evil twin brother:

"What he does is hide underwater and snatch stupid kids down with him."

Clearly, Byron is creating a fictional monster out of the whirpool and the strong currents that there are in Collier's Landing. However, in spite of these threats, Kenny goes and starts paddling in the water by Collier's Landing. At first he tries to catch some fish, then as he makes a grab for a big turtle, he loses his footing and finds that he can't make his way back to shore. When he gets really scared, that is when Kenny sees the Wool Pooh, who is:

...big and grey with hard square-looking fingers. Where he should have had a face there was nothing but dark grey. Where he should have had eyes there was nothing but a darker colder-looking colour. He grabbed my leg and started pulling me down.

As he fights with the Wool Pooh, Kenny imagines that he sees an angel who looks like Joey who encourages him to fight for air. Then he realises that Byron is in the water with him, fighting the Wool Pooh for Kenny. Finally, Byron wins, and drags Kenny out of the water. Kenny then vomits up lots of water and food and Byron cries in relief.

What events and circumstances brought about “the end of the liberal hour?”

The "liberal hour" as defined by Mackenzie and Weisbrot was the time which spanned the elections of Kennedy and Johnson, and with them, an unprecedented faith in the American government's promises and possibilities.  The faith in American progress and pro-activity that Kennedy had started was continued with Johnson.  The "liberal hour" had promised everything to everyone.  No better could this be seen than in Johnson's inaugural address, which hit the major themes of the Great Society.  Health care, education, poverty reform, urban renewal, Civil Rights, as well as reaching across the nation's borders to expand the greatness of America abroad became the critical elements of Johnson's administration.  Johnson once said, "“We’re the richest country in the world, the most powerful. We can do it all," in an attempt to articulate this hour to the world.

What ended up resulting which challenged and eventually timed out "the liberal hour" was this "overpromising" of liberal ideas.  The overextending of American commitment in Vietnam ended up dooming the promises and possibilities of liberalism because people were unable to continually make the sacrifices in both costs and lives that the war was demanding.  At some point, the nation ended up not believing what was being said from the White House, causing a major credibility crisis, killing off the liberal hopes of unified government.  Another element which ended up hurting the liberalist cause was the urban unrest which emerged out of the mid 1960s.  The cities, the largest recipient of government aid and programs, were not materializing according to the liberal hour's hopes.  This caused another credibility gap between what government was promising and what it was delivering.  When Nixon ran in the 1968 election on the basis of coalescing the "silent majority," a large plurality of this coalition consisted of people who saw liberal promises to the cities, literally, up in smoke.  In the final analysis, the election of Nixon ended up doing much to bring the end of "the liberal hour."

How did taxation create tensions between the American colonies and the British government?

The main concern that most colonialists maintained during the mid 1700’s was taxation without representation.  The American Colonialists had no representation in the British Parliament.  What that means is that there was no “American” in England to voice their complaints to the Crown.  They were taxed and had no “say” in what should be taxed or how much the tax should be.  Also the tax money that was collected was not distributed back to the colonies for the betterment of America, it was sent to England.  Unlike today, where taxes are for the good of the country, i.e. for the betterment of public schools and roads, if you believe in such things.  

Which word fits the sentence properly? Giving parents a week off from their responsibilities FOR their disabled children is gratifying OR Giving...

Hi there, just a few extra thoughts on taking a week off.

As an example: "I will take a week off from work this week." not

"I will take a week off for work this week."  If I take a week off for work I am making an arrangement to accomplish work.  If I take a week off from work, I am making time for rest and relaxation.

"My responsibilities for my parents are overwhelming."

"I will take a week off from my responsibilities for my disabled child."  is correct but complicted.

By way of proofreading, I will suggest that you read your work out loud and to another person who is unfamiliar with your topic. Ask them what they think you meant by what you wrote, if they give you back the same idea, then you are communicating well using the written word. If the listener indicates confusion or gives you back a totally different though than what you intended, then you will need to revise and rewrite your sentence.

When we speak, we have the benefit of facial expression and gestures to help us communicate. When we write, we are totally dependent on the written language to do all the communicating for us.

What is ironic about the scene where a mob is trying to kill Tom Robinson?

The irony of this scene is that a child proves to be more brave and more wise than a group of grown men. In this scene, a mob comes to threaten Atticus. Lacking a leader, the mob has hidden their identities in the dark and is relying on the strength of numbers to make up for their lack of moral strength. None of those men would be willing to attack Atticus in daylight, alone. But in the dark, with other cowardly men, they feel bolder and more willing to commit violence.

However, this mob is shamed and stopped in their tracks by the precocious Scout. She recognizes Walter Cunningham's father, and has no sense of danger for herself or her brother. She simply sees someone she recognizes, & honestly wants to know why he's there. Her innocence (as revealed by her lack of understanding of "entailments") as well as her outgoing personality force Mr Cunningham to remember that he is an individual, with his own problems and identity. Upon realizing this, he steps out from the crowd & tells everyone else to go home. Thus, he too shows some bravery by breaking from the pack. Yet the true irony is that the children prove courageous in the face of threats, while the adults act irrationally & savagely.

What is the mood of the story of Orpheus?

The mood of the the story of Orpheus and Eurydice is certainly sad (as the above post stated), but I would say that the mood is more ominous. Even before the story, Hymen, who came to the the wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice, gave a prophecy that stated that their marriage would not last. Starting from this point the tone is ominous. We can say that the reader is on alert for something bad to happen.

As the story progresses, Eurydice is in the fields wandering. When Aristaeus, a shepherd, sees her beauty, he chases her. She escapes but is bitten by a snake and immediately dies. 

When Orpheus finds out about it, he weeps in song. These songs are so powerful that they even melt the hard heart of Hades, who allows Orpheus to fetch Eurydice from the underworld. The one condition is that he must not look back at her during the assent. 

The reader remembering the prophecy of Hymen knows and feels that the story will not end well, and the story does not end well, as Orpheus looks back and loses his love forever. 

Could you explain to me what Ralph Emerson is trying to say in his essay "The Poet"?

First, you need to understand that Emerson is a transcendentalist.  In this context, that means that he believes that human beings need to seek "an original relation to the universe," meaning that they need to see how they are a part of the universe and the universe is a part of them.  In this way, people need to get outside themselves and imagine the world/universe in new ways.

To Emerson, this is what a poet does and that's the main point of "The Poet."  In the essay, he argues that poets make people free.  They do this by using language in new ways so as to get people to look at things in new ways.

It's a long essay, but that is a very brief statement of what it's about...

How did the role of Calvinism in early America affect the people?

Calvinism had a very strong impact on the Colonists who came over to the New World.  The premise of the individual's relationship with God occupied a dominant role in the minds of the Colonists.  The basic premise of the religion was that individual work is the key to one's state of being.  God alone will choose who shall receive salvation and that it is against the nature of human beings to attempt to serve God, a force that stands far outside the realm of human action.  The basic premise of individuals being able to pursue a life following their own self interest and hold the teachings of the Lord sacred because the plan for salvation has already been determined.  Weber has a very interesting read on this in suggesting that this philosophy inadvertently laid the groundwork for capitalism and the idea of pursuing one's own self interest.  This idea is certainly present in the lives of the colonists, who at some level operated in a "harmonious schizophrenia" in seeking religious freedom as well as economic profit in the new world.

Why does Charlie begin to spend a great deal of time alone in Flowers for Algernon?

In the book Flowers for Algernon Charlie finds himself becoming less and less accepted by people the smarter he becomes.  His superior intelligence even serves to alienate him from the doctors who had performed the experiments on him and Algernon, the mouse.  He finds that people are uncomfortable around someone smart and he feels alienated.  He goes more into books and studying since his presence now intimidates people.

When his intelligence begins to deteriorate later, Charlie locks himself away from people because he feels frustrated, ashamed, and upset.  He is also experiencing increased episodes of anger.

Was the conspiracy a success or failure?

The conspiracy against Julius Caesar was a failure. The conspirators did succeed in killing Caesar but they were not able to kill the desire for revenge from the Triumverate. Because Brutus did not heed Cassius' warning about killing Antony and allowing him to speak at the funeral, it left the conspirators wide open for Antony's revenge. Antony is able to manipulate the plebeians during Caesar's funeral and get them on his side. Antony bids the plebeians to circle around Caesar's dead body, appealing to the Roman people's emotions and sympathies.

"Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold
Our Caesar’s vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors." (Act 3, Scene 2, line 190-193)
Antony is able to rouse the anger of the Roman people. Once the mob mentality settles in, there is no turning back. They too, desire revenge on the conspirators. Brutus, in turn, loses the respect of the people he thought he was protecting Caesar from.

Determine the second grade equation, when knowing that x1=-7 and x2=7. The determination must be done in two ways, at least.

A second degree equation is also known as a quadratic equation. A second dgree or quadratic equation is of the type:ax^2+bx+c=0

If the roots of the equation x1 and x2 are known, then we can determine the the quadratic equation.

If x1 and x2 are the roots, then it satisfies the equation.

To determine the equation:

First method : The relations between the roots x1 abd x2 and the coefficients of x^2 , x and free term in  the quadratic equation ax^2+bx+c=0  are:

x1+x2= -b/a ...........(1)and

x1*x2 = c/a.............(2)

Given x1=-7 and x2=7. Substitutingthe values  in the above equations, we get:

x1+x2=-7+7=0=-b/a. Therefore, b=0

-7*7=c/a or c=-49a

Therefore,  the equation is ax^2-49a=0 or dividing by a we get:

x^2-49=0 which is the required second degree equation.

2nd method:

Let f(x) = 0 be the required equation.

If x1 is the zero of the function f(x) , then x-x1 is a factor of f(x). Similarly if x2 is a zero of the the function f(x), then (x-x2) is factor of  f(x).

So f(x) = k(x-x1)(x-x2) if x1 and x2 are the zeros of the function f(x). Therefore, the required equation of 2nd degree is :

f(x)=0 takes the form k(x-x1)(x-x2)=0

Dividind by k, we get: (x-x1)(x-x2)=0..................(3)

Substitute x1=-7 and x2=+7 in the above equation (3), we get:

(x+7)(x-7)=0 or

x^2-7x+7x-49=0 or

x^2-49 =0 is required 2nd degree equation.

In Merchant of Venice, is Shylock justified in seeking revenge from Antonio?

From a moral standpoint, one could argue that Shylock should not seek revenge because as a follower of Old Testament law he should leave vengeance or revenge to God.

However, from a human nature standpoint, Shylock has legitimate motivation for seeking revenge from Antonio (who also represents Christianity in Venice).  Here are several offenses that Shylock has had to endure at the hands of Antonio and other "Christians."

1. As a Jew, he is segretated by Venetian law from the other city's residents.

2. Antonio has spit and cursed Shylock in public.

3. Antonio publicly criticizes Shylock, hurting his business.

4. A "Christian" steals away his only child (Jessica) and his jewels (his most prized possessions).

At the play's end, Shakespeare certainly demonstrates that seeking revenge is not only fruitless but also that it has destructive consequences, but most modern audience members feel sympathy for the broken Shylock in Act 4 and can identify with his reasons for wanting revenge.

What is one reason that the reader knows Montresor is an unreliable narrator? I don't know whether C or D is the correct answer because both make...

In short, having to decide between your answers, c or d, I would choose c. However there is more to consider than that.

"The Cask of Amontillado" is narrated in the first person and Montresor, admits in the first sentence that he will have revenge. He speaks directly to the reader as "you" assuming that the reader knows his soul. Montresor's voice is so even--not strained or emotional--he tells his story straightforwardly. However, he leaves in what he wants the reader to know and also leaves out what he does not want the reader to know. This is the critical point of the first person narrative--it is manipulative. The reader cannot decide for herself or himself what to believe about a character because it is a monologue. His feelings are hidden. (That is suspicious for a person seeking revenge.) The most terrifying moment in the story is when Fortunato knows he is being sealed up. However, Montresor is calm. He says, "I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low mourning cry from the depth of the recess. It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth."

In this story Poe presents the material without any interpretation. What makes this story so dark and sinister is the lack of emotion of the narrator.

If there ever were a sociopath, it would be Montresor.

How does identifying the speaker and the occasion of the poem reveal the dramatic quality of the poem?

Certainly, the structure of a poem, such as a sonnet, an ode, or an elegy, contributes to its dramatic effect.  Then, the occasion of the poem and the tone of the speaker contributes to the dramatic effect.  In Thomas Gray's "Elegy in a Country Churchyard," for instance, there is the sobering tone of the Latin motif of momento mori, "Remember that you must die." And, as the speaker traverses the graveyard and reads the unknown names on the markers, he reflects that the lives of these country people may have been impeded from greatness simply because of their humble stations in life.  He also realizes that now they are the equal of any, as all humans reach the same end.  In fact, there are, perhaps, more noble because they never compromised their values in order to achieve greatness:

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife/Their sober wishes never learned to stray/Along the cool, sequestered vale of life/They kept the noiseless tenor of their way. 

Indeed, the structure of Gray's poem lends dramatic qualities to the lines, and the tone of this poem reinforces these qualities.

Opportunistic diseases in HIV?

The patients with HIV infection, especially when the infection has reached the stage of AIDS, is very weak, both because the disease itself, that because of chronic character, consumes energy and nutrient reserves, and due to treatment. On this ground may occur a number of diseases, called opportunistic. These may be relatively well supported by a previously healthy person, but on a background of HIV infection, they may be real havoc.

Nature opportunistic diseases can be infections (both bacterial and fungal, and especially parasitic), and cancer. One of these opportunistic diseases is   non - Hodgkin lymphoma, whose frequency of occurrence is relatively high among HIV patients, but it remains in fewer limits in the general population. Due to a high frequency in HIV patients  non - Hodgkin's lymphoma is termed , in this context,as HIV-associated lymphoma.

Acquired human immunodeficiency virus is a pathogen that attacks and weakens the immune system of the host. Lymphoma Non - Hodgkin's is also a disease of the immune system, characterized by the chaotic proliferation , totally relieved of control, of the abnormal immune cells. Both diseases severely weakening immunity of the individual, but related, are particularly dangerous. HIV can take a long period in which the patient's condition is fairly compensated, since no major health problems occuring, but if proceeding towards the terminal stage, the AIDS, the prognosis is often unfavorable, death occurring within months. HIV patient can survive in good condition for years, AIDS being the most dangerous stage.

It is important to note that non- Hodgkin's lymphoma can also occur independently of HIV or other infections with severe potential. The mere diagnosis of this type of lymphoma does not mean that the patient has a latent HIV infection or that a doctor does not want to tell him.Non- Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs in the HIV-related opportunistic diseases, as appearing of pneumonia, candidiasis, sarcomas. HIV infection does not necessarily mean the appearance of non Hodgkin's lymphoma  non - Hodgkin's does not mean that the patient is infected or will be diagnosed with HIV.

An astronaut tosses a rock on the moon. What force(s) act on the rock during its curved path?

Your hand is no longer in contact with the rock, therefore there is not way for your hand to exert a force on the rock during its "flight". In that case, the only type of force left that could be exerted on the rock is gravitational force. Since you are on the moon, there is no air around you for friction (from the air) to act on the rock while in motion.

A common source of confusion for students about this topic is because tossing a rock results in a curved path, and it is strange to think that the force of gravity is the only thing acting on the rock in a curved path just like how the force of gravity is the only thing acting on a rock if you were to just let is fall straight down. In the curved path example, your hand is giving the rock initial velocities in the horizontal and upward directions. The horizontal velocity, since there is no force acting in the horizontal direction (gravitational force is an up/down force), will continue as-is for the entire duration of the flight, giving the path its parabolic shape. Compare this to if you were to toss a rock straight up - it would fall straight down without horizontal movement because there is no horizontal force to give it velocity in the side to side directions.

What is the most important thing Cal wants Scout to learn in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The Finch family housekeeper, Calpurnia, teaches Scout many things during the course of To Kill a Mockingbird, but the visit to Cal's church may have been one of the most important. Calpurnia is responsible for teaching Scout how to write in cursive, and the housekeeper gives her advice on how to deal with Jem's growing pains. But when Calpurnia takes the Finch children to the Negro church, she wants them to see how her people worship. Afterwards, as they walk back to the Finch house, Scout asks Calpurnia about the way she talks.

    "Cal, why do you talk nigger-talk to the--to your folks when you know it's not right?"

Cal explained that she would feel out-of-place if she spoke the same way at church as she did with the Finches.

    "It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike--in the second place, folks don't like havin' somebody around knowin' more than they do. It aggravates 'em."

She wants Scout to understand humility--that although knowledge is a good thing, it's not always necessary to show others how much you know.

In The Outsiders, describe the greasers' relationships with one another.

    Unlike the other tougher greaser gangs in the Susan E. Hinton novel, The Outsiders, the Curtis brothers' gang is more like a family--

... just small bunches of friends who stick together... you take up for your buddies, no matter what they do. When you're a gang, you stick up for your members. If you don't stick up for them, stick together, make like brothers, it isn't a gang anymore. It's a pack.

The brothers--Darry, Sodapop and Ponyboy--have a genuine love of each other, in spite of Darry and Pony's constant bickering. Johnny Cade, whose parents virtually ignore him (except when his father is beating him), is like an extended member of the Curtis family; the same can be said of Two-Bit Matthews. Steve Randle is very close to Soda, working with him at the same gas station and double-dating as well. Like the Curtis' (whose parents are dead), Dallas Winston lives on his own; he and Johnny are particularly close.
    Except for Dally, who grew up on the streets of New York and is "as wild as the boys in the downtown outfits, like Tim Shepard's gang," Ponyboy's gang is more of a brotherhood.

Discuss how in King Lear Cordelia plays a very important role.Support answer with reference to the text.

Cordelia is particularly striking, as she is on her own. She does seem to hold a different position, from the very start of the play, a position that is created by her father.

Lear sets up a game of manipulation; his daughters have to make a public gesture to show how much they love him. Cordelia observes the actions of her sisters, and says " if for I want that glib and oily art to speak and purpose not, since what I well intend, I’ll do ‘t before I speak". This implies that those who speak are using their words as art, but they do not necessarily match their deeds with these words. Cordelia says that she can say nothing because love cannot be spoken about. When she leaves she tells her sisters, ‘I know what you are, and like a sister am most loth to call your faults as they are named.’

I have tried to look at the dynamics between the initial scenes and Cordelia's return. Maybe because Cordelia is absent for so long, she feels she has to justify her return. She says that she has come back for her father, not just to gain land. Her return is not for political reasons. She seems to need to say that, to make it very clear.

Identify an example of hypocrisy in Cheever's "The Swimmer."

I think that one of the most interesting examples of hypocrisy that is present in the short story would have to center on the neighborhood in which Neddy lives and stages his quest.  On one hand, the neighborhood seems to represent the suburban community sprawl in post- World War II America.  One of the fundamental attractions to such a setting is the togetherness and sense of community evident.  The suburb is seen as a refuge from the alienating and isolating condition of the city.  Yet, Neddy finds that there is just as much alienation in the suburb as there would be in the city.  He finds the same aloofness, coldness, and even rudeness that he would find in any other realm.  While the suburban draw is the community of togetherness, there is as much alienation and isolation in this setting just as in any other realm in America.  As the story opens, there is a clear indication that the shared experience is a part of the community. Even the experience of being hung over is something in which the community shares.  Yet, this is about all that is shared.  Neddy's journey reveals a community that is isolated and not really concerned with others, so long as individual parties are not disrupted and individual agendas are not dislodged.  In the community in which Neddy lives, stages his quest, and finds some of the greatest pain, hypocrisy exists.

What does Mayella think of Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Mayella Ewell is, at least to some extent, frightened of Atticus Finch.  Although she is probably being rather melodramatic, she bursts into tears at the beginning of her session as witness; despite her dishonesty regarding what truly happened in relation to her interaction with Tom Robinson, she is a teenager who has been placed in a frightening and uncomfortable situation. 

It is important to consider her upbringing:  Mayella grew up in a home where she was shown no love and seen as "white trash" by those around her.  She has obviously been given no reason to respect herself and is extremely defensive when she misunderstands Atticus's questioning and believes that he is mocking her; being made fun of would obviously have been no new experience to her.  Mayella is unaccustomed to being the recipient of kindness, respect, or courtesy of any kind, so she believes that Atticus is making fun of her when he addresses her with politeness.

In "The Crucible" what is the present state of the Proctors' relationship?

The best way to gage the present state of the Proctors' relationship is to look in Act Two.  At the beginning of this act, we see the two of them together at mealtime, and the mood is very strained and awkward.  They struggle to find things to talk about that are pleasant.  We see that John wants to please Elizabeth; he mentions flowers, getting her a cow, and compliments her on her cooking.  Elizabeth tries to reciprocate his efforts by agreeing with him, engaging him in conversation, and serving him dinner.

However, it is soon revealed that even though they are trying to be civil to one another, underneath the surface, things are still festering between them.  The affair that John had with Abigail has caused a major schism in their marriage, and they are still struggling with the contention and anger that this has caused.  When Elizabeth asks him to go to town and tell the people that Abby had told him the girls were faking, an argument breaks out.  Elizabeth shows that she is still suspicious of John's actions in regards to Abby, and John reveals how bitter he is about her cold and unforgiving nature regarding the situation.

They openly fight over Abby and what happened; Elizabeth accuses him of still having feelings for her, and John accuses Elizabeth of being judgmental and cold.  So, act two reveals a couple that has had major conflict in their marriage, and who are trying to make things better, but really having a hard time of it.  The positive side to all of this is that when Elizabeth is arrested at the end of the act, they come together.  John promises to bring her home, and they are able to unite and show affection, briefly, before she is taken away.  So, they still care, they still love one another, it's just been a rough year for them.

I hope that those thoughts help a bit; good luck!

At the end of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Henry burns both Dorian and the painting, but later on he sees the painting of Dorian in his home?

Your question is a perfect reason why students should never substitute a movie for a work of literature! The writers of screen plays and directors themselves change things in order to increase the viewing of their movie.  This is definitely reflected in your question.  Why?  The details of the original work, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the details of the movie you provide differ greatly.  Let's look at each in turn.

First, let's look at the actual story, The Picture of Dorian Gray, along with its original ending.  In short, the picture is revealed.  The picture is grotesque, featuring blood dripping form a knife.  This is all we see, in reality because it is a "crash" that is heard from the servants in other parts of the household.  The next thing we are shown, as readers, is the original picture of Dorian Gray looking young and vibrant.  In opposition, there is a shriveled, decrepit old man on the floor.  He is dead and with a knife plunged into his heart.  There is an effort made to identify the man.  The only evidence that it is truly Dorian Gray is the rings that remain on his fingers.  (Please note, neither Dorian NOR the picture is burned in the real story!  In the original written work, there is no "later on" for him to see the painting in the future!)

Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.

Next, let's look at the movie that came out a few years ago.  It is not called The Picture of Dorian Gray, but is distinguished from the original work by being called simply Dorian Gray. This change in title is appropriate because the ending is VASTLY different!  This is the ending you refer to.  More appropriately, it is the climax that is changed.  In this version, Dorian Gray IS burned.  The painting is burned as well.  The stabbing happens only after Gray is faced with lethal fire.  Then the resolution of the movie does show Henry traversing the attic and finding the painting.  However, this is NOT what happens in the book!

In conclusion, it's important to note one similarity:  the painting is stabbed.  That is where the similarities end.  Further, your quesiton is a very important one in that it should prove to students that reading the actual book is more important than watching a theatrical version.

Is Macbeth a tragic villain or a tragic hero?Which can be a better explanation for us? Or is it appropriate to deal with Macbeth as an amalgamation...

He is both, an amalgam.  Macbeth is Shakespeare's greatest tragedy in which the hero is (or turns) villain.  In other plays, like Othello, the hero (Othello) is separate from the villain (Iago).  Macbeth best expresses man's duality, his divided self.

We only hear of Macbeth's heroism by the Bleeding Captain.  He tells of Macbeth's bravery during the battle,  how be "doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe."  For a Thane to brutally kill his enemy as allegiance to King and country was considered heroic.  If you think about it, it's still murder.  Macbeth does to Macdonwald what he does to Duncan, Banquo, the Macduffs, and Young Siward.  But he does it according to the rules of combat, of comitatus (the King-Thane bond).  He kills a traitor to protect Duncan.

Remember, we only hear of his heroism.  We never actually see him do anything heroic the entire play.  What speaks louder: words or actions?  So, is Macbeth of Act I (the hero) different from the Macbeth of Act II - V (the villain)?

What moves him certainly into the villain category is regicide.  Killing the king was the most heinous crime one could commit.  It's worse than Oedipus' incest.  It throws the natural order into chaos.  It's like killing God, for James I believed in the Divine Right of Kings. 

Macbeth is a villain in that he moves from loyal to murderous toward the King, but you can't tell me that he didn't suddenly obtain "vaulting ambition" once he met the witches.  It was always there.  The witches and Lady Macbeth function like his subconscious "id": they are tangible forms of his already present desires.  They expedite time: moving him from hero to villain sooner than later. 

So, he may have been heroic outwardly, but he may have always been inwardly a villain in that he wanted to be king, whether he admitted it to himself or not.  His public persona may mask his private desires.  His inner will remains ambiguous because we never get the scene between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in private before they conspire to kill the king.

Discuss the different types of office automated systems explaining their are of application in regard to enhancing management decision making.

Office automation system refers to using computer based methods of carrying out activities that primarily involve information related activities such as collecting information, storing and retrieving it, analysing information, taking decisions based on information, and communicating it. As the name implies, these systems are applicable in office environment, which primarily deal with information rather than physical material and activities. However, the office automation systems need to interface with other physical systems, and may cover the information related aspects of physical activities also. For example, an attendance recording system is a type of automated system collects information of employees coming to and leaving the work place, and then uses this this information to prepare their attendance records.

There is no universally accepted way of classifying office automation systems. One common way of describing the type of an automated office system is by the function performed by it. For example an automated system for processing payroll of employees is called payroll system, and a system that prepares accounts is called accounting system. A very important part of office automation system in most of the companies is the e-mail system. Office automation systems can also cover application that enable managers to improve the quality of their decision. Such system could be very rudimentary like a general electronic spreadsheet software installed on PC's of individuals, or it could be a highly sophisticated integrated system for planning incorporating multiple applications like ERP, PPC, forecasting, accounting, budgeting, and other business system.

Please comment upon the dream of Hermia in Act Two.William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

In Act II, scene 2 of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Hermia and Lysander become tired; while Lysander tells Hermia,

One turf shall serve as pillow for us both;/One heart, one bed, two bosoms, and one troth (II,ii,44-45)

However, Hermia, ironically, insists that they sleep separated "for her sake."  Of course, Puck, who is following Oberon's plan of revenge upon Titania, enters as they are asleep, placing nectar upon Lysander's eyes so that when he awakens, he will fall in love with the first person he sees.  In scenes like this one, Shakespeare alters the cadence of his language, making it more song-like.  Spells were often sung on the stage as they were written in pentameter couplets or free forms that were easily put to music.

Interestingly, as well, is the fact that the women are passive in this scene, with men performing all the action.  For instance, Lysander is anointed with Oberon and Puck effecting this action.  But, Hermania remains in her spot, and Helena, who enters with Demetrius, simply begs him to stop chasing her. As she stops to catch her breath, she bends and awakens Lysander who then falls in love with her, an act in which she only has a passive role.

When Hermia awakens, she screams for Lysander to help her to pluck" this crawling serpent from my breast" (II,ii,148) instead of trying herself.  In her dream she has seen Lysander smiling sadistically as it eats her heart. And, when Lysander is not present, the portents of Hermia's dream seem most ominous, pointing to the illusions and superficiality of the love of the young people as well as the passivity of the female characters.

Possible discussion questions for Act 5, Scene 2 of Hamlet.Hi! I need help formulating discussion questions from Act 5 scene 2 of Hamlet. The...

Act 5, Scene 2 contains many topics for discussion.  As for yours, the first two questions should lead to some interesting commentary.  The first regarding Claudius would perhaps elicit some discussion about Claudius' duplicity and his ability to manipulate those around him.  Even Hamlet seems to fall into his trap when he agrees to fence with Laertes at the king's request.

The second regarding Rosencrantz and Guildenstern would lead to speculation about Hamlet's character development, as he seems to grow more ruthless as the play progresses.  This change is especially evident in his role in the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.  While their deaths seem to be harsh, they did engage in espionage, where death is certainly a risk.

Your third question is not as open for discussion since it seems quite obvious that Gertrude did not know the cup was poisoned.

Other questions might be as follows:

-- How are the last lines of each of the major characters appropriate and consistent with their characterization throughout the play?

--How do Horatio and Fortinbras view Hamlet at the end of the play, and are their views justified?

--Does Laertes redeem himself at the end of the play? Why or why not?

--Why is Hamlet given a soldier's funeral?

--How is the amount of fatal poison Gertrude, Laertes, Hamlet, and Claudius receive and the way they receive it symbolic of their characters and their corruption?

--How successful are Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras in their roles as avenging sons?

--How does Shakespeare create dramatic tension and suspense in this final scene?

--How does the last scene relate to the first scene of the play?

--Was Hamlet successful in carrying out the ghost's multiple directives (Act 1)?

Who is speaking in Emily Dickinson's poem In the Garden?

In Emily Dickinson's poem In the Garden the speaker is unnamed, therefore the reader is free to associate the speaker of the poem with Dickinson herself. In this poem, Dickinson, as the speaker, is noting her observation of a bird in the garden. He departs the garden upon her offer of a crumb. Dickinson compares his flight to oars silently dividing the "too silver" ocean and to butterflies flying at noon through the ocean of the sky. She deepens her comparative metaphors by saying the bird "rowed him softer home," again through the metaphorical ocean of the sky, and the butterflies "leap" and "swim," though making no splashes ("plashless"), through their metaphorical ocean waters.

What did the experiences of Hispanics, Asian Americans, & American Indians reveal about the United States in the 1950s?

In terms of overall experiences in a post World War II America, each of these groups understood what it meant to be silent in the American discourse.  Simply put, this means that the vision of American success did not necessarily include these specific groups.  They were relegated to the margins, as their particular predicaments were not necessarily included.  In the 1950's, few stopped to ponder how these specific groups would face difficulty in the America of the time period.  Native Americans were not thought of in terms of empowerment or even partaking in the vision of economic and social success.  There was little assistance offered to Hispanic Americans or Asians coming into America.  In all three situations, to partake in American success forced a direct conflict with maintaining their own sense of ethnic/ racial identity.  Assimilation became akin to sacrifice, and these particular groups' were not able to give voice to their own sense of experience and narrative in the American discourse, as a whole.  The vision of America did not necessarily include these particular groups' experiences, which might have led to much of the activism in the 1960's, as a form of giving voice to those who lacked it.

What conflicts are present in John Synge's Riders to the Sea?

John Synge's Riders to the Sea is filled with complex conflicts.  Dominating the lives of the play's Irish peasant characters is fate.  Fate is the sea, fate is an existence that provides no means for a young man to support himself and his family other than travelling on that sea.  Fate is an existence that takes the lives of a mother's husband, father-in-law, and six sons.  Fate is the reality of existence for the play's characters.  It is the natural world that they cannot control and cannot understand.  Other conflicts are also present.  The mother's desire to protect her son clashes with the son's need to be on the sea and travel and engage in meaningful business, for instance.  But the central conflict of the play concerns fate, and it climaxes when Maurya sees Michael's ghost following Bartley on the gray pony and when Bartley's body is brought into the cottage. 

Why does Chaucer dwell more on the Pardoner's love of money than on any other aspect of his character?

The most likely reason that Geoffrey Chaucer would have done this is because of the reputation that pardoners had in the times when he was writing.

The job of a pardoner was, as the name suggests, to go around selling pardons, or indulgences as well as relics of saints.  A person in those days could buy an indulgence and be guaranteed forgiveness of sins in return.  This practice was one of the things that would eventually lead Martin Luther to break with the Catholic Church.

Pardoners had a bad reputation because they preyed on the fears of their customers.  They used their customers fear of damnation to make money.  Therefore, they had a reputation for being greedy and unscrupulous.

Describe the effects of the Blitz on everyday life in Britain.Please include: Evacuation, Daily Routine, Black out, Morale, Home Guard, Where and...

That's a very large question, probably the subject for an essay, so in the limited space I have, let me give you some things to consider for each of those areas and that will get you started.

In terms of evacuation, keep in mind that the blitz lasted for over ten months, so the evacuations were not of individual cities for the short term, but from almost all cities in southern England and for the long term.  Children, wives, mothers, and the elderly were sent to safer cities in the north and Scotland to stay with relatives and others who volunteered.  This long term separation and the loss of tens of thousands of civilians meant many of those children were orphaned.  Living separately and in constant fear of losing their parents, the event scarred a generation.

As for daily routine, imagine that for weeks and even months on end your city was bombed daily.  This meant converting large amounts of public and private space into shelters for those who had lost their homes and for those seeking shelter from the bombing.  Subways, schools, churches (which were less likely to be targeted), cellars and basements all were used as air raid shelters, and the urban English knew where the nearest shelter was at all times.  Your workplace may have been destroyed as well, so pitching in to clear rubble, fight fires, care for the wounded all fell to the civilian population.

Blackouts were essential to denying the German Luftwaffe illuminated targets and became daily habit, reinforced by local volunteers (The Home Guard) and police who aggressively enforced it.  Consider the inconveniences this would cause each day.

Hitler counted on crushing English morale and will to fight by punishing London and other cities so badly.  It was a serious blunder on his part, as the more London burned, the higher english morale seemed to be.  They told jokes, developed a gallows humor and simply refused to submit.  There were dark days, to be sure, but the constant bombardment left a population that, in the end, decided to live day to day and moment to moment.

What is "Bloomsday," and why does it take place on June 16, 1904?

June 16, 1904, is "Bloomsday." All the events of James Joyce's (1882-1941) landmark novel Ulysses (1922) take  place on June 16, 1904, in Dublin. "Bloomsday" is derived from the name of the protagonist of the novel, Leopold Bloom. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Joyce's fans all over the world, especially in Dublin.

Thursday, June 16, 1904 was also the date of Joyce's first outing with his wife-to-be, Nora Barnacle, a chambermaid. They walked to the Dublin urban village of Ringsend. Joyce had met her on June 10th on Nassau Street.

"Bloomsday" was first celebrated in 1954. On "Bloomsday," a range of cultural activities--including sometimes a marathon reading of the entire novel--are organised by the fans of James Joyce.

In Act 3 of "The Crucible," What does greed have to do with the witch hunt?

The  main connection between greed and the witch hunt comes in the person of Thomas Putnam.

We find out that many of the people who have been accused of witchcraft are people (like George Jacobs) with whom he has financial disputes.  We find out that he has put his daughter up to accusing Jacobs.  We also find out that if a person is convicted of witchcraft, their property gets auctioned.  As Giles Cory says, only Putnam has the kind of money needed to buy many of the properties of the people accused.

Which are the proper conditions for the process of nutrition of microorganisms?

To ensure the life of microbial cells, micro-organisms are using from the natural environment nourishing substrates or food.The food means any medium on which micro-organisms can take action and to ensure that energy and all components necessary to biosynthesis of cellular components.

To use this medium as a source of nutrition in the microbial cell, by genetic and catabolic pathway, it regulates cell metabolism that allows adaptation to environmental conditions. In this sense microbial cells can synthesize adaptive extracellular enzymes that produce  hydrolysis of nutrients  and transport of nutrients into the cell and their conversion.

Nutrition conditions for the process are:

•  In nutrient medium, microbial cells must enjoy conditions compatible with life;


• environment must provide the following nutritional components: water, carbohydrate sources-major sources of energy supply , nitrogen sources, mineral sources, growth factors;

In the absence of water, cell  will not be able to feed, water making soluble environmental compounds, providing transport and transformation within the cell.

•  aggregate water-soluble nutrients must be in a similar concentration to that available in cytoplasm, in order to avoid hypertonia of nutritional environment. Therefore culture media for growing micro organisms have a concentration of 3 to 15% rendering soluble nutrients.


• environment must be characterized by a certain pH, a specific oxidation-reduction potential, favorable to growth and multiplication of cells;


•  Lack of toxic substances from environment or not to be possible for the processing of nutrients from the environment to form toxic substances.

How does Fredrick Douglass justify his attitude towards religion?

The primary justification towards religion that Douglass makes is with his exploration of Christianity.  On one hand, Douglass believes in the powerfully redemptive spirit of Christianity, as the faith in the "promised land" helps to allow Douglass the chance to believe he can be free.  This faith in a "true" form of Christianity helps Douglass to accomplish the goal of freedom and the notion of being free.  Christianity, in this form, is what provided the hope for freedom to slaves like Douglass and others.  Douglass exposes his dislike for his "false Christianity," the affirmation of the religion, yet allowing for slavery.  In this particular setting, Douglass is trying to suggest that religion is a pure and powerful force, but it can also be manipulated to perpetrate the worst of all crimes and increasing human suffering.

In "The Minister's Black Veil", the minister says that death will snatch away their veils. What does he mean by this?Would he agree that his face...

You are only allowed to ask one question, remember, so I will answer your first question relating to what happens to our "black veils" after we die. It is crucial to realise the symbolic significance of the black veil in the story. The black veil represents the secret sins that all of us have and are not honest about. Consider how Mr. Hooper explains himself to his betrothed, Elizabeth:

"If it be a sign of mourning," replied Mr. Hooper, "I, perhaps, like most other mortals, have sorrows dark enough to be typified by a black veil."

Mr. Hooper is therefore wearing the black veil because he has learnt the lesson that others shudder to acknowledge and run away from - that in the heart of every human lies a darkness and sin that we deny and pretend does not exist.

Thus the symbol of the black veil is so potent because it literally separates us from others and even from our Maker as we try to pretend that this darkness is not within us. However, as Mr. Hooper recognises, we can only ever hope to wear this "veil" whilst we are on earth, for when we die, this veil will be stripped away and we will see ourselves for who we really are and others will see us as well. All pretence will be stripped away.