How do Reuben, Swede, and Jeremiah express the theme of family in Peace Like a River?

This book is replete with examples of these three characters showing love, solidarity and concern to their family members.  The book is an amazing and touching example of how close a family can be to one another, close to the point of being willing to sacrifice one's life in order to help a family member.

Everything that Jeremiah does is for his family.  For example, he takes Reuben and Swede on the spontaneous cross-country trip in an attempt to find Davy and try to warn him of the authorities that are trying to find him.  That is a risky endeavor, but he did it because he loved his family and his son.  Another example is how he works at his rather lack-luster job of being a school janitor; probably not his life ambition, but one that can feed the children. And lastly, he gives his life for his son, Reuben.

Reuben does his best to testify well at Davy's trial, even though it ends up not going well.  He also sneaks off to find Davy and spend time with them in the snow-covered tundra where they catch up with him. He also spends countless hours with Swede, encouraging her to write and listening to her stories, which are a sort of therapy for her and the family.

Swede is a plucky girl who tries her best to take over the role her mother left.  One way she shows love is to use her money and resources to buy food for the starving family, and fix them a nice meal.  She also tries to make Davy out to be a sort of hero in her western poem, which shows her love for her brother.  In addition, Swede encourages her father's romance with Roxanne, a way to show her father that happiness can be his.

I hope that those examples helped; good luck!

What is Cicero's "Laelius, on Friendship" really about? Does it contain principles that benefit any people at any time?

Cicero's 'Laelius' is not an easy read so you have my sympathy if you have to wade through it. I can only give you a general answer as it is many years since I had to wade through it myself and am in no hurry to repeat the experience.

You will probably find many observations on friendship in 'Laelius' that we would still subscribe to today, such as the statement that true friends will hold each other in high esteem or the argument that true friendship will be strong enough to survive or adapt to changing personal or public circumstances. However, the idea that friends will be perfectly agreed on all matters, which is part of the definition of friendship in 'Laelius', would strike us as odd today. Of course friends will be like-minded on many matters but we are mostly capable of remaining good friends with people whose opinions and tastes differ from ours. Indeed most of would find our social conversation very dull indeed if our friends agreed with us on everything.

I am sure you will find similar examples in the text of things that still hold true today and of other pronouncements - and doesn't Cicero like to pronounce? - that seem very old-fashioned and irrelevant to our times. Good luck!

In Act IV, scene 1, how does the use of alliteration and onomatopoeia make the witches language faster and more rhythmic?In Act IV, Scene 1, how...

The witches say words like "mew'd" and "whined" in the opening scene as onomatopoeia.  Then they use alliteration in words like "Double, double, toil and trouble" to make use of aggressive, guttural sounds.  In all that the witches say in this scene, their words are all in either single or double syllables.  The phrasing goes quickly.  The alliteration emphasizes their gross concoction brewing in their cauldron, and the onomatopoeia makes the animal parts involved even more gory.

Ultimately, the use of these literary terms creates the wonderful imagery that goes along with the themes of light and darkness, and sickness and medicine mentioned in the link.

How has Macbeth changed since the murder of Duncan? Could you provide quotes to support your answers?

Well, Macbeth changes more or less as soon as he has done the deed. He comes back in to tell his wife that he has killed Duncan, but seems unsettled, maddened, unsure of where he is:

Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appals me?
What hands are here? Ha, they pluck out mine eyes!

Macbeth seems similarly unsettled by the murder in the next scene, in which he reveals he has - impulsively, without checking with his wife - murdered Duncan's grooms, so terrified he is of being discovered.

And then we learn in Act 2, Scene 4 that he has been crowned. And here is where, I think, there is a real change in Macbeth. His language becomes more muscular, and, though he is still hugely neurotic, he now is also hugely powerful. He orders Banquo's murder, and, though he is maddened again at the banqu-et (thinking that he sees Banqu-o's ghost) he regains his resolve after the apparition scene enough to order the murder of Macduff's children (though we don't see him do this).

Perhaps the best answer though, would be to look at the Macbeth at the end of the play. He is drained, weary, cynical and completely sure that his life is worthless. He knows, too, what he has missed out on:

...My way of life
Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf,
And that which should accompany old age,
As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have.

The murder of Duncan is a mistake that costs Macbeth his life - and his quality of life.

In "The Monkey's Paw," what are the types of conflict and some examples of each?

Two main conflicts make up the story: man vs. fate and man vs. man.

In wishing on the monkey's paw to receive a sum of money, the Whites attempt to control fate. Their wish comes true, but tragically through the death of their son Herbert. They receive the money, but in no way did they control their fate.

At the conclusion of the story, Mrs. Smith wants to use the monkey's paw again, this time to wish their son back to life. Mr. Smith opposes this vehemently, but finally gives in to her desperate plan. This sets the stage for the final conflict. When it seems that Herbert, out of his grave, stands on their porch, knocking to come in, Mrs. Smith struggles to unbolt the door to let him in, but her husband struggles to find the monkey's paw to make a third wish, that Herbert go back to his grave. Mr. Smith wins this conflict as Herbert suddenly disappears.

Who is Moushumi?Can you introduce her more fully so i can get the main picture. Who is she as a character?

Moushumi's parents were aqquaintances of the Ganguli family. She and Gogol met as kids, but she didnt take to him or any of the other children. She felt a little above them, to be honest. She had spent some time as a child in England, and always had a slight accent, despite being raised in America for most of her life. She has a deep passion for anything European, particularly of France.

After Gogol's fathers death and his breakup with Maxine, his mother thought it might be nice for him to meet a nice, Bengali girl-who happened to be Moushumi. Moushumi herself had a devastating breakup with her fiancee previous to their meeting which was the talk of the entire Bengali community on the East coast, apparently. Gogol only remembered Moushumi as the quiet girl who famously "detested" American television.

By this time, Gogol is settled in New York City, where Moushumi also resides. They arrange to meet in a swanky little cafe, where Gogol is immediatly taken aback by Moushumi. She sort of much transformed into this gorgeous goddess, with her cigarette and glass of wine. She and Gogol hit it off right away, and begin to start a passionate courtship. They eventually marry, much to the delight of all and begin, what they hope to be, a happy life together.

Things go well for a while, but quickly the two seem to drift apart. Moushumi begins seeing Gogol as a bore, while Gogol is too submerged in his own happenings to notice. Moushumi even gives up a fellowship in Paris to stay near Gogol iwthout his knowledge. This makes her feel that Gogol is becoming a burden in her life. Moushumi one day stumbles upon the name and address of a past lover. She wants to call him up, but is torn. It seems she still loves Gogol, but is not "in love" with him anymore. She finds a book given to her by that same lover tucked away in her bookshelf and begins re-reading it every night. This ultimately convinces her to call up her former lover, a Frenchman, and they begin a torrid affair. When Gogol finds out, they divorce.

To me, Moushumi was the most interesting character. She was like a bomb waiting to explode. As a child and well into her college years, she was very bookish, quiet, and reserved. She experienced life through her books, and became somewhat obsessed with European life. She wasnt particularly interested in her own culture, or fulfilling the standards and goals put on her by her parents or society. She was just different.

She never felt a mans touch until one small incident in high school, I believe, where an attractive teacher caressed her and told her how beautiful she was. She never followed through with it. I think she always regretted not channeling her true beauty or sexuality for so long. So after college she traveled to France and became free. She indulged in many affairs, and lived a fast paced, passionate life she never had yet always wanted. She finally felt liberated.

Back in America, she became engaged to a white man with whom she later broke up with and then met Gogol. Moushumi was a paradox. A shy, introverted girl turned into a mysterious, dark, and seductive woman. She seemed strong, yet underneath it all was painfully insecure and uncertain. I believe if there was a "The Namesake" part 2, Moushumi would be older, yet not wiser. She is an intelligent woman but would always be chasing after things, getting what she wants, but ultimately losing everything she chased after.

What are some aspects of Romanticism, relating to the Romantic period, in Goethe's Faust?

Goethe was the originator of the Romantic period but once he witnessed what the premises of Romanticism did to society he renounced Romanticism. This is why sixty years passed before Goethe agreed to work on completing Faust by adding sections to Faust Part I and taking a whole new tack on Faust Part II. Therefore, the only characteristics of Romanticism to be found in the work are in what is called the Urfaust, meaning the original Faust, which mostly comprises the stories of Faust and Mephistopheles and Faust and Gretchen (also called Margaret).

The most striking characteristics of the Romantic period ideas prevalent in the Urfaust involve individuality in the hero, journey for illumination within, symbols and myths, emotionalism, and the lessened role of reason. Faust typifies a new literary type of hero who is different form previous good heroes who are flawed or make an error. He represents the Romantic emphasis on individuality and the journey for illumination within; a self-oriented journey. The crux of Faust is symbology, which motivated Romanticism's quest to understand the world and emblematic nature, for instance the symbols of the macrocosm and microcosm, as well as myths and legends. For instance, Goethe drew on the Medieval legend of Dr. Faust that had earlier inspired Marlowe's Dr. Faustus.

Finally, in Faust will be found the characteristic that Romanticism is most famous, or notorious, for, the primacy of emotion over reason. Emotion and intuition were believed by Romantics to be the primary tools of "imagination," defined as the governing power of human cognition, which governs reason, creates art, and understand the universe. Individuals were encouraged to cultivate emotion along with intuition in order to aid the journey to inner illumination, such as in evident in Gretchen's behavior and Faust's when in connection with Gretchen.

In "A Rose for Emily," what does Miss Emily think of the men scattering lime around her house?

There is no evidence that Miss Emily actually saw the men or knew what they doing if she did see them. Faulkner tells us "So the next night, after midnight, four men crossed Miss Emily's lawn and slunk about the house like burglars" and then "As they recrossed the lawn, a window that had been dark was lighted and Miss Emily sat in it, the light behind her, and her upright torso motionless as that of an idol."

Does an idol see its worshippers? No. Do we know which way Miss Emily is looking? Not for sure. We also don't know if she was paying attention, or if the men succeeded in acting like thieves. As a result, we simply can't know.

If she did see them, we might suggest she took their service as her due, as an idol or Southern lady does.

Did the positive effects of the Columbian Exchange outweigh the negative consequences of conquest?

The positive aspects of the Columbian Exchange did not outweigh the negative consequences brought about through the conquest of the indigenous peoples of the New World.  In the early contacts between European colonists and the tribes of the New World, the Native Americans generally fared much worse than the colonists.

In the Columbian Exchange, the colonists and the Native Americans exchanged food, livestock, and culture, with the intended result being the mutual benefit of both parties.  Europeans brought gunpowder, the horse, and the Catholic Church to the New World, whereas the Native Americans brought new foods, new forms of game, and tobacco into the European realm of experience.  Both the Europeans and the Native Americans benefited from the experience, though gunpowder and tobacco proved to have as many negative aspects as positive ones.

The truly negative aspects of the Columbian Exchange lay not in what was intentionally exchanged, but what also came about as a side-effect.  The most devastating effect of the Columbian Exchange was the introduction of unknown diseases, especially smallpox, into the Native American populations.  Because they had not had any experience with these diseases, Native Americans had no means with which to fight them.  The result was the decimation of certain Native American populations.

Another negative side-effect derives from how new ideas and products were introduced to the Native Americans.  When the Spaniards came to the New World, they imposed the Catholic Church on the indigenous peoples, feeling it was the only means by which to "civilize" them.  This attitude toward the indigenous people contributed to the destruction of indigenous cultures.  The Spaniards perceived Aztec rituals and practices as barbaric, so they imposed their culture on the Aztecs, killing Montezuma and destroying Tenochtitlan, only to build a new city on its ruins.

Ultimately, it is not what Europeans sought to exchange with the Native Americans that contributed to the negative aspects associated with the Columbian Exchange.  It is what their unintended consequences and the means by which they interacted with the indigenous peoples that made the negatives aspects outweigh the positive aspects.

What's the setting of the story "Just Lather, That's All" by Hernando Tellez?

The setting in this story is a barbershop located in a small village in Colombia.  The name of the town is never mentioned in the story.  More broadly, though it is never explicitly stated, the story is most likely set during a period of civil war in Colombia, known as La Violencia, that plagued the country for ten years between 1948 and 1958.  At least 200,000 lives were estimated lost during this time.  Most historians regard the assassination of a liberal presidential candidate in 1948 to have been the start of the conflict, which pitched liberal revolutionaries against the ruling conservative government.  In “Just Lather, That’s All,” the barber at the heart of the story is one of these liberal rebels, while his customer is a member of the conservative military.  Here we see the two sides in this civil war pitched against each other in a non-military setting – but we soon learn that there was no such thing as a non-military setting during La Violencia.

What is "1984" by George Orwell about?

In a word, totalitarianism.  Orwell's insightful novel was published in 1948 and set in 1984--short of the mark--and was frighteningly prophetic for the late twentieth century.

In 1984 the main character, Winston Smith, suffers the loss of his individual prsonality as he is recreated in the Party's image until he not only obeys, but loves Big Brother. 

Winston works at the Ministry of Truth (a manufactured "truth") where information is produced and diseminated.  His job is to alter or "rectify" all past new articles which have once been "proven" to be false.  This rewriting of history was very prevalent with Communist Russia and Orwell allusions are not missed as Big Brother is used to represent Stalin.

The citizens of Winston's society are made to attend Two Minute Hate sessions where they are conditioned to think in certain ways.  At this session Winston meets a girl whom he suspects feels as he does.  In clandestine meetings he and Julia meet and are able to actually talk to one another and make love.  Julia confides that she despises the Party; with this antipathy in common, the two are able to steal precious moments of freedom.

Later, Winston acquires a forbidden copy of Goldstein's book which urges an overthrow of the Party and the secret history of Oceania.  Shortly after his reading of this book, Winston is arrested.  He is tortured and confesses to various crimes.  However, rather than being executed, Winston is subjected to a "cure" for his thoughts. Brain-washed, Winston walks to his execution in the Ministry of Love.

In 1984 Orwell protrays the thought-control of totalitarian governments.  His insight is profound, not just in communist countries, but in places where subliminal suggestion now has so influenced people's thinking in free societies.  Thus, 1984 is as relevant today as when it was written

In Night, how is Elie's tooth removed?

Elie and his father are in Buna working in the musicians block at an electrical warehouse. Although this life is better than other experiences that Elie has had (and will have) throughout the course of the narrative, Franek (the foremen)demands that Elie give him the gold crown that Elie has been able to keep so far. Franek initially offers Elie an extra rations of soup in exchange for the crown but as Elie continues to refuse Frank becomes more desperate. Franek realizes that the best way to get to Elie is through his father.

Elie's father has problems marching in the precision march that the prisoners are forced to perform everyday and Franek uses every excuse to beat Elie's father for his mistakes. Franek tells Elie that the beatings will stop if he simply gives Franekhis crown. In a tragic twist of fate, Elie must PAY the "dentist" to remove the crown with an extra ration of bread. The dentist extracts the tooth with a rusty spoon. Additonally to add to Elie's burden shortly after receiving Ellie's crown Franek is transfered to another camp and presumably gassed.

Upon cross-examining Mr. Heck Tate, what question does Atticus ask of Mr. Tate repeatedly?

In chapter 17 Atticus asks Heck Tate if a doctor was ever called.  The reason he repeats this question is to make it obvious to the jury (and judge) that no doctor was ever called.  Because there was no doctor involved, there is no evidence that proves that she was beaten and raped.  With no evidence, there is no case against Tom.  The judge breaks into the examination and said,

"He's answered the question three times, Atticus.  He didn't call a doctor."

Atticus replies to that,

"I just wanted to make sure, Judge."  At that comment, the judge smiled at Atticus.  He knew what Atticus was implying.  He was even helping to point it out by interrupting.

What is Golding's main message? Has he a solution for this message/problem?

Golding's theme in the book is that everyone is capable of evil and it is only society's rules that keep most individuals from acting on that evil.  He felt that evilness was part of the human condition.  When the boys are stranded on the island with no adults and nothing of their former society except for themselves, the evil comes out in them.  The book personifies that evil in the form of the Lord of the Flies, i.e., the head of the pig on the stick.  The boys talk of fearing the "beast" when it is the each of them that they should fear and, in the end, do fear.  For awhile, the boys think the beast is the what turns out to be the dead parachutist.  Except for Simon, Piggy, and finally Ralph, they cannot see the source of the problems on the island and believe it must be something concrete and outside of themselves.  Simon's "conversation" with the Lord of the Flies in chapter 8 sums up the real beast on the island.  Since Golding believed that evil was a part of all people, his only solution to the problem seems to be that we need to keep society's rules in place so that we can keep the beast in place, that is, keep the evil hidden away inside of us.  Even  the end of the story, with the officer rescuing the boys, shows that nothing is really going to change. The officer, a product of the war machine, thinks the boys are simply playing games.  He does not recognize the evil.

How is "The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales" a satire of medieval society?How does Chaucer show that the characters have things wrong with...

Chaucer uses indirect characterization to build the satire of his Tales. He describes the people using their social position, starting at the highest ranking (the Knight). The audience sees there flaws through the physical descriptions of them and through the stories that they tell. For instance, the physical description of the Pardoner and the Summoner are both less than appealing. They are described as having red, pimpled faces, and greasy complexions. On the other hand, the Knight is described as having a battled-scarred shield and majestic horse, creating a more noble effect.

How does Edward Cullen show integrity in "Twilight?"

The very first moment that Bella and Edward sit near each other in Biology, Edward shows integrity by not attacking and killing her. Although the reader does not realize it in the beginning, Edward is fighting his very nature in order to spare Bella's life. And when he saves her from Tyler's van, he shows integrity by endangering himself and his family's secret by saving Bella's life.

The Cullens have a lot of integrity, because they fight their own nature in order to take a moral path and not murder people. In Carlisle's case, he even uses his abilities to help people.

What is the internal and external conflict in "The Secret Life of Bees?"

The internal conflict is Lily having to forgive herself for accidentally murdering her mother, and forgiving her mother for leaving her there with her father. Lily doesn't know how to do this, or isn't ready, until she tells August who she really is and finally begins the healing process. Through most of the book, Lily is holding on to an ideal that her mother loved her more than anything, that she would never have left her, that she didn't shoot her mother, that she and Rosaleen would never have to be found in Tiburon and return to their old lives, and that deep down her father still loves her. Lily struggles to hold on to this dream for the whole summer, and when she lets go, she realizes that she is happier without it.

"[Rosaleen] said I was living in a dream world. 'Dream world' became her favorite two words. It was living in a dream world to pretend we had a regular life when there was a manhunt going on, to think we could stay here forever, to believe I would find out anything worth knowing about my mother. Every time I shot back, What's wrong with living in a dream world? And she'd say, You have to wake up." The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd page 121.

The external conflicts were racism: Rosaleen being beaten and arrested, Zach being arrested and not being aloud to pursue his dream as a lawyer, and Zach and Lily not being aloud to be together. This also minutely causes a problem between Lily and June, since August had worked as a house-maid for Lily's mother which upset June greatly, which caused tension between her and Lily. The trauma of Lily's mother leaving caused problems between Lily and her father that often became abusive. 

What is the relevance of ecological environment to the business?

Ecological environment refers to all living and non living thing around us within which we live and work. People have a two way relationship with the ecological environment. An individual lives and work is affected by the ecological environment he or she lives in. At the same time ecological environment gets affected by the people in it.

Relevance of ecological environment on the business is very similar to it relevance to individual. After all, business can be considered as the activities of of people organized in bigger group. The activities of an average business is carried out on much larger scale than an average individual. Thus business and ecological environment influence each other in much bigger way than individuals.

In recent years the business activities, particularly the ones involving intensive use of energy, release of harmful effluents, and using harmful substances are threatening to damage our environment irreversible to a state in which life itself will become unbearable for human beings because of phenomenon like global warming.

Industrialization in general involves, urbanization. This not only changes the life of people because of living in urban areas but also causes deforestation.

Some industry such as paper and furniture are fast destroying the substantially depleted forests. This has not only contributed to global warming, but also destroyed many varieties of flora and fauna.

Of course there scan be a positive side of business also. business can, because of its economic power and its relationship with its employees, customers and other stakeholders, play an important part in protecting and improve our ecological environment.

In The Canterbury Tales, who judges the storytelling contest and what prize is offered?

The tale-telling contest is the brainchild of the man, usually referred to as the "Host," who runs the Tabard Inn in Southwark where the pilgrims meet. The Host's real name is Harry Bailey.  He talks to the pilgrims and proposes a game:

...as ye goon by the weye
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye

The Host then stipulates the rules of a tale-telling contest:

 And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle,
 That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
 Tales of best sentence and moost solaas,
 Shal have a soper at oure aller cost
 Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
 Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
 And for to make yow the moore mury,
 I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde
 Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde;
 And who so wole my juggement withseye
 Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.

Each pilgrim has to tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two more on the way back. The Host himself will leave the inn and travel with them in order to judge the contest, and when they return to the tavern after having been on their pilgrimage, the person he judges the winner will eat supper (probably at his tavern) paid for by all of the other pilgrims. Who will the winner be?

That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
Tales of best sentence and moost solaas
(797-8)

Sentence is moral sententiousness, or moral instruction. Solaas is entertainment value, fun. These are two totally different criteria. But the answer to your question is the Host. Incidentally, we never find out who won the contest!

What is the setting of Blues Ain't No Mockin Bird? When and where does the story takes place?

Toni Cade Bambara's short story "Blues Ain't No Mockingbird" takes place in the front yard of a poor black family.  The house and yard are surrounded by a meadow (which is where the men with cameras have spent their day) as well as a forest (woods) where Grandaddy comes home from hunting.  In the front yard is a tire swing which the children of the neighborhood share and enjoy.  Granny has planted a flowerbed, and there are puddles of water in the yard which are being used as entertainment for several girls.  Beyond that are two images which are stereotypical of their living conditions:  Granny is baking some fragrant cakes, and Grandaddy is traipsing home with a dead chicken hawk. It isn't much, but it is a place where dignity reigns.

This is obviously a typical home for a certain category of people, or the camera men wouldn't want to use it to represent the typical living conditions of a poor black family in the South.

In Heart of Darkness, how are the two women outside the secretary's office symbolic?

The two women who are sitting outside of the secretary's are symbolic of the Fates from Greek Mythology.The three women were usually characterized as Clotho, a spinner of the thread of life; Lachesis, who was the measurer and choses the kind and length of life of a person. Finally, there is Atropos, who at death cuts through the tread of life with her scissors. As representative of the Fates, these knitting women are put in the place as judges of Marlow, able to determine his fate. The fact there are two, not three women, indicates one is missing---possibly Atropos, indicating Marlow is not near to death.

How do Hester, Dimmesdale and Chillingworth change physically, emotionally, and spiritually in The Scarlet Letter?

This question encompasses the entire novel and cannot really be answered in the detail you want in this short space. I suggest you consult the links below for more information.

1. Hester changes from a woman who flaunts her sin by wearing a beautiful dress and skillfully embroidering the letter "A" to a woman who is dressed more conservatively and is stronger both emotionally and physically than she is at the beginning of the novel. This is because she her sin is open and she learns from her mistakes.

2. Dimmesdale becomes weaker and weaker as the novel continues. He agonizes over his hidden sin, to the point that he puts his own secret letter "A" on his chest. He tries to confess publicly, but stops his confession many times until the end of the novel. The stress of the public confession is too much for his heart and he dies.

3. Chillingworth becomes totally focused on revenge during the novel. This has an effect on him physically as he becomes more and more deformed. Hawthorne says he was initially a fairly kind healer, but he becomes almost devilish in his search for revenge. After Dimmesdale dies, he has nothing more to live for and he withers up like the leech he has been described as, and dies.

What secondary themes also enrich Crane's story "The Open Boat"?

Two secondary themes have to do with humanity's relationship to nature. The opening line of Crane's story says:

None of them knew the color of the sky.

This introduces the secondary thematic considerations, relevant to humanity's relationship to nature, of the characteristics and effects of nature along with the autonomous quality of nature. As for the characteristics of nature, nature carries on whether we even know what it is doing or not, whether we "know the color of the sky" or we don't. A contemporary illustration of this is that the Sun may or may not produce sun spots when it is expected to whether we know what it is doing or we don't know what it is doing (right now, we know it is not!).

The effects of nature upon humanity are such that, again, whether we "know the color of the sky," or we don't, the effect will still be produced. In other words, if it's raining, you'll get wet outside, whether you believe or know it's raining or not. By the same token, the power of nature is autonomous. It continues in it's course whether we can "look" or not: if it's raining, it's raining, whether you look out the window or you don't look out the window.

Another early line(s) introduces another secondary theme pertaining to humanity's relationship to nature. The line(s) is:

A seat in this boat was not unlike a seat upon a bucking broncho ... she seemed like a horse

The thematic idea is that "domesticating" nature is a means by which to negotiate nature. Horses that make that (jump) "at a fence outrageously high" have been domesticated to help humanity negotiate and in some cases conquer nature--though every flood, every plague, every famine proves that nature always has the advantage and will not be perfectly negotiated nor ultimately conquered (though we keep tryin'!). In the story, technology (the open boat) is the "domesticated" element that is to help the men negotiate "outrageous" nature. The story shows that this domestication, so to speak, does in fact help the men--though in the end they do need more help.

How can we compare 1984 with the movie Wag the Dog?The question is:- With regard to !984 and Wag the Dog, establish 3 points of contact. Use a...

Wonderful question! I have never thought of comparing these two texts before, but obviously there is a lot you can say about them. Clearly, however, you need to recognise that while they both do share certain similarities, the tone of both pieces is completely different - Wag the Dog is a humorous satire on the power of spin in politics, whereas 1984 is a serious vision of dystopia that succeeds in crushing the hope out of even the most optimistic person.

The point of comparison that you will want to explore is how in both of these texts the public is made to accept and believe a "truth" that is created by the party and politicians. In Wag the Dog a war is created by spin doctors to distract the US media from the President's affair with a cheerleader. Actors are brought in and scenes "created" to lend credence to this "war". The people involved seem to depend on the inherent stupidity of the US public, for example not even knowing where Albania is.

You can make a good comparison therefore with the slogan of the party in 1984: "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is Strength." Ignorance on the part of the public gives strength to political opportunists who can exploit that ignorance for their own means.

Another telling quote is:

In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality was tacitly denied by their philosophy.

This strikes at the heart of this theme of the manipulation of truth and how the party and politicians are able to make us believe things that just aren't "true" - the whole concept of "truth" becomes a contested issue.

That should give you a start - all the best!

What are five quotations of the nature of dreams and the dream farm in "Of Mice and Men"?

The theme of "unfulfilled dreams" is ever-present in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and is reflected in many of his characters.

P.74 Crooks " I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads . . . every damn one of 'em's got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Ever'body wants a little piece of lan'. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land."

P.61  George “S'pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing.” Old Candy nodded in appreciation of the idea. “We'd just go to her,” George said. “We wouldn't ask nobody if we could. Jus' say, 'We'll go to her,' an' we would. Jus' milk the cow and sling some grain to the chickens an' go to her.”

p.14 George "O.K. Someday - we're gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and -"

P.88 Curley's Wife "Seems like none of them cares how I gotta live. I tell you I ain't used to livin' like this. I coulda made something of myself.' She said darkly, 'maybe I will yet."

p. 60 Candy "Maybe if I give you guys my money, you'll let me hoe in the garden even after I ain't no good at it."

I am having trouble answering what the title Like Water For Chocolate means as well as the novels point of view and structure. I dont quite...

Keep in mind that this novel has been translated from Spanish to English.  It is a novel about traditions, romance and magical realism.  

The title comes from an old Latin-American saying, como agua para chocolate, which is like water for chocolate or water that is at a boiling and it can be interpreted as a person who is about to burst in an emotional (or possibly passionate) manner.  The novel in many ways is portraying the "boiling points" of human passion.

The novel is written in the form of a journal. And the point of view shifts from Tita's first person narrative to her great-niece's third person point of view towards the end of the novel. Since most of the novel is told from a personal journal the tone of the narrative is sensitive, sincere, and reflective.

 The recipes serves as transitional tools to get from one chapter to the next.  Magical realism is a plays a very important part of this novel; there is a lot of fantastical events occurring within the mundane--like when Tita cooks with the rose petals, the internal lust is not only an example of hyperbole but also of magical realism. The characters are well developed personas and the author uses wonderful imagery as description. 

Some critics say that the novel's weakness is the overwhelming romantic female tone, but this is just a reader's personal preference. 

Give two reasons why the harvest is so successful in Chapter Three of Orwell's "Animal Farm".

The animals are motivated to do their best to make Animal Farm a success. They modifiy farm implements so that they will be able to use them properly, and they work together willfully instead of being forced to labour and produce. 

Another reason for the bumper crop harvest is that Jones isn't around anymore to pillage their goods. However, this isn't the case for very long. When the cows are milked by the pigs, the buckets simply vanish along with the stock of apples. When the animals get back some time later from their labour in the fields,  nothing is there.

Squealer explains later that these products are for the exclusive use of the pigs since it is the "brain food" necessary to keep them smart!

What is the first act of "Romeo and Juliet" mainly about?

Act 1, like most first acts in drama, is mainly about setting the scene, and introducing the characters. It largely builds toward the Capulet party in its final scene: Act 1, Scene 5.

The first scene is a largely comic scene, introducing two yobbish Capulets, whose banter escalates into a street brawl. The Capulet and Montague feud has been going on for a long time, and is still pursued with enthusiasm by both families.

Next we meet Paris, whom Capulet is inviting to a party that evening. He - who we meet in detail before we meet Juliet or Romeo - is a likely suitor to marry her.

Romeo and Benvolio, two young Montagues, are introduced next. We learn that Romeo is in love with Rosaline, who doesn't return his advantages. And Benvolio says he will drag Romeo to the party, in order to get his mind off her.

Next (Act 1, Scene 3) comes the first of many interior Capulet scenes centred around Juliet. We meet the nurse, and Lady Capulet, who are keen to know whether Juliet wants to marry Paris. Again, she says she'll meet him at the party that night, and see what she thinks.

Act 1, Scene 4 introduces us to Mercutio, as the Montague boys get ready to crash the Capulet party. Mercutio and Romeo have an argument, during which Mercutio improvises his Queen Mab speech. Benvolio calms them down and they all go to the party.

Act 1, Scene 5 is the party. Romeo and Juliet speak and fall in love. Tybalt hears Romeo's voice and swears revenge.

What is the significance of the following quote from "Fahrenheit 451"? Or your thoughts? “If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't...

In Fahrenheit 451, society has been changed to make people “happy” by keeping them from thinking about anything. So, they burn all books since they contain thought-provoking ideas. Your quote is an example of the mindset of those who designed this society. Here are some others:

We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against.

People want to be happy, isn't that right? Haven't you heard it all your life? I want to be happy, people say. Well, aren't they? Don't we keep them moving, don't we give them fun? That's all we live for, isn't it? For pleasure, for titillation? And you must admit our culture provides plenty of these.

We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought.

Chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy.

Give the main point of the passage from Pride and Prejudice: “My ideas flow so rapidly…Sunday...when he has nothing to do.”Pride and...

Pride & Prejudice, Chapter X of Volume I (Chap. 10)

"It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter, with ease, cannot write ill."

"That will not do for a compliment to Darcy, Caroline," cried her brother -- "because he does not write with ease. He studies too much for words of four syllables. -- Do not you, Darcy?"

"My stile of writing is very different from yours."

"Charles writes in the most careless way imaginable. He leaves out half his words, and blots the rest."

"My ideas flow so rapidly that I have not time to express them -- by which means my letters sometimes convey no ideas at all to my correspondents."

"Your humility, Mr. Bingley," said Elizabeth "must disarm reproof."

The lines quoted are taken from a conversation between Caroline Bingley, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley and, later, Elizabeth. At first, Caroline is flattering Darcy in order to gain his attention and affection by manufacturing artificial compliments to his way of writing a letter since he is occupied at the moment in writing a letter to his sister.

Caroline says that anyone who writes a long letter must also be a talented letter writer. Bingley dissents and says that can't apply to Darcy because Darcy only takes a long time writing because he is meticulous and tries to find long four syllable words. This is a good matured dig at Darcy's habitual formality.

Caroline then says that Mr. Bingley writes careless letters with words omitted and ink blotches covering other words. Bingley then utters the quoted line. What he means to say is that he thinks so quickly that his hand can't keep up with his mind. Austen introduced this brilliantly witty conversation, which continues to "Sunday night..." to reveal the characters' psychological makeup and the dynamics between relationships, also to encourage the antagonism between Elizabeth and Darcy and Elizabeth and Caroline Bingley.

The remark about "Sunday evening" with "nothing to do" is a playful jab at Darcy's temperament and an effort to divert the conversation away form an arguing debate about whether friends ought to be easily persuaded by each other: "I see your design, Bingley,'' said [Darcy]. -- "You dislike an argument, and want to silence this."

What is the summary for Chapter 29 of East of Eden?

Adam is impatient for an answer from Charles about whether he will come to California to visit. His wait is made a bit more tolerable, however, by the delivery of his new Ford by Will Hamilton. Will dislikes Fords but they are making him a lot of money so he acts enthusiastic for his buyers.

Will is not mechanically inclined, however, and his attempts to explain the complicated start-process of the new Ford are confusing to Adam and Lee.  Will says he will send someone the next day who can better teach the men about the car.

The boys are beside themselves with excitement.  Adam does not even try to send them to school the following day.  A boy not much older than the twins arrives to teach them the basics.  “Jus’ call me Joe,” he says, over and over.  It is clear that “Joe” enjoys his position of authority over much older men who must rely on him. Over and over, Adam, Lee, and the twins repeat the mantra:  “Switch to Bat; Crank to compression, thumb down; Easy over – choke out; Spin her; Spark down, gas up; Switch to Mag.”

The boys are in awe of Joe’s expertise.  They try to imitate his speech and mannerisms. They are a bit shocked when “Joe’s” employer arrives and addresses him as “Roy.”  It takes a bit of the air out of “Joe.”  He tries to regain a little of that luster by commanding that Adam read the car’s manual.

What function does the friendship of Hamlet and Horatio serve in the play?

1) The guards' knowledge of the friendship prompts the decision that gives the ghost legitimacy. The guards have Horatio clarify the ghost as a real essence--not just a figment of Hamlet's imagination.

2) Drives Horatio's desire to redeem himself as a worthy friend to Hamlet.  On the roof, Horatio so scares himself with his story of omens at caesar's death that he acts irrationally to the ghost, losing the apparition and his chance to clarify the ghost's appearance ahead of time for Hamlet.  Horatio's guilt for abandoning this duty to Hamlet moves him to stay by Hamlet for the rest of the play. 

2) The friendship serves to validate Claudius' guilt--Hamlet turns to Horatio to second Hamlet's interpretation of the King's response to the play.

3) The friendship provides for Gertrude's sole account of Ophelia's death--again, in Horatio's desire not to abandon Hamlet, Horatio chooses to meet with Hamlet after reading Hamlet's letter.  In doing so, he leaves his watch over Ophelia, so the only evidence of Ophelia's death resides in Gertrude's story.

4)  The friendship provides for evaluations of Hamlet's moral character--the extent of Hamlet's moral degeneration emerges in Horatio's shock over Hamlet's cold-blooded response to Ros. and Guild,'s likely inability to repent before they die and also in Horatio's lamentation of the extent of Hamlet's moral fall after Hamlet dies: "Now cracks a noble heart."

In A Separate Peace, what function does Mr. Hadley (Brinker's father) serve?He talks to Gene and Brinker about serving their country and have a...

Brinker's father is a representative of the older generation, the children of World War I.  He wants his son to race bravely into the thick of the fighting, rather than to hold back and stay on the edges of the action.  He encourages Gene and Brinker to become "heroic," or to take military jobs that would bring more respect.  He says to them, "if you can say that you were up front where there was some real shooting going on, then that will mean a whole lot to you in years to come" (p. 199).  He wants the boys to be proud of the fighting they have done, and not to just run and hide from the dangers of war.

Gene and Brinker, however, see him as a part of the generation that has created the war. They resent him for sending them off to fight while he stays safely at home.

What does the "central idea" mean in literature?

In literature, the "central idea" is a another way of saying "theme." A theme is the focus, the lesson or the moral learned in a given piece of literature.  If you want to compare it to  Disney Land, the central idea or theme is that of cartoon characters...however, the central theme of a story is like that of The Three Little Pigs; never build your house out of straw, be sure it has a solid foundation.

Name some sentences that show Jonas was scared in The Giver.

Toward the beginning of the novel, Jonas struggles to put into words his feelings about the upcoming ceremony (where he will turn 12 and get his job assignment).  On page 4 in my copy (chapter 1), it says:  "But there was a little shudder of nervousness when he thought about it, about what might happen.  Apprehensive, Jonas decided.  That's what I am."

In chapter 8, Jonas expresses his fear when he realizes he was skipped in the assigning ceremony.  It says, "Now he felt only humiliation and terror" on page 59 of my copy.

During the escape, Jonas expresses fear in various ways; fear of being caught, of starving, of not being able to save Gabe.

In "The Rocking Horse Winner," the writer describes Paul's eyes. What do they tell us about Paul?

The first description is "The boy watched her with unsure eyes" which indicates that he is thoughtful, ponderous.  Most of the descriptions are:  "His eyes had a strange glare", "big blue eyes blazing with a sort of madness", "His eyes blazed", "a blue glare...his blue eyes still flaring", "big, hot, blue eyes", "his eyes were blue fire...with eyes blazing"  All descriptions related to him on his horse, thinking or talking about winning money, or being at the races reflect a hot, burning obsession that is taking over him.  Blaze, glare, flare, fire:  strong words, consuming, and destructive, perhaps foreshadowing the unpleasant result of his quest. 

When his uncle or mom suggests he stop, the descriptions change:  "uncanny blue eyes" (creepy or unique) and "The boy watched him with big blue eyes, that had an uncanny cold fire in them".  The fire changes to cold-frightening, but a fire nonetheless.  Eventually, he was "wild-eyed and strange," adding even more of an element of being out of control.  Before he dies, there is a change:  "his eyes were like blue stones".  All fire, passion, and life is gone; he is left as cold and empty as a stone.  His obession has burned the life out of him.  The eyes are a very efficient way to relay information about the inner mindset of a character, and Lawrence does the well, tracking the tragedy of Paul.

What is the significance of Mary Grace's book Human Development in O'Connor's "Revelation?"

Mary Grace's Human Development book is a psychology textbook often used in college psychology classes. O'Connor's use of it in the story is ironic because Mary Grace, who apparently suffers from some emotional instability to say the least, is the only one who reacts to the hypocrisy and prejudice demonstrated by Mrs. Turpin. This girl's emotional problems allow her to act out in a way her calm, reserved mother, who hears the same remarks Mary Grace does, never would.

Mary Grace must be an intelligent student, for she attends a prestigious women's college. She harbors a great deal of anger for reasons that are only suggested by her mother's references to her daughter's lack of appreciation for what she has. A psychology text could perhaps have instructed her in ways to deal with anger, but clearly she has no control because she attacks Mrs. Turpin violently.

It's ironic that she assaults Ruby who, although puzzled by the girl's strange looks and odd faces at her, is completely unprepared.  Psychologically, Mrs. Turpin then must wrestle with the question of whether she really is "a warthog from Hell." Mary Grace is the conduit O'Connor uses to afford Mrs. Turpin her "moment of grace."

How can you solve the range and domain of an equation?math 4

For example, you need to find the range  of an equation, x^2+7

First, you must get the definition right. The range of the equation defines as a set of numerical values that the function (X) would used as x-values changes all the time.

You would get a range like this: X^2>=0.

Next, subtract negative 7 to both side of inequality equation so

X^2-7>=-7. This inequality equation shows that this X^2-7 would take any values that is bigger or equal to -7. So, the range would be like this  (-7 and +infinite values).

The domain of this equation would be a positive set of x-values so domain is x^2>=0, more or equal to zero.

Does Look Back in Anger make a significant use of symbols to communicate its meaning?

Osborne's well-made play in three acts, Look Back in Anger, does make a significant use of symbols to convey its thematic implications. Let me approach your question with some examples:

1) Church Bells ringing on Sunday evenings symbolises the religious establishment that the angry young protagonist believes to be an encroachment into his domestic space. We hear Jimmy resort to loud jazz trumpet as a mode of protest. The symbolic binaries relate to the basic theme of the Individual-Establishment confrontation.

2)Alison Porter's ironing board symbolises a narrowly circumscribed domestic space that she finds for herself, an obsessive preoccupation to maintain a cold, non-responsive stance for which Alison is put to onslaught and abuses by Jimmy. The break-down of the ironing board symbolises the break-down of the illusion of peace and aloofness.

3) The bear and squirrel game in which Jimmy and Alison assume the roles of an old bear and a cute little squirrel respectively with Cliff Lewis playing the added role of a mouse is a symbolic episode suggesting a primitive natural world of  fairy-tale happiness into which Jimmy and Alison want to take a protective shelter.

4) Scattered newspapers in the Porter apartment may be symbolic of the real world as scattered, broken and full of futile repetitions.

5) The red shirt of Jimmy Porter as worn by Alison at the beginning of act I and by Helena in the beginning of act III may symbolically relate to the themes of love and sexuality.

In "The Crucible" how does the playwright show irrationality and superstition overruling rational thinking and common sense in Salem?

There are several examples of this in the play.  The one that stands out the most in my mind is the reason behind why Martha Corey was arrested.  She sold a pig to Walcott, that died shortly after he got it, because he wasn't feeding it properly.  So, Marth chastised him, saying, "Walcott, if  you haven't the wit to feed a pig properly, you'll not live to own many." Well, sure enough, his pigs keep dying.  So, he supersitiously claims that the reason was because "Martha bewitch them with her books".  The common-sense reason why the pigs are dying?  He's starving them.  The irrational, superstitious reason?  Martha's a witch casting spells on them.

Another example is when Mary Warren casts the "final proof" that Sarah Osburn is a witch.  After she turned her away from the house without food, Osburn mumbled and she "thought [her] guts would burst for two days after."  The superstitious implication is that Osburn mumbled some sort of curse or witchcraft to make Mary sick.  Never mind the logical answer which was that she just coincidentally happened to get some sort of bug.

Another example is when Cheever and Herrick immediately take the poppet situation as hard proof that Elizabeth is a witch, a superstitious belief, over the logical assumption that Abby saw Mary put the needle there and used the opportunity to her advantage.

These situations, and many others, show fear and superstitioun ruling Salem, not logic and reason.

What are the main differences between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

Both of the Macbeths are ambitious, but Lady Macbeth lacks the strength to deal with all the consequences of her ambition.  In Act 1, sc. 5, when Lady Macbeth reads her husbands incredulous letter about the witches and their prophecies, she immediately knows that she wants to kill Duncan.  She doubts, however, that her husband has the drive to do the deed.  She goads him into killing Duncan by telling him he's not a man in her eyes unless he does this act.  She knows her husband wants to please her she uses that against him.  Macbeth never does anything like that to Lady Macbeth, however.  In fact, he shields her by not telling her, even, of his intent to have Banquo killed, Act 3, sc. 2.  By the beginning of Act 5, Lady Macbeth has gone mad from guilt and in Act 5, sc. 5, she dies, presumably by suicide.  She did not have the strength that she doubted her husband possessed earlier.  Macbeth, on the other hand, has become determined to ride out the consequences to their natural conclusion.  In the last act, Macbeth is seen as a tyrant, but a valiant tyrant who has not given up the fight.  In the last scene of the play when Macbeth and Macduff meet up again, Macbeth says he does not want to fight Macduff because he's killed enough of his family already.  When Macduff tells Macbeth of his birth and Macbeth knows he was tricked by the witches, he still does not give up the fight.  He is stronger than his wife.

What's "Ethnography of Communication?"What's the difference between : Speech situtation;Speech event; Speech act?

The study of Ethnography of Communication includes a

description and analysis of speech habits, situational contexts, and cultural norms used in producing and evaluating speech.  It identifies the possible components, functions, and contexts of speech acts in a given speech community or society, as well as similarly delineating named speech events and speech situations in that community.

This includes: discourse, defined as utterance, communicative events and messages with linguistic meaning.  It also includes the Speech act, the minimal act employing verbal meanings like telling a joke.  You need a sender, receiver, message form, message channel, code, topic, and context.  There is also a Speech Event involved.  This is made up of one or more speech acts which have specific rules to control the use of speech.  An example would be a joke that might occur in a lecture or some other formal speech event.  Then there is the Speech Situation. Again, sticking with the same theme, a joke could also be told in a conversation, which is a speech event at a party which would be a speech situation.

What are two references to disease or decay in Act 1?

Act I Horatio says that the moon "Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse."

The ghost uses words in Act I associated with disease to describe his poisoning and death:

The leperous distillment, whose effect
Holds such an enmity with blood of man
That swift as quicksilver it courses through
The natural gates and alleys of the body,
And with a sudden vigor it doth posset
And curd, like eager droppings into milk,
The thin and wholesome blood.  So did it mine,
And a most instant tetter barked about
Most lazarlike with vile and loathsome crust
All my smooth body.

The motif of disease and decay creates and enhances the atmosphere of the play.  Marcellus' line in Act I sums it up very well: "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

What does the Valley of Ashes symbolize?

Before considering the figurative meaning of the ash heaps, one must define what they are:  the by-product of the industrial age, specifically the coal ash left from coal-burning factories.  The valley of ashes in 'Gatsby' lies between the affluent refuge of the Eggs (Long Island's Hamptons) and the busy excitement of Manhattan, signifying the human misery--think of the Wilsons--and environmental cost of the machinery that creates fantastic wealth for a few--people like Tom and Daisy--but leaves most choking on ashes.  The valley, therefore, is meant as a sobering foil to the dreamy opulence of the Eggs, but also as an omen for Myrtle and Gatsby--two doomed characters who pay the price for reaching for the dream

How much did Victor confide to his friend Clerval about bringing the creature to life?

The answer is little to none...at first. When the two friends are first reunited, Victor is so overcome at seeing Clerval, and so horrified by his creation, that he cannot bring himself to say anything. Note his reaction upon seeing Clerval:

I could not endure to think of, and far less to allude to, the occurrences of the preceding night. I walked with a quick pace, and we soon arrived at my college. I then reflected, and the thought made me shiver, that the creature whom I had left in my apartment might still be there, alive and walking about. I dreaded to behold this monster, but I feared still more that Henry should see him.

So Victor can't even think about what he's done, much less tell his friend. Even though he's afraid to return home and find the creature, he's much more concerned that Henry will see it. So he's certainly not willing to tell Henry of its existence and creation. However, later in the chapter Victor falls ill. During his fever, he reveals his dark secret.

The form of the monster on whom I had bestowed existence was forever before my eyes, and I raved incessantly concerning him. Doubtless my words surprised Henry; he at first believed them to be the wanderings of my disturbed imagination, but the pertinacity with which I continually recurred to the same subject persuaded him that my disorder indeed owed its origin to some uncommon and terrible event.

So Henry doesn't really believe Victor, but he knows it has to be mroe than just the fever talking. Victor repeats the same story too many times with such conviction that Henry is eventually convinced that something has happened...he just doesn't know what.

In "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonneget Jr., what has guaranteed equality in the story?

The society attempts to "guarantee" equality through the use of handicaps; these "handicaps" offset any qualities you have that might be extraordinary or talented.  For example, Harrison's father, whose "intelligence was way above normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear" that rattled loud, distracting, painful noises into his ear that made him lose his train of thought.  Because of this, it was hard for him to think coherently, with any intelligence.  This, their society thought, helped "to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains."  He also had to wear "forty-seven pounds of birdshot in canvas bag, which was padlocked around [his] neck", because he was taller and stronger than the average man.

This is the society's ingenious plan to keep people from being unequal.  No one had to feel uglier, more stupid, or less talented than anyone else, ever.  Unfortunately, the system does have its hiccups.  Harrison, for one.  He breaks onto the scene, equipped with an absurd amount of handicaps, and for a moment, tears them off and dances beautifully with a gorgeous ballerina (revealed to be gorgeous only after "he removed her mask").  This interruption doesn't last long, however; Harrison is shot down.  And, Vonneget seems to be saying that the handicaps work quite well because his mother and father forget about it nearly right after it happens.  It's a sad but thought-provoking tale about taking equality to dangerous levels.

Discuss the appropriateness of the title for "A Canary for One" by Ernest Hemingway?

The American woman having bought a canary in Palermo is bringing it back for her daughter who has lost interest in life because she cannot marry the man she loves.  This American woman talks to a younger couple in the compartment with her on the train, who are also Americans; however, she does most of the talking--a "canary for one."  Furthermore, as she talks, she hardly notices that the younger couple never speak to each other. Instead, the man gazes sullenly out the windows of the passing train, looking out upon charred fortifications, train wrecks, and a burned farmhouse. He remarks, "Nothing had eaten any breakfast." While the taciturn husband spends his time looking out windows, the wife, however, does agree with the older American woman that American men make the best husbands.

It is not until the end of the story that the reader realizes that the man has been narrating the story, and he and his wife are returning to Paris in order to "set up separate residences," where they may have "a canary for one." However, there are no longer any songs for them. Thus, the bird and its little cage are symbolic of the solitary life to come a life symbolized by the gulf of understanding between the couple.

What are the themes in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird"?How the characters are used in order to convey the theme?

The three main themes circle around prejudice, courage and knowledge.  Atticus takes us through the theme of prejudice through his defending Tom.  He shows his kids to do what is right.  Both kids learn not only from him but through Calpurnia as well.  They see her as a mom before they see her as their "cook."

Courage is shown in several characters.  Mrs. Dubose fights her way to be drug free before dying.  Atticus knows he's going to lose, yet he tries to keep Tom out of jail.  And Boo risks his life to save the children.

The knowledge is throughout the book with both children.  Scout learns through walking in others' shoes. Jem learns that just because Atticus proved Tom was innocent doesn't mean Tom won't be convicted.  Many characters grow in this novel, but Scout is by far the one to go through the "bildungsroman" which is the knowledge and maturation over time from childhood to adulthood.  Narrating the story later in life, she is able to share perspectives from both a child and as an adult.

What does Tom's discussion regarding the "Nordic Race" reveal about him in "The Great Gatsby"?

This passage occurs in the beginning of the novel when Nick goes to dinner at Tom and Daisy's house. During the evening, Tom suddenly starts talking about a book he has read, The Rise of the Coloured Empires:

Well, it's a fine book and everybody ought to read it. The idea is if we don't look out the white race will be--will be utterly submerged. It's all scientific stuff; it's been proved . . . It's up to us who are the dominant race [Nordic] to watch out or these other races will have control of things.

Tom's remarks show two things: He is an ignorant racist, and he is very proud of having read a book. Nick, for one, is quite surprised that Tom has read a book; in college Tom was never known for his intellect--only for his football skills.

In "A Separate Peace", why does Gene feel that Finny's funeral is his own?In Knowles' novel 'A Separate Peace.'

Unlike popular Finny, Gene is a loner. His introvert nature and intellectual standoffishness put the other boys off, and it was only with Phineas that he experienced true friendship. Even when Gene betrayed him by shaking him off the tree, Finny remained loyal. (There is even a bit of denial here on Finny's part not to believe what Gene had done.)

When Finny dies, something cherished and rare in Gene perishes, too, for he now is truly alone again. Certainly none of the other boys would ever trust or respect him as Finny did, and it will not be anytime soon that he can experience that kind of friendship and complicity again.

In Beowulf, what is ominous about the behavior of Beowulf's men during the final battle? What does this suggest about the future of the kingdom?

When the enraged dragon terrorizes the Geats and burns Beowulf's mead hall, Beowulf acts to protect his people one final time. He is quite old, having ruled with honor for fifty years, but he does not turn away from his duty. Armed with a new shield, Beowulf takes twelve of his best warriors, including Wiglaf, and finds the dragon. After recalling many of the most significant events of his life, Beowulf decides to face the dragon alone, his last great battle. The old king, however, cannot overcome the beast. The dragon wraps Beowulf in "swirling flames." Beowulf is a "defeated warrior," but his greatest hurt awaits. He is abandoned by his warriors, except for Wiglaf:

None of his comrades

Came to him, helped him, his brave and noble

Followers; they ran for their lives, fled

Deep in a wood. And only one of them

Remained, stood there, miserable, remembering,

As a good man must, what kinship should mean.

The warriors' abandoning their dying king shows the Geats' honor, loyalty, and sense of community are broken; their society cannot and will not endure without them.

Is Amir entirely at blame for the suffering of Hassan?I need ideas how Baba is at blame and how Amir is at blame?

Amir's blame for the suffering of Hassan is more obvious than the blame of Baba.  Amir was a boy who wanted his father's love.  He knew what he had been taught and he believed that Hassan, even though a friend, is a lower class citizen and a servant boy.  When Hassan was raped Amir should have come to his defense by telling someone what happened.  His turning on Hassan caused suffering for Hassan because he had unconditional love for Amir.  Baba, on the other hand, was and adult.  He knew that Hassan was his son, yet he let his social status control his behavior in this situation.  He never told his son that Hassan was his half brother, and he never told Hassan that he was his father.  Baba laid the foundation for all of Hassan's suffering by not owning up to his part in the conception of Hassan.