What is the meaning of the story "The Lottery" and is that meaning still relevant today?

Shirley Jackson's very controversial story is considered by many to be a parable about the detached inhumanity of man to man. Indeed, this detachment in cruelty is most relevant today as the daily news almost certainly has a report every day of some child killing his parents or grandparents because they would not comply with his wishes, etc.  And, when interviewed, the child calmly relates what he/she has done.

The dangers of indoctrination and conditioned, ritualized behavior are exemplified in the harrowing story told from such an objective point of view.  When Bill Hutchinson blindly obeys Mr. Summers and opens his wife's slip of paper which revels the black mark, Mr. Summer summarily orders,

All right, folks," .... "Let's finish quickly."  Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones....Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs. Dungar. "Come on,'" she said. "Hurry up."

None of the horror of the act touches the people, who are so inured to it. Instead, they are worried about hurrying and the time.  The reader can easily picture residents of a crowded city pausing only momentarily at the sight of violence to which they are inured, then hurrying to wherever they are going.

Besides Miss Caroline, who tells Burris to go home in "To Kill a Mockingbird"? I'm just stumped.

Besides Miss Caroline, a student named Little Chuck Little tells Burris to go home.

Burris Ewell attracts Miss Caroline's attention when she notices a "cootie" crawling out of his hair.  Little Chuck Little, a child who is "among the most diminutive of men", tries to calm the teacher while Burris removes the cootie nonchalantly from his head and "pinche(s) it between his thumb and forefinger".  In "horrid fascination", Miss Caroline watches, then tells Burris "to go home and wash (his) hair".  Burris insolently announces that she "ain't sendin' (him) home...(he) was on the verge of leavin' (anyway), (having) done (his) time for (the) year".  One of the older members of the class explains that the Ewells only come to school on the first day of classes every year, forced by "the truant lady...(who) reckons she's carried out the law just gettin' their names on the roll and runnin' 'em (there) the first day".  Upon hearing this, Miss Caroline changes her mind and tells Burris to sit down, but Burris reacts angrily at being told what to do.  Attempting to avoid a confrontation, Little Chuck Little steps forward and advises Miss Caroline, "Let 'im go, ma'am...he's a mean one".  When Burris turns menacingly towards the well-meaning peacemaker, Little Chuck Little warns him, "Watch your step, Burris...I'd soon's kill you as look at you...now go home" (Chapter 3).

Why does Winston cry at the end of "1984"?

Winston cries at the end of the book, in part, because he's been "broken" and, in part, because there is still a tiny part of him that knows he's not the man capable of free thought that he once was.  The part of him that used to have the ability to think freely and objectively is buried so deep inside that it can no longer completely surface, in fact, it is buried so deeply he is not even consciously aware of it.  If he were asked why he was crying he would probably respond that his tears were out of love for Big Brother.  And he would not be completely wrong because his tears are partly for BB.  That's how much he's been broken and how deeply buried is the Winston he once was.  He will never have the capability of thinking for himself again.

What is the significance of Lydia's elopment with Wickham?

Lydia Bennet's elopement with Wickham is a catalyst that stirs Darcy's heart toward Elizabeth. He takes responsibility for the family's reputation, making sure that Wickham marries Lydia. 

When the silly, 16 year old Lydia runs away with Wickham, out of a need for adventure and fun, she does realize what the consequences will be for her family.  She actually thinks that she is doing something positive, finding a husband.  Her mother is constantly encouraging her daughters to find a suitable husband.  However, Lydia is too immature to realize that Wickham is only interested in using her. 

Lydia is irresponsible and foolish, she does not care about her sisters or her parents.  I think Lydia's motivation for running away with Wickham is a combination of getting away from her boring life and the belief that she will be the first sister to get married.  

I think Lydia is stupid and naive, and believes that Wickham is honorable and will marry her.  But it is clear, that had Darcy not intervened, Wickham would not have married Lydia. It is only through Darcy's insistence that he marries her and saves the family's reputation.   

In Of Mice and Men, why does George stay with Lennie?

George explains to Slim in Chapter 3 that he and Lennie were born in the same town and after Lennie's Aunt Clara died, Lennie just started to accompany him "out workin'." George adds that he and Lennie became used to each other so that it felt odd to be alone.

As further explanation to Slim, George tells Slim that he has witnessed many men who travel alone that have become anti-social and even mean because they are alienated and on the defensive:

"I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone....They don't have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin' to fight all the time."

Slim agrees that the men are mean, and adds that these men withdraw and do not even talk to others.

This scene is a significant one as it underpins the theme of the fraternity of man that Steinbeck stresses in his novella set in the Depression. Steinbeck felt that in a fraternity men were stronger and could overcome oppressive conditions with the strength of others.   

What does this mean: "after that they conducted themselves according to the rules of behaviour associated with an amusement park"?This quotation is...

This is essentially historical question, requiring the reader to understand the manners of the upper class in the East of the United States in the 1920s.  It was a very different social climate than what we have now, even among that same class of people in that particular part of the US.

Gatsby had made enough money to buy a house in almost the very most fashionable place (West Egg, across the water from the ultimate fashionable place -- East Egg.)  He had bought his way into the environs of the very uppercrust of society -- his house is a beautiful mansion, staffed by many servants, and housing the well-attired and social-climbing Gatsby.  In this environment of privilege and wealth, however, was also a set of rules of behavior.  Daisy and Tom Buchanan, the society couple Gatsby tries to be like, would never allow their guests to behave in a drunken, lewd, and childish fashion (as Gatsby's guests do.)  Since high society was still, at this time, very much a closed members-only club, Gatsby is only able to get vaudeville performers, bootleggers, and various hangers-on to come to his parties, rather than the rich and pedigreed people who would go to Tom and Daisy's parties.  And Gatsby's guests act accordingly -- this was a time of Prohibition, when all liquor was illegal, and parties of this type were bound to be drunken and wild affairs.  Nick is saying that the guests at the party acted without any dignity, and like children at an amusement park.

In "The Crucible", what information does Mary Warren provide about the trial? What role is she playing at the trial? Why does John forbid her from...

Mary Warren is one of the girls included in the circle of Abigail Williams. They are supposed to be key witnesses in the witchcraft trial. After a day of attending the trial, Proctor insists that she has a job with them and she should not be neglecting her duties to go to the trial. Mary defies Proctor and says she is an official of the court and, therefore, she must attend the proceedings. She then mentions that Elizabeth Proctor is a possible suspect in the investigation of witchcraft. Proctor convinces Mary that she must expose Abigail to the court but Mary is intimidated by Abigail when she goes to expose her. She joins Abigail's group once again and her behavior helps lead to John Proctor's arrest.