Frangipani House Summary

Stated simply, this is a book about Mama King:  a strong, elderly woman in Guyana who is condemned to a rest home by her daughters.  Mama King has been ailing physically for a while, and is almost seventy.  Both of Mama King's daughters live in America and pay to have their mom moved to Frangipani House, a rest home for "aged old folk - black folk." 

What Mama King's daughters don't understand is that their mom's ailments are fleeting.  She recovers after a while and longs to get away from the rest home.  Miss Trask, the Matron of the place continually exhibits control over the patients and finds joy in confining them further.  Mama King finally realized that it is Frangipani House that is killing her, not her age. 

Mama king continually grumbles about her state.  She misses her work.  She misses her friends.  She even misses "hardship."

I am going lazy-handed to meet my Maker. Me mother dead with sod in her hair. Me father dead with rice grass underneath him. And me I sittin' till me bones get sore waitin'.

Actually, things are a bit worse than this in that people are stealing Mama King's clothes and no one is mailing her letters to her daughters.  Even the shots that Mama receives aren't doing their job.  Throughout the story, Mama King shares her memories as she plans to escape from Frangipani House. 

Mama King refuses to give up by insisting she take back control of her own life despite her age.

According to Howard Zinn, how and why did the United States take the Southwest from the Mexicans? What does Zinn say about how the war started? Why...

"He seems to have lost all respect for Mexican rights and is willing to be an instrument of Mr. Polk for pushing our boundary as far west as possible."  Colonel Ethan Alien Hitchcock

Howard Zinn retells the history of the Mexican-American War as a tale of deception and imperialism on the part of the United States government. After the Louisianna Purchase, large swaths of land in the southwest were part of an independent Mexico. The United States instigates a rebellion by Texas to declare independence from Mexico. The rebellion was successful and the United States quickly admitted the state to the Union. President James Polk is described as an expansionist at heart and despite civilian and military sentiment against a war with Mexico, he plows ahead with his imperial agenda. Polk would make it a habit of agitating Mexico. Soon after his inauguration he sent troops to the Rio Grande River, which was actually in Mexico, to enforce that river as the boundary between Texas and Mexico. Soon after this action, the Mexicans responded with the aggression that Congress needed to declare war on Mexico. The motives for the war are described by Zinn in the following excerpt:

Accompanying all this aggressiveness was the idea that the United States would be giving the blessings of liberty and democracy to more people. This was intermingled with ideas of racial superiority, longings for the beautiful lands of New Mexico and California, and thoughts of commercial enterprise across the Pacific.

The war was a striking success for the United States. With the American triumph, Mexico had lost about one-third of its territory, including nearly all of present-day California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.

What literary element is used in: "face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder?"

In this final passages of the last chapter, Nick creates a parallel between Gatsby's dream and the dream of America. Gatsby failed to relive the past. In the end, even his idealism could not save him, nor change things in reality. For Gatsby, this was his "American Dream." Fitzgerald is making a critique with this story about the inability to achieve the American Dream. 

Nick reflects upon the old America, that land that early explorers would have seen when they first came to this New World. The New World was full of promise and wonder. Over time, the land was developed and "America" evolved into something else, something with less wonder and promise. Similar to how Gatsby's dream began in hopeful idealism and ended in tragedy, Nick seems to suggest that the hopeful idealism of America in its beginnings has also become corrupted. Something has been lost. 

Nick says that man (meaning humanity) was "face to face with for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder." This is quite a statement. He means that when (any) man looked at the New World (America before it was America) that would have been the last time anything lived up to humanity's greatest amount of wonder. The notion is that America could never again live up to this high esteem, with its having fallen like Gatsby's original idealism. Given that this is such a dramatic statement, we could call it hyperbole, a literary element in which something is exaggerated to make a dramatic point. There is also a use of personification in that man is face to face with the New World. The New World is given a "face," a human quality, in order to give America a character or personality. And this character is marked by idealistic hope, optimism, and wonder. One might even call this a kind of flashback because, even though he was not there, Nick recalls America in its inception. 

Why are these quotes important in the book To Kill a Mockingbird? "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here—they got their church,...

Both questions speak to the racial divide present in Maycomb at the time of the Tom Robinson trial.

In the first, Calpurnia brings Jem and Scout to her African American church.  In this quote, we see that the racial divide cuts both ways, and that, to some extent, the Black churchgoers appreciate having an all-Black church in order to have their own space in society.  That Calpurnia has brought two white children into that church is upsetting to this congregant.  Yet, in the way he asks Cal, rather than telling her (...ain't it, Miss Cal?), we see that the congregant still respects Cal as a leader within the church.

The second quote is spoken by Bob Ewell as part of his testimony against Tom Robinson.  In his use of the "n" word in a formal court, we see that language usage was quite different at the time.  One cannot imagine using such a word while under oath these days.  His use of the colloquialism "ruttin'" also shows Bob to be uneducated, as those properly educated would likely have used different terminology.  

How did Shakespeare's plays get passed down through so many generations?

The study of the history of Shakespeare’s texts is a life-long discipline for English literature scholars (see Fredson Bowers’ definitive Principles of Bibliographical Description, 1949).

They begin with records of Shakespeare performances in his lifetime, and divide the texts (that is, the physical written copies of the lines and stage directions) into several kinds, called “fair” and “foul” copies. Fair copies, legitimate authorized editions of the complete play, printed during Shakespeare's lifetime, are most reliable as historical records, because they have not been tampered with nor edited, and were presumably overseen by the author; foul copies include actors’ “sides” (the actors were not given the entire script, just those scenes where their character appeared), copies written down by audience members (usually to be stolen for another acting company), or later printed copies often containing printing errors that obfuscate the line’s meaning (in the description of Falstaff’s death, “and tabled of green fields” for example, probably should have been “and babbled of green fields”). Finally, after Shakespeare’s death, his friends and colleagues gathered his plays into the Folio edition of 1623 (18 plays appear here exclusively). What saved Shakespeare’s plays in the next generations was their popularity on stage, even through the Restoration, and the 18th and 19th centuries.

In the cartoon "Interrupting the Ceremony," what is the artist's point of view on the League of Nations ?

This cartoon is a commentary on the debate in the United States over ratifying the Treaty of Versailles. This treaty ended World War I, but in the United States, the debate centered on the fact that the Treaty created the League of Nations. The fear was that membership in the League might involve the United States in foreign wars, and many US senators (the Senate was responsible for ratifying all treaties) objected to the Treaty on these grounds. As for the artist's point of view, it seems that he agrees with the senators (mostly Republican, led by Henry Cabot Lodge) who opposed the League of Nations. We can tell this because the bride who is about to marry Uncle Sam has the words "foreign entanglements" on her dress. This phrase dated back to the nation's founding, and connoted unnecessary involvement in foreign affairs, especially the affairs of Europe. Uncle Sam, in other words, is about to get permanently attached to foreign entanglements, and as the minister asks if there is anyone who can show cause that the marriage should not proceed, the US Senate is bursting through the door. So the use of the phrase "foreign entanglements" suggests that the artist sympathizes with the League's critics. 

What lessons can readers learn from the relationship between Squeaky and Raymond in the short story "Raymond's Run"?

There’s a lot we can learn from the bonding between Squeaky and Raymond. Their relationship exemplifies deep attachment and selfless love between siblings. Squeaky teaches us that true love is never affected by one’s drawbacks, while Raymond teaches us not to grumble about the activity our loved one is passionate about. 

Most importantly, both of them teach that true love can bring about unexpected positive changes in one another. It’s through their love for one another that brings about a sudden change in their attitudes towards their lives, giving them their moments of epiphany.

We see that Squeaky is transformed into a much more mature and content girl towards the end of the story. She is able to transcend the fear of losing her reputation as “the fastest thing on two feet.” Actually, she is overwhelmed at her discovery that Raymond can be groomed to become a great runner. She’d like to become his coach and help him to make his life meaningful.

On the other hand, Squeaky's company has drawn out the inherent athletic talents in Raymond. When Squeaky would run on the streets, Raymond would follow her. He would also copy her breathing exercises. These habits gradually developed his running skills without his or Squeaky’s noticing them.

Imagine what would have happened had Squeaky found accompanying her brother Raymond, who suffers from cognitive disabilities, to be a burden, or had Raymond objected to Squeaky’s constant running habits and demanding breathing exercises.

Perhaps they’d never have found the epiphanic moments that have brought them immense satisfaction. These moments were possible because true love has taught them never to complain about each other’s shortcomings or eccentricities. Without putting in any extra ounce of effort, they have always known how to accommodate each other with whatever they are. This is possible only when you love someone from the bottom of your heart. Squeaky and Raymond have always loved each other with the sole objective of seeing each other happy and unharmed.

Most importantly, they teach us how to love truly.

K sold 800 shares at Rs. 36.17 less commission of Rs. 0.12 per share. What are the proceeds of the sale?

The proceeds of a sale are equal to the product of the number of items sold and the net price of each of the items. If N items are sold at a price P and a charge of C has to be paid on the sale of each item, the net earnings are equal to N*(P-C)

In the question, K sells 800 shares at 36.17 and has to pay a commission of 0.12 per share that is sold.

The amount received from the sale is equal to 800*(36.17 - 0.12)

= 800*36.05

= 28840

The amount received from the sale of the shares is 28840.

In chapter 3 of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, what can you say was a moment of pity?

The biggest event in Chapter 3 is the execution of Candy's old dog. Carlson is insisting that the dog must die. Candy is putting up a feeble defense, but he has everybody in the bunkhouse against him, including Slim, whose "opinions were law." Slim says:

"Carl's right, Candy. That dog ain't no good to himself. I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I got old an' a cripple."

All the men are gathered in the bunkhouse, and all are aware of the suffering Candy is going through. But there is nobody to defend the dog. The men are like a jury which has already reached a unanimous decision. Finally Candy says, "Awright--take 'im."

Candy lies on his bunk and stares at the ceiling. After Carlson takes the old dog outside, Candy is waiting to hear the shot that will mean the end of his old friend and companion. All the other men are waiting with him, knowing what the old man is going through. The men are nervous, trying to make conversation, perhaps feeling a little guilty about passing a death sentence on poor Candy's dog.

A shot sounded in the distance. The men looked quickly at the old man. Every head turned toward him.

For a moment he continued to stare at the ceiling. Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent.

This is a moment of pity. These tough men all feel sorry for Candy because they know how he feels to lose the only friend he had in the world. They know how hard it must have been for him to say, "Awright--take 'im." The reader shares Candy's feelings and the feelings of all the men in the bunkhouse.

Steinbeck does not have one big conflict running throughout the novel. Instead he has created dramatic interest by having numerous minor conflicts, with at least one in every chapter. For example, George has a conflict with the Boss because he arrives late for work and because the Boss is suspicious of George's relationship with Lennie. The book is full of conflicts, such as the fight between Lennie and Curley and the argument between Crooks and Curley's wife. In Chapter 3 there is the conflict between Candy and Carlson over the old dog. Candy is destined to lose because everybody is on Carlson's side.

Steinbeck's purpose in dramatizing a prolonged conflict over the fate of Candy's old dog is to show, in a naturalistic way, that Carlson possesses a Luger. The reader learns, along with George, how to kill painlessly with a single shot. He also sees where Carlson keeps his German handgun, and how the automatic weapon works. Later George will use the Luger to kill Lennie painlessly at the riverside campsite. But the existence of the gun had to be established. In Hollywood parlance, the display of the gun Carlson uses to kill Candy's dog would be called a "plant." A Luger is a distinctive-looking handgun. When George pulls it out of his side pocket, everyone in the audience at the play Steinbeck intended to produce in New York, and for which the short novel served as a detailed "treatment," will immediately recognize it as Carlson's gun and will understand that George stole it with the intention of killing Lennie.

"We gonna get a little place," George began. He reached in his side pocket and brought out Carlson's Luger.; he snapped off the safety, and the hand and gun lay on the ground behind Lennie's back. He looked at the back of Lennie's head, at the place where the spine and skull were joined.

George knows where the Luger was kept under Carlson's bunk. He knows how to use it. He knows where to point it in order to kill his friend painlessly with a single shot.

The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again. Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering.

The cell membrane is ________________________, which means that some substances can pass through it, while others cannot.

The cell membrane is semi-permeable. That is, it allows entry to only some molecules, while others cannot pass through.

A cell requires a lot of chemicals for its regular operation and it cannot produce all of them. Similarly, a cell generates a number of chemicals which are not useful and must be excreted. Thus, a cell has to constantly interact with its environment for the exchange of materials (entry of useful molecules and excretion of waste materials). There are a very large number of molecules in the environment, many of which may be harmful to the cell. Thus, the cell needs border control, something which can allow access only to certain molecules, while restricting the entry to others. The semi-permeable cell membrane carries out this important task for the cell.

The amphipathic phospholipids that make up the cell membrane cause it to be semi-permeable.

Hope this helps.

What is the significance of the poison metaphor in Hamlet?

In the play's final scene, poison kills (or aids in the killing of) Hamlet, Queen Gertrude (Hamlet's mother), Laertes (Polonius's son and Ophelia's brother), and King Claudius (Hamlet's uncle and step-father).  Further, Claudius used poison to murder Old King Hamlet before the start of the play.  Thus, poison is responsible for the deaths of the entire royal family as well as Laertes, who was once held up as a possible replacement king by the people.  

When Marcellus said, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," he was right (1.4.100).  It is as though corruption, since the old king's death by poison has spread -- like poison -- throughout the entire royal family.  When Claudius poisoned the king, he set into motion the metaphorical spread of this "rot" until it consumes them all.  Claudius was corrupted by the cruel murder he performed, Gertrude was corrupted by Claudius's deception and her own lust, Laertes was corrupted by his need for revenge (he does not behave honorably in his duel with Hamlet), and Hamlet was corrupted by his own inability to act and cowardice.  Now, the entire royal family and the family closest to them have been completely ruined.  However, with the spread of the poison, through all of their deaths, the rot has been eradicated and Denmark can now begin anew with fresh leadership.  

How does the ghost explain the behavior of the Otises?

The Canterville ghost is both disheartened and angered by his inability to frighten the Otis family. Furthermore, they appear to mock the ghost by offering him medicine when he wails along the corridor and they remove the bloodstain with cleaning products. For the ghost, there are only two possible explanations for such behaviour.

Firstly, the ghost believes that the Otis family are "horrid, rude, vulgar and dishonest," as he tells Virginia in Chapter Five. Lacking all morality and decency, the Otis family mock the ghost, outwit him at every possibility and generally fail to appreciate his role in the house.

Secondly, the ghost believes that the Otises lack the necessary skills to appreciate the history of Canterville Chase and, more generally, the existence of the afterlife. As he says at the beginning of Chapter Four:

They were evidently people on a low, material plane of existence, and quite incapable of appreciating the symbolic value of sensuous phenomena.

This idea is illustrative of a wider theme in the story: that the ghost and the Otises cannot live harmoniously because of a deep-rooted culture clash. The ghost, representative of the old world of the English aristocracy, finds the beliefs and manners of the American Otis family abhorrent because they represent change and the development of a new worldview.

It is, however, interesting to note that the ghost is forced to enlist the help of Virginia Otis in Chapter Five. In this respect, Virginia is symbolic of the reconciliation of these two ways of life: she brings together the old world and the new, enabling the ghost to finally leave Canterville Chase and rest eternally in the Garden of Death.

In Beowulf, why does Grendel's mother attack the Danes?

In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel's mother attacks the Danes out of revenge. Beowulf had already defeated Grendel, the monster who had been haunting the Danes. However, Grendel--before dying from his wounds--returned to his lair; it is likely his mother watched him die. Grendel's death enrages his mother. She grows angry at the Danes, and determines to exact revenge on them for killing her son. She sneaks into the mead-hall, retrieves Grendel's claw (which the Danes had kept as a trophy), and abducts one of the Danes to use as bait to lure Beowulf to her lair. The bait works, and Grendel's mother attacks Beowulf on her home turf. Despite this advantage, Beowulf successfully slays Grendel's monster, decapitates the now-dead Grendel, and returns with his head.

What did Saki (H.H. Munro) want readers to understand after reading this story "The Interlopers"?

One could certainly conclude that the lesson H.H. Munro, under the pseudonym “Saki", wished to convey to readers of his short story "The Interlopers" was the folly of hatred toward one’s fellow man. This is a very short story about two men, patriarchs of feuding clans, whose mutual antipathy can only be described as pathological. A generations-old dispute over ownership of a piece of inconsequential land has survived and festered so that Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym each view the other’s destruction as their respective raison d’etre. Munro described the situation as follows:

  “The forest lands of Gradwitz were of wide extent and well stocked with game; the narrow strip of precipitous woodland that lay on its outskirt was not remarkable for the game it harboured or the shooting it afforded, but it was the most jealously guarded of all its owner’s territorial possessions. A famous law suit, in the days of his grandfather, had wrested it from the illegal possession of a neighbouring family of petty landowners; the dispossessed party had never acquiesced in the judgment of the Courts, and a long series of poaching affrays and similar scandals had embittered the relationships between the families for three generations. The neighbour feud had grown into a personal one since Ulrich had come to be head of his family; if there was a man in the world whom he detested and wished ill to it was Georg Znaeym, the inheritor of the quarrel and the tireless game-snatcher and raider of the disputed border-forest. The feud might, perhaps, have died down or been compromised if the personal ill-will of the two men had not stood in the way; as boys they had thirsted for one another’s blood . . .”

That’s pretty intense stuff for two neighbors. As readers discover, however, the two enemies manage to shed their mutual antagonism while trapped under a fallen tree—the possible divine retribution that some have read into Munro’s story. They become friends after Ulrich shares his wine flask with Georg and the two put aside their differences only to realize that they will, indeed, die together when an approaching pack of wolves arrives. What Munro likely intended, then, was for the reader to see in his characters’ dilemma the fruitlessness of harboring grievances over events that predate even them. They have lived with hatred in their souls and will both die horrible deaths solely because they allowed a dispute over land that dates back to their forefathers to divide them. In short, Ulrich and Georg have wasted their lives over a “narrow strip of precipitous woodland". Munro seems to be asking if it was worth it. The answer, of course, is no.

How does Rousseau think about the basic goodness of humanity?

Rousseau felt that humans in their natural, uncorrupted state, were generally good. Though Rousseau's beliefs in differing complexities of society were  largely influenced by racist theories which served to commodify human labor (as in the Atlantic slave trade), he very much admired the cultures he termed "savages" for their high degree of egalitarianism and apparently uninhibited lifestyles. 

Rousseau believed that "all degenerates in man's hands," or that the farther humans distance themselves from nature, the more they (and the world) would suffer for it. He believed that "civilization" and all of the social and moral rules which are wrapped up in "civilized culture" limited mankind and distorted the instincts and emotions. One of his more famous quotes is as follows:

"Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains."

This summarizes Rousseau's belief that humans are innately free and uninhibited. Morality is not a factor in the "goodness" of the Natural human, as morality is dependent upon the kind of socialization and civilization Rousseau thought we ought to be free from. After birth, we are brought up in culture and taught ways of being which are at odds with the "natural state," and limit a person's ability to be free and happy.

How do I write an essay about the significance of Fahrenheit 451 using "he is no wise man that will quit a certainty for an uncertainty?"

Beatty quotes this line (from Samuel Johnson, a famous English writer of letters) when they are in the firehouse. This is shortly before they go to Montag's house. This is Beatty's way of trying to confuse Montag. He is using literary insights in order to challenge other literary insights. Beatty is trying to prove that all of this deep thinking simply leads to impasse after impasse. One could easily find another Johnson quote that could be interpreted to embrace uncertainty. ("The joy of life is variety." This is taken from the same work that Beatty quotes, The Idler.) 

The larger irony is that Beatty uses a quote that is easily disproved in Montag's case. He (Montag) would be wise to quit the certainty of his life (as a book-burning fireman and passive, thoughtless citizen) for a new way of life. Curiosity began his new life and as he gains more insights and knowledge, it is his wisdom that suggests an uncertain future is preferable to the old life that he (Montag) has now come to despise. This is a starting point for an essay. Uncertainty, in the context of Montag's transformation, is something he is actively seeking. In his old life, he was satisfied with the comfort of certainty. Learning new things and being open to new ideas requires one to embrace some amount of uncertainty. 

Anyone can find literary quotes that contradict each other. That's all Beatty is doing here. So, clearly this does not mean that literature and philosophy are necessarily pointless. Montag must go beyond this kind of superficial scholarship. Coming from a society in which he was a passive man and moving into a life of curiosity and deeper thinking is new territory for Montag. It therefore requires him to go to uncertain places. In other words, he actually must quit the certainty of his old life in order to pursue wisdom. 

When and why does James Gatz change his name in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald?

We do not learn until Chapter VI of The Great Gatsby that Jay Gatsby was born James Gatz, although rumors suggest Gatsby is not his real name. His father called him Jimmy. He changed his name when he was seventeen years old. On the day he did this, he had been on the beach, not doing anything in particular, when he observed a yacht drop anchor on Lake Superior. He borrowed a rowboat and went out to warn the yacht's owner that this was a dangerous spot. When he introduced himself to Dan Cody, a wealthy and retired miner, he introduced himself as Jay Gatsby, a name Nick speculates Gatsby decided upon well before that day. Cody takes him in and mentors him, and Gatsby remains with him for five years. Gatz became Gatsby because he was reinventing himself and says the name "sprang from his Platonic conception of himself," a large part of the American dream (104). In his heart, Gatsby was no longer the child of "shiftless and unsuccessful farm people," digging for clams at the shore of the lake and fishing for salmon (104). He had a dream and a concept of himself that did not match the reality of his life, and "to this conception, he was faithful to the very end" (104).

Who is Clarriker in Great Expectations?

Pip, once he received his legacy when he came of age, decides that he wants to get Herbert Pocket a job as a clerk to pay him back for his help and his friendship. Not wanting Herbert to know of this, and thus feel that he is a target for charity, Pip goes to the shipping merchant, Clarriker, to arrange a spot for Herbert, with himself paying his wages. Clarriker agrees to this, and Herbert excitedly informs Pip that he has found a good job as a clerk, which he has long wanted. When Pip finds out that it is Magwitch, not Miss Havisham, who is his benefactor, he asks Miss Havisham to take over his role as the person who pays Herbert’s wages. Herbert eventually proves his worth and is sent to Egypt to work in the headquarters there. After Magwitch’s death, Pip joins him there, with Clarriker as his employer.

In Antigone, what does the following quotation mean: "robbed of two brothers both dying the same day by doubled hand"?

The quotation you cite refers to the deaths of Polynices and Eteocles.  Antigone and her sister Ismene have been "robbed" of their two brothers because the two went to war over the rulership of Thebes.  When Oedipus exiled himself and eventually died, it was decided that Eteocles and Polynices would take turns ruling Thebes, one brother taking a year of rulership and then reverting to his brother.  However, after the first year is over, Eteocles does not want to relinquish the rule of Thebes to Polynices, so Polynices wages war on his brother and on Thebes.  Polynices puts together a makeshift army, and they storm the city gates.  Polynices and Eteocles end up in battle with each other, and they kill each other simultaneously by sword (in other words, the "double hand").  

People are emotional creatures and their love for man can turn into hate. Support the following argument by using evidence from the play Julius...

The assassination of Julius Caesar and the resulting civil war come about because of envy on the part of Cassius, the idealism of Brutus, and the desire for revenge by Marc Antony.

In Act I, Scene 2, in his hatred for Caesar and desire for his death, Cassius uses flattery and innuendos to convince Brutus that the once-loved Caesar is a tyrant:

....I have heard
Where many of the best respect in Rome
[Except immortal Caesar], speaking of Brutus,
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes. (1.2. 60-64)

Further, Cassius expands upon his argument that Brutus should rule because Caesar has lost touch with the Roman people--

And this man
Is now become a god....(1.2.18-19)

He adds that Caesar is like a Colossus, and "we petty men/Walk under his huge legs and peep out...(1.2.137-138)

Brutus adds that Caesar is not even physically well: When Caesar was in Spain, he fell and trembled; his lips lost their color and he groaned and cried for water.

By flattering Brutus, Cassius ingratiates himself to this noble Roman who is his friend in the hope of standing beside Brutus should he become ruler of Rome.

The arguments of Cassius become convincing to a pensive Brutus while he walks in his garden at night and deliberates in Act II, Scene 3. Pondering what Cassius has told him, Brutus wonders if Caesar will be honorable and just if he is given even more authority. 

That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber upward turns his face;
He then unto the ladder turns his back
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees* [*people in lower positions] (2.1.22-25)

Unfortunately, Brutus is emotionally flawed by his idealism, as well as his ignorance of the nature of the plebeians. For, he believes that Cassius and the others have the same intentions of doing what is good for Rome rather than serving their own needs. He also misjudges Marc Antony, who feigns his respect and support for Brutus and the others, as well as acting as though he desires to maintain order.

In Act IV, Scene 2, Brutus and Cassius, whose relationship has deteriorated, argue about battle plans, and an emotional Cassius offers his dagger to Brutus, expressing his old fault of jealousy,

 Strike as thou didst at Caesar; for I know
When though didst hate him worst, thou loved’st him better
Than ever thou loved’st Cassius (4.2.159–161).

• Marc Antony

In his love for Caesar, Marc Antony pretends that he wishes to give an oratory for Caesar and Brutus agrees, despite Cassius's warning not to allow Antony any forum. When Marc Antony gives his rhetorical orations, he initially says that he comes "to bury Caesar, not to praise him." However, in his emotional state after the death of his beloved Caesar, Antony foments the crowd to civil disorder as he casts aspersions upon Brutus and the others, raising doubts in the crowd as he extols the brave and generous deeds of Caesar, but repeats after each example,

But Brutus says he [Caesar] was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.

Further, he reads Caesar's will in which he leaves to the plebeians some of his fortune. Then, he manipulates the crowd more and "stir[s]" them to "a sudden flood of mutiny" (2.1.221). Thus, in his hatred for Brutus and the other conspirators, Marc Antony selfishly betrays his love for Caesar by generating a civil war that proves to be devastating to Rome.

Why does Chinua Achebe tell us the story of how Chike's parents were married in the middle of "Chike's School Days"?

In the middle of the story, Chinua Achebe relates the circumstances surrounding the marriage of Chike's parents in order to provide us some sort of context for Chike's seemingly strange habits.

Accordingly, Chike and his family live in a traditional Nigerian village where children are regarded 'as the common responsibility of all.' One day, thinking to do him a kindness, a neighbor lady offers Chike, then four years old, a piece of yam. To her consternation, Chike resolutely rejects her gift, telling her that his family does not partake of 'heathen food.' Despite her anger, the woman marvels at the audacity of an Osu in rejecting her gift. At the time, the Osu were considered Nigeria's outcasts. They were forbidden to own land and to participate in common rituals. Upon death, Osu had to be buried on separate land, called the 'Bad Bush.' Anyone who married an Osu was considered an outcast as well (Chike's father, Amos, married an Osu woman despite not being an Osu himself); the children of such a union were also pronounced 'untouchable' and shunned by the general populace.

In the story, the neighbor thinks that the white man's presence in Nigeria has precipitated a state of affairs antithetical to traditional sentiment. To her, the fact that an Osu like Chike would be so bold as to reject a gift from a free-born Nigerian means that the white man has usurped the natural order of things in Nigerian society. She in incensed that an Osu would dare to put on such airs, considering that he is a lowly outcast.

So, Chinua Achebe tells us the story of Amos' marriage to explain Chike's seemingly strange, uncharacteristic behavior and attitudes (at least attitudes strange for an Osu child). He further states that the importance of knowing how Chike's father becomes an Osu cannot be underestimated, as such an occurrence is so rare. Achebe shows us that, just as Amos rejects traditional Nigerian concepts of class, so does his young son. Neither views himself as an outcast. Chike's anglicized view of both religion and education further highlights the fragmentation of Nigerian society and the conflict between the traditional and the new ways.

How was the 20th century Canada's coming of age?

Coming of age refers to when a child becomes an adult.  In the beginning of the 20th century, Canada was a young country.  It had been settled by European immigrants for hundreds of years, but it had only become self-governing in 1867.  Shortly after the turn of the century, Canada entered World War I.  Several years before, in 1910, Canada had decided to create their own navy rather than "contribute to the [British] Royal Navy."  The Royal Canadian Navy became an important force during World War I.  Britain needed supplies from North America for the war effort.  Canada was able to supply those supplies and ship them across the Atlantic with the help of the Canadian Royal Navy.  The Canadian Royal Navy also helped militarily.  

The Canadian military also contributed significantly during World War II.  They protected cargo ships who supplied the European Allies, patrolled the waters of the Atlantic against German U-boats, and fought with the British.  After the two World Wars, Canada's military emerged as a strong force, independent from Britain.

How is young Goodman Brown stupid?

I don't know that I would describe young Goodman Brown as "stupid"; he is, perhaps, misguided and selfish, but I wouldn't call him stupid.  He knows that he shouldn't go into the woods.  He knows that he shouldn't leave his wife, Faith, who claims to be troubled with distressing dreams when she is alone.  Brown even feels guilty for leaving her behind, and he advises her go to bed early and say her prayers.  She hopes, for his sake, that he "'find[s] all well, when [he] come[s] back.'" Such a statement seems to foreshadow that he will not. 

Brown claims that "'after this one night, [he'll] cling to [Faith's] skirts and follow her to Heaven.'"  Faith symbolizes his own faith in God, faith that he purposely abandons at home, just as he leaves her behind.  He plans to commit some sin in the woods, and the narrator describes his "present evil purpose": it seems that Brown goes into the woods, feeling sure that his faith will be there waiting for him when he returns.  However, this is not how faith works; we cannot choose to pick it up when we want it and walk away from it when we don't.  I don't think Brown is malicious, but he is selfish; he wants to gratify whatever sinful desires he has without having it harm his faith, and so he -- literally and figuratively -- leaves his faith behind without realizing that he will not "find all well" when he gets home.

What does "swooned" mean in "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe?

“To swoon” is to faint, and the narrator faints because he is frightened and being held prisoner.

This story is about a man who is being tortured. He has been condemned by the Spanish Inquisition. At first, he is just kept in the dark. He is so scared and lacking in nutrition that sometimes he just faints.

I had swooned; but still will not say that all of consciousness was lost. What of it there remained I will not attempt to define, or even to describe; yet all was not lost. In the deepest slumber—no! In delirium—no! In a swoon—no! In death—no! even in the grave all is not lost.

When the narrator says he swoons without losing consciousness, he is saying that he faints but not completely. When you faint it is almost like instantly falling asleep. Usually a person will faint due to bad health or fear.  In this case, both situations apply.

When the narrator faints, he has brief periods of lucidity upon regaining consciousness when he remembers what happened to him.

And now a full memory of the trial, of the judges, of the sable draperies, of the sentence, of the sickness, of the swoon. Then entire forgetfulness of all that followed; of all that a later day and much earnestness of endeavor have enabled me vaguely to recall.

Unfortunately for the narrator, things are only about to get worse. He is being held prisoner under a giant pendulum. As the pendulum swings back and forth, it gains momentum and gets closer to killing him. Fortunately, in the end he is rescued just as he is about to die.

This story is very suspenseful, and some of the suspense comes from the narrator going in and out of consciousness. He is in a dream-like state and not lucid enough to fully describe his situation.

In the "Gift of the Magi", why does Jim sell his gold watch?

It is Christmas time, and Jim and Della are searching for Christmas presents for each other.  The problem is they do not have any excess money to buy presents.  They are on a tight budget. 

“Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride.  One was Jim’s gold watch that had been his father’s and his grandfather’s.  The other was Della’s hair.” (pg 1)

Jim wants to buy Della some beautiful tortoise shell combs that she has admired in a store window on Broadway.

“….Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims ---“(pg 2)

They were the perfect shade for her beautiful hair, and she really wanted them. Since he had no extra money, Jim sold the only thing he had of value, his watch.  The ironic thing is that Della sells her beautiful hair to buy Jim a chain for his watch, and Jim sells his watch to get the combs for her beautiful hair.  So neither of them ends up with a Christmas present.

Hi, I am doing a task on 1984. My idea was to do a post room 101 interview with Winston Smith. O'Brien would be conducting this interview so that...

This sounds like a great assignment!

My one caution would be to provide students with a rubric that clarifies whether or not they will be graded on elements such as style/diction, or simply on content to demonstrate knowledge of the text.

Also, as a quick question: would students be writing Winston's answers only, or the entire interview? 

Here are some sample questions you could have O'Brien ask Winston: 

1. What is 2+2?
   5
   


2. How do you feel about Big Brother? 
   I love Big Brother
   


3. Tell me what London was like when you were a child? 
   Winston's description should match current London
   


4. Why do we need Newspeak? 
   Better, simpler, no confusion, it is right, etc. 
   


5. How do you feel about Emmanuel Goldstein?
   Winston's response should demonstrate true hatred
   


6. Who is Oceania at war with? 
   Free to choose - we don't know how much time has passed in the Room
   


7. Who was Oceania at war with last year?
   Same as #6
   


8. How do you feel about Julia? 
   Total apathy
   


9. What should we do to thought criminals?
   Something really atrocious
   


10. What is true?
    What the Party says is true
    

Good luck!

What is "Rules and Things Number 3" from Bud Not Buddy?

Bud's rule number three is as follows. 

"If you got to tell a lie, make sure it’s simple and easy to remember.” 

Bud tells the readers this rule in chapter two.  Bud is good liar. He admits it several times in the story, and rule number three is a good reason for why he is a good liar.  His rule says to keep lies simple.  That means don't make them overly complex because then the lie becomes too convoluted for its own good.  The easy to remember part has a hidden extra detail in it.  Generally speaking, the easiest lies to remember are the ones that contain truth.  Bud knows these facts about how to tell lies better than most, but in chapter two Bud finds himself on the receiving end of a well told lie.  

Bud is woken up by Todd Amos who is shoving a pencil up Bud's nose. Bud of course defends himself and punches Todd.  A fight ensues and is broken up by Todd's mom.  Of course Todd doesn't want to take any of the blame, so he tells a simple, believable lie to his mom. Todd tells his mom that Bud wet the bed, which she immediately believes. Todd is most likely a bed wetter, and that is why he knows that she will believe the lie. In fact Bud is even slightly impressed with the quality of Todd's lie.  Despite Bud's  acknowledgement of the good lie, Bud still gets in trouble and locked in a shed for the night. 

In the book Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, what are some quotes from the novel that depict Samantha (Sam) Kingston's physical traits?

“I feel heat creeping up my neck and know my skin’s probably going red and splotchy. It does this whenever I’m embarrassed” (14).

“Here are my good traits: big green eyes, straight white teeth, high cheekbones, long legs. Here are my bad traits: a too long nose, skin that gets blotchy when I’m nervous, a flat butt” (17).

“She curls a fist around the necklace I always wear—a thin gold chain with a tiny bird charm hanging from it, a gift from my grandmother—and tugs gently” (83).

"And this time, when I imagine myself lying somewhere, I’m not sleeping. This time I imagine myself stretched out on a cold stone slab, skin as white as milk, lips blue, and hands folded across my chest like they’ve been placed there…” (116).

“Tara helps get me into my dress again, and after I slip on the fur shrug and the earrings and let my hair down—which is all wavy from being twisted in a half-knot all day—I turn to the mirror and my heart actually reindeer-prances in my chest. I look at least twenty-five. I look like somebody else…I remember the sick taste of disappointment every time my face reemerged, as plain as it ever was. But this time when I open my eyes…there I am: different and gorgeous and not myself” (238).

“I’m checking my makeup for the fiftieth time in the flip-down mirror. I put a final slick of lip gloss on and fish a gummy piece of mascara from the corner of my eyelashes…” (369).

Would you call the Jeweller a winner or a loser in his transactions with the Duchess?

Oliver Bacon the Jeweller most definitely experiences "loss" in a material sense in the transaction with the Duchess. Specifically, he loses the twenty thousand pounds that he pays to the Duchess in exchange for fake pearls. To confront her about it might mean ruining his chances of having a romance with her daughter Diana. There is also a secondary loss in terms of Oliver's self-respect. His instinct is that the Duchess might be planning to swindle him with fake jewels, but temptation overcomes Oliver's willpower as he thinks about the prospect of gaining access to Diana. Even as he writes the check for twenty thousand pounds, he hesitates. After giving her the check, Oliver discovers that the ten pearls are indeed fake. He then looks up at the painting of his mother and asks for her forgiveness. His mother would not have approved of this imprudent purchase without proof that the pearls were genuine.

On the other hand, Oliver is the comparative winner of the psychological upper hand in the transaction. He knows that the Duchess is in a desperate situation because of her gambling problem. He also knows that her husband would take drastic actions against the Duchess if he found out that she had been gambling away their wealth and pawning family valuables. To uphold her so-called "honour", the Duchess needs to cover up for her gambling losses. Oliver could have refused the sale, leaving her to suffer the consequences with her husband. Instead he makes her even more obligated to him by providing her with the money. As the keeper of her darkest secret and the victim of her crime, Oliver has the power to destroy this woman's reputation if he should choose to expose her. The Duchess would do well to appease him by letting him court her daughter whom Oliver loves. 

What are three ways in which Atticus showed fairness (justice) In To Kill A Mockingbird?

Atticus shows that he is fair multiple times throughout the book. Here are three of those scenarios, but certainly not the only three.

Defending Tom Robinson

In Ch. 9 he explains to Scout that he has taken Tom's case because he "couldn't hold his head up in town" if he didn't. Although the case was assigned to him, he could have turned it down or down far less tholepin Tom. He provides Tom Robinson with as good as defense as he would have given a white man, and that is far more fair and just than anyone expected him to be. 

How He Treated Mayella

Despite Mayella's belief that Atticus was "mockin''" her, he was actually quite respectful and fair in his questioning of her in Ch. 18. Where we often see victims of crimes torn apart by defense attorneys in an attempt to exonerate their clients, Atticus treated Mayella carefully. He did need tog et information out of her to prove Tom's innocence, but he did not do it in a mean, harsh, or unfair way.

Being Prepared to Turn in Jem

When Bob Ewell is stabbed after attacking Scout and Jem, Atticus at first believes that Jem was the one responsible for the stabbing. He is fully prepared to bring Jem before the county court and tells Sheriff Tate that. It is only when Sheriff Tate corrects him and tells him that it was really Boo Radley who stabbed Bob Ewell that Atticus realizes he was wrong. His willingness to do what was right, even if it would have broken his heart, was fair and just. Fortunately for all, Jem was not to blame!

What are some of the achievements of Mohenjo-daro?

The achievements credited to the citizens of Mohenjo-daro center around their urban planning skills. The level of sophistication in urban design was unprecedented in the world at the time. An urban sanitation system that removed waste from individual homes was employed. A rain sewage system, developed separately from the waste sewage system, was also constructed. The planners of Mohenjo-daro designed a grid-like system for their streets and avenues.

The Dravidians, who occupied the city, were masters at brick construction and design. Homes, public buildings, public baths, and grain storage towers were all constructed of brick. Many homes were multi-storied. A brick wall was built around the entire city and in different districts throughout. The wall was most likely as a flood control measure. Much of the brick construction has survived at the site even today.

Mohenjo-daro was also economically developed and did not seem to be interested in militarism or warfare. They developed a system of writing and were amongst the first to establish a uniform system of weights and measures. The trade network from Mohenjo-daro extended south into India and as far west as Mesopotamia. The wealth acquired through trade was used to strengthen the city.

What are some arguments supporting the idea that the boys should be punished for killing Simon and Piggy in Lord of the Flies?

One argument that supports the idea that the boys should be punished for the deaths of Simon and Piggy is that certain boys were fully aware that their actions and involvement in the deaths of the two characters. Every boy on the island participated in the murder of Simon, and Piggy was fully aware of his participation. Ralph and Samneric try to justify their actions and deny responsibility, but they are conscious of what they've done to Simon. Although the boys did not intentionally kill Simon, they are still guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Voluntary manslaughter consists of intentionally killing someone, but the killing is accompanied by additional circumstances. The most common type of voluntary manslaughter involves extreme provocation that induces rage or terror and is sometimes described as a "heat of passion" killing. Simon's murder would fall under this category. The boys were engaged in a ceremonial "war dance" and were in an uncontrollable frenzy. Their skewed perception and group-mindstate resulted in extreme violence. Each child on the island is liable for Simon's murder.

Roger is solely responsible for Piggy's murder. Roger is guilty of first-degree murder because his actions were pre-meditated. Roger had surveyed Castle Rock and knew the location of certain rocks that could be hurled at intruders. He thought about how he would commit the crime, and when the opportunity presented itself, he took action. The other boys on the island did not participate in Piggy's murder and were not liable. Roger acted alone, and would be guilty of committing first-degree murder. Hypothetically speaking, every child is guilty of manslaughter, and Roger is guilty of first-degree murder. They are all minors, and their sentencing would be difficult to determine.

How does Hawthorne's "The Minister's Black Veil" show individualism?

Though much of "The Minister's Black Veil" actually focuses on what unites humanity -- our inherently sinful natures as well as our universal attempt to hide our true natures from others -- Mr. Hooper emerges as the sole individual in his parish who is willing to acknowledge this truth.

Although his congregation is uncomfortable with the veil from the moment they first see Mr. Hooper wearing it, it is not until after his first sermon that they begin to understand what it signifies.  

The subject [of the sermon] had reference to secret sin, and those sad mysteries which we hide from our nearest and dearest, and would fain conceal from our own consciousness, even forgetting that the Omniscient can detect them.

At this point, each listener "felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought [...] and [they] quaked."  After this, Mr. Hooper's "courtesy" was repaid with "Strange and bewildered looks," and he no longer receives his traditional Sunday-dinner invitations.  His congregation, uniformly, chooses to disregard the truth of what Mr. Hooper has said, the truth of the symbol of the veil, and to believe, instead, that "'Something [is] surely [...] amiss with [his] intellects.'"  It is, as Mr. Hooper points out, easier to put this truth out of mind; we cannot even bear to think of ourselves as secret sinners let alone to tell others it is so.  He is, in short, the only individual who is willing to own up to it.  Mr. Hooper is brave enough to tell the world that he has secret sins that he tries to hide, and no one else has this courage.  Even his fiancee, Elizabeth, when she realizes what the veil symbolizes and understands that he will always wear it (in life), is unwilling to stay with him because she will not be able to bear the reminder of her own soul's stain.  

Mr. Hooper is a true individual, willing to say and do things that might be unpopular and make other people uncomfortable for the sake of being true to himself.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of electroplating?

Electroplating is the process of plating one metal over another. It is done for various purposes, most commonly for imparting corrosion resistance and decorative appearance. There are a number of advantages of this process:

• Corrosion resistance: a corrosion-prone substance such as iron can be coated with a layer of non-corrosive material, thereby protecting the original material.


• Decorative items: shine and luster can be imparted to otherwise dull surfaces. This makes for great decorative items.


• Cheaper ornaments: instead of making ornaments out of gold or silver, one can make them using cheaper metals and electroplate the ornaments with gold. This reduces the cost of ornaments greatly.


• improving mechanical characteristics: electroplating can also improve the mechanical characteristics of metals.

There are a number of disadvantages of this process as well, such as:

• Non-uniform plating: electroplating may or may not be uniform and this may result in a substandard appearance of the plated material.


• Cost: the process is costly and time consuming.


• Pollution potential: the electroplating solution, after use, needs to be disposed off safely and is a cause of environmental concern.

Hope this helps. 

How is the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth presented at the start of the play?

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are presented in an interesting manner at the beginning of the play.  It is clear that they have a very passionate relationship and that Lady Macbeth is seductive in the way that she speaks with Macbeth.  Moreover, she is very much interested in supporting Macbeth's ambition and search for power throughout the beginning of the play. When Lady Macbeth reads the letter detailing the witches' prophecy she is excited about what he has been promised and vows to make this dream a reality.  However, this relationship, while it seems loving and possibly even supportive at first is truly a dysfunctional relationship at heart.  As Lady Macbeth attempts to persuade Macbeth to act on the prophecy in order to ensure the outcome he desires, it becomes clear that Lady Macbeth is extremely controlling and manipulating.  As Lady Macbeth pushes Macbeth to complete the murder it becomes evident that it is not Macbeth's best interests that she has in mind but her own advancement in position that she seeks to gain.  Moreover, as Macbeth begins to unravel and lose control it is clear that he no longer consults or includes Lady Macbeth in his plans.  This dysfunction carries through to the final scenes of the play when Macbeth barely pauses a moment to mourn Lady Macbeth's illness and eventual suicide.  

What is meant by the term "poor white trash" in To Kill a Mockingbird? How do the Ewells exemplify this stereotype? Does this stereotype exist...

"Poor white trash" is a derogatory term used to describe a stereotypical lower-class Caucasian, who is characterized as unintelligent, dirty, and discourteous. The Ewells exemplify the term "poor white trash" because they share similar characteristics typically associated with the term. The Ewells rely on welfare as their income and live in a dilapidated cabin behind to town dump. Their yard is a mess and Burris, one of the younger children in Scout's class, is so filthy that he has bugs crawling from his hair. Bob Ewell is a despicable human being who abuses his daughter and attempts to harm innocent people throughout Maycomb. His son, Burris, also displays poor manners and a lack of respect during the first day of school. The entire family is uneducated and viewed with contempt throughout Maycomb. I believe that this stereotype still exists in today's society. There are many lower-class Caucasian individuals who are referred to as "white trash" each day. Similar to other racial slurs, "poor white trash" is still in existence and used by ignorant, insensitive people. The term hasn't changed much since its inception and is still used to refer to lower-class, ill-mannered Caucasians.

How did Jean-Jacques Rousseau's actions affect the people around him?

Jean Jacques Rousseau was a philosophe during the Age of Enlightenment. His biggest contribution to society was the idea of the Social Contract, which was also the name of his most important publication. According to Rousseau, people were born good but were corrupted by the society in which they lived. As such, it was the government's responsibility to maintain order and fairness among its citizens.

The Social Contract, according to Rousseau, was an agreement between the government of a sovereign nation and its citizens, in which the government wrote laws to protect and keep its people safe and orderly, and the people followed those laws. If the citizens did not uphold their end of the bargain and follow the rules, according to Rousseau, the government had the authority to punish them. If the government did not uphold its end of the bargain and keep the laws fair and equal, the people had a right to overthrow that government and establish something more aligned with the Common Will. 

Rousseau's work came out during the Age of Enlightenment, which was concurrent to the Age of Absolutism, where many governments were not "playing fair" and making life equitable and comfortable for their citizens. It, among other philosophe and Enlightened publications, was a catalyst for the French Revolution. 

In Chapter 3 of Freak the Mighty, Max says that Kevin scared him, but not really. What does he mean?

Here's the quote you're referring to:

Big goon like you, growing about an inch a day, and this midget kid, this crippled little humanoid, he actually scared you. Not the kind of scare that makes your knee bones feel like water, more the kind of scare where you go whoa! I don't understand this, I don't get it, what's going on?

Max has grown up with everyone around him that is close to his own age being afraid of him, or at least intimidated by him. When he sees Kevin moving in next door, he is first shocked by his appearance. Max says Kevin's head is normal size, but his body is twisted and only about as tall as a yardstick. Yet this tiny boy turns, looks Max straight in the eye, points a crutch at him, and yells at him! Max has never had a peer confront him before, and the first one who does is the smallest person he has ever seen. This flips Max's world upside down. He has hidden behind his exceptional size to keep others from getting too emotionally close to him. Now he has a new next-door neighbor who is fascinating and not intimidated by him in the least. Although Max is afraid of making a new friend, he is also very excited.

Where in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird are references to the themes of pride or tradition?

Pride vs. humility is a dominant theme found in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The development of humility is one lesson Scout learns as she matures throughout the book.

One scene in which she begins to understand the value of humility concerns the moment she observes her farther shoot the rabid dog named Tim Johnson. In Chapter 10, the moment Scout, Jem, and Calpurnia realize Tim Johnson is rabid, Calpurnia immediately phones Atticus at his office, who tells her to warn all the neighbors and that he is bringing Sheriff Heck Tate. When Atticus and the sheriff arrive and the dog gets close enough to be shot at, Jem and Scout are astonished to see Tate hand his riffle over to Atticus and beg Atticus to take the shot, warning Atticus that it is a "one-shot job" and that Atticus is the only person in Maycomb County who could successfully make the shot. Jem and Scout are even more astonished as they watch their father perfectly succeed in making the difficult and dangerous shot.

More importantly, while discussing the shot with Miss Maudie, Scout comments that she would think Atticus would be proud of his talent to shoot so well. Yet, Miss Maudie makes a very revelatory statement: "People in their right mind never take pride in their talents" (p. 102). As Miss Maudie further explains, Atticus did not take pride in his God-given talent of marksmanship because he realized it put him at an "unfair advantage over most living things" (p. 101). In other words, Miss Maudie is asserting that people should not take pride in their God-given talents because those talents place them at unfair advantages. Once a virtuous person like Atticus realizes the unfair advantage, such a person is likely to realize that he/she is unworthy of having such an unfair advantage, and the realization of unworthiness is the very definition of humility. Hence, from watching her father display perfect marksmanship and knowing he had kept his abilities a secret all this time, Scout learned that pride is not always a virtue, that humility is far more virtuous than pride.

Later, in Chapter 13, contrary to the above, Scout and Jem are also taught to take pride in their family heritage. Their Aunt Alexander was surprised to learn that Atticus had never taught the children much about their family heritage and to have pride in their family heritage. Therefore, she commands Atticus to inform the children that they are the "product of several generations' gentle breeding" and valuable to Maycomb County (p. 134).

How did the French Revolution begin?

The French Revolution was an outgrowth of the Age of Enlightenment, when human reason took precedence over the teachings of the church and the power of the monarchy and nobility. Prior to this period, the monarchies of Europe began to strengthen their power into absolutism and the divine right of kings, in which only God is superior to the person sitting on the throne. The success of the American Revolution, leading to the break of the American colonies from the British Empire, inspired many in Europe to establish a more liberal government, in which the will of the people is supreme (as elaborated in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract). This would eventually lead to widespread revolutions in many European countries in 1848.

Weak harvests in Europe, especially in France, led to much poverty and hunger, seen in A Tale of Two Cities when the Monseigneur met the peasant woman who wanted merely a stone to mark the grave of her husband who died of hunger. This led revolutionaries (such as the Defarges and the Jacquerie) to gather together forces of the common people to rise up against the nobility. The cruelty to those imprisoned (often unjustly) in the Bastille prison (such as Doctor Manette), sparked the Revolution, in which the Bastille was torn down. The nobility and the monarchy (Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, along with their court) were executed at the guillotine. Eventually, the revolutionaries began to turn on each other, resulting in the Reign of Terror, the guillotines running constantly, killing thousands. Beginning in 1789, the Revolution began to run down by 1799, after which Napoleon Bonaparte seized power, leading France in a conquest of much of Europe.

Near what city is the setting in "The Devil and Tom Walker?"

Like many of Washington Irving's stories, "The Devil and Tom Walker" is set in colonial America near Boston. Although Irving himself wrote most of his stories during the early 1800s, setting his stories during the colonial period and the American revolution allowed Irving to give a mythical, folk tale quality to his stories. In particular, setting the story of the "The Devil and Tom Walker" in colonial America allowed Irving to put his own interpretation on the classic German legend of Faust, a scholar who makes a pact with the devil for knowledge and success. Irving uses this setting along with a distinctly American vernacular and themes to turn the classic German legend into a tale that seems as American as apple pie.

In Act 3, Scene 2, why does Juliet use so many oxymorons?

It is actually Shakespeare who uses so many oxymorons, such as the following:

Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!
Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb!

A damned saint, an honorable villain!

Shakespeare has Juliet doing this for several reasons. One is that it illustrates her confusion about her feelings. She loves Romeo but blames him for killing her kinsman Tybalt. She has to incorporate both feelings into her young, sheltered view of the world and of humanity. The oxymorons are also a poetic novelty in this play. They afford some amusement to Shakespeare's audience while at the same time showing Juliet's reaction to the bad news. She is just beginning to sense the possible consequences of the fatal duel. It may mean that Romeo will be executed. It could have disastrous consequences for her marriage and her newfound happiness. 

Romeo's duel with Tybalt marks the turning point in the play. Juliet's reaction shows that reality is already intruding into the illusion of perfect love. This young girl is torn between her ties to her family and her new ties to her handsome and passionate young husband. The oxymorons mainly serve to illustrate her confusion and mental anguish.

How to read a measurement in ruler

Rulers are used to measure the length of an object in either centimeters or inches. Metric rules use centimeters. English rulers use inches.

Regardless of the unit that is being used, the first step in obtaining an accurate measurement of an object’s length is making sure that one end of the object aligns perfectly with the first “slash” on the ruler.

Sometimes metric rulers count by every ten centimeters. In this situation, there are often ten slashes between every numerical value written on the ruler. Therefore, every slash has a value of one centimeter. Thus, one centimeter would be added for every slash over a numerical value on the ruler.

Other times, metric rulers show ten slashes between every one centimeter. In this case, every slash would have a value of .1 centimeter (or one millimeter). Therefore, .1 centimeter would be added for every slash above a number written on the ruler. English rulers use inches.

On most English rulers, there are eight slashes between every inch. Therefore, each slash has a value of 1/8 of an inch. Thus, 1/8 inch is added for every slash there is over a number on an English ruler.

Redistributive policies are relatively rare because A. the United States is not a socialist country. B. there is little need for them. C. those...

Redistributive policies are policies that take money from one group and give it to another group.  The point of redistributive policies is to increase economic equality.  It is meant to take money from the people who are relatively rich and give it to those who are relatively poor.

Of course, rich people tend not to like these policies.  They feel that redistributive policies take money that they have earned through their hard work and give it to people who do not work hard.  In our system, the rich have more influence over politics than the poor.  They can give money to candidates and political parties so as to have their voices heard.  Because the rich do not like redistributive policies and because they have more political influence than the poor, the US has relatively few redistributive policies.

What happens in The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Chapters 9-12?

Chapter 9

Kit and Mercy are teaching school in the kitchen.  Mercy teaches the ones who are only just beginning to read, and Kit teaches the ones who are reading primers.  Kit entertains the kids by writing sentences using their names.  Kit tells the kids stories, and one day lets them act out a Bible story.  Mercy is not sure it is a good idea.

"Oh, Mercy! It's from the Bible! Now, each of you, try to imagine just how you'd feel if you really were those people. Just make believe this isn't a room at all--it's a hot dusty road, and Peter, you are getting very tired from walking so far." (Ch. 9) 

Unfortunately, Mr. Eleazer Kimberley, the schoolmaster, and Reverend John Woodbridge walk in on this.  They are appalled, and dismiss the school.  Mercy and Kit are both crying, and Kit runs off to the meadow by Blackbird Pond.  There she meets Hannah Tupper, supposedly a witch.  They have a good talk, and Kit decides to go confront the schoolmaster. 

Chapter 10 

Mercy is shocked when she finds out they have been given another chance.  Kit says she might have been bewitched.  Rachel tells Kit not to tell anyone she was with Hannah Tupper.  She’s a Quaker, and the Puritans do not approve of her.  Kit decides to go back and see her anyway, and tells Hannah about her conversation with Mr. Kimberley. 

As she is talking to Hannah, Nat Eaton shows up.  Hannah tells them they have a lot in common.  Kit tells Nat that her aunt and uncle have been kind to her. 

Chapter 11 

Someone keeps leaving bunches of flowers on the doorstep.  It turns out to be Prudence Cruff, who is not allowed to go to school.  Her mother says she is stupid. Kit tells her to meet her at the meadow, and begins secretly teaching her to read at Hannah Tupper’s house. 

William tells Kit about the house he is building, but she is not interested. Judith is more interested than Kit is.  Kit is marrying William because she thinks she has to marry someone, but they have nothing in common.  When John Holbrook is reading aloud to the group, Kit looks up and realizes that Mercy is looking at him.  She is in love with him! 

Those great listening eyes were fastened on the face of the young man bent over his book, and for one instant Mercy's whole heart was revealed. Mercy was in love with John Holbrook. Faster than thought the shadows clarified Mercy again. Kit glanced hastily around the circle. No one else had noticed. (Ch. 11)

Kit is a little jealous.  She wishes she cared for someone like that.  She is not in love with William. 

Chapter 12 

After candle-making, Kit wants to go visit Hannah Tupper.  Rachel gives her food to bring to her.  Kit is grateful, since no one is supposed to go to Hannah.  Nat is there, and he and Kit fix Hannah’s roof.  Nat tells Kit she reminds him of a tropical bird out of its element.  They discuss Shakespeare and politics.  

Kit arrives home late and tells her uncle where she has been.  He calls Hannah Tupper a heretic and is angry at Kit for going there.  He forbids her to go back.