Explain what King means when he talks about a "lonely island" and an "ocean" in his "I Have a Dream" speech.

In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used the metaphor of an island and a lonely sea to emphasize how African Americans were set apart from the rest of society.  They did not share the struggles and the triumphs of the rest of American society. Instead, they were separate from that society, isolated by segregation and by their poverty.

Here is the complete passage from which the words that you have quoted come:

One hundred years later (after the end of slavery), the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.

When Dr. King said this, he wanted to make it clear that America had not included African Americans as full members of its society.  Instead, African Americans lived on a “lonely island. “ They were separated from the rest of society because of how poor they were (and, as King says in a previous sentence, because of racial discrimination).  When King spoke this passage, he also wanted to emphasize just how rich most of America was.  To do this, he spoke of a “vast ocean of material prosperity.”  This evokes images of massive amounts of wealth spread out over a huge country. It helped to emphasize the idea that there was wealth all around, but that African Americans were cut off from that wealth and were not allowed to share in it.

Thus, by using these words, King meant to emphasize how rich America was and, at the same time, how it had kept African Americans poor and separate.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what is peculiar about Tom which would lead one to believe he could not have grabbed, beaten, or raped Mayella Ewell?

In Chapter 18, Atticus asks Mayella Ewell to identify the man who allegedly beat and raped her. Mayella indicates that Tom Robinson was the man responsible, and Atticus asks Tom to stand up. When Tom stands up, that entire community and jury can see that Tom has a crippled left arm. Scout says that it is twelve inches shorter than his right arm and hangs dead at his side. She mentions that Tom's hand was small and shriveled. Scout can see that his left arm and hand are of no use to him. Reverand Sykes tells Scout that Tom had his arm caught in Dolphus Raymond's cotton gin as a boy and almost bled to death. He says that Tom's muscles were torn loose from the bone, and his injuries were severe. Tom could not have possibly strangled Mayella around her neck with his crippled left arm, let alone hold her down while he raped her. Mayella's injuries to the right side of her face indicate that a man who lead almost exclusively with his left hand beat her in the face. There is sufficient evidence that suggests her left-handed father, Bob Ewell, was responsible for Mayella's injuries.

What kind of "personality" does the house have?

The automated house in Ray Bradbury's short story "There Will Come Soft Rains" could be portrayed as persistent, efficient, precise and conscientious in the opening 15 lines. 

Persistence is represented in the first paragraph as the house repeats the time of day and urges its inhabitants to get up. Even though the house is described as being empty it continues to recite its daily wake-up call.

In paragraph two, the house is efficient as it prepares the perfect number of eggs, toast, bacon, coffee and milk. Later we find out the house is also very clean and tidy as it washes away the uneaten food and totally scours the kitchen.

The house is also precise as it gives the exact date and location. It delivers a reminder about a friend's birthdate and the anniversary of either a friend or relative. Finally, the house is conscientious as it reminds the family about insurance and utility bills that are due and payable.

Of course, this persistence and efficiency are wasted as the reader soon learns the house is the only one left standing in a city destroyed by a nuclear blast and the family has been killed. Later in the story we also learn that the house is ironic when it recites the poem from which the story takes its name. The poem is about a world that goes on after a war and the annihilation of mankind.

In the end, the house could also be considered courageous as it does everything it can to fight the fire which breaks out when a tree limb crashes through a kitchen window. Unfortunately, all of the methods used by the house to save itself fail and it ultimately dies. 

What other movements did the Civil Rights Movement influence?

The Civil Rights Movement had an impact on other movements working for equality. Women were concerned about the inequalities they faced. Pay for a woman was lower than it was for a man. Women struggled to break into male-dominated professions. During President Kennedy’s administration, the Equal Pay Act was signed. Women were appointed to important positions in his administration.

Hispanics fought for better treatment. The farm workers in California formed a union against the farm owners. They wanted to be recognized as a union. They also wanted better treatment including better pay and improved working conditions in the fields. Groups such as La Raza Unida worked to help Mexican-Americans get more access to financial institutions. The Bilingual Education Act was passed in 1968 helping bilingual students learn in their native language as they were learning English.

Native Americans also worked for better treatment. The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 guaranteed that people who lived on reservations would have their rights protected. Local reservation law was also recognized.

The success of the Civil Rights Movement also helped other groups and movements achieve success.

What are some reasons and explanations for why Lyddie had to leave her family to pay off debt?

You answered the question nicely in the question.  Lyddie had to leave her family to pay off the family debt.  I would like to clarify though that Lyddie did not do the actual leaving of the family in the first place.  After the semi-bear attack in the first chapter, Lyddie's mother leaves the family farm to live with other relatives.  She takes all of the family with her except Lyddie and her brother.  Together, the two of them work the farm through the winter and care for the place.  Unfortunately, all of their hard work is to no avail, because the mom sold the farm.  The mother also sold Lyddie and her brother to indentured servitude.  Lyddie was sold to a local tavern and had to do all of the grunt work in order to help pay off the family debt.  The debt that I keep referring to is there because Lyddie's father presumably went off west in search of gold and has never returned.  He left the family with all of the financial burdens.  By the time that Lyddie decides to become a factory girl in the city, she has already been separated from her family (and not by her choice).  Lyddie's choice to work the factory is because she sees it as a chance to earn more money in a quicker fashion than she currently is able to.  

Provide some quotes about Aunt Alexandra being proper in Chapter 13.

Aunt Alexandra certainly believes that she and the Finch family belong to an upper class. Scout notes that Aunt Alexandra never misses an opportunity to demonstrate this "royal" position, especially in instructing others: 

She was never bored, and given the slightest chance she would exercise her royal prerogative: she would arrange, advise, caution, and warn. 

Aunt Alexandra's penchant for proper behavior gives her a sense of entitlement, and she thinks this justifies her criticisms of other people. According to Scout, Aunt Alexandra would have something to say about everyone: 

Everybody in Maycomb, it seemed, had a Streak: a Drinking Streak, a Gambling Streak, a Mean Streak, a Funny Streak. 

Aunt Alexandra insists (to Atticus) that the children learn of their family heritage. She feels that the Finches are of a higher class than most and the children should therefore live up to that proper station and behave properly. Near the end of the chapter, Atticus sits down with the children to impart this notion: 

Atticus persevered in spite of us: “She asked me to tell you you must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are. She wants to talk to you about the family and what it’s meant to Maycomb County through the years, so you’ll have some idea of who you are, so you might be moved to behave accordingly,” he concluded at a gallop. 

Atticus knows this is condescending to other people. He is just trying to placate Alexandra. However, he then comes to his senses and tells the children to forget about being proper and living up to the family name.

What happened to Jem when he was nearly thirteen in To Kill a Mockingbird

The opening sentence of the book reads, "When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow." (Lee 3) Harper Lee begins the books by introducing the narrator Scout, who says that she and Jem sometimes look back to discuss the events that led up to how he broke his elbow. The remainder of the novel depicts the various events and moments in the lives of the Finch children that lead to when Jem breaks his elbow. In Chapter 28, Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout while they are walking home from Maycomb's Halloween festival. Bob is attempting to enact revenge on Atticus for ruining his reputation in the Tom Robinson trial. Arthur "Boo" Radley, the Finches reclusive neighbor, saves the children by defending them during the attack. Boo Radley is able to use Bob Ewell's knife against him and stabs Bob during the struggle. After the fight is over and Bob Ewell is dead, Boo Radley carries Jem to his house. Jem is unconscious and broke his arm near the elbow during the attack. 

In Labov's 1966 study on English in New York City, what conclusion can be drawn from his research?

William Labov is one of the most famous and notable sociolinguists. In particular, he has focused his research on dialects in the US. He was a pioneer of the field in many ways.

One of his most well known studies is the one he conducted in 1966 on the socioeconomic differences of speech patterns in New York City. The study was published as The Social Stratification of English in New York City. Washington, D.C.: Center for Applied Linguistics, 1966. 2006. Second edition: Cambridge/Cambridge U. Press.

In his study, Labov conducted primary research in three NYC department stores: Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, and S. Klein. Saks is the most expensive, Macy's is more middle-class, and S. Klein is the least expensive and more working-class.

Labov created a survey to elicit certain responses and words so that he could analyze the speech of the employees of these three different stores. In particular, he was focused on the pronunciation of the /r/.

Conclusion drawn: What he found was that speech, and specifically the pronunciation of the /r/, changed according to socioeconomic class. In wealthier classes, i.e. those at Saks, the /r/ was pronounced more frequently, whereas in more working-classes, i.e. those at S. Klein, the /r/ was pronounced less.

Labov wrote in his study that,

"...we may conclude that (r) stratification is an integral part of the linguistic structure of the New York City speech community."

In other words, a person's social stratification can be reasonably determined according to his or speech patterns in New York City according to the pronunciation of the /r/.

In addition, Labov's methods of study led to new ways of studying linguistics.

In what ways is Captain Bluntschli an anti-hero?

The typical hero is brave, strong, and romantic, concerned with honor and glory. In Homer's epics, for example, a key motivation for the hero was "kleos" (fame) that would live on after the hero's death. A reputation for bravery was so important that Greek mothers told their sons as they went off to war:

"Come back with your shield—or on it" (Plutarch, Moralia 241).

Captain Bluntschli, on the other hand, has no desire for glory. He is not fighting for honor or for a cause, but is working as a mercenary and is quite willing to run away if it saves his life.

Rather than presenting an heroic demeanor, as the heroes of an opera, he is dirty and exhausted, and even scared of Raina at times. Nevertheless, he possesses an acute and cynical intelligence that enables him to look at war with a keen, realistic eye. Rather than seeing a cavalry charge as romantic, he describes it as "like slinging a handful of peas against a window pane." Far from seeing the leader of such a charge as brave, he surmises that the only reason someone would be in front is because his horse has bolted. 

While he sees war as a business, and he does his job efficiently, he is not willing to sacrifice his life simply for the sake of his employers, and actually carries food in his ammo pouch rather than bullets. He is quite willing to hide behind a curtain to save his life and admit to fear when he feels it, both very unheroic characteristics.

What is an example of foreshadowing in Chapter 12-13 in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Some examples of foreshadowing include Dill's letter, Calpurnia's church's reaction to Scout and Jem, and Alexandra's arrival.

Foreshadowing is a hint that the author makes about something that is going to happen later in the book.  It keeps a reader guessing and interested in the story.  Lee uses foreshadowing many times throughout the book.

One example of foreshadowing is the description of Jem’s moodiness. Scout is annoyed by it, but she is told that Jem is just growing up.  This foreshadows the events of the trial, because it is a major time of maturing for Jem.

Another example of foreshadowing is the comments Dill makes about his father.  

But summer came and Dill was not there. I received a letter and a snapshot from him. The letter said he had a new father whose picture was enclosed, and he would have to stay in Meridian because they planned to build a fishing boat. (Ch. 12)

This incident foreshadows Dill’s arrival in Maycomb later in the book.  Dill writes that he is going to have a good time with his new father.  When his stepfather shows no interest in him, Dill runs away back to Maycomb to be with Scout and Jem.

Another example of foreshadowing is the reception Scout and Jem get when they got to Calpurnia’s church.  Although Lula is rude to them, most people treat them with respect.

When they saw Jem and me with Calpurnia, the men stepped back and took off their hats; the women crossed their arms at their waists, weekday gestures of respectful attention. They parted and made a small pathway to the church door for us. (Ch. 12)

This foreshadows the trial, especially when Reverend Sykes tells the children to stand because their father is passing.  Most of the African Americans in Maycomb respect Atticus and appreciate what he is trying to do in defending Tom Robinson.  The details of the trial are also mentioned during this visit.

When Alexandra appears, the conversation between Atticus and the children foreshadows the trouble with will occur in Maycomb before and during the trial.

“We felt it was time you children needed—well, it’s like this, Scout,” Atticus said. “Your aunt’s doing me a favor as well as you all. I can’t stay here all day with you, and the summer’s going to be a hot one.” (Ch. 13)

When Atticus says the summer will be hot, he is speaking metaphorically.   Maycomb is stirred up by the trial, and Atticus knows that things are only going to get worse.  He wants Alexandra there to look out for his kids, and as an extra system of support.

In the poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," what does Walt Whitman do in reaction to the lecture?

This poem published in 1865 is one that is often quoted and referred to (it is even referenced in an episode of the TV show Breaking Bad); it is also one of Whitman's shortest poems, given that he is known for very long poems, including much of the poetry contained in Leaves of Grass, the volume where this poem also appeared. This poem is one where Whitman places himself as the narrator using a first person point of view. Because the poem is free verse, that ism it does not have any formal rhyme or meter, it has a prosaic feel as if Whitman is merely relating an anecdote. 

In the poem, Whitman describes his feelings after hearing a lecture given by an astronomer. His response to the orderly and fact-based lecture is one of discomfort; he says "I became tired and sick." He then says he rose and wandered off alone, into the "mystical moist night-air, and from time to time," gazed up "in perfect silence at the stars."

This poem offers a look at Whitman's strong feelings about nature, its beauty and mystical quality; but also his distaste at the idea of nature being reduced to an orderly set of figures, charts and ideas. For Whitman, nature is both a sensual and spiritual experience, as described in many of his poems, and the educated astronomer seems to have lost touch with the more mysterious, unknowable qualities of the night sky. Whitman does not seek to understand this mystery, but is content to look at it, in "perfect silence" (i.e. not needing to speak about it), and enjoy it. He also does not see to draw attention to this enjoyment (unlike the astronomer who seeks applause); but to have a private and personal encounter with the stars.

How do they choose which dinosaurs to kill in "A Sound of Thunder"? How do they mark them?

The only dinosaurs that are killed are about to die anyway.

The time travel safari company Time Safari, Inc. allows its customers a unique experience.  They get to go back in time and kill a dinosaur.  Of course, there are other packages available to different time periods and for different animals, but the dinosaur is what Eckels comes for.

The company has a special dispensation from the government to shoot dinosaurs, but it is also under strict guidelines.  These guidelines are in place to protect the future.  If you kill the wrong animal at the wrong time, you could change the past and that changes the present.

Lesperance’s job is to track a dinosaur through its life cycle and determine which dinosaurs are about to die.  Then they take their hunter to that specific time and place to kill it.  It was about to die, so killing it won’t hurt anything.

“I track them through their entire existence, noting which of them lives longest. Very few. …  Life’s short. When I find one that’s going to die when a tree falls on him, or one that drowns in a tar pit, I note the exact hour, minute, and second.”

There is a special path laid that ensures that the hunters do not affect anything in the past.  When Eckels accidentally steps off the path onto the butterfly, he causes the Butterfly Effect.  Killing that one butterfly completely changes the future.

It’s his shoes! Look at them! He ran off the Path. That ruins us! We’ll forfeit! Thousands of dollars of insurance! We guarantee no one leaves the Path. He left it. Oh, the fool!

Travis is worried about the company losing its license.  If the government finds out that the butterfly is dead, it might revoke it.  However, when they return to the present, they realize it is far worse than that.  The writing on the sign is slightly off from modern English, and a different man is elected president.  Stepping on one butterfly changed everything.

According to the novel Fahrenheit 451, why are books important?

In Part Two of the novel Fahrenheit 451, Montag visits Faber’s house to ask for his help in understanding various texts. Faber, a former English professor, is initially reluctant to help Montag out of fear that government forces will arrest him for conspiracy. Faber calls Montag a hopeless romantic and tells him that it is not necessarily books he is in need of, but rather the ideas and substance found inside the books that Montag is searching for. Faber explains that books were only one type of receptacle where humans stored knowledge they were afraid to lose. Faber says that books truthfully recorded details in each page and are full of quality, texture, and information. According to Faber, books are important because they record humanity’s accomplishments, but more importantly, they preserve humanity’s mistakes. He says that books are there to remind us of what fools we once were, in hopes that we won’t make the same mistakes in the future. Faber compares books to Caesar’s praetorian guard whispering in his ear that he is a mortal. Essentially, books record valuable information about the past that can positively shape our future decisions.

Working conditions for all workers, men, women, and children were terrible during the Industrial Revolution. What had to change? How would these...

During the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing developments were way ahead of ethical considerations. The workers, often times not only men and women, but also children, were treated as little more than a part in a machine. People could be forced to work twelve to fifteen hours per day in unsafe and unhealthy conditions for little pay and then cast off by the company when they got sick or could not work for any reason. Suddenly, it was possible to have worked a lifetime or until you were unable to do so and have little or nothing. The social problems caused by these conditions lead to some of the first ideas that are currently considered part of a liberal political and social ideology. 

The growth of labor unions occurred as a direct result of the conditions under which people were forced to work. These unions initially were built to give workers a voice in changing the working conditions instead of having to put up with often unreasonable and unsafe demands. Unions could go on strike, creating pressure on the company both my impacting productivity and by causing publicity for the problem that caused the strike. 

Along with the influx of workers for factories came a rise in demand for housing. Due to the demand for housing and the low payment that workers received, people began to live in areas described as urban slums. Often dirty and full of animals and excrement, often there was contamination to available water which caused diseases to spread. This called for social programs to create better living situations for those all who lived in this situation. 

Conditions were especially bad for children who were forced to work the same hours as adults and often used to get into places in machinery that were too small for adults to venture into. It was not unheard of for children to die on the job. While it seems unusual today, during child labor laws were unpopular until and even slightly past the end of the age commonly referred to as the prime of the Industrial Revolution. Often this was because families needed the extra income, even if they knew it was hazardous to the health and wellbeing of the child. 

In addition to the conditions that caused a more liberal outlook, the midst put forward by the revolution in and of itself changed the way people thought. Instead of what was needed in a certain area or a job at hand, people began working for the good of the corporation and later, the country. This broader way of thinking created a path to thinking about people in poverty or in poor conditions not only as people who were unfortunate and in need of assistance, but people who worked for the many and are in need of assistance from the many that they worked to supply. 

The living, working and idealogical conditions of the Industrial Revolution gave rise to many of the ideas and social programs that today are viewed as liberal in the political sphere. The fact that working hard was no longer a guarantee of a good life, or even a safe standard of living, as well as the fact that the companies were not held accountable for the treatment of their workers meant that larger scale intervention was needed for social change. Once the larger scale government programs began, other social programs such as welfare had a path to follow. 

What is the exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution of The Cay by Theodore Taylor?

Most of these terms (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution) are the general sections of any story. They help you organize a story in your mind and visualize it as a structured set of events.

Although I'll say that, for example, the exposition of The Cay is Chapters 1-2, and that the rising action is Chapters 3-11 and so on, other readers might have slightly different ways to make those divisions. But the general idea is that these terms help us make a map of the plot in order to understand it.

First, the exposition of any story is the very beginning, where we learn what the setting is, who the characters are, and what they basically want. 

So, you can find the exposition of The Cay in Chapters 1 and 2, when Phillip and his parents are wondering whether they should try to leave their Dutch island of Curacao to head to Virginia, where it might be safer. We learn that World War II is going on, and that there are shortages of food and water where Phillip is.

After the exposition comes the rising action, when, basically, action starts happening!

The rising action of The Cay comprises Chapters 3 through 11, when Phillip and his mom board the ship to head for Virginia, a torpedo causes their ship to sink, and Phillip ends up on a raft with an old black man named Timothy. They float in the middle of the ocean, hopelessly, until they finally reach a tiny deserted island, and they busy themselves with making a temporary camp there. They build a signal fire so that they might get rescued, and after some tense conversations, Phillip realizes that he respects Timothy and wants to be his friend. Timothy wonders if they are cursed with bad luck.

After the rising action comes the climax: the most exciting part, or the most difficult experience that the main character must endure. Some stories have more than one climax, and different readers could disagree about which one is "the" climax or the most important one.

In The Cay, I'll say that the first climax is in Chapter 12, when Timothy becomes extremely sick with malaria. That's when readers realize that Phillip will be totally alone and helpless if Timothy dies, and it's when Phillip really has to struggle hard to learn to feed himself and keep himself safe from hurricanes.

The second climax is in Chapter 15, when the hurricane hits and both characters have their strength tested by wind and waves. Because this event is so dramatic and chaotic, with so many preparations beforehand and so many repercussions afterward, it's probably the climax that most readers would identify as the more important one.

Falling action is all the events that occur after the climax(es). For The Cay, the falling action is Timothy's death at the end of Chapter 15, followed by Phillip's mournful thoughts and continual, solitary work to keep himself fed and alive on the cay, alone, throughout Chapters 16-18.

And lastly, the resolution is how the story ends. In other words, how is the conflict resolved, or how does the struggle end? Who wins?

In The Cay, the resolution takes place in Chapter 19, when Phillip is finally rescued from the cay, and he is united with his parents.

Let's consider the conflict separately from all the previous elements. Conflict is present in any of those sections of a story, but most notably the rising action and the climax. Conflict is when characters struggle: when they have experiences that are difficult or that require them to adapt and learn. You can specify what kind of conflict is going on by saying who or what the character is struggling against.

In The Cay, the conflict is between:

• Phillip and his own misunderstanding of and racism toward black people


• Phillip and his own new blindness, including his struggle to be self-sufficient


• Phillip and Timothy, as the boy realizes that the old man is not his enemy but his friend and his only hope for survival


• Timothy and his malaria


• The two people and nature: the conditions on the cay, especially the hurricane, present major difficulties for Phillip and Timothy

In The Miracle Worker, how will Annie’s past affect the way she deals with Helen?

The Miracle Worker is a play by William Gibson which gives a different perspective other than Helen's own, on life in the Keller household after Helen is left blind and deaf from an illness as a baby. Before Annie arrives, the reader learns that Annie has "accomplished so much" at the Perkins' Institute and that she could not even write her name when she arrived there. Furthermore, she is leaving the Institute where she has been a pupil and will now be the teacher. 

When Annie arrives, the audience become aware that life has been very difficult for the family and that Helen has no boundaries and is pitied more than anything. Annie has an arduous task to convince a non-communicative Helen that her life is about to change and Captain Keller, Helen's father remains skeptical about what Annie can even achieve as "she is only a child" herself, he claims. 

Annie's past affects the way she responds to Helen because Annie is partially-sighted herself so has some understanding of Helen's frustrations. Annie also suffers terrible guilt because she feels that she let her young brother Jimmie down. Jimmie died and Annie feels responsible for not having taken care of him, even though there was nothing she could have done. Annie is determined that she will not fail Helen. It is that determination that ensures that she is not defeated; such like Helen's father expects. Annie remains resolute and stands up to the Captain and convinces Helen's mother that even a small step forward- like Helen folding her napkin- is the beginning of Helen's journey to communication. 

Examine the role of force and violence in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Are these actions justified for their own sake or only as a means to an end? How...

Though Macbeth is initially portrayed as an honest, loyal thane of King Duncan, we see very early on that he is capable of extreme acts of violence, as he disembowels and decapitates the rebel leader Macdonwald in battle. Macbeth's Scotland was one in which a man's ability to use force and violence were the measure of his masculinity and his worth. It is the fact that Macbeth uses violence to usurp his natural place in Scotland that carries him down a path to destruction. When he kills the King, he kills a divinely-chosen leader, God's representative in Scotland. He is thus a usurper, and is forced (as he sees it) to defend his position with more violence, though notably he uses assassins to carry out the murders of Banquo and Macduff's family. So violence is not necessarily bad in and of itself in Macbeth, but disloyalty and usurpation of the natural order of things are. As for how Machiavelli would have viewed these developments, we can say that he (at least if we are going by his treatise The Prince) would have not necessarily had any compunction about the treachery of Macbeth, but he ultimately thought that leaders who constantly schemed and betrayed were engaging in self-defeating behavior: 

Still, to slaughter fellow-citizens, to betray friends, to be devoid of honour, pity, and religion, cannot be counted as merits, for these are means which may lead to power, but which confer no glory. 

Macbeth's tyranny and unrestrained use of violence were his undoing, and Machiavelli certainly could have predicted this.

Will Jesus come back?

Yes, the New Testament is very clear that Jesus will return. At least five witnesses testify to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ: Jesus himself, angels, all the writers of the New Testament, the church ordinance of Communion, and direct prophecy. The night before Jesus was arrested, he told his disciples that he would be killed, that he would rise again, and that he would be leaving them to prepare a place in Heaven for them. However, in John 14:3, he told them, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." There are many other occasions where Jesus taught the disciples that the "Son of Man," which was a name he used for himself, would come in the future.

After Jesus' crucifixion, he rose from the grave and remained on earth for 40 days, during which many people saw him. He did not die again, but he ascended into heaven in the sight of his disciples. After he disappeared from their sight, angels appeared and said, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). 

Every writer of the New Testament books refers to the Second Coming, most of them multiple times. In I Thessalonians 4:16, Paul explains, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God." The writer of Hebrews says, "For in just a very little while, 'He who is coming will come and will not delay'" (Hebrews 10:37). Peter tells us, "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away" (I Peter 5:4). In I John, the writer refers more than once to "when he appears" and "his coming." Even Jude, in his little epistle, mentions the Second Coming in verses 14 and 15.

Christians are taught to take Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper, as a church ordinance. Paul explains in I Corinthians 11:26 that Christians look backward to Jesus' death when they do so, but also forward to his Second Coming: "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

Finally, the New Testament book of prophecy, Revelation, directly prophesies in multiple places Christ's return. One of those is in chapter 1 verse 7:  "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." 

These are just a few of the many, many Bible passages that testify to Jesus' return. Some have believed or taught that Jesus' return will be spiritual, or that it has already happened. Both these teachings contradict Scripture, for the angels made it clear that he would come in the same way he went--meaning in physical form in the clouds. The Bible also teaches that when Jesus returns, he will not come alone. All those who have died "in him," meaning that they were believers, will come back with him, according to II Thessalonians 4:14. As far as when Christ's return will happen, that is a secret that God is keeping for himself. All we know is that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (II Thess. 5:2). In the meantime, believers are to "live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12-13). 

What examples of mythological thinking are current today?

Mythological thinking has to do with the stories we tell about ourselves or tell to ourselves and others about how the world works. It is characterized by an emphasis on symbolism, narrative, and the perceived experience rather than what is necessarily quantifiable or testable. Myth itself is a form of narrative which involves supernatural beings and phenomena, often as an explanation for why things are the way they are.

Mythological thinking exists today in many forms! I do not wish to step on any toes here, but religion is a great example of how people may engage with mythological thinking. Foundational myths are the great, big stories which tell us why the world is here, how it came to be, and how we came to be upon it. They may also describe the powers in the universe which help to order and control events. For example, the book of Genesis is a foundational creation myth which many people believe in or at least hold in regard. In the book of Genesis, God speaks all things into existence and puts in place the natural order of life. So, an example of mythological thinking may be the thoughts which occur when someone wonders about how the world came to be and feels that it is because God spoke.

One aspect of religion which also has a secular power is that of history. Thinking about the book of Genesis is, in a way, thinking about the history of the world and of the Abrahamic faiths. Secular history, too, has a mythological quality. To the discomfort of many, we are often taught "myths" as history in our primary schooling, only to go on to university to find that it wasn't really true! For example, I was taught as a young girl that Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain in 1492 and discovered the Americas for the first time—even though there happened to already be people there. From then on he became friends with the native people and Europeans began to colonize the Americas. That's the myth I was taught! In reality, the natives he encountered were descendants of the people who first "discovered" the Americas in multiple waves of migration from the Asian landmass. When it comes to visitors after that point, the Norse had visited the Americas long before Columbus was even born, and there is a theory that the Chinese may have visited even earlier!

We can tell myths about ourselves, too, though this kind of thinking typically blurs the line between supernatural and mundane thought. Sometimes we craft mythological narratives about ourselves in the sense that one might feel current ways of being are the result of an intensely dramatic or magical experience we had when we were young. While personality development and emotional and physical wellness are reliant upon the experiences of our childhood, such continuity would become mythological if I were to say that I never have allergy trouble because I ate a lot of dandelions as a child and absorbed their power. Can you think of any mythological narratives you or your family tell about yourselves?

What are some examples of Odysseus being condemned for killing the suitors?

In the final book of The Odyssey, the families of the suitors blame Odysseus for his handling of the men in his home, the suitors who exploited the palace's hospitality and tried to force Penelope to choose a new husband from among them.  "Rumor [...] ran swiftly through the town, reporting the suitors' awful death and doom; and those who heard gathered from every side, with moans and groans, before the palace of Odysseus."  The family of each suitor comes to claim their loved one's body so that the dead can be properly buried according to their customs.  It isn't just that they are mourning their loved ones, but they seem to feel that cutting them down in the prime of their lives -- strong, healthy young men, most of them -- was a cruel and unnecessary act on Odysseus's part.  Antinous's father, Eupeithes, is especially angry and upset.  He addresses all of the families, saying that Odysseus has done a "'monstrous deed'" in killing their sons and brothers.  Further, another man criticizes Odysseus by saying that he committed these murders "'without consent of the immortal gods,'" implying that he has done something ungodly and, therefore, unacceptable. 

What three things would change the velocity of an object?

The velocity an object has is basically two parts:  the speed at which the object is traveling, and the direction it is traveling in.  As far as speed is concerned, the object could speed up or slow down.  Either one of these would be termed acceleration on the object and would be described as a change in the velocity.  Of those two, we tend to think of speeding up as acceleration only.  But a decrease in speed, sometimes called negative acceleration, qualifies as a change in velocity as well.  The other component of velocity would be the direction the object is traveling in.  If you change the direction the object is traveling in, that qualifies as a change in velocity as well.  Examples would be a car going around a curve in the road, a compact disc as it plays in a CD player, or a baseball player as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run.  Speeding the object up, slowing the object down, or changing the direction it is moving in would all qualify for changing the object's velocity.

What kind of work did the village blacksmith do?

The village blacksmith is the man who makes and shapes anything made from metal; for instance, he would shape horseshoes, make metal tools, and perhaps reshape anything metal that villagers would need. Most towns and villages in the nineteenth century would have had a reliable blacksmith because his job was a necessary one for the burgeoning country, especially during the Industrial Revolution.

In terms of Longfellow's poem, the village blacksmith does what one would consider an honest day's work: "His brow is wet with honest sweat, / He earns whate'er he can" (9-10). The blacksmith may not be the wealthiest man in the village, but he works: "Each morning sees some task begin, / Each evening sees it close; / Something attempted, something done, / Has earned a night's repose" (39-42). The blacksmith is a common man who is elevated to a hero's status in Longfellow's poem.

Is fear a good motivator?

One could argue fear is the best motivator there is! If only considering short-term effects, fear is an excellent motivator. Evolutionary psychology is a theoretical framework which holds that all behaviors, thoughts, and feelings are the result of the evolutionary processes which have shaped humankind. While this framework has been criticized for being reductive, it does prompt one to consider the relationship between fear and motivation. 

One of the foundations of evolutionary psychology (and several other social sciences) is the belief that everything humans do is in order to preserve the self and propagate the species—in fewer words, survival. What is the desire to survive but fear of death? Even our most complex social arrangements can be traced back to the desire to survive through fulfilling basic needs for food, water, shelter, and socialization.

Nondisjunction in meiosis occurs in the egg or sperm?

Every species has a unique number of chromosomes housed within their cells. All humans have 46 chromosomes within their somatic, or body, cells. This is referred to as the diploid number of chromosomes. During meiosis, this number is reduced to 23 chromosomes per gamete (sex cell). This is known as the haploid number of chromosomes. This reduction of chromosomes is required to assure that, upon fertilization of sperm and egg, the diploid number is maintained from generation to generation.

Nondisjunction occurs when gametes are formed during meiosis. Thus, nondisjunction can effect either sperm or egg. Nondisjunction occurs when at least on pair of sister chromatids or homologous chromosomes fail to divide normally during meiosis. Nondisjunciton may occur during either meiosis I or meiosis II. This causes the gametes to have either more or less chromosomes.

Fertilization that involves gametes with the incorrect number of chromosomes as a result of nondisjunction may result in monosomy or trisomy. Monosomy is a condition in which only one chromosome of a pair is present. Trisomy is a condition in which there are three copies for a chromosome type. The syndrome/disorder that results from fertilization involving gametes produced by nondisjunction depends on the chromosome number that is affected.

Which of the following properties is unique to Earth? It has the highest gravity of all the planets. It can support ice. It...

The correct answer is the last choice--only Earth, of the planets in our solar system, has an atmosphere rich in oxygen. Only Earth has plants and other photosynthetic life, which is the source of most of the free oxygen in Earth's air. This in turn allows animal life to exist. Oxygen is found in very small amounts on other planets that have atmospheres, such as Venus and Jupiter.

The planet in our solar system with the highest gravity is Jupiter, due to its extreme mass. Jupiter exerts higher gravity than Earth by a factor of 2.5; that is, you would weigh 2.5 times on Jupiter what you do on Earth. As Jupiter is a gas giant you would have a hard time standing on a scale in order to weigh yourself--there is no solid surface!

Earth is not the only planet known to support ice. Ice as we think of it--frozen water--has been found on Mars. Other planets such as Neptune and Uranus are referred to as Ice Giants, and the frozen substances they are made of do seem to have a small amounts of frozen water, as well.

The hottest planet is Venus, due to its atmosphere of CO2 and acids. Temperatures on Venus average 864 degrees fahrenheit (462 degrees celsius). The greenhouse effect of its atmosphere causes Venus to be hotter than Mercury, even though Mercury is closer to the sun.

Who is Benvolio related to?

In Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio is a blood relative of the Montagues.  Specifically, he is a cousin to Romeo and the nephew of Lord and Lady Montague.  His role within the play is primarily as a peacemaker.  On several occasions, including the very first scene, Benvolio attempts to make peace between factions of the warring families.  Likewise, he attempts to keep Mercutio away from the Capulets at the start of Act Three, in order to escape the inevitable fight that would (and does!) ensue.

Benvolio also serves as a loyal friend to Romeo.  He works diligently to try to get Romeo's mind off of Rosaline, the subject of Romeo's infatuation.  Little does Benvolio know how well his attempts work, as Romeo falls head over heels with Juliet soon after!

How long would it take for Tom to reproduce the work on the yellow paper that blows away in "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket"?

When Tom loses his yellow sheet, he contemplates that he can duplicate the work, but it will take him two months to do so. 

When the yellow sheet leaves his desk for the dangerous ledge eleven stories high, Tom incredulously attempts to comprehend that he is going to have to abandon his money-making plan for a new grocery display. Through his mind runs the dozen lunch hours, evenings, and trips to the Public Library on Fifth Avenue that he has accrued in his efforts to finish before the Spring displays are made.

This overriding recall of his many hours of work and the potential loss of his success over others and a promotion, causes Tom to pause. 

...he couldn't escape the thought, this and other independent projects...would gradually mark him out from the score of other young men in his company....And he knew he was going out there in the darkness, after the yellow sheet....

Therefore, in his cupidity Tom abandons good sense and risks his life in order to retrieve the yellow sheet. However, once out on the dangerous high-rise ledge, Tom realizes the folly of his reckless efforts. He contemplates what puzzlement his death would bring if he should fall and all they would find in his pocket would be a meaningless yellow sheet.

Which lines by Scrooge reveal that his character has a sense of humor?

Much of the humour in A Christmas Carol comes from the character of Scrooge. In stave one, for example, Scrooge has a conversation with the ghost of Marley, his deceased business partner, which is full of humorous remarks:

"You must have been very slow about it, Jacob,'' Scrooge observed, in a business-like manner, though with humility and deference.

"Slow!'' the Ghost repeated.

"Seven years dead,'' mused Scrooge. "And travelling all the time?''

"The whole time,'' said the Ghost. "No rest, no peace. Incessant torture of remorse.''

"You travel fast?'' said Scrooge.

As we can see, Scrooge's humour reflects his cold and bitter personality: he is sarcastic and scathing in his remarks. But, by the end of the story, Scrooge's sense of humour has undergone an important change. In stave five, for example, Scrooge decides to buy a prize turkey and send it to Bob Cratchit's house. Here, we see another example of Scrooge's humour:

"I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's!'' whispered Scrooge, rubbing his hands, and splitting with a laugh. "He sha'n't know who sends it. It's twice the size of Tiny Tim. Joe Miller never made such a joke as sending it to Bob's will be!"

Later on, Scrooge plays another joke on Bob Cratchit. He pretends to be mad at him for having Christmas Day off and implies that he is about to be fired. But, instead, Scrooge gives Bob a pay rise which prompts much joy and excitement. What we see, then, is that Scrooge's sense of humour has changed quite dramatically. After being visited by the three ghosts, Scrooge's sense of humour is far more sympathetic. He plays (kind) jokes on people and likes to share in their laughter, instead of laughing at their expense. 

What is the relationship between the narrator and her mother in the short stories "Caroline's Wedding" and "New York Day Women" and "Nineteen...

The short story collection Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat is a collection of nine short stories, most of which deal with mother/daughter relationships of Haitian immigrant women.

The short story "Nineteen Thirty-Seven" deals with Josephine, a young woman whose mother, Manman, has been imprisoned for being a witch. In this story, Josephine struggles with loving her mother, but being frustrated by her mother's actions. When Josephine visits Manman in prison, Josephine is overcome with guilt at her relationship with her mother and cannot speak. This becomes a source of frustration for Manman because even though she enjoys seeing her daughter, she is frustrated that Josephine is silent.

In "New York Day Women," Suzette, a Haitian woman, tries to assimilate to American life, often against her mother's wishes. Suzette's mother, an immigrant from Haiti, is often critical of Suzette, harboring some resentment because Suzette does not hold to old customs.

"Caroline's Wedding," the last short story in the collection, follows Grace and Caroline, the daughters of Ma, an immigrant from Haiti who is disappointed in Caroline's choice of not marrying another Haitian. In this story, Ma is firmly rooted in her Haitian traditions and culture, Caroline is trying to assimilate to American culture, and Grace is stuck in the middle, trying to be both American and Haitian.

In each of these stories, the mother is usually a symbol for Haiti and Haitian culture, while the daughter is an immigrant struggling with retaining her Haitian culture and identity, while forging new ones.

Name at least 3 reasons why Macbeth fears Banquo and worries about his existence.

When Macbeth is planning the murders of Banquo and Fleance, he details many reasons why he is so concerned about Banquo and wishes to have him killed.  First he describes Banquo's "royalty of nature": there is something noble and honorable in Banquo's manner and person, and this intimidates Macbeth (3.1.50).  Then he says that Banquo "hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor / To act in safety"; so, not only is Banquo incredibly brave and courageous, but he is also smart enough to remain safe at the same time (3.1.53-54).  Finally, Macbeth is most bothered by the fact that the Weird Sisters told Banquo that his descendants would be kings; thus, he understands that he will not pass the throne on to his own children, but to Banquo's.  He says, "For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; / For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered" (3.1.65-66).  Macbeth has ruined his eternal soul, destroyed his own peace, and saddled his mind with terrible guilt all for a "barren scepter" and to pave the way for Banquo's family to reign.  This is the biggest reason he has to resent Banquo's existence as well as his son, Fleance's.  Thus, he arranges their murders so that he will no longer have to fear them. 

What does each different place/setting show about managing grief in Bharati Mukherjee's short story?

One of the central motifs in "The Management of Grief" is grieving. For the main character, Shaila Bhave, grief is both an expression of sorrow and love, and a way of coming into self knowledge. This process is intimately connected to place. Her life as an immigrant in Canada in a way is not a new life; she is still bound by the expectations of her culture, bonds that only begin to break in the aftermath of the horrific airline disaster that claims the lives of her husband and children.

Bhave's journey from Toronto to India and back mirrors her internal journey through the stages of grief. Toronto, where they first hear the news, is a claustrophic environment. Bhave cannot bring herself to express the grief she really feels, as can be seen when she is interviewed by the social worker, who commends her for her calmness. Bhave says that she wishes she could not be calm. In fact, she says, her calmness makes her feel like "a freak."

Later, after they travel to Ireland to identify bodies, Bhave finds a place that is more welcoming:

"The Irish are not shy; they rush to me and give me hugs and some are crying. I cannot imagine reactions like that on the streets of Toronto. Just strangers, and I am touched. Some carry flowers with them and give them to any Indian they see."

The Irish arrange a trip for them to the shore, where they can be close to their dead loved ones. They find comfort imagining that they might still be alive, speaking about their children in the present tense. They float remembrances on the water, in the hopes that maybe they will reach their loved ones somehow. Bhave floats a poem to her dead husband, telling him how much she loves him.

After Ireland, Bhave travels with the coffins to India. There she is transformed again: "In India, I become, once again, an only child of rich, ailing parents." Her life in Toronto, her family and husband, fade away as she is forced back into the role of daughter, and the spectre of returning to Canada, only with a new husband from an arranged marriage, hangs over her. Bhave is "trapped between two modes of knowledge. At thirty-six, I am too old to start over and too young to give up. Like my husband’s spirit, I flutter between worlds."

While travelling in the Himalayas, at a temple, Bhave has a final mourning experience, and her husband's spirit descends to her:

My husband takes my hands in his. You’re beautiful, he starts. Then, What are you doing here? Shall I stay? I ask. He only smiles, but already the image is fading. You must finish alone what we started together. No seaweed wreathes his mouth. He speaks too fast, just as he used to when we were an envied family in our pink split-level. He is gone.

In this place, Bhave begins to find a kind of closure and acceptance. She begins to understand her place in the world, independent of her identity as a wife or as a daughter. She returns to Toronto, to help others, a final expression of her grief.

What are Muslim women promised in the afterlife?

According to the Quran, male and female believers will receive similar treatment once they enter Paradise. 

Everyone is promised peace, luxury, restored health, an existence without hardship, endless food and drink, freedom from sickness and death, as well as reunification with any deceased family members who also dwell in Paradise.

Although men, specifically, are promised 72 virgins, all women are, instead, promised husbands.

It's believed that women who were unmarried before death will receive husbands better than those they would've found in life. Meanwhile, women who were married in life are believed to be reunited with their spouses. 

In addition to that, women are promised both eternal youth and beauty. They are said to be even more appealing than the virgins the men in Paradise are promised, and therefore they are superior.

What does the title "Ozymandias" suggest about its subject?

"Ozymandias," a simple, one-word title, suggests the focus of the poem will be on Ozymandias, whoever that might be. The name sounds "Oriental," and at the time Shelley wrote the poem, in 1819, there was much interest in England in all things "Oriental," so the title would have sparked interest in contemporary audiences. (As Edward Said has shown, "the Orient" stretched in the popular imagination as a "single monolith" from the Middle East to Asia.) The short title, with its commanding sound, also suggests that we will read about a commanding person.

The poem, in fact, does focus on Ozymandias, who is based on the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, whose statue was being shipped to England at the time. The poem examines primarily the broken statue of this man who once thought himself the greatest of rulers, presiding at the head of a great kingdom, inspiring terror in his enemies. Instead of greatness, we see the scattered pieces of a ruin, strewn across not a kingdom but a desert waste. The title, after we have read the poem, thus reflects Shelley's irony: great tyrants come to nothing, no matter how they might delude themselves into thinking their glory will never end. 

What are the causes of a chemical change in a car engine?

A chemical change takes place when new chemical species is/are formed. In case of a car engine, chemical change takes place due to combustion of fuel. Most of the cars run on either gasoline (also known as petrol) or diesel. Both of these are organic fossil fuels. When combustion of these fuels take place, simpler compounds are formed. For example, complete combustion of these fuels will produce carbon dioxide and water. Since the combustion process is not very efficient and fuels also contain some impurities, we end with other products as well. These products may include, carbon monoxide, nitrogenous oxides (or NOx), sulfurous oxides ( or SOx), etc. Thus, combustion of fossil fuels is the cause of chemical changes in a car engine.

Hope this helps.

Which of gandhi's teachings were based on hinduism?

Ghandi's teaching of nonviolent resistance (or passive resistance) is based on the Hindu teaching of ahisma. Ahisma is generally translated as nonviolence, but goes quite deeper than that. Ahisma refers to the interconnectedness of all living beings. It is the notion that to harm another being is to harm one's self. Ahisma presents a concept of self that is inter-related to other selves, rather than cut off and distinct from other selves. This concept deeply informs Hindu virtue, ethics, and cosmology. 

Ghandi was also influenced by the Hindu virtue brahmacharya, variously translated as: willful determination, earnestness, or discipline. Brahmacharya means to invest all one's energy into the pursuit of good. This means to engage in practices, study, and virtues that bring peace and integrity to one's self and the world. Traditionally, brahmacharya also caries the duty to remain celibate, a duty Ghandi took up later in life and one which he would advocate right through to his death. 

How can the relationship between Atticus and his children be shown with quotes in the first three chapters?

Atticus is usually frank with his children. He speaks to them as he would to adults. He shows them respect and is usually patient with them. He also enjoys spending time with Scout and Jem. One day, Atticus shows his honesty with his children when Scout asks if they are poor:

"Are we poor, Atticus?"

Atticus nodded. "We are indeed."

Jem's nose wrinkled. "Are we as poor as the Cunninghams?"

"Not exactly. The Cunninghams are country folks, farmers, and the crash hit them hardest."

Atticus said professional people were poor because the farmers were poor. As Maycomb County was farm country, nickels and dimes were hard to come by for doctors and dentists and lawyers (Chapter 2).

Atticus does not hide the fact that they are poor from his children. He tells them they are poor, and also explains why. In this way, Atticus is frank with his children and also respects their intelligence.

Sometimes, Atticus does treat his children with typical parental firmness. One day, Atticus scolds his children for playing loudly outside. Mr. Radley is near death, and Atticus does not want his children to disturb the family with their noise:

But there came a day when Atticus told us he'd wear us out if we made any noise in the yard and commissioned Calpurnia to serve in his absence if she heard a sound out of us (Chapter 1).

Atticus enjoys spending time with Scout and Jem. He often reads with them at night. On the night of Scout's first day of school, Atticus reads to them and keeps them laughing:

Atticus kept us in fits that evening, gravely reading columns of print about a man who sat on a flagpole for no discernible reason, which was reason enough for Jem to spend the following Saturday aloft in the treehouse (Chapter 3).

Why might people understand the 1996 version of Romeo + Juliet better than the 1968 version?

The 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet does an excellent job of translating William Shakespeare's most famous play to the silver screen. Aside from not taking place on a stage, it is quite traditional in treatment of the story. This adaptation is set in Renaissance Verona and deals with the love  between the teenage children of feuding noble families. Though this particular film stays quite true to the tradition of Romeo and Juliet as it has appeared on stage, most people today are so far removed from the original context (not to mention the language) that the play does not have as much impact as it might have at its premier.

In contrast, the 1996 Romeo + Juliet takes the essential plot and dialogue of the classic play and places this into the context of modern gang violence. Audiences of this modernized adaptation are more likely to have an understanding of the kind of turf wars and gang violence which have developed in the United States over the past century. There are implications in the film that the two warring families are of Italian descent and therefore may have connections to the Mafia or other forms of organized crime. The most significant difference between the 1968 and 1996 versions is in the relationship between dialogue and scene. Much of the context of Renaissance Italian culture is lost on a modern viewer, but in the 1996 adaptation, the scene is translated into a modern context to allow for better understanding of the dialogue.

Let's compare a few scenes from both films. First, the party where Romeo and Juliet first meet. In the 1968 film, the Capulet party is portrayed quite traditionally. To us, it may seem a somber gathering of people listening to a small group of musicians- but this is how Italian nobles liked to impress one another! The 1996 portrayal of a bustling party with music, costumes, and alcohol makes much more sense to a modern viewer, who is likely to associate a party with these things. Let us also consider the opening battle scene between young men from both the Capulet and Montague families. In the 1968 film, it is difficult to detect the anger and taunting intended by the thumb-biting and banter. Especially as swords are out of fashion as a personal weapon, the conflict in this opening scene hardly seems more than a scuffle to our modern eyes. In contrast, we understand from the 1996 version that the young men are taunting one another and instigating conflict based on their sense of familial honor. The director's choice to mark the guns with names like "Sword" is a clever tie to the original text, but we modern viewers understand the seriousness of gun violence and can relate it to the context of gang activity or turf wars.

In short, audiences today are more likely to understand what's going on in the 1996 film than the 1968 because it has been intentionally transformed to fit the original dialogue into a modern setting.

Why is Mr. White afraid in "The Monkey's Paw"?

When Herbert was killed at the textile mill where he was employed, his father had to come down and identify the body. Herbert was horribly mangled by the machinery. Mr. White tells his wife that he could only identify his son by the remnants of his clothing. In Part III of the story when Mrs. White gets the inspiration to have her husband use the second wish available on the monkey's paw to bring their son back to life and back to their home, Mr. White is aghast. He tells her:

"He has been dead ten days, and besides he—I would not tell you else, but—I could only recognize him by his clothing. If he was too terrible for you to see then, how now?"

White makes the wish under duress, but he is secretly hoping that the two hundred pounds he received from his first wish was only the result of a coincidence. He knows that Herbert would look truly horrible after being mangled beyond recognition and then decaying in his grave for ten days. Mrs. White may want her boy back in any condition, but Mr. White has seen his actual condition and feels horrified at the thought of having such a monster move back into their little house to live with them again.

When there is no immediate result from his second wish, Mr. White begins to believe that the monkey's paw has no real power at all. The reader, too, is beginning to have the same opinion as Mr. White. Even Mrs. White has given up hope. But later in the night, Mr. White has to get out of bed and go downstairs to get another candle. It is at this point that something really creepy occurs.

At the foot of the stairs the match went out, and he paused to strike another; and at the same moment a knock, so quiet and stealthy as to be scarcely audible, sounded on the front door.

Mr. White tries to ignore it, but his wife hears it too. The knocking which was "so quiet and stealthy as to be scarcely audible" increases in intensity until its booming seems to fill the entire house.

A perfect fusillade of knocks reverberated through the house, and he heard the scraping of a chair as his wife put it down in the passage against the door.

He is not about to open that door, and his wife is having trouble because she cannot reach the top bolt. Who could it be at this time of night in this lonely setting but their son Herbert come back from the dead in response to the second wish? Mr. White made his first wish at his son's suggestion. He made his second wish at his wife's insistence. But he makes his third wish on his own initiative.

He heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey's paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.

The reader is probably just as relieved as Mr. White that he doesn't have to see the person—or thing—that was doing all that knocking. Earlier in the story Mr. White had repeated to Herbert what Sergeant-Major Morris had told him about the monkey's paw:

"Morris said the things happened so naturally," said his father, "that you might if you so wished attribute it to coincidence."

So the person doing all the knocking at the end might have been some lost traveler who was only trying to get directions. In that case, why was he knocking so persistently? There are only two houses occupied in this isolated new housing development and he must have already tried at the other house without success. This hypothetical traveler would know the Whites' house was occupied because he would have seen their light all over the neighborhood.

The talisman fell to the floor, and he regarded it fearfully. Then he sank trembling into a chair as the old woman, with burning eyes, walked to the window and raised the blind.

He sat until he was chilled with the cold, glancing occasionally at the figure of the old woman peering through the window. The candle-end, which had burned below the rim of the china candlestick, was throwing pulsating shadows on the ceiling and walls, until, with a flicker larger than the rest, it expired.

What is a description of the setting in the story "There Will Come Soft Rains"?

In Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains," the setting is of such importance that it is truly the main character of the story.

It is August 4, 2026, two days from the anniversary of the apocalyptic dropping of the atomic bomb upon Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945, the automated house stands alone, the sole survivor in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion. Amazingly, all the other houses are but ashes and rubble, but the house still functions. The voice-clock acts as the morning alarm, "time to get up, time to get up, seven o'clock!"
In the kitchen there are the sounds of breakfast being made as the automatic date reminder announces the birthdays and anniversaries and bills to remember. Then, the clock says that it is time to go to work and to school; however, on this day there are no sounds to be heard. No one closes a door, no one runs down the stairs.

Later, the little robotic mice come out and clean the floors, the shriveled eggs that were not eaten are cleared off plates that are then washed. When all the tasks of cleaning are completed, the mice scurry back into their burrows. Outside, the most remarkable sight is visible on the walls of the house: the silhouettes of a man, a woman, and a boy and girl are burned onto the sides of the house. The rest of the house is "a charcoal layer" now when heretofore it has been

...an altar with ten thousand attendants, big small, servicing, attending, in choirs. But the gods had gone away, and the ritual of the religion continued senselessly, unsteadily.

When a dog, once large and healthy, but now reduced to bone and full of sores, comes to the door, it whines and the house opens its door. The pitiful dog froths at the mouth, spins, and drops dead from cancer. Sensing decay, the robotic mice again appear and sweep the dog into the house incinerator.
Still, the house continues its automated routine: the nursery changes to a virtual meadow where children can play, the bath fills for the children; the fire place glows. At 9:55 p.m. an automated voice asks Mrs. McClellan which poem she would like to hear on this evening. When there is no response, the voice reads Sara Teasdale's "There Will Come Soft Rains."

After this reading, the house starts to be destroyed as a tree falls and a branch breaks a window, sending cleaning solvent onto the stove. A great conflagration begins, and the house cannot put it out. The fire spreads throughout the house and the voices die as the machinery all comes on at once as circuits burn. In electronic chaos, music is played, the lawn mower runs, an umbrella is set up outside, the cleaning mice run "insanely" in manic confusion as the stove reignited by fire falling upon it repeatedly prepares dozens of bacon strips and loaves of toast. Finally, there is a crash; then, there is smoke and silence. The house is virtually destroyed, but it endeavors to announce the date, "Today is August 5, 2026....

Why is Barton shocked upon first discovering the identity of the stowaway in Tom Godwin's short story "The Cold Equations"?

In Tom Godwin's short story "The Cold Equations," Barton is shocked upon discovering the stowaway is a young girl because most people exploring and colonizing outer space are men. Therefore, he expects the stowaway to be a man.

Having been first written and published in 1954, Godwin's short story still reflects the biased notion that the hardest work is done by men. Exploring and colonizing outer space are extremely dangerous jobs because the explorers and colonizers face many unknowns. In addition, the colonies on separate planets are so spread out that it becomes challenging to deliver emergency supplies and assistance to those in need, which further limits the chances of survival. Since most people working in outer space are men, Barton is very accustomed to the sight of men's deaths and accepts death as an inevitable consequence of being at the mercy of the laws of nature. He is even accustomed to associating many of the men in outer space with ulterior motives, such as criminals escaping justice or opportunists trying to "find golden fleece for the taking." As a result, he feels prepared to take the life of a male stowaway, but completely unprepared to take the life of a young, innocent, naive girl. Hence, Barton is shocked to find the stowaway is a girl because she stands in stark contrast to everything else he has experienced and witnessed in outer space.

How many times has Shakespeare had to adapt Macbeth to avoid upsetting the monarchy?

Shakespeare dramatically altered Macbeth’s original source material in order to please King James. Macbeth was a real historical figure, a king who ruled Scotland beginning in 1045. It is hard to say how many times Shakespeare consciously made the decision to alter events to avoid upsetting the monarchy; however, I can point you to three major alterations. The first two alternations were certainly made to avoid upsetting the monarchy, while the last was made as a concession to King James's personal interests. 

The historical Macbeth ruled for fourteen years, and most historians look upon his reign favorably. During his reign, Christianity flourished and the country was peaceful except for a few successful Scottish raids into Northumbria, England. Given that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth at a time when England was still shaken by the Gunpowder Plot, a failed assassination attempt on King James, a realistic portrayal of Macbeth’s virtues would have been inappropriate and dangerous. It was certainly practical to suggest that horror and chaos were the only results of a rebellion against a ruler.

Additionally, since King James was descended from Banquo and Fleance, Shakespeare emphasized these characters’ goodness and cast them as the wronged heroes of the tale. This wasn’t entirely true; in fact, the Chronicles of Holinshed show that the historical Banquo allied with Macbeth even after his murder of Duncan! Banquo is shown as Macbeth’s accomplice instead of a staunch supporter of Duncan and an innocent victim of Macbeth’s mania. 

Now, of course, there were no three witches in the real version of Macbeth’s rise to power. However, it’s important to mention them since King James was incredibly obsessed with the supernatural. He even wrote a book  that described his theories about witches and spirits. By including evil witches in Macbeth, Shakespeare further tailored the play to King James’s interests.

In "The Devil and Tom Walker", what occupation does Tom eagerly accept?

Tom eagerly accepts the occupation of usurer, which is a somewhat outdated term for a person who lends money at an unreasonably high rate of interest.

As part of his agreement with "Old Scratch" (the Devil), to acquire a lost pirate fortune, Tom agreed to meet various terms and conditions that were set forth by Scratch. Some of these terms go unmentioned by the narrator, though it is heavily implied that Tom traded his soul, a "generally understood" condition of the Devil granting favors to people. One of the additional terms is that Tom must use the money in a way which furthers the Devil's purpose; after refusing to become the owner of a slave ship (which is too "low" even for Tom) he happily agrees to become a usurer, as this job suits his tastes.

At least part of the reason for the further conditions set forth in the story is probably to differentiate it from the tale of Faust, upon which it relies heavily for source material, and also to further emphasize Tom's wicked nature; it is not enough that he has lost his soul,  but he must visit further evil upon others in order to enjoy his transitory fortunes. Usury is also specifically mentioned and forbidden in the Bible, thereby emphasizing Tom's continued immorality.

What would have happened if there was no atmosphere?

Atmosphere does a number of things for us. For starters, atmosphere contains oxygen, the gas we need for cellular respiration. Without oxygen, we would all die very quickly. Atmosphere also protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiations of Sun. It also prevents a large amount of space debris from reaching the surface of Earth. Extra-terrestrial objects burn up in our atmosphere and thus hardly ever reach the surface. Atmosphere is also responsible for greenhouse effect, which keeps the temperatures high enough for the life to survive and also ensures small variations between daytime and nighttime temperature. Atmosphere traps some of the solar radiations and keep the Earth warm, without the atmosphere, the surface temperature would be very low. Lack of atmosphere will also mean that all the oceans would evaporate very quickly (since water boils at lower temperature, when air pressure is low).

In essence, lack of atmosphere would have meant no life and no water on this planet, very low temperatures, high amount of solar radiations and bombardment by extraterrestrial objects. 

Hope this helps. 

What happens in an ecosystem if a new herbivore is introduced?

An ecosystem has various elements and the element of interest for this particular question is the food chain. A food chain has various levels, starting from producers to top consumers (carnivores). In simpler terms, plants produce food through photosynthesis and are at the lowest level. Herbivores, such as deer, eat the plants and are first level consumers. Carnivores, such as lion, eats deer and are higher level consumers. If we make modifications at any level, all the levels are disturbed. For example, if we introduce a new herbivore (which is suited to the given ecosystem), number of primary consumers will increase and the rate of consumption of plants, grass, etc. will also increase. This would result in less food for other herbivores and depletion of plants over time. Another change would be the extra food for predators, whose population will grow. However, over time, decreased plants and increased predator population will result in shuffling of the food chain and herbivore population would be controlled within acceptable levels, and a new equilibrium will be established.

Hope this helps. 

Do you think Nafisi and her students are taking action against this repressive regime by meeting to read and discuss literary works, or does...

This is one of those interesting questions that posits an either/or binary, so let's unwrap this a little. In the end, the question becomes: to what extent is escapism political action?

Nafisi is at pains to argue that in a totalitarian regime that is trying to control all aspects of an individual's life, all acts are inevitably political. She evokes Nabokov's Invitation to a Beheading to discuss the immense importance of the small gesture, such as letting a lock of hair fall out from under the veil in 1980s Tehran, to point to the political nature of her reading group. Under a regime that considered women's higher education highly suspect and Western novels one of the dangers of the decadent West, Nafisi strongly gestures towards her group as political. She sees the kind of intellectual work her reading group is doing, such as reading Daisy Miller or Pride and Prejudice, as laying the groundwork for change:

In Austen’s novels, there are spaces for oppositions that don’t need to eliminate each other in order to exist. There is also space—not just space but a necessity—for self-reflection and self-criticism. Such reflection is the cause of change. 

However, while we can agree that discussing these novels is political—as she notes, the novel itself is a democratic form—and that therefore escapism into these novels is political, the escapism stops short of "taking action against this repressive regime." Heady as the readings of the novels are, the women actually take no direct action against the government: they organize no political underground, hand out no handbills, don't work to expand their circle wider. They are carving out as comfortable a space as they can in their privileged world. Nafisi has hand-picked an elite group of young women: they talk about novels while eating pastries and drinking the tea served by the maid. This may be a useful prequel to political action, but in the end stops short of action itself.

What is the context of The Hobbit?

In literature, context refers to all factors that influenced an author in the writing of his story. There's the historical context, the socio-political context, and even the literary context. Knowing the context of a work can help us understand and appreciate what we're reading. Let's take a look at two:

1)Literary context.

Tolkien was well-known for his love of languages. From his beloved mother, Tolkien learned Latin, German, and French. Later in life, he learned Finnish, Welsh, and Old Norse. From these, Tolkien invented unique languages for the world of Middle Earth such as Sindarin and Quenya (two Elvish languages), Dwarvish, Entish, and Black Speech (the cursed language of Mordor). Also, many of the characters in Middle Earth had names rooted in the Anglo-Saxon or Norwegian languages. The name Sauron, for instance, means 'filth' or 'uncleanness' in Old Norse.

Tolkien's invented languages provided a context for his characters to tell their unique stories. Although these languages appear more prominently in the Lord of the Rings and Silmarillion, they alert us to the fact that the unique histories of specific races are preserved through linguistic awareness. For example, Gandalf's sword, Glamdring, is translated as Foehammer in Sindarin, one of the Elvish languages of the Third Age of Middle Earth.  The Orcs so feared this sword that they called it Beater. Glamdring itself had a unique history; as Elrond informed Gandalf in The Hobbit, the sword was originally wielded by the fierce king of Gondolin in battle against Orcs. So, every language tells of unique histories in Middle Earth. In understanding the literary context, we come to appreciate the importance of language in preserving history.

2)Historical Context

Tolkien served as a Second Lieutenant with the Lancashire Fusiliers (11th Battalion) during World War One. It was said that he never forgot the horrific scenes he was exposed to during the war and that he wrote both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as a sort of cathartic exercise.

Most of the writing Tolkien did during the war was said to have been done in mess-halls and make-shift army tents in between battle. He wrote because it was a way to process his horrific experiences. The Hobbit was published in 1937, almost twenty years after the war; The Lord of the Rings was published between 1937 and 1949. We can only imagine the devastation, fear, and terror Tolkien must have experienced.

Read about Tolkien's war experiences and how they inspired the battle scenes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

After you read that, you will fully appreciate this battle scene from The Hobbit.

Goblins had scaled the Mountain from the other side and already many were on the slopes above the Gate, and others were streaming down recklessly, heedless of those that fell screaming from cliff and precipice, to attack the spurs from above...Victory now vanished from hope. They had only stemmed the first onslaught of the black tide...The goblins gathered again in the valley. There, a host of Wargs came ravening and with them came the bodyguard of Blog, goblins of huge size with scimitars of steel...the goblins were stricken in the valley, and they were piled in heaps til Dale was dark and hideous with their corpses.

Tolkien infused the reality and horror of war into The Hobbit; each conflict on Middle Earth served to illuminate how invested the author was in portraying the eventual triumph of good over evil. His own helplessness on the battlefield always haunted him, but his stories gave him back his humanity.  When we understand the rationale and premise of a story by examining its historical context, we learn to understand the overall themes and message behind the story itself. In the end, understanding both historical and literary contexts greatly enriches our reading experience.

Hope this helps!

What are neurons? Please answer ASAP!

Neurons are nerve cells. They are found in eukaryotes, specifically multi-cellular organisms. They are found in animals. They are specialized to carry information quickly from one part of the animal to another part. In your biology class you have no doubt been shown diagrams of "typical" animal cells--they have cell membranes, a nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes and other organelles. In reality, very few animal cells look like those diagrams; instead, they are specialized for the job they do. Nerve cells come in several different types, but they have similarities to each other. They have areas that receive a chemical stimulus (dendrites) and areas that move an electrical impulse quickly down a long shaft (axons). They then release chemical messengers that travel across a small gap (synapse) to stimulate the next nerve cell's dendrites. The link attached has diagrams of nerve cells.

Neurons can be divided into sensory neurons that pick up information from areas such as the skin, eyes, and ears and take it toward the central nervous system. Motor neurons carry information away from the central nervous system to tell muscles or glands what to do. Interneurons take information between the two.

Who were the Hittites? What was their major influence on the subsequent history of Western Civilization?

The Hittites were an ancient nation of Bronze-Age Anatolia who thrived from about 1600 to 1178 BCE. Today, the land which once made up their empire, makes up parts of Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. They are mentioned in the Tanakh, or Old Testament, and archaeology has uncovered their fortified cities and temples. Their language has been deciphered from a number of clay tablets and is categorized as an Indo-European language similar to Babylonian (both used cuneiform) and even Latin and Greek.

The Hittites are known for their empire and the destruction of nearby cities like Babylon. While we do not yet know of them as the founders of any new technologies or practices, we do know from archaeology that their culture was  much like that of the Akkadians and Mesopotamians. They used cuneiform script, cylinder seals, and farmed barley and wheat. Today, we remember them as exemplary of Bronze-Age Levantine culture and for their effective conquest and diplomacy throughout the Middle East. Perhaps their greatest influence on the development of Western Civilization was the innovative practice of establishing treaties with neighboring populations.

What is the difference between a mineral and an ore?

A mineral is a mineral if it fits the following five criteria:

1. naturally occurring (not man made)


2. inorganic (not living, which means biomass can not ever be a mineral)


3. Solid (no liquids, no gasses)


4. crystal structure (regular repeating molecular structure/pattern)


5. definite chemical formula (i.e. Halite is always sodium and chlorine; quartz is always silicon and oxygen)

A mineral must have all four characteristics, or it is not a mineral.  Ore, is a mineral deposit that is large enough to make it economically worthwhile to extract.  If you find a chunk of quartz in your backyard, that's a mineral.  But a square mile of quartz could be considered quartz ore.  

Another way to think about it is to say that ore is always made of minerals, but not all minerals can be called ore.  

I am writing a critical essay on Othello and the question I'm supposed to answer is: "To what extent does Shakespeare make you sympathize with...

There are several reasons why we sympathize with Othello. The first one is the sense we get of his character when we first encounter him. Although he is a successful military commander, he is also surprisingly humble. Rather than thinking he has some right to Desdemona or to his position, we see him struggling to deserve them. 

Next, we have a sense that his love for Desdemona is genuine and deep, based on real love for her character and mutual sympathy; he states:

She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,

And I loved her that she did pity them.

Next, we sympathize with him because he overcomes adversity and racial discrimination with bravery and honor. His character is open, noble, and trusting. Not only is he a brave soldier, but a loyal and generous commander. 

As we see the machinations of Iago begin to play upon his weaknesses, we do not condemn Othello, but pity him. We see him as a decent character manipulated by someone clever and evil, who at the end of the play, is horrified by how Iago repaid his trust. 

What does Captain Keller mean when he says, "The house is at sixes and sevens from morning 'til night over the child"?

The phrase 'to be at sixes and sevens' means to be confused or in some kind of uproar. Before Annie taught Helen how to behave, Helen kept the entire house in turmoil with her actions.

Her tantrums caused stress between the mother and father. She would pout, throw things, and physically lash out at those around her. The entire household was focused on keeping her happy and calm, a nearly impossible task. 

Because Helen was the center of this chaotic world, no peace could settle on the house. The family could not have relaxing family dinners around the table; they couldn't go out together in public to any entertaining events. Helen's father couldn't even find peace and quiet to read a newspaper.

When Captain Keller says his house is at sixes and sevens, he is expressing his frustration at the constant turmoil Helen's behaviors cause. He desires a calm, orderly home, and until something is done about Helen's out of control antics, he won't get it.

What is the significance of Captain Beatty's quotes towards Montag in Fahrenheit 451?

Captain Beatty is a very clever man. He knows long before Montag knows himself that he will slide down the slippery slope to reading books. Captain Beatty knows because he was there once himself. So in a condescending way, Beatty drops little hints throughout the book that show he knows Montag has a stash of books, stole a book from the old woman's house, and has become engrossed in reading.

First, Beatty goes over to Montag's house after the night the woman burns herself up with her books. Montag has taken a sick day to deal with how unfathomable the event was. Beatty even seems to care at this point because he tells Montag the whole history of how books declined in value and popularity, and then why their society outlawed them. At the end of his lecture, Beatty says the following:

"One last thing. . . At least once in his career, every fireman gets an itch. What do the books say, he wonders. Oh, to scratch that itch, eh? . . . if a fireman accidentally, really not intending anything, takes a book home with him. . . We let the fireman keep the book twenty-four hours. If he hasn't burned it by then, we simply come burn it for him" (62).

What Montag doesn't know is that Beatty already knows he has books because he's been slipping Montag's scent to the Mechanical Hound. Montag later hears the Hound outside his house a couple of times and doesn't think twice about it.

Near the end of the story, Montag returns to the firehouse and Beatty says he has had a dream where the two of them are quoting passages of books in a debate about whether books are useful or not. Beatty verbally fires quote after quote at Montag to confuse him and to show him who's the better man. Montag has his friend Faber in his ear on what they call the green bullet, and he tries to calm him down by saying, "Montag, hold on! . . . He's muddying the waters!" (107). It's a war of words. Beatty is trying to show Montag that all the words in the world, if used all at once, can cause confusion, frustration and unhappiness. That's the whole reason they burn books—so people can live without such confusion. 

Fortunately, Montag doesn't submit to Beatty's games; and even though Montag is eventually reported by his wife and forced to burn his own house down, he gets revenge and burns Beatty, too.

We do not inherit the world from our ancestors but we borrow it for our children. What does this mean?

If you are asking for an analysis of the meaning of the saying, "We do not inherit the world from our ancestors but we borrow it from our children," we first need to look at traditional ideas of inheritance.

Inheritance is a means of passing wealth from one generation to the next. Generally speaking, the focus of any given generation is on the use of what they receive from the prior generation, not what they are passing on to the next generation. Thus, we may speak of inheriting the world—for our own use—from our ancestors.  

This traditional idea of inheritance, where the wealth left was for the benefit of the next generation, is in contrast with the idea of holding wealth in trust. When wealth is held in trust, the person holding it, known as the trustee, may use it but must do so primarily with respect to the benefit of those for whom it is held in trust.

In the saying referenced, the idea is that each generation should not view themselves as the inheritors of the world but rather as trustees of the world for future generations. This focus helps foster concepts of stewardship and sustainability over ownership and short-term usage.

What are two things the audience sees in the arena if the accused person chooses the lady's door in "The Lady or the Tiger" by Frank Stockton?

In "The Lady or the Tiger" by Frank Stockton, if the accused chooses the door leading to the lady, a couple of things happen. A door opens and out comes a priest, a group of singers and dancing ladies. The accused and the chosen lady are immediately married. It does not matter if the man has a wife already or that he is in love with someone else. By the king's decree, the man must marry the lady that has been chosen for him and who stands behind the door he just picked.

The priest marries the two, and a big party is held right then and there. Children throw flowers in the newlyweds' path, and the couple is led home to start their lives together.

How did Benjamin Franklin's inventions change the world?

In addition to being an author, political philosopher, and postmaster, Benjamin Franklin was a prolific tinkerer. He invented swim fins, the Franklin stove, bifocals, the mechanized glass harmonica, and conducted several experiments with electricity which lead to his development of the lightning rod.

Although Franklin did not invent electricity, I think his greatest effect on the world is from his experiments with electric currents. You've probably heard some version of the story of Franklin tying a key to a kite and flying it during a thunderstorm to attract lightning. Franklin conducted this experiment in 1752 to try and prove lightning was a form of electricity and could be conducted. Franklin was very interested in electricity and coined many of the terms we use today, including battery, positive and negative charge, and conductor. In Franklin's time, buildings were often at risk of damage by lightning, but his invention of the lightning rod allowed the electric current of lightning to pass safely into the ground. 

Franklin's invention of swim fins changed the way people move through water. Franklin's initial prototypes were round wooden boards which he attached to his feet, but swim fins have more recently been adapted to have a spade shape and be made of lightweight materials like rubber. Any occupation or leisure activity which calls for diving would be much more difficult without the aid of swim fins!

Bifocal glasses have also been a great benefit to the visually impaired—Franklin himself suffered from both near and farsightedness.

The glass harmonica did not experience as much lasting popularity as Franklin's other inventions, and even in its heyday the glass harmonica had mixed reviews. The glass used to make the musical instrument often contained lead, which would slowly poison the person practicing the instrument. Rumors developed that the sound of the glass harmonica caused people to go mad and die, when really it was lead poisoning causing brain damage. Even though lead-free glass can be used today, the instrument has still fallen out of fashion. 

One more of Benjamin Franklin's ideas has had quite a lasting impact on the world—Daylight Savings Time. Not every country practices this adjusting of schedules and not everyone is convinced it is a good idea, but it certainly affects agriculture and business around the world.

In Ron Rash's book Serena, what does Serena mean when she says, "It's like my body knew all along"?

Serena's statement reflects how she knew she was "different" from other women. She knew that she was not meant to be a mother.

Serena's words show an acceptance of her fate. She had just recovered from passing out and losing a great deal of blood. Pemberton tells her that she lost the baby she was carrying and would not be able to have another one. Rash's narration shows that Serena was not saddened or emotionally devastated by the news. Rather, she understood that it was meant to be:

Serena remained silent for almost a minute, and Pemberton wondered if the drugs were taking hold again. Then Serena took a breath, her mouth kept open as though about to speak as well, but she did not speak, not at that moment. Instead, Serena closed her eyes and slowly exhaled, and as she did her body seemed to settle deeper into the mattress. Her eyes opened.

Serena says that her body "knew all along." She means that she knew that being a mother and delivering a baby was not meant for her. She recognized that the traditional role of motherhood was not going to be for her. When she tells Pemberton that "Your blood merged with mine," and "That's all we ever hoped for anyway," it shows how Serena did not define herself through motherhood. She saw her life as being different from the conventional standard to which most women were held. Serena knows that the traditional path was not meant for her. Serena was always meant to be different, something her body "knew all along."