How was the Supreme Court founded?

The Supreme Court of the United States was established in principal by the United States Constitution. Within Article III of the Constitution, the judicial power of the United States is to be vested in "one supreme Court." It provides for Congress to create the lower courts as it sees fit. The Constitution also mentions that the Supreme Court will have jurisdiction over cases involving the states but allowed for Congress to establish its composition and responsibilities.

The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the Supreme Court with a chief justice and five associate justices. The number of justices in the court fluctuated throughout the 19th Century but a law in 1869 set the number at nine and it has remained that way ever since.

In what ways does the nurse tease, tantalize and frustrate Juliet?

The Nurse is set up as a foil for Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. A foil is a character who provides a contrast to another character. The Nurse is older than Juliet and not as quick to reveal information as Juliet would like. She teases, tantalizes and frustrates Juliet in three different scenes. 

In Act I, Scene 3, she teases Juliet about the girl's childhood. She recounts a bawdy story that her husband told involving Juliet falling on her face when she was a toddler and hoping to fall on her back when she was older. The Nurse says,

And then my husband (God be with his soul,
He was a merry man) took up the child.
“Yea,” quoth he, “Dost thou fall upon thy face?
Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit,
Wilt thou not, Jule?” And, by my holidam,
The pretty wretch left crying and said “Ay.”

She also takes her time in revealing Juliet's age, which, for some reason, Lady Capulet doesn't even know. The audience discovers how close the two are in this scene.

In Act II, Scene 5, Juliet is waiting for the Nurse to return with news from Romeo about the arrangements for the marriage. Juliet laments the lateness of the Nurse with the message and wishes the Nurse were younger and faster. She says,

Now is the sun upon the highmost hill
Of this day’s journey, and from nine till twelve
Is thre long hours, yet she is not come.
Had she affections and warm youthful blood,
She would be as swift in motion as a ball;
My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
And his to me.
But old folks, many feign as they were dead,
Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.

When the Nurse does arrive she tantalizes Juliet by temporarily withholding Romeo's plan. She talks about everything except what Juliet wants to hear. She comments on how she is tired, and asks about dinner and the whereabouts of Lady Capulet. Finally, Juliet, almost ready to explode, tries a softer tactic and says,

I’ faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my
love?

The Nurse frustrates Juliet in Act III, Scene 2, after the fight in the streets has left Mercutio and Tybalt dead. The Nurse is crying and carrying on and Juliet can't tell if Romeo has been killed or not. Juliet says,

What devil art thou that dost torment me thus?
This torture should be roared in dismal hell.
Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but “Ay,”
And that bare vowel “I” shall poison more
Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice.

Eventually she learns the news that Tybalt has been killed and Romeo banished, but it takes several lines for the Nurse to reveal the truth. 

`A = 120^@, b = 6, c = 7` Use the Law of Cosines to solve the triangle. Round your answers to two decimal places.

The given in the triangle are `A=120^o` , `b=6` and `c=7` . To solve for the values of a, B and C, let's apply Cosine Law.

For side a:

`a^2=b^2+c^2-2*b*c*cosA`

`a^2=6^2+7^2-2*6*7cos(120^o)`

`a^2=36+49-84cos(120^o)`

`a^2=127`

`a=sqrt127`

`a=11.27`

For angle B:

`b^2=a^2+c^2-2*a*c*cosB`

`6^2=(sqrt127)^2+7^2-2*sqrt127*7*cosB`

`36=176-14sqrt127cosB`

`(36-176)/(-14sqrt127)=cosB`

`cos^(-1)((36-176)/(-14sqrt127))=B`

`27.46^o=B`

For angle C:

`c^2=a^2+b^2-2*a*b*cosC`

`7^2=(sqrt127)^2+6^2-2*sqrt127*6*cosC`

`49=127+36-12sqrt127cosC`

`49=163-12sqrt127cosC`

`(49-163)/(-12sqrt127)=cosC`

`cos^(-1)((49-163)/(-12sqrt127)=C`

`32.54^o=C`

Thus, the sides of the triangles are:

`a=11.27`

`b=6`

`c=7`

And its angles are:

`A=120^o`

`B=27.46^o`

`C=32.54^o`

Why did Dill run away?

In Chapter 14, Dill runs away from his parents who live in Meridian and travels to Maycomb. He hides under Scout's bed until she accidently steps on him. Once Dill is out from under the bed, he tells an elaborate story of how his father locked him in a basement to die. Dill says he managed to escape from his chains and wandered outside of Meridan until he discovered a traveling animal show that took him all over Mississippi. In reality, Dill stole thirteen dollars from his mother, road a train to Maycomb Junction, walked fourteen miles beside the highway, and road the rest of the way on a cotton wagon. Dill tells Scout the real reason he ran off is because his parents don't pay any attention to him. Dill craves affection that his parents don't give him. He admits to Scout that they are nice and buy him toys, but what Dill really wants is their time and attention. Dill felt unwanted and unloved, so he decided to run away.

How does Emilia foil Bianca?

A "foil" in literature is a character whose personality and traits act in contrast to the protagonist or another major character. Usually, the foil will have a lot in common with the main character (age, gender, life situation, etc), but respond to conflicts in a very different way. The foil is meant to highlight the traits and characteristics of the main character by contrasting them. Examples include Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy (as well as Harry and Neville Longbottom) in Harry Potter, Hamlet and Laertes in Hamlet, and Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley in Pride and Prejudice. 

In Othello, Emilia and Bianca are similar in that they both unwittingly lead to Othello's jealous fury and Desdemona's death. They are also both treated pretty poorly by the men in their lives. Emilia is constantly abused by her evil husband Iago, while Cassio mocks Bianca. Bianca might be a foil for Emilia on the trait of loyalty and chastity. While Bianca is a courtesan and thus loyal and chaste for no man, Emilia is chaste to her husband and even more loyal to her mistress Desdemona.

However, I would argue that both characters are more of a foil to Desdemona herself. Emilia foils Desdemona in the two women's marriages, with Desdemona (initially) blissfully married and Emilia stuck in an abusive union. The two women also foil one another in regards to how they view the world. Desdemona's innocence borders on naivety, while Emilia is more straight-talking and cynical. Likewise, Bianca's status as a prostitute foils Desdemona's chastity and loyalty to Othello. 

Why did General Zaroff walk away, leaving Rainsford safely in the tree, during the first part of the hunt in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

Robert Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game" details a deadly hunt involving two men. Sanger Rainsford, a big game hunter from New York City, accidentally falls off his yacht and swims to a nearby island where he meets General Zaroff, who lives in a large mansion with his servant Ivan. Zaroff is a Cossack who has fled Russia after the revolution. His passion in life is to hunt. Unfortunately, he has become bored with hunting animals. Because he has grown so good his passion begins to tire him. He cannot find an animal that provides the challenge he craves. He describes to Rainsford his problem while he was hunting jaguars in the Amazon:

"They were no match at all for a hunter with his wits about him, and a high-powered rifle. I was bitterly disappointed. I was lying in my tent with a splitting headache one night when a terrible thought pushed its way into my mind. Hunting was beginning to bore me! And hunting, remember, had been my life."

So Zaroff comes to the island to hunt men who are ship wrecked. When he suggests to Rainsford that they hunt together, the American is repulsed and refuses. Zaroff then decides to hunt Rainsford and is quite excited about the prospects of matching wits with another hunter. Zaroff says,

"You'll find this game worth playing," the general said enthusiastically. "Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine. Outdoor chess! And the stake is not without value, eh?"

The general sets Rainsford loose on the island armed only with a good hunting knife. For a time, Rainsford is shocked and runs aimlessly. When he finally gathers himself, he winds his way through the jungle and creates a trail which would be impossible to follow for anyone, except, of course, the general. Rainsford is  perched in a large tree when the general comes slashing through the brush and stops just below. The general lights a cigarette while he examines the tree. Zaroff smiles and then walks away. He leaves because he hasn't finished having fun with Rainsford. He doesn't want the hunt to end so quickly and is probably impressed by the difficult trail Rainsford cut through the jungle. He wants to see how else the American might choose to elude him. Zaroff lives for the "game."

Why does an aluminum sheet have a shiny and dull side?

The difference in the appearance of the two sides of the aluminum foil is simply due to its thickness and the manufacturing process. Aluminum foils are prepared by passing aluminum metal (along with a very small fraction of impurities) through a series of rollers. This processing produces very thin sheets of aluminum, in fact, so thin that if this sheet passes thorough the last set of rollers, it may tear or crimp. To avoid that, two sets of aluminum foils are rolled together during the final pass. The foil side closer to the roller gets polished (and hence the shiny appearance), while the other side stays unpolished (and hence the matte finish). 

Note that there is no difference between the two sides of the foil, as far as cooking or wrapping the food is concerned. 

Hope this helps. 

Timothy gave Phillip faith that what two things would happen?

Timothy gave Phillip faith that they would be rescued and that Phillip would be cured of his blindness.

Even while on the raft, Timothy repeatedly assured Phillip that a boat or plane would come by to rescue them. Days would go by with no rescue, and Timothy would still insist that a particular day would be the day of rescue, that their luck was good, with the implication that they would not die on the raft. Once on the island, Timothy made plans to build a signal fire and to arrange a message consisting of the word "help" where it could be seen from planes flying above. While Phillip might have succumbed to despair from their situation and from his blindness, Timothy reminded Phillip again and again that rescue was imminent.

He also assured Phillip that his vision would return. On the day that Phillip went blind, on the raft, Timothy seemed to invent a story about a friend of his who had gone temporarily blind, but then began to see again after a few days. This calms Phillip down and gives him hope that his blindness is only temporary. But when his sight doesn't return soon, Phillip is terrified and asks Timothy to tell him again about his friend who had lost and regained his sight. This time, Timothy's lie is more obvious: he changes his story and says it had taken his friend much longer than three days to get his vision back. Regardless of whether Timothy is lying, he's giving Phillip some measure of hope and reassurance about the boy's eyesight.

Interestingly, Timothy is right on both accounts: Phillip gets rescued, and his sight is restored. But even if neither of those things had happened, the hope that Timothy gave Phillip kept him alive, and kept him from sinking into despair, throughout their time on the raft and on the island together.

From the book Speak: List all three mascots that have been used at Merryweather High and explain why the school felt that they had to change each...

The never-ending mascot fight is one of the many aspects of high school that leave Melinda feeling jaded about the whole high school experience. The mascot is first mentioned on the second page of the story: it's been changed from the Trojans to the Blue Devils, because "Trojans" didn't "send a strong enough abstinence message" (pg 4). (Confused? Think Trojan brand condoms...)

After Halloween, though, the school board decides against Devils. No reason is given in the book, but it sounds like they might think there is some sort of satanic suggestion, due to the timing with Halloween. The new mascot becomes tigers, but this is controversial already: "The Ecology Club is planning a rally to protest the 'degrading of an endangered species'" (pg 41). After the Ecology Club make terrifying posters featuring photos of skinned Bengal tigers, the school held an assembly to come up with a new mascot. The options the school will vote on are Bees, Icebergs, Hilltoppers, and Wombats (pg 49-50). By Christmas, the votes are in: with only 32 votes, Wombats wins the place as Merryweather's new mascot. 

Not for long, though. At the beginning of the third marking period,

"the Wombat is dead. No assembly, no vote. Principal Principal made an announcement this morning. He said hornets better represent the Merryweather spirit better than foreign marsupials, plus the Wombat mascot costume was going to suck money from the prom committee's budget" (pg 95).  

Of course, this mascot comes with more controversy too. The PTA started a petition to change the mascot again after hearing the cheer, "We are the hornets, the horny, horny hornets" (pg 141). This final time, however, the mascot doesn't change. Instead, the Honor Society writes a counter-petition talking about lack of identity and psychological harm.

While all this change seems silly, it illustrates a few larger points about the novel. For one, it shows how adults judge and stifle teenagers. The mascot is always dangerous to the various adults in some way - too sexual, or too demonic, or too weird. While most students don't care one way or the other, the adults seem worried that the mascot will inspire students to do something terrible. The only time the students want to change the mascot themselves is actually for what could be viewed as a good cause: they want to respect an endangered species. Teens seem to be better than adults give them credit for. 
Another point the mascot debacle shows is the lacking an identity is harmful. Even though Melinda scoffs at the whole mascot debate, she herself is a girl without an identity or clan, and it is absolutely psychological damaging to her. As silly as the whole thing is, it speaks to Melinda's larger problems.

What is the answer to the following using the Rydberg equation, and why is the answer correct? If the energy of the photons emitted by excited...

The Rydberg equation uses a constant and the integers representing two major energy levels of a hydrogen atom to calculate the energy absorbed or emitted when an electron moves between the two energy levels. You're given the energy emitted and need to determine the two integers. You can find the value of the factor (1/n1^2)-(1/n2^2) be dividing the energy emitted by the constant in the equation:

`-1.9369 J = -2.179 x 10^(-18) x (1/n_1^2)-(1/n_2^2)`

`0.8889 = 1/n_1^2-1/n_2^2`

The constant given combines the Rydberg constant, the equation relating frequency to wavelength, and Planck's constant relating the energy of a photon to its frequency.  The units in the equation you gave cancel out to give energy in Joules. For simplicity, I left out the units since they would cancel out to give no units for the energy level integers.

The easiest way to proceed from here it to plug in each pair of energy levels and determine which pair gives a value close to 0.8889. The electron is moving from n2 to n1, closer to the nucleus. In each pair of integers n2 is the first value given and n1 is second. 

From 2 to 1: 1-1/4 = 0.75

From 3 to 1: 1-1/9 = 0.8889

From 3 to 2: 1/4 - 1/9 = 0.1389

From 4 to 2: 1/4 - 1/16 =  0.1875

From 4 to 3: 1/9 - 1/16 = 0.0486

The energy level change form 3 to 1 is consistent with the energy emitted.

`B = 28^@, C = 104^@, a = 3 5/8` Use the law of sines to solve the triangle. (Find missing sides/angles) Round answers to 2 decimal places.

Given:  `B=28^@, C=104^@, a=3.625`

The Law of Sines: `a/sin(A)=b/sin(B)=c/sin(C)`

`A=180-28-104=48^@`

`3.625/sin(48)=b/sin(28)=c/sin(104)`

`3.625/sin(48)=b/sin(28)`

`b=[3.625sin(28)]/sin(48)`

`b =2.29`

`3.625/sin(48)=c/sin(104)`

`c=[3.625sin(104)}/sin(48)`

`c=4.73`

`a_1 = 8, r = 2` Write the first five terms of the geometric sequence.

The first five terms of geometric sequence can be computed with formula, such that:

`a_n = a_(n-1)*q`

`a_2 = a_1*q => a_2 = 8*2 => a_2 = 16`

a`_3 = a_2*q => a_3 =16*2 = 32`

`a_4 = a_3*q =>a_4 =32*2 = 64`

`a_5 = a_4*q =>a_5 =64*2 = 128`

Hence, evaluating the five terms of geometric sequence yields `a_1 = 8, a_2 = 16, a_3 =32, a_4 =64, a_5 =128.`

How does reading the two poems "Because I could not stop for death—" and "I heard a fly buzz—when I died—" together make you see or...

Reading these two Dickinson poems gives you insight on how the poet views death. Reading each poem alone, you might not get the same understanding of death. In "Because I could not stop for Death—," Dickinson portrays death as a kindly entity who patiently stops by to pick her up and take her away to the afterlife. Death is not frightening or angry here—indeed, Dickinson shows us a gentle view of death. In "I heard a fly buzz—when I died—," she shows a light moment just before a person dies. Everyone is gathered in the room, waiting for the dying person's last breath, when a fly buzzes by. This moment takes the seriousness out of the death scene and also shows that you can't always plan for how death is going to be. Dickinson shows the reader that death is not an awful thing. It is part of life and can't be avoided or planned for; also, we should not fear it.

What are the main principles on which the Constitution is based?

The Constitution is based on several principles. One principle was to develop a better plan of government than we already had. There were several weaknesses with the plan of government created by the Articles of Confederation. There were many things the government couldn’t do. For example, it couldn’t levy taxes, and it couldn’t require people to join the military. The Constitution was written to address these weaknesses.

The Constitution was also written to establish justice. Under the plan of government created by the Articles of Confederation, there was no place where states could resolve disputes. The Constitution created a court system so there would be a place to resolve disputes.

A third principle was to establish peace at home. During the early days of our country, the federal government couldn’t require people to join the army. Thus, when a rebellion such as Shay’s Rebellion occurred, the federal government wasn’t sure if it could respond. Under the Constitution, the federal government responded when a rebellion such as the Whiskey Rebellion occurred.

Another goal of the Constitution was to protect the people from attack. The Constitution allowed the government to require people to join the military. This would help us in dealing with events that threatened our nation. Britain, France, and Spain were all doing things that could have led to war. This included encouraging Native Americans to attack us and interfering with our trade. Having a military would help us dealing with these events, if necessary.

The Constitution also wanted to get the power in the hands of the people. The concept of popular sovereignty would allow the votes of the people to determine actions and to determine who our elected officials would be. We wanted to elect our officials and then give them enough power to run the government effectively.

Finally, the Constitution was created to ensure that the government would protect our rights. There were many steps taken to ensure the government didn’t become too powerful. These steps included a system of separation of powers and a system of checks and balances.

How does Lord Rama's behavior towards the demonness Surpanakha compare to Odysseus's behavior to Calypso and/ or Circe? What does the behavior of...

Odysseus and Lord Rama display significant differences between the way they react towards temptresses.

In The Odyssey, Odysseus does not forcefully repudiate Circe and Calypso. He stays with both of them.  While he does leave eventually, Odysseus does not immediately reject their overtures.  While he could be seen as having been "captured" by both, it is difficult to see how, if he truly wished to be free, he would not have been able to extricate himself.  Odysseus decides to leave both temptresses after staying with both of them over a period of time.   He eventually rejects both of them to go home to Penelope. 

Lord Rama is steadfast in his refusal towards Surpanakha. Lord Rama does not ever entertain being with her.  He is resolute in his rejection of her.  It is for this reason that she goes to her brother, Ravana, for revenge.  Had Lord Rama acquiesced to her, she would not have been so angry and so insistent on revenge. 

Both heroes face temptation from women who are not their wives.  However, their reactions to these situations differ. Odysseus might have stayed with Circe and Calypso out of guile.  He knew that in order to go back home, he had to avoid their wrath.  He might have stayed with them to avoid their anger, displays that could prevent him from returning home.  He might have also stayed with them out of sensual enjoyment.  

Odysseus's willingness to stay is fundamentally different than Lord Rama, who is forceful in rejecting Surpanakha. Unlike Odysseus, Lord Rama does not reason his way out of the situation.  He simply insists that he will not stray from his duty as a husband.  Lord Rama suffers for his adherence to dharma.  Surpanakha's anger at Lord Rama's refusal ends up causing her brother's involvement and the kidnapping of Sita.  Odysseus is pragmatic, looking at the end result as the most important element. Lord Rama is staunch in his adherence to duty, even if it results in his disadvantage. 

How is George's acceptance of Candy's offer to contribute money to buy the ranch the high point of the novella?

In defense of Candy's joining in on the plan to buy a ranch being the high point of the narrative of Of Mice and Men, George's acceptance of Candy demonstrates the theme of the fraternity of men as a real solution to the disenfranchisement of men during the Depression.

When Candy offers to contribute his compensation money from his accident to George and Lennie's plan of starting a small ranch, his gesture causes George to rethink his plans. He tells Candy if he and Lennie work a month and do not spend anything, they will have a hundred dollars, and with Candy's money, they could actually buy some land. 

They fell into a silence. They looked at one another amazed. This thing they had never really believed in was coming true. George said reverently, "...I bet we could swing her." His eyes were full of wonder. "I bet we could swing her," he repeated softly.

For the first time, George feels that their dream is possible. And, it is because someone else has joined in with them. "George stood up. 'We'll do her." Joining with another has made all the difference. Men working together can accomplish what no individual can.

What words or ideas are repeated in the story, A Christmas Carol, and what are their significance?

There are several words that are repeated throughout the story, and these are often themes of the book as well, which indicates their significance. After doing a quick "find" search, the following words appeared multiple times:

Money = 10 times. Obviously Scrooge has money he is unwilling to spend and there are many in the story who need money in order to buy the essentials to survive on. Money is a major theme in the story because it is the thing Scrooge values most, and yet those who do not have it value family and health more than money.

Family = 14 times. There are many families in "A Christmas Carol," mostly happy ones. Scrooge is not a part of any of them until the end, and then he not only is welcomed back into his own family by his nephew, Fred, but is also "adopted" by the Cratchit family.

Love = 10 times. Scrooge is lacking love for anyone at the beginning of the story, and it takes the Spirits showing him those around him and how he used to love and be loved, as well as how much now he is not loved, to realize he wants to change his life.

Poor = 32 times! Clearly there are many poor people in this story, including the many women and children the charity men are requesting donations for and most noticeably, the Cratchits. Scrooge has the ability to make all of their lives easier, and he eventually does. This theme is so crucial to the story because even the poor in this story show more generosity than the richest man.

Happy = 13 times. Scrooge is not a happy man at the beginning of the story. In spite of his terrible behavior, the Cratchits and Fred all manage to retain their Christmas spirit and thankfully, Scrooge comes around at last.

Alone = 14 times. Scrooge is utterly alone. He has no friends and he has pushed his family away. The Spirits help him to recognize that as a boy at school he hated being alone and now as an adult he has forced himself to be alone once again.

Help = 16 times. Scrooge has the ability to help others and it is not until later in the book he chooses to do so. However, throughout the book we see many characters helping each other. This theme of the story is central, as Dickens is trying to remind us that even when we do not have anything at all, we can still help one another.

To do your own word searches, check out the eText of this story by going to either of the links below.

Why does "Sonny's Blues" start in the subway?

Baldwin begins "Sonny's Blues" with the narrator in the subway as a means of setting the scene and the theme simultaneously.  The scene is clearly an urban environment, since suburbs and rural areas do not have subways.  This is important to the story because the experiences of the narrator and Sonny were representative of many African-Americans in larger cities.  The theme, which we see even in the title with the use of the word "blues," is of darkness, and thus, from the story's beginning, we are in a dark place, "trapped in the darkness which roared outside" (1). If you have ever ridden on a subway, you will know that in spite of the fact that there are lights on in the cars, the darkness outside can seem quite gloomy and threatening, and the lights often will go off and on sporadically, too, leaving a car in darkness for several seconds at a time.  This theme of darkness persists throughout the entire story, the people, their lives, and their surroundings, as though they are hurtling through dark tunnels. The subway was a deliberate choice, to begin with darkness and to let the reader know that it was an urban environment that the story was going to unfold in. 

In the comedy As You Like It, how is the character Rosalind portrayed?

Rosalind speaks more lines than any other female character in Shakespeare’s works. She also controls many of the events in As You Like It, in a role that often goes to a male character. Rosalind displays an array of human emotions. She mourns the exile of her father, falls in love at first sight with Orlando, and decides to dress as Ganymede, a young man, when banished by her uncle.

As clever and bold as Rosalind is, she is still human. She becomes disheartened and weary after walking in the woods for so long. She mocks the madness of love, poking fun at Orlando’s poetry and at the jealousy of women. Disguised as a boy, she toys with Orlando, swearing she can cure him of his love sickness. In the process, she woos him, is wooed by him, and tutors him in the ways of romance. In spite of her wisdom, Rosalind pines over Orlando, worrying whether he really loves her.

Ultimately, Rosalind sets everything straight, orchestrating several marriages. She makes a series of promises that are not untrue, to Phebe, the woman who loves her as Ganymede: “I would love you, if I could. I will marry you, if ever I marry woman, and I'll be married to-morrow”; to Orlando: “I will satisfy you, if ever I satisfied man, and you shall be married to-morrow”; and to Silvius, the man who adores Phebe: “I will content you, if what pleases you contents you, and you shall be married to-morrow.”

Rosalind is portrayed as a daring young woman who is as self-aware and witty as she is affectionate. Her behavior and character are central to the play.

How does Atticus show courage?

Atticus shows courage throughout the novel, and especially when he shoots the rabid dog and defends Tom Robinson in the trial.  A rabid dog has wandered into Maycomb, and Heck Tate asks Atticus to shoot the dog because Heck is afraid he will miss and the bullet will hit the Radley house.  Atticus is known for his shooting abilities, and he has the nickname, “ol’ one shot Finch” from his childhood.  Atticus calmly lowers the rifle and shoots the dog earning the respect of Scout and Jem for his abilities.

In addition, Atticus shows courage when he is appointed Tom Robinson’s lawyer in the trial of Mayella Ewell’s rape.  We first see this courage when he confronts the lynch mob outside the jail.  Atticus is sitting outside the jail protecting Tom from the men in town who don’t think that Tom needs a fair trial.  They already decide that Tom is guilty and try to take justice in their own hands.  Atticus (and his children) stand up to the mob, and the mob end up leaving Tom and Atticus alone.

By accepting the task of defending Tom, Atticus also shows great courage despite the fact that his decision can put his family in danger.  People around town like Mrs. Dubose start calling him names, Scout and Jem get harassed at school, and Bob Ewell is stalking around town stirring up trouble for the judge and Atticus.  Atticus, however, stays true to his convictions and defends Tom to the best of his ability even though Atticus risks his career and family. 

A final courageous thing Atticus does is to go to Helen Robinson and tell her that Tom has been shot trying to escape prison.  His respect for the Robinsons causes him to take on this responsibility. 

Overall, Atticus is a courageous man for raising two children on his own and teaching them the many important lessons he does throughout the novel.  He is also courageous for his attempt to provide justice for a man who is convicted by public opinion and the jury even before he sets foot in the courthouse. 

What conflict must Ben Price resolve in "A Retrieved Reformation"?

The text of O. Henry's "A Retrieved Reformation" does not specify that Ben Price has any conflict to resolve. He seems highly motivated to catch Jimmy Valentine and see that he is sent to prison.

Ben Price investigated the scenes of the robberies, and was heard to remark: “That's Dandy Jim Valentine's autograph. He's resumed business. Look at that combination knob—jerked out as easy as pulling up a radish in wet weather. He's got the only clamps that can do it. And look how clean those tumblers were punched out! Jimmy never has to drill but one hole. Yes, I guess I want Mr. Valentine. He'll do his bit next time without any short-time or clemency foolishness."

When Price traces Jimmy to Elmore, Arkansas, however, he finds that he has changed his name to Ralph Spencer and appears to have reformed completely. At this point Price could be experiencing an inner conflict about whether to arrest Jimmy for the three safecracking jobs he performed after being released from prison, or whether to let him retain his new identity and his new life as an honest small-town businessman engaged to marry the beautiful daughter of the town banker.

This inner conflict might be compared to that of Jimmy Wells in O. Henry's story "After Twenty Years." When Jimmy realizes that the man he is talking to at the doorway of the drugstore is wanted by the Chicago police, he has a conflict about making the arrest because the man is his old friend Bob. But Jimmy Wells has been a member of the New York Police Department for years, and he has a sworn duty to see that Bob is arrested. The same is not true of Ben Price. He is not a policeman, and there was no federal protection of banks in those horse-and-buggy days. Ben is evidently a private detective who specializes in providing security for banks, possibly a member of the famous Pinkerton's Detective Agency. As such, he has more discretion than any detective employed by local, state or federal government.

Ben must have made inquiries about Ralph Spencer before he followed him to the bank. He has learned that Jimmy has become an upright citizen and respected member of the town of Elmore. Then Ben sees with his own eyes how Jimmy makes a noble sacrifice by using his safecracking tools and expertise to save the life of the little girl trapped inside the vault, and he decides on his own discretion to give Jimmy a break. Ben is not violating any oath. He feels he is doing the right thing because he is sure Jimmy is completely reformed and on his way to becoming a model citizen, family man, taxpayer, churchgoer, and pillar of the community. Ben is doing this as a token of respect and appreciation for Jimmy's reformation and heroic rescue at the risk of everything he has achieved in Elmore.

`a_1 = 4, r = 3` Write the first five terms of the geometric sequence.

The first five terms of geometric sequence can be computed with formula, such that:

`a_n = a_(n-1)*q`

`a_2 = a_1*q => a_2 = 4*3 => a_2 = 12`

`a_3 = a_2*q => a_3 = 12*3 = 36`

`a_4 = a_3*q => a_4 =36*3 = 108`

`a_5 = a_4*q => a_5 =108*3 = 324`

Hence, evaluating the five terms of geometric sequence yields `a_1 = 4, a_2 = 16, a_3 = 36, a_4 =  108,  a_5 =  324.`

In Thanatopsis, how does the speaker present death in a positive way?

"Thanatopsis" is presented as an elegy, a type of poem that starts with a melancholy tone but ends in a more uplifting way.  There are several key shifts in tone in the poem that indicate the speaker views death more positively.

The first shift occurs at lines 31-33 when the speaker states, "Yet not to thine eternal resting-place / Shalt thou retire alone, nor couldest thou wish / Couch more magnificent."  While the previous section speaks about the approach of death and how death is the great equalizer, taking both poor and rich, young and old, popular or not, this shift begins to comfort the audience about how our destinies are tied together with those who have gone before us.  The speaker states that we will be buried "With patriarchs of the infant world,--with kings, / The powerful of the earth,--the wise, the good, / Fair forms and hoary seers of ages past" (34-36).  So it does not matter our station or position on this earth alive, we will all be equal in death.  

The second shift occurs at the end of the poem when the speaker tells the audience:

So live, that when thy summons comes to join

The innumerable caravan which moves

To that mysterious realm...

                                       approach thy grave

Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch

About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. (73-81)

The speaker's advice is to live our lives, not waiting to die, but living instead.  We should not worry about our position in life or who we have in our lives because we have so much waiting for us in death.  He also suggests that Nature will be our guide and our comfort, both in life and death. 

What are the purposes of Christmas carols?

We must first differentiate between Christmas "Carols", Christmas "songs", and Christmas Hymns. Many of the songs one hears at Christmas time are not actually Christmas carols.  Especially "secular" songs, such as "Jingle Bells", "Frosty the Snowman", are not carols, but popular songs written on imaginatively generated texts. They invoke ideas and customs we have come to associate with the Season over many years, and are meant to heighten our enjoyment of the traditions we have come to celebrate societally.

Even songs such as "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas", "The First Snowfall of the Winter", "Walking in a Winter Wonderland", etc., are not Christmas carols. Many are individually composed for commercial purposes, and many are from movies such as "Holiday Inn".  This does not lessen their value and their position in popular music.  It is simply that they are to be distinguished from carols, about which you have inquired.

Carols, technically, are those vocal pieces which were originally meant as teaching agents.  In Medieval times, very few persons were literate. They were not able to read the scriptures for themselves, nor, as a matter of fact, were they allowed to do so, even if capable.  The Church saw the reading of Scripture as a function of the clergy, who were also the only persons who had access to the Bible before the invention of the printing press.

We must also remember that the Scriptures were generally read in Latin, despite the fact that Latin was no longer the lingua franca of those who listened to the reading of same. To enable the laity to be taught the stories of the Bible and the beliefs of the Church, several devices came into use.  Stained glass windows, for example, depicted scenes from the Bible, which could be explained to lay persons in their own language.  They were then reminded of the stories, and their attendant meanings, when they viewed the windows.

Similarly, stories, primarily of the advent and birth of Jesus, were taught by the singing of songs which told the story, although there are also carols for Easter.  The carols were composed in popular styles, accompanied often by drums, primitive flutes (such as recorders), and brought to the attention of the public through performances much like a traveling show of earlier days in our own country.

Themes from the Old Testament, such as that stating that Jesus was the "Second Adam", were taught in such carols as "Adam lay y-bounded".  Seeing the Christ Child as a winter-blooming rose was taught with "Lo!  How a Rose E'er-Blooming". Some of these, called "macaronic carols", featured the native language, with interspersions of short, Latin phrases, such as "Gaudeamus" (meaning "let us praise"), or "Adoramus Dominus" ("Let us adore the Lord"), which the people heard often in church.

Therefore, the purpose of Christmas carols, in direct response to your question, was originally as a device for teaching.  Over the centuries, the original use was not abandoned, but added to, by simple ideas of joy, wonder, mystery, and gratitude.  In our present day, carols are often un-distinguished from other seasonal songs, which are largely imbued with the same intent, whether it be sacred or secular.

I mentioned above that Christmas carols are often thought of in the same vein as Christmas hymns.  The difference lies primarily in the fact that Carols were originally in a popular idiom, much like the "street music" of the day.  That is to say, the dance rhythms of the time were adopted and adapted for religious purposes. The people were familiar with such music, and could, therefore, be "enticed" to the learning of Christian ideals through its use.  In actuality, we find the same process today, as is witnessed to by the fact that we can hear music which, at first, sounds like any other "rock" or popular music on the radio, CD's, etc.  Only after listening carefully to the words do we find that they carry a Christian message.

On the other hand, Christmas Hymns are more akin to the traditional hymnody of the Church, based largely on Lutheran Chorales by Bach(1685-1750), or on Victorian hymns.  These hymns are "strophic" in nature (meaning that several verses are sung to a single melody), and are usually harmonized in Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass parts.

Whether in popular Christmas music, Christmas hymns, or Christmas Carols, the purpose is to share the stories and traditions of Christmas in ways which can be enjoyed through passive listening and active participation of singing.

What are Mrs. Jones' character traits in the story "Thank You, Ma'am"?

In the short story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes, Mrs. Jones, the main character, demonstrates that she is a tough, yet sincere and honest woman. One of my favorite descriptions of her comes from the very first sentence. Hughes writes, "She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails." 

Immediately after Roger attempted to steal that large purse, Mrs. Jones asked, "Now aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Following her line of questioning, it was clear that Roger just wanted to be let off the hook, but she insisted on teaching him a lesson. This shows that she is tough (but) because she wanted to ensure that Roger would learn from his mistakes and never steal again. 

Just before dragging Roger to her house, Mrs. Jones said, “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong." When they arrived at her home, she made him clean himself up a bit and even made him some dinner. This shows her as sincere because she almost becomes a motherly figure to Roger; this is especially important, because we learn that he doesn't have any family. By being a role model, Mrs. Jones is one step closer to achieving her goal of ensuring that Roger doesn't make a mistake again. 

Towards the end of the story, Mrs. Jones admits to Roger, "I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if he didn’t already know.” Through this revelation, Mrs. Jones continues to be a role model to Roger by showing him that he doesn't have to continue living the way he does. This makes her an honest person because she didn't have to admit to her past mistakes to him, but by doing so, she was able to connect to him on another level. 

While we know Roger never sees Mrs. Jones again, I think it's safe to bet that she had an influence on the rest of his life due to her tough, compassionate mannerisms. 

In the short story "A Sound of Thunder," why doesn't Eckels want to kill the dinosaurs?

Eckels does not want to kill the dinosaur because it looks too big to kill.

Eckels hires Time Travel Safari, Inc. to take him into prehistoric times to kill a dinosaur.  Eckels is an experienced hunter, and he wants something more challenging.  Travis explains to him that they are not responsible for his safety, and that if he wants to back out he should.

“…We don’t want anyone going who’ll panic at the first shot. Six Safari leaders were killed last year, and a dozen hunters. We’re here to give you the severest thrill a real hunter ever asked for. Traveling you back sixty million years to bag the biggest game in all of Time. ...”

Eckels is told that he has to stay on the path, and that they have a gun that will bring the dinosaur down.  The dinosaur they have selected was about to die anyway.  As long as Eckels only kills only this dinosaur, they will be fine.

When Eckels sees the dinosaur, he is shocked.  It is unlike anything he has seen before.  It is so big that he feels as if it could touch the moon.  When it comes time to kill it, he freezes.

“It can’t be killed.” Eckels pronounced this verdict quietly, as if there could be no argument. He had weighed the evidence and this was his considered opinion. The rifle in his hands seemed a cap gun. “We were fools to come. This is impossible.”

Eckels tells them to get him out of there.  When he hunted before, he was always sure he will get out alive.  Now he is terrified of the dinosaur and not sure of himself.  Lesperance tells him to hide in the time machine.  Travis and Lesperance kill the beast, and that should have been the end of it.

After Eckels is forced to remove the bullets from the dinosaur, he goes back to the time machine.  When they return to the present, everything is changed.  They realize Eckels stepped on a butterfly by accident and changed the future.

How are The Crucible and Macbeth applicable to life today?

In both of these works, we see one person's dramatic ability to change, either for the better or for the worse.  Such an ability can give us hope that we can always redeem ourselves in our own eyes by making choices with integrity; however, it could also convey to us the need to always be thoughtful and purposeful in our decisions: the difference between being a good person and a bad one is a matter of choice. 

John Proctor begins the play as a conflicted man, torn between wanting to think of himself as a good and righteous man and feeling like a fraud because he cheated on his wife with their seventeen year-old servant, Abigail Williams.  By the play's end, he considers lying to save his own life because, in his mind, it would not ruin anything that was not already ruined before.  Eventually, he rediscovers his own goodness when he resolves not to lie and to exercise integrity in this decision.  He redeems himself and dies righteous.

Macbeth, however, goes in the opposite direction.  He begins the play as a loyal friend and devoted subject and kinsman to his king.  However, he allows his ambition and pride to overrule his more noble feelings, eventually becoming resigned to violence in order to hold onto his power and position. 

We learn from these men that it can take as little as one decision to completely change who we are. When Proctor decides not to lie and when Macbeth decides to kill his king, they both change dramatically, one for the better and one for (much) worse. 

What is the setting of the story?

Well, setting as a feature in a literary work has to do with two things: setting of time and setting of place.  This story is quite specific about both.

The setting of time in "Miss Hinch" is generally New York City and specifically on a subway car that is traveling from South 125th Street to 14th Street.  (There are also a few interactions at local, New York City businesses such as Miller's Restaurant.)  The setting of time in "Miss Hinch" is the early 20th century, after the turn of the century in the 1900s.  We can tell that it has to be after the subway system was created in New York City because of the setting of place.  The first underground line of the New York City subway was created in 1904, so we can be sure the story takes place after this date. 

In conclusion, what we don't really learn from the setting is anything about the two clever women in the story.  However, the streets and subway cars of New York City are certainly a pertinent place for these women to play their game of cat and mouse.

What were two economic problems created by the Articles of Confederation?

Two significant economic problems caused by the Articles of Confederation were as follows. First, the national government set up by the Articles lacked the authority to levy taxes. Essentially, it could only request funds from the states, who could not be coerced. This meant that the government struggled to fund the rising debt from the Revolutionary War, a situation that made it difficult to secure credit from European nations. This was perhaps the most urgent economic problem resulting from the weakness of the Articles. A second problem was that the national government lacked the power to regulate interstate commerce. This meant that states could, and often did, impose trade restrictions in the form of tariffs and duties on each other's produce. Moreover, some states refused to allow goods from others to be exported from their ports. The need to resolve these economic difficulties (which accompanied concerns over many state laws that provided relief for debtors at the expense of creditors) was a major factor contributing to calls to revise the Articles of Confederation. 

What are the differences and similarities between Atticus and Mrs. Dubose throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

The characters of Atticus and Mrs. Dubose are both similar, yet different in various ways. The personalities of Atticus and Mrs. Dubose contrast greatly. Mrs. Dubose is an outspoken, unapologetic racist whose predominant character trait is her propensity to insult the Finch family. Atticus is the morally upright, tolerant role-model, who champions the fight against racial inequality throughout Maycomb County. Atticus goes out of his way to be polite and show respect to his neighbors, while Mrs. Dubose goes out of her way to insult and belittle them. Mrs. Dubose is also terminally ill, while Atticus is healthy.

Aside from their many differences, the two characters share similar personality traits. Both characters are courageous when faced with adversity. Mrs. Dubose battles her terminal illness and addiction to morphine intensely, while Atticus remains focused during his unwinnable court case. Both characters have strong views and display integrity. Mrs. Dubose wants to die "beholden to nothing and nobody," while Atticus remains morally upright in the face of ignorance. Atticus and Mrs. Dubose both share a common interest in reading. When Jem is punished, Mrs. Dubose asks Atticus if Jem can read to her. Throughout the novel, Atticus is portrayed as a bookworm who is always reading. Both characters find solace in the pages of books.

Where is the painting located? What lines indicate its placement?

The first line indicates that the painting of the duchess is hanging on a wall. The Duke describes the painting, saying, "there she stands." This suggests that it is a full-length portrait, showing her standing. Perhaps it is even painted to scale, meaning that it is as tall as the duchess was. Therefore, the painting would have to be hung at least at eye level and perhaps even higher. 

Near the end of the poem, the Duke repeats, "there she stands / As if alive." This adds more support to the idea that it is a full-scale representation of the duchess. The Duke then says that they shall meet the company "below." So, the painting is upstairs somewhere. This does not necessarily mean that it is precisely at the top of a flight of stairs. They might be in an upstairs room with other paintings and/or heirlooms. This would fit the Duke's arrogant and showy personality. The Duke would invite people to such a room in order to show off his possessions. Possession is a fitting word here in that he also treated his wife like a possession. 

Susan likes a lot of sugar in her tea. She cannot decide whether to order a cup of hot tea or an iced tea. Why should she order hot tea?

Susan should order hot tea if she likes a lot of sugar in her tea. The reason is the increase in solubility with an increase in temperature. When we increase the temperature of a solution, the kinetic energy of the particles increase and they move at higher speeds. Due to this, the chances of collisions between the solvent and solute molecules increase and we observe a higher solubility of the solute in the solvent as the bonds of the solute are more easily broken.

If Susan orders the iced tea, the lower temperature would mean that only a certain small quantity of sugar can be dissolved into it. On the other hand, hot tea, due to its higher temperature, will be able to dissolve more sugar and hence would be more to the liking of Susan.

One can see this at home easily. Try mixing sugar in tap water till no more can be dissolved (you will be able to see undissolved sugar in the water). Now, boil the water and add more sugar. You can see that hot or boiling water can dissolve much more sugar than water at room temperature or cold water.

Hope this helps. 

Which version of Macbeth is most often performed? Which is the best production of the play?

These are difficult questions, as there are no clear answers, but searching for answers can still be an illuminating process.

In regards to question #1, there are many published versions of Macbeth. Each version has differences in punctuation, and some versions will even change lines to be more comprehensible to a contemporary English audience. Many theater teachers and producers will craft their own version of the play when they produce it. In regional theaters, such as the Guthrie Theater or Steppenwolf, a dramaturg will often pull passages from the First Folio, or from standard texts like the Riverside, to create a version that fits the theater's needs. Unlike contemporary playwrights, there are no royalties or regulations when it comes to producing Shakespeare, and so the productions of the play tend to be wildly different. However, if you must find a specific text, a good place to look might be on Amazon since they rank their bestsellers. The bestselling version of Macbeth is currently the Folger Shakespeare Library's version of the play. 

Now, on to question #2. It is also difficult to pinpoint the most famous production of Macbeth, although it is less difficult than finding the most performed version of the play. A person's opinion on the "best" production will depend on how they like to see Shakespeare performed. Do they prefer adaptations? Original practices? These opinions will alter someone's perception of whether or not a play is spectacular. In regards to filmed adaptions, this link can be illuminating. In regards to live performances, there are a few touchstone productions that are frequently mentioned regarding Macbeth. You could say the best production was (1.) the original production starring Richard Burbage, (2.) David Garrick's production in 1744, (3.) Robert Elliston's production in 1809, or (4.) Gregory Doran's production in 1999. Of course, there are countless productions to choose from, as the play has been produced for centuries and each production is different. 

In A Tale of Two Cities, what are 3 quotes that convey Dickens's attitude in Book 3, Chapter 15?

Dickens is very specific about his view of the guillotine in the French Revolution.  He considered the guillotine a terrible travesty of justice.  Since he was about to send one of his main characters to his death, Dickens took some time to insert commentary about the guillotine.

Along the Paris streets, the death-carts rumble, hollow and harsh. Six tumbrils carry the day's wine to La Guillotine. All the devouring and insatiate Monsters imagined since imagination could record itself, are fused in the one realisation, Guillotine. (3: 15)

Sydney Carton agreed to switch places with Charles Darnay and die in his place at the guillotine.  It was a romantic gesture, and one rife with meaning for Dickens.  Dickens believed that while the poor people suffered under the regime of the aristocrats, it did not justify the broad scale death and destruction that took place in the French Revolution.   Innocent people died, such as Carton.

Dickens also makes a comment about the revolution’s effect on the population in the future. 

Crush humanity out of shape once more, under similar hammers, and it will twist itself into the same tortured forms. Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind. (3: 15)

He is essentially saying that the revolution altered the course of history, and not in a good way.  The injustice of the revolution had a ripple effect.  This reiterates the warning he gave in the beginning of the book about revolutions in other countries like England being imminent.

Dickens comments that the scene of people going to their deaths at the guillotine occurs so often that people do not even notice it anymore.

So used are the regular inhabitants of the houses to the spectacle, that in many windows there are no people, and in some the occupation of the hands is not so much as suspended, while the eyes survey the faces in the tumbrils. (3: 15)

No one stopped them or stepped in to intervene, because they were afraid, and because they grew complacent.  They just let people go past them every day to their deaths.

Dickens made a career out of taking current events or historical events and sentimentalizing them.  Like Tiny Tim and Oliver, Sydney Carton’s sacrifice became symbolic of the French Revolution.  People felt sorry for both sides, because the peasants and the revolutionaries were both displayed with such sentimentality.

"By the Waters of Babylon" is a fantasy about what might happen in the future. Do you believe a world like this could emerge in the future, or is...

I think that the story is based in reality, since it takes place in real places.

We do not know exactly what happened, but there is enough evidence in the story to tell us that some kind of cataclysmic event killed most of the population of New York City and surrounding areas. There have been other events in our history where large percentages of the population died. We also came close to nuclear annihilation with the invention of atomic weapons.

It makes sense that if everyone died but a few people, the culture would die with them. After an event this devastating, a new culture may develop around what is left. That is basically what happened with John’s people. They reverted to a more primitive existence, one in which they both revere and fear the past.

 I have been in the Dead Places near us, with my father—at first, I was afraid. When my father went into the house to search for the metal, I stood by the door and my heart felt small and weak. It was a dead man's house, a spirit house.

The “Dead Places” are places where the former population lived, and they seem to be dangerous. At least, John’s tribe, the Hill People, think they are dangerous. They are avoided by anyone except certain individuals who are called priests. John says that he becomes a priest when he touches the metal from a Dead Place but does not die. Clearly the Hill People salvage the metal from our civilization, possibly for religious purposes.

We know that this is actually our world because when John travels to the Place of the Gods to see the source of his vision, he realizes that the gods are not really gods, but just humans. He also names the place he visits.

And, when I am chief priest we shall go beyond the great river. We shall go to the Place of the Gods—the place newyork—not one man but a company. We shall look for the images of the gods and find the god ASHING and the others—the gods Lincoln and Biltmore and Moses. But they were men who built the city, not gods or demons. They were men.

Is such a thing possible, where the buildings could still stand but the people would die? We do not know exactly what the event was, although the Hill People refer to it as the Great Burning, or how it affected everyone. The city is in ruins, but it is still there. John can still read the names of famous people. It is not out of the realm of possibility that climate change or a nuclear event could cause this.

What is the author saying about compassion? Write 2-3 sentences per quote to explain and develop what it proves.

To Kill a Mockingbird is full of compassion. Harper Lee is letting us, the readers, see that compassion is so important in life. Atticus tries hard to make sure Jem and Scout learn to have compassion for others. He tells them this, but he also shows them, in the way he lives his life. Jem and Scout have a wonderful example of compassion in their father. 

In chapter 3, Scout has started school, and she has gotten off on a rough start. She tries to help her teacher, Miss. Caroline, but her teacher does not see it that way. After embarrassing Walter Cunningham as school, Scout has to have him over for lunch at her house. While there Cal teaches her a great lesson on compassion. Later that night she tries to explain to Atticus just how horrible her day had been.

"First of all," he said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into his skin an walk around in it." 

Atticus is trying to tell Scout that she needs to look at things from someone else's point of view sometimes. If she can do that, then she will have compassion for other people.

After the trial of Tom Robinson, Atticus had proven that Bob Ewell was the real culprit. When Jem sees Bob spit in Atticus's face, he questions his father about why he let him do that.

"Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of reliability at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I'd rather it be me than that houseful of children out there. You understand?"

Atticus shows great compassion for Mayella Ewell and the rest of the Ewell children. Although Mayella falsely accused Tom Robinson, Atticus still had compassion for her and didn't want her to suffer anymore. He even shows compassion for Bob Ewell. He tries to tell Jem that Bob had the right to feel angry.

At the end of the book, when Scout walks Boo home, we see the amount of compassion Scout has learned throughout the book. As she stands on Boo's porch she reflects on the past and how much she now understands.

Winter, and his children shivered at the front gate, silhouetted against a blazing house. Winter, and a man walked into the street, dropped his glasses, and shot a dog.

Summer and he watched his children's heart break. Autumn again, and Boo's children needed him.

Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley's porch was enough.

Why are gustatory receptors sensitive to dissolved chemicals but insensitive to light?

Gustatory receptor cells are located within the taste buds found on the papillae of the tongue.  When tastants dissolve in the saliva, they can be "tasted" by triggering the release of neurotransmitters which cause a message to be sent to the brain through sensory neurons.  When salty food are eaten, they liberate Na+ ions which enter the gustatory receptor cells via sodium channels, causing depolarization, and neurotransmitter release.  Sour foods liberate H+ ions which enter the cells through proton channels.  The other tastes (sweet, bitter, and umami) activate G-coupled protein receptors and activate second messengers inside of the receptor cells to trigger neurotransmitter release.  

The cells of the eye, however, are sensitive to light rather than tastants.  Within the rod cells found in the retina there are discs covered in molecules of rhodopsin.  Rhodopsin is a photopigment consisting of two parts:  opsin and retinal (derived from vitamin A--this is why they say that carrots are good for your vision).  When light is absent, the retinal as a cis conformation and fits into the opsin.  However, when light is present, the cis-retinal absorbs the light and isomerizes to trans-retinal.  Trans-retinal has a straight shape rather than a bent shape and no longer fits into the opsin molecule.  It dissociates from the opsin.  

How is this related to signals sent to the brain indicating the presence of light?  In the absence of light, when cis-retinal is present, Na+ flows into the photoreceptors through ligand-gated sodium channels.  Cyclic GMP is the molecule that opens these channels.  The influx of sodium makes the cell less negative (-70mV-->-30mV) and partially depolarizes the cell.  This partial depolarization triggers neurotransmitter release.  However, the neurotransmitter is glutamate.  Glutamate is an inhibitory neurotransmitter and sends inhibitory messages to the next cells in line (bipolar cells) thus preventing messages from being sent to the subsequent cell layer (ganglion) cells and out through the optic nerve to the brain.

When light is present and trans-retinal forms, enzymes that break down cyclic GMP are activated.  When cyclic GMP is broken down, it can no longer open the ligand-gated sodium channels so the sodium cannot enter the cell to partially depolarize it.  This turns off the release of the glutamate neurotransmitter and stops the inhibitory message from being sent to the bipolar cells.  They can then send messages to the ganglion cells which can carry the message to the brain via the optic nerve indicating the presence of light.

So the reason that gustatory cells are not sensitive to light is that they do not contain photopigments like rhodopsin that are sensitive to light.  The triggering of gustatory receptor cells is due to tastants and the taste neurons that they activate.

How does the government in Fahrenheit 451 control the mechanical hound?

The Mechanical Hound is one of Bradbury's science fiction inventions that is housed at the firehouse with the firemen. It is used to track down criminals who might try to run rather than be arrested and taken to jail. Captain Beatty describes it as "a lesson in ballistics" because it is made up of batteries, electricity and copper wiring. Montag adds that it has calculators that "can be set to any combination, so many amino acids, so much sulphur, so much butter fat and alkaline" (26). What this means is that the Hound can be given a person's scent through specific scientific means (amino acids), which gives the Hound more accurate information when searching out its target. 

Montag goes on to say that the firemen have a master file on everyone that they can program into the Hound at any given moment. The Hound, like a computer, can store that information into its memory. He believes that maybe someone input part of his information in order for the Hound to growl at him when he walks by. Montag feels that recently the Hound has been "irritate" but not angry when he goes by. Beatty denies it and promises to have the technicians look at the Hound because Montag claims that the Hound also growled at him twice last month (26-27). From what it seems, Beatty has control over the Hound and how he can control it how he sees fit whenever he wants. 

What suggests that the speaker of the poem "Richard Cory" is speaking for the entire town?

In the poem "Richard Cory," the speaker indicates his/her position as representative of the citizens of the town with the repeated use of the pronoun "we." This pronoun aligns the speaker with the others who are poor, both in their economic plight and in their sentiments.

Initially using the expression "we people on the pavement," the speaker represents the citizens who suffer during the hard times of the depression of 1893, in which people could not afford to purchase meat and subsisted mainly on bread that was often a day old. Thus, the disparity between the citizens of the town and Richard Cory, who is "richer than a king" is marked. Further in the verses, the contrast between Cory who "glittered when he walked" and the people becomes even more defined. And, each time this contrast is mentioned, the speaker is aligned with the townspeople as always "we/us" heads the description of feelings: "we thought...," "to make us wish...,""we worked and waited for the light," and so forth. 

Along with the other citizens, too, the speaker never inquires as to why Richard Cory has come to town, and why he is "always human" when he speaks to them. Instead, this speaker and the others feel that the only misery is in their condition, failing to understand that a rich gentleman can also suffer misery, albeit a different kind. 

List all the characters in Doris Lessing's "Mrs. Fortescue" and pick out key words/phases that are used to describe each one.

Doris Lessing's short story "Mrs. Fortescue" revolves around the sexual awakening of a young man and the emotional displacement he feels as the result of his older sister outpacing him on the journey to adulthood.

The protagonist of the story is the aforementioned boy, Fred Danderlea, who is sixteen years old and described quite simply as a "loutish schoolboy." Most of our understanding of Fred comes from his commentary on and perspective of the characters which surround him. As we will soon discover, he is desperate to understand his sexuality and manhood and to contextualize the knowledge of these parts of himself against the behaviors and appearances of others...

Fred's sister, Jane Danderlea, is seventeen years old and no longer in school. A pretty girl who is wholly concerned with her own pursuits and newly discovered adulthood, Jane is "far from being [Fred's] friend and ally," and in fact seems "positively to hate him." Jane serves as a proxy for Fred's sexual urges, and he watches her rather lasciviously, even taking the time to spy on her as she dresses: "She slipped over her still puppy-fatted white shoulders a new dressing-gown in cherry-red and buttoned it up primly..." She is irritated by her brother's presence and speaks to him in "this new, jaunty voice... she used as a weapon against all men."

In our first description of Fred's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Danderlea, we learn that Fred "disliked [them], because they told lies." The couple manages a liquor shop (which they also live above) for Sanko and Duke; on the whole, they don't seem to be particularly remarkable, aside from the fact that Fred believes that "they pretended not to know what he meant" when he tries to inform them of his sexual urges. Mr. Danderlea is described as having a "dome of a stomach," most likely from his voracious appetite. Mrs. Danderlea seems irritated by her husband's lack of table manners, when she passive-aggressively asks him, "What's wrong with the spoon?" after he sloppily tries to eat his dinner with a hunk of fried bread. We later learn that Mr. Danderlea has been unfaithful to his wife and visits Mrs. Fortescue for sexual services.

Mrs. Fortescue is the older woman who is employed as a prostitute and lives in the room above the Danderlea family. She dresses extravagantly, often leaving the house wearing furs and "a small hat... with a veil that was drawn tight over her face and held with a bunch of flowers." She is described as having "dark, made-up eyes" and a "small old reddened mouth." Fred ends up losing his virginity to her, but regards her with a certain aggravated disgust:

"This old, rather kind face... was like a mask held between the cherry-red gown over a body whose shape was slim and young, and the hair, beautifully tinted a tactful silvery-blond and waving softly into the hollows of an ancient neck."

Fred's final remarks on her appearance, delivered directly to Mrs. Fortescue after he has sex with her, also seem to come from a rather hyper-masculine, self-aggrandizing perspective: "Look at yourself, look at yourself then... Filthy old whore, disgusting, that's what you are disgusting!" That such a statement would come out of a young man's mouth is perhaps the best textual characterization of Fred. 

What type of poetry is "Out of the Dust"?

"Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse is a novel written in the form of free verse poetry. Free verse poetry, as the name indicates, is free from the limitations imposed by rhyme and meter. It is not very common for novels to be written with free verse poetry, but the lack of limitations creates a more authentic experience as the story is put forth by the protagonist, Billie Jo Kelby. The absence of rhyme and rhythm more closely follow the patterns of normal speech.

Free verse was popularized by the Imagists, poets who prioritized the content of their writing over observing the "norms" of poetic writing. The Imagism movement occurred in the early 20th century and served as precursor to the modernist movement. Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson are considered by many to be the most prominent English-language free verse poets.

There are many great examples of free verse poems available on yourdictionary.com. One of my favorites by Walt Whitman is "After the Sea-Ship," a great example of the free-flowing style found in free verse poetry.

What are three structures in the ear that help your balance?

The sacculus, utriculus, and semicircular canals are structures of the ear that maintains equilibrium by detecting the position and the motion of the body.  

The sacculus and utriculus are found just above the cochlea. They are interconnecting chambers that are each filled with fluid. There are hair cells inside each chamber. Attached to the hair cells are tiny spheres of calcium carbonate called ear stones. As the head moves, the ear stones move. The movement of the ear stones initiate an action potential that is sent to the brain. In this way, we are able to detect the orientation of our bodies.

Motion is detected by the semicircular canals of the ear. These canals are found on the top of the inner ear. There are hair cells at each end of the canals. The movement of the fluid in the canals lags compared to the movement of our bodies. This results in a relative motion between the walls of the canals and the fluid (endolymph). Thus, the hair cells move and send messages to the brain. The brain is then able to detect movement.  

Why has Juliet come to Friar Laurence’s cell? Who is also at the Friar’s cell, and why has he come there? What is Juliet saying in lines 85...

In Act IV, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet has come to Friar Laurence's cell to seek advice. She has just been informed by her father that he has promised to marry her to Count Paris. Lord Capulet knows nothing about Romeo and she can't be married to two men. Paris is also at Friar Lawrence's cell informing the Friar of Capulet's plans. Paris says Capulet wants the marriage to be on Wednesday. Paris is also anxious to marry Juliet:

My father Capulet will have it so,
And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.

In lines 85-90, Juliet uses foreshadowing to indicate she would do anything, including lie with dead men in order to be reunited with Romeo:

Or bid me go into a new-made grave
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud
(Things that to hear them told have made me
tremble),
And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live an unstained wife to my sweet love.

These lines foreshadow the final scene of the play when Juliet awakens alone in the Capulet tomb after Romeo has poisoned himself. 

The Friar plans for Juliet to fake her death by drinking a potion that will make her appear dead for almost two days. She will be placed in the Capulet vault and he will send a message to Romeo to be there when she wakes up. He will then take her with him to Mantua. According to the Friar, they will live happily ever after:

Then, as the manner of our country is,
In thy best robes uncovered on the bier
Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault
Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie.
In the meantime, against thou shalt awake,
Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift,
And hither shall he come, and he and I
Will watch thy waking and that very night
Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.
And this shall free thee from this present shame,
If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear
Abate thy valor in the acting it.

 

Where does starch digestion begin?

Starch digestion begins in the mouth.

In the mouth, salivary glands secrete saliva. The saliva helps to moisten the food. The saliva also contains salivary amylase. Salivary amylase is an enzyme. Enzyme are biological catalysts that serve to increase the rate of reaction by lowering the activation energy required to initiate a reaction. Each enzyme is specific to a certain substrate. The specificity occurs because the shape of the enzyme and the shape of the substrate are complementary to one another.  

The shape of the enzyme amylase is specific to the shape of starch. Starch is a branched carbohydrate made of many monosaccharides. Amylase serves to catalyze the hydrolysis of starch into smaller units of sugar such as glucose. This process occurs in the mouth.

What would a critical analysis of Othello be?

In any analysis relating to Othello as the main protagonist, one fact should stand central in our judgment—that Othello is an outsider. Once this fact is understood and appreciated, a true analysis of his character can be undertaken.

Venetian society was generally parochial. The Venetians were very keen to protect their morals, traditions and way of life from any external influence. As such, they displayed a certain level of snobbery, as can be seen in Iago's resentment that Cassio, a Florentine, had been appointed in a position which, he felt, he was more entitled and better qualified for.

In this scenario, then, Othello is introduced to us as a hero. He has overcome all the prejudice and has been given the highest honour—general of the Venetian army. Truly a remarkable achievement. We furthermore learn that he is not only a man of stature, but is also well-respected. He is welcomed into the house of Brabantio, a highly ranked citizen. We see from the duke's reticence to pass summary judgment over him as an indication of the esteem in which Othello is held.

We also learn that he is an experienced soldier, battle-hardened and one who has overcome many trials. Othello is of a different racial persuasion than the general Venetian populace, which makes his achievement even more exceptional. Othello is also not afraid to be further entrenched in Venetian culture and custom, for he takes a tremendous risk in eloping with Desdemona, a Venetian. To add to this, he is also much older than her, indicating that he was prepared to lose all he had gained to be with his one true love. This act, in itself, gains our admiration.

We know that Othello is also proud. for he speaks with authority about his prowess as a soldier and of his royal history. He is also humble, for he tells his audience (during his interrogation by the duke) that he is not a great speaker, but when he does speak, his eloquence is impressive. It is this talent which moved Desdemona to tears and inflamed her desire to be with him.

However, all this quickly unravels once Othello allows himself to fall victim to Iago's malicious manipulation. Our hero soon devolves into an anti-hero. We discover that Othello has issues which Iago gleefully exploits. We learn that he is insecure about his foreign status, his age, his race, his poor knowledge of Venetian custom and probably also the fact that he suffers from an uncontrollable ailment—seizures which are exacerbated when he is angered or stressed.

Our hero's feet of clay gradually crumble until they are nothing. Iago's persistent chiselling at Othello's ego brings out the worst in him. We discover that he is deeply jealous. He overreacts at Iago's initial subtle suggestions that Desdemona and Cassio are involved in an adulterous liaison. Although he confidently asserts that she had chosen him over all the other handsome Venetian men who were vying for her attention, there is a slight hint that he has been unnerved. Proof of this is when he insistently asks Iago questions about what he is implying when he, for example, after seeing Cassio slink away 'guilty like' from Desdemona's company, states, 'I like not that.'

The pernicious Iago sees his advantage and Othello becomes like putty in his hands. Iago is in full control and we feel pity for him but are, simultaneously, angry that he, a man of such stature, could be so feeble-minded and gullible as to bend to Iago's malevolent machinations.

In the end, Othello tragically becomes a victim of his own uncertainty. Although he had overcome so many tribulations, he is finally beaten by the fact that he could not overcome the one thing that stood between him and true love, acceptance and security: he was an outsider.  

What are examples of irony involving Jimmy Valentine in "A Retrieved Reformation"?

There are two good examples of irony involving Jimmy Valentine's reformation. One is that his past catches up with him just when he has decided to reform. The three safecracking jobs he pulls after his release from prison net him enough money to open a shoe business in Elmore, Arkansas. At first he only wants the business as a "front," to make himself look like a legitimate businessman while he continues to loot banks in that region. But then he falls in love with Annabel Adams at first sight and decides to go straight. While he is making this great psychological change, his nemesis Ben Price is investigating the three bank jobs.

Ben Price investigated the scenes of the robberies, and was heard to remark: “That's Dandy Jim Valentine's autograph. He's resumed business. Look at that combination knob—jerked out as easy as pulling up a radish in wet weather. He's got the only clamps that can do it. And look how clean those tumblers were punched out! Jimmy never has to drill but one hole. Yes, I guess I want Mr. Valentine. He'll do his bit next time without any short-time or clemency foolishness.”

This kind of situational irony is used in O. Henry's "The Cop and the Anthem." Just when Soapy decides that he will give up the life of a bum and become an honest working man, a cop arrests him for vagrancy and loitering and he is sentenced to three months in jail. He gets the "vacation" he wanted when he no longer wants it.

Another example of irony in "A Retrieved Reformation" is found in the scene in which Jimmy Valentine sacrifices his fiancee, his successful new business, and his reputation to save a little girl who has become accidentally trapped inside a bank vault. What is ironic is that Jimmy is cracking a burglar-proof safe to do a good deed and his good deed is likely to get him arrested and sent to prison for many years. It is doubly ironic that his good deed actually saves him from going to prison for the three bank jobs for which Ben Price is there to arrest him.

"A Retrieved Reformation" is full of ironies. It is ironic that the girl Jimmy falls in love with is the daughter of the owner of the town's bank. It is ironic that he should use the skills he learned in prison to open a shoe business in Elmore as a "front," and then it is ironic that the shoe business should become so prosperous that he doesn't need to be a criminal anymore. It is ironic that his suitcase full of heavy, specially designed safecracking tools should be indispensable to his success as a crook and then should become a heavy burden he can't seem to get rid of. It is ironic that his success as a safecracker should make him so famous that it brings the law down upon him. Life is full of ironies, and O. Henry's stories are full of ironies too. 

Is it weird that Nick Carraway thinks that Gatsby "turned out all right in the end?" Give the uttermost detail with evidence.

Nick's statement that Gatsby "turned out all right in the end" certainly does seem odd and is ironic given the fact that Gatsby ends up dead at the end of the novel. We might expect that someone who "turned out all right" was alive and content, though maybe not living his ideal life. Instead, Gatsby has been gunned down by Myrtle's husband, George, after Gatsby takes the blame for running Myrtle over with the car (Daisy was driving and Gatsby covers for her to protect her). Gatsby is not only killed, but the novel suggests that Gatsby's attempt to play the knight to Daisy's damsel in distress yields nothing really positive; it only allows Daisy and Tom Buchanan, already irresponsible and frivolous people, to escape with no consequences and thus continue to live their irresponsible and frivolous lives.

Nick's statement, then, better reflects Nick's attitude toward Gatsby than anything literal or factual about how Gatsby's life "turned out." Nick favors Gatsby over the other upper class characters (namely, Daisy, Tom, and Jordan), even saying at one point, “'They’re a rotten crowd' ... 'You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.'" Nick seems to admire Gatsby's devotion to his ideal, represented by Daisy herself. Gatsby knows what he wants, and everything he does in his adult life is a means to that end. Nick seems capable of ignoring the shadier elements of Gatsby's character, like the questionable way he has earned his money and his vague background, and focusing only on what he sees as the positive parts of Gatsby's character. However, in the same chapter of the novel in which Nick says Gatsby is "worth the whole damn bunch put together," Nick also says to the reader, "I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end." This comment reflects an inherent ambiguity in Nick's perspective toward Gatsby, but even if he is critical of Gatsby, Nick holds him as better than those other characters of the "rotten crowd." So relatively speaking, even if Gatsby is no longer living, Nick sees Gatsby as superior to the Buchanans and Jordan, which could make Nick see him as "all right in the end." 

When and where does Capulet arrange for Paris and Juliet to meet?

Juliet's father, Lord Capulet, actually arranges for Count Paris to meet Juliet twice. First, in Act I, he encourages Paris to see Juliet at the party Capulet is giving, and in Act III, after he has decided the two should be married he tells Paris to come to Capulet's on the day of the wedding. The two actually only meet once outside of Friar Lawrence's cell in the opening scene of Act IV. 

In Act I, Scene 2, Count Paris, who is obviously wealthy and a good match for Juliet, asks Lord Capulet for the girl's hand in marriage. It really doesn't matter that she is only 13 years old. Paris says that even younger girls are already having children. It was typical of that time for older men to marry young girls, and in fact, we are told that Capulet had married his wife when she was quite young. Capulet is hesitant to give his permission and advises Paris to get to know his daughter and persuade Juliet to fall in love with him. Capulet says,

But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; My will to her consent is but a part.

Shakespeare never tells us whether Paris talks to Juliet at the party. Instead the party scene, Act I, Scene 5, is dominated by the meeting between Romeo and Juliet.

In Act III, after the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt, Capulet finally gives his consent for Paris to marry his daughter. Of course, Juliet is already married. When Juliet seeks advice from Friar Lawrence in Act IV, Scene 1, she meets Paris, who is under the impression that they will soon be married. Juliet hides her true feelings and attempts to quickly end the conversation.

The last arranged meeting is interrupted by Juliet's supposed death. Paris comes to Capulet's for the wedding but the Nurse has discovered Juliet dead in her room. We realize for the first time how much Paris really loves Juliet when he says,

Beguiled, divorcèd, wrongèd, spited, slain!
Most detestable death, by thee beguiled,
By cruel, cruel thee quite overthrown!
O love! O life! Not life, but love in death!

The last time we see Paris he is confronting Romeo at the tomb. Because he knows nothing of the secret love he thinks Romeo is vandalizing the Capulet vault. They fight and Paris becomes one of the six casualties in Shakespeare's play.

What did the family have to do in order for Gabriel to be allowed a second year of nurturing in The Giver?

Jonas’s father petitions the Elders to allow Gabriel to stay with Jonas’s family for an extra year.

In Jonas’s community, babies are normally released if they do not meet certain growth and development targets during the first year of life. This basically means that the baby is euthanized, or killed by lethal injection, for being inferior. The community needs everyone to be the same, so there can’t be any substandard babies.

For some reason, Jonas’s father is just a little bit more sentimental than other citizens. As a Nurturer, he sees babies released all of the time. He always finds it a little sad, though. He seems to get attached to Gabriel. He even breaks the rules to peek at his name, thinking that secretly calling him by a name instead of a number will help his development.

"He's a sweet little male with a lovely disposition. But he isn't growing as fast as he should, and he doesn't sleep soundly. We have him in the extra care section for supplementary nurturing, but the committee's beginning to talk about releasing him." (Ch. 1)

Jonas’s father sees potential in Gabriel. All family units consist of a boy and a girl. It is against the rules to have more children. All infants remain at the Nurturing Center for the first year of life. However, Jonas’s father manages to get Gabriel a reprieve. At first, he just brings him home at night for “something extra.” Then Jonas’s father decides that Gabe could be successful if he just had a little more time.

He had been given an unusual and special reprieve from the committee, and granted an additional year of nurturing before his Naming and Placement. Father had gone before the committee with a plea on behalf of Gabriel, who had not yet gained the weight appropriate to his days of life nor begun to sleep soundly enough at night to be placed with his family unit. (Ch. 6)

All children born in a year “age” on the same day in December. This means that some babies have been born very recently, where others are really closer to a year old.  However, the babies have to meet certain requirements before they are given to families. If they don’t, they get released instead of assigned.

Jonas’s family gets attached to Gabriel. Jonas, especially, comes to view the new child as his brother. When he learns the real meaning of release by watching his father give a lethal injection to a newborn, he is horrified. Worse still, after Gabe's year is up he learns that Gabriel still has not satisfied the community, and even his father voted to release him. Jonas takes Gabriel and flees.

From Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, how does Scout's perception of Boo Radley begin to change?

At the first of the book, Scout explains how she first learned about Boo Radley from her big brother Jem. This is only second-hand hearsay, though, because Jem got his information from the town gossip, Miss Stephanie Crawford. As tales are passed along in this manner, they tend to take on a type of urban legend status; and to a six year old, Boo sounds more like a ghost or the boogie-man. She's curious about him, but also a little nervous that someone like this lives in her neighborhood. It's a good thing, however, that Scout is inquisitive and seeks after more information on the subject from more than one source. As Scout asks Miss Maudie about Boo Radley, she gets better and more accurate information.

"'Do you think they're true, all those things they say about B--Mr. Arthur?'

'What things?'

I told her.

'That is three-fourths colored folks and one-fourth Stephanie Crawford. . . No, child,' she said, 'that is a sad house. I remember Arthur Radley when he was a boy. He always spoke nicely to me, no matter what folks said he did. Spoke as nicely as he knew how'" (45-46).

This conversation is the beginning of Scout's change in perception. She still witnesses Jem and Dill doing things to flush the poor man out, but at least she has a reasonable background of information from which to view Boo as a human and not a ghost.

The next event that helps to change Scout's perception of Boo Radley is when she and Jem find gum and other little treasures in the knothole of the tree. This shows her that someone in the Radley house is kind and not a boogie man. If it weren't for Mr. Nathan Radley filling up the hole with cement, she probably would have been able to communicate back and forth with Boo via tree knot hole.

Because of these helpful events that shatter the neighborhood legends and gossip, Scout is not afraid to welcome Boo into her home the night that he saves the kids from Bob Ewell.