Thursday, September 30, 2010

How does Scout experience loss of innocence, in "To Kill A Mockingbird?"

Scout, one of the main characters in Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird", experiences loss of innocence as she grows up through the book.  One such experience occurs in chapter two, where she is defending Walter Cunningham when Miss Caroline offers him a quarter to pay for his lunch.  She explains that Walter's family wouldn't be able to pay back the quarter, which Miss Caroline took as Scout demeaning Walter and his family


Another loss of innocence occurs when a group of school children are defaming Atticus, Scout's father, because he is defending Tom Robinson, a black man.  Racial tension, strife, and disparity abound in the juvenile version of a mob, while Scout doesn't see anything wrong with her father's defense of a black man.


Thirdly, in chapter twenty six, Scout understands hatred for Hitler and Hitler's Germany in it's persecution of Jews, but she doesn't understand her teacher's equal hatred for black people as an equal stance.  In her eyes, the two situations are unequal.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Why was it difficult for places like India or Latin America to be united unto themselves?

It was, and is, hard for places like India and Latin America to be truly united because there are too many differences between the people in various parts of these places.  These differences can be ethnic and/or economic.


Both India and Latin America are made up of regions with people of different ethnicities.  It is true that most of Latin America (with Brazil being the main exception) is Spanish-speaking.  However, the different countries of Latin America do have major ethnic differences between them and in some cases within them.  The indigenous people of Bolivia, for example, do not speak the same language as the indigenous people of Mexico (who do not all speak the same language either).  As another example, Argentina has many more people of European descent than many other Latin American countries.


While India is now one country, it is a huge country that was not really united until independence.  According to the link below, India today has 13 languages that have at least 10 million native speakers. The country also has significant religious minorities that do not always get along with the majority religion.


There are also economic differences between countries and regions.  For example, the CIA Factbook also tells us that the per capita GDPs of Chile and Argentina are both between four and five times higher than that of Honduras even though all three countries are part of Latin America.  There are also huge differences in wealth today between various Indian states.


For these reasons (along with reasons like the size of these regions and the historical difficulty of travelling within them), places like India and Latin America have had a very difficult time trying to unite.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

How does the snowman bring Jem, Atticus, and Scout closer in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Jem and Scout work together to build the snowman with their father's input. First, Scout and Jem gather all the snow they can find outside using a basket. Jem tells Scout that they will make a full-sized snowman. Jem uses a mixture of dirt and snow to create the snowman's torso. Their snowman has a large stomach, and the children decide he looks like Mr. Avery. They continued to build the snowman:



Using bits of wood for eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons, Jem succeeded in making Mr. Avery look cross. A stick of stovewood completed the picture. Jem stepped back and viewed his creation (Chapter 8).



When Atticus comes home, he admires their snowman. He had not thought they would be able to find enough snow. Atticus continues to look at the snowman, and he realizes it looks like Mr. Avery. He suggests they disguise it. Atticus gives them advice:



Atticus suggested that Jem hone down his creation's front a little, swap a broom for the stovewood, and put an apron on him.



Atticus tells the children that they "can't go around making caricatures of the neighbors." Jem has an idea, and he runs over to Miss Maudie's house. He borrows her hat and hedge-trimmers and places them on the snowman. Miss Maudie pretends to be upset, and they are all amused.


Working together, the children and their father transform the snowman from Mr. Avery to Miss Maudie. They enjoy their time spent together, which brings them closer. Usually, Scout and Jem play alone without their father.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

What is the meaning of each stanza in the poem "White-Eyes" by Mary Oliver?

"White Eyes" by Mary Oliver is a poem about winter beginning and ending. The white-eyed bird in the first stanza is symbolic of that winter season. The wind begins blowing at the tops of the trees. Winter wants to sleep, but the winds continue to blow, and the cold comes in gusts. The white-eyed bird dropping its feathers represents the snow flakes falling. The clouds come in from the north, and the snow begins to fall--the great wind bird spreading its wings and flying as it releases its snowy feathers (snowflakes) all across the landscape. Finally, the bird sleeps, signifying the end of the winter. Mary Oliver uses symbolism effectively in her poem to describe winter, using a bird to summon the northern clouds and bring the snow.

How do cells maintain homeostasis?

Homeostasis is the maintenance of constant conditions. For a cell, homeostasis is maintained by the cellular membrane. This membrane is made up of phospholipids and is a amphipathic bilayer. That is, it consists of both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic end and is made up of two layers. The cell membrane has hydrophilic ends pointing outwards and hydrophobic tails pointing towards each other. This unique configuration allows the cell membrane to control the entry and exit of molecules in and out of the cell. Only the molecules that are necessary for cell are allowed entry, while those that are not necessary are removed from the cell (or not allowed entry). This helps the cell in maintaining constant internal conditions, necessary for its appropriate functioning. 


Hope this helps. 

Saturday, September 25, 2010

`C = 43^@, a = 4/9, b = 7/9` Use the Law of Cosines to solve the triangle. Round your answers to two decimal places.

Using the law of cosines, in the given case, yields:


`c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab*cos C`


`c^2 = (4/9)^2 + (7/9)^2 - 2*28/9*cos 43^o`


`c^2 = 65/81 - 56/81*73/10`


`c^2 = (1/81)*(650 - 4088)/10`


`c^2 =-343.8/81`


Since `c^2 > 0` , the provided information cannot be used to solve the triangle.

On what page of "The Metamorphosis" does Gregor's father throw an apple at him?

At the end of chapter two (page 64), in the story “The Metamorphosis,” Gregor’s father begins throwing apples at Gregor. Although Gregor lived as a bug with his family for quite some time (by this point in the story), his family still feared him and believed that his actions could cause harm.


Due to their fear, Gregor’s father tried to force Gregor to retreat back to his room and leave his mother and sister alone. Although his mother and sister had been trying to help him by removing the furniture in his room, Gregor did not want to lose the belongings that brought a hope of transforming back into a human. As Gregor's thoughts reveal:



"Nothing was to be removed; everything must remain. In his condition he couldn’t function without the beneficial influences of his furniture."



As a result, he accidentally scared his mother and then, instinctively followed her out of his room to try to help her. Regardless of his good intentions, his father’s fear caused him to retaliate and throw apples at his son.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Which passage from Act I of Julius Caesar includes a metaphor?

A metaphor is a comparison of two things to show the particular quality of one of those things. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Act I, there are a few important metaphors.


In Scene 1, the tribunes Marullus and Flavius are upset at the working men who have come out to cheer the return of Caesar. The tribunes were followers of Pompey who was defeated by Caesar. In line 36, Marullus compares the crowd to inanimate objects:



You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things



And later in the scene, Flavius compares Caesar to a hawk who might fly too high and keep the people in fear and servitude. He says,



Who else would soar above the view of men


And keep us all in servile fearfulness.



In Scene 2, Cassius tries to convince Brutus that Caesar has grown too powerful and it is up to them to keep Rome a republic and not a dictatorship. He compares Caesar to a carnivore and the people of Rome his meat. Cassius says,



Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,


That he is grown so great?



A little later in that scene, Caesar, sensing the possible tyranny of Cassius, compares him to a wolf or coyote. Caesar says,



Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;


He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.



In Scene 3, Casca uses an extended metaphor to say that Rome is on the verge of some terrible calamity. He comments on the severity of the weather and says he's seen a man with his hands on fire but the flesh not burning. He met a lion, but the beast ignored him and he saw an owl outside in the daytime. He believes these natural phenomena are an omen of something awful to come. He says,



"These are their reasons, they are natural," 


For I believe they are portentous things


Unto the climate that they point upon.



Later in Scene 3, Cassius again compares Caesar to a carnivore and the people of Rome his food. He says,



Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf


But that he sees the Romans are but sheep.


He were no lion were not Romans hinds.


Did Joyce Emily mean to join the wrong side in the Spanish Civil War in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie?

I will argue that Joyce Emily did not accidentally join Franco's forces, but did so in accordance with Jean Brodie's wishes.


Joyce Emily Hammond desperately wants to become associated with the "Brodie set" as she has been shuffled between schools for quite some time before landing at Marcia Blane. Brodie and her mentees are viewed by the administration of the school largely as outsiders. This is evidenced by the fact that Brodie is encouraged to find a more progressive school on numerous occasions and the faculty attempts to separate or limit Brodie's influence on the girls. As an outsider attempting to find a place of belonging, Joyce Emily would view Brodie's tutelage as advantageous. 


Throughout the novel, Jean Brodie has a number of glowing things to say about fascist leaders coming into power in her time. When her primary set of girls has grown a little older and have less time for Brodie, she takes on Joyce Emily. The problematic part of Brodie's worldview becomes clear when Sparks writes, "Everyone, including Joyce Emily, was anti-Franco if they were anything at all" (126). So why does she die on a train that she shouldn't have been on if she was going to fight Franco?


I think it can be inferred that Joyce Emily's switching sides is a testament to the force of her pro-fascist rhetoric. Jean Brodie is ultimately a problematic character as she irresponsibly indoctrinates susceptible young girls with fascist theory. Joyce Emily's death is the product of Brodie's ideas mixing with the younger girl's willingness to practice them. The result is tragic and ultimately contributes to Brodie's downfall. 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

What is the tone of the poem This Is Just To Say?

The tone of this poem is lighthearted. This short, three-stanza imagist poem is actually a note the poet has written to someone he is close to, apologizing for eating the plums she has saved. The poet writes, "forgive me/they were delicious." He doesn't sound remorseful: his apology is an "oh, s-o-r-r-y" that isn't meant to be taken seriously. Actually, he conveys pleasure and delight that he ate the plums: "they were ... so sweet and so cold."


The light-hearted, flippant tone of the poem reflects the subject matter, the record of a tiny, transitory detail of domestic life. Williams focuses on a fleeting moment, capturing a mundane act--eating someone else's plums--that most poets would overlook. His remorse matches his crime: a small one. 


The flippant voice of the poem, the "sorry!!" aspect, has been much parodied, most famously by Kenneth Koch, who pairs the poet's light-hearted tone with more serious transgressions, such as giving away someone's savings or breaking their leg. 

What do the following details from chapter one tell you about the community Jonas lives in? Jonas was frightened when he saw a jet fly overhead....

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Who is Cecil Jacobs in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Cecil Jacobs is a classmate of Scout’s, and we see Cecil appear in the novel a couple of times.  The first time, Cecil teases Scout about Atticus defending a “nigger” when word gets out that Atticus has taken Tom Robinson’s case. Scout begins a fight with Cecil in the schoolyard.  Cecil is also known for walking a mile out of his way home from school so he doesn’t have to pass Boo Radley’s or Mrs. Dubose’s house. 


His major scene is on the night of the Halloween Pageant.  As Jem and Scout are walking to the pageant, Cecil jumps out of the bushes and shines a flashlight in their eyes scaring them.  Later when the children leave the pageant and hear footsteps behind them, they think it is Cecil Jacobs again.  Scout yells out, “Cecil Jacobs is a big, fat hen,” but it isn’t long before they realize that it is Bob Ewell seeking revenge against Atticus.

How does Harper Lee present the attitudes and values of Maycomb County?

Harper Lee presents Maycomb's attitudes and values through the setting and her characters. For the setting, she describes Maycomb as an "old town" whose courthouse "sagged in the square" (5). Scout also says that the "people moved slowly then" and that there was "nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County (5). These descriptions suggest that tradition has a hold of the people as well as its town. Other descriptions of houses and the way people move help to show that proper etiquette is expected and anything out of the ordinary is frowned upon. For example, the Radley's show the town just how anti-social they are by keeping their shutters and doors closed on Sundays. Scout says the following about the town's behavior as opposed to the Radley's:



". . . closed doors meant illness and cold weather only. Of all days Sunday was the day for formal afternoon visiting: ladies wore corsets, men wore coats, children wore shoes. But to climb the Radley front steps and call, 'He-y,' of a Sunday afternoon was something their neighbors never did" (9).



Sundays are for church in the morning and social calls in the afternoon. The Radleys did neither; so the town left them to their different ways and never tried to change that by stepping foot onto their property.


Another way that Lee presents the attitudes and values of the town are through what people say and do. Some people say one thing and do another and some vice versa. In every town there seems to be people who stand up for what's right, those who cause trouble, and those who simply talk about whatever is going on. All of these types of people exist in Maycomb and they all make up the typical political hierarchy and mindset of the South in the 1930s. For instance, Atticus represents the good higher class (or leaders) of the county who stand up for what is right; Bob Ewell represents the bad lower class who causes trouble; and Miss Stephanie Crawford spreads all the good and bad about everyone.


Finally, the struggle between tradition and justice face off as the trial between Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson forces the town to also face themselves. Each person in Maycomb seems to prove his or her real character as sides are taken about the trial. Traditionalists rise up against Atticus and call him racist names while the meek and humble turn the other cheek. This keeps the gossips and tea parties employed and it would seem that not too many are affected by the end of it all.


In the end, though, the town has been tried, some steps have been taken towards progress, but discrimination and hypocrisy remain. The attitudes of the majority of the citizens remain true to the traditional social and political hierarchy which segregates people into different classes and races; but there is hope for the future and that change will occur eventually.

Was the development of unions a necessary step in the evolution of classical liberal ideas?

I'm hesitant to say that anything was a necessary step in the evolution of anything. That implies a rather strict determinism of historical progression where it's impossible to skip steps or take alternative paths.

There is a strong causal link between classical liberalism and labor unions, however. Classical liberalism was associated with a general trend toward more free markets and globalized capitalism. The upside of this trend was a dramatic improvement in standard of living. The downside was a tremendous increase in power for a handful of individuals who controlled large businesses.

Labor unions formed out of this combination: People now had a standard of living high enough that they could afford to take some risks to combat injustice (as opposed to living barely at subsistence and using all their energy simply to survive); and they saw that the fruits of free market efficiency were not being shared equitably with the workers who helped produce them. Labor unions gave people more bargaining power together than they'd had alone, and as a result led to a much more equal share of incomes than had existed previously. (Or since---now that labor unions are declining, income inequality is rapidly increasing.)

In addition, many of the ideas of classical liberalism were applied to justify labor unions: The concept of personal liberty, previously understood to mean only "negative liberty" from interference, became conceived as "positive liberty" to participate in society as an equal. Equal opportunity was emphasized, and to justify reforms, many workers pointed out that the system of inherited wealth undermined equality of opportunity. Labor unions were even thought of in many cases as free market institutions---the right of individuals to work together and make contracts freely.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

What were common topics/themes found in movies and literature from the 1920s?

The 1920s was a time of great social change, including changes in women's roles, the roles of African-Americans in society, and technological change. Many works of literature and movies concentrated on the themes of social change and defining people in new ways during this period. 


Classic books and other works from the decade include F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, which focuses on the changing nature of social classes. Gatsby, the main character, is a self-made man, and, in common with many protagonists from the period, he tries to create a new definition of himself and his role in society. Works of the Harlem Renaissance, such as the poems of Langston Hughes (including "The Negro Speaks of Rivers") focus on pride in African-American identity and a new self-definition of African-Americans as distinctive and connected both to Africa and America. Ernest Hemingway's novels often deal with Americans who are trying to find themselves in the post-war world (after World War I) and who are without a sense of direction or belonging. For example, Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises is about a group of expatriate Americans in Europe.


Movies from the decade also focus on the theme of self-definition. For example, the Jazz Singer from 1927 (the first "talkie" that used sound) is about the son of a Jewish cantor who defies his family's tradition to become a jazz singer. Other movies, such as Our Dancing Daughters from 1928, are about the modern woman, the so-called "flapper." The 1920s was a fast-moving decade involving a great deal of change, and this change is reflected in the movies and books of the time.

In To Kill A Mockingbird what is the collard patch?

In Chapter 6, Jem plans a night-time raid on the Radley house hoping to see Boo through a window. In order to get close to the house, the children have to travel through Nathan Radley's garden. Jem warns Scout and Dill not to walk in the collard patch because "they will wake the dead." (Lee 71) A collard is a vegetable. Specifically, it is a type of kale that is grown in the South. Collards are short plants with huge green leaves, and the children try their best to avoid walking through them. The children quietly walk through his garden and Jem manages to see a shadow in Radley's window. Jem gets spooked when the shadow stops about a foot beyond him, and he jumps off the porch toward Scout and Dill. Scout trips and falls as the children run through the collard patch. Nathan Radley emerges from the house and fires a warning shot into the air. The children narrowly escape, and Jem loses his pants after they get caught in Nathan's fence. Later on, when the neighbors are discussing what happened outside Radley's house, Stephanie tells Jem that Nathan scared a Negro in his collard patch. Nathan does not suspect the children, and thinks that a black man was walking through his collard patch.

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, can Bruno be called naive for saying that Germans are superior when he is talking to Shmuel?

In Chapter 10, Bruno meets Shmuel for the first time. The two boys introduce themselves and find out that they both share the same birthday. Shmuel asks Bruno where he is from, and Bruno tells him that he is from Berlin. When Shmuel asks where Berlin is at, Bruno tells him that it is in Germany. Shmuel tells him that he is from Poland, which is not in Germany. Shmuel then explains to Bruno that he is bilingual, and his mother can speak French, Italian, and English. Bruno responds by asking if Poland is as good as Germany. Bruno says that Germany is the greatest country in the world, and remembers hearing his father tell his grandfather that Germany is superior.


According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of naive is deficient in worldly wisdom or informed judgment. Bruno would be considered naive because he is certainly not well informed about the world around him, and he was not accurate when he stated that Germany is the greatest of all nations. Bruno's comment stems from his father's nationalistic beliefs that Germany is superior to all other countries. Under the Nazi regime, the German youth were indoctrinated and lead to believe that Germany was the greatest nation on earth. Bruno has little experience learning about other countries and cultures. It is true that Germany probably had the best military at that present time, but there are many other factors and opinions that could be included in the argument. For instance, under the rule of the Third Reich, Germany is the least tolerant nation, and citizens cannot freely express their personal beliefs and opinions if they oppose the Nazi regime.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Why was The Prince banned?

The Prince is a political treatise written by the Italian diplomat, Niccolo Machiavelli, and published in 1532. The purpose of The Prince was to teach rulers how to take control and establish their authority but, unlike other guides of this era, it told them to focus on developing their image and to act good or bad, as the circumstance demanded. This is precisely why the pope added the Prince to the List of Banned Books in 1559: it emphasised deception over Christian morality and argued that politics was outside of the control of the Church. Such a radical idea greatly angered the pope. 


The Prince was also banned in Protestant England by Cardinal Pole. The Prince had been a great source of inspiration to King Henry VIII who had put many of his ideas into practice. As Cardinal Pole viewed Henry as a tyrannical ruler, he came to view Machiavelli as evil and banned the book in an effort to reduce its impact. 

What theme would Scout portray in To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are several themes that the character of Scout portrays throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. One of the predominant themes of the novel deals with the importance of developing morals and ethics in children. Atticus teaches Scout many important lessons, such as how to view situations from other people's perspective, the importance of self-control, and how to treat people with respect regardless of race. Scout follows in her father's footsteps and matures into a morally upright, conscious individual.


Another theme throughout the novel deals with femininity and gender roles. Scout is a tomboy who would rather play with Jem and Dill then with dolls. She is viewed with contempt by Mrs. Dubose and her Aunt Alexandra because she chooses to wear overalls and play rough. Her Aunt Alexandra is the quintessential Southern Bell, and she is continually chastising Scout for her tomboy personality. When Scout is invited to Alexandra's missionary circle, she experiences the nuances of Southern womanhood and becomes interested in the "world of women." Although Scout does not change her ways, she understands that she will soon make the transition to becoming a woman.


Another significant theme throughout the novel is the loss of childhood innocence or naïveté. At the beginning of the novel, Scout fears her neighbor Boo Radley and even refers to him as the "malevolent phantom." By the end of the novel, she understands that Boo is simply a shy, misunderstood individual. Scout also witnesses injustice and the prevalent prejudice throughout her community during the Tom Robinson trial. Scout and Jem both learn that adults are capable of evil after witnessing Tom's wrongful conviction. Unlike her brother, Scout remains unjaded and still believes that people are predominately good

Friday, September 17, 2010

What did the Elizabethans' view on marriage represent? Who made the decision about getting married?

To the Elizabethans, daughters were considered the  property of their fathers. This was not just an attitude. This was accepted, legal fact. It was the prerogative of fathers to choose a marriage for their daughters, just as, today, breeders choose with whom to mate their animals. The daughter's choice was irrelevant, and, if a daughter rebelled against her father's choice, as Hermia does in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, this act of rebellion was punishable by death, or by a life sequestered in a convent. This was done by royalty to create favorable alliances for the good of the kingdom, and by the rest of society for the advancement of the family's fortunes through marriage. It is interesting that in both of the above-mentioned plays, Shakespeare, who never really takes sides, seems to have a soft spot in his heart for true love over the dehumanized mating prevalent in his time.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

When the Crotchet family toast to Scrooge, how is Bob Cratchit's attitude in contrast with his wife's attitude?

The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to the home of Bob Crachit where he witnesses the family's Christmas celebration.


After the dinner has been eaten, the hearth of the Crachits is prepared for the roasting of chestnuts on the fire. When the family draws around the fire, Bob raises his glass and says, "A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!" Then, he toasts,



"Mr. Scrooge!...I'll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!"



When he does this, Mrs. Crachit is disgusted. She cries,



"The Founder of the Feast indeed!...I wish I had him here. I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he'd have a good appetite for it."



When he hears this invective against Scrooge, Bob Crachit reminds his wife that it is Christmas Day. Nevertheless, his wife continues. She mocks the title bestowed upon Scrooge by her husband: "'The Founder of the Feast indeed!'" She then expresses the wish that Scrooge were there so that she could give him "a piece of [her] mind"; that is, when she could insult him for his causing her family to be penurious.


However, when the charitable Mr. Crachit urges his wife to be kind; Mrs. Crachit relinquishes, agreeing to toast him, "Long life to him!...He'll be very merry and very happy, I have no doubt!" Obediently, the children drank from their cups, but it was without enthusiasm. For, Scrooge was the "Ogre of the family"; his name cast a pall over the celebration. It is only afterwards that the general cheer resumed. 

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

What is the conclusion of The Crucible?

The Crucible ultimately ends as a tragedy. In Act IV, the audience is transported to the Salem jail cell. At the top of the act, Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor are both scheduled to be hanged. Both of the characters have resisted a confession, which sentences them to death. Reverend Hale, however, arrives to attempt to coax a confession out of them, as a confession would guarantee these characters' safeties. Since Proctor's sentence, over 100 people have saved their lives by confessing guilty to crimes of witchcraft. Of course, these confessions are lies, but lies used to secure safety. Proctor is brought the confession to sign, but he cannot bring himself to sign it, as this would be a lie and his sons and community members would see it pinned to the church door. Consequently, Proctor does not sign the confession and he is taken to be hanged. This is where the play ends.

How does Jackson foreshadow the ending of "The Lottery" in the second and third paragraphs of the story? Conversely, how does Jackson lull us into...

In "The Lottery," Jackson uses foreshadowing in the second paragraph by drawing attention to the rocks which will be used in the stoning of Tessie Hutchinson. Bobby Martin stuffs his pockets with stones, for example, while the other boys begin choosing the "smoothest and roundest" stones. Conversely, in the next paragraph, Jackson describes the coming-together of each family, ahead of the draw. This foreshadows the families gathering around Tessie Hutchinson to stone her at the end of the story.


By portraying the town and its people in such a light-hearted manner, Jackson makes the story and the town seem normal and ordinary. The images of children playing and families gathering on the square, for instance, give the reader the impression that some sort of jovial festival or celebration is about to take place, not a brutal and ritualistic stoning.  

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Why was Elie angry with his father when Idek beat him in Night?

Idek, their "Kapo" or work commander, is a little off-balance mentally, and those who live and work in Elie's unit quickly learn to stay out of his way.  In Chapter 4, prior to the scene where Idek beats Elie's dad, Idek has previously beaten Elie -- essentially for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Thus, Elie knows how easily Idek can be provoked.  


When his dad is, likewise, beaten, Elie is upset at his dad for failing to avoid Idek in the first place.  Elie Wiesel (the author) likely included this passage to show just how much imprisonment had changed Elie and the others.  As he writes, "I was angry with him, for not knowing how to avoid Idek's outbreak.  This is what concentration camp life had made of me" (roughly the middle of Chapter 4; Page 52 in my version of the text).

Monday, September 13, 2010

Why is Sameness so important in the book The Giver? Please provide a quote and page number.

Jonas is twelve years old and has just been appointed to be the Receiver of Memory. He works with the Giver, who teaches him about Sameness, which is what the community calls their way of life. It's how the community is able to live without deep emotional, physical, or mental pain—and it all hinges on someone bearing all of these burdens for everyone else. The first time Jonas learns about Sameness is after he receives his first memory about going down a snowy hill on a sled. Jonas asks why they can't have snow and the Giver explains it to Jonas as follows:



"Climate Control. Snow made growing food difficult, limited the agricultural periods. And unpredictable weather made transportation almost impossible at times. It wasn't a practical thing, so it became obsolete when we went to Sameness" (83-84).



Climate Control is just one aspect of Sameness, which overflows into all other realms of life, such as families, jobs, behavior, and anything else Jonas can think of. With every gain, though, there is a sacrifice. As Jonas starts to understand what the community sacrifices each day to gain a life of Sameness, he assesses its value more and more. The main conflict in the story is, in fact, Jonas vs. Sameness. Jonas must first discover his nemesis, which is camouflaged within his home, family, school and friends, and then decide if it is worth keeping around for another lifetime. If Jonas fully accepts his duties as the new Receiver, that's exactly what he would be doing—perpetuating Sameness for at least his lifetime, until another Receiver in Training is called.

Why did Lyddie go to church?

Lyddie doesn’t usually go to church, but the factory she works at requires it.


When the girls ask Lyddie about church, she tells them that she hadn’t planned to go because she was very tired.  When she lived at home on the farm, her family hadn’t gone to church.



Lyddie looked up in alarm. Living as far as they had from the village, the Worthens had never even bothered to pay pew rent in the village congregational church. "I‐I hadn't thought to go." (Ch. 8)



Lyddie also doesn’t do anything that costs money.  She is trying to save all of her money to buy back the family farm and bring her family back together again.



"What Amelia means," Betsy said, looking up from her novel, "is that regardless of the state of your immortal soul, the corporation requires regular attendance of all its girls. It makes us look respectable, even those of us who waste our precious minds on novels." (Ch. 8)



Betsy tells Lyddie that she should go to the Methodist church because they won’t charge her pew rent.  She recommends it to all of the new girls who don’t have a particularly religious bent.  The Methodist's sermon is longer, but cheaper. 


From then on, Amelia dragged a “reluctant” Lyddie to church.  Lyddie was glad that Betsy did not read without her, and waited until Sunday afternoon to read her novels.  She was much more interested in Oliver Twist than the Bible.


Forcing girls to go to church is just one way the factory controls them.  Lyddie has to buy new clothes, because she has to look respectable.  She also lives in corporate housing, which has all kinds of strict rules to govern her day to day life.  The factory does more than employ her, it is involved in every aspect of her life.  The corporation doesn't want any kind of scandal involving its girls.

Friday, September 10, 2010

What does the line "Now I am alone" mean in Hamlet?

This is the opening to Hamlet's soliloquy in which he shows some insight into his own character. He knows he is a procrastinator, yet cannot bring himself to do what needs to be done. He says:



Now I am alone.


Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!


Is it not monstrous that this player here,


But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,


Could force his soul so to his own conceit


That from her working all his visage wanned,


Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,


A broken voice, and his whole function suiting


With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing—


For Hecuba!


What’s Hecuba to him or he to Hecuba


That he should weep for her? What would he do


Had he the motive and the cue for passion


That I have?



Hamlet compares himself negatively to the actor. He is essentially saying a mere actor, for no better reason than the performance of a fictional role, is better able to adapt himself than he, Hamlet, is; and for this reason Hamlet believes himself to be a coward who just can't seem to take care of business--in this case, to kill Claudius. What, he asks, could this actor do, if he had the same reasons to act that Hamlet does?

In The Sign of the Beaver, why was Ben going to keep away from the river? What happened to the Indians in Matt's area?

In Chapter 3, Ben tells Matt that he plans to keep away from the river, as he's trying to avoid being seen by the people in town. Apparently, according to Ben, the townspeople are after him for something he did. However, Ben adamantly says that they can't prove whatever it is they're accusing him of.



Ben snorted again. "Not likely. I'm keeping as fur off from that river's I can, till things quiet down." Matt waited. "Tell the truth, I got away from that town just in time. Warn't nothin' they could prove, but they sure had it in for me."



Later on, Ben tells Matt that many of the Indians in his area have either been killed off by smallpox or annihilated during the French and Indian War. While many surviving Indians have moved on to Canada, the ones left in Matt's area, the Penobscots, are the most resilient of the tribes.



"The Indians has mostly cleared out of these parts; Ben told him. "What wasn't killed off in the war got took with the sickness. A deal of em moved on to Canada. What's left makes a mighty poor living, game gettin' so scarce"...Ben waved vaguely toward the forest. "They make small camps for a while and then move on. The Penobscots stick like burrs, won't give up. They still hunt and trap. No way to stop em.


Thursday, September 9, 2010

What is a Burmese Tiger pit in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

In Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game," General Zaroff and Rainsford, two well-trained hunters, square off in a hunt to the death. Zaroff is the hunter, and Rainsford is the game. It takes three days of playing Zaroff's weird and deadly game to finally come to an end. On day two, though, Rainsford prepares a Burmese Tiger pit with the hopes of trapping his hunter and ending it all sooner than later. Connell describes how the pit is created so the reader can get an idea of what it includes. First, Rainsford dug until the pit was higher than his shoulders; then, he cut and sharpened sticks into stakes; third, "these stakes he planted in the bottom of the pit with the points sticking up"; and finally, he wove together weeds and branches to cover the opening. All he had to do next was sit and wait for Zaroff to come by, fall in the pit, and give up. Unfortunately, only a dog was killed and not Zaroff. Yet, it is interesting to see that Rainsford knew how to construct such a deadly pit. The stakes at the bottom and the woven carpet-like covering over the top are key elements to is construction and effectiveness.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

What is the main theme Miller develops through John Proctor in The Crucible?

John Proctor is a wonderful character.  He makes the entire play.  If you haven't seen the movie version of this drama with Daniel Day-Lewis, you owe it to yourself to see it.  Lewis nails the character and brings Proctor to life in a way that is awe inspiring.  


What makes Proctor such a great character is that he is so dynamic.  He's an incredibly multifaceted and relatable character.  He has made a huge mistake by cheating on his wife with Abigail, and he feels incredibly guilty over it.  He's also bound and determined to make it right.  He's a man of deep religious convictions, but he also is a critical thinker when it comes to his religious beliefs.  He's a strong, moral character that is looked up to by many people in the town of Salem.  Despite his flaws, John Proctor is a very good man.  


I really can't pick the theme associated with Proctor, because I don't think there is only one.  He's too dynamic of a character.  One theme that I do think he embodies is the theme of self-respect and/or dignity.  He knows that he made a mistake with Abigail, and he is going to do everything possible to make sure that it never happens again.  



Proctor: Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby.



Furthering the theme of self-respect are Proctor's actions at the end of the play.  He is given the chance to save himself by confessing to a lie, but he is unwilling to do it.  He can't bear the thought of living while other accused held firm in their convictions.  



Proctor: Beguile me not! I blacken all of them when this is nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence!



Proctor knows that in addition to the guilt he will feel at having confessed a lie to save his own life, he will feel incredibly two faced while trying to raise his own children. 



Proctor: I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?



To Proctor, the importance of keeping his good name, to himself and to his friends and family, is of the utmost importance.  



Proctor, with a cry of his whole soul: Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!



Proctor shows the theme of self-respect and personal dignity throughout the play, but it is the fact that he is willing to die for his convictions that really sells the theme to the audience.  Even Elizabeth Proctor further emphasizes the theme by telling the audience that John's sacrifice is critical, necessary, and right as the play closes. 



Elizabeth, supporting herself against collapse, grips the bars. of the window, and with a cry: He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!


What is a force and what tools can we use to measure it?

Force can be defined several ways:


  • A force is a push or pull.

  • Force is the capacity to do work.

  • Force = mass x acceleration.

  • A force is what tends to change the state of a body at rest or in motion.

Forces can be classified into two broad categories:



  • Contact forces: frictional forces, buoyant forces, forces from weight, and air resistance forces.


  • “Action-at-a-distance” forces: gravitational forces, electrostatic forces, and magnetic forces.

Forces can be measured using different tools:


  • force meter

  • spring balance

  • spring scale

  • torque wrench

  • bathroom scale

  • strain gauge

Force units:


The unit for force is the Newton (N). One Newton of force is the amount of force needed to accelerate 1 kilogram (kg) of mass at a rate of 1 meter/second squared (`~m/s^2` ).


Forces are vector quantities:


A vector quantity is a quantity which has both direction and magnitude.

Why is Fortunato's decision to wear a clown hat an interesting and appropriate costume choice by writer Edgar Allan Poe?

Most of the people celebrating the carnival would have been wearing costumes. Poe's narrator Montresor relates of Fortunato:



He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. 



Fortunato has apparently chosen a costume that represents the way he thinks of himself, which is as a witty and funny man. The costume with the cap and bells is ideal for Poe's plot purposes because it is so conspicuous. If people didn't at first notice the man in the gaudy costume, their attention would be attracted by the ringing bells. No doubt this costume also makes Fortunato seem like a bit of a fool, but for plot purposes it makes him conspicuous and thereby seems to increase Montresor's difficulties in luring him to his palazzo without being noticed as his companion. Montresor has many difficulties to cope with. The story is mainly about how the narrator deals with all the possible things that could go wrong and achieves his ideal revenge.


The fact that the costume is "tight-fitting" is also apparently intended to make it easy for Montresor to chain Fortunato to the granite wall of the catacombs and impossible for Fortunato to escape. If, for example, Fortunato were wearing a suit and cloak like Montresor, he would have some chance of slipping out of the chain around his waist; or he might have more freedom to reach out and push against the stone wall, either while Montresor was erecting it or after Montresor had left and the mortar was still damp. Also, the fact that the costume is "tight-fitting" suggests that Fortunato has nothing with which he might be able to file at the chains or pick at the padlock. Such a costume would probably not even have any pockets.


Montresor disposes of the question of his motive for killing Fortunato very quickly. Poe evidently wants to make it clear that this is a perfect-crime story. The biggest problem is to lure Fortunato to Montresor's palazzo without being noticed as his companion, and to keep Fortunato drunk and distracted until he is chained to the rock wall. The gaudy costume with its cap and bells would seem to present a problem. This actually serves as an advantage, however, because it attracts all the attention to Fortunato and allows Montresor to go unnoticed. Montresor is wearing a dark cloak and a black mask. He would look almost like Fortunato's shadow as the two men passed through the crowds of intoxicated celebrants. Many people would remember seeing Fortunato when the inevitable inquiry began, but nobody would remember seeing anyone with him.


Because of the tight-fitting costume, Montresor can see at a glance that Fortunato does not have any weapon, visible or concealed. Once Montresor gets Fortunato down into his wine vault, he has him at his mercy. Montresor has a rapier concealed under his roquelaire. He can kill his victim at any time, although it would be more convenient to lead him to the crypt where everything is waiting for his entombment rather than to drag his dead body through a series of dark tunnels.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

How do the Friar's motives differ from the couple's motives in Romeo and Juliet?

In William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence is a good friend and supplementary father figure to Romeo. The young man is distant from his own father (as most noble children of the Renaissance were) and he instead seeks guidance and praise from Friar Laurence. When Romeo comes to the Friar and tells him that he is in love with Juliet and wishes to marry her, Friar Laurence is a little suspicious. He accuses Romeo of being quick to fall in love, but accepts Romeo's assertion that what he has with Juliet is true. He agrees to marry them, if Romeo can find a way to sneak Juliet to the Friar's cell. In Act II, Scene IV, Friar Laurence acknowledges that it is a bit of a risk to marry the young lovers, but he hopes that their union will put an end to the fighting between their houses.


It could be said that Friar Laurence has the greater good at heart in agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet. Even though they can only be married in secret, without the consent or participation of their families, the Friar hopes that these small sins will be outweighed by putting an end to the Montague-Capulet feud. Imagine the lives that will be saved, the peace restored in Verona, if only these two families would call it off! 


Romeo and Juliet do not have such long-term or big picture aspirations for their marriage, they just want to be together. Their desire for physical intimacy with one another, made apparent by their rush to share a first kiss, is a big factor in their motivation to be married. Renaissance Verona was a very religious society, and it would have been sinful for the two to be intimate outside of marriage. Though Romeo and Juliet do not really know very much about one another, they are infatuated. It might be better to say that they are in love with the idea of being in love, and becoming married would allow them to legitimately fulfill that dream. I think that Romeo and Juliet have both put a lot of pressure on themselves with regards to relationships, and marriage seems like the obvious choice for both of them to "succeed" at being in a relationship.

Why is there a party in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in Act 1, Scene 5?

Lord Capulet throws a party for his friends and family.


I guess you could say that in those days people threw parties all of the time. (We still do.)  It was something to do.  You did not need a reason.  If you were the head of your family and important to the village, you were expected to throw parties.


It was particularly a thing for a man with an unmarried daughter to do, to show off the young worthy daughter.  In fact, Capulet brings up the party and invites Paris to the party right after discussing whether or not Juliet is of marriageable age. 



This night I hold an old accustom'd feast,
Whereto I have invited many a guest,
Such as I love; and you, among the store,
One more, most welcome, makes my number more.
At my poor house look to behold this night
Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light … (Act 1, Scene 2)



Most of the Capulets seem to be invited to the ball. Juliet is there, of course, and so is Tybalt.  The girl Romeo has been wooing, Rosaline, is also there.  It is a Capulet ball.  Of course, as we know, Mercutio, Benvolio, and Romeo end up crashing the party, and that is where Romeo sees Juliet. 


Could he have seen Juliet somewhere else?  Possibly.  However, there is something enchanting about a party.  She was all decked out in her party best.  It was a fateful party indeed.

Monday, September 6, 2010

What is the valency of sodium (Na)?

Valency is defined as the combining power of an element. The atoms of an element can combine by gaining or losing or sharing electrons. An easy way to determine the valency of an element is to write its electronic configuration and see how many electrons are required (to be shared, lost or gained) to achieve the fully filled electronic configuration.


In case of sodium, the atomic number is 11 and hence, its electronic configuration can be written as:


`1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^1`


Here, the 3s orbital has only 1 electron, all other lower orbitals (1s, 2s and 2p) are completely filled. Sodium can lose 1 electron from the 3s orbital and achieve the fully filled electronic configuration. And that is what it does and thus, the valency of sodium is 1.


Hope this helps.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

What are some of the challenges of producing a play like Antigone in our modern society?

Antigone is one of the classic Greek tragedies and many contemporary plays continue to draw inspiration from it. In the play, Antigone faces off with Creon, the new king, who orders that she cannot bury her brother's body. The play often gets produced because of its beautiful language and its masterful lead female role. However, there are problems that can arise in a contemporary production. These problems come down to two themes: narrative and aesthetic.


Narrative: In the play, Antigone is continuously suppressed by the patriarchal state, which is represented by Creon. Some of the expectations of Antigone, like that she be a modest and respectful woman, can come across as sexist to a contemporary audience. This dramaturgical conundrum will have to be addressed by the creative team of a contemporary production of Antigone


Aesthetic: The Greek theatrical aesthetic was very different from our current day aesthetic. The Greeks typically used large masks and a chorus. While we cannot be sure exactly how the Greeks produced their plays, we know that they were produced very differently from how we produce our plays today. Consequently, a director and creative team will have to choose how their production will differ from a classical production of Antigone.

What does FDR's word stand for "TVA" "AAA" "NIRA" "NLRB" "CCC" and "FDIC" thanks

Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for president in 1932. He defeated Herbert Hoover in the election. The Great Depression played a significant role in President Hoover’s defeat. People wanted a change in philosophy, and President Roosevelt promised to get the government much more actively involved in trying to deal with the effects of the Great Depression.


President Roosevelt launched his New Deal program immediately upon taking office. There were many programs created that tried to provide relief, recovery, and reform. Sometimes these programs were called the alphabet soup of New Deal programs because they were called by the initials of the program. For example, the TVA stood for the Tennessee Valley Authority. The goal of this program was to bring electricity to the South at a lower cost.


There were several other programs that were a part of the New Deal. The Agricultural Adjustment Act, known as the AAA, paid farmers not to grow crops. Overproduction was an issue for farmers so they were paid not to produce them. The National Industrial Recovery Act or NIRA established rules of fair competition. Businesses, workers, and the government agreed on the rules. The National Labor Relations Board was created as a result of the National Labor Relations Act, commonly called the Wagner Act. The NLRB was created to help workers in unions. The NLRB could order businesses to stop unfair businesses practices. It also could certify the results of union elections. It also could offer arbitration as a way to settle disputes between union members and the employer. The Civilian Conservation Corps or the CCC provided work for unemployed young men between the ages of 18-25. They would go to the West to work on conservation projects. Finally, the FDIC or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation would provide insurance for savings accounts. People could be more confident that their money in their savings account would be safe because of this insurance program.


All of these programs, as well as others that were also created, tried to help people deal with the effects of the Great Depression.

What was segregation and what effects did it have on southern communities?

Segregation, part of a system sometimes called "Jim Crow," was in force in the South from the late 1800s to the 1960s. Essentially, segregation combined statutory law and a collection of customs to enforce white supremacy through separating whites and African-Americans in public spaces. The effects were profound, and included almost every aspect of life in the South. African-Americans were not allowed to eat in the same areas as whites, they were barred from many hotels and public spaces, they attended different (usually inferior) schools, and in most states could not even be buried in the same cemeteries as whites. The effects were complex. On the one hand, segregation was clearly detrimental to African-Americans in the South. On the other, black men and women resisted segregation by establishing their own vibrant communities and institutions. But everywhere they turned, African-Americans saw reminders that those in positions of power deemed them second-class citizens, or not even citizens at all--every Southern state took steps to strip African-Americans of their voting rights as they established segregation laws. So segregation laws created communities divided along racial lines, but never equally--they were intended to establish and perpetuate white supremacy.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

What parenting style does Aunt Alexandra have in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Aunt Alexandra rules a household rather imperiously and is stringent about adhering to the heritage of the Finch name. 


An early reference to her aunt by Scout in Chapter 9 describes her as "cold and there" only. Later, when Aunt Alexandra arrives in order to take charge while Atticus busies himself with the trial of Tom Robinson and to bring feminine influence upon Scout as she is maturing, Scout finds her essentially the same:



"Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia," was the first thing Aunt Alexandra said. "Jean Louise, stop scratching your head," was the second thing she said.



In this same chapter, Aunt Alexandra instructs Jean-Louise--she refuses to call her Scout--in more ladylike behavior and dress:



Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants. Aunt Alexandra's vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-a-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born; furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine in my father's lonely life. 



It is not long before Aunt Alexandra assumes her place as matriarch of the Finch family. She directs social activities such as the Missionary Tea, she has Scout wear dresses, she instructs the children on the shortcomings of others and the superiority of the Finch lineage as she is very preoccupied with the importance of heredity and the caste system of the South. She is adamant that Jem and Scout live up to their family name and preserve the dignity of their heritage. So, she insists that Scout speak to any of her lady friends who come to tea or to visit. And, she objects strongly to the influence of Calpurnia on the children, disapproving of their close relationship with this maid, their accompanying Calpurnia to her church, and other interactions with her. In fact, she speaks to her brother, suggesting he dismiss Calpurnia, implying that her relationship with the Finch children is inappropriate. 


Clearly, Aunt Alexandra comes to the home of her brother, with her imperious style, with the intention of correcting the lack of decorum and of making Jean-Louise into a little lady and the children and even Atticus more aware of their heritage.

Friday, September 3, 2010

What is the molality of a solution of 25g of toulene dissoved in 250g of benzene?

Molality is a measure of concentration of a solution, expressed as moles of solute per kilogram of solvent. Toluene is the solute. It has the chemical formula C7H8 and its molar mass is 92.14 grams per mole. 


Start by calculating moles of toluene:


(25 g)(1mol/92.14 g) = 0.27 moles toluene


Now find kilograms of benzene:


(250 g)(1 kilogram/1000 grams) = 0.250 kg benzene


molality = moles toluene/kilograms benzene


molality = 0.27 moles/0.250 kg = 1.08 molal


Note that molality is not the same as molarity, which is moles solute per liter of solution. Molality is used in situations in which the temperature is likely to affect the volume of a solvent, for example when determining freezing point depression or boiling point elevation. The mass of a solvent isn't affected by temperature. 

Thursday, September 2, 2010

How do the processes of binary fission and mitosis, despite their differences, support the theory that eukaryotes evolved from prokaryotes?

As you said, the processes of binary fission and mitosis (or meiosis-you'll see why) are different in many aspects. But it's those differences that give us evidence to support our theory!

Let's first see how the theory tries to explain how eukaryotic cells developed from a larger prokaryotic cell.

The theory we're talking about is the Endosymbiosis Theory, which states that the eukaryotic cell developed from a larger prokaryotic cell engulfing (or eating, if you prefer) a smaller prokaryotic cell (or a bacteria) WITHOUT digesting it. The larger cell gave protection to the smaller one, which in turn gave energy to the larger one. Aerobic bacteria which have been "engulfed" eventually became what today is known as the mitochondria, while the photosynthetic ones became the chloroplasts.

Now, the most straightforward way to obtain evidence to support (or not) this theory is to look at present-day eukaryotic cells. One of the methods is to look for bacterial genes in the cell's DNA - and we did find a lot of bacterial genes in eukaryotic cell's DNA!

Another way is to compare the characteristics of bacteria with the characteristics of the mitochondria and the chloroplast. This is where mitosis and binary fission come into play! It is known that eukaryotic cells multiply through mitosis or meiosis while bacteria divide by binary fission. And we know that both the mitochondria and the chloroplast replicate INDEPENDENTLY of the eukaryotic cell by BINARY FISSION, just as bacteria do! Not only that, but they also are a similar size to bacteria and share many DNA and structural similarities! Thus, we have found good evidence to support our theory by looking at how these organelles divide and how this process is the same as that of bacteria.

I hope you now understand why this fact is seen as evidence to support the theory!

On what page does Timothy die?

Timothy dies at the very end of Chapter 15. In my copy of the novel, it's on page 112:



I said, "Timothy," but he did not answer me. His hand was cold and stiff in mine.


Old Timothy, of Charlotte Amalie, was dead.



If you weren't sure where to find Timothy's death or another event in the story, and if you have to find it quickly rather than waiting for help, there are a few things you can try:


First, you can pick a spot in the novel where you think the event probably happened, then start skimming for a key word, like "dead," "death," or "died." (In this case, for example, you know that Timothy's death comes near the end of the story--because he spent so much time helping Phillip and keeping him company on the island. But you also know that it happens before Phillip gets rescued. So you would start looking toward the end of the novel, but not the very last chapter.)


Second, you can use a search function in an electronic copy of the novel to search quickly for a key word. This is your fastest method, but you have to have access to that electronic version.


Lastly, if you have no idea where the event might be, try this: open the book to the middle, and start reading just a little bit to see what's going on in the story. Now think: did your event happen before or after this? Scoot in the direction you think your event happens, and continue reading small snippets of the text, heading forward or backward based on what you remember about the story until you find the event you're searching for.

Do you think politicians can help in life ?

Politicians can help people in their lives. The way our system is set up, politicians are supposed to listen to the concerns of the people they represent. If they do this and listen to the will of the majority, politicians are able to do things that will help people with their lives. During the Great Depression, people expected the government to do things to help them deal with the Great Depression. As a result, politicians acted on President Roosevelt’s numerous requests to create jobs. The politicians passed many job creation programs. The Social Security Act, passed during the days of the New Deal, is another example of actions taken by politicians that have helped people tremendously. Today many people depend on Social Security.


Politicians have acted to correct abuses or deficiencies in our society. When the perception appeared that too few people were involved in government, politicians voted to create options to get people more involved in the political process. Politicians developed the initiative, referendum, and recall to help get more people involved in government. The 17th Amendment, which allowed for citizens to elect our United States Senators, and the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, are additional examples of this occurring. Politicians also passed laws to make work environments safer and healthier. Laws were passed to end child labor and to require children to attend school.


Without a doubt, politicians can help people in their lives.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

What values, which Atticus has a clear sense of, does he wish to teach his children?

In Chapter 5, Miss Maudie agrees with Scout that Atticus is the same man at home as he is in public. At the end of Chapter 19, Scout explains to Dill that Atticus is different than Mr. Gilmer. Atticus does not condescend or demean people on the witness stand the way that Gilmer does. Scout concludes, remembering Miss Maudie's assessment, that Atticus "is the same in the courtroom as he is on the public streets." This is a value that Atticus teaches Scout and Jem in words and by example. Atticus is consistently good. Therefore, he is not a hypocrite. He is honest and forthright in any situation. 


Atticus also teaches the children to be considerate. That is, he teaches them to be polite but more importantly, he teaches them to consider other people's feelings. Atticus is extremely generous in this regard. In Chapter 23, Atticus explains why he did not retaliate when Bob Ewell spit in his face. He says to Jem: 



Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility 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 considers Bob's point of view even though Bob should not be given the benefit of the doubt at this point. But Atticus does this because he is actually thinking of Mayella and the Ewell children. By taking Bob's abuse, he might save Mayella some abuse. Atticus thinks of the larger perspective here. He considers Bob's feelings in order to possibly protect Mayella. 


In Chapter 23, Atticus talks about racism and discrimination. He adds that when a white man in a higher social position harms a black man in a lower social position, it is incredibly wrong. Atticus calls out racism with this point but the other lesson is about how wrong it is for a man with social advantages to harm another man who is at a disadvantage. In this case, that disadvantage is based upon a history of racism. These notions of treating others with respect and protecting the innocent go along with the idea that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird: 



As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it— whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.