My teacher says that Dupin, from "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe, did not exist and that he did not solve any crime. Why?

There are many characters in stories and novels who are so well drawn that we may tend to think of them as real people. Such characters include the great Sherlock Holmes, and more recently Holden Caulfield of J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes and introduced him in the first chapter of the novel A Study in Scarlet (1887), acknowledged that he was indebted to the so-called "stories of ratiocination" of Edgar Allan Poe for the basic idea of Sherlock Holmes. Poe's C. Auguste Dupin, like Sherlock Holmes, was a fictional creation who also appeared in Poe's stories "The Purloined Letter" And "The Mystery of Marie Roget." He was not a real person, and therefore he could not have really solved any crimes. The same is true of Sherlock Holmes. Like Sherlock Holmes, Dupin had a friend who accompanied him on his investigations and subsequently wrote them up as stories in the form of memoirs. Sherlock Holmes' friend, companion, and biographer was named Dr. John H. Watson. The narrator of the stories involving C. Auguste Dupin remains anonymous.

In analyzing the characters in short stories and novels, it is well to remember that these are not real people but have been created by the authors to serve a specific purpose. We should not try to analyze them too deeply, since they are not real human beings. They are given the characteristics they need to suit the plots of the stories and novels. Generally speaking, it is very useful to analyze a fictional character by considering how he or she fits the plot.

C. Auguste Dupin and Sherlock Holmes are very much alike. They possess superior analytical powers and enjoy using them. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" contains a single paragraph of dialogue spoken by Dupin which establishes many of the conventions used by Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes stories and by countless other mystery writers since.

“As for these murders, let us enter into some examinations for ourselves, before we make up an opinion respecting them. An inquiry will afford us amusement,” (I thought this an odd term, so applied, but said nothing) “and, besides, Le Bon once rendered me a service for which I am not ungrateful. We will go and see the premises with our own eyes. I know G—, the Prefect of Police, and shall have no difficulty in obtaining the necessary permission.” 

The detective is useful to the official police and lets them take credit for his solutions. This brings him interesting cases and allows him to go into settings and conduct investigations that would be off limits to ordinary people. Also, the detective is often motivated by sympathy for an innocent person wrongfully accused of a crime. In this case it is a bank clerk named Le Bon. Erle Stanley Gardner based most of his many Perry Mason mysteries on the hero's motivation to save an innocent person wrongfully accused of a serious crime, usually a murder. Note also that C. Auguste Dupin tells his friend that "an inquiry will afford us amusement." Both Dupin and Sherlock Holmes delight in using their analytical powers just for the pleasure of using them. As Poe writes in the opening paragraph of "The Murders in the Rue Morgue":

THE MENTAL FEATURES discoursed of as the analytical, are, in themselves, but little susceptible of analysis. We appreciate them only in their effects. We know of them, among other things, that they are always to their possessor, when inordinately possessed, a source of the liveliest enjoyment. As the strong man exults in his physical ability, delighting in such exercises as call his muscles into action, so glories the analyst in that moral activity which disentangles. He derives pleasure from even the most trivial occupations bringing his talents into play. He is fond of enigmas, of conundrums, of hieroglyphics; exhibiting in his solutions of each a degree of acumen which appears to the ordinary apprehension preternatural. His results, brought about by the very soul and essence of method, have, in truth, the whole air of intuition.

What are some of the important literary techniques Tom Godwin uses in "The Cold Equations"?

One of the most important literary techniques, also called literary devices, found in Tom Godwin's short story "The Cold Equations" is imagery. Imagery is used to create mental pictures within a reader's mind and developed through using words that pertain to the five senses: touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell. Godwin effectively uses imagery to capture the conflict in the story. He opens with a sight image of the "white hand" on Barton's heat gauge having crept up over the course of an hour, a gauge that tells him a stowaway is on-board who must jettisoned from the ship. The mechanical sight image of the "white hand" helps capture the cold, calculating, scientific nature of the story's conflict—the ship has a limited amount of fuel to complete its emergency rescue mission, so the stowaway must be ejected into space to save others' lives.

Later, the sight and scent imagery of the teenage girl stowaway, Marilyn, capture the more emotional aspect of the conflict. Using sight images, Godwin describes Marilyn as curly-haired, petite, blue-eyed, and smiling. He further uses a scent image to describe that a "faint, sweet scent of perfume" emanates from her. These sight and scent images help portray her childlike innocence, which makes the reader empathize with her plight, making the reader understand why Barton is heartbroken that her mistake must cost her her life to save the lives of many others.

A second important literary technique Godwin uses is a form of parallelism called anaphora. Anaphora occurs when words, phrases, or clauses at the beginning of sentences are repeated. Godwin uses anaphora at the start of his story to introduce the conflict, which is that Marilyn violated a law that can cost many lives if it is not followed, as we read in the following:

It was the law, stated very bluntly and definitely in grim Paragraph L, Section 8, of Interstellar Regulations. . .

It was the law, and there could be no repeal.

It was a law not of men's choosing but made imperative by the circumstances of the space frontier.

Here, the repetition of the clause, "It was the law," or "It was a law," creates anaphora that again emphasizes the cold, scientific aspect of the story's conflict.

"As citizens of this democracy, you are the rulers and the ruled, the law givers and the law abiding, the beginning and the end." To what extent...

The source of this quotation is Adlai Ewing Stevenson II (5 February 1900–14 July 1965). He was an American politician who served as the Governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953. He ran two unsuccessful campaigns for the presidency of the United States and served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under the Kennedy administration. A Unitarian and progressive politician, Stevenson was widely admired for his intellect, although he lacked the broad appeal necessary to win a national election against the widely popular war hero Eisenhower.

In terms of ideological perspective, this paraphrase of the philosophy behind the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Constitution emphasizes the populist and democratic nature of the United States. It emphasizes the responsibility of each citizen to be an active and contributing member to the polity. This seems a fair and accurate statement of the underlying philosophy of some aspects of the United States government, although it would not describe the ideology of Iran, Saudi Arabia, or even Singapore.

As to whether you should embrace a progressive philosophy, that is more controversial. The U.S. was created as a Republic in part because the Founding Fathers did not trust direct democracy and thought that elected representatives should be members of an educated upper class who would do a better job of governing that the average citizen. In one sense, expertise seems a desirable quality and populism can turn ugly, especially when fueled by racism and xenophobia; on the other hand, as recent political events have shown, our governing elites are far from uniformly wise and benevolent.

what are the similarities in E. B. White's definition of humor and democracy?

Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time.

E. B. White, New Yorker, July 3, 1944

Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind.

E. B. White, Some Remarks on Humor, introduction* 

Elwyn Brooks White (1899 - 1985) was an American author known for his contributions to the magazine The New Yorker and his children's books.

If one looks closely, several similarities between the two "definitions" become apparent.

Both are very concise in the choice of words used by Mr. White.  There is no flowery prose, nor mincing of words.

Both use the present tense to define their subjects in the here and now.

Both use an analogy to convey the meaning intended by the author.

In summation, they are to the point, written with an air of relevance, and provide the reader with a comparative essence. 

From Thomas Cahill's book, The Gift of the Jews, why has the Babylonian Exile been so significant in Jewish religious history?

Until the time of the Babylonian exile, Jewish religion dictated that worship had to center around the Temple in Jerusalem.  One of the most important aspects of their worship involved animal sacrifices, which could only be performed at the Temple.  When the Babylonians expelled the Jews from Jerusalem, they also destroyed the Temple.  The scattered exiles had to change their traditional worship forms in order to maintain their religious identity.  Some of the major changes included the rise of synagogues for worship, a shift to a study of the Torah, and a rise of a clergy class of rabbi to lead worship in diverse locations.  

The destruction of the Temple can not be over-emphasized in Jewish religious history.  The first temple, built by Solomon, was destroyed by these Babylonian invaders led by Nebuchadnezzar around 586 B.C.  A second Temple was dedicated in 515 B.C. but was added upon and expanded until officially recognized in 20 B.C.  This second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in the year 66.  The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem has not been rebuilt since two Muslim shrines now stand on the Temple Mount.  These events are significant because of the strong belief in Jewish faith that the re-building of the Temple is still critical to their continued effective reverence for Jehovah God.

In "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket," time seems to slow down as Tom tries to overcome his fear. Which details show that time is passing slowly?

In general, we get the sense that time is passing so slowly for Tom from the excruciating detail of the movements of his feet and his fingers. Every time the narrator has to tell us about how his left foot inched or how his right hand scooted (and I'm paraphrasing here, not quoting) we understand that these movements feel like they take forever for Tom, yet they probably are happening pretty quickly.

Let's take a close look at some of the more salient details that also indicate the slow passage of time during his adventure on the ledge of the apartment building. We'll start by noting how all of his experiences seem to happen within instants (very brief moments of time) and yet they contain all sorts of images and feelings:

He saw, in that instant, the Loew's theater sign, blocks ahead past Fiftieth Street; the miles of traffic signals, all green now; the lights of cars and street lamps; countless neon signs; and the moving black dots of people. And a violent instantaneous explosion of absolute terror roared through him...

These full, detailed experiences continue to be packed into very brief moments:

For a motionless instant he saw himself externally--bent practically double, balanced on this narrow ledge, nearly half his body projecting out above the street far below--and he began to tremble violently...

In the fractional moment before horror paralyzed him, as he stared between his legs at that terrible length of street far beneath him, a fragment of his mind raised his body in a spasmodic jerk to an upright position again, but so violently that his head scraped hard against the wall, bouncing off it, and his body swayed outward to the knife edge of balance, and he very nearly plunged backward and fell.

Then, the narrator emphasizes how the traffic patterns near the signal below Tom seem to progress very slowly, although we know from experience that it only takes a minute or so for traffic to remain stopped in one direction by a red light:

Seconds passed, with the chill faint wind pressing the side of his face, and he could hear the toned-down volume of the street traffic far beneath him. Again and again it slowed and then stopped, almost to silence; then presently, even this high, he would hear the click of the traffic signals and the subdued roar of the cars starting up again.

Lastly, we notice how slowly time is going by for Tom when we see how incredibly slow his progress is as he works his way along the wall. Only a few dozen steps feel like they take forever:

He didn't know how many dozens of tiny sidling steps he had taken, his chest, belly, and face pressed to the wall; but he knew the slender hold he was keeping on his mind and body was going to break...

Taken together, all of these details illustrate how slowly Tom's adventure seems to be transpiring for him. So it's surprising, even funny, to find out that he's only outside the building for about eight minutes before he starts trying to break the window in earnest to get back in.

How does President Kennedy justify that he believes the United States is "...our last best hope"?

In John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, given on January, 20, 1961, he actually calls the United Nations "our last best hope." Here is the excerpt from the speech, taken from the website of the JFK Library (www.jfklibrary.org; the link is below):

"To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support--to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective--to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak--and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run."

In this portion of the speech, Kennedy said that the United Nations was a way to prevent war, and he renewed our nation's commitment to the United Nations as a way to protect weak nations. He hoped to end the use of the United Nations as "a forum of invective," or a place merely for nations to air their grievances.

Much of the rest of the speech is a promise to fight communism, as the United States was then involved in fighting the Cold War against the Soviet Union and other nations. Kennedy said, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." Although he does not mention communism directly, no one in the audience at the time would have had any doubt that he was referring to fighting the Cold War.

Kennedy's inaugural address is perhaps, however, best remembered not only for its eloquence and fine delivery but also for its call to social action. At nearly the end of the speech, Kennedy said, "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." In other words, Kennedy was calling, in words that have often been re-quoted, for Americans to give of themselves to their country to make it great. 

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, what are some quotes that show Jem losing his innocence?

At the beginning of Chapter 21, Jem has confidence that the jury will acquit Tom Robinson. He mentions to Reverend Sykes that there is no way the jury can convict Tom Robinson based on the contradicting testimonies and lack of evidence. Unfortunately, the prejudiced jury finds Tom Robinson guilty of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell. Jem is devastated and begins to cry.

In Chapter 22, Jem repeatedly tells his father, "It ain't right." (Lee 284) Jem had witnessed racial injustice for the first time in his life and lost his childhood innocence after the guilty verdict was read. The next morning, Miss Maudie invites the children over to her house for some cake. Miss Maudie tells Jem not to fret and tries to explain that Atticus had a very rough job. Jem says,

"It's like bein' a caterpillar in a cocoon, that's what it is...Like somethin' asleep wrapped up in a warm place. I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that's what they seemed like." (Lee 288)

Jem elaborates on his new perspective of Maycomb's community members. After witnessing their prejudiced beliefs in action, Jem becomes jaded about his neighbors. He is having difficulty understanding how caring, good-natured citizens can be so full of hate. 

In Chapter 23, Scout and Jem are having a conversation about why Aunt Alexandra will not let Scout play with Walter. Jem says, 

"I've got it all figured out, now. I've thought about it a lot lately and I've got it figured out. There's four kinds of folks in the world. There's the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there's the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes." (Lee 302)

Jem is trying to explain to his younger sister the social class system of Maycomb. These are recent thoughts that have developed since he witnessed racial injustice during Tom's trial. Scout disagrees with Jem and says, "I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks." (Lee 304) Jem replies,

"That's what I thought, too...when I was your age. If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all the time...it's because he wants to stay inside." (Lee 304)

Jem is still trying to make sense of why his neighbors treat each other with such contempt. Jem not only notices how white people treat black people terribly, but also notices the contempt between social classes. Unlike Jem, Scout is not jaded after losing her innocence and still maintains that humans are caring, equal individuals. Jem's loss of innocence has a profound effect on his perspective of the world and his community.

What are two quotes that depict how the Greasers think the Socs don't experience difficulties?

At the end of Chapter 2, Ponyboy, Johnny, and Cherry are sitting together watching a movie and Ponyboy thinks to himself,

"I really couldn't see what Socs would have to sweat about—good grades, good cars, good girls, madras and Mustangs and Corvairs—Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I'd consider myself lucky" (Hinton 36).

At this point in the novel, Ponyboy is still naive and thinks that the Socs do not have similar hardships. Ponyboy mentions that the Socs have an excess of beautiful cars, grades, and girls. In his mind, the Socs' material wealth make them immune to difficulties, which is not true. Cherry tries to explain to Ponyboy that the Socs have their own set of difficulties that are equally hard to deal with.

In Chapter 9, the Greasers chant and get each other excited to fight the Socs before the big rumble. Two-Bit sings,

"I am a Soc. I am the privileged and the well-dressed. I throw beer blasts, drive fancy cars, break windows at fancy parties" (Hinton 136).

Two-Bit's lyrics reflect the Greasers' impressions of the average life of a Soc member. They view the Socs as privileged individuals who live the high life. Again, their views are based on the physical appearance and actions of the Socs, and do not reflect the reality of the situation. The Greasers feel that the Socs' lives are filled with material wealth and reckless parties.

What method does the writer use to show Max's development?

Probably one of the most interesting “methods” that the author uses to develop the character of Max is the use of dramatic irony. Dramatic irony, of course, is when a character does not know something that the reader does know. From the beginning of the novel, the reader knows that Max is actually a good kid who simply lacks self-esteem. Of course, from the very beginning, Max does not even know what self-esteem is. Max simply thinks he is a bad kid who is “dumb” and has a bad father. Sometimes Max even doubts whether he is a “real person.” The reader knows from the very beginning that Max is definitely a real person who only bullies kids in daycare as a way of “acting out” due to the tragedy in his life. Max is actually quite smart. For example, Max not only knows how to retrieve Kevin’s toy from the tree but also knows that putting Kevin on Max’s shoulders would help them both. It is Max who actually creates “Freak the Mighty.” Although it is true that Max has a father who is a criminal and a murderer, Max proves that he is completely unlike his father. Not only does Max learn to love Kevin as a best friend but also chooses to immortalize Kevin, after Kevin’s tragic death, through written word.

Doubling only the amplitude of a vibrating mass-on-a-spring system produces what effect on the system frequency? ...

Option E is correct, that is, changing the amplitude of a vibrating mass-on-a-spring system has no effect on the frequency of the system. The frequency of a mass-spring system is only related to the mass and spring constant. This is mathematically given as:

`f = 1/(2pi) sqrt(k/m)`

where, f is the frequency of the system, m is the mass of the object on spring and k is the spring constant. Thus, the frequency of the mass-spring system is not a function of its amplitude and hence changing the amplitude, will have no effect on the frequency of the mass-spring system. 

Using the relation given above, the frequency of the system can be changed by changing mass or spring constant or both. For example, frequency can be doubled by reducing the mass to 25% of its original value or using a spring of 4 times the spring constant.

Hope this helps. 

In A Christmas Carol, what does "offal" mean?

Your question refers to a description of the setting in chapter four when the Ghost of Christmas Future takes Ebeneezer Scrooge to view a future scene in a sort of pawnshop, where Scrooge's former employees are selling property that they have looted from future-Scrooge after he died. The shop is in a seedy part of town and is "a low-browed, beetling shop, below a pent-house roof, where iron, old rags, bottles, bones, and greasy offal, were brought".

In this context, offal actually refers to leftover body parts of some kind of animal. The description continues with a remark about the "mountains of unseemly rags, masses of corrupted fat, and sepulchres of bones" that are present in the shop. The rotting fat and piles of bones are clearly what Dickens was referring to when he used the word "offal".

In Victorian times men known as rag-and-bone men or rag-gatherers would scavenge all over London looking for anything that they could resell. Salable items included bones and even grease from animal carcasses, since both of these could be put to use by people. The grease could be used in making soap, and the bones could be used for a variety of purposes. It makes sense, then, that offal would be present in the shop where the charwoman and the laundress have come to hawk Scrooge's belongings. Offal was just another commodity in which the shop's proprietor, old Joe, would have trafficked.

In The Crucible, why does Francis Nurse believe he has caused trouble for the 91 people who signed a deposition?

After their wives were arrested, Corey, Francis and John sought the help of the people. They obtained a signed deposition testifying to their wives' innocence. They presented this evidence in court much to the irritation of Parris, who believed such a move would lead the court to the truth.

Parris together with Judge Hathorne made malicious allegations as to the motives of the people who signed the document. Danforth sought to call the 91 individuals who signed the document to appear in court and testify personally. However, Francis noticed the mischief and objected to this, stating that he had promised the participants that no harm would come to them.

As expected and because of the prejudiced court process, Danforth ordered the arrest of all those who signed the document. Francis was horrified at the turn of events and was convinced that everyone who tried to help would suffer at the hands of the court.

Mr. Nurse believed this because the court was already biased and was only relying on evidence provided by the girls, going by the arrests made and the entire process. Those who had been arrested, prosecuted and condemned were innocent and it was highly likely that the 91 would also suffer a similar fate.

Danforth: Then I am sure they may have nothing to fear. Hands Cheever the paper. Mr. Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these - arrest for examination. To Proctor: Now, Mister, what other information do you have for us? Francis is still standing, horrified. You may sit, Mr. Nurse.

Francis: I have brought trouble on these people...

What is thermal energy?

In thermodynamics, we define thermal energy as the internal (kinetic) energy of a system or the energy stored in the form of the movement of molecules of a body or a system. Thermal energy is directly proportional to the temperature of the system. This means the higher the temperature of a body, the faster the motion of the molecules inside it. This leads to an increase in the thermal energy of the body.

All the laws of thermodynamics apply to thermal energy as well. Also, like any other form of energy, thermal energy also has the ability to do work. For example, when you heat a metal container containing water, the molecules inside the metal start moving. Note that we cannot actually see these small particles moving inside the metal container, but we can feel an increase or decrease in its temperature. After this, these molecules transfer their energy to the water and we see rapid movement of the water molecules. Since it is the energy stored in the free moving particles inside the system, we say it is kinetic in nature.

In The Great Gatsby, why do you think Tom picked Myrtle to have an affair with?

It is likely that Tom picks Myrtle because he thinks she will be an easy woman to control. She is not wealthy, powerful, or socially connected, so she doesn't pose much of a threat to him. Myrtle also readily accepts Tom's fabricated story about being unable to divorce Daisy because "she's a Catholic."  

Myrtle is also a relatively inexpensive mistress. Tom buys her a puppy for $10 and sets them up in an apartment in a neighborhood in which the rent wouldn't be exorbitant. She is apparently not savvy enough to understand Tom has had other mistresses from the working class (such as the chambermaid at the hotel where he and Daisy stayed three months after their honeymoon) and that she is unlikely to be his last mistress.

Lastly, Myrtle is a woman who seems comfortable in her sexuality, and Nick describes her as stout and sensuous. Myrtle shows no embarrassment about disappearing into the bedroom with Tom while Nick sits alone in the living room of the apartment.

What are some passages found in chapters 1-5 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird showing how curious Scout is? What are the page numbers?

Scout's curiosity is revealed in Chapter 2 of To Kill a Mockingbird as she reflects on her excitement to finally be starting school. She says that she "never looked forward more to anything in [her] life" than starting school. She further reflects that, in wintertime, she used to climb into the treehouse to spy on the children in the schoolyard. Through spying, she learned how to play their games and shared in "their misfortunes and minor victories" (Ch. 2). The fact that she is so excited to start school and so interested in school that she used to spy on the schoolchildren shows us she is eager to learn anything that is available to her, even schoolyard games if that's all the knowledge she has access to. Since the desire to learn and curiosity go hand in hand, Scout's passion for learning also indicates she is a curious person.

Her curiosity is further revealed in Chapter 4 as she complains about how disappointing her first school year was. Her school's teaching methods are so structured and formalized that she is not being encouraged to learn anything above her first-grade level even though her knowledge already far surpasses first-grade level. As a result, she lived out her first-grade year in a constant state of boredom and sought as much knowledge as she could outside of school through reading. Scout reflects on her eagerness to acquire any knowledge she possibly can and on her disappointments in her school's teaching methods in the following:

As for me, I knew nothing except what I gathered from Time magazine and reading everything I could lay my hands on at home, but as I inched sluggishly along the treadmill of the Maycomb County school system, I could not help receiving the impression that I was being cheated out of something. (Ch. 4)

Her passion for reading shows us just how passionate she is about acquiring knowledge, which further shows us just how curious she is. Plus, her feeling that she is being cheated out of her education by her school further shows us just how much she wants to learn as a product of her curiosity.

Since page numbers will vary per version of the book, only estimated locations can be given. The above passages are found in the very beginnings of both chapters 2 and 4.

In chapters 11-23 of Frankenstein, what obstacles prohibit the monster from achieving happiness? Examine more than one obstacle.

The monster faces many obstacles because of his appearance. After he leaves Victor's apartment and has to fend for himself, the monster at first does not know how he appears to others. He tries to save a drowning child, but the child's parent interferes and abuses the monster. The child is also terrified of him. People's reactions to him are all negative, based on his fear-inducing appearance. The monster can, of course, blame Victor for this. 

The other major obstacle for the monster is that his creator abandoned him and will not assist him in any way as he attempts to develop (as a child would develop into an adult). At first, the monster thinks that if he can learn about his creator and try to appeal to him for help, the creator will listen. However, he later finds Victor's journal among other texts (like Paradise Lost) and learns how Victor feels about him. The creature is resentful and takes revenge on Victor by killing his younger brother and framing the Frankenstein family's loyal servant Justine. From Paradise Lost, the creature also sees an example of a positive relationship between creator and creature (God and Adam) and this leads him to question why he cannot have the same kind of interaction with Victor.

Within this larger obstacle of Victor's reaction to him, the monster must learn to communicate with his creator. With no formal education or care from a parent, the creature must find his own way to gain the knowledge he requires. He does this by studying the De Lacey family to learn language and eventually is able to read Paradise Lost and the other texts. In giving his own account of his life so far to Victor, the creature is very articulate and is able to gain the reader's sympathy. However, Victor is still disgusted by the creature and his requests (namely for Victor to make a female companion for the creature). When Victor fails to follow through on the request for a female mate, the monster kills Elizabeth and the dysfunctional relationship between creator and creature continues through the end of the novel.

What are two settings in the play Romeo and Juliet?

One critical setting of the play is the church. This setting is especially important because it is the neutral ground where Romeo and Juliet can meet. Not only is the church a neutral turf for both Montagues and Capulets, but it also is where the masculine and feminine worlds overlap. Consider: Romeo is always shown out on the streets of Verona. In the play (and in life, at certain times in history), the public world was a world mostly of men. They could go out to conduct business, get a drink, etc, while women were expected to be at home. Of course, that is where we see Juliet for most of the play, either in her family's house or her bedroom or her balcony. The only time we see her out in public is at church. 

Aside from being a setting where different worlds can overlap, the church is ironically a setting for some questionable decisions. Friar Lawrence chooses to marry Romeo and Juliet there, despite knowing the families would object. Here is also where he gives Juliet the advice and medicine to make her appear dead. Some of the critical choices that lead to the tragedy take place in this important setting.

A second important setting for the play is the Capulet's tomb. Like the church, there is some irony here. While the tomb is initially a horrifying setting of violence and death (consider the fight between Romeo and Paris and Romeo and Juliet finding each other's corpses) and a spooky place (think of Friar Laurence getting scared off when Juliet doesn't follow him out). However, it also becomes a place of forgiveness and reconciliation, as the two families vow to bury their feud with their children. 

Why is it that an appropriate quotation is an old device that works well to begin a paragraph?

Actually, I disagree with this statement and advise my students to never begin a paragraph with a quotation. In my opinion, when a paragraph begins with a quotation, the reader has no context in which to put the quotation and not a clue as to why it is there. A quotation should only be offered in support of one's own ideas, not as a substitute for one's ideas, and leading off with a quote, in an introduction, conclusion, or body paragraph is telling the reader you are not expressing an idea for yourself. A quotation is best used as the middle of a sandwich. Offer your idea. Then offer a quote to support that idea. Then make a connection for the reader between your idea and the quotation.

I have some trouble understanding animism religion. Could you help me?

Animism is the word used to refer to a collection of beliefs and organizing worldviews in which the natural (material) world is animated by spirit. Animism can be contrasted to dualism, a set of beliefs and worldviews in which human beings are endowed with a spirit/soul, and other members of the natural world (such as plants, rocks and animals) lack a spirit/soul. Animism is generally associated with traditional worldviews, and is common among nomadic and pastoral cultures; whereas spiritual dualism is generally associated with post-agricultural, industrial cultures. However, it is important to recognize that these generalizations are not universally true; rather, they represent a culturally-specific academic way of organizing and labeling peoples and communities. Certainly, animistic features can be found among industrial communities' worldviews, and more dualistic notions can be found within the worldviews of aboriginal peoples. 

How did Sergeant Troy meet his end in Far from the Madding Crowd?

Sergeant Frank Troy frequently displays poor behavior that is partially responsible for his death. He is also a pivotal character because his relationship with Bathsheba Everdene is essential for determining not only his fate, but also the fate of Bathsheba's other two suitors: Gabriel Oak and Mr. Boldwood. Thus, a consideration of Troy's literal end should also examine his self-destructive behavior and how it affects the overall story. 

Troy's romance and marriage to Bathsheba seem to occur quickly, which foreshadows how swiftly the marriage will dissolve. Troy's behavior is ill-suited to a life of farming: his drinking, gambling, and general laziness hasten the end of the romance and happiness of the marriage. In addition to these circumstances, Troy's unhappiness is exacerbated by the death of his wife's former servant girl, who he secretly loves.

At the beginning of chapter 47, "Adventures by the Shore," Troy is described as despondent. "The ... humdrum tediousness of a farmer's life, gloomy images of her who lay in the churchyard, remorse, and a general averseness to his wife's society, impelled him to seek a home in any place on Earth save Weatherbury." These conditions may seem to suggest that Troy is suicidal; however, his search for a "home in any place on Earth" suggests that he wants to end his married status--not his life. Unfortunately, he decides to go swimming and is trapped in a current that "was awkward for a swimmer who might be taken in it unawares. Troy found himself carried to the left and then round in a swoop out to sea." Shortly thereafter, Troy recalls that many people have drowned in that area and he "began to deem it possible that he might be added to their number." This is yet another example of Troy's poor decision making. At the end of the chapter, the reader is told that Troy is rescued, but abandonment of his clothes on the shore creates an assumption that he drowns. 

Troy's presumed death allows for Farmer Boldwood to court Bathsheba again. However, in chapter 53, Troy returns during Boldwood's Christmas party to reassert his marriage, getting physical with his wife: "...he seized her arm and pulled it sharply. Whether his grasp pinched her, or whether his mere touch was the cause, was never known, but at the moment of his seizure she writhed, and gave a quick, low scream." This behavior (and likely the depression caused by again losing Bathsheba) causes Boldwood to react by shooting Troy, which causes Troy's death. 

It can be argued that even though Troy is murdered by Boldwood, his somewhat self-destructive and irresponsible behavior are at least partially responsible for his actual death. Furthermore, Troy's death effectively ends the story of Bathsheba's romances. Boldwood is imprisoned for Troy's death, which gives Gabriel Oak--arguably the hero of the story--the opportunity to marry Bathsheba. The novel concludes with them married, and the reader is given the impression that this marriage will last since Oak is far more responsible and caring than Troy. Thus, the end of Troy's life allows for the creation of a new marriage and the beginning of a new life for the two primary characters. 

What are the advantages of communication with a computer?

The advantages of communicating by computer are speed, the ability to communicate across great distances, the ability to communicate to an unlimited number of people, low cost, and the ease of creating the documents and other material to communicate. 

We use computers to communicate in a variety of ways, for example, messaging, email, and uploading and downloading documents and other materials. We also post communications on social media and other websites.  We can accomplish this virtually instantaneously, as contrasted with other means of communication, for example, the post office or private carriers. 

As long as sender and receiver have computers, there is no distance that is too far for us to communicate with computers.  I can message with someone in China, send an email to the Philippines, or send a photograph to someone in France.  There are no geographical limitations with this form of communication.

I can communicate to millions of people, if I so choose.  All I need to do is type up what I have to communicate and send it to as many people as I like or post on a website that millions of people view.  There are no limits on the size of the audience I want to communicate with.

Once I have a computer, the cost of transmitting any communication with that computer is really de minimus. I have an electric bill, of course, but the cost of any one communication is probably a fraction of a cent.  Contrast this with sending a document across town using a postal service.  The cost of a stamp far exceeds my cost in using the computer. 

Today, as we type up the documents or messages we wish to send, we create pdfs,  or we upload photos, it is a far cry from the days of the typewriter. A document need not be painstakingly corrected with whiteout or erasing. It can be corrected on the screen, quickly and painlessly. The keyboard is about as easy as it gets. Most people I know can type over 100 words per minute today, probably unheard of with a typewriter. We can scan any material easily and upload it to whomever we please.  And most people take photographs with their phones or digital cameras, so these are communicated effortlessly, too. 

The changes in communication that the computer has wrought are amazing. It is now simple, fast, and inexpensive to communicate anywhere, with anyone. 

What was the main lesson that Scrooge learned in A Christmas Carol?

There are a number of lessons that Ebenezer Scrooge learns in this classic story by Charles Dickens. Perhaps the most important and most far-reaching one is that it is never too late to find happiness. Scrooge is shown, via the ghosts who visit him, that throughout his entire life he has chosen his own misery, and has often caused others to be miserable. He feels guilt at being shown his own cruelty and dispassion. He learns from the visions shown to him that he can choose his own happiness. He sees that Bob Cratchit does his best to be happy with his family, despite being overworked and having very little money. This act of will from a man with limited means shows Scrooge that happiness is a matter or perspective, and that every action may be inspired by the desire to do good. Everything changes when he is given this last chance to shift his own perspective; he becomes generous, compassionate, energetic, and sees the world with fresh eyes.

How is Mr. Underwood's editorial in the Maycomb Tribune similar to Atticus' advice to Jem and Scout when they got their guns in To Kill a...

Mr. Underwood's editorial in the Macon Tribune after the shooting of Tom Robinson is comparable to Atticus's advice to Jem and Scout when they receive their air-rifles because both bring up the mockingbird motif.

In Chapter 9, after their father Scout describes her father's attributes; she explains that he gave up hunting because he felt that he had an unfair advantage over animals because of his keen eyesight. He cautions his children after having given them air rifles, saying that he prefers that they not shoot mockingbirds because, unlike bluejays, they do not tamper with gardens, nest in corncribs, eat the eggs of other birds, or bother anything. 
When Mr. Underwood rails in his editorial against the bias of the community that has been directed gratuitously directed at the innocent Tom Robinson, he writes that

...it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds [mockingbirds and such] by hunters and children....

Mr. Underwood, like Atticus, realizes that the white community has had an unfair advantage over the innocent "Negro," Tom Robinson, just as humans with guns have an unfair advantage over mockingbirds. In each case the cruelty is gratuitous.

What is a fiction technique used in "A Noiseless Flash" by John Hersey, and what are its effects?

"A Noiseless Flash" is the first chapter in John Hersey's Hiroshima, a narrative re-telling of the atomic bomb blast on Hiroshima in August of 1945. It was first published in The New Yorker magazine. 

Hersey tells the story of the destructiveness of the blast in a narrative way, starting on the calm morning before the blast. He provides detailed descriptions of each of the six characters he will follow throughout the book as they deal with the bomb's detonation and its aftermath. The characters are two doctors, a Catholic priest, a seamstress, a reverend, and a factory worker. He describes the morning activities of these characters in the type of detail a novelist might use, as the mundane and humdrum nature of their morning is forever disturbed by the bomb. As Hersey writes about the experience of the reverend:

"There was no sound of planes. The morning was still; the place was cool and pleasant. Then a tremendous flash of light cut across the sky. Mr. Tanimoto has a distinct recollection that it travelled from east to west, from the city toward the hills. It seemed a sheet of sun."

The fictional techniques that Hersey uses are setting up the paradox of the calmness of the blast. There is no loud noise; instead, the flash of the bomb is quiet and still, and there are no planes. The paradox is that the bomb is very destructive but destroys in an almost peaceful-seeming way. Another fictional device he uses is the presentation of many characters, as he alternates between their stories. The effect of using these fictional techniques is to heighten the already tense drama of the story and to express its human impact. 

When high energy electrons crash into a sample of solid element A, the x-rays emitted are of a higher frequency than those emitted from a sample of...

The mystery element from category "A" would be copper (Cu), while the mystery element from category "B" could be either chromium (Cr) or titanium (Ti).  Henry Mosely discovered the mathematical relationship between an element's atomic number and the frequency of x-rays the element gives off when bombarded with high energy electrons.  He found he could plot a straight-line graph between the number of protons in an atom's nucleus and the square root of the frequency of the x-rays given off.

Since the element in group "A" gave off a higher frequency, it would have to be copper, which has the highest atomic number of the group at 29.  The two members of group "B" with atomic numbers lower than that would be nickel (28) and iron (26).  Both those would give off a lower frequency of x-rays than copper when bombarded by high energy electrons.  This combination would represent Mosely's findings accurately.

On page two, the narrator describes how Abner Snopes (the father) whips mules "with the peeled willow, but without heat, it was of even sadistic;...

In William Faulkner's story "Barn Burning," Abner has anger issues. He sets barns on fire in a retaliatory way to take out his anger and frustration on people who have more power than he has. The notion of power, or lack of power, is really what drives this character. Abner must assert himself through violence--either whipping a mule or setting fires or hitting his son--to make himself feel in control. Thus, when he whips the mule without heat and in a pre-emptive manner, he shows his desire to assert control.

Likewise, descendants of his will over-run the motor in a pre-emptive attempt at control or power. Faulkner's commentary, then, on the effect one person has on the next, or ancestral impact, is that the sins of the father are the sins of the son. The way one person behaves (or misbehaves) is picked up and mimicked the by next generation. In this story, Sarty could potentially follow in his father's footsteps and become a violent, impotent man who sets fires, yet he chooses otherwise at the end of the story. Therefore, Sarty will not take the sins of his father on--he is free and will be a different person.

How does the poem "The Raven" demonstrate the theme of mystery?

First, who is "rapping" at the narrator's door (21)?  Is it Lenore's ghost?  If so, why has she returned?  If not, who then?  If it were the raven, then he, presumably, would have entered when the narrator opened the door, just as he did when the narrator opened the window.  Did the narrator imagine it?  Is he reliable?  

Then, what's up with this raven?  Why does he rap at the narrator's window?  Why does he conduct himself with "mien of lord or lady" (40)?  Why does he keep saying "'Nevermore'" (48)?  Is it the only word he knows and so he keeps repeating (as the narrator supposes at first) or is it meaningful in a new way each time he says it?  Is he a "'Prophet,'" as the narrator suggests (85)?  If so, is he good or bad -- from God or the Devil?  

We, ultimately, do not find out the answers to any of these mysteries, and we can only use the text to speculate.  The ambiguous interpretations of these mysteries, perhaps, is one of the reasons this poem is so disturbing and fascinating at the same time.

How does the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird play a character in the story?

The setting of a story can become a “symbolic” character when the time and place of the setting influences events in the book as well as actions and beliefs of characters. It is as if the setting is a force of its own, and because of that, the setting will “interact” with and guide not only the characters and plot in the novel but also the readers.  

In the case of To Kill a Mockingbird, the setting is very important to understanding the events and characters.  Because it is set in the South in the 1930’s, we understand how the historical legacy of racism during this time period affected the town’s citizens.  The South was still deeply rooted in racist ideas, and Maycomb preserved the Jim Crow laws* seen throughout the novel.  In addition, because the book took place during the Great Depression, the economy affected the lives of various characters as well. 

We see the racist values of the South played out through the lynch mob and Bob Ewell’s charges against Tom Robinson.  Mrs. Dubose, a symbol of the old South, infuriated Jem when she harassed Jem about Atticus defending Tom.  The entire town was awash with the values and beliefs of a racist society. 

The fact that it took place during the Depression was another way the setting affected the events and people of Maycomb.  At the beginning of the novel, Scout described Maycomb as a “dusty old town” where there was “nothing to buy and no money to buy it with.”  We witnessed the deep and depressing poverty of the time and how it affected Walter Cunningham by not having a lunch at school and how the horrible living conditions aided in Mayella Ewell's actions. 

Most pieces of literature are dependent on the historical period in which they take place to get across major themes and ideas.  To Kill a Mockingbird is one such artifact, and it shows how the setting can also play a role as a character that directs and manipulates the events and fate of characters.

*Jim Crow laws are socially imposed laws that discriminate and oppress blacks during this time.  An example of a Jim Crow law in the book is that it was not proper for Tom Robinson to help Mayella Ewell by going in her house.  It would mean lynching to kiss her, and when he said he felt sorry for Mayella at the trial, he broke a code of conduct meant to keep blacks “in their place.”

How does Harper Lee portray courage in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird?

There are several scenes which depict characters acting courageously throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee uses these characters to portray and define courage.

Atticus Finch, the novel's morally upright character, displays courage by defending Tom Robinson in front of a prejudiced community and jury. Atticus realizes that the challenge he faces is nearly impossible and does not expect to win the case. Despite the threats and insults from the community, Atticus displays courage by representing Tom Robinson and trying his best to have him acquitted. Before the trial, Atticus' daughter asks why he is defending Tom when he knows that he will not win. Atticus says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win" (Lee 101). This comment displays Atticus' determination and courage entering the trial.

Another scene where Atticus displays courage takes place in Chapter 15 when he chooses to sit in front of Tom Robinson's jail cell. When the Old Sarum bunch arrives to lynch Tom Robinson, Atticus refuses to leave. Atticus put himself in a dangerous position in order to protect Tom, which was a very courageous thing to do.

Harper Lee uses other characters such as Little Chuck Little and Mrs. Dubose to portray courage. In Chapter 3, Little Chuck Little stands up for Miss Caroline when Burris Ewell disrupts the class. Despite his small stature, Chuck puts his hand in his pocket and threatens Burris. Burris leaves the room, but not before yelling insults directed at Miss Caroline.

In Chapter 11, Harper Lee uses the character of Mrs. Dubose to portray courage. Mrs. Dubose suffers from a chronic disease, and she uses morphine to alleviate her pain. Mrs. Dubose wishes to break her addiction before she dies. With the help of Jem's reading to distract her mind from the pain, Mrs. Dubose successfully breaks her addiction before she passes away. Atticus explains to his children that Mrs. Dubose is the most courageous person he's ever met for battling her addiction at the end of her life. He says,

"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" (Lee 149).

Non Aligned Movement: From Cold War to Nation Building. What does this mean?

The post-World War II international structure was characterized principally by the bipolar confrontation between the liberal democracies of the West led by the United States and the communist, totalitarian regimes of the East, led by the other global superpower, the Soviet Union. Both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. (for Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) emerged from the ashes of the war the most militarily-powerful countries on Earth, supplanting once and for all former colonial powers like Great Britain and France. The Cold War, as it became known, was centered on Europe, with the eastern half dominated by the Soviet Union and the western half by the United States. The former formalized its bloc with the establishment of the Warsaw Pact, the latter with the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. The modern, industrialized world, then, was divided between two competing blocs, with much of the rest of the world drawn into the Cold War through association with one of those two blocs. By the mid-1950s, however, an increasing number of countries among what was called "the Third World" sought a different direction. These countries, many of which were in Asia, established what became known as "the non-aligned movement." 

The non-aligned movement had its origins in a conference of leaders of Asian countries in the Indonesian city of Bandung in 1955. The basis of this new, and growing "movement" was a rejection of categorization as either pro-U.S. or pro-U.S.S.R. It was led by the larger of these Third World countries, including those that had undergone the traumatic experience of decolonization, mainly India. Another leader, however, was the government of Yugoslavia, which was led by a charismatic strong-man named Josip Broz Tito, a communist who had succeeded in breaking away from the Soviet orbit and establishing itself as a communist nation independent from the Warsaw Pact--a stature anathema to the highly-paranoid and extraordinarily deadly Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

The non-aligned movement eventually grew into a large conglomeration of nations from all over the world, including Latin America, South Asia, and Africa. Brazil, for instance, has emerged as a leader of this movement. In the post-Cold War world, however, the movement has ceased to be identified with a rejection of the bipolar structure characteristic of that era, and is now more concerned with opposing European and American economic domination of the international financial structure, a structure characterized by such organizations as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Less-developed countries tend to intensely dislike the terms and conditions these organization impose in exchange for financial assistance from their principal backers, namely, the United States and the European Union. To date, however, progress towards a new global financial structure has been stymied by the recession that swept much of the world over the past decade. China, for instance, had hoped to replace the United States and Europe as the primary source of economic assistance, and it has succeeded in expanding its influence throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America, but it too is experiencing serious economic difficulties, thereby weakening the non-aligned movement's efforts at breaking out of the Western-dominated structures established after World War II.

In Animal Farm, how do the animals identify an enemy?

Anything that goes on two legs is an enemy.

When the animals expel the humans from Animal Farm, they follow Old Major’s advice about who their friends and who their enemies are. Old Major was very specific. He gave the animals a long litany of abuses perpetrated by humans and then proclaimed that humans were the enemy.

Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. There, comrades, is the answer to all our problems. It is summed up in a single word−Man. Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever. (Ch. 1)

Since some of the animals are not that bright, Old Major seeks to solidify and simplify his pronouncement into one simple slogan that all animals can follow.

I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. (Ch. 1)

The animals make this statement into their second commandment: Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. Snowball then further reduces the idea into “the essential principle of animalism,” which is "Four legs good, two legs bad." Old Major says that the animals should never trade with people or imitate them.

The pigs do not go long before they break this rule. They slowly add more and more trappings of humanity. Before long, the pigs are wearing clothes, sleeping in beds, and walking on two legs. They finally replace all of the tenets of Animalism with one: “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS” (Ch. 9). This means that the pigs are superior to the other animals, and Old Major’s dream of equality is dead.

The voice from the police-car notes: "No profession" in response to the Mead's statement that he is a writer. What does this particular comment...

Because the society in “The Pedestrian” is so obsessed and enthralled with television and the 100’s of channels that are beamed to them each day, there is no need for things like books and magazines for enjoyment.  Everything is given to the society’s citizens through television, and they sit around in their “tomb-like” dark houses just mere shadows of themselves.   Therefore, Mr. Mead is out of a job and doesn’t have a viable profession in this technologically advanced culture.  This is probably why Mr. Mead takes his nightly walks—he needs something to do.  Leonard Mead is a symbol of the past when people enjoyed reading and getting out in nature.  Bradbury has effectively shown how technology has taken over our lives and has caused the decline in learning and knowledge through Meade’s outdated profession of writing for a living.

In "The Minister's Black Veil", who is the nurse at Hoopers deathbed?

The nurse at Hooper's deathbed is Elizabeth, his former fiancee. 

Not much mention of Elizabeth is made at this point in the story, other than to name her as the nurse. This may be because it is more important for Hooper's personal story arc for her to simply be present, rather than to really do much of anything. 

Hooper's choice to wear the mysterious veil, obscuring his face, comes as much of a surprise to Elizabeth as it does to everyone else. Like others, she asks Hooper to remove it for her, appealing to their personal relationship. This was probably meant to fully round out the depiction of Hooper's resolution, showing that no common or earthly temptation was enough to change his mind. However, Elizabeth comes to fear the veil as others do, and breaks off the engagement when she sees that the veil will always separate her from Hooper. Hooper finds it sad that a piece of cloth should have this effect.

Elizabeth's presence at his bedside as he dies, with her affection for him having "endured in secret" tells us that she never stopped caring for Hooper, and while the veil had a powerful effect on his life, some people still saw him for who he was and were not completely superficial about it. It also signifies that the veil had a permanent isolating effect, preventing Hooper from having things that would have been available to him whenever he wanted, had he taken off the veil.

In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, what do the neighborhood children call Ali? What does it mean, and why do they call him this?

In The Kite Runner (Hosseini), we learn fairly early in the book of the divide between Pashtun Sunnis and Hazara Shi'a in Afghanistan: the former is the ruling class and the latter is a far lower class.  Ali and Hassan are Hazara Shi'a and the servants of Baba and Amir, who are Pashtun Sunnis.  The neighborhood children, led by Assef, who is the bully of the neighborhood, call Ali "Babalu" (38). This means "Boogeyman."  Just in case that is a word you are not familiar with, a boogeyman is an imaginary monster, the sort of monster you picture waiting for you under your bed or in your closet when you are a small child.  Assef taunts Ali relentlessly.  He says "Hey, Babalu, who did you eat today?" (39) and calls him a "flat-nosed Babalu" (38) and a "slant-eyed donkey" (38). Ali had had polio as a child, so he dragged his affected leg, and the references to his nose and eyes are no doubt because the Hazara are more Asiatic in appearance than the Pashtun, with different ethnic origins.   

`u = 20i + 25j` Use the dot product to find the magnitude of u.

The magnitude of a vector `u` is the square root of its dot product by itself, because

`u*u=||u||*||u||*cos(theta),`

and `theta=0,` `cos(theta)=1.`

I suppose that `i` and `j` are orthonormal. Therefore

`||u||=sqrt(u*u)=sqrt((20i+25j)*(20i+25j))=`

`=sqrt(20*20+25*25)=5sqrt(4*4+5*5)=5sqrt(41) approx 32.`

This is the answer.

What are at least 5 complaints the colonists had towards the King of Great Britain during the time of the 1760s and the 1770s?

The colonists had many complaints against the King of Great Britain in the 1760s and 1770s.  They were upset that they couldn’t move west of the Appalachian Mountains as a result of the Proclamation of 1763. They felt their freedom of movement was being restricted. The colonists were upset that the King wanted the colonists to pay for some of the cost of running the colonies. They felt the King and Parliament authorized taxes illegally since the colonists had no representatives in government to vote for the taxes.

They were concerned about the number of British officials who came to the colonies to enforce the laws that were passed. These officials acted rudely toward the colonists. They were concerned that the King tried to help a British company by creating a monopoly on the trade of tea when the Tea Act was passed in 1770. They were also concerned that British officials accused of crimes in the colonies could have their trials in Britain. They also didn’t like the presence of troops in the colonies when there was no war. The colonists had many concerns about the King that were outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

What is the intended audience, in terms of age, for the book Which Witch by Eva Ibbotson?

Which Witch, written by Eva Ibbotson, is a fiction novel for children. The listing and reviews found on Amazon recommend this book for readers of at least nine years of age. It is also recommended for students in grades five through nine. Depending on the reading level and social maturity of the reader, this book may be appropriate for someone younger or older than the intended age group. 

The book is about a famous wizard who wishes to marry the most evil witch in all the lands. There isn't any explicit content, but some of the details (rats, snakes, and a necklace of human teeth) might be disturbing for younger readers. Your initial question was whether this book would be appropriate for sixth graders, and I think so! Especially around Halloween time. Despite the creepy content, the story is quite whimsical, even comical.

What are 3 adjectives that describe Cassius as he is portrayed in Act I?

Cassius is a complicated character, beginning the play as a fairly unsavory character, and then proving to be more human, if you will, as the story goes on. In Act I, though, we don't have a lot of his good qualities apparent just yet. He seems to be self-serving and very determined to plot against Caesar.

Scheming: Cassius spends a lot of time in Act I trying to persuade Brutus to participate and to see Caesar as the potential tyrant that he is painting him to be.

Ambitious: In Act I, Scene II Cassius invites Brutus to dinner at his house and during their conversation it is pretty obvious that he is only concerned with his own welfare. 

"Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see Thy honorable mettle may be wrought From that it is disposed. Therefore it is meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm that cannot be seduced? Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus. If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius, He should not humor me" (Act I Scene II).

Insightful: He appears to understand men fairly well and what they want or need. He also understands their character. In Act I, Scene II we see this as he talks to Brutus and tells him what he believes his character to be: "I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus."

What does "shank's mare" mean in The Shakespeare Stealer?

In The Shakespeare Stealer, the term “shank’s mare” is used only once, on p. 20.  At that point, the meaning of the phrase is given clearly.  Widge, the narrator, says that “shank’s mare” meant “of course, my feet.”  The phrase “shank’s mare” was used in English from a relatively long time ago to mean one’s own legs.  To travel by shank’s mare was to walk.

In Shakespeare’s time, the word “shank” was used to refer to a person’s lower legs.  The part of the leg between your knee and your ankle was called your shank.  A mare, of course, is an adult female horse.  The phrase “shank’s mare,” then, was supposed to be a humorous one.  It was saying that your legs were your horse, which means, of course, that you had no horse at all and had to walk on your own.

While The Shakespeare Stealer is set in Shakespeare’s time, Shakespeare himself never used the phrase “shank’s mare” in any of his writings.  It apparently was not used enough to show up in writing until much later.  However it sounds archaic and very English to modern Americans and therefore gets used in books set long ago in England.

In "The Bet," does the lawyer's opinion on life being better than no life change?

This is a great question. I'd like to say that, no, his opinion doesn't change. That would have made a better end to the story, I think. But the story ends with the lawyer writing a long note about his time in prison and why he is forfeiting the bet five hours early. Early in the note, the lawyer writes this line:

With a clear conscience I tell you, as before God, who beholds me, that I despise freedom and life and health, and all that in your books is called the good things of the world.

The lawyer writes that he despises life. To me, that seems like a complete turnaround from his earlier statement at the beginning of the story. That was when he argued that any life was better than no life at all.  

Of course it is odd that the lawyer walked away from the bet to presumably keep on living. I'd be curious to see what his reaction would have been if someone offered to kill him. Or I'd be very curious to ask him if he would rather have been killed fifteen years earlier. From his letter, it almost sounds like he wishes for death, but he would not have that attitude if he wasn't allowed to live, read, and research for all of those years.

`u = 3i + 4j, v = -2j` Find the angle theta between the vectors.

You need to use the formula of dot product to find the angle between two vectors, `u = u_x*i + u_y*j, v = v_x*i + v_y*j` , such that:

`u*v = |u|*|v|*cos(theta)`

The angle between the vectors u and v is theta.

`cos theta = (u*v)/(|u|*|v|)`

First, you need to evaluate the product of the vectors u and v, such that:

`u*v = u_x*v_x + u_y*v_y`

`u*v = 3*0 + 4*(-2)`

`u*v = -8`

You need to evaluate the magnitudes |u| and |v|, such that:

`|u|= sqrt(u_x^2 + u_y^2) => |u|= sqrt(3^2 + 4^2) =>|u|= 5 `

`|v|= sqrt(v_x^2 + v_y^2) => |v|= sqrt(0^2 + (-2)^2) => |v|= 2`

`cos theta = (-8)/(2*5) => cos theta = (-4)/(5)`

Hence, the cosine of the angle between the vectors u and v is `cos theta = -4/5` , so, `theta ~~ 143^o.`

For my homework I am meant to pretend that I am creating a modern day production of Julius Caesar. I have to decide what modern actors could play...

What a cool and interesting assignment! Looking at Tom Hardy's IMDB page, one thing that stood out to me is that he played Robert Dudley in the BBC's The Virgin Queen. If you aren't an English history buff, you might not know that Robert Dudley was Queen Elizabeth I's (yes, that Queen Elizabeth) close friend and adviser and is rumored to have been her lover as well. This would make him a good character to compare to Mark Antony, as both men were unfailingly loyal and loving to their ruler (or "ruler," in Caesar's case). 

Additionally, both Antony and Robert Dudley have a decent amount of power as a favorite of Caesar and Queen Elizabeth, respectively. A Spanish ambassador (Count de Feria) noted that Robert Dudley was one of three people who really ran England. Likewise, Antony is jettisoned into power based on the way he positions himself (Caesar's loyal friend) against the conspirators (evil, ambitious men).  

Hope this helps!

In Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond, what happened if someone did not adhere to religious laws?

In Puritan Connecticut, religion and laws were closely intertwined.  Most laws in Puritan societies were based on Biblical principals.  Punishment for law breaking was often severe.  In the town of Wethersfield, there was "a pillory, a whipping post, and stocks" (The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Chapter 5).  All of these were used for punishing those who broke laws.

Previously, two women from Wethersfield had been charged with witchcraft.  One woman had been banished from the colony, while another had been hung.  When Kit was accused of witchcraft, the constable suggested that her punishment might be branding or the cutting off of one of her ears.  When Nat and his friends from the Dolphin vandalized William Ashby's house, they were put into the stocks and banished from the town of Wethersfield.  Citizens of Puritan communities were expected to attend Meeting, behave appropriately, and follow all laws.  A good reputation was important in Puritan Connecticut.  

How do Mr. Shiftlet and Mrs. Crater attempt to exploit each other in "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" by Flannery O'Connor?

Mr. Shiftlet exploits Mrs. Crater's overwhelming need to provide herself with a caretaker for her property and a husband for her deaf and dumb daughter Lucynell. One of the first things Mr. Shiftlet notices on Mrs. Crater's property is the Ford automobile in the shed. His "sharp glance" seems to be drawn to the car in the opening section of the story. He even claims he can fix the car if Mrs. Crater will allow him to do so. Once the car is running, Mrs. Crater offers Mr. Shiftlet the automobile, her daughter, and the property upon her death, if Mr. Shiftlet will marry Lucynell. The two bargain over Lucynell like she is a piece of property. Ultimately, Mr. Shiftlet agrees to the marriage. Both seem to get what they want, but Mrs. Crater underestimates Mr. Shiftlet's need to wander. He simply uses Mrs. Crater and Lucynell to obtain a car, the means to continue his drifting.

What is an example of both end rhyme and internal rhyme in the poem?

Edgar Allan Poe uses both internal and external rhyming patterns in “The Raven.” In general, internal rhyme occurs when the middle word of a line rhymes with the ending word of the same line. Poe takes internal rhyme to another level by having it carry over two lines. He rhymes the middle word of the first line with the ending word, and the middle word in the next line.

Looking at line one of the poem, the reader sees an example of internal rhyme. The middle word dreary rhymes with the ending word weary.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Lines 3 and 4 in the first stanza demonstrate Poe’s extension of the internal rhyming device. This is still considered to be internal rhyme because the rhyming word is within the second line, not at the end.

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

The words napping and tapping rhyme in the first line, while rhyming with rapping, which is the middle word of the second line.

External rhyme occurs at the end of lines. The final sound of the last word of a line rhymes with the final word of another line. Again, look at the first stanza.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—         While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,    As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.       “’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—    Only this and nothing more.”

In lines 2, 3, 4, and 5, the rhyme occurs at the end of the lines with the words, lore, door, and more. This is an example of external rhyme. The rhyming pattern is labeled ABCBBB.

As you continue reading the poem, you will find other examples of both internal and external rhyming.

In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, what are the effects of isolation on Hester, Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and Pearl? Provide examples.

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter, many characters suffer from the effects of isolation: 

• Hester: Hester's isolation from society, which is both intrinsically and externally inflicted upon her, results in significant character growth. Hester becomes stronger mentally and emotionally, and in the end, becomes a pillar of moral character within the town. 


• Dimmesdale: Dimmesdale's isolation is entirely self-inflicted, the source of which is his fathomless guilt over fathering Pearl. The effects isolation have on him are mostly physical: draining him of health, energy, and leaving a "brand" on his chest that matches Hester's scarlet letter. 


• Chillingworth: Chillingworth's isolation is in part accidental; he is a newer member to the community in question. However, it is reinforced by his commitment to revenge, which leads him to interact with a limited number of people. As the result of his isolation, Chillingworth sheds his humanity and becomes incredibly evil. 


• Pearl: Pearl is shunned by her community, and as a result, she develops without many of the prejudices or beliefs of her peers. This is further isolating, as many townsfolk associate her independence and lack of reservation with the devil. 

Analyze the relationship between Abigail and John Proctor in The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

When Abigail and John Proctor speak privately in Act One, she makes it pretty clear that they did have, at least, a physical relationship when she worked for him and his wife.  She reminds him of how he "clutched [her] back behind [his] house and sweated like a stallion whenever [she] came near."  In other words, they had a sexual affair.

However, her words also let us know that this affair has been over for some time.  Abigail insists that she's been "waitin' for [him] every night," and he promises that "[he'll] not be comin' for [her] more."  We learned earlier from Reverend Parris, her uncle, that the Proctors dismissed her seven months ago.  More interestingly, though, is that Proctor seems to still have feelings for Abigail.  She claims that he loved her when Elizabeth dismissed her from their employ, and that "[he] do[es] now."  He admits that "[he] may think of [her] softly from time to time" and that he "may have looked up" at her window once or twice.  This makes it seem as though it was not just a sexual relationship that they had but an emotionally intimate one as well.