What is the tone in the second paragraph of Chapter 1: Economy in Walden? How does Thoreau create the tone?

Thoreau's tone in this paragraph is that of a humble person explaining to his critics why he has written a book in which he spends so much time talking about himself. He creates this tone by speaking to the reader as simply, directly and transparently as possible: "I would not talk so much about myself if there any body else whom I knew as well," he writes. He underscores his humility and simplicity when says the book is "perhaps ... particularly addressed to poor students." He goes to pains to stress that he is not writing out of egoism. Instead, he says, his neighbors and townspeople have asked him many detailed questions about his life at Walden Pond. He is simply responding to them, not trying to call attention to himself. He ends the paragraph by hoping the book may "do good service to him who it fits." In other words, Thoreau is careful not to make a grandiose claim that his book is for everyone. His words are meant to show he is a modest man. 

In The Swiss Family Robinson, what was the father's purpose in teaching his sons through object lessons, devotions, physical exercise, and books of...

The father in The Swiss Family Robinson spends a lot of time instructing and training his sons.  It is clear that he was in the habit of doing so well before the family was shipwrecked.

From the content of what he says and from comments in the narrative, we can find three purposes for this training:

1. The good of the family


2. The good of the boys themselves


3. The glory of God

First, the good of the family. The narrative shows many times how the father's practice of training his boys in various skills and attitudes can benefit or even save the whole family in a survival situation.  In chapter eleven, after the father and the eldest son Fritz return from an expedition, the mother relates how she felt safe even in their absence:

"I could not help feeling thankful that you had so early taught the boys to use firearms properly, as the defense of my youngest boy [6 years old] and myself now depended on the two boys of ten and twelve years of age."

The father's molding of his sons' characters can also prevent tragic conflict from breaking out within the family itself.  In chapter four, he warns Fritz against "uncontrolled anger," adding, "Remember Cain, who killed his brother in a fit of passion." Considering that the Robinsons are the only six people on the island, with no society to restrain them, it is easy to see how this could become a real danger unless the Robinson boys are trained in virtue.  

Second, the good of the boys themselves.  As a good father, Mr. Robinson is concerned that his boys become capable, responsible adults.  He wants to mold their character not just for his own benefit, but so that they grow up to be men of honor. He is a sharp observer of their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, as we see in chapter three when he gives a very brief sketch of each boy's character. For example: "Ernest, twelve years of age, well-informed and rational, but somewhat selfish and indolent."  Throughout the book, we find many instances of the father giving his sons little assignments to work out on their own, because he wants them to learn this or that skill and become independent. 

Finally, the glory of God.  Mr. Robinson is very concerned that the family honor and obey God.  He sees it as part of his duty to teach his children God's law and actually train them to obey it.  This is obvious from a sermon the father gives in chapter sixteen, wherein a "king" (in context, obviously God) says to his followers,

"I wish you all to acquire the knowledge of my laws, and that every father should keep a copy to read daily to his children, that they [my laws] may never be forgotten. ... He who obeys my commands in Earthly Abode shall receive a rich reward in Heavenly City ..."

The mention of reward makes it obvious that the father does not wish to glorify God at the expense of his boys.  Rather, if the Robinson boys learn to honor and obey God, it will also do them good.  They will be virtuous in this life, and one day they will reach heaven.  However, the father also wants to glorify God for God's own sake, because God is good and has saved and provided for the family many times.  As he says in the last chapter, "Our hearts overflowed with love and veneration for that Almighty hand which so miraculously saved, and continued to protect us."

In Tangerine, where does Gino go to school?

Gino Deluca, an excellent soccer player and the captain of the team, goes to Lake Windsor Middle School.

Paul describes Gino as strong, fast, and hungry to score goals, capable of leaping up like a samurai and dominating the field. Gino is also a little sarcastic, as we see when he first encounters Paul and asks him whether he's going to play soccer or model sportswear. In fact, Gino instantly slaps a nickname onto Paul--"Mars," for his alien-like appearance caused by his thick glasses--but it's clear that the nickname is spoken in a friendly way. Gino is clearly not just a good player but a good guy.

We see Gino again when he plays for Lake Windsor against Tangerine Middle School, when Paul has transferred to that school and has joined their soccer team. Even though the two teams engage in plenty of attempts at intimidating each other, Gino stays calm and respectful toward Paul and even chats with him in a friendly way after the game. 

It's safe to say that if Paul had stayed at Lake Windsor Middle School, he and Gino may have grown to be close friends.

In "Harrison Bergeron," what is the significance of the dance that Harrison performs with the ballerina? How does the style in which the story is...

Harrison Bergeron's dance with the ballerina is performed without their artificial "handicaps". Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s short story "Harrison Bergeron" is set in the year 2081, when everyone was "finally equal". What this means is that everyone is brought down to a level of general incompetence so that no one has to worry about anyone being better than they are at anything. If they are intelligent, they have earpieces that interrupt their thoughts with loud, random noise. If strong, they have heavy weights attached to their bodies. The beautiful must wear masks.  Harrison is the son of the two people watching television. He is fourteen years old, seven feet tall, and "a man that would have awed Thor, the god of thunder". When he manages to get in front of the TV cameras, he tears off all his handicaps and convinces one of the ballerinas to do the same. The amazing dance they then perform on live TV is a rejection of everything the government stands for, and "Handicapper General" Diana Moon Glampers soon appears to shoot and kill them both. The style of the story changes during the dance. Instead of short, clipped, banal sentences spoken by George and Hazel Bergeron, the words themselves change to reflect the amazing dance. For example, "They reeled, whirled, swiveled, flounced, capered, gamboled, and spun. They leaped like deer on the moon." After the two are shot to death, the words spoken by George and Hazel are again used, and those words are trite and very simple, even though they have just watched their son be shot to death on live TV. 

How does Boo Radley show sympathy for Jem when he knows he is hurt?

In Chapter 28, Boo Radley shows sympathy for Jem by carrying him home after the children are attacked. While Jem and Scout were walking home from the Maycomb auditorium, Bob Ewell attacked them. During the struggle, Bob Ewell broke Jem's arm. Boo Radley saved the children by pulling Bob off Scout and stabbing him. Boo carried Jem home after the incident. While Jem is laying unconscious on his bed, Boo Radley stands quietly in the corner of the room. Boo shows sympathy for Jem by waiting inside the room to make sure Jem is alright. Boo, being the shy recluse that he is, could have easily left the house, but chose to stay and watch after Jem. Before Boo leaves for home, he displays one more sign of sympathy towards Jem by approaching Jem's bed and "petting" his head. Petting Jem's head is a sign of affection and shows that Boo is sympathetic towards him.

What are some quotes from The Outsiders that depict what advice Ponyboy should follow?

In Chapter 6, Dally comes to visit Ponyboy and Johnny on Jay Mountain. He then takes the boys out to eat at Dairy Queen. While they are eating, Johnny says,

"I said we're goin' back and turn ourselves in" (74).

Ponyboy would be wise to follow Johnny's suggestion and turn himself in. Ponyboy would not be responsible for the death of Bob Sheldon, and his brothers could finally stop worrying about his safety.

After Ponyboy witnesses Johnny and Dally's deaths, he becomes extremely depressed. These traumatic experiences leave him feeling apathetic and hopeless. Ponyboy begins to struggle in school and is failing several classes. In Chapter 12, Darry has a conversation with Ponyboy about the way he is living. Darry says,

You're not going to drop out. Listen, with your brains and grades you could get a scholarship, and we could put you through college. But schoolwork's not the point. You're living in a vacuum, Pony, and you're going to have to cut it out. Johnny and Dallas were our buddies, too, but you don't just stop living because you lose someone (148).

Ponyboy would be wise to follow Darry's advice. At this point in the novel, Ponyboy is so traumatized that he cannot enjoy his life. Darry is encouraging Ponyboy to stop feeling sorry for himself and start living his life again. Eventually, Ponyboy reads Johnny's letter, which inspires him to write The Outsiders.

Identify your in-groups and your out-groups. How have your in-groups influenced the way you see the world? And what influence have your out-groups...

This is really not a question that we can answer for you.  It is very likely that I identify with different in groups than you do.  It is likely that out groups have impacted me in different ways than they have affected you.  In this answer, I will define in groups and out groups and suggest some ways in which you might think about how you want to answer this question.

An in group is a group with which you identify strongly.  Your membership in this group constitutes a strong part of your identity.  What groups do you belong do that really matter to you?  Does your race or national background matter a great deal to you?  What about your religion?  Do you play sports or play in the school band?  If so, do you really identify yourself with those things or are those just things you do for fun?  In answering this part of the question, you have to ask yourself what really matters to you.  If I asked you to define who you are, what group affiliations would you mention?

For the next part of the question, you have to ask how you would be different if you were a member of different in groups.  If you include your race as an in group, what is different about you because of your race?  If you were of a different race, why would you be a different person?  If you belonged to a different high school clique, would you see the world differently?  Imagine that you are a popular kid, a jock.  How would that change the way you look at the world compared to how you would look at it if you were a smart kid who isn’t particularly popular?

Finally, you need to look at out groups.  These are the people who are not “like you.”  Have they had an effect on you?  If you identify whites as an out group, how have they impacted your life?  If your sex is an important part of your identity, how has the opposite sex affected you?  If, for example, you are male and you see that as an important part of your identity, how have female teachers affected you?  How have girls in your school affected you?  Have they forced/influenced you to act in ways that you would not otherwise act?  Do you act different when you are around members of your in group?  Why and how?  These are issues that you can ask yourself about as a way to think about how members of other groups have affected you.

What figures of speech appear in "The Solitary Reaper?"

Some figures of speech in The Solitary Reaper include:

1)Assonance

This is when two or more words in proximity repeat vowel sounds. For example:

O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound

2)Hyperbole

This figure of speech involves exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis. For example,

A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

The poet says that the Highland girl's voice is so beautiful that it is enough to break the calm stillness of the seas, even as far as the Hebride islands (off the coast of Scotland). This exaggeration serves to prove the beauty of the girl's singing.

3)Metaphor

This involves a comparison between two contradictory elements. In the poem, Wordsworth compares the girl's singing to that of the nightingale and the cuckoo bird.

4)Apostrophe

This is when an author or poet addresses an imaginary character or a character who is not present in the story.

Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!

Here, Wordsworth is addressing the reader and drawing the reader's attention to the beauty of the Highland girl's singing.

5)Imagery

Imagery is figurative language used to appeal to our senses. For example,

No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:

Above, the poet describes the ministering nature of the girl's voice. Her singing is so beautiful that it can refresh the spirits of tired travelers in a desert setting.

Which did Thoreau think was most important: that government should increase the material equality between citizens or that government should...

From his essay, Civil Disobedience, it appears that Thoreau is most concerned with government preserving the liberty of its citizens rather than increasing material equality between its citizens.

Thoreau's thoughts about government are evidenced from the very first sentence of his treatise:

I HEARTILY ACCEPT the motto, — "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically.

He asserts that every man has a right to live according to the dictates of his conscience and that this right should not be abrogated (revoked) by government. Furthermore, he believes that no man should have to obey a government which resorts to unlawful actions such as the propagation of slavery or the invasion of another country (in this case, Mexico):

In other words, when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize.

Thoreau maintains that the state or government has no right to compel anyone to pay for the support of a third party. He cites the example of having been called upon to pay for the support of a clergyman despite not being a member of the clergyman's church. In this situation, Thoreau declined to pay. He also cites the fact that he has paid no poll tax for six years and was put into jail for this infraction once. Thoreau argues that every citizen who feels strongly about the injustices perpetrated by his government should oblige himself to rebel against it. In fact, he says that it becomes one's duty to rebel against such a government:

It is not armed with superior wit or honesty, but with superior physical strength. I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion.

When I meet a government which says to me, "Your money or your life," why should I be in haste to give it my money?

He laments that more people do not view matters in the same light and that they are not the least bit inclined to make a proper stand against an unjust government. They will risk neither their comfort nor their property. For his part, Thoreau asserts that:

In fact, I quietly declare war with the State, after my fashion, though I will still make what use and get what advantage of her I can, as is usual in such cases.

Thoreau's treatise ends with his stated desire to see the emergence of a government which respects the rights of the individual and renders the individual its true place above that of the state:

There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. I please myself with imagining a State at least which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor;...

What information should be collected and analyzed that would be most helpful in developing laws to protect and/or regulate the right to bear arms...

If I understand your question correctly, you are asking what data could be used to strengthen the Second Amendment and what data could be used to weaken it. Any laws, regulations, or ordinances would flow from one of those stances, assuming you would be arguing to Congress, to a state legislature, or a municipal governing body to enact any kind of legislation consistent with the amendment.  In the first instance, it would make sense to find data from nations that have weak or no gun control laws and yet have a very low rate of murder, suicide, and injury with guns. Similarly, if there are states or cities in the United States with weak gun control, and they have low rates of gun violence, death, and injury, this would bolster an argument that the Second Amendment should be read as broadly as possible to protect the rights of individuals. On the other hand, if you are seeking to make an argument that the Second Amendment should have limitations, i.e., you are arguing for stricter gun control, you are going to be looking for statistics from places that have strict gun control and have a lower incidence of death and injury from guns, which is going to make your case for you.  If you find places that have no gun control or weak gun control and very high rates of death and injury as the result of guns, that will make your case for you, too.  While I have by no means looked at statistics like this from everywhere in the country or everywhere in the world, I strongly doubt that you will find much in the way of support for the contention that society is safer and happier with no gun control or with very diluted gun control. 

What is "Encouragement" by Paul Laurence Dunbar about?

Paul Dunbar's "Encouragement" is about a male/female relationship. The speaker is a woman who loves a man, but he is reticent about his feelings. 

This poem is written in dialect, so it has a genuine tone to it in its depiction of the couple. The good-natured woman cajoles Ike Johnson after inviting him into her house. She teases him about his being like those who just "Dat jes' shet dey mouf an' frown—" (who just shut their mouth and frown), instead of talking. "Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f, she encourages him. This is a refrain at the end of each stanza.

Fortunately for Ike, the speaker keeps talking and tells him about her friend who just got married and how she has some new things for her.

I could ma'y in a week
If de man I wants 'ud speak

Still she asks Ike to express himself, but he remains silent. So, she keeps talking until finally she says

I loves you
You's my choice and allus was.

Finally, the woman tells Ike, "I loves you" and says that he is the one she wants and always has. She takes Ike's arm and ask him to hug her, asking him, "Why have you made me beg you so?"
Ironically, she continues her refrain of asking what he wants to know and urging Ike to speak up and express himself. But, Ike has not spoken a word; instead, it is she who has spoken up and expressed herself.

Discuss social class in Pride and Prejudice.

Social class is a prominent theme in Austen's Pride and Prejudice in two ways.

First of all, social class is used to certain by characters to represent their inflated sense of self and superiority. In Chapter Eight, for example, the Bingley sisters mock Elizabeth and Jane Bennett because of their "low connections," specifically their attorney uncle who lives in a middle-class area in London. Similarly, in Chapter Nine, Mrs Bennett uses social class in an attempt to impress those who are economically superior to herself: "I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families."

Secondly, social class is a major source of conflict in Pride and Prejudice. Take, for example, Darcy's proposal of marriage in Chapter 34. Any sense of romance is quickly dashed when Darcy dwells on Elizabeth's inferior social position:

His sense of her inferiority, of its being a degradation, of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit.

By attacking her social class in such a manner, Darcy causes great offence to Elizabeth and this is one of the reasons why she spurns his marriage proposal. Austen then uses this conflict to drive the plot of the novel. But, ultimately, through Elizabeth's (eventual) acceptance of Darcy, and through Jane's marriage to Mr Bingley, Austen shows that love can overcome any obstacle, even the restrictive boundaries of social class. 

How do you know that Jem doesn't believe Mr. Nathan Radley's explanation of why he filled the tree hole with cement in To Kill a Mockingbird? ...

The correct answer is He asks Atticus if he thinks the tree is dead.

During the summer with the influence of Dill, the children have become fascinated with the "haint" that lives across the street from them. Dill has suggested that Jem touch the house, and they also contemplate how they can communicate with the strange recluse who dwells within the walls of the Radley house.

Because the children have been within Boo's viewing, he has obviously watched them and, apparently, delighted in their play. One day as they pass the Radley tree on their way home, Jem discovers two soap figures that bear an incredible resemblance to himself and Scout; impressed at Boo's skill, he puts them in his trunk when he arrives home. On subsequent days they find chewing gum, a pocket watch, a medal, and other small items. So, Jem decides that they must write a thank you note to Boo; consequently, they leave one in the hole. But, the next day as they approach the tree, anticipating something new in it, they discover that the knothole has been filled with cement. Jem asks Mr. Nathan if he has filled it; he replies that he has, in fact, done so.

“Why’d you do it, sir?”
“Tree’s dying. You plug ‘em with cement when they’re sick. You ought to know that, Jem.”

Jem says nothing until the children meet Atticus as he walks home from his office. Jem asks his father,

“Is that tree dyin‘?”
“Why no, son, I don’t think so. Look at the leaves, they’re all green and full, no brown patches anywhere.

The answer from his father confirms Jem's doubts about the truth of what Mr. Nathan Radley has told him. Obviously, Mr. Nathan does not want Boo to interact with the Finch children.

Why does Squeaky dislike people who can do certain things better than she can?

In “Raymond’s Run,” by Toni Cade Bambara, Squeaky exhibits a dislike for people who can outperform her, especially when they pretend that they do not have to practice or work hard for their accomplishments. In essence, Squeaky has a disdain for phony people.

She is proud of the time and effort she invests in practicing to be the best runner in the neighborhood. She does not like when Cynthia Proctor pretends she does not have to study for tests or says that Squeaky is lucky to get easy words during the spelling bees. Squeaky is aware she could stay up all night studying, and still not do as well. Cynthia puts on airs when a test is scheduled in school saying that she will “play handball” and “watch television," which Squeaky knows is not true. In music class, Cynthia pretends that she does not have to practice playing the piano but when Squeaky passes by her house, she is practicing her scales repeatedly.

Squeaky values people who are proud of the hard work and effort it takes to do something well.

What was the role and impacts of the Social Security Act during the Great Depression? How did it actually help to improve the conditions?

In 1935, the federal government introduced the Social Security Act to provide an old-age pension for people aged 65 and over. It also enabled the states to make provide better welfare provision for the elderly, blind people, children and mothers. At the time of its introduction, America was in the grip of the Great Depression when many members of society battled poverty, unemployment and deprivation. This Act represents the beginning of social welfare in America: a safety net for people who are unemployed, injured at work or retired which guarantees a monthly payment to meet the basic costs of living. 

For the elderly, the Social Security Act only covered people who were already over the age of 65 and did not give out very generous amounts of money. Its impact, however, was pretty huge: the recipients were no longer reliant on their families to financially support them and they could retire without worrying about the future. 

What does Whit show Slim in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men?

Chapter three of John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men is set in the bunkhouse of the ranch. Just as Slim has agreed with Carlson that Candy's old dog should be put down, a "young laboring man" named Whit comes into the bunkhouse. Whit wants to show Slim a letter in a "pulp" magazine. Pulp magazines were popular at the time and often contained fictional stories about the old West or crime dramas.

After Slim reads the letter, he is confused as to why Whit wanted him to read it. It turns out the letter was written by a man who used to work on the ranch. Once he is described, Slim remembers the man. Whit comments,

“Bill and me worked in that patch of field peas. Run cultivators, both of us. Bill was a hell of a nice fella.” 

The purpose of the passage is to juxtapose the importance of friendship and the pain of loneliness. Candy is losing his dog at the same time as Whit is talking about a man he considers a good friend. Friendship and loneliness are two of the major themes in Steinbeck's book.

What does Heck Tate wear to the trial in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Heck Tate, the sheriff, puts more care than normal into his outfit to wear on the day of the trial. Normally, his clothes are very informal and unpolished. His typical outfit consists of "high boots, [a] lumber jacket, and [a] bullet-studded belt" (Chapter 17). When Scout sees Mr. Tate dressed in "an ordinary business suit," she finds him more approachable than he ever had been before. Previously, Mr. Tate frightened her. Scout thinks Mr. Tate's business suit makes him seem more ordinary. For once, he looks like any other man in Maycomb. He no longer looks threatening to Scout without his belt full of bullets.

The fact that Mr. Tate dresses up in a suit shows how important he thinks the trial is. Even though he is only wearing a simple business suit, it is a vast difference from his normal attire.

What is some good advice that Mrs. Jong offered Meimei in "Rules of the Game"?

Waverly’s mother advises her “strongest wind cannot be seen” and tells her to always learn the rules in a foreign country.

Waverly’s mother’s advice may not be in perfect English, but it is good advice just the same.  Her point is that if you stay under the radar and work for a goal, you are more likely to accomplish that goal. 

I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, though neither of us knew it at the time, chess games.

This is Waverly’s approach to chess.  She is good because she practices and works hard, but she looks cute and little and no one expects her to be a chess champion.  Instead of worrying about her age, Waverly uses her age and size as an advantage.

When the family gets a chess set, Waverly’s mother at first wants to throw it away because the woman who donated it did not want it.  If she did not want it, Waverly’s mother did not want it.  When her children want to play with it anyway, she agrees to let them but tells them they need to read the rules carefully.

"Every time people come out from foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, Too bad, go back. They not telling you why so you can use their way go forward. They say, “Don't know why, you find out yourself. But they knowing all the time. Better you take it, find out why yourself."

This is good advice.  When you go to a foreign country or play someone else’s game, you need to know the rules or they may be able to get something over on you.  Whatever you are doing, you need to make sure that you are aware of every aspect of the situation.

At the end of the story, why did the knocking stop so suddenly?

One of the key features of the plot is that it is never explicitly demonstrated that the monkey's paw has any magical powers at all. Mr. White explains this to his son Herbert early in Part II.

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

When Mr. White makes his first wish for two hundred pounds, he receives that exact amount from Maw and Meggins as compensation for his son Herbert's accidental death at the factory. This could be the magic of the monkey's paw, or it could be a sheer coincidence. We see that Herbert stayed up late the night before because they had an interesting guest in Sergeant-Major Morris and that father and son drank more whiskey than usual in keeping up with their "bibulous" guest. Herbert must have gone to work feeling hung over and without having had a full night's sleep. This could explain why he was careless and got himself caught in the textile machinery. It is significant that White's first wish was modest. He didn't ask for a million pounds or a royal palace. That would have been a real test of the monkey's supposed magic.

When Mr. White makes his second wish it is a real test of the monkey's powers, but we never know whether the wish was granted. All we know is that someone comes knocking at the door. Like Mr. and Mrs. White, the reader assumes it is Herbert, and like Mr. White, who has viewed his son's mangled body for identification purposes, the reader assumes Herbert looks like a horrible monster, especially after decaying in a grave for ten days. But the only way to find out for sure is to open the door--which is what Mrs. White is frantically trying to do.

Mr. White regrets acceding to his wife's insistence and wishing for Herbert to come back to them. The text does not specify the wording of his third wish, but the reader knows he is wishing for the knocking to stop and for the person knocking to go away forever. That person could have been Herbert. But on the other hand, it could have been some stranger who was lost out here in these dark, desolate suburbs and was only trying to get directions. We could, as Sergeant-Major Morris said, attribute the knocking to coincidence. 

A clue that it might have been an innocent stranger knocking can be found in Part III.

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

The author must have written those sentences for the specific purpose of suggesting the alternative possibility that it was a stranger knocking. The light shining in the window and throwing pulsating shadows on the ceiling and walls would have attracted the attention of anybody who was out there in the dark. That would explain not only why the stranger was knocking but why he would have been knocking more and more insistently. He knew there was somebody at home, and they were his only hope in an area Mr. White had described early in Part I as

"...of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst."

So the knocking could have stopped so suddenly because of the magical powers of the monkey's paw, or it could have stopped so suddenly because the hapless stranger gave up in disgust after realizing that the people inside were just not going to open their door. It could have been Herbert returned from the dead to move back in with his parents and fill them with horror every time they looked at him; or it could have been a coincidence that a stranger came seeking assistance shortly after that third wish had been made. The reader will never know, but he will probably believe, like Mr. and Mrs. White, that it was their son Herbert.

In the progressive era, which movement was the most important and which was the least?

The answer to this question is rather subjective. Factory workers would probably feel that the reforms in the workplace were really important. Those that care about fairness in politics may point to the reforms at all levels of government during the era. People that run powerful corporations would suggest that the antitrust legislation was not an important part of the progressive movement. Any answer to this question will be opinion-based.

From my perspective, the work of women to secure the right to vote was the most important part of the Progressive Movement. The hard work of the women's suffrage movement, which was considered radical at the time, resulted in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1919. As hard as it is to believe, before this time, women did not have a voice in government. When you consider the important roles that women play in all levels of government today, it is not a stretch to opine that the women's suffrage movement was the most important reform of the movement. Without the 19th Amendment, you do not have a female running for president in the United States today.

The least important aspect of the progressive movement was a reform that was, ironically, also driven by women. The 18th Amendment, which grew out of the temperance movement, was a law that prohibited the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol in the United States. Like many of the reforms of the progressive era, it was rooted in morality. Unlike many of the reforms, however, it was a major failure. The reason it should be considered the least important aspect of the progressive movement is because it did not significantly reduce the consumption of alcohol but did lead to problems like increased crime and corruption. The 18th Amendment was eventually repealed, which is the ultimate indictment of its failure.

What theme did Tybalt contribute to in Romeo and Juliet? How would the story be different if he were not written in?

In the play, Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt's character contributes to the theme of hatred which breeds disaster. From the moment we first meet him in Act 1, scene 1, he is displaying his great enmity for the Montagues and challenging Benvolio to fight with him.

Tybalt:

What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?

Turn thee Benvolio! look upon thy death.

Benvolio:

I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,

Or manage it to part these men with me.

Tybalt:

What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word

As I hate Hell, all Montagues , and thee!

Have at thee, coward!  (lines 64-70)

Then, in Act 1, scene 5, Tybalt overhears the voice of Romeo Montague at the Capulet Ball. He immediately becomes enraged at this affront to his family's honor and asks for his sword but is stopped by Lord Capulet, who does not wish to have any unpleasantness mar his party, especially in front of his guests.

Finally, in Act 3, scene 1, Tybalt's festering hatred for Romeo reaches its bitterest and most violent point as he challenges him to a fight, in order to defend his family's honor. Romeo, who has secretly wed Juliet and is therefore now Tybalt's cousin through marriage, feels love for Tybalt and refuses to fight him. Mercutio steps in and insults Tybalt; they fight and Mercutio is slain by Tybalt's sword. Romeo now views Tybalt as a villain and fights him to avenge the death of his best friend.

Although Tybalt is killed by Romeo, it is his avowed hatred, hubris and impulsivity that contribute to his own disaster, as well as to the ultimate fate of the star-crossed lovers. The character of Tybalt is, therefore, the embodiment of the theme that hatred breeds disaster. 

`a = 8, b = 12, c = 17` Use Heron's Area Formula to find the area of the triangle.

Given: `a=8, b=12, c=17`

Heron's Area Formula `A=sqrt[s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)]`

where `s=[a+b+c]/2`

`s=[8+12+17]/2=37/2=18.5`

`A=sqrt[18.5(18.5-8)(18.5-12)(18.5-17)]`

`A=sqrt[18.5(10.5)(6.5)(1.5)]`

`A=sqrt(1893.94)=43.52`

The area is 43.52 square units.

How does the shape of a bird's wing enable it to fly?

The top of a bird’s wing is curved. In comparison, the bottom of the wing is flat. The path of air splits at the front edge of the wind and meets again at the back of the wing. Thus, air passes under the wing. Since the top of the wing is curved and the bottom of the wing is flat, the air has a greater distance to travel over the wing. Therefore, the air that moves above the wing has to move faster in order to keep up with the air that moves below the wing. Because the air on top of the wing moves faster, there is less pressure above the wing. Likewise, there is greater pressure under the wing where the air is moving slower. Because there is more pressure from the upward-moving air coming from below the wing, the bird moves the bird upward.  This is known as “lift”. 

In Alice Walker's "Everyday Use", how does Maggie change as a result of Dee's visit?

In "Everyday Use," Maggie becomes more confident after her sister Dee comes to visit because her mother stands up for Maggie's best interests.  In the story, Maggie is characterized as a timid girl in stark contrast to her outspoken sister Dee.  While Dee has gone away to college and has moved away from the family's home to pursue her own life, Maggie has remained in the house with her mother Mrs. Johnson while she waits to get married to a local man.  When Dee arrives for a visit, Maggie is too afraid to say much to her and feels like she exists in Dee's shadow.  However, once Dee makes her claim for the family's artifacts, Mrs. Johnson realizes that Dee does not truly understand the importance of their family's heritage.  Thus, Mrs. Johnson makes the conscious decision to give the quilts to Maggie, whom she believes will best honor the family by using the quilts for their intended purpose.  Maggie now knows that she has her mother's support, and she grows more confident as a result.  As Dee drives off, Mama and Maggie sit and watch the car go, and the two have a renewed bond.

"While Walter piled food on his plate, he and Atticus talked together like two men, to the wonderment of Jem and me." How does this description of...

Scout's comment regarding the way in which Walter carried on a conversation with Atticus contrasts with his shy demeanour at school. When Miss Caroline offers him a quarter, Walter simply shakes his head at her without speaking. He is too shy to explain his situation and remains quiet while Scout attempts to elaborate on his family's background. We learn that Walter is from a poor farming family with integrity. The Cunninghams have been hit hard by the Depression. Walter Cunningham Jr. does not own any shoes and does not have a lunch on the first day of school. Walter's father barters for services because his family does not have any money. He repaid Atticus for handling his entailment by giving him stovewood, sacks of hickory nuts, a crate of smilax and holly, and a crokersack full of turnip greens. Scout mentions that the Cunninghams never take anything that they cannot pay back, which is the reason Walter declines Miss Caroline's quarter. 

In The Hunger Games, how does Katniss overcome her situation?

In the book, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, the character Katniss must face numerous obstacles. For example, she must grow up without a father, provide for her family, and even confront the horrifying “hunger games.” Katniss accomplishes these challenges by utilizing her personal strengths, such as determination and innovation.

Foremost, Katniss overcomes the hardships in her life through determination. As she confronts each struggle, Katniss utilizes her own determination to accomplish tasks even when she does not feel like trying. For example, Katniss utilizes determination to clean Peeta's wound, despite how gruesome it appears. Additionally, Katniss utilizes determination after Rue’s death to win the hunger games. As her own thoughts reveal:

Now I am determined to revenge her [Rue], to make her loss unforgettable, and I can only do that by winning and thereby making myself unforgettable.

Subsequently, Katniss also utilized innovation to overcome her unfortunate circumstances. Throughout the book, Katniss utilizes innovation in numerous ways, such as hunting in the restricted area and having herself and Peeta eat the poisonous berries to end the games. Without this innovation, she would not have the creativity or ability to survive.

Although Katniss also utilizes other factors (such as the help of others) to overcome her struggles, she utilizes determination and innovation frequently throughout the book. By demonstrating these two characteristics, Katniss overcomes all of her struggles and even helps others along the way.

How do I come up with a good thesis statement for the book The Great Gatsby?

F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby has many significant themes, characters, conflicts, symbols, and other elements that contribute to its quality. Writing a good thesis statement for the novel would depend on whether or not your teacher has provided you with a prompt or if you've been given free range to propose your own argument regarding Fitzgerald's text. Because I'm not sure what the case is, I'm going to give you general advice on writing a strong thesis statement, and then touch on a few key elements of The Great Gatsby that you could choose to focus on in your paper. 

A strong thesis statement needs to be argumentative, not a statement of fact. That means that your thesis statement needs to claim that there is some sort of relationship or connection between two elements of the text, and then the rest of your essay depends on proving that your claim is true. If you are struggling with identifying whether or not your thesis is an argument, an easy way to ensure that it is in fact argumentative is to use the word "because".

Writing for The Great Gatsby tends to address several key aspects, which I can list here for you as inspiration: 

• Theme: The American Dream


• Symbols: The Green Light, cars


• Diction: Imagery


• Conflicts between characters


• Characterization of characters to develop a theme, conflict, or symbol

What is the conflict in "The Raven"?

Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven", is focused on an inner conflict, the struggle of the narrator against his own sorrow and depression at the death of Lenore. The poem opens by describing the narrator's situation:

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

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore

The terms "weak and weary" suggest that the narrator is suffering but is struggling to complete some intellectual project despite his depression. 

The bird that appears at his door is a large black raven, that can only croak a single word, "nevermore"; whether the bird really says "nevermore" or whether our unhappy narrator is ready meaning into a random croaking noise is uncertain. Although the narrator claims to understand that the bird is really just a bird and the the word "nevermore" merely a habitual answer, the narrator continues to ask the bird questions phrased in such a way that the answer "nevermore" seems to confirm his unhappy thoughts.

Although one could argue that on the surface there is a conflict between the narrator and the bird, the narrator doesn't take up a broom or long stick and try to drive the raven away; instead he has a conversation with it. In fact, the somewhat surreal description of the bird makes us as an audience wonder if it is real or merely a projection of the narrator's emotional state. Thus the central conflict is really between the narrator and despair. 

Which stars would you cast for the main characters for a movie to be made of Jerome's Three Men in a Boat?

This consideration is a matter of personal preference. My tendency is to go with an American cast and to cast a comedic group we’re already familiar with. Three options come to mind. First, is the cast of Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld could be J., the narrator; Jason Alexander (George) could be George; Michael Richards (Kramer) could be Harris; and Wayne Knight (Newman) could be a human playing Montmorency, the dog. Or Richards and Knight could switch these roles convincingly. A second option is the cast of Friends. Matthew Perry (Chandler) could be J.; David Schwimmer (Ross) could be George; Matt LeBlanc (Joey) could be Harris; and James Michael Tyler (Gunther) could play Montmorency. Or LeBlanc and Tyler could switch these roles. My third recommendation is the cast of Big Bang Theory. Jim Parsons (Sheldon) could be J.; Johnny Galecki (Leonard) could be George; Simon Helberg (Howard) could be Harris; and Kunal Nayyar (Raj) could play Montmorency. Or Kevin Sussman (Stuart) or John Ross Bowie (Barry) could play Montmorency. What would be even more fun would be to mix these actors up into different groups, and give them uncharacteristic roles to play. Isn’t it interesting that these casts already somewhat mirror similar characters in this book?

In Julius Caesar, what are the main reasons given by the conspirators for his assassination? Do you think they were justified in killing him?

The sentiments of all the conspirators are mostly voiced by Cassius. He is the chief plotter and instigates the others to join in his scheme to assassinate Caesar.

When Cassius first speaks to Brutus, he informs him about the general's weaknesses and how he had to assist him when he needed help. He contrasts Caesar's weakness with the position that he bears and makes it clear to Brutus that they are his equals or even more. He asks why they can't hold a candle to Caesar when Caesar is so frail. He is clearly resentful of the fact that Caesar is held in such high esteem by the citizens of Rome and holds so much power.

Cassius is a deeply embittered man and in all his conversations he focuses on Caesar's might. He tells Brutus: 

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves...

...Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,
That he is grown so great?...

This, it transpires later, is probably the main reason why Caesar has to be destroyed. He has gained too much power. Cassius feels that he does not deserve the status and respect he is given whilst they have to bow to his will. 

It also becomes apparent that there is great fear that Caesar will become a tyrant and thus abuse his power to the detriment of all Rome. Cassius states, for example:

...When could they say till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man...

It is also believed that nature itself is prophesying Caesar's malice and unforgiving rule. The weather has been quite rough and stormy and Cassius sees this as a prelude to the doom which will befall Rome under Caesar's dictatorship. Furthermore, not only does nature prognosticate Rome's terrible future but it also speaks of the fact that the circumstances are perfect for Caesar's usurpation. His rise to greater power has to be stemmed, as Cassius states to Casca when he comments about the unruly weather: 

...why, you shall find
That heaven hath infused them with these spirits,
To make them instruments of fear and warning
Unto some monstrous state.
Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man
Most like this dreadful night,
That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars
As doth the lion in the Capitol,
A man no mightier than thyself or me
In personal action, yet prodigious grown
And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.

...the complexion of the element
In favour's like the work we have in hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

There are a number of references to Caesar becoming a tyrant and even Brutus, who is close to Caesar, expresses concern about the general becoming more powerful. 

...But when he once attains the upmost round.
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend.

He is fearful that Caesar will lose his humility and will be so overwhelmed by power that he will forget how he had achieved his greatness and he could become arrogant and, therefore, corrupt. When the conspirators finally come together and agree on their malicious act, Brutus reminds them that they are committed to the deed not by swearing an oath but to avoid the difficult times they may have to face and because they believe, in their souls, that it is the right thing to do. Their purpose, therefore, is for the good of Rome. 

There does not seem to be any clear justification for Caesar's assassination, except, in Brutus' case, the nagging suspicion that once Caesar is given the crown, that he will abuse his power. This is neither here nor there because he does not provide any prima facie evidence to prove that Caesar had abused his authority at any time. 

Furthermore, Antony makes it clear in his speech that Caesar was not ambitious. He had been offered the crown thrice and refused it every time. He also proved that Caesar loved Rome and its citizens by reading his will to the crowd. In his testament, Caesar had been generous to the citizens, surely not the act of a tyrant?

Finally, Cassius was driven by his hatred for Caesar. He called him vile and consistently referred to his weaknesses and contrasted these with his own strengths. Cassius was clearly ambitious himself and obviously wanted more power. He knew that Caesar did not trust him and was wary of his malice. With Caesar out of the way, he would have little opposition against his own ambitious zeal and would easily manipulate his way to the top.  

So, all things considered, the plotters had no real justification for murdering Caesar. 

What did Lyddie's mom think of the Stevens' lifestyle in Lyddie?

Lyddie’s mom considered the Stevens family heathens because they were Quakers.

Lyddie lives with her mother, her brother, and her little sister on a farm.  Her father left and never returned.  Lyddie’s mother is unstable, leaving Lyddie to have to take care of everyone. After the incident with the bear, Lyddie's mother and Rachel go to live with Lyddie’s uncle, leaving Charles and Lyddie to take care of the farm.

When Charles goes to sell the pig, he tells Lyddie that she should ask Quaker Stevens for help if she needs it.  Lyddie knows what her mother would say about that.

Their mother didn't approve of heathens or abolitionists, and since she considered their Quaker neighbors a bit of both, she forbade the children to have anything to do with the Stevenses. (Ch. 1)

Lyddie is more concerned about being independent.  She does not want to have to rely on anyone or “be beholden to the neighbors for anything so trivial as her own comfort.”  She feels she can take care of herself, and the farm.  The Stevens do allow Lyddie and Charles to use their bull to breed with their cow, without their mother’s knowledge.  She does not seem to ask questions.

Lyddie does not care about the Stevens family’s “radical ideas.”  Common sense and practicality rule her.  She is a survivor, whereas her mother is a dreamer.  Lyddie does not want to be a beggar, or rely on anyone else.  Pretty soon she will need to be self-sufficient, as paying off the family’s debts will fall to her.

Distrust toward Quakers was a common thing in the pre-Civil War days.  People did not like others who were different, and the Quakers avoided violence, dressed differently, and did not approve of slavery.  Even though many Northerners were abolitionists, clearly Lyddie's mother was not one of them.  Lyddie will find that she seems to be one, when she helps Ezekial.

In "The Gift of the Magi" we discussed the value of sacrifice. Using the story or your own personal experience, do you agree with this quote:...

First of all, you need to examine the quote and form your own opinion.  Do you believe that sacrifice is giving up something better?  If you think so, here are some examples from The Gift of the Magi which show how the characters sacrificed by giving up something better, or something they valued.

Della treasured her long hair.  She needed money to buy a gift for her husband, Jim.  Della felt that she had no choice but to sell her hair to buy a gift for Jim.  She made a sacrifice because she believed that a gift for Jim was more important than her long hair.  Jim also needed money to buy a gift for Della.  He sold his special pocket watch to buy a comb set for Della.  He sacrificed his family heirloom because he believed that a special gift for Della was more important than it.

Why did the United States fail to support the League of Nations?

The United States failed to support the League of Nations. There are a few reasons for this. The League of Nations was part of the Versailles Treaty ending World War I. It was supposed to be an organization where countries could bring their problems to discuss and hopefully work out a peaceful settlement instead of fighting over them.

There were a group of senators who were not in favor of us joining the League of Nations. They were concerned that the charter of the League of Nations would force us to get involved in foreign policy situations that either weren’t in our best interests or weren’t something that was important to us. Article X of the charter of the League of Nations required member nations to support actions recommended by the League. These senators wanted a list of amendments made to not require the United States to join in actions recommended by the League of Nations.

President Wilson was unwilling to compromise on this issue. He wanted the United States to ratify the Versailles Treaty and to accept the charter of the League of Nations as it was written. Instead of compromising, he urged Democratic senators to vote against the Versailles Treaty, ending our chances of joining the League of Nations.

Why is the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" divided into two parts and how does this relate to the overall theme of the book?

The novel is indeed divided into two parts: Part 1 consists of chapters 1-11 and Part II consists of chapters 12-31.

There are a few perspectives as to why the novel is divided into two parts. Part 1 delineates all the intricacies of small town society, all the little courtesies and aggravations of life, and all the many social customs common to a cautiously segregated South. In essence, Harper Lee uses the first part of the book to describe the innocence and rich vivacity of Southern living. The freshness of youth is depicted in the adventures of Jem, Scout, and Dill. Their quirky imaginations allow them to concoct fantastic stories about their boogeyman nemesis, Boo Radley. Like all young children, they are fascinated by what they do not understand.

Yet, all young children must learn certain life lessons eventually. Thus, Lee balances moments of sweet guilelessness with solemnity in the first part of the book. When Jem cuts down Mrs. Dubose's flowers in a fit of frustration at her harsh words about Atticus, he finds himself consigned to reading to the cantankerous old lady every afternoon. It is this first lesson in compassionate understanding which lends such import to how both Jem and Scout approach important events in the second part of the book.

The major events in the second part of the book involve Tom Robinson's trial, his eventual death, and Bob Ewell's disgraceful attack on both Jem and Scout. Part II is darker, with good reason. Beneath the surface hospitality and warmth of small town Maycomb lies all the peculiarities and ugliness that imperfect human nature often occasions. Despite the best of intentions, this fact of life cannot be ignored, and Harper Lee focuses her authorial voice on these matters with precision and grace.

In Part Two, Jem and Scout learn the importance of the lessons Atticus painstakingly teaches them in Part One. The children come to realize that they must try to look at matters from different perspectives if they hope to gain some measure of understanding and compassion for others during difficult situations. Yet, they also know that there is great store to be set by the courage of one's convictions. In this, Atticus' courage and resolve in the face of extreme societal pressure from Maycomb's white populace is demonstrated clearly in Part Two.

The Tom Robinson trial is the catalyst for strife in Maycomb; racism and bigotry creates division and conflict between the white and black citizens of Maycomb. As an example, Jem and Scout have to endure unfair scrutiny from their white neighbors as well as contemptuous rejection from a black parishioner in Calpurnia's church. In the meantime, Aunt Alexandra argues with Atticus about releasing Calpurnia from the household.

The overall theme of the book centers around the mockingbird. To kill a mockingbird is to kill senselessly. After all, the mockingbird does nothing but bring pleasure to everyone. So, the events in Part One converge in Part Two to support this basic theme: apart from the grievances between the white and black communities in Maycomb, the fact still remains that an innocent, black man's life was senselessly sacrificed to the altar of bigotry and injustice. Tom Robinson was a mockingbird figure, cut down in the prime of his life. In Part Two, Scout and Jem realize that the sin of killing a mockingbird isn't just literal; it's also symbolic. Good people come in all shapes and sizes.

This can be seen in Scout's eventual change in perspective regarding Boo Radley. By the end of the novel, she comes to understand Sheriff Tate's reluctance to expose Boo Radley's heroism to the whole town.

“Scout,” he said, “Mr. Ewell fell on his knife. Can you possibly understand?”

“Yes sir, I understand,” I reassured him. “Mr. Tate was right.” Atticus disengaged himself and looked at me. “What do you mean?” “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin‘ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?

Between Ca and Cl which atom would lose electrons and why? Which atom would receive electrons and why? Which one is the cation and which is the...

Calcium and chlorine react to form the ionic compound calcium chloride, which has the formula `CaCl_2` . 

Calcium loses two electrons, forming the cation `Ca^(2+)`  and each chlorine atom gains one electron, forming the anion `Cl^-` .  Positive ions are called cations and negative ions are called anions. When an element loses electrons to form an anion the ending of the name is changed to -ide, which is why the compound is named calcium chloride and not calcium chorine.

The formula is based on the fact that ionic compounds are neutral, or have an equal amount of positive and negative charge. Since the calcium ion has two positive charges and the chlorine ion has one negative charge, the formula `CaCl_2` results in two positive and two negative charges for a net charge of zero.

Now let's look at why calcium loses two electrons and chlorine gains one. When elements react to form compounds, they gain, lose or share electrons to achieve the same number of valence (outer) electrons as a noble gas. This is called the Octet Rule, because all noble gases except helium have eight outer electrons. Helium only has two. Noble gases are stable (don't react easily) because they have a complete outer energy level of electrons. Calcium atoms have 20 electrons of which two are valence electrons. When a calcium atom loses two electrons it ends up with the same number of electrons as argon, which is a stable noble gas. Chlorine has 17 electrons of which 7 are valence electrons. When in gains one electron it also has the same number as argon.

Here's the pattern for ions formed by main group elements according to the Octet Rule:

Group 1A elements have one valence electron which they lose to form +1 ions.

Group 2A elements have two valence electrons and form +2 ions.

B and Al in Group 3A have three valence electrons and form +3 ions.

Elements in the carbon family form molecular (covalently bonded) compounds more often that ionic compounds..

Elements in Group 5A, the nitrogen family, have five valence electrons and gain three to form -3 ions.

Elements in Group 6A, the oxygen family, have six valence electrons and gain 2 two to form -2 ions.

Elements in Group 7A, the halogens, have seven valence electrons and gain one to from -1 ions. 

Group 8A, the noble gases, are stable and don't form ions.

What does Montag suddenly realize about Beatty after he is dead?

After Montag shot Beatty with his flamethrower, he hobbles through the city until he falls face first on the ground. While lying on the ground, he realizes that "Beatty wanted to die." (Bradbury 116) Montag believes Captain Beatty wanted to die because he just stood there and dared Montag to shoot him. Montag finds it strange that Beatty would make fun of an armed man and continue making derogatory comments towards him, instead of keeping his mouth shut and trying to escape the situation. Montag's belief that Beatty wanted to die goes deeper into understanding the psychology of Captain Beatty. Captian Beatty was a "walking contradiction" and Montag knew it. Beatty was well-read and educated, yet was the foremost opponent of the literary movement. Beatty more than likely was struggling with deep-seeded, internal issues that dealt with literature and living in a censored society. Such conflicting traits can manifest into irrational life decisions, like the one Captain Beatty made in front of Montag. Bradbury does not explicitly state whether or not Beatty actually wanted to die, but his conflicting personality traits and irrational decision making suggests he may have had a death wish.

Which line(s) of "The Raven" indicate the narrator’s loneliness?

There are several lines in "The Raven" that contribute to our perception of the narrator's loneliness. In the second stanza, he discusses wishing for "the morrow" because he had, in vain, sought an end—however temporary—to his sorrow over his "lost Lenore"; thus, we know that this night feels as though it will never end because the narrator is grieving his beloved (lines 9, 10). If he had another person with whom to pass this time, he would not need to turn to his books as a distraction. 

Then, in the tenth stanza, the narrator considers the raven which has flown into his room, saying, "'Other friends have flown before— / On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before" (58-59). In other words, the narrator anticipates this bird abandoning him just as everyone else has apparently abandoned him up until now, including Lenore. These lines show just how lonely our narrator is, so lonely that he assumes even this bird will not remain with him because no one else has.

Finally, in the seventeenth stanza, the narrator implores the raven to "'Leave [his] loneliness unbroken!'" (100). This is the most explicit piece of evidence that the narrator feels an intense loneliness.

In Zindel's The Pigman, why doesn't Lorraine like the Baron Park Zoo?

Lorraine is nervous to be skipping school to meet John and Mr. Pignati at the zoo. She's also feeling a bit guilty because she and John had conned him out of $10.00 for a fake charity. In fact, John argued that they should go to the zoo in order to make up for the con. So, Lorraine isn't at the zoo without some burdens on her shoulders. Additionally, it's not that Lorraine hates the zoo at first, but she is a little superstitious when she witnesses three events that she calls omens.

First, she doesn't trust Mr. Pignati's enthusiasm for their day at the zoo. She says, "I felt sorry for the old man because people just don't go around smiling like that all the time" (57). Her next clue that the day was not going to be a good one was when the lady selling peanuts seemed to be "antagonistic" (58). Lorraine thinks she should have left right after the experience with the peanut lady because that was the first bad omen.

The second bad omen is when she is "attacked" by a peacock. Mr. Pignati says that the bird simply likes her and she shouldn't be scared, though. The bird terrifies her as follows:

"This low-IQ peacock came tearing after me as soon as it heard me open my bag of peanuts. They let them run around loose at Baron Park Zoo, and this white one opened up all its feathers and started dancing in front of me and backing me up against a fence" (58).

The final bad omen is when Lorraine visits the nocturnal room and sees a ten year-old kid looking at people's reflections as they walk in. When she walks up to look at the bats, this kid watches her with a smirk on his face. She explains:

"He made me feel as though I was a bat in a cage and he was on the outside looking at me. It all made me very nervous" (59).

By the end of the story, though, the worst tragedy happens at the zoo. While visiting it again with Mr. Pignati, the three friends discover that Bobo the baboon has died. This upsetting news throws the old man into another heart attack and he dies right there at the zoo. That's enough for anyone to hate going to that zoo ever again.

Describe the setting in The Devil and Tom Walker as Tom takes the shortcut home.

When Tom Walker takes a short cut home, his trek leads him through the swamp and he encounters a number of obstacles and frightening sights and sounds.

This shortcut of Walker is, in reality, an "ill-chosen route." This swamp area is overgrown and dark even in the middle of the day. There are vines and muck and "gloomy pines and hemlocks," some of which rise more than ninety feet into the air. Naturally, the surface of this swamp is treacherous as there is little solid ground. Worse than this, there are quagmires, some of which are disguised by a surface of moss and weeds that belie its black "smothering mud" that pulls a man's foot into its trapping grip. In addition, there are dangerous sloughs where there are treacherous snakes and even alligators, who lurk in the mire.

As Tom endeavors to pick his way carefully through this dangerous environment, he is also startled by the screaming of such birds as the bittern, a large marsh bird of the heron family, and the quacking of wild ducks. Finally, Tom Walker reaches dry land and nears an old fort, a location in sharp contrast to the swamp he just left. There he stops to rest. 

How can I determine the fallacies in the Dissent view of Chief Justice Renhnquist in the Texas vs Johnson case about burning of the American Flag?

An interesting question indeed! I wouldn’t want to do your homework for you by giving specific examples from Justice Rehnquist’s opinion; however, here are some types of logical fallacies that I think you might find very useful as you think about this example.

“Using and Abusing Tradition”

Just because something has always been done one way or another is not in and of itself sufficient reason to continue doing it. A practice is not necessarily good, or necessarily bad, just because it has gone on for a long time.

“The Straw-Man Fallacy”

One of the best logical fallacies to be aware of as you go through life, the straw-man fallacy is used all the time in our political discourse and probably also in your arguments with your friend. This fallacy is characterized by misrepresenting your opponent's position, and then proceeding to knock down a lesser version of it, and declaring yours better. Philosophy professors will often instruct their students to present the best possible version of their opponents' arguments—this is to avoid using Straw Man arguments.

“The Democratic Fallacy”

Just because the majority of a population hold a certain view doesn’t mean it’s true. It might be interesting survey data, but provides no specific evidence one way or another.

“Tears as a Diversionary Tactic”

This fallacy involves obscuring the root issues or arguments by appealing to your audience’s emotional sensibilities. It’s very similar to the technique of pathos that you may learn about in a Rhetoric, English, or Public-speaking class. While a fantastic tactic to get people on your side, the use of emotion won’t have any bearing on the correctness or falsity of an argument.

These fallacies come from the book “Being Logical” by D.Q McInerny, which you might find highly useful for this assignment!

How did the townspeople feel about the Radley family? How did they view Mr. Radley in particular? Provide quotes from the text to support your...

People in Maycomb are terrified of the Radleys. The Radleys had three sons who got into trouble with some of the Cunningham boys when they were younger. Since Arthur (a.k.a. Boo) suffers from a mental disability, the sheriff didn't have the heart to lock him up in the regular jail with the others; so, they put him in the courthouse basement. Eventually, Mr. Radley vowed the town would never have any trouble with him again if he took him home. Arthur stayed in the house with the parents and the other boys went onto some higher education.

Additionally, the Radleys are anti-social at best. They don't go to church or meet with neighbors for coffees or tea parties. Even their shutters are shut on Sundays, which is practically a sin. Scout explains the people's feelings about Boo as follows:

"People said he went out at night when the moon was down, and peeped in windows. When people's azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them. . . A Negro would not pass the Radley Place at night. . . The Maycomb school grounds adjoined the back of the Radley lot; from the (yard) tall pecan trees shook their fruit into the schoolyard, but the nuts lay untouched by the children: Radley pecans would kill you" (9).

So the Radleys are pretty much the local urban legend and source of all crazy ghost stories. Scout overhears Calpurnia say something about the father, Mr. Radley, that verifies how some people were probably afraid of him, too. 

"'There goes the meanest man ever God blew breath into,' murmured Calpurnia, and she spat meditatively into the yard" (12).

From all of the gossip and folklore, Scout gets an image in her head of quite a frightening situation for Boo Radley who lives in a curious situation under a mean father. Good thing there are people like Atticus who tell his kids to leave the neighbors alone to live as they see fit and for neighbors like Maudie who says the following:

". . . that is a sad house. I remember Arthur Radley when he was a boy. He always spoke nicely to me, no matter what folks said he did. Spoke as nicely as he knew how" (45-46).

As there might be in any neighborhood, there are the gossips, the superstitious, and the level-headed. Luckily, Scout has a few level-headed adults from whom she can glean more positive and accurate information. 

Why does our breathing rate increase during running or heavy exercise?

The reason your respiration rate increases during heavy activity is becacuse your body's need for oxygen increases when expending more energy. Oxygen is required for aerobic cellular respiration, the process by which glucose is burned in living organisms to produce energy:

`C_6H_12O_6 + 6 O_2 -gt 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O`

The energy produced in this reaction is used to make ATP, which is the energy source for cellular processes in the body. When muscle fibers contract during physical activity they use ATP for energy. As ATP is depleted it must be replaced. When it's used at a higher rate the rate of cellular respiration increases and your lungs and respiratory system must provide more oxygen.

Carbon dioxide produced during cellular respiration is transported through the bloodstream to the lungs where it's exhaled. The increase in breathing rate during heavy activity also facilitates the release of the increased amount of CO2 that's produced. 

1. During a physical change, a new kind of matter is formed. True or False? 2.After a material has a physical change, it is made of different...

1. False: during the physical change, a new kind of matter is not formed. The matter might change its state (for example, it might turn from liquid to gas), but it will still be the same matter.

2. False: the physical change does not alter the particles that the materials is made of. However, the distance between the particles or the motion of the particles might change.

3. True. Melting is a physical change, because it changes the state of matter - solid becomes liquid -  but the matter itself remains the same.

4. True. Adding heat to material typically causes a physical change. The heat adds energy to the particles, which then move faster, and the distance between the particles (typically) increases. Adding heat might cause boiling (liquid becoming gas) or melting (solid becoming liquid) or even sublimation (solid becoming gas).

5. Not sure what is meant by particles getting "harder", but probably false. Freezing changes the distance between the particles, and the type of motion of the particles, but the particles themselves do not change, even if a large chunk of them become a "harder" solid substance.

Describe Miss Maudie Atkinson in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Miss Maudie Atkinson is an important character in the novel because of her friendship with Scout and Jem and because she represents values opposite those of other ladies like Aunt Alexandra and Miss Stephanie. Although Miss Maudie is of old heritage in Maycomb, she has “new” values and beliefs.  She is not racist and agrees with Atticus’ intentions to defend Tom Robinson to the best of his ability.  Miss Maudie is a little feisty and speaks up to other people in town, especially when they are spreading rumors (like Miss Stephanie spreads about Boo) or when making disparaging remarks about others. 

Miss Maudie is also very wise and pragmatic. She is to the point, something Scout especially likes because she can count on Miss Maudie to be truthful. Scout and Jem also learn a lot from Miss Maudie.  She convinces them that Atticus is not boring but has many talents like shooting a shotgun, and she explains why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.  When Miss Maudie’s house burns down during the freak snowfall that hits Maycomb, her “devil may care” attitude that she will build a smaller house with a bigger garden shows her optimistic spirit.  Miss Maudie doesn’t seem to take life too seriously unless she sees injustice or ignorance.  She is the moral female character in the novel and compliments Atticus’ wisdom and intentions well. 

In utilitarianism what is a "utility monster," and what is the general concern that the idea of the utility monster brings to light?

Classical utilitarianism as a philosophy was introduced by Jeremy Bentham in An Introduction of the Principles of Morals and Legislation, published in 1789.  The theory contends that the best moral avenue is the one that results in the most pleasure for a society, and therefore the least pain.  In this way utilitarianism is a type of consequentialism, judging actions by their consequences rather than their isolated identity.  This resultant satisfaction in individuals from a moral or legislative action is referred to as utility.  So, utilitarianism believes that the most correct action in any situation is that which results in maximum utility after factoring in the degree of suffering involved in the action.

The utility monster was proposed by Robert Nozick in 1974 as an ethical challenge to utilitarianism.  Utilitarianism claims to be an egalitarian philosophy, and yet Nozick introduced this hypothetical monster, who produces vastly greater quantities of utility than other individuals from consuming the same resources.  In other words, for this being there are no diminishing returns on happiness; its utility grows and grows the more it consumes, and therefore its net happiness outweighs the happiness of the rest of society.  Even if the rest of the hypothetical society were suffering vastly, this utility monster’s huge quantity of pleasure would give the society a net gain in happiness.  In this scenario, utilitarianism’s egalitarian nature breaks down, and its core philosophy gets flipped on its head to benefit the least amount of people at the expense of the others.

The utility monster today remains, of course, just a thought experiment, and there have been no examples of a single organism’s exponential degree of happiness cancelling out any large degree of pain suffered by a majority within a society.

Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal has a good web comic that perfectly illustrates the basic concept and problems that would arise from the existence of a utility monster.

What was Andrew Jackson's weakness?

Andrew Jackson was from a very modest background. Some historians would say he was born on the wrong side of the tracks. This most likely gave Andrew Jackson a type of inferiority complex that resonated with many decisions that he made. By all accounts, Jackson had a very quick temper and was slow to forgive. This weakness had the effect of earning him a lot of powerful enemies in a job where your success depended on making friends.

Andrew Jackson was also know-it-all of sorts. He often made decisions unilaterally without consulting his advisors. Even when he did seek counsel, he often ignored the advice given. In general, he was very stubborn and had tunnel vision because of this negative character trait. Jackson's strong character and provocative ways encouraged the development of an opposition party, the Whigs.

A final weakness of Andrew Jackson is that he was violent and brutal in his treatment of Indians. He forcefully had them removed from their lands and supported excessive violence in this effort. Historians, in general, do not have a favorable opinion in Jackson's treatment of the Indians because of the atrocities Native Americans faced while Jackson was president.

What does the word reform mean?

On a literal level, the word "reform" means to "reshape" or change. It usually carries a sense of improvement, often of something that is corrupt or functioning badly. Thus one might say "We need to reform voting procedures in country X due to evidence of widespread corruption." It is used in the context of human beings or political structures, but not of inanimate objects. One can speak of a "reformed drug addict" who has been rehabilitated but not a "reformed car" after an oil change and tune up.

In English literary studies, there are two specially significant uses of the term "reform". One use refers to the Reformation, or birth of Protestantism, in 1517. This was a movement within Christianity to "reform" what were considered the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church. The term "reformed" church means a Protestant one.

Next, in Victorian literature, the term "Reform", often capitalized, refers to the Reform bills in English Parliament, especially the Reform Bill of 1832, that widened the voting franchise. When characters in Victorian novels discuss reform, they mean a set of political changes that give more political power to the middle and later working classes and make government more representative.

Discuss reasons why the Hindu Arabic numeration system is superior to other ancient numeration systems.

Here are some number systems to consider:

(1) Babylonian/Sumerian: Used base 60 for measurement and astronomy but base 10 for accounting purposes. This number system is the first to use positional notation (the numerical value for a sign depends on its position; in Hindu-Arabic notation this is equivalent to noting that the 2 in 12 indicates 2 ones, while the 2 in 21 indicates 2 10s). This system disappeared around 550 BCE.

(2) Chinese: Used base 10, but was not positional. Thus you could write the characters for 423 in any orientation as there was a symbol for 423 which could not be mistaken for another number. The symbols used were essentially the symbols for the words indicated by the number.

(3) Mayan: Used a base 20 system. (Some modern romance languages, such as French, have a vestigial base 20 -- e.g. 84 is 4 twenties and a 4.) This system was positional and included a zero. Addition and subtraction were easy as you added dots or bars. This was in the New World so had no effect on Europe or Asia or Africa.

(4) Egyptian: Used a base 10 system without a zero. This was not a place value system. In the hieratic system there was a zero, and there was a place value. This system was used by accountants. Each number from 1-9 was represented by a letter (this idea was adopted by the ancient Greeks).

(5) Greek: Used a base 10 (decimal) system; it was not positional. Letters were used for numbers (later with a bar to indicate use as a number). There was no zero except for use in fractions.

(6) Roman: Used base 10; it was not positional.

The Hindu-Arabic system is base 10, positional, and uses zero as a number and a place-holder. This simplifies basic arithmetic, especially multiplication. Most of the other systems either lacked a place-holder (causing potential confusion with the numbers) or were not positional (making arithmetic hard).

The symbols used in the Hindu-Arabic system are not letters, so numbers are not confused with words (as would be possible in Greek or Egyptian numbers).

Desribe the industries of America's industrial revolution

During the American Industrial Revolution, numerous new industries and technological advances were created at an incredible speed. Some of the advancements included the invention of textiles, the telegraph, and even the telephone. Although these industries provided new opportunities for the American people, some were harmed during this expedient transformation.

As the new advances were invented, the demand for them grew and caused many lower class workers to get jobs in factories. As a result of the numerous workers and factories, people were able to recreate the new inventions quickly and affordably. For many individuals, this opportunity brought an opportunity for work.

However, some did not profit as much from this exciting time. Children often worked in factories and were exposed to many harsh conditions. For example, many children received little pay, long hours, and even were exposed to coal dust (which often got into their lungs).

Thus, the American Industrial Revolution was a monumental time in United States’ history. Unfortunately, with all benefits, the repercussions must also be assessed. Fortunately, child labor laws were soon created and better working conditions were instilled. Also, these technological advancements continued and have even been modified and advanced to items used today!

Suppose your company sells ice cream, and your competitive strategy involves introducing innovative new flavors to market frequently. Would you...

Whether privately-owned or public storage spaces are used to store inventories of ice cream is a matter of economics, and, to some extent, security. Business decisions like this are predicated upon calculations of cost-effectiveness. If it is less expensive to invest in ownership of warehouses, including warehouses with large temperature-controlled storage freezers that would be necessary for protecting ice cream from spoilage, than that is the option one would presumably select. If, however, it is less expensive to rent or lease space in another, publicly-owned storage facility, than that is the option that should be selected. One factor, of course, is the proximity of the warehouses to the destinations for the product. Transportation costs associated with trucking ice cream to market have to be considered, and if one or the other of the storage options is too geographically remote, then it won't be considered, as to choose such a site would increase the cost of the product to the consumer, thereby potentially undercutting this particular company's competitiveness. 

There is, however, an intervening variable in calculations of which type of storage option to pursue. That variable is the company's emphasis on "innovative new flavors" that must be gotten to market. That factor requires consideration of risks of what is called economic espionage--the threat that competing ice cream manufacturers would attempt to gain proprietary, or business-sensitive, information regarding the first company's research into "innovative new flavors." If economic espionage is determined to be a problem, then the privately-owned warehouse may be the better choice, as the company in question would maintain total control of its inventory and all documentation associated with it. By using storage space it itself owns and controls, the ice cream manufacturer can better protect its investment from prying eyes. Publicly-owned facilities can be secured, but the level of confidence in these latter facilities' security against spying and tampering will be lower than with one's own warehouse.

Specifics of the candidate warehouses would also need to be considered. For example, whether the publicly-owned warehouse is physically structured in such a way as to allow for the most efficient distribution of product from freezer to customer. If security is not a concern, and if the publicly-owned facility meets the company's requirements, and leasing or rental costs are not prohibitively high, then the publicly-owned warehouse may be the better option. A privately-owned facility, however, allows for better control of all aspects of the warehouse's operations, and can be better constructed to meet the unique demands of this company.

What are two things the reader learns about Atticus's character in chapters 24, 25, and 26 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

In chapters 25 and 26 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, one thing we learn about Atticus's character is that he strikes a balance between being supportive and giving people space as the need arises. As a result, people continue to trust him, like his children and the citizens who continue to elect him to state legislature unopposed.

Atticus's supportiveness is particularly demonstrated in Chapter 25, when Scout recalls what Dill described for her of Atticus's actions concerning informing Helen Robinson of her husband's death. According to Dill, Helen had fallen to the ground the moment she had greeted Atticus, without Atticus even saying a word. Then, also according to Dill, Atticus, together with Calpurnia, had "lifted Helen to her feet and half carried, half walked her to the cabin" (Ch. 25). Atticus's action of lifting and partially carrying Helen to her cabin represents Atticus's typical uplifting, supportive behavior. In raising Helen to her feet and helping her inside the house, he is giving her emotional support, just as he gave her husband emotional support by putting his all into her husband's defense. We see Atticus display similarly uplifting, supportive behavior towards his children, such as when he allows Scout to climb into his lap in Chapter 26, even though he says she is getting too big.

Yet, Atticus is not the sort of person who smothers another person with unwanted support. Instead, he is also the sort of person who knows when to give another person needed space to grow and thereby strikes a balance between being supportive and granting space. We see him strike this balance in Chapter 26 when he intimates he knew all along that his children were pulling antics, such as trespassing on the Radleys' property, to try and get a look at their neighbor Arthur Radley. Yet, he intentionally left them to their own devices because he knew they needed room to grow and learn from their mistakes. We learn that Atticus knew far more about their antics than he had let on to knowing when he tells Scout not to get caught up in her obsession about Arthur again and gives her the following warning:

I'll tell you right now: stop it. I'm too old to go chasing you off the Radley property. Besides, it's dangerous. You might get shot. You know Mr. Nathan shoots at every shadow he sees, even shadows that leave size-four bare footprints. You were lucky not to be killed. (Ch. 26)

Atticus's above speech astonishes Scout because it not only lets her know how much he really knew, it also lets her know just how much Atticus let the children get away with. In other words, through Atticus's above speech, both Scout and the reader learn just how much room Atticus gives his children to grow while at the same time being emotionally supportive when they need him to be.

What was the meaning of the French motto "Liberty, Equality,Fraternity, and Death" during the French Revolution?

The motto "Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité", was originally intended to unite and inspire revolutionaries. The three ideals: freedom, equality and brotherhood were the foundation of the 'new France' that the revolutionaries sought. 

"Or death" was added from 1793, with the full motto often painted on house doors in Paris.

Whether "and", or, "or", this part of the motto demonstrated the resolve of the revolutionaries. Along the same lines as the proverb "better to die on your feet then live on your knees". The motto stated that without basic freedoms and rights, there was no reason to live. Furthermore, the revolutionaries would die in order for their neighbours to share those same rights.

This final section was discouraged, as it was a stark reminder of The Terror - the bloodiest period of the revolution.

The motto (with the reference to death removed) is now inscribed on public buildings, and was written into the Constitution in 1946 and 1958.