In the final section of Moby Dick, why does Ahab die, and why does Ishmael live? Consider the human cost of the Pequod's sinking, what forces save...

With Ishmael and Ahab there is clearly a dichotomy: the humble man of no family or special rank, a godly man who develops relationships with other men and of the spirit, and the ungodly, god-like man who refuses to subject himself to any higher power. Ahab dies because, as Ishmael notes,

For all men tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness....All mortal greatness is but disease.

On the other hand, Ismael, who develops relationships on his voyage, grows spiritually.

Herman Melville's dark philosophical novel bears resemblance to many a religious and classic tale in which hubris plays a great role. Whereas the innocent Ishmael, takes to the sea because he has "nothing particular" to interest him on land, Captain Ahab, a blasphemous man, is driven to avenge himself upon Moby-Dick, a great white whale upon whom he imbues a certain inscrutability, a force that Ahab is certain is evil if he can but "strike through the mask" and find what metaphysical force lies beneath.

One explanation of Ishmael's survival as opposed to Ahab's death is proffered by Professor Karen Tanguma of Coastal Bend College, who writes in her criticism about the "Adamic Myth" of nineteenth century American literature:

Ishmael (Adam) suffered into knowledge and spiritual rebirth and returned to the human race. Melville enhanced Ahab's unfortunate fall, through the novel's dark elements of evil, fear, and dark history.... Ahab (tragic Adam) became consumed with rage after his encounter with the whale and emerged as a dead man. 

Certainly, in some ways. also, Moby Dick rings of Paradise Lost, which addresses how man endures in a fallen world. Whereas Ishmael, who declares, "There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness," finds his wisdom in the midst of the tragic events of the death of the crew and destruction of the ship at the end. By exerting his free will, he takes life from the symbol of death, Queequeg's coffin, and is saved by holding on to what once belonged to his spiritual friend. On the other hand, Ahab perceives the ship as "the second hearse" and goes to his lonely death--"Thus I give up the spear"--having challenged "madness personified" in the great white whale and failed.

 

What is Joe's dialect in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations?

Joe’s dialect is an example of the working class poor in Victorian England. His rough grammar (e.g. “you and me, Pip”) displays his lack of education. With little formal grammar studies available for the poor, Joe picked up the language skills he has from his surroundings. Since the setting is a fictionalized Rochester in eastern England, Joe does not have the burrs in his speech that he would if he were from northern England or Scotland. The pronunciation has a bit of a twang, but does not drop the vowels as much as London Cockney. Interestingly, Pip does not have this dialect, even though he was brought up by Joe, and it is doubtful that there was much grammar taught in his school. Joe’s dialect presents a standard that Pip is trying to escape from in his quest to be a gentleman.

What is the greatest weakness of the book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?

Many readers and literary critics are disappointed in the last episodes of the book.  The episode begins when Huck pretends to be Tom Sawyer because Aunt Sally is expecting Tom to visit the farm.  When the real Tom arrives, he cleverly goes along with the ruse, and in his adventurous spirit, locks up Jim in a shed.  Even though Tom knows that Jim is a free slave, he “tortures” Jim with spiders, rats, and snakes.  Everything works out in the end, and Tom admits that Jim is free, but it is still a part of the book where readers tend to “scratch their heads.”  Right before the episode, Huck has an epiphany about Jim and decides to tear up the letter he writes to Miss Watson telling her that he has Jim.  Huck has learned to love Jim as a friend and father figure.  Because Huck goes along with Tom’s pranks, many readers are disappointed in Huck’s decisions.  It seems to be out of character from the heroic Huck we just recently cheered for. 

As a teacher, I have read many critical essays about the last episode.  There are a lot of theories by famous Twain historians like an old professor of mine, Tom Quirk.  Many scholarly people want to understand what Twain’s intentions are at the end of the novel.  One critic I read said that the end of the book is symbolic of Reconstruction and is shown through how Jim is politically free but not socially free.  It’s an interesting idea. (Sorry, I can't remember where I read this!)

However, overall, many readers feel that the behavior and acts of Huck Finn at the end of the novel is disappointing and a flaw of the novel. 

Here's a good reference for you.  

Quirk, Tom. “The Flawed Greatness of Huckleberry Finn”  mizzou.mag.missour.edu May 21, 2013

How does Scrooge transform from Stave One to Stave Two?

In Stave One of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is described as a "tight-fisted hand at the grindstone" and as "hard and sharp as flint." He does not donate money to charity, does not want to give Bob the day off nor spend Christmas Day with his only family, his nephew, Fred. In short, Scrooge is a mean-hearted and miserly man who shuns society and everybody in it. 

His meeting with the Ghost of Christmas Past, however, brings great changes to Scrooge. The ghost, for example, forces him to relive a number of experiences from his youth, including his lonely days at boarding school and the end of his engagement to Belle. Through these experiences, the reader begins to see rather dramatic changes to Scrooge. These changes begin very early in the stave, when Scrooge is shown a glimpse of his school days:

To hear Scrooge expending all the earnestness of his nature on such subjects, in a most extraordinary voice between laughing and crying; and to see his heightened and excited face; would have been a surprise to his business friends in the city, indeed.

Gone is the miserable and pessimistic Scrooge, replaced by happiness and nostalgia. This is  a turning point in Scrooge's life which is further reinforced by seeing his former fiancée, Belle. Seeing her prompts feelings of guilt and regret, as Scrooge recognises the effects of his actions on others. He can no longer bear to relive such memories:

"Remove me!'' Scrooge exclaimed, "I cannot bear it!"

By the end of Stave Two, then, Scrooge's place on the road to redemption is well-established. His character is beginning to experience a positive transformation and this will grow in strength over the next two visits. 

How does Hurston characterize herself as a little girl?

Zora Neale Hurston reveals herself as an extroverted child in the beginning of this essay.  She tells a story about when white travelers would pass through her small town of Eatonville, Florida, significant for the fact that is was "exclusively a colored town."  As the travelers would pass little Zora, she would be sitting on the front porch, or more daringly, the gate-post, which she describes as her stage, "Proscenium box for a born first-nighter."  There, she would wave to the curious onlookers, speaking to them, and if they spoke back, she would "'go a piece of the way' with them."  Her family did not approve of her actions, so if she were caught, she would be stuck at home on the porch, at least able to see the show if not participate in it.  

Since this essay is more than a memoir, Hurston reveals that she believes her ease with the white community comes from the fact that she did not understand racism and discrimination until her mother died, and she was made to move from the shelter of Eatonville.  But by that time, when Hurston was 13, she had already established her belief system, and that confidence in herself and her identity would last the rest of her life.  She reveals another instance of her confidence later in the piece when she speaks of discrimination:

Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It's beyond me.

While that confidence and manner sometimes ostracized her from other Harlem Renaissance writers, particularly Langston Hughes, it certainly gave her the needed confidence to write how she saw the world, and as she says, "My country, right or wrong."

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, how does Arnold's decision to pursue hope change his perspective of the world around him?

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Junior's decision to pursue hope by going to a different school changes his perspective on the world around him by showing him that hope is real.  Early in the novel, Junior's teacher Mr. P tells Junior that there is no hope on the reservation and that teachers have been told to kill the Indian culture. For this and other reasons, Junior decides to leave the reservation school to attend school in a neighboring white town, Reardan.  Junior leaves the reservation thinking that there is no hope left on the reservation; however, when he begins school at Reardan and makes friends there, Junior realizes that there are problems everywhere and that hope is still possible.  When Junior first arrives at Reardan, he draws a picture of the Pegasus and thinks that hope is synonymous with white. However, after he becomes friends with Penelope and learns that her father Earl creates trouble for her at home, he understands that the lives of his white classmates might not be as perfect as he once thought.  At this point, Junior realizes that individuals create their own hope and that hope can exist in places where harsh conditions make life appear hopeless.

What does the name Weatherall have to do with Granny's nature (or her life story)? What other traits or qualities do you find in her?

Granny’s last name, Weatherall, suggests that she is resilient and able to overcome obstacles and hardships in her life. She has the ability to weather whatever comes her way.  For example, when her husband, John, dies young, Granny must raise the children on her own. However, the one incident in her life that still haunts her is when she is left at the altar by her first love, George.  Although Granny went on to marry and have children, she hasn’t been able to totally get over the embarrassment of being jilted. In her dying moments, she even rejects the priest giving her last rites because it reminds her of being left alone with the priest at the altar.  The inability to forgive George causes her to be jilted once again, but this time by God at the end of her life.  She asks God to give her a sign that she will be saved, and God doesn’t give her that sign.  She dies remembering only the extreme grief she had because she could not forgive George for an incident that happened 60 years ago.  In essence, Granny weathered all the grief and sorrow the jilting caused her throughout her life and never let go of it.  This grief left her paralyzed, a theme shown in the story through the setting in the tight confines of Granny’s bedroom. She is no longer able to act or express herself well in the final throes of death even though she wants to put her affairs in order before she dies.  It’s too late, however, for Granny has wasted a lot of time drowning in the memories of what could have been.

Other characteristics that describe Granny are that she is ornery, feisty, and bossy.  She harasses the doctor and her daughter, Cornelia, for doting over her too much.  She “plagues” Cornelia and plays with her emotions and feelings.  She is also angry and seems to take it out on Cornelia the most. Cornelia is George’s daughter; and therefore, Granny blames Cornelia for some of her misery. Granny does show strength when she tries to talk herself into getting over George.  She says, “Plenty of girls get jilted.  You were jilted, weren’t you?  Then stand up for it.”  Even though in her mind she wants to get over George, Granny never does.  At the end of the story and with her last breath, she refuses to forgive George, and it is her downfall.

What is the theme of the poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," by Robert Herrick?

The theme of "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," is that young women should make the best of their beauty and passion while they are young because once they are past their prime, no one is going to want them.

In the first stanza, the speaker addresses "virgins" directly, imploring them to entertain many suitors in their youth because their beauty will inevitably fade as time goes on.  He uses "rose-buds" as a metaphor for young lovers and a "flower" as a metaphor for the virgin herself.  Likewise, flowers are often associated with spring, and spring with youth.

In the second stanza, the metaphor of the day for a human life (sunrise = birth, noon = peak or prime, sunset = death) conveys the idea that, as the sun rises higher toward the apex of its path, we reach our prime and grow that much closer to our deaths.

In the third stanza, the speaker says, "That age is best which is the first, / When youth and blood are warmer."  In other words, youth is the best age because our blood is warm then: a way of saying that we are most passionate when we are young (think of the term "hot-blooded" to signify lustiness).

In the fourth and final stanza, he advises young women not to be standoffish but to use their time wisely and "go marry" (in essence, catch a husband now; this is also the thing that will make them "merry" -- a pun because they sound the same and both meanings work), because once they are past the age where they are most beautiful, there's a good chance that no one will want them.

I have a French speech coming up these next few months and can't find a topic to write about.

The thing you need to determine before you write your speech is what type of speech you are expected to give.  The four main types of speech are informative, persuasive, motivational, and entertaining.  Once you know which type of speech you are to give, you can start narrowing your topics.

First of all, brainstorm some ideas about what you like about French culture, history, or even the country’s geography and landmarks.  Make a list of things you could talk about under the type of speech you are to give.  For example:

Informative speech: An informative speech provides information about a subject. This could include:

• Cause of the French Revolution


• The best restaurants in Paris


• The effects of WWII on France


• Immigration policies in France today.

Persuasive: A persuasive speech tries to change people’s ideas or convince them of something. Examples could include:

• Why learning French is important in today’s society.


• Why we should eat like the French.


• Why we should help France with their anti-terrorist actions.

Motivational: A motivational speech is similar to a persuasive speech, but it goes beyond persuasion to fervently impel people to action.

• How to fight terrorism.


• How to break from the Euro.


• How to preserve prescribed French language.

Entertaining: These speeches range from touching to humorous in nature, are often called occasional speeches, and are intended to add a personal touch to special events, whether of a happy character or a sad character.  For example,

• A personal-touch speech on strange French customs and how they effect you (humorously or otherwise).


• Weird cultural habits of the French from a personal view.


• Foods only French people eat, with a personal perspective.

I hope this brainstorming helps. Bonne Chance!

Why does Bryon not like the police in That Was Then, This is Now?

In Chapter 2, Bryon and Mark are visiting their mother in the hospital, and she tells them to talk to the boy in next room because he seems lonely. Mark agrees to walk over and visit with the boy while Bryon heads down to the snack bar to grab a hamburger. When Bryon sits down at the snack bar, he thinks about all the food he wishes he could order. Bryon says that he can eat a ton of food and also mentions that that he is five-ten and still growing. He then says that he should have gone out for football but wouldn't have lasted long on the team because he could never handle authority. Bryon's issues with authority stem from a negative experience he had with the police when he was younger. When Bryon was thirteen years old, two cops found him walking around the street drunk and picked him up. They drove Bryon to a hill on the other side of town, slapped him around, and left him there alone. Bryon mentions that he never forgot that experience, and it ruined his respect for police officers. Bryon says that ever since he was beaten, he made it a point to mouth off to cops and disrespect them. 

Why does the world need photosynthesis?

Arguably, all the energy from the Earth originates from the sun. It is through photosynthesis that the sun’s energy is captured. Photosynthesis occurs within the chloroplasts of producers. A green pigment called chlorophyll is housed within the thylakoids of the chloroplasts. The chlorophyll captures sunlight energy in order to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a sugar) and oxygen gas.

The glucose made through photosynthesis is the basis for all food chains, food webs, and food pyramids. Primary consumers use the glucose from photosynthesis as a direct energy source. Secondary and tertiary consumers rely on the photosynthesis by consuming organisms within lower trophic levels that consume the photosynthesizing producers. If there was no photosynthesis, the producers would not be able to produce energy and eventually perish. Thus, there would be no energy source for organisms within higher trophic levels. Therefore, the organisms of the higher trophic levels would also perish over time.

What is the subject or topic of Cofer's "American History"?

The subject is also defined as the theme of a story. In Judith Ortiz Cofer's "American History," the subject revolves around what Elena does on the day of President Kennedy's assassination--November 22, 1963. The discussion of the story revolves around how Elena experiences prejudice at school and in her neighborhood during a time when the Civil Rights movement was in full swing. When news of the President's death gets to the school, the students were sent home. Many people in Elena's culture watched the news or went to church to pray. Elena did not do this. She had a study date with Eugene that she was determined to keep. Her mother warns her that she is headed for humiliation, but Elena goes anyway. To Elena's surprise, Eugene's mother turns her away for being Puerto Rican and impoverished. Because Elena is bullied for being Puerto Rican at school, and then rejected by Eugene's mother for who she is, the subject of the story revolves around dealing with prejudice in America.

In the famous novel the Scarlet Letter how is Dimmesdale redeemed by the end of it ?

Dimmesdale is in a sense redeemed because in the end he finally reveals the truth about himself and Hester. He climbs onto the scaffold and tells the people the truth. The guilt of keeping things inside for so long has worn down his health, and some of the townspeople even claim to see an A in the very skin of his chest. 

By confessing, he finally removes some of the burden that Hester has carried alone for so long. This shows how guilt can only grow worse when shame causes us to hide from it. The letter worn publicly has slowly lost its stigma for Hester. She can now practically wear it with pride. For Dimmesdale, the guilt destroys him, and in the end he is not even able to escape the shame. He finally finds peace by letting his sins out into the public just like Hester.

How has the laissez-faire theory affected us in the past and now? Which criticized has other famous people done?

Since you have asked two questions, and the second question is a little unclear, I will answer the first question.

Laissez-faire policies have had an impact on the United States throughout the years. Throughout the 1800s, laissez-faire policies dominated our political thinking. The government tried to stay out of the actions of businesses and also tried to stay out of any major involvement in the economy. Eventually, when problems developed with unsafe working conditions, the exploitation of workers, the lack of involvement of common people in politics, the lack of protection for consumers, and the deterioration of our environment, the Progressives, around 1900, demanded and got many changes to improve these conditions.

A very good example of the laissez-faire philosophy could be seen in the 1920s and at the beginning of the Great Depression. The government again stayed out of the affairs of businesses and had a very small role in the economy. Even when the Great Depression began and became worse, the government stayed out of actively trying to resolve the Great Depression. Eventually, President Hoover became more involved in trying to end the Great Depression. When his actions were unsuccessful, people turned to Franklin D. Roosevelt who promised a lot of government action to help ease the effects of the Great Depression and to try to prevent another such depression from occurring.

Today, we are also seeing a renewed emphasis on a low-key government approach. Republicans tend to support a limited involvement of the government in the economy with fewer rules and regulations for businesses to follow. The Democrats are taking the opposite of the role of government in the economy and in the affairs of businesses. Republicans have taken control of Congress and several state governments by advocating for laissez-faire policies and ideas.

Laissez-faire policies have affected us in the past and also affect us now.

Does Rainsford's perspective on hunting shift throughout the story, "The Most Dangerous Game"? Give evidence to support your answer.

Rainsford’s perspective on hunting does shift when he becomes the hunted instead of the hunter.  At the beginning of the story, Rainsford is on a boat headed for Rio and a hunting trip up the Amazon River. He hopes to have a good hunt for jaguars.  Whitney, his friend and fellow hunter, comments that hunting is a great sport for the hunter, but not for the jaguar. Rainsford responds,

“Don’t talk rot, Whitney…..You’re a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how the jaguar feels.” (pg 1)

Whitney thinks maybe the jaguar cares how it feels.He thinks that they do understand one thing, fear.

“The fear of pain and the fear of death.” (pg 1)

Rainsford strongly disagrees.  He tells Whitney that the hot weather is making him soft.  He replies,

“The world is made up of two classes --- the hunters and the huntees.  Luckily, you and I are the hunters.” (pg 1)

When Rainsford meets Zaroff, he suddenly becomes the “huntee”. When Zaroff sends Rainsford out onto the island during their “game”, Rainsford becomes a series of animals.  First, he creates an intricate trail for Zaroff to follow recalling the, “dodges of the fox” (pg 7). When General Zaroff easily follows that trail, Rainsford tries to hide in a tree.

“Rainsford’s impulse was to hurl himself down like a panther.” (pg 8)

Zaroff smiles,and Rainsford realizes that the general is just playing with him,

“The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouse.  Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror.” (pg 8)

Finally, when General Zaroff brings out his whole pack of dogs, Rainsford realizes how an animal feels when it is being hunted.

“The hounds raised their voices as they hit the fresh scent.  Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels.” (pg 9)

Rainsford continues to refer to himself as an animal even after General Zaroff tells him he has won the game. 

“I am still a beast at bay…” (pg 9)

Rainsford has changed his opinion.  He now knows how an animal feels when it is being hunted. 

My copy of the story is from the internet so the page numbers may not coincide with your copy.  

How many moles of oxygen will be produced by 0.66 moles of potassium chlorate?

Potassium chloride has the formula KClO3. When heated, it undergoes decomposition to produce oxygen gas according to the following equation:

For each mole of potatassium chlorate that reacts one mole of oxygen gas is produced. This tells us that 0.66 moles of KClO3 will produce 0.99 moles of O2:

0.66 moles KClO3 x (3 mole O2/2 mole KClO3) = 0.99 moles O2

The moles of a given quantity is multipled by the mole ratio of unknown to given, which is the ratio of coefficients from the balanced equation. In this case the coefficients are 2 and 3. 

Potassium chlorate can cause other substances to spontaneously combust, especially if it's heated. The oxygen produced creates a more flammable environment than the atmosphere alone, which is about 20% oxygen.

How do the boys come to be on the island in Lord of the Flies?

With the background setting of Lord of the Flies as World War II, the British plane, in which English schoolboys are probably being evacuated from the cities because of the Nazi bombings, crashes after being shot down near a tropical island.

Most likely, the boys are part of Operation Pied-Piper, in which urban children were relocated to places where the risk of bombing attacks was lower or virtually non-existent. These children, numbering in the millions, were transported from the cities to rural areas in England; in addition, many were sent to areas where the British lived, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. This movement was the largest and most concentrated evacuation of population in British history.

When the boys of Lord of the Flies land on the island, having come from war-torn England, they feel as though they have landed on paradise. Indeed, they may feel more fortunate that those children who have been transported to areas where they must line up and be selected by adults willing to take them:

...billeting officials would line the newly arrived children up against a wall or on a stage in the village hall, and invite potential hosts to take their pick. The phrase, “I’ll take that one” became a statement indelibly etched in countless children’s memories.

At any rate, Ralph immediately delights in having found himself on an island that resembles Coral Island, the island from a novel by R.M. Ballantyne in which English schoolboys are shipwrecked and survive with their English ingenuity and resolve, defeating savages on this island.

What is the significance of the title of Helena Maria Viramontes's short story "The Moths"?

“The Moths” by Helena Maria Viramontes is rife with imagery and symbolism, and the moths bring all these symbols together into one thematic element.  Apart from a passing reference in the body of the story, we do not encounter the moths until the very end, when Abuelita has died and her granddaughter is bathing her in the bathtub.  As the narrator eases her grandmother into the water, a horde of moths escape from the dead woman’s body:  “Small, gray ones that came from her soul and out through her mouth fluttering to light, circling the single dull light bulb of the bathroom.”  The moths symbolize not only the passage of life, but the struggles we must face within life. 

The narrator wants nothing more than to be with her grandmother in death, to have her Abuelita tell her “about the moths that lay within the soul and slowly eat the spirit up.”  The story is about these moths – all these things that consume the human spirit, these sadnesses that weigh on us from day to day. We see these things circling about the narrator as the moths circle about the bathroom light:  her distaste for Mass and the ridicule of her family because of this; her abusive father; her sobbing mother; her own androgyny, symbolized by her clumsy man-hands; the feeling of being nothing and no one, not especially skilled or comfortable in her skin – all the little pinpricks of life that riddle and are magnified by the narrator’s adolescence.  And as the moths fly out of her grandmother’s mouth, the narrator is hit with the weight of all these things, and she sobs for “the misery of being half-born.”  We could interpret this as the misery of adolescence, of having not yet come fully into herself.  

In The Crucible, why has Mary Warren disobeyed her employers and gone to Salem?

Mary says she has to go to Salem because she is part of the court proceedings.

Proctor is very upset about Mary Warren going to Salem without his permission.  Mary Warren is the Proctors' servant.  She is involved in the court proceedings for the Salem Witch Trials.  Proctor does not want her to have anything to do with the trials, because he is opposed to the trials completely.  He knows that there is nothing to them except vengeance and persecution.

How dare you go to Salem when I forbid it! Do you mock me? I‘ll whip you if you dare leave this house again! (Act 2)

Mary Warren complains that she does not feel well, and being in the proceedings all day is making her sick.  Proctor complains that she should not be at the court when she has responsibilities in his home.  She is in court all day and therefore she is not doing the job he pays her for.

Proctor also notes that Elizabeth is not feeling well.  It later transpires that she is actually pregnant, but has just become pregnant and is not showing yet.

Mary gives Elizabeth the gift of a doll she made during the court session.

MARY: (Crossing to Elizabeth, taking a small rag doll from pocket in her undershirt.) I made a gift for you today, Goody Proctor. I had to sit long hours in a chair, and passed the time with sewing. (Act 2)

Elizabeth tells her it is a “fair” gift, which is high praise for a Puritan.  Mary tells her that they all need to love each other.  That is fairly ironic, since there is no love going on.  People are just pointing fingers and accusing others to get back at them or get something they want from them.

The doll turns out to be important, because it is presented as evidence that Elizabeth has been using it for witchcraft.  A pin is found in the doll and everyone thinks that it is some sort of voodoo doll.  They do not believe that it is not Elizabeth’s or that she did not put the pin in it.

Whats a proomium ? Which characteristics does it have ?

A Proömium is, in essence, a preface. From the Greek, it literally means "before the song". From ancient times, it has been used as an introductory chapter, or prologue. The ancient writer Homer wrote many such prologues, or songs before the song, and many of them have survived until today. The Homeric Hymns is a collection of 33 such Proömien (the plural) that invoke various Gods. The language is very similar in style and rhythm to the Homeric epics, but the purpose of the poems is quite different: they serve to exalt and invoke -- in essence, they set the stage and ask the Gods to bless the artful work that is about to appear. 

It is a style that has survived over the centuries: in Latin, it is spelled "prooemium", and it simply evolved to mean preface. It is no longer an invocation of the Gods, but a preamble to the story that is to come. We use them today in our storytelling as well, in order to present our reader or audience with backstories about the characters with whom we are about to go on a journey. It is used in musical compositions as well, from classical to contemporary: in this case it would be called an Overture, which musically includes the many leit motifs that you can expect to hear throughout the course of the symphony. 

In short, a prooemium or Proömium will set the stage. It is a preface, preamble, or prologue for what is to follow.

What part of Holden's personality leads to his mental breakdown?

That is a complex question. It is probably all the parts of Holden's personality, plus some aspects of the world around him, that work together to orchestrate his breakdown. I will just focus on two parts of his personality, though.

Holden is sensitive and idealistic. Although he talks as if he's tough and cynical, he's actually very perceptive about injustice in the world and the vulnerability of certain people to it (including children and guys with acne). Holden is so perceptive and sensitive that these things really bother him. He would like to be able to rescue vulnerable people from injustice and tragedy, as if he were "catching" children who are about to fall off a cliff. Most of the time, of course, this isn't possible. Because of his sensitivity and idealism, Holden isn't just able to write these things off. Instead, he ruminates on them, digging himself deeper and deeper into depression.

Holden is restless. He has a low tolerance for mental pain. Throughout the story, whenever Holden is bothered by something, he takes some kind of action to get away from the mental pain or distract himself from it. He might spontaneously decide to leave the place he is in, he might call up a friend or acquaintance to chat, or he might visit a bar to drink, and flirt with women. These are all attempts to get away from the mental pain. Most people can identify with this. Unfortunately, in Holden's case, his self-soothing attempts make things worse. They lead him to become drunk, hungry, sleep-deprived, broke, and subject to a string of frustrating and fruitless conversations. His running behavior makes him feel worse, so he runs on to something else, which makes him feel even worse. It's a vicious cycle. The cycle continues until he meets up with his sister Phoebe.

In The Sign of the Beaver, what did Matt learn about neighboring Indians from Ben?

In The Sign of the Beaver, the main character, Matt, is visited by a beaver trapper by the name of Ben.  Ben, a large and imposing figure, invites himself to dinner and Matt feels obliged to feed and invite him to spend the night. After dinner, Ben shares the following about Indians.  First he explains that most of the Indians have left the immediate area. "What wasn't killed off in the war got took with the sickness.  A deal of 'em moved on to Canada" (15).  Then, Ben explains that the only Indians left are the Penobscot. "The Penobscots stick like burrs, won't give up" (15).  Ben informs Matt that the Indians know how to speak a little bit of English.  He also lets Matt know that the Indians move around a lot in order to avoid bugs or find food.  "...they got enough sense to clear out of these parts when the bugs is bad.  They move off, the whole lot, down to the coast to get their year's mess of clams...they'll stay the summer and then go off for the big hunt come fall" (15).  Even though Ben takes advantage of Matt and ends up stealing his father's gun, Ben does learn from the experience.  He learns about the nearby tribe of Indians, and he learns to trust his instincts when it comes to sizing up visitors.

Explain in detail: Antibiotics and Antibodies.

Antibiotics are chemicals released by microorganisms to kill microbes outside their body. These days we generate large quantities of various antibiotics, in industries, and use them as medicines to fight microbial infections. Antibiotics can be broad ranged or very targeted. They can be antibacterial or antifungal, depending on the antibiotic in question. They can act by either killing the microbe or by slowing down (or inhibiting) its growth or spread. An example is penicillin.

An antibody, on the other, is a protein which is secreted by our body's immune system, in response to the presence of foreign particles in our system. An antibody is also known as an immunoglobulin. The antibody interacts with the foreign particle (also known as antigen) and either directly neutralizes it or tags it for action by our components of our immune system.

Hope this helps. 

In Auden's "The Unknown Citizen," why was the citizen unknown?

This poem is told from the point of view of state bureaucracies that consider people as numbers or statistics rather than unique individuals. This particular person is unknown because he is a complete conformist to social norms. There's no reason for the state to know his name, because he poses no threat and is interchangeable with millions of other people. He does everything he is supposed to do and is completely well adjusted: "He worked in a factory and never got fired ... he was popular with his mates and liked a drink." He buys what he is told by advertisers to buy:  a phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire." He holds whatever are the "popular opinions" at the time.

The poem, written in 1939 soon after Auden moved to America to a society that seemed complacent to him, works as satire in two ways. It satirizes and pokes fun at a government that reduces people to statistical norms, but it also makes fun of the people who conform, never think for themselves, and never rebel. The unknown man is anonymous because, in the end, he never does anything to make himself stand out. 

Paraphrase Atticus’ summation (closing speech) to the jury, in the book To Kill A Mockingbird.

In his summation at the end of the trial of Tom Robinson, a trial that probably should not have taken place, Atticus Finch appeals to the jury to examine these points:

• what evidence there is


• what evidence is non-existent


• the questionable testimonies of two witnesses that has been contradicted by the defendant 


• the underlying prejudices which have brought about this trial


• the right of every citizen of the United States to be treated equally in a court of law.

At the end of the trial of Tom Robinson, with the paucity of concrete evidence against Tom, Atticus Finch forms a summation that is in essence a rational and ethical appeal to the jury. Here, then, is a paraphrasing of the summation of Atticus Finch to the jury in a few sentences:

Reminding the jury that a conviction can come only if there is certainly beyond reasonable doubt, Atticus refers to the substance of this trial as dependent mainly upon the questionable testimony of two witnesses, testimony that has been "flatly contradicted" by the defendant. In addition, there is no medical evidence of rape. Atticus adds that Mayella, a victim of poverty, neglect, and ignorance, looked for some attention and broke the unwritten code, and her father saw her doing so. Afterwards, they tried to cover up her "mistake" by bringing charges against Robinson. And, although circumstantial evidence indicates that Mayella was beaten by someone whose punches were issued by the left hand (the jury knows Tom Robinson has no use of his left arm), the Ewells have been convinced that their testimony would not be doubted because of prevailing prejudices.

Pointedly, Atticus recalls to the jury that all citizens in the United States are guaranteed justice in a court of law, and he makes his final appeal to the jurymen to do their duty and follow the Constitution.

What were the names of the girls in the Pickwick Club? Where do they hold the Pickwick Club meetings?

Sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy create their own version of the Pickwick Club, based on the popular novel The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.  Each sister plays a character from the novel during their club meetings, which involve reading the newspaper they create.  The oldest sister, Meg, plays Samuel Pickwick.  Jo impersonates Augustus Snodgrass.  Beth's character is Tracy Tupman.  The youngest sister, Amy, plays Nathaniel Winkle.  Later the four sisters vote to allow their neighbor, Laurie, to join them.  His character is Sam Weller.  The meetings of the Pickwick Club are held in the garret, which is the attic of the March house.  They set up a table and chairs in the attic room.  There is also a closet in the garret, which Laurie hides in.

Why is Madame Loisel discontent at the beginning of the story?

At the beginning of the story "The Necklace," readers meet Mathilde Loisel: a "pretty and charming" girl who was not born with the wealth and distinction that – we're told – her personality and tastes require. She is married off to "a little clerk" husband and lives in a small house. All day long, she glares at her surroundings and day-dreams about the things she wishes she could have:

"vast saloons hung with antique silks, exquisite pieces of furniture supporting priceless ornaments, and small, charming, perfumed rooms, created just for little parties of intimate friends, men who were famous and sought after, whose homage roused every other woman's envious longings."

Clearly, the answer seems to be that Mathilde is discontent because she is poor and wants to be rich. That is absolutely true, but there is more to it than that. The wealth itself is not what is really alluring to Madam Loisel (though it certainly doesn't hurt). Instead, she is obsessed with the life she assumes goes along with such riches and distinctions. If you look back at the end of the above quote, you can see that, in Madam Loisel's mind, the beautiful items merely provide a setting for the thrilling parties full of jealousies and intrigue that she just knows all wealthy people have. She is discontent because she is a middle class woman of the 19th century. She doesn't have to do hard labor to survive, but she also doesn't have a full social calendar and disposable income. She is stuck at home, with nothing to do, no children to care for, no friends to see – it's no wonder she fantasizes about the wealthy life. 

At the same time, there is one more reason for Madam Loisel's discontent: she doesn't make an effort to be happy with what she has. Sure, her curtains are ugly and furniture is worn. But she has enough food and a roof over her head and a husband with a decent job; she could be happy with this life. Because she chooses not to be, she seals her own fate. 

In The Crucible, why do so many of the accusers lie about the existence of witchcraft?

There are a number of reasons why characters lie about witchcraft and implicate others as witches. These include fear, guilt, revenge, greed for property and paranoia. 

Tituba, Reverend Parris' slave from Barbados, is the first to start accusing others of witchcraft after Abigail implicates her. She opens up a can of worms which exposes the underlying malevolence in Salem society. When she is confronted about her activities in the woods she, at first, denies any wrongdoing. It is only when she is threatened, that she 'confesses' and starts naming so-called witches in the village who had apparently sent out their spirits to her.

Tituba: I don't compact with no Devil!

Parris: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!

Putnam: This woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged!

Tituba, terrified, falls to her knees: No, no, don't hang Tituba! I tell him I don't desire to work for him, sir.

When Reverend Hale tells Tituba that she would be doing God's work and would be redeemed, she is obviously relieved and is prepared to say practically everything to save herself. She becomes a pawn in the hands of her accusers and is guided by their questions and assertions. She tells Reverend Parris that the devil had repeatedly instructed her to kill him. This is probably more an expression of her guilt for harbouring ill-feelings towards the reverend, than anything else. She then names Sarah Good as one of those who accompanied the devil on one of his supposed visitations.

At this point, Abigail joins Tituba and vehemently starts naming others whom she claims to have also seen with the devil. It is not long before Betty joins in and they start shouting out random names of those they had seen consorting with Satan. Not long after, the group of girls who were seen dancing in the woods, are called to court to testify. They implicate many others. The girls are in a frenzy to absolve themselves from blame and make others responsible for their indulgence in the woods. Furthermore, the accusations give them a power they never had. The rules of Salem society required them to be submissive and respectful. Their freedoms were repressed and the trials give them an opportunity, as it were, to lash back at the deeply conservative strictures they had to adhere to

Added to this, there were opportunists who saw the trials as a chance to enrich themselves and avenge whatever wrongs they believed had been incurred upon them by those they despised. The Putnams were wealthy landowners and eminent citizens of the village. They had, over the years, acquired many enemies because of their continuous battles over property and political status. 

Thomas Putnam had many grievances and saw those who opposed his greed for property and who denied him what he believed was rightfully his, as enemies. He went as far as using his daughter, Ruth, to accuse George jacobs so that he may acquire his property. He also wanted to get rid of Francis and Rebecca Nurse as well as Giles Corey and John Proctor, people he despised. 

The Reverend Parris also had issues with a number of Salem's residents. He was paranoid about his position and believed that there was a faction out to get rid of him. It was, therefore, easy for him to accuse his enemies and pile up evidence against them so that he was finally rid of their criticism. Such a person was John Proctor. Reverend Parris increasingly meddled in the court's affairs to finally be free of him. 

The witch trials created fear and frenzy amongst the villagers and those who were accused had to confess or name others who had been consorting with Satan. Many of the accused did just that in order to save themselves from hanging. In the end, all those accused became innocent victims of the spite, greed and paranoia of others.

In Things Fall Apart, what do you think contributes the most to the decline of the Igbo tribe's influence in Umofia?

In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the biggest change that negatively affects the traditional Umuofian society is the proliferation of colonial influence into the area. Western settlers disrupt the norms and customs of Umuofia by introducing Christianity and European models of government and commerce. The values of the settlers slowly but steadily upset the belief systems that have been in place in Umuofia for generations:

“The white man had indeed brought a lunatic religion, but he had also built a trading store and for the first time palm-oil and kernel became things of great price, and much money flowed into Umuofia. And even in the matter of religion there was a growing feeling that there might be something in it after all, something vaguely akin to method in the overwhelming madness” (178).

This proliferation of Eurocentric values represents a massive transition for the area. Indeed, the titled men of Umuofia sense that the Christian faith that they initially dismissed has grown into a powerful influence, and has served as a point of entry for other Western conventions. Okonkwo is especially critical of the changes the area experiences, and the marginalization of his clan:

“Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women” (183).

He laments that the Umuofia he has known and called home has entered a state of flux. Colonial influence has not destroyed Umuofian culture in the way that Okonkwo believes, but it has irreparably altered the face of the region. Indeed, traditional Umuofian influence has decreased in the face of colonialism.

In The Metamorphosis, what upon discovery first gives Gregor joy, then causes him distress?

Great question! In the story “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, Gregor experiences a profound transformation from human to bug. As a result of this transformation, he is unable to enjoy some of the things that he used to love.

One example of this is the food that Gregor consumed. After his transformation, Gregor’s sister made his favorite meal (a bowl with sweetened milk and pieces of white bread) for him. At first, he was extremely excited about this kind gesture. However, he soon realizes that this favorite food was difficult to consume. Not only this, but the milk, which he used to love, was not desirable to his new taste palate.  As the story illustrates, 

“But he soon drew it back again in disappointment, not just because it was difficult for him to eat on account of his delicate left side (he could eat only if his entire panting body worked in a coordinated way), but also because the milk, which otherwise was his favorite drink and which his sister had certainly placed there for that reason, did not appeal to him at all.”

Thus, his physical changes impacted Gregor’s personal preferences. Although he previously enjoyed the meal his sister prepared for him, Gregor no longer enjoys it due to his transformation. Thus, his joy quickly transforms into distress once he realizes how his change impacted his taste.

Which of the following is (are) most likely to be produced under conditions resembling perfect competition - automobiles, beer, corn, diamonds, and...

The best answer for this would be corn.  Eggs are just about as good, but corn is probably a little bit better.  The relevant aspects of perfect competition for the purposes of this answer are that the good needs to be homogeneous and there need to be many small firms competing to provide it.

Because the good have to be homogeneous, beer and cars are clearly out.   People will prefer one beer to another or one car to another.  They will not think these things are all the same.  Diamonds are not all the same either.  In addition, neither cars nor diamonds can be produced by many small firms.

This leaves us with corn and eggs.  I will go with corn because it is more homogeneous than eggs.  Eggs come in different grades whereas corn is simply corn.  It is also easier to have a small farm growing some corn than to have a small egg-producing company.  Thus, there are likely to be more small firms participating in the market for growing corn than for producing eggs.

For these reasons, I would pick corn, but eggs would be a defensible answer as well.

How is heroism and villainy presented in Macbeth?

Heroism and villainy are presented in Macbeth through the character of Macbeth himself.  When the play begins, Macbeth is shown as the main conquering hero and savior of the battle.  

For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name--
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like valour's minion carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave;
Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,
Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,
And fix'd his head upon our battlements.

Macbeth is brave, strong, and violent.  That sounds exactly like any modern day hero that I can think of.  Duncan thinks that Macbeth is such a worthy man that Duncan gives him a second thane title and invites himself over to dine with Macbeth.  

Unfortunately, Macbeth is not as pure as the driven snow.  He is capable of great villainous acts.  Most notably is his murdering of Duncan.  Murder is bad enough, but a plot to kill a decent man (who happens to be king) is awful.  Then Macbeth just spirals out of control.  He starts to kill anybody and everybody who might have a claim to his throne.  That's villainous.  

In The Call of the Wild, what were the men's reactions when they discovered that Spitz was missing?

At the beginning of Chapter 4, Francois discovers that Spitz is missing. He draws Buck to the light of the fire to point out the big dog's wounds to Perrault, who comments that 'Dat Spitz fight lak hell.' Francois responds that Buck's fighting spirit is twice that of Spitz's.

Both men are glad that Spitz will not be coming back, as it means that the wily Spitz will not be there to make trouble among the dogs. They also imagine that they will make their needed journey in better time now that there will no longer be any disturbances. From the wounds that Buck has sustained, Francois and Perrault assume that Buck has defeated his nemesis.

However, the men make an error in assuming that Buck will go back to just being one of the dogs in the group; in light of his victory, Buck fully intends on taking the lead at the head of the pack. Francois puts Sol-leks at the front, but each time, Buck challenges him for the head position. Frustrated, Francois takes up the club, but Buck bides his time.

Both Francois and Perrault try to intimidate Buck by running after him, throwing clubs at him, and cursing him for the better part of an hour. However, Buck refuses to surrender his desire. In the end, both men realize that they have no choice but to give in to Buck. They call to him, but he stands apart laughing at them. Not until they throw down their clubs does Buck take his place confidently at the front of the pack. As he leads, Buck shows that he is superior in every way to Spitz:

At a bound, Buck took up the duties of leadership, and where judgment was required, and quick thinking and quick acting, he showed himself the superior even of Spitz, of whom Francois had never seen an equal.

What does Juliet plan to do with the rope ladder in Act 3 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet?

In Act III, Scene 2, Juliet originally asks her Nurse to obtain "a cord" so that Romeo may climb this rope and enter her chambers in order to consummate their marriage; however, after she learns the tragic events involving Tybalt and Romeo, Juliet considers using the rope to commit suicide.

In this play of contrasts--life/death, love/hate, light/dark images--this scene from Act II certainly develops these motifs. For, as Juliet awaits the return of the Nurse she anticipates the "gentle night...black-browed night" that will provide Romeo the cover that he needs to climb the rope to her chambers where they will consummate their marriage, and by doing so, prevent their parents from having the marriage annulled. 

However, before the safety of night, the Nurse arrives with the tragic news of the death of Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, at the hands of Romeo, her husband. Having heard this disturbing report, Juliet addresses the now useless rope and tells it that she, too, is now useless. Whereas she hoped to lose her virginity and perhaps become a mother and bring forth new life, now she will die a virgin. And, she decides that she will use the rope to end her life:

Come, cords.—Come, Nurse. I’ll to my wedding bed.
And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead! (3.2.137-138)

Hearing her despair, the Nurse tries to comfort Juliet; therefore, she tells Juliet that she knows where Romeo is hiding, and will go to Friar Laurence's cell and bring him to comfort Juliet. This cheers Juliet, who tells the Nurse,

Oh, find him! Give this ring to my true knight,
And bid him come to take his last farewell. (3.2.143-144)

Evaluate the integral

You need to use the substitution  , such that:

Replacing the variable, yields:

You need to use the integration by parts such that:

Replacing back the variable, yields:

Hence, evaluating the integral, using substitution, then integration by parts, yields 

Use matricies to solve the system of equations (if possible). Use Gauss-Jordan elimination.

The equations can be written as

R2 (R1+R3)-R2

R3 (R3-2R2)

R1 (2R1-R3)

R3 (7R3+R1)

Solutions of the equation are x=4,y=-3,z=2

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a computer in a business?

The benefits of using a computer in a business far outweigh any of the pitfalls. The computer gives you access to the Internet, which makes it much easier to communicate with different employees and divisions in your company.  The computer can also be used to connect to social media, which can be a very effective and cost-efficient means of advertising.  The creation of a company web site is also a powerful tool for advertising.  Using computers makes almost any task for any business more efficient.  Efficiency ultimately leads to higher profits.  

There are aspects of the computer that benefit virtually any business. Computers make record-keeping easier and more accurate.  It is easier to track payroll, generate receipts, and prepare to file taxes.  For every business endeavor, there are software applications designed specifically for that business.  

In many respects, this question would have been more appropriate thirty years ago.  The reason I say that is because the computer is such an everyday part of our lives today that we could discuss advantages for days.  A couple of disadvantages for relying on computers exist, however.  First, a business has the potential to lose the personal touch between employees and customers when they communicate exclusively with computers. Another problem is that it is possible to become too dependent on the computer for day-to-day operations.  If the company experiences technical issues, such as a problem with the network, they may be hampered for a period of time and lose productivity.  There are also overhead costs associated with computers that a company must absorb, including maintenance, personnel, infrastructure, and utility costs.

How would you describe the relationship between Tom and his wife?

In "Contents of the Dead Man’s Pockets” by Jack Finney, Tom and his wife have a congenial, comfortable relationship. They accommodate each other’s needs in a loving but distant way. When Tom’s wife is preparing to go out to a movie, she asks whether he would like to go because he previously expressed an interest in the show. But, she is understanding when he decides to stay home to work. He jokes with her about how she will enjoy having more money when he becomes a financial success. Before she goes out the door, he holds her close smelling her perfume. He is tempted to go with her, but pulls back. When Tom faces death on the ledge, he realizes how skewed his priorities are, and how dear his wife is to him. As soon as he is able to save himself, he rushes out to be with her.

What strategy do most of the people in Ember use to cope with the shortages and blackouts in Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember?

In Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember, two of the most frequent strategies people use to cope with shortages and blackouts are worrying and passively hoping for better.

In chapter 6, the morning after the big blackout, Lina notes that people were so worried and terrified that they were silent about the blackout, whereas, normally, they chatter endlessly, asking each other where he/she was during a blackout and wondering, "What's the matter with the electricians?" (Ch. 6). Lina only delivers one message that day around the city, a message stating that the blackout had lasted "seven minutes," the longest blackout they had ever had. Later, when there is a series of five blackouts in a row, the number of messages Lina must deliver doubles because people do not want to go next door or walk across the street to say something to their neighbors; they solicit a messenger instead in order to stay safe in their own homes. Lina notes that most messages say things like, "I'm not coming to the meeting tonight, decided to stay home" (Ch. 12).

Just as most people passively worry about the situation and stay home doing nothing, a small group of Ember's citizens, who call themselves the Believers, have developed their own salvation belief system in which they hope to be rescued by the Builders. As the blackouts grow worse, the number of Believers increases.

How does the Ceremony of Twelve start and why is number Nineteen skipped in the assignments in The Giver?

The Ceremony of Twelve starts with a description of the class, and number Nineteen is skipped because Jonas has a special assignment.

The Ceremony of Twelve is the most important ceremony, and the last one.  After twelve, no one counts ages any more.  The children are well on their way to training to be adults.  The ceremony this year is different because Jonas’s number is skipped.  This causes him and the others discomfort, because they do not realize he has been chosen Receiver of Memory.

Jonas’s Ceremony of Twelve begins in an ordinary way.  The Chief Elder starts off by describing Jonas’s class of twelve-year-olds.

The speech was much the same each year: recollection of the time of childhood and the period of preparation, the coming responsibilities of adult life, the profound importance of Assignment, the seriousness of training to come. (Ch. 7)

After this introduction, the Chief Elder moves on to describing each child in number order.  The child’s personality is described, along with some brief history, and then the assignment is announced.  All proceeds normally until the elder moves from number Eighteen to number Twenty.

Jonas first assumes that he has done something wrong.  A child who does not complete volunteer hours is not given an assignment.  Jonas feels embarrassed and ashamed, and can barely concentrate for the rest of the ceremony as he is trying to decide what he did.

After all of the children other than Jonas have been given assignments, the Chief Elder finally explains what happened.  She apologizes for causing everyone confusion and apprehension, then tells them why Jonas was skipped.

"Jonas has not been assigned," she informed the crowd, and his heart sank.

Then she went on. "Jonas has been selected." (Ch. 8)

In a ceremony celebrating differences, the community acknowledges that Jonas is very different.  Standing out is never appreciated in the community, but Jonas has been given a special assignment.  As the Receiver of Memory, his position is one of great importance to the community.  It is an honor and very rare.

Jonas has no idea what he is getting into when he is chosen Receiver of Memory.  This position means that he will hold all of the community’s collective memories for generations back.  It will keep him apart from the others as he becomes one of the only people in the community to really understand what is going on there.

Why the drama?  Why skip Jonas at all?  The answer is that the community clearly wants to have everyone's complete attention for Jonas's announcement.  The position of Receiver of Memory is so important that they want to call attention to it, and to him.  It is an unusual move for a community dedicated to Sameness.  Jonas was definitely not expecting it.

Can you explain a little bit about the colonization of the west?

The Transcontinental Railroad to the West was completed in the United States after the Civil War in 1869. This opened up huge areas for settlement and economic development. White settlers from the East rushed across the Mississippi River, eager for a chance at a fresh start, and the opportunity to mine, farm, and ranch. African-American settlers also rushed at the chance of moving West, in the hopes of starting all-black towns and counties. Settlers greatly changed the landscape and ecology of the region. The herds of buffalo that once grazed were wiped out as farmers plowed the natural grasses and introduced herds of cows to the area. The loss of the buffalo and the large influx of white settlers greatly affected the lives of Native Americans. By the 1880s, most Native Americans were living on reservations. The reservations were typically in areas that were seen as less desirable by the white settlers. 

At the end of the The Crucible, John proctor tears up the confession that would have saved his life. Do you find this act believeable?

Absolutely, I do.  We see John's ambivalence about lying to save his life in his conversation with Elizabeth.  He says, "I have been thinking I would confess to them, Elizabeth [...].  What say you?  If I give them that?"  However, he cannot look at her when he asks it, and when people cannot make eye contact, it often signals that person's shame.  Further, he asks her opinion because he respects her as a good, honest woman.  If she can say that she would give a lie to save her life, it would make John feel less guilty about doing so himself.  He explains further,

I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint.  It is a fraud.  I am not that man [....].  My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man.  Nothing's spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before.

Ever since he committed adultery, John has felt like a corrupted person, one who can never regain his goodness.  It has tortured him.  Now he says that since he is already ruined, nothing more is damaged by another sin.  If he goes to hang like one of those people who are truly innocent of sin, it would be another kind of lie.  He is trying so hard to justify this to himself.

Elizabeth tries to tell him that she cannot judge him either way, that "it come to naught that [she] should forgive [him], if [he'll] not forgive [him]self."  She assures him that whatever he does, "it is a good man does it."  She believes him to be a good man regardless of which path he chooses now.  Finally, most importantly, she tells him,

Do what you will.  But let none be your judge.  There be no higher judge under Heaven than Proctor is!  Forgive me, forgive me, John -- I never knew such goodness in the world!

Initially, this makes him want to keep his life, to stay alive and be with her and their children.  But then her words, I think, have time to sink in while he makes his confession, answers the judges' questions, considers whether or not to sign the confession, and explain why he does not want to.  When he tears up the document, in agony, it brings to fruition many, many months of self-doubt and recrimination and shame.  John finally sees a way to reclaim his goodness, his sense of personal integrity, and he says, 

You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor.

He ultimately realizes that he doesn't have to be a saint to be good.  It isn't about being sinless but choosing as well as he can in this moment, at this time.  I find it extremely compelling, and, because we have seen Proctor's emotional and spiritual journey up to this point, it is quite believable.

In Great Expectations, what does apprenticeship mean?

An apprenticeship was a way for a boy to learn a trade, as well as to continue his education to some degree. Boys were apprenticed around the age of thirteen or fourteen, and the typical apprenticeship lasted approximately seven years. A legally binding agreement, even for family members, it provided protection for the apprentice as well as for the employer. The boy was to be provided with adequate food, shelter, clothing, and education, beyond the training required to learn the trade. The apprentice was more than a servant, but less than an employee, often working long hours and doing the menial tasks at the beginning of the indenture period. A fee was given to the tradesman who was to provide the training, such as Miss Havisham gave to Joe Gargery when Pip was apprenticed. An apprenticeship could be ended by both parties with mutual consent. At the end of the indenture, the apprentice was licensed as a journeyman and could choose his employer.

What did Prince Prospero decide to do in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

Prince Prospero decided to take a thousand of his closest friends and hole up in a castle to have a party.

The Red Death was a terrible disease.  It killed a person quickly and efficiently.   The disease was also highly contagious.  For this reason, Prospero’s people were dying left and right.  At this point, most leaders would have at least tried to help their people.  Prosopero was so selfish and arrogant that he had a better idea.

When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court, and with these retired to the deep seclusion of one of his castellated abbeys. This was an extensive and magnificent structure, the creation of the prince's own eccentric yet august taste. 

He decorated the house garishly and magnificently.  What was happening was a constant party.  The castle was very well appointed and there was no reason for anyone to leave.  No one could get in, and no one could get out.

It was toward the close of the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion, and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad, that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence.

Prospero assumed that he was rich enough to escape death.  He gave no interest to his suffering people.  As their leader, he should have put his every effort into helping them, either by trying to end the plague or by aiding the sick.  Instead, he isolated himself and the wealthiest members of his kingdom and ignored his people.

The story demonstrates the arrogance of those who feel that they are above all consequences, including death.  Prospero cared only about himself.  He wanted to have a good time.  In the end, he died just the same.

What are all the 'pairs' in Much Ado About Nothing?

If you are talking about romantic pairings, Much Ado About Nothing has a number of obvious couples as well as a few who could be interpreted as having subtle romantic tension. Beatrice and Benedick are the comedic, witty pair who have known one another for a long time. They always spar, but the two are easily tricked into falling for one another. The romance of Claudio and Hero drives the plot. They seem to share an earnest affection, but Claudio disavows Hero at their wedding because he believes she has been unfaithful. Finally, Margaret and Borachio’s liaison plays a major role in the story, for Borachio pretends to have relations with Hero rather than Margaret.

Other couples that are only hinted at include Beatrice and Don Pedro. He, perhaps jokingly, asks, “Will you have me, lady?” She turns him down with a jest. Though he seems to remain in good spirits, he says, “Your silence most offends me.” Benedick and Margaret also have a flirtatious conversation in act V, scene 2, which is entirely in character due to their mutual love of double entendres. Some directors pair up Antonio and Ursula due to their brief conversation at the masquerade when Ursula recognizes Antonio by his “excellent wit” and physical characteristics. Another possible pairing is Don John and the loyal Conrade, who says that he will follow Don John “to the death.”

In conclusion, this is a play about relationships, and there is no shortage of pairings, romantic or platonic.

In Flannery O'Connor's "Revelation," why do only three of the characters have names?

A major theme of "Revelation" is Mrs. Turpin's misguided view of the world. She views everyone as part of a hierarchy, and from her perspective, nearly everyone is lower than herself and her husband. By referring to everyone else by labels that she's assigned them, rather than by their names, she strips them of their identity and agency. In Mrs. Turpin's mind, there's no need to learn the "white-trash woman's" name because she's "white-trash" and not worthy.

The climax of this story, though, is the vision that Mrs. Turpin has of people like herself and Claud bringing up the rear of the procession -- walking behind the very people she's deemed and treated as nameless and unworthy.

It's also important to note that Mrs. Turpin only thinks of Claud by name; it's the nurse who gives Miss Finley's name.

What part of the plan has Macbeth failed to accomplish?

Each of the Macbeths has a role to play in Duncan's murder. Lady Macbeth is going to give the guards drugged wine, and when they're knocked out she's going to lift their daggers and place them where Macbeth can find them. Macbeth will then slip into the chamber, kill Duncan with the grooms’ daggers, and then plant the daggers on the unconscious grooms to make them look guilty.

All goes according to plan until Macbeth reunites with his wife. She realizes that rather than leaving the daggers planted on the grooms, he's brought them back with him and is holding them in his hand. The daggers in his bloody hands would incriminate him immediately in the murder, should anybody see him, but he’s too horror-struck to do anything about it, and is too frightened to return them. Lady Macbeth stays levelheaded, though, demanding, “Give me the daggers". She then takes off to plant them on the grooms, then returns to help Macbeth clean up the blood. She’s quite steely and calm in this scene. Over the course of the play we will see her steady exterior unravel as the blood she cleans in this scene begins to haunt her imagination.

In Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, who are the antagonists? What anxieties in the societies that fear them do these villains represent...

The antagonists in Beowulf are primarily monsters, figures of pure evil. Although Unferth is initially dubious about Beowulf, he is won over after the defeat of Grendel, and thus is not purely an antagonist. Thus we can see four opponents that Beowulf encounters over the course of the story that are emblems of evil and monsters of nature:

• A sea monster: overcome before the start of the epic; shows evidence of Beowulf's prowess


• Grendel: the evil monster that has been ravaging the mead hall and snacking on warriors


• Grendel's mother: also a monster, avenging the death of her son


• Dragon: the dragon burns down the houses of the Geats and eventually kills and is killed by Beowulf

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the antagonist is more ambiguous. The initial antagonist appears to be the Green Knight, a figure symbolically associated with nature. The Green Knight, though, is not himself evil, but rather a figure that serves to test Gawain's moral character. Thus the real antagonist is not so much the Green Knight but the moral weaknesses of Gawain himself, or even the "great antagonist" of Satan who lurks ready to corrupt the Christian knight if the knight does not fully trust in Christ. Thus the sexual temptation Gawain resists is as much an "antagonist" as the Green Knight, and the tale is a moral allegory. Morgan le Fay is also an antagonist (and may have disguised herself as Lady Bertilak or be an alter-ego for her), but again, she represents as much the temptations of lust and lying as she is an external threat.

What is the difference between a finite verb and a modal verb?

A finite verb is basically the most normal kind of verb that you are used to working with.  It functions with a subject and shows tense.  That means it can be used in the past, present, or future tenses.  

Let's use the word "type" as an example.  

Past: I typed this response.

Present: I type this response.  

Future: I will type this response.  

Modal verbs are very unique verbs.  They have their own set of "weirdness" to them.  For example, they never take an "s" in the third person.  To make a modal verb negative, you add the word "not" to them.  Lastly, most modal verbs cannot be used in the past or future tenses.  

Some common modal verbs are "should," "would," and "could."  

Some example sentences:

"He should be home shortly."  The third person doesn't take an "s." 

"He could not hit the target."  Adds "not" to make it negative. 

"He will would be with us."  Not correct.  

What is Miss Maudie like in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Miss Maudie is the Finches' kind neighbor who enjoys gardening and speaking to Jem and Scout. Out of all the adults in Maycomb, the Finch children enjoy Maudie's company the most and Scout considers her a close friend. Maudie is a morally upright individual who supports Atticus' decision to defend Tom Robinson. She is also a magnanimous person who allows the children to play in her yard as long as they don't ruin her flowers. Maudie also takes time out of her day to sit on her porch with Scout and bakes delicious cakes for the children throughout the novel. Miss Maudie is also quick to ridicule intolerant, disrespectful people like the "foot-washing Baptists" and Mrs. Merriweather. Overall, Miss Maudie is a positive character throughout the novel who supports the Finch family and is considered a loyal friend.

Why does Dimmesdale decide to wait until Judgement Day to reveal how he truly feels?

Nathaniel Hawthorne creates a complex, morally ambiguous character in The Scarlet Letter. Arthur Dimmesdale is a man who struggles through the course of the novel to come to terms with his sin.  He grapples with rectifying himself both to himself and his parishioners. In chapter 1, he is met with Hester and Pearl coming home from the deathbed of Governor Winthrop, in the middle of the night and ironically, at the scaffold, the scene of Hester's public ignominy. Hester is empathetic to Dimmesdale's pain but Pearl is a bit more demanding of his intentions. When asked if he will hold her hand "tomorrow, noontide," he responds with, "Nay, not so my child. I shall, indeed, stand with thy mother and thee, one other day, but not to-morrow."

When pressed by Pearl, he responds that it will not be until Judgement Day that he shall stand with Pearl, and thus reveal his true feelings and his true sins.

Later, in chapter 17, Dimmesdale offers the reader insight to his hesitation to make public his offense. "Else, I should long ago have thrown of these garments of mock holiness, and have shown myself to mankind as they will see me at the judgement-seat." It becomes clear at this point that Dimmesdale has toiled too long under the burden of his offense and he feels he can no longer repent in this world. He has worn his sin too long to feel he could repent and be forgiven by man. It will not be until Judgement Day that he can finally be free as God already knows of his sins. But we now know he will now unburden himself before his fellow man.

In Julius Caesar, how does Antony change after his funeral oration?

Brutus sees Antony as non-threatening, as nothing more than Caesar’s right-hand man who can do no harm once Caesar is gone. Cassius thinks they should kill both Antony and Caesar, but Brutus argues against it. “And for Mark Antony, think not of him;/For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm/When Caesar’s head is off”(II.i.801-803). Because of this, the readers may trust that this characterization of Antony is true. After all, he acts humble before Brutus and the conspirators, shaking their hands above Caesar’s dead body. “I doubt not of your wisdom./Let each man render me his bloody hand”(III.i.1405-1406). Then he goes on to ask for permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral, and Brutus grants this to him.

At Caesar’s funeral, Antony proves a great orator, something Brutus and the conspirators are not expecting, which leads us to believe no one quite knew the depths of Antony’s character. Antony begins his speech by calling Brutus and the conspirators honorable men, yet he goes on to tell the people of Rome all the good that Caesar did for them while he was alive and the land and money Caesar left to them in his will. By the end of his speech, the people have been moved so much that they go from praising Brutus to calling the conspirators traitors. Thus begins Antony’s war against the traitors, ending in the conspirators’ deaths.

It’s not so much that Antony changes throughout the play as it is that the reader’s perception of him changes. In the beginning he is painted as lacking compared to Caesar, but we quickly see him prove himself not only a great orator, but also the most honorable of men. While he does wage war against the conspirators, he is not brutal or selfish. Upon Brutus’s death, Antony says, “This was the noblest Roman of them all:/All the conspirators save only he/Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;/He only, in a general honest thought/And common good to all, made one of them”(V.v.2754-2758). Antony recognizes that he and Brutus are not much different. They both did what they did for what they believed was the good of Rome.

Antony was loyal to Caesar and Rome in general from the beginning. The change we see is one brought on by Caesar’s death. We see him grow from a man content in his role as the right hand of the king to a powerful ruler in his own right. But his loyalty is steadfast throughout.

Why does Jim have a "peculiar expression" on his face when he first comes home in "The Gift of the Magi"?

Jim’s expression comes from the fact that he realizes that the combs he bought Della for Christmas will be useless now.  

When Jim and Della do not have enough money to buy each other presents, each sells the one thing valued most to get the other a present.  When Jim realizes what Della has done, he is not angry at her. He is shocked. 

It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.

Della cut her hair.  He sold his watch to buy her a special gift that requires hair. He knew how much she valued her hair.  He was thinking about how much she would love the combs.  The fact that she can’t use his gift leaves him stumped and horrified.  He is not upset with her, he is just baffled by the fact that he has no gift for her now.

Della’s reaction is telling.  She is afraid he is angry at her for cutting her hair.  She tries to read his expression, which too her is “peculiar.”  She begins to wonder if she knew him as well as she thought.  Fortunately, Jem proves to be the person she thought he was.  Once it sinks in, he hugs her.

Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake. He enfolded his Della. For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction. Eight dollars a week or a million a year—what is the difference?

Jim and Della’s presents show that they both know each other well and care about each other.  They also show that they love each other enough to give up what matters most.  Possessions and beauty are shallow.  The desire to make someone a gesture is what matters.  This is why O’Henry says that they were wise.  They each gave the gift of sacrifice.