Is Dexter Green from "Winter Dreams" a dynamic or static character?

Dexter is a dynamic character, meaning he changes in a significant way by the time the story ends.

Most main characters in a story are dynamic, because most stories involve meeting challenges, reacting to them, and being changed by them in some important way. In other words, the main character or protagonist in a story is not the same person as he or she was when the story began. Somehow, that person thinks differently, sees the world differently, or has developed a significantly different personality.

If a character is the opposite of dynamic--static--that means he or she experiences no significant changes; that character basically stays the same from the beginning to the end of the story. Minor characters are usually static: the ones who aren't that important to the story. Sometimes, a main character is static in a story because he misses out on a chance to change.

Getting back to Dexter in "Winter Dreams," let's see what makes him a dynamic character by examining his character traits near the beginning of the story versus toward the end.

How he is near the beginning of the story:

As a young teenager working as a caddy at the golf course, Dexter is hardworking and competent: he never loses a ball, and his boss calls him "the best caddy in the club." Although the narrator doesn't explicitly say so, we believe Dexter has been doing this job for quite a while, so we assume he's also reliable. At the same time, he's deeply affected by the changing of the seasons and is often overcome by melancholy. We can tell how deeply emotional he is, too, because he reacts so impetuously to meeting Judy for the first time, suddenly throwing away his caddy job:

"But he had received a strong emotional shock, and his perturbation required a violent and immediate outlet."

And, notably, Dexter describes himself as a boy as "proud" and "desirous." The narrator adds that Dexter operated under the illusion that Judy was desirable, so we also know that Dexter was easily enchanted, or full of illusions.

As the story goes on, Dexter grows up, becomes successful in business, plays golf, and suffers endlessly from his on-again, off-again relationship with Judy. Because he wants to possess beautiful things, he keeps on chasing after the beautiful Judy no matter how many times she hurts him.

Now let's take a look at how he is at the end of the story, as a result of all those life experiences:

Is Dexter still hardworking, competent, and reliable? Yes. He's one of the richest young men in the country, it seems, and he's worked his way into a higher social class. So, that aspect of his personality hasn't changed.

Is he still melancholy and impetuous, given to fits of sadness and sudden emotional displays? Yes. Look at that scene toward the end with Devlin, when Dexter loses his cool when he hears what happened to Judy.

Is Dexter still enchanted? Is he still blinded by illusions? No. He has lost his illusions; he understands the reality now that Judy is not some perfect, ever-gorgeous being. She's become a frumpy housewife and isn't even pretty anymore. Dexter realizes this, and then he realizes that he's become disillusioned, finally. That's how Dexter changes. Here's how he acknowledges and laments that major change:

"Long ago," he said, "long ago, there was something in me, but now that thing is gone. Now that thing is gone, that thing is gone. I cannot cry. I cannot care. That thing will come back no more."

To sum it up, although Dexter retains many of his basic personality traits, his life experiences cause him to build up and then shatter his own illusions. His way of looking at the world changes from enchanted (and unrealistic) to realistic. That's how he changes, and that's why he's a dynamic character.

What do Bronia's drawings and illustrations represent?

Bronia is only three years old when her father, Joseph Balicki, is arrested and taken to a Nazi prison camp and her mother, Margrit, is taken away by German soldiers.

Bronia and her two siblings, Ruth and Edek, then find themselves at the mercy of the elements and the Nazi occupation forces. Edek takes to stealing food and necessities for his siblings until he is arrested for having butter in his possession. This leaves Ruth and Bronia to survive as best they can without him; however, with Ivan, the Russian sentry's help, both girls are soon able to trace Edek to a refugee feeding station at Posen.

Together at last, all three siblings make their way to Berlin by train; a long journey and many treacherous adventures transpire before they are eventually reunited with their parents.

The story tells us that, after the war, the Balickis become house parents for the Polish House in an international children's village in Switzerland. It is during this time that Bronia starts drawing pictures. Her pictures initially constitute drawings of 'ruined buildings, soldiers, and field kitchens.' As time progresses, her artistic endeavors focus on happier subjects such as 'the lake and the Swiss mountains.'

It is apparent that Bronia's drawings are a form of therapy for her. They allow her to process her fears and other negative emotions deriving from the war and her traumatic experiences. Art becomes a cathartic and healing element in her life.

Give two clear quotations that suggest life during the "Great Depression" in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird.

Scout never says anything explicitly about The Great Depression in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The question of different families' finances comes up when Scout attempts to tell her teacher, Miss Caroline, that she shouldn't offer a Cunningham a quarter for lunch because he won't be able to pay her back. Scout remembers that Walter Cunningham Sr. had paid her father in kind rather than money; that is to say, he pays with food, products, or services. When a family doesn't have money, then the old ways of bartering and trading for goods and services become other ways of payment.

Scout asks Atticus why Mr. Cunningham paid with stovewood, hickory nuts, similax, and holly, and he explains it as follows:

"Because that's the only way he can pay me. He has no money . . . The Cunninghams are country folks, farmers, and the crash hit them hardest" (21).

When Atticus says "the crash" he is referring to the stock market crash in October 1929 which burst the economic bubble in the United States and paved the way for The Great Depression.

The second time Atticus refers to The Great Depression is the day after Tom Robinson's trial. He wakes up to find a cooked chicken for breakfast along with rolls, "pork, tomatoes, beans, [and] scuppernogs" waiting for him. Calpurnia says that Tom's dad sent the chicken and other black folks sent the other goods to him out of appreciation for helping Mr. Robinson with the trial. Atticus responds by saying,

"Tell them I'm very grateful, . . . Tell them--tell them they must never do this again. Times are too hard" (213).

The Great Depression isn't mentioned here, but it is implied. Atticus knew that people would be suffering by giving up such wonderful food and goods to him and he couldn't bear that. He even mentioned that the White House didn't even have chicken for breakfast, so he couldn't bring himself to even eat his breakfast. Everyone around the country was suffering from The Depression, and with Atticus being the humble guy that he is, he couldn't accept such wonderful gifts or payment.

Hey, I'm from Denmark, Scandinavia and I am working on an essay about the American Dream. Is the idea of the American Dream still relevant today in...

Of course, different Americans could have different opinions about this question, but I believe that the idea of the American Dream is still very relevant to most Americans.  I believe that most Americans still expect that they will have the economic opportunity and the social mobility that is promised in the American Dream.  I believe that much of our current political conflict is caused by the feeling that the American Dream may be slipping away.

First, let us define the American Dream.  I would say that one aspect of this dream is that Americans feel that they should be better-off than their parents were and that their children should expect to have even better lives than they do.  Thus, there is a clear materialistic aspect to the dream.  In addition, there is an aspect of the dream that says that Americans should feel that they are in control of their destinies, both as individuals and as a nation.

I believe that both aspects of this dream remain relevant today.  It may be that the dream is becoming harder to actually achieve, but this still shows how relevant it is to Americans.  Many Americans believe that economic opportunity is decreasing and that the country is becoming less powerful.  They feel that they do not have the same chance of living the American Dream that previous generations did.  We can see that this is relevant because it leads to a great deal of anger among Americans.  Both liberals and conservatives are angry because they see the dream slipping away.  Conservatives become angry and turn to angry “leaders” like Donald Trump because they feel that such leaders can restore the American Dream, bringing back economic prosperity and the dominance of the US and of white American men.  Liberals become angry and are tempted to turn to people like Bernie Sanders who promise to rein in what they see as greedy rich people who have destroyed the American Dream.

In my view, this proves the continuing relevance of the American Dream.  Americans are angry because they feel the dream is being lost.  If you are angry because you think something is being lost, it implies that the thing is relevant to you.

What is your opinion of the idea that a single event can significantly alter the way we live our lives?

It sounds like your teacher simply wants your opinion.  You can answer the question honestly, but do remember that when a teacher asks this kind of question, he or she is really wanting you to defend your opinions.  

I agree with the idea that a single event can significantly alter the way we live our lives.  The way that it is currently worded though makes me think that the event in question is already passed.  Let me use an example.  I am married.  I had my wedding day, and that single event significantly changed the next eleven years.  When my wife and I found out that we were pregnant, that single event changed my family dynamic forever.  Those kinds of single events happen to people all of the time, and their lives are forever changed because of it.  

I don't think that the question is being asked correctly though in regards to the story "A Sound of Thunder."  I think the question is meant to ask how knowing about a single future action can significantly alter lives.  Will you change how you live knowing that every little thing that you do can have significant repercussions?  

The reason that I think the question is meant to be asked this way is because that is the question Bradbury asks in the story.  Eckels steps on a single butterfly in the past, which causes massive changes back in the present.  A person could go about his life attempting to scrutinize every single action and decision, but that would be pointless.  Every action that he or she does or does not take will have some effect on the future, but there is no way to know exactly what the effect is.  That's because the effect will feel normal.  The changed present in "A Sound of Thunder" feels different because the men have something to compare it to.  But in real life, you will never have the ability to shift yourself over to a different dimension and discover what the other decision wound up creating.  If a person tried to micromanage every little item in order to avoid possible future cataclysmic events, that person would go crazy.  

So, no I don't think knowing single events can cause drastic changes should alter how we live our daily lives.  

Why is Jessie afraid of an uprising by the black slaves aboard ship?

Interesting question! In the book The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox, Jessie is afraid of a slave uprising.

When the slave ship arrives at the coast to load the slaves, Jessie learns that he might carry a gun. Subsequently, his fellow crewmate tells Jessie that the slaves might have an uprising while they can still see their homeland. As Jessie's crewmate reveals:  

“If the blacks try anything, it’ll be then, when they can still see where they come from. Oh, they’ve done terrible things I could tell you about! Killing a crew and a master and all, then flinging themselves back into the sea, even shackled!”

After his fellow crewmate shares this information, Jessie begins to think about the stories he heard about slave uprisings at home. When Jessie was at home, he heard about uprisings occurring in other states, such as South Carolina and Virginia.

Consequently, these events made Jessie afraid of a slave uprising. After hearing about stories from his fellow crewmate and remembering stories from back home, Jessie becomes nervous.

What is it about Tim Johnson’s appearance and behavior that makes Jem think that the dog has rabies? How does Calpurnia respond when she sees...

Tim Johnson is walking strangely and seems to be acting abnormally. He's walking very slowly and twitching. Everyone in the town knows Tim Johnson well, and so Jem is easily able to see the change in the dog's behavior because he knows what Tim's "normal" behavior is like.

The kids tell Calpurnia and, after looking at Tim Johnson, she immediately calls Atticus to let him know there is a rabid dog on the loose. She then calls the town operator to have her call and warn each of the neighbors, and she runs to the Radley house and yells at the house to warn them. She is very proactive in making sure that anyone who could come in contact with Tim Johnson stays away. 

Atticus comes directly home, gets his gun, and much to the surprise of Jem and Scout, shoots Tim Johnson. Although Atticus shoots the dog and "saves" everyone, it is really Calpurnia who kept everyone from harm by warning them.