What are the post modernistic characters in the text?

Great question! Although there are no specific post-modernistic characters in the short story, I think I understand what you mean. Much of the dialogue in Night-Sea Journey actually relates to the theories held by some very famous post-modernist philosophers.

For example, the protagonist, a spermatozoon, admits that his faith in a common Maker is ambivalent at best.

I have supposed that we have ever after all a common Maker, Whose nature and motives we may not know, but Who engendered us in some mysterious wise and launched us forth toward some end known but to Him... I have been able to entertain such notions, very popular in certain quarters, it is because our night-sea journey partakes of their absurdity.

His mention of 'absurdity' is significant. Albert Camus and Soren Kierkegaard are the preeminent philosophers of absurdist theology. Kierkegaard's The Sickness Unto Death and Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus highlight the meaningless of the universe and man's implicit helplessness in the grand scheme of things. Later, you can see our protagonist lending his voice in sympathy to the absurdist labors of Sisyphus:

The thoughtful swimmer's choices, then, they say, are two: give over thrashing and go under for good, or embrace the absurdity; affirm in and for itself the night-sea journey; swim on with neither motive nor destination, for the sake of swimming...

Which is to say, Someone Else's destiny, since ours, so far as I can see, is merely to perish, one way or another, soon or late.

Indeed, if I have yet to join the hosts of the suicides, it is because (fatigue apart) I find it no meaningfuller to drown myself than to go on swimming.

Both Camus and Kierkegaard did not regard suicide as a valid response to absurdism. They believed that the act of suicide was in itself, a meaningless strategy. You can see this in the fourth quote above. The two philosophers however, differed in how one should respond to a meaningless existence. Kierkegaard supported belief and acceptance in what he considered an unproven power above our own (many call this a belief in God or Providence or Intelligent Creation), while Camus believed that resigned acceptance to the absurd condition of mankind was the better response. He advocated the necessity of the human spirit to transcend the absurdist existence by thriving despite the circumstances.

The protagonist also laments other philosophies which try to explain his plight and the plight of millions of his fellow spermatozoa.

A poor irony: that I, who find abhorrent and tautological the doctrine of survival of the fittest... But the doctrine is false as well as repellent: Chance drowns the worthy with the unworthy, bears up the unfit with the fit by whatever definition, and makes the night-sea journey essentially haphazard as well as murderous and unjustified.

His anguish and frustration mirrors that of Friedrich Nietzsche, who some call an early post-modernist, a man who criticized the Darwinian evolutionary concept of the survival of the fittest.

Very likely I have lost my senses. The carnage at our setting out; our decimation by whirlpool, poisoned cataract, sea-convulsion; the panic stampedes, mutinies, slaughters, mass suicides; the mounting evidence that none will survive the journey- add to these anguish and fatigue; it were a miracle if sanity stayed afloat. 

Nietzsche calls this confusion and despair the ultimate cost of relinquishing faith in God or traditional morality. Suddenly, the principle reason for existence has been discarded, and the search must commence for new principles to sustain the validity of life.

For Nietzsche, biological evolution is the correct explanation for organic history, but it results in a disastrous picture of reality.

In fact, Nietzsche held that Darwinian evolution led to a collapse of all traditional values, because both objective meaning and spiritual purpose for humankind had vanished from interpretations of reality (and consequently, there can be no fixed or certain morality).

Sources: Rebellion, Loneliness, and Night-Sea Journey

Nietzsche, Darwin & Time: From Scientific Evolution to Metaphysical Speculation

Hope this helps!

Why red colour is used as danger signal |

Where human intent is involved, red is used to indicate (potential) dangers because it is relatively easier to see or distinguish compared to other colors. Red light, which is what our eye detects as the color red, is scattered the least by air molecules. Red light has the largest wavelength and so is more easily perceptible even through harsh weather, low lighting or overcast skies, and across distance. This means that even if it's very...

Where human intent is involved, red is used to indicate (potential) dangers because it is relatively easier to see or distinguish compared to other colors. Red light, which is what our eye detects as the color red, is scattered the least by air molecules. Red light has the largest wavelength and so is more easily perceptible even through harsh weather, low lighting or overcast skies, and across distance. This means that even if it's very rainy or dark out, you'll have an easier time seeing a red object than one of another color to indicate danger.

Humans have also evolved to associate the color red as danger, though the origins of this are difficult to determine. Many plants and animals in nature use bright coloring as a means of warding off predators by either intimidation or indicating a poisonous quality. For example, poison dart frogs come in a variety of colors, all quite bold. This sends a signal to other animals that they are not good for eating. Many poisonous berries are of a bright red color, and this association lead to the myth that tomato fruits were poisonous.

Based on cultural associations with color, red may not be the color of choice for signalling danger. Alternately, the color red may have meanings that seem to contrast with the idea of danger. In the United States, red indicates both love and danger. 

What are some good essay titles for a portfolio on The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum by Boll?

Well, it would be a really good idea to ultimately allow your students to come up with their own ideas for an essay on The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum.  In addition to the extent that Katharina is guilty of murder, I have compiled another list for you.  Although you failed to mention the age or the ability level of your students, here are a few essay prompts that might be an appropriate fit:

Well, it would be a really good idea to ultimately allow your students to come up with their own ideas for an essay on The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum.  In addition to the extent that Katharina is guilty of murder, I have compiled another list for you.  Although you failed to mention the age or the ability level of your students, here are a few essay prompts that might be an appropriate fit:

• Discuss the cause and the effect of violence as seen in The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum.


• How is The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum a perfect example of how German society differs from our own?


• How does The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum show both the "misuse and abuse of language" (especially in regards to Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language."


• What are some ways that sex relates to violence in The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum?
  


• Explain why Totges says that lies “help simple people express themselves more clearly."  How do the characters in The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum prove or disprove this point.


• Explain how the police investigation of Katharina in The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum damages the rest of her life.


• In The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, how are the classes or status of the particular characters (such as Katharina as simple housekeeper and Hubert Blorna as big-wig attorney) an indicator of their success of failure in life.


• How do the issues in The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum reflect the issues in Heinrich Boll's own life (especially in regards to the terrors involved in police investigation).

All of these ideas, of course, could be simplified for a younger audience.  However, considering some of the language and adult content of this novel, I assumed your students were of later high school age or older.  Good luck in giving your assignment.

Why should college athletes be paid?

Of course, many people do not think that college athletes should be paid.  They are already paid to some degree because they get scholarships that pay their tuition, room, and board to attend college.  However, let us examine the main arguments for the idea that college athletes should be paid.  (Please note that there is little discussion of paying anyone other than football and men’s basketball players.  These arguments only apply for those sports.)

One...

Of course, many people do not think that college athletes should be paid.  They are already paid to some degree because they get scholarships that pay their tuition, room, and board to attend college.  However, let us examine the main arguments for the idea that college athletes should be paid.  (Please note that there is little discussion of paying anyone other than football and men’s basketball players.  These arguments only apply for those sports.)

One argument is that athletes put in such long hours that they deserve to get paid.  Big-time college sports is not like high school.  Practices are longer and more intense.  Players have to watch film and lift weights and do other things outside of regular practice times.  They have to continue to work out even in their off-seasons to remain in shape to play.  They go on road trips that take them out of class and give them even more work to catch up on.  They put in tremendous amounts of time and deserve to be paid.

The second argument is that these athletes make huge sums of money for other people and deserve a cut of that money.  College football and men’s basketball is very big business.  Coaches get paid millions of dollars per year.  Schools rake in money from TV rights and from attendance.  Video game companies use the players’ likenesses in their games and make a great deal of money that way.  With all of this money being made, it makes sense that the players should get some of that money. 

These are the two main reasons why some people think that college athletes (or at least football and men’s basketball players) should be paid.

What are four ways to conserve the environment?

There are so many ways that a person can help to conserve the environment.  As you can see in the link below, just one source has a list of 30 things a person can do to conserve.  In general, the best way to conserve the environment is to avoid using more resources than is necessary.  You can do this by avoiding using resources yourself and you can try to buy goods and services that do...

There are so many ways that a person can help to conserve the environment.  As you can see in the link below, just one source has a list of 30 things a person can do to conserve.  In general, the best way to conserve the environment is to avoid using more resources than is necessary.  You can do this by avoiding using resources yourself and you can try to buy goods and services that do use the fewest resources.

Among the things that you can do to avoid using unnecessary resources are:

• Don’t drive more than you need to.


• Turn off lights when you aren’t using them.


• Don’t take long showers.


• Replace some or all of your lawn with plants that don’t need much water.

You can also buy things that do not use up as many resources.  For example:

• Buy products that come in less packaging or in recyclable packaging.


• Buy less meat because it takes more resources to raise meat than plants.


• Buy produce from local farmers because it does not have to be shipped as far.

All of these are ways to conserve the environment.  You can see many others at the link below.

What mood does Jackson create?

Shirley Jackson creates a mixed mood of growing curiosity, growing anticipation, growing apprehension, growing suspicion, growing uncanniness, and growing dread. She begins disarmingly with a description of a peaceful small-town setting.

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.

Somehow the innocuous setting with the words "clear," "sunny," "warmth," etc., arouse a glimmer of suspicion....

Shirley Jackson creates a mixed mood of growing curiosity, growing anticipation, growing apprehension, growing suspicion, growing uncanniness, and growing dread. She begins disarmingly with a description of a peaceful small-town setting.

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.

Somehow the innocuous setting with the words "clear," "sunny," "warmth," etc., arouse a glimmer of suspicion. Another chilling story by Shirley Jackson, "The Possibility of Evil," starts in a similar manner.

Miss Adela Strangeworth stepped daintily along Main Street on her way to the grocery. The sun was shining, the air was fresh and clear after the night’s heavy rain, and everything in Miss Strangeworth’s little town looked washed and bright. Miss Strangeworth took deep breaths, and thought that there was nothing in the world like a fragrant summer day. 

Then we learn about the boys gathering stones. Why should they be doing that? And why should their parents be allowing them to do it on what appears to be a rather formal occasion in the center of town?

Why do the rest of the villagers appear so stiff and nervous. They are not their usual selves. On such an occasion there should be a lot of greetings, jokes and laughter. But it is ominously quiet for an attendance of some three hundred people. The men seem especially subdued. We will realize later that they know the real killing will be mostly up to them. The boys won't be strong enough to throw their stones hard enough to kill. The women may not even try to hit the target. This is a patriarchal thing, as it was in the New Testament when the men were planning to stone a woman to death for being caught in adultery. (The man who was with her at the time was probably let off with a warning.) 

Shirley Jackson very deliberately keeps the purpose of this lottery a mystery until Bill Hutchinson draws the slip of paper with the black spot which indicates that it is his family that will be affected. Immediately his wife Tessie begins protesting.

Tessie Hutchinson shouted to Mr. Summers. "You didn't give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn't fair!"

All the other people in this mandatory assembly are relieved. Evidently the "winner" in this lottery is the loser and the losers are all winners--at least for another year. Tessie turns out to be the holder of the slip with the black spot, which indicates that she is the member of the Hutchinson family who has been selected for whatever it is she will receive. She obviously doesn't like it. She keeps protesting, but her friends and neighbors ignore her. She has somehow become an outsider in just a few moments.

It isn't until Tessie gets hit by a rock that the reader finally realizes the meaning of the lottery. Shirley Jackson describes it very well.

Tessie Hutchinson was in the center of a cleared space by now, and she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. "It isn't fair," she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head. Old Man Warner was saying, "Come on, come on, everyone."

Can this really be happening in small-town America? Probably not. But there are a lot of things happening behind closed doors in small-town America that nobody knows about. 

By starting her story in a small town on a story-book warm, sunny day, and by keeping the sinister purpose of the annual town lottery a secret up to the last, Shirley Jackson builds and builds the darkening mood right up to the very last words. It is as if black clouds are gathering overhead and are gradually obscuring the landscape with their dark shadows.

"It isn't fair, it isn't right," Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her.

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," what is the impact of the title when it says "an occurrence"? In what ways might the incident be considered...

The title of Ambrose Bierce's short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is an understatement that belies how profound the subject matter of the story is. The "occurrence" is the hanging of a Confederate civilian operative by the Union Army. Obviously a death under any circumstances is a profound topic; life is precious, and death by hanging is particularly fraught with emotion, certainly for the one being hanged, and also for anyone else who cares for the person. Even those carrying out the hanging cannot remain unmoved by the process. 

In another sense, though, the word "occurrence" indicates that the event is somewhat routine, somewhat unremarkable. And in the context of the American Civil War, an event such as this would be just one of many, many horrific scenes that played out for the four years of the conflict. More American soldiers died in the Civil War than have died in any other armed conflict America has participated in. Over 620,000 soldiers died; this single death of a civilian operative, then, becomes simply an "occurrence." 

In another sense, the word "occurrence" in the title is ambiguous. What event does the title refer to? The obvious answer, which is reinforced by the last sentence of the story, is that it refers to the hanging of Peyton Farquhar. But there are two other "occurrences" that might be the subject of the title. First, something happened at Owl Creek bridge before the hanging. Farquhar attempted to destroy the bridge in order to keep the Union Army from advancing across it into Southern territory. As part of this effort, he planned to "elude the picket post" and "get the better of the sentinel." Since he referred to himself as "a student of hanging," it's possible Farquhar attempted to hang or succeeded in hanging the sentinel from Owl Creek bridge. Whatever Farquhar managed to accomplish was the "occurrence" that led to his eventual hanging and is therefore arguably the more important "occurrence" in the story. 

The other "occurrence" that could be referred to in the title is the imagined "occurrence" of Farquhar's escape. Taking up the last half of the story, the miraculous survival tale is a more noteworthy event than the hanging was, if it had been real. Of course, it all happens in Farquhar's mind in the split second before he loses his life. The detailed descriptions and developing suspense in this section make it the most memorable part of the story. The most profound message the story relays is also found in this section. That a person could live out such a seemingly realistic scenario in just a second or two underscores how precious life is and how one hangs onto life and hangs onto hope until the very end. 

The title of this story uses understatement to produce a profound effect on the reader, causing him or her to contemplate the preciousness of life.

What is the significance of the title in the book/excerpt "Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan?

This is a great question.  Paying attention to the title is a mark of a mature reader. In this case, the title, "Rules of the Game," can be taken in many ways.  For example, Waverly's mother has to learn the rules of American culture. Waverly needs to learn the rules of Chinese and American culture and how they intersect.  On a more banal level, Waverly needs to learn the rule of chess to able to...

This is a great question.  Paying attention to the title is a mark of a mature reader. In this case, the title, "Rules of the Game," can be taken in many ways.  For example, Waverly's mother has to learn the rules of American culture. Waverly needs to learn the rules of Chinese and American culture and how they intersect.  On a more banal level, Waverly needs to learn the rule of chess to able to do well.  Waverly's mother encapsulates all of these elements when she says:

"This American rules," she concluded at last. "Every time people come out from foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, Too bad, go back.

If we take another step, Waverly's mother wants to teach Waverly the art of invisible strength.  If we put this together with learning the rules, Waverly's mother wants her daughter to learn the rules of all systems well and be able to use these rules to succeed and excel in life.  Knowledge is power.  Waverly is an apt pupil. We see this at the end of the story when she has a conflict with her mother.  She is on her bed and contemplating her next move. 

I closed my eyes and pondered my next move.

What are some similarities and differences in the setting and atmospheres of the two books, 1984 (written by George Orwell) and Fahrenheit 451...

In 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 authoritarian states practice mind control over their citizens. In Fahrenheit 451, the government has banned books and the central character, Montag, works as "fireman" burning books. In 1984, books are not entirely banned (Julia job involves churning our cheap romances), but the state works to control every aspect of its citizen's thoughts. Like Montag, Winston Smith works for the state's "mind control" apparatus. In his case, he alters newspapers to ensure that whatever happened in the past conforms to the government's current ideas and statements. 

In both books, the main character rebels against the conformity and regimentation imposed by the state and in both the main characters are urged on to dissent by women. In Montag's case, Clarisse encourages him to enjoy nature as well as read, and Winston has an affair with the free-spirited Julia.

The setting and atmosphere of 1984, however, is grimmer than that of Fahrenheit 451, reflecting the different circumstances in which each author found himself. 1984, which Orwell wanted to call 1948, mirrors the misery of post-war England, still rebuilding from Nazi air attacks, still rationing food, still reeling from the effects of a world war and the loss of its status as the world's premier power. In 1984, the world is relentlessly ugly. Technology, from toilets to elevators, are constantly backed up or broken, food consists of gray mystery meats and shots of gin, people wear dull overalls and life in general is bleak and pinched. 

Fahrenheit 451, however, reflects Bradbury's Californian post-war American world of booming technology and mindless consumerism. People's souls might be numb or in despair, but the technology works perhaps too effectively, narcotizing the public with mindless television shows on giant three- and four-screen TVs. 

Unlike 1984, Fahrenheit 451 ends with some hope that the individual can escape and find freedom from the state. In 1984, Winston and Julia are entirely broken: the totalitarian regime has won. The book ends, shortly before Winston is killed, with the former rebel subdued: 

"But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."

What are six medieval issues found in The Pillars of the Earth? Fully describe the problem identified and comment about it.

Several issues exist in this novel.  One is the idea of building, but with a new design for the church.  Many new architectural ideas were being tried in the 12th century and the idea of building with an open design was radical,for what was to hold up the roof?  A second issue is that of the poverty of the ordinary citizen who has no recourse or source of help.  Tom Builder leaves his newborn son...

Several issues exist in this novel.  One is the idea of building, but with a new design for the church.  Many new architectural ideas were being tried in the 12th century and the idea of building with an open design was radical,for what was to hold up the roof?  A second issue is that of the poverty of the ordinary citizen who has no recourse or source of help.  Tom Builder leaves his newborn son by the grave of his wife because he is too poor to feed the child.  Another issue is the conflict between the small churches and the wealth of the central cathedral which basically owns the wealth of the small churches.  A fourth issue is the founding of a new town which is a place to trade and earn money for the local people.  The Builder family is instrumental in trying to establish their new town where Tom  is building the church, but also to include ways of keeping the money from tradespeople in the town.  A fifth issue is the constant fight between the local churches and the Bishop or Archbishop who has far more power.   The use of that power changes lives and keeps the conflict in the forefront of dealings with the powers of the church.  Behind the back stealing and lying by those in power changes who takes over the Builder's church when the prior dies.  The last issue I would bring up is the lack of knowledge of health care and how many people died because of this lack of knowledge.  The plague and other illnesses spread like wildfire because people travel to trade goods and bring the illnesses with them.

My comment to all of these issues is that all of these still apply in this time as well as back then.  Issues of poverty, power, unknown diseases, and church influence still exist today.  Even experimental building is a problem today as radical ideas are often looked at with skepticism. I did love the book and its sequel because I love historical novels.  This one was set in a difficult time in the world and you can see how the struggles and intrigue are still very relevant today.

We were asked to read the poem "A Barred Owl" by Richard Wilbur. We have to discuss this poem in class. What are some points about this poem that...

One of the first things that a reader would look to analyze in any given poem is the structure of the poem.  Thankfully, "A Barred Owl" is straightforward in its structure.  Wilbur sticks with his form and doesn't change it.  

The poem is comprised of two six-line stanzas.  Each stanza is made up of rhyming couplets, which makes the rhyme scheme of each stanza AABBCC.  As I have gotten better with poetry over the...

One of the first things that a reader would look to analyze in any given poem is the structure of the poem.  Thankfully, "A Barred Owl" is straightforward in its structure.  Wilbur sticks with his form and doesn't change it.  

The poem is comprised of two six-line stanzas.  Each stanza is made up of rhyming couplets, which makes the rhyme scheme of each stanza AABBCC.  As I have gotten better with poetry over the years, I still favor the sounds of an AABBCC rhyme scheme, because it often gives a poem a "sing song" or "light feel."  The last structural element to analyze is the rhythm and meter.  Each stanza is written with an iambic foot.  That means the poem's syllable emphasis goes like this: unstressed/stressed, unstressed/stressed. There are five of those feet per line.  That makes the poem written in iambic pentameter.  It's a very common meter, which is probably why I like it so much.  It's familiar and closely resembles the rhythm and meter of normal spoken English.  

Thematically, the poem focuses on the duality of nature and language.  The speaker narrates to his child that the noise was a harmless owl.  But the second stanza focuses on the real threat that predatory birds are to living creatures.  Regarding language, the speaker thinks about how language is like that bird.  Language can calm and it can also terrorize.  

Words, which can make our terrors bravely clear,

Can also thus domesticate a fear...

That duality is the "shift" that your question asks about.  The first stanza of the poem sounds very light, airy, and friendly.  It's a wonderful sing-song stanza about the noise an owl makes.  But then a person reads the second stanza and is horrified that the speaker can use that same wonderful poetic form to narrate about such horrors as an owl carrying off freshly killed prey.  

Or dreaming of some small thing in a claw

Borne up to some dark branch and eaten raw.

In The Freedom Writers Diary, how do the students change over the span of four years?

Eva changes throughout the story by going from a naive, frightened young girl to a thoughtful, confident young woman. In the earlier years of her life, she saw her father rousted by police and taken away from his community for the crime of "being respected by his people" too much. This perceived (and real) racism marked Eva's heart and spirit for a long time.

When she entered Gruell's class, she was a tough act—getting into...

Eva changes throughout the story by going from a naive, frightened young girl to a thoughtful, confident young woman. In the earlier years of her life, she saw her father rousted by police and taken away from his community for the crime of "being respected by his people" too much. This perceived (and real) racism marked Eva's heart and spirit for a long time.

When she entered Gruell's class, she was a tough act—getting into fights and making other poor choices. She joined a gang and participated in illegal activities. She skipped school. She recognized that even in the classroom, students segregated themselves based on their racial identity. The environment outside was no better; just getting to school meant a gauntlet of racial and gang-affiliated violence.

When she witnessed the robbery, she had a hard choice whether or not to lie about murdered the shop keep. At first, she was going to lie to protect her family member, but in the end she chose to tell the truth. This decision was mostly based on the shared experiences between Eva and other students in Gruell's class.

Between showing solidarity amongst each other, bonding via the Holocaust Museum experience, and meeting the holocaust survivors, they came together to positively change their world. Eva's evolution throughout the book shows this the most.

At the end of stave 4, Scrooge promises to honor Christmas all year. How does Scrooge see this as a way to alter his present life?

At the end of all his encounters with the spirits of Christmas, Scrooge realizes that it will take more than just celebrating Christmas in December to change his life  (and his heart). He will take the meaning of Christmas—service to others, generosity, kindness, fairness, love—throughout the entire year. This can be seen in his commitment to Tiny Tim, who does not die because of the care given him by Ebenezer Scrooge. With the proper help,...

At the end of all his encounters with the spirits of Christmas, Scrooge realizes that it will take more than just celebrating Christmas in December to change his life  (and his heart). He will take the meaning of Christmas—service to others, generosity, kindness, fairness, love—throughout the entire year. This can be seen in his commitment to Tiny Tim, who does not die because of the care given him by Ebenezer Scrooge. With the proper help, Tiny Tim can overcome his disability. Though this is not often the case, Scrooge sees that his money (and his talent for making money) can be used as a force for good. His opening up his heart to Fred and his family allows him to come out of his office and into the world. His goodness to Bob Cratchit as an employer displays his realization of his obligations to look after the welfare of his employees. His willingness to open up his heart to others around displays the true meaning of Christmas as presented by Dickens.

How do you think Scrooge feels listening to Mrs. Crachit's words after her husband's toast?

We are not told exactly, but based on his his reaction just previous to that moment, we can assume he felt pretty terribly.

Just prior to the toast, Scrooge had been asking the spirit about Tiny Tim. He saw that he was crippled and asked if the little boy would live. The ghost retorts back to him,

“'If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race,” returned the Ghost, “will find...

We are not told exactly, but based on his his reaction just previous to that moment, we can assume he felt pretty terribly.

Just prior to the toast, Scrooge had been asking the spirit about Tiny Tim. He saw that he was crippled and asked if the little boy would live. The ghost retorts back to him,

“'If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race,” returned the Ghost, “will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.'”

Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief "(Stave Three).

He feels ashamed at his previous remarks and when the ghost throws them back at him, he has no response. Directly after this is when Bob Cratchit makes the toast to Mr. Scrooge as the "Founder of the Feast," and Mrs. Cratchit says,

“It should be Christmas Day, I am sure,” said she, “on which one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge. You know he is, Robert! Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow" (Stave Three)!

Although we are not told how Scrooge reacts here, we are told that the mood of the entire family dampens after her comment. It is clear that she has reminded them of something very uncomfortable, Mr. Scrooge's stinginess. They do recover from this brief melancholy, but it is obvious that in so many ways Ebenezer Scrooge has made it clear to people that he does not care about them. That is why we see the spirit throw his own words back at him and why we see Mrs. Cratchit respond with such anger. So, we can assume that Scrooge is feeling pretty bad about himself and how others perceive him as a result of the way he has treated them.

Why doesn't Mrs. Jones ask Roger about his home or parents in "Thank You, M'am?

Mrs. Jones does not ask Roger about his home life because doing so is superfluous; her powers of perception tell her all about Roger.

After Mrs. Jones foils Roger's attempt to steal her purse by muscling him to the ground with two or three passers-by noticing the physical conflict, Mrs. Jones asks if he will run if she frees him. When Roger replies that he will, she refuses to release him and examines him:

“Um-hum!...

Mrs. Jones does not ask Roger about his home life because doing so is superfluous; her powers of perception tell her all about Roger.

After Mrs. Jones foils Roger's attempt to steal her purse by muscling him to the ground with two or three passers-by noticing the physical conflict, Mrs. Jones asks if he will run if she frees him. When Roger replies that he will, she refuses to release him and examines him:

“Um-hum! And your face is dirty. I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?”
“No’m,” said the boy.
“Then it will get washed this evening,” said the large woman starting up the street, dragging the frightened boy behind her.

Further in the narrative after Mrs. Jones takes Roger home with her and asks if he is hungry, Roger reveals that there is no one at home where he lives. 

Her questions about his dirty face and if he is hungry added to Roger's revelation that his house is empty provide Mrs. Jones a wealth of information about Roger's home life. For, she can easily surmise from this information that his family is a broken one and Roger receives no supervision or loving care, both of which are extremely important. Her acts of Christian charity and love toward Roger make a profound impression upon him, and in his gratitude for her kindness in not reporting his crime "[T]he boy wanted to say something else other than “Thank you, m’am” to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones...."

In The Leap, why has the narrator returned to her childhood home?

The narrator of "The Leap" by Louise Erdrich states two reasons for returning home, one slightly more explicitly than another.

The narrator's mother, Anna, had been a trapeze artist who was injured in a freak accident that also killed her first husband. Lightning struck the circus tent during the finale of a trapeze act in which she was performing. At the hospital where she recuperated from her injuries, she met her second husband, the narrator's...

The narrator of "The Leap" by Louise Erdrich states two reasons for returning home, one slightly more explicitly than another.

The narrator's mother, Anna, had been a trapeze artist who was injured in a freak accident that also killed her first husband. Lightning struck the circus tent during the finale of a trapeze act in which she was performing. At the hospital where she recuperated from her injuries, she met her second husband, the narrator's father, who was a doctor. He taught her how to read, as she had previously been illiterate. She fell in love with reading. When her eyes began to fail her due to cataracts, her husband read to her, but then her husband died.

The narrator returns home to keep her mother company after her father's death and to read to her, as you can see from the following lines: 

Since my father's recent death, there is no one to read to her, which is why I returned, in fact, from my failed life where the land is flat. I came home to read to my mother...

The mention of a "failed life" away from home suggests a second motive for returning home, that the narrator had been doing badly when living independently. 

What does the sighting of the Brooks Range mean to Julie/Miyax?

There is an irony to your question because the sighting of the Alaskan Brooks Range means two things to Julie/Miyax: escape and danger. These seem to be two opposites (hence the irony). Allow me to explain.

Why does the sighting of the Alaskan Brooks Range mean escape to Julie? Julie is desperate to escape an arranged marriage to a mentally ill man named Daniel who has just tried to rape her. Whether or not he...

There is an irony to your question because the sighting of the Alaskan Brooks Range means two things to Julie/Miyax: escape and danger. These seem to be two opposites (hence the irony). Allow me to explain.

Why does the sighting of the Alaskan Brooks Range mean escape to Julie? Julie is desperate to escape an arranged marriage to a mentally ill man named Daniel who has just tried to rape her. Whether or not he succeeded is open to debate. Regardless, Julie would rather try her luck in the Alaskan wilderness than deal with Daniel day by day. When Julie sees the Alaskan Brooks Range in the distance, she knows she will be able to escape because this range is the entrance to the North Slope, the well-known and vast wilderness of Alaska.

Why does the sighting of the Alaskan Brooks Range mean danger to Julie? Julie is human and, therefore, not designed to easily survive in such a vast wilderness, especially during the harsh Alaskan winter (which is approaching). It is when Julie becomes lost in the Brooks Range (and unable to find the way to San Francisco) that she realizes she must find a way to survive.

`sin(135 - 30), sin(135) - sin(30)` Find the exact value of the expression.

`sin(135^0 - 30^0) = sin 135^0* cos 30^0 - cos 135^0 * sin 30^0 `

(we know that

`= sin (90+45) * cos 30 - cos(90+45) *sin 30^0 `

 `=cos 45^0 * cos 30 - (-sin 45^0) * sin 30^0`

`= 1/sqrt2 * sqrt3/2 +1/sqrt2 * 1/2...

`sin(135^0 - 30^0) = sin 135^0* cos 30^0 - cos 135^0 * sin 30^0 `

(we know that

`= sin (90+45) * cos 30 - cos(90+45) *sin 30^0 `

 `=cos 45^0 * cos 30 - (-sin 45^0) * sin 30^0`

`= 1/sqrt2 * sqrt3/2 +1/sqrt2 * 1/2 `

`= (sqrt3+1)/(2sqrt2) = 0.9661 `

lets check with direct values. `sin(105^0) = 0.9659 ~~ 0.966` ``

Next expression is

`sin(135^0) - sin (30^0) `

`sin(135^0) - sin (30^0) = sin(90^0 +45^0) - sin 30^0 `

                                       ` = cos 45^0 - sin30^0`

                                        `= 0.2071`

What are the strong images in the poem "London" by William Blake?

There are three strong images in "London." All of them are nearly surrealistic, like scenes painted by Salvador Dali.

How the Chimney-sweeper's cryEvery black'ning church appals

Chimney-sweepers were small children. They had to be small in order to be lowered down through chimneys in order to sweep off the accumulated soot. It was a terrible profession for children because breathing all that soot led to early deaths from lung disease. The churches in the...

There are three strong images in "London." All of them are nearly surrealistic, like scenes painted by Salvador Dali.

How the Chimney-sweeper's cry
Every black'ning church appals

Chimney-sweepers were small children. They had to be small in order to be lowered down through chimneys in order to sweep off the accumulated soot. It was a terrible profession for children because breathing all that soot led to early deaths from lung disease. The churches in the image appear to be blackened by the soot of the chimneys because the clergy does nothing to help the children who are enslaved by brutal employers and doomed to die.

And the hapless Soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls.

Blake is referring to the plight of veterans who have been maimed in battles. They are destitute because they receive no pensions from an ungrateful government. Surrealistically, the sighs are turned into blood which runs down the walls of the royal palace where the aristocrats inside are indifferent to the despair of the veterans.

But the most striking image of all is the last one:

But most thro’ midnight streets I hear
How the youthful Harlot’s curse
Blasts the new born Infant’s tear,
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.

Very young girls were forced into prostitution because of poverty. It is bad enough to see them soliciting in the streets, but it is worse to hear girls who are still children learning to curse like hardened prostitutes. These girls are nearly certain to contract a venereal disease and to pass it on to their customers. If a man with syphilis gets married to a healthy young woman, he will pass the disease along to her, and then when she has a baby, her baby will inherit the disease from its mother. That is what Blake means by "Blasts the new born Infant's tear, and blights with plagues the marriage hearse." The infant is born with its body already infected, and the Marriage hearses often transport new brides to honeymoon havens where they are destined to become infected by their husbands (men who were infected by the "youthful harlots").

In each of the three images, a sound is translated into a visual image. A chimney-sweeper's cry becomes a soot-blackened church wall. A soldier's sign becomes blood running down the stone walls of a palace. A child-prostitute's curse becomes a disease-riddled infant and a germ-infested wedding carriage.

A poor figure! Shame on you! The Serbs have Austrian officers who are just as clever as the Russians; but we have beaten them in every battle for...

At the beginning of the play, Raina's  conversation with her mother, Catherine Petkoff, alludes to the Serbo-Bulgarian war of 1885. In Act 1, we learn that Raina is engaged to a Bulgarian officer, Sergius Saranoff.

While Catherine is in ecstasies regarding Saranoff's heroic cavalry charge, Raina initially expresses some doubt about her fiance's valor. She thinks that reading too much Byron and Pushkin has colored her perception of soldiering.

Only think, mother, I doubted him:...

At the beginning of the play, Raina's  conversation with her mother, Catherine Petkoff, alludes to the Serbo-Bulgarian war of 1885. In Act 1, we learn that Raina is engaged to a Bulgarian officer, Sergius Saranoff.

While Catherine is in ecstasies regarding Saranoff's heroic cavalry charge, Raina initially expresses some doubt about her fiance's valor. She thinks that reading too much Byron and Pushkin has colored her perception of soldiering.

Only think, mother, I doubted him: I wondered whether all his heroic qualities and his soldiership might not prove mere imagination when he went into a real battle...

Because the operas and literature she is so fond of promote military valor in such romantic terms, Raina is afraid to trust that fiction can hold up to reality. Catherine asserts that Raina should be ashamed of herself for doubting Sergius, because their soldiers have already proven themselves on the battlefield. She thinks that Raina should not doubt the efficacy or valor of Russian/Bulgarian troops, as they have defeated the Serbians in every battle, despite the presence of clever officers on the Serbian side.

In other words, Catherine is telling Raina that she should have more faith in the evidence before her eyes rather than her fears.

Can someone make a summary and list of themes of Paul Auster's "City of Glass" graphic novel?

I am happy to attempt a summary and the themes of City of Glass for you. Let us begin with the summary and conclude with the themes.

The story begins with Daniel Quinn accepting a strange detective assignment due to a wrong phone number. The person on the phone is trying to reach Paul Auster, a famous detective, but Daniel Quinn decides to take the case anyway. The goal? To keep close watch on...

I am happy to attempt a summary and the themes of City of Glass for you. Let us begin with the summary and conclude with the themes.

The story begins with Daniel Quinn accepting a strange detective assignment due to a wrong phone number. The person on the phone is trying to reach Paul Auster, a famous detective, but Daniel Quinn decides to take the case anyway. The goal? To keep close watch on the caller's father, who teaches language at a university and has done some strange experiments on children as a result. Throughout the story, Daniel loses track of his client, his own apartment, all of his things, and even who he really is. It is a story very different from many others because of its unusual use of plot and character. We soon learn about the extensive identity issues of the client, Peter. Peter refers to himself continually in the negative as Peter Nobody, Anything, or Not Here. Peter also has trouble identifying others. In fact, every time he meets Quinn, Peter doesn't recognize Quinn. Therefore, Quinn pretends to be a different person each time. Please note how the author even pretends to be the detective in the story.

In conclusion, I would say that the main theme is altered identity. This is so in the case of the detective, the author, the client, and many of his pseudonyms.

What does "abject" mean as it is used in the sentence?

As it's used in the story, "abject" means "desperate" or "despicable and low."

Let's take a look at it in context:

"After all, I had already fallen in love with the savage brat, the parents were contemptible to me. In the ensuing struggle they [the parents] grew more and more abject, crushed, exhausted while she surely rose to magnificent heights of insane fury of effort bred of her terror of me."

As you can...

As it's used in the story, "abject" means "desperate" or "despicable and low."

Let's take a look at it in context:

"After all, I had already fallen in love with the savage brat, the parents were contemptible to me. In the ensuing struggle they [the parents] grew more and more abject, crushed, exhausted while she surely rose to magnificent heights of insane fury of effort bred of her terror of me."

As you can see here, the sentence is saying that the parents are losing the fight. They're getting beaten, and they're really tired. They're basically sinking down into a desperate, despicable struggle as they try to get their daughter to comply with the doctor's throat exam. At the same time, Mathilda herself is doing the opposite of what her parents are doing: they're sinking down low and losing, but she's rising up high and winning, temporarily keeping the doctor out of her throat.

So, the Olsons are abject: they're low, despicable, and absolutely desperate in this situation. 

"Abject" can also mean "utter or total" in other contexts, but as this one makes it clear, the parents are abject in the sense of "low and desperate."

You can remember "abject" and its meaning by understanding its roots and by comparing it to words you already know that have "ject" in them. "Ab-" means "down" or "away," and "ject" means "throw." So, something abject is "thrown down" or "thrown away" in the sense that it's very low down. Compare that to what you already know about "inject" ("thrown in,") "reject" ("throw out" or "throw back") and "eject" ("throw out.")

What page is the following quote on? "You trying to keep your distance from me will in no way lessen my affection for you."

This quote is on page 122 in my version of the text.

If you have a different version, you can easily find this quote by heading to Chapter 8, then flipping to about halfway through the chapter. Look for the break in the text after the phrase "twenty minutes" and before the sentence that starts with "I stayed in the back yard." That's when the scene begins that features this quote.

It's the scene in...

This quote is on page 122 in my version of the text.

If you have a different version, you can easily find this quote by heading to Chapter 8, then flipping to about halfway through the chapter. Look for the break in the text after the phrase "twenty minutes" and before the sentence that starts with "I stayed in the back yard." That's when the scene begins that features this quote.

It's the scene in which Augustus says to Hazel:

"You realize that trying to keep your distance from me will not lessen my affection for you."

It happens when Hazel realizes that her cancer will severely shorten her life, and she doesn't want her eventual death to inflict pain on Augustus, her new boyfriend. But he wants to assure her that he likes her very much anyway and is willing to risk the pain of losing her.

How did I find this quote? Not by flipping through the entire book, looking for it--that would be tedious and time-consuming. First, I Googled the quote to see if anyone had already discussed it and if so, if its location within the book was mentioned. That worked: someone had blogged about that quote and included the page number. If for some reason that strategy didn't work, then I would try thinking through the plot a bit, trying to decide when someone would have said this to another character. It would probably be after Hazel and Augustus started dating, but before they got too serious. So I'd start looking through the middle of the novel until I found it, which would also work. But perhaps the most efficient strategy of all is to get your hands on a copy of the ebook, and use an automated search function to locate the quote. (Search for a small, unusual phrase within the quote, such as "lessen my affection.")

Who are the characters in "The Pit and the Pendulum"? And what are the key events that take place?

There is only one main character in The Pit and the Pendulum: the narrator. However, despite the fact that he is the main character, we know next to nothing about him. For more discussion on him, I have provided a link. There are some other people mentioned in passing such as the "black-robed judges,"  the people who carried him away from his sentencing, the inquisitorial agents, and the only named character: General Lasalle of...

There is only one main character in The Pit and the Pendulum: the narrator. However, despite the fact that he is the main character, we know next to nothing about him. For more discussion on him, I have provided a link. There are some other people mentioned in passing such as the "black-robed judges,"  the people who carried him away from his sentencing, the inquisitorial agents, and the only named character: General Lasalle of the French army who inadvertently saves the narrator at the end of the story. 

As for the key events:

• The narrator's sentencing


• His exploration of the cell


• His finding the pit


• The lights coming on to reveal what the cell looks like


• The narrator waking up to find that he is tied down and the pendulum is slowly coming down on him


• His escape from the restraints and the pendulum, and the paintings on the wall changing


• The walls slowly closing in on him


• General Lasalle stopping everything and inadvertently saving the narrator

That is just the bare skeleton of the story. For a fuller summary, I have provided a link.

In The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, how does Thoreau feel about Waldo's wife? How does he choose to live according to his beliefs?

These questions refer to the scene late in Act 1, when Waldo, Lydian, and Henry meet in Waldo’s study. Henry jokes around with Lydian; the two will become friends. Later in the play, he will be annoyed when she delivers a note of regret on behalf of her husband. Here the Emersons hire Henry as a handyman and as a companion to their son, Edward. Waldo insists on paying the man for his services. Henry...

These questions refer to the scene late in Act 1, when Waldo, Lydian, and Henry meet in Waldo’s study. Henry jokes around with Lydian; the two will become friends. Later in the play, he will be annoyed when she delivers a note of regret on behalf of her husband. Here the Emersons hire Henry as a handyman and as a companion to their son, Edward. Waldo insists on paying the man for his services. Henry has different ideas about “payment,” saying that he’s already been compensated in part for being permitted to hear one of Waldo’s inspirational lectures. But he also learns that the Emersons own a parcel of woods. He asks if he could use it someday for an “experiment” – foreshadowing his move to Emerson’s property at the edge of Walden Pond. This permission is seen as a payment of sorts. The land will be valuable in a way to Henry, without him having to own it or to pay for it. As for his choice to live as he sees fit and according to his personal beliefs, Henry says:

Why spend the best part of your life earning money so that you can enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of it? Why work like a dog so you can pant for a moment or two before you die?

He would rather have “a broad margin” to his life now, and to do as he pleases, than to save up for some future retirement and to not be able to live his days fully in the meantime.

What school does Mullet Fingers go to?

This is one of the mysteries about the running boy that Roy wants to find out. While all the other kids are getting on the bus and going to school, the running boy is running across yards dressed in dirty shorts and wearing no shoes. Roy probes Garrett about what other schools are in the area. Roy doesn't think the boy looks old enough to go to high school, and besides, the high school is...

This is one of the mysteries about the running boy that Roy wants to find out. While all the other kids are getting on the bus and going to school, the running boy is running across yards dressed in dirty shorts and wearing no shoes. Roy probes Garrett about what other schools are in the area. Roy doesn't think the boy looks old enough to go to high school, and besides, the high school is already in session when the middle schoolers are on the bus. There is a private Catholic school in the area, but the running boy definitely isn't wearing the required uniform of a parochial school. 

When Beatrice enlists Roy's help in getting medical supplies for Mullet Fingers, Roy learns that he doesn't go to school at all. His mother, Lonna, had sent him away to boarding school after he had brought a baby raccoon into their home that had relieved itself in Leon Leep's slipper. Mullet Fingers had run away from all the boarding schools his mother had enrolled him in, and after his last escape, Lonna hadn't bothered to try to find him. 

When Miss Hennepin summons Roy to her office after the emergency room incident, she asks Roy where the boy who used his name goes to school. Roy says he travels a lot, and Miss Hennepin asks, "Then he's home-schooled?" Roy sort of agrees to that. However, that's not the case. Mullet Fingers feels he has no need to go to school, but that he may go back sometime in the future. He feels his survival skills are sufficient: "For now I'm 'bout as smart as I need to be." 

Mullet Fingers does not attend school. For a boy his age, that is against the law; it's called truancy. 

What is the point of the Misses Tutti & Frutti Barber story?

The Miss Tutti and Frutti Barber episode is mainly used as comic relief and as a way for Harper Lee to explain why there is a Halloween pageant and not the normal trick-or-treating taking place in Maycomb.  The two spinster sisters are known for being a little eccentric (hence the nicknames Tutti and Frutti) compared to other people in Maycomb.  They are not born and bred “Maycomb-ites” (Maycombians?) but moved to Maycomb from northern Alabama. ...

The Miss Tutti and Frutti Barber episode is mainly used as comic relief and as a way for Harper Lee to explain why there is a Halloween pageant and not the normal trick-or-treating taking place in Maycomb.  The two spinster sisters are known for being a little eccentric (hence the nicknames Tutti and Frutti) compared to other people in Maycomb.  They are not born and bred “Maycomb-ites” (Maycombians?) but moved to Maycomb from northern Alabama.  They are best known for building a cellar in their house and having to chase the neighborhood children out of it.  The Halloween before the pageant, children snuck into their house and put all of their furniture in the basement.  The Barber sisters blamed a traveling fur salesman, a “Syrian”, for doing it.  Heck Tate brings in the bloodhounds to find the culprits and sees that all the neighborhood children are wearing their shoes to not give off a scent for the bloodhounds.

Tutti and Frutti are just examples of a couple of outsiders who are considered “different” by the population.  They are there for our comic enjoyment and to give us another glimpse of life in Maycomb. 

What is the moral of Animal Farm?

There are a few key morals in the book, but the one that stands out the most is Lord Acton's famous notion that absolute power corrupts absolutely. The fuller quote is even more insightful.

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority.”

We see that these words are true increasingly in Animal Farm. At first, the pigs start off just like the other animals;  they want freedom and tout equality. The concept of animalism is fair.  As the story progresses, the pigs, especially Napoleon and Squealer, become more corrupt, as they grow in influence.  They use the animals for their own gain.  The most prominent example of corruption and self-serving is what they do to Boxer.  They sell off Boxer to the knackers, when he can no longer work.  They consume his labor, and now they consume what remains of him, his body, for their own purposes and gain.

Finally, the story ends when the pigs turn into men, which shows the corruption is complete.  Within the internal logic of the story, man is the epitome of corruption. 

`1 - sqrt(3)i` Write the trigonometric form of the number.

Given: `1-sqrt(3)i`

`r=sqrt(1^2+(-sqrt(3))^2)=sqrt(1+3)=sqrt(4)=2`

`tantheta=-sqrt3/1=-sqrt3`

Since the angle is in quadrant 4,`<br> `

`theta=arctan(-sqrt(3))=(5pi)/3`

In trigonometric form `z=2[cos((5pi)/3)+isin((5pi)/3)]`

Given: `1-sqrt(3)i`

`r=sqrt(1^2+(-sqrt(3))^2)=sqrt(1+3)=sqrt(4)=2`

`tantheta=-sqrt3/1=-sqrt3`

Since the angle is in quadrant 4,`<br> `

`theta=arctan(-sqrt(3))=(5pi)/3`

In trigonometric form `z=2[cos((5pi)/3)+isin((5pi)/3)]`

At Least Three Reasons For The Rise Of Conservatism In The Last Part Of The 20th Century.

Though the Conservative movement began to build in the 1950s and reached a crescendo of sorts with the Republican nomination of Barry Goldwater for President in 1964, some historians contend that The New Right movement did not really emerge until the late 1970s, arguably around 1976. It is important to remember that Goldwater lost the 1964 election to President Lyndon B. Johnson in a landslide.

In their book, Chain Reaction: The Impact of Race, Rights, and Taxes on American Politics, Mary and Thomas B. Edsall argue that the emergence of The New Right, or The Silent Majority, can be linked to the issues mentioned in their title. The Silent Majority was mostly composed of older, white Americans. As the previous educator mentioned, many of them lived in The Sun Belt. Goldwater was, after all, a senator from Arizona.

The Edsalls provide the three reasons that you seek in your question. They contend that the instability caused by race riots encouraged whites to seek politicians who were more authoritarian, which partly explains the election of Richard Nixon in 1968. The adoption of affirmative action policies in the 1970s diminished white privilege and supremacy.

In 1976, the Hyde Amendment, a bill introduced by Illinois Representative Henry Hyde, disallowed government funding for abortions. This was the first legislative response to the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. It would lead to other efforts to limit, or discourage, women's access to abortion. Abortion, by the late-1970s, had become the issue that would mobilize evangelical voters. 

In regard to taxes, the Edsalls explain the appeal of conservatism to white, blue-collar males. Economically, the 1970s was a difficult decade impacted by inflation. Furthermore, wages stagnated, while the tax burden increased. The perception was that tax dollars were funding welfare programs that catered mostly to blacks, Latinos, and the waves of immigrants who were still arriving in major cities.

Lingering racism and ambivalence about the changes wrought by the Civil Rights and women's rights movements created insecurity among many older voters and white male voters, particularly those of the working-class who worried for their jobs and their modest possessions. 

This confluence of events set the stage for the election of Ronald Reagan, who promised to cut taxes. He appealed to some voters' nostalgia for the post-war era, in 1980.

According to Malcolm X, why was Marcus Garvey controversial?

Malcolm X believes that Marcus Garvey was controversial because he posed a significant threat to the white power establishment.

In chapter 1 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm narrates why his family was harassed one night in Omaha, Nebraska.  Members of the Ku Klux Klan surrounded the house, "brandishing their shotguns and rifles." They shouted threats and warnings" that the family "better get out of town."  The Klansmen said that "the good Christian white...

Malcolm X believes that Marcus Garvey was controversial because he posed a significant threat to the white power establishment.

In chapter 1 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm narrates why his family was harassed one night in Omaha, Nebraska.  Members of the Ku Klux Klan surrounded the house, "brandishing their shotguns and rifles." They shouted threats and warnings" that the family "better get out of town."  The Klansmen said that "the good Christian white people' were not going to stand for my father's 'spreading trouble' with the 'back to Africa' preachings of Marcus Garvey."

Malcolm believes that Garvey was perceived by whites as "the most controversial black man on Earth."  Garvey's teachings were centered on how people of color can improve their own condition without the help of white America.  Malcolm X argues that Garvey advocated "freedom, independence, and self respect" for people of color.  Malcolm X felt that these ideas made Garvey controversial because they asserted Black strength and power while lessening dependency on white people.  Malcolm X believed that Garvey was controversial because he "stressed becoming independent of the white man." Malcolm X believed that the power whites exerted over African- Americans was a form of subjugation.  When Black Americans were dependent on whites, it meant that they were being controlled by them.  In Garvey's controversial assertion of independence, the power and strength of Black Americans were affirmed.  

Why do oscilloscopes display sound compressions and rarefactions as transverse waves instead of longitudinal waves?

The main reason for displaying sound waves like that is for the sake of simplicity.  A transverse wave gives a very clear indication of wavelength and amplitude.   It's immediately clear how two waves differ in frequency and amplitude when they are displayed as a transverse wave with crests and troughs.  Displaying a longitudinal wave on a screen is possible, but difficult to see.  The only way to do it would be to have a...

The main reason for displaying sound waves like that is for the sake of simplicity.  A transverse wave gives a very clear indication of wavelength and amplitude.   It's immediately clear how two waves differ in frequency and amplitude when they are displayed as a transverse wave with crests and troughs.  Displaying a longitudinal wave on a screen is possible, but difficult to see.  The only way to do it would be to have a series of vertical lines on the screen.  Then have sections of those lines that are spread out (rarefaction) and sections that are squished together (compressions).  That would be incredibly annoying to look at, and it would make measuring wavelength, frequency, and amplitude incredibly tedious.  I've attached a link to a picture of a longitudinal wave display.  I for one would not want to stare at a screen loaded with those. 

What were the advantages of the New Jersey plan?

The "advantages" of the New Jersey Plan would be in the eye of the beholder. It is often called the "small state" plan because it afforded equal representation for each state in Congress (as opposed to the Virginia Plan, which called for two houses, with a state's representation in each based on their population). Basically, this would have preserved a significant amount of political power for the states, powers which many of the Framers thought...

The "advantages" of the New Jersey Plan would be in the eye of the beholder. It is often called the "small state" plan because it afforded equal representation for each state in Congress (as opposed to the Virginia Plan, which called for two houses, with a state's representation in each based on their population). Basically, this would have preserved a significant amount of political power for the states, powers which many of the Framers thought needed to be delegated to a national government. James Madison, the architect of the Virginia Plan, was especially opposed to it, as was Alexander Hamilton, who pointed out that it was essentially the same thing as the old Articles of Confederation. Indeed, those who would have seen the advantages of the New Jersey Plan would have been those who wanted to keep the basic setup of the Articles of Confederation while making some significant changes (like adding an independent judiciary and executive and allowing the power to tax). The New Jersey Plan was thus beneficial to small states, in a way, and to those who wanted the powers of whatever national government that came out of the Philadelphia Convention to be limited.

In "The Cask of Amontillado," why does Montresor keep suggesting that they go back?

There are many reasons that the author has Montresor keep suggesting that they go back. Perhaps the most important reason is that it will make Montresor seem perfectly harmless to Fortunato. If Montresor keeps suggesting going back, then he can't be leading him anywhere that could be dangerous.

But Montresor knows that Fortunato could easily become suspicious. Montresor is taking him a long, long way through a network of dark passages. Why on earth should he have stored a big barrel of wine so far away from the bottom of the stairs leading down into his wine cellar. The farther they go, the more strange it must seem. The "pipe," if it existed, would contain 126 gallons of wine. That is a huge barrel. The men would have had a very difficult time carrying it or rolling it through all those catacombs. It is only because Fortunato is heavily intoxicated that he doesn't protest. Poe describes his intoxication as follows:

He turned towards me, and looked into my eves with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication.

Poe had a big plot problem. He has to take Fortunato all the way from the street where he first encounters him back to his palazzo, down into the wine vault, and through a series of catacombs without saying anything about the Amontillado. It would seem natural for Fortunato, who is supposedly an expert, to ask questions such as, "Where did you get it?" and "How much did you pay?" But Poe didn't want to Fortunato asking questions. Fortunato knows more about Amontillado than Montresor; otherwise Montresor wouldn't be asking his advice. If Fortunato started asking questions, he would probably sense that Montresor was lying. Poe himself may have known nothing about Amontillado except that it was a gourmet sherry and was an important export from Spain.

Instead of talking about what is the object of their trip, the two men engage in chit-chat about the Masons, family crests, the nitre covering the walls of the catacombs, and other miscellaneous subjects. One of the ways Poe fills the gap with dialogue is to have Montresor keep suggesting that they go back. For example:

“Come,” I said, with decision, “we will go back; your health is precious.You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi—”

Poe seems to be indicating that Montresor is using what is called "negative suggestion" or "negative psychology" to keep his victim motivated. But this is also a way of filling a lot of space with dialogue. 

Fortunato might be suspected of avoiding the subject of the Amontillado because he has an ulterior motive. He is not just doing Montresor a favor. He wants to taste the wine, make sure it is genuine, and then go off by himself and find the Spanish ship that brought in a whole cargo of the gourmet wine. If Montresor bought a pipe at a bargain price, Fortunato can buy a whole shipload at a bargain price and make a fortune. Therefore, he doesn't want to show too great an interest in the wine he is about to sample. Montresor knows his friendly enemy would tell him it is only ordinary sherry, whether it were or not, thus even eliminating Montresor as a competitor for the bargain. Montresor can only be so anxious to get an immediate expert opinion on his purchase of the one pipe because he would like to buy more. 

So Montresor keeps suggesting that they turn back because:

• Poe has to fill up some space with dialogue.


• The suggestions make Montresor look innocent. He can't be leading Fortunato into any danger if he tells him to turn back.


• Montresor is using "negative psychology" or "negative suggestion" because this is often an effective way to get some people--especially drunks--to insist on doing the opposite. We all know of drunks who insist on driving themselves home just because their friends are trying to talk them into letting someone else drive.


• Fortunato does not want Luchesi to learn that there is a whole shipload of Amontillado being offered at a bargain price. He believes that if he drops out, Montresor will go straight to Luchesi that same night. Then Fortunato would find himself competing with another expert and bidding up the price of the nonexistent Amontillado.


• The suggestion is a distraction. It is beginning to seem ridiculous that they should be walking so far in these bone-filled catacombs to find a single barrel of wine. Poe is not only distracting Fortunato but distracting the reader, keeping him from asking awkward questions, such as, "Why did you move the wine-barrel way back here?" "Why didn't you just tap the barrel for a couple of bottles and bring them up to your living room, where people could sample the wine in comfort?" 

What role did dogs play in WWII?

Historically, dogs have been a constant part of warfare since the days of the Ancient Egyptians. While dog use declined in the 1930s, the U.S. had restarted its War Dog Program by 1942 which prepared dogs for combat during World War Two. Here are some of the roles played by dogs:

• They were used at home to warn against potential attacks and intruder, e.g. dog did patrols on U.S. beaches and were used by the...

Historically, dogs have been a constant part of warfare since the days of the Ancient Egyptians. While dog use declined in the 1930s, the U.S. had restarted its War Dog Program by 1942 which prepared dogs for combat during World War Two. Here are some of the roles played by dogs:

• They were used at home to warn against potential attacks and intruder, e.g. dog did patrols on U.S. beaches and were used by the Navy to guard training facilities.


• Dogs were trained to be silent so that they could scout areas and act as messengers in combat zones, especially by the Marine Corps in Japan.


• From 1943, dogs were used to detect mines.


• Sentry dogs were trained to walk with their handler while on patrol. The sentry dog barked to indicate the presence of enemy troops.


• Some dogs were trained to attack the enemy and accompanied troops on manoeuvres.


• Sled and pack dogs helped to transport goods and equipment.

In Bud, Not Buddy, how are the characters Bud and Herman similar?

At first glance, Bud and Herman seem very different from one another, and in many ways they are. Herman is a distant, gruff and abrupt older, large man who appears mean. Bud is a small, young boy who is very talkative, friendly and helpful.

However, the two do have some deeper characteristics in common beyond the obvious genes we find out they do in fact share. Bud and Herman both tremendously miss Bud's mother, who...

At first glance, Bud and Herman seem very different from one another, and in many ways they are. Herman is a distant, gruff and abrupt older, large man who appears mean. Bud is a small, young boy who is very talkative, friendly and helpful.

However, the two do have some deeper characteristics in common beyond the obvious genes we find out they do in fact share. Bud and Herman both tremendously miss Bud's mother, who is also Herman's daughter. This longing for someone who has died drives many of the decisions they both make and attitudes they both have. While Bud takes action to locate his mother, Herman throws himself into his music when Bud's mother runs away.

Another characteristic the two appear to share is a talent for music. When Bud is given the recorder by the band members so that he can learn music, it is not long before he has shown he has some talent. By the end of the story, the band members have given Bud a saxophone to begin learning to play.

What is Kolchin's main thesis in American Slavery?

I suspect there are two issues making it difficult for you to find a thesis in the book. The first is that a book is usually more complex than a shorter paper or essay and thus makes multiple complex points rather than a single simple claim. The second issue is that scholarly books are written to respond to an existing scholarly conversation. As much as making claims about slavery itself, Peter Kolchin is making claims about how...

I suspect there are two issues making it difficult for you to find a thesis in the book. The first is that a book is usually more complex than a shorter paper or essay and thus makes multiple complex points rather than a single simple claim. The second issue is that scholarly books are written to respond to an existing scholarly conversation. As much as making claims about slavery itself, Peter Kolchin is making claims about how other scholars have addressed the issue.

The central claim of the book is that scholars should study slavery in the United States against a background of forced labor in various colonies across the Americas rather than see it as a unique and isolated phenomenon. He also argues for seeing slaves neither as pure victims nor as purely creators of a subversive autonomous culture, but rather as somewhere in between. 

Not all elements of the book are argumentative though, nor is the entire book focused narrowly on a single thesis. It is also intended as a broad history of slavery.

Why were Federalists much more likely to be coastal and urban, while Anti-Federalists were much more likely to be from the interior, rural regions?

There are reasons why the Federalists tended to be located in cities and along the coast while the Anti-Federalists tended to be in rural areas and in the interior of the country. The main reasons have to do with the jobs the people did and the transportation of the products made or produced. The Federalists mainly represented business people. Businesses tend to locate near cities and water. There is more economic activity in the cities....

There are reasons why the Federalists tended to be located in cities and along the coast while the Anti-Federalists tended to be in rural areas and in the interior of the country. The main reasons have to do with the jobs the people did and the transportation of the products made or produced. The Federalists mainly represented business people. Businesses tend to locate near cities and water. There is more economic activity in the cities. Thus, the ability to make money was greater in the city. The businesses needed to ship their products to other countries. Being located near water, helped ease that process and reduce shipping costs. Business products tended to be bigger and bulkier than farm products. As a result, being near the coast was important for business people.

The Anti-Federalists represented many farmers. Farmers needed lots of open space to grow their crops. There was more open space in the interior of the country than in the cities. Additionally, the land was more expensive in the cities than in the rural areas. Farmers could also ship their farm products more easily by rivers than big businesses could ship the products they made by rivers. There were plenty of rivers and streams in the interior of the country that connected to major rivers. These rivers, in turn, led to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.

What does Jonas learn about color? When was color lost?

In Ch. 12, Jonas learns that color exists. He can actually see color, as can the Giver. That is one way in which Jonas is able to "see beyond." Jonas doesn't even know the word "color" when he sees the apple's color for the first time. Later, he sees Fiona's hair, which is red, and also does not know how to describe it. It is not until the Giver explains it to him that he,...

In Ch. 12, Jonas learns that color exists. He can actually see color, as can the Giver. That is one way in which Jonas is able to "see beyond." Jonas doesn't even know the word "color" when he sees the apple's color for the first time. Later, he sees Fiona's hair, which is red, and also does not know how to describe it. It is not until the Giver explains it to him that he, and we the readers, understand that they live in a world mostly without color.

"Once, back in the time of the memories, everything had a shape and size, the way things still do, but they also had a quality called color. There were a lot of colors, and one of them was called red. That's the one you are starting to see."

The community lost color when it went to Sameness. Although, we come to understand that they "never completely mastered" it, according to the Giver. Hence, Fiona has red hair when she shouldn't, and the apple probably should not have any color either. 

How is Tess of the D'Urbervilles a modern tragedy?

Tess is a tragedy -- Tess, as a tragic hero, is someone whose flaw -- her willingness to trust? Her weakness in the face of hard decisions? -- leads her to catastrophe. It can be considered a modern tragedy because it has to do with the modern issues of gender, sexuality, and identity.

• Gender: Tess is defined by the males in the novel as a sexual object. For Alec, she is a something to be...

Tess is a tragedy -- Tess, as a tragic hero, is someone whose flaw -- her willingness to trust? Her weakness in the face of hard decisions? -- leads her to catastrophe. It can be considered a modern tragedy because it has to do with the modern issues of gender, sexuality, and identity.

• Gender: Tess is defined by the males in the novel as a sexual object. For Alec, she is a something to be used; for Angel she is something to be exhalted, but in both cases neither man is able to understand Tess for who she is, other than an object of desire.


• Sexuality: Alec's rape of Tess is only one example of how sex is problematized in the book. Tess's misguided decision to confide to Angel on their wedding night that she is not a virgin is even more psychologically damaging for Tess than her rape. In a society in which women are equated with sex, and in which sex can only safely occur within to confines of marriage, Tess's abandonment by her husband effectively alienates her from herself, reducing her already reduced ability to act on her own. She cannot accept Alec when he proposes, unattractive as that proposal might be, because she is already married.


• Identity: The book deeply problematizes the concept of "identity." in fact, for Tess, her identity is something is assigned to her, rather than anything intrinsic to her selfhood. Her father tells her that she is a d'Urberville instead of a Turbeyfield. Alec defines her as a sex obect. Angel defines her as morally and sexually pure. Tess tragically lacks the strength of will to resist these characterizations. Perhaps it is only at the end of the novel, when she finally acts, that she chooses her own identity: murderer.

What happened when Native Americans did not want to move?

The answer to this depends on the situation. Sometimes Native peoples were powerful enough that they could dictate whether whites were allowed to move into their territory. This was true, for example, of the Creeks in the late eighteenth century. But even they were eventually forced off of their lands by a combination of war, diplomacy and coercion. Usually, the federal government would conclude treaties with representatives of Native peoples, and these treaties would be...

The answer to this depends on the situation. Sometimes Native peoples were powerful enough that they could dictate whether whites were allowed to move into their territory. This was true, for example, of the Creeks in the late eighteenth century. But even they were eventually forced off of their lands by a combination of war, diplomacy and coercion. Usually, the federal government would conclude treaties with representatives of Native peoples, and these treaties would be binding on even those people who had not agreed. In this way, the federal government arranged for the removal of Indians. Federal troops were often used to remove those people who refused to leave their lands, and they were sent to reservations, lands set aside by the government. One example of this process was the ordeal of the Cherokee people in the 1830s. After most refused to leave in accordance with the Treaty of New Echota, they were rounded up and forced to go to Indian Territory in modern-day Oklahoma in what has become known as the "Trail of Tears."

`y = cos(pix), y = 4x^2 - 1` Sketch the region enclosed by the given curves and find its area.

`y=cos(pix) , y=4x^2-1`

Refer the attached image. Graph of cos(pix) is plotted in blue color and graph of y=4x^2-1 is plotted in red color.

From the graph , the curves intersect at x=`+-` 1/2.

Area enclosed by the curves A=`int_(-1/2)^(1/2)(cos(pix)-(4x^2-1))dx`

`A=2int_0^(1/2)(cos(pix)-4x^2+1)dx`

`A=2[sin(pix)/pi-4(x^3/3)+x]_0^(1/2)`

`A=2[sin(pix)/pi-(4x^3)/3+x]_0^(1/2)`

`A=2((sin(pi/2)/pi-4/3(1/2)^3+1/2)-(sin(0)/pi-4/3(0)^3+0))`

`A=2((1/pi-4/3(1/8)+1/2)-0)`

`A=2(1/pi-1/6+1/2)`

`A=2(1/pi+2/6)`

`A=2/pi+2/3`

`y=cos(pix) , y=4x^2-1`

Refer the attached image. Graph of cos(pix) is plotted in blue color and graph of y=4x^2-1 is plotted in red color.

From the graph , the curves intersect at x=`+-` 1/2.

Area enclosed by the curves A=`int_(-1/2)^(1/2)(cos(pix)-(4x^2-1))dx`

`A=2int_0^(1/2)(cos(pix)-4x^2+1)dx`

`A=2[sin(pix)/pi-4(x^3/3)+x]_0^(1/2)`

`A=2[sin(pix)/pi-(4x^3)/3+x]_0^(1/2)`

`A=2((sin(pi/2)/pi-4/3(1/2)^3+1/2)-(sin(0)/pi-4/3(0)^3+0))`

`A=2((1/pi-4/3(1/8)+1/2)-0)`

`A=2(1/pi-1/6+1/2)`

`A=2(1/pi+2/6)`

`A=2/pi+2/3`

In the book Lyddie what are Lyddie's strengths, weaknesses, hopes, and hardships?

Lyddie is a very interesting character. She is courageous, determined, and a very hard worker who doesn't give up. At the beginning of the book, she faces down a bear to protect her family, and at the end, she faces down an abusive supervisor. When her mother moves away from the cabin, Lyddie is determined to keep the farm going for when her father returns. Even after she is hired out to pay debts, she...

Lyddie is a very interesting character. She is courageous, determined, and a very hard worker who doesn't give up. At the beginning of the book, she faces down a bear to protect her family, and at the end, she faces down an abusive supervisor. When her mother moves away from the cabin, Lyddie is determined to keep the farm going for when her father returns. Even after she is hired out to pay debts, she is determined to earn enough money to reunite her family on their farm. She works hard wherever she is--at home, at the tavern, or at the factory. She doesn't mind putting in long hours. Although she has many setbacks, including getting fired twice, becoming ill, and having to support her sister, she doesn't give up but keeps working toward her goals. 

Her weaknesses include being prejudiced against people who are different and valuing money over relationships. She is aloof and even unkind to Luke Stevens because he is a Quaker, and at first she avoids Brigid and is harsh with her because she is Irish. Lyddie is so focused on making money that she doesn't take time to develop friendships with her roommates or Diana until it is too late--and then she regrets not having been a better friend to them.

The hope that keeps her going for most of the book is her goal of reuniting her family on their farm. When that dream dies, she takes on a new goal of attending college.

Her hardships include being deserted by her father, having a mentally ill mother, being separated from her siblings, being overworked at the tavern for slim wages, getting fired by Mrs. Cutler, working long hours in hard conditions at the textile factory, unexpectedly having her little sister brought to her to care for, getting seriously ill, and being falsely accused and fired by her supervisor at the Concord Corporation. 

Despite her hardships and her weaknesses, Lyddie displays great strength of character that allows her to improve herself and gives her a chance to fulfill her dream of attending college. 

In Lord of the Flies, why does Ralph say that the island is getting worse and worse?

In chapter 8, the society the boys have attempted to construct on the island really begins to fall apart. Because of the "beast from air" which Ralph has now observed (somewhat) upon the mountain, Ralph believes they can no longer have a signal fire, which means their chances of being rescued become significantly reduced. He says at the beginning of the chapter, "We're beaten." Jack tries to lead a rebellion against Ralph and calls for...

In chapter 8, the society the boys have attempted to construct on the island really begins to fall apart. Because of the "beast from air" which Ralph has now observed (somewhat) upon the mountain, Ralph believes they can no longer have a signal fire, which means their chances of being rescued become significantly reduced. He says at the beginning of the chapter, "We're beaten." Jack tries to lead a rebellion against Ralph and calls for a vote to depose him as chief. However, when the boys don't vote the way Jack wants, Jack says he is "not going to play any longer" and leaves the group. Most of the bigger boys end up following him.

Piggy has the idea of keeping the signal fire going down on the beach, but with their smaller group, they find it difficult to keep it going. Piggy in this section is becoming more dominant, as is Simon, and Ralph becomes frustrated with himself for not being able to think more clearly, more "like a grownup." This is where he thinks that the island is becoming "worse and worse." He also recognizes fear within himself--not of the beast he has seen, but from the understanding that without the fire, they may never be rescued. And he is beginning to understand, like Simon, that there is something inside the boys themselves that is leading them toward doom. He asks Piggy, "Can't they see? Can't they understand?" He recognizes an apathy growing within himself, as well. He senses the disintegration of their society and feels powerless to resist it. 

Frosty has a new pair of surfboards that are slippery. If Frosty’s mass is 50 kg and he moves on his surfboard at 25 m/s, what is needed to slow...

Hello!

I suppose Frosty slips without friction. In such a situation only two forces act on him, the gravity force downwards and the reaction force upwards. They are balanced and cannot stop him.

The only cause of velocity change of a body is a force (unbalanced). Suppose some constantforce `F` will be applied to him in direction opposite to his movement. Then by the Newton's Second law he becomes to decelerate with the constant...

Hello!

I suppose Frosty slips without friction. In such a situation only two forces act on him, the gravity force downwards and the reaction force upwards. They are balanced and cannot stop him.

The only cause of velocity change of a body is a force (unbalanced). Suppose some constant force `F` will be applied to him in direction opposite to his movement. Then by the Newton's Second law he becomes to decelerate with the constant acceleration `a=F/m,` where `m` is the Frosty's mass.

For body moving straight with the initial velocity `V_0` and the constant (negative) acceleration `-a` its speed `V` may be found by the formula

`V(t)=V_0-a*t,`

where `t` is a time since the start. "Slow to a stop" means `V(t_1)=0,` so

`0=V_0-a*t_1,`

`V_0=a*t_1=(F/m)*t_1,`

therefore `F=V_0*m/t_1.` 

`V_0,` `m` and `t_1` are given, so we can compute `F.`  It is `25*50/20=62.5(N).`

The answer: a constant force of the magnitude 62.5 N and the opposite direction is needed to stop Frosty in 20 s.

What is the narrator of Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" trying to express when he thinks: "I should have been a pair of ragged claws...

This complex poem has had many interpretations, but this one line  is key to what Eliot is trying to express -- the facticity of human existence, the present phenomenon of being a human being -- how complex, how convoluted it is, how wrapped up in our awareness of time:

  Time for you and time for me,  And time yet for a hundred indecisions, And for a hundred visions and revisions, Before the taking of...

This complex poem has had many interpretations, but this one line  is key to what Eliot is trying to express -- the facticity of human existence, the present phenomenon of being a human being -- how complex, how convoluted it is, how wrapped up in our awareness of time:

  Time for you and time for me, 
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of a toast and tea.

The antithesis of human existence, of human consciousness, would be to be alive, but without self-consciousness, without the need or the "desire" to be aware, would be to be a sea creature of purely utilitarian powers, functions, needs, and capabilities.  His metaphorical equivalent of that condition is a creature with ragged claws, neither knowing or caring about its own existence or its "meaning" in the "ocean" of physicality.  This line, then counterbalances all the lines articulating human actions and decisions and complexities.  It is important here and in all analysis of a poem's "meaning" to remember Eliot's admonishment:  "A poem must not mean but be."

In Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, why is it important to Mr. Ewell to get revenge on Atticus? What does this tell us about him as a person?

In Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus describes the Ewells as "the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations" (30). Bob Ewell, in particular, is the current patriarch of his clan and maintains this infamous disgrace by the way he speaks, behaves, and lives. Bob Ewell doesn't have any self-respect when it comes to working a steady job, taking care of his family properly, or following most laws, but it doesn't mean he has no...

In Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus describes the Ewells as "the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations" (30). Bob Ewell, in particular, is the current patriarch of his clan and maintains this infamous disgrace by the way he speaks, behaves, and lives. Bob Ewell doesn't have any self-respect when it comes to working a steady job, taking care of his family properly, or following most laws, but it doesn't mean he has no pride. When Atticus cross-examines him in chapter 17, he proves that Bob Ewell is a liar and possibly a child abuser. Also, Ewell looks foolish and low-class when compared to Atticus's education, wit, and manners. As a result, Ewell feels shamed and personally attacked; therefore, he seeks revenge because he has no other power or common sense to fall back on. Thus, in chapter 23, Bob Ewell spits in Atticus's face and challenges him to a fight, which Atticus declines.

Atticus explains to his son why Mr. Ewell seeks retribution the way he does as follows:

Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and I'd rather it be me than that houseful of children out there (218).

Atticus's explanation of Bob Ewell's character shows that he is not surprised by the way Ewell acts out after the trial. Nonetheless, Atticus does not expect Bob to take his revengeful feelings any further than simple actions like spitting in his face, hollering at Helen Robinson, or creeping into Judge Taylor's backyard. That is why Atticus is surprised when Ewell aggressively attacks his kids with a knife months after the trial. Needless to say, Bob Ewell is a self-centered low-life whose ignorant and hateful ways make him the perfect antagonist for Lee's story.

A body of the mass m is dropped from a height h. At half way to the ground, what is the total energy of a body?

Hello!

I suppose that the process takes place near Earth's surface.

The full energy of a body is the sum of its kinetic and potential energy. The kinetic energy is equal to

`(m V^2)/2,` where `V` is the speed.

The potential energy may be computed with respect to any fixed level. If this level is as usual a ground level, then this energy is equal to

`mgh,` where `g` is the gravity acceleration.

To...

Hello!

I suppose that the process takes place near Earth's surface.

The full energy of a body is the sum of its kinetic and potential energy. The kinetic energy is equal to

`(m V^2)/2,` where `V` is the speed.

The potential energy may be computed with respect to any fixed level. If this level is as usual a ground level, then this energy is equal to

`mgh,` where `g` is the gravity acceleration.

To find the full energy, we can find the speed at the half way and use it. But it is simpler to use energy conservation law and note that the full energy will be the same at any moment.

The simplest moment to consider is the initial position. The speed is zero yet and the full energy is only the potential energy m*g*h. This is the answer:)