Name and describe the first two characters we meet in Lord of the Flies.

The first two characters we meet are Ralph and Piggy. Ralph is described as being strong and handsome with a certain coolness about him that gives him an air of leadership. He is eager to make sense of things, get the boys organized, and try to get rescued. He believes that his father (who is in the Navy) will come rescue him "as soon as he gets leave."

Piggy is enormously fat, having difficulty with...

The first two characters we meet are Ralph and Piggy. Ralph is described as being strong and handsome with a certain coolness about him that gives him an air of leadership. He is eager to make sense of things, get the boys organized, and try to get rescued. He believes that his father (who is in the Navy) will come rescue him "as soon as he gets leave."

Piggy is enormously fat, having difficulty with his digestive system after eating too many berries, and eager to make friends. He is very trusting and tells Ralph that his nickname was Piggy. He is hoping that Ralph will not share this with everyone else but is soon disappointed. He says that he has asthma. He also tells Ralph that his aunty let him eat as much candy as he wanted and that he cannot see without his glasses.

In the book A Christmas Carol, what does the second ghost represent?

In A Christmas Carol, the second ghost that visits Ebenezer Scrooge represents the present, and is known as the Ghost of Christmas Present.  It is his job to show how others are celebrating Christmas that night.  On their tour, the ghost shows Scrooge several scenes, including miners and workers on a ship, both of whom manage to celebrate the holiday joyously despite being away from their respective families.  Closer to home, they view the family...

In A Christmas Carol, the second ghost that visits Ebenezer Scrooge represents the present, and is known as the Ghost of Christmas Present.  It is his job to show how others are celebrating Christmas that night.  On their tour, the ghost shows Scrooge several scenes, including miners and workers on a ship, both of whom manage to celebrate the holiday joyously despite being away from their respective families.  Closer to home, they view the family of Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's assistant.  While they do not have much money, the Cratchits manage to enjoy a loving and heartfelt holiday.  The ghost also helps Scrooge see Fred's party.  Fred, Scrooge's nephew, had invited Scrooge to the party, but Scrooge had declined.  In his "fly-over," Scrooge gets a first hand look at the fun he missed.  All in all, Scrooge sees multiple scenes of celebration as part of his tour with the Ghost of Christmas Present.

find the nearest point from the point (4,1) using the equation 2y=x^2

We are asked to minimize the distance from the point (4,1) to the curve 2y=x^2:

Use a point on the curve (x,x^2/2). Then we can use the distance formula to find the distance between these points:

d=sqrt((4-x)^2+(1-x^2/2)^2)

=sqrt(16-8x+x^2+1-x^2+x^4/4)

=sqrt(x^4/4-8x+17)

Since the sqrt function is increasing on its domain, in order to minimize the distance we need only minimize the radicand:

To minimize x^4/4-8x+17 we take the first derivative and set it equal to zero --...

We are asked to minimize the distance from the point (4,1) to the curve 2y=x^2:

Use a point on the curve (x,x^2/2). Then we can use the distance formula to find the distance between these points:

d=sqrt((4-x)^2+(1-x^2/2)^2)

=sqrt(16-8x+x^2+1-x^2+x^4/4)

=sqrt(x^4/4-8x+17)

Since the sqrt function is increasing on its domain, in order to minimize the distance we need only minimize the radicand:

To minimize x^4/4-8x+17 we take the first derivative and set it equal to zero -- solving this equation gives us the critical points from which we can determine the minimum:

d/dx(x^4/4-8x+17)=x^3-8

x^3-8=0

x^3=8

The only real solution is x=2, thus the minimum distance occurs when x=2. The point on the curve is (2,2).

What was the motivation to take over the Congo?

Leopold II, the King of Belgium, took over the Congo, then known as the Congo Free State, in 1885 as the head of a group of private investors. Leopold was drawn to the region in part because he had contracted with the explorer Sir Henry Stanley, the first European to explore the Congo. In the 1870s, Leopold began to fund expeditions to open up stations along the Congo to European trade, and Belgian traders began...

Leopold II, the King of Belgium, took over the Congo, then known as the Congo Free State, in 1885 as the head of a group of private investors. Leopold was drawn to the region in part because he had contracted with the explorer Sir Henry Stanley, the first European to explore the Congo. In the 1870s, Leopold began to fund expeditions to open up stations along the Congo to European trade, and Belgian traders began to establish ties with local rulers. Leopold was eager to reap a huge profit from trading with locals for ivory, palm oil, and especially rubber. Worldwide demand for rubber was high, and there were immense profits to be made by harvesting rubber. The plant was difficult to collect, and Leopold began to turn to forced labor and genocide to get the rubber.

Under Leopold's rule, treatment of the Congolese became brutal. Local workers were forced to meet high quotas for the collection of rubber, and they were beaten if they did not meet these requirements. At times, their relatives were taken hostage with the threat that they would not be released until the workers had met their quotas. Leopold's private army brutalized locals and even cut off the hands of local people, including children, in an attempt to repress the Congolese. Eventually, Leopold's brutality, which led to the deaths of millions, was exposed, in part by the Congo Reform Association, and in 1908, he was forced to hand over control of the Congo Free State to the Belgian parliament. At this point, the country became known as the Belgian Congo, and Leopold died in 1909 in disgrace.

In The Revolt of 'Mother' what is the main source of conflict between the mother and the father?How does the mother solve the problem? Be pretty...

In the story "The Revolt of "Mother" Sarah Penn, the mother in question, is upset that her husband is building a new barn instead of building the new house he promised her years ago. Mrs. Penn had been patient and had waited forty years for a better home. The small house that Mrs. Penn had been making do with for so long is described as carpet-less and with cheap, filthy wallpaper peeling off the walls. The rooms are cramped, the pantry is poorly-lit, and their children sleep in unfinished bedrooms. 

"There ain't another woman in the whole town whose husband ain't got half the means you have but what's got better." Sarah Penn knows that even their neighbors who have significantly less money still live in nicer homes than she does. Mrs. Penn knows that her husband can easily afford a better home, but he'd rather build another barn and buy more cows that Sarah herself will have to milk rather than keep his promise to her.

Despite how disrespectfully her husband treats her, the main reason for Mrs. Penn's defiance toward him is their daughter. Sarah Penn's daughter is about to get married and her mother feels ashamed and heartbroken that her child will have to get married in a tiny room without nice furniture or any carpet. Mrs. Penn even remarks how much better the room she got married in was. 

After forty years, it is fear of her daughter being put to shame that makes "mother" take action to rectify the wrong that was done to her and her children. Adoniram, her husband, refuses to listen to her and, soon after the barn is finished, leaves town on business, which is when the mother makes her move.

Mrs. Penn has her daughter and son move all their important things into the new barn, which is much nicer than their current home, and has the new cows moved into their old one. Despite all the rumors and odd looks the people of the town give her and despite the timid disapproval of the minster who visits, she stands her ground. When the father returns home he is shocked, but Sarah Penn doesn't listen to him and barely gives him a chance to protest. She sits him down to eat the meal she had prepared for the family and he eats it in silence. Later on Adoniram breaks down crying and tells her "I hadn't no idee you was so set on't as all this comes to.

`int_0^3 (dx)/(5x + 1)` Evaluate the definite integral.

The indefinite integral is (1/5)*ln|5x+1|+C, therefore the definite integral is equal to

(1/5)*(ln(16)-ln(1))=ln(16)/5 approx 0.55.

The indefinite integral is (1/5)*ln|5x+1|+C, therefore the definite integral is equal to

(1/5)*(ln(16)-ln(1))=ln(16)/5 approx 0.55.

Who said "We'll hunt and I'm going to be chief" in Lord of the Flies?

In chapter eight, the real split occurs between the two groups of boys and the two leaders. The twins have reported the presence of the beastie atop the mountain (actually the dead pilot caught in his parachute rigging) and Ralph worries that they cannot maintain a signal fire. Jack decides that he's had enough of meetings and fires and shelters and says that he is going to go off on his own and anyone who...

In chapter eight, the real split occurs between the two groups of boys and the two leaders. The twins have reported the presence of the beastie atop the mountain (actually the dead pilot caught in his parachute rigging) and Ralph worries that they cannot maintain a signal fire. Jack decides that he's had enough of meetings and fires and shelters and says that he is going to go off on his own and anyone who wants to hunt can join him.

He goes off down the beach and a large group of the choir join him. At this point he says "We'll hunt. I'm going to be chief." It is on page 191 in my text.

After this split, the hunters go off and and kill a pig for a feast and Roger's savagery really begins to emerge. They also decide at this point to go and steal Piggy's glasses so they can have fire.

What title should I use for a newspaper article on Tom Robinson's trial in To Kill a Mockingbird?

This is a great question, but I will say right from the beginning that there will be many differences of opinion.  In light of this, let me give you a few suggestions and reasons why I would chose these titles for a paper. 

First, a possible title for an article could be "Bread and Circuses."  This idea comes from the Roman world, where the emperors sought to entertain people and the people wanted to be...

This is a great question, but I will say right from the beginning that there will be many differences of opinion.  In light of this, let me give you a few suggestions and reasons why I would chose these titles for a paper. 

First, a possible title for an article could be "Bread and Circuses."  This idea comes from the Roman world, where the emperors sought to entertain people and the people wanted to be entertained.  The trial of Tom Robinson was quite a spectacle, according to the book. People dressed up and and came to watch and to be entertained.  By giving a title of "Bread and Circuses," we can indict the people for taking something very serious and making it into something else. In this way, Maycomb trivialized the trial of Tom Robinson.

Second, another possible title would be "Justice is Blind."  This is a good title for what is going on with the added double entendre.  Justice should be blind in the good sense of not being biased, but justice in Maycomb is blind in the sense of not being able to discern right and wrong. 

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(xsqrt(ln(x)))` Evaluate the definite integral.

You need to use the following substitution  ln x=u, such that:

`ln x=u=>(dx)/x= du `

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = int_(u_1)^(u_2) (du)/(sqrt u)`

`int_(u_1)^(u_2) (du)/(sqrt u) = 2sqrt u|_(u_1)^(u_2)`

Replacing back   ln x for u yields:

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 2sqrt (ln x)|_e^(e^4)`

Using Leibniz-Newton theorem yields:

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 2sqrt (ln e^4) - 2sqrt (ln e)`

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 2sqrt 4 - 2sqrt 1`

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 4 - 2`

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln...

You need to use the following substitution  ln x=u, such that:

`ln x=u=>(dx)/x= du `

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = int_(u_1)^(u_2) (du)/(sqrt u)`

`int_(u_1)^(u_2) (du)/(sqrt u) = 2sqrt u|_(u_1)^(u_2)`

Replacing back   ln x for u yields:

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 2sqrt (ln x)|_e^(e^4)`

Using Leibniz-Newton theorem yields:

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 2sqrt (ln e^4) - 2sqrt (ln e)`

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 2sqrt 4 - 2sqrt 1`

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 4 - 2`

`int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 2`

Hence, evaluating the definite integral, yields `int_e^(e^4) (dx)/(x*sqrt(ln x)) = 2.`

I need a summary of each chapter of the book Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 by Tony Judt.

Although our Question and Answer section at is not equipped to provide detailed chapter summaries in this way, I can definitely touch on the general summation of each chapter (and each larger part) separately for you.

Let us begin with a general summary and then explore Part 1-4 with their separate chapters.  This is a book that was much anticipated in that it is one of the first of its kind:  a full history of postwar Europe from a noted historian.  It is a modern history that covers both Eastern Europe as well as Western Europe.  Its research involved in-depth study of six languages and more than thirty nations and over sixty years. 

Part 1 of Postwar is aptly titled "Post-War: 1945-1953."  No surprises here.  There are seven chapters here, each with their different nuances.  First, the author speaks of the "legacy" of war, and specifically of World War II.  Next, the idea of "retribution" and "rehabilitation" of Europe where the Germans, especially, chastise and even over-correct themselves.  The next two chapters have to do with a settlement that is "impossible" while leading directly to the Cold War of nuclear prowess.  The author then describes the "whirlwind" that lead to later culture wars between European countries and cried the end of "Old Europe."

Part 2 of Postwar is aptly titled "Prosperity and its Discontents: 1953-1971."  The title is a bit more explanatory than the title of the first part.  Yes, this part is about the prosperity of Europe, but also about the problems that this prosperity caused.  The first chapter in this part deals with postwar politics and follows with the loss of dreams as well as the age of "affluence."  Further chapters in this part have to do with the rise of Social Democracy as a party as well as the possibility (although never the reality) of revolution at that time.

Part 2 of Postwar is called "Recessional:  1971-1989."  This part begins with the smaller expectations of the "new" Europe and continues with the emergence of Eastern and Western Europe, especially in regards to Berlin (and Germany as a whole).  There are new politics discussed as well as transitions.  Eastern Europeans are often viewed as "powerless" and a chapter is devoted to them.  The last chapter is deemed "The End of the Old Order."  This part, of course, ends with the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Finally, Part 3 of Postwar is called "After the Fall: 1989-2005" and includes the time after the fall of the Berlin Wall until the writing of the book.  Its chapters focus upon the variety of life within the continent of modern Europe and what that variety means in regards to daily life.  One of the chapters is devoted to "Old Europe" vs. "New Europe" and the differences between the two.  Often cities are even divided:  Salzburg, Austria is a perfect example.

In conclusion, a summary doesn't do this book justice in that it is such a long-anticipated work.  Further, there are minute details that are interesting in the midst of the grand scope of the history.  All the while, the book reads like a narrative, making is a compelling read and a lot more than just the sum of its chapters.

Why is the village blacksmith admired?

The village blacksmith represents a key element of the Romantic period, the common man as hero. He's a common man who is all mankind:

The smith, a mighty man is he,

   With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

   Are strong as iron bands.  (3-6)

The smith works an honest job, working from sun up to sun down, working at his own business and not owing a single man.

...

The village blacksmith represents a key element of the Romantic period, the common man as hero. He's a common man who is all mankind:

The smith, a mighty man is he,

   With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

   Are strong as iron bands.  (3-6)

The smith works an honest job, working from sun up to sun down, working at his own business and not owing a single man.

There is also a soft side to the smith; "He goes on Sunday to the church" (25), and he has a daughter who sings at church. And when he thinks of his mother who has died, "with his hard, rough hand he wipes / A tear out of his eyes" (35-36). Thus the smith shows it all--"Toiling,—rejoicing,—sorrowing"--and for that the speaker praises him (37). The speaker wants to emulate this hero who works all day at the fire, completing a job every day and rejoicing in that work. Thus, the speaker believes we should all live our lives as the blacksmith does.

`(3 - 2i)^8` Use DeMoivre's Theorem to find the indicated power of the complex number. Write the result in standard form.

`(3-2i)^8`

Take note that De Moivre's Theorem is used to compute the powers and roots of a complex number. The formula is:

`[ r(cos theta +isintheta)]^n = r^n(cos(ntheta) + isin(ntheta))`

Notice that its formula is in trigonometric form. So to compute `(3-2i)^8` , it is necessary to convert the complex number` z= 3-2i` to trigonometric form `z=r(cos theta+isin theta` ).

 To convert `z=x+yi`  to  `z=r(costheta +isintheta)` , apply the formula

`r=sqrt(x^2+y^2)`   and   `theta...

`(3-2i)^8`

Take note that De Moivre's Theorem is used to compute the powers and roots of a complex number. The formula is:

`[ r(cos theta +isintheta)]^n = r^n(cos(ntheta) + isin(ntheta))`

Notice that its formula is in trigonometric form. So to compute `(3-2i)^8` , it is necessary to convert the complex number` z= 3-2i` to trigonometric form `z=r(cos theta+isin theta` ).

 To convert `z=x+yi`  to  `z=r(costheta +isintheta)` , apply the formula

`r=sqrt(x^2+y^2)`   and   `theta = tan^(-1)y/x`

So,

` r=sqrt(3^2+(-2)^2)=sqrt(9+4)=sqrt13`

`theta = tan^(-1) (-2)/3=-33.69007^o`

Since x is positive and y is  negative, theta is located at the fourth quadrant. So the equivalent positive angle of theta is:

`theta =360^o +(-33.69007^o)=326.30993^o`

Hence, the trigonometric form of the complex number 

`z=3-2i`

is

`z=sqrt13(cos326.30993^o + isin326.30993^o)`

Now that it is in trigonometric form, proceed to apply the formula of De Moivre's Theorem to compute `z^8` .

`z^8=(3-2i)^8`

     `=[sqrt13(cos326.30993^o +isin326.30993^o)]^8`

     `=(sqrt13)^8(cos(8xx326.30993^o) +isin(8xx326.30993^o))`

     `=28561(cos(8xx326.30993^o) +isin(8xx326.30993^o))`

     `= -239+28560i`

Therefore, `(3-2i)^8=-239+28560i` .

What is the difference between to + verb and modal verb?

In English language, to + verb is used in an infinitival construction (a clause in which the verb is infinite). An infinite verb is a type of non-finite verb (there are two more types of non-finite verbs, namely Gerunds and Participles), which does not bear tense and phi-feature agreement morphology. In other words, unlike a finite verb, the verb in its infinite form does not agree with the subject of the sentence for phi features.

Let us take the example of the verb swim. In its finite form, the verb agrees with the number and person (phi) features of the subject in English. The –s morpheme that appears on the verb is a marker of number and person agreement with the subject. In other words, it appears on the verb only when the subject is 3rd Person, Singular.

They swim very fast.

She swims very fast.

English verbs only show agreement with number and person features of the nominal, but in some languages, the verb also agrees with gender of the nominal element.

Now let us look at the infinitival constructions, where the verb does not show any such agreement morphology.

They like to swim.

She likes to swim.

In these constructions, the verb (that comes with to) is an infinite verb (Note that the verb like is in its finite form in these sentences).

Modals or modal verbs, on the other hand, are like helping verbs or auxiliaries, which help define modality of the verb. In other words, they tell you about the ability, probability, etc. of the occurrence of the action expressed by the verb. In this way, they have some semantic content in them. Some modal verbs in English are would, should, might, will, etc.

In Poe's, "The Cask of Amontillado", what does Montresor mean by, "But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power", right before...

"But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power", is something a host might say to their guest. In a normal situation, the host would want to give the guest anything they might need: blankets, towels, toiletries, etc. But what "little attentions" could you give a man who you were about to sentence to a prolonged death? A faster death? No, in this case, Montresor's words are said sarcastically because he...

"But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power", is something a host might say to their guest. In a normal situation, the host would want to give the guest anything they might need: blankets, towels, toiletries, etc. But what "little attentions" could you give a man who you were about to sentence to a prolonged death? A faster death? No, in this case, Montresor's words are said sarcastically because he does not actually have anything to give Fortunato. In its own way, sarcasm is a form of irony, as you say one thing but mean something completely different. In this case, Montresor is promising to be a good host to Fortunato, but in fact he is getting the bricks and mortar ready to wall Fortunato into the niche permanently, which is decidedly not something a good host would do.

Although sarcasm is used in everyday speech, I provided a couple of links explaining its usage in literature.

According to Jared Diamond in Guns, Germs, and Steel, what are the eight prerequisites for turning a wild plant into a domesticate?

The answer to this question can be found in Chapter 7 of Guns, Germs, and Steel.  There, Diamond describes a number of criteria that make it more likely that a plant will be domesticated.

The first criterion is size. If a plant has larger fruit, it is likelier to be domesticated because people will be able to get more food for a given amount of effort as they picked the food.  The second criterion...

The answer to this question can be found in Chapter 7 of Guns, Germs, and Steel.  There, Diamond describes a number of criteria that make it more likely that a plant will be domesticated.

The first criterion is size. If a plant has larger fruit, it is likelier to be domesticated because people will be able to get more food for a given amount of effort as they picked the food.  The second criterion is taste.  Plants that taste good are likely to be selected by people and domesticated.  Then, on p.119, Diamond introduces a few more criteria.  He says that plants are more likely to be domesticated if they have fruit that is very fleshy or has few seeds.  He says they are more likely to be domesticated if they have oily seeds or if they have long fibers (for making into cloth). 

After that, the criteria are less obvious.  Diamond says that plants can only be domesticated if they do not have good mechanisms for dispersing their seeds.  He says that some seeds have mechanisms that prevent them from all germinating at the same time.  These kinds of plants would not be good for domesticating because their seeds would not all germinate at the same time and be mature at the same time.  These are the criteria that are the prerequisites for domesticating wild plants.

What is the main point of this document? The Tea Party: The New Populism

In "The Tea Party: The New Populism," Arun Gupta examines the origins, nature, and vulnerabilities of the Tea Party movement in the United States. Progressives often dismiss the Tea Party as an "Astroturf" movement, alleging the movement is driven by rich and powerful corporate entities such as the Koch Brothers and does not have widespread support. Despite these Astroturf appearances, Gupta says the Tea Party movement also has many grassroots elements: polling data, election results...

In "The Tea Party: The New Populism," Arun Gupta examines the origins, nature, and vulnerabilities of the Tea Party movement in the United States. Progressives often dismiss the Tea Party as an "Astroturf" movement, alleging the movement is driven by rich and powerful corporate entities such as the Koch Brothers and does not have widespread support. Despite these Astroturf appearances, Gupta says the Tea Party movement also has many grassroots elements: polling data, election results (especially the 2010 midterm elections), and attendance at Tea Party events. Moreover--while the Tea Party movement played a major role in the 2010 elections--there were a variety of elections which Astroturf Tea Party organizations were unable to influence because voters were not aligned with the cause.

Gupta notes that liberals also dismiss the Tea Party movement because they believe it is inherently racist and thus cannot become a powerful force in national American politics. However, Gupta argues that racism is a unifying force for the Tea Party and has brought the movement success. Thus, liberals should not discount its role as a populist movement.

Finally, Gupta examines vulnerabilities within the Tea Party movement. He believes the Tea Party is too ideologically heterogeneous to remain united. He also says that as the Tea Party movement become systematized, it loses its anti-authoritarian ethos. Finally, Gupta says polls indicate Tea Party supporters are beginning to question their support for the ideas the Tea Party represents. 

Could Penelope be related to the repeated line "rose fingered dawn" in the Odyssey?

Although there is one use of "rosy-fingered dawn" that relates directly to Odysseus and Penelope, which I will discuss briefly below, it is unlikely that the phrase "rose-fingered dawn" (and all its variations) can be identified with Penelope.

In Homeric epics like The Iliad and The Odyssey, the poet uses phrases known as epithets which, when they refer to gods or certain men, usually great warriors, become a formulaic reference.  "Rosy-fingered dawn," for example,...

Although there is one use of "rosy-fingered dawn" that relates directly to Odysseus and Penelope, which I will discuss briefly below, it is unlikely that the phrase "rose-fingered dawn" (and all its variations) can be identified with Penelope.

In Homeric epics like The Iliad and The Odyssey, the poet uses phrases known as epithets which, when they refer to gods or certain men, usually great warriors, become a formulaic reference.  "Rosy-fingered dawn," for example, is used many times in Homeric and classical literature to refer to the goddess Eos (also, Aurora, Dawn), who brings the first light of day, usually red or rosy, from the East.  If we were to count the number of times this epithet for Eos is used in The Iliad or The Odyssey, we would probably discover no significant difference.  More importantly, classical writers after Homer used the same epithet many times, including Virgil in the Aeniad.  Similar epithets include phrases like "the grey-eyed goddess Athena" (also, "blue-eyed"), "swift-footed Achilles," and "father of us, sovereign above all rulers," a very common reference to Zeus in The Odyssey. Epithets are rhetorical devices in that they take an abstraction--dawn, for example--and make the abstraction a concrete image, something that everyone can understand.  Homeric epithets may have developed from earlier poetic traditions for Greek mythological figures, and they may have developed as part of oral literature in order to help the poet, who relied on memory to recite hundreds of lines, recall the beginnings of important sections.

Your question about Dawn and Penelope may arise from a section of Book 23 in which Athena brings about the dawn after Odysseus and Penelope have been able to make love and sleep after Odysseus has gotten rid of the suitors:

When [Athena] felt that Odysseus had taken his full pleasure/in making love with his wife and sleeping beside her [Penelope],/she permitted Dawn to leave the river of Ocean/and bring the first light to mankind.

What is important here is that Athena, not Dawn, is in control of the action.  Odysseus and his family are still in jeopardy, and Athena continues to guide them as they try to find a way to satisfy all the relatives of the slain suitors.  In this scene, as in other appearances, Dawn fulfills an important function based on her Homeric significance as an epithet.

What is an effective strategy for making good healthcare decisions?

Whether making a healthcare decision or other important life decision, there are several proven strategies to assist you in the process.  Your first task should be to consider your biases.  Decision making should be as objective as possible.  Identifying your biases will help you make a more educated decision.  You should then create a pros and cons list.  For each pro and con, you should also consider the weight of that item.  For example, the...

Whether making a healthcare decision or other important life decision, there are several proven strategies to assist you in the process.  Your first task should be to consider your biases.  Decision making should be as objective as possible.  Identifying your biases will help you make a more educated decision.  You should then create a pros and cons list.  For each pro and con, you should also consider the weight of that item.  For example, the cost of a medical treatment may be just one con on the list, but if the amount is unattainable, the cost should be a major consideration.   You may even want to create a point system to account for the importance of certain components of the decision.  When looking at the pros and cons, you can also strip them down to the most important categories.  This strategy will help you narrow down your choices.  Another helpful strategy is to consider the advice you would give a friend.  We often struggle to make decisions ourselves but can clearly see the right choice when advising someone else.  Your next step should be to imagine enacting your decision options.  Do you feel good about the outcome?  Sometimes the choice is clear after visualizing the decision.  And finally, after you make the decision, you always want to go back and assess your choice.  If you are not happy with the outcome, you can always take another path.  When making health care decisions, it is always important to continually evaluate and consider any new information received from research. 

What are the characteristics of Jonas in the book "The Giver"?

I think Jonas's most important characteristic is the fact that he is empathetic.  It's probably the main reason why he chosen to be the new receiver of memory.  He has the ability to relate to and understand the emotions of others.  That's pretty amazing considering that his society has basically eliminated emotions completely with the Sameness.  For example, Jonas is deeply disturbed by the war games that the kids are playing because he finally understands...

I think Jonas's most important characteristic is the fact that he is empathetic.  It's probably the main reason why he chosen to be the new receiver of memory.  He has the ability to relate to and understand the emotions of others.  That's pretty amazing considering that his society has basically eliminated emotions completely with the Sameness.  For example, Jonas is deeply disturbed by the war games that the kids are playing because he finally understands what war causes people.  

"Asher," Jonas said. He was trying to speak carefully, and with kindness, to say exactly what he wanted to say. "You had no way ofknowing this. I didn't know it myself until recently. But it's a cruel game. In the past, there have--"

Jonas is also a very caring boy.  That goes with empathy of course, but it goes beyond empathy.  Jonas cares for others, their safety, and their lives.  It's why he is willing to risk his own life in order to save his brother's life.  

That last example also highlights a third trait of Jonas.  He is brave.  He shows bravery throughout the book.  He is brave to continually go back to the Giver in order to receive what he knows will be painful memories.  He is also brave for standing up to the Sameness and trying to get his brother and himself to a new community.  He knows it will be dangerous, and he doesn't know anything of what to expect.  Stepping out into so many unknowns is quite brave. 

What occurred on Sunday in Animal Farm?

In Animal Farm, lots of important events take place on a Sunday. Here are some examples:

• In Chapter Two, the Rebellion - in which the animals overthrow Mr. Jones - occurs on a Sunday evening.


• Once the Rebellion is complete, the animals allocate Sunday as a day of rest. They also have special meetings on a Sunday in which they discuss important issues and allocate work for the coming week. Later in the novel, these meetings are banned by Napoleon.


• In Chapter Five, at one of these Sunday meetings, Snowball is expelled from the farm by Napoleon and his guard dogs.


• Three Sundays later, Napoleon announces that the windmill will, in fact, be built.


• In Chapter Six, on a Sunday, Napoleon announces that the farm will start trading with humans.


• Every Sunday morning, Squealer reads out the weekly production figures for the farm. The figures always show an increase of "two hundred...three hundred...or five hundred percent"


• It is on Sunday that Napoleon makes a rare public appearance to give a speech in honour of Boxer who dies in Chapter Nine.

What effect does it have on the reader if Lady Macbeth is depicted as evil?

One of Shakespeare's primary purposes in depicting Lady Macbeth as evil and malicious is to motivate the reader to have sympathy and understanding for the plight of Macbeth.  As Macbeth evolves as a character, there are two primary forces that usher him towards the evil deeds that he commits.  First, the three weird sisters plant prophecies that lure Macbeth towards his evil ways and then Lady Macbeth serves as a cunning and manipulative force in...

One of Shakespeare's primary purposes in depicting Lady Macbeth as evil and malicious is to motivate the reader to have sympathy and understanding for the plight of Macbeth.  As Macbeth evolves as a character, there are two primary forces that usher him towards the evil deeds that he commits.  First, the three weird sisters plant prophecies that lure Macbeth towards his evil ways and then Lady Macbeth serves as a cunning and manipulative force in forcing Macbeth into his eventual evildoing.  For the reader, it is evident that Macbeth is coerced by Lady Macbeth and tricked by the weird sisters, which in part absolves him of the guilt that he eventually acquires from committing many murders throughout the play.  Moreover, these acts fuel Macbeth into madness and he loses all self-control and rationality, leading to his eventual ruin.  It is in seeing that these forces push Macbeth to his eventual demise that Shakespeare creates a tragic character in Macbeth.  Without these outside sinister forces the reader would not be able to see Macbeth in a tragic light and feel sadness at his downfall.  

What is the white stuff called when you are melting styrofoam with nail polish remover and what do you do with it?

The white stuff that is left behind is still styrofoam, better known as polystyrene.  Styrofoam is up to 95% trapped air, so when you put the styrofoam in an organic solvent, such as acetone, it releases the trapped air.  The styrofoam residue that is left behind is a lattice work that crisscrossed itself in rigid form with the trapped air.  Acetone is an organic solvent that is effective in dissolving styrofoam, plastics, glue, pine sap,...

The white stuff that is left behind is still styrofoam, better known as polystyrene.  Styrofoam is up to 95% trapped air, so when you put the styrofoam in an organic solvent, such as acetone, it releases the trapped air.  The styrofoam residue that is left behind is a lattice work that crisscrossed itself in rigid form with the trapped air.  Acetone is an organic solvent that is effective in dissolving styrofoam, plastics, glue, pine sap, and many other things that have a glue-like, sticky residue.  Acetone is the key ingredient in nail polish remover.  Acetone has a strong odor and is extremely flammable.  Care should be taken when conducting an experiment such as dissolving styrofoam in acetone.  A well-ventilated area, outdoors, perhaps, would be best so as to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.

After dissolving your styrofoam (actually a trademark of the Dow Chemical Company), you can recycle it through a local polystyrene recycling agent. Since the air cells are broken down, making the styrofoam more compact, it is simpler to recycle. Since dissolving styrofoam in nail polish remover contaminates indoor air quality, it is not advisable to dissolve styrofoam just for recycling, but, if you have conducted a school experiment with acetone and styrofoam, you can recycle (you and your class) the melted polystyrene remaining, which gets more solidified as more acetone evaporates.

How can we see colour in night where colour of a material can only be seen when a particular colour emits on the material and part of it is...

We really don't see color at night, at least not in very, very low light. You are correct that the eye perceives wavelengths of light that are reflected by a material. The wavelengths that are absorbed by the material are not bounced back into the eye, and we "see" the color of the wavelengths that are reflected back into the eye. Through the cones, one type of receptor in the retina, color is interpreted by...

We really don't see color at night, at least not in very, very low light. You are correct that the eye perceives wavelengths of light that are reflected by a material. The wavelengths that are absorbed by the material are not bounced back into the eye, and we "see" the color of the wavelengths that are reflected back into the eye. Through the cones, one type of receptor in the retina, color is interpreted by the brain after the signal is transmitted through the optic nerve. There are also rods in the retina, another type of receptor that mainly is concerned with areas of black and white. The rods are much better able to function in low light than are the cones. When the light level is too low, the cones are not able to send much information on the color of an object to the brain and we do not see color much, if at all. This is something you can experiment with--try seeing how much light it takes to see color as you slowly increase light levels from pitch blackness.

More detail on theories of color perception, and on color blindness, are contained in the links below.

In "The White Man's Burden," Kipling portrays the indigenous people of the colonized countries as wild, half-devil and half-child. Why does the...

In his poem, “The White Man’s Burden” Rudyard Kipling says that the white people have to send their best people out to work hard for the sake of people who are not nearly as good as they, the white people, are.  In the first stanza, he calls them “fluttered folk and wild” and, a little later, “half devil and half child.”  He and other defenders of colonialism portray indigenous people in this way because it...

In his poem, “The White Man’s Burden” Rudyard Kipling says that the white people have to send their best people out to work hard for the sake of people who are not nearly as good as they, the white people, are.  In the first stanza, he calls them “fluttered folk and wild” and, a little later, “half devil and half child.”  He and other defenders of colonialism portray indigenous people in this way because it helps to justify their colonization of those people’s lands.

It is important for defenders of colonialism to portray indigenous people in these ways.  When the imperialists do this, they help to justify ruling over other people.  When they say that the colonized people are like children, it shows that those people are not ready to take care of themselves.  Because they are not ready to take care of themselves, it is proper for and “adult” country to care for them.  When the imperialists say that the indigenous people are “wild” and “half devil,” they are “proving” that it is important for them to be harsh with the people.  If the people are wild devils, they need a firm hand to keep them in line.

If the imperialists succeed in convincing people of these things, it makes their lives easier.  People in their home country and in other rich and powerful countries will support the idea of imperialism.  They will think that it is appropriate to take colonies and to act relatively harshly towards the colonies’ populations.  For these reasons, it is important for Kipling and others to create a discourse that portrays indigenous people in these ways.

Using pages 1-19 of Fahrenheit 451, give a summary of the world in which Montag lives.

In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the main character, Guy Montag, is experiencing a realization about his life that went heretofore unnoticed. In the first few pages, the reader is immersed in a strange world where people don't talk to one another or care about their surroundings.

The world in which Montag lives is futuristic in the sense that it represents a world where reading books is illegal and anyone who is found to own books runs the risk of having their house burned down. Firemen start fires in Montag's world rather than put them out.

Clarisse McClellan, (the girl who points out discrepancies in reality for Montag), questions him about a time when things were different: "Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out instead of going to start them?" (6). However, Montag admonishes Clarisse for this question because he doesn't know of another time, "No. Houses have always been fireproof, take my word for it," (6).

Clarisse informs Montag about things he never knew of or had since forgotten about: things like dew on the morning grass, the "man in the moon," and the taste of rain. She points out that people are always moving so quickly that they no longer notice the world around them. "I sometimes think drivers don't know what grass is, or flowers, because they never see them slowly," (6). She also intrigues him by talking about her family and the way they talk to one another. Judging from Montag's reaction to this, Clarisse realizes this is an uncommon circumstance; "It's like being a pedestrian, only rarer...Oh, we're most peculiar," (7).

Instead of talking to one another, the people in Montag's world get lost in their own heads while listening to Seashells (thimble radios they wear in their ears), and attempt suicide often. After a failed attempt by Mildred, the men who are sent from the emergency hospital are through pumping Mildred's stomach and replacing her blood when they confide in Montag that it's a regular occurrence, "We get these cases nine or ten a night. Got so many, starting a few years ago, we had these special machines built," (13).

This may be due to the fact that there is no camaraderie, no loyalty, and no connections to others in Montag's world. However, the first 19 pages pique the reader's interest and offer hope of change for the better.

Is a convex lens that converges light called a diverging or converging lens?

A converging lens is a convex lens that converges light. This means that the converging lens causes parallel light rays to come together. The point at which the parallel rays of light meet is called the focal point. Such lenses create real images. In optics, a real image is an image that is formed by converging light rays. The real image is found in the plane of convergence. When a screen is placed within...

A converging lens is a convex lens that converges light. This means that the converging lens causes parallel light rays to come together. The point at which the parallel rays of light meet is called the focal point. Such lenses create real images. In optics, a real image is an image that is formed by converging light rays. The real image is found in the plane of convergence. When a screen is placed within this plane, then the real image can be seen on the screen. Thus, the images found on the screens in movie theaters are examples of real images.

On the other hand, a diverging lens is a concave lens that causes light rays to refract and diverge. Such lenses form virtual images.

1.Why do pulmonary arteries have light violet blood? 2. Name the things necessary that help in preparation of carbohydrates in plants. 3. How are...

The pulmonary arteries have light violet blood as an artistic depiction to stress they carry deoxygenated blood, or oxygen poor blood, from the heart to the lungs.  Here the blood will get rid of the carbon dioxide it is carrying, a result of the body's cells conducting cellular respiration, and pick up a fresh load of oxygen.  The blood returning to the heart from the lungs will be depicted with a pink to reddish color...

The pulmonary arteries have light violet blood as an artistic depiction to stress they carry deoxygenated blood, or oxygen poor blood, from the heart to the lungs.  Here the blood will get rid of the carbon dioxide it is carrying, a result of the body's cells conducting cellular respiration, and pick up a fresh load of oxygen.  The blood returning to the heart from the lungs will be depicted with a pink to reddish color to indicate the gaseous exchange.

The required ingredients necessary for the production of carbohydrates in plants would be carbon dioxide gas, from the atmosphere, CO2; water from the ground, absorbed through the plants root system, H2O; and light energy, usually from the sun.  These ingredients will undergo a chemical process in the plants' chloroplasts known as photosynthesis, which will produce the carbohydrate glucose, C6H12O6, and oxygen, O2, as a waste product.

Fragmentation and regeneration are both asexual reproduction methods.  They differ in that fragmentation only requires a piece of the organism to regenerate an entirely new organism.  Regeneration is what happens when the whole organism loses a portion, or piece, of itself.  It simply regenerates whatever was lost.

Why does Granny and her family move so much in Toni Cade Bambara's "Blues Ain't No Mockin' Bird"?

In Toni Cade Bambara's "Blues Ain't No Mockin' Bird," the narrator explains why Granny moves around so much soon after Granny relays to the kids her story of the man being photographed who was about to jump off a bridge, a story she uses to explain that she feels photographing human suffering is a major infringement of human rights. According to the narrator, people drive Granny crazyto the point she feels the need to...

In Toni Cade Bambara's "Blues Ain't No Mockin' Bird," the narrator explains why Granny moves around so much soon after Granny relays to the kids her story of the man being photographed who was about to jump off a bridge, a story she uses to explain that she feels photographing human suffering is a major infringement of human rights.

According to the narrator, people drive Granny crazy to the point she feels the need to "get up in the night and start packin'," saying, "Let's get on away from here before I kill me somebody." The narrator further explains in what way people drive Granny crazy by listing a few examples. For example, Mr. Judson drove Granny crazy when he brought her "boxes of old clothes and raggedy magazines," and Mrs. Cooper drove Granny crazy by coming into Granny's kitchen and complimenting her cleanliness. However, since the narrator is young and limited in understanding, the reader must draw inferences from these examples as to exactly why Granny feels driven crazy.

One inference the reader can draw is that all troubles in the story relate to racial discrimination. Therefore, the man in the story who was about to jump off the bridge may have been driven to do so in part due to racism. In addition, Granny was angered when she was brought discarded clothes by Mr. Judson because she understood he did so based on racial discrimination: based on the color of her skin, he had reached the conclusion that Granny was too poor to take care of her own, when in reality she works hard enough to get by. Furthermore, Granny was angered when Mrs. Cooper complimented the cleanliness of her kitchen because she knew Mrs. Cooper did so based on the assumption that people of Granny's class and race are not clean people. Hence, after drawing inferences, the reader is able to see that Granny is angered by racial discrimination and moves frequently in an effort to escape it.

How is Simon treated in a group from "Lord of the Flies"?

At first, Simon is treated with some disdain both by Jack and the other members of the choir. He faints in the heat after their march across the beach wearing their choir "togs," and Jack points out that he is always fainting wherever they go. To these boys, it is a sign of weakness that sets Simon apart already.

But he is accepted and he plays a helpful role in watching after the littluns so...

At first, Simon is treated with some disdain both by Jack and the other members of the choir. He faints in the heat after their march across the beach wearing their choir "togs," and Jack points out that he is always fainting wherever they go. To these boys, it is a sign of weakness that sets Simon apart already.

But he is accepted and he plays a helpful role in watching after the littluns so Ralph and Jack accept him as a useful member of the group but they don't ever trust him. 

Simon appears to be the only boy who never joined a particular tribe; he operated in a space apart. This was partially due to his initial faint and dismissal but also partially due to his ease with moving between the two groups. 

Eventually though, he is able to decipher the real meaning of the beast and once he climbs the mountain he knows that the dead pilot is in fact no monster but just a dead pilot. But as he tries to re-enter the group to explain all he has learned, the boys are in the midst of a hunting dance and brutally murder him.

What was your overall opinion about the novel The Outsiders?

The novel is a wonderful tale of Ponyboy and the Greasers and Socs and it reflects a number of the attitudes and concerns of the time as well as timeless ones. The way that Ponyboy struggles to make sense of the world around him as he lost his parents and now has to depend on his older brother Darry. Particularly because of the way Darry treats him and the Greasers lower social status, Ponyboy often...

The novel is a wonderful tale of Ponyboy and the Greasers and Socs and it reflects a number of the attitudes and concerns of the time as well as timeless ones. The way that Ponyboy struggles to make sense of the world around him as he lost his parents and now has to depend on his older brother Darry. Particularly because of the way Darry treats him and the Greasers lower social status, Ponyboy often feels unwanted and works his way through these feelings in the novel.

Hinton wrote a very believable story, the interactions feel genuine and legitimate, the problems are ones that teenagers have always had and will continue to have, and the story is compelling from beginning to end. Her characters are interesting and dynamic, and the fact that she wrote the book mainly between the ages of 15 and 16 makes it all the more impressive.

And on a very basic level, I enjoyed reading the book. It was exciting and I didn't want to stop and I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow and change.

What happens when you mix bleach with coke?

Bleach is a class of commonly used chemicals for bleaching out or removing the color (of stains from clothes) and as a disinfectant (in the kitchen or bathroom). Bleach is typically based on chlorine, such as sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, etc. 

On reaction with coke (coca cola), bleach decolorizes it. In other words, after a few minutes of mixing, coke will lose all its color and the solution turns practically colorless. Bleach, typically, works as...

Bleach is a class of commonly used chemicals for bleaching out or removing the color (of stains from clothes) and as a disinfectant (in the kitchen or bathroom). Bleach is typically based on chlorine, such as sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, etc. 

On reaction with coke (coca cola), bleach decolorizes it. In other words, after a few minutes of mixing, coke will lose all its color and the solution turns practically colorless. Bleach, typically, works as an oxidizing agent and breaks the bonds of molecules responsible for color (termed as chromophores) and causes discoloration. Bleach on reaction with coke may also produce some chlorine gas, which is a toxic gas and the reaction is exothermic. 

In case you decide to try this experiment at home, kindly ensure that safety measures have been taken to protect yourself against exothermic reaction and chlorine gas (produced, if any). 

Hope this helps. 

Why was trade vital to Pax Romana

Pax Romana was a period of relative peace throughout the Roman Empire. The period followed the fall of the second triumvirate and the sole leadership of Octavian, Julius Caesar’s nephew. Octavian had taken over leadership after defeating both Lepidus and Mark Antony. He feigned democratic leadership by referring to himself using the populist term “first citizen” however he was later positioned as an emperor.

Octavian initiated the period of Pax Romana to succeed the difficult...

Pax Romana was a period of relative peace throughout the Roman Empire. The period followed the fall of the second triumvirate and the sole leadership of Octavian, Julius Caesar’s nephew. Octavian had taken over leadership after defeating both Lepidus and Mark Antony. He feigned democratic leadership by referring to himself using the populist term “first citizen” however he was later positioned as an emperor.

Octavian initiated the period of Pax Romana to succeed the difficult period during the civil wars that had engulfed the Empire. Trade played a major role in ensuring peaceful coexistence among the vast members of the Empire. Through the exchange of goods and services members of the Empire learned to appreciate the different individual input towards the growth and stability of the Empire. Trade was also seen as an avenue of promoting better living standards among the people, wealth was distributed and those previously considered deprived found avenues to apply themselves in industry. Trade was also important for the Roman economy and the continued existence of Rome. The different provinces paid taxes to Rome and these funds were used to offer essential services to a majority of the citizenry. These funds also helped in maintaining law and order among the populace through payments made to the soldiers and other officials charged with this responsibility. Thus in essence trade during the Pax Romana period provided the basis for stability and growth of the Roman Empire.

How do I write an essay about the significance of Fahrenheit 451 using "he is no wise man that will quit a certainty for an uncertainty?"

Beatty quotes this line (from Samuel Johnson, a famous English writer of letters) when they are in the firehouse. This is shortly before they go to Montag's house. This is Beatty's way of trying to confuse Montag. He is using literary insights in order to challenge other literary insights. Beatty is trying to prove that all of this deep thinking simply leads to impasse after impasse. One could easily find another Johnson quote that could...

Beatty quotes this line (from Samuel Johnson, a famous English writer of letters) when they are in the firehouse. This is shortly before they go to Montag's house. This is Beatty's way of trying to confuse Montag. He is using literary insights in order to challenge other literary insights. Beatty is trying to prove that all of this deep thinking simply leads to impasse after impasse. One could easily find another Johnson quote that could be interpreted to embrace uncertainty. ("The joy of life is variety." This is taken from the same work that Beatty quotes, The Idler.) 

The larger irony is that Beatty uses a quote that is easily disproved in Montag's case. He (Montag) would be wise to quit the certainty of his life (as a book-burning fireman and passive, thoughtless citizen) for a new way of life. Curiosity began his new life and as he gains more insights and knowledge, it is his wisdom that suggests an uncertain future is preferable to the old life that he (Montag) has now come to despise. This is a starting point for an essay. Uncertainty, in the context of Montag's transformation, is something he is actively seeking. In his old life, he was satisfied with the comfort of certainty. Learning new things and being open to new ideas requires one to embrace some amount of uncertainty. 

Anyone can find literary quotes that contradict each other. That's all Beatty is doing here. So, clearly this does not mean that literature and philosophy are necessarily pointless. Montag must go beyond this kind of superficial scholarship. Coming from a society in which he was a passive man and moving into a life of curiosity and deeper thinking is new territory for Montag. It therefore requires him to go to uncertain places. In other words, he actually must quit the certainty of his old life in order to pursue wisdom. 

Explain, in words, the meaning of a type I and a type II error in this situation and write down, in a few sentences, the consequences for the...

An administrator at a hospital claims that an average of 185 beds are occupied each day. A board member believes that the number is inflated and gets data for 16 days. The null hypothesis is the mu=185 and the alternative hypothesis is mu!=185.

(1) A Type II error occurs when a false null hypothesis is accepted. In this situation, if the average number of beds is not 185 ( and from the data given it...

An administrator at a hospital claims that an average of 185 beds are occupied each day. A board member believes that the number is inflated and gets data for 16 days. The null hypothesis is the mu=185 and the alternative hypothesis is mu!=185.

(1) A Type II error occurs when a false null hypothesis is accepted. In this situation, if the average number of beds is not 185 ( and from the data given it appears to be less than 185) but the test does not reject the null hypothesis this would be a Type II error.

If you believed that you needed, on average, 185 beds when you actually needed fewer you might incur additional costs (including staffing for nurses, custodial work, etc...) You might also approve an additional wing which would prove unnecessary.

(2) A Type I error occurs when a true null hypothesis is rejected. In this case, if the average really was 185 but the data indicated that you should reject the null hypothesis a Type I error would occur. (If the board member "cherry picked" the data for unusually slow days this could easily occur -- more difficult to happen by chance. The probability that this happens by chance is restricted by the significance level of the test.)

If you reject the claim that you need 185 beds, when you actually do, you might find yourself understaffed or unable to accommodate your patients.

What powers do the three witches in Macbeth seem to possess? What do they prophesy will happen to Macbeth and Banquo?

There are two types of evidence we can use to assess the powers possessed by the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The first type of evidence is their actual actions in the play, and the second type of evidence is what they say in their speeches.

In terms of the first type of evidence, namely their actions, their powers seem relatively limited--mainly to seeing the future. In the first act, they simply talk to Macbeth...

There are two types of evidence we can use to assess the powers possessed by the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The first type of evidence is their actual actions in the play, and the second type of evidence is what they say in their speeches.

In terms of the first type of evidence, namely their actions, their powers seem relatively limited--mainly to seeing the future. In the first act, they simply talk to Macbeth about his future. They do not seem to compel him in any way or take any action other than talking. In the fourth act, they conjure visions. They also seem to have a magical power to open locks, as is evidenced by their use of the following spell to admit Macbeth after he knocks:

Open, locks,
Whoever knocks!

Macbeth and the witches themselves claim that they have the power to control winds, causing either favorable winds or shipwrecks. As the witches add various horrific ingredients into their cauldron, they claim to be making a "charm." Thus we can assume that they have some powers or skills in the art of making potions or charms. 

The witches predict that Macbeth will be a Thane of Cawdor and then king and that Banquo will be the father of a king. This sets in motion the major action of the play.

What is the relationship between DNA, a chromosome, and chromatin?

The term DNA, chromosome, and chromatin are three terms which have very distinct meanings in biology.

DNAstands for deoxyribonucleic acid and refers to a biopolymer structure composed of four different nucleotide or base constituents which include adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. These bases are linked together via a phosphate backbone. Within the nucleus, Naked DNA exists as a double helical structure held together by a collection of forces. Hydrogen bonding between adenine and thymine...

The term DNA, chromosome, and chromatin are three terms which have very distinct meanings in biology.

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid and refers to a biopolymer structure composed of four different nucleotide or base constituents which include adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. These bases are linked together via a phosphate backbone. Within the nucleus, Naked DNA exists as a double helical structure held together by a collection of forces. Hydrogen bonding between adenine and thymine as well as guanine and cytosine bases from adjacent strands are one of the primary ways in which the double helix is formed. Genes which code for specific proteins are contained within the sequence of nucleotides which arise within each strand of DNA. These gene sequences contain hereditary information.

Chromosomes are relatively large thread-like structures within the nucleus which tightly package double stranded naked DNA via a complex collection of proteins called histones. These histones allow DNA to be organized into protein-DNA bundles called nucleosomes which in turn can form solenoid fiber-like collections of nucleosomes called chromatin. Please refer to the attached resource to better visualize this organizational structure.

What is the relationship between DNA, a chromosome, and chromatin?

The nature of the relationship which exists between DNA, a chromosome, and chromatin involves how the heredity information in the form of naked DNA is tightly packed into protein-DNA nucleosomes which create solenoid fiber-like chromatin structures that ultimately form chromosomes.

In Freak the Mighty, what is the setting and how does Kevin prove to Max he is not a butthead?

The city or town is not explicitly given in Philbrick's Freak the Mighty, but the "in-depth" link below says that the author indicates Portsmouth, New Hampshire as the backdrop. More specific locations for the setting include Max's basement room, Freak's house, their school, Iggy's house in the tenements, the early days of daycare, and the hospital. They also have quite an adventure at the city park and pond on the Fourth of July...

The city or town is not explicitly given in Philbrick's Freak the Mighty, but the "in-depth" link below says that the author indicates Portsmouth, New Hampshire as the backdrop. More specific locations for the setting include Max's basement room, Freak's house, their school, Iggy's house in the tenements, the early days of daycare, and the hospital. They also have quite an adventure at the city park and pond on the Fourth of July where Max and Freak conquer a "dragon" named Tony D. who pulls a blade on them. (They only run into the muddy pond to get away, but at least they didn't get cut!)

Max says about Kevin in the first line of the book, "I never had a brain until Freak came along and let me borrow his for a while" (1). This first statement not only piques the curiosity of the reader, but also shows that Max eventually understands that he is not a butthead, but that he can learn and flex his brain muscles like anyone else.

Max considers himself a butthead because he is placed in Learning Disabled (L.D.) classes. He's also grown to be larger than the average kid in his class and he feels like he trips over his feet too often. When Kevin comes along, Max feels stupid around him because he has a wide vocabulary that he uses on a casual basis. In an effort to help Max understand him, Kevin defines many of the words he uses each day. Eventually, Kevin teaches Max how to use a dictionary; then, he makes Max his own dictionary of favorite words and gives it to him at Christmas. Kevin also helps Max by giving him a reason to go to the more advanced classes and helping him through them as well. Kevin helps Max to realize that he can learn things even if it takes a little bit of work.

The other thing that Kevin does that helps Max not to feel like a butthead is he loves him unconditionally. They are true friends. Kevin demonstrates his loyalty to Max by not giving up searching for him when Killer Kane kidnaps him. It is Kevin who storms the castle and defeats the dragon (Max's dad) with a squirt gun filled with vinegar and curry powder. Anyone who is saved by a friend like that is sure to feel like a human being rather than a butthead.

What are Ulysses' feelings about aging?

This question, the question of confronting the process of aging, is at the heart of Tennyson's "Ulysses." The poem is essentially the soliloquy of an aging Ulysses (the Latin form of Odysseus) reflecting upon his life from the boring comfort of his home, Ithaca. Throughout the poem, Ulysses rails against his advanced years, hating his old age for the perceived weakness and uselessness it brings.

Ulysses gives us several clues as to his feelings about...

This question, the question of confronting the process of aging, is at the heart of Tennyson's "Ulysses." The poem is essentially the soliloquy of an aging Ulysses (the Latin form of Odysseus) reflecting upon his life from the boring comfort of his home, Ithaca. Throughout the poem, Ulysses rails against his advanced years, hating his old age for the perceived weakness and uselessness it brings.

Ulysses gives us several clues as to his feelings about old age, but there are a few particular examples that are worth noting. Consider, for instance, the following lines:

How dull it is to pause, to make an end,

To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use! (22-3)

In these lines, Ulysses compares old age to uselessness, using the metaphor of rusting, "unburnish'd" metal to drive home his point. Like a sturdy sword that has rusted with time, Ulysses regards the process of aging as one that detracts from a human's ability to act and be useful. However, despite this apparent despair, Ulysses' ultimate attitude is one of defiance. Consider, for example, the famous final lines of the poem:

We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. (66-70)

In this passage, Ulysses basically asserts that, though old age has weakened him, he is still resolved to pursue feats of heroism, venturing off into the unknown to grapple with the gods. While this is certainly an uplifting sentiment, the meaning of the poem is nonetheless ambiguous. We must remember that we are hearing Ulysses' voice, and his opinions are not necessarily Tennyson's opinions. It could be that Tennyson wants us to view the aging process with defiance, to use Ulysses' rebellion as an inspiring example of inner strength and fortitude. On the other hand, Tennyson could be using Ulysses as a tragic example of an old man pathetically trying to relive the glory days. Tennyson's overall opinion of this matter is uncertain, and so it is up to you as the reader to come to whatever decision seems best to you.

What was the structure and function of the government set forth by the United States Constitution?

The government system that is outlined in the United States Constitution was one that was unique to the time period. The government would be divided into three separate branches, each with various powers and responsibilities. The three branches are set up to check and balance the powers of each other.

The legislative branch is responsible for making laws, appropriating spending, and approving treaties. The legislative branch has important checks over the other branches in that...

The government system that is outlined in the United States Constitution was one that was unique to the time period. The government would be divided into three separate branches, each with various powers and responsibilities. The three branches are set up to check and balance the powers of each other.

The legislative branch is responsible for making laws, appropriating spending, and approving treaties. The legislative branch has important checks over the other branches in that it can override presidential vetoes and can impeach the president and judges for wrongdoing. Congress is the body of government encompasses the legislative branch. Congress is divided into two houses: the Senate and House of Representatives. There are important checks between the two houses of Congress that enable a more balanced legislative branch.

The executive branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of Congress. The President of the United States is the head of an executive branch that includes over a dozen departments and hundreds of agencies. The president has important checks over the other branches including the appointment of federal judges, and the ability to veto laws proposed by Congress. The power over the armed forces is also vested in the executive branch.

The judicial branch was established to interpret laws passed by Congress. The highest court in the land is the Supreme Court, but there are federal circuit and appeals courts throughout the country. The judicial branch can check the power of the President and Congress by presiding over impeachment trials, but more importantly, through judicial review. The Court has the power to rule the laws of Congress and executive orders of the president unconstitutional. It uses the Consitution as its guide when making these important decisions.

Another important feature of our constitutional government is that it limits the power of the federal government. The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declares that powers not granted to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people.

What is the theme in Avi's The Man Who Was Poe?

It can be said that the central theme in Avi's The Man Who Was Poe concerns our abilities and inabilities to cope with our fears. Throughout the story, there are times when both the central characters, Edmund and Edgar Allan Poe, face their fears poorly and face them successfully.

In his book, Avi accurately characterizes the historical Poe as a man deeply troubled by grief over the deaths of his mother and young wife. His grief leads Poe to become paranoid of his fears and to be an alcoholic. Based on Avi's characterization of Poe, death is one of his greatest fears, and he copes with his fear of death by obsessively writing about death, just like he ends his story about Edmund with the deaths of Edmund's mother and sister, though both he and Edmund know in real life Edmund's family members are still alive and can still be rescued. Poe's fear of death makes it difficult for him to live his life well since he knows that life inevitably leads to death. Poe would have been living life well if he had actively sought to rescue Edmund's Sis, as Edmund pointed out in the final chapter:

You're always talking about death. . . but it's living you're frightened of (Chapter 22).

Despite coping badly with his fear of death and fear of life leading to death, there are a few fears Poe handles well in the book. For example, at Mrs. Whitman's tea party, though Poe first visualizes those he feels are critical of his work as demons out to get him, the more he speaks confidently of the feelings he expresses in his work, the more he is able to shift his thoughts and see his critics as normal people.

Similarly, as a child, Edmund starts the story off feeling afraid of being alone and helpless. When his aunt and sister go missing, he is so desperate for help that he asks Poe when he meets him though he begins to doubt that Poe, calling himself Mr. Dupin, is truly sane and sober enough to be of assistance. Multiple times, Edmund questions whether he should really trust Mr. Dupin. While it is Mr. Dupin who unravels the mystery near the end of the novel, it is Edmund who figures out Mr. Rachett and Mr. Peterson took his sister on board the Sunrise and goes after her. It is also Edmund, not Mr. Dupin, who rescues Sis from drowning, which is a strong example of Edmund doing an excellent job of coping with his own fear of helplessness.

Why does the cladistic approach to classification suggest that the class reptilian (reptiles) is not a phylogenetic classification? Explain.

The class reptilian is not a phylogentic classification because it is incomplete as a subgroup. Phylogenetic classification (in the cladistic approach of classification) refers to complete groupings of organisms that are identified as groups or subgroups and that derive from a common ancestor, shown by a shared genetic stem.  If a subgroup is incomplete, meaning it has lost, through divergence of genetic traits and characteristics, part of its subgroup, then that incomplete subgroupis classified...

The class reptilian is not a phylogentic classification because it is incomplete as a subgroup. Phylogenetic classification (in the cladistic approach of classification) refers to complete groupings of organisms that are identified as groups or subgroups and that derive from a common ancestor, shown by a shared genetic stem.  If a subgroup is incomplete, meaning it has lost, through divergence of genetic traits and characteristics, part of its subgroup, then that incomplete subgroup is classified in the cladistic approach as paraphylogentic (incomplete), as reptiles are, and not monophylogenetic as birds and mammals are.  It is because the subgroup of reptiles is incomplete, having lost birds as they diverged genetically away from reptiles, that reptiles are not a phylogenetic classification.

The cladistic approach is a classification approach to assign organisms to a group that share similar inherited characteristics from a common ancestor.  These groups of organisms are called clades.  The group mammals would be a clade.  The members of this group are warm-blooded, generally have fur, and give live birth to young.  The group aves (birds) is also a clade.  The members of this group are also warm-blooded, have feathers, and give birth to young by laying eggs.  Both these groups share inherited physical characteristic from one common ancestor. Reptiles are in the same cladistic grouping under the same phylogentic classification of Amniotica even though Reptiles are cold-blooded, have neither fur nor feathers, and give birth to their young by laying eggs.  They share enough inherited characteristics from a common ancestor to be included in the same phylogenetic ranking.  But the Reptile subgroup loses the extension subgroup of birds and so is excluded from being a complete phylogentic group as mammals and birds are in phylogentic classification according to the cladistic approach.

How does the kind of language Tom uses as a narrator in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams differ from that he uses as a character?

As a narrator, Tom is looking back in time, retrospectively. As such, he has had the time to analyze the events of the night when he left the household, and he has been away from his family long enough to look back objectively at the dynamics that were taking place in the Wingfield household.

The tone that he uses as a narrator is, therefore, much more mature, calm, and organized in comparison to the language that he uses "in the moment" as a character.

Clearly, the "Tom" that still lives with Amanda and Laura is a very confused, and a much less mature, man. He is on the brink of making a life-changing event, and he carries with him all the anxiety, angst, frustration, and denial that come with having to make a big decision.

The Tom that still lives in the apartment is someone who is so fed up with life, and so insecure about the changes that he has to make, that he lashes out against the things that he sees as obstacles.

What do you think I’m at? Aren’t I supposed to have any patience to reach the end of, Mother? [[...] It seems unimportant to you, what I’m doing – what I want to do – having a little difference between them!

Look! I’d rather somebody packed up a crowbar and battered out my brains—than go back mornings! I go! Every time you come in yelling that Goddamn ‘Rise and Shine! Rise and Shine!’ I say to myself, ‘How lucky dead people are!’ But I get up.

This happens particularly with Amanda, his mother. Being that she is a possessive woman, unable to move on from the past, and unwilling to make personal changes in view of the changing times, Tom sees her as his principal nemesis. He is trying to become Amanda's literal opposite by trying to move on, trying to change, and trying to adapt to life. The more time he spends near her, the more difficult this becomes. 

Once he is out of the house, however,  time passes, and his emotions neutralize a little bit more compared to when he was at the household. Tom is even willing to find a degree of understanding for his mother and sister, and now sees them as victims of circumstances, and of their own, co-dependent inability to break free and move on from the shadow of the father. 

Therefore, his language is more forgiving, sentimental, nostalgic, composed and even poetic and figurative.

Man is by instinct a lover, a hunter, a fighter, and none of those instincts are given much play at the warehouse.

I didn’t go to the moon – I went much further—for time is the longest distance between two poles. Not long after that I was fired for writing a poem on the lid of a shoe-box. 

Still, the one thing that he hurts for the most is the fact that he could not help his sister become liberated and free. He had to leave her behind in order to save himself. For that reason, his speech will always carry a gravitas that d guilt and the wish to be able to help her in some way.

What are similarities and differences between Paris's and Romeo's passion for Juliet in Romeo and Juliet?

In Romeo and Juliet, in Act I, scene ii, Paris expresses an interest in Juliet, and her father considers his request, mindful that Juliet is "yet a stranger in the world" (line 8). Capulet advises Paris to get to know her, and if she agrees, then he will consent. From this interaction, Paris's real feelings are unclear. He offers himself as a suitor for Juliet, but it seems more out of tradition and in...

In Romeo and Juliet, in Act I, scene ii, Paris expresses an interest in Juliet, and her father considers his request, mindful that Juliet is "yet a stranger in the world" (line 8). Capulet advises Paris to get to know her, and if she agrees, then he will consent. From this interaction, Paris's real feelings are unclear. He offers himself as a suitor for Juliet, but it seems more out of tradition and in keeping with custom than out of any real passion. He knows who Juliet is, and so his choice is also based on social standing and correctness. He's making sure that his interest is known, perhaps before anyone else. His courtship seems to lack any romantic element.

On the other hand, Romeo spots Juliet across the room (how romantic!) and immediately asks about her. His passion is immediately recognizable (whether it is love or desire). He questions whether any feelings of love that he had previously felt for others were even real, because, as he says, "I ne'er saw true beauty till this night" (I.v.51). He has no idea who Juliet is, so he is not influenced by thoughts of making what would be considered a good or correct choice. This makes the differences between the men's levels of passion significant.

Juliet's response to both men's interest also affects their levels of passion. Juliet is as overcome by Romeo as he is by her, telling her nurse, "My only love sprung from my only hate" (136), as she learns that he is a Montague. Paris seems more interested in pleasing Juliet's parents rather than Juliet, so his passion is guarded and subdued. 

In terms of similarities in their passion, both men are willing to do what it takes. Paris is willing to marry Juliet at very short notice. Capulet has brought the wedding forward, affording Paris no time to get to know Juliet. Paris is prepared to go through with it, even though he does not understand the reasons surrounding the haste. He will be patient, as he thinks that Juliet is distraught over Tybalt's death. Romeo certainly proves that he will do whatever it takes, with drastic consequences. Therefore, both men appear sincere.

Why does Atticus defend Tom Robinson?

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the main reason why Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson is because Atticus is certain of Robinson's innocence and knows Robinson deserves the chance to be defended, despite the likelihood of still being condemned by the jury.The certainty of Robinson's innocenceis first revealed during the trial. Sheriff Heck Tate, Bob Ewell, and Mayella Ewell all testify that Mayella had been bruised on the right side...

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the main reason why Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson is because Atticus is certain of Robinson's innocence and knows Robinson deserves the chance to be defended, despite the likelihood of still being condemned by the jury.

The certainty of Robinson's innocence is first revealed during the trial. Sheriff Heck Tate, Bob Ewell, and Mayella Ewell all testify that Mayella had been bruised on the right side of her face, something only a left-handed man could have accomplished while facing her. Yet, Mayella's testimony reveals the impossibility of her having been hit on the right side of her face by Robinson. During Mayella's testimony, Atticus has Mayella point to the man she is accusing of raping her. When she points to Robinson, Atticus has Robinson stand. All the court can see that Robinson's left arm is crippled, as Scout describes in her narrative:

[Robinson's] arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side. It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony I could see that it was no use to him. (Ch. 18)

Reverend Sykes then explains to Jem and Scout that Robinson's arm has been crippled ever since he got it caught as a boy in Mr. Dolphus Raymond's cotton gin. Prior to Mayella's testimony, Atticus also has Bob Ewell write his name before the court, proving that Ewell is left-handed or, as Judge Taylor points out, ambidextrous. Hence, Atticus has very deftly proven to the court that only Ewell was physically capable of bruising Mayella's face on her right side.

Even prior to the trial, Atticus showed his faith in Tom Robinson's character and trust in his innocence. When asked by Scout why he is defending a Negro, one of Atticus's replies is to explain that Robinson is a "member of Calpurnia's church" and that Calpurnia testifies they are "clean-living folks" (Ch. 9). Both of these facts testify to Robinson's strong and virtuous character. Hence, it can be said that Atticus took the case because he was certain of Robinson's good character and innocence.

What is the main effect of watching television?

Watching television has many effects upon us, most of them not very good. I am one of those people who thinks television is generally really bad for us, but I will try to think of at least one positive effect.

Watching television tends to make us overweight and even obese.  This is because we are not moving around when we watch television, simply sitting. And those people who snack while they are watching television are...

Watching television has many effects upon us, most of them not very good. I am one of those people who thinks television is generally really bad for us, but I will try to think of at least one positive effect.

Watching television tends to make us overweight and even obese.  This is because we are not moving around when we watch television, simply sitting. And those people who snack while they are watching television are even more likely to have a weight problem, since we are usually not really mindful of what we are eating or that we might be eating too much. 

Watching television makes us anti-social.  This is an isolating activity, even when we watch television with others.  We are focused on the screen, not on the people around us, and thus we isolate ourselves, even in a crowded room.

Watching television makes us passive, uncritical audiences, exerting no control over what we take in. When I read, I am actively engaged with the reading, and I control the pace of what I read. A television program spoon feeds us the content, at a pace we cannot change. 

On the other hand, television can bring us knowledge we might not otherwise have, and it presents it in visual images that can be better sometimes than words.  It opens worlds to us that we might otherwise have no knowledge of, for example, another culture or animals we would have no opportunity to see in a zoo. 

I have not watched television in approximately two years now, and I really don't feel like I'm missing much of anything, except perhaps being overweight, passive, and anti-social. 

How do the characters, setting, and plot interact in chapter 17 of Lyddie?

The action of this chapter takes place at the boarding house and at the Concord Corporation factory, and the characters who speak are Lyddie, Rachel, Mrs. Bedlow, Diana, and Brigid. As this chapter begins, Lyddie has just come out of a very serious illness, and she needs to remain in bed for another two weeks recovering. One problem Lyddie needed to solve before she got sick was to find a place for Rachel to live....

The action of this chapter takes place at the boarding house and at the Concord Corporation factory, and the characters who speak are Lyddie, Rachel, Mrs. Bedlow, Diana, and Brigid. As this chapter begins, Lyddie has just come out of a very serious illness, and she needs to remain in bed for another two weeks recovering. One problem Lyddie needed to solve before she got sick was to find a place for Rachel to live. In this chapter, Rachel lets Lyddie know that she wants to be a doffer at the factory, so Lyddie asks Mrs. Bedlow to intervene. Rachel gets hired, which means she can continue to live at the boarding house with Lyddie. This seems like the perfect solution until Rachel begins to develop a cough, which reminds Lyddie of Betsy's illness that became so severe. Lyddie worries about whether Rachel's health will suffer if she remains at the factory and boarding house. 

Lyddie recovers enough to go back to work at the factory, but she is worried about facing Mr. Marsden. As she was coming down with the fever, she had stomped on his foot when he made an unwelcome advance on her. She discusses the situation with Diana, who first laughs about it, but then predicts that Mr. Marsden might be happy to find any excuse in the future to fire her, which foreshadows Lyddie's dismissal. Returning to work, Lyddie is relieved that Mr. Marsden acts as if nothing has happened. Lyddie is happy to see Brigid again, who has been running her looms for her. Lyddie notices how beautiful Brigid looks; this foreshadows Mr. Marsden's attempt to take advantage of Brigid in a later chapter.

How do I compare Ender's game to Hamlet or Life of Pi? How would I format it in a comparative essay? I have 2 topics down but I don't know if...

Your initial thoughts are good for comparing and contrasting those three literature pieces.  The second thought, comparing appearance and reality is the stronger of your two ideas.  Your first idea is confusing to me and, and I'm unclear what "two truths" are being compared between Ender's Game  and Life of Pi. 

I would write the entire comparative essay on the appearance vs. reality concept.  The prompt that you provided said to compare Ender's Game to...

Your initial thoughts are good for comparing and contrasting those three literature pieces.  The second thought, comparing appearance and reality is the stronger of your two ideas.  Your first idea is confusing to me and, and I'm unclear what "two truths" are being compared between Ender's Game  and Life of Pi. 

I would write the entire comparative essay on the appearance vs. reality concept.  The prompt that you provided said to compare Ender's Game to either story, not both. 

You are correct that Valentine Wiggin and Peter Wiggin represent two children who are lying about their knowledge and identity to the world.  That's the same as Hamlet and Claudius lying about their knowledge.  Don't forget that Valentine and Peter are not the only two deceivers in the book though.  Graff is a huge liar.  He doesn't ever tell Ender the whole truth.  Mazer Rackham isn't much better either.  There is absolutely a ton that you could do with your chosen topic and those two literature pieces.  

The second part of your question asked about how to format your essay into a comparative analysis.  That's nice for you, because then you don't have to contrast them.  Only focus on the similarities.  With that in mind, you can set yourself up with a statement/reason thesis statement.  Make a statement, and provide reasons.  For example: "Ender's Game and Hamlet both show the theme of deception through various character lies and the intentional withholding of the truth."  

The above thesis gives you plenty of room to analyze a bunch of different characters and their appearance/reality relationship.  It also lets you talk about plot events too.  Make sure the thesis is the last sentence of your first paragraph.  Be sure that each following paragraph relates back to the thesis.  Use quotes from each novel whenever possible.  

What does Starbuck symbolize in Moby Dick?

Starbuck represents a kind of rationality, and conventional Christian morality, in contrast to Ahab’s personal revenge-centered worldview. Starbuck is the one who is able to question Ahab’s quest to kill Moby Dick—he is the one who says to him, about Moby Dick, “To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.” Starbuck himself has has lost a father and brother at sea, and knows first hand the loss whales can cause; but rather...

Starbuck represents a kind of rationality, and conventional Christian morality, in contrast to Ahab’s personal revenge-centered worldview. Starbuck is the one who is able to question Ahab’s quest to kill Moby Dick—he is the one who says to him, about Moby Dick, “To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous.” Starbuck himself has has lost a father and brother at sea, and knows first hand the loss whales can cause; but rather than seek some sort of cosmic revenge, Starbuck learns to be careful: as he puts it, “I am here in this critical ocean to kill whales for my living, and not to be killed by them for theirs.” Yet for all his courage, Starbuck is still afraid of Ahab: “brave as he might be, it was that sort of bravery chiefly, visible in some intrepid men, which … cannot withstand those more terrific, because more spiritual terrors, which sometimes menace you from the concentrating brow of an enraged and mighty man.” When Starbuck calls Ahab’s quest “blasphemous” in “The Quarterdeck” chapter, Ahab’s basic response is, “Talk not to me of blasphemy, man! I’d strike the sun if it insulted me”—a statement that overawes Starbuck, who can only mutter “God keep me” in response.

How does Lady Macbeth save the situation in Act II, Scene II of Macbeth?

In Act II, Scene 2, Lady Macbeth tries to calm Macbeth and instructs him to return the daggers he has carried with him to the scene and wipe blood from them on the guards so that they will appear to be guilty of Duncan's murder. When Macbeth says he is afraid to see what he has done, she takes the bloody daggers and places them upon the guards, "saving the situation."

This callous act of...

In Act II, Scene 2, Lady Macbeth tries to calm Macbeth and instructs him to return the daggers he has carried with him to the scene and wipe blood from them on the guards so that they will appear to be guilty of Duncan's murder. When Macbeth says he is afraid to see what he has done, she takes the bloody daggers and places them upon the guards, "saving the situation."

This callous act of Lady Macbeth becomes ironic when viewed after her fearful remarks earlier in the scene as she wonders if the guards of Duncan and his sons have awakened. Then, too, her remark about Duncan--

Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't. (2.2.12-13)

--does not reflect the steely resolve of Lady Macbeth later in the scene as she scolds Macbeth when he expresses his fears of what he has done and his unwillingness to look at what he has done,

                                  Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers.

Yet, while she saves this situation for them by taking the bloody daggers herself and placing them on the guards, Lady Macbeth exhibits a sang froid that still does not allay Macbeth's fear and guilt.

Why does Scout say that Bob Ewell "made himself unique in the annals of the nineteen thirties"? Upon whom does he blame his latest problem on?

Bob Ewell has become "unique in the annals of the nineteen thirties" because he has been fired from a job with the WPA (Works Progress Administration) and is possibly the only man to have the dubious distinction of being fired from this job because of his incredible indolence. Nevertheless, true to his character, Ewell places the blame upon someone else: Atticus Finch.

During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted various social programs to...

Bob Ewell has become "unique in the annals of the nineteen thirties" because he has been fired from a job with the WPA (Works Progress Administration) and is possibly the only man to have the dubious distinction of being fired from this job because of his incredible indolence. Nevertheless, true to his character, Ewell places the blame upon someone else: Atticus Finch.

During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted various social programs to provide relief for Americans, who were out of jobs and virtually starving. One of these was the WPA, which provided relief to people, but at the same time, it allowed them to retain some pride because they were assigned jobs rather than just given a free check. So, most men were very grateful to be earning something for their families. While a proud man like Mr. Walter Cunningham refuses such a job because it is a government-provided one and, therefore, an insult to him, in contrast, Bob Ewell is so worthless that after accepting this job, he is too lazy to even work. 

Of course, as is characteristic of this man who typifies "white trash" in Harper Lee's novel, he blames others for his failure:

...his job lasted only as long as his notoriety: Mr. Ewell found himself as forgotten as Tom Robinson.

When he returns to the welfare office, a worker there named Ruth Jones says that "Mr. Ewell openly accused Atticus of getting his job." The only reply that Atticus makes is in telling Ms. Jones that Bob Ewell knows well where his office is if he has a complaint to make. Moreover, this latest vignette on Bob Ewell clearly indicates the sordidness of his character, preparing the reader for his final ignominious act.