Which pair of developments had a greater impact on the contemporary world: new imperialism & decolonization or the two world wars?

This question can be argued either way.  I will give you arguments for each side and you can make up your own mind.

You can argue that imperialism and decolonization were more important.  For one thing, imperialism was one of the causes of WWI and WWII.  This implies that imperialism is more important because it is at least somewhat responsible for the wars.  For another thing, imperialism and decolonization had a greater world-wide impact.  The...

This question can be argued either way.  I will give you arguments for each side and you can make up your own mind.

You can argue that imperialism and decolonization were more important.  For one thing, imperialism was one of the causes of WWI and WWII.  This implies that imperialism is more important because it is at least somewhat responsible for the wars.  For another thing, imperialism and decolonization had a greater world-wide impact.  The wars were “world wars,” but their impact was felt mainly in the developed countries.  The wars did not have, for example, a huge impact on sub-Saharan Africa or on the Indian subcontinent in that these areas were not the scene of much fighting.  Imperialism and decolonization reached and affected practically every corner of the globe.  For these reasons, they are more important.

You can also argue that the wars were more important in shaping our world today.  For one thing, WWII led to decolonization.  The war strengthened the US (which generally favored decolonization) and weakened countries like France and Britain, which had large empires.  This led to decolonization, meaning that the wars were more important.  For another thing, the wars had a greater impact on the major powers of the world and it is the major powers that have the most to do with what our contemporary world is like.  The wars, for example, brought the United States to power, making it the most important country in the world.  The wars brought about the rise of the Soviet Union, leading to the Cold War, which also shapes the modern world.  Thus, the wars are more important.

Which of these arguments makes more sense to you?

`pi(int_0^1(y^4 - y^8)dy)` Each integral represents the volume of a solid. Describe the solid.

The formula provided represents the volume of the solid obtained by the rotation of the region bounded by the curves `x = y^2, x = y^4` , the lines x = 0, x = 1, about y axis.

`V = pi*int_0^1 ((y^2)^2 - (y^4)^2)dy`

`V = pi*int_0^1 y^4 dy - pi*int_0^1 y^8 dy`

`V = (pi*y^5/5 - pi*y^9/9)|_0^1`

`V = pi*(1^5/5 - 1^9/9 - 0^5/5 + 0^9/9 )`

`V = pi*(1/5 - 1/9)`

`V =...

The formula provided represents the volume of the solid obtained by the rotation of the region bounded by the curves `x = y^2, x = y^4` , the lines x = 0, x = 1, about y axis.

`V = pi*int_0^1 ((y^2)^2 - (y^4)^2)dy`

`V = pi*int_0^1 y^4 dy - pi*int_0^1 y^8 dy`

`V = (pi*y^5/5 - pi*y^9/9)|_0^1`

`V = pi*(1^5/5 - 1^9/9 - 0^5/5 + 0^9/9 )`

`V = pi*(1/5 - 1/9)`

`V = pi*(9-5)/45`

`V = (4pi)/45`

Hence, evaluating the volume of the solid obtained by the rotation of the region bounded by the curves `x = y^2, x = y^4` , the lines `x = 0,` `x = 1` , about y axis, yields `V = (4pi)/45` .

What prompts Simon Wheeler to tell the story of Jim Smiley?

The first three paragraphs of the story reveal the answer to this question. Simon Wheeler was sitting in a chair, dozing, when he was approached by a stranger (the narrator of this story) who asks him if he knows anything about a man named Leonidas W. Smiley. This narrator explains that he's hoping to find out about Leonidas because a friend of the narrator's specifically asked him to find Simon, who might have news about Leonidas.

...

The first three paragraphs of the story reveal the answer to this question. Simon Wheeler was sitting in a chair, dozing, when he was approached by a stranger (the narrator of this story) who asks him if he knows anything about a man named Leonidas W. Smiley. This narrator explains that he's hoping to find out about Leonidas because a friend of the narrator's specifically asked him to find Simon, who might have news about Leonidas.

Well, Simon doesn't know who Leonidas is, but the last name "Smiley" reminds him of a guy that Simon does know an awful lot about: Jim Smiley. So Simon launches into an extremely long story about this guy, Jim Smiley--a story which the narrator has to listen to.

It's very funny for a few reasons! First, there's no relationship between Jim Smiley and Leonidas Smiley, so the story is totally useless to the narrator and wastes his time. You can just imagine the narrator's awkward, impatient expression as the story seems to be wrapping up only to keep on going in another direction. And second, the narrator realizes that his friend has played a joke on him by sending him to Wheeler and asking him to ask about a Smiley. The narrator's friend must have known that this would happen. So, the narrator will probably have a few peevish words to say to his friend the next time they meet. 

About 95 percent of the world’s population lives outside the united State, but many U.S. companies, especially small businesses, still do not...

Most companies around the world are not involved in international trade.

There are two basic reasons for this; one is rational, the other less so.

The rational reason is trade costs. It can be expensive to set up the sort of logistics and distribution networks that are necessary to get involved in world trade. Particularly for very small businesses, these costs could be prohibitive. In fact, many very small businesses only work with customers over a very narrow geographical area (such as within the same city, or even the same neighborhood) because expanding beyond that is so costly.

The less-rational reason is home bias. There is a well-documented bias in trade patterns around the world, which has been called the home bias in trade puzzle. Most countries only trade a small portion of their economy, and trade most with countries that are nearby and very similar to them. With modern distribution networks, it's implausible that trade costs are actually that high, especially for large corporations; and worse, comparative advantage should be largest with countries that are more different, not countries that are more similar.

Behavioral economics gives us some insight into this problem. The best evidence we have so far suggests that people basically identify more with those who are more similar to them, as well as those whom they have more contact with---for example Americans identify most of all with Americans, and to a lesser extent with Canadians and Europeans, and much less so with people in China or India. People are more comfortable trading with people they identify with, and are more willing to trust them (and remember, almost all transactions require some degree of trust). As a result, most trade happens between countries that are very similar to each other, because those are the countries people feel most comfortable trading with. Even if there would be economic advantages to trading with unfamiliar countries, people are simply less willing to try it.

List three example of when Atticus had to use courage in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Atticus is the model of courage in the novel. 

First, Atticus agreed to defend Tom Robinson.  Atticus knew from the beginning that he would lose the case and would be ridiculed. But he still defends him with all his heart. Here is a dialogue that shows Atticus' courage. 

“Atticus, are we going to win it?”

“No, honey.”

“Then why—”

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us...

Atticus is the model of courage in the novel. 

First, Atticus agreed to defend Tom Robinson.  Atticus knew from the beginning that he would lose the case and would be ridiculed. But he still defends him with all his heart. Here is a dialogue that shows Atticus' courage. 

“Atticus, are we going to win it?”

“No, honey.”

“Then why—”

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” Atticus said.

Second, Atticus demonstrates great courage when he defends Tom Robinson from a mob.  Even though the mob was about to hurt Tom and him, he does not back down.  Atticus is willing to risk his own well-being. Later he admits to Jem that the mob might have hurt him.  From the reader's perspective, Atticus might even have been killed. 

Third, Atticus shows courage in the trial as a lawyer.  As the trial progresses, it becomes clearer that the people of Maycomb are very displeased with Tom and Atticus.  With all this pressure, an average man would have capitulated. However, Atticus did not.  In fact, Atticus was going to appeal after he lost, which shows even greater courage. 

In Act 2, scene 1 what is Benvolio's tone? Why would Romeo be mad at Mercutio's remarks?

In Act 2, scene 1, of Romeo and Juliet the party has just ended and everyone is heading home after an evening of debauchery. Romeo has separated himself from his friends and hidden in the garden, after falling in love with Juliet. He can still hear his friends, but he hopes to catch a glimpse of the woman that he loves. 

Benvolio calls for Romeo, since he's ready to head home, but Romeo doesn't answer....

In Act 2, scene 1, of Romeo and Juliet the party has just ended and everyone is heading home after an evening of debauchery. Romeo has separated himself from his friends and hidden in the garden, after falling in love with Juliet. He can still hear his friends, but he hopes to catch a glimpse of the woman that he loves. 

Benvolio calls for Romeo, since he's ready to head home, but Romeo doesn't answer. His tone is friendly and placating, since Mercutio clearly doesn't want to stay any longer. Mercutio calls out to Romeo in a mocking way, poking fun at Romeo's unrequited feelings for Rosaline, summoning him in her name by describing her beautiful body.

Romeo continues to ignore them and Mercutio grows more impudent, saying that he wishes that Rosaline would sleep with Romeo already, making a vulgar joke about a fruit tree that would probably be in the garden. If Romeo were still in love with Rosaline, he would probably be furious at how cavalierly Mercutio is talking about her - much the same way that we wouldn't want our friends disrespecting our loved ones in a sexual tone. Now that Romeo is in love with Juliet, he no longer cares about what Mercutio says regarding Rosaline.  

After Mercutio and Benvolio grow tired of waiting for Romeo to appear, they leave, presumably heading to bed. Upon their departure, Romeo mentions that it's easy for those who have never been in love to joke about how much it hurts. "He jests at scars that never felt a wound." (2,2)

I was ignoring books... until I learned how much reading is important and helpful. So, I want you to suggest for me some novels or short stories...

You can't imagine what a pleasure it is for us readers to recommend books to someone who is just starting to appreciate reading. While I don't know what level you are in at school, I will do my best to suggest a few books you might enjoy. 

You may follow the updated Sherlock Holmes on television, but have you ever read the collected stories, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle? Sherlock Holmes solved mysteries with the help of his friend, Dr. Watson, through his incredible powers of logic and observation, a long time before there was such a thing as criminal forensics.  These are fascinating stories that also give us a glimpse into another time and place, 19th and early 20th century England.  These stories were so popular in their day that Conan Doyle, who had killed off Holmes in a final story, had to bring him back because his reading public demanded more of Holmes.

For a combination of adventure and science fiction, Michael Crichton is a wonderful author.  You might try Congo, The Andromeda Strain, or Jurassic Park. (Yes, this was a book before it was a movie.) In the first, explorers discover a mysterious and dangerous culture that I don't want to say too much about for fear of ruining the story, in the second, a group of scientists must track down a deadly virus that is extraterrestrial, and the third, you no doubt already know something about.

Many people find Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom, to be an inspirational read. This book discusses a series of Tuesdays that Albom has with his old professor, who is dying of a terrible disease.  Morrie is an inspirational character, passing on his profound thoughts about life, learning, and death to Albom.

A book that I have always liked is Enders Game, by Orson Scott Card. This is science fiction, about the training of a young man who is the earth's best hope of conquering enemies from space.  Don't be deceived by the babyish cover. I first read this book when I was over fifty, and I enjoyed every page.  It is exciting and surprising to its very end. 

Probably my most favorite book is The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It takes place in the American Roaring Twenties, featuring the mysterious Gatsby, who may or may not have been a gangster, but who has acquired enough wealth to remake himself, in an effort to win the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan, who is from a wealthy family and who has now married Tom Buchanan, one of the ugliest characters in American fiction.  Daisy is Gatsby's dream, representing the American Dream, that anyone can succeed here.  The first time you read it, you will be probably be reading it just to see what happens to Gatsby, but each time you read it, you will discover more and more, about the rich and the poor, about character, and about feelings.  I reread it myself every few years, and I still notice things that I hadn't previously.

This should get you off to a good start, with some variety, since it is difficult to know what your interests and tastes in literature are going to be.  The more you read, the more you will enjoy reading, because you will get better at it and get more meaning out of it. It is important, and it's wonderful that you are beginning to realize this.

What is an example of foreshadowing in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice?

One example of foreshadowing in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice can be seen in the remarks Charlotte Lucas makes to Elizabeth about securing a man and about the prospects of being happy in marriage. Little does Elizabeth realize at the time that all of Charlotte's remarks are philosophies she truly holds and foreshadow Charlotte's own matrimonial decisions.

Early in the novel, while the neighborhood is dining at Lucas Lodge soon after Jane meets Bingley, Charlotte feels obliged to warn Elizabeth that Jane is far too reserved and advises Jane needs to begin showing "more affection [for Bingley] than she feels" if she is going to make him fall in love with her and secure him (Ch. 6). Elizabeth objects to the idea of Jane securing Bingley before she is even sure of what his character is like. Elizabeth asserts that Charlotte's "plan is a good one" if the only object in mind was to "get a rich husband," which is not what Jane is interested in (Ch. 6). Charlotte responds by citing her own philosophy of marriage, that "happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance," and even two people who are well-suited to each other are likely to later grow disappointed with each other in marriage, and it is, therefore, better to know as little as possible about a person you marry (Ch. 6).

Elizabeth is shocked by Charlotte's philosophy and protests that even Charlotte wouldn't show false affection for a man just to secure a husband, nor would she marry a man without knowing him first. Yet, these are precisely things Charlotte does to win Mr. Collins's proposal. What's more she marries Mr. Collins purely to secure for herself a financially comfortable home and because she feels his character is good enough to make her suppose she'll be as happy married to him as any other married woman.

Hence, as we can see, the things Charlotte says to Elizabeth about Jane and marriage foreshadow Charlotte's own actions with respect to encouraging, accepting, and marrying Mr. Collins.

What makes the community in The Giver a Dystopia?

While Utopian fiction is a peek into a future in which society is working very well, dystopian literature is that which gives us a look at a future that is not working out at all.  A dystopian work shows us a future that is dysfunctional, usually because mankind has made some dreadful mistake or miscalculation.  While on the surface, the society in The Giver seems quite successful, it is clear by the end of the...

While Utopian fiction is a peek into a future in which society is working very well, dystopian literature is that which gives us a look at a future that is not working out at all.  A dystopian work shows us a future that is dysfunctional, usually because mankind has made some dreadful mistake or miscalculation.  While on the surface, the society in The Giver seems quite successful, it is clear by the end of the book that it is profoundly dysfunctional in ways that only the Giver and Jonas are privy to because they are the only fully human people in the story.

The mistake that the community has made is to have given up what makes its people human in exchange for security and stability. They must conform to the rules of Sameness, which takes away most of their choices. They have given up the sense of color and music.  They have given up emotions such as happiness and love.  They have given up memories of anything that happened before their lives began.  They have no choice in mates, child-bearing, or in work.  In exchange, they have a sterile, climate-controlled existence, which seems to keep them free of disease and food or housing insecurity. They are safe, but while they have traded away unhappiness, they are not capable of happiness, either. 

While there may be some who do not see this as dystopia, I think most people understand that this is a bad bargain, that giving up choices and differences, giving up color and music, giving up all the best of human emotions, is a choice that leads to a community of essentially robots, who follow the leaders unquestioningly.  The Giver and Jonas understand the cost that the community has paid, even though the people themselves do not see it. 

Do we have a red vs. blue state nation or a purple nation?

The answer to this question is largely a matter of personal opinion.  There is no clearly correct way to determine whether, on balance, the country is “red and blue” or “purple.”  My own view is that the country is more red and blue, though on a local level more than on a state level.  However, I would suggest you follow the link below to look at a fascinating set of maps that can help you...

The answer to this question is largely a matter of personal opinion.  There is no clearly correct way to determine whether, on balance, the country is “red and blue” or “purple.”  My own view is that the country is more red and blue, though on a local level more than on a state level.  However, I would suggest you follow the link below to look at a fascinating set of maps that can help you think about what your opinion is on this issue.

I believe that we are a very red and blue country, but only at the level of counties.  On the state level, we are more purple.  For example, in my own state of Washington, President Obama won 55.8% of the popular vote in 2012 and Mitt Romney won 41.7%.  This would seem to indicate that Washington is fairly purple.  However, when you look at things on a county-by-county level, they look different.  In King County, where Seattle is, Obama won 68.8% of the vote while Romney only got a bit under 29%.  Meanwhile, in rural Lincoln County, the numbers were just about reversed, with Romney getting 69% of the vote and Obama only getting 28%.  On the county level, things are much more polarized than they are at the state level.

Because there is such a divide between urban and rural areas, I see our country as more red and blue.  However, you can look at the maps and decide for yourself. 

Using Aristophanes' Lysistrata, discuss the notion that comedy arises from improbable people in probable situations.

Aristophanes' Lysistrata first came to the stage in Athens in 411 BCE. At the time, Athens was two decades into a war with the people of Sparta and its allies. Given this historical background, Aristophanes once again brings up the issue of peace between the two city-states.

In Acharnians of 425, Aristophanes' hero Dicaepolis had made a personal peace treaty with the Spartans. In Peace, which appeared just before the Peace of Nicias in...

Aristophanes' Lysistrata first came to the stage in Athens in 411 BCE. At the time, Athens was two decades into a war with the people of Sparta and its allies. Given this historical background, Aristophanes once again brings up the issue of peace between the two city-states.

In Acharnians of 425, Aristophanes' hero Dicaepolis had made a personal peace treaty with the Spartans. In Peace, which appeared just before the Peace of Nicias in 421, Trygaeus had flown to heaven on a dung beetle to bring the goddess Peace to the Athenians and Spartans. Now, a decade after the Peace of Nicias had disintegrated and war and erupted again, Aristophanes proposes a new comic solution to the war between Athens and Sparta.

In Lysistrata, Aristophanes brings some other unlikely heroes into the peace process: a group of women led by the title character. Whereas in our modern society, it is not surprising that women have the right to vote and it is not uncommon to see women as leaders of nations, in ancient Athens, women could not vote.

Thus, Aristophanes' audience would have been quite surprised to see a group of women attempting to bring an end to the war. The method that Lysistrata advocates is perhaps even more surprising. Lysistrata proposes that the women of Greece refuse to have sexual relations with their husbands until they men make peace. By the end of the play, Lysistrata and her fellow women have compelled the sex-starved men to make peace. Thus, as is typical in Aristophanes, an unlikely hero resolves a situation that Aristophanes has taken up in at least two earlier plays.

How do you distinguish between the three major sociological perspectives of functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism?

Functionalism is a theoretical approach that suggests all actions and actors in a society are part of the whole. Functionalists take no position on whether an action or actor is good or bad because society is neither good nor bad. A functionalist looks at mosquito-borne illness as a catalyst for developing new vaccines or extermination methods. 

Conflict theory is a theoretical approach that suggests society is built upon conflicts between the haves and have nots....

Functionalism is a theoretical approach that suggests all actions and actors in a society are part of the whole. Functionalists take no position on whether an action or actor is good or bad because society is neither good nor bad. A functionalist looks at mosquito-borne illness as a catalyst for developing new vaccines or extermination methods. 

Conflict theory is a theoretical approach that suggests society is built upon conflicts between the haves and have nots. Essentially, every action of the haves — the upper class, authority figures, industrialized nations, etc. — is meant to maintain wealth and power, and to keep the have nots — the lower class, laborers, developing nations, etc. — in a position of subservience. A conflict theorist looks at mosquito-borne illness as disproportionally affecting those in areas with poor sanitation and without access to pest management.

Symbolic interactionism is a theoretical approach that suggests our words, gestures, signs, and symbols have meaning only because we ascribe meaning to them. A word or sign in one setting could mean something completely different in another setting depending on how a society, culture, or social group defines it. A symbolic interactionist first must choose a lens with which to view mosquito-borne illness; through the lens of international aid agencies, for example, mosquito-borne illness is a cause to be managed by distributing mosquito nets.

Atticus wasn't the only white man to stand up for Tom. Who else spoke out in Tom's behalf?

There are several other white people who stick up for Tom Robinson throughout the novel. 

Link Deas—Link Deas is Tom’s employer and stands up in court to tell the judge and jury that he has never had any trouble with Tom.  Link Deas also gives Helen Robinson a job after Tom is killed trying to escape. 

Heck Tate—When Boo Radley kills Bob Ewell, Heck Tate, the sheriff, could have arrested Boo.  Instead, he comments to...

There are several other white people who stick up for Tom Robinson throughout the novel. 

Link Deas—Link Deas is Tom’s employer and stands up in court to tell the judge and jury that he has never had any trouble with Tom.  Link Deas also gives Helen Robinson a job after Tom is killed trying to escape. 

Heck Tate—When Boo Radley kills Bob Ewell, Heck Tate, the sheriff, could have arrested Boo.  Instead, he comments to Atticus that a black man is dead, and the man who caused his death is now dead.  He convinces Atticus that it is an even trade and that it would be a crime to arrest Boo.  This shows that Heck Tate knows that Tom is innocent of the rape of Mayella Ewell.

Mr. Underwood—Mr. Underwood shows his support for Tom Robinson two times in the novel.  The first time is when Mr. Underwood has a shotgun trained on the lynch mob that has come to hang Tom without a fair trial.  This shows he supports Atticus’ conviction to make sure Tom has a fair trial.  In addition, after Tom is shot trying to escape prison, Mr. Underwood writes an editorial in his newspaper denouncing the killing of an innocent, crippled man like Tom.  The editorial also compares Tom to a songbird (mockingbird).

Other white people we can probably assume are on Tom’s side are Dolphus Raymond, Miss Maudie, Jack Finch, and of course, Scout, Jem, and Dill. 

How does the relationship between Jem and Scout change in the first seven chapters of "To Kill A Mockingbird?"

The relationship between Jem and Scout starts out in the beginning of the book as a typical sibling relationship, the typical brother/sister "I love you and I hate you" at the same time.  Scout is a tomboyish sort, following Jem in their playful exploits at home as they play in and around their house in Maycomb.  With the introduction of school, Scout enters first grade and experiences the first change in their relationship where Jem...

The relationship between Jem and Scout starts out in the beginning of the book as a typical sibling relationship, the typical brother/sister "I love you and I hate you" at the same time.  Scout is a tomboyish sort, following Jem in their playful exploits at home as they play in and around their house in Maycomb.  With the introduction of school, Scout enters first grade and experiences the first change in their relationship where Jem tells her to "Leave him alone," not talk to him or play with him at school.  With the introduction of Dill, a neighbor boy who visits from Mississippi in the summer, their relationship grows more strained, as Jem tells her on more than one occasion "You are starting to sound like a girl," which was insulting to Scout.  At one point, Scout was spending more time with Miss Maudie, an older neighbor lady, than she was with Jem and Dill.  While still together, it would be fair to say both Jem and Scout were experiencing some "growing pains" within the first seven chapters of "To Kill A Mockingbird."

What connections does Pi make between zoos and religion?

One of the many thoughtful things that Pi has to say about his two passions (and later his two majors in college) is that both are out of fashion. In the modern world, people are becoming more ambivalent than ever about religion. After all, even out of those who would call themselves religious, few people rival Pi's dedication and quiet but intense love of God. Pi sees this in his family and the larger world...

One of the many thoughtful things that Pi has to say about his two passions (and later his two majors in college) is that both are out of fashion. In the modern world, people are becoming more ambivalent than ever about religion. After all, even out of those who would call themselves religious, few people rival Pi's dedication and quiet but intense love of God. Pi sees this in his family and the larger world around him. Likewise, zoos are "out of fashion" because so many people see them as bad for the animals. Pi talks quite a bit about the misconceptions people have about zoos taking animals away from their majestic, wild ways, when in reality, he says, zoos provide the animals with safety and security.

Pi ties this comparison together with the line "certain illusions about freedom plague them both." Here, he is suggesting that people dislike both zoos and religion because they seen to conflict with that very important 20th and 21st century value of freedom. To the modern world, these institutions seem old-fashioned, as they interfere with a creature's ability to make his own decisions and choices. One could imagine that the "safety and security" argument that Pi makes for zoos could apply to religion as well. Rather than taking away our freedom, religion provides believers with a sense that the world is a safe place and we are taken care of by a god, just as animals are by a zookeeper. 

What are three of the most important events in The Tale of Despereaux?

In The Tale of Despereaux there are three important plot events. First, Despereaux unexpectedly meets the Princess Pea when searching for what sounds like honey. He follows the music of the king's guitar and inches closer and closer to the sweet sound until he is in the princess's hand. He immediately and whole-heartedly falls in love with the princess and as he leaves, he shouts "I honor you" as a knight to his fair maiden.

Next, because he broke the sacred mouse rule of revealing oneself to a human, he is sent to the dungeon without being defended by his father to the Mouse Council. Even his own brother commits the heinous crime of "perfidy" by pushing him into the black abyss. But, by the grace of the jailer, Gregory, he is not torn to bits by the evil rats and ultimately is able to travel back up to the light in Mig's apron pocket. 

Finally, after a fitful sleep, he hears the heart-wrenching news: the princess, his dear maiden, is missing. Because he overheard Roscuro's evil plan, he knows exactly where she is at and further realizes that it is up to him to rescue her. He knows the only creature in the world who can help him traverse that dark place is the one creature no one can trust: a rat. But, on the tail of the rat he must be led to his fair maiden to honor her by saving her life, and so he plunges back down into the overwhelming blackness of the dungeon again. Once he is finally able to see the light of the princess, he must fight to the death, or so he thinks, to save her. Thankfully, due to Mig having a change of heart and the princess's pleadings, Roscuro finally realizes that it is truly light his heart craves, not revenge. And so, the reconciled friends are able to enjoy the light of the banquet hall together, which, in the words of the final page of the book, is "just so."

As the electrons move from the higher energy level to the lower energy level, they release energy and ___________occurs. Energy is released only in...

"As the electrons move from the higher energy level to the lower energy level, they release energy and emission occurs. Energy is released only in specific quantum amounts. The available transitions for each element results in a signature line spectrum rather than a continuous spectrum."

This statement describes the behavior of the electrons in atoms when they gain energy. The increase in energy causes them to move from the ground state, which is closer to...

"As the electrons move from the higher energy level to the lower energy level, they release energy and emission occurs. Energy is released only in specific quantum amounts. The available transitions for each element results in a signature line spectrum rather than a continuous spectrum."

This statement describes the behavior of the electrons in atoms when they gain energy. The increase in energy causes them to move from the ground state, which is closer to the nucleus, to an excited state farther from the nucleus. Electrons are unstable in an excited state so they fall back closer to the nucleus releasing the energy they absorbed as light.

Because electrons can only occupy specific energy levels, there are only specific or "quantized" jumps that they can make. The light that is given off is only in specific wavelengths that correspond to these energy changes. When this light is observed as is passes through a prism or diffraction grating it shows up as individual lines of colors that correspond to the specific wavelengths emitted. This is a line spectrum. Each element produces its own unique line spectrum. Neon, when electrified, produces a set of wavelengths that look red when viewed together. Neon signs make use of this. If you look at white light through a prism or diffraction grating you see a rainbow of one color blending into the next, called a continuous spectrum.

Here are a couple of analogies that might help you better understand this. Imagine that you're jumping on a trampoline. The springs transfer energy to you and you move to a position of greater potential energy. However, you don't stay there because you're attracted to the earth by gravity. This makes your position unstable. When you fall back down the energy that you absorbed is returned to the springs when you hit the mat. Electrons in a substance absorb energy by being heated, having electric current passed through them or as a result of a chemical reaction. They're attracted to the nucleus of the atom as you're attracted to the ground. When they return to their lower energy position the absorbed energy is emitted as light just as your absorbed energy was emitted as motion and stretching of springs. 

To understand how emitted light is quantized, think of a stairway vs. an elevator. If you're in an elevator you can be in any position between floors. If you stop on a stairway there are only specific positions, the steps, that you can occupy. You can jump up two steps and back, or up three steps and back, but you're limited to the positions in which there's a step to occupy so the amount of energy you can expend jumping up is limited to specific amounts. Electrons are limited to specific distances from the nucleus so they absorb and release specific amounts of energy called quanta.

What moral issues are discussed in Primo Levy's The Drowned & The Saved?

The moral issues discussed in Primo Levi's The Drowned & The Saved all have to do with measuring the methods people use (both then and now) to deal with the tragedy of genocide that the Nazi’s proposed (and carried out) through the Holocaust.

A simple discussion of the title can serve to begin the thoughts about moral issues. The title stems from the idea that someone can be “saved” physically, but not be “saved” spiritually....

The moral issues discussed in Primo Levi's The Drowned & The Saved all have to do with measuring the methods people use (both then and now) to deal with the tragedy of genocide that the Nazi’s proposed (and carried out) through the Holocaust.

A simple discussion of the title can serve to begin the thoughts about moral issues. The title stems from the idea that someone can be “saved” physically, but not be “saved” spiritually. Those that survived the Holocaust, then, were not necessarily better off than those that were slaughtered in concentration camps.

One of the interesting ways these moral issues are presented is by the publication of letters from German citizens both living then and living now. This is one of the most interesting ways that the surviving people’s thoughts about reconciling the Holocaust are implied. By including these letters, Levi tries to continue the moral discussion through the ages (in that these real letters can be discussed again and again), to make the Holocaust impossible to forget, and to make the facts apparent.

In regards to the discussion of moral issues, it is the central chapter entitled “The Gray Zone” that should cause the most interest. Why? This is the chapter that shows the range of responses from the German people from guilt and regret and from pride to concealment. Rightly so, Levi calls this section the “ultimate drainage site of the German universe.”

In conclusion, discussing this moral issues revolves around Levi figuring out people’s choices. Is the person vocal or not? (Is the person communicating?) Is the person putting stock in his or her religion or losing his or her faith? Is the person happy to conform or defiant? These moral ideas, Levi delves into great detail in the sections entitled “Communicating” and “Useless Violence” and “Stereotypes.” In a sense, these are all ways to deal with the moral problem of genocide that existed within the Holocaust.

What dramatic devices does Shakespeare use in Romeo and Juliet?

There are many examples of dramatic devices in Romeo and Juliet, but I will highlight the use of a prologue and catharsis, as well as foreshadowing, dramatic irony, and tragedy.

Romeo and Juliet famously utilizes a prologue that explains the events that will occur in the play. In this prologue, Shakespeare foreshadows the love and death in the play to create dramatic irony. Dramatic irony occurs because the audience knows things the characters do...

There are many examples of dramatic devices in Romeo and Juliet, but I will highlight the use of a prologue and catharsis, as well as foreshadowing, dramatic irony, and tragedy.

Romeo and Juliet famously utilizes a prologue that explains the events that will occur in the play. In this prologue, Shakespeare foreshadows the love and death in the play to create dramatic irony. Dramatic irony occurs because the audience knows things the characters do not. Romeo and Juliet jump impatiently into their relationship, but the audience knows the consequences of this love. This dramatic irony creates tension. Finally, the end of the play brings about catharsis. Catharsis is a Greek term that describes the emotional response that occurs towards the end of a dramatic structure. A catharsis usually elicits emotional responses like crying. The Friar announces the catharsis and also classifies the events as a tragedy: 

I will be brief, for my short date of breath / Is not so long as is a tedious tale. / Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet; / And she, there dead, that Romeo's faithful wife./ I married them; and their stol'n marriage-day / Was Tybalt's doomsday, whose untimely death / Banish'd the new-made bridegroom from the city, / For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined" (V.iii.229-236).

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, what is the collard patch?

In Chapter 6, Jem plans a night-time raid on the Radley house hoping to see Boo through a window. In order to get close to the house, the children have to travel through Nathan Radley's garden. Jem warns Scout and Dill not to walk in the collard patch because "they will wake the dead." (Lee 71) A collard is a vegetable. Specifically, it is a type of kale that is grown in the South. Collards are short plants with huge green leaves, and the children try their best to avoid walking through them. The children quietly walk through his garden and Jem manages to see a shadow in Radley's window. Jem gets spooked when the shadow stops about a foot beyond him, and he jumps off the porch toward Scout and Dill. Scout trips and falls as the children run through the collard patch. Nathan Radley emerges from the house and fires a warning shot into the air. The children narrowly escape, and Jem loses his pants after they get caught in Nathan's fence. Later on, when the neighbors are discussing what happened outside Radley's house, Stephanie tells Jem that Nathan scared a Negro in his collard patch. Nathan does not suspect the children, and thinks that a black man was walking through his collard patch.

Please Explain this stanza: Soul lies buried in conscience / Body is fool's ornament / Man behind a fatal fence / Around which he never went....

Without knowing the poem this stanza is from, it's not possible to explain it in its broader context, but these four lines hold together as one thought and can be explained in terms of a Freudian concept. The "soul" is the innate spirit of a person who has natural inner wisdom. This inner wisdom is suppressed by the socio-cultural "conscience" superimposed upon the soul by the concept known as the Freudian Super-Ego. The "body" is...

Without knowing the poem this stanza is from, it's not possible to explain it in its broader context, but these four lines hold together as one thought and can be explained in terms of a Freudian concept. The "soul" is the innate spirit of a person who has natural inner wisdom. This inner wisdom is suppressed by the socio-cultural "conscience" superimposed upon the soul by the concept known as the Freudian Super-Ego. The "body" is represented as separate from and inferior to the "soul" and is additionally represented as the "fatal fence" that entraps the "soul": the body is the untamed being that requires the conscience developed by the Super-Ego and that buries the soul, "The Soul lies buried...." Resulting in the entrapment of the soul, the person ("Man") never ventures to go out around the body: the person never dares to transcend the physical and soar in transcendental spirituality to find birth and life instead of burial; freedom from the conscience, the body, the "fatal fence" and the "fool's ornament" that bind the soul in metaphysical death.

What are some examples of irony in The Crucible that show Miller's attitude towards the Puritans?

The Puritan religion and beliefs were based on hard work, self-discipline, and religious duty. All Puritans were expected to live by strict, uncompromising rules that kept their intentions good and their souls pure. Gossiping, dancing, partaking in drinking alcohol, and committing adultery were examples of activities that the Puritans considered evil and acts of the Devil. 

Arthur Miller makes use of irony to develop the true characters of the Puritans residing in Salem in The...

The Puritan religion and beliefs were based on hard work, self-discipline, and religious duty. All Puritans were expected to live by strict, uncompromising rules that kept their intentions good and their souls pure. Gossiping, dancing, partaking in drinking alcohol, and committing adultery were examples of activities that the Puritans considered evil and acts of the Devil. 

Arthur Miller makes use of irony to develop the true characters of the Puritans residing in Salem in The Crucible. This irony is a direct reflection of how Miller felt about the Puritan religion and their actions, which he considered to be hypocritical. 

There are three types of irony: verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony. Verbal irony is when a character speaking in literature says one thing, but actually means another. Situational irony is when the outcome of a situation is opposite of what readers expect would happen. Dramatic irony is when the readers know something that a character in the literature does not. 

Possibly the most moving example of situational irony in The Crucible occurs late in Act III when Elizabeth lies about John's adultery to protect his reputation. Elizabeth and John, both prominent Puritans in the Salem community, were caught in this unfortunate situation of lying and committing adultery, respectively.

Within the play, we see dramatic irony throughout as readers know the girls are lying and it is all pretense, yet the judges do not. 

More situational irony occurs when Proctor publicly admits his affair in the hope of defeating Abigail. As readers, we assume this is going to work and Abigail and her lies will be uncovered. However, it ironically gets John in trouble instead. 

The irony in all of these situations is that so much corruption and dishonesty is occurring within a group of people whose lives are supposed to be based on honesty, religion and morality. Miller saw the hypocrisy of this religion during his own time, and used the literary device to present his beliefs to his readers. 

A weather balloon contains 12.0 m3 of hydrogen gas when it is released from a location at which the temperature is 22°C and the pressure is 101...

This problem can be solved using the Combined Gas Law,

`(P_1V_1)/(T_1) = (P_2V_2)/(T_2)`

The Combined Gas Law gets its name because it combines Charles' Law which states that volume and temperature are directly proportional and and Boyle's Law which states that pressure and volume are inversely proportional. 

When solving a gas law problem, it's a good idea to organize and label the data don't you don't mix up values. Temperatures must be converted to Kelvins,...

This problem can be solved using the Combined Gas Law,

`(P_1V_1)/(T_1) = (P_2V_2)/(T_2)`

The Combined Gas Law gets its name because it combines Charles' Law which states that volume and temperature are directly proportional and and Boyle's Law which states that pressure and volume are inversely proportional. 

When solving a gas law problem, it's a good idea to organize and label the data don't you don't mix up values. Temperatures must be converted to Kelvins, by adding 273, because the Celsius temperture scale isn't proportional.

P1 = 101 kpa

V1 = 12.0 m^3

T1 = 22ºC = 295 K

P2 = 20 kpA

V2 = unknown

T2 = -30ºC = 242 K

Now rearrange the equation to solve for the unknown, T2, and plug in the other values:

`(V_2 = P_1V_1T_2)/(T_1P_2)`

V2 = [(101 kpa)(12.0 m^3)(242K)]/[(295 K)(20 kpa)] = 49.7 cm^3

In "The Last Leaf," how is Behrman the epitome of supreme sacrifice?

O. Henry's whole story is based on the idea of someone painting a fake ivy leaf on the wall of a building for the purpose of saving the life of a girl who believes she will die when the last ivy-leaf falls. The author must have felt there had to be a character who would paint that leaf. The ending wouldn't be nearly as effective if the person who painted the leaf was never introduced to the reader. The author couldn't just say that some mysterious stranger had painted the fake leaf in the middle of the night. It had to be a painter, but in introducing a character who was a painter, there was a risk of giving away the surprise ending. Some readers were likely to suspect that this character was being introduced because he or she would get the notion to paint a fake ivy leaf. This would be especially the case if the painter did it because he was a young man in love with the sick girl. O. Henry disposes of that sentimental possibility with the following exchange between the doctor and Sue:

"Has she anything on her mind worth thinking about twice—a man, for instance?”

“A man?” said Sue, with a jew's-harp twang in her voice. “Is a man worth—but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind.”

Instead, the author introduces a character who is a painter but apparently highly unlikely to think of doing what he does. In the first place, Old Behrman is introduced because Sue needs someone to model for a magazine illustration. Behrman hasn't painted anything for years. He is an old man who is drunk all the time. He speaks with great contempt for the idea that anyone could die just because a leaf fell off a nearby vine.

“Vass!” he cried. “Is dere people in de world mit der foolishness to die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf not heard of such a thing. No, I will not bose as a model for your fool hermit-dunderhead. Vy do you allow dot silly pusiness to come in der prain of her? Ach, dot poor leetle Miss Yohnsy.”

O. Henry achieves the feat of introducing a character without arousing the reader's suspicions that this character might have a hidden motive. Behrman speaks poor English and is usually drunk. He might be saying one thing and thinking another. Notice that he tells Sue, "No, I will not bose as a model for your fool hermit-dunderhead," and then contradicts himself a moment later.

“You are just like a woman!” yelled Behrman. “Who said I will not bose? Go on. I come mit you. For half an hour I haf peen trying to say dot I am ready to bose." 

We realize at the end of the story that Old Behrman only pretends to be grouchy and cynical. Underneath, he is a sentimental Germanic romanticist who is quite capable of doing such an heroic thing as sacrificing his life to save a sick girl. The factors that would seem to militate against his doing such a foolhardy thing could also motivate him to do it. He is an old man, but his life is over; he is a failure; he has nothing to lose. He is a heavy drinker, but alcohol sometimes causes people to have crazy ideas. He hasn't painted anything in twenty-five years, but now might be the perfect time for him to paint that masterpiece he is always talking about. O. Henry's ending comes as a great surprise, but it does not seem the least bit contrived or implausible.

Are any of Charles Darnay's actions portrayed as heroic?

While Sydney Carton is usually held up for his heroic sacrifice at the end of the novel, Charles Darnay also has his moments. His rejection of his wealth and estate because of the oppressive nature of the French upper class is heroic from the start. To start over in a new country with nothing but his own knowledge with which to earn a living shows great sacrifice, which he will continue in many instances. In...

While Sydney Carton is usually held up for his heroic sacrifice at the end of the novel, Charles Darnay also has his moments. His rejection of his wealth and estate because of the oppressive nature of the French upper class is heroic from the start. To start over in a new country with nothing but his own knowledge with which to earn a living shows great sacrifice, which he will continue in many instances. In his conversation with Doctor Manette about his intention of courting and marrying Lucie, he is very forthright, or at least tries to be. He has no idea of the cruelty that has been done in the name of Evremonde, but he is still willing to tell his future father-in-law the truth. His return to Paris to help his servant Gabelle in the midst of the Revolution shows great courage. He faces his death with firmness, and his only grief is for what it will mean for his wife and daughter. Dickens does not tell us what his reaction was on learning of Carton’s sacrifice, but it would be consistent with his character to pledge himself to honor Carton throughout the rest of his life.

What appreciation, if any, does Higgins show for Eliza's hard work and achievement in Pygmalion?

In Act Four of Pygmalion, Eliza, Colonel Pickering, and Professor Higgins have just returned from successfully passing Eliza off as a duchess at a series of socially significant events (a garden party, a dinner party, and the opera). Despite the tremendous success of her performance, Higgins shows no appreciation for Eliza's hard work and achievement. While Higgins relaxes in his chair and discusses the evening with Pickering, Eliza busies herself with making him comfortable...

In Act Four of Pygmalion, Eliza, Colonel Pickering, and Professor Higgins have just returned from successfully passing Eliza off as a duchess at a series of socially significant events (a garden party, a dinner party, and the opera). Despite the tremendous success of her performance, Higgins shows no appreciation for Eliza's hard work and achievement. While Higgins relaxes in his chair and discusses the evening with Pickering, Eliza busies herself with making him comfortable (fetching his slippers, etc.), which also goes unnoticed by Higgins.

In fact, the two gentleman speak about Eliza as if she was not present in the room. When Pickering first mentions Eliza having done "the trick, and something  to spare..." to Higgins, Higgins simply responds, "Thank God it's over!" In a continued statement on the night, Higgins comments:

     "I knew she'd be all right. No, it's the strain of putting the job through all these months that has told on me. It was interesting enough at first, while we were at the phonetics; but after that I got deadly sick of it. If I hadn't backed myself to do it I should have chucked the whole thing up two months ago. It was a silly notion: the whole thing has been a bore... When I saw we were going to win hands down, I felt like a bear in a cage, hanging about doing nothing. The dinner was worse: sitting gorging there for over an hour, with nobody but a damned fool of a fashionable woman to talk to! I tell you, Pickering, never again for me. No more artificial duchesses. The whole thing has been simple purgatory."

With this speech, Higgins manages to singlehandedly dismiss the efforts that Eliza had put into developing her duchess "character" and improving her speech and self. Instead, he focuses on the tremendous "consequences" he's faced as a result of the experiment: boredom, the waste of time, etc.

Higgins' first direct address to Eliza in this scene is a mundane domestic order to turn off the lights and to inform the housekeeper that he would like tea in the morning instead of coffee. When Eliza reacts violently to this, Higgins hurls his most presumptuous insult yet: "YOU won my bet! You! Presumptuous insect! I won it!" Higgins--charming fellow that he is--not only fails to appropriately recognize Eliza's efforts, but also takes sole credit for their joint triumph. 

Explain the law of variable proportion with the help of a diagram.

The law of variable proportions is sort of three laws in one.

It applies to production where at least one factor of production is fixed and another is variable. Usually we assume that capital is fixed and labor is variable, but it would still apply if we assumed that capital is variable and labor is fixed, or even if we introduced other factors of production such as natural resources or human capital. (It applies to almost all industries. Start trying to include creative industries like art and scientific research where initial cost is huge but marginal cost is virtually zero, and it seems to break down. But it works for most things, from apples to zambonis.)

It says that production occurs in three phases:

In Phase 1, marginal productivity is increasing. Each new unit of the variable factor makes production more efficient.

In Phase 2, marginal productivity is decreasing, but positive. Each new unit of the variable factor makes production less efficient, but does still produce more of the good.

In Phase 3, marginal productivity is negative. Each new unit of the of the variable factor makes production so much less efficient that you actually end up producing less of the good.

I've attached a little color-coded diagram I made. The blue curve is the total production function T(x) (which I set to be 5x^3 - 3x^4 in this particular case). The red curve is the average production function (T(x)/x, so 5x^2 - 3x^3). The green curve is the marginal production function (dT/dx, so 15x^2 - 12x^4).

I've marked with purple vertical lines the divisions between the phases. Notice how as we shift from Phase 1 to Phase 2, marginal productivity hits its maximum and total production is at an inflection point. Notice also how as we shift from Phase 2 to Phase 3, marginal productivity hits zero and total production hits its maximum. Finally, notice how marginal productivity intersects average productivity at the maximum of average productivity.

What is the symbolic significance of the herbs Ophelia distributes in Act IV, scene v of Hamlet?

Here is a quick run-down on the herbs and flowers that Ophelia hands out during Act IV, scene v.  She has gone crazy at this point due to the death of her father, the absence of her brother, and the treatment from her boyfriend, Hamlet.

1.  Rosemary - an herb for remembrance and love.  Ophelia gives this to Laertes as a symbol for their father and and his untimely death.

2.  Pansies - a flower...

Here is a quick run-down on the herbs and flowers that Ophelia hands out during Act IV, scene v.  She has gone crazy at this point due to the death of her father, the absence of her brother, and the treatment from her boyfriend, Hamlet.

1.  Rosemary - an herb for remembrance and love.  Ophelia gives this to Laertes as a symbol for their father and and his untimely death.

2.  Pansies - a flower representing happy thoughts.  She is also handing these to her brother as well to help him get through the horrible times he is facing.

3.  Rue - an herb tied to virginity and marriage.  Ophelia gives this herb to Claudius and retains one for herself.  She tells him he must "wear his rue with a difference" as he is married and she is not.

4. Fennel - an herb representing those worthy of phrase, flattery, and strength. She gives these to Gertrude and to her brother.  Here it appears she is allotting the traits of strength and praise to her brother, while reserving the falser trait of flattery to the Queen.

5.  Columbines - this flower represents foolishness, flattery and adultery. The queen is the main recipient of this flower to symbolize her rash and foolish actions concerning both Claudius and her son.

How could a student write a thesis about slavery in Uncle Tom's Cabin?

With most thesis statements, the intended purpose is to help your reader determine what you will be saying during the rest of your paper. For many papers, teachers advise that you have about three points to help make your paper strong (although this does not always have to be the case). After stating your thesis, it often helpful in the next paragraph to include a background paragraph that provides the audience with vital information and relates to your topic and thesis.

With the background information, you will want to make the background specific enough so that the reader knows that it relates to Uncle Tom’s Cabin; however, it should also be general enough so that the reader understands the information without having to know too much about the book. It can be difficult to balance this, but it is a vital section to a strong paper.

In order to make it relate to the topic, you need to consider the audience’s knowledge and your topic. For example, this might include concepts about the time period that Uncle Tom’s Cabin was written or might include background information about the author, Harriet Beecher Stowe. It simply depends on what information is crucial to understanding your topic the best.

Furthermore, to help you decide what information to include in the background, you should consider your thesis statement. For example, if you talk about the slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, it might be beneficial to provide a social context about how slaves were treated during the time or how the U.S. government viewed slaves. With this, it could be helpful to include important cases during the time period, such as Dred Scott v. Sanford or the Fugitive Slave Law.

As a result, you will end up with statements that support your thesis and provide background information on your topic!

What actions could be recommended that Walt Disney Company’s management might take to improve the company and increase shareholder value?...

The Walt Disney Company was founded on  October 16, 1923, and has managed to thrive for over ninety years by producing family entertainment, focusing mainly on films and theme parks. To improve the company and shareholder value, it needs to focus on increasing profit and minimizing risk in a shifting business environment. 

First, as it is in the entertainment industry, its fortunes depend on anticipating shifts in public taste, something that is inherently risky and...

The Walt Disney Company was founded on  October 16, 1923, and has managed to thrive for over ninety years by producing family entertainment, focusing mainly on films and theme parks. To improve the company and shareholder value, it needs to focus on increasing profit and minimizing risk in a shifting business environment. 

First, as it is in the entertainment industry, its fortunes depend on anticipating shifts in public taste, something that is inherently risky and unpredictable. As with most entertainment companies, much of Disney's revenue can be generated by a small number of blockbusters, but it is impossible to predict in advance what will become a blockbuster. Thus it is important for Disney to maintain a diverse portfolio of entertainment products, both through internal developments and acquisitions.

Changing technology is disrupting the entertainment industry. While releases of films in movie theaters still can generate revenue, people increasingly obtain entertainment on a wide range of platforms including home entertainment systems, video games, mobile entertainment, and most recently virtual reality platforms, as well as traveling to theme parks. Disney needs to cater to all of these platforms either in-house, by acquisitions, or by strategic partnerships. 

Globalization is a major factor in Disney's profits, with new markets such as China, South America, and Africa contributing an increasing proportion of its revenue. Thus Disney must increasingly respond to global tastes either by trying to create works of global appeal or by creating products with specific regional appeals.

Why is Rhett permitted to be a frequent caller at Pittypat's house?

Rhett Butler is permitted at Aunt Pitty's house because there are many strange men in Atlanta and Pittypat is very trepidatious. Also, Scarlett really enjoys riding in his carriage as he escorts her to danceables and bazaars; then, afterwards, he waits at the hospitals and escorts Scarlett home. Pittypat herself can offer no resistance when he compliments her elaborately, or when he brings her "small luxuries" from his trips to Nassau. Moreover, he is of...

Rhett Butler is permitted at Aunt Pitty's house because there are many strange men in Atlanta and Pittypat is very trepidatious. Also, Scarlett really enjoys riding in his carriage as he escorts her to danceables and bazaars; then, afterwards, he waits at the hospitals and escorts Scarlett home. Pittypat herself can offer no resistance when he compliments her elaborately, or when he brings her "small luxuries" from his trips to Nassau. Moreover, he is of great service to the Confederate cause, running four boats to various ports for supplies for the army and evading the Union blockades. Therefore, polite society forgives some of Mr. Butler's "indiscretions" of the past.

The little luxuries that Aunt Pitty receives are things impossible to obtain at home, so she lacks "the moral stamina to refuse them." After accepting his gifts, Aunt Pittypat then feels that she can not refuse to let Mr. Butler call upon Scarlett, especially since his visits are usually for the war cause. Besides, she feels that all the lone women in her house need a man in their house to protect them.

Because of his reputation for being a professional gambler who has disgraced his family and ruined some poor girl long ago in Charleston, Rhett Butler would have been a social outcast. However, the conditions of war and Butler's services to the Confederacy as a "dashing blockader" who obtains necessary goods for the South despite the blockades of such goods, allow him to be received in Atlanta.

Everyone knew now that the fate of the Confederacy rested as much upon the skill of the blockade boats in eluding the Yankee fleet as it did upon the soldiers at the front.

Once of the best pilots in the South, Rhett Butler is fearless. Having been reared in Charleston, he knows every inlet, creek, and shoal, so he eludes the enemy time and time again. He is also familiar with the waters around Wilmington. and he slides out under the cover of night to Nassau, England, and even Canada. When he sails to Liverpool, England, he can almost name his price for goods since the cotton mills are idle during the Civil War. "Yes, the ladies felt they could forgive and forget a great many things for such a brave man" (Chapter XII).

What was the major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

The major weakness of the plan of government created by the Articles of Confederation was that the federal government did not have enough power. The people were very afraid of having a strong federal government since we had just fought to be free from an oppressive government in the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. Unfortunately, the new federal government was too weak, which led to many problems.

The federal government was not able to levy...

The major weakness of the plan of government created by the Articles of Confederation was that the federal government did not have enough power. The people were very afraid of having a strong federal government since we had just fought to be free from an oppressive government in the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. Unfortunately, the new federal government was too weak, which led to many problems.

The federal government was not able to levy taxes. As a result, it was very difficult for the new government to pay its debts. Too much paper money was printed, causing inflation.

The federal government could not make people join the military. Thus, when Spain and Great Britain began to interfere with our trade—and when Great Britain would not leave forts in the West—there was not much we could do about these issues from a military standpoint. Additionally, the military was poorly supplied because there was not much money to provide equipment.

Finally, there were no courts. As a result, there was no place where states could go to resolve disputes they had with each other.

The plan of government created by the Articles of Confederation did not give the federal government enough power.

What is the effect of half of the last chapter of Madame Bovary, including the last two paragraphs of the novel, being devoted to the pharmacist...

In Madame Bovary, the overall effect of devoting so much of the ending to Homais is to enhance the novel's Realism. 

Flaubert's commitment to Realism in Madame Bovaryis seen throughout the novel.  The characterization of Flaubert dissecting his heroine is best seen in the novel's ending.  There is not a glorification of Emma or a beautiful conclusion where all is unified.  He avoids Romanticism and idealism in all of its forms.  Rather, the ending...

In Madame Bovary, the overall effect of devoting so much of the ending to Homais is to enhance the novel's Realism. 

Flaubert's commitment to Realism in Madame Bovary is seen throughout the novel.  The characterization of Flaubert dissecting his heroine is best seen in the novel's ending.  There is not a glorification of Emma or a beautiful conclusion where all is unified.  He avoids Romanticism and idealism in all of its forms.  Rather, the ending of the novel has nothing to do with Emma at all.  Rather, the focus is on Charles's degradation and on how his daughter ends up having to work for a living after he dies.  At the same time, Monsieur Homais's social status rises.  He is able to achieve great things and to move up the social ladder as the Bovary name declines.  The ending where he is awarded the Legion of Honor represents his own ascension.

The effect of this Realist construction is significant.  On one hand, the reader perceives the hollow emptiness.  There is a certain anticlimactic emptiness in watching characters in a novel meet an abrupt end without any sort of dramatic resolution.  The lack of glory in such an ending underscores Flaubert's commitment to Realism, a movement that wanted to depict life as it is.  In real life, bad things happen and what makes it worse is that human beings have no choice but to move on.  There is no mourning or elaborate death scene for Emma.  She simply is "no more."  That's it. Flaubert's realism creates a chilling effect in the reader.  After spending so much time with characters, the ending makes the reader understand one true horror of life is that we are temporary creatures.  The only certainty in our lives is death.  Despite all of our hopes and dreams to create a garden, the reality that underscores our existence is that only a desert awaits.

Flaubert's realism does not stop here.  In highlighting Homais's rise, Flaubert's commitment to depicting reality in his work shows that there are times when bad people win.  Homais is an opportunist who is looking out for himself.  His desire to ascend up the social ladder is similar to Emma's. However, he is smarter.  He tapped into social causes that appealed to people and was able to use these as his means for advancement.  His embrace of "science" and "rationality" played well for him because it was socially accepted.  The effect of this rise is to affect the reader with a perception of disgust at his manipulation of success.  A chilling effect emerges because Flaubert uses Homais's rise to show a world where conformity and standardization have become dominant.  In devoting the final chapter to Homais's ascension, the effect is to a perception of despair at what lies ahead.  True to Realism, Flaubert deliberately provides nothing comforting to the reader in his ending as real life offers nothing comforting in the end.

Which excerpt from “Two Kinds” shows that the mother knows how her daughter can become a prodigy?

To Jing-mei's mother, being a prodigy is not only the result of inborn talent but also of effort and desire. In her mother's view, the promise of America, as opposed to China, was that in America one could be whatever one wantedto be. Thus her mother announces to Jing-mei when she is only nine, "Of course you can be prodigy, too." When Jing-mei opposes her mother about playing the piano, the mother insists she...

To Jing-mei's mother, being a prodigy is not only the result of inborn talent but also of effort and desire. In her mother's view, the promise of America, as opposed to China, was that in America one could be whatever one wanted to be. Thus her mother announces to Jing-mei when she is only nine, "Of course you can be prodigy, too." When Jing-mei opposes her mother about playing the piano, the mother insists she doesn't expect Jing-mei to be a genius, only to "be your best." She tells Jing-mei that the reason she is "not the best" is "because you [sic] not trying." After Jing-mei has become an adult, her mother offers to give her the piano, the center of so much conflict in their relationship, as a birthday present. Jing-mei says she probably can't play anymore. Tan writes:

"You pick up fast," said my mother, as if she knew this was certain. "You have natural talent. You could been [sic] genius if you want to. ... You [sic] just not trying."

This section shows the three elements Jing-mei's mother believes make a prodigy: natural talent, desire (wanting to), and effort (trying). 

What lie does Bruno tell Maria when she finds him in the kitchen? Why do you think he lies?

In Chapter 13, Bruno is in the kitchen filling his pockets with bread and cheese when Maria comes in. Maria sees Bruno putting the food in his pockets and assumes that he has not been eating his food again. She knows Bruno already ate his lunch earlier that day, and cannot believe that he is still hungry. Bruno lies to Maria and tells her he is going for a walk, and that he might get...

In Chapter 13, Bruno is in the kitchen filling his pockets with bread and cheese when Maria comes in. Maria sees Bruno putting the food in his pockets and assumes that he has not been eating his food again. She knows Bruno already ate his lunch earlier that day, and cannot believe that he is still hungry. Bruno lies to Maria and tells her he is going for a walk, and that he might get "peckish" on the way. Maria shrugs her shoulders and continues to complete her work in the kitchen. Bruno lies to Maria because he does not want her finding out that he has been hanging out with his new friend, Shmuel. Bruno is cognizant of the fact that he will get into trouble if his parents ever find out that he is talking with a boy on the other side of the fence. He lies to Maria in order to protect his secret friendship with Shmuel. He does not want anyone finding out and telling his parents because he will lose the only friend he has at Out-With.

Why were the hills in the Battle of the Bunker Hill so important?

The location of an area has always been an important factor in fighting a war. In the 1700s and in the 1800s, having control over a hilly area was usually an advantageous position for whoever had that position. In the Battle of Bunker Hill, this was especially true. Bunker Hill is a hill that overlooks the harbor in Boston. The colonists had control of this hill. The British, who were better equipped and supposedly better...

The location of an area has always been an important factor in fighting a war. In the 1700s and in the 1800s, having control over a hilly area was usually an advantageous position for whoever had that position. In the Battle of Bunker Hill, this was especially true. Bunker Hill is a hill that overlooks the harbor in Boston. The colonists had control of this hill. The British, who were better equipped and supposedly better trained and to fight a war, should have been able to control this area. However, since the colonists had control over this hill, the British found it very difficult to take it. They tried three times to capture Bunker Hill. They failed the first two times. The only reason why they succeeded on the third try was because the colonists ran out of ammunition. The difficulty the British had in taking this hill gave the colonists the confidence they needed to believe they could fight the British. It also showed the importance of controlling strategic locations in war, especially the hills in those days.

In paragraph 14 of the Introduction, what does the cricket refer to?

This is a subject open to good discussion. When the author looks at the full moon, within his line of sight is a cricket, too. For a moment, it looks as if the cricket has been placed in or on the white disc and is filling up the moon. (If your copy of the book is illustrated, you may see an artist’s interpretation of this sight.) Momaday says:

It had gone there, I thought, to...

This is a subject open to good discussion. When the author looks at the full moon, within his line of sight is a cricket, too. For a moment, it looks as if the cricket has been placed in or on the white disc and is filling up the moon. (If your copy of the book is illustrated, you may see an artist’s interpretation of this sight.) Momaday says:

It had gone there, I thought, to live and die, for there, of all places, was its small definition made whole and eternal.

He considers the moon as an idea of heaven or as a symbol of eternal life. He thinks also of the importance of all creatures and to all parts of Nature; for something even as small as a cricket is just as welcomed into that higher life as a human being would be. The cricket is a stand-in here for the variety of life on the planet. This quick encounter makes a positive impression and provides reassurance to Momaday. It suggests that he is connected both to the nearby natural world and to the larger Universe as well.

How does the character Barton change throughout Tom Godwin's short story "The Cold Equations"?

In the opening of Tom Godwin's short story "The Cold Equations," the narrator describes the pilot Barton as so used to the sight of men dying in the new frontier that he no longer feels any emotion when witnessing death. Yet, by the end of the story, he is not as desensitized towards the sight of death as he thought.We see his initial cold, objective view of death described in the following passage:

He...

In the opening of Tom Godwin's short story "The Cold Equations," the narrator describes the pilot Barton as so used to the sight of men dying in the new frontier that he no longer feels any emotion when witnessing death. Yet, by the end of the story, he is not as desensitized towards the sight of death as he thought.

We see his initial cold, objective view of death described in the following passage:

He was an EDS pilot, inured to the sight of death, long since accustomed to it and to viewing the dying of another man with an objective lack of emotion, and he had no choice in what he must do.

Although barton continues to be convinced he must carry out his orders of taking the stowaway's life to save the lives of many more people, his emotions soften once he sees the stowaway is a young girl.

Barton displays his change in emotion when he drops the deceleration speed to save fuel and radios the commander of the Stardust to see if Marilyn might be rescued in some way. He best shows his change in emotion when, after Marilyn realizes what will happen to her, he says to her, "I'm sorry. . . You'll never know how sorry I am. It has to be that way and no human in the universe can change it." Though Barton remains convinced of the rightfulness of the law, it is clear by the end of the story he is no longer "inured to the sight of death." It is evident he is grieving for Marilyn, as he continues to feel her presence in the ship and hear her words echoing through his head.

What is the problem, and who does it affect in Freak the Mighty?

There are several problems/conflicts in the novel Freak the Mighty. Most of the conflicts revolve around Max and Freak.  One problem is that Freak is dying.  He can't do anything about it, so he is constantly struggling with his outlook on life itself.  Freak is awesome, because even though he is struggling with knowing that he will soon die, his attitude is always positive and upbeat.  Freak's death though is a problem for Max who...

There are several problems/conflicts in the novel Freak the Mighty.  Most of the conflicts revolve around Max and Freak.  One problem is that Freak is dying.  He can't do anything about it, so he is constantly struggling with his outlook on life itself.  Freak is awesome, because even though he is struggling with knowing that he will soon die, his attitude is always positive and upbeat.  Freak's death though is a problem for Max who definitely struggles to come to grips with the loss of his friend.  

A second internal struggle is Max's struggle with his own self identification.  He has incredibly low self esteem.  He refers to himself as a stupid butthead quite often.  He's afraid of going out in public, because he looks like his murdering father.  Freak is the only character that is able to bring Max out of his shell, and through Freak, Max is able to begin enjoying life.  

One last major conflict is a man vs. man conflict.  Max's dad gets out of prison and kidnaps Max.  Max is afraid for his life, but he does eventually get rescued.  His dad, Killer Kane, is put back in jail.  

When 3 litres of oil is removed from an upright cylindrical can, the level falls by 10 cm. Find the radius of the can.

Hello!

Denote the radius of a can in cm as `R.`

Removed oil had the shape of a disk (upright circular cylinder). Its height `h=10 cm` is given, its volume `V=3000 cm^3` is also given. The relation between them is

`V=pi*R^2*h,`

so

`R=sqrt(V/(pi*h)) approx sqrt(3000/(3.14*10)) approx 9.77 (cm).`

This is the answer.

Hello!

Denote the radius of a can in cm as `R.`

Removed oil had the shape of a disk (upright circular cylinder). Its height `h=10 cm` is given, its volume `V=3000 cm^3` is also given. The relation between them is

`V=pi*R^2*h,`

so

`R=sqrt(V/(pi*h)) approx sqrt(3000/(3.14*10)) approx 9.77 (cm).`

This is the answer.

What is your personal take on the poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"? Why does it appeal to you?

It is difficult for anyone else to help you with this question, because it asks your own personal opinion.  This means there is no right or wrong answer – it is simply what you think about the poem.  There are a thousand different reasons the poem might appeal to any one individual, and no one can tell you what you like about it but you. 

That being said, I can outline some of the more...

It is difficult for anyone else to help you with this question, because it asks your own personal opinion.  This means there is no right or wrong answer – it is simply what you think about the poem.  There are a thousand different reasons the poem might appeal to any one individual, and no one can tell you what you like about it but you. 

That being said, I can outline some of the more striking characteristics of the poem.  First, the image the poet conjures of thousands and thousands of yellow daffodils swaying in the breeze along the shores of a bay is stirring, to say the least.  And it is a beautiful concept, the idea of simply stumbling upon such a sight as one wanders through nature – an example of how life can reward you when you least expect it.  The field of daffodils is also a good example of how the smallest pleasures and surprises can have the strongest lasting effects on us, as human beings.  The speaker notes, “I gazed – and gazed – but little thought/What wealth the show to me had brought;” he was very taken with the sight of all the flowers, but he could not have predicted the extent to which it would affect him, for much later, “in vacant or in pensive mood” – in those little idle moments of the day – he would think back to that sea of daffodils and the thought would make him happy.  This is a wonderful, calming thought – that such small events can leave such lasting traces on our hearts.

This is a poem about the beauty and the healing benefits of nature, about how it never ceases to surprise and delight.  Even in the midst of our most vacant wanderings, we may stumble upon some bit of life that has a positive effect on us.  The poem is very hopeful, full of vivid imagery that, much like the daffodils themselves for the speaker, becomes imprinted on the brain, and can often be revisited for a smile or a thought of peace.

How does simile make a poem effective?

In order for us to understand anything, we must draw upon at least one of our five senses, to have a concrete image in our minds. A simile is one device that poets use to provide a concrete image, a comparison of something with something else, so the reader has a sensory image to hold in his or her mind, a way of understanding that something that might not be concrete is like something that...

In order for us to understand anything, we must draw upon at least one of our five senses, to have a concrete image in our minds. A simile is one device that poets use to provide a concrete image, a comparison of something with something else, so the reader has a sensory image to hold in his or her mind, a way of understanding that something that might not be concrete is like something that is concrete.

My favorite examples of this are in a poem by Robert Burns:

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
O my Luve's like the melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune (lines 1-4). 

Burns cannot describe love without giving us an image of some sort in our minds. Love is a concept. How can we possibly say what it is?  Now, though, we have a comparison with two sensory details, a rose and a melody. Thus we know that love to Burns is beautiful, sweet-smelling, and fresh, and that it is as melodic as an air played in tune.  These are images that we have all had some experience of, and we understand that Burns is making a comparison with the positive attributes of roses and melodies. Within the context of this lighthearted poem, we realize that he is not focusing on the thorns of a rose or a song that is discordant.  That would make for a very different kind of poem.

The way to identify a simile is to look for words of comparison, such as "like" or "as." There are other kinds of literary elements used in poetry to provide concrete, sensory images, and I have included a link to our guide to literary terms, which includes these, for example, metaphor.  You should be able to practice your simile-spotting skills now and notice all of the similes that are used in poetry and what it is they contribute to your understanding and analysis of poetry. 

Comment on the following lines, "So there it is," he added. "And I know it's kind of a bad time to be telling you, but there simply wasn't any...

Those lines are spoken by Patrick Maloney almost right after he gets home from work.  All that the reader is told before those lines is that Patrick had something the he wanted to tell his wife, Mary.  Dahl never elaborates on what Patrick told Mary.  All the reader knows is that Mary didn't like what she was hearing.  

And he told her. It didn't take long, four or five minutes at most, and she sat still through it all, watching him with puzzled horror.

Based on his words about giving her money, it's likely that Patrick was telling Mary that he was leaving her, or that he wanted a divorce.  The news was a shock to Mary, because she assumed that Patrick loved her as much as she loved him.   Mary practically worships the ground that Patrick walks upon, so the news devastates Mary.  Bummer for Patrick that Mary made the end of their marriage sooner rather than later.  

What does Peter and Wendy's nursery have in common with Peter Pan's Neverland?

The nursery in "The Veldt" and Neverland in Peter Pan share some obvious characteristics. For one thing, they both represent places where the imagination can run free, without the need for adult rules. They both are places where the children -- specifically, boys named "Peter" -- are in charge. They both are places where fantasies are made real, and where children triumph over adults -- Peter Pan over Capt. Hook, and Peter Hadley over his...

The nursery in "The Veldt" and Neverland in Peter Pan share some obvious characteristics. For one thing, they both represent places where the imagination can run free, without the need for adult rules. They both are places where the children -- specifically, boys named "Peter" -- are in charge. They both are places where fantasies are made real, and where children triumph over adults -- Peter Pan over Capt. Hook, and Peter Hadley over his parents. Both the nursery and Neverland are places of adventure and, to an extent, of wildness or the wilderness, lions and crocodiles. Both places represent, either figuratively (in Peter Pan) or literally (in "The Veldt") the connection between desire and fantasy. In each case the fantasy is the triumph of innocence over maturity, of escaping from the inevitability of growing up. In "The Veldt" Peter says that all he wants to do "look, listen and smell" -- by the end of the story, he has managed to do just that.

`C = 43^@, a = 4/9, b = 7/9` Use the Law of Cosines to solve the triangle. Round your answers to two decimal places.

Using the law of cosines, in the given case, yields:

`c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab*cos C`

`c^2 = (4/9)^2 + (7/9)^2 - 2*28/9*cos 43^o`

`c^2 = 65/81 - 56/81*73/10`

`c^2 = (1/81)*(650 - 4088)/10`

`c^2 =-343.8/81`

Since `c^2 > 0` , the provided information cannot be used to solve the triangle.

Using the law of cosines, in the given case, yields:

`c^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab*cos C`

`c^2 = (4/9)^2 + (7/9)^2 - 2*28/9*cos 43^o`

`c^2 = 65/81 - 56/81*73/10`

`c^2 = (1/81)*(650 - 4088)/10`

`c^2 =-343.8/81`

Since `c^2 > 0` , the provided information cannot be used to solve the triangle.

From whom does Candy seek advice before allowing Carlson to shoot his dog in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men?

Candy seeks judgment, perhaps, more than advice from Slim before handing over his dog to Carlson.

Early in Chapter 3 when Carlson enters the bunkhouse after losing at horseshoes by the barn, he sniffs the air and complains,

"God awmighty, that dog stinks. Get him outa here, Candy! I don't know nothing that stinks as bad as an old dog. You gotta get him out." (Ch. 3)

Candy pats his dog and apologizes for him,...

Candy seeks judgment, perhaps, more than advice from Slim before handing over his dog to Carlson.

Early in Chapter 3 when Carlson enters the bunkhouse after losing at horseshoes by the barn, he sniffs the air and complains,

"God awmighty, that dog stinks. Get him outa here, Candy! I don't know nothing that stinks as bad as an old dog. You gotta get him out." (Ch. 3)

Candy pats his dog and apologizes for him, but Carlson will not be appeased. He insists that the dog has gone beyond having any quality of life since his teeth are gone and he is stiff with rheumatism. "He ain't no good to hisself. Why'n't you shoot him, Candy?" (Ch.3) Candy squirms. He tells Carlson that he has had the dog since he was a puppy, and he used him to herd sheep. So, when Carlson suggests that he take the dog and shoot him in the back of the head where he would not know what happened, Candy replies, "No, I couldn' do that. I had 'im too long." (Ch.3)

Carlson then offers to shoot the dog for him, saying the dog cannot even enjoy himself anymore. But, Candy will not give in, even when Carlson suggests that Candy pick out a dog from Slim's dog's litter. Slim, too, tells Candy the dog is suffering. "Candy looked helplessly at him, for Slim's opinions were law." (Ch. 3)

"Maybe it'd hurt him, he suggested. "I don't mind takin' care of him." (Ch.3)

But, Carlson insists, despite the entry of some of the other men. "We can't sleep with him stink'in around in here." (Ch.3)

Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal. And Slim gave him none. At last Candy said softly and hopelessly, "Awright--take 'im." (Ch.3)

Candy cannot look at his old dog. He puts his arms behind his head and stares at the ceiling. Then, Carlson ties a leather strap around the dog's neck, saying apologetically to Candy, "He won't even feel it." (Ch. 3) But Candy neither moves nor responds.

What are some character traits for all three spirits in "A Christmas Carol"?

The spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come (future) play a major role in the story "A Christmas Carol." All three spirits visit Scrooge in his sleep with the apparent motive of making sure that Scrooge realizes the need to change his miserly, cruel way of living. While the three spirits share these motivations, they each possess unique characteristics.

The spirit of Christmas Past appears with a light coming from its head in most...

The spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come (future) play a major role in the story "A Christmas Carol." All three spirits visit Scrooge in his sleep with the apparent motive of making sure that Scrooge realizes the need to change his miserly, cruel way of living. While the three spirits share these motivations, they each possess unique characteristics.

The spirit of Christmas Past appears with a light coming from its head in most versions of the story. The spirit appears as an androgynous, small figure speaking in a soft voice. Though not overbearing and loud, this spirit firmly guides Scrooge to follow his lead and journey back in time to see the events of Scrooge's past.

The spirit of Christmas Present is huge, loud, and cheerful compared to the first spirit. This spirit too has a light but it comes from torch he carries. Dickens describes this spirit as genial, with sparkling eyes and a cheerful voice. This spirit guides Scrooge to see the Christmas that the Cratchits share.

Compared to the jovial spirit of Christmas Present, the spirit of Christmas Yet to Come is a dark and gloomy figure who spreads a sense of impending sadness and loneliness. He appears much more haunting and scary as he shows Scrooge what the future may bring if he does not change the way he lives his life.

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, what are the differences between Charlotte and Elizabeth?

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the primary difference between the characters Charlotte and Elizabeth is that Charlotte is a pragmatist whereas Elizabeth is a romantic.

Charlotte's pragmatism is expressed in many of her views of marriage. Charlotte is not the sort to believe that marriage will be happy forever due to love. Instead, she believes that all marriages have their tribulations and all women, at some point, are likely to be unhappy with their husbands. We see Charlotte express this perspective when, at a dinner party held at Lucas Lodge, Charlotte warns Elizabeth that Jane is too reserved in nature and, if Jane truly is interested in Bingley, she needs to begin showing "more affection than she feels" towards Bingley if she is going to "secure" him for herself as a desirable, rich husband (Ch. 6). When Elizabeth protests against Jane attempting to "secure" Bingley before she knows enough about his character, Charlotte gives the following reply that reveals a great deal about her personal philosophies:

Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or even so similar before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life. (Ch. 6)

Charlotte further reveals her pragmatism in accepting Mr. Collins's proposal. Though he may not be the most intelligent or humble man, to the annoyances of Elizabeth, Charlotte feels his character is good enough for her to have accepted him. More importantly, due to the living he has from Lady Catherine de Bourgh on the Rosings estate and the fact that he is the heir of Longbourn, Charlotte knows he will be able to provide for her with the only thing she asks for, "a comfortable home" (Ch. 22). Charlotte's comfort is particularly essential because, being the eldest daughter of parents with many children and newly acquired wealth, Charlotte knows she will not inherit any fortune from her father and will not have comfortable provisions unless she marries a wealthy man. Furthermore, she is plain, 27 years old, and very unlikely to ever receive another proposal.

In contrast, Elizabeth lets her feelings rule her judgements, showing us she is far more romantic than Charlotte. The fact that Elizabeth lets her feelings rule her judgements is not only seen in her reactions to what Charlotte says and does but also in her rejections of both Mr. Collins's and Mr. Darcy's proposals. As mentioned earlier, Elizabeth is very shocked when Charlotte advises that Jane should "secure" Mr. Bingley before she is fully certain she is in love with him, seeing as how love has plenty of time to develop after marriage. Elizabeth is even more shocked by Charlotte's acceptance of Mr. Collins though Elizabeth does later come to see that Charlotte's marriage to Mr. Collins truly does provide Charlotte with the best situation for Charlotte and that Charlotte is happy. In addition, contrary to Charlotte, Elizabeth makes her decision to reject Mr. Collins based purely on her feelings. Elizabeth, as well as the entire Bennet family, could benefit greatly from one of the Bennet daughters marrying Mr. Collins since doing so would ensure Longbourn remains in the Bennet family and ensures security for the other Bennet sisters should any of them be unable to find husbands. Yet, unlike Charlotte, Elizabeth put her feelings above financial comfort, as we see when she replies, "I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it" (Ch. 19). We see Elizabeth make the exact same decision with respect to Mr. Darcy's first proposal. Though Elizabeth would benefit financially a great deal from the marriage, she refuses based on her feelings at the moment.

Invent a new ending to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

In order to complete this task, it is important to have a thorough knowledge of the characters and how each person's life changed by the end of the book.  At the end of the novel, Meg and John Brooke have been married for many years and have twins, Daisy and Demi.  Jo and Professor Bhaer are married and start a school in Aunt March's old house.  Jo had inherited the house from her deceased aunt....

In order to complete this task, it is important to have a thorough knowledge of the characters and how each person's life changed by the end of the book.  At the end of the novel, Meg and John Brooke have been married for many years and have twins, Daisy and Demi.  Jo and Professor Bhaer are married and start a school in Aunt March's old house.  Jo had inherited the house from her deceased aunt.  Beth March has already passed away.  Amy is married to Laurie and they have a daughter, Beth, who is sickly.  When the book ends, the family has just celebrated Marmee's 60th birthday and they are thankful for their lives.  

Among fans of the book, there is some debate about the fate of the characters from the story.  Some think that Beth's early death was unnecessary.  Others think that Jo should have married Laurie rather than Professor Bhaer.  Some readers even think that Jo should have remained single and instead pursued her literary career full time.  From this information, you will have to decide what your new, invented ending will be.  Will Jo marry someone else?  Will Beth live?  There may even be other changes that you will decide to make.