What is Atticus' response when the children ask him to borrow a gun?

In Chapter 23, Bob Ewell approaches Atticus, threatens to kill him and spits in his face. Atticus, as always, handles the situation very calmly and hardly reacts at all. Jem and Scout are completely terrified that Bob Ewell will follow through with his threat and kill Atticus. They feel that Atticus should have a gun to protect himself, so they ask if they can borrow one. Atticus responds by saying that the idea is nonsense....

In Chapter 23, Bob Ewell approaches Atticus, threatens to kill him and spits in his face. Atticus, as always, handles the situation very calmly and hardly reacts at all. Jem and Scout are completely terrified that Bob Ewell will follow through with his threat and kill Atticus. They feel that Atticus should have a gun to protect himself, so they ask if they can borrow one. Atticus responds by saying that the idea is nonsense. He continues to explain that Bob Ewell was serious when he made the threat, but would not follow through with it. He says that he took away Mr. Ewell's last bit of dignity and that he has every right to be angry at Atticus. Atticus also says that he would rather Mr. Ewell take his anger out on him than on the Ewell children. Atticus assures Jem and Scout that Mr. Ewell would not have much of a chance to do anything secretive in a town like Maycomb and that they should not worry. After that, they feel much better.

`u = , v = ` Find the projection of u onto v. Then write u as the sum of the two orthogonal vectors, one of which is `proj_v u`.

You need to evaluate the projection of vector u onto vector v using the formula, such that:

`proj_v (u) = ((u*v)/(|v|^2))*v`

You need to evaluate the product of vectors `u = u_x*i + u_y*j` and `v = v_x*i + v_y*j` , such that:

`u*v = u_x* v_x + u_y* v_y`

`u*v = 4* 1+ 2* (-2)`

`u*v = 4 - 4`

`u*v = 0`

`proj_v (u) = (0/(|v|^2))*v => proj_v (u) = 0*v => proj_v...

You need to evaluate the projection of vector u onto vector v using the formula, such that:

`proj_v (u) = ((u*v)/(|v|^2))*v`

You need to evaluate the product of vectors `u = u_x*i + u_y*j` and `v = v_x*i + v_y*j` , such that:

`u*v = u_x* v_x + u_y* v_y`

`u*v = 4* 1+ 2* (-2)`

`u*v = 4 - 4`

`u*v = 0`

`proj_v (u) = (0/(|v|^2))*v => proj_v (u) = 0*v => proj_v (u) = 0*<1,-2>`

`proj_v (u) = <0*1,0*(-2)> => proj_v (u) = <0,0>`

Hence, evaluating the projection of vector u onto vector v yields `proj_v (u) = <0,0>.`

What does Aunt Alexandra mean by "Somebody just walked over my grave"?

In order to understand the significance of the phrase in the book, we must first look into the background of the phrase itself. There is an old wives' tale relating that one would receive a sudden chill when walking over the place where his or her grave would one day be. The first documented use of the phrase "There's somebody walking over my grave" was in in the first half of the 1700s, used in...

In order to understand the significance of the phrase in the book, we must first look into the background of the phrase itself. There is an old wives' tale relating that one would receive a sudden chill when walking over the place where his or her grave would one day be. The first documented use of the phrase "There's somebody walking over my grave" was in in the first half of the 1700s, used in response to a shiver or getting goose bumps, referring to the aforementioned superstition. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra is described as receiving "a pinprick of apprehension", suggesting that the phrase had further evolved to mean being overcome with a peculiar feeling. Beyond the origins of the phrase, Aunt Alexandra's quote is significant because it foreshadows the events that occur after the Halloween pageant, when Bob Ewell attempts to harm Scout and Jem. Alexandra gets a sudden feeling that something could go wrong, but she shakes it off and allows the children to attend the pageant unattended.

Identify the historical era Sherman Alexie is writing about in "What You Pawn I Will Redeem" and its significance to the story.

Sherman Alexie's "What You Pawn I Will Redeem" is contemporary to the time in which it was written.  The first publication of the story was in The New Yorker's April 2003 edition, so the story is likely set in the 1990s.  The protagonist Jackson lives in Seattle, but he is from Spokane.  Jackson also says that his people have lived with a 100-mile radius of Spokane for generations, so Spokane (the Spokane Indian Reservation)...

Sherman Alexie's "What You Pawn I Will Redeem" is contemporary to the time in which it was written.  The first publication of the story was in The New Yorker's April 2003 edition, so the story is likely set in the 1990s.  The protagonist Jackson lives in Seattle, but he is from Spokane.  Jackson also says that his people have lived with a 100-mile radius of Spokane for generations, so Spokane (the Spokane Indian Reservation) is the cultural hub for his people.  During the 1990s, Native Americans saw the implementation of more laws related to preserving and upholding their civil rights and liberties.  For example, the 1990 Indian Arts and Crafts Act called for the prevention of sales and marketing of items that look like Native American arts and crafts that are made by non-Native people.  So Alexie's story, appropriately so, is a quest for Jackson to reclaim his sense of identity, which has come out of an era espousing the same values.

How did the Victorians live and work?

There was such variety of living and working conditions in Victorian England (1837-1901) that it would be impossible to describe all of them here. There are, however, some key trends which will you give you an overview of life in this period:

• The Industrial Revolution had created an industrial economy, meaning that the vast majority of Victorians lived and worked in towns and cities.


• The population grew rapidly in this period: from 16 million in...

There was such variety of living and working conditions in Victorian England (1837-1901) that it would be impossible to describe all of them here. There are, however, some key trends which will you give you an overview of life in this period:

• The Industrial Revolution had created an industrial economy, meaning that the vast majority of Victorians lived and worked in towns and cities.


• The population grew rapidly in this period: from 16 million in 1801 to 41 million by 1901. This created overcrowding in the cities and competition over jobs, both skilled and unskilled. This also gave rise to slum housing where large houses were turned into several flats. Some people were so poor that entire families lived in one room.


• Children often worked to supplement the family's income, e.g. in textile mills, as chimney sweeps or errand boys. There were, however, legislative attempts to protect their welfare and promote education. The Mines Act of 1842, for example, banned children under 10 from working in coal mines.


• This period is considered a 'golden age' for the Victorian middle class. They lived in relative comfort, employed servants cheaply and enjoyed holidays across England as seaside resorts blossomed, especially Margate and Brighton. 

How can I analyze "Sonnet 84" by William Shakespeare?

You can analyze a poem in a variety of ways by taking into account rhyme, meter, theme, subject, structure, etc.  I always like to start with rhyme.  "Sonnet 84" is a standard Shakespearean sonnet with its rhyme scheme.  The sonnet is comprised of four stanzas.  The first three stanzas are four lines each.  They each have an ABAB rhyme scheme.  The last stanza is rhymed couplet.  So the overall rhyme scheme of "Sonnet 84" is...

You can analyze a poem in a variety of ways by taking into account rhyme, meter, theme, subject, structure, etc.  I always like to start with rhyme.  "Sonnet 84" is a standard Shakespearean sonnet with its rhyme scheme.  The sonnet is comprised of four stanzas.  The first three stanzas are four lines each.  They each have an ABAB rhyme scheme.  The last stanza is rhymed couplet.  So the overall rhyme scheme of "Sonnet 84" is ABABCDCDEFEFGG.  

Each line of the poem contains 10 syllables.  The syllables alternate between an unstressed syllable and a stressed syllable.  That rhythm is the iambic foot.  Because each line has ten syllables, that means each line has five rhythmic iambic feet.  Simply put, "Sonnet 84" is written in iambic pentameter.  

As is common with Shakespearean sonnets, the final couplet is a sort of "twist" on the rest of the poem.  For twelve lines, the speaker narrates about how awesome some girl is.  She is so great that by simply writing about her, a piece of literature is made so good that it will become famous.

But he that writes of you, if he can tell
That you are you, so dignifies his story,
Let him but copy what in you is writ,
Not making worse what nature made so clear,
And such a counterpart shall fame his wit,
Making his style admired every where.

She sounds awesome.  Unfortunately, the last stanza knocks her down a peg or two.  Whoever this girl is, she loves hearing about herself.   This has the adverse affect of making people want to write more about her, which in turn degrades the quality of the writing.

You to your beauteous blessings add a curse,
Being fond on praise, which makes your praises worse.

Although Uncle Jack, himself, is a racist, why does he stand up for Atticus when Scout recounts the tale of Francis accusing Atticus of being a...

This question is a bit hard to answer directly, as it requires making logical inferences through an understanding of the text as well as the context. The scene in question comes in chapter 9, when Uncle Jack disciplines Scout for beating up Francis after he calls Atticus a "nigger-lover" (83). When the full story comes out, Uncle Jack sides with Scout, becomes immediately angry at Francis, and believes the child must be punished for what he said.

Scout stands up for Atticus here, but Uncle Jack is merely standing up for what is right.

In order to understand this, it is important to understand the context. What we currently understand and define as "racism" is any unequal treatment of people who are a different race. This was not the same definition during the time the book takes place. There were social and legal gaps between black people and white people that were not only present, but expected, and to maintain or respect those gaps--at the time--was not considered racist. It was considered normal.

This means that tension between blacks and whites was not the only racial tension. There was also plenty of racial tension between whites and other whites, as society was constantly redefining what was "appropriate" when it came to the inequality gap between blacks and whites.

While many white people at this time would not have directly disrespected a black person to his face, they might have been disappointed that Atticus was defending one in a murder trial. 

So, with that in mind, understand that it isn't so much that Uncle Jack is a racist. He is more conservative than Atticus when it comes to the societal division between blacks and whites. He is more old-fashioned, also, when it comes to progress in that area. He is obviously not out fighting for the rights of black people, but he isn't stopping his brother from doing that either. In the discussion between Atticus and Uncle Jack that follows (at the end of chapter 9) it is clear that Uncle Jack does believe Atticus is doing the right thing, despite the fact that it is very difficult. Ultimately, this scene shows that Atticus and Uncle Jack, while very different, do seem to share a similar sense of integrity. Uncle Jack, in his way, stands up for what is right in this case.

How does Brian Friel explore colonization in Translations?

Colonization is one of the primary themes in Brian Friel's Translations. It is manifest in a variety of ways, although Friel explores the topic in two primary modes: 1) the physical presence of the soldiers facilitating the Ordnance Survey, and 2) the translation of the Irish language into English.

The physical presence of the soldiers in Baile Beag is Friel's most obvious exploration of colonization. While the expedition headed by Captain Lancey is only...

Colonization is one of the primary themes in Brian Friel's Translations. It is manifest in a variety of ways, although Friel explores the topic in two primary modes: 1) the physical presence of the soldiers facilitating the Ordnance Survey, and 2) the translation of the Irish language into English.

The physical presence of the soldiers in Baile Beag is Friel's most obvious exploration of colonization. While the expedition headed by Captain Lancey is only interested in mapping the region, it's still a subtle form of colonization. The play takes place in 1833, well after the Act of Union, a legal measure passed in 1800 that cemented England's political control over Ireland. As such, though the soldiers are peaceful enough, their presence is a sign that England is extending its reach beyond the already Anglicized regions around Dublin and seeking to exert more control over the Gaelic frontier of the island. As such, the soldiers represent the initial wave in an impending invasion. 

The translation of Irish into English is also an act of colonization. In many ways, the translation of a language always loses something; some kind of important meaning always gets "lost in translation" because each language represents a unique way of interpreting the world. As such, when Lancey and his men translate Irish into English, they are effectively replacing an inherently Irish worldview with an English worldview. As such, though the act of translation does not seem terribly sinister at first, it is effectively a colonization effort attempting to extinguish the native Irish psyche. 

What are some literary devices used by the author of Into the Wild?

The author of Into the Wild is John Krakauer.  He makes use of a lot of different literary devices.  I'll pick three literary devices that I believe that Krakauer uses to great effect during the novel.  

The first is anecdotes.  An anecdote is a short and interesting story that is often used to support or demonstrate some point.  While most of the book is focused on Krakauer explaining McCandless's final months, Krakauer does at times...

The author of Into the Wild is John Krakauer.  He makes use of a lot of different literary devices.  I'll pick three literary devices that I believe that Krakauer uses to great effect during the novel.  

The first is anecdotes.  An anecdote is a short and interesting story that is often used to support or demonstrate some point.  While most of the book is focused on Krakauer explaining McCandless's final months, Krakauer does at times leave that narrative in order to discuss something from his own life.  

As a youth, I am told, I was willful, self-absorbed, intermittently reckless, moody. I disappointed my father in the usual ways. Like McCandless, figures of male authority aroused in me a confusing medley of corked fury and hunger to please.

Krakauer's anecdotal evidence serves as a way to show readers that McCandless wasn't a complete anomaly.  The anecdotes also help readers better understand why Krakauer feels a connection to McCandless. 

Another literary device used by Krakauer is similar to anecdotes.  Krakauer uses comparisons to great effect.  He devotes two entire chapters to comparing McCandless to Gene Rosellini, John Waterman, Carl McCunn, and Everett Ruess.

The third literary device that Krakauer frequently uses during the novel is flashback.  Krakauer does not narrate McCandless's journey in chronological order.  The novel begins with McCandless being dropped off at the start of the Stampede Trail.  The book then flashes back to various times in McCandless's life that led up to his death.  Krakauer even narrates about times when McCandless was in high school.  

Why do the Jewish people, in Night by Elie Wiesel, obey those who are obviously intent on destroying them?

Many people today wonder why the Jewish people and others who were taken to concentration camps during the Holocaust did not revolt or fight the Nazis. The truth is that some did (look up Warsaw, for example), but most people just could not fathom what was happening. In Nightby Elie Wiesel, we see this up close. Moshe the Beadle is taken away and nearly killed but is able to make his way back to...

Many people today wonder why the Jewish people and others who were taken to concentration camps during the Holocaust did not revolt or fight the Nazis. The truth is that some did (look up Warsaw, for example), but most people just could not fathom what was happening. In Night by Elie Wiesel, we see this up close. Moshe the Beadle is taken away and nearly killed but is able to make his way back to Elie's town of Sighet. When he warns the other people there about what is happening, nobody believes him. Such horrors just could not register with the people. In Germany, when Hitler first came to power, he made all of the Jews register with the government. They did it because their government told them to do it, and they had no reason to believe their registration would be used against them. The events of the Holocaust were unprecedented. Another reason had to do with the Jewish faith. The Jewish people believed God would protect them. Some Jews kept that faith throughout the horrors they endured, while others, like Elie Wiesel, completely gave up on God.

"Why, but why should I bless Him? In every fiber I rebelled. Because He had had thousands of children burned in His pits? Because He kept six crematories working night and day, on Sundays and feast days? Because in His great might He had created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many factories of death?" (Wiesel 64)

Elie, like so many others, wished he had done something differently--wished his father had done something differently, but they just did not know what was coming.

How would one analyze any of the following about Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird: his homelife, religion, place in community,...

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee depicts Atticus Finch's homelife as very characteristic of a widowed father. The children complain that he is rarely home, and when he is home, they see him as being far too old to be able to do things with them. For example, Atticus is able to play keep-away with Jem, but when Jem asks Atticus to play tackle football, Atticus's response is, "I'm...

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee depicts Atticus Finch's homelife as very characteristic of a widowed father.

The children complain that he is rarely home, and when he is home, they see him as being far too old to be able to do things with them. For example, Atticus is able to play keep-away with Jem, but when Jem asks Atticus to play tackle football, Atticus's response is, "I'm too old for that, son" (Ch. 10). The children describe their father as "feeble" and when asked why he is so old, his response is that he "got started late" in life (Ch. 10). However, regardless of these weaknesses, Atticus is able to spend a lot of quiet time with his children when he is home. The favorite household activity is to read together. For example, Scout describes that she was never taught how to read but, at some point, she was just able to read partially in consequence of curling up in Atticus's lap every night and looking over whatever he happened to be reading. In addition, many times Harper Lee describes the family together at night in the living room with Atticus, Scout, and Jem reading while Aunt Alexandra works on her sewing.

Atticus's homelife is also described as generally peaceful. For example, when Atticus and Aunt Alexandra begin quarreling at home because she doesn't like the idea of Atticus defending Tom Robinson, Scout observes, "Jem and I fussed a great deal these days, but I had never heard of or seen anyone quarrel with Atticus" (Ch. 14). Also, while Jem and Scout have their problems and give their father their fare share of problems, Atticus has in general raised them to be very close and considerate children.

All in all, Harper Lee uses Atticus's homelife to depict Atticus as a thoughtful, peace-loving, and virtuous widowed father.

Who was responsible for the Armenian Genocide and what were their motives?

The government of the Ottoman Empire was responsible for the genocide of the Armenian people. There existed an extensive history of persecution of the Armenians that was escalated by Sultan Abdul Hamid and continued by the Young Turks in the early part of the Twentieth Century.

The primary motive for the Armenian genocide was a religious one. The Ottoman Empire was a Muslim kingdom and viewed the Christian Armenians as 'infidels.' Armenians were not treated...

The government of the Ottoman Empire was responsible for the genocide of the Armenian people. There existed an extensive history of persecution of the Armenians that was escalated by Sultan Abdul Hamid and continued by the Young Turks in the early part of the Twentieth Century.

The primary motive for the Armenian genocide was a religious one. The Ottoman Empire was a Muslim kingdom and viewed the Christian Armenians as 'infidels.' Armenians were not treated equally and had to pay higher taxes. The major motivation for the extermination of the Armenians was this religious difference.

Despite the persecution of Armenians, the minority population did relatively well under the Ottoman emperors. They were better educated and more prosperous than the general population. This led to resentment of this subgroup by the Turkish population. In the late 1800's, Armenian nationalism was a strong force in the Ottoman Empire. This was during a period when the empire was faced with political and economic instability. The resentment that already existed was heightened as Armenians wanted more political and economic rights.

When the Young Turks assumed power in the Ottoman Empire, they envisioned a renewal of the Turkish culture. They viewed the Armenians as a major obstacle to this cultural rebirth. It can be said that the government under the Young Turks escalated the persecution of Armenian Christians to the point of genocide. It is estimated that 1.5 million Armenians perished at the hands of the Ottoman government of the Young Turks.

Summary:
Perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide:

• Government of the Ottoman Empire, especially the Young Turks

Reasons for the Genocide:

• Religious differences


• Resentment due to their prosperity


• Armenian demands for equality


• Political and economic instability


• Desire for cultural and ethnic purity

What message is sent when bricks are bought and a school house is built for Napoleon's offspring in Animal Farm by George Orwell?

In Chapter 9 of Animal Farmby George Orwell, Napoleon buys bricks and timber to build a schoolhouse exclusively for his piglets. The message that is sent by Napoleon's actions is that the pigs are considered of a higher status than any of the other animals. They are better than everyone else according to Napoleon's actions. About this same time, a rule is made that if another farm animal meets a pig along a path,...

In Chapter 9 of Animal Farm by George Orwell, Napoleon buys bricks and timber to build a schoolhouse exclusively for his piglets. The message that is sent by Napoleon's actions is that the pigs are considered of a higher status than any of the other animals. They are better than everyone else according to Napoleon's actions. About this same time, a rule is made that if another farm animal meets a pig along a path, the other animal has to step aside and allow the pig to pass.

By this point in the book, Napoleon has separated himself and his offspring from the rest of the farm animals, and he has taken privileges that are not available to the others on the farm. Napoleon also has given himself more privileges than anyone else including the other pigs.

"There were the bricks, sand, and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased, and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill.  Then there were lamp oil and candles for the house, sugar for Napoleon's own table (he forbade this to the other pigs, on the ground that it made them fat), and all the usual replacements such as tools, nails, string, coal, wire, scrap-iron, and dog biscuits." (Orwell 116-117)

I need help to figure out how to do a demand and supply curve for my economics project. We are doing a project in which we had to ask people what...

If you already have the demand schedule, most of the work is done. I don't have your precise figures in front of me, so I'll just make up my own; the process is the same.

Suppose you interviewed 40 people, and asked them all the maximum amount they'd be willing to pay for a pizza.

5 said they would pay no more than $20.
10 said they would pay no more than $15.
15 said they would pay no more than $10.
5 said they would pay no more than $5.
5 said they hate pizza and would never pay for it.

Let's think about the supply and demand graph, with price on the y-axis and quantity on the x-axis. If we set a price of $20, how many people would buy? That's easy: 5 people. So graph the point (5,$20).

Now, what about a price of $15? There are 10 people who said they'd pay exactly that much, but we also need to add in the 5 people who said they'd pay more than that. Someone who will buy a pizza for $20 will also buy it for $15 (presumably; I don't think pizzas are a Giffen good or a Veblen good). So the total number of people who would buy a pizza for $15 is actually 15 people. So graph the point (15,$15).

Continuing on, in my little example there are a total of 30 people who would buy at $10, so (30,$10), a total of 35 people who would buy at $5, so (40,$5). Then when you include the people who would not pay anything, you can add the point (40,$0) as the number of people who would pay "at least $0" for a pizza.

Since nobody said they'd pay more than $20, you should also draw a horizontal line from (0,$20) to (5,$20). If you try to charge more than $20, you will sell no pizza at all.

Graph all those points, then draw lines connecting them. Maybe you could try to make a smooth curve to estimate the values in between; or maybe you should just make straight lines for simplicity. In any case, that's your demand curve.

If you have multiple different types of pizza (e.g. pepperoni vs. cheese), each type should get its own demand curve. In reality they are probably imperfect substitutes, so if the price of one falls demand for the other will shift down; but there's no simple way of representing that on the demand curves.

Now all you have to do is do that same process for your actual data.

Each member of the United Nations has one vote in the General Assembly. Do you think this is fair?

Of course, this is a matter of opinion.  I will give you one argument for each side and you can decide which you find more convincing.

On the one hand, it is completely fair to have equal representation in the General Assembly.  Each country that joins the United Nations is a sovereign nation.  In a democracy, we think that everyone’s vote should count the same whether they are rich or poor.  If a “one person,...

Of course, this is a matter of opinion.  I will give you one argument for each side and you can decide which you find more convincing.

On the one hand, it is completely fair to have equal representation in the General Assembly.  Each country that joins the United Nations is a sovereign nation.  In a democracy, we think that everyone’s vote should count the same whether they are rich or poor.  If a “one person, one vote” rule makes sense in a democracy, then a “one country, one vote” rule makes sense in a group that is made up of sovereign nations.  If we do not give each country one vote, we have to decide which countries are more important and how much more important they are.  This would not be fair in a group that is supposed to allow all the nations of the world to have a say.

On the other hand, it is completely unfair to have equal representation in the General Assembly.  First of all, countries’ populations vary widely.  If our analogy is “one person, one vote,” then how can we let the Federated States of Micronesia, with about 103,000 inhabitants, have the same voting power as China, with over 1 billion people?  Second, the economic power of the various countries, along with how much they contribute to the UN, varies widely.  If one country gives much more money to the UN than another, shouldn’t it be able to have more of a say in what the UN does?

In essence, this comes down to how you define fairness.  Do you think the UN should treat all countries as individuals who should have one vote, or do you think the UN should count all individuals in the world as equal and give countries votes based on their populations?

______ is an example of infotainment.A. Reporting on a peace agreement in the Middle EastB. A segment on the politics behind Social Security...

You have chosen the correct answer for this question.  Option E, showing a police chase, is definitely the best example (among the options given) of infotainment.

Infotainment is somewhat difficult to identify in an objective way.  It can be defined as news that is broadcast both to entertain and to inform.  The connotation is that infotainment is not really serious news.  Therefore, it can be difficult to objectively tell where “serious news” ends and infotainment...

You have chosen the correct answer for this question.  Option E, showing a police chase, is definitely the best example (among the options given) of infotainment.

Infotainment is somewhat difficult to identify in an objective way.  It can be defined as news that is broadcast both to entertain and to inform.  The connotation is that infotainment is not really serious news.  Therefore, it can be difficult to objectively tell where “serious news” ends and infotainment begins.  For example, you might argue that it is important to show the police chase so people can know where the chase is, whether it threatens them, and how the police are behaving. 

However, of the choices given, the police chase is the clearest example of infotainment.  The others are more of “hard news” that would not be at all entertaining (as opposed to informative) to most people.

Two stones, in the form of spheres, fall from a great height through atmosphere. What is the ratio of their momentum, when they attain their...

Momentum is simply the product of mass and velocity (mv). Unfortunately, we don't know the mass or the velocity of either object.

The velocity could be determined through some simple kinematics; for example, we know that the stone spheres are being dropped from an initial velocity of zero, and they are falling through an increasingly thick atmosphere, which will alter the calculation of their terminal velocity as they pass through more and more resistance. Their...

Momentum is simply the product of mass and velocity (mv). Unfortunately, we don't know the mass or the velocity of either object.

The velocity could be determined through some simple kinematics; for example, we know that the stone spheres are being dropped from an initial velocity of zero, and they are falling through an increasingly thick atmosphere, which will alter the calculation of their terminal velocity as they pass through more and more resistance. Their shape also influences their terminal velocity, although a sphere will attain the maximum because the interaction with the medium is as equally distributed as possible.

However, without knowing the mass of the spheres, or the height they drop from, or their diameter, or the time they travel, we cannot know their final momentum. Nevertheless, we can determine that the ratios of their final momentum will be 1:1 - because if both spheres are identical in shape (which was not specified, but if they are not then the problem is impossible to solve) and if both spheres are dropped from the same height at the same time, then according to the basic rules of physics, they should travel at identical velocities for the duration of their fall.

In the short story "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, what really happened to Goodman Brown in the end?

After his experiences with the old traveler, having witnessed Goody Cloyse and Deacon Gookin flying through the air, and the black mass in the forest, Goodman Brown loses his faith.

In the forest, when Brown hears his wife Faith "uttering incantations," he cries out to her, but hears only a scream and sees her pink ribbons fluttering down to the ground. He cries out,"My Faith is gone...There is no good on earth, and sin is...

After his experiences with the old traveler, having witnessed Goody Cloyse and Deacon Gookin flying through the air, and the black mass in the forest, Goodman Brown loses his faith.

In the forest, when Brown hears his wife Faith "uttering incantations," he cries out to her, but hears only a scream and sees her pink ribbons fluttering down to the ground. He cries out,"My Faith is gone...There is no good on earth, and sin is but a name." Once so confident that he was among the elect and certain that with faith a man can reach heaven, now after one night in the forest primeval, Goodman experiences disillusionment, and he becomes "a stern, a sad, a darkly meditative" man, who now knows man's dark side. When his family prays, Brown merely mutters and scowls at his wife. His death sees "no hopeful verse" carved on his tombstone, "for his dying hour was gloom."

Clearly, Nathaniel Hawthorne's story counters the conversion narrative of the Puritans. Hawthorne himself perceived a darkness in Puritanism as he was haunted by guilt because of his ancestor who had participated in the Salem Witchcraft trials. Thus, as a writer, Hawthorne probed into the darkness that lay in the human heart and the incertitude of Puritanism in which it is difficult to know whether one is saved or damned.

Why did the United States refuse to join the League of Nations?

After World War I, the US did not join the League of Nations because it did not receive support from the Senate. For president Woodrow Wilson, the League of Nations offered the best chance of long-term peace and stability in Europe, but his senators did not agree. To understand this opposition more clearly, look at the following extract from a speech made by Senator William Borah:

We are in the midst of all of...

After World War I, the US did not join the League of Nations because it did not receive support from the Senate. For president Woodrow Wilson, the League of Nations offered the best chance of long-term peace and stability in Europe, but his senators did not agree. To understand this opposition more clearly, look at the following extract from a speech made by Senator William Borah:

We are in the midst of all of the affairs of Europe. We have entangled ourselves with all European concerns. We have joined in alliance with all the European nations which have thus far joined the League and all nations which may be admitted to the League. We are sitting there dabbling in their affairs and intermeddling in their concerns.

For Borah, then, being involved in European affairs was a bad idea. Remember that the US had suffered greatly as a result of joining World War I in 1917. In terms of casualties, for instance, the US lost over 116,000 soldiers. In one single battle, the Battle of Argonne Forest, there were 26,000 deaths. 

Thus, the idea that the US might continue to share in European interests and concerns, given the recent bloody history, was something that the Senate wanted deeply to avoid. 

Does Rainsford believe that conflict is a universal condition? Why or why not?

This is a good question, but it must be said right from the beginning that we cannot give a definitive answer, because nowhere in the short story does Rainsford speak on this topic.  In fact, he is not a philosophizing type of man at all.  All we have are descriptions of Rainsford.  Therefore, we have to make deductions.  If we do, I would say that Rainsford does believe that conflict is a universal condition.

First,...

This is a good question, but it must be said right from the beginning that we cannot give a definitive answer, because nowhere in the short story does Rainsford speak on this topic.  In fact, he is not a philosophizing type of man at all.  All we have are descriptions of Rainsford.  Therefore, we have to make deductions.  If we do, I would say that Rainsford does believe that conflict is a universal condition.

First, in the beginning of the story, Rainsford has a conversation with his friend, Whitney.  During this conversation, he says to Whitney that there are only two classes in the world – the hunter and the hunted.  From these words, it does seem that Rainsford believe that conflict is universal, because if there are these two classes, conflict will be inevitable.

Second, as the story progresses, Rainsford finds himself in the midst of a game of life and death with general Zaroff. When this happens, what Rainsford said earlier comes true.  He is the hunted and Zaroff is the hunter.  Conflict ensues.

At the end of the story, Rainsford comes face to face with Zaroff and presumably kills him. This is suggested as Rainsford sleeps in Zaroff’s bed.

In conclusion, it is probable that Rainsford believes that conflict is a universal condition.

How can I start writing a 1200 word analytical essay about the character of Phoenix Jackson?

One of the things you need to analyze first is why Eudora Welty named Phoenix Jackson "Phoenix."  A phoenix is a mythological bird that every 100 years builds a nest out of spices, sets itself on fire, and out of the ashes is reborn again.  If you notice in the story, Phoenix goes through many trials.  There are a lot of actions in the story where Phoenix physically goes up and down.  For example, she...

One of the things you need to analyze first is why Eudora Welty named Phoenix Jackson "Phoenix."  A phoenix is a mythological bird that every 100 years builds a nest out of spices, sets itself on fire, and out of the ashes is reborn again.  If you notice in the story, Phoenix goes through many trials.  There are a lot of actions in the story where Phoenix physically goes up and down.  For example, she falls down in a ditch, yet picks herself up again.  She has to climb a staircase to get to the doctor’s office, and then she has to descend it to go home.  The path she takes to the doctor’s office is symbolic of her journey of life.  It has been full of hardships and obstacles, and you can see those obstacles played out in the story in the journey she takes.  In addition, Phoenix was once a slave, a huge difficulty in her symbolic journey of life. 

My advice is to analyze the name Phoenix, and Welty’s purpose in naming her main character that, and then look for how Welty shows that she is a phoenix who has to keep going despite the difficulties she has endured in life.  Also, take note of the people and things she encounters on her journey.  They may give you some clues as to what Phoenix has had to overcome to survive. 

Note: Notice that Phoenix’s grandson is described as a little bird.

Why does Miss Strangeworth write letters to others?

In Shirley Jackson's short story "The Possibility of Evil," Miss Strangeworth is an elderly lady of the town who feels a moral obligation to warn other people of the potential evils that may befall them in life. She writes anonymous letters to people in order to "open their eyes" to "possible evil lurking nearby." The paragraph of the story that explains her motive for writing the letters also says that Miss Strangeworth "never concerned herself...

In Shirley Jackson's short story "The Possibility of Evil," Miss Strangeworth is an elderly lady of the town who feels a moral obligation to warn other people of the potential evils that may befall them in life. She writes anonymous letters to people in order to "open their eyes" to "possible evil lurking nearby." The paragraph of the story that explains her motive for writing the letters also says that Miss Strangeworth "never concerned herself with facts" in the letters since she felt it was important to raise people's level of suspicion. We are told that Miss Strangeworth's opinion on the matter is that "as long as evil existed unchecked in the world, it was Miss Strangeworth's duty to keep her town alert to it."

Some of the "evils" that she has forced people to consider are of the more mundane sort, such as adultery and the birth of a child with retardation. Other imagined evils are more elaborate, such as the idea that someone's nephew might bribe a surgeon to fatally botch that person's upcoming surgery in order for the nephew to maybe receive his inheritance sooner. She has been ruining people's relationships and sense of security for an entire year with this letter-writing hobby. Unfortunately for Miss Strangeworth, the vigilance that she has been trying to teach to her neighbors is ultimately turned against her. When one letter recipient discovers that she is the author of the rude letters that have been received all over town, Miss Strangeworth's beloved rose garden is vengefully destroyed.

What systems does the endocrine system work with?

The endocrine system consists of organs known as glands which are ductless and produce secretions known as hormones, that are transported through the body by the circulatory system.

Hormones are chemical messengers which  bind to chemical receptors on cells which are known as target cells. One type of hormone is known as  a steroid hormone which can cross cell membranes and travel through to the nucleus, enter and switch genes on or off. There are also nonsteroid hormones which require secondary messengers to transport their message inside of target cells. 

Basically, the endocrine system helps to maintain homeostasis throughout the body and it works with all of the body's systems. Hormones work by feedback mechanisms.  If there is a high level of a hormone in the blood, this may trigger a gland to secrete less of the hormone in negative feedback, or to release more of the hormone in positive feedback.  Sometimes, two hormones with opposite effects help maintain homeostasis. An example is the hormone insulin secreted by the endocrine glands known as Islets Cells on the pancreas, which lowers blood sugar by causing excess sugar to be stored in liver and muscle cells and the hormone glucagon, which causes stored sugar to be released to the blood when needed. This example shows how the endocrine system works with the digestive system, the circulatory system and the muscular system to maintain sugar levels in the body.

Sex hormones released by the endocrine system glands--ovaries and testes, affect the reproductive system by regulating the female menstrual cycle which begins at puberty and allows a woman to release an egg each month. It also affects the male reproductive system to allow it to produce sperm cells. These hormones also produce secondary sexual characteristics that occur at puberty.

An endocrine system gland called the pituitary gland works with the skeletal system because when it produces human growth hormone (HGH) it stimulates the growth of bone cells to divide which increases a person's height. The pituitary gland has the name "master gland" because of the many hormones it makes which effect many systems of the body.

The thyroid gland makes the hormone thyroxin that affects metabolism. The metabolism involves many systems of the body--how fast foods are metabolized to release energy which involves the respiratory and digestive systems, along with the a which has to do with heart rate and blood flow.

Adrenal glands located on top of the kidneys secrete adrenaline, the flight or fight hormone which affects the skeletal and muscular systems to be ready during emergencies and the circulatory system which pumps more blood.

These are just a few examples of the many systems of the body, such as the nervous system, that are affected by the hormones produced by the endocrine system.

In the epic poem Beowulf, what does Wiglaf take from the dragon's den?

Late in the epic poem Beowulf, the character of Beowulf has returned home and become king of his own people, the Geats. In this part of the story we see that Beowulf is not only a fearsome warrior, he is also a great king.

But the story, like Beowulf himself, is not destined to end peacefully. Beowulf has shown a propensity to let his warrior mentality lead him into dangerous and nearly deadly situations....

Late in the epic poem Beowulf, the character of Beowulf has returned home and become king of his own people, the Geats. In this part of the story we see that Beowulf is not only a fearsome warrior, he is also a great king.

But the story, like Beowulf himself, is not destined to end peacefully. Beowulf has shown a propensity to let his warrior mentality lead him into dangerous and nearly deadly situations. In his youth he had the power to fight his way through these situations, but now is old. So when he decides to fight a dragon that is terrorizing his kingdom, his men try to talk him out of it. But Beowulf was never one to avoid a battle, so he seeks out the dragon, which he manages to kill with Wiglaf's help. However, he is mortally wounded in the process.

Wiglaf relates the story of Beowulf's end to his men, just before his funeral:

I've seen it all, been in the tower

Where the jewels and armor were hidden, allowed

To behold them once war and its terror were done.

I gathered them up, gold and silver,

Filled my arms as full as I could

And quickly carried them back to my king.

Wiglaf carries the dragon's jewels from the dragon's den to Beowulf, perhaps to show Beowulf that the dragon is dead, perhaps to show Beowulf that his kingdom will be rich after he is gone. But the Geats decide to honor their fallen leader by burying the treasure with him, where no man can find it.

What is the DNA AACCCTGAGTCT when transcribed to mRNA ?

DNA is a double helix; a twisted ladder is the description frequently given. The "rungs" of the ladder are made up of pairs of nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T). The bases will only pair up with one other type each: A with T and G with C. So, the "rungs of the ladder" will each be one of those sets. During replication, when mRNA is formed from one side...

DNA is a double helix; a twisted ladder is the description frequently given. The "rungs" of the ladder are made up of pairs of nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T). The bases will only pair up with one other type each: A with T and G with C. So, the "rungs of the ladder" will each be one of those sets. During replication, when mRNA is formed from one side of the opened-up double helix, the As, instead of pairing with Ts, pair up with a uracil (U). This is because RNA does not utilize thymine, only uracil. The sequence of DNA that you gave:

AACCCTGAGTCT

when transcribed into an mRNA molecule will be:

UUGGGACUCAGA

The information will be carried by the mRNA molecule out of the nucleus of the cell to a ribosome, where it will be translated into a series of amino acids, making a protein. 

How important was the dream for Candy in Of Mice and Men?

George and Lennie's dream was of tremendous importance to Candy because it represented his last hope. He felt himself getting older and weaker every day, and he was unemployable anywhere else because he had only one hand. He said he would eventually have to go "on the county," which in those days meant living in what used to be called "the poor house," a place everyone dreaded. Candy is so excited about the possibility of maintaining his freedom and independence that he thinks about it even more than Lennie. He is thinking about it when he comes into the barn and discovers what Lennie has done to Curley's wife.

"Lennie," he called. "Oh, Lennie! You in here? I been figuring some more. Tell you what we can do, Lennie."

Then he sees the dead girl.

"You oughten to sleep out here," he said disapprovingly; and then he was beside her and-- "Oh, Jesus Christ!"

Candy realizes this means the end of the dream. 

He looked helplessly back at Candy's wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. "You God damn tramp," he said viciously. "You done it, di'n't you? I s'pose you're glad. Ever'body knowed you'd mess things up. You wasn't no good. You ain't no good now, you lousy tart."

Candy realizes instinctively what must have happened. The flirtatious girl got too close to Lennie and he killed her in what looks like an attempted rape. That means that, one way or another, Lennie will be out of the dream. He will either be killed or sent to prison or locked up in an asylum for homicidal lunatics. Would George consider going ahead and buying that little farm and sharing it with Candy? No, because George would have to do all the work, and Candy could only feed the chickens and do a little housekeeping. Besides, Candy knows that he and George are not buddies like George and Lennie.

Candy always talked to Lennie about his ideas for the farm. He didn't talk to George about them because he must have sensed that George was only luke-warm anyway, whereas Lennie was just as enthusiastic about the prospect as Candy. George had countless other options. But Candy and Lennie were both dependent on George's planning and his good will.

If Gillian's girlfriend is Miss Lotta Lorial, how is it that he loves Miss Hayden?

Gillian has probably long been in love with Miss Hayden, but because she is his uncle's ward, he has not pursued her because he knows that his uncle, who considers him a "black sheep" in the family will not allow him to court Miss Hayden, whom he treasures.

As a young gentleman of frivolous behavior, Robert Gillian spends his time as other dandies (as such young men were called) and dallies with women in the...

Gillian has probably long been in love with Miss Hayden, but because she is his uncle's ward, he has not pursued her because he knows that his uncle, who considers him a "black sheep" in the family will not allow him to court Miss Hayden, whom he treasures.

As a young gentleman of frivolous behavior, Robert Gillian spends his time as other dandies (as such young men were called) and dallies with women in the theatre. At the turn of the twentieth century, actresses were not afforded high reputations for their rather daring occupation. For, they were out in the public arena when ladies were at home or in limited social circles. In addition, their reputation for being loose women was at times deserved as they were not above accepting financial support or expensive gifts for their "favors" from wealthy gentlemen. After all, in the 1900's, their profession was not one in which they were paid well.

That Miss Lauriere exploits Gillian for monetary reasons rather than love becomes apparent when she is more concerned about her costume than listening to him. Further, his offer of "a little thing in the pendant line" is only worth anything to her if it surpasses the necklace from Tiffany's that another actress, Della Stacey" has worn. After his offer is rejected, Gillian does not seem to mind as he "strolled" outside to return to his waiting cab, an indication that he feels no love for Miss Lauriere. 

In Act One of The Crucible, what is the heart of the disagreement between Reverend Parris and John Proctor?

Beyond the fact that Reverend Parris and John Proctor don't like each other, Parris feels that Proctor leads a faction to remove him from his position, and Proctor feels that Parris preaches too much fire and brimstone and isn't a godly man.

Parris feels that everyone must be perfectly obedient to the church (and, by extension, himself) "or the church will burn like Hell is burning," he says.  Of course, when everyone is obedient, it...

Beyond the fact that Reverend Parris and John Proctor don't like each other, Parris feels that Proctor leads a faction to remove him from his position, and Proctor feels that Parris preaches too much fire and brimstone and isn't a godly man.

Parris feels that everyone must be perfectly obedient to the church (and, by extension, himself) "or the church will burn like Hell is burning," he says.  Of course, when everyone is obedient, it makes his job a lot easier.  He claims that "There is a party in this church.  I am not blind; there is a faction and a party."  He believes that a secret group, led by Proctor, is working to get rid of him.  His pride is wounded by the meagerness of his salary in his eyes, and he feels that he is persecuted in the town so that if he every proposes anything, "there by a howling riot of argument."  He feels ganged up on, unappreciated, and powerless to effect change.

Proctor, meanwhile, rarely comes to church because, as he says,

I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation.  Take it to heart, Mr. Parris.  There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more.

Proctor feels that Parris only preaches fire and brimstone, and the minister seems not to say anything uplifting or comforting.  Proctor's got enough to worry about without coming all the way to town to hear doom and gloom at church.  It also bothers Proctor that Parris, unlike any minister before him in Salem, demanded the deed to his house (a house that only ever temporarily belongs to the current minister).  Proctor seems to feel that Parris is being greedy; Parris feels it would be a "mark of confidence" in him.   

Proctor does seem to bait Parris, and Parris allows Proctor to get his goat every time.  When Parris insists that there's a party in the church that works against him, Proctor jokes with Giles Corey, "Let's find the party.  He says there's a party."  Their antagonism of one another will continue, almost to the end of the play. 

How does Steinbeck create mood and atmosphere in chapter 2, paragraph 11 of The Pearl?

The passage your question refers to is below: 

"Kino moved cautiously so that the water would not be obscured with mud or sand. He hooked his foot in the loop on his rock and his hands worked quickly, tearing the oysters loose, some singly, others in clusters. He laid them in his basket. In some places the oysters clung to one another so that they came free in lumps."

A few elements of this passage...

The passage your question refers to is below: 

"Kino moved cautiously so that the water would not be obscured with mud or sand. He hooked his foot in the loop on his rock and his hands worked quickly, tearing the oysters loose, some singly, others in clusters. He laid them in his basket. In some places the oysters clung to one another so that they came free in lumps."

A few elements of this passage are helpful in suggesting a tone or atmosphere. The first sentence ("Kino moved cautiously...") creates a sense of anticipation, especially as the water is in danger of being "obscured" by particles of sand. This is particularly important in this passage, as Kino is anticipating the discovery of a pearl, but does not yet know what he will find.

In the next sentence, the author describes Kino's actions as "quick," as he "tear[s]" out oysters from the sea. These words suggest Kino's dexterity as a pearl diver, but also his desperation. This is important for creating a tone of urgency at this moment in the book, when Kino is racing to find a pearl that he will be able to sell in order to buy medicine for his dying son.

How would a student write an essay reflecting on both the ending and entirety of a book? The essay should also include a reflection on the writing...

A reflective essay involves a personal reaction that contains some objective judgments, along with pyschological and emotional reaction; in other words, you explain what you came away with after reading the book. In fact, although the reflective essay is written in first person, it is not unlike a book review, so you may wish to read some reviews on the book that you have read, as well as some others.  (Here is a link to one book review:                             

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/27/books/27masl.html?_r=0 )

Is there any significance to this title? (What is the meaning and importance of this title?)
Does it arouse your interest? 
Does it seem appropriate to the literary work? (Does it fit?)

• Reflection on the ending- Ask yourself:

Am I satisfied with the ending? Did it fit with the narrative, or was it abrupt and disconnected? or "flat"? (Always provide reasons for your answers.)
Did it match the tone of the rest of the narrative, or did it seem to belong to another book?
Did the character(s) act as you expected?
Did the ending leave you with questions still? Was it a satisfying ending? Why?

• Writing Style

What kind of style is used--Is it rather formal and distant, or does the author seem to be talking to you? Is too much dialogue, or not enough? What form of narration is used (i.e. first person narrator, third person, or omniscient narration)? Are the main characters developed well enough? How are the sentences written? (For instance, some writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald have a lyrical quality to their writing.)

It the narrative romantic, realistic, naturalistic, magical realism, etc. [Look these terms up in a literary glossary]. What effect does this type of narrative have on the book in general? (e.g. The Call of the Wild is naturalistic; in this novel, the animals and people act on their instincts and basic nature) Does the reader learn much about the main characters? If so, what? (Don't write about the characters; write about how the characters are developed, and what connection they have to the theme. Are they realistic, or more composites of certain qualities?) 

In the end, pronounce your judgment on the book. Was it satisfying? Worth reading? Entertaining? Comforting? Enlightening?
____________________________________________________________

After jotting down your responses, put them together in a coherent essay. Find three key points and write a thesis. Here is an example:

(Title of novel) is an intriguing work because while the main character seems _______________there are interesting developments to the plot which affect the reader, leaving her/him wondering/satisfied/curious, etc. ______until an ending that _________

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, what is the date that Miss Maudie's house burned down?

While we are never told the exact date Miss Maudie's house burned down in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, we can deduce an approximate date based on other information in the book.

One thing we know is that Miss Maudie's house burned down the night it had snowed during the day in Maycomb, which happened soon after Tom Robinson's arrest. We know based on Sheriff Tate's testimony during the trial that Robinson was arrested on "November twenty-first" (Ch. 17). Though no year is directly stated, we know the novel is set during the Great Depression in the mid-1930s because we know Franklin D. Roosevelt is president and his New Deal proposals are underway, such as his creation of the Works Progress Administation (WPA), which was signed into effect in 1933 and put into action in 1935. The WPA is mentioned as early as the second chapter of the book.

In addition, we know that the weather turned very cold for two weeks just before it snowed.

We also know that three weeks passed between the day it snowed and Christmas time. We learn the length of time based on Scout's proclamation that, after the snow day, she remembered her father's command to refrain from getting into fights for three weeks until Christmas time:

I felt extremely noble for having remembered, and remained noble for three weeks. Then Christmas came and disaster struck. (Ch. 9)

December 4th is the day that falls exactly three weeks just before Christmas Day. December 4th is also nearly two weeks before November 21st, Tom Robinson's arrest. Therefore, we can conclude that it snowed on December 4th in the mid-1930s, probably 1935, and Miss Maudie's house caught fire that exact same night.

What are some of Mrs. Sommers's character traits in "A Pair of Silk Stockings"?

In "A Pair of Silk Stockings" Mrs. Sommers finds herself caught between being an unselfish mother and satisfying some of her own personal needs.

Here are some of her character traits:

• 
  unselfish- "Little" Mrs. Sommers thinks first of her children when she has the good fortune to acquire an extra fifteen dollars. She ponders for days upon what she will buy for her children and is excited at the "vision of her little brood...

In "A Pair of Silk Stockings" Mrs. Sommers finds herself caught between being an unselfish mother and satisfying some of her own personal needs.

Here are some of her character traits:

• 
  unselfish - "Little" Mrs. Sommers thinks first of her children when she has the good fortune to acquire an extra fifteen dollars. She ponders for days upon what she will buy for her children and is excited at the "vision of her little brood looking fresh and dainty and new for once in their lives."


• 
  optimistic - She does not indulge in "morbid retrospection"; that is, she does not look back on the past when she had nice things for herself. Nor does she let the "gaunt monster" of the future trouble her too much.


• 
  frugal - Mrs. Sommers knows how to "elbow her way" at the bargain counters. And, she can hold on to an article until she is waited on in order to purchase it.


• 
  stressed - Mrs. Sommers cares for her children and forgets about eating until she is in the department store. Then, she feels faint.


• 
  impulsive - When her hand feels the silk stockings and the clerk asks if she wishes to see the hosiery, Mrs. Sommers allows herself to be seduced by the "serpentlike" gliding of the delightful silk through her hands.

She was not going through any acute mental process or reasoning...nor was she striving to explain to her satisfaction the motive of her action.

• 
  pleasure-seeking - After she purchases the silk stockings, Mrs. Sommers surrenders to the desire to indulge herself after so long, and she spends the money on new shoes and gloves. After these purchases she eats at a restaurant, splurging on a delicious meal; later, she attends a play.


• 
  wistful - As she waits for the cable car, Mrs. Sommers feels as though a dream has ended. She entertains "a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere...."


• 
  reluctant  - Mrs. Sommers is not eager to return to her life of frugality again along with all her responsibilities.

Where is Boo Radley's description located in To Kill a Mockingbird?

It is difficult to pinpoint specific page numbers for passages since so many different editions of this famous novel are now in print.  However, I can give you some chapters in which some descriptions of Boo Radley occur.  For example, Jem gives this very imaginative description in Chapter 1:

Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were...

It is difficult to pinpoint specific page numbers for passages since so many different editions of this famous novel are now in print.  However, I can give you some chapters in which some descriptions of Boo Radley occur.  For example, Jem gives this very imaginative description in Chapter 1:

Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.

Of course, none of these descriptions turn out to be true.  These are primarily the fantasies of children and local tall tales.  As Jem, Scout, and Dill grow and mature, their perceptions of Boo Radley change and mature as well.  In Chapter 5, they decide to invite Boo out of the house by sending him a note on a fishing pole.  They are becoming empathetic to the "malevolent phantom" of the neighborhood, wondering what it must be like to be so secluded for so long.  After Tom Robinson's trial, Jem takes another step toward maturity and toward understanding Boo Radley when he says that perhaps Boo has not stayed inside all these years by force, but instead by choice.  Finally, in Chapter 29, the reader is treated to a description of the actual Arthur Radley:

His face was a white as his hands, but for a shadow in his jutting chin.  His cheeks were thin to hollowness; his mouth was wide; there were shallow, almost delicate indentations at his temples, and his gray eyes were so colorless I thought he was blind.  His hair was dead and thin, almost feathery on top of his head.

This description is so far removed from the one given in the first chapter that it is easy to see how much the children have grown in their ability to truly see others for who they are, not what the Maycomb gossips proclaim them to be.

Would you expect whitefish embryo cells to continue to divide indefinitely?

No, whitefish embryo cells will not continue to divide indefinitely. 

In fact, you could say that no cells divide more than once, because division results in two entirely new cells (the dividing cell ceases to exist). But we can see that this question is asking more about the lineage of cells - will a line of cells continue to divide indefinitely? The short answer is no.

The long answer is that some lineages of embryo...

No, whitefish embryo cells will not continue to divide indefinitely. 

In fact, you could say that no cells divide more than once, because division results in two entirely new cells (the dividing cell ceases to exist). But we can see that this question is asking more about the lineage of cells - will a line of cells continue to divide indefinitely? The short answer is no.

The long answer is that some lineages of embryo cells will divide longer than others. This is because cell differentiation occurs as an embryo develops. The initial few cells of an embryo are totipotent - they can develop into any of the very specialized types of cells that exist in an adult organism. We call these specialized cell types differentiated, some examples are muscle, nerve, bone, and skin cells. There are some types of differentiated cells which do not divide at all - most notably brain neurons. Other types of differentiated cells continue to divide. 

So the cells which become neurons will stop dividing sooner, whereas a different lineage of cells might differentiate to a different cell type that will continue dividing long into the animal's adult life. But no, no cells divide indefinitely. 

Each period of the periodic table begins with an element from which family?

Periods of the periodic table are the horizontal rows. Families, which are also called groups, are the vertical columns. Properties of elements increase or decrease moving across a period and tend to be similar within a family.

Each period begins with an element in Group 1, called the alkali metals.

The alkali metalsare lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium. They share the properties of being soft, malleable solids with low densities and...

Periods of the periodic table are the horizontal rows. Families, which are also called groups, are the vertical columns. Properties of elements increase or decrease moving across a period and tend to be similar within a family.

Each period begins with an element in Group 1, called the alkali metals.

The alkali metals are lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium. They share the properties of being soft, malleable solids with low densities and low melting points compared to other metallic elements. They react violently with water to produce hydrogen gas and hydroxide ion, a base. Reactivity of the alkali metals increases going down the group, and as a group they're the most reactive of the metals. The alkali metals have one valence electron which is lost in chemical reactions, forming a 1+ ion. The results in ionic compounds such as NaCl, LiF and K2O.

In "Harrison Bergeron," why is Hazel, an average person with no handicap to make her "normal," more ready to consider breaking the law than a smart...

In the short story "Harrison Bergeron," George has a very intense handicap. Every ten seconds or so there is an incredibly loud noise played in his ear that disrupts all of his thoughts. Hazel was born incredibly average. She does not need a handicap to keep her thoughts at a fair and even level. She suggests that George remove some of the extra weight he has to carry and just relax because he is at...

In the short story "Harrison Bergeron," George has a very intense handicap. Every ten seconds or so there is an incredibly loud noise played in his ear that disrupts all of his thoughts. Hazel was born incredibly average. She does not need a handicap to keep her thoughts at a fair and even level. She suggests that George remove some of the extra weight he has to carry and just relax because he is at home. George refuses because it is against the law. To answer your question, I feel that Hazel is more likely to suggest breaking the law because she is able to formulate actual thoughts, unlike George who is constantly interrupted. Although Hazel is average, she is at least able to continue on with her thoughts. Due to the fact that all of George's handicaps make Hazel and him equal, they are perhaps both equally as likely to come up with an idea, but George's will be blasted out of his mind by a loud noise before it can become more than just an idea whereas Hazel can continue to voice her ideas. Additionally, George says that he hardly notices the extra weight that he carries around so he does not feel that taking off weight is worth the punishment. Hazel, who has never had to carry extra weight, cannot imagine being able to be comfortable with it, so she makes the suggestion. 

What are some important places in The Hunger Games and why is each so important?

For a broad location, each of the 12 Districts is important.  To Katniss, the districts are completely unimportant.  She is from District 12, which happens to be a very poor district.  Consequently, she must break some rules by going outside the fence to hunt food for her family.  The 12 Districts are more important to the reader though.  The author uses the 12 locations to help build a semi-plausible post-apocalyptic world.  Each district is ruled...

For a broad location, each of the 12 Districts is important.  To Katniss, the districts are completely unimportant.  She is from District 12, which happens to be a very poor district.  Consequently, she must break some rules by going outside the fence to hunt food for her family.  The 12 Districts are more important to the reader though.  The author uses the 12 locations to help build a semi-plausible post-apocalyptic world.  Each district is ruled by the Capitol and should technically have the same socioeconomic situation, but they do not.  The districts are important because they represent the continued oppression of certain groups.  

The Capitol is another important location, because it represents everything that Katniss will be eventually leading the Districts against.  The Capitol thrives as other Districts starve themselves to make ends meet and give the Capitol what it demands.  The Capitol is a completely hedonistic society with no other concerns other than pursuing personal pleasures.  Even if it is at the expense of other people's lives.  

A third location is Katniss's home.  It should be a sanctuary for her, but it's not.  Her home is the most stressful place in Katniss's life, because it's there that Katniss is always confronted with the need to care for her younger sister.  She has to work hard at protecting and feeding her sister, because Katniss's mom is next to useless.  The mom operates in a near catatonic state, which forces Katniss to care for the person that should be strength center of the family. 

In "The Most Dangerous Game," the General says, "And now I want to show you my new collection of heads. Will you come with me to the library?" What...

This is a great question. When reading a text, it is always important to look at the context.  Therefore, when we look at the context of these words, general Zaroff is explaining to Rainsford that he developed a new animal to hunt. At first Rainsford is perplexed—a new animal? 

As the conversation continues, Rainsford understands that Zaroff is hunting humans—according to Zaroff, animals that can reason. 

Here is the dialogue:

"I wanted the ideal animal...

This is a great question. When reading a text, it is always important to look at the context.  Therefore, when we look at the context of these words, general Zaroff is explaining to Rainsford that he developed a new animal to hunt. At first Rainsford is perplexed—a new animal? 

As the conversation continues, Rainsford understands that Zaroff is hunting humans—according to Zaroff, animals that can reason. 

Here is the dialogue:

"I wanted the ideal animal to hunt," explained the general. "So I said, `What are the attributes of an ideal quarry?' And the answer was, of course, `It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason.:

"But no animal can reason," objected Rainsford.

"My dear fellow," said the general, "there is one that can."

"But you can't mean--" gasped Rainsford.

"And why not?:

"I can't believe you are serious, General Zaroff. This is a grisly joke."

After this, Zaroff goes into details about how all of this hunting takes place.  For example, he gives the huntee a good meal, a head start, and some supplies.  Rainsford is shocked, but unfortunately Zaroff is dead serious.  It is within this context that Zaroff wants to show Rainsford his collection of heads.  In light of this, the collection of heads is human.

In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, how is Marley's chain a symbol?

In Stave I of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the reader is introduced to the character of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter, miserly figure whose priorities -- business first, last, and always -- receive an unexpected reprioritization after he is visited in his bed chamber by a series of ghosts. Scrooge is depicted as "a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner." Dickens emphasizes, and reemphasizes, that his protagonist is completely lacking in humanity,...

In Stave I of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the reader is introduced to the character of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter, miserly figure whose priorities -- business first, last, and always -- receive an unexpected reprioritization after he is visited in his bed chamber by a series of ghosts. Scrooge is depicted as "a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner." Dickens emphasizes, and reemphasizes, that his protagonist is completely lacking in humanity, not even able to offer a positive comment at the funeral of his long-time business partner Jacob Marley. One night, however, upon retiring for the evening, Scrooge is disturbed while sitting before his fireplace in his bed gown, slippers and nightcap. It is the sound of chain being dragged across the floor. Now, Scrooge had already, upon arriving home from another day at the office, been momentarily startled by the image of his now-deceased business partner in the brass knocker on his front door. Now, in the warmth of his home, he is disturbed by a spirit or ghost dragging the chain that must have made the sound that first disturbed Scrooge. Dickens provides the following description of the chain that is being dragged by the ghost of Jacob Marley:

"The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cashboxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel."

Note these details: cashboxes, ledgers, deeds, heavy purses. These are the items associated with Scrooge, and his former partner's, business. "Scrooge and Marley" was the accounting business that now rested in the solitary grip of the surviving partner, Ebenezer Scrooge. The "tight-fisted" businessman lived a lonely existence, preferring to keep others at arm's length and content only to make more money while treating his loyal and diligent assistant, Bob Cratchit, like a veritable slave. Now, we move on to the conversation between Marley's ghost and Scrooge, and the symbolic importance of the chain is made even clearer. As Scrooge looks in horror at this apparition, the ghost of Jacob Marley explains the metaphorical meaning of the chain:

“I wear the chain I forged in life,” replied the Ghost. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?”

What Marley's ghost means, of course, is that Scrooge's long-time business partner has come to recognize in death what he failed to understand in life -- that one's soul is weighed down by the materialism that marginalizes the human contacts that really give meaning to one's life. Marley has come to warn Scrooge that, unless the latter changes his life, he, Scrooge, will similarly be condemned to an eternity of dragging the chain of cashboxes, business ledgers, etc.

Why is Aunt Alexandra angry in To Kill a Mockingbird?

In To Kill a Mockingbird, there are three instances of Aunt Alexandra's anger:

1. She becomes upset when Jem reveals that he knows about his cousin Joshua who "went round the bend at the University." She is discontent that Atticus has revealed the "skeletons in the Finch closet; so she has Atticus impress upon the children that they are not from "run-of-the-mill people." (Ch.13)


2. She becomes irked by Atticus's speaking about Mr. Underwood's dislike of blacks before Calpurnia. When Atticus says, "He despises Negroes, won't have one near him," Aunt Alexandra frowns at Atticus. After Calpurnia leaves the room, Alexandra says, "Don't talk like that in front of them." (Ch. 16)


3. She is angered by Mrs. Merriweather's insensitive remarks at the Missionary Tea, and then Atticus enters the house to ask Calpurnia to accompany him to the Robinsons' home. Aunt Alexandra asks what has happened and Atticus reports that Tom has been shot as he tried to escape from Enfield Prison Farm. After Atticus departs, Aunt Alexandra is very disturbed by what the town is doing to her brother: "It tears him to pieces. He doesn't show it much, but it tears him to pieces." She resents that the townspeople have Atticus do what they are too afraid to do themselves; namely, insist upon justice. (Ch. 24)

In Night, how long were author Elie Wiesel and his father at Auschwitz, and where did they go after that?

In Elie Wiesel's Night,Elie and his family were first taken to Birkenau, the reception center for Auschwitz, one of the notoriously terrible death camps during the Holocaust. Elie and his father then stayed at Auschwitz for about three weeks before they were marched to another camp with many other prisoners. The next camp in which they were imprisoned was Buna. At Buna, Elie, along with his father and other prisoners, worked at an electrical...

In Elie Wiesel's Night, Elie and his family were first taken to Birkenau, the reception center for Auschwitz, one of the notoriously terrible death camps during the Holocaust. Elie and his father then stayed at Auschwitz for about three weeks before they were marched to another camp with many other prisoners. The next camp in which they were imprisoned was Buna. At Buna, Elie, along with his father and other prisoners, worked at an electrical warehouse during the day and returned to the camp in the evening. Though their supervisor was prone to violent outbursts and often attacked one or more of his charges, this was considered a good unit, so Elie thought himself lucky. Imagine conditions so horrible that working for a crazy man, who might beat him at any minute, made Elie feel "lucky"!  It was a terrible time in our history.

Name three ways the Persians organized and controlled their large empire

The ancient Persians are regarded by many historians as one of the greatest ancient empires in the history of the near east. Their strong army and leadership lead to massive land holdings. Because of this, they had to enact a number of policies and ideas to organize and control their large empire. 

Firstly, the Persians developed a new system of government that was more effective for ruling large groups of people. The Persians divided...

The ancient Persians are regarded by many historians as one of the greatest ancient empires in the history of the near east. Their strong army and leadership lead to massive land holdings. Because of this, they had to enact a number of policies and ideas to organize and control their large empire. 

Firstly, the Persians developed a new system of government that was more effective for ruling large groups of people. The Persians divided up their land holdings into "20 provinces", known as satrapies. Each of these satrapies was ruled by a governor, similar to the way states in the United States are governed today. These governors were known as satraps. The King would then send government officials to check on each region and make sure that they were conforming to the King's beliefs and wishes. 

Secondly, they became the first empire to govern conquered people by allowing them to have equal rights and responsibility as the citizens of Persia. The King would not interfere with traditions or customs of the conquered peoples, so long as they paid taxes and maintained peace. This differed from many of the Persians contemporaries who would often enslave captured peoples. 

Thirdly, the Persians developed an efficient communication system, so that news, orders, and information could be carried quickly through out their large empire. This was accomplished through the construction of a "royal road" that ran over 1,600 miles long, with various places along the way for messengers to stop and resupply or change horses. This road ran between Sardis and Susa, and allowed the King's messengers to cover the whole empire in as little as one week.

Hope this helps! 

What could the pit symbolize?

The pit in "The Pit and the Pendulum" could symbolize a few things: despair, fear, or even Hell. The depth of the pit, which was so vast that it took a few seconds for a small piece of the side of the pit to actually make it to the water pooled at the bottom, could act as a symbol of the narrator's despair at his plight, which was also incredibly deep. The pit could also...

The pit in "The Pit and the Pendulum" could symbolize a few things: despair, fear, or even Hell. The depth of the pit, which was so vast that it took a few seconds for a small piece of the side of the pit to actually make it to the water pooled at the bottom, could act as a symbol of the narrator's despair at his plight, which was also incredibly deep. The pit could also be a manifestation of the narrator's fear; at first he is afraid of the dark and unknown, which is exactly what the pit is (even when the lights came on), but even when it becomes known, the watery death it held very far below was just as terrifying as before. Then there is the obvious connection to Hell, which is often referred to as "the Pit" because it is supposedly deep beneath the earth.

What are Charlie and Lyddie's plans in the book Lyddie by Katherine Paterson?

When their mother abandons them to go await the end of the world with her sister, Lyddie and Charles stay behind and try to keep the farm running by themselves. They plan to keep the farm going until their father returns. They tell themselves that "in another year, after another harvest, they would be experienced old farmers and sugarers." But then they receive a letter from their mother telling them that they have been hired...

When their mother abandons them to go await the end of the world with her sister, Lyddie and Charles stay behind and try to keep the farm running by themselves. They plan to keep the farm going until their father returns. They tell themselves that "in another year, after another harvest, they would be experienced old farmers and sugarers." But then they receive a letter from their mother telling them that they have been hired out to repay the family debts, and they must leave the farm. They both view this as a temporary setback. Lyddie determines to sell the calf and keep the money so that when their father returns, they can all be together again and they will "have a little seed cash to start over with." They don't actually know whether their father is alive or dead, but if he should ever send for them, "we'll persuade him to stay," Lyddie says. Her persistent dream is to return to the cabin and the farm again to live with her family. Therefore, she and Charlie take care to bar the door against intruders. Once working at the Inn and later at the Concord Corporation, Millie meticulously saves her money so that she can pay off the debts of the farm and return to it with Charlie and then send for the others. Her unwavering goal is to live together again with all her family on their family farm. 

Hawthorne questions womanly virtue and wonders about its relationship to a "fear of the gallows." What question is he raising here, and how would...

Among the people who have come to gawk at Hester Prynne, her new baby, and her scarlet "A" is a group of terrible women who insist that her punishment was too merciful and that she ought to be branded with the letter, or, better yet, hanged for her sin.  One man in the crowd utters the line to which you refer when he asks, "Is there no virtue in woman, save what springs from a...

Among the people who have come to gawk at Hester Prynne, her new baby, and her scarlet "A" is a group of terrible women who insist that her punishment was too merciful and that she ought to be branded with the letter, or, better yet, hanged for her sin.  One man in the crowd utters the line to which you refer when he asks, "Is there no virtue in woman, save what springs from a wholesome fear of the gallows?"  What he's asking, then, is if women are incapable of being virtuous without having to fear the mortal consequences of bad behavior. Put differently: Can women be "good" even if there are no terrible consequences for being bad? 

Although the Puritans believed women to be naturally more lustful and easier to tempt away from God -- this is why they thought women were more likely to be witches than men -- I certainly believe this to be untrue. Women don't need a looming consequence for bad behavior in order to choose good behavior any more than men do.  There will always be people who break laws and do bad things, but I doubt their being men or women has much to do with it.

Are "Araby" by James Joyce and "La Belle Dame sans Merci" by John Keats two good pieces to do a compare and contrast essay on, and if so, how?

At first I thought that this might not be such a good idea because one is a short story and the other is a poem, but it occurs to me that you might enjoy the challenge of comparing and contrasting the two. What they have in common is the theme of disillusionment, or disenchantment. They also deal heavily in the theme of love. You might compare the characters of the two love objects. The girl...

At first I thought that this might not be such a good idea because one is a short story and the other is a poem, but it occurs to me that you might enjoy the challenge of comparing and contrasting the two. What they have in common is the theme of disillusionment, or disenchantment. They also deal heavily in the theme of love. You might compare the characters of the two love objects. The girl in "Araby" is a very young, simple, innocent type; whereas the Lady in "La Belle Dame sans merci" is extremely complicated, sinister, and dangerous. We are not sure she is real or only a spirit. "Araby" is a modern story, whereas "La Belle Dame sans merci" is very deliberately medieval. The narrator of "Araby" is telling his own story. The narrator of Keats' poem is telling the story of another man, a knight at arms, who fell in love with a supernatural woman and was just another one of her many conquests. 

I would assume that your thesis would have to do with the fact that the two pieces were written many years apart and deal with different kinds of love, yet they are similar in evoking strong feelings of disappointment, disillusionment, and disenchantment. Although the narrator of "Araby" is still very young, he is just as much in love with Mangan's sister as the knight was with the Belle Dame sans merci. Both lovers are left "forlorn," to use Keats' word. 

If you feel like writing such an essay, you ought to go ahead with it. You may come up with ideas that will surprise you. Our intuition is often the best guide in choosing topics and developing them.

Describe and explain the traits of Irene Redfield. To what extent do the traits permit you to judge her? What is your judgment of her and why?

Irene Westover Redfield (often referred to as simply "Rene") has many traits as a major character in Passing, by Nella Larson.  What I find ironic is that most of Irene's traits are so important to the story that very few of them are minor.  The only minor trait that I can think of in regards to Irene is her age:  the early thirties.  (I suppose you could also say that another minor trait is that this young thirty-something lives in the 1920s in Harlem). All the other traits of Irene are quite major and important to the story.

Irene is quite complacent about her status in life as a "black" resident of Harlem as she craves safety above all else.  One of her major traits is something that, in any other story, a reader might consider as minor:  her olive skin.  Because Irene has olive skin, she can pass for white when she wants to.  Irene uses this trait to her full advantage.  We see this in many instances in the book:  when purchasing tickets to the theater, when hailing a taxi, or when eating at a restaurant.  Irene, of course, doesn't consider these things as a "betrayal" of her race, but only using her race to get what she deserves. 

In conclusion, it is interesting to consider how these traits lead to the reader's possible judgement.  This mostly has to do with what happens at the end of the book:  Clare's death after "falling" out of a building on the sixth floor.  Because we know Irene considers Clare to have betrayed her race, the reader must wonder not whether Clare fell but whether she was pushed out of the window by Irene.  Even though the ending is ambiguous, the reader is correct in wondering about Irene's involvement.

What are some facts about Suzanne Collins' (author of the Hunger Games) later life?

Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games, has a quite interesting background. Although she eventually wrote books, she started off working on children’s television shows. After this, she transitioned to writing and became the success that we know today!

After graduating from NYU with her master’s degree in dramatic writing, Collins continued by working on children’s shows, such as on the television show Clarissa Explains It All and Little Bear. With this, she...

Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games, has a quite interesting background. Although she eventually wrote books, she started off working on children’s television shows. After this, she transitioned to writing and became the success that we know today!

After graduating from NYU with her master’s degree in dramatic writing, Collins continued by working on children’s shows, such as on the television show Clarissa Explains It All and Little Bear. With this, she soon gained notoriety and was then hired to be the head writer of Generation O!

With the support of others, Collins began her writing career. In 2003, Collins published Gregor the Overlander, which became a massive success. With this, she eventually turned the story into a four book series. Subsequently, Collins wrote The Hunger Games, which is arguably her most famous book series.

Today, she has been recognized as a distinguished writer and has received numerous awards. Although she did not start her career in writing books, she has impacted the lives of many with her writings.

What are examples of characters driven by hate in Romeo and Juliet?

The character most driven by hate in Romeo and Julietis Tybalt. He is, of course, a Capulet, and is Juliet's cousin. When he is introduced, Tybalt is about to fight Benvolio, a Montague, who he encounters in the street (Benvolio is actually trying to break up a fight between members of each house). He is so consumed with hatred for the Montagues that he nearly disobeys Lord Capulet's command not to attack Romeo at...

The character most driven by hate in Romeo and Juliet is Tybalt. He is, of course, a Capulet, and is Juliet's cousin. When he is introduced, Tybalt is about to fight Benvolio, a Montague, who he encounters in the street (Benvolio is actually trying to break up a fight between members of each house). He is so consumed with hatred for the Montagues that he nearly disobeys Lord Capulet's command not to attack Romeo at the family masque when Romeo shows up in disguise. Later, he comes looking for Romeo, and kills Mercutio when Romeo, having just married Juliet (and thus become Tybalt's kinsman) refuses to fight. Romeo kills Tybalt after Mercutio's death, and is banished for the crime. Lady Capulet reveals herself to be full of hate when she discovers Tybalt is dead, beseeching the Prince to execute Romeo and even telling Juliet she can have him killed by someone in Mantua. Overall, the mutual hate between the Capulets and the Montagues is the most important aspect of the plot, hanging over the love of Romeo and Juliet and casting a shadow over the city of Mantua itself. 

Explain the importance of Uncle Tom's Cabin.

As the answer above well expresses, Uncle Tom's Cabin's most direct importance was its contribution to the Civil War. The book was a sensation in this country, a runaway bestseller that led to cries for the immediate abolition of slavery. Abraham Lincoln supposedly said that Stowe was the "little lady" who started a great war. That was an exaggeration, but her novel's contribution to an increased clamor for abolition is not disputed.

Before...

As the answer above well expresses, Uncle Tom's Cabin's most direct importance was its contribution to the Civil War. The book was a sensation in this country, a runaway bestseller that led to cries for the immediate abolition of slavery. Abraham Lincoln supposedly said that Stowe was the "little lady" who started a great war. That was an exaggeration, but her novel's contribution to an increased clamor for abolition is not disputed.

Before the novel, many sympathetic whites had supported the gradual withering away of slavery over time, thinking its demise inevitable. Most whites didn't engage imaginatively enough with the institution of slavery to put themselves in the place of a slave. Part of Stowe's genius, however, was to show how cruel the system could be even under well-intentioned masters. Only gradually does her novel arrive at the barbarism of Simon Legree. Stowe, therefore, was so successful at depicting slavery's inherent inhumanity that any delay in ending it began to feel intolerable. This contributed to the polarization that led to war.

Less well known is the book's impact in Europe. According to David S. Reynolds in Mightier Than the Sword, not only was Uncle Tom's Cabin the most influential novel ever published in America, it was also the best-selling novel across Europe during the nineteenth century. Initially it was banned in Russia out of fear it would inflame passions about serfdom, although French and German translations were smuggled in. Later, according to Reynolds, it contributed to the Tsar's decision to free the serfs.