Is there any personification in "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

Personification is a literary device in which the author attributes human characteristics and features to inanimate objects, ideas, or animals. Personification allows the reader to connect and identify with nonhuman or inanimate objects, which offers a better image of what is happening throughout the text. Edgar Allan Poe personifies the old man's eye throughout the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by referring to it as the "Evil Eye." Poe gives the eye the human attribute of being evil, which evokes the terrible, wicked emotions that the narrator feels toward the old man's eye.

Poe also personifies the "world" by writing, "Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept" (3). The world cannot literally sleep, but this gives the reader the feeling of a calm, quiet night. By personifying the night, the reader has a better understanding of the atmosphere of the night that the narrator is describing.

Poe once again utilizes personification by writing,

All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim (5).

Death is given human attributes and referred to by the personal pronoun "him." Personifying death signifies an ominous image of a malevolent criminal who stalks his victims before taking their lives.

In Animal Farm, how do the pigs become what they hated?

George Orwell's Animal Farm (1945) is a political allegory about the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Stalin's subsequent rule over the Soviet Union. The story begins with Old Major, a representation of the creator of communism, Karl Marx, assembling the farm animals to revolt against the humans. The revolt is successful, and the pigs establish the Seven Commandments of Animalism to help secure their new society.

After the animals defend the farm from a human...

George Orwell's Animal Farm (1945) is a political allegory about the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Stalin's subsequent rule over the Soviet Union. The story begins with Old Major, a representation of the creator of communism, Karl Marx, assembling the farm animals to revolt against the humans. The revolt is successful, and the pigs establish the Seven Commandments of Animalism to help secure their new society.

After the animals defend the farm from a human attack, Napoleon begins to subvert Snowball. Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, the tyrannical dictator of the Soviet Union from the 1920s until 1953. Snowball, on the other hand, represents Leon Trotsky, a one-time compatriot and later opponent and vocal critic of Stalin's. Napoleon argues for Snowball's removal from the farm and begins adopting human characteristics himself. He wears clothes, walks on two legs, and, with the death of Boxer, suppresses the other animals to advance his own interests. He eventually becomes as oppressive as the animals' former human master, Mr. Jones. This results in the novel's haunting last line: "The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which" (Orwell). This represents how the communist revolution in Russia, intended to elevate the working classes, ultimately resulted in the degradation of the proletariat under Stalin's rule. The communist leaders became the very thing that they intended to destroy.

The pigs, meaning Napoleon and his followers, become what they hated by gradually adopting the tyrannical practices of the very humans they initially sought to overthrow. With this, Orwell establishes the corrupting nature of political power through the case study of the communist revolution in Russia.

For more information, please explore the guide to Animal Farm linked below!

Where can I find quotes about depression in Act 1 of Hamlet?

Hamlet's depression is pretty well documented throughout the play, beginning as early as Act 1, scene 2, where his uncle and his mother ask him to take off his dark mourning clothes. Queen Gertrude states,

"Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark..." (1,2,68-70)

Hamlet refuses Gertrude's request, indicating that what others see on the surface is only a hint at the great pool of depression that...

Hamlet's depression is pretty well documented throughout the play, beginning as early as Act 1, scene 2, where his uncle and his mother ask him to take off his dark mourning clothes. Queen Gertrude states,

"Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark..." (1,2,68-70)

Hamlet refuses Gertrude's request, indicating that what others see on the surface is only a hint at the great pool of depression that he's currently wallowing in. He realizes how he comes across to others, but quite literally can't help it. He knows that other people want him to behave normally, but he can't believe that his mother could marry his uncle so quickly after his father's death, and he's still reeling from the loss of his father. 

"'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,” For they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passeth show,

These but the trappings and the suits of woe." (1,2, 76-86)

How does Steinbeck present the brutality of ranch life at the time Of Mice and Men is set?

In Of Mice and Men, the brutality of ranch life is depicted through characterization.

• In Chapter One as George and Lennie camp out before heading to their new job, and George alludes to the reason they have to start anew: Lennie wanted to feel a girl's dress.

She yells and we got to hide in a irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin' for us, and we got to sneak out in the dark...

In Of Mice and Men, the brutality of ranch life is depicted through characterization.

• In Chapter One as George and Lennie camp out before heading to their new job, and George alludes to the reason they have to start anew: Lennie wanted to feel a girl's dress.

She yells and we got to hide in a irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin' for us, and we got to sneak out in the dark and get outta the country.

• In Chapter Two, after Candy gossips about Curley, the son of the boss with George and Lennie, he begs them not to repeat what he has said because "[H]e'd slough me. He just don't give a damn."


• When Curley enters the bunkhouse, he is immediately hostile toward Lennie, shouting, "By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoke to."


• After Curley leaves, Candy explains how pugnacious Curley is, "Seems like Curley ain't givin' nobody a chance."


• In Chapter Three Carlson heartlessly offers to shoot Candy's old dog.


• In this chapter when Curley antagonizes Slim, Whit becomes excited and leaves the bunkhouse to watch the "fireworks."


• Lennie suggests his propensity for violence when he imagines that some might try to take his dream rabbits: "I'll break their God damn necks." Later, he breaks every bone in Curley's hand when Curley comes at him.


• In Chapter Four, Crooks takes a sadistic delight in telling Lennie that George, who has gone to town, may not return. "Crooks's face lighted with pleasure in his torture."


• In Chapter Five, Curley is ready to wreak vengeance on Lennie after learning of his wife's death. Candy tells George, "Curley gon'ta wanta get 'im lynched. Curley'll get 'im killed."


• When Carlson runs into the barn, shouting that his Luger is gone, Curley tells him that Crooks has a shotgun and to take it.


• Then, when George asks Curley not to shoot Lennie. "Don't shoot 'im?" Curley cried. "He got Carlson's Luger. 'Course we'll shoot 'im."

Why does Jeanne decide that if she faces hostility, she will "have to allow it"?

Although Jeanne makes that comment in Chapter 16, when she says that she'll have to allow hostility because something about her deserves it, we'll find a more detailed explanation of that idea in Chapter 20: "A Double Impulse," when Jeanne reflects on the way in which her experiences have shaped her attitudes and her sense of self.

In that chapter, she describes the victims of internment (such as herself and her family) as somewhat...

Although Jeanne makes that comment in Chapter 16, when she says that she'll have to allow hostility because something about her deserves it, we'll find a more detailed explanation of that idea in Chapter 20: "A Double Impulse," when Jeanne reflects on the way in which her experiences have shaped her attitudes and her sense of self.

In that chapter, she describes the victims of internment (such as herself and her family) as somewhat at fault for allowing it to happen. She says that in order for the 110,000 people to allow themselves to be locked up in the camps, those people have to have some kind of "acquiescence," some small belief that they actually deserved to be locked away in the camps.

Consider how Jeanne's elders would tell each other "Shikata ga nai," or "It must be done"/"It can't be helped" when Jeanne's father was wrongly imprisoned and when the family was experiencing the chaos of being moved around. This idea of acquiescence, of interpreting injustice as unavoidable and allowing it to happen, has been bred into Jeanne. "I had inherited it," she tells us in Chapter 20.

So when people see Jeanne as someone foreign and strange, or someone not worth associating with, she doesn't fight back. For example, when she's rejected from participating in the Girl Scouts simply because she's Japanese, she simply accepts it. She simply allows that hostility to exist, although on the inside, she yearns for both invisibility and self-assertion (the "double impulse" mentioned in the chapter title).

Krakauer observes that it is not unusual for a young man to be drawn to a pursuit considered reckless by his elders. Identify an example from...

Recklessness can be thought of in terms of both what you do and how you do it. On the "how", for example, driving to the store under the speed limit on major roads in good weather is not reckless, but getting drunk and then driving very fast on icy roads in the dark is reckless. Extreme sports or solo wilderness travel are by their nature dangerous. This means that most people who do them (especially those...

Recklessness can be thought of in terms of both what you do and how you do it. On the "how", for example, driving to the store under the speed limit on major roads in good weather is not reckless, but getting drunk and then driving very fast on icy roads in the dark is reckless. Extreme sports or solo wilderness travel are by their nature dangerous. This means that most people who do them (especially those who survive doing them for many years) take an extremely cautious, almost scientific, approach to planning and execution. 

First, this includes building up skills on shorter trips, especially navigation skills using topographic maps, compasses, and altimeters. Next, one gradually adjusts one's gear to suit the environment and learns how to create safe, comfortable campsites protected from the weather. Most people involved in extreme wilderness travel carry satellite phones for emergencies. 

McCandless did none of these things. Most important to the material discussed in Chapter 17, he did not have a good map or compass nor even the basic common sense needed to follow a river downstream to find a good spot to ford. Thus he chose what is a dangerous activity and rather than minimize the dangers by learning the necessary skills and having the correct equipment, he went about his journey into the wild in a reckless manner. 

Why does Winnie get reminded about her grandfather's funeral when talking to the stranger?

But Winnie, though she was half charmed, was suddenly reminded of the stiff black ribbons they had hung on the door of the cottage for her grandfather's funeral.

Winnie meets the man in the yellow suit in chapter 4.  The man is perfectly cordial and friendly to Winnie.  In fact, he is even a bit charming, and those are Winnie's initial feelings about the man; however, Winnie does not fully trust the man.  She feels...

But Winnie, though she was half charmed, was suddenly reminded of the stiff black ribbons they had hung on the door of the cottage for her grandfather's funeral.

Winnie meets the man in the yellow suit in chapter 4.  The man is perfectly cordial and friendly to Winnie.  In fact, he is even a bit charming, and those are Winnie's initial feelings about the man; however, Winnie does not fully trust the man.  She feels as if something is "off" about the guy.  The black ribbons and the funeral thoughts help the reader and Winnie better understand that the man in the yellow suit isn't what he seems.  The black ribbons at a funeral might look nice and neat, but they represent a terribly sad situation.  A loved one has died.  Like the ribbons, the man in the yellow suit might appear and sound nice and neat, but he most definitely represents a dark, evil force in the novel.  Winnie being reminded of her grandfather's funeral is her internal warning system going off about the stranger. 

In "The Story of My Life," what was the incident of "The Frost King?" What was the controversy?

Helen Keller's "The Story of My Life" gives an account of many of Helen's experiences up to the age of twenty two. It includes the highlights, such as Helen's first word- W-A-T-E-R and Miss Sullivan's inspiring teaching methods which allow Helen to "learn from life itself," (chapter 7). It also includes some of the worst experiences imaginable and which changed Helen's life forever. Helen feels that it is necessary to include challenging and saddening events...

Helen Keller's "The Story of My Life" gives an account of many of Helen's experiences up to the age of twenty two. It includes the highlights, such as Helen's first word- W-A-T-E-R and Miss Sullivan's inspiring teaching methods which allow Helen to "learn from life itself," (chapter 7). It also includes some of the worst experiences imaginable and which changed Helen's life forever. Helen feels that it is necessary to include challenging and saddening events because she grasps every opportunity to learn, and even painful memories can be beneficial to learning.

"The Frost King" is one such opportunity. When Helen is twelve, she writes a story and sends it to Mr Anagnos for his birthday. Mr Anagnos is so delighted and impressed by it that he publishes it in The Perkins' Institute report. Before long, it is being compared to "The Frost Fairies" which is a published story by Miss Margaret T. Canby from her book "Birdie and His Friends" and Helen is accused of plagiarism.

Helen vows that she has no recollection of ever having had the story told to her and Mr Anagnos believes Helen at first but when Helen says something about Jack Frost she rouses suspicion and loses the trust of her beloved Mr Anagnos. There is an inquiry and Helen and Miss Sullivan are questioned vigorously. Unfortunately, the controversy remains and Helen is never able to regain Mr Anagnos's trust and she says, "I felt so cold, I imagined I should die before morning." Helen is cleared of any wrongdoing but the loss of her friendship with Mr Anagnos leaves Helen full of regret. 

How do the various characters respond to the events of the story "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings?"

For the most part, the old man (alleged angel) is mistreated and variously misunderstood. 

Even though the man has wings, Pelayo and Elisenda think he is a castaway from some ship. Their neighbor notes the wings and concludes that he is, in fact, an angel. The neighbor believes that the angel is part of some "celestial conspiracy" and should be clubbed to death, but in their wisdom (or indifference), the couple refuse to do this....

For the most part, the old man (alleged angel) is mistreated and variously misunderstood. 

Even though the man has wings, Pelayo and Elisenda think he is a castaway from some ship. Their neighbor notes the wings and concludes that he is, in fact, an angel. The neighbor believes that the angel is part of some "celestial conspiracy" and should be clubbed to death, but in their wisdom (or indifference), the couple refuse to do this. Still, Pelayo locks the man in the chicken coop, thus treating him like a farm animal. In spite of the miracle of finding a man with wings in their midst, the first responses are ignorant, dismissive, reactionary, and abusive. 

By the next morning, other people in the neighborhood have arrived and treat the angel "as if he weren’t a supernatural creature but a circus animal." Father Gonzaga arrives to find that even though these people are mistreating the old man, they offer suggestions such as making the old man mayor of the world or promoting him to a high official position. Gonzaga tells the people not to be naive (ingenuous) and that the old man might not be an angel. Now, he doesn't tell them to start treating the angel better (just in case he is an angel or out of common Christian decency). He simply says he will ask the bishop. 

In the meantime, Pelayo and Elisenda start charging people to see the old man (angel). They make a lot of money. Then a carnival arrives and the people flock to see a human spider. The old man is no longer the star attraction and he is abandoned. Pelayo doesn't clean or keep the chicken coop repaired. Even though the old man had made them relatively rich, he becomes like a burden to them. When he finally leaves, they are only too happy to see him go. Elisenda is glad "because then he was no longer an annoyance in her life but an imaginary dot on the horizon of the sea." 

Who is the solitary child in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens?

In Stave II of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Ebenezer Scrooge to visit his past. They come to a boarding school where a solitary child has been left behind while his schoolmates head home for Christmas. That child is Ebenezer Scrooge himself. When he sees his younger self sitting at a desk reading, Scrooge breaks down into tears, remembering how he felt at that time. Soon though, he...

In Stave II of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Ebenezer Scrooge to visit his past. They come to a boarding school where a solitary child has been left behind while his schoolmates head home for Christmas. That child is Ebenezer Scrooge himself. When he sees his younger self sitting at a desk reading, Scrooge breaks down into tears, remembering how he felt at that time. Soon though, he also remembers the joy he felt from reading and the way his imagination allowed visits from his favorite storybook characters like Ali Baba and Robinson Crusoe. He also remembers when his little sister, Fan, came to the boarding school to take him home and how joyous it was to see her. 

What sort of growth of characters do we see in Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw?

In one sense, we can think of the play Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw as a sort of dramatic bildungsroman, documenting the growth of the character Raina towards a greater self-knowledge and understanding of the world. Both of the central characters in the play grow as people.

Raina: As we first encounter her, she has naive views about both the nature of war and the nature of love, based to a...

In one sense, we can think of the play Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw as a sort of dramatic bildungsroman, documenting the growth of the character Raina towards a greater self-knowledge and understanding of the world. Both of the central characters in the play grow as people.

Raina: As we first encounter her, she has naive views about both the nature of war and the nature of love, based to a large degree on her reading (especially of Byron) and the opera. Her encounter with Captain Bluntschli educates her in two ways. First, in conversation, he tells her about the reality of war, giving her a more realistic view of it than she had from her reading. Second, in saving him from the pursuing soldiers, she has the opportunity to use and develop her genuine intelligence and strength of character, something that leads to her replacing the romantic infatuation with Sergius with a more solid relationship.

Captain Bluntschli: If Raina learns about war from Captain Bluntschli, he learns something about love from her. As he is both charmed by her and grateful to her, he falls in love, uncovering the true romantic under his blunt, pragmatic exterior.

How is Jem similar to Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird?

In one specific episode in Chapter 10, Jem declares that his father is just like him: he is a gentleman who does not take advantage of others.

When the children are given air-rifles for Christmas, Atticus will not teach them to shoot, so Uncle Jack instructs them in the basic operation of their guns. He tells them that their father does not like guns. Later on, they learn why. 

One Saturday Jem and Scout decide...

In one specific episode in Chapter 10, Jem declares that his father is just like him: he is a gentleman who does not take advantage of others.

When the children are given air-rifles for Christmas, Atticus will not teach them to shoot, so Uncle Jack instructs them in the basic operation of their guns. He tells them that their father does not like guns. Later on, they learn why. 

One Saturday Jem and Scout decide to explore the area with their air-rifles to see if they can find a squirrel or rabbit. Instead, Jem spots a dog staggering down the street. Scout recognizes it as Tim Johnson, the liver-colored dog of Mr. Harry Johnson, the driver of the Mobile bus. Because the dog is staggering, Jem decides to alert Calpurnia. When the maid sees this dog, she hurries the children home and immediately phones Atticus who soon arrives with Sheriff Tate. After the men see the dog, they realize that he is rabid and must be shot.

"Take him, Mr. Finch." Mr. Tate handed the rifle to Atticus; Jem and I nearly fainted. 
"Don't waste time, Heck," said Atticus. "Go on."
"Mr. Finch, this is a one-shot job."

Sheriff Tate implies that he is not as accurate a shot as is Atticus. Then, he tosses the rifle at Atticus, who complains that he has not fired a gun in thirty years. Nevertheless, he pushes his glasses up to his forehead, takes aim, and fires a shot; this shot is a direct hit, and the poor dog crumples onto the sidewalk. Jem is amazed.

"I saw that, One-Shot Finch!" calls Miss Maudie. Jem remains in "numb confusion" for a few moments, then he recounts aloud what has just happened. In response to his amazement, Miss Maudie explains to Jem why she has referred to Atticus as "One-Shot," adding that Atticus began to think that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living creatures. Therefore, he decided not to shoot anything unless he had to do so.

"Looks like he'd be proud of it," Scout says. But, Miss Maudie disagrees: "People in their right minds never take pride in their talents." When she says this, Jem realizes something important about his father. With great admiration, he exclaims, "Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!"

How does Charles Dickens relate Christmas Carol to the Victorian Era?

A Christmas Carol is one of Dickens' most popular stories but, beneath its message of reformation, is a strong indictment of Victorian society. That Dickens was inspired to write the book after reading a report, about the working conditions of children in the Staffordshire potteries, speaks volumes about its social message. He wanted to bring to light the darker side of industrial Britain; a place where poverty and deprivation were widespread and, quite often, ignored. 

...

A Christmas Carol is one of Dickens' most popular stories but, beneath its message of reformation, is a strong indictment of Victorian society. That Dickens was inspired to write the book after reading a report, about the working conditions of children in the Staffordshire potteries, speaks volumes about its social message. He wanted to bring to light the darker side of industrial Britain; a place where poverty and deprivation were widespread and, quite often, ignored. 

Nowhere is Dickens' social message more evident than in the first chapter when two gentlemen call on Scrooge and ask him to make a donation to their charitable fund for London's paupers. These people, banished to prisons and workhouses, were not based on fiction. Poverty was a genuine problem in the city and efforts to alleviate the problem were minimal. Scrooge's cold response represents the unhelpful attitude of much of the Victorian establishment: 

(Scrooge)"I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.''

"Many can't go there; and many would rather die.''

"If they would rather die,'' said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."

This last line is repeated to Scrooge by the Ghost of Christmas Present in the third chapter. By reinforcing this point, Dickens sought to make people aware of the problem of poverty and its humanitarian implications. He wanted people to feel the plight of others and to help them, not to ignore their very existence. 

What is the molar mass of magnesium oxide? I want the answer not to be round and to be used by this periodic chart

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a compound. One mole is 6.02x10^23 molecules of that compound.

The formula for magnesium oxide is MgO. This means every molecule of magnesium oxide contains one magnesium atom and one oxygen atom. In order to find the molar mass of a compound, you must sum the individual molar masses of the atoms which form that compound.

The molar mass of an element is the atomic weight...

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a compound. One mole is 6.02x10^23 molecules of that compound.

The formula for magnesium oxide is MgO. This means every molecule of magnesium oxide contains one magnesium atom and one oxygen atom. In order to find the molar mass of a compound, you must sum the individual molar masses of the atoms which form that compound.

The molar mass of an element is the atomic weight of that element. Using the table you provided, we find the molar masses of Mg and O are 24.305 grams/mol and 15.999 grams/mol, respectively. 

So the molar mass of magnesium oxide is (24.305 + 15.999) = 40.304 grams/mole.

Now, with regards to rounding, 40.304 is a correct answer with respect to significant digits. 

In the novel "The Outsiders" by S.E Hinton, the Socs beat up Ponyboy and Johnny. Is Ponyboy innocent or guilty of assisting in the murder of Bob...

Ponyboy is innocent of assisting in the murder of Bob Sheldon. He was unaware that Johnny stabbed and killed him, and later on in the novel when they are hiding out, Johnny comments that Pony is not guilty of anything.

In Chapter 4, Johnny and Ponyboy are jumped by a group of five Socs at a local park around 2:30 am. During the scuffle, a Soc named Bob Sheldon grabs Ponyboy and attempts to drown...

Ponyboy is innocent of assisting in the murder of Bob Sheldon. He was unaware that Johnny stabbed and killed him, and later on in the novel when they are hiding out, Johnny comments that Pony is not guilty of anything.

In Chapter 4, Johnny and Ponyboy are jumped by a group of five Socs at a local park around 2:30 am. During the scuffle, a Soc named Bob Sheldon grabs Ponyboy and attempts to drown him in the fountain. Pony comments on how he felt while Bob had his head underneath the water and said,

"I'm drowning I thought, they've gone too far...A red haze filled my mind and I slowly relaxed. The next thing I knew I was lying on the pavement beside the fountain, coughing water and gasping." (Hinton 56)

Ponyboy was unconscious when Johnny stabbed Bob Sheldon, and was unaware of what happened until he became conscious again. In Chapter 5, Johnny and Pony begin arguing about their difficult situation. Johnny admits that it is his fault the boys are wanted for murder. Johnny says,

"For bringin' a little thirteen-year-old kid along. You ought to go home. You can't get into trouble. You didn't kill him." (Hinton 74)

Johnny knows that Pony had nothing to do with the decision he made to stab Bob Sheldon.

What is the word when you reduce air resistance?

When we reduce the air resistance on a body, we say that the body has been streamlined. Streamliningis a concept commonly used in fluid mechanics and has been adopted by automobile industry, among others. Streamlining allows us to achieve high speeds and power. This generally refers to, in simplest terms, smooth surfaces and unbroken corners. For example, look at the surface of any car, it is very smooth and its edges and corners are...

When we reduce the air resistance on a body, we say that the body has been streamlined. Streamlining is a concept commonly used in fluid mechanics and has been adopted by automobile industry, among others. Streamlining allows us to achieve high speeds and power. This generally refers to, in simplest terms, smooth surfaces and unbroken corners. For example, look at the surface of any car, it is very smooth and its edges and corners are also smooth. In other words, the surface does not allows much scope for air resistance. This allows us to achieve high speeds, thereby reducing our travel times. Similar concepts are also used in design of trains, airplanes, ships, tall buildings, etc. A commonly used facility to check the streamlining of a body (or a small scale model) is wind tunnel. 

Hope this helps. 

What are direct quotes from Fahrenheit 451 that give insight into Montag?

The following quotes were picked in chronological order to show Montag's dynamic journey from being a fireman who burns books to a reader who wants to defend them:

"It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed" (3).

The above passage demonstrates that Montag starts out being all things fireman. He likes his job; he fulfills his duties; and he doesn't think twice about it. Once he meets Clarisse, though, things change. She starts to make him think about what firemen used to really do. Montag slips at work, though, and wonders these things aloud as in the following quote:

"Montag hesitated. 'Was--was it always like this? The firehouse ,our work? I mean, well, once upon a time. . .'

'Once upon a time!' Beatty said. 'What kind of talk is that?'" (34).

This vocal slip lets his boss Captain Beatty know what he's probably already been guessing--that Montag is reading. No one would have used that phrase without having read some fairy tales.

"There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing" (51).

A turning point for Montag, though, is when a lady burns herself with her books and her house. It is unfathomable to Montag for someone actually to choose to die by fire all in protest over some books! When once he dabbled in reading, now he wants to know what books can really offer him; and, he wants to see if they have something that will improve his life.

"Nobody listens any more. I can't talk to the walls because they're yelling at me. I can't talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it'll make sense" (82).

Montag's life, he realizes, is depressing because he doesn't have children, he doesn't know and love his wife like he feels he should, and he doesn't know what direction he should be heading. He's amazed that TV and radio have distracted him and his wife so much that they have forgotten how, when, and where they first met.

"'Well,' said Beatty, 'now you did it. Old Montag wanted to fly near the sun and now that he's burnt his damn wings, he wonders why'" (113).

This last quote finds Montag caught for his crimes of owning and reading books. Again, these five quotes could be used to show Montag's dissention from being a law-abiding fireman to a criminal within Bradbury's dystopian society.

Why does Zeus disdain the offering and what does he have planned for Odysseus and his men in The Odyssey?

It was foretold both by Tiresias in the Kingdom of the Dead chapter (page 253), as well as by Circe in The Cattle of the Sun chapter (page 275) that if Odysseus' men were to eat the sun god, Helios', sheep or cattle, then Odysseus' crew and ship would be destroyed.

Odysseus tries to lead his men away from the island with the cattle of the sun god; however, his men persuade him that they...

It was foretold both by Tiresias in the Kingdom of the Dead chapter (page 253), as well as by Circe in The Cattle of the Sun chapter (page 275) that if Odysseus' men were to eat the sun god, Helios', sheep or cattle, then Odysseus' crew and ship would be destroyed.

Odysseus tries to lead his men away from the island with the cattle of the sun god; however, his men persuade him that they can row no further, because they are exhausted from constant rowing and lack of sleep. Odysseus tells his crew of the warning he received twice from two different people, and his crew are relentless. Odysseus gives in, but warns his crew not to eat any of the sheep nor cattle.

Zeus causes powerful winds in the middle of the night, causing such terrible waves and weather that Odysseus and his men are stuck on the island for a month. By the end of the month, Odysseus and his crew have eaten all of their provisions, and even with fishing and foraging, the men are starving. While Odysseus is off praying to the gods on a mountain top, Odysseus' men decide to kill and eat some of the cattle. The crew does offer up the innards and bones of the cattle they killed (page 282); however, Lampetie (who was in charge of taking care of her father's cattle) told Zeus what happened to the cattle, including an ultimatum that basically said, you better help me get my revenge, or the sun will never rise again: "Unless they pay me back in blood for the butchery of my herds, down I go to the House of Death and blaze among the dead!" (283). Zeus' response was "Sun, you keep shinning...on the wine-dark sea I'll hit their racing ship with a white-hot bolt, I'll tear it into splinters" (283).

So essentially, it was already prophesied that Odysseus' crew was going to kill and eat some of the cattle of the sun god, and they would be destroyed. When the event came to be, Zeus' loyalty was not with the few mortals offering up part of the cattle to him, but to his fellow immortal who gave him an ultimatum.

In what ways is "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" a humorous story?

Twain uses three elements classic to comedy to create a humorous story. First, as anyone who has read the Lemony Snickett stories knows, warning a reader from the outset that a story will be too terrible or boring to read is sure to have the opposite effect and catch his or her interest. The narrator in this story declares that he thinks his friend's intention in asking him to ask about Smiley is to bore...

Twain uses three elements classic to comedy to create a humorous story. First, as anyone who has read the Lemony Snickett stories knows, warning a reader from the outset that a story will be too terrible or boring to read is sure to have the opposite effect and catch his or her interest. The narrator in this story declares that he thinks his friend's intention in asking him to ask about Smiley is to bore him "nearly to death with some infernal reminiscence of him as long and tedious as it should be useless to me. If that was the design, it certainly succeeded." Of course, what follows is a story that turns out to be anything but tedious.

Exaggeration is a key to comedy, and Twain uses the device of the tall tale to tell the over-the-top story of a man, Jim Smiley, who would bet on anything. It is hard not to smile at a man willing to bet on which of two birds on a fence will fly off first. Surprise is a third important element of comedic writing and Twain employs this too. After emphasizing how lucky Smiley is in his betting life and singing the praises of his frog, who can outjump any other, the story introduces a trickster, in the form of a stranger, who outsmarts Smiley. When the stranger takes advantage of Smiley's absence to load his frog, Daniel Webster, down with buckshot, surprise enters what we expected to be a predictable tale and the joke is on Smiley. 

Bud has a very active imagination. How does this help him throughout the book? Does it ever get him in trouble? Why do you think imagination is so...

Bud's active imagination gives him hope throughout the novel and encourages him to continue his journey during difficult times. Bud compares his thoughts to tiny seeds that grow into massive maple trees. Bud's initial thoughts about his father develop into an obsession to find him. The thought of living a carefree life with his father motivates Bud to travel across Michigan to find him. Bud's imagination also soothes him in unfamiliar environments. Memories of Bud's mother calm him down and make him comfortable no matter where he is at.

Sometimes, Bud's imagination gets him into trouble. At the beginning of the novel when Bud is locked inside the Amos' shed, Bud thinks that there is a vampire bat hanging from the ceiling. Bud fears that the vampire bat will suck his blood, so Bud picks up a rake, and swings at it as hard as he can. The "vampire bat" turns out to be a hornet's nest and Bud gets stung badly. Another moment where Bud's imagination gets him into trouble is when Lefty Lewis offers him a ride. Bud sees an icebox labeled "URGENT: CONTAINS HUMAN BLOOD," and thinks that Lefty must be a vampire. Bud locks Lefty out of the car and attempts to drive away. Fortunately, Bud does not make it very far before the car shuts off.

Having an active imagination would benefit individuals who lived during the Depression. The Depression, aptly named, was a rough period to be alive. In order for people to have hope and maintain a positive outlook on life, they would need to have an active imagination to counter the dismal realities of the world around them.

There have been numerous difficult moments throughout my life where my imagination has helped distract my attention and relieve my stress. From imagining a picturesque beach when its cold and rainy outside, to thinking about playing catch with my father to soothe my mind before taking an important test, my imagination helps me through difficult situations each day.

How does the setting of the play Riders to the Sea make it both local and universal at the same time?

The setting of this short drama is the Aran islands of Ireland.  That sounds like a great location.  Hawaii is awesome, so why shouldn't all islands be like that?  That's not the case with the Aran islands though.  They are some of the most barren and forlorn islands of the entire country.  Life there is hard.  The people that live there are dependent on the ocean in order to earn their living and feed their...

The setting of this short drama is the Aran islands of Ireland.  That sounds like a great location.  Hawaii is awesome, so why shouldn't all islands be like that?  That's not the case with the Aran islands though.  They are some of the most barren and forlorn islands of the entire country.  Life there is hard.  The people that live there are dependent on the ocean in order to earn their living and feed their families.  This means that the sea is a great provider of life, while at the same time being dangerous enough to kill men just trying to scratch out a living.  In that regard, the setting is incredibly local and specific. 

But the setting is also universal in the sense that there are locations all over the world where men and women are struggling in a man vs. nature battle.  I could even use something as "mundane" as farming.  It doesn't seem dangerous or life threatening, but those farmers are at the mercy of the weather.  If they make their crop quota, they earn enough money to provide for their family and keep their equipment up to date.  But that same weather has the ability to destroy entire crops and bankrupt the farmer.  The drama's theme of constant hard work is universal across just about any given population.  

Please summarize Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis.

Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis is the the first book in a trilogy sometimes called the Space Trilogy or Cosmic Trilogy, consisting of Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength. In this trilogy, C. S. Lewis merges his traditional religious themes with science fiction. Although the setting is fantastic, and not meant to reflect actual science or scientific speculation per se, it does...

Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis is the the first book in a trilogy sometimes called the Space Trilogy or Cosmic Trilogy, consisting of Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength. In this trilogy, C. S. Lewis merges his traditional religious themes with science fiction. Although the setting is fantastic, and not meant to reflect actual science or scientific speculation per se, it does include space travel to Mars and Venus. 

In the book, the protagonist Elwin Ransom is a professor of philology at Cambridge and the antagonist Dr. Weston is a physicist. One represents the humanistic outlook that Lewis favors and the other a narrowly technological and scientific viewpoint. 

At the opening of the book, Weston kidnaps Ransom and takes him to Malacandra (Mars) in a space ship. The two humans meet the three intelligent species who inhabit the planet and an Oyarsa, a divine planetary ruler. Each planet, apparently, has an Oyarsa, acting as a deputy for Maleldil, who rules the entire universe. The Oyarsa for earth has become evil, and thus earth has fallen out of touch with the rest of the universe (and thus become the "silent planet" of the title). 

Eventually Ransom and Weston return to earth, and Ransom, because no one would believe his story to be true, collaborates with Lewis to write the tale as a novel. 

What passages in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird show the coexistence of good and evil?

The central theme in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird concerns human nature. Lee shows us that human nature is made up of both good and evil characteristics, and she does so by frequently juxtaposing good and evil. As Scout and Jem grow up, they shed their innocent childhood belief that the world is made up of primarily good people and come to realize the evil that exists in the world.

One example of Lee juxtaposing good with evil can be seen in Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose. All the neighborhood children stay as far away from her house as they possibly can because they see her as being the meanest old lady in existence. However, as Scout and Jem get older, they begin wanting to go into the business district of Maycomb, requiring them to walk past Mrs. Dubose's house. They particularly begin walking up to the post office each day to meet Atticus on his way home from work. Each time they pass Mrs. Dubose's house, she yells cruel and critical insults at the children. The children receive the worst insult from her when she one day says, "Your father's no better than the the niggers and trash he works for!" (Ch. 11). The insult is enough to infuriate Jem to the point that he destroys every camellia flower in her garden leading up to what seems to be his punishment of needing to read to her every day. In reality, Jem's reading to her every day is not a punishment since she asked him because she sincerely needed his help, and Atticus says he would have asked him to do it regardless.

What is surprising is that, despite her insults and racist beliefs, beliefs Atticus thoroughly disagrees with, Atticus strives to be kind to her each time he sees her, saying, "Good evening, Mrs Dubose! You look like a picture this evening." Later, after her death, we learn that Atticus felt genuine admiration for her because of her courage. Atticus explains to his children that she was a morphine addict and, though her illness made the use of morphine understandable, she decided she would not die a morphine addict and had asked Jem to read to her to distract her as she underwent her withdrawal symptoms. As Atticus phrases it, he saw her as "the bravest person [he] ever knew" because she made sure she "died beholden to nothing and nobody" (Ch. 11).

Hence, as we can see, one way in which Lee juxtaposes good and evil is through Mrs. Dubose. Though Mrs. Dubose had what could be considered evil thoughts and ways, she could also be considered a good person due to her personal strength and courage.

What did Martin Luther King, Jr mean when he used banking metaphors in his speech at the March on Washington?

In his speech at the March on Washington, best known for his "dream," King described the United States as having "defaulted" on a "promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned." By this King meant that the United States was founded on the promise that all men were created equal, and that everyone in the nation, including African-Americans, was entitled to equality under the law and equality of opportunity. This "promissory note" was...

In his speech at the March on Washington, best known for his "dream," King described the United States as having "defaulted" on a "promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned." By this King meant that the United States was founded on the promise that all men were created equal, and that everyone in the nation, including African-Americans, was entitled to equality under the law and equality of opportunity. This "promissory note" was first issued in the Declaration of Independence and reiterated in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. But it was one that was clearly not being honored, as Jim Crow laws, discrimination in voting, and de facto segregation in American cities effectively made African-Americans second-class citizens. So when King said at the March that "we have come to...cash a check" he meant that the purpose of the Civil Rights Movement was to force the federal government, and American society as a whole, to live up to its promise of equality for all Americans. It was a powerful rhetorical turn, because it emphasized that for King, the Civil Rights Movement was not about asking for charity. It was about claiming things that all Americans were entitled to, or forcing (not requesting) the United States to honor its obligations. In the context of the march, this meant passing federal civil rights legislation.

Describe the role that anthropologists play in migration.

First, I want to note that anthropologists do not really play any role in migration. They study the migrations of people, and to the degree their expertise is called upon for a migration issue, they can offer their specialized knowledge and understanding of migration, but the role of the anthropologist is that of study, not interference. There is no doubt they make a significant contribution to our understanding of the migration of humans.

Since the...

First, I want to note that anthropologists do not really play any role in migration. They study the migrations of people, and to the degree their expertise is called upon for a migration issue, they can offer their specialized knowledge and understanding of migration, but the role of the anthropologist is that of study, not interference. There is no doubt they make a significant contribution to our understanding of the migration of humans.

Since the beginning of humanity, people have migrated; otherwise we would all live in Africa, which is where we are fairly certain mankind first emerged.  Anthropologists traditionally traced migrations through cultural artifacts and to some degree language, with the assistance of archaeologists and linguists.  They study living societies as well, to examine migrations. And today, it is possible to trace migrations with our knowledge of DNA, being able to see genetically where people first began and where they have migrated to.  It's a fascinating story, with many implications for the world today. If we know why people migrate, that has some lessons for us, I think, since migration continues to be a human phenomenon. There are migrations internally, for example, the movement from rural environments to urban environments, or the American migration westward.  External migration, that is, from one country to another or from one continent to the other, is on the rise.  Within the past year, over one million people have migrated from the Middle East to Europe.  This is an incredible movement of people, and anthropologists are no doubt studying this as we speak. To what degree climate, war, social structure, religion, and other factors have an impact on migration, anthropologists are there to try to learn this, and with lessons learned, perhaps we can improve the migration experience.      

Some critics consider "The Seafarer" a kind of dialogue or conversation between two opposing attitudes. If the poem were a conversation between two...

The poet of “The Seafarer” does indeed present two opposing viewpoints in his poem. However, there is no doubt which view the speaker espouses, since he is speaking in the first-person for much of the poem. In fact, he begins with this line:

This tale is true, and mine.

He then goes on to tell about his tribulations upon the cold, forbidding sea in lines 8-11:

My feet were cast

In icy bands, bound with...

The poet of “The Seafarer” does indeed present two opposing viewpoints in his poem. However, there is no doubt which view the speaker espouses, since he is speaking in the first-person for much of the poem. In fact, he begins with this line:

This tale is true, and mine.

He then goes on to tell about his tribulations upon the cold, forbidding sea in lines 8-11:

My feet were cast

In icy bands, bound with frost,

With frozen chains, and hardship groaned

Around my heart.

At first his tale seems to be simply about a man in a boat on a dangerous ocean. But a little later we begin to see that his real concern is spiritual, in lines 64-66:

Thus the joys of God

Are fervent with life, where life itself

Fades quickly in to the Earth.

The speaker appears to be using the ocean as a metaphor for the difficult and treacherous journey that must be made by the human soul.

The other side of the discussion is concerned with the safety and comfort of life as part of civilization. When man exists within the man-made world, he experiences things like this, from lines 48-49.

Orchards blossom, the towns bloom,

Fields grow lovely as the world springs fresh.

The poet is establishing something called a “juxtaposition.” Artists juxtapose when they present ideas side by side for the purpose of contrasting them. The “Seafarer” poet wants to contrast the solitary, spiritually courageous man with the comfort-seeking socially dependent man.

Why would cash transfers typically be preferred by recipients over in-kind transfers?

People who are going to receive help from the government might be more likely to prefer cash transfers over in-kind transfers because the cash transfers are more flexible and, perhaps, less humiliating to use.

In-kind transfers can be humiliating to use.  One type of such transfers, in the US, is the food stamp program.  When you use these, the checkers at the supermarket, along with those in line behind you, know that you are using...

People who are going to receive help from the government might be more likely to prefer cash transfers over in-kind transfers because the cash transfers are more flexible and, perhaps, less humiliating to use.

In-kind transfers can be humiliating to use.  One type of such transfers, in the US, is the food stamp program.  When you use these, the checkers at the supermarket, along with those in line behind you, know that you are using them.  This makes it clear that you are poor, which can be humiliating.  When the government simply puts cash in a bank account, it is much less apparent to others that you are receiving government assistance.

In-kind transfers also tend to be less flexible.  If you get a certain amount of credit that can only be used on food, for example, it does not help you if what you really need is a part for your car.  You cannot skimp on food to save up to buy the car part.  When you are given a cash transfer, that money is yours to do with as you see fit.

Because cash transfers provide more flexibility and greater dignity, recipients might tend to prefer them over in-kind transfers.

`15^@` Find the exact values of the sine, cosine, and tangent of the angle.

You need to find the values of the sine, cosine and tangent of `15^o, ` such that:

`sin 15^o = sin ((30^o)/2) = sqrt((1 - cos 30^o)/2)`

`sin 15^o = sqrt((2 - sqrt 3)/4)`

`sin 15^o = (sqrt(2 - sqrt 3))/2`

`cos 15^o = cos ((30^o)/2) = sqrt((1 + cos 30^o)/2)`

`cos 15^o = (sqrt(2 + sqrt 3))/2`

`tan 15^o = (sin 15^o )/(cos 15^o)`

`tan 15^o = ((sqrt(2 - sqrt 3))/2)/((sqrt(2 + sqrt 3))/2)`

...

You need to find the values of the sine, cosine and tangent of `15^o, ` such that:

`sin 15^o = sin ((30^o)/2) = sqrt((1 - cos 30^o)/2)`

`sin 15^o = sqrt((2 - sqrt 3)/4)`

`sin 15^o = (sqrt(2 - sqrt 3))/2`

`cos 15^o = cos ((30^o)/2) = sqrt((1 + cos 30^o)/2)`

`cos 15^o = (sqrt(2 + sqrt 3))/2`

`tan 15^o = (sin 15^o )/(cos 15^o)`

`tan 15^o = ((sqrt(2 - sqrt 3))/2)/((sqrt(2 + sqrt 3))/2)`

`tan 15^o = ((sqrt(2 - sqrt 3)))/((sqrt(2 + sqrt 3)))`

`tan 15^o = ((sqrt(4 - 3)))/(2 + sqrt 3)`

`tan 15^o = 1/(2 + sqrt 3)`

`tan 15^o = 1/(2 + sqrt 3)`

`tan 15^o = (2 - sqrt 3)/(4-3)`

`tan 15^o = (2 - sqrt 3)`

Hence, evaluating the values of sine, cosine and tangent of `15^o` , yields `sin 15^o = (sqrt(2 - sqrt 3))/2, cos 15^o = (sqrt(2 + sqrt 3))/2, tan 15^o = (2 - sqrt 3).`

What are some propaganda techniques used in Animal Farm?

In Animal Farm, we see a wide number of propaganda techniques at work. Fear, for example, is used by Old Major in Chapter One when he tells the animals that his death is imminent and that he must pass on his wisdom before he dies. This forces the animals to listen out of fear that they might miss something important. In addition, Old Major also uses a technique called scapegoatingto portray humans...

In Animal Farm, we see a wide number of propaganda techniques at work. Fear, for example, is used by Old Major in Chapter One when he tells the animals that his death is imminent and that he must pass on his wisdom before he dies. This forces the animals to listen out of fear that they might miss something important. In addition, Old Major also uses a technique called scapegoating to portray humans as the enemy of all animals when he says,

Man serves the interests of no creature except himself.

Squealer is another character who uses a plethora of propaganda techniques. In Chapter Three, when it is revealed that Napoleon stole the milk, Squealer uses virtue words to trick the animals into believing pigs need to eat a better diet because they are naturally more intelligent animals. Squealer claims, 

Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig.

This is completely untrue, of course, but essential in justifying Napoleon's selfish actions.

Similarly, while the animals struggle to rebuild the windmill, Squealer misuses statistics by stating that productivity has increased by "two hundred percent, three hundred percent, or five hundred percent." This gives the illusion that the farm is functioning well due to Napoleon's leadership.

For more propaganda techniques, please see the first reference link provided.

In what way is the outbreak of the French Revolution of 1789 a continuation of a struggle which dates back to the early seventeenth century?

In the seventeenth century, feudal monarchies developed into national monarchies in Europe. This change in power structure led eventually to conflict as the rising middle class, especially, desired empowerment for all its services.

A feudal monarchy is a form of government in which power is shared between the nobles and the monarch, whereas a national monarchy is government in which all aspects of leadership, governmental and religious, are controlled. In seventeenth century France, the nobility controlled...

In the seventeenth century, feudal monarchies developed into national monarchies in Europe. This change in power structure led eventually to conflict as the rising middle class, especially, desired empowerment for all its services.

A feudal monarchy is a form of government in which power is shared between the nobles and the monarch, whereas a national monarchy is government in which all aspects of leadership, governmental and religious, are controlled. In seventeenth century France, the nobility controlled the government, but a rising middle class of merchants began to attain influence and status in the major cities, especially in Paris. However, since power was legitimized only by heredity, the middle class could lay no claim to power. Nevertheless, the king's alliance with the middle class--merchants, manufacturers, and professionals--which offered him talent and resources, permitted him to build a power structure independent of the feudal system, thus creating a national monarchy. 

Gradually, the bourgeoisie (middle class) began to desire political equality as they gained status, but they had no claim because in the culture of France, power was inherited. They, therefore, organized with the peasants, many of whom owned land and desired to rid themselves of the last vestiges of feudalism, to acquire a status of power that could exert some control on the government. This oppression of the Third Estate, the middle class, is how the Revolution culminated, contended Madame de Stael, who participated in the intellectual and political life of her times. She writes that the Revolution,

...culminated a long struggle for liberty by the real France, the bourgeoisie or Third Estate, against the nobility and the clergy.

The corporate nature of the American media has causedA. most newspapers to increase coverage of business news.B. advertisers to dictate the content...

The best answer, of the options available, is to say that the corporate nature of today’s media tends to make newspapers become remarkably similar.  This is because the corporate nature of the media means that it is imperative that newspapers make as much profit as they can.

Because newspapers are run by big companies now, it is more important for them to make money.  Shareholders in large companies want the highest profits more than they...

The best answer, of the options available, is to say that the corporate nature of today’s media tends to make newspapers become remarkably similar.  This is because the corporate nature of the media means that it is imperative that newspapers make as much profit as they can.

Because newspapers are run by big companies now, it is more important for them to make money.  Shareholders in large companies want the highest profits more than they want to run high-quality newspapers.  Therefore, there is pressure on the newspapers to run the sorts of stories that will attract many readers.  This makes the newspapers rather similar to one another because readers across the country tend to want to see the same kinds of stories.

The second best answer here would be Option B.  However, it is more accurate to say that the corporate owners’ interests dictate what the media covers.  This is a greater conflict of interest than the conflict with what the advertisers want.  Therefore, I would say that Option C is the best answer.

Who was Sherlock Holmes’ client in "The Red-Headed League?" What was his case?

In the story, “The Red-Headed League,” Sherlock Holmes’ client is a man named Jabez Wilson.  He is about 60 years old and he runs a small pawn shop.  He is a bachelor and does not have much of a life outside of his business.  He is very overweight and not in great shape.

Wilson’s case is a very unusual one.  Normally, a person would engage Holmes’s services if they felt they were in danger or...

In the story, “The Red-Headed League,” Sherlock Holmes’ client is a man named Jabez Wilson.  He is about 60 years old and he runs a small pawn shop.  He is a bachelor and does not have much of a life outside of his business.  He is very overweight and not in great shape.

Wilson’s case is a very unusual one.  Normally, a person would engage Holmes’s services if they felt they were in danger or if they had been victim of a crime.  With Wilson, no harm has come to him.  Indeed, he has actually made a good sum of money for very little work at all.  However, the circumstances in which he has made the money are so odd that he has come to Holmes.

Wilson has recently hired an assistant in his pawn shop who is a very good worker and who has agreed to work for half price so he can learn the business.  The assistant, Vincent Spaulding, is a very good worker, but whenever possible he does tend to disappear into the shop’s basement (Wilson is not in shape to go down there much, if at all) to work in a dark room that he has set up.

Spaulding has pointed out an advertisement to Wilson.  The ad asks for red-headed men to come apply for a job that would pay them a decent amount of money for “purely nominal services.”  Since Wilson has very red hair, Spaulding suggests he should apply.  Wilson does, and gets the position.  He then “works” for eight weeks, copying from an encyclopedia a few hours a day during the slow time at his shop.  At the end of the eight weeks, the Red-Headed League (the organization that has been “employing” him) folds up and disappears without warning.  Wilson is curious about the whole matter and that is why he comes to hire Holmes.

I need a couple quotes for Cherry Valance in the outsiders. Here is the question: Cherry loved Bob and helped Ponyboy's group. Why?

One of the reasons that Cherry tried to help the greasers was that she felt like her flirting with Ponyboy and Johnny led to the death of Bob in the first place. When she came to tell the greasers what was going on, Dally said that "she felt that the whole mess was her fault." She worried about what would happen in the rumble and was sad about what happened to Johnny. 

But she also...

One of the reasons that Cherry tried to help the greasers was that she felt like her flirting with Ponyboy and Johnny led to the death of Bob in the first place. When she came to tell the greasers what was going on, Dally said that "she felt that the whole mess was her fault." She worried about what would happen in the rumble and was sad about what happened to Johnny. 

But she also still loved Bob, or the memory of him. She talked about him when she was trying to tell Ponyboy why she can't go see Johnny in the hospital. She said "Bob was something special. He wasn't just any boy. He had something that made people follow him, something that marked him different, maybe a little better, than the crowd. Do you know what I mean?"

She knew that he was trouble and she talked about how bad he was when he got drunk. But she also saw the side of him that the greasers never did so it was understandable why she was mad at Johnny for killing him. She liked Ponyboy and wanted to try to avoid any further trouble which is why she spied for them in the first place.

Explain why the early colonies had to "look to the east" rather than "to the west".

Early colonists had to look to the east for a number of reasons. The first was economic. Most colonies, Jamestown for example, depended on the mother country, or more accurately on the companies that founded them, for supplies and financial backing. They also had to become financially lucrative for their backers in England to justify their existence. While some were more explicitly motivated by the desire for profit than others, all of the colonies in...

Early colonists had to look to the east for a number of reasons. The first was economic. Most colonies, Jamestown for example, depended on the mother country, or more accurately on the companies that founded them, for supplies and financial backing. They also had to become financially lucrative for their backers in England to justify their existence. While some were more explicitly motivated by the desire for profit than others, all of the colonies in their early stages were to some extent business ventures. 

Another reason was political. The colonies owed their legitimacy (even the Massachusetts Bay Colony, whose founders wisely took their charter with them) to the Crown. All of the colonies replicated, in some form or another, English common law, including the courts, local officials, and representative bodies. Before long, most colonies were governed by royal appointees, sent as the Crown's representative. Even the independent-minded Puritans were English subjects, and they thought of themselves in this way.

Still another reason is best described as strategic. The early colonists did not know that the footholds they established in North America would be permanent. They could not count on expanding into the West--in fact, the first generations of colonists were hemmed in by Native peoples for whom "looking (facing) east," as historian Daniel Richter has put it, was a matter of necessity. This brings up another sense (as Richter explains in the book linked below) in which "looking east" was essential for the colonists. They had to immediately involve themselves in the politics and customs of Native peoples, conducting war and diplomacy on their terms, not their own. The early colonists were in no position to dictate or really even alter the realities on the ground in North America. They stepped into complex political and diplomatic situations that they had to learn to navigate in order to survive, trade, and ultimately expand. So this is another sense in which they had to "look East": they had to see things, or at least try to understand things, as American Indians did, or be destroyed. 

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, what are some quotes in Chapter 14 that impact the theme of education, bravery or loss of innocence?

When you say "impact," I assume you mean "relate to" or "represent." 

For bravery, there are two instances that stand out. First Jem believes there is a snake under the bed and gets a broom to remove it. Scout even asks if he thinks it really is one. This is brave of Jem, to do. Second, he finds that it is not a snake, but it is Dill hiding under the bed because he has...

When you say "impact," I assume you mean "relate to" or "represent." 

For bravery, there are two instances that stand out. First Jem believes there is a snake under the bed and gets a broom to remove it. Scout even asks if he thinks it really is one. This is brave of Jem, to do. Second, he finds that it is not a snake, but it is Dill hiding under the bed because he has run away from home. He stole thirteen dollars from his mother and made his way to Maycomb. This is also brave. Dill is very young and very little to be running away and especially so far by train all by himself.

For loss of innocence, I think immediately of the first part of the chapter where Scout asks Atticus what "rape" is and he answers her honestly. Although she still does not fully grasp what it is, this is the beginning of her maturation and learning very adult terms for very adult actions. Atticus does not keep this information from her and answers any questions she asks with honesty and care. This same instance could also fall under the theme of education. While it is not traditional (in school) education, this conversation is more about educating Scout about the world she lives in and is responding to.

Why did relations between the United States and the Soviet Union deteriorate after World War II?

After World War II, relations between the United States and the Soviet Union began to deteriorate. There are reasons for this. Before the war ended, the United States had some agreements with the Soviet Union. One agreement was regarding the new Polish government after World War II ended. There was supposed to be free elections in Poland, and the new government was supposed to include members from the pre-war Polish government in it. When the...

After World War II, relations between the United States and the Soviet Union began to deteriorate. There are reasons for this. Before the war ended, the United States had some agreements with the Soviet Union. One agreement was regarding the new Polish government after World War II ended. There was supposed to be free elections in Poland, and the new government was supposed to include members from the pre-war Polish government in it. When the new government was formed, it appeared free elections didn’t occur, and most members in the government were from the government established by the Soviet Union during World War II.

In Europe, as a result of the agreement known as the Declaration of a Liberated Europe, there were supposed to be elections to allow people to choose their own government after World War II. Yet the King of Romania indicated he was pressured to have a communist government after the war ended. This added to the growing distrust between the United States and the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union wanted to spread communism. We were opposed to the spread of communism. With our policy of containment, we tried to keep Communism from spreading. We worked to prevent the spread of communism in Europe and in Asia. We helped Greece and Turkey fight the spread of communism, and we helped to keep South Korea free from communism. This brought us into conflict with the Soviet Union.

There are reasons why the United States and the Soviet Union had a deteriorating relationship after World War II ended.

Do you think Mme. Forestier should return the difference in value between the original necklace and the one she received as a replacement?

This is an excellent question. It is one which has probably occurred to many readers of "The Necklace" over the years. The fact that we wonder about this question shows the power of Guy de Maupassant's writing. We actually believe these people were real and that Mathilde Loisel actually lost that borrowed necklace one cold night in Paris. There can be no doubt that Madame Forestier has a moral obligation to compensate the Loisels for the difference between the value of the borrowed necklace and that of the imitation. She could do it either by paying them approximately 35,500 francs in cash or by giving them the necklace for 500 francs. The Loisels paid 36,000 francs for the replacement (although with all the interest on the borrowed money, it must have cost them twice that much).

It is impossible, of course, to look back into the past and see what really happened. Even if we could see into the past, we couldn't tell because the characters were fictitious. The best clue we have is in Madame Forestier's reaction to Mathilde's worn appearance and to her revelation of how she and her husband replaced the lost necklace with an imitation.

"I brought you back another exactly like it. And it has taken us ten years to pay for it. You can understand that it was not easy for us, for us who had nothing. At last it is ended, and I am very glad."

"Oh, my poor Mathilde! Why, my necklace was paste! It was worth at most only five hundred francs!"

Since Madame Forestier freely admits that her necklace was made of fake jewels, something she could have kept to herself, it would appear that she has no intention of profiting by her friend's mistake. Madame Forestier might find it hard to get her hands on 35,500 francs, so it seems likely that she would simply make Mathilde a gift of the necklace, which, after all, really belongs to the Loisels and not to her. Mathilde and her husband could at least receive some compensation for their ten years of toil and privation. They could sell the necklace for around 36,000 francs, which would provide them a little comfort and security in their old age.

In Maupassant's short story "The False Gems," also titled "The Jewels" in some translations, we are given a good idea of the purchasing power of 36,000 francs at that time. "Monsieur Lantin, then chief clerk in the Department of the Interior, enjoyed a snug little salary of three thousand five hundred francs...." Since the protagonist of that story is a chief clerk, he is probably earning more than Monsieur Loisel.

The ending of the story raises other questions. What would a rich woman like Madame Forestier be doing with an imitation diamond necklace? Why didn't she tell Mathilde it was a fake when she let her borrow it? How would Mathilde feel now that she realizes she was wearing a paste necklace during her moment of triumph at the Minister of Public Instruction's ball when she thought she was wearing diamonds? How would her husband react when she told him? Would he be angry? Or would he be glad to get the money?

It seems to me that Madame Forestier is not only morally but legally obligated to return the diamond necklace now that she has revealed the truth. The necklace does not really belong to her. At most she could only claim 500 francs for the one that was lost. Maupassant undoubtedly did not want to deal with this issue at the end of his story because it would spoil the shocking effect.

What are Gatsby's parties like?

Gatsby's parties are a bit gaudy and very crowded, full of vain and selfish people who only seem interested in having a good time, even if that good time includes gossiping about the very man who hosts the party. The fact that no one bothers to get to know their host, or to try to even meet him, tells us just how little they care for others. At Nick's first Gatsby party, he describes the...

Gatsby's parties are a bit gaudy and very crowded, full of vain and selfish people who only seem interested in having a good time, even if that good time includes gossiping about the very man who hosts the party. The fact that no one bothers to get to know their host, or to try to even meet him, tells us just how little they care for others. At Nick's first Gatsby party, he describes the "old men pushing young girls backward in eternal graceless circles, superior couples holding each other tortuously, fashionably," even young women, drunk, dancing crazily and trying to play instruments with the orchestra. Further, the "hilarity" only seems to continue to increase the more intoxicated everyone becomes. People do "'stunts'" in the garden and laugh hysterically and without control, while giant glasses of champagne are continually passed around. No one really seems to have control over themselves, except Gatsby, who does not drink. And Nick's choice of words—pushing, graceless, superior, tortuously—do not have positive connotations. The sense we get is that the parties are manic and almost savage. This is, perhaps, why Daisy fails to enjoy the party at Gatsby's that she attends later in the novel; to her more refined sensibilities, his parties feel gauche.

Can you summarize the four main sections of Thomas Paine's Common Sense pamphlet?

In 1776, Thomas Paine advocated American independence in his famous pamphlet, Common Sense. In Chapter 1, Paine argues that the British government is a "house divided against itself" because its three components - the monarchy, the aristocracy and the Commons - are not working in harmony. As a result, the voice of the American people is not being heard and the colony is being badly governed.

Next, in Chapter 2, Paine states that a monarchy...

In 1776, Thomas Paine advocated American independence in his famous pamphlet, Common Sense. In Chapter 1, Paine argues that the British government is a "house divided against itself" because its three components - the monarchy, the aristocracy and the Commons - are not working in harmony. As a result, the voice of the American people is not being heard and the colony is being badly governed.

Next, in Chapter 2, Paine states that a monarchy is not the best form of government because there is a always a danger that a king may be a rogue or a fool. In other words, a monarchy gives absolute power to one person and is therefore does not represent the interests of its subjects.

In Chapter 3, Paine goes on to state that the relationship between Britain and America is only beneficial to the former and never to the latter. Staying loyal to Britain is no longer an option because it puts Americans at risk of making enemies with other countries in Europe.

Finally, in his fourth chapter, Paine argues that a separation between Britain and America is not only inevitable but also the best course of action for the colonists. They were stronger than ever before because they have the necessary raw materials to manufacture goods for sale and the connections to make independent trade a success. In his opinion, these economic advantages would ensure that America thrived as an independent  nation.  This change may not be easy but, over time, the colonists would see that it was the right to do. 

How does Scout become more mature after listening to Tom Robinson's testimony in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

The whole novel chronicles the events in Scout's life that lead her out of childhood innocence into a more understanding mind of the ways of the world. Scout's experiences with kids at school, Miss Maudie, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley all teach her about the Southern world around her. Tom Robinson's trial must have been one of the most profound experiences that helped her to mature because it brings out all of the good and...

The whole novel chronicles the events in Scout's life that lead her out of childhood innocence into a more understanding mind of the ways of the world. Scout's experiences with kids at school, Miss Maudie, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley all teach her about the Southern world around her. Tom Robinson's trial must have been one of the most profound experiences that helped her to mature because it brings out all of the good and the bad of one little community. Not much is said about how Scout feels after she hears Tom's testimony, though. She has to take Dill outside to calm him down and misses most of the end of it. However, most of her feelings are painted by the way she parallels the death of the dog that Atticus shot with the way the verdict was delivered. Scout describes the delivery of the verdict of the trial in the following way:

"I saw something only a lawyer's child could be expected to see, could be expected to watch for, and it was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty. . . A jury never looks at a defendant it has convicted, and when this jury came in, not one of them looked at Tom Robinson" (211).

Just the fact that Scout makes this parallel between Atticus shooting a dog and the guilty verdict is a mature frame of mind. She sees that when her dad was asked to kill a mad dog, he was given all the tools to accomplish the task. But when he is asked to defend a black man in the South in 1935, it was as if he didn't have a bullet to help him shoot down all the prejudice facing the trial. This realization helps her to see that life isn't as fair as she'd like it to be.

After the trial, Scout obeys adults better and she listens better. She does a very good job at one of Aunt Alexandra's missionary teas by not jumping down the company's throat when they say racist things. She follows the leads of Miss Maudie and Aunt Alexandra by wearing a dress, saying polite things, and practicing becoming a lady. 

In Night by Elie Wiesel, why does Eli say,"I found the soup excellent that evening," after the first hanging?

In Elie Wiesel's book Night, he says, "I found the soup excellent," after he witnesses the Nazis hang a prisoner. He says this to show us how numb he has become to death and suffering. By this point in the book, Elie has witnessed so much horror that it has become normal for him.

He saw babies burned in a fire pit. He watched his father beaten by guards. He saw men shot for...

In Elie Wiesel's book Night, he says, "I found the soup excellent," after he witnesses the Nazis hang a prisoner. He says this to show us how numb he has become to death and suffering. By this point in the book, Elie has witnessed so much horror that it has become normal for him.

He saw babies burned in a fire pit. He watched his father beaten by guards. He saw men shot for no reason, women and children sent to the gas chambers, and more. He has become immune to all of it. All he cares about now is his next bowl of soup or his next piece of bread. When one witnesses such terrible acts day after day, one begins to lose his/her own humanity, and this is where Elie was when he said those words. 

What is Scrooge and Tiny Tim's relationship at the end of the story in A Christmas Carol?

Scrooge became like a father to Tiny Tim, looking out for him and his family.

At the beginning of the story, Scrooge seems to scarcely know of Tiny Tim’s existence.  He makes little effort to get to know Bob Cratchit or his family.  To Scrooge he is just a clerk and an employee.  They spend their days separate and solitary.  It is not until Scrooge visits the Cratchit family with the Ghost of Christmas Present that he really pays attention to Cratchit’s plight, and realizes he has a crippled son.

Scrooge, who previously claimed that the poor were “surplus population” and if they died it was no big deal, seems drawn to Cratchit’s youngest son.  Tim is pious, gentle, and clearly crippled.  He is a target for sympathy if ever there was one, and he seems to melt Scrooge’s heart.

“Spirit,” said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before, “tell me if Tiny Tim will live.”

“I see a vacant seat,” replied the Ghost, “…If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.”

“No, no,” said Scrooge. “Oh, no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared.” (Stave Three)

Scrooge’s reaction is one of pity, and maybe some measure of guilt.  After all, he never took an interest in Cratchit’s family.  He never intervened to help them because he simply didn’t care.  Now that he knows them and has seen them, and realizes that they are good people, he is torn.  He pities them and feels a connection to them, through Bob.  He takes ownership over them and their situation.

It is no coincidence that the first thing Scrooge does when he wakes up Christmas morning is send the Cratchit family the biggest turkey he can find.  He wants to help Bob immediately, and not waste any time before putting a little extra meat in Tiny Tim’s belly.  Scrooge later tells Bob that he wants to discuss his affairs, and tells him he will raise his salary “endeavour to assist your struggling family” (Stave Five).

More importantly, Scrooge takes an interest in the Cratchits beyond money.  Particularly, he seems fond of Tiny Tim.

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. (Stave Five)

Since he doesn’t have much of a family, Scrooge adopts the Cratchits as his surrogate family.  He becomes a good friend to Bob and a kindly uncle to Tiny Tim.  He will make sure that the Cratchits never again know hunger, and Tiny Tim will not only live but thrive.  To Scrooge, this is the true meaning of Christmas.  He has come to realize that there is no surplus population.  Every life is precious.

In Tiny Tim, Dickens created a character that tugs at the readers’ heartstrings and puts a name and face to poverty.  How could Dickens’s readers walk past a beggar child on the street now, and not think of Tiny Tim and the fate he so narrowly missed?  Dickens personified the poor, and took them out of the shadows.  His legacy of making readers care about their fellow man lives on to this day.

How is Calpurnia a good influence on Scout? Cite a line of evidence illustrating Calpurnia’s influence.

Calpurnia is a positive influence on Scout throughout the novel. She is a caring individual who is quick to discipline the children when they get out of hand. Calpurnia teaches Scout several lessons in manners and increases her perspective on life. In Chapter 12, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to First Purchase African M. E. Church. Scout gets the opportunity to experience life in the African American community of Maycomb. Scout notices that Calpurnia...

Calpurnia is a positive influence on Scout throughout the novel. She is a caring individual who is quick to discipline the children when they get out of hand. Calpurnia teaches Scout several lessons in manners and increases her perspective on life. In Chapter 12, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to First Purchase African M. E. Church. Scout gets the opportunity to experience life in the African American community of Maycomb. Scout notices that Calpurnia talks differently to members of her church than she does at home. Calpurnia tells Scout that she talks to her friends in an informal manner, because if she spoke formally, they would think she was "puttin' on airs to beat Moses." (Lee 167) Scout responds by saying that she knows better than to talk incorrectly. Calpurnia says, "It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not lady-like---in the second place, folks don't like to have somebody around knowin' more than they do." (Lee 167) Calpurnia teaches Scout an important lesson in modesty. Scout learns that nobody appreciates a person who brags about how much they know and that some information is best kept to oneself. Scout admires Calpurnia's "modest double-life" and wishes to spend more time with her.

What are some metaphors in Chapters 10 and 11 in the book The Souls of Black Folk?

As Du Bois discusses black churches throughout Chapter 10, he calls forth a few metaphors:

First, the idea that an individual church's priests and committees are a government expresses the role of the church in black society as providing structure, order, and social life.

Second, explaining how the history of slavery and the church intermingle, Du Bois mentions that slavery itself was "the dark triumph of Evil"over the slaves. In a parallel metaphor, he...

As Du Bois discusses black churches throughout Chapter 10, he calls forth a few metaphors:

First, the idea that an individual church's priests and committees are a government expresses the role of the church in black society as providing structure, order, and social life.

Second, explaining how the history of slavery and the church intermingle, Du Bois mentions that slavery itself was "the dark triumph of Evil" over the slaves. In a parallel metaphor, he mentions later in the chapter that emancipation was the "Coming of the Lord." These religious metaphors help express the otherwise ineffable horror and relief brought on by slavery and its end, respectively. This chapter ends by anticipating an "Awakening" that must come at some point, which we can understand as another metaphor, perhaps the time when the "veil of color" will completely dissipate.

Regarding that "veil," it's actually the central metaphor in Chapter 11. Du Bois describes how his precious baby boy died of an illness, and how that baby will never to have to live under "the veil" that society would have imposed on him if he had lived beyond infancy. This "veil" is a metaphor for blacks' separation from white society and for the inequality, separation, obscurity, etc. that result, and this is the metaphor that Du Bois employs for most of the entire book.

How does increase of loads in a parallel circuit affect the total resistance?

The increase of loads in a parallel circuit decreases the total resistance.

If the resistance of the original circuit is `R_0` , and an additional load of the resistance R is added in parallel, then the effective resistance of the resultant circuit will be determined by the formula:

`1/R_(eff) = 1/R_0 + 1/R`

(This formula can be derived from the Ohm's Law and the fact that when the branches of a circuit connected in parallel have...

The increase of loads in a parallel circuit decreases the total resistance.

If the resistance of the original circuit is `R_0` , and an additional load of the resistance R is added in parallel, then the effective resistance of the resultant circuit will be determined by the formula:

`1/R_(eff) = 1/R_0 + 1/R`

(This formula can be derived from the Ohm's Law and the fact that when the branches of a circuit connected in parallel have the same voltage - please see the reference link.)

Notice that if we consider this formula without the extra load, it would look like

`1/R_(eff) = 1/R_0`

But, because the extra load is added, the 1/R term is added to the right side of the equation, so this means that the left side has to increase. The quantity `1/R_(eff)` becomes larger because of the addition of the extra load R.

This quantity `1/R_(eff)` , however, is the inverseof the effective resistance `R_(eff)`

so this means that the effective resistance `R_(eff)`  became smaller.

So, whenever an extra load is added in parallel, the total resistance decreases.

This fact can be also understood conceptually. If there are more parallel branches in a circuit, then there are more pathways for the current to go through, so the total resistance of the circuit decreases. This is similar to a crowd of people passing through a hallway: if the hallway widens, it will be easier for people to go through.

Distributive policies can be problematic because they A. tend to be popular but can lead to wasteful spending. B. place undue burdens on...

You have chosen the correct answer for this question.  Option A best describes one of the major problems with distributive policies.

Distributive policies are one of three kinds of policy.  One kind of policy is regulatory policy, which is meant to ensure order and to prevent negative things from happening.  Option B is a major reason why regulatory policy is problematic since regulations tend to increase the cost of doing business.  A second kind of...

You have chosen the correct answer for this question.  Option A best describes one of the major problems with distributive policies.

Distributive policies are one of three kinds of policy.  One kind of policy is regulatory policy, which is meant to ensure order and to prevent negative things from happening.  Option B is a major reason why regulatory policy is problematic since regulations tend to increase the cost of doing business.  A second kind of policy is redistributive policy, which is meant to increase economic equality.  Options C and E are generally problems that come with redistributive policy.  Option D can apply to either regulatory or redistributive policies as both are major sources of partisan contention.

That leaves Option A.  Distributive policies tend to give money or other benefits to people to encourage them to do things the government wants.  These programs tend to be popular among the people who benefit from them (think about farm subsidies, for example, as those are very popular among farmers), but they can often be wasteful because they encourage activities that may really not need government support.

You chose the correct answer!

What are some themes and motifs in The Lucky Chance by Aphra Behn?

Two of the most important themes in the play The Lucky Chance: or, An Alderman's Bargain by Aphra Behn are infidelity and altered identity.

The theme of infidelity is greatly exemplified by Lady Fulbank (who is married to Sir Cautious). This main character has a tryst with Gayman while she hides who she really is. During the tryst, the two sleep together and Lady Fulbank gives Gayman a ring. The next day, Lady Fulbank, now...

Two of the most important themes in the play The Lucky Chance: or, An Alderman's Bargain by Aphra Behn are infidelity and altered identity.

The theme of infidelity is greatly exemplified by Lady Fulbank (who is married to Sir Cautious). This main character has a tryst with Gayman while she hides who she really is. During the tryst, the two sleep together and Lady Fulbank gives Gayman a ring. The next day, Lady Fulbank, now presenting herself as the woman she actually is, questions Gayman about why he was so quick in leaving the party the night before. Here, Gayman gives Lady Fulbank her own ring as a token of his love and goes into an elaborate story about how he was tempted by a lady “devil” who performed in the bedroom like a bag full of “wooden ladles.” Lady Fulbank is amazed at the blatant lie about her sexual prowess. It is at this point that Lady Fulbank’s husband comes in. Lady Fulbank, of course, has already shown infidelity to her husband, and knowing this makes him "cautious." Sir Cautious begins talking to Gayman. Gayman reveals his tryst with a “female devil” and the two argue about money. Gayman, of course, finally reveals himself in his true name of Wastall.

In conclusion, you can see that altered identity is yet another theme here. Both Lady Fulbank and Gayman/Wastall alter their identity . Lady Fulbank alters hers in order to have an adulterous tryst. Wastall becomes Gayman in order to hide his good name while making Sir Cautious a “cuckold.” I find it very interesting to consider infidelity in a completely different century as we are surrounded by it within our own.

In "The Cask of Amontillado", what does Montresor mean when he says he seeks to "punish with impunity"?

Montresor begins his narration of "The Cask of Amontillado" by introducing us to his hatred of Fortunato, though he fails to explain exactly what Fortunato did to engender this hatred. Montresor establishes that these injustices must be addressed, but as he is a calculating and intelligent person, he intends to do so in a careful and dispassionate manner, lest his anger get the better of him and tarnish his justice with something so inconvenient as...

Montresor begins his narration of "The Cask of Amontillado" by introducing us to his hatred of Fortunato, though he fails to explain exactly what Fortunato did to engender this hatred. Montresor establishes that these injustices must be addressed, but as he is a calculating and intelligent person, he intends to do so in a careful and dispassionate manner, lest his anger get the better of him and tarnish his justice with something so inconvenient as an arrest and incarceration.

By "impunity" Montresor means to put himself beyond all suspicion or reproach, yet he still seeks to attack Fortunato in a very specific way. It must be clear to Fortunato that he is being punished, that the punishment comes from Montresor, and that the punishment is in return for Fortunato's insults. However, one might imagine that it would be difficult to accomplish this without committing some crime to which Montresor could be traced; thus his need for impunity, i.e. some way to ensure that there are no witnesses, no evidence, and no means of connecting Montresor to the crime.

This is fulfilled by the crime being committed in an empty home, and the only witness (Fortunato) dying along with it. Montresor never mentions being held suspect for Fortunato's disappearance, just as he planned.

Question- What was Vera's explanation for Mr. Nuttel's unusual behaviour?

The beauty of Vera's explanation of Framton Nuttel's unusual behavior is that it is so strange and exotic that it seems impossible that a girl her age confined to a country home in England could possibly have made it up. And yet it seems plausible. In a country like India where humans die of starvation on the streets every night and are carted away in the morning, there must be dogs who have an even harder time surviving. Dogs have a natural instinct to roam together, so homeless dogs would travel in packs and could be dangerous, especially if a person happened to be alone in an isolated place. Indians put up with a lot from animals because they do not believe in killing living creatures. There are some religious people who wear masks over their mouths to keep from accidentally swallowing an insect. And the toleration of monkeys is well known.

It seems almost necessary for Vera to tell her story about the pariah dogs at the end, since someone would naturally want to know why the visitor suddenly jumped up and went running out of the house without a word of thanks or goodbye. One of the three returning hunters has to say something in order to establish that they are living men and not ghosts. Vera's Uncle Sappleton asks:

"Who was that who bolted out as we came up?"

And Vera casually offers her explanation:

"I expect it was the spaniel," said the niece calmly; "he told me he had a horror of dogs. He was once hunted into a cemetery somewhere on the banks of the Ganges by a pack of pariah dogs, and had to spend the night in a newly dug grave with the creatures snarling and grinning and foaming just above him. Enough to make anyone lose their nerve."

The girl is bored. That is why she decides to stir up some excitement. "The devil finds work for idle hands." She must spend much of her time reading books. And since she is bored with her life, she probably favors escapist literature. She must have picked up the anecdote about the pariah dogs from a book about India. It really is a vivid picture, and it probably would explain how a man might develop "a horror of dogs."