What is the Western American Explorer's Club in the book The Twenty One Balloons?

The Western American Explorer's Club does not and has never existed, to the best of my knowledge. It is a fictionalized version of explorer clubs that were coming into being during that era, for example, the National Geographic Society, which became a formal organization in 1888 or the Explorer's Club, which formally organized in 1903.  These organizations were created to promote and finance exploration, which they continue to do to this day. The founders comprised...

The Western American Explorer's Club does not and has never existed, to the best of my knowledge. It is a fictionalized version of explorer clubs that were coming into being during that era, for example, the National Geographic Society, which became a formal organization in 1888 or the Explorer's Club, which formally organized in 1903.  These organizations were created to promote and finance exploration, which they continue to do to this day. The founders comprised teachers, scientists, geographers, mapmakers, explorers, and wealthy hobbyists. Professor Sherman is a member of the Western American Explorer's Club, and after teaching arithmetic for forty years, he longs to be alone. He says he joined the club because "the ambition of explorers was to go where no one had gone before" (40), and after forty years in the classroom, this was tremendously appealing.  As a club member, he feels he owes his allegiance to his fellow members to relate first to them his astounding adventures. He refuses to tell his story to his rescuers, to reporters, and even to the president of the United States, before he shares the story of his incredible journey with the club.   

"Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee: I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art...

At this point in the play, Lady Macbeth has persuaded her thane husband to commit regicide, but he's still reticent to do it. He's still a good man, albeit one who is considering throwing his life, his honor, his name, and his soul to the devil, all for the sake of the crown. He's waiting for Lady Macbeth's signal that everything is ready for him to walk into Duncan's chamber and murder the king (she...

At this point in the play, Lady Macbeth has persuaded her thane husband to commit regicide, but he's still reticent to do it. He's still a good man, albeit one who is considering throwing his life, his honor, his name, and his soul to the devil, all for the sake of the crown. He's waiting for Lady Macbeth's signal that everything is ready for him to walk into Duncan's chamber and murder the king (she is drugging the grooms/guards). He's having his first "fit" at this point--seeing things that aren't there. It's a sign of things to come (when he sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet and thereafter becomes more and more erratic and paranoid). Here, he realizes that his mind is playing tricks on him--that he isn't all there, that something's wrong with the plan, but he proceeds with it, anyway. 

What do you learn about Katniss based on her internal/external struggles?

In the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the character Katniss appears to have multiple levels to her personality. Throughout the book, her internal and external struggles reveal to the audience that there is more to her than there initially appears. Some of these revelations include insight into her strength and her sensitivity.

Beginning with her strength, many of the external and internal struggles reveal how unbelievably strong Katniss truly is in the story....

In the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the character Katniss appears to have multiple levels to her personality. Throughout the book, her internal and external struggles reveal to the audience that there is more to her than there initially appears. Some of these revelations include insight into her strength and her sensitivity.

Beginning with her strength, many of the external and internal struggles reveal how unbelievably strong Katniss truly is in the story. Regarding the external, Katniss faces the Hunger Games and provides for her family’s wellbeing after her father’s death. Internally, Katniss also expresses personal fears (such as surviving the Hunger Games), but continues to fight through without giving up. Throughout all of these circumstances, Katniss persists and utilizes her strength to overcome the struggles.

Subsequently with her sensitivity, we can see that Katniss truly has a more sensitive and caring spirit underneath her tough exterior. With her internal struggles, she reveals how much she cares for people, even when she has not known them for very long, such as with the loss of her friend Rue. This is also portrayed when she meets the Avox again. Katniss feels deep guilt and remorse because she did not try to save her from her capture. As Katniss herself explains when seeing the girl:

“But even as I utter the words, I feel my insides contracting with anxiety and guilt at the sight of her, and while I can’t pull it up, I know some bad memory is associated with her.”

As a result, these internal and external events reveal the strength of Katniss; however, they portray a sensitive side to her as well. Although throughout the story she naturally seems more comfortable with demonstrating her strength, she illustrates her sensitivity and care for people at numerous moments. This juxtaposition of sensitivity and strength cause Katniss to be an even more admirable character.

In the Crucible by Arthur Miller, who was dancing naked in the woods?

In “The Crucible,” the play begins with Betty Parris lying on the bed.  She is not moving, and her uncle is having a conversation with cousin Abigail about why not.  Though Abigail denies any wrongdoing, we soon learn that what was going on in the woods was far from “harmless fun.”  In fact, the girls are out in the woods with the slave from Barbados, Tituba, casting spells, drinking blood, and dancing.  Dancing would have...

In “The Crucible,” the play begins with Betty Parris lying on the bed.  She is not moving, and her uncle is having a conversation with cousin Abigail about why not.  Though Abigail denies any wrongdoing, we soon learn that what was going on in the woods was far from “harmless fun.”  In fact, the girls are out in the woods with the slave from Barbados, Tituba, casting spells, drinking blood, and dancing.  Dancing would have been prohibited in this early American Puritan society, and dancing in the woods even more so.  It would have been viewed as literally “dancing with the devil,” as Arthur Miller points out that the forest is considered “the devil’s last preserve.”    In the conversation between Abigail Parris, it is revealed that not only was there dancing; there was naked dancing.  Parris accuses Abigail:  “I cannot blink what I saw, Abigail-for my enemies will not blink it. And I thought I saw a….someone naked running through the trees! ABIGAIL: No one was naked! You mistake yourself, Uncle!  (Act I) .  Later on, we find out who was dancing naked when the girls gather to get their story straight.  “ABIGAIL: Now look you, if they be questioning us tell them we danced—I told him as much already. MERCY: And what more? ABIGAIL: He saw you naked. MERCY: Oh, Jesus! (Falls back on bed.)”  (Act I). Mercy Lewis, the Putnam’s servant, is the girl who danced naked in the woods.

When Charlie comes to visit, how does Lyddie react?

In chapter 4, when Lyddie is working at the tavern, Charlie surprises her by showing up for a visit. The two meet in the kitchen, and the cook and Willie are there as well; Mistress Cutler might be coming in and out at any moment, too. Because there is no privacy, the conversation is particularly awkward. Lyddie says kind things to Charlie that aren't true, such as that he looks like he's grown. She notices...

In chapter 4, when Lyddie is working at the tavern, Charlie surprises her by showing up for a visit. The two meet in the kitchen, and the cook and Willie are there as well; Mistress Cutler might be coming in and out at any moment, too. Because there is no privacy, the conversation is particularly awkward. Lyddie says kind things to Charlie that aren't true, such as that he looks like he's grown. She notices that he has a better hair cut than he used to receive from her, and that bothers her. Charlie hasn't been home, nor has he heard from their mother, but he has seen their neighbor Luke, who has been checking on the house for them. Lyddie doesn't like to hear of anyone having climbed into their cabin through the window, even if it was Luke and he was doing it to help them. Lyddie is distressed that Charlie looks so thin and that he hasn't grown much. She wants to discuss their personal situations with him, but she can't really talk about anything that matters. After Charlie leaves, Lyddie thinks of many things she wishes she had talked to him about. His visit leaves her feeling lonelier than ever.

How does Vladek’s friend Ilzecki save his son during the war? How does Vladek try to save his son Richieu? What happens?

Chapter 4, which takes place in 1941, is called "The Noose Tightens" because Nazis are gathering up Jews left and right without any provocation. One scene shows Vladek walking through the streets near the train station and seeing Nazis grabbing and beating up Jews whether they had papers to travel or not. Izlecki hides Vladek from the street brawl in his house and they watch for a few hours as Jews are being shot and beaten up....

Chapter 4, which takes place in 1941, is called "The Noose Tightens" because Nazis are gathering up Jews left and right without any provocation. One scene shows Vladek walking through the streets near the train station and seeing Nazis grabbing and beating up Jews whether they had papers to travel or not. Izlecki hides Vladek from the street brawl in his house and they watch for a few hours as Jews are being shot and beaten up. It is at this point that they feel the proverbial noose tighten, so Vladek and Ilzecki talk about possible solutions for saving their sons from being taken by the Nazis. Ilzecki says that he has a Polish friend who is willing to take and hide his son "until the situation gets better" (83). He says that maybe the Pole will take Richieu, too. Vladek returns home and tells his wife Anja about possibly sending their son to safety. Anja can't do it, though, and Vladek is refused. Vladek says the following about what happened:

"Ilzecki and his wife didn't come out from the war, but his son remained alive; ours did not. And anyway we had to give Richieu to hide a year later" (83).

Richieu was sent to Zawiercie with a woman named Tosha in 1943. When the Gestapo was gathering up everyone from the ghetto and shipping them to Auschwitz, Tosha decided to poison herself and the three children she had in her care: Bibi, Lonia, and Richieu (111).

What are some similes in chapters 9-12 of The Outsiders?

A simile is a comparison between two things that are actually unlike but that have something in common. Like metaphors, similes are figures of speech. Similes, however, contain the words like or as. There are at least three similes in chapter nine of S.E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders. In the beginning of the chapter, the greasers are preparing for the rumble against the Socs and Ponyboy is asking each one of them why they...

A simile is a comparison between two things that are actually unlike but that have something in common. Like metaphors, similes are figures of speech. Similes, however, contain the words like or as. There are at least three similes in chapter nine of S.E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders. In the beginning of the chapter, the greasers are preparing for the rumble against the Socs and Ponyboy is asking each one of them why they like to fight. Sodapop replies that fighting was "Like a drag race or a dance" because for Sodapop those things, like fighting, have an element of fun in them. Ponyboy later concludes that "Soda fought for fun." Before the rumble, the boys are excited and Darry starts to do acrobatic moves on the front lawn when Steve joins him by doing a back flip. Ponyboy describes Steve as "Screeching like an Indian" as he runs across the lawn. Later, at the rumble, just before the boys fight the Socs, Ponyboy describes Darry both literally and figuratively as he compares the stare in his brother's eyes to ice: "He stood there, tall, broad shouldered, his muscles taut under his T-shirt and his eyes glittering like ice."