In Romeo and Juliet, Act 2 Scene 2, Romeo compares Juliet to a bright angel. What are the connotations of this?

Romeo's adoring and unrealistic metaphor, which is a part of the beautiful light/dark imagery of the play, connotes his romantic and unrealistic concepts of love and life.

When Romeo sees Juliet in Act I, Scene 5, he is so stunned by her beauty that he reacts emotionally, rather than rationally. Feeling that he must speak to her, although he knows he is in the home of his family's enemies, Romeo rushes up to her, wishing...

Romeo's adoring and unrealistic metaphor, which is a part of the beautiful light/dark imagery of the play, connotes his romantic and unrealistic concepts of love and life.

When Romeo sees Juliet in Act I, Scene 5, he is so stunned by her beauty that he reacts emotionally, rather than rationally. Feeling that he must speak to her, although he knows he is in the home of his family's enemies, Romeo rushes up to her, wishing to kiss her immediately. Then, still filled with his overwhelming infatuation, he risks his very life to climb over the orchard wall to stand beneath her balcony.

As he stands waiting for her to come out, Romeo speaks dreamily, never contemplating the danger or the consequences of his infatuation with Juliet. He simply delights in being in love with a beautiful girl, whom he elevates to the ethereal regions, calling her an angel;

Oh, speak again, bright angel! For thou art
As glorious to this night o'er my head,
As is a winged messenger of Heaven
Unto the white -upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him... (2.1.26-30)

Then, later on in this evening, Romeo calls her "dear saint." Truly, Romeo is in love with the lovely, romantic image of Juliet that he has created. He does not consider the reality of this love and the situation that it places him in.

What are the best and worst qualities about Montag in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury?

Guy Montag's best qualities include being sensitive, introspective, teachable, interested in learning, and tolerant of people who are considered different in his society. For example, as the book opens, Montag enjoys his job of burning books. When Montag meets and speaks with Clarisse, he becomes more self-aware as he ponders the unusual and anti-social things she says to him (28). Montag also becomes sensitive to people like Clarisse because she is different. He doesn't judge or criticize her....

Guy Montag's best qualities include being sensitive, introspective, teachable, interested in learning, and tolerant of people who are considered different in his society. For example, as the book opens, Montag enjoys his job of burning books. When Montag meets and speaks with Clarisse, he becomes more self-aware as he ponders the unusual and anti-social things she says to him (28). Montag also becomes sensitive to people like Clarisse because she is different. He doesn't judge or criticize her. In fact, he appreciates her personality and seeks to understand her better.

Montag's desire to learn more about what he might be missing from life leads him to want to be taught. He seeks out Faber to teach him about how to understand books and comes away with a friend and ally (80). Montag's desire to learn also prompts him to desire a change in the way his society behaves toward life and people who are different. All of these qualities help him evolve into a free-thinking, self-aware, and concerned human being who values learning, love, and freedom.

As far as Montag's worst qualities are concerned, they include being impulsive, prone to outbursts, and easily provoked. While Montag is tolerant with one class of people (the misfits), he is not tolerant of those who follow society or those in authority. For example, Montag is impulsive when he spouts out poetry to some neighbor ladies, which makes one of them cry, and motivates them to report him to the authorities (100). Montag shows he is prone to outbursts when he starts screaming on the train because he can't hear himself think over the advertisements blaring over the loudspeakers (79). Finally, he is easily provoked to commit murder when his patience ends with Captain Beatty's taunting and verbal abuse (119). Captain Beatty is ruthless, deserves what he gets, and actually seems to want to die, but the fact that Montag goes through with the murder shows he has lost control of his senses.

Are aliens real? |

Whether aliens are real or not--and whether there is evidence to prove whether they are real or not--depends upon whom you talk to. If you talk to the average citizenaround the world, you will (usually) be told that, no, they are not real and, no, there is no evidence proving they are real [there is also no evidence, except experiential evidence (what an individual sees or hears), proving they are not real]. If...

Whether aliens are real or not--and whether there is evidence to prove whether they are real or not--depends upon whom you talk to. If you talk to the average citizen around the world, you will (usually) be told that, no, they are not real and, no, there is no evidence proving they are real [there is also no evidence, except experiential evidence (what an individual sees or hears), proving they are not real]. If you talk to conspiracy theorists interested in government cover-ups of alien visitations, you will be told they are real and will be shown piles of visual evidence proving they are real.

If you talk to individuals who have had first-hand experience with observing what is described (by them) as alien space craft, or unidentified flying objects, you will be told aliens are real, and their personal visual experience(s) proves they are real.

Former President Jimmy Carter is one who has seen unexplained lights (1969) and states that, as a scientist and amateur astronomer, he knows what he saw was no astronomical phenomenon and no known military craft (perhaps, though, an experimental, silent military aircraft from a near-by base). Carter filed a belated report in 1973 with the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena detailing his 1969 sighting.

If you talk to certain retired NASA astronauts, like moon-walker Edgar Mitchell of Apollo 14; certain former government officials, like Paul Hellyer, Canadian Defense Minister during the 1960s; certain commercial and military aircraft pilots, like former Air Force Maj. George Filer, you will be told that aliens are real and that there is a substantial body of evidence, including first-hand visual and radar sightings and trackings, proving they are real.

There is a continually growing movement among commercial and military pilots, NASA personnel and officials, and government officials that hopes to encourage average citizens to compel governments across the world to be forthright and forthcoming about what witnesses attest to be the presence of aliens on Earth, in the skies above Earth and--faithfully asserted, even if surprising--on the Moon and in near-space between Earth and the Moon. Consequently, the answer you receive to "Are aliens real?" depends entirely upon whom you ask. And when asking, you will be challenged to weigh the credentials, experience and credibility of the one answering.

What are the resources the districts provide for the capitol in The Hunger Games?

There are thirteen districts of Panem.

District One manufactures luxury goods for the Capitol, including precious gems and perfumes.

District Two's industry is masonry, and people work to mine stone, lay brick, or as blacksmiths.

District Three specializes in technology and they primarily produce computers and televisions.

District Four is a fishing district, and people may take jobs as fisherman or in various ship-related duties.

District Five specializes in energy and produces the electricity which...

There are thirteen districts of Panem.

District One manufactures luxury goods for the Capitol, including precious gems and perfumes.

District Two's industry is masonry, and people work to mine stone, lay brick, or as blacksmiths.

District Three specializes in technology and they primarily produce computers and televisions.

District Four is a fishing district, and people may take jobs as fisherman or in various ship-related duties.

District Five specializes in energy and produces the electricity which powers all of Panem. They utilize solar, nuclear, and water power.

District Six specializes in transportation.

District Seven has lots of forested area and produces wood and paper products.

District Eight produces textiles and clothing.

District Nine is a farmland where grain is grown and harvested.

District Ten is in charge of raising cattle and producing beef.

District Eleven is also agricultural and has many fruit orchards. They also produce some wheat and cotton.

District Twelve was primarily a coal mining district, but after the Second Rebellion they switched to producing medicine.

District Thirteen produced weapons like bombs, but was destroyed in the First Rebellion.

How are Jem and Scout greeted at Calpurnia's church?

Calpurnia's church is called First Purchase African M. E. and it is named "First Purchase" because it was paid for with the first earnings of freed slaves. When Cal, Jem, and Scout first arrive, they are greeted with respect. The men step back to open the path to the door and they take off their hats. The women cross their arms at their waists. These are all signs/gestures of respect. As Cal, Scout, and Jem...

Calpurnia's church is called First Purchase African M. E. and it is named "First Purchase" because it was paid for with the first earnings of freed slaves. When Cal, Jem, and Scout first arrive, they are greeted with respect. The men step back to open the path to the door and they take off their hats. The women cross their arms at their waists. These are all signs/gestures of respect. As Cal, Scout, and Jem walk to the door, Cal greets many of the parishioners. 

Only Lula has a problem with Cal bringing white children to a black church. Lula actively blocks their path. Cal responds, saying the children are her company and that, black or white, it's the same God. Lula backs down and Zeebo says to Jem, "we’re mighty glad to have you all here. Don’t pay no ‘tention to Lula, she’s contentious because Reverend Sykes threatened to church her. She’s a troublemaker from way back, got fancy ideas an’ haughty ways—we’re mighty glad to have you all." 

Reverend Sykes greets them and leads them to the front pew. Reverend Sykes even makes an announcement to publicly welcome Scout and Jem. He notes how they all know Atticus, and the unspoken gesture suggests that they respect Atticus. So, overall, Scout and Jem are greeted with open arms at First Purchase. Only Lula thinks that churches should be absolutely segregated. 

What is the lesson of Freak the Mighty?

This is not really a fair question because this book has so many lessons to teach; however, in my opinion, the main lesson of Freak the Mighty is that friendship and platonic love can breakdown many barriers.

At the beginning of the story, Max has low self-esteem, feels unloved by his father, and deems himself completely unintelligent.  Likewise, at the beginning of the story, Kevin suffers greatly from his birth defects (both with his small...

This is not really a fair question because this book has so many lessons to teach; however, in my opinion, the main lesson of Freak the Mighty is that friendship and platonic love can breakdown many barriers.

At the beginning of the story, Max has low self-esteem, feels unloved by his father, and deems himself completely unintelligent.  Likewise, at the beginning of the story, Kevin suffers greatly from his birth defects (both with his small stature and his limp) and lives only in his imaginary worlds. 

Things change for the two boys because of their platonic love for each other.  Together, the two become the unified "Freak the Mighty."  Max learns that he is both incredibly smart and brave, able to combat even powerful criminals like his father, Kenny "Killer" Kane.  Kevin learns that, although he cannot change his physical deformity, he can completely overcome it by being friends with Max.  Kevin can now move quickly and with strength as "Freak the Mighty."  Further, through the boys' adventures, Kevin explores the real world instead of just living within his imaginary world.

The beauty of friendship transforms the pair of boys.  Although Max struggles with Kevin's death, Max emerges as a stronger person than he ever was before, able to write down the stories of Kevin and Max as "Freak the Mighty."  These stories (the ones found in this book) are a testament to the power of friendship and platonic love.

In Coelho's The Alchemist, Santiago's first dream is to travel. How does he accomplish this?

It is interesting how Santiago finds his way to travel. First, his father wants him to be a priest and go to a seminary. The desire to travel is great with Santiago, but he doesn't have money; therefore, he becomes a shepherd. He figures that shepherds make an honorable living and they get to travel around with their flock. This is great for someone who does not want to feel trapped behind a desk or...

It is interesting how Santiago finds his way to travel. First, his father wants him to be a priest and go to a seminary. The desire to travel is great with Santiago, but he doesn't have money; therefore, he becomes a shepherd. He figures that shepherds make an honorable living and they get to travel around with their flock. This is great for someone who does not want to feel trapped behind a desk or locked inside a cold building every day. But the sheep have their limitations. For example, sheep do travel around the countryside, but they do not go abroad. Santiago's first chosen career only helped him to travel around his own country. 

When he meets the King of Salem, however, he is taught how to fulfill his personal legend--that is, by following omens and listening to one's heart. It is only after Santiago commits himself to following his Personal Legend that he travels. The first omen he must recognize and follow is the dream that shows him he will find his treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. Once Melchizedek points him in the right direction, Santiago travels from Spain to Tarifa, Tanger, across the African desert, to Faiyum (the oasis), and eventually to Egypt. The best explanation of his travels and how he found his way is in the epilogue, which says the following:

"He thought of the many roads he had traveled, and of the strange way God had chosen to show him his treasure. If he hadn't believed in the significance of recurrent dreams, he would not have met the Gypsy woman, the king, the thief, or. . . 'Well, it's a long list. But the path was written in the omens, and there was no way I could go wrong,' he said to himself" (165).