What is the author's message in the story, "The Tell-Tale Heart?"

The primary message author Edgar Allen Poe tries to communicate through "The Tell-Tale Heart" is that the human heart knows the truth and will always have a louder voice than the lies that are told to obscure it. This is demonstrated through the narrator's hallucination of his victim's heart beating loudly through the floorboards. Despite the fact that the narrator dismembered his victim, his guilt and madness drives his delusion that somehow the old man's...

The primary message author Edgar Allen Poe tries to communicate through "The Tell-Tale Heart" is that the human heart knows the truth and will always have a louder voice than the lies that are told to obscure it. This is demonstrated through the narrator's hallucination of his victim's heart beating loudly through the floorboards. Despite the fact that the narrator dismembered his victim, his guilt and madness drives his delusion that somehow the old man's heart is still beating and that it will soon announce his crime to the world. This can be seen as a metaphor for the narrator's own conscience, which ultimately results in his confession to the police.

Another strong message delivered through the text is the unreliability of human perspective. The narrator is so deeply entrenched in his delusional perspective that he confesses to murder in order to prove his sanity. He fails to recognize the possibility that his madness is what motivated his crime in the first place. The narrator's fervent belief in his victim's "evil eye" was enough to move him to murder, despite claiming to love the old man. He also reports hearing "many things in heaven and hell," which further illustrate's Poe's message that it is entirely possible for someone to create a nightmare through his or her own warped perspective when there is no objective reality behind it. In this sense, much of human suffering begins and ends in the mind.

What makes acidity a factor?

Hydrogen ions, which are protons, determine acidity. Conversely, hydroxide ions (OH-) produce basicity. If an aqueous solution contains more H+ than OH- ions it's acidic, and if it contains more OH- than H+ ions it's basic. And acid and a base neutralize each other because the H+ and OH- ions combine to form water. 

The pH scale is based on the concentration of H+ ions in a solution. pH is the negative logarithm of the...

Hydrogen ions, which are protons, determine acidity. Conversely, hydroxide ions (OH-) produce basicity. If an aqueous solution contains more H+ than OH- ions it's acidic, and if it contains more OH- than H+ ions it's basic. And acid and a base neutralize each other because the H+ and OH- ions combine to form water. 

The pH scale is based on the concentration of H+ ions in a solution. pH is the negative logarithm of the H+ concentration. In other words, it's the exponent but with the opposite sign. If a solution has an H+ concentration of 10^(-4), its pH is 4. If it has an H+ concentration of 10^-6, which is lower, it's pH is 6. This explains why lower pH indicates a more acidic solution. An solution with a pH of 7 is neutral because the product of H+ and OH- concentrations in a solution is always 10^(-14), so if the concentration of one is 10^(-7) the other must be the same. If the pH is above 7 the solution will be basic as the OH- concentration exceeds the H+ concentration.

Strong and concentrated acids are corrosive. They react with metals and can cause injury to skin and eyes. Weaker acids are often consumed in foods, for example vinegar and citrus juices. Acids taste sour.

In summary, using brackets to denote concentration,

[H+] > [OH-] = acid

[H+] < [OH-] = base

[H+] = [OH-] = neutral

What are two characteristics from "The Devil and Tom Walker" that let the reader know the story is fiction?

First, the story includes the famous scene at the pine and hemlock swamp where Tom Walker meets the devil or Old Scratch. Tom makes a pact with Old Scratch; however, this fact taken alone, may still lend some ambiguity as to whether the story is fiction or non-fiction. After all, who hasn't heard some true story of someone making a pact with the devil? Usually, however, this 'pact' with the devil is not made face...

First, the story includes the famous scene at the pine and hemlock swamp where Tom Walker meets the devil or Old Scratch. Tom makes a pact with Old Scratch; however, this fact taken alone, may still lend some ambiguity as to whether the story is fiction or non-fiction. After all, who hasn't heard some true story of someone making a pact with the devil? Usually, however, this 'pact' with the devil is not made face to face, as no one has seen the devil. However, in the story, Old Scratch's words soon convince us this is a work of fiction when he exclaims about the future fate of one important colonist, Crowninshield.

"He's just ready for burning!" said the black man, with a growl of triumph. "You see, I am likely to have a good stock of firewood for the winter."

The author tells us that Tom Walker is meeting the devil face to face and he further presents the imagery of the devil presiding over the fires of Hell and over the souls of sinners burning for their sins. Right away, the first few pages of the story tell us that this is a work of fiction. Two characteristics of fiction:

1)Non-fiction relates real events happening to real people, in real places. Fiction is open to interpretation. Near the end of the story, Tom Walker is carried off by the devil towards the direction of the swamp and the old Indian fort. The whole scene of Tom Walker's abduction by Old Scratch is couched in fantastic imagery; such seemingly supernatural occurrences also highlight common superstitious beliefs held by many in 18th century New England. The author tells us that people have been 'accustomed to witches and goblins and tricks of the devil in all kinds of shapes from the first settlement of the colony.' Again, this connects to superstitious beliefs rather than realistic events that have been documented.

2)In fiction, we can find characters like devils, vampires, werewolves, hobbits, changelings, and shapeshifters. However, such characters are not found in non-fiction. Hence, with the inclusion of Old Scratch in Tom Walker's tale, we can be sure that this short story is fiction.

How does the story prove the unconscious heroism of Phoenix Jackson?

Phoenix is described as being "very old and small and she walked slowly." Everything about this description suggests a very weak person. However, she manages to overcome any obstacle that comes her way. She is meek but resourceful. She manages to steal a nickel from the hunter. She seems weak but she is courageous. She stares down the barrel of the hunter's gun showing that she is unafraid. When she is presented with a problem,...

Phoenix is described as being "very old and small and she walked slowly." Everything about this description suggests a very weak person. However, she manages to overcome any obstacle that comes her way. She is meek but resourceful. She manages to steal a nickel from the hunter. She seems weak but she is courageous. She stares down the barrel of the hunter's gun showing that she is unafraid. When she is presented with a problem, she finds a solution. The thorn catches her dress and she is able to free herself. She falls down and, somehow, she doesn't break any bones. She needs her shoe tied and is able to get help from a woman in town. In the end, she retrieves the medicine. In summary, she succeeds time and again. In terms of making this journey, she has proven to be unstoppable, even though she is a frail, old woman.

A journey is a classic narrative structure for a hero. Notable heroes that employ this literary element are Odysseus in The Odyssey, Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, and Aeneas in The Aeneid. Phoenix makes a journey as well and that journey forms "a worn path." The gesture (the fact that she is seeking medication for her grandson) is generous and heroic as well. So, her perseverance is heroic but the meaning behind her efforts (caring for her grandson) is admirable as well. 

Phoenix also never claims to be heroic. The only compliment she gives herself is "I wasn't as old as I thought." She doesn't consider herself to be a hero. She simply does what needs to be done. Therefore, she is not conscious of the notion that her efforts are heroic. This humility actually makes her seem even more heroic. 

What are some symbols in chapters 3 and 4 in Of Mice and Men?

Candy’s dog is a predominant symbol as individuals who are weak and considered useless by society. Once an excellent cattle dog, it is now toothless, smelly, and old. Candy has had it since it was a puppy, and he is reluctant to put it out of its misery, though Carlson points out that it would be a kindness.

The puppies are also a symbol of vulnerability. Candy is promised one to take the place of...

Candy’s dog is a predominant symbol as individuals who are weak and considered useless by society. Once an excellent cattle dog, it is now toothless, smelly, and old. Candy has had it since it was a puppy, and he is reluctant to put it out of its misery, though Carlson points out that it would be a kindness.

The puppies are also a symbol of vulnerability. Candy is promised one to take the place of his dog, and Lennie is given one as well. Lennie likes to pet it, but he does not realize that it is weak and needs the protection of someone else, in this case its mother. Responding to a perceived aggression, Lennie smacks the puppy and kills it, much as he has done to the mice he has been given in the past. His fear of attack causes Lennie to strike back, which also leads to the death of Curley’s wife.

Both Candy’s dog and the puppy symbolize the position of those who are weak and vulnerable in society, such as Lennie. The world has no place for such individuals, and their death is the most likely solution seen by society.

Krissy thinks that Skin-So-Soft by Avon will repel mosquitoes. She takes 100 mosquitoes and puts them in a container, half the container contains a...

a. Write a hypothesis for Krissy.

A hypothesis is an educated explanation for a situation that can be tested. A hypothesis is usually written as an "if..., then..." statement. Therefore, a plausible hypothesis for Krissy would be: "If Skin-So-Soft is present, then there will not be as many mosquitos present". 

b. What was the control group?

The control group is the group in a scientific experiment that does not receive the change that is undergoing observation/...

a. Write a hypothesis for Krissy.

A hypothesis is an educated explanation for a situation that can be tested. A hypothesis is usually written as an "if..., then..." statement. Therefore, a plausible hypothesis for Krissy would be: "If Skin-So-Soft is present, then there will not be as many mosquitos present". 

b. What was the control group?

The control group is the group in a scientific experiment that does not receive the change that is undergoing observation/ experimentation. The control group serves as a benchmark to which the other tested groups are referred. Therefore, the control group for Krissy’s experiment would be the container that contained water.

c. What was the independent variable?

The independent variable is the variable that the scientist changes. In this case, it would be the liquid to which the mosquitos are exposed.

d. What was the dependent variable?

The dependent variable is the variable that the scientist is measuring. In this case, the dependent variable would be the number of mosquitos.

e. What should Krissy conclude?

Conclusions summarize how the data from an experiment either supports or rejects the hypothesis. Data from the experiment should be included within a conclusion.

Krissy should conclude that when Skin-So-Soft is present, then there are not as many mosquitos present. Her hypothesis is supported by the fact that rag that contained Skin-So-Soft had 10 mosquitos near it while 50 mosquitos were over the rag that contained water.

What is a word that describes Walter Cunningham?

Generally, choosing the right word to state or describe something means to use good diction. The word you choose to describe Walter Cunningham should be based on what you know about him, and we probably learn the most about Walter in chapters two and three.

In chapter two we learn that Walter Cunningham regularly comes to school without any lunch or lunch money because his family is so poor. So, one word to describe him...

Generally, choosing the right word to state or describe something means to use good diction. The word you choose to describe Walter Cunningham should be based on what you know about him, and we probably learn the most about Walter in chapters two and three.

In chapter two we learn that Walter Cunningham regularly comes to school without any lunch or lunch money because his family is so poor. So, one word to describe him could be poor, impoverished, or hungry.

In chapter two he also turns down lunch money from Miss Caroline because he knows he will be unable to repay it. Scout explains that the Cunninghams never take anything they cannot repay. This behavior could be described as proud, responsible, prudent, or dignified.

In chapter three, Jem invites Walter back to lunch at the Finch house. Here Walter eats a lot (he is pretty hungry after all!), but he is also very polite and speaks with Atticus about farming. From this we can gather that he is responsible (he helps out on his family farm), he is respectful, and we are reminded how hungry he is. All of those could be words to describe Walter.

In choosing just one word, you might want to look at a word that is supported by at least two examples in the text.