Why does Hamlet delay? |

Hamlet is famous for being indecisive about killing Claudius to avenge his father's murder. As the play shows, he has sound reasons for not rushing into the castle and stabbing Claudius the moment his conversation with the ghost is over.

First, Hamlet has no way of knowing whether the ghost really is his father or if it is an evil spirit sent to lead him astray. He is wise to try to figure this out...

Hamlet is famous for being indecisive about killing Claudius to avenge his father's murder. As the play shows, he has sound reasons for not rushing into the castle and stabbing Claudius the moment his conversation with the ghost is over.

First, Hamlet has no way of knowing whether the ghost really is his father or if it is an evil spirit sent to lead him astray. He is wise to try to figure this out before he strikes. If the ghost really is an evil spirit, Hamlet will have murdered an innocent man. Not only would he have robbed a good person of his life, but he will have put his own soul in danger of judgment and hellfire after he dies. Therefore, Hamlet does the logical thing. He stages a play that reenacts the crime as the ghost described it. He watches for Claudius's reaction. When Claudius shows guilt, Hamlet has confirmation that the ghost told the truth.

Hamlet still delays. This time he does so because he sees Claudius alone at his prayers. He doesn't think it will be true vengeance if the praying Claudius dies in a state of grace and goes straight to heaven. Unfortunately, Hamlet fails to realize that Claudius is not in state of grace but actually thinking at that moment about how he doesn't repent for his murder.

In "The Cranes" by Peter Meinke, why do you think the man kills the woman? What clues are embedded in the story? How does this indirect kind of...

It is clear in the descriptions from the outset that the couple are out to commit some kind of unnatural act. The fact that there is "a shower curtain on the front seat" that "cracked and hissed" is a hint. We gradually discover their intent as we continue reading. There are little nuances about their plan, which is exposed by what they say not only about themselves but also about the cranes. The language is quite suggestive and one discovers in the end exactly what it was that they had been planning.

In the end we know that they were at the lake for a final goodbye. It is evident that this place is a favorite since the man mentions that he has been "coming here for years." At this specific time they came there to commit suicide. One can surmise that after he had shot his wife, the man would also take his own life.

It is ironic that the couple should wallow in the beauty they witness during their final moments. It is as if their final act is a deliberate and celebratory farewell to all the beauty they are about to leave behind. The actions of the cranes and the remarks the couple make about them seem to be symbolic of their own lives. It is quite apparent that they love and have loved each other deeply and shared the same kind of lifelong commitment they mention the cranes have for each other.

The woman's question about the man feeling alright and blaming herself for what they are about to do, followed by his response about not being able to do much, epitomizes the care they have for one another. It is evident that they both feel that their time has come since he believes that he has become useless and too old:

''No way. I can't smoke, can't drink martinis, no coffee, no candy. I not only can't leap buildings in a single bound, I can hardly get up the goddamn stairs.''

''How old am I anyway, 130?''

She thinks that she has become too much of a burden after an apparent accident, which probably disabled her in some way.

''It's me. Ever since the accident it's been one thing after another. I'm just a lot of trouble to everybody.''

Added to this, their children seem to have forgotten about them. The man's observation of the cranes epitomizes this fact:

"They're probably older than we are! Their feathers are falling out and their kids never write.''

Using the couple's dialogue to tell the story adds a greater element of drama and involves the reader directly. It is as if one is listening in on a very private conversation. It also enables the writer to include subtle hints and suggestions, through the couple's intimate dialogue, about what is to happen. 

The ending does not come as much of a surprise since the writer has subtly suggested what the couple are there for. His references, for example, to the shower curtain and the way that the man "picked up an object wrapped in a plaid towel" (a gun), as well as the woman's question of whether he had remembered to bring something for his ears (protection against the sound of a gun blast), are all indicators of what is to ensue. Further affirmation is found in the author's use of phrases such as "dull and somehow sinister" and "metallic isolation."

What is the propaganda in Squealer's speech?

Propaganda is information that a person or group uses to promote its ideology and ideas. Propaganda tends to be biased and/or based upon distortions of the truth. Napoleon uses Squealer to change the commandments and spread lies about Snowball.

At the end of Chapter 5, Squealer is giving his justification for some of Napoleon's new policies. He concludes by saying that they are better off under Napoleon than Snowball, the traitor. In truth, Snowball was...

Propaganda is information that a person or group uses to promote its ideology and ideas. Propaganda tends to be biased and/or based upon distortions of the truth. Napoleon uses Squealer to change the commandments and spread lies about Snowball.

At the end of Chapter 5, Squealer is giving his justification for some of Napoleon's new policies. He concludes by saying that they are better off under Napoleon than Snowball, the traitor. In truth, Snowball was loyal to the cause of Animalism and certainly was not a traitor. Napoleon and Squealer are using their propaganda to tarnish Snowball's reputation.

When the animals counter this by saying that Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed, Squealer replies, "And as to the Battle of the Cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball’s part in it was much exaggerated." Squealer attempts to downplay Snowball's heroism.

Squealer makes propaganda speeches throughout the novel. Every time Napoleon changes the commandments, Squealer is there to trick the animals into believing that no changes have been made. Every time Napoleon hoards more of the food (i.e., hens' eggs), Squealer is there with a biased justification.

In Chapter 7, Squealer continues the false accusations about Snowball:

Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm, who is even now plotting to attack us and take our farm away from us! Snowball is to act as his guide when the attack begins. But there is worse than that. We had thought that Snowball’s rebellion was caused simply by his vanity and ambition. But we were wrong, comrades. Do you know what the real reason was? Snowball was in league with Jones from the very start! He was Jones’s secret agent all the time.

What are the different types of outline methods for speeches and is there any one better than the others?

There are many different ways of organizing a speech, although there is no singular "best" way to do so. Let's look at a few methods:

• 
  Causal Organization: A causally organized speech is one that attempts to persuade the listener by establishing a "cause and effect" relationship between two variables. It can be organized by cause first and effect second or effect first and cause second. It is best to use this type of organization when you are trying to illustrate a connection between two things, one which depends on the other. 


• 
  Chronological Organization: A chronologically organized speech is one that is organized in a temporal sequence. It is best to use this type of organization when your topic involves some sort of procedural ("how to") or historical topic. 


• 
  Topical Organization: A topically organized speech is one that organizes your topics into subtopics. It is a fairly general pattern of organization that can easily be applied to any number of topics.


• 
  Problem-Solution Organization: A speech organized in this manner attempts to persuade a listener that a problem exists and that there is a solution to this problem. In this organization, the speech writer first describes the seriousness of the problem and then articulates how this problem can be solved.


• 
  Spatial Organization: A speech organized spatially attempts to explain the geographic or directional relationships between points.

Choosing which pattern you want to use is dependent upon the topic and objective of your speech. Take some time to review the above approaches and decide which one would best fit your topic!

Above all, what did Author Miller want to capture in writing The Crucible?

The primary message that author Arthur Miller was trying to convey in The Crucible is that hysteria and fear come at a high cost. This story draws a parallel between the witch trials that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts and the communist witch hunts of the Red Scare in the author's time.

The hysteria featured in The Cruciblebegins with a series of accusations by the local minister's young niece, Abigail. The town becomes paranoid of...

The primary message that author Arthur Miller was trying to convey in The Crucible is that hysteria and fear come at a high cost. This story draws a parallel between the witch trials that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts and the communist witch hunts of the Red Scare in the author's time.

The hysteria featured in The Crucible begins with a series of accusations by the local minister's young niece, Abigail. The town becomes paranoid of spectral threats to their homes and livelihoods, resulting in real violence towards innocent people. In this sense, Miller is trying to convey the importance of making decisions based on evidence rather than superstition and hearsay. What begins as a seemingly innocuous rumor can turn into a flame that engulfs an entire community. Social pressure is another major theme as many of those who accused the "witches" in the story were just going along with what others told them. Others were afraid that if they did not jump on the bandwagon of accusing their neighbors of being witches, they themselves would become the targets of the mob's ire.

To summarize, Miller wanted to capture the idea that the same paranoia and violence that resulted in the New England witch trials have the potential to lead to more violence in all generations. While the target of the hysteria changes, the human suspicion and weaknesses underlying it remain the same and we are all vulnerable to them if we do not temper them with reason.

Give an account of Harris' visit to the maze at Hampton Court and getting lost there.

This is yet another humorous adventure in a book detailing the comic capers of three men in 1880s Britain who decide to take a two-week long boating vacation on the Thames, traveling from Kingston-on-Thames to Oxford. The three are comically ill-suited to handle their many adventures. The Hampton maze episode illustrates not only Harris's incompetence as a tourist but also the incompetence of tourists in general--and perhaps the way they are deceived by being assured that difficult tasks are easy.

Harris decides he wants to go through the maze at Hampton Court, a royal palace once occupied by Henry VIII. A "country cousin" tells him that the maze is simple to navigate: you keep turning right and you'll be out in ten minutes:

Well just go in here, so that you can say you’ve been, but its very simple. Its absurd to call it a maze. You keep on taking the first turning to the right. Well just walk round for ten minutes, and then go and get some lunch.

Once inside, Harris meets up with tired, lost tourists who want to get out of the maze. In short order, Harris has:

absorbed all the persons in the maze. People who had given up all hopes of ever getting either in or out, or of ever seeing their home and friends again, plucked up courage at the sight of Harris and his party, and joined the procession, blessing him. 

Naturally, Harris has no idea what he is doing, and they all continue to be hopelessly lost. Harris becomes "unpopular." In the end, the crowd of lost souls calls out to the "keeper," who climbs into the maze with a ladder, but he is new and cannot lead them out either. They remain lost until the "old keeper" returns from dinner. With dry humor, Harris decides it is a "very fine maze" and that he will try to get George "into it" on their way back. 

In Lord of the Flies, what is Ralph's last name?

Like most of the characters in Lord of the Flies, Ralph is provided no last name. Perhaps because a surname identifies a person as belonging to a particular family, Golding may have given Jack Merridew a last name in order to single him out from the others, since Jack is a powerful force for unlocking the innate evil in the boys. Only one other boy has a known last name: little Percival Wemys Madison, of...

Like most of the characters in Lord of the Flies, Ralph is provided no last name. Perhaps because a surname identifies a person as belonging to a particular family, Golding may have given Jack Merridew a last name in order to single him out from the others, since Jack is a powerful force for unlocking the innate evil in the boys. Only one other boy has a known last name: little Percival Wemys Madison, of the Vicarage, Harcourt St. Anthony, Hants. However, this last name carries a different significance. The recitation of his name accompanied by his address sadly serves to remind the little boy that he is lost and may never see his family. So, perhaps, by not giving the other boys last names, Golding disconnects them more from civilization. Such a disconnection is effective in eliminating distractions from Golding's thematic purpose, as the boys are removed from any traces of their past lives so that their basic savage instincts surface.

Interestingly, Ralph's first name carries enough significance that he really seems to need no last name. His name is from the Old Norse name of Radulfr or Rathuflr. This name is a combination of the elements rad or rath and ulfr, which mean counsel and wolf respectively. This name, then, befits the leader and counselor of the boys, who later becomes a "lone wolf," so to speak, as he is the last to strive for order.

In "The Birds," Nat keeps trying to find a rational explanation for the bird's behaviour. What is the explanation that he thinks of?

When the birds attack Nat's home, he develops a rational explanation as he tries to make sense of this violent and unexpected behaviour. As he tells his wife, Jill, he believes that a change in the weather is responsible for their behaviour. Specifically, an east wind has caused the birds to become disorientated and hungry, as he explains:

"It was the east wind brought them in. They were frightened and lost; they wanted shelter.”

Nat...

When the birds attack Nat's home, he develops a rational explanation as he tries to make sense of this violent and unexpected behaviour. As he tells his wife, Jill, he believes that a change in the weather is responsible for their behaviour. Specifically, an east wind has caused the birds to become disorientated and hungry, as he explains:

"It was the east wind brought them in. They were frightened and lost; they wanted shelter.”

Nat also believes that this east wind has brought new flocks of birds to the area which has added to the birds' desperation and confusion: 

"They aren’t the birds, maybe, from here around. They’ve been driven down from upcountry."

Nat's belief in this explanation never waivers, even though other people disagree with him. According to Mr Trigg, for example, there are rumours in town that the Russians are somehow responsible for the birds' attacks. Similarly, Mrs Trigg also suggests that the birds might be "foreign" birds which have flown down from the Arctic Circle. 

Du Maurier, however, never reveals what has caused this change in behaviour nor does she reveal the fate of Nat Hocken and his family. 

What happens when Scout and Jem walk home from the pageant?

In Chapter 28, Jem and Scout are walking home from the Halloween pageant when they hear someone following them. Initially, the children believe Cecil Jacobs is trying to scare them, but then Bob Ewell attacks them. Bob Ewell pulls Jem backward and breaks his arm. Bob then squeezes Scout and attempts to stab her, but she is saved after Boo Radley heroically comes to her defense. Boo Radley wrestles with Bob Ewell and is able to...

In Chapter 28, Jem and Scout are walking home from the Halloween pageant when they hear someone following them. Initially, the children believe Cecil Jacobs is trying to scare them, but then Bob Ewell attacks them. Bob Ewell pulls Jem backward and breaks his arm. Bob then squeezes Scout and attempts to stab her, but she is saved after Boo Radley heroically comes to her defense. Boo Radley wrestles with Bob Ewell and is able to take Bob's weapon. Boo stabs and kills Bob Ewell with his own knife, then picks up Jem to take him home. Scout was unable to witness the attack because of her cumbersome costume and sees the figure of a man staggering down the road holding Jem. Later, it is revealed that Boo Radley saved the children, and Sheriff Tate decides not to tell the community about his heroics.

`f(x) = secx , n=2` Find the n'th Maclaurin polynomial for the function.

Maclaurin series is a special case of Taylor series that is centered at `a=0` . The expansion of the function about 0 follows the formula:

`f(x)=sum_(n=0)^oo (f^n(0))/(n!) x^n`

 or

`f(x)= f(0)+(f'(0)x)/(1!)+(f^2(0))/(2!)x^2+(f^3(0))/(3!)x^3+(f^4(0))/(4!)x^4 +...`

To determine the Maclaurin polynomial of degree `n=2` for the given function `f(x)=sec(x)` , we may apply the formula for Maclaurin series.

We list `f^n(x)` as:

`f(x)=sec(x)`

`f'(x) =tan(x)sec(x)`

`f^2(x)=2sec^3(x)-sec(x)`

Plug-in `x=0` , we get:

`f(0)=sec(0)`

        `=1`

`f'(0)=tan(0)sec(0)`

 ...

Maclaurin series is a special case of Taylor series that is centered at `a=0` . The expansion of the function about 0 follows the formula:

`f(x)=sum_(n=0)^oo (f^n(0))/(n!) x^n`

 or

`f(x)= f(0)+(f'(0)x)/(1!)+(f^2(0))/(2!)x^2+(f^3(0))/(3!)x^3+(f^4(0))/(4!)x^4 +...`

To determine the Maclaurin polynomial of degree `n=2` for the given function `f(x)=sec(x)` , we may apply the formula for Maclaurin series.

We list `f^n(x)` as:

`f(x)=sec(x)`

`f'(x) =tan(x)sec(x)`

`f^2(x)=2sec^3(x)-sec(x)`

Plug-in `x=0` , we get:

`f(0)=sec(0)`

        `=1`

`f'(0)=tan(0)sec(0)`

          `= 0 *1`

          `=0`

`f^2(0)=2sec^3(0)-sec(0)`

        `= 2*1 -1`

        `=1`

Applying the formula for Maclaurin series, we get:

`f(x)=sum_(n=0)^2 (f^n(0))/(n!) x^n`

        `=1+0/(1!)+1/(2!)x^2`

       `=1+0/1+1/2x^2`

         `=1+1/2x^2 or 1 +x^2/2 `

Note: `1! =1` and `2! =1*2 =2.`

The 2nd degree Maclaurin polynomial for  the given function `f(x)= sec(x)` will be:

`sec(x) =1+x^2/2`

or `P_2(x)=1+x^2/2`

Explain (with quotes) how Mayella Ewell is an outcast and miserable in To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Ewells are looked down upon by just about every segment of Maycomb's population. As the previous post points out, even Tom Robinson felt bad for Mayella, given the situation she was in. Her own father is, at first, not willing to claim her and makes a joke out of his paternity when asked if he is in fact her father. He responds to Mr. Gilmore's question saying "if I ain't, I cain't do nothing...

The Ewells are looked down upon by just about every segment of Maycomb's population. As the previous post points out, even Tom Robinson felt bad for Mayella, given the situation she was in. Her own father is, at first, not willing to claim her and makes a joke out of his paternity when asked if he is in fact her father. He responds to Mr. Gilmore's question saying "if I ain't, I cain't do nothing about it now, her ma's dead." Though this is spoken half in jest, it indicates again how no one cares much for Mayella, even her own father.

Later on when asked what happened, Bob Ewell recalls that he heard Mayella "screamin' like a stuck hog," equating her with a pig. Again he displays the utter contempt he had for her, despite the fact that she was caring for all her brothers and sisters and keeping a roof over his own head.

When Atticus begins to question Mayella on the stand, she objects loudly to being called "ma'am," and insists that Atticus is mocking her in doing so. She has existed so far outside the bounds of polite society that she feels that a normal term of respect, something most other women in Maycomb would expect in such a formal setting, is an insult.

`y^2=28x` Graph the equation. Identify the focus, directrix, and axis of symmetry of the parabola.

`y^2=28x`

Take note that one of the vertex form of parabola is

`(y - k)^2 = 4p(x-h)`

where

(h,k) is the vertex and,

p is the distance between vertex and focus and also the same distance between the vertex and directrix.

So to graph it, first find the vertex.

Rewriting the given equation in exact form as above, it becomes:

`(y-0)^2 =28(x-0)`

So the vertex of the parabola is (0,0).

Then, determine the points of...

`y^2=28x`

Take note that one of the vertex form of parabola is

`(y - k)^2 = 4p(x-h)`

where

(h,k) is the vertex and,

p is the distance between vertex and focus and also the same distance between the vertex and directrix.

So to graph it, first find the vertex.

Rewriting the given equation in exact form as above, it becomes:

`(y-0)^2 =28(x-0)`

So the vertex of the parabola is (0,0).

Then, determine the points of the parabola. To do so, isolate the y.

`y^2=28x`

`y=+-sqrt(28x)`

`y=+-2sqrt(7x)`

Then, assign a value to x. And solve for the y values.

`x=7,y=+-2sqrt(7*7) =+-2*7=+-14`

Plot these three points (0,0), (7,-14) and (7,14). And, connect them.

Therefore, the graph of the given equation is:

To determine the focus and directrix, consider the coefficient of the unsquared portion of the given equation and set it equal to 4p.

`4p=28`

And solve for p.

`p=28/4`

`p=7`

So both the focus and the directrix are 7 units from the vertex.

Since the parabola opens to the right, the coordinates of the focus is:

`(h + p, k) = (0+7, 0) = (7,0)`

And the equation of directrix is:

`x=h-k`

`x=0-7`

`x=-7`

Therefore, the focus is `(7,0)` and the directrix is `x=-7` .

Take note that the axis of symmetry of a parabola is a line that passes the vertex and the focus. And it is perpendicular to the directrix. (See attachment.)

Therefore, the equation of its axis of symmetry is `y=0` .

Why didn't the people of Maycomb have any money in the book To Kill a Mockingbird?

The main reason why the people of Maycomb didn’t have any money was because the book was set during the Great Depression of the 1930s.  In 1929, there was a stock market crash that left many investors penniless.  Banks went bankrupt, and jobs were scarce.  The president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, implemented relief programs to help the economy.  In the story, Bob Ewell got a job with the WPA, a relief organization meant to give men...

The main reason why the people of Maycomb didn’t have any money was because the book was set during the Great Depression of the 1930s.  In 1929, there was a stock market crash that left many investors penniless.  Banks went bankrupt, and jobs were scarce.  The president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, implemented relief programs to help the economy.  In the story, Bob Ewell got a job with the WPA, a relief organization meant to give men jobs.  Harper Lee described Maycomb as a place where “there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy, and no money to buy it with.”  Harper Lee also alluded to the famous inauguration speech of Roosevelt’s when she mentioned that they have been told they have “nothing to fear but fear itself.”

Maycomb was a small town whose way of life was slowly dying as well. There weren't any major industries to keep the town solvent, and like many small towns in America, Maycomb was on the verge of social and economic collapse.   Maycomb was mainly a farming community that struggled during this time.

The extreme poverty caused by the Great Depression was best shown through the living conditions of the Ewells and the discrimination against black members of the community.  Blacks would have been the last segment of the population to get jobs during this time, and their segregation from Maycomb showed the depth of poverty they experienced.

Would the Biblical allusions in "Ransom of Red Chief" be ironic or just further describe the ironic situation that a child is terrorizing his...

The biblical allusions that O. Henry employs in "The Ransom of Red Chief" do reinforce the overall irony of the story's plot—a child getting the better of his kidnappers—but also feature delightful irony in their own right.

Comparing Red Chief's flinging the stone at Bill to the story of David and Goliath is ironic because by this time in the story, readers likely already feel sorry for Bill and dislike Red Chief. It's the most...

The biblical allusions that O. Henry employs in "The Ransom of Red Chief" do reinforce the overall irony of the story's plot—a child getting the better of his kidnappers—but also feature delightful irony in their own right.

Comparing Red Chief's flinging the stone at Bill to the story of David and Goliath is ironic because by this time in the story, readers likely already feel sorry for Bill and dislike Red Chief. It's the most natural thing in the world for people to take the side of the underdog (the David against the Goliath), yet readers know Red Chief is no hero. He has already pitched rocks at a kitten, after all. As a result, we're tempted to take Goliath's side.

When Bill asks Sam if he knows who his favorite Bible character is, it's ironic on a couple of levels. First, we don't expect an outlaw to have a favorite Bible character. Even Sam thinks the question is a result of Bill's being temporarily knocked senseless. Second, though, Bill's choice of a favorite is one of the worst villains in the Bible—King Herod. Herod tried to kill the Christ Child. Once readers get the joke, though, they can understand Bill's choice. If King Herod had been around at the right time in Summit's history, Bill's tormenter would never have been able to launch the rock that could have killed Bill. 

The third allusion isn't strictly biblical, but it is religious. Bill compares himself to "martyrs in old times. . . that suffered death rather than give up the particular graft they enjoyed." This passage is ironic because it presents martyrs as if they were petty criminals, like Bill and Sam. Bill correlates the tortures he has endured at the hands of Red Chief with the persecution stalwarts of the faith endured for their commitment to God. Bill is no saint, but Red Chief does seem to possess "supernatural" ability to wear down his enemy.

The clever, multi-layered irony of the biblical allusions adds to the humor of "The Ransom of Red Chief."

What are five myths about the Radleys' house and their family in To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the Radleys live a few doors down from the Finch children. The house is across the street from Miss Maudie's and behind the elementary school. The Radleys' property also has a few oak and nut trees, whose nuts fall into the schoolyard. In chapter 1, Scout tells about how people believe anything associated with the Radleys' house is evil. As a result, school children won't even touch the pecans that fall into the school yard, let alone eat any. Children believe that if they eat the nuts from the Radleys' property, they'll die. Additionally, children won't go after any baseballs that might go into the Radleys' backyard. Scout says, "A baseball hit into the Radley yard was a lost ball and no questions asked" (9). It's as though someone might spontaneously combust from stepping foot into the yard. If that's the case, then no one would even think of knocking on the door to ask permission to retrieve a ball!

Another myth about the house is that it is bad luck. For example, most of those from the black community won't walk on the sidewalk in front of it. Scout explains this myth by saying the following: "A Negro would not pass the Radley Place at night, he would cut across to the sidewalk opposite and whistle as he walked" (9). That superstitious feeling even carries over to Calpurnia who spits when Mr. Radley's body is taken out of the house. The whistling and spitting practices are used to ward off evil spirits or bad luck, apparently. 

Finally, other myths are based on Boo Radley and his activity in and out of the house. First, Stephanie Crawford claims that he lurks through neighborhoods during the night and looks in at windows. Then, Jem perpetuates more myths when he describes Boo as though he is a monster as follows:

"Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were bloodstained . . . There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time" (13).

Not only is Boo believed to be a monster who peeks into windows at night, but he also has a couple of stories (myths) about him misbehaving that circulate through town. The first story involves him joyriding with some Cunningham boys in high school, which lands him in jail; then, the second one has to do with him stabbing his father in the leg with scissors while living at home as an adult. Both stories are used to support superstitious and prejudiced attitudes towards the Radleys and their home. As with all myths, the person hearing the stories must determine which part is real and which part is fabricated.  

Why did Fitzgerald begin The Great Gatsby with a quote from Thomas Parke D’Invilliers, a character from Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise?...

D'Invilliers was both a pen name for Fitzgerald and a character based on Fitzgerald's friend, the poet John Peale Bishop. The quote reflects Gatsby's conviction that if he can earn enough money and remake himself, he can win the love of Daisy Buchanan. The "gold hat" in the poem symbolizes Gatsby's fortune and the grand home and enormous parties he throws to attract her attention. As Nick points out using different language, Gatsby was one...

D'Invilliers was both a pen name for Fitzgerald and a character based on Fitzgerald's friend, the poet John Peale Bishop. The quote reflects Gatsby's conviction that if he can earn enough money and remake himself, he can win the love of Daisy Buchanan. The "gold hat" in the poem symbolizes Gatsby's fortune and the grand home and enormous parties he throws to attract her attention. As Nick points out using different language, Gatsby was one to "bounce high," dream big, and aspire to realize a vision. In the epigraph, the narrator is likewise trying to woo his lover with money (the "gold hat") and by "high-bouncing:" trying hard to get her attention. He believes that by doing so the woman will inevitably end up saying, "I must have you." It reflects a very materialistic view of love. Fitzgerald chooses it because this is how Gatsby pursues Daisy, although with less success than the gold-hatted man in this quote.

Why label products that contain GMOs? Should the government mandate this?

There has been lots of debate on whether products that contain GMOs should be labeled or not. The supporters argue that GMO food may carry health risks and consumers deserve the right to know what's in the food they buy. The opponents, claim that GMO food has not been proved unsafe and labeling would result in unnecessary worry among consumers. Some states have already passed GMO labeling laws, while FDA has yet to decide if...

There has been lots of debate on whether products that contain GMOs should be labeled or not. The supporters argue that GMO food may carry health risks and consumers deserve the right to know what's in the food they buy. The opponents, claim that GMO food has not been proved unsafe and labeling would result in unnecessary worry among consumers. Some states have already passed GMO labeling laws, while FDA has yet to decide if mandatory labeling should be made nationwide.

The fact is that over 60 countries in the world have mandated GMO labeling. National polls show that over 90% of the public favors labeling. Although GMO food has not been proved unsafe, it has not been proved safe, either. As a relatively new technology of which the safety has yet to be verified by time, genetic engineering should be made known to consumers whenever used in food. One of the major concerns of the opponents is that a GMO label may cause that food to lose value and become less popular among consumers. Undoubtedly, an organic label is much more desirable than a GMO label, even though organic products have their drawbacks too. However, food producers should not be allowed to avoid adding an important label simply because it might impact market value. After all, eating GMO food is somewhat like a long-term experiment in which participants would receive economic benefits, as food containing GMO is generally cheaper than non-GMO food. Given enough information about GMO food, it is ultimately down to the consumers to decide whether they are willing to participate in this experiment or not. Proponents of GMO labelling argue that unless GMO food can be proved safe by sufficient evidence, this label should always be made visible to the consumers.

What are two differences Martin Luther and the Catholic Church had?

Martin Luther is considered the father of the Protestant Reformation. Luther wrote the 95 Theses in order to protest what he regarded as flaws in Catholic doctrine. One of these perceived flaws was the papal bureaucracy acting as an intermediary between God and Man. Luther saw this as unnecessary, as the apostles did not have this when Jesus was alive. Luther also believed many of the priests and friars who served the daily needs of...

Martin Luther is considered the father of the Protestant Reformation. Luther wrote the 95 Theses in order to protest what he regarded as flaws in Catholic doctrine. One of these perceived flaws was the papal bureaucracy acting as an intermediary between God and Man. Luther saw this as unnecessary, as the apostles did not have this when Jesus was alive. Luther also believed many of the priests and friars who served the daily needs of the people were corrupt and did not know Church doctrine.  

Another difference Luther had with the Catholic Church was the selling of indulgences. Luther saw the only way into Heaven was faith in Christ, not buying and selling indulgences. The Catholic Church of the early sixteenth century had a system of indulgences, which meant paying for sins by earthly means. Luther did not see any of this in the New Testament, so he did not want it in his sect of Christianity. He wanted the focus to return to individual prayer and faith.

`int_0^oo x^(n)e^(-x) dx` Use mathematical induction to verify that the following integral converges for any positive integer n

Basis (n=1)

We will use integration by parts

`int u dv=uv-int v du`

`int_0^infty xe^-x dx=|[u=x,dv=e^-x dx],[du=dx,v=-e^-x]|=`

`-xe^-x|_0^infty+int_0^infty e^-x dx=(-xe^-x-e^-x)|_0^infty=`

`lim_(x to infty)(-xe^-x-e^-x)-(0-1)=`

In order to calculate the above integral we shall use L'Hospital's rule:

`lim_(x to a)(f(x))/(f(x))=lim_(x to a) (f'(x))/(g'(x))`

 First we rewrite the limit so we could use L'hospital's rule.

`lim_(x to infty)-xe^-x=lim_(x to infty)-x/e^x=`

Now we differentiate.

`lim_(x to infty)-1/e^x=0`

Let us now return to calculating the integral.

`0-0-0+1=1`

As we can...

Basis (n=1)

We will use integration by parts

`int u dv=uv-int v du`

`int_0^infty xe^-x dx=|[u=x,dv=e^-x dx],[du=dx,v=-e^-x]|=`

`-xe^-x|_0^infty+int_0^infty e^-x dx=(-xe^-x-e^-x)|_0^infty=`

`lim_(x to infty)(-xe^-x-e^-x)-(0-1)=`

In order to calculate the above integral we shall use L'Hospital's rule:

`lim_(x to a)(f(x))/(f(x))=lim_(x to a) (f'(x))/(g'(x))`

 First we rewrite the limit so we could use L'hospital's rule.

`lim_(x to infty)-xe^-x=lim_(x to infty)-x/e^x=`

Now we differentiate.

`lim_(x to infty)-1/e^x=0`

Let us now return to calculating the integral.

`0-0-0+1=1`

As we can see the integral converges to 1.

Let us assume that integral `int_0^infty x^n e^-x dx` converges for all `n leq k.`

Step (n=k+1)

We will once again use integration by parts.

`int_0^infty x^(k+1)e^-x dx=|[u=x^(k+1),dv=e^-x dx],[du=(k+1)x^k dx,v=-e^-x]|=`

`-x^(k+1)e^-x|_0^infty+(k+1)int_0^infty x^k e^-x dx`

From the assumption we know that the above integral converges, therefore we only need to show that `x^(k+1)e^-x|_0^infty` also converges. 

`x^(k+1)e^-x|_0^infty=lim_(x to infty)x^(k+1)e^-x-0=lim_(x to infty) x^(k+1)/e^x`

If we now apply L'Hospital's rule `k+1` times, we will get

`lim_(x to infty) ((k+1)!)/e^x=0`

Thus, we have shown that the integral converges for `n=k+1` concluding the induction.

QED  

The image below shows graphs of the function under integral for different values of `n.` We can see that `x`-axis is asymptote for all of the graphs meaning that the function converges to zero for all `n.` The only difference is that the convergence gets a little bit slower as `n` increases and so the area under the graph increases as well. However, the area remains finite for all `n in NN,` as we have already concluded.

What is the volume occupied by 14 gm of O2 at S.T.P?

The ideal gas law is an idealized relationship between pressure, temperature, number of moles, and volume of a given gas. It is derived from the Kinetic Theory of Gases and relies on the assumption that:

1. Gases are comprised of a large number of atoms or molecules moving according to the laws of motions,

2. The atoms and/or molecules are negligibly tiny, and their size is almost nothing compared to the distance between neighboring particles,

...

The ideal gas law is an idealized relationship between pressure, temperature, number of moles, and volume of a given gas. It is derived from the Kinetic Theory of Gases and relies on the assumption that:

1. Gases are comprised of a large number of atoms or molecules moving according to the laws of motions,

2. The atoms and/or molecules are negligibly tiny, and their size is almost nothing compared to the distance between neighboring particles,

3. The atoms and/or molecules are independent - i.e. they do not interact with each other, other than during elastic collisions, which happen instantaneously.

According to the ideal gas law, PV = nRT, where R is the ideal gas constant, 0.0821 Latm/molK. At STP (standard temperature and pressure), T = 273.15K and P = 1 atm.

We want to know the volume occupied by 14 grams of O2 at STP. The molecular weight is 32.0 g/mol (15.9994 * 2). Then, 14 grams is equivalent to  0.4375 moles.

The volume, derived from the ideal gas law, can be calculated as follows:

`V = (nRT)/P = (0.4375*0.0821*273.15)/1 = 9.81L`

Hence, at STP, 14 grams of O2 gas occupies 9.81L. 

`sum_(n=0)^oo 3/5^n` Determine the convergence or divergence of the series.

Recall that infinite series converges to single finite value `S`   if the limit if the partial sum `S_n` as n approaches `oo` converges to `S` . We follow it in a formula:

`lim_(n-gtoo) S_n=sum_(n=1)^oo a_n = S ` .

To evaluate the `sum_(n=0)^oo 3/5^n` , we may express it in a form:

`sum_(n=0)^oo 3/5^n =sum_(n=0)^oo 3* (1/5^n)`

               `=sum_(n=0)^oo 3 *(1/5)^n`

 This resembles form of geometric series with...

Recall that infinite series converges to single finite value `S`   if the limit if the partial sum `S_n` as n approaches `oo` converges to `S` . We follow it in a formula:

`lim_(n-gtoo) S_n=sum_(n=1)^oo a_n = S ` .

To evaluate the `sum_(n=0)^oo 3/5^n` , we may express it in a form:

`sum_(n=0)^oo 3/5^n =sum_(n=0)^oo 3* (1/5^n)`

               `=sum_(n=0)^oo 3 *(1/5)^n`

 This resembles form of geometric series with an index shift:` sum_(n=0)^oo a*r^n` .

By comparing "`3 *(1/5)^n` " with  "`a*r^n ` ", we determine the corresponding values: `a = 3` and `r =1/5 ` or `0.2` .

 The convergence test for the geometric series follows the conditions:

 a) If `|r|lt1`  or `-1 ltrlt1 ` then the geometric series converges to `sum_(n=0)^oo a*r^n = a/(1-r)` .

 b) If `|r|gt=1` then the geometric series diverges.

The `r=1/5` or `0.2` from the given infinite series falls within the condition `|r|lt1` since `|1/5|lt1` or `|0.2|lt1` . Therefore, we may conclude that `sum_(n=0)^oo 3/5^n` is a convergent series.

By applying the formula: `sum_(n=0)^oo a*r^n= a/(1-r)` , we determine that the given geometric series will converge to a value:

`sum_(n=0)^oo 3/5^n =sum_(n=0)^oo 3 *(1/5)^n`

               `= 3/(1-1/5)`

               ` =3/(5/5-1/5)`

               ` =3/(4/5)`

               ` =3*(5/4)`

               ` = 15/4 or 3.75`

What is the purpose of the Rehabilitation Act Section 508 and its relationship to Technology Enhanced Learning Environments? ...

The purpose of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is to ensure that all web content is accessible to people with disabilities; by ensuring access, Act 508 ensures that learning environments where information and communications technology are used are also accessible to people with disabilities.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to Web applications,...

The purpose of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is to ensure that all web content is accessible to people with disabilities; by ensuring access, Act 508 ensures that learning environments where information and communications technology are used are also accessible to people with disabilities.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to Web applications, Web pages and all attached files on the intranet, as well as, internet." This only applies to federal websites, however—it does not regulate the entire internet. 

Technology-enhanced learning environments refer to learning environments that make use of information and communications technology. This can include computers, tablets, the internet, and many other things. Learning environments support the use of active learning, in which students engage in active rather than passive modes of learning. Section 508 ensures that students with disabilities in technology-enhanced learning environments can access federal sites. This helps keep them from being excluded in any active learning processes that involve federal websites or content.

Section 508 was first enacted in 1998.

What happened after the death of Macdonwald?

According to the Captain with whom King Duncan speaks in Act 1, Scene 2, Macbeth bravely confronts the traitor, Macdonwald, stabbing him in the navel and ripping him open all the way up to his jaw.  After Macbeth "unseamed" his foe, Macbeth placed Macdonwald's head on a spike on the battlements so that all can see what becomes of a traitor (1.2.24).  However, the Captain continues, Macbeth and Banquo were not done fighting yet: after...

According to the Captain with whom King Duncan speaks in Act 1, Scene 2, Macbeth bravely confronts the traitor, Macdonwald, stabbing him in the navel and ripping him open all the way up to his jaw.  After Macbeth "unseamed" his foe, Macbeth placed Macdonwald's head on a spike on the battlements so that all can see what becomes of a traitor (1.2.24).  However, the Captain continues, Macbeth and Banquo were not done fighting yet: after the battle against Macdonwald's rebel forces was over, the rebels having fled the scene, the king of Norway saw his opportunity to attack when the loyal Scottish forces were tired and weakened.  Thus, the king ordered a new attack, with fresh soldiers, on Macbeth's army.  Although Macbeth and Banquo were clearly worried, they were victorious in this battle as well.

what were the Assyrians greatest achievements?

The Assyrians are credited with a great many achievements through their timeline. They had practical inventions, like locks and keys, paved roads, use of iron, plumbing, flushing toilets, and the sexagesimal clock (the beginnings of the way we tell time today). The Assyrians also brought about the use of the first guitar, first libraries, first magnifying glass, and the first postal system.

In addition, Assyria contributed invaluable ideas to the world, such as the concept...

The Assyrians are credited with a great many achievements through their timeline. They had practical inventions, like locks and keys, paved roads, use of iron, plumbing, flushing toilets, and the sexagesimal clock (the beginnings of the way we tell time today). The Assyrians also brought about the use of the first guitar, first libraries, first magnifying glass, and the first postal system.

In addition, Assyria contributed invaluable ideas to the world, such as the concept of imperial administration, "of dividing the land into territories administered by local governors who report to the central authority, the King of Assyria" ("Brief History of Assyrians"). Assyria brought high civilization to the people groups living in the empire.

Perhaps the greatest achievement credited to the Assyrians is the founding of the first university, where theology, philosophy and medicine were taught. This was the School of Nisibis. Their statutes would be used as inspiration for the first Italian university.

Literature was also an important contribution by the Assyrians, who systematically translated Greek texts into Assyrian. The subjects included religion, science, philosophy, and medicine. A great medical textbook on ophthalmology, written by Hunayn ibn-Ishaq in 950 A.D. would remain an definitive source up to 1800.

Why is Gordon's character in this novel? What is his significant role?

Gordon is a First Nations character who adapts to the white world in the novel. At first, Gordon is supposed to marry Keetah, as this union has been arranged by Keetah's grandmother. However, early in the book, Jim says to the vicar, Mark Brian, "Gordon is Che-kwa-la, which means fast-moving water. . . and Keetah is the pool" (page 48). Jim notes that Gordon has a character that will continue to move and change, while...

Gordon is a First Nations character who adapts to the white world in the novel. At first, Gordon is supposed to marry Keetah, as this union has been arranged by Keetah's grandmother. However, early in the book, Jim says to the vicar, Mark Brian, "Gordon is Che-kwa-la, which means fast-moving water. . . and Keetah is the pool" (page 48). Jim notes that Gordon has a character that will continue to move and change, while Keetah prefers stillness and staying in the same place.

Gordon attends the government school in Alert Bay, and he has already lost his father to the sea in the Queen Charlotte Straits. His mother dies while giving birth to her sixth child at age 46. As she is dying, she implores the vicar, Mark Brian, "Help Gordon get an education" (page 82).

When Gordon attends his mother's funeral, he confides in Mark that he will now have to leave school. However, Mark has other plans. He sends the older children in Gordon's family to the residential school with Gordon while the younger ones are cared for in the village. As Gordon leaves for the white man's school, the author writes of Gordon, "he was leaving his boyhood behind and would not find it again." 

Gordon feels at home in the white world. When he returns home, he is wearing a "city suit," and his face is characterized by "discipline that marked the size of his battle" (page 121). In other words, it is evident by Gordon's face that he will fight to assimilate into the white world, even if this quest is very difficult. Keetah joins Gordon in the white man's world but returns home again. She knows that Gordon would prefer to marry a white woman and that she is "too Indian for Gordon" (page 138). Gordon's role in the novel is to become educated and push for assimilation into the white world, while Keetah stays in the village and marries Jim. 

What contributed to the rapid industrialization of America?

Technology was a factor that contributed to the rapid industrialization of America.

In the period following the Civil War, technology played a very large role in the industrialization of America.  For example, the technology behind the Bessemer process contributed to rapid economic growth.  The Bessemer process helped to produce vast quantities of steel in an inexpensive manner. This steel became an invaluable resource in industrialization. Technology in the form of transportation helped to economically transform...

Technology was a factor that contributed to the rapid industrialization of America.

In the period following the Civil War, technology played a very large role in the industrialization of America.  For example, the technology behind the Bessemer process contributed to rapid economic growth.  The Bessemer process helped to produce vast quantities of steel in an inexpensive manner. This steel became an invaluable resource in industrialization. Technology in the form of transportation helped to economically transform America, as well.  The development of the Transcontinental Railroad unified the nation through the railways.  The result was that goods could be easily transported across America and this helped to facilitate industrialization in America.

Another technological advancement that helped to industrialize the nation was in Henry Ford's embrace of the assembly line.  This method increased production of automobiles while maximizing efficiency.  Finally, Edison's invention of the light bulb was another example of how technology contributed to American industrialization.  With the light bulb, industrialization growth could take place at any given time.  Industrial expansion was no longer limited by sun light.  

These technological advancements were critical in the rapid transformation of the nation from farms to factories.   As a result, economic growth advanced at a very rapid rate and helped to catapult America into a dominant industrial power.

How is personification used in the short story "A&P"?

John Updike's 1961 short story "A&P" contains many examples of figurative language. Simile and metaphor are the most commonly used, but there are several examples of personification, as well. 

The story is told in the first person point of view and describes the narrator's experience when three girls in bathing suits enter the grocery store and are chastened by the manager for their inappropriate clothing. The narrator, Sammy, decides to take a stand and quit...

John Updike's 1961 short story "A&P" contains many examples of figurative language. Simile and metaphor are the most commonly used, but there are several examples of personification, as well. 

The story is told in the first person point of view and describes the narrator's experience when three girls in bathing suits enter the grocery store and are chastened by the manager for their inappropriate clothing. The narrator, Sammy, decides to take a stand and quit his job in defense of the manager's treatment of the girls. 

When Sammy makes his grand exit after announcing that he is quitting, there are three examples of personification:

"One advantage to this scene taking place in summer, I can follow this up with a clean exit, there's no fumbling around getting your coat and galoshes, I just saunter into the electric eye in my white shirt that my mother ironed the night before, and the door heaves itself open, and outside the sunshine is skating around on the asphalt." 

The first example in this quote is the door "heaving" itself open. Heaving, or raising or lifting with effort, is something only a person or animal could do. An automatic door simply opens or closes, it doesn't strain with the effort. The effect this word choice creates is that the A&P is more than just a building, it's a type of microcosm or heartbeat of the town. 

Another example of personification in this quote is the sunshine skating on the pavement. This suggests that the sun is wavering, the heat rising from the asphalt. It is also a playful word choice for the sun, skating is a graceful and fun activity. It suggests that the narrator is pleased with his choice to stand on principle and quit because of the way the manager treated the girls. 

In the last paragraph, the narrator states: "My stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter."  It could be argued that the narrator has personified the world in this quote, describing it as a taskmaster, or an enemy. The narrator is realizing that growing up presents many challenges. He is understanding that his actions have consequences, harder consequences than when he was very young. This is evidenced in the manager, Lengel, telling him how his parents are going to be displeased with his actions. By looking back, he sees that the A&P will go on without him, and he hasn't made a big difference by taking a stand. 

How does the narrator present Vera in The Open Window?

At first, Vera's presented as a rather sweet, demure young lady. This is important because it helps to lull Framton Nuttel into a false sense of security, making Vera's subsequent prank all the more effective. Yet there are subtle hints as to what kind of person Vera really is right from the very first lines of the story:

"My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel," said a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen; "in...

At first, Vera's presented as a rather sweet, demure young lady. This is important because it helps to lull Framton Nuttel into a false sense of security, making Vera's subsequent prank all the more effective. Yet there are subtle hints as to what kind of person Vera really is right from the very first lines of the story:

"My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel," said a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen; "in the meantime you must try and put up with me."

We see that Vera is self-possessed, very sure of herself. Yet at the same time she acts in a self-deprecating manner, which makes it easier for her to play her cruel trick on Framton. It's all an act, but then Vera needs to be a good actress if she's going to make her horror story sound plausible. And so it goes on. After Vera has finished relating her story to an increasingly agitated Framton, she breaks off with a shudder. One gets the impression she's done this before, and is getting rather good at putting on the appropriate gestures. That shudder seems almost second nature to her.

When the three men return home from their day of hunting, Vera affects a look of sheer horror. It's not enough that she has to know how to tell a good yarn; she needs to keep up the pretence for the prank to have the maximum effect. And it does.

After a terrified Framton suddenly takes off, Vera effortlessly slips back into her role as a sweet young lady, seemingly perplexed by all the hullabaloo:

"I expect it was the spaniel," said the niece calmly; "he told me he had a horror of dogs..."

Though she may have fooled Framton and her aunt, we now know what kind of person she is:

"Romance at short notice was her speciality."

So she has indeed done this kind of thing before. Just as we suspected. That explains why she's so incredibly good at it. But the last line in the story is fascinating because it makes us wonder just how far Vera's prepared to take her penchant for telling tall stories. Is it just a harmless phase of young adulthood or does it express something more sinister about Vera's personality? We must make up our own minds.

What is social welfare policy?

Social welfare policy refers to policies designed to help the community. These policies mainly affect the needy. One such policy is universal healthcare. Government steps in and and becomes the single payer for the healthcare system, thus giving everyone in society healthcare. The United States provides subsidies to help people pay for healthcare.  

Another example of social welfare policy is subsidized housing. People who make below a certain amount of money can qualify for housing...

Social welfare policy refers to policies designed to help the community. These policies mainly affect the needy. One such policy is universal healthcare. Government steps in and and becomes the single payer for the healthcare system, thus giving everyone in society healthcare. The United States provides subsidies to help people pay for healthcare.  

Another example of social welfare policy is subsidized housing. People who make below a certain amount of money can qualify for housing and utilities assistance. This is done in an attempt to provide a sufficient standard of living for everyone in the community. These people also often qualify for nutrition assistance (food stamps) as well as money for the care of children, which in the United States is known as WIC programs.

Social welfare policies can be controversial. Some conservatives see them as governmental overreach that does not encourage people to better themselves. Some liberals, on the other hand, see these programs as necessary for helping people who work in low-paying jobs that society needs in order to function. Social welfare policy is one of the most divisive issues in politics today.

Was Macleish a religious person? What is his religious background?

Archibald Macleish was not known to have been a religious man. In fact, it was said that he did not believe in the idea of a personal God. 

To discover more about Archibald Macleish's personal beliefs about life, suffering, and death, you may be interested in a 1959 article in Life magazine by three theologians who critiqued Macleish's play J.B. The three theologians are Reinhold Niebuhr, Thurston Davis, and Louis Finkelstein.

All three theologians agree...

Archibald Macleish was not known to have been a religious man. In fact, it was said that he did not believe in the idea of a personal God. 

To discover more about Archibald Macleish's personal beliefs about life, suffering, and death, you may be interested in a 1959 article in Life magazine by three theologians who critiqued Macleish's play J.B. The three theologians are Reinhold Niebuhr, Thurston Davis, and Louis Finkelstein.

All three theologians agree that J.B. (a retelling of the biblical story of Job) raises important questions about man's ability to decipher the reasons for human suffering. In his play, Macleish does not so much question the existence of a merciful God as he does man's deep-seated need to make sense of human suffering. In the play, Macleish rejects the efforts of the three comforters: Zophar (the Catholic priest), Bildad (the Marxist), and Eliphaz (the psychiatrist). 

Finkelstein puts forth the proposition that God alone understands the meaning of human suffering and that this understanding eludes man. He asserts that Macleish accepts this proposition. Meanwhile, Davis theorizes that Macleish's message through J.B. is clear: there is no divine reason for human suffering and certainly no heavenly mechanism at work to intercede on behalf of humankind. 

Source: Three Opinions on J.B. LIFE May 18, 1959

How is masculinity treated in Chopin's 'The Awakening'?

Masculinity is treated as something that is somewhat fragile, especially in the face of an empowered woman.  In Grand Isle, when Edna does not leap from her sleep to listen to Leonce's tales of the club and that night's game, he seems to feel that his position is threatened by her failure to play her role.  He lies and says that one of their sons is sick, and he reproaches her for her inattention as...

Masculinity is treated as something that is somewhat fragile, especially in the face of an empowered woman.  In Grand Isle, when Edna does not leap from her sleep to listen to Leonce's tales of the club and that night's game, he seems to feel that his position is threatened by her failure to play her role.  He lies and says that one of their sons is sick, and he reproaches her for her inattention as a mother (when what he is really irritated with is her inattention as a wife).  On another, later evening, Edna will not come inside and prefers to remain in the hammock alone rather than come in and give in to her husband's sexual advances, as she becomes aware that, in the past, she would simply have done as he'd asked.  With his masculinity threatened by her refusal, Leonce comes outside and refuses to go in as well, as if to make it seem like it is he who is refusing Edna and not the reverse.  

Likewise, Robert Lebrun's masculinity cannot handle the unconventional relationship that Edna proposes near the novel's end.  He hopes that Leonce will divorce her and that he and Edna can get married and be accepted by society; however, Edna sees that this can never happen and also expresses her desire that it not happen, even if it could.  Who would Robert be if he could not perform his masculinity in the way that his society tells him it should be performed: as a husband to a conventional wife and not simply the lover of a disgraced woman?  He does not know, and he cannot imagine it, and so he leaves her, this woman he obviously loves.

This seems to be why Edna's failure to be feminine in the proper way is so threatening: it prevents the men in her life from being masculine in what society has dictated to them to be the proper way.  Thus, we see that their masculinity is fairly fragile, because it cannot withstand one woman's deviation from her socially-prescribed role.  Femininity and masculinity seem to be rooted together, and if the former shifts, the latter will crumble.  

Why is the sun hot?

Heat is a form of energy produced by the sun, but how is it created or emitted? 

The sun is a star, and like Earth, is composed of several layers of matter. Unlike the outermost layer, or lithosphere, which is solid the inner layers of Earth are liquid. The gravitational force of our planet pulls all matter towards its center, creating an enormous amount of pressure. To get an idea of the effect this pressure...

Heat is a form of energy produced by the sun, but how is it created or emitted? 

The sun is a star, and like Earth, is composed of several layers of matter. Unlike the outermost layer, or lithosphere, which is solid the inner layers of Earth are liquid. The gravitational force of our planet pulls all matter towards its center, creating an enormous amount of pressure. To get an idea of the effect this pressure has on matter, I will use the example of the metals iron and nickel. The increased pressure in the outer core causes these elements, normally solids on the lithosphere, to liquify.

The most abundant elements found on the Sun are hydrogen and helium. Hydrogen, which is the first element on the Periodic Table of Elements, contains one proton and one electron and is a flammable gas. Helium, the second element, contains two protons and two electrons and is more stable by comparison. Hydrogen's reactivity is due to the single electron in a shell that can hold two. Helium's two electrons makes its shell relatively stable.

The increased pressure in the inner layers of the Sun causes atoms to behave differently than we might experience on the lithosphere of Earth. Similar to Earth, the increase in pressure generates heat. Unlike on Earth, the hydrogen ignites. This reaction is called nuclear fusion; the results being that two hydrogen atoms combine to create one helium atom. The combination of two hydrogen atoms into one helium atom results in an excess of energy, which is then released in the form of light and the heat of solar wind.

What is the thesis or main idea of The Way to Rainy Mountain?

It looks like you are asking about the thesis or main idea for The Way to Rainy Mountain. 

Essentially, the novel is made up of a collection of stories about Kiowa history, Kiowa culture, and Momaday's family history. If I were to sum up the main idea, I would argue that memory (assisted by verbal tradition) is an important preserver of culture, especially when there are few recorded events to rely on. Both the verbal...

It looks like you are asking about the thesis or main idea for The Way to Rainy Mountain. 

Essentially, the novel is made up of a collection of stories about Kiowa history, Kiowa culture, and Momaday's family history. If I were to sum up the main idea, I would argue that memory (assisted by verbal tradition) is an important preserver of culture, especially when there are few recorded events to rely on. Both the verbal tradition and recorded history contribute immensely to how history is remembered.

In the book, Momaday traces the history of his people, the Kiowas. He tells of their migration from the headwaters of the Yellowstone River to the south of the Wichita Mountains. The Kiowas were an adaptive people; they allied with the Comanches and the Crows, acquired a large number of horses, and adopted the sun religion of the Plains Indians. 

Horses became extremely important to the Kiowas after the buffalo was decimated. In fact, the Kiowas began naming their religious rites as the "horse-eating sun dance" or Tsen-pia Kado. Momaday holds the summer of 1879 as the time the buffalo disappeared completely from Kiowa life.

This mention of the loss of the buffalo is pivotal to the story: it underlines the resilience of the Kiowa people, who fought desperately to retain their adopted way of life. Even after the last Kiowa warriors surrendered to the United States cavalry, members of the tribe relied on their adaptive natures to navigate an alien culture. Momaday's grandmother chose to convert to Christianity. Yet, she retained a fierce pride in her Kiowa heritage.

Momaday also writes about how there were only ten fighters in the Kiowa warrior society. These warriors were called the Ka-itsenko (Real Dogs), and their battle prowess was revered by all. Momaday relates that there were always dogs lingering around his grandmother's house when she was alive.

Most importantly, Momaday's knowledge of Kiowa history has been reinforced by testimonies from older members of the tribe such as Ko-Sahn, an acquaintance of Momaday's grandmother. At the time of her interaction with the author, Ko-sahn was one hundred years old. Yet, her memories of the Sun dances were vivid, and she related scenes from those events with both pride and wistful longing.

In the book, Momaday's retelling of Kiowa history is supported by both recorded history and verbal tradition. He makes the point that much is gained when we rely on both to help us envision the past and to preserve important traditions for future generations.

`int 1/((x-1)sqrt(4x^2-8x+3)) dx` Find the indefinite integral

`int1/((x-1)sqrt(4x^2-8x+3))dx`

Let's rewrite the integral by completing the square of the term in denominator,

`=int1/((x-1)sqrt((2x-2)^2-1))dx`

Apply the integral substitution: `u=2x-2`

`du=2dx`

`=>dx=(du)/2`

`u=2(x-1)`

`=>(x-1)=u/2`

`=int1/((u/2)sqrt(u^2-1))(du)/2`

`=int1/(usqrt(u^2-1))du`

Again apply integral substitution: `u=sec(v)`

`du=sec(v)tan(v)dv`

`=int1/(sec(v)sqrt(sec^2(v)-1))sec(v)tan(v)dv`

`=inttan(v)/(sqrt(sec^2(v)-1))dv`

Use the trigonometric identity:`sec^2(x)=1+tan^2(x)`

`=inttan(v)/sqrt(1+tan^2(v)-1)dv`

`=inttan(v)/sqrt(tan^2(v))dv`

`=inttan(v)/tan(v)dv`   assuming `tan(v) >=0`

`=intdv`

`=v`

Substitute back `v=arcsec(u)`  and  `u=(2x-2)`

and add a constant C to the solution,

`=arcsec(2x-2)+C`

`int1/((x-1)sqrt(4x^2-8x+3))dx`

Let's rewrite the integral by completing the square of the term in denominator,

`=int1/((x-1)sqrt((2x-2)^2-1))dx`

Apply the integral substitution: `u=2x-2`

`du=2dx`

`=>dx=(du)/2`

`u=2(x-1)`

`=>(x-1)=u/2`

`=int1/((u/2)sqrt(u^2-1))(du)/2`

`=int1/(usqrt(u^2-1))du`

Again apply integral substitution: `u=sec(v)`

`du=sec(v)tan(v)dv`

`=int1/(sec(v)sqrt(sec^2(v)-1))sec(v)tan(v)dv`

`=inttan(v)/(sqrt(sec^2(v)-1))dv`

Use the trigonometric identity:`sec^2(x)=1+tan^2(x)`

`=inttan(v)/sqrt(1+tan^2(v)-1)dv`

`=inttan(v)/sqrt(tan^2(v))dv`

`=inttan(v)/tan(v)dv`   assuming `tan(v) >=0`

`=intdv`

`=v`

Substitute back `v=arcsec(u)`  and  `u=(2x-2)`

and add a constant C to the solution,

`=arcsec(2x-2)+C`

Give examples of symbolism in The Tree of Man by Patrick White.

In this novel, the Australian bush, and more broadly nature, symbolizes religion or spirituality, both in untamed form and when cultivated into a garden by people like Stan and Amy. The bush is likened to a natural cathedral. It is a source of the life force.

Stan and Amy also symbolize life in a mythic way beyond their individuality: they are like the first humans, Adam and Eve, settling and farming a new world infused...

In this novel, the Australian bush, and more broadly nature, symbolizes religion or spirituality, both in untamed form and when cultivated into a garden by people like Stan and Amy. The bush is likened to a natural cathedral. It is a source of the life force.

Stan and Amy also symbolize life in a mythic way beyond their individuality: they are like the first humans, Adam and Eve, settling and farming a new world infused with spiritual presence, and they are often referred to not by their names but symbolically as "the man" and "the woman." They are part of the tree of life of the book's title. We find at the end of the novel that this life force is within Stan, symbolized by his spit. As he says, pointing to his "gob of spittle," "That is God."

God or the spiritual can be touched or experienced in the natural world, such as when Stan witnesses a storm. During a storm, Stan experiences an appropriate humility, as he understands that humans are specks in the cosmos. (It is interesting that humans both contain God within and are specks.) The powerful lightning Stan sees "had, it seemed, the power to open souls." In a flash of lightning, Stan feels his soul has been touched: "the flesh had slipped from his bones." Trees, growing and spreading, also become a symbol of this life force. At the end of the novel, as Stan sits in his overgrown garden, from "this heart the trees radiated," a symbol of growth and life.

In contrast, Sydney, and the city in general, represents a place of spiritual vacuum. Although Thelma is by no means a bad character and does search for spirituality, her desire to lead a cultured life in Sydney symbolizes a streak of coldness and sterility in her that she shares with her husband. The city destroys the primal spirit represented by nature.

Were African-Americans free during Reconstruction?

The answer to this question depends on how one defines the word "freedom." African-Americans in the South were free in the sense that they were no longer enslaved. Slavery was formally abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment at the end of the Civil War. One might also argue that African-American men, at least, enjoyed a measure of political freedom during part of Reconstruction as they gained the right to vote in most states. In many areas,...

The answer to this question depends on how one defines the word "freedom." African-Americans in the South were free in the sense that they were no longer enslaved. Slavery was formally abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment at the end of the Civil War. One might also argue that African-American men, at least, enjoyed a measure of political freedom during part of Reconstruction as they gained the right to vote in most states. In many areas, African-American sheriffs, legislators, and other political officials were put in office. But the end of Reconstruction brought an end to large-scale political participation, as Southern states enacted poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures intended to disfranchise African-Americans. They also experienced the rise of Jim Crow laws that rigidly segregated Southern society. But throughout Reconstruction, most African-American people never experienced freedom in the sense that many of them understood it. For many black men in particular, freedom meant land ownership and the ability to provide for one's own family. Reconstruction, through its failure (or unwillingness) to enact land reforms, never made this possible, and the majority of African-American families lived meager existences as sharecroppers. So "freedom" was a relative term.

One of the Greasers’ most important rules is “Stick together.” Why was that rule doubly important for the Curtis brothers?

The Greasers are a close-knit group of friends who go out of their way to support and protect each other. The members of the Greaser gang are willing to risk their lives for each other and act as surrogate family members.

In regards to the Curtis family, the three brothers are forced to stick together after tragically losing both of their parents in a car wreck. Darry, the oldest brother, begins working two jobs to...

The Greasers are a close-knit group of friends who go out of their way to support and protect each other. The members of the Greaser gang are willing to risk their lives for each other and act as surrogate family members.

In regards to the Curtis family, the three brothers are forced to stick together after tragically losing both of their parents in a car wreck. Darry, the oldest brother, begins working two jobs to support Sodapop and Curtis. Darry plays the guardian role and not only provides for his younger brothers but also makes sure they are safe and successful. Sodapop provides comic relief to the family and acts as a mediator between Darry and Ponyboy. Ponyboy is the youngest brother, who eventually gains perspective and appreciates Darry's sacrifice to keep their family intact.

Given their difficult, unfortunate situation, the Curtis brothers are forced to look out for one another and stick together. Following Bob Sheldon's death and the church fire, the Curtis brothers risk being split up by the court system. Fortunately, Darry is perceived as a responsible adult and Pony is an excellent student, which helps sway the judge's opinion to keep their family intact. In order to survive and thrive in the rough city without parental guidance, the Curtis brothers stick together and support each other in every endeavor.

After you read Frankenstein, think about what things classify this book as a horror story. In fact, what classifies any scary story as a horror...

I can think of a few ways in which Frankenstein counts as a horror story, though two may be a bit cerebral. 

1. The "monster" itself—The creature has been built from the parts of corpses, literally stitched together. It is larger than most humans and horrible to look at. This fits with the themes you see in the horror genre because it is presenting us with something repulsive that is meant to disgust us—otherwise known as the "gross out."


2. The obsession—Dr. Frankenstein's obsession with his studies and research turn him into someone that cares less about the consequences of his actions than with meeting his obsessive goal. He is consumed with what he is doing. We see this "mad scientist" figure in all sorts of horror tales, from Andre Delambre in The Fly to the character of James Hollister in Firestarter.


3. Self-inflicted doom—Dr. Frankenstein works very hard to bring his dead conglomeration to life, but when he succeeds, he does not love or nurture it; instead, he rejects it and sends it out to fend for itself. The creature then decides to exact its revenge on its creator by making him suffer. We see this in lots of different tales of horror, from Freddy Kruger (burned to death by the parents of his victims, then coming back stronger as a kind of demon) to Jason Voorhees (who, in some incarnations, comes back for revenge on the camp counselors who let him drown). In the horror genre, the trauma inflicted on the characters is often a result of their own choices. 


4. The eternal beast—In many horror stories, the "creature" or "horrible element" outlives the main characters with the threat of coming back.

Those are just a few thoughts, though I am sure there are others you could use. 

In "The Tell-Tale Heart," where does the main character directly refer to the reader? Why does Poe do this? Why does Poe have the murderer tell...

In "The Tell-Tale Heart," Edgar Allan Poe chooses to have the murderer himself relate the story to the reader. It begins after he has confessed, and he is more interested in convincing the reader of his sanity than in receiving forgiveness for his crime. Poe has the murderer tell the story and refer directly to the reader to give the tale a sense of immediacy and help capture the attention and imagination of the reader. Using the murderer as the narrator also helps show his descent into madness in a way that would be impossible from an outside perspective. 

The narrator says, "Listen! Listen, and I will tell you how it happened. You will see, you will hear how healthy my mind is." In doing so, the narrator directly engages the reader and brings them into the story. The reader isn't just reading the tale—they're being directly addressed by a murderer who is cataloging both his crimes and his journey into insanity. It makes for a more tense, interesting tale. It also establishes the narrator's intent; he wants to convince the reader that he's sane. 

The narrator attempts to convince the reader—the witness to his story—that he isn't crazy. He wants the reader to understand that the sound really was there, even if no one else heard it. He makes his appeal, saying "Have I not told you that my hearing had become unusually strong?" Again, the reader is directly addressed in such a way as to draw them deeper into the story. The reader becomes an element of the story rather than a mere observer. 

As the narrator becomes more insane, he addresses the reader again, saying, "So I am mad, you say? You should have seen how careful I was to put the body where no one could find it." The reader takes on the position of both witness to the narrator's actions and the hearer of his confessions. The narrator is so desperate to convince the reader that he is sane that he seems unable to recognize the severity of his crimes. His attempt to convince you of his sanity is that he dismembered and hid the body of his victim.

By using a narrator that directly addresses the reader, Poe makes a reader into a character in the story. He gives a reader a larger stake in the outcome simply because the reader is the one to whom the narrator is confessing. The reader has his perspective grounded in reality and is the witness to the narrator's insanity. The narrator seems to focus only on the phantom heartbeat as the source of his insanity, even though his reasons for killing the old man are just as crazy as (if not more insane than) believing he hears the beating heart of his victim. 

Having the narrator tell the story also removes any doubt about his motivations and actions. The narrator knows he committed murder, and he truly believes he could still hear the heart beating. If the story was told from an outside perspective, the reader might have to question whether or not the criminal believed his own words—or if he was using his insanity as a way to lessen the punishment for the murder he committed. But hearing the words directly from the narrator and witnessing his belief in the continued beating of his victim's heart helps mitigate any doubt the reader might have. 

"The Tell-Tale Heart" grips the imagination because the narrator is attempting to justify the horrendous. Poe makes sure the story is quick and focused on the actions of the narrator, the aftermath, and the result. That helps keep it tense and scary. Cutting away from the immediate action may have made it less interesting. Instead, the tense, terse prose keeps the reader glued to the page. The juxtaposition between the sanity of a normal reader and the insanity of the narrator also makes the story gripping. Even while the reader is hoping the innocent old man might live, it's clear that he won't. Later, when the narrator confesses his crimes, the story is satisfying because he isn't able to get away without the authorities knowing what he's done. 

As the analysis of "The Tell-Tale Heart" explains, Poe believed "the short story was the ideal medium for conveying artistic insight because the reader was likely to give it his or her concentrated attention for the brief time it took to read it." He thought that the writer needed to draw the reader into the story right away. By having the narrator directly address the reader, Poe achieves this in his story. 

What is the role of dreams in Le Morte d'Arthur?

In Le Morte d'Arthur, dreams take on the role of prophetic visions that describe future events. The prominence of prophetic dreams within the story demonstrates their importance to the culture of the Middle Ages. In those days, kings were considered representatives of God on earth; the concept of the divine right of kings meant that a monarch derived his authority from God alone. Therefore, it was considered fitting that he should dream prophetic dreams and be given heavenly visions of the future.

In Book 5, Chapter 4, Arthur dreams about a dragon engaging in battle with a boar. In the dream, the boar is the "foulest beast that ever man saw." The battle is an extremely violent one. The boar wounds the dragon and the sea is stained with the dragon's blood. The dragon emerges victorious, however, after it pulverizes the boar to powder. Arthur is disturbed by the dream and enlists a wise philosopher to interpret the dream for him. The philosopher explains that Arthur is the dragon and he will fight a tyrant (represented by the boar in his dream) who has been tormenting his people. The philosopher assures Arthur that he will emerge victorious, just like the dragon in his dream.

In Book 5, Chapter 5, the dream becomes a reality. Arthur battles a giant in the country of Constantine. The remorseless giant has been guilty of violent assaults on defenseless women; he has brutally murdered the Duchess of Brittany and thinks nothing of feasting on young children. Just as foretold in his dream, the battle between Arthur and the giant is gruesome and bloody. At one point, Arthur manages to cut off the giant's genitals and disembowel him. In the end, one of Arthur's knights cuts off the giant's head, and the giant is finally defeated. Arthur maintains that the giant is the fiercest one he has ever faced in battle.

In a vision in Book 21, Chapter 3, Arthur is visited by Sir Gawain, who warns him against fighting Mordred the next day. This vision is ominously followed by a strange dream Arthur has. In the dream, Arthur is sitting on a chair that is strapped to a wheel. Under him lies deep, dark water that is filled with "all manner of serpents, and worms, and wild beasts, foul and horrible." In his dream, Arthur topples into the water, and each of his limbs is seized by a beast. He screams in his sleep, and his knights rush in to wake him up. In the vision, Arthur is warned by Sir Gawain that he will die if he fights Mordred. Coupled with the nightmarish dream, the prospects can hardly be worse for Arthur.

In the end, Arthur does engage in battle with Mordred; he kills his arch enemy but is mortally wounded in the process. Although Arthur is rumored to have died from his wound, some people believe that he lives.

It can be seen that the dreams and visions are prophetic in nature; they divine the future for Arthur and are meant to be used as sources of wisdom. Interestingly, while Arthur ignores the last dream he has and pays the price for it, the author suggests it is still the prerogative of kings to ignore spiritual guidance that comes in the form of visions and dreams. After all, rumor has it that Arthur may have survived his wound. The implication is that, since a king rules by divine fiat, he will eventually be saved by divine grace, notwithstanding his mistakes.

The rejection of established religion is shown by whom in "The Open Boat"?

The Correspondent is the character who rejects all gods, all religions, all order and stability in the natural world. He is the ultimate existentialist, regarding his situation and that of the other men as thoroughly absurd as they flounder all alone in a world (symbolized by the cruel sea) utterly indifferent to their fate.

But like a number of existentialists, the Correspondent attempts to supply the deficiencies of religious faith with a rival belief system,...

The Correspondent is the character who rejects all gods, all religions, all order and stability in the natural world. He is the ultimate existentialist, regarding his situation and that of the other men as thoroughly absurd as they flounder all alone in a world (symbolized by the cruel sea) utterly indifferent to their fate.

But like a number of existentialists, the Correspondent attempts to supply the deficiencies of religious faith with a rival belief system, one more in keeping with the explicitly naturalistic tone of "The Open Boat." The Correspondent rejects God and instead embraces a human brotherhood that provides a sense of solidarity in the midst of an increasingly desperate struggle against the forces of nature. But as the story progresses, the Correspondent comes to realize that he has simply replaced one religious faith with another. He has unconsciously been avoiding a confrontation with the true hopelessness of his situation and that of the other men.

There is now nothing for it but to take their chances and make a swim for it. The "subtle brotherhood of men" has disintegrated, and now it's every man for himself. Once again, they are all alone in the world, an existentialist metaphor if ever there was one. We are not in the least bit surprised, then, when Billie the oiler, the most hopeful and optimistic character in the story, ends up dead. He has been swimming against the tide, both literally and figuratively.

What are some key differences between the Tuck family and the Foster family?

One difference between the two families can be illustrated by examining their homes. The Foster family's home is cold and unwelcoming, while the Tuck family's home is a very warm and welcoming house. The book begins by describing the Foster house as a "touch-me-not" house. It's one of those homes in which everything looks neat and organized, but you are not allowed to touch anything. It's not a fun house to be in. Conversely, the...

One difference between the two families can be illustrated by examining their homes. The Foster family's home is cold and unwelcoming, while the Tuck family's home is a very warm and welcoming house. The book begins by describing the Foster house as a "touch-me-not" house. It's one of those homes in which everything looks neat and organized, but you are not allowed to touch anything. It's not a fun house to be in. Conversely, the house that the Tuck family lives in is not neat and ordered. It's not disgustingly messy, but Winnie gets the impression that the people and relationships within the house are more important than the tidiness of the house.

Another difference between the Tucks and the Fosters is their treatment of Winnie. The Fosters smother Winnie. They try to guide and rule over every part of her daily life. That's why Winnie is contemplating running away when the book first begins. On the hand, the Fosters treat Winnie like she is a full-fledged member of the family. They do want to protect her, but they don't try to control her or her decisions. The freedom that Winnie finds with the Tuck family stands in stark contrast to her experience with her own family, and it is probably why she falls in love with the Tucks so easily.

Why did her husband keep her locked in the room?

The protagonist's husband doesn't keep her locked in the room, exactly. Rather, he prevents her from working or finding any positive way to spend her time because he believes she is ill with depression. Though he isn't literally locking her in, John locks her in metaphorically by denying her work, stimulation, or even the choice of her own room.

The protagonist explains that sometimes she wants to work, write, or go out, but her husband,...

The protagonist's husband doesn't keep her locked in the room, exactly. Rather, he prevents her from working or finding any positive way to spend her time because he believes she is ill with depression. Though he isn't literally locking her in, John locks her in metaphorically by denying her work, stimulation, or even the choice of her own room.

The protagonist explains that sometimes she wants to work, write, or go out, but her husband, John, believes it wouldn't be good for her. As a physician, he makes decisions about what his wife should and should not do. Both he and her brother—also a doctor—decide she needs less stimulation and stress.

As the protagonist spends the summer bored, isolated, and frustrated with her husband, she develops a fixation on the wallpaper of her room. John refuses to replace it, even though it makes her unhappy. She says,

At first he meant to repaper the room, but afterwards he said that I was letting it get the better of me, and that nothing was worse for a nervous patient than to give way to such fancies.

The narrator herself locks the door at times so she can creep around the room. John never locks her in physically—but emotionally, he traps her in the house and the room. Even though she wants a different room, he believes that he knows what is right for her more than she does.

What are the reactions to the death of the ibis by the various characters in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

When the scarlet ibis lands in "the bleeding tree," only Doodle is extremely concerned; the others are rather matter-of-fact or unconcerned in their remarks. Even when the ibis dies, they do not let this incident upset their routine.

As the family sits at the dinner table on a hot day, they have all the windows and even the doors open in case a breeze might blow through the house and cool them. Because it is so quiet outside, Daddy remarks that he would not be surprised if a storm comes in the afternoon. Suddenly, they all hear a bizarre noise in the yard; it is an odd croaking sound. "What's that?" whispers Doodle.

The narrator jumps up so quickly that he topples his chair; his mother instructs him to set it aright and then ask to be excused from the table. But, in the time that he obeys his mother, Doodle has excused himself and is in the yard, "looking up into the bleeding tree." Doodle calls to everyone, "It's a great big red bird!"

There, at the top of the tree is a large red bird that is the size of a chicken. Perched in a rather precarious position, the bird has scarlet feathers and long legs; its wings hang limply from his body. As the family watches in curiosity, a feather wafts down and floats away through the green foliage. Casually, the mother observes, "It's not even frightened of us." But, the boys' father notices, "It looks tired." Standing perfectly still, Doodle clasps his hands at his throat as he stands motionless for some time. Finally, he asks," What is it?" and the father replies, "I don't know, maybe it's--" but, just then, the bird flutters its injured wings in an uncoordinated motion; more feathers sprinkle down. Finally, the poor bird crashes through the limbs of the tree and it falls with a thud upon the ground.

Its long, graceful neck jerked twice into an S, then straightened out, and the bird was still. A white veil came over the eyes, and the long white beak unhinged. Its legs were crossed and its claw-like feet were delicately curved at rest. Even death did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers, and we stood around it, awed by its exotic beauty.

Despite this awe, the mother simply states, "It's dead," and Daddy asks calmly for the bird book. However, they all look glumly back at the dead bird. When the narrator returns with the bird book, Daddy identifies it as a scarlet ibis, a bird from the tropics-- anywhere from South America to Florida.

Mama merely suggests, "Let's finish lunch," but Doodle says he is not hungry, and he kneels beside the ibis. So, his mother tries to tempt Doodle: "We've got peach cobbler for dessert." Still on his knees beside the bird, Doodle says, "I'm going to bury him." An anxious Mama forbids him to touch the dead bird. He promises not to, and without touching the bird, he loops one end of a string around the neck of the bird while singing, "We Shall Gather at the River." Although little Doodle struggles with the shovel, he manages to bury the bird in the flower garden, and after he is finished, he comes into the house. Shortly thereafter, he enters the dining room to find everyone eating their peach cobblers. "Did you get the scarlet ibis buried?" asks Daddy. Doodle does not speak, but nods his head. His mother urges Doodle to wash his hands so he can have some peach cobbler, but Doodle replies, "I'm not hungry."

Aunt Nicey chimes in, "Dead birds is bad luck....'Specially red dead birds!" Clearly, no one seems more affected by the death of the bird than Doodle. 

In what ways did the Mexican-American War impact national politics?

First, there was the impact of the war itself:  many Northerners saw this as a Southern conspiracy to spread slavery.  The war was ordered by a Southern president (James K. Polk) and instigated by a Southern general (Zachary Taylor).  Taylor moved his forces into the disputed boundary between Mexico and the United States between the Nuecces and the Rio Grande Rivers.  Mexico fired on the American soldiers, and Polk declared war.  Abraham Lincoln, who was...

First, there was the impact of the war itself:  many Northerners saw this as a Southern conspiracy to spread slavery.  The war was ordered by a Southern president (James K. Polk) and instigated by a Southern general (Zachary Taylor).  Taylor moved his forces into the disputed boundary between Mexico and the United States between the Nuecces and the Rio Grande Rivers.  Mexico fired on the American soldiers, and Polk declared war.  Abraham Lincoln, who was then a Whig, argued that American blood was not shed on American soil and that the United States instigated the conflict.  Of course, his pro-expansionist constituency in Illinois did not like this, and he lost in the next election.  

After the war, there was a question of whether or not the new land would be free or slave.  Southerners did not want to lose the split between free states and slave states in the Senate, and Northerners wanted to control the spread of slavery.  All of this would lead to the Compromise of 1850 which, ultimately, made no one happy.  

`5,10,20,40,...` Write the next two apparent terms of the sequence. Describe the patterns used to find these terms.

The given sequence is 5, 10, 20, 40, ...

Final Answer:

The next two apparent terms are 80 and 160.

The pattern to find the next term is to multiply the previous term by 2.

The common ratio between each term is 1/2. To find the common ratio divide a term by its previous term.

The given sequence is 5, 10, 20, 40, ...

Final Answer:

The next two apparent terms are 80 and 160.

The pattern to find the next term is to multiply the previous term by 2.

The common ratio between each term is 1/2. To find the common ratio divide a term by its previous term.