Help Notes

The colonists believed that the Stamp Act of 1765 was not fair. The colonists were very upset by this law. The colonists now had to pay a tax on various items. The colonists believed this law violated their rights as British citizens. British citizens have representatives in Parliament. Before a tax law can be passed, the representatives of the people must be able to speak about the proposed taxes. They need to share their concerns... The colonists believed that the Stamp Act of 1765 was not fair. The colonists were very upset by this law. The colonists now had to pay a tax on various items. The colonists believed this law violated their rights as British citizens. British citizens have representatives in Parliament. Before a tax law can be passed, the representatives of the people must be able to speak about the proposed taxes. They need to share their concerns or their support for the proposed law. Then, they must be able to vote on the proposed taxes. The colonists had no elected re...

...and Heaven have mercy on us all - Presbyterians and Pagans alike - for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending. - Moby Dick This passage from Chapter XVII, "The Ramadan," describes Queqeeq's Fasting and Humiliation which continues all day. Ismael observes that while this occasion seems bizarre to the others on the ship, these Christians should not consider themselves superior because all men have serious faults and foibles. ... ...and Heaven have mercy on us all - Presbyterians and Pagans alike - for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending. - Moby Dick This passage from Chapter XVII, "The Ramadan," describes Queqeeq's Fasting and Humiliation which continues all day. Ismael observes that while this occasion seems bizarre to the others on the ship, these Christians should not consider themselves superior because all men have serious faults and foibles. This passage from Moby Dick  can...

Burke has many differing ideas in his political philosophy, some that mark him as quite modern in his thinking (he died in 1792), though on the whole he was a defender of tradition. For example, Burke supported the American Revolution, a view that brought him opprobrium among many in English society, especially monarchists and others who would be labeled conservative. Burke put forth the notion that Americans had a right to levy their own taxes and to be represented by their... Burke has many differing ideas in his political philosophy, some that mark him as quite modern in his thinking (he died in 1792), though on the whole he was a defender of tradition. For example, Burke supported the American Revolution, a view that brought him opprobrium among many in English society, especially monarchists and others who would be labeled conservative. Burke put forth the notion that Americans had a right to levy their own taxes and to be represented by their own officials, while arguing that pea...

Lieutenant Kotler is thoroughly indoctrinated in the ideology of Nazism; therefore, he speaks in an abusive manner to Pavel, who is one of the Jews contained at the concentration camp in Auschwitz. When Bruno decides that his friends from Berlin will not be coming to visit him, he feels that he will just have to entertain himself; so, he decides he can have some fun by swinging in a tire. Seeing Lt. Kotler who is... Lieutenant Kotler is thoroughly indoctrinated in the ideology of Nazism; therefore, he speaks in an abusive manner to Pavel, who is one of the Jews contained at the concentration camp in Auschwitz. When Bruno decides that his friends from Berlin will not be coming to visit him, he feels that he will just have to entertain himself; so, he decides he can have some fun by swinging in a tire. Seeing Lt. Kotler who is talking with his sister Gretel, Bruno approaches him in order to ask the young officer if there are any spare tires around the place that he may have. After joking...

The forced concentration of Jews into ghettos and the requirement that Jews in Nazi Germany and occupied areas wear Yellow Stars were acts of dehumanization, but were not the first acts of dehumanization in Nazi Germany. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 had already stripped Jews of their German citizenship, essentially making them subjects of the state, and had decreed that Jews could not marry or have sexual relationships with non-Jews. These laws were informed by the Nazis' belief in eugenics and in the superiority of Aryans over other types of people, including Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, and people of African descent. The Nazis first developed the idea that Jews should wear stars to identify them after Kristallnacht, a pogrom in which synagogues, Jewish businesses, and Jewish homes were destroyed in 1938. In addition, about 100 Jewish people were killed during Kristallnacht. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Jews in Poland were forced to wear Yellow Stars, and the Nazis enforced this ru...

After Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860, eleven southern states seceded from the Union. While they had various reasons for doing this, there were also good reasons why some southerners might have been opposed to secession. One reason why southerners might have opposed secession was that the odds of the South winning the Civil War were very low. The North had many advantages over the South. The North had more people, more minerals, more... After Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860, eleven southern states seceded from the Union. While they had various reasons for doing this, there were also good reasons why some southerners might have been opposed to secession. One reason why southerners might have opposed secession was that the odds of the South winning the Civil War were very low. The North had many advantages over the South. The North had more people, more minerals, more miles of railroad tracks, more factories, and more weapons. The North also had an established governmen...

My list might differ from another list of major events in the novel, but I will definitely try to help.   The first event is the introduction to the protagonist.  She is known as Brat at this point in the novel and attempts to stay warm by burrowing into a dung heap.   Jane finds Brat, offers her an apprenticeship position, and renames her "Beetle." Beetle is physically and emotionally mistreated by Jane.   Beetle... My list might differ from another list of major events in the novel, but I will definitely try to help.   The first event is the introduction to the protagonist.  She is known as Brat at this point in the novel and attempts to stay warm by burrowing into a dung heap.   Jane finds Brat, offers her an apprenticeship position, and renames her "Beetle." Beetle is physically and emotionally mistreated by Jane.   Beetle rescues a cat, which becomes her closest companion.  Jane is temporarily unavailable to help with a birth.  Beetle attempts to fill in, and i...

This question, of course, refers to the Supreme Court's infamous decision in Scott v. Sandford, the 1857 decision in which the Court, led by Roger Taney, denied the right of a black man to sue in a court, and denied the ability of the federal government to restrict the spread of slavery. Scott, an enslaved man who was carried into Wisconsin Territory by his owner, an Army officer, argued that being in Wisconsin made him... This question, of course, refers to the Supreme Court's infamous decision in Scott v. Sandford, the 1857 decision in which the Court, led by Roger Taney, denied the right of a black man to sue in a court, and denied the ability of the federal government to restrict the spread of slavery. Scott, an enslaved man who was carried into Wisconsin Territory by his owner, an Army officer, argued that being in Wisconsin made him free. This is because Wisconsin, as noted in the question, had been part of the Louisiana Territory, and in 1820, a political dispute over th...

It appears from the history of the attempts to introduce his birthday as a national holiday that it is extraordinary that we have any African-American at all honored this way.  The first attempts began shortly after King's assassination in 1968, but Congress did not pass a bill for this holiday until 1983, to be effective in 1986.  The argument stated was that the cost would be a burden to the taxpayers, since national holidays were... It appears from the history of the attempts to introduce his birthday as a national holiday that it is extraordinary that we have any African-American at all honored this way.  The first attempts began shortly after King's assassination in 1968, but Congress did not pass a bill for this holiday until 1983, to be effective in 1986.  The argument stated was that the cost would be a burden to the taxpayers, since national holidays were paid days off for federal employees.  One has to wonder, though, whether this argument would have been made for som...

Jack uses a spear to stick the pig and a knife to cut its throat.   The pig-hunting is very important to Jack and to the other boys on the island.  It is about much more than getting meat.  Jack also just wants to kill something, because he has an innately savage nature.  He was also appointed head of the hunters, so he considers it a failure if he doesn’t get a pig.  Killing a... Jack uses a spear to stick the pig and a knife to cut its throat.   The pig-hunting is very important to Jack and to the other boys on the island.  It is about much more than getting meat.  Jack also just wants to kill something, because he has an innately savage nature.  He was also appointed head of the hunters, so he considers it a failure if he doesn’t get a pig.  Killing a pig turns out to be more difficult, physically and psychologically, than the boys ever imagined.  The first time there is a pig, Jack finds himself unable to stick it.  It would be the first time he killed something.  The enormity of i...

Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The well balanced chemical equation for this reaction can be written as: `2Na (s) + 2H_2O -> 2NaOH (aq) + H_2 (g)` Using stochiometry, 2 moles of sodium reacts with 2 moles of water to form 1 mole of hydrogen gas and 2 moles of sodium hydroxide. Here, we have 90 g of sodium and 80 g of water. The molar masses of these... Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The well balanced chemical equation for this reaction can be written as: `2Na (s) + 2H_2O -> 2NaOH (aq) + H_2 (g)` Using stochiometry, 2 moles of sodium reacts with 2 moles of water to form 1 mole of hydrogen gas and 2 moles of sodium hydroxide. Here, we have 90 g of sodium and 80 g of water. The molar masses of these two species are 23 g and 18 g. Moles of sodium = 90 g / 23 g/mole = 3.913 moles moles of water = 80 g / 18 g/mole = 4.444 moles Since 2 moles of sodium reacts with 2 moles of water or 1 mole of sodium reacts with 1 ...

To determine the distance traveled by the rabbit in 8 seconds, let's divide it into two time intervals. The time intervals are from 0 to 4 seconds and from 4 to 8 seconds. At time interval from t=0s to t=4s, the rabbit starts from rest and has a constant acceleration of 5m/s^2. Applying the formula `d= v_i Delta t + 1/2a Delta t ^2` it traveled a distance of `d_(R1) = 0 + 1/2 (5)(4)^2`... To determine the distance traveled by the rabbit in 8 seconds, let's divide it into two time intervals. The time intervals are from 0 to 4 seconds and from 4 to 8 seconds. At time interval from t=0s to t=4s, the rabbit starts from rest and has a constant acceleration of 5m/s^2. Applying the formula `d= v_i Delta t + 1/2a Delta t ^2` it traveled a distance of `d_(R1) = 0 + 1/2 (5)(4)^2`   `d_(R1) = 40`  meters Next, applying the formula `v_f = v_i + a Delta t` the maximum speed of the rabbit is: `v_(R) = 0 + 5*4` `v_(R) = 20` m/s At the time interval from t=4s to t=8s, the rabbit is running at ...

The theme of "escape" or its opposite, imprisonment, is pretty dominant in Jane Eyre. Here are some examples: Jane, at the beginning of the book, enforces a kind of self-imprisonment by hiding in the window seat from John Reed; later, as a result of being "found out"  she is imprisoned in the Red Room. She enacts her "escape" from Gateshead by terrorizing Mrs. Reed and getting sent to Lowood. Lowood is another kind of imprisonment, one... The theme of "escape" or its opposite, imprisonment, is pretty dominant in Jane Eyre. Here are some examples: Jane, at the beginning of the book, enforces a kind of self-imprisonment by hiding in the window seat from John Reed; later, as a result of being "found out"  she is imprisoned in the Red Room. She enacts her "escape" from Gateshead by terrorizing Mrs. Reed and getting sent to Lowood. Lowood is another kind of imprisonment, one which Jane is able to escape by advertising for a posit...

On page 131 of the Perigee Book Edition of the novel Lord of the Flies , the boys leave Ralph's group and join Jack's tribe.In Chapter 8, Jack attempts to usurp power from Ralph during an assembly meeting. He criticizes Ralph for supporting Piggy and claims that he is a coward. When Jack asks the group of boys to raise their hands if they think that Ralph should not be the leader, there is... On page 131 of the Perigee Book Edition of the novel Lord of the Flies , the boys leave Ralph's group and join Jack's tribe. In Chapter 8, Jack attempts to usurp power from Ralph during an assembly meeting. He criticizes Ralph for supporting Piggy and claims that he is a coward. When Jack asks the group of boys to raise their hands if they think that Ralph should not be the leader, there is silence. Jack knows that the boys do not support his attempt to usurp power from Ralph, and Jack says, " I'm not going to play any longer. Not with you " (Golding 127). Before ru...

In Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," Miss Emily Grierson is portrayed as a  reminder of a past era of the town's history. She behaves as she was raised, stern and aristocratic, even though her circumstances do not reflect the past greatness of her family. Thus, while she is a target of gossip and speculation on the part of the townspeople, she is also respected, and perhaps a bit feared. An incident that shows this is... In Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," Miss Emily Grierson is portrayed as a  reminder of a past era of the town's history. She behaves as she was raised, stern and aristocratic, even though her circumstances do not reflect the past greatness of her family. Thus, while she is a target of gossip and speculation on the part of the townspeople, she is also respected, and perhaps a bit feared. An incident that shows this is her purchase of poison from the druggist. At first, she simply tells the druggist that, "I want some poison." Whe...

Propolis is obtained from honey bee hives and is the glue that seals the hive openings and protects them from invaders. Propolis is commonly extracted using ethanol (or ethyl alcohol) and this extract is known to have various useful properties, such as anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, etc. The water extract of propolis is relatively lesser studied and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The detailed method of preparation of propolis water extract can... Propolis is obtained from honey bee hives and is the glue that seals the hive openings and protects them from invaders. Propolis is commonly extracted using ethanol (or ethyl alcohol) and this extract is known to have various useful properties, such as anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, etc. The water extract of propolis is relatively lesser studied and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The detailed method of preparation of pr...

The activities of plants are coordinated by chemical compounds called hormones which are released by stimulated cells. These hormones exist in the form of molecules called signalling molecules. They are responsible for transmitting information to various receptor cells in different parts of the plant. There are various types of signalling molecules. They vary in size, function and shape depending on the role they are expected to play. When a signalling molecule encounters a receptor cell,... The activities of plants are coordinated by chemical compounds called hormones which are released by stimulated cells. These hormones exist in the form of molecules called signalling molecules. They are responsible for transmitting information to various receptor cells in different parts of the plant. There are various types of signalling molecules. They vary in size, function and shape depending on the role they are expected to play. When a signalling molecule encounters a receptor cell, it binds ...

The two main strategies that held the Persian Empire together during its height were federalism and rapid communication . Because the empire was so huge, it was necessary to establish lines of communication that were very fast (for their time) across it; for this, Persia established a postal service, one of the first in the world (and certainly the first on anything like this scale). Their motto (reported by Herodotus) may sound familiar: "Nothing mortal... The two main strategies that held the Persian Empire together during its height were federalism and rapid communication . Because the empire was so huge, it was necessary to establish lines of communication that were very fast (for their time) across it; for this, Persia established a postal service, one of the first in the world (and certainly the first on anything like this scale). Their motto (reported by Herodotus) may sound familiar: "Nothing mortal travels so fast as these Persian messengers. These men will not be hi...

"The Listeners" by Walter De la Mare is a poem which does a superb job of evoking an atmosphere of brooding melancholy and diffuse fear. The supernatural is more a matter of a sense of the uncanny than of an overt portrait of anything lacking a naturalistic explanation. The first way that De la Mare evokes this uncanny atmosphere is by deliberate vagueness and omission of details. The Traveller of the poem does not have... "The Listeners" by Walter De la Mare is a poem which does a superb job of evoking an atmosphere of brooding melancholy and diffuse fear. The supernatural is more a matter of a sense of the uncanny than of an overt portrait of anything lacking a naturalistic explanation. The first way that De la Mare evokes this uncanny atmosphere is by deliberate vagueness and omission of details. The Traveller of the poem does not have a name. We know of his feelings but not any practical details about what he is trying to do, who he is, what events of the past l...

Physical gestures or body language can be helpful and even vital when a health care provider and a patient have a language barrier. In circumstances where the patient and health care provider do not at all speak the same language, gestures may be used to express information about symptoms, onset of injury or illness, and possible treatments, as well as for requesting and affirming consent to examination or treatment. Even when a patient and provider  ... Physical gestures or body language can be helpful and even vital when a health care provider and a patient have a language barrier. In circumstances where the patient and health care provider do not at all speak the same language, gestures may be used to express information about symptoms, onset of injury or illness, and possible treatments, as well as for requesting and affirming consent to examination or treatment. Even when a patient and provider  do  speak the same language, sometimes there is a barrier in terms of specialized term...

In Suite Francaise , Madame Pericand represents the wealthier tier of Parisians. As the Germans approach Paris, she is prepared and resigned to her fate. "How they do get carried away" (page 8), she thinks of her working-class servants. Madame Pericand is briskly efficient as she considers that she has time between her children's bath time and dinner to listen to them recite their school lessons. Monsieur Pericand calmly plans for his wife and children... In Suite Francaise , Madame Pericand represents the wealthier tier of Parisians. As the Germans approach Paris, she is prepared and resigned to her fate. "How they do get carried away" (page 8), she thinks of her working-class servants. Madame Pericand is briskly efficient as she considers that she has time between her children's bath time and dinner to listen to them recite their school lessons. Monsieur Pericand calmly plans for his wife and children to leave in two cars with their furniture and other bel...

It is very difficult to determine with any precision the number of deaths from disease in the American Civil War. Casualty figures for the Confederate Army in particular are very incomplete and are based almost entirely on estimates, both contemporary and modern. In addition, historians are beginning to revise the long accepted death toll of around 625,000. Some recent demographic studies have argued that the death toll from the war was much higher, closer to... It is very difficult to determine with any precision the number of deaths from disease in the American Civil War. Casualty figures for the Confederate Army in particular are very incomplete and are based almost entirely on estimates, both contemporary and modern. In addition, historians are beginning to revise the long accepted death toll of around 625,000. Some recent demographic studies have argued that the death toll from the war was much higher, closer to 750,000. It is universally agreed, however, that a much greater numbe...

The text of "The Cask of Amontillado" does not specify the year in which the story is set. It was published in Godey's Lady's Book in 1846. Montresor, the fictitious narrator, states that Fortunato's bones have not been disturbed for fifty years, so one might guess that the event occurred in the 1790's. Montresor twice mentions that he was wearing a roquelaire , which was a knee-length cloak named after the Duc de Roquelaure, a... The text of "The Cask of Amontillado" does not specify the year in which the story is set. It was published in Godey's Lady's Book in 1846. Montresor, the fictitious narrator, states that Fortunato's bones have not been disturbed for fifty years, so one might guess that the event occurred in the 1790's. Montresor twice mentions that he was wearing a roquelaire , which was a knee-length cloak named after the Duc de Roquelaure, a French nobleman and Marshal of France who died in 1738. Fortunato's murder ...

Emotional intelligence comprises many different attributes, attributes that are important in having insight into others and oneself and acting intelligently upon those insights in ways that make us interact with others in a more satisfactory and productive manner. It might seem somewhat counter-intuitive to think an activity done on one's own would help one develop emotional intelligence, but it can. Let's take the attribute of perseverance. Perseverance is an aspect of emotional intelligence that is... Emotional intelligence comprises many different attributes, attributes that are important in having insight into others and oneself and acting intelligently upon those insights in ways that make us interact with others in a more satisfactory and productive manner. It might seem somewhat counter-intuitive to think an activity done on one's own would help one develop emotional intelligence, but it can. Let's take the attribute of perseverance. Perseverance is an aspect of ...

In this poem the speaker (let's assume he's a man), is out for a morning walk during the autumn. He comes to a place where the road he is following splits into two paths, and he has to decide which way to go. Both ways look equally appealing to him, and he wishes he could "travel both and be one traveler." One of the ways is "grassy and wanted wear," so it is the one... In this poem the speaker (let's assume he's a man), is out for a morning walk during the autumn. He comes to a place where the road he is following splits into two paths, and he has to decide which way to go. Both ways look equally appealing to him, and he wishes he could "travel both and be one traveler." One of the ways is "grassy and wanted wear," so it is the one fewer people have used, although not to a huge extent because he also says that "as for that the passing there had worn them really about the same." No one has traveled on either road on this...

The Black Death was a terrible illness, the bubonic plague, that first struck Europe in the mid 1300s. It came about as a result of trade, travel, and ignorance. The plague is carried by a type of rat that lives near people in homes and in ships. Fleas that carry the actual bacterium lived on the rats and as the rats died, the fleas began feasting on human beings, giving them the disease.  Over a short time, the plague traveled all across the Middle East and Europe, killing millions of people. Records kept during that period of time were sketchy, so various scholars have estimated different numbers of those actually killed. It was a large percentage of the population of the time. Medicine at the time was a crude affair and the explanations of the time did not get anywhere close to what was really going on. As a result, attempts to prevent and treat the plague were worse than useless.  As for consequences, since the population was decimated, this meant that there was a larger demand for...

It is in chapters 6 and 7 of Kate DiCamilla's Because of Winn-Dixie that Miss Franny block, the tiny old librarian in Naomi, Florida, makes friends with both Opal and Winn-Dixie and decides he is welcome to visit the library any time.In Chapter 6, Opal brings Winn-Dixie with her to the library and teaches him to stand on his hind legs so he can see through the window to watch her as she picks... It is in chapters 6 and 7 of Kate DiCamilla's Because of Winn-Dixie that Miss Franny block, the tiny old librarian in Naomi, Florida, makes friends with both Opal and Winn-Dixie and decides he is welcome to visit the library any time. In Chapter 6, Opal brings Winn-Dixie with her to the library and teaches him to stand on his hind legs so he can see through the window to watch her as she picks out books, which keeps him from feeling lonely. When Miss Franny sees Winn-Dixie through the window, she mistakes him for a bear she once saw in the library long ago and grows terrified. Op...

In chapter 14 of  The Scarlet Letter,  titled "Hester and the Physician", Hester goes to Chillingworth and wants to have a word with him. Chillingworth starts to talk by telling Hester about how the magistrate has been debating over the use of the scarlet letter, and whether Hester should continue to wear it. After a brief discussion on the matter, Hester looks deep into the face of the man, and notices great changes. She ...was shocked.... It was not so much that he had grown older... But the former aspect of an intellectual and studious man, calm and quiet...had altogether vanished, and been succeeded by an eager, searching, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded look. Like the passage states, Chillingworth is not necessarily a faded-looking old man. He is aging, of course, but the chapter even says that he "bore his age well," had a certain amount of "vigor," and was altogether quite alert.  The problem is that his anger and hatred are essentially coming ...

The theme of the short poem by Gwendolyn Brooks is that high school dropouts often feel proud and sure of themselves at first because they are bolstered by their peers, but eventually they will suffer the negative consequences of their choices. In the poem, the jazz-like rhythm and the multiple lines that end in "we" portray the cocky swagger of the seven who "left school." These teens believe they are "cool" as they go about... The theme of the short poem by Gwendolyn Brooks is that high school dropouts often feel proud and sure of themselves at first because they are bolstered by their peers, but eventually they will suffer the negative consequences of their choices. In the poem, the jazz-like rhythm and the multiple lines that end in "we" portray the cocky swagger of the seven who "left school." These teens believe they are "cool" as they go about their singing, drinking, dancing, and hanging out. The fact that there are s...

When Sam and Bill decide to kidnap the son of the most prominent citizen in town, "a mortgage fancier" and wealthy man named Ebenezer Dorset, they capture an  enfant terrible  who later calls himself "Red Chief."  After Bill and Sam drive into town, the men pull up next to a little boy who is throwing bricks at a cat.  “Hey, little boy!” says Bill, “would you like to have a bag of candy and a... When Sam and Bill decide to kidnap the son of the most prominent citizen in town, "a mortgage fancier" and wealthy man named Ebenezer Dorset, they capture an  enfant terrible  who later calls himself "Red Chief."  After Bill and Sam drive into town, the men pull up next to a little boy who is throwing bricks at a cat.  “Hey, little boy!” says Bill, “would you like to have a bag of candy and a nice ride?” The boy hurls a piece of brick at Bill. “That will cost the old man an extra five hundred dollars,” says Bill, climbing over the wheel. Clearly, this ram...

In a word? Sweat. "Integumentary system" and "homeostasis" are big scary words, but what we're really talking about here is how skin and the organ system it is a part of help the human body regulate itself, particularly with regard to temperature and moisture.Specialized nerves in the skin are sensitive to changes in temperature; specifically, certain nerves are sensitive to high temperatures while others are sensitive to low temperatures. If high-temperature nerves are triggered,... In a word? Sweat. "Integumentary system" and "homeostasis" are big scary words, but what we're really talking about here is how skin and the organ system it is a part of help the human body regulate itself, particularly with regard to temperature and moisture. Specialized nerves in the skin are sensitive to changes in temperature; specifically, certain nerves are sensitive to high temperatures while others are sensitive to low temperatures. If high-temperatur...

The setting of  The Great Gatsby  is informed by the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald, for it was he who named the time period the Jazz Age. In addition, there is much that is autobiographical in the character of Jay Gatsby, who aspires to live with the rich, whom he feels hold magical qualities, just as did Fitzgerald himself. Certainly, the decadent lifestyle of those with whom Fitzgerald associated at times is illustrated in the... The setting of  The Great Gatsby  is informed by the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald, for it was he who named the time period the Jazz Age. In addition, there is much that is autobiographical in the character of Jay Gatsby, who aspires to live with the rich, whom he feels hold magical qualities, just as did Fitzgerald himself. Certainly, the decadent lifestyle of those with whom Fitzgerald associated at times is illustrated in the parties given by Jay Gatsby and the irresponsible strangers who attend. Further, the luxurious homes and cars and lifestyles of those i...

The subtitle of Larson's book is "Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America."  This could be a clue to one of the themes, or messages, that he is trying to communicate in his historical novel.  The 1893 Chicago World's Fair - properly known as the World's Columbian Exposition in honor of Christopher Columbus's arrival 400 years earlier - was a turning point in American history.  America was built upon determination, and America... The subtitle of Larson's book is "Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America."  This could be a clue to one of the themes, or messages, that he is trying to communicate in his historical novel.  The 1893 Chicago World's Fair - properly known as the World's Columbian Exposition in honor of Christopher Columbus's arrival 400 years earlier - was a turning point in American history.  America was built upon determination, and America was an underdog.  Despite the odds, the Ameri...

You can find very detailed summaries of those chapters (as well as each chapter of the novel) here , but as I understand it, you're looking for brief summaries: a way to understand just the main events of each chapter. I'll provide those below. And, if you need to summarize both Chapters 4 and 5 in one sentence, you can say "Jess and Leslie become good friends, create their secret world of Terabithia, and get... You can find very detailed summaries of those chapters (as well as each chapter of the novel) here , but as I understand it, you're looking for brief summaries: a way to understand just the main events of each chapter. I'll provide those below. And, if you need to summarize both Chapters 4 and 5 in one sentence, you can say "Jess and Leslie become good friends, create their secret world of Terabithia, and get back at the bully Janice together." In Chapter 4, Leslie enjoys winning races at school, and Jess enjoys art class with Miss Edmunds. Lesli...

Ray Bradbury’s novel  Fahrenheit 451 is suffused with vivid and meaningful imagery. Much of it is strange animal and nature imagery used as a motif to support the theme that living disconnected from nature causes us to lose touch with our own human nature. For example, our first glimpse of Montag’s wife Mildred is more about the snake-like machine used to pump her stomach after her sleeping pill overdose than it is about her. Montag likens the machine to a “black cobra,” and he wonders, “Did it suck out all the poisons accumulated with the years?” The imagery of the cobra with its blindly seeing eye shows just how black and empty Mildred is inside from living this shell of a life. Next we meet the Mechanical Hound, made of brass, copper and steel. Montag nervously passes it in the firehouse and observes the killing machine at rest. “Lights flickered on bits of ruby glass and on sensitive capillary hairs in the nylon-brushed nostrils of the creature that quivered gently, gently, its ei...

Pope's "An Essay on Criticism" is a manual for literary critics written in verse and has many elements that are applicable to his "Rape of the Lock." First, Pope urges that his readers justly value the models of antiquity and appreciate their greatness. This means that as a student, even if you find Pope's own writing archaic or difficult, you should put in the effort to read it carefully for yourself; just as Pope learned... Pope's "An Essay on Criticism" is a manual for literary critics written in verse and has many elements that are applicable to his "Rape of the Lock." First, Pope urges that his readers justly value the models of antiquity and appreciate their greatness. This means that as a student, even if you find Pope's own writing archaic or difficult, you should put in the effort to read it carefully for yourself; just as Pope learned about human nature and literary form from close study of Homer, so you can learn from r...

In 1984 , the concept of "doublethink" centers on the practice of accepting two opposing opinions as truth. Winston explains it as the ability "To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out." The book provides an example of "doublethink" through how the government treats proles (the proletariats or working-class citizens). On one hand, the Inner Party claims the... In 1984 , the concept of "doublethink" centers on the practice of accepting two opposing opinions as truth. Winston explains it as the ability "To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out." The book provides an example of "doublethink" through how the government treats proles (the proletariats or working-class citizens). On one hand...

The central question in F. Scott Fitzgerald's  The Great Gatsby  is whether the elusive American Dream can ever be achieved. The second to final paragraph of the novel illustrates this question clearly: "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms further . . . And one fine morning—" Gatsby's green light included... The central question in F. Scott Fitzgerald's  The Great Gatsby  is whether the elusive American Dream can ever be achieved. The second to final paragraph of the novel illustrates this question clearly: "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms further . . . And one fine morning—" Gatsby's green light included two things: 1. Wealth and 2. Daisy. Just having one of the tw...

The majority of U.S. states incorporate some form of judicial election via partisan contested elections, non-partisan contested elections, or retention elections. Each of these types of election of judges presents advantages and disadvantages over a pure judicial appointment system.  The primary advantage of having some form of election in the selection and/or the retention of judges is that such systems provide a community with a voice regarding the judges who sit in that community. In some systems, this includes community selection of judges via contested election, and in others it only involves community retention of appointed judges. In either type of system, contested election or retention election, if a judge is a problem, the community has a mechanism for removing that judge. Conversely, in an appointment system, removal of a judge often requires specific kinds of wrongdoing on the judge's part and action by one or both of the other branches of government in the state. Anoth...

In Chapter 15 of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie , Opal goes to the library to pick out something to read aloud to Gloria as a nice surprise for her. Not knowing what an elderly woman might like to read, Opal asks Miss Franny, the librarian, for a suggestion, who recommends Gone with the Wind , which she explains is a "wonderful story about the Civil War." Miss Franny continues further to explain the Civil... In Chapter 15 of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie , Opal goes to the library to pick out something to read aloud to Gloria as a nice surprise for her. Not knowing what an elderly woman might like to read, Opal asks Miss Franny, the librarian, for a suggestion, who recommends Gone with the Wind , which she explains is a "wonderful story about the Civil War." Miss Franny continues further to explain the Civil War to Opal and tell about her great-grandfather's involvement in the war. When Opal says she knows the Civil War was fought ov...

William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning” examines a young boy named Colonel Sartoris Snopes and his life with his violent, cold-blooded father. The boy’s father is an uncaring sociopath who has a tendency to burn the barns of his perceived enemies. Faulkner’s story is a prime example of Southern Gothic literature, or a subgenre within 20th and 21st Century American literature that emphasizes the violent and macabre nature of Southern settings. Readers can see this... William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning” examines a young boy named Colonel Sartoris Snopes and his life with his violent, cold-blooded father. The boy’s father is an uncaring sociopath who has a tendency to burn the barns of his perceived enemies. Faulkner’s story is a prime example of Southern Gothic literature, or a subgenre within 20th and 21st Century American literature that emphasizes the violent and macabre nature of Southern settings. Readers can see this through the brutal nature of the father: “But he ...

Time affects the progression of the feud in Romeo and Juliet in two major ways. First, the passage of time renders the feud almost mythological in proportion; although the Capulets and Montagues continue to hate each other, neither family remembers how or why the feud began. The feud started so long ago that neither family can recall its origins and simply perpetuate the feud out of ego. It is a spiteful and violent tradition that... Time affects the progression of the feud in Romeo and Juliet in two major ways. First, the passage of time renders the feud almost mythological in proportion; although the Capulets and Montagues continue to hate each other, neither family remembers how or why the feud began. The feud started so long ago that neither family can recall its origins and simply perpetuate the feud out of ego. It is a spiteful and violent tradition that is way out of hand. Second, time has created a continued escalation in the gravity of the feud itself, as the warring factions...

In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond’s Run,” Squeaky and her mother have differing ideas on the role of young girls, which makes their relationship strained. Squeaky’s mother cares for their home, while Squeaky’s contribution to the family is to care for her disabled brother, Raymond. This indicates they do not spend a lot of time together. While she describes the scene at the May Day celebration, Squeaky tells about the year she dressed up... In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond’s Run,” Squeaky and her mother have differing ideas on the role of young girls, which makes their relationship strained. Squeaky’s mother cares for their home, while Squeaky’s contribution to the family is to care for her disabled brother, Raymond. This indicates they do not spend a lot of time together. While she describes the scene at the May Day celebration, Squeaky tells about the year she dressed up as a strawberry in the festivities. When her parents came to watch her dance, they were dress...