Help Notes

Atticus helps in Scout's maturation in many ways, most importantly with his presence as a firm (but fair) disciplinarian who makes himself available to Scout so she may reason out the many questions and frustrations that occupy her young mind. A prime example of Atticus' ability to help Scout mature is his advice early in the novel, couched in terms a child could understand, that "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view .... Atticus helps in Scout's maturation in many ways, most importantly with his presence as a firm (but fair) disciplinarian who makes himself available to Scout so she may reason out the many questions and frustrations that occupy her young mind. A prime example of Atticus' ability to help Scout mature is his advice early in the novel, couched in terms a child could understand, that "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into hi...

Militarism is caused by a number of different factors.  First, a government may build up its military if it perceives a domestic or foreign threat.  The government will increase military spending to prevent conflict with these groups.  A second reason for military buildups is to increase the potential for expansion.  This imperialist agenda is put forth to increase wealth and resources for a country.  Another reason for militarism is that it may help a country's... Militarism is caused by a number of different factors.  First, a government may build up its military if it perceives a domestic or foreign threat.  The government will increase military spending to prevent conflict with these groups.  A second reason for military buildups is to increase the potential for expansion.  This imperialist agenda is put forth to increase wealth and resources for a country.  Another reason for militarism is that it may help a country's economy as defense industries benefit from increased mi...

In many ways, insects can play the role of either friend or foe. We tend to avoid those insects which are poisonous or are considered pests, but some cultures around the world regularly eat bugs. (Many more will resort to eating bugs in times of nutritional stress!) So what's the big deal? Why do some cultures treasure insects as a special snack, and others might feel nauseous at the thought of crunching on a bug? I think that in order to properly address this question, we must consider the impact geography and climate play in the development of cuisine.  In parts of the world where other forms of animal protein are scarce, eating insects is a great addition to the diet. Many species of insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and worms are high in protein and essential vitamins and minerals. When it comes down to terms of survival, you'd be silly to pass up a nutritious insect. Some cultures, like that of North Thailand, have so come to embrace the nutty flavor and crunch of insect...

Foreshadowing in a piece of literature involves clues which hint toward future events. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet it is revealed in the very opening lines, called the Prologue, that Romeo and Juliet will die. In Act I, however, there are two points at which the characters themselves seem to predict their own deaths. In Scene 4, just after Mercutio has given his Queen Mab speech, Romeo, in an aside (a short speech which can... Foreshadowing in a piece of literature involves clues which hint toward future events. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet it is revealed in the very opening lines, called the Prologue, that Romeo and Juliet will die. In Act I, however, there are two points at which the characters themselves seem to predict their own deaths. In Scene 4, just after Mercutio has given his Queen Mab speech, Romeo, in an aside (a short speech which can only be heard by the audience and not the other characters on stage), reveals that he fears attendance at Capulet's ...

King Lear’s daughter Cordelia spoke the truth to him from the beginning. She refuses to flatter him the way her sisters do, so Lear disinherits her: “thy truth, then, be thy dower.” She can see through her sisters. However, Cordelia loves and cares for her father, coming to his rescue when his other daughters take his power. Lear’s loyal follower, the Earl of Kent, also both takes care of Lear and remains honest with him,... King Lear’s daughter Cordelia spoke the truth to him from the beginning. She refuses to flatter him the way her sisters do, so Lear disinherits her: “thy truth, then, be thy dower.” She can see through her sisters. However, Cordelia loves and cares for her father, coming to his rescue when his other daughters take his power. Lear’s loyal follower, the Earl of Kent, also both takes care of Lear and remains honest with him, even in the face of his rejection. He tells Lear that Cordelia loves him. For this, Lear banishes Kent, but he returns disguised and continues to...

On page 17 of Children of the Prison Boom , Wakefield and Wildeman cite several statistics about the effects of incarceration on the adults who are imprisoned. They cite research that suggests having a criminal record leads to a 10% to 30% reduction in earnings, in part because employers do not want to hire someone with a record. For African-American men, the result of imprisonment is particularly harsh, as there is evidence (cited by the... On page 17 of Children of the Prison Boom , Wakefield and Wildeman cite several statistics about the effects of incarceration on the adults who are imprisoned. They cite research that suggests having a criminal record leads to a 10% to 30% reduction in earnings, in part because employers do not want to hire someone with a record. For African-American men, the result of imprisonment is particularly harsh, as there is evidence (cited by the authors) that suggests that employers prefer hiring white men with a felony conviction over African-Americans w...

After Juliet learns that the young man with whom she's fallen in love at first sight is the son of her father's great enemy, she says, "My only love sprung from my only hate!" (1.5.152).  This is a paradox (a statement or situation that appears to be contradictory but is nonetheless true).  What she means is that she has neither loved before she saw Romeo nor hated anyone other than a Montague, and now the... After Juliet learns that the young man with whom she's fallen in love at first sight is the son of her father's great enemy, she says, "My only love sprung from my only hate!" (1.5.152).  This is a paradox (a statement or situation that appears to be contradictory but is nonetheless true).  What she means is that she has neither loved before she saw Romeo nor hated anyone other than a Montague, and now the two -- love and hate -- have converged in one person.  You could, perhaps, draw Romeo -- one half of him looking lovable and smiling, hand ex...

If by "negative effect" you mean people who opposed the movement for African-American civil rights during the 1950s and 1960s, then some Southern politicians spring to mind. One is George Wallace, the Alabama governor who became the face of segregation in the South when he blocked the entrance to the University of Alabama to prevent African-American students from entering under federal protection. Another is Mississippi governor Ross Barnett, who took similar actions in response to... If by "negative effect" you mean people who opposed the movement for African-American civil rights during the 1950s and 1960s, then some Southern politicians spring to mind. One is George Wallace, the Alabama governor who became the face of segregation in the South when he blocked the entrance to the University of Alabama to prevent African-American students from entering under federal protection. Another is Mississippi governor Ross Barnett, who took similar actions in response to att...

Social capital is our network or web of relationships with others that is of benefit to us. These can be formal, such as membership in a club or informal, such as a group of friends.  This can be a very loose arrangement, such as a group of neighbors who are acquainted with one another, or a closer arrangement, a person's one or two best friends.  Benefits that accrue as a result of social capital are... Social capital is our network or web of relationships with others that is of benefit to us. These can be formal, such as membership in a club or informal, such as a group of friends.  This can be a very loose arrangement, such as a group of neighbors who are acquainted with one another, or a closer arrangement, a person's one or two best friends.  Benefits that accrue as a result of social capital are many and varied. When a distant relative told me her son was looking for a position as a teacher in St. Louis, I remembered that I had gone to law school with someone who had a su...

Holden's concern about the ducks in Central Park reveals that he is exceptionally kind-hearted, in spite of the cynical, negative attitude he typically expresses. The story takes place just before Christmas, which means that the weather is quite cold. Holden pictures those ducks suffering in the snow and ice, and he is evidently hoping they had sense enough to migrate south by now. Holden is perhaps the only person in New York who thinks about... Holden's concern about the ducks in Central Park reveals that he is exceptionally kind-hearted, in spite of the cynical, negative attitude he typically expresses. The story takes place just before Christmas, which means that the weather is quite cold. Holden pictures those ducks suffering in the snow and ice, and he is evidently hoping they had sense enough to migrate south by now. Holden is perhaps the only person in New York who thinks about the ducks or cares what happens to them. He asks the cab driver in Chapter 9: By any chance, ...

Tennyson's "Ulysses" is a meditation on old age. We meet an aged Ulysses bitterly reflecting on the glory of his legendary youth and contrasting it with the apparently dull state of his advanced years. Rather than fighting epic battles and exploring distant realms, for instance, Ulysses finds himself wasting away on the shores of Ithaca, tending to the "boring" needs of his family and subjects. The poem is, above all else, an evocation of yearning for... Tennyson's "Ulysses" is a meditation on old age. We meet an aged Ulysses bitterly reflecting on the glory of his legendary youth and contrasting it with the apparently dull state of his advanced years. Rather than fighting epic battles and exploring distant realms, for instance, Ulysses finds himself wasting away on the shores of Ithaca, tending to the "boring" needs of his family and subjects. The poem is, above all else, an evocation of yearning for the glory days.  Ulysses' solutio...

This saying means that if, as we go through life, our eyes are firmly fixed only on where we are going, we are going to miss our entire lives! Essentially, life consists of all the moments on the way to our various destinations, and when our focus is on the destination, we are not living in these moments. There are many small and large examples of this, literally and figuratively. As I leave my house,... This saying means that if, as we go through life, our eyes are firmly fixed only on where we are going, we are going to miss our entire lives! Essentially, life consists of all the moments on the way to our various destinations, and when our focus is on the destination, we are not living in these moments. There are many small and large examples of this, literally and figuratively. As I leave my house, I have a destination, the school where I teach. If that is all that I think about on the way, I am missing out on a great deal. I will miss the cherry tree that just blossomed, the eagle ...

The cell membrane is made of a phospholipid bilayer that acts as a barrier to what molecules can or cannot enter the cell. There are different structures within the cell membrane to move molecules too large to enter between the phospholipids and those that are polar. Diffusion and osmosis are natural processes that do not require energy from the cell. Since no energy is required by the cell, diffusion and osmosis are types of passive... The cell membrane is made of a phospholipid bilayer that acts as a barrier to what molecules can or cannot enter the cell. There are different structures within the cell membrane to move molecules too large to enter between the phospholipids and those that are polar. Diffusion and osmosis are natural processes that do not require energy from the cell. Since no energy is required by the cell, diffusion and osmosis are types of passive transport. Diffusion allows non-polar molecules to flow from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentr...

A velocity vs. time graph shows time along a horizontal axis, and velocity at the corresponding time along a vertical axis. In another words, it shows a graph of velocity as a function of time. As many physical quantities, velocity is almost always continuous and even differentiable. This means that a corresponding graph has a finite slope almost everywhere. This slope is the same as the slope of a tangent line at the same point. ... A velocity vs. time graph shows time along a horizontal axis, and velocity at the corresponding time along a vertical axis. In another words, it shows a graph of velocity as a function of time. As many physical quantities, velocity is almost always continuous and even differentiable. This means that a corresponding graph has a finite slope almost everywhere. This slope is the same as the slope of a tangent line at the same point. As for any graph of a differentiable function, the slope at a point is the value of the function's derivative. For speed, th...

Fitzgerald foreshadows future events numerous times throughout the novel by using motifs, imagery, and character dialogue to hint at what will happen later on in the story. In chapter 3, Nick attends one of Gatsby's extravagant parties and witnesses an accident outside of Gatsby's home. One of Gatsby's inebriated guests attempts to drive and wrecks his car into a ditch about fifty feet from Gatsby's front door. Fitzgerald foreshadows Daisy wrecking Gatsby's yellow car towards the end of the novel by depicting Owl Eye's accident outside of Gatsby's home in chapter 3. In chapter 4, Gatsby invites Nick to eat lunch with him in New York City and introduces Nick to his shady business partner, Meyer Wolfsheim. Gatsby then tells Nick that Meyer Wolfsheim fixed the 1919 World Series, which foreshadows Gatsby's occupation as an illegal bootlegger. Later on in the novel, Tom Buchanan will announce that Jay Gatsby is a bootlegger in front of Daisy, effectively ruin...

In the opening paragraph, Montresor explains his motive for wanting revenge against Fortunato for a thousand injuries and a recent insult. Then Montresor specifies what he will accept as complete revenge. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled--but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It... In the opening paragraph, Montresor explains his motive for wanting revenge against Fortunato for a thousand injuries and a recent insult. Then Montresor specifies what he will accept as complete revenge. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled--but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make...

The event surrounding Miss Tutti and Miss Fruitti is discussed in Chapter 27. Their names are actually Sarah and Frances Barber, but because they are Yankees who moved to Maycomb, Republicans, sisters and deaf old maids, they become the brunt of local jokes. Also, the two deaf sisters built a cellar, the only one in Maycomb, and they brag about it too much. So some local children decided to play a trick on Miss Tutti... The event surrounding Miss Tutti and Miss Fruitti is discussed in Chapter 27. Their names are actually Sarah and Frances Barber, but because they are Yankees who moved to Maycomb, Republicans, sisters and deaf old maids, they become the brunt of local jokes. Also, the two deaf sisters built a cellar, the only one in Maycomb, and they brag about it too much. So some local children decided to play a trick on Miss Tutti and Miss Frutti after the sisters fell asleep. The kids walked into their unlocked home and moved all the furniture down to the cellar.  Sheriff Tate was c...

Calpurnia is a better mother figure than Miss Maudie because she is stern as well as loving.   Miss Maudie never really serves as a disciplinarian.  To be a mother figure, you have to be both affectionate and stern.  Calpurnia lays down the law while also being supportive of Scout.  She calls her baby.  Miss Maudie is more like a friend to Scout.  Calpurnia is the only mother Scout has.  She teaches Scout right from... Calpurnia is a better mother figure than Miss Maudie because she is stern as well as loving.   Miss Maudie never really serves as a disciplinarian.  To be a mother figure, you have to be both affectionate and stern.  Calpurnia lays down the law while also being supportive of Scout.  She calls her baby.  Miss Maudie is more like a friend to Scout.  Calpurnia is the only mother Scout has.  She teaches Scout right from wrong.  A good example of this is when Scout complains when Walter puts syrup on his dinner.  Calpurnia scolds her for being rude, and tells her that any vis...

The reasons you can argue that postmodernist art is a passing phase of nonsense are that it breaks from traditions in the history of art, seeking to produce something that cannot be understood through the lens we use to look at traditional art. If we are looking at postmodern art through the lens we use to understand Renaissance art, it seems like nonsense. This is because the goals of Renaissance art and the goals of postmodernist art are not the same. Renaissance art wants to show the most accurate depiction of the human form, of nature, and anything else we see in the world, even if it is attempting to paint something supernatural (see for example how Michelangelo depicts heaven in his ceiling for the Sistine Chapel). We could say that Renaissance art wants to give answers (to questions such as what heaven looks like, for example), but postmodernist art wants to ask questions. For that reason, we could argue that it is not a passing phase of nonsense but an exciting and innovative t...

Relationships between organisms are an important part of ecological systems. If a relationship is  symbiotic,  this means that two organisms live in close quarters and may interact with one another. There are several types of symbiotic relationships, including parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism. Parasitism is a specific kind of relationship where one organism lives off of another. Insects like fleas are parasites and engage in parasitic relationships where they drink the blood of a host organism. ... Relationships between organisms are an important part of ecological systems. If a relationship is  symbiotic,  this means that two organisms live in close quarters and may interact with one another. There are several types of symbiotic relationships, including parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism. Parasitism is a specific kind of relationship where one organism lives off of another. Insects like fleas are parasites and engage in parasitic relationships where they drink the blood of...

The central conflict in Judy Blume's Blubber is actually a bit unusual because Jill, the protagonist, doesn't behave like a protagonist at all; she is instead much more of an antihero . A protagonist is the main character in a story who grows and changes as a result of overcoming the conflict; an antihero is a protagonist who doesn't have the typical characteristics of a protagonist, characteristics that make the reader love the protagonist such as "bravery, strength, charm, ingenuity, etc." ( "Anti-hero," Literary Devices ). Instead, Jill, the antihero, is a cruel bully and part of the in-crowd led by Wendy. When Wendy begins bullying obese Linda, Jill and the rest of the class follow suit. However, Jill does occasionally get into trouble for her actions though she never agrees to having been wrong. Since Jill gets into trouble but disagrees with the rest of society's view of right and wrong, we can call Jill's conflict a character vs. so...

The narrator certainly does not feel that her husband understands or believes her when she describes her feelings of illness.  She says, "John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in a marriage."  He tends to speak down to her, as though she were a child who requires coddling or correcting.  Further, she says, "he does not believe I am sick!"  John doesn't seem to give his wife any credit for knowing her... The narrator certainly does not feel that her husband understands or believes her when she describes her feelings of illness.  She says, "John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in a marriage."  He tends to speak down to her, as though she were a child who requires coddling or correcting.  Further, she says, "he does not believe I am sick!"  John doesn't seem to give his wife any credit for knowing her own mind or body, what she can or cannot handle, and he keeps her locked away in her room under the pretense of hel...

The context of this question is what is known as the "trolley problem," a thought experiment which addresses the problem of intentions in ethics. The central premise of the problem is that you are the conductor of a trolley. The brakes on the trolley have failed and ahead of you on the track is a group of five workers that the trolley will kill if something is not done to stop the trolley. There are... The context of this question is what is known as the "trolley problem," a thought experiment which addresses the problem of intentions in ethics. The central premise of the problem is that you are the conductor of a trolley. The brakes on the trolley have failed and ahead of you on the track is a group of five workers that the trolley will kill if something is not done to stop the trolley. There are two main variants of the problem, a "spur" version in which you have the option of steering the trolley onto a spur where there is only a single worker, and the ...

Three key scenes from The Catcher in the Rye  are the following: After Holden has been expelled from Pency and his fight with Stradlater  Holden's date with Sally At home with Phoebe  1. This first scene introduces Holden's disdain for phoniness, as well as exemplifying Holden's silent contempt for adults.  After Holden is expelled, he goes to the house of Mr. Spencer, a teacher who has failed him. Mr. Spencer asks Holden if he does not have any qualms about what he has done and concerns about his future. Further, Mr. Spencer asks Holden if he has a grudge against him for having failed him. Then he lectures Holden about life being but a game that a person must play according to the rules. Holden expresses his contempt for what he perceives as phoniness: Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it's a game, all right—I'll admit that. But if you get on the other side, where there aren't any hot-shots, then what's a game about it? Not...

There were two main uses for nuclear submarines in the Cold War.  One was as hard-to-track launch platforms for nuclear missiles.  The other was as hunters who tried to find those launch platforms so as to be in position to destroy them if there was a threat of war. During the Cold War, the most important weapon in the US and Soviet arsenals was the nuclear missile.  Each side felt that it needed to have... There were two main uses for nuclear submarines in the Cold War.  One was as hard-to-track launch platforms for nuclear missiles.  The other was as hunters who tried to find those launch platforms so as to be in position to destroy them if there was a threat of war. During the Cold War, the most important weapon in the US and Soviet arsenals was the nuclear missile.  Each side felt that it needed to have the ability to strike the other with nuclear missiles.  Each side had many missiles based on land, but they were afraid that the other side could target those missile installations ...

Abigail Williams is the most to blame for the witchcraft hysteria that takes hold of Salem.  She participates in witchcraft rituals in the woods, theoretically causing her cousin (and Ruth Putnam) to become ill from guilt and fear and allowing her uncle to find her and the other girls dancing and conjuring.  Her actions begin the entire problem.  Betty Parris wakes for a few moments in Act One to scream, "You drank blood, Abby!  You didn't tell [Reverend Parris] that! [....] You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife!"  Clearly, Betty is stressed out about their activities in the forest, and she is anxious about her father finding out.  If Abigail hadn't actually been engaging in these illegal and immoral activities, the hysteria would never have even begun. Further, Abigail makes the first accusation when she names Tituba as a witch.  Once Abigail becomes the subject of Mr. Hale's questions, she panics.  In order to redirect suspicion away from herself, sh...

When Macbeth says he is not interested in continuing with the business of killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth calls him a coward.  Then she tells him that if he were a man, he would do it. When Macbeth hears about the witches’ prophecies, he writes a letter to his wife telling her about them.  He is all ready to do it until he actually gets home and realizes he has to kill Duncan in his house. ... When Macbeth says he is not interested in continuing with the business of killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth calls him a coward.  Then she tells him that if he were a man, he would do it. When Macbeth hears about the witches’ prophecies, he writes a letter to his wife telling her about them.  He is all ready to do it until he actually gets home and realizes he has to kill Duncan in his house.  Then he loses his nerve. He tells Lady Macbeth that he doesn’t want to do it anymore, and it turns out she was right when she said he was “too full o' the milk of human kindness” to do it.  She decides that she ...

Cultural identity, and the related value system, of any group is based on fundamental principles, which guide worldviews. Worldviews, or ways of interpreting the surrounding world, play a huge role in communication. Fundamental assumptions drive interpersonal interactions, so when these assumptions are different, communication can go haywire. For example, consider the differences between individualistic cultures (of western countries like the US) and collectivistic cultures (of eastern countries like Japan). In individualistic cultures, people make decisions... Cultural identity, and the related value system, of any group is based on fundamental principles, which guide worldviews. Worldviews, or ways of interpreting the surrounding world, play a huge role in communication. Fundamental assumptions drive interpersonal interactions, so when these assumptions are different, communication can go haywire. For example, consider the differences between individualistic cultures (of western coun...

In this episode we see Daisy coming to the painful realization that there is a flaw in her grand and self-exonerating belief that she can have everything she wants (and deserves it all too). Her crisis comes when she is made to face the fact that she cannot live two lives. No amount of privilege can afford that.  This scene can be argued to demonstrate Daisy’s hope to “have it all” as a privileged person capable of attaining true love in her affair with Gatsby without any real cost to her marriage and her sense of self. We can certainly see her trying to find a way to hang on to some sense of what was good about her marriage while pursuing a love affair with Gatsby too.  Importantly, we also see that as much as Daisy desires to “have it all,” her capacity to undo the past and believe in a new and perfect romance is not as strong as Gatsby’s. Daisy’s belief that you can change or re-live the past falters when Gatsby puts that belief to the test in this scene. Forced to choose between he...

Kevin and Maxwell are friends who find a way to survive life as misfits by joining forces. Kevin suffers from birth defects that affect his ability to walk without crutches. Max, on the other hand, can walk just fine, but he is very tall for his age and feels like he doesn't fit in because he towers over everyone his age. Also, Kevin is highly intelligent and Maxwell is in the learning disabled classes. Together... Kevin and Maxwell are friends who find a way to survive life as misfits by joining forces. Kevin suffers from birth defects that affect his ability to walk without crutches. Max, on the other hand, can walk just fine, but he is very tall for his age and feels like he doesn't fit in because he towers over everyone his age. Also, Kevin is highly intelligent and Maxwell is in the learning disabled classes. Together they find a way to forge their way through physical and intellectual trials together. Max hoists Kevin on his shoulders so they both can get around more easi...

Water as a bent molecule: Water molecules have a  bent  molecular shape. This occurs because of the presence of unshared electrons on the oxygen atom. The presence of unshared electrons on the oxygen atom results in a molecule with unequal charge. The oxygen side of a water molecule has a partially negative charge, while the hydrogen side has a partially positive charge. When molecules have unequal charge, they are called  polar molecules. Polar water molecules... Water as a bent molecule: Water molecules have a  bent  molecular shape. This occurs because of the presence of unshared electrons on the oxygen atom. The presence of unshared electrons on the oxygen atom results in a molecule with unequal charge. The oxygen side of a water molecule has a partially negative charge, while the hydrogen side has a partially positive charge. When molecules have unequal charge, they are called  polar molecules. Polar water molecules are held together by medium strength intermolecular forces call...

Earth's climate is changing, specifically in terms of average temperature. The role played by human beings in climate change is irrefutable.  Earth's temperature is maintained in a more hospitable range by a number of gases present in the atmosphere. These gases (including carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) trap the heat reflected by Earth's surface and keep the planet warm. This effect is known as the greenhouse effect. It has been observed by scientists that the average... Earth's climate is changing, specifically in terms of average temperature. The role played by human beings in climate change is irrefutable.  Earth's temperature is maintained in a more hospitable range by a number of gases present in the atmosphere. These gases (including carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) trap the heat reflected by Earth's surface and keep the planet warm. This effect is known as the greenhouse effect. It has been observed by scientists that the average temperature of Earth is inc...

I also think that what Jonas could not articulate is that there is a risk of loss in love.  His life of emotional deprivation does not give him a vocabulary with which to express this idea, but the book makes clear that people are not really emotionally invested in one another in any way.  If Jonas were to die, his parents, parental units, really, would no doubt miss him, but there is nothing to suggest they would feel grief. They are on record as not loving him. Death is unknown in this community, since it is euthanasia that is tidied up, euphemized, and hidden from the people. If one's beloved grandparent were to die, it would be a painful loss, one of the risks of love.  Similarly, if people chose partners based on love, that love could be lost, another of its risks.   

Word has gone round the farm during the dayThat Old Major dreamed of living a new way.He wants all animals to meet in the barn this night,And they are willing to hear what he has to say. The majestic old pig has a wise appearance in his stance.The other animals enter and hear from him of their only chance:Freedom! They must revolt against Man, their enemy.Rebellion is the answer!... Word has gone round the farm during the day That Old Major dreamed of living a new way. He wants all animals to meet in the barn this night, And they are willing to hear what he has to say. The majestic old pig has a wise appearance in his stance. The other animals enter and hear from him of their only chance: Freedom! They must revolt against Man, their enemy. Rebellion is the answer! All animals are equal in every occurrence. The song is sung, the rules are made for Animalism, a new system. The next day, Jones and others enter the barn, and the animals attack them. Defeat chases them all away, and the ani...

Brother’s selfish pride allowed him to teach Doodle to walk, but he pushed him to hard and he died because of it.   Brother considers the ibis symbolic of his brother’s condition.  The ibis lands in their yard, and it is too delicate to survive.  Doodle is attracted to it, and feels an affinity for it.  He too is delicate and unable to survive.  Through hard work and a desperate determination, Brother is able to... Brother’s selfish pride allowed him to teach Doodle to walk, but he pushed him to hard and he died because of it.   Brother considers the ibis symbolic of his brother’s condition.  The ibis lands in their yard, and it is too delicate to survive.  Doodle is attracted to it, and feels an affinity for it.  He too is delicate and unable to survive.  Through hard work and a desperate determination, Brother is able to teach Doodle to walk for his sixth birthday.  It is an act born of pride.  He wants a brother like everyone else’s.  It seemed so hopeless from the beginning that it...

Crooks dreams of having company and belonging somewhere where he is wanted. Crooks wants to belong.  He is the African-American stable hand.  Because of his race, he is ostracized by the ranch hands.  They do not want to associate with him.  While most of them are migrants, he has been at the ranch for a while.  He has his own room, because he is not allowed in the bunkhouse, but it is really just a corner of the harness room.  "Why ain't you wanted?" Lennie asked. "'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me." (Ch. 4, p. 68) Although he initially tells Lennie to stay away, Crooks invites him in because of his “disarming smile.”  When Lennie tells him about his, George, and Candy’s dream to have their own land, Crooks tells Lennie about his childhood when he was treated better by whites because his father had land.  Crooks explains to Lennie that he...

First of all, we have to recognize that there are many people who would say that we do not need an equal rights amendment to the Constitution.  Some of these are conservatives who believe that women already have enough rights or that we should be careful about giving women equal rights because it would lead to women being drafted into the military or men being allowed in women’s bathrooms.  Others are not necessarily conservative but they believe that the problems that women face today are not really because of legal discrimination and would not be solved by an equal rights amendment.  For example, women tend to make less money than men today, but that is largely not because of any conscious discrimination.  Instead, women tend to cluster in poorly-paid jobs and women in good jobs often do not climb as high because they have to take time off to raise children.  An equal rights amendment would not solve either of these problems.  For these reasons, there are many people who would disagr...

The island of Lord of the Flies is, indeed, a microcosm, or a little world. In the first chapter, Ralph delights in the freedom and beauty of this island, alluding to it as "Here was a coral island." This allusion is very significant because Golding wrote his novel in answer to the idealistic work of R. M. Ballantyne: Lord of the Flies  challenges the unrealistic outlook expressed in  The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean  (1858), by Robert Michael Ballantyne. That Victorian adventure novel features three boys marooned on an island with pirates and cannibals. The boys cheerfully maintain their Christian moral outlook and gentleman's manners until they are able to escape. On an island, away from all the restrictions of society, the boys of Golding's allegory, however, do not maintain their civilized outlook as in Coral Island . Instead, they descend into savagery. Despite Ralph's efforts to maintain British civility and discipline, without the reinforcemen...

At this point, Jonas is beginning to be overwhelmed by the memories.  After growing up with no feelings and in a world where everything is completely controlled, the full experience of emotions is almost too much for him.  The addition of painful memories in particular makes it difficult to accept.  Jonas did not want to go back. He didn't want the memories, didn't want the honor, didn't want the wisdom, didn't want the pain. He... At this point, Jonas is beginning to be overwhelmed by the memories.  After growing up with no feelings and in a world where everything is completely controlled, the full experience of emotions is almost too much for him.  The addition of painful memories in particular makes it difficult to accept.  Jonas did not want to go back. He didn't want the memories, didn't want the honor, didn't want the wisdom, didn't want the pain. He wanted his childhood again, his scraped knees and ball games. (Ch. 16)  Jonas does experience some ...

I'm not sure if you are looking for a summary of the whole poem or just its conclusion, so I'm going to summarize the whole poem, and then you can pick from it whatever is useful to you: the whole or just a part. A duke discusses a portrait of his former wife (who is now dead) with the servant of a man whose daughter he now wishes to marry and make his new duchess.... I'm not sure if you are looking for a summary of the whole poem or just its conclusion, so I'm going to summarize the whole poem, and then you can pick from it whatever is useful to you: the whole or just a part. A duke discusses a portrait of his former wife (who is now dead) with the servant of a man whose daughter he now wishes to marry and make his new duchess. The duke keeps the portrait behind a curtain so that no one can look at it without his permission. The painting was done by Fra Pandolf, and it is a good likeness, including the blush upon her cheeks. The duke describes his wife as one who was m...

Dramatic irony refers to situations in which characters are unaware of certain events or the true motivations of another character, but the reader/viewer/audience is in the know.  In Act 1 Scene 4 of  Macbeth,  the audience is well aware of the prophecy that Macbeth and Banquo have received from the witches, but no one else in the play knows about the men's encounter with the witches.  At this point, Duncan speaks highly of Macbeth's valiance... Dramatic irony refers to situations in which characters are unaware of certain events or the true motivations of another character, but the reader/viewer/audience is in the know.  In Act 1 Scene 4 of  Macbeth,  the audience is well aware of the prophecy that Macbeth and Banquo have received from the witches, but no one else in the play knows about the men's encounter with the witches.  At this point, Duncan speaks highly of Macbeth's valiance on the battlefield, and he is completely unaware that Macbeth has already begun thinkin...

The people of Omelas are are happy. If some want excess, they can have it. If some want simplicity, they can live that way. There are no structures in place to dictate how they should be happy, and the narrator suggests that this is how their happiness is achieved. But the narrator is continually defensive, as if we (readers/listeners) are thinking this is too good to be true. O miracle! but I wish I could... The people of Omelas are are happy. If some want excess, they can have it. If some want simplicity, they can live that way. There are no structures in place to dictate how they should be happy, and the narrator suggests that this is how their happiness is achieved. But the narrator is continually defensive, as if we (readers/listeners) are thinking this is too good to be true. O miracle! but I wish I could describe it better. I wish I could convince you. The narrator is defensive because she wants to prove that the collective happiness of Omelas' people will justify the tortur...

The two primary issues that drew the attention of 1960s protest movements were the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. However, the anti-war movement did not really reach its peak until the late 1960s. When Dylan wrote this lyric in 1963, anti-war protests were not widespread. Dylan's main focus in the song is civil rights for blacks. Dylan was inspired to write this song after hearing a Civil War era freedom song that he... The two primary issues that drew the attention of 1960s protest movements were the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. However, the anti-war movement did not really reach its peak until the late 1960s. When Dylan wrote this lyric in 1963, anti-war protests were not widespread. Dylan's main focus in the song is civil rights for blacks. Dylan was inspired to write this song after hearing a Civil War era freedom song that he found very moving. He penned the words in about ten minutes while sitting in a cafe. The Civil Rights Movement was in full ...