Help Notes

In Chapter 3 of  The Secret Life of Bees , Lily and Rosaleen are fleeing and looking for a place to stay for the night. After Lily suggests they rent a room at a motel, Rosaleen looks at Lily and says, "there ain't gonna be a place that takes a colored woman. I don't care if she's the Virgin Mary..." After this response, Lily asks the question, "Well, what was the point of the Civil... In Chapter 3 of  The Secret Life of Bees , Lily and Rosaleen are fleeing and looking for a place to stay for the night. After Lily suggests they rent a room at a motel, Rosaleen looks at Lily and says, "there ain't gonna be a place that takes a colored woman. I don't care if she's the Virgin Mary..." After this response, Lily asks the question, "Well, what was the point of the Civil Rights Act?" and goes on to assume that the law fixed all the discriminatory practices in the South. Lily's assumptions reveal her naïveté, which is one of the pr...

One could argue Romeo is the most flawed character in the entire play. Let's take a closer look at some of Romeo's character traits and how they detrimentally affect him: - Romeo is fickle in love and chooses to embark on conquests doomed from the start.  Romeo begins the play with what he proclaims to be an undying love for Rosaline. This is problematic for two reasons. First, Rosaline is the niece of Lord Capulet and, thus, a member of a rivaling family. Second, she decided to take a vow of chastity, meaning that she is literally unavailable—physically, emotionally, AND spiritually. Within the space of a single act, Romeo experiences a radical shift in emotion, and sets his sights on Juliet Capulet instead. Again, this is an ill-fated conquest. Juliet is the daughter of Lord Capulet, who hopes Paris will be Juliet's husband. Romeo makes poor choices in women, selecting only those obviously out of his reach. This self-sabotaging behavior is compounded by Romeo's incons...

Act 1, scene 2 of Shakespeare's  The Merchant of Venice  is when Portia and Nerissa discuss the different suitors who have come to court to play the game of chance for Portia's hand. Portia has not been impressed with anyone so far. Nerissa names them off in this scene, and Portia gives witty and informative reasons as to why she doesn't like each one. She is witty because she can joke about each suitor's character and personality to make Nerissa laugh, but she also shows her intelligence because she can peg each one exactly. In fact, Portia is so good at categorizing each man that by today's standards, she might be considered prejudiced because she pokes fun at their stereotypical vices. For example, when Portia criticizes the man from England, she makes fun of the fact that he doesn't know any other language than his own. The English would conquer a nation and force everyone to speak English, so Portia plays on that with her comments. Of the Frenchman, she say...

One summer evening, Scout, Jem, and Dill decide to sneak into the Radley yard to spy on Boo.  They hope to catch a glimpse of the infamous figure.  Instead, Mr. Radley comes out and shoots his gun into the air.  The children escape through the fence, but Jem's pants get caught in the barbed wire.  His is unable to get them free, so he leaves them behind.   Jem knows that he needs to get... One summer evening, Scout, Jem, and Dill decide to sneak into the Radley yard to spy on Boo.  They hope to catch a glimpse of the infamous figure.  Instead, Mr. Radley comes out and shoots his gun into the air.  The children escape through the fence, but Jem's pants get caught in the barbed wire.  His is unable to get them free, so he leaves them behind.   Jem knows that he needs to get his pants back.  He is sure that he will get in trouble with his father if he does not get them back.  He had told Atticus that he lost his pants to Dill in a game of strip poker.  He decides to sneak back to ...

This whole epic tale spins around the idea of sacrifice. The theme is woven throughout the main plot, the crisscrossing sub-plots, and all the other mythology only hinted at in the tale. The gods exist because humans sacrifice their energy and even their lives to them—without the power of human belief, the gods wouldn’t exist at all. However, gods must make sacrifices as well. Shadow’s horrific nine-day vigil upon Mr. Wednesday’s death is deeply symbolic.... This whole epic tale spins around the idea of sacrifice. The theme is woven throughout the main plot, the crisscrossing sub-plots, and all the other mythology only hinted at in the tale. The gods exist because humans sacrifice their energy and even their lives to them—without the power of human belief, the gods wouldn’t exist at all. However, gods must make sacrifices as well. Shadow’s horrific nine-day vigil upon Mr. Wednesday’s death is deeply symbolic. Gaiman is using Shadow’s sacrifice as a parallel of the Norse myth in which O...

There's ample evidence of Juliet's loyalty to Romeo, but the scene that strikes most at my own heart is the one in which Juliet discovers Romeo killed her cousin, Tybalt, but she decides to continue to love Romeo anyway. This part of the story occurs in Act Three, Scene Two, and I believe it to be one of the most dimensional and realistic aspects of the narrative. Here, Juliet is dealing with both the death of a family member (one committed at the hand of another loved one) and the banishing of her husband. She must weigh these two acts and their contradictory nature; she must decide how to properly grieve Tybalt's death AND Romeo's exile without diminishing one or the other while acknowledging these events are inseparably linked.  Juliet's Nurse reacts to this news very judgmentally, crying out that, "There's no trust, / No faith, no honesty in men." She then wishes that "Shame come to Romeo!" Juliet reacts immediately to this curse, stating...

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is made up of two long polynucleotide chains wrapped around each other to form what is referred to as a double helix. Each chain is called a DNA strand held together by a sugar-phosphate backbone from which four bases extend. The base portion on one strand binds to a complementary one on the other strand. They are held together by hydrogen bonds between them to form base pairs. The sequence of these... Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is made up of two long polynucleotide chains wrapped around each other to form what is referred to as a double helix. Each chain is called a DNA strand held together by a sugar-phosphate backbone from which four bases extend. The base portion on one strand binds to a complementary one on the other strand. They are held together by hydrogen bonds between them to form base pairs. The sequence of these four bases- adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T) encode the information stored in the DNA . A copy of our DNA is repl...

In Act 5, scene 3, Macbeth gets a report about his wife's apparent illness from her physician. The doctor says that she is "troubled with thick-coming fancies / That keep her from her rest" (5.3.47-48). There is nothing physically wrong with her; her illness is in her mind. Macbeth's response is somewhat insensitive. He says, Cure her of that. Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,Raze... In Act 5, scene 3, Macbeth gets a report about his wife's apparent illness from her physician. The doctor says that she is "troubled with thick-coming fancies / That keep her from her rest" (5.3.47-48). There is nothing physically wrong with her; her illness is in her mind. Macbeth's response is somewhat insensitive. He says, Cure her of that. Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, Raze out the written troubles of the brain, And with some sweet, oblivious antidote Cleanse the stu...

Oscar Madison's apartment is described as being "one of those large eight-room affairs on Riverside Drive in the upper eighties."  His apartment is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.  It is on the Hudson River side of the neighborhood.  The building where Oscar's apartment is located is "35 years old and still has vestiges of its glorious past."  The apartment itself is on the twelfth floor.  The ceilings in the apartment are high... Oscar Madison's apartment is described as being "one of those large eight-room affairs on Riverside Drive in the upper eighties."  His apartment is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.  It is on the Hudson River side of the neighborhood.  The building where Oscar's apartment is located is "35 years old and still has vestiges of its glorious past."  The apartment itself is on the twelfth floor.  The ceilings in the apartment are high and there are even walk-in closets.  It is on the l...

A paradox can be a situation or a statement that seems contradictory but is nevertheless true or real.  One example of a paradoxical statement occurs when Lady Macbeth, alone on stage, says to herself, "'Tis safer to be that which we destroy / Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy" (3.2.8-9).  How can it be "safer" to be "destroy[ed]"?  This is the contradiction that creates the paradox.  What she means is that it would be... A paradox can be a situation or a statement that seems contradictory but is nevertheless true or real.  One example of a paradoxical statement occurs when Lady Macbeth, alone on stage, says to herself, "'Tis safer to be that which we destroy / Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy" (3.2.8-9).  How can it be "safer" to be "destroy[ed]"?  This is the contradiction that creates the paradox.  What she means is that it would be better to be the dead victim than to be the murderer and live in an...

In Cuba, a communist government existed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1959, there was a revolution in Cuba. Fidel Castro led a revolution in which Fulgencio Batista was overthrown. The United States and Cuba had a nonexistent relationship after Castro nationalized U.S. owned businesses in Cuba. Cuba became more dependent on the Soviet Union, economically and militarily. Castro and Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union, worked closely together. The people of Cuba had... In Cuba, a communist government existed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1959, there was a revolution in Cuba. Fidel Castro led a revolution in which Fulgencio Batista was overthrown. The United States and Cuba had a nonexistent relationship after Castro nationalized U.S. owned businesses in Cuba. Cuba became more dependent on the Soviet Union, economically and militarily. Castro and Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union, worked closely together. The people of Cuba had little political freedom. N...

Throughout Greece's history, it's geographical location has been a double-edged sword—a blessing as well as a curse. Greece's geography was particularly helpful in helping it obtain and maintain power thanks to its rugged topography and its easy access to the sea.  This prime location helped Athens become a power in the Ancient world. Thanks to the fact that it was protected on all sides from potential foes, Athens became the first advanced civilization in the... Throughout Greece's history, it's geographical location has been a double-edged sword—a blessing as well as a curse. Greece's geography was particularly helpful in helping it obtain and maintain power thanks to its rugged topography and its easy access to the sea.  This prime location helped Athens become a power in the Ancient world. Thanks to the fact that it was protected on all sides from potential foes, Athens became the first advanced civilization in the West. Likewise, the access to the Mediterra...

When there is a recessionary gap in an economy, that economy’s price level and its overall production both go down.  When an economy is in a recession, its real GDP is declining.  This clearly means that its production is declining.  When production declines, price levels decline as well because the aggregate demand curve is moving to the left along a given aggregate supply curve.  (Follow the link below for an interactive graph showing this and... When there is a recessionary gap in an economy, that economy’s price level and its overall production both go down.  When an economy is in a recession, its real GDP is declining.  This clearly means that its production is declining.  When production declines, price levels decline as well because the aggregate demand curve is moving to the left along a given aggregate supply curve.  (Follow the link below for an interactive graph showing this and a more in-depth discussion of recessionary gaps.) Typically, when there is a recessionary gap gov...

In Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond’s Run,” the main character is initially identified as Squeaky. She receives this nickname from people in her neighborhood because she has a high pitched voice. Although she is small in stature with a distinctive voice, she is tough as nails. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I am a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky. Squeaky’s given name is Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker. She uses this name when she checks in for the May Day race. Her given name is a matter of pride for Hazel. When Mr. Pearson attempts to call her Squeaky, she reminds him to use her real name. “Well, Squeaky,” he says, checking my name off the list and handing me number seven and two pins. And I’m thinking he’s got no right to call me Squeaky, if I can’t call him Beanstalk. “Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker,” I correct him and tell him to write it down on his board. “Well, Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Par...

At the beginning of the novel, Nick does not really know Daisy and Tom well.  He mentions in chapter 1 that "Daisy was [his] second cousin once removed and [he'd] known Tom in college.  And just after the war [he] had spent two days with them in Chicago."  Nothing about these meetings tells the reader that Nick had any previous depth of feeling toward the Buchanans.   However, when Nick has his first dinner with the Buchanans in Chapter 1, the reader understands Nick's feelings better.  First, when he describes Tom, he notes, "I always had the impression that he approved of me and wanted me to like him with some harsh, defiant wistfulness of his own."  Nick seems to understand that Tom may appear gruff and cruel on the outside, but there is something in human nature that causes people to want others to like them.   As for Daisy, Nick seems infatuated with her; he describes her voice:  It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each spee...

Mollie runs away to enjoy the comforts of living with people.   Mollie is really more of an ornamental animal.  She does not have many uses, and she enjoys being a pet to the people.  When the worker animals drive out the humans, Mollie worries that she will not live a pampered lifestyle any more.  Mollie is selfish and self-centered.  From the minute she is introduced, this is clear.  At the last moment Mollie, the... Mollie runs away to enjoy the comforts of living with people.   Mollie is really more of an ornamental animal.  She does not have many uses, and she enjoys being a pet to the people.  When the worker animals drive out the humans, Mollie worries that she will not live a pampered lifestyle any more.  Mollie is selfish and self-centered.  From the minute she is introduced, this is clear.  At the last moment Mollie, the foolish, pretty white mare who drew Mr. Jones's trap, came mincing daintily in, chewing at a lump of sugar. She took a place near the front and began fli...

The vast majority of Edwards's 1741 sermon emphasizes God's formidable anger with sinners and his readiness to subject them to the eternal tortures of hell. The sermon does, however, take a significant turn in tone and message near the conclusion, when Edwards declaims: "And now you have an extraordinary Opportunity, a Day wherein Christ has flung the Door of Mercy wide open, and stands in the Door calling and crying with a loud Voice to... The vast majority of Edwards's 1741 sermon emphasizes God's formidable anger with sinners and his readiness to subject them to the eternal tortures of hell. The sermon does, however, take a significant turn in tone and message near the conclusion, when Edwards declaims: "And now you have an extraordinary Opportunity, a Day wherein Christ has flung the Door of Mercy wide open, and stands in the Door calling and crying with a loud Voice to poor Sinners." Edwards goes on to claim that "God seems now to be hastily gat...

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is about a family living through the Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. It is something of a coming-of-age story in which the narrator, six-year-old Scout Finch, learns about the realities of life from her father, Atticus Finch, and a host of other local characters. One of the most important characters in the book is the enigmatic recluse Boo Radley. This character is shrouded in mystery. This... Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is about a family living through the Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. It is something of a coming-of-age story in which the narrator, six-year-old Scout Finch, learns about the realities of life from her father, Atticus Finch, and a host of other local characters. One of the most important characters in the book is the enigmatic recluse Boo Radley. This character is shrouded in mystery. This mysteriousness inspires Scout and her companions, brother Jem and friend (and six-yea...

In Shakespeare’s classic tragedy King Lear, the theme of nature is developed in several different and complex ways. In the early scenes, though the word “nature” is not used, Cordelia essentially claims that she loves Lear as she should—according to their bond, which is a natural one. Knowing the proper role of nature is mark of Cordelia’s goodness. If you can accurately read the  natural order, that’s a good thing. When Edmund starts planning his actions against his father and brother, he says, “Thou, nature, art my goddess…” (Act I, Scene 2). Here he is saying he’ll follow nature, rather than law or custom, which serves him because it opposes the social stigma of bastardy (and justifies his actions). This misreading of nature marks him as a bad character. Later, once Regan and Goneril start mistreating Lear, he finds their actions unnatural.  They are not acting as daughters, or as women in some cases, and that lack of nature defines their actions as evil. Finally, throughout Lear’s...

You will want your visitors to be able to tour the places important to the history and current running of Animal Farm, so I would include the following in a travel brochure, with lots of color photos: The grave of Old Major at the foot of the orchard is a must see, as he was the visionary behind the concept of Animal Farm. The store shed where the original rebellion broke out is another important... You will want your visitors to be able to tour the places important to the history and current running of Animal Farm, so I would include the following in a travel brochure, with lots of color photos: The grave of Old Major at the foot of the orchard is a must see, as he was the visionary behind the concept of Animal Farm. The store shed where the original rebellion broke out is another important destination: this is where it all began.  The big barn is a highlight of the tour, as here the animals have their weekly Meeting. Naturally, visitors need to see the pig barn , where the Seven ...

In Romeo and Juliet , Shakespeare indicates the tragic nature of the play in the fourteen line sonnet which makes up the Prologue. The word prologue comes from the Greek "prologos," which literally means before the word. The Greeks employed the Prologue, usually spoken by the "Chorus," in their dramas. Shakespeare does the same thing in Romeo and Juliet . In this case, the Prologue basically tells us both the conflict and the resolution as... In Romeo and Juliet , Shakespeare indicates the tragic nature of the play in the fourteen line sonnet which makes up the Prologue. The word prologue comes from the Greek "prologos," which literally means before the word. The Greeks employed the Prologue, usually spoken by the "Chorus," in their dramas. Shakespeare does the same thing in Romeo and Juliet . In this case, the Prologue basically tells us both the conflict and the resolution as it uses tragic terms such as "grudge," "mutiny," ...

To Jimmy Valentine, the presence of Ben Price at the bank indicates that he has again been on Jimmy's trail and is there to arrest him.  Recalling that it was the acumen and persistence of Detective Ben Price that put him in prison in the first place, it is only reasonable that Jimmy Valentine infers that the presence of Price in the Elmore Bank is purposeful. After all, Elmore, Arkansas, is not a well-known town.... To Jimmy Valentine, the presence of Ben Price at the bank indicates that he has again been on Jimmy's trail and is there to arrest him.  Recalling that it was the acumen and persistence of Detective Ben Price that put him in prison in the first place, it is only reasonable that Jimmy Valentine infers that the presence of Price in the Elmore Bank is purposeful. After all, Elmore, Arkansas, is not a well-known town. Among other factors that enter into Valentine's thinking that Ben Price is there to arrest him for the robberies since his release from prison are th...

A petition is being circulated among the girls and women who work at Concord Corporation by the Female Labor Reform Association. Lyddie's friend Diana is very active in the Association and tries to get workers to sign the petition, which calls on the factories to reduce their work days from thirteen hours per day to ten. The primary reason workers would want to sign the petition is that it would pressure the factories to all... A petition is being circulated among the girls and women who work at Concord Corporation by the Female Labor Reform Association. Lyddie's friend Diana is very active in the Association and tries to get workers to sign the petition, which calls on the factories to reduce their work days from thirteen hours per day to ten. The primary reason workers would want to sign the petition is that it would pressure the factories to all change their hours, allowing all the workers at all the factories to have more time for themselves. Although Lyddie had previously ...

A lever is a simple machine which is used to move or lift heavier loads at the expense of relatively smaller effort. A lever consists of a bar and a hinged support, known as the fulcrum. The two ends of the bar, one where the effort is applied and the other one where the load is present, are known as the effort end and load end (or resistance end). The aim of the lever is... A lever is a simple machine which is used to move or lift heavier loads at the expense of relatively smaller effort. A lever consists of a bar and a hinged support, known as the fulcrum. The two ends of the bar, one where the effort is applied and the other one where the load is present, are known as the effort end and load end (or resistance end). The aim of the lever is to move or lift maximum load at the expense of minimal effort. The effectiveness of a lever is often described by a factor known as mechanical advantage, which is given as: mechanical advantage = length of effort arm / length of load arm The dista...

One can say there are many things the city of Ember does not have in Jeanne DuPrau's story. One of the most essential elements the city does not have is a natural source of light ; a second is enough knowledge to be able to produce their own goods and make their own major repairs. Without a natural source of light, the people of Ember will be left in total darkness should their power source fail completely, darkness that is impossible to move around in and, thus, impossible to survive in. In addition, the city is not self-sustainable because the people do not have enough knowledge to produce their own goods or fix the generator; therefore, once they've completely lost their power source or all their stored goods run out, the people will perish. Ember was built as an underground city of refuge to preserve the human population in the case of an apocalyptic event. Since the city is underground, the city is surrounded in complete darkness. The only source of light in the city i...

In Chapter 3, Walter Cunningham Jr. is eating with the Finches. Scout makes fun of the way Walter eats and Cal scolds her for doing so. Cal tells her:  Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo‘ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo‘ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin‘ ’em—if you can’t act fit to eat at the table you can just set here and eat in the kitchen!  By 'better than' ("better'n"), Cal means that even though the Finches are more educated and have more money, that doesn't mean they (or anyone) has the right to mock those of a lower social class. Scout probably doesn't grasp the notions of class here, but she does learn a lesson to be respectful to others, regardless of who they are or where they come from.  In Chapter 12, Scout discovers that Cal lives two separate lives: her life with the Finches and Cal...

The term "white elephant" is commonly used to describe a useless or burdensome possession. In Asian folklore it is said that white elephants were sacred, but because of their sanctity could not be used to perform any manual labor. Thus, the elephant became useless to its possessor and quite expensive to maintain. The term white elephant is still in use today as friends or office workers gather and give and receive white elephant gifts, mainly... The term "white elephant" is commonly used to describe a useless or burdensome possession. In Asian folklore it is said that white elephants were sacred, but because of their sanctity could not be used to perform any manual labor. Thus, the elephant became useless to its possessor and quite expensive to maintain. The term white elephant is still in use today as friends or office workers gather and give and receive white elephant gifts, mainly just for the fun of it. Most people have these useless gifts around the house somew...

The question of divine justice is important in reading Oedipus Rex . One problem with thinking about this question, though, is that we must not impose modern religious ideas upon the Greek text, and we also must avoid looking at the text through the lens of sophisticated Greek philosophical thought. Instead, we should think about whether the gods in the play acted in a way consonant with the common religious beliefs of the period. To... The question of divine justice is important in reading Oedipus Rex . One problem with thinking about this question, though, is that we must not impose modern religious ideas upon the Greek text, and we also must avoid looking at the text through the lens of sophisticated Greek philosophical thought. Instead, we should think about whether the gods in the play acted in a way consonant with the common religious beliefs of the period. To us, Oedipus is condemned to a horrible destiny due to the acts not of himself, but of his father Laius. In this way, he i...

There are two steps to this reaction. Step 1: Reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium sulfite. First, sulfuric acid (`~H_2SO_4` ) reacts with sodium sulfite (`~Na_2SO_3` ) to produce sodium sulfate (`~Na_2SO_4` ) and sulfurous acid (`~H_2SO_3` ) as follows:    `~H_2SO_4` + `~Na_2SO_3` -> `~Na_2SO_4` + `~H_2SO_3` This is an example of a double replacement reaction.  Step 2: Decomposition of sulfurous acid. Second, the sulfurous acid product (`~H_2SO_3` ) is unstable and spontaneously decomposes... There are two steps to this reaction. Step 1: Reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium sulfite. First, sulfuric acid (`~H_2SO_4` ) reacts with sodium sulfite (`~Na_2SO_3` ) to produce sodium sulfate (`~Na_2SO_4` ) and sulfurous acid (`~H_2SO_3` ) as follows:    `~H_2SO_4` + `~Na_2SO_3` -> `~Na_2SO_4` + `~H_2SO_3` This is an example of a double replacement reaction.  Step 2: Decomposition of sulfurous acid. Second, the sulfurous acid product (`~H_2SO_3` ) is unstable and spontaneously ...

Although Gatsby ends tragically and Persuasion ends happily, we can make a strong case that "love is fragile" is a reality that is portrayed by both books.  Both books show love persisting for a long time, over an absence, but they also show how it can fail because of seemingly minor factors. In Persuasion , Anne Elliot continues loving Captain Wentworth even after she breaks off her engagement to him on the advice of her family.  She still has feelings for him after seven years of not seeing him. In Gatsby , Jay Gatsby continues to love Daisy for five years after she marries another man.  He goes to the extent of making a fortune and buying a house across the bay from hers, hoping to win her back.  In the case of Jay Gatsby, he imagines that all he has to do is reunite with Daisy and she will immediately declare her love for him and leave her husband and daughter.  It turns out that he has overestimated Daisy's strength of character, or underestimated her practicality....

Break-dancing is improvisational. Break-dancers are influenced not only by dance moves, but also by gymnastics and the martial arts.  The bouncing bass lines of funk and disco music allowed for a new fluidity in movement which entered popular dance in 1975. The Hustle, for example, incorporated movements of the arms, hips, and legs that were on beat with the music. Dance moves, such as The Hustle, followed the rhythm of music; whereas popular dances from... Break-dancing is improvisational. Break-dancers are influenced not only by dance moves, but also by gymnastics and the martial arts.  The bouncing bass lines of funk and disco music allowed for a new fluidity in movement which entered popular dance in 1975. The Hustle, for example, incorporated movements of the arms, hips, and legs that were on beat with the music. Dance moves, such as The Hustle, followed the rhythm of music; whereas popular dances from the 1960s, such as The Twist and The Hitchhike, followed the melody of a song a...

The United Nations has been in existence for over seventy years. It was created at the end of World War II to accomplish several goals. One goal is to keep peace in the world. After World War I, the League of Nations was created to try to prevent future wars. However, the League of Nations failed for several reasons, including not having enough power to back up its actions. The United Nations was created to help... The United Nations has been in existence for over seventy years. It was created at the end of World War II to accomplish several goals. One goal is to keep peace in the world. After World War I, the League of Nations was created to try to prevent future wars. However, the League of Nations failed for several reasons, including not having enough power to back up its actions. The United Nations was created to help keep peace in the world. It has more power than the League of Nations to enforce its orders. For example, the United Nations helped South Korea in 1950 when North Ko...

That line appears twice, in the nearly-identical second and fourth stanzas of "Vagabond" by Robert Louis Stevenson, and it means "Let me see the ground all around me," or in other words, "Allow me to be here on the earth and see the land stretch out all around me." You can understand that line better by backing up and looking at it in the context of the entire stanza: Let the blow fall soon or late,... That line appears twice, in the nearly-identical second and fourth stanzas of "Vagabond" by Robert Louis Stevenson, and it means "Let me see the ground all around me," or in other words, "Allow me to be here on the earth and see the land stretch out all around me." You can understand that line better by backing up and looking at it in the context of the entire stanza: Let the blow fall soon or late, Let what will be o'er me; Give the face of earth around And the road before me. Wealth I seek not, hope nor love, Nor a friend ...

Ponyboy does not want to cut and bleach his hair because it is fundamental to his identity as a greaser.   As Ponyboy tells us repeatedly, hair is very important to greasers.  Unlike the Socs, the greasers do not have much money.  They distinguish themselves through their hair.  It doesn’t really take money to grow your hair out and style it, and so this is what the greasers do.   When Pony and Johnny are on... Ponyboy does not want to cut and bleach his hair because it is fundamental to his identity as a greaser.   As Ponyboy tells us repeatedly, hair is very important to greasers.  Unlike the Socs, the greasers do not have much money.  They distinguish themselves through their hair.  It doesn’t really take money to grow your hair out and style it, and so this is what the greasers do.   When Pony and Johnny are on the run, they hide in an old church outside of town.  Johnny goes out to get supplies and returns with a deck of cards and peroxide.  Pony gets worried as soon as he sees it...

Robert Frost did not write a poem called "Snowflake." Since you are posting the question under "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," you evidently meant this poem, which does speak about snowflakes. In the poem, a man and his horse have paused in their journey next to a frozen lake "to watch [the] woods fill up with snow." The scene is very quiet except for the shaking of the horse's harness bells and the "sweep of easy wind and downy flake." The man contemplates the peaceful scene as he realizes that he has "promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep." Like many of Frost's poems, this poem has a literal meaning related to nature and a deeper metaphysical meaning that deals with truths about life and existence. The literal meaning is clear enough: A man stops for a moment on his journey to enjoy a beautiful and peaceful winter landscape. The deeper meaning is open to interpretation. Many have suggested that the poem speak...

It's very difficult to put a precise figure on it, let alone adjust that figure appropriately for inflation since then; but the general consensus among historians is that Henry VIII spent a large amount of money on warfare and many of England's financial problems at the time were traceable to that. Henry VIII fought a number of wars during his reign, chiefly against Scotland and France, and several wars he fought became costly wars of attrition with little success. The most precise estimate I was able to find for how much Henry VIII spent on his wars was 2 million pounds, 1.3 million from currency debasement, 430,000 from higher taxes, and 110,000 from forced loans along with 160,000 from existing taxes. It's very difficult to make a precise inflation adjustment, but the figures I have say that pound fell in value by about a factor of 267 from 1550 to 1997, and then official UK inflation figures say that it fell in value by about a factor of about 1.7 since then; so that...

In Chapter Three of Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men, just after Candy's dog is killed and the other laborers have gone to the barn to see if Curley and Slim will fight, Lennie prods George into talking about their dream of owning a little farm. It is basically the same story George tells in Chapter One, except this time George is interrupted by Candy, who has been quietly lying on his bunk in the... In Chapter Three of Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men, just after Candy's dog is killed and the other laborers have gone to the barn to see if Curley and Slim will fight, Lennie prods George into talking about their dream of owning a little farm. It is basically the same story George tells in Chapter One, except this time George is interrupted by Candy, who has been quietly lying on his bunk in the aftermath of his dog's death. George is immediately on his guard after Candy asks, "You know where's a place like that?" George is already apprehensive ab...

It is generally accepted that Shakespeare wrote 10 plays that are classified as tragedies, but which of them are true tragedies is often at the center of ongoing academic debate. Some scholars argue that a couple of Shakespeare’s plays are actually tragi-comedies and therefore cannot be categorically declared tragedies, while other scholars claim that because those same plays meet a complex set of criteria for defining tragic plays, they must be tragedies. The same argument swirls around his history plays. In addition, the plays were written across three periods of Shakespeare’s career, but what most scholars do agree on is that Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies were written during the second and third periods. These plays include Romeo and Juliet , Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra. There is rarely disagreement that Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra are tragedies. Although they are based on historical figures, the stories are both for...

First of all, it's important to remember that  mood is the feelings created within the  reader . Since mood is a response to the work—and every reader responds differently to a piece—the same work may have a different mood for different readers. This is my response. In "Soldier's Home," Ernest Hemingway creates a feeling of loneliness and isolation in his story about Krebs, a soldier who just returned home from The Great War (World War I).  Throughout the story, Hemingway makes it clear Krebs is out of place back at home. Krebs has returned home from the war too late to take part in the heroes' welcome ceremonies and, in fact, "People seemed to think it rather ridiculous for Krebs to be getting back so late, years after the war was over." Moreover, Krebs did not have anyone to listen to his stories about the war because the people in his town "had heard too many atrocity stories to be thrilled by casualties." Hemingway also uses clothes throu...

Towards the end of Of Mice and Men , Slim and George walk into the barn and discover Curley's wife is dead. Curley then enters the barn and says he's going to shoot Lennie for killing his wife. Slim quietly tells George that Lennie must have been responsible for her death even though it was an accident. George then tells Slim that Lennie would have traveled south since they came from the north. George asks... Towards the end of Of Mice and Men , Slim and George walk into the barn and discover Curley's wife is dead. Curley then enters the barn and says he's going to shoot Lennie for killing his wife. Slim quietly tells George that Lennie must have been responsible for her death even though it was an accident. George then tells Slim that Lennie would have traveled south since they came from the north. George asks Slim if they could find Lennie and turn him in so he could go to jail instead of be shot. Slim tells George that it would be possible if they could find a way to...

There is no objective, non-religious reason that the colonies needed the First Great Awakening. There is no way to prove that a country ever needs a religious revival.  In the United States today, many say that citizens need to honor God more.  There is no way the people making this argument can prove they are right.  There are also people who say the US needs less religion, but they can’t prove they’re right, either.  Therefore,... There is no objective, non-religious reason that the colonies needed the First Great Awakening. There is no way to prove that a country ever needs a religious revival.  In the United States today, many say that citizens need to honor God more.  There is no way the people making this argument can prove they are right.  There are also people who say the US needs less religion, but they can’t prove they’re right, either.  Therefore, we cannot really say that the colonies needed to have the Great Awakening. Obviously, though, many individual colonists believed ...

Scout tells Calpurnia that her father referred to the Ewells as trash.   The Ewells are white, but they are also very poor.  Their ignorance and refusal to get an education annoys Atticus.  Atticus is usually very understanding of people, but he makes disparaging statements about the Ewells.  “Mr. Ewell?” My memory stirred. “Does he have anything to do with those Ewells that come every first day of school an‘ then go home? Why, Atticus said they... Scout tells Calpurnia that her father referred to the Ewells as trash.   The Ewells are white, but they are also very poor.  Their ignorance and refusal to get an education annoys Atticus.  Atticus is usually very understanding of people, but he makes disparaging statements about the Ewells.  “Mr. Ewell?” My memory stirred. “Does he have anything to do with those Ewells that come every first day of school an‘ then go home? Why, Atticus said they were absolute trash—I never heard Atticus talk about folks the way he talked about the Ewells. He...