What feminist issues are reveled in Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper"?

The Yellow Wallpaper is an allegory to the inner pressures
and entrapment of women when assigned by society to fulfill a specific
role.

The main character is a woman obviously stricken with
a tremendous case of PTSD or Post Partum Depression that is completely underrated by her
husband as the doctor. Society also ignores the situation of women in general afflicted
by illness as a mere case of ill nerves.

However, the
affliction she suffers is so intense that her brain begins to play tricks on her, making
her believe that there are figures wanting to come out of the Yellow Wallpaper because
they are (like her) trapped inside.

Meanwhile, as neither
the doctor nor the husband care to find a proper cure or treatment, her condition goes
unanswered, and society (as a whole) continues to vindicate women and their needs to an
empty, maddening, role of ignorance.

Conclusively, the
feminist issues revealed in the story include:  The needs of women being underrated, the
health of women being considered a secondary need, the psychological afflictions of
women not being taken in to consideration, and the inner battles of women and their
natures against the pre-established roles that society has established for
them.

What would Max Weber say about the relation between religion and capitalism in our society today?I am having trouble applying his thesis The...

I don't know if this will be helpful since I don't know
what exactly your essay topic is, but I think that Weber would say that his analysis
still holds true today.

Weber did not say that religion was
still the actual driving force behind capitalism in his day.  Instead, he said that
previous religious fervor had sort of shaped society.  By his day, he said, people had
the ideas (work for work's sake) without really connecting it to
religion.

I think he would say that the capitalist ethic
has spread now in a way that no longer has so much to do with religion.  He would point
out that it has spread, for example, to Japan and even to
China.

However, he might argue that a lack of Protestant
history is what holds back places like Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Latin
America.

Could you please explain the conflicts from chs. 18-22 of The Catcher in the Rye?

In chapters 18-22 of The Catcher in the
Rye, Holden's plummets toward self-destruction, but he wisely chooses not to
suicide like James Castle.  In these pivotal chapters, the book seems destined toward
tragedy, but Holden's conversations with Antolini and his sister move the resolution
(though open-ended) back toward comedy.

Holden is a sadist.
 He baits Carl Luce to beat him up just like he got Stradlater and Maurice to punch him.
 Holden wants someone to punish him for some unresolved guilt (possible survivor's guilt
over his brother's death).  Luckily, Luce leaves.

Then,
Holden goes to Mr. Antolini's, who, as a counter-culture spokesman, seems set up to be
the Deus ex Machina (savior) of the novel.  He gives Holden great
advice, and his voice seems to be that of the author's: he says Holden is “in for a
terrible fall.”

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The mark of the immature man is that he wants to
die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly
for one.

Remember, Antolini
was the one who found and carried James Castle's body to protect him from the
rubber-necks.  This is want Holden wants: to commit suicide, and he's going to
Antolini's to see how it will play out.

You see, James
Castle (J. C. --“Jesus Christ”) is Holden’s martyred saint.  Castle fell to his death
rather than take back any of the words he said about others (He called them
"conceited").  Similarly, Holden doesn't want to take back calling people "phonies."  He
wants to die young, a misunderstood romantic hero like Mercutio (from Romeo
and Juliet), another non-phony.

After this,
Salinger discredits Antolini by having him make a pass at the boy.  So, the episode is
ironic, weird, and ultimately anti-climatic.  Holden continues his episodic journey
toward being a catcher in the rye.

Holden knows his role as
a catcher is doomed to fail.  He can't even protect Phoebe from the evils of the world
(the f-bomb).  Holden finally realizes that he must enter the adult world.  So, he goes
home to get mental health treatment.

Why does John Proctor choose to hang and what does he thereby accomplish?

John Proctor refuses to save his life by confessing and naming names. Hale tries to get those imprisoned to save their lives because the court is allowing them to live if they confess.

At first, Proctor agrees, and this is done to please Elizabeth. But, his soul is already tortured because of the affair with Abigail, and he wants his good name and dignity back. He decides it is better to die than to lie any further. He has been scornful of the proceedings all along, and does not want to be hypocritical anymore.

In choosing to hang, he regains his dignity and self-respect. For Proctor, this was a better choice.

In the poem "The Raven," what does the speaker mean by asking "is there balm in Gilead?"

Because the balm is typically viewed as a remedy for those with broken hearts, it would make sense that the narrator in The Raven would want such a remedy as he is lamenting Lenore.

The balm of Gilead was also viewed as something of great value and not necessarily easy to obtain. Poe includes this reference to indicate the narrator's desire for hope. Authors often include allusions to the balm of Gildead for this same reason. Think of it like this--if there can be a possibility of mending something you have badly broken (a heart in this case), wouldn't that give you some hope? Some desire to keep on living? That is what the narrator is looking for in this passage, as unlikely as it is.

In the epic Ramayana of Valmiki whose role displayed obedience or disobedience and why?

Ramayana is a book having scores of characters and most of
these characters display high degree of obedience. This Applies also to the demons. For
example, Kumbhakarna, younger brother of
Ravana, believes that it was unwise for Ravana
to act against Rama, yet obeying the orders of
Ravana, he joins him in his war against
Rama.

I can think of one significant
incident of disobeying described in Ramayana. But this is just an exceptional behaviour
of the character, rather than regular disobedient nature. In this incident,
Lakshmana instructs Seeta to not to cross a
line drawn by him, when he has to leave her alone in their hut in the forest, to rush in
aid of Rama. However Seeta is persuaded by
Ravana, disguised as a ascetic, to cross the line. This makes it
possible fro Ravana to abduct
Seeta.

If it is a matter of deciding
who among all the character was most obedient, I would choose Rama.
He has displayed obedience to his father, his mother and step mothers, and his
teachers.

Hanuman, definitely
represents the finest example of devotion to the all mighty Lord. However, devotion,
loyalty and obedience are not synonyms. While I cannot think of
Hanuman ever being disobedient to Rama.
However, I do not think Ramayana present any incident which emphasizes his obedience in
circumstances where it was difficult to decide the right course of
action..

What is Dickens' attitude toward law in A Tale of Two Cities?

Dickens had a very jaded view of the law and demonstrated this view in several ways in A Tale of Two Cities.  In the very first section of the book he comments on the lack of law and order in England as " Daring burglaries by armed men and highway robberies took place in the capital itself every night."  However, the law could not stop these burglaries but the hangman continued to hang "miscellaneous criminals," including a "wretched pilferer who had robbed a farmers boy of sixpence."  In France, the murder of a poor child by a member of the nobility was nothing, but the murder of the Marquis by the father of that child was harshly punished. 

He continues his to show the basic unfairness of the law in both England and France through the trials of Charles Darnay, first in England and then in France.  In both locations it is not truth that decides the trials, but theatrical performances on the part of the participants:  first Sidney's Carton's performance in Darney's treason trial in London decided the case rather than solid evidence (though the outcome was just).  Then Madame Defarge's dramatic testimony brought an unjust verdict in France.  Although France was worse than England, Dickens definitely saw injustice in both the French and England legal systems which he felt were biased against the poor.

In chapter 5, what does Gatsby offer Nick in return for Nick's cooperation in inviting Daisy to his house?

Gatsby wants to repay Nick for arranging the meeting with Daisy. Gatsby thinks Nick might be having some money troubles, so he offers for Nick to go into "business" with him. No one is sure what business this is, but Nick refuses the offer. Gatsby is so grateful to Nick, he wants to do something to repay him. On the day of the meeting with Daisy, it is raining pretty hard, but Gatsby sends a gardener over to Nick's, to have him cut his grass.

Gatsby has spent many years trying to improve his position in society, only so he can have a chance of getting back with Daisy. Now that the time has come for his meeting with Daisy, Gatsby feels indebted to Nick for arranging the meeting. He wants to show Nick his appreciation, but Nick doesn't want to be in business with Gatsby. 

Gatsby is not a bad person. He has just let his love of Daisy and his feelings of having to impress certain people. Money seems to be the root of all their troubles in the whole novel. Gatsby has become obsessed with having to have money. He thinks money will bring Daisy back. He thinks Nick will be thrilled to be able to make more money, however Nick seems to be the only one with the level head. 

Why does Crane repeat the passage "If I am going to be drowned..." What role does that passage play in the story as a whole?

“Perhaps an individual must consider his own death to be the final phenomenon of nature.” This line sums up the problem of human nature as far as Naturalists are concerned. The correspondent is grappling with his own mortality. He repeats, “If I am going to die….” in his frustrating inability to remedy his own situation. The shore is visible and close enough to row to, but the rollers by the shore prevent it. It seems like a cruel trick. He desires to see some sort of logic or sense to his predicament.

Naturalists stressed the notion of determinism. This is the inevitability of many aspects of our life. It is not attributed to fate, plan or destiny. There is no recourse by prayer or any capacity to change what is to come. The universe is portrayed as chaotic and random. This is shown by the death of the oiler who deserved to survive above all others. Naturalists like Crane believed we are born with the notion that we are indomitable and that our demise is a near impossibility.

Why do Proctor and Rebecca speak out against Hale

Rebecca and Proctor both realize that Hale's coming to Salem can only mean trouble.  They are well aware that his arrival may fuel the hysteria brewing in Salem.  Rebecca knows that it is just young girls either scared or playing a joke.  Proctor, of course, knows that it was Abigail with the other girls foolishly playing in the woods.  But once Hale arrives, the girls realize how dire their situation is, and they begin to invent the tales of witchcraft.

Proctor sets himself against Parris because he realizes Parris is greedy and self-serving.  He stopped going to church when Parris harped on the congregation until they relented and raised enough money to purchase gold candle holders.  For Proctor this is a waste and just serves to prove how greedy Parris really is.

How is Francie Nolan, the protagonist, a dynamic (changing) character, like how does she generally change in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn?

Since this book jumps back and forth from generation to generation, we can see how Francie grows up and matures if the book was placed in chronological order. She learned many things which allowed her to have her own beliefs, thus she becomes dynamic to her surroundings.

Examples are when she started off as a shy, lonley girl, weak, and innocent. At the end, she becomes independent, outgoing, brave and strong. She becomes a stronger woman through what she learned in her past.

The tree symbolizes Francie. If you haven't noticed, the tree is exactly like Francie. The tree liked poor people = Francie does not mind being poor. The tree grew in wherever possible = Francie perseveres and keeps strong like the tree.

Explain the significance of the statement "Now these are Sonny's Blues" and how he make the music his own?

Sonny uses the blues to soothe the suffering he feels.  Sonny feels the harshness of growing up in Harlem more intensely than his brother does. For the most part, Sonny's pain comes from the temptations in the streets of Harlem, the limited economic opportunities he has, and learning how his uncle died. At first, Sonny uses heroin to soothe his pain and gets sent to prison for using and selling it. His brother, the narrator of the story, has internalized the suffering he grew up with. Until the end of the story, the narrator doesn't understand why Sonny plays jazz or what the music does for him. The music offers Sonny freedom from his pain and suffering. When the narrator goes to hear Sonny play, he realizes that "he could help us to be free if we would just listen, that he would never be free until we did. I heard what he had gone through, and would continue to go through until he came to rest in earth." Because Sonny is able to put his own pain and suffering into the music, the audience can feel the pain and suffering. Sonny makes it his own when he personalizes it. The narrator finally realizes the darkness that consumes his brother and appreciates the music Sonny plays to calm his suffering.

Is Rainsford justified in his decision to kill General Zaroff? Why or why not?

As with all interpretive questions, your answer is based upon your own reading of the story and how you analyze the plot and characters.  Rainsford had escaped Zaroff, and won the game.  There was no reason to return to the masion and kill Zaroff except to exact revenge.  Consider that Rainsford himself is a hunter, used to being in power.  Although he had never considered doing something as inhumane as Zaroff in hunting humans, his choice to kill Zaroff reveals his need to be in control.  In this case, his killing of Zaroff isn't about justice, but about revenge.

On the other hand, there is nothing to suggest Zaroff would have quit hunting humans.  He was a static character, who didn't change even when he "lost" the hunt of Rainsford.  In this reading, the audience can interpret that Rainsford is doing his part for mankind by eliminating the threat of the murderer Zaroff.  After all, on this island, there is no justice system by which to prosecute him.

You will need to choose the answer that best supports your understanding of the characters. 

Discuss how the prisoners are treated like animals. Why do they eventually become animalistic and how do they show this? Give examplesgive example

Probably one of the best examples of how the prisoners were treated like animals (and there were many) was when the prisoners traveled in the cattle cars. They were literally treated like cattle. Elie uses words like "herded" to describe the way that they were loaded onto the cars. The trains would stop periodically to unload the dead without thought of who they were, just as if they were unloading the carcasses of animals. The soldiers would throw food into the cars and they would leave buckets of water in the cars as well and the soldiers left it to the prisoners to fight for it all.

Elie witnessed a son murder his father for a crust of bread and then two other men murder the son for the same crust of bread. He described the scene like these men were reduced to pure animal instinct where hunger and survival superseded relationships and social graces.

What are the shared features of firemen?

All the firemen have the same basic physical appearance. They all look slightly sun-burnt from spending their days starting fires and watching them burn. They all have "charcoal hair and soot-colored brows and bluish-ash-smeared cheeks where they has shaven close; but their heritage showed." Montag realizes as he's looking at a group of firemen that they all look the same, including himself and he's never really stopped to take note of it until now. It's as if they were all predestined to be firemen based on these characteristics.

How does the last name of "Finch" contradict the whole novel?Finch is Scout's last name and is as well a name for a type of bird, so I think it...

I’m not sure if “finch” as the last name of Scout and Atticus “contradicts” the novel, but it might complicate the attempt to contrast it with the mockingbird.  Interestingly, the finch is the species Darwin particularly studied in the Galapolos, which resulted in his theory about evolution.  He noticed how the finch had many different subspecies, that there must have been an original “finch” that had evolved into many different birds that were still finches.  Darwin wrote, “Seeing this gradation and diversity of structure in one small, intimately related group of birds, one might really fancy that from an original paucity of birds in this archipelago, one species had been taken and modified for different ends." In the world of birds, “finch” refers to many different kinds of birds; it is not unlike the frequency of the name “Smith” in regard to people—many different kinds of people bear this name. Some finches might be territorial, but most are not, just going about their business being birds, not bothering anyone.  If “finch” signifies complexity and diversity in development in the bird world, then its use in the novel, might suggest complexity in development in the human world.  Perhaps Lee used it because it is a rather generic term of a typical bird; perhaps she meant it to signify a commonality with mockingbirds, which also don’t bother others, although they, unlike the finch, make a distinctive song.

What is your opinion or idea that trust is a powerful tool that can significanly impact a person's life? Try to make the story "The Cask of...

I believe management is an art because it takes time to learn this area, and there is constant room for improvement.  I say an art because I think of it is learning how to play an instrument.  The concepts are abstract and not concrete when it comes to business.  Nothing is black and white, but more of grey.  Many employers want their Managers to have a skill of detail-oriented, yet there is a time and a place for that; however, in order to do the job effectively, I believe creativity plays a big part in it.  A person has to understand themselves in order to become a better manager, so that makes it an art.  An art in management is true because I had to read a book for school, "Supervision:  The Art of Management."  See what I mean?  This is definitely an art.  If it is a science, then there would be no flexibility, but with management there is.  Not one person is alike in their thinking, so a Manager has to adapt.  I hope this now makes more sense on how management is more of an art than a science.

In Heart of Darkness, why does Kurtz get sick?

We don't really know what causes his physical illness; we can assume that he has caught malaria or is suffering from some other fever illness.  

However, he has looked into the depth of his soul (the heart of darkness) and what he has seen there and discovered within himself is corruption and depravity.  

Marlowe recognises that not only does Kurtz suffer because he has seen into the depths of his own soul and found corruption but he recognised that all men have this possibility in within themselves.  This 'seeing' has made Kurtz ill. 

What does the albatross symbolize in the poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner?

The albatross to sailors is a sign of good luck, and
sailors everywhere for centuries are very superstitious people, so they look for signs. 
In the poem, however, the albatross is the symbol of the curse, and the origin of the
popular saying "hang an albatross around his neck".  It is a burden to be carried that
you cannot avoid or end on your own.

To kill an albatross
at sea is instant bad luck, and casts a pall over the mood of the men as they then
expect something bad will happen, and of course, the point of the story is that
something bad does happen and the crew and the boat are
cursed.

How does Hitler justify his hatred of the jewish people?

Hitler used a variation of tactics to justify hatred of
the Jewish people.  He had physicians identify specific features that the majority of
the Jewish population had in common.  Some of the features that he had identified were
head shape and circumference, brow distention, hook nose, and length of the
nose.

Hitler was also aware that many of the Jewish people
had booming enterprises.  He resented this and used it to his advantage.  The country
was still suffering from the damages caused by World War I.  He informed the population
that while many of Germany's best men died fighting for their country, the Jews had
stayed home and milked the economy and become rich.

Hitler
was smart enough to recognize that power would be obtained by uniting his country in
hatred.  He rationalized that he would be doing Germany a favor by ridding it of the
vermin.  He considered the Jews to be vermin.

In "A Good Man is Hard to Find," who is the most morally responsible for the six deaths of this family?Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to...

I'll say Flannery O'Connor.  Ultimately, it is only she
who controls the LACK OF MORALITY in her fiction.  She would not want us to choose
either the Misfit or the grandmother since all her characters are
doomed.

O'Connor once
said:

This is
a generation of wingless chickens, which is what Nietzsche meant when he said God was
dead.

Her comic religious
vision holds that a morally and socially degenerate (The Misfit) is nonetheless
spiritually a cut above the wingless chickens of privileged Christianity (the
grandmother and her family). She shocks her readers by beginning with divine evil as a
backdoor to what is divine good so that they may rediscover what is holy.
Her goal, I think, is to prevent her readers from taking sides among her
religious forms; instead, she calls for action--from them
to be
seekers instead of
being
found.

When reading O'Connor's prose one
can feel the laws of attraction at work: good begets good; evil begets evil. Syntheses
and concessions are pitfalls. Either one is Christ-centered or hell-bent toward the
fumes of the gas chamber. Her poles are distinct and opposing, the slippery slope a
descent to hell.

So, you really can't judge any of her
characters morally.  They are all morally irresponsible and, therefore, fated and
doomed.  Like Kafka's, O'Connor's characters are caricatures, flat, static, submen as
they populate a fallen, Christ-haunted world.

The French word "renaissance" literally means ' rebirth '.How fitting is this term as a label for the particular period in European history?Fit...

The Renaissance is a period of history that spans a couple
of centuries. It began in the early 14th century, first in Italy, then spread to the
rest of Europe. Roughly, the dates are 14th century to 17th century. As people were
returning from the Crusades, and also after the fall of Constantinople, they had to sail
first to Italy. Italy had many port cities and it was the first country in Western
Europe that most ships would arrive in on the way back from the East. Plus, Italy had
the Medici family - rich patrons of the arts - that encouraged painting, sculpture,
literature, etc. The Middle Ages were called the "Dark Ages" for many reasons - the
plague, lack of literacy, failed Crusades - so with a newborn interest in arts and
science, one can see why the term "rebirth" or "Renaissance" was applied to this time.
It was a rebirth of a time when these things were important to people - a rebirth of the
classics.

You will have to do some research on literary and
cultural texts of this period to complete your assignment because the scope of
Renaissance literature includes famous literary giants from all European countries:
Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio from Italy, Marlow, Milton, Spenser, Donne, Shakespeare from
England, Ronsard, Rabelais, Montaigne from France - and many, many others. Great
philosophers wrote during this period - Spinoza, Grotius, Bacon,
Machiavelli.

Since you are limited to only 500 words, the
best you can do on this is give an overview of what the Renaissance writers were writing
about. What made their writing distinct from other periods? Remember that the printing
press was invented during this period, so people other than monks could get their hands
on great literature. For the most part, the Renaissance focused on humanism as opposed
to the focus on religion in the Middle Ages. This thought was reflected in the great art
masterpieces, sculptures and literature of the period. This was the period of Da Vinci,
Michelangelo, Van Eyck, Raphael, Titian, Bellini, Botticelli. It's a lot to cover in
only 500 words when volumes and volumes have been written.

How does father's sweet,sing-song voice affect Jonas on their last evening together?

In his "sweet, sing-song voice, father sang, "it's bye-bye to you, Gabe, in the morning".  I think for Jonas it must have been the thing that caused him to make the serious decision to take Gabriel with him when he left the community. Father's statement was ominous because it expressed the truth underlying the lies the people had always been told.  Although his voice was made it seem like everything was alright, "bye-bye" to Gabriel meant that in the morning he would be killed, not just  "released" to a vague, alternate, positive existence like the people have been led to believe.  Because Jonas knows the truth behind the facade of his father's soothing voice, he makes the dangerous decision to kidnap Gabriel and include him in his attempt to escape from the society (Chapter 21).

In Romeo and Juliet what does the prince means by this sentence: "All are punished " ... ((in the last pages))Act 5, Scene 3, line 315 .

I would add to the previous two posts that in these
lines, the Prince refers not only to the Capulets and Montagues, but to HIMSELF as
well:

"And I, for winking at your discords too,/ Have lost
a brace of kinsmen."

The kinsmen here are Mercutio and
Paris (both were related to him).  The Prince implies that he has lost them for having
failed to resolve the conflict earlier.  He suggests that he was too "soft", and that if
he had been more firm, perhaps the feud would not have ended in
tragedy.

Help with describing the different push and pull factors leading to immigration?

I think that the same premise applies today as it did back
then - people come to "the New world" (although it is no longer new) because they are
seeking an escape from something that they are leaving behind in their country of
origin.Therefore, the push is to leave a bad situation. The Puritans were separatists
(meaning that they had ideas that were not in line with the majority - in this case
religious ideas - so they separated). They were being persecuted for their beliefs, so
the push, for them, was to escape. Settlers in the Virginia colonies, on the other hand,
had a different push - economics. They were n ot making as much in Europe and the new
world was a land of economic opportunity. The pull factors, then, were freedom and
opportunity. These are the same factors that drive immigration today. Many immigrants
feel that the societies they live in are oppressive, the rules are unfair, the
government is not doing its job. Others feel that America is a land of economic
opportunity. In either case, the push is to get away from a negative situation, and the
pull is a possibility of a more positive life.

In The Call of the Wild why is the first chapter called "Into the Primitive?"

When the book begins, the reader is introduced to Buck.
 He has a wonderful life with a very loving family.  He is well taken care of, and his
life in general is quite "cushy."  Some readers might even claim that Buck's life before
he was dog-napped was a pampered life.  

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But Buck was neither house-dog nor kennel-dog.
The whole realm was his. He plunged into the swimming tank or went hunting with the
Judge’s sons; he escorted Mollie and Alice, the Judge’s daughters, on long twilight or
early morning rambles; on wintry nights he lay at the Judge’s feet before the roaring
library fire; he carried the Judge’s grandsons on his back, or rolled them in the grass,
and guarded their footsteps through wild adventures down to the fountain in the stable
yard, and even beyond, where the paddocks were, and the berry patches. Among the
terriers he stalked imperiously, and Toots and Ysabel he utterly ignored, for he was
king,—king over all creeping, crawling, flying things of Judge Miller’s place, humans
included.

That paragraph
makes it clear that Buck wasn't a lazy pampered dog though.  On the contrary, he was
quite active on his California estate.  In addition to being active, the paragraph makes
it clear that Buck's owners loved him, and they treated him like a member of the family.
 Buck, in turn, treated them like they were his family, because
Buck truly believed that he was the ruler over
everything.   

All that changes for Buck, when he is taken
from the estate, sold, and brought to the Alaskan wilderness.  The area that Buck is now
living in is much more primitive in general.  There is simply less civilization, so the
title makes sense in that regard. 

But I think the main
reason that the chapter is called "Into the Primitive" is because of Buck's experience
with the man in the red sweater.  Buck is firmly beaten and humiliated by the man, but
learned a valuable lesson.  He learned that might makes right in this strange new area.
 That rule becomes a law to Buck.  He calls it the "primitive law," and throughout the
book Buck learns how that rule affects him, other dogs, and his owners.
 

He was
beaten (he knew that); but he was not broken. He saw, once for all, that he stood no
chance against a man with a club. He had learned the lesson, and in all his after life
he never forgot it. That club was a revelation. It was his introduction to the reign of
primitive law, and he met the introduction
halfway.

Why is Candy so interested in Leannie and George's conversation?no

Candy knows that his time on this ranch is almost up.  He recognizes that his worth is almost spent and is quite fearful of ending up like his own dog, shot because it's useless.

Candy sees this dream ranch in the same light as Lennie and George, a place to be their own men and do their own things.  Candy very much wants to be a part of a place where he is still considered useful and needed.

What were the material advantages enjoyed by the North as the war began and the advantages enjoyed by the South?

You asked about the advantages that the North and the
South possessed at the start of the War to Prevent Southern Independence. Foremost for
the North may be the industrial capacity that it possessed. This was to be a war in
which both sides were to thoroughly organize their industrial capacities to support the
war effort as probably had been done in no previous war. Counting all kinds of factories
from one-man blacksmith shops to huge textile mills and iron foundries, the South had
fewer factory workers than the North had factories, so the North had a tremendous
industrial advantage at the start of the War.

The North had
a lot more free citizens from whom to draw the soldiers to make an
army.

The North had a president who was very determined; he
was also willing to take illegal and unconstitutional actions to prosecute his war: He
raised an army without Congressional approval. He arrested Maryland legislators in the
middle of the night and imprisoned them without charges to prevent them from voting for
secession. He refused to meet with Confederate diplomats who had been sent to Washington
to negotiate payment for U.S. property (such as forts and post offices, including Ft.
Sumter) that were located in the C.S.A. (This was not illegal, but it shows his
determination to have his war even if the other side did not want a war.) He made war on
lawfully elected state governments without a Congressional declaration of war. (Some of
the states of the U.S.A. had joined the Union with the stipulation, expressly made, that
they could withdraw if remaining became more of a burden than an advantage; at that time
it was considered that every state had the right to secede. However, northern
politicians and industrialists were already beginning their plans for empire, so they
would just start by reducing to a colonial status the states that had
seceded.)

The North had a much more extensive system of
railroads and more industry (such as iron mills) for keeping the railroads and trains
repaired.

Most of the sea-going commercial shipping
belonged to Northerners, as did most (or all?) of the ship-building
yards.

The North had in place a long-established
government; the South’s government was newly formed.

Though
it was not a large one, the North already had an army; the South had
none.

Though it was antiquated, the North already had a
navy; the South had none.

As for southern advantages: The
southern soldier was defending his homeland; his homeland was being invaded; his houses
and crops and libraries and schools and courthouses were being burned; he was not
fighting on foreign soil; this was motive to fight
harder.

Between 1859 (when a penchant for forming volunteer
rifle clubs began in Britain and spread to the South) and 1861, many volunteer rifle and
artillery units appeared in the South.

Some of the best
officers in the U.S. army, resigned and joined the C.S.
army.

It is often said that southern men were better
qualified to become soldiers because all of them hunted, thus they knew how to use
firearms, and all of them rode horses, thus they could be good cavalrymen. This
advantage may be made too much of, because there were rural areas of the North,
particularly in the West (Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa) where a good
many men also possessed these skills.

In chapter 6, why do Ralph and Jack both insist on going after the beast? Why does Jack say that they don't need the conch any longer?

In chapter 6, Samneric report that they have seen the beast. Because of their convincing testimony, the boys now believe that the beast is real. Jack is excited to go find the beast, saying, "This'll be a real hunt. Who'll come?" He sees this as an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership. He is still jealous of Ralph and feels competitive towards him. Perhaps he senses weakness in Ralph and believes this will be his moment to wrest power away from him. He taunts Ralph, asking him if he is frightened. Ralph replies honestly, "'Course I'm frightened. Who wouldn't be?" Ralph is secure enough in his leadership position to admit his fear, but Jack hears opportunity knocking. His confidence has been boosted by recently killing a pig; he believes he can kill this beast as well.

Ralph's motives for wanting to find the beast are completely different. The fear of the beast has resulted in Samneric leaving their post as keepers of the signal fire. The fire is their only plausible chance of rescue, and Ralph tenaciously clings to the fire as his primary purpose. In order to get the signal fire lit again, they must be able to climb the mountain without fear. Whatever fear Ralph has of the beast, he has more fear of not being able to have the signal fire emitting its potentially life-saving smoke. So while Jack's motives for seeking the beast are selfish, Ralph's motives are altruistic.

During the meeting to discuss finding the beast, Jack ridicules Piggy and his claim of the conch. He says that the conch is not needed anymore. In his opinion, free speech and democracy have no value. He states, "We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It's time some people knew they've got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us." Jack shows that he prefers an oligarchy at least, and if he can achieve it, a dictatorship. He believes that those with power should make the decisions according to their own judgment. 

At this point Ralph is able to reassert his authority by asking the boys, "Don't any of you want to be rescued?" This causes "a violent swing to Ralph's side, and the crisis passed." However, this scene foreshadows the way Jack will rule when he gets the chance, presenting a stark contrast to the British values of freedom and individual rights that Ralph stands for.

Why was Portia worried about Brutus?

Portia is the wife of Brutus and in Act II Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar displays qualities of concern, bravery, and intellect which make her a fitting wife for "the noblest Roman of them all". 

There are several reasons why Portia is concerned about Brutus, which are clearly stated in lines 860-930. She begins by stating that Brutus has left their bed late at night and wandered around looking upset. When she inquired about the reason for this, he was secretive and bad-tempered, which is uncharacteristic behavior for him. She states that whatever is afflicting him is having several obvious effects on his behavior, appearance, and disposition:

It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,

And could it work so much upon your shape

As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, 

When he pretends that he is sick, she catches him in his lie and points out that if he were sick, he wouldn't being going out in the cold. Moreover, she noticed the conspirators visiting him. 

What attitude dominates Hamlet's personality in Act I, Scene 2?

This is the scene in which Claudius announces his marriage to Gertrude.  Hamlet can best be described as grumpy in this scene.  He is bitter about his mother's quick marriage.  He feels she has betrayed his father and he doesn't trust Claudius.  He is despondent, feeling that he is alone in the world.  Hamlet's "asides" - his muttered comments to himself - show how bitter he is.  He criticizes Claudius, calling him:

"A little more than kin, and less than kind."

He challenges his mother outright, insisting his feelings are strong and valid:

"Seems, madam! Nay, it is; I know not seems."

When they are gone, he wishes for release from his pain:

"O, that this too too solid flesh would melt!"

Summary of “The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism" by Robert Pape.

Basically, what Pape is saying in this article is that our
common views of why people commit suicide bombings is incorrect.  We tend to see it as
an act of desperation and of religious fanaticism.  Pape argues instead that it is a
strategically logical action that is not unique to religious
fanatics.

Pape points out a couple of important things. 
First, he says the at the leader in suicide attacks have been the (non-religious) Tamil
Tigers on Sri Lanka.  Second, he points out that suicide terror campaigns have generally
worked to pressure democracies to give in to the
terrorists.

So he's saying it's logical to do this (for the
groups if not for the individuals) and that liberal democracies need to be sure to avoid
giving in so that more groups will not see this as a way to
success.

What is so 'Romantic' about Wordsworth's poetry?

In 1798 Wordsworth and Coleridge published their "Lyrical
Ballads" which heralded the Romantic Movement in English Literature. In his "Preface" to
the "Lyrical Ballads" Wordsworth has explained and elaborated his theory of  'Romantic'
poetry thus:

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"The principal object, then, proposed in these
Poems was to choose incidents and situations from common life, and to relate or describe
them, throughout, as far as was possible in a selection of language really used by men,
and, at the same time, to throw over them a certain colouring of imagination, whereby
ordinary things should be presented to the mind in an unusual aspect; and, further, and
above all, to make these incidents and situations interesting by tracing in them, truly
though not ostentatiously, the primary laws of our nature: chiefly, as far as regards
the manner in which we associate ideas in a state of
excitement."

These ideas can
be best explained with reference to his famously anthologized lyric "I Wandered Lonely
as a Cloud":

The daffodil is a common flowering plant found
growing abundantly in England. Once, Wordsworth and his sister came across a long belt
of these beautiflul plants in full bloom when they had gone out for a walk on 15th Aril
1802. Wordsworth later  wrote this  poem in 1804 and first published it in
1807.

Wordsworth in the same  "Preface" to the "Lyrical
Ballads" later remarks that,

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"I have said that poetry is the spontaneous
overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in
tranquillity: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the
tranquillity gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the
subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the
mind."

Both these quotes
clearly reveal the poetic qualities inherent in "I Wander'd Lonely as a
Cloud."

1. The daffodil is a "common"
flower."

2. The laguage used in the poem is very simple,
there is nothing of 'poetic diction.'

3. However, the
simple language is used very creatively and imaginatively by Wordsworth to cast a
magical spell over the entire poem which makes the ordinary daffodills to appear very
extradoridnarly beautiful.

4. The poem describes very
vividly Wodsworth's spontaneous joy in seeing the daffodils, "A poet could not but be
gay/In such a jocund company."

5. The last stanza of the
poem, clearly reveals how "emotion recollected in tranquillity," regenerates the same
emotion he experienced when he first saw the daffaodils.

Why does the rescuing naval officer comment,"I should have thought that a pack of British boys would have put on a better show than that?" Go into...

The naval officer's comment is revealing the shock he feels at seeing the boys uncivilized manner and attire. He expected that proper British schoolboys would carry on in an appropriate manner.

The savagery that had proceeded this rescue is evident to the boys. They have evolved into a roving band of hunters/killers who have  given in to the constant demand for blood-lust.

At first, just hunting the boars for meat was enough, but as time went on, they found each other was more exciting game.

What is wrong with Betty from The Crucible?

Betty has fallen mysteriously ill.  However, this is really her guilt at having been discovered dancing in the woods with the other girls and Tituba.  Tituba is quiet worried about her Betty, for she is Parris's slave and has practically raised Betty.  Tituba is also likely worried that her mysteriously illness might lead other to wonder what is causing it and that might lead into an investigation into what was going on in the woods.  Of course, it was innocent tomfoolery; however, in the strict Puritan religious culture, it could be construed as witchcraft, which could lead to hangings.  The rumor circulating about Betty is that she is under the spell of witchcraft, which is one reason the community is seeking Hale, who is an expert on witchcraft and leading trials.

What is an example of compassion from To Kill a Mockingbird?

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird the
scenes that come to mind to me as being demonstrative of compassion were in the end of
the book.

The time in the book when Boo carries an injured
Jem to his father's home and down the hall to Jem's room shows compassion on Boo's
behalf.

The scene when Heck Tate makes the decision to
protect Boo by stating that Bob Ewel fell on his own knife showed that heck was
different than many of the townspeople.  He showed compassion for
Boo.

Finally, when Scout takes Boo home.  Atticus tells her
to place her arm through Boo's so that he could walk down the road like a man.  I found
this to be of greatest compassion and so true to Atticus'
nature.

Name 3 functions of technology in 1984.

Considering the time period in which this book was written and published, technology is quite advanced. The function of technology in this novel mainly used as a means to monitor the Outer Party members through the use of the telescreens (which are two way so the watchers are being watched). Technology is also used to alter history constantly so that it is not a concrete entity, but rather a fluid one, which is always changing to fit the purposes of the society. Technology is also used to limit the range of human thinking with the use of the Thought Police, who can somehow read the inner thoughts of Party members, and with the creation (or rather destruction) and implementation of Newspeak which also limits the range with which a party member can express oneself. Technology in 1984 is not creature comfort like we know it to be, it was used as a means of keeping society members under control in every way.

Why does the government use "newspeak" in 1984?

I agree with clane, newspeak is the government's tool to limit the people's range of thought, and to control the masses. By systematically reducing words and eliminating language that is potentially subversive, they can eventually dumb their society down so much that people won't even be able to think or to formulate words of resistance. According to Kenneth Burke, the terms we choose not only reflect, but also select and deflect reality. By controlling the terms, the government also controls the values connected to those terms, as well as the emotion. Newspeak, like the content of the news, is nothing more than a series of spliced segments of meaning. Newspeak is the ultimate reflection of a reality devoid of meaning.

How did Shakespeare's plays get handed down to us?

There are two basic ways.  During Shakespeare's life,
anyone who could get a handwritten copy of a play could print it.  There were no
copyright laws at the time, and, since Shakespeare was a popular playwright, anyone who
could get a copy of, say, a script used to prompt the actors during a show could print
it in order to make money.  These printed copies of plays were called quartos because
the sheets of printing paper were folded four times.  Eighteen of Shakespeare's plays
exist in one or more quarto versions.

The other way the
plays have come down to us is what is called the First Folio (published in 1623).  After
Shakespeare's death in 1616, two of Shakespeare's fellow actors printed 36 of the 38
plays attributed to the Bard in a large book.  Some plays (such as The
Winter's Tale) only exist in the First Folio.  Others, like
Hamlet or King Lear, exist in both the First
Folio and in one or more quarto versions.  Sometimes the differences between the
versions are relatively minor and sometimes they are very significant.  King
Lear is a good example of the latter; some editions of Shakespeare's complete
works print two versions of this play because the First Quarto is so different from
others.

So, when modern editors want to publish a copy of
one of Shakespeare's plays, they have to consult all of the versions out there and
decide what they want to do about any differences.  In addition, they have to make
decisions about punctuation, confusing words, and problems like that.  Unfortunately,
with the exception of one page of writing, as far as we know, none of the plays in
Shakespeare's own writing have survived.  Gladly, we do have the quartos and the First
Folio.

Was Lenny's and George's dream destroyed when Lenny killed Curley's wife or was it his death that destroyed it?

Concerning Lennie's dream in Of Mice and
Men, deciding exactly at what point it's destroyed is a little like splitting
hairs, as they say.  Realistically, Lennie and George never had a chance of fulfilling
that dream, anyway, so it was destroyed long before Lennie kills Curly's wife or
before George kills him. 

On the other hand, Lennie's dream
is an illusion within his mind, so technically, it would not be destroyed until Lennie
is destroyed, since Lennie is not enough aware of the consequences of his actions to
understand what's coming.   

George's part in the dream was
equally an illusion and virtually impossible to fulfill.  But certainly, for George, if
he really believed in the dream, his belief would have died when Lennie kills Curly's
wife.  He understands what this incident means more than Lennie
does.

Lennie's dream may continue until Lennie's death,
then, but George's dream certainly dies with Curly's wife.

What was the problem with the Jefferson Davis school bus in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry?

The Jefferson Davis school bus didn't have a "problem,"
per se. The Logan family (and other African-American families in the area), had an
"issue," with the bus, namely that as it carried its white students to the school, the
bus driver intentionally tried to veer the vehicle toward the African-American school
children who were walking to their school.

Eventually, the
Logans would devise a plan to get revenge on the bus and its
occupants.

What is an author for the following two critics: Facoult and Barthes? What are the differences and connections?

Let me start, of course, but recommending that you read
the two short essays by the critics you name, Barthes' "The Death of the Author" and
Foucault's "What is an Author?". But you want answers, of course, and not simply
recommendations, so I'll write a little more!

The link
provided below gives a pretty substantial discussion of these two works and some points
of simiilarity and difference.

For me, the greatest
similiarity is that both critics are challenging the dominant concept of the "author."
Even today, after decades of such challenges, many people continue to believe that the
author is everything -- e.g. the author is in complete control of the text, the reader
must know something about the author in order to understand the text, the "author's
purpose" (a recurring item on standardized tests in schools in the United States) is
something that deserves our full attention, and so
on.

Again, for me, the greatest difference is what the two
critics emphasize in their pieces. Barthes wishes to shift everything from the author to
the text and the reader, whereas Foucault wishes to explore the various historical
"functions" of the author. This difference, to me, says everything about the differences
between these two critics. Barthes (in his poststructuralist years, at least) is all
about the "pleasure of the text," for example, and Foucault is all about how
knowledge and experience are organized (e.g. his famous study The History of
Sexuality).

What is the reaction of Jack's tribe to Ralph's talk of rescue?

When Ralph talks of the necessity of the fire and smoke for their hopes of rescue, Jack and his tribe break into laughter. Ralph is thoroughly angry at this reaction and an altercation ensues. Jack's group capture most of Ralph's and disarm them, while Jack and Ralph fight. Piggy is killed in this battle, and Ralph realizes there is no way to reason with them.

Ralph had good intentions in trying to talk reasonable with the other tribe, but he did not take into account that Jack's tribe does not think about rescue anymore. They are too deep into the savage mentality to be reasoned with , at this point.

Who narrates the prologue, and what is its purpose?

The narrator of the Prologue might be Chaucer, but this is not to confuse him with Chaucer the author.  He explains, in fact, that he is only acting as the faithful reporter of what others have said, without adding or omitting anything; he must not then be blamed for what he reports.  "My wit is short, ye may well understand," the narrator says.  This persona, who almost becomes a character in himself, often professes a naivety that we often find in his ironic descriptions of the pilgrims.  Often that narrative voice presents information uncritically but ironically in that the author behind the narrative voice does the criticizing.

What is meant by the ‘mutability of the past’? Give an example from the book and explain the significance of it. 300-400 words please.

Orwell's novel is essential about power and
control--specifically, the frightening prospect of a totalitarian government controlling
every aspect of society. One of the most important means of control exerted by Big
Brother is that over what is known about one's
history.

Winton's work in The Ministry of Truth is to
"rectify" history in order to make Big Brother and IngSoc appear in a favorable light.
This is very clear in Part One, Chapter Four. One example is Winston's creation of
Comrade Ogilvy, who though fictional will "exist" due to Winston's account of him. The
Party needed a hero and Winston manufactured one. Another is Winston's realization that
while the Party is pleased to announce that the chocolate ration has increased, he knows
that it has actually been reduced.

Essentially, the power
to control information about the past allows the government to control the present. If
you are sure that something happened--perhaps even witnessed it yourself--but no one
acknowledged it, did it really happen? History is only relevant because we choose to
make it significant. Big Brother goes one step further and manufactures history. The
Party wipes clean any reference to what is not favorable and creates lies to suit its
purposes.

Goldstein attempts to explain this in "The Book"
in Part Two, Chapter Nine, but fails to articulate the full importance and significance
of the mutability of the past and the essence of "doublethink." He can explain the "how"
but not the "why."

what are the differnt parts of the play which indicate Nora is secretive?which quotes from the play indicate that she is secretive

There are many examples of Nora's secretive nature in the play. In fact, the play is based on her deceit. Here are a few examples divided by the acts.

Act One: Nora secretly eats macaroons behind her husband's back. This sets the tone for the more deceitful deeds she has done. Next, Nora admits to Kristine that she procured the money for their trip to Italy in a devious manner, but doesn't yet tell her how.

Act Two: Krogstad threatens Nora if she doesn't help him keep his position at the bank, and we learn she forged her father's name on the loan.

In Act Three, the truth comes out, and ironically, the truth is liberating for Nora. She finally has the nerve to leave her husband and stand up for herself.

The main conflict of the play is based on the lies Nora has told to her husband. She felt it was necessary to deceive him in order to keep her marriage safe. She had been convinced that she could not survive without him, and Torvald was mainly responsible for this feeling. The irony is that Nora, in trying to maintain her secrets, had learned to be independent. When the truth does come out, she recognizes her own worth.

In the Crucible, are there any quotes that highlight a woman as less powerful in the community of Salem? Thanks!

"She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance."

This quote by Proctor in the courtroom displays his condescending attitude towards women.  Although Abigail is clearly at fault, this quote by Proctor shows that he lusted, that he took advantage, and shows little attention to Abigail's feelings.

Parris: I have given you a home, child, I have put clothes upon your back-- now give me an upright answer. Your name in town-- it is entirely white, is it not?

Abigail: Why, I am sure it is, sir. There be no blush about my name.

In this exchange, Parris is challenging Abigail's reputation.  He has heard rumors.  Being so concerned about it shows the tremendous pressure women were under.  A double standard existed, in which the virtues of women were more insisted upon then the virtues of men.

Explain the meaning of Analysis of variance. My posted question is related with Research Methodology

When you conduct an analysis of variance, what you are
doing is comparing and contrasting your original hypothesis against your actual
findings. The variance is your experimental group versus your control
group.

For instance, if I want to see how chocolate milk
affect kids in the morning, I would need a control group *kids drinking chocolate milk
regularly* versus an experimental one *kids being refrained from drinking
it*

When you compare their similarities and differences,
you are conducting an analysis of variance.

What aspects of Modernism are apparent in "The Wild Swans at Coole" by W.B. Yeats?eg. historical discontinuity, alienation, individualism,...

"The Wild Swans at Coole," by William Butler Yeats, may
seem at first glance to be a traditional poem about the beauty of nature.  Yeats notes
the trees "in their autumn beauty," and the "mysterious, beautiful" swans who "delight
men's eyes."

Upon deeper inspection, however, Yeats's poem
is pessimistic and thoroughly modern.  The poet's heart has grown "sore" and old, a
common plight of the existensialist who sees no chance of winning man's battle with the
world. 

Although he has been watching the swans for
nineteen years, he feels alienated from them when the swans fly away from
him:

I
saw...

All suddenly mount

And
scatter wheeling great broken rings

Upon their clamorous
wings.

The poet seems to envy
the swans who paddle together in "companionable streams," while he travels alone, having
long since given up dreams of "passion or conquest."

What happens in Chapter 4 of the book Lyddie?

No doubt, Lyddie is struggling with her work at the tavern.  Luckily, Lyddie makes friends with the cook at the tavern named Triphena.  A natural born storyteller, Triphena tells Lyddie a very significant fable about two frogs who fall into a pail of milk.  The sides are too high for the two frogs to escape.  One frog, who sits there and accepts his fate, simply drowns in the milk.  The other frog, who does NOT accept his fate, in fact, he kicks and kicks and kicks in order to escape, is found perched on a little pat of (self-created) butter the next morning.  Triphena is trying to help encourage Lyddie to be that second frog, saying, "Some folks are natural born kickers."

Although Lyddie enjoys Triphena's fable, she still has a hard time with work and misses her family, especially her little brother, Charlie.  Charlie is able visit her for a little while, and Lyddie begins to lose some of the memories of the rest of her family (her mom, dad, and sisters). Lyddie is especially concerned that her little brother seems weak and hasn't grown much.

At the end of the chapter, Lyddie is surprised to learn how much money (one hundred dollars!) is offered to the lucky finders of runaway slaves from the South who travel to the North to find freedom.  Lyddie has never seen a runaway slaves, and she ponders what she would do if she saw one.  That amount of money would allow both Lyddie and Charlie to go home!  (However, it is important for the reader to realize that those runaway slaves are "natural born kickers," too.  A few more of those latter frogs.)

Give an example of a pun and a malapropism from Twelfth Night and explain it, providing line numbers.

Here is an example of a pun from Act I, Scene 5 of the
play.  Maria and Feste, the fool, are talking to each other.  They
say:

• href="http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/characters/charlines.php?CharID=MARIA&WorkID=12night">Maria.
  You are resolute, then?
  

• href="http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/characters/charlines.php?CharID=FESTE&WorkID=12night">Feste.
  Not so, neither; but I am resolved on two points.
  

• href="http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/characters/charlines.php?CharID=MARIA&WorkID=12night">Maria.
  That if one break, the other will hold; or, if both
  315
  break, your gaskins fall.
  

The
pun here is on the word "points."  Feste is using it to mean a point like some idea that
he has decided on.  But Maria is using it to refer to the points of his suspenders --
the place where they are attached to the buttons on his
pants.

You can find a malapropism in Act I, Scene 3.  In
this case, it is Sir Toby Belch talking.  He says

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By this
hand, they are scoundrels and subtractors
that say so of him. Who are
they?

The malapropism is
"subtractors," which ought to be "detractors."

Why is money so important in elections? How do candidates reach potential voters?

You have two separate, rather large questions here, so
I'll do my best to get to both of them in limited
space. 

Money is important in elections because it buys you
access to the public.  Ads on television are very expensive and you have to advertise
nationwide, so this expense runs into the tens of millions of dollars.  Mainly for this
reason, the candidate with the most money tend to win.  This has been true in the last
three election.

To campaign nationwide requires a very
large staff covering 50 states, all of their offices, copy machines, cell phones and
hotel rooms, and usually a 747 jet to carry that staff around from campaign stop to
campaign stop.  To fire the best staff workers and campaign managers can also run into
the millions of dollars.

As far as how candidates reach
potential voters, there are several methods of varying effectiveness.  Television is the
most convenient, as almost every American has one and watches one.  Radio and newspapers
can also work, but once you get past the basic media, "All politics is retail" as was
once famously said.  This means door to door campaigning, meeting and shaking hands with
thousands of people in key states before the primary and general election, and
participation in town hall meetings and debates. 

To see
how much money we're talking about and where it comes from, visit the link below to The
Center for Responsive Politics (non-partisan).

How does Mary Shelley create sympathy for the monster in chapter 15 of Frankenstein? Use quotes

In this chapter, the author is showing the monster at its
most human.  She is showing how the monster has feelings and she is showing how it
aspires to be a good "person." When she does this, she is trying to make us identify
with the monster.  She is trying to make us see that it is like us -- it has good
intentions and the same kinds of desires that we human beings
have.

She shows us this by having the monster read from
classic books and by having it try to apply those books to its own life.  She is showing
that it is intellectually and morally similar to human
beings.

Here's a long quote showing this sort of
thing:

"I
endeavoured to crush these fears and to fortify myself for the trial which in a few
months I resolved to undergo; and sometimes I allowed my thoughts, unchecked by reason,
to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures
sympathizing with my feelings and cheering my gloom; their angelic countenances breathed
smiles of consolation. But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my
thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was
mine? He had abandoned me, and in the bitterness of my heart I cursed
him.

What is the conflict in "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe?

The conflict in Poe's poem is an internal one, as has been previously noted. Poe states the nature of this inner conflict early in the poem. He has been trying to achieve "surcease of sorrow for the lost Lenore" by burying himself in old books and trying to forget about her. But the Raven seems to him to be a messenger from the spirit world who has been sent there to keep reminding him of his loss. Instead of trying to forget about Lenore, he is forced to think about her more poignantly than he had been thinking before. So he imagines that her ghost has come back to visit him. He asks the Raven if there is "balm in Gilead," which is equivalent to asking if what the Bible has to say about immortality and resurrection has any truth and can offer him any comfort. But in the end he is defeated in his attempts to deal with his loss. This is symbolized by the Raven taking up a permanent station on the bust of Pallas and continuing to croak the single word "Nevermore." It seems as if the "rare and radiant" maiden the speaker loved so deeply has been replaced by a pet bird who is no comfort to him at all but a continual source of pain.

What is the plot of the story "The Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan?

At the beginning the narrator recalls, "I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, though neither of us knew it at the time, chess games.” The plot concerns Waverly learning the “art of invisible strength,” which is Waverly's search for an identity that is both Chinese and American. After their fight and Waverly runs away, she eventually returns, and her mother says she will no longer have anything to do with her daughter.  Waverly imagines playing a game of chess with her mother where her mother's pieces conquer all of her own. However, the story ends with Waverly learning this “invisible strength” through her mother’s teachings: “As her men drew closer to my edge, I felt myself growing light. I rose up into the air and flew out the window. Higher and higher, above the alley, over the tops of tiled roofs, where I was gathered up by the wind and pushed up toward the night sky until everything below me disappeared and I was alone.  I closed my eyes and pondered my next move.” With invisible strength she can fly, become who she is on her own terms (“be alone”) and then make her next move in the metaphorical chess game of life.

When was "Annabel Lee" written? How did she die?

The poem was written in 1849. 

The poem, "Annabel Lee" does not state directly how Annabel Lee died.  In the 3rd stanza the line, "Chilling my Annabel Lee", and the lines in the 4th stanza, ..... , chilling / And killing my Annabel Lee" might indicate that she died of influenza or pneumonia which would have been common in the 19th century. This is conjecture, of course, since the poem does not represent any one person in particular.  Many have speculated that the inspiration for the poem was Poe's young wife, Virginia Clemm, but she outlived Poe so her death was not an issue with him.

What is the setting for "The Interlopers" and how does it contribute to the mood?

Saki’s “The Interlopers” is an ironic tale about a generational family feud that appears to be resolved until a surprise ending occurs. In this story, as in many stories, the setting is more important than just the simple reporting of the time and place in which the action occurs.

Good settings should complement and reflect upon a work’s mood and theme. This is often done symbolically, as aspects of the place(s) in the story represent characters’ attitudes, beliefs, hopes, fears, etc. Such symbolism, while not always immediately obvious to the reader, draws the reader deeper into the story.

The setting in “The Interlopers” is "the narrow strip of precipitous woodland" that the families of the two main characters have been conflicting over for several generations.

The land is not particularly valuable in and of itself; by establishing that the setting is a relatively meaningless piece of property, Sake has commented on the effect of possessiveness and spite: people are willing to kill and die for it. The mood here is somber.

When the two main characters are out hunting on this piece of land, the setting is described in a way that emphasizes the danger it represents, as one character has:

wandered far down the steep slopes amid the wild tangle of undergrowth, peering through the tree trunks and listening through the whistling and skirling of the wind and the restless beating of the branches.

So, at this point in the story the setting has done two things—established the characters’ greed, and foreshadowed a mood of dread and danger by establishing the situation the characters will soon find themselves in.

Once the characters encounter each other, the setting takes on a more symbolic function. As they stare each other down at gunpoint, a bolt of lightning shatters a nearby tree, which falls and pins them both to the ground:

A fierce shriek of the storm had been answered by a splitting crash over their heads, and ere they could leap aside a mass of falling beech tree had thundered down on them.

Look at what has happened with Saki’s depiction of the setting now: the men have each been injured and trapped by the tree, which is part of the property they are fighting over. Symbolically this presentation of the setting demonstrates the idea that greed and feuds will entrap people who engage in them. In this case, both men are imperiled by the same aspect (the tree) of the land they are fighting over.

Now the story moves into another phase. Since the men are trapped near each other, they can do nothing but think. They decide to end the feud. So the setting, by physically restraining the men, has brought about their reconciliation. This positive mood is short-lived; however, because the setting has one more blow to deal to the men. When they think they see men approaching them a distance away, the men believe they are about to be rescued. The only question is who the men are:

“Who are they?” asked Georg quickly, straining his eyes to see what the other would gladly not have seen.

“Wolves.”

The wolves, like the tree that trapped them, are also elements of this particular setting. The happy ending we thought we were about to get will not happen. By using the wolves to kill them (we can assume they were attacked by the wolves, although the story ends before this happens) Saki has brought about the men’s ultimate demise through the thing that actually caused their feud in the first place—the land (which is, of course, the setting). If the men had simply killed one another with gunfire we would not have the same symbolic significance. Saki leaves the readers in a cautionary mood--look what can happen when we place possessions above people. 

In "The Road Not Taken," what is the meaning of the last stanza?

The last stanza is much debated but there are a few clues as to its meaning.  Firstly, the narrator tell us with a 'sigh' which seems to indicate regret.  We know that the narrator is now speaking a long time later as he refers to the choice of path he made as being in the past.  "

"I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:"

This gives the reader a sense of the future.  The narrator seems to indicate that he chose the less traveled road and that, that one choice in his life had made all the difference.

 Some critics consider the last stanza to be a celebration of non conformity meaning that because the narrator took the path less traveled in other words the unusual way - this action has made and defined even his future life.

Other critics tend to see this poem as sad.  The 'sigh' at the beginning of the last stanza indicates remorse and the distance between the choice of path and the time of narration indicates an older person looking back on life.  

To answer the last part of the question. If you accept the first interpretation of the poem (non conformity) then the reason he chose the less traveled road is to be a non conformist. If you accept the second interpretation, then you do not know why the narrator took the less traveled road - only that he regrets it. 

What major issues did China face during the cold war?i want the correct answer from a teacher or somebody reaaly smart

There were a number of them. You can start with the
physical threat to China's borders and very existence, when a large American army
approached through North Korea.  This would get China into the war on North Korea's
side, and last three years with over 1 million Chinese
casualties.

Next was America's refusal to recognize
communist China as the legitimate government, and preventing them from taking China's
seat on the brand new United Nations.

The US also armed
Taiwan with modern weapons and pledged to defend the island from communist takeover when
we sent the navy in to Quemoy and Matsu in the 1950s.

China
also did not become a nuclear power until the early 1960s, so it faced a disadvantage in
competition with the United States and had to rely on nuclear protection from the Soviet
Union, which it did not always see eye to eye with.

Lastly,
China struggled under the weight of its huge population, and did not become anywhere
near self-sufficient for food until the 1980s, and it could not trade with the largest
agricultural exporter, the United States, until that time or
later.

"I think careers are a 20th century invention and I don't want one." Evaluate this quote from Chris McCandless in Into the Wild.

This idea expressed by McCandless early on in Krakauer's
account gives us a key insight into his personality and worldview.  His is not an
original idea, in fact we saw many people come to the same conclusion during the late
1950s and 60s, when young people began to explore alternative styles of living, even to
the point of establishing communes because they had become disillusioned with what
society and their parents expected of them.

McCandless is
cut from the same cloth, and has the added motivation of his parents perceived
betrayal.  Chris is very much his own man, and a key event in his final evolution as a
person is his renunciation of worldly things, including the promising career and
privileged life that probably awaited him.  Adventure and a new life beckons to most of
us at one point or another, but few of us take the definitive steps McCandless did, and
I think that is a key attraction for us to his story.

what is the author attitude toward each of the character? and how she convey it?

The basic conflict in this story is Maggie's knowledge of every day things and her intention to use them for their purposes, and her sister (Dee), who considers herself more worldly and educated and who thinks these every day things should be hung up and admired as antiques.

Maggie is not stupid, but she is scarred from a housefire, and her confidence is lacking.  She is a humble, loving, and simple person who adores her mother and just wants to live.  She knows how to sew, quilt, and make butter like her mother and grandmother.

Her sister is lovely, has gone off to school, treats both Maggie and her mother as beneath her...almost embarrassing because of their simple and backward ways.  She is arrogant, not used to being told "no," and suddenly aware of her African roots as she indicates in her dress and her boyfriend who has adopted an African name than no one can pronounce.

Maggie is quiet and is used to giving in to her sister.  When her sister insists on the quilts that her mother has already promised to give Maggie as a wedding gift, Maggie slams the kitchen door to show her anger.  She does finally come back into the house resigned to give her sister her wedding quilts.  However, Mother finally stands up to Dee and tells her she can not take Maggie's quilts.

It is clear that the author admires Maggie and Momma and what they stand for more than Dee and her haughty ways.

In Catcher in the Rye, what is the significance of the Natural History Museum and what does this tell us about the main character Holden Caufield ?

Holden loved going to the museum as a younger child. Based on his narrative, the constancy of the museum appealed to him—the exhibits never changed no matter how much his own life did. It’s worth noting that the changes Holden is thinking about are all negative, like kids getting a disease or parents fighting at home.

His narrative also focuses on how people would be a little “different” every time they went to the museum. He is resistant to the idea of change. This is what concerns him when he thinks about his sister Phoebe going to the museum with her classes like he did. She would be changing each time too, and that is something he does not like the thought of. His sister, who is still young, is one of his favorite people and he does not want her to change. Perhaps he is afraid that she will be subjected to the same disappointments and problems that he has been struggling with.

I kept thinking about old Phoebe going to that museum on Saturdays the way I used to. I thought how she’d see the same stuff I used to see, and how she’d be different every time she saw it . . . Certain things should stay the same.

When he gets to the museum he decides not to go in. He says “It just didn’t appeal to me.” Why? Perhaps it is because now he knows that changes are inevitable—he isn’t going to be able to stop them from happening to himself or to people he cares about, like Phoebe.

Summarize the story "Misery" by Anton Chekhov.

Man’s indifference to the pain of another—this is theme of
the story “Misery” by Anton Chekhov. The title symbolizes the feelings of the
protagonist Iona Potapov, a Russian sleigh-driver, who is suffering from intense
grief.

The setting of the story is winter in a Russian
town.  The time is the late nineteenth century. It is miserable outside.  The weather is
cold, bleak, and snowing.  The surroundings in the story amplify the wretchedness of the
main character.

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 “Big flakes of wet snow are whirling lazily
about the street lamps, which have just been lighted, and lying in a thin soft layer on
the roofs, horses’ backs, shoulders,
caps.”

Iona Potapov has faced
one of the most difficult events a parent can face.  His only son has died from a fever
after a short illness.  He has been dead about a week.  Iona’s overwhelming grief needs
an outlet.  He wants to talk to anyone he can about his
misery. 

The old man’s heartache is enhanced by the
knowledge that he is really too old to be driving particularly in this kind of weather. 
His son had taken over for him; however, his horse needs to eat and his poverty demands
that Iona try to find fares. 

Throughout the night, Iona
encounters four situations that should enable him to talk to someone.  Yet, none of
these people will engage the old man to allow him discuss the story of his son.  He
wants to tell someone that he wishes that it had been him instead of his son who had
died. 

1st
encounter

An officer who has a harsh manner
softens a little when he hears of the old man’s son. He yells at the old man’s
incompetent driving.  After a brief inquiry as to how the son died, the matter is
dropped, and the officer returns to wanting Iona to
hurry.

2nd
encounter

Three young men, one of whom is
hunchbacked, get in the sleigh. The crippled one is the harshest toward Iona. They curse
and shove each other for room in the small sleigh. The more that the men curse, yell,
and call him names, the lonelier that Iona feels.  He finally tells them that his son
has died this week.  The hunchback reacts by saying that everyone has to
die. 

3rd
encounter

A house porter carrying a package
stands on a corner.  Iona asks him the time.  After the porter answers, he tells Iona to
drive on. 

This is the final straw.  Iona determines to
give it up for the night and return to the cab barn.  He does not have the money to buy
his horse oats, so she will have to eat the
hay.

4th
encounter

While the old man is inside the
cab drivers’ area, he sees another younger driver.  The young man gets up to get a
drink. Iona tells the younger man that his son has died but gets no response form the
other driver.  Returning to his corner, the young man covers his head and goes to
sleep. 

The old man is “thirsty” to talk about his
feelings. In his mind, Iona thinks  a woman would be best to talk to since women
“blubber at anything.”   

He goes to check on his white
mare.  She is eating the hay.   Iona talks to the little horse which seems to listen to
him.  He begins to tell the horse about his son.  This does give him some
relief.

Iona tries to relate to the horse that if she had a
little colt and it died, the mare would be sad just as the old man. As he talks to her,
the little horse looks at him, munches her hay, and breathes on the old man’s hands. 
Iona can share his grief with someone who will listen to him.

What do you think of the obsession with money and the consumer culture of the 1920s dominates human thinking and behaviour in The Great Gatsby?I'm...

In The Great Gatsby, Nick goes back
to the Midwest because he wants no part of the consumer culture of the East.  He sees
the hypocrisy, carelessness, and cruelty of the uber-competitive socio-economic
structure and refuses to be participate.

Most importantly,
Nick sees the destructive power that materialism has on relationships.  Men treat women
as objects.  Women treat each other as objects.  And poor men kill rich men because of
jealousy over cars and houses as much as women.

All the
women in the novel are flat, static, stock characters: temptresses.  They cheat at golf.
 They become mistresses.  They are terrible mothers.  They call their daughters
"hopeless little fools."  They cry over shirts.  They get slapped for yelling another
woman's name.  In short, they are meant to be consumed, run over, pushed aside, and
silenced by violence.  Why?  They are status symbols only, like the cars men
drive.