Almost half of todays marriages end in divorces. Second marriages are even more likely to fail than the first.Do you think that this means about...

You've got a lot of questions to answer there, too many, really for this space, but let me get you started.

Marriage, as a social institution, has been around for a very long time, and in my view, it is not going to end anytime soon.  It is deeply embedded not just in American but in world culture, the vast majority of people do get married at least once in their lifetimes, and if you surveyed high school seniors, for example, the vast majority would say they plan on getting married someday.

As far as what the high divorce rate says about our society, you could draw a number of conclusions:

1) Women are more able to work and support themselves than they were in the 1940s for example, when divorce rates were lower

2)  Society is much more tolerant of divorce than it used to be, so there is less social stigma

3)  Younger generations seem not to take marriage quite as seriously as the older generations, and my sense of it is that there is less religious emphasis on marriage

4) The late 20s is the average age Americans get married these days, and I think that's a good time - after education, after you've been able to save money, etc.

How was The Masque of Red Death influenced by Poe's life experiences?

Poe's life as a young man was shrouded in death. Both his mother and his beloved foster mother died from tuberculosis. Then his wife, who was also his young cousin, died at a young age from tuberculosis as well. Poe lost the three most signifcant women in his life to the same horrible disease. He constantly battled depression, debt, poverty, and alcoholism. These experiences led him to write the Masque of the Red Deathto illustrate his own feelings about everyone's inability to escape death no matter how happy or rich someone might be, not one soul will be able to escape the clutches of death.

I have to write an essay on abortion, so I need pre-writing/ thesis help.facts.

Does your essay have to take a position on the issue, or are you just presenting facts? You are not really clear.

I am opposed to elective abortion, so I will offer you some pre-writing thesis ideas based on my personal viewpoints on the issue. Others that are pro-abortion can offer some opposing ideas and then you can choose which one you think you would like to write about. I have volunteered with women in a crisis pregnancy center and I have learned through my experience that there is a lot of guilt associated with abortions. Young women do not think about this when they first come in -- they just want the abortion -- but those that do choose to have an abortion don't just breezily walk away afterwards. Sometimes the guilt lasts a lifetime.

Many young women choose abortion because they think it is a quick fix for a difficult situation. One survey indicated that of women who have had abortions, 63% felt "forced" into it by others -- either a family member, the father, medical personnel, parenting organizations, etc. In this same survey, 74% of the women said they would not have the abortion again, but would choose other options, such as adoption or keeping the baby. Religious reasons aside, this is a very painful decision for a young woman and to tell women that it is "a simple medical procedure" is a half-truth that totally ignores the emotions of women.

So, some thesis statements could be:

Terminating a pregnancy often causes guilty feelings that can last a lifetime.

Aborting a baby is not an easy decision.

Aborting a baby takes away the rights of the unborn child.

I know this is a controversial topic and many people will not agree with my views, but you have to decide what to write for yourself.

What is the conclusion to the story Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry?

There is not a "pat" answer to the conclusion of the novel.  Although all of the Logan's have an inner strength and have come through violent storms (both weather-related and emotional), the family knows that the troubles, like the rain, are cyclical.  T.J. in particular knows that though the beating and arrest are behind him, the problems of racism are sure to return again, like the wind, the dust, and the rain.  Still, the family, after their turbulent year, feels better equipped to deal with the problems that are sure to come their way. 

What are the major events in intramembranous ossification and endochondral ossification, and how are they different?

Ossification is the process of turning cartilage into bone.  Bone may be synthesized by intramembranous ossification, endochronal ossification, or a combination of both.

In intramembranous ossification, embryo cells are transformed into bone.  Specifically, mesenchyme cells, which are found in the mesoderm of the embryo, develop into connective tissue like bone and blood.  The bones of the skull are developed through intramembranous ossification.

Endochronal ossification is the gradual replacement of cartilage by bone during growth.  Much of the skeleton is formed through this process.  Actively dividing bone-generating cells called osteoblasts emerge in areas of cartilage.  The osteoblasts turn into osteocytes (mature bone cells) and become part of the hardened bone matrix.

Again, most bones arise from a combination of intramembranous and endochondral ossification.  In this process, mesenchyme cells develop into chondroblasts and multiply by cell division.  Next, the chondroblasts grow larger and generate a matrix which grows harder due to presence of inorganic minerals.  After this, chambers are formed in the matrix and osteoblasts enter these chambers.   Osteoblasts then secrete minerals to form the bone matrix.

What is an example of a climax in Act 3 of Romeo and Juliet?

Most readers understand Act III, Scene 1, as the climax of
Romeo and Juliet due to the increased speed of the action in the
events. After Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo is full of emotion and wants to have a duel
with Tybalt.

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And fire-eyed fury be my conduct
now!

Now, Tybalt, take the 'villain' back
again

That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's
soul

Is but a little way above our
heads,

Staying for thine to keep him
company.

Either thou or I, or both, must go with
him.

While Romeo and Tybalt
fight, Romeo kills Tybalt with his sword. This is the highest action point in the
play;thus, it is the climax. All the events from here onward are part of the falling
action of the play. When Prince Escalus inquires about the death of Tybalt and Mercutio
at the end of Act III, Scene 2, he is told that Romeo is responsible for the death of
Tybalt; therefore, the Prince banishes Romeo.

In Chapter 7 of Lord of the Flies, why does Simon tell Ralph that "you" will get back all right?

Simon is the boy who provides Ralph with emotional encouragement, in the same way Piggy provides him with intellectual support. In this scene in chapter 7, Simon senses that Ralph is worried about never being rescued because of the huge ocean that separates them from their home. As a very sensitive and empathic person, Simon has read Ralph's thoughts. More than that, though, he has sized up the other boys on the island and evaluated their situation from a perspective no one else has. He is the only one who, when he thinks of the beast, sees with "his inward sight the picture of a human at once heroic and sick." He suggests about the beast in chapter 5, "maybe it's only us." He was right there when Jack beat Piggy and broke his glasses, and in a conversation with Piggy and Ralph where Piggy warned Ralph of Jack's hatred, Simon concurred. When Simon says "you"ll" get back to where you came from, he may have a premonition that he himself won't. This foreshadows Simon's vision and death in chapter 8 and his death in chapter 9.

How did the English language emerge as a global language in the 20 century?answer in detail

I think the answer to this lies in history really. English was the language of the most imperialistic nations. The perks of being part of an imperialistic empire are a lot of resources, people who you can force into submission (pushing your religion, culture, and language one them), and also having greater advancements in technology because of your resources. While colonies were becoming independent in the 20th century, in order to compete in the world on their own they had to rely on trade and relationships with these already established nations. Primarily looking at Britain and America, English was  a tool of trade, information sharing, and oppression.

When it comes to literature, all the ideas above are relavent but also that English was now the common language. Scholars were using it, immigrants were being made to learn it, and the people in America and Britain were being given more free time to read, therefore the popular literature needed to be in English to please the masses.

In Huckleberry Finn, how do Pap and Huck feel toward each other?

The above is completely correct, but I think there's more depth to the relationship as well. For instance, Huck does eventually run away from him, likely due to the beatings and other associated mistreatment...but there is an element of Huck that enjoys being in the woods with his father, so he doesn't have to be "sivilized" all the time.

It's kind of a relationship out of necessity; Huck may hate the way he is treated, and eventually fakes his own death to get away. This is not to mention that his father is ultimately killed for real, so we know he's a terrible person. There is, though, something about the escape from society that his father provides, and it seems like Huck wishes his father would be a decent human being.

Dave Becker 

How important is having money? Why is money more important for some than others?

Hansberry's work shows that having money is extremely important.  It can be used as a means to an end, a manner of wish and dream fulfillment.  The depiction of money in the play is one where individuals seek it out as a way to alleviate the condition of their present consciousness.  Walter sees it in this light.  He believes that money, specifically the money from his father's insurance settlement, will enable him to pursue his dream of opening a liquor store.  This is a dream that is important to Walter in order to alleviate the pain of his professional existence as a driver to wealthy people.  Mama Younger sees the money as a way of keeping her family intact and together.  She sees the family as a unit that is coming apart with Walter's disinterest, Beneatha's lack of focus in the family, Ruth's pregnancy, and an uncertain future for Travis as all elements conspiring to tear apart the family. In her mind, money represents a way to achieve her dream of maintaining family cohesion amidst a bevy of trying circumstances and conditions.

What are the fundamental factors that affect whether a business should invest?

Investment is your income minus (your savings +
consumption). So, the more you Invest in something, the less you can save your income
for your future uses, and the less you can use your income right
now.

So, if your business is going to productivity if you
invest right now, then you should do so, after considering the opportunity costs of your
consumption and future investments.

In order to decide
whether your current investment will increase the productivity of your firm or or not,
you have to look at your marginal revenue-which is the additional revenue that you get
when you produce an additional product. If your marginal revenue is on the rise, then
you should definitely invest right now, because it means your business currently has
potential, meaning it can expand further. However, if your marginal revenue is negative,
you should put your investments in other uses, like consumption and
saving.

In the Miracle Worker, do you think Helen's worst handicap is deafness or blindness?

Wow, it's hard to choose, the combination of the two makes everything so difficult.  In Act II, the fight between Annie and the Captain begins because Helen keeps breaking things while he is trying to carry on a conversation.  If she had seen them, she might not have broken them.  Or maybe she would have, because the destructive acts seem to be more borne out of frustration that "oops," you know? 

Hearing might have made life easier for Helen because she could have understood the names of things and thus more easily understood how objects relate to people (and vice-versa) as well as their purposes. 

Sketch Mustapha Mond's character.

I think that Mustapha Mond is sort of a two part character.  Personally, he is a very nice man who is understanding and open minded.  This is the side of him that we see most clearly in the book.  But he has another side that we don't see as much.  As the World Controller, he is ruthless as he tries to maintain the society that he believes in.

Personally, Mond likes to think.  He reads Shakespeare.  He used to be a scientist whose work was subversive.  He really understands the basis of his society and is not blindly loyal to it.  He treats Helmholtz and the Savage (and even Bernard) nicely when he talks to them.

But, on the other hand, he has no qualms whatsoever about sending Bernard and Helmholtz off to exile.  He takes no pity on Bernard.  He is going to do what is best for the society that he rules.

Explain the concept of Fiscal Policy?

In macroeconomics, fiscal policy refers to the efforts by the government to use taxes and government spending to ensure the smooth running of the macroeconomy.  That is, the government uses these tools to try to prevent high unemployment and high inflation.

If the economy faces a recession, the government is supposed to cut taxes and increase spending.  When it does this, people have more money and can buy more goods and services.  This will lead to more jobs for people who make those goods and services.

By contrast, if the government fears inflation, it is supposed to raise taxes and cut spending.  This decreases the amount of disposable income that people have and so they spend less and prices do not rise.

I can not seem to find the quote about Pecola's mom saying that she was ugly when she was a baby. Does anyone know where that quote is?

You can find this in the section called, "Spring" and it is in the second chapter of Spring.  This section deals with Pauline and her childhood, falling in love with Cholly and having the children.  In my book, it is in a section which is italized and starts off, "The onliest time I be happy..." and ends with her saying, "Head full of pretty hair, but Lord she was ugly." I have the Vintage copy of the book and it is on page 98.

What is the significance of this quote?Laertes, was your father dear to you?Or are you like the painting of sorrow,A face without a heart? (Act IV,...

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the significance of the quote you mention is that Claudius is in the process of manipulating Laertes into killing Hamlet for him.  He's tricking Laertes into doing his own dirty work, so to speak.  And Laertes is gullible enough and rash enough to fall for it. 

Claudius is daring Laertes to be man enough to avenge his father's death at the hands of Hamlet.  He uses a warped sense of logic to step-by-step lead Laertes to do what he wants him to do. 

First, in the quote you mention, Claudius questions how much Laertes loves his father.  Then he talks about how time can weaken love and weaken what love can make us do.  Claudius worries that time will weaken Laertes' love, he infers. 

What Claudius is really after is then revealed:

Hamlet comes back; what would you undertake

To show yourself in deed your father's son

More than in words?  (Act 4.7.122-124)

Claudius wants action from Laertes, not just words.  And the action he wants is for Laertes to kill Hamlet. 

In the next few lines Claudius outlines his plan to create a match between Laertes and Hamlet, during which Laertes will use a sword "unbated" and will kill Hamlet "for your [Laertes'] father."

The lines you quote are the first step of manipulation Claudius uses to get Laertes to kill Hamlet for him.  And Laertes not only falls for it, but contributes to the plan himself, suggesting he will poison the unbated sword tip, just to make sure. 

Please demonstrate how Julius Caesar is a tragic hero.William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

The question of who is the tragic hero of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar has long been debated by literary scholars.  For, both characters fit the profile of a tragic character--they possess noble character, hubris, a certain arrogance that blinds them to their shortcomings, their downfalls are not wholly deserved and, thus, effect a catharis, a feeling of pity and emotion, in the audience.

Caesar has proven his nobility in his many reforms made to Rome, his ability to form an all-weather army that could fight in any conditions, his conquering of Briton, etc.  But, in his choice of going to the Senate because against the warnings of his wife and the soothsayer speaks to his hubris because he is going to be honored and because he proudly does not wish to be considered a coward:

Cowards die many times before their deaths;

The valiant never taste of death but once. (2.2.)

There is also a pity felt for Caesar (catharsis) as he is so brutally murdered, at least in part, by his friends "Et tu, Brute?"

These elements notwithstanding, there is the argument against Julius Caesar as a tragic hero since he is only present in the narrative of the play in three scenes (four if the ghost appearance is counted), The tragic hero should be the protagonist, the man character; Caesar is clearly not the main character.  In addition, according the Aristotle's Poetics, the tragic fall is not pure loss. Before his death, the tragic hero experiences some gain in self-knowledge.  So, while Brutus realizes his idealized decision has wrought more conflict for Rome than improvement, Caesar dies without any "discovery."

What are some world connections or universal themes in Of Mice and Men?

I'm not exactly what you mean by this question, but I'm going to assume that you're asking about the universality of the book or its universal themes. While this novel has several themes that are seen throughout (see the link below) there are some that stand out more than others.

Loneliness is a very prevalent theme for several characters throughout the novel and the way that each copes with it is different (see the 2nd link to the DB). This is universal because everyone can identify with feelings of alienation and isolation at some point in their lives. 

Loyalty and friendship are other very prominent themes in the book. Lennie and George are loyal to each other even in the face of much adversity. They have a close friendship which is what feeds their loyalty. For George, loyalty is even tougher because he has to make several sacrifices, namely gainful employment, on Lennie's behalf. His biggest sacrifice was at the end of the novel when George kills Lennie to save him from the torture the men hunting him might have inflicted. Loyalty and friendship have a definite universality.

There are several others so visit the link below because all of them can relate to the world today. This probably lends to the fact that this is such a widely read novel. 

What would be a possible thesis statement for chapter 2 of The Scarlet Letter?

is your project to write a literary analysis of some aspect of the chapter?  If so, in tackling the interesting topics the other responder suggests, consider how the narrator provides dignity to Hester--how does he render her so that we identify with her rather than the crowd that ridicules or at least disparages her as less good than they think themselves to be. What is the point of view in this section that allows us to understand her value and feel compassion if not respect for her? What language does he use in referring to the crowd that does not feel this compassion?  These are a few questions to ask yourself (find the answers with quotations and page numbers) in formulating a thesis on this chapter.

What two facets of Tom's personality are revelaed when breaks Myrtle's nose?The Great Gatsby

When Tom hits Myrtle in The Great
Gatsby, he is revealed to be ignorant, abusive, unenlightened, sexist,
egotistical, selfish, and a bully.

He is a patriarch of
patriachs, dominating his male world at a whim.  He sees women and those who are of a
lesser social and economic class than he is as beneath him.  He lives in a world that
just recently allowed women the vote, and he behaves accordingly.  He and his family
(although he disrespects Daisy, also, when he is with her) are better than Myrtle and
hers, and though he will have an affair with her, he will not tolerate her thinking she
is an equal. 

In the chapter, "The Things They Carried," why is it significant that Martha never mentions the war in her letters and whom does she represent?

Martha epitomizes the alienation that soldiers of the Vietnam War felt, both during and after the war.  It was a war that many Americans rejected, and that rejection was exacerbated because it was also the first televised war, bringing its stark horrors into the very living rooms of people who preferred to glorify war at a distance. Martha represents all of us because we, as humans, struggle to connect with people who are thrust into unfamiliar, unfathomable situations. We choose, instead, to gloss over those situations or to avoid them altogether. When Martha's fails to so much as mention the war in her letters, she is grappling with her own discomfort, as well as attempting to preserve her normality. In fairness to her, she may also believe that she is preserving some sense of normality for him by focusing on daily, more frivolous topics. In the process, she only deepens his alienation. This same alienation persisted when the war was over and the men came home to a vague, ambiguous welcome by their countrymen. That detachment from their experience robbed them and us of a healing voice.

How would I know if I have taken blood from a vein and not an artery, and what are the key points for selecting a phlebotomy site?

I worked as a phlebotomist for many years. It is fairly easy to tell if blood is taken from an artery instead of a vein. First of all, blood that comes from arteries is oxygenated so it is bright red in color. Blood that comes from veins is a deeper, darker red. In addition, arterial blood will pulsate (or spurt) into the blood collection tube. Blood from a vein will flow evenly into the tube.

Keep in mind that when drawing blood from a patient it is important to know the proper sites to draw from. Accidentally drawing blood from an artery can be dangerous. If blood is accidentally drawn from an artery, it is important to hold pressure on the site for several minutes to ensure that a hematoma will not form. Pressure needs to be applied from venous draws as well but not for as long.

The ideal spot to draw blood from is the median cubital vein which is in the bend of the arm. The tourniquet should be placed around the upper arm, tight enough to make the vein bulge. Some people have deeper veins and they may not be able to be seen. Veins have a very "springy" feel to them. The needle should be inserted bevel side up or the patient will feel added discomfort.

There are many specific steps that should be taken when drawing blood from a patient. I have listed a website below that goes into detail regarding the process.

in the story the alchemist by paulo coehlo. what are three central conflicts that are primary in this text?

I would suggest that there are actually 4 central
conflicts in The Alchemist. The author, Paulo Coelho, suggests that
there are 4 obstacles to obtaining a dream; being told you can not achieve the dream,
fear of hurting those you love, fear of failure, and fear of realizing the dream. 
First, Santiago is told he can not achieve his dream.  Santiago is told by many
characters from his dad, a gypsy, and other travelers that his dream is crazy or
unrealistic.  One reason people say something is impossible is that they are afraid that
you will leave them so you begin to fear hurting the person.  He also has a hard time
pursuing his dream for fear of hurting those around him like his father, the merchant's
daughter, and Fatima.  Once you decide that you are going to do something even if it
hurts others, you begin to fear trying something and failing at it.  Santiago fears
failing when he thinks that it might be better to just keep his sheep than risk losing
them or to just stay at the oasis than risk losing Fatima.  Finally, a person sometimes
gets really close to a dream and then gives up because they are afraid of starting a new
life or having to start a new dream.  Santiago fears actually getting his treasure
because it means that he has nothing left to live for.  The glass merchant felt this
way, too.  If you work for something your whole life, that can keep you going but once
you finish it, it is scary to face what your life might be like

If the function f(x) = (2x)/(x^2 + 1) determine the extreme values of the function .

For calculating the extreme values of a function we have to calculate the first derivative of a function. In this case, we have to calculate the firts derivative of a ratio:

f'(x)= [(2x)'*(x^2+1)-(2x)*(x^2+1)']/(x^2+1)^2

f'(x)= [2(x^2+1)-2x*2x]/(x^2+1)^2

f'(x)= (2x^2 +2 -4x^2)/(x^2+1)^2

f'(x)= (-2x^2+2)/(x^2+1)^2

We'll factorize and we'll divide by 2:

f'(x)= (1-x^2)/(x^2+1)^2

Now, we have to calculatethe roots of the first derivative.

f'(x)=0

Because the denominator is positive, always, we'll calculate the roots of the numerator, only.

1-x^2 it's a difference between squares:

a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)

1-x^2=(1-x)(1+x)

(1-x)(1+x)=0

We'll put each factor as zero.

1-x=0, x=1

1+x=0,x=-1

So, the extreme values of the function are:

f(1)=2*1/(1^2+1)=2/2=1

f(-1)=2*(-1)/(-1^2+1)=-2/2=-1

Which character is symbolically linked to a mockingbird? Why?

There are actually two. Tom Robinson is like a mockingbird. He has done nothing wrong, yet he is found guilty of a crime he did not commit and sentenced to prison where he dies. It is a sin that this was allowed to happen.

Boo Radley can also be viewed as a mockingbird. Scout observes, after overhearing Heck Tate and Atticus discuss what to do about Bob Ewell's murder, that putting Boo through a trial would be like killing a mockingbird. Boo has done nothing wrong but silently observe - and once in awhile interact - with the children. When they needed his protection, he didn't hesitate to protect them. Putting this shy, reclusive man on trial for saving Jem and Scout would be like killing a mockingbird. Who knows what kind of effect it would have on him? So Heck Tate states that Bob Ewell simply fell on his knife and Scout walks Boo home.

Describe Juliet's feelings in Act II, Scene 5 as she waits for the Nurse and then as she waits for the Nurse to reveal Romeo's message.

Juliet has fallen instantly in love with Romeo just the night before at the masked ball put on by her father. Romeo has wooed her with his words and has proposed marriage in the early part of Act II. He told Juliet to send a messenger to him to find out when and where they should be married. She sends the nurse, who is berated by Romeo's men, including Mercutio, before she can learn of Romeo's intentions. 

At the beginning of Scene 5 Juliet is alone on stage wondering why the Nurse hasn't returned. She calls the Nurse "lame" and says that the old woman would have hurried with the message had she "warm youthful blood." She wishes that the message of love from Romeo could be transmitted by the mind so it would arrive faster. She chastises the Nurse as "Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead." 

When the Nurse returns she is tired and does not immediately relay Romeo's message. Given the treatment she received from Mercutio it is not surprising that she is weary and rattled. The reenactment of the scene in Zeffirelli's 1968 movie shows perfectly the rude manner in which she is treated by the obnoxious Mercutio.

Juliet, of course, is anxious for the news and becomes terribly impatient as the Nurse puts her off. The Nurse first describes Romeo as being somewhat unruly but still quite considerate. She says,

He is not the flower of courtesy,
but I’ll warrant him as gentle as a lamb.

When Juliet's pleadings do no good, she finally tries to soothe the Nurse. She says, 

I’ faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my
love?

Finally the Nurse gives in to the appeals of the girl and tells her that she and Romeo are to be married by Friar Lawrence that very afternoon. The Nurse ends the scene by saying she needs to procure a rope ladder so that Romeo may climb onto Juliet's balcony that night for their honeymoon. 

What are some theme statements from the novel for courage, innocence, and childhood?

At the end of the novel, when Atticus is reading to Scout, she comments on the character in the book by saying:  "When they finally saw him, why he hadn't done any of those things. Atticus, he was real nice." To which Atticus responds, "Most people are, once you see them."

Human innocence is drowned out by prejudice.  Most of the characters in this story are "innocent" of the claims being made against them - Mrs. Dubose, Tom, Boo Radley, Atticus (at times), even Scout.  However, the prejudice of all the characters, from Scout to Jem to Miss Caroline to the town, causes them to find guilt in others around them.

Courage is looking beyond your own point of view.  A common theme in this story is that a person must "walk around in another's shoes."  The most courageous and heroic characters are those that are able to break the bonds of their perspective and see the world through another person's eyes.

Where was Tom during the time Atticus faces the mob downtown?in chapter 15

In this chapter, the mob of men from Old Sarum come to
lynch Tom Robinson.  They are convinced that he is guilty of raping Mayella Ewell and
they do not want to wait for anything like a trial.  They are interested in just taking
him and hanging him themselves.

The mob goes to the jail in
downtown Maycomb.  That is where they have their faceoff with Atticus that Scout finally
breaks up.

If they are there to hang Robinson, it makes
sense that he would be inside the jail while they are outside.  That's exactly where he
is.  So Tom is in jail while Atticus faces the mob.

Here's
the proof:

Shadows
became substance as lights revealed solid shapes moving toward the jail door.

Atticus remained where he was. The men hid him from view.

"He in
there, Mr. Finch?" a man said.

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"He is," we heard Atticus answer, "and he's
asleep. Don't wake him up."

In Section 1, explain Moishe the Beadle's relationship with the Jews of Sighet, particulary Eliezer.Do some of their feelings toward Moishe have to...

Moishe the Beadle was very important to Elie in the first part of the book. This was a man who had agreed to study the Kabbalah with a young twelve year old boy whose desire it was to be well versed in all things Judaic. He treated Elie like he was an equal and in turn Elie saw him as a friend. People in Sighet didn't regard him much before his capture. They helped him when they could, but he was of little importance to the community as a whole. After his capture and subsequent escape he returned to Sighet to warn the Jews of what was to come. They didn't listen to him, they looked upon him with pity. They didn't want to hear what he had to say. As for Elie, he was disappointed in this man whom he thought of as being all knowing when it came to God, religion, mystics, and kabbalah. He didn't want to believe Moishe, he wanted Moishe to stop embarrassing himself by telling these tales of these horrible events. 

I think most of the feelings expressed toward Moishe had to do with the fact that no one believed they lived in a world where these things could happen to anyone. They believed they were a part of a civilized society. I don't think their feelings of disbelief and pity were largely religious based, they were just thinking that he had to have made these horrific things up.

Is there irony in "The Tell-Tale Heart" and if so, how does it work in this story?

You ask a very good question.  There is, indeed, a use of irony in "The Tell-Tale Heart."  The most common form of literary irony is situational irony, which takes place when something happens in the story that goes against what we (the reader) expect or what makes sense.

In "The Tell-Tale Heart," there are several examples of irony.  It is ironic that the murder's attempt to conceal his crime is what actually causes his incarceration.  The fact that the killer confesses his crime when the policemen seemed to be quite relaxed and had no intention of arresting him is ironic.  The death of one man with what may be considered a flaw (his eye) at the hands of one with a much more severe flaw (madness) is ironic; the murderer's flaw was hidden, but was infinitely more serious than the murdered's, which was visible, but of no danger to anyone but himself.

Overall, there are many ironies within "The Tell-Tale Heart."  The principle of the value of friendship can be interpreted as being addressed via irony, as can many other variables.  Within the story, several core human values are touched upon in ways that may be seen as ironic.  This use of irony is typical of Poe's works.

How and why does the main character change when he is in the catacombs?

Your question asked about settings.  I assume you're referring to the difference between how Montressor talks and acts toward Fortunato when luring him to the catacombs and how he talks and acts once he has him there. Those are really the only two settings in this story, and the reason for the change is clear, I think.

At the Carnival, Montressor is kind and considerate to Fortunato in his attempt to disguise the passion for revenge burning in his soul.  Montressor plays on his perceived enemy's pride and is solicitous about Fortunato's health and well being, even offering an arm and a little wine--until they actually reach their final destination.

Once they reach the wall, things change.  Montressor is on edge and impatient to carry out his plan for revenge. After he chains Fortunato to the wall, he begins to wall his victim in, almost violently.  He is smug and self-satisfied rather than deferential, and he even pauses to sit and enjoy his evil handiwork. 

Once Fortunato sobers up a bit and begins to fight back, Montressor is driven into a fury, of sorts.  When Fortunato screams, Montressor "replied to the yells of him who clamoured. I re-echoed, I aided, I surpassed them in volume and in strength."  He stabs his rapier into the recess like a crazy man (go figure) and seems to completely lose his cool.

These two facets of Montressor's personality--kind of servile and obsequious when above ground and violent and aggressive below ground--show themselves in the two settings of this story.

Using examples from "The Veldt," develop a clear and concise theme for the topic of parenting and for the role of technology in our lives.

In my opinion, what Bradbury is saying about technology in
this story is that people in modern America (even back in his day) were getting to the
point where they were relying on technology too much.  My topic sentence for this would
be:

In this story, Ray Bradbury argues that people are
relying too much on technology and are losing some degree of their humanity as they do
so.

I think that Bradbury is arguing that permissive
parenting, parents who give in too easily to their kids, is a problem for society.  My
topic sentence would be

In this story, Bradbury makes the
case that modern parents have lost the respect of their children because they do not try
to discipline them enough.

How am I to cite "Death of a Salesman," which is from my literature book? I must use MLA formatthe book is Literature An Inroduction to...

Creating a works cited entry for an anthology is basically
like a cross between an entry for a book and an entry for an article in a
periodical.

First we list the author's name and the title
of the selection. Then, we list the title of the anthology and the name of the editor.
Finally, we list the publication location, company, year, page numbers on which the
selection appears, and the medium of publication.

So, as an
example, such an entry would look as follows:

Swanson,
Gunnar. "Graphic Design Education as a Liberal Art: Design and Knowledge in the
University and The 'Real World.'" The Education of a Graphic
Designer. Ed. Steven Heller. New York: Allworth Press, 1998. 13-24.
Print.

You'll have to locate the appropriate information
within your anthology and follow this same pattern.

What role does Captain Beatty play in Montag's development as a character in Fahrenheit 451?

Beatty seems to be the antithesis to Montag.  In many ways, he is instrumental in Montag's development.  Beatty provides the absolute justification for the Status Quo in terms of why the firemen are needed, their importance, and why they do what they do.  He is vital for how Montag sees his consciousness at the outset of the novel.  Over time, things end up changing, and Beatty's resistance to this change along with his continual support for the Status Quo help play a role allows Montag to grow in his own right and understand.  It is Beatty who ends up forcing the greatest amount of change in Montag as he leads the firemen to burn down Montag's home.  This moment of colliding values results in Montag killing Beatty as both values crash into one another.  Beatty ends up providing the reference point for assessing Montag's level of change and transformation throughout the novel.  Beatty does not change, but Montag does and the more the latter changes it proves to distance himself from the former.

What is the boiling point of the element barium?I'm trying to make myself a periodic table and I was looking up the Boiling point of Barium and...

Barium is an alkaline earth metallic elements in Group IIa of periodic table. It is a soft silvery white metal.It occurs naturally in the environment combined with elements like sulphur, carbon and oxygen. It is used for many different purposes such as alloys for spark plug electrodes, in vacuum tubes as drying and oxygen-removing agent, coating of fluorescent lamps and drilling mud. Barium compounds are also used in making paints, bricks, tiles, glass, rubber and fireworks.

Some of its other important properties are:

Atomic number: 56

Atomic weight: 137.33

Density: 3.5 g/cm^3 at 20 degree C.

Melting point: 725 degrees C.

Boiling Point: degrees 1640 C.

French: How do I know when to use the relative pronoun "dont" compared to using "ce qui/que" in a sentence?I'm having a test on this tomorrow where...

This has to do with parts of speech and their use in a sentence.

As in English, a French relative pronoun links a dependent/relative clause to a main clause. Que, qui, lequel, dont, and où are the French relative pronouns, and there's no one-to-one equivalent for these words - depending on context, the English translation may be who, whom, that, which, whose, where, or when.

Indefinite relative pronouns link relative clauses to a main clause when there is no specific antecedent. The indefinite relative pronouns are ce que, ce qui, ce dont and quoi. These pronouns are often used as subjects or objects of a sentence.

Do you understand what a clause is in English? This is key to understanding this concept in French. A clause is a group of words with a verb. If it does not have a verb, it is NOT a clause but a phrase. There are different types of clauses. An independent clause has a verb and a noun subject and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. For example, consider this sentence:

 This is the book that I have read.

The clause "this is the book" is independent. It could stand alone as a sentence because it has a subject, a verb and makes sense as a sentence.

"that I have read" is also a clause, but it is dependent. The word "read" is the verb, but there is no complete thought. It DEPENDS on the independent clause to make sense, that is why it is called a dependent clause.

Another word you need to know is the word antecedent. An antecedent is a word to which a pronoun refers, as in:

I have a younger brother and he is very cute.

In this sentence the pronoun "he" refers to the younger brother, so "brother" is the antecedent of the pronoun "he".

Back to the French, then. On your test, you will need to look for ANTECEDENTS because that is when you will choose DONT. If there is NO antecedent, you would choose "ce qui" or "ce que". Also, if the word "de" (of) is present, that is also a clue to use DONT.

Consider this sentence: Où est le reçu ? J'ai besoin du reçu.
   > Où est le reçu dont j'ai besoin ?
   Where is the receipt (that) I need?

See how there is a "de" in the above sentence (du = de + le). There is an antecedent in this sentence, "reçu" - so these two "clues" tell you to use dont.

Also:

C'est la dame. J'ai parlé de cette dame.

C'est la dame dont j'ai parlé.
   That's the woman about (whom) I talked. (That's the woman [that] / [whom] I talked about.) Again, we have a "de" and an antecedent (dame) so you need dont.

The relative pronouns "ce qui" and "ce que" serve as subjects or objects of sentences:

Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est la langue.
   What interests me is language.

See how "ce qui" is the subject of the sentence? "What interests me" is a dependent clause that is the subject of the sentence. No "de" and no antecedent.

See the following additional examples:

   Sais-tu ce qui lui plaît?
   Do you know what pleases him?

   C'est ce qui me dérange.
   That's what bothers me.

   Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.
   All that glitters is not gold.

Notice that there is no preposition "de" in any of the above sentences.

Bonne chance avec l'examen!

Why was the capture of Constantinople, in 1453, significant for both the Ottoman Turks and Europeans?

Whenever there is a big shift of power through conquest, there is significance. 

First, when the Ottoman Turks took over Constantinople in 1453, the Eastern Empire of Rome fell. This was the end of something incredibly significant. What stood from 753 B.C. (traditional date) was now over. This was a huge psychological blow to Europe. 

Second, from a religious point of view, there was a seismic shift. Constantinople from its beginning was a major Christian city. It produced great Christian traditions, such as icons, and theology. Now that the city was in the hands of the Ottomans, it ceased to be a Christian city. Islam would eventually take over. Even today, Islam is the dominant religion in Turkey. This point cannot be emphasized enough. 

Third, many intellectuals moved from Constantinople to Europe, which helped start the Renaissance and humanist movements. These movements would later help fuel the Protestant Reformation. 

Fourth, great animosity was created among Greeks and Turks, which would last. 

What was the life of monarchs, nobility, etc. in the 17th century in Western Europe?

The life of nobility in the 17th century had reached its highest point of glamour, importance, as well as danger and corruption.

In France, the 16th century saw Kings Henry IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV. As you may know, Louis XIV, was a.k.a The Sun King. His court was the most opulent, expensive, self-centered and rank oriented in the entire Western Europe. He built Versailles as a fortress to accommodate EVERY nobleman and woman of France so that he could keep and eye on each and every one of them.  As for the nobility, they assigned themselves jobs to do for the King which were dependent on what title they held. In the court of Louis XIV there was all the cattiness, pomp, circumstance, and snobbery possible in a kingdom.

In England, the 17th century began with the downfall of the monarchy by Oliver Cromwell only to have him deposed from being England's so-called "Protector" (a king in all but name), and re-implanting a king to re-establish the monarchy with Charles James Fox, or Charles II. He and King Louis XIV were the most scandalous of kings. Charles II literally slept with about 2,000 women in court and he also tried to keep a tight court. They were also quite lavish, but nowhere near the French court. They were also always in danger of war, poisoning (a common form of attack) and being accused of treason. So, nobility was not all sweet and pretty.

Contrarily, in Spain, the country was ran by Don Carlos.This man was literally the poster boy of inbreeding. Had a massively deformed face, was impotent, mentally retarded, had eating problems, and was basically a human wretch. He lasted more than expected ruling Spain, but then he died of his many maladies. However, the Spanish nobility was no party group. They were staunch catholics with strong rules and a massive sense of patriotism. Ever since their defeat of the Armada, they had a huge slap in the face, so they stuck to their ways in a form of false bravado. They suffered more than 100 years of inbred kings and queens such as Juana the Mad and Philip the Fair, and their children.

Do you see matches between the Epic of Gilgamesh to other ancient literature?

The Epic of Gilamesh central theme is the myth of the deluge. This myth has been repeated troughout different literatures in variations, but it is most famous for being featured in the Genesis. The book of Genesis, however, was written after Gilamesh. The explanation is trifold  a) Genesis took the idea from Gilamesh  b) Gilamesh and Genesis are to be read together or one is an extention of the other, and c) both stories come from yet another protostory.

The deluge story, as said previously, has been told in several ancient texts, which puts into doubt the reliability of many books considered "sacred". An example of this is the story of Noah's Ark.

In the link I provided, you will be surprised to find that, in nearly every major country and continent there is a Flood story, told in different versions. Yet, universally, it is understood that the closest resemblance to Gilamesh is the story of Noah.

How can I make an analysis of John Donne's "For Whom the Bell Tolls"? What is his main message of the essay, and whom he is addressing it too?

You might center your analysis on the the three analogies
that Donne uses in his sermon to a congregation:  the book, the bell, the island, and
gold or treasure.  In your discussion you could show how each shows the speaker's faith
in God and his belief that all men are connected:  "No man is an island."   These
analogies, or conceits, are trademarks of Donne's writing.  As you discuss each of these
analogies, you should show how it connects to the main ideas of the essay (faith in God
and interconnectivenss of mankind) and why the analogy is appropriate or effective in
conveying these ideas. 

What is the climax of the "Red-headed League"?

This famous Sherlock Holmes story wraps up with very little action.  However, the most exciting scene and the turning point of the story is the scene in the bank, when the police pull John Clay out of the tunnel.  It is after this that all is revealed and the mystery of the League is solved.

What new identity has Chillingworth assumed in Boston? Why is he successful ?this question is chapter 9

Chillingworth is actually Hester's husband. He has assumed this identity to mask this fact. He does not want people to know who is is, as he has a plan to find out the identity of Hester's lover. Chillingworth has been held captive with the Indians and has only just come to town.

Chillingworth is now Dimmesdale's constant companion and doctor. The church elders are concerned  with Dimmesdale and beg him to become his patient. Chillingworth is using leeches, and this is symbolic of the leeching he does on Dimmesdale's psyche. He is probing him psychological more that physically. At first, he did not know that Dimmesdale was Hester's lover, just that he had a dark secret. Chillingworth is constantly pushing to know the secret. Townspeople are taking his changing appearance into account as well, as he is growing darker and uglier. It is rumored he learned strange medical practices during his time with the Indians. Dimmesdale is not getting any better despite the constant care of Chillingworth.

Why does Ray Bradbury refer to Schopenhaur in his book Farenheit 451?What does Bradbury imply about Schopenhauer's philosophy?

Towards the end of the book, Bradbury has one of the "book
covers" be Schopenhauer.  He is among such people as Mark Twain and Jonathan
Swift.

What this implies about Schopenhauer is that he is
"dangerous" like these other men.  The other men here were pretty cynical and were also
pretty rebellious.  Neither of these is a trait that the society in this book would
like.

Specifically, Arthur Schopenhauer was a pretty
pessimistic thinker.  He concluded that people could never have what they want and that
they should try to get rid of their desires.  This also goes against what this society
thought.

How did the pigs use Boxer's death to get the animals to work harder?

The pigs used Boxer's death as a means for getting the animals to work harder by using his life as an example for the degree of work the pigs expected from the animals. They used Boxer's slogans for his own work and wanted the animals to apply it to their own work. They tried to make it seem to the animals that they were honoring Boxer's memory by subscribing to his slogans. Napoleon himself addressed the animals at the close of chapter nine and he reminded the animals during his speech that Boxer's favorite slogans were, "'I will work harder' and 'Comrade Napoleon is always right'". He made it a point to tell the animals that it would be in their best interest to adopt these slogans as their own. 

I am trying to find a respectable literary critic who discusses the ending of 1984. Is Winston's death physical or mental?My teacher and I had a...

The short answer is that Winston's death is both physical
and mental: the torture he was subjected to in the Ministry of Love
has destroyed his body but also, of course, has resulted in the intended brainwashing
that has erased his will to resist the Party. But there is much more to it. It is a
living death Winston is being subjected to, which is emblematic of
what Orwell foresees, or is warning of, for the human race as a whole. There is also a
parallel with Orwell's own situation as he was writing the novel since he was dying of
tuberculosis and knew he had only a short time to live.

I
do not believe there is any definite answer to the deeper question of whether the
'longed-for' bullet that enters Winston is figurative or literal. It is ultimately a
riddle as to why O'Brien did not have Winston 'vaporized' like Syme and countless others
and thus allowed him to live, for a time at least. The typical way in which the victims
of Stalin's purges were executed was with a bullet to the back of the head, and the
world of 1984 is an extension of the Stalinist totalitarian world.
One cannot read this passage without thinking of Rubashov, the Trotsky-like hero of
Arthur Koestler's Darkness at Noon, which was such a great
influence upon Orwell. I believe Orwell left Winston's fate an open question, just as in
some sense the fate of humanity is left unresolved. One does not know if Orwell himself
really believed that O'Brien's vision of 'a boot stamping on a human face, forever' was
inevitable. Some critics have contended that the appendix to the novel, 'The Principles
of Newspeak' was intended as evidence that there would be a post-dystopian recovery in
which man could look back on and write about the totalitarian period as an aberration
(which would be similar to the approach of Jack London in his dystopian novel
The Iron Heel). One can only speculate on this point, but in spite
of the pessimistic tone of most of Orwell's writings throughout his entire career, I do
not think he would have written 1984 had he believed the
destruction of humanity inevitable. More than anything else, the book is a warning of
what might come to pass, not of what must be. And Winston's 'death' whether physical or
mental or both, is a depiction of what can happen to mankind if we
do not act before it is too late.

ch.12. How does the author describe Ralph's flight across the island?,why is Percival unable to remember his name and address?

Ralph's flight across the island is less than glamorous.  He is determined to survive and is willing to use the beast to do it.  By this time, the pig's head is only a skull since the flies have consumed the flesh.  Ralph takes the spear on the trek across the island and in his injured and bloody state, makes his way to the beach.  He is more barbaric now than he has ever been in the novel.The officer, representing newly discovered civilization, is appalled at the condition of the children. He cannot understand why they were not able to carry on like good British schoolboys and behave like the children in The Coral Island. But, like Ralph and Jack, he does not see the duality of his own nature. He is on the beach, shocked at the boys’ lack of civilization, yet he is an officer on a boat in which the main function is to hunt and kill. The boys’ true loss of innocence is expressed when Percival Wemys Madison, whose only flimsy hold on the past was his memorized name, phone number, and address, can no longer even remember his name.

Why do you think Santiago starts to regret hooking the fish at the end of The Old Man and the Sea?

Santiago began to wonder if he wouldn't have been better
off not hooking the fish.  It has cost him his knife, some of the other tools of his
trade that he depends on and he is worried that he will not be able to fish once he
returns.

He also is beginning to wonder whether this fish
itself should have been left to live as it was so powerful and so majestic and won't be
appreciated alive or dead because it will only be a partial skeleton by the time he
returns to shore.  The fish was noble and powerful and beautiful, but it is destroyed by
the sharks and the weather and the very long time it takes to return to
shore.

Everyone knows Dionysus, the god of wine (among other things). Some knew him especially well, though. Who were his main friends?

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Solve the equation sinx = sin5x

To solve this equation, we'll move the term from the right
side, to the left side:

sinx - sin5x =
0

As we can see, it is a subtraction of 2 trigonometric
function of the same kind and it is transforming into a
product.

2 cos [(x+5x)/2]*sin
[(x-5x)/2]=0

2 cos 3x* sin
(-2x)=0

From this product of 2 factors, one or the other
factor is zero.

cos 3x=0

This
is an elementary equation:

3x = +/-arccos 0 +
2*k*pi

3x=+/- (pi/2)+
2*k*pi

x=+/- (pi/6)+ 2*k*pi/3, where k is an integer
number.

We'll solve the second elementary
equation:

sin (-2x)=0

-sin
(2x)=0

sin 2x=0

2x=(-1)^k
arcsin 0 +
k*pi

2x=k*pi

x=k*pi/2

The
set of solutions:

S={+/- (pi/6)+
2*k*pi/3}or{k*pi/2}

When Winston visits O'Brien in 1984, what is his motivation and what limits does he set on his involvement in the Brotherhood?

Winston visits O'Brien because he believes there is a conspiracy against the Party, and he thinks Winston is apart of it.  He does not believe in the principles of Ingsoc.  He says he will do anything to fight against the Party except to seperate from Julia.

George Orwell stated that "He who controls the past controls the future." How does this quote relate to Napoleon and his actions?

In the book, Napoleon does a lot of lying about the past. 
Because he lies about the past, you can say he is controlling it (because the animals
only know his version of it -- they forget what really
happened).

Think about some of the ways he changes the
past.  He makes everyone believe that Snowball was an agent of the enemy even though
Snowball was really trying to help the animals.  He keeps changing the commandments
until they come to say something very different from what they used to
say.

So he is controlling the past, making it look like
things happened some other way than how they really
did.

How does this help him?  By making Snowball look like
the bad guy, Napoleon makes himself look better and makes the animals be loyal to him. 
By changing the commandments he makes it look like Old Major would have approved of what
he is doing.  In both cases, that makes his power more secure.

What is Sir Gawain's quest in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"? How is he a near-perfect hero, and is Gawain a good or a bad knight?

Sir Gawain's quest is to find the Green Knight in the Green Chapel.  It is not a quest which he really wants to embark on.  The Green Knight had visited Arthur's court on New Years Eve and had issued a challenge to Knights of the Round Table.  He would let one of them take a blow against him now and the Knight would them allow The Green Knight to take an equal blow against him one year from that day. When none of the knights jumped to the challenge, Arthur himself was going to take it so Gawain stepped up and took the challenge for him. 

Gawain is a near perfect hero because he is brave, strong, honorable, and willing to die to keep his word.  He even resists the temptation of the beautiful Lady Bertilak who throughs herself at him.  He does kiss her, but gives the Kisses to Bertilak in the evening as per his agreement to give him everything he gets during the day.  He is less than perfect however, because when Lady Bertilak gives him a sash she says will protect him from weapons, he keeps it and does not tell the Bertilak. 

I would definitely say that Gawain is a good knight, not perfect, but overall he is a good and honorable man which is why he survives his encounter with the Green Knight

What factors promoted America's search for new markets?

Beginnings of American
Imperialism:

The following information will not exactly
answer your question, but it will give you information which will help you compose your
answer.

Southern observers foresaw before the American
Civil War that northern industrialists desired to absorb Central America and the
Carribean. Southern observers said that northern industrialists intended first to
exclude slavery from the territories of the United States so that states could be
established whose U.S. Senators would not oppose the tariffs and improvements of harbors
and construction of railroads at taxpayers’ expense for the industrialists’ benefit.
When they had a Constitutional majority (3/4 of the whole) of states under the control
of pro-industrialist governments, they would pass a Constitutional amendment to abolish
slavery in the states. Abolishing slavery would bankrupt the southern plantation owners.
Northern industrialists would buy the plantations dirt-cheap, establish peonage to work
them, and export the excess former slaves to northern factories for cheap industrial
labor. They would then absorb Mexico, Central America, and the Carribean and establish
peonage in all of these areas to raise coffee, cotton, tobacco, and sugar, for supply of
their northern factories.

An article describing this
process was published in DeBow’s Review issue of February
1857.

What actually happened was little different than this
prediction. Slavery was forbidden in the territories; a Constitutional amendment was
made to abolish slavery in the states; cheap labor in the form of ex-slaves and cheap
land in the South became available to northern industrial interests; the new industrial
America partly absorbed and partly dominated the Carribean; Central America was
dominated without being absorbed; the Philippines, Hawaii, and several central Pacific
islands were absorbed; a big hunk of China was dominated. All, that had been predicted,
took place, and more.

How does Pearl in The Scarlet Letter symbolize redemption?

Pearl is the personification of the letter "A" that Hester must wear on her dress as punishment.  Hawthorne describes the way Hester dresses Pearl - just as elaborate and fancy as the "A" itself, while Hester remains dressed in drab, colorless clothing.  Because of this, Pearl also represents the punishment that Hester must bear.  Pearl is the outward symbol of Hester's sin, and because of this, Dimmesdale convinces the town magistrates to allow Hester to keep custody of her.  He tells them that Pearl will be a constant reminder of Hester's sin.

This is true, but it is also true that Pearl is a constant reminder of the grace of God.  Despite Hester's and Dimmesdale's sin, Hester still received a beautiful gift in the form of Pearl.

Pearl, then, represents the sin, but she also represents the redemption and grace of God.

Where in the story do references to the Civil War occur? How does that war play a role in the story?

Just a quick note:  "A Rose for Emily" is obviously
fiction.  When it was published has nothing to do with when Emily was born.  You can't
equate the story's publication date with Emily's death.  And how long Faulkner was
working on the story is irrelevant.  I can write a story about someone born in 1508, or
1203, or 2098.  The date I publish the story has nothing to do with my character's age. 
There is no reason to assume that Faulkner wrote the story immediately after Emily dies,
unless there is some external evidence that I don't know about.  You can figure out her
chronology from the story if you want, but you can't figure it out by assuming the
publication date has any chronological relation whatsoever with Emily's
death. 

The Civil War mentions are important to the story
because Faulkner is writing about the reconstruction stage of the American South
following the war.  Notice that everyone is poor.  The war devastated the South.  It not
only destroyed the South's economy, but most of the battles, etc., took place in the
South.  The region was ravished by the war. 

In Act 2 Scene 2, what does Juliet's character and language show you?The things we have to focus on are: her behaviour, what she talks about,...

We also learn about Juliet in this scene that, although she is obedient with her parents, she demonstrates strength when talking to Romeo.  She challenges him to prove his love to her, and when he starts to, "waxing poetic" himself, she stops him immediately.  She doesn't want to her poetry, she wants to hear truth.  Look at this interchange:

Romeo.
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,--

Juliet.
O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

Romeo.
What shall I swear by?

Juliet.
Do not swear at all;
Or if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.

Juliet is a realist.  She knows that men often swear things and then betray those promises.  She is being cautious here.  She is also cautious when she first sees Romeo.  She immediately says that if he is found there, he'll be killed.  He is lost in love - she is being practical.

Of course, her own love will sweep away her practicality!

In "Macbeth", how do we see the theme of appearance versus reality in the witches? In the whole play?

Their chant in the opening scene introduces the theme of how to distinguish what appears to be true from what is really true. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" offers a paradox indicating that we cannot tell one situation from another, which is another way of suggesting the tension between appearance and reality. The witches later seem to appear out of nowhere, causing Macbeth to wonder if they were even there, as does Banquo, when he says "have we eaten on the insane root/ That takes the reason prisoner?" (1.3.88-89). Later, as Macbeth plans the murder, he says "Stars, hide your fires; /Let not light see my black and deep desires," this time asking nature to cloak his reality (deep desire to do evil and kill Duncan) in the dark. He reiterates this difference from what appears to be true vs what is true when he says "False face must hide what the false heart doth know" (1.7.95). In all of these cases, Macbeth acts in a way that disguises what he has in his heart, and as for the witches, they repeatedly equivocate on the full truth of the future--the disaster that will happen when he kills Duncan--and in this way hide the reality of the future from him.

Is there a metaphor for a father-son relationship in the short story, "The Circular Ruin"?

A father-son relationship is depicted in "The Circular
Ruin" on two levels. The first is the dreamer's efforts to realize his greatest dream,
which is the act of creation of an independent sensate life from his own inner being,
which can be viewed as a metaphor for the desire of males to
procreate.

The dreamer spends great lengths of time
dedicated and devoted to nothing other than the realization of dreaming every part of
the creation's body from the heart outward to every individual hair. His dream labors
continue as he instructs the being in how to do and how to be. This most definitely can
be seen as a metaphor for a high model of a father-son
relationship.

The second level is that when the dreamer's
work is done and his creation, his dream, has initiated an independent existance, he
disovers by his ability to walk into the fire of the fire god's temple that he too is
the dream of another individual with the same immortal power of being impervious to
fire. One infers that the first dreamer of the second dreamer was as tender and loving
as the dreamer himself was, since he too imparted the final gift of the removal of all
memory of the creation and instruction so that there would be no feeling of humiliation
or strangeness.

The idea of a prior generation of dreamer
reinforces the metaphor of the father-son relationship: it is the right model. Further,
it is a lasting and true model because, of course, if there were two, there must surely
have been others leading up to the two dreamers.

How does Anton Chekhov's writing differ from Ibsen's?

Henrik Ibsen is considered the father of Modern Realistic
Theatre. His writing style is concise, objective, and natural. He does not include
allegorical symbolism in his work, nor does he add solliloqui, asides, nor inner
thoughts to his characters. All his characters are well-rounded and typical of their
social and economical sphere. He took the well-made play formula and integrated topics
that are often considered controversial to include prostitution, venereal diseases, and
the role of women in society.

Anton Chekov, contrastingly,
is more into symbolism, psychological issues, and inner exploration. He also writes
realistically, since his characters are often victims of their own fates. There is a
hint of hope in tragic situations, and there is always an easy solution to the problem
of the story.

What makes both writers similar is that they
assign causes and effects, actions and consequences to their characters. There is no
"miracle dust" that would come out of nowhere to get a character out of a scrape. Also,
all their characters will suffer the consequences of whatever actions they choose to
do.

Who does Jane Eyre love?

Jane Eyre has two love interests in the novel, Mr. Rochester, whom she grows to love after serving as his daughter's governess, and St. John Rivers, a minister and her cousin who repeatedly asks for her hand in marriage so she can work with him as a missionary in India.

Both relationships have complications. St. John is a good man, but Jane refuses to marry him because she does not love him and she knows thier marriage would lack the passion she desires.

The man she truly loves, Mr. Rochester, is already married. His wife, Bertha Mason Rochester, is insane and hidden in the attic. Just when Jane thinks she has her dream and will marry Mr. Rochester, she learns of Bertha's existance and flees.

For more information about this novel, check out the links below:

Why was the Fosters' house called the "touch-me-not cottage" in the story Tuck Everlasting?

The fact that the Fosters' house is called a "touch me not
cottage" indicates that the cottage is pristine but not inviting. The area around
Treegap, where the cottage is located, has a notable natural beauty, but in the vicinity
of the house that beauty is spoiled by the declaration of human ownership - the woods
belong to the people. The house itself is

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"a square and solid cottage with a touch0me-not
appearance, surrounded by grass cut painfully to the quick and enclosed by a capable
iron fence some four feet high which clearly said, 'Move on - we don't want
you
here.'"

The house
is neat, clean, and "proud of itself." Ironically, it pristine look is forbidding; it is
clear that the owners exercise strict control over all aspects of life here, and
strangers are not welcome.

Winnie is the only child of the
Foster clan, and she is very unhappy in the Treegap cottage. Although her family loves
her, they allow her little freedom. She finds the atmosphere in the touch-me-not cottage
stifling; like the feeling it exudes towards all who pass by, it is not a place where
one can act spontaneously and feel at-ease. The Tuck's home, in contrast to the
touch-me-not cottage belonging to the Fosters, is messy and unkempt. Winnie, however,
discovers that, surprisingly, despite its appearance, the Tuck's home is more welcoming
than her own.

1. Solve the following equations: a. 2x=sqrt 12x+72 b. sqrt x+5=5-sqrt x c. |2x|=-|x+6| d. 5=|x+4|+|x-1| e. |x-2|=4 -|x-3|

a) For solving the first equation, we have to take into
account the constraints for x values, for the existence of the
sqrt.

12x+72>0

3x+18>0

x>-18/3

x>-6

Now
let's solve the equation:

We'll square raise the
expressions, both sides of the equal sign.

(2x)^2=[sqrt
(12x+72)]^2

4x^2 = 12x+72

4x^2
-12x - 72 = 0

x^2 - 3x - 18 =
0

x1 = [3+sqrt(9+72)]/2

x1 =
(3+9)/2

x1 = 6

x2 =
(3-9)/2

x2 = -3

Now, we'll
verify the solutions into the equation, even if they belong to the interval [-6,
+inf.)

x1=6

12 =
sqrt(72+72)

12=sqrt144

12=12
true

x1=6 is the solution of the
equation.

For x2=-3

It is
obvious that -6=sqrt(36) it's impossible!

So,
the equation will have just one solution,
x=6!

b) Again, for solving the equation, we
have to take into account the constraints for x values, for the existence of the
sqrt.

x>0 and
x>-5

x belongs to the interval
[0,+inf.)

We'll square raise the expressions, both sides of
the equal sign.

[sqrt (x+5)]^2=(5-sqrt
x)^2

x+5=25-10sqrt x +
x

5-25=-10sqrt x

-20 = -10sqrt
x

2 = sqrt x

x =
4

c) For solving |2x|=-|x+6|, we have to
follow the rule of the absolute value.

For x belongs to the
interval (-inf,
-6)

-2x=-(-x-6)

-2x-x=6

-3x=6

x=-2
doesn't belong to the interval (-inf, -6), so is not a solution of the
equation.

For x belongs to the interval [-6,
0)

-2x=-(x+6)

-2x+x=-6

-x=-6

x=6
which belongs to the interval [-6, 0), so it is a solution of the
equation.

For x belongs to the interval [0,
inf)

2x=-(x+6)

2x+x=-6

3x=-6

x=-2
doesn't belong to the interval [0, inf), so is not a solution of the
equation.

So, the equation will have just one
solution, x=6!

d) For solving 5=|x+4|+|x-1|,
we have to follow the rule of the absolute value.

For x
belongs to the interval (-inf,
-4)

5=-x-4-x+1

8=-2x

x=-4
doesn't belong to the interval (-inf, -4), so is not a solution of the
equation.

For x belongs to the interval [-4,
1)

x+4-x+1=5

5=5

So,
any value from the interval [-4,1) will be a solution for the
equation.

For x belongs to the interval [1,
inf)

x+4+x-1=5

2x=2

x=1
which belongs to the interval [1, inf), so it is a solution of the
equation.

So, the solutions of the equation will be in the
interval [-4,1].

What is the promise given at the end of Fahrenheit 451?

The promise is that a new era is about to begin and that humanity is not completely doomed.  At the end of the novel, Montag recalls the biblical passage, "To everything there is a season.  A time to break down, a time to build up."  The time for destruction has ended; the time for rebirth has begun. 

What do you think of Odysseus' plan for escaping from Polyphemus? Explain.

Given the circumstances, the plan appears to be pretty
solid to me.  Given that there literally was no way for them to simply sneak past him,
their plan to use the sheep hides as a way of tricking him into thinking that they are
the sheep and will allow them out after he moves the stone, important since they cannot
move the stone themselves.

Of course the additional part of
the plot in making sure that they had referred to themselves as "nobody" became
aparticularly vital once they had escaped fromo the cave and Polyphemus was calling for
help.

The only part that was clearly stupid, wasn't
necessarily part of the plan but when Odysseus decided he ought to taunt Polyphemus, he
invited disaster.

What is the foreshadowing in the story?

There are several elements of foreshadowing in the wonderful story "The Necklace."

Start with the opening line: "The girl was one of those pretty and charming young creatures who sometimes are born, as if by a slip of fate, into a family of clerks."

This lets us know fate will play a role, that slips will play a role, and that she really should look like a clerk, as she does by the story's end.

 

The first line of the second paragraph says why she dresses plainly; this is stated almost as a universal, and it will be true again by the end of the story.

 

A bit later, the story says, " She had no gowns, no jewels, nothing. And she loved nothing but that." This is foreshadowing through irony. She loves only that—and it will be taken from her.

What makes Tom's speech in chapter 28 of The Grapes of Wrath so important?

This speech shows that Tom has recognized the importance of Casy's work.  Tom has realized that in order for things to change for the Okie's, actions must be taken.  The one thing that Tom knows that Casy hadn't quite figured out, though, is that it would take more than words to complete this task.  Casy had a tendancy to speak a lot about what could and should be done, but it ended there.  In this speech, Tom makes it clear that he means to actually get the drive started.  He speaks about forcing cops off of people's land, organizing large groups of people to do some yellin', and generally organizing the people (think of Tom as fictional Cesar Chavez).  Then, when Ma voices her concern about losing Tom, Tom's reply is unclear to both of them.  Tom relives the words of Casy in speaking about all of the people harboring one large soul, and this his work will be a part of all of that.  He (his soul) will be present where hungry people fight to eat, where people resist cops, where kids laugh when they can eat again, and when folks can once again build their own buildings and grow their own food.  Tom has subdued Ma's fears by placing himself at a level larger than most people.  Ma can take comfort in the fact that if and when things start to improve for all of the Okies, Tom had something to do about it.

Depending on how far you want to take the similarities, if Casy was Jesus Christ, Tom would be the apostle Paul.

What is the theme of the novel, "Tess of the d'Urbervilles"?

Another theme in the novel is that of knowledge versus ignorance. Tess and Angel struggle with their parent's unwillingness to accept change and progress and, therefore , this causes a lot of friction between them.

Tess, who has had formal schooling, is not only in possession of a greater intellect than her mother, but also has a much better sense of right and wrong.

Angel is different, because, with the exception of himself,  he is in a family of scholars. Angel has common sense, and is able to see that for all his family's "real" education, they are not always wise in their choices.

Both Angel and Tess see their parent's as choosing to be ignorant, or at the very least, unwilling to move with the times, and their relationships suffer for it.

What does Holmes learn about Helen by observing her?

Helen is obviously scared.  She has been dominated by an almost archetypal "evil stepfather".  She has been put into a state of constant fear, inferiority, and relative poverty.  However, Holmes is able to see that she has courage, and that she is determined to beat her stepfather and regain her independence and her fortune.  She is more resilient than her situation would suggest, which is why Holmes agrees to accept the case.

Who does Laertes initially blame for the death of his father?act 4 sc 5

Laertes initially suspects that the King has some involvement in his father's death. He bursts into the King's chambers to demand information about his father's death.

Claudius knows there is talk that Laertes might be King and Claudius does not want Laertes to have reason to hate him. The King easily manipulates Laertes into doubting his suspicions by vowing to give up everything he has-even his life-if he in any way had anything to do with Polonius' death.

How did the rise of organized sports and commercial amusements reflect and shape social divisions at the end of the century.It's somewhere in my...

Out of Many is the textbook that I
have used most often in my teaching US History at the college level.  In my opinion, the
text argues that the organized sports did more to bring people of different classes
together.  However it does talk about how the National League (baseball) was more for
middle class people (no alcohol sold, no games on Sunday, higher prices) than the
American Association.  So that is both reflecting and shaping social divisions.  Having
sports become a big deal also leaves lots of women out and deepens division between the
sexes. (End of Ch. 19 -- "National Pastimes")

The other
thing you should look at is "Gentility and the Middle Class."  Look at the part where it
talks about the middle class being able to buy toys for their kids (and bikes for
themselves).  This gave them a different experience than the lower classes
had.

How does Tom convince Joe that a pirate's life is better than a hermit's in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?

This is referring to the start of Chapter XIII where Tom
and Joe meet (and later get Huck) and decide to run away because of how badly they are
being treated.

We don't exactly get told how Tom convinces
Joe.  All were are actually told is this:

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after listening to Tom, he conceded that there
were some conspicuous advantages about a life of crime, and so he consented to be a
pirate.

I think if you look a
bit before the quote and a bit farther down you can see what the advantages might have
been.  Before the quote, Joe wants to be a hermit and get cold and hungry and die. 
That's probably not that much fun.

And then afterwards, you
see all the cloak and dagger stuff they're doing?  They have passwords (Blood!) and code
names and stuff.  It's perfect guy stuff, right?

So I
figure Tom told him that he could go die cold and hungry or he could have fun with
passwords and nicknames.

How is Willy's suicide foreshadowed in the first act of Death of a Salesman?

Linda announces to the boys at the end of Act I that Willy has been in a series of car accidents, and that the accidents themselves seem like deliberate attempts to kill himself.  She also states that she recently found a rubber pipe and is concerned that Willy is considering inhaling gas to end his life.  In the end, that is what he does - inhales gas from his car.

What is the role of science in Frankenstein?

Science in Shelley's Frankenstein
goes too far.  Science transgresses by moving into the area of forbidden
knowledge. 

Science without responsibility invades where it
should not go.  Victor admirably learns and studies and progresses as a scientist, and
this is a positive in the novel.  But Victor soon becomes obsessed, and his reckless and
chaotic life leading up to the creation reflects the recklessness of what he is
doing. 

Victor, the scientist, creates without a conscience
and takes no responsibility for his actions.  Faced with what he's done, he completely
rejects his creation, leading to the tragedies of the novel.  His creation needs
nurturing, follow up, as we might say today.  But Victor refuses to take responsibility
for his science, and tragedy results.

How would you describe James Joyce's tone and attitude toward his characters in "Araby"?

An interesting aspect of this first person point of view in Araby is the multiple distances the story constructs: first there is the child, then there is the adult child, and then their is the author behind all three.The child thinks one way, the adult (with more experience) presents the child in a way the child would not understand, and then the author behind the entire story has a greater perspective, which encompasses issues of class, religion, sentiment, and romance that go beyond even that of the immediate narrator.  with this thrice removed distance of author to character (all of them), the author does have a more god-like stance in terms of his knowledge.  He knows more than even the narrator the blindness (the dead-end quality) of this child's life, even from the beginning, and he knows the emptiness of Araby as well.  More importantly, he knows the longing all humans have for such a place of romance, a place where we become able to bring back to another something special, making us special as we do so.  Neither the boy nor the adult appreciate this as the author does.  Rather than cold, I would argue that the author, Joyce, is compassionate toward this experience, kind and generous, not considering the child stupid or clumsy but, like all of us, flawed in our aspirations toward wanting more from our otherwise dull lives.

In The Scarlet Letter, was Hester a fit parent?

With respect to the Puritan culture of the time, no.  Hester was a sinner, and did not raise Pearl with the Puritan's view of spare the rod, spoil the child. The town viewed Pearl as a demon-child, having witnessed tantrums, and strange responses the child makes. However, Hester does love her child, and is terrified at the prospect of losing her. While she seems at times obsessed with Pearl's actions, it can be seen that this comes from guilt, isolation, and inexperience.

Why is Thomas Putnam willing to speak of witchcraft? How does Mrs. Putnam know what Ruth was doing in the woods?Act I

Goody Putnam asked Ruth to go to Tituba. She wanted Tituba to talk to her seven dead babies. Thomas Putnam is vengeful, and land-greedy, so he will take any opportunity to spread a bad word of anyone.

Of course,l he thinks that he is above all suspicions.

How does Oscar Wilde use humour to deal with how people mask their identities?

"Give a man a mask and he'll show you his true identity" are the words Oscar used. Oscar Wilde was a walking paradox in both his professional and personal lives. Here is a man who constantly vows a devotion towards the Catholic church while being a Protestant who also consistently detours from converting. A man who embodies in his "outer" life a complete Victorian with a wife, and children, while in his "inner" and secret life he is anything but.

This shows his tendencies as an artist to partially connect his inner and outer lives: The accepted and the not accepted into his art.Therefore, An Ideal Husband is a combination of paradox and sarcasm, but mostly mockery at the Victorian hyporcisy which permeated society: The stuffy homes with paraphernalia that meant nothing; the never-ending race to go up another echelon in the social stata. All those elements make "An Ideal Husband " a historical memento for what was going on at the time, and how people saw it behind closed doors. You might always want to add that , in a way, "An Ideal Husband" as well as many other Oscar works were a key to mental liberation, as he was certainly NOT the only Victorian who endured the cynic nature of his times, and the arrogance of his peers .

What is the significance of the opening quotation from Jack London?Chapter 2, page 9

"Dark spruce
forst frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had been stripped by a
recent wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean toward each other,
black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land
itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of
it was not even that of sadness. There was a hint in it of laughter, but of a laughter
more terrible than any sadness—a laughter that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx,
a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility. It was the
masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the
effort of life. It was the Wild, the savage, frozen-hearted Northland
Wild."

In many ways, Chris
McCandless was a romantic. He saw the wilderness not only as a challenge but as an
ideal... a way to live purely and on one's own, at one with nature. It was this idealism
that made him myopic... blind to the wild in the word wilderness. Wilderness sounds
amorphous, generalized. But wild is wild: unpredictable, unknown, uncharted and
unkind.... brutally indifferent and unkind, laughing coldly and without emotion at the
folly of the individual who is starry-eyed and unprepared.

How would you end the story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?i was asked to end the story by myself.

How about something unexpected such as Katrina's admission that she has been secretly in love with her teacher as well?  She is enamored by his intelligence and sensitivity, and that big muscles and a thick head such as the ones Brom Bones possess has never been to her liking.  You could portray her something like Belle in Beauty and the Beast.  A girl who loves to read and study and who values things in life that other girls her age don't...give her wisdom beyond her years and none of that superficial stuff.  Katrina is no Brainless Barbie doll who is seeking a Ken Doll relationship. 

As a result, Brom Bones attempts to scare Icabod away from Katrina by posing as the dreadful Headless Horseman, but Icabod, in a moment of intellectual inspiration exposes Brom for the fake he is, and Brom is the one found the next morning in a pumpkin patch with his "head" in his arms and a note for the town warning them to be careful of the stories they hear and pass along.

This sounds like a fun assignment, and one you should enjoy retelling.  Let your imagination run wild, and try recording it into a tape recorder first.  Then, simply play it back and right it down for editing and polishing. 

Good Luck! 

In 1984, Ampleforth and Parsons are arrested. What is suggested about personal security by this?

Throughout the novel, Winston has been looking forward to "the place where there is no darkness" as a refuge from the distortion, hatred and suspicion under which everyone lives in Oceania.

It is revealed when they are all arrested and taken to a brightly lit antiseptic looking metal room--cold, uncomfy, and never dark. Certainly not a refuge.

Ampleforth is arrested for his inability to remove the word "God" from a line of poetry. Parsons is arrested for thoughtcrime and had been turned in by his own daughter.

These two men are arrested for seemingly innocent things. Ampleforth was simply trying to keep the rhyme scheme in Kipling's poem true, and Parsons claims to be proud of the daughter who accused him of thoughtcrime--something he says must have come upon him without his knowledge whatsoever.

No one is safe...there is no security in Oceania within the Party.

What is the conflict of the story "The Lady with a Dog" by Anton Chekhov?

The central conflict is the pull between loyalty and infatuation, security and the unknown, and the failure to truly know if the latter is something real or illusory.   Both the man and woman are trapped in shallow lives, both seek a more satisfying relationship, a spark that makes life worth living.  For example, when the pair are at dinner,

"Then both continued eating in silence, like strangers, but after dinner they walked side by side; and there sprang up between them the light jesting conversation of people who are free and satisfied, to whom it does not matter where they go or what they talk about."

However, despite these positive indications of a chance for more "alive" living, neither one is ready to give up what they know or feel comfortable with in their lives.  The story concludes with a sour grapes sort of line:  ""There's something pathetic about her, anyway," he thought, and fell asleep." 

Is the reason when demand rises and causes price to rise because there will temporarily be a shortage and that will result in a higher price?is...

That is basically correct.  Economic theory says that
increased demand will lead to a shortage and that firms will react by raising their
prices.

The way that this is likely to work in real life,
though, is that the owners of stores will look and see that this particular product is
flying off their shelves faster than they would have expected.  When this happens, they
will think that they might well be able to sell just as many at a higher
price.

But economically speaking, that is exactly what
happens -- there is a temporary shortage resulting in a higher
price.

Compare the elements of Gothic Literature in both "Ligeia" and "The Raven" by Poe?Gothic is focusing on dark, mysterious, terrifying events. The...

"The Raven" is set in a darkly-lit house, on the edge of the ocean, during a windy night.  One character is a speaking raven, who has appeared out of nowhere and seems to be answering the narrator's questions with an applicable "Nevermore".  The raven rests quietly and refuses to leave.  The narrator interprets it as a sign of his grief, and he is left feeling despondent.

In "Ligeia", the narrator is obsessed with death.  In the story, the wife supernaturally rises from the dead.  The setting ends up in a lonely and abandoned abbey in England where light is obstructed because of the lead in the windows.  Furniture that appears to change shape, and the narrator's feeling that a shadow is following his wife about also enhance the gothic nature of this story.

Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof,facts,examples,etc.). Topic: Is it important for us to take care of our water systems?Science

One idea that you can easily develop is that water is
life.  For, nothing that lives can survive without water.  Thus, it is our most precious
commodity.

Surely, there is much support that you can
locate.  For instance, some years ago, it appeared that Lake Erie had so much pollution
that reversing the situation seemed impossible.  However, scientists were able to
restore the lake, restock it with fish, and make it possible for people to drink its
water.

For assistance with writing see the how-to topics. 
A couple of sites are listed below:

In another instance of
not understanding our precious water is Atlanta, Georgia's city leaders did not plan
well enough to have sufficient water for its growing population, and after two years of
drought, Atlanta began a "water war" with its neighboring state of Alabama in order to
obtain water rights.  Now, after two years of fighting, Atlanta has yet to build any
reservoirs to hold all the rain that has fallen in these past two years of very wet
weather.

What will happen to the convict if he is found in London?

The basic answer to this is that he will be sentenced to
death if he is found and identified in London or anywhere else in
Britain.

The reason for this is found in his original
sentence.  He was sentenced to be "transported."  This meant that he was sent to
Australia instead of being executed or imprisoned in Britain.  But the other side of
that deal is that he was never allowed to return to
Britain.

Now that he has returned, he is risking death. 
You will find out later in the book whether he will get caught and face death or
not.

What's the importance of Bataan Death March in terms of WWII?

This incident did not really have much of an impact, if
any, on the actual outcome of World War II.  And it did not have much of an impact on
how the war was fought.  The only real importance of this is in how it affects the way
we remember the war (and of course it affected the people involved, like one of my
great-uncles who died in it).

The Bataan Death March
happened after the US and Filipino troops surrendered their last position on Luzon in
the Philippines.  This was the island fortress of Corregidor.  After the surrender, the
troops were marched 60 miles or so off to a railhead that would bring them to a prison
camp.  Along the way, many of the prisoners died because of the brutal way they were
treated.

This became important as a symbol of Japanese
brutality during WWII.