What are some quotes demonstrating rivalry in Romeo and Juliet?

The main rivalry in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is that between the Montagues and Capulets. Shakespeare never gives a reason for the feud but we know, from the very beginning that there is a great deal of hatred involved. It sometimes spills over into the streets, as in Act I and Act III. There are several quotes in each Act that demonstrate the intensity of the rivalry.

The opening lines of the Prologue announce the...

The main rivalry in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is that between the Montagues and Capulets. Shakespeare never gives a reason for the feud but we know, from the very beginning that there is a great deal of hatred involved. It sometimes spills over into the streets, as in Act I and Act III. There are several quotes in each Act that demonstrate the intensity of the rivalry.

The opening lines of the Prologue announce the rivalry between the two wealthy families of Verona:

Two households, both alike in dignity
(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

In Act I, Scene 1 this dispute erupts in the streets as men of the house of Capulet, Gregory and Sampson, confront the Montague men by "biting their thumb" at them, which is an insult. Sampson says,

Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at
them, which is disgrace to them if they bear it.

When Benvolio, a Montague and Romeo's cousin, arrives on the scene, he tries to calm down the furor but is then interrupted by Tybalt who threatens him:

What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
Have at thee, coward!

When the brawl is broken up by the Prince's men the Prince comments on the bitter feud and the violence which is part of it:

Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbor-stainèd steel—
Will they not hear?—What ho! You men, you beasts,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins

An excellent summation of the feud comes from Romeo as he enters the scene after the violence. He says that each side continues the feud simply because they love fighting:

O me! What fray was here?
Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.

Later in Act I when Tybalt discovers Romeo at Capulet's party he is angered and wants to challenge the Montague. The fuming Tybalt is dissuaded by Capulet from fighting, but his indignation is apparent and he says he will do something about it later:

Patience perforce with willful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.

At the end of Act I Juliet also feels the sting of the rivalry as she finds out that Romeo is a Montague and laments falling in love with an enemy of her family. She says,

My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me
That I must love a loathèd enemy.

Benvolio's words at the beginning of Act III again demonstrate the bitterness of the feud as he warns Mercutio to get off the street before the Capulets come along:

I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.
The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,
And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl,
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

When Tybalt comes on the scene he challenges Romeo. In a case of dramatic irony, because Romeo has already married Tybalt's cousin, Romeo backs down. Tybalt is not to be put off and he says,

Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford
No better term than this: thou art a villain.

There are numerous more quotes that demonstrate the ferocity of the rivalry throughout other Acts of the play as well.

Describe the atmosphere and the environment in "The Pedestrian."

In a literary work, atmosphere is the feeling that a particular location inspires.

In the short story "The Pedestrian," the atmosphere that is generated is one of estrangement and lifelessness. In the exposition of this story, Leonard Mead sets out on his nightly walk through uninhabited streets that are "silent," "long and empty," with only "his shadow to be seen."

If he closed his eyes and stood very still, frozen, he could imagine himself upon...

In a literary work, atmosphere is the feeling that a particular location inspires.

In the short story "The Pedestrian," the atmosphere that is generated is one of estrangement and lifelessness. In the exposition of this story, Leonard Mead sets out on his nightly walk through uninhabited streets that are "silent," "long and empty," with only "his shadow to be seen."

If he closed his eyes and stood very still, frozen, he could imagine himself upon the center of a plain, a wintry, windless Arizona desert with no house in a thousand miles and only dry river beds, the street for company.

As Leonard continues this walk, he never encounters a single person on the sidewalks that he traverses. When he peers inside the lightless houses, Leonard knows that the occupants are sitting before their television sets in the dark, mindlessly watching some program. Leonard talks to them, but they do not hear; he is isolated from these desensitized people whose thoughts are but mirrors for some inane personage on a television program.

Throughout the narrative, words such as gray, silent, tomb-like, ill-lit, iron, and empty serve to connote the isolation of Leonard Mead and create the mood and atmosphere of isolation and loneliness in the story.  

What was happening historically at the time T.S. Eliot's poem "Preludes" was published?

T.S. Eliot wrote his masterful poem "Preludes" between 1911 and 1912, when England and the United States were on a rapid path of urbanization and industrialization. The poem, which includes references to "The burnt-out ends of smoky days" and "newspapers from vacant lots" in the first stanza and "The morning comes to consciousness/Of faint stale smells of beer" in the second stanza, is about the spiritualness deadness and emptiness of modern city life.

At the...

T.S. Eliot wrote his masterful poem "Preludes" between 1911 and 1912, when England and the United States were on a rapid path of urbanization and industrialization. The poem, which includes references to "The burnt-out ends of smoky days" and "newspapers from vacant lots" in the first stanza and "The morning comes to consciousness/Of faint stale smells of beer" in the second stanza, is about the spiritualness deadness and emptiness of modern city life.

At the time, England and the United States had undergone a process of industrialization, meaning that technology and mass production governed the way goods were produced and the way people worked. As a result, people flooded from rural to urban areas, such as London and Liverpool in Britain and New York and Chicago in the United States, to work in offices and factories. The planned development of the modern city lagged behind this rapid process of urbanization so that people often lived in crowded and unsanitary conditions. These are conditions and way of life that Eliot portrays in "Preludes."

In addition, while eventually civic and religious associations started to connect urban people, there was a great deal of anonymity at times and disconnection, themes that also appear in Eliot's poems. Eliot associated urban life with a kind of spiritual deadness that is conveyed by his poem, including the "sordid images" and "yellow soles of feet" in the third stanza. The soles of the feet can be associated with the souls of people, which Eliot conveys are deadened and dirty.

Soon after he wrote this poem, Britain would become embroiled in World War I, which broke out in 1914. This war would lead to immense death and destruction in Europe. 

How does the union of farmers and workers, called for in the Omaha Platform, differ from coalescence of corporate power, which the Omaha Platform...

The Omaha Platform was adopted by the first convention of the People's Party, commonly called the Populists, in 1892. Many of the demands that the platform included, such as the eight-hour work day, the graduated income tax, and the direct election of senators (as opposed to the selection of senators by state legislatures, as was then the law), became reality over the next few decades.

The Omaha Platform also called for the cooperation of unions...

The Omaha Platform was adopted by the first convention of the People's Party, commonly called the Populists, in 1892. Many of the demands that the platform included, such as the eight-hour work day, the graduated income tax, and the direct election of senators (as opposed to the selection of senators by state legislatures, as was then the law), became reality over the next few decades.

The Omaha Platform also called for the cooperation of unions and farmers. The platform noted that there were two classes at the time--"tramps and millionaires," and blamed the poverty of the workers and farmers on the collection of money in the hands of capitalists. The platform notes that these capitalists now controlled most of the nation's land, while urban workers were not allowed to organize into unions and poor immigrants were taking their jobs. The platform recognized that workers and farmers had a shared interest in uniting to beat back the power of the capitalists. One of the ways they sought to unite the interests of these groups was through the "free" coinage of silver, meaning that silver, in addition to gold (which was already used), would become legal currency. This would make it easier for farmers and workers to pay off their debt and pay for goods, as the silver standard would inflate the currency. 

The combination of workers and farmers would be different than the coalescence of corporate powers, as the workers and farmers would be able to be paid for the fruits of their labor. In addition, they would together represent a much larger portion of the population whose power would come from their numbers, not from their elite status (which was the source of the capitalists' powers).

In the time of Corneille's CINNA, incidental music was often performed between the acts of plays. If there are just 5 movements of incidental...

Generally speaking, incidental music would have been played before each act. Therefore, the five separate movements of incidental music would have been played before the five acts of Corneille's puppet-play Cinna: one movement before the first act, one before the second act, one before the third act, one before the fourth act, and the fifth movement before the fifth act.

Given that Corneille's Cinna is in 5 acts, the performance would likely have started with Harrison's...

Generally speaking, incidental music would have been played before each act. Therefore, the five separate movements of incidental music would have been played before the five acts of Corneille's puppet-play Cinna: one movement before the first act, one before the second act, one before the third act, one before the fourth act, and the fifth movement before the fifth act.

Given that Corneille's Cinna is in 5 acts, the performance would likely have started with Harrison's first movement.  Herein Harrison set a "mood" for the entirety of the play and set up the introduction of motivations, as illustrated by Harrison's first movement dynamical notes, which start with "medium fast, medium soft" and move to "grow louder" then jump to "suddenly soft."

This procedure of playing music before each act is still used today. The second, third, fourth and fifth movements build organically out of the first in such a way that the first gives a foretaste of what the other movements of the incidental music will hold while the listener is given a hint as to the various moods of the entirety of the piece.

What do the townspeople say about the veil in The Minister's Black Veil?

The townspeople definitely do not like the black veil that hangs in front of Hooper's face.  Some think it is a gimmick or a way to protect his eyes from the sun.

Others said there was no mystery at all, but only that the minister’s eyes were weak and needed to be shaded from the light.

But on the whole, the townspeople find it gives the minister a creepy and sinister vibe.  Some of the...

The townspeople definitely do not like the black veil that hangs in front of Hooper's face.  Some think it is a gimmick or a way to protect his eyes from the sun.

Others said there was no mystery at all, but only that the minister’s eyes were weak and needed to be shaded from the light.

But on the whole, the townspeople find it gives the minister a creepy and sinister vibe.  Some of the people even get the feeling that the veil gives the minister some kind of supernatural ability to see each of their hidden sins.  

Every listener, even the most innocent, felt that the preacher had crept up on them and discovered their hidden sins.

The best quote that shows the general feeling about the veil from the congregation comes very early in the story.  Paragraph three specifically.  

“I don’t like it,” muttered an old woman. “He has changed himself into something awful by hiding his face.”

The rest of the townspeople agree with that statement and feel that the mask has somehow turned their beloved minister into something dark.  A great detail left by Hawthorne about the effects of the veil comes a few paragraphs later.  He tells readers that the veil so upset some people during the church service that they had to leave.  That is something that was practically unheard of during that time.  Everybody went to church, and people simply did not walk out during the service. 

What is the role of electron carrier molecules in energy processing systems? Why are they necessary?

Electron carrier molecules do just what their name says. They carry electrons from one part of an energy processing system to another, providing the necessary energy and reducing power to make chemical reactions occur. The energy processing systems you are referring to are mainly aerobic cellular respiration and photosynthesis. 

In aerobic cellular respiration, the main electron carrier molecules are NADH and FADH2. NADH is produced during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle and then used in...

Electron carrier molecules do just what their name says. They carry electrons from one part of an energy processing system to another, providing the necessary energy and reducing power to make chemical reactions occur. The energy processing systems you are referring to are mainly aerobic cellular respiration and photosynthesis. 

In aerobic cellular respiration, the main electron carrier molecules are NADH and FADH2. NADH is produced during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle and then used in the electron transport chain. In the electron transport chain, NADH and FADH2 transfer their electrons to molecules that act as proton pumps. As these proton pumps are reduced by gaining the electrons from NADH and FADH2, they are able to transfer protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane to create a proton gradient that then powers the synthesis of ATP. 

In photosynthesis, the main electron carrier molecule is NADPH, which is similar to NADH. NADPH is produced by oxidizing NADP+ during the light dependent reactions. NADPH is then used for reducing power during the Calvin cycle, where it helps power the reactions used to make glucose.

In your opinion, what can law enforcement do to be more effective when investigating possible serial killings?

First, one should note that law enforcement officers obviously try extremely hard to catch murderers. There are no quick and simple solutions which law enforcement agencies are not already thinking about and trying to implement. There are, however, some areas where it might be possible to improve current procedures.

The first area is how information technology is used. Unlike a single murder, serial killings can span a long period and many geographical regions. To investigate...

First, one should note that law enforcement officers obviously try extremely hard to catch murderers. There are no quick and simple solutions which law enforcement agencies are not already thinking about and trying to implement. There are, however, some areas where it might be possible to improve current procedures.

The first area is how information technology is used. Unlike a single murder, serial killings can span a long period and many geographical regions. To investigate them requires seamless access to information systems that are often run by multiple agencies. Cooperation across multiple jurisdictions is essential.

Improvements in information technology use and especially in the ability to create queries that will search a wide range of databases would be useful. Using a statistical technique called "cluster analysis" on victims can be particularly useful as well to identify serial killings. 

The key problem in catching serial killers is that many have no intrinsic connections to their victims, making it very difficult to find a starting point for investigation. What is most likely to help is using big data, but this can be problematic as it might involve such things as using facial recognition software to sort through millions of images from traffic cameras or store security cameras near where murders took place, but the level of surveillance necessary to provide such data might also be considered a violation of people's right to privacy, as such surveillance would obviously include millions of images of law abiding citizens. 

What are the negative effects of Imperialism in America?

Imperialism had some negative effects in the United States. First, it thrust us onto the world scene. This required the United States to deal with situations where the people we were ruling didn’t want us to be there. For example, in the Philippines, we had to put down a rebellion when the people of the Philippines revolted against our presence there. There were American casualties in this conflict.

Another negative effect of imperialism on the...

Imperialism had some negative effects in the United States. First, it thrust us onto the world scene. This required the United States to deal with situations where the people we were ruling didn’t want us to be there. For example, in the Philippines, we had to put down a rebellion when the people of the Philippines revolted against our presence there. There were American casualties in this conflict.

Another negative effect of imperialism on the United States is how Latin American countries perceived us. We have intervened in Latin America many times to protect American interests. We went to Nicaragua in 1911 to maintain stability and to protect American investments. We helped Panama get its independence from Columbia in 1903. The Columbians were upset with our involvement in this situation. We went to the Dominican Republic to keep the European out when the Dominican Republic fell behind on debt payments to Europe. To this day, many Latin American countries and people refer to the United States as a “big brother” implying that we don’t trust Latin America and must watch over them.

Some of the concepts of imperialism are viewed as racist. The idea that our way of living is the best and must be spread implies that the way other people live is inferior or bad. This creates tension between the majority of Americans and people from the countries we are colonizing that currently live in the United States. For example, if we say we need to show the people of the Philippines how to live, the Filipinos that live in our country may take that a statement that the Filipino way of living here and in the Philippines is inferior.

Finally, there is an economic cost to imperialism. We must protect our colonies. We must govern our colonies. We may have to quell uprisings in the colonies against our rule. All of these actions require funds. Thus, we must spend money to make sure things run smoothly in the colonies.

There were some negative effects of imperialism in the United States.

In the short story "The Lady or the Tiger" what is the king's relationship with his subjects?

Frank Stockton's short story "The Lady or the Tiger" is based on a simple premise. Justice, in the realm of a "semi-barbaric" king, is determined in a public arena. The accused walks into the middle of a "vast amphitheater" and has the choice of two doors. Behind one door is a "hungry tiger" which immediately tears the man to pieces as punishment for his guilt. If he chooses the other door he is greeted by "a lady, the most suitable to his years and station that his majesty could select among his fair subjects," and, as a reward for his innocence, is immediately married to that lady. 

Obviously, this means of justice relies heavily on luck. It is difficult, however, to ascertain the relationship of the king to his subjects, other than the fact that the public trials were popular and well attended:

"The institution was a very popular one. When the people gathered together on one of the great trial days, they never knew whether they were to witness a bloody slaughter or a hilarious wedding. This element of uncertainty lent an interest to the occasion which it could not otherwise have attained. Thus, the masses were entertained and pleased, and the thinking part of the community could bring no charge of unfairness against this plan, for did not the accused person have the whole matter in his own hands?"

Much like the Roman gladiatorial games, NFL football or auto racing, people are drawn to potential violence. Imagine if this were a network television show, much like "Survivor" or "American Idol?" A certain segment of the population would undoubtedly watch with intense interest. Certainly in a kingdom with a "semi-barbaric" ruler the multitude relished the trials. If the accused was guilty they witnessed a brutal slaying and if proved innocent they were in attendance of a beautiful wedding.

Of course, the family of an accused man who chose poorly might view the king's arena with less ardor, especially if the family absolutely knew the accused to be innocent. On the other hand, the typical subject who was never accused of a crime must have considered the trial of the two doors as perfectly fair. After all, the accused held his fate totally in his own hands. So, for some subjects the king was a brutal despot, and for others he was much beloved for devising such a perfect system of justice. 

What is the importance of studying anatomy in clinical medicine?

Clinical medicine is medicine practiced under the attention of an attending doctor (or other authorized practitioner). This is as opposed to research medicine or laboratory medicine.

Clinical medicine involves seeing patients, diagnosing their health conditions and forming plans of treatment. Sometimes, a doctor will forego a treatment plan and instead refer the patient to a specialist. 

It is important for a clinical doctor to have a good grasp of anatomy. Anatomy is the study of...

Clinical medicine is medicine practiced under the attention of an attending doctor (or other authorized practitioner). This is as opposed to research medicine or laboratory medicine.

Clinical medicine involves seeing patients, diagnosing their health conditions and forming plans of treatment. Sometimes, a doctor will forego a treatment plan and instead refer the patient to a specialist. 

It is important for a clinical doctor to have a good grasp of anatomy. Anatomy is the study of the different structures of the body. Anatomy can be a taxing subject for a student because it includes a lot of memorization of the names and locations of different body structures (such as bones, muscles, nerves, etc.).

Without a good grasp of the names and locations of body structures, a doctor would be at a disadvantage. He or she would find it difficult to communicate their findings to other doctors, such as in the case of a referral, and to the patient. The doctor would have difficulty reading publications and continuing education materials, since all of these will be prepared using anatomical terms.

It may seem tedious to spend a great deal of time memorizing long lists of names. But these names are part of the specialized language doctors use to communicate. A doctor who was unable to speak this language would find it difficult to practice medicine adequately.

In one year the earth will get struck by lightning 3.15 times 10 to the 9th power times. Calculate the unit rate for the amount of times lightning...

Although this is technically a science question, we will be using math in order to solve it.

In order to work out your answer, you will have to divide the total lightning strikes by the number of weeks in the year. This will give you your unit rate per week.

3.15 x 10^9 strikes / 52 weeks = .0606 x 10^9 strikes / week

This figure is not in correct scientific notation, and we must...

Although this is technically a science question, we will be using math in order to solve it.

In order to work out your answer, you will have to divide the total lightning strikes by the number of weeks in the year. This will give you your unit rate per week.

3.15 x 10^9 strikes / 52 weeks = .0606 x 10^9 strikes / week

This figure is not in correct scientific notation, and we must change our figure so that it is expressed as a number between one and ten, and change the "power" to reflect the change.

.0606 x 10^9 strikes / week = 6.06 x 10 ^7 strikes / week

These two figures are equivalent; both mean six million, sixty thousand, or 60,060,000. 

What was the importance of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments?

The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments are often known as the "Civil War Amendments" or the "Reconstruction Amendments" because they were passed in the aftermath of the war and amidst the political ferment of Reconstruction. Each was concerned with protecting the basic rights of African-Americans newly liberated from slavery by the war. The Thirteenth Amendment outlawed slavery permanently, the Fourteenth Amendment extended citizenship and "equal protection" under law to all citizens (a term it also...

The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments are often known as the "Civil War Amendments" or the "Reconstruction Amendments" because they were passed in the aftermath of the war and amidst the political ferment of Reconstruction. Each was concerned with protecting the basic rights of African-Americans newly liberated from slavery by the war. The Thirteenth Amendment outlawed slavery permanently, the Fourteenth Amendment extended citizenship and "equal protection" under law to all citizens (a term it also defined), and the Fifteenth Amendment protected, or attempted to protect, the right to vote for African-American men. Even as these amendments were being passed, their provisions--especially the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments--were being challenged by white Southerners, and while there was a window where black men enjoyed their protections, this period quickly waned with the end of Reconstruction and the establishment of Jim Crow. 

In the long term, the Fourteenth Amendment in particular has taken on added significance for several reasons. One is that the Supreme Court has used it to overturn unequal laws--most famously in Brown v. Board of Education. The Court has also used its guarantee of equal protection and equal "provisions and immunities" to expand the provisions of many of the other amendments to the states. This basically meant that states, like Congress, cannot pass laws that violate amendments like the First, the Second, the Fourth, and so on. The definition of citizenship in the Fourteenth Amendment has also proven significant in that it formally establishes citizenship by birth, which guarantees citizenship to the children of immigrants. The Fourteenth has thus proven to have the most lasting--and the broadest--significance, though the Fifteenth has also been invoked to overturn discriminatory voting laws.

What does author James Hurst mean when he added the scarlet ibis dying in front of Doodle?

James Hurst’s use of the dying bird in “The Scarlet Ibis” is both symbolic and demonstrates foreshadowing.

The scarlet ibis is a rare bird that was pushed to its limits by a storm. It was exhausted from being blown many miles from its native home. It was sick and out of its element. After it landed in the bleeding tree it died in front of the family.

Sadly, we all looked back at the bird....

James Hurst’s use of the dying bird in “The Scarlet Ibis” is both symbolic and demonstrates foreshadowing.

The scarlet ibis is a rare bird that was pushed to its limits by a storm. It was exhausted from being blown many miles from its native home. It was sick and out of its element. After it landed in the bleeding tree it died in front of the family.

Sadly, we all looked back at the bird. A scarlet ibis! How many miles it had traveled to die like this, in our yard, beneath the bleeding tree.

Doodle took pity on the beautiful, red bird and gave it a proper burial. Aunt Nicey tells the family dead birds, especially red ones, are bad luck. This foreshadows Doodle’s death. Brother pushed Doodle to his limit, he achieved things that were never expected of him. He was tired and afraid of the storm when he sought shelter in the bleeding tree. He was a rare, delicate child who died under the same tree in which the bird died. James Hurst parallels the two incidents.

Discuss the American art scene during the 1920s, as well as important works.

The 1920s in the United States were a time of overall prosperity.  The United States had survived The Great War (World War I) and the horrific Spanish influenza epidemic that had swept through the world.  The 1920s were a fresh start.  Visual arts flourished during this time.  

The art deco style became popular in the 1920s.  Art deco style incorporated many different geometric shapes.  In architecture, these shapes were used with metals, such as...

The 1920s in the United States were a time of overall prosperity.  The United States had survived The Great War (World War I) and the horrific Spanish influenza epidemic that had swept through the world.  The 1920s were a fresh start.  Visual arts flourished during this time.  

The art deco style became popular in the 1920s.  Art deco style incorporated many different geometric shapes.  In architecture, these shapes were used with metals, such as aluminum and chrome.

City Night was a famous piece by Georgia O'Keeffe from the mid-1920s.  O'Keefe was an important painter during this time period.  Norman Rockwell created illustrations for a Boy Scouts calendar during the 1920s.  

A realist style became popular among many American artists.  This style depicted candid scenes from every day life.  Grant Wood, who would later paint the iconic American Gothic, painted Woman with Plants in the late 1920s.  It depicted his mother holding plants. Edward Hopper's well known painting called Automat was also painted in the late 1920s.  This painting showed a lone woman, sitting at a table at an automat in the evening.

Many painters came out of the Harlem Renaissance during the 1920s.  Aaron Douglass was a painter who created such works as The New Negro.  His paintings depicted layers of shadowy silhouettes.

What parts of Chapter 18 of Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief can be compared to or related to "Key Elements of Mythology"?

One key element of mythology present in Chapter 18 of Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, first book of the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, is a struggle for power. Often in myths, two adversaries battle each other for the sake of control due to vanity or out of jealousy. The two adversaries can be "two supernatural forces, a supernatural force and a mortal, or two members of a single family" (Kyrene School...

One key element of mythology present in Chapter 18 of Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, first book of the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, is a struggle for power. Often in myths, two adversaries battle each other for the sake of control due to vanity or out of jealousy. The two adversaries can be "two supernatural forces, a supernatural force and a mortal, or two members of a single family" (Kyrene School District, "The Key Elements of Mythology"). In Chapter 18, Percy, Annabell, and Grover must face the monster Cerberus in order to enter the Underworld. Cerberus is described by Percy as a giant three-headed Rottweiler, and Cerberus's job is to prevent anyone who is not dead from entering the Underworld. Hence, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth engage in a power struggle with Cerberus for control over access to the Underworld. Percy first attempts to distract Cerberus by throwing him a stick to fetch. However, Annabeth proves to be the one who is more skilled in dog obedience training and tempts Cerberus with a red rubber ball. Wanting the rubber ball, Cerberus immediately obeys her command to "Sit!" and tosses the ball back to Annabeth, simultaneously allowing Percy and Grover to pass around him into the Underworld, followed soon by Annabeth. Hence, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth were able to win in their power struggle against Cerberus over control of entrance to the Underworld by taming Cerberus.

This same power struggle also relates to a second key element of mythology referred to as "tension between opposing forces in the universe" (Kyrene School District). Opposing forces can be considered the forces of good and evil, and a hero can be seen as embodying the force of good, whereas a monster can be seen as embodying the force of evil. Hence, when the kids undertake subduing the monster, they are also undertaking subduing the forces of evil, showing that they are engaged in tensions that are not just between the kids and the monster but between the force of good and the force of evil. Yet, based on Cerberus's response to the ball and the attention Annabeth gives him, we see that Cerberus is not truly the evil one; instead, he is surrounded by evil that has influenced him. In reality, Cerberus is just like any dog--able to respond to affection with love and loyalty. We especially see Cerberus's true nature when Percy ends the chapter with the following observation:

I pretended not to see Annabeth wipe a tear from her cheek as she listened to the mournful keening of Cerberus in the distance, longing for his new friend. (p. 313)

Other key elements of mythology to consider with respect to Chapter 18 concern the use of supernatural characters with human characteristics and the ways in which myths are used to explain the natural world.

How does the Party/Big Brother use war as a method of control in George Orwell's 1984?

In 1984, war is a constant presence in the lives of the people of Oceania. It is used by the party in two important ways.

First of all, war is used to increase people's loyalty towards the party. In Part 2, Chapter 9, for instance, Winston describes Hate Week, a week-long event which is designed to strengthen hatred against the party's current enemy, Eurasia. During this time, the people of Oceania sing songs, march and...

In 1984, war is a constant presence in the lives of the people of Oceania. It is used by the party in two important ways.

First of all, war is used to increase people's loyalty towards the party. In Part 2, Chapter 9, for instance, Winston describes Hate Week, a week-long event which is designed to strengthen hatred against the party's current enemy, Eurasia. During this time, the people of Oceania sing songs, march and demonstrate against Eurasia to the point of mania. As Winston comments:

“After six days of this, when the great orgasm was quivering to its climax and the general hatred of Eurasia had boiled up into such delirium that if the crowd could have got their hands on the 2,000 Eurasian war-criminals who were to be publicly hanged on the last day of the proceedings, they would unquestionably have torn them to pieces.”

By demonizing Eurasia, the people of Oceania feel united and this contributes to their overall loyalty towards and love of Big Brother.

The Hate Week celebrations also show us a second way in which the party uses war to control people. Right in the middle of Hate Week, the party suddenly announces a switch in the enemy: Eurasia is now the ally and Oceania is at war with Eastasia. This declaration prompts a flurry of activity as the party rewrites history and erases all traces of war with Eurasia:

 "A large part of the political literature of five years was now completely obsolete. Reports and records of all kinds, newspapers, books, pamphlets, films, sound-tracks, photographs -- all had to be rectified at lightning speed."

The fact that the party can manipulate information in this manner is illustrative of its control over the population. Everything they see, read and hear is dictated to them by the party. Even if they notice this sudden change in the enemy, they can never verbalize it for fear of committing thoughtcrime and facing the death penalty. 

What are some good results of Liesel stealing books?

Stealing is usually thought of as a bad thing, and it is in most circumstances. But in Nazi Germany during World War II, when book burning is the norm, saving a few couldn't be bad. Liesel doesn't steal books as a political protest, though. Each book she steals is either for a specific reason, or it ends up benefiting people more than hurting those from whom she stole.

The first book that she steals is The Gravedigger's Handbook, as it falls from one of the men who dug her brother's final resting place.

"The Book's Meaning: 1. The last time she saw her brother. 2. The last time she saw her mother" (38).

For poor Liesel, this first book is the only remembrance she has of the two most important people in her life before moving to the Hubermanns'. It seems very dark, then, that this is also the book from which she learns to read. Not only does she benefit from learning to read, but it helps her to bond with her new foster father, Hans Hubermann. Without this first act of thievery, Liesel would have had a more difficult time at school, nothing to read or bond over at the Hubermanns', and nothing to help her remember her mother and brother.

The second book she steals is Shoulder Shrug. It doesn't seem like stealing, though, since someone has just tossed it into the city's celebratory bonfire. In that case, it would probably turn into contraband. Yet, it is actually the act of stealing it that later benefits Liesel because the mayor's wife sees her doing it. Liesel goes to collect washing from Frau Hermann and is invited in and introduced into her library of books. This is a perfect answer to Liesel's problem of not having books at home. She is allowed to read in the mayor's library whenever she wants. Had she not stolen that book that night, Mrs. Hermann would not have invited her into her library.

Another good end result from stealing the second book is that it gives Papa the idea to send Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, to Max Vandenburg as a way to protect him while he travels to safety at the Hubermanns'. Death explains as follows:

". . . the act of stealing it triggered the crux of what was to come. It would provide her with a venue for continued book thievery. It would inspire Hans Hubermann to come up with a plan to help the Jewish fist fighter. And it would show me, once again, that one opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and death to more death" (83).

Finally, the third book Liesel steals is The Whistler from the mayor's library. The benefit of this book is that the book thief uses it to calm people down during air raids. This helps to distract people while they wait for the bombs to finish dropping all around them.

"When she turned to page two, it was Rudy who noticed. He paid direct attention to what Liesel was reading, and he tapped his brother and his sisters, telling them to do the same. Hans Hubermann came closer and called out, and soon, a quietness started bleeding through the crowded basement. By page three, everyone was silent but Liesel" (381).

If Liesel had not stolen this book, she would not have had it in the basement with her neighbors. Then she wouldn't have had the idea to read to everyone in order to calm her nerves and theirs during a very stressful time.

Who is Mrs. Partridge? |

Mrs. Partridge is the mother of Margaret Cadaver (Sal’s next-door neighbor). They have lived in their house only for about a month. She has been blind for some time, though not from birth. She likes to dress in colorful clothing and wears a feather boa when Phoebe and Sal first go to her house. Though she is blind, she has an uncanny ability of guessing accurately such details as faces and ages. She knew Phoebe’s...

Mrs. Partridge is the mother of Margaret Cadaver (Sal’s next-door neighbor). They have lived in their house only for about a month. She has been blind for some time, though not from birth. She likes to dress in colorful clothing and wears a feather boa when Phoebe and Sal first go to her house. Though she is blind, she has an uncanny ability of guessing accurately such details as faces and ages. She knew Phoebe’s age, which does not strike Phoebe as so very unusual, not knowing that she is blind. She also tells Phoebe that she met her brother, but it is the strange boy that Phoebe calls a “lunatic.”

Mrs. Partridge likes to read mysteries in Braille, which convinces Phoebe that Mrs. Partridge is a suspect in the disappearance of her mother. However, Mrs. Partridge seems to enjoy her life and likes talking to the girls, even when they break into her house one night because Phoebe wants to look for clues. She has strength of spirit, as does her daughter Margaret. Sal begins to appreciate this, far more than Phoebe does. Sal marvels that, even though she is blind, she has more insight into people than she or Phoebe do.

I would like help with writing a thesis statement about my dad dying from cancer and how he handled the adversity.

First of all, you have my sympathy in losing your dad so young.

In this essay, please consider what your three body paragraphs will be about.  Will you be discussing three adversities which he faced such as not being able to handle a full dose of chemo so that he had to go more often?  Would one paragraph be about how he talked with the family about his death, allowing you to talk with him...

First of all, you have my sympathy in losing your dad so young.

In this essay, please consider what your three body paragraphs will be about.  Will you be discussing three adversities which he faced such as not being able to handle a full dose of chemo so that he had to go more often?  Would one paragraph be about how he talked with the family about his death, allowing you to talk with him about goodbyes or things you would miss having him not be there?  Would one paragraph be about the effect on the family of having a father with cancer or would you focus on only him?

Each of the questions I've included are to help you focus your essay so that your thesis statement contained in the introductory paragraph will introduce the reader to the three ideas you plan to discuss in your essay.  For example, your thesis statement could be something like, 'My father, the center of our family, was diagnosed with cancer which forced him to face the effects of chemo on his body, affected the rest of the family in positive or negative ways, and because he could face his death and discuss it, so also could the family talk with him about saying goodbye.' 

Just be sure that whatever you choose for your three body paragraphs, that the thesis statement introduces the reader to what you will discuss. Good luck on a difficult essay topic. 

1. How is this image in the mass media powerful and why? 2. What purpose did it serve? Connect this to the social world that we live in.

The image you have shared is of Parisian people observing a moment of silence at the Place de la Republique in Paris, in honor of those who died during the terrorist attacks on the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. On the seventh of January, 2015, two men armed with assault rifles forced their way into the offices of Charlie Hebdoand opened fire, killing twelve people and injuring eleven more. The men...

The image you have shared is of Parisian people observing a moment of silence at the Place de la Republique in Paris, in honor of those who died during the terrorist attacks on the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. On the seventh of January, 2015, two men armed with assault rifles forced their way into the offices of Charlie Hebdo and opened fire, killing twelve people and injuring eleven more. The men identified themselves as belonging to a branch of Al-Qaeda based in Yemen. Al-Qaedea is an extremist Muslim group known for their attacks on public spaces around the world, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths. The gunmen who attacked the offices of Charlie Hebdo were motivated by the fact that the magazine had published depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, most of them poking fun. In Islam, it is wrong to create images of the Prophet Muhammad, and it is especially shameful to make images which treat him as a joke.

People  in the photo are holding up signs with the message, "Je suis Charlie-" which translates to "I am Charlie." This message has become a symbol of solidarity with the people of France who have been impacted by tragedies like the Charlie Hebdo attacks. The photo itself shows numerous people sharing in the sentiment of respect for those who lost their lives and were injured during the shooting. 

Images like this one represent a very real social problem felt in Europe and North America today. As radical Islamic groups like Daesch (also called ISIS or ISIL) gain power and territory through use of force, they uproot millions of people from their homes. Many people worry that the refugees of such tragedies who seek asylum in other nations might be bringing radical ideas with them, too. These fears are largely based in cultural misunderstanding and racism, but they've been bolstered by the fact that some foreign terror attacks are carried out by people from the same nation as those seeking refuge. For example, the extremist group Daesch is primarily located in Syria and have uprooted many people from their homes. Some people worry that if Syrian refugees are allowed into their country, they will bring the terrorism with them directly or as a consequence of their being given asylum.

In which parts of the body does aerobic cellular respiration take place?

Cellular respiration is the process by which the food is broken down and energy is generated, in the form of ATP molecules. It is termed aerobic respiration, when oxygen is present; otherwise, it is known as anaerobic respiration (or fermentation). Aerobic cellular respiration is much more efficient process as compared to fermentation, in terms of energy produced per molecule of glucose consumed. 

Aerobic cellular respiration takes place inside our cells (except for probably muscle cells,...

Cellular respiration is the process by which the food is broken down and energy is generated, in the form of ATP molecules. It is termed aerobic respiration, when oxygen is present; otherwise, it is known as anaerobic respiration (or fermentation). Aerobic cellular respiration is much more efficient process as compared to fermentation, in terms of energy produced per molecule of glucose consumed. 

Aerobic cellular respiration takes place inside our cells (except for probably muscle cells, where fermentation takes place, especially during exercise or strenuous labor), in organelles known as mitochondria, which is also known as the power house of the (eukaryotic) cell. The process of aerobic cellular respiration consumes the oxygen that we breathe in and generates carbon dioxide (which is exhaled from our body) and water, along with ATP.

Hope this helps. 

By what name was Sebastian first known to Antonio?

Sebastian was first known to Antonio as "Roderigo."

To provide some context: Antonio is the sailor who rescues Sebastian (Viola's twin, who she presumed dead) from the shipwreck at the beginning of the play. Sebastian and Antonio immediately become friends (and in some interpretations of the text, they are also lovers); in fact, according to Antonio the pair are together for the entirety of the three months that have passed since the shipwreck:

No interim, not...

Sebastian was first known to Antonio as "Roderigo."

To provide some context: Antonio is the sailor who rescues Sebastian (Viola's twin, who she presumed dead) from the shipwreck at the beginning of the play. Sebastian and Antonio immediately become friends (and in some interpretations of the text, they are also lovers); in fact, according to Antonio the pair are together for the entirety of the three months that have passed since the shipwreck:

No interim, not a minute's vacancy,

Both day and night did we keep company.

Despite their close personal relationship, Sebastian has been lying to Antonio and calling himself Roderigo instead of revealing his true identity as Sebastian, son of Sebastian of Messaline, who Antonio would have heard of. It is not until Sebastian decides to leave behind Antonio and seek out the court of Count Orsino that Sebastian tells Antonio his true name. Despite this deception and the dangers that Orsino's court pose to him, Antonio longs to keep Sebastian's company, claiming:

But, come what may, I do adore thee so

That danger shall seem sport, and I will go.

What is the significance of Myrtle's desire for a dog in The Great Gatsby?

Dogs have long been used by writers and artists as symbols of fidelity, hence the classic name "Fido."  Myrtle's impulsive desire for a dog on the street in NYC is both ironic and poignant.  

Both she and Tom Buchanan are married to others while they engage in their affair, so when Tom purchases the dog cheaply and tells the man who sells it to them, "go and buy yourself ten more dogs," it is...

Dogs have long been used by writers and artists as symbols of fidelity, hence the classic name "Fido."  Myrtle's impulsive desire for a dog on the street in NYC is both ironic and poignant.  

Both she and Tom Buchanan are married to others while they engage in their affair, so when Tom purchases the dog cheaply and tells the man who sells it to them, "go and buy yourself ten more dogs," it is suggestive of how little he values the loyalty that dogs epitomize.  Myrtle is so unfamiliar with dogs that she does not recognize its breed or gender-- ironically suggestive of how little she knows about fidelity.

Poignancy is found in the fact that the dog is forgotten rather quickly when they reach the apartment.  Tom and Myrtle spend the afternoon and evening drinking, having sex, and arguing. The puppy becomes a very temporary ersatz child in the "domestic" relationship that Myrtle naively believes will become permanent.  

The episode with the dog contributes to one of Fitzgerald's primary messages in The Great Gatsby: America was losing touch with real values, and the transient pleasures that were taking their place lacked true substance and worth.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott.  The Great Gatsby.  Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.

What are the characteristics of the Era of Good Feelings?

There are several characteristics of the Era of Good Feelings. During this time period, there was only one political party. The Federalist Party had disappeared after the War of 1812 because the party looked selfish and unpatriotic in how it conducted itself during the War of 1812. The only political party in existence was the Democratic-Republican Party. During this time period, there was much political harmony that was of great benefit to President Monroe who...

There are several characteristics of the Era of Good Feelings. During this time period, there was only one political party. The Federalist Party had disappeared after the War of 1812 because the party looked selfish and unpatriotic in how it conducted itself during the War of 1812. The only political party in existence was the Democratic-Republican Party. During this time period, there was much political harmony that was of great benefit to President Monroe who was in office during this period of time.

During this time, the power of the federal government grew. Court cases such as McCulloch v Maryland and Gibbons v Ogden expanded the power of the federal government. A loose view of the Constitution was viewed as legal.

The American System developed during this time period. There were taxes on foreign products to protect our industries. The national bank existed where the government and others could put their money. We also began to develop a system of internal improvements by building roads and canals.

The Era of Good Feelings, from approximately 1816-1824, was a time of calmness and cooperation in American politics.

What is the plot summary of The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket?

The Wide Window is the third installment of The Series of Unfortunate Events. Like all the books in the series, it focuses on the three Baudelaire orphans (Violet, Klaus, and Sunny) and their attempts to stay out of the evil Count Olaf's clutches. This particular story is of the Baudelaires' time with their Aunt Josephine, who lives in a house on the edge of a cliff above Lake Lachrymose. Josephine has a passion for grammar, but fears pretty much everything else in existence. When the Baudelaires accompany their aunt into town in order to prepare for the oncoming hurricane, they meet a sailor named Captain Sham; the Baudelaires immediately recognize him as Count Olaf, but his disguise fools Aunt Josephine as he flirts with her.

That night, the Baudelaires hear a loud crash and arrive in Josephine's library to see that the wide window in there has been smashed, seemingly by Josephine as she threw herself out the window based on the suicide note she left behind. However, the Baudelaires are suspicious because not only had Josephine taken a call in private from Captain Sham immediately before her death, but her suicide note was full of typos, which they knew she would never do.

But the note says that Captain Sham is their new guardian, so Mr. Poe (the children's incredibly oblivious lawyer) says they have to respect Josephine's last wishes. They meet Captain Sham in town and he offers to take the Baudelaires and Mr. Poe to lunch. In an effort to escape, the Baudelaires eat peppermints, which they are highly allergic to, and when their hives and rashes start to grow, Mr. Poe excuses them to return to Josephine's house.

Once they are there, Klaus realizes that the typos in the suicide note are a clue that leads them to a cave off the lake. After narrowly escaping the collapse of Josephine's house into the lake thanks to a bolt of lightning from the hurricane, the Baudelaires head down to the dock, but the ferry is closed because of the storm, so they decide to take one of Captain Sham's boats. After another narrow escape from one of Count Olaf's henchmen, the Baudelaires sail out to the cave, where they find Aunt Josephine, alive and well.

They convince her to return to town with them, but as they are sailing away from the cave, the leeches that live in the lake attack them. Violet makes a signal, which attracts the attention of the only other sailor on the lake, which just so happens to be Captain Sham. He allows them to come onto his boat, but then pushes Josephine into the water, where she is eaten by the leeches.

When they reach the dock again, Mr. Poe is there, preparing to hand them over to Captain Sham. Before Mr. Poe can do that, however, Sunny bites the wooden leg of Captain Sham, which cracks it in half to reveal that there is a real leg beneath it and it has Olaf's unique tattoo of an eye on his ankle. Unfortunately, Count Olaf escapes before the authorities can be alerted and the Baudelaires are left alone with Mr. Poe, who will take them to their next unfortunate guardian.

What is the contrast between Jem and Scout's reaction to school in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout has a rough time in school and doesn't like it. On her first day, she is told by her teacher, Miss Caroline, to stop reading and writing at home. Scout is also punished after attempting to explain Walter Cunningham's background to her teacher. Scout tells Atticus that she doesn't want to go back to school and finds it rather boring and mundane. Jem, on the other hand, finds school interesting and fun. In Chapter...

Scout has a rough time in school and doesn't like it. On her first day, she is told by her teacher, Miss Caroline, to stop reading and writing at home. Scout is also punished after attempting to explain Walter Cunningham's background to her teacher. Scout tells Atticus that she doesn't want to go back to school and finds it rather boring and mundane. Jem, on the other hand, finds school interesting and fun. In Chapter 7, Jem tells Scout that she has to wait until 6th grade before she learns important information. Scout mentions that Jem was acting like an Egyptian in the house, walking around stiff and sticking his elbows out. This suggests that Jem finds school amusing because he is talking about it outside the classroom. Jem is rather optimistic about school while Scout feels indignant about it.

What are some famous words from A Christmas Carol?

Tiny Tim's words are the most famous in the story.

The most famous words in this novella are probably Tiny Tim’s blessing to his family.

“A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!”

Which all the family re-echoed.

“God bless us every one!” said Tiny Tim, the last of all. (Stave 3)

Tiny Tim makes this blessing during Christmas dinner at the Cratchit house.  The Cratchit family is poor, but happy in...

Tiny Tim's words are the most famous in the story.

The most famous words in this novella are probably Tiny Tim’s blessing to his family.

“A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!”

Which all the family re-echoed.

“God bless us every one!” said Tiny Tim, the last of all. (Stave 3)

Tiny Tim makes this blessing during Christmas dinner at the Cratchit house.  The Cratchit family is poor, but happy in that they have each other.  This is a stark contrast to Scrooge, who does not have anyone. Scrooge watches the family gathering and begins to feel sorry for Tim, who is crippled and will die if no intervention is taken.  The family just doesn’t have the resources to care for him.  The Cratchits toast Scrooge, at Bob’s insistence, but it is this blessing from little Tim that melts Scrooge’s heart.

Another famous message also has to do with helping the poor.  Scrooge is faced with the Ghost of Christmas Present and two children, Ignorance and Want.  Scrooge earlier insisted that the poor should go to the government for charity.  After he is faced with his own past and sees how he affects the lives of others, he relents.  He asks whose children they are.

“They are Man’s,” said the Spirit, looking down upon them. “…This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!” (Stave 3)

This is a moving speech, because it reminds the reader that we are responsible for all human beings, and especially our children.  While poverty is terrible, the real threat comes from lack of education and understanding.  Scrooge realizes this too, and when he returns to the real world he makes a big contribution to the poor.

Even people who have never read A Christmas Carol know who Tiny Tim is, and can quote his famous line.  In personifying the fate of the poor with one cute little crippled boy, Dickens reminded us all of our humanity.  People could not longer ignore the children they passed on the street, because now it was Tiny Tim they saw, not the anonymous masses.

Does the language and structure of "Sonnet 29" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning suggest a healthy love?

That depends. The poem, though very short, equivocates from beginning to end.

It begins with an exclamation that confesses obsession: "I think of thee!" Barrett imagines her lover as a tree. Her thoughts are the vines that wrap themselves around it, not only entwining but enshrouding and strangling it under yards of verdure:

I think of thee -- my thoughts do twine and bud

About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,

Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see,

Except the straggling weed which hides the wood.

Notice that her thoughts not only "twine," but "bud," suggesting growth and potential. They are "wild vines," free and untamed. The object of her love ("the tree") joins her in this dance of fertility by "[putting] out broad leaves," obscuring them both ("soon there's nought to see"), as a couple in an erotic encounter seeks to be obscured. There's only the "straggling weed" which "hides the wood." "Wood," to a contemporary reader, can be very suggestive. Moreover, the weed "[straggles]," it does not strangle, which might be one's first instinct of pronunciation when reading over this poem and contemplating its subject. Barrett, possibly, seeks to trick the eye and, thus, our sensibility: the weed does not constrict the wood, but moves slowly around its circumference.

The "tree" is characterized as a "palm-tree," whose tropical connotations complement the feverishness of love. She appeals directly to her love, hoping it will "be understood / I will not have my thoughts instead of thee / Who art dearer, better!" This can read as unhealthy obsession. Then again, in the context of Victorian poetry and prose, it would not have been. Despite the repression of the era, written expressions of passion -- between both the opposite and the same sex -- were rather common. She ends the last line with an exclamation point, despite its question form. This reflects her certainty in her love.

Her thoughts keep him alive. They are regenerative:

Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should,

Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare,

And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee

Drop heavily down,—burst, shattered, everywhere!

Here, every line begins with a command. She invokes his strength -- even violence. The tree is strong enough to free itself of the vines (i.e., her thoughts). However, the destruction is palpable. The greenery does not fall, as it actually would, but is "burst, shattered..." Something explosive happens; echoing the sight or sound of a heart breaking, if the metaphor were to come to life.

Yet, the heartbreak is necessary. They both must be free and unencumbered -- detached -- to love more selflessly:

Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee

And breathe within thy shadow a new air,

I do not think of thee—I am too near thee. 

Once the vine is free, it can "see and hear" the beloved,[a]nd breathe within [his] shadow a new air..." They remain near each other, for the vine is within the tree's shadow. Yet, it is separate, growing not along it, but alongside it. It is no longer necessary to cling obsessively, to "think of thee," for the beloved is "too near."

Why do you think there is such a stiff penalty for disobeying instructions in "A Sound of Thunder"?

There are two reasons for the stiff penalty for non-compliance with the instructions of Time Safari, Inc.:

1. The company receives tremendous fines for any infractions, even possible government action. Moreover, the company could go out of business as a result of such consequences.


2. The "butterfly effect" could occur. This is the concept that all things in life are interconnected and are dependent upon initial conditions. That is, if there is a small change in the state of one thing in nature, large differences can occur in a later state.

Further, the ending of Bradbury's story serves to explicate the impact of disobedience of the instructions of Time Safari, Inc. For, Eckels's having stepped off the anti-gravity path causes a butterfly to be killed, and he unknowingly brings this butterfly back on to the present on the bottom of his shoe. When he enters the office of the company, he is shocked to see that the sign is markedly changed, 

Sefaris tu any yeer in the past.
Yu naim the animall
We taekyuthair
Yu shoot itt. 

With trepidation, Eckels asks who won the presidential election hoping to hear that Keith is president and nothing has changed, but a man he does not recognize answers, 

"You joking? Who else? Not that fool weakling Keith. Deustscher, of course. We got a man now with iron guts!"

After learning of this profound effect of his mistake, Eckels begs to take this change back, but such cannot happen unless he does not live. Then, he hears "a sound of thunder" as Travis, who has cocked his rifle, shoots Eckels.

How does Yolanda struggle to be a successful novelist and loyal family member?

Yolanda struggles with being a family member and a writer in the way that all people struggle with family relationships and all writers struggle with writing. However, there is a correlation in the novel between her writing and the difficulties she has with her family. This correlation is certainly one of the dynamics within the novel that affects Yolanda the most, as it causes her a great deal of anxiety.

Specifically, Yolanda's work is heavily...

Yolanda struggles with being a family member and a writer in the way that all people struggle with family relationships and all writers struggle with writing. However, there is a correlation in the novel between her writing and the difficulties she has with her family. This correlation is certainly one of the dynamics within the novel that affects Yolanda the most, as it causes her a great deal of anxiety.

Specifically, Yolanda's work is heavily based on real family and her real relationships with them. This is good from a writing point of view, as she will identify with the stories she's telling to the greatest extent, which will make them more powerful for her and the reader. However, her family feels as if she's betrayed their confidence by putting intimate and true details of their lives in her work.

Why does the grandmother in " A Good Man is Hard to Find" constantly reminisce about the past, and in what way does she recall the past and why?

Like many older people, the Grandmother remembers the past as better than the present. She reminisces about it in part because that is typically what older people do, but also because she has low status in the family. Her low status is indicated by the fact that she sits in the back seat of the car with the children, they are allowed to be rude to her, and when she wants to visit an old...

Like many older people, the Grandmother remembers the past as better than the present. She reminisces about it in part because that is typically what older people do, but also because she has low status in the family. Her low status is indicated by the fact that she sits in the back seat of the car with the children, they are allowed to be rude to her, and when she wants to visit an old plantation, she has to manipulate them into asking to see it before their father, Bailey, will agree to turn off the main highway to look for it. The Grandmother uses the past to critique how her grandchildren behave:

 "In my time," said the grandmother, folding her thin veined fingers, "children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else. People did right then."

In the Grandmother's memory, the past was a more gracious time when people could be trusted and ladies acted like ladies. She still dresses like a lady, complete with swiss dotted dress, lace collar and cuffs and a hat, whereas her daughter-in-law wears the more casual and comfortable styles of the 1950s.

The Misfit, the murderer rumored to be lurking in the area, represents the unstable new times in which a person can't be too careful.  As the Grandmother says to Big Sam, who owns the burger joint where the family stops for lunch, "People are certainly not nice like they used to be."

We may suspect that the old days were not that great,  but we find out for a fact that the present has its horrors. 

What theme did Tybalt contribute to in Romeo and Juliet? How would the story be different if he were not written in?

In the play, Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt's character contributes to the theme of hatred which breeds disaster. From the moment we first meet him in Act 1, scene 1, he is displaying his great enmity for the Montagues and challenging Benvolio to fight with him.

Tybalt:

What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?

Turn thee Benvolio! look upon thy death.

Benvolio:

I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,

Or manage it...

In the play, Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt's character contributes to the theme of hatred which breeds disaster. From the moment we first meet him in Act 1, scene 1, he is displaying his great enmity for the Montagues and challenging Benvolio to fight with him.

Tybalt:

What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?

Turn thee Benvolio! look upon thy death.

Benvolio:

I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,

Or manage it to part these men with me.

Tybalt:

What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word

As I hate Hell, all Montagues , and thee!

Have at thee, coward!  (lines 64-70)

Then, in Act 1, scene 5, Tybalt overhears the voice of Romeo Montague at the Capulet Ball. He immediately becomes enraged at this affront to his family's honor and asks for his sword but is stopped by Lord Capulet, who does not wish to have any unpleasantness mar his party, especially in front of his guests.

Finally, in Act 3, scene 1, Tybalt's festering hatred for Romeo reaches its bitterest and most violent point as he challenges him to a fight, in order to defend his family's honor. Romeo, who has secretly wed Juliet and is therefore now Tybalt's cousin through marriage, feels love for Tybalt and refuses to fight him. Mercutio steps in and insults Tybalt; they fight and Mercutio is slain by Tybalt's sword. Romeo now views Tybalt as a villain and fights him to avenge the death of his best friend.

Although Tybalt is killed by Romeo, it is his avowed hatred, hubris and impulsivity that contribute to his own disaster, as well as to the ultimate fate of the star-crossed lovers. The character of Tybalt is, therefore, the embodiment of the theme that hatred breeds disaster. 

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into war with the Axis power. How did the United States recover from this attack to play a...

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they targeted military ships.  They had intended to cripple the military capabilities from Hawaii with their attack.  Admiral Yamamoto of Japan had intended to destroy as many U.S. aircraft carriers as possible, thus limiting their potential to fight back.  To his surprise, the fleet and aircraft carriers suffered mainly repairable damage.  For example, only two battleships were destroyed during the Pearl Harbor attack.  Six more were damaged, but they...

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they targeted military ships.  They had intended to cripple the military capabilities from Hawaii with their attack.  Admiral Yamamoto of Japan had intended to destroy as many U.S. aircraft carriers as possible, thus limiting their potential to fight back.  To his surprise, the fleet and aircraft carriers suffered mainly repairable damage.  For example, only two battleships were destroyed during the Pearl Harbor attack.  Six more were damaged, but they were fully repaired before World War II even ended.  No cruisers or destroyers were destroyed at Pearl Harbor.  

The United States military was able to recover from their losses rather quickly.  Only six months after the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. carrier fleet had regained so much strength that they "[sank] four Japanese aircraft carriers" during the Battle of Midway.  In the end, the United States military defeated Japan.

What occurs at the cathode and anode of a metal during corrosion?

Corrosion occurs when a metal deteriorates due to chemical processes. The corrosion of a metal often occurs where the metal is weak or isolated from the air. The process of corrosion occurs in two steps, oxidation and reduction. Let's look at the corrosion process that can occur in iron (Fe). 

Oxidation Step: Oxidationoccurs when the Fe atoms at a weakened spot on the metal dissolve into water. This causes the Fe atoms...

Corrosion occurs when a metal deteriorates due to chemical processes. The corrosion of a metal often occurs where the metal is weak or isolated from the air. The process of corrosion occurs in two steps, oxidation and reduction. Let's look at the corrosion process that can occur in iron (Fe). 

Oxidation Step: Oxidation occurs when the Fe atoms at a weakened spot on the metal dissolve into water. This causes the Fe atoms to lose electrons and become positively charged as shown below:

   Fe -> `~Fe^2^+`  + `~2e^-`

The reaction shown above is an example of an oxidation reaction. The area of the metal that is oxidized is called the anode. The electrons are then free to travel to a different location on the metal.

Reduction Step: Reduction occurs when the free electrons produced during oxidation step are removed from the metal by a depolarizer. Examples of depolarizer substances include: oxygen, acids, and other metals. The example below, shows the reduction process when an acid is used as the depolarizer:

   `~2H^+` + `~2e^-` -> `~H_2`

The reaction shown above is an example of a reduction reaction. The area of the metal that is reduced is called the cathode.

Notice that the oxidation and reduction steps occur at different locations on the metal. Because of this, electrons are able to flow from the anode site to the cathode site.

Can you give me a summary of Chapter 3 of The Swiss Family Robinson?

In Chapter Three, the family successfully get themselves off the wreck of the ship and to the island.  

In Chapter Two, they had already spent the day making a raft with some large wooden tubs that they found on the ship.  When day dawns at the beginning of Chapter Three, they are ready to load it.

The father describes what sort of gear they took with them in the raft (food, an iron pot,...

In Chapter Three, the family successfully get themselves off the wreck of the ship and to the island.  

In Chapter Two, they had already spent the day making a raft with some large wooden tubs that they found on the ship.  When day dawns at the beginning of Chapter Three, they are ready to load it.

The father describes what sort of gear they took with them in the raft (food, an iron pot, tools, and sailcloth to make a tent).  They say a prayer, then load some of the poultry into the tubs.  

The father then lists which family member traveled in each tub, along with their ages and some defining characteristics.  This is the best run-down of the family members that we get in the whole book.

On the way from the ship to the island, the father and Fritz manage to snag two floating barrels of the provisions that have come from the ship.  They tie these to the back of their raft and tow them along.

The family approaches the coast in their raft, with the two dogs swimming along with them.  At first it appears rocky and inhospitable, but eventually they find a little bay created by a creek flowing down to the sea.  They land their raft, and everyone gets out safely.   They say a prayer to thank God for saving their lives and to ask for His help in the future. 

How is The Hunger Games about "the search for identity"? What points support that theme?

Interesting thesis! Throughout the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, numerous identity searches are revealed. This is shown with multiple characters, such as Katniss and Peeta.

Beginning with Katniss, the story illustrates numerous examples of her search for identity. For example, Katniss struggles with her identity as a contestant and as Peeta's romantic partner. This is most clearly seen when the Hunger Games revokes its earlier decision about allowing two competitors from the same...

Interesting thesis! Throughout the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, numerous identity searches are revealed. This is shown with multiple characters, such as Katniss and Peeta.

Beginning with Katniss, the story illustrates numerous examples of her search for identity. For example, Katniss struggles with her identity as a contestant and as Peeta's romantic partner. This is most clearly seen when the Hunger Games revokes its earlier decision about allowing two competitors from the same district to survive. As Katniss illustrates:

“Before I am even aware of my actions, my bow is loaded with the arrow pointed straight at his heart. Peeta raises his eyebrows and I see the knife has already left his hand on its way to the lake where it splashes in the water. I drop my weapons and take a step back, my face burning in what can only be shame.”

Due to her identity search, Katniss’ actions are confused and contradictory. Consequently, she does not initially know how to respond or act.

Furthermore, Peeta also experiences identity search. As Peeta progresses throughout the story, he expresses his love for Katniss. As a result, he acts like a boyfriend in the Hunger Games. However, once the games are finished, he realizes that Katniss was partially acting for the games. As a result, his identity changes from boyfriend to merely fellow competitor. As Katniss reveals:

“Already the boy with the bread is slipping away from me.”  

Thus, multiple characters experience identity search throughout The Hunger Games. This unique situation causes many individuals to change their identities, regardless of their desires or intentions.

Can you help me understand how to find the trigonometric form of -4?

Hello!

I'll try.

The trigonometric form of a complex number is

`r(cos(phi)+i*sin(phi)),`

where `r` is a positive number and `phi` is a number in` [0, 2pi).`

Here `r` is the absolute value of a complex number and `phi` is the argument. Any nonzero complex number has one and only one such representation.

If we plot a complex number on a coordinate plane and draw a directed segment from the origin to the number's point,...

Hello!

I'll try.

The trigonometric form of a complex number is

`r(cos(phi)+i*sin(phi)),`

where `r` is a positive number and `phi` is a number in` [0, 2pi).`

Here `r` is the absolute value of a complex number and `phi` is the argument. Any nonzero complex number has one and only one such representation.

If we plot a complex number on a coordinate plane and draw a directed segment from the origin to the number's point, then `r` will be the length of this segment and `phi` will be the angle between the positive half of the x-axis and the segment.

For the number `-4=-4+0i` the absolute value is obviously `4=sqrt((-4)^2+0^2).`

What about `phi`? The point `(-4, 0)` lies at the negative half of the x-axis and the angle from the positive half to the negative is obviously `pi` (a half of an entire circumference, which is `2pi`).

We can check this: `4(cos(pi)+i*sin(pi))=4*(-1+0*i)=-4` (true).

So the answer is `-4=4(cos(pi)+i*sin(pi)).`

Which changes occur when a person exercises?A. Depth of breathing decreases and breathing rate also decreasesB Depth Of breathing decreases and...

The best answer, given your choices, is choice "B."  

I would like to make it clear that choice "B" is not absolutely guaranteed when a person exercises.  A lot will depend on the person that is exercising and their own physical fitness level.  I would also like to point out that breathing depth and rate will change depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise.  

Choice "B" is the best choice, because...

The best answer, given your choices, is choice "B."  

I would like to make it clear that choice "B" is not absolutely guaranteed when a person exercises.  A lot will depend on the person that is exercising and their own physical fitness level.  I would also like to point out that breathing depth and rate will change depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise.  

Choice "B" is the best choice, because it is the only choice that lists a breathing rate increase.  When a person exercises, their cells are using more oxygen and producing more carbon dioxide through the process of cellular respiration.  The body then needs to supply more oxygen to meet the increased demand and expel the toxic carbon dioxide quicker.  That means the blood the needs to move those gas loads more quickly to and from the lungs. The heart rate will increase to do that.  In order to exchange gas the gas loads within the alveoli more quickly, the body will increase the breathing rate.  

The reason I can't wholeheartedly endorse choice "B" is because very fit, well trained athletes will increase their breathing depth during certain aerobic exercises.  But in general, choice "B" is what happens when most people exercise.  

Who is Roberto in The Giver?

Roberto is an old man who is released.

Roberto is a minor character in the book who never actually appears within his pages.  By the time Roberto is introduced to the reader, he is already dead.

When Jonas is participating in volunteer hours in the House of the Old with Fiona, he hears about the release of Roberto from Larissa.  She explains to Jonas that Roberto has just been released, and it was a wonderful...

Roberto is an old man who is released.

Roberto is a minor character in the book who never actually appears within his pages.  By the time Roberto is introduced to the reader, he is already dead.

When Jonas is participating in volunteer hours in the House of the Old with Fiona, he hears about the release of Roberto from Larissa.  She explains to Jonas that Roberto has just been released, and it was a wonderful ceremony.  This catches Jonas’s attention, because he remembers the old man.

"I knew Roberto!" Jonas said. "I helped with his feeding the last time I was here, just a few weeks ago. He was a very interesting man." (Ch. 4)

In Jonas’s community, people only have a family while they are raising children.  Then the adults go to live with the Childless Adults while they can still work, and when they get old they move to the House of the Old.  After a time, they are released.

The old are treated like children.  While they are pampered and cared for, they are also smacked with discipline wands for misbehaving.  After their period of time in the House of the Old, they are released.

Larissa tells Jonas that Roberto had a wonderful and important life, and she enjoyed his ceremony.  During the ceremony, they explain all about the old person’s life before releasing him or her.  Jonas asks Larissa where the Old go when they are released.

"I don't know. I don't think anybody does, except the committee. .He just bowed to all of us and then walked, like they all do, through the special door in the Releasing Room. But you should have seen his look. Pure happiness, I'd call it." (Ch. 4)

Jonas has no idea what release is when he first hears about it.  He does not realize that the old people are being euthanized.  Later, when Jonas does learn what release means, he also learns that his friend Fiona has been trained how to do it.

We only learn about release in bits and pieces.  Most readers will realize what it is long before Jonas does, because he has no understanding of death.  None of his community members do.  It is only after he receives the memories of death that he can appreciate the concept.  His father, Fiona, and the others perform euthanasia on a regular basis on babies and old people without giving it a second thought.  It means nothing to them.

Is there any research-based evidence about how mindfulness affects our brains and reduces stress?

While people have reported personal experiences relating to the positive effects of mindfulness for thousands of year, it has only been recently that science has been able to use research to confirm and label its effects on the brain. Using a training technique called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which has been widely reported as an effective approach for promoting psychological wellness, a group of scientists lead by Britta K Hölzel was able to measure the...

While people have reported personal experiences relating to the positive effects of mindfulness for thousands of year, it has only been recently that science has been able to use research to confirm and label its effects on the brain. Using a training technique called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which has been widely reported as an effective approach for promoting psychological wellness, a group of scientists lead by Britta K Hölzel was able to measure the effects of mindfulness on the brain. 

The findings of their research showed changes in the brain including increases in gray matter, where the majority of the processing in the brain takes place, in many areas. The areas most affected by these changes were areas responsible for emotional regulation, learning and memory, perspective and self-referential processing, or how you see yourself and events in reference to yourself. In addition to this, Hölzel cites two other studies (one conducted by Hölzel and one from another scientist) that shows growth in the hippocampus. This is important because it means that damage done to the hippocampus from prolonged stress and some related psychological problems may be reversible through mindfulness.

Mindfulness and related practices such as meditation and even prayer have long been reported to have a positive impact on practitioner's mental well being. Quantitative research has been and is currently being done in an attempt to see if the reported psychological effects have a physical basis. With the advances in science, especially in brain imaging, scientists are now able to confirm links when they exist and promote these practices for general use when the evidence supports it. 

Why does Ana get involved in the garden?

Ana, an elderly woman, has lived in the neighborhood a long time.  She likes to sit by her window and watch the activity outside. She says,

“I’ve seen history out this window.” (pg 5)

She sees Kim, the little Vietnamese girl, bury something in the empty lot next door. Ana thought Kim might be “mixed up in something she shouldn’t be.” (pg 8)  Having worked for the Parole department for twenty years, Ana thought Kim...

Ana, an elderly woman, has lived in the neighborhood a long time.  She likes to sit by her window and watch the activity outside. She says,

“I’ve seen history out this window.” (pg 5)

She sees Kim, the little Vietnamese girl, bury something in the empty lot next door. Ana thought Kim might be “mixed up in something she shouldn’t be.” (pg 8)  Having worked for the Parole department for twenty years, Ana thought Kim might be burying drugs or a gun.  She was about to call the police, but decided to check it out herself.

When she went down to the lot, she dug up the area where the young girl had been seen. All she found was a white bean.  She found two more beans with roots and suddenly realized that she had done the wrong thing. She had dug up the girl’s garden.

“I felt like I’d read through her secret diary and had ripped out a page without meaning to.” (pg 9)

Since Ana is elderly, there isn’t much she can do.  However, she contacts Wendell, a man who lives on the first floor, and shows him the beans.  He is surprised that the beans even sprouted because Kim planted them too early.  However, Anna tells him,

“But they did…. And it’s up to us to save them.” (pg 13)

Ana watched those beans, and when Kim didn’t show up for four days, she made sure that Wendell watered them. Wendell had some experience with plants.  He dug a trench around one of the plants to hold water.  Kim suddenly arrived, and without speaking a word, Wendell showed her what he had done.  When he returned later, Kim had dug a trench around the other plants.  Then Wendell decided to grow his own garden.  If Ana hadn’t gotten involved, Kim’s little garden probably would have remained just that, her little garden.  Because Ana got involved, Wendell got involved, the garden grew, and others joined them. Although Ana did not have her own garden, in many ways, she was responsible for the whole garden.  

Even though Jem Finch is brave, how does he still rely on Atticus when he is scared in Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird? Provide 2-3 quotes from...

To Kill a Mockingbird covers the years surrounding Jem's preteen years--ages 10 to 12. These are impressionable years but also years when many kids assert their independence while facing childhood fears. As the Finch kids come to learn the realities of life, some scary or surprising events emerge. Jem handles life on his own, generally, but when something pops up that he's unsure of, he either watches how his father reacts to those situations or he goes and asks Atticus for help. 

One of the first events that causes Jem to watch Atticus for an example of how to behave is when Miss Maudie's house is burning. Atticus tells Jem to take care of Scout while he goes to help. When Jem notices that he and Scout are feeling scared, he gives her some advice to watch Atticus to know when to to start worrying. He tells Scout the following:

"'See there, he's not worried yet,' said Jem.

'Why ain't he on top of one of the houses?'

'He's too old, he'd break his neck. . . Let's don't pester him, he'll know when it's time'" (70).

This passage shows that Jem watches Atticus to see how to face a crisis. He trusts his father so much, that all he has to do is watch the example set before him in order to calm himself and Scout down.

Another scary episode happens when Jem spots a mad dog coming down the street. Jem does not try to be a hero. Jem knows when to call in his father for help and when to take care of the situation himself. The mad dog was more than he could handle at his age; so, Jem goes straight to Calpurnia for help because he knows she will call Atticus. Atticus and Heck Tate are called in to help and Atticus is calm and collected as always. When the kids discover that Atticus is a dead shot (by killing the dog) Scout wants to tell the world. Jem tells her not to because "if he wanted us to know it, he'da told us. If he was proud of it, he'da told us. . . Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!" (98-99).

Finally, during an even scarier situation, the kids discover Atticus guarding Tom Robinson at the jail before the trial. After Scout breaks away from Jem to run toward Atticus, Jem follows up to catch her. Once there, Jem refuses to leave when his father asks him to because Atticus doesn't say, "It's not time to worry." Jem fully understands that his dad is in trouble. Yet again, Jem behaves like his father by not reacting incorrectly or rashly. Atticus shows his approval for how Jem handled a scary situation as follows:

"Atticus  and Jem were well ahead of us, and I assumed that Atticus was giving him hell for not going home, but I was wrong. As they passed under the streetlight Atticus reached out and massaged Jem's hair, his one gesture of affection" (155).

Atticus and Jem have an unspoken relationship of trust. Jem knows when to ask for help even though he has the courage of his father. He understands that his father will lead them right and protect them as he follows his father's lead.

Why were the Populists' attempts to form a coalition of white and black farmers and industrial workers ultimately unsuccessful?

There are at least three reasons why the Populists’ attempt to form this coalition was ultimately unsuccessful.

First, it is not necessarily easy to form a coalition between farmers and factory workers.  While some people might think that both of these groups are working class and therefore share the same interests, values, and goals, that is not really true.  Factor workers are urban people.  Many of them in those days were immigrants.  Farmers are rural...

There are at least three reasons why the Populists’ attempt to form this coalition was ultimately unsuccessful.

First, it is not necessarily easy to form a coalition between farmers and factory workers.  While some people might think that both of these groups are working class and therefore share the same interests, values, and goals, that is not really true.  Factor workers are urban people.  Many of them in those days were immigrants.  Farmers are rural people, most of whom were not immigrants.  Farmers worried about things like the prices that railroads charged while workers worried about working conditions and pay.  These differences meant that they did not really see one another as natural allies.

Second, we have to remember that this was a time when racism was the norm in the United States.  Whites all over the country, but particularly in the South, saw themselves as superior to African Americans.  They wanted to maintain white supremacy.  They did not feel that it was right for them to ally with people who were their inferiors.  In addition, many Southern whites did not want to abandon the Democratic Party for fear that this would harm the power of white supremacy in the South.  (The Democrats were the party more associated with white supremacy in those days.)  Thus, racism and the desire to maintain white supremacy helped to weaken the Populists’ attempted coalition.

Finally, the Democratic Party saw the Populists as a threat.  Because of this, they tried to attract people from the Populists.  They took some of the Populists’ ideas as their own.  By doing so, they attracted people who might otherwise have joined the Populists.  This, too, weakened the Populists.

These three factors all contributed to the ultimate failure of the Populists’ attempt to form this coalition.