Is pure water heterogenous or homogeneous?

Pure water is composed entirely of water molecules. A sample that is composed of only one substance is called a pure substance. 

Mixtures contain two or more different types of substances. The terms homogeneous and heterogeneous are usually used to describe how the substances in a mixture are arranged:

• 
  Homogeneous Mixture: In a homogeneous mixture, substances are evenly mixed throughout the mixture. Every sample taken from a homogeneous mixture will contain the same...

Pure water is composed entirely of water molecules. A sample that is composed of only one substance is called a pure substance. 

Mixtures contain two or more different types of substances. The terms homogeneous and heterogeneous are usually used to describe how the substances in a mixture are arranged:

• 
  Homogeneous Mixture: In a homogeneous mixture, substances are evenly mixed throughout the mixture. Every sample taken from a homogeneous mixture will contain the same substances. Example: salt water.

• 
  Heterogeneous Mixture: In a heterogeneous mixture, substances are unevenly mixed. Samples taken from different parts of the mixture may contain different substances. Example: oil and water.

In summary,

• Pure Water is a pure substance. It contains only water molecules. The terms homogeneous and heterogeneous are not usually used to describe pure substances. 

• A mixture of water and salt is an example of a homogeneous mixture because the salt is evenly mixed throughout the water.

• A mixture of water and oil is an example of a heterogeneous mixture because the water and oil separate into two separate layers and are not evenly mixed.

What did Sam Gribley's dad bring him?

In the book My Side of the Mountain, Sam Gribley’s father comes to see him twice.  The first time, he does not bring anything.  The second time, he brings the rest of the family to see Sam.

The first time that Sam’s father comes is at Christmas.  Mr. Gribley has been missing Sam and wants to see how he is doing.  He finds Sam by tracking him a little bit and then by yelling...

In the book My Side of the Mountain, Sam Gribley’s father comes to see him twice.  The first time, he does not bring anything.  The second time, he brings the rest of the family to see Sam.

The first time that Sam’s father comes is at Christmas.  Mr. Gribley has been missing Sam and wants to see how he is doing.  He finds Sam by tracking him a little bit and then by yelling when he thinks he is near to where Sam is.  He spends Christmas with Sam and Bando, but he does not bring anything with him.

Later, at the very end of the book, Sam’s father comes to see him again.  This time, he brings something with him.  It is the whole Gribley family.  As the book says (I have this in electronic form and cannot give page numbers)

The family! Dad had brought the family! Every one of them.

As it turns out, Mr. Gribley did not just bring the family to visit.  He plans to build a house in the woods so that the family can live together again.

What was the importance of omens and prophecy in 11th-century Scotland?

Certainly, people living in the 11th century in Scotland would have believed in prophecies and omens.  This is why, in the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are so willing to believe the Weird Sisters' statements.  However, many people living during Shakespeare's time would have been somewhat less willing to believe in prophecies and omens, and so Banquo would appear to be a much more modern character to Shakespeare's audience that the Macbeths.  

Further, the...

Certainly, people living in the 11th century in Scotland would have believed in prophecies and omens.  This is why, in the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are so willing to believe the Weird Sisters' statements.  However, many people living during Shakespeare's time would have been somewhat less willing to believe in prophecies and omens, and so Banquo would appear to be a much more modern character to Shakespeare's audience that the Macbeths.  

Further, the omens that the Old Man and Ross discuss in Act 2, Scene 4, would be quite believable to Scots living in the 1000s.  The Old Man talks about "A falcon, tow'ring in her pride of place, / [who] Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed" (2.4.15-16).  In other words, an owl (a bird associated with witchcraft) has attacked and killed a much stronger and more powerful falcon (a bird associated with royalty).  Such a sight would have been terribly notable for them.  Moreover, Ross mentions the fact that "Duncan's horses" rebelled and the Old Man says that "they eat each / other" (2.4.23-24).  This unnatural occurrence appears would likely be read as symbolic of those who were formerly loyal to Duncan turning on one another.

How did the colonists respond to the Proclamation Act of 1763?

After the French and Indian War ended, Great Britain received a lot of land from France. The colonists were excited when they heard the British received most of France’s land east of the Mississippi River.

However, the colonists were very upset when the British passed the Proclamation of 1763. This law prevented the colonists from moving into the land west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British were concerned that the Native Americans would attack the...

After the French and Indian War ended, Great Britain received a lot of land from France. The colonists were excited when they heard the British received most of France’s land east of the Mississippi River.

However, the colonists were very upset when the British passed the Proclamation of 1763. This law prevented the colonists from moving into the land west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British were concerned that the Native Americans would attack the colonists who might try to settle in this region. Most Native Americans had sided with the French in the French and Indian War, and they were very concerned that the British were getting this land. The colonists, however, believed the British were trying to restrict their freedom by passing this law. Owning land was very important to the colonists.

The colonists were upset with the Proclamation of 1763, and some colonists took action to protest this law. Some colonists refused to follow the law and moved to this area. The colonists were further upset when Great Britain passed the Quartering Act that required the colonists to provide housing for the British soldiers who were enforcing the Proclamation of 1763. The Proclamation of 1763 made the colonists unhappy.

Why was Mrs. Watson angry about her husband driving straight through Birmingham? Why was she pleased? Give one reason for each.

In the story, Mrs. Watson was a little angry when her husband drove straight through to Birmingham because his unilateral decision had put a dent in all of her 'notebook planning.' This just means that Mrs. Watson, who had the trip all planned out, including the stops the family would make, did not get to experience the journey as she had envisioned. Therefore, this made her upset.

However, she was also secretly pleased, as driving...

In the story, Mrs. Watson was a little angry when her husband drove straight through to Birmingham because his unilateral decision had put a dent in all of her 'notebook planning.' This just means that Mrs. Watson, who had the trip all planned out, including the stops the family would make, did not get to experience the journey as she had envisioned. Therefore, this made her upset.

However, she was also secretly pleased, as driving through to Birmingham meant that they did not have to pay for overnight lodging. According to her proud husband, he drove for eighteen straight hours and almost a thousand miles to Birmingham. He also told his family that a song playing on the radio, Big Daddy Was a Truck-Drivin’ Man, further spurred him on. When he got tired, Mr. Watson also remembered his friend, Joe Espinosa, who drove all the way to Texas without stopping.

In due time, the family reached their destination, and everyone greeted Grandma Sands.

On what page of The Outsiders is the following quote: "you just didn't tell Dally Winston what to do?"

In Chapter 2 of S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders, page 22 of the edition consulted, the story’s narrator, Ponyboy Curtis, is describing an encounter he and Johnny have with Cherry Valance, in which the pretty Soc who will engage Ponyboy in a continuing dialogue throughout the novel, rebuffs Dallas Winston, Dally’s, abrupt, rude introduction. Cherry has thrown a drink into Dally’s face, prompting yet another unpleasant rejoinder from the meanest of the Greasers. Johnny,...

In Chapter 2 of S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders, page 22 of the edition consulted, the story’s narrator, Ponyboy Curtis, is describing an encounter he and Johnny have with Cherry Valance, in which the pretty Soc who will engage Ponyboy in a continuing dialogue throughout the novel, rebuffs Dallas Winston, Dally’s, abrupt, rude introduction. Cherry has thrown a drink into Dally’s face, prompting yet another unpleasant rejoinder from the meanest of the Greasers. Johnny, the smallest and weakest of the Greasers, however, unexpectedly comes to Cherry’s defense, warning the bigger, tougher Dally away from Cherry. It is now that Ponyboy describes Dally’s reaction, including the caveat about telling Dally what to do:

“Dallas scowled for a second. If it had been me, or Two-Bit, or Soda or Steve, or anyone but Johnny, Dally would have flattened him without a moment's hesitation. You just didn't tell Dally Winston what to do. One time, in a dime store, a guy told him to move over at the candy counter. Dally had turned around and belted him so hard it knocked a tooth loose. A complete stranger, too.” [Emphasis added]

Earlier in Hinton’s novel, Ponyboy has described many of the main figures in his life, most importantly, his brothers Darryl and Sodapop. He also, though, introduces us to the character of Dally with the following observation: “If I had to pick the real character of the gang, it would be Dallas Winston--- Dally.” Dally, the narrative continues, is from the larger, rougher urban environment of New York and has a long criminal record. Ponyboy emphasizes that he personally dislikes Dally, but “he was smart and you had to respect him.” As the story progresses, Dally will play an increasingly important role in The Outsiders, helping Ponyboy and Johnny to escape following the killing of the Soc named Bob. It will also be Dally who, at the end of his road following Johnny’s death and tortured by his own demons, robs a store and is killed by the police in the ensuing chase.

The diffusion that was created in the Columbian Exchange proved to influence both the New World and Europe negatively and positively. Why is this?

The Columbian Exchange involved the interchange of disease, technology, culture, and agriculture between the New and Old Worlds after Columbus's expeditions in the late 1400s. The exchange had some positive features, such as the introduction of new animals in the New World and new agricultural products in the Old World, as well as some very negative effects such as the diseases and guns brought to the New World.

Europeans introduced animals, such as the horse,...

The Columbian Exchange involved the interchange of disease, technology, culture, and agriculture between the New and Old Worlds after Columbus's expeditions in the late 1400s. The exchange had some positive features, such as the introduction of new animals in the New World and new agricultural products in the Old World, as well as some very negative effects such as the diseases and guns brought to the New World.

Europeans introduced animals, such as the horse, in the New World, that would go on to change Native American culture and even become central to Native Americans' hunting and living practices. However, some plants and animals brought to the New World forever upset the natural ecosystem.

The European part of the exchange had several negative effects. For example, the Spaniards also introduced the encomienda system that resulted in subjugating native people and making them work in exchange for the idea that Spaniards were saving their souls through Christianity. Other Europeans also subjugated native people. The most devastating import of Europeans was their unwitting transmission of diseases, such as smallpox, to natives who had never experienced these diseases and therefore did not have immunity. Smallpox decimated many native populations. In addition, Europeans brought slavery to the New World, with devastating and inhuman consequences. The Europeans enforced their practices with guns--a negative outcome of the exchange. 

The New World was the source of many new products for the Old World, including corn, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, and tobacco. In particular, tobacco became very popular in Europe, and Europe imported sugar from the New World as well. These products provided a boon to the European economy--a positive effect of the exchange. 

Another result of the Columbian Exchange was racial mixing, as Europeans married natives, and later, slaves also intermarried or had children with European descendants and native people. The result was the creation of the New World and its unique and varied population. 

What details throughout the book show that Lyddie is proud?

I think that the early chapters of the book do a nice job of showing the reader that Lyddie is a proud and determined girl.  I think a good early example is her determination to continue taking care of the farm through the winter despite her mom leaving.  Lyddie is too proud to just leave the farm and let it go to waste.  She and Charlie do quite well with the responsibilities as well too;...

I think that the early chapters of the book do a nice job of showing the reader that Lyddie is a proud and determined girl.  I think a good early example is her determination to continue taking care of the farm through the winter despite her mom leaving.  Lyddie is too proud to just leave the farm and let it go to waste.  She and Charlie do quite well with the responsibilities as well too; nevertheless, they are both sold into indentured servitude.  

While Lyddie is worked to the ground by Mrs. Cutler, Lyddie is proud enough to not give up and cower from Mrs. Cutler.  At one point Lyddie thinks the following line.  

Mrs. Cutler watched Lyddie like a barn cat on a sparrow, but Lyddie was determined not to give her cause for complaint.  

Lyddie is proud of her ability to work and work hard.  That pride continues throughout the story.  She is determined to learn how to operate her own loom.  It pays off, and she quickly becomes one of the strongest factory girls.  That pride in her accomplishments leads to Lyddie's dismissal of Brigid's initial efforts.  Lyddie believes that she is too effective and talented to waste her time and efforts on teaching a girl like Brigid.  That's Lyddie's pride having a negative impact on her and the people around her.  

Which colony had the most religious freedom?

People came to the British colonies for many reasons. One of the reasons was to be able to practice their religion freely. Interestingly enough, many of the colonies didn’t offer religious freedom to people who practiced a religion different from the main one of the colony. Even though these groups were persecuted for their religious beliefs in Europe, they didn’t offer religious freedom in the colonies. However, in Pennsylvania, there was religious freedom. Pennsylvania was...

People came to the British colonies for many reasons. One of the reasons was to be able to practice their religion freely. Interestingly enough, many of the colonies didn’t offer religious freedom to people who practiced a religion different from the main one of the colony. Even though these groups were persecuted for their religious beliefs in Europe, they didn’t offer religious freedom in the colonies. However, in Pennsylvania, there was religious freedom. Pennsylvania was the colony that had the most religious freedom.

William Penn, the founder of the colony, was a Quaker. The Quakers weren’t allowed to practice their religion freely in Great Britain. They were persecuted if they did that. When William Penn received the land for his colony, he allowed people of any religious faith to settle there. Quakers from many European countries came to Pennsylvania. Other religious groups from Europe that came to settle in Pennsylvania were the Amish, Protestants, Lutherans, and Mennonites.

Because of the different religious groups that came here and because there were many people from different European countries living in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania became known as the melting pot. There was a good deal of diversity in the colony of Pennsylvania. Thus, Pennsylvania earns the title as the colony with the most religious freedom.

What do Rikki and Nag have in common?

Although Nag is the antagonist and Rikki is the protagonist in "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," they do have some similarities. They are both crafty, respectful of their adversaries, and determined. 

Nag tries to deceive Rikki at their first meeting. He tilts his head and pretends he would like to get into a philosophical discussion about why eating birds is proper, but he is really trying to distract Rikki so Nagaina can strike. Likewise, Rikki is crafty with the...

Although Nag is the antagonist and Rikki is the protagonist in "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," they do have some similarities. They are both crafty, respectful of their adversaries, and determined. 

Nag tries to deceive Rikki at their first meeting. He tilts his head and pretends he would like to get into a philosophical discussion about why eating birds is proper, but he is really trying to distract Rikki so Nagaina can strike. Likewise, Rikki is crafty with the snakes. For example, he enlists Darzee's wife to pretend she is lame to distract Nagaina while he destroys the eggs.

Nag is aware that "mongooses in the garden meant death sooner or later for him and for his family." Rikki is likewise aware of the power of his opponent. While planning how to attack Nag in the bathroom, Rikki says, "If I don't break his back at the first jump, he can still fight; and if he fights—O Rikki!" During the fight, he fully expects to die and is only saved by the man killing Nag with a gun.

Nag is determined to "kill the big man and his wife, and the child if I can." He allows his wife's talk of being "king and queen of the garden" to motivate him to do his deadly work. Similarly, Rikki is determined, but his goal is to save the humans and rid the garden of snakes. He makes sure Nag is killed first, then kills all but one of the baby snakes, and then he goes so far as to follow Nagaina down the rat hole, something very few mongooses would dare to do. 

Nag and Rikki are well-matched adversaries, for each is crafty, respectful of his opponent, and determined to succeed with his plan.

What plants produce acid that cause weathering of rocks?

Plants are capable of both, physical and chemical weathering of rocks. Plants grow on rocks and their roots, while growing, enters the cracks within the rock and extend them. Over time, large enough cracks develop and weathering takes place. Plants, such as moss, are capable of releasing weak organic acids, that will dissolve minerals from the rocks and cause chemical weathering. Apart from moss, organisms such as fungus and lichen are also capable of similar...

Plants are capable of both, physical and chemical weathering of rocks. Plants grow on rocks and their roots, while growing, enters the cracks within the rock and extend them. Over time, large enough cracks develop and weathering takes place. Plants, such as moss, are capable of releasing weak organic acids, that will dissolve minerals from the rocks and cause chemical weathering. Apart from moss, organisms such as fungus and lichen are also capable of similar chemical weathering action. This acid causes breaks down the minerals and provides the nutrient for plants and organisms. In some cases, roots of decaying plants may also release chemicals that will accelerate the weathering process. Plants also condition the soil (which is formed from broken rocks) and ensure that the soil would be able to support their growth.

Hope this helps. 

In "By the Waters of Babylon,'' what does John describe in the apartment? What are the objects?

In “By the Waters of Babylon,” John describes many things that he sees in the apartment of the “dead god.”  Almost all of these things are easily identifiable from what John says.

John starts by mentioning “coverings on the floor.”  These are clearly carpets or rugs.  He then says that there were chairs that were “soft and deep,” which is self-explanatory.  He mentions pictures on the walls, one of which is a pointillist painting of...

In “By the Waters of Babylon,” John describes many things that he sees in the apartment of the “dead god.”  Almost all of these things are easily identifiable from what John says.

John starts by mentioning “coverings on the floor.”  These are clearly carpets or rugs.  He then says that there were chairs that were “soft and deep,” which is self-explanatory.  He mentions pictures on the walls, one of which is a pointillist painting of flowers.  There was a “figure of a bird, in some hard clay.”  This could be ceramic or it could be plastic.  John then talks about the fact that there was a “washing-place but no water.”  This is presumably a sink or a bathtub/shower.  We cannot know which as we are not told how big it was.  In the kitchen was “a machine to cook food, (but) there was no place to put fire in it.”  This must be a stove/oven.  The “things that looked like lamps but they had neither oil nor wick” must have been electric lights.  There are faucets, which John describes as saying “hot” and “cold” but not being hot or cold.  Finally, John says that he saw “a place to make fire and a box with wood in it.”  This must have been a fireplace with wood to go in it.

These are all of the things that John describes seeing in the apartment where he spent the night and where he saw the body of the “dead god.”

What does the setting reveal about the experience of Asian immigrants in their first years in the United States?

Amy Tan's short story "Two Kinds" takes place in San Francisco in roughly the 1950s. The setting suggests that Asian immigrants have to work very hard to succeed and that they are willingly absorbing parts of American culture while still retaining some values from China.

In the story, the narrator's mother lost her family, including her parents, first husband, and baby twin girls, in China, but the mother works hard to make a good life...

Amy Tan's short story "Two Kinds" takes place in San Francisco in roughly the 1950s. The setting suggests that Asian immigrants have to work very hard to succeed and that they are willingly absorbing parts of American culture while still retaining some values from China.

In the story, the narrator's mother lost her family, including her parents, first husband, and baby twin girls, in China, but the mother works hard to make a good life for her daughter in San Francisco and to succeed. The story reads, "My mother got these magazines from people whose houses she cleaned. And since she cleaned many houses each week, we had a great assortment. She would look through them all, searching for stories about remarkable children" (page 2). The mother clearly works hard cleaning houses all day, but she is also hungry to learn more about American culture any way she can, in part to help her daughter succeed by becoming a child prodigy. 

Here is another passage from the story that shows the mother's approach to life in the United States:

"And then one day my mother was watching the Ed Sullivan Show on TV. The TV was old and the sound kept shorting out. Every time my mother got halfway up from the sofa to adjust the set, the sound would come back on and Sullivan would be talking" (page 3).

This passage also shows that the mother is poor, as the TV is old. She is also eager to learn more about the United States by watching the Ed Sullivan Show, a popular television show at the time. Although the mother is new to the country and has to work hard, she wants to do whatever she can to help her family succeed in America. Asian immigrants at this time often struggled to get by, but they hoped their children would lead a better life.

Since mercury expands and contracts with temperature changes, how can it give consistent barometric measurements?

You’re correct that mercury exhibits thermal expansion, but it’s not enough to affect a mercury barometer reading for most purposes. Sometimes the degree of precision of pressure measurements is such that temperature variations will make a difference. In this case a mathematical correction is made to the measured height of the mercury column to account for the change in volume. A table of corrections is shown below for temperatures above the calibration temperature of 0 degrees C. It shows the correction...

You’re correct that mercury exhibits thermal expansion, but it’s not enough to affect a mercury barometer reading for most purposes. Sometimes the degree of precision of pressure measurements is such that temperature variations will make a difference. In this case a mathematical correction is made to the measured height of the mercury column to account for the change in volume. A table of corrections is shown below for temperatures above the calibration temperature of 0 degrees C. It shows the correction for 760 mm Hg at 20 degrees C to be 2.47 mm. This is a difference of only about 0.3%.

Mercury barometer readings are also affected by altitude, because the height to which air pressure will push a column of mercury depends on the local value gravity. This can also be mathematically corrected when required for a desired degree of precision.

You might be wondering why the expansion of mercury seems more significant in a thermometer than in a barometer. This is because the mercury in a thermometer is contained in a very thin tube. The small diameter of the tube causes a more noticeable change in height when the volume of the mercury changes.

How does Tom Buchanan speak? What is the tone of his typical manner of address?

Tom Buchanan speaks like a person who has never been opposed, like one who has always been listened to, and as though he believes himself to be better than everyone else.  Nick describes his voice as 

a gruff husky tenor [which] added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed.  There was a touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward people he liked-- [...].  "Now don't think my opinion on these matters is final," he...

Tom Buchanan speaks like a person who has never been opposed, like one who has always been listened to, and as though he believes himself to be better than everyone else.  Nick describes his voice as 

a gruff husky tenor [which] added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed.  There was a touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward people he liked-- [...].  "Now don't think my opinion on these matters is final," he seemed to say, "just because I'm stronger and more of a man than you are" (7).

In addition to the arrogance conveyed by Tom's demeanor and bearing, his voice communicates a similar sense of his own importance.  His gruffness is overwhelmingly masculine and powerful, and his way of being constantly touchy and sort of irritated make him seem as though he doesn't like anyone, even the people whom he actually does like.  Tom is authoritative, brooking no opposition, even though he would never say that such opposition was unacceptable.  It's just that his tone implies the question: do you really want to disagree with me, you puny runt, with all my bravado and righteousness?

During dinner on the first night Nick goes to visit, Tom blurts out, "violently," that 

"Civilization's going to pieces [....].  [I]f we don't look out the white race will be -- will be utterly submerged [....].  It's up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things" (12-13).

His racism further conveys a sense of his cruelty and superiority.  And his tone, here, emphasizes his "fractiousness" again; he is peevish about a threat where none exists.  He is the threat, not those people who he believes to be a danger to the "Nordic" race (13).  

What does the title Nightwood refer to (or imply)?

Djuna Barnes was a contemporary of Anais Nin, and, like that writer, also very interested in writing about the emotional lives of characters with descriptive and evocative language. Her novel Nightwoodcaused a sensation in 1937 when it was published; poet T. S. Eliot called the author's use of language "astonishing." The novel's plot and characters seem to be secondary in impact to the use of language, which is full of imagery and symbolism. The...

Djuna Barnes was a contemporary of Anais Nin, and, like that writer, also very interested in writing about the emotional lives of characters with descriptive and evocative language. Her novel Nightwood caused a sensation in 1937 when it was published; poet T. S. Eliot called the author's use of language "astonishing." The novel's plot and characters seem to be secondary in impact to the use of language, which is full of imagery and symbolism. The novel is about a stormy relationship between two women and the people in their lives who become entangled in their difficulties. In one scene Doctor O'Connor, a complex character who has a sexual identity crisis, goes on a bit of tirade and says to Nora Flood, the protagonist: "Ho, nocturnal hag, whimpering on the thorn, rot in the grist, mildew on the corn." This kind of language, full of somewhat disturbing imagery, allows an understanding of the title's meaning.

The image of a "night wood" or a forest in darkness seems to refer to the shadowy places in our minds and souls that can obsess us when we are unhappy or confused in relationships or when contemplating our own purpose or identity. Carl Jung, whose works were beginning to be popular around the time this novel was written, referred to the forest as one of many archetypes, or ancient symbolic ideas that help us understand human thought and emotions. Forests can be dark, mysterious, tangled, frightening and dangerous. The words "nocturnal hag" conjure an image of an old woman who goes about by night, a sort of witch figure, and witches are also associated with the forest. The title refers overall to the sometimes confusing and frightening state of the human psyche, and the ways in which relationships can feel like a journey into the unknown and unfamiliar.

What are the similarities and differences between Macbeth and Ulysses?

Macbeth and Ulysses have more differences than similarities. Macbeth chronicles the rise and fall of a general who believes he is fated to rule Scotland. Taking matters into his own hands, Macbeth kills the rightful king, rules with an iron fist, soon alienates his allies, and is overthrown and killed. Concise, brutal, and dark, Macbeth is the tragic story of a formerly virtuous man whose own ambition leads to his downfall. The story also has contains many fantastical elements, including, most famously, the witches who prophesy Macbeth's rise to the throne.

Ulysses, on the other hand, is a the tale of a day in the life of a fairly unremarkable man, Leopold Bloom. While the novel is based on Homer's Odyssey, Joyce ultimately tried to capture the nature of an ordinary life, something that few novels had tried to do in 1922. Additionally, while there are many tragic elements in the novel, the end is relatively uplifting, as Bloom finds a potential mentoring relationship with Stephen Dedalus and comes closer to repairing his strained relationship with his wife. Also, the novel constitutes Joyce's celebration of the common human, as one of the overarching themes of the novel is the inherent epic quality of every life, no matter how ordinary.

In short, Ulysses differs from Macbeth in some pretty significant ways. While Ulysses celebrates the ordinary, the mundane, the REAL, Macbeth chronicles the epic struggle between kings, lords, Fate, and the supernatural. Additionally, Ulysses is often uproariously funny, while most audience members watching the Scottish Play would be hard-pressed to crack a smile. That said, Joyce does heavily reference many works of Shakespeare throughout his novel; however, his most common allusion is to Hamlet, not Macbeth.

That said, there are some interesting similarities between Macbeth and the character of Ulysses, especially the Ulysses found in Dante's Inferno. Rejecting the comforts of home, Dante's Ulysses left Ithaca to sail off for the ends of the Earth. During this venture, his boat was capsized and he and all of his crew mates drowned. Punished for his blasphemous ambition, Ulysses is forever imprisoned within the bowels of Hell. Thus, both Macbeth and Dante's Ulysses are ultimately punished for the extent of their ambition, and so there are actually quite a few similarities to be seen in that context. But, compared to Jame Joyce's Ulysses, Macbeth is altogether a different work of literature.  

Describe the form of the story "A Worn Path."

"A Worn Path" begins with an exposition. The exposition is the introduction of the setting and the main characters. The complication (the introduction of some conflict or obstacle) is introduced gradually. We know that Phoenix is on some type of arduous trip or journey, but it isn't until later in the story that we learn that the journey is to obtain medicine for her grandson. The crisis and climax occur when she has the encounter...

"A Worn Path" begins with an exposition. The exposition is the introduction of the setting and the main characters. The complication (the introduction of some conflict or obstacle) is introduced gradually. We know that Phoenix is on some type of arduous trip or journey, but it isn't until later in the story that we learn that the journey is to obtain medicine for her grandson. The crisis and climax occur when she has the encounter with the hunter. The resolution occurs when she obtains the medicine and the spare change that she will use to buy her grandson a toy windmill. 

This story has elements of a parable (a story which is didactic and provides some kind of life lesson). The lesson here might be about perseverance or a call for the reader to reflect upon race and relationships. But the story also has the form and structure of the epic. For Old Phoenix Jackson, this is an epic journey. It is remarkable that, in her old age, she is able to make the journey over and over again. This notion of determination and her ability to rise again and again to the challenge is clearly a parallel to the mythological phoenix which is continually reborn of its ashes. So, there is a familiar literary structure in terms of exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. But the story is also comparable, in form and style, to the epic narrative. The allusion to the mythological phoenix adds to the story's meaning and also fits nicely with the epic style which is associated with works like The Odyssey which also contains mythological elements. 

How did the townspeople feel about the Radley family? How did they view Mr. Radley in particular? Provide quotes from the text to support your...

People in Maycomb are terrified of the Radleys. The Radleys had three sons who got into trouble with some of the Cunningham boys when they were younger. Since Arthur (a.k.a. Boo) suffers from a mental disability, the sheriff didn't have the heart to lock him up in the regular jail with the others; so, they put him in the courthouse basement. Eventually, Mr. Radley vowed the town would never have any trouble with him again if he took him home. Arthur stayed in the house with the parents and the other boys went onto some higher education.

Additionally, the Radleys are anti-social at best. They don't go to church or meet with neighbors for coffees or tea parties. Even their shutters are shut on Sundays, which is practically a sin. Scout explains the people's feelings about Boo as follows:

"People said he went out at night when the moon was down, and peeped in windows. When people's azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he had breathed on them. . . A Negro would not pass the Radley Place at night. . . The Maycomb school grounds adjoined the back of the Radley lot; from the (yard) tall pecan trees shook their fruit into the schoolyard, but the nuts lay untouched by the children: Radley pecans would kill you" (9).

So the Radleys are pretty much the local urban legend and source of all crazy ghost stories. Scout overhears Calpurnia say something about the father, Mr. Radley, that verifies how some people were probably afraid of him, too. 

"'There goes the meanest man ever God blew breath into,' murmured Calpurnia, and she spat meditatively into the yard" (12).

From all of the gossip and folklore, Scout gets an image in her head of quite a frightening situation for Boo Radley who lives in a curious situation under a mean father. Good thing there are people like Atticus who tell his kids to leave the neighbors alone to live as they see fit and for neighbors like Maudie who says the following:

". . . that is a sad house. I remember Arthur Radley when he was a boy. He always spoke nicely to me, no matter what folks said he did. Spoke as nicely as he knew how" (45-46).

As there might be in any neighborhood, there are the gossips, the superstitious, and the level-headed. Luckily, Scout has a few level-headed adults from whom she can glean more positive and accurate information. 

In Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, what is meant by "this shameful condition?"

One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an shameful condition.

The "I Have a Dream" speech was a landmark event in the history of the civil rights movement.  The part of the speech in question is referring to the condition of African-Americans in society.  King wants to bring to light...

One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an shameful condition.

The "I Have a Dream" speech was a landmark event in the history of the civil rights movement.  The part of the speech in question is referring to the condition of African-Americans in society.  King wants to bring to light a number of problems faced by blacks in the United States.  He explains how it has been over a century since the slaves were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and yet African-Americans still do not feel like they belong in American society. This is the shameful condition that he speaks about.  This condition that black people find themselves in is a result of segregation and discrimination.   A major focus of the speech is on segregation, but limited voting rights in the South was another part of the condition that King mentions.  Having said that, King wants to deliver a speech that will catch the audience's attention and bring about change in the area of segregation and political rights for African-Americans.  

Describe the events that led to the stranger visiting the village of Ilujinle in "The Lion and the Jewel."

Lakunle plays the role of the "lost traveler" who ends up in the remote village of Ilujinle. The mime scene begins when four girls enter the stage, pretending to be the wheels of a car. Lakunle takes his place in the middle of the girls and pretends to drive the vehicle. Lakunle portrays how the stranger's car breaks down in the middle of the jungle and he abandons it to begin his aimless trek. Before...

Lakunle plays the role of the "lost traveler" who ends up in the remote village of Ilujinle. The mime scene begins when four girls enter the stage, pretending to be the wheels of a car. Lakunle takes his place in the middle of the girls and pretends to drive the vehicle. Lakunle portrays how the stranger's car breaks down in the middle of the jungle and he abandons it to begin his aimless trek. Before he leaves his car, he takes his helmet, a camera, and a flask of whisky. The forest is ominous, and when Lakunle attempts to rest his head against a tree, a snake slithers by and scares him. The stranger runs and continues to take swigs of his whisky to calm his nerves. Then, a monkey drops down into the middle of the path and quickly scampers off. Lakunle hears a roar and takes another swig, then begins to chug the alcohol. He gets upset at his unfortunate situation and begins to beat the ground until he hears a woman singing. The traveler is convinced he's hearing noises and takes the last drink from his flask before he throws the flask into the jungle. He hears a splash and then the sound of someone screaming as if they'd been hit by the flask. Lakunle walks towards the bushes and peers out through them. He takes his camera out and begins to snap photos. In the midst of taking photos, he carelessly slips and falls into the body of the water. Then, Sidi appears wearing a piece of cloth partially covering her. The traveler loses everything except his camera, and is taken to the center of town in front of the 'Odan' tree. Baroka enters the stage from behind the tree and greets the traveler as the scene ends.

John Proctor pleads, "I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" Explain how this desire to keep his name is connected to the theme of reputation...

At the end of Act 4, Proctor is ashamed of himself for "confessing" to witchcraft because he is lying. Even though he lies to save his own life, it still feels wrong to him. Earlier, when speaking with Elizabeth, we saw him attempting to justify to himself why such an action is right. He says,

God in Heaven, what is John Proctor, what is John Proctor?  [....]  I think it it honest, I think so; I am no saint.  [...] Let Rebecca go like a saint; for me it is fraud!

Because of his prior sin of adultery, Proctor believes himself to be beyond redemption, already lacking in integrity. If he's already damned, then what's the harm of telling a lie now? He cannot be more damned, and so he might as well live. He says that others, like Rebecca Nurse, really are untainted by sin and so it would actually be a lie for him to go to the gallows looking like he, too, is sinless. When Elizabeth will not say that she would lie in his place, he says, "It is evil. Good, then -- it is evil, and I do it!" He no longer feels that he has integrity, as Rebecca and Elizabeth do, and so he would be misrepresenting himself if he acted as though he did.

When Danforth then requires him to sign his "confession" so that it can be hung on the church door for all to see, John signs it but immediately snatches it up, refusing to hand it over. He cries that he will not hand over the signed document

Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!  Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!

He feels that, in confessing a lie, he has not only cemented his own lack of integrity but also that he has confirmed his own moral worthlessness. His lie, though it will save his life, will appear to confirm the guilt of the others who will not confess, and this brings him even lower in his own eyes. Without integrity, all he will have left in his life is his reputation, and his reputation will be blackened by the appearance of his name on this dishonest confession. According to Miller's stage direction, Proctor "knows it is insane." It doesn't really make sense that his name, his reputation, what others think of him, should seem to be worth more to him than his own integrity, what he thinks of himself. And so he tears his confession up, crying, 

You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.

In this moment, he seems to realize that his prior sin of adultery does not mean that he cannot redeem himself in this moment. He may have made the wrong decision then, but he can make the right decision now. In the end, his decision to not lie in order to save his life actually convinces him that he does still have some integrity left, and so he once more becomes sensible of his own "goodness." Integrity is so important to his sense of self that he chooses to retain it and die rather than sacrifice it and live.

His wife, too, realizes the power such a realization has had on Proctor, and when Hale begs her to reason with him, she says, "He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!" In the end, integrity is more vital than reputation, and in preserving his integrity, Proctor keeps his name -- his reputation -- in tact as well.

In Act II, Catherine asks Raina, "Will anything ever make you straightforward?" Is there an earlier instance in Act II when Catherine finds Raina...

There are two prior moments in Act II when Catherine appears to be disapproving of Raina for doing something that isn't "straightforward" (frank, unstudied, simple, or honest). The first occurs when Raina makes her splashy entrance. Sergius asks Catherine and Petkoff about Raina ("How is Raina; and where is Raina?") and Raina immediately responds, emerging on cue:

RAINA [suddenly coming round the corner of the house and standing at the top of the steps in the path] Raina is here. [She makes a charming picture as they turn to look at her. She wears an underdress of pale green silk, draped with an overdress of thin ecru canvas embroidered with gold. On her head she wears a pretty Phrygian cap of gold tinsel. Sergius, with an exclamation of pleasure, goes impulsively to meet her. She stretches out her hand: he drops chivalrously on one knee and kisses it].

The naïve observer might think this is lucky timing, or the result of some superior social sense on Raina's part. Her own father seems to be of that opinion. But Catherine knows better. Her daughter doesn't just enter a room because there are people to meet. She hides out of sight and listens so she can enter when it will have the most dramatic impact:

PETKOFF [aside to Catherine, beaming with parental pride] Pretty, isn't it? She always appears at the right moment.

CATHERINE [impatiently] Yes: she listens for it. It is an abominable habit.

Next, Raina is less than straightforward again when she questions her father about the mysterious Swiss man.

Raina is pretending this is just idle curiosity, when in fact she is keeping a secret, and trying to determine if her father's Swiss man is also her own "chocolate cream soldier." In this case, Catherine either

(1) thinks the questioning has gone too far and wants to hint to Raina to stop, or

(2) she thinks the question is a good one to ask, but feels the need to act reproachful in order to allay suspicions and help conceal the reason for Raina's curiosity.

RAINA. What was he like?

CATHERINE. Oh, Raina, what a silly question!

Either way, this scene furnishes more evidence that Catherine is being hypocritical to despair over her daughter's lack of straightforwardness. Catherine has been part of the "chocolate cream soldier" deception from the beginning, and she, like Raina, is play-acting now. And as we see later with the business of the coat, she deceives with the skill of someone well-practiced in these sort of farcical social maneuverings. Catherine knows how to bluff and persuade with a grand, authoritative air. Raina takes after her mother.

How can I write a topic sentence, concrete details, and commentary for a paragraph about the impossibility of the American Dream in Steinbeck's Of...

One of the major themes in Of Mice and Men is the quest for the American Dream. George and Lennie, along with Candy and briefly Crooks share the quintessential dream of owning "a little piece of land." Throughout American history the goal of owning one's own land and having both freedom and security has been part of the Dream.

Unfortunately for the characters in the novel their dreams of ownership are never fulfilled. Although George,...

One of the major themes in Of Mice and Men is the quest for the American Dream. George and Lennie, along with Candy and briefly Crooks share the quintessential dream of owning "a little piece of land." Throughout American history the goal of owning one's own land and having both freedom and security has been part of the Dream.

Unfortunately for the characters in the novel their dreams of ownership are never fulfilled. Although George, Lennie and Candy are poised to capture their dream, Lennie's killing of Curley's wife destroys their plans. 

Here's an example of a paragraph using the Jane Shaffer model that should help:

As the title of his novel suggests, Steinbeck, from the outset, sets up his characters for failure in the quest to own a piece of land and realize their American Dream. The lines (from the Robert Burns poem "To a Mouse,") "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray" directly relate to the final outcome of the novel. Even though George, Lennie and Candy are dreaming of the day when they can quit working for someone else and go live on their own farm we already know that these dreams are doomed. Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to show us that eventually Lennie will do "another bad thing" and disrupt their plans. Just as he did in Weed, Lennie is drawn to the shiny or the soft and he accidentally kills Curley's wife while stroking her hair.  In chapter four, Crooks does a good job of summing up the idea that the dream can never be realized:

“You guys is just kiddin’ yourself. You’ll talk about it a hell of a lot, but you won’t get no land. You’ll be a swamper here till they take you out in a box. Hell, I seen too many guys. Lennie here’ll quit an’ be on the road in two, three weeks. Seems like ever’ guy got land in his head.” 

Crooks is only partly right. Unfortunately for Lennie he loses not only his job but his life and George is unwilling to carry on with the dream without his friend. George says,

"I think I knowed from the very first. I think I know’d we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.”

For Steinbeck the world in Of Mice and Men is a deterministic place and even though someone may have dreams they rarely come to fruition.

Before the Revolution the 13 colonies had a government that was _____________.

Given the way this question is worded, I wonder if you are supposed to choose from a list of words here.  Without the list, I cannot know for certain what word your teacher wants to see.  Without a list to pick from, my choice would be to say that before the Revolution, the 13 colonies had a government that was somewhat democratic.

Each of the colonies had its own separate government.  Those governments allowed for...

Given the way this question is worded, I wonder if you are supposed to choose from a list of words here.  Without the list, I cannot know for certain what word your teacher wants to see.  Without a list to pick from, my choice would be to say that before the Revolution, the 13 colonies had a government that was somewhat democratic.

Each of the colonies had its own separate government.  Those governments allowed for some democracy, but were not completely democratic.  The governments allowed for some democracy because they had a legislative branch that was elected by the adult white men who had some amount of property.  This legislative branch was often called the Assembly. 

However, the governments were not completely democratic.  This is because the government was headed by a governor who was advised by a council.  Neither the governor nor the council was elected.  Instead, the governor was appointed by the British government and was ultimately responsible only to them.  The council was appointed by the governor and the governor could remove council members if he wanted to.  Any laws that the Assembly passed could be rejected by the governor, thus making the governor the ultimate authority in the colony.

From this, we can see that the colonies each had a government that was somewhat, but not completely, democratic.

what shows that the Watsons are not well off financially ?

There are many clues in The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963that show that the Watsons are not wealthy. At the beginning of the book, the entire family is shivering in the cold because their furnace is not working properly. The furnace sounds "like it [is] about to blow up." As a result, the entire family packs into their outdated 1948 Plymouth, called the Brown Bomber. A family that had more financial means might be able...

There are many clues in The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 that show that the Watsons are not wealthy. At the beginning of the book, the entire family is shivering in the cold because their furnace is not working properly. The furnace sounds "like it [is] about to blow up." As a result, the entire family packs into their outdated 1948 Plymouth, called the Brown Bomber. A family that had more financial means might be able to buy a newer car, as the story takes place in 1963.

In addition, it's clear that they have to be very careful about not misplacing their clothing. Their mother buys them two pairs of gloves each winter, and if they lose the first pair, they have to wear the second pair pinned to their coats so that they won't misplace their gloves. The family also has to sign for their groceries at Mr. Mitchell's store in Chapter 6. Although Momma tells the children that they are no longer on welfare (though they had been in the past), she says that they can only pay for their groceries on payday. In other words, they don't have a lot of extra money at their disposal.

Even as they head south to Birmingham, it is clear that money is a worry to the family. For example, in Chapter 8, the father buys a new record player, but the mother is very worried about the expense. All of these clues show that the Watsons struggle financially.

What techniques are used in this quote: "Come to my woman's breasts,/ And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers."

This scene begins with Lady Macbeth reading the letter written by her husband, a letter which acquaints her with the Weird Sisters' prophecies and the fact that he's recently been named Thane of Cawdor, bringing one of those prophecies to fruition. Immediately, Lady Macbeth seems to resolve on violence as a means of quickly achieving the remainder of the prophecy. She says, speaking of Macbeth,

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt beWhat thou...

This scene begins with Lady Macbeth reading the letter written by her husband, a letter which acquaints her with the Weird Sisters' prophecies and the fact that he's recently been named Thane of Cawdor, bringing one of those prophecies to fruition. Immediately, Lady Macbeth seems to resolve on violence as a means of quickly achieving the remainder of the prophecy. She says, speaking of Macbeth,

Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way.  (1.5.15-18)

She vows that Macbeth will be everything the Sisters said he would, but she worries that Macbeth is too compassionate to take the quickest path to the throne: murdering the current king rather than waiting for him to die.

When Lady Macbeth finds out that Duncan is on his way to her castle, to stay the night, she sees this as their opportunity to get rid of him. In a soliloquy, she calls on any spirits that assist deadly thoughts to come and remove any feminine impulse she might have, an impulse like compassion, and fill her up with masculine cruelty. A soliloquy is a dramatic convention where a character who is alone on stage speaks her thoughts aloud; it is a way for the writer to reveal that character's innermost feelings to the audience. Shakespeare uses this technique here to show us just how ruthless Lady Macbeth is. Also, as part of this soliloquy, she says,

Come to my woman's breasts
And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief.  (1.5.54-57)

Still speaking to those spirits that might help her to advance her deadly thoughts, she tells them to come to her breasts, take her milk and replace it with bitterness.  She wants to feel only the viciousness and heartlessness associated with men and none of the kindness and concern associated with women. In having her speak to someone or something that cannot respond, Shakespeare also employs apostrophe, a poetic technique, with this soliloquy. 

What are some symbols to represent Romeo Montague?

This is a great question, because it allows a lot of creativity on your part.  You could honestly pick anything to be symbolic of Romeo.  Your main job is defend why your symbol is appropriate.  

Since Romeo is in love throughout the entire play, I think an appropriate symbol for him is something that is symbolic of love.  You could choose a regular, nothing fancy, Valentine's Day heart.  It is so symbolic of love...

This is a great question, because it allows a lot of creativity on your part.  You could honestly pick anything to be symbolic of Romeo.  Your main job is defend why your symbol is appropriate.  

Since Romeo is in love throughout the entire play, I think an appropriate symbol for him is something that is symbolic of love.  You could choose a regular, nothing fancy, Valentine's Day heart.  It is so symbolic of love to the point that the heart shape is incorporated into jewelry and candy.  The internet is even loaded with people making heart shapes with their fingers and thumbs.  

I think another appropriate symbol for Romeo is a rose. You could use a rose for all of the same reasons that you would use a heart.  A rose, especially a red rose, is symbolic of love.  That's why roses are given on Valentine's Day and anniversaries.  A rose is also a good choice because Juliet directly refers to Romeo as a rose when she says the following: 

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

A third symbol that I associate with Romeo would be a skull and crossbones.  No, I don't think Romeo is a pirate.  A skull and crossbones is a common symbol on known poisons.  That is how Romeo chooses to end his life when he believes that Juliet is dead.  He drinks poison.  

I even think a cross is a good symbol for Romeo.  I absolutely do not think he is a Christ figure.  That's not why I associate the cross with him.  I associate the cross with Romeo, because it appears that he (a Montague) is more religious than the Capulets.  The reason that I think this is because of the amount of time that he spends with Friar Lawrence.  

How is the theme of Langston Hughes's poem "A Dream Deferred" reflected in Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech?

The theme Langston Hughes's poem "Dream Deferred" shares in common with Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech is the idea that, although racism shrivels and cripples humanity, it also, eventually, leads to enough anger to empower mankind to rise against it.

Hughes's poem begins with a lot of imagery that captures waste and destruction. For example, the image of a shriveled raisin in the sun can further be understood as an image of a grape that has been scorched by the sun, leaving it devoid of its potential as a grape. Plus, the image of "rotten meat" can further be understood as the image of not just the meat of a dead animal but of meat that has gone uneaten so long that it is now rotten, no longer nutritious, and even deadly to anyone who tries to eat it.

Yet, Hughes ends his poem with a very powerful rhetorical question:

Or does it explode?

By asking if a deferred dream explodes, Hughes is asking if unfulfilled dreams do not die, but rather become so powerful that the dreamer eventually bursts in a release of energy so strong that the dreamer is finally stirred to take actions to fulfill his or her dream. Hughes's rhetorical question captures images of African Americans "exploding" to fulfill their dreams by fighting for their liberties during the Civil Rights Movement.

In his speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. similarly describes racism and oppression as destructive forces by likening them to the image of the sun and what the sun can scorch to death, just as Hughes speaks of the sun shriveling a grape into a raisin:

This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an autumn of freedom and equality.

In using the image of a "sweltering summer," King is speaking of oppressive heat, the kind of heat that turns everything brown in the summer so that it dies and falls in the autumn, leaving room for new birth and rejuvenation.

Also, just as Hughes ends with the powerful rhetorical question asking if unfulfilled dreams "explode," King similarly speaks of African Americans finally "exploding" to fulfill their dreams. One of the most obvious places in which he speaks of African Americans becoming empowered enough to fight against oppression is in the following:

The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

In addition, each time King begins a statement towards the end of the speech with "I have a dream," he is speaking of African Americans becoming empowered as a result of being angered by oppression, eventually leading them to "explode," or rise up and fight for justice.

When is the conflict resolved in "The Raven"?

The conflict that exists within the speaker who has lost his love, Lenore, is resolved when he finally despairs of ever being reunited with her.

The forlorn lover utters these lines at the poem's end:

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floorShall be lifted—nevermore!

In addition to its marvelous and innovative verse, Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," evinces a macabre tone that crescendos with these last lines. For,...

The conflict that exists within the speaker who has lost his love, Lenore, is resolved when he finally despairs of ever being reunited with her.

The forlorn lover utters these lines at the poem's end:

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted—nevermore!

In addition to its marvelous and innovative verse, Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," evinces a macabre tone that crescendos with these last lines. For, the verse begins in a relatively light tone as the speaker seeks "surcease of sorrow" in his books; however, after he responds to a light tapping at his door and allows the strange visitor, a raven, to enter, the tone becomes ominous. For instance, the speaker begins to become perturbed and expresses his agitated state of mind with the alliterative use of the words grim, ungainly, ghostly, and gaunt. Further in the poem, the speaker becomes very unsettled as he perceives the dark bird as a symbol of lasting sorrow:

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core:
This and more I sat divining....

Just as the ominous bird refuses to leave, so the terrible sense of grief and loss remains in the heart of the speaker, to be lifted from him "nevermore."

In Animal Farm, what is foreshadowed after Snowball's expulsion, when Squealer tells the animals that they will eventually learn that Snowball's...

This statement not only foreshadows Snowball's demonization but also predicts Napoleon's tyrannical rule which is vested in brutality, manipulation, exploitation, abuse and propaganda.  

With Snowball out of the way, Napoleon can achieve sole leadership of the farm without being contested. Snowball had been a thorn in Napoleon's side. The two could never agree on anything and were consistently at loggerheads during meetings. Furthermore, Snowball had made a greater impression on the other animals especially...

This statement not only foreshadows Snowball's demonization but also predicts Napoleon's tyrannical rule which is vested in brutality, manipulation, exploitation, abuse and propaganda.  

With Snowball out of the way, Napoleon can achieve sole leadership of the farm without being contested. Snowball had been a thorn in Napoleon's side. The two could never agree on anything and were consistently at loggerheads during meetings. Furthermore, Snowball had made a greater impression on the other animals especially with his plans for the erection of a windmill. He had also worked very hard at establishing committees and educating the animals. In essence, Snowball was working towards a greater good, whereas the sly Napoleon had only his own interests at heart. This was most aptly illustrated by his removal of Bluebell and Jessie's pups soon after they had weaned. He kept them in hiding and later used them to brutalise and execute any animal that dared oppose him. 

Snowball became the scapegoat for everything that went wrong on the farm. It was put out, for example, that he had been in cahoots with Jones from the very beginning. After his expulsion, it was also said that he had surreptitiously been visiting the farm, destroying all the animals' hard work. Napoleon even went as far as sniffing out his scent and indicating signs of his so-called secret visitations. Snowball was thoroughly demonized through a process of propaganda and misinformation. 

In pursuing this deceitful tactic, Napoleon had cleverly destroyed the animals' faith in Snowball and what he had stood for. By offering rewards for Snowball's capture and pronouncing a death sentence upon him, he created the illusion that he had all the animals best interests at heart. Although some animals had expressed misgivings about what they were told, the propaganda was so convincing that the unintelligent animals were easily swayed.

In addition, demonising Snowball and making him the enemy ensured that Napoleon could also purge the farm of all those who stood against him. So it was with the hens who refused to lay eggs for sale and a number of other animals who confessed to having secretly assisted Snowball. They were all executed when the dogs tore out their throats at Napoleon's instruction. This brutal act drove fear into the animals and they meekly and unquestioningly followed instructions.  

Napoleon later assumed total control of the farm and was referred to as 'Our Leader, comrade Napoleon.' He and the other pigs practised human vices such as drinking alcohol and they became more human in their actions and demeanour. The pigs adopted a supercilious attitude and changed the commandments to suit them. Although there were murmurs of discontent at each alteration, these were soon suppressed by propaganda and lies as well as the threat of Jones coming back. it is no wonder then that the animals were even more enslaved, abused and exploited than in Jones' time. 

A further point for consideration is the fact that the statement, 'Snowball's heroism is much exaggerated' also alludes to the animals own heroic attempts at achieving utopia. The grand purpose of their attempts was much exaggerated since their efforts ended in utter failure. They had not achieved their ideal and instead replaced one tyrant with another. Worse, still, is the fact that their new master was one of their own. Their current oppressor could not care less about their situation and used them to ensure privilege for himself and his own breed. Napoleon and the pigs lived lives of luxury and privilege, whilst the other animals suffered.

Tragically, life on the farm had gone full circle and the majority of the animals found themselves in an even worse situation than they had been under Mr Jones' rule.  

What's the most important chapter (character, conflict, plot, theme and device wise) and why?

Ultimately, this question is up to each individual reader.  I don't believe a single chapter could be chosen by all readers as the most critical chapter to the book.

For me though, I choose chapter 8.  I choose chapter 8 because I see chapter 8 as a turning point to the entire book.  Previously Ralph had some control over most of the boys.  In chapter 8, the reader sees that the power has shifted much...

Ultimately, this question is up to each individual reader.  I don't believe a single chapter could be chosen by all readers as the most critical chapter to the book.

For me though, I choose chapter 8.  I choose chapter 8 because I see chapter 8 as a turning point to the entire book.  Previously Ralph had some control over most of the boys.  In chapter 8, the reader sees that the power has shifted much more toward Jack.  This is visibly apparent when Jack takes control of the conch.  

The sound of the inexpertly blown conch interrupted them. As though he were serenading the rising sun, Jack went on blowing till the shelters were astir and the hunters crept to the platform and the littluns whimpered as now they so frequently did.

Additionally the reader is shown two key pieces of information regarding the beast and the theme of evil.  Jack and his boys absolutely believe that the beast is real and must be hunted and killed.  Soon after though, the reader learns that the beast is not a real, physical beast.  Simon learns that the "beast" is not a physical being at all.  It is the potential for evil that lives in each of the boys.  Simon passes out at the realization that each boy is capable of being the beast.  

“Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!” said the head. For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?”

The chapter is also important because it is the last full chapter that Simon is alive in.  Early in chapter 9 the frenzied boys savagely beat Simon to death, because they mistook him to be the beast.  With Simon gone, there are no longer any inherently good characters alive anymore.  

I need to do a critical analysis of Act I of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.

There are several different themes you might address in a critical analysis of Act I of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Perhaps the most obvious are the two related themes of usury and Judaism and their role in Venetian commercial society as imagined by Shakespeare. 

In the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, usury, or lending money for interest, was regarded as a sin by the Roman Catholic Church. Since wealthy merchants often needed loans...

There are several different themes you might address in a critical analysis of Act I of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Perhaps the most obvious are the two related themes of usury and Judaism and their role in Venetian commercial society as imagined by Shakespeare. 

In the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, usury, or lending money for interest, was regarded as a sin by the Roman Catholic Church. Since wealthy merchants often needed loans and Catholics were forbidden by the Church from providing them, the sin of usury was, as it were, outsourced to Jews at this period. This created a vicious cycle, in that the sinfulness of Jews was held to explain why they committed the sin of usury (and why it was acceptable for Christians to benefit from that sin) and the act of usury was taken as evidence that Jews were sinful. In a sense, though, for every lender there must be a borrower and thus the Christians who borrow from Shylock are obviously complicit in usury. Shylock points out this hypocrisy in the following lines:

You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,

And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,

And all for use of that which is mine own.

Well then, it now appears you need my help:

This should bring your analysis to evaluation of the character of Bassanio. His indebtedness, and desire to win the hand of a wealthy heiress, drives the usury plot. As you analyze the play, you might consider whether Bassanio is as much of a villain as Shylock and that it is only religious and ethnic prejudice that makes Bassanio a romantic leading character with a happy ending and Shylock a suffering outcast. 

Your final step in analyzing this part of the play should be investigating the role of the women in the play, who are introduced almost in parallel with Shylock as persons to be used by the men to obtain money. 

What are some similarities between George and Lennie? I need a quote from the book Of Mice and Men as support.

This is a good question, because what the book underlines from the beginning is the fact that they are different.  One is big, the other is small.  One is quick, the other slow.  When it comes to similarities, two points stand out. 

First, both Lennie and George are committed to each other.  This is probably the most important similarity. They are the only ones in the book that show true friendship.  This is why one...

This is a good question, because what the book underlines from the beginning is the fact that they are different.  One is big, the other is small.  One is quick, the other slow.  When it comes to similarities, two points stand out. 

First, both Lennie and George are committed to each other.  This is probably the most important similarity. They are the only ones in the book that show true friendship.  This is why one of the refrains in the book is that they have each other. Here is a quote:

Lennie broke in. “But not us! An’ why? Because . . . . because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” He laughed delightedly. “Go on now, George!”

Second, they both also have the courage to dream.  Surprisingly, there are no dreams in the book.  In a world of brokenness, people do not dare to dream.  Crooks says it best when he states that he has seen dreams come to nothing.  This is not so with Lennie and George.  They have a dream to get land and live off the fat of it.  In fact, this dream drives them in  many ways. 

"O.K. Someday—we’re gonna get the jack together and we’re gonna have  a little house and a couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs and— "An’ live off the fatta the lan’,” Lennie shouted. “An’ have rabbits.

What is a summary of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"?

Jonathan Edwards's address to his congregation stands as a quintessential example of a "fire and brimstone" sermon that sought to correct a growing secularism in the Puritan community, as well as a increasing spiritual indolence. Edwards's sermon generated so much fear in his listeners that some fled the church, while others screamed and nearly fainted.

The thrust of this sermon relies upon the idea that it is only the mercy of God that holds them...

Jonathan Edwards's address to his congregation stands as a quintessential example of a "fire and brimstone" sermon that sought to correct a growing secularism in the Puritan community, as well as a increasing spiritual indolence. Edwards's sermon generated so much fear in his listeners that some fled the church, while others screamed and nearly fainted.

The thrust of this sermon relies upon the idea that it is only the mercy of God that holds them above the fires of hell. Finding the words he needed in Deuteronomy 32:35: “Their foot shall slide in due time," Edwards uses the motif of the foot sliding on the slippery slope for those sinners who have ignored the anger of God, who holds them over the fiery pit of hell as they hang by mere gossamer threads because of their sins. He tells the sinners in his congregation that they are leaden in their wickedness and are falling toward hell, but for God's holding them. Were He to release them, they would "descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf" and all that they would do to save themselves would have no more effect than a spider's web trying to hold back a rock.

Repeatedly, Edwards employs such images as a floodgate that only the goodness of God withholds, an arrow that His "bow of wrath" has ready to be released. Other images include God's hold of them over the pit of hell like "some loathsome insect over the fire," and the people's being "ten times more abominable" in God's eyes than "the most hateful venomous snake." Edwards stresses time and time again that it is only God's hand that has held them from falling into the pit of hell. Through many figurative images and comparisons (metaphors and similes), Edwards relates his message to things with which his congregation is familiar.

Edwards ends his sermon with an exhortation that the sinners consider the danger in which their souls exist, that a fiery pit awaits them unless they alter the sinful state in which they are living and acquire a saving faith. For, his dire warnings lead to his announcement of the opportunity for God’s grace. After having argued strongly for the imminence of God's anger, Edwards's sermon makes a dramatic shift: “Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy.” 

How can I compare the Preamble of the Constitution and The Giver to argue that The Giver's world is better?

An essay’s thesis statement is a statement that summarizes the argument you are trying to make.  In your case, you want to compare the vision of the world suggested by the Preamble of the Constitution with the one presented in The Giver.

The preamble of the Constitution states that the Founding Fathers were trying to construct a “more perfect Union.”  What exactly constitutes a perfect union?  The world described in The Giveris one...

An essay’s thesis statement is a statement that summarizes the argument you are trying to make.  In your case, you want to compare the vision of the world suggested by the Preamble of the Constitution with the one presented in The Giver.

The preamble of the Constitution states that the Founding Fathers were trying to construct a “more perfect Union.”  What exactly constitutes a perfect union?  The world described in The Giver is one version of a perfect world, but would our ancestors agree?  The “Declaration of Independence” states that our forefathers believed that “all men are created equal.”  The does seem very close to the vision produced in Jonas’s society.

In order to compare the world the Founders envisioned with the one presented in The Giver in your thesis, you need to write a summary of what the founders of the country intended in these statements, and specifically by “a more perfect Union.”  Here is an example.

The society presented in The Giver is more perfect than ours because everyone is treated equally and the safety of the people is their first priority.

The main point is to focus on what elements of Jonas’s society fulfill or exceed the vision presented by the Founding Fathers.  For example, in Jonas’s society everyone is created equal—literally.  People are actually created to be the same.  They are all treated equally.  They even look the same.

Almost every citizen in the community had dark eyes. His parents did, and Lily did, and so did all of his group members and friends. (Ch. 3)

Jonas’s community believes that peace can be promoted by keeping everyone the same, and ensuring that they act the same way through severe restrictions on behavior and conditioning to make sure everyone has almost no personality.

Perfect is sometimes not perfect, of course.  The world created in the book could certainly be described as tyrannical.  It is ironic that treating everyone the same makes everyone equally subjected. 

What are the effects of intermolecular forces and temperature on density?

Density is the amount of mass per unit of volume. Density is calculated using the equation: Density = mass/volume. Anything which increases the amount of mass in a particular volume will increase the density. Anything that decreases the amount of mass in a particular volume will decrease the density.

Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular forcesare the forces of attraction that hold bonded atoms together. Some intermolecular forces are fairly weak, while others are relatively strong. Below...

Density is the amount of mass per unit of volume. Density is calculated using the equation: Density = mass/volume. Anything which increases the amount of mass in a particular volume will increase the density. Anything that decreases the amount of mass in a particular volume will decrease the density.

Intermolecular Forces

Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction that hold bonded atoms together. Some intermolecular forces are fairly weak, while others are relatively strong. Below is a list of different types of intermolecular forces. The list is arranged from weakest to strongest.

Dispersion Forces           Weak

Dipole-Dipole Forces

Hydrogen Bonds

Ion-Dipole Forces            Strong

We can think of matter as being composed of small particles. Each particle is composed of one or more atoms. When the particles of a substance are held together by strong intermolecular forces, they are held closer together. This means that for a given volume, more particles would be present in the sample. The presence of more particles results in a higher mass per unit of volume and therefore a higher density. When the particles of a substance are held together by weak intermolecular forces, they are not held as closely together. So, for a given volume, fewer particles would be present in the sample. The presence of fewer particles results in a lower mass per unit of volume and therefore a lower density.

Temperature

Temperature is an indication of the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance. As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the particles increases and the density decreases as the molecules move farther away from each other. Similarly, a decrease in temperature results in slower moving molecules that stay closer together. A decrease in temperature will cause the density to increase.

Explain breathing out? |

We breathe in and out by changing the volume of our chest cavity. To breathe in, we must enlarge the chest cavity to create suction which draws air into the lungs. To enlarge the chest cavity, we contract muscles between our ribs, called intercostals, and our diaphragms. The diaphragm is a large flat muscle that forms the floor of the chest cavity. Contracting the diaphragm results in the floor of the chest cavity moving downward....

We breathe in and out by changing the volume of our chest cavity. To breathe in, we must enlarge the chest cavity to create suction which draws air into the lungs. To enlarge the chest cavity, we contract muscles between our ribs, called intercostals, and our diaphragms. The diaphragm is a large flat muscle that forms the floor of the chest cavity. Contracting the diaphragm results in the floor of the chest cavity moving downward. Contracting the intercostals results in the ribs moving up and outward. Both these actions increase the volume of the chest cavity.

To breathe out, we simply relax the intercostals and the diaphragm. This causes the volume of the chest cavity to decrease, which pushes the air out of the lungs. When a healthy person is at rest, breathing out requires no work. However, sometimes we need to exhale quickly (such as when we are exercising) or forcefully (such as when we are sick). In this case, the abdominal muscles can be contracted which push the internal organs up against the diaphragm. There are also internal intercostal muscles which can actively pull the ribs down. These two actions cause breathing out to occur with more force and in less time than with simple muscle relaxation.

What is the dominant image in the opening paragraph of Sinner in the Hands of an Angry God? What generalization does Edwards make about all people?...

The dominant image in the opening paragraph of the Reverend Jonathan Edwards's sermon to his congregation is the idea that, like the "wicked, unbelieving Israelites" mentioned in Deuteronomy 2:35, members of his following have been unfaithful and also are on "the slippery slope" of damnation. Edwards makes the generalization that there is a close connection among all people in their sinfulness, and they will "slide" in their faith if they are not diligent in...

The dominant image in the opening paragraph of the Reverend Jonathan Edwards's sermon to his congregation is the idea that, like the "wicked, unbelieving Israelites" mentioned in Deuteronomy 2:35, members of his following have been unfaithful and also are on "the slippery slope" of damnation. Edwards makes the generalization that there is a close connection among all people in their sinfulness, and they will "slide" in their faith if they are not diligent in their worship of God and adherence to His laws.

Since all men and women are descended from Adam and Eve, all can sin equally. Therefore, Rev. Edwards makes the comparison of his congregation with the Israelites. He tells his congregation,

There is nothing that keeps wicked men, at any moment, out of Hell, but the mere pleasure of God.

To impress this idea upon his listeners, Edwards employs strong and frightening imagery and harsh condemnations. Also, his congregation knows of the punishments that the Israelites suffered and they become terrified by the images of their hanging by a gossamer thread over the fiery pits of hell. To increase this fear, Edwards describes their being "ten times more abominable in God's eyes than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours," and that "the bow of God's wrath is bent...and it is nothing but "the mere pleasure of God" that holds the arrow back. 

By generalizing that his congregation is like the Israelites and are subject to the wrath of God in similar fashion, Edwards generates such terror of hell and damnation in the hope that his people will repent and become saved.

What countries did not come to the Paris Peace conference?

The Paris Peace Conference was held in Versailles, France in January of 1919. The major players at the conference were the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the United States, which was represented by President Woodrow Wilson. There were over thirty countries that were represented at the conference. At the end of the proceedings, the Treaty of Versailles was signed which came at a heavy cost to Germany and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. Germany was racked with...

The Paris Peace Conference was held in Versailles, France in January of 1919. The major players at the conference were the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the United States, which was represented by President Woodrow Wilson. There were over thirty countries that were represented at the conference. At the end of the proceedings, the Treaty of Versailles was signed which came at a heavy cost to Germany and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. Germany was racked with heavy reparations and loss of territory and Austria-Hungary was broken up into smaller states.

The losing side of World War I, the Central Powers, were not invited to the conference as participants. This snub included the countries of Germany, Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary. This meant they did not have a voice in the future of Europe, which would cause many problems in the near future. The new Bolshevik government in Russia was also excluded as the Allies refused to recognize the new government.  Japan also dropped out of the conference and was not a part of the final treaty decision.

What problem is laid out in the first section of "A Modest Proposal?"

The problem laid out in the first section of "A Modest Proposal" is the severe poverty in Ireland. Swift describes seeing

...the roads and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for an alms. 

Swift focuses especially on the plight of the Irish children, who are a burden on their families in their youth, and, he says, a burden on...

The problem laid out in the first section of "A Modest Proposal" is the severe poverty in Ireland. Swift describes seeing

...the roads and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for an alms. 

Swift focuses especially on the plight of the Irish children, who are a burden on their families in their youth, and, he says, a burden on Ireland as a whole when they grow up. Many wind up serving as mercenaries or as indentured servants on sugar plantations in Barbadoes, and those who stay behind are doomed to lives of desperate poverty. Ireland, it should be understood, was part of the British Empire in the early eighteenth century, and most of the land in Ireland was owned not by the Irish people but by landlords, many of whom were absentee Englishmen (Swift himself was the son of an English landowner in Ireland). So Irish poverty is the problem, and Swift frames his essay as a "proposal" for a solution. Nothing in the introduction prepares the reader for the shock of learning what this solution actually is.

How do dramatic elements in Othello reveal truths about life?

Othellois full of dramatic irony, suspense, and psychological complexities. One of the reasons it is so popular is its verisimilitude. The characters are true to life in that they demonstrate human strengths and flaws. The angelic Desdemona is talented and sweet, but she still stands up for what she believes in when necessary. She marries Othello against her father’s wishes. Tragically, she also stays with him even when he turns violent, as do many...

Othello is full of dramatic irony, suspense, and psychological complexities. One of the reasons it is so popular is its verisimilitude. The characters are true to life in that they demonstrate human strengths and flaws. The angelic Desdemona is talented and sweet, but she still stands up for what she believes in when necessary. She marries Othello against her father’s wishes. Tragically, she also stays with him even when he turns violent, as do many victims of abuse.

Cassio is a lively fellow with “a person and a smooth dispose / To be suspected, framed to make women false.” He is attractive and friendly, but he also has his faults. He admits that he has “very poor and unhappy brains for drinking,” meaning that he is susceptible to foolish behavior when drunk. Iago goads him into drinking, and Cassio behaves so recklessly that he is released from duty. Drinking too much and acting out under the influence is very common now as well as then.

Unfortunately, a number of us have been acquainted with people like Iago, and some may even identify with him. He says, “I am not what I am.” These individuals mask their true motives and feelings from others, even their friends. Sometimes they sabotage other people without reason or out of mere jealousy or spite.

Finally, Othello, the tragic hero, falls due to his own unseen weaknesses. In war, he is calm and confident, and in love he initially respects Desdemona. However, Iago is able to use Othello’s deep insecurities against him, suggesting racist and misogynistic reasons for Desdemona’s infidelity. All of us have secret fears that might be hidden even from us. Shakespeare uses many dramatic elements to reveal truths about life, and his excellent characterizations are one of them.

What is the setting of the short story "Raymond's Run"?

“Raymond’s Run” is set in Harlem, New York.

The setting of the story is important.  This is the story of a young girl attending a May Day race.  We know that the story takes place in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City in the late sixties.  In this story, the neighborhood comes to life.

So I’m strolling down Broadway breathing out and breathing in on counts of seven, which is my lucky number, and...

“Raymond’s Run” is set in Harlem, New York.

The setting of the story is important.  This is the story of a young girl attending a May Day race.  We know that the story takes place in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City in the late sixties.  In this story, the neighborhood comes to life.

So I’m strolling down Broadway breathing out and breathing in on counts of seven, which is my lucky number, and here comes Gretchen and her sidekicks: Mary Louise, who used to be a friend of mine when she first moved to Harlem…

Squeaky likes her neighborhood.  She enjoys practicing her running through the streets.  She is definitely at home.  Another example of the neighborhood atmosphere is the May Day celebration. This is a neighborhood event that takes place every year.  Some girls dress up for the maypole dance, but Squeaky prefers to run.  She has a reputation for being a runner, and a good one.

Then all the kids standing on the side pile on me, banging me on the back and slapping my head with their May Day programs, for I have won again and everybody on 151st Street can walk tall for another year.

Squeaky has a tough time with the neighborhood kids.  She does not make friends easily, partly because she has to take care of her mentally handicapped older brother, Raymond.  People often make fun of Raymond, and Squeaky has to defend him.  Running is an area where Squeaky can be proud of herself.  It is something she can get better at with effort.  In this story, she learns that it is possible to make friends when you share something you care about.  She makes friends with Gretchen because she also loves running.

A good story uses its setting almost like a character.  Harlem is a unique neighborhood rich in culture and African American tradition.  This story demonstrates that richness by creating a colorful cast of characters and an endearing plot.

What is the speaker's attitude about the ride in the first three stanzas?

In Emily Dickinson's poem "Because I could not stop for Death," the speaker has a calm attitude throughout. The first three stanzas of the poem set up that attitude, as well as the action of the poem and its main metaphor:

"Because I could not stop for Death – 
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –"

The poem creates an extended metaphor, comparing dying to going on a relaxing carriage ride – they are driving slowly and without haste, after all. As they ride, they pass pleasant sights: children at play, fields of grain, a sunset. All of these create the feeling that one's death is nothing to fear.

Death itself is personified as well, though not in the usual way, as a shadowy figure with a scythe. Instead, he "kindly stopped" to invite the speaker on a carriage ride and she notices his "civility" and courtesy. Rather than being a frightening figure, Death in this poem is a gentleman, even a male suitor for the speaker. He makes the speaker feel protected and relaxed and he contributes to the speaker's calm attitude.