What is the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, and Falling Action of "One Thousand Dollars"?

• Exposition

A "decidedly amused" Bobby Gillian leaves the offices of Tolman & Sharp where he is given an envelope containing $1000.00, a sum willed to him by his uncle. He has been told that he must render an account for how he spends this sum as soon as he disposes of it. Gillian finds this "a confoundedly awkward amount"; so, he sets out to ask advice on how to spend this money at the men's club.

• Rising Action

After arriving at the men's club, Gillian talks to the cynical Old Bryson, who has himself sequestered in a corner with a book in the hope of being left alone. His cryptic reply to Gillian's request for suggestions on how to spend this inherited $1000.00 is for the young man to give his chorus girl friend a diamond necklace. Or, he adds sardonically, Gillian could move to Idaho: "I advise a sheep ranch, as I have a particular dislike for sheep."

Realizing that his conversation with Bryson is a waste of time, Gillian phones for a cab and goes to the Columbine Theatre where he offers Miss Lotta Lauriere "a little thing in the pendant line," but she rejects his offer because her friend received a more expensive necklace from Tiffany's the other night. So, Gillian departs, asking the cab driver what he would do with a thousand dollars. But, he is dissatisfied with the driver's answer, so Gillian gets out of the cab and talks with a blind man. This man's response is nothing that Gillian accepts, either. Next, Gillian has the cab take him to the law office where he asks lawyer Tolman if Miss Hayden, the ward of his late uncle, was left anything other $10 and a ring as have the others. "Nothing," replies Mr. Tolman.

Gillian returns to his uncle's house where he finds Miss Hayden. He tells her that he has just come from Tolman & Sharp's where he has been given another thousand for Miss Hayden because of an "amendment or postscript or something." Gillian also tells her, "...you know I love you." But, Miss Hayden gathers the money and replies, "I am sorry."

Disappointed, Gillian asks if he may write a note before leaving. On the paper he writes his account of the money he has received,

Paid by the black sheep, Robert Gillian, $1000 in account of the eternal happiness, owed by Heaven to the best and dearest woman on earth.

Then, Gillian returns to the law offices.

Gillian returns to the law offices where the two old lawyers pull from a safe a codicil to his uncle's will which bequeaths to Gillian $50,000.00 if he has spent the first sum unselfishly; if he has not, the sum is to go to Miss Hayden.

• Falling Action

When Gillian hears this, he quickly snatches from Mr. Tolman's hand the envelope with his record of how he has spent the $1000.00, and he tears it into pieces. He tells the lawyers,

"I lost the thousand dollars on the races. Good-day to you, gentlemen."   

• Resolution

When they hear Gillian, lawyers Tolman and Sharp mournfully shake their heads as they feel that Gillian has continued what his uncle termed "reprehensible dissipation."

Whistling as he departs, Gillian feels good about his act of love for Miss Hayden.

Describe Zaroff's conditions for the hunt in The Most Dangerous Game.

General Zaroff's conditions for the hunt include giving the man he is hunting good food, a hunting knife, and a three hour head start. Having these conditions tells the reader that General Zaroff is not interested as much in the killing of men, but in the hunting of men.  He is excited by the chase so he gives the men an even playing field.  If his sole intent was to kill, without regard for the...

General Zaroff's conditions for the hunt include giving the man he is hunting good food, a hunting knife, and a three hour head start. Having these conditions tells the reader that General Zaroff is not interested as much in the killing of men, but in the hunting of men.  He is excited by the chase so he gives the men an even playing field.  If his sole intent was to kill, without regard for the experience of hunting, he would not give them men means for survival when he sends them on their way.  If the men survive three days, General Zaroff says that he will return them to the mainland, but to date that had not happened.

When Zaroff hunts Rainsford, the conditions change slightly in order to ensure an exhilarating  hunt.  When hunting Rainsford, Zaroff suggests that he wear moccasins to camouflage his footprints and make it harder to be tracked. He even tells Rainsford to avoid certain areas of the island that will make his capture inevitable.  

The purpose of these conditions in the story, and the slight change in conditions when it was time to hunt Rainsford, suggests that Zaroff is more interested in the hunt than in the killing of his quarry.

Which one of the following has nothing to do with Eisenhower's brinkmanship? (a) Strong Air Force (b) Massive retaliation (c) Flexible...

Brinksmanship is a strategy in which you force compliance by threatening an overwhelming, disproportionate response. It is very high-risk, but it can also be effective. Eisenhower's brinkmanship policy in the Cold War was to threaten immediate retaliation with nuclear weapons if the Soviet Union attempted to invade any US allies. On the one hand, this made the Soviet Union wary about invading any US allies, which is a good thing; on the other hand, if...

Brinksmanship is a strategy in which you force compliance by threatening an overwhelming, disproportionate response. It is very high-risk, but it can also be effective.

Eisenhower's brinkmanship policy in the Cold War was to threaten immediate retaliation with nuclear weapons if the Soviet Union attempted to invade any US allies. On the one hand, this made the Soviet Union wary about invading any US allies, which is a good thing; on the other hand, if they ever tried to call our bluff, we would either have to back down and lose credibility or launch a nuclear war.

Let's go through the options to see which has the least to do with that policy.

A strong Air Force isn't necessarily a brinksmanship policy, but in Eisenhower's case it was, as it was during this period that B-52s and ICBMs were developed in order to maximize the ability to deploy nuclear weapons. So that has at least a little bit to do with Eisenhower's brinkmanship policy.

Massive retaliation is the essence of brinksmanship policy; the whole point is that in response to any violation you retaliate with overwhelming force. Far from being unrelated, it's basically the exact same thing.

But "flexible response", that's quite different. In fact the term "flexible response" was first used by Kennedy---after Eisenhower left office---to describe a policy where we would maintain nuclear weapons as an option, but also build a large conventional army capable of responding to smaller threats in a more proportionate way. The idea was to prevent the Soviet Union specifically from using nuclear weapons---if they used nukes, so would we; but as long as they limited themselves to conventional arms we would as well. (Actually there was one exception; the flexible response doctrine allowed that if a US ally were about to be overwhelmed, even by conventional forces, they could deploy small-scale "tactical" nuclear weapons.) Kennedy was trying to de-escalate the Cold War away from nuclear annihilation. He succeeded, insofar as we are still alive; but there were definitely a number of close calls (such as the Cuban Missile Crisis).

The best answer is therefore (c), since that refers to a policy implemented by Kennedy, not Eisenhower, and furthermore a policy that was intended to reduce brinksmanship.

Who is Perpich and why does Brian think about him in Hatchet?

Perpich was Brian’s English teacher, and Brian values his advice.

Brian is involved in a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness.  The pilot has a heart attack and dies, and Brian goes down with the plane but survives.  In the beginning, Brian is stunned.  He has nothing with him but a hatchet, and he has to figure out how to survive on his own.

In this time of difficulty, Brian grasps at straws for ways...

Perpich was Brian’s English teacher, and Brian values his advice.

Brian is involved in a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness.  The pilot has a heart attack and dies, and Brian goes down with the plane but survives.  In the beginning, Brian is stunned.  He has nothing with him but a hatchet, and he has to figure out how to survive on his own.

In this time of difficulty, Brian grasps at straws for ways to help him survive.  He remembers the advice of one of his teachers, a man he seems to respect.

Brian had once had an English teacher, a guy named Perpich, who was always talking about being positive, thinking positive, staying on top of things. That's how Perpich had put it—stay positive and stay on top of things. Brian thought of him now— wondered how to stay positive and stay on top of this. (Ch. 5)

It is difficult to stay positive when you are a kid all alone in the wild.  Brian has only the clothes on his back and the hatchet.  He has a few survival skills, but most importantly he has cunning and ingenuity. 

Brian’s teacher Mr. Perpich also taught him the value of staying motivated.  Of course, survival is a good motivator.  You stay motivated or die.

I have to get motivated, he thought, remembering Perpich. Right now I'm all I've got. I have to do something. (Ch. 5)

Brian realizes that no one is coming to save him, at least not soon.  He has to rely on himself.  This requires remembering his English teacher’s advice about life. He must stay positive, because it is easy to get overwhelmed with fear and worry.  He must also keep motivated to survive.  Without motivation he will just give up, and giving up means he will die all alone out in the wilderness.

How wlll the nation's economy be improved by the modest proposal?

According to A Modest Proposal's narrator, Ireland's poor adults would be able to earn a living if they fattened and sold their one-year-old babies to the rich as gourmet food. The narrator then gives detailed calculations to show that doing this would be profitable for the poor, noting that it would cost a mother only two shilling to raise a "fat" baby for a year, including the cost of dressing it in rags. The baby...

According to A Modest Proposal's narrator, Ireland's poor adults would be able to earn a living if they fattened and sold their one-year-old babies to the rich as gourmet food. The narrator then gives detailed calculations to show that doing this would be profitable for the poor, noting that it would cost a mother only two shilling to raise a "fat" baby for a year, including the cost of dressing it in rags. The baby could then be sold for 10 shillings, leaving the mother a profit of eight shillings. A "thrifty" mother could earn even more if she turned the skin of the baby into gloves or shoes. 

In addition, the poor would have "something of their own" (the babies) which could be seized to settle debts. Further, killing many of the poor at a year old would reduce the number of the impoverished children and adults needing to be supported by charity, which would free up the money to increase Ireland's wealth. Finally, the money earned from this trade would stay in Ireland, people would be encouraged to marry because of the profitable baby selling business, and more people would come to eat in the taverns if they knew they could purchase such a delicacy.

Swift meant for people to be horrified by his narrator's idea. The essay satirizes (uses humor and exaggeration) to expose the cruelty in treating people as if they have no value beyond how much money they are able to earn.

What is Andrew Jackson's idea of being common man and tyrant?

Andrew Jackson represented the interests of the common man. His detractors also called him a tyrant. Andrew Jackson believed the common man’s interests weren’t being represented in the government. While he was President, nominating conventions were used to choose the party’s candidates instead of party caucuses. This meant party members chose the party's candidates instead of just the party leaders. President Jackson began the spoils system. This allowed him to give government jobs to his...

Andrew Jackson represented the interests of the common man. His detractors also called him a tyrant. Andrew Jackson believed the common man’s interests weren’t being represented in the government. While he was President, nominating conventions were used to choose the party’s candidates instead of party caucuses. This meant party members chose the party's candidates instead of just the party leaders. President Jackson began the spoils system. This allowed him to give government jobs to his supports. This gave common people at a better chance of getting government jobs.

Those who disliked him called him a tyrant. He was nicknamed “King Andrew” by his detractors. They believed Andrew Jackson acted like a king. They didn’t like how he tried to “kill” the national bank by transferring federal money into state banks. He wanted the banks to stop being an economic force before the bank’s charter ended in 1836. President Jackson refused to enforce a Supreme Court decision allowing the Cherokee tribe to remain in Georgia. To his detractors, he appeared as a person that didn’t respect the Constitution and acted like a tyrant would act.

Thus, his enemies perceived Andrew Jackson as a tyrant. His supporters viewed him as a common man who protected their interests.

What does Ponyboy tell Cherry while standing in line for popcorn in The Outsiders?

In Chapter 2, Ponyboy, Dally, and Johnny sneak into the drive-in movies. Johnny and Ponyboy meet two Soc girls, Cherry and Marcia, and become fast friends with them. Ponyboy shares a connection with Cherry, and she asks him to walk with her to get popcorn. While they are waiting in line, Cherry comments that Johnny has a scared look in his eyes, and she can tell he's been hurt badly. Ponyboy tells her the story...

In Chapter 2, Ponyboy, Dally, and Johnny sneak into the drive-in movies. Johnny and Ponyboy meet two Soc girls, Cherry and Marcia, and become fast friends with them. Ponyboy shares a connection with Cherry, and she asks him to walk with her to get popcorn. While they are waiting in line, Cherry comments that Johnny has a scared look in his eyes, and she can tell he's been hurt badly. Ponyboy tells her the story about when Johnny was beaten badly by a group of Socs four months earlier. He tells Cherry that he, Steve, and Sodapop were walking home from the DX station when Steve noticed a jacket lying on the road. The jacket belonged to Johnny, and there were blood stains around the collar. They followed the trail of blood across a field and heard Johnny moaning. When they reached Johnny, he was bleeding profusely and had deep cut from his temple to his cheekbone. Johnny tells the boys that four Socs driving in a blue Mustang jumped him. One of the Socs was wearing rings, which caused a lot of damage. Ever since Johnny suffered the brutal beating, he acts nervous and carries a switchblade with him at all times. Johnny refuses to walk anywhere alone and vows to kill the next person who attempts to jump him.

What happens at a Confirmation?

Of course, the word “confirmation” has a general meaning, “to verify or witness to the truth” of something. In a religious context, it is the fourth sacrament in the Catholic canon, after Baptism, Confession, and Communion. Each of these first sacraments deepens the individual’s commitment to the Catholic religion, and the fourth “confirms” those declarations. It comes at the Age of Consent, when the individual is intellectually and emotionally responsible for his/her spiritual condition, usually...

Of course, the word “confirmation” has a general meaning, “to verify or witness to the truth” of something. In a religious context, it is the fourth sacrament in the Catholic canon, after Baptism, Confession, and Communion. Each of these first sacraments deepens the individual’s commitment to the Catholic religion, and the fourth “confirms” those declarations. It comes at the Age of Consent, when the individual is intellectually and emotionally responsible for his/her spiritual condition, usually around 13 years of age. It is a publicly declared testament of one’s faith and belief in the religion’s tenets, including the Catechism; it takes place in a church, is administered by a priest, and usually is a mass ceremony, in which a whole class of children, after extensive lessons, receive the sacrament together. The next two sacraments, Matrimony and Holy Orders, are mutually exclusive; the final sacrament, Extreme Unction, is administered at the close of the soul’s life on Earth.

What factors helped cause the rise in anti-democratic governments after WWI?

The rise of anti-democratic governments after World War 1 can be traced back to the Treaty of Versailles. World War 1 ended with the surrender of the Central powers to the Allies. The Treaty weighed heavily on Germany.

Germany was required to take full responsibility for all the damage caused during the war, including destruction caused by its allies. Germany was required to pay reparations to the countries forming the Allies powers. The country was...

The rise of anti-democratic governments after World War 1 can be traced back to the Treaty of Versailles. World War 1 ended with the surrender of the Central powers to the Allies. The Treaty weighed heavily on Germany.

Germany was required to take full responsibility for all the damage caused during the war, including destruction caused by its allies. Germany was required to pay reparations to the countries forming the Allies powers. The country was asked to disarm and, as a result, this weakened the nation’s military. Germany and some of her allies were forced to make territorial concessions.

Italy, which joined the Allies powers against the Central powers, did not acquire territories promised by her allies in the Treaty. The countries that participated in the war suffered economically. The economic situation led to the rising threat of communism, especially among the peasants. Existing governments failed to meet the needs of the people after the war, and this created a vacuum in leadership.

To address these issues, Benito Mussolini of Italy founded Fascism, a totalitarian, single-rule type of government. The same was applied in Germany by Adolph Hitler and in other countries such as Spain. They promised to improve the economy, restore their countries pride and military strength and reclaim their territory. However, these dictators restricted the freedoms and rights of their citizens and avoided democracy at all costs.

Who is Faber in Fahrenheit 451?

In Fahrenheit 451, Faber is a retired English professor who was "thrown out" of his college 40 years before the story takes place. This happened as a result of low student numbers and a general disinterest in university study. Faber describes himself as a "coward" because he realized the inherent dangers in book-burning but never protested against it because he was afraid.

Since then, Faber has hidden away from the world and spent his...

In Fahrenheit 451, Faber is a retired English professor who was "thrown out" of his college 40 years before the story takes place. This happened as a result of low student numbers and a general disinterest in university study. Faber describes himself as a "coward" because he realized the inherent dangers in book-burning but never protested against it because he was afraid.

Since then, Faber has hidden away from the world and spent his time "fiddling with electronics." For example,  he has created a device that enables two-way communication and which he gives to Montag to use against Captain Beatty.

After Montag kills Beatty, Faber is his only ally as he flees the city. Faber directs him along the abandoned railroad tracks towards a group of "Harvard degrees" who have been cast out from society and might give sanctuary to Montag. In the meantime, Faber plans a trip to St. Louis to see a retired printer who might help them create some new books. Meeting Montag gives Faber the courage to stand up to the government's censorship.

When the city is destroyed by a bomb, Bradbury suggests that Faber has indeed made it to St. Louis, but his fate beyond that remains a mystery.

Krakauer's version of thhe Chriss McCandless story unfolds in chapters and follows a a sequence of events that is not linear and that incorporates...

I have to admit that I was very thrown by your question.  I've read Krakauer's account of Chris McCandless, and I know that Corinne McCandless has published a book that details her interpretation of Chris and what happened to him; however, I did not know that any book about McCandless had been written by a person named "Penn."  Then I remembered that the 2007 movie was directed by Sean Penn, and the screenplay was also...

I have to admit that I was very thrown by your question.  I've read Krakauer's account of Chris McCandless, and I know that Corinne McCandless has published a book that details her interpretation of Chris and what happened to him; however, I did not know that any book about McCandless had been written by a person named "Penn."  Then I remembered that the 2007 movie was directed by Sean Penn, and the screenplay was also written by Sean Penn.  I am going to assume that is the "Penn" that your question is referring to.  

I'll start with this.  I really enjoyed Krakauer's book.  But there were parts of it that really annoyed me as a reader.  I didn't like the constant flashback interruptions, and I didn't like the break from McCandless for two entire chapters while Krakauer narrated about other men that McCandless was similar to in various ways.  I understand what Krakauer did, and I appreciated the comparisons, but it still annoyed me a lot as a reader.  I like chronological story telling.  I understand the concept of flashbacks, but I usually don't enjoy them, because it always seems that the story is being broken and new plot lines and characters are being introduced.  

So for me as a reader (and in this case movie watcher), I preferred Penn's more chronological story telling.  I do want to note though that Penn's narrative wasn't free from flashbacks.  His movie and screenplay starts the same way that the book started.  It started with McCandless being dropped off a few months before he dies and then flashes back to the sequences mentioned in your question.  I more enjoyed Penn's focus on McCandless as a singular character and showing his journey in a relatively unbroken narrative.  For viewers and readers, I think Penn's version is more accessible than Krakauer's version. 

What is Andrew Jackson's legacy?

Jackson's legacy is complex. He was such an influential figure that many historians still use the phrase "Age of Jackson" to describe the United States between the 1820s and early 1840s. This answer will focus on three aspects of his legacy.

The first is that Jackson and his New York political ally Martin Van Buren very shrewdly took advantage of the new, more popular and democratic politics that emerged in the United States during this period. Most states relaxed or eliminated property restrictions for voting during the 1820s and 1830s, and this empowered ordinary white men to vote in elections for the first time. Jackson's appeal to the "common man" and Van Buren's mobilization of working-class people in New York City in particular would permanently change politics in the United States. After Jackson, active campaigning, the dispensation of government jobs, organized political parties, and the affectation of a popular political style all became essential parts of the new mass politics that was, it turned out, there to stay.

The second part of Jackson's legacy is that he expanded the role of the Presidency. While this, again, was largely a matter of style, Jackson was seen as an activist president, someone who believed that he was put into office to carry out what he believed to be the will of the people. His veto of the (re)charter for the Second Bank of the United States, as well as his decision to ignore the Supreme Court's decision in Worcester v. Georgia, contributed to this legacy. So did his decision to take a hard line against the nullifiers in South Carolina, a stance that put him at odds with many Southerners. That the Whig Party that formed largely in opposition to Jackson's policies took a name that recalled opposition to the King in seventeenth and eighteenth century England says much about how Jackson's political enemies viewed his largely unprecedented exercise of executive powers.

The final part of Jackson's legacy is the most shameful one, but it is tied directly to the emergence of a democratic politics in the United States during his presidency. We have to remember that the democracy Jackson and his followers (the so-called "common man") envisioned a white man's democracy, sometimes termed a "herrenvolk democracy" by historians. The most stark example of this is Jackson's support for the removal of the Southeastern Indians. This policy ranked highest on Jackson's agenda upon entering office, and it resulted in the removal of thousands of Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole Indians from the American Southeast. This process, which we would term "ethnic cleansing" today, also paved the way for the dramatic expansion of slavery into the fertile soils of Alabama and Mississippi, as planters brought thousands, even millions, of slaves to cultivate cotton. So it is important to remember that "Jacksonian democracy" that is so important to Jackson's legacy, and positive portrayals of him in textbooks, was in large part dependent on the taking of Native lands and the expansion of slavery.

What is the physical description of nature?

Let's limit "nature" to the biosphere itself.  The biosphere is not the entire planet Earth.  The biosphere is only the sections of the planet where life can successfully exist.  In miles, the biosphere extends about 5 miles up into the atmosphere and 5 miles below sea level.  Within that biosphere, nature is divided into different biomes/ecosystems.  Those ecosystems include everything that is living and non-living within it that affects the environment.  Living (biotic) factors will be any and all of the the plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and protists that live in the area.  The non-living (abiotic) factors will be things like average temperatures, wind, rainfall, air quality, amount of sunlight, etc.  An entire ecosystem is generally what a person is talking about when referring to the physical "being" of nature.  

In the book Tuck Everlasting why does the man in the yellow suit go to the Fosters' house?

The Man in the Yellow Suit goes to the Fosters’ house to find out about the source of the spring.

The Man in the Yellow Suit is chasing a lead.  He believes that the spring originated somewhere in the area.  He wants to find the spring to exploit it for profit.  He is basically looking for any information from the locals that might prove that the story he has heard is true.

Winnie and her grandmother are not being very receptive to his questions, but then they hear the music from the woods.  Winnie’s grandmother forgets to be cautious and tells the man that the music is from elves.  He gets excited when he realizes that she has heard the music before.

Then the moon rose. The man came to himself and sighed. His expression was one of intense satisfaction. … Then he turned and disappeared down the shadowy road, and as he went he whistled, very softly, the tinkling little melody from the wood. (Ch. 4)

The man believes that he has the source of the spring.  The music clearly means something to him, and so does the fact that Winnie’s grandmother has heard it before.  It is a mysterious sound, and to him it means he is on the right track.

That music comes from Mae Tuck’s music box.  It is one of her most prized possessions. It is clear that Mae has played it near the spring before.  It comforts Mae, and she plays the music absentmindedly when she is distressed.  She tells Winnie that she didn’t realize that others could hear.

When he does find the Tucks, the Man in the Yellow Suit explains why he was fascinated with them based on stories his grandmother told him.

I was fascinated by my grandmother's stories. People who never grew older!  It was fantastic. It took possession of me. I decided to devote my life to finding out if it could be true, and if so, how and why. (Ch. 19)

Of course, the Man in the Yellow Suit is a threat to the Tuck family.  They do not want anyone to know that they live forever.  They also do not want anyone to know about the spring, and the man wants to sell the knowledge.  This turns into disaster when Mae accidentally kills him.  The constable says that she will go to the gallows if the man dies.  This is foreshadowing because she is arrested and should be hanged, but since she would not die, the secret would get out if they tried.  This is why Winnie has to make the choice to break her out.

Why did Brutus betray Caesar?

The answer to this question can be found in Brutus's funeral speech in Act 3, scene II, where he tries to explain to the Roman citizens why Caesar needed to die. He explains that no one loved Caesar more than he, but that he "loved Rome more." Throughout the speech, he provides reasons for why Caesar was no good to the people of Rome, pointing to the fact that under his rule, they would "die...

The answer to this question can be found in Brutus's funeral speech in Act 3, scene II, where he tries to explain to the Roman citizens why Caesar needed to die. He explains that no one loved Caesar more than he, but that he "loved Rome more." Throughout the speech, he provides reasons for why Caesar was no good to the people of Rome, pointing to the fact that under his rule, they would "die all slaves" and therefore it was necessary for Brutus to "rise against Caesar." Brutus explains to the audience:

As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him.

Though Brutus admires many of Caesar's traits, his admiration does not outweigh the need to stop his ambition. In weighing his strong love for Caesar with his love for Rome, Brutus effectively sways the audience, in this moment, from thinking he has committed a crime to believing he has made a sacrifice for their benefit.

What are two ways in which light behaves?

Light is an interesting case in that it can behave as both a wave, and a particle.

More specifically, light behaves as a wave when it is traveling through space. Light can actually travel at a number of different wavelengths which fall in to various categories of what is known as the electromagnetic spectrum, with the visible light we see actually falling in a very small range of the total spectrum. 

Light...

Light is an interesting case in that it can behave as both a wave, and a particle.

More specifically, light behaves as a wave when it is traveling through space. Light can actually travel at a number of different wavelengths which fall in to various categories of what is known as the electromagnetic spectrum, with the visible light we see actually falling in a very small range of the total spectrum. 

Light can also act like a particle. It does so by carrying small amounts of energy known as quanta. This behavior of light was determined by the discovery of the photoelectric effect. A good example of light energy at work as a particle is in the process of photosynthesis. In this biological process, light provides the energy necessary for the chemical reactions of photosynthesis to take place. Hope this helps!

"I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if he didn't already know." What do you think the woman has done?...

That's a great question! Mrs. Jones is an extremely sensitive woman, who genuinely wishes to inspire Roger to change and become a gentleman. She can understand quite well the discomfiture Roger feels in her company.

Roger is stupefied and can't really make out what’s going on. It’s beyond his grasp why a lady, whom he had tried to rob, has brought him to her home and is being so hospitable.

By telling him she, "too," had done things that can’t be shared with anybody, not even with God, “if He didn't already know,” Mrs. Jones, as if, steps down to come and stand on the same platform where Roger does. It's like she wants to tell him that, now, there’s not much difference between him and her. So, he should just forget that he had tried to run away with her purse, and simply relax.

Mrs. Jones is not lying when she admits to having done things she shouldn't have done. She knows that it’s human nature. However, it’s not really important to know, neither for Roger nor for the readers, what Mrs. Jones actually did that she wouldn't like anyone to know.

What really matters is the fact that at present, she works hard to a make a living with dignity. Even if she did something she wasn't supposed to, she doesn't do it any more; she realizes that it's wrong. 

Through this precise intimate statement, Mrs. Jones is able to strike a chord with Roger and move him deeply.

So, we clearly see Mrs. Jones intentions when she utters the quoted line in the question. She tries to make Roger feel light and comfortable, and more importantly, she wishes to ignite a positive change in him.

She hopes Roger might give it a thought to forgo the path he has already chosen, and find a respectable way of earning a livelihood, like she had.

According to the speaker in the "Much Madness is Divinest Sense," what are the main criteria for "madness" and "sense"?

Those who comply with society's dictates are those of "sense," while individuals who think for themselves are considered "mad" as they are a threat to the compliance of the majority, who follow the dictates of society.

Emily Dickinson's paradoxical statement that "Much Madness is Divinest Sense" is predicated upon the concept of individualism in opposition to what Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay "Self-Reliance," called "the joint-stock company" of society. Those individuals who think for themselves are...

Those who comply with society's dictates are those of "sense," while individuals who think for themselves are considered "mad" as they are a threat to the compliance of the majority, who follow the dictates of society.

Emily Dickinson's paradoxical statement that "Much Madness is Divinest Sense" is predicated upon the concept of individualism in opposition to what Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay "Self-Reliance," called "the joint-stock company" of society. Those individuals who think for themselves are labeled as mad or shunned because they threaten the status quo. 

Assent--and you are sane--
Demur--you're straightway dangerous--
And handled with a Chain

One real-life example of this reactive action by society upon someone who dissents is in the biography of the poet Ezra Pound. During World War II, Pound lived in Italy for a time, and he spoke out against the American military and expressed anti-semitic views. Consequently, he was charged with treason, but his case was worked out so that he could be committed to a mental institution.

In Dickinson's own life, her father's Calvinistic insistence upon perfection and compliance conflicted with Emily's clear-eyed scrutiny of the world; as a result, she grew more and more reclusive, feeling "straightway dangerous" as she rejected the rigidity of her father and the insanity of following the dictates of society.

What is the background of the poem "Dulce et Decorum Est"?

Wilfred Owen's "Dulce Et Decorum Est" is a key work in the pantheon of poems written during World War I which center on the grim realities of the Great War. This background information is fairly obvious, especially when one considers the violent imagery and plain, honest illustration of life on a battlefield. What may be less obvious, however, is the fact that by the end of the poem, Owen is directly appealing to famed propaganda...

Wilfred Owen's "Dulce Et Decorum Est" is a key work in the pantheon of poems written during World War I which center on the grim realities of the Great War. This background information is fairly obvious, especially when one considers the violent imagery and plain, honest illustration of life on a battlefield. What may be less obvious, however, is the fact that by the end of the poem, Owen is directly appealing to famed propaganda artists at the time who glorify the experience of the war. Owen is disgusted with these artists' grotesque naivety and their intentional misleading of England's youth. Indeed, the violent and horrific imagery at the onset of the poem reinforces the final lines in which he appeals to jingoistic poets: "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest/ To children ardent for some desperate glory,/ The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est/ Pro patria mori." Owen skewers these poets, and chastises them for telling the "old Lie."

I pulled my textual support from The Bloodaxe Book of 20th Century Poetry edited by Edna Longley. 

What is the significance of Johnny's letter in The Outsiders? How does it help with character development and/or supporting the theme of the book?

One of the difficulties that Ponyboy and the other greasers face is the idea that they are stuck where they are, that they don't have the options that the Socs do. Darry is stuck because he has to take care of the other boys, Dally is so dragged down by his rough childhood and criminal record that he can't change his lot in life, Ponyboy expects that he too will end up this way.

But,...

One of the difficulties that Ponyboy and the other greasers face is the idea that they are stuck where they are, that they don't have the options that the Socs do. Darry is stuck because he has to take care of the other boys, Dally is so dragged down by his rough childhood and criminal record that he can't change his lot in life, Ponyboy expects that he too will end up this way.

But, as he is dying, Johnny sees that it doesn't have to be that way. He interprets the poem to suggest that there is a possibility for any boy, even a greaser like Ponyboy. Johnny's understanding, gained only as he lies on his deathbed, allows Ponyboy to start seeing the same realization. He then begins to write his "theme" in the hopes that people will understand greasers like Dally and respect them instead of looking down on them. This beginning may in fact signal a new beginning for Ponyboy, a way out because if he does a good job he can keep up his grades and save that potential he has.

Johnny's letter from the grave helps Ponyboy move on and opens up that world of possibilities for him.

Examine Da-duh's role as an "ancestor " figure.

Da-duh represents the ancestor figure, a popular character found in African American literature, because she is a symbol of the past, of wisdom, and of a culture’s heritage.  As the matriarch of the family, Da-duh represents a long line of tradition and culture, and that is why she tries so hard to convince her granddaughter of the wonders of Barbados.  However, Da-duh’s family, time, and tradition have moved on. Her daughter and granddaughters live in...

Da-duh represents the ancestor figure, a popular character found in African American literature, because she is a symbol of the past, of wisdom, and of a culture’s heritage.  As the matriarch of the family, Da-duh represents a long line of tradition and culture, and that is why she tries so hard to convince her granddaughter of the wonders of Barbados.  However, Da-duh’s family, time, and tradition have moved on. Her daughter and granddaughters live in New York City, and the world has become more modern.  Barbados has been taken over by the English, and old traditions are quickly being replaced with new ones.   The granddaughter represents new ideas and lifestyles different than Da-duh’s. However, Da-duh’s wisdom and influence is still strong as she eventually convinces her granddaughter that Barbados is a unique place and culture.

Finding and understanding your roots is a major theme in African American literature, and Da-duh symbolizes the granddaughter’s ability to do that when she dreams of Barbados and paints murals of Barbados’ beautiful landscape on her apartment walls.  Without Da-duh’s wisdom and teachings about Barbados, the granddaughter would not have learned about herself and her culture.  The main goal of an ancestor figure in literature is to help others find themselves through their traditional culture and values.

What are some quotes on racism, prejudice, and intolerance throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are plenty of quotes the deal with racism, prejudice, and intolerance throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout and Jem become the target of several racist comments from various community members in Maycomb. In Chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose says,

"Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" (Lee 135)

Mrs. Dubose is not the only character throughout the novel that uses derogatory racial slurs. In Chapter 9, Scout's cousin,...

There are plenty of quotes the deal with racism, prejudice, and intolerance throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout and Jem become the target of several racist comments from various community members in Maycomb. In Chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose says,

"Your father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" (Lee 135)

Mrs. Dubose is not the only character throughout the novel that uses derogatory racial slurs. In Chapter 9, Scout's cousin, Francis Hancock, is talking about her father Atticus and says,

"He's nothin' but a nigger-lover!" (Lee 110)

There are several scenes throughout the novel where Harper Lee illustrates the prejudice amongst the citizens of Maycomb's community. In Chapter 20, during Atticus' closing remarks he says,

"The witnesses for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption---the evil assumption---that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber." (Lee 273)

People are not only prejudiced towards the opposite race in Maycomb, but are also prejudiced towards others in regards to social class. This is evident when Scout asks her Aunt Alexandra if Walter Cunningham can come over to play. Alexandra refuses to let Scout play with Walter. When Scout asks why she can't play with Walter, Alexandra says,

"Because---he----is----trash, that's why you can't play with him, picking up his habits and Lord-knows-what." (Lee 301)

Intolerance is defined as an unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect persons from a different social group and opinions contrary to one's own. In Chapter 24, the ladies of Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle display their intolerance towards the Mrunas in Africa. Mrs. Merriweather says,

"Out there in J. Grimes Everett's land there's nothing but sin and squalor." (Lee 309)

Mrs. Merriweather is ignorant and intolerant towards cultures that contrast with Western civilization and her religious beliefs. She also comments,

"I tell you that there are some good but misguided people in this town. Good, but misguided. Folks in this town who think they're doing right, I mean." (Lee 311)

Mrs. Merriweather believes that Atticus' defense of Tom Robinson is wrong. She is unwilling to respect his opinion that all men should be treated fairly regardless of race.

Matt saves six items for Kira before her cott burns. What are those six items?

When Kira is in the field to deal with the death of her mother, Kira's cott burns down. Matt, a young boy from town, is able to save a few items from the fire. It is not clear who set the fire in her cott. Matt doesn't tell Kira that he has her belongings until he knows that she will continue to live. This is because after Kira returns, a woman in town believes that...

When Kira is in the field to deal with the death of her mother, Kira's cott burns down. Matt, a young boy from town, is able to save a few items from the fire. It is not clear who set the fire in her cott. Matt doesn't tell Kira that he has her belongings until he knows that she will continue to live. This is because after Kira returns, a woman in town believes that Kira should be taken to the field to die because she is useless because of her disabled leg. After Kira is given a new job and allowed to live, Matt brings along the items that he saved from Kira's cott. These items include:

1. Kira's threading frame


2. Dried herbs in a basket


3. "Some chunky tubers" (a type of food)


4. Her mother's shawl


5. Her mother's skirt


6. Her mother's pendant 

What would have happened if Mathilde Loisel had not lost the necklace?

Mathilde Loisel would not have had many opportunities to play Cinderella at the ball. She was not the promiscuous type, like the wife of Monsieur Lantin in Maupassant's story titled "The Jewels," or "The False Gems." Mathilde is obviously a dreamer. She would go back to her normal humdrum existence and continue to fantasize about 

...silent antechambers, heavy with Oriental tapestries, lit by torches in lofty bronze sockets, with two tall footmen in knee-breeches sleeping...

Mathilde Loisel would not have had many opportunities to play Cinderella at the ball. She was not the promiscuous type, like the wife of Monsieur Lantin in Maupassant's story titled "The Jewels," or "The False Gems." Mathilde is obviously a dreamer. She would go back to her normal humdrum existence and continue to fantasize about 

...silent antechambers, heavy with Oriental tapestries, lit by torches in lofty bronze sockets, with two tall footmen in knee-breeches sleeping in large arm-chairs, overcome by the heavy warmth of the stove. She imagined vast saloons hung with antique silks, exquisite pieces of furniture supporting priceless ornaments, and small, charming, perfumed rooms, created just for little parties of intimate friends, men who were famous and sought after, whose homage roused every other woman's envious longings.

Feminine beauty and charm has evolved for the purpose of reproduction. Women have to attract men in order to have babies, and they reproduce successfully if they can hold men while their offspring are growing to adulthood. Mathilde would undoubtedly have gotten pregnant. That's generally what happens when women get married. Then her interests would probably have centered on her children, and the "silent antechambers, heavy with Oriental tapestries" and the rest of it would have vanished like dreams. Her misfortune was that she had not been able to marry a man who would have been able to provide more of the luxuries she had read about in novels. But marriage was a more binding commitment in Maupassant's day. Mathilde was stuck with the nice little man she married. She wouldn't have started having "affairs" with other men, and she wouldn't have thought of getting a divorce. Her fate was practically settled when 

...she let herself be married off to a little clerk in the Ministry of Education.

There must be many women who regret being married to the men they end up with. They must dream about how their lives would have been more comfortable and more interesting if only they had married this or that other man. The invitation to the Minister's ball in "The Necklace" only provides a brief opportunity for Mathilde Loisel to revel in the attention of men who are superior to her husband--

...men who were famous and sought after, whose homage roused every other woman's envious longings.

The ball is only like a continuation of the dreams she has when she is alone at home. It is not the ball that makes the big difference in the story, but the loss of the borrowed necklace. If she hadn't lost it, her life would have been the same as before. She would have become a mother and a lower-middle-class housewife. She might have learned to accept her lot in life. She might have even become happy.

Can you explain why is it not worthwhile to produce under region three of production function?

First, let's review what the three regions of a production function are. That's about half of our answer right there.

We assume that we have one fixed factor of production---let's say capital---and one variable factor of production---let's say labor.

We can then graph the production function as the number of total goods produced as a function of the amount of labor we employ.

Region 1 is where marginal productivity of labor is increasing. Each new person-hour of work produces more than the last. As long as there is enough demand, we'd be silly not to continue producing more stuff---our production gets more efficient the more we make. This could happen because workers are complements for each other---we need a certain number of people to work each assembly line, and if we don't have enough we end up using a less efficient production process. Both capital and labor are used more efficiently as we add more labor.

Region 2 is where marginal productivity of labor is decreasing, but positive. Each new person-hour of work is less efficient than the last, but we do still produce more if we add more people or work them more hours. Most businesses in the real world operate in this regime---you may have already hired all the most qualified people, so adding new workers means reducing their average productivity, and if you work the people you have harder they get tired and don't do as much good work in the later hours. As we add more labor, the labor gets less efficient; but the capital gets more efficient because we're producing more overall output with the same fixed amount of capital.

Region 3 is where marginal productivity of labor is negative. Adding more person-hours actually makes our overall production worse. It's not simply that new workers aren't as good---that would be region 2. They are actively detracting from our productivity, perhaps by distracting other workers, or getting in their way, or producing substandard work that needs to be corrected. Or perhaps you're working your current workers so hard that they don't get enough sleep and start doing shoddy work all day long. Both capital and labor get less efficient as we add more labor.

Why is it rational to produce in regions 1 and 2 but not in region 3? Well, think about what we just said above: In region 3, as you add more person-hours your output gets worse. You are spending more money to make less product. It would never make sense to do that. You might do it by accident, thinking you are still in region 2; but you'd never do it on purpose if you're trying to maximize profits. A perfectly-rational business would never operate in region 3, but sometimes real-world businesses do because they don't realize it. In my opinion, any software company that works its programmers more than 40 hours per week (and many do) is in region 3---coding well requires thinking well, and thinking well requires resting well. (Of course, I could be wrong; maybe it's still region 2.)

In A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck, does Grandma Dowdel own a rowboat?

The answer is no, Grandma Dowdel doesn't own a rowboat.

In A One-Woman Crime Wave, Grandma Dowdel takes Joey and Mary Alice to Salt Creek, where the Piatt County Rod and Gun Club has some property. At the edge of the creek, Grandma Dowdel uncovers a rowboat that's tied to a tree and hidden among some vines. The trio uses the rowboat to paddle out further onto the water, and eventually Grandma Dowdel stops...

The answer is no, Grandma Dowdel doesn't own a rowboat.

In A One-Woman Crime Wave, Grandma Dowdel takes Joey and Mary Alice to Salt Creek, where the Piatt County Rod and Gun Club has some property. At the edge of the creek, Grandma Dowdel uncovers a rowboat that's tied to a tree and hidden among some vines. The trio uses the rowboat to paddle out further onto the water, and eventually Grandma Dowdel stops the boat at a certain spot. She then plunges her rod into the creek and soon lifts up what appears to be a catfish trap. The crate is filled with "whipping tails and general writhing." In other words, it's full of catfish.

Although Grandma Dowdel admits that trapping fish is illegal in the state, she tells Joey that she's never yet gotten caught. Then, she admits that the boat she's using isn't hers at all. We later find out that the boat actually belongs to Sheriff O.B. Dickerson. When Grandma Dowdel rows past the stretch of the creek belonging to the Rod and Gun Club, the Sheriff spots the trio in his boat and yells out to them to "stop in the name of the law." Although the Sheriff desperately wants to write Grandma Dowdel up on charges, he knows that he can't.

The Sheriff realizes that he, his deputies, and the entire male business community would be greatly embarrassed if Grandma Dowdel ever reported what she saw when she rowed past the Rod and Gun Club: every one of the men had appeared to be stone drunk and many were in various states of dishevelment. Grandma Dowdel's testimony would have certainly upset some of the wives of these men. In fact, it was Earl T. Askew, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who warned the Sheriff about exposing them all:

"O.B., let's just let sleeping dogs lay. I got my hands full with Mrs. Askew as it is."

So, this is how Grandma Dowdel gets away with using a rowboat that doesn't belong to her.

What developments and achievements influenced life in Medieval Europe?

Spices, first encountered by Europeans during the Crusades, profoundly affected European cuisines. Prior to soldiers returning home from the Crusades with spices, European foods were bland and indistinct. Subsequently, French, Italian and German cuisines began to exhibit their distinctive characteristics.

Navies, as a defensive force, developed in England to repel Viking invaders. The organization required to sustain an effective navy enabled England's various kingdoms to unite into a formidable nation-state capable of defending itself. Life...

Spices, first encountered by Europeans during the Crusades, profoundly affected European cuisines. Prior to soldiers returning home from the Crusades with spices, European foods were bland and indistinct. Subsequently, French, Italian and German cuisines began to exhibit their distinctive characteristics.

Navies, as a defensive force, developed in England to repel Viking invaders. The organization required to sustain an effective navy enabled England's various kingdoms to unite into a formidable nation-state capable of defending itself. Life in coastal towns no longer getting sacked by Viking raiding parties improved immensely.

Many events can be said to have bookended the Medieval period. From the point of view of the Catholic church, it began with a gradual process of the Pope replacing the Roman emperor as the most powerful political figure; by the 12th Century, the Pope had the unprecedented ability to raise an army. One of the many events that ended the Medieval period was the Protestant Reformation, which effectively ended the Pope's ability to raise troops for Crusades (a perennially popular rallying cause).

Why is Anne called Mrs. Quack Quack in "The Diary of Anne Frank"?

Peter calls Anne "Mrs. Quack Quack" because she talks a lot.

Anne and Peter get along well at times, but often clash.  They are the closest kids in age in the Secret Annexe, because Margot is older than them.  They were not especially close before Peter’s family joined Anne’s in hiding, but knew about each other.

Peter has heard about an incident where Anne’s teacher called her Mrs. Quack Quack, and uses the nickname to...

Peter calls Anne "Mrs. Quack Quack" because she talks a lot.

Anne and Peter get along well at times, but often clash.  They are the closest kids in age in the Secret Annexe, because Margot is older than them.  They were not especially close before Peter’s family joined Anne’s in hiding, but knew about each other.

Peter has heard about an incident where Anne’s teacher called her Mrs. Quack Quack, and uses the nickname to tease Anne when she gets on his nerves.

PETER. I heard about you ... How you talked so much in class they called you Mrs. Quack Quack. How Mr. Srnitter made you write a composition ... "'Quack, quack,' said Mrs. Quack Quack." (Act 1, Scene 3)

Anne gets annoyed and throws Peter’s clothes.  She explains that the composition that she wrote for this punishment was so good that the teacher read it to the class.  She is proud of this detail, turning Peter's insult back at him.

Peter’s mother encourages the fight, pleased that Anne is talking back to Peter.  However, Anne has trouble being mature around Peter.

ANNE. With all the boys in the world ... Why I had to get locked up with one like you! ... (Act 1, Scene 3)

Anne and Peter move closer to boyfriend-girlfriend territory the longer they are locked up.  The tension between them from the beginning turns into affection.  Because they are the same age and locked in closed quarters, it is natural that they would become close.  Anne and Peter never get to fully develop their relationship because the family is captured by the Nazis before they get a chance.

Peter obviously knows how to get to Anne.  He realizes that she is self-conscious about her reputation, especially since she feels picked on by the adults in hiding with her.  By bringing up this incident, Peter both connects the real world with the one in hiding and shows that he has paid attention to Anne.

In Macbeth, if the witches have control over the apparitions, then what is the point of the first apparition contradicting the other two?

As it turns out, the other two apparitions (and, for that matter, the circle of kings that later appear) do not actually contradict the first one. The important thing, though, is that Macbeth ignores the first apparition, which warns him to beware Macduff, once he sees the second one, which tells him that no man "of woman born" can harm him. We find out at the end of the play that Macduff was in fact...

As it turns out, the other two apparitions (and, for that matter, the circle of kings that later appear) do not actually contradict the first one. The important thing, though, is that Macbeth ignores the first apparition, which warns him to beware Macduff, once he sees the second one, which tells him that no man "of woman born" can harm him. We find out at the end of the play that Macduff was in fact "untimely ripp'd" from his mother's womb (i.e., he was born by Caesarian section) and so the prophecies turn out to be true. But they are certainly misleading, and Macbeth in his ambition and his trust in the witches, who had been unambiguously correct about his future up to that point, acts with confidence. He proceeds to try to kill Macduff, but his assassins only manage to kill the thane's family. The apparitions are thus crucial to the plot--they raise the question, still debated by scholars and fans of the play, of whether Macbeth was more undone by his own ambition or by meddling of malevolent supernatural forces. At the end of the play, confronting his own death, Macbeth asserts the latter.

In the book "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers, was it clearly stated if Steven is guilty or innocent or do they not say?

Though the trial ends with Steve Harmon declared "not guilty," the fact of whether or not he was a part of the convenience store robbery is less clear. Most readers, I think, believe that Steve did take part in the crime, due to several inconsistencies in his story.

For example, when he is questioned on the stand, Steve denies being in or around the drugstore at all the day of the robbery (pg 223). Earlier...

Though the trial ends with Steve Harmon declared "not guilty," the fact of whether or not he was a part of the convenience store robbery is less clear. Most readers, I think, believe that Steve did take part in the crime, due to several inconsistencies in his story.

For example, when he is questioned on the stand, Steve denies being in or around the drugstore at all the day of the robbery (pg 223). Earlier in the story, however, he said he was in the drug store that day, just "looking around" (pg 115) and later he claims that he was "buying mints" in the store the day of the robbery (pg 140). 

Another example that should make readers suspicious of Steve is when he is listening to a testimony of the day of the robbery. He recalls himself that day and describes himself “walking down the street, trying to make my mind a blank screen” (pg 128). Trying to fade the film of his mind to black is a trick readers know Steve does when he doesn't like reality. Why else would he need to do this if he weren't involved?

On final piece of evidence is Steve's obsession with his own goodness. He is terrified throughout the book that he is a monster, a bad person. In fact, that is the reason he is making his screenplay of the trial - to prove that he isn't. An innocent person on trial would not have these concerns with his own conscious. 

Despite all these examples that raise a reader's suspicion, the story never explicitly says that Steve was a part of the robbery. However, most close readers would point to these examples as evidence that he did commit the crime.

What is a good beginning sentence, thesis statement, for my English essay on mercy killing as in the book Of Mice and Men?

In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck has one main character, George, kill the other important character, Lennie, in a mercy killing in order to prevent a lynch mob from killing Lennie. 

Your first sentence in the essay should be an introductory sentence, not your thesis.  You can introduce the book, the author and your idea of mercy killing.

Your thesis statement usually comes at the end of the introductory paragraph and clearly states...

In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck has one main character, George, kill the other important character, Lennie, in a mercy killing in order to prevent a lynch mob from killing Lennie. 

Your first sentence in the essay should be an introductory sentence, not your thesis.  You can introduce the book, the author and your idea of mercy killing.

Your thesis statement usually comes at the end of the introductory paragraph and clearly states your position or idea about mercy killing.  Use your thesis statement to show the topics of your three body paragraphs as you see mercy killing represented in the novel.

I'm going to assume that this is a persuasive essay and that you need a thesis statement for a persuasive idea.  You must decide what your position is and then look for evidence in the novel to prove your thesis.  The thesis statement is the controlling sentence for your body paragraphs.  You could write what your position is: in your opinion, mercy killing is always wrong because it is killing, because you don't believe that it is merciful and your political beliefs argue that mercy killing is wrongful encroachment of the law. 

If necessary, write the body paragraphs first and then the thesis statement as you will know what you will be introducing.  Do this backwards method ONLY if you get really stuck with the statement.

Compare and contrast Ralph and Jack's leadership roles?

Ralph is a selfless leader who is focused on the essential elements of survival and rescue. Ralph is constantly reminding the boys of the importance of maintaining a signal fire. Ralph uses the conch to organize and call assemblies. Throughout the assemblies, Ralph allows others to speak and takes into consideration their ideas and feelings. He cares for each child on the island, even the littluns, which he builds shelters for so they feel a...

Ralph is a selfless leader who is focused on the essential elements of survival and rescue. Ralph is constantly reminding the boys of the importance of maintaining a signal fire. Ralph uses the conch to organize and call assemblies. Throughout the assemblies, Ralph allows others to speak and takes into consideration their ideas and feelings. He cares for each child on the island, even the littluns, which he builds shelters for so they feel a sense of comfort during the night. Ralph exercises good judgment in times of adversity. He stands up to Jack at critical parts throughout the novel and firmly believes in civility over barbarism. Ralph leads by example, but is not able to convince the majority of the castaways to follow his tribe. Ralph's leadership is undermined by Jack, who advocates for hunting and pleasurable activities.

Jack is a charismatic leader similar to Ralph. He possesses the ability to rally the boys and convinces them to follow his leadership. Jack's agenda differs from Ralph's as he proposes that the boys hunt and swim instead of maintaining the signal fire and constructing shelters. Jack uses intimidation and punishment to motivate his tribe, unlike Ralph. Jack's leadership can be described as tyrannical because he seldom takes other people's thoughts into consideration. Jack's tribe is the epitome of savage brutality. Ralph's tribe is the epitome of civility and structure.

Both boys understand the importance of bravery and intelligence. There are several scenes throughout the novel where both Jack and Ralph display courage in the face of adversity which gains them favor in the eyes of their followers. Although Jack overlooks several essential elements of survival and rescue, Jack is the one who suggests they use Piggy's glasses to start a fire and teaches the boys how to hunt. Both boys use objects that represent their tribes' allegiance. Ralph uses the conch as a symbol of authority while Jack uses the Lord of the Flies as a totem.

How does Dickens present the idea of compassion through the presentation of Joe in Great Expectations?

The orphaned Pip's much older brother-in-law Joe, a blacksmith, is the essence of compassion in this novel. From the start, there's no question he will welcome Pip into his home with open arms: "God bless the poor little child ... there's room for him at the forge," Joe says. During Pip's childhood, Joe befriends him and tries to protect him from the abuses of his wife, Pip's bad tempered and difficult sister.

Joe sticks by...

The orphaned Pip's much older brother-in-law Joe, a blacksmith, is the essence of compassion in this novel. From the start, there's no question he will welcome Pip into his home with open arms: "God bless the poor little child ... there's room for him at the forge," Joe says. During Pip's childhood, Joe befriends him and tries to protect him from the abuses of his wife, Pip's bad tempered and difficult sister.

Joe sticks by Pip with kindness and understanding even when Pip is ashamed of him and doesn't to want to be seen with him. Joe's steady goodhearted generosity contrasts sharply with Pip's pretensions and social climbing. Through creating a character as compassionate, grounded and good as Joe, Dickens' critiques the snobbery of the more flawed and human Pip, who wishes to climb to a higher social status in a way Joe never does and never could, because Joe is content in his own skin. 

Joe confounds Jagger by valuing people more than money, another sign of Joe's compassion. Joe is satisfied to remain a blacksmith and willing to love Pip whether or not he has money or status. He loves Pip for being Pip, and it never crosses his mind to use him. He provides a contrast to unhappy characters, such as Miss Havisham, who want to make Pip suffer. 

Even after Pip has disrespected and neglected him, Joe remains faithful and loving, stating the following: "dear old Pip, old chap," said Joe, "you and me was ever friends."

Why is it important to ask questions and not make assumptions?

One of the themes of Twelve Angry Men, particularly the 1957 motion picture version, is that a person seeking to find the truth of a matter must not make assumptions, but must take a fresh perspective by asking questions. Most of the jurors make multiple assumptions. Juror 8 is the one who distinguishes himself by questioning some assumptions the other jurors hold.

At the beginning, most of the jurors are under the assumption that...

One of the themes of Twelve Angry Men, particularly the 1957 motion picture version, is that a person seeking to find the truth of a matter must not make assumptions, but must take a fresh perspective by asking questions. Most of the jurors make multiple assumptions. Juror 8 is the one who distinguishes himself by questioning some assumptions the other jurors hold.

At the beginning, most of the jurors are under the assumption that the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney were consummate professionals and had provided clear cut evidence in the case, leaving no stone unturned. This turns out to be a false assumption, for the jurors are able to make many discoveries that were not brought up during the trial. All the men except Juror 8 assume the truth about the knife found at the scene, that it had a unique design. Juror 8 asked himself whether that was true; he went out the previous night and was able to purchase an identical knife just blocks from where the defendant lived.

Most of the jurors begin deliberations by assuming the two primary witnesses in the case gave accurate testimony. By asking questions, Juror 8 was able to cast doubt upon the stories told by the old man and the "eyewitness." All the jurors, even Juror 8, assume that the entry wound was consistent with the murder weapon because they were told that in the trial. Only when Juror 5 remembers seeing knife fights in his youth does he demonstrate that the wound could not have been made by a person who routinely used a switchblade. The drama shows that by asking questions and shedding their assumptions, the men were able to get a clearer picture of the truth. In this case, it was important enough to keep an innocent boy from the electric chair, but asking questions and avoiding assumptions is important any time one wants to bring clarity to a situation. It is the way to move out stalled thinking toward a positive solution.

What is Maycomb's weather like in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The weather in Harper Lee’s fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama is typical for that of the Deep South. It is very hot in the summer with brief but cold winters. Early in chapter 8, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch mentions the harshness of the current winter, quoting her father Atticus as observing, “We had two weeks of the coldest weather since 1885.” Despite this unusual cold snap and the snow that accompanied it, Maycomb winters are...

The weather in Harper Lee’s fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama is typical for that of the Deep South. It is very hot in the summer with brief but cold winters. Early in chapter 8, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch mentions the harshness of the current winter, quoting her father Atticus as observing, “We had two weeks of the coldest weather since 1885.” Despite this unusual cold snap and the snow that accompanied it, Maycomb winters are depicted as generally mild, prompting Scout to note that shoes are rarely needed in Maycomb, even during winter.

Alabama, of course, is on the Gulf of Mexico, and the local geography is generally humid with frequent rains. Again, typical of the Gulf Coast, summer temperatures tend to be quite hot, reaching 90 degrees at times, which happened to be the daytime temperature during the rape trial of Tom Robinson (“Reverend Sykes wiped his face on his hat. The temperature was an easy ninety”). Summer plays a prominent role in To Kill a Mockingbird. It is during the summer that Dill comes to Maycomb, and the three children play together and conspire to draw out the mysterious figure of Boo Radley.

Harper Lee was born and spent much of her life in Monroeville, Alabama, which served as the model for Maycomb. She knew the area well, and Scout’s descriptions of growing up in Alabama no doubt accurately reflected the author’s experiences and observations.

Why is it fitting the way that Beowulf defeats Grendel?

Beowulf and Grendel fight without weapons, and Beowulf, of course, defeats Grendel by ripping his arm out of its socket through sheer strength.  

In this warrior society, a leader's skill and strength in war are all important--in part because a leader like Beowulf, still young and untested as a king, must show his retainers that he cannot be defeated by arms (that is, the sword or axe) or by a failure of his strength....

Beowulf and Grendel fight without weapons, and Beowulf, of course, defeats Grendel by ripping his arm out of its socket through sheer strength.  

In this warrior society, a leader's skill and strength in war are all important--in part because a leader like Beowulf, still young and untested as a king, must show his retainers that he cannot be defeated by arms (that is, the sword or axe) or by a failure of his strength.  Beowulf's decision to avoid using weapons, however, is based on his belief that Grendel is immune to the weapons the Geats normally carry.  As he says to Hrothgar:

I have also heard that this wretch/in his rashness recks not of weapons. . . . I therefore disdain to bear a sword or broad shield. . . . (Walton, trans.)

In other words, Grendel is so fierce that he doesn't even need weapons to defeat men, so the use of weapons is, in Beowulf's view, futile.

More important, though, is that during the fight, as Beowulf's men draw their weapons in an attempt to protect him against Grendel, we learn

. . . that no war-blades . . . could even scathe that sinful wrecker;/for he had cast spells against all edged weapons whatever. (Walton, trans., ll. 801-805)

Beowulf's desire, then, to fight Grendel with only his strength--initially because he thinks Grendel is not skilled with weapons--becomes Beowulf's salvation in the battle.  Since no weapon forged by man could harm Grendel, man's strength, Beowulf's physical power, is the only weapon by which Grendel can be defeated.

What are some differences between King Duncan's and Banquo's characters?

King Duncan and Banquo were both honorable men who were fiercely loyal to Scotland. Besides the obvious difference in their ranks, another important difference was their ability to judge a person’s character. Duncan was much more trusting than Banquo and failed to suspect those close to him might have evil intentions. Remember at the beginning of the play that a traitor, the Thane of Cawdor, was executed. Duncan says of him:

"There's no art
To find the mind's construction in the face:
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust."

Duncan never suspected the Thane of Cawdor would align with the King of Norway in order to take over Scotland. Duncan lacks insight into people’s characters and bestows complete trust easily. He makes the same mistake with Macbeth and dies because of it.

Banquo, on the other hand, is more cautious and discerning. When the witches first appear and give their predictions, Macbeth is enthralled and wants to believe them absolutely. But Banquo urges caution:

“But 'tis strange:
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray's
In deepest consequence.”

Later Banquo begins to suspect that Macbeth killed Duncan. He sees beyond Macbeth’s façade. At the beginning of Act III scene i he voices his thoughts clearly when he says: “Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,/ As the weird women promised, and, I fear,/Thou play'dst most foully for't.” While others believe Duncan’s sons killed him, Banquo is a better judge of character and sees Macbeth’s ambition.

So though both Duncan and Banquo are powerful, intelligent, loyal men, Banquo is slightly wiser when it comes to judging a person and a situation correctly.

What is a quote from the trial scene when Scout talks about Mayella Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird?

One of the passages from Chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird that depicts the character of Mayella Ewell is the following:

Apparently Mayella’s recital had given her confidence, but it was not her father’s brash kind: there was something stealthy about hers, like a steady-eyed cat with a twitchy tail.

This quote is fairly indicative of Mayella's character. She is more feline in her entrapment of Tom Robinson than the brash Bob Ewell, who...

One of the passages from Chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird that depicts the character of Mayella Ewell is the following:

Apparently Mayella’s recital had given her confidence, but it was not her father’s brash kind: there was something stealthy about hers, like a steady-eyed cat with a twitchy tail.

This quote is fairly indicative of Mayella's character. She is more feline in her entrapment of Tom Robinson than the brash Bob Ewell, who has boldly called Sheriff Tate and had Robinson arrested for rape, even though no doctor has been summoned. Previous to the day in question, Mayella has made several overtures to Tom, asking him to help her with various tasks. But, she tries to intimate that Tom's chopping up of the chiffarobe was the first time he was inside her yard. For, when Atticus asks her,

"Was this the first time you asked him to come inside the fence?"

Mayella "jumps slightly" at this question. Then, as Atticus questions her further, Mayella looks around at the court reporter and up at Judge Taylor as though measuring those around her. Further, as Atticus asks her if Tom beat her in the face, Mayella replies,

"No, I don't recollect if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me....Huh? Yes, he hit--I just don't remember, I just don't remember...it all happened so quick."

With this "twitchy" response, one can easily imagine a cat who twitches its tale as it squares off against its prey.

What does the reader learn about GL through direct characterization in "A Visit to Grandmother"?

According to the source literarydevices.net, direct characterization is defined in this way:

This kind of characterization takes a direct approach towards building the character. It uses another character, narrator or the protagonist himself to tell the readers or audience about the subject.

• 
  Direct characterization occurs first in "A Visit to Grandmother" by William Melvin Kelley as the reader learns about GL at dinner mainly through the story related by the character of the Grandmother. She describes how the young GL swindled a man out of a horse and recklessly took his mother on a dangerous ride in a buggy that she stopped only by jumping onto the back of the horse and reining it in.

When the grandmother finishes her story, there is the resurrection of the old conflicts of mother and son that reveal to Chig why his father has never visited his old home. Chig's father even cries as he informs his mother of her partiality toward GL despite her explanations that she knew GL needed more attention. Then, Chig's father and he go upstairs. (This all involves indirect characterization.)

After Chig and his father go upstairs, the narrator describes GL. The rest of the family sits at the dinner table in silence until a key is heard turning in the door.

• Further direct characterization occurs as the narrator describes GL in this way:

A light-skinned man enters in "a lacquered straw hat."

He was wearing brown and white two-toned shoes with very pointed toes and a white summer suit....
He stood in the doorway, smiling broadly, an engaging open friendly smile, the friendly smile, the innocent smile of a five-year-old.

Interestingly, the story ends with this description of GL, a description which underscores the explanation of the grandmother that GL needed her extra attention.

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, what is a flapdoodle?

"Flapdoodle" is a slang word used by Mark Twain in the 25th chapter of Huck Finn. The king and the duke are con men who are trying to bilk the Wilks' daughters out of their inheritance, $6000 in gold. They put on a great show of sorrow over Peter Wilks' death, claiming to be his long separated brothers from England. Huck sees the whole show put on by the king and duke as so much...

"Flapdoodle" is a slang word used by Mark Twain in the 25th chapter of Huck Finn. The king and the duke are con men who are trying to bilk the Wilks' daughters out of their inheritance, $6000 in gold. They put on a great show of sorrow over Peter Wilks' death, claiming to be his long separated brothers from England. Huck sees the whole show put on by the king and duke as so much "flapdoodle," a word which could be replaced by baloney, balderdash, hogwash or similar slang words, meaning outrageous, obvious lies.

The word seems to have been common slang that was in use at the time of Twain's writing "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Twain uses the word to great comic effect, because of the sound of the word itself, a nonsense word, like something a child might make up.

What is Helmholtz Watson's job?

Helmholtz Watson is a lecturer.  In other words, he's a college professor.  Specifically, Watson is a lecturer at the College of Emotional Engineering, which is also called the Department of Writing in the novel.  

In addition to his educational duties at the college, Watson performs a number of side jobs.  The text says that he works as an "Emotional Engineer."  In "Brave New World" that means Watson writes slogans and stories that are meant...

Helmholtz Watson is a lecturer.  In other words, he's a college professor.  Specifically, Watson is a lecturer at the College of Emotional Engineering, which is also called the Department of Writing in the novel.  

In addition to his educational duties at the college, Watson performs a number of side jobs.  The text says that he works as an "Emotional Engineer."  In "Brave New World" that means Watson writes slogans and stories that are meant to manipulate people's emotions.  In other words, he writes propaganda.  

Watson is very good at his job too.  In fact, some people in the novel believe that he is too good at his job.  

“Able,” was the verdict of his superiors. “Perhaps, (and they would shake their heads, would significantly lower their voices) “a little too able.”

Part of the reason that he is so good at his job is because he is an "Alpha Plus."  He's been genetically engineered to be awesome.  But despite his incredible smarts and stunning good looks, he is unhappy with his station in life.  

This Escalator-Squash champion, this indefatigable lover (it was said that he had had six hundred and forty different girls in under four years), this admirable committee man and best mixer had realized quite suddenly that sport, women, communal activities were only, so far as he was concerned, second bests. Really, and at the bottom, he was interested in something else. But in what? In what?

Why did Lady Macbeth want Duncan dead?

Lady Macbeth wants Duncan dead so that her husband can become king. Her husband informs her of the witches' prophecy in a letter, and she immediately resolves to set him to murdering the King. She fears that he is "too full of the milk o'human kindness" to do what she thinks must be done to fulfill the prophecy. When Macbeth wavers just before sneaking into Duncan's chamber to murder him, it is his wife that...

Lady Macbeth wants Duncan dead so that her husband can become king. Her husband informs her of the witches' prophecy in a letter, and she immediately resolves to set him to murdering the King. She fears that he is "too full of the milk o'human kindness" to do what she thinks must be done to fulfill the prophecy. When Macbeth wavers just before sneaking into Duncan's chamber to murder him, it is his wife that pushes him along, essentially challenging his masculinity and his bravery. She does this, it must be said, out of her own ambition, but also because she clearly loves her husband, and wants him to claim what she believes is his, even though doing so will require him to commit unspeakable deeds. Her goading, and Macbeth's willingness to be pushed toward the deed, winds up destroying both of them, and she dies at the end a shell of the strong, ruthless woman she is at the beginning of the play.

How did the case of McCulloch v. Maryland affect the powers of the national government?

The Supreme Court heard the case of McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819. John Marshall was the Chief Justice at the time.

This case involved the Second Bank of the United States, which had been authorized by Congress in 1816. The state of Maryland decided to levy a tax on the bank, and only on that bank. When the bank did not pay the tax, the case went to the Maryland Court of Appeals, which ruled...

The Supreme Court heard the case of McCulloch v. Maryland in 1819. John Marshall was the Chief Justice at the time.

This case involved the Second Bank of the United States, which had been authorized by Congress in 1816. The state of Maryland decided to levy a tax on the bank, and only on that bank. When the bank did not pay the tax, the case went to the Maryland Court of Appeals, which ruled that the bank was illegal because the Constitution did not expressly grant the federal government the power to establish a bank.

However, Marshall's Supreme Court ruled that even though the Constitution did not specifically give Congress power to create a bank, Article I of the Constitution did include the following clause, known as the “Necessary and Proper Clause”:

The Congress shall have Power ... To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

The Court interpreted this clause to mean that Congress did have the power to enact a law that was necessary for the federal government to carry out its functions, even if that law was not specifically authorized by the Constitution. This ruling established the primacy of the federal government over the states. Up to this point, many people in the young United States believed that each state had greater power than the federal government, which was the case under the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. It was replaced by our present Constitution in 1789, with the intent of increasing federal power. McCulloch v. Maryland helped make that a reality. 

In the book We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson, what do the children sing songs about?

"Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea?Oh no, said Merricat, you'll poison me.Merricat, said Connie, would you like to go to sleep?Down in the boneyard ten feet deep!"

Most of the Blackwood family had been murdered (poisoned with arsenic) and the townspeople were pretty sure Constance had done it. The town collectively shunned the remaining Blackwoods, Merricat, Constance and Julian. The arsenic was in a bowl of sugar. Constance...

"Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea?
Oh no, said Merricat, you'll poison me.
Merricat, said Connie, would you like to go to sleep?
Down in the boneyard ten feet deep!"

Most of the Blackwood family had been murdered (poisoned with arsenic) and the townspeople were pretty sure Constance had done it. The town collectively shunned the remaining Blackwoods, Merricat, Constance and Julian. The arsenic was in a bowl of sugar. Constance ate berries at that meal and didn't put sugar on them; Merricat was sent to her room as punishment for something and she didn't eat any either. Julian had some sugar, but just a little and he survived.

Merricat, the only surviving Blackwood to go into town for groceries and errands, would be taunted by local children with the above rhyme. Later, when somebody sets their house on fire to unsuccessfully drive them out of the town, most kids stop the taunting (one tries, but can't remember the rhyme correctly) and the villagers begin to leave food on their doorstep as a form of apology or appeasement.

How has Bottom's absence affected his friends in A Midsummer Night's Dream?

In Act IV scene ii of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bottom’s friends gather at Peter Quince’s house. They are worried about Bottom. They are afraid the mysterious donkey monster has harmed him. Starveling says, “He cannot be heard of. Out a doubt he is transported.” Flute wants to know if they will still enact the play if Bottom doesn’t return from the woods. Quince says it would be impossible because Bottom was the only...

In Act IV scene ii of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bottom’s friends gather at Peter Quince’s house. They are worried about Bottom. They are afraid the mysterious donkey monster has harmed him. Starveling says, “He cannot be heard of. Out a doubt he is transported.” Flute wants to know if they will still enact the play if Bottom doesn’t return from the woods. Quince says it would be impossible because Bottom was the only man in all of Athens who could play Pyramus. The small band of sad actors declares that Bottom was the smartest and funniest man in the city.

Snug bursts in and announces that Theseus has gotten married. Flute gets even sadder about Bottom’s disappearance, since Bottom would have earned a great deal of money from the Duke for his excellent portrayal of Pyramus: “an the duke had not given him sixpence a day for playing Pyramus, I'll be hanged.”

But all the sadness turns to joy when Bottom arrives a moment later, and the troupe gets ready to perform for the Duke and his guests.

How is Obama represented in Media?

The main thing you need to realize is that there are thousands of different media outlets across the entire world and each of them has its own point of view, although some are more reliable than others.

In most countries outside the United States, including Canada and Mexico, Obama is generally viewed positively. According the the widely respected and non-partisan Pew Research Center, Obama has approval ratings in key policy areas of 60 to...

The main thing you need to realize is that there are thousands of different media outlets across the entire world and each of them has its own point of view, although some are more reliable than others.

In most countries outside the United States, including Canada and Mexico, Obama is generally viewed positively. According the the widely respected and non-partisan Pew Research Center, Obama has approval ratings in key policy areas of 60 to over 80 percent across most of the world. He is viewed as attempting to implement sensible and moderate policies, and considered a centrist. Most people across the world see him as struggling against a Republican party that would be considered a extreme in some developed nations. His attempts to improve US health care through the Affordable Care Act and to restrict the out-of-control gun violence in the United States are viewed as sane and moderate policies, and his opponents on these issues seen as to the right of even Europe's neo-Nazis.

Within the United States, Obama is a polarizing figure, with many right wing outlets such as Fox News strongly disapproving of him and left wing outlets generally approving. 

Describe the two appearances of the ghost in "The Canterville Ghost."

In "The Canterville Ghost," the ghost makes his first appearance in Chapter Two. The family are in bed, having spent a full day driving, and the ghost plans to scare them by carrying his chains up and down the corridor. The noise wakes Mr Otis who gets out of bed and opens the door to find an "old man of terrible aspect" stood before him. His eyes were as "red as burning coals" and his...

In "The Canterville Ghost," the ghost makes his first appearance in Chapter Two. The family are in bed, having spent a full day driving, and the ghost plans to scare them by carrying his chains up and down the corridor. The noise wakes Mr Otis who gets out of bed and opens the door to find an "old man of terrible aspect" stood before him. His eyes were as "red as burning coals" and his clothes were "soiled" and "ragged." Instead of being terrified, however, Mr Otis offers the ghost a bottle of Tammany Sun Rising Lubricator to oil his chains and to prevent any further noise. This confuses the ghost and prompts him to flee down the corridor and return to his chamber.

The ghost makes his second appearance on a Sunday night in Chapter Three. Again, the family are in bed when they are awoken by a sudden crash in the downstairs hallway. When the family arrives downstairs, they find the ghost injured, "with an acute expression of agony on his face," because he has tried and failed to wear an antique suit of armor. Suddenly, the twins begin firing their pea-shooters at him while Mr Otis threatens him with a revolver. In response, the ghost lets out of a "wild shriek of rage" and then flees the room, extinguishing Washington's candle as he goes.

From the top of the stairs, the ghost laughs demonically, in an attempt to scare the family, but this fails. Instead, Mrs Otis opens her bedroom door and offers him some tincture for his "indigestion." Indignant and humiliated, the ghost turns "faintly phosphorescent" before vanishing into thin air.

In George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language," a sixth "language trick" is to write by habit, stringing together "ready-made phrases." Why...

In his essay "Politics and the English Language," Orwell points out several common writing practices that lead, in his mind, not only to bad writing but also to poor and even dangerous thinking. His point is that our use of language affects the way we think. 

One of the errors Orwell points out is stringing together cliched phrases. He writes:

"As I have tried to show, modern writing at its worst does not consist in...

In his essay "Politics and the English Language," Orwell points out several common writing practices that lead, in his mind, not only to bad writing but also to poor and even dangerous thinking. His point is that our use of language affects the way we think. 

One of the errors Orwell points out is stringing together cliched phrases. He writes:

"As I have tried to show, modern writing at its worst does not consist in picking out words for the sake of their meaning and inventing images in order to make the meaning clearer. It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else, and making the results presentable by sheer humbug. The attraction of this way of writing is that it is easy."

In other words, people don't choose words carefully and with a deliberate consideration of their meaning. Instead, they use well-worn phrases that they borrow from others. The attraction of this type of writing is that it is simple; however, as Orwell writes, the result is unclear writing: "By using stale metaphors, similes, and idioms, you save much mental effort, at the cost of leaving your meaning vague, not only for your reader but for yourself." If the writer uses cliched phrases, she (or he) saves herself (or himself) from the problem of thinking and deciding what she (or he) means. As Orwell expresses later in this essay, the result of using cliches is that the writer can try to obscure or hide his or her meaning and even try to defend concepts, such as warfare, that are evil or malicious in intent. Unclear writing allows the writer to express evil ideas without seeming overtly evil.