In what way do magnetic minerals align with the earth's magnetic field?

Magnetic minerals align parallel to the earth's magnetic field.

Lets look a little further into how magnetic minerals are classified, and why it is important to know how they align within earth's magnetic field.

In order for a mineral to be magnetic it must contain certain elements. Minerals not containing these elements are what are known as diamagnetic, meaning they have no magnetism.

Other minerals, specifically ones containing the elements Ti, Cr, V, Mn,...

Magnetic minerals align parallel to the earth's magnetic field.

Lets look a little further into how magnetic minerals are classified, and why it is important to know how they align within earth's magnetic field.

In order for a mineral to be magnetic it must contain certain elements. Minerals not containing these elements are what are known as diamagnetic, meaning they have no magnetism.

Other minerals, specifically ones containing the elements Ti, Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu, are able to interact with magnetic fields, including the earth's, however only very weakly. Interestingly, once these minerals are removed from a strong magnetic field, they lose all magnetism, and cannot function as magnets themselves. These are known as paramagnetic minerals.

Other minerals, known as ferromagnetic minerals, are permanently magnetic, as long as they are in an environment below a specific temperature, defined as the Curie temperate. These minerals will become magnetized when placed in a strong magnetic field, and remain that way once removed. The most notable example of this type of mineral is Magnetite.

Analysis of the alignment of these types of magnetic minerals, trapped in stone as it formed and hardened from liquid magma, has provided scientists with evidence that earth's magnetic field actually shifts the location of its poles over time. During this shift, what we know today, as magnetic north actually becomes located in the south, and vice versa, meaning a compass that points north today, would point south when the poles are flipped!

Hope this helps!

The chemical reaction between N2H4 and H2O2 produces nitrogen gas, N2 and water, H2O. Which of these represents the equation? N2H4 + 2 H2O2 -->...

`N_2H_4` is hydrazine and `H_2O_2` is hydrogen peroxide. When these two substances react nitrogen gas and water are produced according to the following equation:

`N_2H_4 + 2 H_2O_2-> N_2 + 4 H_2O`

This reaction is highly exothermic, meaning that a large amount of heat is released. Due to the high temperature the water produced is in the gas phase. The rapid generation of the two gases from two liquids makes this reaction useful for propelling rockets....

`N_2H_4` is hydrazine and `H_2O_2` is hydrogen peroxide. When these two substances react nitrogen gas and water are produced according to the following equation:

`N_2H_4 + 2 H_2O_2-> N_2 + 4 H_2O`

This reaction is highly exothermic, meaning that a large amount of heat is released. Due to the high temperature the water produced is in the gas phase. The rapid generation of the two gases from two liquids makes this reaction useful for propelling rockets. However, hydrazine is very unstable in the liquid form and must be handled with care. It's used as a foaming agent and as a precursor to other chemicals, particularly pharmaceuticals, in manufacturing.

Hydrogen peroxide is known as a strong oxidizer. Oxygen goes from the -1 oxidation state in hydrogen peroxide to the -2 in water. Nitrogen is oxidized from the -1 state to the zero state.

Cells of plant A make 120 molecules of glucose an hour. Cells of plant B make half as much glucose as plant A does. How much glucose does plant B...

Hello!

If cells of plant B make half as much glucose as plant A does, then they make a half of 120 molecules every hour. A half of 120 molecules is 60 molecules.

Now, 60 molecules per hour, how much it means per minute? There are 60 minutes in each hour, so one minute is 1/60 of a hour.

During 1/60 of an hour cells of plant B make 60 times less molecules than during...

Hello!

If cells of plant B make half as much glucose as plant A does, then they make a half of 120 molecules every hour. A half of 120 molecules is 60 molecules.

Now, 60 molecules per hour, how much it means per minute? There are 60 minutes in each hour, so one minute is 1/60 of a hour.

During 1/60 of an hour cells of plant B make 60 times less molecules than during a hour, i.e. 60 times less than 60 molecules, which is clearly 1 molecule.

The answer: cells of plant B make 1 molecule of glucose every minute.

How does Miss Kinnian react when Charlie returns to night school?

In the story, Flowers for Algernon, Charlie is the main character and Miss Kinnian is his teacher.  At first, Charlie does not understand much of school but tries hard.  Miss Kinnian recommends him for a scientific experiment to raise his intelligence.  That is successful for a while, but then fails and Charlie returns to what he was.

When Charlie shows up at school, Miss Kinnian is taken aback as Charlie sits in his old seat...

In the story, Flowers for Algernon, Charlie is the main character and Miss Kinnian is his teacher.  At first, Charlie does not understand much of school but tries hard.  Miss Kinnian recommends him for a scientific experiment to raise his intelligence.  That is successful for a while, but then fails and Charlie returns to what he was.

When Charlie shows up at school, Miss Kinnian is taken aback as Charlie sits in his old seat and picks up his old books.  She knows how intelligent Charlie was as a result of the experiment, and it hurts to look at him trying so hard again with so little intelligence or aptitude for school.  Seeing her aghast reaction, Charlie remembers that he no longer goes to this school.  She tries to soften the blow for him because he was her favorite student, but he leaves anyway.  She is left to wonder what happens to him as he does not return.  I think she wonders whether she should have disturbed Charlie in his innocent first life before the experiment when he was happy on his terms. 

What are three explicit and implicit quotes in the short story "Through the Tunnel," by Doris Lessing, which show that Jerry is growing up?

Implicitly, the description of Jerry's longing to be accepted by the older, local boys in the wild bay, help to show that he has begun the process of growing up.  "To be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body [....].  They were big boys -- men to Jerry."  His mother's company used to be enough for him, but now it is not.  He wants to "be a man," to fit...

Implicitly, the description of Jerry's longing to be accepted by the older, local boys in the wild bay, help to show that he has begun the process of growing up.  "To be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body [....].  They were big boys -- men to Jerry."  His mother's company used to be enough for him, but now it is not.  He wants to "be a man," to fit in and be accepted by those older boys that he sees as "men."  Their acceptance of Jerry, to Jerry, makes him feel "happy.  He was with them."  This is the longing not of a child, but of a person making the transition to adulthood.

Further, the description of his first conversation with his mother implicitly shows that Jerry has changed and is beginning to mature.  He longs to go to the "wild bay," away from the "safe beach" where he and his mother have always gone in the past.  But "Contrition sent him running after her.  And yet, as he ran, he looked back over his shoulder at the wild bay; and all morning, as he played on the safe beach, he was thinking of it."  The wild bay seems to represent maturity and independence and freedom; the safe beach stands in for protection and childhood.

More explicitly stated, "that other [safe] beach, [...] now seemed a place for small children, a place where his mother might lie safe in the sun.  It was not his beach."  Unless Jerry were growing up, their original beach would have remained perfectly acceptable to him as it has always been.  It is the change within him that now makes it seem like an inappropriate place for him.

Moreover, when he went to the wild bay again, "He did not ask for permission."  A child asks permission; an adult does not.

Further, though he thought he might be able to make it through the tunnel at this point, he decides to wait.  "A curious, most unchildlike persistence, a controlled impatience, made him wait."  Children often struggle to delay gratification; when they want something, they want it now (much the way Jerry begged for the goggles he needed earlier).  Adults, however, are supposed to be better at delaying in this way; a sign of maturity is one's ability to wait to gratify one's desires.  Jerry now exhibits this kind of ability.

In Animal Farm, why doesn't Boxer escape when he finds out he's being taken to the slaughterhouse?

Prior to being sent to the slaughter, Boxer was loyal and perhaps the most devoted member of the farm to the Animalism movement. After the rebellion, he adopts the motto, "I must work harder" and eventually, "Napoleon is always right." He literally sacrifices himself to see the windmill project come to fruition. While working on the windmill tirelessly, Boxer collapses. 

Late one evening in the summer, a sudden rumor ran round the farm that something had...

Prior to being sent to the slaughter, Boxer was loyal and perhaps the most devoted member of the farm to the Animalism movement. After the rebellion, he adopts the motto, "I must work harder" and eventually, "Napoleon is always right." He literally sacrifices himself to see the windmill project come to fruition. While working on the windmill tirelessly, Boxer collapses. 

Late one evening in the summer, a sudden rumor ran round the farm that something had happened  to Boxer. He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill. And sure enough, the rumor was true. A few minutes later two pigeons came racing in with the news: ‘Boxer has fallen! He is lying on his side and can’t get up!' (46)

Boxer is hurt but committed to the cause. He tells the others, "It doesn't matter. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me." Although he is devoted to Napoleon, he is no longer useful to him. In fact Boxer will cost Napoleon more now because Boxer cannot contribute to the farm. Boxer does not know this because of Napoleon's false promises of a retirement for older animals. Boxer is blinded by his loyalty.

Boxer is a loyal animal and trusts Napoleon implicitly. He also cannot read, so when he willingly gets into the truck for the glue factory, he doesn't know what is going on. Benjamin the donkey is the first to realize, crying, 

‘Fools! Fools!’ shouted Benjamin, prancing round them and stamping the earth with his small hoofs. ‘Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?’

Although the animals warn him, it is too late. Boxer is already loaded into and locked in the truck for the glue factory. His strength is compromised by his failing health. His desperation is apparent by the sound of "tremendous drumming of hoofs inside the van, but he is too weak to break free" (47).

Boxer fought arduously to escape death. His death was a result of his devotion and loyalty to Animalism and Napoleon's cold-hearted and duplicitous nature.

What happened during the First Crusade?

The first crusade began in 1095 with a request from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenon to Pope Urban II for military assistance in keeping the invading Turks from seizing additional Christian lands. In response Urban II called for a crusade, proclaiming that killing of enemies of Christianity was not a sin, and was in fact a holy deed. The response to this decree was enormous, and the crusaders moved towards the Holy Land in...

The first crusade began in 1095 with a request from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenon to Pope Urban II for military assistance in keeping the invading Turks from seizing additional Christian lands. In response Urban II called for a crusade, proclaiming that killing of enemies of Christianity was not a sin, and was in fact a holy deed. The response to this decree was enormous, and the crusaders moved towards the Holy Land in three distinct waves, with a purpose not so much to defend Byzantium but instead to recapture the Holy Land of the Levant.

The first wave arrived at Constantinople in 1096. It was a largely disorganized and poorly equipped rabble of peasantry under the leadership of a man known as Peter the Hermit. This force had no obedience to Alexios I, and in fact the Byzantine Emperor quickly came to view them as a threat. This so-called People's Crusade could not be effectively controlled, and indeed on the way to Constantinople Peter's forces repeatedly went against his orders and slaughtered many Jews in central Europe, viewing them as additional enemies of Christ. With the assistance of Alexios I, the army moved into Anatolia where it was destroyed by Turkish forces. A second substantially larger force under the command of French nobility arrived in Constantinople. This force moved through Anatolia and experienced a large degree of success in fighting the Turks, capturing Antioch in 1098 and taking Jerusalem in 1099, massacring many of the city's inhabitants, Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. The third wave of European forces joined them in the conquered city in 1101.

The final result of the first crusade was the establishment of the Crusader States of the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and Antioch and the Counties of Tripoli and Edessa.

Does the author like the society that he describes?

This question was categorized in The Chrysalids section of , so I am going to assume that the society being referenced is Waknuk society.  

No, I do not think that John Wyndam likes the Waknuk society.  It's hard to tell if he has problems with their staunch religious biasing, or if he has problems with the massive amounts of discrimination that the society encourages.  Maybe both.  It doesn't really matter, because I feel that...

This question was categorized in The Chrysalids section of , so I am going to assume that the society being referenced is Waknuk society.  

No, I do not think that John Wyndam likes the Waknuk society.  It's hard to tell if he has problems with their staunch religious biasing, or if he has problems with the massive amounts of discrimination that the society encourages.  Maybe both.  It doesn't really matter, because I feel that it is clear that Wyndam doesn't like Waknuk society.  

My main reason for why I think that Wyndam is anti-Waknuk is because he made the entire society the antagonist of the story.  When an author makes somebody or something the bad guy, that's usually a fairly clear indicator of the author not liking it or the characteristics of it.  Already beginning at chapter 1, the reader is clued into the fact that Waknuk society is bigoted and close minded.  That's why Sophie must hide her extra toe from everybody.  As the reader grows closer to David, the reader begins to like David more and more.  And since David is starting to dislike Waknuk society, so does the reader.  If Wyndam actually liked Waknuk society, I don't believe he could have made the reader hate the Waknuk's so effectively.  

In "Kubla Khan," what images and words appeal to the senses?

"Kubla Khan" is rich in words and images that appeal to the senses. "Incense bearing trees" arouse the reader's sense of smell. The "shadow of the dome of pleasure" that "floated midway on the waves" is a visual image: we can see a rippling dome reflected on the waves. Later in the poem, we can hear the damsel with the dulcimer playing her song "loud and long." We can also hear the sound of the...

"Kubla Khan" is rich in words and images that appeal to the senses. "Incense bearing trees" arouse the reader's sense of smell. The "shadow of the dome of pleasure" that "floated midway on the waves" is a visual image: we can see a rippling dome reflected on the waves. Later in the poem, we can hear the damsel with the dulcimer playing her song "loud and long." We can also hear the sound of the waterfall and see the image of a fountain of water crashing down the chasm and on the rocks below, flying up again like hail. Coleridge also shows us contrasts between light and shade, as well as images we can almost feel, such as "a sunny pleasure dome with caves of ice," which allows us to imagine both the warmth of the sun and the soothing cool of ice.  

The poem came to Coleridge in a dream and retains a dreamlike, fantastic quality. None of it is real, but the sensory imagery makes us feel as if we were there, experiencing Coleridge's dream alongside him. 

Why is the demand curve perceived by a firm in a competitive market as perfectly elastic while the demand curve for the market has a downward slope?

A market in perfect competition describes a situation where individual firms are “price takers” – meaning the price is determined entirely by the intersection of supply and demand and the firm doesn’t have an active role in setting the price of its goods in the market. Instead, in perfect competition, consumers’ demands change the price of goods.

A perfectly competitive market has a downward sloping demand curve (with quantity on the x-axis and price on...

A market in perfect competition describes a situation where individual firms are “price takers” – meaning the price is determined entirely by the intersection of supply and demand and the firm doesn’t have an active role in setting the price of its goods in the market. Instead, in perfect competition, consumers’ demands change the price of goods.

A perfectly competitive market has a downward sloping demand curve (with quantity on the x-axis and price on the y-axis), because as price increases, the quantity demanded will decrease. Once the market has reached an equilibrium price/quantity, where the quantity supplied is equal to the quantity demanded, then individual firms become price takers. This means they must charge the price at equilibrium, or consumers will buy goods from the other firms in the market with a lower price. Therefore, the demand curve for the market is downward sloping, but the demand curve for an individual firm is a horizontal line at the equilibrium price. If the equilibrium price were to change, then the individual firm’s demand line would also shift up or down on the y-axis depending on the price. This horizontal line shows that demand for that good is perfectly elastic, meaning that any increase in a firm’s price will cause demand for that firm’s goods to hit zero.

In The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Changez claims he is a lover of America but hints at a more complex and conflicted relationship. What distinction...

I think that it really attests to how much Changez did love America that he chose to stay for as long as he did. The Reluctant Fundamentalistis about a young man who comes from Lahore, Pakistan to the United States to study business. He is in a difficult situation after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, partly because he lives and works in New York City and many of the people he encounters assume that...

I think that it really attests to how much Changez did love America that he chose to stay for as long as he did. The Reluctant Fundamentalist is about a young man who comes from Lahore, Pakistan to the United States to study business. He is in a difficult situation after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, partly because he lives and works in New York City and many of the people he encounters assume that all brown-skinned Middle Eastern people are threatening to America. Changez loves the opportunity and freedom America has offered him. He has attained a world-class university education, has an excellent job, and gets to travel to exotic places—what more could he want? Despite the luxuries life in America offers, Changez can never really integrate and "pass" for American. His skin color, his beard, and his accent mark him as different, and people judge him for these things.

Even though Changez had no personal connection to the terror attacks of 9/11, and despite the fact that Pakistan was not involved in these attacks, he is still seen as a threat. Others mistake his identity as something that makes him complicit in or in support of attacks on American lives and values. Throughout the book, a reader may question whether this is actually the case. Changez admits to smiling when the 9/11 attacks occurred, but does not fully explain why he feels happiness at this event. Perhaps he was glossing over some support of terrorism in the rest of the book, but I think it more likely that he felt the attack was somehow deserved because he had been judged for his ethnic identity even prior to the attacks. Maybe he saw it as an attack on the corrupt business world of big American cities.

Whatever Changez' true thoughts, the author has purposefully woven a narrative where we cannot really discern whether Changez was in support of Islamic terrorism. What we do know is that he loved the prospect of America, but was hated by her people.

What does Mr. Wilson tell sherlock Holmes about the Red-Headed League? Why did he come to Holmes for help?

In "The Red-Headed League," Mr. Wilson comes to Mr. Holmes for help, as he feels he has lost out on a very good job due to mysterious circumstances.

Mr. Wilson tells Holmes and Watson that he had recently seen an advertisement in the paper for a vacant position with something called The Red-Headed League. The advertisement said that all men over the age of twenty one, with red hair and good health, should apply in...

In "The Red-Headed League," Mr. Wilson comes to Mr. Holmes for help, as he feels he has lost out on a very good job due to mysterious circumstances.

Mr. Wilson tells Holmes and Watson that he had recently seen an advertisement in the paper for a vacant position with something called The Red-Headed League. The advertisement said that all men over the age of twenty one, with red hair and good health, should apply in person the following Monday at the League's office on Fleet Street. When Mr. Wilson arrived to apply, he saw hundreds of other men with red hair lined up outside. Upon entry to the office, the man conducting interviews praised him as most suited for the job, and offered it to him on the spot.

Mr. Wilson already held a job as a pawnbroker but mostly conducted business in the evenings, and decided to take the mysterious job with The Red-Headed League, which promised he would only need to work from 10AM to 2PM. For the next weeks, Mr. Wilson was paid four pounds a week (quite a lot of money back then) to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica by hand for a few hours a day. 

Suddenly, on the 9th of October 1890, Mr. Wilson went to work and found a sign upon the office door reading, "The Red-Headed League is dissolved." Mr. Wilson checked with the landlord to ask about his employer, who said that the man had only rented the room and moved elsewhere in the city. When Wilson went to the new address, he found it to be a prosthetic knee manufacturer, and the people there had never heard of The Red-Headed League. 

Wilson was both upset at losing such an easy, well-paying job and confused by its sudden disappearance. He has come to Sherlock Holmes to hire him to figure out where The Red-Headed League and/or the men who employed Wilson had gone. Holmes asks a few additional questions about Wilson's assistant, who he describes as handy and stout, with an acid scar on his face. After that, Holmes and Watson set off to begin investigating.

Source: The Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Complete and Unabridged (1983)

Compare and contrast "The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes with his other poems "Dreams," "Dream Deferred," "Mother to Son," and "I Too."

Langston Hughes is the greatest poet of the Harlem Renaissance. His poems, especially "Dreams" and "Harlem," are often anthologized in high school literature textbooks.

At the time Hughes was writing, Jazz music was exploding out of New York City, and "The Weary Blues" is an excellent example of Jazz poetry. (Follow the link below to watch a video of Hughes reciting the poem with accompaniment from a Jazz ensemble.) Hughes believed that Jazz was an expression of black culture and that it was essentially at odds with the world of white America. He wrote,

“But jazz to me is one of the inherent expressions of Negro life in America; the eternal tom-tom beating in the Negro soul—the tom-tom of revolt against weariness in a white world, a world of subway trains, and work, work, work; the tom-tom of joy and laughter, and pain swallowed in a smile.”

In "The Weary Blues" Hughes uses the rhythm and language of the African-American, including the dialect prevalent in black literature and the emerging Jazz sound:

"Ain't got nobody in all this world, 
Ain't got nobody but ma self. 
I's gwine to quit ma frownin' 
And put ma troubles on the shelf."

The poem is clearly a good example of the "blues" and the musician portrayed is worn out, presumably from racism and lack of opportunity. He finally says he'd like to die. The poem is negative and lacks a silver lining. The idea of eventual equality, however, is prevalent in other Hughes poems.

Like "The Weary Blues," "Mother to Son" uses black dialect ("I'se, a-climbin,'" and "turnin' corners"). It differs because its tone is essentially optimistic. The mother in the poem has had a hard life. She says, "And life for me ain't been no crystal stair." But the message to her son is that she has laid the groundwork and he needs to continue climbing the stairs to equality.

Likewise in "I Too" Hughes expresses optimism for the future. The poem gives an excellent brief of the history of blacks in America and charts the course from servant to leader. Imagine President Obama consigned to the kitchen for his meal.

Both "Dreams" and "Harlem" are ambivalent about the prospect of black progress in America. They are not as negative as "The Weary Blues" but do not express the optimism of "Mother to Son" or "I Too."

"Dreams" simply urges the African-American to retain the dream of equality. It is a simple but powerful poem and can be read from any perspective, not just that of a minority striving for acceptance in a racist world.

"Harlem," like "The Weary Blues," focuses on the negative as it explores the idea that the promise of the Declaration of Independence (all men are created equal) has been postponed to the point of potential violence. The final line, "Or does it explode" predicts the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Of the mentioned poems, "Harlem" may be most in tune with the desperation expressed in "The Weary Blues."

List the things Mary loves about her husband. What does this list tell about her relationship with him?

In the eighth paragraph of the story, Dahl describes what Mary loves about her husband:

For her, this was always a blissful time of day. She knew he didn’t want to speak much until the first drink was finished, and she, on her side, was content to sit quietly, enjoying his company after the long hours alone in the house. She loved to luxuriate in the presence of this man, and to feel—almost as a...

In the eighth paragraph of the story, Dahl describes what Mary loves about her husband:

For her, this was always a blissful time of day. She knew he didn’t want to speak much until the first drink was finished, and she, on her side, was content to sit quietly, enjoying his company after the long hours alone in the house. She loved to luxuriate in the presence of this man, and to feel—almost as a sunbather feels the sun—that warm male glow that came out of him to her when they were alone together. She loved him for the way he sat loosely in a chair, for the way he came in a door, or moved slowly across the room with long strides. She loved the intent, far look in his eyes when they rested on her, the funny shape of the mouth, and especially the way he remained silent about his tiredness, sitting still with himself until the whisky had taken some of it away

First, Mary comments on the idea that she enjoys Patrick's company simply because he is another person in the house with her after being alone all day. The couple do not yet have children (though Mary is 6 months pregnant with their first).  Second, Mary seems to enjoy Patrick's "maleness": she comments on how he sits, how he moves, how he drinks his whiskey at the end of the day.  

What is missing from these descriptions is any sort of passion that a modern audience would want to see in their relationship.  There is contentment, a sort of settled atmosphere, about their relationship.  Mary loves the routine of their relationship, as Dahl describes that she watches the clock for him to return from work: "Now and again she would glance up at the clock, but without anxiety, merely to please herself with the thought that each minute gone by made it nearer the time when he could come."  His punctuality makes him desirable to Mary because she can count on him.  This reason is perhaps why she is most distraught at the news he tells her on this particular evening; the thought that he is cheating on her is not within her routine, not within the reliability she has with Patrick.  He ruins all the comfort she had gained from this relationship.

What is the narrative technique in The Necklace?

The narrative technique in the short story "The Necklace" is a third person omniscient point of view or perspective. This is an appropriate technique since Madame Loisel nor her husband would be reliable narrators. The third person omniscient narrator knows all and shares what the characters are thinking and feeling. This narrative technique allows the reader to know exactly how Madame Loisel truly feels. Using this narrative technique helps the reader see that Madame Loisel...

The narrative technique in the short story "The Necklace" is a third person omniscient point of view or perspective. This is an appropriate technique since Madame Loisel nor her husband would be reliable narrators. The third person omniscient narrator knows all and shares what the characters are thinking and feeling. This narrative technique allows the reader to know exactly how Madame Loisel truly feels. Using this narrative technique helps the reader see that Madame Loisel is humiliated about her station in life. She is angry because she feels she was born for the finer things in life. Truly, this narrative technique is used to express the emotions that both Madame Loisel and her husband feel. While she is depressed and very unhappy, her husband tries so hard to make her happy. He does not have the prestige and high ranking wealthy reputation that Mathilde so desires. He does not have the financial status that Mathilde so desires. She longs for a wealthy, luxurious lifestyle. The narrative technique is craftily used to help the reader get into the minds and hearts of the characters. In this technique, the reader can form an opinion that is based on the inner turmoil that Madame Loisel experiences due to not having expensive jewelry, fine clothes and a mansion. The reader can see that Madame Loisel feels life has been unjust to her. At the same time, this narrative technique shows the reader that Madame Loisel is truly missing out on what is really important in life. The reader is relieved that Mathilde learns this lesson even if it is learned the hard way. The third person omniscient point of view is a narrative technique that allows the reader to travel on Madame Loisel's journey as she goes from being extremely unhappy to a lady who is finally "decently content" with the life she was born to live.         

If I'm writing a term paper about "interest groups" and "health policy," what should I focus on or write about?

The interaction of interest groups on health policy has long been an issue in United States government and politics. There are may aspects of health policy that can be investigated. One of the most current issues directly related to health policy is health insurance and the effect that interest groups have on shaping how the government pays for or directs citizens to pay for services. There are other aspects of health policy concerning pharmaceutical regulation...

The interaction of interest groups on health policy has long been an issue in United States government and politics. There are may aspects of health policy that can be investigated. One of the most current issues directly related to health policy is health insurance and the effect that interest groups have on shaping how the government pays for or directs citizens to pay for services. There are other aspects of health policy concerning pharmaceutical regulation and availability. Also, the use of and proper labeling of potentially dangerous additives can fall under the health policy umbrella, but be wary of going to far into the agricultural side of the argument. 

Once you pick an area that seems to be the most relevant to you, research special interest groups related to that area. Looking at news articles both current and from the recent past could provide an invaluable starting source for finding points of controversy or learning who the specific players are in a specific area of health policy. Be sure that after the preliminary research is complete, you find credible and academic sources on which to build the bulk of your term paper. The interactions may be both positive and negative, so be prepared to look at more than one angle in your research.

In The Egypt Game what is Toby's confession to April and Melanie?

When Toby and Ken join the Egypt game, things get more interesting, especially when they begin playing the Oracle of Thoth. They follow Toby's recommendation for how to play, which requires a person to submit a question to Thoth and wait overnight for the answer to appear. When the answers mysteriously appear written on the back of both Ken's and April's questions, the children begin to get spooked. Most of the children want to stop...

When Toby and Ken join the Egypt game, things get more interesting, especially when they begin playing the Oracle of Thoth. They follow Toby's recommendation for how to play, which requires a person to submit a question to Thoth and wait overnight for the answer to appear. When the answers mysteriously appear written on the back of both Ken's and April's questions, the children begin to get spooked. Most of the children want to stop playing, but Toby insists the game is just starting to get exciting. Marshall insists they can't stop playing until he has a chance to ask the Oracle about his missing comfort toy, Security. The next day at school, Toby arranges to talk with April and Melanie on the playground. He confesses that he was the one who wrote the answers to Ken's and April's questions. He had looked up key words from each question in a book of familiar quotations. He sneaked out of his house at night, went to Egypt, and wrote the answers on the papers. He knows Marshall is expecting a real answer to his question. The three children plan to give an answer that will temporarily satisfy Marshall. When they get to Egypt, April finds that someone else has written an answer about the location of Security, an answer that turns out to reveal where the stuffed animal has gone. This mysterious turn of events puts a damper on the Egypt game for the children for a while.

Describe the motion of air particles inside an inflated balloon.

The molecules of air inside of an inflated balloon are very far apart and moving rapidly. They collide with other molecules and with the inside surface of the balloon. The volume of the balloon remains constant because the pressure caused by the air molecules colliding with the inside surface of the balloon equals the pressure caused by atmospheric molecules colliding with the outside surface of the balloon.

At normal temperature and pressure the air in a balloon behaves according to the Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases, which states the following:

1. The molecules of a gas have insignificant volume compared to the distances between them. They are considered dimensionless points.

2. Gas molecules are in rapid, random motion. Collisions between gas molecules are perfectly elastic. Energy is transferred between molecules during collisions but no energy is lost.

3. There are no forces of attraction or repulsion between gas molecules.

4. The average kinetic energy of molecules in a sample of gas is proportional to the Kelvin temperature of the sample.

5. Gas particles move in a straight-line motion

If the temperature of the air in the balloon increases the molecules move faster and have more collisions. The volume of the balloon increases as the molecules collide more frequently with its inside surface. Conversely, when the air in the balloon is cooled the molecules slow down and the volume of the balloon decreases.

Source:

Chang, Raymond. Chemistry. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, how does Aunt Alexandra teach Scout and Jem about respect? Please give direct quotes from book.

Aunt Alexandra has an agenda when she comes to live with her brother Atticus in Chapter 13 of To Kill a Mockingbird. Most of that agenda is to teach Jem and Scout to respect themselves and the family ancestry from which they hail. Alexandra thinks that Jem and Scout run wild and should behave in a way that shows they are "Fine Folks." Scout explains that there is certainly a caste system in Maycomb and that Alexandra wanted to teach them about their heritage so they would honor it through their behavior. Scout explains as follows:

"I never understood her preoccupation with heredity. Somewhere, I had received the impression that Fine Folks were people who did the best they could with the sense they had, but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land, the finer it was" (130).

Aunt Alexandra's teachings didn't seem to be sinking in as she would have liked, so she sends Atticus in to talk to Jem and Scout--hoping that will help. Atticus explains as follows:

"Your aunt has asked me to try to impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations' gentle breeding. . . and that you should try to live up to your name. . . She asked me to tell you you must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are. She wants to talk to you about the family and what it's meant to Maycomb County through the years, so you'll have some idea of who you are, so you might be moved to behave accordingly" (133).

All of these teachings happen before the trial of Tom Robinson. Many people in Maycomb are saying horrible things about Atticus and the Finches as a family. Alexandra wants to preserve their family name because they are good people. She also wants the kids to act appropriately to protect them and to protect the long-standing, good reputation of the Finch family which has existed in the county for many generations. After these two main teaching moments, Alexandra continues to teach the kids about respecting their heritage and proper behavior by being in the home, correcting them as needed, and providing a good example of "Fine Folks." 

In "After Twenty Years," what kind of area was the policeman patrolling?

The area seems to be made up of two-story wooden buildings with shops on the ground floor and offices on the second floor. Property was not as valuable in New York in O. Henry's time. Nowadays the same neighborhood would be covered with high-rise buildings. New York was constantly undergoing an evolution in its architecture. Twenty years before the story opens the neighborhood must have been more lively. There were probably plenty of saloons as well as restaurants like "Big Joe" Brady's. Now it is a neighborhood where people in the office go home at five or six o'clock and the stores lock up at around the same time. 

O. Henry wanted the encounter between Jimmy Wells and "Silky" Bob to take place in a dark, nearly deserted section of the city. It had to be dark so that Bob would not recognize the policeman as his old friend. It also had to be very quiet at that time of night, about ten o'clock, so that Bob might seem a little suspicious standing in a darkened doorway. The two men wouldn't have made an appointment to meet in front of a hardware store. They had made the appointment to meet at the same place where they separated, at "Big Joe" Brady's restaurant. O. Henry had to explain that Bob had found that the restaurant had been torn down and replaced by some shops.

Bob thinks the uniformed cop is approaching him because he looks suspicious standing in the shelter of a darkened entranceway to a closed hardware store. He is mistaken. The cop is there to keep the appointment he made to meet Bob on that spot in twenty years. Jimmy doesn't get a chance to identify himself. Bob is a big talker and starts explaining his presence there before Jimmy can say anything.

"It's all right, officer,” he said, reassuringly. “I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? Well, I'll explain if you'd like to make certain it's all straight. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands— ‘Big Joe’ Brady's restaurant.”

Then, before Jimmy can get a word in edgewise:

The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarf pin was a large diamond, oddly set.

We learn later that as soon as Bob lights his cigar, Jimmy recognizes him as the man wanted by the Chicago police. After that, Jimmy decides not to introduce himself. Jimmy just listens to what Bob has to say, which conveys a lot of background information to the reader in dialogue form. Jimmy decides that he can't arrest Bob himself but that he will go back to the station house to get someone else to do it. He has to make sure Bob will be waiting there. 

“I'll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Going to call time on him sharp?”

“I should say not!” said the other. “I'll give him half an hour at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth he'll be here by that time. So long, officer.”

Because the neighborhood is dark, it is easy for the plainclothes officer to pose as Bob's old friend for at least a short time. The wet weather explains why the officer has his overcoat collar turned up to his ears, hiding part of his face. It also explains why Bob is standing deep inside the entranceway to the hardware store. He wants to smoke his cigar and can't do that in the rain. And he has to remain there until he finishes the cigar. The neighborhood is created to suit the plot, and so is the bad weather. 

How does Nick's nature change as he moves from the Midwest to New York? Use quotations from Chapters 1-5 for support.

At the beginning of chapter 1, Nick quotes his father, who told him, "'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, [...] just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.'" However, despite the fact that Nick thinks he's "inclined to reserve all judgments," he actually spends the majority of the book passing pretty casual judgment on everyone he meets.  For example, as he leaves Tom and Daisy's house,...

At the beginning of chapter 1, Nick quotes his father, who told him, "'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, [...] just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.'" However, despite the fact that Nick thinks he's "inclined to reserve all judgments," he actually spends the majority of the book passing pretty casual judgment on everyone he meets.  For example, as he leaves Tom and Daisy's house, he "was confused and a little disgusted as [he] drove away," having learned what kind of snobbish and self-centered people they really are.  

The more often he comes in contact with Tom, Daisy, and Jordan Baker, the less he seems to be affected by their complete lack of personal integrity, their racism, Tom's infidelity and willingness to strike a woman, and so on.  When he arrives to New York with Tom and Myrtle, Tom's mistress, they disappear into the bedroom to have sex, leaving him alone on the couch.  He admits, "I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon [...]."  Perhaps his need to get drunk hints at his early discomfort with their attitudes and behaviors.  But even then, he says he "was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life."  

As the book continues, Nick seems to become more and more inured to what was, at first, shocking and disgusting to him.  Despite helping Tom to cover up his affair and despite his awareness of Jordan's complete lack of personal or professional integrity and his growing attraction to her, Nick still feels at the end of chapter 3 that he is "one of the few honest people that [he] has ever known."  It seems more likely that this was a quality he possessed before he moved to West Egg.

Despite this perception of himself, he is also willing to help Gatsby to lure Daisy to Nick's house in West Egg so that Gatsby will have an opportunity to reconnect with her.  Once she arrives, he is happy to leave them alone, despite the fact that her presence there surely qualifies as a deception of Tom and leads to many acts of infidelity on her part.  

In short, the fact that Nick becomes and more and more willing to immerse himself in this world where deception and arrogance are de rigueur shows us just how much he's changed.  He's no longer the honest, non-judgmental person he believes himself to be or once was.

What does the reader know that the mother does not know? Explain why the mother's refusal to let her child join a demonstration by sending her to...

The reader may well know that Birmingham, Alabama, was a hotbed of racial tension and the 16th Street Baptist Church was an organizational setting for major players in the movement for racial equality.

The anonymous mother, who represents the six mothers who lost their children in the bombing, must not have realized that the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham was the site of many meetings of the Southern Christian Leadership Council whose local organizer...

The reader may well know that Birmingham, Alabama, was a hotbed of racial tension and the 16th Street Baptist Church was an organizational setting for major players in the movement for racial equality.

The anonymous mother, who represents the six mothers who lost their children in the bombing, must not have realized that the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham was the site of many meetings of the Southern Christian Leadership Council whose local organizer was the pastor in residence, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth [the Birmingham airport is now named after him]; in addition, James Bevel, SCLC leader who began the Children's Crusade, teaching youth about non-violence, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were regular speakers at this church. The bombing took place at this church because these men were often present, and the church was viewed as a center for racial protest.

Rather than allowing her child to go into the streets and partake in a racial freedom demonstration, which could, indeed, become dangerous, the mother, ironically, sends her daughter to the church where she believes her girl will be safe. This is an example of dramatic irony since there is a contradiction between what the mother believes (that her girl will be safe) and what the reader knows to be true (the church is not safe).

What problems did Reconstruction resolve? What problems did it fail to resolve?

Reconstruction solved some problems that existed in the South, but it failed to resolve others. One of the goals of Reconstruction was to rebuild the South. Reconstruction was able to move this process forward. As a result of Reconstruction, the South had its economy rebuilt and diversified. While many people continued to farm, industries began to develop in the region. This diversification was good for the southern economy.

Reconstruction also was designed to bring the...

Reconstruction solved some problems that existed in the South, but it failed to resolve others. One of the goals of Reconstruction was to rebuild the South. Reconstruction was able to move this process forward. As a result of Reconstruction, the South had its economy rebuilt and diversified. While many people continued to farm, industries began to develop in the region. This diversification was good for the southern economy.

Reconstruction also was designed to bring the states that had seceded back into the Union and provide more equality and opportunity for the former slaves. These goals were accomplished in a couple of ways. All southern states that had seceded wrote new constitutions. These constitutions banned slavery and gave citizenship to all people born in the United States. African-American males were able to vote, at least for a period of time, in elections. The Freedmen’s Bureau helped African-Americans get on their feet. The Freedmen’s Bureau helped African-Americans establish schools and helped them get jobs and other needed supplies.

Reconstruction was unable to change long-standing attitudes and beliefs of many white southerners. Many white southerners never accepted the idea of equality for the former slaves. As soon as white southerners were able to do so, they began to restrict the freedoms the former slaves had received during Reconstruction. Voting restrictions, in the form of poll taxes and literacy tests, prevented many African-Americans from voting. White people were exempted from these restrictions by the grandfather clauses that allowed a person to vote if their father or grandfather had voted before the Civil War. Most black fathers and grandfathers hadn’t voted before the Civil War. The South became very segregated after Reconstruction ended. Jim Crows laws were passed that legalized segregation. Many white southerners couldn’t accept the idea of a society where blacks and whites were equal. Reconstruction was unable to change these long-held beliefs many white southerners had about the different races living in the South.

In The Scarlet Letter, what reasons are given for Hester staying in Boston?

In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne chooses to stay in Boston out of attachment to the life-changing events that had happened there and to the person involved in them--the man who desecrated her marriage but was not punished with adultery charges.

The narrator describes this decision as "marvelous" in that there was absolutely no laws or stipulations of her punishment that forced her to remain there; it was completely a matter of free will....

In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne chooses to stay in Boston out of attachment to the life-changing events that had happened there and to the person involved in them--the man who desecrated her marriage but was not punished with adultery charges.

The narrator describes this decision as "marvelous" in that there was absolutely no laws or stipulations of her punishment that forced her to remain there; it was completely a matter of free will. Hester has every opportunity to leave and is,

"free to return to her birthplace, or to any other European land, and there hide her character and identity under a new exterior, as completely as if emerging into another state of being."

Despite this, she does not run from her sin or from her identity; her sin, in fact, seems to give her "a new birth" which commits the land to her as a "life-long home." 

Meanwhile, she sees the man she cheated with as being connected to her in

"a union, that, unrecognized on earth, would bring them together before the bar of final judgement, and make that their marriage-alter."

The narrator describes this motive--Hester's desire to be weighed and judged by God with this "tempter of souls"--as "half a truth, and half a self-delusion." 

Overall, Hester decides that the place where she committed her greatest sin must be the place where she carries out her "earthly punishment." Therefore, she settles into "a small thatched cottage" and prepares to endure a great deal of ostracism from the community. 

Where does the story, Cathedral, take place?

The entire story takes place inside of the apartment of the narrator and his wife. Although the story is called "Cathedral," that is the subject of the story and not the setting.

At the beginning of the story, the couple is waiting for a dinner guest, an old friend of the wife's. He is a blind man, and when he arrives they have dinner, and conversation, but afterwards the wife falls asleep and the husband...

The entire story takes place inside of the apartment of the narrator and his wife. Although the story is called "Cathedral," that is the subject of the story and not the setting.

At the beginning of the story, the couple is waiting for a dinner guest, an old friend of the wife's. He is a blind man, and when he arrives they have dinner, and conversation, but afterwards the wife falls asleep and the husband and guest are left sitting in front of the t.v. while a documentary on cathedrals drones on. The husband begins trying to describe the cathedrals on tv to the blind man. 

The blind man then asks the husband to draw a cathedral on a piece of paper so that he can hold his hand over the husband's while he draws and in that way better understand what a cathedral looks like. The better part of the story is about the two of them drawing a cathedral. 

"The narrator sheds his inhibitions and sketches an elaborate cathedral with spires, buttresses, massive doorways, gargoyles, and a throng of worshippers. It is a unique and memorable experience that forms the story’s climax. The narrator not only shares his vision with the blind Robert, but he simultaneously shares Robert’s inner vision. At the same time, both share the spiritual vision of men who lived centuries earlier and collaborated to build the beautiful, mystery-laden Gothic cathedrals of Europe" ( summary).

Through the act of sketching, these two men spend the majority of their time, in a sense, in the cathedral (in their minds). So, the physical setting of the story is the apartment, and the mental setting is the cathedral!

Do you think Leonard Mead from "The Pedestrian" will ever again walk his city street?

Unfortunately, I think when the robot police car takes Leonard Mead to the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies, they will re-indoctrinate him to the ways of the mind-less society he has managed to avoid for some time. Mr. Mead, according to society, has regressed in his thinking and behavior.  However, because there is a place to reprogram the citizens of this society, it suggests that people can defy the status quo of locking...

Unfortunately, I think when the robot police car takes Leonard Mead to the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies, they will re-indoctrinate him to the ways of the mind-less society he has managed to avoid for some time. Mr. Mead, according to society, has regressed in his thinking and behavior.  However, because there is a place to reprogram the citizens of this society, it suggests that people can defy the status quo of locking themselves up in their homes and watching television for hours.  Although it is possible that Mead will shake off the effects of the brainwashing, it may take a while for him to regain his zest for life walking and observing the “dead” society around him.  It is a sad prospect for Mr. Mead who lost his job as a writer when the society became obsessed with television.  I don’t think his future looks very bright unless he is so unique as to defy the “treatments” he will receive by the psychiatrists. His final goodbye to his home as he passes it in the police car suggests that he is trying to memorize it so he will not forget who he once was. 

Who was Moshe the Beadle and what was his significance to Wiesel in Night?

Moshe the Beadle is a poor Jew who lives in the town of Sighet with Elie.  We are introduced to him in the beginning of Chapter One.  A scholar of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, Moshe teaches Elie about Jewish mystical texts as Elie works to improve his knowledge of Judaism.

Early on in the text, Moshe, a foreign born Jew, is deported out of the country.  Those left behind in Sighet assume that he has simply...

Moshe the Beadle is a poor Jew who lives in the town of Sighet with Elie.  We are introduced to him in the beginning of Chapter One.  A scholar of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, Moshe teaches Elie about Jewish mystical texts as Elie works to improve his knowledge of Judaism.

Early on in the text, Moshe, a foreign born Jew, is deported out of the country.  Those left behind in Sighet assume that he has simply been returned to his home country.  In reality, he was transported to a concentration camp, but managed to escape along the way.  He returns to Sighet desperate to tell the townspeople of the horrendous things he has seen -- including the use of Jewish babies as "target practice" for German soldiers.  Unfortunately, the townspeople cannot fathom such horrors and assume that Moshe has had a mental breakdown.

Thus, Moshe the Beadle serves as both a teacher and a prophet for Elie.  In one role, he is revered; in the other, he is largely ignored.

Is it true or false that there are no term limits for members of Congress?

It is true that members of Congress have no term limits. Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two year terms. They can run for reelection every two years and there is no limit on the amount of times you can run for reelection. In the Senate, Senators are elected to six year terms and can run for reelection as many times as they want. These rights are granted in the Constitution of...

It is true that members of Congress have no term limits. Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two year terms. They can run for reelection every two years and there is no limit on the amount of times you can run for reelection. In the Senate, Senators are elected to six year terms and can run for reelection as many times as they want. These rights are granted in the Constitution of the United States of America. 

At one point, Arkansas passed legislation that would impose term limits on those who were in Congress. Arkansas' legislation was stricter than that of the Constitution of the United States of America. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton that states cannot impose a term limit on their federal officials. 

Are Calpurnia's actions different when she is at her church in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

When comparing the actions of Calpurnia in Chapter 12 to the way we see her behaving otherwise, such as in the Finch home, our comparison will be different depending on what characters Calpurnia is interacting with. At her church, we see Calpurnia behave very bravely and assertively. While she is certainly much more humble when she is interacting with Atticus, her bravery and assertiveness is displayed each time she interacts with the Finch children.

In Chapter 12 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Calpurnia displays a sense of bravery and assertiveness when faced with the racist ridicule of Lula in front of the church's doors. Lula rebukes Calpurnia for bringing white children to an all-black church; she even stoops so low as to suggest that Calpurnia is sexually involved with Atticus. However, Calpurnia very bravely asserts her right to bring any company she would like to her own church, and the rest of the church members support her.

In contrast to Calpurnia's bold and assertive actions towards Lula at the church, Calpurnia acts with more humility when speaking to Atticus though he strives to treat her as one of the family. The best example can be seen the morning after Tom Robinson's trial when she very meekly answers his questions about where all of the extra dishes being served at breakfast came from. She shows Atticus into the kitchen and explains that all of the African-American citizens left him gifts of food at the doorstep in order to show their appreciation for his defense of Robinson. She particularly very humbly asks, "They--they aren't oversteppin' themselves, are they?" (Ch. 22). In other words, she is asking if her people are overstepping their social boundaries by reaching out to a white lawyer to show him gratitude. The question is humble because it assumes, based on racial discrimination, that her people would not have the right to do that. In answer to her humility, Atticus asks her to thank her community for him wholeheartedly.

In contrast to her humble interaction with Atticus in Chapter 22, we see Calpurnia never fail to aggressively assert herself as a caretaker of Atticus's children, just as she is very bold and aggressive to protect the children from Lula's insults. A good example can be seen in Chapter 10 when the children, as well as the rest of the neighborhood, are threatened by a rabid dog. She is very quick to protect the children by ordering them inside the house, phoning Atticus, and warning the neighborhood. She even very aggressively attempts to protect the children from the vision of their father shooting the dog by standing between the children and the screen door; regardless, her efforts are thwarted because the children see "from beneath her arms" (Ch. 10).

Hence, all in all, Calpurnia does not behave any differently at her church than she does at home, at least not with respect to the Finch children.

In Freak the Mighty, what are some things Max dislikes?

Many of Max's dislikes in Freak the Mighty can be linked to his severe low self-esteem issues. 

From the beginning chapters, we know that Max doesn't like himself for a couple of reasons. He refers to himself as a "butthead," "brainless," and "dumb." This could be due to the fact that he has been labeled as learning disabled and gets treated differently at school. We also know that he doesn't particularly like school and allows...

Many of Max's dislikes in Freak the Mighty can be linked to his severe low self-esteem issues. 

From the beginning chapters, we know that Max doesn't like himself for a couple of reasons. He refers to himself as a "butthead," "brainless," and "dumb." This could be due to the fact that he has been labeled as learning disabled and gets treated differently at school. We also know that he doesn't particularly like school and allows Kevin to answer all of the questions. This is even after the teacher probes Max to answer - he answers by putting his head down and letting Freak continue. 

Max is also very self-conscious of his appearance. He is very large for his age and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. His appearance really bothers him for the fact that he looks exactly like his father. This makes his grandparents particularly uncomfortable, since his father - which we learn later in the novel - actually killed Max's mom. We really learn how much Max looks like his dad when he ends up actually startling Freak's mom when they first moved to the neighborhood. 

Max's friendship with Freak, however, helps him overcome these issues when Freak gifts him with the journal so that he can write all of his adventures down. Furthermore, Freak helps him feel closure regarding his past with his dad. 

How do the two Houyhnhnms react to Gulliver's speech? |

The first Houyhnhnm to arrive walks around Gulliver and seems to inspect him; when Gulliver tries to reach his hand out to stroke the Houyhnhnm's face, the Houyhnhnm shakes his head and removes Gulliver's hand with his foot.  Another Houyhnhnm comes, and the two walk off a ways, appearing to converse with one another, walking back and forth as though they were "deliberating upon some Affair of Weight."  They look back at him quite often,...

The first Houyhnhnm to arrive walks around Gulliver and seems to inspect him; when Gulliver tries to reach his hand out to stroke the Houyhnhnm's face, the Houyhnhnm shakes his head and removes Gulliver's hand with his foot.  Another Houyhnhnm comes, and the two walk off a ways, appearing to converse with one another, walking back and forth as though they were "deliberating upon some Affair of Weight."  They look back at him quite often, as if to make sure he isn't escaping.  When Gulliver does attempt to go in search of a house or town, the first Houyhnhnm neighs so expressively that Gulliver seems to know that it means he is to remain where he is. 

The Houyhnhnms touch him with their hooves then, both his skin and his clothing, and they are very gentle -- to Gulliver's surprise.  He could hear them say the word "Yahoo" many times, and when he repeats it back to them, they are shocked, and they try more difficult sounds with him.  Finally, the first Houyhnhnm indicates that Gulliver should follow him, and he takes Gulliver to his home.

In the Iliad, what happens because of Achilles' anger? What are three consequences?

The first consequence of Achilles' anger is that withdraws from the fighting and remains lounging in his tent. Shakespeare has comic scenes involving Achilles amusing himself in his tent along with Patroclus and the scurrilous clown Thersites in the play Troilus and Cressida. 

The second consequence is that without Achilles the Trojans are the superior fighting force. This is largely due to the leadership and example of their great hero Hector. Without Achilles, the...

The first consequence of Achilles' anger is that withdraws from the fighting and remains lounging in his tent. Shakespeare has comic scenes involving Achilles amusing himself in his tent along with Patroclus and the scurrilous clown Thersites in the play Troilus and Cressida. 

The second consequence is that without Achilles the Trojans are the superior fighting force. This is largely due to the leadership and example of their great hero Hector. Without Achilles, the Trojans begin overpowering the Greeks and driving them back towards their ships. Many Greeks appeal to Achilles to rejoin the fighting, but he is adamant. He wants them to appreciate how much they need him.

The third consequence is that Achilles' friend Patroclus borrows Achilles' armor in the hope of frightening the Trojans, who have advanced so far that they are fighting among the Greek ships and trying to set fire to them. But Hector slays Patroclus, thinking he is slaying Achilles. The death of his friend so enrages Achilles that he gives up his sulking in his tent and goes out to fight. He chases the entire Trojan army back behind the walls of Troy, with the exception of Hector, who decides to fight Achilles single-handedly. This is the climax of Homer's Iliad. Achilles kills Hector and drags his body around the city behind his chariot. Without Hector it seems obvious that the Trojans are now destined to lose the long war. There is a great feeling of gloom and foreboding among the Trojans at the end of the Iliad.

how to draw 105 and 135 degrees with compass?

1. Construction of angle 105 degree using compass:(Refer attached image)

Steps:

1. Draw a line AB and mark point O on it where angle is to be drawn.


2. With O as center draw an arc (semicircle) which intersects the line AB at points H and I.


3. Keeping the same radius as above and H as center, draw an arc which intersects the semicircle at point C. Without changing the radius as above and C as center, draw an arc which intersects the semicircle at point D. (The points C and D correspond to 60 and 120 degrees angle respectively).


4. Now draw two arcs of same radius keeping the centers as C and D respectively which intersect at point E.


5. Join points E and O and extend it to point X.


6. We get the angle XOB=90 degree.


7. Join the points O and D and extend it to point Y, so we get angle YOB=120 degree.


8. Angle YOX=Angle YOB-Angle XOB=120-90=30 degree


9. Now let’s bisect the angle YOX.


10. Draw two arcs of same radius keeping the centers D and F (point of intersection of EO and semicircle) which intersect at point G. Join GO.


11. We get the angle GOB=105 degree.

Note: We have constructed angle of 105 degree as sum of two angles of 90 and 15 degrees. Alternately it can be constructed as sum of two angles of 60 and 45 degrees.

2. Construction of angle 135 degree using compass: (Refer attached image)

1. Repeat steps 1 to 6 as stated above.


2. Now let’s bisect angle YOA=90 degree. Draw two arcs of same radius keeping the centers F and G respectively, which intersect at point H.


3. Join points H and O and extend it to point Y.


4. We get the angle YOB =135 degree.

Where is it found in Macbeth where Malcolm tests Macduff? (What act and scene?)

It is in Act IV, Scene 3 that Malcolm, son of Duncan, tests the nobleman Macduff. 

Realizing that his father, King Duncan, died because he trusted Macbeth, Malcolm has become skeptical and wary of others. For this reason, Malcolm seeks to ascertain that Macduff has not been sent by Macbeth; so, in order to test Macduff's loyalty to Scotland, Malcolm pretends to have many vices. Scene 3 opens with Malcolm and Macduff talking in private:

...

It is in Act IV, Scene 3 that Malcolm, son of Duncan, tests the nobleman Macduff. 

Realizing that his father, King Duncan, died because he trusted Macbeth, Malcolm has become skeptical and wary of others. For this reason, Malcolm seeks to ascertain that Macduff has not been sent by Macbeth; so, in order to test Macduff's loyalty to Scotland, Malcolm pretends to have many vices. Scene 3 opens with Malcolm and Macduff talking in private:

Macduff immediately declares his love for Scotland and the dire situation of the country in which

New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face...(4.3.5-6)

But, Malcolm questions Macduff's sincerity by responding that Macduff was once one of Macbeth's favorites. He wonders aloud if Macduff wishes to betray him to Macbeth. Then, he asks Macduff why he has left his wife and child to come to England, seeking him. Macduff responds that Scotland is bleeding from the tyranny of Macbeth, and it needs Malcolm to take the throne as the son of King Duncan. Malcolm explains that he is merely trying to protect himself. Further, he describes his faults as worse than Macbeth's:

It is myself I mean, in whom I know

All the particulars of vice so grafted

That, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth

Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state

Esteem him as a lamb, being compared

With my confineless harms. (4.3.51-56)

But, Macduff remains steadfast in his purpose and insists that Malcolm is the rightful heir and must return to Scotland. Convinced of Macduff's loyalty to his country, Malcolm reveals that he has only been testing him, and he promises to return.

I need a little help with an essay about what I want to be when I grow up.

An essay like this depends very much on whether you have an idea of what you want to be or whether you are still thinking about what you want to be when you are grown up.  For example, I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher and it was the right choice for me.  My daughter, however, thought that she wanted to be a doctor, went to South America as an exchange student,...

An essay like this depends very much on whether you have an idea of what you want to be or whether you are still thinking about what you want to be when you are grown up.  For example, I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher and it was the right choice for me.  My daughter, however, thought that she wanted to be a doctor, went to South America as an exchange student, and became a Spanish medical interpreter.  For you, the choices are wide open.

First of all, narrow your topic to either what you want to do or what you think sounds like a good idea for you.  I would suggest that you research jobs not often thought of such as a medical illustrator  or a CNC mechanic.  This is a chance to think about what you enjoy, what you are good at or what you think will fit you.

As for the essay, pick out what you will use and find three reasons why you want to be that person.  If you picked medical illustrator, perhaps three reasons might be that you love drawing, you like to help people, and you want to go to college and have an interesting career.  These would become your body paragraphs while your introductory paragraph would use these three ideas in your thesis statement.  Remember the conclusion paragraph refers back to the introductory paragraph and your thesis statement.

Good luck on your chance to think about your future.  Remember that it may or may not include college, but I would include some kind of training if possible.

Why did Harriet Tubman want to help slaves run away?

Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist. She was born into slave and knew firsthand of its harsh effects that it had on her people. She escaped to freedom in 1849 leaving behind her family. She then set out to make it her life’s work to help other slaves escape to freedom, just like she had done.

Harriet Tubman was a very famous conductor on what was known as the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a...

Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist. She was born into slave and knew firsthand of its harsh effects that it had on her people. She escaped to freedom in 1849 leaving behind her family. She then set out to make it her life’s work to help other slaves escape to freedom, just like she had done.

Harriet Tubman was a very famous conductor on what was known as the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a system of hiding places and escape routes that conductors used to help slaves escape to freedom in the North. The hiding places were called stations. It was here that the slaves stayed and slept during the day. At night, they followed the escape routes led by the conductors. This process was repeated until they reached freedom in the North. Harriet Tubman was determined to help her people escape from slavery. She made many trips into the South and successfully conducted every escape she led. This included bringing her family out of slavery and into freedom. Harriet Tubman was an influential abolitionist who helped many slaves get their freedom.

How is Ebenezer Scrooge of A Christmas Carol a Gothic character?

The character of Ebenezer Scrooge is one of the Gothic elements of Charles Dickens' novella, A Christmas Carol. Characters in Gothic novels are often one-dimensional, or stock, characters. We know what to expect from such characters because we have seen them often before, and they do not change over the course of the novel. This, of course, is where Scrooge as a Gothic character breaks down--because he changes dramatically as a result of his...

The character of Ebenezer Scrooge is one of the Gothic elements of Charles Dickens' novella, A Christmas Carol. Characters in Gothic novels are often one-dimensional, or stock, characters. We know what to expect from such characters because we have seen them often before, and they do not change over the course of the novel. This, of course, is where Scrooge as a Gothic character breaks down--because he changes dramatically as a result of his experiences in the novella. However, putting that aside, we can see that at the beginning of the novel, he has definite Gothic characteristics. Often Gothic novels feature a character who is a tyrant: He rules with an iron fist, he is unapproachable, and he is extreme. Scrooge is such a tyrant in Stave I. He keeps the office so cold that his clerk, Bob Cratchit, has to warm his gloved hands by the candle as he works. He scares away the Christmas carolers who come by, and he gruffly brushes off his nephew's kind invitation to Christmas dinner. The statements he makes to the men who come to ask for charitable donations show an evil heart; he suggests that those who are poor and ill-fed should simply hurry up and die and "decrease the surplus population." Scrooge then goes to his home, which although it is not a Gothic castle, is definitely reminiscent of one, being in a lonely, industrial part of town, very dark and foggy, and very old and sparsely furnished. When Scrooge meets Marley's ghost, who wears "the chains [he] forged in life," we learn that Scrooge's chains, which he has been forging seven years longer, are already heavier than Marley's, if we could but see them. Even Scrooge's physical description paints the picture of a terrifying tyrant: "The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice."

In Tuck Everlasting, what does Angus Tuck think of living forever?

Angus feels as if the Tucks are not fully participating in life because they are immortal.

Angus uses the rowboat outing to explain to Winnie how he feels about being immortal.

That's what us Tucks are, Winnie. Stuck so's we can't move on. We ain't part of the wheel no more. Dropped off, Winnie. Left behind. And everywhere around us, things is moving and growing and changing. (Ch. 12)

Angus considers the Tuck family “stuck” in time.  Because they cannot grow old or die, they are isolated from other people.  They can’t really make friends.  They definitely can’t have families—at least Jesse and Miles can’t.  People become suspicious of them and think they’re freaks.

Tuck uses the metaphor of a wheel to explain the concept of living forever to Winnie.

But dying's part of the wheel, right there next to being born. You can't pick out the pieces you like and leave the rest. Being part of the whole thing, that's the blessing. But it's passing us by, us Tucks. Living's heavy work, but off to one side, the way we are, it's useless, too. (Ch. 12)

Although the idea of living forever sounds great, Tuck feels that life is passing them by.  He explains to Winnie that while she may not want to die, dying is a part of life.  If you can’t die, are you really living?

The Tucks give Winnie the option of drinking from the spring, but they want to make sure she understands what she is getting into.  If she drinks from the spring, it will be because she had information the Tucks did not when they drank.  She would be choosing to remain a little girl forever.

Jesse wants Winnie to drink when she is older, so that they will be the same age.  He wants a companion.  Although Winnie cares for Jesse, we know that she does not choose this choice.  The Tucks return to find her gravestone.  Faced with the choice of living forever in an isolated existence, Winnie chose mortality.

These are some questions that may be asked during a person's teen years. I need help in trying to answer them for an assignment. Sometimes I...

The adolescent years are a period of change and transition for young people and can therefore be unsettling and even frightening. Thus many teens have questions and fears about how their lives and bodies are changing. Often they may turn to educators for advice, and though professional counseling is advisable for highly troubled teens, educators can help by reassuring teens than many of the changes they are undergoing are perfectly normal. In response to three...

The adolescent years are a period of change and transition for young people and can therefore be unsettling and even frightening. Thus many teens have questions and fears about how their lives and bodies are changing. Often they may turn to educators for advice, and though professional counseling is advisable for highly troubled teens, educators can help by reassuring teens than many of the changes they are undergoing are perfectly normal. In response to three of your individual questions:

1. 
   Sometimes I want to stay a child. Why am I afraid to become an adult?: As a child you are protected and taken care of by your family. Becoming an adult means earning a living, cooking, running errands, and even, perhaps, getting married and having children of your own. This is a major increase in the level of complexity and responsibility you have in your life. What will make these transitions less scary is the degree to which you prepare yourself for them by getting a part time job, learning to cook and clean, setting up a bank account, making wise decisions and gradually assuming other adult responsibilities and chores. 


2. 
   Both of my best friends look like young women. Why do I still look like a little girl?: People's bodies develop at different rates, with the age of onset of puberty anywhere from 9 to 15. If you are engaged in sports such as gymnastics or ballet, low body fat can delay puberty, or result in athletic amenorrhoea. Although late puberty may simply be a result of genetics, if you are over 14 and have not had your first period, you might want to visit your health care provider for a check up. 


3. 
   Why do I feel so awkward, like my arms and legs do not belong to me any more?: As an adolescent your body can go through rapid changes such as growth spurts. It sometimes takes a few months to adjust to changes in your body. If you find the condition persistent or disturbing, consult your health care provider.

What does the mutual interest of the lamp for Kezia and Else signify in Katherine Mansfield's "The Doll's House?"

The lamp in the story “The Doll’s House, ” by Katherine Mansfield, stands out in the eyes of Kezia as something so unique that it is worthy of telling everyone about it. In turn, Kezia’s words pique Else’s curiosity and, after finally being able to catch a glimpse of the lamp, she feels a sense of joy,  personal satisfaction and triumph.

The fact that Kezia and Else are drawn equally to this one object, regardless...

The lamp in the story “The Doll’s House, ” by Katherine Mansfield, stands out in the eyes of Kezia as something so unique that it is worthy of telling everyone about it. In turn, Kezia’s words pique Else’s curiosity and, after finally being able to catch a glimpse of the lamp, she feels a sense of joy,  personal satisfaction and triumph.

The fact that Kezia and Else are drawn equally to this one object, regardless of their different backgrounds, demonstrates that all individuals, regardless of race, creed, or origin, can still share the same values. This is also a symbol of humanity: All humans have the same capacity for appreciation, the same need for acceptance, and the same right to dream of a better life. Within their own circumstances, Else and Kezia embody those three principles. It is in the appreciation of the lamp that their differences in social and economic status also become null, and their essential humanity is further intensified.  

The lamp, Kezia and Else

“The lamp,” as a carrier of light that illuminates the world, has always served as a universal symbol of enlightenment, awakening, and truth. Kezia, a rich girl who still reaches out to the less fortunate, is obviously the only individual in her social circle who is aware of the reality of the world and enlightened with the knowledge that all people are created equal, no matter what their background is. Like the lamp, Kezia, too, stands out from her immediate environment.

On the other hand, Else also stands apart within her own set of circumstances. Her desire to see the lamp shows that, despite the meager conditions in which she lives, she still yearns to see the beauty and uniqueness of the lamp because she can recognize it and appreciate it. This is something that other people of her class, namely, her own mother, would not be able to do.  

Kezia and Else

A close analysis of Kezia and Else show that they are quite similar in their appreciation of the lamp because they both embody what the lamp symbolizes: Knowledge,  awareness, enlightenment, and truth. These two girls, through their appreciation of the small lamp, show that they are different from the people with whom they coexist. The mutual interest in the lamp is a way for the author to show that the love for knowledge, beauty, and life can exist within any heart, no matter how rich or poor it may be.

In the poem 'Dreams' by Langston Hughes, what are 3 literary devices the poet uses to reveal the theme?

The theme of “Dreams” by Langston Hughes is about not giving up on what you want out of life. Hughes says to “Hold fast to dreams” and not let them go, for if you do, your life will be meaningless and unfulfilled.He shows this theme through his use of figures of speech. “Life is a broken-winged bird. . .That cannot fly” is the firstmetaphorhe uses. Hughes compares losing your dreams to living a life like a...

The theme of “Dreams” by Langston Hughes is about not giving up on what you want out of life. Hughes says to “Hold fast to dreams” and not let them go, for if you do, your life will be meaningless and unfulfilled.He shows this theme through his use of figures of speech. “Life is a broken-winged bird. . .That cannot fly” is the first metaphor he uses. Hughes compares losing your dreams to living a life like a bird that is unable to soar and achieve flight, something essential to the bird’s happiness. The second metaphor, “Life is a barren field frozen with snow” also represents how a life without dreams is similar to one frozen in a barren field. Life would not have any meaning because giving up your dreams is also giving up on your potential and opportunity. 

Finally, Hughes also uses alliteration and repetition to create effects in the poem. “Dreams die”, “broken-winged bird”, and “field frozen” are examples of alliteration that give the particular words emphasis, and therefore, a deeper message to the reader. Repeating the words, “Hold fast” also adds to the overall theme of not giving up and having motivation to keep seeking your dreams.

Why is it that an appropriate quotation is an old device that works well to begin a paragraph?

Actually, I disagree with this statement and advise my students to never begin a paragraph with a quotation. In my opinion, when a paragraph begins with a quotation, the reader has no context in which to put the quotation and not a clue as to why it is there. A quotation should only be offered in support of one's own ideas, not as a substitute for one's ideas, and leading off with a quote, in...

Actually, I disagree with this statement and advise my students to never begin a paragraph with a quotation. In my opinion, when a paragraph begins with a quotation, the reader has no context in which to put the quotation and not a clue as to why it is there. A quotation should only be offered in support of one's own ideas, not as a substitute for one's ideas, and leading off with a quote, in an introduction, conclusion, or body paragraph is telling the reader you are not expressing an idea for yourself. A quotation is best used as the middle of a sandwich. Offer your idea. Then offer a quote to support that idea. Then make a connection for the reader between your idea and the quotation.

What are three elements of Freud in everyday use?

Three elements of Freud that have seeped into the everyday consciousness are the Freudian slip, the Oedipal complex and the superego. 

In a Freudian slip a person secretly reveals a thought they wanted to keep hidden by making a "mistake" in speech or writing. For example, saying "I am so happy I could kill you" instead of "I am so happy I could kiss you" would constitute a Freudian slip that reveals underlying anger or...

Three elements of Freud that have seeped into the everyday consciousness are the Freudian slip, the Oedipal complex and the superego. 

In a Freudian slip a person secretly reveals a thought they wanted to keep hidden by making a "mistake" in speech or writing. For example, saying "I am so happy I could kill you" instead of "I am so happy I could kiss you" would constitute a Freudian slip that reveals underlying anger or hostility towards a person.

We often use the term "Oedipal complex" without having the first idea what the play Oedipus Rex is about. However, we know that a male who is overly fixated on his mother has an Oedipal complex. We know too that little boys who insist they will marry their mothers are working through their age-appropriate Oedipal complexes.

Finally, we are prone to note that a person who is very moral or uptight suffers from too much "superego," that element of the personality that keeps our wild desires in check. 

What types of figurative language are in the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes?

The most famous writer of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes became the "poet laureate of Harlem." He once commented on his poetry as verse that deals with

people up today and down tomorrow...beaten and baffled, but determined not to be wholly beaten.

In "Dreams," Hughes addresses the down-but-determined with his exhortations. He wishes to prevent the deferment of goals, as in his first line he urges people to "hold fast to dreams."

In this short...

The most famous writer of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes became the "poet laureate of Harlem." He once commented on his poetry as verse that deals with

people up today and down tomorrow...beaten and baffled, but determined not to be wholly beaten.

In "Dreams," Hughes addresses the down-but-determined with his exhortations. He wishes to prevent the deferment of goals, as in his first line he urges people to "hold fast to dreams."

In this short poem, Hughes employs literary devices and figurative language:

--Alliteration 

The /d/ is repeated in the first two lines with the words "dreams" and "die." Then, in the last two lines, the /f/ is repeated with the last word of the seventh line, "field," and the first word of the final line, "Frozen."

--Metaphors

There are metaphors, or unstated comparisons, with "life," which is compared to "a broken-winged bird / That cannot fly" and "a barren field / Frozen with snow." In other words, if a person no longer dreams, his/her life becomes damaged and barren, lacking any meaning.

--Personification

In order to impress upon his readers the importance of dreams and goals, Langston Hughes personifies them. For example, in the second line of the poem, Hughes writes, "For if dreams die...." Dreams are given importance and life through personification.

What are some of the important plot lines of both To Kill A Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men?

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men both concentrate on the treatment of disenfranchised parts of society, members of the community who have less power and respect than others. The plots of both books concentrate on the inhumane treatment of people who are weak or different and therefore largely misunderstood. 

For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem come to realize that Boo Radley, long thought...

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men both concentrate on the treatment of disenfranchised parts of society, members of the community who have less power and respect than others. The plots of both books concentrate on the inhumane treatment of people who are weak or different and therefore largely misunderstood. 

For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem come to realize that Boo Radley, long thought to be scary in the community because he is a bit mentally disabled, is actually a decent, honest man who saves Jem's life at the end of the novel. As Atticus tells Scout and Jem in Chapter 10, "remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." A mockingbird is a symbol of a weak, defenseless creature because all the bird does is sing. One should not harm it, Atticus says, because it is defenseless. In addition, Tom Robinson, the African-American man who Atticus defends, is like a mockingbird because he too is innocent and defenseless but is facing great persecution and violence because of his race.

In Of Mice and Men, weak and defenseless characters such as Lennie are also treated with cruelty. Lennie is a developmentally disabled man who is often misunderstood because he combines innocence and mental slowness with great physical strength. In the end, his friend George shoots him out of mercy because a mob is after Lennie. Again, the plot of this novel is about how weak or defenseless people are targeted in society because they are misunderstood. Both authors emphasize the inhumanity of this type of treatment. 

How do Gregor's feelings for his family change over the course of The Metamorphosis?

Interesting question! In the story “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, Gregor’s transformation greatly impacts his feelings about his family.

Initially in the story, Gregor demonstrates the profound responsibilitythat he feels toward his family. His feelings seem to be largely based on his belief that his family is incapable of taking care of themselves. For example, he believes that they cannot work because his father is too old, his mother is too frail, and his...

Interesting question! In the story “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, Gregor’s transformation greatly impacts his feelings about his family.

Initially in the story, Gregor demonstrates the profound responsibility that he feels toward his family. His feelings seem to be largely based on his belief that his family is incapable of taking care of themselves. For example, he believes that they cannot work because his father is too old, his mother is too frail, and his sister is too young. Thus, he works arduously at a job that he hates. As Gregor’s thoughts reveal:

“If I didn’t hold back for my parents’ sake, I would’ve quit ages ago. I would’ve gone to the boss and told him just what I think from the bottom of my heart. He would’ve fallen right off his desk!”

“...what a demanding job I’ve chosen! Day in, day out on the road. The stresses of trade are much greater than the work going on at head office, and, in addition to that, I have to deal with the problems of traveling, the worries about train connections, irregular bad food, temporary and constantly changing human relationships which never come from the heart. To hell with it all!”

As the story progresses, Gregor realizes that he can no longer provide for his family and now feels as though he is a burden to them. He relies on his family to clean his room, move furniture, and even to bring him food for each meal. Not only this, but he realizes that his new form scares his family and he feels responsible for protecting them from himself.

Finally, the story draws to a conclusion when Gregor realizes how much of a burden he has become to his family.

“But Gregor did not have any notion of wishing to create problems for anyone and certainly not for his sister.”

Thus, Gregor goes to his room and quietly passes away. After this event, his family grieves their loss; however, they also experience more freedom and become more self-sufficient.

In conclusion, Gregor’s transformation caused his feelings to change about his family. Although he first feels responsible for their well-being, he soon sees himself as a burden to his family. As a result, their roles have changed and he perceives that transition.

When Tish refers to "crossing the Sahara" in James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk, what does this symbolize for her?

In Chapter One of James Baldwin’s novel If Beale Street Could Talk, his 19-year-old African American female protagonist and narrator, Clementine, or Tish, as she is called, is describing her visit to the jail in which her boyfriend, the father of her unborn child, is imprisoned. Alonzo, or Fonny, as he is called, is in jail because he was accused of raping a Puerto Rican girl, seemingly framed for the crime by a white...

In Chapter One of James Baldwin’s novel If Beale Street Could Talk, his 19-year-old African American female protagonist and narrator, Clementine, or Tish, as she is called, is describing her visit to the jail in which her boyfriend, the father of her unborn child, is imprisoned. Alonzo, or Fonny, as he is called, is in jail because he was accused of raping a Puerto Rican girl, seemingly framed for the crime by a white police officer described by Fonny’s lawyer, Hayward, as “a racist and a liar.” Baldwin’s narrative, published in 1974, could have been written today, at least from the perspective of an African American community mentally exhausted by repeated instances of violent confrontations with police officers. In the Harlem, New York, in which Baldwin’s story takes place, however, endemic poverty and cynicism is as rampant as at any time and at any place in U.S. history. In short, the life of a lower-income African American in the early-1970s would be defined by anger and bitterness at the racism and absence of opportunity that characterized inner-city life. For Baldwin’s young but intelligent protagonist, Tish, that gulf between hope and despair would be vast and seemingly insurmountable. It would be, to borrow from Tish’s narrative, like crossing a vast, empty, forbidding desert. Additionally, the propensity of young African American men like Fonny to be imprisoned would be symptomatic of that metaphorical gulf. Lacking opportunity, subject to systemic racism, unable to envision a brighter future, many African American men sought solace instead in activities that invariably end in jail or death. Baldwin, through his narrator, who has arrived at the jail to visit her boyfriend, describes the formidable obstacles as follows:

“I walked out, to cross these big, wide corridors I've come to hate, corridors wider than all the Sahara desert. The Sahara is never empty; these corridors are never empty. If you cross the Sahara, and you fall, by and by vultures circle around you, smelling, sensing, your death. They circle lower and lower: they wait. They know. They know exactly when the flesh is ready, when the spirit cannot fight back. The poor are always crossing the Sahara. And the lawyers and bondsmen and all that crowd circle around the poor, exactly like vultures.”

“Crossing the Sahara,” then, is a metaphor for traversing that enormous gap between being poor and victimized and being part of the establishment that sets and enforces the rules, and between despair and hope. Fonny is forever ‘turning into the inferno,’ and Tish is forever walking towards the Sahara, because that is the world they know, a world with little or no hope, although If Beale Street Could Talk will end on a note of cautious optimism.