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

• Exposition

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

• Rising Action

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

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

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

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

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

Then, Gillian returns to the law offices.

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

• Falling Action

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

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

• Resolution

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What happens at a Confirmation?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who is Faber in Fahrenheit 451?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is Andrew Jackson's legacy?

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

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

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

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

What is the physical description of nature?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why did Brutus betray Caesar?

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

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

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

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

What are two ways in which light behaves?

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

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

Light...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But,...

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

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

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