What is the central meaning of Shelley's "Stanzas Written in Dejection"?

The central meaning of "Stanzas Written in Dejection, near Naples" by Percy Bysshe Shelley seems to be a contrast between his own "despair" (ln. 28) and the relative comfort he finds in nature. To find solace in nature is typical of Romantic poetry, as is the expression of heightened emotions. Both of these elements figure strongly in Shelley's poem.

The poem begins with a detailed description of a pleasant natural scene. Shelley describes a beautiful day, probably on the Gulf of Naples, as the poet references "waves" (3), and "the winds, the birds, the ocean floods" (8). While Shelley's imagery indicates that the scene is aesthetically pleasant, he also imbues the natural setting with his own emotions when he says "The City's voice itself, is soft like Solitude's" (9). This solitude that he feels in the surrounding environment is referenced in the title ("Dejection") and later in the poem ("despair" in line 28). In the second stanza, Shelley continues to use sensory detail to describe the nature scene, but midway through the stanza, he explicitly places himself in the scene by saying, "I sit upon the sands alone --" (14). He does,  however, hear in the sounds of the ocean, something that "share[s] in [his] emotion" (18).

From this point, Shelley transitions to a more detailed explanation of his emotional state. He feels as though he has nothing, according to lines 19-24, and judges that "Others [he  sees]" have more than he (25). He observes those other people as "Smiling" and experiencing "pleasure" (26), while "To me that cup has been dealt in another measure" (27). Shelley contrasts his own feelings of emptiness with what he see as the fullness of others' lives. The fourth stanza opens with Shelley returning to some of the ideas of stanzas one and two, though, as he writes, "Yet now despair itself is mild,/ Even as the winds and waters are" (28-29). While he is dejected, his feelings are tempered by the nature around him. He feels that he could weep and even die here in this setting. Shelley closes the poem by saying that he may be lamented after his death, but he feels that he will not be missed that much, "for I am one/ Whom men love not," (41-42). People will "regret" (42) that he is gone, but the memory of nature, of the day that surrounds him, will only bring pleasure: "this day ... / Will linger, though enjoyed, like joy in memory yet" (43-45). Again, Shelley prioritizes the beauty of the natural setting and its ability to yield positive emotions. Those emotions range from "joy" at the end of the poem to the relative comfort referenced in stanza four. 

So the central meaning of the poem seems to hinge on the relationship between the beauty and comfort of nature (and its ability to confer pleasant, long-lasting memories) and the speaker's dejected emotional state. This emotional state appears to be allayed by the nature surrounding him, while the causes for his dejection are related to society (especially from comparing himself to other people). 

What is a quote that deals with good vs. evil in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Chapter 10, Atticus gives his children their air rifles and says,

"I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 57).

Atticus' directive to shoot all the bluejays they want as long as they do not kill any mockingbirds is a metaphor...

In Chapter 10, Atticus gives his children their air rifles and says,

"I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 57).

Atticus' directive to shoot all the bluejays they want as long as they do not kill any mockingbirds is a metaphor regarding "good vs. evil." Bluejays symbolically represent "evil." Bluejays are territorial birds which are considered a nuisance and are known to attack songbirds. The notorious Bob Ewell is symbolically represented as a bluejay throughout the novel. In contrast, mockingbirds are innocent beings who spread joy through their beautiful music. They symbolically represent "good" in Atticus' metaphor. Atticus encourages his children to respect innocent individuals and protect them from harm. The characters of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley symbolically represent mockingbirds. Atticus courageously defends Tom Robinson in front of a prejudiced jury, and Sheriff Tate refuses to force Boo Radley into the limelight following Boo's heroic actions. Jem and Scout learn the importance of distinguishing between good and evil, and how to respond to each by following Atticus' directive to shoot the bluejays, but not the mockingbirds.

I need to compare and contrast narrative and description in novels. Can you give examples of descriptive passages and narrative passages in...

To be effective, descriptive passages usually incorporate the five senses in imagery: taste (gustatory), smell (olfactory), hearing (auditory), touch (cutaneous or tactile), and sight (visual). Also, other senses include kinesthetic (movement), vestibular (balance and eye coordination), and organic/subjective (sensations such as fear, joy, anger, etc).

Narrative passages, on the other hand, tell a story of some sort. The story may be told from the vantage point of personal experience, or an author may present...

To be effective, descriptive passages usually incorporate the five senses in imagery: taste (gustatory), smell (olfactory), hearing (auditory), touch (cutaneous or tactile), and sight (visual). Also, other senses include kinesthetic (movement), vestibular (balance and eye coordination), and organic/subjective (sensations such as fear, joy, anger, etc).

Narrative passages, on the other hand, tell a story of some sort. The story may be told from the vantage point of personal experience, or an author may present the private thoughts of a character to his/her readers. Either way, these literary aids help move the plot forward or allows us to learn something significant about the character in question.

On to Germinal:

Descriptive passages: Bolded words in the two passages below are mine.

The distant hammer struck (auditory) regular blows in the pit, and the wind passed by with its moan, like a cry of hunger and weariness (auditory) coming out of the depths of the night.

Etienne, who forgot himself before the stove, warming his poor, bleeding hands (visual) looked round, and he could see each part of the pit: the shed tarred with siftings,, the pit frame, the vast chamber of the winding machine, the square turret of the exhaustion pump. This pit, piled up in the bottom of a hollow, with its squat brick buildings, raising its chimney like a threatening horn, seemed to him to have the evil air of a gluttonous beast crouching there to devour the earth. (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, subjective/organic). 

Narrative passage:

M. Hennebeau, who was at this hour returning home mounted on his mare, listened to these vague sounds. He had met couples, long rows of strollers, on this beautiful winter night. More lovers, who were going to take their pleasure, mouth to mouth, behind the walls. Was it not what he always met, girls tumbled over the bottom of every ditch, beggars who crammed themselves with the only joy that cost nothing? And these fools complained of life, when they could take their supreme fill of the happiness of love? Willingly would he have starved as they did if he could begin life again with a woman who would give herself to him on a heap of stones, with all her strength and all her heart. His misfortune was without consolation, and he envied these wretches.

In the story, M. Hennebeau is a part owner of the Le Voreux mining operation. The mine is the setting for the strike; throughout the novel, the mine is characterized as a place of misery, degradation, and oppression. However, the passage above gives us an insight into M. Hennebeau's character, his personal trials, and his desires. The thoughts above show a man, vulnerable in his private moments, far from being only the inexorable manager who refuses to allow any concessions to his workers. Narratives like the above tend to humanize an unlikable character.

Hope this helps! There are more such passages in the novel. With the above as a guide, you should be able to recognize many more on your own.

The following question refers to “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote. Toward the end of the story, Buddy is separated from his friend....

In Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” Buddy is separated from his friend when the adults decide it would be best for him to attend military school. The unidentified adults, under the guise of doing what is best for Buddy, send him off to both military school and summer camps.

Life separates us. Those who Know Best decide that I belong in a military school. And so follows a miserable succession of bugle-blowing prisons, grim reveille-ridden...

In Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” Buddy is separated from his friend when the adults decide it would be best for him to attend military school. The unidentified adults, under the guise of doing what is best for Buddy, send him off to both military school and summer camps.

Life separates us. Those who Know Best decide that I belong in a military school. And so follows a miserable succession of bugle-blowing prisons, grim reveille-ridden summer camps. I have a new home too. But it doesn't count. Home is where my friend is, and there I never go.

In essence, Buddy and his friend are separated physically, but remain connected emotionally because they frequently exchange letters with each other. Buddy’s friend shares stories of home and of Queenie, the dog. As his friend ages she confuses Buddy with her old friend who passed away years before their friendship began. Her old friend was also called Buddy, and her written thoughts become muddled between the two friends. One day at military school Buddy receives word of her death and that is when he realizes the two are apart forever. 

What is Rousseau's contribution to our government? What did he believe?

One of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s most influential works on government was his piece on the Social Contract. In his work, Rousseau described the methodology towards the establishment of a stable political community. His work inspired political reforms and revolutions in Europe, America and other parts of the world.

He publicly disputed the monarchies divine authority to lead the masses. He asserted that the administration should only govern with the consent of the governed. He also stated...

One of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s most influential works on government was his piece on the Social Contract. In his work, Rousseau described the methodology towards the establishment of a stable political community. His work inspired political reforms and revolutions in Europe, America and other parts of the world.

He publicly disputed the monarchies divine authority to lead the masses. He asserted that the administration should only govern with the consent of the governed. He also stated that the laws are subject to decisions and opinions of the masses. Thus, people should be free to choose the laws that bind them. The idea behind this assertion was that the masses forfeit a certain amount of rights to ensure that their collective rights and freedoms are guaranteed. This would be achieved because not only would the administration be required to protect these collective freedoms, but the masses would be responsible for the mutual protection of their freedoms.

His work offered impetus to the Founding Fathers to challenge the crown’s authority, leading up to the Declaration of Independence.

"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. One man thinks himself the master of others, but remains more of a slave than they"-- (Social Contract)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,-- (Declaration of Independence)

Of whose death is Frankenstein informed upon returning from his trip?

This question is a little vague as it could be referring to Victor returning home from the University of Ingolstadt in Germany, or it could mean when he returns to Ireland after spending time working in a laboratory on the Orkney Islands. 

If you are referring to the first instance, when Victor leaves school, he actually learns about the death of his brother William beforehe arrives home. It is the letter containing news of...

This question is a little vague as it could be referring to Victor returning home from the University of Ingolstadt in Germany, or it could mean when he returns to Ireland after spending time working in a laboratory on the Orkney Islands. 

If you are referring to the first instance, when Victor leaves school, he actually learns about the death of his brother William before he arrives home. It is the letter containing news of William's death that acts as the catalyst for making Victor return. The reader learns later that William was strangled by the creature Victor created; however, the murder is instead blamed on William's nanny, who is in turn sentenced to death.

If you are talking about Victor's return to Ireland, then it is Henry Clerval who is discovered dead. Henry was Victor's close friend and traveling companion, but they had separated while in Scotland so Victor could resume his work secretly. Like William, Henry was also murdered by the creature, but this time, the creature made sure that Victor would be blamed for the death. The court finds him innocent and he returns home to Geneva with his father. 

What three reasons does Horatio list for why the ghost of King Hamlet may have returned from the grave?

This question is in reference to lines 130 and 139 in Act I, Scene 1, when Horatio, on watch with Marcellus and Barnardo, implores the ghost of King Hamlet to tell its business in the realm of man:

“If there be any good thing to be doneThat may to thee do ease and grace to me,Speak to me.If thou art privy to thy country’s fate,Which happily foreknowing may avoid,O, speak!...

This question is in reference to lines 130 and 139 in Act I, Scene 1, when Horatio, on watch with Marcellus and Barnardo, implores the ghost of King Hamlet to tell its business in the realm of man:

“If there be any good thing to be done
That may to thee do ease and grace to me,
Speak to me.
If thou art privy to thy country’s fate,
Which happily foreknowing may avoid,
O, speak!
Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life
Extorted treasure in the womb of earth,
For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death,
Speak of it.  Stay and speak.”

Here Horatio outlines three possibilities (none of which turn out to be quite correct) as to the ghost’s appearance, and begs the late king to give answer.  First, he asks if the ghost has any unfinished business, any “good thing to be done” to put his spirit at rest.  Second, he wonders if perhaps the ghost has information about the fate of Denmark, which, by imparting it to the watchmen, may prevent some tragedy.  Finally, Horatio asks if the late King Hamlet has some ill-gotten treasure buried somewhere, which was a common reason for spirits to walk the earth in the folklore of the day.

These speculations are all in keeping with traditional ghost lore.  There is, however, some additional context that should be mentioned in reference to Horatio’s second suggestion, outlined in lines 79-107 in his explanation for why the men are keeping watch in the first place – King Hamlet had won lands in a duel with Fortinbras, ruler of Norway, and now the son of the slain Norwegian king is raiding, and otherwise causing trouble, along their borders with Denmark to win back the claims.  So we know that Denmark is on the verge of armed conflict.  In this prior speech Horatio also makes mention of the omens foreshadowing the fall of Julius Caesar in Rome, speaking of “tenantless” graves and a moon “sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.”  Therefore he thinks that perhaps this ghost of the king could be a similar harbinger of disaster in this time of unrest.