Where do you find human vs. self conflict in Antigone? Give one example and explain the relevance of the direct quote you use.

In the Greek tragedy Antigoneby Sophocles, Creon's primary conflict is with himself, although he doesn't see it that way until the end of the play. He believes he is struggling with Antigone, Haemon, and Tiresias, but his own ego and stubbornness are what cause the play's conflict. Throughout the play, Creon decides again and again to follow his own counsel rather than listen to others. He continues to lose the human vs. self conflict...

In the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles, Creon's primary conflict is with himself, although he doesn't see it that way until the end of the play. He believes he is struggling with Antigone, Haemon, and Tiresias, but his own ego and stubbornness are what cause the play's conflict. Throughout the play, Creon decides again and again to follow his own counsel rather than listen to others. He continues to lose the human vs. self conflict every time he has an opportunity to rise above his selfish conviction of his own supremacy. After Haemon and Eurydice have both committed suicide, Creon understands the source of all the conflict, and upon the news of Eurydice's death he wails:

Ah me, this guilt can never be fixed on any other of mortal kind, for my acquittal! I, even I, was thy slayer, wretched that I am-I own the truth. Lead me away, O my servants, lead me hence with all speed, whose life is but as death!

At this point, he has no one to blame, and although he previously repented of his obstinacy and provided Polynices with a proper burial and sought to free Antigone from the tomb, his enlightenment came too late. Now he is burdened with guilt for the deaths of the two people he loved most, and that is a human vs. self conflict that will presumably continue for the rest of his life.

Why did Benjamin Franklin invent bifocals?

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), one of the Founding Fathers as well as an author, printer, and scientist, invented bifocals because he suffered from presbyopia, a condition that means "age of sight" and that makes it harder for the eye to adjust to seeing objects at different distances as one ages. He had suffered from vision problems for a long time, probably dating back to the 1730s, and a print from 1764 shows Franklin wearing an usual...

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), one of the Founding Fathers as well as an author, printer, and scientist, invented bifocals because he suffered from presbyopia, a condition that means "age of sight" and that makes it harder for the eye to adjust to seeing objects at different distances as one ages. He had suffered from vision problems for a long time, probably dating back to the 1730s, and a print from 1764 shows Franklin wearing an usual pair of glasses that are likely bifocals. While Franklin was in Paris serving as the American envoy to the court of Louis XVI, Franklin wrote a letter dated August 21, 1784 to his friend George Whatley that read, "I cannot distinguish a letter even of large print; but am happy in the invention of double spectacles, which serving for distant objects as well as near ones, make my eyes as useful to me as ever they were.” This letter suggests that Franklin had already invented bifocals.

Bifocals have an upper part (which is less convex) that allows people to see objects at a distance and a lower part (which is more convex) that allows people to read. During Franklin's time, it was difficult for glassmakers to cut two separate lenses to make bifocals and to fuse them together in the same frame. Franklin also made several discoveries related to electricity. 

What does Bradbury's description of the fire suggest in "There Will Come Soft Rains"?

The narrator's description of the house fire in "There Will Come Soft Rains" is full of personification that suggests the fire is consciously destroying the automated house. The fire doesn't destroy the house, it "fed" and "lay" and "backed off" and it "was clever" and "rushed back."

In addition to personifying the fire, he compares the house to an animal, including predator-like descriptions. The house is "gushing green chemicals" and the fire "backed off, even...

The narrator's description of the house fire in "There Will Come Soft Rains" is full of personification that suggests the fire is consciously destroying the automated house. The fire doesn't destroy the house, it "fed" and "lay" and "backed off" and it "was clever" and "rushed back."

In addition to personifying the fire, he compares the house to an animal, including predator-like descriptions. The house is "gushing green chemicals" and the fire "backed off, even as an elephant must at the sight of a dead snake." The fire wins the battle when it destroys the "attic brain" with a "clever" explosion.

Each of these instances demonstrates how Bradbury wants the reader to think of the fire. He wants you to see the fire as a human (or sentient) opponent of the mechanical house. At the end of the story, this is the thematic idea presented. These mechanical advances humans make are only temporary and, when all humans are gone and only these machines are left, nature will battle and reclaim all that is hers. 

Describe how George made the Irish stew. What was Montmorency's contribution to it?

The narrator relates this incident in Chapter XIV of Three Men in a Boat. George offered to cook supper one evening:

He … suggested that, with the vegetables and the remains of the cold beef and general odds and ends, we should make an Irish stew.

Such a dish is often made with leftovers from previous meals. It consists of some kind of meat, with the addition of potatoes, onions, and various vegetables. George...

The narrator relates this incident in Chapter XIV of Three Men in a Boat. George offered to cook supper one evening:

He … suggested that, with the vegetables and the remains of the cold beef and general odds and ends, we should make an Irish stew.

Such a dish is often made with leftovers from previous meals. It consists of some kind of meat, with the addition of potatoes, onions, and various vegetables. George took the lead in the cooking. Harris and the narrator were given the job of peeling and then scraping the potatoes. They weren’t good at either task, and they ended up with only four usable potatoes. To make up for the loss, the men raided their food hamper and added as many random vegetables and pieces of meat as they could find.

Even Montmorency, the fox terrier, got into the act. He brought a dead water-rat to the men, seemingly to donate it to the stew. According to the narrator, the three men devoted serious discussion to adding the rat to the mix. Harris thought it would work. George said he had never heard of putting water-rats in Irish stew, and he was against the idea. Harris answered that they could certainly try something new.

The narrator never tells us if Montmorency’s gift was used in the stew. He did admit that it “was a dish with a new flavour, with a taste like nothing else on earth.” The reader is left to decide what was really put into the pot.

What are the emerging themes in the book?

Put quite simply, the major themes of this book are parenting (especially in regards to maternal influence) and, to a lesser extent, violence (both at school and at home).

Let us talk a bit about the lesser theme first: violence at school and at home. In reality, this theme comprises the meat of the story. Why is this? Because Kevin, Eva’s son, has grown and gone on a shooting spree at his school, killing many people. There is a large span of events leading up to this, though. Kevin is verbally violent with his parents and other children on the block, sabotaging bikes and infecting computers with viruses. Even worse, Kevin injures his sister for life (causing her to lose an eye) due to a dangerous chemical. More than once, Kevin is found with a “kill-list” of people he hates. Unfortunately, Kevin is skilled in archery and eventually shoots all of the people on his list with a crossbow. There is no doubt, then, that violence is absolutely a theme here.

In reality, though, the book is really more about Eva’s parenting which is the reason why her motherhood is the more important theme here. The book is written as a series of letters to Franklin (Eva’s late husband) about all of these events that have already happen that dictate all of Kevin’s young life leading up to the tragedy at school. Even before Eva becomes pregnant, she isn’t sure she wants to be. In fact, after she stops her method of birth control and conceives Kevin, Eva feels “cold” and is upset at how people look at her in regards to being a prospective mother. After Kevin is born, Eva feels “absent” while Kevin refuses to breastfeed.

Eva hires a nanny, Siobhan, who admits quickly that Kevin doesn’t like her. In fact, continuing his negativity, Kevin’s first words are, “I don’t like that.” In reference to watching cartoons. Kevin grows and continually mocks his parents, refuses to potty train, destroys Eva’s attempt to decorate the new house in Connecticut, refuses to be social in kindergarten, and practices his writing through insults thrown at Eva. It is this series of incidents that lead to another large parental mistake. After Kevin says Evan “looks really old” in some of his kindergarten papers, Eva abuses Kevin by throwing his little body against a wall. This breaks Kevin’s arm (and makes him begin potty training). This is a large teaching mechanism for Kevin: violence gets things done.

Kevin grows older and becomes even more antisocial contracting a sidekick (Leonard Pugh) and only wearing uncomfortably small clothes. Meanwhile, Eva has another child, Cecilia, who Eva favors over Kevin due to their different behavior. Thus arises another issue in the dark parental theme. Kevin continues to do “bad things” like throw bricks at cars and sabotaging other kids’ bikes. Eva “tries” to bond with Kevin over one outing, but it goes horribly wrong and Kevin spouts more insults:

Maybe I’d rather have a big cow of a mother who at least didn’t think she was better than everybody else.

This line, of course, cuts to the heart of the dark parental theme. Further, the quotation marks a turning point in that things get even worse after this. As Kevin takes care of his sister, Cecilia is maimed permanently after a chemical is poured into her eye. Kevin creates lists of kids to kill, infects computers with viruses, rolls his eyes at other unimaginative school shooters, and accuses his drama teacher of sexual assault. As the ultimate example of bad behavior, Kevin finds a vantage point and begins to kill his special list of charismatic students with a crossbow. Eva is in a stupor as she returns home and finds that Kevin has also used his crossbow on both Franklin and Cecilia.

In conclusion, something must be said about the ending of this novel in regards to the theme of parenting. Kevin spends years in prison and presents Eva with a crafted box containing Cecilia’s glass eye. Is this an apology? Eva easily accepts this gesture in good faith and is ready to welcome Kevin home (when he is released). Even her easy reaction here is questionable in regards to parental skills.

What passages in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird show secrecy in Maycomb?

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the best well-kept secrets in Maycomb County is the fact that Dolphus Raymond is actually not a drunkard. Dolphus Raymond is a wealthy landowner in Maycomb but also a social outcast because he lives with and has born children with an African-American woman. He is also believed to be a drunkard because he is frequently seen drinking from straws out of whatever is inside of a brown paper sack he carries. However, when Dill must leave the courtroom because Tom Robinson's unfair treatment has made him sob, Scout and Dill learn the truth about Mr. Raymond.

Mr. Raymond offers Dill a sip from his paper sack, saying it will "quieten [him]," and it turns out to be nothing but Coca-Cola. Scout, then, wants to know why he pretends to be drunk. Mr. Raymond explains that no one in Maycomb is able to understand why he prefers to live with an African-American woman; therefore, he has decided to give the citizens of Maycomb an excuse for his behavior so that they can think to themselves, "He can't help himself, that's why he lives the way he does" (Ch. 20). Though Mr. Raymond agrees with Scout, who asserts his behavior "ain't honest," Mr. Raymond sees his pretense as a means of creating a social bridge between his own desires and those who reject the way he wants to live his life. In pretending to be drunk, he creates a means for the racist people of Maycomb to accept Mr. Raymond regardless of their racism.

A second well-kept secret in Maycomb is the fact that Atticus is actually a sharpshooter. Atticus has allowed his children to think he is incapable of doing anything interesting, even shooting, because of his age. Yet, Miss Maudie and Sheriff Tate know the truth about Atticus's abilities. Atticus demonstrates his abilities the day it becomes necessary to protect the neighborhood from a rabid dog. Since Sheriff Tate sees they only have one shot at killing the dog, he hands his riffle to Atticus, who astounds his children with his abilities. Miss Maudie later explains that Atticus gave up shooting and kept his abilities a secret because he dislikes having an "unfair advantage over most living things" (Ch. 10).

What are some examples of compound machines that I could replicate for a school project?

A compound machine is a machine that utilizes two or more simple machines. A simple machine is a tool that changes a force's direction or magnitude. Simple machines are used to make a job easier. Levers, pulleys, wedges, inclined planes, wheels and axils, and screws are considered to be simple machines.

Below is a list of compound machine models that could be made for your school project.  Beside each compound machine are the simple machines that...

A compound machine is a machine that utilizes two or more simple machines. A simple machine is a tool that changes a force's direction or magnitude. Simple machines are used to make a job easier. Levers, pulleys, wedges, inclined planes, wheels and axils, and screws are considered to be simple machines.

Below is a list of compound machine models that could be made for your school project.  Beside each compound machine are the simple machines that work together in order to make the item.

1. Bulldozer - wedge, lever, wheel and axil, and screws

2. Clippers or scissors - lever, wedge, and screw

3. Wheel barrel - wheel and axil, lever, and screws

4. Crane or tow truck - lever, pulley, wheel and axil, and screws

5. Garden hoe - lever and wedge

I hope this helps!