from Guns, Germs, and Steel, how does Diamond's theory that invention is, in fact, the mother of necessity bear upon the traditional "heroic" model...

This is an interesting
concept.

The heroic model supposes that any invention is a
product created by creative and unique individuals.  Sometimes this will be known as the
'great man' hypothesis.

Diamond's theory challenges this by
showing that different civilizations and societies throughout history have made similar
discoveries - simultaneously without any contact with the other groups.  Good examples
might include the cultivation of crops and animal husbandry.  Going further, we have
pottery, architecture and later writing.

Does this mean
every civilization would have come up with the lightbulb eventually?  Good question. 
The modern inventions as we know them were all products of a particular civilization. 
Diamond would argue that steel, guns etc. were creations from Western civilization
thanks to its fortunate advantages in the past.  There is therefore no way of
scientifically proving this theory.

I will let you come up
with your own ideas and conclusions from these initial ideas.  Hope that
helps

In Of Mice and Men, what are the functions of the characters, Lennie and George?John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men

Set in the emotionally desolate period of the Great
Depression, George Milton and Lennie Small of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men
exemplify the motif of the fraternity of men, a fraternity which offers
support and friendship and meaning in men's lives in a time of desperate alienation.
Like a refrain to chase away their loneliness, they remind themselves of their
friendship,

readability="10">

"...We got a future.  We got somebody to talk to
that gives a damn about us.  We don't have to sit in no bar room blowin' in our jack
jus' because we got no place else to go.  If them other guys gets in jail they can rot
for all anybody gives a damn.  But not us.

...because I got
you to look after me, and you got me to look after
you."

When George talks with
Slim in Chapter 3, he tells Slim that men who go around alone all time get mean.  "They
get wantin' to fight all the time."  And, Slim agrees, "They get so they don't want to
talk to nobody."

In contrast to Lennie and George, the
stable buck, Crooks expresses the desperate alienation that he suffers, telling Lennie
that because he is alone, he never knows if what he sees is really there without being
able to turn to another man and ask him whether he is right or not. "He [a man
alone] got nothing to measure by."

Steinbeck himself wrote
of his character Lennie Small,

readability="6">

"Lennie was not to represent insanity at all but
the inarticulate and powerful yearning of all
men."

This yearning is that
of sharing with others, for meaning depends upon sharing, as Crooks points out.  Meaning
to one's life is what fraternity does provide, and Lennie and George represent this
fraternity.

finding rate of depth decrease of an inverted coneA funnel has a circular top of diameter 20cm and a height of 30cm. When the depth of the liquid...

We'll start by recalling the formula that gives the volume
of the cone:

V = `pi` `r^(3)`
h/3

In this case, w'ell consider V as being the volume of
the liquid remained in the funnel, h is the depth of remaining liquid and r is the
radius of the circle which represents the base of the new cone formed by the remaining
liquid.

Therefore, if h = 12, dV/dt =
-0.2

Since in the formula that gives the volume of the
cone, we have two variables, we'll express the radius in terms of the height. For this
reason, we'll use similar triangles:

r/h = (20/2)/30 =
1/3

r = h/3

We'll re-write the
formula that gives the volume of cone, in terms of h.

V =
`pi` `h^(3)` /27

We'll differentiate with respect to
t:

dV/dt = (3`pi``h^(2)`
/27)(dh/dt)

dV/dt = (`pi` `h^(2)`
/9)(dh/dt)

But dV/dt =
-0.2

-0.2 = (` `144`pi`
/9)(dh/dt)

-0.2 = (16`pi`)
(dh/dt)

(dh/dt) =
-0.2/16`pi`

(dh/dt) `~~` -0.003
cm/s

Therefore, the depth of the liquid in
the funnel is decreasing at a rate of 0.003 cm/s.

What is the theme in Frankenstein suggested by the following quote that concerns Justine?"During the whole of this wretched mockery of justice I...

This quote of course comes from Chapter Eight, which
details the trial of Justine for the supposed murder of Victor's younger brother. What
is key to realise about this chapter is the way that the inhumanity and injustice of man
is explored. In spite of Justine's obvious innocence, the way that the judges, the
system of law and justice and the bystanders treat her shows humanity to be
bloodthirsty, fickle and violent. She is "execrated" by the bystanders that come to
watch her trial and sentence as if it were an entertainment. Even the attempt of
Elizabeth to testify to Justine's good character rather backfires, as is shown in the
following quote:

readability="10">

A murmur of approbation followed Elizabeth's
simple and powerful appeal; but it was excited by her generous interference, and not in
favour of poor Justine, on whom the public indignation was turned with renewed violence,
charging her with the blackest
ingratitude.

Again and again,
this incident testifies to the inhumanity of man. What is important to note is the way
this links in to a vital theme of the novel, which is the presentation of the creature
himself. He starts off innocent and wanting a relationship with his maker. It is the way
that he is shunned by his maker and by humanity and treated cruelly that forces him into
cruelty, but this cruelty is only paralleled by the monstrous nature of humanity as
displayed in incidents such as the trial of Justine. We cannot expect the creature to be
good when he has no model of goodness on which he can base his
behaviour.

What plain is next to the Appalachian Mountains and where were the Cherokee lndians located?

The area you are asking about is the Atlantic Coastal
Plain. This which flatland region extends 2,200 miles along the Appalachian Mountain
range, from New York to Florida.

Before their explusion
from their eastern lands, the Cherokee nation encompassed most of the southeastern
United States, particularly Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Even
though the Cherokee and other southeastern Native American groups had more or less
assimilated into white society and had become known as the "civilized tribes," desire
for their land caused many whites to turn against them, and in 1830, led by President
Andrew Jackson, the Indian Removal Act forced them out of the east in what has become
known as the Trail of Tears.

How does Nick react to the phone call revealing Gatsby's criminal activities in The Great Gatsby?

There are several places in the text that Gatsby received
annoying yet revealing phone calls.

Once in chapter 3, when
Nick was about to get to meet and know Gatsby, he was called away to the phone. In
Gatsby's absence, rumors being revealing this possible criminal activity, but Nick
doesn't know if it is true, and this is how he acts as narrator: he
reserves judgment.

In chapter 5, Daisy,
Gatsby, and Nick were in Gatsby's room when he received a call that he quickly avoided,
obviously because he was entertaining Daisy.

In chapter
6,

Gatsby had
been called to the phone, and I'd enjoyed these same people only two weeks before. But
what had amused me then turned septic on the air
now.

Nick obviously
felt irritated that Gatsby's criminal activity took him
away again.

In chapter 9, actual evidence of criminal
activity comes loud and clear over the wire to Nick's ear in these words from a man
named Slagle:

readability="9">

"Young Parke's in trouble," he said rapidly.
"They picked him up when he handed the bonds over the counter. They got a circular from
New York giving 'em the numbers just five minutes before. What d'you know about that,
hey? You never can tell in these hick
towns-"

Obviously this is
some type of counterfeit trading Gatbsy was involved in. Nick responds with a direct
proclamation of Gatsby's death. The man is shocked and hangs up. Direct discussion has
never really been a strong suit of Nick's. But, it came out in a moment of frustration
and disappointment.

What is the central theme of the short story, "A&P"?

There are several important themes that John Updike
explores in his short story, "A&P." One is that of actions and
consequences, which affects several of the characters. Sammy's decision
to quit his job, knowing that it will be tough for him to find another, is the primary
example. But the girls also learn that by coming into the grocery store barefoot and in
their bathing suits, they may be scrutinized by others who deem their attire
inappropriate. The manager's decision to publicly humiliate the girls also may have
repercussions among his regular customers who watch the scene. Another theme is that of
individualism. Sammy's seemingly chivalric decision to quit
his job--supposedly out of disgust for the manager's behavior, but more in the hope that
he will impress the girls--shows a streak of individuality missing in the others
present. Although the girls don't even seem to notice, Sammy does take a stand
concerning rules of conduct that conflict with Lengel's store rules and societal
norms. 

What are the United Nations's main contributions towards world peace?

This is a question whose answer is debated among scholars
of international relations.

In theory, the United Nations
was supposed to prevent wars from occurring.  It was supposed to do this by providing a
place for countries to talk to one another rather than fighting.  It was also supposed
to do this through "collective security," which is the idea that all countries will come
to the defense of a country that is attacked.  Clearly, the UN has not been able to
prevent all wars since there have been many wars since the UN was
created.

So what does the UN do to contribute to peace? 
Some international relations scholars say that the UN contributes to peace by setting up
systems in which countries have a great deal of contact with one another.  The various
UN organizations allow countries to work together towards things like eradicating
various diseases or trying to protect the environment.  Scholars argue that all of these
interactions help to prevent conflict.  The interactions make the countries less likely
to fight one another because they are used to
cooperating.

In this way, scholars think that the UN has
contributed to world peace in an indirect way.  It has helped countries become more used
to interacting peacefully and has thereby stopped them from fighting.  Clearly, this has
not been successful in all cases, but it is said to help make the world more
peaceful.

What is the significance of Chapter 7 in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

This chapter is extremely telling in how Bruno begins the
process of interacting with his world.  On one hand, Bruno recognizes that if he does
not make his time of use at Auschwitz ("Out- With"), he is going to lose his mind. With
this in hand, he sets out to construct the tire swing.  It is this event that will
initiate the process of how Bruno begins to examine the world in which he has been
placed in a different light.  Initially, he recognizes that there is something wrong in
the manner through which adults relate to one another.  He sees this in both how Lt.
Kotler scolds and mistreats Pavel.  He also sees this when Pavel tells Bruno's mother
not to divulge that he helped Bruno when he was hurt.  Both of these events help to
convince Bruno that there is something off in which the adults in Out- With interact
with one another and something fundamentally wrong in what is around him.  Bruno also
recognizes the strong and fierce power dynamic, one in which Lt. Kotler could mistreat
Pavel, who actually is a doctor.  This also helps to reveal how Bruno is able to
understand that what he might see in the world is not what actually is.  When Bruno gets
hurt and Pavel tends to his wounds, Bruno is shocked to know that Pavel is not a mere
underling, but an actual doctor.  This revelation starts the process in Bruno to
understand that there is more in his surroundings that meet the eye and require more
profound thought.

Please help(:18. All the attendees for a conference arrived by Monday morning. On Monday afternoon, 1/10 of the attendees went home. On Tuesday,...

A = # of attendees on Monday
morning.

On Monday afternoon there were 1/10 A went home
so

On Tuesday morning there were A - 1/10A = 9/10 A
attendees.

On Tuesday afternoon 1/3(9/10 A) went home
so

On Wednesday morning there were 9/10 A - 1/3(9/10A) =
9/10A - (3/10A) = 6/10A

On Wednesday afternoon 2(1/10A)
went home so there were 6/10A - 2/10A = 4/10A left.

We are
told this left 96 attendees

So 4/10A = 96   Multiplying
both sides by 10/4 we get

A = 10/4 * 96 = 10*24 =
240.

So our answer is there were 240 attendees on
Monday

What is the master plot in The Metamorphosis?

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The Metamorphosis
is about the strange life of Gregor Samsa. He begins the story as a disgruntled employee
and a generally unhappy man. His unusual transformation from man to insect captures the
reader's attention. Gregor is responsible for taking care of his family's financial
needs, so his transformation leads to some interesting consequences. Gregor's sister
tries to help care for him while his father is far more antagonistic. In fact, his
father causes him physical injury by hitting him with an apple. Many aspects of this
story, particularly the father-son relationship, mirror Kafka's own life. While most
critics agree that the structure of the story is above reproach, they question the
story's meaning. Some believe that it is a metaphor for the human condition. Others see
a deeper, spiritual meaning. Many believe it is a story designed to solicit an emotional
response from readers. We often identify with the emotions portrayed in the story such
as loneliness and isolation.

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Please comment upon this quote from the final lines of The Hunger Games.“‘One more time? For the audience?’ he says. His voice isn’t...

This penultimate paragraph in this excellent novel is
important for a number of reasons, but predominantly it is valuable for the way in which
it shows the differences between Katniss and Peeta, and how participating in the Hunger
Games have transformed them. The reference to the "boy with the bread" reminds us of how
Peeta, long before he was selected for the Hunger Games, deliberately burnt two loaves
of bread so that he could give them to the starving Katniss, thereby showing his love
and compassion. Throughout the novel, he continues to give ample proof of his love and
dedication towards Katniss. Of course, we know that Katniss returns these feelings
overtly to play the audience and gain sympathy for them, thereby ensuring her own
survival. However, by doing this she tricks both the audience and Peeta. When he
realises what she has done, he is left a "hollow" individual, just as his voice
testifies. Katniss, in this quote, laments the way that circumstances and the way that
she was forced to deceive Peeta to ensure their survival have resulted in Peeta's
transformation from that loving, innocent and caring boy into a hardened, hollow man.
Clearly, we are being presented with a difficult relationship that will no doubt be
developed in the second and third novels of the series.

What evidence is there that Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth?

There are several things in Shakespeare's
Macbeth that make me think that Banquo is
suspicious.

We have some foreshadowing when Ross (in Act
One, scene one) brings Macbeth his new title, the Thane of Cawdor, which the witches
predicted. At this point, Banquo says (in an
Aside):

readability="6">

What, can the devil speak true?
(107)

Soon after, Banquo
notices that Macbeth is preoccupied after this news:

readability="5">

Look how our partner's rapt.
(142)

And then as they leave,
Macbeth asks if he can speak to Banquo later about what has happened. It would not take
much for Banquo to string the significance of these events
together.

This, then, sets the stage for Banquo's
concerns—remember also that he is the only person besides Macbeth to hear the witches'
prophecies for his friend. (Ultimately we know that Banquo becomes a "loose
end.")

In Act Two, scene one, Banquo has misgivings, though
at the time he seems not to know where they are coming from; Banquo is very tired, but
he is afraid to sleep and asks God to take away the evil thoughts that are causing him
to be so anxious—which he fears will set in fully when he
sleeps:

A
heavy summons lies like lead upon me,

And yet I would not
sleep. Merciful powers,

Restrain in me the cursed thoughts
that nature

Gives way to in repose.
(6-9)

Macbeth tips his hand a
little when he tells Banquo that to support him when the time is right will work in
Banquo's favor. Banquo agrees, but
only if he does not compromise his
sense of honor or integrity in doing so. Banquo makes his position clear, though he
probably does not yet know why Macbeth would ask such a question—but Macbeth knows
exactly what to expect of Banquo.

By
the start of Act Three, scene one, Duncan is murdered and Banquo is beginning to go over
in his mind their meeting with the witches and what they told Macbeth. As Malcolm and
Donalbain fled upon their father's murder, fearing for their own lives, the throne comes
to Macbeth more easily than he had planned, for Malcolm had been named Duncan's heir (as
the Prince of Cumberland) and Macbeth thought he would have to dispose of Malcolm as
well. Banquo notes that Macbeth has it all now, and voices (secretly to himself) his
belief of what has happened:

readability="11">

Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all.../
and I fear

/ Thou play'dst most foully for't.
(1-3)

It is as Banquo rides
off that Macbeth meets with the murderers he has convinced are suffering because of
Banquo's actions (a lie), and he arranges for Banquo and Fleance's murders. It is not
just that Banquo knows of the predictions, but the witches said he would father a line
of kings, and Macbeth cannot bear the idea that he has lost his
immortal soul, not for his own son (he has none), but for Banquo's
descendants. And so Banquo is murdered, Fleance escapes (so the prophecy will come
true...he will be the ancestor of James I, for whom Shakespeare wrote this play), and
Macbeth descends further into a madness that will soon destroy him
completely.

What is the conflict in The Twenty One Balloons, and who are the main characters?

Professor William Waterman Sherman is the main character
of the story.  After chapter one, he also becomes the story's
narrator.  He is sixty-six years old, and a retired arithmetic
teacher, from San Francisco.  In the first year of his retirement, he decides to build
and fly a hot air balloon, and hopes to be the first man to fly across the Pacific
Ocean.

While there are several smaller conflicts within the
greater context of the story, the main conflict occurs when his
balloon is punctured by a seagull, and crashes on the island of Krakatoa.  This island
is actually an active volcano, which is about to experience a massive (and historically
accurate) eruption.

There are several minor characters that
Professor Sherman meets while stranded on Krakatoa, who are members of the 20 families
that inhabit the place.  These families live in a secret and wealthy utopian society,
and each are named for a letter of the alphabet, from A on down.

Why is the Latin "Oedipus Rex" a mistranslation of the Greek title of Sophocles' play?

Sophocles play, "Oedipus Tyrranus", is often referred to
by the misleading Latin title "Oedipus Rex". The reason why this title is misleading has
to do with the difference between a "basileus," a legitimate hereditary monarch, and a
"tyrranos", a sole ruler given power by popular acclaim or by force. Until the very end
of the play, Oedipus is a tyrant of Thebes. His power is due not to any general form of
legal legitimacy, but popular acclaim. It is only at the very end of the play, when the
parentage of Oedipus is revealed, that we discover that, in fact, he was the legitmate
king, or basileus. Oedipus does not, howver, actually rule Thebes as basileus, because
immediately upon the discovery of his parentage, he blinds himself, resigns his
tyrantship, and leaves the city.

Please give three "big ideas" from The Hunger Games with a theme statement for each one.

Well, before I give you my ideas, having read the book,
what do you think the "big ideas" are? What struck you as you read this book about what
its central themes are? What stood out to you? It would be much better for you to try to
answer this question based on what your feelings about this book are rather than using
other people's ideas.

Having said this, if you want three
"big ideas," I would personally go for the struggle for survival, violence and the
tyranny and control of the Capitol.

Throughout the novel,
Katniss is shown to be a character that has to struggle to survive. In a sense, the
Hunger Games are no different from her life before, and the grim struggle for her own
survival and the survival of her sister and mother that she had to endure. This is what
distinguishes Katniss from so many of the other tributes in the Hunger Games, as she has
faced the battle for survival and won it so many times
before.

Secondly, it is hard to ignore the theme of
violence in the novel, especially as it is depicted as occurring between children. The
Hunger Games, in a sense, form an apt metaphor for the kind of life that the citizens of
the various districts enjoy. It is a dog-eat-dog world, where hardship and suffering are
the norm. The only way to get ahead is by pushing somebody else
down.

Lastly, the control of the Capitol is a key theme of
the novel, as is the hatred that Katniss and others feel about it. Notions such as
freedom are severely challenged in the wake of the power that the Capitol exerts over
its people, and Katniss has to struggle hard to maintain her own sense of individual
freedom and agency.

What does the letter "A" stand for at the end of the book?

Of course the "A" starts as "adulteress."  During the
course of the novel, in most traditional interpretations, it takes on other meanings
that almost supercede the original intent of the letter as it comes to stand for "Able"
or "Angel."  An interesting interpretation which I think I have suggested elsewhere is
that it stands for "Arthur."  We know that Hawthorne could have named Dimmesdale Bill,
or John, or Charles, or anything he wanted --- so why Arthur if it isn't related to the
"A"?  It adds great irony ... when they are asking her to confess, she has her partner's
initial on her bosom throughout the entire interrogation.  For the rest of her life she
"confesses" every day, but no one can decode the symbol (something that Hawthorne is
always playing around with) ... the people see it as just a sign of her guilt, we know
it as a symbol of much more.

I'm not sure everyone would
agree with this interpretation, but it seems pretty convincing to
me.

What is the impfact of Reverend Smith's personality on the village in Achebe's Things Fall Apart?

In Things Fall Apart, the clan had
been used to the way Mr. Brown witnessed on behalf of his Christianity. While Mr. Brown
was calm, understanding, and caring, Reverend Smith comes in to take his place using
force and strict regulations.

Reverend Smith is aggressive
and uncompromising in his nature. He is dogmatic. He criticizes the clan's customs and
traditions. He does not try and enlighten; he strictly insists that those in his
congregation are to abandon former traditional
beliefs.

While Mr. Brown befriended the clansmen, Mr. Smith
harshly condemns the clansmen. While Mr. Brown used respect to reach the clansmen, Mr.
Smith imposes his religion on the clansmen.

Mr. Smith is
offensive in his approach. The clansmen reject his religion because he makes it clear
that he believes the tribesmen's customs and traditions to be ridiculous. In anger, he
leads his flock and is adamant about tearing down tribal traditions, even claiming that
the clansmen are filled with the devil's spirit:

readability="9">

Mr. Smith is angry and flamboyant. He denounces
the tribe's customs and bans from his church clan members who must be, according to him,
filled with the devil's spirit to want to continue tribal
tradition.

I would like an analysis of the use of the color purple in Emily Dickinson's poem "Me, change! Me, alter!"

Many of Emily Dickinson's poems include a reference to the
color purple. A few of the poems are "There is a flower that bees prefer", "Wait Till
the Majesty of Death", and "We like March", and "It will be Summer--Eventually."  The
poem "Me, change! Me, alter!"

The use of the color purple
is based upon the meaning of the color. The color
purple

is the
color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is
said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good
color to use in
meditation.

Therefore, the
use of purple in the poem refers to the fact that the speaker is altering them self. By
altering, or changing, the speaker is able to end their day on a superior
note:

At Day's superior
close!

It takes good
judgement to recognize the fact that one needs to change them
self.

Another interpretation of the use of the color purple
is the tie to spring:

readability="10">

Purple has a special, almost sacred place in
nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered
precious.

Based upon this
understanding of the use of the color purple, purple could reflect images of springtime
given flowers are known to bloom during this season. This being said, with spring comes
new life--new flowers and new life. The poem's speaker is talking about creating a new
life for them self- something similar in spring. This can be interpreted from the
line:

A Smaller Purple
grows.

The small purple can
refer to a small purple flower which accompanies spring.

How do you cite google in MLA format for a work cited page?

Google is a search engine, and many times you will need to
cite the article that you find on Google, not Google itself.  Some of those citations
are found at the bottom of the article.  In order to give you an accurate way to
document, I would need to know what you are
documenting.

However, if you will go to Google and look up
"The Chicago Manual" and then scan down to "websites" you will find some models for
documenting electronic sources.   You may also look up "Columbia online style".  This
site will give you the MLA, APA, and Chicago versions on how to site an internet
source. There are differences in these styles so you will need to know which one your
instructor prefers. 

Define the term Personification.

A personification is
a literary term, a type of metaphor in which inanimate objects or abstractions are
represented as a person or with human characteristics. It can include a description in
which the object is said to be human ("The tree smiled, held out its branch, and said
'Welcome  home.' "); or just have similar characteristics to a human ("The wind blowing
through the tree whispered to me.") Other examples would include giving life to an
abstract quality, such as Father Time, Mother Nature or The Grim Reaper; or representing
something, such as a work of art, as a person.

What is ironic about "The Birthmark"?

 One minor instance of verbal irony occurs when, having
caught her reading in his library, particularly her reading his own folio, Aylmer says
to Georgiana "It is dangerous to read in a sorcerer's books." As he says this with a
smile, we understand that he is being ironic, and that he considers himself anything but
a "sorcerer." It isn't magic or alchemy or wizardry Aylmer is at, but SCIENCE, with its
rational propositions and orderly attempts at arriving at truth by minutiae and
infinitesimal progressions. Georgiana recognizes the minuscule nature of Aylmer's
achievements and feels pity for him, sees in him the same human failure and pathetic
imperfection that he sees in her! ("Georgiana, as she read, reverenced Aylmer and loved
him more profoundly than ever, but with a less entire dependence on his judgment than
heretofore. Much as he had accomplished, she could not but observe that his most
splendid successes were almost invariably failures, if compared with the ideal at which
he aimed.") The irony doubles when we as readers may believe that they are both wrong in
their respective interpretations. Georgiana underestimates Aylmer's accomplishments and
considers him a failure-but he isn't considered one; Aylmer thinks Georgiana's birthmark
somehow makes her less than human-but she is all too human, vulnerable as any of us to
the need for approval. It's possible, however, that we share Georgiana's view by the end
of the story-that Aylmer "aims too high"; or we may feel the opposite: that he aims too
low-seeking to satisfy his own egotistical desires and not considering his wife's
well-being. Another telling instance of verbal irony in "The Birthmark" is evident when
Georgiana dies. Just before she dies, murmuring "Poor Aylmer," Aylmer exclaims, "Poor?
Nay, richest, happiest, most favored!….My peerless bride, it is successful! You are
perfect!" But she repeats ("with more than human tenderness"), "My poor Aylmer…you have
aimed loftily; you have done nobly. Do not repent that with so high and pure a feeling,
you have rejected the best the earth could offer." Georgiana insists that her husband
has "aimed loftily," has "acted nobly," that his feelings have been "high" and "pure,"
but the irony (which the astute reader is aware of, though Georgiana, in her innocent
trust of appearances is not) is that his aim is anything but lofty. It's his obsessive
pride (one of the seven deadly sins), intellectual pride, that has driven him to murder
his wife, and for no other reason than that he believed the birthmark to be a mark of
evil. He insisted upon his own interpretation of the birthmark as the only valid one;
this is intellectual pride. What was Aylmer's need to create something perfect, to
improve upon "the best that nature had to offer"? Did he believe that, as a scientist,
that was his role? His pride, however, is what leads him to believe that he, a mere
human having made a few minor discoveries (and by his own admission lacking knowledge of
the larger mysteries), might be powerful enough to improve upon the Nature's universe as
it is. According to Georgiana, Aylmer "spiritualized everything, the merest physical
details; the veriest cold of earth assumed a soul." What was Aylmer thinking, then,
fiddling with the souls of others? It's hubris-the ancient Greek term for overbearing,
excessive pride, the pride that leads to tragedy. Aylmer is
arrogant.

find the equation of the tangent to y = x-3/x^2+1 where x = 2

The equation of the tangent line to the curve y is the
derivative of the function, at the given point.

We'll
determine the derivative of the function, using the quotient
rule:

y' = [(x-3)'*(x^2+1) - (x-3)*(x^2 + 1)']/(x^2 +
1)^2

y' = (x^2 + 1 - 2x^2 + 6x)/(x^2 +
1)^2

y' = (-x^2 + 6x + 1)/(x^2 +
1)^2

Now, we'll replace x by 2, to determine the slope of
the tangent line:

y' = m =
(-4+12+1)/25

y' = m =
9/25

We'll calculate the value of the function at x
=2:

y = (2 - 3)/(2^2+1)

y =
-1/5

We'll use the point slope formula to get the equation
of the tangent line:

y - (-1/5) = (9/25)*(x -
2)

y + 1/5 = 9x/25 - 18/25

y =
9x/25 - 18/25 - 1/5

y = 9x/25 -
23/25

The equation of the tangent line to the
given curve, at the point x = 2, is: y = 9x/25 -
23/25.

What are some examples of irony in The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls?

Probably the strongest example of irony is one we learn as
the book ends.  Jeannette's mother Rosemary had considerable wealth that could have fed
and clothed her children and provided a home for them, but she felt she needed to hold
on to this property.  This irony is foreshadowed by the children's discovery of a
diamond ring.  When they learn that it is a real diamond, they want to sell it, but
Rosemary says that she "should have nice things." 

The
title The Glass Castle highlights the irony of the castle Jeannette's father Rex
promises the children.  Although he is knowledgeable scientifically, it becomes clear to
us that the glass castle will never truly exist.  It is ironic that he describes it as
glass because glass is fragile and unsustainable, like the Walls family itself.  It is
also ironic in that it suggests a fairy tale existence in contrast to the squalor in
which the family actually lives. 

We can see irony in the
loyalty and love the children have toward their parents despite what many of us would
consider neglect and even abuse.  It is this mix of love and dysfunction that makes this
a conflicted and powerful book.  

There is even irony in
author Jeannette Walls' fear of what people would think of her after she published the
book. In an interview she claims that she was fearful of people's reactions.  This is
ironic in light of the resiliency she shows in the book itself, but it also reflects the
mix of vulnerability and resiliency (possibly an ironic mix) that drives the narrative
of this book.

Chapter 3: What state are the shelters in?Lord of the Flies by William Golding

At the beginning of Chapter Three of Lord of the
Flies, Jack busies himself with trying to locate a pig; when he finally does,
he throws his spear at it, but misses.  Disgruntled, he returns to the beach where Ralph
stands by one of the rickety shelters that he and Simon have constructed.  Ralph asks
him rather wrily, "You wouldn't care to help with the shelters, I suppose?"  Enraged,
Jack argues that he has been trying to find meat for them to
eat.

Ralph and Jack argue; Ralph tries to explain why the
boys need shelter from the rain, but Jack cuts him off.  Dropping his anger, Ralph
broaches another subject with Jack:  the littl'uns are afraid and have nightmares at
night, awakening and screaming.  Logically, Ralph suggests that shelters would provide
the boys some sense of senurity as they sleep,  Jack ponders this as he draws up his
knees; he even offers to help for a while before he bathes.

What was life like for a female teacher between 1910 and 1920 in the U.S.?

Life was fairly difficult for the American teacher between
1910 and 1920.  In one respect, the concept of education was seen in a narrow and
pedantic manner.  The strict emphasis on rote memorization was a part of the teacher's
reality during this time.  There was little else in way of innovation in the classroom. 
Basic teaching concepts included students reciting what teacher said in an exact
manner.  There were few men in the teaching field, so as a woman teacher, one was part
of the dominant majority.  The demographics of the classroom was dependent on where one
was teaching.  Rural classrooms were still reflective of the "one roomed schoolhouse"
where all the children were piled in.  Students ranged in ages, and probably more
alarming, in ability.  It would not be unusual for a teacher back then to have about
fifteen different reading levels in one classroom.  This made individualized instruction
really difficult, and compelled the teacher to embrace the rote memorization approach
because it was "one size fits all."  The urban setting was more akin to the modern
school, but only in appearance.  While the urban child probably had a stronger grasp of
education concepts, I think that the influx of immigrants into America would have made a
classroom where kids enter speaking different languages a reality.  In both of these
settings, some of the challenges still faced in the modern classroom can be
seen.

One other element might have come into play.  Towards
the end of the decade, John  Dewey's pragmatic approach to education was becoming more
accepted and the question might have been how many teachers at the time were on the
"cutting edge" in trying to embrace his philosophies, ones that contradicted the
strictly traditionalist approach to pedagogy.  I think that this becomes a question that
the individual teacher of the time period would have to answer in seeing how much they
were encouraged to actually reflect and try something new against the vast inertia of
Status Quo.  This too, is a condition seen in the modern setting to a great
extent.

What are the chapters summary of America Is in the Heart?

The first link below takes you to a detailed summary and
analysis of the book. America Is in the Heart is divided into four
parts. The first describes the narrator's life in the Philippines in the 1920s and
details the exploitation of Filipino peasants as well as the negative impacts of
American colonialism on their lives. This part ends with Allos, the narrator, leaving
his home country in pursuit of a better life in the United States. Yet, as Allos arrives
in Seattle, he is forced to recognize that his image of the U.S. as the land of
opportunity bitterly clashes with the realities of racial discrimination that he
encounters. The second part of the book is devoted to the injustices and the racism that
the narrator has to endure. The third part shows Allos's development of a political,
class and social consciousness as he determines to fight racism against immigrants as
well as against the exploitative work practice with which they have to cope. Allos
becomes a union organizer and the editor of the magazine of the labor movement
New Tide. The diagnosis of tubercolosis does not deter him from
continuing to fight. In the concluding fourth part, the narrator continues to explore
the growth of his radical consciousness, while, at the same time, reaffirming his faith
in America in the face of the Fascist threat represented by the Japanese attack against
Pearl Harbour.

When water is heated by a bunsen burner and evaporated, what are some common observations that you might see during the experiment?

I think that there will be some definite observable
properties that will be evident when heat energy is added to water.  Some of the first
changes will be with the water, itself.  There might be a bubbling or a movement of
water.  This is one of the first steps regarding a phase change.  In this case, the
addition of heat energy is moving the water from a liquid phase to a gaseous stage of
matter.  The percolation of water will start off slow and then increase in intensity. 
This will also result in the substance vaporizing on the side of the container.  You
might see some vapor collecting on the side, making it difficult to see.  As more heat
is added, the water will continue to bubble and steam will result.  This is where the
most definite sign of a phase change is evident, as the form of water is changing from a
liquid to a gas, or vapor.  The water molecules are being "liberated" into the air.  One
can still that water is there, but in a different form.  If you put your hand over the
water, the vapor that collects on your hand is liquid, demonstrating that water is still
there.  It has not changed, merely moved from one form, or phase, to another.  After a
prolonged period of time, all of the water will evaporate into the air as a
gas.

In Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, what comparison can you make about the noise made by Anne and the silence that Peter preferred?

It becomes evident as the relationship between Anne and
Peter develops that Anne is much more confident and talkative and that Peter is very shy
and quiet in her presence. Note, for example, the following
quote:

I
managed to get hold of Peter this afternoon and we talked for at least three quarters of
an hour. Peter had the greatest difficulty in saying anything about himself; it took a
long time to draw him out. He told me how often his parents quarrel over politics,
cigarettes, and all kinds of things. He was very
shy.

Perhaps we are able to
infer from such descriptions that Peter is naturally somebody who lacks in
self-confidence and is somewhat overpowered by Anne and her natural confidence and
talkative nature. Anne is clearly more intelligent than Peter and is able to think more
deeply and critically about things, and perhaps this is why Peter responds in the way
that he does. This is of course the central reason why Anne ends the relationship
between them, as she didn't feel that Peter was her intellectual
equal.

Please explain the following extract from Act I, scene ii of Shakespeare's As You Like It in detail.Touchstone: "Of a certain knight........ yet...

readability="16">

TOUCHSTONE
No, by mine honour, but I
was bid to come for you.

ROSALIND
Where learned you that
oath, fool?

TOUCHSTONE
Of a certain knight that swore by his
honour they
were good pancakes and swore by his honour the
mustard
was naught: now I'll stand to it, the
pancakes were naught and the mustard was
good, and
yet was not the knight
forsworn.

This is actually an
amusing and instructive excerpt that is, in fact, explained a few lines further in the
scene. Touchstone has entered the scene where Rosalind and Celia are engaged in a battle
of wits over Nature's role as opposed to Fortunes role in
life:

readability="9">

CELIA
No? when Nature hath made a fair
creature, may she
not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though
Nature
hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not
Fortune sent
in this fool to cut off the
argument?

Though changing the
subject, Touchstone continues the mental gymnastics--exercise in wit--and talks about
the oath he uses wherewith he swears "by mine honor ...": "No, by mine honour, but I was
bid to come for you." He explains that if a person swears by something a person does not
possess, then the oath sworn is not valid. As an example, he asks Celia and Rosalind to
swear by their beards. Since they have no beards, and thus cannot truthfully swear
anything by their beards, the oaths are both (1) no good and (2) not false
oaths.

Touchstones explains further by saying (in prose, by the way,
not poetry): "but if you swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn:". "Forsworn"
means to go back (renounce) an oath or to swear falsely (commit perjury) or to deny an
oath. What he means is that if you swear by what you don't have, then you cannot
possibly swear falsely--you can swear by trickery, guile and deceit, but not falsely:
you cannot be forsworn.

Now, back to the excerpt. Touchstone is
telling about the incident during which he learned the oath, "by mine honor." He tells
of a knight who swore "by his honor" about the tastiness of pancakes and mustard.
Touchstone, it turns out, had a different opinion of the pancakes and mustard so was
accusing the knight of deception--however--he excuses the knight of the accusation by
saying, in a paraphrase, "Well, he swore by his honor and he apparently has no honor, so
I must forgive him for falsifying his oath because his oath was no good anyway--he has
no honor by which to swear."

As an aside, you can see how
Shakespeare's use of rhetorical word schemes allows him to say the same thing I just
said so much more brilliantly and succinctly than I have done in my
paraphrase.

How does the quote below relate to the theme of revenge in Hamlet? Unhand me, gentlemen.By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!Hamlet, 1. 4

In this scene, the ghost appears to Hamlet and beckons him
to follow it.  Hamlet wants to go but he is counseled against it.  Marcellus and Horatio
attempt to stop Hamlet from following the ghost.  Just before the quoted line, we see
them trying to physically hold him back.  Hamlet is threatening to kill them for
stopping him.  We see that Hamlet is so determined to follow the ghost, he would take
revenge, even on his own friends, for preventing him.  Revenge simply means to get back
at someone for a perceived injustice.  Hamlet believes his friends are wrong to hold him
back.  He will get back at them, or have his revenge, if they prevent him from doing
what he wants to do.

What question does Pearl ask her mother in chapter 15 of The Scarlet Letter?Nathaniel Hawthorne

As a constant reminder of her sin of passion, Pearl is the
living scarlet letter of Hester Pyrnne.  In Chapter XV of The Scarlet
Letter, Hester returns after her interview with Roger Chillingworth; she
reflects upon her encounter with this deformed figure and concludes that she hates the
man.  But, she dismisses thoughts of the chill that this man has brought her heart and
calls to her little Pearl who has been amusing herself nearby in a tidal
pool.

Hearing her mother's call just as she has formed the
letter A on her chest with eel-grass, freshly green, Pearl wonders
if her mother will ask what her decoration means.  As Hester notices the eel-grass she
tells Pearl,
"

readability="8">

My little Pearl...the green letter, and on thy
childish bosom has no purport.  But does thou know, my child what this letter means
which they mother is doomed to
wear?" 

Pearl innocently
answers that her mother wears the great letter A. Then, in order to
determine whether Pearl attaches any symbolic meaning to the letter, her mother asks if
Pearl knows why she wears it.  Ironically, Pearl replies that Hester wears the
A for the same reason that the minister holds his hand over his heart.
Smiling at the "absurd incongruity of the child's observation" at first, Hester quickly
turns pale as she realizes the intuitive precocity of Pearl.  So, she then asks Pearl,
"What has the letter to do with any heart save mine?"

Pearl
replies that she knows not, but "yonder old man" with whom her mother has spoken may
know.  Suddenly, Pearl asks her mother,

readability="8">

But in good earnest now; mother,
dear, what does this scarlet letter mean?--and why dost thou wear it on they bosom?--and
why does the minister keep his hand over his
heart?

For the
first time, Hester wonders if she can, after all, have more than "a doubtful tenderness"
from her child; for, perhaps in this precocious child she may have a true friend of
"unflinching courage" and a "sturdy pride."  Now, maybe, this child may be a help to
Hester, soothing away the sorrow "that lay cold in her mother's
breast." 

Nevertheless, Hester is not prepared to answer
this question truthfully:  "No! If this is the price of the child's sympathy, I cannot
pay it."  So, Hester tells Pearl that she wears the scarlet A for the sake of its gold
thread.  When Pearl will not relinquish her question, Hester becomes angry and threatens
to lock her in a closet. This incident of Pearl and her mother presages a later scene in
which Pearl, the Reverend Dimmesdale, and Hester will all be together and the real
family of the three will be
formed.

 

What is the possible problem in the story "After Twenty Years"?O. Henry

The central conflict of O. Henry's ironic short story
"After Twenty Years" is an internal problem.  The policeman, JImmy Wells, is torn
between his duty as an officer of the law and his loyalty and friendship to the friend
of his youth, 'Silky' Bob, who has arrived for their previously
arranged twenty-year reunion.

That there is an internal
conflict within the heart of Officer Wells is not apparent at first; however, when the
plain-clothes officer arrests Bob and shows him the letter at the surprise ending of the
story, the reader is made aware that it is only his friendship which has prevented Jimmy
from making the arrest at the time that Bob lights his cigar which reveals his
features.

What are some examples of Macbeth being a victim of circumstance instead of a villain?

Macbeth is a classic example of a tragic hero. His own
character flaws ultimately lead to his downfall. That's the important thing here - there
are certainly some examples of Macbeth being a victim of circumstance, but he ultimately
did himself in with his greed and ambition. These traits were inherently his.
Circumstances may have influenced him greatly, but they did not make him greedy and
ambitious.

Examples of being a victim of
circumstance:

1. The prophecy of the three
witches

In Act I, Scene III Macbeth and Banquo encounter
three witches who make some very intriguing claims. They tell Macbeth that he will be
king. This idea immediately fills his head with wonderment and ambition. He's clearly
excited about this notion, but it's also obvious that he's not sure how to act on it, or
if he will even act on it at all. We see his internal struggle with his natural ambition
and greed against his thoughts of kindness and honor. Had he never encountered these
witches and heard their prophecy, he may never have thought of striving to be king of
Scotland.

2. Lady Macbeth's ambition and influence on
Macbeth

Macbeth's ambition is only outdone by his own
wife's ambition and greed. She desires the finest things and the highest status. When
she learns of the prophecy, she immediately begins working on manipulating her husband.
It is her idea to kill King Duncan and she wastes no time in pressing this idea on
Macbeth. When he hesisates at the idea, she responds by mocking him and questioning his
manhood. "When you durst to do it, then you were a man" (Act I, Scene VII). Lady Macbeth
goes to the lengths of concocting the entire plan to kill Duncan, even how to cover
their tracks. She manipulates and nags her husband until he reluctantly agrees to carry
out the evil deed. Without Lady Macbeth's influence, would Macbeth have murdered Duncan?
You could argue that he would not have since he was very uneasy about the idea in the
first place and repeatedly tried to back out of it.

3.
Macbeth himself

We've established that Macbeth had certain
inherent qualities - he was greedy and ambitious. Could he control those urges within
himself or was he predisposed to be that way? We saw what happened once a seed was
planted in his head (that he'd be king). He killed Duncan, killed his best friend
Banquo, killed the family of another friend, and turned his entire country against him.
His greed and ambition turned to stubborness and he died because of
it.

What was Paine's overall purpose in aiming The Crisis at the intended audience?

Regrettably, I had to pare down the question.  When you
post eight different questions in one, I would only advise you to repost some of the
questions so that can get what it is that you need.

In
terms of the overall audience of the essay, Paine is aiming it at both soldiers and
colonists who are struggling with the outset of war against England.  Being an ardent
supported of colonial aims with the publication of Common Sense,
Paine was already well-known.  He understood that colonial confidence might have been
waning in the early stages of the war, where British strength was the most intense. 
Paine's audience are the soldiers fighting for the Colonial cause.  When he writes that
"These are the times that try men's souls," it is a reflection of the reality that many
Colonial soldiers and leaders are facing.  He aims the document to this audience in
convincing them that while the path they have chosen is long and arduous, it is one
whereby there will be a greater good waiting for the colonists at the end.  This becomes
the primary purpose in aiming the work at the audience Paine
intends.

I m given an asignment on "States of water in the environment".Can anyone here help me out by suggesting what am i actually supposed to write in...

I think your professor is trying to make you consider the
fact that water is only taken up by plants when it is in the liquid state. Winter,
accompanied by frozen ground, is sometimes referred to as a "physiologic desert",
because although there may be adequate amounts of water present in the winter
environment, if it is frozen, it is unavailable for plants to
utilize.

This is the reason that evergreens growing in
temperate climates demonstrate water-conserving adaptations. Keeping the leaves or
needles through the winter is a very successful adaptation for growing in nutrient-poor
soil, but the plant must not lose more water through evapotranspiration than it takes in
or it will reach the permanent wilting point and die. As a result, evergreens tend to
have thick waxy cuticles and sunken stomates that can close more tightly than other
plants. Broadleaf evergreens like rhododendrons will curl their leaves in response to
low temperatures and humidity, and some members of the group also have fuzzy leaf
undersides to increase the leaf boundary layer, another way to slow water
loss.

On the converse side, plants that live in alpine
zones or certain tropical regions called "cloud forests" sometimes have to access water
in the vapor form year-round; this is particularly true of epiphytes like orchids and
bromeliads, which live perched on other plants. For these plants, adaptations may
include hairs that collect moisture from water vapor in the air, leaf shapes that funnel
collected water toward the base of the plant and the roots, and specialized air roots
which can take in water vapor from the air directly.

Where and how agriculture was first practiced in the Northwest, South West and Eastern Woodland in what is now the United States?Have supporting...

Native Americans developed a number of domesticated crop
plants; corn, squash, beans, amaranth, and sunflowers are probably the best known
today.

In the Eastern Woodland areas, corn was a major
crop. Trees were cleared either by controlled burning or by girdling, a process in which
one removes a strip of bark all the way around the trunk, which kills the tree. There is
also some evidence that river floodplains were used for agriculture in the northeast.
Intercropping was commonly practiced in the southeast. The "three sisters" planting
tradition of growing corn, beans, and squash together is an example of this
method.

In the southwest the staple crops were similar, but
farmers concentrated on developing fast-maturing varieties that needed less water.
Extensive networks of irrigation ditches were developed to make the most of the
available water.

In the Pacific northwest we have less
evidence of native agriculture. It seems likely that people living there got most of
their sustenance from the sea and the coastal marshes and estuaries. The incredible size
and density of the forest trees would have made land clearing a difficult activity
there.

What does Crooks mean when he says, "A colored man got to have some rights even if he don't like 'em"?

Crooks says this after suggesting to Candy and Lennie in
chapter 4 that they should leave his room. At this point, he had just been verbally
wounded by Curley's wife when he tried to get her to leave. She wouldn't leave and he
said he would tell the boss not to let her in his place anymore. She threatened him, and
he then backed down with several "Yes ma'am"s.

When Crooks
makes the comment in your question, he was trying to have control over something in his
life, and was hoping that at least these two acquaintences would respect his wishes to
be alone. After all, the rest of the men were coming home from the bar and Crooks didn't
want them to think anything was going on between the three of them for fear that the
other men would do something to him.

Explain the three types of appeals that may be used in an argument. Also include when each appeal should be used in an argument.

The three appeals we use in arguments are the appeals to
ethos, pathos, and logos. All three
are ways we attempt to convince our audience to listen to us and believe our argument,
and all three work together all the time. Some arguments, though draw on one or two
appeals more heavily than the others.

When we appeal to the
ethos of our audience, we appeal to their
identity: their values, morals, past experience, and sense
of community and history. We also attempt to build our own identity as one that our
audience will believe is reliable and credible. For instance, if a candidate for mayor
argues, "You should elect me mayor because I will work for the good of our helpless
school children," she appeals to the ethos of a community who value their children. That
argument also identifies the speaker as someone who shares those values, making that
speaker more trustworthy and believable to that
audience.

When we appeal to the
pathos of our audience, we draw on their
emotions by using expressive language and/or emotional
anecdotes and examples. For instance, the same candidate mentioned above might say, "I
grew up in a shack and had to work every day of my life to get where I am. Vote for me
because I'm a hard worker." By telling that anecdote, the candidate makes the audience
feel sorry for her, and that emotion can make the argument more believable because the
audience feels sorry for her.

When we appeal to the
logos of our audience, we appeal to their desire for
logic. Appeals to logos include citing facts, figures,
statistics, and studies. Such arguments are convincing to an audience because they are
rooted in cold hard data. An example of an appeal to logos might be, "You should vote
for me because crime has dropped 15% each year since I've been in office." Who can argue
with that? (Note that this argument also appeals to ethos and
pathos--)

To decide which appeal is right for your
audience, you must know who your audience is. Every person reacts differently to
different appeals; some people are easily swayed by sob stories (pathos), some want to
know the facts only (logos), and others want to know why they should trust you (ethos).
You wouldn't, for example, try to convince a scientist to give you a job by singing an
expressive song, though that tactic might work if you wanted to convince your girlfriend
to get back together with you.