The theme of the artist's importance is the most important theme in Haroun and The Sea of Stories. Discuss.

I think that the role of the artist is an important theme
in the novel.  Rushdie's construction of the narrative is one where the artist might
surrender their own ability, feeling internal and external pressure around them.  Yet,
Rushdie's novel indicates how the artist must see their role in a different light and
persevere despite the difficult conditions around them.  Consider Rushdie's own
narrative as a part of this.  Living under the fatwa and having to constantly live in
hiding as a part of it, Rushdie had many opportunities to surrender his own craft and
stop writing.  Yet, he does not.  He preseveres.  Rashid faces external rejection and
internal doubt.  Yet, through the help of his son, he does not stop writing and seeks to
reclaim a voice that society wishes to silence.  In this, a major theme of the work is
evident.

I would also point out thagt another critical
theme in the work is the idea that democratic inclusion is the only solution to
political alienation and malignment.  Rashid and Haroun embark on their journey to help
the storyteller and have to accept help from a variety of sources on their journey. 
Rushdie does not construct a journey where there is exclusion, but rather inclusion of
so many different avenues.  This helps to bring out another important theme that the
only acceptable response to fanatcism and political isolation is inclusion and
acceptance of others.  In this, I would have to enhance the original
statement.

Does Sor Juana's "Reply" tone remain constant or does it change during the essay?

In Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz's "Reply" ("Respuesta a Sor
Filotea") to Sor Filotea de la Cruz (actually a bishop of Puebla
writing in disguise), I do not feel that the tone changes, but that it remains
constant.

Sor Juana's tone is informative rather than
argumentative. She sounds quite humble as she gently defends a woman's right to study
and share her opinions. She admits that people might, with good reason, find fault with
her essays and/or letters. She invites (and expects) others to
disagree, as she disagreed with Portuguese Jesuit, Father Antonio Vieira and a sermon he
wrote in 1650, which seems to have started the difficulty in the first place—when she
wrote critically about the sermon.

However, while Sor Juana
is seemingly humble and deferential, one need not read too strenuously to "hear" what
she seems to be saying between the lines. She
notes a desire to be obedient when a mother superior ordered that Sor Juana should not
read.

...I
obeyed her (for the three months or so that her authority over us lasted) in that I did
not pick up a book.

While Sor
Juana never read a book during those three months, she could not
force herself not to study and learn. Instead of having a book as a primer, nature
became Sor Juana's classroom, and she studied the world around
her...

...I
studied all the things that God created, taking them for my letters, and for my book all
the intricate structures of this
world...

When Sor Juana
writes about doing kitchen work (an "acceptable" way for a woman of the day to spend her
time), it almost seems tongue-in-cheek. She asks Sor
Filotea...

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...what can we women know, save philosophies of
the kitchen?

Because Sor
Juana struggled for permission to learn to read and write at a
young age, and rather than marrying, sought refuge in the Church as a nun where she
could have certain intellectual freedoms, not for a moment do I believe that that Sor
Juana felt a woman belonged mindlessly in a kitchen.

This
line sounds almost sarcastic or subtlely patronizing. Sor Juana probably never did
things half-heartedly. She may not have loved cooking, though I'm sure she applied
herself—even though she would have preferred to write or
read.

I sense that Sor Juana is doing all she can to
placate and not offend. And while we may feel we can read between the lines and draw
inferences about what she was referring to or how she felt, she had no desire to
aggravate anyone, especially the men in positions of power within the Church and
society. Her primary reason may have been to remove herself from the public eye (during
a dangerous time to challenge religious doctrine) so she could do what she really
wanted: learning, thinking, writing and growing
intellectually.

So while I think there was a great deal
going on beneath the surface of her letter, my sense is that Sor Juana worked hard to
control any frustration that she might have felt in having to write such a letter,
keeping the tone constant
throughout.

Additional
Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juana_Inés_de_la_Cruz

http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/271-the-remarkable-life-of-juana-inés-de-la-cruz-1651–1695

In Brooks' novel March, why do Southerners who support slavery not want slaves to learn how to read and write?

Brooks' novel reflects the Southern reality regarding the
education of slaves.  There is little doubt that some of the slaveowners were simply
cruel, regarding their slaves as objects or non- humans.  In this light, it would simply
make no sense to spend the time or the effort in teaching an object how to read or
write.  At the same time, these slaveowners were convinced that slaves were not human. 
In teaching them to read and write, there is a human connection present which would
undermine many of these slaveowners' construction of how slaves were
seen.

However, some Southerners simply lived with the
contradiction of seeking benevolence, but denying education.  March experiences this
first hand when he speaks with Clement about educating Prudence.  Clement is typical of
this Southern contradiction that is rooted in a warped sense of paternalism.  At the
outset of their discussion, Clement argues that slavery is meant to keep the African in
control, a form of check because of their manner and the traits that he believes is
associated with them:

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[Slaves were] prone to such vices as 'laziness,
deceit, debauchery, [and]
theft.”

It is for this reason
that Clement viewed his slaves "as children" that needed stern guidance.  Many Southern
slaveowners took this view towards their slave children.  Yet, the contradictory element
here is that while they were seen as children, when the discussion of educating the
slaved, "their children," arose, Southern slaveowners reverted to a position of fear,
arguing that teaching slaves to read and write would result in a "violent rebellion" as
Clement points out to March.  It is this contradiction that reflects why Southern
slaveowners were not comfortable with the idea of teaching slaves to read and write. 
Education was seen as a dominion of the powerful, and to bring slaves into this realm
would translate into changing the balance of power, something that White Southern
slaveowners were not willing to do.

Can you give me a summary of "Dusk"?

The story is told from the viewpoint of a young Londoner
named Norman Gortsby. He is certainly not a gentleman of leisure but probably a man with
a good position in a bank, brokerage, or trading house. The extended description of his
observations of the forlorn people coming out at dusk shows he is in the habit of
lounging on park benches and observing humanity. This habit has made him cynical. He has
undoubtedly been approached many times with hard-luck stories because he looks like a
good mark. He is well-dressed and has unguarded body language. The park bench is like an
open invitation for strangers to sit beside him--as park benches still are today. He
enjoys talking to strangers--but he has become hardened by city life and is not likely
to part with any of his hard-earned money. It is essential to suggest that the loss of a
sovereign is important to him. Many clerks had to work an entire week to earn a
sovereign, which was the same as one pound sterling before
decimalization.

An elderly gentleman is sitting beside
Gortsby when the story opens. This is noted only because the old man will have an
important role to play later. When this man leaves, a young man plops down beside
Gortsby and starts telling him a complicated story about not being able to find his
hotel after going out to buy a cake of soap and leaving almost all his money behind in
his room. The most important line in the story is the
following:

"Of
course," Gortsby said slowly, "the weak point of your story is that you can't produce
the soap."

Gortsby
has not asked the young man to produce the soap he claims to have bought. The
way Gortsby phrases his statement shows that he never believed the story and never had
any intention of giving this stranger money. Gortsby shows he is not the easy mark that
panhandlers and grifters have taken him for in the past. He knows, without even asking,
that this young man does not have a cake of soap in any of his pockets. The author
states specifically that the con man is wearing an overcoat. He could easily be carrying
the soap in his overcoat or suit or even in a pocket of his trousers--if he had any soap
to carry. It is almost as if Gortsby has X-ray vision, but what he has is sophistication
acquired from experience with grifters in a big city.

When
the young man leaves in a huff, Gortsby happens to find a wrapped cake of soap right by
the bench. This makes him experience a change of
heart.

"It's a
lesson to me not to be too clever in judging by
circumstances."

He rushes to
give the astonished young grifter a sovereign plus the  soap. But then he sees the
elderly gentleman searching all around the bench and is told he is looking for a lost
cake of soap. Gortsby realizes he has been a sucker. Furthermore, the old man might have
left the soap there intentionally. Why else would he seem so certain the soap had to be
by the bench and nowhere else? He probably intended to come back and use it as a gambit
to start a conversation and then tell Gortsby the same story about losing his
hotel.

Gortsby goes from being hard-hearted to being
soft-hearted and then back to being harder-hearted. He was right in the first place in
distrusting people and evolving a cold and selfish urban
armor.

Gortsby's learning experience dramatizes Saki's
Social Darwinist message: It is a mistake to help the unfortunate because that only
rewards laziness, vice, crime, and welfare dependence, thereby increasing the legions of
Socialists and Communists.

Find all real solutions of the equation ln(x^4)+ln(x^2)-ln(x^3)-2=7?

The equation to be solved is: ln(x^4) + ln(x^2) - ln(x^3)
- 2 = 7

ln(x^4) + ln(x^2) - ln(x^3) - 2 =
7

use the property of logarithms that gives: log a^b =
b*log a

=> 4*ln x + 2*ln x - 3*ln x = 7 +
2

=> 3*ln x =
9

=> ln x =
9/3

=> ln x = 3

The
base of ln is e. This gives x = e^3

The
required solution of the equation is x = e^3

What are two quotes from The Glass Menagerie that explains conflicts that different characters possess?

I think that Laura's exchange with her mother in Scene two
helps to reveal much within her that is in conflict with the outside world.  In this
confrontation, there is much gained about Laura and how she sees the
world:

I went
in the art museum and the bird-houses at the Zoo. I visited the penguins every day!
Sometimes I did without lunch and went to the movies. Lately I’ve been spending most of
my afternoons in the Jewel-box, that big glass house where they raise the tropical
flowers.

Laura reveals
herself to be fundamentally different from social expectations.  It is here where
Laura's conflict between the identity within her and the identity that she is meant to
embrace is evident.  Laura lies in conflict between both realities.  She finds happiness
in a path that is not socially sanctioned.  This causes conflict because of its
fundamentally divergent nature.  It also causes conflict because it lies in opposition
to her mother's wishes.

Tom's character is fraught with
conflict.  In Scene six, Tom reveals the conflict that will end up galvanizing him into
action at the end of the drama:

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I’m starting to boil inside. I know I seem
dreamy, but inside—well, I’m boiling! Whenever I pick up a shoe, I shudder a little
thinking how short life is and what I am doing!—Whatever that means, I know it doesn’t
mean shoes—except as something to wear on a traveler’s
feet

In this quote, Tom shows
himself to be ready to move on.  The life that he has led is slowly reaching its
conclusion and something new is needed.  Tom's conflict is that he fundamentally detests
the life he leads and feels that he can no longer continue in such a capacity.  It is
here where conflict is evident.  His "starting to boil inside" helps to reveal the
internal conflict that Tom feels between what he is supposed to do and what it is that
he really wants to do.

After reading Shakespeare's play Macbeth, outline the reasons Macbeth offers as to why banquo must be killed. What else does Macbeth's soliloquy...

In act 3, scene 1 of Shakespeare’s play
Macbeth, the title character offers a number of reasons to justify
the killing of his friend Banquo. Among those reasons are the
following:

• Because of the witches’ prophecy that
  Banquo’s descendants will become kings of Scotland, Macbeth cannot feel entirely safe as
  king until Banquo and Banquo’s son are killed (“To be thus [that is, king] is nothing,
  but [that is, unless] safely thus” (3.1.48).


• Banquo’s
  character is so inherently noble that he may prove more popular and admired than Macbeth
  and thus be a threat to Macbeth’s power:

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. . . in his royalty of nature reigns
that

Which would [that is, must] be feared
(3.1.50-51)

• Banquo
  is not only a good man but a daring, brave, wise, and prudent man who knows how to act
  in his own best interests – interests that may not coincide with the interests of
  Macbeth (3.1.51-54).


• Banquo’s responses to the witches
  suggest that Banquo may have ambitions of his own which might conflict with the
  ambitions of Macbeth (3.1.57-59).


• The witches had “hailed
  [Banquo as a] father to a line of kings” (3.1.60). In contrast, their prophecies
  regarding Macbeth’s power had been limited and equivocal
  (3.1.61-64).


• If the prophecy concerning Banquo is true,
  then Macbeth has killed Duncan to benefit Banquo – an outcome Macbeth wants to prevent
  (3.1.64-70). Macbeth may thus go to hell only to benefit Banquo, a prospect that Macbeth
  cannot accept.

When the two murderers appear,
Macbeth offers even further reasons for killing Banquo, including the
following:

• Macbeth claims that Banquo has
  opposed the good fortune of the murderers (3.1.76-78). He thus pretends that killing
  Banquo is in their own best interests.


• Macbeth claims
  that although he could easily banish Banquo,
  

.
. . yet I must not,

For [that is, because of] certain
friends that are both his and mine,

Whose loves I may not
drop . . . . (3.1.121-22)

In
other words, it would not be politically prudent for Macbeth to banish Banquo, and so
Banquo must be killed.

• Finally, Macbeth mentions
  “sundry weighty reasons” for wanting Banquo killed (3.1.126), which may include some of
  the reasons already mentioned above.

In this
scene, Macbeth reveals himself as jealous, envious, fearful, insecure, vengeful, and
conniving – not an attractive picture at all.

Why are Jovian planets able to hold large quantities of gas than terrestrial planets?

The Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune)
are the larger of the planets. They formed in the outer portion of the Solar system,
distances ranging from 5 (Jupiter) to 30 (Neptune) times the Earth’s distance from the
Sun.  Unlike the terrestrial planets that make up our inner solar system — Mercury,
Venus, Earth, and Mars the Jovian planets do not have solid surfaces.  Instead, they are
composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, with traces of methane, ammonia, water, and
other gases. These gases are tightly compressed around relatively tiny cores of ice and
rock. They have much higher masses and lower densities than the terrestrial
planets.

Since these planets are relatively far from the
sun, the temperature here is lower. Because of this, there were more planetesimals which
resulted in larger planets. However, the greater percent of the planetesimals in the
outer solar system would be composed of ices (hydrogen and helium). These ices didn’t
form in the inner solar system because it is too hot there.  Since different elements
have different condensation temperatures, ices could not form until the particles were
in a much cooler part of the disk, and therefore much further from the Sun. The
temperature of the gas affects the condensation of the elements in the gas. If the gas
were cooler when condensation began, particles now common in the outer solar system
would also be common in the inner solar system. That is why Jovian planets are able to
hold large quantities of gas.

Boxer's cruel death is a result of Napoleon's tyrannical rule in Animal Farm. Though some animals recognize that they are living under...

Complacency, fear and simple-mindedness are just a few of
the reasons the animals refused rise up against the tyrannical rule of the pigs in
George Orwell's Animal Farm. Few of the animals understood that
Boxer was being transported to the glue factory; even when told of the cruel deed by
those who did recognize it, many of them would not have accepted the fact that Napoleon
had ordered it. Their beliefs in the propaganda that the pigs perpetrated were stronger
than their own natural instincts. The animals must have known that they stood no chance
against the pigs and their dog enforcers, so they accepted the decision as just another
act that served in the best interests of the farm. Events such as the spontaneous
demonstrations and Moses' tales of Sugarcandy Mountain helped to erase the animals'
memories of the treachery.

Identify Charles Darnay's role in the novel, physical description, and adjectives to describe the character's traits.A Tale of Two Cities by...

Essentially a passive character, Charles Darnay is the
double of Sydney Carton, who rescues him from prison twice.  He is a young gentleman of
twenty-five when the novel begins,

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...well-grown and well-looking, with a sunburnt
cheedk and a dark eye.....He was plainly dressed in black, or very dark grey, and his
hair, which was long and dark, was gathered in a ribbon at the back of his neck:  more
to be out of his way than ornament.....the paleness which his situation engendered came
through the brown upon his cheek, showing the soul to be stronger than the sun.  He was
otherwise quite self-possessed....(Bk.2,
Ch.2)

When Darnay is brought
to his first trial on a charge of treason, over his head is a mirror which later serves
to help create doubt in the jurors' minds as to whether or not he has committed the
crime of which he is accused. For, Sydney Carton has noticed, after having closely
examined Darnay, that they possess a strong resemblance to one another.  And, C.J.
Stryver manages his release based upon this doubt.

With his
passivity and penchant for imprisonment, Darnay is perfect for Lucie as an outlet for
her compassion.  When Carton realizes that Lucie has become so found of Darnay, he
becomes immediately jealous, recognizing in Darnay what he "has fallen away from....You
hate the fellow!"

Once Darnay has become the love of Lucie,
Sydney Carton pledges his devotion as well, and Darnay continues as Carton's mirror
image.  Darnay also acts as a connecting character of the two cities as, having lived in
England with Lucie, he is then drawn to the "Lodestone Rock" and returns to France, this
time to rescue Gabelle the former tax collector on the Evremonde estate.  In addition,
his revelation of his family name of Evremonde connects him with Dr. Manette's
imprisonment. But, again, Darnay cannot save himself; Dr. Manette's powerful testimony
sets him free, however, as the physician is recognized as a hero, having been "the
Bastille captive." 

After Darnay's second arrest,  Dr.
Manette is unable to save him.  It is then that Sydney Carton's act of sacrifice to take
his place again presents the motif of doubles as Carton gains access to the prison where
Darnay is. Then, Carton becomes the sacrificial victim for the phlegmatic and passive
Darnay who is slipped from the prison to escape France with his family members. Drugged
as he is removed from the prison, Darnay cannot attempt to thank Carton for the
tremendous sacrfice which he has made by sending someone to carry this message to
him.

Despite his passivity, Darnay's character connects the
actions of the novels in both London and in Paris.  His resemblance to Sydney Carton as
his double allows Darnay to act as a catalyst for Carton's noble deeds toward Lucie, and
to commit his heroic act to save the Darnay family from fate and
unhappiness.

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, what is the relevance of the witches' statement (1.1.10) that "Fair is foul,and foul is fair" that the witches chant?

In the opening scene of Shakespeare’s
Macbeth, the witches chant the lines
that

Fair is
foul and foul is fair.

Hover through the fog and filthy
air. (10-11)

These lines –
especially the first – are relevant in various ways to the action, tone, meaning, and
symbolism of the play. The first line, in particular, is relevant in some of the
following ways:

• Macbeth is
  a play about ambiguity – about the difficulty of knowing anything for sure, either about
  others or about oneself. Macbeth, for instance, is not sure whether he should kill his
  king or remain a loyal subject; his lack of moral self-knowledge appears very quickly in
  the play once he receives the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth is an ambiguous, ambivalent
  character, and the same is true, in a different way, of his wife: at first she seems
  quite determined that the king should be killed, but by the end of the play she seems a
  tormented, almost pathetic
  creature.


• Macbeth is a play about
  deception – particularly about Macbeth’s deception of the king, the king’s courtiers,
  and even his friend Banquo. The idea that fair and foul are interchangeable, that
  appearances can be deceiving, is obviously relevant to this
  play.


• In particular, the idea that what seems beautiful
  and attractive may actually be ugly and disgusting is relevant to this work. This idea
  is particularly relevant to Lady Macbeth, who at first seems uglier on the inside than
  any other character in the play, but the idea is also relevant to Macbeth as
  well.


• The alliteration of the line – with its repeated
  f sounds – contributes to the chant-like, musically haunting
  quality of the witches’ speeches.


• The fact that the
  witches state such a paradox with such absolute assurance implies that they are highly
  confident of the knowledge they possess (they do not chant “Fair may be foul, and foul
  may be fair”). They are themselves mysterious figures, and they begin the play by
  chanting mysterious but ominous messages.
  

Could you please give me a summary of "Ars Poetica" by Pablo Neruda?

In "Ars Poetica" by Pablo Neruda, Neruda compares the
process of writing a poem to the process by which a carpenter fashions wood, a baker
bakes bread, and a blacksmith forges metal.  He starts off with the art of carpentry,
and goes into detail describing how a carpenter picks his wood, decides what to do with
it, then fashions it the way that he wants it.  It is a metaphor for writing poems
however, and Neruda compares shaving the wood to writing:  "from the plank come my
verses/like chips freed from the block."

The next
comparison is to being a baker; just like the carpenter (and the poet), the baker must
select their materials and create beautiful things from them.  He describes how he takes
his words and " wade[s] in, to my elbows,/kneading the glow of the oven" as he creates
his words.  He then goes on to compare writing poetry to being a blacksmith who is "a
lone iron-monger."

The point of his comparisons is that the
hard work of a carpenter, baker or blacksmith is no different than the hard work of a
poet.  Each uses their skills, materials and ingenuity to create beauty.  He goes on to
say that he doesn't limit the materials he uses for poems; he is constantly "digging for
new metals and turning what I am into words."  He addresses people that might criticize
how or what he uses for poems, and says that he does what he has found to be true to
him, without thought of its reception.

I hope that those
thoughts help to get you started; good luck!

How does the manner in which each of the pigs speak connect to Orwell's observations described in the essay, "Politics and the English Language?"

I certainly think that much of what Orwell contends in his
essay is drawn from the Pigs' leadership, specifically Squealer and Napoleon.  In
articulating a condition of "uselessness," Squealer's articulation of the food supply as
"readjustments" as opposed to deficits would be one such arena where I think Orwell's
construct of language is meant to reflect the desire to conceal the horrific condition
of how individuals live with a sense of imprecision and lack of detail.  The blurring of
language is also evident in how the commandments of Animalism are altered to enhance and
substantiate the rule of the pigs and not to improve the lives of the animals on the
farm.  The imprecision of language is present again in ideas such as "some are more
equal than others."  The inability to specifically use language to express human pain in
the event that it could destabilize the Status Quo becomes one of the critical elements
that Squealer seeks to embody.  It is through the his use of "spin" and propaganda that
"turns black into white" where Orwell's contention that language can be used by those in
the position of power to ensure that social change and remedy in the hopes of making the
world as it should be as opposed to what is becomes a critical element in the
construction of language.

Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy is in scene one. In a sentence or two, paraphrase his main points.

To be, or not
to be, that is the question.
Is it nobler in the mind to suffer
The
slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to fight against a sea of
troubles,
And end them by
fighting?

In this soliloquy,
Hamlet is questioning whether it is more noble to suffer in his mind for the murderous
deed done by his Uncle Claudius or should he fight Claudius? Hamlet is questioning
whether he should just suffer mentally, knowing his Uncle Claudius has murdered his
father or should he fight Claudius and end his suffering? That is the question--to be or
not to be?

Then again, Hamlet talks of death or sleep which
is in reference to eternal sleep:

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To die, to sleep,
Nothing more, and by
sleeping, to be able to say we end
The heartache, and the thousand natural
shocks
That the body gets as part of life is an ending
To be wished
for very earnestly. To die, to sleep,
To
sleep!

Here, Hamlet is
wishing for death to end his suffering. If only he could go to sleep eternally, his
suffering would be over. To sleep the eternal sleep would end his misery. He is so
filled with suffering and misery until he wishes not to
live.

But if he should sleep, he could possibly dream. Here
he is worried about the dreams of death. Perhaps, they are filled with horror and then
death would be no better than life. Hamlet is indeed in a terrible predicament. To be or
not to be is his question. Then when he answers himself, he is worried that his
suffering will never end, not even in death.

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Perhaps to dream. Yes, there's the
catch,
For what dreams may come in that sleep of death,
When we have
left this life on earth,
Must make us stop. There's the respect
That
makes a mess of long
life,

Clearly, Hamlet is in
turmoil. To live or not to live is similar to what he is asking. To live is filled with
suffering. To die may not be better. Hamlet is torn with questions. There seems to be no
answer or end to his suffering.

What are five examples of dignity (using quotes) in To Kill a Mockingbird?

WALTER
CUNNINGHAM SR.  When Atticus provides Mr. Cunningham with
legal advice concerning his entailment, Cunningham tells his attorney that he doesn't
know when he will be able to pay. Atticus tells him to make it "the least of your
worries." He explains to Scout that the Cunninghams are a different "breed of men." But
Atticus knows he will be paid.

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"Not in money," Atticus said, "but before the
year's out, I'll have been paid. You
watch."

MRS.
DUBOSE.  During her final days, Mrs. Dubose successfully
rids herself of her morphine addiction, a goal that caused her great pain but the
ultimate satisfaction of dying "beholden to nothing and nobody." Atticus tells Jem
that

"... I
wanted you to see what real courage is... It's when you know you're licked before you
begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter
what."

DOLPHUS
RAYMOND.  While Scout and Dill take a break from the trial, Mr. Raymond
explains why Dill won't cry as frequently when he becomes grown. When Scout asks, "Cry
about what?", Mr. Raymond emotionally tells her.

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"Cry about the simple hell people give other
people--without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks,
without even stopping to think that they're people,
too."

ATTICUS'
TRIAL SUMMATION.  Atticus' memorable summation falls on the deaf ears of
the jury, but in it he tries to explain the difference between the Ewells and the
innocent, black defendant, Tom Robinson.

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"And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who
had the unmitigated temerity to 'feel sorry' for a white woman has had to put his word
against two white
people's..."

AUNT
ALEXANDRA & MISS MAUDIE.  Following
Atticus' announcement that Tom has been killed, Maudie and Alexandra put on their best
faces and return to serving refreshments for the missionary circle. Scout is highly
impressed with their demeanor.

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After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time
like this, so could l. 

How did New England Puritanism affect life in Massachusetts?

Puritanism affected all parts of people's lives in early
Massachusetts.  As the colony became bigger and more diverse, the Puritan influence
decreased.  Even so, various historians have argued that the Puritan influence continued
to have a great impact on Massachusetts.

During the height
of Puritan power, the lives of people in Massachusetts were essentially run by the
Puritan church.  The government enforced Puritan ways of behavior.  This meant that all
people had their lives deeply influenced by Puritan
beliefs.

Even after this sort of power diminshed, the
Puritans influenced Massachusetts.  The belief that people should be able to read the
Bible led to the creation of schools, which gave Massachusetts a very high literacy
rate.  The idea that people should work hard to prove that they might be among the elect
is said to have led to a strong work ethic that helped the colonial
economy.

In all these ways, Puritanism affected life in
Massachusetts.

What is the moral of the fable "The Milkmaid and Her Pail"?Quelle est la morale de la fable

First, I need to translate your question to English so as
to allow others who may be interested in the answer to
read.

What is the moral of the fable "The Milkmaid and Her
Pail"?

This story originated in the 14th Century, but was
most famously reproduced by Jean de la Fontaine in Fables (Volume
7).

The moral of the story mirrors the more commonly known
idiom "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket."

Here, in
"The Milkmaid and Her Pail", the maid's success lies in the fact that she will sell her
pail of milk and, eventually, she will have possessed the means to buy a mare that will
have a foal which will grow up to entertain her. Unfortunately for the maid, she,
excited about the concept of having a foal, begins to dance about and drops her pail of
milk. With the crashing of the pail of milk, the maid's dreams crashed to the ground as
well.

The moral of the story is not to "put all of your
eggs in one basket" or, just as famous, "don't count your chickens before they have
hatched."

For your ease, I have translated my answer into
French. (I am rusty, so forgive any errs in
translation.)

D'abord, j'ai besoin de traduire votre
question à l'anglais afin de permettre à d'autres qui pourraient être intéressés à la
réponse à lire.

Quelle est la morale de la fable «La laitière et son
seau?"

Cette histoire originaire du 14ème siècle, mais était le plus
célèbre reproduite par Jean de la Fontaine dans les Fables (tome
7).

La morale de l'histoire reflète la euphanism plus communément
appelé «Ne mettez pas tous vos œufs dans le même panier».

Ici, dans
"La Laitière et son seau», le succès de la jeune fille réside dans le fait qu'elle va
vendre son seau de lait et, finalement, elle va avoir possédé les moyens d'acheter une
jument qui va avoir un poulain qui va grandir pour l'amuser. Unfortunatley pour la
demoiselle, elle, excité au sujet du concept d'avoir un poulain, commence à danser et
laisse tomber son seau de lait. Avec l'écrasement de l'un seau de lait, les rêves de la
bonne s'est écrasé au sol aussi bien.

La morale de cette histoire est
de ne pas "mettre tous vos œufs dans le même panier» ou, tout aussi célèbre, «ne comptez
pas vos poulets avant qu'ils aient éclos."

Simon finds a secluded place in the high jungle where he can be alone. What do you think this indicates about Simon?chapter 3 of Lord of the Flies

In Golding's Lord of the Flies, Simon
goes to a secluded bower to meditate.  This incident occurs at the end of Chapter 3, and
the description of Simon's journey to the bower forms a stark contrast to Jack's journey
into the woods to hunt.  To better understand what this event reveals about Simon's
character, it is a good idea to examine how it contrasts to the description of Jack.
 Chapter 3 opens with Jack down on all fours, tracking the wild boars.  He notices the
trails that the pigs have made, examines the bushes, and smells the animal droppings.
 His skin is sunburned, and his eyes are nearly mad with obsession and
frustration.

In contrast, Simon walks gently into the
forest, stopping to pick fruit for the little ones who gather round him.  He, like Jack,
knows nature well, but unlike Jack, Simon is unafraid of nature.  He enjoys the sights
and sounds of the butterflies, the waves of the ocean, the candlebuds.  In fact, Simon
is in harmony with nature.  His skin turns a dark brown, and his pulse matches that of
the ocean's waves.  When he crawls into his bower, he is at one with nature and totally
content.

In this chapter, Golding is beginning to establish
Simon as a Christ figure.  He is kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and appreciative of
nature's gifts.  Jack, in contrast, is angry, compulsive, and intent on killing.  His
stance on all fours foreshadows his animalistic and savage nature--characteristics not
present in Simon.

How was Sor Juana able to find a literary "platform" at this time in history, especially as a woman?

When Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was a child, she was
believed to be a prodigy. She desperately wanted to read, and used to steal into her
grandfather's library to borrow books. During this time, women were not educated—only
the men. She begged to be allowed to dress as a young man and go to the university in
Mexico City. The fact that she finally succeeded in learning to read was a miracle in
itself in the Mexico of her day.

readability="7">

Sent to Mexico City to live with relatives at age
eight, Sor Juana was invited into the court of the viceroy as an intellectual companion
for his wife.

In this
environment, she was able to write her poetry, and to move throughout the circles of
government and society. Sor Juana was born long before her time: if she married, she
would have no freedom to follow her intellectual pursuits unless
her husband permitted it. The only place where she would be able to
do so was the Church, and so she "entered the convent of St.
Jerome."

Her work (especially her poetry) garnered a great
deal of attention, some positive and some negative, but she was able to quietly enjoy
her life until she publicly criticized the sermon of "a famous Jesuit scholar." There
was a great deal of concern over this woman's temerity to criticize Father Viera's work.
(After all, women were second-class citizens.) A letter from "Sister Filotea" (actually
the bishop of Puebla who was trying to stand up for her) brought about Sor Juana's
famous response which defended her right as a woman to be educated and to express her
intellectual opinions. Her response is entitled, Respuesta de la poetisa a la
muy ilustre Sor Filotea de la Cruz ("reply of the poetess to the illustrious
Sister Filotea de la Cruz"). Even with support from others and her insistence that she
had no desire to challenge the Church's authority or overstep her place in society, she
was chastized by the Church.

Other things were happening
that did not make her position much easier:

readability="11">

Mexico was suffering from both natural and
political problems: rain, flood, famine, pestilence, a total solar eclipse, and riots
that almost ended Spanish
authority.

Eventually, Sor
Juana lost some support. Later she sold off her extensive library (estimated at "four
thousand volumes") for charity. She renewed her vows, writing "a reaffirmation of her
faith...in her own blood." She eventually became ill while nursing other nuns at the
convent who were suffering from an epidemic, and
died.

Finding a literary "platform" in the Church was not
unusual in itself. For many years, no one could read but the nobility or clerics, monks,
etc., within the Roman Catholic Church. It was quite possible to rise through the ranks
of the Church and have authority that equalled that of a king. Within the circles of the
nobility, women were not allowed to attend school. Sor Juana's decision to take her vows
during this era made perfect sense. However, society and the Church could only tolerate
just so much from this forward-thinking woman.

In Lord Krishna's stories of Bhagavad Gita, where is karma shown?

The idea of "action" or "deeds" related to one's existence
in this life and those that follow is something that Krishna espouses to Arjuna in the
Gita.  Essentially, the entire work focuses on this notion of
"karma" or "deeds."  Arjuna approaches Krishna, uncertain of what he should do.  He
finds that he is incapable of fully being able to carry out his "deed" or what he is
supposed to do.  Seeing the opposition filled with family and friends, and knowing that
he is posited against them, Arjuna asks what he should do.  He asks Krishna how to carry
out his karma when he knows that it is filled with suffering and pain.  Krishna responds
in the lyrical manner that he should surrender unto him.  In recognizing that Krishna is
the supreme and ultimate truth, Arjuna will find the strength to be able to carry out
the deeds that prove to be difficult.  At the same time, Krishna argues that what
"deeds" are done in this birth to him will allow Arjuna to be able to move on in his
next birth, for Krishna is the ultimate reality that is transcendent in this life and
the one that follows.  In this construction, one sees that karma is full recognition of
Krishna, something that Arjuna could not see at the start of the discourse with Krishna,
but is something he envisions at its end.  It is here where karma and deeds become one,
and the more one places unto Krishna their deeds in this life, their karma becomes
properly aligned in the subsequent births.

What are the artifacts in Arnold's life on the reservation and off the reservation in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?

What are the artifacts in Arnold's life on the reservation
and off the reservation in the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time
Indian? Thanks to the brilliance of author Sherman Alexie, there are many
artifacts. One starts with the protagonist's name. On the reservation, he is Junior,
like so many other Indian children. In Reardan, he is called Arnold Spirit. As Junior
relates his life to A Tale of Two Cities, the reservation is “the
worst of times” and Reardan is “the best of times.” On the reservation, Junior’s best
friend is Rowdy, whose name reflects his violent tendencies. In Reardan, he managed to
become friends with Gordy, a boy as intelligent as
Arnold.

The two worlds are diametrically opposed. The
reservation is characterized
by:

• Hopelessness.


• Abject
  poverty.


• Alcoholism that often leads to deaths.
  


• Hunger occasionally punctuated by a bucket of Kentucky
  Fried
  Chicken.


• Powwows.


• Poor
  education with school books that belonged to students’
  parents.


• Generous and rare gifts of $5, which usually
  mean a parent has forfeited getting drunk.


• Hitching rides
  or walking to and from school.

Reardan
represents hope, the driving force that leads Junior to make the momentous decision to
leave the reservation to pursue a better education. His white girlfriend, Penelope, has
bulimia, an addiction similar to his father’s alcoholism. Money and cars fly around
freely, while white fathers blend into the background.

What color is not considered a primary color of light?

Many people get confused between the primary colors of
pigment and the primary colors of light. To keep these straight we must remember that
pigments reflect colors to our eyes, and they are subtractive; if we mix two colors they
will each continue to absorb the wavelengths they absorbed separately, so fewer
wavelengths will be available for our eyes to receive. The ultimate end of this process
is black, where a combination of pigments absorbs all the colors are we are left with no
wavelengths being reflected. Red, yellow and blue are the three primary colors of
pigment, which can produce black.

In the case of colors of
light, the process is additive - two or more colors of light added together increases
the number of visible wavelengths. The primary colors of light are red, blue, and green.
These three, when combined, make white light. There are also three secondary colors,
which are yellow, cyan, and magenta - these are produced by a combination of two of the
three primary colors.

Since the primary colors of pigment
are red, yellow, and blue, and the primary colors of light are red, green, and blue, the
answer to your question is yellow.

How can you express the theme "Harmony after the Storm" in terms of pictures based on The Tempest?

You might want to approach this question by considering
the way that storms operate in both a literal and a symbolic way in this excellent play.
For example, it is clear that the opening storm that gives the play its name is quite
clearly real, as it brings Prospero's old enemies to his island so that he can get his
revenge upon them and have a chance to restore some of those relationships. However, in
many other places in Shakespeare, literal storms are also used symbolically to
represents metaphorical storms and tempests. For example, in King
Lear, the storm on the heath where he wanders is used to represent the chaos
that has befallen the kingdom of Britain. Likewise in the Tempest, the storm is used to
point towards the theme of broken relationships and chaos. The "harmony after the storm"
that your question refers to could point towards the way that through the play, broken
relationships are healed and made whole again. Your pictures therefore might want to
include how this theme is played out and how characters are restored in their
relationships to one another and also to their own true identity. For example, the
character of Ariel is obviously very important in this context, as is the character of
Prospero. Thinking about how these characters change and transform from the beginning of
the play to the end might give you a very interesting basis for your
drawings.

How does George rely on Lennie in 'Of Mice and Men'?It is obvious that Lennie relies on George but why does George stay with Lennie? Does he rely...

George does rely on Lennie. Lennie enjoys hearing George's
dream of how they will one day own a farm together. If George did not have Lennie, he
would have no one in which to share his dream. What good is a dream if one has no one
with which to share it?George does get frustrated with Lennie, but George needs Lennie
as much as Lennie needs George.

It is so wonderful to be
needed. It is satisfying knowing that someone depends upon you. Having no one to depend
upon you leaves you feeling lost and unnecessary.

George
too needs Lennie for comfort and company. George mentions often how lonely some of the
other ranch hands are. He mentions that they have no
one:

Guys like
us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They
don't belong no place.

But
with Lennie and George it is different. They have each other. They need each other. They
share a dream together. George is comforted in having Lennie as his
companion.

One of the most difficult things George has to
do is shoot his companion Lennie. Immediately after shooting Lennie, he calls off the
dream. Even Candy realizes that the dream is over once Candy learns what Lennie has
done. The dream of having a farm depended upon Lennie. It was Lennie who wanted rabbits
on their own farm. It was Lennie who kept asking George to share the dream. Lennie loved
hearing the dream over and over. George enjoyed telling the dream over and over as long
as he had Lennie to tell it to.

Lennie and George were
like family.

Please give an analysis of Cordelia in King Lear.

Cordelia is presented in the very first scene of the play
as the daughter of Lear that actually loves her father in fact and reality, rather than
just appearance. Her sisters, Goneril and Regan, are used as foils to emphasise her
love, kindness, devotion and honesty through their own deceit and lack of faith. This is
of course highlighted by the way in which Cordelia refuses to play both the game of her
father and the game of her sisters, and does not respond with the same flowerly
eloquence as Regan and Goneril, earning her banishment. Note how she bids her sisters
farewell in the opening scene:

readability="9">

I know you what you
are,

And like a sister am most loath to
call

Your faults as they are named. Love well our
father.

To your professed bosoms I commit
him.

The way in which
Cordelia is shown to truly love Lear, as opposed to just protesting that she loves him,
reinforces the extent of Lear's mistake in banishing her. Although Cordelia is absent
for the middle section of the play, the audience implicitly compares her attitude and
feelings towards her father with those expressed by Regan and
Goneril.

Of course, the character of Cordelia is used to
heighten the tragedy. She is described in terms that emphasise her beauty, goodness, and
honestly, and thus her return to Britain and her reunion with her father seems to
symbolically indicate the end of the anarchy and chaos that has dominated Lear's
kingdom, and the victory of forgiveness over hatred. That this moment is all too brief,
and ends with Cordelia's unjust death, makes the depth of the tragedy that much more
profound.

What are the values of x in the equation |-5x-2|=12?

Applying the module property, we'll have to solve two
cases:

1) -5x-2=12

-5x = 12 +
2

-5x = 14

x =
-14/5

-5x - 2 > 0 => -5x > 2 =>
x < -2/5

Since -14/5 < -2/5, the value of x
is accepted as solution of equation.

2)
-5x-2=-12

-5x = -12+2

-5x =
-10

x = 2

-5x-2 `<=`
0

x `>=` -2/5

Since 2
> -2/5, the value of x is accepted as solution of
equation.

The requested solutions of the
equation are: {-14/5 ; 2}.

According to Gun, Germs and Steel, what is one important impact of domesticating animals on the relationships between people in society regarding...

The answer to this can be found in Chapter 14 of the
book.  There, Diamond discusses the relationship between food production and the
creation of states.  He argues that food production (of which domesticating animals is a
part) changes the relations between people and helps to lead to state
formation.

When people domesticate crops and animals, their
societies change.  Perhaps the most important change is that the size of the society
increases.  Before food production, people were largely living in bands whose members
were bound to one another by ties of kinship or at least friendship.  Once food
production begins, however, these ties are loosened.  As the size of the population
grows, the bonds between members erode.  All of a sudden, people are living in close
proximity to others who are not kin and may not even be friends.  This necessitates a
completely new way of living.  It creates a need for laws and authority to prevent the
unrelated people from (in extreme instances) killing one
another.

In this way, domesticating animals (along with
other forms of food prodution) increases the size of a society and forces people to find
ways to live with unrelated people.  This leads to the need for laws, authority and
government.  This is the beginning of the road to state
formation.

What are the uses of Amalgam?

An amalgam is an alloy created by mixing mercury with one
or several other metals. Typically amalgams are soft when first mixed, and then they
harden into a durable solid material.

Silver based amalgams
have been used as dental fillings for cavities since the 1830's. The initial
malleability of the amalgam allows it to be packed tightly into the cavity, where it
hardens without either expanding or contracting, forming a hard, permanent
filling.

Amalgams are also used in gold mining. Mercury is
washed over sand or crushed rock where any small particles of gold will bond to it. The
amalgam thus created is recovered and the gold is extracted. While this technique is
effective, it is also a major source of pollution from mining and gold sluicing
operations.

A third use is detection of mercury salts in
water. Amalgam probes are made by applying a nitric acid solution to copper foil, and
then immersing the foil in a water sample. A positive test will show a spot of silvery
appearing mercury amalgam forming on the foil.

what is the theme of solitary reaper poem?no

Mainly we have two themes in this poem. First one is
poetry itself. Through a revolutionary idea Wordsworth changed the entire concept of
poetry . Neglecting the lives of kings and queens and lords and ladies as the theme of
poetry ,he introduced simple objects as the theme of poetry. This can be called as the
Romantic Revival in the history of English Literature. Leaving all the glorious things
in the world he took a lonely reaper as the subject of this
poem.

Secondly we can say that sorrow and lonliness as the
other themes of 'solitary Reaper'. The very oppening of the poem itself justifies this
theme: "Behold her, single in the field,". The beauty of loneliness is discribed here.
When he says, "And sings a melancholy strain;" we are sure about the theme of sorrow
here

What is the pH when 100ml of 0.1 M NaOH is added to 150ml of 0.2 M HAc if pKa for acetic acid is 4.76?

The reaction that takes place when NaOH is added to acetic
acid is:

NaOH + HAc --> NaAc +
H2O

100 mL of 0.1 M NaOH contains 0.01 moles of NaOH. 150
mL of 0.2 M HAc contains 0.03 M of HAc. After the reaction we are left with 0.03 - 0.01
= 0.02 moles of acetic acid.

Ka for acetic acid is
[H+][CH3COO-]/[CH3COOH] where [] indicates the
concentration.

pKa = -log(10)[Ka] = log(10)[CH3COOH] -
log(10)[H+] - log(10)[CH3COO-]

as [H+] =
[CH3COO-]

pKa = log(10)[CH3COOH] -
2*log(10)[H+]

For acetic acid pKa = 4.76 and -log(10)[H+] =
pH

4.76 = log(10)(0.2) +
2*pH

=> 2*pH = 4.76 +
0.698

=> 5.458

pH =
2.729

The pH when 100ml of 0.1 M NaOH is added to 150ml of
0.2 M HAc is 2.729

What was the subject matter of early Islamic art?

Early Islamic art is almost exclusively decorative in
nature.  It refers to the work specifically created to adorn the furnishings and walls
of the mosques created for the new Muslim faith which started in the year 622.  There
was some figurative work made for secular purposes or for the purpose of illustrating
Muslim texts.   For the most part, however, artists were discouraged from creating an
image of any living thing because that was seen as something that God alone should
do.

It was acceptable for artists to work figuratively, if
the figures were part of a decorative pattern and not the focus of the whole picture. 
Other than these figurative patterns, there are 3 major trends in the designs of early
Islamic art: calligraphy patterns, vegetal patterns, and geometric
patterns.

Calligraphy patterns were entirely composed of
letters that oftentimes spelled out blessings or the name of the current sultan.  There
are some pieces of early Islamic art in which a written name seems to be the major
subject matter itself, and that name is itself adorned with calligraphic blessing
patterns.

Vegetal patterns were composed of decorative
lines that resemble flora and fauna, vines and
leaves.

Geometric patterns were created by layering
geometric shapes into balanced symmetrical patterns that sometimes resemble flowers or
sunbursts.

In A Tale of Two Cities, what are the two promises made in chapter 10, book 2?

In Chapter X of Book the Second of A Tale of Two
Cities, Dr. Manette and Charles Darnay each make a promise to the
others. 

Dr. Manette's
promise 

A year after beginning his
residence in England, Charles Darnay has fallen deeply in love with Lucie Manette. 
Respectfully, then, he approaches Dr. Manette to ask permission to marry her; Darnay
prefaces his request with his acknowledgement of the close bond between the father and
his daughter.  Further, he declares that if his marrying Lucie were to "put any
separation between her and you," he would not consider making his request as it would be
base of him to do so.  Then, Darnay asks a promise of Dr. Manette, who tells Darnay that
he does not know how Lucie feels about him.  He requests that if Lucie profess love for
him that the father not speak ill of him.  Dr. Manette
promises,

I
give the promise,” said the Doctor, “without any condition. I believe your object to be,
purely and truthfully, as you have stated it. I believe your intention is to perpetuate,
and not to weaken, the ties between me and my other and far dearer self.
If she should ever tell me that you are essential to her perfect
happiness, I will give her to
you.

Manette
further promises that if there be anything whatsoever against the man she loves, "they
should all be obliterated for her
sake." 

Charles Darnay's
promise

With his last statement, Dr. Manette
hints at his knowledge of Darnay's background.  In response, Darnay begins to tell him
why he has changed his name, but Dr. Manette halts the young man's testimony. 
"You shall tell me on your marriage morning.  Do you promise?"  Darnay
answers with one word, "Willingly." 

So
gravely has this converstion affected Dr. Manette that upon her return home, Lucie finds
her father hammering at his shoemaking in his bedroom.  Tapping at his door, she softly
calls to him; when he comes, they walk together for a long time.  Finally, Dr. Manette
retires and sleeps well.

In Neighbour Rosicky, how does teh area in which Anton Rosicky lives reflects his values?include details from the story to support your ideas

This area of the U.S., the northern prairie, was settled
by Scandinavians and northern Europeans looking for farmland similar to their homeland. 
Life was difficult, but with hard work and devotion to routine they could survive.  The
key was the family farm--self-sustained, yet part of a community which loved the land,
had large families (the larger the better to share the work) with respectful,
affectionate children.  The landscape is beautiful in an understated, straightforward
way: flat, with crisp horizon and tremendous sky.  A man who sought simplicity and
reliability in people, Rosicky loved it here because he reflected the love of nature and
family, and the way that the two could work together.

Are there any similes and hyperboles in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

With hyperbole meaning an
exaggeration that is used for emphasis or effect, the entire story "The Lottery" can be
considered a hyperbole.  For, the apparently simple story is actually an subtly inverted
exaggeration of the underlying truth of Jackson's theme. Told with limited and banal
description and without excessive emotionalism, Jackson's narrative points to the
ordinariness of the cruel, violent, barbaric act of stoning that has somehow become a
ritual.  

e.g.

readability="27">

Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie
Delacroix....eventually made a great pile of stones in one
corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other
boys.

Bobby Martin dicked under his mother's grasping hand
and ran, laughing, back to the pile of
stones.

...Mr. Summers, who had
time and energy to devote to civic
activities.

There had been,
also, a ritual salute, which the official of the loterry
had had to use...

She [Tessie] tapped Mrs. Delacroix on the
arm as a farewell

Mr. Summers
waited with an expression of polite interest while Mrs.
Dungar answered. 

"All right,
folks," Mr. Summers said, "Let's finish
quickly."

These
examples exaggerate the seemingly simplicity of the annual
ritual.

Also, with Jackson's limited description, there is
a paucity of figurative language used.  Here is what could be
found:

She
tapped Mrs. Delacroix on the arm as a
farewell.

"It's
not [like is implied]the way it used to be," Old Man Warner said
clearly.  "People ain't [like] the way they used to
be."

 It is this
lack of figurative language and its simple description which deceives the reader into
believing Jackson's "The Lottery" a mild and simple tale.  But, it is the hyperbole, the
exaggeration of this simplicity is what shocks the reader at the
end.

In The Crucible, what happens to Betty when she hears the Lord's name?

The answer to this question can be found in Act One of
this excellent play. As Abigail and Proctor stand over the catatonic Betty, the
congregation below begin to sing a psalm from the Bible. However, as the phrase "going
up to Jesus" is heard in the psalm, Betty claps her hands over her ears so she is unable
to hear the name of Jesus and begins whining loudly. This gradually escalates into
screaming. Of course, when the psalm is finished and Betty's father rushes into the
room, accompanied by the Putnams, this is seen as further evidence that some kind of
witchery has been going on, as Mrs. Putnam makes perfectly
clear:

The
psalm! The psalm! She cannot bear to hear the Lord's
name!

Thus it is that the
suspicions of witchery in Salem begin and are fuelled by Betty's response to hearing the
name of Jesus.

Write an equation for the line that passes through a point (2,4) with the slope 4?

The equation for a line in slope-intercept form
is:

y = mx + b

where m is the
slope and b is the y-intercept.  You are given m and a point.  You can use substitution
to find b.

Substitute 4 class="AM">`->` m, 2 class="AM">`->` x, and 4 class="AM">`->` y.

4 = 4 * 2 +
b

Now solve for b.

4 = 8 +
b

-4 = b

This is your
y-intercept.  Therefore the equation for this line
is:

y = 4x +
-4

This can be checked using a
graph:

src="/jax/includes/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/asciisvg/js/d.svg"
sscr="-7.5,7.5,-5,5,1,1,1,1,1,300,200,func,4x-4,null,0,0,,,black,1,none"/>

Notice
that the line includes the point (2, 4).

I have to prepare a lesson on euphemisms. Do you have any interesting material?

Euphemisms tend to arise for two reasons. First is because
of our discomfort with physical realities, for example, body parts or death. For
example, we refer to the white and dark meat in turkey and chicken because, probably in
the Victorian era, we wanted to avoid referring to breasts or legs.  We call the
cessation of life "passing" because we don't want to say the word "death."  We go to the
ladies' room and the mens' room because we cannot bring ourselves to refer to what we
will do there.  In fact, even "bathroom" is a euphemism, since we are quite often not
visiting there to take a bath. A second reason we create euphemisms is political.  How
we name our ideas and actions affects how palatable or distasteful they will be.
Candidates and leaders all over the world are aware of this.  Do we want "end of life
counseling" or "death panels"?  The euphemism chosen is capable of affecting the outcome
of a proposal.

I have included three links for you, the
first a rather famous Orwell essay that speaks to the political nature of euphemism, the
second an article on euphemisms that have arisen as a result of the war in Iraq, and a
third that is an interview with the author of a recent book on euphemisms,
Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms, by Ralph Keyes.  I
think all three should be
useful.

http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=a_glossary_of_iraq_euphemisms

In Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," what bias does the speaker of this essay reveal?

In his "Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift directs his
biting satire at the government of the English in Ireland, the English and
Irish businessmen, and anyone else who acts in a way that is harmful to the Irish
poor. In his essay, for instance, Swift writes,

readability="12">

I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or
girl, before twelve years old, is no saleable age, they will no yield above three
pounds, or three pounds a crown and a half, at the
most.

In addition, Swift
satirizes Protestants' in their desire to get rid of Catholics, while at the same time
he mocks Catholics for conceiving so many children during Lent, a time when people
should practice abstinence.  Clearly, Swift exhibits a bias that Catholics are having
too many children since the number of "popish" infants is nearly three-to-one in on the
island.  By eating the Catholic infants' flesh, Swift suggests that the population of
the Catholics will be reduced. 

What songs has Kino heard in chapter 1 of Steinbeck's The Pearl?

The Songs of the
Indian

John Steinbeck's The Pearl
is a parable of Kino who finds the Pearl of the World.  His people have once
been creators of songs to express their pride, their happiness, and their successes and
loves.  Now, there are no new songs as Kino's people are oppressed; nevertheless, the
old songs remain along with some personal
songs. 

The Song of the
Family

So while the songs of a once proud
people have stopped, Kino hears the Song of the Family, music set to the beats of three
loving hearts.  His wife Juana sings, too, and hers is also a family song; Kino and
Juana are content.  The family song is music of love, warmth, safety.  It is "the
Whole," the sense of each belonging to the
other.

The Song of
Evil

When the scorpion appears, the "evil
music of the enemy" appears.  This Song of Evil" is the music of any foe of the
family,

"a
savage, secret, dangerous melody" that carries with it the plaintive song of the
Family."

It is a song of
anguish, anxiety, despair, and sickness or death.  When the scorpion bites the baby,
Kino beats it to death, but the threatening "Song of the Enemy roars in his
ears."

Music is the language of the soul and of the land of
a people.  And, while he and his loved ones are content, Kino hears the song of the
family,but when his baby in his danger, Kino hears the Song of the Enemy.  Clearly,
music is the language of Kino's soul that expresses his love and his fear for his
family.

How did Suzella change during her stay with the Logans, and was it for the better in Let the Circle Be Unbroken?

Suzella enters the Logan family's lives to spare her the
difficulty of her parents negotiating a divorce. She exits as sharply after her father,
called Cousin Bud by the Logans, is endangered and humiliated by Stuart and his gang of
ruffians. Suzella saw and learned much that had the potential to change her while she
lived with the Logans. One way she was changed is that she discovered that questions of
identity are harder to sort out than through others’ reactions to
appearance.

While with the Logans, the white residents of
the town assume she is white because of her appearance. She is given particular respect
and attention by one very high-profile young man called Stuart. While he is nice to
Suzella, he is not essentially good. This is testified to by his treatment of the black
families: he likes to flirt with the black girls just to taunt them and make them feel
dissatisfied and ashamed.

After it is discovered that
Suzella fits the Southern legal definition of African American, she is scorned and
humiliated more severely because of the way the white population was fooled by her. In
addition, when her father returns to take her home, he is exposed as her father and they
both find themselves in a dangerous confrontation with an angry and scornful
Stuart:

readability="10">

[Stuart] kept his eyes on Suzella a moment
longer, then turned to Cousin Bud. "That's an idea, Pierceson. We'll see jus' how light
the n----r is...All right, n----r, go 'head. Get them clothes
off."

These kinds of
humiliations, shocks, reproaches, dangers do undeniably change a person. Is it a good
change? The author doesn't go any further with Suzella and her father than to
say:

Cousin
Bud got out and went to the outhouse ... when he came back ..., he would not look
directly at anyone. That evening, before dusk, he and Suzella left for New
York.

The reader is therefore
left to draw their own conclusions about whether these are changes for the better. My
opinion is that these changes are not for the better. These changes came from
violence--emotional, psychological and physical violence--these changes came from trauma
to herself and to her father--and to herself again because she was forced to watch the
violence of trauma administered to her father. These changes are damage. These changes
are not for the better. It may be argued that it is better to lose one's naivete and
gullibility. While this is true, the route of violent trauma is not the means through
which to change one’s naivete and gullibility. Plain and simple. It is not the
way.

What are the main parts of the Constitution?

The main parts of the Constitution of the United States
are the various articles of that document.  There are seven articles, the first three of
which the most important.

The first three articles of the
Constitution lay out the powers of the various branches of government and set up the
methods for selecting members of those branches.  Article I deals with the legislative
branch, Article II with the executive, and Article III with the
judicial.

Article 4 through 7 are more miscellaneous.  They
do things like mandating that criminals (or slaves) who flee a state must be returned to
that state (or to their owners).  They set up the manner in which the Constitution can
be amended and they establish that the Constitution will be the supreme law of the
land.

Overall, though, the first three articles of the
Constitution are the most important because they set up our system of government.  In
this set up is contained some of the most important principles of the Constitution, the
idea of separation of powers, the idea of checks and balances, and the idea of limited
government.

Environmental factors such as rainfall and vegetation influenced the economies and settlement patterns of the precolonial inhabitants of Southern...

Factors such as climate and suitability for agriculture
were primary considerations in the development of all early settlements in all areas of
the world, not just in southern Africa. As wandering groups of people began to develop
techniques of farming that would allow them to cease being hunter-gatherers in order to
find food, they learned that certain types of conditions were needed to support this new
lifestyle. They needed to locate in areas that had adequate precipitation to allow crops
to grow. They needed to have soil that could be worked and planted - and the indication
of this was the native plant growth of an area. When the people found an area meeting
these requirements, they settled and began developing their areas for crops and living.
Trading economies began to develop when different crops were harvested and bartered for
other needed goods or when services were provided in return for
food.

I need three character traits for madame Loisel from "The Necklace"? Thank You.

Three character traits that Madame Loisel possesses that
are easily apparent when reading the short story "The Necklace" is she is ungrateful,
selfish, and greedy. No matter what her poor, loving husband does for her to satisfy her
and make her happy, it just is never enough and she always wants more. He sees that she
is dissatisfied with lot in life. Although, it should be noted that the Loisels are not
poor. It's true they are not rich, but they are by no means living in poverty. They are
middle-class. She has servants. However, this is not enough for her. To cheer her up,
her husband brings home for her an invitation to an opulent party. This doesn't satisfy
her because she has no fancy dress to wear to the party. Her husband, who was saving
money to buy himself a gun, gives Mathilde the money instead so she can buy a dress for
the party. This is still not enough. She has no fancy jewelry to match the fancy dress.
Therefore, she borrows a necklace from her wealthy friend Madame Forestier. She's never
grateful for what she has. She's always thinking about what she doesn't
have.

What are quotes from Lord of the Flies that show no matter what-- humans never change-- and how do these quotes relate back to the theme(s) in the...

One of the most telling moments in the novel is when Simon
encounters the Lord of the Flies.  Amidst all of the mockery and condescension from the
pig's head, Golding utilizes the decay and evil of the Lord of the Flies to reinforce
one of the most dominant themes of the novel--man's innate capacity for
evil:

"'Fancy
thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!' said the head. [...] 'You
knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! I'm the reason why it's no go?
Why things are what they are?'"
(143).

Even though the
severed head instructs Simon to forget the whole thing, the reader cannot forget; the
destructive force mentioned by the Lord of the Flies manifests itself in the boys' own
destructive actions, from the scar left on the island to the killing of the pigs, to the
eventual murder of Simon and Piggy.  The Lord of the Flies is a visual metaphor for
man's own capability for destruction, a theme which resonates throughout the whole of
the novel. 

What meaning do you find in the title "The Storm"?

Clearly the title of this excellent story relates to both
a literal storm and a figurative storm that rages during the course of this story. The
two of course are very closely interlinked, and concern the repressed passions that
Alcee and Calixta have for each other and the way that society does not allow them to
express those passions, leaving them both frustrated as a result. The storm, in which
the normal order of nature is suspeded and chaos takes over, provides an apt metaphor
for the way that their mutual passion takes over their bodies and they are able to love
freely and in abundance, without a thought for their wife and husband. Consider how
their union is described in the following quote:

readability="12">

They did not heed the crashing torrents, and the
roar of the elements made her laugh as she lay in his arms. She was a revelation in that
dim, mysterious chamber; as white as the couch she lay upon. Her firm, elastic flesh
that was knowing for the first time its birthright, was like a creamly lily that the sun
invites to contribute its breath and perfume to the undying life of the
world.

The physical storm of
nature therefore finds its precise parallel in the storm of passion that is unleashed
between Calixta and Alcee, as is emphasised by the various sensual details provided.
What is likewise important to note is the way that this "storm" actually improves the
marriages that Calixta and Alcee have. Having given in to these pent up feelings of love
and passion, both Calixta and Alcee are shown to be more loving to their partners. Just
like a natural storm, their storm of passion has cleared the air and made them both
happier as a result.

How bright would the sun appear to be to an observer on Earth if the Sun were four times farther from the Earth than it actually is?Please express...

Let the distance between the sun and the earth be
x.

Let the light energy received by the earth rom the sun
be L.

If the distance of the sun from earth becomes four
times, then obviously the time taken by the light wave to reach earth increases four
times.

We know that
frequency(v)=1/T.

and speed of
light(c)=v*wavelength.

c is constant and is equal to
299792458 m/s.

So, frequency is inversely proportional to
the wavelength.

So, if the time increases four times,
frequency(v) decreases 4 times and the wavelength simultaneously increases four
times.

Hence, the wavelength of the light would
become four times the wavelength of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum i.e
4 times of 4000 to 8000 Angstorm. Now, the wavelength would be in the range of 16000 to
32000 Angstorm, which is not perceptible by the naked human
eye.

Hence, the earth would receive the waves
which are not optically perceptible by the
humans.

Hope it
helps.

Thanx.

find both intercepts and gradient for: 3x

3x - 7y + 2 = 0

We need to
find intercepts and gradient.

First we will find
x-intercept.

The x-intercept is when the line
meets the x-axis, then y values will be zero.

==> y=
0 ==> 3x + 2 = 0 ==> x = -2/3

Then the
x-intercept is the point ( -2/3 , 0)

The y-intercept is the
point where the line meets the y-axis, then x value is
0.

==> x = 0 ==> -7y +2 = 0 ==> y=
2/7

Then the y-intercept is the point ( 0,
2/7)

The gradient is the slope of the
line.

 We will rewrite the line equation into the slope
form.

 ==> 3x - 7y + 2 =
0

==> y = (-3x -2)/-7 = (3/7)x +
2/7

==> y= (3/7)x +
2/7

Then the gradient of the line is m =
3/7

Then the intercepts are the
points (-2/3, 0) and (0, 2/7) and the gradient is
3/7.

Can someone explain how the author uses narrative voice and characterization to provide social commentary in "The Veldt"?

I think the biggest way in which Bradbury uses
characterisation and narrative voice to present the social commentary of the story is
through the presentation of the children and what we are told about them. Clearly,
Bradbury is presenting us in this story with a futuristic world which has become so
advanced that individuals are able to become more fixated on an unreal world than their
real world. Note the children's obsession with the nursery and the illusions that it
creates for them. Note what McClean says to George about the importance of the nursery
for the children:

readability="7">

You've let this room and this house replace you
and your wife in your children's affections. This room is their mother and father, far
more important in their lives than their real parents.

Peter and Wendy are
presented as being so dependent upon the Nursery that they are unable to cope with even
the idea of being deprived from it. Note how Peter responds when he is told that the
Nursery is to be closed:

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"Don't let them do it!" wailed Peter at the
ceiling, as if he was talking to the house, to the nursery. "Don't let Father kill
everything." He turned to his father. "Oh, I hate you!"

McClean's observation about
what the Hadley's have allowed to happen is thus justified through the way in which
Peter turns against his own father. Thus it is that the characterisation of the
children, and the way that the Nursery has become more important and real to them than
reality and their parents, thus is used to present Bradbury's grim message about
technology. We must ensure that we do not become so dependent on technology that we
forget how to actually live without it.

How do the witches' predictions lead to Banquo's death in Macbeth?

When the witches prophesied that Macbeth would be king,
Banquo asked for his prophecy. He desired for the witches to give him a prophetic word.
He received the following prophecy. "Thou shall get kings, though thou be none."  This
means that Banquo's children shall be kings. The witches prophesied over Banquo's
children.

Sadly enough, the witches' prophecies lead to the
death of Banquo. Macbeth knows that only Banquo heard the prophecy or prophecies. Only
Banquo knows that the witches prophesied that Macbeth would be king. Macbeth is planning
the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth fears that Banquo will suspect him as the murderer.
For this reason, Macbeth plan to have Banquo
murdered.

Banquo has to die because he knows too much
information. He witnessed the witches prophesying over Macbeth. Banquo would and did
suspect that Macbeth murdered King Duncan. For this reason, Banquo has to die. He may
tell someone all he knows. To himself he says that he suspects Macbeth has murdered King
Duncan to get to the throne:

readability="13">

You have it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis,
all,
As the weird women promised; and, I’m afraid,
You played most
foully for it.

What Banquo
means about playing most foully for it is another way of saying that he feared that
Macbeth had played dirty to get what he wants. Banquo feared that Macbeth had murdered
King Dunacn to get his position. Macbeth was afraid the Banquo would tell all that knew
about the witches and the prophecies. Macbeth had Banquo murdered out of
fear.

What are some of the main conflicts that Nick experiences throughout The Great Gatsby?

Nick, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, goes through the
following
conflicts:

• East
  Coast-bias vs. Midwestern-bias: Nick, who is from Minnesota, thinks that
  most of those from the Northeast are careless, shallow, and materialstic.  Implicitly,
  he believes those from the heartland are most honest.  Although he moves to the
  Northeast in hopes of financial success, he ultimately moves back
  home.


• Reserving Judgement vs. Gossiping
  Later: Nick confesses on the first few pages that he has been taught by
  his father to reserve all judgment. He also admits he is the only honest person he has
  ever met.  But, doesn't he reserve judgement so that he can be privy to gossip by those
  with loose lips?  Isn't the entire novel a kind of gossipy violation of his own
  principles?


• American dream: reality vs.
  myth.   Nick presents two Americas: one of opportunity (Gatsby's); one of
  exclusivity (Tom's).  In Gatsby, he gives a picture of promise and tragedy.  In the end,
  after Gatsby's death and Nick's migration back home, we must wonder if he believes the
  American dream to be a false promise.

What is clarisses function in the novel and why does Bradbury remove her so quickly?

Clarisse is the catalyst.  She stimulates Montag's thought
processes.  He already had the seed of rebellion in him because he had already stolen
books, but Clarisse is the one who made him think, who activated those thoughts.   He
enjoyed it, and he missed her when she wasn't there anymore.  Bradbury removed her
because the story was about Montag's thought processes, not hers. She would have gotten
in the way and confused the issue.  We would not have been able to determine if the
thoughts were Montag's or Clarisse's.

Clarisse and Mildred
are exact opposites.  Clarisse is inquisitive and questions everything; Mildred is
robotic and questions nothing.  Clarisse experiments.  Montag asks her if she goes
around trying everything once, and she replies "sometimes twice." (pg 21). Mildred on
the other hand is fearful.  She is afraid of trying anything new and when Montag
introduces her to the books, she burns them.  Montag describes Clarisse as "peculiar"
(pg 23) in that she doesn't fit into the mold society has designed for everyone. 
Mildred is "obedient" and doesn't want to go against any of the rules of society.  She
is willing to accept anything the society tells her. Clarisse is introspective.  She
thinks about everything she sees and smells.  She says "Do you want to know what I do
with my time.  I just sit and think." (pg 23).  Mildred is mesmerized by the TV.  She
does not think on her own, and she lives her life in a trance thinking that the people
on TV are her family. Clarisse is "social" and says, "Being with people is nice" (pg
29)  She finds it easy to talk with Montag even thought when he first meets her, she
doesn't know him.  Mildred is indifferent and unfeeling.  She doesn't care if Montag is
sick, insisting he go to work anyway.  She doesn't care that the old woman died. "She's
nothing to me."