Explain what the author's purpose is when she describes Mr. Underwood's participation in the lynch mob scene in To Kill a Mockingbird.Note...

As the editor of Maycomb's newspaper, Braxton Bragg
Underwood serves as a neutral voice of reason in To Kill a
Mockingbird. Underwood rarely leaves his office, and this is one of the
reasons he is silently standing guard over Atticus and the jail on the night that the
lynch mob arrives. It is also possible that, as the eyes and ears of the town, he, too,
has heard the rumor that Tom Robinson will be paid an unexpected visit while Sheriff
Heck Tate is on a "snipe hunt." Because most newspapermen attempt to be fair and
unbiased, Underwood (named after one of the Confederacy's most reviled
generals) probably hoped for a fair trial; in any case, he must have decided that Tom,
at the very least, deserved his day in court.

Atticus'
comment later that "Braxton... he despises Negroes, won't have one near him,"
illustrates even more strongly Underwood's desire for justice. His editorial following
Tom's death shows no sign of his hatred of African-Americans: He is, first and foremost,
a newspaperman who keeps his own personal prejudices out of the
story.

Explain what the author's purpose is when she describes Mr. Underwood's participation in the lynch mob scene in To Kill a Mockingbird.Note...

As the editor of Maycomb's newspaper, Braxton Bragg Underwood serves as a neutral voice of reason in To Kill a Mockingbird. Underwood rarely leaves his office, and this is one of the reasons he is silently standing guard over Atticus and the jail on the night that the lynch mob arrives. It is also possible that, as the eyes and ears of the town, he, too, has heard the rumor that Tom Robinson will be paid an unexpected visit while Sheriff Heck Tate is on a "snipe hunt." Because most newspapermen attempt to be fair and unbiased, Underwood (named after one of the Confederacy's most reviled generals) probably hoped for a fair trial; in any case, he must have decided that Tom, at the very least, deserved his day in court.

Atticus' comment later that "Braxton... he despises Negroes, won't have one near him," illustrates even more strongly Underwood's desire for justice. His editorial following Tom's death shows no sign of his hatred of African-Americans: He is, first and foremost, a newspaperman who keeps his own personal prejudices out of the story.

In The Call of the Wild, what traits or skills did Buck have that could ensure his success in the wild?

Buck was healthy, strong, and fit.  Although he had lived an almost pampered life on Judge Miller's ranch, "hunting and kindred outdoor delights had kept down the fat and hardened his muscles".  Buck also came from a strong lineage; his father was "a huge St. Bernard", and his mother a Scotch shepherd dog (Ch.I).

Buck was also extremely adaptable, having an uncanny "capacity to adjust himself to changing conditions" (Ch.II).  Buck was intelligent, and able to learn quickly from both observation and experience.  Introduced precipitously to the Darwinian world of survival of the fittest, Buck was able to immediately discern what the most expedient course of action was in a given situation, and was able to perform accordingly.  Although his spirit remained strong throughout, Buck, when confronted by "a man with a club" (Ch.I), "was too wise to rebel" when he knew it was futile (Ch.II).

Buck had strong natural instincts; "the dominant primordial beast was strong in (him)" (Ch.III).  Once he was forced to learn to survive in the new order, "instincts long dead became alive again".  Buck's "sight and scent became remarkably keen...his hearing developed...acuteness".  The need to survive awakened "the old life within him, and the old tricks which they had stamped into the heredity of the breed...came to him without effort or discovery" (Ch.II). 

What is the theme of the poem "Neutral Tones" by Thomas Hardy?What does the writer want to describe in this poem?

The primary subject of the poem is pain experienced at the ending of a love affair. The feelings of bitterness and loss are viewed retrospectively, connected with a remembered meeting 'by a pond, that winter day.' Both the speaker and the female he addresses are accusatory; both feel they have 'lost the more by [their] love.' In the final stanza, the speaker shifts perspective from the memory, and reflects on the bitter lesson that he has taken from it: 'keen lessons that love deceives.'

Part of the power of the poem derives from the interaction between the characters and the setting. The bleakness and desolation of the landscape echoes the death of their love. There are ironies too, however: the pastel shades suggested by 'neutral tones' are deceptive, since the emotions they reflect are anything but neutral.

In "Macbeth," what does Macbeth say about the witches when he learns that Birnam Wood is moving? What do his words signify? What growing...

The passage you refer to is in Act V, scene 5:

I pull in resolution; and begin
To doubt the equivocation of the fiend
That lies like truth...

Macbeth is losing heart, since he now understands the trick that has been played on him. The witches are not allowed to destroy people directly -- remember the sea-captain earlier who has offended them, and how they can torment him but not kill him: "Though his bark cannot be lost / Yet it shall be tempest-tossed" (Act I, scene 3). So, instead of lying to Macbeth, the witches give him true statements designed so that he is certain to misinterpret them. Now, when it is too late, Macbeth sees through their fraud.

If this which he avouches does appear
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.

He recognizes that there is now no place to run or hide, no sure protection, and no power that will assist him. He has gambled everything on the assurances of the witches, and now sees these were designed only to trick him.

I 'gin to be a-weary of the sun,
And wish the estate o' the world were now undone.--

Depressed, Macbeth looks his own death in the face, and desires vengefully that the whole world be ruined with him.

Ring the alarum bell!--Blow, wind! come, wrack!
At least we'll die with harness on our back.

Finally, Macbeth accepts that the best he can do is to die fighting. He still has a lingering faith in the prophecy that no man of woman born can kill him, but even this turns out false in the end.

How does the character of the Scarecrow change throughout "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"?

The biggest change in the character of Scarecrow is the development of confidence.  In the early parts of the story, when he begins his journey with Dorothy, Scarecrow has a very low opinion of himself because, stuffed with straw as he is, he does not have a brain. His actions as the story unfolds, however, show that although he does not have a physical brain, he is really quite intelligent.  It is Scarecrow who saves Dorothy, Tin Man, and Lion on numerous occasions on their quest, and he is quick to come up with solutions to difficult problems that arise.  Scarecrow is constant in his devotion to his friends, and as the story progresses his air of flighty goofiness is tempered by a subtle, quiet nobility born of the realization that he might capable despite his perceived lack.  At the end of their quest, the Wizard, understanding that Scarecrow already possesses the qualities he seeks and only needs to believe in himself, concocts a brain for him out of "bran, pins, and needles" to make him "sharp".  With a physical representation of a "brain" at last, Scarecrow has self-assurance of his own intelligence, and finally feels complete.

In act five, scene one, what does Lady Macbeth mean when she says "afeared"?Summarize act five scene one.

Lady Macbeth is guiltily reliving her crime. She is confessing her part in Duncan's murder. "Afeared" is how she helped persuade her husband to murder him. She is saying that a brave soldier should not fear it. There would be no one to prove anything.

This scene deals with the descent into madness of Lady Macbeth. Her servant summoned the doctor to help her, but the doctor realizes that she suffers from guilt. Lady Macbeth is observed repeatedly pacing, attempting to wash invisible blood from her hands, and lying back down again, in a repetitive cycle.

What does the ebony clock signify in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

The clock, which signifies the passage of time, acts as a foreboding messenger of time. Set in the "western or black chamber"--west is the direction of the sunset and is symbolic of the end of life; black, of course, is the color of the shrouds of death--the tolling of the clock marks the passage of time and the approach of the end of life.

Each time the ebony clock tolls, the guests of Prince Prospero become pale and the oldest ones wipe their foreheads that have dampened with nervousness. Even the musicians are required to pause because the chiming is so loud. Finally, the ebony clock strikes midnight and there enters into the minds of the guests a dreadful meditation. Suddenly, there are those who become aware of a masked figure and the guests begin to murmur and feel terror. It is then that the terrible figure of the Red Death appears and the enraged Propero accosts him only to meet his end "within the shadow of the ebony clock." 

What is the surprise ending in "The Interlopers" and are it and the title appropriate?

The surprise ending is that wolves reach Ulrich and Georg at the end of the story.

Wolves reaching the two men at the end of the story is appropriate. Ulrich and Georg have been the enemy of one another throughout the story. It's ironic and slightly amusing that each man should share the same fate that they would have wished upon the other. 

The title is appropriate because each man feels that the other is an interloper on their land. The title also referes to the wolves as interlopers in the conflict between Ulrich and Georg.

my question is grammatical: Is it correct that should can have the same meaning as if ?nil

While English does not have a conditional tense
per se as do the Romance langugages, including French from which
English is derived (among other languages), there are certain words that used to
establish a conditional situation. 

In informal English,
speakers and writers use the word if to begin clauses that are
conditional. e.g. If this be true, we will
not delay.  Along with the conjunction if,
the subjunctive mood is used for the predicate [be is in
subjunctive mood].  (This is why speakers say If I were you instead
of if I was
you)

Should  is a verb that is
employed as a conjunction like if in this conditional tense,
although it is not used as frequently as if, especially in
America. This avoidance of its usage may be to avoid confusion
since should is used used as an auxiliary verb to express necessity
or obligation.  Here are examples that illustrate the difference between
should as a conjunction (1), expressing a condition and
should as an auxiliary verb in a sentence expressing necessity
(2):

1. Should you
   move out, I will not be able to pay the rent on this
   apartment.


2. I think you should
   move out of this
   apartment.

Therefore, the short answer to your
question of whether should can have the same meaning as if is yes,
sometimes.

my question is grammatical: Is it correct that should can have the same meaning as if ?nil

While English does not have a conditional tense per se as do the Romance langugages, including French from which English is derived (among other languages), there are certain words that used to establish a conditional situation. 

In informal English, speakers and writers use the word if to begin clauses that are conditional. e.g. If this be true, we will not delay.  Along with the conjunction if, the subjunctive mood is used for the predicate [be is in subjunctive mood].  (This is why speakers say If I were you instead of if I was you)

Should  is a verb that is employed as a conjunction like if in this conditional tense, although it is not used as frequently as if, especially in America. This avoidance of its usage may be to avoid confusion since should is used used as an auxiliary verb to express necessity or obligation.  Here are examples that illustrate the difference between should as a conjunction (1), expressing a condition and should as an auxiliary verb in a sentence expressing necessity (2):

1. Should you move out, I will not be able to pay the rent on this apartment.


2. I think you should move out of this apartment.

Therefore, the short answer to your question of whether should can have the same meaning as if is yes, sometimes.

Do you think Chaucer believes people are basically good, basically evil, or a mix of the two?

I honestly do not believe Chaucer's point was to prove that people are inherently good, bad, or a mixture of the two.  Much of what Chaucer wrote was satirical about the religion in Britain.  Satire is when an author "pokes" fun at serious topics such as religion and the government, etc.  Chaucer was well aware that there was much hypocrisy in the church, and this belief can be found in many of The Canterbury Tales.  For example, some of the characters in the tales hear people's sins and offer ways for them to atone for them.  Some of these characters offer this atonement for a high price.  They take bribes and gifts for their services.  

What are some examples from Huck Finn that I could use to say the novel is a classic work of literature?i have to define classic and also write a...

Hemingway said, "“All modern American literature comes
from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.”
 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel
because it addresses America's greatest wrong (slavery) using a hilariously irreverent
and iconic narrator (Huck).  Although it satirizes America, the novel is very
American.

It's a classic because it's a bridge from Old
World (The Odyssey) to New World, because it's written with such a
youthful voice, and because it is the synthesis of rogue and
rebellion:

• The novel is a
  picaresque (a novel told by a rogue, rascal).  Huck, even though he
  lies and ditches his dad and school, is morally superior to everyone in the book, except
  maybe Jim.  Huck becomes the biggest winner by being an outsider (the biggest loser).
  


• The novel is anti-European: Huck dupes the Duke and the
  King (symbols of Europe)

1. most European
characters define themselves in context of family

2. Huck
is saying that he doesn’t define himself with others or the past (birth of the American
rebel)

a. Not defined by
family

b. Not defined by
society

c. Not defined by old world
values

d. Not defined by old
literature

• The novel is very
  antinomian (rebellious), and
  it is descended from the great American spirit of moral, artistic, and political
  rebellion

1. Antinomian definition: “through
faith or experience of God’s grace, you live outside the
law”

2. Jefferson’s Declaration of
Independence: a list of complaints

3. Melville’s
(Moby Dick) “No in Thunder”

4. Henry
David Thoreau’s Walden, Civil Disobedience:
chose to live outside pro-war (Mexican War) society

5.
Hester Prynne (Scarlet Letter) as adulteress, forced to live
outside Puritanical society

6. Huckleberry
Finn: chose to live outside pro-slavery
society

a. Huck says, “I’m so lonesome I could
die”

b. Twain’s intro: “Persons
attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons
attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot
will be shot.”

He's calling out proponents of slavery, the
North, the South, Republicans, Democrats, Christians, parents, schools, whites,
Europeans, and critics of the book.  As such, he's going after nearly
everybody.

What are some examples from Huck Finn that I could use to say the novel is a classic work of literature?i have to define classic and also write a...

Hemingway said, "“All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.”  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel because it addresses America's greatest wrong (slavery) using a hilariously irreverent and iconic narrator (Huck).  Although it satirizes America, the novel is very American.

It's a classic because it's a bridge from Old World (The Odyssey) to New World, because it's written with such a youthful voice, and because it is the synthesis of rogue and rebellion:

• The novel is a picaresque (a novel told by a rogue, rascal).  Huck, even though he lies and ditches his dad and school, is morally superior to everyone in the book, except maybe Jim.  Huck becomes the biggest winner by being an outsider (the biggest loser).


• The novel is anti-European: Huck dupes the Duke and the King (symbols of Europe)

1. most European characters define themselves in context of family

2. Huck is saying that he doesn’t define himself with others or the past (birth of the American rebel)

a. Not defined by family

b. Not defined by society

c. Not defined by old world values

d. Not defined by old literature

• The novel is very antinomian (rebellious), and it is descended from the great American spirit of moral, artistic, and political rebellion

1. Antinomian definition: “through faith or experience of God’s grace, you live outside the law”

2. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence: a list of complaints

3. Melville’s (Moby Dick) “No in Thunder”

4. Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, Civil Disobedience: chose to live outside pro-war (Mexican War) society

5. Hester Prynne (Scarlet Letter) as adulteress, forced to live outside Puritanical society

6. Huckleberry Finn: chose to live outside pro-slavery society

a. Huck says, “I’m so lonesome I could die”

b. Twain’s intro: “Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot will be shot.”

He's calling out proponents of slavery, the North, the South, Republicans, Democrats, Christians, parents, schools, whites, Europeans, and critics of the book.  As such, he's going after nearly everybody.

How does the author of A Lesson Before Dying immediately set the novel's tone with the opening sentence?

Gaines begins the novel with these words:

I was not there, yet I was there. No, I did not go to the trial, I did not hear the verdict, because I knew all the time what it would be. Still, I was there.

What the narrator is talking about is the murder trial of a man named Jefferson. He is the proverbial person in the wrong place at the wrong time: He and two friends tried to persuade a store owner to give them a bottle of wine on credit. When the store owner refused and threatened them with a gun, one of Jefferson's friends fired his own gun. In a matter of minutes, the white store owner and two black men lay dead on the floor. The only person standing was Jefferson. The police immediately suspect him of being the shooter. He is arrested and given a speedy trial.

When the narrator, Grant Wiggins, says that even though he never attended the trial he was there all the same, he is setting a tone of futility and hopelessness that will be felt throughout the novel. He didn't have to be at the trial to know that Jefferson was going to be found guilty. The circumstantial evidence, plus the fact that a black man was unharmed while a white man lay dead, were enough to convict him. Add to that the fact that the jury was probably twelve white men, and what hope does Jefferson have? Grant didn't have to be present in the courtroom to know that any black man under the same circumstances would have been found guilty.

If there is collision between the president and Congress, can Congress restrain the president in foreign policy making?

It would depend on the specific issue, but there are ways
that Congress can restrain the President in foreign policy issues. One very effective
way would be to simply refuse to fund the policy, at least if it has the potential to be
expensive. Congress would hesitate to do this, however, as Congress runs the risk of
being blamed for the policy's failure.

If the president's
policy could be interpreted by Congress as "a high crime or misdemeanor," Congress could
begin impeachment procedures. Two presidents have been impeached (Andrew Johnson and
Bill Clinton) although neither was convicted and
removed.

Any foreign policy program that required an action
from Congress in the form of a bill could also be killed in Congressional committees and
subcommittees. It may never get to the Congressional floor for
voting.

However, in at least one important foreign policy
area - the extension of diplomatic recognition to a foreign country - Congress plays no
role. That is at the sole descretion of the president.

If there is collision between the president and Congress, can Congress restrain the president in foreign policy making?

It would depend on the specific issue, but there are ways that Congress can restrain the President in foreign policy issues. One very effective way would be to simply refuse to fund the policy, at least if it has the potential to be expensive. Congress would hesitate to do this, however, as Congress runs the risk of being blamed for the policy's failure.

If the president's policy could be interpreted by Congress as "a high crime or misdemeanor," Congress could begin impeachment procedures. Two presidents have been impeached (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton) although neither was convicted and removed.

Any foreign policy program that required an action from Congress in the form of a bill could also be killed in Congressional committees and subcommittees. It may never get to the Congressional floor for voting.

However, in at least one important foreign policy area - the extension of diplomatic recognition to a foreign country - Congress plays no role. That is at the sole descretion of the president.

In "Pride and Prejudice," why does Mr. Bennet look forward to Mr. Collins visit to Longbourn?

Mr. Bennet anticipates Collins visit because of the letter he has received from his cousin.  Having no male heirs, the law of England ("entailment") decreed that the estate of the patriarch could not be bequeathed to female children; instead, it would have to go to the closest male relation, in this case Mr. Collins. 

In the letter, Collins renounces his claim to the estate.   He has been recently ordained and made the parson for the regions belonging to Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  Collins writes:

As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch (Vol I, XIII).   

Having a parsonship, Collins has no need of Longbourn.  Called an "avowson," a position, like the one Lady Catherine offered Collins, was held for life unless he was to resign it or be found completely incompetent.

Understand that Collins would not give up the property, but neither would he turn the girls out as he would have an estate of his own.  This is the reason for Mr. Bennet's warm welcome:  the assurance of security for his girls. 

What does Winston know about Big Brother that many other people don't know in "1984"?What is it that happens to Comrade Withers? I was told it...

Big Brother, who is the embodiment of the Party, literally recreates the past to suit his objectives.  Winston is one of the select few who know this about Big Brother; he is intimately involved in this deception personally because his job at the Ministry of Truth requires him to fabricate documentary evidence to support whatever Big Brother chooses to be the truth at the moment.  Comrade Withers, beloved by the masses, had been a prominent member of the inner Party and had received a prestigious award, the Order of Conspicuous Merit.  Then, for reasons unknown, he had fallen out of favor with Big Brother and was vaporized.  At his job, Winston receives the assignment of obliterating all record of Withers' existence.  In order to do this, Winston creates an entirely fictional entity, Comrade Oglivy, who embodies all the qualities for which Withers once was reknowned and more, and upon whom the citizens can focus their attention.  At the same time, he methodically erases all references to Withers that exist in the media.  Once Winston is done, Withers is effectively "an unperson...he did not exist; he had never existed".  Winston has firsthand knowledge of the complete depth of mind-control which Big Brother exercises over the unsuspecting masses.  By recreating history to suit his objectives, Big Brother dictates unequivocalby what is perceived as reality and truth (Part I, Chapter 4).

What are the high school clicks that Melinda names? Which ones are important to Speak? Why?

The answer to your question can be found within the first
few pages of the novel.  Melinda has entered the Merryweather High auditorium for what
seems to be the first assembly of the school year.  Melinda immediately notices all of,
what she calls, the high school "clans."

readability="19">

We fall into clans:  Jocks, Country Clubbers,
Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future Fascists of America, Big
Hair Chix, the Marthas, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders.  I am clanless.
(4)

Melinda goes on to
explain that her old clan the "Plain Janes" has "splintered," with its members being
absorbed by other clans above.  It is this statement that makes a few of these clans
quite significant (even the one that is now
extinct):

PLAIN JANES:  There
are probably other members of this group, but the main ones were Melinda, Rachel, Ivy,
Nicole, and Jessica (who has since moved to Nevada).  Obviously, their name suggests
that there was nothing incredibly special about them as a group:  average looking girls
doing average things.  That has
changed.

JOCKS:  This clan is
significant because it has absorbed Melinda's "ex-friend" Nicole.  Nicole has always
been athletic and shows lots of promise in the sports arena so she spends the beginning
of school "comparing scars from summer league sports"
(4).

EUROTRASH:  Melinda
doesn't shift Rachel into this group quite yet, but it becomes clearer as the novel
flows.  Rachel begins to be known as Rachel/Rachelle, hanging with all of the foreign
exchange students.  At this first assembly, Melinda something a bit
simpler.

It's
Rachel, surrounded by a bunch of kids wearing clothes that most definitely did not come
from the EastSide Mall.
(4)

MARTHAS: 
This clan is important because it is the precice one that her new "friend" named Heather
tries to join.  They are the ones who always wear matching clothes with accessories and
do volunteer work day and night.

SUFFERING
ARTISTS & THESPIANS:  This is the group that has absorbed Ivy. 
Melinda says that "she has enough personality to travel with two packs" (4).  In my
opinion, it Ivy with her art experience that truly breaks the ice again with Melinda at
the mall, chapters later.

What are the high school clicks that Melinda names? Which ones are important to Speak? Why?

The answer to your question can be found within the first few pages of the novel.  Melinda has entered the Merryweather High auditorium for what seems to be the first assembly of the school year.  Melinda immediately notices all of, what she calls, the high school "clans."

We fall into clans:  Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future Fascists of America, Big Hair Chix, the Marthas, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders.  I am clanless. (4)

Melinda goes on to explain that her old clan the "Plain Janes" has "splintered," with its members being absorbed by other clans above.  It is this statement that makes a few of these clans quite significant (even the one that is now extinct):

PLAIN JANES:  There are probably other members of this group, but the main ones were Melinda, Rachel, Ivy, Nicole, and Jessica (who has since moved to Nevada).  Obviously, their name suggests that there was nothing incredibly special about them as a group:  average looking girls doing average things.  That has changed.

JOCKS:  This clan is significant because it has absorbed Melinda's "ex-friend" Nicole.  Nicole has always been athletic and shows lots of promise in the sports arena so she spends the beginning of school "comparing scars from summer league sports" (4).

EUROTRASH:  Melinda doesn't shift Rachel into this group quite yet, but it becomes clearer as the novel flows.  Rachel begins to be known as Rachel/Rachelle, hanging with all of the foreign exchange students.  At this first assembly, Melinda something a bit simpler.

It's Rachel, surrounded by a bunch of kids wearing clothes that most definitely did not come from the EastSide Mall. (4)

MARTHAS:  This clan is important because it is the precice one that her new "friend" named Heather tries to join.  They are the ones who always wear matching clothes with accessories and do volunteer work day and night.

SUFFERING ARTISTS & THESPIANS:  This is the group that has absorbed Ivy.  Melinda says that "she has enough personality to travel with two packs" (4).  In my opinion, it Ivy with her art experience that truly breaks the ice again with Melinda at the mall, chapters later.

How do Jem and Scout mature throughout the book? What dilemmas do they face that help their thinking better mature?

I think Jem most matures by watching the truth of the
trial and how it affects his father. From the mob in front of the jail in chapter 15 to
the trial's verdict in the early 20s, and his reaction to the trial, this young teen is
getting a taste of the evil of real men. He is protective of his dad by this point
because his dad has been through the criticism of friends and foes alike and has lost
something it was obvious he should not have lost. This makes Jem aware of the world's
inequities. Children have a notion that things should be fair. As many parents say...
Life isn't fair.

Scout's greatest moment of maturity occurs
in the last chapter when she learns through experience the lessons Atticus worked to
teach throughout the book. She learned to walk in someone else's shoes. She examined
from his porch what he must have been watching all along.

How do Jem and Scout mature throughout the book? What dilemmas do they face that help their thinking better mature?

I think Jem most matures by watching the truth of the trial and how it affects his father. From the mob in front of the jail in chapter 15 to the trial's verdict in the early 20s, and his reaction to the trial, this young teen is getting a taste of the evil of real men. He is protective of his dad by this point because his dad has been through the criticism of friends and foes alike and has lost something it was obvious he should not have lost. This makes Jem aware of the world's inequities. Children have a notion that things should be fair. As many parents say... Life isn't fair.

Scout's greatest moment of maturity occurs in the last chapter when she learns through experience the lessons Atticus worked to teach throughout the book. She learned to walk in someone else's shoes. She examined from his porch what he must have been watching all along.

Sir Gawain shows loyalty when he does what?

Gawain shows loyalty to his uncle, King Arthur, when he is the only one to step forward to accept the Green Knight's challenge.  The Knight had urged any of the Knights of the Round Table to take his ax and attempt to decapitate him.  None of the Knights of the Round Table (Arthur included) took him seriously, so no one came forward.  When the Green Knight insisted, only young Gawain, not even yet a knight, came forward to save face for the knights of Camelot.  Before taking the Green Knight's ax, Arthur knights Gawain in a brief ceremony.  Once Gawain cuts off the Green Knight's head, the Green Knight's body picks up his own head and declares that he will see Gawain in one year so that the young man can receive the return blow that is coming to him.  Gawain is determined to follow through with his part of the bargain in order to show his loyalty to Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.  He sets out, and eventually does face the Green Knight on New Year's the following year.

If one had to explain the central purpose of the story "A Rose for Emily", what would it be?I am trying to help my daughter write a paper. She has...

If an abstract explanation is allowed, try this: the purpose is to show the dangerous interplay of identity, desire, and context. Or, to put that more simply, everything that happens in the story happens because Emily is who she is, because she's in that specific context, and because she wants certain things and the context (town, father, etc.) wants others. They clash, and the result is isolation and death.

In "To Kill a Mockingbird," how had Tom Robinson ever been in trouble with the law before?

Tom Robinson was once in a fight with another man, and served thirty days for disorderly conduct. As Tom describes, the other man cut Tom in the shoulder. Both men were convicted of the crime, however, the other man was able to pay the fine and did not have to serve any time. Tom could not pay and served thirty days in jail.

The significance of this information being brought up by Atticus at the start of Tom's testimony reinforces the idea that Tom has nothing to hide, that he has done nothing wrong.

What is the meaning of "The world is too much with us" by William Wordsworth?

Wordsworth was a foreward thinking, already noting the "revolution" that was happening as industrialization swept through England.  In the late 1700s, the mechanization of many production systems and the new possibilities for trade helped to explode industry.  People flocked to the cities for jobs in factories, knowing that they could make more money and better provide for their families than if they remained in the country.  Rural and agricultural communities were changed forever by this emigration, as were family dynamics.  Businesses and individuals were working longer and harder, and moving a much faster pace than was typical in pastoral England.   

Wordsworth firmly believed that humanity was giving up its soul - and individuality - to the pursuit of money.  "We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!"  The hearts became a part of the machinery of industry.  When he says "we are out of tune", he is making a firm criticism of society's behavior.  This is followed up by making what would have been at the time a controversial statement - that he would rather be a pagan (than a Christian) because, at least then, he would have harmony with nature and, thus, with himself.

Wordsworth helps to usher in the Romantic era of literature with this poem, when many more authors will extol the virtues of respecting and "being at one" with nature.

In Act 1 and 2, what are some examples of dramatic irony in Hamlet?

Since dramatic irony is the kind of irony in which a
character in the play thinks one thing is so, but the audience or reader knows
better, scenes involving Polonius serve as having dramatic
irony:

• When Polonius speaks with his son
  Laertes, who is about to return to France, the father gives advice to his son.  But,
  buried in conversation are the themes honest vs. deceit and love vs. betrayal as, after
  Laertes leaves, Polonius instructs Reynaldo to spy on his son. (Act
  I,sc.3)


• In his conversation with Ophelia, as well,
  Polonius is deceitful.  While he questions her about Hamlet, he does shown concern for
  his daughter's feeling; however, he later informs the king that after Hamlet is mad
  based upon what Ophelia has told him.  Polonius, then, arranges for Claudius and himself
  to betray Ophelia's trust by spying on her with Hamlet. (Act
  II)

In Act 1 and 2, what are some examples of dramatic irony in Hamlet?

Since dramatic irony is the kind of irony in which a character in the play thinks one thing is so, but the audience or reader knows better, scenes involving Polonius serve as having dramatic irony:

• When Polonius speaks with his son Laertes, who is about to return to France, the father gives advice to his son.  But, buried in conversation are the themes honest vs. deceit and love vs. betrayal as, after Laertes leaves, Polonius instructs Reynaldo to spy on his son. (Act I,sc.3)


• In his conversation with Ophelia, as well, Polonius is deceitful.  While he questions her about Hamlet, he does shown concern for his daughter's feeling; however, he later informs the king that after Hamlet is mad based upon what Ophelia has told him.  Polonius, then, arranges for Claudius and himself to betray Ophelia's trust by spying on her with Hamlet. (Act II)

What is probably the most important topic to discuss when explaining this story to a beginning literature class?

The setting and character development are paramount to the
story. The narrator of “Greasy Lake” grows and changes during his adventures is apparent
from the two views of “nature” he voices, one in paragraph 2 and one in paragraph 32.
Early in the story, “nature” was wanting

readability="12">

to snuff the rich scent of possibility on the
breeze, watch a girl take off her clothes and plunge into the festering murk, drink
beer, smoke pot, howl at the stars, savor the incongruous full-throated roar of rock and
roll against the primeval susurrus of frogs and
crickets.

By the end of the
story, these swinish pleasures have lost their appeal. When, at dawn, the narrator
experiences the beauties of the natural world as if for the first time, he has an
epiphany: “This was nature.”  Greasy Lake is the perfect settin for Boyle’s story. Like
the moral view of the narrator (at first), it is “

readability="9">

fetid and murky, the mud banks glittering with
broken glass and strewn with beer cans and the charred remains of bonfires. There was a
single ravaged island a hundred yards from shore, so stripped of vegetation it looked as
if the air force had strafed it”
(2).

The lake is full of
“primordial ooze” and “the bad breath of decay” (31). It also hides a waterlogged
corpse. Once known for its clear water, the unlucky lake has fallen as far from its
ideal state as the people who now frequent its shores have fallen from theirs.  Still,
in its way, Greasy Lake is a force for change. Caught trying to rape the girl in the
blue car, the narrator and his friends run off into the woods, into the water. Waiting
in the filthy lake, the narrator is grateful to be alive and feels horror at the death
of the “bad older character” whose body he meets in the slime. His growth has begun.
When at the end of the story, two more girls pull into the parking lot, the subdued
narrator and his friends are harmless. Cold sober, bone tired, they know they have had a
lucky escape from consequences that might have been terrible. Also, the narrator knows,
as the girls do not, that Al is dead, his body rotting in the lake. He won’t “turn
up”—except perhaps in the most grisly way. It is this knowledge and the narrator’s new
reverence for life that make him think he is going to cry.

What is probably the most important topic to discuss when explaining this story to a beginning literature class?

The setting and character development are paramount to the story. The narrator of “Greasy Lake” grows and changes during his adventures is apparent from the two views of “nature” he voices, one in paragraph 2 and one in paragraph 32. Early in the story, “nature” was wanting

to snuff the rich scent of possibility on the breeze, watch a girl take off her clothes and plunge into the festering murk, drink beer, smoke pot, howl at the stars, savor the incongruous full-throated roar of rock and roll against the primeval susurrus of frogs and crickets.

By the end of the story, these swinish pleasures have lost their appeal. When, at dawn, the narrator experiences the beauties of the natural world as if for the first time, he has an epiphany: “This was nature.”  Greasy Lake is the perfect settin for Boyle’s story. Like the moral view of the narrator (at first), it is “

fetid and murky, the mud banks glittering with broken glass and strewn with beer cans and the charred remains of bonfires. There was a single ravaged island a hundred yards from shore, so stripped of vegetation it looked as if the air force had strafed it” (2).

The lake is full of “primordial ooze” and “the bad breath of decay” (31). It also hides a waterlogged corpse. Once known for its clear water, the unlucky lake has fallen as far from its ideal state as the people who now frequent its shores have fallen from theirs.  Still, in its way, Greasy Lake is a force for change. Caught trying to rape the girl in the blue car, the narrator and his friends run off into the woods, into the water. Waiting in the filthy lake, the narrator is grateful to be alive and feels horror at the death of the “bad older character” whose body he meets in the slime. His growth has begun. When at the end of the story, two more girls pull into the parking lot, the subdued narrator and his friends are harmless. Cold sober, bone tired, they know they have had a lucky escape from consequences that might have been terrible. Also, the narrator knows, as the girls do not, that Al is dead, his body rotting in the lake. He won’t “turn up”—except perhaps in the most grisly way. It is this knowledge and the narrator’s new reverence for life that make him think he is going to cry.

How has the study of rhetoric helped to improve the social lives and linguistic skills of the people living in today’s world?i will like to...

What you propose is a major undertaking, so my first piece
of advice to you would be to narrow it down some. The study of rhetoric can cover
book-length works (PLURAL) and still not touch on all of the aspects that you have
indicated an interest in.

However, you mention an interest
in the importance of rhetoric and modern society. Integrating a little bit of history
into the equation, the way that we have historically viewed language usage has been
closely intertwined with social status. To put it simply, a lack of sold rhetorical
skills has generally been associated with a lack of intellect or education meaning that
the better able a person is to use language properly, the higher his or her educational
level and social status is usually viewed to be. Of course, this is stereotyping, but it
gives you a precedent and the precedent exists because generally, throughout history,
education at the higher than minimal levels has been restricted to the wealthy. Open
access to education for all is a relatively new
development.

Turning to the modern global society, although
educational opportunities may be broader, expectations have declined and along with them
the importance of language and rhetoric. Freedom of expression took a higher position
relative to the basic structure and form of language. Being creative became more
important than being an effective rhetoritician. Now, as we move away from an oral
communications dominated world into one in which the use of printed words is becoming
more important (as international businesses communicate in text based electronic form
daily) attention is truning back toward the importance of language and rhetoric skills.
This is being reflected to a degree in the educational system, but often it is not until
a student reaches college that it is given any solid
focus.

The way that language skills can be important in
today's society is that the better you are able to communicate the greater your ability
to advance in the world and to connect with people globally. Strong language skills are
something that employers look for, and the use of language is still a determinant of
social perception. People who are able to communicate effectively (without slang or bad
grammar) tends to present a first impression of a person who is educated and capable - a
person who is more likely to get the job or have the greatest impact on the largest
number of people (one of the reasons for Hitlers rise to power was his skill as a
rhetorician, Martin Luther King was able to reach the masses both black and white
because of his gifted use of language).

How has the study of rhetoric helped to improve the social lives and linguistic skills of the people living in today’s world?i will like to...

What you propose is a major undertaking, so my first piece of advice to you would be to narrow it down some. The study of rhetoric can cover book-length works (PLURAL) and still not touch on all of the aspects that you have indicated an interest in.

However, you mention an interest in the importance of rhetoric and modern society. Integrating a little bit of history into the equation, the way that we have historically viewed language usage has been closely intertwined with social status. To put it simply, a lack of sold rhetorical skills has generally been associated with a lack of intellect or education meaning that the better able a person is to use language properly, the higher his or her educational level and social status is usually viewed to be. Of course, this is stereotyping, but it gives you a precedent and the precedent exists because generally, throughout history, education at the higher than minimal levels has been restricted to the wealthy. Open access to education for all is a relatively new development.

Turning to the modern global society, although educational opportunities may be broader, expectations have declined and along with them the importance of language and rhetoric. Freedom of expression took a higher position relative to the basic structure and form of language. Being creative became more important than being an effective rhetoritician. Now, as we move away from an oral communications dominated world into one in which the use of printed words is becoming more important (as international businesses communicate in text based electronic form daily) attention is truning back toward the importance of language and rhetoric skills. This is being reflected to a degree in the educational system, but often it is not until a student reaches college that it is given any solid focus.

The way that language skills can be important in today's society is that the better you are able to communicate the greater your ability to advance in the world and to connect with people globally. Strong language skills are something that employers look for, and the use of language is still a determinant of social perception. People who are able to communicate effectively (without slang or bad grammar) tends to present a first impression of a person who is educated and capable - a person who is more likely to get the job or have the greatest impact on the largest number of people (one of the reasons for Hitlers rise to power was his skill as a rhetorician, Martin Luther King was able to reach the masses both black and white because of his gifted use of language).

What disease did Dr. Rank inherit from his father in A Doll's House?

Dr. Rank inherited syphilis from his father.

That he inherited this specific disease matters in several ways. First, because Rank is aware of his condition, he cannot follow his affection for Nora (if he was ever going to). This means there is a limit to how close they can be: it increases Nora's isolation. Since syphilis advances through stages, it also means that Rank is removed from the drama and the relationships, making her more isolated.

Second, it fits his name. He is rotting from within, and so he is rank, in addition to being Rank.

Third, the disease shows how male actions can shape (and distort) the lives of men as well as women. It is a partial parallel to Nora living her entire life in a doll house, which is something she got from her father and Torvald. As she is limited by male action, so is Rank.

What is ironic about Zaroff’s statement: “Oh, you can trust me… I will give you my word as a gentleman and as a sportsman”?

This statement is ironic because Zaroff is claiming to be a gentleman, one whom the reader might predict is civilized and trustworthy.  Zaroff, however, is anything but civilized when he hunts other people on the island.  He claims to be a gentleman when he's a murderer in all actuality.   

Who are the direct and indirect characters in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

I think you are asking which characters are characterized directly, and which characters are characterized indirectly.

Remember, direct characterization only happens when the author actually states something about a character's traits.  One example of this type of characterization is the narrator's statement that "Doodle was about the craziest brother a boy ever had."

Indirect characterization happens when the author uses a character's actions or words to show us something about that character.  The author shows us that Doodle is an imaginative child by having Doodle tell beautiful stories.

None of the big characters in "The Scarlet Ibis" are characterized in one way or the other.  All are characterized directly and indirectly.

What are some cons regarding welfare?

The problem that I see with welfare, or public aid, is
that some people take advantage of it. It is meant to improve the financial well being
of individuals who are in a state of financial crisis. Unfortunately, some people
purposely keep themselves at a level of poverty so they do not lose this aid. It is
definitely true that some people are in a current position that require the help of the
government. 

Another problem that I have witnessed with a
few people who use public aid is what they purchase in grocery stores. It should be used
for necessities such as milk, fruits and vegetables, bread, eggs, meat, etc. I have seen
people use Link cards for fillet mignon and this is not
right.

If people stay on welfare because they are lazy and
don't want to work it is not fair to the people who work two or three jobs just to keep
themselves financially stable. It also isn't fair to the people who truly need the
aid.

What are some cons regarding welfare?

The problem that I see with welfare, or public aid, is that some people take advantage of it. It is meant to improve the financial well being of individuals who are in a state of financial crisis. Unfortunately, some people purposely keep themselves at a level of poverty so they do not lose this aid. It is definitely true that some people are in a current position that require the help of the government. 

Another problem that I have witnessed with a few people who use public aid is what they purchase in grocery stores. It should be used for necessities such as milk, fruits and vegetables, bread, eggs, meat, etc. I have seen people use Link cards for fillet mignon and this is not right.

If people stay on welfare because they are lazy and don't want to work it is not fair to the people who work two or three jobs just to keep themselves financially stable. It also isn't fair to the people who truly need the aid.

What is the purpose of Harry Potter being retold in a different media (film)?I am looking for a few points regarding the adaptation of the Harry...

It is no secret that more children's books are borrowed
and sold after an adaptation has appeared - and that this continues over the years,
since DVD and video sales keep the story alive.  But financial advantages is not the
only motivating factor for adapting literature to other media.  If we think of the
earliest literary adaptations to film was Cyril Hepworth's 1903 eight-minute silent film
of Alice in Wonderland, we might agree with those who claim that children's literature
as a cultural form has a historically long and perhaps even a special relationship with
adaptation, which may explain why it is so frequntly mediated and recontextualised
through film, theatre, television, radio and other digital
technologies. 

An adaptation is not vampiric: it does not
draw the life-blood from its source and leave it dying or dead, nor is it paler than the
adapted work.  It may, on the contrary, keep that prior work alive, giving it an
afterlife it would never have had otherwise.  A good story deserves retelling - and
shown again and interact anew - with stories over and over; in the process, they change
with each repetition, and yet they are recognisably the same.

What is the purpose of Harry Potter being retold in a different media (film)?I am looking for a few points regarding the adaptation of the Harry...

It is no secret that more children's books are borrowed and sold after an adaptation has appeared - and that this continues over the years, since DVD and video sales keep the story alive.  But financial advantages is not the only motivating factor for adapting literature to other media.  If we think of the earliest literary adaptations to film was Cyril Hepworth's 1903 eight-minute silent film of Alice in Wonderland, we might agree with those who claim that children's literature as a cultural form has a historically long and perhaps even a special relationship with adaptation, which may explain why it is so frequntly mediated and recontextualised through film, theatre, television, radio and other digital technologies. 

An adaptation is not vampiric: it does not draw the life-blood from its source and leave it dying or dead, nor is it paler than the adapted work.  It may, on the contrary, keep that prior work alive, giving it an afterlife it would never have had otherwise.  A good story deserves retelling - and shown again and interact anew - with stories over and over; in the process, they change with each repetition, and yet they are recognisably the same.

Why is photosynthesis important to the survival of all organisms in an ecosystem?Explain in detail.

Photosynthesis is very important to humans and almost
every single type of organism on earth. First of all if you think about it, a lot of
animals that we eat, eats grass, and other plants. Without plants there wouldn't be
enough animals for us to eat. Cows would be gone meaning most of the animals on earth
will starve too. Before I get into a lot of details about how important photosynthesis
is let me explain what photosynthesis is. I've bet you learned it almost hundreds of
time so I'll shorten this explanation. Plants need a source of energy like we humans
need food for energy they need the sun. They use the sun, carbon dioxide, and water for
energy. They absorb the sun to form hydrogen and oxygen, and as humans breathe in oxygen
we pass on carbon dioxide. It's like trading our air for their air. They suck in the
carbon dioxide and you guessed it. They breath out oxygen, making it possible for us to
breath again.

Now back to the explanation why
photosynthesis is a huge part of our lives. Since without photosynthesis we wouldn't
even be here on earth, meaning no oxygen. Without oxygen no other animals would live
since there would be no plants. Most of them would suffocate in few seconds. I've read
somewhere before in the past that if all of the sudden there was no oxygen the whole
world would probably suffocate in 3 minutes. Most of the people would not be ready for
it, as some coincidentally sucked in air the last second giving them a little more
time.

There isn't much to go into detail with since it's
really easy to understand once you read
it.

Short
Answer:

Photosynthesis is important since
without it most animals would die in seconds from suffocation without oxygen. Without
oxygen means no food too, meaning no animals could eat grass/plants making all of the
other organism on the food chain collapsing down into nothing. The whole world's
organism would come to an end. Basically meaning everything wouldn't exist if it wasn't
for Photosynthesis. Even us.

Hope this answers your
question!

Why is photosynthesis important to the survival of all organisms in an ecosystem?Explain in detail.

Photosynthesis is very important to humans and almost every single type of organism on earth. First of all if you think about it, a lot of animals that we eat, eats grass, and other plants. Without plants there wouldn't be enough animals for us to eat. Cows would be gone meaning most of the animals on earth will starve too. Before I get into a lot of details about how important photosynthesis is let me explain what photosynthesis is. I've bet you learned it almost hundreds of time so I'll shorten this explanation. Plants need a source of energy like we humans need food for energy they need the sun. They use the sun, carbon dioxide, and water for energy. They absorb the sun to form hydrogen and oxygen, and as humans breathe in oxygen we pass on carbon dioxide. It's like trading our air for their air. They suck in the carbon dioxide and you guessed it. They breath out oxygen, making it possible for us to breath again.

Now back to the explanation why photosynthesis is a huge part of our lives. Since without photosynthesis we wouldn't even be here on earth, meaning no oxygen. Without oxygen no other animals would live since there would be no plants. Most of them would suffocate in few seconds. I've read somewhere before in the past that if all of the sudden there was no oxygen the whole world would probably suffocate in 3 minutes. Most of the people would not be ready for it, as some coincidentally sucked in air the last second giving them a little more time.

There isn't much to go into detail with since it's really easy to understand once you read it.

Short Answer:

Photosynthesis is important since without it most animals would die in seconds from suffocation without oxygen. Without oxygen means no food too, meaning no animals could eat grass/plants making all of the other organism on the food chain collapsing down into nothing. The whole world's organism would come to an end. Basically meaning everything wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Photosynthesis. Even us.

Hope this answers your question!

What are the main themes in "A Man of the People" by Chinua Achebe?

The main themes are as follows:  the struggle for power, the influence of greed, and the prevailing aura of corruption.

The struggle for power can be seen through both politics and through generations.  In regards to politics, Odili has avoided the influence of the powerful Chief Nanga.  However, he is slowly enticed to Nanga's side through parties, vacations, and other bonuses.  In regards to the generational struggle for power, one needs to look no further than to Odili and his own father.  The father lives in poverty due to the influence and actions of his many wives.  Odili wants more for himself than this poverty, but the irony is, it seems that the way out of poverty is the connection with Nanga that Odili has always avoided.  It isn't long before he finds out that there are strings attached to every loyalty.

In regards to the theme of greed, there is no doubt that Odili wants more than the poverty of his father.  Even though Odili is disgusted by Chief Nanga at the beginning, he is slowly seduced by the wealth involved.  Being invited to ostentatious receptions and parties and mansions truly call to Odili.  Odili's greed is ignited.  After independence from white rule, the country divided its natives into two groups:  the majority were poor, but there was a tiny minority who would serve the whites and, therefore, became rich.  Bribes are prevalent.  People (even those with government sanctioned jobs) are paid to turn their back on injustice. What beckoned to this select few who have more than enough?  Greed.

Finally, connecting the two themes above is the theme of corruption.  Note this pithy statement:

[Nanga is] bloated by the flatulence of ill-gotten wealth, living in a big mansion built with public money, riding in a Cadillac, and watched over by a one-eyed, hired thug.

There is corruption in government (due to bribes and injustice and racism) and there is corruption in financial matters.  Look at the corruption of Chief Nanga:  he continually uses deceitful practices and distribution of wealth to gain followers.  Lavish parties and visits to mansions are the norm for those that give in.  Jobs teaching the poor of the "bush" are what remains if you don't give in.  Closely connected to this is the corruption in finances.  Only those connected with the white ruling class (before and after independence) have money to throw around.  Everyone else is either poverty stricken or just scraping by. 

Can you give me a short and clear definiton of metalingual, paradigm, phatic, and conative?

metalingual - changing between 2 specific languages that may only be : (->) arabic, from english, or the other way around. i know this as my mother is a linguist. it is only, however, w/ those 2 languages.

this was a correction donated on my behalf, tho u shud use the other answer also becoz we may both be right, just in different subject and profession and differing sciences.

i dont no any of the others tho, so lets go w/ the other persons stuff.

also, im 10, and have no idea wut im doing, so, again, ignore me.

Who does Prince Prospero invite to his abbey and why in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

Prince Prospero's name indicates what social class he is in. So, he invites other members of the privileged class:  "a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court."

Like many wealthy and privileged people, Prospero is "happy and dauntless and sagacious."  He feels that his wealth and social standing would exclude him from disease, the "Red Death."  The abbey is fortified with lofty walls and gates of iron.  No one is allowed in or out once the gathering is assembled; consequently, the prince and his guests believe themselves protected as Prospero himself from material harm.

Why does Emily Brontë choose to tell Wuthering Heights the way she does, and how does this possibly affect the reliability of the narrators?

There are three narrative levels in "Wuthering Heights"

1. Primary: The dates 1801 and 1802 in Chs 1 and 32 clearly indicate that the entire novel is a written record of all the incidents narrated to Lockwood by Nelly Dean. He is thus both the primary narrator and the primary narattee. The method of narration is the first person past written method.

2. Secondary: Nelly Dean is the secondary narrator who narrates all the incidents to Lockwood. The method of narration is the first person past/present spoken method. Most of the incidents she narrates  have already taken place, but when she reports the exact words of a character especially during an intensely emotional scene (Ch11) Emily Bronte creates the illusion that the incident is happening just then.

3. Tertiary:  Some of the incidents are first narratred  by the different characters first to Nelly the secondary narrator who in turn narrates them to Lockwood the primary narrator: Heathcliff's oral accounts in Chs6 and 33; Isabella's letter in Ch13 which is read out aloud to Lockwood thus, combining the written and the oral method; Isabella's oral account in Ch17 ; younger Cathy Linton's oral account in Ch24; and Zillah's oral account in Ch30.

A first person narrator is 'unreliable.' Emily Bronte has used 'unreliable' first person narrators to deliberately mystify the shocking incidents in the novel: Catherine's diary entries in Ch3 are suggestive of incest, "we made ... dresser." 

What is learned about Atticus through his dealings with the dog and Mrs.Dubose?"To Kill A MockingBird" by Harper Lee

Atticus displays many positive aspects of his To
Kill a Mockingbird character as well as his parenting skills during the
chapters concerning the mad dog and Mrs. Dubose. Atticus apparently has pledged to never
pick up a gun again following his earlier life as "One-Shot" Finch. But when he sees
that he is the best man for a dangerous job, he rediscoves his deadeye aim once again,
dispatching of Tim Robinson with a single shot to the head. However, Atticus does not
want his children to know of his earlier skills, and cautions Sheriff Tate to "hush." He
is not proud of his skill to kill, but the children soon learn the truth from Miss
Maudie, who explains that "people in their right minds never take pride in their
talents." Atticus' actions display the humility that is part of his
makeup.

When Jem destroys Mrs. Dubose's camellias, Atticus
lets Jem know that his display of destructive temper is not acceptable--no matter the
insults tossed by the old woman. Jem is taught a lesson through his punishment, just as
Atticus expects. He knows the true story behind Mrs. Dubose's request for Jem to read to
her, but he thinks it best not to tell Jem until after her death. As uusual, Atticus
does not mince words with Jem, and the realization of Mrs. Dubose's morphine habit,
coupled with the gift that she has left for him, is almost too much for him to accept.
But Atticus wants Jem to learn from his time spent with her, and his parental wisdom is
just and appropriate.

What is learned about Atticus through his dealings with the dog and Mrs.Dubose?"To Kill A MockingBird" by Harper Lee

Atticus displays many positive aspects of his To Kill a Mockingbird character as well as his parenting skills during the chapters concerning the mad dog and Mrs. Dubose. Atticus apparently has pledged to never pick up a gun again following his earlier life as "One-Shot" Finch. But when he sees that he is the best man for a dangerous job, he rediscoves his deadeye aim once again, dispatching of Tim Robinson with a single shot to the head. However, Atticus does not want his children to know of his earlier skills, and cautions Sheriff Tate to "hush." He is not proud of his skill to kill, but the children soon learn the truth from Miss Maudie, who explains that "people in their right minds never take pride in their talents." Atticus' actions display the humility that is part of his makeup.

When Jem destroys Mrs. Dubose's camellias, Atticus lets Jem know that his display of destructive temper is not acceptable--no matter the insults tossed by the old woman. Jem is taught a lesson through his punishment, just as Atticus expects. He knows the true story behind Mrs. Dubose's request for Jem to read to her, but he thinks it best not to tell Jem until after her death. As uusual, Atticus does not mince words with Jem, and the realization of Mrs. Dubose's morphine habit, coupled with the gift that she has left for him, is almost too much for him to accept. But Atticus wants Jem to learn from his time spent with her, and his parental wisdom is just and appropriate.

What explanations can you give for the father's wallet and the mother's scarf being in the nursery in "The Veldt"?

In "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury, there is a nursery that creates a virtual reality--interestingly, since Bradbury's idea preceded the creation of this technological fact nowadays.  This reality of the nursery is controlled by the thoughts of those inside it;  it is "superreactionary, supersensitive color film and mental tape film behind glass screens."

On two separte entries into the nursery, George experiences the Africa reality; when he goes in alone, he finds an "old wallet" which he shows to Lydia.  On his second visit, he and David McClean discover the "bloody scarf" that George tells the psychologist belongs to Lydia.  Since the wallet has traces of saliva on it when George retrieves it, it seems that a lion has licked or chewed lightly on it, salivating at the scent of the man.  The bloody scarf suggests that the hateful thoughts of the children have gone further.  These items have probably been stolen from George and Lydia's bedroom and brought into the nursery by the children in order to perpetuate the reality of their hatred onto the "superreactionary, supersensitive" environment of the virtual reality of the veldt where thoughts exert control.  Having conditioned Africa sufficiently, the entry of George and Lydia after the children beckon them realizes the hatred of the children who have wished them dead.

Explain Pip's character according to structuralism and psychoanalytic theory in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I just want to know about...

Structuralism is an approach to the human sciences that
attempts to analyze a specific field as a complex system of interrelated parts.  Thus,
meaning is produced and reproduced within a culture through various practices,
phenomena, and activities. Especially after World War II, structuralism rejected the
concept of human freedom and choice; instead it focuses on the way that human behavior
is determined by various structures.

While Charles Dickens
lived much before World War II, his writings evidence this belief in the determination
of human behaior by such various structures.  His character, Mr. Jaggers, often gives
voice to this belief.  For instance, when Pip goes to the lawyer to ask about Estella's
true history, Mr. Jaggers explains why she was given to Miss Havisham to raise; the act
was an attempt to counter the determining control of Victorian society upon the destiny
of the poor:

readability="16">

Put the case that he often saw children solemnly
tried at the criminal bar, where they were held up to be seen; put the case that he
habitually knew of their being imprisoned, whipped, transported, neglected, cast out,
qualified in all ways for the hangman, and growing up to be hanged. ...Put the case that
here was one pretty little child out of the heap, who could be saved....Put the case
that this was
done....

Likewise, the
history of Abel Magwitch witnesses this determination of behavior for one who is born
into what Dickens termed the "prison of poverty."  He tells Pip that to survive, he had
to be involved in

readability="12">

Tramping, begging, thieving, working sometimes
when I could...[he was] a bit of a poacher, ...a bit of a haymaker, a bit of a hawker, a
bit of most things that don't pay and lead to
trouble....

When arrested for
his involvement with Compeyson, Magwitch received the harsher sentence although
Compeyson was the more culpable, because Compeyson looked "the
gentleman."

Similarly, Pip is confined to his class in
Great Expectations.  As a boy, he is told that he is "common."  His
story is one of an individual's growth within a strict social order. Pip's craving for
social advancement outside his own culture is cause for his mistaken values on social
prestige and money.  His narrow view of the world, brought on by his initial low social
status, is, however, much improved by his association with the gentleman Herbert Pocket
and Mr. Jaggers clerk, Mr. Wemmick, who both demonstrate kindness and love.  Through his
experiences, then, Pip's "great expectations" of becoming a gentleman socially mature
into the realization that a true gentleman is one who possesses not merely social
status, but also
humanity.

Explain Pip's character according to structuralism and psychoanalytic theory in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I just want to know about...

Structuralism is an approach to the human sciences that attempts to analyze a specific field as a complex system of interrelated parts.  Thus, meaning is produced and reproduced within a culture through various practices, phenomena, and activities. Especially after World War II, structuralism rejected the concept of human freedom and choice; instead it focuses on the way that human behavior is determined by various structures.

While Charles Dickens lived much before World War II, his writings evidence this belief in the determination of human behaior by such various structures.  His character, Mr. Jaggers, often gives voice to this belief.  For instance, when Pip goes to the lawyer to ask about Estella's true history, Mr. Jaggers explains why she was given to Miss Havisham to raise; the act was an attempt to counter the determining control of Victorian society upon the destiny of the poor:

Put the case that he often saw children solemnly tried at the criminal bar, where they were held up to be seen; put the case that he habitually knew of their being imprisoned, whipped, transported, neglected, cast out, qualified in all ways for the hangman, and growing up to be hanged. ...Put the case that here was one pretty little child out of the heap, who could be saved....Put the case that this was done....

Likewise, the history of Abel Magwitch witnesses this determination of behavior for one who is born into what Dickens termed the "prison of poverty."  He tells Pip that to survive, he had to be involved in

Tramping, begging, thieving, working sometimes when I could...[he was] a bit of a poacher, ...a bit of a haymaker, a bit of a hawker, a bit of most things that don't pay and lead to trouble....

When arrested for his involvement with Compeyson, Magwitch received the harsher sentence although Compeyson was the more culpable, because Compeyson looked "the gentleman."

Similarly, Pip is confined to his class in Great Expectations.  As a boy, he is told that he is "common."  His story is one of an individual's growth within a strict social order. Pip's craving for social advancement outside his own culture is cause for his mistaken values on social prestige and money.  His narrow view of the world, brought on by his initial low social status, is, however, much improved by his association with the gentleman Herbert Pocket and Mr. Jaggers clerk, Mr. Wemmick, who both demonstrate kindness and love.  Through his experiences, then, Pip's "great expectations" of becoming a gentleman socially mature into the realization that a true gentleman is one who possesses not merely social status, but also humanity.

What were the Prince of Morocco's reasons for choosing the gold casket in "The Merchant of Venice"?i have my exams monday 6!! and i don't that answer

The Prince of Morocco is a very arrogant man. He thinks he is above the lead casket: "Hazard for lead?...A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross" (2.7.21-24). Nor will he choose the silver as it is inscribed with: Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves" (2.7.27-28). The Prince thinks he deserves much more!

He chooses the gold as he believes that gold and the Lady, Portia, are what we should possess and what he deserves but he is fooled by his own arrogance as All that glisters is not gold!

Can you please summarize Stephen Bandy's Criticism "one of my babies" for O'conner story " a good man is hard to find"?thanks

Stephen Bandy basically disagrees with Flannery O'Connor's
explanation of her own short story. He agrees with D. H. Lawrence who says we should
"trust the art but not the artist." He believes that in spite of what O'Connor says
about the message of Christian grace, there IS no redeeming grace for any of the
characters in this short story. He says that while the story's themes center on the
Christian view of faith, death and salvation, the story's message is pessimistic and
"subversive" to the message of Christianity. He says the story speaks for itself and
that the author should not speak for the story.

Flannery
O'Connor has remarked that she was always surprised when people told her the grandmother
in the story was evil. It was her intent to show that the grandmother was able to
exhibit grace at the end of the story. Most people that read the story miss
this.

The "art" of this story is the fact that it is so
deep that it inspires lots of great discussions.

Can you please summarize Stephen Bandy's Criticism "one of my babies" for O'conner story " a good man is hard to find"?thanks

Stephen Bandy basically disagrees with Flannery O'Connor's explanation of her own short story. He agrees with D. H. Lawrence who says we should "trust the art but not the artist." He believes that in spite of what O'Connor says about the message of Christian grace, there IS no redeeming grace for any of the characters in this short story. He says that while the story's themes center on the Christian view of faith, death and salvation, the story's message is pessimistic and "subversive" to the message of Christianity. He says the story speaks for itself and that the author should not speak for the story.

Flannery O'Connor has remarked that she was always surprised when people told her the grandmother in the story was evil. It was her intent to show that the grandmother was able to exhibit grace at the end of the story. Most people that read the story miss this.

The "art" of this story is the fact that it is so deep that it inspires lots of great discussions.

In A Separate Peace, how do Gene and Finny act as a foil to each other?

A foil in literature is someone that makes another character seem better by contrast. Since A Separate Peace is narrated from Gene's point of view, his insecurities are pitted against Finny's greatest talents. For example, Gene feels insecure because he compares his introverted self and academic achievement with Finny's extroverted personality and athletic abilities. This does not provide the satisfaction he is seeking because it is as if he is comparing the proverbial apples to oranges. As many people do, Gene sees his weaknesses in Finny's strengths. Little did he know, however, that Finny may also harbor some jealous feelings. When Gene asks Finny if he would mind if Gene graduated at the first of the class, Finny says the following:

"'Mind?' Two clear green-blue eyes looked at me. 'Fat chance you've got, anyway, with Chet Douglass around'

'But you wouldn't mind, would you?' I repeated in a lower and more distinct voice.

He gave me that half-smile of his, which had won him a thousand conflicts. 'I'd kill myself out of jealous envy'" (52).

Now, whether or not Finny was serious is arguable, but the physical and mental contrasts between Gene and Phineas are sure. Finny's weaknesses in academics highlight Gene's strengths, whereas Genes weaknesses in athletics help to highlight Finny's strengths in that area. In an ironic twist though, Finny loses his ability to use his athletic strengths when Gene makes him fall out of the tree and he breaks his leg. Doctors say he will never be able to use it for sports again.

As unfortunate as the accidents is, Gene didn't intend to get Finny out of the way by jouncing the tree limb; he was just trying to make Finny look foolish for once during an athletic endeavor because they had just been arguing. Gene didn't want Finny to lose his athletic abilities for good, but once that does happen, Gene is able to become a better person. This is where the true nature of Gene and Finny as foils makes a difference in the story. Finny suffers a traumatic event that spirals him into depression and denial about the war. Gene wrestles with his conscience and how to be a better friend after witnessing and experiencing his own vengeful feelings exposed toward someone who was supposed to be his best friend. Had Finny not broken his leg and declined in his strength of character, though, Gene would not have been able to rise up out of his jealous nature to become a better person. In the end, Gene explains it best as follows:

"I never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I ever put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there" (204).

In summary, Finny seemed to be the strong, more dominant character at the beginning of the story, but he declined physically and mentally in the end. Conversely, Gene seemed to be the weak one at the beginning of the story and ends up being the stronger one. This is the perfect example of foil characters in literature because by contrasting both boys throughout the novel, one seems better than the other at different times and for different reasons. 

What is the inciting incident in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

The inciting incident is the event without which the conflict and therefore, plot, of the novel would not occur. In that case, it can be argued that the day that Tom went into the Ewell house as Mayella requested and she kissed him is the inciting incident--it's the basis of the trail that the book focuses on.

However, Scout claims that "it all started the summer Dill came to us." She says that it was his idea to make Boo Radley come out--and that's what eventually happens at the end of the novel, as a result of the trial and Bob Ewell's reaction to it. The kids are more focused on making Boo Radley come out and that is their "conflict" until the book takes a more serious shift in Part Two.

In "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz," how is Duddy a parent to both his brother and his father?

Duddy is immediately fighting a battle he should not have to fight.  He is mostly forgotten or looked down upon by his father and uncle, who focus on the "successful brother," Lennie.  The grandfather is the only one who Duddy can find sympathy from and relate to.  Duddy is the more mature one, in some regards, because he is trying to get his father and family members to see that he deserves attention, as well, and that they should not focus on Lennie only.  Also, Duddy has been forced to grow up quickly because of the situations in his life and because of having little support, so he has experienced more at the age of 19 than most might experience in twice that age. 

Test the series for convergence or divergence. sum[(-1)^n*(n/ln(n)) n=2..infinity] show steps

To test the convergence of (-1)^n*n/ln for
n=2,3,....infinity,

Solution:

Sn
= (2/ln2-3/ln3) +
(4/ln4-5/ln5)+.....2n/ln2n-9n+1)ln(2n+1)+....

We study the
difference (2n/ln - 2ln2n+1)

We know that (1+x)^n
 >1+nx > nx .Or

n/ln(1+x) > ln(nx) .
Or

n/ln(1+1)> lnn for x=1.
Or

n/ln n >1/ln2. l/ln x is a continuous increasing
function.

Therefore (n+1)/ln(n+1) - n/ln is posititive . So
we can use cauchy's condensation test.

The Series Sn = Sum
(2n+1)/ln(2n+1) -2n/ln(2n) and  sum Vn a^2n {a^(2n+1)/lna^(2n+1) - a^(2n)/lna^(2n)]
where a is a a number >=2 behave alike.

Simplifying
Vn:

Vn = a^(4n){a/[a/(2n+1)ln a] - 1/2nln
a}

=
(a^2n/lna){(a*2n-2n-1)/[(2n+1)(2n)]}

= (a^4n/lna){ 2n(a
-1)+1]/[(2n)(2n+1)]}

= (a^4n/(2n+1){(a-1
 +1/(2n)}{1/lna}

Taking limit a^4n/(2n+1) is unbounded. The
other factor {a-1 +1/(2n){1/lna} is a finite
quantity,

Therefore, Sum Vn diverges.And  Sn = Sum
(2n+1)/ln(2n+1) -2n/ln(2n) should behave
similarly.

Therefore , -Sn = Sum -[(2n+1)/ln(2n+1)
-2n/ln(2n) ] = Sum{2n/ln2n - ( 2n+1)/ ln(2n+1)] should also
diverge.

Test the series for convergence or divergence. sum[(-1)^n*(n/ln(n)) n=2..infinity] show steps

To test the convergence of (-1)^n*n/ln for n=2,3,....infinity,

Solution:

Sn = (2/ln2-3/ln3) + (4/ln4-5/ln5)+.....2n/ln2n-9n+1)ln(2n+1)+....

We study the difference (2n/ln - 2ln2n+1)

We know that (1+x)^n  >1+nx > nx .Or

n/ln(1+x) > ln(nx) . Or

n/ln(1+1)> lnn for x=1. Or

n/ln n >1/ln2. l/ln x is a continuous increasing function.

Therefore (n+1)/ln(n+1) - n/ln is posititive . So we can use cauchy's condensation test.

The Series Sn = Sum (2n+1)/ln(2n+1) -2n/ln(2n) and  sum Vn a^2n {a^(2n+1)/lna^(2n+1) - a^(2n)/lna^(2n)] where a is a a number >=2 behave alike.

Simplifying Vn:

Vn = a^(4n){a/[a/(2n+1)ln a] - 1/2nln a}

= (a^2n/lna){(a*2n-2n-1)/[(2n+1)(2n)]}

= (a^4n/lna){ 2n(a -1)+1]/[(2n)(2n+1)]}

= (a^4n/(2n+1){(a-1  +1/(2n)}{1/lna}

Taking limit a^4n/(2n+1) is unbounded. The other factor {a-1 +1/(2n){1/lna} is a finite quantity,

Therefore, Sum Vn diverges.And  Sn = Sum (2n+1)/ln(2n+1) -2n/ln(2n) should behave similarly.

Therefore , -Sn = Sum -[(2n+1)/ln(2n+1) -2n/ln(2n) ] = Sum{2n/ln2n - ( 2n+1)/ ln(2n+1)] should also diverge.

Chapter 18, how well does Mr. Gilmer prove Tom's guilt in the eyes of the reader, the eyes of the jury, and why might these be different?

Mr. Gilmer does not prove Tom's guilt at all.  Atticus does far more to prove Tom's innocence and how it was Bob Ewell who beat Mayella, but the town refuses to go against a white man's word over a black man's.  The prejudice aganist African Americans was so strong in Maycomb County that the jury would allow an obviously innocent man to go to jail than to turn against one of "their own", even if Bob Ewell was known to be an abusive alcoholic.  It is painfully obvious to the reader that Tom was wrongly accused, but as merely an observer, the reader, much like Atticus, is helpless and can do nothing but watch the events unfold.  Even though Atticus knew he would lose the case, he had hoped to get an appeal to a higher court and get out of Maycomb County.  Unfortunately, Tom didn't believe in the justice system and ran; and the police shot him more than twenty times.

Why did the Harlem renaissance happen and what was it?

The Harlem Renaissance was a blossoming of African
American intellectual life in the 1920s and 1930s centered in the Harlem neighborhood of
New York City. The movement resulted in an explosion of African American art, music, and
literature and included such names as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurtson, Jean Toomer,
James Weldon Johnson, Aaron Douglas, Billie Holliday, and many, many
others.

Two primary factors facilitated the Harlem
Renaissance: the Great Migration and World War I. The Great Migration involved thousands
of African Americans moving to northern cities and concentrating themselves in
communities where they could support one another. After World War I, industrialization
provided greater job opportunities and more prosperity to support cultural and artistic
endeavors.

Why did the Harlem renaissance happen and what was it?

The Harlem Renaissance was a blossoming of African American intellectual life in the 1920s and 1930s centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The movement resulted in an explosion of African American art, music, and literature and included such names as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurtson, Jean Toomer, James Weldon Johnson, Aaron Douglas, Billie Holliday, and many, many others.

Two primary factors facilitated the Harlem Renaissance: the Great Migration and World War I. The Great Migration involved thousands of African Americans moving to northern cities and concentrating themselves in communities where they could support one another. After World War I, industrialization provided greater job opportunities and more prosperity to support cultural and artistic endeavors.

What does Romeo mean when he says, "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,/Who is already sick and pale with grief"?

Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is a sort of ode or tribute or homage to youth and young love. On summer nights young boys and girls find their youth a burden because they can't sleep--and probably don't want to sleep even if they could. While the old folks in the play have been sound asleep and snoring away for hours, the young men are wandering the streets burning up their excess energy. In those times maidens were securely locked up to keep them away from these passionate young men for pretty obvious reasons. Juliet is such a prisoner. Romeo can leap over her wall to get a look at her--but he can't get any closer than that. Juliet hasn't been asleep either. Convention is telling her one thing and nature is telling her another. 

The young people have stayed up so late that it is getting close to daybreak. That's the main point of all this talk about the sun and the moon. We can see the moon in the daytime, but it always looks pale white and lacks the gold color that makes it beautiful by night. We can estimate that the time is around five in the morning. Romeo uses a poetic cliche when he says that Juliet is the moon's maid. He compares Juliet to the sun and at the same time to the moon's handmaiden. Juliet is "far more fair" than the moon regardless of whether it is nighttime or broad daylight. That is why Romeo is comparing Juliet to the sun. Shakespeare is deliberately breaking with conventional poetic symbolism because comparing a girl to the moon is something that has been done to death by poets of Shakespeare's time and long before that.

When Romeo says, "Arise, fair sun," he is thinking both of Juliet and of the real sun. He is comparing Juliet to the sun as a deliberate flouting of poetic language, and he is also thinking that when the real sun actually rises, as it will do quite soon, then there is a better chance that Juliet will wake up and appear on the balcony. It doesn't occur to Romeo that Juliet is having trouble sleeping too--and for the same reasons. He is thinking that when she does appear on the balcony she will be such a beautiful sight that she will seem like the sun. Naturally her brilliance will kill the moon, just as the real sun is so brilliant that it shuts off the lights of all the stars and planets and will sometimes, but not always, shut off the moonlight completely. On this particular night the moon may be full and also very close to the earth, so it would be hard for the sun to obliterate the moon completely. We have all been struck by seeing a big, white full moon in the sky when it is the middle of a bright summer day. 

What Romeo says about the moon being sick and pale with grief is nothing but a poetic conceit. He is trying to flatter the girl he loves with extravagant praises. It is a poetic conceit on the part of Romeo and, of course, a poetic conceit on the part of his creator William Shakespeare. The moon is actually losing its gold color and turning white, or pale, because the sun is rising and the sky is getting brighter.

Perhaps the most striking thing about this famous balcony scene is that it is getting close to daylight and these young people--so enviably to us older types--are not even thinking about going to bed. They are full of sublime youthful exuberance and the stirrings of sexual passion. One of the characters in a William Faulkner novel, an old man, speaks this way of youth:

To be young. To be young. There is nothing else like it: there is nothing else in the world.
                            --William Faulkner, Light in August

What character provides the focal point for the story "The Magic Barrel"?

The focal point of this story is Leo Finkle.  He is the one who is searching for love and determined to start the next path of his life by finding the right love.  Through him, readers are able to experience the struggle of a young adult desperately trying to understand himself and the world around him.  It is through religion that Leo has learned to explain the world, but  he is struggling with his faith and his ability to "come to God."  Through his search for love, readers see his search to accept and embrace his faith. 

If the focal point of the story was another character, then the themes mentioned would be lost.  If, for example, Salzman was the focal, then readers would be experiencing the struggles of a parent with a disobedient child - a much different type of human conflict than the one outlined above.

Who is Calpurnia in "To Kill a Mockingbird"? What is her place in the Finch household?

Aside from her roles as cook, housekeeper, and nanny, Calpurnia (who is African-American) is a kind of substitute mother figure for Scout and Jem.  Since their own mother has died, Calpurnia provides them with the kind of maternal guidance, supervision, love, and correction they might otherwise lack.  Just as Atticus is a kind of ideal father figure in this novel, so Calpurnia -- with her wisdom, common sense, and strength of character -- functions as a kind of ideal mother figure.  Certainly she is a more appealing maternal figure than many of the other women in the book, including the young school teacher and the bossy aunt (Atticus's sister).  As the scene in the African-American church indicates, Calpurnia is a representative of Christianity at its best.  In that scene and indeed throughout the novel, she displays such virtues as love, kindness, and acceptance.  However, she also displays the strength of character that helps to make her such an impressive and admirable figure throughout the novel.

How does Bradbury make the Mechanical Hound seem evil, menacing and destructive?

In addition to the above, for me what makes the mechanical
hound seem so menacing and destructive is that, for the most part, it can't be
stopped. 

A real dog, no matter how large and ferocious, is
not as indestructible as the mechanical hound seems to be.  A dog can be fought against,
at least.  A rock or a big stick, whatever, can ward off a dog; not to mention a piece
of meat.  But the mechanical hound does not stop, will not back off, will not lose
interest if you show submission.  The mechanical hound leaves a human with no options. 
That's scary.

Except one, of course:  fire.  But unless you
happen to have a flamethrower with you, you're out of luck against a mechanical
hound--or at least that's how it seems. 

Finally, the
mechanical hound itself is not evil, since it's a machine.  The people who program it
are evil, but the hound itself is not.

How does Bradbury make the Mechanical Hound seem evil, menacing and destructive?

In addition to the above, for me what makes the mechanical hound seem so menacing and destructive is that, for the most part, it can't be stopped. 

A real dog, no matter how large and ferocious, is not as indestructible as the mechanical hound seems to be.  A dog can be fought against, at least.  A rock or a big stick, whatever, can ward off a dog; not to mention a piece of meat.  But the mechanical hound does not stop, will not back off, will not lose interest if you show submission.  The mechanical hound leaves a human with no options.  That's scary.

Except one, of course:  fire.  But unless you happen to have a flamethrower with you, you're out of luck against a mechanical hound--or at least that's how it seems. 

Finally, the mechanical hound itself is not evil, since it's a machine.  The people who program it are evil, but the hound itself is not.

The temperatures on Mercury range from 430` in the day to -170` at night. Please explain why the temperature varies so much..

Mercury receives intense solar radiation because it is so close to the sun. The sun beats down on it, heating it to, as you note, an insanely high temperature. However, Mercury really doesn't have an atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere is what allows it to retain solar radiation. Mercury doesn't have that, so any part of the planet that isn't in direct sun quickly loses its heat, radiating back into the vacuum. Mercury has a very long night, and that means the planet has lots of time to lose heat. The result? Very extreme temperatures.

In Great Expectations, how does Pip attempt to protect Magwitch?

When Abel Magwitch suddenly appears at Pip's apartment and informs Pip that he is the benefactor, Pip's dreams are shattered because he has built his "great expectations" upon an unmentionable in society, deserting Joe for a repellent convict.  Sitll, he worries about the convict's safety having heard footsteps on the stairs.  Since Magwitch can be recognized in London and he faces certain death if caught, Pip suggests that Magwitch pass as his "uncle," using his shipboard name of Provis.  "Provis" agrees and gives Pip a thick pocketbook.

Later on, Pip visits Mr. Wemmick, who suggests that Pip lodge Magwitch at the house of Herbert's fiancee, who lives with her father in a quiet house away from "the usual heap of streets" and Pip can easily get news of Magwitch, and then, when the time is write Pip can "slip" Magwitch out when the time is right since the house is near a shipyard.

One morning Pip gets a letter advising him to enact his plan; he and Herbert put Provis, now lodged as "Campbell" on a small boat that they row, intending to reach near Kent and Essez; from there the ex-convict can jump onto the steamer for Hamburg. During the night, Pip and Herbert see two men peering into their boat.and the captain demands Abel Magwitch be turned over to the authorities.  The next morning as they prepare to board a steamer, a four=oared galley shoots out from the bank a little ways beyond them. The two boats come alongside each other and the galley's steersman calls on them to surrender Magwitch, driving his boat into Pip's.  Magwitch pulls the cloak off the man sitting in the other boat--it is Compeyson.  Magwitch, taken aboard the other boy, attacks Compeyson; they fall into the water.  Magwitch appears with a severe chest injury and a deep cut in the head, but here is no sign of Compeyson.

After this incident, Pip loses his repugnance for Jarvis.  Now he only sees a man who wanted to repay a kindness.  He visits Magwitch in the prison hospital and is by his side when Magwitch dies.