What impact did the Vietnam war have on Vietnam and Cambodia?

Well, of course the Vietnam War was very devastating to
the country of Vietnam.  Both the North and South were hurt badly.  In the North, there
was a lot of bombing by American planes.  There were also lots and lots of soldiers who
were killed in combat.  Finally, the people had to make do with very little in the way
of food and other necessities during the war.

In the South,
the US sprayed Agent Orange to kill plants.  This hurt the people economically (killed
crops) and it led to major health problems for many people.  As in the North, many
people were killed by both sides.  Many people were moved from their homes and became
refugees.

So, as you would expect from a war that went on
for years, it really hurt the Vietnamese people a lot.

What impact did the Vietnam war have on Vietnam and Cambodia?

Well, of course the Vietnam War was very devastating to the country of Vietnam.  Both the North and South were hurt badly.  In the North, there was a lot of bombing by American planes.  There were also lots and lots of soldiers who were killed in combat.  Finally, the people had to make do with very little in the way of food and other necessities during the war.

In the South, the US sprayed Agent Orange to kill plants.  This hurt the people economically (killed crops) and it led to major health problems for many people.  As in the North, many people were killed by both sides.  Many people were moved from their homes and became refugees.

So, as you would expect from a war that went on for years, it really hurt the Vietnamese people a lot.

When the members stand in magic circle: How does Propspero deal with each four principals in turn? How does each react? Which of the four says...

When Prospero creates the magic circle, he deals with
Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo in turn.  Prospero blames Alonso for being blind
and irrational to the crimes going on around him.  He says that Alonso allowed Antonio
to use Prospero and Miranda for his own political gain.  Prospero goes on to blame both
Sebastian and Antonio for consipiring to murder Alonso, and he also blames Antonio for
usurping him from his position as the Duke of Milan.  Prospero believes that Gonzalo is
the only honorable man in the bunch.  After the circle is lifted, Alonso is repentent,
yet Sebastian and Antonio remain quiet; in fact Antonio says nothing while Sebastian
claims that Prospero must have the "devil in him."

When the members stand in magic circle: How does Propspero deal with each four principals in turn? How does each react? Which of the four says...

When Prospero creates the magic circle, he deals with Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo in turn.  Prospero blames Alonso for being blind and irrational to the crimes going on around him.  He says that Alonso allowed Antonio to use Prospero and Miranda for his own political gain.  Prospero goes on to blame both Sebastian and Antonio for consipiring to murder Alonso, and he also blames Antonio for usurping him from his position as the Duke of Milan.  Prospero believes that Gonzalo is the only honorable man in the bunch.  After the circle is lifted, Alonso is repentent, yet Sebastian and Antonio remain quiet; in fact Antonio says nothing while Sebastian claims that Prospero must have the "devil in him."

What are examples of satire involving education, court system, religion, and democracy in "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

First, it is important to understand what we mean by a satire. Satire is often likened to irony because it is meant to show abuses or shortcomings. 

In the educational system, we see the rules are ignored. Students should be in school but this is not really enforced. Many show up for a day or two and disappear.

In the judicial system, equality and fairness is seen as a farce because a many is wrongfully convicted just because he is a black man. This ties in with the idea of democracy because evben though Tom was entitled to a fair trial, he really did not get one and this system did not work for him.

In religion, where we are not supposed to judge and all should be accepted, we see Jem and Scout unaccepted in a black church because they are white until they people realize their dad is helping Tom.

How do each of the main characters represents good and evil in Othello?

Is Desdemona really good? Her character can be interpreted in different ways and critics have viewed the play from different views. How would the audience's reaction be towards Desdemona if she really was cheating on Othello with Cassio. Some arguments that these critics would give are:

In Act 3, Scene 3 when Iago says: "She did deceive her father, marrying you;/And when she seemed to shake, and fear your looks,/She loved them most." (l. 205-207) This indicates that if she coud deceive her father, she could also deceive Othello.

Also, Cassio constantly refers to Desdemona as "divine" (2:1 l. 73) and talks about her as if she is a goddess.

However, you don't have to agree with this. I personally believe that she was innocent, but this aspect gives the story an interesting twist.

Ralph and Piggy prayed for a "sign" from the grown-up world and have been given one. Explain the significance.

At the end of chapter five, Ralph and Piggy wish for a grownup sign to help them because they can feel that the structure of the group is being torn apart. Unbeknownst to the boys, a dead parachutist lands on the top of the mountain where the signal fire is kept. This is significant because a sign has been sent, but it is wrongly interpreted by the twins, Sam and Eric. They see the dead parachutist and assume that it is the beast that has finally shown itself. Instead of this sign bring hope to the boys, it brings despair and fear.

What are a few lessons that could be learned from the entire book TKAM other than lessons about the racism found in Maycomb?

Another lesson is one of conformity.  Boo Radley refused to conform to his father's beliefs, and the result was that his father contributed to his isolation and pain.  Nathan Jr. showed his willingness to continue that by cementing up the tree, but dangers of conformity is repeated through many different characters other than Boo.

Scout is berated for learning to read because it does not conform with the expectation that *school* should teach her that.  She's different from her classmates; therefore, something's wrong.

Dolphus Raymond doesn't conform by having a family with a black woman, and he must pretend to be the town drunk to avoid a confrontation with racists who would otherwise see a sober white man as too good for a black woman.

Jem conforms to the norms at school and tells Scout that while they'll continue to play together at home, she'll see that school is just different.

Even the Tom issue can be seen in terms of conformity.  Tom broke the norms of that society... he felt sorry for a white woman (which implied he felt superior to her).  By doing this, he made himself a target for those who want to maintain the status quo (namely that blacks are inferior and cannot ever feel sorry for whites)

How is "Zigzag Way" a part of postcolonial literature?

Postcolonial literature deals with many themes, the strongest of which is the struggle of a culture to deal with outside forces and influences.  The history of the Cornish miners and their immigrant lifestyle in Mexico echoes this theme.  These group of individuals were bringing their own culture and patterns of behavior to a new and unknown world.  They had to learn to adjust to the new environment while trying to maintain their sense of self - a difficult struggle, and one that happened during colonial and postcolonial times.  A new group would enter, or would leave, and the environment of a country would change.  The inhabitants were forced to react and adjust and, often, change their behaviors.  The Cornish workers were in this position.

Despite their struggles, however, these workers were the invading force.  They changed the environment with their pursuit of mining, regardless of the wishes of the natives.  As happened in many a colonial culture, a revolution upended the community and the Cornish workers scattered.  But they left behind their influence in the form of the mines.  The Huichol Indians, the natives, are suffering at the cruelty of the mines - a creation that is not native to their soil.  This is analagous to the postcolonial communities in Africa who were suffering in a capitalistic economy that was left by the Western invaders.

Comment on the way Scout affects events without realizing it at the time in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Scout turns the crowd away by addressing Mr. Cunningham directly and speaking about his son, Walter.  She connects with him through his son and speaks about what a good person Walter is...she continues to speak about how Atticus has helped them (the Cunninghams) and how Atticus always talks about how important it is to help others and to be good people.  This effects Mr. Cunningham because it makes him consider the reasons they are there at the jail.  He rethinks those reasons and "calls off the dogs" so to speak.  He addresses the mob and tells them to go home, while telling Scout that he will definitely tell Walter she said, "hello".

Go back and read this part of the chapter to see if you can pick up on how the tension melts away in this scene and what Scout says.  She does this more to ease her own discomfort than to change the mood of the crowd, but Atticus understands how it is effecting the men so he allows her to continue talking.

How is the American Dream related to Death of a Salesman? How does it relates to some other characters in the book?

the american dream is closely related to arthur
miller'(death of a salesman).willy,the protagonist,has adifferent view about American
Dream.he thinks that success is so easy to come,just be 'well liked' and you will catch
anything in life and ensue success.all his measures about the american dream are
materialistic,to gain much money and good family mean that you achieve success.on the
hand,his son Biff,has adifferent opinion about success,his view about the American Dream
contain passions and feelings,he believes that the real success in life is to happy and
comfortable,not to just cllect piles of dollars.

from my
point of view.the idea of the american dream is considered to be the major message in
(death of a salesman),miller wants ,through his play,to expose the consequences of the
materialistic american dream._willy lives and dies for the illusion of the american
dream,his american dream.

How is the American Dream related to Death of a Salesman? How does it relates to some other characters in the book?

the american dream is closely related to arthur miller'(death of a salesman).willy,the protagonist,has adifferent view about American Dream.he thinks that success is so easy to come,just be 'well liked' and you will catch anything in life and ensue success.all his measures about the american dream are materialistic,to gain much money and good family mean that you achieve success.on the hand,his son Biff,has adifferent opinion about success,his view about the American Dream contain passions and feelings,he believes that the real success in life is to happy and comfortable,not to just cllect piles of dollars.

from my point of view.the idea of the american dream is considered to be the major message in (death of a salesman),miller wants ,through his play,to expose the consequences of the materialistic american dream._willy lives and dies for the illusion of the american dream,his american dream.

A certain polyhedron has 6 vertices and 9 edges. Determine the number of faces on this polyhedron.

Descates (in 1639) has given us the relation between the 
vertices , faces and edges of any polyhedron  or any plane figure bounded by sraight
edges, plane polygonal faces and vertices.It is popularly known as Euler's formula(Euler
rediscovered it in 1751) or Euler's theorem and proved by Cahchy  also in
1811 :

The number of vertices+ number of faces = number of
edges +2. Or V+F = E+2. Substitute the given values , V=6 and E = 9  and we get: 6+F =
9+2 . So F = 9+2-6  = 5..

A certain polyhedron has 6 vertices and 9 edges. Determine the number of faces on this polyhedron.

Descates (in 1639) has given us the relation between the  vertices , faces and edges of any polyhedron  or any plane figure bounded by sraight edges, plane polygonal faces and vertices.It is popularly known as Euler's formula(Euler rediscovered it in 1751) or Euler's theorem and proved by Cahchy  also in 1811 :

The number of vertices+ number of faces = number of edges +2. Or V+F = E+2. Substitute the given values , V=6 and E = 9  and we get: 6+F = 9+2 . So F = 9+2-6  = 5..

I need some quotes from Macbeth, listed with the theme and technique/feature that fits with the quote.

Here are the major themes of
Macbeth:

• Ambition
  can subvert
  reason:

readability="8">

“From this moment,the very firstlings of my shall
be the firstlings of my hand.” –Act IV, Scene
1

AND

“Thou
wouldst be great; art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend
it.” –Act I, Scene
5

• When
  supernatural powers represent evil, they should be ignored.
  

“But ‘tis strange! And
oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us
with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence.” –Act I, Scene
3

AND

“Accursed be the tongue that tells me so, for it
hath cowed my better part of man! And be these juggling fiends no more believed.” –Act
V, Scene
8

• The
  natural order is disrupted by any upset in the proper order of human
  society.

“By
the clock ‘tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. Is’t night’s
predominance, or day’s shame, that darkness does the face of earth entomb when living
light should kiss it?” –Act II, Scene
4

AND

“The obscure bird clamored the livelong night.
Some say the earth was feverous and did shake.” –Act II, Scene
3

• Appearances
  do not always reflect
  reality.

“There’s
no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built
an absolute trust.” –Act I, Scene
4

AND

“Our separated fortune shall keep us both the
safer. Where we are, there’s in men’s smiles; the near in blood, the nearer
bloody.” –Act II, Scene
3

• Despite
  prophecies of the future, people are responsible for their own
  actions.

“If
you can look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not,
speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear your favors nor your hate.” –Act I, Scene
3

I need some quotes from Macbeth, listed with the theme and technique/feature that fits with the quote.

Here are the major themes of Macbeth:

• Ambition can subvert reason:

“From this moment,the very firstlings of my shall be the firstlings of my hand.” –Act IV, Scene 1

AND

“Thou wouldst be great; art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.” –Act I, Scene 5

• When supernatural powers represent evil, they should be ignored.

“But ‘tis strange! And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence.” –Act I, Scene 3

AND

“Accursed be the tongue that tells me so, for it hath cowed my better part of man! And be these juggling fiends no more believed.” –Act V, Scene 8

• The natural order is disrupted by any upset in the proper order of human society.

“By the clock ‘tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. Is’t night’s predominance, or day’s shame, that darkness does the face of earth entomb when living light should kiss it?” –Act II, Scene 4

AND

“The obscure bird clamored the livelong night. Some say the earth was feverous and did shake.” –Act II, Scene 3

• Appearances do not always reflect reality.

“There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.” –Act I, Scene 4

AND

“Our separated fortune shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, there’s in men’s smiles; the near in blood, the nearer bloody.” –Act II, Scene 3

• Despite prophecies of the future, people are responsible for their own actions.

“If you can look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear your favors nor your hate.” –Act I, Scene 3

What is a “lottery”? How does the title lead you to expect something very different from what the story presents?

The practice of casting and drawing lots to make a decision is ancient. It is mentioned in the Old Testament. For instance, when King David was planning war against the Philistines, he had the high priest cast the "Urim and Thummim," the stones that would tell him yes or no. This was supposed to have been God's way of telling them what to do.

In a sense, when we toss a coin and call heads or tails, we are casting lots. However, when we use the word "lottery" today, we don't usually think of making a decision. We think of a big jackpot just waiting to be won. So if we read the story in anticipation that someone is going to get a big prize in the end, we'll be very shocked when we find out the real result of this lottery.

See the link below for an interesting article about the history of casting lots.

In A Doll's House, would Nora be able to remarry after leaving her husband?What were 19th century attitudes toward divorced women?

If she obtains a legal divorce, then certainly Nora will be able to remarry. In 19th century Norway, however, both parties had to consent to the divorce, so what if her husband refuses?

If she is Catholic, she cannot have a church wedding unless her first marriage is annulled, and since she has three children, it is unlikely that the church would declare her marriage unconsummated. She could have a civil ceremony or be married in a Protestant church.

Her first husband would have custody of the children, not only because she initiated the divorce but also because she abandoned them. She would also lose all rights to whatever property she had brought into the marriage, since only husbands could own land.

Negative attitudes toward divorced women carried over into the 20th century. When Edward VIII of England had to step down from the throne of England when he married Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced woman.

Who are the round, flat, static, and dynamic characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream?

In A Midsummer Night's Dream there is certainly a range of round, dynamic characters who stand out from the flat, static characters because in literature, it is necessary to use different types of characters who serve different purposes and therefore audiences and readers come across the well-rounded characters to whom they can easily relate, those who are complex and have character traits which define them and which often cause conflicting emotions within those characters. These are usually the dynamic characters and the audience watches those characters develop over time and often change their stance. 

In contrast, flat characters are almost one-dimensional and uncomplicated and display only a few character traits which remain consistent but from which the audience or reader cannot really gain an understanding of the character. These are usually the static characters who have no bearing on the advances within the story and do not change because of them. Unlike dynamic characters, they do not experience personal growth before or after the events of the play or story. 

In the play, the audience learns a lot about Hermia. She is a determined character and must find a way to defy her father's demands that she marry Demetrius when she loves Lysander. If she does not marry Demetrius, her father intends to send her to a nunnery. Hermia does not intend to "yield my virgin patent up" (I.i.80) meaning that she will not marry Demetrius and so, taking matters into their own hands, Hermia and Lysander run away into the forest. She will be one of the more rounded and certainly dynamic characters in the play as she has to develop and change and adapt to her shifting circumstances.  

The most obvious flat and static characters would be Bottom and his crew who serve an important purpose in relieving the tension within the play but who do not contribute to the outcomes. Their characters do not change throughout.  

What is the conflict, rising action and climax in "Bud, Not Buddy"?

The conflict in Bud, Not Buddy is Bud's situation after his mother dies and he is left in the care of the state.  He is placed in a foster home with an abusive family and runs away to find the man he believes is his father.

The rising action follows Bud's escape from his foster family and his days "on the lam".  He is helped by an "adopted family" on the food line at the mission in Flint, Michigan, and a kind librarian at the local library.  Bud then runs into his street-wise friend Bugs, and the two spend time at "Hooverville", a makeshift enclave where the homeless gather.  It is in Hooverville that Bud encounters the unforgettable Deza Malone, and receives his first kiss.  Bud then heads for Grand Rapids where he thinks his father is, getting a ride from Lefty Lewis, a mysterious man who delivers blood to the hospitals.

The climax of the story is when Bud reaches his destination, and meets the boys in the band and the man he believes is his father, Herman E. Calloway.

The remainder of the story represents the falling action.  Bud is taken in by the band and especially by their lead singer, Miss Thomas.  Calloway is hesitant to accept Bud, until it is revealed that he is in fact not Bud's father, but his grandfather.  The story ends on a positive note, with Bud seemingly having found a home at last.

Why does Eva set Plum on fire?

After Plum returns from WWI, he moves back into his mother's house. After a warm welcome, the family begins to notice that Plum is stealing from them, disappearing for days at a time, and spending his days sleeping. When Hannah finds the bent and blackened spoon from Plum's drug use, Eva realizes that her child who "floated in a constant swaddle of love and affection" no longer exists. Eva sees her act of burning Plum as "some kind of baptism, some kind of blessing" that will deliver her son from his addiction. 

In "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," how did the family handle the identification of Mr. Freeman's assault on Maya?

The Baxter family loyalty is seen in her uncles' response to Maya's rape. They kill Freedman in revenge for what he did to Maya, thinking they were helping. However, their actions are traumatic and cause feelings of guilt in Maya. She thinks Freedman was killed because she lied about the other two episodes of molestation. Her loyalty to her family is seen when she initially refuses to name her attacker. After being on the receiving end of Freedman's brutality, she fears for Bailey's safety. She feels the need to protect her brother. She only tells when Bailey says he would not let Freedman kill him. Bailey is her hero and what he says must be true.

Maya's belief in the power of words is seen in her thinking that her words in court caused the death of Mr. Freedman. She does not understand that her small lie would not have changed the outcome of the case or the fate of Mr. Freedman. If anything his treatment would have been worse if her uncles knew he had molested her three times.

Why was Angela Wexler standing on a hassock in The Westing Game?No.

Angela Wexler is standing on a hassock because she is
having her wedding dress altered. The increased height causes the bottom of her dress to
be raised a couple of feet so that the dressmaker can more easily access it. As Mrs.
Baumbauch, with pins in her mouth, crawls around on the floor adjusting the dress's hem,
Angel herself stands "as still and blank-faced pretty as a store-window dummy," looking
out the window at the lake across the way.

Angela is
engaged to be married to Dr. Denton Deere. She is not as excited about the upcoming
union as is her mother, who considers Dr. Deere to be a worthy match. Grace Wexler is a
controlling woman, and she treats Angela like a fragile, precious doll with no mind of
her own. Mrs. Wexler is supervising the fitting from the comfort of a beige velvet
couch, and when Angela cries out while pivoting in a slow quarter turn according to Mrs.
Baumbach's instructions, the overprotective mother assumes that the dressmaker has
pricked her daughter and cautions her to be more careful. Angela, however, has not been
pricked. She had uttered the exclamation because she had noticed smoke coming from the
Westing house chimney, and was surprised, because the house was supposed to be empty
(Chapter 3).

Why was Angela Wexler standing on a hassock in The Westing Game?No.

Angela Wexler is standing on a hassock because she is having her wedding dress altered. The increased height causes the bottom of her dress to be raised a couple of feet so that the dressmaker can more easily access it. As Mrs. Baumbauch, with pins in her mouth, crawls around on the floor adjusting the dress's hem, Angel herself stands "as still and blank-faced pretty as a store-window dummy," looking out the window at the lake across the way.

Angela is engaged to be married to Dr. Denton Deere. She is not as excited about the upcoming union as is her mother, who considers Dr. Deere to be a worthy match. Grace Wexler is a controlling woman, and she treats Angela like a fragile, precious doll with no mind of her own. Mrs. Wexler is supervising the fitting from the comfort of a beige velvet couch, and when Angela cries out while pivoting in a slow quarter turn according to Mrs. Baumbach's instructions, the overprotective mother assumes that the dressmaker has pricked her daughter and cautions her to be more careful. Angela, however, has not been pricked. She had uttered the exclamation because she had noticed smoke coming from the Westing house chimney, and was surprised, because the house was supposed to be empty (Chapter 3).

Why does Macbeth comment that he wishes himself dead?related to the play Macbethact2

Macbeth says this in Act 2, sc. 3 right after Duncan's murder is announced: "Had I but died an hour before this chance, / I had lived a blessed time; for from this instant / There's nothing serious in mortality; / All is but toys; renown and grace is dead; / The wine of life is drawn, the the mere lees  / Is left this vault to brag of."  He is saying that he wishes he had died before Duncan because now there is nothing worth living for since the good king has been killed.  What's left, he says, is just the leftovers.  Macbeth says this for effect; it is the politically correct statement to make in front of others.  After all, the king died in Macbeth's house under Macbeth's watch.  Macbeth also feels regret for his actions; a part of him, at this point, truly wishes he had died before Duncan because his conscience is bothering him.  Ironically, he is the one who seems to lose his conscience as the play continues however.

Comment on the trend of Raina's encounter with the man in her room.It's concrning about the book Arms and the man

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Comment on the trend of Raina's encounter with the man in her room.It's concrning about the book Arms and the man

The man who climbs the rain-pipe to enter Raina's bed-chamber through the balcony is a professional soldier serving the Serbian artillery in the battle of Slivnitza that Bulgaria wins over Serbia. Raina's betrothed lover, Sergius Saranoff, leads the victorious cavalry-charge against the enemy artillery battery to register an amazing victory. The man, Captain Bluntschli, is a fugitive who takes shelter in Raina's room, being chased by the Bulgarians amidst gun-shots and hot pursuits.

Raina Petkoff, the daughter of the Bulgarian Major, is a young woman of romantic-sentimental disposition, retires to bed, after having worshipped Sergius, 'the hero of Slivnitza', as her 'soul's hero'. Bluntschli breaks into her privacy at the dead of night to give her the real story of the battle and the Quixotic cavalry-charge which has earned Sergius such a miraculous victory. The account of how foolishly the Bulgarian cavalry charged at the Serbian artillery and won the battle only because the Serbian artillery was supplied with wrong ammunition immediately de-romanticized Raina's long-cherished notion of heroism in battle. The man being the typical Shavian anti-hero, mocks at the military victory spearheaded by Raina's iconic lover, and also mocks at the whole idea of patriotism, heroism and glory in the field of battle. Such apparently cynical observations as 'Nine soldiers out of ten are born fools' expose the hollowness of the traditional myth of warfare, and compel the wax-doll like Raina to come face to face with the hard realities of battle-lines. The professional soldier tells Raina about the need of chocolates(i.e. food) rather than cartridges in battles.

Raina's midnight chance encounter with the fugitive soldier thus disillusions the young woman about the romance & heroism long associated with wars.The encounter initiates a process that culminates in Raina's rejection of Sergius and the emergence of the Shavian ideologue in Bluntschli.

What does the convict tell Pip to bring him?Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

In the exposition to Great Expectations, the "fearful man
in coarse gray" tells Pip to bring him some "wittles," food, and a file.  After having
shaken Pip upside down and telling Pip that he will cut out his liver and heart if he
does not comply, the large, foreboding man terrifies Pip into complying with his wish. 
Yet, the kind-hearted Pip also has sympathy for this poor creature who trembles.  With
concern, later Pip asks the convict if he has the flu, and the convict replies that he
believes so.

Pip's act of thievery from the pantry of Mrs.
Joe's kitchen causes humorous repercussions on Christmas Day when Uncle Pumblechook
drinks from the glass that should contain brandy, but the bottle from which it comes has
been refilled with tar water from a nearby jug by Pip, who was mistaken as to the
contents.

What does the convict tell Pip to bring him?Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

In the exposition to Great Expectations, the "fearful man in coarse gray" tells Pip to bring him some "wittles," food, and a file.  After having shaken Pip upside down and telling Pip that he will cut out his liver and heart if he does not comply, the large, foreboding man terrifies Pip into complying with his wish.  Yet, the kind-hearted Pip also has sympathy for this poor creature who trembles.  With concern, later Pip asks the convict if he has the flu, and the convict replies that he believes so.

Pip's act of thievery from the pantry of Mrs. Joe's kitchen causes humorous repercussions on Christmas Day when Uncle Pumblechook drinks from the glass that should contain brandy, but the bottle from which it comes has been refilled with tar water from a nearby jug by Pip, who was mistaken as to the contents.

What is the position of the writer? Is she objective or subjective ("The Story of an Hour")?Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour"

Your question concerning Chopin's "The Story of an Hour"
deals with the narrator's tone and manner of presenting the
story. 

Objective, as you use it, refers to the point of
view of the narrator.  An objective narrator relates only the details of the story
without interpretation or judgment.  Fiction can be objective, but this story is
not.

The narrator's attitude toward the protagonist in the
story is sympathetic, and she interprets her character with sympathy.  This is
subjective.

Mrs. Mallard is presented in a positive light. 
If the work were objective, she would be presented in a neutral light.  For example, the
character is "young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a
certain strength."  "Repression" is an interpretation and judgment of the lines on the
woman's face, and indicates that as a wife--even as a wife to a relatively good man--she
suffers repression.  And "strength" is an interpretation, also, as well as
a judgment.

Interpretation and judgment on the part of a
narrator demonstrate that a story is narrated in a subjective
manner.

Notice that I have interpreted your use of "writer"
to mean "narrator."  We can't, strictly speaking, pretend to know what is in a writer's
mind at the time of writing.  We try to refer to the narrator, rather than the writer. 
At the same time, looking at this story and other works by Chopin, you are probably safe
in saying that Chopin, too, is subjective in her approach to a woman's place in marriage
and society.  She is a strong feminist writer, and often reveals the claustrophobic-like
roles women are forced to play in society.   

What is the position of the writer? Is she objective or subjective ("The Story of an Hour")?Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour"

Your question concerning Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" deals with the narrator's tone and manner of presenting the story. 

Objective, as you use it, refers to the point of view of the narrator.  An objective narrator relates only the details of the story without interpretation or judgment.  Fiction can be objective, but this story is not.

The narrator's attitude toward the protagonist in the story is sympathetic, and she interprets her character with sympathy.  This is subjective.

Mrs. Mallard is presented in a positive light.  If the work were objective, she would be presented in a neutral light.  For example, the character is "young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength."  "Repression" is an interpretation and judgment of the lines on the woman's face, and indicates that as a wife--even as a wife to a relatively good man--she suffers repression.  And "strength" is an interpretation, also, as well as a judgment.

Interpretation and judgment on the part of a narrator demonstrate that a story is narrated in a subjective manner.

Notice that I have interpreted your use of "writer" to mean "narrator."  We can't, strictly speaking, pretend to know what is in a writer's mind at the time of writing.  We try to refer to the narrator, rather than the writer.  At the same time, looking at this story and other works by Chopin, you are probably safe in saying that Chopin, too, is subjective in her approach to a woman's place in marriage and society.  She is a strong feminist writer, and often reveals the claustrophobic-like roles women are forced to play in society.   

How does Portia and Brutus' relationship differ from that of Calpurnia and Caesar?

The difference can mainly be seen in Act II, scene i (Brutus and Portia) and Act II, scene ii (Caesar and Calpurnia).

Portia talks to Brutus as though she were his equal, which was uncommon at the time. Wives were barely more than property and were to obey their husbands. However, Portia calls Brutus on his behavior: he's been moody, unresponsive and is now unable to sleep and walking amid the rain in their orchard in the middle of the night. When he orders her to go to bed, and tells her he is simply ill, she refuses and tells him that he's too smart to be outside in the rain if he is ill. Portia then tries to convince Brutus to tell her what's on his mind, using guilt and trying to prove how mentally and physically strong she is. She also insists that he took her as a partner, so by the right of her position, she should know what's on his mind. We can tell by Act 2, scene iv that he does tell her.

In contrast, Caesar and Calpurnia's relationship is more typical of Roman marriages. While Caesar listens to his wife's concerns about not going out of the house that day, he ultimately makes the decision to leave the house, calling her dreams and warnings foolish. He is in charge of the relationship. In Act 1, scene i, Calpurnia's only line is "Here, my lord", showing her obedience to him.

In Chapter 6 of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, what is the lesson that Mama teaches Cassie about respect?

Mama teaches Cassie that respect given because it is demanded is not respect at all.

Cassie is upset because after Lillian Jean Simms pushed her off the sidewalk, Big Ma made Cassie apologize to her instead of the other way around.  Mama explains to her that in "the way of things" in the South at that time, most whites consider themselves to be better than blacks, and demand that blacks act in deference to them.  When Cassie protests the unfairness of this situation, Mama explains that people who think like this, like Lillian Jean's father, do so because they want to make themselves "feel big".  The inadequacy is within them, not the black people who are their victims.

Mama says,

"White people may demand our respect, but what we give them is not respect but fear.  What we give to our own people is far more important because it's given freely.  Now you may have to call Lillian Jean 'Miss' because the white people say so, but you'll also call our own young ladies at church 'Miss' because you really do respect them" (Chapter 6).

Mama's message is that respect freely given is the only important kind.

What evidence do you find in his speech that Dr. King was out of touch with social realities?The March on Washington proved to be a turning point...

From the question, it sounds like you are saying that the
"I Have a Dream" speech was out of touch with social realities at the time that it was
given.  I suppose that you can make this argument, though I would disagree with it to a
large extent.

You can say that this speech is out of touch
because it emphasizes the legal segregation that was going on in the South at that
time.  You can argue that it ought to talk more about the economic conditions in the
ghettoes of the North.

You can argue that King should have
talked less about brotherhood and religious imagery and talked more about how angry
black people in the North were getting.

But to me this is
an unfair criticism because in 1963, the legal segregation was still there.   As long as
that was still there I do not think I agree that other things were the "core of racial
problems." I think you have to get rid of that first and then move on to economic
problems (as King did between the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and his
death.

What evidence do you find in his speech that Dr. King was out of touch with social realities?The March on Washington proved to be a turning point...

From the question, it sounds like you are saying that the "I Have a Dream" speech was out of touch with social realities at the time that it was given.  I suppose that you can make this argument, though I would disagree with it to a large extent.

You can say that this speech is out of touch because it emphasizes the legal segregation that was going on in the South at that time.  You can argue that it ought to talk more about the economic conditions in the ghettoes of the North.

You can argue that King should have talked less about brotherhood and religious imagery and talked more about how angry black people in the North were getting.

But to me this is an unfair criticism because in 1963, the legal segregation was still there.   As long as that was still there I do not think I agree that other things were the "core of racial problems." I think you have to get rid of that first and then move on to economic problems (as King did between the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and his death.

What role does Pearl play in bringing about Reverand Dimmesdale's confession in "The Scarlet Letter"?

Because Hawthorne's work is an allegory, it is important to understand that Pearl is the scarlet letter made flesh--the physical embodiment of her mother's "sin."  Consequently, Pearl serves as a constant reminder to Dimmesdale of the secret affair that led to her birth, and as such reminds Dimmesdale both in her penetrating questions to him and in her behavior that he cannot come to terms with either his secret or with her until he acknowledges her as his child.  Therefore, her very existence is a challenge to Dimmesdale's conscience, and he cannot satisfy the demands of his conscience until he openly admits that she is his child.

Why did Scout wear her pork costume on the way home in Chapter 28?

Scout decided to keep her ham costume on after the show in
order to "hide my mortification under it." Scout had missed her cue during the show, and
Mrs. Merriweather had to call out "Pork!" at least three times before Scout finally made
her very late entrance. Her appearance was apparently so hilarious that Judge Taylor had
to leave the auditorium; he was "slapping his knees so hard" that his wife had to bring
him some water and one of his pills. It's a lucky thing that Scout kept on her chicken
mesh costume, because it proved to be the insulation that saved her from the slashing
knife wielded later by Bob Ewell.

Why did Scout wear her pork costume on the way home in Chapter 28?

Scout decided to keep her ham costume on after the show in order to "hide my mortification under it." Scout had missed her cue during the show, and Mrs. Merriweather had to call out "Pork!" at least three times before Scout finally made her very late entrance. Her appearance was apparently so hilarious that Judge Taylor had to leave the auditorium; he was "slapping his knees so hard" that his wife had to bring him some water and one of his pills. It's a lucky thing that Scout kept on her chicken mesh costume, because it proved to be the insulation that saved her from the slashing knife wielded later by Bob Ewell.

In "My Antonia", Jim and Antonia arrive in Black Hawk at the same time. How are their situations different?

Although Jim and Antonia arrive in Black Hawk at the same time, their situations are entirely different.  Jim has been sent to Nebraska to live with his paternal grandparents because his parents have both died in Virginia within the past year.  Jim's grandparents, the Burdens, have been on the prairie for awhile, long enough to have built a comfortable "white frame house, with a storey and half-storey above the basement (and a) windmill close by the kitchen door".  Their farm is thriving, and Mr. Burden has bought a pony for Jim to ride, and as he enters the kitchen, Jim is greeted by "the pleasant smell of gingerbread baking" (Bk.I,Ch.II).

Antonia Shimerda has come with her family across the ocean from Bohemia to start a new life.  They do not speak English, and are met at the train station by a countryman who is "shouting and exclaiming", and who, taking advantage of their dependence, manages to cheat them out of their money.  Upon arriving on the land they have purchased at an inflated price, the Shimerdas have nothing, and are forced to live in a cave-like dwelling dug into a rough red hillock, and to subsist upon little more than meager portions of corncakes and sorghum molasses (Bk.I, Ch. III).

In "To Kill a Mockingbird", what does Aunt Alexandra think about the importance of family and breeding?Aunt Alexandra

Aunt Alexandra felt that family and breeding were of the utmost importance. To her, heredity was a critically important topic. She maintained that the Finch family was better than most others because it had been there longer. In addition, she tended to label members of specific families according to their respective hereditary tendencies: one family has a predisposition to alcoholism, one has a predisposition to mental illness, etc. Family lineage was indicative of a person's moral and physical well-being, according to Aunt Alexandra.

In The Canterbury Tales, what was The Dyer's rank?Did he have a certain rank in The Canterbury Tales?

The Dyer was a member of the merchant class. He was not a serf, dependent on his landlord for food and shelter, but he was still a peasant. If he owned the cloth dyeing business, he might have been a member of a guild, and if he was successful, he could have been wealthy for the time. If he was an apprentice, he would have been poor.

One disadvantage of being a dyer, however, was the smell. It is said that Elizabeth I decreed that all dyers had to live outside the city walls. Here is how the job is described in "The Worst Jobs in History":

We are reliably informed that a poor sense of smell, or no sense of smell at all, would be a definite advantage in this job, unless you are one of those who find the aroma of cabbage mixed with excrement and cat wee particularly appealing. A desire to live outside the city walls, whence you and all your fellow workers will be banished, would also be a plus.

What were Samneric afraid of and what caused those fears? How did they deal with those fears?

Initially, Samneric are scared by the "Beast of the Air". They deal with it through loyalty to Ralph and don't desert him like Roger and Maurice. They are the last "biguns" to stay loyal to Ralph. However, after being captured and beaten by Jack's group, they are afraid for their lives and tell Jack that Ralph has run into the jungle.

From Chapters XIII and XIV of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, describe how Alan was saved from the wreck of the Covenant.

The last we hear of Alan in Chapter XIII of Kidnapped is that the land across from where the brig is blown by the wind into a reef is the "worst possible for him ... for it was a land of the Campbells." We don't know the details of what happened to Alan Breck Stewart when the Covenant met her match in the storm because Robert Louis Stevenson takes us along with David to his marooned banishment on the tidal islet of Earraid that lay in sight of Ross of Mull. We only hear about Alan indirectly when David finally is guided toward his escape by two fisherman who realize, between fits of laughter, that David is a ship-wrecked stranger and stranded.

Once David walks across the dry creek bottom at low tide, thanks to the fishermen's gesture-enhanced Gaelic, he finds himself in terrain that seems to be devoid of paths but points himself toward the church spire and chimney fires he had longingly watched from the islet. At last he comes to an old man and a welcoming home and is told in faltering English of shipmates who had survived and of one in particular who had come alone to the same house after reaching shore.

The old man indicated that while the later survivors who had come in a group were dressed in sailors clothes, the lone man wore the clothes of a gentleman and a greatcoat. David recognized Alan's vanity for clothes and knew his friend had survived and was safe even in Campbell country. When the man realized that David "must be the lad with the silver button," he gave him Alan's message to meet Alan in his home land of Torosay. This is all we know of how Alan was saved from the wreck of the Covenant as told in Chapters XIII and XIV.

What is the importance of Scene I in "The Monkey's Paw"?focusing on details of setting, plot, theme & characters.

The opening scene establishes the setting in Laburnam Villa, a small, out-of-the-way place, away from any big city. The stormy weather is threatening, but inside the Whites' cottage, the scene is cozy and safe with a brightly burning fire. Danger, therefore, lurks outside. Father and son are playing chess; Mr. White is willing to take risks in the way he plays the game, but we discover that after he had "seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it." This statement foreshadows later events in the story because Mr. White's recklessness causes consequences he doesn't expect.

The banging of the gate signals the arrival of their guest, Sgt.-Major Morris, a mysterious man who introduces the dangerous monkey's paw into the previously safe White house on a proverbial "dark and stormy night."

The first part of the story, which is the exposition, therefore, provides an introduction to the characters, establishes the setting, and provides some background information.

What eight English words does Mamacita know in The House on Mango Street?

The eight words (or more accurately, phrases) Mamacita
knows are: He not here, No speak english, and holy
smokes.

Mamacita says, he no
here when the landlord comes which may indicate that her husband pays the
rent and they are sometimes behind in rent.  No speak english is
when anyone who doesn't speak Spanish tries to speak to her, which indicates that she
doesn't have an interest in speaking to anyone who doesn't speak Spanish and doesn't
want to learn English because she misses Mexico.  Holy smokes
likely indicates that she could learn English if she wanted to because it's
an idiom which is a difficult part to pick up in a language, but she doesn't want
to. 

What eight English words does Mamacita know in The House on Mango Street?

The eight words (or more accurately, phrases) Mamacita knows are: He not here, No speak english, and holy smokes.

Mamacita says, he no here when the landlord comes which may indicate that her husband pays the rent and they are sometimes behind in rent.  No speak english is when anyone who doesn't speak Spanish tries to speak to her, which indicates that she doesn't have an interest in speaking to anyone who doesn't speak Spanish and doesn't want to learn English because she misses Mexico.  Holy smokes likely indicates that she could learn English if she wanted to because it's an idiom which is a difficult part to pick up in a language, but she doesn't want to. 

Who does Nick Carraway describe as having a "cruel body" in "The Great Gatsby"?

The surprising thing about the statement that Tom had "a cruel body" is that Nick was friends with him. Although Nick clarifies that Tom and Daisy were "two old friends" whom he barely knew, the way he describes Tom is with a tone more akin to dislike or hostility than friendship. Even through the eyes of a friend, Tom is undeniably overbearing and intimidating, which hardly bodes well for the character and the audience's perception of him. 

A few lines before Nick describes Tom's body as cruel, he says that "two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward." He also states that Tom had a "rather hard mouth" and, later on, a "great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved."  It's not just Tom's posture or his attitude that makes him appear menacing and distinctly unlikable, but it's quite literally the product of even his most minute features. 

And all this description comes from Nick Carraway, a man who in the very first lines of the book clarifies that he tries his best not to judge people.

"I’m inclined to reserve all judgments..."

What does equality mean in "Harrison Bergeron"?And what exactly is the author satirizing?

In "Harrison Bergeron," Vonnegut is satirizing our
collective notion that all people must be equal.  In the story, the fictional society
that Vonnegut creates is made to be equal in all ways:  the smarter people are given
mental handicaps to prevent them from thinking, the graceful dancers are given weighted
bags to prevent them from being so graceful, and beautiful people are given physical
props to mask their true appearance.  In the story, the members of society get
nowhere--they cannot even function on a level that makes anyone productive.  The satire
presents the people as absurd and ridiculous to voice the message that our attempts to
always make people equal are similarly absurd and ridiculous.  In the advent of civil
rights and other rights such as equality in the workplace, our society has gone to an
extreme by suggesting that people should be equal in all areas, not simply that we
should be treated with equal respect.  Vonnegut uses the story to suggest that our human
differences are the avenue to our advances.  For example, what would the Olympics be
without superior athletes to engage in competition?  So, "Harrison Bergeron" challenges
the notion of blanket human equality.

What does equality mean in "Harrison Bergeron"?And what exactly is the author satirizing?

In "Harrison Bergeron," Vonnegut is satirizing our collective notion that all people must be equal.  In the story, the fictional society that Vonnegut creates is made to be equal in all ways:  the smarter people are given mental handicaps to prevent them from thinking, the graceful dancers are given weighted bags to prevent them from being so graceful, and beautiful people are given physical props to mask their true appearance.  In the story, the members of society get nowhere--they cannot even function on a level that makes anyone productive.  The satire presents the people as absurd and ridiculous to voice the message that our attempts to always make people equal are similarly absurd and ridiculous.  In the advent of civil rights and other rights such as equality in the workplace, our society has gone to an extreme by suggesting that people should be equal in all areas, not simply that we should be treated with equal respect.  Vonnegut uses the story to suggest that our human differences are the avenue to our advances.  For example, what would the Olympics be without superior athletes to engage in competition?  So, "Harrison Bergeron" challenges the notion of blanket human equality.

Who succeeded Lincoln as president?

Andrew Johnson was Abraham Lincoln's vice president. When Lincoln, a Republican, was assassinated, Johnson, a Democrat, succeeded him to become the President of the United States during the Reconstruction period shortly after the American Civil War.

Johnson did not successfully lead the Reconstruction movement. Unfortunately for the South, Johnson’s attitude about Reconstruction maintained it as a state matter and not federal, unlike many of his Republican contemporaries.

"Johnson rose from poverty to a political career in state politics in Tennessee, which he represented in the U.S. Congress and where he was governor. Johnson championed Tennessee’s small white farmers and made enemies of the state’s large slaveowning planters. Staunchly Unionist, he was the only senator from a seceding state to remain in the Senate, and he served as Tennessee’s military governor during the war. His vice presidency, Republicans hoped, would gain support for the party in the South. But Johnson lacked Lincoln’s political acumen and ability to compromise. Johnson also defended states’ rights; he argued that since secession was illegal, southern states never actually left the Union or gave up their right to govern their own affairs. And Johnson, while supporting emancipation, was deeply racist, and did not believe blacks had a role to play in Reconstruction." - Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History Fourth Edition. PowerPoint Chapter 15, 2015.

What is the significance of the setting in "Crime and Punishment"?

By setting the novel in St. Petersburg which was then the capitol of Russia, Dostoevsky is draws attention to the miserable social conditions that existed in Russia at the time the book was published. St. Petersburg is usually thought of as a beautiful city full of fabulous buildings and art. However, there was a much more impoverished side of the city that was rarely discussed. Almost all of the characters, including the protagonist, Raskolnikov, are poor. One of the most noble characters, Sonya, has had to become prostitute in order to help support her family. By involving the reader in this social environment, the author is able to call attention to problems associated with poverty and the consequences of those problems.

What could General MacArthur have done more to stop the using of the atomic bomb on Japan?How did he express what needed to be done to end the war...

In a word, nothing.  This topic has come up fairly often
in recent days, and the consensus seems to be the same: the decision to drop the atomic
bomb was made because of a desire for revenge and to shorten the war.  The decision was
made at the Presidential level, even before we had the bomb developed for testing.  So
MacArthur, while he was the Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific and had a great
amount of respect and influence on military matters, would not, in my opinion, have been
able to stop the bomb from being used.  He may have been able to influence the
timing of its use, but that's about it.  He later admitted himself
that he had not even been consulted about the use of the
weapon.

That being said, MacArthur did have a military
opinion on it.  He believed it was militarily unnecessary.  As we did not accept an
unconditional surrender of Japan, but a conditional one where the Emperor would retain
his position but not his power, he felt that concession might have prompted the Japanese
to stop fighting without the use of the bomb.  Unfortunately, we'll never
know.

What could General MacArthur have done more to stop the using of the atomic bomb on Japan?How did he express what needed to be done to end the war...

In a word, nothing.  This topic has come up fairly often in recent days, and the consensus seems to be the same: the decision to drop the atomic bomb was made because of a desire for revenge and to shorten the war.  The decision was made at the Presidential level, even before we had the bomb developed for testing.  So MacArthur, while he was the Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific and had a great amount of respect and influence on military matters, would not, in my opinion, have been able to stop the bomb from being used.  He may have been able to influence the timing of its use, but that's about it.  He later admitted himself that he had not even been consulted about the use of the weapon.

That being said, MacArthur did have a military opinion on it.  He believed it was militarily unnecessary.  As we did not accept an unconditional surrender of Japan, but a conditional one where the Emperor would retain his position but not his power, he felt that concession might have prompted the Japanese to stop fighting without the use of the bomb.  Unfortunately, we'll never know.

What happened to Lennie's puppy in "Of Mice and Men"? What is his reaction?

Lennie accidentally kills his puppy, probably by squeezing him or hitting him too hard. Although Lennie is upset at the death of his puppy, he is more concerned about George's reaction. He is afraid that when George sees he killed his puppy, George will not let him tend the rabbits on the farm they have dreamed about owning. So, he tries to hide the body of the puppy only to have it discovered by Curley's wife. This leads to further disaster. Lennie's has been told to stay away from Curley's wife but, after a conversation with her, he accidentally kills her as well. This event forces George to have to make a final decision about what to do about Lennie. Curley's wife is not an animal and this escalation of Lennie's uncontrollable control over his own strength means Lennie faces execution or long prison term.

Is it possible that Mrs. Mallard had a mental disorder? Schizophrenia? Bipolar disorder? Depression?

Whether you feel Louise Mallard's "afflictions" are mental or physical, or even a bit of both, what is more important is what has caused them. The total control her husband has had over Louise during the course of their marriage has certainly depressed her. No doubt her depression is deep, since she says she had prayed only the day before for her life to be short. Louise probably went into marriage right from her father's home, so she has been under the rule of a man all of her life. For the first time in her life, Louise can think of what she wants to do with her life. To have the hope of freedom taken away in such a short time is unbearable, and she refuses to continue living if she must go back to her husband's control.

Louise is referred to as Mrs. Mallard until she finds out her husband is dead because she isn't seen by anyone as a woman or as a person. She has always been an extension of her father or her husband with no identity of her own. She becomes Louise when she realizes she is going to have the opportunity to be herself, not the daughter of or the wife of anyone.

The "elixir of life" she drinks from the world outside symbolizes her freedom to enjoy everything the world has to offer her as a woman and a person in her own right.

You might read some other stories of Kate Chopin to understand what her writing is all about. You both bring up some interesting points, however. I love when students interact with the story!

Why doesn’t the monster murder Victor? Give examples to support your answer.

In addition, the creature chooses not to murder Victor, but to make Victor dependent on the creature.  Victor is all the creature has in the world.  There is no female companion since Victor changed his mind, ripped her up, and dumped her in the lake.  There is no loving family (Victor and the DeLacey's abandon him), and there is no quiet assimilation into human society (everyone runs, screams, throws things at him, reacts badly to his size, shape, and physical ugliness).  By tormenting Victor and killing all those Victor loves, the creature is making Victor like himself.  At this point, Victor also has no one in the world except the creature upon whom he has sworn vengeance.  This is why the creature leaves notes to antagonize Victor, hints as to where he is going, and food for Victor once they reach the icy climate.  He does not want Victor's frail human body to give out on him...the creature is dependent on this dysfunctional family unit he has created by killing off Victor's loved ones. 

Consequently, when Victor dies on the ship, Robert Walton witnesses the creature's true despair.  The creature tells Robert that he will kill himself since he no longer has any reason to live.  As readers, we have no reason not to believe that the creature will do as he says since he has proven throughout the novel to be very dependable.

How the earth was born?It was include in earth science.

To understand the scientific theory of the Earth's creation, first we must define the Big Bang.  The Big Bang Theory is the theory that the universe started from a single point, and has been expanding ever since.  Scientists believe that the expansion began from a cosmic explosion, but have not identified the cause of the explosion.  The movement of the universe has been verified by observations, such as the apparent movement of galaxies away from us, and the cosmic microwave background radiation believed to be the leftover light from the big bang.

Dust and gas left over from the explosion is what led to the creation of planets.  Molten lava fused together into a spherical shaped object, the outer layer of which eventually cooled.  Volcanic activity produced gas which created an atmosphere.  The existence of the atmosphere allowed for condensation of the water vapor, which eventually led to the surface becoming all water.  Over time, the land mass has risen above the surface of the water.

Why does Romeo refer to Paris as a "youth" and himself as a "desperate man" when Paris is older than Romeo in Romeo and Juliet?This is in Act 5...

At this point, Romeo has come to the Capulet tomb to see
Juliet's body and to commit suicide. He has bought a powerful potion from an apothecary
which he will use for this purpose. Romeo is utterly distraught and has decided that he
cannot live without his beloved Juliet, so much so that he has even warned Bathasar to
meddle in his plans, telling him that:

readability="10">

"But if thou, jealous, dost return to
pry
In what I further shall intend to do,
By heaven, I
will tear thee joint by joint
And strew this
hungry churchyard with thy
limbs:"

Romeo
is clearly a "desperate man", in this instance and this is
exactly what he tells Paris who confronts him as he opens the tomb. Paris believes that
Romeo is about to desecrate the tomb and wants to arrest him. He tells
Romeo:

"Stop
thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague!
Can vengeance be pursued further than
death?
Condemned villain, I do apprehend
thee:
Obey, and go with me; for thou must
die."

Romeo's
retort clearly shows that he will stop at nothing to fulfill his purpose. He warns
Paris, and it is clear from his language that he does not want to fight
him.

"I must
indeed; and therefore came I hither.
Good gentle
youth, tempt not a desperate
man;
Fly hence, and leave me: think upon these
gone;
Let them affright thee. I beseech thee,
youth,
Put not another sin upon my
head,
By urging me to
fury:'

By addressing Paris as
a gentle youth, Romeo is attempting to
persuade him to leave. The reference also
indicates Romeo's true nature: he is indeed,
also gentle driven to desperate means. Note how the terms he uses are
soft and not as harsh as those he used with Balthasar. The implication is also that
Paris is innocent of any wrongdoing and is not battle-hardened or ruthless and Romeo
does not wish to hurt him and commit 'another sin'.

In
contrast, Romeo is a 'desperate man', intent on doing what
he came for. Although he is younger than Paris, the events of the past few
days have made him a
man: he killed Tybalt, married Juliet, was banished and has
a death-sentence hanging over his head if he should return. Paris has not experienced
such desperate circumstances but Romeo has, and he surely feels hopeless for he has lost
the will to live.  

Why does Romeo refer to Paris as a "youth" and himself as a "desperate man" when Paris is older than Romeo in Romeo and Juliet?This is in Act 5...

At this point, Romeo has come to the Capulet tomb to see Juliet's body and to commit suicide. He has bought a powerful potion from an apothecary which he will use for this purpose. Romeo is utterly distraught and has decided that he cannot live without his beloved Juliet, so much so that he has even warned Bathasar to meddle in his plans, telling him that:

"But if thou, jealous, dost return to pry
In what I further shall intend to do,
By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint
And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs:"

Romeo is clearly a "desperate man", in this instance and this is exactly what he tells Paris who confronts him as he opens the tomb. Paris believes that Romeo is about to desecrate the tomb and wants to arrest him. He tells Romeo:

"Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague!
Can vengeance be pursued further than death?
Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee:
Obey, and go with me; for thou must die."

Romeo's retort clearly shows that he will stop at nothing to fulfill his purpose. He warns Paris, and it is clear from his language that he does not want to fight him.

"I must indeed; and therefore came I hither.
Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man;
Fly hence, and leave me: think upon these gone;
Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth,
Put not another sin upon my head,
By urging me to fury:'

By addressing Paris as a gentle youth, Romeo is attempting to persuade him to leave. The reference also indicates Romeo's true nature: he is indeed, also gentle driven to desperate means. Note how the terms he uses are soft and not as harsh as those he used with Balthasar. The implication is also that Paris is innocent of any wrongdoing and is not battle-hardened or ruthless and Romeo does not wish to hurt him and commit 'another sin'.

In contrast, Romeo is a 'desperate man', intent on doing what he came for. Although he is younger than Paris, the events of the past few days have made him a man: he killed Tybalt, married Juliet, was banished and has a death-sentence hanging over his head if he should return. Paris has not experienced such desperate circumstances but Romeo has, and he surely feels hopeless for he has lost the will to live.  

Who should we admire in the play Odepius?

In Oedipus, we should admire Oedipus,
of course.  He is my favorite tragic hero because of his double blind ambition both to
know the truth and to punish himself for not knowing the truth.  Sure, he suffers from
hubris and anger, but he expresses both only in pursuit of justice.  In the end, he
takes responsibility for his actions and achieves nobility in his suffering.  He refuses
to be a victim; instead, he becomes an emblem of suffering and knowledge, a truly
religious being.

The great author and philosopher Albert
Camus says that Oedipus achieves victory over his punishment, and I agree.  Oedipus'
life was a cruel joke fated by the gods.  Instead of suiciding at the end, like Jocasta,
Oedipus chooses to suffer and know the truth rather than escaping both.  He is a hero
because he hates death, loves life, and scorns the gods.  A lesser man would not have
blinded or exiled himself.

Like the Biblical Job, Oedipus
accepts suffering as a necessary condition for mankind to better understand himself and
the universe.  Because of this, he becomes a blind prophet, like
Tiresias.

Who should we admire in the play Odepius?

In Oedipus, we should admire Oedipus, of course.  He is my favorite tragic hero because of his double blind ambition both to know the truth and to punish himself for not knowing the truth.  Sure, he suffers from hubris and anger, but he expresses both only in pursuit of justice.  In the end, he takes responsibility for his actions and achieves nobility in his suffering.  He refuses to be a victim; instead, he becomes an emblem of suffering and knowledge, a truly religious being.

The great author and philosopher Albert Camus says that Oedipus achieves victory over his punishment, and I agree.  Oedipus' life was a cruel joke fated by the gods.  Instead of suiciding at the end, like Jocasta, Oedipus chooses to suffer and know the truth rather than escaping both.  He is a hero because he hates death, loves life, and scorns the gods.  A lesser man would not have blinded or exiled himself.

Like the Biblical Job, Oedipus accepts suffering as a necessary condition for mankind to better understand himself and the universe.  Because of this, he becomes a blind prophet, like Tiresias.

What can you tell me about "Strange Meeting"? Techniques used, message, themes,context, and poem structure.i need to know basically everything...

Thank you for introducing me to this powerful
poem.

Wilfred Owen was one of the most important poets to
write about World War I.  "Strange Meeting," like many of his poems, expresses a very
negative attitude about the horrors and futility of
war. 

The poet describes his descent down a "profound dull
tunnel."  He soon discovers that this "sullen hall" is actually Hell.  Although the
place is certainly not pleasant, it seems better than the battlefield from where the
poet has recently come.  He remarks to a man that he meets in
Hell,

"Strange friend...here is no cause to
mourn."

The man agrees that there is no cause to
mourn--except for "the undone years," meaning all that he could have accomplished if he
had not been killed in battle.

readability="8">

For by my glee might many men have
laughed,
And of my weeping something had been left,
Which must die
now.

He regrets that he must
"miss the march" of the world.

In the last stanza, the man
reveals a shocking secret: he is the enemy whom the poet killed in
battle:

I am
the enemy you killed, my friend.
I knew you in this dark: for so you
frowned
Yesterday through me as you jabbed and
killed.

Although the poet
killed him, the man seems willing to forgive;he says, "Let us sleep now."  He seems to
realize that the war was an absurd form of madness for which no individual can be
blamed.

The poem's four stanzas are written in lines of 10
syllables each.  Although the lines do not rhyme, Owens uses an interesting kind of
semi-rhyme: he often pairs words that share several consonant and vowel sounds.  Some
examples:

hall, Hell

grained,
ground

moan, mourn

years,
yours

wild, world

What can you tell me about "Strange Meeting"? Techniques used, message, themes,context, and poem structure.i need to know basically everything...

Thank you for introducing me to this powerful poem.

Wilfred Owen was one of the most important poets to write about World War I.  "Strange Meeting," like many of his poems, expresses a very negative attitude about the horrors and futility of war. 

The poet describes his descent down a "profound dull tunnel."  He soon discovers that this "sullen hall" is actually Hell.  Although the place is certainly not pleasant, it seems better than the battlefield from where the poet has recently come.  He remarks to a man that he meets in Hell,

"Strange friend...here is no cause to mourn."

The man agrees that there is no cause to mourn--except for "the undone years," meaning all that he could have accomplished if he had not been killed in battle.

For by my glee might many men have laughed,
And of my weeping something had been left,
Which must die now.

He regrets that he must "miss the march" of the world.

In the last stanza, the man reveals a shocking secret: he is the enemy whom the poet killed in battle:

I am the enemy you killed, my friend.
I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned
Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed.

Although the poet killed him, the man seems willing to forgive;he says, "Let us sleep now."  He seems to realize that the war was an absurd form of madness for which no individual can be blamed.

The poem's four stanzas are written in lines of 10 syllables each.  Although the lines do not rhyme, Owens uses an interesting kind of semi-rhyme: he often pairs words that share several consonant and vowel sounds.  Some examples:

hall, Hell

grained, ground

moan, mourn

years, yours

wild, world

If you stir a solution can more solute be disolved? ( make it super-saturated?) Or can a solution only be supersaturated if heat is involved?

A solute can dissolve in solution until the open binding
sites are fully saturated. This leads to over-saturation, or super saturated state. Not
all molecules in a solution have exactly the same amount of potential or kinetic energy.
Heat is energy, so therefore, by applying heat, the energy level is increased and more
bonding sites are exposed. When heated, the molecules gain more kinetic energy and
collide more frequently, adding to the exchange of kinetic energy for potential energy.
Upon heating, the molecules must gain enough energy to reach a transition state, so this
will depend on the amount of heat applied to gain the energy
desired.

If you stir a solution can more solute be disolved? ( make it super-saturated?) Or can a solution only be supersaturated if heat is involved?

A solute can dissolve in solution until the open binding sites are fully saturated. This leads to over-saturation, or super saturated state. Not all molecules in a solution have exactly the same amount of potential or kinetic energy. Heat is energy, so therefore, by applying heat, the energy level is increased and more bonding sites are exposed. When heated, the molecules gain more kinetic energy and collide more frequently, adding to the exchange of kinetic energy for potential energy. Upon heating, the molecules must gain enough energy to reach a transition state, so this will depend on the amount of heat applied to gain the energy desired.

My younger brother who is 19 years old is suffering from night terror disorder. I want to know if there is any cure for this? He is 19 years old...

As far as I know, there is no prescription cure for night terrors. However, you could try a few of the following:

1) Your brother could sleep with a noise machine in his room. This could help him fall into REM sleep and decreases the chance of an isolated noise disturbing him while in a deep sleep. My little sister's night terrors were often triggered by a slight noise.

2) Your brother could be sure to get to bed before he is overly tired, and have a relaxation time 30 minutes prior to going to bed.

3) Your brother could crack a window or have a fan blowing on him (this could also be his noise machine). Becoming overheated also can trigger night terrors.

Best of luck. I hope he is able to overcome this!

Where and when was "Much Ado About Nothing" set?

The play is set in Messina, Italy, in and around Leonato's house (who the text makes clear is the Governor of the town). The soldiers, led by Don Pedro of Aragon, seem to originate in Aragon (in Spain) but their reason for being in Messina (we know they have just won a war of some description) is unclear - is it a personal visit, or have they been billeted?

Shakespeare's sources for 'Much Ado' seem to be drawn largely from classical or knightly romances (Ariosto and Bandello in particular are often cited as sources for the play) and so perhaps Shakespeare saw the play in similar terms. But unfortunately, he left no detailed information about the period in which he wants the play to be performed - and the absence of historically tracable characters (i.e. in 'Henry V', we can just rehearse the history of the real Henry V) makes it a difficult decision to make.

Scholars often believe that Shakespeare's plays were always performed in the modern dress of the day (a supposition fuelled by teh Peacham engraving of Titus Andronicus, which shows actors in versions of Elizabethan costume) - and so one could argue either that the play should be performed in Elizabethan dress, or in the modern dress of OUR day. Both could be seen as being true to Shakespeare.

What is the point of view in "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"?

The story is written in the third person point of view.

"One of the most striking stylistic aspects of ' 'The Jilting of Granny Weatherall'' is its unusual narrative perspective."

"The story is told through stream-of-consciousness. Granny's thoughts are presented in a spontaneous fashion, as if readers had access to her thoughts at the moment each one occurs to her."

what are the conflicts in the short story"Dead Men's Path"..

“Dead Men’s Path” enacts in miniature one of the central
themes of Achebe’s novels—the clash between modern European ideas and traditional
African values, progressive international standards and deeply rooted local custom. The
story’s protagonist, Michael Obi, is a well-educated forward-thinking idealist with a
passion for “modern methods.” Quite intelligent and undoubtedly dedicated to education,
Obi is more comfortable in abstract thought than in facing the complexities of real
life. He doesn’t notice unspoken feelings; for example, his wife’s  considerable
disappointment upon learning that the other teachers are all unmarried. His view of the
world is rational and therefore incapable of fully understanding the parts of life ruled
by emotion, intuition, or custom. Obi looks down on the older headmasters of the Mission
schools. Note how Achebe subtly undercuts Obi in the opening paragraphs. Only
twenty-six, the newly appointed headmaster appears much older with his
“stoop-shouldered” posture and “frail” build.

Michael
Obi’s name demonstrates his divided heritage. Michael is a Christian baptismal name of
European heritage. (Remember Obi works for “Mission” schools—as did Achebe’s father, who
was a devout Christian.) Obi, by contrast, is an African name. His name itself embodies
the cultural conflict he is about to enter.

what are the conflicts in the short story"Dead Men's Path"..

“Dead Men’s Path” enacts in miniature one of the central themes of Achebe’s novels—the clash between modern European ideas and traditional African values, progressive international standards and deeply rooted local custom. The story’s protagonist, Michael Obi, is a well-educated forward-thinking idealist with a passion for “modern methods.” Quite intelligent and undoubtedly dedicated to education, Obi is more comfortable in abstract thought than in facing the complexities of real life. He doesn’t notice unspoken feelings; for example, his wife’s  considerable disappointment upon learning that the other teachers are all unmarried. His view of the world is rational and therefore incapable of fully understanding the parts of life ruled by emotion, intuition, or custom. Obi looks down on the older headmasters of the Mission schools. Note how Achebe subtly undercuts Obi in the opening paragraphs. Only twenty-six, the newly appointed headmaster appears much older with his “stoop-shouldered” posture and “frail” build.

Michael Obi’s name demonstrates his divided heritage. Michael is a Christian baptismal name of European heritage. (Remember Obi works for “Mission” schools—as did Achebe’s father, who was a devout Christian.) Obi, by contrast, is an African name. His name itself embodies the cultural conflict he is about to enter.

How does Dickens use humour and pathos in his Great Expectations?Please give a detailed explanation.

In his bildungsroman, Great
Expectations, Charles Dickens employs humor and comic relief through the use
of ridiculous and silly characters to whom he gives typically ridiculous names. And, he
evokes pathos from characters who are the unfortunate victims of poverty and the social
"prison" of English
society.

HUMOR

• The
  earliest example of such a character is the pompous Uncle Pumblechook, "the basest
  of swindlers," as Pip terms him. He is a sycophant, who fawns before rich people.  When
  Miss Havisham asks him to find a boy with whom Estella can play, he assumes an
  importance because he believes himself an emissary of hers.  While Pip is poor,
  Pumblechook berateS him; but once Pip has a benefactor, Pumblechook becomes
  fawning.


• Another humorous character is Wemmick, whose
  "post office" mouth merely takes in information and emits it with no personal touch
  added.  However, after Pip goes to Wemmick's home, he finds that the little man has much
  personality and is attentive to his father, whom he fondly calls "Aged P."  With an odd
  house and landscape, Wemmick fires a canon each night for his deaf father to enjoy. 
  Certainly, the relaxation of spending an evening with Wemmick is comic relief for Pip. 
  In addition, Wemmick's quirky character comes out in the scene in which he visits the
  prisoners and talks to the plants as he makes his way to the cells in
  Newgate.

PATHOS

• The
  character who arouses the emotion of the reader is Abel Magwitch.  While in the
  exposition he is "a fearful man in grey," who threatens Pip's life if he does not bring
  him "wittles," Magwitch displays human sympathy after he is captured, by asserting that
  he has stolen the food and file himself.  There is a poignant exchange of looks with
  Pip.  Even Joe sympathizes with the criminal, who apologizes for having eaten the
  pie:

readability="8">

"God knows you're welcome to it--so far s it was
ever mine...We don't know what you have done, but we wouldn't have you starved to death
for it, poor miserable fellow
creature."

• After
  Magwitch goes to New South Wales and amasses a fortune, he does not forget the simple
  kindness of Pip and Joe.  Having no other to love, he risks death by returning to London
  to meet the grown Pip and tell him that he has been his benefactor for years.  Pip's
  repulsion at the sight of the old convict is cruel to the pathetic victim of the
  restrictive society of London. But, as he relates his history, Pip's heart melts with
  compassion and he realizes that intrinsically Magwitch has never been a bad person;
  instead, he has been victimized by society, especially the upper class Compeyson who
  used him to steal from Miss Havisham.  Much pathos is aroused in Magwitch's story and
  his single desire to have Pip appreciate and love him.


• In
  some ways, Miss Havisham is also a poignant character.  When she begs Estella to love
  her and Estella replies that she cannot because "You made me," the reader feels sympathy
  for the eccentric old woman who finally realizes her errors.  Especially emotive is the
  scene in which she asks Pip to write "I forgive you" for her cruelty to
  him.

How does Dickens use humour and pathos in his Great Expectations?Please give a detailed explanation.

In his bildungsroman, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens employs humor and comic relief through the use of ridiculous and silly characters to whom he gives typically ridiculous names. And, he evokes pathos from characters who are the unfortunate victims of poverty and the social "prison" of English society.

HUMOR

• The earliest example of such a character is the pompous Uncle Pumblechook, "the basest of swindlers," as Pip terms him. He is a sycophant, who fawns before rich people.  When Miss Havisham asks him to find a boy with whom Estella can play, he assumes an importance because he believes himself an emissary of hers.  While Pip is poor, Pumblechook berateS him; but once Pip has a benefactor, Pumblechook becomes fawning.


• Another humorous character is Wemmick, whose "post office" mouth merely takes in information and emits it with no personal touch added.  However, after Pip goes to Wemmick's home, he finds that the little man has much personality and is attentive to his father, whom he fondly calls "Aged P."  With an odd house and landscape, Wemmick fires a canon each night for his deaf father to enjoy.  Certainly, the relaxation of spending an evening with Wemmick is comic relief for Pip.  In addition, Wemmick's quirky character comes out in the scene in which he visits the prisoners and talks to the plants as he makes his way to the cells in Newgate.

PATHOS

• The character who arouses the emotion of the reader is Abel Magwitch.  While in the exposition he is "a fearful man in grey," who threatens Pip's life if he does not bring him "wittles," Magwitch displays human sympathy after he is captured, by asserting that he has stolen the food and file himself.  There is a poignant exchange of looks with Pip.  Even Joe sympathizes with the criminal, who apologizes for having eaten the pie:

"God knows you're welcome to it--so far s it was ever mine...We don't know what you have done, but we wouldn't have you starved to death for it, poor miserable fellow creature."

• After Magwitch goes to New South Wales and amasses a fortune, he does not forget the simple kindness of Pip and Joe.  Having no other to love, he risks death by returning to London to meet the grown Pip and tell him that he has been his benefactor for years.  Pip's repulsion at the sight of the old convict is cruel to the pathetic victim of the restrictive society of London. But, as he relates his history, Pip's heart melts with compassion and he realizes that intrinsically Magwitch has never been a bad person; instead, he has been victimized by society, especially the upper class Compeyson who used him to steal from Miss Havisham.  Much pathos is aroused in Magwitch's story and his single desire to have Pip appreciate and love him.


• In some ways, Miss Havisham is also a poignant character.  When she begs Estella to love her and Estella replies that she cannot because "You made me," the reader feels sympathy for the eccentric old woman who finally realizes her errors.  Especially emotive is the scene in which she asks Pip to write "I forgive you" for her cruelty to him.

Explain why the Communist Party aligned with the Nationalist Party (in China).

The Communist Party co-operated with the Nationalist Party
during World War II as both sides sought to put aside their ideological differences for
the time being to repel the Japanese from their homeland. The collaboration between the
two parties, however, were often merely superficial in nature. The Nationalist Party
government was inherently corrupt - supplies provided by the Allies were often not used
for war efforts against the Japanese, but were rather stockpiled in preparation for
future campaigns against the communists. Similarly, both parties pursued two drastically
different military policies in regards to the Japanese invasion. In response to Japanese
aggression, the Nationalist Party strategy was essentially a policy of retreat, whereby
space would be traded for time. On the other hand, the communists, in the form of the
Eighth Route Army, actively resisted against the Japanese, by seeking to infiltrate the
enemy forces and setting up ambushes.

Explain why the Communist Party aligned with the Nationalist Party (in China).

The Communist Party co-operated with the Nationalist Party during World War II as both sides sought to put aside their ideological differences for the time being to repel the Japanese from their homeland. The collaboration between the two parties, however, were often merely superficial in nature. The Nationalist Party government was inherently corrupt - supplies provided by the Allies were often not used for war efforts against the Japanese, but were rather stockpiled in preparation for future campaigns against the communists. Similarly, both parties pursued two drastically different military policies in regards to the Japanese invasion. In response to Japanese aggression, the Nationalist Party strategy was essentially a policy of retreat, whereby space would be traded for time. On the other hand, the communists, in the form of the Eighth Route Army, actively resisted against the Japanese, by seeking to infiltrate the enemy forces and setting up ambushes.

If you were to write a letter to a family member about the great depression what would you say?

The letter would depend on several factors. Like the
previous writer stated, your age would be an important factor. How old you were would
impact you recollections of the event. Young children would most likely not remember
much of the Great Depression.

If you were of working age,
your profession would impact your letter as well. Farmers were impacted as prices fell.
This would impact their earnings and the amount of work they needed to do in order to
make a profit. The need for government handouts and charity was
large.

Families had to learn to make good with what they
had. That is how depression style cooking came into being. Many recipes from that time
do not utilize flour or sugar.

Many people lost their homes
because they couldn't pay their mortgages.

readability="11">

"Shanty towns constructed of packing crates,
abandoned cars and other cast off scraps sprung up across the Nation. Gangs of youths,
whose families could no longer support them, rode the rails in box cars like so many
hoboes, hoping to find a job."

If you were to write a letter to a family member about the great depression what would you say?

The letter would depend on several factors. Like the previous writer stated, your age would be an important factor. How old you were would impact you recollections of the event. Young children would most likely not remember much of the Great Depression.

If you were of working age, your profession would impact your letter as well. Farmers were impacted as prices fell. This would impact their earnings and the amount of work they needed to do in order to make a profit. The need for government handouts and charity was large.

Families had to learn to make good with what they had. That is how depression style cooking came into being. Many recipes from that time do not utilize flour or sugar.

Many people lost their homes because they couldn't pay their mortgages.

"Shanty towns constructed of packing crates, abandoned cars and other cast off scraps sprung up across the Nation. Gangs of youths, whose families could no longer support them, rode the rails in box cars like so many hoboes, hoping to find a job."

Where is the climax of "Greasy Lake"?

There are several places in the story that you could argue are the actual climax.  In terms of the action, you could point to the entrance of the other car that scares the boys out of their plan to rape the girl they are with, you could also point to the narrator's run in with the actual body in the lake, a truly shocking moment perhaps more powerful than others in the story.  You might also look to the boys being labeled as "pretty bad characters" by the girls that show up, and their dismissal of the label as one they wouldn't like, though of course they would have loved to have been labeled as such just a few hours earlier!

In "Self-Reliance," what is the only law Emerson says can be sacred to him?

Emerson believed in two kinds of "learning" --- tuition and intuition.  Tuition is the kind of learning we generally associate with school.  It comes from effort, from absorbing knowledge from those around us.  The other is intuition, a direct perception that each of us has to the truth because we all participate in one "whole" --- the "Oversoul."  This is a basic principle of Transcendentalism ... that genius comes not so much from the accumulation of facts, but from direct inspiration from this Oversoul.

Because we have a direct contact to this knowledge, Emerson and Transcendentalists believe that these perceptions are the only "Law" to which we are responsible.  This will not go over so well with the "most men" who "live lives of quiet desperation" (Thoreau).  For trusting these perceptions, the "world will whip you with its displeasure."   Whereas most men want us to share the worldview of the majority, Emerson asserts that the only time we are ourselves is when we "Trust Thyself" as did Moses and all other truly great men.

"Trust thyself; every heart vibrates to that iron string."

"Whoso would be a man must be a non-conformist."

What are the two major themes in "O Pioneers"?

In part 2 of O Pioneers we learn that Mrs. Lee won't use the new bathtub because she doesn't want to let go of her old ways.  The themes addressed in this refusal are of the individual against society.  Mrs. Lee is an individual who does not want to exchange her old ways for new ways. Mrs. Lee goes into the tub room and just splashes the water around, then goes to her room at bed time and bathes from a tub under her bed.  Mrs. Lee's actions also address the theme of the human life cycle.  Mrs. Lee is not moving ahead like the younger people in the novel.  This is very typical of elderly people.  They struggle with the new concepts and inventions of society