The four things that a man must do in his life to demonstrate his manhood according to Hemingway are to live life to the fullest, love passionately, kill cleanly, and die courageously. The main character in the novel Across the River and into the Trees, Colonel Richard Cantwell, engages in all of these things during the course of the narrative, which covers the last three days of his life. Even though he knows he is dying, Cantwell spends his last days doing what he loves best. He goes duck hunting in a partially frozen lagoon in Venice, helping the boatsman pole through the ice, setting up his own decoys, and cleanly shooting down the first two ducks that fly through his range. He also spends time with his mistress, making love with her in a gondola. After reminiscing about his very eventful life which spans two world wars, he experiences a series of heart attacks and knows that the end is near. Accepting his fate without complaint, he retires to the back seat of the car,locks the door, and dies quietly alone.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
a) Negative environmental impacts of tourism. b) Positive socio-cultural impacts of tourism. Explain the following with the help of...
There are both positive and negative effects of
tourism. One positive effect is that jobs are created. Tourists bring money to the
economy. Roads, airports, golf courses, shops, hotels and restaurants, etc. need to be
built. All of these things will give many people jobs.
A
negative effect of tourism is the depletion of natural resources such as water.
Pollution such as litter, sewage, and air pollution are all concerns. Ecosystems may
also be altered to the depletion of habitats for building. In addition, beaches are
often transformed into tourist destinations (including marinas) which harms or
eliminates these habitats as well.
a) Negative environmental impacts of tourism. b) Positive socio-cultural impacts of tourism. Explain the following with the help of...
There are both positive and negative effects of tourism. One positive effect is that jobs are created. Tourists bring money to the economy. Roads, airports, golf courses, shops, hotels and restaurants, etc. need to be built. All of these things will give many people jobs.
A negative effect of tourism is the depletion of natural resources such as water. Pollution such as litter, sewage, and air pollution are all concerns. Ecosystems may also be altered to the depletion of habitats for building. In addition, beaches are often transformed into tourist destinations (including marinas) which harms or eliminates these habitats as well.
Friday, September 28, 2012
What event at the beginning of chapter 15 foreshadows the end of the chapter, and what prompts Jem to go downtown?
There are two "mirrored" scenes in this chapter when Atticus is faced with a mob of men and one of his children defuses the situation. The first scene is at the beginning of the chapter, when Heck Tate and others come to the Finch home and stand outside. They are unhappy that Atticus is defending Tom Robinson at trial. The men disperse when Jem yells to his father that the phone is ringing.
Later, that night, Jem, Scout, and Dill go to find their father downtown after Jem gets a "feeling" something is wrong. They find Atticus sitting outside the jail, guarding Tom Robinson from an angry mob. This time, it is Scout's words to Mr. Cunningham that make the men scatter. She reminds him that she is friends with his son, Walter.
In both cases, the children humanize the situation and their father to the angry people around him. They can no longer function as a "blind mob" but instead must see the Finches as people, and as their neighbors.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
In Lord of the Flies, how does Jack react to Piggy's death? What does he do when he sees that Piggy is dead?
By the time of Piggy's death in Lord of the Flies there is little hope that Ralph will be able to restore any sense of order. Simon is dead and Piggy and Ralph are holding on to the last threads of the civilization they created but are faced with "savages." Jack's tribe is viewing Piggy with amusement and does not stop to listen to him because of any respect for Piggy or the conch but because they want to humiliate him some more. Piggy is still trying to reach the boys on an intellectual level when he says,"Which is better - to have rules...or hunt and kill?" Ralph is also pleading to the boys' sense of right and wrong and the vain hope of rescue but it is too late and they are interrupted by Jack who stands in the safety of his tribe -"a solid mass of menace." Ralph is aware of the stones and Piggy is aware that the boys are acting irresponsibly but it no longer matters to Jack and his tribe.
Jack is planning to attack Ralph and Piggy anyway and Roger is relishing his control over the lever and the threat he represents. As Roger knowingly lets the rock go, Piggy is struck by it and as the conch "exploded into a thousand white fragments" so Piggy's "arms and legs twitched a bit" and he lands far below. Piggy's body is washed away as if he is no more important than a pig "after it has been killed" and, except for Ralph's inability to speak there is no remorse for what has just happened but only Jack "screaming wildly." However, Jack's screams are not of panic but of triumph.
This incident reveals Jack's character as he feels that he is vindicated and that he is the legitimate chief. The only reference to Piggy is in the fact that Ralph has no one else and that because "there isn't a tribe for you any more" and the conch is destroyed, Jack can take his rightful place. He sees Ralph as his enemy and himself as the only authority. His reaction reveals that he thinks that he is invincible, even teasing the twins and forcing them to join his tribe.
In "Animal Farm", what are the living conditions like for all of the animals except the pigs and dogs?
Animal farm is a story of how a revolution went wrong. The farm is a metaphor for a country. The animals on Manor Farm have a revolution and kick out their selfish ruler, the farmer. The Pigs become leaders. The pigs promise that everyone will share everything equally (this is communism). In the beginning this is a genuine ambition, but once Snowball is chased out, Napolean gradually takes the farm's good things (apples, eggs, the farm-house etc) until the animals are no better than before the revolution.
So your answer is the animals' living conditions change during the book. After the revolution, they start off as free citizens and share the fruits of their labour, they work hard, but they own their work. The more they work, the more they progress and the better their lives become. But Napolean, using the brutal dogs, gradually steals their freedom and the benefits of their work.
Their equal society is corrupted and the pigs (politicians/rich people) take an unfair share of the community's profit. The animals (normal working people) work for nothing except their basic needs and the greedy pigs consume all the luxuries.
Consider this quote from Dom Camara, Archbishop of São Paulo "When I fed the poor they called me a saint. When I asked, "why are the poor hungry?", they called me a communist."
In what ways did Morries father help him become who he was? Please use some quotes so i can read into it more
In Tuesdays With Morrie, Morrie's father is a father in
name only. There is a division of labor in the house, and Morrie's parents marriage is
segregated. Morrie's mother takes care of the kids, and Morrie's father works.
Morrie's father does not even come in the house until Morrie and his brother are
asleep. Child-rearing is woman's work, according to the traditional style of parenting
that Morrie's father adopts.
Luckily, Morrie's father knows
that the women he married are incredible mothers. After Morrie's mother died, Morrie's
father marries Ava who is a godsend to the young, grieving Morrie. Morrie recounts the
lessons he learns from her:
"The most important thing
in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."
(52)
Morrie
teaches Mitch not to be like his father. Even though Mitch does not have kids, Morrie
urges him to open up to his girlfriend and to others in general. Morries says that
communication is key to cultivating relationships. So, even Morrie's father does not
have a positive aspect on Morrie, Morrie learns by his negative example to never
suppress feelings and never be too ashamed to talk.
In what ways did Morries father help him become who he was? Please use some quotes so i can read into it more
In Tuesdays With Morrie, Morrie's father is a father in name only. There is a division of labor in the house, and Morrie's parents marriage is segregated. Morrie's mother takes care of the kids, and Morrie's father works. Morrie's father does not even come in the house until Morrie and his brother are asleep. Child-rearing is woman's work, according to the traditional style of parenting that Morrie's father adopts.
Luckily, Morrie's father knows that the women he married are incredible mothers. After Morrie's mother died, Morrie's father marries Ava who is a godsend to the young, grieving Morrie. Morrie recounts the lessons he learns from her:
"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in." (52)
Morrie teaches Mitch not to be like his father. Even though Mitch does not have kids, Morrie urges him to open up to his girlfriend and to others in general. Morries says that communication is key to cultivating relationships. So, even Morrie's father does not have a positive aspect on Morrie, Morrie learns by his negative example to never suppress feelings and never be too ashamed to talk.
When does the climax occur in the short story "The Lesson"? Is this story controlled by plot or characters?
The climax of a story usually occurs at the same time as the crisis or turning point. This is when a character makes a choice which will determine the outcome of events and once done, the consequences are irrevokable.
Mr. O'Flynn obviously has the last 'say-so' concerning Curly since it is his steer and he knows Johnny is attached to it as a pet. When denial over Curly's fate breaks down and Johnny understands that Curly will be evenetually slaughtered, he could decide to make an exception in Curly's case, but he doesn't. He needs the money; cattle are his livelihood. Besides, his son needs to learn to be realistic in life.
When Johnny's sister tries to convince her father to do otherwise ("Dad! Do something!"), he resolves to put an end to this "nonsense," although he is not indifferent to his son's feelings.
- This is evidently not about the same short story as the other one which has comments! Same title, different story...
Monday, September 24, 2012
How does the dual narrative help to arouse your sympathy for Victor and the creature in "Frankenstein"?(You've heard Victor's side of the story for...
The dual narrative is very effective because, first we get to know Victor's feelings very intimately. The reader understands how Victor is driven to create the monster, how he feels after the monster kills.
When the creature begins to narrate his humanity is revealed, he is sensitive, and almost innocent in his curiosity. You can't help but feel sorry for the creature, he did not ask to be born, he is alone, abandoned, lonely and can't help his responses to certain situations.
For me, hearing from the creature helps to create sympathy for both Victor and the creature. For Victor for his misguided use of science and for the result of his efforts, the creature.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
In "The Devil and Tom Walker," what is the romantic idea that is most reflected in the story?
Since the story, written by Irving, is listed by some texts as one of the American Romantic era stories, I assume you mean "romantic idea" in the sense of the period of literature, not in the sense of amorous love between two people. The inspiration for the story, according to the e-notes introduction, might have come from the German romantic writer, Faust. His story though had the one who made the pact with the devil winning love as well as money. Irving's character, Tom Walker, only wants money. Romance-era writers dealt with possibilities, dreams, magic, and other such ideas. This story has all three of those: Tom Walker dreams of being rich and the devil, through his magic, makes that possible.
In "A Raisin in the Sun", why does the author go to such lengths to describe the furnishings of the Younger family's apartment?
The simple answer is that the apartment is a very tangible symbol of what the family is missing, and what their dreams are trying to move them out of. The apartment lacks space, with Travis sleeping on the couch, and Mama and Beneatha sharing a bedroom. The apartment lacks sunlight, with Mama's plant barely surviving.
The detailed description of the apartment also helps establish the time period of the play, as well as important family values. Mama's pride in keeping the place clean and tidy, Walter Sr.'s portrait in a place of honor overlooking the family, and Beneatha's embarrassment when Asagi comes to visit are all communicated through the play's setting.
The move to the new house (hope) offers sunlight and space, to give the family room to grow and light to see their dreams come true.
A client is extremely pleased with his company’s performance for the first month and has contacted your manager, Mr. Johnson, to see...
In accounting, it's very important to leave a "paper
trail." Every action must be justified and
detailed.
Opening entries are important as they indicate
either the opening of a brand new account or the existing balance of an established
account at the beginning of each new month. All entries from that point forward in
time either increase or decrease what was in the account on the first day of the month.
Opening entries need to be specifically listed as such with the opening day and
amount.
Adjusting entries are entries that are out of the
ordinary for a particular type of account and "adjust" it for some reason. They can be
for any number of occurrences, but they need to draw the reader's attention and explain
in as much detail as possible what happened and why. The reason for this is that
people's memories fade over time and the reason for the entry may not be so readible
available in the future. So, document it well so it's self
explanatory.
At the end of the month, there are certain
accounts that need to be closed out in preparation for the next month. Most of these
accounts pertain to the income statement and are only temporary. They need to show the
closing balance when the month ended and show where the balances were moved to as they
were closed. Most will show a zero balance after they're closed for the beginning of
the new month. On the other hand, most asset, liability, and capital accounts don't
usually need to be closed, but it's nice to see where the account is at the beginning of
the new month.
Neglecting opening, adjusting, and closing
entries makes its difficult, if not impossible to issue the financial statements that
are so vital to a company's management and financial success. By making all necessary
entries to its books, both at the beginning, in the interim, and at the ending of a set
accounting period, it's easier for a company to keep a thumb on its progress on a
day-to-day basis. And of equal importance--if a company's books are ever audited, a
well kept and accurate "paper trail" makes it easy to prove a company's honesty and
integrity, as well as its professionalism.
A client is extremely pleased with his company’s performance for the first month and has contacted your manager, Mr. Johnson, to see...
In accounting, it's very important to leave a "paper trail." Every action must be justified and detailed.
Opening entries are important as they indicate either the opening of a brand new account or the existing balance of an established account at the beginning of each new month. All entries from that point forward in time either increase or decrease what was in the account on the first day of the month. Opening entries need to be specifically listed as such with the opening day and amount.
Adjusting entries are entries that are out of the ordinary for a particular type of account and "adjust" it for some reason. They can be for any number of occurrences, but they need to draw the reader's attention and explain in as much detail as possible what happened and why. The reason for this is that people's memories fade over time and the reason for the entry may not be so readible available in the future. So, document it well so it's self explanatory.
At the end of the month, there are certain accounts that need to be closed out in preparation for the next month. Most of these accounts pertain to the income statement and are only temporary. They need to show the closing balance when the month ended and show where the balances were moved to as they were closed. Most will show a zero balance after they're closed for the beginning of the new month. On the other hand, most asset, liability, and capital accounts don't usually need to be closed, but it's nice to see where the account is at the beginning of the new month.
Neglecting opening, adjusting, and closing entries makes its difficult, if not impossible to issue the financial statements that are so vital to a company's management and financial success. By making all necessary entries to its books, both at the beginning, in the interim, and at the ending of a set accounting period, it's easier for a company to keep a thumb on its progress on a day-to-day basis. And of equal importance--if a company's books are ever audited, a well kept and accurate "paper trail" makes it easy to prove a company's honesty and integrity, as well as its professionalism.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
What is the theme in chapter 8 of "To Kill A Mockingbird"?I know of themes like prejudice, racism, and education in the other chapters, but I...
The theme of race is addressed through the symbol of the "snowman" that Jem creates. Note how color is used here to reinforce the symbolism of race. The snowman is really made up of balls of black mud and just covered with a thin veneer of white snow. This is interesting to compare to what Atticus has always told the kids, color doesn't matter when judging someone.
Another theme involves that of helping each other out. When Miss Maudie's house catches fire and begins to burn, everyone in Maycomb seems to turn out to help - even fire departments from across Alabama come to help. The pinnacle of this is, of course, when Boo secretly puts the blanket around a shivering Scout standing by and watching the events unfold.
It is interesting to note too, given the initial theme of racism, how willing the community (well, the white members anyway) is to come together to aid Miss Maudie, but how few are willing to come out and aid Tom Robinson - or Atticus for that matter - when they need help later in the novel.
Note, too, Miss Maudie's determination the next morning after the fire to carry on and rebuild her house. This is another theme that is vital to the novel. For it is Atticus, after the Robinson trial, who is determined to stand up for what is right.
The first link is a summary of the chapter. The final link is a discussion of the themes of the novel. See if you can apply any additional ones to the chapter.
How does Daisy's tone or voice change throughout "The Great Gatsby"?
Throughout "The Great Gatsby," Daisy's voice often changes. Most often, it changes through emotion. Fitzgerald, through Nick, tells us that Daisy "cried" statements when she's upset, for example. The most extreme change, though, comes from the point when Gatsby speaks of Daisy's voice in the past, when they first met, when he says it was "full of money," to the point when everything falls apart with their relationship, when Tom denounces and exposes Gatsby. At that point, Daisy's voice is commented on several times, and it is said to be "an octave lower," full of scorn, and then cold.
Where can I get a paraphrase or modern English translation of The Faerie Queene?
You can download a modern English version of The Faerie Queene at Project Gutenberg at the link pasted below.
If you'll give yourself a chance, you might find that Middle English, which is what Spenser used, is really not that difficult to read. Spellings are different, especially in the use of vowels. Whereas today we use the spelling "fairy," Spenser used "faerie"; we use "knight," and Spenser used "knyghte." Most words should be recognizable to you, and those that aren't are probably annotated in the margin or in a footnote.
Middle English is the in-between form of English--between the Old English of the Anglo-Saxons and the Renaissance English of Shakespeare. It is heavily influenced by French because of the Norman Conquest.
I've pasted for you below a link to How to Read and Speak Middle English. Follow those 7 steps--and have fun!
Friday, September 21, 2012
Is prejudice a well-developed theme in "To Kill A Mockingbird" and why?
Absolutely. It is well developed on many fronts...not just the black/white issue.
Scout is a victim of prejudice when she proves how well she can read on the first day of school. Her teacher feels threatened by this and insists that she only read at school...not at home with her family.
Boo Radley is a victim of prejudice simply because no one has seen him in such a very long time. All sorts of ideas and stories swarm the countryside about him, but no one knows anything for sure. So, he is the victim of innuendo, childish pranks, and illogical behavior from others.
The Ewells are victims of prejudice and are often referred to as "white trash" in the novel. They are poor, they live near the black community, they have no mother, and Mayella is thought to be her own father's mistress. None of these things are approved of in the town, and so therefore this family is victimized.
Mr. Raymond is considered the town drunk and has a black mistress and children. The children discover during Tom's trial that Mr. Raymond is not drunk...in fact, his bagged bottle contains only Coca-Cola...but he is the victim of prejudice anyway. The reader is not certain which is the cause of his low position in society--his "drunkenness" or his association with his black mistress and the children he has as a result.
Of course, there are many examples of prejudice between blacks and whites in this novel as well. The theme is absolute.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
List the arguments 'for' and 'against' GM (genetically-modified) crops?
Most of the "for" arguments for GMOs are false.
Still;
GMOs can make a plant or animal manufacture a
pharmaceutical product.
Against
it;
Cross-pollinations have accidentally introduced drugs
into the food supply
Cross-pollinations
have spread GE genomes into neighboring fields and into the wild, not only injuring the
capacity or farmers to choose non-GMO crops but even to injure the genetic variety in
the native and wild fields.
GMO
seeds can't be saved and thus engineer a form of crop-based feudalism or
share-cropping
GMO
food crops are restricted to those that can be shipped for a market, thus they tend to
supplant local food systems. This has lead to dislocated farm families and workers,
aggravating famine;
Also unemployment,
poverty, homelessness and illegal immigration.
BT
crops engineer pesticide to be IN the food instead of "on", where we could at least wash
some of it off.
Modifications cause us to eat things that
cause unknown reactions, not just allergies but there are disturbing and not fully
pursued evidence of causing sterility, genetic changes in the consumer, birth defects
and other as yet unrecognized syndromes;
Glyphosate
ready crops enforce mono-cropping. Intercropping produces more "product" per acre and
tends to maintain soils, while monocropping depletes soil
rapidly
Heavy
herbicide and pesticide rounds injure both soil and those men and women who work the
soil
GMOs
reduce crop diversity, which makes crops more vulnerable to
disease
GMOs
reduce crop diversity, which are critical in finding crops suitable to survive marginal
locations and weather extremes
Heavily
damaged soils associated with this type of growing simply do not have anything left to
impart strong nutrient values to our food. This has led to an overall reduction in food
value for every calorie we eat. <scroll to “Myth Two”
GMOs
are causing activation of super weeds both by the rampant use of one kind of pesticide
and by the intra genetic transfer of pesticide-resistant genes or simply
pollens
GMO
sourced drugs and anti-biotics are accelerating drug-resistant
germs
While
GMOs promise lowered use of chemicals and the ability to rely on a single set of
equipment expensesv, in truth after a couple of years, use of external chemicals rise
and overreach the original levels fairly rapidly.
Now
the superweeds, both with GE genes and those which have emerged from the wild, are
forcing farmers to re-purchase equipment they had had prior to glyphosate
dependence
List the arguments 'for' and 'against' GM (genetically-modified) crops?
Most of the "for" arguments for GMOs are false. Still;
GMOs can make a plant or animal manufacture a pharmaceutical product.
Against it;
Cross-pollinations have accidentally introduced drugs into the food supply
http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/002509.html
Cross-pollinations have spread GE genomes into neighboring fields and into the wild, not only injuring the capacity or farmers to choose non-GMO crops but even to injure the genetic variety in the native and wild fields.
http://www.gmcontaminationregister.org/
http://www.alive.com/880a3a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=635
GMO seeds can't be saved and thus engineer a form of crop-based feudalism or share-cropping
http://www.astm.lu/spip.php?article830&astm_lang=fr
GMO food crops are restricted to those that can be shipped for a market, thus they tend to supplant local food systems. This has lead to dislocated farm families and workers, aggravating famine; http://www.faminegenocide.com/resources/facts.html
http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2005/12/27/how-britain-denies-its-holocausts/
Also unemployment, poverty, homelessness and illegal immigration.
http://www.globalpolitician.com/22241-immigration
BT crops engineer pesticide to be IN the food instead of "on", where we could at least wash some of it off.
Modifications cause us to eat things that cause unknown reactions, not just allergies but there are disturbing and not fully pursued evidence of causing sterility, genetic changes in the consumer, birth defects and other as yet unrecognized syndromes; http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm#headingA11
Glyphosate ready crops enforce mono-cropping. Intercropping produces more "product" per acre and tends to maintain soils, while monocropping depletes soil rapidly
Heavy herbicide and pesticide rounds injure both soil and those men and women who work the soil
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GTARW.php
GMOs reduce crop diversity, which makes crops more vulnerable to disease
http://volensafrica.org/Loss-of-Crop-Diversity-Threatens.html?lang=en
GMOs reduce crop diversity, which are critical in finding crops suitable to survive marginal locations and weather extremes
http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0262e/x0262e02.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8182840.stm
Heavily damaged soils associated with this type of growing simply do not have anything left to impart strong nutrient values to our food. This has led to an overall reduction in food value for every calorie we eat. <scroll to “Myth Two” http://digmybook.com/preview/155963944X/The-Fatal-Harvest-Reader
GMOs are causing activation of super weeds both by the rampant use of one kind of pesticide and by the intra genetic transfer of pesticide-resistant genes or simply pollens
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/business/energy-environment/04weed.html
GMO sourced drugs and anti-biotics are accelerating drug-resistant germs
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/GMDNA_Does_Jump_Species.php
While GMOs promise lowered use of chemicals and the ability to rely on a single set of equipment expensesv, in truth after a couple of years, use of external chemicals rise and overreach the original levels fairly rapidly.
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20090625/nf1
http://www.truth-out.org/1215091
http://www.foodrenegade.com/vandana-shiva-on-the-dangers-of-gmos/
Now the superweeds, both with GE genes and those which have emerged from the wild, are forcing farmers to re-purchase equipment they had had prior to glyphosate dependence
http://biolargo.blogspot.com/2010/06/round-up-weed-killer-and-acquired.html
What color is the fog in "Heart of Darkness"?
Surprisingly, the first time the fog is mentioned, no color is given. However, as the narrative proceeds, we're specifically told that the fog is white. It also seems solid at that point. In fact, we're told: "When the sun rose there was a white fog, very warm and clammy, and more blinding than the night. It did not shift or drive; it was just there, standing all round you like something solid." That indicates that whiteness restrains action in this novel, making the fog a metaphor.
Contrast of Eastern, genteel values to Western, frontier values using specific examples from the story, "Huck Finn."
The Widow Douglas and Miss Watson dress for dinner, say their prayers, and encourage Huck to get his education. They sleep in fancy beds and wear nice clothing. They avoid profanity and attempt to live righteously with the Bible as their guidelines. Huck, on the other hand, prefers life with his father so that he may have the opportunity to smoke, drink, and cuss. Religion and formal education have no place in their lives, and formal clothing also falls by the wayside. He sleeps under the stars on the grass, so there is no need for fancy furniture or even a house overhead.The Grangerfords are even more genteel than the Widow and Miss Douglas if you overlook the fact that they intend to murder as many Sheperdsons as possible before they die. Mr. Grangerford is well dressed, polished, educated, and sophisticated. He is bound and determined to teach his sons the polite way to act, and they do. At meal times they stand until ladies are seated, they pay homage to their father, they are staunch protectors the property and family within. Each of them owns a personal slave, and even Huck gets one assigned to him while he is living there. In both examples of civilization and Eastern values, the family members are stuck in a system of tradition they are expected to fulfill. Huck sees this as a damper on his freedom and he high-tales it back to the freedom of the raft, the river, and sleeping under the stars.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Please explain one of the themes The Book of Laughter and Forgetting" and how it relates to the book as a whole.i
The theme of memory is an important element in Kundera's work. At some level, each character deals with the paradox that Kundera articulates in The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Simply put, Kundera believes that memory is a cursed component of consciousness. He suggests that the memories of tenderness and beauty are fleeting for they enter our minds and we struggle to recreate these memories, only to find that in doing so, we actually lose more of them. Similar to placing one's hand in a vat of honey, our memories of tenderness seem to be in our mind, but when our consciousness seeks to hold them firmly, aspects of them slip through our grasp until inevitably nothing of them remain. Contrast this with the memories of revulsion which we desperately seek to forget. Ironically, as we struggle to forget them, we actuall remember them and make their presence in our consciousness even more embedded. This means that the memories of revulsion end up being much stronger than the memories of tenderness. Memory, thus, as a conceptual theme, is a part of our consciousness that is unaviodable in its agony, its pain, or what Kundera will call, its sense of litost. It is this condition that reminds us of our human state and while we try to escape it, the force of its gravity is strong enough to weight our consciousness, pinning us underneath its burden.
This predicament of memory is seen to a great extent in all of the characters in Kundera's work, but can be best seen in Mirek and Tamina. Mirek seeks to embark on a fruitless quest to reclaim his correspondence to his former lover. In the process, Mirek ends up reliving those moments he seeks to forget, and falsely believes that in trying to reclaim the letters, he can actually erase these memories. Through his depiction, Kundera revivifies his theme that those awfully embarrasing and painful memories of our past will never leave us, akin to a shadow always following us regardless of weather. Tamina, who is Kundera's most tragic and most beloved character, lives out the idea that her memories can be reclaimed in the hopes of lightening the dreaded pain of living. Seeking to resurrect the positive memories of her deceased husband, Tamina, like Kundera in being an exile of the Czech Republic, seeks to claim his notebooks and writings. In the proces, she places her trust in a young student, who violates her trust, her body, and her spirit. As she is being sexually assaulted by the student, she realizes that not only is she being violated, but the memories of her husband are being replaced by the sexual violation with the student for she only involved herself with him through the motivation of the memories of tenderness. In Tamina's predicament, the theme of memory becomes hauntingly inescapable; every act of our own mental creation seems to bring us one step closer to mental degradation and destruction.
How did the Cold War affect American culture?
The Cold War had a substantial impact on American culture
during the 1950’s and 60’s especially. Themes such as nuclear war and espionage
permeated popular culture during this time period as tensions between the USSR and the
USA escalated.
In literature, dystopian themes were
prevalent. Books such as the Manchurian Candidate and The Fourth Protocol reflected
fears of Soviet takeover, while books like 1984 and Alas, Babylon explored what Soviet
domination might actually look like.
Television, a new
medium, also reflected people’s preoccupation with the U.S. Shows like I Spy, Danger
Man, Mission: Impossible and I Led Three Lives were all spy dramas, many with Soviet
characters. Some shows even made fun of the tension, such as Get Smart and The
Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Many movies came out
that dealt with the themes of nuclear apocalypse. Doctor Strangelove, Fail-Safe and
WarGames all reflected the ever-pervasive fear of nuclear destruction. James Bond films
were notorious for showcasing East/West tensions, as were films like Firefox and Hunt
for the Red October.
Even athletic competitions became
venues for Soviet-American showdowns. These sports festivals provided opportunities for
the two superpowers to show off the benefits of their respective
systems.
As you can see, the Cold War became the driving
force behind popular culture for decades.
How did the Cold War affect American culture?
The Cold War had a substantial impact on American culture during the 1950’s and 60’s especially. Themes such as nuclear war and espionage permeated popular culture during this time period as tensions between the USSR and the USA escalated.
In literature, dystopian themes were prevalent. Books such as the Manchurian Candidate and The Fourth Protocol reflected fears of Soviet takeover, while books like 1984 and Alas, Babylon explored what Soviet domination might actually look like.
Television, a new medium, also reflected people’s preoccupation with the U.S. Shows like I Spy, Danger Man, Mission: Impossible and I Led Three Lives were all spy dramas, many with Soviet characters. Some shows even made fun of the tension, such as Get Smart and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Many movies came out that dealt with the themes of nuclear apocalypse. Doctor Strangelove, Fail-Safe and WarGames all reflected the ever-pervasive fear of nuclear destruction. James Bond films were notorious for showcasing East/West tensions, as were films like Firefox and Hunt for the Red October.
Even athletic competitions became venues for Soviet-American showdowns. These sports festivals provided opportunities for the two superpowers to show off the benefits of their respective systems.
As you can see, the Cold War became the driving force behind popular culture for decades.
What did Anne Frank and her family take into the secret annex besides the diary?for example like a radio, a TV
They didn't have much. There was no television back then (believe it or not), but they did have a radio that they listened to very carefully and very quietly. Mr. Frank and his friends prepared the annex months ahead of when they went into hiding, so they did have some furniture, such as a table and chairs, beds, and a few personal belongings. To avoid suspicion, they put on as much clothing as they could before moving into the annex, so they probably didn't have big wardrobes. Peter Van Daan brought his cat, which caused tension between him and his father when food supplies started to get low.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
In "Kite Runner", what is the significance of the irony in the first story of Amir?After hearing Amir's story, Hassan asks, "Why did the man kill...
The irony in the story is that, in order to satisfy his own greed, the man destroys that which he realizes too late is most dear to him. It is significant because it is a metaphor for Amir's own life in that, in his desperate longing for his father's love, Amir effectively destroys the safe and comfortable life of Hassan along with their relationship with each other, never realizing the great value of the friendship they share. A further irony is that both Amir and his fictional character could have easily gotten what they wanted without paying anywhere near such a drastic price.
Amir's story illustrates major differences in Hassan's and Amir's characters. Hassan has a clear vision of things, picking up immediately the fact that the man could have found a more practical way of achieving his goals. Amir makes everything more complicated for himself; the possibility perceived by Hassan never occurs to him, even though it is "so obvious it (is) utterly stupid". The story also points out a basic difference between the two boys' perception of human nature. Hassan, even though he is constantly victimized because of his nationality, has a trusting spirit and cannot conceive of any reason why the man would have wanted to kill his wife, while Amir is more in touch with the darker side of human nature because it is so active in his own character (Chapter 4).
What are the major ways Welty compares Phoenix Jackson to the mythological Phoenix bird?
Phoenix Jackson is an elderly black woman who makes a ritual journey through a rugged trail to get medicine for her sick grandson. She is old, probably older than 80, but refuses to give up her journey, regardless if it is challenging to her or not. Like the mythological bird, Phoenix has spiritual experiences when she is traveling in the forest.
"She imagines a boy bringing her a slice of cake but opens her eyes to find her hand in the air, grasping nothing. The terrain becomes more difficult, and at a certain point she thinks she sees a ghost, but it is only a scarecrow. Blaming the confusion on her age and the fact that her "senses is gone," she moves on."
"The phoenix was the bird in ancient mythology that rose from its own ashes every 500 years to begin a new life cycle."
"Phoenix's ritual journey into town symbolizes the continual rising-up of the old woman, like the bird she is allied with. Her description given at the beginning of the story also seems to suggest fire and life: "a golden color ran underneath, and the two knobs of her cheeks were illumined by a yellow burning under the dark. Under the red rag her hair came down on her neck in the frailest of ringlets, still black, and with an odor like copper."
What purposes are served by the appearance of Antigone and Ismene in the Exodos of "Oedipus Rex?"
The children are a connection for Oedipus to what is valuable.
Antigone and Ismene are a result of Oedipus' union with Jocasta, his own mother. The prophecy, which Oedipus tried to desperately to avoid, had been fulfilled. Ashamed and horrified, and metaphorically "blind" his entire life, Oedipus literally blinds himself. Despite his condition and the revelation, Oedipus still feels a great love for the girls, who, unlike his sons, are still small children. He begs Creon,
...Take care of them,
I beg you. Wait, better -- permit me, would you?
Just to touch them with my hands and take
our fill of tears. Please...my noble king.
Grant it, with all your noble heart.
If I could hold them, just once, I'd think
I had them with me, like the early days
when I could see their eyes (1605-11).
Robert Fagles, the noted scholar and critic, says that "the connection to reality, to touch and feel his children, gives Oedipus a new strength which sustains him in misery and gives him the courage he needed to go on living, though he is now and outcast."
The girls, too, love their father; they, too, will be marked as outcasts. Too young to understand the full import of their new status or their father's acts, they embrace him. Oedipus knows they too will suffer; "Such a disgrace, and you must bear it all!" he cries. Though blind, he is now able to see.
Why do Odysseus and his men burn an offering for the gods on the island of the Cyclops in The Odyssey?
Odysseus burns an offering for the gods because there is an extra ram left over after the men have divided up the Cyclops's sheep among them, and because Odysseus hopes that the gods will heed his sacrifice and protect him and his crew on their way home.
When Odysseus and his men finally return to the island where they have left the rest of their ships, they divide the sheep they have stolen from the Cyclops among themselves, giving each man an equal share so that none would complain. There is an extra ram, and the men decide it should go to Odysseus; Odysseus sacrifices this ram on the shore to the god Zeus. Odysseus prays that Zeus, who is lord over all, will grant them his protection on their journey home, especially since Cyclops has prayed to his own father Poseidon to avenge him against Odysseus, who has stolen his flock and put out his eye. Unfortunately, Zeus does not heed Odysseus's sacrifice, only thinking how "he might destroy both (Odysseus's) ships and (his) comrades" (Book IX).
"The way conflicts and contrasts are resolved along with the theme of 'mistaken identities' make the Twelfth Night a successful comedy." Discuss.
Rather a complex essay title you have been given there,
zoha. To begin you need to "unpack" its various parts so you can work out how you can
respond to each section of the title. The question seems to be focussing on the
resolution of all the confusion and problems in the play - how the love triangle is
"solved", and how the various disguises are taken off and identities are re-established.
Therefore one way to answer this question would be to consider whether, in fact, the
play does resolve all of these conflicts and issues - is it just a "happy ending" kind
of Shakesperian comedy or is Shakespeare trying to do something else
instead?
I have recently answered a very similar question
and I have put the link to the answer below, so have a look at that and see if it helps
you in thinking through some of the ways that the "resolution" doesn't actually
"resolve" some of the central conflicts. One additional point that you might want to
think through is are we convinced as an audience by the ending? We have seen characters
fall in love suddenly and inexplicably. Take Olivia's crush on Cesario, and then the way
she (mistakenly) marries Sebastian very quickly. Are we convinced that marriage or love
that is described throughout the play variously as a "plague" or a "sickness" or an
"infection" will result in a happy marriage? Olivia has married Sebastian - a man she
knows next to nothing about. Are these the kind of ingredients that will give us the
happy ending Act V scene i seems to promise? We could ask the same question about Orsino
and Viola - Orsino never "knows" the true Viola and yet they marry
too.
Just some ideas - hope they
help!
"The way conflicts and contrasts are resolved along with the theme of 'mistaken identities' make the Twelfth Night a successful comedy." Discuss.
Rather a complex essay title you have been given there, zoha. To begin you need to "unpack" its various parts so you can work out how you can respond to each section of the title. The question seems to be focussing on the resolution of all the confusion and problems in the play - how the love triangle is "solved", and how the various disguises are taken off and identities are re-established. Therefore one way to answer this question would be to consider whether, in fact, the play does resolve all of these conflicts and issues - is it just a "happy ending" kind of Shakesperian comedy or is Shakespeare trying to do something else instead?
I have recently answered a very similar question and I have put the link to the answer below, so have a look at that and see if it helps you in thinking through some of the ways that the "resolution" doesn't actually "resolve" some of the central conflicts. One additional point that you might want to think through is are we convinced as an audience by the ending? We have seen characters fall in love suddenly and inexplicably. Take Olivia's crush on Cesario, and then the way she (mistakenly) marries Sebastian very quickly. Are we convinced that marriage or love that is described throughout the play variously as a "plague" or a "sickness" or an "infection" will result in a happy marriage? Olivia has married Sebastian - a man she knows next to nothing about. Are these the kind of ingredients that will give us the happy ending Act V scene i seems to promise? We could ask the same question about Orsino and Viola - Orsino never "knows" the true Viola and yet they marry too.
Just some ideas - hope they help!
In "Separate Peace", how and why does Finny's second accident occur?
Finny's second accident occurs as he rushes out of the Assembly Room where Brinker has organized a mock trial for the purpose of investigating Finny's first accident. Distraught over the realization that Gene caused the accident that crippled him, Finny falls down the marble stairs at the front of the First Academy Building.
Perhaps as a defense mechanism, or perhaps because he really doesn't remember, Finny has never delved too deeply into the details of what happened when he fell from the tree. Brinker's "investigation" and Leper's testimony force him to face the fact that Gene, his best friend, most likely jounced the limb on which they both stood on purpose. The result was to make Finny lose his balance and fall to the riverbank, breaking his leg and rendering him unfit for the war. When Leper describes how he saw the two figures on the limb move like an engine in which "first one piston sinks, and then the other one sank and fell", Finny and everyone else present understands that "the one who moved first shook the other one's balance". Unable to accept that his friend had wanted to do him harm, Finny hobbles from the Assembly Room proclaiming, "I don't care", rushes down the corridor, and falls down the stairs (Chapter 11).
Monday, September 17, 2012
What is the role of the witches in Macbeth's downfall other than the fact that they give Macbeth overconfidence and fool him with double meaning?I...
You could point out that the witches symbolize the dark side of human nature. They are absolutely evil...we know that from the beginning when they meet and choose Macbeth to be their plaything. They live to torture and harass. While they do not physically create the downfall of any human, they do lead the humans to fall by their own demise by way of misleading illusions.
The witches represent the evil that is in Macbeth which does not manifest itself until the prophecy is made--Macbeth will be King. The witches plant the seed, Lady Macbeth waters it with encouragement, and from there it grows wildly on its own within Macbeth's heart as he plans the murders of Banquo, Fleance, and the MacDuff family to secure his throne.
Describe the woman in "Yellow Woman" by Leslie Marmon Silko.
Leslie Silko’s story, “Yellow Woman,” portrays a woman caught in a complex world of reality and mysticism. On first reading, the story appears simple: It is a woman's brief romantic adventure with a handsome, mysterious stranger. The story is told in first person point of view by the protagonist, a nameless Indian woman. Indian folklore is at the heart of the story. Many ancient cultures owe their spirituality and history to oral traditions. The mixing of the two worlds, the old and the new, requires a second look.
From this story, two characters important in Indian tales converge: the ka’tsina, a water spirit; and the Yellow Woman, a mythical Indian woman. Silko’s story begins with the young woman going out for a walk near a river and being seduced by an Indian man named Silva. Silva calls himself a ka’tsina and the woman he names Yellow Woman.
A young, beautiful Indian woman--unsophisticated, sensual, adventurous--the narrator is not the real Yellow Woman. Although the story appears to have an old west quality, the woman mentions Jell-o and trucks. She is caught up in the escapade of Silva’s making. As the story progresses, the woman’s reality evolves from someone who listened to her grandfather’s stories about the Yellow Woman to consciously entering the reality of Yellow Woman.
I will see someone, eventually I will see someone, and then I will be certain that he is only a man—some man from nearby—and I will be sure that I am not Yellow Woman.
The woman is not only sexually seduced but psychologically as well. Yet, in her more cogent times, she wonders about her husband and her baby. Then, she begins to question if the man is a ka’tsina and if she is actually Yellow Woman
‘Do you always use the same tricks?’
‘What tricks?’ his face was calm.
'The story about being a ka’tsina from the mountains and me being Yellow Woman. I don’t believe it.'
He shook his had and said softly, ‘But someday they will talk about us…'
Silva convinces her to go with him to his cabin up in the mountains. Awakening the next morning, she discovers that he is gone. Yellow Woman goes for a walk and when she returns, Silva is waiting on her with a stolen beef carcass that he has slaughtered and butchered to sell. Again, Silva persuades her to accompany him to Mexico to sell the meat.
On the way, a man, who owned the stolen cow, catches up to them. He and Silva begin arguing. Silva tells Yellow Woman to go back to the cabin. While riding off, the woman hears four shots. This jerks her back into reality. Silva is not only a thief, but a murderer. She lets the horse go and walks back to her family telling them that she had been kidnapped.
The seduction of the woman has an ethereal quality that makes the reader question himself about the reality of the man and woman and their connection. However, in the final analysis, this story is a desire to explore a destiny that transcends the limits of the woman's life. Yes, it is only an exciting moment in the her life.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
What is a good theme for The Skin I'm In?
Another theme that would be important to discuss in
today's world (and/or today's classroom) would be school bullying. One doesn't have to
look even further than the main character: Maleeka Madison. Maleeka is the main victim
of the bullying. In fact, she is teased mercilessly both for her skin color and her
homemade dresses.
If bullying is a theme then there is not
only a victim, but also at least one bully. The irony of the bully's in this book is
that they involve almost all of the other school children including the only other black
boy in the class. Further, it should surprise the reader that another black child
should bully another one about being the very same skin
color.
Another aspect of the bullying theme is the
discovery of how the main victim (Maleeka) deals with it. Other than having severely
low self-esteem, Maleeka tries to cope with the bullying by befriending the roughest
girl in the school, Charlese, yet another bully. Of course, by the end of the story,
Maleeka realizes that neither bullying nor being bullied is the answer. Maleeka learns
to love "the skin I'm in."
What is a good theme for The Skin I'm In?
Another theme that would be important to discuss in today's world (and/or today's classroom) would be school bullying. One doesn't have to look even further than the main character: Maleeka Madison. Maleeka is the main victim of the bullying. In fact, she is teased mercilessly both for her skin color and her homemade dresses.
If bullying is a theme then there is not only a victim, but also at least one bully. The irony of the bully's in this book is that they involve almost all of the other school children including the only other black boy in the class. Further, it should surprise the reader that another black child should bully another one about being the very same skin color.
Another aspect of the bullying theme is the discovery of how the main victim (Maleeka) deals with it. Other than having severely low self-esteem, Maleeka tries to cope with the bullying by befriending the roughest girl in the school, Charlese, yet another bully. Of course, by the end of the story, Maleeka realizes that neither bullying nor being bullied is the answer. Maleeka learns to love "the skin I'm in."
In Chapter 10 of "The Scarlet Letter," what does Pearl see in Chillingworth?
As Chillingworth and Dimmesdale are talking, Hester and Pearl come through the garden. In addition to dancing on graves and attaching burrs to her mother's scarlet letter, Pearl throws a burrs at the window through which Dimmesdale and Chillingworth are looking. Dimmesdales shrinks back and Pearl says to her mother (referring to Chillingworth):
"'Come away, mother! Come away, or yonder old Black Man will catch you! He hath got hold of the minister already. Come away, mother, or he will catch you! But he cannot catch little Pearl!'"
Pearl, in her own instinctual, almost supernatural way, can sense the evil or malice lurking in Chillingworth. He isn't there to help Dimmesdale; he's there to obsessively find out what is going on with Hester.
What is the setting for Animal Farm?
In addition to the above details, Manor Farm seems to be
wedged between or at least neighbors with two farmers, Pilkington and
Fredrick.
Manor Farm is set to represent Russian Revolution
era Russia, while these two other farms might represent Great Britian, Germany, and/or
the United States. Each of these countries had a different political ideology from one
another as well as Russia. Setting involves both time and place and the Russian
Revolution took place in 1917-18, while the reign of Lenin lasted until 1924. Since
Stalin is represented by Napoleon, the represented activity of the book took place after
that.
What is the setting for Animal Farm?
In addition to the above details, Manor Farm seems to be wedged between or at least neighbors with two farmers, Pilkington and Fredrick.
Manor Farm is set to represent Russian Revolution era Russia, while these two other farms might represent Great Britian, Germany, and/or the United States. Each of these countries had a different political ideology from one another as well as Russia. Setting involves both time and place and the Russian Revolution took place in 1917-18, while the reign of Lenin lasted until 1924. Since Stalin is represented by Napoleon, the represented activity of the book took place after that.
Friday, September 14, 2012
What kind of appetizers would be served at rich peoples parties in New York in the 1880s?
Yes, I would say definitely caviar would be served. Also,
some sort of pate de fois gras (goose liver pate). Since it is New York, there
definitely would be some type of oyster dish - either raw oysters on the half shell,
oysters Rockefeller or some other preparation. There would be crudites - raw vegetables
with a dip. There also would be some fancy type of appetizers "en croute" - which means
in a crust - perhaps meat covered in a crust and fried or baked. There would also be
various types of expensive cheeses, cured meats such as expensive salami, pancetta or
ham. Also, there would definitley be shrimp cocktail. This was very popular and would
have been readily available in New York City. There would be some other type of fish as
well, perhaps salted cod, smoked salmon, or the like. Also, I have read that sardines
were popular back then, not on pizzas but on little crackers topped with a green olive.
Another thing that rich people liked to eat were things "en gelee" - that means, encased
in a gelatin. Soft boiled eggs "en gelee" were popular. This item is a French appetizer
but things would have been imported by the rich to be served at their fancy parties.
Also, truffles - which is a type of wild mushroom found in France that can only be
uncovered by wild pigs. Weird, huh?
What kind of appetizers would be served at rich peoples parties in New York in the 1880s?
Yes, I would say definitely caviar would be served. Also, some sort of pate de fois gras (goose liver pate). Since it is New York, there definitely would be some type of oyster dish - either raw oysters on the half shell, oysters Rockefeller or some other preparation. There would be crudites - raw vegetables with a dip. There also would be some fancy type of appetizers "en croute" - which means in a crust - perhaps meat covered in a crust and fried or baked. There would also be various types of expensive cheeses, cured meats such as expensive salami, pancetta or ham. Also, there would definitley be shrimp cocktail. This was very popular and would have been readily available in New York City. There would be some other type of fish as well, perhaps salted cod, smoked salmon, or the like. Also, I have read that sardines were popular back then, not on pizzas but on little crackers topped with a green olive. Another thing that rich people liked to eat were things "en gelee" - that means, encased in a gelatin. Soft boiled eggs "en gelee" were popular. This item is a French appetizer but things would have been imported by the rich to be served at their fancy parties. Also, truffles - which is a type of wild mushroom found in France that can only be uncovered by wild pigs. Weird, huh?
What symbolism can be found in the music, and how does it help teach the lesson of the story?
Ah, a good question. The music both sets and reflect the mood within the story. Look at this line: " And these—the dreams—writhed in and about, taking hue from the rooms, and causing the wild music of the orchestra to seem as the echo of their steps." At first the music had mostly set the stage: to have music in this period meant money, and to have musicians during the plague meant an act of defiance. However, with that line about the dream, a reader can begin to see how the music changes to reflect what is happening in the story. It gets wild because things are falling apart. And when it stops, that's because the party (and life) is about to stop.
In the story, "By the Waters of Babylon," why does John set out on his journey and why is it unusual?
John, the narrator, is the son of a priest of the Hill people. He has studied for the priesthood with his father and now has come of age. As part of his initiation rite into the priesthood, he has a dream about a gigantic Dead Place in the time of its glory. John's father is afraid the dream may "eat him up" but reluctantly sends his son on a journey of discovery that is the last initiation requirement. The journey is unusual because John travels east in a forbidden direction following a "god-road" to the taboo "Place of the Gods." His discoveries on the journey hold the keys to both the past and future of his people.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Is there a battle of good vs. evil in Oliver Twist? How do these forces try to shape Oliver?
Charles Dickens' second novel, Oliver Twist (1837-39) is
the story of the eponymous young orphan boy who reflects the life of poverty of
Victorian England. The novel portrays the evils of the 'Poor Houses' of the time and
the corruption of the people who work there. It also shows the depths of London's crime
with an emphasis on petty robbery and pick pocketing.
The
arch villain of the novel, Fagin, also referred to as "The Jew", is characterized as
the personification of cruelty and greed . His main goals are to take advantage of and
exploit the marginalized people of his community. Oliver, on the contrary, is the
complete opposite of Fagin. Innocent, and full of the milk of human kindness, Oliver
symbolizes all that is good in society. He hates the thought of stealing, violence, or
mistreatment of any sort, and genuinely cares for others around
him.
"Oliver Twist" is a story about the battles of good
versus evil, with the evil continually trying to corrupt and exploit the good. It
portrays the power of Love, Hate, Greed, and Revenge and how each can affect the people
involved. The love between Rose and Harry eventually overcomes all the obstacles
between them. The hatred that Monks feels for Oliver and the greed he feels towards his
inheritance proves to be self destructive. The revenge that Sikes inflicts on Nancy
drives him almost insane and results in accidental suicide. Dickens' wide array of true
to life characters emphasizes the virtues of sacrifice, compromise, charity, and
loyalty. At the end of the novel though the system for the poor is not changed, the good
in Dickens' novel outweighs the evil, and the main characters that are part of this good
live happily ever after. In real life however the publication of "Oliver Twist" resulted
in the government attempting to reform the system of 'Poor
Houses.'
Is there a battle of good vs. evil in Oliver Twist? How do these forces try to shape Oliver?
Charles Dickens' second novel, Oliver Twist (1837-39) is the story of the eponymous young orphan boy who reflects the life of poverty of Victorian England. The novel portrays the evils of the 'Poor Houses' of the time and the corruption of the people who work there. It also shows the depths of London's crime with an emphasis on petty robbery and pick pocketing.
The arch villain of the novel, Fagin, also referred to as "The Jew", is characterized as the personification of cruelty and greed . His main goals are to take advantage of and exploit the marginalized people of his community. Oliver, on the contrary, is the complete opposite of Fagin. Innocent, and full of the milk of human kindness, Oliver symbolizes all that is good in society. He hates the thought of stealing, violence, or mistreatment of any sort, and genuinely cares for others around him.
"Oliver Twist" is a story about the battles of good versus evil, with the evil continually trying to corrupt and exploit the good. It portrays the power of Love, Hate, Greed, and Revenge and how each can affect the people involved. The love between Rose and Harry eventually overcomes all the obstacles between them. The hatred that Monks feels for Oliver and the greed he feels towards his inheritance proves to be self destructive. The revenge that Sikes inflicts on Nancy drives him almost insane and results in accidental suicide. Dickens' wide array of true to life characters emphasizes the virtues of sacrifice, compromise, charity, and loyalty. At the end of the novel though the system for the poor is not changed, the good in Dickens' novel outweighs the evil, and the main characters that are part of this good live happily ever after. In real life however the publication of "Oliver Twist" resulted in the government attempting to reform the system of 'Poor Houses.'
I want to know more about Louka, the maid in "Arms and the Man."
Louka is a maid in the house who desperately wants to improve her status in society by marrying above her class. Nicola, also a servant, tells Louka she shouldn't try to be more than what she is, but Louka doesn't accept his fatalistic attitude. Louka sees a chance to rise above her servant status when she and Sergius, Raina's fiance, find themselves attracted to each other. Sergius is a member of the gentry, an officer and a gentleman, so he's expected to marry someone who is at least his equal. Sergius shamelessly flirts with Louka when no one else is around. Out of desperation, Louka tries to break up Raina's engagement to Sergius, showing her willingness to do just about anything to get what she wants. As a servant, Louka should never speak to Sergius the way she does, but she shames him for flirting with her and pretending to care for Raina. Then she tells him that Raina's feelings for him are fake also and that Raina cares for someone else. Most people would consider this betrayal on Louka's part, and Catherine accuses Louka and Sergius both of shaming Raina when Nicola tells them that he and Louka aren't engaged, so Louka can marry Sergius. Even if Raina does care for another man, Louka's actions are unacceptable in a society where the class lines are rigidly drawn. She literally risks everything by interfering in Raina's life and having the audacity to marry beyond her limits.
How does the following quote relate to "To Kill a Mockingbird"?"The book to read is not the one which thinks for you but the one that makes you...
Many book are written in such a way that the audience is told exactly how the protagonist changes and exactly how all events are to be interpreted. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a great example of this. The readers are told how each character learns his/her lesson. In this book, however, that is not the case.
Take the narrator, to begin with. A book that thinks for you will most often have an outside narrator who explains the actions of each character and what he/she is thinking. However, in Mockingbird, we have a young girl as our narrator. Scout doesn't understand much of what is happening around her. For example, she doesn't understand at the courthouse that the men are there is raid the jail and lynch Tom Robinson. The readers must infer that this is their purpose from the discussion they have with Atticus. Scout also does not understand why the men go away. We, as readers, must understand that seeing Scout has caused Mr. Cunningham to think of his own son, and to be ashamed of what hs is planning to do.
Although Atticus provides some clear lessons for Scout, such as it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, it is the readers that are left to make the connections from this message to Tom Robinson to Boo Radley and beyond. Through the eyes of a child, we see the world in which she grows up, and are left to draw our own conclusions.
What did the government do to ensure that industries produced enough war materials?Please Answer Fast and Accurate
Fighting in World War II required wide variety of war
materials including huge numbers of ships, tanks, aircraft, and weapons, in addition to
ordinary things like food, clothing, and medicines. To meet this requirements many
countries built many plants to manufacture war goods and turned old factories into war
plants. For example, the Rolls Royce car factory was used to produce aircraft engines.
United States hugely increased its output multifold. It produced
60,000 aircraft during 1942 and 86,000 in 1943, which was earlier believed to be
impossible to achieve. Major improvements were made in operations and management of
factories. This not increased production and reduced the production lead-time. For
example, time needed to build an aircraft was reduced from 36 months in 1941 to 15
months in 1945. In spite of frequent damage to its factories Britain also maintained
and even increased its output during World War II.
Sourcing
of material from nations such as Canada and Australia increased substantially. Similarly
Great Britain started sourcing industrial material from its colonies like India,
reversing their policy of discouraging industrial development of these
countries.
Because of the shortage of manpower created by
men fighting in the war, women joined the labour force and occupied many positions
previously held only by men. They worked in farming and many different industries
including shipyards and aircraft factories and filled many jobs previously held only by
men. Employment of women was particularly common as drivers, nurses, firewatchers, and
air raid wardens.
Also government in all countries
increased their control over Government controls over civilian life including factory
production, ensuring that maximum productive capacity was directed towards war efforts.
The shortages created for supplied of food and other item because of reduced non
military production was managed using different schemes of
rationing.
What did the government do to ensure that industries produced enough war materials?Please Answer Fast and Accurate
Fighting in World War II required wide variety of war materials including huge numbers of ships, tanks, aircraft, and weapons, in addition to ordinary things like food, clothing, and medicines. To meet this requirements many countries built many plants to manufacture war goods and turned old factories into war plants. For example, the Rolls Royce car factory was used to produce aircraft engines.
United States hugely increased its output multifold. It produced 60,000 aircraft during 1942 and 86,000 in 1943, which was earlier believed to be impossible to achieve. Major improvements were made in operations and management of factories. This not increased production and reduced the production lead-time. For example, time needed to build an aircraft was reduced from 36 months in 1941 to 15 months in 1945. In spite of frequent damage to its factories Britain also maintained and even increased its output during World War II.
Sourcing of material from nations such as Canada and Australia increased substantially. Similarly Great Britain started sourcing industrial material from its colonies like India, reversing their policy of discouraging industrial development of these countries.
Because of the shortage of manpower created by men fighting in the war, women joined the labour force and occupied many positions previously held only by men. They worked in farming and many different industries including shipyards and aircraft factories and filled many jobs previously held only by men. Employment of women was particularly common as drivers, nurses, firewatchers, and air raid wardens.
Also government in all countries increased their control over Government controls over civilian life including factory production, ensuring that maximum productive capacity was directed towards war efforts. The shortages created for supplied of food and other item because of reduced non military production was managed using different schemes of rationing.
In the book "Life of Pi", what is revealed about society?
If you think about the animals in the boat as a microcosm of society, then you can see the various social roles that are played. The hyena represents the ruthless of society who play by the rule "the survival of the fittest". He takes what he wants while not being concerned with the consequences of his actions. His only concern is to eat. The zebra represents those who suffer in silence and are powerless to act. Those are quickly destroyed in the "survival of the fittest". He passively accepts his fate, even though he is literally being eaten alive from the inside out. Some people in this world also die from the inside out. They refuse to speak up for themselves, and so suffer the actions of others. The orangutan tries to intervene, representing those who recognize an injustice and make the attempt to step up for what is right. Often, though, justice is beaten down by sheer power. Richard Parker, after witnessing the defeat of the powerless, takes control and administers justice. He does not kill at will, or else neither Pi nor Richard Parker would have survived. His threatening power, though, is the impetus Pi needs to survive. Pi musters his inner strength to overcome obstacles and rise to the position of supreme power in the boat. As a good ruler, Pi provides for his subordinates and is concerned for the good of the whole, not just himself.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
List five of Rivika’s rules for survival?List five of Rivka's rules for survival.
Rivka had survived in the camp for a year. She told the
new arrivals what she had learned in order to
survive.
- The girls must remember Rivka's number
on her arm and what it stood for. They must also remember their own and make up a
meaning for it. - To let go of people is to survive. Do not
mourn the dead or think about the grief of their
death. - Do not go near the large wooden fence containing a
door with a black handle that leads to Lilith's cave (the gas ovens for cremating
Jews). - When the commandant comes to inspect the camp, the
young children go hide in the midden so they are not taken to be cremated. Young
children are not to be in work camps, but the Germans will not search for them in the
garbage. The girls are to help the children. - Do not ask
why anything is as it is. Instead, feel lucky when something helps them
survive.
List five of Rivika’s rules for survival?List five of Rivka's rules for survival.
Rivka had survived in the camp for a year. She told the new arrivals what she had learned in order to survive.
- The girls must remember Rivka's number on her arm and what it stood for. They must also remember their own and make up a meaning for it.
- To let go of people is to survive. Do not mourn the dead or think about the grief of their death.
- Do not go near the large wooden fence containing a door with a black handle that leads to Lilith's cave (the gas ovens for cremating Jews).
- When the commandant comes to inspect the camp, the young children go hide in the midden so they are not taken to be cremated. Young children are not to be in work camps, but the Germans will not search for them in the garbage. The girls are to help the children.
- Do not ask why anything is as it is. Instead, feel lucky when something helps them survive.
Monday, September 10, 2012
What happens at Gettyburg? Why did people begin to suspect a conspiracy among the generals in Across Five Aprils?
At Gettysburg, there is a fierce and bloody battle,
lasting over the course of three days, between Confederate troops led by Robert E. Lee
and Union soldiers under Ulysses S. Grant. The North emerges victorious, but the cost in
lives of the battle is obscene. To make things even worse, the victory is incomplete,
as
"the beaten
army (is) allowed to withdraw and prepare for still more bloodshed, while the victorious
army lick(s) its wounds and (makes) no effort to pursue its
opportunities."
This blunder
is especially frustrating, as it is not the first time it has happened. Several months
earlier, at Antietam, another Union general, George McClellan, had won a telling victory
but had allowed the defeated Confederate troops to retreat and regroup, to fight another
day. As a consequence, a series of bloody confrontations had followed, and there was no
sign that the war was ever going to end.
"With broken young bodies piled high...and
thousands of homes rocked in agony over their loss...all over the North people (are)
beginning to say, 'What is it - what does it mean? Is there bad blood somewhere? Is
there a conspiracy among Northern generals that prevents their following up an
opportunity for crushing Lee's army?" (Chapters 8 and
10).
What happens at Gettyburg? Why did people begin to suspect a conspiracy among the generals in Across Five Aprils?
At Gettysburg, there is a fierce and bloody battle, lasting over the course of three days, between Confederate troops led by Robert E. Lee and Union soldiers under Ulysses S. Grant. The North emerges victorious, but the cost in lives of the battle is obscene. To make things even worse, the victory is incomplete, as
"the beaten army (is) allowed to withdraw and prepare for still more bloodshed, while the victorious army lick(s) its wounds and (makes) no effort to pursue its opportunities."
This blunder is especially frustrating, as it is not the first time it has happened. Several months earlier, at Antietam, another Union general, George McClellan, had won a telling victory but had allowed the defeated Confederate troops to retreat and regroup, to fight another day. As a consequence, a series of bloody confrontations had followed, and there was no sign that the war was ever going to end.
"With broken young bodies piled high...and thousands of homes rocked in agony over their loss...all over the North people (are) beginning to say, 'What is it - what does it mean? Is there bad blood somewhere? Is there a conspiracy among Northern generals that prevents their following up an opportunity for crushing Lee's army?" (Chapters 8 and 10).
Explain how the ritual dance in chapter 7 of "Lord of the Flies" is different from the others.
The boys have enjoyed the chanting and dancing. In Chapter 4, the dancing includes the violent chant of "Kill the Pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood." However, it isn't until Chapter 7 that the dance actually includes any violence. In this chapter, after the exciting near miss with the wild boar, the boys dance around in a recreation of the hunt. In their acting, Robert is placed in the role of the pig, and the boys antics take on a scary and inhuman reality to them. The boys actually hit Robert, pull his hair, poke him with their spears, and he is hurt in the "dance". Even Ralph expresses a desire to "squeeze and hurt" the "brown, vulnerable flesh".
When the dance ends, the boys act like it was nothing strange. Even Robert, beaten and bruised, laughs it off, though his laugh is strained and uncomfortable. However, it is here that the atmosphere on the island begins to change. The beast inside each of the boys is starting to come alive, and it will soon take over - the next "dance" will not be even this safe.
Was the U.S. right to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
In my personal opinion, the answer to this is an emphatic
no. While it can be argued that dropping the bomb ended the war more quickly thus
preventing the loss of American lives, that cannot be prov en. There is a great deal of
evidence to suggest that Japan was ready to end the war before the bomb was
dropped.
Among thos Americans who felt that dropping the
bomb was, essentially, overkill was Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower initially supported
the idea, but then revised his opinion stating:
I was one of those who felt that there were a
number of cogent reasons to question the wisdom of such an act. ...the Secretary, upon
giving me the news of the successful bomb test in New Mexico, and of the plan for using
it, asked for my reaction, apparently expecting a vigorous assent. "During his
recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so
I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was
already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly
because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a
weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save
American lives. It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way
to surrender with a minimum loss of 'face'. The Secretary was deeply perturbed by my
attitude...
Herbert Hoover,
too, was revolted by the use of a weapon that killed so many innocent people in a war
that was ready to be ended through diplomacy:
I am convinced that if you, as President, will
make a shortwave broadcast to the people of Japan - tell them they can have their
Emperor if they surrender, that it will not mean unconditional surrender except for the
militarists - you'll get a peace in Japan - you'll have both wars
over
There are many other
well-respected Americans, military and political figures who were well versed in the
situation, who echoed these sentiments. Military attacks that are directed at civilian
targets should be a last resort, if and only if all efforts at diplomacy have failed and
show o signs of doing anything more than continuing to fail in the future. This was
clearly not the case in this situation. Could the war have ended diplomatically and
without the bomb - it is my belief that it could have, but we will never know because
the choice was made and the rest is history.
Was the U.S. right to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
In my personal opinion, the answer to this is an emphatic no. While it can be argued that dropping the bomb ended the war more quickly thus preventing the loss of American lives, that cannot be prov en. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that Japan was ready to end the war before the bomb was dropped.
Among thos Americans who felt that dropping the bomb was, essentially, overkill was Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower initially supported the idea, but then revised his opinion stating:
I was one of those who felt that there were a number of cogent reasons to question the wisdom of such an act. ...the Secretary, upon giving me the news of the successful bomb test in New Mexico, and of the plan for using it, asked for my reaction, apparently expecting a vigorous assent. "During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives. It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of 'face'. The Secretary was deeply perturbed by my attitude...
Herbert Hoover, too, was revolted by the use of a weapon that killed so many innocent people in a war that was ready to be ended through diplomacy:
I am convinced that if you, as President, will make a shortwave broadcast to the people of Japan - tell them they can have their Emperor if they surrender, that it will not mean unconditional surrender except for the militarists - you'll get a peace in Japan - you'll have both wars over
There are many other well-respected Americans, military and political figures who were well versed in the situation, who echoed these sentiments. Military attacks that are directed at civilian targets should be a last resort, if and only if all efforts at diplomacy have failed and show o signs of doing anything more than continuing to fail in the future. This was clearly not the case in this situation. Could the war have ended diplomatically and without the bomb - it is my belief that it could have, but we will never know because the choice was made and the rest is history.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
What is the significance of John Wesley's and June Star's names in "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"?
John Wesley was the founder of Methodism. This story is a religious allegory, and he represents the unbeliever that O'Connor thought would go to hell. The real John Wesley was almost lynched in Georgia, so there's a funny part where John Wesley hangs his head out of the car window and says, "Let's go through Georgia fast!"
June Star is the first "star" that rises in summer, Venus. Go look at the sky on an early summer evening and you'll see the "star" which is actually a planet. Another name for the June star is "Lucifer," which means "Light bearer." This was the angel who defied God and fell from heaven to become Lord of Hell, or Satan. So here you have two names clearly representing evil, those who fought against the "true" Catholic religion, including the belief in"grace." The whole story, as explained by O'Connor in her own writings and lectures, is a religious allegory about a moment of Grace that God grants to people, forgiving them all their sins in a moment. The last line, "She would have been a good woman if there had been someone there to shoot her every day of her life," means you and me, and our faith, is tested daily: the gun is our faith, and if we truly believed we would pay for our sins, we would act as if a gun was pointed at us every minute of every day, that gun being God's judgment. All of us would be good if that fear was truly in our hearts, according to O'Connor.
How are Jem and Scout treated by the people in Maycomb in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?I'm looking for an inference in chapter 14.
What we see in Chapter 14 is the tension in the Finch household since Atticus agreed to defend Tom Robinson. Atticus knows how the people of Maycomb feel about him defending Tom, but he refuses to let their opinions deter him from doing what he knows is right. Atticus and Aunt Alexandra are arguing over how he raises Jem and Scout, and Jem threatens to spank Scout if she causes any more problems that will make Atticus worry more. This tension is setting up the events that will occur as a result of Tom's trial, including how the citizens of Maycomb treat Atticus, Jem, and Scout.
Why did Mr. Lorry try to convince Lucie that he was't a friend of her father?When he first told her the real reason behind their going to paris in...
You have asked a very interesting question, but in my
opinion it is slightly misguided. Mr. Lorry isn´t trying to say he is no friend of Dr.
Manette - rather he is reflecting the official Tellson´s Bank position, which he tries
to escape from during the rest of the book.
This quote you
have given comes in Chapter 4 of the first book of this novel, and is part of the
conversation Mr. Lorry has with Lucie where he tells her the real reason that she has
been called to France - because her father has been released but in a very pitiful
condition. You will want to look how Mr. Lorry presents himself and the
information.
What highlights Mr. Lorry in this conversation
is his attempted avoidance of any kind of emotion - both from himself and Lucie. He
says:
"Miss
Manette, I am a man of business. I have a business charge to acquit myself of. In your
reception of it, don´t heed me any more than if I was a speaking machine - truly, I am
not much else. I will, with your leave, relate to you , miss, the story of one of our
customers."
Notice here that
Mr. Lorry asks Lucie to hear him as if he were a "speaking machine" - he sees himself as
dehumanised and stripped of emotion in his role as Tellson´s Bank´s representative. Just
a couple of paragraphs on, he repeats himself, again stressing that through his work at
Tellson´s Bank he deals with many clients and therefore: "I have no feelings; I am a
mere machine." He continues to stress this, later describing his life and job in the
following way:
"I pass my whole life, miss, in turning an
immense pecuniary
Mangle."
Mr. Lorry obviously
views his life as being solely focussed on his work, this "pecuniary Mangle" that he
"turns" through his job at Tellson´s Bank. This is why he cannot form any emotional
attachments and is just a "machine". As the conversation develops he continues to stress
this with his frequent repetition of " - a matter of business" every time Lucie gets
slightly emotional. Of course, his future behaviour belies his insistence, as he becomes
very attached to Lucie and her father and their family.
So,
Mr. Lorry isn´t saying he isn´t a friend to Dr. Manette - he is just saying it is a
"matter of business." One of the key themes of the novel is imprisonment, and we as
readers come to see that Mr. Lorry is just as imprisoned as Dr. Manette has been through
his work at Tellson´s Bank, but he does become liberated as the novel
progresses.
Why did Mr. Lorry try to convince Lucie that he was't a friend of her father?When he first told her the real reason behind their going to paris in...
You have asked a very interesting question, but in my opinion it is slightly misguided. Mr. Lorry isn´t trying to say he is no friend of Dr. Manette - rather he is reflecting the official Tellson´s Bank position, which he tries to escape from during the rest of the book.
This quote you have given comes in Chapter 4 of the first book of this novel, and is part of the conversation Mr. Lorry has with Lucie where he tells her the real reason that she has been called to France - because her father has been released but in a very pitiful condition. You will want to look how Mr. Lorry presents himself and the information.
What highlights Mr. Lorry in this conversation is his attempted avoidance of any kind of emotion - both from himself and Lucie. He says:
"Miss Manette, I am a man of business. I have a business charge to acquit myself of. In your reception of it, don´t heed me any more than if I was a speaking machine - truly, I am not much else. I will, with your leave, relate to you , miss, the story of one of our customers."
Notice here that Mr. Lorry asks Lucie to hear him as if he were a "speaking machine" - he sees himself as dehumanised and stripped of emotion in his role as Tellson´s Bank´s representative. Just a couple of paragraphs on, he repeats himself, again stressing that through his work at Tellson´s Bank he deals with many clients and therefore: "I have no feelings; I am a mere machine." He continues to stress this, later describing his life and job in the following way:
"I pass my whole life, miss, in turning an immense pecuniary Mangle."
Mr. Lorry obviously views his life as being solely focussed on his work, this "pecuniary Mangle" that he "turns" through his job at Tellson´s Bank. This is why he cannot form any emotional attachments and is just a "machine". As the conversation develops he continues to stress this with his frequent repetition of " - a matter of business" every time Lucie gets slightly emotional. Of course, his future behaviour belies his insistence, as he becomes very attached to Lucie and her father and their family.
So, Mr. Lorry isn´t saying he isn´t a friend to Dr. Manette - he is just saying it is a "matter of business." One of the key themes of the novel is imprisonment, and we as readers come to see that Mr. Lorry is just as imprisoned as Dr. Manette has been through his work at Tellson´s Bank, but he does become liberated as the novel progresses.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Name two reasons the children were anxious to get back to Egypt after Ken's question was answered in The Egypt Game.
Everyone was anxious to get back to Egypt to see if April's question would be answered next. Also, Marshall wanted to get back because he had lost his toy octopus, Security, and had "reason to believe that it had been left in Egypt the night before". Melanie too had a special reason to be anxious to get back to Egypt. Marshall would not quit perstering her about his lost octopus, so she wanted him to be able to have it back so he would leave her alone (Chapter 18 - "Where is Security?").
In "Jane Eyre", why was Jane locked up in the red room?Do you think she deserved this treatment?
Jane was locked up in the red room as a punishment for striking John Reed, her degenerate young master. She did not deserve this treatment, because John started the confrontation by mercilessly bullying her, even causing her physical injury when he, unprovoked, threw a book at her head.
Jane, an orphan, is treated as if she is nothing in the home of her aunt and uncle, who have taken her in. Her cousin John Reed "bullie(s) and punishe(s)" her constantly, and he is allowed to do so because Mrs. Reed coddles her son and thinks he can do no wrong. In the situation in question, John calls Jane over to him, and, after spending "some three minutes in thrusting out his tongue at (her) as far as he could without damaging the roots", he strikes her for her purported "impudence in answering mamma a while since...and for (her) sneaking way of getting behind curtains, and for the look (she) had in (her) eyes two minutes since". He then tells her she has no right to take books from the bookshelves to read, since they all belong to him, and orders her to stand by the door. When Jane, having no choice, complies, he flings a book at her, and she falls, striking her head against the door and cutting it. Jane flies back at him in a rage, and for her trouble is accused of attacking "Master John"; she is forcibly removed from the vicinity and carried upstairs to be locked in the "red room" (Chapter 1).